Can I get some prayers, good healing thoughts, wishes… whatever you believe in or can spare for the little girl Kaylin is loosely based on, p'ease? A friend's 3yo daughter… she was very sick with the RSV virus for ten days and had to be rushed 2 hours away to a major children's hospital for emergency surgery for complications. Her daddy's a mess and treats her just as I write for Jamie… great guy, coach and dedicated role model for hundreds of kids that respect him. Thanks!
Chapter 5
Boom, Like That (Part III)
"C'mon Harvard, chin up," Danny ordered as he looked at his little brother hunched over against the door with his coat zipped up to his chin and arms wrapped around himself in the passenger seat next to him while they were paused at a stoplight. "At least she gave your shoes back today," he snickered. "God, you're gonna love marriage… Eddie's already a pro at controlling you and she comes with her own set of cuffs."
"Shut up, Danny… and for the love of all that's holy will you please stop aiming for every single pothole in the street!" Jamie grimaced as he clenched his jaw once more as the green Jeep bounced through another asphalt crater on its merry way to Gillespie's Jewelry for Eddie's ring with three Reagan men on board. "I think it's time you get out of the Stone Age and find yourself a new car… maybe one with actual shocks. I mean does this one even have airbags? How can you drive your family around in it and not worry? How about heat?" he added as his teeth chattered. "Ever hear of that little luxury?"
"The boy's right about the heater, Daniel," Henry offered from the back seat while he was paging through the morning paper as he listened to the normal brotherly banter in front of him. "It is like an icebox in here."
"Hey, you guys were the ones that called me looking for a ride and what do you want? It's New York City in the middle of winter," the older brother reminded. "There are more potholes than tourists and it takes a while for the motor to to get warm, besides it's paid for and it runs," Danny growled as he gave his brother another sideways glance. "And yes it has a few airbags. Man, you've really become Mr. Mom lately, haven't you? I mean you were the one that used to drive around in a forty-year-old car that definitely had no safety equipment and had a dash that was hard as a rock. I can't for the life of me figure out how you came out of that accident at the pier when you totalled it with only bruised ribs."
"Please don't talk about… my ribs!" Jamie gasped and then remained quiet for several more bumpy blocks before chiming in again. "C'mon! STOP! Please Danny… pull over!" he begged urgently as he went three shades closer to ghostly pale and held his stomach tighter.
"Oh, no for Christ's sake! NOT IN MY CAR!" the oldest Reagan brother bellowed as he quickly pulled over to the curb before he realized the true cause behind the distress. While distracted with the back and forth exchange over the trip, he had turned onto Amsterdam Avenue and driven directly past the Bridgewater construction site. They were now parked almost smack dab in front of what little was left of the building where Jamie had for all intents and purposes lost his life two weeks earlier when that explosion had nearly leveled it with Paul Denison's own attempt to make something go boom and take two cops out of the picture… it hadn't been until the doctors were able to warm him up at the hospital that his heart had started beating normally again. Now George was gone on to bigger and better things with a new job at 1PP and Jamie was left gaping at the hole he had been pulled from. Danny slammed his fists down on the wheel in anger at himself for messing up like this as his little brother slipped out of the passenger-side door and stood in the frigid air staring at the rubble.
"Daniel…" Henry started as he watched his youngest grandson walk up to the perimeter fencing before stopping and standing still.
"I know… I'm going, Pop," Danny sighed as he released the seat belt before getting out of the vehicle and walking around the front to join his brother on the sidewalk. "Of all days… God, I'm sorry, kid. I wasn't thinking," he started.
"S'okay, Danny," Jamie said to him as he sought to read through his own emotions which were surprisingly different than he had expected. "It should be… I mean I thought it would be harder seeing it again, but I don't feel…" he paused and thoughtfully turned back to the front, ignorant of the freezing wind battering them at that very moment. It was in fact the first time he hadn't felt the cold since waking up in that hospital. Even back at home in his own bed with Eddie the past several nights, he'd found himself piling on the blankets in an effort to feel warm, safe and secure.
"Don't feel what… scared? Cause it's okay to feel that way after what you went through," Danny insisted as he put a hand on his brother's back and pulled him a little closer. "Hell, I'm still having nightmares about that night. I never want to see… or hear that again," he added.
"Hear what?" Jamie questioned although he had a good idea of what his brother was about to say. He remembered next to nothing of the several days following the explosion, not until he came off the heavy pain medication, but his vivid memory had locked on to most of what was said before Rick Fellows had knocked him out before the final rescue played out.
"Hear you making peace with everything," Danny admitted. "You were only worried about Eddie and Kaylin there at the… well before…" he paused uncomfortably. "They're your life now. Eddie… she didn't hesitate to go down there after you… it took everything George had to drag her away. You shouldn't have any doubts about that."
"I don't," Jamie smirked back a little sadly. "But then again I really didn't think I was coming back out," he admitted honestly as he looked down and toed the ground a little before settling his gaze back on the debris before them. He remembered at the end being most desperate that his little girl be taken care of and that Eddie was safe. This mess would be cleaned up well before all the human components of the Denison corruption scandal saw justice, but that was in someone else's hands now and no longer his concern either. "I wasn't scared anymore in there, but now that I'm standing here with you what I am terrified of is that Kaylin won't be with us. I don't think I'd be able to handle that."
"Kid, Dad told you everything would be taken care of... he promised you that night she would stay with us and he told you when he came back to the house yesterday afternoon that he has everything in hand; you just need to trust him… Have some faith in the old man now, and besides… didn't you make a promise to Eddie and a certain little girl that you would take them to the beach and build some sand castles? Keep the promises you can, Harvard. I wish I had. Things seem to get tougher as you go sometimes," he frowned, thinking of his recent troubles with Linda.
"Guess that's all I've got left, isn't it, Dan?" Jamie asked as he pulled his coat zipper higher before taking one final look at the scene and putting it behind him. "C'mon. This place doesn't hold anything for me… I thought it would, but it's just a pile of damn bricks. I'm ready to leave… let's go get that ring."
###
"Jamie Reagan!" Salvatore Gillespie called out in delight from behind the counter as the three men entered the store. "Henry! Good to see you my old friend, it's been too many years, eh? And Daniel! You're looking well! What a surprise!" the expressive little Italian man exclaimed as he made his way around the front case and approached them for vigorous handshakes and firm pats on the back. "Can you believe these are the little boys you used to bring in when you were here for your Betty… but this one here!" he said as he grabbed both of Jamie's cheeks and planted a kiss on the forehead before patting his face. "When we heard what had happened to you that night, eh? My Agnes and I… we were all sick with worry."
"Thank you, Mr. Gillespie," Jamie returned with a small somewhat embarrassed smile after he was nearly bowled over by the greeting of the passionate but tiny older European man who was a long-time family friend.
"Come on, Sal," Henry huffed as he turned his old comrade around by the arm. "You know how nervous this young pup is… he's been pacing all morning. Let's see the goods."
"Of course, come... come! I have your Eddie's ring right over here, just giving it a final polish after you called," he advised as he led them down to the end of the counter before pulling out a cloth and opening up the waiting velveteen box to reveal a beautiful halo micropavé platinum setting with Mary Margaret Reagan's cherished solitaire surrounded by a row of smaller stones from one of Grandma Betty's favorite pendants. The resulting piece was quite stunning and just what Jamie had wanted for Eddie; elegant yet eye-catching and unique… perfect.
"Oh, wow, kid," Danny muttered. "I'd even say yes if you flashed that at me," he kidded.
"I sold your father that stone," Salvatore reminisced as he buffed it once more before handing it over to Jamie to examine carefully. "My first year in business in the city… I never forget. This towering poliziotto… il mastodonte... walks into my store… almost two of me!" he insisted, waving his arms to express Frank's size and referring to his own slight frame. "And his big hands were shaking just like yours are," he said with a smile. "What these little belle donne can do to us, eh? Now I tell you, say it in the Italian way and she cannot resist… Voglio passare il resto della mia vita con te… I want to spend the rest of my life with you, yes?"
"I'll try to remember, Mr. Gillespie," Jamie laughed as he held the piece up to the light and handed it over for Henry to see. "Thank you… I wasn't sure about changing mom's ring but I think she would have liked this."
"Your mother would be over the moon with having Eddie in the family," Henry observed as he adjusted his glasses to study it and nod his approval before passing it to Danny who eyeballed it with a smile and returned the favor back to Jamie. There for a while he had been afraid that ring would never see its intended duty while his little brother lay trapped in that basement the night they were originally supposed to meet and pick it up. Standing here today did seem to put some closure on that.
"And Kaylin... did Jamie tell you he's adopting a little two-year-old girl, Sal?" Henry continued with pride evident as he bragged on his family. "I've got another great-granddaughter to spoil now," he said as he took his wallet out and showed off the multitude of pictures he had already stored there.
"No, no! This is wonderful news my friend!" the older man smiled as he pulled out a second box from under the counter. "Here, I show you something," he said as he opened it up to reveal a delicate sterling silver teardrop pendant on a chain with three small diamonds in the setting. "These were left from the ones I used from your Betty's piece," he said. "I make it for you… take this and save it for that little girl, eh? Keep her great-grandmother close to her, too."
"I'll pay for that since it is coming from my Betty," Henry said as he snatched the box up before Jamie could make a move. "What? She's my little sweetheart, isn't she?" he defended as the two brothers were smirking and shaking their heads. No matter how old they were, shopping with grandpa always ended the same way as he was loath to let them spend their own money if he could help it. Knowing it was useless to argue, they waited while Henry took care of his precious purchase. Jamie and Eddie had a special surprise of their own for Henry though as they had decided to give Kaylin the middle name of Elizabeth to honor Grandma Betty when everything was finalized and her name was officially changed to Reagan. "Danny and I will just have a look around while you settle up with the boy here," he said as he pulled his oldest grandson down the way with him while Jamie slipped that precious velvet box in his pocket and he and Mr. Gillespie finalized the sale privately.
"You looking?" Henry gruffed to Danny as they perused through the cases. "Seems to me you've got Christmas and Valentine's Day coming up… a nice little something for Linda in the stocking might set you two back on the right track again," he advised in his typical wise fashion. "No marriage is without its bumps… how do you think your grandmother collected all of that jewelry?" he huffed with a smile at the memories.
"Gramps, if that would work I'd have tried it a long time ago," Danny admitted with a frown. "I don't think that's what she's looking for this time. Linda, she used to understand the life… the job. Now after the shooting she's coming to hate it and I'm starting to forget what it was like before. I'm not sure what to do anymore," he whispered.
"You made vows, Daniel," Henry advised quietly as Jamie came walking towards them from the back. "For better or worse... in a lifetime they both will come. Remember that."
"All set… you two almost ready to go?" Jamie said with a relieved sigh as he approached them with probably the brightest smile he'd managed since the explosion while fingering the box in his pocket. "I can't believe I'm actually gonna do this."
"You bet, kid," Danny affirmed as he looked over at his grandfather. "Let's all go home."
###
"Reagan, I'm all set… you almost ready to go?" Eddie's voice called out from the living room. "I'm so excited! I can't believe we're really gonna do this!" she exclaimed while Jamie stood in the bedroom very early on that Monday morning following Christmas fingering that little velvet box once more before quickly shoving it in a special pocket of his carry-on luggage as he heard her footsteps approaching. "Are you alright? What are you up to in here?" she questioned.
"Just making sure I have my shoes," he smiled as he threw a few more pairs of socks in on top to cover his tracks. "After the last time I'm not letting you near those."
"Did'ja pack the scotch? 'Cause six-and-a-half hours on a plane from Laguardia to San Diego with a two-year-old is gonna be a new adventure for the both of us," she chided.
"Pretty sure that's not allowed, Janko. Four new movies all loaded on the tablet with headphones, plus a dozen more books. Hope you like Disney... Frozen, Nemo, The Little Mermaid and Cars."
"Cars?"
"Gotta balance out all the dainty froufrou stuff," Jamie explained. "My girl's gonna play basketball and soccer, learn how to change the oil on a big block engine and go fishing with her Grandpa... or did you miss the fact that Santa had a pole waiting for her under the Christmas tree yesterday?"
Eddie thought back to that magical morning. With everything that had happened, there had been no time or impetus to decorate the apartment with a tree during Jamie's recovery, so the three of them had stayed over at the family home after midnight mass on Christmas Eve to allow Kaylin the storybook experience of peeping down the stairs to see if Santa and his reindeer had made an appearance. The milk, cookies and carrots left for their guests in the kitchen had been consumed with mere crumbs and an empty glass left behind for show, and the little girl's eyes were wide with wonder as they walked around the corner and found piles of presents under the tree with her two grandpas drinking coffee and waiting for them in their robes with big smiles on their faces. The Reagan home had not seen a special holiday like that in a very long while since Sean and Jack had given up the belief, and Eddie couldn't remember if she had ever enjoyed one as much as this.
"You must have missed the fact that it was a pink princess pole there, pappa," Eddie joked. "I had one of those once… forget the froufrou, I used it to catch bluefish and little boys down at the shore," she offered while sliding up behind and carefully wrapping her arms around him. Jamie was now mostly healed after the accident, having even returned to limited desk duty at the precinct over the course of the last few days, but he still had some tender spots she needed to mind. Nevertheless he felt unusually tense that morning. "You're really not okay about leaving, are you?" she worried. "Your dad had to promise us like a hundred times this week that everything will be settled to get you to agree to go."
"Adams is going to file that complaint on Wednesday," Jamie sighed as he savored her soft touch. He was so torn between the angst over these court proceedings with Kaylin and his plans for Eddie in California. "And I'm taking a vacation to go away and… I can't help it, Ed. It doesn't feel right."
"Do you trust me, Reagan?" she asked as she slid to the front and cupped his cheek, forcing him to look in her eyes.
"Of course," he sighed as he reached forward and kissed her forehead. "You know that."
"We'll trust me when I tell you that I trust Frank Reagan if he tells me not to worry and to get you to the airport and on that plane with our little girl so she can go play in the sand and visit her Uncle Spencer," she insisted all in one breath with a little 'I Dream of Jeannie' flip of her ponytail as he shook his head and blinked while trying to follow along with that rationale. Eddie was a master in using the art of confusion to win any argument. "Besides, I have him on speed dial now and he said he'd be over to pick you up personally if you gave me any guff over this, and I'm not sure... but I think he really kinda meant that literally."
"He did," Jamie smirked, picturing that scene as his father put him over his shoulder. "He would I mean except that his knees are a little iffy now… still he's got a lot of big guys on his detail now though..."
"So…" she pried.
"So I guess we're going to the airport to get on a plane to go visit Spencer in California," Jamie conceded just as Kaylin bolted around the corner dressed in her swimmies and sporting an oversized pair of Eddie's sunglasses. "Yay! Going to the beach today!" she shouted as she skipped down the hall. "C'mon Jammie and Eddie bear!"
"Yeah, c'mon Jammie!" Eddie teased as she grabbed his hand. "You heard the boss, it's ten degrees in New York City and we're going to the beach today!" she laughed as she pulled him out towards the living room.
"Wait!" he exclaimed as he went back to grab his carry-on bag with its most important shiny cargo stored safely away. "I need this!" he insisted as she gave him a look. "It's got my shoes!"
###
The coffee was already warm that following Wednesday when Frank Reagan made his way down into the kitchen dressed informally in normal Sunday dinner attire complete with his a favorite sweater.
"You're not going into the office today?" Henry asked in surprise as he glanced at his son. "You sick?"
"No, I just decided to have a casual day," Frank explained. "Garrett and Baker will be over later in the morning to go over some scheduling for next month so we're working out of the house today. That okay with you, Pop?"
"Hm," Henry grunted as he turned the page while Frank prepared a breakfast with some toast and oatmeal. "I bet you promised them some soup today, too. You're lucky I have everything I need to make it," he mused before pursing his lips. "Weather channel says it's supposed to be in the 80s in the San Diego area all week. Eddie said that Jamie was going to try surfing later today… she thinks he's finally up for it. Kaylin's been trying to make a snowman with sand all week," he chuckled. "Spencer took them all out sailing yesterday afternoon."
"That's good, Pop," Frank laughed as his bread popped out of the toaster. "Sounds like they're having a great time."
"Mm hmm," Henry agreed as he glanced over at the pile of folders Frank had left sitting next to his briefcase from the day before. "I read the fives you brought home yesterday. Seems like Captain Thomas out of the 2-9 SVU had a busy night on Monday with a big bust."
"You don't say," Frank mused as he poured a small glass of orange juice before coming over to join his father at the table.
"You should be more thorough, Francis," his father chided. "If you were you would have known that they managed to round up some nasty characters. Even bagged one while he was having a nice dinner with his girlfriend at Antonio's. Bunch of press caught wind of it and landed some photos of the unhappy couple."
"On 41st? Terrible red sauce there; the chef should be arrested for impersonating a real Italian."
"Right," Henry offered as he tossed a section of the paper towards his son. "Page 13. Seems like the not-so-friendly Ms. Patricia Adams from the CPS office on 9th resigned suddenly yesterday citing personal issues. Real shame… seemed like a dedicated woman."
"Well," Frank commented as he sat back and reviewed the notice while his mustache wrinkled. "That's unfortunate. Jamie might be interested to know," he said as he pulled his phone out.
"Stop… it's only four in the morning out there," the eldest Reagan reminded. "You don't want to wake them. Plenty of time to share the good news later, Grandpa."
"You're right, Pop Pop," Frank agreed using Kaylin's chosen pet name for Henry. "Might even have something to add if Bill Ashe can work a little magic this morning, he was going to try to catch the judge first thing in her chambers if he can get verification from CPS that they will not be pursuing any further action. Be nice to surprise Eddie and Jamie to give them an extra day of peace," he added with a satisfied smile as he put the paper down.
"Kept your hands awful clean this time, didn't you Francis?" Henry inquired with a snort.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Frank retorted. "That investigation's been ongoing for months… I checked out of curiosity. Started up the day after that Adams woman had her first meeting with Jamie and threatened him over Kaylin's custody."
"Interesting."
"I thought so too. Say, Pop… didn't you give Steve Thomas his first appointment over at the 2-9 years ago?"
"Now that you mention it…" Henry started before quickly getting up and going over to the pantry to pull out the ingredients to make his soup for the expected lunch guests. "What?" he demanded as he tried to deflect his son's stare. "I'm not involved… I leave all that kind of dark art up to the master now. My papers are stamped retired, remember? Excuse me, I've got to go down to the basement and see if I have enough fresh onions," he offered before scurrying off.
"Dark art… well Pop, I learned from the best," Frank offering thoughtfully as he looked down at the photo on the police blotter depicting Mr. Scumsucker being led off in handcuffs from his table at Antonio's while a familiar face was caught looking shocked in the background. "Boom," he finished as he pushed the paper away.
Several hours later, a pleased William Ashe from Ashe and Patton hand-delivered a set of signed papers to an address on Harbor View Terrace and was invited in to share a lively lunch of soup and sandwiches with the Police Commissioner of New York City and his staff. A few minutes later Eddie's phone came to life out in California with the message she had been praying to see as she was sitting on the beach with Spencer while watching Jamie doggedly attempt to surf and catch his yearly wave. "Operation KaR final! Adams resigned. CPS not contesting. Papers in hand! 119," it read. Soon a little two-year-old girl with bright blue eyes was grinning as she ran towards an exhausted man lying near the surf as fast as two little legs could go in the sand. "DADDY!" she yelled for the first time ever in her young life. "DADDY, I HERE!" she exclaimed before she was scooped up by the father who intended to love her like his own for the rest of his life.
So that's the story behind Ms. Adams' demise and Kaylin's adoption being finalized while Jamie and Eddie were on their little trip… was there ever any doubt with both Frank and Henry involved? I even threw in the part about picking up the ring! BONUS! Next up is Rick's Beer (I swear!) because Jamie is going to need a night out drinking before he has the courage to travel up to Rochester with Eddie and meet his future mother-in-law Eva Janko, a.k.a. mommazilla. Afterwards he will be drinking scotch, neat… trust me. :-)
