Thank you to everyone who continues to read and enjoy this story. Major thanks to everyone who is reviewing your words mean a lot. Thanks to YaleAceBella12, decadenceofmysoul, Faithfan2000, roganjalex, patrickpopp, Daisyangel, bookworm125, brnmac560, and the usual guests MirraRosee and Coco for reviewing. I really do appreciate it. I have to be honest brnmac560, Ed wasn't even on my radar as a suspect. Also, I know Anna would have sat through at least one Reagan Sunday dinner since her release from the hospital, it didn't flow with the chapter below. We will however eventually see a family dinner.

The following morning, the doctor came by and pulled a chair up to Anna's bedside. "So, everything is looking good. You're healing up nicely. I'm going to write you a prescription for a painkiller. I want you to take it for two weeks then contact your doctor so he can go over the next steps. Do you have someone to help you around until you're more stable?" the doctor asked.

"My mom's a nurse downstairs. And my great-grandfather is retired," Anna answered.

"Reagan, right. A nurse is going to come in and dress the wound and fit you for a sling. After a few days you shouldn't need to cover it anymore and the stitches will be removed within the next month by your doctor. The nurse will give you instructions for how to keep your wound clean and tips for healing."

"How long before I can drive?"

"I'd say no driving at all for a week and only short distances after that until you clear it with your doctor."

"So, driving to Florida?"

"I would put it off as long as possible but if you really have to in the next two weeks, I would stop every 4-5 hours and walk around a bit to stretch out. Sitting for long periods can cause blood clots and you wouldn't want that to happen."

"Understood."

After the nurse left and she had been fitted for a sling, Henry came to check her out.

"Hey Pop," Anna said. "How did you get here?" She really hoped she wouldn't have to ride the subway back to his place.

"Jamie. He's waiting for us nearby," Henry told her.

"Can we stop by the ER first? I need to talk to Mom."

"Sure."

They walked down to the nurses' station in the ER and waited for the nurse there to look up. "What can I do for you, sweetie?" the nurse asked.

"I know it's busy but my mom, Linda Reagan, when she's got a minute ...?" Anna said.

"Of course," the nurse said and pointed to a bench. Anna and Henry took seats and Anna let Jamie know they'd be a few minutes.

"What's up?" Linda asked about five minutes later.

"Doc gave me this script. Could you pick it up for me?" Anna asked, handing it to her mom. "They always give me such a hassle when I go in."

"Of course. Are you headed back to the house?" Linda asked.

"I'm going back to Grampa's. I love you and things are better between me and dad, but he has an actual bed."

"Okay."

"And you'll drop it off later?" Linda agreed to Anna's question.

When they got to the house, Jamie helped her inside and got her settled. "Anything else you need? Lunch? Drink? The remote?" he asked.

"Just the remote. I'll be fine," Anna answered.

"Ok." Jamie hovered in front of her after handing her the remote.

"Everything ok?" she asked.

Jamie stared at her for a few minutes. "Anna." Jamie sat down next to her.

"Please don't, Uncle Jamie," she nearly begged.

"We will get this guy. He will pay for what he did."

"And until then? What then? You just want me to sit in this stone-cold fortress?"

"I've been there. Sat in this very house while detectives did their job to protect me. It's hard but you're strong."

"And if I'm not?"

"I know you are, but, if it'll make you feel better, if this gets too much, you can always come see me."

"In about a week you mean? I'm not allowed to drive until then."

"You can always take the subway."

"Thanks, Uncle Jamie."

Jamie left after a few more minutes and Anna whiled away her time flipping channels.

"Dinner," Henry said. Anna nodded and slowly made her way into the kitchen. She had just sat down to eat when the back door opened.

"Hey," Linda said, coming in.

"Hi, Mama," Anna said.

"How do you feel?"

"About the same as I did six hours ago. Did you get it?"

"Yes. Are you feeling any pain?"

"Not really."

Linda sat down next to Anna and checked the bandages. "Well, you're not bleeding through, so that's good."

"Are you hungry? Pops made spaghetti."

"I don't know, honey. Your brothers—"

"Jack's almost 17. He can look after his teenage brother for a few more hours." When Linda didn't look convinced, Anna broke out something she hadn't used in years, her puppy dog eyes and whiney voice. "Peas, Mommy? I need your help showering. Peas?"

"Don't you think you're a little old for that?" Linda asked straight-faced.

Anna poked out her puppy dog pout, turning the eyes up full blast. "Come on, Mommy. By the time I was Jack's age, I was babysitting kids eight years younger than Sean is now until 11 pm. They should be able to behave themselves by now. It's not like your 17-year-old and 14-year-old are going to be flushing army men down your toilet. Again."

"Ok, but only because of the argument and not because of the puppy dog eyes," Linda relented.

After dinner, Linda and Anna went upstairs so she could shower and change. After she got dressed, Linda washed, dried, and French braided Anna's hair. "Mama, my shoulder's starting to hurt," Anna complained. Linda nodded, gave Anna a pill, then sat down on the bed. They went over the doctor's orders and things to watch out for.

"You need anything, anything at all, you call me. Even if it's three in the morning," Linda told her only daughter.

"I know, Mama. You're my mom and you'd do anything for me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I am so very lucky to have a mom like you."

"Come here." Anna went to her mom who hugged her tight. "Are you sure you don't want to come home?"

"Mom, you have three beds in that house, two of which are occupied by teenage boys. I would love to come home but right now, for the fastest recovery, I think staying here is my best bet."

"If you change your mind ..."

"I know where you live." Linda hugged her daughter a bit closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her blonde hair. For a brief moment, Anna felt terrible that she was still lying to her mom about her job but she just wasn't ready to face the fallout from the argument that would follow.

Anna tried to sleep that night but the silence in the house was unsettling. Once she was sure both her granddads were asleep, she crept down the stairs and tried to make herself comfortable watching late night TV in the sunroom. Not even the old, familiar tales of her favorite cop show could put her to sleep. All it managed to do was focus her mind on the events that put her in her current position. She went over the events of that night, over and over again.

"Would you like some cocoa?"

Anna snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Frank's voice. She looked up at him. She blinked several times then shook her head. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked.

"Would you like some cocoa?"

"No, thank you."

"Water, juice, milk, beer, coffee?" Frank offered.

"No, I don't think that will help."

"What's on your mind?"

Anna muted the TV. She stared at him as he sat in the chair next to the love seat. She huffed and shook her head. She did it again then looked down at her hands. Frank just continued to watch her. She'd talk when she was ready. Anna ran a hand through her hair then groaned. "Grampa, I … I don't know."

"You're thinking about it again."

"I can't stop thinking about it. I know you said they'll catch him and I know Dad is doing his absolute best but it doesn't stop my mind from going over every step of every minute of that night trying to remember what I missed," Anna said. Frank held quiet knowing she wasn't done. Sure enough, she continued after a moment or two. "I know what you're going to say to me, that sometimes even the best of us still get surprised or blindsided that no one, not even my great dad can see everything that's coming. Still, I should've seen or heard something. Anything. There's got to be something. I'm a Reagan ... I'm a cop ... I'm—" Her voice broke as tears ran down her face.

Frank's heart broke for his granddaughter. He knew how much pressure she put on herself and how much the family inadvertently put on her. While he'd be the first to admit that his oldest grandchild was the strongest of the lot, much like his oldest child, he also knew it put undue stress on her to be so strong. He moved to her right side and wrapped an arm around her.

Anna leaned against her grandpa, nuzzling against his soft, red, cotton robe. Frank gently held her close and stroked back her hair. He was briefly reminded of the very few nights he had done the same for Erin but shook it off to be there for Anna. "I've got you. Take your time."

With the monotonous stroking, Anna's tears slowly dried up then once they did, she reveled in the comfort he was providing. Which, like usual, put her to sleep.

About a week later, Anna couldn't take it anymore and wanted to know where the case stood and to find out if she could be of any more help. In order to keep from putting her father in hot water with her mom and knowing that he wasn't the lead on the case, she checked the doorways for her great-grandfather and, not seeing him, she pulled out her phone and called Detective Baez.

"Baez," the female detective answered.

"Detective, it's Anna. If my dad is nearby please don't say anything, just keep your answers short and to the point," Anna said.

"Ok."

"My grandfather is at work and my great-grandfather is going out in about 20 minutes or so to go grocery shopping. If you have any more questions about my incident, I'll be alone here at my granddad's place on Harbor View until he gets back. We could talk. You just have to give my dad a believable excuse so you can drop by without him."

"I can do that. I'll see you shortly," Detective Baez answered. Anna agreed and took her short answer to mean that her dad was indeed nearby. Now, the trick was to get Pops to actually go grocery shopping. He really did need to go, but he wasn't sure about leaving Anna alone in the house.

"Pops?" Anna called. A few moments later, he stepped in from the dining room. "I know you're worried about leaving me here by myself but I'll be fine. I've been shooting since I was 10, I know where the guns are in this house, how to load them, and the local precinct house is less than five minutes from here. Plus, you and I both know an RMP rolls past here at least once an hour so if I need help, it wouldn't take them very long, especially since nearly every dispatcher knows this is the commissioner's house. On top of all that, this is the Commissioner's house. No one is dumb enough to try to break in here. I'll be fine."

"I know all that, Anna, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to you on my watch," Henry told her.

"You can't lock me in a bubble forever. Besides you'll be gone an hour, tops, and we both know that to keep feeding me, you'll need to make a food run. Please, Pops? No one's tried in a week, I'll be ok."

"Alright, alright, fine. But swear you'll call me if you need anything."

"I promise. I'll be ok."

Henry stared at her for a moment or two longer but did reluctantly leave to get more food. Baez arrived five minutes after he left. Anna had been watching out the window and met the detective at the door. She welcomed her into the kitchen and offered her a drink which she refused so they sat at the table.

"Thank you for coming out here. I know you have other cases you could be working on," Anna started.

"You know your dad won't put this case down until he's covered every aspect of it," Baez told her.

"That is true. I've been thinking about that night over and over. Reagan curse I guess. I know we've gone over some of it but I think doing it again might help."

"Sure. Tell me what you remember."

So, she went over it again. Having dinner with her uncle, saying goodbye, looking for her keys and then her arm going numb then hot. "Whoever did it must have been behind me. I know they had to replace the passenger side door panel because it had a bullet hole in it. That means it went through me then the window and lodged into the door. I keep going over who could possibly have a grudge against me but everyone I come up with is in Florida and according to Mike, Detective Kim already ran that list down and everyone on it has an alibi."

"What about New York?"

"Barely anyone knew I was back in New York but if they did find out, I haven't made anyone mad for years."

"No one?"

"No one besides my dad and that's just because I'm growing up. I didn't really have any enemies in high school. I'm a simple kid who knows who they are and doesn't let anyone keep them down."

"Boyfriend?"

"I don't exactly have one of those. Jim Miller. I've known him since I was in the seventh grade."

"We've met," the detective agreed.

"I have feelings for him. He is one of the best men I know. He spends his days saving lives, working healthcare. The problem is, the feelings are there, but the time is not. We both agreed that we wouldn't ask the other one to give up their life or their job just for a relationship. It has to be completely voluntary on the part of who ever moved. Neither one of us wants to start a relationship by feeling guilt tripped into it."

"What about ex-boyfriends? You're a pretty young woman, I'm sure Jim's not the only one who's noticed."

"A few guys here and there, most ended amicably."

"Most?"

"There's one. His name was Ed. He seemed like a great guy until I found out he was more than just a bartender." Anna stared down at the table as her mind quickly flashed back over how they broke up. She still couldn't believe she hadn't seen what he had been up to while they had been dating.

"Ed got a last name?" Baez asked, drawing Anna out of her thoughts.

She looked back at the detective. "Edwin Falcone, 22. Lived in Florida his whole life. Think he's got a record too. The Miami-Dade Police Department said he was a person of interest in a homicide and suspicion of dealing narcotics. I wanted to be a cop, was in the process of being hired for Miami PD. I couldn't be linked to a guy like that. I walked away from him and never heard from him again. I don't even think I still have his number."

"I'm sure Detective Kim can find it. Any other boyfriends? Or not long term?"

"I'd tell you if there was. Juggling college classes, a job, and the police academy makes dating a little hard. Even hooking up was something I didn't have energy for. The only romantic relationship I have time for right now is a long-distance, texting and occasional phone call with Jim who is more understanding than I deserve."

"Your partner says you're quite the lucky girl."

"Because of how many collars I have? His name is on the sheet too. They're as much his collars as they are mine."

"And your habit?"

Part of Anna wanted to know how Baez knew about that, but figured Mike had told her when he mentioned her being so lucky. "I go once or twice a month and I never walk out with less than I went in with. It's not illegal in Miami and as long as the poker room is state sanctioned in a legal, licensed casino, it's not against the handbook either. Most of the casinos I go to are outside our jurisdiction anyway. There's no connection there. Besides, taking me out would be bad for business. And I didn't owe anyone money."

"You don't remember anything else about that day?"

"Nothing more than I've already said." Anna shook her head as she checked the clock. "Have you checked into the fact it might be family related? I was having dinner with my uncle."

"We've looked into that too but there's nothing there."

"Well, I appreciate you trying. I promise I'll call if I think of anything else."

"Of course." Baez stood. "We'll figure this out. And Anna . . . "

"Yeah?" The blonde cocked her head.

"Happy birthday."

"It's . . ." Anna turned in her seat and caught sight of the calendar on the wall. Sure enough, it was turned to September with no days marked off. Frank was always sure to mark off the day at the end of the night so it had to be right. To be sure, she woke her phone and saw the date concurred. September 1st, 2016. "It is my birthday. I'm 20 today. Here's hoping it's better."

Baez nodded and left and not a moment too soon. Less than three minutes later, Henry was walking up the drive. Anna helped him put the groceries away then looked out the window to the right of the stove that overlooked the driveway. Her eyes landed on her beautiful car. Her car, which used to have a broken window and a bullet hole in the passenger side door, had been fixed by a friend of Jamie's for the cost of parts and was sitting right outside. It was almost begging her to take it for a drive.

As she stared out the window at that beautiful, cherry red, 0 to 60 in under six seconds, 1995 Chevy Camaro, Henry walked up behind her. "Again?" Henry asked. It was at least the third time that week that he had seen her doing the same thing.

"Look at that beauty." Anna glanced at Henry who was now beside her. "Cam is just begging for a ride. And I'm bored out of my mind. I love you, Pops, but there's only so much daytime TV I can take. Please?"

"You know what your grandfather said."

Anna spun and looked at him head on. "That it's not safe. That he might try again. It's been a week and there have been no other reports of a shooting of a cop in Brooklyn."

"How do you know?"

Anna bit down on her tongue. She wasn't angry with him. She had to remind herself she was just frustrated with the situation. "Because the Reagan circle of over-protectiveness has not tightened. Because my uncle isn't in the living room, my dad is still going to work every day, and my grampa is not working from home. If he had tried again, ESU would be in the front yard. Pops, please. Uncle Jamie lives less than 20 minutes from here in Brooklyn Heights. I'll be safe, I promise. I just need something different. He's even off today. I can call him to make sure he's home if it'll make you feel better."

"What would your parents say if I let you out there and you get shot again? Or worse, this time you don't make it?"

"Pops, that's not going to happen."

"You don't know that."

"I do know that," Anna answered. She stepped away from the window and led him through the house to the front window. "Because even though my grandfather believes that he shouldn't use his position to give his kids or grandkids anything a normal citizen can't get, we both know he would never leave me here without a protective detail. That black sedan across the street"—she motioned to it—"Maybe your neighbors got a new car, but considering that it changes into a blue one every three hours, it's more likely that it's two plain clothes officers from the 6-5 precinct. They're going to have my back. I will be fine. Besides, it's my birthday. I love you, Pops, but if I have to sit here for another minute on my birthday, I'm going to go nuts."

Henry glanced out the window then back at her. "Ok, but you call me the minute you get inside."

"I will, I promise."

"Be careful."

"Thank you, Pops. Love you." Anna kissed his cheek then bolted from the house to her car and drove to Jamie's. Of course, she texted him first to guarantee he was home—he was—and the black sedan followed her. Jamie had also insisted Anna stay in the car when she arrived and text him so he could come down and get her. Anna sighed as she turned off her car but could understand where he was coming from. He had nearly lost his niece the week prior and part of him blamed himself. If she hadn't had dinner with him that night, she never would have been shot. So, she waited.

Jamie approached the car and opened the door. "Hey," he said.

"Hi," Anna said. She blinked at him as alarm bells went off in her head. It kinda sounded like someone telling her something was going to happen. "So, I know you probably already checked it out, but the window works now." She put the driver's side window down and back up. Then she leaned over and rubbed the passenger side door. As she did, she looked at Jamie. "And here, you can't even tell there was a bullet hole. Like new, see?" Anna asked.

Jamie bent a bit to look. "I see," Jamie answered.

Anna shifted a bit to get pressure off her shoulder. Then she reached for her steering wheel to help her up then somehow her hand wrapped around the open front of Jamie's jacket. Seconds after he toppled down on her, a hole appeared in her driver's side window right where Jamie had been. Just as suddenly, red and blue lights lit up the street and there were shouts of "NYPD!", "Freeze!", and "drop the weapon".

"Don't move; keep your head down," Jamie told her. He shifted a bit to get a better look out of the windshield and saw a man coming towards them. Then his head was nearly taken off as a bullet crashed through the windshield. Jamie ducked back down.

"I—are you ok?" Jamie asked.

"I'm fine," Anna told him.

"We're clear," a voice called out.

Jamie peaked over the dashboard then climbed to his feet. He helped Anna sit up though he kept her sitting in the car.

"They just replaced the window," Anna whined. She frowned at the window. It was shattered again. The front window too had a bullet hole in it. When she looked up, the two officers that had been tailing her were walking towards them with a man handcuffed between them. More sirens split the air and Jamie put a hand on her good shoulder. Once they reached her, her face hardened. She shook off Jamie's hand then stood to confront the man. "Just tell me why. Why are you stupid enough to punch your own one-way ticket to prison? Attempted murder of a cop in New York is a felony."

"Best way to get at a cop is through his partner," the man answered.

"What?" Anna asked outraged.

"Ask him." The man nodded to Jamie and Anna looked at him. Jamie glanced at his niece then stared at the man.

"I arrested you," Jamie said slowly as he recognized the man.

"Three and a half years ago. You took everything from me. I heard you got a new partner. Of course she'd be pretty."

Partner? Why would this man think she was his partner? "You think I'm …" she trailed off as it hit her and she remembered what Nicky's boyfriend had told her. That she reminded him of Jamie's partner Eddie. Having met her just a week prior she could see it. "You son of a jackal. No, that's an insult to jackals, but I don't have a better word. Let me get this straight, you put a round through my shoulder, endangered my job, my future, my life all because you …" She breathed through her nose. Then she balled up her fist and slammed it into his solar plexus.

"Hey," Jamie protested. He wrapped an arm around her to keep her from hurting the guy again.

"You saw that; police brutality!" he yelled as two RMPs pulled up at the curb.

"Would be if I was a NYPD cop. I'm not his partner," Anna told him.

"Get him out of here," Jamie said. The two officers led the shooter to the RMP a short distance away. "What did he mean?" Jamie turned to her.

She sighed. "The first time I met Nicky's boyfriend, you know, the cop you met on the job, he told me I reminded him of your partner. Nicky agreed. We are not going to tell Eddie that I got shot because he was coming after her to get back at you."

"I don't want to lie to her."

"I'm your niece, partners are great but family is just as good."

"If not better," Jamie agreed. He pulled Anna to him and hugged her as tight as he could without hurting her shoulder.

"Anna!" Danny called. Anna and Jamie both looked around and saw Danny rushing to them.

"Dad!" Anna answered. Danny wrapped her in a hug carefully. "I'm ok. Can't say the same about the car." Anna buried her head in her dad's chest. The adrenaline was leaving her system so she was starting to feel exhausted. Again, she remembered the date and just wanted to cry. This was shaping up to be the worst birthday ever, including her 13th, which had been four months after Joe's death.

Just wanted to say, LucifersAlleyCat, you were the only one to come anywhere close to who actually did it and why. I know Baez tells her they went through Jamie's list and couldn't find anything there, but sometimes people get ruled out for the wrong reasons.

Also side note, in case you missed it a few chapters ago, Eddie is already partnered with Jamie and about Joe Hill, you'll just have to wait and see.