Since Eddie planned to request a modified assignment first thing Tuesday, she called Rachel Monday night to give her a heads up. She had sort of warned her a couple of weeks ago when she first started back on full duty, but she didn't want Rachel to be blindsided Tuesday morning with a new partner. Rachel understood and part of her was a little relieved that the burden was off her shoulders and Eddie promised they'd still spend time together outside of work, which was good enough for Rachel.
Jamie and Eddie walked into the precinct together Tuesday morning, headed for Capitan Espinoza's office. Jamie had asked Eddie if she wanted him to go with her to tell Espinoza, and normally she would tell him that she could handle her responsibilities herself, but considering she wasn't in this alone, she decided it would be good to have Jamie's support.
Standing outside Capitan Espinoza's door, Eddie inhales a nervous breath as Jamie taps on the door and offers her a sweet smile of encouragement as they're called inside.
"Sergeant Reagan...Officer Janko. What can I do for you," Espinoza says as he straightens a few stacks of files on his desk.
"Boss...We have something we need to talk to you about," Jamie says as he stuffs his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. Neither of them have changed into their uniforms yet. They went straight to the Captain's office to get this part of their day over with.
"Yeah?"
"Um...I'm pregnant," Eddie says hastily. She's not sure why she is so nervous about it, other than Capitan Espinoza is the first person they've told, besides Rachel, and he sort of holds the next seven months of her future in his hands.
"Oh…" he says as he looks up at her and then over at Jamie.
"Yeah," Jamie responds with a proud smile stretching across his face. "We just found out a couple of weeks ago and we had our first appointment yesterday. The baby is due February 5th," he adds and he can't contain the excitement in his voice.
"Well, congratulations you guys," Espinoza says as he stands from behind his desk with a smile on his own face. Even though he gave Jamie a little flack in the beginning, he's always liked both of them and he truly is happy for them. He also isn't all that surprised and expected news like this soon anyway.
"The thing is, Boss…" Eddie says as she pauses briefly, her nerves taking over again. "Jamie and I talked about it, and we decided it would be best if…"
"If you take a modified assignment," Espinoza interrupts her.
"Yes," Eddie says through a nervous smile.
"I agree," he tells her flatly. The last thing he wants in his department is the added responsibility of keeping the unborn grandchild of Commissioner Reagan safe. Eddie is relieved to hear that and her nerves begin to subside.
"Hit the desk for now. I'll get with your Sergeant within the next couple of weeks to see what we can come up with," he grins. "You're a valuable asset to this department Officer Janko, and we'd be hurting ourselves if we didn't use your abilities on a special assignment instead of having you answer phones for the next seven or eight months," Espinoza adds.
"Thank you so much, Boss," Eddie says with a sigh of relief. She can handle a few weeks knowing that they'll put her on something better soon.
"Capitan, one more thing...we haven't told anyone else yet. Could you keep this from going up the chain," Jamie says as he looks over at Eddie and back at Espinoza.
"You mean, keep it away from 1PP?" Espinoza smiles playfully.
"Just for now," Jamie begs with a guilty grin.
"We know it's a lot to ask, but we plan to surprise Jamie's family later this week, and we just don't want anything to spoil it before then," Eddie says, matching Jamie's guilty expression. They know it's a lot to ask of their Capitan to keep a secret like that, and if they could have told Jamie's family first, they would have, but that wasn't in the cards.
"Your secret is safe with me for now. Congratulations again you two. You're gonna be terrific parents," Capitan Espinoza says as he walks around his desk to shake both their hands and shows them out of his office.
"Well, that went well. Maybe you'll get a decent assignment after all," Jamie smiles as he nudges Eddie's arm energetically. He is even happier that he won't have to get involved. He knows it will be better that way.
"Yep, thank God," she snickers as they approach the locker rooms. "See you after shift," she adds as they lean in for a quick kiss.
Eddie got herself situated behind the desk, already dreading it and the day hadn't even really started, but there were a few good perks to being stuck inside the precinct. She would get to see Jamie more often during work hours, since he didn't hit the streets every day, and their baby's life wouldn't be at risk. It would be a difficult adjustment for her, but she knew she was making the right decision.
Jamie and Eddie's plan was to surprise everyone during family game night at Danny's on Friday. Nicki and Jack were both going to be in town, and it was the first game night Joe was going to be at and they just had to figure out how to get Frank and Henry there too.
Wednesday night, Jamie dropped Eddie off at the apartment after work so she could eat dinner and go to bed since the fatigue was still hitting her hard, and he left for Bay Ridge to talk to his dad and pop. He wasn't sure how easy it was going to be without raising suspicions since Frank and Henry didn't usually go to family game night, but Jamie had an idea he hoped would work.
"Hey dad," Jamie says as he enters Frank's study to find him emerged in another crossword puzzle with a glass of Scotch on the table beside him.
"Hey, Son," Frank responds as he looks up from his puzzle. He's curious why his son is here at this time of night and wonders if he is there to share the news he is already expecting. He figures not though, since he assumes Jamie and Eddie would probably do that together.
"Where's Pop," Jamie asks as he sits in the chair next to Frank. He was hoping they would both be there so he could convince them together. And Pop usually gave in to Jamie a little quicker than his father did.
"Down the street playing poker. Where's Eddie?" Frank questions with a suspicious tone as he watches Jamie try to formulate a disguise quickly. He can see right through his son and he's never seen Jamie this happy.
"Uh...she's out with Rachel," Jamie responds less swiftly that he would have liked and Frank nods his head in uncertainty.
"What brings you by," Frank asks as he exchanges his crossword puzzle for his glass of scotch and smiles over the rim of the glass.
"We all just wanted to see if you and pop would come to game night at Danny's Friday." Jamie is trying his best to stay casual, he really doesn't want to give anything away yet.
"Oh, you know that's not really our thing, Jamie. We get you kids for dinner once a week and that's really all we need," Frank smiles jokingly at his son.
"Well, Nicki and Jack are both going to be in town, and Joe will be there too, but Nicki's leaving Saturday. We just thought it would be nice to get everyone together at Danny's before Nicki leaves again," Jamie says through soft laughter following his dad's witty remark.
"Alright. We'll be there," Frank tells him with a mischievous smirk and Jamie offers one of his own because he knew all he had to do was mention his dad's grandkids and Frank couldn't say no.
"Good, see ya Friday," Jamie finishes as he stands to leave. His mission is accomplished and he needs to get out now, because he doesn't think he will be able to keep quiet to his dad if he stays much longer.
"Off so soon? You don't want to stay for a drink?" Frank is finding it rather fun baiting his son a little, because he can tell Jamie is having a hard time keeping his secret, but he'll let him off the hook, because he also knows that Eddie most likely is not out with her partner, and at home, sick or tired, or both, instead. But watching Jamie stammer his way out of the invitation is fun anyway.
"I uh...I better go actually. Eddie's gonna be home soon," Jamie says hastily. "Night dad," he adds before he turns for the door.
Pop walks in a few minutes after Jamie leaves and joins Frank in the study, after pouring a glass of scotch for himself.
"Was that Jamie I saw leaving," Henry asks as he sits next to Frank and reaches for the newspaper on the table between them.
"Yeah. He came by to invite us to family game night at Danny's Friday," Frank says as he fills in another answer to his puzzle.
"You think that's when they're going to tell everyone," Henry states bluntly with a wide smile on his face, and Frank sits his book in his lap as his head shoots up to meet Pop's eyes.
"What are you talking about Pop," Frank questions. He's the one trying to play it cool now. He knows Jamie and Eddie's secret but he didn't think anyone else did.
"Oh come on Francis…" Henry chuckles.
"How'd you know," Frank says with a grin.
"Same way you figured it out, I suppose," Henry says and the two share a warm smile of joy at the thought of a new Reagan baby joining the family soon.
A/N: Well, Frank and Henry know Jamie and Eddie's secret. Is anyone really that surprised? I mean, they are current and former police Commissioner of NYC, they know everything right? Next chapter, Jamko finally shares their baby news with the entire family at game night. This ought to be fun!