Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 8 – What's in a Name?

After the ballgame was over, the pack of closely-knit friends went to one of the nearby barbeque food trucks and had dinner on the lawn of the large stadium. They talked about the game, laughed at the missed plays and each other, shared stories and just enjoyed hanging out as friends. When it was about 11 o'clock it was time for them to head home, all of them talking about their fun day as they head toward their cars; Danny taking Linda home first, Jack getting a ride home with Demarcus and Kesha. As soon as they get home, Danny whispers goodnight to Erin and then heads for his room.

"Danny!"

He hears Jamie's voice and pokes his head into bedroom to see Jamie flip his light on and look up with a happy grin.

"Hey…what's going on?"

"I got to ride a bike today," he tells Danny as Danny sits down beside him on his bed.

"What? I thought you were grounded?" Danny asks with a small frown as Jamie nods. "Jamie…what if they found out?"

"Henry and Frank? They knew! In fact they encourage me. I was cleaning out the garage like I had to and I found Joe's bicycle. At first they said I should put it for donation but when I asked if I could ride it they said yes."

"Okay…how was it?"

"I know I can't ride….or I couldn't at first but…but I tried and fell but…"

"You feel? Did they see the bandage?"

"No. I was careful. But Danny it was so amazing. I remember the time with…it just felt so great, you know after I got going. I had to tell you."

Danny looks at the expression on his brother's face and can't help but smile, his brother's happiness literally radiating from the inside out. "I'm glad you got to ride. It's been a long time."

"They said I could even paint it and possibly use it for school. I mean if I stay where I am now but…but isn't that great? Frank and Henry helped me at first and then they just kept cheering me on. I know I was grounded and I did do work but it so much fun."

"I'm glad to hear it," Danny replies with a wide smile as he gives his brother a small hug.

"Did you have fun also?"

"Yeah we did," Danny answers. He's not about to lie to his brother as he knows Jamie would see right through that and neither of them were big on putting pity on the other. But he doesn't mention the run in with the officer who had given Demarcus a ticket for no reason, nor the fact that somewhere deep inside he thought their old nemesis Sonny might have something to do with it.

"Alright you need to get some sleep now," Danny tells Jamie as Jamie snuggles back down under the covers and Danny pulls it up to his shoulders.

"Danny…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad Frank wants to adopt us."

"Yeah kid…me too," Danny whispers as he gives Jamie's shoulder a squeeze and then turns off the light and leaves his room; leaving the door slightly ajar. He hears Jamie whispering something to Buddy and smiles as he climbs into bed and turns off the light. Tonight, despite a few personal mishaps during the day, they'd be going to bed with happy thoughts.

XXXXXXXX

For Jamie, Sunday is spent cleaning out the garage while Danny went to work at the gun range. Later that afternoon, Henry notices Jamie straining to lift something and touching his wounded side; the wound he had tried so hard to conceal under the thick bandage.

"Jamie," Henry starts as he nears; offering the young man a cold glass of water which he takes with a grateful reply. "So your side…is that the cut you were talking about?" Henry nods to Jamie's side as Jamie's throat has trouble swallowing. "I noticed you favoring it yesterday when you fell off the bike and the fall didn't do that much damage. Did that happen when you went to see George?"

Jamie looks at Henry and at first feels his stomach tighten so much that he starts to choke on his water.

"Hey, calm Jamie, it's okay. I'm not mad," Henry tries to assure him in a calm and quiet tone. "Am I right?"

"Yes," Jamie answers softly as he looks at him in dread. "I didn't want to worry you more or um…I got it looked at. It's okay."

"Jamie…"

"I guess I'm just used to…"

"Taking care of yourself?"

"I know it was wrong but I already felt bad for not listening. And then you said about trusting you and then I figured since I didn't tell you everything at first that it might be worse or…." Jamie's voice dies out as Henry wraps his arm around Jamie's shoulders and gives him a tender squeeze.

"Growing up is hard to do," Henry tells Jamie in a warm tone as he squeezes him once more and then kisses the top of his head. "I'm glad you told me now."

"But I should have told you everything all at once."

"I know. Next time," Henry smiles as Jamie looks up and finally smiles. "Find any more recyclable goodies?"

"I found your old bowling ball," Jamie tells Henry as Henry's brows arch in interest.

"Yeah? I wondered where I put that thing. Let's see it."

Jamie pulls out the vintage item and shows it to Henry. And for the next hour, while Jamie slowly works at cleaning out the right side of the garage, the side he was to work on this weekend; the left being next weekend, Henry regales him with old bowling stories.

XXXXXXXX

"Hey Danny, I have a spare target open," Danny's boss Jerry Walters at the gun range tells him as he comes up to him on his break that same Sunday afternoon.

"You sure?"

"I am," he tells Danny as he places a training weapon with some blank bullets down on the ledge. "If you need anything else…"

"Well I was wondering. Can I ask you something about…I can ask Frank but um…but it's a question and I don't want him to worry too much because it's nothing."

"Sure Danny but are you sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah fine," Danny answers with a tight lipped smile. "It's just a question for our pre-academy group. If there was a guy in jail. Not necessarily a mob guy because I know they have connections but just a guy who had a grudge. How would he go about getting some help? You know paying a guy on the outside to cause some trouble on the outside? And how could you find out?"

"Well this guy would have to have something he could buy favors with. If he were just for favors on the inside it'd be cigarettes or other…favors. On the outside, he'd have to have someone that would act as the go between someone on the inside of the jail and on the outside."

"So he tells like a guard or something but then the guard relays whatever favor or request to someone on the outside to make it happen," Danny ponders as Mr. Walters nods in agreement. "How would they get away with that?"

"They pay off an insider or two really well. Most times it doesn't work and they end up with a longer sentence. Sometimes they do get away with it and while they get away with it they can do a lot of damage."

"Really," Danny states more than questions, as his brow starts to furrow. "So how could they…a cop or whatever know if they suspected someone on the inside of causing trouble on the outside, stop them?"

"They'd have to know for sure otherwise it would be an expensive gamble at the taxpayers' expense and that isn't fair to your or I. But if there was evidence to back the claim then an internal investigation would be opened and it would stop the bad guy on the inside."

"Okay thanks."

"Danny…"

"It was just a hypothetical situation for our study group. Thanks for the help," Danny states with a firm smile.

"Anytime Danny," Walters pats him on the back; a hint of uneasiness in his tone. "Enjoy your break."

"I will."

Danny's palm slams the first loaded clip into the barrel of the gun and he looks at the hanging target and narrows his eyes. This is for you Sonny…you rotten son of a bitch! He eyes up the target and starts to fire. Only a few of the bullets manage to hit the center mark but he knows with time and practice that he'll get better. One day…I'll put every bullet into that center mark and then…Sonny's next!

XXXXXXXX

Monday morning both Jamie and Danny head into the precinct, Danny telling Jamie that he was wanting to talk to Renzulli about the ride along later in the week. However, what he really wanted was to find a way to check up on Sonny without alerting Frank. It could be nothing and I don't want to worry Frank on my own hateful hunch. Maybe it's not Sonny….maybe.

"Okay I'm gonna talk to Renzulli and then I'll text you and see where you're at," Danny tells Jamie who agrees and then heads to find Scott to see which one of George's kids he could check on first.

"How's George?" Scott inquires with concern.

"I don't know. I couldn't see him yesterday. I think I'll stop by and see him after I check on one of his kids."

"Who are you taking with you?"

"Danny," Jamie replies in truth. "He doesn't have to work today and my next shift at the bowling alley is tomorrow. I want to see him before then. Did you find out anything about his son?"

"I did and…it's kinda sad," Scott answers with a frown as he reaches for a file and pulls out a printout. "His son died of a drug overdose."

"What?" Jaime asks as his expression instantly droops.

"George was away on a tour when um…I guess he'd have to tell you all the details but that's what's listed on his death certificate as the cause. Overdose."

"He said he regretted neglecting his family so much and that his wife always resented something but he never said what. He said she left but…did they ever um…divorce?"

"No paperwork was filed. I guess after that she never wanted to remarry. I can't imagine the family turmoil it caused though. Sorry Jamie."

"Yeah," he huffs as his eyes continue to read the printout that Scott had printed out. He looks away and shakes his head.

"Jamie?" Scott's soft tone pulls the young teen's tormented gaze back in his direction. "What's going on?"

"Their father let their sibling die. Why…why would they want to help him?" Jamie asks bitterly.

"You know there are always two sides to every story. Maybe his son took them as a way to get back at his absent father. Maybe he got in with the wrong crowd. Maybe he wanted to find his own means of escape….could be any number of reasons."

"But he still OD'd!" Jamie snaps as his body tenses and then quickly recants. "If that happened to my brother, I'd be angry also. Especially if some stranger came and said I should take back my father or grandfather. Maybe this isn't a good idea."

"Doesn't sound like you."

"I know but I just…I don't want to give up but I don't want to cause them anymore pain either. It doesn't seem fair to them. Or to George to bring this all back up."

"You've come so far and I don't want you to stop now. How about we go and see the oldest son together. That way if he gets irate you'll have me as well as Danny as backup."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm in between cases today so yes I'm sure. I'll clear it with Frank but I'm sure once I tell him what it's about, he'll agree."

"Okay, I'll go and tell Danny."

Feeling a bit more encouraged, Jamie leaves Scott's office and goes in search of his brother.

Danny in the meantime had talked to Renzulli about the ride along and then went in search of something he could use to try to find out something…anything on Sonny's current associations. Then he went in search of a detective. However, one close to Frank found him first.

"Danny?"

"Hey Detective Rogers," Danny greets Spencer Rogers with a tense smile. He was just about to make an excuse and walk away when a little voice in the back of his mind said – wait…I have an idea. And it comes out.

"What's going on Danny?"

"I was um wondering about Louis or…McGuiness."

"Still behind bars where they'll be for a very long time, especially McGuiness."

"Okay so you know Frank wants to adopt us and…well I was wondering how do you monitor guys like that in jail to make sure they don't…you know try to do something on the outside."

The question is legitimate as he was wondering. But his bigger concern is Sonny. Louis and McGuiness were loyal to his father, Wade Allen and with him dead and no longer able to by their loyalty he doesn't think they'll care that much if Frank adopts them. Sonny on the other hand…would.

"Danny…"

"Please, detective Rogers. I don't want to ask Frank. I don't want to alarm him for nothing. I see it happen on TV and I wonder."

Spencer Rogers looks at the quiet pleading in Danny's eyes and feels his heart wanting to give in. And it does. "Okay come with me," Rogers leads Danny over to his computer. Danny pretends that he's not paying attention to the password but looks and makes a mental note – something he'd use later.

"So first off we look into the prison visitation records to see who has been visiting McGuiness. This database will tell us all the visitors and their information. After we find a name then we start to look into who they are and what connection they have to McGuiness. After that we determine if they are harmless friend or vengeful foe. If they are the latter we then start to look into what McGuiness might have them doing on the outside. It's not an easy process at all…"

"But one that's really interesting. So if you have someone that was doing say bad things for him…"

"Then the connection would be the biggest piece. Because it would tell us just how loyal and what that loyalty is being bought with. Blackmail? Favor? Family? Revenge? Sex? Could be anything and any gender. So when you look at the names you see most of them are the same. This one is his lawyer and this…" Rogers voice pauses as Danny looks at him in wonder.

"What? You know that guy?" Danny asks in haste.

"No…and that worries me."

"Really? So…what do you do now? Check him out right?"

Spencer looks up at Danny with a frown and slowly nods. "Yes but…"

"What if he has ties to my father and is back for…for who knows what?"

"Then I'll find out. Danny, you need to worry about…"

"Danny?"

Both of them turn to see Jamie looking at them in wonder.

"Detective Rogers…."

"Danny, I give you my word that if it's a problem to you and Jamie…"

"Please tell me whatever it is you find, even if it's his drycleaner?"

"I'll tell you what I can."

"Thanks," Danny nods as he turns back to Jamie in wonder. "Ready?"

"Yeah. What's going on?"

"He was showing me some stuff on the computer. I think being a detective will be cool," Danny tells Jamie with some enthusiasm. "Where are we going?"

"Yonkers."

"What?" Both Jamie and Danny turn to Scott Daniels and ask at once, the cyber detective's lips twisting upward into a smirk.

"George's oldest son, Robert Williams lives in Yonkers. I've been cleared for today. So let's go."

Jamie and Danny both nod in agreement as they follow Scott to the waiting police SUV, Frank having given the okay to his detective to take the boys to see Robert Williams. Scott promise Jamie they'd stop and see George but after their trip upstate as it would only happen if they had enough time.

Just don't get your hopes up, Jamie's mind urges as he gets into the front seat of the SUV; Danny relegating himself to the back for this particular outing. But on the way there he can't help but wonder about the strange man visiting his father's half-brother; their half- Uncle.

XXXXXXXX

Frank hears a slight knock and then pauses as he looks up to see someone push the door to his small office open and enter with a tight-lipped smile.

"Troy," Frank greets his paternity specialist. "What's going on? Find anything I should be worried about?"

"Not sure yet," he sighs as he slumps down into a chair before Frank.

"This job is important, but when did you sleep last?"

"Few nights ago. Between this and…"

"Troy…"

"It's all good Frank. If I wanted to say no to you, I would have," Troy retorts with a smirk. "Yes it's possible to say no to Frank Reagan. Although how many have?"

"That are still working?" Frank counters with a small smile of his own. "Where have you been?"

"Cleveland for starters and then…" Troy pauses as he rubs his face and then sighs heavily. "That family was a real piece of work."

"You found another family member?" Frank asks with some trepidation.

"Ex-wife. Nothing to do with the Allen clan thankfully. No half…whatever family member with any blood claims to the boys. But damn, the stories she told me. What a piece of trash that McGuiness is. She did mention something about his parents."

"Really? So the boys have grandparents?"

"Grandmother basically drank herself to death and after giving birth to the devil and his right hand man I don't blame her. McGuiness and Wade as you remember had the same mother, different father's."

"So where are both of them?"

"One of them I tracked down in Phoenix. This was McGuiness's father."

"Will he be a problem?"

"I doubt it. He's in a home and on his last legs…literally. Cancer. Terminal. Can't say I'm that sorry after some of the things the nursing staff told me. I guess when you're rotten to the core, you're rotten to the end. In fact, if you check with one of your detectives, I'm sure they'll tell you that McGuiness has had a visitor as of late and I think it's the estate attorney. Not that there's much to be given to McGuiness but there are still legalities with all that."

"And Wade's father?" Frank asks with a tight stomach. "We don't know what all Wade put in place before he came out here."

"And that I'm still working on. Wade's mother, I believe is also dead but I'm just waiting on confirmation of her death certificate from St. Louis."

"You really have been all over."

"One trail had me thinking I was going to end up in Spokane," Troy tosses out dryly. "This family…"

"Scary right?" Frank asks gravely.

"I'm almost afraid to keep looking Frank, I gotta be honest. Most families have skeletons they wanna bury but with this one the skeletons are the only thing I wanna find, they're harmless. It's the living ones that scare me."

"And that's saying something."

"It is as you know I've seen some pretty scary stuff. This family…Frank they're bad and I mean all the way past the bone…into soul and spirit."

"And that's what has me nervous about submitting the final adoption paperwork. Danny is already of legal age, there would be no struggle with any other family member's. Jamie's not and I don't want him taken away and put into…it can't happen Troy. If it comes down to that I'll put the whole thing on hold until he's of legal age also. I know the boys will understand."

"I'll keep digging."

"First go home and get some rest. I don't want another phone call from Angie," Frank smiles, referring to Troy's wife. He watches Troy take his leave and then reaches for his phone. "Get m…" is all he manages before Spencer Roger's face appears in the door. "Never mind, thank you."

"Frank…got a moment?"

"I do if you have one for me."

"Always. What's going on?"

"McGuiness," Frank replies as Spencer's brow furrows. "What?"

"Funny," Spencer deadpans as he hands Frank a file. "I was just about to say that name to you."

XXXXXXXX

Jamie watches outside as they near their destination – the first of George's children, his oldest. On the ride there he tried not to let bitterness rise when he thinks about George leaving his family and his son overdosing on drugs. You don't know the whole story…Scott had wisely reminded him.

Danny too, notes Jamie's silence and frowns. What else had his brother learned about this dysfunctional family? All families have troubles and theirs was no exception; in fact he feels his blood family was as bad as it could get. He hopes for Jamie's sake that the family is at least amicable to hearing what the young teen has to say about their paternal head but doesn't get his hopes up. I hope Jamie doesn't either.

"I'll wait in the truck," Danny tells them as they near the block of the address to Robert Williams home address.

"You can come Danny."

"Might be less intimidating for two people than three confronting them. Besides, Scott's a cop so if something bad happens…"

"Danny…"

"Hey, I'm just saying," Danny interjects in haste as Jamie looks at him from the front seat with a heavy frown. "I'll wait here. You'll be fine."

Jamie turns back as they start to slow and feels his stomach starting to do rapid summersaults. The SUV starts to slow and Jamie's eyes start to look at the area around the home. A typical suburban setting – much like the area they are living in, only somehow…quieter.

But as soon as the SUV stops, Jamie's mind starts to slightly panic. What if he tells me to get lost? What if he tells me to go to hell? What if he….

"You ready?" Scott's hand touches Jamie's arm, Jamie looking over with widening eyes. "It's going to be okay."

"Okay."

"Frank knows where we are and I have given him a check in time."

"You have?"

"You never do a field call or go off the grid without knowing someone has your back. Frank always has ours. Danny has ours here also. He's in the back with tinted windows. They can't see him but he can see us so actually this works out pretty good."

"Okay," Jamie states again with a nervous stammer.

"Chances are he'll just tell us he's not interested in hearing anything about his father and that'll be it. But you never know. Ready?"

Jamie looks back at Danny who gives him a nod of reassurance and upon getting it, turns back to Scott and nods also.

"Ready."

This time its Danny's heart that starts racing faster as he watches Jamie and Scott leaving the SUV and slowly heading up the walk to the strange home.

"I'll take the lead," Scott volunteers, much to Jamie's relief.

A firm knock is offered.

A few heavy footsteps are heard.

Jamie holds his breath just as the door opens.

"What do you two want?" A gruff male voice demands.

A/N: A few tender heart to hearts in this and I hope you liked them all. Some Danny and Jamie of course. Some Jamie and Henry. Danny and a few and of course Frank. Did you like them? Yup some future danger foreshadowing in there. and how do you think it'll go with Jamie's first visit? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!