A/N: This is a one-shot I wrote while waiting for my muse to return for the next chapter of my Blue Bloods story, DANNY'S LIST. Enjoy and review =)

It was after midnight when Dean came home. He silently crept in, ascended the stairs, stripped, and crawled under the covers.

KNOCK KNOCK

Oh crap, he thought. "Come in," he invited wearily, sitting up and steeling himself for further argument. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

Greg sat down on the edge of his son's bed and put his hand on Dean's leg over the quilt.

"I unintentionally insult the one person I love more than anyone else in this world, and he walks out on me. You expect me to sleep? Dean – "

"Dad – " Dean began at the same time. They both paused. "You go," he conceded.

"I want to reiterate something I said: You'd be great as anything you choose to be." He eyeballed his boy, willing him to believe what he heard. "This isn't about that. It's about timing, plain and simple. I gave you the same advice I give everyone who asks me about being a cop. And I give that advice for one very good reason: I have lived this life a very long time." He started absently rubbing Dean's knee. "I know the rates among cops of divorce, domestic violence, crime amongst family members, mental illness, the list goes on. I also know how many people last less than five years and how many reach retirement. I know how many are on long-term disability, and how many get injured off the job permanently. This job is dangerous, and a separate University degree mitigates some of that risk. That's all."

"Makes sense." Dean squeezed Greg's hand. "Guess you got yourself a petulant teenager after all. Sorry."

Greg laughed. "I think "impetuous" is the word you're looking for," he corrected.

"Oh, no," Dean disagreed. "I think that walking out just because I'm not getting my way definitely counts as petulance."

"I can't disagree with that assessment," Greg smiled. "Can I ask you one question, though?"

"Sure." Dean smiled back.

"This urgency, it doesn't have anything to do with your mother, does it?"

Dean's face fell. How did the man know? He withdrew his hand and studied his bedclothes. Finally he looked up. "She doesn't want me to be a cop."

"Understandable," Greg said.

"If I have to wait five or seven years, that gives her that much more opportunities to change my mind," Dean conceded.

"If you think you're going to change your mind, are you really ready to make this decision? Greg softly challenged.

Dean shrugged his shoulders dejectedly. Greg moved up the bed and gathered his son into a close embrace. "I want you to remember this," he whispered softly. "Any decision you make is okay with me. I will back you, I will support you, I will defend you, and I will love you, whatever you decide and whatever the consequences are."

Dean drew back, but stayed within the confines of his father's arms. "I love you too, Dad."