NEXT MORNING

The Commissioner grabbed his cell phone as he was shedding his coat entering the office.

"Hey, it's Abigail."

"Hey!" he said surprised that she was calling him instead of being at her desk when he came in.

"Hey, I need to take the week off. I just found out last night my grandmother passed away. The funeral is in Florida."

"Oh geez, I'm sorry to hear that. Of course, take whatever time you need."

"Thanks Boss," she replied. "Call me when you get home?"

He chuckled at the "Boss" part. "Yes, will do."

He hung up the phone wondering how he was going to get through a week at 1PP without his right-hand woman.

LATER THAT DAY

"Garrett, I don't know how much more of this I can take," Lt. Sid Gormley whined as he sat behind Baker's desk.

"He's got me handling his schedule, fielding phone calls, trying to log in to this computer thingamajiggy," he waved his hand at the laptop on the desk.

"And what the hell is this screen thingy for if I got this computer thingy?" he protested holding up an iPad.

Garrett chuckled seeing Sid look absolutely bewildered by technology.

The Commissioner's office door opened and he stepped out.

Garrett spoke, "Uh, Sir, are you ready to go over the press release on that new policy for maternity leave for the NYPD?"

"Yes, I was just looking for…" he looked around the front office as if he was missing something.

Garrett and Sid exchanged glances.

The Commissioner sighed, "Nevermind. I keep forgetting."

Sid and Garrett said unanimously, "She's not here."

"Yes I've got that now," he snapped back at them.

Garrett held up his hands as if to say "take it easy."

The Commissioner sighed again and took off his glasses, putting them in his breast pocket. "I'm sorry Garrett. Let's have it."

Garrett turned back to look at Sid who mouthed, "He's in love."

Garrett snickered as he entered the Commissioner's office.

THE VILLAGES, FL

Abigail missed her grandmother. But what saddened her even more was the fact that she hadn't really known her grandmother.

Her grandparents moved to Florida when she was 9 years old. Other than a handful of visits between her going south and her grandparents coming up to New York, she had barely gotten to know her over the years.

She had caught a flight to Orlando and rented a car to drive to the Villages. Which happened to be the "hip spot" for the over 80 crowd.

Needless to say she immediately stood out like a sore thumb.

She had found a room at the La Quinta, a local hotel. Her parents had also booked a room at the hotel and she was supposed to meet up with them for dinner tonight.

Geez I haven't even told them about The Commissioner and I. How the heck am I going to get through this one?

She shook her head, not particularly looking forward to the typical questions about her job.

Her parents had nothing against her Boss personally. But they knew the job was her life. And she could tell they resented him somewhat for that.

Her thoughts drifted to the Commissioner as she began unpacking her suitcase.

Wondering what he was doing right now.

How he was managing without her handling his million and one details. She instantly felt bad leaving him in the lurch with no notice but he was extremely accommodating about it.

She almost laughed out loud as she pictured the potential chaos if the three amigos - Frank, Garrett, and Sid, were left to handle the daily tasks.

I miss him. She suddenly thought with a twinge in her heart.

Come to think of it, she had not been away from The Commissioner for more than a long weekend since she had begun working for him 9 years ago.

The week was already beginning to feel long.

And now here she was over 1000 miles away missing him.

She sighed as she hung up the black dress she had brought for the funeral wishing he was here to comfort her over the loss of a grandparent she hadn't really known…

1PP OFFICE

Sid felt like someone was watching him.

He sat at Abigail's desk with a mountain of paperwork in front of him that he had no idea what to do with.

The door was closing to the Commissioner's office as Garrett walked out to head towards the elevator.

Sid caught the Commissioner's eyes as the door closed.

"Ahh, Baaawss?" he said questioningly, noticing the forlorn look on the Commissioner's face.

He seemed to snap out of it as he realized Sid was not Abigail.

Sid shook his head as the door clicked shut. The poor guy, he muttered to himself.

This was going to be a long week.

REAGAN HOUSE NIGHTTIME

Frank pushed his mashed potatoes and peas around on his plate like a 5 year old who didn't feel like eating his dinner.

His father looked over at him as they sat at the informal kitchen table.

Just the two of them on a Monday night.

Henry was chatting about his weekly game of bridge with his new female friends feeling animated and excited.

But clearly his son was in the opposite mood.

"Hey," he said.

Frank looked up with a glum look.

"You look like they just passed a law that eating donuts was illegal," Henry joked trying to get him to lighten up.

Frank didn't crack a smile but rather put his fork down and pushed his plate away.

"Sorry Pop, it's just that Baker is gone this week. For a funeral."

"Ah ha," Henry nodded. "Boy, son, you've got it bad."

"What? I do not!" Frank protested like a child. "Wait, got what?"

Henry chuckled. "Oh you know, the love bug," he winked at him.

Frank sighed, "How did you know?"

"Oh come on. I wasn't in law enforcement for 60 years without picking up on obvious signals." Henry reminded him.

"Right. Well, let's just say that Lt. Gormley and Garrett are a poor substitute to the immense amount of work she handles at 1PP…"

"Not to mention…" Henry prodded him.

"Not..not to mention…" Frank felt it difficult to say it but he spit it out finally, "I just miss her."

Henry nodded. "Uh huh. Tell me, Frank, what does this all mean to you?"

"What are you asking?"

"Hey, she's a beautiful young woman. She's been by your side for almost a decade. You've finally opened up to her. So what's next? Don't tell me you're going to let her slip away," he waved a finger sternly at his son.

"I don't know, Dad." He rubbed the bridge between his nose. His Father's words got him thinking about how much he was missing her.

"Well you better know, Frank. A woman like that doesn't wait around you know…"

Frank sighed, nodded, and took a sip of his dinner glass of wine.

After dinner he tried to ring Abigail's phone but she didn't pick up. He imagined she was busy catching up with her family.

Feeling exhausted from just one day at work without her incredible usefulness, he collapsed into bed.

A/N I thought it would be interesting to write what it was like when these two were apart. And I wanted to include some more humor with my other fav characters again Lt. Gormley and Garrett. Let me know what your thoughts in the comments. Much more to come including Baker talking to her parents about the Commissioner, and more surprise discoveries with Danny, Baez, Jamie, and Eddie!