Chapter 5

As expected, Jamie's name was included in the media coverage of the tragic case, on both television and print. The Post used the photo of Jamie giving little Aidan Monroe a rescue breath on its cover with the title 'Officer's Heartbreaking Efforts to Rescue Baby' and Jamie's departmental photo as an inset. The story dominated the air and requests for interviews were declined by 1PP. Jamie continued to stay away from any news coverage.

"Where's Jamie? Isn't he joining us?" Erin asked as she passed a platter down the table.

Frank placed his wine glass down and looked at his daughter. "He'll be along. He worked midnight and planned to go home and sleep before coming over," he advised.

"I still can't get over those photos. Such a horrible situation," Linda commented as she passed a dish to her husband.

Nicky scooped some mashed potatoes onto her plate and looked at her aunt. "Yeah. The baby was so tiny next to Uncle Jamie. Almost didn't seem real," she said.

"Well, it was real alright. We're close to getting the scumbag responsible for it locked up, too," Danny growled.

"What about the mom?" Nicky asked.

Danny sighed. "She's young, had her own issues before she got pregnant and cleaned herself up when she found out she was having a baby. But she struggled because she really didn't have any family and the father, well, obviously he didn't care." Danny took a bite of his dinner and added, "Legal Aid was trying to help her go after him for child support, but they hadn't gotten anywhere yet."

"She's completely distraught, understandably, but blaming herself for leaving the baby with his father," Erin said. "Dillard caught the case - DA thought there were too many Reagans involved already."

"He's probably right," Frank commented.

"Yeah. Melissa, the mom, left Aidan with him because she was afraid she'd get fired if she missed another day of work. The neighbor that normally watched him got sick. So she went to the person she thought should share responsibility for the baby," Erin explained and shook her head as she cut her food.

"Just because you contribute half of the DNA, doesn't make you a father," Henry grumbled.

"No, it doesn't, Pop," Frank agreed.

"How long are they gonna keep showing those pictures on the news?" Jack asked. "It must make Uncle Jamie sad. I would be," he said before taking a bite of his dinner.

The adults looked at each other wondering the same thing.

"Well, Jack, unfortunately, the media likes to dwell on stories like these until the next big news item comes along. And you're right, it does make your Uncle sad, so let's just move on to another topic before he gets here," Frank said pointedly to the whole table.

Everyone did as Frank instructed and it wasn't more than five minutes later that Jamie arrived for dinner.

"Hey, everybody. Sorry I'm late," Jamie greeted.

The family didn't miss the dark circles under Jamie's eyes.

"Hey, Jamie," Henry greeted back.

"Hey, son. How was your tour?" Frank asked.

"Uneventful," Jamie replied and looked around the table quickly before putting all of his attention on loading up his plate.

"Well, that's always a good thing," Danny commented, glancing at his brother.

"Sure is," Jamie added. He ate his food eagerly, despite his lack of appetite, so as to avoid the covert looks he was getting from his family. Maybe if he forced himself to clean his plate, he could bypass any 'are you ok' talks. He couldn't deal with that now.

"Come on, keep walking," Jamie ordered. He and Eddie were escorting a purse snatcher who'd given them chase back to their squad car.

"Nah, man. I'm telling you, I know you from somewhere," the young white male said over his shoulder as he tried to get another look at his arresting officer.

"I don't think so buddy, unless I've arrested you before," Jamie responded as he pushed him along. He kept looking to his left every time he walked by another car parked along the curb.

"I'm thinking that's not such a crazy possibility," Eddie commented as she walked along side them holding the purse he'd tossed just before her partner had tackled him to the ground. She didn't miss Jamie's new habit of checking every parked car on the street as he walked by them, she just wasn't sure whether he was aware that he was doing it.

"No, that's not it," their perp replied.

Jamie jostled his shoulder to prod him along. "Turn around and keep walking," he ordered again.

The purse snatcher's eyes widened. "Oh, I got it! You're that guy! The one on TV with the kid and the car."

Jamie and Eddie's eyes met, Jamie rolling his and sighing at the same time.

"Yeah, man, that's you on the news," the purse snatcher declared.

"All you should be worrying about right now are the people you're gonna end up with in lock up. It's a full moon out tonight and all the whack jobs tend to come out," Eddie snarked.

"Present company included," Jamie added.

They reached their car and threw the perp in the back. Once they closed the door, Jamie leaned back against the side of the car. "I'm tired of everyone bringing this up everywhere I go. When's it gonna stop?" he wondered.

Eddie leaned back next to him. "I don't know. It seemed to disappear for a few days until the dad finally got arrested. Now its back in the news again," she said.

"I wouldn't know," Jamie said.

Eddie tilted her head, confused by what he meant.

Jamie pulled his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. "I've been avoiding the news. I was there. Last thing I need is to keep seeing those photos." He looked over at his partnet. "I had a reporter waiting outside my place yesterday," he said.

"Seriously?" Eddie asked.

Jamie nodded back.

"How'd they get your address?" she wondered.

"They're reporters. They investigate," Jamie said and released a frustrated sigh. "I don't know, it's not like it would be that hard to find. I just wish everyone would leave me alone." He pushed off the side of the car and walked over to the driver's side.

Eddie stared at him in silence wishing there was something she could do to make it all better.