Thank you for all the wonderful comments, I appreciate each one. I have to thank my wonderful Beta, DanniMitchell85, for all her work. I hope you enjoy the next installment...

Chapter 2

Jamie and Caitlin stood staring at each other lost in their own thoughts. Nick looked at them, then cleared his throat and commented he should to get back to work, leaving them standing there together not sure what to say to one another. Jamie was a confident man; he always knew what he wanted and went for it; however, standing before this beautiful woman, he didn't want to make a mistake.

"Can I help you?" He gestured towards where Caitlin had been working.

Caitlin looked back at her assigned section; she was used to working alone in solitude, but something made her want to get to know this man better. He didn't give off the overconfident, egotistical, alpha male aura that she got from most men she met. He seemed to be genuinely kind and he had a soft, welcoming smile.

She led him back to her area and showed him what she was planting and where. He took the bulbs she handed him and proceeded to follow her lead. Caitlin was surprised he didn't feel the need to fill the space with needless talk. It was refreshing to work in companionable silence.

"Do you come to the park often?" Jamie asked to break the silence. He realized she was concentrating on planting another bulb and he silently berated himself. 'Good going, Reagan…Do you come here often? Sounds like a bad pickup line.' He could just hear Danny teasing him about it now.

Caitlin looked up in surprise at the clichéd line and noticed the look of dismay on his face. She was intrigued by a man who was bothered about using such a pedestrian phrase. She looked down quickly with amusement and couldn't help but smile to herself.

"I come as often as I can; almost every weekend," she replied, quietly. "It's probably my favorite place in the city. The green spaces and foliage remind me of home, I suppose." Looking around, she continued, "It's the one place in the crowded, noisy city where I can find the silence I crave."

Jamie looked dumbstruck as he heard her speak. She had a pronounced southern accent that could only come from the Deep South. Her voice caressed the English language in a way he had never thought possible. The words flowed over, around, and through him; it was truly intoxicating to listen to. He was sure she could make reading the phone book a sensual experience, one he would gladly and willingly subject himself to.

He realized that she was looking at him expectantly. "It seems like a great park," was all he could manage to say.

Caitlin prompted, "You've never been here before?"

Shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs he said, "I grew up in Brooklyn. As kids, we went to parks closer to home. Of course, I've been to Central Park and Washington Square Park often."

Caitlin nodded, "Those are great parks, but I prefer this one."

Their conversation was interrupted by large groups of people walking past them. Looking over, Jamie saw Caitlin planting the last of the bulbs. He hadn't been paying attention to the time, and now they had completed their task. Everyone else was either done or finishing up and he could see some making their way out of the park, heading towards the parking lot.

Standing up and dusting himself off, he held out his hand to help Caitlin stand. Looking around at the work that they had done, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He was reluctant to leave, wanting to get to know Caitlin better. He was about to suggest a walk or lunch, when he heard Nick calling his name. He felt torn between answering his friend's call and trying to convince Caitlin to stick around and do something with him.

Hearing his name again, he looked over to see Nick upon him. Two girls followed, including Bethany the blonde. Jamie could see Nick clearly hadn't given up on trying to fix him up.

"Jamie, we're going to grab some lunch, want to come?" Nick asked.

Sighing deeply, Jamie looked away hoping maybe Caitlin could give him an out. He was disappointed when he realized she was gone. Turning fully, he searched for her among those leaving the park, but couldn't find her. She had left; damn. Jamie turned back to Nick who was looking at him questioningly.

Giving in, Jamie said, "Sure, why not?"

Blue Bloods~

When Monday morning came, Caitlin sat in her office and found her thoughts drifting back to Saturday. She remembered planting the bulbs and relaxing in the outdoor air, then looking up as her name was being called. She could still see his kind face and feel the strength in his hands. She couldn't deny that she felt something when they touched. She was amazed at how easy it was being with him.

Smiling, she thought about his initial unease with talking to her, it was cute, really. Frowning, she tried to remember his name. She recalled him telling her but new names were hard for her to remember.

As her gaze wandered across her office, she caught sight of a framed photograph. Standing, she thoughtfully walked over to the bookcase and picked up the picture of Natchez. Memories flooded her mind and she stopped her romantic idealization of the encounter with the charming young man and seriously considered her past. She generally avoided meeting new people, especially men, because she didn't want to talk about Natchez.

She looked up as her assistant knocked on the door. "Dr. McKenna, are you okay?"

Turning her attention back to the photograph, Caitlin smiled at Olivia, "I'm fine, just thinking."

Olivia had known Caitlin since she was a young student and now professor. She recognized the distracted expression and faraway look in her eyes. After glancing at the picture that Caitlin held in her hand and knowing it held few good memories, Olivia said, "You met someone didn't you?"

"I met someone," Caitlin admitted, with a shrug before replacing the photograph on the bookshelf, "but who knows if I'll ever see him again."

Olivia smiled, "Do you want to?"

Caitlin didn't respond and Olivia knew Caitlin cared more than she wanted to let on. Dropping the subject for the moment, Olivia changed topics. "I came in here to tell you the Director is looking for you."

Caitlin stopped her reminiscing and hastily grabbed a stack of papers from her desk then hurried away to her meeting.

~Blue Bloods~

On Friday afternoon, Jamie sat in the patrol car, lost in thought. Vinnie looked over at his partner. They didn't always see eye to eye but he had come to respect Jamie and considered him a friend. He knew that Jamie was far more reserved than he was, and tended not to talk about everything that was going on, but this was getting ridiculous. Jamie had been quiet and brooding for four days now. Vinnie pulled over and parked the patrol car.

"What are you doing?" Jamie looked at him in confusion.

Vinnie looked at him and said, "You tell me, partner. What's going on?"

Jamie looked out the window, "Nothing," he sighed.

Vinnie sighed, "Man, we've been partners for a while now. I've seen you happy, pissed, tired, elated, down, enraged, and everything in between. You know you can talk to me, right? Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's cool. But don't tell me nothing's up."

Jamie looked to his partner and appreciated the fact that he cared. Looking away, he told him what was on his mind. "Last Saturday a friend from college talked me into going up to Fort Tryon Park and doing some volunteer work."

Vinnie broke in, "After that tour we had? Man you must have been exhausted."

Jamie laughed, remembering, "I was at first, but the work was exhilarating." Jamie stopped speaking as long red hair, green eyes, and the hint of a white lace tank top came to mind.

Vinnie looked at him and saw the faraway look in his partner's eyes. "You met someone."

Coming back to the present, Jamie looked out the window could only nod slightly.

"That's great, man," Vinnie said. "You need some love in your life."

"I almost got married, once," Jamie confessed, as he looked back to Vinnie.

Vinnie looked surprised. "I didn't know that."

Jamie continued with a shrug, "I met Sydney in law school. She's from Greenwich and we had planned to get married, and get jobs in big firms here in New York. She was with me when Joe was killed and she helped me get through it. We got engaged just before graduation. When I decided to go to the academy she supported me, but was never happy about it. After a while she took a job in London."

"Sounds like you didn't want the same things," Vinnie said carefully. "She couldn't handle the life?" Jamie could only nod, remembering. After a few moments of silence in the squad car, Vinnie continued, curiously, "So what's the problem now?"

Knowing that he trusted Vinnie with his life every day, Jamie knew he could trust his partner with the truth. "This woman I met; there was just something about her," he admitted. "It seemed so right…I don't know. I guess I'm just a little gun shy. I know in my heart that it could never be a casual thing with her. I don't date just to date, you know?" Jamie said, hinting that he was looking for 'the one.'

Vinnie nodded his understanding, "Man, I'm not ready to settle down with just one honey, but you? You're a different story."

Suddenly, as if the flood gates had opened, Jamie started rambling. He hadn't told anyone in the family, not even Danny, about the woman he met. "I met her at the park and we seemed to hit it off and then my idiot friend, Nick, comes up with this girl that he's trying to fix me up with. When I turned around, she was gone. I only got her first name, nothing else." It felt good to talk about her. Vinnie could only smile as Jamie talked about the woman who already seemed to hold a place in his heart. "Oh, she has this great southern accent. I mean, how can I find her again in a city this big?"

Vinnie listened, trying to keep up. "Good thing your brother is the detective and not you," Vinnie teased looking innocently out the window. Trying to be helpful he asked, "Did she tell you anything about herself?"

Jamie shook his head and thought, "No, not really just about liking that park and finding it quiet and…" Jamie's voice petered out as he remembered. He knew where she would be on Saturday. "She'll be at the park Saturday," he said aloud.

"Well, there you go," Vinnie suggested. "Go to the park this weekend and find her."

Jamie looked over at his partner with a look of worry, "She'll think I'm stalking her."

"One time doesn't count." Vinnie declared then asked the one thing he considered to be the most important, "So tell me, partner is she pretty?" Vinnie glanced over, and Jamie looked at him like a man lost at sea.

Chuckling at his partner's obvious desire, Vinnie commented, "Seems to me you'll never get what you want if you don't take a chance." Vinnie put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb and into traffic leaving his partner to mull over what he had said.

~Blue Bloods~

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. Jamie once again got in his car and headed up Riverside drive toward Ft. Tryon Park. This time he felt more than a little absurd. She might not even be there or might call a cop. He had made sure to have his shield with him, just in case. He parked in the same parking lot and looked around wondering what he was doing there. He walked over to a map of the park and decided to walk for a bit, searching. He tried to figure out which path would afford the most silence. After choosing a path he started walking. At first, he kept his eyes out looking only for her; but, after a while he loosened up and enjoyed the park. The exercise and the beautiful views eased his mind and he thought even if I don't find her, this wasn't a waste of time.

Just as he decided that his undertaking was futile and he should just head back, he saw her sitting on a bench looking at the river. As he got closer he could see the whole vista and it was breathtaking. He walked towards her and when he was a few feet away called her name, "Caitlin?"

Caitlin jumped up in sudden fear, her heart hammering in her chest. She had not heard him approach.

Jamie put his hands out in front of him and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm Jamie. We met last week. Nick's friend?"

Caitlin relaxed a bit, making the connection. "Nice to see you again…?"

"Jamie," he said with a smile.

It was the smile that did it. Of course she remembered him; she'd been thinking of him on and off all week.

Looking at him suspiciously, she asked, with a hint of amusement, "Are you stalking me?"

Jamie raked his hands through his hair nervously, "No, not really. I was going to ask you out to lunch last week, but you left before I had the chance."

Shrugging, Caitlin remarked, "Looked like you already had company."

Jamie reddened slightly, "Nick's friends, not mine. We went to lunch. It was truly dreadful."

Caitlin looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "Dreadful, huh?"

Laughing and shaking his head, he said, "I haven't met anyone that vapid in a long, long time."

Caitlin liked him but wasn't quite ready to let him off the hook. "And what would you do if I called a cop and reported a stalker?"

He reached under his shirt and pulled out a chain. He detached the leather folder from it and handed her his shield. "I'm a cop."

Caitlin took it and started to laugh. It figures. She sat on the bench and indicated the seat next to her. Jamie sat down with his arm on the back of the bench turning his body so he could see her better and they began to talk, quickly recapturing the easy feeling from the week before.

Looking at him, Caitlin asked, curiously, "Do you like being a police officer?"

Jamie answered without needing to think about it, "I love it. I come from a family of cops."

Caitlin thought for a minute before replying, "The family business." After seeing Jamie nod she continued, "It's good that you like what you do. Too many people don't." She handed him back his shield and he carefully put it away.

Jamie asked, "What about you? Do you enjoy what you do?"

Caitlin considered the question before replying, "I teach at Juilliard. You know, I never intended to teach. I was a concert pianist and when I needed to stop touring, teaching at Juilliard was the logical choice. Piano studies and composition, mostly. I am finding that I really enjoy it."

Jamie was impressed. "Wow, that's incredible." In the Reagan family there was more emphasis on sports than music. The boys all played basketball, baseball, and were huge football fans. His nephews played soccer and football as well as learning Tae Kwon Do. His niece used to sing in the choir but she gave it up for soccer as well, not to mention his athletic sister, Erin.

There was a lull in the conversation but unlike other people they didn't feel the need to fill every moment with sound. "This is my favorite spot," she commented after a time.

"I can see why." Jamie looked around and from their bench they had a magnificent view. One could see the beautiful trees resplendent in their autumn colors. On the other side of the substantial stone wall was a leaf covered grade that angled down to the Hudson River and across the river was an equally impressive forest on the New Jersey side. To the left, stood the massive George Washington Bridge and Jamie knew if they stayed there long enough they would see ships floating by. He could understand what drew her to this place.

Caitlin thought for a long time before saying, "I think that this place, more than any other place in New York, reminds me of home."

Jamie had wanted to ask her about herself ever since he heard her speak. Her speech was more formal than his and she spoke with a pronounced Southern accent that he couldn't quite place. "Where's home?"

Caitlin looked at him with a twinkle in her eye and a teasing tone and said, "Would you believe me if I told you I was raised in the Bronx?"

Jamie looked at her for a moment before laughing and saying, "No."

Caitlin laughed before continuing, "No, I was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. It's a small town on the river." She looked at her watch and remarked, "It's getting late."

Jamie looked at his own watch and said, "Not so late." He didn't want to leave, not when he just found her and they were having such a nice conversation.

With a big sigh, Caitlin said, "Well, I have papers to grade and composition projects to look at. I want to get them done before church tomorrow." She smiled at him.

Jamie stood and offered her his hand. She took it as she stood and then he reluctantly let go. "What church do you attend?" He was curious.

Surprised by the lack of ridicule in his voice she said, "I usually go to St. Patrick's Cathedral."

Nodding his understanding he said, "It's a beautiful church. I go to St. Patrick's in Brooklyn."

She stopped and looked at him. "You're Catholic?"

"Born and raised. Still go to church with the family most Sundays and then to the house for Sunday Dinner. We have four generations at our table." Jamie commented.

They started walking and found themselves back at the parking area much sooner than either of them really wanted to.

Jingling his keys, Jamie asked, "Where did you park?"

"Oh, I don't drive anymore. I take the underground train and walk the few blocks to the house." Caitlin said smoothly.

Jamie looked confused for a moment…underground train? Did she mean the subway? He realized that several cities in the US had subways and called them different things: Metro, Marta, Bart, The EL, and, of course, The T. He quickly moved on realizing he had an opportunity and didn't want it to pass him by, "Can I drive you home?"

Taking a step back, Caitlin shook her head, "No, I don't think so. I can get there on my own."

Seeing her resolve, Jamie dropped the subject. "I'd like to see you again; will you have dinner with me?"

Caitlin looked up at him and smiled even as she answered with a, "No."

Taking the rejection gracefully, Jamie persisted, "Lunch then or maybe another walk in the park?"

Walking away in the direction of the subway she turned back after walking a few feet; he could see the twinkle in her eyes and hear the teasing in her tone as she called out to him, "You know where I can be found most Saturdays, Mr. NYPD."

Jamie smiled and waved his hand at her in acknowledgement. As he walked to his car, he thought about the afternoon. It had been a long shot that he would find her, but he was glad he took it. He wasn't deterred at all by her rejection; he would just keep asking until she said yes. He knew that anything worth having wasn't easy to get. Next Saturday he would be back and the next and the next…however long it took to get her to go out with him.