Chapter Fourteen

Eddie and Mary slept through the night. Jamie dozed around 4am only to wake up with his alarm at 6am. He was wound tighter than a top when he got to work and hooked up with Charlie.

The younger man was smiling and looked like a million bucks even though Jamie could tell by his rumpled uniform and stained collar he had a fun filled night.

"You need to go and straighten up in the locker room where the guys off night tour are showering," Jamie told him. "And get presentable. The police face enough issues without you looking like the playboy of the western world!"

Charlie rolled his eyes, "You are so uptight, Reagan! I mean really, does marriage mellow a guy out that much?"

"This has nothing to do with marriage!" Jamie snapped. "This is about being professional and responsible, so get cleaned up!"

Charlie only laughed and squeezed Jamie's shoulders from behind, "You need to lighten up. Come out with us tonight, after work, just one beer. I know you're grieving your son and your little girl is hurt and it's making you old before your time. You'll be a better Dad if you just relax, man."

Charlie headed off to steam his uniform, but Jamie realized he had a point. He was wound so tight he was like a rattler ready to strike. What if he did? What if he did lash out at Eddie or Heaven forbid Mary in his tension. Perhaps a drink with his friends that night would be just want the doctor ordered.

The tour was calm, thankfully, considering Charlie's post coital buzz and Jamie's fatigue. When the tour was over, even Renzulli joined them for a beer.

Jamie sat on the end of the bar, Charlie bough him the first beer. "Stout, right?"

Jamie nodded and took a long sip, "Thanks, Charlie. I do appreciate you being here for me through this, it's no picnic to be partnered with a Reagan and with me going through all this…"

"I'm here to help, and you need to loosen up," Charlie replied. "Let's have a drink to your son's memory. To Joey…"

Jamie nodded, and raised his glass. "To Joey."

Eddie settled Mary on the couch after her therapy session at the children's hospital

"Mommy, can you sing us a song please?" Mary asked cuddling close.

"You want Mommy to sing now? You don't want to wait till later?"

"I want you to sing now and later," Mary told her.

"Okay, baby," she whispered. "What song? Let's sing it together." Eddie settled with Mary and Bella. Jamie should be home soon.

They sang a few songs, Eddie checking the clock, it was after Jamie was supposed to be home

She heard a knock at the door and hurried to answer it. "Did you forget your keys?"

Frank stood outside smiling, "Hey Eddie, just me checking in on you. I wanted to see how Mary was doing?"

"She'll be glad to see you," Eddie replied. "I thought you were Jamie, he hasn't come home yet."

"He probably got stuck with a late collar," Frank replied as Mary turned around sitting up to look over the couch, her eyes round. "Grandpa!"

"Hey, sweet pea," he smiled. "Did you go to the doctor today? _

"I did Grandpa come sit with us. Mommy was singing."

"Oh, she was!" Eddie marveled at how Frank could make anything sound terrific.

"Mommy is the best singer," Mary told him.

"She is," Frank replied. "What song did you sing?"

"We sang a lot because Mommy has a great voice," Mary settled against Eddie

They sang a few more songs then Frank smiled as Mary dozed off.

"How are you doing, Eddie?" Frank asked

"Day by day," she replied. "I do better when Jamie is home."

Frank nodded, "Understandable in both ways."

Eddie smiled, "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"I would like that yes. Do you need any help?"

"No, just calling for Chinese, pick a couple things..."

Frank looked through the menu picking his usual favorites.

They put in the order and Frank entertained his girls. Eddie was smiling, she liked to see Mary happy.

After enjoying each other's company, Frank left and Eddie got the girls ready for bed. "Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"He had to work late honey but he should be home soon," Eddie said

Eddie heard commotion at the door and kissed Mary's head, "Smoosh down there, Mommy will be right back." She hurried downstairs pulling the door open and stood back.

"We took him for a beer and he got a little carried away," Charlie explained. "Where can we stash him?"

"Bring him to the couch," Eddie pointed following them. "Lay him down there, thank you."

They nodded and headed out.

"Mommy, is that Daddy?" Mary called out. "Can he tuck me? My leg aches."

Eddie looked at Jamie, "Are you able to tuck her in?"

"Yeah, she needs me, she needs us..." Jamie sighed and got up. Eddie watched him, raising an eyebrow, and followed him.

He got up and went to see Mary, "Where does it hurt?"

Mary pointed to her leg, "Right there, Daddy."

It was the good leg, he and Eddie shared a look. "Okay, Buttons. How about Daddy holds you and Mommy will rub the medicine on it?"

Mary reached up with two hands wanting him to pick her up. Jamie lifted Mary and held her on his lap while Eddie took care of her leg. Jamie felt sick to his stomach. Mary snuggled against him closing her eyes smiling happily

She fell asleep quickly then Jamie laid her on the bed. "Love you, Buttons."

Eddie was staring at Jamie. "You need to go to bed too."

"Yeah, I feel sick. Let's go to bed," Jamie agreed

Eddie steered him to the bed and watched him drop. She didn't like him in this shape around their girls but he had to grieve as well.

She sighed, lying awake watching Jamie sleep. She needed him and so did the girls

She had her grief, she cried, she yelled...perhaps this was his way of grieving. She sometimes lost sight of the fact he hurt too,

Giving Jamie a sigh she rubbed his cheek gently, Jamie slept

Mary had a hard night, and Eddie had to get up a number of times with her. Jamie slept through all of that, the alcohol taking him away from the pain and the loss. Eddie fell asleep with Mary.

Jamie woke with a groan stretching out before getting ready for work

Eddie's side of the bed was empty and not even slept in, he had come home drunk so perhaps she was just angry. He'd make it up to her later. When Eddie woke up in Mary's bed, where she had dozed comforting her little girl, she went to make Jamie's coffee, but he was already gone. She sighed sadly, making breakfast for herself and Mary.

She hoped to be able to talk to Jamie that morning, but he didn't seem to think that was necessary. It was just the once, and everyone mourned in their own way, she would let it go, she just hoped it didn't' happen again.

Charlie turned to give his partner a smile raising his glass. "Another night with me huh?"

"Eddie was taking Mary to my Dad's house."

"Oh okay not that I'm complaining or anything," Charlie said.

Jamie smiled, "loser at darts buys the first round."

"Fine by me get your wallet out," Charlie grinned

"Mary honey," Eddie sighed as she carried her crying girls into Frank's house.

"What's all this crying about?" Frank greeted them taking Mary from Eddie

"Her leg hurts," Edie replied. "The nerves are healing.

"Oh come here, let Grandpa see," Frank rocked Mary leading them into the living room.

With Frank to help them, Eddie was able to nurse Bella and tend to her tears

He had Mary calmed and cuddled with her on his chair.

"Tell me all about your therapy," Frank whispered. "Do they have fun things there to play with?"

"It's really hard work Grandpa, sometimes it isn't a lot of fun."

Frank kissed Mary's head, "I love you peanut. You want a cookie?"

"I love you too Grandpa, yes please with milk."

Frank got the cookies, and Eddie burped Bella. "Thanks Frank, this is a good distraction for her on therapy days."

"You are welcome anytime Eddie," Frank smiled settling back in.

"Score!" Jamie smiled as he beat Charlie a third time.

"Ugh no way another game I'm going to beat you before we go home."

"I really have to go," Jamie replied. "I want to be home before Eddie. We are getting things worked out well."

"Good for you all right but next time I'm going to beat you," Charlie smirked.

"It's a bet," Jamie replied and headed home.