Chapter 78: Bending The Truth

"New case." Eddie states as she hands a file folder to Danny in the bullpen of the 5-4.

Danny takes it, opens it up and Maria peers over his shoulder as they both read.

"Speed dating?" Maria questions in surprise as she glances up at Jamie and Eddie before looking back down to keep reading "Do people even do that anymore? I thought it was all swipe left or right now."

"Apparently, it still happens." Jamie replies "Now um… here's the thing. I need you two to be the ones to go UC on this one."

Danny and Maria groan.

Jamie shrugs "Sorry."

"No you're not." Danny tosses back as he flips the file closed.

Jamie smiles "You're right. I'm not."

"You know just because Eddie is pregnant and can't be out in the field doesn't mean YOU can't be out in the field." Danny points out to his brother.

"Oh so saying it's a good idea for a married man who's pregnant wife will be monitoring the Op from the van watch her husband 'date' other women?" Jamie flatly states.

Eddie turns to look at Jamie "What you think I can't handle it?"

"Well…" Jamie begins

"Wow." Eddie interrupts "I guess I'll be too emotional to handle it right? No way I can still be professional like you were all times you had to watch me flirt with guys on the job. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Wait are you saying you want him to do this?" Maria queries to Eddie.

"Yes!" Eddie confirms "Just because I'm his wife and pregnant should NOT play into the decision!"

For a moment Danny, Mara and Jamie all just stare at Eddie.

"Oh don't look at me that way." Eddie rejects "You know I'm right."

"She's got a point." Maria slowly agrees as she looks between Jamie and Danny.

Jamie looks at his wife a bit sideways "You're really okay if I do this?"

Eddie sighs "About as much as you were okay watching me all those times but it's the job Jamie."

"Alright." Jamie relents "Guess all three of us are going to speed date then."

"Wait." Danny protests "If you're doing this why do I have to do it?"

"Because I'm the boss and I said so." Jamie counters.

"Come on." Eddie eagerly prompts "Let's head to wardrobe and get you all some bangin' outfits!"

"Did she just say bangin'?" Danny wonders outloud.

Eddie offers her big bright happy smile in return.

….

Eddie sits in the van monitoring the Op "What?" She laughs to her husband over the coms "Don't tell her that!"

Sitting at a table across from his 'date' in a restaurant Jamie awkwardly smiles and tries to pay attention to his date and ignore his wife and her comments in his ear.

"Well don't just sit there." Eddie's voice sounds "Say something!"

"So come here often?" Jamie jokes.

Eddie groans "God you really are bad at this. No wonder you barely dated before we got together."

Jamie covers his mouth and pretends to cough to cover up his next words "Shut up."

A look of surprise appears on Eddie's face "Did you just tell me to shut up?"

"Uh hum." Jamie mutters as he nods his head at his 'date' pretending he's agreeing with what she's saying.

A bell dings.

All the ladies get up and move to the next table allowing Jamie to put his elbow on the table and discreetly cover his mouth with his hand to mask his next words "Quit distracting me." He lowly chides his wife.

"I am not distracting you, I am trying to help you!" Eddie retorts as Maria sits down across from Jamie "Fancy meeting you here." She greets.

"Thank god." Jamie groans as he drops his arm to the table in defeat "She's driving me nuts."

"Who?" Maria questions.

Jamie points at his ear at the same time Eddie simply replies "Me apparently!"

"This is the best op ever." Eddie laughs. "I had no idea coaching my husband on how to date would be so much fun!"

Maria looks pointedly at Jamie "She's weird."

"Oh come on, how many wife's out there get this chance!" Eddie laughs.

"You find anything?" Jamie presses to Maria ignoring his wife.

"Nothing yet." Maria admits "You?"

"No." Eddie sighs in reply for her husband.

"How's Danny doing?" Jamie inquires.

"Chatting up a storm and turning on the charm." Maria notes as she leans slightly over to look behind Jamie where she sees Danny and his current 'date' having a lively conversation and laughing.

"See why can't you do that?" Eddie questions her husband.

"Oh you want me to turn on the charm?" Jamie challenges.

"Yes!" Eddie replies.

"Fine." Jamie states.

"Oh boy." Maria mutters as the bell dings again "Good luck." She tells Jamie as she gets up and moves to the next table as a blonde sits down in front of Jamie.

Jamie smiles at her "Hi, I'm Jamie, I'm a lawyer and I suck at this. You?"

The woman laughs "I'm Nicole. I'm a nurse and I blame my sister for making me do this."

Jamie laughs "So neither one of us wants to be here." He notes "Sounds like the beginnings of a beautiful relationship."

Again Nicole laughs "So if you don't want to be here why are you?"

"Eddie made me do it." Jamie simply and honestly replies.

"Oh." Nicole notes with a nod of her head "And Eddie is?"

"My best friend." Jamie replies.

Eddie snickers "Good one."

"Well I might have to thank this Eddie for making you come." Nicole admits as she flashes Jamie her best smile.

"Ugh." Eddie's voice groans in Jamie's ear "I think I just barfed a little in my mouth." she adds as Jamie simply smiles at Nicole and gives her a slight nod of his head.

"Is he here?" Nicole questions as she looks around.

Jamie looks at Nicole a bit confused "He who?"

"Eddie." Nicole reiterates.

"Oh right." Jamie realizes before nodding his head up and down "Yes, Eddie's here." He confirms as the bell dings again so Nicole gets up "I meant it." She adds before offering a wink and starting to step away "Maybe you can introduce me to him later."

"Yes Jamie…" Eddie sneers over the coms "Maybe you CAN introduce us later." She adds with a laugh as Jamie turns his head slightly in the opposite direction from Nicole and drops the smile from his face "You are so not helping." He covertly whispers to his wife.

"Clearly I didn't need too Mr. Charming." Eddie retorts.

"Again, my best friend made me do it." Jamie tosses back before facing forward again and plastering another smile on his face to greet the next woman approaching.

….

"Well I got no hits." Jamie states.

"You sound disappointed by that." Eddie sounds in his ear.

Jamie sighs "Again you made me do this."

"I got a hit." Danny's voice sounds.

"Hmmm, good for you." Maria's voice sounds.

"Aw don't be jealous now." Danny teases as he walks up to Jamie.

"Well I got a hit too." Maria offers.

"Who?" Danny immediately questions on edge.

"Now who's jealous." Eddie giggles.

"So I'm the only one that didn't get a hit." Jamie ponders outloud.

"That's because even though you were trying, you still give off that I'm unable vibe." Danny helpfully tells his brother.

Jamie turns to look at his brother in confusion.

Danny rolls his eyes that is brother doesn't understand what he is trying to do so he gives his brother a pointed look and points at his earbud indicating he said that because Jamie's wife is listening in their ears.

"The deafening silence is giving away what you are trying to do Danny." Eddie's voice flatly states.

"I'm doing nothing." Danny counters in deflection.

"Hi!" Nicole brightly greets as she walks up "You must be Eddie!" She deduces as she looks at Danny.

"Um…" Danny hesitates confused.

"Yup this is Eddie!" Jamie awkwardly rushes out as he slaps a hand on his brother's shoulder "Right Eddie? Eddie, this is Nicole. She wants to thank you for making me do this."

Danny tries to stop his face from breaking out into a grin "Oh. Sure. No problem." he humorous returns "Because if I know Jamie - and I think I do - I know he'd NEVER do this on his own without prompting from me – Eddie." he repeats for clarification as both Danny and Jamie smile at Nicole.

"I'm going to kill you two." Eddie promises in their ears.

"So wondering if you were interested in getting a drink?" Nicole questions of Jamie.

"Oh who's getting a big hit now huh?" Eddie begrudgingly grumbles in all their ears.

"As flattered as I know he is." Danny jumps in for his brother "Me – Eddie..." he again reiterates "…already has a monopoly on his time for the rest of the evening."

"Damn right I do." Eddie confirms.

"But I thought the whole point of this evening was to meet someone?" Nicole points out "I'll make it worth your while I promise." She playfully flirts.

"Oh good lord." Eddie breathes out annoyed "Could she BE anymore obvious?"

"You know Eddie..." Jamie begins as he turns to look at his brother.

"Yes Jamie?" Danny replies.

"This would not be an issue right now if you had not convinced me to do this."

"You don't say." Danny returns.

"Did I mention I am going to kill you two?" Eddie grumbles.

Suddenly Danny swats at his ear.

Everyone looks over at him in surprise.

"Everything okay?" Nicole questions.

Danny smiles "Yeah just something in my ear and it was annoying me."

Suddenly Jamie's cellphone states to ring. He pulls it out to see "Eddie." flash across the screen

"Sorry, this is my um… brother." Jamie apologizes as he looks pointedly at Danny who nods in understanding "I have to take this. Hi Danny." he greets into the phone.

"Help! Help!" Eddie laughs at the other end of the line before a hint of annoyance creeps into her voice "I'm calling to give you an excuse and save your ass."

Jamie heavily sighs "Alright, I'm on my way." He states before hanging up and turning back towards Danny and Nicole "Sorry I have to go he – my brother Danny…" he reiterates "He's always getting tangled up with the wrong kind of people and… needs back up." he explains as he thinks of all the times Danny has taken down perps.

Danny repeatedly nods his head up and down in agreement "Yeah that Danny…" he helpfully states "He's always right there in the action."

Jamie mimics Danny's actions so they are now both repeatedly nods their head up and down in agreement.

"Oh must work out well for him then with you being a lawyer." Nicole notes.

"Right." Danny again agrees still nodding his head "Super well." he states knowing in reality it's never once even been an option.

Awkward silence…

"Well!" Jamie suddenly quips "I gotta get going. Nice to meet you though." he tells Nicole before turning to walk away.

"Wait, let me give you my number!" Nicole calls.

"Give it to Eddie!" Jamie calls back "If I can trust anyone to make sure I get it later – it's Eddie!"

"Oh you'll be getting something alright." Eddie's unimpressed voice sounds in Jamie's ear causing Jamie to smile as he walks out of the restaurant "You're right Eddie, this op was a lot of fun."

"Shut up." She tosses back before Jamie sighs and turns serious as he walks towards The Chevelle on the far side of the lot "I do feel bad for leading her on though."

"Did you want to go back and make it up to her?" Eddie flatly challenges "It's a part of the job Jamie."

"I know."

Beat.

"But I love you for feeling bad anyway." Eddie honestly admits knowing not all guys would.

"I love you too…" Jamie returns before a playful look appears on his face as he unlocks the car "…Danny."

"Ohhhhh." Eddie notes "Did you hear that baby? Daddy's trying to be funny!"

"Hey, I'm not just trying, I AM funny!"

"You are a lot of things Jamie." Eddie notes "Smart, caring, practical, even heroic but one of the things you are not, is funny. I on the other hand am hilarious." Eddie arrogantly adds causing Jamie to huff out a good laugh.

"See." Eddie points out "I made you laugh."

Suddenly over the earbud Eddie hears a grunt and a thud and she narrows her eyes "Jamie, what was that?"

Silence.

"Jamie?" she repeats.

No response…