Chapter 120: Instant Love

Jamie is standing at the nursery window simply looking at his daughter through the glass and he can't help but smile when she lifts and sticks her little hand in her mouth. Suddenly, he feels two people walk up and stand on either side of him.

"Hello Dad." Danny greets Jamie but his focus is on looking through the window as he leans over and waves at his niece through the glass.

"Look Jessie…" Jamie counters "It's your Uncle Danny. You remember him right? He caught you on the way into the world. Oh you don't remember him? Don't worry he'll remind us all over and over and over again."

"Hey!" Danny protests while Maria on the other side of Jamie just snickers.

"How's Eddie?" Maria inquires.

"Good." Jamie replies "Exhausted and napping now but good. They're both good…" he adds in wonder as he continues to look at his daughter "Actually considering the circumstances…" he corrects "… amazingly great in fact. I just… I'm a Dad…" Jamie breathes out in awe.

Danny lets out a hearty laugh "Yeah kind of hits you like a ton of bricks huh? It's like holy crap I made that!"

Maria leans slightly forward to look past Jamie at her partner "You?"

"I mean Jamie." Danny clarifies.

"Actually I think you mean Eddie." Maria corrects.

"Okay yes." Danny relents "Jamie and Eddie."

"But mostly Eddie." Jamie admits.

"FINE!" Danny concedes "Mostly Eddie!"

"From women everywhere…" Maria cordially but sarcastically accepts as she shoots her partner a look "…thank you." She adds causing Danny to glance at his partner and frown a little before everyone silently just looks back into the nursery.

Beat.

"Of course she's great." Danny suddenly tells his brother as he gestures through the window at his niece "She's a Reagan so she's tough as nails."

"And a Janko." Jamie adds "Pretty sure its that fight that got her through."

Danny tips his head in thought and agreement "Good stock all around." He notes but just then Jessie begins to fuss a little which immediately puts Jamie on high alert.

Danny leans over to his brother "You can breathe, she's probably just hungry."

"What?" Jamie absently tosses back only half paying attention to his brother as he is completely focused on watching a nurse head over to tend to his daughter.

"She's probably just hungry." Danny repeats "That's usually what the hand in the mouth means." He explains before an amused smirk appears on his face as he continues to watch his brother "Jamie, calm down." He instructs "You look like you are about to have a heart attack." He adds right as a different nurse walks out of the nursery inquiring "Mr. Reagan?"

"Yes." Jamie and Danny both reply causing Jamie to shoot his brother a glare as he holds up his arm to display his wrist band to the nurse to confirm he's the father which just makes Danny crack up laughing even harder but a moment later he holds his hands up in surrender "I'm the Uncle." Danny explains to the nurse "I delivered her."

"Ah." The nurse accepts before focusing on Jamie "Your daughter is going to want to eat so per her chart your wife is breastfeeding correct?"

Jamie nods "Yes."

"Okay we'll bring her to your wife's room then."

….

Jamie cracks the door to Eddie's room open to see her fast asleep, he slowly slips in and makes his way to the bed "Hey Eddie, Babe." He gently greets as he nudges her a little "Time to get up, Jessie's going to want to eat. "

"What?" Eddie groggily mumbles out.

"Jessie." Jamie repeats as the door opens and a nurse wheels in Jessie in her portable bassinet.

"Oh right." Eddie suddenly remembers "I had the baby."

"Yes you did." Jamie confirms as he walks up to the bassinet and the nurse again offering his wristband out to her as a double check "Thanks we've got it from here."

The nurse nods "Just press the call button when you are ready for her to return to the nursery."

So as the nurse leaves Jamie picks up Jessie and brings her over to Eddie.

"Hi Baby." Eddie greets as she tries to shake the sleep from her eyes "Are you ready to eat?" she asks and with Jamie's help the couple settle their daughter in for her meal.

Silence as they both just watch her.

"Danny and Maria were just here." Jamie suddenly states.

"Oh what did they find?" Eddie immediately inquires.

"More then enough to shut them down." Jamie replies.

Eddie lets out a breath of air in relief "That's great."

"And it's all because of you Eddie." Jamie continues "And you were right. They found a woman being held against her will in one of the rooms. She was pregnant just like you and if we had not have found her when we did there is a very good chance she would not have made it out of there alive." Jamie adds as he pulls out his phone and opens his music app "You asked me to show you my Eddie playlist a while back." He begins as he taps his phone "Well I won't show it to you but I will play you one song that is on my list."

Eddie curiously looks at her husband and the moment the music begins and Jamie lowers the volume so as not to startle Jessie, Eddie recognizes the song as Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For a Hero and her mouth drops open a bit "Jamie that song is about looking for a hero – a male hero."

Jamie shrugs "Well your name is Eddie." He cheekily points out.

"Jamie!" Eddie then laughs with a slight roll of her eyes "That's more then a bit of a stretch!"

"Hey it's my playlist..." Jamie defends "...and I can have whatever song on it I want."

Suddenly Eddie scrunches her nose up "So I'm like your hero or something?"

"Ah yeah." Jamie confirms "You saved that woman. You've saved my life – more then once and now…" He adds as he gestures at their baby "What you just did to bring her into the world Eddie, I'm in awe."

"I gave birth Jamie." Eddie deflects.

"Exactly." Jamie agrees "No hospital. No happy drugs. You Edit Marie Janko Reagan Kick. Ass – plus according to Maria you and a pillow are a very dangerous combination."

"What?"

"Maria said…" Jamie continues "…you hucked a pillow at Hamilton's head with such force it gave her the distraction she needed to take him out."

Eddie thinks back "Oh. Right. It was the only thing within my reach – I told you I would do everything in my power to keep us safe and I wasn't about to go back on my word."

Jamie lifts his phone slightly "Hence this being on my Eddie playlist."

"It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet." The song sings.

"Supergal." Jamie corrects.

Eddie lets out a laugh "Supergal?" She challenges.

"Well in order to fit within the lyrics of the song…" Jamie explains "…the word needs to be two syllable and superwoman is three."

"Oh." Eddie accepts before smiling a super touched smile "Thank you."

"No Eddie." Jamie corrects as he gestures to Jessie "Thank you."

"Call it even?" Eddie hopefully offers.

Jamie laughs "Can I quote you on that the next time I do something that pisses you off?"

"Hmmmmm." Eddie ponders "Good point. I take that back."

"Damn." Jamie mutters.

"Darn." Eddie corrects before addressing her daughter "Daddy said a bad word, don't listen to him."

"Oh right." Jamie realizes before shaking his head "In the blink of an eye everything has changed hasn't it."

"I'll say." Eddie agrees.

Silence.

"I get it now." Eddie suddenly admits as she runs a hand over her daughter's head "That feeling of instantly falling in love."

Jamie nods in complete agreement "Okay so its not just me then."

"No." Eddie admits.

More silence.

"She's beautiful Eddie." Jamie states in awe "She looks exactly like you."

"Me?" Eddie rejects "No. She looks like you."

"No, she doesn't."

"Yes she does!"

"She looks like both of you." Maria's voice suddenly sounds causing Jamie and Eddie to both look towards the door to see it only open a crack "Sorry." The Detective apologizes from still outside the room "Am I interrupting? I can come back if Jessie's not done."

"No, no it's okay. Just give me a second." Eddie requests as Jamie helps her cover up "Okay I'm decent come on in." so hearing that Maria opens the door and enters.

"Hi." She greets Eddie with a smile "I couldn't leave without seeing for myself that you're okay."

Eddie smiles at her "I'm good."

"I told her that already." Jamie interjects "But apparently she didn't believe me."

"And thank you." Eddie sincerely and very appreciatively adds as she looks at Maria but Maria dismissively waves her off "Meh we're a team."

"No it's not meh." Jamie rejects "You had Eddie's back when I couldn't. I will forever be grateful to you for that."

"Oh..." Maria suddenly jokes "…can you say that again when Danny is in the room please?"

Eddie laughs "Where is he? I need to thank him too."

Maria hooks her thumb out the door "Outside. He was like 'oh no, I'm not walking in there until I know the little munchkin is done eating. A brother in law does not need to see that."

Jamie turns his head to look at Maria in disbelief "Oh for pete's sake, he delivered her!" he exclaims in exasperation as he gestures at his daughter "Plus, he's a father of two. Linda breast fed and so did Erin."

Maria shrugs and Eddie gets playful look in her eyes "Jamie go get him. Tell him I'm done."

Jamie huffs out a laugh "Are you sure?"

"I'm covered up." Eddie points out.

"Okay." Jamie relents as he gets up and heads for the door. He swings it open to see Danny outside "Hey." He greets "Maria said you were out here. You're clear to come in now."

"Great." Danny accepts as he walks in the door but the second he sees Eddie still holding Jessie to her but covered in a cloth he let's out an "Ah man!" and tries to leave but Jamie blocks his path "That was mean!"

"Danny!" Eddie calls stopping him in his tracks "Please stay."

Danny takes in a deep breath of air "Fine but I'm facing the wall until you are really done and the only proof I'll accept of that is Jamie bringing my niece to me."

"Oh you drive a hard bargain." Eddie accepts "Okay deal."

"Great." Danny accepts as he crosses his arms and simply waits.

Silence.

"Thank you." Eddie suddenly states "The both of you. All three of you." she adds as she amends her words to include Jamie "I never could have gotten through today without all of you."

"Eh." Danny dismisses to the wall "We're a team."

"That's what I said too!" Maria chimes in.

"Well." Eddie sighs "This team member is officially on maternity leave now I guess."

"And I guess I'm on parental leave." Jamie adds.

"Oh she's done." Eddie announces so as Jamie moves to help his wife Maria turns around to give them privacy and as she does she looks in Danny's direction and Danny slowly looks in Maria's direction "So…" Maria begins to her partner – amusement playing in her eyes.

"I guess that means both our bosses are away now…" Danny ponders picking up on her meaning.

"Whatever will we do?" Maria coyly inquires.

Jamie laughs "The same thing you both always do…" he declares as he picks Jessie up "…show up to work and be the best pair of 1st grade Detectives New York City has."

"Well since you put it that way." Danny arrogantly cajoles "I suppose we can keep the ship putt putting along."

Maria again looks at Danny "Ship putt putting?"

"I was a marine?" Danny offers as a way of explanation as suddenly Jamie appears in front of him with Jessie "Hey!" he happily greets his new niece as he goes to take her "There's my girl!"

At hearing Danny's words though, Jamie quickly moves his body to block his brother's path to the baby "Excuse me?" Jamie challenges "YOUR girl?"

"I'm her Uncle!" Danny defends.

"I'm her Dad." Jamie counters.

"I delivered her!" Danny challenges.

"I made her." Jamie deadpans.

"Oh he wins." Maria laughs at her partner as she points at Jamie.

"Jamie." Eddie laughingly instructs "As entertaining as that was, just hand her over already."

"Listen to your wife Jamie." Danny prompts as he holds his hands out.

Jamie looks at his brother and suddenly all joking disappears "Thank you." he sincerely tells him.

Danny offers his brother a conceding nod of his head "Anytime." He seriously promises so Jamie silently nods in acceptance and carefully hands his daughter over to his brother.

"Oh my you've gotten so big since the last time I held you!" Danny jokes.

Jamie rolls his eyes "No she hasn't."

"Are you sure?" Danny presses "She feels heavier."

Maria leans over to her partner "Probably a full diaper."

Danny immediately begins to hand Jessie back to Jamie "And back to Dad we go." he announces causing Jamie to have to quickly reach up in surprise to take her "Some Uncle you are." he tosses at his older brother.

"So… " Danny deflects the second he finishes handing over the baby while stuffing his hands in his pockets and rocking back and forth a couple of times from the balls of his feet to his heels "You talk to Dad yet?"

"Yeah he was here with everyone else." Jamie replies as he adjusts his daughter in his arms and leans down to smell her.

"But did you talk to him?" Danny presses "I mean really talk to him?"

Jamie looks up and sighs "What are you getting at Danny?"

"You know he's still out there loitering in the halls right?" Danny reveals "If he wasn't the Police Commissioner pretty sure hospital security would be asking him to leave."

Eddie's face scrunches up "Why is he loitering out in the halls?"

Danny looks at his sister in law but points at his niece "Um because pretty sure he feels responsible for her early arrival."

Eddie closes her eyes and sighs while Jamie takes in a deep breath of air.

"Jamie…" Eddie begins but Jamie is already turning for the door "I'm going." He promises.

…..

Sitting in a chair with his hands clasped together looking at the floor, Frank immediately looks up at the sound of his youngest son's voice "Look Jessie it's Grandpa. Maybe we should get him to change your diaper."

"Do you need me to?" Frank immediately offers as he stands and smiles at the sight of his newest granddaughter "I'll do it."

Jamie lets out a little laugh "I know you would."

Silence.

"I thought you went home?" Jamie suddenly adds.

"Ah well you know." Frank awkwardly deflects.

Jamie nods in complete understanding "I do."

More silence.

"Look Jamie…" Frank finally begins.

"They're both fine." Jamie interrupts as he looks down at his daughter in his arms "It's not your fault."

Yet more silence.

"Thank you." Frank finally accepts.

"It's like you said Dad." Jamie offers "Police work is messy. This time was no exception but in the end it turned out okay, and I'm choosing to focus on that and not the what ifs."

Frank nods in acceptance "Good."

More silence as Jamie looks at his father and Frank looks at his son and as they do Frank can see Jamie clearly has more to say.

"But?" Frank finally prompts.

After a moment Jamie opens his mouth to say something but then closes it.

Frank heavily sighs "Jamie just say what is on your mind please."

"Fine. Eddie and Maria deserve medals for this - Commissioner." Jamie flat out states "They both went above and beyond and I know Eddie's a Reagan now and as her husband I can't recommend her for one but she deserves one. She didn't have to go into that clinic – hell I didn't want her too but she did and without her doing that we never would have found that other woman. Sergeant Edit Reagan is the only reason that woman is alive and still with her baby. There I said it and Maria – well without Detective 1st Grade Maria Baez I'm not entirely sure I'd actually be standing in front of you right now with your grand daughter in my arms." Jamie very pointedly adds as he looks his Father square in the eye "So do with that what you will..." he challenges "Now I really do need to go change her. Say bye bye to Grandpa Jessie."

Frank cordially nods in acceptance and understanding of his son's words as he watches Jamie turn to walk away "Bye sweet girl, we'll see you soon."

"Bye Dad." Jamie returns so as Frank watches his youngest son head towards the nursery he can't help but shake his head a little in awe.

If it had been Linda giving birth to one of the boys under these circumstances Danny would have bitten his head off – hell if this had happened a year or two ago with Jamie and Eddie Jamie likely would have let him have it - correction - he DID let him have it only days ago but now, today, instead Jamie was looking at the bigger picture - the picture usually only someone within the highest of the high ranks of the NYPD would get and understand while all at the same time using carefully curated and crafted words to still get his point across.

Someone like him... Frank can't help but note in comparison…

...