Title: Sins of a Father
Chapter 1 – Veiled Jealousy

Summary: Frank has something an old family friend wants – his son. But when something happens to Jamie, what truth will Danny learn? What terrible secret will be uncovered? Will it cost Frank his youngest son? Or can Danny help his brother in time?

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Blue Bloods; but would like to borrow the men some time *wink* :D

A/N: Okay so Alice has just been busting with a million new story ideas she wants to get out for you all and this one came up next; actually it was a three way tie! Haha hope you like this one just as much as my last. As always lots of angst, peril, action, brotherly bonding and some Danny/Linda fluff :D

"Hey you gonna be okay today?" Jackie asks Danny in a low tone as she slowly walks up to their shared desk before their shift starts.

"Yeah," Danny huffs with a nod as he looks at a picture of his mom and dad on his desk, a small picture that was nestled in the corner of a picture of him and Linda and the boys. "Sometimes…it seems like only yesterday she passed," he mentions softly.

"Your dad gonna be okay?"

"Yeah he's havin' lunch with Jamie and supper with Erin and Nikki," Danny informs her; referring to the date of the anniversary of their mother's death. "He'll be okay. I think Don Sommerfield is going to stop by and see him later as well."

"Remind me again who he is?" Jackie queries as Danny finally pushes himself from his chair and follows after his partner.

"Old friend of dads. I always found him creepy," Danny smirks. "He was always fond of Jamie the most; just glad it wasn't me."

"What was so wrong with this guy?"

"Don't know…just somethin' off you know? His son Sam died a good number of years back just after his wife but I don't know much more – never really wanted to. He was dad's friend and kinda kept to himself. He'd always drop by gifts for Jamie though; probably reminded him of Sam. Anyways just glad dad isn't alone today. I'll drop by later; that is if you quit stallin' and let me get our day started already."

"Yeah…it's me," Jackie rolls her eyes, emitting a small laugh as they head out the door; getting their day started and not giving another thought to the man they were just talking about. "Does Jamie know this Don fellow will be there?" Jackie's voice dies out.

"He'll find out when he gets there," Danny retorts.

XXXXXXXX

"Whoa kid slow down, that's like your third cupa coffee in like an hour," Renzulli's fingers gently wrap around Jamie's cup and slowly lower his arm.

"Yeah um…just thirsty," Jamie frowns as he tosses the cup into the nearby street garbage can.

"How's your dad holdin' up?"

"He's okay. It's been six years," Jamie pauses, "but for him he says it still feels like yesterday you know?"

"From the few things I heard about your mother from your dad or Danny, she sounded like a great woman."

"She was. Just wish she hadn't missed so many things," Jamie confesses with a small frown.

"Well you know if you ever need a hug…"

"Yeah you offerin'?" Jamie looks at his partner with a sideways glance.

"Me? Heck no," Renzulli chuckles. "What would that do for my stellar reputation?" He laughs.

"Make it better?" Jamie tosses, garnering a playful punch from his partner.

"Wise-ass," Renzulli huffs. "Okay let's get this over with and then you can go and have lunch with your dad."

Jamie gives his partner a nod; trying to focus his mind on the task at hand and allowing the morning to go by faster than anticipated. It was six years ago when his mother lost her battle to cancer; a painful day he would never forget, sitting beside her bedside, watching his father hold her in his arms and just telling her comforting things over and over again. He feels himself starting to drift into a somber mood, but was thankful that his partner was so in tune with his moods so that when he saw he was starting to falter, Renzulli would say something funny and the mood would be lifted once again.

"Alright kid I'll see you on Friday. Give your dad a hug for me okay?"

"Didn't figure you for the sentimental type sarge."

"Just get your ass outta here already," Renzulli smirks. "Enjoy your day off tomorrow."

Jamie gives his partner a nod before he heads for the locker room to change and then go meet his father for lunch. He admired his father for the strength he always showed around him and his siblings but knew that in private is when his father would break down. Just after his mother had passed, Jamie would sometimes quietly slip upstairs to where his father's room was and just listen outside the door as Frank would talk to Mary, his mother; the floor around his feet always wet with silent tears of love, remorse and respect. The bond of love that Frank had even now for his mother was something he truly admired and almost envied. He always wondered if he'd ever find a love like that; one that would last even past the bonds of death.

He looks at his watch and frowns; he would be a little bit late but hopes his father wouldn't be too upset.

XXXXXXXX

"Frank."

"Hey Don. You're early."

"Traffic was light. I just saw Mary and left some fresh flowers for her. Said my regards to Betty and Joe as well."

"Appreciate it."

"Just you and I for lunch today?"

"Jamie should be here shortly."

"How's my favorite boy doing these days?"

"Enjoying his rookie year," Frank answers with a smile. "Will be nice for you to see Jamie again."

"You know if you're doing some father, son bonding time I don't want to interfere."

"Well I know how fond of Jamie you are; we really don't mind."

"Like my own son Frank, but really I can head out early."

"Nonsense, Jamie and I spend lots of time together," Frank mentions with a prideful smile. "He reminds me so much of Mary. He has so many of her mannerisms; more so than Erin or Danny. Joe had some but Jamie…"

"Yeah he's a special son," Don interrupts with a small smile; hoping his voice sounds sincere. "That is something I truly envy about you Frank. You have an amazing family and…"

"Don I'm sorry," Frank sighs. "You know you living up there all alone. You have what five acres? That's a lot for one man to look after."

"And I'm not as young as I used to be?" Don retorts and both men chuckle. "I have been thinking about selling it as of late," he mumbles as he casts his face downward, looking at his folded hands. "Too many memories – good and bad."

"If you ever needed a place to stay in the interim, pop and I have a spare room you could use…you know just until you find something a bit more…manageable."

"It's a kind offer Frank," the older man gives his friend a small smile. "I'll think about it."

"I think…" Frank starts only to look up and watch his youngest enter the diner. Jamie has his mother's smile and same tender expression in his eyes that he had always been fond of. He had never played one over the other in terms of favorites, but in his heart he knows that Jamie was special in ways he wasn't even able to verbalize.

"There he is," Don looks up at Jamie with a bright smile. "Hello Jamie my boy."

"Hey Mr Sommerfield," Jamie gives the older man a small smile and a hug before he turns to his father and gives him a hug that lingers a bit longer.

"Jamie, please call me Don."

"Don," Jamie corrects himself with a smile. "Am I um…interrupting something?"

"Don was in town and is going to join us for lunch."

"Is that okay?" Don looks at Jamie and asks directly.

"Sure. Fine by me," Jamie shrugs as he slides into the booth beside his father, not even aware of the gaze that he was garnering from the older man across the table; a man with a dark secret that would soon be revealed, changing his life and possibly his very future.

"How was your morning?" Frank asks Jamie.

"Pretty uneventful, thankfully," Jamie adds with a smirk. "Although Renzulli did tease me about…" he starts, his father's lips curling into a smile. Jamie looks over at Don who offers a small smile and frowns. "Sorry I guess it…really doesn't matter."

"No, please don't let me stop you. I am kinda the third wheel here."

"Never Don," Frank tries to assure his friend. "I can always catch up with Jamie's stories over dinner."

"Yes you are fortunate that way," Don "Frank if…" he starts only to be interrupted by Frank's phone ringing.

"Sorry… I have to take this," Frank looks at the familiar number with a heavy frown before Jamie pushes himself out of the booth and lets his father leave before he slides back in, leaving the seat by the edge open for when his father would return.

"So how do you like being a rookie with the NYPD Jamie?"

"It's always something different," Jamie replies with a small smirk. "But I don't regret my decision."

"You have made your father very proud."

"I hope so."

"Well I am proud of you and you…you aren't my son," Don's voice dies out slightly. "I know the day you graduated it's all I heard about," he recalls with a small laugh. "I have followed your career a bit Jamie, I know you'll follow in your father's footsteps and make him proud."

"It's very different from law school."

"You okay with the debt load?"

"I knew when I took the NYPD post that the…it's tight but it's okay."

"You know if you ever need any help…"

"Oh I couldn't um…I couldn't ask for anything."

"An interest free loan?" Don asks as he watches Frank heading back to them. "Just think about it okay? I really don't mind helping you Jaime; you're like family to me."

"Thanks," Jamie slowly nods as Frank looks down at his son with a small frown.

"It'll be a short lunch. That was the mayor," Frank sighs as he gestures to the waiter to come and take their order. "Apparently people don't eat on his home planet," Frank quips, drawing two small chuckles from his son and friend. "So what did I miss?"

"I was just telling Jamie how proud you are of him."

"Very," Frank smiles at his youngest son. "Especially today."

A brief moment of silence is observed in memory of Mary Reagan before they place their orders and the talk steers away from that of death to that of a few local news headlines and then their meals come.

"Well it was great seeing you again Frank," Don pauses as he pulls a few bills from his wallet. "Jamie remember what I said. Alright you two…see you later."

Frank watches his old friend leave and then turns to his youngest son. "What was that all about?"

"He just said if I um…ever needed help you know…it was nothing."

"Help with what?"

"Finances."

"Finances? You never said..."

"Dad he was just offering but I turned him down. It's okay, I got it covered."

"Well he's always been fond of you; can't blame him," Frank teases, garnering a loving smile from his youngest son. "Ever since he's alone."

"I think I remember he had a son, but I don't remember all the details."

"He had a son…once," Frank pauses as he looks at the piece of plastic in his grasp. "But he died when you were much younger. It was tough on Don; he had a rocky marriage and then Carol was killed by a drunk driver and then his son and Don…well he just survives now."

"How did his son die?"

"Accident as well. Don didn't say much and since he's upstate a ways it wasn't my jurisdiction. He never opened up much about it and I never wanted to pry; I know the pain of death and couldn't force even a family friend to relive those memories just for the sake of my own morbid curiousity. I thought over the years he would open up but he never did. I know he took it hard…as any father would," Frank looks back up at Jamie, forcing his lips to curl slightly upward. "I guess I'm a bit luckier than him."

"Kinda feel sorry for him," Jamie frowns.

"That's because you have your mother's heart," Frank's arm wraps around his son's shoulder and gives him a small squeeze. "Okay I won't be long at the mayor's office."

"Just long enough for him to rake you over the coals again?"

"Just long enough for that. I'll see you tonight."

XXXXXXXX

"Jamie is that you?"

"Yeah it's me!" Jamie calls out as he enters his father's house, discards his jacket on the chair and goes in search of his grandfather.

"You alone?"

"Dad got called into the mayor's office. Need any help?" Jamie asks, as he approaches the table, wondering what his grandfather was doing. "What's all this?"

"VCR parts and don't tell your dad. Damn thing doesn't work. He says we have the DVD and the damn PVR thing, whatever that is; I personally think this is still good and…"

"You're trying to fix it?" Jamie stifles a small chuckle.

"You'll all be laughing out of the other side of your faces when I get it to work."

"Do you even have VHS tapes anymore?" Jamie smirks as he sits down at the table and picks up a small part.

"How was lunch?" Henry asks without looking up, his eyes looking over his bifocals as he focuses on a small part that he's trying to fix with a small screwdriver.

"It was rushed thanks to the mayor."

"Sadly when you run for office, manners aren't something listed as a prerequisite. How was your father?"

"He was fine. I think he didn't open up as much as last year because Don Sommerfield was there."

"Donny was there? How is he?"

"He's fine. I remember seeing him from time to time but I don't know much about his um…family."

"He was always a quiet one; kept to himself. Had a tough family situation with his wife being killed and then his son. I think he always envied Francis because of you and your siblings and what your father had with your mother; and I know he was always fond of you."

"Just me?"

"Well Danny is special as we all know," Henry chuckles.

"He offered me money."

"For what?" Henry's smile quickly fades, replaced by an inquisitive glance.

"Just to help with my loan and stuff."

"What did you say?"

"Well he kinda took me by surprise so I said no," Jamie frowns. "I guess I thought it was odd."

"Well can't blame him for wanting to help you though – he has no one," Henry sighs as he looks at his youngest grandson with a warm smile.

"You saying I shoulda taken the money?" Jamie asks quietly.

"Can't answer that," Henry puts his glasses back on and gets back to the task at hand. "Who you want to be indebted to is your business, not mine. But you know if you ever did need help…"

"Yeah I'm okay. I got things covered with the bank."

"Well the offer is there as it always has been the day you joined the NYPD. You know that right?"

"I do…thanks," Jamie agrees slowly as he picks up another part. Indebted to…Jamie's mind slowly ponders that thought as he fiddles with the broken piece in his fingertips. Don Sommerfield seemed like a harmless family friend who only wanted to help him deal with a large debt burden. He had no family and Jamie finds himself feeling sorry for the older man. But before he can linger on Don too much his grandfather's exhuberant voice breaks the silence and his thoughts quickly change.

"Alright I think I got it…" Henry looks up with a large smile. "Let's see if this works okay?"

XXXXXXXX

The sun had already started to set on the county of Westchester, New York; a lone figure sits in a dimly lit kitchen in the ageing house, with a glass of whisky in one hand and a small a photograph in the other.

"I miss you my son…I miss you Jamie but I'll see you real soon and I promise we'll be together…just like we used to be and this time…this time I will make things right – I promise. And no one will try to take you from me again. No one!"

A/N: Alright everyone how did you like chapter 1? So this one will be longer than my last story so hope you all don't think it's a boring start. What are your thoughts on Don? Friend or foe? Kinda sad but also creepy (lol that's what I'm going for). Please review as you know how much Alice cherishes your feedback and uses it as fuel to get the next update out faster! :D

PS: up next the conclusion to 'Retribution' thanks again everyone!