AN1 - Set in mid to late Season 7
Chapter Two: "The first time Danny Reagan told me to trust him, I ended up in the East River..."
"Pops says to check the ham, Lin." Danny Reagan says as she strolls into the kitchen, beer in hand. Linda, Erin and Nicky are finishing the last of the side dishes, and it's obvious to Danny that he walked into a conversation involving him. Scanning the women, all of whom are trying not to giggle, he narrows his eyes and stares down his wife.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, honey." Linda almost gets her response out with a straight face, but Erin starts to giggle again, and then Nicky cracks, leaving Linda's lips in a mixture of straight face and giggles.
Danny gets a little red in the face, his dander up at the idea of sister laughing at him.
"What?!" He asks again.
Seeing that Danny would only get more irrational until he finds out what was going on, Linda waves for him to come closer before half whispering conspiratorially, "We think Jack has a crush on Baez. He's gone to fix his hair four times since you said she was stopping by." Erin and Nicky start laughing again, while Danny is still trying to process this.
"Baez?"
"Yep."
"He has?"
"Mmmm hmmm"
Frank Reagan walks in, heading to the fridge to get another beer. "Is Jack ok?" Danny turns his body to face his father, allowing Linda and Erin to hide their faces behind his back.
"Yeah Dad, why?"
"He just went to the bathroom again?" Frank takes a sip of the fresh beer. "I think he's spending as much time in there your grandfather."
Erin, Linda, and Nicky devolve into a fit of laughter as Frank looks at them, eyebrows knit in confusion.
Stepping up to his father, Danny claps him on the back with a wide grin. "Yeah Dad, everything is perfectly normal." Sharing a humorous look with Linda, Danny leads Frank back to the living room. The men just are out of sight for the trio of Reagan women when the door bell rings. Linda lifts a finger in the air, then a second, when a voice bellows from across the house.
"I GOT IT!" Linda's oldest, Jack, shouts.
As the food dishes are finally being settled down and plates are being dug into, Linda starts the conversation off. "Maria, I'm so glad you came by. It's a shame you two are going to have to do this insane shift tonight."
"Linda, could we please?" Danny interjected before Linda could go on.
"I just think a 18 hour shift is too long, especially for a steak out."
"This isn't normal, Lin. It's a one time opportunity to shut down a major drug ring. Narcotics needed some real cops, and we have the training. Besides," Danny paused to give her a look, "the overtime is always good."
"Of course we have the training, Danny. You drug me into that training, remember?" Maria Baez says from the other end of the table, sitting between Jamie and Henry.
Danny raises his hands in personal absolution. "You coulda said no!"
"I did say no! Like fifteen times, Danny!"
"Yeah, but the sixteenth time you made the right choice!" Danny replies, making his point with his wide grin and butter knife.
"He used to work that magic with Mom as well, right Dad?" Erin said to her father sitting to her left.
Frank nodded "He tried it with you, as I recall. Didn't seem to work, though."
"How do you think I ended up a lawyer? Trying to tell Danny no for eighteen years." Erin replies, smirking at her older brother across the table.
"How come you can't use that magic to not get eighteen hour shifts, Danny?"
"Come on, Linda. This is going to be an easy shift. Trust me, ok?" Danny replied.
Linda rolled her eyes, "Oh great."
"What?" Danny asked, confused.
"What do you mean 'what?', Danny?" Maria asks. "There are no two more dangerous words than Danny Reagan saying 'trust me'."
Nicky leans forward, curious. "What do you mean, Detective Baez?"
"Let's just say, the first time he said 'trust me', I ended up in the East River and almost caught a three day RIP." Maria replies, to the amusement of the table, some more than others.
Henry perks as with renewed interest looking at Maria. "Wait, was this the business with what's his face, the construction guy?"
"Yeah, John Corker."
Frank begins to nod as well. "I remember hearing about that as well."
"Of course you did, it was a big topic of conversation throughout the month." Henry pantomimes the headline as he continues. "PCs newly promoted grandson nearly brought up on departmental charges. Only thing that saved Daniel's career was that he was right."
Erin looks on, confused. "Wait, when was this?"
"1997," Jamie replies. "You and Jack were still in college when this happened." Jamie looks at Danny, laughing. "I think that was the last time I saw Mom really, really angry at you, Danny."
"Well, not counting when I wouldn't tell her what gender Sean was." Danny replied.
"She was pretty upset about that." Jamie says, as Erin nods her head in agreement.
"Why wouldn't you tell Grandma I was a boy?" Sean asks.
"Because we hadn't told anyone yet, and your Mom wanted to tell everyone at Sunday Dinner." Danny said. "Your grandmother wouldn't have been able to keep it to herself, so we made her wait."
Erin was not to be sidetracked, however. "Wait, how is it I've never heard this story?"
Frank and Jamie trade glances, then look at Henry, and Linda. "I'm sure we have, haven't we?" Frank says
"No!" Erin and Nicky exclaimed.
"Yeah, we haven't heard that story either, Dad." Jack piped up, speaking for his brother who was nodding next to him.
"Ok, well first of all, don't let your Dad tell it, because he likes to leave out important details." Maria tells Jack, who nods back at her wordlessly.
"Hold on, I tell it just fine!"
"The incident at the port?"
"It's not necessary to the story, that's why I never mention it!" Danny replies, semi-shouting.
Maria offers her hand at Danny, looking around the table with a 'See what I mean?' look.
"Ok, fine," Danny says, holding his hands up in surrender. "You tell it. After you pass the potatos."
Jamie starts while passing the potatoes from Danny to Maria, "I remember this started with a Danny who knew everything having just got his gold shield."
Erin snorts to herself., "Like that has changed," earning a look from her brother.
Baez nods, looking to Jack and Sean. "Your father and I were assigned to a detective unit out of the 2-7, our shields were still shiny and new. I had just joined the day before the call, Danny had been there a week."
"...and already acting like he owned the place, from what his COs were saying." Henry added.
"...and already acting like he owned the place." Maria added, grinning at Danny.
"I was feeling my oats, what can I say." Danny says, smirking and serving himself a bit mor potatos. "Besides, I had more felony collars in my first month than any of the others in that squad."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, so we got called out on the victim on the lower east side construction site, where the Baxter Apartments are now."
"I just had a dead body there last month, actually." Jamie threw in.
"That facade is a murder to good taste, too." Henry added.
"Anyways, dead body..." Erin continued, Linda rolling her eyes.
"So we all get there," Maria continues, "and the lead detective was a old school pavement pounder First Grade named ...uhh... Johansen. He was nearly On mandatory retirement as it was, had no time for kids, baby detectives, or manners."
Henry grunted sadly beside Maria. "Felix and I rode on patrol in the 50's. He was never the same after his wife passed in '88. God rest her soul."
"Well by the time we got to him he was pretty damned burnt out, Gramps." Danny added.
Maria tilts her head in acknowledgement. "So Johansen tells the four of us to canvas the neighborhood, see if anyone saw anything. As Danny and I are heading out of the lot, he sees a pair of boot prints heading towards the body. He starts to follow them, giving a shout to Detective Johansen, who shrugs his shoulders and says it's a construction site, there's going to be a million boot prints."
"Of which there were not, mind you." Danny butts in to add.
"Of which there was not, yes." Maria pauses. "But instead of coming back to the prints after doing what we were told, Mr. 'I know what I'm doing' decides to see where they go." Maria sips her wine, before continuing. "Now I'm wanting to keep my job, so I try to tell him that we can come back to that; no dice." Maria stands up taller in her seat, a bad Danny Reagan impression in her voice. "Come on, Maria! This has got to mean something! Trust me!"
"That's actually a pretty good impression," Jamie compliments while smirking Danny's way.
"Yeah kid. You should hear Janko do her impression of you." Danny's barb at his brother for once actually caught him quiet, as Jamie picked at his plate. Were it not for Baez's continuing the story, Danny might have pounced on the odd reaction from his kid brother.
"So Danny says 'Let's just see where these lead, we can swing back real quick afterwards, still do the canvas.' I wanted to radio it in, but he didn't want Johnansen stopping us, so he talked me out of that. 'Just ten minutes, Maria!'"
Danny rolls his eyes, popping some ham in his mouth, while Linda runs her hand on Danny's arm soothingly.
"Twenty minutes later, we've followed these boot prints ten blocks. I don't even think I've ever again seen mud track that far."
"Well, that site was a mud pit. It'd been raining for days and days before that case." Danny added.
"So the trail ends in front of this abandoned building just north of the FDR. Now I'm begging him to call it in. But Mr. Logic says 'We can't call it in, we're not even supposed to be here. You don't want to get jammed up do you?'"
"The report I got said that there was a radio call made anyways." Henry adds.
"Well, yeah. We were too far out to not let someone know where we were. Of course, that's what ended up saving our lives."
"No no no, we had those guys under control before ESU arrived." Danny interrupted.
"How were they under control? You were out of ammo, and my weapon was at the bottom of the river!?"
Danny smirked. "That's a gross exaggeration of events." Danny leans forward, pointing his fork at himself. "Besides, after that I got you a nice back up piece, didn't I?"
Maria glared at him. "No, you bought me a Hi-Point."
"It was a nice backup piece!" Danny replied defensively.
Frank knotted his eyebrows, glaring at Danny. "You bought her a Hi-Point?"
"So?"
Frank and Henry shared a look as they shook their heads in mock disappointment.
"So anyways, Danny circles around back to check things out while I call in our location. While I'm mid-call, this ugly blue 80's model Oldsmobile 88 rolls up, and some dudes hop out. They're getting in my space asking me what I'm doing hanging out around their building. I flash my badge, and suddenly they're all pulling out their guns."
Erin looks at Danny expectantly. "Where were you?"
"I was out back, trying not to get stepped on by the biggest Mexican I've ever met." Danny exclaimed, knowing this question had been coming. "Jose 'El Roca' Salvador, who moved faster than Jack used to for Cocoa Puffs."
Frank perked up. "You met El Roca?"
"Well, he almost squashed me. We didn't quite trade pleasantries." Danny replied.
Frank had a giant smile at that image.
"So I'm out front of the building, five guys staring down their guns at me, and yeah, here comes Danny hauling butt out of that alley behind the guys. He tries to stop but instead runs into them as he turned the corner. Next thing I know there's a giant coming around the corner running just as fast as Danny had been, but couldn't stop as fast." Maria pantomimes knocking over as she goes on, "Takes out all six of them and myself. Danny managed to duck to the side in time that he got up, grabbed me and we started running east. I go to call in our situation, and find out that El Roca smashed my radio."
"Hold on, you're on your own, in the lower east side of the late 90's, and no radio?" Erin interrupts.
"Mmm hmmmm." Maria replys, looking at Danny. "So we get a few blocks east when we run into an old Lower East Port, which was undergoing demolition at the time, where Corlears is now. By the time we realize we've made a bad turn, the crew is right on us, El Roca and all. They start shooting, so we duck for cover and start returning fire."
Henry starts laughing, knowing the next part of the story.
Maria looks at Jack and Sean, continues. "That's when your dad thought it'd be a good idea to drive them back by shooting a drum of diesel fuel that was above them."
"Woah, Dad, cool!" Sean chirped, Jack looking at his Dad excitedly as well.
Danny, however, had his head down. Further down the table, Linda had a look on her face as she glares at Danny. "I don't recall this story involving you shooting diesel fuel?" When he doesn't answer her, she repeats, "Danny?"
Frank to her right laughs with Henry. "That's because it doesn't."
"What?" Linda asks, again glaring at Danny.
"I swear that the sticker said diesel." He says, looking down at the table.
"Yeah," Henry follows, "too bad they couldn't find the label."
"...or the drum, for that matter." Frank finishes, laughing.
Linda, Erin, Nicky, and the boys all turn to Baez, confusion on their faces.
"Later on we found out that they were keeping the TNT sticks in those drums, packed with straw."
"You shot a drum full of dynamite?!" Linda exclaimed.
"No." Danny says in a firm, yet defensive, voice. "No, I did not. I shot a mislabeled drum partially stocked with dynamite sticks that was being improperly stored." Danny replied, his index finger pointing out the issues he had with the story.
"Twice."
"What?" Danny asked.
"You shot it twice, Danny!" Maria replied.
"No, I shot it once."
"No, Danny, you shot it twice. Once because you thought you missed, but that was really a through and through, and the second one that sparked the dynamite." Maria explained.
Everyone turned to look at Danny.
"This is why I tell the story better. This has nothing to do with how he case was closed." Danny replied defensively.
Nicky looks to Maria, however. "So what happened?"
"Well, Nicky, the drum was thankfully up high enough that most of the shrapnel went over our head, but the shockwave took the bangers and myself into the river. Somehow your Uncle Danny remained on dry land."
Danny spoke up at this point. "With El Roca."
Maria grinned. "With a very unhappy El Roca. So Danny is staring down El Roca with his weapon, and the rest of us are climbing out of the water. El Roca goes to run at Danny, and Danny shoots him in the shoulder."
"The shoulder?" Jamie questions.
"Between the flash and the boom, I couldn't see or hear all that well, kid." Danny said, shrugging.
"So now El Roca was mad, and shot. And probably also having ear and eye issues as well. He keeps on coming, and now Danny keeps missing him. Finally Danny runs out of bullets and throws the gun at El Roca's head."
"Nu unh, Uncle Danny!" Nicky laughs as Danny shrugs.
"Hey, it worked. He was too stunned to chase me!"
"Of course he was stunned, he had a grade 2 concussion!" Henry says, laughing.
"So Danny and I are huddled behind a barricade, the crew behind another barricade. Neither of us knew the others were unarmed now thanks the to the swim in the river. We were just getting ready to make a run for it when ESU comes storming in, arresting the bangers, including El Roca."
"They had to use three sets of cuffs for him." Danny says to Jack and Sean.
"So now we have," Maria counts using her fingers, "Johansen, our LT, and the borough deputy chief all at the scene. There is this insane guy, John Corker, who owned the demolition company shouting and making a scene about wanting our badges and the city to pay for lost wages, time, and damages to his property. And our Sarge giving both of us a thorough yelling standing in the middle of the half blown up docks."
"Danny is sent home on paid administrative leave until they decide what charges to file. I'm assigned to desk duty, after I washed the river off me."
"So how did you get out of trouble, Dad?" Sean asks.
"Well, as it turns out, Corker was trying to buy up all the property in that area cheap." Henry jumps in. "So he was hiring the thugs to cause the property values to drop. The dead guy was one of the foremen at the construction site. They hoped if they killed a few of the crew they'd abandon the build for cheap. But your father stumbled into them, and they were too stupid to play it cool."
"I'm sorry, Gramps, you mean my great sense of detective skills closed my first case as a detective?" Danny smugly smiled down the table.
"I'm pretty sure I remember Johansen closing that case, Daniel. It'd be hard for you to close the case while you were getting your ass handed to you by Chief of D's O'Hara." Henry replied.
"So did you get into any trouble, Uncle Danny?"
"Of course not, Nicky. Danny sweated through the Deputy Chief listing his department charges to him.". Maria says, laughing at Danny's face remembering that day.
"Disobeying orders." Henry lobs out.
"Reckless use of firearms" Frank joins in.
"Destruction of private property," Maria adds.
"Unnecessary use of force?" Jamie suggests, getting nods from Frank and Henry.
"However," Danny interrupted loudly, "due to the collusion of Corker, and the actions leading to a major racketeering conviction, the Deputy Chief reduced the incident to a seven day RIP."
"Yeah, and I got a note in my record. Almost got a three day RIP, but Danny took full responsibility for everything." Maria says, staring down Danny. "So like I said, nothing as scary as Danny Reagan saying 'Trust me'".
"So Uncle Danny, would you do the same today?" Nicky asks across the table to Danny.
"Yes, I would." Danny paused, chewing his bite of food. "Well, not quite. I wouldn't have left the scene like that, and I wouldn't have gone banging into that building without backup. And I sure as hell wouldn't have let some burnout ignore a critical clue like that." Danny cut into his meat again, seemingly done with his statement.
Frank stared at his oldest. "...and?"
Danny stared back, blinking. "Annnnnnd... I wouldn't have shot the drum of gas." A pause, then, "Which is what the label said it was."
Erin smirked. "Right. Like when you swore that you didn't see my name on that slice of cake in the fridge when we were kids."
"Wha... That was ...thirty years ago?" Danny whined, before pointing his fork at his sister. "Besides, your name was not on that slice of cake."
"Mmmmhmmm ..." Erin said, glaring at him.
"I tell you every time you're over you don't have to do that, Maria." Linda says as Maria grabbed a dish towel to dry dishes as Erin washed and Linda rinsed.
"Yeah, but this always reminds me of when my family would get together, the whole family, my abuelas and abuelos, cousins and everyone. Afterwards all the girls would be in the kitchen together, and we'd share stories, and laugh. It was some of my favorite nights when I was growing up." Maria replies, a smile and a whistful expression in her eyes.
Nodding, Linda passes Maria a glass.
"Also, is it me, or was Jack staring at me the whole meal?" Maria askes, causing Erin and Linda to giggle.
"Yeah, it's very possible." Linda replies, nodding.
"It's kinda cute." Maria shrugs thoughtfully. "I haven't been a crush in a while."
The other women laughed. "Well, he's in between girlfriends. I'm sure next time you're here he'll be onto some other crush." Linda said, passing a plate to Maria.
"To be young again." Maria said mirthfully. "A few more years with Danny, I don't know how much younger I'll feel."
"Yeah, at least you've had a few years off in between shifts with him." Erin says, laughing. "I've been stuck with my annoying brother the whole time."
Maria turns suddenly as she dried the last plate, placing it on top of the others, bracing against the counter with her head down. Erin and Linda exchange glances, Erin confused while Linda's face was more remorseful, as Linda raises a hand to Maria's back. Maria jumps at the contact, before a quiet sob escapes.
"I used to think that my life would be so much better without Javi around. He was always causing so many problems for my family, but my mother would always let him back in, and he'd disappear again with some jewelry or knick knacks to sell for some dope." Maria turns, her shoulders slumped. "I don't know why this just ... I'm sorry." Maria wipes the tear that had escaped her eye.
Erin walks up to Maria, wrapping her in a hug. "Don't ever be sorry, especially in this house."
"I just feel so guilty. I wanted him gone for so long, and he's gone now, and I just want to take back all those thoughts, and have him back, even for just five minutes." Maria says, muffled by the body of the taller brunette. "Now I can't believe it's been over two years, and I still miss him so much."
"Joe has been gone almost nine, and I still have to remind myself he's gone." Erin said, pulling away as Linda rubs Maria's arm.
"It wouldn't hurt so much if you hadn't loved him as much as you did, Maria." Linda says softly, pulling her full matron wisdom voice to bear.
Erin smirks, offering to Maria, "If it helps, you can borrow my brother. Hopefully he treats you better than he treated me."
"Who treated you bad, sis?" Danny says as he enters the kitchen, eyeing the three women warily while depositing his empty bottle in the recycling.
"You, you big jerk. All through our childhood."
"Hey, I was a great big brother!" Danny replys boastfully, opening his fresh beer. "Who took care of Donnie Fitzgerald for you in the tenth grade?"
"Who stole my Barbie's when I was five!?"
"My GI Joe's rescued them." Danny replies, a smirk edging on the corner of his lips around the beer bottle as he sips from it.
"Missing their HEADS, Daniel!"
Danny shrugs as he exits the kitchen, turning around to walk backwards through the swinging door. "They were late." A grin on his face.
The three women all laugh and rolled their eyes.
"Yeah," Maria starts, pointing towards the door her partner had just exited. "You can keep him."
"I HEARD THAT, BAEZ!" Danny hollered from across the house.
AN2 - I know almost next to nothing about firearms, so direct any complaints about the haranguing of the Hi-Point at the website I found.