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Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Bloods or any of the characters. All rights belong to CBS. I am but a lowly fan, writing a few stories, inspired by the show and its characters.
Feedback is always appreciated. I'm not an expert in any sense of the word so if I've got certain things wrong i.e. police procedures, language, grammar and such. Please forgive me. Let me know where I've gone wrong and I'll do my best to change it.
Author's Note: Throughout this story and most likely any future stories, you will see - / - in between text. This is my way of showing a change in location or time.
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"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is"
1 Corinthians 3:13 (King James Bible)
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Screw you Danny.
The raging inferno burns bright. It has all but consumed the structure. Roaring flames leap out aggressively, like a caged animal, keeping the firefighters at bay.
Screw you Danny.
There's supposed to be a full moon tonight. It's doubtful if anyone on the ground will catch a glimpse of it. Thick black smoke blocks out any chance of that.
Screw you Danny.
The tumultuous sound of shouting and sirens battle to be heard over the roar of the flames. It's a constant struggle. Both sides unyielding. The fire hisses with distress as members of the FDNY, unwavering in their efforts, try to bring the seemingly relentless blaze under control.
"Reagan! Hey Reagan!" Maria Baez calls out to her partner.
No response - not even a glance in her direction.
Danny sits, defeated, on the hood of his car. Slouching, as if there's a huge weight bearing down on him. The detective stares at the building that continues to burn a hellish colour. Never before has she seen him look so despondent. It's quite scary. Danny Reagan looking so broken is almost as scary as the hell fire off to her right.
Baez places her hand on her partner's tense shoulder "Danny?"
"Screw you Danny" he mumbles to himself.
"What?" she questions, craning her neck closer so she can hear better over the commotion.
Danny tears his gaze away from the scene and towards his partner. The look she receives catches her off guard. Red rimmed eyes. Tears staining his cheeks. In all the years she's been partnered with the former marine, she's never seen him look so distraught before.
It's not right. None of it is. Danny isn't supposed to cry. Not Danny 'tough guy' Reagan. Although, under the circumstances, it's understandable why he'd breakdown.
"Screw you Danny" the overwhelmed detective tells her "It's the last thing Jamie said to me before…"
If the fire wasn't so agonisingly raucous, then it just might've been possible to hear Baez's heart breaking for her partner.
/ / / 21 HOURS EARLIER / / /
"Hey babe" Jamie greets in a chipper manner, putting his hand on his wife's waist, and pulling her in for a quick tender kiss.
"Hey" she responds with a small smile.
The newlywed furrows his eyebrows. Something's wrong. Years of being partnered with one another on the job means they can read each other like a book. From tone of voice to mannerisms. Right now, Jamie is reading a lot of distress on his wife's face.
"What's wrong?" he asks her, lacing their fingers together.
"You probably won't have heard since you've been working" Eddie keeps her gaze low "But there was a fight in Bedford today"
"Hold on, just so I'm clear on this, Bedford as in Bedford Hills? The women's prison?" he queries, a foreboding knot clenching his stomach tight.
She nods, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear "Jamie, Lila Moore is dead"
Silence. This isn't news he expected to hear today or any other day for that matter.
The sergeant perches on the edge of his desk. Uncertain if his legs will hold out, and certainly not willing to find out in the middle of the precinct.
Jamie exhales deeply. A method to relieve tension. However, right now, that method is failing him.
"How'd it happen?" he questions, not trusting his voice to go any louder than the quiet whisper which just left his lips.
"It looks like two fellow prisoner killed her" Eddie replies, matching the concerned tone she hears from her husband "Jamie, you don't think Danny or your dad will get the blame for this, do you?"
"I don't know. The media today, they spin things how they see fit" the fatigued sergeant presumes, running a hand through his hair.
"Well, they've done it before at Lila's court case" Eddie reminds him as she closes the small gap between them.
Jamie shakes his head "Danny ran his mouth off when he arrested her. I get why he did it, but he shouldn't have"
"He did it, because he's your big brother and he wanted to put the fear of God in her, like the rest of us" she squeezes her husband's hand supportively.
"I know, but it landed him and my dad in a whole world of trouble" he argues, letting go of her hand with a weighted exhale "You should get going or you're gonna be late"
Eddie sighs softly. The tunnel vision she had focused solely on her husband fades. The hustle and bustle of the 29th precinct returns. Reluctantly, she steps back.
The troubled sergeant walks with leaden steps towards the front desk. Aware of his wife's concerned gaze. For now, all he wants is his bed. Hopefully, he can sleep off the heavy burden he's feeling.
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In the early evening, the streets are finally starting to die down after rush hour. A group waits patiently at a crosswalk. Many look worn out by the day. All seem eager to return home. The street is by no means jampacked with cars, but a steady flow of traffic presents a substantial enough danger to keep the commuters hold-up on the sidewalk.
A young man, no more than 25, diverges from the group. A risk taker. One who doesn't follow the rules that everyone else follows. The man sprints with relatively ease across the street. It earns him a few glares, but it doesn't seem to bother him.
Once on the opposite side, he pulls out a set of car keys. Click. A black Toyota Camry, only a few parked cars in front of him, lights up in response. It's an old cheap model. Nonetheless, it serves its purpose.
The young risk taker falters in his step as a loud buzzing catches his attention. A cell phone is retrieved from his jacket pocket.
"Hey" he greets "Man, you're eager. I'm not even back at my car yet"
"Is the package in place?" the cold hardened voice of another man asks.
"Yeah, yeah, it's done" the young man confirms, glancing around to see if anyone is in earshot before adding "Those pigs are gonna get the surprise of their lives. There's gonna be blood everywhere!"
"Agreed" the caller hangs up.