When Vinny had woken up the following morning he checked his phone, Jamie didn't call him back, it wasn't unusual of Jamie not to return his calls on his off days so he wasn't too worried about it, Vinny felt the urge to redial his number and tell him about the situation but he halted. Vinny showered, got dressed and left his house. His destination was the 12th precinct. He honestly was annoyed at himself for showing up to work on his one day off for the rest of the week but it couldn't be helped, although Eddie was drunk she said her ex-boyfriend watches her, so he didn't want to show back up to her apartment if that part happened to be true, he checked his watch periodically, it was a quarter till 1 pm, which meant Witten and Janko should be walking in anytime soon for tour.

"Hey, Cruz." A voice startled him while he was looking in the opposite direction.

"Hey, Rachel." Vinny greeted.

"Oh, we're on a first-name basis?" She smirked.

"Well, you did call me 'Vin' last night so I'd say so." He replied smoothly, Rachel laughed a bit.

"Okay, I can't argue with that, but aren't you and Jamie off? why are you here?" She wondered, Vinny obviously couldn't tell her the real reason, he brainstormed as quickly as he could for a white lie.

"I have to talk to Janko, I need to ask her something about Jamie," Her eyes narrowed. "Nothing bad, he's just been going through things and he doesn't open up to me, I just wanted to ask her what it could be."

"Oh okay but Eddie told me she had not been in contact with Jamie since the end of high school," Witten added.

"It wouldn't hurt to try and ask," Vinny uttered.

"Alright, then I'll see you." Rachel made her way into the precinct.

"Safe tour." She smiled walking inside, Vinny grabbed his head, 'What kind of lie was that!' he thought to himself, he had nearly given it away. Luckily for him, he'd seen Eddie making her way in. "Janko!" He called, her eyes landed on him.

"Hey, Rachel said you walked me home yesterday, thank you for that." She voiced genuinely. Vinny's head tilted a bit, did she not remember telling him last night?

"Of course, I couldn't let you walk home like that alone."

"Yeah... I was pretty wasted, I'm still kind of hungover today." She laughed. "But I think I should be getti-"

"Can I talk to you about something?" Vinny interrupted her sentence.

"Uhhhh". she looked around "Sure what's up."

"Let's talk inside." Vinny held the door open for her, she walked in and Vinny let the door close behind them. Noble was parked a few cars down, he had in hand a listening device that can pick up a conversation from a certain amount of meters away. Noble's hand gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles began to turn white.

"So what's going on?" the two ended up in a quiet part of the precinct.

"You told me last night your ex is blackmailing you." Eddie's expression completely flipped, a faint look of horror was in her eyes.

"I was drunk, I was lying." She was about to walk off but Vinny stepped in front of her.

"Either that was a very detailed lie or you're the one lying now." Vinny rebuked. Eddie bit her lip, the first person she blabs to about this so happens to be Jamie's partner?

"Listen… you can't tell him… tell me you didn't." Eddie pleaded.

"I haven't." Eddie felt relieved. "Yet… Jamie has been torn about this since high school, he doesn't even date because he's still hurting from losing you." Eddie felt so much guilt.

"You think I wanted to make him feel that way? I love him so much even to this day but I can't put him or anyone in his family in jeopardy. Noble Sanfino is a nutjob, but I'm not worried about what he could do to Jamie. It's the people he knows that scares me." Eddie's eyes filled with tears.

"I get you wanted to protect him… I honestly do, but Jamie is a grown man capable of taking care of himself and you're hurting, you always have been, that coward has been putting you under duress for the last five ½ years. That's not cool Eddie." Eddie was honestly shaking, Vinny was right.

"I should've told Jamie's father or brothers back then what was happening," Eddie second-guessed herself, she actually made things worse by listening to Noble instead of going to his family for help.

"You thought you did the right thing, don't beat yourself up about it," Vinny said genuinely.

"How am I supposed to tell him? Noble watches me… he somehow knew I talked to him that night at Madison square garden."

"I know, that's why I asked you to come in here just in case he was outside," Vinny informed. "I'll just have to tell him," Eddie looked around in disbelief, Vinny is going to tell him anyway whether she agrees to it or not but she at least would want to tell him.

"Okay, I have to get ready roll-call is soon," Eddie dashed off. Vinny left the precinct walking back down to his car, when he looked across the street he'd seen a male, with dark brown hair, around 22-25 years old staring him down hard, Vinny finally looked away, Vinny found him faster than he would have imagined.

Jamie sat parked outside his father's home, Frank was out front cleaning up the SS Chevelle. Jamie couldn't go up to his father not after what happened last Sunday, Jamie was upset about it, his father is the police commissioner, he knew Eddie was on the force and he didn't tell him, not only that he knew she would be at the 12th too not that his father could have controlled it but a heads up would have been nice. Jamie finally built up the pride and got out his car, Frank already knew he was there when Jamie pulled up earlier.

"Hey." Frank put down the microfiber cloth, "I'm sorry." they both said simultaneously. Frank laughed a bit. "Jamie, I'm sorry If I made you feel that I betrayed you," Frank muttered. "That's never my intention. It's just you've been pretty unapproachable.. for a while now and I didn't know how to warn you that the person that hurt you a long time ago will be working with you."

"It's all good dad, I'm sorry that I came to Sunday dinner with an attitude, I really am.." Jamie apologized.

"We're good?"

"We're good." Jamie agreed. "Now that, that's out the way. She looks good." Jamie said referring to the car.

"Yeah, she's been in the garage for a while now so I thought I'd bring her out and clean her up on my day off."

"Sweet." Jamie smiled.

"Joe worked two jobs one summer for the extra money, he found the engine in Rochester" Frank tossed Jamie the cloth to wipe down the other side.

"Yep, restored it from the ground up."

"Yeah…" Frank sighed "I could never understand why he loved this car so much, he wasn't even born when I bought it."

"Number one, it's an awesome car," Jamie just took in the sight of it. "Number two it was your car," Jamie shrugged "None of us wanted to be more like you than Joe did." Frank felt the emotion of thinking of his late son.

"Thank you for that," Frank said genuinely it was something he definitely needed to hear.

"I saw Angela yesterday, she's moving back home to Portland."

"It's probably the change she needs, it's definitely been hard on her," Frank added. "Here let me see, I missed a spot." Jamie handed him the cloth back. Jamie took advantage of the moment of silence that followed.

"That night… to me it's like a move in my head," Frank looked up. "But with deleted scenes… Joe was hitting a location right?"

"Brooklyn south," Frank confirmed.

"Just like dozens of other times?" Jamie questioned.

"Yeah." Frank nodded into a sigh. "Except, this time, the perp rabbited… Joe could run." Frank slightly smiled. "Chased this guy down… Another perp comes out of nowhere and shoots Joe. Four times…"

"And the two perps?" Jamie just wanted everything together.

"What do you think? Our guys returned fire. Dead at the scene. The warrant squad's a great unit. Strong team, early tours, a lot of overtime. But every time you hit a door, you need an angel on your shoulder." Jamie nodded agreeing

"Yeah." Jamie gulped.

"You should have the car. Take her home. Since I became police commissioner, they drive me everywhere, anyways, she's collecting dust with me."

"You-you sure?" Jamie stood in awe.

"I'm sure." Frank smiled. "I can make lunch?"

"Sounds great." Jamie beamed.

"I'm going to get it started, but I think you should say hi first." Jamie looked at him confused, Frank waved over and made his way into the house, Jamie turned around seeing an adorable five-year-old running towards him.

"Maisie." Jamie lifted the girl up.

"Hey, uncle Jamie!" She hugged him, Maisie is Jamie's late childhood best-friend niece. He loved and treated her like she was his very own niece.

"How was school today?"

"School was so fun, we made our name tags, so it's getting easier remembering everyone's name." Maisie smiled.

"That's so great," He put her back down. "Hey, David."

"Hey kid, Look at you." David laughed, giving him a hug. David is the father of Mason and Malcolm. Malcolm is the father of Maisie.

"How's retirement?" Jamie wondered.

"Amazing, I babysit my lovely granddaughter, I pick her up from school and golf more than ever," David said, genuinely happy. "How's the job?"

"I love it, seriously I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

"I love to hear it, and I'm happy for you if you can stop by more, we have beers."

"I'll hold you to it and I will be seeing you soon then." They both laughed.

"Alright Maisie let's get going we have to do your homework before mom and dad come get you." David reminded. She pouted a bit. Jamie kneeled down to her, eyes just as hazel just like her uncle Mason's eyes were.

"Hey, don't get upset, I'll be seeing you soon, maybe we can get ice cream." She smiled.

"You have to promise uncle, Jamie."

"I promise sweetheart." She hugged him giving him a kiss on the cheek, they said their goodbyes and Jamie went back inside to have his lunch with his father. They ate, laughed a bit and honestly it was the best time they spent together in a while but eventually their great time came to an end, they said they're goodbyes.

"Jeez Joe, what did you do to the birds? I just cleaned this off last week." Jamie used his spray bottle and towel, cleaning off the bird poop from his brother's headstone. He sat directly across from his brother's stone which was placed right beside his mother's and grandmother's.

"Hey, guys." Jamie began. "I'd start with I miss you but I'm sure you can already see that. I saw Eddie again, she works with me actually, It's weird but it's nice too." Jamie held his head. "Uhh. my life is a mess." he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Joe, what are these recordings of you that you left? you were investigating? and without Dad or Danny's help? I just don't know.. I plan on telling them when I'm sure what I'm listening to… I'm going to say hi to Mason. I think when my head is clearer, I'll have more to say. I love you two so much." He left their sights, He walked maybe nine minutes across the memorial park to where Mason's grave sat.

"What's up, man." Jamie sat in front of Mason's grave. "I can tell your mom comes out here a lot, you always have flowers and your stone is always well kept. I work with Eddie man… can you believe that? In high school, she never showed she wanted to be NYPD… I guess I didn't either huh? I guess after I lost you, then her, then my mom and Joe, I guess I've been all over the place." Jamie sighed. "I miss you a lot, it's really been six years…" Jamie shook his head. "I love you man, I have an early tour in the morning so I guess I'll see you again soon," Jamie said his goodbyes he's hand clenched his door handle when;

"Reagan!" Jamie turned towards the familiar voice.

"Vinny?"

"Why the hell haven't you been picking up your phone?" Jamie stood there really with no answer.

"I uh, it's been busy. My bad… are you here to visit someone?"

"Yeah I am, you." Jamie chuckled awkwardly looking around.

"Me? why's that?" Vinny got into the passenger side of Jamie's car. Jamie just stood there confused.

"Get in the car Reagan." Jamie shook his head getting in the car.

"How did you know I was here?" Jamie mentioned.

"I remember you told me you visit your family here on your off days. I dunno if you said it to get out of going drinking with me, but I remember. You weren't at home so I assumed you were here."

"You assumed right." Jamie was annoyed by the silence that followed. "So… you wanted to..?"

"Jamie." His tone changed completely, gaining Jamie's attention. "Last night I walked Eddie home." Jamie sat up like he was about to say something ignorant. "Nothing happened, she was drunk and it was late and I didn't want anything to happen to her."

"You came all the way to Brooklyn memorial to tell me you walked Janko home?" Jamie was confused and irritated by the situation.

"No, she said something to me about you, she said she was being blackmailed and she was forced to break up with you back then." Jamie sat there unfazed, "Say something Jamie." Vinny waited but the look on Jamie's face was not what he expected.

"Okay?"

"Okay?" Vinny repeated.

"She was drunk... Vinny." Jamie acknowledged.

"Jamie come on man?-"

"Dude if you seriously hunted me down to tell me that, you seriously wasted your time."

"I talked to her today and she was reluctant for me to even tell you, she wasn't drunk this morning when she said her ex-boyfriend from upstate-"

"Her ex-boyfriend?" Jamie sat up in his seat more.

"Yeah Jamie, she said he threatened you and he's also a part of the Sanfino crime family, she said he forced her to end things with you or he was.." Vinny gulped. "Going to kill you or hurt someone in your family." Jamie ran his hands through his hair. "He watches her, he even knew when we saw her at Madison square garden a couple of nights ago."

"I remember about a couple of weeks before we broke up back then she told me about her ex-boyfriend, she said he was verbally abusive for so long, that it really destroyed her." Jamie's breathes were shaky.

"Jamie she's telling the truth, when I talked to her this morning she was not lying, she just wanted to protect you."

"How is that protecting me? we could've gone to Joe… to Danny… to my dad!" Jamie was either angry or confused about it all, maybe even both. "I need to talk to her Vinny," Jamie announced.

"She said he watches her-"

"Good, when he comes out of hiding I'll kick his ass."

"Jamie let's calm down-" Vinny tried to calm the situation.

"No, fuck that." Vinny's eyes widened Jamie hardly ever swears. "This coward has been making me feel like I was in the wrong for all these years… like I wasn't enough, not only that, what he's been saying to her!" Jamie tried to calm down. "I can't promise you what I'll do when I see him."

"When I was leaving the precinct this morning I saw this man in a car. When we made eye contact he wasn't shy about it, he stared me down all the way up until I got in my car."

"You think it was him?" Jamie asked, staring forward.

"That, or he was looking to take me out on a date..." Vinny shrugged. Jamie laughed.

"Honestly I could care less if he sees me talking with Eddie but for her safety, I'll just talk to her in the precinct." Vinny nodded his head agreeing.

"That sounds good-" Vinny began.

"Hey, I appreciate you looking out for me brother."

"Anytime. man." Vinny got out of Jamie's car. "Drive safe, see you at roll call tomorrow morning." They both said they're goodbyes. Jamie pulled out his phone, he hesitated before pushing call, he needed a brother, the only brother he has left, but sadly he and Danny just grew apart after losing Joe, they hardly talk and when they do, they're arguing, but Jamie sat that aside and pressed call.

"So I see you ignored me." Eddie stopped in her tracks unlocking her door, how the hell could he had snuck up on her? and without her hearing footsteps.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Eddie denied.

"I know you told his partner, I don't have the proof but I know and that weasel right about now told him."

"What do you want?" Eddie trembled. Noble began to walk towards her; she placed her hand on her holstered off duty weapon and eventually having to draw it on him.

"Are you serious?" Noble laughed coldly. "You're going to regret this." Noble walked off. Eddie's hands shook like crazy; she even had trouble unlocking her door.

"Hey, Jamie." Linda held the door open for him.

"Hey, look at these two big guys." Jamie greeted the kids playing video games.

"Uncle Jamie." nine-year-old Jack hugged him, seven-year-old Sean did the same.

"Danny," Jamie greeted.

"Hey, kid," Danny replied. "Alright guys, turn the game off, it's a school night." Both the boys grunted but did as they were told

"I'll go get them ready for bed." Linda also wanted them to have time alone.

"So what's going on kid." Danny took a seat, Jamie did the same.

"You remember Eddie?" Danny tilted his head sideways.

"Of course I do, what's up?"

"We'll she's NYPD now more specifically she's out at the 12th too."

"Dang," Danny replied. "Are you guys getting along-"

"Here's the thing Danny…" Jamie sat up. "Last night Vinny walked her home, she was drunk but she told him the real reason she broke up with me back then."

"That was?"

"Her ex-boyfriend is blackmailing her, he told her not to talk to me or he was going to kill me or hurt one of you guys." Danny sat up his damn self he expected some type of drama but no way in hell did he expect this.

"Kill you?" Jamie nodded.

"She agreed, she did what he told her to and she also told Vinny he watches her still to this day."

"Is he serious? like is he the real deal?" Danny definitely was pissed off.

"He's a Sanfino." Danny's jaw dropped.

"From the notorious Sanfino crime family?" Jamie nodded. "Have you talked to her?"

"No I haven't, I was actually about to go find her but Vinny calmed me down."

"That's good…"

"Good?" Jamie retorted.

"Yeah good, Jamie these are some serious cats, you don't want to piss them off." Danny tried to reason.

"Look I don't care, he's a coward, he had such a problem with Eddie being with me he should've taken it up with me, but no he's been blackmailing her, and I won't let that slide." Jamie stood up. "I got an early tour, so I'll just talk to you in the morning-"

"Woah, wait kid, you just can't dump this all on me and leave," Danny complained.

"I have an early tour, I just told you just for a heads up."

"Kid." Jamie turned around on his way out. "Be careful please." Jamie nodded, closing the door behind him.

The following morning at the precinct so happened to be Eddie's first roll call with Jamie, It was about fifteen minutes till it began and Jamie hadn't walked in yet, she didn't know whether to be worried or not.

"He's always fashionably late." Vinny walked past her, "He'll be here." He comforted.

"Yeah, how did he take it?" She asked shyly.

"He was uh, not too happy about it, he's really pissed at the guy… what's his name again?"

"Noble... Sanfino." She quaked, and Vinny really sees the fear Noble put in her. Fortunately, Jamie entered the precinct calming her nerves, he approached the two, Eddie finding it hard to make eye contact with him.

"I'll give you two kids some space," Vinny said leaving the two of them.

"Let's talk in here." Jamie opened the door, this was the quietest room in the precinct, there are rooms like it in every precinct for all personnel to use, usually, detectives when they stay overnight working on cases there's couches and beds.

"So... Vinny told me." Still, Eddie was very reluctant to give eye contact, she had no idea if she was embarrassed or nervous, she dreamed for the longest and telling him the truth but now that he knows it's nerve-racking.

"Yeah." She fiddled around with the button on her sleeve cuff. "Listen, I-"

"Eddie, why couldn't you tell me?" The tone of his worried voice made her feel extremely guilty. "For so long I contemplated what I did wrong that would make you leave, for so long. Turns out you were under duress, you were hurting trying to protect me?"

"I was a kid-I dunno, when he said what he would do if I didn't listen I freaked out, I didn't want anything to happen to you." she wiped her tears away, still yet to even look at him.

"We had Joe, Danny, and my Dad-" She let go, the mention of Joe just made the tears start falling, Jamie lifted her chin softly making eye contact with her. "Don't cry Eddie,"

"I'm so sorry Jamie." She hugged him, Jamie returning the hug as well. "I'm sorry if I hurt you." she sobbed. "So much happened to you and I wasn't there for you, I'm sorry.

"I'm fine now Eddie," Jamie broke the hug, making raw eye contact with her, "Let's just handle this? okay? he'll never make you do anything again, I promise." Eddie nodded.

To Be Continued.

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Next chapter soon PS: It could get dark shhh.

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