It was his first day back from vacation. He, Angie and the girls had gone to Niagara for two weeks to celebrate his passing the Captain's exam.
Now the waiting began. And if there was one thing Jimmy had learned over the years, it was how to allow time to wash over him. His patience was renowned in the squad, as was his hands-on approach. Both of which he had developed as a detective and honed to an art form in ESU.
Jimmy was a cop's cop, with an open door policy that was the envy of the precinct house. He would frequently come in to find patrol officers waiting to speak to him; men and women he'd never met, coming to him for advice. And he was more than happy to oblige, finding he learned as much about himself as he did about the officer talking to him.
Jimmy was on the phone when he heard the knock on the doorframe. He looked up and waved the uniformed officer in. He returned to the notes he was taking, assuming the officer would sit down and wait. When he saw no movement out of the corner of his eye, he looked up again. And found the officer standing at attention behind the chairs.
Finishing his call, he gave the officer his full attention. "Can I help you, Officer?"
In perfect parade cadence, the officer spoke. "Detective, Third Grade, Alexandra Eames reporting as ordered, sir."
A smile broke out across Jimmy's face. Shuffling some papers from one side of his desk to the other, he located the file folder he was looking for. Opening the folder, he motioned to the chairs in front of his desk. "Have a seat, Detective. You wouldn't happen to be related to John Eames from the Nine-O, would you?"
Seating herself, she nodded. "Yes, sir. He's my father."
Jimmy nodded, sensing that she didn't want to talk about it further. Deciding to see how she responded to unusual situations, he bent his head and started reading her file. As he skimmed, he watched her over the top of his glasses. She sat quietly, her hands resting on her uniform hat, her eyes taking in the details of the room unobtrusively. The silence in the office didn't seem to bother her.
Jimmy grinned.
"So, Eames," Jimmy said, closing the folder and looking up, "I see here that you had your choice between Special Victims and us here in Vice. Why'd you come here? I'd have thought you'd had your fill of dealers and pimps from Anti-Crime."
Sitting up straighter, she spoke with quiet confidence. "Well, sir, I thought I could do more good here, helping get the creeps off the street before SVU is needed. Maybe collar some perps before they escalate and kill someone."
Jimmy nodded, seeing a decidedly proactive streak in the officer sitting in front of him. And wondering where she got it. From what Jimmy knew of John Eames, he was much more reactive in nature. He figured it must be a mother's influence. And he was glad for it. He didn't need a member of his squad struggling with a quick temper.
"Well, Detective, what do ya say we go meet the rest of the squad. And let me be the first to welcome you to Bronx Vice." Jimmy stood and, grabbing his jacket, stepped around the desk. Meeting Eames by the door, he shook her hand before ushering her through the door.
"Everyone, this is Detective Eames. She's joining us from Manhattan South's Anti-Crime unit. I trust that you will all make her feel welcome." A chorus of greetings rose from the bullpen, along with a few whistles and catcalls.
Seeing Eames starting to blush, Jimmy scowled at his squad. "Knock it off, ladies. Or I'm scheduling another gender sensitivity seminar for a Saturday." At the collective groan, Jimmy saw Eames trying to suppress a grin.
Leaning in close, he spoke softly, "they're harmless, I promise. But if anyone gives you any trouble, I want to know. Understand?"
Eames looked up at him and nodded, "yes, sir."
"And enough of this sir crap. I'm not that old and I do work for a living. Relax." Scanning the bullpen, Jimmy spotted the detective he was looking for. "Bowden," Jimmy called across the room, "get your feet off my desk and come here."
A stocky detective in a black suit strode across the squad room and stopped in front of Jimmy and Eames. He smiled at Eames and nodded to Jimmy.
"Tom Bowden, meet Alexandra Eames. I'd like you to show her the ropes, take her out and give her the tour. Eames, you bring some street clothes with you today?"
"Yes, sir. I mean, yes, Lieutenant." Eames reached out to shake Bowden's hand. "Nice to meet you, Detective."
Returning the handshake, Bowden grinned. "Tom. And pleasure to meet you as well."
"Call me Alex." Eames looked from Bowden to Jimmy. With a nod, Jimmy dismissed her. Both men watched her leave the squad at a jog.
Jimmy motioned Bowden into his office and made his way back to his desk. Once both men were seated, Jimmy spoke. "Tom, take good care of her. She wants to be here. She picked Vice over Special Victims. I want daily progress reports from you. Any problems, concerns, I want to know. You get me?"
"Sure thing, Lieu. You spot something in her?"
"I think so. Now get out there." With a smile and a nod, Jimmy dismissed Bowden and went in search of the budget he had been going over before Eames arrived.
"Oh, and Tom?" Jimmy called out as Bowden was leaving the office.
Turning, Bowden stopped. "Yeah, Lieu?"
"Keep your feet off my desk."
With a wave, Bowden left the office.
Chuckling, Jimmy watched Bowden head towards the gun lockers. With a shake of his head, he returned to the squad budget, looking for ways to help out his squad through the upcoming holidays.
April 9, 1998
Once again, Jimmy had been awake later then he had intended. Long after the girls had come in and kissed him goodnight, long after Angie had brought him the cup of decaf that was still sitting next to his monitor, he had been banging away on his keyboard.
Some mornings, especially when it took more than one cup of coffee to get him going, he wondered why he was still entertaining the idea of getting his degree. He already had his Bachelor's in Sociology, had done the same thing he was doing now to get it. But he was older and his body had taken to protesting the late nights.
And, Jimmy had to admit; he missed going to sleep with his wife. He missed watching her eyes drift shut, missed feeling her breathing slow as she lay against his chest. He looked forward to Saturday; he had a surprise planned for her for Date Night. He'd already arranged for the girls to stay with Angie's sister for the weekend, they were looking forward to seeing their aunt and uncle.
And Jimmy was looking forward to having the whole weekend, and the whole house, for just the two of them. He only needed to get through three more days and the sting operation they had planned for tonight.
Bleary eyed and nursing his third cup of coffee, Jimmy made his rounds, checking on his squad, before heading to his office to find his notes for the briefing. While he was digging through a stack of folders on his desk, he heard a soft throat clearing from the direction of his doorway.
Looking up, he was not surprised to find Eames leaning on the frame. "Yes, Detective?"
With a quick glance over her shoulder, Eames stepped into the office, closing the door behind her. She moved quickly to the front of the desk, slumping down into the chair closest to the windows.
Jimmy, eyebrow raised, sat down in the chair next to hers and waited. In the six months since she had transferred into the squad, Jimmy had learned that he could not force her to speak. She would do so in her own time. He had also discovered, much to the amusement of the rest of the squad, that she was quick-tongued and had no problem engaging in a good natured battle of wits with him when the mood struck her.
So, he sat quietly, allowing time to flow around him, and waited for her to speak. His patience was rewarded five long minutes later.
"L.T., do you remember your first operation, the first time it was just you and the scum?" She didn't meet his eyes as she spoke, instead looking at her hands. " I mean…well, I'm not sure what I mean."
Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck a moment before leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, and making eye contact with Eames. Their eyes met briefly, before she looked back at her hands. "Nervous?"
Her eyes met his again, and she nodded. "A little bit, yeah."
Nodding, he stood. He grinned at her surprised look. "Come on, let's get out of here. Grab a bite to eat before the briefing. My treat."
Eames stood and followed Jimmy to the door of the office. She hung back as he swung the door open and stepped into the bullpen. "Bowden," he called to Eames' partner, "a word."
Bowden trotted over to Jimmy, a look of confusion and concern on his face. "Yeah, Lieu?"
"I'm taking your partner to get something to eat. Think you can manage without her for a little while?" Jimmy ushered Eames out of the office and watched as she gave her partner a half-hearted grin.
With a sympathetic smile, Bowden nodded. "I reckon I'll manage. You just watch yourself, Lieu. Won't be any of us around to save your hide from any verbal beatings you might take." Laying a hand on Eames' shoulder, Bowden lowered his voice so only she and Jimmy would hear. "You'll do fine, Alex. Neither me nor the Lieutenant will let anything happen to you, I promise. Now, make him buy you a nice lunch, since I know he's paying."
Eames smiled up at Bowden, Jimmy watching as the tension eased some from her shoulders. "Thanks, Tom."
"Oh, and Tom?" Jimmy said as Bowden headed back to his desk. "Think you could find my notes and get the troops together. The briefing will be in an hour."
Bowden's shoulders slumped as he turned back towards Jimmy and Eames. "Oh shit, Lieu, I'm not gonna be able to find anything on that desk."
With a hand hovering near the small of Eames' back, Jimmy motioned her towards the stairs. "Well, Tom, you've got an hour. Good luck," Jimmy tossed over his shoulder as he followed Eames out of the bullpen.
The diner was quiet, the only other customers a pair of precinct uniforms. As Jimmy and Eames walked in, the older of the officers waved to Jimmy. "Hey, Lieu, when you lose the butter bars?"
"Hey, Jack." Jimmy waved as he and Eames sat down. "I get pinned next week. You coming to the ceremony?"
The two officers rose and walked over to Jimmy. "Is your wife gonna be there?"
Cocking an eyebrow at Eames, Jimmy nodded. "Of course."
Laughing, Jack clapped Jimmy on the shoulder. "Good thing. She's much prettier than you are, even when you are in your blues. Have a good day, Jimmy."
Jimmy watched Eames watch the two officers leave while he skimmed the menu. He heard her open her own menu as he closed his. The waitress came by and poured two cups of coffee, nodding at Jimmy before she left.
Watching the people walk by on the sidewalk, Jimmy started to drift, still tired from the night before. Eames' voice startled him. "I didn't know you were being promoted."
Jimmy shrugged. "Yeah. I took the exam seven months ago, just been waiting for the brass to get around to making it official."
Eames took a drink of her coffee, her menu set aside. "Does this mean you are transferring?"
"That eager to get rid of me? I see how it is. Take advantage of my hospitality while planning the 'the old man's gone' party." Jimmy laughed. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going anywhere. You just get to say your boss is a captain instead of a lieutenant, it's a very glamorous distinction."
The waitress came back to the table and took their orders, refilling Jimmy's coffee before leaving. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Jimmy spoke. "So, what's got you worried, Eames?"
Eames stared into her coffee cup a moment before speaking. "L.T., every time you call me Eames, I start looking for my father. How about you call me Alex?"
Jimmy smiled. "Okay. What's bothering you, Alex?"
"Well, as long as I've been a cop, I've always had someone right with me, someone watching my back. Tonight, it's just going to be me." Alex took a long sip of her coffee.
Fishing a battered pack of Camels and a lighter from his pocket, Jimmy gave Alex a questioning look as he stuck a cigarette between his lips. At her nod, he lit the butt and inhaled deeply before speaking.
"Bad habit, I know. But hey, what's a Vice cop without a vice." Setting the cigarette in the ashtray, Jimmy looked over at Alex. "Alex, you'll be fine. Although it will seem like it, you won't be alone. Tom and I will be in the van; Randy, Joe and Mark will be on the block. You'll have more back-up then you will know what to do with."
Jimmy watched as Alex nodded, although she still seemed unsure. Picking up his cigarette, he took another drag before setting it back in the ashtray.
"When I first transferred into ESU from Homicide, I was assigned to the Heavy Equipment truck, where all the FNGs go. I was in the rear, with the gear, while I learned the ropes. One night, we were called out to back up a drug bust. It was not pretty. The narcs underestimated the number of mutts in the lab and it turned into an all out, balls up gunfight. Our crew got called up to help." Jimmy took another puff before continuing.
"Well, everyone in the crew, except me. Being the new guy, I got to stay with the truck. So, there I am, in full tac gear, pump action shotgun resting in the crook of my arm, when I hear someone behind me. I turned to find a cracked out scumbag trying to sneak past me, behind the trucks. Well, he saw me the same time I saw him. And I found myself going barrel to barrel, with no back-up in sight." Taking a last, long drag, Jimmy snuffed the cigarette out and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. And I saw the moment he decided to pull the trigger, to become a cop killer to save his own ass. He fired two shots to my one. Unfortunately for him, I was trained and sober. Both his shots missed, mine didn't. The sound of the shotgun brought cops out of the woodwork, but by the time they got there, the mutt had bled out." Jimmy looked up to see the waitress coming with their food.
She set the plates down and went to get the coffee pot. Jimmy looked down at his food and sighed, having lost his appetite. Once he coffee was refilled, he continued, "It was my first week on the truck. And my last. Apparently I impressed the unit commander. He transferred me to HBT and sent me to sniper school."
Alex set her fork down and looked at Jimmy. He could see the respect in her eyes. He shook his head. "Each of us, eventually, will be put to the test. It is up to you to pass that test. And you never know when it will come, or what it will be. That night, with the truck, was the first of many for me."
Alex pushed her plate aside and picked up her cup, draining it. "Thank you, sir. Thank you for sharing that with me."
Jimmy could still see some uneasy in Alex's eyes, some nervousness in her posture. "Alex, you are a detective with the New York City police department. You are a member of one of the most highly trained, most respected police forces in the world. And you are never alone. Do you understand me?"
With more confidence, Alex nodded. "Yes, sir. I understand you."
Shaking another cigarette out, Jimmy chuckled. "Haven't we talked about the sir thing already?" As he lit up, he waved for the check.
With a laugh, the first he'd heard from her in a week, she nodded. "Yeah, we have, Lieu."
"Jimmy. Outside the job, my friends call me Jimmy." The waitress slid the check in front of him and disappeared with the plates. Draining his cup, Jimmy set a twenty on top of the check and stood. "We should probably head back, get this show on the road. Come on."
Alex stood and started towards the door. Jimmy, following her, waved to the waitress, "Thanks, Beth. Say hi to Pete for me."
"Will do, Jimmy. Be careful out there," the waitress called back as she started a fresh pot of coffee.
Jimmy had called home at nine to talk to the girls. It was something he had gotten into the habit of doing when he was in Homicide, working shitty hours. He had a deep-seated fear of his daughters grown up thinking he was not a part of their lives; believing that he wasn't there for them.
Heidi and Melissa fought over who got to talk first, eliciting laughter from Jimmy and a bemused look from Bowden, sitting next to him. After being regaled with tales from the school day from all three, the phone was given over to Angie. Wanting a few minutes to talk to his wife alone, Jimmy got out of the van and walked to the front bumper, where he could still see Alex.
"Hey, babe. Have the girls been good tonight?"
"They've been angels. They missed you at dinner."
"I missed them, too. Believe me, I would have rather been home."
"I know, honey. How's it going out there?"
"Twelve arrests, so far. Eames is a natural. It's almost scary."
"Good people work for you, Jimmy. You know that. If they didn't know their stuff, they wouldn't be there. Have a little faith."
"I do. So, how are you?"
"I'm okay. I miss you. What time did you come to bed last night?"
"Sometime after three. But I got five more pages done."
"That's good. Do you know when you'll be home?"
"It'll be late. Don't wait up, hon."
"I love you, Jimmy."
"Love you and miss you, babe. See ya in the morning."
Closing his phone, he set off down the block to check on his squad.
April 10, 1998
"Damn, Lieu, she's a machine. She's been out there for six hours," Bowden turned towards Jimmy, rubbing his eyes. "I'm tired just watching her."
Jimmy snuffed his cigarette out and rubbed the back of his neck. "Tell me about it. How do you think I feel?"
Bowden grinned, seeing an opening. "Old?"
"Fuck you, Tom. I was up late, working on my thesis." Jimmy drank the last of his cold coffee and grimaced.
"How's that coming?" Bowden pulled a pack of gum from his jacket, offered Jimmy a piece.
Sighing, Jimmy declined and leaned his head back. "It's coming along. But the girls are starting to think I've had that keyboard surgically attached to my hands."
Bowden snorted, his hand going to his mouth. After a few minutes of stifled laughter, Bowden met Jimmy's eyes. "That's a lovely mental image. Thanks."
Jimmy shrugged and went back to watching the block. Long minutes passed in comfortable silence. Jimmy looked over to find Bowden's eyes drifting shut. He nudged him, startling Bowden awake.
"No sleeping, Tom. Gotta keep your partner safe." Jimmy nodded towards where Alex stood, leaning against a lamppost.
"Ya know, Lieu, if I weren't married…" Bowden stopped, apology on his face.
Cocking an eyebrow, Jimmy looked at the other man. "If you weren't married what, Tom?"
"Well, I mean… Shit, Jimmy, just look at her. She's got it all; guts, beauty and brains. Who could ask for more in a woman? Her husband is one lucky guy. You know him?" Bowden looked from Jimmy to Alex, awaiting an answer.
Lighting his last cigarette, Jimmy crumbled the pack and tossed it into the trash bag behind the passenger's seat. "No, I haven't met him. But I've heard good things about him. He's with ESU."
"Wow, must be interesting in that house." Bowden yawned widely.
With a long drag, Jimmy nodded. "I have no doubt. What do ya say we call it a night?"
Needing no further prompting, Bowden was on the radio, calling the squad back to the staging area. Jimmy watched as Alex started walking towards the van, her shoulders snagging visibly.
Bowden opened the passenger side door and climbed out, allow Alex the seat. He then climbed into the back as Jimmy started the van. They drove in silence to the staging area, Jimmy finishing his cigarette before they parked. He didn't like smoking when the whole squad was together, most of them didn't know about his vice. Fishing his package of mints from his pocket, he popped one into his mouth before he climbed out of the vehicle.
The three of them approached the group of detectives and Anti-Crime officers. Jimmy cleared his throat, silencing the squad. "Good work tonight, everyone. I'd like to thank all of you for your help. This operation resulted in twenty-five arrests and the clearing of six felony warrants. Now, it's late, and I know you'd all like to get home to your families. But I'd like everyone to give Detective Eames a pat on the back. This was her first night out and she handled herself like a pro. Afterwards, go home. And I'll see everyone tomorrow morning at ten. Dismissed."
Jimmy stepped back and watched as every member of the operation stopped to congratulate Alex. Despite being tired, he watched, as she stood up straighter, displaying a newfound confidence, each compliment adding more strength.
As the staging area emptied, he found himself alone with just Alex and Bowden. Sighing, he sagged against the side of the van, his eyes drifting shut. He leaned there a few long minutes before he felt a soft touch on his shoulder. He opened one eye to see Alex standing next to him, a small smile on her face.
"Jimmy, can you drop me back at the squad? I don't want to go home wearing this shit. I'd ask Tom, but he's headed in the other direction." Alex let her hand fall to her side.
With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself upright and nodded. "I'd be happy to, Alex. Hop in."
As she climbed back into the passenger seat, Jimmy made a quick pass through the staging area, making sure they had left no trace of the operation. Satisfied that his squad had cleaned up after themselves, he headed back to the van and climbed into the driver's seat.
Jimmy sat for a moment, rubbing his eyes, before starting the van. He looked over and seeing Alex, head back, asleep in the seat next to him, grinned.
"You did just fine, Alex. Just fine. You passed," he whispered as he started the vehicle and pulled out, heading back towards the precinct.