BLUE BLOODS: RETURN TO DUTY
CHAPTER 6
54TH PRECINCT DETECTIVE SQUAD:
Saturday, April 8, 2016: 7:00 a.m.
Maria Baez entered the squad carrying her usual cup of Starbuck's Frappuccino. Normally she would be off on a Saturday, but with her partner's shooting, she was working daily until his assailant was caught and strung up.
She looked over towards the desk she shared with Danny and noticed both Jamie and a very large blond haired man sitting there, going through Danny's files.
"Hey Jamie, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"I've been detailed to help you and this detective investigate Danny's shooting." Jamie stoically replied.
"And you are?" She asked the big blond man who bore a striking resemblance to Jamie.
He stood up and offered his hand. "Detective Joseph Reagan." He crisply answered.
Maria pulled her hand back and made the sign of the cross. "Madre de Dios" she said, her eyes revealing her fright at shaking the hand of a dead man.
Jamie laughed. "Relax Maria, he was never dead. He was undercover with Homeland for the last seven years and he's come back to help solve Danny's shooting."
"You knew about this?" She accused Jamie.
"Nobody knew. So far, only Jamie, the P.C., Garrett Moore and Sid Gormley." Joe answered.
"Have you been to see Danny?" She asked.
"Last night." Joe replied.
"He's a great cop." Maria informed Joe.
"You don't have to tell me, he used to hone his detective skills on Jamie and me when we were just kids." Joe smiled.
"Does Erin know?" She asked Jamie.
"No, that's one notification which may result in a real dead body, either hers from a heart attack or Joe's from the beating she's going to give him." Jamie noted.
"I may need some backup with that one." Joe observed, knowing his sister's temper and how hard she could hit.
"Then you better get that backup right now buster." He heard from behind him and turned to face his older sister.
"Erin, calm down." Jamie said as he stepped in between his siblings.
Her eyes began tearing up. "I cried for you. I grieved for you. I held Jamie in my arms for days because he couldn't function. I had to feed him like he was two years old again because he wouldn't eat for weeks. And then there was Nicky, and Jack, and Sean, and the look in Dad's eyes as the light went out of him. Every Sunday praying for your soul and every Sunday dinner and family event, your empty chair and with it, a piece of us missing, and all this time you've been alive?" She said, the fury in her voice barely contained.
"Erin, please." Jamie reiterated.
"Shut up Jamie." She retorted, never taking her eyes off of Joe.
"But most of all Danny, who day in and day out tore himself apart trying to make Jamie bullet proof as a cop because he had to join the force to honor his dead brother whom he worshiped, and Danny being Danny, only knew one way to do that which was to be the Marine Corp Gunnery Sargent that he was and break Jamie down and rebuild him and it killed him to treat his baby brother that way but he wasn't about to lose Jamie like he lost you, because he thought he failed to teach you how to survive out there."
Joe nodded. "I'm sorry Erin. I know that doesn't cut it right now, but there was a reason behind what I did and why none of you could know. I came back to solve Danny's shooting because I have a fair idea who is behind it, and I am going to need your help. If after that you want nothing to do with me, I understand."
"Nothing to do with you?" She exasperatedly asked. "Oh, I would love to have a few things to do with you Joseph, such as turning you over my knee like when you were 10 years old, but no, you aren't getting off that easily. You are my little brother and I love you, and I thank God, and Mom, and Grandma, and Jesus that you have come home to me, to us, and I never want to lose you again, and I don't want to lose Danny." She cried as she ran into her brother's arms.
After a moment, she reached over and pulled Jamie to her as well. Finally, they all broke free of one another.
Erin sniffled. "Okay, now that the cryfest is over, we all owe it to our big brother to find out who did this to him and making sure they get hung by their nuts, because we can make that old fart's life miserable for him because that's our prerogative and privilege but nobody else, not even Maria here gets to do that for us" Erin smiled. "So let's sit down and start from the beginning." She stated as she sat down next to Maria and they began to review the files.
REAGAN FAMILY HOUSE
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN
Saturday, April 8, 2016: 8:00 a.m.
"Morning Francis" Henry greeted as he strode into the kitchen.
"Morning Pop." Frank replied.
"Didn't sleep too well last night, did you?" Henry asked.
"What makes you say that?" Frank inquired.
Henry laughed. "Old house, creaky floors, thin walls, TV on, TV off, down the stairs, up the stairs. I understand, Danny and all. Any word?"
"I'm waiting to hear from Linda. I'll head by the hospital later this morning." Frank replied.
"Anything else on your mind, I'm still a pretty good detective you know." Henry reminded him.
"Still the best Pop. Taught Danny and me everything you know." Frank nodded.
Henry sat down with his coffee and looked his son in the eyes. "Spill" he ordered.
"Actually, it's good news." Frank nodded.
"Regarding Danny?" Henry asked.
"No, well, it involves Danny." Frank replied.
"You promoted Jamie to detective so that he can find who shot his brother." Henry postulated.
"You get half credit. I detailed him to work with another detective, but no, I have not promoted him yet." Frank admitted.
"Who'd you pair him up with?" Henry asked.
"Someone who has as much of a vested interest in finding out who hurt Danny as we do." Frank replied.
"Unless I'm missing something here, or you gave Erin a gold shield, you're out of detectives in this family." Henry surmised.
"No, actually I'm not. Thought I was, but nope. There is one left." Frank smiled.
And then it hit Henry like an oncoming train. "That little bastard, he's alive." He happily deduced, slamming his fist down on the table.
Frank nodded. "Was undercover with Homeland all this time. Came to my office last night demanding his shield and to be the lead detective on the case. I granted both."
"Where is he, I want to see my grandson. I want to ring his neck and then I want to hug him." Henry stated.
"You will. Right now, he's working with Jamie and Baez to put an end to what Danny started. Like Jamie became a cop to honor Joe, Joe's come home to honor Danny." Frank smiled.
"God, please let Danny pull through so that we can have our family back." Henry prayed.
"Amen to that Pop." Frank replied as he held his father's hands in his.
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