A/N: Hi everyone thanks for the continuing support! I just wanted to clear one thing up, Jamie's potential new job is a paralegal instead of a lawyer because he's only going back part time and because he hasn't practiced law in 6 years. Sorry if that caused any confusion! Thank you for all the reviews! Enjoy the chapter! I don't own blue bloods.
He opened the door to see Erin standing there with a large bag of takeout.
"I needed to come check on you and since Nikki is at school I figured we could have dinner." She said
"Come on in"
"I got enough so Eddie can have some if she's coming after tour"
"She'll be late"
"What?"
"She called. Another stop on the shield chase. She's under cover until 8" Jamie explained
"Well I hope your hungry then"
Erin and Jamie sat down and ate. They talked about their days, Erin's latest case and the upcoming family dinner.
Should I tell her about my new job? I could at least test the waters before the rest of the family finds out. He thought.
"Jamie, Jamie?" Erin asked
"I'm sorry I uh-" Jamie said shaking his head. He hadn't noticed that he was zoned out
"Alright what gives. I thought it was just the pain meds but you've been off all night" Erin said
Jamie sighed "I'm, I'm thinking about trying something different"
"Different? What? Like a new haircut or something?" Erin asked
"No like a new-" he sighed again
"Spit it out Jamie"
"A new job"
Erin's eyes grew wide. She definitely wasn't expecting that.
"A new job? Jamie I wouldn't do anything rash what are you thinking about doing?"
"Well I went to law school..." Jamie trailed off as Erin thought she knew where he was going
"You want to go back into law? But you hated it, and you love being a cop" Erin tried to keep a level head.
"I didn't hate it. Mom thought it would be a good idea"
"Is that what this is about? You know she would just want you to be happy and from where I sit being a cop makes you happy"
"She also wanted me to be alive"
"Which you are might I remind you"
"But Vinny isn't. And neither is Joe."
"Jamie"
"Is it just a matter of time Erin?"
"You've been through a lot Jamie but that doesn't mean it'll happen to you"
"You can't make that argument because it almost did"
"But it didn't. I'm just saying don't make any rash decisions while you're on injury leave"
"I was just thinking about taking some part time work as a paralegal because between all this time off work and reduced hours for desk duty I need additional income to make ends meet." Jamie
"Jamie if that's what this is about we can help you, I can and dad can, at least until you're back on duty" Erin offered
"I just think this would be a good way for me to test the waters, maybe I should go back to law, and maybe I hate it but a couple of months could point me in the right direction"
Erin sighed, "okay then. I can ask around at my office and see if we have a position open" she offered
"No need" Jamie shook his head.
"No need?"
"I've got a position lined up where I can start on Monday. I just wanted to run it by you before I tell everyone else and take the job"
"You already have a position? Where?" Erin said bewildered
"An attorney's office"
"Well yeah that's where paralegals work. keep talking little brother"
"You're not going to like what I have to say"
"I'm starting to get that impression"
"When I was in the hospital. Sydney stopped by. Words were exchanged then she said something along the lines of a firm would be lucky to have you, then I called her just out of curiosity and one of the paralegals at her firm just went on maternity for the next three months which happens to be how long I'm looking for this job" he explained
"You're working under your ex?" Erin exclaimed
"Temporarily yes"
"It's clear those painkillers are messing with your head if you think that's a good idea"
"It's been six years. Syd and I are fine now"
"You might be fine now but what happens when 'syd' walks into work with a new boyfriend?"
"I don't care anymore! I have Eddie! I don't need Sydney, she didn't need me"
"Easier said than done. Take it from someone who knows, someone divorced."
"Sydney is not Jack and I'm not you"
"I'm not stopping you, I'm just telling you this isn't a good idea."
Just then there was a knock on the door
"I wasn't really asking" Jamie replied as he headed toward the door.
Erin just looked at him with her look. One that had a combination of pain, sorrow, fear, confusion, bewilderment, and a hint of anger.
"Hey Reagan!" Eddie said in her normal chipper mood
"Eddie, come on in" Jamie replied stoically. Eddie could tell she was walking into something.
"Eddie" Erin said as she stood
"Hey Erin! Eddie said politely still Trying to make a good impression on his family.
"I was just leaving"
"You don't have to go!" Eddie said
"I really should go" Erin replied
"Let her go" Jamie said at the same time.
"Bye Eddie. Jamie" Erin said curtly
"Bye Erin" Eddie replied sensing the tension she had walked into as Jamie just nodded at his sister.
When she was gone Eddie continued, "you wanna talk about what just happened with your sister?" Eddie asked
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me Harvard. I could barely fit through the door with all the tension in this room"
"It was nothing, just a difference of opinions"
"Difference of opinions? I don't have siblings but that looked like a lot more than a difference of opinions"
"I've made a decision that she doesn't like. Difference of opinions."
Eddie assumed he was talking about his decision to live on his own while his shoulder healed so she let it go. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it we won't talk about it. How was your day?"
"Pretty boring, Watched sports, read a little, not a whole lot to do right now. You hungry?"
"Aw Reagan I'm surprised you had to ask!" She teased
"Erin brought enough Chinese takeout to feed an army" he said sticking leftovers in the microwave.
"She must have known I was coming" Eddie said with a devious smile.
Jamie chuckled, "so you got off early, it's only 7:00, your undercover fall through?"
Eddies mind raced back to the events of the last couple hours. What she thought was an undercover assignment turned into a conversation with Detective Rivera. She wasn't ready to tell Jamie about that meeting. Not until everything went through.
"Something like that. It was a pretty rough day"
Jamie nodded. They looked at each other both holding something back. Two somethings that could easily change everything. But neither one of them wanted to air dirty laundry tonight. They wanted to forget about the future for a little while.
"So what do you say we put in a movie?" Jamie finally broke the silence.
"Do I get to pick?"
"Can I say no?"
"No"
"Okay then what are we watching?"
Eddie picked a movie and they turned it on. They started on the couch side by side. As it grew later she slid in closer to where her head was on his good shoulder. Eventually her head was in his lap and his fingers were running through her hair. Neither one was very focused on the movie both lost deep in thought. Thinking about the evening's events, the unspoken words hanging between them.
The movie ended and Jamie looked down to see Eddie had fallen asleep in his lap. He gently shook her to wake her up.
"Eddie, Eddie, it's time for bed"
"What?" A groggy Eddie croaked
"Bedtime Eddie, you fell asleep watching the movie
She sat up and opened her eyes
"Oh I guess I should go home"
"You could just stay" he offered
Her eyes got wide and she looked at him skeptically.
"Is that really a good idea this early in?" Eddie asked
"Not like that! Like the time you made your first kill and I just spent the night."
Eddie nodded
Minutes later she was crawling into Jamie's bed. She burrowed her head into the pillow and breathed in. It smelt like him.
Jamie walked out of the bathroom to see Eddie curling up. She was on the side of the bed he normally sleeps on but he didn't care. He loved seeing her blonde hair splayed out across the pillow. He went and took his spot on the other side of the bed and when he did Eddie moved her face closer to his.
"Thank you Reagan" she whispered
He kissed her in response.
The next morning he work up as he heard a clanging noise from the kitchen. He looked to the other side of the bed to see Eddie was missing. The clock on the bedside table read 7 am. Jamie winced at how early it was then reluctantly decided to get up. As he walked out of the bedroom Eddie had her purse over her arm and was reaching for the door.
"Leaving without saying goodbye? Didn't know you were that type Janko" Jamie teased
"First of all I didn't know you were up and second of all This isn't goodbye Reagan, this is me going to get something to make breakfast because you have no food in this apartment"
"There's cereal in there, and some protein bars." Jamie offered
"My point exactly, nothing for breakfast"
"Normal people would call that breakfast Janko"
"Yes but I'm not normal, I'm about to go spend 8 hours defending the good people of this fine city from crime...and drunks and poor parking and domestics but nonetheless it's very exhausting work and I need breakfast in order to do that."
"Okay fine want me to come with you?"
"With that bed head? No way Reagan" Eddie joked and Jamie feigned hurt
"Be careful"
"I will, I'll be back in like 20"
While she was gone he tried tiding up the apartment. The ominous stack of bills still sat on the counter taunting him. He hoped she hadn't noticed how many there were. He also hoped she wouldn't be mad when he finally told her about his new job. He was lost in thought when she knocked on the door. He opened it to see Eddie juggling two large bags full of groceries.
"Whoa Eddie what are you doing feeding the whole NYPD?"
"I'm just trying to stick your place because God knows if I'm going to be spending any amount of time here we need better snacks."
She unloaded fruit, staples, produce, juice, eggs, and much more.
"Now, for breakfast were having scrambled eggs and donuts"
"Scrambled eggs and donuts?" Jamie asked making two cups of coffee.
"Yep, so I need two pans" Eddie replied nonchalantly not understanding that eggs and donuts were a strange combination.
"Bottom cabinet, I don't see any donuts in all this food?" He said
"That's because I haven't made them yet, hence why I need two pans"
"You're making your own donuts? Eddie don't you have tour today how long is this breakfast going to take?"
"Calm down all I have to do is cut the center out of these refrigerator biscuits and fry them"
"Where are you going to fry them?" Jamie asked fearing he knew the answer as she poured oil into one of the pans
"Right here" she said clearly not understanding that this In turn would cause the whole place to smell like the kitchen at McDonald's
"Janko, the things I do for you, this whole place is going to smell like fried food"
"You say that like its a bad thing" she retorted
"Says the girl who's escaping the fumes for the next 8 hours"
"Oh shut up Reagan just be glad I'm even cooking for you" Eddie retorted as she placed the first round of raw biscuit dough into the hot oil.
Half an hour later the pair was sitting down at the little dining table feasting on fresh donuts, scrambled eggs, and coffee.
"I never doubted you but this is actually really good...almost good enough to discount the smell" Jamie offered
"Isn't it! Just let the smell be your little reminder of me throughout the day. I wouldn't want you to miss me too much"
"Yeah yeah so what's for dinner" he asked jokingly
"I actually bought stuff to make chicken parm. It will be kinda late because I don't get off until 5 then I have to make it but my chicken parm is way better than takeout if I do say so myself"
"I'll be the judge of that" he teased
"Well I better get going or I'm going to be late to roll call"
"I'm starting to think you planned this whole thing just so you could leave me with the dishes"
"I just needed to give you something to do today"
"Whatever get out of here" he said leaning in to kiss her goodbye
"See you tonight, don't miss me too much" she said as she headed out
A few hours later Jamie got a call from his dad.
"Hello?" He answered
"A source tells me the fish are biting down at the pier. My detail can pick you up in half an hour if you're up for going with me" Frank said
Jamie agreed and they hung up, Frank wasn't much for talking over the phone anyway.
Within an hour Frank and Jamie were standing on the pier, two baited hooks in hand. Frank cast both lines due to Jamie's injury and then men stood looking out over the water. Frank spoke first.
"So how are you doing?"
"The stitches are still sting a little and the whole shoulder is still pretty sore, almost zero mobility."
"I'm not talking about your shoulder"
"Didn't think so"
"So?"
"I'm just taking it one step at a time doing what I have to do"
"And?"
"I don't know. I'm hanging in there best I can"
"Your sister said you're struggling financially"
"Of course she did"
"You know I can help you, at least til you're back in the uniform"
"Dad I'm thirty years old I can't let you take care of all my problems for me"
"I'm not taking care of all your problems just this one"
"What else did Erin tell you?"
"That you were thinking about getting a job at a law firm"
"Anything else?"
"Is there anything else she should have told me?"
Jamie was relieved she didn't tell him about his job with Sydney.
"No" he lied
"Son, you're going to have physical therapy and desk duty at the 12th. I don't know that adding another job is a good idea"
"It might not be a good idea but desperate times call for desperate measures"
"I'm offering to help you"
"I'm telling you I can't accept your help"
"Jamie this isn't like you were careless and fell behind on a few bills, if you can't make rent because you're out of work that's understandable"
"I just need to take care of myself"
"Just think about it"
"It's too late"
"Too late?"
"I wasn't going to tell you until dinner tomorrow but I have a job lined up and I start Monday"
"Monday!?" Frank asked bewildered
"Renzulli won't let me work, even desk duty, for at least a couple more weeks but the bills can't wait that long"
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean you left law after spending thousands on law school to become a cop because you hated it"
"Or I became a cop to honor Joe- my decision had nothing to do with law" Jamie finally exploded
Frank didn't have anything to say to that. He looked over the bay.
"I guess I always knew that. In the back of my mind" Frank said after a few moments of silence
"Dad, after all these years now I can see what Mom saw. You don't want to bury another son, she doesn't want you to either"
"I don't have to" Frank replied
"Not today"
"You know for a long time after you joined the force I worried. I thought your mother was right. But six years later, I'm not so sure she was right. This would be the only thing she's ever been wrong about to my knowledge, but I think if any Reagan was meant for the force, it was you"
"Dad. Can we cut the theatrics? Like it or not I'm not invincible. Maybe this accident was what I needed to redirect my life. It's not like I'm going anywhere in the force anyway"
"First of all no ones invincible. Second of all whats that thing Joe always told you, when you're looking at something big don't go looking for something bigger?"
"Listen dad I appreciate what you're trying to do here but I need to do this. This might be my only chance where I can work both jobs and at the end of three months make my decision."
Frank was quiet.
"What does Eddie think about all this?" he said finally
"What does Eddie have to do with anything?"
"Don't try to play dumb with me I paid for your Ivey league education."
"I haven't told her yet. I made my decision yesterday"
"You haven't told her?"
"Not yet" Jamie repeated beginning to get frustrated with his father
"You need to be straight with her, she deserves that much"
"I just need the right moment"
"You're afraid of how she'll react"
"That too" he admitted "kind of like Sydney all over again, I think I've got it figured out found the perfect girl but then I go changing myself. Sydney fell in love with a lawyer but wound up with a cop, Eddie fell in love with a cop who might be headed back to law."
"Maybe that should be considered"
"Are you saying I should keep being a cop-risking my life- so I don't lose Eddie?"
"Im saying it sounds like you've made up your mind despite what your sister and I have to say but maybe you should still consider all the options"
They were both quiet
"Well the fish clearly aren't biting you ready to pack up?" Frank asked