Alphabet Injuries

Summary: Dr. Fraser said to Sam "It's a hairline fracture of the Zygomatic bone. You will …." Sam interrupted "Ah crap, I'm done. That's it! No more!" The team was concerned. Ed asked "What do you mean no more?" Sam closed his eyes sighing heavily as the pain meds began work "A to Z, I've hit them all now. No more letters for injuries" - Pure Sam whump, 26 ways Sam is injured/ill/hurt.

Setting: This will be 26 chapters of Sam whump. Started off as one story to thread 26 injuries/illnesses but by popular demand and the need to write better stories it changes in Chapter 3 to One Shots for each letter B to Y. This way each chapter can stand on its own and not be tied down to weaving it into an overall story. Will be mostly Team One centric but may or may not use OC from my Beauty of Life series.

This is not part of my Beauty of Life series so if you see differences in continuity from those stories it is okay and intentional. These stories are stand alone and may use elements or characterizations from that series but timeline/events can be different.

A/N: Special nod to Roxanne who suggested I do an A-Z injury/illness/hurt for Sam.

This set of stories I will use as a place for my muse to go when I'm blocked on my longer stories. So not exactly sure how often updates will be coming. Could be fast or slow depending on how the other stories are going.

Also thanks to all my readers that provide me input. It encourages me to keep writing. I love reading the reviews and PMs. I won't lie Reviews do make my day. I appreciate it when you take a moment of your time to drop me one telling me you enjoyed it. Totally love it when you tell me a particular part that moved you too.

I do not own Flashpoint or any of the characters from that series. I do own my original characters (OC).

Zygomatic Bone

SRU HQ

Winnie called out "Team One hot call. Man threatening to jump off of Gordon's Apartment Complex" then sent the address to their PDAs a she normally did.

As the team ran out to the SUVs Greg asked "Do we have an id on the man?"

"No the 911 calls only say a man is on the ledge of the roof. The building is forty floors" Winnie informed them.

As they pulled out of the garage Greg called out "Spike schematics. We need to know if there are any options to get below the man with a safety net."

"On it" Spike answered.

Gordon's Apartment Complex

Just after they arrived Spike entered the command truck and pulled up the computers. He had already sent the building plans to Ed and Sam so they could review. They had found a way to get below the man. The thirty-ninth floor and the roof top were dedicated as garden spaces for the residents. The thirty-ninth floor had several high windows that could be opened.

Sam and Ed would be able to latch into the window washing rigging and string a net between them. It wasn't the best solution but a possible last ditch one if Greg or Jules failed to stop the man from jumping. Sam, Ed and Leah gathered necessary gear from the trucks. Greg and Jules had grabbed their tethers and then jogged into the building taking the elevator to the roof top.

Spike called out "Boss linked into the complex cameras. I was able to reposition one and see the man at the edge. Took a still photo from the video. Going inside to see if security in the lobby recognizes him."

"Great Spike. Ed how much time do you need to set up?" Greg answered and asked.

"Heading in now. Ten minutes to set up if all goes well" Ed informed Greg as he grabbed the last coiled rope they needed. Back packs with all the necessary gear slung over their shoulders Ed, Sam and Leah were jogging to the building as Spike came along side of them.

Spike and Sam bumped fists as Spike said "Be safe you guys."

"Always am" Sam answered. It generated a laugh from the whole team. Sam's idea of safe and the rest of the team's idea of safe were quite disparate.

Greg and Jules quietly exited the elevator at the roof and looked at the situation. An older man with longish graying hair dressed in a pair of bright blue and purple plaid shorts, a green t-shirt, calf-high white tube socks and sandals was straddling the four foot wall that surrounded the roof of the building. He was still and looking down over the edge.

Jules describe what he was wearing to the team so Spike could ask security about it too. Greg and Jules hung back a bit hoping that Spike would get them a name. He didn't fail them as Spike called out "His name is Johnathan Martins, he is a resident in apartment 3307. The security guard says that he is well liked and sociable with all the residents. That's all I have at the moment. Heading to the truck to research."

Greg said "Jules head to his apartment. We may find a reason he is out here and something to help. Leah I need you up here with me."

Both answered "Copy that" and headed out. Greg looked around and found a place to hook in. The man still had not registered him behind him. Greg then said softly trying not to startle the man "Johnathan Martins?"

Johnathan jumped slightly at his name being called. He looked to the side and saw a man in gray. "Go away" he said sadly and dejectedly.

"Johnathan my name is Sergeant Greg Parker with the Strategic Response Unit. I'd like to help. Can you come back on this side of the fence so we can talk?" Greg said.

"Just go away please" Johnathan responded.

Greg took one step closer "I can't do that" he said calmly.

Johnathan shifted more towards the ledge "Sure you can. Just turn around and walk away. Easy."

"Can you tell me why you are out here today?" Greg tried.

"Doesn't make a difference" Johnathan answered.

As Greg engaged in conversation Ed and Sam attached to the rigging and then with direction from Spike they positioned themselves and attached the net between them. Both men braced themselves with their boots flat on the building and held onto one edge of the net.

Ed looked at Sam "You secure?"

"Yes. You?" Sam answered.

Ed nodded. They began their wait listening to Greg talk to Johnathan.

Spike pulled up biographical information on Johnathan and fed it to the team "Johnathan Martins is sixty-seven years old. He is a retired teacher of Industrial Arts. He was married but his wife passed away five years ago. No children. Clean, no criminal charges. Not even a traffic ticket. Sorry Boss. Not much to go on."

Jules had been let into the apartment by the security guard. She looked around. Everything was neat and tidy. She checked the fridge and found it fully stocked and a receipt for groceries from yesterday morning. She went into his bedroom and here again all was in order. Next she entered the bathroom.

Opening the cabinet she found only normal things. No pills or medications of note. "Boss I'm not finding anything so far to help. Heading back to the family room area."

She saw a manila envelope on the table beside a chair. She picked it up and said "I think I found the reason boss. He had a doctor's appointment yesterday. He has a paper with a diagnosis. Johnathan has an inoperable brain tumor. Looks like the doctor told him that it would be three to six months before he would die."

Jules could hear Greg trying to connect with the man. She looked around the room and thought sadly he wanted to die on his terms but they could not let him do that. Johnathan didn't see the need to live in pain for the last months of his life. Jules wished there was a more compassionate option.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as she heard Greg shout "No. Ed! Sam!" She was racing for the thirty-ninth floor now.

Ed and Sam heard Greg shout no. Neither heard their names as they focused on the man plummeting towards them. Johnathan was falling right into the net. Both were beginning to breathe a sigh of relief as they saw his trajectory and knew that he would be caught in the net.

Johnathan's body contacted the net as Ed and Sam tightened their grips. At the same moment Johnathan's heel connected with Sam's face.

Sam grunted in pain as the heel slammed into his cheek bone. The blow was enough to stun him but not enough that he let go. The man's life was in his and Ed's hands. He redoubled his hold as waves of pain washed through him.

Ed saw the heel strike Sam and shouted "Sam you okay?"

It was taking all his effort to maintain his grip as he gritted his teeth against the pain. Sam just grunted in response.

Within minutes the rest of the team was there to help haul them in. Johnathan was sobbing because he had not succeeded and kept saying there was nothing left. He wanted to die. Paramedics were there and securing him to a gurney.

Ed and Spike helped Sam in and eased him to the ground waiting for another set of paramedics.

Sam slumped against the wall as his team gathered around. They were all trying to get him to respond but it hurt too much to move his mouth. He raised his hand to touch his cheek and Jules tried to stop him but was too slow. His fingers touched his cheek. Pain shot through him as his eyes rolled back in his head. He was out.

Jules caught Sam's head before it hit the ground. The area just below his right eye was already very swollen and bruised and both were rapidly increasing. Jules cradled his head as she heard Ed yelling "Where are the damned medics?"

Greg was dealing with the scene and handing it over to the units. Spike was pacing "Why the hell is it always Sam that gets hurt."

Leah put a hand on Spike's shoulder. "He's going to be okay. It just looks really bad but he's going to be okay."

Hospital – ER Waiting Room

The team waited in the ER for several hours as Sam was attended to. Shift was over so everyone had stayed. They all were happy they saved Johnathan but upset about the freak accident that befell Sam while catching Johnathan.

Ed sat quietly. For once he was not up ranting about Sam taking unacceptable risks. They were both out there hanging thirty-nine stories up. It was just Sam's damned luck that the guy's foot struck him in the face. He was both worried and amazed. How had Sam held on? Ed had heard the resounding crack as foot met cheek.

Jules was the only one pacing. She wanted to get back there now. She needed to see Sam now. They had talked about bubble wrap for her and the baby they were keeping secret for now. But she was not the one always getting hurt. Sam needed fifty feet of bubble wrap around him to keep him safe. Dammit.

Spike sat with his knee thumping up and down nervously lost in his own thoughts. Why was it always Sam? Before Sam joined the team Wordy had been the magnet for all the shit that happened on calls. But shortly after Sam joined they learned that the baton had been passed. Dammit, they were supposed to be having a good time tonight watching the game. Not stuck in the hospital yet again. This sucked for Sam.

The door opened and Dr. Fraser headed right for them. Too frequent visitors he randomly thought as he looked at the team. "Sam's resting comfortably now. They've moved him up to his room. If you want to join me there in fifteen minutes I'll give you all the run down together.

Greg asked "By his room I suppose you mean room 1030."

Dr. Fraser chuckled "Yep that would be the one." He got a kick out of it when Spike had explained to him that 10-30 was police code for 'does not conform to rules or regulations'. That certainly fit Samtastic when it came to hospitals. It was always a team effort to keep him from signing out AMA.

Hospital – Sam's Room

Sam looked around him as he regained consciousness. Damn not again. He hated hospitals with a passion. Sam tried to move his jaw and the pain in the right side of his face was sharp. He decided it was best not to try to move it. He was busy recalling what happened when the door opened and the team entered.

Jules was at his side and had his hand in hers in a flash "Hey Sam."

Sam gazed up at her worried about what the stress of him being here yet again was doing to her and the baby. He didn't want to cause them any harm.

Jules could see the worry in his eyes along with the pain. Softly before the others got to close she said "We are good. You not so much." Then a bit louder she added "Dr. Fraser will be here shortly to fill us in on the damage."

Sam squeezed her hand in lieu of a kiss which they never did around the team while on duty. But that didn't stop Jules from placing a chaste kiss on his forehead.

Greg took up position on the opposite side. He face showed his concern openly. He smiled weakly and said "You did good. You and Ed saved Johnathan."

Spike stood at the foot of the bed "You're in 1030 again. Not gonna get away with AMA this time. They all know your little tricks and won't fall for it. Nurse Betty says she'll be in when the doctor gets here."

Ed stepped up next to Jules and put one hand on her shoulder and one on Sam's leg "Samo. I don't know what to say other than to restate the boss. You did good. I'm still not quite sure how you held on after his heel hit you."

Leah just patted his leg. She never quite knew what to say when any of the team was injured. So she always opted for silent support. Leah hoped this injury was not as bad as Sam looked.

The door opened again admitting Dr. Fraser and Nurse Betty. Leah made room for them by backing up a bit.

Dr. Fraser said to Sam "It's a hairline fracture of the Zygomatic bone. You will …."

Sam interrupted "Ah crap, I'm done. That's it! No more!" He winced and groaned in pain after saying that. He really shouldn't have spoken.

The team was concerned at both is words and the pain they heard in his voice. His face hardly ever gave away his pain. That is unless you looked closely at his eyes. He was ever the stoic soldier when it came to injuries.

Dr. Fraser asked "Level?"

Sam held up seven fingers not wanting to speak again yet.

Nurse Betty stepped forward "Got your pain meds right here." As she injected it into his IV she added "It should take effect quickly now."

Sam felt the warmth of the meds wash over him taking the edge off the pain. He knew Dr. Fraser understood his disdain for pain meds because of his reactions to them. He knew what and how much to give him so Sam could manage the pain without the dreaded side effects. Sam hated making an ass of himself when he was loopy on pain killers. He relaxed into the pillow.

Dr. Fraser was waiting for that moment. He was waiting for Sam to regain consciousness and determine the pain level before giving meds. Now that they were on board he launched back into his explanation "As I said you have a hairline fracture of the Zygomatic bone. That's your cheek bone."

"We are going to keep you over a few days to watch for concussion signs; which I currently do not see. Also so we can keep the pain under control. No work for a week and light duty for another three to six weeks depending on how fast it heals. Any questions?"

Ed piped up "Not for you doc but Samo, what do you mean I'm done, that's it and no more!?"

Sam closed his eyes sighing heavily as the pain meds began work "A to Z, I've hit them all now. No more letters for injuries."

Spike opened his mouth and gaped like a fish.

Jules squeezed Sam's hand.

Ed asked "What does that mean?"

Sam slowly and softly said "Exactly what it sounds like. I've had an injury to my body for every letter of the alphabet. All that was missing was Z. But now Zygomatic bone means I'm done."

Jules didn't like what she heard but she was also curious "Rest now Sam. I'll be here."

Sam nodded slightly and let the drug induced sleep take him.

Ed looked at the others "Christ, one for every letter of the alphabet. I just gotta know."

Greg said "We can ask him tomorrow since we are off the next three days. Sam needs rest now. Everyone should go home." He turned to Jules and said "I assume I can't make you leave."

Jules smiled "You assume correctly."

Spike chimed in "I'll go grab a shower and some dinner for us Jules. I'm staying the night too. When I get back you can run home for a quick shower and change. That way you can bring some comfy clothes for Sam too. We all know how he just looooves the hospital gowns."

.

AN: If you enjoy Alphabet Injuries you might enjoy the Beauty of Life world of my own creation. I have completed and published the first book in my Beauty of Life series - FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion - and I'm halfway through writing my second book SOLACE: Behind the Shield. My Beauty of Life series somewhat follows the world I have created here and incorporates the Alphabet Injuries stories into the flow of the overall story line. There are necessary changes, NEW content, and NEW twists and turns.

FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion
Beauty of Life, Book One
by Laura Acton

Is now available as an ebook or paperback on Amazon.
(note: Kindle ebooks can be read on computers, tablets and phones with a free reader app from Amazon - NO Kindle required.)

Come meet Daniel William Broderick, Alexandra 'Lexa' McKenna, Jonathan Hardy, Nicholas Pastore, Dante 'Loki' Baldovino, Abraham 'Bram' De Haven, Raymundo Palomo, Tia Walsh, Walter Gambrill, Brody Mikhail Hunter and the rest of your favorite characters (the General, the Broderick cousins, Blaze, Mason, Patch, etc.). Delve into a complex world of courageous men and women riding a roller coaster of emotions and danger. Explore the nature of relationships and bonds developed and strengthened in the face of adversity.

Forsaken Summary:

Dan Broderick is on the edge of oblivion. After a friendly fire incident, his heart and soul were ripped to shreds. He chose to leave Special Forces when his unit, men he considered brothers, turned their backs on him. Dan returned to Toronto where he hoped to find the beauty of life and make a difference as a sniper for the Tactical Response Force. Will his new team pull him back from the edge or be the reason he slips into oblivion?

Alpha Team is the elite team of Toronto's Tactical Response Force. Five men and one woman with a rare familial bond, help each other cope with the dark side of humanity as they keep the citizens of Toronto and each other safe. Their team balance is knocked off kilter when an unwanted, new teammate is forced on them. Will Alpha Team's resentment of the new member prevent them from recognizing the wounded soul in their midst before it's too late to save him?

FORSAKEN contains 80% new content combined with some tweaked/expanded parts of previous stories. Forsaken begins with Dan's meeting with the General to exit the military. There is an all new way that Dan first meets the team and Lexa (JAM fans should like this way a lot). There will be many injuries along the way in the rough and tumble worlds of the Tactical Response Force and Special Forces.

Continue reading for a sneak peek of FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion ...

Chapter 1

July 10
Afghanistan – General's Office

The barren, brown landscape within his view, exactly matched the wasteland where his heart used to be. He was an empty, scarred shell of desolation. Everything worth anything in him had been blown away on May twenty-sixth.

He couldn't bear the pain of living with what he'd done. After weeks of investigation, the review board had cleared him of fault, but he would never forgive himself. It was his fault no matter what anyone said. The guilt and remorse weighed heavy on him.

Brody was dead and it was his fault. His bullet had blown away the person that meant the most to him in this world. His best friend, his brother, the man that saw him for who he really was and accepted him, faults and all. The man that had saved him countless times and wouldn't let him fall into darkness was now dead, at his hand.

Master Corporal Daniel William Broderick stood at rigid attention before the General's desk as he waited for the General to join him in the office. The window to the outside world was the only place he allowed his eyes to go.

He didn't dare look at the desk. It would be a reminder that he had no one now. No one. He was alone again. Not that he needed a reminder, it was an ever-present thought in his head. One that was unrelenting, mocked him and demanded that he end it all.

No one would mourn him, like they mourned Brody. The world would be a better place without him. He was a failure in all ways that mattered. He failed to protect Sara, Brody, Ripsaw, Yankee, Shy, Buzz, Dutch, Gambit, Unicorn and a host of others. They were all dead because he failed.

The past six years had been purgatory, but at least he hadn't been alone. Brody and the unit had made it bearable. Now that was all gone. Brody was dead and his unit brothers had turned their backs on him. Not that he blamed them. He had committed the greatest sin of all, he'd killed one of their own.

He was back to being alone in this world. Everyone and everything he ever cared about was ripped from him once again. The first time it happened, he was only nine years old and his whole world changed one summer afternoon. Dan had lost everything dear to him in a blink of an eye when he failed to protect his little sister Sara. His parents abandoned him. His father wished it had been him that died instead of Sara.

And … for the past six years, his father had tried to kill him—of that he was sure. It was only through the efforts of his unit that he'd survived.

The deep aching pain of Brody's death threatened to overtake Dan again. He wished that he had access to a weapon, any weapon, so he could end the pain. But he'd been locked in a cell for the past six weeks which was devoid of anything he could use to end it. He'd also been watched by guards around the clock.

When in his cell, he was allowed nothing more than his t-shirt and shorts. There was only a mattress on the floor—they didn't even give him a cot. He was given only things that could be eaten without the use of utensils. His cell didn't even have a toilet. He had to ask to use a toilet and was escorted to the facilities by four armed soldiers who always looked at him with disdain.

He'd tried to escape once, hoping that they'd shoot him, but they only tasered him. They took joy in taunting him, calling him killer and murderer, and zapping him so many times that he'd blacked out. When he woke up, he was back in his cell. There was a new set of guards after that.

The new guards also looked at him with disdain. It was also mixed with pity. Disdain he could handle, he deserved that for what he'd done. Pity, on the other hand, he could not handle. Pity dredged up so many more horrific memories for him and made him want to kill the guards with his bare hands.

Dan pushed back down the memories of his three months of torture at the hands of terrorists that pity evoked. Those memories had been locked away for four years and needed to stay that way. Brody had helped him lock them away in a special place and move forward. The unit had helped too. Especially his unit Commanding Officer, Blaze.

Blaze had been the embodiment of a father that Dan so desperately wanted. It had taken time to build a bond and trust between them. Trusting was never easy for Dan after being discarded by his natural family. But he'd come to trust Blaze and thought of him as a father figure. The bullet that had blown away Brody, had also severed that bond of trust.

When Dan woke in the hospital six weeks ago, Blaze wouldn't even meet his eyes. None of the unit would. After confirming that Brody was dead, no one spoke a single word to him. After the first three days, they never came to visit him either.

Dan had felt a connection with each of his unit buddies. They were all brothers, their bonds forged in the fires of hell. Bonds that Dan thought could never be broken—but they had, his bullet blew those bonds away.

Everyone had deserted him again. And it was all his fault, just like before with Sara. His natural family and now his chosen unit family were gone. There was nothing left for him here. Nothing. He needed to leave—to go far away.

Dan clamped down on his deep, aching pain, grief and shame. He firmly affixed his mask. It wouldn't do to let anyone know the pain and guilt he felt—not that anyone would give a damn. But he needed his shields firmly in place so his weakness wouldn't show. Especially not to the General.

He could never allow the General to see his vulnerability. The man would use it against him. The General had been making his life hell for six years and Dan knew if he showed weakness, the General would twist the knife in deeper.

The General wanted him dead and had been trying to kill him for six years now. Somehow, he had always managed to survive, even when the odds were against him. General Broderick wanted him to die in service to his country so the General could maintain the illusion of family honor.

That fact was one of the reasons Dan wasn't dead yet. Oh, he wanted to die, there was no disputing that fact and he would eventually find a way to die and end his pain. But before he did that, Dan wanted to stick it to the General first—cause him some pain of his own in return for all the pain the General had caused him over years.

Ending his military career would be the first step in doing so. Dan would throw back into the General's face all that the General held dear. He would break with generations of family tradition and leave the military. The fact he was doing so under the cloud of being the one responsible for the death of a soldier in a friendly fire incident was simply icing on the cake. It had actually facilitated his early exit from Special Forces and the military.

As he continued to stand a rigid attention, Dan wished the General would hurry up and get in here. The faster he got this over with, the faster he could leave this place. He needed to leave and he needed to shed this tan uniform. A uniform that had renewed his life ten years ago—when he met Brody in boot camp—but then ended it six weeks ago when he killed Brody.

General's Office – Outer Office

General William Arthur Broderick strode into his outer office where all his staff were located. He'd been delayed by a critical meeting with Colonel Thomas Sutton. He disliked making Daniel wait but there was no way around it.

Everyone stopped what they were doing when the General strode in. What was happening today would be food for the gossip mill. Several of them thought they were lucky enough to have first row seats and were looking forward to the many beers would be bought for them tonight as they would recount what was about to happen.

For the past six weeks, gossip regarding the friendly fire incident that resulted in the death of Master Corporal Brody Hunter was rampant. It had shocked the Special Forces community. So many wanted to see Master Corporal Broderick brought up on murder charges and felt that Dan Broderick was being given special treatment because he was the General's son. Others were more compassionate. They were quick to defend Broderick's actions as an unfortunate accident.

It was clear from all accounts that Broderick had been given the all clear to fire. The only unknown was the how and why of Hunter's presence in the target zone. Many who wanted charges filed believed that Dan should've noticed that he was firing on a friendly. Especially since Hunter and Broderick were in the same unit.

Stopping in front of Corporal Merrill's desk, the General asked, "Do you have the paperwork ready for Master Corporal Broderick?"

"Almost, Sir," Corporal Cody Merrill stated as he stood. He held out the file to the General. "It has been prepared exactly as you requested. I just need to finalize the voluntary reactivation paperwork. It will take me a few minutes."

"Is the Master Corporal waiting in my office?"

Corporal Merrill nodded. "Yes, Sir. Been there for about twenty minutes."

General Broderick reached for the file.

As the General took the file from him, Merrill relaxed a bit, but only a bit. The General was an imposing man. He wasn't nicknamed Badass for nothing. The General was the epitome of military bearing, through and through. He was a hard man from everything Merrill could see and knew about the man.

His face didn't show his years, the chiseled angular lines and firm square jaw still attracted attention from females. Even in his mid-fifties, the General's military-cut hair was still golden blonde. Merrill thought that gray and white hairs were probably afraid of General Badass, so didn't dare try to sprout on his head. The General's eyes were a deep shade of sapphire blue that could, when the General was angry, freeze a soldier in his place with the piercing intensity. When the General dressed-down soldiers, his voice alone could cut a soldier to shreds, it could be icy and unyieldingly hard.

No one doubted the deadliness of General Badass. His physique was still muscular and well-toned—nothing had gone soft on the General. It was suggested he could probably still best many of the younger soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. General Broderick had been a Special Forces sniper before he was promoted to lead Special Forces. His record for distance, accuracy and speed had only been supplanted by his son, Master Corporal Broderick.

Merrill knew that General Broderick had come up through the ranks rapidly and became a Brigadier General at the age of thirty-four and a full General by forty. There was talk that his path had almost been guaranteed with the connections of his late father, Brigadier General Arthur Broderick.

The General looked a lot like his late father, just like the Master Corporal looked like a younger version of the General with a few slight differences. Merrill knew this because he had done his research and because the Broderick family was well known in military circles. They were a military family and were in every branch, Army, Navy and Air Force. For at least eight generations back, maybe even more, every Broderick male joined the military. They served with honor and distinction and either died in the field or were eventually forced to retire.

Not a single Broderick had ever left the military when they were still able bodied.

Until now.

Corporal Merrill watched the General head towards his office. The General's son was breaking with tradition and leaving the military. Merrill was glad of that. It resolved his problems. He wouldn't have to deal with Major Plouffe anymore. Cody was glad to be finally free of that man's machinations.