I'm so sorry for how long it took me to post this chapter! I got distracted by a couple new stories for another fandom, and then got really busy with orientation for a new job. Thank you for all the reviews on the last chapter and the requests for this chapter. I can't tell you all how much your enjoyment of this story means to me!

Chapter 20

Kate entered the house quietly. She could hear the low rumble of conversation coming from the dining room, the clink of silverware. She took Carlos' jacket and tossed it down on a chair in the living room with hers as they passed through.

She entered the dining room, glancing toward Danny to find reassurance in his presence even before he noticed her. She opened her mouth to say something, let them know she was there, when she saw him.

Joe was sitting next to Danny.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, the question escaping before she could stop it, take the time to think of any possible reason for Joe Hill to be sitting at her family's dinner table.

The entire family stopped, looked up. Kate stared at Joe. He looked up, his brow wrinkling, apparently finding her as out of place in the Reagan home as she found him.

Joe looked from her to Carlos, back to her and then his face cleared. "Katie," he said, almost to himself. "Katie Reagan."

Hearing the name she had left behind coming from the man who was supposed to be only a part of her new life, rattled her. "It's Kate," she snapped, her voice harsh as she tried to shelter herself from whatever was happening. Panic started to set in as she wondered what Joe had told her family. Was that why he was here? Carlos had Joe was supposed to be with his dad's family—meeting his dad's…

"Joe," she said, echoing the realization Joe had when he realized she fit into the Reagan clan. That's why he had reminded her of her brother. All the small gestures, the expression he could get on his face. It was because he was her brother's son.

She felt Carlos' hand at the small of her back, just enough pressure to steady her as he had apparently put the pieces together more quickly than she or Joe had.

"You've met Detective Hill?" Frank asked.

Kate had trouble taking her eyes of Joe, seeing him as if for the first time, reconciling the sight of him at her family's table.

"Yeah," Joe said. "We're friends." He was clearly planning to cover for her.

Kate moved toward the table. She hated the weakness she felt at Joe calling her a friend. She didn't have any response to that.

She managed to look away from Joe long enough to see her father and Danny eyeing Carlos.

"And you brought another friend?" Frank asked, his face impassive.

"I brought…Carlos," Kate said, not sure what to call him.

Apparently realizing Kate wasn't going to offer more, Carlos extended his hand to Frank. "Carlos Renzulli, Commissioner. I work the Firearms Investigation Unit with Joe, sir."

Frank took the offered hand.

"Dad, he's Sargent Renzulli's son," Jaime offered.

Frank nodded then. "He's a good man. He must be proud to have his son following in his footsteps."

"I hope so, sir," Carlos said.

Frank tapped his hands against the table, like a judge's gavel, making a decision. "Let's get an extra place set for Carlos."

"I'll get it," Eddie offered.

"I can get it," Kate said, needing space to get herself together.

Eddie followed her into the kitchen anyway. She went to the cabinet that held the plates. "You didn't know about Joe?" Eddie asked without turning back to Kate.

Kate shook her head, even though she knew Eddie couldn't see her.

Eddie set the plate on the counter, and studied Kate. "Joe didn't know about you? Who you are?"

Kate clenched her jaw. "We didn't exactly meet in normal circumstances."

"Yeah. I get that." Eddie got the silverware and an extra glass. She handed the glass to Kate to carry, getting the plate herself, but paused before going back to the dining room. "I'm glad you have him in your life now. Joe and Carlos both. They seem like good guys."

And good guys didn't last long in her world. Kate silently followed Eddie back to the table.

Carlos stood and pulled out Kate's chair. She didn't look at him. She risked a quick look at Joe, saw him studying her, trying to fit her into this new persona.

Carlos leaned in and his breath fanned her ear. "So you have a cop in the family, huh?" he whispered.

She bit her lip to keep the smile that threatened from the surface.

"So, uh, Carlos," Danny spoke up. "How long have you known Kate?"

"Danny," Erin said, clear warning in her voice.

Some small part of Kate thawed at the sound of her big sister intervening.

"What? She rolls in here with some guy and I'm not allowed to ask anything?"

Kate planted her feet under her chair, ready to push back and leave.

Danny looked at her, saw the look on her face. "I'm just asking, Katie. Kate." He picked his glass up, took a drink, studying Carlos. "And, not for nothin', any guy is better than that Johnny character."

Everything in Kate tensed. It was the first Danny had broken his silence. She flashed a look to Joe, saw his understanding, felt Carlos' hand on hers.

"Who's Johnny?" Frank asked.

"No one," Kate snapped.

"Danny, now's not the time," Erin said, her voice getting firmer.

Danny held his hands up, signaling he was backing off.

"What I would like to know," Frank said, "is how you came to be in the company of two Firearms Unit detectives."

Kate slammed her fork down on the table. "I'm their CI." She dared her father to respond to that.

Frank took a breath, frustration clearly mounting. "Well, isn't that just what every father wants to hear. My daughter, the criminal informant."

At that, Kate shoved her chair back.

"Dad," Jaime said, reaching out a hand for Kate.

Henry finally spoke up. "I think it's best if we all just take a breath."

"Good idea, Grandpa," Erin said.

"You good?" Carlos asked under his breath.

No. She wasn't. There was no going back and trying to reconnect with her family was a mistake. She looked across the table and saw Joe, the compassion in his eyes.

"I'm good," she answered, every muscle in her body taut.

"If you think about it," Jack piped up. "Being a CI is practically like being in the family business."

"Eat your dinner," Danny said, shoving a serving bowl of potatoes closer to his son.

Silence descended on the table. Kate shoved the food around her plate. Eddie made an attempt at conversation and Joe gave it his best, his more reserved nature keeping him quiet.

Kate rubbed at the tattoo on the inside of her wrist, then saw Joe watching her and slipped her hands under the table.

"How do like Brooklyn North?" Frank asked Carlos.

"Good, sir. Commissioner," Carlos answered. "It's a good group there."

"I imagine your father is proud of you."

"I hope so, sir."

Frank finally managed a small smile. "Just Frank is fine, Carlos. No need for any of that One PP formality here."

Carlos nodded, but Kate wondered how well he would manage to leave formality behind with the police commissioner. She wondered if Carlos wanted to get out of there as badly as she did.

Kate made it through the meal, focused on nothing but her plate.

"Who's ready for dessert?" Erin asked, breaking into another long stretch of silence.

"We need to go," Kate said. She finally pushed her chair back.

Frank looked up at her abrupt announcement. "Will you be back next Sunday?" he asked.

Kate shook her head. "I don't know."

Frank's mustache moved as his jaw worked. "Will you leave a number where we can reach you?"

Behind the judgment, the reserve in his eyes, she saw the first hint of weakness in her father's dark eyes. Like he actually missed her, grieved for her. It was enough to have her soften slightly.

"Jaime has my number," she said. "He can give it to you."

"Thank you," Frank said quietly.

Kate needed to leave. She had to get out of there.

"I'll walk you out, kid," Danny said.

Joe and Carlos followed suit, pushing away from the table, thanking Frank for the meal. Kate left ahead of them, needing to get out of the house. Danny went with her.

Outside, on the front steps, Danny stood next to Kate, hands in his pockets.

"I didn't mean to bring up Johnny," he said.

Kate tensed at his name coming from her brother's mouth. She didn't want those worlds to collide.

"Not for nothing, but I would give anything to go back and knock some sense into that numskull's head four years ago." Danny's lips thinned into a tight line.

Kate shook her head. "There wasn't anything you could have done differently," she said. She struggled to get the words out. "I wouldn't have let you."

Danny shook his head, anger spreading across his face. "When customs caught you coming back from Cancun with a backpack full of drugs—"

"It's too late to change anything," she said, finality in her words. And she thought of Frannie and stopped herself from telling Danny that she wouldn't change anything, even if she could.

The front door opened and Carlos and Joe came out. Kate took a step away from Danny, her fingers going to trace over her tattoo again.

"What's with the ink?" Danny asked, nodding toward her wrist.

Kate glanced down at the small Roman numerals in black ink across her wrist.

"It's Joe's birthday," Joe said, almost to himself as he looked at the numbers. "My dad's birthday."

Feeling too exposed, Kate tugged her sleeve down to cover her wrist. Carlos handed her her jacket and she shrugged it on, an extra layer over the tattoo.

Danny was looking at her. "Joe would have liked that," he said. He cleared his throat, clearing away the memories that clouded his face.

Kate fought the urge to rub her fingers over the tattoo again.

"It was good to meet you, both of you," Danny said to Joe and Carlos. He shook Joe's hand, then Carlos'. He paused before going inside. "Thanks for coming with Kate," he said. Kate got the feeling he was thanking Carlos for more than just bringing her to the meal.

After Danny was back inside, Kate let out a long breath.

"That was…" Carlos started.

"Brutal," Kate supplied for him. She looked at Joe, winced. "It shouldn't have been so bad for your first time meeting the family. I shouldn't have showed up. It made it worse."

Joe lifted a shoulder in a shrug. "I wouldn't have known you're a Reagan if you hadn't. That you're my dad's sister."

It was unnerving, hearing Joe refer to her brother as his dad.

Joe started walking toward a car parked on the street, Kate and Carlos walking with him. "So that makes you, what? My…aunt?"

Kate's steps faltered. She looked at Joe. Her nephew?

"This is getting too weird," Carlos said. "Does Frannie like ice cream?" he asked.

Kate nodded.

"Let's go get Frannie and Lacey and head out for some cones," he said.

Kate imagined the relief on Joe's face at being done with the painful family meal and being able to go do something normal matched her own.

"Go get your kid, I'll meet you guys over at Inside Scoop," Joe said. "Aunt Kate," he added with the hint of a smile.

Kate gave him a glare without much heat behind it. She got into Carlos' car, glancing back only once at her father's home as they left it behind.

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