Decided to pay it forward and post a second chapter today since LungTienXiang and goldengirl922 asked so nicely and Werks gave us the pleasure of 2 postings in one day with one (or maybe 2) of her stories.

I think this is what everyone was finally hoping for...please review and let me know your thoughts. :)

Chapter 16

Eddie had been having a relaxing Sunday, puttering around her apartment after working swing the night before. She had the next few days off and had no plans other than running errands that she'd ignored because of her crazy, rookie work schedule and a rare Sunday dinner with Jamie who'd missed his customary weekend family meal because of a day tour.

Eddie had the radio playing in the background while she paid some bills online and was distracted when the DJ alerted listeners to stay clear of a certain area of the city because of a possible police involved shooting, but she'd missed part of the alert that identified the area to avoid. Eddie shut off the radio and turned the TV on to NY1, dropping onto her couch when she read the banner running across the bottom of the screen: "Multiple NYPD Officers Shot at Bitterman Houses."

NY1 had only one reporter at the scene so far, set up along the police perimeter on Bedford Avenue. They repeated the same thing over and over, which was nothing - they had no information more than what they were flashing across the screen while alluding to a possible connection to recent tensions between the Department and the residents of the low income housing complex.

Eddie glanced at her cell phone where it sat silent on her coffee table as she thought of Jamie on patrol - this was all happening within the boundaries of his precinct. He'd already bared witness to tragic events at the complex and prayed he hadn't been involved in this incident. She picked up the phone and hit his speed button, cursing softly when the call went to voicemail after four rings. A wave of fear passed through her and instead of leaving a message, she opted to send him a text:

Pls let me know ur ok

She couldn't think of anything else to say and she didn't know what to expect, certainly not a call from anyone but Jamie letting her know he was safe. "If he even thinks to call you," she thought sadly.

So, for the next hour, she sat glued to the television hoping to learn more details on the incident. She texted her partner at one point asking if they needed to do anything and if he knew who was hurt - he was a vet and would have a better chance at getting information than a rookie two months out of the academy.

He didn't respond immediately, but when he did, he wished he hadn't.

2 out of 12th, rumor is 1 possibly PC's kid, but no confirmation yet

Nothing for us to do unless we're called in

Eddie had felt sick upon reading his text, but focused on the fact that it wasn't confirmed yet - she forced herself to read that part over and over again. She continued to watch the news and nearly jumped out of her skin when her phone rang.

She grabbed the device as it vibrated along the surface of her coffee table and gasped when she saw the name on the caller ID. "Jamie!?"

"Eddie," Jamie sighed from the limited privacy of the emergency room.

Eddie's heart raced and she jumped out of her seat as a million emotions raced through her. "Jamie? Thank god! Are you okay? I was so worried," she replied in rapid succession.

"I'm fine," Jamie told her, feeling his nerves ease at the sound of her voice.

But Eddie was having trouble believing that as the news continued to show the massive police presence in and around Bitterman hours after the shooting. "Jamie, the news, they said two officers were shot. Tell me you and Vinny were no where near that," she begged.

"I wish I could," he replied.

"Jesus," she whispered and wondered about what he'd witnessed this time. "Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, I swear. I got hit in the vest," he said and continued quickly when he could hear her gasp, "but I'm just sore. I'm not hurt."

"Who else got hit? Is Vinny..."

Jamie interrupted her to fill her in on his partner. "Vinny got hit in the side. He's in surgery but they said he should be fine."

"Oh my god, Jamie." Eddie ran her fingers through her hair, clenching them around the locks at the back of her head as she let that sink in. "I thought..." she trailed off, as a lump formed in her throat. She had let herself think the worst despite trying to stay positive.

"I know. I'm sorry," Jamie apologized as his head hung low, picturing her alone in her apartment. A swell of emotion for her ran through him.

Eddie took a calming breath. "Where are you?"

"I'm at Bellvue."

"So what happened?" she asked.

"We got ambushed. They planned it; this whole stupid thing was a set up and we ran right into the middle of it."

"Jesus," Eddie exhaled. "Do you want me to come down?" she asked without thinking, mentally slapping herself because she knew it wasn't her place - he probably had family there with him already. What could she possibly offer him by going there?

"I do, but it's crazy down here, Eddie. The whole precinct is probably camped out in the waiting room and there would be nothing for you to do." Except hold my shaking hands, he thought. "I need to see what's going on with Vinny and then they want to debrief me. I have no idea what time I'll be done. I saw your text and I didn't want you to worry."

"Too late," she quipped with a nervous laugh.

"I'm sorry," he repeated.

"Don't you dare apologize, Reagan. I'm just so relieved you're okay," she admitted.

"I guess I'll have to give you a raincheck on dinner, huh?" Jamie joked.

"And I'll hold you to it, Reagan," she said.

There was a pause as Jamie wished he could pass on protocol and hospital waiting rooms so that he could see her. He shook his head to focus on what still needed to be done before he could even consider seeing her. "I gotta go. The family's waiting outside. I just...I'll talk to you later."

Eddie hated to let him go, but knew he had more urgent things to deal with. "Okay."

The call disconnected and Eddie let herself drop back onto the sofa, feeling like she'd just run a marathon. She'd sat in a daze as the news continued on the screen. At this point there was nothing for her to do and she hated that. Eddie pulled herself away from the television - it would only drive her crazy to keep watching - and tried finding things to distract herself with, but failed.

By ten thirty, Eddie started getting ready for bed. She was walking through her living room turning off lights when there was a knock at her door. She looked across the room at the clock on the stove to confirm the time and frowned, unable to guess at who it could be without having been buzzed from the front door of her building. Eddie walked to the entryway and called out to her unknown visitor. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Eddie."

Eddie's eyes widened when she recognized the voice and opened the door quickly. "Jamie?" she gasped. He was the last person she expected to see tonight.

Jamie looked nervous with his hands hidden in his pockets and shoulders hunched forward. He shuffled from one foot to the other, unable to stand still. He'd left the hospital with no desire to go home to an empty apartment. That and he couldn't get Eddie off his mind since he'd spoken to her from the emergency room. There'd been something in her voice that contradicted what she had once told him and raised his hopes once more. Looking back at her now, he was certain he hadn't imagined it. "I know it's late, but I didn't want to go home," he whispered.

They both just stood there, nervously staring at each other, not knowing what to do.

Jamie decided that it was now or never, so he acted on instinct with his gut reassuring him that he hadn't misread her. He took a step forward and placed his hand on the swell of her hip, leaning in until their lips connected. It was soft and tentative at first, a brush of lips until a faint moan from Eddie encouraged him to deepen the kiss further. Jamie's hands went around her slim waist, as Eddie ran her own hands up his chest and around his neck. The feel of her fingers running through the hair at the back of his head caused Jamie to shiver. They savored every moment of that first kiss, knowing it was a promise for more.

If you asked either of them how long that first kiss lasted, neither would be able to answer. But Eddie broke away first when the need to catch her breath had become too great while also realizing they were practically standing in the hallway. She stood still with her eyes closed as she indulged in the feeling of their bodies pressed up against each other. "I was wondering when you were finally going to do that," she teased quietly.

Jamie laughed softly as he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her and dropping his head into the crook of her neck, inhaling the scent of her sweet perfume. He couldn't describe what it meant to be holding her so close.

Eddie withdrew from his embrace as the voices of her neighbors traveled down the hallway. "Come in," she said as she led him into the apartment by the hand and closed the door behind them.

"It's late," he said dumbly, still in a daze from the day's events.

"I don't care about the time. I'm just so glad you're here," she said while she watched Jamie slip out of his jacket. Her eyes ran up and down his form to reassure herself that he really was okay. "Have you had anything to eat?"

Jamie shook his head and hung his jacket over the back of a dining room chair. "Don't think I could stomach anything more than a stiff drink right now," Jamie replied through a tight smile.

Eddie smiled sadly in response. "I can manage that. Take a load off, okay?"

Jamie nodded and headed to her living room and sat down on the couch. He leaned forward and rubbed the palms of his hands against his eyes - fifteen hours after the start of his shift and Jamie was ready to put this day behind him. Jamie looked over when he felt the couch cushion dip next to him. He reached for the glass Eddie offered him and downed a finger of scotch in one fell swoop, enjoying the burn of the alcohol as it went down his throat.

Eddie's eyes widened when the spirit was gone quicker than it took her to serve it. "I can get you another," she offered, understanding his need to imbibe.

Jamie shook his head and placed his empty glass on the coffee table before leaning back against the soft cushions. "No," he sighed. "Just needed to take the edge off," he replied and reached for her hand.

Eddie set her glass down next to Jamie's - she wasn't much in the mood for it anyway. "How's Vinny?" she asked quietly.

"He's going to be fine, but I didn't get to see him after he got out of surgery."

"Thank god," she exhaled and shifted closer to Jamie, unable to quench her need to touch him. Eddie laid her head against his shoulder and sighed in contentment when she felt his lips drop a kiss against her forehead. "I'm so grateful you're okay, Jamie. I kept thinking the worst until you called," she admitted and lifted her head to face him.

Jamie caressed her cheek and leaned in for brief kiss. "Is this okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Eddie sighed. Her stomach fluttered at the need she saw in his eyes. She brought her hand up to his face and stroked it gently. "Stay with me tonight?" she whispered.

It had been a long time since something had felt this right. Jamie answered her question with a kiss that quickly went from sweet and gentle to passionate and desperate.