Previously in Ch 25 of TMCC

"REAGAN!" Lieutenant Gee calls "And um…" he hesitates as he glances at a folder in his hands.

"Janko boss." Danny offers as he beckons with his head for Eddie to follow him into Lt Gee's office.

"Right. Janko." Lt Gee repeats as he reads something in the file and then eyes Eddie up and down "That's what you go by huh? Not Reagan?"

...

Chapter 45: Coulda Fooled Me

Eddie sits at her desk going over a cold case with a couple of Detectives when Jamie walks up.

"Detectives." He professionally greets all three as he places few folders down on Eddie's desk in front of her.

"Oh excuse me guys." Eddie apologizes as she reaches for the folders "I got a few priority files I need to work on but I promise to get right back to your case as soon as I'm finished okay?"

"Sure, sure, no problem." One Detective accepts even though both their demeanors show disappointment.

"Thanks." Jamie reiterates to Eddie before looking up at the Detectives and smiling at them a moment before turning to head back to his office.

One of the Detectives looks over at the files Eddie is opening "Wait, isn't that Sergeant paperwork?"

Eddie nods "Yes." She confirms as she picks up a pen and just begins to fill it out like nothing.

''Why are you doing that?" the Detective questions.

"Cuz I'm on desk duty." Eddie explains.

"But its Sergeant Paperwork." the Detective reiterates confused.

"Uh huh and?" Eddie replies before understanding the confusion "Oh I took the Sergeant's exam and I passed with a pretty high score so I get all this." She explains.

The Detective eyes her then moves to his desk, grabs a file and heads back to Eddie's desk "Then do you understand this?" he asks as he holds the file out to her.

Curious, Eddie takes the file and open it. She reads and then begins to laugh "What did you and Danny graduate from the same paperwork class?"

"What does that mean?" The Detective demands.

Eddie clears her throat "Um never mind." She back tracks "Yes I understand this and I see where you went wrong."

"Where?" The Detective inquires "Because Gee handed this back to me and told me to 'fix' it but this is how I've always done it!"

Eddie chuckles "Yup same school as Danny. Come here, let me show you…"

..

Sitting in his office, Lieutenant Gee curiously watches as Eddie begins to point to the file and explain things to his Detective.

…..

Eddie sits at her desk going over a case file when a Detective walks up "Um I need a favor."

Eddie looks up.

"Gee left early and I need approval on this. Can you ask Sarge to sign off?" he requests as he knocks his head towards Jamie's office.

Eddie looks over and sees Jamie in his office on the phone "Um he doesn't bite. Just go ask him."

The Detective feverishly shakes his head no "Please?" He instead pleads.

Eddie heavily sighs "I'm not his secretary you know."

"No you're his wife – that's better. He won't say no to you."

Eddie narrows her eyes unimpressed at the Detective then swipes the file out of his hands. She opens it, reads and then flips the file closed and hands it back "Um yeah no. He's got going to approval that no matter who brings it into his office."

"Damn." the Detective mutters before turning to walk away.

Eddie shakes her head then gets up and heads to Jamie's office to see him hanging up his phone "You know what's annoying?"

"Hmm?" Jamie absently inquires as he types something into his computer.

"People who think they can use me to get to you." Eddie announces.

Jamie immediately stops typing and turns his attention to his wife.

"Gee left early…" Eddie begins to explain "…so I just had someone come up to me trying to get me to get you to sign off on a request that I would never approve myself so I know neither you nor Gee would sign off on it."

"Who?" Jamie presses with narrowed eyes.

"Oh no, I'm not naming names." Eddie rejects.

A slightly annoyed look appears on Jamie's face "Then why are you in here telling me this if you aren't going to name names?"

Eddie shrugs "I'm just blowing off steam to my husband not my Sergeant."

Jamie sighs "Okay but can you lead with that next time please? I need to know which hat I'm supposed to be wearing."

"Yeah sure." Eddie accepts as she absently looks back out into the bullpen to see Detective Sheehan standing outside Gee's empty office with a file looking frustrated "Excuse me." she absently offers before heading out of Jamie's office and up to the Detective "What's wrong?" she inquires.

"Gee left early." Sheehan sighs "And Anderson who usually signs off when he's out broke a tooth so he's gone to the dentist and I need this signed off on forthwith if I'm gonna get my warrant before this guy gets on a plane at 5pm!"

"May I?" Eddie inquires as she holds her hand out for the file.

Sheehan hands it over.

Eddie opens the file, reads, then closes the file "Come with me." She instructs before turning to head back to Jamie's office. She walks inside and holds the file out to her husband "Okay this one needs signing off and it's time sensitive."

Both surprised and a bit confused, Jamie slowly takes the file and open it. He reads then looks back at Eddie, then past her to Sheehan who is hanging back in the doorway.

"Where's Anderson?" Jamie inquires.

"At the dentist." Eddie replies "He broke a tooth."

Sighing heavily, Jamie picks up his pen "This is highly irregular." he notes before signing off on the request then handing the folder back to Eddie who turns and walks back to the door and offers the folder out to Sheehan.

"But very much appreciated!" The Detective genuinely returns in relief "Thank you!" He calls before bolting out of the bullpen.

Eddie turns to look back at her husband "Okay now I feel like your secretary."

A smirk plays on Jamie's face but he doesn't say anything.

"What's with that look?" Eddie prompts.

Jamie shakes his head in deflection "Nothing."

Eddie eyes her husband "Jamie." She warns "Spill."

"Okay it's just when you said 'now I feel like your secretary' a thought popped in my head that's all."

"Which is?" Eddie presses "And it better not be 'because you ARE my secretary.'"

"No." Jamie reassures her as a smile creeps up on his face "It's because you're my Baker."

Eddie looks at her husband then back out into the bullpen then back at Jamie "Will that be all sir?" She sweetly inquires as she plays the part.

Jamie shakes his head "Just go back to your cold cases."

Eddie heartily laughs as she turns and heads back to her desk.

….

Lieutenant Gee walks into Jamie's office the next day "You signed off on a request yesterday."

Sitting at his desk, Jamie lifts his head to look at the Lieutenant "I did…" he slowly agrees as he starts to grow a bit anxious that he is about to get chewed out for stepping outside the chain of approvals.

"Well just wanted to let you know that because you did…" Gee offers "We managed to catch a guy on charges of murder one before he escaped the country so thank you."

"Oh." Jamie breathes out in relief "No problem."

Beat.

"And seeing as you are here in the immediate vicinity and not on the other side of the building…" Gee suddenly continues "…I'd like to add you to the chain of approvals."

"Oh um sure." Jamie slowly accepts.

"Great." Gee accepts "And I'd like Detective Reagan's help on a few files as well."

Jamie eyes Gee "I'll assume you mean E. Reagan and not D. Reagan?"

Gee nods in confirmation.

"Well you are the Lieutenant." Jamie slowly concedes.

A bright smile appears on Gees face "Perfect." he quips before turning to walk out of Jamie's office.

"Reagan, E.!" Gee barks the second he enters the bullpen "Follow me!"

Slightly startled, Eddie immediately looks up from her desk towards the voice to see Gee exiting Jamie's office. Confused she gets up to follow while silently looking at Jamie with questioning eyes.

Jamie can only offer her an 'I don't know' shrug in return.

So taking a deep breath, Eddie enters Gee's office.

"Shut the door." Gee commands.

Eddie shuts the door.

"Have a seat." Gee then warmly offers as he gestures at one of his guest chairs.

"O…kay…" Eddie slowly breathes out not at all sure what is about to happen.

Gee eyes her "So Reagan... that's what you go by huh? Not Janko?"

Eddie can't stop herself from huffing out a laugh "Nice one Sir."

Gee smiles at her "Sorry, couldn't resist. You've come a long way from that first day as a Detective."

"Oh. Um... thank you." Eddie accepts.

"You know what's funny?" Gee adds.

"Sir?" Eddie prompts.

"Your very first day here…" Gee explains "I handed you a file and said 'you better be good at paperwork' you remember that?"

Eddie nods in confirmation "I do."

"Well turns out you are better at it then most of the Detectives in this squad."

"Oh I wouldn't say that." Eddie rejects.

"I would." Gee insists as he picks up a file and hands it to Eddie "He finally got it right – thanks to you."

Eddie opens the file to see it's the paperwork she explained to the Detective earlier.

"So here." Gee adds as he picks up a stack of files and hands them to Eddie "Proof these, and if any corrections need to be made, don't do them yourself, take them back to the Detective and teach them to do it properly."

Eddie's eyes go wide in slight fear "Um… but some of these Detectives have been here for years and I'm… I'm…"

"What? Still a rookie?" Gee finishes.

"Well yeah." Eddie breathes out.

"Don't worry." Gee quips with dancing eyes as he stands "It will be an order!" he promises as he heads for the door "LISTEN UP!" he calls out into the bullpen.

Every Detective in the place immediately stops working and looks over.

"From now on…" The Lieutenant begins as Jamie moves to stand in his doorway to listen in "All files and requests flow through Detective Edit Reagan understood?"

Jamie raises an eyebrow at hearing that.

"You are all great Detectives…" Gee continues to those under his command "But let's be honest over the years the paperwork has become less then perfect."

Some Detectives start to groan.

"I know, I know." Gee soothes "We are all over worked, I get it, so yes, I have let things slide more then I should have. Instead of coming to you all individually to correct any mistakes I just made the corrections myself just to speed things along but now all that changes. Now Detective E. Reagan will go over your reports and any corrections that need to be made, she will bring back to you and YOU will make them understood? You will not give her grief, you will listen and you will learn so by the time she is back on full active duty you will ALL be able to PROPERLY complete your own paperwork. Let's take advantage of having her here to make us all better cops understood? And just so there is no misunderstandings this is an order! Got it?"

"Yes Boss." "Understood." "Copy that." comes one on top of the other.

"Good." Gee accepts "Now everyone back to work. Let's catch us some bad guys." He finishes before looking back at Eddie who is just standing next to him holding a stack of files "Have fun." he adds before walking back inside his office.

For a moment, Eddie just stands there in shock before slowly making her way back to her desk and as she does she catches sight of Jamie in his doorway and she looks at him with wide piercing eyes but before anything can be said between the couple a few Detectives walk up to Eddie's desk with files in their hands so Eddie blows out a breath of air as she looks at them "Straight into the fire huh?"

The Detectives shrug.

Eddie sighs "Okay who's first?"

…..

With a stack of files in her hands, Eddie walks into Jamie's office, puts them down on the desk in front of him, then plops herself down into one of his guest chairs "When can we take a week off? I think I really need that Caribbean vacation now."

Jamie looks at the files then over at his wife "What are these?"

"Requests that need signing off." Eddie explains.

Jamie looks at her confused.

Eddie sighs "I took them into Gee's office but he was about to leave so he said bring them in here for you to approve."

Jamie's mouth drops slightly open.

Eddie shrugs in defeat "Don't look at me…" She flatly deflects annoyed "I'm just the secretary."

Jamie sighs and opens the first file "You're not a secretary. Far from it." he rejects as he peruses the request "You're training Detectives – some with decades of experience…" he points out "How's that going by the way? Any issues?"

"So far so good." Eddie admits as she watches Jamie sign off on the first file and set it aside "I can tell a few Detectives had unhappy looks on their faces as I was explaining stuff but they kept their comments to themselves – I'm sure they had a few choice words for me behind my back later though."

Jamie frowns as he opens the next file.

"It's your fault you know." Eddie then states "You had to go teaching me the proper way to do things."

"Well if you can teach me…" Danny's voice sounds from the doorway "A stubborn ol' Reagan set in his ways on how to properly complete paperwork you can handle the rest of them."

Jamie and Eddie both look towards the door.

"Great." Eddie sighs as Jamie looks back down at his desk and signs off on another file "I see word traveled fast."

"Like lightening." Danny agrees with a nod as he leans against the door frame watching "I leave on a case in the morning, come back at the end of the day and suddenly you two are running the entire squad?"

Eddie thinks about Danny's words then looks at her husband "We're not… are we?"

Jamie immediately shakes his head "No." he rejects as he signs off again on a file "Of course not."

"Coulda fooled me." Danny counters before pushing himself off the doorway and leaving.

Jamie and Eddie again look at one another.

"No." Jamie rejects.

"No." Eddie agrees.

...

A/N: I have no knowledge of actual policy procedures. This is fanfic so I make stuff up...