TAKEN BY SURPRISE
CH. 1: One-Night Stand
It had been six months since Danny Reagan, lost his beloved wife Linda. Leaving him to be a single father, to his sons. He didn't think, he would ever put himself out there again, and get involved with another. Completely unsure, if he had the stamina, to risk another heartbreak, like he did when he lost Linda. But sometimes, he figured life took you by surprise, and you begin to notice someone that has always been there.
XXXXXXXX
Danny arrived at the precinct later than usual. Finding life as a single parent, tougher than he thought. They had been off to a late start that morning. Especially after he had trouble getting his youngest, twelve-year-old Sean out of bed. Jack on the other hand, was easy enough to get out of bed. The only problem with his fifteen-year-old, was the homework assignment he was having trouble with. Danny, tried to help him, himself. But the assignment, was an English one, something Danny had never been good at to begin with. Linda, was normally the one to assist the boys with their homework. And if she couldn't, she found a tutor. Something Danny would have tried to do, unfortunately Jack didn't decide to get started on his assignment until the night before and was still struggling with it that morning. Danny tried to question him about why he left it until the last minute. But his sons only response was, because he didn't feel like doing it. Danny knew that wasn't a response Linda would not have put up with. And he had to admit, that normally, under different circumstance, he wouldn't have put up with it either. Considering Linda would have told him about it, and then ask him to talk to Jack about it. Danny would have done the same thing, but he was caught up at the moment, with trying to figure out a way to get the assignment done that morning. He considered calling Jamie and seeing if he could talk him through it. But he figured Jamie was already working a tour.
"Call Nicki and see if she can help you. After that, you can give me your phone for waiting until the last minute to do your assignment."
"Dad," Jack started to complain.
"You wouldn't complain to your mother," Danny reminded him. "And don't complain to me. Its your fault, you are in trouble."
"But what if you have to work late again, and you need to call and tell us?" Jack tried to figure out a way to convince his father to let him keep his phone.
"I'll call your brother," Danny smirked. "Now hurry up, I need to get to work."
XXXXXXXX
"Tough morning Reagan?" Danny's partner and friend, Maria Baez teased, when she saw her partners face. It was the same expression, she had been seeing for months, it was an expression of exhaustion, and frustration, all rolled into one. Making her offer him, her cup of coffee. "You look like you need this more than me."
Danny accepted, and took a deep breath. "Be grateful, you don't have kids." Danny took a sip from the cup, allowing the aroma and caffeine to fill his mind.
"Why?" Maria laughed.
"Because they turn into teenagers," Danny started to sift through the files on his desk. "What's this?" He picked up the crisp envelope he found on the desk, addressed to him.
"I got one too," Maria held her own up. "Haven't opened it yet."
"It says its from 1PP," Danny read the return address. "Its probably something else to darken my day." Danny couldn't help but think of the stressful morning he had already had. No reason why his boss and father shouldn't add to that stress.
"That's why I haven't opened it yet," Maria admitted, knowing it was from her boss. "Do you think we got jammed up for something?"
"No," Danny shook his head. "If I got jammed up, he'd just call and yell at me."
"Then what?" Maria had to admit she was curious.
"Open it and find out," Danny said simply.
"I don't want to," Maria couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive.
"Coward," Danny set his coffee down. "Looks life we've been invited to attend the NYPD Conference," Danny read the letter aloud.
"Us? Why?" Maria had to admit, she was confused.
"Apparently, we are some of the Commissioners most productive detectives," Danny shrugged.
"When is it?"
"Friday," Danny scanned the letter for the dates. "Its an overnight thing."
"Where at?" What surprised Maria even more, was the fact that it was overnight.
"The New York Grand Hotel," Danny raised a brow. "Dads going all out. He must be happy with us."
"Do we have to go?" Maria wasn't exactly saying she didn't want to go. After all, who in their right mind would pass up an opportunity to spend the night in an elite five-star hotel, somewhere most detectives couldn't afford. But she couldn't help but be curious.
"I usually file his requests under orders," Danny nodded. "It's always the same result."
"You want to go together?" Maria thought, that at least that way, they wouldn't feel so awkward, walking into such an elegant place alone.
"Sure," Danny picked up the case file on his desk that caught his eye and handed it to his partner. "Let's hit this one first."
"Why do you always get to pick which case we work?" Maria was beginning to notice a pattern.
"I have a nose for it," Danny grinned.
"Are you a bloodhound now Reagan?" Maria teased.
"No, I'm 00Reagan," Danny said it simply. As if she should have known that already.
"Can I at least drive?" Maria followed him out of the precinct and over to the car.
"No," Danny climbed into the driver's seat.
"You got to pick the case," Maria argued.
"00Reagan," Danny reminded her, before pulling out his phone to make a call.
"Who you calling?" Sure, Maria knew he was exceptionally talented when it came to sniffing out a case. But even she doubted he had an idea who did it, before they even got started.
"If I'm going to be gone, I have to have someone stay with my boys." He reminded her. "I'm not used to having to find a sitter, Linda normally took care of that. Then again, it wasn't very often, that the two of us were both away."
"Could they stay alone?" Maria didn't really know his sons, so she had no idea how old they were, or what they were capable of.
"They could for a couple hours," Danny admitted. "But I don't really like leaving them overnight. And they would need a ride home from school anyways."
"Who are you thinking of asking?" Maria didn't like to pry, but she had noticed how much Danny had changed since his wife passed. At least when it came to his kids.
"I was thinking about Jamie," Danny mentioned. "They usually have a good time with him. Watching movies, playing video games, and turning Jamie into a kid again."
"Hopefully you still have a house when you get back," Maria was finding it hard, to see her partners brother act like a kid. Considering the only time, she had ever seen him, was when he was in uniform, and working a tour.
"Jamie will make sure I still have a house," Danny knew that much. "As for its cleanliness state. That's yet to be determined."
The partners had been checking out different angles of the case for several hours. Trying to determine who to identify as protentional suspects, and question witnesses. It was nearing 1:00 pm, when Maria suggested they stop for lunch.
"Where do you want to go?" Danny didn't really mind. His mind was too focused on the case, his boys, and the conference.
"So, you're going to let me choose this one?" Maria sounded surprised. Considering she had yet to be able to choose the case or drive the car.
"You can have this one," Danny nodded.
It didn't take long for Maria to make her decision. And a few minutes later, she and her partner were sitting across from one another at a table in the back, where they planned to discuss the case and its surroundings. What they didn't expect however, was the way their thoughts drifted elsewhere, and onto one another. Neither of them dared to speak of it, both confused by it. They had been working together for the past six years, and never had they noticed an attraction, or felt anything for one another. Danny wasn't even certain if it was a feeling of attraction. He figured it could have been something else. After all, how odd was it, for it to develop so suddenly.
"I'll be back," Maria excused herself to visit the restroom.
Danny watched his partner walk away, and he couldn't believe what his thoughts were drifting towards. They were thoughts he had never focused on before, nor allowed to fill the crevices in the back of his mind. Never in his life had he noticed an attraction before. So, what was different now? He wondered. Sure, he loved the way she teased him, and how she could read his mind, when they were in a fight for their lives. But there wasn't anything else, at least he didn't think so.
XXXXXXXX
That night after dinner, Danny found himself packing for the conference. He wanted to question his father about it, regarding why he was allowing him to attend, considering in most cases when it came to anything even resembling recognition for one of his children, Frank squashed it like a bug. He figured it could be, because it wasn't just him and Baez that had been invited, and there were other productive officers across the five Burroughs. Or perhaps their old Sergeant, Sergeant Gormley had something to do with it.
Interrupting his train of thought, was his youngest. Who came in, voicing a question.
"I didn't know you knew how to iron?" Sean was surprised to find his father in his room ironing a shirt and tie.
"I know how," Danny admitted. "I just wasn't as good at it as your mother, and she did it for me."
"I have to find me a wife like mom. Someone who will do everything for me." Sean took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"Your mother didn't do everything for me," Danny corrected him.
"She cooked," Sean thought of the many failed attempts his father had, had since his mother passed away. "She cleaned, she helped us with our homework."
"And I suppose I did nothing for this family?" Danny looked at him questioningly? "Your alive aren't you. Pretty sure I had something to do with that."
"Awe Dad," Sean cringed. "I didn't need to know that."
"What about that shirt your wearing? Did you buy that?" Danny fingered the shirt his son was wearing. Remembering how the boy literally begged him for it.
Sean was about reply, but Danny cut him off.
"Or what about the roof over your head. Did you buy that? Its raining right now, have you felt any drops seep through." Danny was on a roll.
"Okay Dad, you've made your point," Sean fell backwards, onto the bed.
"Good, now go get your brother. I need to talk to you about something." Danny knew he needed to talk to them about the conference, and about Jamie staying over.
Sean walked down the hall and into his brother's room, where he found his brother sitting at his desk chair, flipping through a car magazine.
"Dad wants us," Sean leaned against the door jam.
"Tell him I'm doing my homework," Jack turned the page.
"What subject has you studying muscle cars?" Sean crossed his arms over his chest. In the same manner, he had seen his father do countless times.
"Get real Sean," Jack tossed the magazine onto the bed before picking up his pencil to start working on his algebra assignment.
"He still wants us," Sean knew that it didn't matter what Jack was doing. That wouldn't erase the fact that Danny wanted them for something.
"What does he want?" Jack questioned.
"I don't know," Sean shook his head. "All he said was that he wanted to talk to us."
Jack sighed, still upset with the fact that he got his phone taken away that morning. But eventually he set his pencil down and followed his brother down the hall.
"Do either of you know where my dress blues are?" Danny wondered looking through the closet.
"That's what you called us in here for?" Jack sounded surprised, looking at Danny confused.
"I thought you lost them in the fire?" Sean reminded him.
"I did," Danny nodded. "It was the one thing I wasn't upset about losing. I hate those things."
"But you ordered a new set from supply," Jack reminded him. "There in the hall closet."
"Great," Danny made a mental note to go get them, just as soon as he finished talking with the boys."
"Why do you need your dress blues?" Sean knew that it wasn't very often, that Danny had to wear them. And he hated, just about everyone of those times.
"I have to go to an NYPD Conference," Danny enlightened them.
"When is it?" Jack wondered.
"Friday afternoon and evening. Its an overnight deal. So, I won't be home Friday." Danny paused, searching the boys face expressions for a moment before he continued. Jacks face showed possibility, thinking of all the things he could do and get away with, while Sean's face showed pure mischief. Instead of calling them on it, Danny decided instead, to continue on with what he originally started to say. "I don't really want to go, but."
"Then why don't you decline?" Sean interrupted, with an easy enough suggestion. At least so he thought.
"Because it was an order, that came directly from the PC's desk," Danny explained.
"Are you and Grandpa going together?" Jack was beginning to count down the people that wouldn't be staying with them.
"No," Danny shook his head. Looking for his NYPD duffel bag he had, so he could throw a few things in it, he figured he might need.
"Why not?" Sean wondered aloud.
"Because it wouldn't be right," Danny wasn't sure how to explain it, considering it was normally a long explanation.
"You mean it would show favoritism?" Jack interpreted.
"It could look like that, yes," Danny was going down the list he made in his head, of everything he had to do before he was ready. With finding his dress blues, getting Jamie, and talking with his boys, on the top of the list.
"Can we go with you and stay in the hotel?" Sean was thinking how much fun he could have in the hotels swimming pool.
"You have school Friday," Danny reminded him.
"You mean we get to stay home alone?" Jack was trying to hide his smile, but it was getting harder and harder to do.
"Alone overnight?" Danny looked at him, as if he was crazy. "Do I look like an idiot?"
Jack appeared to be on the verge of saying something, when Danny stopped him. "Think very carefully before you answer that."
"Is your partner going with you?" Sean asked curiously.
"Yes," Danny nodded. "And your uncle will be staying here with you."
A smile started to spread across both boys faces, revealing they didn't think the weekend would be a total bust.
Danny, knowing his boys needed to finish up on their homework, and he needing to call Maria, about Friday, he continued, by fishing a couple of folded bills out of his pocket. He started to hand them to his eldest, until he remembered his eldest was only fifteen, and could only imagine what the boy would spend it on, rather than for what it was intended for, like food or emergencies. Causing him, to decide to give it to Jamie.
"Go finish your homework and get ready for bed," Danny glanced at the clock.
Jack and Sean started to walk out of the room, but Danny stopped them. "Oh, and Jack, no magazines." He added with a satisfied smile. Thinking that here he was a single parent, but he was still one step ahead of them. He really missed Linda, but he noticed he missed her even more when it came to the raising of their sons. Making sure they had everything they wanted, keeping them out of trouble, and raising them right was exceptionally difficult when he had to work a busy job, on top of paying bills, and taking care of his family.
"How did you?" Jack had a confused look cross his face. He knew his brother didn't squeal, considered he walked in the room at the same time as he did. And he always tried to be so careful when it came to hiding things from his parents.
"Wouldn't you look like to know?" Danny grinned.
Again, the boys started to walk away. Causing Danny to add. "Maybe we can catch a game Saturday night when I get back." Danny didn't want it to sound like he was always getting onto them. And he had to admit, he loved the times, they got to have fun together, by watching a game, and laughing out loud about something, that a woman, wouldn't exactly approve of.
XXXXXXXX
The day of the conference came, and after taking Jack and Sean to school. Danny headed to his partners apartment. He took the elevator up to her room and knocked on the door. Maria opened the door wearing her dress blues, the same as he was. And he couldn't help but smile. She looked just as uncomfortable as he felt.
"You ready to go?" Danny walked in.
"Looking good partner," Maria offered him something to drink, before walking back to her bedroom, to get her packed bag.
"Yeah, there is only one good thing about these." Danny admitted, shifting the collar around on his neck. "They got me Linda."
"I don't remember hearing this story. But I can see why." Part of Maria was teasing, and the other part of her was being completely serious.
"There isn't much to tell," Danny shrugged, scanning the framed pictures, she had setting on the shelf for decoration. He noticed there wasn't very many, and very few of them were with her own family. She had one of her and her brother Javi. An early family photo, of when she was growing up, along with her parents and siblings. One of the photos that surprised him, was the photo of her sister and mother. He knew she didn't necessarily get along with her mother and sister. Especially after they blamed her for Javi's problems and death. If that photo wasn't surprising enough. The photo that really caught his attention, was the one of he and her, the day they received the medal of valor. Part of him wanted to question her about it, thinking it couldn't be because of the dress blues they were wearing, she hated those just as much as he did. He figured it could be, because of the medal they received, knowing how much on an honor that was. Something inside of him however, didn't think that was the reason behind it. Making him wonder if it was simply because it was a picture of the two of them, forcing him to wonder if she had some of the same thoughts he did, regarding one another. He didn't think she had feelings for him, considering she had never, even hinted to wanting a relationship with him, then again, he had also been happily married up until six months ago. Causing him to wonder even more.
"If it involves you, I'm sure it has to be somewhat interesting." Maria pulled him away from his thoughts. And surprisingly, he found himself grateful.
Danny sighed and took a seat on one of the single chairs she had in her living room. "To make a long story short, we dated in high school, I went to the Marines, got back, and put on the uniform. I went to see one of my friends from the academy that was shot in the line of duty. My grandpa was still the Commissioner at the time, and I had to go to the police academy graduation ceremony, afterwards, so I was already wearing my dress blues when I went. Linda just so happened to work at the hospital and was my friends nurse. We started talking again, and I came out with a date. The rest is history."
"Only you would go to a hospital and come out with a date," Maria laughed, coming into the room, carrying her bag.
"Hey, it worked," Danny took the bag from her, so she could lock the door behind them.
The car ride to the hotel and conference center was relatively quiet. At least quieter than it normally was, when they went somewhere as partners. Maria was too lost in thought over the strange attraction that suddenly seemed to develop. She had felt like this before, but it wasn't very often, and it wasn't nearly as strong the attraction she was feeling now towards her partner. She wanted to grab him by the face and kiss him passionately. But she resisted the urge, fearful that he would be so shocked, he'd wreck and kill them both. And that would be saying a lot, considering of how well of a driver he was. They had been partners for six years. And she was as comfortable as she could be around him. Yet even with this knowledge, he did make her wonder. She knew he could be exceptionally stubborn, as well as appear arrogant at times. And if he was like that at work. she could only imagine what he was like at home. Then again, she knew he and Linda had been married for over twenty years, and that really made her wonder, if there was something else hidden behind the man with the gold shield.
XXXXXXXX
They weren't surprised to discover their rooms were located directly next to one another. Figuring that reservations were made on a precinct by precinct bases. What did surprise them however, was just as they were coming out of the elevator and made a right turn to follow the directions to their rooms, they found the Commissioner stepping out of his own room. Which was located directly next to his sons.
"Detectives," Commissioner Frank Reagan greeted them with a small smile.
"Commissioner Reagan," the two detectives replied simultaneously, stopping to stand in front of him.
"Glad you could make it," Frank nodded.
"Happy to be here," Maria lied. But at least she said something, unlike her partner. Who was vaguely confused to why he was even invited. Considering his father didn't like including him or Jamie in anything when it came to the job.
There was a moment of awkward silence. Until Maria spoke up, saying something about going to her room, so she could freshen up before the initial start of the conference. Leaving father and son standing alone in the hallway.
Danny was still holding his luggage in his hand, and Frank opened the door to his room, so they could talk in private.
"Should I be in here?" Danny followed his father. "Someone might think something when we come out."
"The only thing they would see, was a son walking out of his father's room. Because his father wanted to have a conversation with his son."
"In that case," Danny closed the door behind him, dropping all form of formality, when they were acting as professionals. "Why am I here, Dad? I know you don't like including me in these things. And I understand. So just kick me out of here, and I'll get back to work. And back to your grandsons."
"Do you mind shutting up Daniel, and letting me get a word in?" Frank couldn't believe how obnoxious his son could be sometimes. And he had barely been in the same room with him for a minute. Then again when it came to Danny, he figured that was a record, normally it was thirty seconds.
"Well when you put it that way," Danny glanced out the window.
"You are here Detective, because your sergeant chose you. The sergeant of every precinct was asked to choose two of their most productive detectives. Now is that a clear enough answer for your question?"
"Were clear," Danny noticed the coffee brewing in his father's coffee pot.
"And since you brought it up, where are my grandsons?" Frank didn't remember Henry saying anything, about him being the designated babysitter for the night.
"Jamie," Danny reached for the pot, before pouring himself a steaming cup.
"Hope you don't lose another house," Frank gestured for Danny to fill him a cup as well.
"It'll be fine," Danny took a sip. "I told them I'd kill whoever messed it up."
"How did that go?" Frank smiled, at his son's personality at deeming order.
"Easy with Jack and Sean," Danny admitted. "They have to live with me."
"And Jamie?"
"Jamie of course had a smirk, I had to wipe off his face first.
"You two didn't get in a fight, did you?" Frank sounded worried. Then again, he didn't remember hearing anything about it. And he knew that very little, ever went by without his knowledge of it, when it came to his family.
"Course not," a small smile started to cross Danny's face. Loving anytime he knew something about his siblings, that would get them yelled at. Allowing him to use it as leverage, and of course for his benefit.
"Do I want to know?" Was Franks only question.
"Sometimes it's great being the oldest." Was Danny's reply to his father's question. "Thank you for having me first."
"Glad I could help," Frank for once, had no idea how to reply to that.
XXXXXXXX
The conference was long, by the time all the designated speakers did their bit. Detective Abigail Baker, assistant to the Commissioner, and ex-partner of Danny Reagan himself, opened it up, by giving them all a rundown of the itinerary. Afterwards, Danny and Marias ex-sergeant, Lieutenant Sid Gormley got up and spoke about his early days, working as a detective and then sergeant. Danny lost count of how many spoke after that, but he sat up a bit straighter when the Commissioner took the stage. Thanking everyone for a job well done and telling them to keep up the good work. This of course wasn't done until after he gave a small epitaph, and quoted Teddy Roosevelt. Even though the Conference was long, it was rewarded with a relaxed night of drinks and fellowship.
Danny and Maria were sitting at a round table with Lieutenant Gormley, who was enjoying the time he was getting to catch up with two of his best, yet arrogant detectives he had ever encountered in his career.
"Do you miss us Serge?" Maria was the one ask.
"I don't miss the Reagan Riot Act," Gormley said in between sips of his scotch.
"I'm sure you still get one of those occasionally. Only with a different Reagan," Danny was talking about his father.
"Not nearly as often as I did with you, when I told you no," Gormley admitted.
"I told you he missed us," Maria laughed, elbowing Danny.
Baker came up a few minutes later and took a seat next to Lieutenant Gormley. Hoping to be allowed a few minutes to enjoy the past. When she and Danny worked as partners. She had always looked back on that time of her life fondly. Thinking of everything she and Danny went through together. They had started out working together back when they were both walking the beet at the 54 precinct, and were both promoted to detectives sometime later, allowing them to remain partners. At least until, Baker decided to make a career change, and taking her off the field.
"Danny, do you remember when we were still walking the beat. And there was a house fire?" Baker asked, remembering the glory days.
"I know where this is going," Danny muttered, downing the rest of his drink in one gulp.
"The woman who owned the house was acting hysterical, screaming that her baby was inside. So, you ran inside like superman." Baker was laughing just thinking about how fast and down to business he looked, running inside.
"That was a bad idea," Danny shook his head. "I could barely breathe, by the time I got out of there."
"You were covered in soot, and gasping for air," Baker recalled.
"What happened?" Maria asked curiously. Not remembering hearing this story before.
"The baby the woman was referring to was her cat. Who was so scared, when he picked her up, it attacked him." This time Baker was laughing so hard, she was having trouble, telling the ending of the story.
"I would have loved to have seen that," Maria laughed out loud. She and Lieutenant Gormley, imagining the image in their heads.
"This time, was he not only gasping for air, and covered in soot, but he was also bleeding from scratches that covered his face and arms." Baker managed to continue.
Danny, who seemed to be the only one not enjoying himself at the present time. Was the only one who noticed the commissioner approach their table and started to stand. The other three, seemed to be confused by his behavior, but they caught on when they saw their boss. Frank didn't say anything, but he did gesture for them to return to their seats. Wanting this time of the evening, set aside for fellowship, rather than anyone worrying about rank.
"Please continue," Frank nodded at Baker, while taking a seat next to his son. Who appeared to be on the verge of retreating, if he heard any more embarrassing stories, from his early days, walking the beat.
"His picture was in the paper, and the guys at the precinct ribbed him about it." Baker continued with the ending of her story.
"Don't remind me," Danny moaned. "Because they weren't the only ones. I didn't think my brother Joe, would ever let me live it down. He called me kitty rescuer for a year."
"I remember that," Frank recalled. "He framed the picture from the newspaper and left it on the mantle of my house. Until Danny up and burned it in the fireplace." Frank remembered how much arguing insinuated from the brothers, after that action.
"Do you want another Detective?" One of the hotel waiters asked Danny, when he noticed his glass about empty.
"No thanks," Danny shook his head. "I should take advantage of the free drinks. Since the NYPDS paying." Danny started to rethink his decision.
"There is a limit Detective Reagan," Frank replied, before the waiter even had a chance. "After three it's on your dime." Frank did not only want a handful of drunk cups on his hands, but he also didn't want a huge bill from the bar, considering the city was already taking care of the rooms.
"In that case, I've had plenty." Danny looked from Frank to the waiter. It wasn't necessarily the fact that he didn't want to spend the money on the extra drinks. Although that did have a lot to do with it. But the biggest reason behind his decision, was the fact that he knew he had, had enough. He hadn't had but maybe two drinks, the same he normally did on weekends or after work. When he knew he couldn't be excessive and go over the limit. But he was a single parent now, and the only licensed driver when at home. Making him take on a much higher level of responsibility. He had to be sober and couldn't just go sleep it off. He had never really had too much to drink, even when Linda was there. But he did have a bit more, than he was allowed now. Now he had to be able to take care of his boys in case they came up sick in the middle of the night, or he had to stay up late, and help them with homework. Both things that Linda normally did. Even with him away for the night however, giving him a break from being a parent, didn't make him drink. He had to be able to drive, and able to function in case he got called in for a case, or even worse. If Jamie called him about one of the boys needing him.
"Excuse me," Danny pushed his chair back, several minutes later. "I need to make a call."
Frank nodded, knowing he was talking about his sons.
While Lieutenant Gormley got started on a story of his own. About the time he had to work a tour with the young hothead detective, when his partner Detective Jackie Curatola banged in sick.
XXXXXXXX
"Turn it down Jack!" Jamie hollered at his oldest nephew, when he read the ID on his phone.
"But I thought you said you wanted to get the full effect of dad's new sound system?" Sean sounded confused.
"I do," Jamie admitted. "But not when I'm on the phone with him." Jamie answered the phone. Knowing that if he didn't get to it before it stopped ringing. He would send Erin over to check on them, and that would be the end of their fun.
"What took you so long?" Danny asked, when Jamie finally answered his call.
"I left my phone in the kitchen," Jamie lied. Trying not to laugh at Sean, who was playing a racing video game, and thought it might be fun to drive his car the other way and run into all the other drivers.
"Boys okay?" Danny asked. Then again, it wasn't like Jamie would tell him anything, to get one of them in trouble anyways. He wasn't that kind of uncle.
"Fine," Jamie smiled, listening to Jack protest, over his brothers cheating. "Playing video games."
"Let me talk to one of them?" Danny glanced at his watch. In a hurry to get back to the table, before Lieutenant Gormley said something about him, and he not be there to defend himself.
"Jack," Jamie held the phone away from him. "Your dad wants to talk to you."
"This is pointless anyways," Jack set the remote down, before getting up, to take the phone.
XXXXXXXX
After talking with Jack for a few minutes, Danny returned to the table, just in time to deflect another story, his ex-sergeant started to tell.
The two Reagans, detectives, and lieutenant sat at the table for another hour or two. Each of them enjoying the time they were getting to spend without having to work, like they normally did, with one another. Especially Frank, who hardly ever, got much of an opportunity to spend with any of them, and get to know the type of people they really were outside of 1PP. All but Danny that is, who he was relatively confident, he knows almost everything about.
Danny lost track, of whoever was talking next. It wasn't Frank, and he didn't think it was Lieutenant Gormley. But at this point, he really couldn't be certain. His thoughts were running away with themselves again. He was trying not to stare at the woman sitting next to him, but he was finding that, easier said than done. He found himself engulfed in her thick dark hair, and for the first time, realized how much he wanted to run his hands through it. If that wasn't bad enough, her lips were enticing him, with every word she spoke.
It was after midnight, by the time Commissioner Reagan, Lieutenant Gormley, and Detective Baker went their separate ways, to retire for the evening. Leaving, Danny and Maria alone. Maria, indulging in a slice of New York's finest cheesecake. "Oh, this is good," Maria closed her eyes. "I don't get much time to cook and enjoy things like this with the long hours."
"I know," Danny agreed. "And I have two boys I have to feed. I'm sure they look forward to Sundays when they get a meal pop cooked. They get tired of eating out."
"So, are you learning how to cook?" Maria only recalled overhearing conversations between Danny and his sons, when Danny was on the phone with one of them. And it usually ended, with her partner saying he would pick up takeout, or something else along those lines.
"It's a slow progress," Danny nodded. "I do a lot of praying after putting it in the oven. But I am getting more time to spend with the boys, while we cook, since we are learning how to do it together."
"Mm," Maria said again, letting the strawberry flavored cheesecake melt in her mouth.
"That good?" Danny teased.
"Try it," Maria figured she would let it speak for itself.
Maria handed him the fork, and Danny took a small bite.
"Not as good as Pops, but it is good," Danny admitted.
"Always such a critic, aren't we Reagan?" Maria teased.
"No," Danny shook his head.
Maria started to take another bite, when the bite size piece slipped from her fork and landed on her lap. "This is going to have to go to the cleaners," Maria said of her dress blues, when she realized what she did.
"I got it," Danny reached over with a napkin to pick up the piece of the pink colored dropping.
Just as Maria started to do the same, their hands met, hers atop of his. They both started to pull away. But for some reason, neither of them could understand, they froze. Their faces were only inches away from one another, and their eyes made contact. Danny wasn't sure what it was, but something came over him, and his lips met hers. They were only pressed together for a second, and just as soon as Danny realized what he had done, he pulled away. He didn't pull away very far, but it was enough for things not to appear too conspicuous.
"Sorry," Danny was quick to pull apologize.
"Don't be," Maria found herself longing for more, and before she knew what she was doing, or before she could stop herself, she pulled him a bit closer, and their lips met again. She didn't kiss him for long and did the same thing he did just moments ago, by pulling away and apologizing. "We need to get out of here," Maria was looking around, afraid that someone would see them, and it would get back to the PC.
"Where do you want to go?" Danny couldn't believe what he was thinking. And what he couldn't believe more than that, was the fact that she wanted the same as he.
They didn't know if it was the music or the atmosphere, forcing them to make advances, they both wanted, but neither were brave enough to even think about mentioning it.
"Let's go back to the room," Maria suggested, both appearing as if they were in a hurry. As well as nervous, acting as if they were a couple of teenagers, trying to avoid parents, and getting caught.
They reached Danny's room first, and after sliding the key as quickly as he could, the two just about ran in. Maria, shoving against him, just trying to get the door closed behind them. Neither of them, even bothered with turning on the lights, before they fell upon the bed, pressing their lips, tightly against one another's, their bodies entangled. They were both still fully clothed, when Danny sat up.
"I can't do this," Danny stopped.
Maria started to say something, thinking that it was still too soon, after loosing Linda, but Danny interrupted, before she even had a chance to get her apology sentence formed in her head.
"My dad and boss is in the next room." Danny couldn't believe, that he was a grown man, and he was still worried about his father. Then again, he figured that when it came to your family knowing of your sexuality. It was just something you never got over.
"Let's go to my room," Maria didn't appear to be too put out, and instead offered a solution to their problem, by taking him by the hand, and pulling him off the bed, to follow her.
"Were going to have to do some serious detective work, if we want to get by, without being noticed." Danny mentioned, stopping when they reached the door again.
Maria didn't think she had ever seen him so nervous before. Which was certainly something to take note of, considering they had been in countless of dangerous situations together. Most of them life and death situations, at that. "We won't go out together," Maria shook her head. "I'll go out, and a few minutes later you come over. I'll leave the door unlocked."
"Okay," Danny nodded, kissing her once more. "I'll wait five minutes."
XXXXXXXX
"You have to fix it Uncle Jamie!" Sean sounded nervous.
"I'm trying Sean," Jamie sounded exasperated. "You see why I told you not to try and get the sound to come all out of one speaker, and cranking it up as high as it would go?"
"Yes," Sean was beginning to regret ever even touching his fathers new sound system.
"Dads going to ground you for a month if you broke it," Jack smiled in satisfaction, grateful that he wasn't going to be the one in trouble.
"Shut up!" It was obvious Sean wasn't in the mood for his brothers antagonizing display of his future grounding.
"Come on guys," Jamie interrupted his nephews. "Arguing isn't going to get this thing fixed any faster."
"What can we do to help?" Sean was willing to try anything, if it would get him out of trouble.
"If we take it apart and can find the right subwoofer at the electronic store, I think I can replace it." Jamie looked at the two boys.
"I don't think we are going to be able to find it tonight," Jack looked at his phone screen. "Its after midnight, and everything's going to be closed."
"I'm dead," Sean slumped onto the sofa.
"Not if we get up early, buy the part and fix it," Jamie was still thinking there was a chance, he could get his youngest nephew out of trouble.
"All before Dad gets home?" Jack wasn't sure.
"We have to try," Jamie shrugged.
XXXXXXXX
The five-minute waiting time was just about to lapse, Danny paying very close attention to his watch, as the minutes turned into seconds. He had already tossed his dress blue shirt on the bed, leaving him only in his white t-shirt and pants. He was leaning against the door, impatiently waiting, when there was a knock on the door. Danny didn't think it would be Maria, knowing she would have just walked in. Then again, he didn't think it would be her at all, considering she was supposed to be waiting for him. Knowing he would never know until he opened the door, Danny cracked it open.
"Dad," Danny sounded surprised.
"I thought I heard something in here," Frank pushed his way in.
"It's nothing," Danny lied. "I was about to get in the shower, and I dropped the soap bottle in the bathroom."
Frank opened the blinds and stared out at his bright city.
"Dad, I'm on the fifth floor," Danny tried reasoning with him. "If I tried shoving someone out the window. I'm pretty sure they'd be dead, and you would see a dead body on the ground."
"I wasn't looking for anyone," Frank shook his head, turning away from the window.
Maria started to pace the floor to her room anxiously. The five minutes elapsed, and it was turning more into ten minutes. She had hurried into her room, and she knew she didn't see anyone in the hallway, that would have been suspicious. Once she reached the room, she hurriedly pulled the blankets back on her bed. After doing so, she didn't know why she even bothered though, it wasn't like they would risk getting cold. At least not with the skin to skin contact they were going to have, radiating body heat off one another. Figuring it was simply for comfort, Maria slipped out of her dress blue skirt, and hurried into the bathroom, to spray a light squirt of perfume on her neck, knowing that her previous dose, wore off several hours ago. She was glad she shaved that morning, before getting ready to attend the conference, thinking that at least the hair on her legs wouldn't be prickly. Finishing in the bathroom, Maria took a seat on the edge of the bed to wait. That didn't last long however, and the nervous pacing started up again. He should have been there already, she estimated the time in her head once again. She didn't think he would have changed his mind, he wasn't that kind of person, and it was obvious they both wanted the same thing.
Content everything was as it should, Frank turned to walk out. "Let's have breakfast in the morning."
"What time?" Danny didn't sound as if he was dreading it. He was just anxious to get rid of his father, so he could hurry next door.
"8:00," Frank replied. "I'll meet you in the dining hall, before we return to the conference room, for the closing of the conference.
"Okay," Danny agreed quickly.
"And bring Detective Baez," Frank added, walking out the door of his son's hotel room.
Danny held his door partially open, so he could hear when his father's door closed securely behind him and make a break for Marias room. Hearing the door close, Danny counted to fifteen in his head, before he quickly slipped into the other room.
"I was beginning to think you changed your mind," Maria smiled when she saw him.
"Never," Danny saw her standing in front of him, in only her button-down dress blue shirt and white laced panties. He wanted to take her in his arms right then and there, but he hesitated. "I was interrupted by the commissioner. He thought he heard something."
"What did you tell him?" Maria knew her partner had a way with words and could normally talk them out of any sticky situation, they got into with a superior.
"I lied and told him I was about to get in the shower." Danny had to admit he felt bad for lying, but he was beginning to think it was worth it. Especially after he saw the beautiful woman standing in front of him.
"Then let's not make you liar," Maria turned away from him. "I'll get the water running," she said dropping her dress blue shirt to the floor. Leaving Danny just to stare after her, as she walked away.
Maria was already in the shower, by the time Danny was pulled back into reality, and forced his feet to move. Pulling the curtain aside, Danny stepped in, and did what he had been longing to do for he didn't know how long.
"Do you have protection?" Maria surprised herself, with the stamina she had, being able to pull away from him.
"We'll be fine," Danny shrugged her concern away. "What are the chances of something happening, by doing it just one time?"
"At this point, I don't even care," Maria eased herself back into him, where they stayed for more than an hour, before finally retiring to the crisp clean sheets on the bed.
They didn't get much sleep that night, and it was already morning by the time Danny rolled over to check the time on his phone.
"What time is it?" Maria yawned.
"About 6:30," Danny stretched looking for his pants.
"Are you getting up already?" Maria sat up.
"Got to, we were invited for breakfast with the Commissioner at 8:00." Danny knew he needed to slip out of the room and into his own, so he could get ready.
"And you're just telling me now?" Maria was in a hurry, so she could start getting ready, knowing they couldn't leave the commissioner waiting.
"It wasn't exactly on the top of my list of things to think about last night," Danny admitted, kissing her one last time, before slipping out of the room. He regretted having to leave her, but he knew he didn't have a choice. What happened that night, was something that had to remain between the two of them. They developed an attraction, but it was something they knew neither of them could delve into. They broke and had a one-night stand. But that was all it could be, a one-night stand. At least if they wanted to remain partners and keep things from changing. Which was something they agreed to do, and now they had to live with it.
Hope you all enjoyed chapter one, to this new story... If so, please feel free to follow, favorite and review... JusticeStandsTRUE