AN - Hello! I'm still stuck on the last chapter of Going Back... and now, with the Olympic games, I've had little time to write. I plan to be watching all of the equestrian competitions (although Denmark only has a team in dressage). Back to this story, a lot of Jamko, which makes me think I've written them a bit OOC. Hopefully, the next chapter will have other characters. Is it too stupid to begin another story now? You're the best! Let me know what you think about this one. Enjoy. /K.

Thursday, 8.00 am, Chelsea
The two officers had been silent since roll call an hour earlier. It might even have been the slowest morning this week. Eddie was restless, her hands were fidgeting with her hat, phone, a lose thread, button, everything. Jamie was just concentrating on driving, thinking she would have to say something at one point. She sighed and opened her mouth a couple of times, wanting to say something, but not finding the proper words for the start. After a few more minutes of nothing, Jamie glanced at her, a little bit distracted.

"Eddie, please…" he began, mildly irritated. "Who put a bug in your pants?" he asked and turned down another street.

"I'm sorry, all right?" she replied, a bit feistier than she had intended.

"For what? You've done nothing wrong," Jamie replied, looking over her small frame in the seat next to him.

"You know what, Reagan," she muttered with a sigh and crossed her arms.

"And the bruise?" he asked harshly, noticing that her hand shot to her neck covered by a thin NYPD-issued turtle-neck. A moment passed before realization hit him like a punch to the guts. He took in a sharp breath and had to force his hands to relax. His knuckles had turned white around the steering wheel. "Geez, Eddie, who the hell grabbed you by the neck?" he asked looking at her with sparks of fury in his eyes. Consciously, she removed her hand turned to look at him.

"Leave it, Reagan. It's none of your concern," she exploded and looked at him insensitively. Jamie slowed the car and parked at the curb without a word before he turned to her and responded.

"It is, Janko, you're my partner, it's my job to worry about you," he explained, trying to sound as calm as possible. Truth was he could feel tightness in his chest from her comment. Like, he was breathing water or something.

"Yeah, on the job," she exclaimed.

"Could you stop doing that, please?" he asked wearily.

"Do what?" she asked and folded her arms, not knowing what he was talking about.

"Downplay it, like you do. You can talk to me, Eddie, you know that, right?" Jamie asked, hoping to get through. Eddie hesitated for a moment before answering.

"I don't want to talk about it. Can we get going now?" she muttered and turned to look out the window at the hurrying people.

"No," was the only response Jamie could say. Their eyes locked when she turned to look at him angrily.

"Reagan," Eddie began, the anger in her eyes faltered to a more miserable look.

"What do you want me to do, if you end up in the hospital, and I know I could have made a difference?" he asked, now struggling to control his temper. The Reagan temper. Compared to the rest of the family, Jamie had a slow burn, but his outburst could be just as explosive as his brother's.

"I don't care," she all but shouted at him and turned away, immediately regretting her outburst. Jamie looked at her, until she turned away again. Moments passed and he turned the car out on the road again. None of them said anything, only communicated when on calls. By the end of the day, a chill had settled between them.

Thursday, 9.00 pm, Bay Ridge
"Anybody home?" Frank and Henry looked up and glanced at each other when they heard Jamie's voice through the house. Both of them were sitting in their favorite chairs, not talking, but concentrating on what they had in their hands.

"In here," Henry called back and leaned over to the table to put his cross words puzzle and pen down. Frank closed the book he had been reading and lowered it into his lap when Jamie walked into the room, hands in his pocked, shoulders slouching.

"Haven't seen that look in a while," Frank remarked immediately.

"Huh? What look?" Jamie asked absently and took a seat in the middle of the couch.

"I've only ever seen you look like that, after fighting with Joe," Henry said, carefully not to open any old wounds. Jamie looked up, pain in his eyes, like a hurt puppy.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked, trying to smile but it ended up as a cringe.

"What's troubling you, son?" Frank asked and put the book on the table, next to Henry's puzzles. Jamie rested his elbows on his knees and sighed.

"A friend of mine needs help," he began, twisting in his seat. "And the problem is, I want to help," he continued, looking at his feet.

"That doesn't sound like a problem to me," Henry huffed and folded his hands.

"Pops," Frank said and looked at him for interrupting. Henry shrugged.

"My friend doesn't want my help and I don't know what to do," Jamie said and squirmed before he got to his feet to start a light pacing.

"How bad is it?" Frank asked, keeping his eyes on his youngest, who was clearly in a moral debate with himself.

"A visit-to-the-hospital-bad," Jamie sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets again. Frank pursed his lips and looked down for a moment.

"Sounds to me, like you have to make a choice," Frank said, pondering. "Keep your friend out of the hospital and possibly damage your friendship or let your friend deal with it alone," Frank advised.

"The question is, which option can you live with?" Henry asked and Jamie's eyes fell on the oldest Reagan. "I think the decision calls for a drink," he said and pushed off the chair. He left the room and Jamie let himself collapse on the couch again with a sigh.

"I don't know," he replied cheerlessly, the hurt-puppy-face back.

"It's a tough one, I'll give you that. You have to choose between your friendship and keeping your friend safe," Frank nodded, contemplating.

"I wish, I could just make it all go away," Jamie confessed. His eyes locked on Frank's.

"When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest thing we know," the commissioner quoted. When Jamie didn't reply, but only looked questionable, he continued. "Waldo Emerson," was the only explanation he gave. Jamie nodded and leaned back in the couch, the soft pillows almost swallowing him. Henry came back and handed the younger officer a crystal glass with amber liquid in it. Frank returned to his book and Henry to his puzzles when he sat down again.

Friday, 7.00 am, 12th precinct
"Hey, Harvard, got a minute?" Renzulli called from his chair when he saw Jamie walk by outside the open door. Jamie turned and walked in, nodding a yes.

"What can I do for you, Sarge?" Jamie asked, hat in one hand and the other resting on the butt of hit weapon.

"Everything all right between you and your partner?" the sergeant asked, looking over his glasses. Jamie nodded suspiciously, not sure where his superior was going with this.

"Yeah, we're fine," he replied and Renzulli squinted lightly at him. "Why do you ask?" Jamie continued and scratched the back of his neck.

"Any tough calls lately?" Renzulli asked and took of his glasses while leaning back in his chair.

"Same old, same old, nothing unusual," Jamie replied, still a little bit skeptical.

"So you're good? You and Janko?" Renzulli continued grilling him.

"Sarge," Jamie said, with a hesitant laughter. "What's with the third degree?" he asked, involuntarily taking a step back. The older man held up a hand, apologizing.

"Both of you've been pretty quiet since last tour and when two of my best officers go quiet, I'm starting to worry," Renzulli said and threw his glasses on the desk before he got to his feet and walked around the table. He closed the door, still with his eyes on the younger man. "You would tell me, straight out, if something was going on with the two of you, right?" he asked, looking Jamie directly in the eyes. Jamie swallowed and nodded, trying to give his commanding officer a light smirk.

"You would be the first to know, but I'm telling you, we're good," Jamie said and Renzulli nodded, only a little spark of suspicion in his eyes.

"Good… I would hate to lose any one of you to lack of judgment," the older man said and opened the door again. "Roll call in two minutes," he said firmly and walked back around his desk. Jamie hesitated for a moment before he headed out the door. "Oh… and be smart, Mr. Ivy League," Renzulli called after him without looking up. Jamie smiled to himself before heading down the hallway for the break room, figuring he had time enough to grab a cup of coffee. He stopped momentarily when his eyes landed on his partner, who apparently had the same idea and was pouring a cup for herself. He picked up his feet and walked over to the machine.

"Hey," he greeted her and grabbed a cup. Eddie took a step to the side, giving him more space and glanced shortly at him.

"Hey," she replied dryly, and stirred her cup. She could feel Jamie's eyes on her.

"You look terrible," Jamie said with a light smile, hoping to get more of a reaction. Eddie turned to look at him with a cold glare.

"Gee, Reagan, you really know what to tell a woman," she said derisively and turned to walk away. Jamie followed her down the hallway.

"I'm just trying to help you, Janko," he said, trying to get through to her. Eddie stopped abruptly and turned to look at him, fiery in her eyes.

"You wanna help me?" she asked and had almost pointed her finger at his chest. "Leave it alone," she continued and walked through the door to roll call, leaving Jamie astounded in the hallway before he followed her in. Renzulli, already at the podium noted the tension between the two officers when they walked in, but pushed it aside for the moment.

Friday, 8.00 am, Chelsea
Almost an hour into the tour they were still silent. Eddie kept looking out the window, defiantly avoiding Jamie's eyes.

"Danny asked me for a favor, yesterday," Jamie began the lie. When Eddie didn't respond, he continued. "Asked me, if I would look around for a suspect," he said. Still nothing from the passenger seat. "Male, about six-one, six-two, medium-athletic, short dirty blond hair," he kept an eye on his partner when she tried not to squirm in her seat. If, in fact, Danny's case didn't involve the man, that exited Eddie's building the other day, she wouldn't know who it was. "Could have some kind of mark or scar on the left side of his face," Jamie said and Eddie's head whipped around to look at him, confusion and suspicion in her eyes.

"Really, is that your excuse?" she asked irritated.

"Excuse for what? That man is a suspect in a double homicide," Jamie said defensively. The words seemed to have an impact on her.

"What?" she asked, now more shocked than anything.

"So you do know him?" Jamie asked when Eddie tried to recover. The remark only made her look even more irritated and hurt.

"How do you figure that?" she asked and crossed her arms. Now it was Jamie's turn to squirm in his seat. "No, you didn't… really?" she asked when the realization dawned on her. "Really, would you go that far?" she asked, just as surprised as she was amazed.

"I just had to make sure you were okay," Jamie explained. Eddie sighed and shook her head.

"Unbelievable," she muttered and touched her brow. "Why didn't your brother put it in roll call, then?" she asked, looking out the window again.

"It's up in Hell's Kitchen, not in our precinct," Jamie said and glanced at her. "Eddie, if you know something…" he continued but was cut off by Eddie.

"I don't, all right?" she said, and both on them went quiet for a beat.

"All units, be advised, 10-85, additional back-up requested for crowd control on 232 Ninth Avenue," the radio sounded and Jamie waited a beat before replying.

"12-David to central, show us responding to 10-85," Jamie said and changed lanes.

Friday, 3.00 pm, 12th precinct
"Reagan, Janko, my office, please," Renzulli greeted them when the two officers walked through the door. Apparently the sergeant had been waiting for them and the two of them glanced at each other. Jamie with a nervous look in his eyes and Eddie's a bit more hardened. They followed the older man into his office and he sat down, motioning for his visitors to take a seat as well. "Something I should know about?" he asked them, straight out. Jamie looked down and Eddie's eyes ran over him, confused, for a second.

"Like what, Sarge?" Eddie asked, unsure. She had automatically straightened up in Renzulli's presence, but now she felt a little bit smaller.

"I don't know, maybe the two feet thick wall of ice and silence between the two of you, for starters?" Renzulli replied. Eddie clamped up, hesitant to speak.

"It's taken care of, Sarge…" Jamie said and kept his eyes on his training officer. He could feel Eddie glaring at him. "A bump on the road, but we are stabilizing," he said, hoping it was enough for an explanation. Hoping that, Renzulli wouldn't demand any more. The sergeant shifted his gaze to Eddie, looked at her inquiringly.

"Nothing to worry about, Sarge," she agreed with a smile, the best she could muster. Renzulli looked at her for a few seconds before leaning back, apparently satisfied with their response.

"Good. Go home. But I'm still keeping my eyes on the two of you," he said warningly when the two officers scrambled to their feet and moved out of the door. They were silent until out of earshot.

"What the hell, Reagan?" Eddie whispered furiously, when she abruptly turned into the break room.

"He's a suspect, Eddie, in a homicide. I'm not leaving it," Jamie said defensively, trying hard to keep his voice down. "Hindering an investigation? Harboring a fugitive? You do the math and let me know what the answer is," Jamie said furiously and turned around on his heels, leaving Eddie alone and stunned.

Friday, 8.00 pm, Flannery's
Jamie walked through the door and glanced around until he saw his partner's blonde hair down in the back. On the way down, he ordered a beer from the bar and continued into the lion's den.

"Hey," he greeted her carefully and took a seat next to her, noticing the scarf she was wearing again. Jamie wasn't at all sure of where they were standing after what he had thrown at her, earlier in the day.

"Hey," Eddie only replied, a mixture of feelings in her eyes. "Thank you for coming," she said and took a swig of her beer.

"You got it… but I have to ask, why this place?" Jamie responded and looked around. Eddie looked at him with a smile and tilted her head.

"Do you have to ask?" she answered and Jamie shrugged.

"It wouldn't happen to be because of the twenty-four-hour donut shop, literally next door?" he said, both of them smiled. It was so easy to go back into their old banter, Jamie realized.

"They were delicious," Eddie laughed, still a bit tense. They fell silent for a few moments when the bartender arrived with Jamie's beer.

"Thanks," he mumbled and the man nodded before he turned around. "You all right?" he continued seriously, now looking at Eddie again.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighed. "And you're right, as always, but please, save the gloating for another day," she continued quickly and brushed a lock of hair behind her ears.

"All right… so, what are you going to do?" Jamie asked, Eddie shrugged, looking at the bottle in front of her.

"I don't know where he is, but next time I see him, I'm calling it in," she said a bit defeated. Jamie took a swig of his beer but didn't say anything. After a few moments, Eddie glanced up at him, seriousness in her eyes. "Don't do that," she scolded him, trying to sound angry.

"Do what?" Jamie countered, not able to hide his smirk.

"Be all judgmental and stuff," she replied and pushed half heartedly at his shoulder.

"I'm not," Jamie laughed. "I didn't say anything," he continued and Eddie sighed.

"You didn't have to… remember, my abilities are cape worthy," she explained and downed the rest of her beer. "I should get going, we have another early tour tomorrow," she said and got to her feet.

"Oh, yeah, the caped superhero needs her beauty sleep," Jamie agreed and Eddie swatted him on the arm when he got up. He found a few crumpled bills and stuck them under his bottle before following his partner out. They walked in silence for a few minutes, hands in their pockets, looking down at the sidewalk. They didn't mention anything to walking together, it just seemed like the thing to do.

"I'm sorry for being an ass this entire week," Eddie finally admitted and glanced carefully at her partner by her side.

"Don't think about it… I was just worried about you," Jamie replied and came to a halt when Eddie stopped. He turned around to face her about to say something, but forgot the words when Eddie pulled off the scarf and revealed the greenish bruises on her neck. Jamie, speechless for several moments, had to swallow a big lump in his throat. "He did that?" he asked carefully and lifted Eddie's chin for a better look. She nodded silently before turning away.

"He didn't mean to do it… he just has a difficult temper," Eddie said and continued walking with Jamie by her side. "I've known him all my life, our mothers grew up together," she explained.

"It doesn't change those bruises," Jamie said insensitively.