A/N: Back again, the real start of the plot is still a chapter away, but I hope this tides readers over in the meantime.


Frank was in his office at 1PP, along with his inner circle. He'd finally disclosed last night's events and the DEA's operation, though not finer details. First discussing the rule Frank wanted to implement.

Sid was the first to speak. He was his usual blunt self, "Gotta say, boss, I think opening this door could set a bad precedent."

Frank shrugged his shoulders, "Hard to set any precedent when a rule doesn't exist on the books."

Sid shrugged, "Even so I thought you won this argument, its policing common sense that mixing work and romance is a bad idea. That is why the spirit of the rule has been enough since the old days of the NYPD. What happened?"

Frank sighed deeply, "I was told the only reason my son, and future daughter-in-law aren't dead is because of the very thing we cast as a detriment."

Sid was no less blunt, "That's because it is, and I don't follow?"

Frank continued, "intangibles."

Sid was entirely confused, "you're losing me, boss."

Baker clarified, "Something unseen or unquantifiable."

Last time I checked, "That isn't this."

Frank tapped his hand while continuing, "What is the most common thing you hear about Jamie and Eddie from higher-ups on the ground."

Sid answered pointedly, "That their great cops, and the kind of duo that would flourish in undercover work."

Frank waited, "and why do you think that is?"

Sid shrugged, "it isn't because they're shacking up that's for sure."

Baker answered, "They love each other."

Sid shrugged again, "Apples and Apples if you ask me?"

Baker crossed her arms, "Not necessarily, one is tangible, the other takes many forms: it can be physical, emotional or metaphysical."

Sid pressed, "The first two spill into the job especially for partners, that, cross the line."

Frank exhaled calmly, "What about when it doesn't, and you have more of the last one than the first two."

Sid was getting a headache, "I don't even get what the last one is or has to do with this boss."

Baker answered, "then the partnership on the job becomes something like muscle memory or thought memory, almost like an extension of the gut feeling."

Frank nodded, "that was more or less Officer Janko's point."

Garret finally interjected, "so their argument comes down to some kind of Spidey-sense?"

Frank nodded he looked passive, "if you're going to simplify it that way, yes."

Sid was blunt, "you sure you're not just playing favorites boss?"

Frank furrowed his brow with a torn expression, "I am acknowledging that there are probably partnered cops across the whole of my 35,000 that are far more than flings. Two of whom happen to be my son and would be daughter-in-law, and that in those situations the intangibles created could outweigh any accompanying dysfunction. His voice rose as he continued, "So the practical thing to do, is put something in place where the disclosed relationship is measured against the service record of the cops that it involves, because the last thing I would want, is to lose a great pair of cops that demonstrate exemplary service and professionalism by forcing them to separate because they happened to be involved off the job."

Sid parsed his words, "They said they would quit, didn't they, boss?"

Frank sighed, "More or less, and I cannot let them or other capable officers resign from my police force because the NYPD chose to operate from a position of fear or politics in these matters. If personal relationships do not interfere with the ability to do the job and my cops remain professional while on duty, any intangibles could be what saves their life, something both Jamie and Eddie attested to. I am not suggesting we turn a blind eye, but a fair judgment should be applied to each situation."

Sid reluctantly shook his head. "Mind if I pull their files boss, just to see if the professional part holds water?"

Frank folded his hands, "Right now, I need you to terminate both Officer Reagan and Officer Janko and blackout their records."

Sid opened his mouth and closed it before speaking again, "You'll have to explain that one boss?"

Frank responded quietly, "They've taken an indefinite undercover assignment for the DEA."

Garret's expression was pointed, "The Sanfino protocol, I will handle the press end of things."

Sid was confused, "Come again?"

Frank clarified, "Officers tasked for a deep undercover assignment, whether state or federal, are blacklisted until such time when the operation is finished, a protocol I created after Jamie inadvertently crossed paths with Noble Sanfino and went deep cover to root out the Sanfino crime family, his second year on the job. His cover was nearly blown because of police affiliations."

Sid caught on, "Keep things airtight while they are under, got it."

Baker interjected, "I will draw up the fraternization policy, you can look it over afterward."

Garret looked between them, "While I can't comment on the personal or policing side of this if you're going to allow it, I suggest applying prerequisites; length of partnership and length of courtship come to mind. That way it weeds out the casual from the real thing and you save CO's a lot of headaches, the last thing they need is a bunch of flings surfacing and creating a political headache."

Frank thought for a moment, "A minimum of three years partnered on the job and both parties must be fully aware that there is a non-platonic element, no guessing games."

Garret smiled, "No she loves me, she loves me not?"

Frank shot Garret an annoyed look, "if they can't be honest, they shouldn't be partners let alone personally involved, and that, at least makes Officers Reagan and Janko a good test case."

Garret nodded, "Fair enough." He and Sid left the room.

Baker watched Frank carefully. She sounded like she was gauging his mood, "You're doing this for them."

Frank sighed, "They said I couldn't possibly quantify the extent to which they are in sync on and off the job."

Baker responded with a question, "Do you?"

He was somber, "Only in memory, and even then, I don't know what it is like to love a cop to the extent that they love each other."

Baker looked right at Frank, "We're not partnered on the job, so I only know half of that extent, but that is enough for me to say without any doubt that all they want is to watch each other's backs, in that sense, they are already married on the job. The ceremony just makes it official when their off duty."

He sighed through a nod, "Thank you, Baker."

She stood up, "Yes, sir, Agent Molina called earlier, she advised you to opt for reassignment instead of termination, something about limiting gossip and speculation."

He nodded slowly, "inform Garret and Sid, while I call her back."

She nodded, "of course sir." The door closed moments later.

II

That afternoon Jamie and Eddie were inside the DEA's New York affiliate. They were promptly escorted to a closed-off conference room of sorts, slightly bigger than the briefing room in the NYPD's narcotics department. There was a sizable monitor at the front of the room.

Agent Molina was already waiting and greeted them as they entered and sat down. "Thanks for coming to my neck of the woods."

Jamie smiled casually, "it's not like the precinct was an option."

She smiled, "Problematic but how is it not always a problem for you two?"

Eddie was confused, "What do you mean?"

She set a file on the table and chuckled, "You've spent too much time in your own cover."

They shared a look, Eddie shrugged, "Necessity of the job."

She nodded, "yeah well, you won't have to worry about that for quite a while, this assignment is the exact opposite. You need to be engaged or married, whatever you already are." Eddie blushed, showing her ring hand. Veronica smiled, "We were going to supply a ring, but I guess that's handled already."

Jamie eyed the file; his inflection was both blunt and sarcastic. "We'd like to know what we're dealing with and maybe enjoy the free time we've got since, you know, we were indefinitely fired from our actual jobs."

She gave a blunt smile, "We never said you had to be terminated. In fact, given you're a Reagan we asked him to reassign you both to desk duty, but more on that when I'm done briefing you." Veronica finally opened the folder. She was blunt and cautionary, "You are a usually wealthy, but recently broke couple looking for high-paying work, to sustain your high-end home and lifestyle in the Hamptons. We have you in general proximity to, but not right by most of the establishments the Ortiz family frequents, including an art gallery, which they own."

Eddie flipped through the folder while probing for further information, "Why would they operate away from the city and in the Hamptons, less drug traffic would make things harder wouldn't it?"

She nodded, "our best guess is that they funnel the drugs to Mexico, Canada, and China through intermediaries and staying secluded helps keep their secret activities secret."

Eddie's expression showed self-doubt, "Three major countries, we're just NYPD police officers…this feels like it will have national stakes. I would think the DEA is powerful enough to raid their operations."

Agent Molina leaned in seriously, "the problem is this family is extremely skilled at covering their tracks. Raids are only useful with hard evidence and you need probable cause. We've tried playing the federal card over the years, but within the context of the law, they were clean every time. We realized we needed to take a different approach, so we quietly gathered intel and decided to turn things into an outsourced deep cover assignment. Our, repour with the NYPD and the police Commissioner was an easy choice of help."

Jamie folded his hands, "what kind of drugs are we dealing with here?"

She didn't beat around the bush, "a rainbow: marijuana, speed, cocaine, heroin, molly…maybe more. They're all-purpose."

Eddie wore a mockingly blunt look, "One guess where the weed is going, legalization makes Canada a cash cow for it."

Veronica suppressed a chuckle, "Most likely."

Jamie was onto target intel, "Bio's?"

Veronica sat back casually, "Well I told you about the father Ricky…late 30s and he oversees everything, including a restaurant and the art gallery I mentioned earlier. The sons, Ian and Erik, are 21, and 23 respectively, they handle the inventory and staffing. Then there is the mother, Helena, also late 30s and sister Jen, 19; help maintain the family's public image…"

Eddie was still probing, "how are we going into this?"

Veronica smiled, "I hope you don't find art auctions boring."

Jamie shrugged, "I've never had the chance to find out. Who are we?"

She wore a rhetorical look, "Well, it goes without saying that you have to drop Reagan. First names don't matter as much, but I would think about swapping them out. These aren't the kind of people who would exactly be impressed by the gender confusion you invite."

Jamie rolled his eyes, "This again, my name is Jameson; I just hate the formality of my full name." Eddie did too, "Yeah, and every time someone calls me Edit (eh-DEET) I feel like a sophisticated hooker, Eddie fits."

She smiled in amusement, "First names are at your discretion just make sure you drop Reagan, I've also been thinking you should be married, more stable background to the family."

They spoke simultaneously, "Not a problem."

She nodded knowingly, then pulled a piece of piece of paper from the folder. "The address of your home away from home, go there at your leisure. The art auction is not scheduled until Monday. Take the weekend and get yourselves mentally ready. I trust you have your own personal sidearms?" They nodded.

Eddie bought hers after her assault incident with Jake Singer, and Jamie's family meant owning a personal gun was second nature.

Jamie looked hard at her, "What is the DEA's role in this?"

She was blunt, "I'm your contact, short of providing regular updates the DEA is invisible until you get concrete evidence for an arrest. I can't stress enough the importance of adapting to anything that you encounter. You're essentially stepping headfirst into the drug trade and playing intermediary to a mob family that makes the Sanfino's look cozy."

Eddie shared a glance with Jamie, "So we will need to break bad?"

She was unquestionably serious, "Yes, that whole mob mentality thing needs to be your headspace."

Jamie nodded, "how often will we have to be in the Hamptons?"

Eddie closed the folder, her expression was a bit wishful, "Which would be a lot more appealing if it was summer, by the way."

Veronica quipped, "Don't want to miss family dinner?"

Jamie was no less blunt, "In my family, missing Sunday dinner is breaking a commandment."

She nodded, "You will have burner phones, I would suggest staying during the week. I'm sure you know Reagan, that targets contact you all hours and it requires discretion." He nodded.

She stood up, "One last thing, I advised the commissioner to scrap the termination. Even crime families don't spend all their time doing illegal activities, and I don't think anyone would buy that a Reagan or anyone associated with them would be terminated and the last thing we need is peers asking questions. He said he would find something for you at 1PP. She picked up the folder and smiled before continuing, "My number is in your burner phones, anything you need to maintain your cover the DEA will provide. Contact me the morning you dive in, and any time you return to the city, we will have your cover identities ready as soon come up with them, just leave me a message." Her inflection was casual again, "I hear you're considering undercover narcotics within the NYPD, you won't find a better measuring stick than this."

Jamie and Eddie stood up too. He was somewhere between annoyance and appreciation as they said goodbye to Agent Molina. "alright…my old man is always under my thumb."

Eddie leaned on Jamie's shoulder with a sympathetic glance as she smiled, "he doesn't like when he is watched like a hawk or told what to do, this one."

Veronica smiled casually, "Something you and your brother have in common, so this assignment will be good for you." Jamie finally cracked a smile, as he and Eddie were escorted back out of the building.

III

Jamie and Eddie drove to their home away from home in the Hamptons, as they were told it was situated not far from the coast. A sizable two-level home that had a deck, it was part of a string of homes they passed along a quaint street, coming from the crowded streets of New York, it felt rather eerie. From the outside the house gave off a safehouse vibe, it looked flashy but considering their cover that wasn't surprising. The color was a hard silver and the front and back doors solid black, glass was situated in the middle like a window, but it was filled in so that the inside of the house was not visible from either door, something for the show of it.

They entered from the back door, the kitchen clued to the square footage of the entire house. Either of them could have fit both kitchens from their apartments in here, with room to spare. Immediately apparent was the double door refrigerator and white marble countertop and cabinets. The walls were a lighter shade of silver then the exterior of the house.

Eddie scanned things with raised eyebrows, "Well this proves my place was squalor."

Jamie turned to her with a skeptical look, "Your place was nice?"

Eddie laughed dismissively, "No, your place is nice, I was somewhere just above poor."

Jamie smiled, "Well it won't be this nice, NYPD salary an all, but well get a house."

She put her arms around his neck meeting foreheads, "Now who's thinking ahead."

Eddie spotted an envelope on the counter, it wasn't labeled. She opened it. There was a note, "just until you wear the real ones…wardrobe included with the house." She emptied the contents and two rings fell on the counter.

Jamie smiled, "Well, she did say that they would give us whatever we needed to maintain the cover." They both slid the wedding rings on their left hand.

She smiled broadly, "we need a last name."

He held her newly ringed hand thinking of the only name that came to mind, "Jimmy Riordan was my alias during the Sanfino assignment for OCCB, he could just, get a wife."

Eddie raised her eyebrows, "Couldn't that lead to a problem?"

He shrugged, "As far as the public is concerned, he disappeared seven years ago…his only acquaintances are in jail for life, witness protection out of state, or dead."

She dropped her head against his, "And my first name?"

He thought quietly, "Well, don't need to reinvent the wheel here…what about Ellie? Similar, but different."

She shrugged, her inflection was blunt, "Anything's better than Edit, I loved my grandmother, but a name should never sound like a verb." She smiled again as they embraced. "is it weird that I'm excited about this assignment because we don't have to worry about romantic boundaries, not that I'm going to go overboard but I feel like I can't even steal a glance at you in the precinct. That is what really drives me crazy."

Jamie smiled consolingly. "No, I know you like being arm candy. It did seem like you were on the verge of bubbling over last night."

She nodded with a serious look, her eyes narrowed irritably, "You know how I am when people try to act like have any right to make decisions when they haven't dealt with the situations those decisions affect, and saying I can't do my job because I'm involved with my partner/Sargent…the people that sit behind desks need to back off, because they have no clue."

Jamie nodded agreeably, "Believe me, it takes everything I have not to make up some kind of probation excuse and be back on patrol with you. I, did pick Maya though I wasn't about to let another guy be in a confined space with you 40 hours a week."

She smiled caught between annoyance and levity, "It's the wedding reception all over again. All you had to do was dance with me and neither of us would have ended up with black eyes. Even if you weren't jealous, I would always decline another male partner. You are the only guy I want to ride with, and if I would have been myself from the start, I would have put your father in his place weeks ago."

Jamie sighed apologetically, "I have a jealous streak, Barry was hard, I didn't want to seem so blatantly jealous."

She hugged him tightly, "you seemed so hurt, I would have preferred another scene honestly."

He smirked, "So you pitied me?"

She smiled, "No I meant what I said that night, you get me. I was just waiting for you to get out of your own way."

Jamie grinned, "I'm glad I did."

She met his forehead with hers smiling even more, "took you long enough."

IV

Perhaps predictably, that Sunday's family dinner was dominated by heated discussion of the now officially on the books fraternization policy, the table was unevenly split on if it was a good idea, not surprisingly Henry was the most vocal skeptic at the table.

He launched into a protest with a demeanor suggesting he thought his successor had a concussion and forgot his original position. "Francis, this seems like a sentimental flip-flop, and it's a bad idea."

Frank sounded indifferent, "Not sentimental pop, practical, and it is impossible to know either way until we roll it out."

He countered bluntly, "There is nothing practical about permitting romantically involved cops to partner on the job, it's a mess of hormones waiting to explode."

Erin chuckled, "You make it seem like the NYPD has a bunch of teenagers pop."

Henry was no less blunt, "Cops carry loaded guns, one argument or a bad break up could turn very ugly."

Erin scoffed, "that's not cynical at all…"

Danny chimed in casually, "I could care less either way. That being said, jealousy is the oldest cause of problems in a relationship, add guns to that, not necessarily a good idea."

Henry continued, "exactly, Francis, I think it's time to admit you caved here."

Jamie spoke testily, "Don't start pop."

Henry dug in, "let's stop acting like sentiment did not lead to this absurd rule change."

Nicky cut in pointedly, "it was never a rule."

Henry shrugged, "that's because it was assumed common sense."

Danny replied with blunt sarcasm. "Well, you know that thing about assuming."

Henry wasn't pleased, "are people really going to sit here and say that partners romantically involved in a high-stress job is a good idea."

Danny looked at Erin with a grin, "I don't know, sis you're a better prosecutor since you divorced Jack, what do you think?"

Her face showed grudging amusement, "not a fair comparison, lives aren't literally on the line in the courtroom."

Henry was done beating around the bush. "Let's just cut to the chase, those two at the end of the table cried wolf and the police commissioner threw them a bone.

Jamie was restrained but clearly angry, "got something to say pop?"

He was pointedly blunt, "You're thinking with everything except your heads, not that I'm surprised."

Eddie had heard enough. There was an edge to her voice and was forcibly critical, "if one more person assumes my relationship with Jamie is a fling or that we don't show professionalism on the job…"

Frank tempered the room, "nobody is saying that."

She didn't hide her contempt, "Really because Henry sure seems to be implying that we have no idea what we're doing, either way, and when we broke the news, you looked at both of us like we were two lovestruck teenagers in over our heads and then guilted Jamie, and me, out of being partners."

Jamie shrugged irritably, "it's fine Ed. They have no clue what it's like to love a cop, your partner, and know every day that it's the only reason you're not six feet under."

Frank huffed measurably, "That's unfair."

Eddie chuckled scathingly, "So is using kids that don't even exist to guilt Jamie into sacrificing our partnership. I told Jamie he had to choose how he wanted to act on the job, and now I'm telling you, you can't keep a foot in both camps, commissioner." Frank noted the last word with a furrowed brow.

Danny watched with passive amusement, "Kid you sure, you didn't just play the engagement to have more firepower at the table?" Jamie smirked.

Eddie scoffed, "You all wanted me to fight, I'm not easy to knock out and I have no problem punching back. She plowed on, "Did you know that cops are romantically involved all over smaller cities in other states including partners, and some have been married for years. The NYPD is behind the times."

Henry was blunt, "we're in New York City, with millions of people and none of them can afford police with a split focus, and we've all had close calls on the job, so I don't appreciate the dig, especially because death on the job is plenty common for this family."

Jamie cracked the ice he'd been treading under, "Yeah it is pop, and the only reason Eddie and I are not dead is because of the exact thing you're being a stick in the mud about."

Henry was blunt, "And you're point is?"

Eddie sighed, "We're getting really tired of people acting like they have any idea what Jamie and I have had on or off the job or can judge how we affect each other."

Danny recalled tentatively, "I've got some idea, Russel Price…" Having been present at the time, his expression was sympathetic. Jamie's free hand curled into a fist. Eddie held it tightly. He relaxed.

Erin noticed asking pointedly, "Who?

Danny clarified, "Scumbag perp, abused his girlfriend and then when she tried to report it to Jamie, he beat her to a pulp. She died from her injuries. Then he Molotoved Jamie's cruiser, and then kidnapped Eddie."

Jamie addressed Danny reflectively, "I never used to understand how lost your cool when something happened to another member of this family." He shared a meaningful glance with Eddie, looking between her and his brother, "I do now."

Danny smiled through solace, "Thanks, kid." He addressed his dad and grandfather seriously. "I know Linda wasn't a cop, but if she had been, there isn't a thing you two or anyone else could say to keep me from watching her back on the job, policy or not."

Henry was a bit defensive, "So I'm just an old senile fool is that it?"

Frank sighed, "Nobody is saying that either pop."

He was anticipatory, "But…"

Erin responded tactfully, "The spirit of the rule only looks at the physical and emotional part of love. It completely ignores the intangibles, which you can't put on a scale like justice. She continued wistfully, "I wish Jack and I had what you both have. She smiled "I told Jamie years ago not to waste time wondering if he should be with you, he never takes my advice though."

Danny jabbed at his sister, "Well, comparing these two to you and Jack is like comparing, chocolate and peanut butter to broccoli and cheese; ones a no-brainer and an obvious combination that everyone is aware of and almost everyone likes, the other just makes something most people don't like bearable, but the cheese would be a lot better off on a burger."

Erin looked caught between amusement and annoyance, "I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered."

Danny grinned, "Don't worry sis, you're the cheese." She chuckled halfheartedly.

Shawn chimed in, "So does that mean that guy Anthony is the burger?"

Erin went a slight shade of red, I didn't think mentioning this would backfire on me."

Eddie turned to Jamie and blushed, "You never told me that you talked to anyone about me?"

Jamie glanced modestly at Eddie, "Renzulli threatened to transfer you because he, like everyone else assumed that I can't separate my feelings from the job."

Eddie recalled tentatively. "That's right…you really don't like anyone attacking me, do you?"

Jamie was blunt, "That time was tame compared to other creeps like Price and Singer, they are lucky I didn't beat them to death."

Eddie melted feeling emotional, "Jamie…"

Henry was pointed, "All that makes my point, the first two usually outweigh the intangibles."

Frank turned philosophical in response, "But not always, and not to the two people who would not be here without a far greater handle on all three than most people or cops could ever hope to have. So, while I hear what you're saying pop, Jamie, Eddie and any other duo of cops who feel the way you felt about mom, or I felt about Mary, or—he paused freshly somber—Danny felt about Linda, feel about each other… is no business of the NYPD to prohibit without causality, that is why it's officially labeled the intangibles clause because you can't assume ability or lack thereof to separate love found on the job from love and duty of the job."

Erin smiled noting her fathers shift, "Congratulations, you two have shattered the glass ceiling of the NYPD something I didn't think was possible." Jamie and Eddie smiled modestly.

Henry relented with a passive expression, "Hard to argue with that." Jamie and Eddie smiled gratefully looking at Henry, and then Frank.

They wondered if he was using their absence to test the water without muddying it for them. Only the three of them knew that they would not be testing the policy until the DEA assignment was finished.

Frank smiled passively, "I am certainly thankful that both of my sons, chose their partners so wisely, and that Jamie and Eddie, have made a commitment to watch each other's backs for a lifetime and not just on the job."

Henry nodded promptly, "Couldn't agree more."

Jamie grabbed Eddie's hand sharing another glance before they smiled. He nodded, "Thanks dad, pop."


A/N: More to come, but I do type one key at a time because of a physical disability, so when I'm in college updates never have a timetable.