A/N: Um... it's still going to be a while before the gender reveal - sorry. Mia's birthday comes first but still a few chapters to get through before even that... again, sorry... insert sheepish grin here :)

Chapter 21: Pop Goes The Cork

Jamie sits next to his wife's hospital bed gripping her hand in his like a vice as he, Eddie and the doctor all listen to the baby's strong heartbeat.

"Okay, everything looks good." The doctor states as he ends the exam and turns off the machine.

Jamie and Eddie both let out breathes of air in relief.

"But we do…" The doctor continues "…want to keep you for observation for…"

"Really?" Eddie interrupts with a whine.

Jamie turns his head and shoots his wife an extremely serious 'do not even THINK about disobeying the doctor' look.

"Fine." Eddie reluctantly pouts.

The doctor laughs a little at the exchange "If there are no issues tonight, you can go home in the morning but better to be safe then sorry."

"Yes, thank you doctor." Jamie appreciatively accepts.

Nodding, the doctor leaves.

"I only protested…" Eddie begins to explain as she readjusts her covers around her "…because I just wanted to sink into my own warm, comfortable bed with you next to me."

"Well, I can't help with the first part." Jamie states as he gets up and moves to get on the bed "But I can make that last part happen." He adds "Here… can you move over a bit?" he prompts as he does his best to help his wife shuffle a bit to make room for him so he can lay down next to her and pull her into his arms.

"Okay." Eddie quietly admits a moment later once they are both settled in "I don't need the bed. I just need this."

"Me too." Jamie softly agrees "Now get some rest. I'm not going anywhere." He adds as he gives her a goodnight kiss on her head and let's his hand rest protectively on their baby "I love you. The both of you so much."

"I know. We love you too." Eddie returns as she snuggles in closer to her husband – her one true safe place.

Suddenly the hospital room door whips open...

"EDIT!" Lena rushes out but she stops short at seeing her daughter and son in law together on the bed.

Jamie and Eddie pop their eyes open.

"You called them?" Eddie whispers to her husband.

"Yeah sorry forgot to tell you that." Jamie quietly mutters back to his wife "They are your parents."

"Are you okay?" Lena presses as she moves towards them "How's my grand baby? Oh my goodness! Look at your cheek!"

"We're fine Mom." Eddie promises as Jamie sighs and moves to get off the bed so Lena can hug her daughter.

Jamie's eyes shift to the door when he sees movement to see Armin standing there staring at his daughter.

Jamie walks up to him "She's fine." He promises his father in law.

"What happened?" Armin whispers.

Jamie takes a deep breath "Honestly I'm not entirely sure." He admits "Danny and Baez are taking point on this one - my focus has just been on Eddie since we found her."

"And you're sure she's okay?" Armin presses.

Jamie nods "The Doctor just wants to keep her for the night as a precaution."

Armin nods in acceptance.

"But she does need her rest." Jamie points out as his eyes drift to his mother in law to see her fussing and fawning over her daughter.

"Got it." Armin notes as he moves forward towards the bed "Hey Sweetheart." He greets with a smile.

"Hi Dad." Eddie returns "You both really didn't need to come. I'm fine."

Lena's mouth drops open "Oh course we had to come! You're my baby carrying my grand baby!" She states before turning to Jamie "Did you catch the people responsible?" She demands.

Jamie nods "We did."

Suddenly the door opens and Danny and Maria enter.

"Um sorry." Danny uncomfortably apologizes as he looks around the room looking like he wants to crawl into a hole.

Jamie curiously looks at his brother noting his unusual demeanor.

"'But um…" Danny continues "If its alright, we need a minute alone with Eddie."

"Edit." Lena corrects.

"Right. Sorry." Danny again apologizes "Edit. Are you up to talking?" he hopefully but quietly asks his sister in law.

Eddie nods and sits up a bit more in bed "Mom, Dad do you mind?"

"I'll keep you posted." Jamie promises his in laws.

Nodding, Armin and Lena each lean over to give Eddie a quick kiss on her head before departing.

Eddie watches her parents leave before letting her eyes drift to Danny. She sees him intently watching her with clear emotional regret and blame in his eyes "So..." Eddie begins as she reaches her hand on the opposite side of the bed from where Jamie, Danny, and Maria are standing up towards her husband silently requesting he take it. Her sole goal is this action is to put as much distance as she can between Jamie and Danny for what comes next…

Jamie is slightly confused why she is using that hand and not the hand closest to him but never the less, he moves around the bed to the opposite side to take her hand in his as requested and it is only when Eddie has a firm grip on his hand that she looks back at Danny "You know don't you."

Danny silently nods his head up and down trying to keep his emotions in check "I'm sorry." He states in true regret. "I'm so sorry."

Jamie looks between his wife and brother not understanding at all and he starts to grow anxious "What's going on?"

"Jamie, sit down please." Eddie calmly requests as she gives his hand a little tug down.

Reluctantly, Jamie sits down on the edge of her bed but he can't stop looking at his brother wondering why he seems far more upset than he really should be.

"They were after me." Danny quietly and reluctantly tells his brother "They didn't know there were two Detective Reagans and they took her by mistake instead of me. It should have been me."

For a moment Jamie just sits there staring at Danny trying to process that information and Eddie, Danny and Maria all look at him waiting on pins and needles for his reaction.

"Jamie." Eddie softly prompts a moment later.

…pop goes the cork… Danny had been his rock through this entire ordeal and now he finds out this entire ordeal was his brother's fault?

"Get out." Jamie states in an eerily calm voice to his brother.

"Jamie it was an accident." Eddie tries to reason as she tightens her grip on his hand giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze "It's not his fault."

…up rises the bubbles…

"The hell it isn't." Jamie rejects as anger flashes in his eyes. He moves to get up but Eddie just holds on tighter to his hand refusing to let go.

"Jamie, calm down." Eddie pleads but not even she can stop him now…

"I should have known." Jamie states with a haunting exasperated laugh "For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why anyone would want to hurt her. Why they would do that. But you?" He adds as he looks at his brother with a swirling sea of turbulent emotions in his eyes "Of course! It makes so much sense now!"

"Jamie look…" Danny begins desperately trying to find some way to explain and make him understand that if he could change what happened…

…and the bottle overflows…

"GET OUT!" Jamie forcefully barks as the anger within him over everything that has happened and still happening wins out over all rhyme, reason or rational…

"Jamie…" Maria tries.

"NOW!" Jamie demands in a pure rage as he bolts to his feet "GET OUT! That's an order!"

Cringing and taking a step back at his brother's outburst, Danny glances at Eddie to see her silently nod her head telling him its okay and to go.

"I'm sorry." Danny offers one more time as devastated tears of regret and guilt threaten his eyes before he walks out the door.

"I know right now you're angry." Maria tells Jamie "But it's not your brother's fault and deep down I think you know that but you should also know that he's still 100% blaming himself and it's eating him alive." She adds before simply turning and walking out the door in search of her partner.

Jamie just stares at the door, his mind completely reeling and Eddie can feel the tension in his body.

"Jamie." Eddie softly prompts again trying to pull him out of his head and back to reality with her "Jamie please look at me."

Slowly, Jamie turns his head to look at his wife and it hits him full on like a mac truck as he unconsciously sucks in a breath of air and holds it that he could have lost his wife and child – his world - because of his older brother – someone he has looked up to and admired his entire life - and if that had happened, he was pretty sure he'd never be able to come back from that…

Overcome, Jamie simply sinks to the bed and pulls Eddie into his arms holding onto her tight like a lifeline as he gasps for air and tries to breath.

"I'm okay." Eddie quietly reiterates as she tries to comfort him "We're okay."

"I... I don't know what I would have done Eddie…" he quietly tells her as he tries to hold back the tears in his eyes "I really don't know…"

"Hey." Eddie softly interrupts "I'm fine. We're both fine."

Jamie nods his head against her but just continues to hold her.

"Maybe I should go back to Janko." Eddie tries to joke in an attempt to add a little bit of levity to the situation.

Thinking about those words, Jamie slowly pulls back from his wife "Maybe you should." He honestly tells her.

Eddie frowns "Jamie."

"Eddie this literally happened because your last name is Reagan with the word Detective in front."

"Yes but there is this little word Edit between them." Eddie reminds him.

"Eddie I'm serious." Jamie presses as the more he thinks about it, the more he likes it "You can't stay Detective Reagan anymore." He decides "It's too risky. You'll go back to Janko." He flat out tells her.

Knowing that it's his deep rooted fear talking, Eddie tries to remain calm.

"Jamie, take a breath." She instructs. "This isn't Danny's fault. I don't want you blaming your brother for this."

"Too late." Jamie simply states.

Eddie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath herself "Jamie, listen to me. This is NOT Danny's fault and its not yours either okay? I made the decision to change my work name to Reagan knowing full well that would mean there would be two Detective Reagans."

"Yeah but…"

"But what? You think I was naïve doing that?" Eddie presses "I wasn't. I know the type of cop Danny is. He's very good at what he does but he also pisses a lot of people off as he does it and to be honest, I can't say I'm surprised this happened. I mean I'm surprised…" She corrects "…but yet deep down – not really… but come on… this is going to make one hell of a great story to tell this kid of ours right? We can be lamenting about this for years to come now."

"No, Eddie it's not a good idea." Jamie continues as he gets tunnel vision "You'll go back to Janko. I'll file the paperwork tomorrow and…"

"Jamie…" Eddie insistently interrupts "Look at me." She demands.

Jamie looks at her.

"This is one of those times you need to preface what you say with 'if I were you' okay?" She reminds him.

For a moment Jamie just silently stares at his wife but then he hangs his head and groans "But I'm not you." He grumbles out in understanding and defeat.

"That's right you're not." Eddie agrees "I love you for wanting to protect me, I do, but this is my decision and I'm keeping Reagan."

"But this isn't just about some baseball league Eddie." Jamie presses as he jumps up from the bed to pace a little "You got kidnapped – because of Danny! I can't just magically get over this."

"I know." Eddie tries to reassuringly state as she watches him "You need time to catch up to me. I've had quite a few hours head start to come to terms with this. I mean looking back now it was actually pretty funny when those two idiots realized they grabbed the wrong Reagan."

Jamie stills his pacing, slowly turns to look at his wife and scoffs in rejection "Okay let's agree there is absolutely nothing funny about this okay."

"Yeah but they kept nattering on about Danny coming to find me and I tried to tell them he wasn't the one they needed to be worried about and boy was I right!" Eddie snickers "That was a pretty good right hook there Reagan. How's the hand?"

Jamie scrunches up and extends his fingers on his right hand "Feels fine. Great actually. That was very therapeutic."

"I thought violence was never the answer though?" Eddie points out.

"Right place. Right time." he grumbles.

"Look at you expanding the parameters of use on that line." Eddie impressively notes "If I'm honest though I was living vicariously though you at the moment you punched him because that was exactly what I wanted to do too."

"Then why did you call out stopping me?" Jamie wonders.

"Self preservation." Eddie admits "I don't need you getting arrested for assault and battery and sent up the river." She adds before yawning "I'm not raising this kid alone."

"Well right now you need your rest." Jamie decides.

"Only if I can have my big warm pillow back." Eddie hopefully inquires.

"Your wish is my command." Jamie agrees as he slides back onto the bed with his wife once again pulling her into his arms to sleep.

….

Danny silently sits in the waiting room of the hospital staring at the ground with Maria next to him, a look of worry on her face. She looks up when she sees someone walking towards them to see Henry.

A feeling of relief washes over her.

Henry come to a stop right in front of his grandson but Danny doesn't even lift his head to acknowledge his presence so sighing, Henry nods his head at Maria, telling her 'he's got it' then knocks his head towards the exit.

Maria nods in understanding and places a soft hand on her partner's shoulder "Danny." She softly prompts "I need to go pick up Elena but your grandfather is here."

"Daniel." Henry greets.

Danny finally lifts his head to look at his grandfather before him and Henry can see a jumble of emotions in his eyes but then Danny shifts his eyes away to look at Maria instead. They exchange a silent goodbye as Maria gives his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before she walks off.

Henry watches her leave then turns his attention back to his grandson "How are you doing?"

With the guilt and shame consuming him, Danny can't bring himself to face his grandfather so he just shrugs and looks back at the floor "Me? Fine."

"Hmmm." Henry ponders as he eyes him "Cut the crap. I know the whole story and I know you." Henry explains "You ain't fine."

"Pretty sure Jamie hates me now." Danny mumbles out feeling like he's let the entire family down.

"He doesn't hate you." Henry reassures him.

"You didn't see the look in his eyes Gramps. It was… it just… I let him down." He quietly admits in despair "What happened to Eddie… that happened to her because of me! Me Gramps!" Danny states as he bolts to his feet letting his devastated emotions bubble up to the point where he finally looks his grandfather in the eyes "Me!" he repeats in complete anguish before pushing his feeling away again "Look I need some air." He decides not wanting to break down right there in the public hospital waiting room "Go see Eddie and Jamie – they're the ones that have been through the wringer not me." He deflects before simply walking away.

"Oh Daniel." Henry sighs as he watches him go before turning to head to Eddie's room "How wrong you are…"

Henry gets to the room and puts his hand on the door to open it but when he looks in the window he sees Jamie and Eddie asleep on the bed. He smiles and pulls his hand back not wanting to disturb them.

Suddenly Henry's cell phone rings. He pulls it out to see his granddaughter calling him "Erin." he greets.

"Finally someone answered!" Erin's concerned voice returns "I keep trying Jamie and Danny but neither one is picking up! I heard something happened to Eddie, do you know what's going on?"

"I do." Henry replies as he steps away from the door "I'm at the hospital now."

"Hospital!" Erin repeats in fear.

"Eddie and the baby are okay…" Henry immediately soothes "…but Erin, your brothers could really use you right now…"

….

Jamie stands in the hospital hallway mindlessly staring at the vending machine in front of him when he hears a voice:

"If you aren't actually getting anything, get out of the way so others can have a chance."

Looking over, Jamie sees his sister standing there "Hey." He greets.

"Hey." Erin returns "How's Eddie?"

"Sleeping." Jamie replies as he finally puts money in the machine and presses the button for a gingerale.

"And how are you?" Erin inquires.

Jamie shrugs.

"That good huh?" She tosses back.

"What do you want me to say?" Jamie counters "My pregnant wife got kidnapped and my brother is responsible for it. It's been a banner day."

"Jamie." Erin sighs.

"I don't want to hear it." Jamie rejects cutting her off "I'm not ready to forgive him."

"Oh so that's a possibility down the line?" Erin inquires.

Jamie shoots her a look.

"If it helps." Erin offers "He's miserable."

"You're the second person to tell me that."

"So it must be true then." Erin points out.

"Erin she got kidnapped because of him."

"Okay yes BECAUSE of him…" Erin admits "…but not BY him. Huge difference there. Only the people that actually did the kidnapping are responsible Jamie, you know that. Look its like if your out on patrol and attend a call where one guy beats up another guy BECAUSE his girlfriend smiled at said other guy. You're not arresting the girlfriend for the boyfriend's actions are you? No, because the girlfriend is NOT RESPONSIBLE."

"Stop trying to be all logical." Jamie tosses back annoyed.

"Why because I'm actually starting to get through that thick Reagan skull of yours?" Erin counters right back.

"I hear you. I'm just not ready to go there yet okay? Now thank you for coming…" Jamie states before turning to walk away "…but I need to get back to my wife."

Erin heavily sighs as she watches her younger brother disappear down the hall "And the stubborn streak lives on…" She mutters with a shake of her head before turning to walk away in the opposite direction.

...