Thanks for the kind reviews! Sorry for the bumpy start, and thanks for staying. I hope I get the "romance"-part of this story going now :S

She didn't know how she survived the day, but eventually her shift was over. Eddie jumped out of the car before Ed had killed the engine and promptly stumbled into a young man just leaving the precinct.
"Sorry!"
"No problem! Are you alright?"
For a moment, Ed was forgotten. "Yeah, I'm okay."
"Sure?" Jamie smiled. "Cause running over innocent pedestrians isn't really part of the job."
She was about to answer when Ed loudly slammed the door.
Eddie froze for a moment. You are mine.
In your dreams, she promised silently and quickly shoved out of the supportive arms around her. Once she was at the women's locker room she would be safe. Not even Ed was stupid enough to follow her there. And why should he? He was her partner. She couldn't really avoid him. Not if she didn't go to the captain.

As she took off her uniform Eddie calmed down. She had seen Jamie, twice. And he had asked her out. And… she blushed as she realized he had just held her. Accidentally, and only to prevent her from falling, but still.
She leant deeply into her locker. Bad enough that she was behaving like a school girl now, she didn't need her colleagues to witness it.
Eddie took a deep breath and stored her gun. As she thought about the next day her heart sank.

As she left the room she saw a figure standing in the hall. Waiting for her? Eddie bit her lips. What kind of idiot… then he walked towards her. "I know it's not Friday yet, but…"
She was too relieved to even try to hide her smile. "Wanna go for a drink?"
Jamie mirrored her smile but his eyes remained serious, almost worried. "Of course."

"So…" Jamie emptied his glass. "How's the job?"
Eddie sighed. That look in his eyes made clear that he wanted the truth now – she knew it had cost him much not to ask it right away. Now they were at the second drink and his knight instinct obviously couldn't be suppressed anymore.
The need to care for others. Eddie loved him for that, for being such a good person despite all the bad things that had happened to him.
But she didn't want to be one of the people triggering that instinct.
"It's okay." The words came out sharper than expected, and Jamie frowned.
"Really" she forced her voice to be gentler, "I mean Ed is… an idiot. A complete, gross idiot." She couldn't help shivering at the memory of his hands on her. "But that's the job, isn't it? Oh come on, Jamie, stop looking at me as if I'm a victim!" Her voice had become loud.
Some of the guests turned around and looked at her. Eddie bit her lips and stared at the table. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut?

"It's okay" Jamie eventually whispered, "they're not staring anymore." He waited till she looked up at him. "Eddie, I don't see you as a victim. I just… I've been your training officer. I know how you are on the job, and… I notices you've changed."
"You mean I'm not good enough to be where I am?" She cursed herself the instant the words came out. What was she doing?

Jamie shook his head. For the first time he seemed a bit annoyed. "No, Eddie, I don't think you're not good enough. I think you're great. But…"
But my brother Joe was great also and now he's dead. This time she managed to keep the thought to herself, though.

"The job's hard. You're sacrificing a lot, and for that… the least you deserve is a good working climate. And if your partner's a real idiot, then maybe you should talk to the captain about it."
"Great idea."
"I mean it." Jamie bent forward. "If you don't want me to keep on worrying about you show me you can take care of yourself."
"I can take care of myself" she hissed back, but not half as aggressive as before. "I've survived pretty well so far, haven't I? How about you?"
Jamie frowned but didn't protest against her change of topic. "Can't complain. Taylor's not a natural as you were, but he's learning fast."
A man… good. Eddie nodded. "And you're a great teacher" she said earnestly. "If I had another drink I would toast on you."

When they left two hours later Eddie still wasn't sure if she wanted him to accompany her home or part at once. Jamie, however, freed her of the decision as he offered to drive her home.
"Thanks" she said. "That was the best part of my day."
Jamie smiled. "Anytime. But I mean it, Eddie – talk to the captain."
Eddie turned away. Had he seen them in the morning?
You are mine. She would have to deal with Ed and his Valentine dreams tomorrow.

Jamie mistook her silence for protest. "Okay, but at least… you can always talk to me, okay? I'm here. And that's not cause I see you as a victim, Eddie. I just…" He swallowed. "I just know you're a wonderful person, and a good cop, and you deserve the best."

Suddenly Eddie's eyes burned with tears. She quickly got out of the car and ran to the door. How could he be so good? And why did he make her so weak?
"Thanks" she called, desperately trying to sound calm, "next bar is on me. See you on Friday!" She didn't wait for the engine to start again, or for the lights in her apartment to go on. As soon as the door closed behind her Eddie broke down crying.