CH. 23: Blast from the Past
Tuesday evening found The Reagan's at home. Danny had just gotten home from work and Linda was busy doing the usual around the house with laundry, kicking dinner and picking up the clutter around the house. At least what she could pick up. Most things sitting around the house was baby stuff that she bought as well as got from the baby shower. She had no place to put it, not having a designated nursery set up, and she had to admit the mess and all the work that still needed to be done in the kids rooms was beginning to get to her.
"Danny, we have to get started on getting the kids rooms moved around." Linda felt as if all she did was remind of that.
"I know Linda," Danny repeated.
"Then when are we going to do it?"
"I'm going to get started on the attic stairs just as soon as I get some time off so we can get Andy's room ready."
"This weekend?"
"I don't know, it depends on the case. I can't take time off till its done."
"Well hurry up."
"It's not that easy Linda," Danny tried to explain.
"What case are you working anyways?" Linda was a little surprised she was asking. Knowing hardly ever did she involve herself in his work.
"We think it's an abuse case."
"Why are you working an abuse case?"
"Long story, me and Baez owed Gormley a favor and he needed a detective on the case."
Linda nodded, knowing there wasn't much she could say regarding the case. but she could say plenty when it came to her house.
"You know, it would be a lot easier if we just hired someone to do the work on the stairwell."
"That would be way to expensive," Danny shock his head. "Besides, one day in this house with this craziness and that contractor would never come back."
"You have a point," Linda knew he was speaking the truth.
"Jamie on the other hand is used to it and can't run out on us."
"But what does his weekend schedule look like?"
"I don't know, I'll ask him when I make progress on the case," he promised her.
"Where are the kids anyway?" He noticed he didn't hear or see them around the house.
"Backyard, they needed to run some energy off before dinner."
"Active?" Danny smiled.
"They did not want to sit down and do their homework today."
"Did they finish it?"
"There outside aren't they?" She smiled at him.
"Good point."
XXXXXXXX
Andy had just returned to school Monday after the rocket incident, and she was admiring the new window that had to be replaced when Nicki approached her.
"Planning on another way to bust it?"
"No," Andy said truthfully. "That got me into quite a bit of trouble. Think I better lay low at least while I'm here."
"Wonder how long that will last?" Nicki wondered aloud.
"Don't you need to get to lunch?" It didn't take long for Andy to grow tired of her cousins questions.
"Don't you?"
"Touché," Andy nodded. "Let's go."
They had started walking through the hallway, Nicki talking about the baby shower when Sean joined into the conversation.
"It's terrible, there's baby stuff everywhere because we have no place to put it since Mom won't hurry up and kick Andy out of her room. I heard her complaining to Dad about it last night.
"Shut-up Sean," Andy shoved him. "Your losing your room too."
"Yeah but at least my room exists."
"So does mine, it's the attic," Andy combatted.
"It doesn't exist yet," Sean said pointedly. "You can only get to it by pulling the stairwell down. Then again, maybe them putting you in the attic is a good," Sean smirked. "They can always close you up there."
"Leave her alone Sean. You know Aunt Linda and Uncle Danny won't do that."
"They aren't," Andy agreed. "They already told us they were going to build a stairwell."
"Yeah, but that's going to take time. And with mom and dads schedule, the baby is liable to be here before then."
"Sean, the baby's going to be in mom and dads room at first," Andy reminded him.
"I'm going to leave you two feuding siblings alone," Nicki grew tired of the constant back and forth between the two, and it made her glad she was an only child. "I got to meet my friends for lunch."
"Good, I don't need any witnesses when I kill Sean," Andy was speaking primarily at Nicki, but she was glaring at Sean.
"I'm not sure why I'm saying this, but we might need him one day," Nicki tried, before her cousin did something to get her in trouble at school again.
"Not sure why but I do hate to get in trouble for something as menial as torturing my brother, so I'll give you this one."
"The family thanks you," Nicki hurried off to the cafeteria to meet her friends.
Leaving brother and sister alone, for another round of family feud.
Sean was just about to argue, saying that it might be easier if she moved in to mom and dads room, considering she needed more supervision then the baby when Andy stopped dead in her tracks after hearing a voice from her past.
"Gates?" Mallory Neil, a girl from Andy's past stopped her in her tracks.
"Since when do you go to school here?" Andy never remembered Mallory attending Blessed Hearts when she lived with the family.
"We moved."
"Lucky me," Andy muttered.
"Now it's my turn. What are you doing here?"
"It's a school Neil," Andy intentionally called the girl by her last name to show how unhappy she was to see her. "What do you think I'm doing here?"
"Get a clue Gates, it's a parochial school. Which means someone has to actually pay for you to attend here. Or are you here under false pretense like everywhere else you go?"
"Only I can talk to my sister like that!" Sean went for her, but was stopped by Andy pulling him back.
"Did you get a new foster brother that actually likes you?"
"The names Reagan and he's my brother."
"You mean somebody actually adopted you?" Mallory scoffed sarcastically.
"Its more than that, I found my father."
"You mean the guy that had the good sense to leave you when you were three, because he knew you were bad news?"
"Gates, wasn't my biological father."
"Lucky him, no wonder he didn't want to hang around a kid that wasn't his."
"It's not like that," Andy argued. Sure she always believed his leaving was her fault, but that didn't mean Mallory needed to know that.
"At least your mom was smart enough to get away when she had the chance."
By now, Andy was seething, and it took everything in her to keep from landing a few designated punches to the face and stomach.
"Fight her Andy," Sean whispered. "You can take her."
"Stay out of this Sean," Andy growled. There wasn't a doubt in Andys mind that she could take her, but that really wasn't the point right now. She couldn't get in trouble at school again. Not this soon after the rocket incident, that would only bring a suspension and for some reason she didn't understand, Mallory's words caused her to think of all the trouble she had been in since she went to live with Danny and Linda. Was it true that her trouble caused everyone to leave her? And was there a chance Danny and Linda would do the same? She was still entertaining these thoughts when Mallory interrupted her.
"Well I don't want to waste my time with you anymore," Mallory brushed them aside. "I have teachers I need to suck up to."
"Why didn't you fight her?" Sean asked anxiously once it was just he and Andy left standing there."
"Let it go Sean," Andy tried to appear as if the interaction with her past didn't bother her.
"You need to tell mom and dad."
"No, I don't and your not going to tell them either if you know what's good for you."
"You've fought me for less than that," Sean wouldn't give up. "And I'm your brother."
"Half brother," Andy shoved past him.
Mallory's words hurt, and Andy couldn't help but think of how that was still her life now. Only in reversible roles with Linda being the non-biological parent. But Linda didn't leave and she didn't show any signs of leaving either. Then again, she had been with her father a lot longer than Andy was. She had already caused them both a lot of trouble and they could always choose to send her away.
But she couldn't think about that right now. It hurt too much, and if she didn't keep her mind on her classes that could get her in to trouble and that was something she couldn't risk right now. She had been hungry before she ran into Mallory, but now she felt as if even the smell of food would cause her to make a run for the bathroom. She needed some time alone so she could think and the best way to do that would be to sneak out of the cafeteria and into her favorite hiding place, a small storage room that was hardly ever used.
Taking a seat on the floor of the room, Andy dropped her head in her hands to rub her eyes. She was hurt, but she had been there before, and once again she refused to cry. Even though the realization with the family she had grown to love was piercing through her very mind and soul. Andy shook her head in an attempt to clear it, she needed to think on other things. But those other things weren't much different. They included John Gates and what made him leave. Was it her? And was it something she was still doing to cause Linda to up and leave? Or even worse, could it jeopardize her place in the Reagan family? She knew what she needed to do. And that was talk to the man she thought was her father the majority of her life. But how? He was in prison and even if she did hold the name Reagan, that didn't mean they were going to let a kid waltz right in. She knew that Reagan's weren't allowed to take advantage of their position as the number one family in law. But she was about to break her grandfathers rule. And that was by calling Jamie. She knew it was going to take some smooth talking persuasion for her to get her uncle to agree to such a bizarre request.
Then again, hardly ever did she ever ask him for anything, and this was something she wanted.
"Uncle Jamie?" Andy said when Jamie answered the phone.
"Andy, your at school. Is everything okay?" Jamie knew that hardly ever did one of his nieces or nephews call him during those hours. And he had to admit his curiosity was peaked as long as they were okay.
"Can you pick me up after school today?"
"Why?"
"I need you to take me somewhere."
"Where?"
"Can't you just help me without asking a million questions?"
"No."
"Fine. I need a ride to Rikers."
"What?! No!
"Just hear me out," Andy pleaded.
"Andy, I don't like this."
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask. It doesn't matter, if it involves Rikers and my niece I know I won't like it."
"I need to go see someone?"
"A prisoner?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Is that the only word you know? You sound like your brother?"
"No," Jamie repeated.
"Its John Gates. He used to be my father before Danny."
"Why do you need to see him?"
"I need to talk to him?"
"What could you possibly have to say to someone you haven't seen since you were three?"
"It's hard to explain. But I really need this."
"Why do you want me to take you?"
"Because your more understanding. I just can't talk to my dad about this. And Grandpa wouldn't do anything without talking to Dad first."
"But I will?"
"Please Uncle Jamie," Andy wasn't above begging when it came to something like this.
"Okay," Jamie finally gave in.
"Thanks," Andy was about to pull the phone away from her ear when Jamie spoke again.
"But you need to let them know I'm picking you up."
"Okay," Andy said seconds before hanging up.
Sure Andy had no intention of telling them anything, knowing that would bring a lot of unwanted questions that she wasn't prepared to answer. But that didn't mean Jamie needed to know that.
XXXXXXXX
Linda had been sitting in the carpool lane at Blessed Hearts Academy for several minutes waiting on her children. Jack was the first in the car and minutes later they were joined by Sean. After waiting an additional several minutes with Andy not appearing, Linda became concerned and decided to go speak to one of the schools faculty members. Determining she attended all of her classes, Linda was at least pleased to find that hadn't been missing for long.
"Where is she?" She said frustrated as she returned to the car. Intending to call Danny just as soon as soon she got back to her phone.
"Danny," Linda said into the receiver. "I can't find Andy."
"What do you mean?" He sounded confused.
"I came to pick her up from school, but she's not here!" Linda said emphatically.
"She's attended all her classes, but she just isn't here."
"Okay," Danny said thinking. Wondering what he should do.
"Do you think she's okay?" Linda asked before he had a chance to say anything further.
"I'm sure she's fine. You know Andy."
"I asked the boys about it and Sean said Andy ran into a girl she used to know and she was being pretty mean to her."
"Did he say what it was about?"
"He said Andy wasn't very forthcoming about it."
"She usually isn't if somethings upset her."
"Do you think she ran away?" Linda couldn't hide the worry in her voice.
"I she ran away, she wouldn't have even bother with class," Danny said truthfully. "But if she's upset, she probably wanted to get away by herself so she could think."
"But she's shouldn't be out there alone."
"I know," Danny agreed. "But she used to roam the streets remember?"
"I thought we were passed all that."
"I guess not."
"What do I do?" Linda didn't know if she needed to stay where she was, drive around the city, or just go home.
"Just go home," Danny replied. "I'll see if I can find her."
Meanwhile, at Rikers Island:
John Gates was surprised when he was brought in to visit with a child. And he was even more surprised when he learned who that child was. It had been seven years since he had seen the girl and didn't recognize her until she began to speak.
"Do you remember me?" Her voice was shaky, causing Jamie to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He didn't fully understand why she wanted to come, but he figured he didn't have to. As long as the reason they were there would help her come to terms with the thoughts that were plaguing her mind.
"I do now."
"I suppose your wondering why I'm here?"
"The thought crossed my mind," the man admitted.
"Did you leave because of me?" She asked abruptly.
"What?" Gates was surprised by her question. "Andy you were three, and I stayed as long as I did because of you."
"Then why?"
"I didn't want to leave you. But I knew I wasn't your father and I couldn't just run away with you."
"If it wasn't me and you liked my mom, why did you leave?" Andy questioned him seriously.
"Your mom and I had an okay relationship at first. But she started to change and I knew I couldn't live with her anymore."
"She's in jail too," Andy enlightened him.
"Can't say I'm not surprised," Gated nodded. "Then again I'm here too."
"Drugs can be a hard habit to break," Jamie spoke for the first time since he came into the room.
"Who's this?" Gates looked at Andy.
"This is my Uncle Jamie," Andy gestured at him. "I'm living with my biological father now."
"Are you happy?" Gates sounded as if that was all he wanted to know.
"Yes," Andy smiled. "They haven't known me for long. But they treat me as if I've always been there."
"Andy," Gates looked at her seriously. "I'm glad I have been able to see you again. I've thought about you often. But don't come back here. Leave me and your past behind you."
"Sometimes that's easier said then done." Andy thought of her interaction with Mallory Neil.
"Your the one that chooses to live in the past kid," Gates stood to allow himself to be escorted out.
Andy looked at Jamie confused, not really understanding what he meant by all he said.
"Why did he?" Andy started to ask.
"He wants you to look forward and not behind you."
"But I'm not living in the past," she wanted to argue. "I just can't help but be reminded of it sometimes."
"I know," Jamie hugged her. "And don't be mad at Gates. I think he just wants what's best for you, but he didn't know how to say it."
"What did he mean though?"
"The reason he asked if you were happy was because he wants you to concentrate on living the life you have with your mom, dad, brothers, grandpa and the rest of us that put up with you," he winked at her.
"Then why didn't he just say it like that?"
"He's been in prison and he probably didn't know how to talk to you."
"Maybe coming here was a mistake."
"I don't know what brought you here Andy," Jamie said as he led her back out to the car. "But by your questions, it seems like you gained some answers."
Andy chewed on her lower lip nervously, having to admit that he was right.
"Please don't tell my Dad. He'd be disappointed in me for not forgetting about John since he's done so much for me even before the adoption.
"You mean Danny doesn't know about Rikers?"
"Not exactly."
"Andrea," Jamie said frustrated. "You should have told him."
"Yeah, because he's so open minded," Andy said sarcastically.
"Stop it Andy," Jamie was trying to think. "And he wouldn't be disappointed. He loves you and understands you had a life before him."
"I think it upsets him that he wasn't there when I talk about my past. So I don't bring it up."
"He may regret it," Jamie knew she was right on that part of her observation. "But he doesn't want you to feel like you have to keep things from him. He wants you to trust him. The same way we all want you to trust us."
Andy knew her essential trust started with Danny. But when it came to the realization of her past lining up with her present, it made her worry about her future. And for that, she secretly felt as if she couldn't trust anyone.
Pulling up to his brothers home, Jamie looked at his niece.
"You have to tell your parents."
"We'll be doing plenty of talking, I can assure you." Andy said getting out of the car, considering they had no idea where she had been since she got out of school. Then again, he didn't need to know that. "Thanks again," she called after him.
"Where have you been?!" Linda yelled, once her daughter walked through the door.
"I'm fine mom, thanks for asking."
"You won't be if you don't answer my question!" She warned.
"I'll tell you," Andy figured it was in her best interest to come clean sooner than later. "But you have to let me say what I need to say before you start yelling."
Immediately, Linda exchanged glances with Danny, suddenly feeling beyond worried.
"Go ahead," Danny led Linda over to the sofa where they could have a seat to have their discussion. As well as allow him to be a little more comfortable after a stressful day at work as he worked to solve the case that was slowly beginning to eat at him.
"I went to Rikers." Andy prepared for the yelling. And once again, she wasn't disappointed in her parents reactions.
"You did what?!"
It was hard to tell which one yelled it first or louder, but Andy was pretty sure it was a close tie.
"Why?" Danny glared at her. "And how did you even," he tried to ask her how she even got in, but was interrupted by his daughters moment of truth.
"I don't know," Andy said honestly. "I just needed to talk to him."
"Why?" Danny asked again, as he worked to calm himself down, considering his child just visited a prison without his permission.
Andy didn't feel as if she could tell them about her past or present experience with Mallory. At least not now, and possibly maybe never. But she knew she had to say something regarding John Gates. And she would tell them the truth, what she wouldn't do however was tell them the entire reason behind her visit.
"As much as John wasn't a father to me, I thought he was my father. I know he didn't want me, and left me when I was three. But I still thought of him as my father. I carried his name till you adopted me and gave me Reagan. And then later on, when we found out I was really yours, it changed a lot of things. But what it didn't change is the fact that he was in my life." Andy didn't want to go into detail regarding your past. Still cautious about saying much of anything to them, despite her uncles words of advice, and she decided to move straight into the apology she knew she needed to issue for worrying them the way she did.
"I'm sorry Dad, I really wish I could forget about him, but I can't. And I guess I just started thinking about him and had questions I needed him to answer about himself and Michelle." Andy figured that was just to keep them from asking too many questions, yet wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.
"Andy, we've never asked you to forget your past or the people in it," Linda shook her head.
"I know," Andy had to admit that she knew Linda was speaking the truth. They were always very forthcoming regarding her past and never once asked her to hide from it.
"But I blamed myself when he left," she stopped herself from saying that she needed to know if it was something she did. Still trying to come to terms with the. Whole similarity thing between her stepdad John Gates leaving and had it not been fort the adoption, Linda could very well be referred to as her stepmother.
"Andy, you were three." Linda said emphatically.
"I know," Andy nodded.
"What about when your mom left?" She asked curiously.
"By the time she left, I kind of hardened myself to everything," she sighed. "And just so you know," she added. "I wouldn't go see Michelle Gates without an army. Or you, which is the same thing," she nodded at Danny.
"So if you want to punish me for going I understand." Andy turned serious again.
"But you need to know I was completely safe the entire time. John Gates may be a lot of things, but he never hurt me. There were also guards right outside and I never left Uncle Jamie's side."
"You were with Jamie?"
"I knew better than to go alone. And I didn't want to noth
"Why didn't you ask me?"
"You've only been my father for a short time. But during that time, you've done so much for me that I was afraid it would upset you."
"Andy, your mom already told you that we don't expect you to forget your past. I know we haven't known each other for that long. And for that, I'm sorry. But again, that doesn't mean you have to forget."
"So am I in trouble?" She asked carefully.
Danny and Linda exchanged glances, wanting to make sure they were both on the same page before they replied.
"Not this time," Linda was the one to answer her question. "Not since you were with your uncle. But you know better then to go somewhere without permission," she pointed at her. "And if you do it again, you will be punished."
Andy nodded in understanding, and Linda was quick to send her upstairs to get washed up for dinner.
"What are you thinking?" Linda asked looking at Danny once they were alone.
"I'm trying to decide if I should thank my brother or kill my brother."
"At this point, I would go with thanking." She gave her own opinion as she returned to the kitchen to get dinner on the table.
That night after going to bed. Andy started to replay the events of her past with her mother in her mind. She was so young then, she knew there was a lot she didn't remember, and there was some she wished she didn't remember. Like the time she went into her mothers room to wake her up because she was hungry and she got yelled at and shoved to the floor for bothering her. Things had changed so much since she moved in with the Reagan's and developed a relationship with her new family. Never once did they get angry for waking them up and she had chose to wake them up in a lot of bizarre ways, like Jamie and the spray bottle of water to the face.
She was just about to roll over and go to sleep, entertaining thoughts of other tricks she could pull on her uncle when she was reminded of a time she saw Michelle hurry into the apartment with stacks of money to hide under her mattress.
Andy thought it was odd, she didn't remember the money before. When Danny and Linda had taken her back to the apartment not long after they discovered the truth of Danny being her biological father. But she figured her mind was elsewhere at the time. But it wasn't elsewhere now, and she knew she needed to see if it was still there. It wouldn't surprise her if it wasn't, considering she had no idea where it came from or even if she and Michelle were the only ones who knew it was there. Knowing this however, did little to curb Andy's curiosity, and it was decided that just before her last class was dismissed, she would return to the home she left behind.
XXXXXXXX
She didn't have much money, with her parents always coming up with a reason to remove her allowance as a means of discipline. But before she left for school that morning, she stuffed all she had into her backpack for the uber she was planning to get. During her last class, she spent most of the time staring at the clock, so she could time it perfectly by getting permission to use the restroom and then slipping out and into the waiting uber so she could get away just before her mom arrived to pick her up. Everything went exactly as planned, and before Andy knew it, she was standing in the doorway of her apartment. She hesitated before walking in, but after taking a deep breath she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She knew she couldn't stay long, but that didn't keep her from looking around a bit. Not much had changed, then again she, Danny and Linda may have been the last ones there, she didn't know. After digging through her old room and shoving a few things in her backpack, she proceeded to her mothers room. She never liked being in there, even when her mother wasn't there, but for some reason she didn't understand, something frightened her. She was slowly beginning to regret her decision in going, but after taking another deep breath, she did what she came to do. Flipping the mattress over, she found what she had been looking for. Stuffing it into her backpack with the rest of the things she was taking, she hurried out of the apartment and back to the waiting uber.
"Where have you been?" Linda was furious when Andy came in, clutching her backpack to her chest.
"Isn't the main thing, that I'm home safe?"
"Who says your safe?" Linda crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Now where have you been? I've been worried sick."
"There was something I had to take care of," Andy shrugged.
"You know you aren't allowed to go out without us. We've already been through this, this week. Now I'm going to ask you one last time. Where have you been?"
"I was just," Andy hesitated.
"Andrea," Danny spoke up for the first time since she came in. His voice stern. "We want an answer now."
"I," again Andy was hesitant to reply. Knowing they weren't going to like the answer. "I," she tried again.
"Andy, come on," Linda said with a raised brow.
Andy sighed, but eventually took a seat on the sofa. Being careful to place her backpack on the coffee table in front of her.
"I went to Michelle's old apartment," Andy intentionally referred to her birth mom by her first name to show how much she discredited her as her mother.
"What?! Andy, you know that part of town isn't safe." Linda was just getting started on the lecture when Danny interrupted. Knowing there had to be more to her explanation, considering he knew she wouldn't go for no reason.
"Why?"
Again, Andy hesitated, but eventually opened her backpack and pulled a couple stacks of $50 dollar bills.
"What did you do?" Danny was glaring at her.
"When I was still living with Michelle. She came in one night hurrying to her bedroom. She didn't close the door all the way thinking I was watching TV and not paying attention to her. But I was five and I wanted to see her. Not to mention, I was curious as to why she ran to her room so I followed her and saw her hide the money under her mattress. I'm really surprised I didn't remember it till now. But after seeing John Gates. I started to think of my life back then when it came to me."
"Andy, she probably got the money selling drugs. Or even worse, it could be hot. Which would explain why it's been there for so long. She was saving it for a later date when things blew over and she could use it little by little and not bring any unwanted attention to herself." Danny explained the process.
"Who cares?" Andy said emphatically. "She's in jail."
"Andy, it's illegal."
"But we don't know if it's hot. And if it was drug money we could keep it."
"No we can't! You stole it!"
"Dad, she's in prison, it should go to me. We could call it compensation for all those years she made me live without you."
"Listen, Andy, I'm glad you feel that way. Because I do love you more than anything. But that doesn't excuse the fact that you ran off and stole from your mother."
"She's not my mother!" Andy yelled.
"Your right Andy I'm sorry, you have no idea how happy that makes us feel. But don't yell at me, I'm your father and I deserve some respect."
"And it also doesn't excuse your behavior for running off," Linda added. "Again, we warned you about it just yesterday, and told you, you'd be in trouble if you did it again. And if that's not bad enough, you stole. You're in some deep trouble."
"Yeah, I was kind of hoping you'd say that I've already been through so much in my little life that you'd overlook it."
"Nice try, but you've already lived with us long enough to know better." Linda was firm in her decision.
"Your going to have to apologize to Michelle." Danny who had been pacing, turned to her. "I'll take you over as soon as you get out of school tomorrow. Now go to your room, I'll be up in a minute to take care of the rest of your punishment."
"Oh that kid," Linda said frustrated.
"What do you want to do?" Danny started to pace all over again.
"Kill her."
"I'm not totally against that," Danny admitted. "But she is the only daughter were going to have. Because we are not going to have anymore kids."
"I'm not even sure, I want the ones we have." Linda muttered.
"Again, I'm not against that," Danny shook his head. "But we need to be serious. What are we going to do with Andy?"
"Well your already taking her to see Michelle."
"That's just a formality."
"In that case, ground her for a month, spank her and I'm going to go into her room and remove half her property." Linda suggested.
"Which one of us?"
"You," Linda was quick to hand the discipline over to her husband. "Just remember, she needs to be able to sit in class this week."
"Linda, she stole," Danny said matter of factly. "She committed a crime. By the time I'm through with her it will be summer vacation before she can sit comfortable."
"I'm not totally against that," this time it was Linda's turn to say.
"I just love her so much," Danny ran a hand through his hair. "That when she does things like this it really worries me. I don't want her to be like Michelle."
"She's not," Linda assured him. "She's too much like you. She's also a kid, and she's going to make mistakes and push us to our very limits."
"She's doing that alright."
XXXXXXXX
The following day, and Danny pulled up to Blessed Hearts Academy just as soon as Andy was released from her last class.
"I still don't see why we have to go," Andy grumbled.
"We've already been through this Andy. You did wrong stealing and you know it."
"Yeah, but the money wasn't doing anyone any good where it was," Andy tried again. "Then again, by going maybe we can at least find out where it came from," she figured.
"It doesn't matter where it came from," Danny clarified. "It doesn't belong to us."
"So she wins," Andy grumbled again.
"No she doesn't win. She's in jail."
"Then why can't we keep it?" Andy repeated the question.
"Again, it doesn't belong to us. And I don't want to hear another word from you about keeping it. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Andy said sarcastically.
"Seriously Andy?" Danny looked at her seriously. "Do I need to pull over?"
"No," Andy said quickly.
"Then give it a rest," he ordered.
"I don't want to go," Andy sounded sad.
"That's why we're going to go. Your going to tell her what happened and we're going to go. No problems."
Andy wanted to say something sarcastic regarding his presumptions, but she decided that staying silent would be in her best interest, considering he was already unhappy about having to leave work and deal with part of her punishment.
Neither one said much the rest of the trip over and they arrived sooner than Andy wanted to. It didn't take long for them to get an empty room and it took even less time for Michelle to be brought in.
"Danny," Michelle was shocked to see him and their daughter standing across the table from her. "What are you doing here?"
"Andy has something to tell you," he nudged Andy to get her to talk.
Andy refused to speak causing Danny to lean over and talk to her face tot face.
"You know why we're here Andy. Now let's get it over with."
Andy took a deep breath and slowly responded.
"Do you remember the money you had hid under your mattress at the apartment?"
"What did you do?" Michelle growled at her.
"I took it." Andy's voice no longer showed a value of confidence like it normally did, and instead showed a level of fear.
"You stole from me?!" Michelle reached for her but stopped herself when she remembered where she was.
"Hit her for me," she told Danny angrily.
"What? No!" Danny didn't like what he heard from the woman.
"Your her father," Michelle sounded as if it wasn't a problem.
"I know."
"I'm her mother so I'd do it but I'm not supposed to touch anyone when they come in."
"Lucky me, Andy mumbled.
"But it would almost be worth it," Michelle said, overhearing her daughters comment.
"You're not my mother! Andy was fuming.
"Don't yell Andy," Danny kept his voice low, reminding her that they were in a prison and she didn't want to bring a swarm of guards in.
"I hate to tell you this Andy, but I carried you for nine months and gave birth to you. And that was no picnic," Michelle pointed at her.
"You also got rid of me and didn't have the decency to tell my father that I even existed, and made me live in foster care for 5 years." Andy turned away from Michelle and stepped closer to Danny. "Can we please go home now?" She was on the verge of tears but she tried to keep it together not wanting Michelle to see her cry. "I promise I won't do anything like this ever again," Andy kept her voice low so only Danny could hear her. But it was obvious she was on the verge of breaking.
"We're going to go," Danny placed a hand on Andy's shoulder. "And we're not coming back."
"What about the money?" Michelle stopped him.
"I'm opening an investigation, seeing if I can prolong your stay here." Danny was angry by the way she treated his daughter, and he was willing to do anything to keep her behind bars for as long as he could.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Danny apologized, looking her in the eye, the second they got in the car.
"It's okay," Andy shrugged.
"No Andy it's not, I didn't think it would turn out like that, and it's my fault."
"It's my fault we're here. I'm the one that took the money." Andy justified his decision.
"It was my decision to talk to Michelle. I should have left her out of this. I just thought," Danny started to say but was interrupted.
"I have to admit it was a good punishment," Andy hated to say.
"It's one you won't be given again," Danny was being completely serious.
"I won't argue," Andy gave him a small smile.
The two fell silent for several minutes, and Danny was the one to question her regarding her silence.
"What are you thinking about?"
"We didn't find out where the money came from."
"She wasn't going to tell us anything," Danny shook his head. "I've questioned enough perps to know when they will stonewall or not say anything at all."
"We're you serious about opening an investigation?"
"I want to keep her in jail," Danny said firmly. "If finding out how the bills came in her possession will do it, then I'll do it."
"Will you tell me what you find?" Andy sounded hopeful.
"I'm going to need your help," Danny pointed at her. "Your my witness."
"You mean your going to finally involve me in one of your cases?" Andy couldn't help but sound excited.
"If you can stop running away and committing crimes like thievery, I might be able to trust you." Danny mentioned just two of the wrongs she had committed recently, and that was all in the past few days.
"If I promise to slow down will you at least consider it? You did say I was your witness."
"Andy, you do have a tendency to walk mighty close to the line your mother and I have drawn."
"I am your kid," Andy tried to justify her actions.
"That isn't going to work Andy," Danny laughed.
"Hey, don't blame me. I get it from you."
"Again, not going to work Andrea."
"Can't blame a kid for trying," she shrugged. "Can we start working on it when we get home?"
"Your grounded remember? And you also have homework waiting for you."
"Don't you think a case should override those?"
"No, and I have to go back to work just as soon as I drop you off at home."
"Why?" Andy complained.
"Because I'm working a case that needs my full attention. Now get in the house and tell your mother I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Your not coming in?"
"Don't have time," he shook his head. "Now go get your homework done and tell your mom I gave you permission to leave your room as long as you are helping her with chores around the house."
"Got it," Andy jumped out of the car. "Solve your case."
"Working on it," he pulled away in a hurry.
XXXXXXXX
The following day and Linda had just picked up the kids from school. But before going home, she planned to make a quick stop at the store for a few things she knew they needed.
"Can we leave now?" Andy asked impatiently as she trailed behind her mother down one of the food aisles.
"No," Linda was getting tired of repeating herself.
"Well are you almost done?"
"No," Linda said again. "After this, I have to go to the baby aisle and get some extra size one diapers and wipes that I'm going to need for your brother."
"Sean still going in his pants?"
"Andrea," Linda corrected before Sean had a chance to argue.
"Can I at least go get them?" Andy tried to appear nice and sweet as she volunteered, just hoping it would get her away from trailing behind her mothers cart.
"Okay," Linda didn't see any harm in it. "But don't go anywhere but the baby department, and take Jack with you."
"Okay," Andy and Jack took off running.
"And no running!" She called after them.
Just before the siblings reached the baby aisle, Jack stopped her.
"I want to go look at the X-Box games."
"We can't. Mom said no."
"Since when do you listen?"
"There's always a first," she shrugged.
"Make that next time." Jack ran away, giving her no other choice but to follow.
Andy gave him several minutes to look around, having to admit, that she didn't have any problem spending the time looking through the DVD's.
They were just about to leave the entertainment section when Andy once again was stopped by the same voice that stopped her in her tracks at school. Only this time she wasn't alone.
"Look who it is mom," Mallory pointed her out. "It's Gates."
"I already told you, the names Reagan." Andy sounded none to pleased in having to repeat herself.
"Andy Gates," this time it was Mallory's mother Natalie Neal to acknowledge her. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"I know I was hoping not to."
"I can see nothing's changed. Your still an insolent brat."
"Oh, but I have changed. I would be saying a whole lot more had it not been for my new family to teach me differently."
"Ahh yes, Mallory told me about you being adopted.
"And I told her it was more than that," Andy argued. "I found my biological father."
"I suppose he's your half-brother," Natalie gestured at Jack.
Andy was about to reply when Mallory interrupted.
"I still can't believe your biological father kept you," she said unbelieving.
"That's the thing, he adopted me before he knew the truth." Andy tried to get them to see the truth behind their curt observations.
"In that case, it's probably just a matter of time before he send you packing. He's probably embarrassed by you being his and he won't want to take any chances of you corrupting his other kids."
"Danny's not like that," she argued.
"How would you know? You've spent more time with people not wanting you then have with people that do. If there are any."
Andy was about to say something rhetorical when Natalie interrupted.
"Either way, your his problem. Let's go Mallory." Natalie started to walk away, Mallory following close behind.
"Who was that?" Jack asked immediately.
"Someone I was hoping to never see again."
"Andy," Jack pushed for a better answer.
"No Jack," Andy glared at him. "Now come on, we have to get the baby stuff for Linda."
"Since when do you call Mom, Linda?" Jack by now was in complete and utter confusion.
"Since I was reminded once again that I have a past." Andy let it go at that as she grabbed the diapers off the shelf and shoved the wipes at Jack.
"I'm sorry Andy," Jack felt guiltily. "It's all my fault, if I wouldn't have wanted to look for a new game we never would have seen them."
"Just leave me alone Jack," Andy tried to act like the woman's words didn't bother her.
"You need to tell mom and dad."
"No Jack," Andy turned on him.
"Andy," Jack tried. "Do mom and dad know about how you were treated before you came to live with us?"
"No, and don't you dare tell them.
Andy they need to know. They're your parents."
"No," Andy turned to face him. "It would just make them upset. Besides, I should be used to it. I heard it countless times in the past."
"Yeah but that was a long time ago."
"There's some things you don't forget Jack," she said solemnly. "Now come on, Linda's waiting."
"There you two are. I was about to come look for you," Linda chastised.
"Sorry," Andy muttered.
"We ran into," Jack started to say, until Andy silenced him by elbowing him in the ribs when Linda wasn't watching.
Jack grunted and Linda turned To Andy.
"Sean's on the next aisle. Tell him to stop looking at the candy. We need to go get some house cleaner."
"Can't we just leave him here?"
"No we can't, and stop talking like that."
"Why?" Andy scoffed. "We can live without him."
"Andrea Reagan," Linda turned to face her.
"I'm serious," Andy refused to stop. "The only reason he's happy about the baby is because he gets to make my life miserable by kicking me out of my room. Then again, I guess that's what happens when your the odd kid out." She whispered.
"Whats that supposed to mean?" Linda was in complete and utter shock.
"It means I'm not the same as Jack, Sean and the baby. We're not full siblings."
"Andrea Reagan, you've never said anything like this before," Linda was doing her best to keep her tone down. "Jack, go get your brother. We're going home." Linda didn't even feel like shopping anymore.
"Am I in trouble?" Andy sounded worried. Knowing the only time Linda ever left a store early was when one of them were in line for discipline for some infraction they got into while away from home.
"No you are not in trouble," Linda turned around, to look at her for a brief second. "But there is going to be a great deal of discussion when your dad gets home." Linda dropped the conversation where it was, refusing to say another word until they reached their home.
"Go to your room and get started on your homework. I'll call you down when we're ready to talk."
Andy didn't say anything, but she did nod in understanding as she grabbed a her backpack and hurried into the house and up the stairs.
"Danny, can you come home?" Linda was quick to place a call into her husband just as soon as she got into the house and sent the boys upstairs to get started on their own homework.
"What's wrong?" Danny could tell there was something in her voice that was bothering her.
"It's Andy."
"Isn't it always?"
"I don't want to pull you away from your case," Linda said first of all. "But there is something seriously bothering Andy."
"I just finished my case," Danny had just finished in the interrogation room when his phone vibrated in his pocket. "How can you tell somethings bothering Andy?" Danny was trying to switch roles from investigator to father in a matter of seconds.
"She said she's not the same as the boys and thinks that why she's losing her room."
"What? Danny was confused. "That doesn't sound like Andy."
"I know," Linda was at a complete loss. "I just can't figure out what's gotten into her."
"When did this happen?"
"Everything was fine when I picked her up after school and we went to the store. She was acting like the same old Andy picking on Sean and complaining about having to be there in the first place. She asked if she could go get the diapers and wipes I wanted to stock up on and I said it was fine as long as Jack went with her. They took off running and laughing so I knew everything was fine then. It was when they got back that I noticed a vulnerability in her and that's when she brought up the sibling thing." Linda told him everything she remembered.
"So something must have happened in between then," Danny figured.
"But what? And why would it make her think about the difference between she and the boys. I know it can't all be about losing her room. She's known about that for awhile and it wouldn't make sense for her to just now start reacting. So why is she acting like this?" Linda sounded hurt.
"I don't know," Danny admitted. "But we'll find out."
"So can you come home?"
"Yeah," Danny sighed. "I'll be there as soon as I can.
Just as Danny walked through the door, Linda could see something in his face that wasn't there that morning. And she knew it had to be more than what was going on with Andy to cause the look in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Danny lied.
"We've been married for more than 10 years. I know when something's bothering you."
"It's nothing," Danny repeated. "It's just the case."
"You said it was done."
"It is," Danny nodded.
"But?" Linda could tell there was more.
"It's fine."
"It's the abuse case isn't it? You were right, weren't you?"
"Yes," Danny sounded as if for once he was hoping he was wrong.
"What is it?" Linda looked at him seriously.
"We found a little girl locked in a storage closet."
"Oh my God," Linda Covered her mouth.
"There were paper plates with food on them, along with ants, roaches and rats. She had long stringy hair that was hanging in her face and she was filthy. Her clothes were soiled with urine and the room reeked of musky air and bodily fluids."
"Is she okay?" Linda asked immediately.
"She's going to be fine," Danny sounded grateful. "But when I was there all I could do was think of Andy and it hurt."
"You don't think Andy was ever abused do you?" Linda's voice showed immediate concern.
"I don't know," Danny shook his head. "But I don't think so. She doesn't act like it."
"We don't know much about her past," Linda admitted. "Other than that Michelle neglected her."
"But the only way to find out is by asking her."
"She doesn't talk about her past much," Linda shook her head.
"We're going to have to make her talk."
"I''ll call her down," Linda walked over to the foot of the stairs.
XXXXXXXX
Andy didn't say anything when she reached he bottom of the stairs, and instead she looked from one parent to the other.
"Have a seat," Linda pointed at the sofa.
Andy obeyed, but she kept her head down and her face straight. Trying not to show any emotion.
"Andy, we need to talk," Danny toon a seat on the coffee table in front of her.
"About what?" Andy's voice was bitter.
"About what happened at the store today?"
"I don't want to talk about that," Andy was quick to resist.
"Well were going to anyways." Danny wasn't giving her an option.
"I said no Danny. So if you want to know something, you might as well check the store cameras."
"Where the hell did that come from?!" Danny didn't like her referring to him by his first name.
"Danny," Linda stopped him from losing his temper. "I told you there was something bothering her," she whispered. "She's insecure."
"Andy," Linda said once she managed to calm them both down.
"You need to talk to us. We know somethings bothering you."
Andy was about to argue, but Linda continued.
"Otherwise you wouldn't be calling us by our first names and you wouldn't be seeing yourself differently from your brothers."
"I was reminded that I have a past." Was all Andy was willing to say.
"Andy," this time it was Danny's turn to speak. "I realize we should have asked this a long time ago. I didn't think it was all that important before. But we've been thinking about it and we need to know more about your past."
"Why?"
"Andy, we know somethings bothering you."
"How?"
"Andy, you went to see Gates, you stole from Michelle, and after over a year you still think we see you differently from your brothers." Danny crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Now tell us the truth. It's the only way we can help you."
"Whew," Andy sighed "I don't even know where to start."
"How bout the beginning," Danny suggested.
"If I tell you, your not going to turn this into an interrogation and start treating me like a perp are you?"
"No."
"Tell us about when you lived with your mom?" Linda started the questions.
"You mean the woman that gave me birth?" Andy refused to refer to her as her mother. In her mind, that was Linda all the way around. She knew she had only know her for a little over a year, and technically she was her stepmother/adopted mother. But Linda was the only woman in her life that took the time to teach her things, care for her when she was sick, and tend to all her other needs.
"Yes," Danny said gruffly.
"I only lived with her till I was five. My memories are few and far between.
"Andy," Danny said in all seriousness. "You've already told us some things, and I'm sure there are more."
"I remember always being hungry, and there never being enough food in the house."
"Didn't she buy groceries?" Linda placed a gentle hand on her daughters arm.
"Not much," Andy shook her head. "At least not compared to you when you come home from the store. I remember her buying things and then running to her room with things and then locking the door behind her."
"Andy there's got to be more than that?"
"We're you ever the last one picked up from school when you were in kindergarten because your mom forgot about you?" Andy finally decided to give him what he wanted. Even if she had a feeling they weren't going to like it.
"No," Danny shook his head.
"I was," Andy sounded far away. "Many times."
My teachers didn't like me for more than one reason. They had to stay late because they couldn't leave me alone and I had a record of being a trouble maker."
"I know that's right," Danny mentioned. "But you were like that even when you were five?"
"We're you?" Andy looked at him as if she already knew the answer.
"Yes but," Danny started to say.
"Like father, like daughter."
Danny smirked, but continued with his questions.
"I hate to ask this, but were you ever abused?" Danny was almost afraid to hear the answer to the question he asked. Afraid of what he might do to the person that caused his flesh and blood pain and heartache.
"Not especially," Andy shook her head.
"What do you mean not especially?"
"Well there was this one time," Andy recalled. "I guess I was bothering her, I don't know. Back then I didn't really know when I went too far."
Danny wanted to tell that she still didn't know, but he knew that now wasn't the time.
"Anyways, she got frustrated or something and backhanded me." I think she felt bad at first, or realized what she did. Anyways she ran out and never said anything about it."
"And CPS was never involved?" Linda wanted to make sure she got everything out in the open.
"My teachers suspected neglect and that brought on a whole new set of problems. My mom knew they were coming, considering it had already happened multiple times, so she knew how to prepare. She'd clean the house, make dinner, and be home every day anticipating their arrival. She would pretend to be the perfect mother until they were gone, and then once again everything would return to normal. She was gone and I was left alone. For awhile, I had trouble figuring out why she didn't just let them take me. But then I understood that she just didn't want the hassle of people bothering her and eventually decided that the easiest way to get rid of me was by leaving me with a neighbor and never coming back."
"Make a long story short, my first stop was the orphanage. Being my age, they thought I was a good candidate for adoption and they placed me in foster care. It didn't matter though. It was didn't take long for them to find out I was a lost cause and I was soon transferred to another one. But sometimes, I didn't have to do anything, it was just the way foster care worked. At least so I was told by my social worker. Sometimes I would come home from school and find my stuff shoved into garbage bags sitting in a van and my social work sitting on the front porch waiting for me. Other times, if it was early in the day. I would be sitting in class and my social worker along with two cops came and pulled me out of class to be moved to a new home and a new school. Most of the time the homes were always the same. I would be shoved into a room with two or more other foster kids. The rooms were jammed so packed tight with beds and a dresser that there was hardly any room for anything else even a person. I remember when I went to one foster home all my stuff was dumped out in the middle of the floor where my foster parents went through everything. Throwing away everything they thought I didn't need. I was basically only allowed a few clothes and one toy.
All the other kids that were there before me said the same thing happened to them. I remember one of the older girls saying she was on her period when she arrived and she couldn't even keep the pads she brought with her because the foster parents were afraid she had drugs hidden in them."
"How long did this go on?" Linda, by now was having trouble keeping back the tears.
"Till Chinatown when a certain detective chased me down."
"Where you lied to me and had me drop you off at a house you pretended to live," Danny added.
"I didn't want you to learn the truth."
"Which I did anyways."
"Yeah, but that was after I learned to be street smart and thought I didn't need anyone."
"When did you start running away from foster care?" Linda had a feeling she was going to regret that question, but she knew she needed to know.
"I spent five years in foster care. But I didn't start running away till I was seven or eight."
"Why did you run away?"
"Which reason do you want? There were several. The people, overcrowded, not enough food," Andy named a few.
"If you were worried about food. Why did you run away, where there wasn't any?"
"Because there wasn't much of a difference," Andy shrugged. "I hardly got any when I was there. The good food they kept for the family. The foster kids were left with whatever they could find. Cereal, chips, or anything else they didn't want. If one of us got caught eating something we weren't supposed to, the next day we were sent to bed without dinner."
"What did you do during the day when you didn't have school?"
"Depends which foster home I was in. In the Browns, we had to stay outside. In the Krenshaws, we had to clean. In the Wilsons, we had to take care of the little kids. In the Tanners, we had to stay out sight."
"Which was the best one?" Linda was hoping for a silver lining somewhere in the story.
"That would be the Burkes," Andy nodded. "By a long shot."
"Why?"
"That was the family I told you about that had the daughter that liked me and would let me play in her room."
"Why were you taken out of the home?"
"Overcrowded."
"What about the worst?" This time it was Danny's who asked.
"I don't know," Andy said truthfully. "Do you remember the mother and daughter I told you about that pretended to want me involved in the choosing of the baby things?"
Linda nodded and Andy continued.
"That was the Neil's. And it was Mallory Neil I saw at school."
"What about at the store?"
"Mallory and her mom."
"What did they say to upset you?"
"I was reminded I have a past," Andy repeated the same explanation she used before.
"Andy," Danny obviously wanted more.
"Mallory said something about the reason John Gates left was because he didn't want to be saddled with raising a kid that wasn't his."
"That's why you went to see him."
"I had to talk to him. I thought that he might know some things about me when I was little. It was a question I needed to voice to him, and to him only."
"What did he say?" Linda was pleased to hear that they were finally getting someplace.
"He said that leaving me was the hardest part. But he couldn't live with Michelle any longer and he knew he couldn't take me with him because he knew he wasn't my biological father and he didn't want to cause any problems."
"How does that revert back to Mallory?" Danny knew there was something she wasn't telling them.
Andy wiped a stray tear away that escaped down her cheek, and as she sniffed, her emotions began to spill.
"When Mallory said that, it made me think of Linda and how she's been having to raise me, even though I'm not hers. I was afraid that she would up and leave me. But then I remembered that she's been with you longer than me and even though your my father, she could convince you to send me away again."
"Oh Andy," Linda started to cry.
"And that's not even counting what happened at the store."
"You mean all this happened when you were at school?" Linda's heart was literally aching for her daughter.
"Sean wanted me to fight her and I wanted to too. But then I remembered how much trouble I've gotten in since I moved here and after everything Mallory said, I was afraid that if I did it again, it would make you send me away. Then again, that thought didn't go very far since I made you mad by running off and taking that money."
"Andy, you haven't learned that there's nothing you could ever do to make us not want you?"
"I thought I did," Andy sniffed.
"What did they tell you at the store?"
"Most of the same stuff. I told them I found my real father and they said that you still wouldn't keep me, because you were probably embarrassed by me. I tried to tell them you weren't like that. But they said I wouldn't know after my history with being with people who didn't want me. And I guess I started to believe them."
"Thats why you started calling us by our first names?" Danny interpreted.
"I didn't think I could trust you anymore," Andy dropped her head when she said it. "You were making me lose the first room I had and loved since I felt like I was really part of a family."
"You can always trust us Andy," Danny made her look them in the eye. "We chose you, even though we knew you had a past with trouble. I found you roaming the streets, fighting at the youth center and I new you were a run away. Yet we still made the decision to bring you into our family. And then, when we found out I was your father, that impacted our relationship even further."
"Do you understand Andy?" Linda sounded hopeful.
"I'm sorry," Andy said, showing she understood.
"None of this is your fault," Linda shook her head. "And I'm going to be sure to talk to the school about Mallory bothering you."
"You don't need to do that. I had to learn to get used to it a long time ago. I guess I must be losing it since I've moved in. The old me wouldn't have let anything slip and you never would have known anything."
"You never should have had to get used to it," Linda said first of all. "And I'm glad you've been able to let it slip. We want you to be able to talk to us anytime you feel the need. And we want you to trust us."
"And we're going to prove it. I have some time off this weekend and we're going to get started on your new room," Danny interrupted.
"It's fine Dad," Andy assured him. "I'm fine with whatever."
"At least I'm getting Dad again," Danny teased.
"I'm sorry," Andy apologized again. "What do you want me to say?"
"You don't have to say anything," Linda hugged her.
"You know something," Andy said once she was released. "I think we should take a moment to relish in the fact that I didn't get into a fight this week even though I was beyond tempted."
"All that shows is that your capable of not fighting," Linda said pointedly.
"Mom, I wanted to face plant her into the ground."
"And for once I wouldn't have minded," Danny admitted.
"Danny," Linda was quick to step in.
"I'm serious," Danny didn't refrain. "After everything that kids told her."
"You mean I could have kicked her butt and I wouldn't have gotten in trouble?" Andy was seriously wishing she could go back and redo the whole weeks events if it meant a moment of pleasure.
"Andy, you still would have gotten in trouble at school," Linda reminded her.
"I've never cared about what the school can do to me," Andy said emphatically. "It's you two I don't like to face."
"At least we're doing something right."
XXXXXXXX
Friday afternoon finally arrived, and that found Andy, Danny and Jamie working on the stairway.
"Do you have plans on how this is supposed to look?" Jamie wondered.
"Of course," Danny shrugged his concern off. "I did work in construction at one time."
"Danny you were still in school at the time."
"That doesn't mean I didn't learn anything."
"So is Dad coming by?" Jamie wondered.
"He said he might," Danny replied reading the plans he had in hand.
"Andy, hand me that board," he said reaching for his drill.
"Which one? That one, or this one?" Andy pointed a few out.
"That one," Jamie answered for him.
Andy had just lifted the board and was about to hand it to Jamie when she heard something, causing her to turn around in a hurry and hit Danny in the head with it.
"Aww!" Danny dropped his drill and grabbed his head.
Andy's mouth dropped when she realized what she had done, while Jamie was busy making sure his brother was okay.
"Did I hurt him?" She asked anxiously.
"He's going to have one heck of a bruise," Jamie responded. "But I think he'll live."
"I'm so sorry Dad," Andy apologized.
"I just found out the hard way why contractors always wear hardhats," Danny groaned.
"I thought you knew that already, being in construction and all," Jamie teased.
"We're working in my home with not even close to a full construction crew," Danny said emphatically. "This is totally different."
"Maybe you should do something a little less dangerous," Jamie suggested, taking Andy aside.
"Maybe I shouldn't help at all," Andy offered her own suggestion. "I'm sure Mom wants me to start packing my room up."
"No," Danny stopped her. "Your helping. I'm trying to make a point about trust remember?"
"In that case, you might want to pull out that hard hat," she muttered.
"Andy," he warned.
"I'm going to get to work over here," Andy was quick to escape, before she found herself in trouble.
"What do you have Andy doing anyway?" Danny wondered when he noticed how quiet it became.
"Since there's going to be five stairs at the beginning, then a small landing before the rest of the stairs, I gave her the dimensions and she's making sure they are all the same size."
"Good idea," Danny said his eyes wide. "I don't have a hard hat."
Andy eventually growing tired of the work and she managed to convince Danny to let her start packing her old room up so Sean could move in. Her suggestion to quit didn't come however until she dropped the drill on Jamie's foot and accidentally started to screw something in she wasn't supposed to. But the main thing that pushed Danny to his limit was when she made a whole in the wall with his hammer.
The two brothers continued to work for several hours, Danny and Jamie making great progress. At least not when they were interrupted by the three children in the home. Danny mentioning several times, that they were the reason they couldn't hire someone. The brothers interruption continued when Andy and Sean fought over who was going to help them paint the stairway. Jamie tried to tell them they weren't nearly prepared to enter that stage of the jobs but that didn't keep brother and sister from arguing about it anyways.
Things only got worse when Andy had an all out tug of war with one of the boards with Jack. They had been going back and forth for several minutes, neither one paying a bit of attention to Jamie, who had been telling them to stop for just as long.
"Your more than welcome to take the paddle to both their butts," Danny gave his permission.
Jamie didn't take him up on his offer, and continued with his work while his niece and nephew continued their struggle with the board for at least another minute when Andy decided to let go, causing her brother to fall atop of Jamie who was hunched over drilling some of the boards in place.
"I'll take that paddle now," Jamie said picking himself up off the floor.
"We're sorry Uncle Jamie," Jack was quick to apologize.
"Yeah Uncle Jamie," Andy covered. "It won't happen again."
"You bet it won't it won't happen again," Jamie said shaking the pain in his hand away that was caused when he was fallen on.
"Please Uncle Jamie," the both pleaded. "We won't fight anymore."
Jamie sighed but eventually gave in, telling them to beat it before her changed his mind.
"Your a sucker you know that right," Danny looked at his brother. "You let them get away with something they shouldn't have been doing in the first place."
"Your their father and your right here," Jamie justified.
"Yes, but you were the one telling them to stop. And you were the one they weren't listening to," Danny pointed out.
"What was I supposed to do? Actually crack them in the butt."
"Mom and Dad never had any trouble with us," Danny reminded him. "And Erin's gone through with it a time or two with those same children that were just in here when they stayed with her.
"I can't help it," Jamie threw his hands up. "I'm the fun uncle."
"Taking your niece to Rikers is fun?" Danny looked at him questioningly. "Thanks for taking care of her by the way.
"So I help them out when they need me," Jamie surrendered. "What else is an uncle supposed to do?"
"Just wait," Danny pointed at him. "One day they'll push you to your limit. Especially Andy. She can find trouble anywhere."
"There not that bad," Jamie shook his head.
"That's because you don't live with them."
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