20
Jamie pulled the zipper up on his thick uniform jacket as far as it would go, then tugged on the NYPD-issued knit cap atop his head once more, making sure his ears were fully covered. It had been a typical winter day with temperatures in the low 30s - cold, but not unbearable. However, today's outdoor exercises had left him feeling extra chilly.
It wasn't even the coldest he'd ever been. There were plenty of tours he worked in the dead of winter and through raging snow storms that he swore would result in frostbite, but his attire and gear for most of today was very different than the typical patrol uniform, as were the elements he was exposed to. But his ultimate saving grace may have been the adrenaline rush the exercises brought about. That and he'd been hyper-focused on his instructors and not the frigid environment.
Now that it was over, the rush was gone and he was left feeling the effects of a day spent over and in a frozen lake.
Jamie hopped out of the back of the cramped ESU equipment truck after storing his gear – a full water-rescue drysuit, complete with boots, gloves and hood.
His company was out at Silver Lake Park in Staten Island, joining the veteran members of the ESU, Scuba, Aviation and Harbor Patrol units in their monthly water rescue training. The vets were quick to pick out a few trainees to assist in the exercises and he ended up the most unlucky one, chosen to play the role of victim in the next phase of their ice and water rescue training.
Overall, it wasn't as traumatic as Jamie expected, but he couldn't help the burst of adrenaline he felt as he was immersed in the freezing lake. It had nothing to do with a threat of harm, but the importance of this training and what it could mean to someone else out in real life situations. He never wanted to find himself in this type of predicament, but seeing it out from the vic's perspective would help him better handle the situation as the rescuer someday. The window was small for a successful ice rescue in these conditions, so the more he knew, not only about the rescue techniques, but also the mindset of the victim, the better. Jamie focused on following instructions and taking in his cadre's lessons.
First up was land rescue and the proper technique for approaching a victim on the ice and a demonstration for securing and pulling the victim (him) out of the water.
Then, twice more he was dunked into the freezing water, first to demonstrate air rescue where he again played the victim. Jamie was secured to the rescue diver and taken on the first of two wild rides. Being tethered to his rescuer and plucked out of the lake by a roaring helicopter might have been more exciting but for the intense rotor wash that pelted them.
The real test for Jamie came next when he played rescuer, doing just as he practiced back at headquarters and then observed earlier in person. He required minimal correction and deemed it a success when he and his 'victim' were safely transported through the air and deposited on shore. Jamie was becoming a pro with the ropes, at ease with both climbing and rappelling, and this exercise added a whole other element to it. It also provided an extra thrill with the helicopter.
Jamie joined the rest of his class where they stood before their instructors, coming to a stop next to Sergio.
"Alright, I hope you all got a better handle on the techniques we've been going over back at headquarters. Like most everything else, it's easier to learn these skills hands on, so we'll be here the rest of the week and give you all a chance to actively participate, so dress warm, folks. That's a wrap."
Lt. Mason eyed the few who had clearly avoided eye contact during his selection of participants at the beginning of the day, discreetly making note of his next 'victims.' He then turned to Reagan - the kid hadn't done too bad considering he was the first in the drink. "Good job out there, Reagan," he praised before leaving the group.
"Thanks, boss," Jamie replied.
With that last exchange, shoulders relaxed collectively. Some of the trainees made beelines toward the parking lot and the warmer confines of their cars while others turned to their fellow trainees to discuss the day's events.
"I hate the cold!" Sergio complained as he began to bounce on his heels to generate some heat. It took a lot of will on his part to keep still and alert during the course.
"Anyone want to grab a drink and warm up somewhere?" he asked the three others surrounding him.
"I'm in!" Jamie replied eagerly, stuffing his frozen hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. He was feeling every bit as cold as his buddy, if not more so. A shot of his favorite scotch sounded pretty good right about now.
"I can think of a lotta better ways to warm up than a drink with Campo. Figured you'd be halfway to your girl by now, Reagan," Maria teased.
Jamie's lips pursed together to hide the smile that threatened to form, thankful his cheeks were already red from the cold as he felt the blush rise across his face. This was the norm now that they knew he and Eddie were an item. It was the running joke and the teasing was often relentless, but he didn't mind. It was all in good fun, especially now that they understood why suddenly he was so quick to bail on some of their meet-ups after training. No one could blame him, of course. Their schedules were hectic, so whenever their downtime lined up, the new couple was eager to be together.
Things between him and Eddie were great. They had the benefit of being partners on the job and developing a solid friendship before they got together romantically, despite the drama they endured. And that allowed their relationship to feel both familiar and comforting while it was also new and exciting.
It was that shared detail of their former partnership that amused the bunch the most.
"We aren't attached at the hip, you know," Jamie defended.
"Uh huh," the lone female in the group laughed.
"And she's on swing, anyway," Jamie confessed, because who was he fooling? Of course he'd ditch these guys for a chance to snuggle with Eddie after a day like this.
"And there you have it, my friends," Kevin chuckled before turning back to Sergio's complaint. "And didn't you grow up here?" he asked, swearing the other man was a longtime native.
"Born and raised in the Bronx," Campo confirmed as they began walking toward the parking lot together, ready to get out of here as the wind picked up across the lake.
"And you aren't used to these winters?" Maria asked skeptically.
"Must be the hispanic blood coursing through my veins. I'm much better suited to tropical climates," Sergio reasoned, earning snickers from the group.
"You told me you've never left New York," Jamie recalled.
"Course not, man! My mama's here!" Sergio joked, before he complained again. "Today was harsh."
"What are you talking about? It's not like you got called out on the ice. You were on the shore all day watching," Jamie reminded him. "Hell of a lot easier than playing victim in the water."
"If you make it into the unit, are you gonna bitch and moan when you get called out to one of these situations? What if you're the one that has to go in the drink?" Maria asked.
"If I make it? Pshhh," Sergio scoffed and swatted that notion away. "And that's different - the adrenaline will be pumping; a life will be at stake. But today? Today we're standing around in thirty degree weather watching Reagan bobbing around in the water while other guys crawled around on the ice."
"At least it wasn't you pretending to need rescuing today, but it might be tomorrow," Jamie reminded him of the instructors' plan to rotate them all into the exercises.
"Bite your tongue, Reagan!" Campo replied, choosing to live in denial.
"Just wait, keep complaining and karma will come bite you in the ass sooner rather than later," McCoy warned the delusional man.
"I know, I know," Sergio conceded with a sigh. He just really hated the cold.
"Even when we're done with training, remember that these exercises are monthly, even in winter," Maria added.
"How warm do those drysuits keep you out there?" Sergio wondered, noting how Jamie's muscles were clenched tightly against the cold.
"Warm enough to keep you alive, but not enough to forget we've been outside all day, I can tell you that for damn sure," he confirmed. "But you're right about one thing: when it's us out there really trying to save a life, we won't be feeling it."
"You think your name got you out on the ice first?" Kevin asked. He'd let go of the crazy notion Reagan was getting any sort of preferential treatment in STS. If there was one thing he knew about the guy was that he busted his ass with each and every task, but he also wasn't blind to the fact that the instructors picked on him more than others, just to see how he'd fare.
"It's a blessing and a curse," he said, trying to make light of it, but he could sense that a few of his instructors questioned his place in the class just like McCoy once had.
"Serves you right," Sergio kidded.
"It's all right. I did my time, which means that'll be you tomorrow," Jamie jabbed back with a smirk.
"I can't wait."
A little fatherly moment up next as Frank checks in with Jamie - my favorite! Anyone else notice that we got a lot more of those one-on-one Jamie/Frank scenes ever since they butted heads in Season 8 and after Jamie got his stripes? I hope they keep them coming (someday, when the world gets back to normal and we get new epis).