A/N - Sorry for the dealy in posting. Been having problems with internet provider and have been without internet for the last week. Still not sorted but will try and post two chapters to make up for the delay.

Chapter 7

Darkness had crept in and slowly shrouded the city. Street lights warmed the pavements and New Yorkers continued on their way. Police vehicles could be seen on almost every street corner. Their Commissioner was down and the city and its police force remained on high alert.

Back at his precinct, Danny Reagan reached for another cup of coffee. It had been a nightmare of a day by anyone's standards. His worn out body screamed for respite, but his heart compelled him to keep working. The thought of his father battling for his life in a hospital across town fuelled him to find the person responsible. He was impatiently waiting on a call from Lieutenant Chalmers of the Organized Crime Task Force who, at this moment, was leading a raid on a suspect's warehouse in Chinatown.

As usual, his partner, Jackie Curatola, loyally waited alongside him. Her tour had finished hours ago, but she knew her partner was on a personal crusade and he needed her, not only for her skills as a detective but as a friend. She had looked after him and helped him through so much. She knew his temperament and his methods and knew when to keep out of his way and when to step in. Having her around kept him grounded and out of trouble.

As the pair sipped their coffees, activity started to build in the office until it was transformed into a hive of activity. Chalmers' squad were returning with the guys they had detained at the warehouse. Danny stood and caught Chalmers' eye as he entered the squad room. Chalmers acknowledged him and signalled for him to wait. Danny sat back down and watched as several Asian men were frog-marched through the office to the interview rooms. A short while later Chalmers returned.

"He's in interview room four," he told them. "He goes by the name of Wong. You've got maybe fifteen minutes before Lee's lawyers come marching in. Make it count."

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Danny said, hurrying to the interview room followed by his partner.

He looked through the mirrored glass from the observation area and saw an Asian man, aged approximately forty years old and wearing a black leather jacket, beige t-shirt and jeans, sitting one side of a table. Looking at him, you would never guess he was a cop. Danny and Jackie entered together. As they did, the guy raised his head and acknowledged their presence.

"Hi, Mr. eh…..Wong," Danny said as he sat down. "I'm Detective Danny Reagan and this is Detective Curatola. I appreciate you doing this."

"Reagan? Are you the Commissioner's kid?"

"One of them," Danny replied.

"I heard what happened. I hope he pulls through," Wong told him.

"Yeah, me too," Danny responded. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Not really. I got a message that I was being brought in, ; it didn't say why," he explained.

"We believe Lee is behind the hit on my father," Danny told him.

Wong remained silent, carefully considering what he had just told him.

"I wouldn't know," Wong replied. "I'm not sure how I can help. He hasn't exactly allowed me to be involved in much of his business dealings as yet. It takes him a while to trust new faces. I've been around him for the past eighteen months and he still doesn't trust me!"

"I just need you to think back. Did you ever hear him mention my father? Did you see anyone new around lately? Anything?" Danny asked, almost pleaded.

"I've heard him curse your father on many occasions. No doubt he's cursing him now, but I've never heard him make a direct threat against him. He's too smart for that," Wong pointed out. Wong paused momentarily. "There was a guy a couple of days back. I hadn't seen him before and Lee didn't exactly introduce him and was anxious not to be seen with him. He arrived on foot, alone. They spoke briefly in private. He left. I didn't see him again."

"Is this the guy?" Danny asked, producing a copy of the photo from the security footage given to him by Mac Taylor.

"Could be him," Won replied dubiously. "I can't be sure. It was dark and I was unloading a truck at the time."

"Look closer," Danny insisted, pushing but trying not to be too aggressive.

"Like I said, it could be," Wong replied, looking into Danny's face.

"Do you think you could find who this mysterious visitor was?" Danny enquired.

"I could make discreet enquiries," Wong replied. "But I can't exactly go around asking too many questions, you know?"

"I understand. Whatever you can find out would be great. Thanks," Danny said, reaching across the table to shake his hand.

"Don't!" Wong growled, much to Reagan's surprise. "Hit me."

"Excuse me?" Danny said, unable to conceal his surprise.

"Hit me," Wong insisted through gritted teeth.

"That's what I thought you said. Are you sure?" Danny asked, as he got to his feet.

"Yeah, rough me up a bit. A couple of bruises will make it look more authentic," Wong explained. "Helps maintain my cover."

Danny understood fully, knowing the risks an undercover cop lived with each day. Their sacrifices were immense. He admired the man's bravery and hated what he had to do. He stood up and walked around behind where Wong sat, grabbed him by the back of his neck before suddenly slamming his head onto the table, causing Jackie to wince at his vicious actions. Wong groaned and rubbed his forehead, allowing himself a wry smile.

"Nice doing business with you," he winked.

"Good luck," Danny said as he turned to exit the room. "Stay safe."

Back at the Crime Lab, the CSI's were making progress with their investigation. Mac was in his office reviewing the evidence they had so far when Lindsay knocked on his door.

"Hey," she said as she entered. "We got a hit," she declared.

"Do you have a name?" Mac asked expectantly.

"Not exactly," Lindsay replied hesitantly. "The print matched that of a person of interest in another homicide in Tampa, Florida. Their print was lifted from a murder weapon in that case, but they never identified the suspect."

"Do you have a copy of that file?" Mac asked.

"Here you go," she said handing it over to him.

"Thanks," he said taking it.

"Did you hear from Flack?" Lindsay asked, wondering if they had any other leads.

"He's helping the OCTF with a raid on a warehouse belonging to Chin Fat Lee. They like him for this. Let's just hope the evidence supports their theory," Mac mused.

The room in ICU was silent except for the regular hiss of the ventilator keeping Frank Reagan alive. It was now well into the early hours of the morning and Erin Reagan and her brother Jamie were keeping a constant vigil at their father's bedside. Sleep was not going to come easy that night. They both watched their father closely, silent in their prayer that he would pull through. Jamie stood up to stretch his back, which was aching from being seated in the same position for so long.

"I think I should go and find Grandpa. He's been gone ages," Jamie said to Erin.

"I'm sure he's fine," Erin said, suspecting that he just needed to be alone and deal with what had happened in his own way.

"I'd be happier knowing he's okay, though," Jamie insisted. "I'll just go check on him."

Erin shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"I'd try the chapel," she suggested as her brother left the room.

And that was what Jamie did. The corridors around the ICU were eerily quiet because of the late hour. Jamie followed a wall sign that pointed towards the hospital chapel. He entered silently. It was dimly lit and he struggled to see if anyone was inside. Candlelight illuminated a small altar at the front of the chapel and it was in a pew close by that he saw a silhouette. His elderly grandfather knelt with his head bowed and hands joined, his elbows leaning heavily on the back of the seat in front of him. Jamie slowly approached him, gently placing his hand on Henry's shoulder to make his presence known.

"Grandpa?" he whispered affectionately.

Henry turned and looked up at Jamie. Even in the poor light he could see his eyes were bloodshot and puffy. He had been crying.

"I didn't know what else to do," he told him, almost sounding ashamed of his helplessness. "Is he…..?"

"He's hanging in there," Jamie told him.

"I feel completely useless," Henry admitted to his youngest grandson.

"We all do," Jamie replied. "All anyone can do right now is pray," Jamie told him. His grandfather nodded, taking a deep cleansing breath, releasing the tension that had built up inside him.

"Have you been here all this time?" Jamie asked.

Henry nodded. It had been hours since he left Frank's side in the ICU. He was frustrated, seeing his son fighting for his life while he stood there, helplessly waiting for a miracle, so he escaped to the chapel to find some solace.

"You really should eat something to keep your strength up," Jamie said. "Come on."

"I'm not sure I can," Henry admitted, knowing that his aged joints were stiff and sore and fearing that he might not be able to get to his feet.

"Come on. Let me help you," Jamie offered as he helped the old man to his feet.

As he left the pew, Henry stiffly genuflected and blessed himself before turning his back on the altar. Together he and Jamie left the chapel and Jamie guided him to the cafeteria, insisting that he needed to keep his strength up. There was only coffee and sandwiches available at that hour, but it was better than nothing.

For the rest of the night most of the Reagan family kept a vigil at Frank's bedside, despite being told that there was no need and being given an undertaking that they would be called should there be any change in his condition.

By the time the first slivers of dawn sunshine broke through the window, they were exhausted. They had each tried to rest and grab an hour's sleep here and there, but the ICU was not intended to accommodate long-term visitors. Jamie had retired to the visitor's waiting room and slept on a sofa there for a couple of hours. Erin curled up on a straight-backed chair in the corner of the room. Henry spent most of the night walking the corridors, his rosary beads in hand, unable to find rest.

When Erin woke, she could see that her grandfather was exhausted. Jamie joined them in the ICU room, having brought fresh coffee for everyone. It was then that Erin suggested that Jamie should take Henry home. Henry protested, insisting that he was fine and that he wasn't leaving Frank's side.

"He's going to be unconscious for some time yet, Grandpa. He'll want you here when he does wake up. Go home, get some rest and I promise I'll call you if there's any change," Erin assured him.

Henry knew Erin was right. He was completely drained of energy. He needed to take his heart medication and he'd left that at home, so reluctantly he agreed to let Jamie take him home. He kissed his son on the cheek and placed his rosary beads in his hand.

"Come back to me, Son," he whispered before turning away and joining Jamie,.

The pair left the ICU, leaving Erin to keep watch on Frank.

Reviews are welcome, as always!