A/N This is my first attempt at a story for Blue Bloods. Not sure if my style works, but here goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. :-)
The 12th Precinct buzzed with activity, as it always did on Monday before the evening shift change. Jamie Reagan was following his partner, walking quickly behind her, his long strides easily catching up to her. "Wait up, Janko!" Her short five-foot-nothing frame and blond head cut a path through the sea of black uniforms in front of them. He had just suited up and after the weekend his utility belt and service weapon felt heavy as he walked, but his need for comfort couldn't compete with his building anger since he saw the night tour roster which was crumpled in his right hand.
Eddie kept heading for the ladies locker room, extending an arm out in front to push the door open. She had been dreading this conversation and her partner's reaction. She decided to pretend it was all about nothing. "There's nothing to discuss, Reagan, and it's really not a big deal," she said over one shoulder in a matter of fact way as she breezed through the doorway and toward her locker.
Jamie paused momentarily. Despite the wording on the door that was closing in his face he followed her in anyway. "C'mon, Eddie, what's this all about?"
"Look, Jamie," her voice was tight as she tried to conceal her emotions and sound convincing. "It's no big deal, ok? Nothing's wrong. It's just a reassignment for a few weeks. I wish you wouldn't take it so personal."
His own rule of thumb was coming back to haunt him because he was taking it personally. "No big deal?" He was getting a migraine. He held up the piece of paper that he had been clutching in his hand. "Eddie, we've been together for two years." He caught himself—it was a slip of the tongue that came out of his mouth before he could stop. "Er, that is, you know, I mean we've been riding together for two years and after everything we've been through I find out that you've requested another partner by reading it on the patrol roster?" He was conflicted. This would be for the best, he told himself. Working with other cops meant he could actually do something about his feelings for Eddie. But the thought of a tour without her made him miss her already. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
She yanked open her locker and tossed her purse in to it. "I'm sorry, Jamie. I just didn't think you'd make a federal case out of it. You've changed partners before without telling me. How is this different?"
He rolled his eyes. "Here we go." He knew she had him on this score, but the lawyer in him deflected it as he crumpled the paper in his hand in to a ball and threw it across the room in to the trash. "That was totally different. I was trying to help a fellow officer. I did not request a permanent reassignment"
"And neither have I," she argued as she began pulling her t-shirt over her head. "It's only for a few weeks, Reagan."
The sight of her undressing short circuited his brain. His hands adjusted his belt again. "Six weeks to be exact, but who's counting."
"Apparently you are," she huffed out, glaring at him. She suddenly became aware she was standing in her jeans and a pink bra. She tugged on a black t-shirt over her head.
He reached in to her locker and pulled out her Kevlar vest and handed it to her. "I'd just like to know why." He stood staring back at her, his voice growing quiet. It was just the two of them in the locker room and silence hung all around them. "If there's something we need to talk about, Eddie, I wish you'd tell me."
Her mind raced to find the right words. He was her partner. She could tell him everything, and yet nothing. She couldn't tell him that despite her attempts to date other men and view him as her police partner she couldn't deny her feelings for Jamie any longer. She thought he had begun to feel the same way until the previous autumn; but after a domestic call they had responded to there had been a distance and he had made it a point to see other women. She had encouraged him, of course, but that was a cover to hide her own emotions. It was laughable and Eddie decided she couldn't pretend anymore. "Look, Reagan, we've been riding together a long time," she started, trying to keep her emotions out of her voice as she pulled her vest on and slipped her arms through a black uniform shirt and began buttoning it. "I just thought it would be good for both of us to work with other cops in the precinct. You know, mixing it up and team building with other officers. That's all. It's not anything subversive, I promise."
He searched her face trying to tell if it was the truth, knowing she was as good at hiding her emotions as he was. She sounded sincere but he couldn't read her expression. "Well, can you at least tell me who you're riding with?"
Before Eddie could answer there was a knock on the door followed by a man's voice. "Hey, Eddie. Roll call's in five. You coming?"
Jamie looked toward the door and the back at her. "Rigetti?" He sounded exasperated, aiming a thumb over his shoulder. "You're riding with Rigetti again? What's with you two?"
She thought she detected some jealousy in his voice, but told herself that couldn't be possible. "He's a good cop, Jamie, and we've ridden together before. Remember, during your campaign-for-justice to ride with Kara?" Her frustration rose back up as she pulled her uniform pants and belt out of her locker.
He studied her closely, searching her eyes. "So you're not going to tell me what this is all about?" He waited for an answer. He knew hell would freeze over before he got one. She was stubborn, but it was one of the things he loved about her.
Jamie's hazel eyes were locked with hers. At times like this he could take her breath away. She softened her voice. "It's not about anything, Reagan. I just don't think police partners need to be attached at the hip twenty-four-seven." She looked back in to her locker, avoiding his gaze…and the ache of her own heart. Her fingers tugged at the button of her jeans as she steadied herself.
Police partners, he recited in his head. He hadn't heard her put it like that since their first weeks together. He felt his heart and his hope sinking in his chest. "Alright then. If it's what you want, Janko," he breathed out. "But I'll miss working with you." In truth what he was going to miss had less to do with work and more to do with spending eight hours a day together. During their tours he had her all to himself. They ate every meal together, discussed their work and the world around them. She had called their one year service-date their 'anniversary' and he liked it. He suddenly felt alone and empty. He had lied to Sgt. Renzulli and was still lying to himself—he did have a thing for his partner, but he was going-along to get-along. "I guess I'll head to roll call." He turned and headed for the door. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of team building," he added sarcastically, jerking the door open.
Mike Rigetti stood outside the locker room. "Hey, Reagan. No hard feelings, right? I mean, now that Eddie's my partner." His tone was more comical than serious but a gloating smile covered his face.
Jamie leaned in and corrected him. "Temporary partner." He was debating putting his fist through a wall or Mike's face. "Just make sure you have her back, Rigetti." He turned and headed for the assembly room.
Eddie slumped against her locker, thankful their conversation was over. She already felt lost knowing Reagan would not be seated beside her for the next 6 weeks.
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Thank you for reading!