I would like to thank you all for your patience and feedback. Here is the second part to the story, Crossroads. I do not own the characters. This is fan-fiction. My version of what might have happened. Do enjoy. :)

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"Jamie!" Eddie's voice cried out in fear as she thrashed from side to side in her bed. Strong and warm arms were quick to envelope her and held her to him. Jamie tried to awaken her as gently as he could, given the circumstances of her obvious nightmare.

"Eddie, Eddie, wake up. It's ok. It's just a dream," he said. "I'm right here. You're ok."

Eddie's eyes flew open and looked around. She turned towards the voice trying to comfort her. Jamie. He's here, she thought. Looking at Jamie, Eddie realized that he was indeed with her, lying next to her in her bed. In her nightmare, she saw him dead from the shot Sorrento had fired. The moment she was convinced she had been dreaming, she allowed herself to sink into Jamie's embrace. His arms welcomed her and kept her close to him.

Jamie knew it would take some time for Eddie to overcome the horror of the attempted assassination. Heck, he knew it would also take him some time to get over that. It was not every day that a hit-man took a shot at you. But he thanked God that they had each other to lean on, physically and emotionally. It was too close a call and now, all bets were off. They needed each other on so many levels. Both Jamie and Eddie, though shaken to the core, were safe and in each other's arms. They knew in their heart of hearts that things could not go back to how they were before. Certainly not after this. They would get through this together, hand-in-hand and heart-in-hand.

It was now slightly past two in the morning. Jamie and Eddie had called it a night after a heart-to-heart conversation the night before. Neither wanted to be apart from the other after the ordeal earlier in the day. Without words, Eddie had invited Jamie to stay - she needed him to. Jamie too did not want to spend the night away from Eddie and though both craved physical intimacy, they knew it would be best to wait till everything calmed and their emotions were less volatile. The partners fell off to sleep at around midnight with Eddie cradled in Jamie's arms. In Jamie's mind, he had found his place in life. He had found his soulmate in Eddie. He was home. With this thought, he had drifted off to sleep. Till Eddie's nightmare woke him.

"Are you ok?" Jamie asked Eddie.

"Yeah. I think so. Thank you for being here," a grateful Eddie replied softly. She buried her face into his t-shirt and inhaled, needing to surround her senses in his scent, thus adding another measure of assurance that he was truly next to her.

"Where else would I be?" murmured Jamie . The couple readjusted themselves in Eddie's bed and were then lost in thought again. Suddenly, Jamie could not imagine another day without Eddie in his life and by his side both during the day and night. He hoped she felt the same. His gut told him she did, but he would seek confirmation at a time when matters were more settled. He kept this to himself for he was still reeling from the previous day's incident. They would speak the next day, after having had more sleep. As he held Eddie close, Jamie linked his hand to hers and hoped that the rest of the night would pass uneventfully. Jamie silently said a prayer, thanking God for the woman by his side, then allowed his lips to touch her temple as gave he her a soft kiss. He heard her whisper a thank you as she slowly but surely started to fall asleep again. Soon, her breathing slowed and evened. When Jamie was certain Eddie had fallen asleep, he closed his eyes and followed suit.

XXX

Eddie slowly opened her eyes and tried to focus. She felt warmer than she normally did and then she remembered. The extra warmth she was feeling was radiating from her partner and best friend. The man whose life she had saved the day before. The man she loved, respected and could no longer hide her feelings for. She turned over and saw him on his back, still in deep sleep. She wondered how his messy hair could also be so sexy. She smiled to herself and felt immeasurably thankful for Jamie and his presence next to her. Jamie was hers and she was his. It was as simple as it was complicated. She was not unaware of the potential consequences of their declaration the night before. But, they would deal with all that when the time came. For now, she was grateful that he was alive and breathing and that he loved her.

As Eddie moved to get out of bed, her phone started buzzing on her bedside table. She quickly picked it up, not wanting it to disturb Jamie's slumber. Looking at who it was calling her, Eddie quickly picked up the call and exited her room as swiftly and quietly as she could.

After Eddie had assured their CO that she had had a good night's rest, she was informed that she had to report to the precinct before noon for her mandatory psychological evaluation. It was routine and necessary after a fatal shooting. And thereafter, she had to once again, go through the motion of another debrief. Answer more questions. Eddie was expecting this call and knew she had to comply. So she repeated the instructions of the CO and assured him that she would do the needful. No sooner had she hung up when she heard Jamie's phone ringing. From her living room, she heard Jamie retrieve his phone and started talking. She had no doubt that he had received a similar set of instructions and was obligated to comply as well. She walked into her room just as Jamie was ending his call.

"Good morning", Eddie said smiling. "I take it, you've been summoned too?"

"You know it," Jamie muttered, sleep still evident in his voice. His eyes searched Eddie's and he smiled as she moved across the room to his side of the bed and sat down. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently, taking her hand in his.

"OK, I guess? Better than yesterday, but not altogether great," came Eddie's response.

Jamie looked at her and then his arms were around her again, giving her comfort and strength.

"Know that I love you and whatever we have to go through, we will do so together," he assured her.

Eddie needed to hear it again. She was filled with warmth and a renewed sense of confidence seemed to emerge. Yes, she thought. They had each others' backs. They could do this and they would do this. Together.

XXX

Knowing that they would not be back on duty for at least a few days because of the severity of the shooting, both Jamie and Eddie could focus on recovering from the dreadful shock and also sift through how they wanted to handle this new aspect of their relationship. The 'newness' came from them finally admitting to themselves and to each other that they both had immense love and respect for the other and were no longer going to deny themselves the relationship they both needed. They needed each other like flowers need the rain. They were never more positive about this. The trauma of yesterday finally pushed the partners to the realization that life was too short and they had already spent so much time dancing around their feelings for each other, blowing hot and cold. No matter where they had turned and how off track their previous decisions took them, they always arrived back at the same spot. Right by each other's side. Kismet, as some would put it.

After her psychological evaluation, Eddie made her way to the pantry for some much needed coffee and she decided that if there was a spare doughnut laying around, she would not be opposed to consuming it too. As soon as she rounded the corner and stepped into the pantry, she saw Jamie. He had already prepared her cup of coffee, just as she liked it, and had it waiting for her. And next to her cup of coffee, sat a sugar covered doughnut. Her eyes met his and she smiled. He knew her so well.

"Hi," Jamie said as he handed her the cup of hot coffee. "How did it go?"

Eddie moved closer to Jamie and looked around to make sure there was no one else within earshot. "I think the psychologist might have picked up on the fact that you and I are closer than most partners are," Eddie replied softly. Her voice carried a slight apologetic tone that Jamie fond amusing. He tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to contain his amusement as his lips curled into a smile. Eddie gave him an admonishing look and said, "You're lucky you have coffee and that doughnut for me, Reagan."

Jamie let out a small laugh. He loved Eddie with all his heart. "I guess word will spread soon enough. Are you ready for it?" Jamie asked, already knowing the answer.

The partners held each others' eyes. There, both saw strength, comfort and their future. Eddie felt secure in their mutual affection and admiration for each other. She nodded her head. "Yup," she said. "Twelve-David is ever ready."