And Love
Chapter 3 Will love triumph?
A/N: I know very little of Joe Hill, beyond the fact that he has popped up on BB. I stopped my series recording after season 10 when Jamie & Eddie basically stopped being JAMKO. I did find a story that filled me in – "The Legacy of Joe Hill" by 'aliqueen16'. I will go with that as my backstory for Joe with 1 change; Joe will not be a detective, yet. He will be Eddie's TO, now that she and Jamie are in a relationship.
BAY RIDGE
Wednesday evening, the phone rings.
"Reagan residence, Henry speaking."
"Pops, it's Jamie."
"Jameson, how are you and the family doing?"
"We 're good, tired of the family dinner wars though."
"Me too, me too. What can we do?"
"Can you keep something to yourself?"
"You bet."
"Set 2 places for us Sunday. Eddie and me."
"No little one?"
"Not yet Pops."
"Ok, mums the word."
"Thanks, Pops. Bye."
"Bye, son."
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EDDIE'S APARTMENT
"Jamie, what about my new TO?"
"Well, I guess you will just have to go with it. See what you think. We haven't had a chance to talk with dad. I haven't ever heard of any other family . . . ever."
"Won't that be a kicker if it is?"
"You got that right! Mal, time for your bath!"
"Ok daddy, let's go." She grabs two toys and races to the bathroom.
"Be careful those are water safe toys, babe." Eddie cautions.
"I got it. Daddy's coming!"
Eddie smiles; 'it's so good to have daddy around' she thinks.
12th precinct bullpen
Jamie and Eddie are seated at their facing desks, catching up on paperwork when Danny strolls by. He stops and looks at them, "you two still partners?"
They ignore him. He doesn't let it go.
"I'm talking to you, numbnuts!" He raises his voice.
Sarge steps out of his office, "Do you have business here, detective?"
"I was just wondering-
"Is this any of your business, detective?" Sarge ups the volume, and the look.
Danny glares, and stomps off.
"Keep your heads down, kids."
"Yes, sir" They both mutter.
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SUNDAY DINNER
Pops and Frank ignore questions about the table setting before dinner. Both Erin and Danny are grumpy. Frank and Pops wish for some Kevlar.
Jamie and Eddie stroll in just in time for seating. Jamie has Eddie sit between himself and Pops. He volunteers to say grace. As before he tacks on his beautiful daughter and lovely girlfriend on to the end of the traditional blessing. Questions fly as soon as food starts around the table.
"Are we ever going to meet Malina?" Erin begins.
"Well, I keep hearing negative, snarky comments from this table. She won't tolerate that, so not any time soon I'm afraid," Eddie responds.
"You haven't been here, so how have you heard anything like that?" Danny snorts. Linda gives him an elbow and a disappointed look.
"I tell her what's going on," Jamie admits.
"Tattle tale!" Erin huffs. She glares at her kid brother, then at Eddie.
"Just keeping my family informed."
"Your family is here, kid!" Danny declares.
"My new family," Jamie corrects the record.
"Eddie, would you step out-
"No! I've been grafted in to this family like it or not. Say what you will, with me at the table." Eddie presses them.
"Amen to that!" Jamie expresses.
Silence.
"I just can't believe that Jamie forgave you . . . and moved in with you!" Erin grumbles.
"Do you understand forgiveness, Erin?" Eddie speaks softly.
"Don't you lecture me you little-
"ERIN!" Frank retorts. "Enough! Not at this table!"
Erin glares at Eddie, who averts her gaze.
"Sis, what is my family supposed to do?" Jamie asks.
Erin looks the other way, then gets up and slips up the stairs to her old room.
The rest of the dinner is quite subdued.
No one goes up to speak with Erin until after Jamie and Eddie are gone.
Nicky goes upstairs, tiptoes down the hall and stops in front of the door to her mom's room. She taps lightly on the door, no response. She tries the door, it is unlocked. Nicky slowly opens the door and slips in; her mom is laying on the bed, not moving. She slides onto the bed, laying next to her mother. "Mom, it's me."
No response.
"It's time to go."
"Are they gone?"
"Jamie and Eddie? Yes, they have gone."
Erin slides her legs over the side of the bed. She sits up anc rubs her hands down her face. "God, Nicky. What am I going to do?"
"You've dug yourself a pretty deep hole, mom."
"I know, but that woman-
"Mom, if uncle Jamie can forgive her . . . why can't you?"
"I just-
"You just what?"
"We all missed 2 years of that little girl's life!"
"So did your brother, and he forgave Eddie for that! Can't you . . . mom? Please."
Silence.
"I'll try." She sniffles.
"Thanks, mom."
They get up and slowly shuffle downstairs, arm in arm.
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EDDIE'S APARTMENT
"Any brilliant ideas in advance of Monday morning, sweetheart?" Eddie queries her boyfriend.
"Just keep your eyes and ears open. And for heaven's sake, don't say anything to tip your hand!"
"You want to ride-along in the back seat lambchop?"
"No, God no!"
"I'm on my own?"
"Yup. You're a big girl now!"
"Shut up!" She snorts.
He rolls over, elbows holding his weight. He looks deep into her sparkling blue eyes; "Something else you'd like my mouth to be doing? Hm?"
"Let me think-
Thinking time is over.
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MONDAY AM 12TH PRECINCT
"Attention, kiddies. Some changes today," Sarge starts. "Joining us from the 40th up in the Bronx is Joe Hill." Everyone claps. Joe raises his cap in salute.
"He will be one of our TO's; he has an outstanding record as a TO, and will be assuming the training of officer Edit Janko. Officer Jamie Reagan will now be riding with Kara Walsh. Play nice in the sandbox, folks. Dismissed."
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RMP 12-DAVID
Joe is talking with 2 other officers just inside the precinct doors. Eddie flashes by, holding up some car keys.
"Hey partner, I've got the keys! I'll drive!" She disappears out the front doors and heads for the carpool lot.
Joe looks up, taken by surprise. "Ah, ok, I guess."
Jamie is just then coming up to the front foyer; he can't help but grin, 'Nothing has changed!' He thinks. "Walsh, let's go!" He yells as he follows Eddie down the steps.
Another Monday morning!
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TBC