Chapter 146: Rookies
Frank sits at his kitchen table working. He looks up when he hears the back door open and smiles in amusement as he watches his youngest son enter "You shaved."
"I did." Jamie confirms "It's amazing what a little sleep will do for you." he adds as he shuts the door "So thank you."
"You're welcome." Frank returns.
Beat.
"But I wasn't expecting you back here so soon." Frank admits as he looks back at his computer screen "You forget something yesterday?"
"No."
"So then what's on your mind?" Franks adds as he scrolls down a page.
"You were right."
Frank immediately looks back up at his son.
Heavily sighing, Jamie pulls out a chair and sits down "You were right." He repeats "Eddie and I shouldn't work together – not out in the field anyway."
Frank smiles at his son "I knew you would eventually come to your senses."
"Just needed the right incentive?" Jamie tosses back at his father.
"And my little grand daughter makes a great one." Frank points out.
"That she does." Jamie agrees with smile.
Silence.
"So… we're good then?" Jamie slowly questions.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Frank counters.
"Because you put The RD together." Jamie points out.
"I did." Frank agrees "But when you and Eddie announced you were expecting I knew that would be the end of it."
"You did?" Jamie states in surprise.
Frank nods in confirmation.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Jamie queries.
Frank gives his son a pointed look "You mean like I did when you announced your engagement? I think we all remember how well that turned out."
"Good point." Jamie concedes.
"So this time, I just waited." Frank explains "And I hoped you would come to your senses on your own, which you did."
"Ah." Jamie notes with an up and down nod of his head.
"I don't regret putting you and Eddie together at the 5-4." Frank admits "You both did great work and solved a lot of cases but yes, now you have Jessie and she needs to be the priority."
"Family first." Jamie states.
"Family first." Frank agrees.
Silence.
"Beside…" Frank adds "You're a Lieutenant now – taking over running an entire squad - you're about to have a whole other set of problems to deal with."
Jamie gives his father a sideways look "If you mean Danny, I'm already well schooled in that department."
Frank chuckles "No I don't mean your brother."
"Then what do you mean?"
Frank smiles at his son "Budgets, staffing, departmental conflict resolutions… com stat meetings."
"Com stat meetings?" Jamie repeats in surprise "I'm only a Lieutenant…" he rejects "Not a Captain or Chief."
"Named Reagan." Frank reminds his son "The buck will stop with you now." Frank points out "Anything your Detectives do will be solely on you."
"Right." Jamie notes.
Silence.
"Why are you telling me this?" Jamie suddenly wonders "Usually you're arms length in your replies."
Frank shrugs "Must be getting old." He deflects.
"Right." Jamie repeats not believing him "Sure."
More silence.
"Look Jamie." Frank suddenly adds "You have a newborn. Trying to juggle that and a job you know inside and out is hard enough but juggling a newborn and a new job can be…"
"But it's not a new job." Jamie rejects "Yes there will be new responsibilities but I'm still a cop in a system I think I'm pretty well versed in. I'm not saying it will be all smooth sailing but I'm not a green rookie fresh out of the academy either."
"Just don't get too cocky."
"Wrong son." Jamie tosses at his father "I'm Jamie, not Danny. Do we need to get you new glasses?"
"That's funny Jamie."
"Good so you do know who I am."
"I do." Frank confirms "You're a Reagan moving higher in the ranks of the NYPD and people will be looking to…"
"What? Put a target on my back? Make an example of me?" Jamie finishes "That's nothing new."
Frank sighs "Jamie…"
Getting his back up a little, Jamie interrupts his father "Look thanks for the concern Dad…" he states as he stands "But I can handle it." He promises before just turning and heading for the door.
So once again Frank heavily sighs as he watches his youngest son walk away.
….
Eddie jolts wakes up from a nap on her bed and her eyes dart to the clock to see its well past the time Jessie is usually in one of her crying fits so she whips her head towards the bassinet concerned she put her on her stomach and then fell asleep but she relaxes and breathes out a sigh of relief when instead of seeing her daughter she sees the mini Miss Minnie holding up her 'Don't panic I'm with Mia.' sign in her place and she can't help but smile a little so she throws her covers off, gets out of bed and exits the bedroom in search of her daughter and god daughter.
She walks down the stairs to see Jessie snoozing on her stomach on the couch and Mia sitting cross legged on the floor right in front of her watching her.
"Want to explain to me how you knew to do that?" Eddie inquires to her god daughter impressed.
"Uncle Jamie." Mia replies "He was telling Mom, I walked in an over heard. I asked him to explain further. He did."
"So now we're in the loop too." Rosa adds as she walks into the living room from the kitchen wiping her hands in a cloth "And how come you didn't let me know how bad things were getting?" she unhappily inquires of Eddie "I know Mia and I have been busy lately but…"
"Exactly." Eddie replies "You and Mia have your own lives and don't need…"
"To what?" Rosa interrupts "Lend a helping hand?" she finishes for her friend "Do I have to sit you down on the kitchen stool and talk some sense into you again?" She lightly chastises "Geez we can help you know."
"You deal with enough babies all day." Eddie mutters.
"It's one baby." Rosa corrects "And he's a very good baby."
"I'm happy for you." Eddie flatly mutters.
"Oh come on Eddie." Rosa prompts "What did you tell me once? Oh right, it's called a village for a reason."
"I did not say that."
"Close enough." Rosa dismisses "Now what happened to my pot?"
"Your pot?" Eddie inquires confused so Rosa walks back into the kitchen, swipes up a pot and walks back to Eddie. She holds it up displaying it to her "My pot."
"Oh." Eddie mumbles in understanding at the sight of a blacked pot "I burnt lunch the other day."
"Hmmm." Rosa muses as she messes with Eddie "I really loved this pot."
Eddie squeezes her eyes closed and cringes in regret "I'm sorry."
"Oh my god Eddie!" Rosa laughs "I'm kidding." She promises "And this is my point." She adds as she gestures at the pot "You need help. Don't be afraid to ask for it."
Eddie looks at Rosa confused "But you said Jamie and I are her parents and we needed to figure it out."
"And you have, and you are." Rosa confirms "But sometimes curve balls are thrown at parents – things like say… they get into a car accident or go into a coma and have to spend time in a hospital so a very nice couple steps up to help, or I know! A nice couple have a baby and she develops colic!"
Eddie sighs in defeat at Rosa's heavy handed tactics…
"So if you need help…" Rosa presses on "…and help is being offered…" she adds with a pointed look as she gestures between herself and Mia who raises a hand and waves hello in the air "…you just take it, K?" Rosa prompts before continuing on "Now nod your head in understanding…" she instructs Eddie "…and say yes."
Dutifully, Eddie nods her head up and down "Yes."
"Good!" Rosa happily accepts "Now go pump some milk for us to use and then go back to sleep."
"Geez…" Eddie mutters under her breath as she turns to walk away "…somebody should just give you a Captain's shield the way you are barking orders."
Having heard the comment a smirk appears on Rosa's face "Nah." She rejects "I've got the only title I need – Mother."
Eddie stops walking and turns to face Rosa "I'm a Mother." She reminds her.
"One who is still new to the job." Rosa points out "So learn from my experience." She seriously prompts.
Eddie stares at Rosa then her face scrunches up as she turns and starts for the stairs again whining "Ah man, I'm a Rookie again!"
….
Jamie walks in the house from the garage and listens "Ah the sweet sound of silence." He pleasantly notes to himself.
Off to the side Jamie hears Rosa snicker so he looks over "Hey." He greets.
"Mia is watching Jessie." Rosa returns getting right to the point "Eddie is sleeping. Pets are fed and laundry is done."
For a moment Jamie ponders Rosa's words impressed "Food?" he hopefully inquires a second later.
Rosa laughs "Almost ready."
"Perfect." Jamie breathes out in true appreciation.
"Yeah well don't get used to it." Rosa tosses back "I'm not your maid."
Jamie's eyes immediately go wide and look of regretful horror appears on his face "Rosa, no I…"
"Oh my god I'm kidding!" Rosa laughs out "I never realized how fun it is toying with both you and Eddie when you are dead tired!"
Jamie looks at Rosa and suddenly realization hits him "I see it now."
Rosa looks at Jamie slightly confused "See what?"
Jamie looks Rosa right in the eye and smirks "Where Mia gets it from." He simply states.
Rosa opens her mouth to protest but nothing comes out because he had her – without even realizing it Rosa was letting her guard down and letting her true personality shine through "Eddie's upstairs sleeping…" Rosa finally deflects "Why don't you go get her up because supper will be ready in 5 minutes."
Jamie laughs as he turns to walk away "Deny it all you want but we're on to you now Rosa Ruiz!" he quips before suddenly turning back around "Um where are my daughter and god daughter anyway?"
"Treehouse." Rosa replies.
For a moment Jamie's eyes go wide in fear but then they relax "Nice try." He counters realizing she is once again playing with him.
"Damn it." Rosa mutters out "There goes my fun. Upstairs in Mia's room." she truthfully replies.
"Thank you." Jamie accepts as he turns to head for the stairs.
"But I warn you!" Rosa calls "I heard the words tea party so enter at your own risk!"
Jamie walks up the stairs to see Mia's door closed so heeding Rosa's warning, he carefully just leans his ear against the door where he hears Mia suddenly chastise "No, Jamko! Where are you going? Don't walk through the dishes! You are messing up the place settings!"
Cringing, Jamie realizes the dog heard him so he opens the door to avoid Jamko barking "Hey Buddy." He greets giving the dog a pet.
"Oh." Mia notes with a frown "That's why. Hi Uncle Jamie." She flatly greets as Reagan who is also in the room, gets up stretches then just walks out causing Mia to throw her hands up in defeat "Well there goes my tea party."
"Sorry." Jamie apologizes as his eyes zero in on his daughter "Supper's going to be ready soon though." He offers before gesturing at Jessie "How's she doing?"
Mia shrugs "Fine. Not sure what all the fuss was about."
Jamie sucks in a breath of air "Yeah, be sure you don't say that in front of your Aunt k?"
"Why?" Mia questions.
"Because she's the one that has had to deal the most with Jessie's crying and I'm not sure even I could hold her back after a comment like that."
….
Jamie walks into his bedroom to see his wife sprawled out across the bed fast asleep and he smiles. He almost hated waking her up but he knows she needs to eat so he slowly crawls onto the bed and leans towards his wife's ear "Wakey, wakey Edit Marie Reagan time for supper."
"Do I have to make it first?" Eddie flatly mumbles out with her eyes still closed.
"No." Jamie returns as he plops his body down hard on purpose next to his wife so the bed bounces "Our maid, made it."
Eddie pops one quizzical eye open "Maid?"
"Rosa." Jamie clarifies "You know she's got quite the sense of humor."
"Humor?" Eddie huffs out as she rolls onto her back "She called me a Rookie!" She tosses out in annoyed exasperation.
Jamie raises an eyebrow as he settles himself on his side and propped up on an elbow facing his wife "Rosa called you a rookie?"
"Basically." Eddie grumbles as she turns her head to look at her husband and fully opens both eyes "She said I was still new to the job of being a Mother – that means I'm a rookie!"
Jamie tosses that around in his mind "Well if it helps…" He points out "…that means I'm a rookie too."
Eddie ponders that then slowly sits up to face her husband "So we're rookies together." She realizes with a small smile.
Jamie gets a playful little glint in his eyes "Wanna be study partners?" he jokes.
Eddie huffs out a laugh and let's her upper body fall against her husband as Jamie's arm naturally comes up and around her "Okay but I'm not allowed to have boys in my bedroom." She cheekily mumbles out into his chest.
Jamie laughs "Don't worry." He soothes "I know the owners of the house, so I think it'll be okay especially because they've got some really great housemates that are willing to help when needed."
"So I've been told." Eddie throws out as she pulls away and sits back up.
Jamie chuckles a bit before a silence befalls the couple.
Beat.
"Okay what other rules did you have?" Jamie suddenly asks as he props himself up against the headboard in a sitting position "No boys in the bedroom." He notes "I'm going to say none downstairs in the basement either – you need to make me a list so I have a place to start."
"Start?" Eddie questions as she pulls her legs in to sit crossed legged facing him.
"Hey, I sat next to you in a car for 4 years and listened to you tell me some pretty crazy stories so I'm going to need to nip that kind of behavior in the bud before it even starts."
Eddie shakes her head at her husband "Are you going to let her have ANY fun?"
"Fun yes." Jamie confirms before scoffing out a laugh "That…" he suggestively adds "No."
"So you want her to be a nun." Eddie flatly deduces.
"It's a noble profession." Jamie defends.
"Okay let's just stop this conversation right now." Eddie decides "She gets to decide what she wants to be and we will teach her to be responsible but also independent. We will give her the tools to make good decisions and we WILL let her make some mistakes because you learn from your mistakes."
Jamie groans then whines out "Do we have too?"
"Yes." Eddie reiterates.
"But…"
"Jamie…" Eddie warns.
"Fine." He begrudgingly grumbles out.
"Awww, see now was that so hard?" Eddie teases.
"Yes." Jamie grumbles annoyed.
"You are such a good Dad." Eddie sweetly appeases.
"And you're a great Mom." Jamie gently but very sincerely adds.
"Ooo nicely played how you slid that right in there." Eddie notes impressed as she makes a sliding gesture with her hands.
"Thank you!" Jamie arrogantly quips.
"No." Eddie over dramatically sighs "Thank you... rookie." She adds with a bit of a grin.
"Ohhhhh." Jamie now breathes out in return.
"I love saying that!" Eddie giddily realizes "Jamie the rookie! It's something I never thought I'd get to say!" She sincerely admits "And I bet you were absolutely adorable during your rookie years."
"My best moment…" Jamie simply offers "…was tackling a drug dealer to the ground dressed in a hot dog costume."
Eddie giggles as she tries to picture that "Too bad that was before everything we did as cops was recorded."
"Good." Jamie adds before scrunching his face up in disgust "Because nobody needs to resee that."
"I'm sure you were super graceful in your take down." Eddie laughs.
"Could have been an audition for the ballet." Jamie mocks.
Suddenly a thought hits Eddie "She might want to do ballet." She realizes.
Jamie thinks about that "Did you do ballet?"
Eddie shakes her head "No. But it is good for balance, grace, musicality."
Silence as they both picture their daughter in a little tutu.
"Guess only time will tell." Eddie admits.
"Or…" Jamie begins "She'll want to box and do whatever else Mia does."
"You think?"
Jamie shrugs "I'm the youngest of four kids. All I did was look up to Joe, Erin and Danny and wanted to do everything they did."
"Wow." Eddie notes impressed "Even Erin huh?"
"Hey." Jamie defends "I became a lawyer didn't I?"
"True." Eddie admits "So no tutu."
"Well never say never." Jamie counters "But the odds are not in it's favor."
"Maybe we should dangle a tutu and a boxing glove in front of her and see which one she gravitates towards." Eddie playful suggests.
"You got a tutu lying around here somewhere I don't know about?" Jamie flatly challenges.
"Maria might." Eddie reveals "She did say Elena was on a bit of a pink kick."
"And her biological mother was a hit woman and her father a drug lord." Jamie notes in thought "Huh."
"Nurture over nature." Eddie points out.
"Well it's not like we see Maria big into pink and ballet." Jamie counters.
"True." Eddie admits.
Silence.
"Okay I guess ballet might be back on the table then." Jamie deduces.
Silence as they both ponder that.
"I bet that costs a lot of money doesn't it?" Jamie suddenly realizes.
"Name an activity out there that doesn't?" Eddie counters.
Silence.
"You're going to start a new subaccount now aren't you?" Eddie inquires of her husband.
"Yup." Jamie simply confirms.
Silence.
"You do realize who the real rookie is here though right?" Jamie suddenly questions "It's Jessie. She's going to have to follow our rules."
"For like 18 years." Eddie realizes.
"Yup." Jamie agrees.
Silence.
Suddenly Eddie reaches right across her husband for her phone on her night stand.
"What are you doing?" Jamie queries as he watches her pull back while opening her shopping app.
"Clearly there are onesies for everything…" Eddie begins "There has got to be one that says Rookie."
Jamie smiles "Oh there are."
...