CH. 8: Still Learning Part 1
Monday came, and Danny returned to work, while Linda stayed with the children. She had a lot to do before the boys were ready for the semester, and she had even more to do to get Tayler ready for the semester. Jack and Sean had grown over the semester and needed new uniforms as well as Tayler. The boys were both already registered at the Parochial School they attended. But registering them was not nearly as difficult as Linda knew it would be with Tayler. Jack and Sean had both attended Parochial School since the beginning, so all Linda had to do was pay the tuition fee. However, she had yet to receive her daughters records from her previous school, and she knew she had to have that, before she even tried to get her registered. Linda had been checking her emails daily from anyone from the school, but she had yet to receive anything. She had called early that morning, but unfortunately she was still playing the waiting game.
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"Morning," Detective Maria Baez placed a cup of coffee in front of her partner when she arrived at the precinct that morning.
"I need this," Danny picked up the steaming cup of energy. The aroma filling his nostrils the closer he brought the styrofoam cup to his mouth.
"You are here early." Baez knew that her partner didn't always arrive at the precinct ahead of her. At least not during the school semester when he and Linda took turns dropping their children off at school. During the summer however, it was a different story. And it was as if he had no children, considering they were both still in bed when he left for work.
"Trying to make some headway."
"Anything yet," Baez made her way to her own desk.
"Nothing," Danny shook his head frustrated.
There were several moments of silence, Danny staring somewhere off in the distance, while he rubbed his chin.
"What?" Baez looked at him questioningly.
"I'm thinking," Danny said frustrated.
"About how to catch our perp?" She asked hopeful.
"What else?" Danny didn't think there was anything else on either of their minds. Including everyone at 1PP. "If only I could figure out where they are holding these kids."
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Jack and Sean were busy outside riding their bikes up and down the street, while Tayler sat in her bedroom alone watching television. Linda tried to get the three to do something together outside, but she was met with opposition when the boys complained about asking their half sister to join them. And it wasn't like Tayler would know they were outside, considering she didn't like to leave her room, at least not willingly. Danny had tied Taylers bicycle on the rack atop his jeep so she would have one, but Tayler had yet to touch it since they got home.
Linda really didn't want to have to enforce her rule of a limited amount of tv, at least not yet. But after not seeing Tayler since lunch, she was forced to do just that.
"Tayler," Linda said once she reached the basement. "I'd like for you to go outside and get a little fresh air. Perhaps ride your bike with your brothers?"
"No thanks," Tayler shook her head, not even bothering to take her eyes off the tv screen in front of her, to engulfed in the movie.
"Tayler," Linda picked up the remote and pressed the power button.
"Linda!" Tayler complained loudly. "Why'd you do that? I was watching that."
Tayler couldn't believe she had just said that. It wasn't like her, not in the least. Her personality was reserved, and if something was bothering her, never would she speak of it to a stranger.
"Because I want you to do something other than sit in your room and watch tv all day," Linda kept her tone in check. She wasn't thrilled with her daughters raised tone, but she refrained from correcting the daughter she was just beginning to get to know.
"But you said I could," Tayler again was surprised that she said something that resembled an argument. She wasn't sure if she meant for it to sound as such. But, it did nonetheless.
"Correction," Linda held up her index finger. "I said you could watch tv within reason. But never all day."
"The great outdoors really isn't my thing," Tayler shook her head.
"And it doesn't have to be," Linda didn't by any means want to be the parent that pushed things on her children. "I'd just like for you to be open to new things. You have been given an opportunity to start over. So please don't waste it."
"Can I go now?"
"Yes," Lindas voice was low.
Tayler started to make her way up the basement stairs, but was stopped short. "Tayler," Linda gave her a small smile. "Try to have a good time."
Tayler didn't say anything, but she did nod, causing Linda to be grateful for at least that form of acknowledgement.
Tayler hoped her mother was right, and as she made her way up the stairs, something inside her changed. It wasn't necessarily based on the fact that she was angry. It was more based on the fact that she wanted to prove something to herself. She wanted to prove that she was a strong person capable of being independent. She had been somewhat independent her life. But to her, independent had two meanings. One meaning was being able to care for herself like she did when her father was away working. The other meaning meant being capable of starting a new life. A life that she knew would be better than the first. Knowing this didn't erase the fact that she was fearful of her new surroundings. She was however, determined to make it work. But if making it work meant a life change. Then she figured she had to do just that. "But how?" She said the last two words aloud.
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Linda didn't stay in the basement for long, aside from moving into the small room they added on so she could put another load of laundry in the wash machine.
She was making her way up from the basement while her thoughts echoed loudly in her head. Never had Tayler raised her voice at her in such a manner as she did when she turned the television off on her. She had never been bothered by outbursts from other people directed towards her. But one thing was certain, it was never directed towards her from one of her own children. Then again, it wasn't like she allowed her sons to even consider speaking to her or her husband in such a manner. And she had not intention of letting Tayler do it either. The only thing that stopped her however was the same thing that had stopped her from correcting her at the very beginning. She and Tayler knew little to nothing about one another, and they weren't going to get to know one another by Linda exerting too much parental authority, at least not yet. Another variable that was thrown in, was based on the fact that the girl was a teenager, and she shouldn't be surprised by her outburst. It was only natural the girl react in such a manner. At least so she thought, even if outbursts were not really in her daughters characteristics.
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"What are you doing out here?" Sean leaned forward on the handlebars of his bicycle, when he saw his half-sister approach he and his brother.
"Linda's idea," Tayler mumbled, not appearing too thrilled with the idea of having to leave the basement. "She said something about trying something new."
"Whats wrong with what you were doing?" Jack had to admit, he liked it when it was just he and his brother.
"No idea," she grumbled in response.
"I don't want to go back to school?" Sean complained, just thinking of how his days of leisure were about to change.
"When does is start?" Tayler had to admit she hadn't done much thinking on the subject.
"Next week," he responded.
"So how far are we allowed to go on our bikes?" Tayler asked changing the subject, while she stratled her bicycle. Not even wanting to think about school.
"Awe, is someone afraid to get in trouble?" Jack teased.
"No," Tayler said flatly, not a bit put out by her half-brothers teasing. "I never get in trouble."
"Sean does," Jack scoffed.
"No I don't," Sean argued.
"From what I've seen, you both do," Tayler said pointedly.
"And just how would you know? You've barely lived here a week." Sean replied sarcastically.
"Seems like an eternity," Jack muttered under his breath. "Anyways, your good streak may be about to end. Moms strict, and it isn't hard to get in trouble."
"Just to keep you two children from getting confused," Tayler put emphasis on the word children. "I'll refer to Linda as Mom while I explain something to you. Getting in trouble may not be hard for you. But, let's look at it from my point of view. Not only am I the oldest now, but I'm also moms only girl. So move over Jack, because I'm in charge now and it's good to be queen."
"This isn't over," Jack looked at his brother once his half-sister rode away. "Not by a long shot."
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"Hey Linda," Danny asked coming in from work that afternoon.
"I was expecting you earlier," Linda looked up from her computer screen.
"I'm surprised I got here as early as I did," Danny said matter of factly. "I'm working a case."
"Does that mean you are going to be working a lot of different hours this week?" Linda suspected the usual.
"I should be working now," Danny stated the obvious. "But I was hungry and I wanted to check on you and the kids."
"I'm glad," Linda gave him a small smile before stating the reason. "We have a situation."
"What's going on?" Danny pulled his suit jacket off before taking a seat at the table next to her.
"I'm looking through Tayler's school documents her old school sent us so we can get her registered," Linda said looking through the attendance attachment on her computer screen. "She has an exceptional attendance record," Linda mentioned. "Apparently only missed a couple days throughout the year, due to the flu."
"At least she's healthy," Danny didn't know what his wife was getting at. Considering when she brought it up, she said they had a situation.
"She might be healthy. But her grades are not," Linda moved on to the report card section of the document.
"They can't be that bad," Danny figured, thinking of his own grades.
"Look for yourself," Linda shifted the laptop over so he could read it.
"Maybe this was just from the past semester, and she was going through a bit of a rough patch," Danny was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Knowing that he, himself went through a bit of a rough patch when he was growing up. More than once in fact.
"Try the past three semesters," Linda said unfortunately.
"I don't know," Danny wasn't sure what to say.
"Well, what do you think we should do about it?" Linda asked after a moment of silence.
"There isn't really anything we can do," Danny shrugged. "Aside from talk to her about it and try to get a handle on why her grades are like this."
"Especially considering she had so much time at home," Linda added, not looking forward to the coming discussion. Yet she knew it was something that had to be done.
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"Hey is your mom in the house?" Tayler rode up into the driveway of her new home.
"You mean our mom," Jack said sarcastically. Still not thrilled with the idea of having a step sibling that moved in and claimed his position as the eldest.
"Yeah, whatever," Tayler ignored his tone and comment, as she dismounted her bicycle and moved it further into the yard.
"Dad just got home, so she's probably talking to him somewhere." Sean wasn't exactly certain what they were doing, but he knew what she usually did when their father arrived.
Tayler exhaled a deep breath, trying to determine if she could go unnoticed, by sneaking through the living room and back down to her room. Determining there was nothing to loose, Tayler made a decision. She would risk it, thinking that the worse thing that could happen, was she would be sent back out the door.
Placing a hand on the doorknob, Tayler silently turned it. Opening it just enough to fit through, Tayler took a step inside. She had just reached the basement, when she heard a familiar voice call her name.
"Tayler," Linda spoke up, the girls presence not going unnoticed like she had hoped.
Tayler sighed, but reluctantly turned around.
"Come here please, we'd like to talk with you."
"Again," Tayler had already heard her mother say so much in just the past few days, she didn't think there was anything left unsaid.
"School will be starting soon, and I think we need discuss a few things before then." Linda kept her tone firm, to show she meant business.
School, Tayler suddenly remembered the topic that hadn't been discussed in depth. And as much as she didn't want to, she solemnly took a few steps towards the dining room table. She wanted to ignore them and simply go down to her room, but she figured that wouldn't do much considering they could always follow her, and she would have no place to escape if she felt the need. Then again, behaving in such a disrespectful manner really wasn't in her characteristic. In fact, she was quite the opposite. She chose to remain silent, and instead just grit and bear it. Choosing only to say something when things became too much. Which was in fact, very similar to that of her mother. Even if she didn't know it.
Tayler didn't sit down like Linda had hoped, then again she wasn't sure if she really expected her too. She hadn't exactly shown any signs of being comfortable around them, at least not her, not too much anyways.
"Your old school, sent me your records." Linda spoke up. "And it says that your grades could use a little improvement." Linda hesitated for a moment, before she said anything further, half expecting her daughter to interrupt her. When she refused to speak, Linda continued. "Now I would understand if these grades were the best you could do. We never push our children to be more than what they are." Linda was sure to add, hoping to prove to her daughter, that she and Danny weren't the type of parents to expect more than their child's best. "But I know they are not, and I believe you are more than capable of doing better."
"How do you know?" Tayler finally felt compelled to speak. "You barely know me, and you've never seen my grades before." Tayler was fairly certain she had a point, considering she hardly ever remembered speaking to her mother in the past.
"As a matter of fact I have," Linda clarified.
"You never seemed to care before I came to live here," Tayler was trying to determine why she should care about her grades, if her parents didn't.
"Yes I did," Linda kept her expression solemn. "And I tried to talk to your father about it many times."
"So," Tayler shrugged.
"Tayler, do you know how many notes I've read from your past teachers in just the past hour?" Linda was still trying to get her daughter to see her point of view, and realize how important a good education was.
"No," the girl shook her head. Not appearing as if she was all that concerned about it. "They all say the same thing. Tayler is very smart but does not apply herself." Linda read one of the notes word for word, hoping to get her to understand a bit better.
"At least they know I'm smart," Tayler managed a small smile, seeing the bright side of the entire conversation she was having to have with her mother.
Tayler had noticed how her stepfather hadn't said a word since Linda called her over to the table. All he did rather was look through her past records, transferring some of the information to the new set of documents Linda had started to fill out for her new school.
"I want you to start applying yourself." Linda spoke up again, causing Tayler to shift her attention from watching Danny back to Linda. "Now I realize this is going to be a change and all, going to a new school." Linda softened when she said the last statement. "But I do want to start seeing better grades, and I expect your homework to be one of your number one priorities rather than watching tv. I also want to see only praises from your teachers from now on." Linda wasn't sure how she expected her daughter to react to her expectations, but she really wasn't expecting her to become so defensive. She just didn't think it was something her daughter normally did. At least not with her father.
"What makes you think I even had time to study?" Tayler replied sarcastically, reminding her mother that she was dealing with a teenager.
"Tayler, you already told me your father expected you to go home right after school."
Linda decided that rather than arguing with her, she would instead respond by reminding her of what she said herself regarding her past. "And you spent your time watching tv. Needless to say if you had time to watch TV. You had time to study. Now why didn't you study?" Linda, once again attempted to get to the bottom of her daughters low grades.
"There was no need," Tayler shrugged. "It wasn't like my Dad paid any attention anyways." This time she spoke with a bit more of a pungent tone.
Linda inhaled and exhaled a long breath, doing her best to ignore the sharp tone and instead focus on the words her daughter spoke regarding her father. She hated when she felt this way, but anytime her daughter spoke in an ill manner towards her father, it made her once again regret the years she spent away from her, as well as the neglect she succumbed to education wise.
"Well we're paying attention," Linda knew she had to ignore those feelings. Knowing that if she didn't, she would never be able to get pass the past and raise her daughter in a manner that would make her a responsible adult in the future. "And we want these grades up."
Tayler didn't say a word, rather all she did was turn around and head for the basement.
"If not, you'll be loosing privileges, until we see an improvement," Linda added, just before Tayler closed the door behind her.
"Whatever?" Tayler didn't like the fact of being threatened with receiving a measure of discipline. Especially from the parent that hadn't been a parent to her since she was a toddler. Even if it wasn't her fault. Sure she understood why her mother left after it was explained to her. And she believed her when she said she tried to form a relationship with her, but her father refused. But that still didn't mean she was willing to face consequences handed down by her.
"Tayler!" Linda called after her, but was ignored in the process. "You could have helped." She looked at her husband when he still didn't say anything.
"I'm neutral," Danny set the pen down that he was using to fill out the paperwork. "Besides, I didn't think you needed any help. You are her mother."
"And you're her stepfather," Linda reminded him.
"And that's why I'm remaining neutral. She's not use to having a present father figure in her life, and me choosing to be a family man will be an adjustment for her. Considering her father wasn't."
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Tayler was mad as she sat alone in her room. How could Linda think that she had the authority to tell her that she would receive punishment by not doing her best. On top of that, what made her think she wasn't already doing her best. It's not like she knew her, not really anyways. Then again, she guessed she knew where Linda got the idea. Almost all her old teachers wrote the same remark. But that still didn't erase the fact that she didn't believe Linda had the right to judge her for it. It's not like she had been a full time parent after all. And as much as she hated to admit it, she knew Linda was right, she hadn't been doing her best, and she knew her grades could be better. But what frightened her now was the worry she was slowly succumbing too, with the same thoughts filling her mind. Had she gotten too comfortable in not trying, and would she be able to adjust to a new school life? She had never been good at making friends, considering she was never really given the opportunity. Teachers thought she didn't care, and that's why she didn't do well in school. When in reality it was quite the opposite. She did care about school at first, but she had soon given up when she realized she didn't have a parent that did.
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"I need to get started on supper," Linda got up from the table and started for the kitchen when she remembered the laundry load she had put in the dryer earlier. "Call one of the boys in and tell them to go get the towels out of the dryer and fold them." Linda called over her shoulder to her husband.
"Which one?" Danny asked confused, knowing he wasn't usually the one to ask one of the children to pitch in with the laundry.
"I don't know, pick one." Linda was trying not to let her frustration with Tayler show, but it was becoming obvious to her husband, that there was only so much stifling she could do before the exasperated feelings spilled out. "Seriously Danny, am I doing this parenting thing on my own?"
"No Linda," Danny sighed. "I'm just tired and I'm working a difficult case."
"Did you take the roast for family dinner to Henry?" Linda was trying to remember to do a thousand different things, and she was trying to get them crossed off her list as quickly as she could.
"No," Danny sighed again. Already preparing himself to get chewed out once again by his wife.
"Danny," Linda grumbled. "Henry wants it there early. He said he wants to try something new."
"I forgot. I'll do it now." Danny didn't by any means feel like getting in the car and driving over to Bay Ridge. But if it would keep his wife happy, he'd do it.
"And take one of the kids with you!" Linda continued on her way to the kitchen.
"Tayler!" Danny opened the door to the basement and called down to her from the top of the stairs. "Come up here!"
"Tayler?" Linda stopped abruptly in her tracks. Her voice showing an element of surprise.
"Why not?" Danny didn't see any reason why he shouldn't take her along. "She could probably use a few minutes out of the house. Besides, Nicki's there, and maybe she can talk to her."
"I thought you knew how to speak teen?" Linda's frustration was beginning to dissipate as she was quickly reminded how much she loved the man she married, simply because he was willing to try to become a father figure to her daughter.
"No, I know how to speak detective. Which is sometimes the same thing, depending." Danny clarified.
"Depending on what?" Linda looked at his confused.
"Depending on the case," Danny tried simplifying.
"Okay detective, crack the kid. Get her to open up. I've tried everything I can think of and your partner says your good with kids that are involved in your cases." Linda remembered the time or two she had been around Detective Baez.
"That's because it's the job," Danny was hoping he would be able to get her to see the difference. "Taylers my stepdaughter, and she isn't going to be as easy."
"Afraid of a challenge are we?" Linda understood what her husband was trying to get at, yet she also knew that anytime he was faced with a challenge, he went after it with both barrels blazing.
"Challenge accepted," Danny was doing his best to fight the smile that was trying to show. But the more the word challenge repeated in his head, the bigger the target got.
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The car ride over to Bay Ridge started out quiet. Tayler was too nervous to speak, thinking she was in trouble with her stepfather for walking out and speaking disrespectfully to Linda earlier, and that's why he wanted her to ride with him, so he could yell at her or something like she figured most stepfathers did when the child's biological parent weren't around.
Danny on the other hand was behaving in quite the opposite manner. He was keeping silent allowing his detective skills to take over as he worked on trying to get a reading on his stepdaughter. He could sense she wanted someone to talk, but he was fairly certain she wouldn't speak of it, especially to him for that manner. Then again, it seemed like the two of them managed to break through a few barriers. Yet one thing remained, she still didn't trust him.
"So you going to bust me?" Tayler couldn't take it anymore, and she finally gained the courage to say something to him.
"Why would I do that?" Danny took his eyes off the road just long enough to glance at her.
"Aren't you mad at me for walking out?" Tayler sounded a bit confused when she said it.
"Well you could have acted a bit more respectfully," Danny really didn't want to come down on her in anyway but, he knew he had to say something. Especially considering he was her stepfather, and part of her raising was up to him.
"I know," Tayler sighed. If there was one thing about Tayler, she knew the protocol in behaving correctly. Unfortunately, sometimes her teenage mouth got in the way of her brain. "And I'm sorry," Tayler felt the urge to apologize. "It's just," she started to continue, but soon fell silent. She wasn't sure how to continue, and even if she did, could she trust him?
"It's just sometimes school can be a bit overwhelming," Danny already knew what she was trying to say.
"Yeah," Tayler mumbled. Trying to determine how he could read her so clearly. "I mean what's it matter if I get good grades or not?" Her voice was showing pure frustration. "I'll still graduate from high school."
"It does make a difference." Danny wasn't exactly certain how he should continue. Even if he knew he had to. He didn't think he was the best one to offer advice when it came to schooling. But he was her stepfather, and if he didn't, who would? "It can determine where you go to college and what you do for the rest of your life."
"I'm not going to college," Tayler looked at him, a blank yet serious expression crossing her face.
"I thought your mom said that you wanted to go to college?" Danny was trying to remember.
"Did you go to college?" Tayler furrowed her brows when she asked. Trying to avoid his direct question.
"Well no," Danny shook his head. "But thats partially because I chose to join the marines."
"And you still have a good job," Tayler said pointedly, reminding him of what he was doing now.
"Yes, I do," Danny agreed. "But that's because I went to the police academy. Which is a form of education," he was sure to add.
"Your only saying that because you want me to make good grades," Tayler muttered, beginning to think it was all just a way for him to sound impactful and forcing a realm of authority over her without coming right out and saying it.
"No," Danny contradicted. "I wasn't even going to bring up school."
"You weren't?" Tayler wasn't sure if she should believe him.
"No," Danny repeated. "I was just going to tell you that you can talk to me if you want." The last thing Danny wanted was to make an emaculate show of emotion, but he also didn't want her to keep the frustrations of so much change in so little time bottled up inside.
"I can't talk to you, your my stepfather," Tayler reminded him, suprised that he would even suggest such a thing. Her voice wasn't sarcastic, but it definitely showed signs of confusion.
"I'm aware of that," Danny nodded. "But I'm going to tell you how it is anyways." Danny was tired of taking baby steps around her. "Your not use to having a family that you can talk to, but that's all changed now, and I wouldn't blame you if you were afraid. Now I don't want to sound poetic or anything. That's your mothers job. But I do know that sometimes the fear won't go away. So you have to do it afraid."
"That was kind of poetic." Tayler who was doing her best from smiling, or appearing as if she liked how blunt he could be, couldn't stifle the grin that was spreading.
"Tell me about it," Danny sighed, hating the way it sounded even more than it sounded in his head before he said it. "So is there anything you want to talk about?"
"Can you get Linda to leave me alone about school?" Tayler replied, after thinking about it for a few seconds.
"Not even I can do that," Danny turned her down as he pulled into the driveway of his fathers home.
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"What are you two doing here?" Frank looked up when the back kitchen door opened and his son and his sons stepdaughter walked in.
Tayler didn't say anything, rather she just stepped aside so Danny could put the roast in the freezer. Leaving Danny to answer his fathers question.
"Linda said Pop wanted the roast early, and we needed to get out of the house for a few minutes," Danny didn't offer any details, at least not yet. "Where is Pop anyways?" He wondered aloud.
"He went with Uncle Jamie to watch Mom in court today." Nicki answered his question from where she sat at the kitchen table with her grandfather.
"You didn't want to go see her in action?" Danny had to admit he didn't enjoy attending court either but Nicki on the other hand was a bit different than he was.
"I've heard enough of that case to last me awhile," Nicki replied. "She's been working on it at home everyday for a week."
Tayler had heard enough. It wasn't necessarily because of the conversation topic, it was rather due to the amount of talking that was going on, and being she was far more use to silence, she walked out.
"Nicki," Danny looked at his niece after his stepdaughter walked out. "Can you go talk to Tayler about school?"
"Haven't we already figured out that, that doesn't turn out well?" Nicki stood from the chair she was sitting in.
"I just want you to stay with her and see if she'll talk to you, maybe try and find out why she doesn't want to go," Danny justified.
"You want me to be a spy?" Nicki looked surprised that he would even suggest it.
"No, it's called interrogation," Danny corrected.
"How is it interrogation if all I'm going to do it sit around with her and not ask questions?"
"Just go," Danny shoved her towards the door.
"Aren't you the one that told Aunt Linda not to push me into trying to get her to open up?"
"That was before I started taking the role as her stepfather seriously," Danny lied, just trying to get her out of the room so he could quit with the explanation.
"Since when do you not take any of your roles seriously?" Frank turned his attention to their conversation.
"I was wondering the exact same thing," Nicki laughed. "But I wasn't going to say it."
"Just go," Danny repeated.
"Fine," Nicki sounded a bit annoyed as she left to do what he asked.
"Finally," Danny breathed out a sigh of relief as he took the seat Nicki occupied just seconds ago.
There was a brief moment of silence, Frank not exactly wanting to pry into his sons business but, he could tell something was getting to him.
"You alright?" Frank broke the silence.
"Fine," Danny shrugged his fathers concern aside, not wanting it to appear that he couldn't handle the struggles that work and his family sometimes brought.
"You know it's very transparent when you bring dinner over, that there's something bothering you." Frank glanced up from the newspaper he was reading.
"Maybe so," Danny had to admit his father had a point. "But this time I'm here because Pop wanted the roast early."
"Is it the case?" Frank didn't let his sons attempt to change the subject hinder him from asking what was really on his mind.
"Kidnapping cases are never easy," Danny told him what he already knew from his own experiences as a detective. "Especially when it's children."
"Some of the worst," Frank nodded in agreement.
"It's just these senseless acts of stupidity that gets to me," Danny continued. "Who in their right mind would kidnap a child?"
"Because they aren't in their right mind," Frank said simply. "And that's why we have officers like you that work major cases."
"I guess you have a point," Danny yawned, the missed sleep and long hours beginning to get to him.
"I got coffee in the pot," Frank gestured at the pot on the counter.
"I could use it," Danny got up from the table so he could pour himself a cup.
"Does Linda know about the case?" Frank had a feeling there was more than just the case getting to his eldest son.
"Of course not," Danny replied almost immediately. "She'd freak. Besides, she's a little preoccupied with Tayler."
"I never brought the job home to your mother either," Frank remembered.
"How did you do it?" Danny looked at his father questioningly. "Leave the job at work?"
"The same as you do," Frank said simply. "I didn't want my family to worry."
"You never did take out difficult cases on us," Danny took a sip of the coffe he had been offered.
"You don't either," Frank reminded him.
"Sometimes I wonder if they can see the frustration on me," Danny said in all honesty.
"They don't," Frank assured him.
"How did you know?"
"You can tell just by looking at them," he said simply.
"By looking deep into their expressions and watching their behavior."
"I hope you're right," Danny still wasn't certain.
"I know I am," Frank's voice held absolute certainly.
"But how do you know?" Danny repeated the question.
"What do the boys usually do when you when they see you after you get home from work?" Frank's asked the question he already knew the answer to, just to make a point.
"Ask me to do something with them."
"And that's how I know," Frank pointed at him.
Danny was about to say something about his father being right but, was interrupted by the cell phone buzzing in his pocket.
"Reagan," Danny spoke into the receiver just as soon as he picked it up. "I'll be right there," he said solemnly before hanging up the phone. "I got to go Dad," Danny dropped the phone in his pocket. "We got another missing kid."
"Ugh," Frank said disgusted as he ran a hand down his face.
"Can you keep Tayler, and then I'll get Jamie to take her home when he drops Pop off?" Danny was about to hurry out the door but, stopped short when he remembered he wasn't alone when he arrived.
"Go ahead," Frank knew Danny was in a hurry to get to the crime scene.
"Tayler!" Danny called running out of the kitchen and into the other room hurriedly, going to look for Tayler. "I've got to go back to work."
"What about me?" Tayler managed to find her voice, worried she would be left alone with strangers, even if they were supposed to be her new family.
"Your going to stay here," Danny enlightened her. "And then Uncle Jamie will take home." Danny was trying to give her the rundown of everything he needed to tell her as quickly as he could so he could meet up with his parter.
"But," Tayler responded, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
"You'll be fine," Nicki spoke up, knowing her uncle would get a rip from his CO if he arrived at the crime scene too late. "I stay here all the time."
Tayler didn't say anything but, that didn't keep Danny and Nicki from noticing she still wasn't certain.
"Maybe Grandpa will play poker with us before Uncle Jamie gets here," Nicki spoke up again, thinking of something that she enjoyed doing with her grandfather and thinking that perhaps Tayler would enjoy the same.
"I wouldn't leave you here if I wasn't a hundred percent certain that you would be okay," Danny assured her, beginning to think there was something else behind her uncertainty. Perhaps her even getting the feeling he was trying to dump her off on someone else just so he wouldn't have to be around her for the evening. She did after all have a concern regarding step parents and their families after what she had seen on tv and heard from people at her old school.
"Okay," Tayler replied reluctantly. Even if she didn't feel like speaking, she knew she needed to give him an answer so he could get on with his work.
"I'll call your mom and let her know what's going on," Danny started for the front door.
"Oh and be good, try to have a good time, and all that other stuff," Danny knew he needed to say something parental to her, even if it wasn't something he was used to doing a with her. Then again, he wasn't really used to doing anything with her, she had barely been living with him for a week.
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Tayler returned to her seat at the foot of the stairs just as soon as Danny walked out the door. Tayler had never had a problem being left alone at home but was different. This time she had been left with the family frightened her quite a bit. She had no idea why she felt this way, it wasn't like they had ever said anything mean to her or tried to mistreat her and make her feel like an outsider. Nicki attempted to talk to her further, but as soon as Danny walked out the door, it was obvious to her that Tayler wasn't interested in anything she had to say.
"I don't care what Uncle Danny says," Nicki surrendered, returning to the kitchen. "I give up."
"What happened?" Frank was busy looking through the refrigerator for something he could eat for dinner without having to make to big a mess in the kitchen.
"Nothing," Nicki know how else say it.
"I'll give it a try," Frank volunteered closing the refrigerator before taking a step closer to the door.
"Good luck," Nicki returned to the computer and website she had left.
Just as soon as Tayler saw Frank take a few steps toward her, she started to move away from the steps thinking she was in his way.
"Hold on there," Frank stopped her. "I want to talk to you for a few minutes."
"What about?" Tayler voiced the words just barely loud enough for him to make out, her voice showing a hint of nervousness.
"Nothing inparticular," Frank motioned for her to join him in the living room where they could sit somewhere a bit more comfortably rather than on the steps of the stairwell. "I just think we ought to get to know one another."
"Why do you want to get to know me?" Tayler voiced the question.
"We are a family now," he reminded her.
"I appreciate that Mr. Reagan, I mean Commisioner," Tayler was quick to correct herself. "But you don't have to, I'm just your step-granddaughter. If that's even a thing." Tayler was trying to remember if she had ever heard the phrase or title before.
"That doesn't mean we can't get to know one another," Frank had a point.
"What do you want to know?" Tayler sighed, getting the feeling she'd never get left alone, unless she answered his questions.
"Danny said you weren't wanting to go to school, why? Is it because you had trouble at school?"
"No," Tayler shook her head, cracking a small smile. "I've never really been in trouble before."
"How did you manage that?" Frank was almost certain all kids got in trouble at least once or twice. He remembered his youngest never being one to get into too much trouble but, even he had a mild discretion a time or two.
"I don't know," Tayler didn't seem willing to say anything further but the bare minimum when in came to her responses. "Just not in my nature I guess."
"I wish I could say that about Danny," Frank couldn't help but think of the past. "I could tell you story after story about your stepfather. But even with his and your mothers faults, they are good people." Frank figured that while they were talking, he might as well try to help his son and daughter in law out in their task of getting the girl integrated into the Reagan family.
"Danny's okay," Tayler shrugged. Still having trouble believing that she was actually talking to someone about it. "I just don't know if I can trust him."
"If you can't trust Danny, then you can't trust anyone," Frank let the conversation drop with that final statement, knowing she needed time to think on his words of wisdom he embarked on her. He wanted to say more but, knew he needed to leave the actual moment of breakthrough to Danny and Linda. Besides, he could tell she wasn't ready for a breakthrough as of yet, it was too soon since her world was turned upside down.
Tayler continued to sit alone even after Frank walked away, giving her the opportunity to ponder everything he had just said. Part of her figured he had a point but, that didn't mean everything was going to change and she was going to adapt to her new lifestyle in a matter of days. After all, she didn't get along with her half-brothers, and she was having to live with a mother she didn't know and a stepfather that confused her more often than not. If that wasn't enough, she also didn't know why she believed a man she had barely known but, for some strange reason Tayler didn't understand, when he said something, she seemed to think he was telling the truth. Then again, she wasn't a hundred percent certain if it was that or just based on the fact she wanted to believe that Danny and Linda were good people so bad and that the changes she was facing in her life was a positive move that her feelings were betraying her and she didn't know what to believe. After all, they were all still learning what it meant to be a family.
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Hope you all enjoyed the update. I apologize it has been taking me so long to get a story updated but, I have been busy with my new job among countless other things. The next story I will be working on updating is Taken By Surprise. Thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews... JusticeStandsTRUE