Chapter 14

Jamie shuffled out of his bedroom, his joints popping audibly as he stretched his arms up to the ceiling and scratched his head as he brought them back down to his sides. He stepped over to the living room window and opened the curtains only to flinch as the bright afternoon sunshine hit his weary eyes. That quickly propelled him into the kitchen to get some coffee brewing in the hopes that it would give him the jolt he needed to get his day started. He and Vinny had worked extended midnight shifts the last few days. And that was on top of having to deal with a tragic murder-suicide at the housing complex where Vinny grew up, not to mention helping Danny nab a person of interest related to the event. Jamie was still having nightmares about the whole ordeal.

Once he got the coffee maker going, Jamie slouched across the counter in front of it, mesmerized by the steamy liquid as it filled the glass carafe. He was just starting to will the machine to brew the coffee a little bit faster when he was startled by a knock on his door. Jamie stood to his full height and wondered who could be visiting him at this time of day - most everyone he knew was at work or school in the middle of a weekday. It took a second knock to actually get his legs to carry him to the door and get an answer to his question.

Jamie peeked through the peephole and was surprised to see Eddie waiting patiently on the other side. He undid the locks and opened the door to greet her. "Hey. What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice raspy from disuse.

Eddie smiled brightly, seeing the surprise on his face and chuckled at his rumpled form. He still wore the t-shirt and sweats she assumed he slept in and his hair was sticking up in every direction. She could also swear there was a crease on his left cheek from his bed sheets. "Hello to you too," she chirped, before coming to a realization. The smile fell from her face and she grimaced. "Oh, crap. Did I wake you?" she asked, assuming from his appearance and the time of day that he might have worked overnight and she might have pulled him out of bed.

Jamie shook his head before he got his mouth to respond. He was still running in slow motion. "No, ah," he paused to clear his throat, "I just got up, but not because you woke me." He remained in place staring at her until he realized she was still standing in the hallway, looking at him expectantly, and finally motioned her in. "Come on in," he invited as he stepped to one side.

"Thanks," Eddie grinned as she walked into the apartment. She could hear the coffeemaker gurgling away and went over to the breakfast bar, scanning the living room on her way there. The wedding photo of him and Sydney caught her eye just as it had the first time she'd been here and a strange emotion she couldn't identify ran through her. Eddie dismissed it and placed a plastic bag Jamie hadn't noticed on the counter top while hanging her purse and jacket on the back of a bar chair.

Jamie resumed his position in front of the coffeemaker, but his attention remained on Eddie, secretly pleased she had come by. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing," she replied and went into the kitchen to lean against the counter across from him. "I thought I'd see what was up with you. You've been out of pocket the last few days. I called the Twelfth and they told me you weren't on duty," she explained, "so I thought I'd try my luck."

Jamie smiled apologetically and mimicked her stance as he leaned back casually as well. "Yeah, sorry. We've been working some long, crazy tours."

Eddie shrugged as she slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "I figured as much," she replied.

Jamie pursed his lips and gave her a curious look. "Were you missing my company, Janko?" he said lightly, while a part of him wished for an affirmative answer.

Eddie blushed, yet gave him an incredulous look. "You wish," she laughed shyly. "No, but I thought I'd just check in anyway," she added.

Jamie's brows wrinkled, not knowing what to make of her reaction, but he decided to just move along. The coffeemaker had grown quiet behind him and he turned to reach for a couple of mugs. "Want some coffee?" he offered.

"Sure," Eddie said as she pushed off the edge of the counter and stepped up next to him.

Jamie poured two cups of the hot brew, motioning to the creamer and sugar next to the machine. "Help yourself," he instructed.

"Thanks," she said as they each prepared their coffees in companionable silence.

Jamie was always happy to see her and it lifted his spirits to have her next to him after a tough few days. When he was done, he walked out of the kitchen and took a seat at the breakfast bar.

Eddie was climbing up onto a chair when she asked, "Are you working nights the rest of the week?"

Jamie sipped his coffee and brought the mug down onto the bar. "For the most part, except for the day tour I got on Sunday," he said as he turned to face her and slouched against the countertop.

"That's funny, I thought Sundays were sacred for the Reagans," Eddie commented as she cradled her mug with both hands.

He gave her a pointed look. "It's proof of what I've been telling you...no special consideration because of my dad," he replied as he brought his mug up for another sip.

Eddie could see a sadness in his eyes and brought up one of the reasons she'd come by. "I heard about the jumper at Bitterman," she said softly, wondering how he was dealing with all of that.

Jamie looked down at his cup and nodded. "Word gets around quick in the department," he said. He had seen the concern in her eyes and it warmed his heart to know she cared.

"It's also all over the news," Eddie pointed out.

"I wouldn't know - haven't had a second to turn on the TV."

"Wanna talk about it?" she offered.

Jamie rubbed a hand across his face and laid his arm along the edge of the counter top, his hand inches from Eddie's. "It was crazy. I don't even know how to describe it," he started.

Eddie stayed quiet to allow him a chance to speak. Jamie stared at a spot over her shoulder as he went through that night again, skipping over their encounter with the gang members on the way up to the roof of the building. "We get to the roof of this housing complex and see this girl - she wasn't even twenty years old - facing the edge ready to jump. Vinny and I get her attention and she turns to face us and she's holding this baby - her son." He finally met her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever forget the sight of her up there. I didn't know what to say, neither of us did. We both just begged her to get down, promised her our help but there really wasn't anything concrete we could offer her and she knew that."

Eddie's stomach clenched as he spoke. "I'm sorry," she said and placed her hand atop his, squeezing it gently.

Jamie reacted on instinct and turned his hand over to grasp hers back. It felt natural and the act went unnoticed by the both of them.

"Why?" she wondered. She couldn't understand doing that to yourself, let alone your child.

"The baby's father was in the gang that runs Bitterman - Los Lordes. They're some really bad guys. I guess she thought there would be no way out for her or her son, that he was destined to be like his father when he grew up," Jamie explained. He didn't fully understand it either, but he was familiar with the emotions of grief and despair.

He finally looked at her and Eddie's heart broke.

"So she jumped?" Eddie asked, unable to grasp the situation. It hadn't made any sense when she'd heard about it from her TO and then on the news.

"I don't agree with what she did, but she just had no hope, Eddie," he whispered back. Jamie blinked and turned away, thinking back to a time when he felt hopeless. And although he had never fallen so low as to consider something like that, he knew he was blessed to have his family - as meddlesome as they could be - to pull him through any situation. Nona didn't have family, except for her baby and a sister who was also wrapped up with Los Lordes. He could only imagine the depth of what the girl felt. Jamie considered his partner and how he had turned out and realized it always came down to family and a strong support system. "Vinny grew up there," he blurted out unexpectedly.

"At Bitterman?"

"Yeah."

"So there is hope. Vinny turned out great," Eddie argued.

"But she couldn't see that. She didn't have family to support her," Jamie shrugged. "Danny caught the case. I saw him at the scene and I actually helped him nab the baby's father," he added, switching gears slightly.

"Oh yeah?" Eddie asked, surprised to hear that.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

Seeing that he seemed ready to get his mind off that terrible night, Eddie switched topics completely. "Speaking of your brother, I forgot to tell you that I ran into him at a scene too - about a week ago," she shared and pulled her hand free from his to pick up her cup.

A tentative smile popped onto Jamie's face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Eddie replied, thankful to see a smile on his face despite the apprehension that accompanied it. "He asked me if I saw you much," she said.

Jamie dropped his head wishing he could strangle his brother - he knew what he was up to. "Don't mind him. He likes to stick his nose where it doesn't belong," he warned when he faced her again.

Ignoring his advice, Eddie smiled back and thought of something his brother had said. "Your brother told me to mention his coin collection to you. Why would he say that?" she asked.

Jamie cursed softly under his breath. "I'm going to kill him," he groaned.

Eddie laughed softly. "I sense a really good story there somewhere," she said.

Jamie pursed his lips, turning away to hide his rising blush.

"There is isn't there?! Spill, Reagan!" she demanded as she slapped his arm playfully.

"No," he refused while he fought to hide his embarrassment with the mug.

"Alright. I'll just have to tell your brother that I'll take him up on his offer to grab a bite together so I can get more dirt on you," Eddie threatened and took a casual sip from her cup.

Jamie's eyes widened in alarm as he drank his coffee, nearly spitting some out as he rushed to reply. "You wouldn't!?" he exclaimed.

"Not if you tell me what he meant!" Eddie bargained.

"Oh, jeez," Jamie sighed as he hid his face in his hands.

"I can't wait to hear about this!" Eddie said gleefully and reached for the plastic bag she had brought. "Come on, you can tell me all about it while we eat. I brought food."

"Of course you did, Janko," Jamie teased, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction. "When are you not eating?"

"Oh, no! Don't start with that again! Focus!" she ordered. "I want to hear all about your involvement with your brother's mysterious coin collection," she prompted and placed a sandwich in front of him.

"Oh, God." Jamie took hold of the wrapped sandwich and frowned. "You're not going to let this drop, are you?" he lamented.

Eddie already had her own sandwich unwrapped. She picked up one half, leaned back in her chair and took a bite. "Start, Reagan," she instructed though a mouthful of the turkey club, one brow arched high just daring him to try and change the subject.

Jamie knew Eddie well enough to know she wouldn't let the subject drop and conceded with an exaggerated roll of his eyes as he unwrapped his breakfast. He begrudgingly began his tale of childhood hijinks. "When I was a kid..."