CH. 20: Togetherness
Danny hardly ever regretted anything he said or did. It just wasn't in his nature. He was outspoken, he was flamboyant, and he figured he was right at least 98% of the time. This time however, this time Danny was beginning to seriously regret his decision to indulge his father by telling him, of how nightmarish his sons had been over the past few days. What he regretted more than anything though, was the way he unmercifully went after his father the week before. He wasn't sure who said it. But he was almost certain it was his father who invented the saying. 'Paybacks ere hell.'
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"Now if we're going to start at the beginning. We need to go all the way back to the toddler years."
"Surprised he didn't say the baby days," Danny muttered under his breath.
"We could," Frank overheard him.
"No," Danny was quick to shake his head. "That's okay," Danny's voice was showing pure annoyance, as well as uncertainty to what his father was going to say next.
"I think you were two, when I left you in your room for a whole two minutes by yourself. And when I came back, you and your room, were both covered in baby powder." Frank recalled, walking into the small nursery, and finding the room, appearing as if it had snowed.
"Augh," Erin moaned. "I bet that was a mess to clean up."
"Believe me," Frank nodded. "It took hours."
Danny didn't say anything, there wasn't anything to say. He was getting schooled by his father, and the only thing he could do, was grit and bear it. He had brought this all on himself, and as much as he hated to admit it. He deserved it.
"Then when you got a little older, there's the time you locked your mother out of the house. Because you thought it would be funny. Making her go over to the neighbors, so she could use their phone and call me to unlock the door." Frank was smiling, as he appeared to be running past events through his head.
"At least you're finally talking about something I remember," Danny rolled his house. Even if he didn't look back on the memory fondly. He would prefer his father tell stories he remembered, so he could at least try and pick up for himself. "Mom was furious. And you came straight into the house, and drug me to the bedroom, where I got reacquainted with the paddle." Danny shifted in his seat, just thinking about the unpleasant memory.
"You deserved that one," Frank pointed at him. "Joe was a baby, and was screaming because he needed to be changed, and your mother didn't have a clean diaper. Making her listen to your brother cry for thirty minutes straight."
"When you put it like that, it sounds so bad," Danny mumbled.
"That's because it was," Frank cuffed him in the back of the head.
"Dad!" Danny rubbed the back of his head. "It was more than thirty years ago!"
"I know," Frank nodded. "But there's somethings you did, that bring it all right back."
"So much for forgive and forget in this family," Danny started to move to one of the vacant seats his son occupied earlier. Thinking it might be a bit safer, on his part.
"Then there's my personal favorite," Frank sounded as if he was on the verge of telling another story.
"Dad, can't you just drop it?" Danny knew where this was headed, and he didn't like it.
Finding himself grateful that the kids were upstairs, so at least they wouldn't get any ideas.
"I don't recall you dropping it, as you say a couple weeks ago, when you were pestering me," Frank leaned back in his chair, with a grin.
"I've heard enough," Danny pushed his chair back. "Excuse me."
"Oh, I've got a lot more," Frank shook his head.
"I know," Danny nodded. "That's why I got to go." Danny started to make his way up the stairs. So, he could check on the kids, who he had noticed, were being unusually quiet. He didn't exactly want to leave the dessert he left on the table, but he had to do something to get away from the trip down memory lane, his father felt compelled to drag him down.
The rest of the Reagan's started to laugh, and he could hear Erin begging Frank to continue. Who didn't, saying it wasn't any fun anymore, now that Danny wasn't there for him to torture.
"Augh!" Danny yelled, when he reached the top of the stairs. Causing Linda to jump up and run. Followed by the rest of the Reagans.
Danny was shocked, and he had to blink several times to make sure what he was seeing was really happening. After about the fifth blink, Danny opened his eyes wide. And unfortunately, the mess didn't go away.
Linda gasped when she saw her father in laws upstairs hallway covered with little permanent marker drawings, courtesy of his two youngest grandchildren, Sean and Scottie.
Danny ran a hand through his hair, still trying to figure out what to say, while Linda pulled the markers out of their hands.
"You're going to have a lot of fun painting my wall," Frank clasped a hand on his eldest son's shoulder, when he saw the art work.
A disgruntled look, crossed the detectives face, and he was about to reply, when he realized his eldest son and niece were nowhere to be found.
"Where's Jack and Nicki?" Danny looked at his sister, his eyes wide, showing a hint of worry behind them.
Erin pushed herself in between Frank and Danny and hurried to check the upstairs rooms. With Danny following close behind her.
"You two are in big trouble," Linda took her two youngest sons by the hand. "And apologize to Grandpa."
"I sorry Grandpa," Scottie was the first to speak. Echoed by his brother, who looked up at Frank with a smile.
"Sorry."
"Nicole Reagan Boyle! Jack Francis Reagan!" Frank cringed when he heard his son and daughter yell. Worried about what his home had succumbed to further.
"And here I thought it was a miracle, my house survived you two," Frank looked from Danny to Erin, when he saw the mess covering the master bathroom. "But I think the true test will be, if it survives my grandchildren."
"What did you two do?" Erin was the one to ask the two children, as she stood towering above them, her arms crossed in front of her chest. While her father and brother walked in puddles of water that was covering the floor. There was water still pouring out of the faucet, and Frank observed the sink handle had broken off, and it was floating in one of the puddles on the floor.
"Turn the water off son," Frank told Danny, who was standing closest to the main water valve in the bathroom, under the sink.
"Right," Danny turned the valve off, allowing at least some of the chaos to cease.
"Are we in trouble?" Nicki asked no one in particular.
"What do you think?" Danny looked from Nicki to Jack. Silencing both children. At least until they came up with another question for them.
"I'll go get a mop," Erin hurried out of the bathroom, and down the stairs. While her father and brother soaked up what they could with towels.
Jamie walked in, and whistled when he saw the mess, as well the children, who were standing against the wall soaked to the skin. "I'm going to go get the kids cleaned up, and in some dry clothes." Jamie started to usher his niece and nephew out of the room.
"Wait," Danny stopped them. "I still have a few questions for them. Like how the hell they made this mess in the first place?"
"It can wait till they're in dry clothes," Frank over rided him. Even with the mess, he couldn't help but turn sympathetic towards his grandchildren. Knowing their parents would be doing a good enough job, teaching them, how wrong their behavior was.
Jamie took the two by the hand and led them into the bathroom, he and his siblings shared when they were growing up. Where he could help them get their clothes off and wrapped in a towel. Henry followed his youngest grandson into the bathroom, so he could get their clothes and put them in the dryer. While Jamie took them into his old room, and pulled out a couple t-shirts he left there, and pulled them over the children's heads. Before leading them back into Frank's bathroom.
"Well," Danny turned his attention on the two children. "What do you have to say for yourself."
"It was an accident," Nicki tried.
"What kind of accident?" Erin was looking for a bit more detail.
"We were playing jump rope with Grandpas ties," Nicki started at the beginning.
"That explains the knots," Jamie was untying ten of his father's ties.
"Then what happened?" Danny knew there had to be more to the story. Something that included water.
"We tied one of the ends to the sink handles. And we took turns, turning the other end. So, we could jump," Nicki explained.
"And?" Danny was losing his patience, with the children, and their ability to draw out a story. A story that should have ended with a simple explanation.
"The tie knocked Grandpas gold ring, from the NYPD down the drain." Jack took a turn in explaining. Especially after his cousin nudged him to do so.
"The one day I don't wear the ring," Frank wiped a wet hand down his face. Trying to hide the distress he was feeling with his hand.
"Then we accidentally tied the tie too tight around the handle, and we couldn't get it off." Jack was searching his father's face, for any sign that could tell him, how much trouble he was going to be in when they got home.
"So, you pulled on it, trying to get it off?" Erin interpreted.
"Yes," Nicki nodded.
"We tried to turn the water off," Jack tried sounding miserable, after getting the feeling it was going to be a long night.
"Why didn't you just call for help, when all this started?" Danny looked his son in the eye intently.
"We didn't want to be in trouble," Jack said simply.
"How's that working out for you?" Danny sighed.
"I don't know," Jack admitted.
"Allow me to explain," Danny leaned over so he could whisper something in the boy's ear.
Jacks eyes widened, before he turned to face his grandfather. "I'm really sorry Grandpa. Daddy said you can punish me."
Frank looked at Danny, and his son shrugged, "It's your house Dad. And he lost your ring."
Frank knelt in front of his grandson, and Jack lowered his head. Frank placed a hand, gently under the boy's chin, and lifted it just enough to make eye contact with him. "What you did was wrong Jack. But I don't think that's necessary. I'm not going to punish you. That isn't my job." Jack hugged him, and Frank patted the boys head. "But I expect you to help clean this mess. You too, Nicki," Frank pulled her in for a hug as well.
"Yes Grandpa," both children replied simultaneously.
The two children, started to pitch in with the cleanup, and it wasn't long, until they had the water soaked up.
"I'm sorry Daddy," Jack handed his father the towel that he had been using to help soak up the water with, so Danny could place it in the clothes basket, they had designated for the wet rags.
"I know," Danny softened, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "But that doesn't mean you're out of trouble with me." Danny's voice by now had softened. But that didn't alleviate the truth that was showing.
"I know," Jack repeated the same two words his father did moments ago.
"We can probably find the ring," Danny looked at Frank. "If I took the pipes apart."
"That's fine son." Normally Frank wouldn't have bothered with it. But he had to say, there was something special about the ring.
"I'll do it," Jamie volunteered, knowing his brother had three wayward boys that needed his attention that evening.
"Thanks," Danny said gratefully. Even if he wasn't looking forward to the next hour, after he got the boys home. He didn't really like being too intensely stern with them. But when it came to matters such as these. He didn't have a choice.
"I think we could all use something to drink," Henry volunteered to pour a round of drinks.
"I think we better go," Linda looked at her husband. "I think your right," Danny couldn't believe all the trouble his children caused, in just one evening.
"I'll come back later this week after work, and paint your wall," Danny assured his father.
"There's no hurry," Frank shook his head.
"Thanks," Danny walked tiredly out the front door, carrying Sean.
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Just as Danny expected, by the time they got the boys home. And finished with the lecture, spanking, and removal of several toys, as well as the bedtime ritual. The two parents were exhausted.
"I can't believe our children did that?" Linda said, coming down the stairs. Where she found Danny digging through the downstairs closet and drawers.
"I believe it," Danny glanced at her. "Joe drew all over Pops wall, when he was little. And we are raising his son."
"You mean father like son?" Linda interpreted.
"Mhmm," Danny pulled the trash can, closer to the counter.
"What are you doing?" Linda couldn't figure out what her husband was trying to do.
"Getting rid of all the permanent markers I can find," Danny tossed two in the trash can. "I'm not painting two walls."
"What about Jack trying to get old faithful to spring up in the bathroom? Are you planning on turning all the water off to the house?" Linda figured he was going a little overboard.
"No," Danny closed the drawer. Content that he found every marker in the house and disposed of it properly. "He's just going to have to be accompanied to the bathroom from now on. And I'm going to start leaving my ties, in my locker at work."
"Did Joe do that too?" Linda was laughing.
"No," Danny started to mutter. "I did."
"And I'm raising your son too," Linda was beginning to think of how much, she could use a vacation.
"Nothing we can do about that, but follow him around," Danny shrugged.
"I'm not going with him, every time he has to use the restroom, or take a shower." Linda was tired enough at the end of the day, after taking care of three little boys, a house, and everything else she did on a day to day basis. "He's five, he can do those things on his own. I have Sean, I'm already taking to the bathroom, fifty times a day."
"Fine," Danny slumped onto the couch. "But he leaves the door open from now on."
"Do you really think he'll do it again?" Linda was thinking, what the point of punishment was. If he was just going to up and do it again. Otherwise he wasn't learning anything.
"I don't think so," Danny admitted. "I just don't want to take any chances. He is his father's son, after all."
"That's your fault," Linda took a seat next on the couch, before leaning into him, and pressing her lips against his.
"Mmm," Danny smiled. "We should do this more often."
"You do know what this always leads to?" Linda giggled.
"Oh yeah," Danny remembered. "And we got enough of those around here."
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The following day, and Danny was overjoyed to be going back to work. It had been a busy weekend, with trying to get three little boys behavior under control, so they wouldn't live to regret it, once the boys got older. That, on top of managing a chore list, that Linda made him take part of. And the afternoon of destruction, as he called it, after his sons and niece got finished with his father's house. He figured that no case, could be as hard as his weekend had been. Then again, he did have a fairly nice night with his wife. Once the boys were in bed, so he figured that was a plus.
"What case do you want to hit today?" Baez wondered, handing him the stack of cases, she found waiting for them on her desk, when she arrived that morning.
"Anything," Danny at this point wasn't picky. "I'm just happy to be here. You can pick."
"Who are you, and what have you done to my partner?" Baez was beginning to think, she had an impersonator on her hands.
"You're talking to a man, who has to go to his father's house after work, and paint a wall, because his children decided to draw monsters all over it." Danny showed his partner the picture he had taken of his children's artwork.
"They have talent," Baez laughed.
"Would you like to help me paint?" Danny really didn't want to talk about it. All he wanted to do, was throw himself into a case.
"No thanks, I have a date." Baez smiled.
"Just don't have children," Danny warned.
"Maybe I'll have a girl," Baez shrugged. "And she won't do things like your boys."
"Would you like to see what my niece took part in with her cousin this weekend?" Danny found the second image he had taken the day before.
"Mm," Baez wasn't sure what to say to that, at least aside from, thanks for the warning.
"Reagan, Baez," Sergeant Gormley walked out of his office, a case file in hand. "I have a job for you."
"We've already got three," Danny held them up.
"You can work those too," Gormley handed him the file. "But this ones coming from 1PP, so get to work. There's a crime scene waiting for you."
"So much for choosing my own case," Baez muttered, following her partner out of the precinct, and over to the car. "Can I at least drive?"
"I'm not that upset about the wall," Danny started the engine, before revving it up a bit.
"You enjoy that sound, way too much," Baez buckled her seatbelt, getting the feeling she was going to need it. Even if it wasn't the law.
"So what kind of case is it?" Danny knew where he was going, but he had no idea what he was going into. And he preferred, to be prepared.
"Government figure was murdered. Found in his home, by one of his staff." Baez read him the logistics.
"Politics," Danny moaned. "You don't suppose my father enjoys being my boss too much. And is trying to get back at me, do you?"
"He doesn't seem the type," Baez shook her head. But she had to admit, she didn't know him that well. At least not as well, as her partner did.
"He knows I hate politics," Danny said pointedly.
"You make a valid point," Baez agreed with him. "But did you ever stop to think, he wants someone who will handle this, with the utmost discrepancy. I mean think about it. If it really is a predominant citizen. The media is going to be all over it. He's going to want someone who isn't going to leak anything important to the press. He's going to want someone he can trust."
"Well when you put it like that," Danny gave her a small smile.
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"Who called it in?" Danny asked, just as soon as they entered the building.
"She did," A uniformed officer, that was first on the scene. Pointed to a lady, in a well-dressed pant suit. Who was sitting on an elegant white sofa, that now had a few spots of blood, seeping deep into the fabric. "Her names Lauren Reynolds, she's his secretary."
"I'll talk to her," Baez went immediately to the woman. While her partner moved closer to the victim. Unbeknownst to the two of them, that the man from 1PP himself, decided to visit the crime scene. Being the homicide case, involved a public figure. He ducked away from the media, by walking into the house. While Garret handled the news crews. They weren't called to attention, and that suited Danny just fine. Whose mind was on the case, and not paying attention to anyone else in the surrounding area.
Danny knelt next to the body, for a few minutes, looking it over intently. After a while he stood and stepped closer to the window. Where he stood alone for several minutes. Keeping his eyes and thoughts to himself. He had seen his father come in, but he hadn't made any signs of even considering approaching him or anyone else. He was too focused. Frank had been talking to the sergeants, that were there. When he noticed Danny still in the room. He had been standing in the same place for ten minutes, causing Frank to wonder about him. His boy hardly ever stood in the same place for more than 45 seconds. And he was beginning to wonder what his eldest had on his mind.
"What do you think detective?" Frank approached him, after excusing himself from the sergeants.
Danny didn't say anything for a moment, at least until he felt a hand on his back. Causing him to come back to reality.
"What do you think Danny?" Frank said again, only this time, he used his name.
"I don't know," Danny shook his head. A confused look, crossing his face. "Something isn't adding up."
"What?" Frank started to observe the scene again, wondering if he missed anything. Then again, he really hadn't observed the scene too carefully. He had people for that after all. People that were in the loop on all the new tactics that had been developed. Unlike himself, who was busy keep 35,000 officers in line. Which was a hard-enough task.
"The place is too clean," Danny shook his head.
"The maid was here last night." Detective Baez approached father and son. Wanting to let her partner in, on all that she gathered from the assistant.
"That's not what I meant," Danny shook his head. "He has a security system, and there's absolutely no signs of forced entry. And no prints, hand or feet. And from what I can tell, he bled out, pretty good. Danny gestured at the now contained blood spill. "The place is too clean to be committed by an amateur, or just anyone that wasn't happy with his ideal views, on how he's running the city."
"But that means," Frank knew what his son meant.
"You really think so?" Baez's eyes were quenched together.
"I don't know," Danny had to admit, he himself wondered if he was wrong. "But it means we have a hitman on our hands." He looked at Frank when he said it.
"Let's keep that to ourselves?" Frank's voice was low. Only loud enough for the two detectives to hear. Knowing if it got out, it would only cause unnecessary panic in the city. Causing the mayor to get involved and order him to make a statement to the press. Which would be a bad idea all the way around, considering he had no idea how police work was done. Like he, his son, and partner knew.
"What do you want us to do?" Baez questioned her boss.
"Treat it, as though he's right," Frank nodded at Danny. "And let's get this guy."
"Right," Danny and Baez said simultaneously, before taking their exit.
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The two partners were sitting in the car, eating the Chinese food they picked up. They would have sat in a corner booth, like they normally did. But they wanted to discuss the case, and knew they needed to do it privately.
Baez was about to say something about looking into the motions, the city manager had recently put into play. To see if there were any other motions filed against it. When Danny's cell interrupted her.
"Hold that thought, it's Linda," Danny picked the phone up, that he had sitting in the console of the car.
"What time are you going to be coming home tonight?" Linda asked, while Sean napped.
"I don't know," Danny had to admit, that at this point in time, ever since he caught the case, involving the official. He had no idea, when he was going to get more than a couple of hours of sleep.
"I want to go out with some friends from school for a girl's night. But someone needs to be here with the boys." Linda told him the reason she was asking. Normally not getting a night off wouldn't bother her. But very seldom did her friends ever get together. But when they did. She enjoyed going along for the ride.
"When are they going?" Danny hated to tell his wife no. But he couldn't exactly tell the press to hold off, on leaking what they suspected happened. Even if they had no valid evidence to back it up. Then again, that was the media for you, he figured. Beginning to think he was turning into his father, the way he felt about news cameras.
"They said something about tonight. But I can tell them tomorrow night would better, if you can't get away." Linda hated when her husband had to work late. But after being married for so many years, she had to admit she was used to it.
"That would probably be better," Danny sighed. "I'm not sure when I'll be getting out of here today."
"What's going on?" Linda sounded concerned.
"Can't really talk about it." Then again, he wasn't really sure what he would tell her even if he could. He knew little to nothing of the case. "But I can tell you, a city government official was killed. You'll see that in the newspaper." Danny only told her the basics, the same that would be common knowledge to anyone who was watching the news right then.
"Be careful, and I love you," Linda groaned inwardly when she heard Scottie yell. Afraid that he was going to wake his brother.
"Let's head back to the precinct. See if we can look into what the city manager was working on." Danny hung up the phone, and glanced at his partner, while he started the ignition.
"And then talk to the assistant city manager. See if he can shine some light on what his boss was doing." Baez suggested another step they take.
"Right," Danny agreed. "The quicker we solve this case the better."
"I know we need to get it done ASAP, but what's with the sooner the better attitude?" Baez asked confused.
"For one, Linda needs me to be a Dad. And my Dad, needs me to be the good son and paint his wall." Danny remembered telling his father the day before, that he would come over after work and paint it. "I'm glad he said there wasn't any hurry." He muttered under his breath, getting the feeling he wouldn't get to it, until the following week. Unless he managed to con Jamie into it, kind of like Tom Sawyer, which was still a thought, and something he wasn't counting out just yet.
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The partners spent several hours, reading and rereading all policies the city manager had made over the past six months. Trying to find even a small discrepancy, someone could be unhappy about. After not finding anything, and on the verge of wanting to call it a night, and fresh start in the morning. Danny and Baez prepared to leave their desks. When they were stopped by Sergeant Gormley, calling them into his office.
"These arrived for you two from 1PP," Gormley pointed at the box of recordings, from all the news interviews the city manager and assistant city manager had done recently.
"When did they get here?" Danny wondered.
"Five minutes ago," Gormley checked the sign in sheet.
"I'll make the coffee," Baez walked out of the office, while Danny picked up the box.
"It's kind of late to be getting anything from 1PP," Baez mentioned, as she settled herself in front of the television screen, that they had set up in one of the small conference rooms.
"It means the commissioner is still working, and we should be too," Danny enlightened her.
"Maybe I should have made two pots of coffee," Baez was beginning to think they would be there all night. Especially after she saw the box of tapes, and heard her partner say something about the Commissioner burning the midnight oil.
Just as Danny was about to reply, Danny's cell buzzed.
"Linda?" Baez guessed.
"The commissioner," Danny showed her the screen.
"Commissioner," Danny said in between sips of coffee.
"Did you get the tapes?" Frank cut right to the chase.
"I did," Danny replied.
"Good, get back to work," Frank was about to hang up. Until Danny stopped him. "Dad," Danny tried to get a word in.
"What is it son?" Frank could tell, he wanted to talk to him as his father, rather than his boss.
"I don't guess I have to tell you, I may not get to your wall until the case is over."
"I already told you there's no hurry," Frank repeated, the same thing he told him the day before.
"You know, you sure are a lot more sympathetic to my boys, than you ever were with me." Danny recalled.
"That's because they are my grandchildren. And my reward for not killing you, when you were a kid. Now get back to work." Frank hung up.
"That was one of the curtest conversations I've ever had with him." Danny looked at his partner, before they started the first tape. "And we've had a lot of them."
"He must have a lot on his mind," Baez started to push play.
"He usually does," Danny settled in for a long evening.
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After watching the tapes, they only had one suspect, and they had to admit it was a long shot. They watched the assistant city managers face, at every news event. And it seemed to them, that every time the city manager proposed a new policy. The assistant manager wasn't nearly as exuberant. It was after 3:00 am, and they knew that questioning the man, would have to wait until the following morning.
The partners knew they couldn't go home, no matter how much they wanted to. So, they decided to take turns in the bunk room, trying to catch at least a few zzz's.
Danny laid on the bottom bunk in the bunk room. His eyes were closed, but he was still awake. He was tired, but he was having trouble drifting to sleep. Figuring that he was just so tired, he couldn't sleep. He thought it was funny, the way his mind started to drift back to an earlier time in his life. When he was in the marines and slept in the barracks. He guessed what brought it about, were the mattresses, and the bunk beds lined up against the wall. He figured he dozed off, because his memories ceased. At least until he rolled over, and felt a pain in his stomach, where his shield was poking him, and woke up. Stretching, he slowly made his way out of the bunk room, and over to his desk. Where Baez was asleep at her desk. Using the case file as a pillow.
"Hope you haven't drooled all over our important papers," Danny pulled the case file up from under her head.
"Are you always this annoying when you get up?" Baez grumbled.
"Only when I haven't had my morning coffee," Danny admitted.
"Let's get breakfast and then go talk to the assistant manager. See if he can shed a little light on the subject of murder." Baez came up with a plan. "Maybe it will get us out of here at a decent time tonight."
"I doubt it," Danny yawned. "But it's worth a shot." Danny followed her out of the precinct, and over to the car, so they could head for the diner.
They had just finished breakfast, when Danny decided to place a call into Linda, and check on her and the boys. Danny was surprised when he heard a sweet little voice belonging to that of his four-year-old say hello. Rather than that of his beautiful wife.
"Hi Daddy," Scottie squealed, when he realized it was his father on the other end of the line.
"Hey buddy," Danny was wondering what caused his four-year-old to answer his mother's cell phone.
"Are you coming home yet?" Scottie questioned, hoping he would say yes.
"Not just yet son?" Danny hated to disappoint him. Knowing it was hard for a boy of his sons age to understand the job.
"But I miss you," Scottie complained.
"I miss you too, son." Danny fastened his seatbelt. "But I can't come home right now. Now let me talk to mommy." Danny didn't exactly want it to sound like he didn't want to talk to him. But he knew it wouldn't be long before he reached the office of the assistant manager.
"She's upstairs," Scottie sounded like he couldn't talk to her.
"Well take her the phone," Danny didn't see the problem.
"Okay, but when she gets mad. I hope she gets mad at you, and not me." Scottie started to climb the stairs.
"Scottie, are you in trouble?" Danny was trying not to laugh at his sons attempt to give his mother a wide berth.
"I not," Scottie said quickly. "But Sean is."
"What did Sean do?" Danny wondered.
"He went potty in his pants, and it got all over the couch." Scottie explained. "It stinks in here now."
"Uhoh," Danny could only imagine how distressed his wife was at the moment. With trying to clean up both Sean and the couch.
"Here's mommy, daddy." Scottie handed his mother the phone.
"Thank you, baby," Danny could tell by his wife's voice, that she sounded tired.
"Hey," Linda greeted, after she placed the phone to her ear. "I missed you last night. I couldn't go to sleep without you."
"If you would have asked, I'm sure you would have had company." Danny teased. "I know three little boys, who would have been more than willing to help you out, in the lonely department."
"It's not the same and you know it." Linda laughed. Having to admit, he was right when it came to her three little ones.
"How are the boys?" Danny was trying to make the conversation quick.
"They missed you too. Just not as much as me." Linda admitted.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" Danny was trying to figure out is she was trying to tell him, she wanted to fool around. But was trying to keep it clean, in front of their children.
"Are you going to be home this evening?" Linda changed the subject.
"I don't know. I hope so," Danny said in all honesty.
"Let me know as soon as you can, so I know if I can go out with my friends." Linda got right to the point.
"I'll try," Danny pulled into the parking lot of the office complex. Where the city officials worked. "For now, I have to get back to work."
"Be careful, I love you." Linda repeated the same usual phrase she said when leaving her husband.
"Always am," Danny hung up.
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The conversation with the assistant manager was brief. But unfortunately, they got very little information from him. At least anything that was helpful. They didn't exactly have probable cause. And they were only acting on a hunch. They didn't think he was the one who committed the murder personally. He didn't seem the type. But that didn't make him innocent, and Danny still had a feeling he was involved somehow. Perhaps to the point of hiring a hitman. Thinking that if his boss died. He would be the next in line to run the city.
"What do you want to do now?" Baez asked while they sat at their desks.
"Not much we can to, until our subpoena for his records and receipts comes through, and we can bring him in." Danny admitted. "At least considering the commissioner ordered us to do everything by the book on this one."
"Aren't we supposed to do that with every case?" Baez had a point.
"Supposed to," Danny grinned.
"So, what do you want to do?" She repeated, the same question she did earlier.
"Let's go home." Danny closed the open file on his desk. "Get started back tomorrow morning. By then, the subpoena should be ready."
"Sounds good to me." His partner, certainly wasn't going to argue with him. She was just as tired as he was. And at the moment, she wanted nothing more than to take a long how shower and go to bed. Or maybe even stretch out on the couch and binge watch Netflix, until she fell asleep. Which she had a feeling wouldn't take very long.
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Leaving the precinct, Danny decided to pick up Jack from school, and call his wife, about the good news, of him coming home for the night. So, she could go out.
Linda could tell her husband was exhausted the second he walked through the door.
And part of her felt guilty for texting her friends. Then again, it didn't make her guilty enough to cancel on them, considering she had to spend all day and night with their children the day before.
Danny did take a quick power nap, while Linda cooked dinner, and the boys played outside. Making him feel a little less tired and giving him at least enough energy to play with them after dinner, before giving them a bath and getting them ready for bed. Usually, just as soon as bath time was over, the boys were put to bed after a short bedtime story. Normally, Danny would have followed through with the schedule. Just so Linda wouldn't be upset with him. But this time, this time he decided to delve away from the schedule just a bit, by letting them fall asleep with him, by watching a movie in his room. He was enjoying the time he got to spend with them, as they laid sprawled out on his and Linda's king size bed. It wasn't all that late but considering he had worked so many hours. He was finding the quiet night, quite enjoyable. Even if he did have his two-year-old almost on top of him.
Linda sat in the restaurant, finishing her dessert, when the conversation with her friends, turned to family. She hadn't spent much time with her friends in the past year. Being much too busy with Jack and Sean. And then with keeping Scottie with them quite often, when Kris was off trying to live her own life. And now he was theirs.
"How many kids do you have?" Her friend Sarah Mills questioned. Only remembering going to the hospital to see Jack when he was born.
"Three boys," Linda replied with a smile.
"Three boys?" Sarah was doing her best to keep her mouth from dropping agape.
Linda laughed when she saw her friend's expression, as she moved on with an explanation. "We only intended to have one." She admitted. "But you know how that goes. When Jack was three, our youngest Sean was born. And now we're raising my husband's four-year-old nephew."
"I don't know how you do it," Sarah was beginning to think her friend was some kind of super woman.
"Sometimes I don't either," Linda said in all honesty. She considered telling them some of the adventures she's had with her three boys, but she changed her mind. When she figured they wouldn't believe her anyways.
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When Linda arrived home, she wasn't exactly surprised to find it quiet. Knowing Danny would have wanted to get them in bed early. So, he could get some sleep himself. What she was surprised to find however, was when she climbed the stairs, and found Danny and the boys all asleep on her bed, each of them in their boxer shorts, underwear and pull up. She had to walk into one of the boy's rooms, so she could laugh. Without worrying, about waking them up. After taking a long soak in the bathtub, without having to listen to little boys banging on the bathroom door begging her for something. Even though their father was downstairs, and perfectly capable of answering their questions, like she usually did. She came out of the room and took a quick picture of her four Reagan boys still asleep and started with her next problem. Where was she going to sleep? She really didn't want to have to wake Danny, so he could carry the boys into their own room. But, at the same time, she needed her beauty sleep. Making a decision, Linda crawled into bed next to Scottie, and smiled as she looked at her sleeping family once more. 'Togetherness,' she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Hope you all enjoyed the update... I know I had fun writing it... Thanks for all the follows favorites and reviews... I am also pleased to announce that I have been asked to write a new story, and I hope to get it published very soon. This one is centered after Linda's death. And would see an accidental relationship form between Danny and Maria, bringing about a baby...JusticeStandsTrue