CH. 3: All Fun And Games Till The Kitchen Gets Hurt
"I'm not going to get in trouble this week, I'm not going to get in trouble this week," Andy repeated to herself for about the thousandth time that day. Then
again the more she thought about it, the less she was beginning to even believe herself that she was capable of staying out of trouble. But there was no harm
in trying, she figured especially considering she didn't want to wind up grounded that weekend, like she had been the following weekend. "You want to play a
game or something," Jack interrupted his sisters thinking? "As long as I can stay out of trouble doing it then yes," Andy had to admit she was getting a little
bored pacing the floor of her upstairs bedroom. "Why are you trying to stay out of trouble?" Jack really didn't think he needed to ask the question, considering
she was always grounded, and figured even she was tired of it. "Because I spent all of Saturday and Sunday unable to watch TV, listen to music, and do
anything on my laptop, and I really don't want another weekend like that." "Well I'm not in any hurry to get into trouble myself, so I won't start anything, but
personally, I think it's been awhile since Sean's been in trouble," Jack looked at his sister mischievously. "Knowing Sean, he will get into trouble all on his own,"
Andy knew that aside from her he was the runner up in the trouble department, "but if he doesn't, I'd be happy to oblige you." "So what do you want to do,"
Jack wondered aloud, considering it was dark, their options were limited? "Personally, I'd like to throw the baseball, but we both ended up in the corner the
last time we did that," Andy remembered. "Dads working late, so that would be a plus, but Moms here, and she would be worse than Dad if she caught us,"
Jack knew there was no point in even entertaining that idea. "How about we make up some sort of course around the house and play with the remote control
cars, we can either race them, or see who can get through the course with the fastest time," Andy recommended. "Okay," Jack and Andy raced to his room to
dig the cars out from under his bed. It didn't take long for the two siblings to set up an obstacle course, starting from Andy's bedroom, through the upstairs
hallway, a slick slide down the stairs, and if the car managed to stay on all four, it would maneuver through a make shift bridge, and into their mother's laundry
basket full of clean clothes. Everything seemed to be going great, Jack managed to get his car down in three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, and Andy
was just lining her car up for her turn. Her car had barely managed to stay on all four, when she accidently lost control and it slid over to the front door. It would
have been easy enough for her retake control, had it not been for the fact that their father chose that very moment to walk through the front door. It was
merely seconds and neither Andy, Jack nor Danny knew what happened, the only thing they saw was their car fly through the air, along with their father. "Dad
what did you do that for," Andy ran the rest of the way down the stairs and over to her car, not even bothering to check on her father? "I was beating his time
by fifteen seconds.""Thanks for the concern," Danny moaned picking himself up off the floor while Jack picked up the case files he dropped on his way down. "I
think it's broke," Andy sounded absolutely dreadful as she picked up the car. "Can you fix it," Andy brought the car up to Danny? "Not right now Andy, I'm too
tempted to finish it off," Danny took a seat on the couch, nursing his bruised back. "I'm sorry," Andy finally managed to offer an apology, "I didn't know you
were going to choose that particular moment to walk through the door." "Well this is my house, I didn't know I was going to be attacked the second I walk into
it," he knew he couldn't exactly be mad at her, just because she ran to check on her toy car first, after all she was a kid. "I said I was sorry," Andy took a seat
next to him, "I'll get you an ice pack if you want." "That would be appreciated, thank you," Danny laid down. Andy and Jack were just sitting on the coffee table
and talking to Danny about their day when Linda came in with an arm load of clean laundry. "Anybody care to explain why my clean laundry is spilled out all
over the floor, and my laundry basket is being used as a garage? Neither of the kids said a word, in fact neither of them were that interested in looking at her
at that particular moment. "Well," she questioned, obviously looking for an answer? "Ugh Jack," Andy looked to her brother to answer the question. "We didn't
want the cars to get messed up, so we figured a pile of soft laundry would be the safest place. Unfortunately, not all cars make it to the garage," Andy
gestured to the car in her hands, "and there are accidents that involve your father." "Use something else next time aside from my basket and the clean clothes
I work so hard to wash, dry and fold," Linda started for the stairs. "And do either of you know where Sean is," she turned back to them? "I think he's in your
and dads room watching Netflix, but I'm not sure," Andy shook her head, all she knew was that he wasn't bothering them, and she had managed to stay out of
trouble thus far. "You guys need to start getting ready for bed, you have school tomorrow and it's getting late," Linda reminded them. "But Dad just got home
and we haven't got to spend any time with him," Jack tried getting her to let them stay up later. "Sorry," Linda shook her head, "but you will have plenty of time
to spend with him tomorrow when I go to the Opera with your Aunt Erin." "We'll take it," Andy and Jack told Danny goodnight before running up the stairs.
"Wait a minute you're going to the opera tomorrow," Danny looked at her confused, appearing as if he was just finding out about the following evening? "I told
you Danny," Linda was expecting for the next few word to come from her husband's mouth was that he was going to have to work late again. "I don't
remember hearing that," Danny shook his head. "Does this mean you have to work," Linda was already sounding a bit disappointed? "No its fine," Danny didn't
want her to give up a night she was looking forward to, considering she spent most nights with the kids. "Are you sure," Linda understood the stresses of the
job? "I'm sure," Danny nodded, "what time do you need me home?" "Erin's picking me up at 6, so 5:45 I guess, I'll keep the kids busy with homework until you
get here." "Okay," Danny pulled himself up off the couch and handed her the ice pack, "I'm going to go take a shower, keep that cold, I'll be back for that," he
pointed to the ice pack.
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"Hey Sean, we got good news", Andy grinned, she and Jack running into their brothers bedroom, being careful to close the door behind them, not wanting their
parents to overhear. "What's up," Sean looked up from his GameBoy? "Moms going out with Aunt Erin tomorrow night, which means we are going to be left
with Dad," mischief was easily seen in the girl's eyes. "What are we going to do," Sean knew his sister well enough to know that she was bound to have a
plan up her sleeve? "I'm still working on that one," Andy admitted, "but I'll think of something before tomorrow night." "But do we really want to do something
to get into trouble," Jack was the one to voice reason? "Hanging out with Dads fun," the boy had a point. "We won't get into trouble," Andy shook her head.
"I've heard that one before," Jack said only half-believing. "Are you saying you are not interested in goofing off and taking part in our plan," she knew without
a fact that Sean would be more than willing, without even asking? "No," Jack shook his head, "I'll do it, but I definitely get the feeling I'm going to regret it."
"It'll be fine, I'll come up with something tomorrow while I'm at school," Andy didn't see a problem with it. "While at school, that's a good place to come up with
a plan," Jack was being sarcastic. "Are you kidding me, I'm stuck there for over more than seven hours, I have plenty of time to come up with something."
"Because it's obvious your brain isn't focused on your schoolwork," Jack muttered. "How would you know, you don't know my grades." "Maybe not, but I'll know
soon enough when report cards come out and mom and dad spend the evening yelling at you." "Very funny," Andy knew that chances were, he would be right,
although there was no way she was going to admit it. "Didn't I tell you kids to go to bed almost thirty minutes ago," Linda was surprised to find them all still
awake and congregating in her youngest bedroom? "I don't know," Andy shook her head, "I don't rightly remember." "Well allow me to remind you, you have
ten minutes to get in bed or you all get to spend the weekend cleaning out the attic," Linda didn't realize the power of her words as she had to step back to
avoid being trampled by her older children. It was just hitting the ten minute mark when Andy's door opened and she had to jump over the pile of laundry on
her floor in order to be in bed. "Andy," Linda just looked at her. "Hey, technically I am in bed," Andy had a point as she crawled under the covers. "You know it
sure would be nice if you went with me to the Opera tomorrow night," Linda mentioned picking the clothes up off the floor. Normally she would have chastised
her for the state of her bedroom, as well as the way she treated the clean laundry she spent so much time on throughout the week, but not this time, this time
she was more interested in trying to convince her to take part in the planned culture outing. "Do I have too," Andy stopped straightening her bedspread, kind
of surprised her mother had yet to say anything about the current state of her bedroom? "No you don't have too, but it would be really nice if you did," Linda
didn't want to push her. "I'd rather stay with Dad," Andy admitted. "Nicki's going," Linda thought it might help if she mentioned it. "Yeah but it's the Opera,"
Andy looked at her, "that's just way too much culture to inflict on me. I mean seriously, who wants to spend an evening filled of (AAAAWWWW)," Andy imitated
the video she saw on TV. "Who's killing the cat in here," Danny walked in the bedroom, covering his ears. "Oh my gosh, your just like your father," Linda looked
at Andy before walking out the door. "If she's upset, it's your fault," Danny pointed at her. "Oh sure blame the kid," Andy threw her pillow at him.
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"You know I really wish Andy would go with me tomorrow," Linda couldn't help but admit, the more and more she thought about it that night as she and Danny
got ready for bed, "I mean Nicki is going with Erin." "So it's kind of like a mother/daughter outing," Danny was beginning to get the jest of Linda's half-hearted
attitude that evening? "It didn't start out to be, but after Nicki voiced her opinion in going," Erin told me to bring Andy. "And Andy of course turned you down,"
Danny interpreted. "Right," Linda mumbled. "You could make her go you know," Danny found a simple easy solution, at least so he thought. "No," Linda shook
her head, "I don't want her to feel forced and then not have a good time, and her get an attitude, making neither one of us have a good time. Besides, Andy
already voiced her preference to stay with her Daddy." "She does love me, doesn't she," Danny couldn't keep his heart from swelling with pride. "Very much,"
Linda nodded. "But if you want to do something with her," Danny got back to the matter at hand, "I'd start out slow if I were you, maybe start out by doing
something you know she would enjoy. After that I think you'd have a better chance of her willing to do something you like, like the Opera. Or at least tolerate it
for your sake," Danny knew there wasn't much of a chance she would actually enjoy it. "You mean to tell me there may be a chance she may never grow to
appreciate it," Linda was getting worried that her only daughter would grow up to never enjoy some of the things she did. "Perhaps," Danny said carefully. "In
other words she may grow up to be just like you," Linda knew what he was trying to say. "Now would that be such an awful thing, you did marry me after all?"
"No it wouldn't be the worst thing, although I have to admit I'd like her to do a few lady like things." "Give her time," Danny plugged his cell phone in to charge
and placed it on the nightstand, although he himself wasn't expecting much, but he figured that then wasn't exactly the best time to voice these thoughts.
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"Mom what's for breakfast," Andy called up the stairs early the next morning? "I didn't have time to cook this morning," Linda was trying to get ready for work,
still find something to wear to the Opera that night, and get the kids ready for school. "But there's bagels in the pantry, just put one in the toaster." "It's time
for my go to breakfast," Andy said to herself as she pulled a bag of powdered donuts from the pantry. "Don't let your mom see you eating that," Danny shook
his head at her choice of breakfast. He knew he couldn't fault her for her choice, he was a dad, and he let them get away with non-serious things. Besides he
just about lived off of coffee and only coffee while at work. "You know how she feels about you kids eating balanced meals." "Yeah but this is better," Andy
looked at him with a huge smile, powdered sugar covering her face. "Hey Danny," Linda called as she made her way down the stairs. "Hurry up wash you face,"
Danny nearly shoved her face under the running water of the sink, before grabbing the package of donuts from her. "Can you take the kids to school, I'm
running a little late." "I can do that," Danny was trying to hide Andy. "Andy what are you doing," Linda was trying to see behind her husband? "She's washing
her face," Danny covered still holding the donuts. "You're eating donuts for breakfast Danny," Linda looked at him surprised, "what kind of example are you
leading for the kids?" He wanted to say that he's a cop, what did she expect, but thought better of it. "You know honey your right, I don't know what I was
thinking," Danny closed them up, and returned them to the pantry. "I'm going to go make sure the boys are getting ready, you need to leave in fifteen
minutes," Linda reminded him as she headed for the top floor. "You owe me big time," Danny whispered. "What were you trying to do drown me," Andy pulled
her head out from under the faucet the second the coast was clear? "I just saved your butt, a little water isn't going to kill you," Danny tossed her a dish towel.
"Yeah well now my shirt is soaked," Andy looked down at her white uniformed shirt, "I didn't know I was going to have to take a bath with my clothes on." "Go
change it and grab your stuff, I'm going to clean up from your bath," Danny noticed there was water covering the kitchen cabinet.
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Danny had just dropped his kids off at school and was heading over to the precinct to meet up with his partner when his cell buzzed. It was Frank wanting him
to drop everything and go straight to 1PP. "You wanted to see me Commissioner," Danny walked into his father's office a little unsure of what to expect? "I
have an assignment for you Detective, to take top priority," Franks voice held nothing but business. "Yes Sir," Danny looked at him seriously. "Have a seat,"
Frank pointed to the vacant seat in front of his desk. "Can I ask a question Sir," Danny hadn't dropped the seriousness, he just thought that now was the best
time to ask since Frank was currently busy getting Danny's copy of the file ready to hand him? He couldn't really tell the mood his father was in, but he didn't
think he had done anything to get yelled at, at least not at 1PP. "Of course," Frank glanced at him just long enough to show he wasn't mad at him. "Why pick
me," Danny decided just to come right out and say it? "I picked you Danny," Frank called him by his first name, "because it is of a sensitive nature, and it
involves the family." "Dad," Danny looked concerned, long before dropping the commissioner title, and moving on to a much more serious nature when it came
to protecting their family. "What's going on?" "This might help enlighten you," Frank handed him the file. "Its Chris Baxter, he escaped from prison." "Chris
Baxter," Danny repeated the name aloud, "isn't that the guy that threatened to exact revenge on our family once he got out, after the judge announced him
guilty," Danny remembered the court hearing all too well. "That's the one," Frank nodded, "I put you on the case, you arrested him, and Erin prosecuted."
"Certainly explains why he would have it in for us," Danny hated to admit it. "Do we have anything on him yet?" "Our intel isn't very good," Frank said honestly.
"So I'm going into this with blinders on," Danny didn't like the sound of it. "Afraid so," Frank hated the sound of it even more than Danny did. "We have no idea
where he is or what his plans are." "You would think that he would want to lay low, especially considering he just escaped from prison. I know I would if I did,"
Danny was thinking aloud. "Please don't say that Danny," Frank didn't even like to hear of the possibility of his son on the wrong side of the law. "I'm just
saying Dad, but I would want to keep a low profile." "I don't guess I have to tell you, that this case needs to take top priority," Frank was back to being just as
serious as he was when Danny first walked in. "You don't," Danny's eyes said everything that needed to be said.
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"Miss Reagan, are you paying attention,"Mrs. Carson caught Andy off guard in the middle math class? "Ugh, Yes Mam," Andy sat up in her desk. She wasn't
exactly paying attention, but she knew better than to come right out and say it. "Perhaps you can give me an answer to my question then?" "No Mam," Andy
didn't even know what the question was, and she certainly wasn't going to ask her to repeat it, otherwise it would be obvious she wasn't paying attention.
This wasn't her first time that day to be asked if she was paying attention, in fact, it wasn't even the first time of the month for her to be called upon for lack of
paying attention. The last thing she needed was to get in trouble and the school call her parents again. Her Dad was going to be her only parent home, and
that meant rather than having an evening of fun, they would be having an evening of displeasure. The only problem with paying attention was, it took time
away from her scheming thoughts on a plan for her and her brothers.
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"Have you come up with anything yet," Jack and Sean located their sister in the lunch room? "Still working on it," Andy admitted, "I almost got in trouble, so my
thinking has been put on hold." "Don't get in trouble again Andy," Jack looked at his sister seriously, "otherwise our evening of fun will have gone down the
drain." "Don't worry, I've got it covered," Andy shoved her lunch tray aside. "How's that," Sean leaned back in his chair? "I just pretend to be taking notes, but
in reality I'm writing down ideas." "And the teachers actually buy that," Jack was surprised? "What the teachers don't know won't hurt them," Andy grinned.
"No but it will hurt you when they find out and you get sent to the principal's office," Jack pointed at her. "Hey I just got a text from mom, and Uncle Jamie's
picking us from school today," Andy said changing the subject. "Fun," Sean smiled, "maybe we can talk him into taking us out for ice cream."
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The final bell had rung at Blessed Hearts Academy, and Andy, Jack and Sean met at their usual place where they waited for their ride. "We should go hide and
make Uncle Jamie come look for us," Andy looked at her brothers to see if they were with her. "That could be fun," Jack was in. "There goes the ice cream,"
Sean followed his siblings back into the school. "I can't believe you actually want to stay within the walls of the school," Jack mentioned when he found himself
closed up in a small utility closet with his siblings. "Yeah I may not have thought this one through," Andy grabbed the mop that was hanging on her head and
tossed it aside. "You've got to be kidding me," Jamie shook his head a bit frustrated as he headed for the doors of the school. "I try to be the good brother and
uncle and not leave the kids standing outside of the school for hours and this is how I get treated." Jamie was just walking past the utility closet when Andy,
Jack and Sean fell on the door causing it to open. "Seriously, you guys couldn't come up with a better place to hide," Jamie pulled them up off the floor. "So
you're not mad," Andy dusted herself off? "Well I'm not exactly happy with either of you at this present moment," Jamie admitted but we will talk about it in the
car. Jamie kept one hand on Jacks arm, and the other on Andy's, being careful to have Sean walk in front of him as he led them out of the school and over to
the squad car. "Very nice choice on the vehicle Uncle Jamie," Andy climbed into the back seat with her brothers considering their uncles partner Eddie was in the
passenger seat. "Hush Andy," Jamie said before closing the door to the back seat. "Does this mean you won't take us to get ice cream," Sean spoke from his
place in between his two siblings as Jamie drove out of the parking lot? "Are you kidding me Sean, you're lucky I don't decide to pull this car over and spank all
three of you, Eddie and I can't be late to get back on duty," Jamie let his threat sink in. "Were sorry Uncle Jamie, we didn't know you were on your break," Jack
said honestly. "We thought it would be fun," Andy said quietly. "What do you think now Reagan's," Jamie was talking to all of them? "I'm thinking it wasn't a
very good idea," Andy admitted. "Kind of wishing you would have thought before you actually closed yourself in the closet," Jamie asked clarifying? "You'd be
right on that one," Jack glared at his sister, thinking this was all her idea, and it was up to her to get them out of it. "How about a truce Uncle Jamie," Andy
caught on to her brother's line of thinking? "What kind of truce kid," Jamie looked at her through his rearview mirror? "You reconsider this punishment idea, and
don't tell Danny, and we will do whatever you want for a month." "Better take advantage of this Reagan," Eddie smiled at her partner, "they can clean your
place, wash your car, and just about anything else you can think of for them to do." "Hmm," Jamie thought about it for a moment. "Maybe you are on to
something. You guys can do the dishes at Grandpas anytime it's my turn for the next fifteen times." "Fifteen times," Sean's mouth dropped, "I'd rather take the
spanking." "Would you shut up," Andy smacked him. "Ignore the youngest in the car Uncle Jamie, he breathed in too many chemicals in the supply closet." "Well
what's it going to be, it's your choice," Jamie interrupted her? Andy and Jack glanced at one another as if to discuss their options, making it a point to leave
Sean out of it. "We'll do the dishes," Jack gave him their answer. "Sean how about you," Jamie asked his youngest nephew? "Dishes," Sean mumbled. "Well I
can say this has been a very rewarding afternoon, at least for me in the dishes department," Jamie pulled up to the nearest ice cream shop. "We got ten
minutes, so make it quick," Jamie turned off the ignition and got out of the car. "Uhh Uncle Jamie, were in a squad car, the doors won't open from the inside,"
Andy banged on the window to get his attention after he closed the door behind him.
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"For once, I cant come up with anything, at least not anything that wont make Dad want to murder us," Andy sat on the couch with her brothers later that
afternoon after they finished their homework and waited for their father to get home. "Oh wow, I didn't think this day would ever come," Jack looked shocked.
"Neither did I," Andy froze, "oh my gosh, I've gone over to the dark side," Andy fell to the floor. "And it's all mom and dads fault," she added. "Come on Andy,
pick yourself up," Jack held his hand out to her, "your life is like a science experiment there are both high points and low points that are encountered." "That's
it," Andy jumped up and ran to the kitchen. "Follow me guys," she called over her shoulder. "What are we going to do," Sean was confused? "A science
project," Andy started digging through the kitchen cabinets. "What kind of project," Jack was curious? "A volcano," Andy was beaming at her brilliant idea. "No
worries Andy, you definitely haven't lost your touch," Sean mumbled, but was more than willing to help out as he pulled the red and yellow food coloring out
from the pantry. "Guys I'm home," Danny called to his children, once he walked through the front door. "Hurry hide the volcano," Andy gently placed the volcano
she had made out of clay under the cabinet. "Hey Dad," the kids ran out of the kitchen to greet him. "Your mom still upstairs getting ready," Danny noticed
Linda wasn't anywhere on the bottom floor? "She's changed her outfit at least fifty times," Andy answered for them. "Well hopefully she's settled on one,
because your Aunt Erin just pulled up," Danny glanced out the window when he heard a car pull up. "Sean run upstairs and tell your mother," Danny pointed
towards the stairs. As usual, the second anytime Linda walked out the door, the kids complained to Danny about being hungry. "Dad, what are we going to
eat," Sean was the one to voice the problem that both he and his siblings were both thinking? "I don't know son, let's go have a look in the kitchen to see
what we got," Danny led them into the other room. "Looks like we got a package of hamburger meat and some vegetables," Danny pulled them out of the
freezer. "You mean you are going to cook," Jack looked at his father, concern in his eyes? "Correction," Danny pointed at his son, "we are all going to cook." "I'll
get the fire extinguisher," Andy stepped into the pantry. "Get out of there," Danny pulled her out of the pantry. "Cant we just order some take out, or a pizza,"
Jack was willing to give more than one option. "Not this time Son," Danny reached into the cabinet for the pots and pans. "Why not," Sean was getting a little
worried? "Because we need to save the money, besides we have plenty of food in the fridge." "Can we go to grandpas," Andy found the solution to all their
problems, "he'll feed us." "I'll feed you," Danny took her phone away from her before she had a chance to call him. "Yeah but Grandpas will be edible," Andy
mumbled. "I'm not going to run to my daddy for food, Danny put his foot down. "Why not," Jack didn't see the problem with it? "Because I said so," Danny
proceeded with the preparing of their meal. "Were all going to starve," the three siblings shared the exact same feeling of concern and the pit in their stomachs
that was only going to grow with time.
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Surprisingly, the meal was actually tolerable, and Danny left the kids in the kitchen to clean up while he took a call from his partner. "The coast is clear," Andy
ran over to where she had the volcano hidden, the second Danny disappeared up the stairs. "What do we need to do first," Jack suddenly became interested.
"So now you are interested," Andy looked at him surprised, as she dug out the box of baking soda. "Hey, I ate Dads cooking, I'm living life on the edge
tonight." "In that case run upstairs and find a pill bottle, just don't let Dad catch you," Andy warned. "He won't," Jack took off running. "I got it," Jack was back
in a matter of seconds. "Alright put it at the top of the volcano," Andy instructed. "My science teacher says this experiment should always be done outside and
in the presence of an adult, but we'd get in trouble if we went out after dark, and technically Dad is here." "I have a feeling that isn't what he meant but who
cares," Jack carefully set the container inside. "It says to add two spoonfuls of baking soda, but I'd add three just to be on the safe side," Andy instructed her
youngest brother, before she added two spoonful's of liquid dish soap, despite the fact it only called for one. "How many drops of food coloring," Jack asked
taking the lid off the red color. "It says to add five drops of red and yellow," Andy read the instructions allowed. "So ten of each color," Sean interpreted. "More
is always better in my book," Andy handed Jack the final ingredient of two ounces of vinegar. "Now whereas I'm sure we will get an eruption, I'd like to make
sure we get an actual explosion by adding one key ingredient that was not listed," Andy dropped a lit firecracker into the volcano. "What are you guys doing in
here," Danny walked into the kitchen? "Hit the deck!" Andy yelled just as the volcano exploded and splattered not only the kitchen, but Danny and his children
as well! "Okay the fire cracker may not have been the best idea," Andy pulled herself up off the floor. "Are you guys okay," Danny was checking on the condition
of his children? "Were fine," Sean stuck his head over the remainders of the volcano, what little of it was left anyways. "Get away from that," Danny pulled him
back. "It's perfectly safe Dad," Andy copied her brother, "it was only one firecracker, and that went out already." "You lit a firecracker in my house," Danny
looked at her as if she had totally lost her mind? "That's what I said," Andy wasn't going to lie.
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"So why didn't Andy want to come with you," Erin finally asked her sister in law? "Given the choice and she will stay with your brother every time," Linda shook
her head. "Give her time Linda, a daughter always needs her mother," Erin tried to sound reassuring. "I don't know what it is, but those kids of mine look at
Danny as if he's a super hero." "That's because he's their father, and to them, he is," Erin said remembering. "My brothers and I thought the same thing of Dad
when we were growing up." "I guess you have a point," Linda smiled. "Just be glad that your kids have an active father like Danny, there are a lot of kids out
there that do not have a positive role model like they do," Erin was thinking of Nicki's Dad, while Nicki was away from the table. "I'm sorry Erin," Linda felt guilty
that she was complaining because her daughter wanted to spend so much with her father, when she didn't even think that Nicki did not have that opportunity.
"Its fine," Erin didn't seem bothered by it, "she's got plenty of positive male role models in her uncles and grandfathers, and at least I don't have to worry
about what she's doing when she's with them. Besides I prefer it this way, at least I don't have to worry about what she does when she is with her Dad," Erin
admitted. "Oh I still worry about that when the kids are with Danny, he has a tendency to act like a kid at times," Linda said truthfully. "That's my brother," Erin
laughed.
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"So I have one question for you, where did you learn how to do that?" Danny asked helping the kids clean up the kitchen, knowing that if Linda would see the
kitchen in its present condition with red splattered all over her kitchen cabinets, she was liable to kill their children. "Science class," Andy looked over at him
from where she stood cleaning the outside of the pantry door. "You mean you were actually paying attention in class," Danny could hardly believe what he had
just heard? "When something interests me, I do," Andy admitted, kind of just waiting for the bomb to drop, knowing that he had yet to yell at them. "Fridge is
clean," Jack tossed his rag in the sink. "So is the stove," Sean followed suit. "In that case, I guess were through. And that was good guys, I have to admit,"
Danny laughed. "So you're not mad," Andy noticed that he appeared to be having a good time with their sudden experiment? "None the least," Danny pulled
them on the floor with him from where he was cleaning. "Although I do have to insist on two things." "What's that," Andy looked at him? "Never use a lighter
without adult supervision, and never, I repeat never, light a firecracker in my house again." "Yes Sir," the kids laughed, as Danny put an arm around them. "Now
it's getting kind of late, so go ahead and get yourselves cleaned up, and then the four of us will do something until our mom gets home." "We don't have to go
to bed," Sean looked at him surprised? "I don't see why you can't stay up a little later tonight, it's a Friday night," Danny knew that he had to work the
following day on the case his father assigned him and needed his sleep, but at the same time, he wanted to spend more time with his kids. "And for once were
not grounded," Andy sounded both shocked and excited at the same time.
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Danny was up early the following morning. He didn't really care to work Saturdays, but when a case such as the one he was currently looking into, one that
involved his family, things changed. It was about mid-afternoon when Danny came across what he had been looking for, for the past 36 hours. It was Chris
Baxter's plan for the Reagan's. "Dad," Danny put a call in, "he's coming for us…"
This chapter was a lot of fun to write, although I have to admit, I cant wait for the next... Thanks again for all the follows, favorites, and reviews, they keep me writing... JusticeStandsTRUE.