Authors Note:
I find it amazing that with all the factual information, the humor, and the writing I put into this story, and yes, that includes using the Queen's English and not the garbage most people speak today and call English, that some of the comments I receive call out the most irrelevant things or perceived discrepancies between this story and what may have been revealed on the show itself over the years.
It's like being a burn victim, having 99% of your skin perfectly grafted, and then picking at the one remaining scab while you complain about it.
Some people really need a good spanking from Erin Reagan followed by an enema.
It's called Artistic License and I can fashion the characters in any way I desire. If you want to comment on MY story as written, great, but why comment about why I had Danny act differently than he did in an episode 5 years ago. Probably because I don't care what happened then, this is the here and now.
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Friday, November 24, 2017
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
8:00 a.m.
Joe lazily walked into the kitchen to find Henry waiting with breakfast.
"About time you got up, your father's been gone almost an hour" Henry remarked as he pointed to a counter stool and told Joe to have a seat.
"Yes, but I'm an unemployed bum until Monday morning so I might as well sleep in while I can" Joe replied.
"You start back on Monday? Isn't that a little soon?" Henry asked.
"Actually, its two weeks at the Academy. I have to become current on the law, self-defense, and of course firearms proficiency" Joe noted as Henry placed a cup of coffee and a plate of bacon and eggs before him. "Thanks Pops" Joe stated.
"Like you need a refresher at anything, and I'll bet you're still a damned good shot too" Henry stated.
"I had a lot of practice shooting at cactus, you'd be surprised at what amuses Mexican drug lords" Joe answered.
"So if you're unemployed, why are you dressed?" Henry asked.
"I have to head back over to 99th Tenth Avenue and give my boss the courtesy of a face to face goodbye, let him know the NYPD wants me back" Joe replied. "After that, I'll start looking for a place to live" Joe remarked.
"Why not stay here for a while, or with Jamie?" Henry inquired.
"Jamie has a girlfriend. He doesn't need his big brother walking in on him when he's getting busy nor do I need him doing the same to me. We aren't teenagers anymore, we each need our own space, and as for here, same reasons plus, no man feels like an adult when he lays his head in his parent's house at night" Joe answered.
"I can understand and respect that, especially as you had years of total independence and you always were the wild one when it came to the ladies" Henry replied as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Danny may have gotten your cop instincts and a lot of your attitude for the job, but when it comes to women, I am the chip off the old block" Joe grinned.
"True Dat" Henry laughed "So what kind of place are you looking for?"
"One that has a great view, two bedrooms and two baths, and underground parking for at least 3 cars.
"Three, you've only got two" Henry noted.
"Yeah, but I'm not driving either of those once the snows hit, I'll get a used Jeep or something"
"In that case, just leave those two in the garage, it's heated. Just cover them up for the winter and when you come over, you can start them every now and then" Henry noted.
"Yeah, but in the summer, I'll want them with me so I'll need the space anyway, but thanks for the winter storage offer, that's a great idea" Joe accepted.
Friday, November 24, 2017
99 Tenth Avenue
Manhattan, NY
8:50 a.m.
Joe flashed his NYPD badge and was granted entry to the DEA's underground parking garage.
He parked the Chevelle and had just exited when he noticed Veronica Molina walking his way.
"Don't tell me you got rid of the El Camino already?" She inquired.
"No, it's at my dad's house. This was my car the night Malevsky tried to kill me" He replied.
"You got a thing for old silver Chevy's huh?" She noted while looking over the sporty Chevrolet. "Let me guess, a '71".
"Mea Culpa" Joe answered.
"Come on upstairs, Corradi wants to share an idea with you" Molina informed him.
Once seated inside Corradi's office, the SSA pulled a folder from his desk.
"These are your resignation papers. All I have to do is sign them and you're free so to speak however, Agent Molina has an idea and I support it" Corradi stated.
Joe leaned forward in his chair. "And that is?"
"As you know we have a special agent who is the local liaison between the Agency and the NYPD. That special agent is retiring at the end of the year. There is nobody better suited to replace that special agent than you as you have worked for both institutions and understand how they both operate. You also have the respect of both the Agency and the Department, and the agents and officers sworn to serve" Corradi stated.
"And I have the ear of the top man at the NYPD you forgot to add" Joe replied.
"You also have the ear of the top man at the Agency when you want it, and that comes from him along with his direct office, home, and cell phone numbers, should you accept this offer" Corradi informed Joe.
"First and foremost, I'm an NYPD Detective. I don't want to get drawn back into the drug war, I want to investigate homicides or work Major Case. The only time I can help as a liaison is when a situation arises between the Agency and the NYPD in which I may broker a solution or arrangement" Joe responded.
"Agreed, we have no intention of pulling you back into the drug war. You're management now and that requires you to help the DEA and the NYPD speak the same language, as in the case your brother and Agent Molina worked that uncorked the entire operation that brought you home" Corradi replied.
"Same pay and benefits?" Joe inquired.
"No, you received the equivalent of combat pay working undercover in Mexico. Shave that by thirty percent but, you will get some of that back in a cost of living allowance so along with your NYPD salary, you'll be doing quite well" Corradi stated.
"My credentials?" Joe asked.
Corradi handed them back. "Never turned them in. As for your service weapon".
"I'll carry whatever the NYPD issues me" Joe responded.
"That was going to be my recommendation as well, particularly as you won't be working for us in the field" Corradi responded.
"In that case, I have one request. If that's doable, then I'm your guy" Joe stated as he began to explain what he wanted in return.
Corradi nodded. "You have yourself a deal Agent Reagan. I'll get the Justice Department involved first thing Monday morning" He said as he stood to shake Joe's hand.
Joe spent the remainder of the morning driving around Manhattan, noticing the differences that eight plus years had made. New businesses where others he recalled once thrived, new buildings where others he recalled had once proudly stood as part of the city's fabled skyline. What never changed and what brought a smile to his face were the sounds and smells of the city, and the constant hustle and bustle of the people, all in a hurry to get somewhere for no other city, except for maybe Tokyo, placed such a high economic value on each minute of the day.
Finally, he headed to his old command, the Warrant Squad located at 80-45 Winchester Blvd in Queens.
Joe walked into the building that had always reminded him of a college dorm as opposed to the headquarters of one of the elite units of the NYPD. In fact, very little about the exterior of the building screamed NYPD and rarely were marked cars seen on the property.
He walked over to the wall that housed the photographs of former Members of the unit lost in the line of duty and sure enough, he found himself staring at his own face.
"Joseph Conor Reagan, E.O.W. May 15, 2009"
"End of Watch my ass" Joe thought as he looked around for a command sergeant, finally locating one who he brought over to the wall.
"Do me a favor and remove that photograph from the wall" Joe stated.
"What's it to you?" The Sergeant asked.
Joe looked at him in disbelief as he pointed at the photo and then himself. "Duh" He replied before flashing his NYPD credentials.
"Holy shit, you're not dead" the sergeant replied.
"You should have been a detective" Joe responded before leaving the flummoxed sergeant to his task while he walked around the station, drawing the curious stare of a number of officers and detectives, many of whom he did not recognize.
"Reagan" He heard called out. "Joe Reagan?"
He turned to find the squad's commanding officer, who had been a fellow detective when Joe last roamed these halls.
Joe smiled as he walked up to the boss. "Marco, how are you?" Joe inquired.
"As I live and breathe, Joe Reagan" Captain Marco Garibaldi replied as he touched Joe to be sure he was real.
"We all thought Malevsky killed you" Garibaldi stated before Joe told him the truth.
In the middle of the conversation, the sergeant walked over and interrupted. "Captain, Detective Reagan wants his photo removed from the wall"
"Well isn't it obvious Stan, he's not dead so get it the hell down from there" Garibaldi ordered.
"Yes Sir" the sergeant replied.
"Hard to get good help these days?" Joe inquired with a smile.
"You don't know the half of it Joe, so, you coming back to us?" He inquired.
"No Marco, I'm putting in for Major Case, work alongside my brother or at least be a part of the same unit with him." Joe replied.
Marco smiled. "Danny is the best of the best. I hear that your little brother's making quite the name for himself too"
"Jamison, and yes he is. We can't get him to accept a gold shield, he would rather help prevent problems than have to deal with the aftermath like Danny does" Joe responded.
"Sounds like he should take the Sergeant's exam. A cop like him has a lot to teach these young pissants coming out of the Academy, thinking they have it all figured out because it's in a blog or on their computer" Garibaldi replied.
"I'll mention that to him Marco" Joe promised.
A few minutes later, he was back in the Chevelle and headed towards a real estate office in Brooklyn. It was time to decide where he wanted to begin living the rest of his life.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
East Bound Southern State Parkway
Passing North Massapequa, NY
7:45 a.m.
Frank Reagan smiled as he piloted the El Camino eastbound on the Southern State Parkway towards MacArthur Airport.
Joe looked over and saw the expression on this old man's face.
"I take it you enjoy driving her" Joe noted.
"I enjoy driving, I don't get to do much of it anymore. When I got the Chevelle back I drove it now and then but there was something missing to it" Frank replied.
"What was that?" Joe inquired.
Frank looked over. "You, and yes, this is a very fine piece of automotive machinery and it's bringing back memories and making me wonder what life may have it been like thirty odd years ago with an El Camino instead of the Chevelle".
"Speaking of the old days, Jamie told me that Lenny Ross wrote a book about you" Joe stated.
"'Back in the Day' and it wasn't about me, it was about what went on during on time as partners" Frank corrected.
"Did he ever publish it?" Joe inquired.
"Was supposed to have but I haven't seen it or been given an autographed copy" Frank answered.
"But you read the raw version" Joe noted.
"I did, and no, your brothers have not and neither will you until it's published" Frank adamantly stated.
"Why not, I'd be proud to know what you were like in those days, how much of that Frank Reagan is in me, Danny, and Jamie" Joe stated.
"And Erin" Frank noted.
"Really?" Joe grinned. "So my daddy was a wild man back then".
"I never cheated on your mother, but the opportunities were always there, especially in the 80's when that television show Magnum P.I. was on the air, and all the women thought that I looked like Tom Selleck" Frank replied.
"You never borrowed a red Ferrari from Vice or the pound and drove it around to see what reaction you received?" Joe inquired.
Frank continued to stare down the hood of the El Camino.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you did and I'll bet that it's in the book" Joe hooted.
"It was on a bet with Lenny. I told him that all that Magnum stuff was in his head, so we went to vice and back then, your grandpa was a Deputy Chief of Patrol so nobody made a stink when I asked to borrow an impounded Ferrari for one afternoon" Frank informed Joe.
"And what happened?" Joe eagerly inquired.
"I lost fifty bucks to Lenny" Frank grudgingly admitted. "But the worst part was that your mother handled our finances so when I came up short the fifty bucks on my next paycheck, and explained why, she told me that if I ever made another bet she'd be using her wooden hairbrush on more than her children's behinds".
Joe laughed. "She wore most of those out on Danny"
"And Erin wore one out on you and another on Jamie" Frank giggled.
"Not funny Dad" Joe responded.
"Sorry" He apologized.
"Anyway, after she made her point, your mother demanded photographic proof. Lenny had taken some photos of me wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a Detroit Tigers baseball cap while standing next to the Ferrari. I showed them to your mom and she told me that it was the real Tom Selleck and who did I think I was fooling".
"She didn't believe it was you?" Joe asked.
"Nope, never did. She said that he must have in town for a promo and that we took the photos while working security for him" Frank smiled.
A mile later Frank exited the parkway, turned onto Arrival Avenue and entered the grounds of MacArthur Airport.
He parked the El Camino whereupon father and son exited the classic car and walked over to the local Fixed Based Operator's office.
Once inside, Joe presented his pilot's license and his DEA credentials.
"Should be a Super King Air 350 out there" Joe stated.
"Got you all set Special Agent Reagan" The FBO employee stated.
"Whose plane?" Frank inquired.
"DEA seized it a few months ago. Still haven't sent it to auction" Joe replied.
"Back to your old habits so soon?" Frank asked.
"What old habits?" Joe asked.
"You think I don't know about your days treating the Gowanus Auto Pound as if it were your personal car lot?" He smiled.
"That was all undercover work related" Joe replied.
"Yeah, but you never went through channels, you just showed up, picked out a car, and drove off" Frank reminded him.
"Paperwork slows down the process and the cars were always returned in the same condition I took them out in" Joe stated.
"Just like Danny, the ends justify the means" Frank nodded.
"In the grand scheme of things, sometimes they do Dad" Joe gruffly replied. "Let's go, we're all checked out here, and for the record, the SSA of the New York Field Office authorized both this trip and my use of the plane".
Joe did a walk around the plane and checked all the control surfaces while Frank manipulated the controls.
Then he did a fuel and tire check before climbing into the left seat.
He pulled out the plane's log book and examined it for any recent entries or important notices to other pilots. Seeking none, he made his own entry as pilot in command from MacArthur to Malone-Dufort in upstate New York.
Next he began spooling up the plane by turning on the master battery switch, the avionics and communication suites, and starting the two turbo prop engines.
He handed his father a set of headphones and showed him how to toggle the mic to communicate both within the aircraft, and with the towers and other controllers.
"MacArthur Tower, this is King Air 446 Whiskey Alpha requesting taxi for departure to Malone-Dufort" Joe stated.
"King Air 446 Whiskey, MacArthur Tower, wind is calm, state your preferred departure runway.
Joe wanted to head to the north. Runway Six would head them to the north east while runway Three Three Left would have them departing towards the north west, therefore either runway was acceptable. With the threshold of Runway Three Three Left being closer to the apron, Joe would have to taxi less distance than he would with any of the remaining runways.
"MacArthur Tower, King Air 446 Whiskey Alpha will accept Runway Three Three Left for departure" Joe advised.
"King Air 446 Whiskey Alpha, taxi to and hold short of Runway Three Three Left".
Joe acknowledged the instruction and proceeded to his holding position.
He and Frank watched as a small regional jet landed on Runway Six that bisected their departure runway, hence the hold.
Once the jet had cleared the zone, Joe was instructed to line up and wait for takeoff clearance.
"You ready" He asked Frank.
Frank looked over at Joe and smiled. "I was born ready" He grinned.
"King Air 446 Whiskey Alpha, MacArthur Tower. Wind calm, turn right heading three five five and climb to five thousand, runway Three Three Left, cleared for takeoff" The tower ordered.
"Right to Three Five Five, climb to Five thousand, King Air 446 rolling" Joe responded as he advanced the throttles causing the King Air 350 to speed down the runway before gracefully pointing her nose towards the morning sky.