A/N: Happy Season Finale day. I hope we get some good scenes today but if not, hopeful this provides some excitement and action LOL. Enjoy!
Chapter 20: Full Court Press
Driving with sirens blaring and lights flashing Danny's cellphone starts to ring, he hits a button in the car "Reagan!" he barks over Bluetooth.
"Hi Lambchop." Eddie's voice sounds.
Sitting in the passenger's seat, Jamie's eyes go wide as he immediately flicks off the sirens and he opens his mouth to speak but Danny's hand flies out to stop him. Eddie called his phone, not Jamie's and her calling him Lampchop is a clear sign something is amiss... Danny quickly taps his earbud looping Maria into the conversation before again holding his hand up to Jamie telling him to be quiet.
"Hi… Eddie… Sweetheart…" Danny greets as he glances at Jamie in slight confusion but he goes with it "Glad you called…me." He tries to subtly emphasize "Where are you?"
Sitting in the passenger's seat of another squad car with Gormley driving, Maria's head suddenly snaps up when she hears Danny's sentence. She taps Gormley's arm to get his attention then gestures at her earbud with one hand while immediately dialing her own phone with the other "Hi I need a trace on the incoming call to Detective Daniel Reagan's cellphone immediately." She states as Gormley reaches to his ear to activate his earbud and listen in.
"Listen…" Eddie continues happy Danny picked up on her clue "So I'm in a bit of a pickle and I need your help." She adds as she glances up at her kidnapper who is holding the phone out in front of her on speaker so he can listen in. "I was following a lead on that Milagro case…." Eddie lies hoping Danny continues to pick up on the clues she's trying to drop "…and my car just died on me – we really need to do something about that old clunker I drive Honey…"
Danny and Jamie exchange a look.
"…so anyway wondering if you can come rescue me?" Eddie continues "I'm out near Lookout Point."
"You're at Lookout Point you say?" Danny repeats for Maria's sake just in case she didn't hear that.
Maria immediately checks the tracker app on Eddie's phone in her hands "No." Maria's voice sounds in Danny and Jamie's ears "Tracker still shows the warehouse."
"No problem." Danny replies to Eddie "Hey did you get a chance to pick up that necklace for Mia like we talked about or do you need me to do that? It's on the way so…"
Eddie internally sighs in relief knowing they know she has the necklace but she refuses to let that relief show on the outside "No I have it." Eddie simply replies "All good."
"Great." Danny replies "On my way to pick you up then."
"Perfect…" Eddie replies "…because I really want to be home when Nicky Marie calls and…"
But deciding that's enough, the kidnapper abruptly disconnects the call.
Eddie cringes internally at not getting her last clue out "What did you do that for?" She calmly queries "Now he'll be wondering why the call abruptly ended. Just call him back and let me end it properly so he doesn't get worried."
The guy gives her a warning look "Right so they can trace the call?"
Eddie tries to remain calm "Why would they trace the call? All I'm doing is calling my husband and telling him to meet me because I have car trouble remember?"
"Oh right." The guy mumbles.
"Look, I'm pregnant and he's a cop." Eddie reminds him "He's very protective now. If I don't call him back, he'll be anxious and he'll have his guard up. You want him going up there expecting trouble?" She reasons "If I don't call him back, he'll try to call me back and when I don't answer…"
Grumbling the guy reluctantly redials Danny's number…
Danny's phone once again rings "Hey sorry Lampchop." Eddie greets again when he answers "Ran into a little interference there but found a signal again. Like I was saying I want to be home when Nicky Marie calls from the west coast at 1900…" She specifies "…because its just her and her 2 dogs out there so see you soon okay? Love you Babe." She adds knowing it's highly likely Jamie is listening in.
Danny glances at his brother to see him close his eyes and silently mouth love you too.
"Love you too." Danny repeats for his brother "See you soon Honey." He adds for good measure before the line again disconnects.
…
"There." Eddie states to her kidnappers "He's on his way to Lookout Point. Alone. That's what you wanted right?"
The guy turns to the woman. "You think we can handle it this time?"
"I handled it the first time." She shoots back "You just didn't tell me there was two of them!"
…
"Okay so tracker says Eddie's still at the warehouse and she just confirmed that for us." Danny thinks out loud as Maria's own phone dings with a message.
"Good because the call wasn't long enough for TARU to complete the trace." Maria adds as she reads her text "You and Jamie head for Eddie." Maria instructs "Gormley and I will take Lookout Point."
"Gormley?" Jamie questions in surprise.
"Yes." Gormley's voice suddenly sounds through the coms "It's a full court press." He promises "Full support from the top." he reiterates as a way to let Jamie know his Dad has his back without actually saying it.
For a moment Jamie just sits there trying not to just flat out break down before again pulling himself together "Oh." He finally states before clearing his throat "Copy."
"Ah heading into a deadzone." Maria suddenly states "Might loose you." She adds before reaching up to disconnect her earbud and gesturing for Gormley to do the same.
Gormley glances at her and disconnects from the system as requested "Deadzone?"
"Something's not adding up." Maria tells Gormley "Why would Eddie call Danny and not Jamie? And she specifically insinuated for Danny to pick her up - again, not Jamie."
Gormley ponders her words. "So… whatever is waiting out at Lookout Point is waiting for Danny…" he deduces.
Maria nods "I think so."
"Well…" Gormley sighs "I've always wondered what being Danny Reagan was like. Guess I'm about to find out…" He adds as he begins to reach up to activate his earbud again but Maria reaches out to stop him.
"We can't tell them." She states.
Gormley glances at Maria "What?"
"Until we know for sure what's going on, we can't tell Danny or Jamie that we think whatever is out at Lookout Point is waiting for Danny."
"Why?" Gormley presses.
"Because if I'm right…" Maria reluctantly admits "Detective EDDIE Reagan…" She emphasizes "…was never the real target."
Gormley heavily sighs in realization "Oh geez."
"Yeah." Maria breathes out as she shifts anxiously in her seat "I just pray I'm wrong."
"Well we can't approach this using a full tactical unit." Gormley realizes "It will spook whatever - or whomever - is waiting out there."
"Agreed." Maria states as she dials her cellphone "Good thing we have a whole squad of plain clothes Detectives willing to help... Lt. Gee…" she greets when her call is answered.
..…
Danny glances at his brother in the passenger's seat as he drives "She's okay." he reassures him.
"I'll believe that when I actually see her." Jamie retorts "Until then, I take nothing for granted but why would she call you and not me?"
Danny shakes his head "I don't know but there's a reason. It wasn't random because she was dropping hints all over the place so let's go over this. You expecting a call from Nicky tonight?"
"No." Jamie replies.
"And Nicky does not have two dogs." Danny adds "She said she didn't want to miss when Nicky calls from the west coast at 1900 because its just her and her two dogs out there. What's she trying to tell us?"
"No she said Nicky Marie." Jamie corrects "Marie is Eddie's middle name." he ponders "It's just her and her two dogs…" He repeats before a look of realization appears on his face "Danny, she's talking about herself. Two dogs = two perps. She's with two perps."
"That's good." Danny notes "That lets us know what we're working with. Why bring up Nicky at all though…" he ponders "She was very specific Nicky from the west coast." he repeats "We all know she's on the west coast so why say it?"
"And a time – 1900… " Jamie tries to work out "She's giving us a direction and a time."
"Wait…" Danny realizes "If she's talking about herself could west coast mean west side of the building?"
"She's on the west side of the building." Jamie realizes "She's telling us she's on the west side of the building at 1900 position with two perps."
Danny shakes his head in awe "Damn. She's on her game Jamie. I know she's your wife, she's pregnant and your worried but she's still a cop and sharp as a tack."
"No one knows that better then I do." Jamie agrees "But that's really not helping to alleviate my anxiety right now."
Danny sighs "I know that too now what about the clunker of a car?" He then adds "Could that mean anything?"
Jamie ponders that "No I think that was her red herring to punctuating how she wasn't fine and to listen up."
"And the Lampchop thing?" Danny can't help but curiously ask "Are you Lampchop?" he inquires with a slight grin to his face.
Jamie can't stop himself from huffing out a laugh "She hasn't called me that in a really - and I mean REALLY long time." He admits "It's another clue, she's not okay though." he sighs. "She first called me Lampchop as a joke our first year on the job when we were undercover as a couple in a jewelry store that turned into a hostage situation."
"Ah." Danny notes as he continues to drive "And the Milagro case – that's the necklace so she knows we know where she is."
"Okay we're back." Maria's voice sounds.
"We figured out the clues Eddie was dropping us." Danny explains "She got 2 perps with her and is currently situated on the west side of the warehouse at 1900 position."
"Okay I'll let tactical know." Maria accepts "They'll meet you there."
….
"So…" Eddie slowly begins as she looks up at her male kidnapper "Now that its just you and me what's the plan?"
"Shut up." The guy mumbles.
"Oh." Eddie quietly deduces as a cold shiver again runs through her body "You still don't have a plan."
Eddie takes a deep breath trying to remain calm and will her body to warm up.
It wasn't working…
….
As time drags on Eddie's physical condition worsens. She's still feeling cold, lightheaded and nauseous but now tired and likely dehydrated too from all the throwing up she has been doing. All she wants to do is lie down, warm up and settle her stomach and head.
Suddenly there is a noise on the east side of the building.
"What was that?" The guy suddenly questions in alarm as he looks around with wide eyes.
"What was what?" Eddie counters as she takes another deep breath – the room starting to spin "I…I didn't hear anything." She adds as she takes another deep breath "I…" but instead her voice trails off into silence and her head slumps over as she again passes out.
The noise sounds again.
Glancing at Eddie to see she is out cold, the guy starts to head in the direction of the sound to investigate. He gets about half way towards the sound when suddenly both the east and west doors simultaneously burst open with Jamie leading the charge on the west door and Danny leading the charge on the east.
"POLICE! GET ON THE GROUND! GET ON THE GROUND NOW!" Danny barks to the startled perp that is immediately rushed and surrounded by a part of the tactical unit with him while the rest fan out to sweep the building.
At the west entrance, Jamie's heart plummets the second his eyes land on his wife slumped over in a chair "EDDDDDIIIIEEEEEE!" He screams as his tactical unit behind him fans out into a sweep as well. Please be okay. Please be okay. Jamie just keeps chanting in his head as he races towards his wife with a dedicated tactical officer with a shield right beside him "Eddie." Jamie prompts again the second he screeches to a halt crouching in front of her as he gently lifts her head to look at her face "Eddie, hey look at me. Oh God." Jamie breathes out in alarm the second he sees the bright red mark on her cheek "Baby are you okay? Eddie please wake up!" He pleads as nothing but fear floods his entire body for his wife and child.
Eddie stirs and winces slightly as she feels something touch and cover her cheek, but its soft and gentle and she swears she hears her husband's voice "Jamie?" she questions as she slowly opens her eyes.
In an instant, relief washes over Jamie and he smiles "Hey there you are." He emotionally greets.
"CLEAR!" Repeated voices begin to sound throughout the warehouse.
"Are you really here or am I dreaming?" Eddie can't help but wonder.
Jamie leans over and places a soft kiss on her forehead "It's me. I'm real. I'm here. Are you okay? Did he hurt you? The baby?" He just keeps firing off questions while his eyes frantically look over his wife's body scanning for other signs of trauma.
"No. We're okay." She promises with a small smile "But do you have any ginger on you by chance?" she adds with a slight whine in her voice.
Jamie cringes and feels his blood boil. Not only is his wife having to deal with being kidnapped and clearly hit but her morning sickness is back. "I don't, I'm so sorry Babe." He softly apologizes "But let's get you out of here okay?" He prompts as he moves to untie her and the second her hands are free, Eddie immediately coils her upper body down to her knees.
"Come on." Jamie prompts as he moves to help her up.
"No." Eddie protests "Don't move me." She pleads as she tries to get a handle on her symptoms "I will take your jacket though." She requests "I'm cold."
Jamie immediately sluffs off his NYPD jacket and gently places it over his wife's back. "I NEED A BLANKET!" he demands to no one in particular before crouching down next to her rubbing her back and arms over the jacket trying to get her warm.
The movement only makes her feel worse…
"Thank you." Eddie mutters into her knees "And I know you're trying to help but please stop doing that." She pleads as an officer runs over with a blanket "The constant motion is not helping." She adds.
Jamie immediately pulls back and flinches on edge at her words "Sorry." He apologizes as he stands – the absolute last thing he wants to do is cause her more discomfort so he takes the blanket and opens it up.
"Just give me a minute." Eddie requests as Jamie gently places the blanket over her "Thank you." She gratefully accepts as she tries to enclose herself in it while taking deep breathes.
Standing there watching Eddie struggle to warm up and get a handle on her symptoms, all Jamie wants to do is pull his wife into his arms and protect her but he can't. He can't help her except to give her the time and space she needs to get her bearings and that starts to send his frustration and anger into complete and total overdrive. On one hand he is relieved his wife is okay but on the other hand his wife is also NOT okay so as his eyes drift around the warehouse now really taking in their drab, cold surroundings that his wife has had to deal with, his emotions start to get the better of him and when his eyes land on the guy in cuffs – Eddie's kidnapper and abuser - pure anger bubbles up in Jamie and he needs an outlet…
That outlet… he decides …so Jamie makes a beeline for the guy…
"Warehouse is clear." the head of the tactical unit informs Danny drawing his attention away from the handcuffed perp beside him.
"You sure?" Danny questions as he takes a step towards the commander "Should have been two of them."
The guy shakes his head "No one else is here." He adds before turning to walk away.
Feeling slightly better, Eddie lifts her head just in time to see her husband put a hand on her kidnapper's shoulder from behind, pull his arm back, turn the guy around and slug him good and hard with a sucker punch "Told you." She mutters to herself while watching the guy stumble and fall to the ground "You were worried about the wrong Reagan." She adds as with no hands available to help stop his fall, the guy's face slams hard into the concrete floor.
"OW!" The perp cries out in excruciating pain causing Danny to spin round and look just in time to see Jamie going for the guy again in nothing but a pure raw rage.
"WHOA!" Danny cries as he springs forward to get between Jamie and the guy trying to reign his brother in "JAMIE STOP!" Danny demands.
"GET UP!" Jamie demands in a sea of fury to the perp as he tries to lunge for him again through Danny.
"Damn it Kid stop!" Danny urges as he struggles to hold him back "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Danny demands to the other officers around them referring to the guy in cuffs "NOW!"
"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM UNTIL I'M DONE WITH HIM!" Jamie venomously growls as he fights to get past his brother "THAT'S AN ORDER!"
"JAMIE STOP IT!" Danny demands again "GO! TAKE HIM!" he forcefully pleads to the other officers around who all just stand there not knowing who to obey.
Realizing she might be the only one able to stop this, Eddie calls out "Jamie!" but being exhausted and weak, her voice barely comes out at her regular volume – a level nowhere near enough to be able to reach her husband over the distance and get his attention so digging down deep, Eddie musters up all the strength she has…
"JAMIE!"
It's the one word coming from one very specific voice that finally stops Jamie's forward assault. He immediately turns his head back to his wife.
"Stop." Eddie breathes out tired.
"Take him. NOW!" Danny again feverishly pleads to the other officers not knowing how much of a window he has.
They comply.
Pushing himself off his brother, Jamie moves back to his wife's side crouching next to her "Hey." He softly greets – the raging anger from mere seconds ago now just suddenly… gone.
"Can we go now?" Eddie inquires as Danny walks over and stands off to the side trying to catch his own breath and watch them "I think I can move…"
"Of course." Jamie gently agrees as he reaches down to help her get up "Can you walk? Do I need to carry you? Tell me what you need."
Eddie gives him a small smile "I can walk… I think."
So Jamie slowly pulls her protectively into him so he is supporting as much of her weight as he can.
"Eddie." Danny softly breaks in "Were there two perps?"
Eddie nods as they all walk "She left. Lookout Point."
"Got it." Danny accepts as he pulls back slightly and activates his earbud to talk to Maria "Baez what's your status? We have Eddie. She's safe."
"Pulling up to warehouse now." Maria replies "Talk in a few." she adds again, not wanting Jamie to hear what she had to say.
"I knew you'd find me." Eddie tells her husband as she and Jamie slowly walk to the exit.
"I'll always find you." Jamie promises as he again kisses her head.
Eddie huffs out a small tired laugh "Now you sound like a stocker."
Jamie cracks a tiny smile in relief at her words "And now I know you're going to be okay."
"You tracked Mia's necklace didn't you?" Eddie inquires as she reaches into her pocket to pull it out and display it for him.
"You know we did." Jamie replies "Best investment ever. But honestly Babe..." He lightly chides trying to keep things light for her "…did you really need to go to such lengths to test it? Leaving it at home while we went to work would have been just fine too you know."
Eddie leans more of her upper body weight onto her husband's chest as she laughs a little "Sorry." She lightly apologizes trying not to expend too much energy as they walk out of the building "And I didn't finish my piece of cake." She pouts.
"I buy you the whole damn cake." Jamie promises.
"Here." Maria's voice suddenly sounds.
Looking up, Jamie and Eddie see Maria walking towards them. She holds Eddie's reusable mug out to her.
"Ginger?" Eddie hopefully inquires.
Maria nods yes "It might only be on the luke warm side now though." She apologizes.
"I'll take it." Eddie appreciatively states with a small smile as she hands the necklace to Jamie then reaches over with shaky hands to take her mug and bring it to her lips.
Jamie immediately notices and his concern mounts. "Come on…" he gently prompts "Let's get you checked out."
Lowering the mug, Eddie nods in agreement.
Neither one is willing to take any chances…
Watching as the couple moves towards the ambulance, Maria feels Danny walk up to her side.
"We are so lucky that didn't turn out differently." Maria notes as Jamie and the paramedics help Eddie onto a gurney.
"Oh you have no idea." Danny replies "Most of the time he's the calm, cool, collected one – always logical, and even keeled but don't kid yourself, he's a Reagan through and through and when he goes off, its scary."
Maria turns to look at Danny "Even scarier than you?"
"Yeah." Danny admits "I go off all the time so my outbursts are short and concise but Jamie? He keeps everything inside and bottled up and it takes a lot for him to go off, like I mean a lot so when he finally does let go and explode, its like a bomb goes off."
"And having his pregnant wife kidnapped just uncorked the bottle." Maria deduces with a slight cringe imagining what is still to come…
"Big time." Danny confirms "I just got an entire workout trying to hold him back from pulverizing the guy into the pavement. He only stopped because Eddie called out to him and magically recorked the bottle." He adds before turning to look at his partner "Eddie said the accomplice headed to Lookout Point."
"Yes." Maria confirms with a nod of her head "We got her."
"Great." Danny accepts "So let's go because we need to put this case to bed before Jamie has a chance to get anywhere near the perps again." He adds as he starts to walk away.
"Danny wait." Maria states as she reaches a hand out to stop him "Before we go… ah… we need to talk. I… I didn't want to say this over the coms but um… there's something you need to know and Danny, you aren't going to like it and worse… given the fact that Eddie is pregnant… Jamie might just completely flip over it..."
….