Chapter 26: The Reagan Way
It's the next morning and Jamie is in the kitchen making a smoothie while Eddie is resting on the couch with her feet up. Suddenly her cellphone on the end table starts to blow up with message after message after message. With her face scrunched up in confusion, she reaches over to grab it but as she starts to read her eyes go wide "Jamie!" she calls trying to get his attention over the sound of the blender "JAMIE!"
Jamie shuts the blender off and turns to look at his wife "What?"
"Jamie…" Eddie slowly breathes out in shock "…the Detectives of the 5-4 are all out with the blue flu."
"What?" Jamie questions in confusion as he moves out of the kitchen and towards his wife.
Eddie nods in confirmation as she continues to read the messages on her phone "Um…apparently they um… all have an issue with you being suspended for punching the guy that kidnapped me." She states in amazed awe before looking up at her husband with wide stunned eyes.
For a moment, Jamie just stares at his wife but the next second he leans forward and snatches her phone out of her hands "Give me that..." he chides not really believing her but as he scrolls through her messages first a look of total disbelief appears on his face but then it changes to one of frustration "Ah great." He grumbles out as he hands his wife back her phone.
"It is great!" Eddie insists.
"No Eddie, its not." Jamie flatly counters "It's the exact opposite of great. Now I've created yet another problem. One my Dad now has to deal with."
"Jamie..." Eddie begins.
"Your smoothie is done." he interrupts "Just pour it into the glass." He adds as he turns and grabs his keys and jacket "I'll be at Donovan's." he finishes before just walking out the door frustrated beyond belief.
Eddie watches him leave then heavily sighs "Great. Just great." She mumbles out repeating her husband's earlier sentiment before slowly getting up and heading to the kitchen "It's not like we have a bag right here in the living room." She mutters as she pulls a glass out of the cupboard and grabs for the smoothie container "And I don't have French fries…"
….
Jamie stands in front of the punching bag beating the living daylights out of it as he unleashes all his anger and frustrations onto it.
He did this. Him. He punched the guy. He created this problem. This mess he now finds himself in is all of his own doing and he, he alone needs to figure a way out of it so as he continues to punch the bag, his mind works just as hard looking for a solution…
A minute later an idea hits him – it would be a long shot but…
So stilling the bag, Jamie removes one of his gloves and reaches for his phone in his bag. He dials a number and waits "Hey." He greets slightly out of breath when the call is answered "It's me. Ah listen, can I come down and borrow your books?"
….
Eddie sighs as she walks into the mostly empty bullpen – the only other person there is Danny - sitting at this desk – his focus on his computer.
"Wow we really are the Reagan Division now aren't we?" Eddie notes.
Danny shifts his gaze away from the computer and glances at this sister in law "Not true – the Lieutenant is here." He reveals as he knocks his head towards Gee's office.
Eddie looks over to see him buried under paperwork and on the phone trying to handle all of it.
Sighing, Eddie puts her purse down and is about to walk over to Gee's office when a phone on an abandoned Detective's desk rings.
And then another.
And another.
Sighing again, Eddie changes course and moves to the first ringing phone "Major Crimes Detective Reagan how may I help you?"
Eddie listens a moment then sits down at the desk and grabs a pen and paper "No sorry he's not in today but if you tell me what it is, I will be sure to relay it to him as soon as he is back. Okay great. No go ahead, I'm ready when you are." Eddie promises with her pen posed to write "Uh uh." She mutters as she begins taking notes "Got it. Yes I will be sure he gets this thank you." Eddie adds before hanging up then without skipping a beat, Eddie moves to the next ringing phone at the next desk "Major Crimes, Detective Reagan, how may I help you?"
She goes through the entire process again, explaining the Detective isn't in and then taking notes. She hangs up and notes at least three more phones are ringing "Danny, a little help here please." She prompts.
"Sorry." Danny mutters as he gets up, pulls out his cellphone and dials as he heads to exit the bullpen "I have a case I'm working on that takes priority – besides you're the one on desk duty not me." he adds before disappearing down the hall and bringing his phone to his ear.
Eddie glares after her brother in law a moment then swipes the next ringing phone up "Major Crimes Detective Reagan, how may I help you?"
From his office, Gee looks out to see Eddie trying to help hold down the fort. He gets up and walks out of his office just as she hangs up the phone "Thank you." he appreciatively states.
Eddie sighs "How can I not? All this…" Eddie states as she gestures around the empty room "Is my fault."
"No." Gee rejects with a sigh "This is called solidarity, it's just you're a Reagan and I'm the commanding officer so we aren't allowed to participate so while they do their part…" he adds as he gestures around to all the empty chairs "We do ours." he continues as he gestures to the ringing phone.
Eddie nods in understanding "Copy that Sir." she accepts as both she and Gee split to each answer yet more ringing phones.
"Major Crimes, Detective Reagan, how may I help you?"
….
"Just try it." Erin states into her phone in her office while pulling her coat on when Jamie walks up to her door. He knocks.
"Hey." Erin greets him before turning her attention back to her phone "I gotta go." She states into it before hanging up "You just caught me." She adds as she looks back at Jamie again and knocks her head towards her bookcase "Everything is over there." She adds as she grabs her briefcase. "Good luck." She adds as she starts for the door "I'll be back after court."
Jamie quickly steps inside and out of her way "Thanks!" he calls after her as she disappears down the hall out of view.
Jamie turns his attention to the bookcase. He takes a deep breath and walks over. He fingers the law books, pulls a couple out then sits down at Erin's table and gets to work.
….
Eddie sticks her head in Gee's office "You got the Preston case there?" She quickly inquires.
"Um yeah..." Gee mutters as he shuffles files around on his desk searching "Got it." He notes as he picks it up and holds it out to her.
Eddie snatches it away then quickly moves to sit back down at another Detective's desk and swipes the phone receiver back up. She cradles it to her ear "Okay got it." She speaks into the phone "And you were looking for the DNA results right? Okay hang on…" She mutters as she peruses the file "No the two samples were not a match. Yeah I'll make a note for him to call you when he's back."
Suddenly Gee comes out of his office and heads to Sheehan's desk as Eddie hangs up the phone. Gee starts looking around the desk "You see the Prana case?" he offhandedly inquires.
Eddie looks up "Um yeah that's one of the cold cases I have."
"You want to take the call then?" Gee offers.
"Heck yes!" Eddie agrees as she moves back to her desk to locate and snatch the file up while Gee moves back to his office.
He transfers the call over to Eddie's desk then for a moment just stands there watching her work in slight awe at her focus and resilience. Not many people could be able to handle what is being thrown at them today he notes but before he can think about it much more his phone rings yet again "Gee!" he greets as he gets right back into it himself.
…..
Henry and Danny walk towards the entrance of the bullpen but suddenly Danny holds his hand up stopping his grandfather "Wait here." he instructs.
"Why?" Henry questions.
"Because Eddie's here." Danny explains "And if she sees you…"
"Got it." Henry immediately understands.
So Danny continues on into the bullpen alone to see Eddie just hanging up a phone "Still at it huh?"
Eddie huffs out a breath of air in response.
"Have you eaten?" Danny presses "It's lunch."
"Who has the time." Eddie tosses back.
Danny frowns "Eddie, you know you have to take care of yourself."
Gee comes out of his office "Reagan…" He addresses Eddie "The other Reagan is right." Gee agrees "Take your lunch break – out. Relax. The last thing I need is you going down sick - for real - because of stress."
"Why don't you go take Jamie some lunch?" Danny offers "He's at Erin's office."
Eddie looks over in surprise "He is?"
Danny nods "He's trying to use that degree of his."
"Oh." Eddie breathes out "Wait how do you know that?"
"Best Detective in the city remember." Danny arrogantly reminds her in deflection "Now go because I doubt he's thinking about food either." He adds with a knowing look.
"Fine." Eddie relents "Going on lunch now." She states as she moves to grab her purse and leave.
A few seconds later Henry walks into the bullpen.
"I'm assuming you saw her coming and hid?" Danny questions to his grandfather.
"I was the Commissioner." Henry arrogantly reminds him.
Gee looks back and forth between Danny and Henry "Yeah, I don't want to know." he states before he simply turns and heads back to his office shutting the door.
"He's smart." Danny offers as he points in Gee's direction.
"Time's a wasting Daniel." Henry instructs as he starts for the holding cells "Let's go."
….
Eddie walks up to Erin's office with food and sees her husband sitting at the table surrounded by open books intently working away "So this is what you as a lawyer looks like huh?"
Jamie looks up in surprise "How did you…"
"I'm a Detective remember?" Eddie sweetly reminds him.
Jamie huffs out a laugh "I forgot how much I hated this." He then grumbles "Please don't divorce me over this."
"Are you kidding?" Eddie laughs "Jamie Reagan the lawyer looks kinda hot to me."
"Well, don't get used to it." Jamie counters "Wait what are you doing here? Why aren't you at work?"
Eddie shrugs.
"Eddie…" Jamie warns.
"I didn't call out with the flu is that's what you are worried about." Eddie states "At least one of us still needs to be pulling in a paycheque." She adds with a little twinkle in an attempted joke.
Jamie heavily sighs in defeat not really feeling it "I'm trying."
"I know." Eddie adds with a small sympathetic smile "Gee ordered me to take lunch so I brought you some too." She adds as she offers the container in her hands out to him "You get anywhere?"
"Thank you." Jamie accepts as he takes the container and sets it aside "And not really." He adds with a sigh "Case law is very tedious work – that's why its usually the young, eager, fresh out of law school interns that get the joyous job of spending their days and nights scouring the books instead of middle aged Police Sergeants who haven't practiced law in… well forever."
"Not true." Eddie rejects "I seem to recall you did a pretty damn good job in the trial room defending us. I was mighty impressed that day I'll have you know."
Jamie offers his wife a small thankful smile "Yeah well that was easy compared to this."
"I could just say I didn't see anything either you know."
Jamie sighs "Eddie we've been over this. That would be lying and if we start doing that that makes us no better than the people out there we arrest everyday."
"Oh come on Jamie people tell little white lies all the time."
"This wouldn't be a little white lie Eddie." Jamie points out "This would be one big whopper of a lie, you're not doing that."
"Well not from where I sit." Eddie defends "I was kidnapped and tied to a chair. One good sucker punch from you was the bare minimum that idiot deserved."
"Oh I don't disagree with you but the law is the law and I messed up Eddie. I threw the first and only punch."
"This is just so wrong." Eddie mutters in frustration "How could your Dad just let you be flat out suspended?"
"Eddie…" Jamie sighs.
"The entire Detective squad knows it's wrong!" Eddie continues "And I think it's time I tell Frank that."
"Eddie no." Jamie rejects "The detail of whether I'm suspended or just modified right now is not the real issue here. The issue is that there is an investigation period. It's the result of that investigation that matters Eddie so Babe, as much as I appreciate you coming by, I really need to concentrate here so…"
"Yeah, yeah I'm distracting you from what you need to do." Eddie relents in understanding "I'm going – just don't forget to eat okay?" She instructs as she gestures at the food.
"I won't." Jamie promises "Love you."
"Love you too." Eddie returns before turning to walk out the door.
"And Eddie?" Jamie calls after her.
"No I won't go see your Dad." Eddie promises.
"Thank you." Jamie mutters as he watches his wife disappear from view before turning his attention back to the books.
…..
Eddie walks back into the bullpen with a takeout container to see nothing has changed – desks are still empty, phones still ringing off the hook. She walks into Gee's office to see him still at it at his desk. She sets the food container down on his desk "Eat." She simply instructs before turning to walk back out.
Gee watches her a moment in awe that she thought to bring him food "THANK YOU!" he calls as he grabs the cutlery on top of the container, flips the lid open, scoops some food up and takes a bite.
"YOU'RE WELCOME." Eddie calls as they both get back to the grind.
…..
Frustrated beyond belief, Jamie slams the law book in his hands closed.
"Well that doesn't sound good." Erin's voice sounds.
Looking up, Jamie sees his sister walk back into her office.
"I take it you haven't found anything that could help?" Erin queries.
"No." Jamie mutters "I knew this was a long shot but still…"
Erin offers her brother a sympathetic look "I wish I could help."
"I know." Jamie sighs "But I got myself into this mess I need to figure a way out of it."
"How's Eddie handling this?" Erin inquires.
"Well I had to talk her out of storming over to Dad and unleashing on him."
"You know Dad can't stop this right?"
"I know." Jamie relents "Eddie knows too it just sometimes those pregnancy hormones take over and reason goes out the window."
Erin nods.
"I just… the longer this goes on... I mean…she shouldn't have to deal with this." Jamie states in frustration "She doesn't need the stress."
"Eddie's tough." Erin reminds him.
"She's pregnant." Jamie counters in agitation "For the first 7 weeks of this pregnancy we were both so stressed with the Porsche being stolen and that whole debacle with Munoz, Rosa and Mia, it's a miracle she didn't miscarry. Then she's kidnapped and held hostage and now I could lose my job because I let loose on the guy that did that to her…" He adds as he reaches into his pocket to pull out whatever loose change he has and place it on the table. "There, that's your retainer – now you're my lawyer and can't repeat anything I say." he announces before continuing on "How much more can she take before something I don't even want to think about but can't stop thinking about happens?"
Erin frowns as she scoops the money up "Jamie don't think like that."
"I can't help it!" Jamie tosses back before heavily sighing.
"So if you could go back in time and change what you did would you?" Erin prompts.
"Yes and no." Jamie admits.
Erin looks quizzically at her brother.
"I not sorry I did it because the guy deserved it but I'm sorry I did it because of the added stress its now causing Eddie. I'm supposed to be the smart one but in that moment, I let my anger get the better of me so I have to deal with the consequences – the problem is now she does too."
"So admit you did it." Erin suggests.
Jamie looks up at his sister "What?"
"Admit you are guilty – try for a reduced sentence like a set suspension instead of an outright dismissal."
Jamie shakes his head no "Erin this is IAB, not the courtroom."
"So?" Erin challenges "Maybe they will appreciate the truth. I know you haven't practiced in years Jamie but you're still a lawyer – use those skills to make your case for why you shouldn't be fired."
"Erin if I proficient in trial law you think I would have had a union lawyer all the other times I was up against IAB in the past? Besides I just hired you."
"Then what are you doing here?" She challenges as she gestures to all her law books open in front of him.
Jamie sighs "Looking for a hail Mary."
Erin offers her brother a small smile "And you know I can't represent you…" She continues "But lets consider this payment for legal advice." she states as she jostles the change in her hand "It's just a suggestion Jamie."
Jamie sighs "I know. I just… I didn't think, I just acted and now I'm screwed."
Erin sighs "You pulled a Danny."
Jamie shakes his head in rejection "No." he grumbles "Even Danny has never done anything as stupid as I did. I threw the first punch Erin. You never throw the first punch." he berates himself "Ever."
Erin sighs wishing she could wave a magic wand and just make things all better for her younger brother but she can't so now she just hopes a more practical solution will do the trick instead…
….
Eddie's male kidnapper sits in an interview room waiting. His nose all bandaged up and both eyes black and blue.
Suddenly Danny opens the door from outside the room and lets his Grandfather walk inside.
"Well look who it is." The guy nasally scoffs due to his injuries at seeing Danny.
"Leave us." Henry instructs to his grandson.
The kidnapper turns his attention to Henry "And just who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare." Henry seriously promises.
Without so much as a word, Danny exits shutting the door behind him.
"You old man?" The guy challenges with a laugh "I doubt it."
"You know." Henry states as he sits down "Someone that goes to all that trouble of trying to kidnap a first grade detective – the best in the city – must really have a lot of skeletons in the closet that they want to hide."
The guy shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
Henry smiles at seeing him fidget "That's what I thought so here is what's going to happen. You are going to retract your statement saying Sergeant Reagan used unnecessary and excessive force during your arrest and I will forget these skeletons exist."
"He broke my nose!" the kidnapper tosses back.
"No." Henry rejects "I'm pretty sure you broke your nose when you fell and slammed your own face into the concrete floor."
"Because he hit me!"
"Ah..." Henry cajoles "But does one really have anything to do with the other?"
The perp looks at Henry confused "What? of course it does! I fell because he hit me!"
Henry flippantly shrugs "I've seen plenty a person that can take a hit and not fall down on their face and the lawyers representing Sergeant Reagan will present it that way too." He points out "So again, we can do this one of two ways, you can continue claiming assault and lose anyway – a path that will be sure to reveal your skeletons - or you recant your statement and I see no reason for your skeletons to ever come to light."
Just then the door opens again and Danny enters with a file. He silently hands it to Henry then walks out the door again closing it behind him.
Henry takes the file, opens it up and pretends to read the blank pieces of paper in front of him. He sucks in a breath of air "Oh man that's even worse than I thought. Wow. You have some hum dinger skeletons. Better get used to having bars all around you for the rest of your life because a lot of these will mean consecutive not concurrent sentences or…" he adds as he closes the file and puts it down "… I suddenly forget I ever saw this." he adds "And this file suddenly disappears - that's the crazy thing about getting old - the mind tends to forgot things - and where you put them…"
The perp eyes Henry "Why should I trust you?"
"Because I'm the only one here offering you a way out from you living the rest of your life… and then dying in prison."
….
Henry walks out of the interrogation room and Danny immediately takes a step towards his grandfather "Well?" Danny prompts
Henry smiles and nods.
"Nice." Danny commends as he digs out his phone and dials "Erin!" He greets "It worked. He took the bait and wants to recant so send over which ever work buddy of yours it is for a new statement before he changes his mind!"
From her desk, Erin looks over at her younger brother still seated at her table pouring over her law books and she smiles "Will do." She quips into the phone before hanging up and getting up "Sorry." She apologizes to Jamie as she heads for her door "Just need to go take care of something."
Jamie simply mutters something incoherent in return as Erin walks out and flags down the ADA in charge of Eddie's kidnapping case. They exchange words and the ADA moves to grab their coat and briefcase and leaves. Erin turns back around and again smiles as she looks at her younger brother through the window. A moment later she drops the smile and moves back into her doorway "Go home." She instructs.
Jamie finally lifts his head to look at his sister.
"Go home." She repeats "You've been at this all day. Take a break, go spend some time with your wife."
"But…"
"Jamie!" Erin interrupts "Take. A. Break. These books will still be here tomorrow."
Reluctantly Jamie sighs and closes the book in front of him. "I am starting to see double." He admits as he stands "But I'll be back in the morning." he decides before heading for the door.
Erin watches him depart and the smile creeps back up onto her face "Doubt it." she counters once she's sure he is out of earshot.
...
