Chapter 119: The Little Miracles of Life

With Danny dressed back in his NYPD jacket and Maria having lost the lab coat, the partners ready themselves on the outside of door #5 in the secure area of the clinic. Maria swipes the card, Danny turns the knob and throws the door open as the partners both step into the entrance with guns drawn.

There before them they see a pregnant woman on a bed clutching at her stomach in pain trying to take deep breathes.

"Oh my god!" she cries in despair and relief at the sight of the NYPD jacket "Please help me! I'm in labor and being held against my will!" so as Maria rushes forward to help the woman, Danny leans his head back out into the hall bellowing "SHEEHAN! GET ANOTHER BUS!"

…..

The ambulance pulls up to the hospital and down the street a distance away, Frank stands on the sidewalk next to his black Suburban with his hands in his pockets and sunglasses on watching as the back door of the ambulance opens.

He watches his youngest son step out with a baby in his arms and his daughter in law be removed on the stretcher by the paramedics. He doesn't move towards them or say anything and they don't notice him. He watches as Jamie waits for his wife to be wheeled towards the entrance doors then moves to follow.

Frank watches them disappear inside the hospital and its only then that he pulls out his phone to begin making calls…

…..

"Okay here we go." A nurse gently greets to the new baby as she takes Jessie out of Jamie's arms and moves to lay her down on the scale so she can begin checking her in and performing all the necessary tests and measurements "I'll be a few minutes." the nurse tells Jamie as she writes down the weight then glances back towards him "So if you want to go grab a coffee or something."

"Nope." Jamie protectively rejects "Not until I see you put her ID tag on her that states she's mine."

"Good answer." The nurse laughs as she picks up a couple of bracelets "You mean these?"

Jamie leans over to read and sees 'Baby Girl Reagan' with an ID number written on them and he smiles "Yup that's the one."

"Here's yours." The nurse offers as she takes one bracelet and gestures for his wrist.

Jamie offers it out and watches as the nurse affixes it around him to identify him as the father before turning her attention back to the baby, doing the same and then picking up an ankle monitor to attach to Jessie before continuing on with her job.

Jamie watches but after a few seconds his eyes can't help but drift down to his wrist where he rights the band and even with Jessie right there in front of him, it's only when he rereads the information on the band and sees in print – Parents: Edit & Jameson Reagan – that it suddenly hits him...

He's a father…

…..

"Where are they?" Lena demands as she come bursting into the hospital waiting room with Armin not far behind "Where is my daughter and my grandbaby?"

"Lena. Armin." Henry calls from further in the waiting room "Over here!"

Turning, Lena sees Frank, Henry and Erin all sitting together waiting so she and Armin hurry over "Where are they?"

"They arrived about 30 minutes ago and the doctors are just checking them over to make sure they are both okay." Frank explains.

"Did you see them?" Armin presses.

"No, not yet." Henry replies "So have a seat. We can all wait together."

Lena nods but then a second later she pulls out her cellphone and starts composing a text…

…..

With his NYPD jacket and bullet proof now off and laying on a chair off to the side, Jamie the Police Lieutenant is put on a shelf and Jamie, new father takes center stage as he walks around in an empty hospital room with Jessie in his arms against his shoulder talking quietly to his daughter "You recognize my voice don't you? Yeah you do." He soothes "Hopefully Mommy will be back soon and then we can get you fed."

Suddenly the door opens and Jamie sees his wife being wheeled in on a hospital bed "Look Jessie." He whispers to his daughter as he leans over and gives her a light kiss on her head "There's Mommy." He adds as he watches the orderlies set up and lock the bed in place and it's only when he sees them step away and head for the door again that he walks over to her bedside "Hi." He softly greets his wife as Eddie opens her eyes, looks up and offers her husband and new daughter a tired but emotional smile at the sight before her "You good?" he questions.

Eddie nods yes as she slowly lifts herself up to sit up a bit more "Opening my eyes to you with her in your arms is the best sight ever." She tells her husband as she reaches up for the baby just as the door opens again and a nurse enters with a chart.

"Reagan Family?" She double checks.

At hearing those words Eddie looks up at her husband in wonder as he finishes transferring Jessie into her arms as she mouths 'Family.' in impressed awe to him for suddenly realization hits her - they were no longer Jamie and Eddie – a couple, they were Jamie, Eddie and Jessie and they were indeed a family now…

Jamie smiles and nods at his wife in compete understanding of her facial expression before looking at the door "That's us." He confirms.

Nodding the nurse moves forward and requests each of Jamie and Eddie's wrists with their bracelets before checking them against the baby's "These bands all match." She explains "For security a staff member will always check your daughter's band against yours."

"Thank you." Eddie accepts.

"Now..." The nurse begins "…this is your first child correct?"

Eddie nods as she adjusts Jessie's blanket around the baby.

"Will you be breastfeeding?"

Again Eddie nods so the nurse make a note on the chart "Then let's get you your first lesson in breastfeeding." She warmly instructs as she sets the chart down then moves towards Eddie and the baby.

Suddenly Jamie's cellphone dings with a message. He pulls it out to read a message from his Mother in Law 'We're all here - waiting. Where are you? Is everyone okay?' and he laughs "Uh oh seems word got out. Your Mother says everyone is here and waiting."

"Oh boy." Eddie breathes out as she breaks focus on what the nurse is teaching her to glance at her husband but the nurse nudges the new Mom's attention back to her "Lesson first." She gently but authoritatively interjects "Your daughter can meet her extended family after, right now is important bonding time."

Jamie and Eddie both nod in agreement.

"We did do a bit of that in the ambulance on the way over though." Eddie reveals.

The nurse smiles in approval "Excellent."

…..

Jamie walks up to the door that leads to the waiting area. He takes a deep breath then pushes it open to see Frank, Henry, Erin, Sean, Lena and Armin on the other side "Hey!" He greets and as he does, he just can't stop the biggest grin from appearing on his face.

Everyone bolts to their feet – admittedly some faster than others.

"Anyone interested in meeting a new member of the family?" Jamie proudly quips.

…..

Eddie is alone with Jessie in her arms in her hospital room simply trying to take in and memorize everything about her "I love you so much." Eddie quietly admits as she leans forward to place a light kiss on her forehead right as the door to the room opens and Jamie sticks his head in "You ready?" he questions of his wife.

Eddie takes a deep breath and adjusts Jessie in her arms "Let them in." She instructs so Jamie swings the door open and steps inside allowing everyone behind him in.

Lena is the first to enter and she makes a beeline straight for the bed "Oh my goodness there she is!" She coos at her granddaughter before briefly glancing at her daughter "Are you okay?"

Eddie nods "Clean bill of health. Both of us."

At hearing that Frank who is standing off to the side lets out a breath of air in pure relief.

"Want to hold her?" Eddie offers.

"Do I?" Lena tosses back "Of course I do! Come here baby!" She again coos as she lifts her granddaughter up into her arms "Ohhhhhh…" She happily pouts "I'm your Grand Mama and I am going to spoil you rotten!"

At hearing that, Jamie sighs in defeat as Henry steps up to Lena.

"Get in line." Henry quips with a grin "Me next."

"You already crossed the line." Lena points out as she transfers the baby over "You built her a treehouse!"

"No WE built her a treehouse." Sean interjects as he leans over and waves at the baby "Hi baby! I'm your cousin Sean! So what's her name?" he then asks as he looks between Jamie and Eddie.

"Oh right!" Jamie laughs as he moves to his wife's side to sit on the edge of her bed "We didn't even get a chance to make official introductions before everyone just started passing her around."

"Everyone…" Eddie begins "We would like you to meet Jessica…"

"Mary May…" Jamie tacks on causing Frank to immediately look up in surprise.

"Reagan." Eddie and Jamie both finish.

"Mary?" Frank questions with a slight lump in his throat.

Jamie nods "Mary."

"Here Francis." Henry offers as he walks to his son and offers his newest granddaughter out to him.

Frank takes the new baby into his arms and smiles down at her "I… I really don't know what to say." he quietly offers trying not to get too emotional.

"I do." Erin chimes in as she moves to her father's side to make funny faces at the baby "It's perfect. A perfect fitting name. It suits her."

Jamie and Eddie smile back in pride.

"Here." Frank states as he moves to offer Erin a chance to hold the baby but Erin deflects

"I think Grandpa Janko should get to hold her before Aunt Erin."

"Grand PaPa." Lena corrects as a look of surprise appears on Armin's face "Oh me next?"

"You know another Grandpapa Janko?" Erin quips with a smile as she steps out of the way so Frank can transfer the baby from one Grandpa to the other Grandpa.

Erin glances at Jamie and Eddie to see Eddie latch herself around her husband's arm and lean her head on his shoulder.

Knowing what the moment before them – the two grandpas together with the baby - means to his wife Jamie mouth a 'thank you' to his sister.

Erin nonchalantly nods in acceptance "So where's Danny?"

"Still at the scene." Jamie replies "Oh and I have to warn everyone – he will likely have a very - VERY big chip on his shoulder as he was the one to delivery Jessie so he did indeed hold her first."

Erin hangs her head and groans in defeat.

"I know." Jamie tries to soothe.

"Here." Armin states as he turns to Erin "You can hold her now."

"Thank you." Erin sighs as she moves to take the baby and as she does she can't stop herself from smiling "Yes you are precious aren't you? I'm your Aunt Erin and I get to babysit you first! Yes I do!" She promises before lifting her head to look pointedly at her brother and sister in law "RIGHT?" She challenges.

"Yes." Eddie confirms with a laugh.

"Good." Erin happily accepts.

"Is it my turn yet?" Sean interrupts "I think I'm the only one left now…"

"Yes Sean." Erin laughs as she walks over to her nephew "Here. Wait." She then pauses "You ever hold a baby before?"

No." Sean admits "But how hard could it be?"

"Okay well hold you arms up like me." Erin instructs "And you have to be sure to support the baby's head."

"Okay sure." Sean accepts so Erin transfers the baby into his arms and Sean looks down at his new cousin and smiles before looking up in thought "Why the May though?" he curiously inquires.

Jamie shrugs "Jessica Mary Reagan just seemed incomplete and it was the month of May when we finally realized we were kidding ourselves…"

"And also the month we got married in." Eddie quickly tacks on "So when Jamie just slid May in there one day when we were tossing names back and forth, we decided we liked it."

Armin bobs his head up and down in understanding "It's got good authority behind it when used fully." he notes as she looks at his daughter "Jessica Mary May Reagan!" he tries out thinking of all times he used Edit Marie Janko when Eddie was in trouble.

Jamie turns towards his father in law and knows he gets it "Exactly." He agrees as the men share a look.

"Okay." Sean simply accepts before looking down at the baby in his arms again "I'm officially not the youngest anymore!" he quips.

"No you're not." Erin agrees with a placating pat of her hand on his shoulder "Now you're just stuck in the middle like the rest of us!"

…..

Jamie sits on the edge of Eddie's bed just watching his wife feed their daughter "How you holding up?"

Eddie gives her husband a small smile "I'm okay." She replies before turning her attention back to their baby "Boy you are hungry aren't you?"

"I can't believe she's here." Jamie states in awe.

"She really is a little miracle isn't she?" Eddie sighs as she smooths over some of the baby's hair.

"You did good Eddie." Jamie praises "More then good. You were amazing."

Eddie offers her husband a small appreciative smile but then things turn a bit awkwardly silent.

"Thank you for not being mad." Eddie finally and quietly states "I mean you aren't… are you? If I had not have insisted on…"

Jamie heavily sighs "Would I have preferred we had a regular, run of the mill delivery in the hospital surrounded by doctors and not almost three weeks early?" He finishes for his wife "Absolutely but she's here. You're here. You're both fine. I can't ask for much more then that."

"And we got a perp to boot?" Eddie hopefully tacks on.

Jamie huffs out an exasperated laugh as he reaches up around his neck to unclasp the chain still containing his wife's rings "Now you're pushing it…" he warns as he removes the rings "…but yes, a perp to boot."

"Did Danny find the evidence we need to shut them down?" Eddie inquires as she gently adjusts Jessie in her arms to free up her left hand.

Jamie shakes his head as he picks up her engagement ring first "You just delivered your own baby and of course here you are worried about others."

"Sorry." Eddie sheepishly apologizes as she holds her hand out to Jamie.

"No, you're not." Jamie counters as he slips first the engagement ring and then her wedding ring back on her finger "With these rings…" He begins before picking up his Mother's old ring and waiting for Eddie to switch her hold on Jessie and give him her right hand "…I thee still wed." He promises as he slips his wife's anniversary ring back on her finger.

Eddie offers her husband an adoring look "Not exactly the backyard..." She points out "…but perfect none the less." She promises just as Jessie starts to squirm "Oh I think she's done." Eddie adds as she lifts her daughter up. "Here hand me the burp cloth."

Jamie reaches over and hands it to his wife as instructed then helps her fix her gown as she attempts to burp the baby.

"Oh there she goes!" Eddie quips with pride "Good job!" she praises before looking over at her husband "Everyone was right – its not that disgusting when its your own kid."

"I look forward to it." Jamie lightly counters as he sits back down on the edge of the bed but he turns his head towards the door when he hears it open to see Mia stick her head inside.

"Can I come in?" The young girl quietly whispers.

"Um yeah of course." Jamie laughs "Why are you whispering?"

Mia swings the door open to reveal Rosa behind her carrying a duffel bag over her shoulder "Mom said I had to be quiet in case the baby is sleeping. Is she?"

"No." Eddie replies as she glances from Mia to her daughter then back to Mia "Want to come meet her?"

Mia glances backwards at her Mom for permission and when Rosa nods yes, Mia bolts for the bed "Hi Baby!" She enthusiastically greets as Rosa also walks in shaking her head in awe at the sight of the new family before her.

"Well was not expecting to get this call today." Rosa admittedly quips as she sets the bag down.

Jamie huffs out a laugh "Was not expecting to have to make it!"

"Sorry." Eddie sheepishly apologizes before clearing her throat "Mia, Rosa." The new Mom begins to introduce "We would like you to meet Jessica Mary May Reagan."

"Jessie for short." Jamie tacks on with a grin waiting for Mia's reaction.

Mia's eyes go wide "I named the baby! OMG I named the baby! I picked Jessie! Jessie was one of my names! Hiiiii Jessie!..." Mia excitedly rambles "…I'm your big sister Mia but you can call me MeMe just like all the other babies! I NAMED THE BABY!"

"Shhh." Rosa chides her daughter "Keep your voice down. You don't want to over excite or scare her."

"Yeah she just ate so hopefully she'll drift off to sleep soon." Eddie offers.

"Right. Right." Mia apologizes as she tones her excitement down before grinning widely "I named the baby." She repeats again.

"You helped name the baby." Jamie clarifies "Final decision was still ours."

"Sure. Sure. Whatever." Mia arrogantly dismisses "I named that baby!"

"All I'm hearing is a broken record from this one." Jamie tosses out into the room.

Eddie shakes her head "Did you want to know WHY we choose the name Jessica Mia?"

"Cuz I chose it?" Mia continues to arrogantly boast.

"Partly." Eddie admits "BUT it fit all the criteria. It's a full name like Jameson and Edit but when shortened, it ends in 'ie' just like Jamie and Eddie and said shortened name is also a unisex name like Jamie and Eddie BUT when I was searching for Irish names that mean miracle like a certain 10 year old we know – what did I find? Jessie - just like a certain 10 year old suggested."

Mia blinks her eyes in shock as she looks between Eddie and Jamie.

"Wait." Rosa breathes out in amazed awe "Are you… are you saying you named your daughter… after my daughter?"

"In a very round about way." Eddie admits "I mean technically Jessica / Jessie means 'blessing' but it still came up in the results when I was searching for miracle so that's what we're going with and then knowing you, Mia, suggested the name it kind of was a no brainer for us – we knew it was the name the moment we found it."

At seeing Rosa and Mia both just standing there speechless, Jamie smiles.

"You're the miracle…" He states as he points at Mia "…that gave us this miracle…" he adds as he points at his baby girl "Because it was right after you went home after staying with us for that first week when you had your car accident…" He adds as he looks at Rosa "That we decided we wanted to start a family." He finishes as he looks back over at his wife and daughter.

"I'm a miracle worker!" Mia breathes out in amazed awe causing Rosa, Jamie and Eddie all to laugh.

"Yeah that's not going to go right to her head at all." Rosa tosses back at Jamie.

"Sorry." Jamie mutters.

"Oh don't apologize to me." Rosa counters "You live with her too."

"True." Jamie admits as he reaches over to take Jessie from Eddie "And speaking of homes… I think there are a couple of empty picture frames hanging on a wall that need filling…" Jamie continues as he turns and looks at Mia "So I think it's about time we get a picture of our two miracles for one of them don't you think?"

Mia excitedly holds her arms out "Gimme!" She demands as she gestures for the baby "And don't worry! I've been practicing with Mom's other babies! Haven't dropped one yet!" She proudly quips.

"It's true." Rosa admits "She hasn't."

"Alright then." Jamie relents as he slowly transfers Jessie to her new 'sister'.

"Hi!" Mia brightly greets the baby "I'm your big sister Mia and I'm going to teach you all kinds of cool stuff when you're older! And we have the coolest treehouse! You're going to love it! We also have a cat – his name is Reagan…" Mia just begins to ramble…

"Okay do we want them standing in front of the wall or the door." Jamie wonders.

"I originally named him Mr. Mouse…" Mia continues on to the baby…

"Maybe seated in the chair?" Eddie suggests.

"Because Mr. Mouse matched with Miss Minnie - wait The Minnies!" Mia suddenly remembers "We need The Minnies!"

"Oh right." Rosa remembers as she reaches for the bag she brought in with her "Brought your overnight bag." she tells Jamie and Eddie as she zips it open to pull out Miss Minnie and the mini Miss Minnie "And of course The Minnies." She announces as she displays them up in her hands.

"Ah yes of course!" Eddie relents with a laugh.

"Okay well I think this photo needs to be sitting in the chair so The Minnies are in it too." Jamie deduces.

"Absolutely!" Mia agrees.

So as Eddie watches Jamie and Rosa work to settle Mia and Jessie into the chair and place the Miss Minnies just so with them, she can't help but smile and think about all the trouble and shenanigans these two will get into together. She knows it likely won't all be smooth sailing all the time but she just hopes that when the chips are down, they are there for one another.

"Okay ready." Mia decides so both Jamie and Rosa each raise their phones and snap multiple pictures each of the new and undoubtably unstoppable duo but then Eddie yawns causing Jamie to look over "You're getting tired now aren't you?" he deduces.

"Maybe. It's been a bit of a long day." Eddie admits.

"Alright that's our cue then." Rosa decides as she reaches to removes Jessie from Mia's arms.

"What?" Mia protests.

"Mom and baby need their rest." Rosa insists as she moves to hand the baby back to Jamie "Dad too."

"Oh I'm not tired." Jamie rejects as he looks down at his daughter and smiles as she sleepily yawns.

Rosa smiles and laughs at him before turning serious "Get your sleep now while you can. Seriously."

"Oh. right." Jamie realizes just as the door opens and a nurse enters "Alright how are we doing in here?"

"Ready for bed." Eddie replies.

"Excellent." the nurse quips.

…..