Your reviews have encouraged me to post a few more chapters tonight. Thank you so much for the kind words. Chapters 6, 7 and 8 are up now. I'm still running a final edit over the rest but will post them as soon as they are ready?
The last few weeks had flown by in a whirlwind as Eddie worked diligently in the courtroom. Her trial was finally over, and she had won her first case as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Jamie hadn't crossed her mind since Erin's outburst at the diner that day. It wasn't hard for Eddie to move on from that conversation anyway, the skeleton in her closet was still hovering.
The same went for Jamie. When he wasn't at work, he was taking Gracie to parks, museums, and zoos. She loved learning new things, and he loved teaching her. Gracie was happy to go anywhere her dad would take her.
He hadn't thought about Eddie since he left his parent's house that night a few weeks ago when he made another silent promise to his daughter that she would be the only girl for him.
Eddie walks into her office early Monday morning to a new file on her desk. She has been given another case to prosecute, and she is eager to get started. She puts her purse away in the bottom drawer of her desk and sits down, grabbing the file for review.
She feels a sharp pang in her stomach as she reads the first page. She has been handed a felony domestic abuse case. A man had put his wife in the hospital after coming home drunk and using her as a punching bag. Her emotions are all over the place and she is not sure she is ready for something like this yet.
She hasn't divulged the part of her past that still haunts her, and she doesn't want to, but she knows she will have to figure out how to handle this. Her boss is trusting her with this case and she can't let her or the victim down.
After a few lengthy breaths and slow exhales, she decides at that moment that she will have that woman's back as her family did for her. She will make sure her case is flawless and this man will pay for what he did to his wife.
Erin sticks her head in Eddie's office not long after, to find her fully invested in the file in her hand. She is leaning against the door frame with her elbows crossed along her chest as she offers her a few words of encouragement.
Erin still doesn't know anything about Eddie's past, but she does understand that cases like this can be difficult for any woman, even strong, successful attorneys. Eddie nods towards Erin but continues to read through the information when she notices Sergeant Jamie Reagan is listed as the arresting officer. She hides her smile when she sees his name and looks up at Erin.
"Did you know your brother was the arresting officer on this," she says, pointing at the file.
"That's why it's on your desk and not mine," Erin smiles as she walks away.
Eddie had no intention of offering the defendant a plea. She wanted this to go to trial. She needed this to go to trial and was highly motivated, aiming for the maximum sentence allowed. Bastards like Jake Singer, and this man, they don't deserve anything less.
She had built a solid case, and she was confident she would earn a guilty verdict, until she returned to her office a few days before the trial was set to start, to find a small yellow envelope waiting for her. She opened it to reveal a single flash drive and nothing else.
Now she can't peel her eyes from the computer screen. She is watching a cell phone video of Sergeant Jamie Reagan, arresting officer, throwing the defendant to the ground, offering repeated right hooks, just after he responded to the domestic violence call that day.
She can hear Jamie shouting at the man, it is not perfectly clear, but she can tell what he is saying as he continues his blows. She sits back in her chair, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth as she lets the video play through its entirety.
She shakes her head when the video is over as she removes the flash drives from her computer. She has never been this frustrated. This will probably ruin her case. She has to go see Erin.
Eddie barges into her boss's office, and she has only gotten herself more worked up on the short walk down the hallway.
"We have a problem!" She is almost hysterical as Erin's door flies open and she is holding the flash drive out towards her.
"What?" Erin is surprised at Eddie's demeanor, she hasn't seen her like this in the six months that she has been here. She rolls her chair back slightly to stand as Eddie continues towards her.
"Your brother!" Eddie is still shouting as she reaches across Erin's desk to insert the flash drive into her computer.
"What is going on?" Erin needs an explanation now, and she sits back down to see why Eddie is so furious. "Oh my God, is that…" Erin can't finish her question before Eddie is yelling again.
"Your brother…beating the hell out of the defendant. YES! This is going to ruin my case, Erin." She is trying to hold back tears now, but it's too late. Erin can see that Eddie is taking this one too personally, but she still doesn't know why.
She attempts to calm her, explaining that on-looker cell phone videos like this rarely show the entire story, especially the part that leads up to Jamie's actions, and suggests she call him down to their office so they can get to the bottom of it.
Jamie was on patrol when he received the call that he was needed at the DA's office for questioning in one of his arrests. There were no more specifics given, and he had no idea of the fury he was about to walk into.
He stopped at the front desk, assuming he was called down by his sister when he was advised that Miss Janko was expecting him. He shrugged his shoulders and followed an elderly woman down the hall.
He didn't realize Eddie's last name was Janko, or maybe he didn't remember, but he certainly wasn't expecting the unpleasant greeting he received when he rounded the doorway of her office.
"Sergeant Reagan," Eddie welcomes him with hostile sentiment, but it doesn't last long. She wants to maintain her anger towards him, she needs him to understand what his actions from that day have caused her, but as soon as she sees his face, even after a month, little fireworks are going off inside her again.
"Eddie…hi," Jamie sounds a little confused as he speaks and continues into her office to sit across from her.
She addresses him as Sergeant Reagan again, and he is wondering why she won't just call him Jamie, and why she seems so pissed at him. She is not making small talk. She doesn't have time for that.
She pulls up the video and adjusts her computer screen towards him so he can see clearly. Now he knows exactly why he is here.
"My case is over because of this…What the hell?"
He can tell she is angry, and he knows she has every right to be. He never should have lost control that day. He draws in a deep breath and exhales slowly.
"Can I explain?" He is genuine when he asks her, and she just stares at him, but he takes her silence as permission.
Jamie recounted the entire event to her as if he was on trial himself. He had responded to the domestic assault in progress, and when he arrived, the man was intoxicated and beating the hell out of his wife. It was a violent attack and she was defenseless.
Jamie had pulled the man off her and thrown him to the ground. He admitted he lost his composure in the moment, explaining to Eddie, that is what she saw in the video. Him yelling at the man, asking if he liked to beat up women and asking how tough he was now, as Jamie slung blow after blow before he was finally pulled away.
Jamie told her that he couldn't stomach what he had rolled up on that day and that he was sorry if his actions jeopardized her case.
His apology was genuine, and after she heard his explanation, all she could do was sigh. She was almost angry at herself for not being angry with him anymore, but she had more respect for him now.
That didn't change the fact that the video would put a huge hole in her case, and she would have to work doubly hard to get around it, but she was determined, so she would.
Jamie left her office that day feeling lousy. He knew he shouldn't have unleashed on the perp like that, but he really couldn't deal with men who made a hobby of hitting women.
He was also experiencing feelings he couldn't describe. Seeing Eddie again sparked something in him. The woman he convinced himself he wasn't interested in a month ago, was tugging at his heartstrings now, but he still wasn't ready to admit it.
It has been a couple of days since Jamie's video mysteriously surfaced and since he has seen Eddie. He stops to pick Gracie up from his parents, and his sister is leaving.
"Hey," he says as he approaches Erin on the sidewalk. He is at least expecting her to stop for a second, but she continues walking past him. She does respond to him, but Jamie can sense irritation in her voice.
"What's wrong with you," he asks her, not connecting the dots.
She chuckles as she turns to face him and explains exactly what is wrong with her. She lets him know that because he was a hot-head, she and Eddie had spent the last two nights working late to ensure their case would hold up strong in court.
"I told Eddie I was sorry, I think she understood," he sounds defeated but then apologizes to his sister too.
"Yeah, well…she's still at the office right now, going through everything one last time. I'm not sure how understanding she is after three nights of this," she chides her brother as she walks off.
Jamie knows exactly what he needs to do, and he asks his mother to keep Gracie overnight.
It is late, and Eddie is still at the office. The trial starts tomorrow and she doesn't feel a hundred percent certain she is ready. She doesn't want to let this woman down. She will stay there the entire night prepping if that is what it takes.
She is engrossed in the pile of notes when a soft tap on her office door startles her. Looking up, she is met with the sight of Jamie and the glorious aroma of tacos, and suddenly she can't remember the last time she ate. She is confused about what exactly he is doing here and sets her pen down to speak.
"Hey," she smiles at him. "You come back to blow my case again."
He is grateful that she is smiling when she says that and he raises his hands towards her, silently offering a meal, coffee, and another apology. He doesn't wait for a formal invitation, he walks in and sits down across from her, in the same seat he occupied a few days ago.
"I heard you were still up here, figured you were exhausted…and since I'm kind of responsible for that, here's a peace offering."
He is pushing his bribe in her direction, silently begging for forgiveness, and she thinks he is adorable.
"Well, lucky for you, I love tacos…and I'm starving."
She smiles as she reaches for the foil-wrapped snack. She really does appreciate his gesture.
"They're not just any tacos," he tells her, and she raises her eyebrows in his direction. "They're breakfast tacos…which go much better with coffee," he smiles as he points to the tall styrofoam cup he delivered.
Jamie stayed there with her for several more hours, helping her prepare. She was ready, she would do great and he could tell, but she still wasn't convinced. He wondered why she didn't seem to trust in herself, but he would never ask.
Again, the two thoroughly enjoyed each other's company and there was an attraction between them they couldn't deny. They both would try for a little while longer though.
Jamie had finally convinced her that she was ready for tomorrow and she needed to get some rest before the trial. He offered to give her a ride since it was so late, but she declined, so he waited outside with her until a cab arrived to take her home.
Jamie was right. Eddie had worked so hard that her case was open and shut, even with Jamie's video. The trial was very short, and when she was walking down the steps of the court building after it was over, Jamie was waiting for her. When she noticed him, she was beaming.
She wasn't expecting him, but she was delighted to see him. She started in his direction, and as she approached, he asked her how it went. She told him it was over and that the piece of garbage was getting the full sentence. Neither could resist the magnetic pull between them and meet for a celebratory hug that lasted longer than either of them intended.
They separate, and Eddie smooths the front of her blazer while Jamie clears his throat.
"So, where ya headed now?"
Eddie has started walking slowly after pulling apart from the hug that resulted in mini electric shockwaves in her heart, and Jamie is walking right beside her.
"Well, I haven't eaten since last night, so…food is where I'm heading. You?"
Jamie can't resist the urge anymore. The force is too strong and he is not in control at this point.
"Can I buy you lunch?"
"No," she says, and she smiles at the disappointment in his face. "But you can join me for lunch."
She figures if she buys her own lunch, then this isn't a date, and hopefully, it won't be awkward. And she thought he was unavailable, so why is he asking to buy her lunch anyway? Is he still just trying to make up for almost sabotaging her case? What is happening right now? Her mind is a flurry of thoughts and she just thinks she needs to eat.
There is a diner close by so they go there. The waitress guides them to a corner booth and Jamie motions for Eddie to sit before he does. He is such a gentleman, she thinks. But what are we really doing here? She still can't seem to shake the notion that his sister made it very clear he is unavailable.
Maybe he is just that sweet, or he just feels that guilty. That has to be the reason for the recent gestures. He lets her order first and then follows her with the same. He can't take his eyes off her. She is so beautiful, he thinks, and he wonders what this feeling is.
He is apologizing again and telling her she must be an amazing lawyer to close that case the way she did. He certainly didn't make it easy for her.
They are both enjoying the casual conversation they have fallen into, and before they know it, their meal is over and they are being delivered a single check. Jamie reaches for it automatically, thinking he is getting to buy her lunch after all when she immediately asks the waitress to split it.
Jamie rolls his eyes at her request and smiles between her and their waitress. It isn't long after they have both paid for their own meals when Jamie finds himself asking her out to dinner. He is not sure why he is doing it, other than he knows deep in his heart that he doesn't want to go another month without seeing her again. She has this effect on him and he is apparently ready to admit that to himself.
She respectfully declines his offer though, almost as if it is a habit to turn down dates these days. She hates the disappointment in his face she is solely responsible for, but she can't find the strength she needs to say yes to him.
She hasn't had a bad time with Jamie, other than the few minutes she reamed him the other day at the reveal of his video that almost cost her a conviction, but that didn't last long. He was so sweet and thoughtful trying to make up for his actions, and she is here with him now, enjoying another meeting with him, why can't she just say yes to the man?
Why can't she let herself trust him enough to go on one date? Just one? Jake Singer is the reason, and she despises that man even more right now.
Jamie feels defeated after her rejection. He thought they had a mutual connection and wanted to take her out for real. The one time he admits to himself that he has an interest in a beautiful, successful woman, he is shot down fast.
That is it, he thinks to himself as he watches her walk towards her office and he turns the opposition direction. That is why he doesn't do this. Gracie is all he needs. And if he is honest with himself, if Eddie knew about Gracie, if she did have any interest in him, that would shatter it instantly.
When Eddie got home that evening, she was upset. What was wrong with her, she wondered? She spent the rest of her afternoon wondering why she turned down an offer to go out with a man who, thus far, seemed honest and sincere. He was charming and sweet and thoughtful, and she was an idiot.
She figured it was too late now and called her mom. She needed a shoulder to cry on tonight, even if it was just through the phone. This was a time when she wished she didn't live across the country.
Her mom answers on the first ring, and Eddie is grateful for that. It doesn't take long for her mother to sense the anguish in her daughter's voice.
"What's wrong dear?" That single question is all it takes.
Eddie breaks down in tears and her mother's heart is breaking for her in that moment.
"What's wrong with me, mom?"
Her mother is trying to hold back her own tears, she just wants to wrap her daughter in her arms right now and that is exactly what Eddie needs.
"Honey, nothing is wrong with you, what are you talking about? What happened?"
Eddie tells her about Jamie and everything that has occurred between them up to this point. She tells her how much she likes him and how sweet he is, and that he asked her on a date and she couldn't utter the word yes, despite how much her heart was telling her to.
"When will this go away," she cries. "I moved out here to start over, and I can't even do that…will I ever be able to get past what he did to me? Will I ever be able to trust another man? Will I ever be able to love again?"
Her mother knows she has to be strong for her daughter right now.
"Honey, not every man is like that monster, and when the right man comes along, you will know it."
Eddie knows with that statement, she has a choice to make. She can hide behind her past for the rest of her life, or she can trust her own heart and take a chance. She knows Jamie is the one she wants to take that chance on, and she really hopes she isn't too late.
She found his number, it wasn't that hard for her, she did have a lot of resources at her fingertips, and she poured herself a glass of wine while she contemplated her next move. A few moments passed and a second glass of wine, and she dialed Jamie's number, hoping he would answer.
A/N: What do you think? Will Eddie and Jamie go on a date after all?