The next morning Frank couldn't wake early enough. He hastily got dressed and rushed to his office without even having breakfast or saying a proper goodbye to pops. The ride to 1PP was nerve-wracking for the commissioner feared whether he will find the boy back in the park or not.
He even didn't wait for his driver to open the door for him and jumped out of the car the moment it stopped at Police Plaza's parking lot.
The commissioner rushed to the park, wondering what he will find there.
He felt relieved once he saw the boy's head peeking out of the old cartoon box. The boy was still sleeping, probably because he came back late last night or early this morning.
Frank came a little bit closer to the boy, but not too much for he feared he could make the boy run again.
He tried to have a better look at the boy this time. The similarities with his son were undeniable. At least judging by the features, Frank could see from his angle. The hair color was the same. He had got the same nose and even a chin. The rest of his body, Frank could not see for the boy was huddled in an old sleeping bag.
Frank kept observing the boy.
It just didn't make any sense.
Why wouldn't his son just come home if he has been here all the time? Didn't he know who he was when he saw him last night? Didn't he know he was his father?
All these thoughts were running through Frank's head as he was standing there next to the sleeping boy. Although the commissioner wanted nothing but to take the boy home to pops, and probably give him a good bath, he knew it was necessary that he gained the boy's trust first.
It made no sense to call children's services for the boy would most likely run away again.
As the commissioner was standing there in autumn's cold, observing the child right in front of him, he suddenly realized that he most likely didn't have any breakfast yet, and so did Frank.
Frank went to a restaurant nearby and bought some proper breakfast for the boy and himself. Pancakes with maple syrup and hot cocoa for the boy for this used to be Jamie's favorite breakfast when he was a little boy, and some scrambled eggs for him.
He then came back to the park and laid the bag with the boy's breakfast on the ground right in front so he would find it once he was awake.
The commissioner knew he had to leave before the boy would wake up so he could at least have the breakfast in peace without being scared.
It was breaking Frank's heart to leave that child on the street just like that. Besides, he was dying with fear that something could happen to that sweet boy, but once again, he reminded himself that he will make sure that George will keep an eye on him. He made the old gates man promise to call him if something was going on with the boy.
When the commissioner entered his office twenty minutes later, he got caught up by several of his subordinates who wanted to have a quick word with him, he immediately came over to the window and looked outside towards the park. The boy was already awake, and he found the bag with the food Frank left there for him. To commissioner's satisfaction, he already opened the box, and with hungry bites, he started eating its content.
At least the kid had some breakfast today. The commissioner thought for himself, but he was far away from being satisfied.
***BB***
"I'm telling you, it just doesn't make any sense for me to go there," Frank protested once Garrett brought up some gala the mayor apparently wanted him to attend.
"Come on, Frank. I have been putting off all your invitations for months by now, it's time for you to get out. Besides, I'm running out of excuses," Garrett informed the commissioner.
"It's too soon, Garrett," the commissioner said to his trusty employee and friend in one person.
"Fran, you have been using Mary as an excuse for quite some time. If I may, I think it's time for you to move on." The DCPI Garrett More made his point.
Frank just sighed heavily and stood up from behind his desk.
Why was nobody listening to him? He thought.
He came over to the window and looked at the street. It was already dark outside. He could see that has lightened up some campfire to keep himself warm.
During the day, the commissioner found himself that he came over to the window several times just to make sure that the boy was okay.
"It's getting late," the commissioner pointed out as he looked at his watch. It was already half past six. It was almost time to go home. Besides, he wanted to check on the boy before he will leave tonight. "Let's wrap it up here. I have some other things I need to take care of before I go," Frank announced to his friend.
"Alright," Garrett nodded his head as he too stood up. He also had to go home, or he would get into troubles with his wife.
"Could you tell Baker to come in before you go?" The commissioner asked Garrett.
"Of course," Garrett agreed.
It took only about a minute, and his assistant detective Baker walked into his office.
"Sir," she addressed her boss.
"Baker, I want you to order some food for me if you could," the commissioner asked his assistant as he was looking at some files in front of him.
"Of course, sir, what would you like?" Baker questioned, ready to fulfill any of his requests.
"Well, I was thinking Mac and cheese and some fried chicken, to begin with. And then probably some milkshake and a desert, ideally, a chocolate one," the commissioner instructed his assistant.
Baker just raised her eyebrows because by now she knew commissioner's taste quite well. Or at least she thought she did.
"Ehm, sir, if I may, you sure you really want that?" She wanted to make sure. "I heard that Junior's is serving their famous spring chicken tonight. I could get you one." She suggested carefully, knowing where was her place.
"It's not for me," The commissioner gave her a kind smile, being a bit amused that Baker thought it was for him. "It's for that boy who lives in the park opposite to 1 PP." He explained.
"A boy?" Baker raised her eyebrows surprised. "Should I notify the social workers, sir?" She questioned.
"No," her boss just shook his head. "Garrett and I already had some interaction with that child, and it only scared him away. So for now, I think it will be for the best if we just made sure that he stays warm, has something to eat and otherwise keep an eye on him before we figure out what to do with him." Frank revealed his plan to Baker.
"Understood," the young woman replied, although naturally, she had her opinion on the situation.
"Thank you, Baker, that will be all for tonight," the commissioner stated as he laid his eyes back on the files he was about to read, letting her know that their conversation was finished.
About thirty minutes later, Frank headed to the park once again, equipped with two bags full of food. He also took one of those blankets his officers kept in their patrol cars in case of need.
He might need to purchase a new, much warmer sleeping bag for the boy. The commissioner thought as he was nearing the place where the boy lived. Why hasn't he thought about that earlier? He berated himself. He could have Baker purchase the bag for him already so the boy could spend this night warm or at least much warmer than he probably was now.
Frank approached the child who was cuddled in his dirty-looking scattered sleeping back, trying to keep warm.
The boy grew instantly nervous once he saw the commissioner nearing him.
"It's alright," Frank told the boy in a kind voice. "I brought you some food," he informed the child as he laid the bag with warm food on the ground within the boy's reach. "I bet you must be hungry."
The boy looked at him suspiciously at first, but then he smelled the fried chicken.
His stomach wobbled, and he realized he hadn't eaten anything the whole day, except for the breakfast Frank brought him earlier that day, but the boy didn't know that.
He opened the bag hastily. With his dirty little fingers, or at least compared to Frank's fingers, they seemed small, he took the fried chicken out, and without hesitation, he took a good bite of it.
But as he was eating his chicken, he kept casting Frank suspicious looks as if he was afraid that he will take the food away from him.
"Alright, why don't I leave you to your dinner," the commissioner suggested once he saw the nervous look the boy was giving him.
"I'll come tomorrow, and I will bring you some more food," he promised. "And one more thing before I go. I brought you this," he announced as he presented the boy with the warm blanket. "It should help you stay warm or at least for tonight."
The boy took the blanket gratefully and pulled it close to his chest as if the commissioner gave him the most valuable thing in the world.
Although Frank wanted desperately to stay, he realized it was more important to gain the boy's trust in the first place, and therefore with a heavy heart, he left the park.
***BB***
The next day the commissioner brought the boy not only some warm food, but also a brand new much warmer sleeping bag Baker purchased for him. He also asked his assistant to buy some warm clothes such as a hat, scarf but mainly a new winter jacket. He still didn't have any proof that the boy was his son, but in his mind, he thought that if it were his child, then he would want someone to take care of his boy. And therefore Frank Reagan made a commitment to take care of this child no matter whether it was his Jamie or not.
He kept visiting the boy every morning as he was coming to the office and in the evening when he was leaving. Sometimes, under some random excuse, he disappeared from his office during the day and went to the park to see whether the boy was alright. He always made sure to bring some food and something to drink for the boy. But sometimes to his disappointment, he found the box which served as the boy's sleeping arrangement empty. The only thing which kept Frank Reagan relatively calm was that he kept seeing the boy in the morning when he was coming to 1 PP.
This scenario has repeated over and over for days by now, and the boy still hasn't said a single word to him. Neither he seemed as if he recognized him. But there was this strong bound the commissioner felt to this boy that made him believe that the boy was his son.
It was not long before the Thanksgiving when the commissioner was about to go home after a long day at the office when he saw the boy trying to warm up next to his campfire he opened in an old bin.
It was cold outside and the forecast for upcoming days promised that it would get even colder. The boy couldn't stay on the street, or he would risk serious frostbites or even worse.
"It's going to be a cold night," Frank told the boy as he brought him some extra blankets, hot tea, and some food.
The boy took the offered blankets eagerly from Frank, and the commissioner could swear he saw the boy smile for the first time.
"I know you are a tough child, but you can't stay on the street tonight, it's going to be really cold," the commissioner continued.
There was no way the kid was going to survive on the street, not if the temperatures were going to drop below zero.
"You know what?" He looked at the boy in the eyes, trying to get his trust. "Why don't you come with me to my place tonight?" He asked.
At this point, he didn't really care whether the boy was really his Jamie or not. The only thing he cared about was that the boy would be someplace warm tonight. That was the only thing which mattered at the moment.
But the boy seemed reluctant.
"It's much warmer in my place than here," Frank tried to reason with the boy. "Besides, pops makes amazing spaghetti ala carbonara. You might want to try them." He tried to convince the boy.
But the boy just shook his head.
Frank just sighed heavily. This was going to be a tough nut to crack. He thought.
"Listen, I know you are afraid. But I want you to know that you don't have to. Because all I want to do is to help you."
"Come on, if I wanted to hurt you, would I really be bringing you all those food and warm clothes?" The commissioner questioned.
It took Frank sometime before he convinced the boy to come with him to the waiting car.
It was warm inside.
The boy looked nervously around as if he was looking for a way out.
He realized he didn't belong there.
Suddenly, he felt slightly ashamed of his dirty clothes and that he particularly didn't smell like roses. He lowered his had, embarrassed with his appearance.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," Frank assured the kid when he saw how nervous the boy looked. "I'm sure it's not your fault you ended up on the street."
***BB***
"Right, here we are," Frank told the boy as they came to his house.
"Pops, I'm home, and I have a guest with me," he called at his father as he was helping the boy take the winter jacket he purchased for him off.
The boy was looking silently around as if he was trying to get his head around the fact that this could be someone's home.
"Francis," Henry greeted his son as he came into the hallway from the kitchen.
The former commissioner stopped in his tracks when he saw the deprived boy who was accompanying the commissioner. "And who is this little chap?" He asked warmly, handing his hand to the boy.
"That's our guest, pop," Frank announced to his father as he gave Henry I'll explain later look. "I was hoping you could give him something to eat while I prepare him Jamie's old bedroom and a hot bath."
"Alright," Henry nodded his head. By now, he was kind of used to the fact that his son sometimes acted strangely. But Francis bringing home a homeless kid, well, that was a whole new level. But the former commissioner attributed that to the fact that his son was desperately trying to find Jamie.
"If you would follow me to the kitchen, I'll find you something to eat," he gave the boy a smirk.
"I prepared you a hot bath," the commissioner announced when he came back to the kitchen, where the boy was just finishing the soup Henry prepared for him. He was carrying some fresh towels in his hands. "If you are finished, I will show you to the bathroom." The commissioner suggested.
The boy put down the bowl back at the table and followed Frank to the bathroom only grudgingly.
"I prepared some of my sons' old clothes for you so you can change for the night. There is also some clean underwear," Frank explained, pointing at the pile with some clean sweatshirts, trunks, etc. "I'm pretty sure you will find something that will fit." He told the boy before he left him in the bathroom.
"So, you really think it's him?" Henry asked his son once he came to Jamie's old room; the commissioner was preparing for their guest.
Frank stopped changing the sheets for a moment and turned to his father:
"I know it may sound crazy to you, pops, but ever since I met him, I feel this strong connection to him I can't really explain... Besides, they are about the same age, they have got the same hair, eyes, even nose, and chin ... I really think it's him!" The commissioner insisted.
"Think or wish?" Henry questioned as he helped his son change the sheets on Jamie's old bed.
"I would be lying if I said I don't wish it was him," the man, who was broken by the events of the last couple of years, admitted.
"Just don't get your hopes up, Francis!" His father warned him, "there is still chance that it's not our Jamie!"
"I know, pops. I know," Frank nodded his head sadly.
***BB***
"Alright, so this is the room we prepared for you," Frank announced to the boy as he was leading him to Jamie's old bedroom. "I hope you will like it."
He chose Jamie's old room on purpose, secretly hoping that he will find it familiar. But to his disappointment, the boy just looked confusedly around. As always, he hasn't said a single word. "My room is just across the hall. So, if you needed anything, just knock on the door." The commissioner told the boy before he told him goodnight. He couldn't help it but run his hand through the boy's soft hair. He wanted nothing but to take the boy, the boy he was so convinced it was his son, to his loving arms and hold him forever. But he knew he couldn't do that, not if the boy did not recognize him.
This was torture for Frank.
He leaned down and planted the boy's head, which was now freshly washed, a good night's kiss. Before he left the room. It was a long day, and they all needed to get a got rest before tomorrow. As he was trying to fall asleep, the commissioner was thinking about what he should do next. He needed to make sure that the boy was really his son. In his heart, he knew it. But he needed solid evidence. A DNA test or tooth imprints. He should definitely take Jamie to the doctor in the morning. Not only to get his blood tested but mainly to check that the boy was not ill or injured. After all, he lived on the street for God knows how long among homeless men, he could have easily caught an infectious disease such as tuberculosis. Besides, he definitely had something with his leg for he was limping. The commissioner realized as he was going through the list of things they needed to take care of the next day. It was going to be one busy day. Fran thought before he fell asleep.
But the next morning, when the commissioner woke up, and he went to check on Jamie, he found out that the boy was gone. He looked downstairs, but the boy wasn't there.
"Pops!" The commissioner cried out with great urgency in his voice.
"What's going on, Francis?" Henry wanted to know immediately. He was still half asleep because it was still very early. "You're gonna give me a heart attack!"
"He is gone, pops!" Frank cried out desperately.
"What do you mean, he is gone?" The former commissioner asked his son confused.
"Jamie's gone!"
TBC
AN:
Sorry for the wait, guys, but I am so busy with work. Two more weeks to go before the summer holidays begin…