AND LOVE CHAP 120
The cavalry?
ON THE ISLAND
Breakfast Tuesday
"Jamie, we got an email last evening from Marty and Kensi."
"Oh, really. What about?"
"That long weekend they talked about, coming here and advancing our family friendship. They suggest weekend after this one."
"Well, I need to check my work schedule, babe."
"I know. Can you get back to me tomorrow, please?"
"Yup, will do."
"Thanks."
"Mommy, is that uncle Marty and aunt Kensi from California?" Mary Rose asks.
"Yes, it is."
"Good, I really like them."
"We all do. What would you like to do when they are here?" Mom has a good idea.
"Have them come and go riding with us. Do you know if they know how to ride, mommy?"
"No, I don't know. You may need to teach them!"
"I can do that. Oh, the bus will be here in 15 minutes, I gotta run." Mary Rose and her sisters scamper upstairs to get ready for school.
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Jimmy's apartment
TXT
JC: what's up today (to Nick)
NB: NYU all AM
JC: after lunch?
NB: home w Eddie, watching and learning
JC: PM, I P U up, dinner?
NB: 7 ish?
JC: 7:30?
NB: K
JC: see ya
NB: ditto
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ON THE ISLAND 2 PM
"Eddie, I'm home!"
"Office!" Eddie stretches her arms overhead. It's time for some calisthenics.
Nicky strolls in. "Anything exciting here?" Eddie is doing jumping jacks, Nick joins her.
"Only that Marty and Kensi from California will be here weekend after this one." Eddie huffs.
"The team that rescued you and Cass?"
"The very ones!"
"So, what are you going to do while they are here?"
"Jamie and I haven't gotten that far yet." They switch to stretches.
"Ok . . . what did Annie say about coming back on my training team? I really need her!"
"She said the process starts with you asking her in person."
"No phone or TXT?" Nick is now at Eddie's ankles while her aunt does some sit-ups.
"Nope. She wants to eyeball you, Nick."
"Wow, well I guess I can see that. I wonder-
"What?"
"Jimmy and I are doing dinner tonight. Maybe we can stop by Gregg and Annie's and talk?"
"You and Jimmy? Tight?" They switch places.
"I really like him . . . and I have the feeling that it's both ways." Nick grins as she comes up and touches her knees.
"Your mom and dad?"
"What about them? After the grand opening, I don't really care what my mom thinks! Dad, I think he's ok with it."
"But-
"No buts aunt Eddie! None. Can you live with that?"
"Yes. Be careful, sweetie. Protection is the word of the day." They stop; Eddie tosses Nick a towel.
"If, and when, protection is definitely the word of the day. We are prepared, but taking it slow. I really appreciate your trust, aunt Eddie." She hugs her aunt and sits down to watch and listen.
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NCIS-OSP Los Angeles
"Mr. and Mrs. Deeks, my office, please." Hetty calls.
They enter and sit.
"Tea?"
They politely decline.
"You are going back east soon, correct?"
"Yup," Marty responds. "Anything in particular you wish for us to do, or see?"
"Just one thing. I had a call from an old friend, Richard Davenport."
"Oh, do we know him?"
"Probably not. His daughter, Sydney Ann, is the ex-fiancé of Jamie Reagan."
"And?" Kensi raises an eyebrow.
"Jamie and Eddie and Annie with her boyfriend Gregg have interacted some. Annie did some mild flirting one time she and Jamie were 1:1; she subsequently apologized and promised never again."
"So?" Marty's turn.
"Well, when I told Richard that you two were coming back, he wondered if you might be-
"The cavalry?" Marty and Kensi look at each other.
"Something like that. Relationship advice. You two are so good-
"Ex-fiancé and all," Kensi frowns.
"I wasn't-
"Yes, you were. But that's ok. We'll try and be helpful." Kensi turns to Marty and grins.
"No guns, I assume?" He retorts.
"Correct." Hetty nods.
"May I ask how-
"A while back I got sideways with some boys in Little Odessa."
"What! Those boys play for keeps, Hetty," Kensi snorts. "Callen and I found that out when we were looking for that last nuke that Siderov had!"
Marty grimaces at the name.
"So do I! So do I!" Hetty slightly smiles, then waves them off.
"Sorry, partner," Kens gives her husband a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Love you!"
"Love you too!"
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7:30 ON THE ISLAND
Nicky runs out as soon as Jimmy honks.
She sits, then leans over for a kiss.
"Jimmy, can we eat somewhere close to Annie and Gregg's?"
"Sure, but why?"
"I need some face time with Annie. About my training."
"Getting her back on the team?"
"Yeah, I really need her, bad. Let me call. Can you drive that direction?"
"Sure."
ANNIE'S PHONE RINGS
"Annie here, Nicky?"
"Yes. Say, Jimmy and I are coming out your way for dinner. Can we stop by afterwards? I need to talk with you about my training."
"Well, why don't you come here for supper? Gregg is doing burgers; he can do 2 or 3 more. Come on over."
Nick looks at Jimmy, he nods ok.
"Ok, Annie. We'll be there soon. And thanks."
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AFTER SUPPER
"Annie, I really need and want you back on my team!" Nick pleads.
"Tell me Nick. Why was I dropped?" She is serious.
Nick hangs her head; Jimmy squeezes her hand.
"My mom . . . she insisted that I kick you off. I'm sorry."
"And she will do what, if I return?"
"Throw a fit! But it won't work. She tried the same thing with Jimmy," Nick looks affectionately at Jimmy. "I made it clear that I am an adult . . . and am making my own decisions."
"Good for you!" Gregg mutters.
"You are living with Jamie and Eddie. Your uncle is a very nice man; but we all are susceptible to family pressure – to some extent."
"I know, Jamie did . . . ah, forget it." Nick lowers her head, face in her hands.
Annie shivers. She dreads what comes next. She has to ask; "Jamie did what, Nick?"
Nicky lowers her head, lays it on Jimmy's lap and starts to cry. Jimmy softly rubs her back, frowning.
"My uncle did a check." She whispers.
Gregg quickly reaches over and takes Annie's hand.
"He did a background check on me? He had no right!" Jimmy leaps up and begins to pace.
"No, he didn't!" Annie squeezes Gregg's hand, HARD!
"SHIT!" Gregg whispers.
Nicky jumps up, gets in Jimmy's path and stops him. She wraps her arms around his waist, he wraps his arms around her.
Jimmy looks directly at Annie, "Will you represent me, please?"
Annie shivers slightly. "Jimmy-
"WILL YOU, PLEASE?" He is really pissed.
"She will," Gregg responds. "If you really want to do that, son."
"You know what's in there, Gregg!"
"Yds, I do. So does Annie," Gregg voices.
Jimmy lays his head on Nick's shoulder. "Babe, I was going go share all with you, promise. I just wasn't ready, yet."
"I understand, I do. We've only known each other 2 weeks. We are just getting started. I see Gregg and Annie trust you. Lots of people have juvie sheets. It's who you are now that matters to me."
"Thank you!" He is crying now, too.
"Now what, babe?" Gregg looks at Annie.
"Jimmy and Nick; I think we all need a day, at least overnight to cool off. We can talk again tomorrow. Nick, you can stay here tonight if you'd like."
Gregg nods in assent.
"Thanks, but that would raise too many questions."
Annie looks at her phone. "I can have an extended lunch tomorrow. Say 12:00 to 2:30." She looks to Gregg. He looks at his phone. "Unless a disaster rolls in, I can give Jimmy the day off."
"You sure, boss?"
"Yes, I am sure."
"Nicky?" Annie looks to her.
"I really need to be at NYU until 12:00. Then I can meet. Where?"
"Porsche Brooklyn?" Gregg suggests. "I will pull Gary to Huntington. I will work at Brooklyn, and be ready to meet at 12:45."
"Annie, can you do that?" He looks at his fiancé.
She thinks for a moment. "Yes, I'll make it work."
They do a group hug. "Nick, I'll drive you home, and see you tomorrow." They kiss and head to his car, hand-in-hand.
Annie and Gregg hug, "What a mess," they simultaneously exclaim. Then chuckle/giggle.
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12:45 NEXT DAY – BROOKLYN PORSCHE
They meet in a small conference room. Gregg supplies sodas.
"Jimmy, how are you feeling today?" Annie asks.
"I don't think suing anyone is where I want to go. But I do want to rattle a cage, BIG TIME! I feel seriously violated. I do!"
"And I agree!" Nick is plastered to his side.
"It's your uncle, Nicky," Gregg puts out there.
"I know. But for years I've been at Sunday dinners, and seen and heard my mom and uncle Danny walk all over the rules. It has to stop! I've just had it!"
"Nicky, we need to be careful here," Annie cautions.
"Don't you care?" Nick is getting exercised. Jimmy holds her tight.
"Yes, I do care. May I talk this over with my dad?"
Nicky and Jimmy look at each other. They nod.
"Ok, give me until Friday. All right?"
"Yes." All around.
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Davenport, Erickson & Jackson
Thursday 2:00 PM
Annie presents the facts to her father and LeRoy Jackson.
"Annie, I think that with all that has been going on, you shouldn't be involved in this." Her dad looks to LeRoy.
LeRoy concurs. He has been read in on all the particulars. "But, how would you advise us, Annie?"
"Remember, the Reagans are a well-placed, powerful family. I'm afraid that just shaking the tree will get us no more than a sneer."
"She's probably correct," Richard nods.
"So, they are almost impermeable?" LeRoy posits.
"Close," Annie agrees. "I really doubt that it will accomplish much."
"How well do you know Jamie?" LeRoy wonders.
"I knew him well. Now? I am not sure," she admits. "I think we can make Jamie feel bad. At what cost?"
"Agree," from both gentlemen.
They look at each other, in a quandary.
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ON THE SHORE FRIDAY SUPPER
After eating, they sit in the LR.
"Jimmy," Annie starts. "I passed his on to my father and LeRoy Jackson. I also advised them."
"You aren't on my team?" Jimmy is disappointed.
"All 3 of us agreed that my presence would do more harm than good. With the kerfuffle between Jamie and me."
"So, what are we going to do?" Nick wonders.
"We feel that the chances of anything good happening, in your favor, are slim to none. And at high cost."
"Not even a G-D apology?"
"Would you be satisfied with that?"
He looks at Nick, "Yes," he whispers.
"I'll tell my dad. I think that's a good approach, Jimmy."
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Davenport, Erickson & Jackson
Monday 11:00
Annie presents her 2 partners with Jimmy's desires.
They agree to go for an apology. 1st their investigator's nail down solid evidence that Jameson Reagan did, indeed, run a deep background check on James Collins. Then Richard and LeRoy draft a letter. After Jimmy agrees to a 3rd draft, the final copy is sent to Lt. Jameson Reagan. A copy to PC Frank Reagan.
NYPD 1-PP
Lt. Jameson Reagan enters, salutes, and sits.
Frank holds up his copy of the letter. "Your response? Lieutenant?"
"This is crap, dad!"
"What cause did you have, Lieutenant?"
"I was concerned about my niece dating a stranger, sir!"
"A total stranger? No one you know knew him?"
"Gregg Wells and Annie Davenport know him."
"Did you inquire of them beforehand?"
"No, sir."
"So? You're response?"
Apology, sir," Jamie spits out.
"Copy to this office, Lt."
"Yes, sir!"
"Dismissed."
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Jimmy and Frank Reagan receive the apology.
It feels like a hollow victory.
"I don't think I'll ever see Eddie's Porsche again," Gregg comments to Annie.
"Don't be too sure, babe."
"Oh?"
"She's a strong woman."
Gregg smirks.
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TBC
A/N: skyross19, I don't know if this will make it harder to segue into your idea? I'd still really like to do that!