Helping Out, Reagan Style
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The following weekend the Reagan family met at Danny and Linda's house to begin the dreaded task, clean out Danny's so called treasures. "What areyou
going to do with all this stuff," Erin asked when they first opened the door, noticing how difficult it was going to be to even walk into the room? "See what
Danny absolutely has to keep and put that in the attic or someplace and get rid of the rest Linda answered." "Maybe we should send Sean in there, he's
the smallest and probably the only one who can get in and out alive," Jamie mentioned. "It's not that bad," Danny shoved past them.
Settling into different areas of the room, the family slowly began making headway."What's all this," Frank asked pulling a large heavy cardboard box from deep
within the closet? "I'll take that Dad," Danny said quickly trying to take the box from his father. Frank looked at him puzzled, "there something illegal in here
son," Frank teased. "You seem to be in an awful hurry to get it moved out, maybe I should take a look inside." "It's nothing important Dad honest," Danny
tried. Opening the box, Frank couldn't help but laugh as he saw the many mementos deep inside. Danny ran a hand across his face, "I'm dead" he mumbled.
First, Frank pulled out a large, wide plastic straw and Jamie spoke up, "hey that was mine. I was wondering what happened to that when I was a kid." "You
were being a menace with that thing," Danny pointed out, "and you kept hitting me with spitballs." "Doesn't mean you had to take it," Jamie shoved it in his
back pocket. "What else is in there," Erin asked peering in the box? Frank pulled out an old cassette tape and Erin took it from him. "This was my footloose
tape," Erin looked at Danny, "I looked all over the place for it." "Serves you right, you kept playing the same song over and over again, and you were driving
me crazy," Danny said picking up for himself. "That's stealing" Erin said pointedly, "dad arrest him." "Yah dad," Jamie added his two cents in. Danny looked at
his siblings shocked, "what kind of siblings do I have? I'm sorry two of your children are such a disappointment dad," Danny glanced at his Father. "Alright,
alright all three of you back to work" Frank said laughing, before returning to the box. Erin found an old tape player on one of the shelves and put the cassette
tape in before turning up the volume. "Enjoy every minute of it big brother," Erin smiled smugly at Danny. "Yah Danny," Jamie said shooting his brother with a
spitball. "Now you're going to get it Danny lunged for him. "Boys," Frank raised his voice stopping them. "You are acting like children, besides I think Daniel and
I," Frank put an emphasis on the word Daniel, "need to have a little talk about this 8th grade report card of his I found shoved in here." Danny chuckled trying
to sound innocent, "how about that," Danny rubbed his chin, "so that's where that thing went." "Isn't this the report card you told us and your teacher you
couldn't get signed because it got all wet when you were walking home in the rain from school one day and you had to throw it away." "It must have magically
come back together again," Danny shrugged smiling. "Son," Frank said pointing at Danny, "you are so lucky I didn't find out about this a couple years ago."
Danny's cell rang and Danny looked mischievously at his family, "Saved by the Bell."
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It was nearing lunch time and each of the Reagan's were beginning to notice. "Mom, were hungry" Sean said as he and Jack came into the room. "Well I can't
cook right now Son," she said going through a pile of old clothes in the room. "How about I call and get a pizza delivered my treat" Frank volunteered smiling at
his grandsons. "That sounds good," came Jamie's muffled voice from somewhere in the closet where he and Danny were trying to take out all the old storage
racks to replace them with new ones. "Hold your end up Jamie," Danny said aloud. "I'm trying" Jamie said "but there's something falling on top of me and I
don't what it is, and it's kind of freaking me out." "Quit being a baby Jamie," Danny added "it's not going to bite you." "It's just my old high school jacket and 1
or 2 of my old police officer uniforms," Danny explained getting annoyed. "Hey everybody, Jamie is afraid of clothes," Danny teased his kid brother. "No I'm not"
Jamie picked up for himself, "it's just dark in here and I couldn't see what it was." "Sure little brother," Danny mumbled, "whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Boys wash your dishes," Linda looked at Jack and Sean after they asked Danny if they could be excused from the table. "In fact you two have kitchen duty,"
Linda rephrased. "Darn," Sean mumbled after his parents, aunt, uncle and grandfather left the room, returning upstairs. "Unless I get told to do something
else, I'll help you clean the kitchen Nicky offered." "Thanks Nicky," Jack said before they were interrupted by a yell. "Nicky!" Danny called from upstairs, "come
help me with this!" "Sorry boys," Nicky said getting up from the table. "I'm coming Uncle Danny," Nicki yelled before pushing her chair in and hurrying up the
stairs.
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"Sean, I'm serious" Jack said frustrated. "Stop playing with the water sprayer and come dry these dishes." "You dry them," Sean said laughing as he sprayed
bits of water about the kitchen. "I can't, I'm trying to wash the dishes," Jack raised his voice. After a few more sprays and bad aiming Sean accidentally squirted
his brother. "That's it!" Jack yelled tackling him to the floor. "Danny," Linda said frustrated, hearing the commotion downstairs, "there all yours." Danny stuck his
head out of the room's doorway and hollered down the stairs at his sons. "Don't make me come down there!" The noise subsided in seconds and Erin chuckled,
"you sounded just like Dad, when he used to say that to us." Frank smiled, "sounding like our fathers happens to the best of us" he said looking over at Pop.
It was midweek and Danny was just getting home from a 12 hour tour, after kissing Linda and hugging the boy's hello, Linda carted the boys outside to take to
school before heading to work. Yawning Danny made his way into the kitchen for a hot cup of coffee, before showering and heading up to bed. Just before
making his way up the stairs, Danny's cell buzzed. "Reagan" he said into the receiver. "Detective Reagan," one of the ladies, Stacie Krenshaw, from the
Children's Center asked? "Yes," Danny answered immediately worrying, knowing he never got calls from the center. "It's about Andy," Stacie said carefully.
"What's going on," Danny's voice was beginning to show concern? "She is acting unusually quiet and will not speak to anyone and we are a little concerned,
and we thought you may be able to get something out of her seeing as you are in the process of adopting her." Danny ran a hand down his face, "I
understand, I'll be there as soon as I can," he replied before hanging up the phone. Filling a thermos of coffee, Danny hurried out the door and back to his
jeep.
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Pulling up to the Children's Center Danny made his way up to the front desk. "She's outside Detective," Stacie said pointing to the back door. Stepping out the
back door, Danny glanced about the playground area, looking for Andy. "Fight, fight, fight" he heard a commotion near the sandy volleyball court. Danny ran
over to the group of children surrounding the fighting kids, despite the fact he couldn't see either of the kids fighting through the large group of children.
Pushing past the kids Danny noticed that one of the children in the fight was indeed, his soon to be adopted daughter Andy. Pulling the two kids off the ground
Danny was even more shocked to find the other child on the ground was a boy and Andy was on top, obviously becoming the victor. Without giving Andy a
chance for gloating or the boy to try and seek revenge Danny jerked the two apart. Andy tried to go after the boy again but Danny kept a tight reign on her
arm. "Andrea," he said roughly, jerking her back to him. "Detective," Andy was shocked to find Danny there, and with the look he was giving her, made her feel
about two inches tall. By the time Danny got the two separated and several of the children dispersed, Stacie joined them near the volleyball court, where he
still held a firm grip on both the children involved in the fight. "Tyler and Andrea," Stacie was hysterical. "I'm so sorry you had to come back here while the
children were fighting, Detective Reagan." "It's perfectly alright Ms. Stacie," Danny replied, "I'm used to it." One of Stacie's coworkers were calling the rest of
the children into the center when Stacie glanced at the two in front of her. "I'd like to have a word with Andrea for a few minutes if you don't mind," Danny
asked before the young lady could continue with the sure scolding? "Of course Detective Reagan," Stacie said escorting Tyler back into the building. Leaving the
two alone, Danny released his grip on her arm and instead crossed his arms across his chest as he peered at her unhappy. Andy usually never backed away
from anyone but with the look Danny was giving, certainly made her consider it. "Now Andrea I'm going to ask you a question and I want a straight answer,
young lady." Andy sighed, and Danny said seriously, "a yes sir would fit in just about perfect right now." "Yes Sir," she mumbled. "Andrea," Danny ran a hand
through his hair, "I want to know what in the world would possess you to do such a thing, and while I'm at it" Danny continued, "what's all this about you
behaving rather strangely as of lately?" "It's nothing Detective Reagan," Andy lied. Danny raised a brow at the child, "for starters don't ever lie to me again."
Andy stood there dumbfounded, nobody ever knew when she was lying, then here comes this man she's known for not even a month and he knows she's lying
instantly. "How did you know I was lying," Andy had to ask? "It's the job" Danny spoke up, before continuing. "Of all the people I come into contact with, it has
to be a Detective," Andy mumbled. "Have a seat," Danny pointed to an empty chair. Andy obeyed and Danny stood in front of her, "now how about a real
answer." "I don't have an answer" Andy said quietly. "I really doubt that Andrea," Danny was serious. Andy's face twisted, "Tyler just wouldn't shut up, and he
said that I was only destined for life in juvenile hall." "That's nonsense," Danny spoke up, "besides there is no way I'm going to let that happen, your going to
be a Reagan and things are going to change quite significantly, I can assure you." Andy didn't an answer for him and Danny shook his head. "Besides did you
ever stop to think he might be jealous of you Danny questioned?" "I don't know, you didn't give me a chance to beat it out of him." "Seriously Andrea," Danny
was serious. "Well it's true Andy combated." "Do not go there Andrea, Danny ordered." "Why do you keep calling me Andrea, it's getting annoying, I go by
Andy." "Get used to it Andrea," Danny said again, "your wishes and or privileges gets removed when you get into trouble." Andy sighed, she just couldn't win
today, this man had a comment for everything she said. I may have actually met my match, Andy thought to herself. Andy shook her head she didn't want to
think about that, it was too depressing. Danny calmed and took a seat next to her, "you know I really do think he's just jealous about you getting adopted."
"But I've never said anything to anyone about getting adopted," Andy looked at him. "The workers know," Danny implied, "and I'm sure they've talked about
it." "I guess so," Andy agreed. "Well now that we have that settled," Danny's tone and face expression turned lighter, "how about you tell me what you have
against cops?" "I just never had a good experience with any of them," Andy admitted straight up. "They always took me straight back to my foster family. And
things initially would get worse with my foster family." "Did you ever try to convince any of the officers of otherwise, Danny questioned?" "Well no, not exactly"
Andy replied sheepishly. "That may have helped Danny concluded." "Yeah well I'm known for being both reserved and hard headed," Andy shrugged her
shoulders. "You know those aren't exactly bad qualities Danny admitted." "You just have to learn how to control them, he added." "Yah, no idea how to do
that," Andy was being completely honest. "With a little time with my family and you will, I can assure you." Andy chuckled, "should I be afraid." "Deathly
afraid Danny teased." "I'm sorry about making you come all the way down here," Andy apologized, "I know you don't usually come by in the morning and I'm
sure you were busy." "There's nothing I wouldn't do for my children and family Andy, you have to understand that," Danny was more than serious. "But I'm
not," Andy shook her head. "You will be soon enough," Danny put an arm loosely around her shoulder.
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Two weeks passed with Linda and Danny both making several trips to the Children's Center paying visits to Andy. When one mid Friday afternoon Danny's cell
buzzed, and he received the news he had been waiting for. The adoption papers were processed and they could officially bring Andy home. Danny pulled his car
into the drive way of their home and hurried into the house. "Linda," he called happily "the papers are in." Linda hurried down the stairs and ran into Danny's
opened arms. "When can we go get her?" "Tomorrow," he answered. Stepping into the kitchen for a glass of water Danny looked around, "Where are the
boys?" "There in the back yard playing with their football Linda answered." "I'm going to go out after them," Danny said placing his glass in the sink. "Oh
Danny," Linda stopped him on his out way out the backdoor. "I need you to talk to the boys about being good tomorrow, since it's going to be Andy's first day."
Linda paused, "every time I try talking to them they just nod and shrug their shoulders." "Don't worry, I'll handle it," he said before closing the door behind
him. "Alright boys bring it in to the end zone" Danny called to them, interrupting their football game. "But I'm winning Jack complained." "Later Jack, but first we
need to have a serious talk Danny sustained." "Did we do something wrong Sean asked?" "No," Danny relieved him. "Then, what do you want to talk to us
about," Jack asked walking up to his father? Danny turned serious and began, "well Andy is joining the family tomorrow, and your mother tells me she has tried
talking to you boys about being on your best behavior and she said you are not really acknowledging her. So I am here to tell you as well, that I want you to
be nice and be on your absolutely best behavior, do you understand?" "Gee Dad were not going to do anything Jack said." "That's all I want to hear, but just to
be clear, I'm giving you full warning. If you do anything mean, trouble will be a word you become very familiar with, now am I making myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes Sir" both boys answered simultaneously. "Good" Danny said, "as long as we all understand one another. Now let's play some football," he winked taking
the football from Jack and running into the back yard.
