Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 24 – Becoming (Reagan) Blue

Frank walks over to Danny and eases himself down on the small double bed he'd be sharing with Jamie for the night. After the shooting they had the plan to go out for dinner, but it was late and since Spencer wasn't seriously injured; only a bruise from the bullet to the vest, he invited Frank, Henry and the kids to come to their place to stay the night, while Chin took care of the scene cleanup at the Reagan household.

Erin would be sleeping on the futon, while Frank and Henry would be given the option of staying in Spencer's boys beds if they so wanted. They wouldn't be sleeping much. Danny and Jamie would share the other.

"What are you mad about most?" Frank inquires of Danny as the younger man looks up with a heavy frown.

"I wanted to be mad at you…maybe at first but um…my mom never talked about grandparents and fa…Wade never did either so as far as we knew Jed Allen was related to us because you told us. The more I think about it the…Spencer's a great cop. He uh…he stood right in front of him. He just...reacted."

"Just don't tell his wife," Frank quips lightly.

"Or Linda," Danny whispers as he looks back down with a serious expression. "He just acted…Spencer and I…I would have done the same thing."

"And he's still happily married and thankfully alive," Frank's hand rests on Danny's shoulder. "You're not like your father or grandfather. You're your mother and that's something to be proud of."

"I want to start the academy as Danny Regan," Danny admits as he looks back up with a firm nod.

"Jed Allen had his chance to stay away. He didn't. But it's over now and it ended the way…"

"You wanted?" Danny interjects as the bathroom door opens and Jamie reappears. Both of them look up at Jamie who offers a sleepy smile in return. However, just as he heads toward them, Spencer's wife, Julie nears asking him if he'd like anything before bed. He said no and she says goodnight to them.

"My family is safe. My friend is safe," Frank confesses warmly. "That's the ending I wanted."

"Is everything at home okay now?" Jamie wonders as Frank pats the bed; prompting Jamie to come and sit between them.

"It will be. Chin just texted and they have cleaned almost everything up and now it's just bagging the rest of the evidence and then it'll be all clear. We'll be okay here for tonight."

Jamie's head lolls onto Danny's shoulder, Danny giving his brother a squeeze before Erin walks up to them and wedges herself between her father and Danny.

"How was tea with Julia?" Frank asks his daughter, referring to her time with Spencer's wife.

"Made me sleepier. How are you?" She asks in concern. The three of them talk a bit longer before Frank gives each of them a hug and kiss goodnight before Danny and Jamie climb into the double bed and Erin slides under the blanket on the futon.

"You okay?" Danny asks Jamie in a whisper as he feels his brother's body shudder.

"It's over now, right?" Jamie replies in a soft tone; Erin still able to hear, her brow furrowing in the darkness.

"Yeah…it's over. Sleep now," Danny tells Jamie as he gives him a small hug.

"How are they?" Spencer asks as Frank sits down at the kitchen table with him and Henry.

"Tired…a bit stressed and…tired."

"Are they mad you didn't tell them sooner?"

"I think because they never heard his name mentioned by either birth parent it was a non-issue until…tonight," Frank explains in truth. "I'm sure they'll have a few questions going forward but come Thursday I can go into that adoption hearing without worry that a blood relative will pop up to take them away only to do them harm."

Frank's words end on a serious note as the other men at the table know if Jed Allen was to take either boy or both, he'd just kill them and be done with it. His regard for human life was much like his son's, non-existent."

"They all learned it from someone," Henry mentions as both Frank and Spencer look at him with frowns. "Well…I'm gonna get some sleep."

Frank watches his father leave and then looks at Spencer and nods. "Thank you my friend," Frank extends his hand.

"I'm your man Frank…no matter what," Spencer confirms as they clasp hands. "Let's get some sleep."

XXXXXXXX

The next morning they all settle in around the table for a hearty breakfast that the kids help Julia Rodgers make; Henry already out the door and on to see their home before he gets to work for a meeting with the mayor and senator Poole. They don't talk about the case around Spencer's boys; only telling them the Reagan House was undergoing a renovation and it was just one night. The boys hit it off with Jamie and although younger than Danny and Erin the five of them still enjoy bonding over waffles for breakfast.

After breakfast, Frank drives them all home, making sure everything is okay for them all to enter and when he sees that everything is as it should be, he quickly changes and then leaves them at home; telling his family he'll see them at the end of the day.

As he enters their home, he pauses, hearing Danny shouting, Erin and Jamie screaming in the background to stop and Spencer daring Jed Allen to make his final move. Frank pauses for a few seconds, his mind seeing Wade Allen but with Jed's voice – telling him that he's taking the boys to kill them and that he had lost – everything. That horrible thought literally makes him shudder and his brain finally pulling him from his morbid stupor and forcing him to walk upstairs and get freshened up for the day.

On the drive to the precinct his mind drifts away the thought about the boys watching Jed Allen before he could hurt them, drifts away from the impending showdown with Sonny Malvesky and focuses on the adoption hearing in a few days' time.

"Frank."

"Hey Angie," Frank greets Troy's wife with a hug as he enters the quiet home of his friend; wanting to stop and give him an update on the way into the precinct.

"Did you bring me…some donuts?"

"Didn't want to ruin…your girlish figure," Frank quips as he eases himself down onto the small chair beside his friend's bed. "But I did bring you good news."

"You found Jed?"

"He's dead," Frank answers plainly as Troy's dirty blond brows arch. "Spencer took him down. He came to our place to kill the boys last night. Erin was with them and he got there in time."

"I'm glad it's over now. So…when is the hearing?"

"Thursday. How are you?"

XXXXXXXX

"You're sure you're okay?" Linda asks Danny as she gives him a hug later that same morning.

"Yeah. I was more worried for Jamie and Erin. Spencer took him out and uh…yeah it's over now," he replies with a smile as gives her a quick kiss. "I'm going to stop by Demarcus's after work and help him work on his truck for a few hours."

"Talk to me Danny…did something more happen?" Linda gently urges as her hand rests on his.

"Frank knew…well not…he has to make the tough decisions, I get that but um…I mean part of me was mad but part of me was glad that I didn't know because I didn't have time to even dwell on it. And now…now Jamie and I can be adopted without fear of someone coming to take Jamie away. I spent all last night seeing Jed Allen killing my brother out of spite and revenge and…" his voice trails off with a small hiss; his words stopping only when she squeezes his hand. "I wanna start the academy as Danny Reagan."

"I want that too. For you. And that's…it?"

Danny looks at her and feels his heart sink. 'We need to be open and honest with each other. Always be honest with her Danny. The smallest lie can breakdown even the strongest relationship.' Be honest…"There were tense moments and…Spencer Rogers…he uh…well he's Frank's top detective and he's totally kick ass cool but um…but he just acted and I saw myself and I know you said that…" he stops as her fingers brush his. "He's okay but yeah…he just acted. He took down Jed and I saw myself doing that."

"And you're worried that one day I'll hear you doing something so brave and…just up and leave?" She counters as he frowns and then gently shrugs as she leans in closer. "I'll tell you a little secret," she whispers in his ear. "I'm not a shrinking violet. Did he have a vest?"

"Of course."

"And so will you," she assures him in confidence. "So…when is the adoption dinner?"

"Erin is planning this whole adoption dinner," he pauses to utter a small groan; making her smile, "on Friday but on Saturday I'd like to take you to see my mom. Just a drive and…what do you think?"

"I'd love that."

"Okay good," he smiles as he leans in for a kiss. Just before their lips can connect, he pulls back with a slight smirk as he notices an amused male expression watching in wonder. "Hey Sal," Danny nods as he gives Linda a peck on the lips and then says he has to go.

"Hey Danny," Sal nods before he turns and heads back into the kitchen.

Danny gives her a small wave and heads for the front door, eager to get to work and then over to his friend's place and confirm the adoption hearing for the following day. His mind is already settled in the trip to Philadelphia to see his mother's gravesite with his girlfriend but his heart is hoping when he asks her to be promised to marry him, she'll say yes. Work is just the distraction he needs and by the end of his shift, he's almost wondering if he'll have any energy left to actually help his friend.

"Danny Reagan…damn that sounds even more intimidating than…"

"Danny smith?" Danny arches his brows as Demarcus snickers and nods.

"Yeah…that doesn't sound intimidating at all! You nervous about taking on the top cop's last name?"

"I am in principal because I don't want to let him down in any way you know?"

"Yeah man that's only natural. But trust me you're gonna do just fine. And the adoption itself?"

"I was. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I kept waiting for someone to come up and uh…you know just try to ruin this for us."

"And now?"

"I know there's nothing," Danny replies confidently. "Yup Danny Reagan…baddest bad ass on the force!" He gives Demarcus a high five and the two of them laugh a bit longer as they start to talk about all the baddest cops they know and how they'll be the best NYPD partnership ever. Danny then tells Demarcus he hopes he becomes the same kind of cop as Spencer Rogers and Demarcus confirms that it probably will happen.

XXXXXXXX

"Are you nervous?" Jamie asks Danny as he sits on his bed looking up at his brother in wonder.

"About Linda or the hearing today?"

"Both…either…both," Jamie replies with a small smirk. "Heidi is talking to her family today so I guess George's adoption hearing is today also," Jamie relates as his mind trails back in time to the day before; Jamie talking to George just before he was dropped off at the bowling alley for his shift.

'I still wish you'd stay here,' Jamie tells George later that same day as he kneels down beside George's bedside; Erin standing a few feet away. 'I just want a happy ending for you.'

'You found my granddaughter Jamie,' George replies with a well weathered smile. 'That's more than I could have hoped for.'

'Well she kinda sought you out on her own.'

'I know you only want the best for me and I can't thank you enough sweet boy,' George praises as he slowly tries to sit up.

'Can't you at least stay here one more day?' Jamie pleads. He had talked to Heidi the night before and she told him that her mom and Uncle were actually going to sit down the next day, Thursday, and talk about their father. She had urged them to put him into the small veteran assisted care home that was upstate a bit, in between them both and something the whole family together could afford. It wasn't that promising but it was a start.

"At least George is staying in the shelter one more day," Jamie states in truth as his eyes fix on the tie his brother is fixing.

"Get your tie goober."

"What? I thought…fine," Jamie grumbles as he gets up off the bed and slowly trudges out of the room. He returns a short time later with his tie in hand; Erin appearing a few minutes later and watching with a smile. "Danny says I hafta dress up."

"Hey today's a special occasion," Danny insists as he looks at Erin for approval.

"He's right," Erin agrees.

"Not fair you two ganging up on me," Jamie playfully moans as Erin pokes his side and he laughs. After they were all dressed in formal attire, the three of them set out to the lawyer's office; where Frank and Henry already are and the closed adoption hearing proceeding already well under way.

"Are you okay with all this? I know you said you are but um…we'll officially be your brothers?" Jamie asks Erin in a softer tone as they sit on the bench outside the office; Danny pacing a few feet away.

"When dad first told me I was kinda angry because I thought it was trying to replace Joe but having you both here for almost half a year it's showed me that you've tried to honor and remember him as much as us and that's all I could have wanted. I think it's great. Plus I know you want to be here and love us as much as we love you. What about you?"

"I'm nervous," Jamie replies with a nervous snicker. "Not as much as Danny…well maybe. He's really worried about screwing up in the academy. We both just want to make you all proud."

"I think he's going to do just fine…you to," she answers in truth as she gives him a small hug. "I think dad's almost done."

He had fretted about it for longer than he might have wanted and has wanted this almost as soon as he started to develop fatherly feelings toward both Danny and Jamie; but as Frank offers his final handshake and puts on paper his last required signature, Frank's mind starts to settle. There was no one left in the murderous Allen clan that could ever come and lay legal claim to the boys; they could now just prepare for the future without having to worry about their past catching up.

"Congratulations Frank, Henry," Theo Davis, attorney, states with a smile as he shakes their one last time and the papers are then prepared to be officially filed. "Are the boys here?"

"Just outside, come and meet them," Frank entreats as the three adult males slowly head for the front door to the closed office. Both Danny and Jamie shake Theo's hand and a few hugs are exchanged to round out the happy occasion. They all talk a bit longer before the morning is officially called a success and it's time for the happy crowd to head out for a brief celebratory lunch.

The boys at first weren't too sure about having an adoption party but then after they talked, realized it wasn't a secret and the more that get used to them now being Danny and Jamie Reagan the better.

They go to their favorite family restaurant; a few heads turning their way as they recognize two oldest Reagan's faces from the news or just around the city – again usually in a professional context. The five of them sit down and while they wouldn't be able to take as long as they wanted the lunch would still be very enjoyable.

"That'll be all for now Walter."

"Very good. And for the rest of your family Sir?"

Frank looks up at the seasoned waiter and gives him a knowing smile. The man didn't know why they were celebrating but when he heard Frank offer a toast to his "family" he wasn't about to question the validity of the two younger men who weren't born with Reagan blood and why they were included in such a personal celebration.

After the orders are placed the five of them talk about what would be happening in a few weeks' time; the academy, grade 12 and starting Harvard law. Once lunch is over, Frank and Henry head back to work, while the three young people head for home, Erin already enlisting the boys help for the official party the following night.

XXXXXXXX

"So we cut the head off one snake only to have to worry about another?" Spencer asks Frank with a heavy sigh; Frank nodding in agreement. "How is Troy by the way?"

"Relieved," Frank answers with a kind smile. "You'll see him tomorrow."

"How were the boys today?"

"Excited…happy…relieved," Frank replies in truth. "As we all were. I think I was more nervous than them but the hard part is over and now we just move on as…one big happy family."

"I'm happy for you Frank. I think Joe would be happy too."

"I know Erin is and that was very important to me. Her and I talked at length about this before the whole process started. Pop of course was in from almost day one," he explains, pausing with a faint smile. "But with no more Allen's popping out of the woodwork the boys can just concentrate on their professional futures."

"Now we just need to worry about Sonny popping up. That damn bastard is in jail and still…"

"We have a man on the inside and no I can't say who it is. We thought we could corner Darren Oliver but he was killed before we could get to him. Sonny has someone else on the inside that he's able to slip information too. Someone he hasn't been seen talking to or meeting with but someone that can get messages and cash to the outside to still make things happen."

"So…you've confirmed it's him then? No doubts?"

"There's a small amount of doubt but the other person our insider is looking at doesn't have as long a reach as Sonny Malvesky. Plus we're looking at timing. Sonny's our guy. We just now need to anticipate when he'll strike next."

"Like that's an easy task," Spencer groans. "Sonny's not exactly an information sharing kinda guy," Spencer retorts in sarcasm.

"And there's a few important events coming up very soon. Spencer we need to be extra vigilant. Until we know who the other insider is, Sonny is holding all the ace's."

"And you know how much I love that."

"Just watch your back."

"Not doubting your intuition Frank but I personally think Sonny Malvesky is gunning for you."

XXXXXXXX

That night Jamie didn't sleep much, his mind still reveling in the delightful feeling of being legally adopted by a great family and finally having a name he could proudly declare to anyone who asked. But at the same time, he was worried about George. No word from Heidi or her family and he knows George said one more day and then he'd leave. He finally falls asleep but morning comes all too soon and sleeping is moot!

"Morning dad," Jamie mutters with a sleepy yawn as he slowly stumbles into the kitchen. Frank offers Jamie a small hug as he nears, his heart swelling at the casual but affectionate use of the title 'dad'; especially from a young man he considers his son – Jamie Reagan.

"Someone looks sleepy," Frank states with a smile as Jamie nods and smiles back.

"I kept thinking about George. I'm so excited for tonight but I kinda feel bad for him."

"Well how about tomorrow before we work on the repainting the bike, we drop by and see George and make convince him to stay one more day."

"That'd be great."

"Jamie gets to stay here one more day?" Danny snickers as he enters the kitchen; playfully wrapping his arm around Jamie's neck and ruffling his hair. Jamie lets out a small squeal as Erin enters and she instantly tries to pry Jamie out of Danny's vise-like grasp. Frank just chuckles as he watches; a smile not leaving his face.

Breakfast is somewhat rushed for him as he has a meeting with Senator Poole and then the union; Henry joining them for a brief respite also and then both are gone; promising to be back in time for the official adoption party. The day flies by for all of them and before too long, the evening hours are drawing near and their guests about to arrive.

"At least it's not a surprise," Jamie mutters before he realizes what he's saying. Danny of course pouncing.

"Yeah considering the guests of honor, us, already helped plan our own surprise."

"Ha ha," Jamie tosses back in sarcasm as Danny chuckles and heads for the front door.

Linda, Demarcus, Keysha, Jackie and Ian are the first to arrive, all bringing food and just wanting to hang with the Erin and the two newest official Reagan's. Jack arrives next followed by Lucas, Anna and Tiffany – Jamie's friends. Danny asked Frank if he could invite Anthony Renzulli, to which of course Frank said yes.

"So my vibe on Danny Reagan wasn't that far off," Renzulli slaps Danny on the back, giving him a broad smile.

"Think Larry Abalos will still talk to me?" Danny counters with a huff.

"I think once you show him what you're made of after the academy he will for sure," Renzulli assures him before he looks at Jamie. "And how about you, Jamie Reagan? Any blue in your blood?" He asks rather innocently.

"My heart's set on law school," Jamie replies somewhat slowly.

"The heart can change," Renzulli smiles, adding somewhat fatefully, "you never know."

"Thanks for coming," Jamie thanks his friends.

"Jamie Reagan," Lucas states with a frown. "Sounds…official."

Jamie can only laugh at his friend and nod. He had told them before and was happy that they could come to the party and here it officially declared by Frank – his new adoptive father. But in his mind and heart Frank was their adoptive father the day he rescued them from their dismal future.

Troy and Angie arrive after Frank and Henry, followed by Spencer, Julia and their two boys, Erin Chin and his wife, Scott Daniels and his wife Rebecca and a few others from the precinct. Most of them knew the reason but once there and listen to Frank's official announcement they have only loving support to offer.

Frank doesn't make too big a deal, a loving speech followed by a modest toast to the newest Reagan's adding that Joseph Reagan would approve.

"To becoming blue."

"To the Reagan's."

The toast is enjoyed and the rest of the evening progresses with a very happy note.

However, on the other side of the city, in a darkened, cement room; a low evil hiss puts into motion the final part of a murderous revenge plot.

A/N: yay our boys are official now wanted to get some bonding in here to close out the whole adoption process and I hope you all liked it. Will George get his happy ending? And will justice get served on Sonny? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!