A/N: I feel so mean for leaving you all with a cliffhanger like that. As a peace offering, (and because it is a public holiday, and I'm doing nothing) here is another chapter already!

GUEST: This story takes place pre-Eddie. She will appear in the sequel, though =)

THURSDAY

Danny was not exactly a deep sleeper at the best of times. That Wednesday night he slept even lighter than usual, expecting at any moment to host either a visit or a phone call from his irate father. Neither came. Consequently, he woke up on Thursday morning, in a ghastlier mood than normal.

"Danny! You're going to need to drop the kids at school. There's been an emergency at work. I need to leave NOW!" Linda hollered.

"I can't! Dad's got my car!" Danny shouted down the hall.

"He brought it back about half an hour ago and caught a taxi into work." Linda reassured him as he entered the kitchen with wet hair, wearing one shoe and hopping on the other sock-clad foot. "Why did he have it, anyway?"

Danny glanced at his watch, unappeased. "Great. I'm going to be late again. Thanks for the notice." Danny complained,

"Emergency: a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. Try reading a dictionary once in a while," Linda retorted, noting her husband had ignored her enquiry. She kissed both her boys, who were sitting at the table eating breakfast. She gave Danny a peck on the back of the neck (he was bent over trying to wrestle his other shoe on), grabbed her keys, and rushed out the door.

"Hurry up, we leave in ten." Danny instructed.

"I still need to . . ." Jack mused.

"Like I said, hurry up!" Danny snapped.

Jack started gulping his breakfast in double quick time, stealing stealthy glances at his father, wondering what he was going to do next to set off their father's rage. While wolfing his own breakfast, Danny pulled out his phone and called Jamie's landline number. There was no answer. So Danny hung up and dialled Jamie's cell phone. This time, his calls were rejected. This riled Danny, as now he knew his brother was awake, but ignoring him.

"In the car, boys. NOW!" Danny bellowed.

He dumped his dishes in the sink, grabbed his keys and his phone and sprinted out the door behind his sons. Both of them had their hands on the front passenger door handle, and they were jostling and loudly laying claim to the privilege of riding up front.

"Shotgun! Shotgun! Shotgun" Sean was repeating, drowning out his brother's proclamations that it was his turn, Sean had it last.

"Jack, your turn," Danny decreed.

"Not fair," Sean objected.

"Deal with it!" Danny barked.

Sean lowered his head and bit his lip to halt the flow of tears. He hated it when his Dad was mad at him.

At the first of many traffic jams, Danny plugged his mobile phone into his car's hands-free kit and dialled his brother's number again. It was rejected again. As were his next 5 similar attempts. The only phone call to be completed was to the precinct to warn them he'd be late and would explain later.

"Uncle Jamie doesn't want to talk to you." Jack's simple observation irked his father and the little boy tensed. Luckily for the boy's stress levels, they arrived at the school only seconds later. Hopping out of the car, both lads visibly relaxed now that their friends were around them too.

Returning to the car after completing the drop-off, Danny fired off a text to his brother: We need to talk. He received no answer for this and other texts he sent at various times during the morning.

On his break he decided to take matters into his own hands, especially as it was an exceedingly slow day with no pressing business.

"I'm on my cell," he said to no one in particular as he left his precinct. Shortly afterwards, he arrived at the 12th Precinct where Jamie was currently stationed. At the desk he flashed his badge and signed in.

"I'm looking for Officer Jamie Reagan," he announced.

"Be my guest." The desk clerk waved him through. As Danny moved toward where he could see his brother working, he was stopped by Jamie's Captain.

"Jamie's busy. He can't be disturbed right now."

"I need to talk to him. It's urgent."

"I'm sorry. Officer Reagan cannot be spared right now. Is there something I or one of my officers can help you with?"

"No." Danny fought to keep his voice neutral. "I will catch up with him later. Thanks."

"No problem." The Captain dismissed him.

On the way back to his precinct, Danny made a call. Thank goodness we got training on this stupid hands-free system, he thought.

"Can you meet me after work? We need to talk."

A/N One more angsty chapter, then the fun begins!