Cops, Bombs & Firemen - A Blue Bloods story

4: Taking the next step

Five months later:

Jamie groaned as he pulled a t-shirt over his head and shrugged his shoulders, wincing at the pain he was feeling in his right shoulder. It had been a long tour and ended with a perp trying to take him out with a lead pipe. Luckily Eddie had managed to help him tackle the guy and get the cuffs on him before doing any real damage. He was going to have bruises on his shoulder and chest, but he was okay compared to what could have happened. All he wanted to do now was go home, take a hot shower and cuddle on the couch with Grace, who was coming over and fixing dinner tonight. They had officially been together for almost five months. He walked out of the locker room and saw Eddie waiting by the door.

"Hey, how's the shoulder?" she asked while looking down at her phone.

"It's fine, gonna be a little stiff, but no issues." he answered rolling his eyes.

"Well how about we grab a couple of cold ones, maybe some nachos?" she asked curiously.

"I can't, Grace is coming over." he replied.

"Come on Reagan, we haven't really hung out that much since you started dating firehouse barbie, what's your deal?" Eddie wondered with a glare.

"She's my girlfriend Eddie. I really like her and I want to spend time with her." Jamie saw the hurt look on Eddie's face.

He realized that he has been spending less time with Eddie. She's his best friend and now he felt guilty.

Jamie sighed before nodding. "How about you and I go hang at the bar tomorrow night. Just you and I?"

"I guess, if you don't think SHE would mind." Eddie replied.

Jamie rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to get annoyed with her about the things that she said about Grace. The two of them hadn't even met, and every time Jamie invited Eddie to join him and Grace, she would conveniently come up with an excuse to not show up.

"We can hang out with our friends Eddie, she has her own friends too." Jamie answered.

"If you say so. Reagan." Eddie laughed.

"Eddie, you are my best friend and my partner. You and I are going to the bar tomorrow and you can try to beat me at darts, ok?"

Eddie raised a eyebrow. "Try to beat you? I always win?"

"If you say so. Whatever helps you sleep at night. First round on me." Jamie smiled before walking away.

"Wait! I always beat you. Jamison get back here!" Eddie said chasing him. "First round better be on you!"

Jamie smiled when he walked into his apartment and saw Grace was already chopping up veggies for a salad and that something smelled amazing in the oven. She had her back to him. He liked the fact that she felt comfortable enough to be in his apartment by herself. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Breathing in the scent of her perfume, he felt the stress of the day melt away.

"Hey Gorgeous, something smells good." he said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi Baby, I made seafood lasagna, garlic bread and salad." she answered as she wiggled around in his arms to give him a kiss on the lips.

"Yum, you taste even better than I'm sure the food's going to. How was your day?" Jamie asked.

"Not too bad, had some meetings, mostly paperwork. How about you?" Grace asked in return.

"Nothing too eventful, a perp tried to take a swing at me with a pipe, but I'm okay." he answered.

"Are you sure?" she wondered as he went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine.