Chapter Eleven

The next few months were busy for both Jamie and Eddie, though it didn't mean that they weren't in each other's thoughts. When Jamie's birthday came in October, a Harvard mug with a bunch of his favorite candy arrived at the precinct. Kara gave him a wink. There was a funny card with a heartfelt note.

Dearest Jamie,

We're not able to be together on this special day, your 36th birthday, but I want you to know you aren't far from my heart today or any day. Please accept this small gift, and remember our times in the radio car, joking about you and your Massachusetts chocolate cranberry cravings. Perhaps one day we'll be able to celebrate these special days together again, but for now, let's make a pact to celebrate our special days during one glorious week in Montana.

Happy Birthday.

All my love,

Eddie

Jamie smiled and nodded to his friend and colleague and scribbled a note back before hitting the streets. Jamie's tour was horrible, it was extended to twelve hours, and when he got home, he found the Nanny was still with Max. "Mrs. say she was going out tonight, and you take baby…" The woman told him.

"Yes, I will, thank you. Was he a good boy?" Jamie asked snuggling his little one to his chest. Max was growing so fast. The baby gave Jamie a grin full of drool.

Jamie popped a beer and returned a couple of calls from his family before Claudia got home. She was dressed to the nines, "You didn't put him to bed yet?"

"No, I wanted to spend time with him, and he's not tired," Jamie replied. "Did you have fun?"

Claudia rolled her eyes, "I was at a dinner, and that dashing Tom Manning, the one the designed and donated the training center…he was there with the blonde bimbo of his. He is such a gallant man."

Jamie nodded, "I am sure he is, Claudia, but I do know his wife. So do you, Eddie Janko, my ex-partner."

"Well she certainly married up," Claudia replied. "Gutter trash…father stole all their money, but Tom well…That's what you could be if you got out of your own way and grew a pair of balls!"

Jamie sighed and got up to put Max in his crib before the fight escalated. "I chose to follow my heart, not my wallet. I bet Tom Manning does the things he does to make up for the not so wonderful things he did making all that money."

"Just what I would expect from a sniveling little worm," Claudia shot back. "Degrade him because you'll never measure up to him."

Jamie nodded, "Right, of course that's what I do. Takes one to know one too,' Jamie defended. He didn't go as far as calling his wife trash, but Claudia got it anyway. Jamie instantly regretted that remark as a heeled shoe pieced his head leaving a trail of blood running down.

"There we go…" Jamie smiled. "My birthday gift from my wife. A shoe to the forehead, that's great."

Claudia looked up and saw the blood, "Oh baby, I'm sorry…" Her mood changed in an instant. Jamie bit his tongue as hers began to lick his lips as blood tricked down his face. It was a survival of the fittest, and he had to remain razor sharp… Sex with Claudia was something Jamie had begun to dread, he never thought of Eddie during these moments. He felt it would taint the beautiful experience he had with her

The ebb and flow of life swirled around the Reagans and the Mannings. Before anyone really realized it, Thanksgiving had passed and they were onto Christmas. Jamie, Claudia, and Eddie were very busy. It was the season of giving, but it was also the season of muggings, robberies and suicides. Even though Eddie was on the desk she was as swamped as any other office in the City or on Long Island.

On the night of December 14th, Eddie was heading home from a rare night in the city with some of her old friends, including Kara and Alex. She got into her car and started for home just as it was beginning to snow, her eight-month pregnant belly barely allowing her to reach the wheel.

Eddie turned onto the road just as it was beginning to snow. She turned on the radio and listened to various versions of Jingle Bells. She was about to merge onto the main highway when a sports car cut her off. She slammed on her breaks but it was too late. Eddie's tire caught a patch of ice, sending the car spinning three times in a circle before hitting a concrete barrier. The airbag deployed and sent Eddie's body bouncing…Her head hit the wheel…The last thing she consciously remembered was a gush of water before pain sliced through her back.

Linda was on the ER desk when the alert of a woman, eight months pregnant, and in labor came over the dispatch radio. Linda diligently got the trauma room ready, and said a prayer for the woman and her baby.

The very last person Linda expected to see on the stretcher was Eddie Janko Manning, but there was in, conscious but a little confused and laboring intensely. "Have you called her husband? He's on the board at several hospitals, Tom Manning,' Linda asked the medics.

"No, she was unresponsive at first, we go her here as fast as we could. Six centimeters dilated, fully effaced, membranes ruptured, but it was traumatic."

Linda nodded and followed Eddie to the trauma room with two doctors and another nurse. When she saw Eddie was in good hands, she stepped aside to call Jamie.

Jamie was finishing with Max's diaper at the family home in Bay Ridge when he got the call. "Jamie, I don't know if you want to know this but your ex-partner, was just brought in from a car accident and she's laboring hard and fast. We haven't been able to reach her husband yet and she might benefit…"

Jamie didn't have to think, "Dad, I've got to go! Linda called and Eddie, she's in labor after a crash and they can't find Tom."

"Go go, I'll hang with Max here," Frank replied taking the baby as Jamie all but ran out the door.

"Here comes another," Linda coached holding Eddie's hand in her own. "Relax into it…keep breathing, don't stop your breathing…"

Jamie heard Linda's voice and Eddie's cries as he approached her room. "Are you the father?" the orderly asked.

"No, I'm her partner," Jamie replied quickly. "I was called."

Linda heard Jamie's voice and popped her head out between the intense contractions. "Come on in, Jamie. I'm trying by best to calm her down but she's scared and I can't blame her. The accident almost certainly totaled the car and the contractions are coming hard and fast. We finally got a hold of Tom, but he's at least an hour away with the snow and ice."

Jamie nodded, "Of course, I'll do what I can."

Jamie approached Eddie's side, she was having an intense contraction, Jamie simply took her hand and let her squeeze it. "That's the way," Jamie said softly. "That's really good Eddie, focus on my face… just look at me…"

Their eyes locked, and the fear began to taper out of Eddie's blue eyes. Jamie was here, and just like old times things always felt all right when he was with her. Their trust was implicit always had been.

That contraction passed, and Eddie leaned back against the bed. "What…How…" She panted in exhaustion.

"Linda called me, Tom's delayed because of the weather, and anyway you and I have done harder things right?" Jamie dabbed Eddie's forehead with a damp cloth. "Deep breath, Eddie, here we go again." Jamie's eyes watched the monitor, "Do you want an epidural or something like that?"

"No, I want to experience this…" Eddie groaned. "You're right here it is…" Eddie tried to recall her classes but Tom had been the one to pay attention. She figured that was his job, she had to do the rest of the hard work. "Relax when you're having them and breathe, do not stop breathing. It's just like those training courses we took together, okay? Just like that…"

Eddie's contractions were coming every four minutes and lasting at least a minute to a minute and half. She barely had time to rest between them. "How much more can she take? The doctors are saying the head is only at 0 station and eight centimeters she could be laboring like this for hours yet."

"She's young and strong," Linda reminded Jamie. "If OB feels we need to go and get the baby, I'm sure they'll go, but all her vitals are good, she's just tired. Encourage her to rest in between, I'll get an ETA on the husband."

For another twenty-five minutes, Jamie coached Eddie's labor. In between contractions she fell back against the bed, eyes closed, it was too much effort to keep them open. "You're doing so great, Eddie," Jamie encouraged. "So great, I'm so proud of you…your baby is going to be here soon…think about that. What color did you paint the room?"

"Green," Eddie murmured. "Water please.."

Jamie fed Eddie a few ice chips and let her rest. In the middle of her next contraction Tom arrived, "I'm here, honey," Tom told Eddie kissing her hand. "I'm here."

Eddie kept hold of Jamie's hand until the pain passed, "Thank you," Tom said to Jamie. "For helping my wife."

The words my wife stung, but it was true. Eddie was Tom's wife, and Claudia was his. That's the way the fates had dealt the cards. "Anytime," Jamie replied. 'Congratulations to you both."

Jamie took his leaved and let Tom take over. He walked out the door and past Linda not saying a word. He had no intention of going home, but no intention of sticking around either. At her first opportunity, Linda text Danny, "Go find Jamie..."