Now its getting hot!
Thanx for all the reviews! They are really pushing me on! You are all fab!
Two hours after being re-admitted to St Victor's, Jamie was back in a hospital bed and sulking like a child. He had protested vigorously with Linda and the doctors to let him go home but with a chest drain, broken ribs and a concussion, no-one was letting him out of sight any time soon.
The police commissioner was called and informed of the incident as too was Jamie's father. A two-for-one offer in Jamie's case. Frank was stuck between being concerned for his son and his officer but also angry that two of his men were brawling within the confines of a precinct. Danny was waiting for him when he arrived with his DCPI and entourage in tow.
"Let's try and keep a lid on this, Garrett. The last thing we need right now is this to get out. I'll be mocked for not being able to control my officers or my son" he fumed quietly before turning to Danny. "How is he?"
"Pissed off. Grumpy. Agitated. Sulking." Sighed Danny as he walked with his father.
"Has he said what happened?" asked Frank as he looked in the window of the room. Sanny shook his head. "What about the other officer involved?"
"Nothing from Cruz. They've both taken up the Blue wall of Silence" groaned Danny as he looked at his brother's bruised face. "We're going to have to call Toni. That's if Renzulli hasn't done so already. But from what i got, it looks as though Vinnie was winding Janie up about Toni. I get the feeling he knows about them and Renzulli doesn't"
"Well, we're not supposed to know either but we do," sighed Frank. "It still doesn't justify his actions. Cruz states that Jamie threw the first punch?" Danny nodded unhappily.
"What is Cruz saying?" asked Frank.
"Not much. I'm guessing he's waiting to see how much Jamie will spill first. More ammo for him" seethed Danny.
"Are you coming in to see your son and brother or are you just going to stay by the doorway?" asked Linda as she came over to them. Frank and Danny looked up and at Linda. "He can see you from his bed. And he knows what you're discussing. Now i suggest you talk to him and not between yourselves," she sighed.
"Wanna tell me what's going on, son?" asked Frank directly as he came into the room.
"It was nothing dad. Just Vinnie being an ass," groaned Jamie. Danny growled under his breath and Linda glared at him.
"You don't just burst out and jump a guy like you did today. What's going on, Jamie? I've been here before with you and secrets, i'm not doing it again!" snapped Frank as he hinted to the Blue Templar incident. Jamie just glowered.
"He was being a jackass and insinuating that ..." snapped Jamie, stopping as he saw Toni by the door. "What's Toni doing here?" he asked Linda.
"I called her. Jamie, most of us in the room know about the two of you. She had a right to be called," said Linda calmly as she watched the panic rising in her brother-in-law.
"Just keep Vinnie away from her," he pleaded.
"What did he say?" prompted Danny gently.
"He...he... was crude and demeaned her. He's been trying to get her number since he met her. He'd break her if he got near her" sobbed Jamie.
"Did he threaten her?" asked Danny.
"No. I just think he wants to conquer her. Another notch on the bed post then discards her like he does all the others. He uses his uniform, sees it as a perk of the job," he laughed, sadly.
"Can i come in or not?" asked Toni, nervously as she stood hovering close by. Linda nodded and brought her in while Frank and Danny stood aside to let her in. "What happened this time?" she teased as she kissed his forehead.
"Cruz." Yawned Jamie as he held her hand. Toni glanced up at Danny and then towards the commissioner as if to ask why.
"You." Whispered Jamie, as he drifted off to sleep. Toni was taken aback by this and had to sit down.
"You ok?" asked Linda as she gave her a glass of water. Toni took it and nodded.
"Has Cruz ever made any passes at you?" asked Danny.
"Not really a pass. He looks at me in a creepy way. Makes me a little nervous, i certainly wouldn't trust him on a date!" she scoffed. "Why did he do this? I mean i barely know the guy,"
"We don't know. Seems he may have gotten a little to over confident in his skills of collecting women" replied Danny.
"Like that would stand up in a court!" scoffed Frank as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Commissioner?" came a voice. Everyone turned to see Sergeant Renzulli waiting by the door. "I'd like a word with Toni, if that's ok?"
Toni stood, kissed Jamie's face once more and whispered, "I'll be back soon." She took her bag and followed her father leaving the Reagans alone.
"I should've never given him his transfer," sighed Frank as he sat by his son's bed.
"Why? Where was he before?" asked Linda as she checked Jamie's drain.
"The 3-5. He had a rep there too. He'd been under investigation for his womanizing tactics and was suspected of taking bribes but nothing was ever proven," explained Frank.
"Did you say the 3-5?" asked Danny as he looked up suddenly.
"Yeah, why?" asked Frank, curiously.
"It's probably nothing," shrugged Danny.
"What?" queried frank as he gave his oldest a look that said spill it or feel it.
"Toni said the doctor guy was supposedly set up by some guys from the 3-5. What if and it may be a BIG if, one of those guys was Cruz. Maybe he had some kind of hold on the doc..." muttered Danny.
"That's a hell of a big leap, Danny," exclaimed Linda.
"Yeah, but my gut is telling me these two are linked somehow. I just know it. First the doc tries to kill Jamie when we knew they had no beef with each other. I mean, they never even met before so why poison Jamie?" pondered Danny.
"The Doctor was working at the hospital within the 3-5 precinct at the same time Cruz was there. Then not long after the doc transfers here, Cruz joins the 12th!" confirmed Frank as he too could feel the gut churning.
"Jamie never took to Cruz straight away. Always said there was something that made him uncomfortable about the guy. If his gut is churning over something he's rarely wrong," said Danny, confidently.
"Just like the rest of you Reagans," agreed Linda.
"Danny, get down to Cruz' room and speak with him on his side of the story. Then i want you to double check his arrest reports, see if any include the good doctor. Find out where he was the day Jamie got stabbed..." ordered Frank as he took his cell from his pocket and called his assistant.
"Baker. I want to see the CO of the 3-5 precinct ASAP. No, he can come to the hospital. Also, i want a copy of Officer Cruz' service record and any IA files that may be floating around," barked the commissioner as he hung up. "Why are you still here, Danny?"
"Just going, sir." Smirked Danny as he kissed his wife and left the room. On his way down the corridor to Cruz' room he passed Renzulli and his daughter having a heart to heart.
"Why didn't you tell me about the two of you?" he asked her quietly.
"Technically we're not supposed to be dating. I was treating him when it happened. How many times have officers been told its wrong and unprofessional to get involved with any victim/individual connected to an on-going case that they may be working. Well, it's kinda the same thing with nurses and patients" explained Toni.
"But Harvard?" smiled Renzulli. Toni smiled too.
"Why not? You've said it yourself that you'd prefer i saw someone like Jamie rather than Cruz," she shrugged.
"Is this going to give you some heat?" asked Renzulli, concerned for his daughter.
"I don't know. Possibly," she shrugged, adding, "We didn't want to hide it from you guys, we just wanted to take it slow and make sure it was going to work before we told everyone,"
"I understand. It's just, how did the Reagans know before me?" he smiled.
"I have no idea. Honestly, Jamie and i haven't told a soul. So how did Vinnie know?" asked Toni confused.
Toni and her father sat quietly in the corridor for a few minutes before Linda approached them and informed them that Jamie was still sleeping that they should go for a coffee and come back once the doctor had done his rounds.
"Stay close to him for me. I don't want a repeat job!" teased Toni. Linda laughed and agreed to stay with Jamie until she returned.
As Toni and her father walked to the cafe, Danny was finishing up his interview with Vinnie. Not that he had much to say other than, "I've called my union rep and my lawyer. Jamie hit me first, i was just protecting myself!"
"By lawyering up i'd say you were covering your butt for another reason. You know a Dr Marshall?" asked Danny, slyly.
"Who's he?" quipped Vinnie.
"The Doctor responsible for trying to poison Officer Reagan. He was killed last month. Shot. Know anything about that?" asked Danny as he wandered closer to Cruz' bed. Cruz stayed calm showing no indication of acknowledgement to the crime or person. "Ok, well, i hope you're feeling better soon. Although, you'll be out tomorrow and Officer Reagan will be stuck in here another few days or so."
As Danny left Cruz he passed the union rep and a woman in a sharp business suit. She looked familiar. He was just by the elevator when it dawned on him who she was. He spun round and ran back to Vinnie's room.
"Mr Cruz, i am your lawyer in this matter so i need to have to details of the incident. If you leave anything out it could compromise your chances," spoke the lawyer as she gave him a knowing smile.
"Isn't it a conflict of interests for you to represent this man considering he attacked your former fiancé, Miss Davenport?" asked Danny, smugly.
Sydney spun around. "Detective Reagan? Are you sure it was Jamie?"
"Oh yeah. I guess he hasn't quite got round to telling you all the details yet. I'm surprised he didn't tell you when he called?" replied Danny.
"I guess you'll have to find another attorney? Miss Davenport, would you be able to find a replacement for Officer Cruz?" asked the union rep.
"Of course. I'll call one of my colleagues now," she said quickly. Too quickly. She spun round to face Cruz, exchanged unseen glances and picked up her briefcase. Turning back to Danny she asked, "Can i see him?"
"I don't think that's a good idea just now" replied Danny as he walked her towards the elevator.
"Why not? I'd like to see that he's ok," she huffed.
"Well, he'll be fine. And you have some calls to make on behalf of Cruz. Shouldn't you be doing that?" smiled Danny, coldly. He hadn't liked her all that much but tolerated her for Jamie's sake.
Sydney made the calls as Danny watched her carefully. She paced the corridor as she spoke into her phone and when she was done, she turned to Danny and asked to see Jamie again. This time he led her to his brother's room. Frank and Linda were surprised to see Sydney but let her in for old times sake.
"I don't think we should be letting her stay alone with him," sighed Linda, uncomfortably.
"What's she going to do?" scoffed Danny. "Listen, i gotta go if i wanna get all that info on Cruz together. Watch him for me?" requested Danny as he nodded towards his brother's room. Linda and Frank agreed to do so and watched the detective leave.
"I'd better call Pop and let him know what's been going on. He'll be going mad if i leave it any later," sighed Frank, wearily.
"I'll check in with Dr Keller and then go back to Jamie. Toni will be back soon, i'll try and catch her t warn her about Sydney. Not sure how that will go down," groaned Linda as she tried not to picture that meeting in her head.
Unbeknown to them, whilst the others were outside the room, Sydney was silently approaching Jamie and observing him greedily. "You're going to be mine again," she whispered icily as she trailed her hand over his torso with a gentle touch. Jamie stirred slightly, he heard someone there, and he could feel someone there.
"Jamie? Can you hear me? It's Sydney. Tell me you're ok?" she spoke kindly, without a hint of threat.
"Sydney? Wha...What are you doing here?" he stuttered.
"I was called to represent the officer you fought with. Danny told me it was you and i couldn't do it. I'm so sorry for i did to you. I missed you," she sobbed as she leaned over and kissed him softly.
Jamie was surprised by this. He remembered how her kisses felt, how he had missed them. But something was different. She kissed him again and Jamie found himself responding to her.
"Forgive me?" she pleaded as she broke away and looked sincerely into his eyes. Jamie was in torment. "I know i didn't give it a chance. I want to show you i can do this. I can be a cop's wife"
"Syd. It's not as easy as that," he whispered, trying to pull away.
"I know. We have a lot to work on. But i want us to try, please?" she begged.
"I can't. I found someone," he muttered, embarrassed.
"Oh? I see. Is she beautiful?" smiled Sydney, trying to hide the jealousy.
"Yeah, she is. She's smart too." Blushed Jamie.
"But you miss us?" prompted Sydney. Jamie looked at her, she was still beautiful. She was as she had always been, petite, brunette, smart and beautiful but Toni had something else. Not that seeing Sydney didn't bring back any feelings once lost.
Sydney continued to gaze into Jamie's eyes and into his soul. He was weak. She'd get him back. A bit more persuasion and she'd have him eating out of her hands. Leaning in, Sydney kissed him once more, this time with more desire and need. Jamie found his hands moving up to hold her face then back down to her waist to pull her inwards.
"Time for your..." announced Linda as she re-entered the room, stopping abruptly at the scene in front of her. Close behind Linda was Toni, who saw the whole show.