Chapter Two

"Your aunt is going to go nuts," Jamie sighed as he stepped out of the mayor's office. The Mayor had just informed them he did not intend to sign off on Jack's appointment to Commissioner unless Jamie agreed to stay on for a year as a "special advisor". "She's stressed out as it is, he yearly is coming up, you know what that does to her."

"I do," Jack sighed. "Well, I don't have to be commissioner, I mean we tried to keep it in the family, but perhaps it's time for the Reagan dynasty to end."

"No, it's not, you are made to do this job," Jamie insisted. "I'll talk to your aunt and you can promise her that you won't have me working more than thirty hours a week. I just don't want to put this one her until after her oncologist appointment next week."

"Then don't tell her until next week," Jack suggested earning a stern look from Jamie.

"Oh, my boy, you have a lot to learn about being a husband," Jamie laughed. "Where did you learn it was okay to lie to your wife?"

"It's not lying, you're just not telling her the part about you having to work with me. I'm going to be the commish if you say yes so just tell her…"

"That, my boy is called lying," Jamie pointed out. "Lying by omission is still lying and after the problems Eddie and I had from doing that I'm not about to do it again. I'll tell her tonight when the house is nice and quiet and you can reassure her that you'll go easy on your Uncle Jamie."

"Of course I will," Jack replied. "He thinks I'm too young or what?"

"No," Jamie sighed. "If you were the fruit of my loins I doubt we'd have this issues. He wants to make sure you have enough of me in you to balance out the Danny Reagan blood in those veins. That's all this is about and that we don't tell your father, it'll hurt his feelings."

Jack nodded, "Okay so don't lie to wives but we can lie to dads?"

"Yes and no," Jamie replied. "You can fib to anyone to spare their feelings except for wives. They would rather hear the truth from you even if it hurts."

Jack nodded but inside he thought his uncle was off his rocker just a bit. "Go home to your wife, give her a cuddle, she's in the first hormone shift now and will need it. I have a few more reports to finish before I can go home for the night."

Jack smiled, 'Thanks Uncle Jamie. I'll see you tomorrow."

Jamie waived as Jack got into his SUV and headed for his home with Rita in New Hyde Park. Jamie got into his own SUV and directed his driver to return him to 1PP.

"Commissioner," Jamie's fifth Chief of Staff in as many months said sheepishly as she knocked on his door. Why was everyone so skittish around him? He wasn't a bad boss, true none of these ladies were Eddie or his longtime assistant, Meyers, but they were good detectives. He felt he tried to be fair.

"Yes, Maria," Jamie replied picking his head up. Jamie was now 49 and 3/4 hours into his permitted 50 hour week.

"Commissioner, there's just been a report of a five alarm fire in Flatbush, three precincts of our officers have responded, along with three FDNY engine companies and Commissioner Mckay. Deputy Commissioner..."

Jamie nodded raising his hand, "Call my detail and get my wife on the phone"

Jamie waited for Eddie to pick up the line. When she did he was also greeted by a lustrous wail from one of his grandchildren. "They're still fussy?" he asked.

"Just Reagan," Eddie replied. "Lila got Finn down about a ten minutes ago. Aren't you on your way home?"

"I need to make a stop off first, massive fire with a huge police presence and I sent Jack home early so he could spend some down time with Rita. I'm just going to stop by and make sure things are running well then I'll be home to help."

Eddie sighed, Jamie been working more and more past his 50 hour limit lately but a fire that size required his presence. She wished him well and turned her attention back to her granddaughter.

When Jamie arrived at the scene it was mayhem, just as he expected. Worried family members kept storming the police barricades, firefighters kept searching the building in shifts. Jamie heard people yelling about their wife, their baby, their dog...all presumably in the burning building. He hurried up to Fire Commissioner McKay, "I'm going to call in six more cars to help with the crowd control, Roy. Any hope of getting survivors out."

"I'm about to pull the rest of my boys out," Commissioner McKay replied. "It's too hot in there, I just had three come out with burnt airways and smoke inhalation. The building is a goner, we have to focus on keeping it from spreading to other buildings."

Jamie nodded and went back to the PD mobile command ordering more police officers to keep the growing crowds at bay to allow the fire department to do their jobs.

Jamie watched as teams of firefighters began to enter the buildings on either side of the engulfed structure in order to assist in evacuating the apartments, one of which was on top of a restaurant.

He sighed, this was going to take a lot longer than anticipated, Eddie was going to kill him.

"This is better," Commissioner McKay told Jamie. "I feel better with this perimeter, thank you."

"Of course," Jamie replied. "CSU is standing by for any building remains or devices, we'll make this as seamless as possible."

"So its true?" McKay asked. "You're retiring…"

"Not totally, I'll be staying on as an advisor, but I'm confident in Jack that he can get it done.

One of Jamie's Sergeant's that had finished securing the perimeter around the surrounding structures jogged by to give him a status update. "Boss, the perimeter is secure and FDNY is going in now to clear the apartments above. There's still some people trapped above Domenicos." Jamie heaved a sigh hating these calls that put everyone in danger.

Jamie nodded, "Good, clear all of our personnel away and let FDNY and the EMTs have access to do their jobs. We are providing security only, make sure that is understood."

"Yes, sir!" the sergeant replied and headed off to do his boss' bidding.

Jamie turned his head just in time to see Steven and his engine company suiting up to go inside the restaurant. Their eyes met slowly, Steve nodded to his father in law before following the other fire fighters inside.

Back at the house, Eddie laid Reagan down in her crib and smiled at Lila. "No you were not that bad, your brother on the other hand...when he has kids...I hope he has five just like Reagan...let's go watch some tv, order dinner, and wait for Dad to get home."

Lila put in the order for Indian food then sat down next to her mother. Eddie was searching the channels for old comedies when she caught a glimpse of Jamie and Commissioner McKay on the news. "Dad's on TV," she said to Lila pausing her search.

"Both Police Commissioner Reagan and Fire Commissioner McKay are on scene each I am sure doing their best for the members of Engine Companies 249, 250, and 255 and the residents of these Flatbush Avenue apartments and businesses...Commissioner McKay, is it true you have pulled your men out of the initial building and are concentrating rescue efforts on the adjacent..."

Before the reporter finished he question a bright flash could be scene from just beyond the view of the camera...one of those adjacent building had practically erupted in flames.

"This just in, Margie, Domenico's restaurant, just next door to the apartment building where the first started and all of the apartments above it looks like are no engulfed in flames...there were several members of the FDNY inside of that building attempting to rescue residents that were still inside their apartments..."

The camera turned back towards Jamie and Roy McKay. Both men had been knocked back by the blast and were now barking orders at scurrying subordinates.

"Wow, Dad is not going to be home for a while..." Lila sighed. "We'll keep a plate hot."

"Out!" Commissioner McKay was yelling. "Everyone get out now!" It was rare for him to order all his men out of an area but the explosion had just eviscerated the building.

"Attention, all NYPD officers, extend the security perimeter another twenty five feet, maximum security," Jamie ordered catching his breath. The last thing they needed was to lose civilians that were making last ditch efforts to save loved ones. Jamie listened as Roy began to call the members of the engine companies inside…only to receive no reply at all.

"You are such a good boy," Eddie cooed to her grandson as he suckled his bottle. Finn had woken up only minutes after Lila fell into a much needed sleep. It was almost seven AM and Jamie had yet to come home. Still, there was a massive disaster, Eddie could forgive him a late night as long his health remained intact.

She heard Jamie's key slide into the door and looked to see her exhausted husband, face streaked with dirt and soot enter the house alongside Roy McKay. "Look at the two of you..." She said rising and placing the baby in his swing. "You are filthy and you must be exhausted." Eddie went to kiss Jamie. That's when she saw it. There were tear streaks in the soot and his eyes were red and bloodshot. "Jamie...are you all right? Sit down, you've been over doing it. Roy I'll get you some coffee...please sit..."

"Eddie..." Jamie said. He'd already said her name three times but she hadn't heard him over her chattering. He reached out to steady her. "Yes, put on some coffee, enough for Joe, he's on his way...Sweetheart, where's Lila?"

"She's upstairs asleep, Jamie, you are frightening..." It hit her like a ton of bricks. The fire commissioner in their living room, Jamie's tear stained face, a call made to Joe and now Jamie was asking about their daughter...that could only mean.

"No..." She began to shake her head. "Oh dear God..." Eddie covered her mouth with her hands. "But he's E281, the news didn't even mention..."

"Eddie," Roy began. "I dispatched 281 to clear the side buildings, they weren't in the main so the news didn't...We lost half the engine company in the blast. We got the bodies out about an hour ago, there was no saving anyone. I want to deliver the news to your daughter in person, and Jamie insisted that he be here and we wait for you son."

A/N: Once again I am blessed to have so many of you reading this installment. I'm hoping you stay for the finish. Thanks to all of you for reading, favoriting, and following.

Next Update – January 23rd - The family braces for impact.