Chapter 14 – Team One

Hospital Conference Room

Wordy let out a long breath as his hand paused on the door handle to the hospital conference room. Over the last three hours, he sat outside Ed's room in case his friend needed him. Ed spoke not a word, not even to the nurses who came in to check on him, as he dealt with a plethora of emotions. The events of the last couple of days proved to be overwhelming for the team, himself included. Turning the handle, Wordy entered the room and was greeted by Colonel Campbell and General Braddock.

"Constable Wordsworth, please sit." Campbell gestured to the same chair Greg previously occupied.

"Have you eaten?" General Braddock placed a fresh bottle of water in front of Wordy.

"Yes. I had a small snack a bit ago."

"There are refreshments here should you be hungry. Feel free to take whatever you want."

"Thank you." Wordy chose a half sandwich and a cup of fruit.

"We have a full statement from your sergeant about the events which transpired. We would like your take on things." Campbell waited, pen poised to write.

Wordy began to retell the event from his perspective. He was the first to go down exiting the Goose. As he faded into unconsciousness he was forced to watch his teammates attacked as he had been.

"I was the first to come out of sedation." Wordy drank some more of the ice cold water. "It was evident to me from the beginning that we were being held in a warehouse somewhere. However, since the room did not contain any windows, it was impossible to tell how long we had been out."

"Sam was unconscious when they brought him in, correct?"

"Yes."

"When he woke, did he make any effort to escape?"

"He wasn't given the chance. By the time he came around enough to consider escaping in any way, Mark returned. Then they beat him. Although the blows weren't enough to break bones, Sam was certainly in a great deal of pain from the assault."

"Sergeant Parker indicated Sam shared about Mark's occupation." Campbell flipped a page in his notes.

"Yes. Sam wanted to warn us that Mark would be brutal in the effort to get what he wanted. Which was to hurt Sam as much as possible before slowly killing him. Mark was seeking retribution from Sam's contribution to his brother's death."

"At any point being moved from one position to another, did Sam resist or attempt an escape?"

"No. When Mark returned the second time he threatened to shoot Jules in the head. Although it was evident he struggled with the act, Sam willingly did as instructed to save Jules from harm."

"This is when they beat Ed Lane, correct?"

"Yeah."

"At any point during his torture, did Sam give details from his time in the military?"

Jason suppressed a sigh. Although he knew this question needed to be asked of all Team One, he recognized the answer would be the same from all. His son proved time and again to be an honorable man.

"The only thing he shared about his service was a bit about the mission which played over the speakers. The sounds of battle raged for eighteen hours. Just before it ended, Sam screamed for Matt. When the room fell silent, he simply shared they volunteered to rescue American soldiers and Matt almost died. At no other time did he speak of his time in the Army. He keeps those stories close to the vest." Wordy swallowed the emotion which threatened to overflow. Observing Sam in his nightmare proved to be the single hardest event from their captivity. Knowing the young man endured so much and still came out a strong, confident man. Few could say as much.

"Can you share with me the events leading up to Team Two entering the building?"

Wordy explained the determined expression which crossed Sam's face, and the steps Sam took to release himself from the chains. "When Team Two arrived we already knew negotiation would not work. When Mark raised his weapon to fire at Jules, Sam dove in front of her and caught the bullet in his shoulder."

"Thank you, Constable Wordsworth. I believe that is all the information I need at this time. If you think of anything else, please don't hesitate to call." Campbell passed Wordy a card with his number and stood.

"I appreciate your support of my son. He is lucky to be part of a team such as yours." Jason shook the constable's hand, noting a strange look which crossed Wordy's features.

Wordy mumbled a few words and left the room. If he knew how we treated Sam before, he wouldn't be thanking us. In fact, he may insist his son move to a different team. As bad as this was, I hope the rest of the team has recognized the errors in our ways and are as determined as I to make things right with Sam.

Making his way back up to Ed's room, Wordy wondered how his good friend was processing the events of the last couple of days. Ed was drugged in such a way so as to impair his thought processes, a fact which did not sit well with his best friend and team leader. Even though Ed wouldn't appreciate his presence, Wordy silently slipped into Ed's hospital room. Relief flooded through him at the sight of Ed asleep. Dropping into the hard, plastic chair, Wordy closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep.

Lew and Spike

"I understand this is a bit unorthodox, however, considering the circumstances I am choosing to bend the rules a bit." Campbell met the eyes of both Lewis Young and Michelangelo Scarlatti.

"Thank you for your consideration." Lew had been surprised when the officers entered the room and indicated both he and Spike would be debriefed together. Although, considering they were both still admitted to the hospital, their options were somewhat limited.

"I have received a full accounting of the events from Sergeant Greg Parker and Constable Kevin Wordsworth. I only need you both to fill in a few details for me."

"Of course. What can we help you with?" Lew adjusted his position in the hospital bed.

"Can you explain to me why Mark would have chosen you two for the electric shock?"

"Because we are closer than brothers," Lew answered quickly, knowing the answer without thinking about it.

"He told us that Matt and Sam were closer than brothers, but that bond didn't keep Sam from killing his best friend. Mark seemed to think that by torturing us he would get a rise out of Sam." Spike added.

"Didn't work though. I could tell by the expression on Sam's face that he understood what Mark wanted, a rise out of him. Seemed to me that Sam understood Mark's methods too well and if he were to respond in any way to our torture, as he did with Ed, Mark would have made things worse. Instead, he distanced himself from what was going on. Mark tried to play it off as Sam didn't care about us, but in reality, it was the exact opposite. Sam wanted desperately to save us from as much pain as possible, so he reacted in the one way he knew would end the torture sooner." Lew met Spike's gaze. Silent words being shared between them.

Jason noted the expression shared between the officers. Young was offering silent encouragement to Scarlatti. Although for what he wasn't sure. "Are there any more details of that particular event you need to share?"

"Nothing pertinent to the report, sir." Lew peered at General Braddock and stifled a sigh of relief when the man let it go. He refused to share with Sam's father the thoughts which were voiced, the accusations thrown, and the pain inflicted with the words from the team. Sharing those would serve no purpose other than to show how poorly they treated Sam.

Campbell finished jotting down notes before formulating his next question. "Can you share anything about the following sound and temperature torture?"

Lew closed his eyes and sighed. Of all the team endured, the battle sounds proved to be the most difficult for him. Mostly because he noted Sam's reaction and the flashback the sounds produced. Observing his teammate mentally transported back to the war proved to be something he never wished to witness again.

"Yeah, it was weird." Spike adjusted his blanket.

"How so?"

"Although the track ran for several hours, it was evident someone tampered with the recording."

"You know this how?"

"When a track is partially scrubbed, a footprint of sorts is left behind. Whoever did it wasn't very good at their job because there were several sections where the entire track was compromised. Although they effectively removed all the communications, at least that's what Sam indicated, they also affected everything else as well."

"So the only thing left on the recording …"

"Sounds of war. Gunfire, explosions, that sort of thing." Spike sighed, simply thinking of those eighteen hours exhausted him.

"If you are wanting to know if we overheard any dialog, the answer is no. The details of that particular mission are still safe from our side." Lew recognized what they were asking.

Campbell grinned, unsurprised the constables recognized where the line of questioning was headed. "Are there any other details you wish to share with us at this time?"

Spike and Lew both shook their heads. They were certain Greg and Wordy provided detailed accounts, and if they still had gaps in their information they would have asked.

"Very well. We are done for now. If you think of any more details, please call my office."

Leaving their respective business cards each of the men's tables, Jason and Campbell stood, shook the constable's hands, and exited the room.

Jules' Room

A light rap on her door drew Jules from her thoughts. "Come in."

"Miss. Callaghan, we would like to spend a few moments with you to debrief if possible. I can't help but notice the bruise on your neck if this is not a good time …" Campbell noted the still vivid contusion on the constable's neck. After visualizing residual imprint of Simmon's hands, he comprehended the pressure exerted on her windpipe might affect her ability to speak for long periods of time and understood he would need to keep things brief.

"Thanks for your understanding, but it looks worse than it is." Jules took a drink of water before focusing her attention back on Sam's father and the investigating officer. She had been lost in her thoughts, beating herself up for her treatment of Sam since he joined the team. Jules wasn't looking forward to relating the events of their captivity.

"I'll keep things brief, I don't want to cause you additional injury." Settling in a seat beside the female officer's bed, Campbell flipped open his file. "I have spoken at length with the majority of your team and they have provided me a detailed account up to the entrance of Team Two. The rest is in their call log. If you have anything you want to add once read over the report, I will input them in my notes."

Jules nodded, thankful she wouldn't have to do much talking, or vocalize all which transpired. She carefully read the transcript and handed the closed folder back.

"Do you have any details you would like to add?"

At first, she shook her head to save her voice, but then spoke, "No. They were thorough in their accounts." Jules coughed then sipped more water.

"Very well. If you think of anything my number is on this card. Please feel free to contact me at any time." Campbell stood and tucked the file under his arm.

Jules nodded waiting for the door to close behind the men before turning on her side, curling into a ball, and crying herself to sleep. The emotions warring within her still too much to handle just yet.

Ed's Room

Ed's gut churned as he read the accounts from the last two days. Guilt for his treatment of Sam ratcheting up with each word read. The fact Sam's father sat at the end of his bed did nothing for his unease.

Closing the file containing the accounts of all involved, Ed peered up first at Campbell, then Braddock. The concern in the general's features, so like Sam's, pierced his heart like a knife. Unable to meet the man's eyes, his gaze shifted to the window. "I don't know why he tried to protect us like he did. Even when Simmons beat me, Sam kept begging for our release. He offered himself without reservation … for us. An act of selflessness we don't deserve."

His interest piqued at Lane's words and actions, Jason leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

"Well, we haven't exactly been welcoming since he joined the team."

"Care to elaborate?" Campbell wanted to ensure Team One wasn't responsible for some of the events during their captivity. Intentional or not.

"He was thrown on our team. We didn't have a say. Didn't get to choose him. Didn't have any part in his placement. How would you feel if an unknown was thrown into your family and you were expected to welcome them with open arms?"

"Did you still feel animosity towards Braddock while in Simmon's custody?" Campbell's pen was poised, ready to make notes.

"Yes." Ed sighed, remembering his heated words to their rookie. The anger which boiled in him as Simmons beat him. "It was his fault we were there, being beaten, tortured, Jules almost raped. If he had just taken two more seconds to scope his shot, he wouldn't have blown his best friend to bits, we wouldn't have been abducted, and I most certainly wouldn't be here in this hospital bed instead of home with my wife and son."

"Constable Lane. I will not have you talking about my son in that manner!" Jason bolted from his chair and strode towards the bed. "My son has dedicated his entire life to protecting others, first on the police force, then the Army. He spent years training, becoming the best soldier JTF2 has seen in decades. Samuel spent time on whatever battleground his Country sent him to … suffered torture in captivity, all to protect people. His family, his friends, and millions of strangers.

"What happened to Matt was unfortunate. An accident that forever changed my son, the reason he left the Army. He wanted to make a difference in a way which wouldn't take a toll on his soul with each caress of his rifle's trigger. My son is an honorable man, one whom you said yourself willingly offered up himself to the machinations of a psychopath in the hopes of ensuring your safety." Jason drew in a deep breath to reign in his rage. "Tell me, oh great SRU officer, would you have preferred my son leave you to die? He could have escaped without you. Could have left you behind. Instead, he stuck around. Facing a force larger than himself, while seriously injured, all so you could go home to your wife."

Ed's gaze remained riveted on the man before him. He understood now why Sam's father went by the moniker Badass Braddock. Unsure why he spoke of the team's opinion of Sam in the first place, Ed swallowed hard.

"If I ever hear of you disparaging my son again, I will personally see to it your career is ended. Samuel's talent is unparalleled. The sooner you recognize Sam is an asset to your team and begin treating him as one of you, the better. He will surprise you if you give him the chance." With that, Jason pivoted and strode from the room. The anger radiating from him barely controlled. He would need to cool down before returning to his wife and son.

"Is there anything you wish to add to the report?"

"No." Ed's gaze remained fixed to the door General Braddock exited.

Campbell returned the files and notepad to his briefcase and stood. "Very well. Should you wish to add to the statements at a later time, Sergeant Parker has my information. I wish you a speedy recovery."

When the door closed behind Campbell, Ed closed his eyes and sighed. He recognized he deserved the dressing down from the general. Although unsure why he spoke in the first place, airing the team's dirty laundry for others uncharacteristic. Gazing out the window, Ed began the painful process of examining the events since Sam's addition to the team with a fresh perspective.

The general was right. Ed was surprised when he reevaluated Sam and his actions. Ones which painted Sam in a much better light than Ed had previously. By the time he drifted to sleep, Ed recognized he would need to chat with Sam and eat crow as he apologized for his actions.

AN: I apologize for the length of time between posts. I have been spending a great deal of time preparing for the release of my new novel. (If you like my story "A Hero's Heart" then I think you'll love this book!)

My new novel is now available! Just go to Amazon and search "Martha Pruett" or "Clubs: Heart of a Hero" and you'll find it.

Clubs: Heart Of A Hero (Book 1 in the Slater's Deck Series)

How far will heroes go to protect the ones they love? Drew Slater, a dedicated Marine, husband, and father must endure constant separation from his family to keep them safe. For three years, he and his Special Forces unit have endeavored to locate and stop the efforts of those who threaten his family.

Roxy Carter-Slater, Baltimore SWAT officer, devoted wife, and mother wants nothing more than her husband to return home to her and their daughter, Ava. She understands the sacrifices all three are making to safeguard Ava, but her heart still yearns for them to be together.

When the life of an innocent is at stake, Drew, Roxy, and their teams must make difficult choices in the face of the enemy. Will one of them be called to make the ultimate hero's sacrifice for a child? Will Drew find the peace he so desperately seeks?