A/N: I hope everyone enjoys the new update. Doing a double posting today, because I want to start my New Year's/holiday story tomorrow and will try to do double posting throughout the next few days. Epilogue is upcoming. Thank you for the reviews and please keep them coming.

Chapter 6

Major Case Squad

54th Precinct

Danny, Baez, Erin, Randall and his lawyer were all in the interrogation room. The lawyer for Randall leaned forward. "I'm from Jack Boyle's firm, he requested that I represent Mr. Meyers through his witness protection process."

"He may not get witness protection." Erin said leaning forward in her chair. She pointed a finger at Randall. "You are letting….."

"Counselor, you're not even supposed to be involved. One call to the ethics board, or the DA and you'll be gone." The lawyer manned upped and said leaning forward.

"It will be okay, she is just upset her daughter's father is in a hospital room dying of cancer, and beaten by associates of Walter." Danny replied as he came around the table and stood behind Randall. "So Randall, you said you shot Walter? Why should I believe you?"

"Detective, my client is here…." The lawyer started to say.

"It's ok." Randall told his lawyer. He turned around and looked at Danny before facing back towards Baez and Erin. "I thought I was helping a childhood friend, but in actuality he was using me. So when I was busted for the guns, I knew despite having no record I was looking at a long sentence. So I cut a deal."

"You testify against Walter, for witness protection and immunity. We know." Erin stated as she sat with her arms crossed. She ignored the lawyer's looks. "How did you come to kill Walter?"

"I have no real family left, no wife, and no kids. The only person was an aunt that helped raise me." Randall stated shifting in his seat. He looked at everybody and took a deep breath. "I broke protocol and called her to wish her a happy birthday, and that is when I heard the heard Walter banging on the door to my aunts saying he'll get her if I didn't show myself."

"How come you didn't report this to your handlers?" Baez asked.

"I did, but they said without real proof they couldn't do anything. So I snuck out and called up Walter and Jack." Randall replied leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. "I got there before Jack did and confronted Walter. But Jack got there too and tried to bring me down, but then Walter found Jack carrying pulled his gun. I shoved Jack out of the way and hit Walter, and took the gun and shot him. When Jack got up, he saw what I did, took the gun from me and told me to run back to the safe house, but not before I heard another shot."

Danny looked at Erin and Baez before looking back at Randall. "Why did…."

"Because, he's want to prove a point that the system is broken, but also protect me." Randall replied looking at Danny.

"Detectives, Ms. Reagan, it's a clear case of self-defense." The lawyer stated.

Erin got up. "Maybe. How come there were no witness?"

"Walter was not liked in that neighborhood, and trust me no one is sad to see him gone." Randall said in reply.

Erin, Danny and Baez walked out of the interrogation room. As soon as the door closed, Erin looked at Danny. "Let's get a court reporter…."

"It won't do any good Erin. It's his words against Jacks and Jack already confessed." Danny stated pointing towards the room. They moved back towards the desk. "Even if he confesses, Jack still can be charged as an accessory. You said it before plenty of times, he could have gone to the cops, or even had Jack go to dad."

"So we do nothing Danny?" Erin asked. All Danny could do was look at her.

One Police Plaza

Manhattan, New York

"As the video shows, the officer gave every opportunity for the suspect to drop his weapon, but only fired when the suspect raised his weapons at the officer." Frank said in his press conference. The video turned off and the lights came up. "Questions?"

"Commissioner, will this bring about a policy where officers will carry tazers while on active patrol?" A reporter asked.

"That has been discussed in the past Sheryl, but at this time it is not feasible to equip every one of our officers with these devices." Frank stated as he took a sip of water and pointed at another reporter. "Daniel?"

"Commissioner, there has been some speculation that you talked to the man who shot this video. Did you…." The reporter started to say.

"I talked to a citizen of our fair and wonderful city and heard his concerns about releasing this video to us, but I didn't not force him to. This man came from a country where the police where feared, but hopefully after today we eased those fears, and he taught me something that I may have pushed aside."

"What is that commissioner?" Another reporter asked.

"Let's just say it was my burden to carry." Frank remarked. He left the podium with the reporters shouting questions to his back as he left.

"Good job Frank, you got every reporter wondering about the burden you are carrying." Garrett stated with a smile on his face. They walked towards the elevator. "This will keep them busy through the holidays."

"I was just being truthful, and I just realized I have to go and talk to somebody." Frank remarked as they stopped by the elevator. "Baker have them bring my car around."

"Yes sir." Baker replied with a nod as she went to speak to the detail.

Garrett asked. "Jack?"

"Hopefully to relieve his burden of not telling his daughter." Frank remarked as they started towards the entrance.

St. Mercer's Hospital

Brooklyn New York

Jack was dozing after his morning breakfast when the curtain got pushed back and he saw Danny and Erin standing near his bed. He shook his head. "What more can I do for you? Tell you where the body of Hoffa is, the magic bullet that killed Kennedy, or…"

"Oh shut up Jack." Danny stated coming over to stand opposite of Erin as she walked to the side of the bed. "We spoke to Randall, and we know he shot Walter with your gun, but you wiped down his prints and shot Walter's body to make it look like you."

"Randall did it in self-defense Jack. You don't have to keep this up." Erin stated. She looked at her brother and her ex-husband. "Just tell the truth. You'll lose your license….."

Jack sat up a little straighter in his bed. "I shot Walter to prove a point. A man like Randall faced at least 30 years in jail for a stupid mistake when he was helping out a friend. That's why I went to your dad, because I knew he would at least listen to him."

"You going to jail to show that a man who made a mistake by smuggling guns should be free." Danny remarked with a smirk. He looked up at Erin. "Knew you were smarter than him."

"Not like that Danny, it's the slowness or the inability to protect distant family." Jack remarked. He looked at Erin and then back to Danny. "Look if I have to go to jail to prove this point so be it."

"Jack you won't survive through the trial." Erin stated. She reached out and took his hand. "You have to think about Nicky."

"I have. Look in that drawer there." Jack nodded towards the cabinet next to the bed. He saw Erin go over and open it. "I had my former partners send that over earlier."

Erin found the envelope and opened it. She gasped at what she found inside. "This is from the sale of your law firm."

"I had a trust set up in Nicky's name. It takes care of her college education, and her for a while." Jack stated as he leaned back in the bed. "You and Frank have control over it until she turns 28."

Danny was passed the paperwork and whistled at the amount. "Wish Dad left me with a trust fund account like this."

"You would have blown through it." Frank remarked from the open door way. He came into the room and looked at Erin and Danny. "I see you have continued to purse this."

"Thanks for letting Randall talk to us dad." Danny stated as he handed Erin back over the paperwork. "We're trying to convince Jack here to tell the truth of what happen so the charges can be dropped."

"Problem is he is stubborn and wouldn't let go of his crusade." Erin remarked still quite angry at her father. "Sounds like somebody we know."

"Yeah all of us." Frank remarked as he came around and grasped Erin's shoulders. "He had good intentions, but when it came down to it poor judgement."

"I don't know about that Frank…." Jack started to say in protest.

"Oh you ae Jack, just admit it." Frank remarked as he smiled at Jack then he turned to Erin and Danny. "Like me, I didn't show good judgement when it came to what was involved in this case. I'm sorry about that. I knew you would at least try to figure out what really happen instead of letting this go."

"It's all right dad." Danny replied as he came around the bed and clasped his father on the shoulders. "You thought what you did was the best for everyone."

Erin still angry looked at her father and Jack. "But why not come to me, either of you? I could have helped."

"When I told your dad about the deal I wanted, I didn't want to involve you for a simple reason." Jack stated as he shifted in bed. "Danny can I see your phone?"

Danny looked a little confused, but then handed over his phone to Jack who scrolled through something before handing it to Erin. "I may be distant but Nicky shared this with me, and I figured with you getting things going in your life, not to burden you with this."

Erin looked at the photo that Jack had found. It was a picture of Andrew, and her and Nicky at a Coney Island one weekend having a good time. "You didn't want to drive a wedge in between me and Andrew."

Jack nodded. "Your dad didn't know about the cancer till a few weeks ago when I came to him with Randall's problem."

"Which I solved." Frank remarked. Erin, Danny and Jack all looked at him. "I called the US attorney and the Federal Marshall's. His aunt will join him in witness protection."

Jack smiled and nodded as Erin and Danny also smiled at their father. Frank looked at his two oldest children. "Now I need to speak to Jack alone."

"You got it dad. See you when you get out Jack." Danny remarked as he left the room.

"Dad, don't get on him too much." Erin said kissing her father on the cheek. She looked at Jack and gave him a soft pleading look. "Please talk to Nicky about why you are doing this."

Erin left the room catching up to Danny, who pushed the button. "Drop you off at the office?"

"No St. Vics." Erin said in reply to her brother. She saw his look. "I have to take care of something."

"Alright. I'll call Linda and see if I can steal her for a cup of coffee." Danny remarked as the door opened. He tossed a look over at Erin. "Jack's making amends isn't he?"

"Trying too." Erin replied with tears flowing as the doors closed.

Back in the room Frank pulled up a chair and looked at Jack. "You know we never really seen anything when it comes to you and my two girls."

"I know Frank, but I tried but I failed plenty of times." Jack admitted as he looked Frank in the eye. "I'm proud of the women Nicky has become and she got that with you guys more than me, but I still want to protect her from knowing what's happening to me. She watched Mary die of it at a young age, and I'm afraid what it could do to her."

"A man once told me, "It is said once a man relieves himself of the burdens, he will be truly free"". Frank replied to the statement that Jack made. He got up out of the chair and took Jack's hand. "Nicky is stronger than you think, and if you are honest with her she'll understand."

"Maybe, but not me going to jail though." Jack replied looking a little depressed.

Frank looked at Jack with a small smile. "On that, I talked to the DA about that. I got the word from Detective Baez what was said, and they are dropping the murder charge, and giving you obstruction, reckless endangerment, and discretion of a dead body. Normally a few years in prison, but with your condition they are moving to house arrest at a treatment center of your choice."

"You do all that for me?" Jack asked in shock.

"I may not like you Jack, but I understand why you are doing this." Frank patted Jack on the shoulder. "You deserve what remaining time you have left with Nicky out here and not in jail."

Jack nodded. "Thank you Frank."

"You are welcome." Frank replied and then he turned and left the room.

St. Victors Hospital

Manhattan, New York

Erin walked into the hospital and towards the emergency room. Linda had told Danny that Andrew was down in the ER that day because it was a light schedule up in surgery. The nurse on duty looked up. "Miss Reagan, he….."

Erin strolled past her and towards Andrew who was looking over a chart with a nurse. He looked up when he heard the click of heels on the floor. "Erin, whats wrong? Did Jack…."

Erin dropped her briefcase to the floor and kiss Andrew deeply and passionately. There were people in shock but some awws and cheers as she did this. A moment later the kiss broke. "I love you Dr. Andrew Parker."

"I love you too." Andrew replied wrapping his arms around her. "But you could have told this to me tonight."

"I wanted to tell you now and I couldn't wait." Erin smiled as the tears started to flow from her eyes. She wiped them away. "I want us to move in together."

"Erin if this is in response what is going…" Andrew started to say.

Erin shook her head. "No it is only part of it. I see us having a real future Andrew and I rather spend it with you in one place and in the future growing old together with you."

Andrew thought about it for a moment then he nodded. "Then yes Erin Reagan, I will move in with you."

Erin smiled and they kissed again with more cheers and claps coming up this time.