Thanks to everyone who continues to read and like this story, including those who are just finding it and are binge reading in a few days. I'm seriously impressed by you. Big thanks to Faithfan2000, LucifersAlleyCat, YaleAceBella12, patrickpopp, roganjalex, Superloveverything, Daisyangel, and the guest Coco for your reviews. So as far as only three Reagans knowing Anna's a cop (four technically but Anna's not sure Frank knows), Jamie and Nicky don't want to break Anna's confidence and Danny thinks she's the one that should tell everyone. They're trying to give her space to do her thing.
Danny looked at the car his daughter had just mentioned and saw exactly what she had been talking about. Her car that he had helped her buy just four years earlier, the one that was older than she was, had two bullet holes in it. One right through the driver's side window and the other through the windshield on the driver's side. He was going to take this jerk down if it killed him and hopefully before the jerk killed his daughter. "We'll fix the car. You're safe. Kid?" Danny turned his attention to his brother as he held his daughter close.
"Not a scratch. All thanks to Anna," Jamie told him. "How did you know?"
Anna didn't answer, she just kept her face buried in her dad's chest as the sun continued to sink. "It's ok, I've got you," Danny told her softly. Danny gently guided Anna to Jamie's building and sat her down on the stoop. Jamie and Baez followed. "Talk to me, kiddo, please."
Anna took a deep breath then another and leaned her head on her dad's left shoulder. "He was ... have you ever met Uncle Jamie's partner?" Anna asked, finally looking up.
"Janko?" Baez asked.
"What about her?" Danny asked.
"How would you describe her?"
"Short, blonde, female—" Danny started.
"Firecracker, can hold her own," Jamie added.
Anna held up her hand. "Just the physical description."
"That describes half the women in Brooklyn," Baez said. "As well as you."
"Exactly. If all you know about her was that she's short, blonde, female, and sometimes hangs out with Uncle Jamie after work at cop bars, you'd think I was her too. To be fair, we look a lot alike, especially off duty."
"You drive a sports car," Danny said.
"She drives a Porsche Boxster," Jamie said.
"Oh," Danny said. Anna leaned against her father. Danny gently rubbed her back, keeping in mind her shoulder was still injured from last time. Then he realized what she was saying. "You're telling me that he came after you because he thought you were Eddie?" Danny asked.
"Yeah, but we're not going to tell her that."
"He was after Eddie. Why?" Danny pressed.
"Not exactly," Anna said, shaking her head.
Jamie filled in the blanks. "Vinny and I put him away three and a half years ago. I don't even remember what for now, but he says it caused him to lose everything. The best way to get back at a cop is through his partner," Jamie explained.
"But she's not your partner," Baez said.
"I know that," Jamie said.
"A simple case of mistaken identity," Baez said.
"You know in a twisted way, he still got back at you," Danny said.
"Yeah, I know," Jamie said again.
"Dad, can you take me back to Grampa's?" Anna asked. She was getting really tired even though it was still before dinner time and wondered if it had anything to do with what she went through.
"Maybe you should come home," Danny said.
"We are not having this conversation again. My shoulder needs an actual mattress, not an air mattress and a basement," Anna answered. She glanced at the other detective and then looked around the scene. There were a few RMPs and the black sedan that had followed her from Bay Ridge on the scene with other officers still standing around.
"We need to get your statement first, officially, then you can go," Baez told her gently.
"Daddy, it's my birthday!" Anna whined.
"I know. I want to take you home and yes, I could get you out of this, but you and I both know that you want to get this done and over with. The only way to do that is to get it written out," Danny said. Anna whimpered and Danny rubbed her back. "Sooner it's done, the sooner you go home."
Danny was right. Shortly after she finished writing out her statement, the sun continued to sink and time ticked past, Danny picked his way through first Manhattan, then Brooklyn. Though he would have loved to stay and grill the jerk for shooting his little girl, to try and get him to spill his guts, he knew his Lieutenant wouldn't let him anywhere near the room. His partner neither. So, he did the only thing they'd let him do, watch over his daughter. This included surprising her on the way back to Frank's. He pulled over when he was nearly there and got out, telling her to stay put. Five minutes later, he returned to the car handing over a cup and a bag. Anna stared at the bag until Danny prodded her to open it. Anna found French fries in the bag and, taking a sip from the cup, a chocolate shake. She smiled softly and began to chow down as Danny drove. He drove with his left hand on the wheel and rested his right on the back of Anna's head, occasionally stroking it with his thumb. Anna wanted to question it but then she realized it was sorta comforting.
They pulled up to the Reagan homestead and Danny watched her get out. After a few seconds, he followed her to the house. Inside, Henry rushed to her. "Oh, thank god!" Henry exclaimed. He stopped just short of hugging her.
Anna cringed. "I am so sorry. I really meant to call you. I just totally blanked."
"I know. Your uncle called. It's ok, you didn't even make it inside. Did everything work out? Jamie said they caught him?"
"Yeah. Uncle Jamie and his partner Vinny put him away a few years back so he wanted revenge. Vinny's dead, which means it fell to Uncle Jamie." Anna leaned forward and hugged him. "Is there any leftover spaghetti? I'm kinda hungry," she said, despite the fries and shake she'd just had in the car.
"In the fridge."
Anna left the room and Henry shot Danny a look. "We got him. She's safe," Danny confirmed.
"Trying to convince me or yourself?" Henry asked.
"Both. She's my daughter and—"
"Pops. I can't get the lid off. And do you know what Mom did with my medication?" Anna asked from the other room.
Henry rolled his eyes and joined Anna in the kitchen.
It was late that night, or early the next morning, when Frank woke with a feeling he couldn't shake. He made his way through the second floor until he came across a figure standing in the doorway to Joe's room. He moved closer but also did his best not to scare whoever it was. He was two steps away when he realized it was his oldest child. "Hey," Frank said softly.
"Hey," Danny said.
"She asleep?"
"Has been; few hours now."
"I thought you were headed home."
"I was halfway down the yard when I realized I needed to be here. Linda understands."
"She's safe, Danny." Frank's eyes trailed over to the bed where Anna was fast asleep.
"I know. There's still a chance that she may not have been."
"You can't think about the what ifs, Danny." Danny didn't answer, he just watched his daughter. "Your daughter is here, she is safe, and she is recovering." Frank rested a hand on his son's shoulder.
"For now. What about next time? Maybe it's worse. Maybe I—"
"Danny, you can't think like that."
"When Jamie became a cop, so soon after Joe ..."
"I can't say I liked it. I knew he was going to do it and I shouldn't talk him out of it."
Danny nodded. He stared at his daughter for a few more moments. "She's a cop; in Miami. Of all my kids ... I always thought she'd be the smart one. Get out and make something of herself but she became a cop. She just got shot for being related to a cop and now she deals with that on a daily basis. I never wanted to know how you feel in that regard." Danny sighed softly. "How do I protect her when she is over 1000 miles away?"
"The same way I protected you in Fallujah."
Danny looked at his dad but he only watched him. "So, sit back and do nothing?"
"You provide a comforting voice at the other end of the phone line and answer when she calls. That goes a long way, especially for teenage girls," Frank said.
Danny nodded, then a pitiful whine came from the bed. Danny and Frank looked to see Anna shifting as she tried to get comfortable with her injured shoulder. She shifted a bit more but slowly settled down.
"Try not to stand here too long. Church in the morning." Danny nodded and Frank went back to bed. Danny watched his little girl for about another hour but she didn't stir again so he too went to bed.
The next morning, Anna came down to find her dad, his dad, and Henry having pancakes. "Morning Pop, Grampa, Pops."
"Anna. Hungry?" Henry asked.
"A little. We have time?" Anna asked.
"Decent amount. Orange juice?" Anna nodded and sat down next to her dad. Henry poured her juice and Frank put a plate of pancakes in front of her. Anna stared at the plate, taping her fork against her lips.
"You know it's not required you say grace before breakfast," Frank said.
"I know," she said, but didn't move to eat them. The plate disappeared from her sightline. When it returned, the pancakes were cut into bite size pieces. "Thanks, Dad." She didn't even have to look to know he was still taking care of her, even without her having to ask. Part of her was really happy about that despite not wanting to admit it.
"How's the shoulder?" Frank asked.
"Still hurts a little."
"On a scale of 1-10?"
"On a scale of no pain killer to prescription? I'll take regular pain killers. Please." Anna looked at her dad who got her some.
After church, Anna was watching baseball when four texts came in, one right after another. Anna read through the texts and shook her head. This was exactly what she was trying to avoid. Hopefully, no one would mention it. Her hopes were dashed during dinner though. Linda and Erin had made one of Anna's favorite meals: meatloaf and mashed potatoes with salad and green beans. Anna tried to focus on the meatloaf when Henry asked about her shoulder.
"It's fine," Anna answered.
"Do you want to talk about it? About what happened?" Linda asked
"The Times, the Examiner, the Tribune, and the Star. Each one has at least one article on what happened. Find the commonalities and that will explain most of it. I really don't want to talk about it any more, Mama." Those had been the contents of the texts. Derrek and Jim had texted her the articles from the aforementioned papers. Each one mentioning the two incidents though they didn't seem to know they were connected or about her.
"Then can we talk about that EMT that visited you?" Henry asked.
"What EMT?" Anna asked confused. She looked around the table then back at her great-grandfather.
"About six-foot, brown hair, white guy, average looking. I think he said his name was Jim." Anna stared at Henry blankly. "Jamie, you know him."
"Jim Miller," Jamie said.
Anna rolled her eyes. It took her a second to think of how to get out of it. The last thing she wanted her family to know was that he worked for FDNY even if he wasn't technically a firefighter. Then it hit her and it wasn't even a lie. "He's not an EMT and I've known him since I was 12," she said. He was a paramedic and she had known him that long. EMT stood for Emergency Medical Technician. That was one step below a paramedic. Now, if he'd just drop the subject everything would be okay.
Henry looked confused. "He's not an EMT? He was wearing an EMT shirt."
Anna tried not to get irritated at his assumptions or that he was assuming things. That was what part of being a cop and a detective was. "And I've got six NYPD shirts, doesn't make me NYPD."
"Oh."
"Is he cute?" Erin asked as though she sensed Anna's irritation..
"I guess," Anna answered.
"You guess? He's really cute," Nicky said. Anna shot a look at her cousin who only smirked. Though Anna was certain her family wouldn't be too harsh if she did discuss her feelings for Jim, she didn't want to make things more complicated.
"This guy's been in your life for eight years and you've never dated?" Erin asked.
"No, we're just friends."
"Guys and girls can't be just friends without one of them wanting more," Jack told her.
Briefly, Anna wondered if this was how her dad felt when it came to Jamie butting into his life. She turned her glare on her brother. "They can, once they get past being hormonal teenagers."
"If he's not an EMT, what's he do?" Linda asked.
Anna took a deep breath. The question was how to explain it without completely giving it away in front of a current and two former detectives. It was the obvious solution right there in front of her. "He works in the medical field," Anna said. Now it was time to change the subject and hope they followed on it instead of continuing to push for more about Jim. "Aunt Erin, have they filed charges yet?"
"Assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing the scene, and a few other things," Erin said.
"I see. I'm going to have to testify, aren't I?"
"Eventually."
"Unless he takes a plea deal," Jamie added. "But that's up to the Kings County DA."
"Do I have to stay here until I do?"
"No. As long as you come back, you're free to go," Erin said.
She could see her dad's look out of the corner of her eye and her mom's as well. They both wanted her to stay but they weren't about to bring that up in front of family. "But based on the look Dad is giving me, he'd prefer I stayed," Anna said.
"We all would," Jamie said.
Before Anna could answer, her phone went off. She saw the unfamiliar Florida number but sent it to voicemail. 30 seconds later, it called back. The last thing she wanted was for it to be job related and to get outed by it. As far as she knew only her dad, Jamie, and Nicky knew she was a cop and she hoped it would stay that way. Part of her wondered if her grandfather knew, there was a chance Mike could have told him or maybe she had a few nights prior when she couldn't sleep, but she really hoped it was just the other three. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a full-on fight with her mother shortly before leaving. "Guess I have to take this. 'Scuse me." Anna left the table despite protests and went out back to answer it. "Hello?" Anna asked.
"Officer Maryanna Reagan?" a woman asked.
"Yes, who is this?"
"Hold for Chief Hernandez."
Anna swallowed hard as she heard hold music. "Crap." This was the last thing she needed. Though she wasn't sure what the top cop of Miami wanted, she hoped he wasn't about to fire her for not being at work. If she had been NYPD, she'd be certain that they would already know what happened, but since it was Miami, she wasn't sure.
"Officer Reagan, Chief Hernandez, Miami PD," he said.
"Yes, sir, what can I do for you?"
"How are you doing? Your CO tells me you're out of the hospital and recovering."
So, he knew. That turned her hopes to him just checking up on her. "Yes, sir. I was unconscious for two days but was released just over a week ago, the day after I woke up."
"Anxious to get back to work?"
"More than. Doc says I'm free to leave New York when I'm ready so I can head back to Florida and get back to work."
"I would like that too but I'm sure your union rep or your CO has explained department policy. You can't come back to work until a doctor clears you. And then only back in the car and on patrol when you're through with PT and a doctor's note is on file saying you're clear."
That meant he really knew what happened and there was no way he was going to go easy on her. Oh, well, but maybe she could still get a fast track around her CO and department policy. "So, a couple weeks then?"
"If a doctor clears you, I can look at getting you back on desk duty late this week but even I can't override the PT rule. Not even for you."
"Why would you ... You know my grandfather is the NYPD commissioner. I appreciate the offer, but really, if you can't get me back on the job, properly, then the only thing I guess we have to talk about is if you can bury that info in the back of your mind and try as hard as you can to not let it color your interactions with me. I mean no disrespect, sir, but I left New York to get away from my family's reputation. That reputation is part of the reason I got shot that weekend. Because I'm a Reagan, because I'm related to the cop who put him away the first time, and like to hang out with that cop. My life in Miami is my own and I'd like it to stay that way if it could. Please."
"I understand. Make sure your CO is up to date on your health and call me back at this number if I can do anything for you."
"Yes, sir." They hung up and Anna looked around focusing back in on the backyard. She sighed then headed back inside to the table.
"Everything ok?" Danny asked.
"I guess so. That was my boss's boss's boss. All the way at the top. He was just checking in and reminding me that I have plenty of sick leave. That I should take it."
"You're not being fired?" Sean asked.
Anna shook her head, looking at her brother. "Why would I … Never mind. No, I'm not being fired. Again, he just wanted to remind me that sick leave is for a reason and that pushing myself before I'm healed could be detrimental to my health."
"What kind of job do you do that requires two arms?" Henry asked.
"I ... when do you think the trial is going to start?"
"You're avoiding my question," Henry reminded her.
"I'll let you know," Erin said.
"Anna," Henry said.
"I don't want to talk about my job. I don't want to talk about the jerk that shot me because I'm related to my uncle, I don't—Can we just—So, how was your week, Mom?" Anna asked.
Everyone at the table looked at her but Linda took the bait and let the subject change. "It's getting better. It'd be even better if you'd come home," Linda said.
That irritation was flaring up again. In her rational mind, she knew they were just asking because they were her parents and they wanted their baby close but in her trying-to-grow-up mind, she wanted to do things on her own. "And what? Me sleep on an air mattress in the basement? We've had this discussion. That's not going to be good for my shoulder."
"The boys can always bunk together," Linda pressed.
"And have me sleep on a teenage boy's mattress?" Anna asked. "Ew."
"Yet Joe's bed is better?" Danny asked.
"A bed he hasn't slept in in seven years!" Anna snapped. She stopped and bit down on her lip. May 2009 to September 2016. Seven years and just over three months. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she stared down at her lap. "My whole life, I don't mean to criticize, but it feels like I've been in a virtual playpen all my whole life. Everywhere I look in New York there's either a Reagan or someone who knows I'm a Reagan and feels obligated to look after me. It's like when I was learning to walk. Yes, I was grateful for the two hands under my arms that kept me from hitting the ground, but you all knew that sometimes I had to hit the ground or a couple walls to learn how to get back up. Moving to Miami, staying here when I do come home, it's the same thing. The only way to know what you're capable of is to hit rock bottom."
"Yes, but just remember, you'll never be truly stuck at rock bottom," Frank said.
"I know that. Just like I know that some of my friends have shovels that are just as good as family."
"They can be, but you know family comes first," Danny said.
"If this is some "Blood is thicker than water" spiel you might want to check into the full quote first."
"The full quote?" Nicky asked.
"Yeah. The full quote actually changes the entire meaning of the quote."
"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," Jamie quoted.
"Essentially meaning the family you choose is better than the family you're born with." Erin explained. The table went silent as though not sure where to go from there.
"Anna," Frank spoke up. "Is there anything you do need?"
Anna looked around the table to see most of the plates were clear. She thought it over for a moment. It was clear to her he was looking to change the subject. The only thing she really needed was something he couldn't really give to her. "A redo on my birthday?" Anna suggested.
"Hold that thought," Jamie told her. Anna looked at him but he just stood and disappeared into the kitchen. "For she's a jolly good fellow," Jamie started singing as he came back out with a cake in his hands.
"Not a fellow," Anna protested.
The rest of the family joined his song as Nicky shot Anna a glare. She shook her head as Jamie set the cake in front of her with a number 20 candle lit on the top of the cake. "Make a wish," Jamie said once the song had finished. Anna stared at the dancing flame then took a deep breath and blew out the candle. "We were going to do this on Thursday after we hung out at my place, everyone was going to come over around five and set up for a party but then ..." he trailed off.
"Then we got shot at," Anna acknowledged.
"Right, so Erin kept the cake at her place and we decided to do it today. Happy Birthday," Jamie finished.
"Thanks," Anna told her family. Nicky and the boys cleared the table and Linda brought out dessert plates and a knife. She sliced the first piece, which she offered to Anna before offering the rest of the cake around.