Pillow Talk

With Friends Like This - C

Eddie frantically paced the length of the apartment waiting for Jamie to come home. He'd texted her that he was going to see Jenny Strong's father and let him know that his contact upstate, the one she was jealous of for the briefest of moments, had gotten Jenny a bed at an excellent private hospital. Shortly after Jamie texted Eddie again, the message simply, "We were too late...Jenny is dead..." Then nothing. She hadn't heard a word from him since. Numerous calls and texts had gone unanswered. Eddie was climbing the walls.

Finally, at just before 11 pm, she heard the elevator ding and Jamie's key in the lock. Eddie ran to meet him with a giant hug throwing both her arms around his neck, "Oh Jamie, I was worried out of my mind. Where were you?"

Jamie brought his arms up and held Eddie, "I was at my Dad's. I'm sorry, I had to think and I started driving. Before I knew it I was in Brooklyn at the kitchen table pitching my father the EDP panel idea."

Eddie pulled back and smacked Jamie on the chest, "You could have called me."

"I know," Jamie sighed touching his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry if I worried you. After talking to that father today, my heart was just...I could not stand the idea this might happen again, I just couldn't..."

Eddie sighed, "Come sit, talk to me."

Eddie tried not to be upset that he went home to his father instead of her but the disappointment and some anger was evident on her face. Jamie took a seat beside her reaching for her hand but Eddie pulled it away.

"Eddie, please don't be mad I didn't mean to upset you. I couldn't stop thinking about Jenny and..." As he talked Frank's words about not being able to save every puppy in the pound came back.

Jamie looked at Eddie with his large blue grey eyes. "Those eyes, Reagan," Eddie sighed. "Those eyes are not always going to get you out of trouble." Eddie felt herself melting.

"I went to Dad and told him what happened," Jamie explained. "I told him how this young woman and her father that now has no one fell through the cracks. Eddie, I pitched him the idea and he wants me involved and heading it up, isn't that great!"

"It is really great, Jamie. I always thought your father should listen to you more," Eddie replied. "But let's table this for a minute and talk about the fact that someone you tried to help died by her own hand last night."

Jamie sighed, "I could spend time being sad and being angry, but that's only going to help me eventually feel better. I can turn this into a positive thing, to make sure it's not going to happen again. We are going to have panelists from all walks of life, lawyers, social services, NYPD, psychiatrists..."

"Jamie, I couldn't be more proud of you," Eddie smiled. "Really, I can't. I just don't want you to bottle this stuff up like I did. No, you didn't shoot her, but she meant something to you."

Jamie reached to wrap his arms around Eddie, this time she let him. "You mean something to me, I just found her situation sad. Was it a shock to hear she killed herself yes, but let's face it Eddie, she's out of her misery. I spoke to Dad about services for her father, to help him cope with the loss. I just want to help make sure than when we encounter these folks we are able to give them a chance and not pump them full of lead because we aren't trained to understand their reality."

Eddie moved so she was leaning against Jamie's chest, "I'm sorry I got so upset, Jamie but I really need to talk about this. I am incredibly proud of you and I'm so glad your father is letting you run with this idea, you'll develop it better than anyone, it's your heart, but it bothered me that you...It didn't bother me you went to see your Dad you are so lucky to be able to do that, but it bothered me you didn't call. I really bothered me, I felt like a little like an afterthought. I know it's only because we're still a secret but..."

Jamie reached for her hand shaking his head furiously. "No don't ever think like that Eddie. I love you so much."

When Jamie tried to brush her cheek Eddie dropped her gaze and looked down at her lap.

"Eddie, look at me, you are so much more, you mean the world to me, and I trust you most in the world. I just ended up by my Dad's I swear," Jamie attempted to catch her eyes.

Eddie kept her gaze down still holding his hand thinking over what he said.

When she didn't answer, Jamie cupped her cheeks forcing Eddie to look up. "I'm sorry I made you feel less, I promised I never would do that and I did."

Jamie's eyes met hers his own apologetic sparkling crystal blue that made Eddie's heart race. "I don't know why I'm feeling so emotional today," Eddie sighed. "I didn't hear the news you did and I'm acting like a big baby."

Jamie played with a strand of her hair, "You've been through a lot lately, sweetheart, really. This weekend is going to be the best thing for you, you'll see. When we are done I hope you never doubt yourself and my love for you again..." Jamie leaned in and gave Eddie a little kiss. "But if you do, I'll remind you."

Eddie reached up and cupped Jamie's cheek, "You don't have to. All I have to do is look at you. I'm sorry...I..."

"Stop," Jamie commanded gently. "Let's just sit and be grateful for what we have, our lives, our sanity, and most of all each other. I can't do this without you, Eddie. I don't want to."

Eddie moved so she was sitting in Jamie's lap, "I don't want to either...Kiss me, Reagan."

Jamie was happy to oblige.