Chapter 2

Dinner with Jamie extending to breakfast as they talked and talked through the night. Toni apologising for not telling Jamie about his daughter and Jamie for the way he pushed her away after the death of Vinnie. They both admitted wrong-doing in their relationship and agreed they could've worked it out, after all they had grown up together and knew each other inside and out.

Jamie watched Toni intently as she told of her life and time in New Jersey and at Princeton. He found it quite funny that she attended the rival university to his Harvard, but he was still proud of her achievements. She had worked hard to become a Doctor whilst being a single mom, it niggled him a little that she had to do it all by herself. Why didn't she just call and tell him, he would've helped.

"Hey! You still with me?" smiled Toni as she reached for his hand and pulled him from his reverie.

"Why didn't you call?" asked Jamie, suddenly breathless. He held Toni's hand tightly and squeezed it whilst looking her straight in her hazel eyes. "You could've called me. I would've taken responsibility…"

"I know, but there were some complications…" stammered Toni, now avoiding Jamie's stare.

"What complications?"

"A stalker. Of sorts…" shrugged Toni as she pulled her hand away and started to play with her napkin.

"What d'you mean?" asked Jamie.

"I was getting threats that related to you. When I contacted your father and told him, he told me to stay in New Jersey as it was safer, ironically! But it wasn't safe for me to return and your dad still thinks I should be there, but I wanted to come home," explained Toni, watching Jamie all the time. She could see that nerve in his jaw that always twitched when he was mad or frustrated, moving quickly. The hand holding his drink glass was white from grasping it too tightly, Toni knew that if he squeezed it anymore, it would have shattered and cut his hand to shreds.

"What were the threats?" asked Jamie as he tried to control his emotions.

"You still have Joe's car?" replied Toni, wriggling in her seat as she watched Jamie's reaction change again.

"What has that to do with the threats?"

"The Blue Templar…"

"We took them down," snapped Jamie as he sat up straight and readjusted his position on his chair.

"I know you did…But Jamie, the letters spoke of the Blue Templar. Of Joe's car and how the brakes were tampered with. The letter said it would happen again if I returned to New York," replied Toni, quietly as she tried to stay calm.

"But why? Who sent the letters?" asked Jamie, curiosity whizzing around his mind. Joe's car was his pride and joy. He'd been working on restoring it back to is full glory ever since he smashed it into a blockade, thanks to the Blue Templar at the end of his rookie year on the job. He was almost finished, he had planned to drive it to his father's place on the anniversary of Joe's death next month.

"I don't know who sent the letters. All I know is that I was being watched by someone who knew about us. And knew about Jae. Jamie, I wanted to come home as soon as I found out I was pregnant, but the letters started soon after…" explained Toni, sadly.

"Did my father know? About Jae, I mean?" whispered Jamie, now avoiding Toni's eyes.

"No. I never told him. I told no-one, not even my dad at the start. My parents kinda surprised me the day I went into labour! That was the first they knew. My landlady was a wonderful woman who helped me stay sane. She looked after Jae for me when I went back to complete my training," smiled Toni, as she remembered the lady fondly.

"So, does my dad know now, about Jae?" asked Jamie, bringing Toni back to him.

"No. To be honest, I'm not sure how I'm going to tell him…" she sighed.

"Then we tell him together" announced Jamie as he nodded is head, agreeing with himself of the plan. "Sunday lunch, if you're free?"

"Okay. But I think you should get to know Jae a little better before then," she smiled back.

"When can that start?"

"How about now?" replied Toni as she signalled for the bill.

After paying the cheque and then helping Toni into her jacket, Jamie lead her outside. From here they walked together and talked some more. Toni told him everything about Jae, including her full name, Jamie Josephine Reagan-Renzulli. A bit of a mouthful but it suited her totally. She was more Reagan than Renzulli, that was for sure. Of course, Jamie still had to see that for himself so he jokingly told her that it wasn't possible given who her father was!

By the time morning came, the two of them had wandered the streets for hours and had finally arrived at her parents' house. Tony was just leaving as they walked the path to the front door. "What time do you call this, young lady?"

"Sorry Sarge, this was my fault. I guess we had more to talk about than we realised..." he smiled bashfully. Tony Renzulli looked down to see his daughter's hand entwined with Jamie's.

"You two better not go rushing into anything. I love having my daughter back and my grand-daughter, I won't have you chasing her away again like the last time." Insisted Renzulli, as he sized his former rookie up.

"I promise. Nothing in a hurry. I'd like to get to know my daughter first though, if that's okay with you Sarge?" replied Jamie.

"Well, she's having breakfast with her Grammy…I gotta go or I'll be late for roll call. I'm assuming you ain't got a tour today?"

"No sir, I got a few days." Replied Jamie as his superior walked passed them, kissing his daughter as he went. Watching the two of them together brought back too many memories, good and bad. He knew he didn't have the right to tell his daughter what to do with her life these days, but he also knew how hurt she was when she left. Shaking his head, he headed for the 12th precinct and the day ahead, leaving Toni to introduce Jamie to his child.

While Jamie got to know his daughter, who looked just like her mother but had a Reagan streak in her, there was someone else in the centre of town making calls and reaching out to hidden members of the Templar. Those Reagans were going to pay. The price? More than they could afford anyway, and he'll take extras to just to cover the costs!

"It's me. Time's coming. You ready? You got the info I need? You find out where she's working? What about golden boy's prospects?... I'm not looking for excuses, I'm looking for payback!... Those bastards took everything and we're taking it back! We're going to run the NYPD to the ground if we have to," sneered the guy on the phone. "I'm calling in a few other favours, that Sanfino guy has cause for payback too… Just find him for me. Your department put him in witness protection so I'm sure you can find him again." Slamming the phone down gave him a sense of power, yes, the power was all coming back. Not one of those stupid Reagans was going to stand in his way this time. He knew he should've dealt with the Rookie when he had the chance, but he'll get his soon. The time was fast approaching, revenge will be quick and bloody.

By the time Sunday came, Jamie couldn't sit still in church. He wriggled in his seat, he fiddled with his watch and shirt cuff. Even if he tried to be relaxed he was failing fast and it wasn't unnoticed by his father, brother or sister. Toni was joining the family for dinner after church with her folks and she was bringing Jae with her. He wasn't sure what he was more nervous about, Toni or the fact he was about to announce to his family that he was a father himself now.

In the days leading up to this, Jamie had spent as must of his free time with Toni and Jae. He took them to the park and the zoo, to lunch and dinner. He found himself looking at clothes in baby gap that might fit Jae and nearly bought the whole store if it wasn't for Toni intervening. He wanted today to go well, without arguments or sly comments from his brother, which would be a miracle!

"What's up with Uncle Jamie?" asked Nikki as she followed her mom out of the church behind the rest of the Reagan clan.

"I don't know, but I'm guessing it may have something to do with his guest joining us for dinner" shrugged Erin as she too watched her younger brother.

"Who is it?" asked Nikki, even more intrigued.

"If I had to guess, I'd say he's come to his senses and decided to bring Edie over," smiled Erin, so sure of herself.

"It's not Jenko," replied Henry as he drew up beside them. "But it is someone you know."

"What? Is that all you're going to tell us? You can't just say that and not fill in the blanks," groaned Nikki as she sought out more information. Henry just smirked and winked before moving on to the family car. "Who else is there that we know and who Uncle Jamie would be nervous to bring home?" Erin shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, there wasn't anyone else in Jamie's life right now that she knew of. And besides, she knew only too well that Jamie had strong feelings for his partner, the last time he acted this way was for….

"Oh my God! No? Seriously?" she stammered as she made an informed guess. "Pop! Toni? It's Toni!"

Jamie turned suddenly when he heard his sister's exclamations. The taste of bile was rising in his throat as nerves hit again. Soon all eyes were on him. He'd told Henry only about Toni as he had to tell someone. Jae was still a secret, one he shared and therefore to be told together. But how he hoped to keep it together until Toni and Jae arrived was not going to be easy. Now Danny had to have a word, "Toni? As in Oni Renzulli? Jay what are you thinking?"

"She's in town and wanted to see everyone, what's wrong in that?" shrugged Jamie, trying to stay calm and collected.

"She ran away, remember?" sighed Danny.

"No, I pushed her away. It was my fault, but its okay. We've talked things out and there's somethings that she, we need to say to you. Besides, I need to talk to dad first," rushed Jamie as he made his escape to his father's side.

"So, Dr Renzulli is coming for dinner? She was looking very efficient in her scrubs. And she still knows how to handle herself in a flock of cops!" smiled Frank as his youngest joined him.

"Toni told me about the letters. Who sent them dad? What did they want? Is it the Templar?" gushed Jamie, trying to get it all out before Danny caught up.

Too late. "The Templar? We took 'em down, kid. They're long gone!"

"No Danny, they're still around." It wasn't Jamie who announced this, it was Frank.

"What?" exclaimed Henry as he too joined the conversation.

"Not here and now isn't the time. This is a discussion for the 14th floor… or our dining room…AFTER dinner!" growled Frank as his SUV pulled up and his right-hand man, Jim, got out to open the passenger door. "Not a word of this in front of the family or Toni when she arrives,"

"Yes sir," nodded Jamie, still struggling with his nerves. This isn't going to help the conversation at the dinner table. "I'll see you back at the house." With that he headed towards his own car and returned to the Reagan house to wait for his family to arrive.

Toni was parked outside the big house in Bay Ridge waiting for the Reagans to return, playing with Jae in her car seat. She was just as nervous as Jamie but couldn't show it to Jae in fear for upsetting her. She had done her best to tell her daughter who they were going to see, and Jae was happily unaware of the chaos she was about to bring.

Jamie arrived first and pulled up behind Toni's car and got out to meet her. After hugging her tightly and thanking her for coming, Toni turned to get Jae out of her car seat. Just then the rest of the family arrived and by the time they were out of their vehicles, Jae was standing on the sidewalk holding her father's hand. No-one could speak.

"Who is that?" asked Jack as he whispered to his Dad.

"That is Toni Renzulli…" replied Danny in a daze.

"This is Jamie Josephine Reagan Renzulli. My daughter." announced Jamie, nervously.

"I have a new grandchild?" stammered Frank. "Well now, that's worth a celebratory drink!" Looking down at the little girl, he held out a hand and beckoned her to him. When she didn't step forward to begin with, Frank looked to Toni.

"It's okay to be shy. But he's Grandpa Giant, remember? I showed you his picture," explained Toni, gently before signing to the little girl that it was safe and okay.

Slowly, Jae looked from her mom and Jamie to the tall man in front of her. She shyly took a step forward and reached out a hand to touch Frank's already outstretched one. Taking the big man's hand, she tugged on his jacket with her other hand and pulled him down, so she could give him a hug and touch his moustache. The family surrounded the little girl and soon she was hugging everyone before she had even entered the house.

Breathing once more, both Jamie and Toni followed the family inside the house before heading straight for the kitchen. "They know about the Templar" whispered Jamie as he pulled a couple of beers from the fridge.

"They were going to find out eventually," replied Toni as she set her bag down on the counter and accepted the drink. "Did your dad say who was behind this resurgence?"

"No, he wasn't forth-coming with the information," sighed Jamie as he sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen.

"Are you two out of your minds? Where the hell did that child come from?" demanded Danny and Erin as they rushed into the room.

Jamie and Toni looked at each other before Jamie retorted, "You want a biology lesson, Danny?"

"Really? A child? When were you going to tell us?" shouted Erin.

"He only found out this week himself, cut him a little slack, Erin" insisted Toni as she stood behind Jamie, backing him up.

"Don't let me get started on you…" replied Erin, ready to spit fire. "You walk out on my brother and you then return and claim that that little girl is his!"

"She's my daughter, Erin. Get used to it!" snapped Jamie, as he defended Toni in return. Erin could only scoff.

"Maybe this was a bad idea. It was too soon…" sighed Toni as she put her bottle on the table.

"Running away again?" mocked Danny. This comment brought Jamie to his feet and in Danny's face. "Back off, kid. Erin has a point!"

"Will you keep your voices down, you'll scare Jae," hissed Henry as he entered the kitchen.

"That won't be a problem," sighed Toni.

"Why not?" asked Erin, raising an eyebrow.

"Because she's deaf! Or didn't you notice me signing to her?" snapped Toni. Erin went to retort back but the words failed her. "I wanted to come home. I wanted to tell Jamie, believe me, I really wanted too. But I had to keep him safe. Someone wants him hurt, or worse! You've already lost one member of the family to the Blue Templar, I didn't want to lose Jamie too!"

"The Templar are finished, disbanded!" shouted Erin, trying to fight back.

"Well, Sonny Malefsky isn't dead!"