Can I take this opportunity to say how fantastic you Blue Bloods fans are! You read, you review, I always get more reviews on here than I do on any of the other fan fics I write. THANK YOU!

I'm still writing tags for 3.22 as the finale left me slightly disappointed. Will probably write something for that soon but not at the moment.

This story is about the agonizing wait for news about loved ones in trouble. As usual I'm wary of posting but I need to be strong.

Again I own no-one you recognise - if I did I would have had a funeral for Vinny!

The Waiting Game

The dinner preparations were bustling along as normal - but there was something different, Frank thought. He couldn't explain it. He felt like there had been a shift in time something Frank pushed himself away from the doorway he had been leaning on, determined to pull himself together.

The latest escalation of the Los Lordes gang problem in the Bitterman Project had everyone on edge. Over the last few days they had been affected personally by it due to Jamie being at the scene of the suicide of one of the girlfriends of one of the leaders...but it hadn't just been her - she'd jumped off a building with her baby son, so desperate for him not to be dragged into the gang life. He knew that Jamie was still shook up by it but he was doing a good job at keeping himself under control. While investigating the suicide, Danny had been hit by a bottle, just so the gang could get their point across. If only his hands weren't tied so much...

Soon the family were taking their seats, "Where's Uncle Jamie?" Sean asked.

"Your Uncle took an extra tour with his partner," Frank informed him, missing his youngest's presence at the table.

Jack said grace and soon the whole family were tucking into their food. Numerous conversations were struck up - all good natured for once, so Frank was content to sit back and survey his family in all its glory.

Suddenly, Frank's phone rang, right at the same moment a strong knock on the front door was heard. Frank looked to his phone, then to the door. Erin started to get out of her seat, "I'll get the door," she offered. Frank, having already seen the caller ID on his phone, suddenly felt a knot as big as a fist form in his stomach. Garratt knew not to call him during Sunday dinner unless it was an absolute emergency, "Garratt...?" he answered the phone, not missing the anxious face of his oldest son.

Before Garratt had said a word, Erin had opened the door to reveal an extremely worried looking Abigail Baker. Seeing his assistant stood in his house and having Garratt on the phone could only mean one thing - trouble. The knot in his stomach was growing by the second, "Baker's here Garratt - she can explain."

He could see from his assistant's body language that she was trying to find words for what she was about to unload on him.

The atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically. Everyone, including the boys, had stopped eating, all thoughts of food suddenly not as important, as they all waited for Baker to speak.

"Baker," Frank prompted.

Baker was not normally known for not having words but she was struggling now. She cleared her throat, "Sir,, two NYPD officers were called to a mugging at the Bitterman Project...it was an ambush sir," she stopped as she heard a gasp from one of the two women at the table.

Frank swallowed hard, "Casualties?"

Again Baker looked nervous, "One officer injured...the other...died at the scene..."

Danny shot out of his chair, "Son of a ..."

"Danny! The boys..." Linda caught Danny's arm.

Frank dropped his gaze to the table - it always hurt him deeply to lose one of his fine officers.

"Sir... Frank..." Frank's head shot up at the mention of his he felt his heartbeat begin to quicken, "Frank, Officer Vinny Cruz was the officer killed..."

"Oh no," Erin gasped - then a heavy silence filled the air.

"Who's Vinny Cruz?" Sean asked innocently, breaking the silence.

Linda took her eyes off her husband momentarily, fixing her gaze onto her youngest son, " Vinny was your Uncle Jamie's partner..." she explained.

Sean looked panic stricken, "Does that mean that Uncle Jamie is hurt?" he asked, tears springing into his eyes.

"Where's Jamie?" Danny demanded gruffly. If Baker had been shocked by Danny's brusque tone, she didn't show it, "He's en route to hospital as we speak. He was hit on the vest..."

"Is he aware of Vinny's death?"

If Frank wasn't already worried, he was even more so when he saw Baker's eyes fill with tears, " Erm yes sir - Vinny died in Jamie's arms."

Nicki started to cry, so Erin immediately tried to comfort her, even though her stomach was churning with worry. Danny was pacing as he scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"Sir, your detail is outside ready to take you to the hospital..." Baker explained, " Sgt Renzulli is with Jamie - he was first to the scene."

Frank nodded his understanding, "Good, I'm glad Tony's with him," he surveyed the rest of the family. Linda had her arms around her boys, both of whom were glancing furtively between their mother and father. Erin had Nicki in her arms - the teenager sobbing quietly, her mother not fairing much better. Henry was still seated, watching his own son closely. Frank realised that he had to pull himself together, he couldn't crack now.

Two of his officers had been ambushed - His son was alive, thankfully, but a mother had lost her son.

"Danny, I want you to go to the crime scene,"

"No...dad...I...Jamie..." Danny stuttered. He couldn't understand why his father was sending him to the scene, when all he wanted to do was see Jamie, to be with him during this traumatic time.

Frank laid a hand on his shoulder, "Danny, I know you want to see your brother, but I need my best detective in this. See what you can get from the scene, then meet me at the hospital...please?"

Danny sighed deeply, "Yes sir," he muttered.

Erin made a move to get her coat, "Please, everyone...I know how much you want to see Jamie - God knows I need to see him right now - but I don't know what sort of shape he's in - he might not be up for everyone turning up. Wait here, I'll call you as soon as I know anything and I will bring him home...I promise."

Erin stopped in her tracks, ready to argue her point, but when she saw the sadness and concern etched across her father's face, she thought better of it.

Danny had already grabbed his coat and was kissing his wife and boys, "Be careful Danny," Linda whispered, her eyes shining with tears.

"You know I will," he whispered as he kissed his boys on the head.

As Danny raced out of the house, Frank put on his coat, "Let's go Baker," he said as she left the house before him. Before he walked through the door, he paused, turned to his distressed family, "I will bring him home!"

Hope it was ok. Next chapter will be seeing how Erin and Linda cope waiting at the house - then the third chapter will be about Frank and Danny bringing Jamie home. Does that sound ok? Please review if you have time as I love reading what you think.