A/N This is two chapters combined in to one because I felt it read better as one full chapter rather than breaking it up. Jamie and Eddie cope with being apart and their feelings.. Thank you again for reading!

~ Three Weeks Later ~

Sitting in a chair by a large window in the detective bay, Eddie watched the afternoon rain drizzle down over the city. A storm front was stretched along the east coast covering everything in water and shades of grey and blue. In the three weeks she had been in Boston she had been immersed in her work and loved what she was learning. Being a temporary trainee on the squad had it's drawbacks but she was beginning to feel that being a detective could really be in her future. She was holding her own and felt good about it.

Still, as the days went by, her thoughts drifted to New York and Jamie…she wondered if he was watching the same rain fall that she was and the thought made her feel rainy and grey inside.

"Hey, Eddie?" Steve's Santos' deep voice pulled her out of her daydream. She looked over and saw him carrying two coffee cups and wearing his bright smile. "Here," he said handing one out to her, "its how you like it. Two sugars."

She liked Santos. He was a ten year veteran of the Boston PD, seven years as a detective and he was a solid mentor and friend to her. He was also a ladies' man. Six-foot-three, dark hair and eyes, and handsome. A Greek god in a nice suit. She took the coffee and smiled. "Thanks."

He leaned against the desk trying to read her expression. "Don't quit your daydream. You look lost in thought. Everything ok?"

"Yeah." She straightened up in the chair and reset her game face. "Just getting out of my own head for a few minutes. How was the report I submitted?"

"Perfect! You did a great job, Janko. Just like that last three. You should feel good about it." His words were encouraging and sincere. "And you should also feel good about something coming up from your precinct back in New York."

Her interest perked up. "From the 12th?" She sat up taller in her chair.

It was obvious he was enjoying being the one to dangle a carrot and keep her in suspense. "It seems you were put in for a medal for the take down of a perp past month. The commendation was approved. You're receiving the Medal for Valor, Eddie."

She sat stunned in her chair. "Me? How do you know?"

"The lieutenant gave me the word and asked that I pass it along. They didn't want to delay the award while you're in Boston so they'll be presenting the medal here, but there will be another ceremony back at your house with the NYPD when you get back home." He reached his coffee cup over to hers and tapped them in a toast. "Congratulations, Officer Janko. It sounds like you're a bonafide hero."

~~88~~88~~88~~88~~

It was NYPD policy that any officer involved in the fatal shooting of a suspect had to meet with a department psychiatrist. Jamie knew the drill. He'd been down this road before. But he was no longer a rookie and knew the shooting was justified and was unavoidable. He had been far more worried about the risk to Eddie's life. But the appointment with the shrink was protocol and so he sat in the waiting room flipping through the pages of Psychology Today. The sound of a woman's voice drew his eyes up from the magazine.

"Officer Reagan?" A tall brunette in a black suit called his name and held the door open.

He stood up and greeted her. "Yeah, that's me."

"Hi," she said extending her hand. "I'm Dr. Samantha Sebastian."

He shook her hand and couldn't help but notice her smile and how tall she was. She was roughly his age and his height at least, which reminded him of Sydney, and her smile was inviting and friendly. "Jamie Reagan," he said following her in to her office. He took notice of her figure which was athletic but feminine.

She motioned to a chair for him and instead of sitting behind the desk she sat in the chair beside him. "How have you been since the incident? I know you're an experienced officer, but these things can still be stressful and take a toll."

He nodded acknowledging her rationale but felt comfortable sharing his feelings. "The suspect refused repeated commands to stop and drop the weapon, and then he held a gun against my partner's head." The image flashed through his mind and he became uneasy. "There was simply no other choice. It was the right decision."

She made a few notes on a tablet in her lap. "It sounds like it. Any residual effects? Sleeplessness or anxiety?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing like that." Jamie let out a sigh. "I've been more worried about my partner's injuries. Eddie struggled with the perp for nearly fifteen minutes before I got there. They went at it pretty bad."

"And your partner? Is he okay?"

"She," he explained, "Eddie is short for Edit. Yeah, she's okay as far as I know." He glanced own at his hat in his lap. The session went on for an hour, discussing the usual stress that cops experience and Dr. Sebastian made a few recommendations. As they wrapped up the meeting Jamie noticed her university degree on the wall behind the desk. "You went to Harvard?" By now his expression and his tone were relaxed and familiar.

She smiled. "Guilty as charged." She eyed him, her eyes locking with his. "And you?" She leaned toward him on the arm of her chair.

"Guilty. Harvard Law. Class of 2007."

She seemed intrigued by Jamie Reagan. By his credentials and his eyes. "We should get together and share Harvard war stories. Maybe over dinner?"

He tried not to look surprised by her invitation and her aggressiveness, but knew he was failing. "Um, Doctor Sebastian…"

"Samantha. Please call me Samantha."

The truth was he liked her but wasn't sure if it would be within department guidelines. "Yeah, well, I'm not sure if the department rules…"

"I don't work for the NYPD. I'm a private consultant. I don't file any reports with the department and everything is off the record. So if it's a conflict of interest that you're worried about there isn't one." She ran a finger tip over her notepad. "So how about it? Dinner on Sunday?" Her eyes were beautiful and sultry. "Think of it as a Harvard alumni gathering."

He thought about it. "I'd like to but unfortunately I'm booked on Sunday for dinner."

Samantha pressed her lips together. "I understand. Just thought I'd…"

He leaned toward her meeting her half way. "So how about drinks?" He couldn't help the smile that brightened his face.

~~88~~88~~88~~88~~88~~

Eddie and Santos sat in the unmarked RMP on a stakeout in the projects. They were trailing a suspect. Steve looked at his watch and noticed the time. "Hey, Eddie. It's almost eight o'clock and you haven't mentioned food in almost three hours."

She chuckled and let out a sigh. "Has it been that long?" She blew out a breath.

He bent his head to see her more clearly. "Hey, it's okay if you miss being home."

She wanted to reassure him she felt right about being on the Roundabout project and working with him. She liked the case and the work. "I feel good about being here, Santos."

"I know, and you're doing a great job. I'm just saying you've been in Boston a little over three weeks and I know it's easy to miss people. But I have just the solution to your problem."

She laughed. "I don't have a prob…"

"A night out with the squad to celebrate your commendation and I'm gonna hook you up." He had a Cheshire cat grin. "With a firefighter. And don't tell me you're not interested because all chicks are in to firefighters. Am I right?"

"A hook up?" She rolled her eyes. " You mean like a blind date?" She was torn. Her heart wouldn't be in it, but why not? She was single and couldn't remember the last time she went out with a guy which meant it had been too long…way too long. She couldn't remember that last man who touched her who wasn't a gynecologist.

"Okay, it wouldn't be totally blind because the guy is my roommate, Jack. So what do you say?" He waited. "Come on! It'll be fun."

Eddie chuckled. It seemed ridiculous, but he meant well and she knew everyone on the squad, and she knew Santos' roommate would be a safe bet. "Alright, it sounds fun. Why not?"

~~88~~88~~88~~88~~

At his family's dinner table, Jamie jabbed his fork against his dinner plate, spearing lettuce leaves, making a clanging sound. "I mean, what do I care if she's in Boston?" He banged his fork harder against the plate.

Henry placed a hand on his arm to stop him. "You're going to break the china."

He paused momentarily and went back to stabbing his food more quietly and muttering. "I mean, if she's got some hot date what do I care?"

"Are we talking about your partner?" Danny shared a knowing glance around the table but asked the question anyway. "She's in Boston, right?"

Jamie took a bite of food and looked at him. "Yeah, Boston. Like I said, it doesn't matter to me."

"Well how do you know she's gotta date? I thought she was on the Roundabout project. My understanding is its long hours and a lot of stakeouts and grunt work."

He shrugged. "Supposed to be. But she was awarded a medal so she sends me a text explaining that the squad is taking her out for drinks tomorrow night." He crunched a mouthful of salad and talked around it. "Oh, and that her partner," he made air quotation marks with his fingers, "is setting her up with his roommate who is a firefighter."

Nikki seemed impressed. "Wow. Score!"

Linda spoke up. "A firefighter?" She shared a knowing glance with Erin.

He huffed out a sarcastic breath and shook his head. "A firefighter. Jesus…" He reached for his wine glass and took a long pull.

Frank wanted to try and talk some sense in to his youngest child. "Look, Jamie, you've been partners with Eddie a long time and the Medal of Valor is our top commendation. It's a big deal. You should be proud of her and she should celebrate it. Why don't you drive up to Boston and surprise her and attend…."

Jamie continued muttering aloud. "You know what? It's her business. Me? I'm gonna take care of my business." His fork started banging against his plate again stabbing several pieces of chicken. He glanced at his watch. "I gotta go. Thanks for dinner."

Linda looked up at him. "Hot date?"

He pulled the sport coat off the back of his chair and swung it around, slipping his arms in to it. "You better believe it." Determination filled his eyes and his voice. And with that he breezed out of the room, through the kitchen and let the door slam behind him.

Henry sat back in his chair. "Thank God he's gone. Between the fork clanging and the ranting about Eddie I was afraid for our lives."

Linda looked at Frank. "I hope he doesn't do anything he'll regret."

"Jamie's always bottled things up." Frank silently recalled Jamie's childhood and things he kept to himself. "But eventually he finds his way to the right answer. He'll find his way home."

~~88~`88~`88~~88~~

The Blue Room was a softly lit bar with jazz music. Samantha sipped her wine and leaned toward Jamie, her wraparound blouse slightly gaping open. He could not only see her full cleavage but that she wasn't wearing anything underneath the satin blouse. He knew he would be taking a taxi home so he ordered another beer. He felt relaxed talking with Samantha talking about Harvard and the job.

Their faces were only inches apart. She loved listening to him talk but knew he had a secret. "Did you know you talk about your partner a lot?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Excuse me?"

"Eddie. Your partner. You talk about her all the time. Did you realize that?" Her voice was deep and rich. "She's not just your partner….she is your partner."

As he looked in to her eyes the smell of her perfume wafted up toward him. She was one of the sexiest women he'd ever met and the critical parts of his body were signaling that he wanted her…..except the most important part. She was right. His heart was preoccupied with Eddie.

"I bet you're thinking about her right now, aren't you?"

He leaned closer so his mouth was close to hers. "Is that your opinion as a shrink?"

She laughed. "Nope. It's because I'm throwing myself at you but I can tell when I don't have a man's full attention."

"Trust me," he whispered, "You have my full attention."

Samantha put two fingers together and tapped them against his chest. "But I think the most important part of you is thinking about someone else." Her gaze held his. "I'm right aren't I?"

He smiled and let out a sigh. "Eddie and I are friends. We're not like that."

Samantha took a final sip of her wine emptying the glass. "For now." Her cell phone beeped on top of the bar and she glanced at the text. "Oh, my cab is here. Walk me out?"

Jamie pulled his wallet out from a breast pocket and placed several bills on the bar and followed Samantha. He knew she was right. He'd have to make a decision about Eddie. As they stepped out front the spring evening air was cool and the city was still teeming with night life. The yellow cab was waiting, up against the curb. He put his hands in his pockets. "I had a good time, even if I did get psychoanalyzed."

She laughed out loud. "You deserved it!"

He reached a hand out and gently placed it on her arm and leaned forward, pressing his lips softly against hers. "This was nice."

"Yes, it was," she whispered back. "You want my professional advice? Go find your partner in Boston and tell her how you feel."

He paused, looking around, his eyes searching for the answers. "What makes you think she'd even want me?"

"You'll just have to take that chance." She moved to get in the cab and Jamie opened the door for her. "But if it doesn't work out, Jamie, then give me a call." Her eyes were a glittering open invitation. She kissed his cheek and slid in to the backseat. He shut the door, smiled at her, and patted the palm of his hand on the roof of the cab and watched as it pulled away in to the traffic filled street and disappeared in the lights.

~~88~~88~~88~~88~~

Walking in to his apartment Jamie tossed his keys in to the bookcase by the front door and walked to the kitchen. Sly was waking up from a nap, behind the baby gate Jamie put up to keep him in the kitchen during the day. The cat put its front paws up against the gate, stretching upward to meet him. Jamie reached down and pulled him up in to his arms. "Hey, Sly," he whispered tenderly. The kitten purred in his arms as he pet him. "You're getting bigger every day, bud."

As he held Sly he pulled out his phone and read the text from Eddie. His eyes re-read the words he already new by heart and he wondered what she was doing right now... He held the phone up to Sly. "You see this? You know what this means?" The cat rubbed it's head against his jaw, snuggling against him.

"It means we're going to Boston."

A/N So Jamie's date fizzled (we knew it would) but Eddie's being set up with a firefighter. And now Jamie's heading for Boston! Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts! :)