Chapter 36

Fin and Jamie were just walking back into the bullpen when I.A. Sergeant Ed Tucker walked in. "Great, here comes the Rat Squad." Jamie whispered to Fin.

Fin shook his head. "Thirty day rip if you don't salute." Fin replied and Jamie smirked. "This has got to do with Matthews."

Tucker walked over to them. "Where's Captain Cragen?" Tucker asked.

"He's busy." Fin replied.

"I don't care if he's talking to the damn President. I want to see him now."

Fin looked at Jamie and nodded. She shook her head and walked back to the interrogation room.

//Chung Chung//

Cragen and Nicole were still talking with Lee. "If you had of stayed away from Spencer and kept your mouth shut about the drugs, none of this would have happened."

"First of all, I didn't know you were involved and secondly I thought you tried to kill me because I rejected you?"

"Both reasons actually. But how was I supposed to know you didn't suspect me. I mean you wanted an I.A.B. inquiry into the missing drugs."

"And you were afraid everything would come back and bite you in the ass. Too late for that. You messed with the wrong cop." Nicole said as a knock came on the door.

Jamie poked her head inside again. "Uh, Captain, can I see you for a minute."

Cragen stood and then looked down at Nicole. "I'll send John in."

"No, I can handle this alone." Nicole said.

"I don't think..."

"Captain, please. I can handle this."

Cragen nodded and then left the room.

//Chung Chung//

Cragen stepped out into the observation room. Jamie was standing next to Munch, who was still watching the interrogation.

"What's going on, Jamie?" Cragen asked.

"Tucker's here. And he's pissed."

"Just great. I take it he's here about Matthews?"

Jamie shrugged. "He just said he wanted to talk to you. But we both know what it's about."

Cragen sighed and nodded. "I'll deal with Tucker. John, you keep an eye on Nicole. And Jamie, you and Fin be close by, I may need your help."

"You got it, Captain." Jamie replied and followed Cragen out of the observation room.

//Chung Chung//

Cragen walked into his office and saw Tucker standing there waiting for him. "Sergeant Tucker, what can I do for you?" Cragen asked as he sat down.

"You want to tell me why Sergeant Matthews has been arrested?"

"Well, that's what we usually do with criminals. We arrest them."

"Matthews is not a criminal. He works for Internal Affairs."

Cragen stood up and angrily faced Tucker, "Than come up with some bullshit lie why he was running away at the crime scene of a kidnapping?"

"Well, you tell me how you got that location? According to my sources one of your detectives coerced it out of a suspect."

Cragen walked over to his door. "Detective Roenick come in here, please."

Jamie walked into the office and Cragen shut the door. "Yeah Captain?"

"Did you coerce the location out of Lange?" Cragen asked.

"No, sir, I didn't." Jamie replied.

"Really?" Tucker asked. "Because according to Mr. Lange you assaulted him. So tell me again there was no coersion, Detective Roenick."

"Okay, I did assault Lange but he didn't give me the location, he gave it to Detective Tutuola."

Cragen opened his door and signaled for Fin to come into the office. Fin stepped inside and looked around at everyone. "What's going on?"

"Did Lange give the location of the apartment to you?" Tucker asked.

"Yeah he did." Fin replied.

Tucker nodded his head slowly. "Okay. And you're not just covering Detective Roenick's ass."

"Now wait a damn minute!" Fin yelled and moved toward Tucker.

Cragen got between them. "Fin! Don't do anything you'll regret."

Fin glared at Tucker. "Oh, I wouldn't regret it, Captain."

"You two are in serious trouble here. I'm gonna bring you and the rest of this squad down. And I'm gonna really enjoy doing it." Tucker said and walked out of the office.

Jamie sighed, "I think we pissed the Rat off cause there was no cheese as a prize."

Cragen shook his head. "Please tell me there was no coersion for that location."

"Don, I wasn't even in the room when he gave it to Fin. You were standing right here with me."

Cragen nodded, remembering the interrogation. "You're right, I was. But you admitted to assaulting Lange and Tucker's not gonna let that go."

"No, he won't and I'll take the rip for it."

"Jamie..." Fin started to say.

"No. Kathleen's home safe because I knocked Lange on his ass. If I could go back and do things over again, I wouldn't do a damn thing different."

//Chung Chung//

Nicole was looking across the table at Lee. "There is one thing I really have to know." Nicole said, her voice was becoming thick with emotion and she swallowed hard before continuing. "Why did you kill my family?"

Lee looked away from her. "Who says I did?"

"Don't feed me that bullshit, Lee. You walked me through the crime scene and described everything in perfect detail. So don't hand me that shit that you didn't do it!" Nicole was now on her feet and screaming at Lee.

//Chung Chung//

Munch was watching the interrogation and was going to enter the room when Nicole jumped to her feet but stopped himself when she surprisingly calmed herself down and sat back down in her chair.

//Chung Chung//

"Maybe I did." Lee stated. "But I knew that was the only way you were going to come back to Dallas."

"You son of a bitch! You slaughtered my family to get me to come back? You're nothing but a heartless prick!" Nicole screamed, then lunged across the table and punched Lee in his already broken nose.

At this point Cragen was making his way back into the room, this time follwed by Munch, and ran to stop Nicole when he saw Lee rolling around on the floor in agony.

"Alright, Nicole, this interrogation is over." Cragen ordered.

Munch took Nicole by the arms and pulled her away from Lee. "Come on, Nic. Let's go cool off."

Nicole was shaking with anger but she let Munch take her out of the room because she knew that if she didn't leave right then, that she would end up killing Lee.

//Chung Chung//

Jamie was just sitting down at her desk when a young man, of about eighteen, entered the squad room. He was about 5'10", lean and muscular and had blue eyes and short dirty blonde hair.

Jamie looked up from her desk and noticed him standing in the doorway. She was shocked to see him there but happy none the less. Aside from the blonde hair, Jamie couldn't help but notice how much he looked like his father.

She stood up from her desk and approached him. "Jeremy?"

He smiled when he saw her. "Aunt Jamie!" he exclaimed happily. He dropped the duffel bag he was carrying and hugged her.

Jamie returned the hug eagerly. "What are you doing here?" she asked after they broke their embrace.

"I'm gonna be checking out some universities and I wanted to surprise you. Mom told me to call you first but you know me, when have I ever listened?" he laughed.

Jamie laughed in return. "Yeah, I know. But I'm glad you're here. Come on and sit down." She took Jeremy by the arm and brought him to sit in a chair by her desk. She couldn't believe he was there. Jeremy was her brother Nate's only child and the one true connection she still had to her older brother.

Jeremy sat down and looked at his aunt. "I went to Narcotics first and they told me you transferred."

"Yeah, I had my fill of the whole drug scene and wanted a change of pace." Jamie replied and then smiled. "But I'm glad to see you. You're just as handsome as ever. Every time I see you, you look more and more like your dad."

Jeremy blushed but returned the smile. "Thanks. That's what mom keeps telling me."

"How is your mom?" Jamie asked. She knew that Nate's death had been extremely hard on Linda, who she knew had never really gotten over it. For that matter, neither had she or Jeremy.

"She's good." Jeremy replied and looked away from Jamie.

"What's wrong, Jer?"

He sighed and looked back at Jamie. "She's pregnant and she's getting married."

Jamie's eyes went wide. "I didn't even know she was seeing anyone." she stated. "She never mentioned anything when I spoke to her a few weeks ago."

"Yeah, well, she didn't want to say anything to you because she knew how much dad meant to you."

Jamie nodded. Nate had been her hero and it devastated her when he was murdered. "We all loved your dad very much. He was great guy."

"The best." Jeremy stated.

"The best." Jamie repeated. "But I didn't expect your mom to be alone for the rest of her life. Did you?"

Jeremy looked at his aunt, a little startled at the question. "Well, no, but this guy... I mean he's a nice guy and he treats my mom good, but he's just..." Jeremy cut himself off as tears started to form in his eyes.

Jamie moved her chair closer to Jeremy and pulled him into a hug. "But he's just not your dad. Right?"

"Yeah." Jeremy sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I know it's been ten years but I still miss him so much."

"I know, sweetie. So do I." Jamie stated, tearing up herself.

They both composed themselves and broke the embrace. Jeremy looked at Jamie and smiled. "I missed you, Aunt Jamie."

"I missed you, too, Jeremy."

"So how have you been? I know it's only been a little over a month since I talked to you last but I know when it comes to you, a lot can happen in a short amount of time." he laughed.

Jamie playfully punched him in the arm and laughed. "Thanks. Actually a lot has happened. I mean, I left Narco for one."

"Yeah, I was sorry to hear that. I was hoping you were still working with Fin."

She smirked at her nephew. "Well..." Jamie started to say when they were suddenly interrupted by a voice.

"Hey, Jeremy, is that you, man?"

Jeremy turned around at the sound of the voice and saw Fin standing there, along with Nicole and Munch.

Jeremy jumped up from his seat and approached them. "Hey, Fin!"

Fin, who normally didn't hug anyone, pulled Jeremy into an embrace. "What are you doing here?"

Before he could reply Nicole cleared her throat and Jeremy and Fin looked at the two detectives standing behind them. "You gonna introduce us?" Nicole asked. Munch had taken her for a walk and she managed to calm down considerably.

Jamie got up from her chair and joined the group. "Hey, guys. This is Jeremy, my nephew. Jeremy this is Nicole Green and John Munch. We work together."

"Your nephew?" Munch asked curiously.

"Yeah, my brother Nate's son."

Nicole stuck her hand out to the young man. "Nice to meet you."

Jeremy returned the handshake. "Likewise. It's always interesting to meet people willing to put up working with my crazy aunt."

"Ingrate." Jamie growled but then smirked.

Munch then shook Jeremy's hand. "Rethink that, pal. We only work with her. You're related to her."

"Scary thought, isn't Jeremy?" Nicole asked.

Jeremy laughed. He liked these people already. "Ah, well, me and the rest of the family's used to her. At least during visits home she's not running around in SWAT gear and brandishing a rifle."

"The young man knows you well, Jame." Munch stated.

Everyone laughed and Jamie looked at Nicole. "How did it go with Lee?"

"Not good." Nicole replied.

"What happened?" Fin asked.

"She broke his nose again." Munch replied.

"Whoa!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Have you been taking lessons from Aunt Jamie?"

"No, she was crazy before I met her." Jamie replied. "At least according to these guys she was."

"Really?" Nicole asked, eyeing Munch and Fin. "Just what exactly have been you two been saying?"

"Nothing that's not true." Munch smirked and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Jeremy looked at Fin. "I was just telling Aunt Jamie that I wished she was still working with you. I didn't expect you to walk in here."

Fin looked at Jeremy and then Jamie. "I take it he doesn't know."

"Know what?" Jeremy asked, curiously.

"No, I haven't had the chance to tell him."

"Tell me what?" he asked, getting impatient.

Jamie turned her attention to her nephew. "Well, in about six and a half months you're gonna have a new cousin."

"Whoa, you're pregnant?" This was the last thing he was expecting to hear.

"Yep. So is Nicole."

"Holy shit. What is this? A baby boom?"

"Two babies would hardly constitute a boom." Munch stated.

Jamie laughed and looked at Munch. "That would be true, John, if Jeremy's mom wasn't pregnant too."

Fin's eyes went wide. "Your mom's pregnant? You okay with that?" Fin knew how Jeremy felt about Nate. He worshipped him, just like Jamie did.

"I didn't know how to feel about it at first but after talking with Aunt Jamie, I think it'll be cool to have a little brother or sister." Jeremy replied and then looked at Jamie again. "So, who's the father?" Jamie glanced at Fin and Jeremy followed her gaze. His eyes widened in realization. "No way!"

"Way!" Jamie laughed.

"That is so cool! I can't believe you and Fin are having a baby!"

"Hey, shhh. Keep your voice down. We have to keep this on the DL. If the Rat Squad gets wind of this, one of us will have to transfer and believe me, we don't need anymore trouble from them right now." Jamie replied.

"No problem. They won't hear it from me. But congrats by the way." Jeremy said and hugged Jamie. Then he looked at Nicole. "You too."

Nicole smiled and took Munch's hand. "Thanks. We're excited about it."

Jeremy shook his head when he got her implication that Munch was the father. "Wow, you guys didn't have to look far for someone to date did you?"

"Smart ass." Jamie replied as Cragen came into the bullpen.

"I learned from the best." Jeremy replied as Cragen approached the group.

"I put Lee in cell for the night." Cragen said.

"Did he give up anymore?" Nicole asked.

Cragen shook his head. "After you left the room, he lawyered up. And he wants to press charges on you for assault."

"Is that the guy who's nose you broke?" Jeremy asked.

Cragen looked in the direction of the voice. "And you are?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, sorry Captain. This is Jeremy, my nephew. Jeremy this is Donald Cragen, our Captain."

"Nice to meet you, sir." Jeremy said and stuck out his hand.

"You too." Cragen replied and returned the handshake. "And to answer your question, yes he's the guy whose nose she broke."

"Yeah, well, the asshole deserved a lot worse than that." Nicole stated.

"Damn straight he did." Jamie agreed.

"Anyway, we can't do anything more tonight, so let's call it a night. Go home and get some sleep." Cragen ordered and then looked at Jamie. "And I mean go home! Understand?"

Jamie hid the smirk that was trying to make its way onto her face. "Yes, sir! I understand."

"Good." Cragen said and turned to leave. "Goodnight all."

"Night, Captain." Munch called after his retreating form.

Jamie looked at her nephew. "So, where were you planning on staying?"

Jeremy gave Jamie his best puppy dog stare and pouted. "Well, I was hoping I could stay with my favorite aunt."

Jamie looked at Fin and then Nicole and Munch. "He's such a kiss ass." she smiled. "Your favorite aunt, huh? Well, alright but don't let Stacey hear you say that. You know how she can get."

Jeremy laughed and picked up his duffel bag. "Can we stop for something to eat? I have eaten anything in like a day and a half."

"A day and half?" Jamie asked increduously. "That's hard to believe."

Fin, who was leaning against Nicole's desk, looked at the group and spoke up. "Why don't the five of us go grab some dinner at..."

Before he had chance to finish, Jamie spoke up. "How about Gitana on Columbus Ave.? Nicole likes their gazpacho and I never did give the place a fair chance." she stated and winked at Nicole.

"Sounds good to me." Nicole replied. "Although, I may try something different from the gazpacho."

"Whatever you want." Jamie said. She linked arms with Jeremy and Fin and followed Nicole and Munch out of the bullpen.

TBC...