Chapter 11

"Mason Elias Lockwood," Eddie revealed as promised that following Monday morning while slipping onto the comfortable leather couch next to Jamie as he lay lengthwise nearly mesmerized by the blinking cacophony of dancing coordinated multicolor morphing LED light strings crisscrossing back and forth at random on Kaylin's most precious yet enormous and fully loaded Christmas tree which she had insisted be lit for almost all of her waking moments during the last several days.

"I'm sorry, what?" he replied, unable to break the stare as his OCD tendencies for order were stretched to the near breaking point and he barely noticed that his wife had returned home mid-morning after her midnight shift.

"Lockwood," she repeated with a frown while pushing some errant hair back behind her ear. "His last name is Lockwood. Jamie, you promised to figure out how to slow down the flashing pattern on these fancy-shmancy lights a little every day behind baby girl's back so that eventually our tree isn't seizure-inducing," she chided. "Now c'mon… listen to what I found out!" she demanded as a click on the remote laying on the coffee table turned off the garish glittering display entirely. "Thank goodness she's back in preschool every morning now so that our retinas get a break and don't burn out before that! You did remember to drop her off there, right?"

"Of course I did," he huffed indignantly. "Sister Grace said they were going to be working on their nativity play for church all week. Kaylin got the part of the angel Gabriel with two lines to say all by herself. And Mason Lockwood… I heard you the first time," Jamie responded as he snapped out of his stupor. "Why does that sound so familiar?" he asked as neither he nor Eddie had any idea at that point in time that they had just stepped into Mason's intricate and painstakingly planned web which included fully documented false identities harboring just enough of the true details to make them plausible.

"Well, it's the name of a werewolf character in "The Vampire Diaries" if you're into that show, remember? Mason was killed by Damon Salvatore who ripped his heart out which resulted in instant death in season three and then he came back as a ghost after that I think," Eddie added. "Actually it was the first name of one on that Disney show "Wizards of Waverly Place" too, and something else like that… "Teen Wolf" maybe? Or that was just a friend of one... I don't know. Seems to be popular with fictional werewolves, anyway," she mused.

"So your research has determined we need to arm ourselves with silver bullets from here on out?" Jamie puzzled as he glanced over at her. "Seriously, Ed?"

"No, of course not! I said fictional!" she responded with frustration, the implied "duh" left unstated. "Mason Elias Lockwood was born in 1950 near Binghamton, New York and moved south as a teenager, living in several states including Virginia, South Carolina and Oklahoma over the years since. Married Marta St. Lawrence in 1971 and like he said she died ten years or so later in the beginning of 1982 during the birth of their second son, Matthew. Older son's name is Mykel… very strange spelling so was easy to find, deceased; suicide in 2009. No priors for papa other than a couple of parking tickets on the late 90s. Worked as an accountant for several local businesses and grocery chains throughout the years."

"So he's been telling the truth as far as we know," Jamie mused while chewing the inside of his cheek. "Wait, what about the other kid… the second son? Mason said he moved here to be closer to him."

"He works in Jersey near Branchwood. No idea where he lives though. Must be paid in cash under the table because he hasn't filed income tax forms in the past five years."

"Hmm… so a little sketchy there, but probably doesn't matter. How'd you get the name so fast by the way?" Jamie queried, generally impressed so far with her thoroughness considering she had little time to work on this overnight.

"I called Mom yesterday, and she checked the state property records for recent transfers," she revealed proudly. "I could have done that if I had access to those databases, but I told you… I have sources too."

"Nice work, Detective Reagan," Jamie smirked as he pulled her over on top of his chest while mulling things over in his brain. "Unique names, fairly easy to find and search for," he murmured almost to himself with a sigh as he tried to stop from going any further down the conspiracy nut wing path. "I guess maybe we're looking at another misfire on the Reagan radar like with Mrs. Winkler and the yappy poinsettia chihuahuas," he admitted. "Pretty sad though that our job makes us this suspicious of all of our neighbors. Guess we seem pretty strange to them too with the hours we keep and the fact that a serial killer decided to take us all hostage here last summer before an attack cat took him down," he mused although that nagging sense of recognition and dislike had not dissipated in spite of the fact than nothing Eddie had uncovered seemed remotely familiar or nefarious. "I still don't like the guy. Stay away from him," he warned.

"Noted, Sergeant Reagan," Eddie brimmed with newfound confidence as he accepted her gathered intel without criticism while her hands slipped lower and underneath his shirt. "That was fun, but I think I need some more practice uncovering things while we're alone," she whispered as her soft touch roamed and turned him into instant putty. "Tomorrow we'll be busy with the doctor in the morning, so I might not get too many more chances before you go away."

"Edit Katalin," he moaned as she trailed a line of soft kisses down his chest before sitting up to straddle him and unbutton her own blouse, revealing a burgeoning bustline and increasingly taught bra as the expected physical changes from the pregnancy were beginning to make themselves known and only further enhanced her beauty as far as Jamie was concerned. "I guess maybe we need to do some shopping for you… this one's getting too small," he smiled while tracing his fingers along the pretty lace before reaching up to release the garment and the treasures it contained. "God, you're just gorgeous."

"Well, thank you, sir," she beamed as her blue eyes danced while she felt his heart quicken and she did the same for him by removing his favored sweatpants and boxers. "Likewise my handsome husband. Just remember that you're going to have to share these girls with someone else soon," she reminded before fully settling herself down on him so they could become one and his mouth and hands could caress and excite her to the core.

"Oh, like I said before… this kid's gotta be the best wingman ever," Jamie breathed into her quickening and aggressive movements as her normally healthy sex drive had been further enhanced as of late by surging hormones and he was not about to complain about that either as he let her take the lead. "Poor guy might be spoiled though when he gets older… never find anyone to compare to his beautiful mother…" he trailed off before words were replaced by passionate sounds of love and ecstasy.

Ignorance proved to be bliss as the two shared their last intimate few hours together before events commencing the following morning would see them pulled apart in hearts, bodies and minds for the foreseeable future… perhaps forever.

###

"Everyone back there is staring at me," Jamie muttered as he anxiously loosened the tie to his dress uniform even as he sat ramrod straight and spit-polished in the otherwise empty waiting room of Dr. Geisner's office the following morning, having been summoned against his will directly after this appointment for a last-minute medal ceremony and photo shoot pushed through 1PP and past a reticent Police Commissioner Frank Reagan by the mayor's well-oiled press machine seeking to expand upon the positive public response to the past week's article.

"Well, maybe they remember you from the first time we were here, and you were pacing around the room like an armed caged grizzly bear," Eddie reminded as she nervously flipped through a magazine before letting out a sigh as she glanced at the reception desk since they were the last of a group of several other more obviously pregnant women to be brought in. "I'm sure it definitely left an impression and a big red security alert on my file, but I wish they would call us back already. Don't they know what a bad idea it is to force a pregnant woman to drink a huge amount of water then make them sit here? There's gonna be a flash flood soon if we don't get a move on it, and everyone is going to be staring at me and a huge puddle on the floor," she griped. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you afterwards? I know there's no way I can fit in my official blues anymore, but I can go as a casual dressy civilian Mrs. Sergeant Jamison Reagan instead of a stuffed-sausage-looking Officer Edit Reagan this time. I know you don't want to hear it because you think it's all about the politics, but you deserve this Commendation for Community Service and I'm so proud of you. If what you've accomplished this year doesn't merit the bar with a blue star for an idea that improved conditions within the city, what does? C'mon, honestly, lambchop, give yourself a little credit once in awhile."

"No, you don't need to be there and get caught up in it somehow. This whole thing is ridiculous... I'm leaving tomorrow and have work to do at the 3-5 so it better not take all day. I can't believe Dad wasn't able to stop it."

"Your Dad serves at the pleasure of the mayor as he constantly reminds us… that means he doesn't always get to call the shots. Would you rather he resign over something like this?"

"No, of course not," Jamie replied with a frustrated huff. "I just really hate the dog and pony show crap… and it will be one more thing to set Danny off," he frowned while imagining a worsening divide with his older brother over this whole issue… a rift he had begun to feel guilty about considering his sister-in-law's revelation about the upcoming neurocheck and that secret the older couple seemed to be keeping. Suddenly he just couldn't keep that bundled up away from Eddie anymore. "Linda's having some tests done at her surgeon's office on Friday," he blurted out to his wife as an explanation, unable to keep quiet any longer especially given what he suspected to be the reason behind it and where they happened to be sitting at that very moment.

"Wait, what?" Eddie gasped as she looked over in puzzled shock. "When did you hear about this? Is something wrong? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was last week at dinner when you weren't in the room and I was asking about who could watch Kaylin when I was gone if you needed help," he answered. "Linda said it was nothing… just routine stuff, but Danny looked away," he added with concern. "I didn't say anything to you before because I think it might have something to do with this," he indicated a beach ball form in the air over his own stomach. "I wanted to talk to my brother about it first in case I was wrong, but it doesn't look like I'm gonna get the chance, especially after today's news hits the ceiling fan," he added.

"You think she's pregnant too?" Eddie asked with wide doe eyes before the realization behind all this cold secrecy hit her. "Or she wants to be and can't," she reasoned and sadly sat back in the chair to stare straight ahead as the pieces clicked into place. "And I am. Whoa."

"Yeah," he agreed as they contemplated that for several minutes, suddenly unconcerned about his NYPD obligations or being stuck in the waiting room because of the now late-running appointment.

"So that's why… and all this time… then they weren't at dinner this week…" she rattled on as Danny's crew had been absent from the family meal this past weekend, supposedly on a day trip to visit friends. "But you said she's seeing the surgeon, not Dr. Geisner," she reminded.

"The bullet that's still in there has something to do with it I think maybe," he waffled. "Ed, I'm not a hundred percent about any of this. I'm pretty sure Dad knows… I was going to talk to him since Danny and I are at odds, but it's all I could come up with that explains how things have been going between us and them... I didn't want you to hear about it somehow and be upset though while I was gone," he explained.

"I'm not upset because… wait, should I be? I mean no, right? It's not like we planned it or would have done anything on purpose. Wow, I don't even know what to think now," she admitted as conflicting emotions hit from all directions. "I feel really bad," she added after another long pause. "I teased Danny about being a marshmallow and having a little girl of his own because of the way he was with Kaylin… I didn't realize…"

"None of us did… or really do yet," Jamie admitted as he grabbed her hand. "I honestly don't know what to say about it either. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'm sorry I did it now while we're here… before your appointment, but it just kind of came out."

"What should I do if I see either of them?" she wondered. "They didn't want anyone to know? But what if they ask about our baby? Although to be honest neither one really has lately… I never thought it was because of this though… I mean I just kind of assumed they were done with the boys being older."

"That's why I didn't say something earlier and I doubt you'll run into either before that… Linda's not here today and he's avoiding me like the plague, but just be yourself, Ed, and try to understand what they are going through I guess. I promise when I get back we'll work this out. If Danny wasn't being such a jerk about this EDP committee thing I would have gone to him about it right away, but he won't talk to me now I'm sure. Maybe they'll hear whatever it is they are hoping for by that point… Linda seemed anxious to have the tests done. If we were in that position… I don't know, right? Something like that is so damn personal..."

"Edit Reagan," came the voice from the doorway that halted their conversation before they could offer any more thought on the subject, and the two got up quietly together this time to follow the nurse back to the exam room hand-in-hand, pausing for the now-familiar weighing and measuring process without comment until they answered the requisite questions and were seated alone once more to await the sonographer's arrival. Eddie was relieved when the nurse directed her to hop up on the table while still wearing her pretty blue-flowered blouse and favorite stretchy-waist black pants that were able to pass as dressy if one didn't look too close. Everyone was anticipating the need for only a simple transabdominal ultrasound this time versus the more uncomfortable internal one performed during that first early visit.

Once more it was their now-favorite friendly and personable sonographer, Christine, who arrived minutes later with a warm smile and quickly set about prepping Eddie for the scan by having her lay back as she warmed the machine and applied a generous amount of gel on her bare tummy before rubbing the transducer wand in it and quickly bringing up that much-anticipated and now distinctly humanoid image on the screen. Jamie and Eddie were again soon enthralled by the sight of their unborn child with tiny legs and arms already moving.

"Oh, there you are!" Eddie cried as her heart filled with joy. "So amazing… I can't believe how much she's changed already in just a few weeks. Jamie, look! Our munchie's waving to us! Hi pretty baby girl!" she gushed and returned the gesture.

"He sure is," her equally happy husband agreed without taking his eyes from the screen… soaking in every second of the incredibly detailed view while holding her hand and keeping their little predict-the-sex game intact. "And handsome like his old man to boot. Way to go kiddo… that's my boy."

"Well, hello to you too, little one," Christine also smiled at the level of activity which was always a positive sign. "As you both probably know we can't reliably determine sex at this point… not until the eighteenth to twentieth week so we're not even going to go down there," she chided.

"Oh, we're just teasing. I keep going back and forth about finding out," Eddie admitted. "This one wants to know, and sometimes I do too, but part of me thinks it's like the greatest Christmas present ever, and I'd hate to spoil the buildup. Can we just keep our options open on that for now?"

"Sure, I'll just mark you as a maybe for sexing with a big old notation to ask first. Now, then... Mommy and Daddy came here all dressed up to have a good look at you today, so let's be cooperative, okay? Eddie, since you are at twelve weeks gestation now, I'm just going to take some baseline measurements which will help assess the baby's risks of having complications such as chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome or major congenital heart problems. We do this first by checking the clear space in the tissue at the back of the baby's neck," she paused for a few moments while she clicked and assessed. "Everything there is well within the normal parameters," she assured as two big, evident sighs signaled relief at that news and the couple offered each other beaming smiles before she checked her notes and continued her work. "And here is the heart itself… everything there appears to be in order as well, and a solid 152 beats per minute is perfect at this stage," she added before switching over to Doppler as the beautiful sound of even, rapid little thuds filled the room.

"I really wish we had one of these at home… I could listen to that and watch this all day," Eddie sighed happily as she relaxed back against the pillows. "Have you ever seen and heard something so beautiful before?"

"Well, I'll be happy to download some more photos and a video on your USB drive to take home when we're done here so you can have your daily fix," the sonographer smiled. "At this stage, believe it or not, all your baby's limbs, organs, bones, and muscles should be fully formed so I'm going to finish things up by taking a quick peek in the abdomen," Christine explained while continuing with the scan for a few more minutes before pausing for another glance back at the folder to read through her previous notes which included a question mark in the paragraph next to her shorthand for the urinary tract. "The intestines, which were previously growing so quickly they protruded into the umbilical cord, are now regressing back into the abdomen and the kidneys are starting to excrete urine into your baby's bladder in case you didn't know."

"Oh, trust me… I've been made fully aware of that," Eddie joked as she continued thoroughly to enjoy her experience. "We've been on top of such things since the minute we found out I was pregnant… down to the fruit or veggie size of the week since this one here is a walking, talking encyclopedia of almost daily pregnancy facts and trivia," she added with a beaming nod towards her husband. "We're at lime size, right?"

"Nothing wrong with being informed, is there Christine?" Jamie questioned with a smirk and a quick kiss on Eddie's cheek as his heart was swelling with pride at the sight of his beautiful wife and second child… pushing aside any other worries that he had in the world for just a few more blissful seconds before the skies opened and everything started to crash down around them.

"Not at all," the tech mused, and after another moment's pause to weigh the options, she decided to follow her very experienced gut as she put down the wand and reached for some towels to clean up the excess gel that remained on her patient's belly. "Eddie, I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'm going to step out and ask you to change into a gown and then switch back to the transvaginal probe for this last little part. Your baby is being a little shy about giving me a good look at the kidneys and bladder and we can usually get much clearer images internally."

"Wait, is there something wrong?" Eddie was startled by that request as her eager smile disappeared in an instant at this unexpected turnaround in fortune and tone while her own heart nearly stopped. With a frightened look at Jamie that was reflected immediately back as the same shock was apparent in his hazel eyes, she quickly propped herself up on her elbows while her grip on his hand tightened considerably. "There is, isn't there? Oh, God.. no! Please, tell us," she begged as her eyes welled up. "What is it?"

Anyone who has been in a similar situation can appreciate the immediate fear that absolutely freezes your heart at a moment like that. Next, we discover exactly what our favorite Jamko couple has to be concerned about that might significantly affect their already beloved little bean's future as an irritated Police Commissioner takes some heat from a member of his own staff and the mayor while growing worried himself when his youngest son uncharacteristically fails to arrive on time for the ceremony.

For the full story behind Eddie and Jamie's first visit to confirm the newest little Reagan's presence in this series, plus more details about Linda and Danny's current situation, please see the "Magic Beans" chapters in the Snapshots II collection in my profile.