A/N: Welcome to another story in Friends, family and love one's universe. I hope you enjoy this one as you enjoy the other ones. So enjoy the new story and as always please leave reviews. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Bloods or the characters. This story is the for the benefit of the entertainment of the readers.

Blue Bloods: A long hard road

Prologue

Erin and Andrews Apartment

Manhattan, New York

Erin set down her wine glass on the coffee table and picked up her laptop. She sighed and looked at the blank screen in front of her. She heard Andrew chuckle. "What?"

"You have that look every time you try and get your opening statement ready for court." Andrew replied as he looked up from his tablet where he was going over patient records and medicine request for a surgery tomorrow. He smiled at Erin. "Now you are giving an opening statement at your confirmation hearing in front of a dozen city councilman on the Mayors Judicial advisory board, and you still have that look."

"Yeah but instead of trying to prove guilt of a defendant, I have to prove I am worthy enough to sit on the bench." Erin replied with her own smile as she looked at her boyfriend. She set the laptop down and snuggled into him. "Maybe if you distract me, I can focus better."

Andrew chuckled again. "You tried that last night, and it didn't work. Now back to your statement your honor."

Erin chuckled as she sat up. "Not yet my dear doctor."

They both chuckled as Erin picked up her laptop again.

Warwick Hotel

Upper East, New York

Frank nodded his acknowledgement to his name being called by a member of the city council as he made his way towards the food bar located at one end of the top floor conference room. He saw Garrett and Ghormley there sampling the food. "Okay, I made my appearances, can we leave?"

"Frank we just got here." Garrett replied with a look on disbelief on his face. "You said 30 minutes, and it's only been 10."

"No I remember I said if I could do 30 minutes, but no more than 15." Frank replied with a look of sarcasm on his face.

"Why are we here again?" Ghormley asked.

"For good will, which goes a long way." Garrett replied. He looked around the room. "Half the people in here sit on budget committee, and our request for upgrades to our tactical training center goes before them this week."

"Not to mention that also half the people in here sit on the advisory board for the judicial review that Erin is going in front of tomorrow as well." Frank added tossing a look to Garrett. "Did you know that?"

"I did, and I explained to the press and people in here this is entirely for the tactical training center upgrades and nothing more." Garrett answered as he looked at his boss and Ghormley. His face then went to disbelief. "Uh oh. Councilwoman Alvarez is coming over?"

"Like right for me, or to the food bar?" Frank asked.

Garrett never got to answer. The five foot four white haired woman stopped behind Frank. "Commissioner Reagan."

"Councilwoman Alvarez." Frank replied. He shook the woman's hand. He then walked her towards the food bar. "How are you doing?"

"Not too bad." The councilwoman replied as she and Frank made their way to the food bar. She picked at a piece of fruit. "Here trying to build support for your daughter?"

"No actually, we are here for some good will towards our request for money for our tactical training center upgrades." Frank replied as he looked at the selections. "An upgrade that the mayor, I and the citizens of our city want."

Councilwoman Ortega looked around and focused on Garrett and Ghormley. "Could we have a moment to ourselves?"

Frank looked and motioned with his head to which both Garrett and Ghormley left. Once they were out of earshot, Frank turned to the woman next to him. "Alright Maria what is going on?"

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but the transportation chief is also making the rounds tonight." Councilwoman Alvarez told Frank. They both turned their heads and saw Michelle Ortega walking about the room. "She wants to take the 15 million dollars you requested and use it for upgrades to the subway infrastructure."

"She does know that there is federal funding for that right?" Frank asked as they turned back around.

"She does, but she also said the same thing about your tactical center upgrades." Councilwoman Alvarez spoke. She grabbed one more piece of fruit. "And right now, she has 4 of the 8 votes needed to carry the motion, while you have the other four. Four more votes are still in play. Just wanted to give you a heads up."

Frank nodded and watched as the councilwoman walk off to rejoin the party. Garrett and Ghormley came back over. Garrett saw the look on Frank's face. "What was that about?"

Frank just looked at him.

East 53rd Street and 1st Avenue

Manhattan, New York

"All I am saying Reagan, is that we are supposed to be on the midnight shift. Not starting at quarter to 11." Baez commented as they stepped off the elevator and walked towards their scene on the 11th floor of the apartment building. "Why isn't swing shift doing this?"

"Half of those jokers are doing security detail for the election." Danny remarked as they stopped before the apartment. "As much as I want to earn some extra money, I do not need to do that. I rather earn the money doing this."

"This coming from the man who says he's still strapped to pay off our Super Bowl bet." Baez said smiling as they ducked under the tape.

"You'll get your money." Danny replied with a smile as well they walked up to the body. Danny grimaced as he saw the scene. "Ouch. Looks like he had a bad night."

"Stabbed multiple times in chest there detective." The medical examiner said as she stood up. She looked to Danny and Baez. "Liver temp puts time of death about 2 hours ago."

"So who is he?" Baez asked as she made notes.

The medical examiner handed over the wallet to Danny who flipped it open. "Daniel Johnson. This is his apartment."

"Start a canvass of the neighbors see if anybody heard anything." Baez told the closet uniform who nodded and left the apartment. Baez walked over to the wall. "Has a degree in mechanical engineering."

"Smart man." Danny remarked as he knelt down by the body. He looked around it. "He's got a lipstick mark on his cheek."

"So the last person to see him alive could be our best suspect." Baez remarked as she came on over.

"Or could be our best witness." Danny replied standing up.

West 131st and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd

Harlem, New York

Jamie and his partner Officer Daniel Mitchell rolled their RMP to a stop just behind their other precinct's RMP. "What do you got Johnson?"

Officer Johnson turned around. "911 call from this area saw a black Escalade slow to a stop and dumped our victim Sarge. We rolled up just a few minutes after call and called a bus."

Jamie nodded and started towards the ambulance. "How is he?"

"Pretty badly beaten, but not likely." Officer Johnson as he followed Jamie towards the ambulance. "Detectives said get the statement, call CSU, and they'll get to it when they can."

Jamie nodded as he arrived at the ambulance. "Sir, I'm Sergeant Reagan, do you know who did this to you?"

The man just shook his head and turned his head away. The paramedic came out. "He didn't answer any of our questions either sergeant."

"You taking him Harlem Medical?" Jamie asked getting a nod.

"Yeah. Should be there in about 20 minutes." The paramedic replied as he climbed back in the ambulance and closed the doors after Jamie nodded.

As the ambulance took off Jamie started back towards his RMP. "Johnson, you and Nicholson secure the area for when CSU shows up. I'll call for one additional unit to come back to the scene."

The officers nodded as Jamie radioed for additional unit to come to the scene. As he ended the transmission, he noticed the look on his partners face. "What Mitchell?"

"No offense Sarge, why try and get the kid to talk? It's clearly a message not too." Officer Mitchell remarked as they arrived back at their RMP.

"You know Mitchell that is the thought right there that has the trust of us at an all-time low." Jamie rebuked his young officer. They climbed in and he looked at his new partner. "That young man is a victim with a family who probably doesn't know yet what happen to him. Its our job to ensure that everyone is given the same amount of regard for law until a court proves otherwise. Until then, keep your opinions to yourself."

His young partner nodded and Jamie pulled the RMP out of the area and headed towards the medical center.