It wasn't often that Danny Reagan found himself in the field with his younger brother, and so it wasn't completely out of the question for him to have mixed emotions as to whether or not this rarity was a pleasant one. With Joe, he always felt that neither one of them needed to know about what the other was doing professionally, and both of them would benefit from staying out of each others ways. This wasn't a testament to their relationship, of course, but in the dangerous job that they both held, they probably would both better function without the added concern of knowing the details of each others tours. This was something that Danny felt, even now, with Jamie. In the back of his mind, however, he always felt that maybe if he had involved himself a little more with Joe's duties, that maybe -

"Uncle Danny, would you mind setting the napkins? I'm going to go get the the biscuits out of the oven," Nicky interrupted his thoughts, thankfully.

"Sure, kid." As he turned to where he thought the napkins were, he realized that maybe he could be paying a little more attention to his home life. "Uhh, and those would be..."

"Wow, Danny. Getting confused over napkins? You must be getting old," Erin joked of her brother, sweeping in and removing the dinner napkins from the cabinet right in front of him.

"Not much older than you, sis," Danny smiled at his older sister.

Linda walked into the room, Jamie following shortly behind her, Henry and Frank already seated. Jamie was nearly dressed completely for work, short of his vest and hat, because immediately after dinner he had a tour to report to.

"Are we ready to eat yet or not? You know Jamie has to be out of here within 45 minutes," Henry complained.

Erin, bringing the last platter of food, sauntered into the room with raised eyebrows a her grandfather. "Why do I get the feeling you don't care if Jamie is late as much as you care about your grumbling stomach?" Making her two nephews giggle from the other end of the table.

"As true as that is I really do have to be out of here quickly today, thanks for the hustle everybody," Jamie addressed his whole family, to the vindication of his smiling grandfather.

"Actually you're not the only one, kid," Danny stated. "As a matter of fact, I can give you a ride down there. This is Jackie's last night and we're all saying goodbye to her down at the station."

"Oh yeah, I'd like to say goodbye to her too. Thanks Danny." Danny responded by holding up a fork speared broccoli.

"You got it."

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As the two approach the station, Danny stopped the car and turned to his brother. "Listen, don't say anything about her leaving, all right?"

Jamie's eyebrows furrowed. "But isn't the whole point of coming down here because she's leaving?"

Danny sighed. "Yes, but it doesn't mean you throw it in her face. It's a sensitive topic and part of her really doesn't want to leave. If we hit her too hard with it, she's not gonna feel like we're easing her out the door so much as kicking her out of it, get what I'm saying?"

"Not really," Jamie smirked.

"You really got your money's worth at Harvard, huh college-boy." They both rolled their eyes at the same time without noticing the other. "Just say something like, 'Take care Jackie, see ya soon.'"

Jamie stared at his brother for a second, trying to determine whether or not he was serious about the whole don't-really-say-goodbye-goodbye thing. "Whatever you say, detective!"

The two got out of the car and headed into the grey precinct. Approaching Jackie, Danny noticed that, although his brother was quick to mock him for his sensitive efforts, Jamie tensed around his departed partner and pinched his lips tightly together, as is waiting to speak until he was spoken to. Danny found his elbow jutting out at his brother as the obviousness of his display was probably worse than mentioning her leaving all together.

"Hey, Little Reagan," Jackie greeted with a sad smile. "What are you doing here?"
Jamie looked at Danny who looked at the water cooler.

"Oh! I ah – um," sighing, Jamie simply came out with the goodbye. "I just wanted to come by and say I'm sorry to see you go. You're a great detective and you're gonna be missed around here," Jamie sincerely stated.

Danny briefly looked up to see his partner's eye sparkle with goodbyes before returning his attention to that water cooler.

Jackie blinked away her sadness, swallowed it down, and put her hand out for a shake just as she was taught, to operate in a man's world. "That's really nice. Take care, Jamie. See ya soon."

Jamie and Danny both managed not to laugh or even look at each other as Jackie's sign off was exactly how Danny suggested bidding farewell to Jackie.

"Right, well – I got a night shift I have to start. I'll see you guys," Jamie said before leaving to report for duty.

Watching his brother walk away, Danny shook his head. Too bad I'm always the bad guy, he thought. "Uhh, Jackie, listen, I'm sorry about the kid. He's-"

Jackie sniffed loudly, "He's fine, Danny. Sweet, even. It means a lot to me that he-" Sniff. "That all of you guys thought to come down." Jackie didn't speak often or at any length about the turmoils she was experiencing in her personal life, but Danny could deduce that the things Jackie had always said she never wanted – a husband, a baby, a quiet life outside of the city – she was starting to miss.

After sharing box upon box of cheesecake and cup upon cup of coffee, the station began to say their final farewells to female detective. In a quiet moment alone, the two friends found themselves in a pause that Danny had always had guilt over. Linda held his entire heart, he couldn't even conceive of another woman having any part of it, but in these moments with Jackie he could feel that she was not just his partner. Jackie was some sort of unprecedented concoction of friend, coworker, sister, brother, and sometimes even more.

"Yeah," Danny let the word hang awkwardly.

"Yeah," Jackie returned the favor.

Clearing his throat, and not look directly into the feminine mystique, Danny started his personal good bye. "Listen, Jack – I, uh... look don't make a thing out of this, okay? But I, uh... I got you something." He handed her a small box.

"What are you crazy?" Jackie appreciated. "What is this?"
"A lock of my hair," Danny quipped.

Jackie snorted and volleyed back "Really? Are you sure you don't want to keep it? You should save every little bit that you can," emphasizing his hair line.

"Ah-ha, very funny. And no, not really, it's just a little something to show my, uh – I don't know, I thought you might like it," His eyes shooting back to the ground.

Jackie opened up the small box to find an elegant, perfectly cut ovular sapphire gem necklace. She pulled out the necklace and put it around her neck without Danny's help. "Danny this is too beautiful, I love it." Her brows furrowed. "I gotta tell you though, this ain't my birthstone – that's garnet."

"Jackie," Danny rolled his eyes back up to her. "I'm a detective, I know when your birthday is, and this ain't for that. I got you the sapphire because it's blue, and... I don't know – hopefully it will remind you of what you got in your heart, the NYPD, where you belong."

She stood shocked at the sentiment of her ordinarily emotional-vacuum-sealed partner. "Oh," she started, trying with all of her might to not cry again. "I, wow, I just don't know what to say... thank you, Danny. It's..." The tears began to fall freely now. "It's just perfect."

Danny pulled her into a strong armed hug, surprised by the degree of emotion that he was experiencing. Kissing Jackie on the top of her head, taking in her presence one last time, he pulled away and bid his final farewell. "All right, lady, get out of here already, before we have to get a restraining order on you."

Punching him in the arm and blowing a tearful kiss behind her, she was gone.