A/N: Bonus chapter because I'm nice. (And also because the readers of my other story deserve a prize for being very patient with me.)

Chapter 2

Jamie was enjoying this night with his family, it was rare that both his siblings, his father and his grandfather could be together, enjoying quality family time. However, his mind was somewhere else, he couldn't focus on what was being said as they all drank the strong amber liquid that their father gave them. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He looked around as they all laughed at something someone, he couldn't remember who, had said. They all turned to look at him when they realised he wasn't laughing with them.

"Jamie, are you alright?" Erin asked concerned about her little brother. Jamie had been acting strangely for a while now. They had all thought that this phase had been and gone. None of the family had seen him like this since he was investigating the Blue… Erin cut her trail of thoughts right there. She didn't want to go down that road again.

"Yeah Kid, you don't look too good. Something wrong?" Danny said backing his sister up.

Both Erin and Danny had noticed that their baby brother was unusually quiet. He was quite a reserved person on a regular day, but today he'd barely said one word throughout the time they'd been together.

"I'm fine." Was Jamie's typical, automatic and obviously practiced response. Realising that wouldn't be enough to satisfy a first-grade detective, a talented ADA, the current police commissioner and the former police commissioner he added, "I'm just a little tired that's all."

"You sure?" Came the suspicious response that Danny.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I promise. Look it's been a long week, with me trying to break in my new partner and all." He looked into the eyes of his father, trying as hard as he possibly could to extricate himself from the awkwardness of the situation. "In fact, I'm going to head out and get a good night's rest." He continued as he got up and looked round the room at his family.

"I'll see you on Sunday." And with that he left.

He still felt guilty about lying. Truth was he wasn't fine and the dull ache in his heart wasn't getting any better. As he stopped in the traffic ahead of him, he paused to look in the mirror. He was unshaven and his eyes had dark rings around them, he looked like hell. His heart sank further at the sight of himself almost confirming that nothing felt right at the moment.

He thought that he had done enough for her, but she just wouldn't listen to him. And now look; here he was looking like someone who had just been dragged out from the depths of hell. It hadn't been like this before, he thought to himself, it was better before. And as the traffic began to move, he began to remember a time that was at least marginally better…

5 months earlier…

"I really hate this part of the job." Jamie complained as he walked up to the door of the small apartment.

"I know, there's nothing worse than telling people that their loved ones are gone and aren't ever coming back. It makes me feel terrible inside when you see their faces crumble and look confused as if they don't know what you're talking about. Sometimes I hate my job." Eddie agreed while following in suit to Jamie preparing herself for what was to come.

Jamie was about on the door when it opened as he put his hand on it, soon enough Eddie and Jamie brought their guns out of their holsters and held them in their hands. It seemed suspicious enough for them to enter the apartment. As she looked around Jamie signalled to her for them to split up and search the apartment, she followed his order and pushed through a door which led to a small balcony. There, she saw a man standing peacefully looking out into the street. Feeling certain that he didn't know that they had entered the apartment she shouted "Sir, this is the police could you step away from the balcony please?"

The man who was clearly startled turned around to face Eddie with the serene look on his face now being replaced with panic which was the expression written all over his face.

"Sir do you live here? What's your name?" Eddie asked again as she finally got to take a good look at the man. He was tall, at least 6ft and was quite muscular, he had dark blonde hair and blue eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that he could have possibly been a criminal, Eddie would have probably found him quite attractive.

"Yes, I do… My name's Mackenzie but everyone calls me Mack. Mack Williams. Please don't shoot." He said, closing his eyes as he mumbled those last few words.

"Wait, are you related to James Williams?"

"Yes, I'm his brother. Why?" Mack said as he became more and more worried by the second.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr Williams." Jamie said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I… I just can't believe it. We were going to go out for beers tomorrow after work." Mack said, his voice thick with emotion and his eyes filled with tears. "Excuse me, I just need a moment." Clearly this news was all too much for him, his own brother had been killed in a car accident just a few hours after they'd had a normal conversation. He couldn't believe it.

Eddie turned to Jamie, "Maybe I should go talk to him." She said feeling sorry for Mack, however Jamie looked hesitant so she continued. "If it doesn't work we'll just leave ok?" After he agreed she went into the other room where she saw Mack with his head in his hands.

"Hi." No response. She continued. "Look I can't pretend to know what you're going through, I never had any siblings. But I can relate to losing a loved one, I lost my mother a long time ago, it still hurts and I know that this may sound cliché, but it will hurt less as time goes on but the pain will still always be there." She opened his hand and put her card in his hand. "Just call the number on the card if you ever want to talk to someone." And with that she left taking Jamie with her.

"That was awful," Eddie grimaced as soon as she stepped into the squad car. "It must be horrible for him. I hope he doesn't do anything to himself, you know…" She looked at Jamie knowingly and waited for his response.

"Yeah, it wasn't the best. Losing a sibling is a like losing a best friend you almost took for granted. As if you always thought that they would live forever, at least that's what it felt like with Joe." He smiled sadly.

"I can't imagine." Eddie sympathised, although she was being truthful as she actually couldn't imagine. She had no siblings to connect to in the first place. However, she did lose her mother which, to her, was the worst feeling in the world and was absolutely indescribable. "How'd you deal with it?" she pressed.

"Well," he began, "I guess I wanted to honour Joe in some way so I became a cop, which was good for my grief. But then I started to put all of my energy into solving Joe's murder, which led me to kind of shut everyone out which wasn't healthy." He looked into the distance as if he was replaying the whole thing in his mind, "It helped that I had my family with me, otherwise I don't know what I would've done. Joe was not only my brother but my best friend, so it was hard. I'd like to think that I've done him proud with all the work that I've done as a cop."

"I think you have and even though I didn't know him, I think that he would have been proud of you." Eddie said to him and she flashed a small, genuine smile at him.

"Thanks, that means a lot." Jamie said looking into her blue eyes, that were like vast oceans that begged to be explored.

"Although," she sharply turned away, "I don't think he would be impressed by the fact that a five-foot girl can out eat you." She said in complete seriousness.

"I eat…" Jamie started.

"Oh please! The most you eat is a large salad, I mean who even knew those existed! And you eat loads of that thing… What's it called? Qino? Canoe?"

"Hey! Quinoa is nice and it's a superfood, which means its extra healthy."

"Trust you to say that eat a food that's extra healthy." Eddie said rolling her eyes. "Ok fine, if you really want to prove yourself, we'll have an eating challenge tonight at…"

"Anton's."

"How did you know I was going to say that?"

"Because I know you so well." He teased. "Come on shorty we got work to do." He turned on the engine of the car and they drove into the distance.

A/N Hope you're liking it don't forget to review :)