Chapter21 Healing Scars & Walking on Stars

If you pay close attention I left a small clue as to the direction, I'll be taking a certain character soon …

Danny had spent the night on Baez's couch still debating how he was going to handle going back home even though he had mended fences with Erin he still had the unenvious task of apologizing to the rest of his family something he hoped would go over well considering he had to face both Frank and Henry who were both ready to rip him a new one because of his outburst.

Danny woke up looking at the cable box for the time which read 8:25 luckily for him he had a split tour which would allow him some time to head home and see if he could patch things up with Linda before facing the true firing squad.

Danny showered and dressed quickly leaving Baez a thank you note and letting her know he would see her at work after which he took the train home.

Once he arrived Danny noticed that the car was still in the driveway which for him was a good sign he walked up to the front door and opened it gently hoping that Linda wouldn't kill him on sight.

Luckily for him it seemed like Linda wasn't downstairs so he casually walked up hoping his presence hadn't been noticed yet.

Once Danny made it upstairs he swiftly made his way into the unoccupied bedroom that he would normally share with his wife and grabbed a new set of spare clothes after swapping out his dirty laundry and attempted to make his way back downstairs but was spared no such luck when Linda emerged from Jack's room.

"Hey Linda." Danny said nervously hoping his wife didn't give him a verbal ass kicking.

"Daniel." Linda replied dismissively clearly not wanting to put up with her husband as she tried to make her way down to the kitchen.

Danny raced behind his wife figuring they could talk once downstairs.

Once both Reagans were in the kitchen Danny decided to make his move.

"Linda can we talk?"

"What Danny what do we possibly have to discuss?" Linda snapped clearly not wanting to be around Danny right now.

"Linda I wanted to let you know that I've apologized to Erin and I'm doing the same with my dad and gramps so can we end this cold shoulder routine between and move on?"

Linda turned to look at her husband clearly still enraged at his actions.

Danny hoped she would agree to squash what was going on between them but what he expected and what he got were two complete opposites.

Before Danny was able to put two and two together he felt his face sting courtesy of stinging slap from his wife.

That's for being a bigoted asshole the other night I will not share my home with such a closed minded individual".

"Woah Linda I may be an ass for what I said concerning Erin but I am no bigot and I am one of the most open minded accepting around."

"Not from what I saw the other night is that the example you want to set for our sons because if it is I will divorce you right now without as much as a second thought."

"Linda you're talking crazy I told you I apologized to Erin and will apologize to the rest of the family as well no need to get bent out of shape".

"Danny what you did the other night no matter what the reason was uncalled for so the way I see it I have every right to get bent out of shape."

"I know that now and I'm sorry I want to make things right again and that's what I'm going to do but first I need you to forgive me for being a shmuck."

Linda saw the sincerity in her husband's eyes and knew he was truly sorry.

"I forgive you but do anything like that again and I will leave you and take the boys with me."

"I know you will Linda again I'm sorry."

"Good now you need to leave I know you want to get to work early."

"Yeah I should go I owe Baez breakfast for saving my ass."

With that Danny left for work hoping to catch his partner in a good mood.

Danny stopped off at the side diner to pick up some coffee for Maria but mostly to calm his nerves.

After picking up the two coffees Danny made his way into the squad-room where he found Maria going through old fives as he plopped down his partners' coffee.

"Hey thanks I need this."

"No problem partner consider that a thank you for last night."

"Don't mention it things good with you and the wife yet?"

"Yeah I got chewed out good before we got there."

"Well what did you expect was going to happen?"

"I know and Linda was the easy one I still have to face the two grizzly bears."

"Ouch good luck with that."

"I know don't remind me hopefully I can make it back home in one piece after the fact."

"Yeah it takes too long to break in a new partner".

"Aw Baez when did you go getting all soft on me?"

"I didn't Reagan I enjoying having you as a partner and you aren't a bad roommate."

"Thanks partner hopefully we have a quiet day."

"Don't jinx it Reagan it's too hot to chase down homicides."

"Sorry I said anything but you're right I'll just pray we don't get a case today and I don't become a case."

Over at the twelfth Jamie was going through a stack of fives that he had been handed from the previous tour and even though he hated riding a desk he took pleasure in knowing that he was playing an important role in putting away the cities criminals.

Once Jamie had finally finished going over the fives he shifted his focus to an email he had gotten from the adoption agency requesting he fill out the security questionnaire to begin the adoption process which was just the first of many hurdles that Eddie had to clear before the adoption was final.

While the form was tedious Jamie motivated himself by thinking of his and Eddie's upcoming vacation which he sorely needed even though the only reason they were making this trip was to help out Marina he just hoped the paper work would be his only other tedious he had today.

Back at Marina's apartment Nicky sat with Raquel and Ashley going through the NYPD exam book.

"Dam I never realized how much intricate detail was involved with this exam."

"Well that's what you get for going into the family business Nicky."

"I know Ash but hey photo shoots and appearances won't pay the bills forever."

"You're right Nicky so that's even more reason for you to get this done."

"I don't see why you don't take a few fights with Marina on the indie fight scene and go pro in few years the paydays from a handful of fights and maybe a few pro fights would set you up for life." Raquel commented.

"Rocky if I was to ever take up fighting it'd have to be about more than the payday."

"I know Nicky you give your all to everything but look at paydays someone like Marina can get hell she makes a phone call right now I know a few promotions that would pay her six figures right now to come off her hiatus you could probably pull the same deal on the indies just because of your relationship not that you would."

"That's right I wouldn't use my girlfriends name for a payday." Nicky snapped ready to pounce on her friend.

"Alright Rocky shut up before Nicky snaps you in half." Ashley reprimanded.

"Fine I'll chill can we take a break this heat is insane what I wouldn't give to be on Luquillo beach right now."

"You read my mind Ash luckily we leave in a few days it'll be good to be home on the beach."

"So guys is this beach really the paradise you're all talking it up to be?"

"Nicky this place is paradise on earth I swear a day on that beach will make you forget about the world all you'll want to do is stay on the beach." Ashley replied.

"I'd hope so the way Marina talks about every night you'd think she wants to move there."

"Well she did live there for a few years as a kid and her uncle and aunt did leave her a pretty sweet house." Rocky chimed in.

"Come to think of it Nicky you'd be the first one of her girlfriends to set foot in the house I wouldn't be surprised if sometime during this trip Rina popped the question."

"Hey it could happen."

Whatever let's get out of here and grab a late breakfast."

"Gladly Nicky." Ashley chimed in putting away the exam book as the trio dressed and made their way to the diner.

"Out in the field Eddie was patrolling with Kara through Times-Square having just come off of three wellness checks when Kara noticed Eddie looked a bit zoned out behind wheel.

"Hey Eddie you okay we're half way through tour and we've only stopped at two delis."

"I'm good Kara I just have a lot on my plate."

"Well spill I'm your partner after all."

"Alright fine but breathe a word of this to anyone and I mangle you."

"Eddie you can trust me."

"Well you know how I have vacation time coming up in a few days?"

"Yeah I have to ride with McKenna while you're out."

"Well Jamie and I are going to Puerto Rico not just to relax but I have a photo shoot I'm doing."

"Eddie that's great a photo shoot in sunny Puerto Rico what are you worried about?"

"Well on top of planning to purpose to Jamie we're also dealing me trying to adopt a girl I for all intents and purposes think of as my daughter and even though Jamie said he's up for it I'm worried he'll get cold feet and back out."

"Eddie for the last time you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than Jamie walking out on you if he told you he's here for you believe him".

"I know I should but we're already playing with fire hiding our relationship from his family and that's without the proposal and adoption imagine what it'll be like with it."

"Eddie if you and Jamie are as into each other as you say you are he won't run for the hills if things get heated".

"You're right I guess I'm just overthinking everything with the proposal coming I'm just nervous."

Don't worry about it once you actually hear him say yes it'll all be worth it Reagan firing squad be dammed."

"Since when did you become the love doctor?"

"I'm not it's just you remind me of myself when I finally feel in love its sweet you deserve to be happy and I'm thinking the minute Jamie says he'll marry you you'll be on cloud nine".

"I hope you're right Kara."

Eddie and Kara finished the rest of tour without incident and Eddie headed home with Jamie to pack for their getaway.

As the couple drove home Jamie could see the wheels in Eddie's head turning and decided to nip this problem before the trip.

"Eddie I can see your head spinning what's up don't lie to me either."

"Jamie I'm okay just get us home." Eddie begged.

"No Eddie talk to me I won't drop this."

"Fine Jamie I'm still on edge about the adoption what if I screw up somehow I mean didn't exactly have the most normal childhood."

Eddie I've already told you a million times I'm here for you and I'm not leaving now please stop stressing yourself out and let's start packing from what Marina told me you'll need at least two suitcases."

"I love for being my rock Jamie."

"I'm always here for you Eddie you'll never be alone as long as I'm around." Jamie said as he gave Eddie's hand a tight squeeze as he made his way up to their home.

Back at the five-four Danny was shutting down his computer preparing for the trip to Bay-Ridge still feeling tense.

"Danny I can sense your nerves from here chill out you'll be fine family forgives." Maria said giving Danny an unexpected hug before he left for the evening.

Danny made the agonizing ride over to Bay-Ridge from Staten-Island hoping he would make it out in one piece.

As Danny pulled up he took a deep breath and entered his childhood home where he surprisingly found both his father and grandfather sitting at the table eating sandwiches.

"Hey Dad pop mind if I join you?"

Frank and Henry just nodded as Danny sat down.

"Listen before you two tear my head off I realize what I did the other day was stupid and uncalled for and I regret it I've already apologized to Erin and now I want to apologize to the both of you I shouldn't have been an ass to family I'm sorry."

Both Frank and Henry were shocked at Danny's sudden change of heart.

"Danny what you did was hurtful to this family but the fact that you made amends with sister and us is commendable and the only reason I don't tell you what I think of your actions is because unbeknownst to you your sister told me what you did so with that said we'll forget this just don't let it happen again."

"Thanks Dad I should get home."

"Danny." Henry called out.

"Gramps."

"This happens again I'll deal with you myself."

"I get it grandpa."

"Good now get home."

With that Danny knew he mended scars which unbeknownst to him would be a very helpful action.

The next chapter will jump ahead a couple weeks to the Puerto Rico trip arc that will see big changes come for Eddie and Jamie as well as a special moment between Erin and Abbie as well as Marina and Nicky.

This arc will serve as the bridge to the end of this story and the beginning of the next story.

Feel free to say if you catch the small hint I dropped about a certain character.