This is the longest story I've written that hasn't been split into a sequel surpassing "Big Time Sister", though if you combine the number of chapters in "When Ice and Dirt Mix" and "Love Story", it has the same number. It also has the most reviews. I want to thank all of you who continue to read it. When I started I never figured it would get this long nor that so many people would like it. I'm going to keep going until I find a decent ending to it.

Thanks to decadenceofmysoul, patrickpopp, Pharmergirl, Daisyangel, and the guest Coco for your reviews on the last chapter. Pharmergirl, you're one of the few people who still constantly reviews that has been since the beginning. I think your first review was (checking...) chapter 7. There are some others that have also been reviewing for a while too and I appreciate that. I'm sure there are still others that have been reading since the beginning and just haven't reviewed, I find myself doing that at times.

Again thanks to everyone who is still with me here.

Scenes from and references to 6x14 and 6x17.

About a week later, Anna got a phone call inviting her back to the poker game. A few days after that Jim called and they talked about their weeks. "Any chance you can come home this weekend?" Jim asked.

"Wish I could but I only get the weekend for President's Day then it's straight back to work. The police academy doesn't believe in extended vacations for holidays. They want you focused on the work and the laws not just going through the motions like you can at college. Wish I could be there though. I miss hanging out with you," Anna answered.

"I know. There was never any pressure when we did hang out. I just got to relax with a friend and there was nothing that said I had to impress you," Jim told her.

"I was impressed that you were just you and you gave me the time of day. I miss having a friend like you around. I mean Riley is great and we talk and text as much as we can but having you there, seeing you on a daily basis, there's nothing really that can beat it. I'm sorry I'm making this weird."

"Not at all. I feel the same way. You talked to Derrek lately?"

"No. Well, we've texted a bit but I've heard he's busy with school."

"And planning a wedding."

"You're kidding. He finally proposed?" Anna asked. Derrek and Krista had been dating for what seemed like ages and all their friends were just waiting for the moment he proposed to her.

"Not exactly."

"How can you plan a wedding if you're not engaged?"

"He hasn't officially popped the question but they've been talking about their future and after Ray and Emma's impromptu wedding at Christmas, it's been on everyone's minds," Jim told her.

"Even yours?"

"Helps if I have the right girl. What about you? You finding any hot guys down there?"

"Don't get me started. After Ed, another guy is the last thing I need."

"I don't know if I told you how sorry I am that it didn't work out and that you were blindsided by that. Sometimes even the best of men can be hiding the darkest secrets."

"Yeah. I know. Crap, I have to go. Work calls. Life's not cheap." Anna noticed the time and flinched. She had a shift in less than 20 minutes and she wasn't even dressed for it.

"Alright, text when you can."

"Will do." They hung up and Anna sighed before getting ready for her shift at the diner.

It was about a month after that when Anna got another urgent call. This time it was from Nicky. "What's going on, Nick?" Anna asked. Luckily, Anna was at home getting ready for bed.

"I don't know what to do and I need your advice," Nicky told her in a panic.

"Ok, what happened?"

"We were coming back from a concert the other night, me and three of my friends, and we got pulled over for a busted taillight. Next thing I know we're all being arrested for drug possession. I had to stay in a holding cell overnight. Granted it was by myself but it was terrible. They R.o. me but I've been suspended. Uncle Jamie says I can go to prison if no one claims the drugs. What do I do?"

"What's your dad say?"

"He's out of town at a conference. I can't get a hold of him and mom's super disappointed. She just keeps giving me these looks and they say I can't talk to Grandpa."

"I know you're scared and you're worried about disappointing the family and you have a right to be. This is very hard, but, Nick, these kids, they're not your friends. If they are willing to destroy your future as well as their own, they aren't your true friends."

"That's what Uncle Jamie says too. How do I get out of this without ratting on one of them?"

"Do you remember when that teacher at my school was using girls? I was terrified that entire time until he took the deal. I thought my friends were going to turn on me for turning him in. My real friends didn't. I found out who I can count on and who I couldn't. Your true friends are going to stick by you and maybe this gets that kid the help he needs. Coke is really bad for you with no positives. It's not like we're talking about weed or oxy. Doing the right thing is seldom easy. And they're right, Grampa can't talk to you. Remember why I wasn't seen in public with him after spring break? I couldn't even call him. It can't look like the wagons are circling. You have to be held to the same or higher standard than Mr. Joe Public."

"I don't know what to do. Please!"

"I don't think you get it. Do you remember when I got pulled over for supposedly drinking and driving? There was an open container of beer in the center console and the cops arrested all of us because no one would fess up? My entire future was going down the drain. Drugs are not like murder. Either someone admits they're theirs or everyone goes down for it. Murder, juries and DA's, they want one person because it's easier and a competent defense attorney can't tear the case apart. When they wanted to charge all of us, a good lawyer talked Jake into taking the blame so not only wouldn't my future be destroyed, but also so they'd go easier on him."

"Anna, really I do get it. It's bad enough I don't drink and I don't smoke and I try not to party to hard, but if I narc him out ... No one's ever going to trust me again. You watch cops shows, there's gotta be something."

"Cop shows aren't real life but ..." Anna sighed heavily as she plopped down on her bed and ran a hand through her hair. There was one person she knew that could give some great advice and he had been detective so he knew how to get people to confess if they didn't want to. "Ok, fine, take down this number." Anna put her cousin on speaker then pulled up a contact before rattling off a number to her cousin. "If you don't get a call in the next 20 minutes, give that number a call in the morning. Look, I have to make a phone call then get to bed for an early class. I'll talk to you later."

"But, Anna!" Nicky pleaded.

"Bye." Anna hung up and called the number that she had just given her cousin.

"Hello?" a deep voice answered on the other end.

"Uh, Lieutenant? It's Anna Reagan, do you have a minute?" Anna answered.

"Sure. Is everything alright?" Gormley asked.

"For me, sure. By now, I know you've heard about Nicky and the trouble she's in."

"I have, but there's no way to make it go away without using the pull of 1PP and the Bronx D.A. has a problem with your grandfather."

"Which makes it worse," Anna said. "I know that you can't step in and smooth things over, but you have been on the job longer than I've been alive, so you've seen a thing or two and collared enough perps to know how to get a confession or get someone to turn. Maybe you could call Nicky and talk to her? Maybe give her some advice on how to get this other kid to confess on his own so she doesn't end up looking like a rat. You've got to have some kind of trick or tactic for that."

"I'm not sure I can do that."

"You want to help my cousin and the best part of this plan is all you have to do is give her advice and she'll do the rest. It will never come up and no one will ever know. Besides, it's just advice. No hook to it. It's not like you're voiding the arrest or making it disappear. If you were in her shoes or you were the investigating detective on this, you'd do something to make sure they got the right kid and not everyone had to take the fall."

Gormley sighed but Anna could tell he had been moved. "I'll consider it."

"Thanks, Lieutenant. She'll really appreciate it. The whole family will." They hung up and Anna went to bed. Anna came home a few days later to a message from Nicky that said exactly how she had gotten out of trouble and a big thank you for her help. It was nearly the middle of March when she came home one day to find Jim on her front steps. "Jim?" Anna said curiously. "What are you...?" That wasn't to say that she wasn't happy to see him. She had missed hanging with him in her down time but he was busy saving lives in New York and that took precedence over coming down to see her in Miami.

Jim stood and tried to grin. It failed to reach his eyes which told her that her normally happy friend was hurting from something. Anna tried not to push it. "I took a week off. Needed a break and thought I'd come see my best friend," he told her. His voice was light and airy, almost as a matter of fact but Anna could hear the desperation when he said those last two words. She moved around him and unlocked her front door. "If this isn't a good time, I can check into a hotel near the beach and entertain myself. I'm good at that and Miami is a tourist destination." Now, he just sounded sad.

Anna stepped inside and turned to look at Jim. He looked nervous and like he was second-guessing himself. She smiled softly. "I can only offer a couch and blankets. I wish I knew you were coming. I've got classes and training all week. I'll be gone most of the day. I'm sorry, Jim."

"That's ok, I can entertain myself. I just wanted to see you."

"I could always call off. We have a great staff at the diner who could handle it without me for a couple days."

He shook his head but didn't look quite as sad now that he knew she wasn't turning him away. "Don't go out of your way. I'll be fine, I promise."

Anna observed him, but relented and let him inside. She left him a list of things he could do while he was in town which kept him busy for the next three days.

By Thursday, Anna felt bad so she called in sick to work so that after her academy classes she could stop at her favorite Chinese place and take it to her place. She walked in the door at 6 pm on the dot. They ate in front of the TV that night and talked about almost everything under the sun. They did not talk about her undercover job which she wasn't allowed to talk about or why he came to Miami needing a break from being a paramedic. She knew there was something bothering him but she knew him well enough that he would talk when he was ready. So, she left it alone instead choosing to keep the topics light and asking him about Ray and Emma and all the couples they had known in high school and most of their friends.

Friday, she called in sick again and this time they got dinner at a food truck and ate it at a picnic table before taking a walk along the beach as the sun set. For the most part, they walked in silence along the beach, eventually sitting down in an empty spot. They talked until the sun went down then they headed back to her apartment. It hit Anna on the drive back how much she missed hanging out with Jim. She watched him from the passenger side and couldn't help but feel a lot better than she had in recent weeks. Once back at the apartment, they crashed on the couch and turned on a movie. It was then that Anna realized how she felt. She felt at home, comfortable, and nowhere near as exhausted as she had been. The movie played on and Anna reveled in that comfort. With about 10 minutes left in the movie, Anna flipped over onto her back and looked at him in the glow of the TV. He was completely absorbed in the movie on the screen. She swallowed down the tears and couldn't help but wonder where they'd be if she had given into their friends back in high school. Watching him now, one hand curled into a fist, propping his head up on the armrest, his body lying along the couch between hers and the back rest, his other hand laying along his leg, she was filled with regret. He looked down at her and smiled. She blushed at being caught.

"What are you thinking?" he asked soft and gentle.

"Just about what our friends said in high school."

"Our friends said a lot of stuff in high school. Something in particular got your mind running 1000 mph?"

"I don't know."

"I think you do. Come on, Anna, we're both considered adults and we're best friends, we can handle it. There's no reason not to tell me. I probably already know what you're talking about and I would never embarrass you." His hand dropped from his head.

"Our friends, your brother, my brothers," she listed off, "were of the opinion that we had feelings for each other. I can't tell you that I ever considered it or that I would've acted on it if I recognized it."

He smiled softly. "It's not a crazy idea. I think I did have a bit of a crush on you in high school. You were sweet and mostly kind. Plus, you could keep up with my sports talk. I always liked that in a girl."

"Did the crush ever go away?"

Jim swallowed hard and watched her carefully. "I think it changed. Being with you feels right and when I'm not … something's missing." He swallowed again. "What about you?"

Anna smirked. "I really like being with you, Jim. Despite how busy this week has been, I'm glad you're here."

"Me too," Jim smiled again and Anna couldn't help herself. She pressed herself up and kissed him.

She pulled back sharply. "I'm sorry, I should have asked. It's not okay to force you."

Jim gave her a gentle smile. "You can kiss me again, if you want," he said after a moment of watching her.

Anna bit her lip before pressing both of them back to Jim's. His hand slid from his leg to the small of Anna's back pulling her close as his other wound into her hair. One of her hands held her up to his level and the other cupped his cheek. The heavier they got into it; the more Anna felt at home. Then it hit her. Home. He'd be going home the following day and they'd be separated for God knows how long. She pulled away from him and licked her lips.

"What? What's wrong?" Jim asked.

"We can't do this, Jim. We can't."

"Anna?"

"You're going home and I'm staying here. It's not fair to start something we can't finish."

He swallowed and looked at the wall as he blew out a long breath. "You're right, I'm sorry."

"Me too." Before Anna could flip back onto her side to face the TV again, Jim shifted to hover over her. "Jim?" Anna asked.

"I can take drug overdoses, gang fights, murders, heart attacks, and even strokes. I hate getting accident calls where things are tricky or complicated or someone has tried to commit suicide, but I can handle those too. There is only one part of my job that breaks me: repeated domestic abuse calls. Especially when a child is involved."

Anna swallowed as she saw the hurt in Jim's eyes.

"A month ago, we got a call where a kid had fallen off his bike and dislocated his shoulder. I've seen plenty of dislocated shoulders and the mom was really concerned, so I didn't think anything of it. Ran the kid in and he was released the same day. Two weeks later, same house, kid sprains his wrist and got a busted lip from falling down the stairs. Released to his mom the next day. The day before I came down here, the kid was not breathing when we showed up. We got him breathing on the way to the hospital and he seemed fine but we couldn't find any reason why he had stopped breathing. I got a call the next morning from a nurse at St. Vic's where we had taken the boy. The nurse has been a friend of my family's for years. She said that the peds nurse found a massive bruise on his throat in the shape of a hand print."

"Like he had been choked?"

"Exactly."

"Oh God. Please don't tell me they released him."

"No. They called ACS but I don't know after that." Jim sniffled but Anna still felt a tear drop hit her collarbone. She swallowed then guided his head to her shoulder as she grabbed her phone off the end table. She waited for the call to go through and stroked Jim's hair.

"Anna? Is everything alright? You're calling really late," Linda asked concerned.

Anna glanced at the clock. It was getting late. "I'm ok. Did I wake you?"

"No, I'm just waiting for your dad to get home. You work late today?"

"I have a favor to ask of you, Mama."

"Okay, go ahead."

Anna explained the situation and what had happened. "Is there any way you can ask around and find out what happened to that little boy?"

"I can try but it's rare that we ever see the end of things, how is Jim?"

"He'll be okay. Thanks, Mom."

"Honey, just be careful, okay? One of the reasons I fell for your dad was because of how much he cared. During the early years of our relationship, I can't count the number of times after a hard case your dad listened to me and I felt better. It can create a bond that can become unshakeable and if you're not romantically involved with someone then that bond can be dangerous to a future relationship."

"Mom, they make us take Psych. It'll be fine. Can you just find out for me? Please?"

"Okay. I'll do my best. I'll call when I know something. Just give me the details." Anna got the boy's personal details from Jim then relayed it to her mom. Call if you need anything."

"Of course, love you, Mom."

"Love you too. Are you sure you're ok? That you don't need anything else?"

"I'm fine, Mom. Gotta go." Anna hung up and looked down at Jim. "My mom's going to look into it. I'll let you know what she finds out."

"Thanks, Anna. You know, I don't expect you to fix it, I'm just grateful you listened."

"Anytime, Jim," Anna said.

He sniffled then climbed off of her. "I'm going to go shower, if that's alright?"

"That's fine. I'll be in the bedroom if you need anything. Take your time."

"Thanks again, Anna," he said. She nodded and watched him dig some clothes out of his overnight bag. Once he slipped into the bathroom, she walked into her bedroom and texted the entire encounter to Nicky. The only answer she got back was asking if Jim was any good. Anna complained but Nicky didn't ask anything else.

Anna plopped down on the bed and stared at the phone trying to figure out what to say next. 'He's not terrible.' Anna finally answered her cousin.

'Then don't freak. You're both adults and it didn't ruin anything. Maybe it made things better?' Nicky's text was followed quickly by another that just had four question marks.

'How? He's going home, I'm staying here.'

It took Nicky several moments to reply. 'At least this way you know the feelings are there even if the time isn't.'

Anna sent her back one word: 'unhelpful' to which Nicky apologized for.

The following morning, Jim left and when Linda got back to her with the information, she passed it on to Jim. As it turned out, the cops and ACS were investigating but there was a high chance he wouldn't be going back to his mom.

Monday night, Anna was still stuck in her head about the kiss so she called Jamie. "What's going on, Anna?" Jamie asked.

"Look, I know that it's hard for you to reconcile your nieces growing up and all, but I need some advice. Aunt Erin and I aren't close, Nicky's no help, and both my grandmothers are dead."

"What about your mom?"

"I love my mama. She means the world to me but lately she is driving me totally nuts. She texts like 10 times an hour when she's not working. Most of the time just checking in to make sure I'm ok. The only reason she texts is because I refuse to answer her phone calls unless it's Sunday. Anyway, I need some advice about my friend Jim," Anna reluctantly admitted.

"Your best friend Jim?"

"Yeah. He came down for a visit after a tough domestic case involving an 8-year-old boy—he's a paramedic, I don't know if I told you that—"

"You didn't but go on."

"Anyway, he came down for a visit and the night before he left, we were both lying on the couch watching a movie when I can't get it out of my head what our friends said in high school."

"What did your friends say?"

"About us having feelings for each other. He notices I'm distracted and we get to talking about it. He tells me that he did have a crush on me but it changed into something else. That being with me felt right and when he's not, something's missing."

"And how do you feel?"

"He asked me that too. I don't know, Uncle Jamie, I really don't." Anna swallowed hard. "I really like being with him and I'm happy he came down, but maybe it's just because I haven't seen him in a while."

"Would you feel the same way if it was Jack or Sean that came down?"

"They are my annoying little brothers, not my best friend."

"Ok, what about Derrek?"

"I don't know. I kissed him," she blurted. "Jim. Not Derrek, I mean. I looked up at him with that smile on his face and couldn't help myself. It was brief but—God, Uncle Jamie, what am I doing?"

"But what, Anna? What else were you going to say?"

"It felt right. I felt at home, but once I felt that, I remembered he was going home and I was already there. That I wasn't going to him for months. It hurt, Uncle Jamie."

"Sounds like you do have feelings for him. Your dad told me something after my engagement to Sydney fell apart. Said mom told him when he got serious about your mom, told Joe when he was serious about Angie. Don't get serious about someone you can just picture your future with, make it someone you can't see your future without."

"I wouldn't go that far, Uncle Jamie."

"Maybe not, but it's something to keep in mind."

"When you were with Sydney, did you feel like it was right, like it couldn't get any better?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have proposed."

"Oh."

"Look, everyone who is in love falls in love differently and it feels different every time. What I felt for Syd was not the same as what your parents feel or what Jack and Erin felt or Joe and Angie. I think when you're in love, you just know."

"That the best advice you got?"

"Admitting that you have feelings is a good place to start. However, you shouldn't let those feelings interrupt your life. The one you love should make your life better, enhance it, not stop you from living."

"When did you get so smart?"

"Had to adapt when I realized I had nieces and nephews looking up to me and growing up."

"Thanks, Uncle Jamie, it means a lot."

"At the very least remember you're not going to see him for months so you've got time to figure it out but don't dwell on it. It'll make things worse."

"Yeah, I got it." They talked about Jamie's life, and tours, including the few he had done lately with a new rookie named Marcus Beale, before they hung up.

I just want to say that the phone call at the beginning was definitely because you asked for it but the rest of the chapter was just because you've read my mind and not because of anything else.