Realize

Chapter 1: Your Best Friends Baby

It was June 2013 and New York City was drifting by in its regular million mile an hour lifestyle. Crimes were committed, jobs were worked, people were fired, people were married and babies were born. It was no different for the officers of the NYPD.

Danny and Lindsay Messer' second child was due in just a few weeks and they'd already asked mac to be his godfather. Mac and Christine were due to get married in just a few days in front of their friends in a small, simple ceremony. Sheldon Hawkes had just gotten engaged to his girlfriend, Camille, they were getting married early next year. Adam Ross was still with his girlfriend Michelle, whom he loved very much. Sid's cancer was being managed and he was still the Sid everyone knew and loved. They'd all found the paths in their lives they wanted to take, they'd taken the right turns in life and were all happy.

But this story isn't about any of them. If it was it'd be pretty straightforward. Love and marriage, perhaps a sad passing. But relatively simple. This story is about Detective's Don Flack and Jamie Lovato. This is their story. Their journey down different paths of life to find the right path and make the right turn. To find love and happiness, even if it looks like it's impossible.

It was June, they'd been seeing each other for about three months now, since February and were still really in the honeymoon period. When they were at home they could barely keep their hands off of each other and were all over each other. Whilst at work they had to be professional, though it can be hard when you see some cocky suspect punching your girlfriend in the face or holding a gun to your boyfriends head. And it was a real problem. A lot of the other detectives/officers at their precinct made very cocky jokes about their relationship, some were actually quite offensive. And some were very prejudicial, like assuming they would lie for each other and cover each other' arses if they got themselves into deep trouble. Things like that did put a bit of a strain on their relationship. It was also hard when you were always under each other's feet. They really did like each other, and both wanted it to go somewhere but with a demanding job, critical colleagues and destructive incidents would that actually happen?

The first tribulation of their relationship was just around the corner. Jamie's best friend Jada had invited her to her birthday party. She'd told her to bring her boyfriend her along, as they hadn't been introduced yet. "Are you ready yet?" he asked

"You are so impatient!" she replied through the closed bathroom door "Give me five more minutes!"

"You look fine as you are!" he rolled his eyes

"Seriously one more comment about this and I won't be having sex with you for a fortnight!" she hissed. Which shut him right up. The thought of no sex was worth keeping his mouth shut.

Eventually she came out of the bathroom. "I'm ready we can go. I wonder what she got this year. Jesus last year she had so much booze flowing around we got drunk just walking into that apartment" said Jamie "It was strong stuff. Couldn't walk straight for two days afterwards. Good thing her hubby took their son to his mom's that night. I might stave off having too much though"

"Hmm well I'm driving, I don't see why we can't take the subway" he said

"Last time I went on the subway there was a fight, blood going everywhere and someone chucked up all over me!" she replied shaking her head.

"Fine, but if your friends wankered again she might chuck up on you!" he smirked

"She has, on her hen night she got incredibly drunk then fell on me and started hurling up all over me!" she laughed as they got into his car.

"That's rank" he laughed "Is she always like that then?"

"Yeah, she loves get wrecked. It's her favourite hobby" she replied "I don't know why Chris puts up with her sometimes"

They drove to Jada's apartment building and parked up. Jamie led him up to the apartment but Flack already knew where he was, he knew this apartment building. He'd been here before, and not on any cases. He'd been here because he knew someone who lived here, had slept with that person and accidentally had a child with her, who he had not told Jamie about because he was in the middle of a messy custody battle with the mom of the child. He was going to once the court case was over. But if he lost he'd lose all rights and never see the kid again, which was not what he wanted. And the mom also wanted to move away. They took the elevator to the fifth floor and stepped out. Flack's stomach fluttered slightly, this was the floor his kid and his mom and her husband lived on. They walked to an apartment and Jamie knocked on the door. He didn't notice the number until the door opened and he saw who was standing on the other side. His eyes bulged and nearly fell out of his head. Jamie's best friend was the woman he'd had a brief thing with and had, had a child with. She stared at him before turning her attentions to Jamie. "Hey Jamie!" she smiled "Come in"

Jamie smiled and they went inside. They got a drink and mingled. Jamie split from him for a bit and went to talk to some her friends. Jamie had said it was very laid back, considering the parties she usually hosted. That meant there was also a very good chance his son was there, which could cause a few issues. He didn't call him daddy, he called him Donnie because he thought Chris was his daddy. It was all a bit of a mess. Then he saw Jada heading his direction and a made a beeline for Jamie but she sped up and grabbed his arm and dragged him outside the apartment into the corridor. She yanked the front door shut and turned to him. "What the hell are you doing here?" she asked

"I'm Jamie's boyfriend. You asked her to invite her boyfriend!" he replied

"I didn't know it was you!" she cried

"And I didn't know you were her best friend!" he said

"She doesn't know I cheated on my husband. I never told her, or any of them!" she said rather panicked "Oh god. Have you told her you've got a son?"

"No I haven't" he shook his head "I was going to wait until the court case is over because you specifically told me if you win you're moving to California and to forget about him!"

"She is going to be so pissed at both of us" replied Jada "Oh god, we have to tell her"

"Tell me what?" came another voice, Jamie was standing in the doorway. Flack and Jada looked at her, their hearts beating at a million miles an hour. "Well?"

"I had sex with your boyfriend!" Jada blurted

"What!" Jamie exclaimed furiously "When?"

"A long time ago" replied Flack "More than two years ago"

"What?" Jamie frowned, she was absolutely furious "Jada you were married then!"

"I know" said Jada

"Hang on" Jamie looked at them both, adding stuff up her head. "Noah's two in August… you met when?"

"Christmas 2010" replied Jada

"You've got to be joking me!" she shook her head furiously "Is he your son?"

"Yes" Flack nodded and Jamie slapped him hard round the face. "What was that for?!"

"You know what that was for!" she spat "You liar! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to after we're finished in family court" he replied

"Family court?" she asked, anger bubbling away inside of her. She was mad at him for keeping this from her and not telling her he'd screwed her best friend. Albeit a few years ago, it still stung.

"Yeah he's taken me to court!" Jada hissed Flack's direction "To get access to Noah. I told you I'm moving away with Chris and Noah"

"You were never going to tell me, were you?" she said furiously

"Yes I was!" he replied insistently

"Don't lie to me!" she hissed

"I'm not lying" he shook his head. He reached out his hand and tried to put it on her arm but she furiously slapped it away.

"Get away from me!" she spat "GO!"

Knowing if he hung around she was going to kick his ass he walked away from her. He turned his head and saw Jada attempting to comfort her. He turned away again and stepped into the elevator and went back down to his car. He climbed it and hit the steering wheel with the palms of his hands. He'd really screwed up big time with her. "I've should've told her from the off about him!" he thought angrily "I should've been honest!" to be fair he hadn't known Jada was her best friend but he should've told her about Noah, whatever the circumstances. Maybe if he had she wouldn't have told him where to go.

Back upstairs Jada was trying to comfort Jamie, but she was having none of it. "Don't touch me Jada!"

"He was the one who lied to you!" replied Jada

"You both lied to me!" Jamie spat "I know you Jada, I know why you told me to bring him!"

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about" said Jada

"Yes you bloody well do!" Jamie fumed "You knew who he was when I told you!"

"So what" Jada shrugged "I needed to know if he was the same guy I screwed and got me up the duff with Noah. And if he was I wanted to get you to sweet talk him into dropping the paternity suit and the custody fight."

"You what!" Jamie seethed "I'm not a puppet!"

"Oh come on, I don't want him Noah's life. He's got Chris, Chris loves him!" Jada said angrily "He's a cop for crying out loud, I can't having him getting killed and Noah being all over the fucking place with despair. Going off the rails, being an addict and god knows what else."

"So what you're saying is, he'll screw him up?" said Jamie, rage bubbling away inside her. Sure she was really pissed with Flack for keeping this from her but her best friend was really taking the piss now. "Cause that's not fair"

"Don't stick up for him, he kept it from you for three months!" Jada rolled her eyes "And yes basically. I just want to move away from this bloody city and he's not going to let me. I knew who he was the moment you told me but I never told you that. I had to get him round here and play him a bit. To get him drop all of it. I was going to argue like I didn't know he was your boyfriend then go and tell you everything. I knew you'd be pissed and break up with him, so he might get pissed and stop the court proceedings"

"You were going to blackmail him?!" Jamie demanded furiously. Unbelievable she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her best friend was planning to blackmail her boyfriend into stopping court proceedings to get access to their son. And was going to use her as leverage. "And use me as leverage?"

"Yes." Replied Jada "And by pissed I mean he might start drinking again and stop it all… oh you didn't know? Yeah he was a heavy drinker, only for a few months. I thought you breaking up with him might make him start again"

"You bitch Jada!" Jamie spat before slapping her round the face "I always knew you like getting your own way but I never thought you'd stoop so low to get it!"

"I want what's best for my son!" she retorted

"No you want what's easiest for you!" Jamie raged "I always knew you were a conniving cow! I can't believe you were going to use me to blackmail someone. You absolute bitch!" she slapped Jada again "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"

Jada said nothing and Jamie, absolutely furious, slapped her again. As hard as she possibly could, Jada deserved it. She felt so betrayed. Betrayed by both of them. "I'LL TELL HIM TO CARRY ON WITH COURT PROCEEDINGS, DESPITE WHAT HE'S DONE, YOU CONNIVING COW!"

Then she turned around and stormed off. She took the subway and went back to her apartment. She let herself in, barely able to contain the tears anymore. She slammed the front door shut and fell onto the sofa and burst into tears. She curled up in a ball and sobbed. She was heartbroken, the betrayal stung. He'd kept it from her that he had son with her best friend, unknowingly, and she'd tried to blackmail him and use her as bait and as leverage, she'd tried to use her. She didn't know who she was angrier at him, her boyfriend of three months or her best friend on fifteen years. Her best friend, the betrayal was so much worse. After all the time they'd known each other, she'd tried to use her to blackmail someone. That's not what friends did.

The next day she dragged herself out of bed but she couldn't face going into work and seeing him, she'd end up slapping him again. So she called in sick. Jada kept texting her but she simply ignored them, she wanted to be alone. Flack texted her once to try to apologise and that he wanted to explain she told him to leave it. He got the message and didn't text again.

She didn't turn up for work over the next three days and people started asking questions. "Where's Jamie?" asked Danny

"She called in sick again" replied Flack, still feeling so guilty about breaking her heart the way he had.

"She was fine the other day" said Danny "Did you have a row or something?"

"Look Danny you're my best friend but it's none of your business" said Flack angrily

"I was just curious, you've been on another planet the last four days and she's not turning up for work" replied Danny "You haven't broken up have you?"

"No" Flack shook his head "All I'm saying is that I pissed her off in a very big way and she's very cut up about it"

"You didn't cheat on her!" Danny exclaimed, rather loudly

"No I didn't!" replied Flack "I would never cheat on Jamie. Just drop it"

Danny did drop it but it had got him thinking. Clocking off that night he left the precinct and went by the local flower shop and picked up a bunch of roses then made his way to her apartment. Parking up he climbed out and headed up to her floor. Reaching her apartment he knocked on the door and stood back in case she tried to slap him again. The door opened and she stood the other side in tracksuit bottoms and small vest op, which showed off a lot of her cleavage. She had her arms folded and was glaring slightly. "What do you want?" she asked

"To apologise and explain" he replied

"Come in" she pushed the door open to let him in then shoved it shut once he was inside.

"I got you these" he held up the flowers to her. She looked at them then held out her hand and he handed them to her. "I know I hurt you"

"Yeah you did" he snapped slightly

"I was going to tell you I swear. I wish I'd told you from the off" he began "The only reason I held was because she said if I lost she was taking him away and that I'd never see him again. And not to tell anyone he's my son. But I wasn't going to stick to that, I was just waiting for the right moment"

"And in three months there hasn't been one?" she raised her eyebrows

"Yes there was I was just stupid not to tell you" he replied "I don't know why I didn't tell you. I wish I had. And I ended up hurting you. To be fair I didn't know she was your best friend"

"She knew who you were" Jamie said quietly, ok so he'd not told her about his son but her friend had tried to use her, to blackmail him. "The moment I mentioned your name to her she knew who you were. That's why she told me to bring you along. She planned the whole thing."

"What do you mean?" he asked

"She was trying to blackmail you into dropping the custody suit" replied Jamie "And she was going to use me to do it, have me bring you along, tell me you'd slept with her and fathered her child believing I'd break up with you and have you start drinking and drop. Or if that didn't work. Have me sweet talk you into dropping it"

"And she told you this?" He asked

"After you'd disappeared she admitted it all to me. I was… still am… so pissed off with her. She used me, she was trying to use me. She's my best friend of fifteen years and she thinks she can use me like that!" she seethed "She used me as bait and was going to use me as leverage to get her own way! I'm so mad at her!"

"That's bang out of order" said Flack shaking his head, realising why she was so mad and hadn't been showing up for work, other than the fact that he'd slept with her best friend and fathered her son, before they'd met. Without warning Jamie burst into tears. He pulled her towards him and held her in his arms while she sobbed into his chest. She sobbed for quite a while before composing herself slightly. "You ok?" he asked

"It really hurts" she replied wiping tears from her eyes. She'd spent the last four days deciding whether or not she could forgive them. In heart of hearts she knew he was sorry, that he'd never intended to hurt her the way he had. She could forgive him. But she couldn't forgive Jada, not yet anyway. She'd really hurt her deep inside. "I can't forgive her for what she did to me" she looked down "I've been thinking long and hard about this and I just don't what to do"

"Jamie please give me another chance, I'll make it up to you. I promise" he said, rather pleadingly "I love you"

"I don't know" she replied quietly "I know you didn't mean to hurt me… not the way you did. I'm so confused" he nodded and she moved towards him. Had he actually just said he loved her? She wasn't sure if he'd really meant or if he just wanted another chance. But either way, sort of anyway, it meant a lot. They looked deep into each other's eyes and without realising it they moved closer to each other. They moved their heads closer together and their lips slid together. He started to kiss her, half expecting her to push him away and reject him, but she didn't and instead started kissing him back. As the kiss became more passionate he wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly she lifted her legs up and wrapped them tightly around his waist.

Half an hour later they were spark on her bed, sound asleep, totally naked with a cover over them. It had all happened very quickly, she'd been in the process of forgiving him and kissed him. And they hadn't been able to stop. They'd ended up kissing each other very passionately until her legs had been wrapped around him and he'd carried her to her bedroom. They'd stripped each other off and ended up having sex. Not quite they'd intended. He'd intended to come round and apologise and get her to give him another chance, not to end up snogging her until they were having sex. She'd intended to have a quite night in, in front of the TV with a ready meal for one and an early night so she could get up on time for work tomorrow.

But maybe this was fate trying to tell them something, make them realise they were right for each other and not to throw it all away over this.