Chapter 1**

Jamie POV

It started off like any other day. The day that began the rest of my life.

I walked into the precinct to start a day shift, making my way to the locker rooms when I was called into Renzulli's office.

"What's up Sarge?" He looked up from his stack of paperwork. "I have a request here for you."

For me? What was he talking about? Before I could voice the questions, he continued.

"You are being headhunted by the department for a special task force. It may involve some undercover work. The target is classified so I don't know the particulars. You up for it?"

Undercover. New assignment. "If they need my help, I'm happy to give it. Is this a solo mission?" What about my partner? Is she in on this to, or not?

"Yup, solo. I'm going to stick Janko on patrol with Walsh while you're out. You can tell her you have a temporary assignment, but no sharing the particulars. You know the drill. You are to report to 1pp at 4:30 this afternoon to get the rest of your information. You will be on temporary leave from the precinct. This will be a good opportunity for you kid, do us proud. Now get your butt out on patrol." He smiled at me and I nodded, my head still swimming with questions.

A joint operation, one that must be important enough that the details are being kept way under wraps, and one that requires me to go to the commissioner's office. An assignment without the partner I trusted the most to have my back. The partner I had to tell I was leaving.

I made my way to the squad room after changing and found my partner making coffee for us before our beat, chattering away with one of the newbies. "Janko, you good?" She turned at the sound of my voice. "Sure Reagan. Here's a cup. Later Rutger." She fell into step next to me as we made our way out of the precinct to our squad car.

She knew me well enough, after two and a half years as my partner, to see there was something on my mind, but she hadn't broached the subject yet. I was wondering what her reaction was going to be. We spent most of our time together these days, between our beat and the friendship we had off the job. I was about to tell her something that would change up our days, and give us more time apart, and I found myself wishing I could bring her with me.

We slipped into the car, her in the passenger seat, and me behind the wheel. "What is on your mind Jamie?" Her blue eyes held the question, and her head was tilted to the side, waiting for my answer. "Renzulli called me into his office this morning. I have been asked to work a joint task force. The details are being kept quiet. I have to report for assignment this afternoon after our beat." I looked away from the road for a moment to read her.

Her eyes were wide, staring at me. I could tell she was processing. "Wow. Special request. That's great Jamie. I'm guessing this is a solo mission?" I nodded, "He tell you who I'm stuck with till you come back?"

"Walsh." She considered that, "Could be worse. I could be stuck with McIntyre. He's an ass. Kara isn't bad. Going to be weird without you though." She met my eyes, the twinkle in her eyes let me know that it was okay, even if this was going to be hard for both of us. "You will just have to treat me to a few beers every once in a while so I know that you're alive. If you are allowed to do that of course." I chuckled, always demanding and making plans.

"I think I can do that." Her smile was all sunshine, and I knew we were okay for now. This would be the ultimate test, however. If I could do this mission well, I could be looking at a lot of paths for my future with the force, and all but one of them would end the partnership that has kept me afloat for the last few years. She had become someone I can't imagine my life without so I am praying that this assignment doesn't cost me her.

She swept into my life and turned my world upside down. She was not what I had been expecting to find when I turned to meet my new partner. I had told her the night of her one-year anniversary that she had looked eleven. She was young, pretty and vibrant in a way I wasn't sure I could handle after Vinny. But she quickly became someone I could trust and the person to finally heal the hurt that Vinny's loss had left behind.

She had become my equal in everything, and we were a great team. We held the highest success rate in the precinct and our ability to communicate kept us alive and safe out there, and I haven't been without her at my back for so long that the following few weeks without her at my side would be odd.

When we got back to the precinct after a relatively quiet beat, we parted ways, and I rushed to change and make it to 1pp on time for my briefing. Eddie shot me a good luck smile as we parted ways, and I shot her a small grin in return before rushing into the locker room. Five minutes later I was out the door.

**One Police Plaza***

"The task force leader is waiting in the conference room for you Officer Regan. The Commissioner is there as well." I nodded to Officer Baker and made my way into the conference room, coming face to face with my father and one of his highly ranked Lieutenants standing next to him. I snapped to attention as custom called for and then took the seat that was proffered to me.

"Officer Regan, we have heard only good things about you and your precinct and now we need that talent. Lieutenant David please fill the officer in on his assignment and his duties." David handed me a file folder, large and worn looking.

"The case is one pertaining to the Luchesse crime family. They are once again expanding rapidly and though their head is in prison, it seems his new Underbosses want to reinstate the family name, and not the easy peaceful version. Their head is Amuso, he has been in prison for twenty-five years, but he still runs the operation of the family from the inside. His new Underbosses, Vincent Rossi and Taylor Ferrari are young and over-confident, but they are smart. They are savvy to the new toys this generation offers, and have made good use of them and due to this we have nothing to stop them from continuing down the path they have begun to travel. So far their suspected crimes are armed robberies with multiple injuries, gun smuggling, drug running and as of yesterday, murder." He paused for a drink of water and to shuffle some papers.

Okay so I have experience with crime families, but damn these guys seem to want their hands in every pot, not just on specialty like most families. David began speaking again, before I could puzzle anything out.

"This task force will be with the DEA. They have a man inside, he has been tasked with hiring goons for a job, the details were not given to him, but you are going to be one of the men he hires. Your job will be to have his back, and gain trust of any members you can in order to help bring them down. The goal here is to end this family once and for all before they can fully recoup. Then the other families will be less stable. You are to have no contact with your precinct while this mission is occurring, we do not want anyone seeing you entering or exiting a police building. You will also have to be excused from family events unless we can find a way to ensure that you are not followed when you go to and from mission. You will be staying in a safe house near the Bronx and you will be given a burner phone by the undercover. That is what you will use to check in with both the PC and I. If there is anyone else you would like added to the list, speak to your father and we will see what we can do. This may be a long mission Officer, are you prepared for that?"

I took a deep breath, and looked at my father. He gave a nearly imperceptible nod at the question in my eyes, are you good with this? With me missing family stuff?

"I'm in, glad to be of service Lieutenant."

My only reserve besides family issues was Eddie, but I was hoping I could convince my father to add her name to the list, or at least be allowed to call her before I disappear for god knows how long.

"That file has everything you need to know in it. Memorize it, and then return it to Officer Baker. It is not leaving this floor. The only thing not there that you need to know is that the undercover man is named Peter Romano and he will be contacting you via your burner phone tonight. Any questions?"

"No sir." I stood and saluted as he left the room and then turned to my father. He was looking at me with that unreadable Police Commissioner mask in place, so I waited letting him speak first.