Jamie and Eddie spent most of Saturday browsing internet sites on what to expect during pregnancy, especially in the early months, and were anxious for Monday to roll around so they could set an appointment and ask the millions of questions they both already had.
They went to family dinner on Sunday and were actually a tiny bit grateful that Erin and Danny were still in the midst of their heated disagreement since most of the attention was on them, it made it easier for Jamie and Eddie to pretend that they didn't have a huge, exciting secret that they were keeping from the entire family. No one even noticed that Eddie didn't touch her wine, and if they did, they probably just got used to her passing over the last two weeks because of her concussion and assumed that was still the reason. Either way, their secret was still just between the two of them, and no one had any suspicions of anything otherwise.
Eddie called one of the OBGYN's that Dr. Morris had referred her to her first thing Monday morning before joining Rachel in their RMP, excited to finally hit the streets again. She was right about them not being able to get her in for two weeks and her appointment was scheduled for two Mondays from now, which meant she and Jamie had to figure out how to keep their news a secret until then.
Thankfully that only meant two more family dinners that they had to get through without spilling the beans, but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep the news from Rachel. She shouldn't anyway. It wouldn't be fair to Rachel to not know that her partner was pregnant, and Eddie considered her one of her closest friends now anyway. She didn't figure Jamie would mind, and she would make sure to let him know later that night that she told Rachel. Eddie didn't have to say anything though, as soon as she sat down in the passenger seat of the RMP next to Rachel, her partner knew something was out of the ordinary.
"You look different...what's up," Rachel asks as she takes the coffee Eddie is handing her and starts their car.
"What do you mean I look different," Eddie responds nonchalantly as she tries to hide her obvious smile behind a coffee cup of her own, which she has reduced to one a day now, until she checks with her doctor. She hopes she can still have at least one cup though. She knows she'll be a bear if she has to go through coffee withdrawals, but she will do it for their baby if she has to.
"I don't know...you just look really happy. It's weird," Rachel laughs. "I mean, I knew you were happy to be back on the streets, but...this is different. You're like...glowing, or something," Rachel adds, and she can see Eddie's smile grow behind the styrofoam disguise. "Oh my God! Eddie are you…"
Eddie can't hide it anymore anyway, and she doesn't want to. She's still so excited and interrupts Rachel before she can finish.
"Okay. Jamie and I weren't going to say anything yet, but yes. I'm pregnant," she tells Rachel as she takes a slow sip of her coffee, careful not to scald her mouth. The cup is no longer disguising her happiness and she sets it in the center console next to Rachel's.
"Eddie, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you guys," Rachel exclaims. "Wait, why aren't you saying anything yet," she questions as she turns her body to face her partner, leaving the RMP in park for now. Their tour can wait a few minutes, she thinks.
"Well, it's still early and we just wanted to keep it under wraps until I see a doctor. Until we know everything is good...ya know," Eddie explains through the grin that is still plastered across her face.
"That makes sense. Wow. I can't believe this. And I really can't believe Jamie is okay with you being on patrol," Rachel says. Jamie didn't even want Eddie to leave the house a week after her concussion, and she is having a hard time believing that he is okay with this now.
"I know, right? I still can't believe that part myself," Eddie snickers. "But, honestly, Rachel. I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay on patrol. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't wanna ride a desk for the next seven or eight months, but I'm not sure I want to take too many chances either, you know," Eddie admits. She never thought she would actually be okay with long-term modified assignment, but now that she has a life growing inside of her that depends on her for protection, she is starting to see everything in a whole new light.
Rachel nods her head as Eddie confides in her. Part of her is sad that she is going to lose her partner for a while, but she understands completely, and she couldn't be happier for her and Jamie.
"Plus, let's be honest. Jamie would probably give himself a stroke worrying about me and the baby out here," she laughs. "But we're going to wait until after our appointment to make any decisions, so you have me next to you for two more weeks, at least," Eddie finishes as she reaches for her coffee again.
Rachel feels a little added pressure as she straightens up in her seat and shifts the car in gear. She's technically still a rookie, for a few more months at least, and now she has involuntarily been tasked with keeping the pregnant wife of Sergeant Reagan and daughter-in-law of Commissioner Reagan safe out on the streets.
Rachel knows Eddie, and even Jamie, must have confidence in her ability to be a solid partner and always have Eddie's back, especially now when it matters the most, or Eddie wouldn't be in the RMP with her right now, but still, she suddenly feels the weight of a thousand bricks on her shoulders as she pulls away from the precinct, and it's terrifying.
Eddie can sense an unusual unease setting in for her partner as she watches Rachel focus solely one the road in front of her. Her knuckles are turning white as she grips the steering wheel and takes a few deep breaths and slow exhales.
"You okay, Rachel," Eddie questions.
"Yeah, course," Rachel responds, and silently vows to herself that she will do everything she can to make sure no harm comes to Eddie while they're on patrol together.
Eddie's first day back on full duty was uneventful and Rachel was probably more thankful for that than Eddie was. Calm days like this would make it much easier for her to keep her pregnant partner safe. When they got back to the precinct, Eddie hit the showers and waited there for Jamie so they could ride home together since he was just a few minutes behind her.
"Hey," Jamie says as he walks out of the locker room to find Eddie waiting outside the door for him. "How was your first day back," he asks as he lands a quick kiss on her cheek and wraps his arm around her shoulder to guide her down the hall.
"Good. I um, I told Rachel," she whispers, making sure that no one else in the precinct can hear her, and smiles up at Jamie with a guilty grin.
"What? I thought…"
"I know, I know, but I just felt like she should know since we're on the street together," she admits as they walk a little faster towards the door.
"Yeah, I guess you got a point," Jamie says. He didn't want her to see how nervous he was all day with her being out on the street, now that she is pregnant, and the idea that Rachel knows does make him feel a little better about it.
"And she could tell something was up anyway as soon as I got in the car," Eddie says as Jamie opens the door for her and she steps outside. "I told her we're not telling anyone yet. She won't say anything," Eddie promises.
"Well, how'd she take it?" Jamie really is curious how her partner handled the news, and the look on his wife's face has him a little concerned now.
"I don't know, actually," Eddie says through a sigh. "At first she was excited and happy for us, but then she started acting really weird. Like she was nervous to be out there with me or something. I just felt like she was looking at me differently now," she adds and for the first time since they found out they were going to have a baby, Jamie can see a little sadness creeping in on his wife's face. He stops them on the sidewalk and turns her around to face him.
"I hate to say it, but I'm afraid that is going to be a common occurrence once everyone knows...at the precinct at least," Jamie says through a tight smile. He feels bad that his wife will have to endure that from the other cops.
"Why? Do you look at me differently now?" She questions as she gazes into his eyes. She really does wonder if her being pregnant will be seen as a handicap by everyone, including her husband.
"Of course I do," Jamie says as she reaches for her hands.
"What?" Eddie exclaims as she pulls away. She can't believe what he just said, and her feelings are hurt, but Jamie reaches for her hands again, and this time he wraps his fingers around hers and smiles.
"Eddie. I see you stronger now. More courageous. And more beautiful, if that is even possible. But I don't think the other cops in the precinct are going to see you the same way I do," he tells her and hopes she understands what he is trying to say.
"I guess you're right," she says as she puffs out a breath of defeat. Jamie is right. She knows the other cops, and possibly even her partner will probably see her as incapable of being able to perform her job fully now, just because she is pregnant, and she really can't blame them. She is a higher risk out there now, and maybe even a liability, and she does understand what Jamie is saying.
"Hey. Being pregnant doesn't make you any less of a cop, Eddie. You're a terrific cop and everyone knows that but at some point…"
"I know," Eddie interrupts. "It's not like I can chase down a perp waddling around with a pregnant belly and an extra twenty pounds," she says through a tight smile as she squeezes Jamie's fingers for a little emotional support.
"You're giving me...us...something so precious Eddie. Your ability to chase down a perp doesn't matter to me anymore. Who cares what everyone else thinks," he says as he tries to lift her spirits some. Nothing, especially the way other people may look at her now, should have any impact on their happiness. He smiles at her as he pulls her into a hug and presses a kiss against her forehead.
"Come on. You hungry?" he asks as he walks her to the car and opens the passenger side door for her.
"You know it," she says as she slides into the seat.