Healing the Past

Telling the Team

Chapter 22

Spike didn’t want to leave me alone in my apartment that night. I finally managed to convince him I would be fine by showing the location of every gun in my mini arsenal that I keep scattered throughout the place. What can I say, when one is good at shooting one likes to keep many guns around. Right around midnight I started to regret that choice as I woke up in a cold sweat. I tried and failed to get back to sleep. I was never so happy to hear my alarm in all my life.

I ran into Greg on my way to the locker room. “Hey, Boss. Can you gather the team somewhere? I need to tell you all something.”

“Sure Thunder. Everything ok?” He asked with concern.

“No.” That was all I said.

“Alright I’ll get them all in the briefing room. You want to tell me what this is about?”

“I don’t even want to be giving the explanation I’m about to give.”

He nodded and walked away. I set a new personal record time for changing; I just wanted to get the conversation over with.  Despite my speed Boss was still ahead of me. Spike too. Everyone was there. They looked up when I walked in. Ed started. “What’s this about T?”

“It’s about something I learned yesterday. And it affects you.”

“How?”

“The guy on the phone was Chance, my sociopath of an ex-boyfriend, who switched identities with someone to look like he was still in jail to anyone in the US, but ran the other guys arms operation under his own name in Canada.”

They fired off questions like reporters.

“Why go to all that work?” Ed.

“Why did he pick a guy who was based in Canada?” Jules.

“Why was the guy based in Canada arrested in the US?” Wordy.

“So the people I had keeping an eye on him wouldn’t notice. Somehow he figured out I was in Canada. And I don’t know or care at the moment, but your question is a pretty good point.” I answered in order.

“If he changed identities to avoid tracing in the US, why did he run the arms dealing under his own name?” Jules asked.

“Probably because he’s self-absorbed. Also he knew my people wouldn’t be checking for him out of the country, especially if according to records he was still in jail.”

“I still don’t see how this affects us directly. I only see indirectly by you getting hurt.” Sam pointed out.

“I’m getting there. And for most of you it’s a slight chance. For one of you there’s a dead certainty. Emphasis on dead.”

“Who?” Ed asked

“Spike.” I wanted to jump to the explanation, but I needed to take this slow.

“Why?” Sam asked.

“Well, that’s where things get complicated. Chance for some reason still thinks I’m his girlfriend so he would definitely kill any boyfriend I have when he comes after me. And that’s Spike.”

“Wait, you and Spike are dating?” Wordy asked. I nodded. “How long?”

“A little over a week. Pretty much since day three or four.” I replied, glancing around the room. Everyone looked surprised except for Spike, of course, Greg, another no brainer, and Jules. Her lack of reaction confused me just as much as everyone else’s surprise. “Really? You guys are that shocked? Do you not believe it could work?”

“No, we figured it might happen. We just can’t believe you guys were that good at hiding it.” Sam said.

Really Samo, I thought you would be a tad more sensitive to that kind of behavior like your girlfriend. She probably suspected from day one of the relationship. I almost said it out loud, but I didn’t want to blow their secret and risk their jobs. So instead I just smiled and nodded.

Ed had apparently noticed Greg’s lack of reaction. “Did you know about this?”

“Yes. I figured it out the day he was shot. After talking Thunder and I agreed that if they keep it professional at work it shouldn’t matter what they do in their spare time.”

“Ok. Just wanted to clear that up.” Something in his tone made me think that later Greg was going to hear the ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ speech. Then he turned to Spike and I, “If one you guys break Priority of Life to save the other, I’ll tell the higher powers about the relationship myself.”

“Got it.” We answered simultaneously.

“So,” Greg said trying to get back on track. “We get why you are in danger. We get why Spike is in danger. Why is there a slight risk for the rest of us?”

“My teams are my family. As long as I had somewhere to run he has a problem. Maybe he would just kill for the fun of it. Maybe you guys fight to save me and he has bigger guns.”

“You mean that?” Jules asked. “The family part?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve never had much of a family so I build my own. I got a family here, in Vegas, and in Quantico.”

Jules smiled. Ed tried to reassert focus. “That’s really sweet and touching T, but we need to have some idea of what this guy will do and when.”

“Well I didn’t talk when I answered George’s phone, so he might not even know he’s in the right area. And even if he does know, he likes to mess with people. He’s a large percentage of the reason why I left BAU.”

“And what’s you plan for when he does catch up?” Sam asked.

“I’m not running. So I’m just going to have to fight like hell.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Ed pressed.

“Have you seen me fight Ed?”

“Yeah. And if he’s as good as you say he is, plus the fact that he’s probably bigger than you, it’s a legit question.”

“He’s the same height as me. I’m smarter than him, and I can get by on sheer determination when I need to.”

“Alright, but don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright,” Greg said. “Thank you for this warning Thunder. We need to get to work out. Spike you should probably head home. And watch out for yourself.”

“Boss I’m bored. Please let me come back to work.” Ah, Spike. Never failing to ease tension.