Eddie had hit the tipping point in her recovery and ended their little homestay arrangement two days later. She was grateful for Jamie's care but was equally realistic about the circumstances. Return to patrol came a week later.

"Welcome back to paradise." Jamie teased as Eddie settled into the seat beside him.

"Thanks partner." She smiled and wrapped both hands around her coffee, enjoying the momentary peace before Jamie started the car.

"So when are we going in for the UC training?" Eddie asked.

"Thursday, if we are still up for it. Renzulli said there's safehouse in Manhattan where we will be staying so I think the plan was to spend the morning down at the 5-4 for briefing and then we have to go up to the safe house itself."
"So Danny's precinct?"

"Yeah. He's actually on the case."

Eddie was glad for that. Danny had been on her first UC assignment and she strangely enjoyed working with him.

The day's patrol only involved taking down a kid running off with a lady's purse, a drunken disorderly, and a jaywalking EDP. It was just enough to make Eddie feel like she was back in the swing of things.

The partners had split to their respective locker rooms to clean up from the day. Jamie made quick work of it and headed to Renzulli's office to pick up the training schedule for their assignment.

"Come in." Eddie reacted flatly to the knock on the women's locker room door. She expected to see Jamie sauntering in with suggestions of beer and darts. Instead she was greeted by Jason Emmet.

"Oh, hey." She started, suddenly feeling awkward that another man besides Jamie was intruding.

"Sorry to pop in like this…" He was visibly nervous…or miffed? Eddie couldn't tell

"No worries. What's going on?"

"I was just checking to see if you wanted to grab a drink tonight."

"Gotcha. Um, could I take a raincheck? I'm still a little tired."

He looked unconvinced and perhaps a little rankled.

"If you don't want to, just say so."

Eddie was a little taken aback by his shift in demeanor.

"I wasn't saying that, I was just.."

"No. It's cool. They all said you were getting your fix with Reagan but I didn't wanna believe that."

"Hey, now that's out of line."

"Look, just do us all the favor of being honest the next time some guy wants to be a gentleman and take you out for drinks instead of just keeping you like a booty call in the closet like ol' Reagan…"

By now Jason had brazenly backed Eddie up to the lockers. He didn't touch her, but he had his hands on both sides of her head against the metal. His face was far too close for Eddie's liking and she recoiled a little but tried not to let it show.

"What's going on in here?"

Jason spun at the sound of Jamie's voice, icy and accusatory.

"Nothing, man, nothing." He mumbled, shuffling away. "Like I said, not trying to be somewhere I'm not welcome…or tap something that ain't mine."

If looks could kill Jamie's gaze would have sadistically eviscerated the man as he left the room. He turned to Eddie.

"You alright?"

"Yup."

Clearly she wasn't.

"Wanna grab a drink?" Jamie asked. He could tell she was't going to discuss the issue any more and subsequently dropped it.

"Sure." She took his offered arm for a moment before releasing it at the door.

"Why am I so bad at this, Jamie?"

"Bad at what?"

"Men."

He huffed, eyes cast to the ceiling.

"I wouldn't say that."

"Then why am I still single?"

"Because you choose to be."

Eddie was going to protest but realized he was right. She chose bad prospects, then chose not to be with them.

"Maybe I'm just bad at picking em."

"Now that I might agree with."

She laughed, feeling better already just shooting the breeze like this.

The pub was busy for a Thursday night, most likely due it's proximity to nearby university residential housing. Jamie and Eddie reveled in their anonymity in this crowd. Jamie procured a stout and a cognac, neat. He knew when Eddie was sad or lovesick, it was a liquor night.

"Thanks." She smiled as he handed her the glass and settled onto the stool across from her at a high two-top.

"So, it's a no-go with Jason, huh?"

Eddie looked defeated.

"I don't know what happened. He was so nice the other night. Today he was just…you know…oozing jealousy and vitriol and all of that…." She stumbled over her words.

"Jealous? Of who?'

"Of you. You don't make a very good wingman, eh." She teased him.

Jamie skipped over that comment, afraid of where that conversation would have taken them.

"Well, please be careful, Eddie. He seemed pretty mad."

"He wouldn't actually do anything."

"You don't seem to know how crazy you can make a man…" Jamie meant that with as much implication as it sounded.

"Oh…you're asking for it now, Reagan…"

Eddie laughed and reached out to jab him in the arm but started to lose her balance on her chair, complements of the drink in her hand.

"Woah there…"

Jamie caught her under the elbow. He didn't remove his hand, but scooted his chair around the table so as to maintain his stabilizing grip on his partner.

"Eddie," Jamie suddenly turned serious, "you must know you're a catch. I mean really. You're funny….smart….attractive….." He became more awkward the longer he went on.

"Tell me something I don't know." She mocked.

Jamie knew she wouldn't hear him out so he dropped it.

"You too drunk to make it home?"

"Hardly." She teetered a little.

"Maybe I'll walk with you…."

"Suit yourself."

They waltzed out the door and onto the street, deflated by the cold as it hit them. Jamie tossed a friendly arm over Eddie's shoulders and pulled her in closer.

Reaching her front stoop, they stopped and Eddie fumbled with her keys for a moment. Never once had they stood here since their original goodbye kiss that they didn't think of that night.

"See you tomorrow?" Eddie looked up at Jamie with a dusky look in her eye.

"Sure thing, partner." The scintillating streetlamp halo on his partner's hair enkindled desire and bravery in Jamie. He reached for her as she turned away to leave him, catching her hand. Eddie spun at the tug of his arm back to face him, the palm of her hand landing on his chest.

He pressed his mouth to hers, firmly but carefully. She breathed out, startled as he pulled away.

"Just you know…keeping it professional. Night, Eddie." He declared as he walked away.

Eddie watched as he disappeared past the glow of the streetlights. Somewhere along the line they had silently and physiologically agreed that the rules were relevant but bendable. Eddie wasn't quite sure when that decision had been made, but it was becoming obvious to her that it had. This undercover thing was going to be interesting.