Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 7 – Learn from the Past
A/N: Hey thanks to everyone so far who has supported this story by reviewing – it means so much to me (and my muse of course). Lots more to come and hope you like it all. Please enjoy the update thanks.
"You're treating me like I'm about to break!" Jamie growls as he pulls his arm free just as they arrive at a familiar place.
"Just move," Danny huffs as he tries to guide Jamie toward the back door. He knows Jamie's going to resent his being overly protective now but the fact that Jamie's side looks really bad, he can only blame himself for leaving Jamie to fend for himself in that alleyway. He had overhead Frank and Henry talking about what they faced in the underground tunnel and then hearing from Jamie how he was mugged and then fought his way past and got injured for it.
"Hey guys."
"Hey," Danny greets Linda with a brief peck on her cheek. "Thanks for helping with this."
"It's just a scratch. I had a Tetanus shot, I'll be fine," Jamie insists as Danny's throat utters a low growl; Jamie looking at him with pursed lips.
"Linda is going to fix the mess you made."
"Okay come inside."
"Linda," Jamie tries to insist as he stops and looks at her in concern.
"My parents aren't home. Come on now."
Jamie looks at Danny and then turns and follows Linda into her home, Danny following. They head into the main bathroom and she pulls out a first aid kit that looks like it came right out a hospital operating room. "Wow," Jamie whispers as his eyes slightly widen.
"She's the real thing," Danny states with pride as he gestures to Jaime to remove his shirt.
"Okay so let's….ah Jamie!" Linda gently scolds as Jamie looks up with a tormented frown.
"Told you he made a mess."
"Danny," Jamie groans as he tries to cover back up.
"It's okay Jamie, let me see what happened here."
"It's just a….owww!" Jamie's lips hiss as Linda pulls the soggy bandage off his discolored side. "I just don't want to go to the hospital."
"Jamie…"
"Linda, please? You can just clean and bandage it right?"
"You're lucky that this week I'm working on practicing my stitches."
"You are?" Jamie asks in wonder.
"Yes and instead of wasting them on the given dummy, I'll use them on…"
"This dummy," Danny growls as Jamie looks at him in defeat. "Ah stop with the sad face."
"Okay Jamie I want you to just lean over here so I can really clean the wound and then stitch it up and cover it. Then you need to keep the stitches dry and clean for at least twenty-four hours."
"Okay," Jamie agrees as his teeth grit. "It's…cold," Jamie admits as Linda starts to clean the angry looking wound.
"How does it look?"
"I think the fact that he's had a Tetanus shot is keeping the infection from the strange knife blade at bay. It's warm but then I don't think you took very good care of it. Sorry."
"I didn't," Jamie admits weakly. He remains silent as Danny and Linda make small talk about the upcoming weekend, his mind aching because he'll be grounded thanks to his own action. He also bites back a few throbs of pain, telling himself that this was preventable and he'd better suck it up as Linda was doing him a huge favor. Linda finally cleans the wound and then uses some local freezing as she was taught and then starts to put in the dissolving stitches. She only had a limited supply so had to make sure every one inserted was done correctly. They would be.
"There," Linda finishes up with some thick, clean padding to keep it unharmed and clean.
"Thank you," Jamie tells her kindly as he puts his shirt back on and then waits outside for Danny.
"What's going on?" Linda asks Danny directly.
"Remember George?" Danny replies with a small huff as Linda nods. He goes on to tell her about what he knows so far and what Jamie told him about going to see him in the underground tunnel and then being trapped. "It's my fault."
"He's not…"
"He is a kid!" Danny retorts with a small hiss before he quickly recants. "Sorry. I just can't let anything happen to him."
Linda gives him a warm hug, telling him that she loves the fact that he cares so much about his brother; one of his best qualities. One of many. They talk a bit longer before Danny tells her he'll see her on Saturday and then hurries out to see his brother.
"Okay so back home to…"
"I thought you had a regular shift today?"
"After yesterday?"
"Seriously? Danny I just…" Jamie groans as he slumps down into the front passenger seat of the car.
"You're not leaving my sight all weekend long either."
Jamie looks over with pursed lips before he looks away, Danny pausing from pulling away from the curb to look at his brother in wonder. "I uh…I'm grounded."
"What?" Danny asks in shock as Jamie turns back to him in remorse. "Who grounded you? Frank?"
"Henry. I told him what happened. He told Frank but I was still grounded for not listening. He uh…he told me not to go there alone and um…I went."
"And I drove you there. Good going!" Danny snaps as Jamie looks at him in frustration.
"I said I was sorry! I was just worried."
"Some old homeless guy isn't worth your life!" Danny half shouts before he quickly recants. "Just…"
"I'll go home and read okay? I promise I won't look for George's kids…today…because I can't."
Danny finally pulls away from the curb and just shakes his head as he heads for home. Jamie decides not to press his luck and figures that a few days to help his throbbing side fully heal would best. Besides, Henry had promised him that on Saturday before his shift at work, something for which he didn't ground him, he'd drive him to work, go and see George together and then Jamie had promised that he wouldn't see him the rest of his shift. He'd listen and be better off for it.
"I promise I'll just read. In fact if you want I'll take a selfie on the hour every hour and send it to you," Jamie promises as they reach home.
"No I just…I worry okay?" Danny admits with a concerned frown. "How's it feeling now?"
"Actually better. The shooting pain has stopped and it just…well aches. I guess that's normal."
"Okay good. And I know it sucks, but I'm glad you told Henry."
"I wasn't scared to talk to him, just sad I didn't listen and let him down. But I deserved this so…" Jamie's voice trails off. "But I'm angry that I can't go to the ballgame. I have to clean out the garage instead," he sighs as Danny smiles. "I promise I'll stay home."
"Well if you're really bored, why not come down and have lunch with me."
"How about I get my books and come there and read? It'll be like old times. Can I?"
"Yeah, sure. Go get your books."
Jamie can only offer Danny a wide grin as Danny waits for Jamie to get his books and then rejoin him in the car. Jamie texts Henry and lets him know that he's going with Danny so he won't worry and they'd both see them at dinner later that same day.
"Danny…and…hey Jamie!"
"Hey Ralph," Jamie greets Danny's co-worker as he heads for the staff room. He picks a place in the back and plunks down onto a chair with the most sun.
"What's going on?"
"Separation anxiety," Danny answers Ralph with a small retort, well out of Jamie's earshot.
The rest of the day for Jamie would be spent reading and relaxing, something his wounded side would need. But Danny's concern starts to grate on Jamie's nerves as almost every hour he pops his head into the staff room to see how Jamie's doing.
But the day comes to close with less tension than it started and by the time dinner time comes, Jamie sits at the dinner table with less inner tension than at breakfast. After dinner, the five of them just enjoy some dessert and coffee and a spirited game of poker.
XXXXXXXX
Jamie gets up early Saturday morning and heads to the bathroom to check his side. Sure enough the stitches were holding and the wound itself, while still a bit warm to the touch, wasn't like it was yesterday. Still his heart sinks when he slowly pushes the thick padding back to cover over the cut and then pull down his tee-shirt. He wanted to go to the ballpark and just have some fun. It wasn't fair, but it was his own doing. I hate this! Ah yes, his mind reminds him, but you did bring it upon yourself.
He heads into the kitchen with a glum expression, over hearing Danny talking last night to Linda about a few extras and the fun they'd all be having. Fun he was going to miss out on. There will be other games…next time you'll listen and be able to go.
But Danny had promised him that if the others asked where Jamie was, Danny would honor his brother's dignity and say he had to help Henry and would be there next time for sure.
"Try not to look too excited," Henry chuckles as he enters the kitchen and Jamie instantly tries to ply on a fake smile. "I know you wanted to go but there will be other times."
"I'm just angry at myself. I'm missing out because I didn't listen."
"And you learned the most important lesson of all," Henry quips as he gives Jamie's slender shoulders a loving squeeze. "Besides, who knows what treasures we'll find in there?"
"More like junk pop," Frank adds as he enters the kitchen and gives Jamie a hug. "Morning."
"Morning. Henry told you what I did?"
"We don't have secrets," Frank simply replies. There was no point in him rehashing what happened or telling Jamie the same moral lesson that Henry already did. Jamie takes it from Frank's cue that he too wasn't happy Jamie disobeyed, but was happy he had the courage to tell the older Reagan what he did and then accept his punishment with respect.
"I still think we'll find some cool stuff in there," Henry continues as Frank offers them a smile and heads for the coffee maker.
"What are you doing today?" Jamie asks Frank.
"I have a few work things to take care of and then I thought I'd get busy on fixing the back corner of the deck."
Erin soon enters and then Danny and the talk quickly focuses on their outing at the ballpark. Erin and Danny would be picking up Jack and Linda and then meeting Demarcus, Kesha, Jackie, Ian and a few other friends to hang and hopefully enjoy some snacks off the back of Demarcus's truck. Jamie can't fault them for being excited and it thankful that at least they weren't rubbing in his face the fact that he had to stay behind. This time.
About an hour later, the House is relatively quiet as Erin and Danny leave and Jamie, Henry and Frank head outside. Henry opens the large doors and Jamie stifles a small gasp that makes Henry smile.
"This is gonna take forever," he comments as he looks at the almost hoarding nightmare.
"Oh it's not that bad," Henry chuckles.
The space was packed with odds and ends, newspapers, bicycles and just stuff. Stuff that didn't seem to really matter and that needed to be recycled. With one big exception. The large item in the middle of it all.
"What kind of car is under the tarp?"
"Joe's," Frank answers as the three of them stand and look straight ahead. Jamie's eyes deviate and he looks over at Frank in wonder.
"Oh," is all he states quietly.
"Come on, let's get started," Henry declares softly.
"Where?" Jamie retorts weakly as the two older males laugh.
XXXXXXXX
"Where did he park?" Linda inquires as they reach the overflow area of Yankee Stadium.
"Look for the black smoke," Danny snickers dryly.
"I see…is that all his?"
"At least the truck doesn't have to run the entire time," Jack retorts with his own snicker as they pull in beside Demarcus's Chevy. "Shoulda bought a Ford," he smiles as he slaps Demarcus on the back.
"Just wait until everyone's gone before you fire her up again," Danny teases his friend. But about half hour later when it was just Danny and Demarcus with the truck, the others going to get a few things and on their way back, a uniformed officer walks up to them.
"Afternoon," the officer greets them with a terse gaze. "What's going on here?"
"We're legally parked."
"Got an exhaust fan on that thing?" The officer asks Demarcus directly.
"What?" Danny interjects as he watches the officer pull out his pad and starts to write up a citation. But the timing of the others would be cursed as they all hurry toward Danny and Demarcus to see what was going on.
"You're giving him a ticket? For what?" Jackie asks in haste.
"Polluting the environment," the officer tosses back in sarcasm as Danny's eyes narrow. But just before he's about to add something more, the officer looks directly at him. "Anyone else want to contribute to the distributing the peace fund?"
Before Danny can argue back, he feels Linda's hand on his arm giving it a small squeeze to signal that she didn't want him to make a big deal and ruin their afternoon. "No," Danny replies with a small hiss.
"Have a nice day and…don't turn that piece of junk on until you're ready to leave. Boy," the officer concludes with a derogatory slur as he slaps the ticket into Demarcus's waiting palm. This time it's Danny's turn to hold his friend back; the officer walking away chuckling. With his back to them, the officer pulls his phone and texts, 'tell Sonny it was fun.'
"What the hell was that all about?" Danny asks sourly as he they all look down at the ticket.
"Boy. Racist jerk," Demarcus mutters as he shakes his head. "Fifty bucks for what…there's a lot crappier vehicles around here and officer racist there picks out mine."
"Can you contest it?" Jackie looks at Erin and then Danny.
"We'll all chip in," Erin volunteers in haste as Danny looks at her to protest.
"That's like giving in."
"It's a he said/he said situation and by the time this goes to court that officer could drum up one hell of a story and once would be a big stress for nothing" Erin explains.
"Fifty bucks?" Danny argues back.
"Danny, it's okay," Demarcus resigns as he gives Erin a small nod. "She's right. She is the lawyer in the group."
"We'll all chip in," Danny echoes the same sentiments stated by Erin moments earlier. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Sorry baby," Kesha whispers to her boyfriend Demarcus as Danny turns and watches the officer before he pulls away, much to everyone's surprise.
"Danny! It's not worth it!" Demarcus tries to call out as Linda hurries after him.
Instead of berating him, she slips her hand into his and looks at him in wonder. "Where are we going?"
"Something's up here," he tells her in a low undertone as they watch the officer head out of the parking area and then head for his cruiser. "What the hell he's just leaving?"
"Maybe he's finished his shift?" Linda wonders as Danny quickly pulls his phone and takes a picture of the officer's cruiser number.
"Maybe," Danny mutters as he puts his phone back into his pocket. Maybe not…that was odd…he singles out Demarcus? Can't just be a race thing, there are lots of black men and women as well as Hispanic and Asian around here…no…something's up. With his mind made up to check on Monday who the officer was and if it was the end of his shift and maybe he had to get his ticket quota or if it was indeed something else.
He and Linda return to their friends, Jack and Demarcus already setting up the barbeque; Erin heading toward them.
"I'll help them get things ready," she whispers to Danny; kissing him on the cheek and then pulling away so he can talk to Erin.
"Before you go off on me, something was up there."
"I agree with you," Erin replies much to Danny's surprise. "However, you know as well as I do that even in the ranks of the NYPD you're gonna run into guys like that."
"I know," he answers with a small sigh. "How is he?"
"I think he'll be better after we get the party started."
Danny nods and rejoins his friend's, not wanting to be the one to put a damper on their fun day; most of his mind trying to forget the pointless altercation but a small part remembering the first thing on his to do list come Monday morning. Jamie wasn't going to be the only one doing some investigating within in the walls of the NYPD.
He hears some laughter and then looks over to see two brothers horsing around and an easy smile plays upon his lips. I miss Jamie. I hope he's doing okay with his punishment.
XXXXXXXX
Jamie moves out the last of the rusted bicycles and then pauses; Henry watching him in wonder, Frank not too far away, working on the back deck.
"Jamie?" Henry asks; his concerned tone making Frank look up. He nears the young man and wonders if perhaps he's hurt himself or was actually tired. Frank pauses as he watches Henry's hand rest on Jamie's shoulder to see what was up. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Jamie nods as he pulls away from the bike. "I uh…it's nothing. Just the um….the bike. Yeah it's nothing."
"Do you want to ride it? You can," Henry suggests as Frank pauses in his work to come near.
"Oh I…." Jamie pauses as he looks up in haste. "No, it's okay. I'm supposed to be grounded."
"We don't mind Jamie," Frank tells the young man in truth.
Jamie looks at Henry and then Frank and tries to swallow. "I don't know how," he blurts out in haste and then quickly ducks back inside the garage; leaving Frank and Henry to exchange morose expressions. "Shouldn't have said that," Jamie mutters to himself as Frank approaches.
"Jamie?"
"I shouldn't have said that! I'm sorry. It was stupid."
"No, it wasn't. Want to tell me what happened?"
"It was nothing," Jamie turns around with a tight lipped smile.
"Please?" Frank gently begs.
"I tried once. And I fell and my father said since I fell I couldn't ever have a bike. I wanted one but um…I'm sorry. Should I start over there?"
"Come on Jamie," Frank entreats as Jamie looks up at him in wonder. "Just because you fall doesn't mean…."
"No I wanted to try again! I did," Jamie insists with a small huff. "He just never let me. But I'm not a quitter. I'm not!"
"I don't think there would ever come a time when I'd consider you a quitter," Frank tells him in a tender tone as his hand rests on his shoulder. "Come and try now. At least if you're going to fall in the backyard it'll mostly be on grass."
"Really?" Jamie asks, unable to hide his eager smile. "Okay."
Henry dusts off the biggest bike, Joe's old bike and then he and Frank take it into the backyard, giving Jamie a few basic instructions. At first Jamie hesitates, looking up at each older man with a weak expression. "I'm nervous," he admits with a small sigh.
"Everyone was nervous the first few times," Frank assures him as he holds the bike. "If you feel like you'll wobble to the right, gently compensate but leaning to the left. If you have to fall it'll be on the grass and you'll be fine."
"Okay. Ready," Jamie tells them with a firm nod of his head. He climbs on the bike and instantly his heart rate starts to explode. He sits down on the seat and with Frank and Henry on either side, his hands grip the handlebars and he tries to recall what it was like to be on the bike as a little boy. "I can't!" He states suddenly, his mind holding him hostage with morbid memories. "I don't want to fall."
"You'll be fine Jamie," Frank continues to encourage the nervous teen. Jamie feels them giving him a small push and his legs automatically push down, sending the well-used bike forward. Jamie's fingers grip the handlebars so tightly that it's not until Henry reminds him that they've got him does he loosen up.
"Okay…we're gonna let go," Henry tells Jamie. Jamie nods but keeps his gaze forward. He manages to peddle a few meters before he feels the bike starting to wobble, panics, compensates the wrong way and ends up crashing to the ground, thankfully not on injured side. But he does feel the pull on his injury and cries out with a painful gasp; sending both men instantly in his direction.
"I'm okay," Jamie insists as he tries to get back up.
"Jamie?" Henry asks in concern as he hovers over the young teen. "That was a pretty strong cry for just a small scuff."
"I'm okay. I just pulled my side a bit. I'll be okay. Please it was no big deal. I know you worry but I'm okay. I just compensated the wrong way," he admits in frustration. "Can I try it again?"
Henry looks at Jamie's side, spying a glimpse of white bandage just as Jamie pulls his tee-shirt down; the two of them locking eyes.
"I'm okay. Please?"
"Jamie…"
"Linda bandaged the cut. Please it's okay. I want to try again."
As much as he wants to press about the nature of the cut the bandage, he figures Jamie's already grounded for the two weekends and knows that if it was really that serious Jamie would tell him. So he decides not to push the issue – this time.
"Of course," Henry replies in haste. Frank can only look at his father with a tender smile and then nod in agreement. He had wanted to tell Jamie that he had to wait until at least a few more hours of cleaning was over since that was part of his official punishment, but seeing the eager look of determination on the young teens face and after hearing the story about being denied a second chance by his birth father, Frank couldn't say no.
Jamie climbs back onto the bike and tries again. His legs continue to wobble a little bit more but he manages to get further than last time, his confidence continuing to build with each stride of the bicycle. About half hour later he had managed to complete one full circle in the back yard. His smile was ear to ear.
"Thank you!" Jamie exclaims as he gives Frank and then Henry a warm hug. "That was the best."
"Well I think that's one bike we'll put back in the garage."
"Really? You mean I can use it again?"
"Use? You can have it," Henry answers with a shrug as Frank agrees; neither of them having a better purpose to give the bike a new lease on life than having Jamie take it over and use it to the fullest.
"I can use it for s…" he starts and then stops; his brow gently furrowing.
"You can use it for whatever you want," Henry reminds him tenderly. "Now. Enough tough thoughts; we'll worry about school later. How about we get back to cleaning?"
"Okay," Jamie agrees with a small smile. "Can I paint it? You know just to get rid of the rust? Is that okay?"
"I don't think Joe would mind in the least," Frank tells him in truth.
Jamie heads back into the garage with a small skip in his step. Despite falling a few times and scuffing one knee and despite the fact that he was still grounded and had some work ahead of him, Jamie's afternoon was complete after his bike lesson.
He couldn't wait to tell Danny.
XXXXXXXX
"Oh man that was a foul!"
"Totally robbed!"
"He was out!"
So far the afternoon for the group of happy tailgaters was continuing with success, the earlier altercation with the needless citation all but forgotten; none of them wanting to let it dampen their day.
"So in a few weeks is the annual NYPD picnic," Demarcus talks to Danny in a low tone as the two of them sit on the back of the truck, flipping a few remaining hot dogs.
"I know. You going?"
"I am. I heard they're going to be reading out names or mentioning the new candidates who are at the picnic."
"I know," Danny nods as he looks at his friend in wonder. "You wondering what name is going to be following Danny?"
"Thought had crossed my mind. I know there will be friends of Joe's there and…" Demarcus's voice trails off.
"And Sonny," Danny grits his teeth. "Thought I was the only one that remembered that bastard."
"I don't think any of us will forget him," Demarcus reminds him in truth.
"I know. I think Frank said there's some forms he's looking into and paperwork for the legal adoption. I think I just need to fill out a few forms and that's it. I think Jamie has to have a hearing with Frank before a judge and agree to give Frank parental rights and take the name Reagan. But…"
"But what?" Demarcus presses.
"Funny you bring up Sonny after what happened earlier," Danny states bluntly.
"I saw your face after you came back from chasing after him. He only gave me the ticket right? You think Sonny's still nursing an active grudge and directing things from the inside?"
"Why not? Others have done it in jail. He still has friends in the NYPD. Frank even said after Sonny was arrested that it might take years until they have found all the guys loyal to the Templar. I mean it was suspicious."
"So…you think he wanted a fight?"
"Why not? A charge of pollution is nothing compared to assaulting a police officer. You'd be entering the academy with that mark on your back."
"And since you got my back, you'd have the same mark."
"Oh I'm sure I already do," Danny huffs as he rubs his face. "If our past dealings with Sonny have taught us anything it's always watch your back in the future."
"Yeah…that guys trouble."
And they were right, they just didn't know, in that moment the truthfulness nor the extent of their words. Come Monday, they'd find out. Trouble was coming.
A/N: Uh oh….So Jamie got patched up but Danny of course is still going to worry. Hope you all liked the brotherly broments in here. Jamie was grounded but I always like to find ways to interject stuff from their past so I hope you all liked the moment with the bike. And yes Sonny has already started to make some trouble and its just the start. Hope you liked the mix of Danny's friends in here also. A few future situations coming for both boys as they get started on their own little investigations. Hope you're excited to see what each learns! Please do review before you go and thanks so much!