BLUE BLOODS: RETURN TO DUTY
CHAPTER 12
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY, NY.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016: 3:15 p.m.
Fifteen days had elapsed since the final nail had been driven into the Sanfino crime family's coffin.
Noble was dead and Bianca, who according to OCCB now officially had a price on her head, had been relocated to an FBI safe house as Erin had convinced Bianca that if she wanted to live, her best interests were to cooperate in rolling up the remainder of the Cappaziri family's operations.
As Danny and Jamie had correctly deduced, Bianca, on orders of "Uncle Phil", had been the orchestrator of the murders Danny and Maria had been investigating, as well as the attempted murder of Erin, while her deceased brother and his crew had carried out the executions.
Bianca was given a choice.
"Either cooperate with us fully, or we will release you to the Cappaziri's". Erin informed her.
"Which means I either rat them out or they kill me." Bianca replied.
"Sounds about right." Erin replied.
"I only have one request." Bianca replied
"You aren't exactly in a position to be asking favors." Anthony responded.
Erin smiled. "What's your request?" She inquired.
"I want to talk to Jamie." She stated.
"Not going to happen." Erin firmly replied.
"Why not?" Bianca inquired.
"Your family put a hit out on Joe, Jamie, and me, and nearly killed Danny. If I were to bring him here, it would take Anthony, Joe, and myself to keep him from breaking your pretty little neck." Erin responded.
Bianca understood that whatever feelings that may have existed between she and Jimmy Riordan, no longer remained between herself and Jamie Reagan.
Finally, she relented "I'll cooperate. What do you want to know?"
McCoy's PUB
768 9th Avenue
New York City, New York
Wednesday, April 27, 2016: 6:15 p.m.
Jamie walked into the quiet bar located Hell's Kitchen and immediately spotted his three siblings sitting at a table in the rear corner.
"Hey" he greeted as he walked up and took his seat.
Danny had spent the past two weeks under what he called "house arrest". This was his first night out and Linda, who by now had tired of having a kvetching Danny around, insisted that he go out and have a beer with his sister and brothers.
"Late tour?" Danny asked.
"Paperwork." Jamie responded.
"Something big brother avoids like the plague" Joe commented.
"No, I delegate." Danny answered in his own defense.
Erin laughed. "It's supposed to be a partnership which means Maria shouldn't be stuck with doing the paperwork all the time."
"Each partnership is unique as the kid will tell you." Danny grinned.
Jamie noticed all three of his siblings grinning at him.
"What?" He inquired.
"Come on kid, we all know that you and Janko have a thing going on." Danny replied.
"Nothing wrong with that Jamer, in fact, it's natural. You spend hours each day with her, you develop trust, feelings" Joe commented.
"We're partners, nothing more" Jamie retorted. "Besides, she's pushy, opinionated, dictatorial, eats too much, makes plans for me without asking."
"Theresa Mancini" his brother's responded.
Erin began to laugh. "That's exactly whose name I brought up last year when Jamie came to me asking advice about Edie, and Renzulli's threat to break them up if they had romantic feelings between them."
"Yeah, they do. I saw them playing kissy face one night last year outside her place as Baez and I drove by." Danny smirked.
"What, you're spying on us?" Jamie defensively inquired.
"No, happened to be in the area and was shocked at what I saw. Maria didn't seem to be." Danny replied.
"You should do what makes you happy Jamie. You have to ask yourself, would you rather be partners during shift, or partners for life?" Joe inquired.
"But what if things don't work out, then I've lost my partner and my friend." Jamie replied.
"Partners don't last forever." Danny responded.
"This coming from the expert. Maria is what, number nine in the last 12 years?" Joe teased.
"Shut up Joe, I'm trying to make a point here." Danny retorted.
"I get it." Jamie said.
"Good, then how about you, Danny and I continue this conversation down the street while Joe deals with his own romance issues." Erin stated as she, Danny, and Jamie began to rise from the table.
"Me, what are you talking about?" Joe asked.
Danny pointed to a woman who had just entered the bar.
"I think you owe it to yourself and to her to see where this can still go." He remarked.
Joe watched as the love of his life, a woman he had not seen or spoken with in almost seven years slowly walked over.
"Hi Joe." She smiled.
"Angie." Joe smiled back as he walked over and enveloped her in a hug.
Jamie, Erin, and Danny each hugged Angie before heading out.
"You are still as beautiful as ever." Joe remarked.
"And you are still the same Joe." She softly replied as they sat down.
The other three siblings watched from the doorway as their brother and his girlfriend reconnected, hoping that it would lead to something more.
Erin and Danny each grabbed Jamie by an arm. "Come on kid, we aren't through with you and Janko." Danny said, as they marched him three doors up the street and into Island Burgers and Shakes.
Sitting by herself was none other than Edit Janko.
Erin and Danny pushed Jamie towards her.
"It's obvious to all of us that you two have a thing for each other, and Joe, Danny and I agree that you two would make a great couple, so order a burger and shake and sit here until you two figure out exactly where you want this to go." Erin firmly stated, before she and Danny turned around and left.
Danny laughed as he and Erin headed across the street to Empanada Mama's.
"Now, if only I could find someone for you." Danny seriously remarked.
"That's okay, I have enough on my plate right now." Erin replied.
"Yeah, but it isn't right. You have everything going for you, brains, looks, skills, and you can be a bad ass too." He smirked.
"Yeah, I learned from the best." She said, hugging her brother.
Danny hugged her back. "So did I."
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