Ch 52: The Pack
Jamie and Sydney sit down at a table in a café "So Eddie's really okay with all this?" Sid questions.
Jamie sighs "That's what she says."
"She's got nothing to worry about." Sid promises as she opens her briefcase to take out a bundle of files "We've both moved on."
"Agreed." Jamie states in relief that they are on the same page.
Suddenly Sydney laughs "You ever think when I left for London, we'd be sitting here over 10 years later about to work on a law case together?" She inquires as the door to the café opens and Rosa and Mia enter "Even if its only a cover?"
"Honestly I never thought I'd see you again." Jamie admits with a laugh.
Mia's ears pick up the familiar laugh and she eyes start scanning the patrons. They light up the second she sees Jamie "Uncle Jamie!" She calls as she hurries over and practically throws herself at him in a hug.
"Hey Kiddo!" Jamie happily greets in surprise as his eyes look towards the entrance to see Rosa making her way over "Wasn't expecting to see you and your Mom here!"
"I got a A in math so I get a treat!" Mia proudly boasts.
"Nice." Jamie commends.
"And she of course chose an ice cream sundae." Rosa adds as she walks up.
"Oh and they make good ones here." Sydney notes.
"Oh sorry." Jamie apologizes in realization "Sydney, this is Mia, my god daughter and her Mom Rosa."
"God daughter?" Sydney questions in surprise "Wow!"
"And Rosa, Mia, this is Sydney. We went to college together."
"Oh come on!" Sydney laughs "It was a little more then 'we went to college together.' We were engaged or did you forget that part?"
"Oh." Rosa breathes out in surprise before she can stop herself while Mia's eyes go wide and she looks back and forth between Jamie and Sydney "You almost married her?"
"Well I don't know if you can say almost." Jamie laughs "We didn't really get that far into planning the wedding before she called it off!"
Mia narrows her eyes at Sydney.
Sydney smiles at her.
Mia doesn't return the smile "Where's Aunt Eddie?" she instead inquires turning her attention back to Jamie.
"Ah, probably at home taking a nap by now." Jamie replies.
Mia again looks at Sydney then slides into an empty seat at the table deciding she's going to stay.
"Mia come on." Rosa prompts "Let's go get your sundae."
"Just fudge, please and thank you." Mia tells her Mom.
"Mia." Rosa states in a warning tone "You can come and get your sundae yourself. Now." She instructs.
Huffing a little, Mia slides out of her seat and heads for the counter with her Mother.
"Cute kid." Sydney offers.
"Yeah." Jamie laughs "She's the best."
"Are you sure you just want fudge?" Rosa prompts her daughter as she looks at the menu board "No sprinkles or nuts or anything?"
"No, that's it." Mia replies but she isn't even looking at the board. Her focus is on watching Jamie and Sydney "I don't like her." Mia announces.
"What?" Rosa questions not following as she glances down at her daughter.
"That woman with Uncle Jamie." Mia explains "I don't like her. He should be here with Aunt Eddie."
"Okay Mia there is nothing wrong with…"
but at that moment Rosa and Mia watch as Jamie and Sydney laugh at something and Sydney places her hand on Jamie's arm.
Rosa raises a concerned eyebrow "Okay you go sit with your Uncle Jamie and I'll bring you your sundae."
Nodding her head in acceptance, Mia marches over to the table and again slides into her seat "Hi!" She brightly greets "I'm back!"
"Oh!" Sydney states in a bit of surprise not realizing Mia and her Mother would be joining them but she goes with it "Okay." She adds with a bit of a laugh.
Mia begins to open her backpack and pulls out her math test "Here. See!" She offers as she hands the test over to Jamie.
Jamie takes it and looks it over "Very nice."
"Mr. Armie helped!" Mia boasts "He's really good at math!"
Jamie looks over in complete surprise at that "Really?"
Mia nods
"Mr. Armie?" Sydney questions.
"Eddie's Dad." Jamie explains.
"And here's your sundae!" Rosa interrupts as she sets it down on the table in front of Mia then moves to slide into the seat across from her daughter. She plasters a smile on her face "So!" She lightly quips "What are we talking about?" She inquires as she looks back and forth between Jamie and Sydney.
She had Eddie's back…
….
Jamie walks into the apartment to see Eddie just getting up from a nap on the couch "Hey!" He greets as he shuts the door behind him "Guess who showed up at the café while I was meeting with Sydney?"
"Who?" Eddie questions as she stretches a bit.
"Mia and Rosa!" Jamie reveals.
"What?" Eddie laughs.
"Yeah, we didn't get real far into the details of the case after they arrived." Jamie explains "They sat down with us and we ended up talking mostly about Mia and school and - hey did you know your Dad was helping Mia with math?"
Eddie nods "Yeah she called the other day looking for you with a math problem. You weren't here and I couldn't help so I connected her with Dad – the rest as they say is history."
"Oh." Jamie accepts "They kept asking about you and how you're feeling and the baby and then Sydney remembered she had a meeting and she left."
Eddie thinks about Jamie's words "So they just sat down with you?"
"Yup."
"Mia and Rosa?" Eddie tries to clarify.
"Yes." Jamie confirms.
"Um Jamie…" Eddie chuckles "I think maybe they were um… being… protective."
Jamie scrunches his face up in confusion "Of what?"
"You. Me." Eddie offers "Us."
"What?" Jamie questions again "Why?"
"Let me ask you something." Eddie continues "You introduced everyone right?"
"Yeah." Jamie confirms.
"How?" Eddie presses.
"What do you mean how?" Jamie counters.
"I mean what did you say – specifically – like 'hi this is my friend Sydney' or what?"
"I ah… I think I said we went to college together."
"And that's it?" Eddie presses.
"Yeah. I mean then Sid said something about how it was more then just college and we were engaged but…"
"There you go!" Eddie interrupts with a triumphant look on her face.
"There you go what?" Jamie questions again still not seeing it.
"Oh you are so cute when you are clueless." Eddie heartily laughs "Jamie! Sydney said she was your exfiancee!"
"So?"
Eddie just shakes her head "How do I put this in terms you will understand… let's see… oh okay I know! So let's imagine I'm sitting in a café at a table across from let's say Barry…"
Jamie immediately lowers his head and groans.
"So you get it now?" Eddie inquires.
Jamie silently nods.
Eddie pats his arm "Good." but then Jamie looks up in amazed awe "Really?"
Eddie nods "Seems you're not the only one with a protective streak.
Jamie looks pointedly at his wife "The only one?" he challenges.
Eddie giggles "What little ol' me?"
Jamie nods.
"And don't you forget it!" Eddie seriously warns.
Jamie smiles and then Eddie snickers "You got yourself a pack of mama bears Bub! I pitty the fool that tries to get in the way of that!"
Jamie laughs "You pitty the fool?"
"What?" Eddie defends as she reaches for her cellphone "I loved The A Team! Mr. T is cool!"
Jamie shakes his head as he watches his wife compose a text message "Who are you messaging?"
"Rosa." Eddie replies "I'm telling her she and Mia can stand down."
"Oh lord." Jamie mutters.
"What?" Eddie defends "They can't keep blocking the net or we'll never get this case solved."
"Have I told you lately how awesome you are?"
Eddie hits send then pauses and thinks "Awesome…no. You've repeated said I love you but awesome no. You can say that one a few more times if you'd like."
"You Mrs. Reagan as aweeeee-sommmmme." Jamie states as he leans over to kiss and lower his wife to the couch but Eddie's cellphone starts to ring so Eddie pushes her husband off her "I bet it's the pack." she laughs as she reaches over "Yup!" She sings when she sees Rosa's name "Hello!"
"AUNT EDDIE!" Mia begins "Did you know Uncle Jamie was previously engaged? Me and Mom met her today and…
Eddie lowers her phone and puts it on speak so Jamie can listen in…
"I don't like her!" Mia rambles "But don't worry. Me and Mommy ran her out the door and…"
Eddie turns to look at Jamie to see his mouth drop open at hearing confirmation "Mia…" Eddie interrupts "Did you not just get my text?"
There is a slight silence pause over the phone "Well yes but…"
"Sweetie, I know all about Sydney okay." Eddie adds "We are all working on a case with her."
"Yeah but in the café..." Mia protests.
"It was a business meeting Mia." Jamie interrupts.
Another silent pause "Uncle Jamie?" Mia finally tentatively questions.
"Yes Mia." Jamie confirms.
"Oh." Mia sheepishly accepts "You're there."
"I am."
Another pause.
"But she put her hand on your arm!" Mia insists "Even I know that's a no no!"
Eddie slowly turns to looks at Jamie with raised eyebrows.
Jamie thinks back "Um yeah I guess she did but it was nothing."
Eddie just continues to stare at her husband unimpressed.
"What do you want to see video footage that it was nothing?" Jamie presses.
"Oh I bet the cafe has some." Eddie notes.
"I can get that for you with a simple phone call." Jamie offers his wife.
At first Eddie rolls her eyes but then scrunches them up as she looks at her husband "Oh you're serious." She realizes as Jamie nods in confirmation "Jamie…" she begins but a knock on the door stops her.
Jamie gets up, heads to the door and swings it open to see his sister on the other side "Hi."
"'Alright Mia." Eddie states "We have to go but remember what I said – you can stand down."
"Fine." Mia reluctantly agrees "Bye." She adds before hanging up.
Erin raises an eyebrow as she enters the apartment "What was that about?"
"Long story." Jamie dismisses before changing the subject "So thank you for coming."
"Well you got my attention when you said you needed my help on a case…" Erin admits "…but asked if I could stop by the apartment to talk about it instead of you just barging into my office."
"Well, it's a bit sensitive." Jamie replies "I'm ah…. I'm gonna need to go undercover – as a lawyer. In the courtroom… and we need someone on the other side that won't just completely destroy me and my inexperience."
Slowly a wide grin graces Erin's face "And you think that's me?"
Jamie heavily sighs at seeing his sister's giddy look "Well I'm HOPING that's you. I know you could go the other way and completely sink me under but I'm hoping you'll take pity on me for the good of the case."
Amused, Erin eyes her brother "I'm listening."
…..
Jamie sits at the defense table with his 'client' while Sydney sits just behind them in the gallery when the judge enters.
"All rise."
"Alright." The judge begins as he sits and looks at the defense table slightly surprised to see a new lawyer there.
"Good morning your honor." Jamie greets "Jameson Reagan for the defense."
The judge looks at Jamie then across the floor at the DA's table to Erin then back at Jamie "Any relation?"
"Yes." Jamie replies.
"Won't be an issue." Erin promises.
The judge again eyes the two, his interest peaked to see how this plays out "Okay then. Let's get started."
….
Jamie walks down a hall, stops at a door, looks up and down the hall twice then turns the knob to enter the room.
Before him he sees Danny, Maria, Sydney and Erin there "Well that should be enough to put a target on my back." he greets.
"Not funny." Erin counters "But yes." she adds before smiling at her younger brother "You did good." she commends.
Jamie turns to focus his attention on his sister "I thought you were going to go easy on me?" he inquires in slight annoyance.
"I did!" Erin defends "I still had to make it look believable!"
"You did do good Jamie." Sydney agrees "In another life you really would have made a great lawyer."
Jamie just looks at Sydney. He doesn't address her comment just moves the conversation along "So now we wait for tonight and the see what happens."
…..
Sitting alone at a desk in a dimly lit office of the law firm going over files, Jamie looks up when he hears a noise. He gets up and moves to the office door way "ANYONE THERE?" he calls.
No answer.
He waits another second then turns and heads back to his desk. He sits down and gets back to work.
A few moments later he hears a noise again so he lifts his head "HELLO?" he calls.
Silence.
Jamie lowers his head back to look at the files in front of him.
A moment later another noise sounds.
Getting frustrated, Jamie gets up and moves out in the larger office space "Okay I know someone is here! You might as well just come out!"
Silence.
Jamie turns to head back to his office and is immediately met with a hard fist to his jaw.
Stumbling a bit, it takes Jamie a second to try to counter but its all the time his attacker needs to loop a rope around Jamie's neck...
...
