Chapter 14: The Exam

Danny and Eddie sit at their desks at the 5-4, both with their heads down busy filling out paperwork. Suddenly Eddie looks up and glances at the clock. She sighs then drops her head down again trying to focus her attention back on the task at hand.

Hearing her, Danny lifts his head to glance at his sister in law before his eyes drift over to see Jamie's dark and empty office.

Today is the day of the Lieutenant's exam…

"Is this what he wants?" Danny suddenly asks as he holds the form he is working on out in front of him towards Eddie trying to distract her.

Eddie takes the form and reads. She lifts her eyes and hands the form back to Danny "You know it is." She pointedly states "You've gotten much better at filling these out on your own, you haven't needed me to proof read them in a long time."

Danny shrugs.

Eddie smiles "But thank you for trying to distract me."

Danny nods.

Silence.

"So what's it like taking one of those tests?" Danny curiously inquires after a moment. "I mean you took the Sergeant's exam – twice - so…"

Eddie blows out a breath of air "It's long and grueling and exhausting." She admits "Right now he's probably not even half way through."

"Sounds…fun." Danny offers as he makes an unpleasant face.

Eddie laughs. "I don't know why I'm so nervous." She admits "I guess I just want him to do well -which is crazy because of course he'll do well – he's Jamie – he'll ace it just like he did the Sergeant's exam."

"Likely come in first again." Danny agrees.

"Exactly." Eddie easily accepts as she and Danny smile at one another - both proud of their husband and brother respectively.

Silence as they both go back to filling out their forms.

"I guess its harder being the one waiting then the one actually taking the test." Eddie offers as she puts her pen down again causing Danny to do the same "Which is stupid because its not." She realizes "I know that. I just… I mean the first time we took the Sergeant's exam together so I too busy myself to worry…"

"And he was JUST your partner at the time…" Danny emphasizes in laughter "…but now you're his wife and all you can do is sit on the sidelines and wait."

"Yup."

"If it makes you feel any better…" Danny adds "…he did the same thing when you took the Sergeant's exam the second time."

"He did?" Eddie replies in surprise.

"Uh huh."

"I never knew that."

"I don't think he wanted you too…" Danny slowly realizes "…so… um… you never heard that from me."

"Noted." Eddie accepts with a slight chuckle.

Suddenly Danny gets a glint in his eye and his mouth curves up into a mischievous smile "So you wanna play hooky?" He asks "The Boss is away…"

Eddie bursts out laughing "And give him a reason to give us RIPS? I don't think so."

"Oh he'd give me a RIP for sure." Danny confirms "But you? Nah. All you'd have to do is give him that look of yours and he'd be putty in your hands."

"I beg your pardon." Eddie scoffs "What look?"

"You know the look." Danny challenges "Every wife has one. Linda did."

Eddie silently eyes her brother in law. She couldn't argue with that. "Alright fine I have a look but I try to only use it for good."

Danny laughs "Sure."

"It's true!" Eddie insists "And look didn't he take me off my father's case? No look of mine was gonna stop that."

"The 1st time, yes." Danny points out "But then the 2nd time he was toying with pulling us from the case you gave him the look and he caved."

"Alright fine." Eddie accepts "But we're still not playing hooky."

"Girl Scout." Danny chuckles in amusement.

Eddie narrows her eyes at him "Alright fine. Let's do it. Let's play hooky."

"Wait what?" Danny states in true surprise.

"Yeah." Eddie confirms "What do you wanna do? Catch a movie? Go bowling?"

"Ummmm…" Danny hesitates.

"I know! Karaoke!"

Danny's eyes go wide.

Eddie gives him a knowing look.

"Okay we were never going to play hooky." Danny admits.

Eddie smiles smugly at him but suddenly Danny smiles back.

"Good Job." He praises.

"Huh?" Eddie questions.

"Your gut told you I wasn't going to play hooky right so you ran with it and challenged me to follow through. When I couldn't you had me. That's the kind of instincts a good Detective needs to break a perp."

"Oh." Eddie accepts as she ponders his words. "Hey can I ask you something?" She suddenly inquires a moment later "And if you don't want to answer, you can just tell me to mind my own business." She quickly adds.

Danny leans back in his chair and eyes his sister in law "Okay." He accepts, curious himself about what she wanted to know.

"How come you've never tried for a promotion?"

"You know the answer to that." Danny simply answers "It's not a secret."

"Well I know but haven't you ever been curious how you would do?"

"I know how I would do." Danny insists "Badly. I don't have the patience for that stuff."

Eddie nods her head in acceptance of his answer.

Danny studies his sister in a law a moment "Now can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why did you spend all that time studying to take and then ace the test that second time when you had no intention of ever accepting the promotion?"

Eddie sighs "Because I had to prove to myself that I could do it. Me."

"Seems like a lot of work just to prove something." Danny points out.

"Welcome to being a female cop in a mostly male dominated profession." Eddie counters back.

"Oh." Danny realizes.

"Besides…" Eddie dismisses "It wasn't for not. Studying for that test has made me a better cop and ultimately a better detective."

Danny nods in agreement "Did you know Jamie initially talked to Baez about helping him with paperwork when she returned?" He queries of Eddie "He also wanted to know if she ever considered taking the Sergeant's exam."

Eddie looks at her brother in law in surprise. "No… I did not know that. What did she say?"

"She kind of dismissed it considering the department just held the exam last year."

Eddie nods "Why didn't he just ask me to help him?"' She questions a moment later with slight hurt in her voice.

"Because you said your heart is in detective work." Danny reminds her. "But here's the thing I've realized. When Jamie gets promoted – which we both know he will - this division will still need a Sergeant and technically we do already have a qualified one." He points out as he gestures at Eddie. "The best part though is because of our unique circumstances in this new division titles like Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective don't mean as much as they do in other departments. You could still do Detective or undercover work while being a Sergeant – just like Jamie. Just putting it out there. The double pay raise would be an added bonus for you two as well considering your situation." He adds as he gestures to the baby.

Eddie simply stares at her brother in law completely speechless at his revelation.

"But that would make me… your boss…" She finally points out like it was the most crazy suggestion she ever heard.

Danny smiles at her "Only on paper." He jokes.

Eddie continues to stare at her brother in law in wonder when Maria walks into the bullpen and notices her look.

"Okay what crazy thing did he say this time?" Maria asks.

"That I should become a Sergeant." Eddie replies as she slowly turns to look at Maria in wonder "You're Sergeant."

Maria looks at Eddie a moment then shrugs "Well you are qualified."

Eddie gives Maria an even crazier look "But… I'd outrank you…" She slowly presses "Both of you."

Maria laughs "I've come to realize that doesn't mean much in this division." Then Maria looks up in wonder herself "God… maybe I am becoming one of you…"

"No seriously I would outrank you." Eddie presses as she shakes her head no "That is just…weird and wrong!"

"Yeah you mean like how weird and wrong it is my younger brother is my boss?" Danny points out "Yet it still is..."

"But that's different." Eddie dismissively counters "He's Jamie! I'm just… me."

"Oh did you hear that Baez?" Danny states "She's just…" he dramatically emphasizes "…her."

"Just little star rookie Eddie." Maria adds with a smile.

"Would you two stop!" Eddie chides as she stands "Now look what you did!" she admonishes as tears well in her eyes "Now you're going to make me cry!"

"Oh..." Maria sheepishly apologizes realizing the hormone roller coaster is kicking in "Sorry."

"Actually never mind you're right." Danny suddenly decides in an attempt to make Eddie feel better "You'd make a horrible boss."

"Terrible." Maria immediately agrees as the partners try reverse psychology.

Eddie stops crying and looks between Danny and Maria before sinking back into her chair "Stop ganging up on me."

"Well you are the rookie…" Danny points out.

"I know what you're trying to do." Eddie counters.

"Do? Do what?" Danny innocently questions "I'm not doing anything. Are you doing anything?" he asks as he looks at Maria.

"Me? No. I'm not doing anything either." Maria immediately agrees.

Eddie can't help it as a small smile starts to grace her face "You guys are the best."

Danny and Maria nod and laugh "We know!"

"And that will never change whether you stay our rookie or become our boss." Danny points out "Just saying."

Eddie looks at her two division mates in awe wondering how she got so lucky.

….

Hours later near the end of the day Eddie stands in her kitchen cooking when her phone dings with a message from Jamie.

Done. U still at 54? Do I need 2 come there?

E: Nope. Quiet day. Home. How'd it go?

J: Good. Exhausted. Coming home.

E: See u soon. Xoxo.

…..

Complete with lit candles, Eddie is just placing the last of the dishes down on the romantic dinner for two set up on the table when she hears the key in the lock. She turns her head to the door to see her husband walk inside.

"Wow. Something smells good!" Jamie states as he stands in the open doorway.

Eddie smiles "Perfect timing!" She quips as she watches her husband shut the door and toss his keys on the table "I just finished dishing it out!"

Jamie looks at the fancy diner laid out on the table and smiles at his wife "You really didn't need to do this you know." He states as he walks towards her.

"I know I didn't need to but I wanted to." Eddie replies as Jamie gives her a quick kiss "So? How'd it go?"

"Like I texted." Jamie replies "Exhausting."

Eddie offers her husband a sympathetic smile and nod.

"I didn't even realize how hungry I was until I walked through that door." Jamie adds as the couple both move to sit down at the table.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door.

Jamie looks back at the door "I was literally just out there. Expecting someone?"

Eddie shakes her head "No."

Getting up, Jamie moves to answer the door. He swings it open and is surprised to see Mia standing on the other side - alone - with her backpack, another bag and Miss Minnie in her arms.

"Mia?" Jamie questions in surprise as he looks at the young girl then down the hall expecting to see Rosa but he doesn't "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Uncle Jamie." Mia greets as she walks past him into the apartment "Hi Aunt Eddie."

"Mia..." Eddie slowly returns wondering if she somehow forgot the young girl was coming over.

Jamie looks out into the hall again "Mia, where's your Mom?"

Mia shrugs, drops her bag and shrugs off her back pack "I dunno. Home I guess."

"You GUESS?!" Eddie states in alarm as she looks up at Jamie.

"Yup. I ran away." Mia announces "I've decided I'm going to live here now."

...