In the course of a life, a man must have many faces. Monday through Friday, from seven in the morning until seven in the evening, with the random Saturday or Sunday thrown in for good measure, he was Captain James Deakins, supervisor of the NYPD's Major Case Squad. A dedicated, meticulous civil servant, he was on the fast track to the top floor at One Police Plaza. If he played his cards right, the title of Chief of Detectives or, God willing, Deputy Commissioner was well within his grasp. He held rein over some of the best detectives the city had to offer, keeping all the conflicting personalities and investigation styles working together. The squad had its highest solve rate under his care.
But, after seven during the week, and most weekends, he was either Jimmy or Dad. For all the pain and turmoil he was exposed to on the job, he brought home equal measures of love and dedication to his family. They were his refuge, his salvation.
Lazy Saturday afternoons were spent sitting in the backyard, getting all the latest gossip from Melissa and Heidi, his two youngest daughters. Angie would leave Jimmy and the girls to their conversations, having heard all the news in the course of the week.
Saturday evenings were reserved for husband and wife. Usually, they would have the house to themselves, the girls at a movie or with friends. As Jimmy had started working his way up the political ladder, Angie had asked only one thing of him. Loving and trusting her as he did, needing her to get through the week, he had readily agreed. Saturday night had been Date Night ever since.
Dinner was always quiet, intimate. They took turns cooking and always cleaned up together. Afterwards, they would sit on the couch; her head on his chest, his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. Sometimes they would watch a movie; sometimes they would just talk. But they always spent the entire evening together, reconnecting.
Sunday always brought Elizabeth, the oldest, home from Columbia. Brunch had become a family tradition around the same time as Date Night. This was Jimmy's time to talk, to tell the more amusing stories from the week. Anyone who thought that all cops were morbid, solemn, habitually angry people needed only come to brunch at the Deakins' home to find out the truth. The occasional guest had been invited to brunch, whether a friend of one of the girls or a co-worker of Angie or Jimmy's, and they always left in a good mood.
Sunday evening was spent finishing the weekend's tasks. Jimmy often ended up in the garage, fixing something. It was his time to decompress, to shed the remaining stress of the week by working with his hands. Angie would come and find him in time for the late night news, which they watched together. Jimmy could tell what Monday morning would be like from the news. He was rarely wrong.
Monday through Friday, with the occasional Saturday or Sunday thrown in for good measure, he was a captain with the NYPD. The rest of the time, he was a father and family man. And he wouldn't trade either of those things for the world.