A/N: All publicly recognisable characters and settings belong to Someone In America. Anything verifiable belongs to Whoever, Whatever, or Wherever verifies them. Everything else belongs to me.
WEDNESDAY
Danny sat in his car watching Jamie's apartment building. He had done the right thing, he knew he had. He just needed to convince Jamie of that fact. That was going to a hard sell, he knew that, too.
There was no-one home, so he rang Linda to tell her he would be late for dinner, then stood by the door of the apartment building, settling in for a long wait. Half an hour later, Jamie appeared and Danny could tell immediately that he was too late. Jamie already knew. Damn that Captain!
"Jamie."
"Leave." Jamie had stopped on the far side of the footpath.
"We need to talk."
"Leave, or there will be trouble." Jamie threatened.
"Look, its –"
Jamie tuned out the rest of his brother's speech as he pulled out his cell phone and hit speed
-dial.
Frank was just leaving his office when the phone call came.
"Hi, Jamie, I'm just on my way home."
"Hello Mr. Police Commissioner, Sir. I am afraid I have a problem, Sir. Detective Daniel Reagan is denying me legal entry to my apartment. If you do not come and remove him, forthwith, I have legal grounds to have him arrested for trespass." Jamie kept his speech formal, conveying to Frank the seriousness of the situation.
"I will be there as soon as I can, Son."
"Thank you, Sir." Jamie hung up the phone.
"Jamie, what on earth?" Danny spluttered, leaning toward his brother.
"Stay there." Jamie warned. "If you touch me, I will have you charged with assault on a police officer as well."
"Seriously, you're over-reacting, and this is no place for an argument. Why don't we – "
Jamie turned away from his brother just enough that he could keep an eye on the older man, and still ignore him. To his credit, Danny stopped talking and remained silent and still.
When Frank arrived, he found his sons in what would have looked to any passer-by to be a comical standoff. Danny was leaning on the wall just outside the door to Jamie's apartment. His arms were crossed and his hips cocked in a typical gangster pose. Jamie, on the other hand, was on the other side of the pavement. He had headphones on and was softly singing, apparently ignoring his brother. Frank knew better though, and moved quickly to try and head off the impending fight.
"Come on, guys, let's go inside."
"I'm not going anywhere with him." Jamie was adamant. Frank could see that his normally docile son was about to erupt, so he left him alone and approached his oldest.
"I need you to go and wait for me in the Cadillac."
"I've got my own transport."
"I know where mine is parked."
"Oh, right! Sure." Danny realised his father would want to be able to find him quickly when his version of the altercation was required. He also trusted his father would get both sides of the story before making any judgement calls. Frank gave him directions and watched as he moved off.
As soon as the door was clear, Jamie went to enter the building, with Frank following him.
"Jamie." Frank's voice was gentle.
Assuming his father was going to try and convince him to talk to his brother, Jamie turned toward Frank and forestalled the directive.
"Mr. Police Commissioner, Sir," Jamie again spoke formally. "I suggest you read today's reports from the 12th Precinct before you pursue this matter further. It is at that time you can decide whether to order me to talk to Detective Reagan. Ever again. In any guise." With that, Jamie started climbing the stairs, leaving his stunned father behind.
