Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 6 – A Tough Lesson to Learn

Danny gives Ralph a tight lipped smile as he enters the warehouse and heads toward his locker in the back staff room. "How's your brother and his um…you know family situation?"

"Ah one day up and one day down," Ralph replies with a heavy sigh. "Look I uh…I didn't mean to unload all that family stuff on you the other day. I know you wanna be a cop and all and…and I know a lot of cops have great families and such."

"I hope it works out for them. Is there a chance of that?"

"I hope so for the kids you know? I don't know but um I don't think so. But I try not to pry you know?"

"Yeah," Danny looks at him with a slight smirk.

"So how come you're working tonight?"

"Luke's sick and Rick called me," Danny answers in truth as they both head out into the warehouse.

"Alright then…let's get started!"

"Okay, I just gotta text Jamie," Danny states as he pulls his phone and pulls up the most recent conversation thread with his brother.

'Are you on the bu…'

Is all he gets to text before his boss calls out that it's all hands on deck for two extra pallets that need to be unloaded in twenty minutes before the regular shipment comes in. So he stows his phone in his pocket and hurries to get to work. His mind, however, is agitated that he left Jamie in the alley so tells himself that as soon as these two pallets are unloaded, he'd text his brother and if worse came to worse call Henry and tell him where he left Jamie. Jamie's going to be okay…you just worry too much.

XXXXXXXX

Jamie looks up at the man with narrowed eyes, his fingers still gripping the knife tightly – ready for use. Remember kid, you only fight when you know you have a chance to win – otherwise you run like hell. Jamie looks at the space past the large man – the hallway that would lead to the way out.

"What do you want?" Jamie asks as his stomach instantly tightens.

"Why are you here?"

"I…came to see George? What do you want?" Jamie asks again as he tries to stand back up. But the large man swiftly steps forward and gives him another shove backward, forcing Jamie to stumble backward into the wall. He tries to rush the man and get past and bolt for the exit and get back outside.

"I just want to see George!" Jamie growls as he looks past the large frame in his way.

"Did you come here alone?"

"No," Jamie lies in as firm a tone as his scared mind could muster. "What do you want?" Jamie dares to demand again.

Finally the man makes known his intentions.

"Give me your wallet!" The man hisses as he pulls a large knife.

Jamie's eyes widen as he tries to swallow; his body automatically backing up against he the wall as far as he could go. Behind him was a locked door; to his right? The hallway that would take him closer to where George might be. MIGHT? He tries it. But the man's arm shoots out and tries to push him back. Instead something else happens.

"AHH!" Jamie's lips cry out as the large knife slices through his shirt and opens up a small sliver of skin on his side. He stumbles backward but quickly recovers, his mind urging him to FIGHT BACK! And so he charges at the man; plunging his small pocket knife into the fleshy part of the man's upper forearm.

The man's lips utter a surprised curse as his eyes narrow and he tries to lunge at Jamie once more. His bloodied hand succeeds in grabbing Jamie's shirt and jerking him backward; his other fist trying to grab Jamie's wallet. But his wallet is situated in his back pocket and as soon as he feels the man's hand grabbing the back waistband of his jeans and move lower toward his wallet, Jamie's heart rate explodes.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Jamie screams.

This time the man looks at Jamie in shock.

"Don't…touch me!" Jamie hisses as he holds up the little pocket knife, the red crimson tip nervously jittering in the dimly lit hallway; his heart rate nearing critical.

"I just want…"

Jamie shakes his head as he holds his ground. "Don't…touch me!" Jamie hears the quiver in his own voice and feels his legs starting to shake but unlike the time with Kevin when he froze his brain yells at him that he can't just wait for help to come – it wasn't on the way. Or was it?

In that same moment the two of them hear a faint voice in the near distance. MOVE! GO NOW! Jamie's mind yells at him to take advantage of the distraction and RUN LIKE HELL! And he does! His sticky fingers slightly fumble with the knife as he tries to push past the man, cutting the large attacker's arm once more. There isn't much room but Jamie doesn't care, he squeezes past, scuffing the exposed part of his right arm. Once again his mind tells him to suck up the pain and keep going!

Jamie's legs start to wobble from coursing adrenaline as he nears the entrance to the hallway and then bursts outside, his chest heaving. He turns and looks back into the hallway and squints to see the large, darkened figure in the distance and hears his lips automatically gasp.

A few seconds later, Jamie turns and races for the bus stop, his mind yelling at him that he could have been killed or worse! But just as he reaches the bus stop, his body cries out and he has to stop and allow his heart rate to settle, his left hand and arm wrapped tightly around his cut and aching right side.

"Need…" his face wheezes as his phone starts to buzz. His fingers are shaking too much from the showdown to actually be of use to his phone so he waits a few more moments in the hopes that his body would come back down to normal. He watches the bus arrive and gets on, slowly limping to the back and slumping down onto the back bench.

Finally he pulls his phone and read's Danny's message.

'Hey kid, how was George? Where are you?'

His dry throat tries to swallow but he finds he's unable and so tries to focus his concentration on texting back; succeeding in swallowing would be next.

'I'm just about home. George is okay. See you tonight.'

As much as he hates to lie to Danny, he knows that if he told Danny he was attacked in the alley, the rest of Danny's working shift would be ruined and ultimately because he chose to put his own thinking ahead of anyone else's. 'Just remember you come before any stranger. George wouldn't want you to risk your life just to see him.'

Don't go there alone. Henry's words force guilt to sneak into his already flushed brow, warming him further and he can only pray that the slow moving vehicle gets him to his final destination without incident. It does. As soon as he reaches home, Jamie calls out to Erin, wanting to make sure that he's alone and then races to the bathroom and locks the door. He slowly lifts his shirt and undershirt and feels his heart slump as he stares at the ugly wound that he could have prevented simply by listening.

"Not good," he huffs as he starts to go in search of the first aid kit. He had gotten a Tetanus shot when he was stabbed by Sonny a few months back so tells himself that he shouldn't get any kind of infection and once the wound heals he'll be okay. Liar! His mind tosses back. You were told not to go back alone and you didn't listen!

Jamie's heart sinks further as he realizes that he disobeyed something that Henry had told him directly. You have to tell him, that's how you keep the trustful bond between you going. You have to. He's going to be disappointed! He'll find out. He might not? Can you live with knowing you lied to a man that would give his life for you? And did! He got shot trying to save you! You. Have. To. Tell. Him. Tonight! He knows that to be true and his conscience is right – how could he directly disobey Henry and then not tell him, treating his rule and loving concern as if it was nothing after they had been through so much together. Suck up your pride and do the right thing. Tell him. Tell him tonight. The longer you wait the worse it'll be.

Jamie leans back on the sink and looks down at the bloody wound a few inches from his finger tips and hopes it'll heal up in a few days. He cleans it as best he can, putting on some antiseptic ointment and then putting on a few large bandages and hopes that'll suffice. It wouldn't.

After that, Jamie heads into his bedroom to get some reading done. But as soon as he tries to sit down and reach for the book, his side pulls and he screams out in pain and quickly stands back up. How about leaning on your other side? It was something he could try and might be less painful so he tries to get onto his bed, leaning on his other side. But even still as soon as he props himself up on his elbow, his side yells at him and he slumps down onto his back, warm tears starting to well in his slightly puffy eyes.

The next hour is spent in torment for Jamie as he tries to find a more comfortable position to rest in but cannot so offers an angry growl, gets up and starts to just clean his room; wanting to do something to pass the time and keep his mind occupied – something he was failing at miserably. Each time he closes his eyes he sees himself in the darkened hallway, trapped and then beaten; Henry finding him and saying he got what he deserved.

Jamie's breath catches and he feels himself starting to hyperventilate; his legs rushing to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. He sags back against the wall and feels himself cursing his own name. But it was done and now he can only wait until Henry comes home, tell him the truth and hope the grounding isn't too painful.

It's not long before Erin and Jack arrive, having spent the day at the courthouse and then preparing for a new summer case examination group that would help them with their Harvard first class pre-reading assignment. Jamie merely offers them a tense smile and then heads into his room to try resting again. But his mind is once again agitated as he waits for Henry and Frank to arrive; Danny being the last one home due to his extra work shift.

Two hours later, Henry and Frank arrive home, talking about the day and the busting of the crooked union official and what would happen next. Erin and Jack asked most of the questions during dinner, something not lost on Henry. The oldest Reagan male looks at the young teen with a concerned expression but says nothing. Maybe it was just news about George's family that he learned today – something Jamie had told him after they talked about his scholarship woes. Or was it the scholarship itself? Was Jamie now worried about going to another school? That would be the easiest solution but Henry still had to confirm with the school board about the fine print on the Joseph Reagan scholarship fund restrictions.

Henry chalks it up to the news about George, the past few day's events and the scholarship talk that has Jamie agitated and doesn't want to push the young man any more than he did today. He wouldn't have to. Jamie would do that all on his own.

"What's wrong with Jamie?" Frank asks Henry in an undertone an hour after dinner, both of them watching as Jamie excuses himself from the living room and heads into his bedroom, Erin and Jack remaining to watch the rest of the movie with Henry and Frank.

"He's worried about George. Apparently George had a son that was his age when he died and he asked me if he would still be eligible for the scholarship next year if he changes his last name to Reagan so he wondered if he should wait until after he graduates. He almost told us to put off the adoption altogether."

"Wow," Frank mutters under his breath as Henry nods.

"I think he just needs some sleep and he'll be okay tomorrow," Henry states with a small frown. "He takes on so much."

"It's all he's known…all both of them have known," Frank admits with a heavy sigh.

The two of the talk a bit longer before Henry removes himself from the living room. He thinks about going to check on Jamie but doesn't want to feel that he's smothering the young man so heads into his office to get a few things done before he goes to bed.

Jamie waits until the living room goes quiet and goes to see Henry; his heart rate starting to pick up the pace as he nears the office. Henry hears the footsteps and looks up to see Jamie approaching and removes his reading glasses and gestures for him to enter.

"What's going on?" Henry asks Jamie in a calm tone. But as soon as Jamie nears he notices that his eyes are wet and his heart instantly sinks. "Jamie? What's wrong?"

"I uh…" he stammers as he fidgets in place. "I have to tell you um…something."

"Okay. Come here," Henry entreats to Jamie as he pulls up a chair. "You know you can always tell me anything right?"

"I know I just…" Jamie's voice dies out with a heavy sigh as he slowly sits down; Henry noticing the same gentle grimace of discomfort when he sat down on the couch earlier.

"Are you still worried about the scholarship?"

"No," Jamie answers quietly as his breathing slightly shallows. "I uh…it's about George."

"Did something happen to George?"

"No I…I went to see him today."

"You did?" Henry asks in surprise as Jamie looks up in remorse. "When?"

"After we left the precinct Danny um…he took me. It wasn't his fault grandpa I asked him," Jamie explains with a pleading tone as Henry's lips slightly purse.

"Did Danny go with you to see George?"

"No he uh…he left because he had to go to work. I thought it would be just for a few minutes to see how he was."

Henry looks at Jamie's slumped shoulders and hears the quiver in his tone, his eyes dropping to watch Jamie's fingers absently fidget with each other in his lap.

"What happened?"

"I uh…I ran into that same scary guy and uh…well I took off and then got onto the bus. I didn't tell Danny."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Jamie answers slowly as Henry's frown deepens. You have to tell him about the cut!

"I had specifically told you not to go there."

"I know and I'm sorry," Jamie pleads as he looks up with a teary gaze. "I just wanted to see him."

"There's a reason I told you not to go there alone."

"I know," Jamie sighs as Henry's eyes fix on Jamie's sad gaze. "I thought it would be okay. But um…"

"I'm glad you told me Jamie. Did you get hurt at all? Did that man try to hurt you?"

"He uh…he wanted my wallet. I told him no and unlike Kevin I was actually able to fight back and escape."

"Did you get hurt?"

"A cut but it's okay."

"Jamie…"

"I just wanted to see George and thought I'd be okay on my own."

"Things are different now," Henry reminds him. "I know that you grew up in places like that and felt safe or knew how to handle yourself in places like that but times change. Even back then, Danny told me he never let either of you go anywhere in those places…or any places alone. He knew you were with me. He heard you called my grandson and then he asked for your wallet. He might not have had the same thing on his mind as Kevin but he had something bad on his mind nonetheless. What if he pulled a knife or gun or something?"

"I know I shouldn't have gone," Jamie sighs as Henry's expression softens, his hand resting on Jamie's jittery limb. "Are you mad?"

"I'm upset that you didn't listen to me and went, knowing I had told you not to. But I'm happy you came and told me. That takes courage and I respect it."

"Am in in trouble?" Jamie asks sheepishly; Henry's lips gently smirking as he nods.

"I think we both know I have to ground you. But I hope you learned today that when I put a restriction on you that it's for your own good. As I said…as much as I might like George, for what I know of him, but I love you and care about you more. That's my first priority."

"I'm sorry," Jamie gently sniffles as Henry pulls him close and gives him a warm hug. Jamie's lips cry out in a soft gasp as his side flexes; his body wanting to instantly recoil.

"For the next two weekends you'll spend cleaning out the garage for me."

"But…" Jamie starts to protest and then stops as Henry's brows arch.

"I know you wanted to go with Danny and Linda to the tailgate party on Saturday but you can't. Not this time. And I know you want to work and still look for George's family and I don't want to stop that. But a bit of time to ponder your actions might help you see that you're more valuable than a stranger."

"I'm sorry grandpa."

"Oh I know sweet boy," Henry sighs as he gently wipes the last tear. "Now…why don't you help me with this," Henry tells Jamie as he shows him a website address. "I need to get an account set up."

"Okay."

Jamie helps Henry and then is happy to get to sleep before Danny gets home; not wanting Danny to see him with Henry and then ask what happened. He had told Henry he'd tell Danny but doesn't want to as he knows Danny will feel guilty and it wasn't his fault. So he changes into sweats and a tee and climbs into bed, hoping for a good night's sleep. That wouldn't happen. His mind keeps reminding him that he'd have to come up with a good excuse as to why he couldn't go to the tailgate party after he had practically begged Danny to let him come. I'm in trouble.

He hears Danny come home and quickly rolls onto his injured side, his back to the door just in case Danny were to check on him and pretends to be asleep. But Danny doesn't disturb him and he quickly turns back onto his uninjured side and bites back a painful grimace for his movement. That night his sleep is fraught with distorted nightmares of the man hurting him Danny saying I told you so.

Morning couldn't come soon enough. However, that would bring a whole host of other issues.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning Danny awakens with a stretch, rolling over onto his bed and thinking about what else Ralph had told him the night before. He had tried to get his mind occupied on more important things like the tailgate party at the stadium field on Saturday and then working at the gun range on Sunday but Ralph's words still hang in his mind, picking away at his insecurities.

He hears Jamie up and figures he'll ask his brother about what happened with George and then head out to help Linda with something at her home. But when Danny pushes the door to Jamie's bedroom open, he stops and stares in surprise at something odd he sees on the bed – a smear of blood; about half way down from the pillow.

"What the hell?" He asks as he quickly reaches down to touch it. Dried blood? "From what? And where on his body? What's going on?" Danny's voice trails off as he hears Jamie exiting the bathroom.

Jamie rounds the corner into his bedroom and stops short as he looks at Danny in shock. "What's going on?" Jamie asks with a small stammer?

Danny doesn't beat around the bush so turns and points to the blood stain on the bed. "You tell me. What the hell is that?"

Jamie's remain fixed on Danny, as he knows he doesn't have to look at what his brother is pointing at. So much for trying to come up with an excuse for being grounded on the weekend.

"And don't say nose bleed because your head is far from there and you're not a girl. What happened?"

"I cut myself."

"Shaving? Give it up kid," presses as he looks at Jamie's posture. He finally notices him favoring one side and his eyes drop to his side. "Did you get into a fight?" Danny continues. "Jamie…"

Jamie's fingers slowly lift his tee to reveal the crudely bandaged wound; Danny's lips offering a soft gasp.

"Before you get all mad, it's okay. I cleaned it and bandaged it and it's not that deep."

But Jamie can tell that Danny doesn't believe it and feels his posture slump. "It happened when I went to see George."

"What?" Danny asks with a small hiss. "You said you were fine!"

"I am!" Jamie argues back as he tries to leave. "Danny move!"

"Look…okay wait a sec you need to get that looked at. Did you tell Henry about that?"

"I only told him it was a small cut. I don't want to worry them more okay?"

Danny looks at Jamie and shakes his head as he offers, "Unbelievable."

Jamie's dirty blond eyebrows gently arch in wonder. "Y-you're not mad?"

"Oh I'm pissed and if I could yell I would but I shouldn't have left. Ah damn I shouldn't have left!" Danny growls as he looks at Jamie's side. "You need to get that looked at."

"I'm okay."

"You're not okay!" Danny's voice rises and then lowers.

"The doctor's at the ER know Henry and Frank!" Jamie argues back.

"Okay okay…hold on…I uh…" he pauses as he looks at Jamie in frustration.

"Danny," I'll be okay."

"I have an idea."

Danny looks at Jamie's stressed expression and knows he can't just let Jamie fend for himself on this alone. He feels partial responsibility as he should have insisted that they leave…or not even taken him there in the first place. But he had made a promise to his brother long ago that no matter what trouble he got into, as long as it wasn't illegal he'd help him no matter what. He had to keep that promise now.

However, someone a few miles away was still working to undermine that brotherly bond. At any cost.

XXXXXXXX

"Malvesky! Get your worthless ass over here!"

Sonny narrows his eyes at the man he's paying to supply him with insider information on the NYPD, anything in particular related to the Reagan's or Danny and Jamie.

"Clean it yourself!" Sonny tosses back with a lippy tone as he spits on the floor; the two other inmates going back to their business and the other guard distracted by keeping an eye on the two convicts as they go about their daily routine. "Where?"

"Here…" the crooked guard points to something on the wall behind him.

"Anything?" Sonny asks in a soft tone.

"Danny is going on a civilian ride-along."

"Sanctioned?" Sonny's voce hisses.

"Frank gave it the okay."

"Figures. Driving?" Sonny inquires in a low tone.

"Officer Renzulli."

"Renzulli. That bastard helped bring me in," Sonny's voice hisses in an undertone as the guard looks up in wonder.

"Don't talk back inmate 735!" The guard snaps, referring to the number on Sonny's back. "Anything else?"

"Yeah…find out which car specifically," Sonny demands as a malicious plan starts to form.

"Done."

A/N: yikes! I am sorry that I lost a few more of my dear readers and I'm wondering if you're all still excited about this second half of the journey as the first. Of course Sonny has a plan and so what do you think will happen on the ride along? At least Jamie was able to fight back but not without consequence. And what plan does Danny have to help Jamie? So please so review before you go and thanks so much!