Warnings: None in this chapter, that I can think of.
In a precinct, on a bright afternoon, a man snaps his pen in half. He stares at his lieutenant as if he's grown two heads, or said that Jamie has been found dead. Which he could very well be. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the task force! The opposite, in fact. He needs to be there. Who else will make sure to treat Jamie right, dead or alive.
"I'm going," he tells the older man. Everyone else outside the room is trying their hardest to look like they're not peeking over or casually walking by. Danny ignores them all, as does Gormley.
His boss' eyebrows curl down. "It's an order, Danny."
"And if it were your brother?"
The silence itself answers the question. Of course Gormley would go anyway. Family comes first, second, and last. Anyone knows that. They especially know it to be true for the Reagan family. You do not mess with them, unless you're prepared to face them all.
"Danny," Linda says softly, her hand brushing against his arm.
Danny glares at her, though they both know it's not her he's mad at. Never her. But his Dad? Oh, Danny will have quite a few words to say to him when this is all over with.
Danny can see why his Dad would want him far away from all this. Danny could literally walk in on Sanfino shooting his little brother in the head. And some part of Danny doesn't want to go, just to avoid that. But he won't. He can't. Jamie needs him, and Danny will do anything – even going against the police commissioner – to do give that.
"I'm going," he says again, grabbing his gun out of his desk and holstering it. He shoots Linda an apologetic look, which she answers with a sigh and a loving, worried smile.
"You're an idiot," she tells him.
He offers a tentative grin. "Love you too."
"Dad?" Sean says hesitantly.
Danny looks down at his two boys, who have been silent and in the background through all this. "I'll be fine, you guys. Promise."
"Will Uncle Jamie be dead?" Jack asks, tackles as always.
"Jack!" Linda hisses.
"I think we've a right to know," he insists. Sean nods in agreement.
Danny hunches down to their level and puts a hand on both their shoulders. "I'm not going to lie to you, he might be, but we're going to do everything in our power to make sure he doesn't. Kay?"
"Kay," both boys echo back. Neither are very confident, but Danny didn't expect them to be. He certainly isn't. He stands back up and turns to - again.
"We good?" he asks.
His boss sighs. "Fine, but I didn't see you leave and we never had this conversation."
"Got it." Danny glances over at Jackie. "You coming, partner?"
"Of course," she says, her voice somehow sympathetic and strong at the same time.
They leave without looking back.
I want to thank authorwannabe101, Dancerdancer, mcgeeksgirl, BLBLF, and anonymous guest for telling who Danny's lieutenant was in Season 2. You guys rock! Also, I know I said this was a five chapter story, but Danny and Linda's POV demanded to be written, as did Jamie's (spoilers!), so now it's seven chapters long. I realize, as a guest has stated, that this leaves no room for resolution. All will be revealed at chapter 7 (and doesn't that just make you think doom?). One last note, I have also been told that it's annoying that I update only once a week and that the chapters are short. I have limited amounts of time and can only do this much. Sorry. :( *hides*