Hey guys, a few lines in this chapter are from a few of my favourite tv shows, NCIS LA, Arrow and Golden Girls. Hope you like it. Read, enjoy, review and have an awesome day!
After Eddie had settled in, she debated whether or not to hide away in the room Jamie had shown her to or to face the reality of where she was and go downstairs. Eddie eventually decided on the latter. She was a step away from the living room when she saw the former police commissioner sitting in one of the recliner chairs, reading a newspaper.
Eddie took a deep breath in as she closed her eyes and then stepped into the living room, "Hi," Eddie said nervously with a smile.
Henry looked up from his newspaper and smiled back, "Hi there," Henry replied as he subtly sized Eddie up under his glasses.
"You must be Officer Janko," Henry said as he put the paper aside, took off his glasses and stood up.
"That's right sir."
"Please don't start with that sir business. It's Henry to my friends. I've heard a lot about you Officer Janko, I'm surprised we haven't met sooner," Henry finished off with as he extended his hand in greeting.
Eddie smiled and accepted his hand, "It's Eddie to my friends and I hope nothing bad." Eddie finished with a light chuckle.
"Well, all I've heard is you were about the best cop my grandson was ever partnered with so, no, nothing bad." Henry finished off with a comforting smile that made Eddie feel at ease.
"Please sit down Eddie, make yourself comfortable," Henry said gesturing to the couch as he himself began to sit down.
Eddie sat down and looked around briefly as if in a way, pinching herself that she was really in the police commissioner's house.
"Let me guess, wasn't what you were expecting."
Eddie snapped her head to Henry, "I'm sorry?" Eddie asked confused.
Henry laughed lightly, "I'm referring to the house, the police commissioner's house. You probably weren't expecting it to be so," Henry paused to find the word he was looking for, "normal," he finished off with.
"To be perfectly honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I'm just sorry I had to see your beautiful home under these circumstances." Eddie looked down slightly when she finished the sentence.
"Despite the circumstances, Francis and I are happy to have both you and Jamie here, safe from that son of a bitch, Price."
Eddie didn't say anything back, she just smiled softly in thanks. After that, Jamie and Frank came through from the kitchen and into the living room. On instinct Eddie stood up, however she refrained from saluting, "Commissioner," Eddie said professionally.
Frank waved off Eddie's professional nature while Jamie looked on and smiled softly, "It's just Frank in my home Eddie," Frank said as he extended his hand.
Eddie smiled and accepted his hand, "Ok then, well it's great to see you again….uh Frank."
Frank smiled back while Eddie let out a small, nervous laugh, "I'm sorry, that's going to get a bit of getting used to."
"No problem," Frank put his hands in his pockets and then continued with, "I hope you like steak."
"It's my favourite kind of meat," Eddie said with humor in her voice.
"Really?" Frank questioned because of Eddie's small frame, it seemed kind of unbelievable that she was a red meat eater.
"Never question Eddie about food dad, she takes it very seriously," Jamie joked as he looked to Eddie who smirked and rolled her eyes slightly.
Frank looked between the two and smiled, "My kind of girl, come on then, food's not going to eat itself."
Frank then turned on his heel and headed for the kitchen.
"Wait dad, you cooked, I'll serve," Jamie called out.
"I won't argue with that," Frank said as he headed for his recliner chair.
"I'll help," Eddie said and followed Jamie into the kitchen.
Jamie headed for the cabinets to get plates while Eddie looked around the kitchen to see what she could help with. She saw the meat and vegetables on the counter so she decided to take them out to the dining table. When she came back there were plates piled on the counter and Jamie had his back turned, getting cutlery out of the drawer. Eddie went for the plates, picked them up, thought for a second, sighed and put the plates back down.
"Are we good?" Eddie asked suddenly.
Jamie turned to face her and frowned slightly in confusion as he put the cutlery down on top of the plates, "Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"
Eddie sighed, looked down and brushed her brow. She then dropped her hand with annoyance, "You know for once Reagan, just once, could you say what you actually mean?"
"I do say what I mean," Jamie replied not liking one bit where this was going.
Eddie stared back at him for a second, "Yeah, yeah you do when you're on the job, but for some reason when it comes to me," Eddie paused, shrugged slightly and finished with, "You don't."
"That's not true," Jamie replied simply with a frown.
"Yes, it is," Eddie replied simply back.
Eddie and Jamie stood still, neither backing down as their eyes were caught on each other. Eventually Jamie looked down and scratched the back of his head nervously.
"I thought you didn't want to talk about this right now."
Eddie went to reply when the kitchen door swung open and Henry walked in, "Food looks great, be nice to have some plates and cutlery to go with it though," Henry joked.
Eddie and Jamie stepped away from each other nervously. Henry looked at each of them and asked, "Everything ok here?"
When Jamie didn't respond and Henry was waiting for a response Eddie jumped in and said, "Yeah, yeah it is, sorry we'll be right out."
Henry looked to Jamie who reluctantly looked at him and gave a tight nod, "Ok then," Henry said giving a smile to Eddie before going back into the dining room where Jamie and Eddie heard Frank say, "What's the hold up, food's getting cold." To which they heard Henry reply, "Beats me."
Eddie sighed and picked up the plates with the cutlery on top and started to walk away.
"Everything is not ok, is it Eddie?" Jamie asked Eddie who stopped in her tracks and turned to face him.
"I just want you to be honest with me Jamie….tell me why all of a sudden you don't want to talk about," Eddie looked down trying to force the word out, "about….."
"Us." Jamie said forcefully.
Eddie looked up at Jamie and then looked away with annoyance and frustration.
"See Eddie, you can't even say it. We're not ready to have this conversation and you know it."
Eddie scoffed and shook her head, "At least I'm trying Jamie, the real question is, why aren't you?" Eddie gave Jamie one last look and walked out into the dining room where she apologised to Frank and Henry for the delay.
Jamie took a step back, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples before grabbing the wine and glasses and going into the dining room where what met him was an extremely tense and awkward dinner.
Once they were finished Jamie and Eddie cleared and went into the kitchen and cleaned and put away the dishes in silence. Henry came in and instantly felt the tension between the two and decided enough was enough, "Hey Eddie, you're our guest you shouldn't be in the kitchen slaving away."
"Oh, it's ok, I don't mind helping out."
"If you want to help, grab us two beers and come watch the game with me."
Eddie smiled, "Best offer I've had all night," Eddie then went to the fridge grabbed the beers and followed Henry out to the living room.
Jamie leaned back on the counter, grateful to be alone so that he could think. That didn't last long when Frank entered, with his hands in his pockets.
Jamie didn't even have to turn around, he just rolled his eyes and said, "Let me guess, it was gramps' idea to watch the game with Eddie so that you could talk to me in private." Jamie then turned to face his dad mimicking his stance by putting his hands in his pockets as well.
Frank looked down and then to his side, took out a long breath and said with a gravelly voice, "You're wrong."
Jamie just stared back when his dad took a seat on the stool and continued with, "It was my idea."
Jamie just smirked and looked away.
"What's going on with you and Eddie son and don't say nothing cause that would be lying and good sons don't lie to their fathers?"
Jamie just shrugged and replied with, "It's complicated."
"You know where I come from when someone says 'it's complicated', it's like code for 'I don't want to talk about this so drop it and don't ever mention it again.'"
Jamie looked back at his dad, waited a beat and replied with, "Ok then, we done? Can I finish the dishes now?"
"Running away isn't the answer Jamie and you know it, so let me help you with what I think is bothering you, you have feelings for Eddie, you always have but have had to deny it because you didn't want to risk losing your partnership and your friendship and now that you're not partners anymore you're battling with yourself to tell her or not to tell her."
Jamie didn't reply he just looked down.
"Which side is winning?"
Jamie waited a beat and replied with, "Not telling her."
"Why is that?"
"Because we're cops," Jamie replied simply.
Frank frowned, "What's that got to do with anything?"
"It means we're in the firing line every time we go out to work. Every day there's a chance that either one of us won't make it back home."
Frank took in what Jamie said and looked to his side and nodded, "That is one of the harsh realities of the job Jamie but what does one have to do with the other."
Jamie looked at his dad like that was the stupidest question he could've asked him in that moment, "Everything."
Frank just stared at him willing him to explain. Jamie sighed and continued, "It has to do with everything. If we make that move and become more than we are now, all it takes is one bullet, one perp or one collar to destroy all that."
"You could also say, all it takes is finding out you're not compatible as a couple, getting in an accident or getting cancer. When it comes right down to it, it's risky, following your heart is risky. You just have to take a leap of faith and when you do sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen but Jamie if don't take the leap nothing happens."
"You know I never fully understood at the time why Sydney didn't take that leap, now I do."
"Jamie, if you think putting Eddie at arm's length is protecting her, you're wrong son. You're only protecting yourself. The risk would still be there even if you weren't cops."
Jamie furrowed his brows as he began to process everything his dad had just told him. Frank gave Jamie one last look before he stood up and walked out of the kitchen.
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