Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter and to everyone who added it to their favorite or alert lists. Also thank yous to Donnie88, RHatch89, and the guest Alex. Your reviews mean a lot.
Contains references to 2x12.
When Anna walked upstairs Tuesday after the shooting incident, she stopped in Jack's doorway. "Hey Jack, where's Sean?" Anna asked.
"Downstairs, in the dining room. Dad showed me his gun today," Jack answered, looking up at his sister. "Showed me how to hold it safely. Then let me hold it, unloaded of course."
"Did it help?" Anna asked, leaning against the door jamb as she watched him.
"Helped me. I think it got Dad in trouble with Mom. She didn't seem very happy with it."
"You're 11 years old, Jack. Two nights ago, you were shot at. You're her baby, you and Sean both. The last thing she really wants is a gun in your hands."
"But not you?" Jack asked.
"I'm sure she was worried when I first learned about guns and gun safety but I think somehow Dad and Uncle Joe pacified her."
"Do you think Mom and Dad will be okay?"
"They'll be just fine. Jack, it's not your fault. I think it bothers her more because of what happened Sunday night than because you want to learn about it. At least this way if you find it while you and Sean are snooping, you'll know what it is and not to touch it. What's the most important thing Dad told you about his gun?"
"Never touch his gun without him there," Jack answered.
"Good boy," Anna said. "Anything else you want to talk to me about?" Jack shook his head. "Okay then, you know where to find me if you need me." Jack nodded and Anna went to her room.
Linda was on a slow boil for the rest of the week and it all came to a head just after grace at Sunday dinner. Nicky complemented Linda on a beautiful blessing and Danny casually mentioned the part at the end about right decisions. Anna kept her eyes away from her parents as she sat between Nicky and Henry at the end of the table. She didn't want to get involved and end up making things worse; especially with Frank gone from the table. Their usual referee was missing and Anna knew that wouldn't be good. That's when she learned Linda had asked Danny to hand off the case to another detective. Erin agreed with Linda but Nicky and Jamie agreed that Danny was the best detective for the job. Though Anna could see where her mom was coming from, she agreed with Nicky and Jamie but didn't say that out loud. In fact she kept quiet until her mom stormed into the kitchen.
"Dad," Anna said softly.
"Yeah?" Danny sighed.
"Jen told me you think her dad did this. Is that true?" Anna asked. She and Jenifer Rivano weren't close friends but they were friendly enough and had a few close friends in common that when the two families had crossed paths on this case, Jen had talked to her about what happened.
"I'm just following every lead, Anna. Are you close?" Danny asked.
"Not exactly." Anna put down her fork as she stared at her plate. "We'd talk when we met and the boys had practice and we have a few friends in common but other than that, I just wave when I see her in the halls. Do you think it's possible? That Mr. Rivano did this?"
"It's looking that way, kid. Did she say anything else?"
"Not exactly," she said again. "She said he was angry about what happened to her. She was on her way home from Emma's when that incident happened and she said that she didn't see him after 6:30 but she was mostly in her room. She was hard pressed to believe that her dad would knowingly take a shot at three innocent kids."
"Oh yeah?" Danny asked.
"Yeah. She also said that her mom was pretty steamed when she ran into Mom at the store the other day, but wasn't sure exactly what happened. You should go talk to her. Mom I mean, not Jen. I doubt her parents will let you talk to her," Anna suggested. She knew she couldn't push him especially not in front of the rest of the family. It wouldn't turn out well for anyone. Danny looked at his kid but sighed and went into the kitchen. When he was gone Anna turned to her great-grandfather. "Pops, do you think Grampa's absence has anything to do with Chief McKenna? I heard he wasn't doing well."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Friend of a friend."
"I don't know."
"Who's Chief McKenna?" Sean asked.
"He and Grampa have been friends for the longest time. They were some of the first responders on 9/11. They were clearing the North Tower when the South Tower fell," Anna explained.
"Oh," Sean said.
When Frank got home a bit later he told them that Chief McKenna had died and his funeral would be in a few days. As it turned out, he had gotten a respiratory infection from the dust, smoke, and debris at Ground Zero. One that neither medicine nor his own immune system could fight off. Things still seemed a little touchy between her mom and dad but Anna knew better than to mention anything. She didn't want to upset her mom further and she wasn't going to be the one to tell her dad how to handle it. The drive home was mostly silent and Anna didn't do anything to break it. Instead she left it to the boys to talk.
When she came down the stairs the day of the funeral, just before it was time to go, Anna heard her parents talking in the dining room. Unsure what else to do, she stopped at the bottom of the stairs nervously and eavesdropped. Well, it wasn't technically eavesdropping since they could see her if they turned to look. They were standing just in the doorway between the living room and dining room. "I wore the uniform?" Danny was saying. Anna knew she missed the start of the conversation but figured it had something to do with why he wore the uniform. Linda looked up from fixing Danny's tie at his face. A smile flickered across Danny's face and Linda shook her head before looking back down at his tie.
Her mom's voice was soft when she spoke. "Now, I only ever see you in it when we're going to a funeral." Linda finished with his tie and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I was going to wait till later to give this to you, but ..." Anna had to strain to hear her dad and see the small box in his hand.
"What's that?" Linda asked.
"Open it," Danny said, handing it over.
Linda stared at him but when he only stared back, she took the box from him and pulled the lid off. Anna wondered what it could be until her mom pulled it from the box. It was her dad's shield. Anna was just as shocked as her mom was. "Danny," Linda said shocked.
"I love being a cop, Linda, it's always been more than a job to me, but nothing on this planet is more important to me than you and those kids," Danny said.
Anna watched for her mom's reaction. "I do not want you to stop being a cop," Linda said.
"I just need you to know that I would," Danny answered.
Linda sighed as she looked down at the shield in her hands. Anna couldn't even pretend to know what was going through her mom's head but hoped that this wouldn't end badly. Danny looked over his left shoulder at the table and grabbed his dress jacket off the back of the chair, pulling it on. He did up the buttons as her mom continued to hold silent. She was definitely thinking over the implications of Danny's words. "Oh, Danny," Linda said softly. What followed was kissing and three little words that had Anna rolling her eyes and looking towards the ceiling trying to avoid it.
"That goes for you too, kiddo," Danny said. Anna looked back towards her parents in surprise. "Come here," Danny told her. She swallowed then went over to him. "If you ever have a problem with my job, I want you to come to me."
"Can I ask you to quit?" Anna asked, toying with her fingers and not looking at him.
"You can ask, but I'm gonna try to help you through the problem first. I meant what I just said and what I said on Jack's birthday. Nothing is more important to me than you kids and your mom, okay?" Danny asked. He studied his daughter as she still refused to look up at him. He couldn't tell what was going on in her head but he really hoped that she wasn't about to throw a fit. He hoped their relationship had come further than that since the game they went to.
"Okay," Anna agreed after a moment. She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back and pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. Anna hugged him back, noticing the strong and steady heartbeat in his chest against her ear. After he kissed the top of her head, she pulled back and looked up at him. "Is it true?" Anna asked as her mom handed the box back to Danny.
"Is what true?" Danny asked, setting the box back on the table.
"That you arrested Mr. Rivano for what happened last week?"
Danny sighed and looked at his daughter. "Yeah."
"Why'd he do it?"
"He didn't know you guys were in the back seat. He just wanted to scare the man who put a gun in his daughter's back. They're charging him with reckless endangerment. He took a plea and will spend six months in prison as well as pay a $500 fine. The DA believed he had no intent to injure either you or the man who ran into the street but because he chased the man into the street and then fled the scene after discharging a gun he had to give him something strong. How's Jenny?"
"Fine. She's not mad at you or anything. Her dad was just trying to protect her. You would have gone after the guy too. You did," Anna reminded him.
"Difference is, I have a badge to do that."
"That make his drive any less understandable to you?" Anna asked, narrowing her eyes at her dad.
"I didn't say I didn't understand it," Danny defended.
"Jack, Sean, let's go!" Linda called up the stairs to the boys. Anna hadn't even noticed she had moved from behind her.
"You just don't approve of it. What's that thing you're always telling us? Civilians shouldn't take the law into their own hands? Whatever, I'll be in the car," Anna said. She shook her head and headed out the door. Danny sighed and watched her go. He wanted to call her back but he understood her anger. Anger that came partly from being a teenager but partly from thinking the situation was unfair. Maybe it was. Something Mr. Rivano had said during the interrogation had made him think about it too. If it had been Anna in Jenny's situation, Danny would have gone full force after the guy whether or not he had the shield to do it. No child should ever have to have their innocence stripped away like that. He wasn't sure where he should go with what Anna said so instead of pushing the little girl away, again, he let it go. Sometimes it was best just to let her think she was right. Especially since he wasn't sure she was completely okay. He didn't want to be a catalyst for another breakdown.
A few weeks later, the 29th of January, Danny spent dinner telling them about the case he had worked involving an Auxiliary cop that had shot someone. After dinner, Anna plopped down in the sunroom and turned on the end of the AFC championship game. As it came to an end her mom came in the room. "Anna, you ready to go?" Linda asked.
"Oh come on, Mom, not fair. You do this to me every week."
"When's the show over?" Linda asked sighing.
"If you can't get me home in 15 minutes, before the show starts, then three hours."
"Three hours? What movie is three hours long?"
"Not a movie, the NFC championship game. The winner of this game goes on to the Super Bowl next week. It's the Giants, Mom. You always told me you love seeing your kids passionate about something but I can't be passionate about the Giants if I can't watch them. You kinda understand Dad's love for the Jets and you never make him miss a game, why can't you do the same for me and the Giants?" Anna asked.
"Anna," Linda said.
"Anna, listen to your mom," Danny snapped.
"It's one game away from the Super Bowl. Please, Mama. I haven't asked for anything in—"
"Anna, I have things to do," Linda said. "And it's just football."
"I can run her home later if that's okay," Jamie said, entering the room.
"I couldn't ask you to. It's out of the way," Linda said.
"It's fine, I don't have a tour until tomorrow afternoon and it's the Giants. Could be worse. Could be just some stupid movie she's seen a million times," Jamie said.
"Sleeping Beauty isn't stupid and it's my favorite movie," Anna pouted.
"Fine, just have her home before 10," Linda agreed.
"Of course," Jamie agreed. Anna bolted over to her mom thanking her over and over and hugging her tight. Linda smiled then followed her husband's route out to the car.
"Thank you Uncle Jamie," Anna said as she sat back down beside him.
"Sure," Jamie said. Close to three and a half hours later Anna was smiling and Jamie came back into the sunroom. He had been in and out over the last three hours, sometimes watching the game but mostly just spending time with Frank and Henry. "I take it from that massive grin on your face that the Giants just won?"
"Super Bowl 46, Giants and Patriots; to which the Patriots are going to get slammed."
"Oh, worst case scenario. Your dad isn't going to like this. You really think the Patriots will lose?" Jamie asked.
"Their defense is pretty good but I think we're better. I know that you don't like this either but if you had to pick, no way out?" Anna asked.
"Absolutely no way out? The Giants. Only because it'd put a massive smile on your face and have you walking on air for a good couple of weeks and I miss my happy, smiling Anna."
"Thanks, Uncle Jamie," Anna said, smiling as she wrapped her arms around him. He smiled back then took her home. Sure enough, one week later the Giants took down the Patriots 21-17 and Anna was walking on air.
The following day after school, Anna sat down with Jack to check up on him. This time when he told her he was fine, she believed him. "The nightmares are gone, the flash is no longer there and I've almost forgotten about it," Jack told her.
"Then I'm sorry for bringing it up," Anna said.
"It's okay. I'm happier too. Not as happy as you, but happier. I almost feel back to normal."
"Well, the Giants did just win the Super Bowl and there's no feeling better than your favorite team being top in the nation. There is also this cute boy who's been checking me out lately but that's just a minor note."
"He good enough for you?" Jack asked.
"You'll never think so. I know that. Dad's trained that into you, hasn't he? No boy is ever going to be good enough for your big sister."
"I don't know. Dad says it, but I'm sure you'll find someone who is and we'll all see it. Even Dad." Jack smiled and Anna hugged him.
"I'm glad you're okay. And that you talked to me. If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. You know that, right?" Anna asked.
"I know, Sean knows it too. We both love having a big sister who can fix things."
"At least for now, soon there's going to come a day when you're not going to want big sister around," Anna said.
"I may act like that, but Uncle Jamie says I'll always appreciate having you there."
Anna nodded as she hugged her brother again.