Thanks for the reviews and comments! A bit shorter for today's chapter, but things will pick back up shortly...

Chapter 10

Detective Abigail Baker's Monday was running along smoothly as she skillfully orchestrated the Commissioner's full morning meeting schedule. She had moved appointees in and out with ease until now. She frowned a little as she checked her watch. The Deputy Commissioner from Legal Matters, Charles "Chuck" Miller's allotted time had run over more than five minutes ago and there was still no sign of him. She decided against trying to push the meeting along, though, as DCPI Moore had been penciled in for the next time slot and she could easily set him back for a few minutes or reschedule without a fuss.

Inside the office, DCLM Miller had just finished with the final point on his agenda, and as was his habit, he made some friendly personal inquiries while he was putting his materials away.

"So Frank, how are things? I saw Erin was able to get a conviction in the DelMarco trial. Another big feather in her cap. That was Danny's case too, wasn't it? You must be proud of them."

"Yes, of course," Frank agreed.

"And Jamie, how is he doing now that he's out of the hospital? He gave you quite the scare. Hell of a thing that happened to him. Is he ready to go back on patrol yet?" Miller inquired.

Frank gave a quiet sigh. "No, not yet. Actually, maybe never. He's talking about leaving the NYPD and going back to law as a legal consultant for now. His doctor won't clear him for duty until Christmas because of the medication he was on, and he's got a girl now so is thinking hard about the future. I'd hate like hell for him to walk away if he doesn't have to."

"He's a top Harvard law graduate," Miller reminded him. "He'll be able to take his pick of offers if that's what he wants to pursue."

"I'm not sure it's so much what he wants, but what he feels he has to do. I'd like for him to be able to stay on the job if he can, it's in his blood, Chuck. I think if I can just put him off until the end of the year he'll be able to see straight and make the right choice."

Charles Miller was a highly successful lawyer himself, and nobody's fool. He realized what he was being steered towards, but he had known the Reagans for a very long time and had always respected the honorable manner they conducted themselves in. What he saw before him was a concerned father looking out for the welfare of his son, and Miller was quite fond of Jamie himself, having followed his path through school closely. He nodded as he met Frank's eye, the rest was just a formality.

Out in the entry, Baker was busy delaying Garrett who had arrived for his meeting. The door to the Commissioner's office opened and Frank escorted Miller out himself. They shook hands as he was leaving.

"Thank you, Chuck," Frank commented. "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, Frank," Miller replied. "You just have Jamie give me a call sometime this week."

"Will do. Give my best to Janet," Frank concluded as the DCLM stepped on the elevator. Baker sat back down at her desk as Garrett followed his boss back into the office and closed the door.

"What was that all about?" Garrett inquired as he sat down in front of the desk. "Something's up with Jamie?"

Frank sat back in his chair and took his glasses off, rubbing his temples. "Miller's going to interview him for that open temp consulting position in legal," he sighed. "Jamie's still got some health issues, Garrett. His heart... they think something might be wrong with his heart now, but he can't come back on the job until December regardless. He's decided to give up and go back to law, and I guess I'm being selfish. If he does that he could end up anywhere... he has plenty of contacts in California. I don't want him to leave the city... and I'm just not ready to let him walk away from the NYPD."

"Wow," Garrett commented as he sat back in his chair, stunned at what he was hearing. Frank Reagan never used his position that way. "I never thought I would see the day."

Frank frowned as he sat up in his chair and replaced his glasses. "Neither did I," he muttered as he reached for the next folder.