Chapter 122: The Merits of Deduction

Jamie and Eddie stand in their bedroom over their daughter's bassinet looking at her at a loss as she unhappily fusses "Your supposed to be the expert Reagan." Eddie chides her husband next to her.

"I am not an expert!" Jamie rejects in exasperation "The expert is down the hall!"

"Well she's making us figure this out!" Eddie bites back in slight frustration "And you've at least got experience with your niece and nephews!"

"Yeah well when they did this kind of thing…" Jamie tosses back "I just handed them back to their parents!"

"Ugh." Eddie groans out at hearing that "Okay, she's not hungry, she's not wet. What's wrong? Come on baby…" Eddie then pleads "…just give us some kind of hint!"

At that moment Jamko walks up to the door. He sits in the entrance way and tilts his head slightly watching Jamie and Eddie fuss and fawn over this little thing creating a ruckus in a basket.

Curious he walks over and sits next to Eddie.

Eddie looks over and her eyes brighten with an idea "Baby look it's a doggie. Do you want to say hi to the doggie?"

Jamie frowns at hearing that "She's a newborn Eddie." He rejects in disbelief "She's not going to say hi!"

"Well you got any better ideas there Mr. Harvard…" Eddie bites back "…cuz I'm fresh out!"

Jamie opens his mouth to throw some comment back but stops and panics for a brief second when he sees Jamko lean in and stick his nose and mouth close to Jessie "Hey now! Stop!" he commands as he reaches for the dog but Jamko still manages to grab the armband around Jessie's wrist with his mouth and pull it down before Jamie pulls him away but a second later Jamie release his grip on Jamko "Oh." He breathes out when he sees the tracking charm was pressing into Jessie's skin under the weight of the armband and making an impression "Oh Baby I'm sorry." Jamie profusely apologizes as he quickly removes both the arm band and the charm bracelet and as soon as he does Jessie begins to calm down and he frowns in defeat "Well that didn't work."

Eddie sighs "Well it did and it didn't." She corrects "Using a charm bracelet didn't work but we figured out what was bothering her."

"Well actually the dog figured that out." Jamie corrects as he looks down at him "Jamko, meet Jessie. Jessie meet Jamko."

A smirk plays on Eddie's face "She's a newborn Jamie." She reminds him tossing his own words back at him as she places her hands on Jamko as a precaution as she watches Jamko once again lean forward to sniff her daughter "Jessie lives with us now." She tells the dog "But she's small so you be careful around her okay. You protect her just like you do Reagan."

Suddenly Jamie looks up in thought "Damn – darn!" he quickly corrects.

"What?" Eddie prompts.

"I just realized we probably could have sent Jamko with you into that clinic – he's very protective of those he loves and you're at the top of that list."

"Hmmmm." Eddie ponders as she crinkles her nose up and looks at her husband "Sounds like someone else in this house I know."

"I know." Jamie agrees "Mia is small but she is mighty." He playfully jokes.

Eddie smirks at her husband "Not who I was talking about." She states as Jamie smiles at his wife, reaches over, wraps his arm around her shoulder and pulls her into his side as both new parents simply take in the moment to watch their daughter in front of them.

Silence.

"As what?" Eddie suddenly wonders outloud "A homeless dog?"

Jamie ponders that "Or emotional support dog?"

Eddie nods "He totally would have bitten Hamilton's ass."

"Okay now I'm really regretting not sending him in with you." Jamie admits causing Eddie to huff out a laugh before sighing "Is it weird that we are joking about this now?"

"Well it's like you've said before…" Jamie offers "If we don't laugh, we'll cry."

"Oh she's going to cry regardless." Eddie counters as she gestures at the baby right as Jessie's hand flails out a little and inadvertently lightly bops Jamko on the nose but instead of getting mad, Jamko's tongue comes out and he licks her hand.

Jamie and Eddie watch as they swear a look of surprise appears on their daughter's face at the sensation.

"Oh my god Jamie look at her face!" Eddie exclaims in delight as Jamie reaches for a wipe.

"Cute. Sure." He agrees as he offers his daughter a smile while wiping her hand of slobber "But don't need her picking up anything she shouldn't."

"True." Eddie agrees as she looks at Jamko "No licking the baby until her immune system is strong okay? Until then look but no touch."

"Right like that's gonna work." Jamie counters.

Eddie shrugs and pets Jamko "He's a smart dog. He understands, right Buddy?"

Jamko barks in reply but the bark startles Jessie and she begins to cry.

"Oh no, no Baby it's okay!" Eddie immediately tries to sooth as Jamie simply hangs his head in defeat

"One step forward… two steps back."

…..

Jamie is in the nursery changing Jessie's diaper when Reagan saunters into the room. He makes a beeline for the dresser and jumps up to settle himself in his self proclaimed spot in the beam of sunlight but as he makes a circle before laying down he notices a new addition to the room – something a little bigger then him that is flailing about so curious, Reagan makes a leap from the dresser to the change table to check it out.

"Okay no." Jamie protests as he picks Reagan up then puts him on the floor. He stands back up and reaches for a wipe to wipe his hands but Reagan jumps right back up on the table and simply sits down to watch.

Jamie sighs "Well you've at least been around babies in Rosa's daycare." Jamie tells the cat "Reagan, meet Jessie, Jessie meet Reagan – I'll explain his name to you when you're older." He tells his daughter.

"Reagan!" Rosa quietly calls from down the hall.

"He's in here!" Jamie calls back.

Rosa walks into the door and smirks "I should have known."

"Known what?"

"I think that cat misses having babies around."

Jamie looks from Rosa to Reagan and then smirk "Well good news for you then Reagan because Jessie is here to stay."

"Eddie asleep?" Rosa questions.

Jamie nods.

"Good." Rosa accepts before eyeing Jamie "How's it going?" she curiously inquires.

"Checking up on us are you?" Jamie tosses back.

"Hey I said I'd keep my distance but I didn't say I wouldn't still keep my eye on things!"

"Well you tell us how we're doing then." Jamie challenges.

Rosa smiles "You're doing good just keep it up and when you put her down – you go to sleep too."

"Uh yeah." Jamie immediately agrees "Not making that mistake again."

Rosa laugh.

….

Frank sits at his desk in his office absently staring out the window in thought when his door opens and Baker with a file in her hand, Garrett and Gormley enter. They all move to silently stand in a line in front of his desk. No one speaks, no one moves, they just silently wait.

Finally Frank sighs, and turns to face them "Well?"

"Committee agrees…" Sid states in confirmation as he moves to sit down in his chair "…It's got definite merit."

"They did go above and beyond." Abby admits as she moves to take her seat "Way beyond." She adds "I've been pregnant and I can't even imagine doing what Sergeant Reagan did in that stage of my pregnancy."

"And Detective Baez…" Garrett chimes in as he moves to take his seat "Nothing but heroic. The press will eat this up and the Mayor loves the idea."

Franks turns his head to look at Garrett and drops his mouth open slightly "You brought this up to the Mayor?" He challenges in disbelief.

"I put some feelers out to his people." Garrett admits "Let's not forget Jamie and Eddie are his power couple."

Frank groans as Sid leans slightly forward in his chair to look at Garrett "Lieutenant Reagan and Sergeant Reagan." He corrects "Let's keep this on brand."

"I'll say it again, that is a distinction without a difference." Garrett tosses back.

"So?" Abby presses as she ignores both Garrett and Sid and focuses on Frank.

Frank looks at Abby slightly confused "So?" he counters back in confusion not understanding what she is asking "So what?"

Abby takes the file in her hand and offers it out to Frank "So are you going to approve it?" she clarifies.

Slowly Frank leans forward and takes the file "You tell me." He counters back.

In reply, Garrett, Baker and Gormley all nod their heads up and down in confirmation so sighing, Frank places the file on his desk, opens the folder, picks up a pen then signs the bottom of one form, flips the page and signs the bottom of the other form.

"You want to tell them Boss?" Sid inquires.

Frank shakes his head no "I'd like you to inform Lieutenant Reagan and let him inform those under his command."

"Even though he is technically on leave right now?" Sid inquires.

Frank nods "I can at least give him that."

"One other thing." Garrett suddenly adds.

All eyes turn to look at him "The Mayor's office would like Kelly Riser – she's the woman that was found in the clinic - and her new baby to attend the ceremony…"

"Okay." Frank accepts "If she's up for it, sure, we can extend the invitation."

"…as well as Jessica Reagan." Garrett finishes.

In an instant Frank's protectiveness over his family springs to the forefront "Why?" he demands.

"Isn't it obvious?" Garrett counters "One pregnant police officer risks her life and baby to save another pregnant woman, succeeds and now we have two new Mother's and two new babies. It's a perfect ending."

Frank heavily sighs in annoyance "No." he flat out rejects.

"Yeah…" Garrett slowly and very carefully treads "I don't think you can make that call."

A look of annoyance appears on Frank's face "I'm the Police Commissioner." He reminds Garrett.

"And The Mayor is The Mayor." Garrett reminds Frank right back.

Silence.

"Frank…" Garrett sighs "I know they are your family but you have to admit this would be a great boost for the department at a time when public opinion of the police is at it's lowest."

Frank gets a very unhappy look on his face "Exactly." He counters "They are my family and if they don't use hooks to this office to get ahead, that also affords us the right to not have to be put on public display BECAUSE of their connections to this office!"

"Except…" Garrett counters "…in this case it doesn't matter that Eddie's last name is Reagan or that Jessica…"

"Jessie." Frank corrects just to be difficult.

"Jessie..." Garrett amends trying not to roll his eyes before continuing on "… is your grand daughter. Eddie's last name could be Smith and she could have absolutely no connection to you or your family – she could just be one of the other 34,996 officer's out there and this would still be amazing story that The Mayor's office wants to capitalize on."

"34,996?" Sid questions in confusion.

"Well 4 officers out there are Reagans." Abby explains "Danny, Jamie, Eddie and Joe so he has to subtract those from the group."

Frank stares at his team before him in annoyance "Are you all done yet?"

Again, all three nod in confirmation so Frank takes a deep breath as he ponders his next course of action.

A moment later, Frank shifts his gaze to Sid "You can mention the request to Lieutenant Reagan but I want it made clear that it is a request from The Mayor's office and in no way an order from this office understood? Let them decide."

Sid gets a disgruntled look on his face at having to be the one to broach the subject "Gee, thanks Boss you sure you don't want to just ask them yourself?"

Already knowing full well what his youngest son's reaction is going to be, a smug smile appears on Frank's face as he looks at his Captain "Nope!"

"Hmph." Sid mumbles out under his breath.

"Anything else?" Frank then inquires.

Garrett, Abby and Sid all exchange a quick look.

"Um one more form Boss." Sid cautiously instructs as he gestures to the file still open and in front of Frank on his desk.

For a moment Frank looks at Sid slightly confused but then he looks down at the file to indeed see a third piece of paper under the second piece so he picks up the second piece and flips it over to look at the third form.

Garrett, Abby and Sid all hold their breaths as Frank reads and when he's done he takes in a deep breath of air "And how did this get in here?" Frank finally questions.

"I put it there." Sid admits.

Frank eyes his Captain "Why?" He demands.

"Because they deserve it!" Sid defends "They've had a lot of success and…"

"I'll think about it." Frank interjects.

"But…" Sid tries to protest.

"I'll think about it." Frank more forcefully repeats cutting him off.

Sid closes his mouth and clams up.

Silence.

"Now is that it?" Frank asks so Abby nods her head in confirmation "Yes, that's it for the day."

"Alright." Frank accepts "See everyone tomorrow then." He adds so as everyone gets up and Garrett, Abby and Sid file out of Frank's office, Garrett eyes Sid

"Don't call." He suddenly tells Sid once they are outside Frank's office "Go see them in person."

Sid turns to look at Garrett in confusion "What?"

"Don't call Jamie." Garrett clarifies "Go see him – him and Eddie together."

Sid's face scrunches up "They are on leave."

Garrett nods "I know."

Beat.

So…" Sid slowly deduces "…you want me to what? Go see them at their house?"

Again Garrett nods.

"Oh." Abby suddenly interjects "I get it."

"What?" Sid presses still not understanding.

"Jamie's going to be a hard no." Abby explains "You're only real hope in getting them to agree is Eddie."

"And we REALLY need them to agree!" Garrett presses.

"Maybe bring them a gift." Abby adds in thought.

Sid sucks in an unhappy breath "Any maybe you two should come with me."

"Ah no!" Abby immediately rejects.

"I'm serious." Sid insists "I'm not good at this stuff and if it's so important to you…" He adds as he looks at Garrett "You should be there to make sure I don't screw it up!"

"He's right." Abby admits as she looks at Garrett then plasters a smile on her face "Good luck with that!" she quips before turning to walk away.

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