Chapter 24: Protective Instincts

Jamie walks into the bullpen and slows to a stop at the sight of a huge vase of flowers on his wife's desk along with other smaller gifts and cards.

He slowly walks over and picks the card out of the flowers. He opens it and reads "We missed you! The 5-4 Detective Squad" and he can't help but smile as he puts the card back in the envelope and sticks it back in the flowers.

"Hey Sarge!" A Detective calls out at seeing him "How's she doing?"

"She's okay."" Jamie replies "She'll be back tomorrow."

"So soon?" The Detective states in slight surprise.

"Yeah well…" Jamie begins as he steps back, pulls out his phone and takes a picture of his wife's desk "…after I show her this, wild horses won't be able to keep her away. So those are some nice flowers." He then notes.

"Whole squad chipped in." The Detective explains.

"Thank you." Jamie appreciatively states.

"Hey, she's invaluable!" The Detective offers.

"Don't I know it." Jamie muses.

"Already helped me on one case…" the Detective continues as he tries to nonchalantly slip yet another file onto Eddie's desk "Whenever she had time – you know, once she's back."

"Sure." Jamie states with a slight chuckle and shake of his head before watching the Detective walk away. His eyes drift back over to Eddie's desk and his expression turns solemn. He takes a deep breath, turns and heads for the holding cells – a look of pure no holds bar determination on his face. He walks though the door and the second he does he immediately hears his brother's unimpressed voice behind him.

"No."

Turning, Jamie is surprised to see Danny leaning against the wall next to the door waiting for him.

"No." Danny repeats as he pushes himself off the wall "Can't let you do it."

"Danny." Jamie warns.

"No!" Danny forcefully repeats yet again as he takes a step towards his brother "You want to play the Sergeant card and try to order me to go away or something go ahead but I warn you, you will have to give me a RIP for insubordination because I will not let you go back there and make things worse."

"Worse?" Jamie repeats "Worse for who?" he challenges "The perps that did this to Eddie?"

"No, you and your wife you idiot." Danny counters as he pulls his cell phone out and turns it around to show his brother his text chain with Eddie "Your wife is worried about you and looks like she was right to do that because you were about to do something really, really stupid."

"You know what's stupid?" Jamie counters "The fact that I apparently have to come down here myself and sit down with the bastard that kidnapped and assaulted my wife just to find out why they wanted YOU because no one else will tell me!"

Danny heavily sighs "Jamie, it's an order. You know that, and if you think you'd be able to just sit down across from him and have a cordial conversation, you're kidding yourself. You have the same genes I do so I know what I'm talking about when I say you'd go off on him again so Kid, the best thing you can do is go back home to your wife." Danny prompts "And let the rest of us handle this."

Jamie takes a deep unhappy breath because he knows his brother is probably right "I can't." Jamie grumblingly rejects "She's having a sleepover."

Danny raises his eyebrows at his brother.

"With Rosa and Mia." Jamie explains "And… and I just… I can't be around all that happy that they are trying to create for her right now."

"Oh." Danny accepts in understanding "Well… then I say we get a drink!" he decides as he slaps a hand on this brother's shoulder, then using two hands turns him around and starts guiding him back out into the bullpen and as they pass through, they see another Detective put yet another card on Eddie's desk.

Danny leans over to his brother "You know I did nothing but field questions asking how she was the entire time I was in here today." He informs his brother "That wife of yours is well loved by the entire squad."

Again, Jamie can't help but smile while Danny pulls out his phone and sends a text.

….

Walking into a pub, Jamie sees his sister sitting at the bar drinking a beer.

"Hey!" Danny announces like it's a total coincidence "Look who's here!" he quips as he guides his brother to sit next to Erin while he takes the stool on the other side of Jamie.

Jamie sits down and sighs as he looks back and forth between his brother and sister on either side of him "That bad that it takes both of you huh?" He challenges as Erin slides each of her brothers a beer that she had ordered for them.

"You were headed to the holding cells to pulverize the perps." Danny tosses back as his hand reaches out to stop the sliding bottle "What do you think?"

"I told you I wasn't going to pulverize them." Jamie rejects before swiping up his bottle and bringing it to his lips to take a few big continuous gulps.

"Says the guy that sucker punched him so good that the perp broke his nose breaking his fall." Danny points out.

Jamie lowers his bottle, swallows hard and turns to look at Danny in surprise "He did?"

Danny nods.

"Oh." Jamie breathes out not having previously known that.

Silence.

"Allegedly." Erin suddenly chimes in.

Danny and Jamie both look over at her.

"Allegedly sucker punched him." She reminds them both.

"Right." Danny agrees "Didn't actually see anything."

More silence as all three siblings ponder the situation.

"No one blames you." Danny suddenly offers "Everyone in the squad says they would have done the same."

Jamie just starts to laugh at hearing that.

"What?" Danny presses.

"My wife was kidnapped, held hostage and hit and no one is blaming ME? That's priceless."

"Yeah." Danny sighs "It is a bit ironic."

"Eddie's okay." Erin states "The baby is okay. Focus on that. The perps are caught. Let the justice system do what it is designed to do. I can't be involved in the prosecution but I'll keep my eye on it regardless."

"Thank you." Jamie accepts.

Silence.

"Still won't tell me why they were after you huh?" Jamie inquires to his brother before taking a drink.

"Nope. Can't." Danny replies "Direct order from above your noggin."

"My noggin?" Jamie can't help but laugh.

"Yup." Danny confirms right before he suddenly reaches over, snakes his arm around Jamie's neck and pulls him down to give him a nuggie.

"HEY!" Jamie protests as he reaches up and using skills he's picked up over the years, begins to maneuver out of the grasp but Danny tries to fight back so in the process of their back and forth struggle the brothers end up shimmying off their stools and stumbling backwards as each tries to gain the upper hand.

Seeing the commotion, the bartender moves towards them.

"OW!" Danny suddenly cries as Jamie inflicts a little pain to finally get his brother to release him and they break apart "What was that for?"

"What was the nuggie for?" Jamie bites back as they stand there facing off with one another.

Erin just sits there laughing at them before noticing the bartender giving them the stink eye "Sorry." She apologizes to the bartender "They're brothers and both cops." She explains "They'll behave." She promises "Sit down." She then commands with a hiss to both her brothers.

Grumbling, Danny and Jamie both sit back down so the bartender shoots them another look of disapproval before walking away.

"Damn." Danny mutters as he shifts his torso around "You learnt some new tricks."

Jamie sighs "I've been a cop for 13 years now Danny."

"That long?" Erin breathes out in genuine surprise "Really?"

"Yes." Jamie confirms "Why is that so hard to believe?" he asks in annoyance.

"Because it seems like it as just yesterday that you were graduating the academy." Erin replies.

"Then maybe you have dementia." Danny tosses at his sister "Because that was so not yesterday."

"I was making the point that time flies Danny." Erin chides.

"Well not a very good one." Danny counters "I expect better from a lawyer."

"Tell your brother he's an ass." Erin instructs Jamie.

"Tell your sister she's a stick in the mud." Danny instructs Jamie.

Not wanting to get caught in the middle, Jamie starts to slowly slink backwards off his stool "Yeah I'm just going to go…"

"Oh no!" Danny and Erin both say as they simultaneously reach out and try to pull a resistant Jamie back down to his stool.

"We aren't done with you yet." Danny tells his brother.

"Yeah you're the bridge that spans the divide." Erin sweetly tells her younger brother but from his pocket they all hear Jamie's cell phone ding with a text.

"Hang on it could be Eddie." Jamie seriously states so Danny and Erin immediately let him go and let him pull his phone out to read.

"The parents of one of Rosa's kids have a family emergency and need her to watch the kid so she's headed back home but leaving Mia with Eddie. I gotta go." he states before just turning to walk away to exit the bar.

Danny and Erin watch him leave before Erin turns her attention to her older brother "You'll keep an eye on him?"

Danny nods "I will." He promises.

Silence.

"You gotta drive me back to the squad." Danny tells his sister "He drove."

…..

Jamie walks up to his apartment door to hear Eddie and Mia's voices inside singing "Under the Sea" as the TV plays The Little Mermaid and a small genuine smile graces his face. He puts his key in the lock and opens the door.

"Uncle Jamie!" Mia immediately greets "We're watching The Little Mermaid!"

"I know." Jamie muses "I could hear you two singing all the way down the hall."

Eddie's eyes go a bit wide "Really?" she sheepishly questions.

Jamie nods.

"Oh." Eddie breathes out as she picks up the remote and turns the volume of the TV down.

"Come join us!" Mia prompts.

"He's not a big fan of The Little Mermaid." Eddie tells the young girl.

Mia's eyes go wide "What? Why? What's not to like? It's DISNEY!"

"He's more a Jaws type of guy." Eddie offers.

"What's Jaws?" Mia questions.

"A really bad movie." Eddie explains.

"HEY!" Jamie protests.

"Can we watch it next?" Mia questions.

"No." Jamie and Eddie both reject.

"You'll have nightmares." Eddie tacks on in explanation.

"So what's the plan?" Jamie questions trying to divert the conversation "Are you still sleeping over or am I driving you home later?"

"I'm staying!" Mia brightly quips while Eddie nods in confirmation.

"Got it." Jamie accepts "Did you both eat? Anybody hungry?"

"Oh no I'm not eating anything after watching Aunt Eddie with that smoothie." Mia decides "Yuck."

"Hey!" Eddie defends "Baby wants what Baby wants!"

Mia giggles and looks at Eddie's stomach "You have horrible taste in food." She tells the baby "When you get here, I'll introduce you to good food like pizza and chocolate and ice cream!"

"Mia." Eddie laughs "It will be quite some time before this baby is eating solid food."

"Oh I know that." Mia dismisses "They gotta start with that whole milk thing but when they are older I'll show them what's what!" she proudly boasts "I've ah I've also made a decision." The young girl announces.

Jamie and Eddie look curiously at Mia.

"Oh?" Jamie questions.

"Yes." Mia decides as she reaches over, grabs Miss Minnie and offers her out to Eddie "I want the baby to have this."

"Mia no." Eddie immediately rejects "Miss Minnie is yours."

"But I want the baby to have it!" Mia insists.

"Mia we really appreciate that." Jamie steps in as he moves to sit on the coffee table "That's very generous of you but um… you remember what happened the last time you gave her away right?" He cautiously states.

Mia sighs in remembrance "I know. But I'm older now, practically ten…" she boasts like that's some magic number that makes her wiser and more mature "…and I want to give you something to help you and the baby feel safe."

"Oh." Eddie accepts now in understanding. "Well this right here – you, me, your Uncle Jamie and your Mom earlier. That's what makes me feel safe and happy okay?"

"But Miss Minnie…" Mia begins to insist.

"Tell you what?" Eddie gently interrupts "How about I graciously accept your gift but you keep her safe with you until the baby comes and then when they do, you can give Miss Minnie directly to the baby yourself okay?"

Mia ponders that solution for a moment and then nod her head in acceptance "Okay."

"Oh..." Jamie suddenly remembers as he pulls his phone out "Speaking of gifts…" He adds as he pulls up the photo he took of Eddie's desk and turns his phone around to show her "This is what your desk currently looks like."

Eddie takes the phone and her eyes go a bit wide in surprise "Wow."

"Oooooh! Pretty flowers!" Mia quips as she leans over to look too.

"Danny says he was fielding questions all day asking how you were." Jamie explains.

"What are the other gifts?" Mia questions "I can't see."

Eddie's face turns into a touched pout as she just hands Jamie's phone to Mia so she can zoom in and study the photo.

"You know that tea Maria brought me at the warehouse?" Eddie states.

"Yeah." Jamie replies.

"Apparently Sheehan made it and give it to her to bring to me." Eddie states "Said he knew I'd need it because stress would always cause his wife's morning sickness to return."

"Oh." Jamie notes impressed and in slight awe "How did he know that ginger is what worked for you?"

"He brought me a ginger smoothie the other day…" Eddie explains "…he said his wife swore by them when she was pregnant and we talked."

"Hmm. So maybe those gifts aren't so bad after all." Jamie notes.

Eddie shrugs "Maybe not."

"Hey wait a minute." Mia interrupts as she looks closer at the photo "Is this a mini Miss Minnie? You got a Mini Miss Minnie!" She exclaims in excitement.

Jamie takes his phone back and looks "Oh look at that, I didn't even notice that." he admits as he hands his phone to Eddie to look.

Mia's mouth falls open "How could you not notice a Miss Minnie!"

"I was distracted by the flowers." Jamie defends.

"Alright." Eddie giggles "Calm down everyone. Well Mia, now we have a big Miss Minnie and a little Miss Minnie. What should we do with them?

"Hmmm…" Mia ponders "Well we'll have a big sister – that's me." Mia reminds them as she points a finger at herself "And a little baby so Big Miss Minnie should stay with me, the big sister and little Miss Minnie should go to the little baby."

"I think that is an excellent idea." Jamie agrees.

"Wait is the baby a boy or a girl?" Mia then asks.

"We don't know yet." Eddie replies.

"Why not?" Mia prompts.

"The doctor didn't tell us." Eddie replies.

"Didn't you ask?" Mia presses "You can find out if it's a boy or a girl as early as 11 weeks so you should be able to find out."

Jamie and Eddie both look at Mia in surprise at her knowledge of that.

"How do you know that?" Eddie inquires in wonder.

"Mom." Mia simply explains with a shrug "She know all about babies." she easily adds on "I even had her mark it on the calendar for me so I'd know when the baby is coming. I want to be prepared."

"Prepared how?" Jamie slowly questions.

"Oh I can't tell you that." Mia dismissively rejects "That would ruin the surprise now getting back to my original question…" She eagerly continues "When are we finding out if it's a boy or a girl?"

Jamie and Eddie exchange a pensive look.

"Well actually Mia…" Eddie tentatively begins "Your Uncle and I have decided we want to wait for the baby to be born to know the answer to that."

"WHAT?" Mia states in alarm "You mean I have to wait another 6 months? You can't do this to me! I HAVE to know!" She over dramatically emphasizes.

"Excuse me?" Jamie laughs in disbelief "You don't HAVE to know anything young lady."

"Oh you've been called young lady." Eddie notes "You're in trouble now."

"This is mine and your Aunts decision." Jamie continues "You need to learn some patience."

"Well what if I come with you to the Doctor the next time you go and he just tells me." Mia suggests "I won't say anything to anyone, I promise! – not even Mom!"

"NO!" Eddie immediately rejects "I agree with your Uncle – you need to learn some patience."

Mia crosses her arms and pouts "This is so unfair."

"Then this is a good lesson for you because life isn't always fair." Jamie counters.

Mia looks between her Aunt and Uncle "So really not finding out?" she presses.

Jamie and Eddie both shake their heads no.

"Ugh." Mia grunts out as she plops herself back against the couch and stares up at the ceiling in defeat.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door.

Everyone looks over.

"Well its not you running away again." Eddie points out as she glances at Mia.

"Nope!" Mia confirms and before anyone can stop her, she bolts off the couch and runs for the door while looking back at Jamie and Eddie "Can I get it?" She questions but without waiting for an answer she turns her attention to the door and sweetly calls "Who is it?"

Jamie looks at this wife "Apparently she's getting the door." he states with a slight eye roll before also getting up to follow.

"I must have the wrong apartment." Henry's voice calls from the other side "Because that sounds like a young girl and I know no one like that lives in the apartment I'm looking for."

Mia giggles and swings the door open at recognizing the voice "It's me Mr. Henry!" She greets "I'm having a sleepover!"

"Oh! Mia!" Henry greets in fake surprise as he stands there holding a foil covered baking dish "Good thing you opened the door to let me know it was you. I was about to leave."

"Don't do that!" Mia rejects "Come in!"

"It's like she still lives here." Jamie tells his grandfather "Hi Pop. What are you doing here?"

Henry holds up the dish "Decided to try a new recipe and need some guinea pigs to taste test it."

"So you're checking up on me." Eddie deduces.

"Now would I do that?" Henry innocently inquires as Mia tries to look and figure out what is in the dish.

"Yes." both Jamie and Eddie reply in unison.

Henry shrugs.

"So what is it?" Mia finally inquires.

Henry lowers the dish slightly and lifts the foil cover at a corner to let Mia see and smell the food.

"Oh boy!" Mia excitedly exclaims "That smells good."

"I thought you weren't hungry?" Jamie points out to the young girl.

"For that I am!" Mia eagerly replies causing Henry to smile brightly before passing the pan to his grandson.

"Here go dish it out, it's still warm." He instructs before moving towards his granddaughter in law "And how are we doing my dear?" he inquires as Jamie with Mia following, move to the kitchen.

Eddie shrugs "Apparently I need to get kidnapped more often because I've never been so pampered in my life." she jokes.

A disgruntled look appears on Jamie face as he pulls plates out of the cupboard while Mia grabs the cutlery.

"Aunt Eddie I don't think Uncle Jamie liked that comment." Mia points out as she looks up at her Uncle next to her while she holds the cutlery out to him "And frankly neither do I."

Jamie looks down at the young girl "Well at least you get it."

"It was a joke." Eddie points out as Jamie begins to dish out 4 plates of food "You all need to lighten up."

Henry leans forward and gently pats his grand daughter in laws leg "Yeah, that's not going to happen but I do see your point." He notes as he takes in the set up Eddie has around her "That is quite some pampering you have going on."

"Thank you!" Mia proudly quips as she comes out of the kitchen balancing two plates – one in each hand – and up to the couch "One for you." she instructs and she offers a plate to Eddie "And one for you." She adds as she offers the other plate out to Henry.

"No, no." Henry rejects "You eat." he tells Mia.

"I have her plate." Jamie reveals as he walks out of the kitchen with one plate for himself in one hand and a slightly smaller plate in the other. He walks up to his grandfather and lowers the smaller plate down to display it for him "Unless you want this plate instead?" he queries in amusement.

Henry looks over to see a Disney themed plate. He immediately looks back at Mia and takes the plate she is offering him "Thank you."

"Thought so." Jamie laughs as he hands Mia her plate.

Mia looks around "Are we eating on the couch?"

"Your Aunt Eddie is eating on the couch." Jamie clarifies as he walks over and pulls his chair out at the table "We're eating at the table."

Henry nods in agreement as he moves to pull a chair at the table out as well "Manners." he tells the young girl.

Shrugging in acceptance, Mia moves to put her plate on the table then pull her own chair out.

Eddie frowns as she looks at everyone settling in at the table - everyone but her "But…" she whines.

Jamie, Henry and Mia all look over.

"Now I'm lonely." Eddie pouts.

"You're ten feet away." Jamie points out.

Mia hopefully raises her eyebrows at her Aunt silently asking permission.

Eddie nods yes.

"See ya!" Mia quips as she gets up, picks up her plate then moves to sit next to Eddie on the couch.

Jamie and Henry watch as a happy Eddie and Mia settle in next to one another and when they are ready to eat, they both lift their forks and clink them together before they dig into their food.

"She just overruled you." Henry points out to his grandson.

Jamie sighs "I noticed that."

"Mmmmm Henry this is good!" Eddie praises.

"It is!" Mia agrees "Thank you Mr. Henry!"

Henry looks at his grandson waiting for his review.

"Okay hang on." Jamie states before quickly taking a bite "It's good Pop." Jamie admits.

Henry smiles "Excellent. Three out of three stars. Act surprised when you eat it again on Sunday."

Eddie chuckles as she looks at everyone around her before settling her gaze on Henry "Thank you for checking up on me."

"Sure." Henry warmly returns as he watches Eddie return her focus to her plate so he shifts his gaze to his grandson to see Jamie eating but also watching Eddie with Mia "No problem." He adds as he also subtly checks up on his grandson.

A/N: So 2 things – 1: Jamie broke the perps nose - anyone want to take a guess at what's coming next? and 2: I promise I won't make everyone wait until the baby is born to reveal the gender. :)