Chapter Twenty

The kids went into the living room to play leaving Eddie alone with Jamie's phone. She sighed curious why Tory was texting him debating whether or not to look.

The curiosity got the better of her and she opened the text. There was a picture of her family, with Tory in her place.

Eddie felt her face warm seeing Tory with her family letting out a small scowl under her breath. She held the phone until Jamie came out.

"Hey, who called?" Jamie asked kissing her cheek. "Did Dad? He didn't seem phased about her answering his phone.

"No, it was a text message from Tory." Eddie handed him the phone. "She sent you a picture of her posing with our kids."

"She sent that?" Jamie was puzzled. "I thought she took a picture of us with my phone. April wanted her in it. They made friends."

Eddie gave a small shake of her head, "She looks awfully cozy with our kids Jamie."

"She's a nice person, Eddie," Jamie replied. "She…"

"She has your way with people for certain. Even the perps like her when she's not arresting them."

"What do you mean she has my way? I don't remember to many perps thanking me as I cuffed them. In fact, a few of them cursed my guts out," Eddie recalled.

"I mean they respond to her, they open up and talk to her like a lot of people did to you," Jamie replied. "Don't get upset." Jamie sighed. He didn't want Eddie to get mad. "That is weird though that she texted me."

"Why is it weird Jamie, you gave her your number right? Did you ever tell her not to text you?" Eddie asked still slightly annoyed.

"No, but we're off duty,' Jamie replied. "That's odd to text me on personal time. We're not friends, we work together only."

Eddie raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure about that because seems like she thinks you two are friends or something?"

"We're not friends, she's a good field cop. That's all. I think she's a nice person, but I'm not in the market for new friends."

"Maybe you should tell her that then." Eddie turned and took a seat on the bed breathing out quietly avoiding making eye contact with him

"I will, I'll make sure she knows this was not appreciated," Jamie replied. "What do you want to do tonight?"

Eddie shrugged, "Let's just order in and we can do something with the kids I feel like just hanging out tonight."

"Then that's what we'll do...when they go to bed, maybe a little music, a little dancing?" Jamie asked pulling Eddie to her feet.

Eddie took a deep breath in meeting his eyes relenting a little bit at the gleam when their eyes met. Smiling she took his hand, "That sounds like a nice idea."

Jamie placed a kiss on Eddie's lips with promise of a sweet night to come, proving, though he didn't need to, he only had eyes for her.

Eddie was wiping down the counter and Jamie was wiping down the kids when Danny knocked on the door. "Who could it be this time of night?" Jamie wondered. "Maybe your new girlfriend Tory?' Eddie only half joked.

Jamie gave her a look going to answer the door. "Hey, Danny, what are you doing here," he asked stepping aside to let his brother in.

"Linda found a bunch of things she thought Eddie would like apparently these are back in style..."

"Thanks, come in. Hey Eddie, it's Danny he brought something for you."

Eddie got up and went to see her brother in law, "Oh by the way, your friend text you again

"Again, now what? And she isn't my friend." Jamie sighed taking the phone while Danny looked between them

"She?" Danny raised his eyebrows. "Yes," Eddie sighed. "Jamie's new trainee."

"Let me see kid." Danny insisted handing Eddie the clothes. "These are from Linda she wanted you to have them."

"Danny, she's just confused, she thinks this is part of the brother hood is all." Jamie showed Danny his phone.

Danny took one look at the picture and turned to his brother "You were the smart one in the family Jamie how could you not see it?"

Danny saw the picture of Victoria with Jamie and the kids, "This is just crazy kid, she's inserting herself in your life way too much, that's dangerous for both of you."

"No, she isn't Danny she's my partner that's all. She's really good with the kids but it doesn't mean anything," Jamie shook his head

"I know it doesn't to you," Danny replied. "Eddie knows that too or you'd be sleeping at my house."

Jamie gave him a confused look "so what are you trying to say Danny?"

"To watch it kid," Danny warned. "She might be crossing an emotional line. You should be very careful."

"Okay I promise I'll be careful, all right?" Jamie sighed. "But we're just partners."

"I know. You and Eddie were too," Danny reminded his brother. "Take care you two."

Thanking him Jamie saw Danny out closing the door thinking about what he said.

They walked down the hall after an amusing bust both snickering. "Not too bad rookie," Jamie teased.

Victoria bumped Jamie's arm, "Well I had a good teacher. You want to get a piece of pizza and celebrate?"

"Yeah put us out to meal we haven't used it yet." Jamie said.

"Okay, I'll call us out and it's my treat," Victoria smiled. "Oh no it's not," That made Jamie uncomfortable. He and Eddie shared and treated, that was reserved just for them.

"I know but I want to as a thank you for everything. You've been a great teacher," Victoria called them out to meal

"Still, I'd rather we share the price if you don't mind," Jamie replied. "Let's go..."

Victoria said nothing really wanting to show how appreciative she was to him. "I can't thank you enough."

Jamie smiled and nodded, "You already have by saying it." He wasn't prepared for what happened next."

Victoria stopped taking in a deep breath. "That isn't enough I can't express how appreciative I am. " she quickly leaned up and gave him a big hug.

Jamie was totally taken aback, he pushed her away immediately. "Victoria that was over the line…I know you appreciate the training but it's too much. You can't do this again, it has to stop. I don't want us to have to split up, I like working with you, but this has to stop."

She pulled back giving him a smile "let's go get that pizza before meal is up." In her head, she was thinking, she only had a few more days, then the bet would be up. She had to take this to the next level and fast.

When Jamie got home that night, he was tired. His bad foot ached and Eddie was sitting on the chaise, with her feet up.

"Hey how was tour? You look beat come sit down..." Eddie pushed up to stand wanting a hug and kiss from him pausing. "What's that?"

"What's what?" Jamie asked pulling her in tight. "My foot is bothering me, we chased five perps today, I'm getting too old for this."

Eddie reached a hand up to his cheek for a closer look. "That's lipstick Jamie how did lipstick get on your cheek?"

"Damn that stuff won't come off for nothing," Jamie sighed. "Victoria crossed the line a bit today, gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek after a collar. I set her straight."

"Good," Eddie replied. "Very good. She is just too into you for my liking, Jamie and if you can't get her to see the light I have no problem heading down to the precinct and doing it myself. If she's a good cop and that makes you safe, that's a big deal, but if she's got a crush on you and is too distracted…then the fact that she's good is irrelevant. Whoa!"

"Eddie?" Jamie's eyebrows arched in concern. "Are you okay? Is it the baby?"

"Yes," Eddie smiled. "I think it is the baby, feel…I've felt flutters before now but this. Eddie put Jamie's hand on her belly where she just felt the little baby move. He'd never experienced that before, not with his own child. Claudia didn't allow it.

Tears welled in their eyes, "Our baby, that's our baby…it's…"

"Yes," Eddie replied, just as speechless. "Yes it is."

She leaned her head back for a kiss, Jamie connected their lips and tucked his tongue into her mouth. There was no deeper connection than sharing the milestones of your children together, except perhaps the art of making them.

Victoria sat in her car watching Jamie and Eddie's silhouettes on the shades. He was so in love with his wife it was driving her crazy. There was no turning his head, he wasn't interested in anything she tried. Perhaps the sexy vixen wasn't the type to nail Jamie Reagan, perhaps being the hero or the rock would be?

She watched the entire time as Jamie held his wife in his arms, dipped her as she dropped her head back. All too soon, the outlines of their bodies blended into one form, it was clear what was going to happen when they stepped out of the line of sight and into the darkened bedroom. She felt her blood boil.

Victoria slept in her car. She wanted to see when or if Eddie left the house with the kids. She and Jamie were on the swing tour, chances are, Eddie would leave before Jamie or he would go with her and give that would give Tory time to make her next move.

The next morning was a music day, so Eddie was up and out with the kids early. Victoria heard Eddie engaging with her children, Max was talking a mile a minute about his class. If the kids weren't part of the problem in her bagging Jamie, she'd like them. They were cute.

Jamie followed by leaving the apartment a few minutes later. He had his work bag with him, he didn't plan to return.

Carefully, Victoria stepped out of her car and crept up to the house. She used the key that she had stolen from Jamie's desk to get in. She combed through their belongings, his coffee cup in the sink, Eddie's brush on the dresser…that she moved to the bed.

There were pictures all over, they were just so happy she couldn't stand it. She turned a few of those upside down, she rumpled a few of the throw pillows and switched the teddy bears. It wasn't enough to be perceived as a threat, but it was enough to rattle the little wife's feathers, and for Victoria to come in and save the day. This had become more than just the possibility of losing a bet to Tory now.

As luck would have it, Jamie and Victoria were on the streets when the call came in. "12-David on the air?"

"12-David go," Victoria replied. "Be advised, Queens Precinct is responding to 812 Astoria lane, possible B and E…"

"That's my house," Jamie replied and hit the lights heading for the midtown tunnel. "Central show 12-David Code 7…"

Eddie felt her skin crawling, someone had been in her house, where her children slept. It creeped her out that they had been in the children's room. It bothered her more than she cared to admit. The mother in her was now more prominent than the cop.