Ch 1

"Jamie!" Eddie called out as she carried three and a half year old Joey and held his twin sister's hand. "Jamie, can you take Mary Rose to her preschool and stay this time and make sure she gets settled in and doesn't cry. She's always crying so much there. Make sure noone is picking on her and pulling her hair."

Eddie looked at Joey and signed, "You stay with Momma today."

Joey signed back, "Tummy hurts."

Eddie spoke and signed, "I know it does baby boy."

"Is he okay?" Jamie asked.

"His stomach again and another ear infection. I called out I can't leave him with the sitter like this. You know he doesn't even try to talk when he's sick."

Jamie touched Joey's feverish little head, it broke his heart his baby boy struggled so much. "Of course babe," he said while signing love you, smiling when Joe signed back love you daddy.

He leaned in kissing both his wife and son Jamie took Mary Rose's hand bringing her to preschool. She froze at the door jumping behind her father's leg to hide.

Jamie knelt down in front of his daughter kissing her head quietly assuring her. "It's all right baby daddy is staying to make sure no one bothers you. "

Mary Rose's eyes reflected hesitation first giving her father a tight hug trying to stall. Smiling Jamie hugged back whispering, "go ahead baby I'm right here." He let go of Mary Rose allowing her to start inside the already busy classroom.

Taking one look inside at all those kids Mary Rose shook her head, turned back and jumped into her father's arms. "Hey baby girl what's wrong? Why don't you want to go inside and make new friends?"

"I don't want to daddy, school is boring and the kids are mean," Mary Rose tightened her grip around Jamie's neck refusing.

Jamie sighed hugging her back thinking how to make her stay. "I'll talk to your teacher okay just hang on one more day, want me to come in with you?" When Mary Rose nodded she did Jamie stood up and taking her hand walked in with her.

The teacher approached with a smile greeting Mary Rose friendly. "Hey Mary Rose, nice to see you Mr Reagan."

Jamie silently gave Mary Rose a nod to put her belongings away while he spoke privately to her teacher. "Lately my wife said Mary Rose has been crying not wanting to come to school. I just wanted to speak with you about the situation see if you've noticed anything?"

"Your daughter is not being bullied if that's what your hinting. However in the time she's come I've noticed her skills are beyond that of a child her age. She knows how to tell time, can identify numbers, knows her letters and rhyme. All this will lead to jealousy from her classmates so id like to speak with you and your wife about skipping her ahead," the teacher said making it clear she was aware of the situation.

"Yes please give us a call we can come in the next few days and work something out. Until then what are you going to do until then," Jamie pushed with a raised eyebrow.

The teacher returned his concerned look with a smile letting him know she was already actively planning. "I have advanced work she can do privately and will pair her with a student to help her socially."

Jamie nodded satisfied for now thanking her. He searched for Mary Rose who instead of joining her classmates in free play sat in the corner reading a book. Jamie's heart panged for his little girl wanting to comfort her but knew his involvement wouldn't help so he gave one more smile and headed to work.

"Hey Sergeant," Jamie's rookie trainee Becky greeted arriving early already changed. The newly graduated officer reminded him of his time with Eddie as a rookie.

Jamie grinned back at her warmly, "Hey Becky give me a few and we can hit the streets." Jamie went to the locker room changing quickly then to Renzulli's office.

"Hey boss," he greeted stepping into the familiar office. Renzulli looked up from filing papers and greeted his friend with a smile.

"Hey kid you about to roll out? Don't forget what you learned." Jamie grinned at the line Renzulli used eevery timeJamie was about to go on patrol.

With a slight head nod Jamie returned to the main room for Becky heading out into the street.

Joe laid on the couch wrapped in blankets watching tv while Eddie cleaned the kitchen.

The cartoon flashed interrupted by a special news report catching the boy's atrention. "This just in two parked cop cars were shot injuring two both passengers." Joe frowned reading the reporters lips widening his eyes in realization.

He raced into the kitchen pulling on Eddie's shirt quickly signing something happened a special news came on.

Dropping the plate she'd been cleaning Eddie followed Joe watching the news. Joe looked up at her already seeing it already signing daddy?

Eddie picked up the phone calling the precinct, connected directly to Renzulli. "Hey yea i saw we're trying to get in touch with him. I'll call when i know something."

Joe watched with big blue eyes seeing the worried expression on her face took her hand leading her to the couch.

Across town Danny was just returning from getting a perp to make a full confession when he saw the news. "Damnit," he mumbled calling Jamie getting his voicemail

He hucouch his hands flying furiouslng up dialing four times leaving the same message, deciding to try his father. "Hey dad did you hear? Tell me you heard from Jamie."

"No, we're trying to locate him ill let you know." Frank ended the call trying his youngest son's cell again getting his voicemail.

Joe sat on the couch trying to read the reporter's lips and find out what was going on. His little hands flew furiously for his mother's attention wanting to know if his dad was okay. When Eddie continued looking down at her phone waiting to hear Jamie was okay, Joe picked up a pillow throwing it across the room hitting Eddie softly.

Eddie went to sit beside her boy watching his hands furiously sign away wanting to know what was going on. Heaving a sigh Eddie pulled him against her for a hug waiting anxiously.