A/N: This will be a series of one shot stories assuming our favorite couple began a couple at the end of Power Players, but chose to remain partners as well. A little OOC for Jamie but sometimes love makes us do strange things. The series will show how Jamie and Eddie navigate their budding romance against the backdrop of events in the actual series.

Once again, thanks to Lawslave for offering her feedback.

Pillow Talk – Power Players

With each sob Jamie felt his gut clench. He knew there was no way that Eddie was going to be okay after what she went through. He had a lot more time on the job than she had when he made his first kill but it was still a long time before he was okay.

Jamie stroked Eddie's arm and her hair interchangeably trying to offer whatever comfort he could through actions, not words. Nothing he could say to her would help now, he had to show her he was there and absorb as much of her pain as he could.

When Eddie's tears started to subside, Jamie felt her body growing heavier against him. She was starting to doze off. "Lie down," he whispered not wanting to startle her or jar her out of her sleep. When Eddie whimpered in fear that she was losing precious contact with the only person she trusted to keep the nightmares at bay. "Lie down here on the couch, put your head in my lap," Jamie offered. "And sleep, just sleep, I'm not going anywhere."

Eddie shifted and did as Jamie asked. "Talk to me," she whispered not feeling shy at all about snuggling into his lap. Jamie brought a hand up to stroke her head. "I don't care what about."

Jamie sighed, "I don't know what to say." Something about having his beautiful partner in his arms, vulnerable and in need of his attention and affection rendered him all but speechless. If he started talking now, too many things would come out, things he knew better than to say.

"You don't have to say anything, just talk," Eddie sighed and shut her eyes relishing the feel of Jamie's closeness. She dreamt of this time, when she could be close to her partner and friend in a way far beyond the confines of their relationship. It was easy to pretend he was her boyfriend, that he loved her and cherished her with her head cradled in his lap and her eyes shut, his fingers combing her hair, his soft voice talking about anything and nothing all at once. It was easy to forget just a few days ago she took a life.

Jamie didn't have to talk for long, Eddie quickly fell back to sleep. The faint light in the apartment made her blonde hair shine and her skin seems to sparkle even with the fatigue she had to be feeling. Curled up like she was, she looked so small, too small to be a strong capable NYPD officer. She looked like someone he had to protect, someone that needed him.

Eddie shifted in her sleep and let out a small whimper. "Ssh," Jamie crooned trying to insure she remained in a deep healing sleep. "Ssh, I've got you. It's all right."

His level tone and gentle touch seemed to have the desired effect, Eddie soon quieted and burrowed even closer.

Jamie watched Eddie sleep all night. Whenever she would whimper or cry out, even a little, he would jump into action to make sure that she slept on and did not relive that awful event yet again.

Jamie fell asleep just before dawn, Eddie's head still in his lap, his arm protectively wrapped around her middle. When the first rays of sunshine peaked in through the apartment window, Eddie stirred. She was stiff from sleeping in a curled position and was a little shocked to find herself still in Jamie's arms.

Carefully, she extricated herself from his grasp, started the coffee and used the bathroom. She looked better; she felt better. A good cry and a good night sleep had done her a world of good. Having those things with her partner and best friend at her side was just icing on the cake.

The aroma of freshly brewing coffee teased Jamie's nostrils. He opened his eyes and looked around for Eddie. He found her in the kitchen preparing French toast and sausage. "Hey," Jamie greeted wiping the sleep out of his eyes. "You didn't have to do that. You've had a rough couple of days, why don't you go stretch out in bed I'll be right here."

Eddie smiled, "You were…" She swallowed and tried again. "You were amazing last night. Even I didn't know what I needed but you figured it out just by looking…"

"I'm your partner," Jamie shrugged.

"Yeah…" Eddie smiled. "You are my partner and you know what else, you're my best friend. I love you, Jamie. Not…in a bad way, a forbidden way…" Her mouth denied those feelings but the look on her face said something else entirely.

"Eddie, if we weren't partners, I'd have asked you out a year ago. You are beautiful, smart, funny….and that last couple of days, I've seen the human side, the soft side of Edit Janko, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. "

Eddie couldn't help but blush. She looked down at her hands. They were still for the first time in days. "Jamie, I…"

Jamie reached out and cupped Eddie's cheek, "Eddie…you don't know how much I wish I could make this work out."

"Jamie, listen," Eddie replied on a soft sigh. She moved her hand up to cover his. "If you had asked me out a year ago, I would have said no. I wasn't in the place where I felt that I could…be what you need. I still don't' know that I'm girlfriend material."

"Let's sit on the couch and talk about it." Jamie took her hand in his and led her to the sofa. It hurt that she felt she wasn't good enough to be his girlfriend. For him, the only obstacle was their partnership.

Jamie sat on the couch and held her hands, "Eddie, please don't say things like that about yourself, okay? You are beautiful, you are bright, you are the light of my life. Seeing you in such pain the last few days, it's like I felt it right along with you. While you were sleeping last night, I thought about that and I thought about everything we've gone through together…from that first night when we watched Officer Collins die to you going to see your father…"

"Jamie, we became really great friends…"

"No," Jamie said firmly. "It is not just that anymore, and you know it. That's why you wanted me here last night, you wanted to stay in my arms and feel the same thing I felt while I held you."

Jamie moved closer to Eddie, "This stuff with your Dad, it's no reflection on you…I don't judge you, no one worth giving you their opinion would."

Eddie reached up and brushed away a tear. "Jamie, that's not it…" she sighed. "It's not it at all. Jamie I would love to see where this leads, I really would, but…you are all I've got. You are the only family that I really have and if we try this and it doesn't work out. I lose my partner, my best friend, and my boyfriend in one swoop."

Jamie pulled Eddie into his arms, "We don't have to do anything you aren't ready to do. I would love for us to give this a shot, to see where it can go, but I respect your fears too. If we break up, I have my dad, my brother…I understand."

Eddie relished the feeling of being in Jamie's arms, how could she turn this down when it felt so right.

"What if we gave it a try, but on the down low. We stayed partners until we were sure we could carry the ball over the line?" Eddie asked. "Is that something you would consider?"

That would break so many rules, Jamie thought to himself and he wasn't the type to do that just to be with a girl. Still, maybe Erin was right. Maybe it was time to follow his heart.

"Yes," Jamie replied after about five minutes of silence. "Yes I would. If we didn't…make it then we are both adults we could keep it professional, but I think you'll see that we are going to make it. I think after a month or so you'll see we are going to be okay."

Eddie looked up into Jamie's shining eyes and smiled, "So now what do we do? We are an official couple now?"

Jamie nodded, "We are…and now, Edit Janko, I buy my partner breakfast. Put the French toast in freezer it'll keep."

Eddie dressed while Jamie wrapped the French toast and put it in the freezer for late night snacks. He was still in shock that he agreed to that, that he agreed to break the rules and keep such a secret, but if that would help Eddie see they were meant to be together, well, then it would prove to be worth it after all.

Eddie stepped out of the bedroom in a pair of jeans, a baby pink top and sneakers. She looked like the all American girl next door. Jamie felt his heart jump. He crossed the room and reached out to take her hands in his, "I promise you Eddie," he told her gently. "We will make this thing work, it means that much to me and I know it means a lot to you too. I give you my word, we'll make this happen between us."

Jamie cupped her cheek and ran a soft hand in her hair. His face was so close to hers that their breathing was mingled. Jamie licked his lips and bent his head to the right as Eddie's instinctively went to the left, 'What are you doing?" she asked, her voice husky.

"Sealing it with a kiss," Jamie replied as he touched his lips to hers.