A/N: I want to take a moment to thank you all for sticking by this story through the downtimes. This story is wrapping up, with only a few more chapters left to it. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review.

Chapter Thirty Seven

Danny always hated going to other precincts.

Usually, going to another precinct meant lots of attention. Guys staring, wondering what a detective from Major Case was doing in their squad room. The only ones who really didn't care were the ones that had invited him there. And even then, they weren't always happy. Danny didn't exactly have a stellar reputation when it came to playing well with others.

Not that he knew where that came from.

But the 12th was different. It was where he got his start. Where Joe got started. And now, it was Jamie's house as well. And as he strolled in toward the end of the day, he saw his kid brother joking around with another guy in the house.

Jamie looked over as Danny walked up, and the older brother noticed the lack of surprise in the younger man's face. It was almost as if Jamie had expected to see Danny coming in at end of tour.

Danny, however, decided not to address that, choosing instead to nod in Jamie's direction. The guys around Jamie wished him a good night before walking away, leaving the two brothers somewhat alone in the crowded precinct.

"Wanna grab dinner and a beer?" Danny asked.

Jamie nodded. "Let me change, and I'm there," he replied, getting up from behind the desk.

Burgers and beer.

After a long week at work, Danny couldn't think of anything better. Jamie wasn't complaining either, just sitting with the oldest Reagan. After half the burger had been devoured, Danny finally asked, "how you doing?"

Jamie shrugged. "Gets better every day, I guess," he replied, eating a fry.

"Even bein' a house-mouse?"

"Well, that part never gets better."

Danny chuckled before taking a drink from his beer.

"I swear, if I get one more call about sending someone over to deal with this kid's perpetual problem of painting naked women, I'm going to send someone to arrest the mother for making nuisance calls."

Danny laughed. "How old's the kid?"

"Sixteen."

Danny shook his head.

"She got mad when I told her she was lucky his medium for making porn was a canvas and some paint, not a bed and a camcorder."

Danny laughed so hard he nearly choked. "That's a good one."

Jamie smiled almost proudly. "Renzulli thought so, too, but had to reprimand me anyway."

"You get in more trouble on desk duty than you do on the streets," Danny commented.

Jamie shrugged. "I get bored," he replied. "You know how much trouble us Reagans can cause when that happens."

Danny nodded, taking another bite of his burger. "So, you're doing your best to win over the public on behalf of the NYPD."

"Every chance I get."

Danny held his glass up towards his brother. "Here's to a job well done."

"Hear, hear," Jamie said, clinking glasses with Danny.

Danny took a drink, smirking as he thought about his younger brother's comments. Jamie never really had been the type to want to sit behind a desk, which had always made Danny question his idea to become a lawyer in the first place. Though Jamie would've been great at it. Jamie was always good at anything he put his mind to.

Jamie was also patient, gentle, level-headed… three qualities Danny was not really known for. At times, that left Jamie open to a lot of heartache, but Jamie had always figured out how to weather that particular storm when it blew into his world. Danny had no doubt that his brother could do just about anything.

Except find a girlfriend.

"What?" Jamie said, arching his eyebrows.

"Huh?" Danny replied.

"You just said something about finding a girlfriend."

Danny furrowed his brow. "I did?"

Jamie nodded.

"Oh." Danny shook his head. "I was thinking."

"About yourself, or Jack? Because either way, I'm pretty sure Linda will kill you."

Danny scoffed. "About you, kid. You need a girlfriend."

Jamie laughed softly. "I'm crazy enough as it is without one right now, thank you very much."

Danny shrugged. "I don't know. Could be a steadying influence on you."

"You and Linda need to stop talking about me."

Danny just smiled.