A/N: I'm delighted you all enjoyed the last chapter. It was actually the easiest one to write =) (what does that say about my maturity level? Lol)

After Danny and his family had gone, and Jamie was helping Nicky with her homework, Erin sought out Frank and Henry.

"What was that all about?" Erin asked Frank.

"What was what all about?" Frank replied, putting down his newspaper.

"Jamie, at dinner. I asked him what he thought of the case, and the next thing I know we're talking about gutters, and stopping Sean from pulling down his underpants!"

Frank guffawed. "That was the most fun I've had at dinner in a long time."

"But he didn't answer my question!" Erin insisted, frustrated.

"Actually, yes I did." Jamie interrupted, entering the room.

"Jamie!" Erin turned to her brother. "I thought you were in the other room helping Nicky with her assignment."

"Obviously. Honestly, if you have an issue with me, I wish you'd come to me with it!" Jamie took a deep breath. "Anyway, you asked me, and I quote, 'What do you think, Jamie?' and I told you."

"But you knew what I meant!"

"Cross Examination 101/1: Always ask specific questions. Cross Examination 101/2: Only answer the question you are asked."

"So from now on, I always have to be specific about exactly what I'm asking your opinion on?" Erin was incredulous.

"Well, no, but you do have to respect my views. I need you to realise that I may not always be thinking about what you want me to be thinking about, and be okay with that."

"Of course I'm okay with it. What do you think I am? A dictator?"

"Why else would you be here?"

"Dinner."

"No, here." Jamie indicated the room.

Erin thought, and realised Jamie was right. "Pushing for an answer you don't have to a question you were never thinking about," she admitted. "I'm sorry."

"You, my beloved sister, are the least of my woes right now," Jamie pacified her.

"Yeah, what was with Danny tonight? That was really nasty!" Erin exclaimed sympathetically.

"Do you remember that winter weekend when Danny broke up with Rose at the same time you broke up with Jeremy? It was snowing and blowing, the power was off, and we were all stuck inside. Danny played his head-banging thrashy music all day and half the night at volume 187, and you went through enough tissues to bankrupt Kleenex." Jamie kidded. Then he sobered. "It was torture. That's when I concluded that one broken relationship at a time is all this family can handle. Especially now that New York City is depending on their Police Commissioner to stay sane. I promise, one day, if Danny and I fix things, I'll tell you everything."

"If?" Erin was distressed.

"I . . . I've gotta go." Jamie ran out of the house faster than a NYPD officer chasing a cop killer.

"It's serious, isn't it Francis?" Henry prompted.

"Yes, Pop." Frank acknowledged. "It's serious."

A/N: Next, Jamie has his conscience pricked.