Jamie leaned against his car and sighed heavily, it was his first night tour without Vinne, and one month to the day he had been killed. To top it all off, Renzulli decided today of all days was the day to assign him a new partner, he was not looking forward to it at all. He had gotten used to being on his own, driving around on his own, he had decided he liked being on his own, his father and brother had gone against him and argued that he needed a partner-he needed someone to have his back.

He didn't want a new partner, he didn't want someone to have his back…just look what happened with Vinne, he was a great guy, he didn't deserve to die, he had his whole life ahead of him. Sighing again he stood up off the car, he just wanted to do his job and be left alone, he couldn't worry about someone else, he couldn't go through losing another partner.

Looking down at his watch he scoffed "late already, great impression," he said out loud and kicked a stone across the pavement. His new partner was only roughly three minutes late but he had decided he didn't like this Janko guy already and nothing would change his mind. He didn't need anyone, he didn't need anyone to watch his back, he was a good cop, he could handle himself.

Looking towards the entrance again he huffed "where the hell is this guy?"

Just inside the doorway of the precinct a young woman stood dressed in a NYPD uniform staring out the door looking scared out of her wits "what am I doing?" she muttered to herself. "Why did I do this? What good will come of this? What if he finds us? What if I like it here?"

"No, Eddie," she said "you can do this, we've went through this already, you're nothing like him, you're a good person," she said and squared her shoulders "you're a police officer now, you can do this, think of her, this is all for her…you can do this," she said and walked outside.

Seeing a guy leaning against a car looking extremely pissed off she swallowed hard, he looked like the grumpy type, he looked like he would take your head off in a second 'good' she said to herself 'I can't afford to have any sort of friendship with anyone, I can't risk him finding out anything' she added and walked to him "hey, are you Reagan?"

"Yeah," he muttered and looked up "did you want something?"

"Uh," she said awkwardly "Renzulli told me to come find you…I'm you're new partner."

"Janko?" he asked surprised.

Nodding she held out her hand "Eddie Janko…don't worry," she said at the look on his face "everyone expects a sweaty Hungarian guy when they hear my name."

Nodding Jamie pulled his hand away "who was your last partner?"

"You're my first…just graduated from the academy last week," she replied.

"Great," he sighed "come on then," he added and walked to his side of the car.

…..

At meal time they ate in silence, Jamie didn't want to talk to her and she didn't want to talk to him…the more she talked the more she would give away about herself and that couldn't happen.

"So Janko?" Jamie finally said "what's the scoop on you? Where you from?"

"No scoop," she said and looked away quickly "from Iowa, quiet town," she added quickly.

"That's it?" he chuckled "no parents? Siblings? No stories from being a kid?"

"No," she said quickly "mom died, dad not around, only child, boring childhood."

"Okay," he said slowly as she shifted in her seat "well, I got loads, you can have any one of mine if you want."

"What?" she frowned.

"Two brothers, a sister a dad, a grandpa, a sister-in-law, two nephews and a niece if you want one," he chuckled.

"That's not funny," she said seriously "you should treasure your family," she said and stood up "I gotta pee," she added and hurried off.

"Okay, what was that?" he said out loud as he watched her hurry across the diner.

In the bathroom Eddie leaned her hands against the sink and put her head between them "you gotta stop this Janko, it was a joke, you can't keep doing this, he'll know something is up."

Blowing out a deep breath she threw some water on her face and dried it off "pull yourself together," she said out loud. Making her way back to the table she frowned as the waitress was cleaning the table and Jamie was nowhere to be seen "uh, did you see where my partner went?"

"Sure hun," she said happily "he paid and went outside," she smiled and walked off.

"Thanks," she said and walked outside, spotting him sitting on the hood of the car she walked to him "I'm sorry, can we start again?" she asked.

Staring at her for a minute he held out a milkshake and waited for her take it "anything you wanna talk about?"

"Thanks," she said and sat beside him "I'm sorry, I'm just nervous, I didn't mean to be all weird back there, this is all real, it's not training like the academy…it's gonna take me a while to get used to it."

Jamie had softened towards her a bit "you'll be okay once you follow my lead and do exactly what I tell you. It's gonna be hard at first, but if you really want to be here you'll pick it up in no time. Everything you need to know you've learned in the handbook or at the academy, once you follow the rules you'll be just fine," he said and stood up off the car "come on, this is the best time to sweep the park- few deals, few drug addicts-sometimes some crazy people too," he chuckled and climbed into the car.

Eddie watched him climb into the car-he wasn't so bad after all.

The next morning Eddie hurried from the locker room in her street clothes "Janko!" Jamie called and jogged to catch up with her.

"Hey," she said as she kept walking.

"Fancy breakfast, on me?" he asked as they exited the precinct.

Eddie stopped abruptly "uh, I'd love to, but there's somewhere I need to be, in like…twenty minutes," she said as she glanced at her watch.

"Okay, rain check then…let me give you a ride?" he asked nodding towards his car.

"Thanks, but I have my own car," she said dangling her keys.

"Alright, I guess I'll see you tonight then," he said as he stepped on to the road.

"Tonight?" she asked quickly.

"Yes," he said slowly "another night tour…did Renzulli not tell you that? You've a week of nights."

"Oh, right…sorry," she said "I'm tired, I forgot…I better go, see ya," she said and hurried to a silver Porsche.

"Wow! That's yours?" Jamie asked wide eyed and walked to it.

"Um, yeah," she replied and watched him run his eyes over every inch of the car.

"Awesome car, where did you get it?" he asked.

"High school graduation gift," she said quickly "sorry Jamie, I really gotta go, I'll see you back here later, and thanks for last night," she added and climbed in.

"Yeah, no worries, see ya later," he said and watched her drive away…something was definitely up with her.

Arriving home Eddie let herself in and dumped her bag "Daniela?" she called and walked into the kitchen "I'm home!"

An older Spanish woman walked into the kitchen "good morning Eddie, how was it?"

"It was okay-scary, but okay," she chuckled "how was she for you?"

"That's great, she's been so good, she's awake since six…I think she's excited," Daniela chuckled.

Eddie chuckled too and took a bite of an apple "Ariana! Almost time to go!"

Little footsteps thumped through the apartment "Edit!" a small blonde girl yelled and hurried to her "you're home! How was it? Did you shoot anyone?"

Eddie raised an eyebrow "no, I did not shoot anyone, and what have I said about calling me that?" She asked sternly.

"Sorry Eddie," she muttered and swung her body from side to side "it's hard to remember sometimes."

Eddie looked at Daniela and sighed, getting down on her knees she pulled her to her "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be mean, you just have to be careful okay?"

"Okay," Ariana nodded "can we go now? I have my stuff all packed."

"Ari, you're going to preschool not on holiday, what did you pack?" Eddie chuckled as she was pulled to her bedroom.

"Just some stuffs I need," she replied.

Eddie pulled her bag to her and pulled out all her toys "one dolly and a pencil case like we agreed okay?"

"Okay," Ariana grumbled "can we go now?"

"Come on, kitten," Eddie said and pulled her up "Daniela, thanks so much, are you okay for another night tonight?"

"Anytime you need me," she smiled and watched them bolt out the door.

….

Over at Frank's house Jamie had had a few hours sleep and decided to pay his grandpa a visit before tour. Sitting lost in thought he jumped when someone smacked him on the head "hey Danny," muttered.

"What's eating you kid?" he asked as he sat beside him. "Where's pops?"

"Gone to get something from the store…Nothing," he replied "did you wrap up that case?"

"Don't give me that," Danny chuckled "I can see it written all over your little baby face…what's on your mind?"

Jamie sighed heavily "I don't know exactly, I got a new partner last night, there's something about her."

"You're new partner is a chick?" Danny chuckled "you got a crush on her already?"

"Not like that," Jamie said quickly "just a few things I've noticed already."

"Like?"

"Like, last night we were on meal and started to ask her questions-where's she's from and all that. All I got was Iowa, small town."

"What's weird about that?" Danny asked.

"That's not all," Jamie said and leaned forward "she said she was an only child, I was joking about giving her one of you if she wanted. She freaked and jumped up saying I shouldn't joke about that, that I should treasure my family before she ran off to the bathroom."

Danny thought for moment "maybe she had got a sibling but they died or something, I wouldn't read too much into it kid, she's new she's only finding her feet-she doesn't know who she can trust yet. I bet in a few weeks times you'll be best pals."

"Yeah, maybe," Jamie replied "but this morning I caught her on the way out, she was all awkward and said she had somewhere to be, she couldn't wait to get away."

"Who doesn't bolt out of that place after a twelve hour tour?" Danny chucked. "Look, Jamie," he said scooting closer to him "you don't know her, you don't know what she had to hurry off for. She could have kids at home to get to school, she could have a husband waiting for her to get in so he can go to work."

"Yeah, I never thought of it like that before…but she said she had no one, it was just her."

"Are you in love with her or something?" Danny asked "seriously, you're reading way too much into this…change the topic," he said and stood up. "if there's something going on with her I'm sure she'll tell you when she wants you to know."

"Alright," Jamie nodded and stood up "I am reading too much into it, I only met her last night, she could have anything going on."

"Exactly, now shut up, and get gramps to make us his pancakes," Danny chuckled "you're his favourite, he'll make them for you."

"I'm not his favourite, you are," Jamie laughed, his new partner forgotten for now.

Later that night Eddie was trying to get out of her apartment but Ariana was making it difficult. she held onto the door and sighed "Ariana, I'm going to be late for work, you have to let go."

"I don't want you to go!" she sobbed as she gripped her leg tighter "I want you stay here with me!"

"You're tired after your big day, you need to go to bed sweetie, Daniela will read you a story."

"I don't want her! I want you!" she screamed as she kicked and screamed on the floor.

"Eddie, just go, she'll calm down soon," Daniela said as she pried her fingers from Eddie's leg and lifted her up, dodging her flaying limbs.

Eddie blew out a breath, she felt so guilty "maybe I should just call in."

"No you won't, she's tired and cranky, that's all it is…go!" Daniela called as she carried Ariana into her bedroom.

Eddie ran the last few block and skidded into the locker room, changing quickly she ran out to the lot to find Jamie "sorry," she panted as she found him writing in his notebook "my car wouldn't start," she lied "didn't have your number to let you know."

Jamie watched her hunched over trying to control her breathing "so you ran all the way here?"

"Yeah," she said and stood up straight.

"Why didn't you just call the precinct, I could have gotten your uniform and picked you up," he said as they climbed into the car.

"I'll remember that the next time," she said and climbed in beside him.

"That's two days in a row you've been late Janko, don't let it happen again, bosses frown upon that," he said and held out his hand "phone?" he asked.

"For?" she asked as she looked at his hand.

"So I can save my number and cover you if you're late again," he replied.

"Oh, right, sorry," she said and handed him her phone "I really am sorry Jamie, it won't happen again."

"I'll let it slide this time," he chuckled and started up the car "have you decided on the rain check breakfast?" he asked.

"Uh, not yet, I'm pretty booked out once tour ends."

Thinking about what Danny said he looked over at her "kids? I mean it's okay if you have kids and you need to get home to get them to school…we could go after that."

"What?" she said horrified "he knows! He knows! "What do you know? Who have you been asking about me?"

Jamie stared at her for a minute before he pulled into the side of the road and turned off the engine "what the hell is your problem?" He asked angrily.

Eddie was shaking, her heart was racing…this was why getting a job was a bad idea "I-I-I," she stuttered.

Jamie noticed her shaking body and her sweating forehead…something definitely wasn't right here, she looks scared out of her mind. Climbing out he walked to her side and pulled her door open, leaning over her he unclipped her belt and pulled her out. Sitting her on the hood he put both hands on her shoulders "just breath, calm down," he said softly.

"I-I-I…I'm sorry," she panted out.

"It's okay," he said as he rubbed her arms "just calm down, nice deep breaths, it's okay, everything is gonna be okay."

….

A few minutes later Eddie had relaxed and opened her eyes, seeing Jamie's arm wrapped around her she pushed him away quickly and stood up off the hood "I'm fine now…thanks," she said and hurried back to the car.

Jamie watched her and frowned, what the hell was going on here? She was acting too weird and freaked out. Walking to his side he climbed in and looked over at her "has this happened before?"

"Yes," she sighed deciding not to lie and looked over at him "I suffer-sometimes-very rarely, with stress and anxiety. Normally I can control it," she said and looked down at her hands like she was ashamed to admit it. "I haven't had one like that in about five years," she muttered.

"Does anyone know? Anyone at the academy? Anyone at the precinct?" he asked.

"No, why?" she asked still looking down at her hands.

"Because you shouldn't have graduated at all if they knew," Jamie replied a little pissed "so you didn't tell them at all? No one?"

"No one," she whimpered and looked over at him "I can control it, I swear I can, today was just a bad day, any other situation I can control it. I will have your back, I can do my job," she sniffed "Jamie, please, don't tell anyone, I really really need this job."

"Eddie," he sighed "if you suffer with something like that a high risk job is not the place for you to be."

Eddie hung her head "I'm not doing it for me," she muttered.

"What?" he asked leaning closer.

"Nothing, you're right…I'll speak to Renzulli later."

"Eddie, I'm not saying this to be nasty or mean or anything," he said softly "but you could end up getting yourself or someone else killed, you could cause more harm than good…you have to understand that?"

"I know," she sighed and looked out the window "just let me finish this tour."

Jamie looked over at her and watched her swipe at her face "if there's anything I can do just ask," he said-feeling quite guilty "I could put a word in with Renzulli, maybe you could stay at the precinct or something."

"Thanks," she mumbled and straightened up in her seat "but we both know that won't happen," she added and went back to staring out the window.

What had she done? Why did she flip like that? Why did she tell him anything? Why didn't she just lie! Closing her eyes tight she cursed herself, she had just settled here, Ariana had just settled here, she didn't want to have to pack up and move again.

After tour, Eddie sat alone in the locker rooms looking down at the uniform she had gotten to wear just twice, sighing she threw it into her locker. Why did she think she could do this? Why did she think she could have a normal life? Sniffing she caught a tear that rolled down her cheek and wiped it away, she looked towards the door to see Jamie watching her with a look of concern on his face "don't worry, I'm still here, I'm going to see him now," she said and closed her locker.

Jamie pushed himself off the door and closed it behind him, walking to the bench he sat down beside her "you don't need to go see him," he said and looked over at her "it's not for me to force you into, it's none of my business, if you feel you can do this then I'll back you all the way, I'll have your back."

Eddie nodded and looked down at her hands "thanks," she replied "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you in this position, if you want to tell Renzulli what happened go right ahead."

Jamie stood up "I'm not going to see Renzulli and neither are you, what you did last night is enough for me to know you can do your job. If you ever want to talk about anything I want you to call me."

"Won't your girlfriend have something to say about another woman calling you?" she asked curiously.

Jamie shifted uncomfortably "uh, no…she left," he said wondering why he told her that when it took him two weeks to tell his family.

"Oh…sorry," she said awkwardly "I just heard some of the guys mention you were engaged the other day."

"It's okay," he replied "she's gone, I'm, good…see you tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night?" she frowned "not tonight?"

Jamie chuckled and walked back to her "did Sarge not go through shifts with you?"

"Uh no, he just said four twelve hour tours, one eight hour and two days off," she replied looking really confused. "I assumed we'd be nights Monday to Friday."

"No," he chuckled and sat beside her "Monday, Tuesday, eight to eight, Wednesday we're off, Thursday and Friday eight to eight, Saturday eight to five, then off Sunday."

"So let me get this straight," Eddie said and stood up so "we'll be off Wednesday and Sunday, a short tour Saturday and the other four twelve hour?"

"That's just nights," Jamie chuckled as he pulled the door open for her.

"So days are?" she frowned.

"Depends, we could get Monday to Friday or we could have to work a Sunday and have a Monday off…it rotates. You should have gotten a months roster when you met with Renzulli."

"Uh, you mean the thing that looks like a calendar sheet?"

Jamie laughed again "that's it, call me later and I'll bring you for a drink and go through everything with you," he said and climbed into his car.

"Jamie! I can't go! Jamie!" she yelled as he pulled away "damn it!" she yelled.

….

Later that evening Eddie paced her living room, she hadn't called Jamie and he hadn't her number to call her, huffing she dropped onto the sofa. "Something wrong?" Daniela asked as she walked in from the kitchen.

"My partner asked me to go for a drink and he went before I could say I couldn't go, I just don't want him to think I didn't want to go."

"Why can't you go?" Daniela asked.

"Apart from Ariana freaking, you know why I can't go," Eddie sighed.

"Oh no," Daniela deadpanned "you'll make a friend and have a social life…how terrible," she said giving her a look.

Eddie looked over at her "it's not just that, you know what I've been through, I can't risk getting close to anyone, what if he finds me? What if I let someone in and they get hurt? What if I lead him right to her?

Daniela walked to her "Eddie, you've given up your life for the last three years for that little girl. Agent Holden has advised you to go on as normal, have a normal life, job, friends…a boyfriend. I know you're scared but you can't let him win, he won't find you here, he never knew about me…please call your friend," she said and walked off.

Eddie watched her go "what if I screw it all up?" she blurted out.

"That's life," she said and walked back to her "Eddie, I promised that I would do what I could to help you and Ariana, I got you this apartment, I got you into the academy, I got you placed with the Commissioners son…you gotta give me something back. I can't hold your hand forever."

"And I really appreciated all of this Daniela, really, I do," Eddie said and stepped closer to her…I just can't risk it, you heard Holden, he could resurface after Illinois."

"Chicago was bad, I'll admit that, but you got away with Ariana, there is no trace of you anywhere…you need to start living again Eddie."

Groaning Eddie flopped onto the sofa "what if I get drunk and start babbling or whining and tell him everything?"

"Would that be so bad?" Daniela asked.

"I just met him, he'll think I'm crazy-he already thinks I'm crazy."

Daniela chuckled and stood up "and he still wants to be around you…call him, I'll stay the night."

Eddie waited a few moments and grabbed her phone, pulling up his number she hovered over his name for a few moments before she pressed call. Biting on her lip she closed her eyes as it rang "Jamie? Hey, It's Eddie…Janko," she added.

"I know who you are," he chuckled.

"Yeah," she said awkwardly "uh, anyway, I can go for a drink if you're still up for it."

"Cool, I'll meet you at the Bridge inn in half an hour?"

"Half an hour," she replied "I'll see you then," she added and hung up.

A while later Eddie had relaxed a little and was actually having a good time "wait, so he broke the car window, threw the bat at you and blamed you when your mom came out?"

"Yeah," Jamie laughed "I was the youngest so my two brothers always blamed me on stuff they did."

"I always wanted to be a part of a big family," she said. "Then my mom died and it was just me, alone, left to find my own way."

"What age where you?" Jamie asked curiously.

Eddie sighed and looked into her glass, Ariana had been not even one when their mother had died. "Nineteen," she said and looked over at him "it was really hard, my mom was like my best friend, we did everything together. Then she got sick and that was it, she faded fast."

"I'm sorry," Jamie said scooting closer to her "my mom was sick too, it took her over in a matter of weeks, she was gone before we knew it."

"I'm sorry," she said and looked over at him "must have been hard for you losing your brother too."

"It was," he nodded "it broke my mom altogether, my dad was too but he tried his best to hide it."

Eddie nodded "so that's why you left law school and became a cop? Because of your brother?"

"Yes and no," he shrugged "I don't know, I did the law school thing and my mom and sister were delighted. Danny and Joe would give me hell because I didn't want to be a cop, it wasn't until Joe died that I realised I was so down, I hated being there, I hated doing any of it, he gave me the push I needed…why did you become a cop, what did you do before you decided to go to the academy?"

"Don't laugh," she chuckled "I worked in a beauty parlour in Chicago for about a year, god I hated it."

"Chicago?" he frowned "I thought you said you were from Iowa?"

"I am," she nodded cursing herself "after my mom, I did a bit of travelling until I landed there, made a few good friends and decided to stay.

And then you ended up here," he chuckled.

"Yeah," she laughed "I got sick of the place, the parlour, my apartment over a Chinese restaurant, the constant blinking light outside my bedroom window from the nightclub across the street."

"And New York is so much better," he laughed.

"You don't get it," she said "I like this place, I love the hustle and bustle, it's for me, I can feel it," she laughed.

"Okay, someone's had enough, time to get you home," he chuckled and gabbed her coat "I'll walk you."

"Yeah, you're right," she chuckled as she slid on her coat "but I'll be okay on my own."

"I'm not letting you walk home alone…out," he said and nudged her out the door.

….

They walked in silence side by side, Jamie looking at his feet while Eddie looked at the sky. Eddie stopped and pointed down a side street "uh, I'm just down there, I'll be okay from here"

Jamie looked down the dark alley way "are you sure? I can walk you to your door….this place looks a bit dodgy."

"Jamie, I've been living here for almost a year, I know it looks like a rough spot but nothing has ever happened to me."

"I didn't mean that," he said quickly "I just meant, you can never be too careful."

"I know what you meant," she said and stepped closer to him "but I'll be okay, thank you for making me come out, I actually had a good time," she chuckled. "Thanks for going through the hours and everything else with me, now I know what I'm doing." Leaning in she kissed him on the cheek "and thank you for trusting me last night," she said and stepped back.

"Don't mention it, you handled the situation, you earned my trust," he said and shoved his hands into his pocket "night partner," he smiled.

"Night," she smiled and walked on "you don't need to watch me you know!" she called back.

"Just so I know you got in safe!" he called after her.

"Keys!" she called dangling them as she took some steps to an apartment block "in door! Night Reagan!" she called and slipped inside.

"Night!" he chuckled and started to walk, turns out he didn't live too far from her-maybe, six blocks and one street over.

He was happy she had decided to come out, he got to know her better, she seemed okay, and she was a bit of fun, but he still had this nagging feeling she was hiding something. Shrugging it off he crossed the street and put it to the back of his mind. Danny was right, he'd only just met the girl, if she wanted him to know she would have told him.

Eddie kicked off her shoes and walked to the sofa "Daniela," she whispered and shook her a little "I'm home, you can head off now or you can take Ariana's bed and I'll put her in with me."

"I'll head off home, did you have a good time?" she asked as she sat up.

"Yeah," she smiled "it was good, I got to know him a bit better, he insisted on walking me home too," she chuckled. "I like this guy, I think we're gonna be really good friends…night, and thank you!" she called as she walked to her room.

Daniela smiled as she pulled on her coat, it was good to see her smile like that again. Glancing around she took one last peek at Ariana and slipped out the front door.

A/N hope you all enjoyed that, lots to come, see you soon JJ xx