Chapter Thirty Eight
Across town, Molly was helping Joey get into bed. "I want you to rest at least a little bit more," she told him. "Your Da is coming over later for you two to have a chat. He was so shaken up when he came to the hospital…"
"I think I overreacted with that," Joe sighed. "I'm burned out on SVU, you were right about that…but Dad might be right about me sticking with it for another 12. I can always retire, go back to school…there are options."
Molly nodded, "Yes, there are but I think ye just took a huge hit on the head and should rest instead of thinking so much. Close yer eyes now, I'll be right here."
Joey smiled and held Molly's hand, drifting off to sleep. He only woke up a short time before Jamie was due to arrive. When Jamie rang the bell a little after six, Molly let him in with a smile. "Joseph is in the living room, I made some coffee and cookies."
Jamie smiled and gave Molly a hug, "Eddie sent some of her cinnamon tea leaves with a little of that bark stuff she uses, she said it will help him."
"I'm sure it will, I'll brew some of it before bedtime. I'll be in the den if you need me…between us, he's ready to talk and listen…I'm so very sorry for losin' me temper. I just can't stand te see him like that. I hope ye can forgive me that. "
"I can, I promise I won't hurt him again, I'll be gentle," Jamie whispered and headed to speak to his son.
Before entering Jamie knocked on the door hanging back watching his son with a small sigh. "Hey Joe..."
Joe smiled at Jamie, "Dad, how you doing?" he asked. "You look a little stiff."
"Yeah, it's hard getting old. How are you feeling, son?" Jamie sat on the sofa and faced Joe.
"Okay, not as dizzy...a little more clear headed...but I promised Molly not to make any big decisions feeling like I do. You always said that too."
Jamie nodded, "Yes, I did glad, I'm glad you heard it. Glad you're feeling better, Joe." He felt nervous, Eddie was better with Joe, always had been, that's likely how the got here.
The silence was awkward for a minute before Jamie began, "I'm sorry Joe that I wasn't...a more present father in your life that I worked so much and wasn't...That's hurt our relationship and I know you don't want that to happen when your babies start coming."
"No, I don't, Dad. I want my kids to know that I'm there for them, and I want to know everything you about them. I want them to know they are first, not my second option," Joe sighed
"And you feel that being on the job will hurt that?" Jamie replied. "And in SVU, you're right."
"If something happened, and the long hours alone…I'd never have time for them or for Molly, not like they deserve," Joe lamented.
"Like I didn't have time for you?" Jamie asked. He wanted to put an end to this part.
Joe darted his eyes away unable to meet his father's gaze. "Just felt like I was always the afterthought. "
Jamie sighed..."I loved you Joe, I still do, but being the oldest and a boy when Mom got sick you became...more of a partner and less of a child, that was not fair and I'll never stop regretting that."
"I know, Dad. I guess I just needed you more as a father, to know that if I needed you to have my back, to…there are so many little things."
Jamie smiled, "As much as I wish I could change the past, I can't, but I'm here now, and whatever you decide about the job I'll support you. I am the PC for at least a short time longer...I will help you in any way I can professionally. Personally, how about beer and some darts when you're feeling yourself again?"
For the first time in awhile Joe smiled. "Sounds good dad..really good.."
Molly heard some gentle laughter coming from the living room. She smiled, glad that Joe and Jamie had gotten out some of the hurt and confusion. She heard Joey's fears and today she finally felt Jamie heard them too. The laughter was music to her ears, she enjoyed a lovely relationship with her father, she wanted that for Joey, she wanted that for their children…That stung, it was taking too long for her patience now as well. Still, the idea of Jamie and Joe having beers and shooting darts did her heart good…they were on the mend.
Jamie left Joey in Molly's capable hands. He made a fast stop by the herbalist market to replace Eddie's damaged plant then headed home to wait for his wife. This whole situation was unsettling, and taken together with the crank calls and other strange occurrences it was down right scary. As Commissioner, Jamie dealt with threats, with angry officers, angry citizens, but this thing was focused on his wife and in his own home, that raised the stakes.
When Eddie got home from her day with Linda and the babies, she found Jamie sitting at the kitchen table. Jamie stood up and helped Eddie with the twins. "Here, let me take them up…sit down, rest your knee."
Jamie let that linger in the air. Eddie's left knee was aching, she didn't remember falling or banging it, but apparently she did, there was no other reason why it would throb like this. Eddie sat down and rolled up the leg of her pants. The skin was now black and blue…she thought back over the last 24 hours…
"We have to get together soon," she said to long time friend Kara Walsh. Kara and he family moved to Philadelphia years ago but they tried to hook up a few times a year to regroup. "I'll check Jamie's schedule but if he can't we can always do something…."
Eddie turned off her car and ended the call. She reached to put her phone in her back, when it happened…she heard a branch crack and felt eyes on her. Eddie's heart and blood began to pump harder, the neighbor's dog began to bark…Eddie looked up, their door was so close and Jamie was just on the other side of it. All she had to do was get there…and she'd be safe.
Eddie began to run as fast as she could go. Normally she'd go down the drive to the sidewalk, then up the steps and to the door, but not tonight. Tonight, she went as fast as she could to the safety of her home.
"They went right down," Jamie said sitting down by the table. Eddie seemed to be in another world. "I noticed your Meadowsweet got ripped up somehow so…" Jamie produced the flowering plant. "Eddie…" Jamie reached out and touched Eddie's shoulder.
Eddie felt a hand on her shoulder and almost leapt out of her skin. "Jamie!" she gasped when she realized. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I was talking to you for almost a minute," Jamie replied. "Your Meadowsweet…the plant broke…I got you a new one. I know it's your favorite…"
"Oh, Jamie thank you," Eddie smiled. "That was really sweet, I didn't know it broke."
The confusion made Jamie nervous, how could she not remember running through her own garden. "Why don't you take a picture of it on your phone…tell everyone what a great husband you have…"
That did it. "Jamie, I lost my phone, I have no idea where it is…I…" Jamie handed Eddie the device. He had cleaned it up for her.
At Eddie's questioning look, Jamie explained. "Sully came by to see the twins, he found it near the herb garden. What happened last night Eddie?"
Eddie looked up at Jamie with shaking hands, "I don't know," Eddie replied. "I really don't remember all that much. I was on the phone with Kara, we are going to try to get together in the next few weeks. I hung up the phone and went to put it away when the Zimmerman's dog started to bark…I felt like someone was there, someone in the shadows…and I ran, I just ran as fast as I could to try to get to you…but…"
"But?" Jamie asked cupping Eddie's cheek softly.
"When I got inside I saw you weren't feeling well and I just shifted my attention…" Eddie replied. "Did I really trample my favorite plant?"
Jamie nodded, "You did, and knocked down the fence. Sully helped me fix it before I went to see Joe. You took a hard spill on your knee, how about we head upstairs, I put some ice on it and make it feel better."
Eddie smiled up at Jamie then stepped into his arms. "It's silly I'm so scared of this. I was a cop, I carry a gun, I had my gun on my belt but I just ran…"
"It's too close," Jamie reasoned. "It's way too close, this is our home, the one place we should be safest…you should be safest…and I'm going to make sure you are. I promise you that."
Eddie leaned into Jamie's embrace and let him rock back and forth for a minute. "I think it would be nice to go upstairs and…just be together."
"You need help?" Jamie wasn't sure how badly she hurt her knee.
"No, lock up down here, check on Dad, and meet me upstairs…" Eddie gave a little flirty smile before heading up.
Jamie was more meticulous than ever locking the house down. Lila wasn't home yet, but there was nothing he could do about that. She could realarm the door when she got in, Jamie would have to talk to her about her nocturnal activities but for now he had to protect his wife.
Jamie made the ice pack for Eddie's knee and popped a little blue friend in case TLC escalated as it often did when she gave him that look. When Jamie entered the bedroom, Eddie was in a short blue hightie, her bruised knee on a pillow. "Oh that looks bad," Jamie sighed. "Here…let's put this on it."
Eddie gasped at the cold, and relished in the feel of Jamie's hands on her leg. They were a little rough but Eddie always found that exciting. "We are going to get this creep," Jamie promised Eddie was he massaged her thigh. "He's going to regret scaring you when we get through with him."
Eddie smiled, "I've always felt so safe with you from the first day in the car until now. That's what happened, I wanted to get to you. I knew I could fight this if I got to you."
"We'll fight together," Jamie whispered as he felt the medication begin to work.
The ice pack slid off Eddie's knee and hit the floor, Jamie slowly pushed her thigh and moved between her legs, his hands worked at the knot of her robe and pushed the material off her shoulders. Eddie brought her arms up to encircle Jamie. She felt so safe, so loved, the way his lips brushed her delicate skin…
Eddie's hands moved to relieve Jamie of some of his clothing, she exposed his bare chest and buried her face again it. Eddie inhaled sharply, Jamie always had such a fabulous scent, sandalwood, sage, and Jamie…
Piece by piece the clothing was removed and Jamie and Eddie's bodies touched, sealing a connection that existed skin to skin, heart to mind and body to soul. Jamie's kisses spoke to Eddie, not only saying "I love you" but this time it was much richer. It said "I'll protect you", it said "You're safe…"
Eddie hips rose up as Jamie's dropped down, a rhythm always as old as time, and always as new as the rising sun…they joined their bodies, their mouths, their very breaths…
As Jamie and Eddie caught their breath, Jamie lay on his back holding Eddie close and tight, her head resting on his shoulder. Jamie's fingers caressed her bare arm and toyed with her hair. "Well," Eddie whispered. "My knee certainly feels better now…"
"I was hoping…you know endorphins and all," Jamie chuckled.
Eddie gently elbowed Jamie in the ribs, "Honestly though, what are we going to do?"
Jamie kissed Eddie's head, "We're going to beef up the security on the house and on you and we are going to face it together. It's probably someone you or I put away, we'll being going over the old cases. Joey can help until he's cleared to go back to work."
"How did that go?" Eddie asked, embarrassed she didn't inquire before this.
"Very well, we have more to talk about but he was honest, I was honest and when he is better we are going to start doing things together like I used to with my father," Jamie replied. "Please don't worry about that okay?"
The alarm on the door chirped once indicating the front door was ajar, then shut off. "Lila's finally home…" Jamie shook his head. Eddie rubbed his chest, she sensed he was getting upset.
"Let's leave that for another day," Eddie suggested. "There's always tomorrow to deal with that."
Jamie nodded in agreement and got up to check the panel on the bedroom wall, to be sure they were safe and secure. Jamie slid back into bed and pulled Eddie into his arms, they both slept secure in the knowledge they had each other.
Next Update – May 22nd – Jamie seeks Danny's help, the family is put in danger when Eddie's stalker escalates