A/N: Helloooo! I know, I have like a bajillion other stories to finish, and I promise I am working on it. But this got me sidetracked and I fought writing it for a while but I lost that battle and so here it is. 1 - The title, well, I probably could have done better, and I hope it doesn't affect your opinion of the story. 2 - Chapter titles will follow the same theme, because in a moment (or several moments) of too much fun Tirsh and I came up with a list of ridiculous SamThings and I need to share them. Not ALL of them will be used, so don't panic Tirsh (no unquenchable thirsts in this story), but a lot.
Additional A/N at the end of the chapter, to avoid inadvertent spoilage, in case anyone hasn't caught on.
"Team one, Hot Call! Suit up!"
The alert came within minutes of team one's arrival at HQ for their usual pre-shift workout.
Greg approaches the dispatcher in disbelief. "Winnie?"
She shakes her head, knowing exactly what he's asking. "Four is out serving a warrant still and two has got their hands full at a bank downtown. If you like I can officially call you guys in but since you were here I figured-" She stops as she realizes no one is listening, having simply set off to gear up and officially start their shift. Early.
"Ok, team," Greg Parker's voice rings clear through his team's communications system. "We've got a bomb threat at the Scoop Slingers on Yonge."
Raf shakes his head in disbelief, shooting Ed an weary glance. "Bombs at an ice cream parlour?"
Greg sighs. "A disgruntled former employee sent the threat by email. The threat is fairly textbook for a prankster, but from what Winnie has gathered on the subject he certainly seems capable of building and using a bomb."
"Criminal record?"
"Honours chemistry student."
"Excellent."
The SUVs come to a halt outside of the ice cream parlour, careful to park a fair distance away in case the threat proves to be real. With that, teams are created for a search of the building. Jules and Ed take the staff entrance at the back of the building, Sam and Spike the main entrance. Raf remains in the truck with Greg, having recently expressed interest in improving his profiling skills.
"Break room is clear," Jules announces, following Ed to check a storage closet.
"Cafe portion is clear," Sam replies, nodding as Spike grasps the handle on the walk in fridge and they prepare for what might await them on the other side.
"We've located the device."
The announcement comes from both Spike and Jules.
"Wait, what?"
"Son of a-"
Greg stands as the voice of reason. "Team, what are we looking at in there?"
"There are two. One in the fridge, one in the storage room."
The sergeant takes a deep breath, runs a hand across his bald head. "Ok. We need to know what kind of bombs we're dealing with here but first thing's first: We need to limit the amount of people in that building. Spike?"
"Its on a timer. I can disarm this one relatively easily, but it'd be great to know what I'm going into before I get to the second one."
Greg nods, nervously pacing the mobile command truck. "Alright. Jules, Eddie, you guys get out of there. Sam, go get a look at that second bomb. Tell us anything you can, send pictures and we'll either help you through it or at least be prepared when Spike is ready to tackle that one."
"Copy that." Sam nods to Spike who nods in return.
Having cleared the building, Ed and Jules set out to secure the surrounding area while Raf and Greg continue their investigation into the subject, as they wait for Sam to send them pictures of the second bomb.
Working with Ed to push the perimeter around the building back, Jules pauses as she examines the growing crowd. "Hey, Ed?"
"Yeah?"
"To your left, behind the brunette next to the mailbox… is that…"
Ed gives a quick nod, signalling Jules to join him. "Boss, we've got eyes on our subject."
Greg nods from his position in the truck, glad to have one less thing on his to do list. "Alright Eddie, hold your position for now, we can't spook him. Spike? Any chance he's got a remote?"
Spike shakes his head. "If he does it's not for this one. Sam buddy have you got a flashlight on you? Mine's dead and the lighting in here isn't exactly functional."
"Got you covered," Sam confirms, returning to the freezer to give Spike his flashlight.
"Uh oh."
Raf stops mid keystroke as he turns to Greg, who shakes his head. "What's uh oh, Jules?"
"Subject knows he's been made… Ed and I are in pursuit."
Greg shoots a glance at Raf who frantically returns to his monitor to review the pictures Sam had sent them. "Ok. Ok. Any signs of a remote?"
"Negative."
"Hands are empty."
"Good," Greg nods, turing his attention back to Spike and Sam. "Spike, how's it going in there buddy?"
"First bomb clear. Just about to go to-"
The sound echoes through team one's radio, followed by an intense burst of feedback which prompts the entire team to rip their comms from their ears. Time seems to stand still for minutes before any distinguishable sounds make their way through the speakers.
"Subject secure," Ed announces, clicking the handcuffs closed.
"What the hell just happened?" Jules asks, leading the subject back around the corner towards the ice cream parlour. "Oh my god."
Greg throws open the door of the command truck as he bursts out of the vehicle, closely followed by Raf. "Sam, Spike, status!"
Greg makes a judgment call. Decides that debrief can wait until the next morning when the team will be whole again. After clearing the scene, the remaining members of team one make their way to the hospital. Jules reluctantly reclaims her place in the passenger's seat of the SUV she and Ed arrived in. Sure, she'd much rather be behind the wheel, but Ed makes for a poor passenger and she's not in the mood to argue.
She knows they're both ok. She was there when the fire rescue team hauled her two teammates out of what remained of the ice cream parlour. She kept on her mask of serene professionalism as she directed the unis to maintain the perimeter, while cautiously casting glances towards Greg, and of course towards the building in question. The cafe portion had been gutted - the explosion tearing through the tables & chairs, breaking windows and sending shards of glass to the street outside. Sure, it was terrifying at first. But that first blip, the first muffled sound over the radio told her they were ok.
Sarge?
One word. Spike's one word. Then another, and then a sentence.
We're still in the freezer.
She'd never been so happy to hear the word freezer in her life. Sure, they didn't escape the blast unscathed. While the freezer had remained intact, it had also been flipped on it's side. She'd been mildly peeved at the time, and technically still is, that the shoppe hadn't splurged for a refrigerated room, rather than simply placing in a walk in freezer. While the freezer was still intact along the outside, the inside, from what she'd heard from Spike, was less than organized. The many tubs of ice cream along the shelves had become rather large, rather frozen, projectiles, which explained the lack of conversation from Sam.
From what Spike gathered, Sam had taken a hit to the head courtesy of a tub of raspberry swirl, and a second thanks to a shelf on his way down. Aside from the obvious twin bruises forming on either side of his face - for which there would surely be teasing in the morning - Spike was fairly certain there would be no permanent damage. Just Sam, sleeping on the job.
"Jules? You still with us?"
She jolts. "Yeah. Why?"
Ed looks her over and directs her attention to outside the vehicle. "We're here."
The team regroups at the front doors and heads into the hospital. Greg checks with the reception nurse, who directs them to a waiting area. They're quickly joined by a doctor, who informs that both Spike and Sam are being treated for minor contact burns from being pressed up against the side of the freezer. Spike's also got a broken finger of all things, and a sprained ankle from the fall he took when the freezer went over. Sam's pretty banged up, mainly just bruises but he'll definitely be hurting in the morning. His head injury has him admitted for the night, but the doctors assure the team he'll be released in the morning.
"Jules?"
"Natalie, hi."
The blonde shakes her head, frantically looking around as she approaches the balance of team one. "What the hell happened?"
All at once she knows exactly why Natalie is there. "You're Spike's emergency contact?"
"Of course," she huffs. "What?"
"I don't know, I just didn't realize…"
"Use your brain, Jules. We live together, his Ma' is overseas, his sister is irrelevant… anyway what the hell happened? All they said was there was an incident."
Jules nods, choosing to ignore the tone of annoyance clearly directed at her. "There was a bomb in a shoppe downtown. Spike's alright, just some minor injuries from a fall and some time spent in a deep freeze. He should be done soon."
Natalie exhales, relieved to hear that the injuries had been relatively minor, although somewhat confused at the mention of a freezer. Looking around the room a new sense of worry and confusion settles on her features. "What about Sam? Where is he?"
"He was with Spike," Jules explains, raising a hand to ward off the questions she knows threaten to spill out of Natalie's mouth at any second. "He took a few good hits to the head in the explosion, and he's going to be pretty bruised up from the fall, but he's ok. Last I heard he was unconscious and they would be keeping him overnight, but they said nothing life threatening."
She waits with Natalie until the team is allowed back to see Spike and Sam. She stops by the gurney where Spike sits, muttering about how his broken finger will impede his ability to type, watches as Natalie coddles him. She quietly lets him know how glad she is that he's ok, and excuses herself to check on Sam. She takes an update from the nurse as she reaches his room, smiles and nods as they explain the possibility of a concussion and the necessity of a neurological exam once he wakes up. With that out of the way she sets about settling in for the night. She drags over a chair and the newspaper and makes herself at home. Looking around, she's satisfied that the team is busy with Spike, and maybe even intentionally allowing her a minute alone with Sam, and drops the paper to the bedside table. Looking at Sam, she moves to sit on the side of his bed.
"Oh Sam," she sighs, running a finger across his cheek. "I know you like sleeping on the job, but I'd sure feel a lot better if you'd come to tonight. Just for a little while. I know, spending that much time in a walk in freezer - with Spike - must have been exhausting. Poor boy," she smirks, setting a kiss just above his brow. With that she's off the bed again, moving to close the blinds from the glare of the rapidly setting sun outside.
"You this friendly with all your teammates?"
Jules turns around, nearly giddy at the sound of his voice, grinning as she returns to his bedside. "Only the ones I live with," she tells him with a wink. "How are you feeling?" She asks, instinctively grasping his hand in hers.
He licks his lips, pauses with a thoughtful look on his face as he peers down at their joined hands. "Confused."
Jules nods, smiles. "Well, there was a second bomb. You and Spike were in the walk-in freezer when it went off and sent you two - and the freezer - flying. The fire department's rescue team had to pry the door off to get you two out."
Sam nods, his face once again contorting in confusion. "That makes no sense. Why would a bank have a walk in freezer? How did I get in it when I was in the truck? Why are you…" He shakes his head, finally realizing the ability to let go of her hand. "Did I miss something?"
"What?" Now she's confused. "What do you mean?"
"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate the concern but you don't have to be nice to me just because something happened to me on a call."
"What the hell? Sam? What are you talking about?" She pulls her hand back in confusion, shock evident on her face. "Sam cut the act, it's not funny."
His brow furrows as he moves to sit up straighter, his head spinning as he tries to do so. "Look I don't know what you think but…"
Jules swallows hard, shaking her head. "Ok, I might regret asking this but Sam, what's the date today?"
He glares at her with his best are you stupid look, shaking his head right back at her. "August 8th. Friday, August 8. Why?"
"Nothing. Um, no reason," she stammers, nearly knocks over the chair as she gets out of it. "Excuse me a moment."
A/N: 3- I know, is there a concept that's more overdone? Still had to do it... All I ask is that you give me another chapter or two to get into it before you tell me it sucks. :)
Next Chapter: Samnesiac - Sam's got a bit of an issue on his hands...