Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 25 – New Beginnings

"What if she says they can't take him or…" Jamie's lips rattle off nervously as he looks up at Danny with a heavy frown.

"She didn't say anything at all?"

"Nope just that she'd meet us here and that was it. Didn't say with news or an update or…I don't get girls," he concludes with a small huff as Danny chuckles.

"Go on and see George, I'm gonna call into work and see if I can work a shift tomorrow."

Jamie nods at his brother as he heads into the shelter to see George. He nears his room and hears some laughter and instantly his heart warms.

"Jamie, my boy," George greets as Jamie enters the room to see George and Graham sharing a moment.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all," Graham entreats with a friendly gesture. "We were just talking about breakfast."

"Which I am going to greatly miss," George adds. In those few seconds Jamie's face had lit up and then drooped; neither expression lost on the older men. "Ah Jamie I know you worry," George adds as Graham takes his leave.

"Can't you stay one more day?" Jamie asks as he eases himself down onto the small bed beside George.

"Nah, someone else can take the bed that needs it. These last few days…well I've felt spoilt and not sure I know what to even do with myself. But I'm not sure I can ever thank you for bringing Heidi to me."

"I'm so happy you got to meet her."

"Jamie…" George pauses as a few tears gather in the corners of his old eyes, making them lightly sparkle. "It was a joy I cannot express. She looks just like my Edith and it brought back so many happy memories."

"I wish I could have done more."

"You've done more in a short time than anyone else has in the past few decades. Seeing her…talking to her, made my heart swell and just to know that she's out there and that she actually cares. Outside of you, I haven't had blood family even want to know I existed. My own doing I know that but yeah…she…she set my world right again. She showed me some pictures of the family. I've missed so much but even getting to meet her once was a treat. Smart, independent. She's really grown into a beautiful young woman."

"Yeah she was kinda cute," Jamie agrees, prompting George to look at him in wonder. "You know uh…I mean her personality," he gently stammers as his face warms. George can only smile at the nervous teenager but inside his heart he knows he owes Jamie so much.

"I wish I could repay you with something," George admits with a heavy sigh. "Don't have much."

"Me either," Jamie shrugs and the two of them laugh again. "I think th…"

"Am I interrupting?"

Both instantly look up to see Heidi standing in the doorway with a friendly smile on her face.

"Hey…no…come in," Jamie greets nervously as George watches with a happy smile. But as soon as the teen girl enters, both George and Jamie stop to see who's following. It's a familiar face but…very unexpected.

"Pamela," George manages with a soft whisper as a large lump of emotion catches in his throat.

"Pam…oh…" Jamie's voice dies out as he looks past Heidi's mother; George's daughter, to see his brother Danny following.

"Hello…George."

Despite the fact that it felt actually somewhat foreign to call him father or even dad, in that moment Pamela McMaster's eyes well and she can't help but give her father – George Wilson a small hug.

"Oh my God…" George whispers happily as he holds on to her, Heidi looking at Jamie with a bright smile as they give each other a hug and Danny watches with a happy grin. He pulls back and looks at his daughter with a glistening gaze, his withered hands gently clinging to her forearms. "You're here…forever how long a visit…I never thought I'd see this day."

"Actually," Pamela replies as she frees an arm and wraps it around her daughter and pulls her close; Jamie backing out of the way to stand beside Danny. "We came to take you home."

Jamie looks up at Danny in shock and then over at Heidi who nods in agreement. "Really?"

"There is a care home just down the street from us that has a room," Pamela explains.

"And I can visit every day after school," Heidi pipes up.

"And I'll visit every chance I can," Jaime adds as George looks at them all and then back at his daughter with a serious expression.

"Are you sure you want this?"

"The past is the past and no matter what, mother would have wanted there to be peace. She never stopped loving you."

This time it's George's turn to cry and he does; letting out years of fluid emotion. He offers another heartfelt apology for all the pain he's caused his children; especially when he hears that his son will be coming to visit him on the weekend.

"Heidi was the one who really showed me…that it was time to forgive and move on," Pamela smiles at her daughter.

"I'm so happy for you George," Jamie exclaims as he finally steps up and gives George a warm hug. "Now you don't have to spend another night on the street!"

"Oh Jamie my boy I almost can't believe this."

"I promise I'll come on the weekend to visit," Jamie volunteers Danny's time as Danny just smiles and shrugs.

George looks at Pamela and Heidi and then at Jamie and Danny, almost unsure of whether this was all true or just a cruel joke that he was going to wake up from right away. But the dream is real. He would be going home with them. Tonight he'd have dinner with them as a family and while it would be very strained at first; the family had made a pact that the past wouldn't be dredged up – it was only time to move forward. It would be slow but sure. Tomorrow he'd go into the home and as promised his son and his family, Heidi's cousin Ryan's family, would come Friday night to visit and then Jamie and Danny as promised would do the same on the weekend.

"I'm going to miss you," Jamie states softly as they slowly walk out of the shelter toward Pamela's waiting car.

"I'll miss you and the popcorn and our chats."

"I'll make sure to bring some when I come to visit," Jamie promises with a soft, teary smile. "I'm just happy that you'll be taken care of now. I wanted this so much for you."

"It's a dream I never thought would come true."

"I love you George," Jamie whispers as he gives him one last hug; Danny's eyes finally tearing at the heartfelt confession.

"I love you too my boy," George whispers in return as he pulls back with a smile and then gives Danny a hug also. "Take care of your brother."

"Always," Danny replies as his arm drapes around Jamie's shoulders and gives them a protective squeeze. "Take care of yourself George."

"Always," George smiles as he slowly gets into the back seat of the car.

"I'll skype you later," Heidi tells Jamie as the car starts to pull away.

Jamie waves and then stands fixed in place, his eyes locked on the car and watching it until it literally disappears; not moving until he feels Danny's hand on his shoulder. "I almost can't believe it."

"Because you know most of these types of cases don't always get happy endings."

"I'm glad George did. Can we drive by the bowling alley right now? I'd like to tell Alan and Nora so they at least know what's going on with him. They'll worry."

"Of course."

The request is legitimate and Danny can only agree, telling him they'll stop by before he has to drop Jamie at home before a shift he just picked up. The visit to the tunnels is met with sweet success, as Jamie hands out hugs to Nora and Alan, both happy for George and wishing him all the best.

"Have those two guys been back again?" Jamie dares to ask Alan as they slowly head back up to the surface, Danny a few meters ahead.

"They have and uh…Norman…he didn't make it. They beat him pretty bad," Alan recalls with a lament as Jamie looks up in horror. "No one cares. I hate to say it but it's true."

Jamie's heart droops but at the same time his anger swells and he wants to put something in place to help the homeless stay safe from these punks.

"Just take care of yourself Jamie. The street will handle it's own."

Jamie gives Alan a hug and the slowly walks toward Danny with a glum expression. "Norman died."

"Sorry," Danny offers sadly as they get into the car. "Jamie…"

"I know I can't save them all but…"

"But nothing," Danny interjects in haste. "You helped George and that's great but you can't risk your life for…"

"Homeless people?"

"I was going to say strangers," Danny reminds him with a heavy sigh. "It's sad but you're life isn't worth going head to head with those punks alone. Even that Alan guy said that."

Jamie doesn't answer but starts to formulate a small plan in his head. He would only have a few more weeks and then it was back to school with shortened working hours a curfew.

"I'll see you later," Danny tells his brother as he drops him at the end of the street and carries on to work. Of course he's happy that George found a home and sad that Norman died but he doesn't want his brother thinking he can rescue every hard luck case on the street.

"Hey Danny boy!"

"Hey Ralph. I see they called you too."

"Extra money. Can all use that right?"

"For sure. So what's new?"

"Well guess what Jerry did now."

"Oh no…now what?" Danny retorts with a chuckle.

XXXXXXXX

"Just putting together the list of new approved rookie candidates to be accepted into the academy this fall and…Danny Reagan's name was just entered," Frank tells Spencer as he enters his office later that same day. "He's excited and nervous about that."

"You sound nervous about…something?"

"Can never get one past you," Frank replies with a slight smile. "I was just looking at the list of eligible TO's and…" his voice stops as he hands Spencer the list. "Third name."

"Is…oh. Really? Is that by…chance or…"

"He volunteered and I think it's a random pairing," Frank replies with a heavy sigh. "I might ask him and see what he says."

"Or just let the chips fall where they may and see what happens."

"You know if they ever put you against Mad Max, my money's on you," Frank quips; Spencer's grin widening.

"That's because you know I'd bring a bazooka to a gun fight."

"Not a tank?"

"They don't make em compact yet," Spencer chuckles as he hands Frank back the list. "I think it'll be fine. Toughen Danny up a bit more."

"Perhaps."

"Anything new on Sonny?" Spencer asks gravely.

"It's been quiet since we found the guard dead and of course have no leads."

"Of course."

"I want extra patrols out for the annual barbeque," Frank firmly requests.

"You honestly think Sonny Malvesky would try something that's so public?"

"I think he's an opponent we don't want to underestimate," Frank states plainly. "I think he's already showed us what he can do publicly with that little joyride stunt he pulled with Danny on the ride along. He paid to make it happen and then took out those who actually made it happen and the world was watching. And so was he," Frank reveals with a heavy sigh. "He'll want something big and public…"

"While he sits back in his cell thinking he's untouchable. Son of a bitch," Spencer concludes with a curse under his breath. "You know we can end this Frank."

"Meaning?"

"Take him out before he has a chance to take us out."

Frank leans back in his chair and looks up at his most trusted friend and top Detective and feels his mind starting to race. As much as he knows Spencer is a shoot first ask questions later kinda guy, he's not an outright killer. He's never done legitimate "wet work" as it were.

But…Anton has…

XXXXXXXX

"I'm really happy for George," Linda tells Danny as they head out to see his mother's gravesite the following morning. He had wanted to wait until the weekend but with him now busy with taking Jamie to see George on Saturday and working at the range on Sunday, he didn't want to rush it so with a day off today, it would be it.

"I was surprised that they all agreed to this, especially after what we heard both Pamela and Robert tell us. But at least he doesn't have to die alone on the streets," Danny explains as their hands remain intertwined on the front console between them.

"So many do. I was volunteering at the clinic the other day and some that come in off the street…it just breaks your heart to see them like that. I get that's why Jamie wants to help them, especially with his connection to George."

"Yeah he wants to know how to stop the two guys that killed one of the ones he had met. It makes me angry too but I just don't want him tangling with them anymore. He could get really hurt if they know he's out to stop them for good."

"Are you nervous about the barbeque?"

"I wasn't until Frank told me that they'll read out all the names of the rookie candidates who are starting in the academy in the fall. Danny Reagan. I'm sure it'll draw a lot of talk…gossip…raised brows…whatever."

"But you're prepared for it right?"

"I'm prepared for all eyes to be on Frank and then looking around for me and then the rest of the names to just be forgotten. I asked Frank if he could say mine last but then I thought it might seem like I wanted the spotlight on me so…ah maybe I shouldn't go," he grumbles as Linda gives him a sympathetic smile.

"I'll be at your side, with a smile and people will look for you and that'll be it. You'll be a hit on social media for a few hours and then the next day be old news," Linda giggles.

"Gee thanks," Danny retorts sourly. "I can just see the angry face of guys like Larry Abalos who already hate me."

"Thought that was over with?"

"Nah I think he'll trip me down the stairs first chance he gets."

Linda can only give Danny a small laugh as they near the cemetery; telling him that it was normal to be worried but in all honesty only those that mattered were the ones he needed to think about.

"I'm kinda nervous," Danny whispers as they walk hand in hand through the quiet surroundings; heading for the modest headstone that Frank had purchased for them.

"Don't be. She'd be proud."

"I keep asking myself that every day and I hope she would be," Danny answers honestly. "I wish she could be here in person to meet you."

"I wish that too."

Linda's hand around his tightens as their steps slow and the tombstone looms closer. "I know I have said this before but it's a beautiful memorial to her."

Danny lays the modest bunch of fresh flowers at the foot of his mother's tombstone and feels his heart starting to race faster. "Hey mom…uh Linda and I wanted to come to…you know just come," he stammers as his free hand tightens around hers; her fingers holding onto his and not letting go. "See you…say hi."

"Danny brought daisy's, your favorite flower," Linda adds as Danny looks at her with a nervous smile, his brain urging him to just get it over with!

"Yes and well…it's kind of a special occasion," Danny starts as Linda looks at him in wonder. Before she can ask what occasion, Danny steps back slightly and then pulls out a small box, Linda's eyes widening as she looks at the box and then at him.

"I'm uh…damn I'm not good with this stuff," he stammers as her eyes lock with his. "I know we talked about waiting until after our this fall year was done so there would be no wedding stuff or…but I love you and…" he pauses as he slowly opens the box. "It's a promise ring. I want you to know I'm serious about marrying you and there is no rush and…yeah I love you. I want you to be my wife and we'll make it work. I promise. I don't have much but um…I love you."

"Danny," Linda whispers as her eyes glisten.

"I love you and I don't want to lose you. Ever."

"The answer is yes," she states with a firm smile as she leans in and kisses him passionately on the lips. "I love you Danny, so much and yes we will make this work and no you won't ever lose me. I promise."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she nods as he smiles and cups her cheeks with his hands and brings her lips back to his and plants another warm kiss on them. Linda looks down at Danny slowly pushes the ring on her finger and then back up at him with a smile. "It's perfect. I love this," she praises; his expression beaming under her loving words.

The two of them sit down before his mother's tombstone, Danny's arms around her, Linda cradled in his strong grasp.

"Linda Reagan," she whispers as she looks up tenderly; his smile widening. "I like the sound of that."

"Me too," he whispers in return as they kiss once more.

A/N: yay two more happy milestones. George is in a home with his family and Jamie will see them again and Danny and Linda are promise-engaged. The BBQ is up next so what does Sonny have planned? And what will happen when the name Danny Reagan is read out in front of everyone? Please to review before you go (b/c they are love to us) and thanks so much!