Chapter 94: Surprises

Eddie is putting away laundry when her cellphone rings. She pulls it out to see McNichols name flash across the screen "Hi Paula." She greets as she answers it.

"Eddie." Paula begins "Got a call at the 2-9 just now looking for you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, from the Augusta's."

"Who?" Eddie prompts in confusion.

Paula let's out a heavy breath of air in annoyance that she is having to explain things "They adopted that dog you and Witten brought into the house."

"You mean Jamko?" Eddie questions.

"That was his name!" Paula quickly notes "Couldn't remember."

"What did they want?"

"I don't know, I am not your secretary." Paula counters "Be happy I passed the message on."

"Okay sorry." Eddie defensively apologizes "Did you get a number?"

Again, McNichols heavily sighs as she reaches for a folder "Do you have a pen and paper?"

"Okay hang on." Eddie prompts as she rushes to grab the items…

….

Eddie walks into the study to see Jamie working at his desk "Soooooooo…" She drawls out "Remember when I said if we ever adopted a dog we should name him Ruiz?"

"Uh huh." Jamie mutters as he moves to type into his laptop on the desk.

"Changed my mind." Eddie states.

"Okay." Jamie again mutters.

"Cuz the dog already has a name."

Jamie immediately looks up.

"Jamko." Eddie reveals "Jamko needs a new home so I kinda said we'd take him."

Jamie looks at his wife in disbelief "Without talking to me? Or Rosa and Mia?"

"But it's Jamko!" Eddie pleads.

"You remember that dog ripped apart my office right?" Jamie reminds his wife "And you want to bring him here?"

"He just needed to release some energy." Eddie dismisses "That wouldn't be an issue here. It's a big house with a big yard! Besides he's older now – in dog years, he's practically a senior citizen so I'm sure he's past that phase…"

Still stewing in disbelief, Jamie stares a moment at his wife then simply just gets up from his chair and silently walks out of the study and back out into the living room.

"Jamie come on." Eddie pleads as she follows but Jamie doesn't say anything he just continues on into the kitchen towards the back door "Where are you going?"

Jamie opens the door and gestures outside where Rosa and Mia are puttering around in the flower bed "Tell them then if they agree you're in charge of getting Reagan and Jamko to like each other."

A huge smile appears on Eddie's face.

"I'm serious Eddie." Jamie presses "If that dog tears this house apart I will say I told you so."

"What dog?" Mia immediately questions as Rosa also looks over.

"So interesting story…." Eddie begins.

….

Eddie and Jamie pull into the driveway in their new SUV and stop. Eddie gets out of the passenger's seat then moves to open the back passenger side door just slightly where she picks up Jamko's leash then opens the door wide for the dog "Alright Buddy, come on out! Welcome to your new home!"

That is all the encouragement Jamko needs as he jumps out and immediately starts to investigate his new surroundings. It takes him all of 10 seconds to sniff out a spot on the lawn, lift his leg and pee.

"Who's a good boy!" Eddie praises while Jamie who has also made his way out of the vehicle frowns.

"He peed." Jamie flatly states.

"Outside!" Eddie proudly boasts "Not in the house - like he's supposed too!"

Suddenly the front door opens and Rosa and Mia walk out.

"So this is the famous Jamko." Rosa states.

Mia looks at the dog and frowns slightly "He's big." She notes – her mind comparing his size to Reagan's size.

"He's a sweetheart!" Eddie promises as she gives the dog's head a loving jostle "Come say hi." she prompts so Mia and Rosa walk over and greet the dog.

Jamko let's out a happy bark and wags his tail.

"Seems happy to meet us." Rosa notes "Jamko." She just repeats a moment later in thought "That's such an usual name. Does it mean anything?"

Jamie and Eddie exchange a look.

"Well um…" Eddie begins "It's actually a mash up our names." She explains as she gestures between herself and Jamie "Jamie and Janko."

Both Mia and Rosa just stare Jamie and Eddie a moment before Mia just bursts out laughing "My Aunt and Uncle Jamko! That's priceless."

"Um no." Jamie interjects "The dog is Jamko. We are your Uncle Jamie and Aunt Eddie, got it?" he warns in a no nonsense voice.

Mia eyes her uncle and tries to keep a straight face "Got it." She accepts but everyone can see her eyes are still dancing in delight at the new revelation.

"Where's Reagan?" Jamie prompts trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"In my room with the door shut like you asked." Mia replies as she pets the dog before giggling out "Jamko." in amusement.

"Okay." Jamie sighs knowing they haven't heard the last from Mia on that subject "Well, let's take Jamko in and let him explore. If we do this right, in time hopefully those two will get along."

The Reagan's and The Ruiz's did a good job of keeping Jamko and Reagan separate that evening but the next morning was a different story as a still sleepy Mia forgets herself and opens the door to where Jamko was set up for the night.

In a flash Jamko bolts out of the room.

"JAMKO NO!" Mia cries as she rushes to try to catch the dog but its no use as he bolts down the stairs and into the living room.

In the kitchen, Jamie looks up at hearing Mia's plea but then his eyes see Jamko running down the stairs "Crap." Jamie mutters as he drops what he's doing and tries to head the dog off but it's too late as Reagan who is on his cat tree in front of the bay window sees the dog and goes into panic mode and Jamko spots the cat and runs for him.

In an instant, it's mayhem with barking and posturing from Jamko and an arched back, poofy tail and hissing screaming coming from Reagan.

"MIA STAY BACK!" Jamie orders knowing how unpredictable these kinds of situations can be as Rosa and then Eddie come hurrying into the room to see what all the commotion is about.

Jamie manages to grab Jamko by his collar and hold him back giving Reagan just enough time to turn and run.

"REAGAN! COME BACK!" Mia calls as she runs after her cat.

Eddie heavily sighs in defeat "So much for a slow introduction."

Still trying to reign in the dog, Jamie turns slightly and shoots his wife an unimpressed look.

"Jamko." Eddie chides "Stop."

Surprisingly to everyone, the dog sits down and obeys.

"Okay." Eddie slowly notes "Clearly you learnt a few tricks. What else can you do?"

Jamko let's out a bark.

"Roll over." Eddie prompts.

The dog just looks at her.

"Lay down." Jamie tries as he points to the floor.

Jamko lays down.

Jamie, Eddie and Rosa all exchange another look.

"Paw." Rosa prompts as she steps forward and lifts her hand requesting his paw.

Jamko sits back up and lifts a paw.

"Okay maybe there is hope for this yet." Jamie notes.

….

Eddie sits at her desk - alone in her office at the 5-4 tapping her pen to her chin deep in thought.

"You wanted to see me Boss?" Danny inquires as he steps in the doorway.

Eddie immediately looks over "Yes! Come in! Shut the door!"

"Okay…" Danny slowly breathes out as he complies "What's up?"

"Jamie's birthday is coming up." Eddie states.

"It is." Danny agrees "The big 4-0."

"I want to throw him a surprise party." Eddie reveals.

"Oh." Danny breathes out "Okay."

"I'm thinking a backyard barbeque." Eddie announces.

Danny nods "He'd like that."

"So you'll help me pull it off?" Eddie inquires.

Danny grins "Sure. When?"

"The Saturday before his birthday."

"Okay." Danny accept "And how are you planning on getting Jamie out of the house?"

Eddie smiles "I'm tagging Mia for her first undercover op!"

Just then the door opens and Jamie enters.

Danny and Eddie immediately clam up.

Jamie suspiciously eyes them "Why was the door closed?"

Danny points at his sister in law "She got a chill." He simply offers.

Jamie looks at his wife "Then why aren't you wearing your sweater?" he notes as he sees it just draped over the back of her chair.

"Cuz then I got a hot flash." Eddie simply explains before picking up some random folder on her desk and holding it out to Danny as an excuse as to why he's there "Here you go."

Danny reaches to take it "Thank you." He accepts as he plays along before simply turning and walking out of the office.

Jamie continues to look between his wife and brother – his Reagan gut telling him they are up to something…

…..

Coming home, Eddie and Jamie open the door from the garage to the kitchen to see Jamko race past them with Mia not to far behind with his leash trying to catch him.

"JAMKO STOP!" Eddie commands.

Jamko sits down.

"Mia." Jamie sighs as he steps towards Mia to take the leash from her before walking towards the dog "You have to remember to use the commands." He adds as he clips the leash to the dog's collar.

"I TRIED!" Mia whines in frustration "He would not listen to me!"

Eddie looks over in surprise "Really?"

"Really." Mia flatly confirms "This dog does not like me."

Jamko lets out a bark then gets up and walks over to Mia. He sits down in front of her and looks up at her.

Eddie laughs "Um I think he thought it was a game."

Mia throws her Aunt an unhappy look "Not a fun one."

"We'll work on it." Jamie promises "I take it you were trying to take him out for a bathroom break?"

Mia nods "He was whining in his room and Reagan was starting to freak out."

Jamie sighs "Okay come on." He prompts "Let's go out back and we'll see if we can work on him listening to you once he's done his business."

...