A Chance for a Better Life
Chapter Twenty-One
Jamie started his day back on the street. He had been able to get the patrol sergeant to move his patrols out of the area where Garcia was until after lunch. He knew if anything big happened in the area he'd take the heat, but that was out of his control, and he'd asked Lt. G to have a couple detective units patrol the areas in plain clothes until the patrolmen could resume their duties. What he didn't know was that Danny had been assigned patrol.
"Max, so I talked to another friend and found out that the cops are doing a big op by Queens, so we have to move you before lunch, and you've got to go to Brooklyn. I'll have your specific location when I come back at eleven."
"Got it boss." Garcia knew as soon as he came back to New York he was gonna find the kid and hire him. If he had someone of this level on his team, he wouldn't be where he was now.
Jamie made his way back to the 5-4 to change and get the second part of the plan set into place. Lisa was impressed. Jamie was still in his first week as a detective and he had already set up a small op and worked through all the logistics without any help. The only thing that Lisa had an issue with was that he did a lot of the work independently. They were partners, they were supposed to be working together.
"How'd it go?"
"Good, I think he might be a little afraid of me." Jamie laughed. The guy was over six feet tall and built like a professional wrestler.
"When you're serious I get it. Lt. G got three units from the squad out on patrol. Your brother and his partner are out on patrol. He wasn't happy."
"I'm sure that I'll hear about it later. Are you ready for the arrest?"
"More than. I talked to his wife, and she's agreed to press charges. She's meeting with your sister at the DA's office right now."
Lisa smiled. She was gonna arrest Garcia. He wasn't expecting anything, and Jamie couldn't show his face or else he would break his cover.
Two hours later Garcia was sitting in a holding cell at the 5-4 and knew that the kid had done all he could to keep him hidden. The kid was right to not give him any information about himself. Because Garcia couldn't give him up to save himself.
"Well partner, we got him." Lisa smiled.
"We did. Thank you." Jamie was worried that she'd think that he wasn't a team player.
"Thank you for what?"
"I promise that I am a team player, but I can't expose myself as a cop to the homeless community. If I were asked to go back under, I'd do it in a second if it meant I could save lives like I've done in the past."
"Hey, don't worry about it. We've only worked together two days. How was your meeting with Lt. G?"
"Long, but paperwork has always been easy for me." Jamie laughed.
"Start the paperwork tonight and finish it in the morning."
"Got it. You out for the night?"
"Yeah, I'm meeting the hubby for dinner in town. Call if you need me."
"No, go be with the hubby. I can't wait to meet him. Have fun."
Jamie yawned as soon as Lisa left. He was exhausted. He wished Eddie wasn't working so many hours right now, but he understood, and she and her mom were headed out of town over the weekend. It was the anniversary of her brother's death, and he knew that they always tried to do something in his memory. She'd promised that they would be able to get together next week when they get back to New York.
"Hey kid, your welcome." Danny said as he noticed his kid brother had his head down working on paperwork. He wasn't surprised with how hard Lt. G had been harping on them to make sure that the paperwork is 100% correct.
"Thanks for your help today, Danny." Jamie sighed.
"Are you okay?" Danny was concerned, Jamie should be happy that he had his first arrest as a detective a day and a half after his promotion.
"I'm just tired. As soon as I finish some of this paperwork, I'm gonna go home and sleep until I start second shift tomorrow."
"Have you eaten?"
"I have some stuff at home. I'll eat before bed."
"Have you eaten earlier today?" Danny would always worry about Jamie, and now that he was in the squad with him it worried him more and gave him piece of mind that he could really watch over him.
"Yes Danny. I ate breakfast and lunch. Danny, I'm good, just tired."
"Hey ya know Dad would kill me if I was this close to you and knew that you weren't taking care of yourself. You do have a bad habit of forgetting to eat sometimes."
"I know, just like Linda would do the same to me, although I know you never skip meals, you just drink too much coffee and don't get enough sleep."
"Point to you, but you gotta let me be big brother some times." Danny laughed.
"Okay. Danny go home. I'm outta here in an hour."
"See ya tomorrow kid."
Jamie was just happy that he didn't have to have an update to the intel unit until the following week. Serge had sent him a text. He'd heard about his first two days. Now Jamie had to figure out how he was going to figure out his assignment.
Once home all he wanted to do was sleep. Mark had sent him a couple of texts giving him some direction on where to start looking for the corrupt cop. Jamie was thankful for the direction and hoped having that information would give him the ability to sleep. Without it he didn't think he'd sleep much at all.
The rest of the week went by quickly. Linda and Danny ended up making plans for Saturday night so Jamie took the boys back to his apartment after Jack's soccer game.
"Uncle Jamie why do you work so much? We miss you." Sean said.
"Ya, know I have to work and according to your dad I'm still a rookie. I miss spending time with you guys too." Jamie laughed.
"We know, but we wish you could watch us more sometimes." Jack loved Uncle Jamie he was always so calm compared to his dad.
"Ok, let's go play basketball." Jamie was ready for this conversation to end. It seemed like everyone was comparing to Danny and he needed a break from it.
It only takes ten minutes for them to arrive at the park. When they get there, they start playing ball. Both Jack and Sean decided that they want it to be two against one. Jamie easily agrees because the boys won't stop laughing and he didn't realize how much he needed some fun in his life. His first week as a detective was weighing on him more than he would've liked.
After a couple lively games of basketball, they decided to go and get big cones of French fries for dinner with ice cream to follow. Jamie remembered several times when Linda and Danny took him out and fed him a very similar meal before he got sick and then again when he was better because Danny has always given him a hard time that he was too skinny. He planned on reminding them of that fact if either one of them said anything about the meal.
Sunday dinner isn't as lively as the week before. Although Jamie could tell that his dad knew something about his previous week.
"Great job with your first case in the squad this week kid." Danny was very impressed by his brother.
"Thanks Danny."
"I heard about your case too. Are you good with everything?" Frank was ready for the day when he wasn't worrying about his youngest so much.
"I'm good. We got the guy. He was shocked and we have enough evidence to put him away for a long time."
"What did he do?" Linda was surprised that Danny hadn't told her about Jamie'
"Domestic abuse case out of Bitterman."
"For your first case? Don't they know your history?" Linda was upset. In some ways Jamie was like her third child.
"Linda, I catch cases the same way Danny does. We don't get to pick them and it's my job to get the guy. I have a great supportive partner and we work well together." Jamie calmly explained.
"Ok, well you know we're here if you need us." Erin said seeing the tension come off of both Linda and Jamie.
"I know. I'm good. I promise I'll talk to someone if I'm not." Jamie smiled. He just wanted this conversation to end.
The conversation changes to what he and the boys did over the weekend and plans for the upcoming week. Jamie was quiet for the rest of dinner. He was still tired and could see his dad watching him. Usually, he's able to get out of the house before his dad can get to him, but today wasn't the day.
"Okay, everyone else is gone, and pop went to his room to read. Why are you so exhausted?"
"Nightmares, that I haven't had in years."
"What about?"
"The last night that I spent at Bitterman before we started living on the streets." Jamie's head hung low. "There aren't a lot of things in this world that scare me like Mason does. I know he's in Portland and never coming back. He can't even talk to me anymore."
"Exactly, and he has nothing to do with who you are today. You got the guy from Bitterman."
"I know, and my partner was shocked at how much I understood the case. I got into his head, while we were working it and it scared me a little." Jamie hadn't admitted that to anyone yet.
Frank was puzzled, Jamie had done a lot of work in Mason's world. "What about all of your undercover work?"
"That was different. I wasn't Jamie Reagan then. I was a good actor playing a role to get the bad guys. Yes, I got in their heads, but it didn't have the impact on me that this case did."
"I can find someone for you to talk to. Danny and I really haven't done the deep undercover work that you've done, so I only know from what I've been told."
"I know and I have someone I can talk to. The feeling blind sighted me a little."
"Good, but ya know I can help too if needed. You need to sleep as much as you can, and take care of yourself."
"Dad, trust me, I got enough people telling me that I need to eat or sleep. I promise I'm good."
"Okay."
Jamie heads home and right to bed after he put away the entire bag of leftovers that his grandfather made sure that he knew were his before he went up to his room. Jamie knew that they weren't leftovers. They were too clean, and he knew his grandpa made extras because they think he's not eating enough again.
The next day he's up early and ready to get into his real case. He's able to get through about a third of the squad's files before anyone really gets there. Nothing is popping out at him, but nothing has happened since he joined the squad last week. The break will come, he just has to be patient.
"Hey kid, I heard you were here early this morning. You can't have that much paperwork to catch up on yet." Danny had his grandpa, dad, Linda, and Erin all on him that he needed to watch out for Jamie.
"I have my yearly cancer check this afternoon so I came in early so I can leave early."
"Oh." Danny was caught off guard. "Why didn't you say anything yesterday?"
"Because I was getting enough grief about my first case and if I'm taking care of myself, the last thing I needed to bring up was cancer."
"Ok, I get that." Danny decided he needed to back off. The kid was going to shut down on him and he couldn't afford to lose that connection. They've worked too hard to get where they are now.
Jamie and Lisa caught a case an hour later, and Jamie got his wish. One of the reports that Baez finished last Friday came back with some anomalies. His gut says that it's not Baez, so it looked like it was going to be a late night. At least he could take his laptop home and work from there.
On his way home, he got a great surprise. Eddie was back and wanted to meet up later that week. He needed that break. He know he wouldn't have his test results back for a few days and longer than that if there were any issues.
"Hey Eddie, how are you guys doing?" Jamie said as Eddie answered his call.
"We're okay. I know Alex never wanted us to be sad, but there are times that I just try and imagine what he would be doing if he were alive today."
"I get it. I remember when I was sick, I would hear my mom and talking about their fears that I would never get experience life." Jamie could hear that she was crying and that wasn't his intention. "Ed, I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. How are you doing?"
"Last week I arrested an ass hole like Mason who beat his wife like Mason used to beat my mom, and today I had my yearly cancer check." Jamie sighed.
"Ok, how was your doctor's appointment?" Eddie loved Jamie.
"I've been tired because I've been working so much, so that was the first thing that was brought up. Next, they were asking me about work and my stress level. Telling them about my promotion and all the hours I worked last week didn't go over well." Jamie sighed again. "I'll either be called back in or will find out I'm all clear in a few days."
"Can I do anything to help?" Eddie couldn't lose him.
Jamie smiled, even though he knew she couldn't see it. "Will you go out on a date with me?"
"Yes!" Eddie sighed. "Thanks for not giving up on me."
"Ed, I would never give up on you. I was worried after having to cancel so many times, and then you were gone, and then my appointment today that you were going change your mind about me. Decide I wasn't worth it."
"Never. Now when are you taking me out?"
"Friday?" Jamie wasn't sure of either of their schedules for the week.
"Yes. Now go to bed. You have to take care of yourself."
"Thanks Ed."
Jamie was on cloud nine after the call with Eddie and was able to sleep peacefully for the first time since he'd been promoted. The new case wasn't so bad, but he still didn't love life as a detective. They'd spent a majority of the week on a stakeout and each time Jamie saw a couple of patrol officers he wished that he could be out there with them rather than stuck in the car, or on an undercover op. Really just anywhere rather than where he currently was, and he inwardly laughed because by becoming a detective he was following in the Reagan family legacy.
He had a great night planned for Eddie. A nighttime picknick in Central Park. He hoped that she loved it, but he was afraid that she might not like it. He was afraid that she'd want to go to an expensive restaurant.
Jamie asked Eddie to dress comfortably and wear good walking shoes. Jamie was excited for a nice relaxing night.
"I've been waiting for today all week. Where are we going?" Eddie smiled and looked around.
"We've waited for this night so long; I wanted it to be special. I hope you like what I've got planned." Jamie says as they make their way to their destination.
It wasn't long before they arrived at Central Park. "I hope this is okay."
"It's okay. Are we going to find a hot dog cart?"
"Nope."
At the trunk, Jamie grabbed a large picknick basket and cooler. "It's not fancy, but I made it myself."
"Do you have a spot in mind?" Eddie smiled. She'd never had a guy cook for her before, and usually she's be all dressed up and at an expensive restaurant.
"Not, really I thought we could walk until we found the right spot for us."
Eddie jumped up and down. "Let's go."
They walk in silence enjoying the nice weather and peacefulness of the area that they were currently in. A little while later they'd found their spot.
"Was this week better than last week?"
"Yes, a lot actually. Finished my second case and now LT. G believes I can handle multiple cases at a time. How was your first week back from vacation?"
Eddie made grumbling noises. "Lots of emails and getting caught up with my cases and catching up on some paperwork. Got in all of my weekly visits. I'm exhausted."
"We can leave whenever you're ready, but first we eat."
Jamie started getting the food out starting with some cut veggies and hummus, with sparkling water.
"Have you heard anything about your appointment."
Jamie had a big goofy smile on his face. "I'm all clear."
Eddie sighed in relief and gave him a big hug. "Jamie, you know if you didn't get good news that I'd still be here for you, right?"
"I worry because of your brother. You know what it's like to live with someone who's sick. I worry that you won't want to live through that again. I don't know if I'll be lucky a third time." Jamie searched her face to see her reaction.
"Jamie, I love you too much to abandon you when you'd need me most." Eddie was a little hurt that Jamie had those concerns, but she understood at the same time.
"Thanks Ed, and I really would understand, but let's focus on the fact that I'm happy and healthy."
"What else did you bring to eat?"
Jamie reaches into the basket and hands Eddie a sandwich. "I have a steak sandwich for you and a turkey sandwich for me. I didn't forget dessert either."
"This is a really good steak sandwich." Eddie smiled and kept eating. "Who taught you how to cook?"
"My mom when I moved in with the Reagans. Food was something that connected us before I lived with them."
"When you saw her at the soup kitchen. I heard you're working at the soup kitchen again."
"Shelly's thrilled. I'm mostly working in the back and with the homeless shelter with some legal issues."
"I know that you missed it. At least your new job gives you more of your life back."
Jamie laughed. "Yeah, now if I just liked it."
"You don't like being a detective?" Eddie was puzzled. She knew about his dad and his brothers.
"No, I miss walking a beat and being on the streets. I miss stopping the crimes in progress instead of coming in to clean up after."
"If and when the day comes that I ever become a supervisor, I'll only be going out when I'm needed. I don't know that I'll ever be ready for that."
"I'm studying to take the Sergeant's exam, and if I score high enough for my number to come up, I want to go back to patrol. I feel like I made a bigger difference there."
"That's where your heart is. You'll make your way back." Eddie understood where he was coming from.
"Eddie, I love you, but I don't want to move forward if you don't want to. I have one question."
Eddie was looking at his face in fear. "What's the question?"
"Do you want kids of your own?"
"I decided when I took my job that I didn't want kids of my own. I hope to be able to adopt."
Jamie sighed in relief. "I don't either. The Reagans gave me everything that Patricia wanted for me from the time I was born, and when I was sick, they saved my life , and taught me that family isn't just there when times are easy, but when times are tough and scary. I hope to be able to make that big of a difference in someone's life someday."
"Tonight, was wonderful. Thank you."
"Will you go out with me next week?" Jamie asked as they walked back to the car.
"Yes. I'd love to go out with you again. Can we meet after work this week for drinks?"
"Sure. Any day you want." Jamie smiled. He was in love, and he hadn't let his fears get in the way.
After walking Eddie to her door Jamie went up to his apartment happier than he'd been all week. He wished Joe was still alive so he could tell him all about the night. He knew he'd been happy for him. He'd be happy that he was making an effort to do something other than work or volunteer.
Saturday morning, he started the day with a run that took him to Bay Ridge. The run felt good. His past had been very present in his life recently and he couldn't stop thinking about when he was sick and couldn't run.
"Hey Joe. So, I did a thing last night and Eddie and I went on our first date. It went really well. I think I found my forever. She understands why I'm a cop, and we've already said we love each other." Jamie laughed. "We actually told each other that we love each other before our first date. I'm sorry Joe. I let my fears get in my way. I wish you were here to give me push me when I need it."
Jamie took a breath and went to visit with both Patty and his mom and grandma. While talking to them about his date he figured out that he didn't want to wait. He had to laugh at how quickly things changed.
He had decided that he wasn't ready to tell the family about his date yet. He wanted to wait until he brought her to Sunday dinner. He wasn't sure when that would be yet.
Jamie was standing in the cemetery using the serenity of the place to reflect on where he was in his life so far. Lost in thought he didn't hear his dad approach.
"Jamie… Jamie…" Frank said quietly because he could see Jamie was lost in thought.
"Jamie…" He said a little louder.
"Oh, hey dad. What are you doing out here so early?"
"Needed to talk to your mother about something, but it looks like you beat me to it."
"I didn't plan on coming this morning, I just ended up here during my run."
"You're here a lot when you've got a lot on your mind." Frank could tell that he didn't need to worry this time.
"Yeah, it really isn't that far from my apartment."
"Pop's making pancakes this morning. Wanna come back to the house?"
"Sure. Want me to give you some time. I can go help pops while you talk to mom."
"No, I'll come back before church. What has you in such a good mood?" Frank could tell Jamie was thinking through his answer.
"I had my annual cancer appointment last week, and all is good there." Jamie laughed.
"Did they say anything about how tired you seem to be?"
"Yeah, and I'm sleeping more. You don't have to worry I can take care of myself."
Frank looked at his son for a moment. Sometimes he really had a hard time separating the young man he was now from the sick little kid that he was. "I know, but you'll always be my kid, so I'll always worry. What else is going on?"
"I like my new partner, but I miss patrol and I miss intelligence. I know that you, pop, and Danny all love being a detective, but I don't know that it's where I want to be. I like undercover work or patrolling the streets."
"Give yourself time. You might like it more than you think." Frank knew danger was everywhere, but he knew at least for now both of his sons were spending a lot of time behind a desk.
"I've decided to take the Sergeant's exam next year."
Frank was surprised, but then again if one of his kids were going to surprise him it would be Jamie. "Is that what you want?"
"It is, and I want to go back to patrol if I pass, when number gets called."
"You really do love it out here on the streets, don't you?"
They were almost back at the house, and Jamie stopped. "Yeah, I do. Ya know I'm thankful every day that you and mom saved me, but sometimes I wonder where I'd be if I were left on my own out on the streets or ended up in the system."
"You'd be where you are today. You don't give up." Frank laughed. All of his kids were hard workers, but the older three had nothing on Jamie. "What else has you happy?"
"I wasn't gonna share with the family yet, but Eddie and I finally got our first date Friday." Jamie was smiling ear to ear.
"Finally! Where did you take her?" Frank was worried that Jamie was going to end up married to the job and nothing else. He didn't want him to end up alone.
"We went to Central Park and had a picknick. We talked and just sat and enjoyed the night. She'd had a long week, so we ended the night early. It was a great night."
"When are you gonna bring her to dinner? Ya know pop and the family would love to meet her."
"I don't know yet. We've only had our first date." Jamie blushed.
Jamie could smell the pancakes and sausage the second he entered the house. That smell would always be one that brings happy memories.
"Pop, I brought someone home for breakfast." Frank knew his dad would be happy, he loved feeding people as much as Mary did.
"Jamie! What are you doing over here this morning?"
"Went for my morning run and ran into dad. I hope it's okay I'm here."
"Of course, it is. I always make enough. Are you working today?"
"No, I'm off until Monday."
"Have any plans for the rest of the day?" Henry hoped he did. Unlike Danny, Erin, and Joe, Jamie wasn't always surrounded by friends.
"Yeah, I'm meeting up with a few guys from Harvard tonight. They're in town for work and we're gonna catch up."
He didn't need to tell his dad or grandpa he was gonna be spending the afternoon working on his UC case.
"Do you meet up with them often?" Frank wondered.
"Every time they're in town which is once or twice a year. There are some guys that live locally that I meet up with once a month."
Although Henry was happy his grandson had a social life, he was questioning why he wasn't hanging out with other cops more. "Do you ever spend time with any of the cops from the twelfth or the 5-4?"
"I do. I meet up with a group from the twelfth as often as I can, and I hang out with guys from the 5-4 intel division whenever I can."
"Good." Henry smiled. "Danny told us you're already making a name for yourself in the squad. Apparently, some of the guys think that you, like your brother have an interesting way to handling your cases."
Jamie laughed. "I have to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Jamie spent the afternoon going through the remaining files for the detectives in the 5-4. Nothing interesting showed up until the second to last file. Detective Hoffman had a rough rookie year and Jamie had a part in those reprimands. Renzulli had reprimanded Hoffman six times for steeling other officer's collars at the 12th. The reason that they were only reprimands was because he used his hook at 1PP to get him off easy each time despite each person that lodged the complaint had witnesses and evidence.
If Hoffman really was involved the case was going to be very interesting. Hoffman was never shy about showing his dislike for Jamie and later Danny once he'd been transferred to the 5-4. Jamie figured he didn't like the fact that his dad was the PC and could really get him and his uncle into trouble when what they're doing finally comes to light. If it's anything worth anything.
Jamie and Eddies first date went so well that they've spent any time they are both off together. The only downside was that he wasn't getting a ton of sleep because he wasn't getting a lot of time to work on what was turning into being the Hoffman case. The last time he updated Mark and his Sergeant they agreed and thought he was going in the right direction.
Eddie had spent the day with her mom, but she was meeting Jamie and his friends at the bar later.
"Jamie! Man, how's life as a detective?" Spencer grabbed his shoulders and looked his best friend over.
"Good, busy. How are things in SoCal?"
"Busy, but loving life on the beach. You know they'd hire you if you decided to come back to the law."
"Can you imagine what my family would do if I told them I was moving to LA! Do you remember how they reacted when I decided to stay in Boston?" Jamie laughed.
"Yeah, they'd flip. Ok, so where's this girl you've been talking about for a while?"
"She's on her way. When are Alex and Jason getting here?"
"They got stuck in meetings which I got out of thankfully."
"How did you get out of it; I thought you were supposed to be working while you're here?" Jamie cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Well, I had an appointment. I'll be back in meetings all day tomorrow." Spencer looked around to make sure that his coworkers hadn't arrived yet before continuing. "I had a job interview. I want to move to NYC."
"Really! But you said that you love life on the beach?"
"I do, I really do, but I miss the east coast." Spencer looked down.
"You met someone!" Jamie hadn't lived with him for seven years and not be able to read him.
"Yes, and she lives in New York. She's a cop too."
Jamie's eyes go big. Spencer was dating a cop, and it was serious enough that he was going to sell his beautiful beach house. "How serious is this relationship?"
"Serious enough that I have plans to buy a ring." Spencer smiled.
"Hey Jamie, sorry I'm late." Eddie gave him a hug.
"Nothing to worry about. Eddie Janko, this is Spencer Croft. Spencer, my girlfriend Eddie." Jamie held her shoulders and was truly happy to be in a relationship.
Eddie looked back and forth between the friends. She could see that they were close. "Nice to meet you, Spencer."
The remainder of the night is spent remembering old times and getting to know Eddie. If not for Eddie joining them Jamie probably would've stayed home and kept working.