So, my apologies in advance for this chapter- it was getting realllllly long and I ended up cutting it into two parts. But the good news is the next chapter is almost complete, so I should be able to post the next chapter later this week.

Thank you all so much for your reviews (and requests for another chapter). I think this fandom may have the nicest reviewers. You guys are amazing and I'm thrilled you're enjoying this story as much as I am. Snowflake, thank you SO MUCH for your high words of praise, I'm absolutely flattered.

Chapter 11

Joe pulled on a t-shirt, his skin still stinging from the hot spray of the shower. The dirt of both the bar he and Carlos were undercover at, and the crowd they were blending in with, generally didn't bother him. Until they had met Kate. They knew nothing about her apart from the fact she was a good bartender, a hardworker, and had a strong talent for reading people.

So how did someone who read people that well end up with the Dime Boys? He wondered at her family situation. Did she have any family? She seemed well-educated, smart and well-spoken and that hinted at something better than foster care or the projects in her background. He tossed his towel at the towel rack and stepped out of the bathroom.

Thoughts of family led his gaze over to the stack of papers on his kitchen table.

He picked up the copy of the newspaper article about the line of duty death of Joe Reagan. His father.

Even now, two months after his mother had told him who his dad was, his muscles tightened in anger. She should have told him years ago. Before Joe Reagan died. But she had said she didn't want him feeling pressure to follow the Reagans into the family profession. Once he had done so of his own accord, she had finally relented and told him.

He picked up the pictures he had printed off the internet. Frank Reagan, Daniel Reagan, Jameson Reagan, Erin Reagan, all public servants with distinguished records. There had been a picture of a smiling Katherine Reagan, bangs over her childish features, as she accepted an award from the National Honor Society, but nothing about her after that.

He flopped down on his couch and studied the information again, even though he had it memorized. He wanted to meet them. He debated how to contact them, how to introduce himself. How to explain he didn't want anything from them. Just a family connection. To know where he belonged.

He opened up his laptop and typed in a search for the phone number to the office of the police commissioner.

#

Kate's phone rang and she now recognized it as Jaime's number. She had let it go to voicemail the last two days when he'd called, but hadn't been able to stop herself from replaying his messages multiple times, listening as he said he was just calling to check in and to let him know if she needed anything.

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at the phone screen. The sounds of the neighborhood were familiar around her- nothing slowing down even though it was well after 2 am. It was just a worse crowd out when she walked home from Doubleshots.

This time she found herself sliding the green circle across her screen to answer the call. She put the phone to her ear, but didn't say anything.

"Katie—Kate?" Jaime's voice came through.

She paused, debating hanging up, but the loneliness for her family that seeing Jaime and meeting his wife had ignited was too strong.

"Yeah," she said.

"I didn't wake you? I thought maybe I'd have better luck catching you after the bars are closed and you'd be heading home."

"Yeah," she said again. "I'm on my way home."

There was a pause and she assumed Jaime was holding back the urge to ask if it was safe for her to be out alone this time of night. It wasn't.

"Look, I just wanted to see if you needed anything. I'm off duty at seven and can give you a ride or pick up groceries or…whatever."

Everything in Kate wanted to see her brother again, but she couldn't bring herself to accept his offer.

"I don't need anything," she said. She needed to hang up before she got in any deeper with whatever this reconnecting with Jaime was. But she couldn't bring herself to sever the connection.

"Ok," Jaime said, not pushing. "What about Sunday dinner?" he asked. "Eddie and I can pick you up. If it's too much for you, seeing everyone, we'll leave."

Kate bit her lip before catching herself. Johnny had split it with a backhand yesterday. Carlos and Joe hadn't been back to the bar since two nights ago when Johnny had sent her upstairs with Carlos. Nothing was going right.

"Pick me up after Mass," she finally said. "In front of the Bitterman Housing."

Jaime's silence spoke volumes about finding out where she was living. In the end, he didn't comment on it. "I'll see you at eleven tomorrow."

Kate hung up before she changed her mind or gave Jaime any more information about her life. She slipped her phone back in her jacket pocket and hurried down the sidewalk at a faster pace to get away from the fight breaking out on the corner behind her.

#

Sunday morning dawned sunny. The few trees that had been planted to make the Bitter End look more welcoming had yellow and red leaves below the apartment window.

Kate held Frannie up so she could see the leaves shivering in the breeze. Frannie slapped a pudgy hand against the window and Kate pulled her back, giving the little fist a kiss.

"Are you sure you don't mind watching her?" Kate asked, turning to Lacy who was paging through a magazine on the couch.

"Of course not," she declared looking up from the pages, her brow wrinkling in offense at Kate even asking. "I'm just wondering if you're sure you don't want to bring her with you. Let your family meet her."

The thought of her family knowing anything about her current life tied her stomach in knots. "I'm sure," she said firmly.

Lacy's lips lifted in an understanding smile. "I'm glad you're seeing your family," she said, changing tack.

Kate made a noncommittal sound in response. She couldn't imagine this was going to end well. Nothing good was going to come from seeing her family again. It was only going to make it harder to cut the connection again, but she was too weak to resist this chance to see them.

"I should get going," she said. She looked down at Frannie and made a cross eyed face that always made her daughter giggle, then gave her kisses over her soft cheeks.

Lacy set aside her magazine and reached out for Frannie. "We'll be thinking about you."

A grimace was Kate's response this time. She picked up her backpack and sweatshirt, shoving her arms into both. She didn't hesitate or she may call the whole thing off. She jogged downstairs, darting around at least two drug deals and one person sleeping it off in a hallway.

Jaime was already out front when she came out the front door. She saw Eddie smile and give her a wave before getting out of the car.

Kate quirked her lips in an approximation of a smile, taking the front seat Eddie offered her.

"Hi," Jaime said.

"Hi." Kate answered, sliding a quick look at her brother. She saw him take in the bruise on her face, but he didn't say anything more. She glanced at the usual crowd gathered in front of the building. "We should get moving before someone sees me with cops," she said.

Jaime's expression was pained, but he didn't argue. He put the car in drive and pulled away.

The drive to Staten Island was quiet. Eddie kept up light conversation, but nothing that veered toward personal information from Kate. Kate felt her hands unclenching, until they turned onto the familiar street.

Her breath almost choked her.

#