Chapter 8: More Reagans
"It's looking after one kid." Charlotte mutters disgruntled to herself as she hurries into the Meretti's kitchen "It will be easy." She sarcastically adds as she throws the fridge door open completely missing Joe enter the kitchen from the opposite direction "How did one kid turn into an entire class!"
"Cuz it's his birthday." Joe reminds the nanny causing a startled Charlotte to jump a bit into the air before whipping around to throw Joe a glare "Don't do that!" She chides.
Joe smiles his best smile at Charlotte "But if I didn't do that…" he flirts "…I wouldn't get to see you be all flustered right now and you're pretty cute when you are flustered."
A blush creeps up on Charlotte's face "Stop that!" She chides again.
"Nah, don't think I will." Joe playfully rejects.
"Then I should just quit." Charlotte decides as she turns back to the fridge "Because between this party and you startling me – I think I'm going to have a heart attack anyway so it's not like I'll need the money."
Joe frowns a bit at hearing that "Why?" He inquires "Eddie planned it and from what I can tell she's got everything covered."
"Except the actual kids!" Charlotte throws back "The parents are just going to drop the kids off and who is going to have to look after ALL OF THEM? That's right – ME! The Nanny!"
"No you won't." Joe rejects "There are other adults here – The Meretti's themselves." He points out to which Charlotte just scoffs in rejection.
"Okay..." Joe relents "…well there's me and Jamie and Eddie and…"
"You're sweet for trying to make me feel better." Charlotte interrupts "But we both know I'm the paid help here – it will be on me." She insists.
"Well then I am offering my services to you." Joe graciously offers "To help."
"Don't you have your own job to do?" Charlotte points out.
"Helping to watch the kids will be my job." Joe counters "I mean anyone of them could be the next undercover kid assassin."
It's impossible for Charlotte to not let out a huff of a laugh at hearing that.
"See I made you laugh." Joe proudly points out as he finds himself taking a step towards her.
Charlotte smiles at him, touched that he is trying to make her feel better "Yes you did." She confirms as she finds herself taking a step towards Joe where they end up smiling at one another but the moment is broken when Eddie suddenly comes hurrying into the kitchen with a clipboard in hand "Oh!" She states in surprise as she abruptly stops walking at the sight in front of her.
Joe and Charlotte immediately step back from one another and look at Eddie.
"Didn't mean to interrupt." Eddie states as she tries to hide the knowing smile that wants to appear on her face while her eyes drift over to lock with her nephew.
"You didn't." Joe tries to deflect.
"I need to get back out there." Charlotte mutters as she quickly moves past Eddie and back out the door.
Eddie watches her go then turns her attention back to Joe "You like her!" She immediately and happily teases.
Joe rolls his eyes.
"And more importantly…" Eddie then seriously continues "…she likes you."
Joe looks at his Aunt with peaked interest at her words "You think?" he seriously inquires.
Eddie nods "Uh huh."
"Great." Joe accepts "Then you gotta help me before she quits!"
Eddie raises a curious eyebrow at her nephew "Now?" She queries "Kinda got my hands full with a birthday party."
"That's why she wants to quit!" Joe points out "She thinks she's going to be the one left to look after all the kids and she's freaking out!"
Eddie's face scrunches up in rejection "Um no. We're here. The Meretti's. Some parents are coming. I've even hired extra staff and a doctor."
Joe points in the direction Charlotte went "Did anyone bother to tell her that?"
"Well I didn't." Eddie admits before that amused, teasing smile reappears on her face so she lifts a hand and lightly pats her nephew on the shoulder "But now you can be her hero by telling her all that yourself!"
Suddenly Jamie walks in the kitchen to the rare sight of physical contact between his wife and nephew and he raises a curious eyebrow "Um what is going on?"
Eddie turns her head to look at her husband and her giddy smile grows "Joe here has a little crush on Charrrrr-lotte…" She sing songs "…and I was just letting him know he now has the opportunity to go be her hero."
"Oh does he now?" Jamie queries in his own amusement as he moves to his wife's side to also throw a good old fashioned knowing smirk at his nephew.
"Oh my god you two." Joe groans out as he steps around the couple "Leaving now."
Jamie and Eddie watch him leave.
"Those two have a total vibe." Eddie tells her husband.
"A vibe?" Jamie questions.
"Yeah." Eddie confirms "Like us."
Jamie raises a questioning eyebrow at his wife.
"You know…" Eddie prompts "How people kept telling us what a great couple we were..."
"...Even though we weren't." Jamie finishes in understanding.
"Exactly." Eddie agrees before leaning up and very quietly whispering "She could be Sunday Dinner material."
"Really." Jamie impressively notes as he finds himself leaning over a bit trying to look outside the window to watch as Joe again talks to Charlotte.
….
Alex sits in the driver's seat of his vehicle with Heather in the passenger's seat and Quinn in the backseat stopped in front of the closed gate of the Meretti estate with his window down talking to a security guard. The guard hands him back the invitation and hits a button.
The gate begins to open.
"Just present the invitation to The Attendant when you drive up to the house." The guard instructs.
"Got it." Alex accepts as he hands the invitation over to Heather then begins to drive through the gate.
"Well this is fancy." Heather notes the second they are out of earshot.
Driving up to the house Quinn's eyes suddenly go wide in excitement at seeing the bumpers cars and a bouncy castle and other party favorites set up "COOL!"
"Oh geez." Alex breathes out at the sight before glancing into the backseat at his son "Do NOT expect this kind of set up at your next birthday party – Mommy and Daddy don't have this kind of money!"
"Alex!" Heather chides.
"Better he know now." Alex reasons out.
For a moment Heather looks at Alex then shifts her gaze into the backseat to her son to see his face plastered to the window trying to take everything in "Your Father is right so enjoy it now while you can." She tacks on before facing front again to see another car in front of them where a kid gets out and hands The Attendant his invitation.
The Attendant reads it then loudly announce out "CHAD WATKINS!"
Hearing that, Heather immediately again turns to look at her son "When we stop you do NOT just get out and run away to play got it? Apparently we need to be… announced…" She adds in a bit of disbelief "And I guess greet the hosts first. It's their party. We take direction from them understood?"
"Yes Mommy." Quinn dutifully replies.
"Good." Heather accepts before absently looking around with her eyes searching "And I need to find this Eddie Conners…"
"Maybe that's him." Alex adds as he gestures at The Attendant.
….
Jamie stands with his arms crossed watching the rental company rush around still trying to set up the bumper cars and he glances beside him when he sees his wife walk up to his side.
"How's it going?" She inquires.
"Well so much for testing them before the kids arrive." Jamie replies.
Eddie groans "Ugh."
"QUINN REAGAN!" They hear The Attendant announce.
Jamie and Eddie immediately raise their heads at hearing that but stare straight ahead at the bumper cars even though both are just itching to turn around and look.
"HEY EDDIE!" The Attendant then calls.
Eddie immediately takes the opportunity to look over to see him waving her over.
Not about to pass up the opportunity to meet more 'Reagans' Eddie quickly calls "COMING!" as she makes a beeline for The Attendant, Alex, Quinn and Heather with Jamie hot on her heels.
"Need something?" Eddie pleasantly greets with a smile as she walks up.
"This lady is looking for you." The Attendant explains.
"Oh!" Heather states in surprise as she looks between Eddie and Jamie, then back to Eddie "You're Eddie?"
"I am." Eddie confirms.
"Hi." Heather greets as she extends her hand out "I'm Doctor Heather Adams – you hired me for the day."
"OH!" Eddie accepts as she shakes Heather's hand 'Adams not Reagan' she notes in her head so she shifts her gaze to the boy and the man with her "And you are?"
"This is my partner Alex." Heather introduces "And our son Quinn. Quinn was invited to the party."
Jamie's eyes drift to Alex and Heather's ring fingers wondering if they are like him and Eddie – where they are married but Eddie still uses her maiden name at work however he doesn't see any rings so looking for clarification, he chimes in with "Reagan."
Alex shifts his gaze to look at Jamie and for a moment studies him "Yes." He finally confirms but as he looks at Jamie he can't help but feel he looks familiar to him somehow but for the life of him he can't place him "Hi do I know you?"
"No don't think so." Jamie returns as he also studies Alex.
Eddie and Heather stand there watching their significant others eye each other and Eddie can't help but notice that both men have that same slightly guarded but peaked curiosity look to them as they size each other up.
"This is my husband Jamie." Eddie introduces.
"Can I go play now?" Quinn starts to whine.
Heather looks at Eddie for permission.
With a big smile, Eddie looks down at the young boy "Absolutely!" She grants and that was all Quinn needed to hear before just taking off.
"Make sure you say hello to Nathan!" Heather calls after her son as he heads to join the other kids "And thank him for inviting you!" She adds before looking back at Eddie "So what do you need me to do?"
"Just be on standby in case someone gets injured." Eddie explains "Other than that, just enjoy the party. Refreshments are over there." She adds as she gestures to a tent.
"That I can do!" Heather accepts.
"So which ones are The Meretti's?" Alex suddenly pipes up as his eyes begin to scan the area.
For some reason alarm bells start going off in Jamie's head at hearing that so he stares at Alex trying to figure out what he's thinking.
Seeing the look Jamie is giving him, Alex shrugs it off "Just want to say hello to the hosts." He simply reasons.
"Hmmm." Jamie muses not really buying that answer as The Attendant points them out to Alex.
"Thank you!" Alex quips as he begins to break away from the group making a beeline for the host couple.
"I'll go with you!" Heather quickly chimes in so off the couple go leaving Jamie and Eddie to watch them leave and when The Attendant moves on to announce the next arrival, Jamie and Eddie take a few steps away and then Eddie leans up towards her husband "You have that feeling again don't you?" She whispers.
"Yup." Jamie confirms.
"Talk later?" Eddie queries knowing they shouldn't really get into anything while standing in the middle of the Meretti estate.
"Yup." Jamie just confirms again in agreement.
…
Throughout the party though Jamie couldn't help but keep an eye on Alex, Quinn and Heather. Logically he knew this was a kid's birthday party full of fun and excitement but it was also on the Meretti estate and he found himself feeling a protective pull towards them. The problem was he did not like the way Alex kept trying to remain in Anthony Meretti's orbit.
In a way it was fascinating but also unsettling to watch - Meretti would move and then Alex would try to nonchalantly move with him so making a decision, Jamie walks up to Joe.
"Hey." He greets.
"Hey." Joe returns.
"You see the guy in the gray shirt standing next to the blonde?" Jamie inquires.
"Yeah." Joe confirms.
"His name is Alex Reagan." Jamie reveals.
"Oh." Joe notes in surprise.
"Keep an eye on him." Jamie instructs "Not exactly sure what his deal is but he's trying to remain close to Meretti - every time Meretti moves, he moves."
"Are we looking to bust him?" Joe queries confused.
"No." Jamie counters "Protect him…" He slowly corrects "…from doing something… stupid."
Joe thinks about his uncle's words "Are we…" begins letting his voice trail off with the unspoken assumption of saying 'related?'
"Don't know." Jamie honestly admits "Look." He then adds as he looks around to make sure no one is watching "Just watch him. As Meretti's body guard it's easier for you to explain cutting him off at the pass if we need too then me."
"Copy that." Joe accepts.
And just like Jamie predicted, Joe watches as Meretti's phone rings. He pulls it out, then excuses himself from the group of people he is with. He heads back inside the house for privacy and right on cue, Alex slips away to follow.
Sighing, Joe discreetly follows Alex and sees him not only follow Meretti but try to snoop around without actually touching anything so Joe steps in
"Can I help you?"
Startled, Alex looks over "Oh just looking for the bathroom."
"Not likely going to find it under a cushion." Joe tosses back.
"Oh no!" Alex nervously laughs out "I wasn't…" he begins.
"Of course you weren't." Joe interrupts "Here, let me personally show you where the bathroom is."
"Oh you don't need too..."
"Absolutely I do." Joe again interrupts "I insist." He adds as he gestures down the hall.
Begrudgingly Alex heads in that direction.
"Here." Joe instructs as he stops and gestures to a door "And I'll be right here waiting for you when you're done – you know just so you don't accidentally get lost on your way back out to the party."
Alex forces a smile onto his face "Great." He accepts through gritted teeth.
"Great." Joe repeats back with the same amount of fake enthusiasm.
Alex stands looking at Joe one more moment then turns and heads into the bathroom shutting the door and it's only then that Joe lets out a breath of air while completely mumbling under his breath to himself "Stubborn ass Reagans."
….
"Sooooo…" Eddie drawls out the second she and Jamie enter the sanctity of their apartment "More Reagans."
"This is starting to become a pattern in this town." Jamie mumbles.
"Think Alex and Quinn are related to… wait do we even know her first name?" Eddie realizes "The rookie cop I mean."
"I know who you mean." Jamie confirms before shaking his head "And no, we don't."
"We could find out." Eddie reminds her husband "I mean it's not like she didn't run our names through the system."
Jamie frowns at his wife "And if someone jumps off a bridge are you going to follow?"
"Oh come on Jamie!" Eddie prompts "We were looking into the profiles of everyone at the 3rd anyway. We just never got to hers!"
"Yeah but we know it was her Eddie." Jamie points out "And every time we log on, we run the risk of someone tracing us just like the NYPD traced her."
"Fine." Eddie grumbles out "But can I tell you what I noticed?"
"Sure." Jamie accepts.
"You have the same mannerisms."
"What?"
"When you were sizing each other up." Eddie explains "You were both standing there with the same guarded, wheels turning in my brain look."
"We did not." Jamie rejects but Eddie insists "You did."
Jamie thinks back "We did?" he repeats now a little unsure.
Eddie nods "You did." She reaffirms.
Jamie opens his mouth to say something but nothing comes out because he honestly didn't know what to say to that so he just closes it.
….
After finally getting Quinn down for the night, Heather walks into her bedroom to see her frustrated boyfriend on the bed with a couple of open files in front of him.
"Okay why are you so grumpy?" Heather demands.
"Because this was my shot." Alex tosses back "And that stupid body guard kept getting in my way!"
Heather sighs "Alex…"
"I'm a rookie in the DA's office trying to prove himself." Alex explains "How am I supposed to go back into my boss's office now and tell her I got nothing?"
"What did you expect to get?" Heather challenges "You're a lawyer Alex, not a cop."
"I know that." Alex bites back.
"Do you?" Heather tosses out "If you ask me I think that body guard did you a favor because if you had gotten caught snooping around who knows what might have happened."
Alex opens his mouth to defend himself but nothing comes out because in his head he knows Heather is right.
He silently just shuts his mouth.
...