Almost done. After this offering, there is one last chapter. This was a request for Jamie (kid is just like his father) to get into trouble with Jay. Well, he certainly does and Jay's reaction is immediate and unpleasant for his grandson. As always, thank you for reading.

Not So Safe

Liam stepped into the backyard and watched as his father and youngest son play. Sean seemed to be pretending to be a pirate, something the boys had been into lately while Jay—well Liam wasn't sure what his father was supposed to be.

"Daddy," Sean cried when he saw his father. He ran up to him and jumped into his arms.

"Oooof, not gonna be able to do this much longer," Liam said as he received his nine-year-old who had launched himself right into his chest.

"Yes you will. You are the strongest man ever." Sean declared as Liam set him down.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence son."

"Jamie got in trouble," Sean said wiping his nose with his arm. "We were playing pirates and he found something he wasn't supposed to."

"Yes, I had heard that."

"He hasta sit at the table," Sean said, speaking of the dining room table where the boys would have to sit if they got into trouble, much like Liam had to when he was young.

"Can you go looking for more stowaways while I talk to your dad?" Jay asked.

"Okay," Sean agreed and ran back to the play yard.

Liam watched him climb up into the fort atop the slide, calling out for scallywags.

"Rough day?" He asked his father.

"I thought those days were behind me. I just can't believe—I walked in and—I was scared out of my mind. I knew I had cleared the chamber, and the ammo was in another lockbox, but still. My heart—I just reacted."

"Dad, I have no issue with the way that you reacted. None whatsoever. In fact if it had been me that found him—" but Liam left his sentence hanging. "Tell me again what happened before I go talk to him."

So Jay went into a detailed account of what had transpired a few hours before.

"The kids were playing pirates. Jamie said he was too old for it, but seemed to be having fun nonetheless." Liam smiled. Jamie had been trying to pull away from his younger brother but whenever they were alone, suddenly the games he had been calling stupid and babyish were as fun as he remembered back when he was a child of ten. Now that he was on the cusp of twelve, games of imagination seemed beneath him.

"Sean needed a bathroom break," Jay continued so we went inside and I told them I would get them a drink and a snack. Jamie had told me he was going to use the bathroom upstairs instead of waiting. I got busy with the food and finding Sean's favorite cup. I hadn't realized how long it had been since he had gone upstairs.

"I got Sean set up and went up to find him. He was so focused that he didn't even hear me coming."

Jay climbed the steps, figuring that Jamie was snooping in Josh's bedroom, as he was always fascinated about what the teen had. But a quick look around revealed it to be empty. He then moved on to Jenna's room which was also vacant. He checked the bathroom and the guest room, leaving only the master bed and bathroom. He stepped inside the bedroom and his heart nearly stopped beating.

"Jamie," he began calmly, but he still startled the boy, "I want you to point the barrel towards the floor and don't move," he instructed. Jamie was frozen but finally pointed the gun so it pointed at the floor. Jay walked over and took it from him. He checked the chamber, which was, as he thought, empty, breathed a sigh of relief, walked to the safe where the door was still wide open and put the gun back inside it and shut the door.

He then looked over at his grandson who went from stationary to a flurry of motion, knowing he was in big trouble. He made a mad scramble, trying to scurry across the bed, but Jay easily caught up to him. He turned Jamie around so that he was face down on the bed and noticed Emma's hairbrush, a wooden handled object with her monogram that Jay had given her one birthday, was nearby. He picked it up and let loose with several whacks to the boys backside. Jamie, for his part wiggled and struggled, but Jay held him firmly.

Once finished Jay didn't let go, holding the kids arm and sitting him up. Jamie tried to twist away, but Jay scooted over and pulled him close. "Knock it off," he barked. He could tell Jamie was trying to decide whether to continue or do as he was told. "Keep it up and you'll back on the mattress," Jay warned and Jamie finally settled down.

"What the hell were you doing? Thinking? I know that safe wasn't unlocked. How did you open it?"

Jamie stayed quiet until Jay threatened to flip back over. "I didn't mean to."

"Oh you didn't mean to. That doesn't answer my question. How did you get into it?"

"The key," he said just as the tears began to roll down his face. "I'm sorry Grandpa. I saw it and wanted to hold it. Dad won't ever let me hold his gun." Jamie sobbed. "I was just curious."

Jay knew, like most little boys, Jamie had a fascination with firearms. Liam had when he was younger and when he was twelve Jay took him to the range and explained the inner and outer workings of the weapon. But Liam knew he was never to touch it without supervision or permission. And he had abided by that until he was fifteen and admitted to Jay that he had found out the lockbox code and had handled the gun a few times when Jay hadn't been home. But that had been in the midst of a larger drama they had been facing at the time.

He also was aware that Jamie regularly asked his father about holding and shooting the gun and Liam had told him it would happen when he felt he was mature enough to handle it. As far as he knew Liam had not decided it was time. Either way, Jamie knew he wasn't allowed to be in this bedroom, much less in the safe.

The safe had been here when they moved in. It was built into the closet and Jay used it to store his gun, along with some important papers and a few pieces of Emma's jewelry that had some value. With two teens in the house, he stored the clips in another, smaller lockbox with a fingerprint lock. The safe, however had a keypad, but also a lock, in case the combination had been forgotten. He kept the key on his keychain, which had been in his pants pocket from yesterday, hanging on the back of the bathroom door. His grandson had to have a real desire in order to gain entry.

"Tell me what you were doing!"

"I was looking for treasure," Jamie hiccupped, trying to swallow his tears. Jay let go and set him on the bed as he stood up, crossed his arms and looked down at his grandson. "I used your bathroom because I like the soap grandma puts in there," he said speaking of herbal soap Emma favored. "Then I came back in here and the closet door was open and I saw the safe. I figured it had treasure in it."

Jay shook his head, his face contorted in anger, disappointment and frustration.

"I saw it had a place for a key so I looked around and then remembered your pants in the bathroom. Sometimes when Dad can't find his keys, Mom finds them in his pockets from yesterday. So I looked and the small key worked. I didn't have it for long before you found me, I swear."

"I am so disappointed in you James. I cannot believe that you thought it was okay to go through other people's things without permission. Whatever treasure that might be in there was not for you."

"I just wanted to find something cool to show Sean."

"Not a good enough reason and I think you know that. And as soon as you found the gun you should have shut the door and put my keys back. But instead you did the exact opposite"

"I just wanted to see it. Just for a second. Are you gonna tell my dad?"

"You bet I am. He and your mother need to know exactly what you did."

"But you had your keys in your pocket," Jamie accused.

"You really do want another meeting with Grandma's hairbrush don't you?"

"So that's what that was."

Jay reached over and picked it up holding it in one hand. "Ready for round two?" Jamie shook his head no. "You don't get to blame anyone else for your actions. You went out of your way to find those keys, and had no business in here. Clearly you are not trustworthy. You will not be allowed to be upstairs unless someone is with you."

"For how long?" Jamie asked, the consequences of his actions beginning to hit home.

"I have no idea yet."

"If Dad had just let me see his gun, then I wouldn't have had to find yours," Jamie said, his lips twisting around in defeat.

Jay had heard enough. He thought Liam could be hardheaded when he was young, but this kid took the cake. He stood Jamie up and swung the brush a few more times, landing heartily at the target. Just as he finished he saw Sean in the doorway. "Go back downstairs," he ordered, causing Sean to give him a terrified look.

"You, James Patrick are not understanding the big picture here. You, and you alone are responsible for what you did. It was not my fault for having the keys in my pocket or believing that you would be okay using the upstairs bathroom. Or thinking that you would get into something that is so clearly not meant for you. Nor is it your father's fault for ensuring that you are mature enough to respect a firearm, which clearly you are not.

"Everything you did here is on you. Your bad choices."

"You keep the bullets in another box like Dad does. It was empty." Jamie sniffled.

"I could have forgotten to clear the chamber. Accidents happen."

"I don't know what that means." Jamie said.

"If you blame your father for that there will be a third round," Jay promised.

"I'm just curious."

"Your father and I understand that. But you have to understand that this is a powerful weapon that can take a life. You have to earn our respect so we know that you will respect its power. And you haven't done that and after today it will take you a very long time to earn it back.

"Your father was twelve before I showed him how a gun worked, before I taught him how to clean it, take it apart and finally use it."

"Did he ever take yours?" Jamie asked trying to deflect his grandfather's wrath.

"Today is not about him, it is about you. He had earned my trust by twelve, but was never allowed near it unless I was there."

"You don't have to tell him," Jamie tried again.

"Yes I do," Jay said sitting down on the bed next to him.

"What if he spanks me too?"

"I don't think he will. But I'm sure you'll have a long talk."

"He spanked me before, when I said something bad to Mom."

"I know. And I can't make you any promises as to what he might and might not do. That is going to be his decision to make."

"He's going to be mad."

"I'm sure he will."

"Am I in more trouble here?"

"I think you owe me an apology. You will not be upstairs without supervision for a long time. And I think you will have to miss out on our trip to the planetarium."

"Sorry Grandpa," Jamie said as he leaned against Jay.

"Let's go downstairs. You can have a seat at the table and eat your snack and stay there until your father can pick you up."

"The trouble table," Jamie sighed. That was the nickname the boys had given it a couple of years before.

They went downstairs where Sean was watching TV. "I didn't know if I could be outside without you," he said.

"It's okay. Did you finish your snack?"

"Yep."

"Why don't you go back outside and I'll be out in a minute."

Sean jumped up and head back out while Jay turned off the TV and directed Jamie to the table. He brought out the string cheese and some lemonade and set them down in front of Jamie, before he sat down in the chair across from him.

"You don't move from this table unless the house is on fire. Am I clear?"

"Uh huh."

"Uh huh? I suggest that you fix that." Jamie looked bewildered. "Your dad explained to you how you are to answer when you are in trouble, did he not?"

"Oh, yeah. Guess I forgot that's for every time."

"Every time you're in trouble. I'm going to call your dad and then play with Sean. Like I told you, you had better stay right here. I will be checking."

"My butt hurts and it's hard to sit," Jamie complained.

"Huh, imagine that. Do the best that you can."

"When will my dad be here?"

"I won't know until after I call him." Jay said as he walked towards the backdoor.

Jamie spent the two hours it took for Liam to get there wishing that he would hurry up and wishing he would never come. He knew his dad was going to be so mad, super mad at him. If his grandpa had done all that, then what would his dad do. And he was pretty sure that Sean saw.

He had just wanted to find something to show him as treasure, to make their game more interesting. Sean looked up to him and Jamie liked to impress his little brother. He thought he could take a ring or a bracelet and they could pretend to battle the bad people to keep the treasure safe. And then he would put it back, that's all he wanted to do. But when he opened the safe he saw the gun and he just had to touch it, then he had to hold it.

It was heavier than he thought it would be and he had almost dropped it. He had only seen them on his grandfather and father's hip. They barely seemed to notice their guns were there. When his dad got home he would go straight up to the bedroom and put the gun away. He would always tell him and Sean to wait outside the room for him. But Jamie had snuck in once afterwards and seen two boxes, but they needed fingerprints to open and his didn't work. The boxes were up on the high shelf of the closet and he had to drag a chair from his bedroom to reach it. He couldn't get it to open, even after trying every finger.

Jamie didn't know how his dad was going to react to this mistake and he figured he had better call it a mistake. Trying to say it wasn't his fault hadn't seemed to work. He was surprised how strong his grandpa still was. It hadn't been that long ago when he had been punished for saying a bad word to his mom. He was going to be twelve in three weeks and suddenly it was as if they were hurrying up before he got too old to be spanked. And now his brother will think he's still a little kid. And what about his birthday? Would his parents take it away from him? He knew they couldn't really take it away, but he was supposed to have two parties; one with his friends and one with his family. His mom wouldn't let him miss out. Unless she did. She didn't like guns at all. She didn't even like that his dad was a police officer, even though he never looked like one. He saw his dad and grandpa in uniform one time and it was because another cop got shot and they went to the funeral. He hoped his dad would never get shot. Or his grandpa. Even though he had spanked him.

Jamie finished his snack and took his cup to the sink and then risked looking outside to the backyard. He saw Jay putting his phone back in his pocket and then going to sit with Sean in the sandbox. He hated Sean. Not really, he loved his little brother. But everything came so easy to him. He just did what he was told and never thought twice about it. In fact, just about every time the kid had gotten into trouble it was because he had been with Jamie. His dad told him he should be a better example, but it was always harder than he thought. Ella was still too little and a girl so she hardly ever got into trouble. If she did she had to sit on her timeout stool for only like two minutes. Or sometimes she'd have a toy taken away, but just for a little while.

It was going to be hard enough dealing with his dad, who would no doubt lecture him, probably yell and have that mad face. But his mom would be so disappointed and look at him like he couldn't do anything right. She'd say "oh Jamie what were you thinking" or "you know better than that" and then she would sigh. And this time she might even cry.

Jamie put his head down on the table and the next thing he knew his dad was calling his name. He looked up and rubbed his eyes, noticing the gun sitting on his dad's hip as if it was mocking him. Like the guns talked to each other and this one knew its buddy had gotten him in trouble. Of course his father noticed what Jamie had looked at. His father the detective who detected everything. After asking if he was a spy, Liam had a long talk with him about how sometimes he had to pretend to be someone he wasn't while he was at work. He didn't give to many details but it sounded like he was a spy to Jamie. But he didn't tell Sean, because his dad told him not to. That the information he had shared was just for him and nobody else, ever. It had made him feel a little more grown up.

His father's gaze penetrated the air between them; Jamie felt a shiver run down his spine. His butt was still tender and if his dad decided to go another round, he didn't think he would be able to hold the tears back at all. Why couldn't he just be more like Sean, who was probably still outside playing and having fun.

Liam had walked into the house quietly hoping like hell his son was still sitting at the table and found relief when he was. Jay had mentioned that the three times he had popped inside; Jamie was where he was supposed to be. After their discussion, Jay left with Sean to walk to a local bakery to find a dessert for after dinner.

Liam's heart was still pounding after what his father had told him. It was amazing that he could have a gun held to his head and his heart remains in its rhythm, but hearing that his son was holding gun, nearly knocked the wind out of him. His father had apologized, saying perhaps he should have hidden the keys, but Liam didn't blame him. This was all on his son. You can only prepare and protect so much. This was his child's responsibility. His son who was growing up way too fast and seemed to always have a chip on his shoulder. He and Reilly had had many conversations about this very thing. He had called her after he had hung up with his father, telling her the news. She cried. Liam hated it when she was upset. Recently she had found a flash drive that had been delivered with a packet of files and pictures concerning a case he had been on and decided to watch the footage. When he had gotten home later that day she had slapped him, no warning, no words, just her open hand across his face. It was something that was so far out of character he could never imagine what had provoked her. Then she showed him the packet. At first he thought she had seen the kiss that been recorded on the drive. He had to kiss his CI in order to keep up his character, but he had always been honest with her about the possibility of that and that it meant nothing. He had never slept with anyone while undercover since he had been married. He had a lengthy list of excuses from diseases to injuries, to sexual orientation. But he had a feeling if it would keep him alive she wouldn't be upset if it happened. So he couldn't think about what had her so upset until he saw the screen frozen with the footage from the camera that was embedded in his shirt button showing a gun pointed in his direction. He wasn't sure if she had watched beyond that where he had disarmed the man, turned the gun back on him, all without blowing his cover using the safe word. In fact it wouldn't have mattered if he had used the safe word because he was deep enough that nobody was shadowing him. But Reilly didn't need to know that part. However all that is a story for another day. She was upset and he hated it. Now she was upset again and he had to figure out how to knock his son down several pegs without breaking him in two.

He stood there and using a tactic he had learned long ago, staying silent, just staring at his son.

Finally, Jamie spoke, "sorry Dad," he whispered.

"Where was the gun?"

Jamie looked confused so Liam repeated the question. "It was in the safe."

"Was the safe open?"

Jamie again, looked uncertain. "No."

"No sir," Liam said sharply.

"No sir," Jamie parroted.

"So you went out of your way—way out of your way to gain entry into something that wasn't yours and you had no business in?"

"I guess?"

"You guess," Liam said, his face narrowing in anger.

"If you had just let me hold your gun once—just one time."

And Liam heard for himself exactly what his father had been talking about. "This is not on me," Liam said slamming his hand on the table causing Jamie to jump. "This is not on your grandfather. This is on you. And don't you dare pretend that it isn't.

"So I advise you to start over."

Jamie sat, wide-eyed and silent. "Tell me again what happened."

"I, I," Jamie stuttered. "I was looking for something to use as treasure for our game. Sean and I had to pee at the same time so I used Grandma and Grandpa's bathroom. Then I thought maybe Grandma had something I could use, like a bracelet so I went into their room and the closet was open and I saw the safe."

"Then what?" Liam asked, still standing, staring down at his son.

"That's where all the best treasure is so—I tried the handle but it was locked. It had a key pad but even though I pushed some buttons but it didn't open. Then I saw the lock. I looked around for Grandpa's keys and then remembered his pants were hanging on the door in the bathroom and I found keys in there. The key fit the lock and I could open the door. I saw the gun sitting there and I just took it out. I didn't mean to. Not really, but suddenly I was holding it and then Grandpa was taking it away from me."

Liam stood quietly, his son looking at the table or over Liam's shoulder.

"Then he punished me." Jamie finished.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous and wrong what you did was? There is reason things are in a safe. The room was not yours; the items in the safe were not yours. This house isn't yours. When things are not yours, you respect that. But you chose not to show any respect or take any responsibility. You think just because you exist that you are entitled to whatever you want. You want to know why you can't do things or have things it is because you need to learn those two basic fundamentals. Understand that you play a role in the things that happen to you. You have to earn privileges in life. The first step in that is taking responsibility when you screw up. And you show respect and by taking responsibility and that helps you not screw up in the first place." Liam knew he was rambling but the words had just fallen out of his mouth. He wondered if his dad had felt this lost when he had lectured him all those years ago.

"Grandpa said you were twelve when he let you see his gun and he took you shooting." Jamie said finally looking up at his father.

"First of all, he never caught me with his gun. And yes I was twelve, but several months into that age. First he taught me how to be safe with it. How to never point it at anyone. How to check to make sure it is empty. How to take it apart and clean it. He made me read how guns work and how you always made sure you acted as if it was loaded, even when you knew it wasn't.

"After months of that, he took me to the range. It was only occasionally though. And let me tell you, if I showed any bad judgment or screwed around in the least, then we went right back home. Pulling that trigger gives you a power than you have to understand and be prepared for. It is not glamourous. It is a very serious act and if you can't understand that then you have no business being around it. So many things can go wrong."

"You won't let me shoot when turn twelve will you?" Jamie asked.

"After this? No, not even close. You have a long way to go."

"Sucks," Jamie said quietly.

Liam thought back to when he was thirteen and skipped summer camp to hang out with a buddy who had a gun. They went to an old warehouse and fired off a few rounds and got in a hairy situation that could have ended up with all kinds of disastrous consequences. His father had been so angry that he had actually slapped Liam across the face. The act shocked them both. But Jay had been terrified of just how close he had been to losing his son to something so senseless.

"Come here," Liam said as he sat down. Jamie just sat in his chair, uncertain if he could move. Was his father going continue the barrage to his backside? "NOW!" Liam yelled.

Jamie jumped up and rushed over stopping two feet away from his father. His face looked surprised as if he had no idea how he got there. He wasn't shaking, but there was a slight vibration in his body. He had never seen his father so angry before.

Liam unsnapped his holster and took his gun out. He pulled the clip out and cleared the chamber. "I do this every night. The same routine so that you and your siblings stay safe. So that the neighborhood stays safe. Gun in one box and ammo in another. This bullet," he said holding it in his hand, "is worthless without its counterpart. I could throw it at you as fast as I could and it would do nothing. "This," he said picking up the gun, "would hurt like hell if you got hit with it, but probably wouldn't be fatal. "But together they are total devastation."

"You keep one ready to go—inside the gun?"

"In the chamber. Yes, often I do. The safety is always on, but I'm ready. I am a cop and if it is the difference between me going home or the bad guy, I choose me. I've had years of training and have to continue to train. Each time I have a gun in my hand I understand the implications." Liam said as his thoughts became jumbled in memories. He heard Jamie say something but didn't hear what it was.

"Right Dad? It was okay because there was no bullets in the gun."

"Okay? No son it wasn't okay. You are not getting any of this," Liam said reaching out for his son.

Jamie flinched as Liam took his hands. Liam got down on his knees so he was more on his son's level. "Do you know what it's like to see the aftermath of what guns can do? To walk into a scene and find a child your age, in a pool of blood, bits of bone and brain all over the floor. Eyes that can't see, a body that is stiff. Mouth open in horror and a smell that will knock you back. To see a baby your sister's age, with the top of her head gone, flies landing in what's left of her brain. Do you? Picture it! All because a kid decided he wanted to play with a gun. I've seen it son. I've seen it over and over again.

"To see a person fall into a heap, blood, guts spilling out of them and know that it happened because you pulled that trigger. Even if it was in self-defense, it is a burden that you will carry for the rest of your life. You can't take it back even if you want to. There are no do-overs."

Jamie had begun to cry, tears spilling down his face and Liam knew this was much worse than the slap he had suffered when he was younger. But he couldn't stop. He needed his son to understand.

"See your brother with a hole in his chest. Blood soaking his shirt. The hole doesn't look too bad until you turn him over and the wound is gaping—big enough to put your fist inside. He is in shock and knows he is going to die and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. His life, his future over, because you thought you were cool and wanted to show him a gun. Or your mother, you wave the gun and it goes off and she falls to the floor. You cause it—you caused it all because you wanted to be a big man and show off. You want to see the barrel and you are looking at it and you slip, you don't know what hits you and are dead before you hit the floor. That's your future I can promise you that is your future if you refuse to understand and respect what a gun is capable of. It is not a game, can't you understand that!?" Liam finished, tears, now escaping his eyes.

He pulled his son towards him and held him tightly, Jamie's tears splashing down. "I'm sorry Dad. I, I, I'm sorry. I didn't know," Jamie sobbed.

"And now you do. Learn through my experiences."

"Have you really seen all that? With kids?" Jamie asked as Liam let him go.

"I have. I've seen it far too many times." Liam said standing up and then sitting in the chair. He pulled Jamie into his lap. "I've seen a lot of tragedy and if telling you my experiences will help keep you safe, it was all worth it."

"On TV," Jamie began.

"On TV is nothing like reality. They can't show reality. I've seen bodies with barely anything left of them. They had to be identified by DNA. There is nothing romantic about guns. I carry one because it is a part of my job. I take it very seriously."

"Have you ever shot anyone?" Jamie askes as he grabbed a nearby napkin wipe his nose and face.

"I have."

"Did they die?"

"Some, yes. And that is inside me every day."

"They were criminals though, right?"

"Yes, but taking someone's life, is still something that you never get over, not completely. And if an innocent bystander gets hurt, even if it's an accident it creates a hole inside you that you can never fill."

"When you are in a bad mood or need your quiet time, is that why?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I son. So am I."

"You and Mom are going to punish me more aren't you?"

"We are. And do you understand why now?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, then I expect you to accept your consequences."

"I will," he said as he stood up.

Liam got up and reached for Jamie and picked him up. "I love you son. I love you so much and all I want for you is the best life. But you have to help yourself too."

"I will." Jamie said holding on tightly to his father. "I promise."

In the end Jamie's birthday party with his friends was canceled. The party with family was a smaller affair. He was grounded for two months and when he turned fourteen Liam showed him the intricacies of a gun and took him to the range where he discovered he had no desire to wield the weapon. It felt too heavy—all of it. He had learned enough respect and responsibility to understand that much.