a bit slow i know but i can see it all playing in my head so please please bear with it!
I do not own anything but my characters and a true affection for the talent of the cast, crew and writers of the show!
The drive-around went without a hitch, for which Jamie was relieved. It was the first time since joining the force that Jamie had actually had an official NYPD role with his brother. He and Danny had even managed to stay civil with each other throughout; given their relationship they deserved medals. Danny even asked Jamie for the legal point of view a few times, which raised an eyebrow once or twice from Jackie.
"You feeling alright, Reagan? Since when have you listened to anything legal Jamie ever told you?" she scoffed.
"Mock all you want but i thought i'd might as well get the legal side while he was here, before our sister told us otherwise! Forewarned is fore-armed!" smirked Danny as he jumped out of the squad car.
"Really? Wanna tell me what's really going on here, Danny? You asked for Jamie and his partner, pacifically. Why?" asked Jackie, getting suspicious.
Danny looked at his partner and sighed as he walked around to her side of the car. "I was getting a little nervous about the guy. Erin told me what she thought about him after that bride case and so..."
"So you what, Danny? Has Cruz given you any cause for concern since then?" asked Jackie as they walked to the squad room.
"Jamie says he's getting a little too fresh with the ladies when they're on their tours. When Jamie's gut starts to worry him it worries me," added Danny as he avoided Jackie's stare.
"You sure that that's all there is too it?" she asked. Danny nodded and kept walking ahead.
Meanwhile back at the 12th, "So, how'd it go with your brother?" asked Renzulli as he looked over his former charge as if looking for signs of a fight.
"It was good Sarge! He even asked for my legal advice!" smiled Jamie as he gathered up his belongings.
"Seriously? Since when has he ever done that?" laughed Renzulli as he observed Jamie's body language.
"Maybe he finally sees that i got something to offer besides being a good cop!" he retorted with a bashful grin.
"Maybe! Maybe!" nodded Renzulli, impressed that the young officer was finally feeling really confident as a cop alongside his older sibling. As Renzulli was about to leave, Vinnie came into the changing room.
"Hey Sarge! Any chance of getting your girl's number? I thought i could..." grinned Vinnie before getting cut off sharply.
"Not a hope in hell, Cruz! You ain't getting anywhere near my girl! And if you even think of going behind my back i'll have Reagan here shoot you!" barked Renzulli fiercely.
"Why me?" exclaimed Jamie.
"Because i know you can shoot straight!" replied Renzulli as he stormed passed Vinnie, temper only just under control. Vinnie turned to his partner.
"What did i say?" he smirked. Jamie looked at him in disbelief, shook his head and walked out behind the Sergeant leaving Vinnie highly amused with himself.
"Hey Sarge! You ok?" asked Jamie as he followed Renzulli to his car.
"Yeah, sure kid. Why?" he sighed.
"Well, you don't normally blow off like that..." stammered Jamie, unsure how to gauge his superior's reaction.
"Sorry, kid! Just...I know Vinnie's rep. I ain't wanting him near Toni as she's too good for him. She deserves someone better than him and definitely better than the last jerk!" he scoffed. Jamie understood, Toni's last partner beat her up just for being caught late with an emergency at the hospital, even though the incident was well reported in the news.
"She doesn't need guys like Cruz in her life. I'd rather they were more like, well, you, if i was honest!" smiled Renzulli as he playfully slapped Jamie's back, causing the young man to blush from his feet up.
"Hey! So we going for that beer?" called Vinnie as he came out of the precinct towards the two men.
"Told ya! I got things to do. I'll see ya both in couple of days. Take it easy!" shrugged Jamie as he moved off towards his car. Renzulli and Vinnie just looked at each other with strange indifference for a few minutes before each going their own way.
A few hours later, Jamie was slowly wandering through Macy's toy department looking for a gift for his nephew when a voice caught his attention. He spun around to find Toni behind him holding out a new handheld game console, "I think the kids are all wanting one of these!"
"Hey! Thanks but a little outta the price range agreed!" he smiled as he took a look at the console.
"You put a price on gifts?" she gasped, mockingly at him. Jamie blushed again, why was he having such a hard time of it with blushing today?
"I'm kidding! C'mon! Time for coffee and a serious think about your gift plan!" she said grabbing his arm and putting the console back on its shelf. Jamie giggled and allowed himself to be dragged along. Unknown to either, they were being watched by someone familiar.
"Are you kidding me? He asked you? What's he after? There has to be some reason?" asked Toni, as she took in everything Jamie told her about his day with Danny. "Is this the same Danny Reagan who shoved a man's head in the toilet? Who pushed my ex down a flight of stairs at St Victor's because he was pissed at a joke the intern made? A gay intern!"
"Yep! The very same! He's not that bad and i finally think he's seeing me as a genuine NYPD officer who can help and not hinder," he shrugged.
"Jamie, i doubt Danny ever thought that of you or your abilities as a cop. Dad always said you had a different kind of instinct. Very similar to that of Joe if i recall," she said sadly as she remembered the fallen Reagan. Jamie looked down at his coffee cup. "Will it ever get any easier? The loss of a cop, whether they're a blood relative or not?"
"If it did then there'd be something seriously wrong with us," he shuddered still not making eye contact with her. She reached over and caught his arm, making him look at her.
"You ok, Jamie?" she asked, worriedly. Jamie placed his hand on top of hers and nodded with a soft smile, "I'll be ok. I was just remembering Joe...And how he reacted when he caught you climbing in my bedroom window!" he laughed. Now it was Toni's turn to blush.
"I was leaving, not entering!" she cringed at the memory. Jamie shook his head, knowingly.
"I think i'd have to go with Joe's report! You were definitely entering!" he teased.
"Ok, ok! So i was entering! I'd run away from home!" she explained.
"Yeah! You certain had! I mean, you came all the way over town to climb in my bedroom window. How did you even know it was mine?" he asked, curiously. Toni shifted uneasily and Jamie raised an eyebrow.
"Danny caught me climbing in his widow first and redirected me to your room!" she admitted. Jamie almost choked on his coffee.
"And he didn't shoot you?" he spluttered, as he mopped up his mess. Toni shrugged and grinned sheepishly at her friend. "Serious? He didn't point a gun at you?"
"Nope! He winked, sshhed me and pointed me in the right direction!" said Toni as Jamie composed himself once more.
For the next few hours they sat and talked, caught up on old times, recent issues in their lives and even did some shopping. It happened just as they were leaving the large Toys R us in Time Square when they were jostled by someone in the busy crowd. Neither were able to turn in time to see what was going on or who it was but before either of them knew, Jamie was crumbling to the ground.
"Jamie? Jamie!" shouted Toni as she ran back to help him. All Jamie could do was groan and gasp for air. He had become as white as a ghost. "Where are you hurt?" asked Toni as she began to go into nurse mode. She examined him quickly, passing her hands round his neck and down his body when she felt something wet and sticky. She pulled her hand back and looked at it. Jamie was bleeding.