A Chance for a Better Life
Chapter Fourteen
Monday morning Jamie couldn't have been happier than to walk into the 12th. He had no idea who his partner was going to be or anything else that was going to happen, but he knew he was home.
"Reagan! I'm so happy to have my partner back." Vinny slapped him on the back.
"So, you missed me?" Jamie laughed.
"Yeah man, I've been riding with Renzulli since you left."
"Wow, so you know every food cart in our precinct now." Jamie laughed.
Fifteen minutes later they were ready and in waiting for Renzulli to send them off.
Roll call goes quickly and Jamie is welcomed back. The unit is happy to have him back because they've been down a couple guys down. Jamie and Vinny can begin their day.
"Man, you've missed a lot. Things have been heating up at Bitterman. I've seen your brother a few times."
"Lucky for you. So let me guess I'm working Christmas."
"And Christmas Eve."
"Okay. So Bitterman is it a gang war, or something else?"
"I think your dad wants to show the people at Bitterman that we are on the same side."
"I believe that. We need to do more to support the people in the projects. Maybe if it was being done when I lived in Bitterman then maybe my mom would still be alive today." The older Jamie got the more he learned about services and programs that exist that can help others like when he and his mom or just him after she was gone.
"Maybe, there'd be more success stories coming out instead of more kids going to prison." Vinny though of all the friends he'd lost to the gang.
"Thankfully we're not there today. How are you gonna tell the family that you gotta work Christmas?"
"Well considering I've been MIA the last six months it's not gonna go over well, but they'll understand it's the job. What about your mom?"
"When I got my schedule for the week, she wasn't thrilled and knew my sisters were gonna be upset too. I mean at least we're on days, so my mom just moved Christmas dinner back an hour and my oldest sister said that she was going to video the kids opening their presents, so I won't miss it."
"That's if we don't end up pulling a double."
"Just don't, if they do ask for a double and don't need both of us, you're doing it. I've worked a lot of doubles the last few days."
"Got it." Jamie laughed.
The next few days are busy. Jamie's getting all of his shopping done and everything wrapped. Just because he can't be at the house for Christmas doesn't mean that he wouldn't have everyone's presents for them.
By the time he got to his dads on Saturday to drop everything off under the tree he was exhausted and found out before he left work earlier that he was working a double the next day.
"Are you ok, Jamie?" Henry could see the exhaustion.
"Yeah, I'm good. It's just been busy getting back to the day to day."
"I can see that. Do you miss working a UC?" Henry was curious. He hoped Jamie said no. He knew and understood the work and knew that they needed good officers willing to do the work, he just didn't want all of that worry.
"Yeah, I like the work. If I get another chance, I won't turn it down. Arborghast said that he was gonna talk to intelligence about me too, but for now I'm just enjoying being back on patrol."
"Hey Jamie, ya know Christmas Eve is tomorrow." Frank laughed and worried why his son was at the house a day early.
"Hi Dad, I know. I won't be here tomorrow. I have to work a double."
"And Christmas Day?"
"I have to work. I'll come over as soon as my tour is over."
"Ok, do you have to work the next day?"
"No. It will be my first day off since I got back."
"Okay, stay Christmas night."
"Ok, I was gonna see Shelly at the soup kitchen the next day anyway."
"She's missed you."
"I've missed her too."
"Alright kid. Go home and get some sleep." Henry said watching both his son and grandson very carefully.
The kids enjoy Christmas more than the adults, but they miss their uncle being there. It's different than Thanksgiving because he was at Sunday dinner the week before, but he's still working instead of being with the family. Everyone in the family knows and understands that he didn't choose to work.
When Jamie arrived three hours after his tour was over, everyone was so happy to see him. They were all, already in their pajamas. He didn't know everyone was staying. He noticed that some of the presents had been opened, but not all of them. Danny, Erin, and Linda had all decided to wait for Jamie and do their Christmas on the twenty-sixth.
Henry made a big breakfast and after they finished, it was time for the adults to open presents. After all of the presents were opened Jamie was planning on going to the soup kitchen and found that the entire family was coming to volunteer with him.
Jamie hadn't had so much fun in a long time. It was Sean's first-time volunteering outside of school. He made a point to explain each area of the soup kitchen to all three grandkids in a way that they understood. Since he'd volunteered most of his life Shelly let him get Jack, Sean, and Nikki started at their stations. She loved watching him. She'd never had kids, and if he hadn't found a home with Mary, then she would've found a way to adopt him. She was happy that he'd gotten to stay in her life. He'd brought her a lot of joy over the years.
Linda loved watching Jamie with her boys. It brought back memories of when she met him, and he'd helped keep her sane while Danny had been overseas. She loved that Jamie was teaching her kids that it didn't matter what a person had, every person deserves good food, someone to be kind to them, and a day off where someone waits on them. Jamie and the kids were running around taking people what they requested. After a while Jamie had the kids go and play with the other kids.
The next couple weeks ago by quickly. Before they know it, it's the new year and Erin, and all the kids are back at the house because Danny, Linda and Jamie all have to work. Erin has always had a love hate relationship with new years eve. So many of her family members were working that night, and out in harm's way.
After the holidays are over life goes back to normal. Jamie and Vinny are spending a majority of their time at Bitterman. Jamie's waiting for something bigger to happen. He could feel how high the tension was each time he'd entered Bitterman or the surrounding area.
Shelly had been encouraging Jamie to join the Homeless Avengers. They were a group that helped homeless people all over the city. She knew that he wanted to help the homeless, she wanted him around people his own age. A majority of the volunteers at the soup kitchen were either kids from the school or people in their fifties and above. She knew it didn't bother Jamie, but she really wished that he spent more time with people his own age. She knew it was something Mary would want too. It was her attempt to help him get a social life outside of drinks with guys from his precinct.
The first week of February Jamie gave in and signed up. He was going to a new volunteer intake after a busy tour. Vinny wanted him to come out with him and some of his friends. Jamie just laughed because Vinny asked every day when they got off tour, and he'd only go one or two days a week.
There were only ten people in the meeting room. Jamie hoped Shelly was going to be happy about this. He was doing it because he didn't want to disappoint her, but he didn't understand why she didn't want him at the soup kitchen as much anymore.
Everyone in the room is around his age, and he had a feeling that was part of why Shelly was pushing him in this direction.
"Hey Jamie, I thought that was you." Dana, an old friend from Harvard sat down next to him and smiled.
"Dana, how are you?"
"I'm good. I thought you stayed in Boston."
"I did for a couple years, then some stuff happened, and I decided to change my path. Are you still with Harper Manning?"
"Yeah, just want to do some good."
Their conversation was broken up by the leader of the group.
"Good evening, all, and thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to help those who need it. Tonight, is about going over what you've signed up for, getting to know each other because you will always be working in partners for safety. I'm going to start going around the room, I want you to stand up tell everyone your name, if you have ever worked with the homeless before and this last one is hard, but I promise no judgement here, if you have been homeless yourself before."
"What if we don't feel comfortable answering those questions in front of strangers?" A man in the front row asked.
"That's what tonight is about getting to know each other. I will start."
"Okay, thank you. Will we only be working with people in this room?" Another woman asked.
"Yes, now let me start and I ask that all questions be held until everyone talks."
Eddie paused while the entire room shook their heads.
"My name is Eddie Janko, and I'm a social worker here in Manhattan, I've been working with the homeless for the last five years. I am lucky enough to have never been homeless myself. If you encounter something on the street that you don't know how to handle call me and I can help. We are currently down a second group leader, so once your training is done if anyone is interested, please let me know."
Eddie looked around the room and waited for someone to speak up and if someone didn't then she would choose someone.
"I'm Dana, I'm a corporate attorney. I volunteered at a soup kitchen in college that a friend set up for a bunch of us a couple of times in Boston, but that was years ago, and I've haven't done anything since. I've never been homeless."
"I'm Angela, I'm a fifth-grade teacher. I have and have had student who've been homeless before. I've worked in a homeless shelter, and soup kitchen before. I haven't been homeless before, but I have a lot of experience and I'll be able to help if anyone needs it."
"My name's Allen and I work in a pizzeria. This is the first time that I've worked with the homeless, but I was homeless for two years, and it was someone at the soup kitchen that helped me get back on my feet, and now I'm able to give back."
"I'm Hector, I own and run a sign company. I've worked in homeless shelters, and soup kitchens, and food pantries before. Many of employees have been homeless before, and so I have I. My employees will be joining the program too."
"My name's Erin, I'm a marketing specialist. I've never worked with the homeless and I've never been homeless."
"My name's Derrick, and I'm a psychologist. I've worked with the homeless in my practice and in places that I've volunteered. I've worked with kids and adults. I've never been homeless."
"Hi, I'm Melinda, I'm an ER nurse at St. Victors. I see the homeless every day. I've never been homeless myself, and I work with a lot of cops and firemen who see the homeless every day too."
"Hi, my name's Jamie, I'm a beat cop in Manhattan. I started working in a soup kitchen when I was about nine or ten with my adopted mom, and I've been working in that same soup kitchen most of my life. When I went away to college, I worked in a soup kitchen and homeless shelter there. I co-managed the soup kitchen in Brooklyn for a about a year and half. I was homeless for two years."
Dana is surprised by parts of what Jamie's saying. She had no idea he was a cop or that he was homeless or adopted.
Eddie saw a great prospect for a co-leader.
"Hi, I'm Sam. I work at a law firm as a paralegal. I've never worked with the homeless before and I've never been homeless before."
"I guess I'm last. I'm Arnie, and I'm a defense attorney. I've never worked with the homeless before and I've never been homeless before."
Now you've all went through background checks and wouldn't be here if you didn't pass. Your first time out I will be going with you. Tonight, you are going to try on your uniforms. They make it fun for everyone and advertise the cause. After listening to everyone do any of you know each other?"
"I know Dana, from college and Melinda from work." Jamie explained.
"I know Sam and Arnie. I've seen them at the courthouse before." Dana stated.
"I know Jamie, from when he's come into the hospital before, and I've met Derrick a couple times too." Melinda said.
"I've met Melinda before like she's said." Derrick concurred.
"That's great. Thank you everyone for sharing. Now we will all get out of this crowded little room and move into the larger conference room. In there you will notice that there are a few different stations. Station one is the food and supplies cart. We use this to hand out the things that people need. The second station is transportation. We offer to take people to shelters if they want to go, and the third station is how to deal with homeless kids. You will encounter them on the street. Jamie, Allen, or Hector, were any of you homeless as a child? If you are not comfortable answering, it's okay too."
"No." Allan and Hector say at the same time.
"Yes. I was ." Jamie said and everyone in the room looked at him. At least everyone didn't know his last name just a few of them.
"Okay, and for those who have worked in soup kitchens or homeless shelters, did you work with kids? If you have worked with kids, please walk to the right side of the room."
Jamie, Melinda, Derrick, and Angela all moved to the right side of the room.
Eddie was trying to determine partnerships and how to gauge everyone. After splitting the room, she started each group on one of the tasks. Once everyone got through the tasks, she let everyone take a short break. The training could be hard, but Eddie knew their first night on the street was the hardest thing several of the people would endure.
Jamie grabbed a big cup of coffee. It had been a long day. Dana was talking to the others that she knew but was planning on catching up with Jamie when she got a moment.
"Hi Jamie, thanks for volunteering."
"Hi Eddie. It's no big deal. Trying something new. If I wasn't here, I'd be at the soup kitchen or homeless shelter at St. Brendan's. I just want to help."
"I'm sure that you're busy, but would you be interested in being co-leader? You have the most experience and seem like a good fit."
"What would that entail. My job can be demanding sometimes, and I may not be available at all times."
"I get that, and that's okay. We just have to have a leader available if we got people out on the street. If one of us isn't available, then we will have backups. I think you would be a good fit and the other volunteers really responded to your story."
"I'll do it. I'm assuming that to be a leader I will need to undergo additional background checks and more training."
"Yes, but we'll be able to fast track your background check because you're a cop. It helps. If you want, you can go over the paperwork with one of your PBA attorney's. Legal paperwork sucks." Eddie smiled.
"No, that's okay. I can do it."
"Ok, just read through it carefully, but the group that runs the organization will ask if you want a lawyer just so you understand everything. They care about us and don't want us to go into something without full understanding."
"They don't need to worry. I'm a lawyer too. Licensed to practice in New York and Massachusetts. I can understand the paperwork, and I'll ask any questions."
"What made you make the change from lawyer to cop?" Eddie was surprised. Not many people would make that switch.
"Family business and I didn't like being a lawyer as much as I thought I would."
"I understand. I started off as an art director of a prestigious museum. I hated it except for the days when the kids from a local group home came in. I loved those days. Those days changed my life. Three years ago, I quit and became a social worker. My mom hated it."
"It takes guts to follow your heart when other people in your life want you to do something else. I know. I may come from a family of cops, but none of them wanted me to be one. They weren't happy when I joined the Boston Police Department legal team either, it was too close to the family business."
"I'm happy that you're here. We should get started again so we can all get home before ten."
"Great." Jamie smiled. He felt something he hadn't felt in a long time, but he couldn't start a relationship with her because she was his team lead.
The rest of the night goes well. Dana doesn't leave his side and gets assigned as his partner for their first solo trip out. They have two more days of training before they get out on the street. Jamie has to log a minimum of ten hours on the street before he can start his co-leader training. He decided to keep his Sundays open for working at the soup kitchen before dinner and church. Because of the history he couldn't give it up he had too many memories there.
Sunday dinner was good. Jamie was exhausted again, but he was in a better mood. None of the family cared why, they were just happy that he was happy.
Vinny wasn't so easy to appease.
"I don't know what's going on man, but I want it to continue. Does she have a friend?"
"Vinny, will you just drop it. I'm good."
"Something happened like a couple weeks ago. I know you spend half your life volunteering, so did you meet someone?"
"Maybe, and I ran into an old friend from college too."
"Reagan with two girls! Damn man. Which one are you more interested in?"
"Stop it. Both are nice, but Dana's just a friend, and she's not your type."
"How do you know that?"
"Vin, I know her, and I know you. It will not be a match."
"And the other girl?"
"Eddie and I are just friends. She's the leader of my volunteer group."
"So, you'll introduce us."
Jamie just rolled his eyes. Vinny would never change.
It was another long tour at Bitterman, Jamie was convinced that he'd spent more time there since he'd been back at the 12th than he had when he actually lived there.
Because work was crazier than normal, he hadn't been able to get his ten hours in as quickly as he'd hoped. It had taken him a full two weeks. Eddie laughed at him because he was the only one in his group to get that many hours. The only other person close to his hours was Dana and she only had six hours.
Since Jamie was a cop, everyone wanted to partner with him. They knew he knew the streets and the fact that he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet didn't hurt at all either.
Jamie had a hard day. They had found a kid running across the street with blood on his shirt crying. Once he'd picked him up Kyle wouldn't let him go. It was a good feeling, knowing that people, kids trusted him enough to come up to him when they were in danger. He'd gone to the hospital with Kyle and requested Melinda because he knew how good she was with kids, but that didn't matter. Kyle wouldn't let go. He'd been able to determine that it was safe for Kyle to go home, but he still had a feeling something else was going on. He just didn't know what it was.
"Earth to Reagan." Eddie poked his shoulder. "Hey Reagan, you in there?" She laughed.
"Hey Eddie, sorry it was a long day, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it."
"I have days like those. If there's anything I can do, let me know. Today was a good day."
"I'm glad you had a good day. I know you guys see some rough stuff too."
"Yeah, I was able to get one of guys into a private facility. It's not easy, but I did it today. Sorry I'm on a kind of high about it."
"Don't worry, I get it. It's important to celebrate the victories."
"Yeah, I've been doing this for three years and this is only the second time I've been able to do something like this. It's part of why I joined the Homeless Avengers."
Jamie thought that was sweet and really did understand. "I joined because my friend Shelly encouraged me to. I think she's trying to get me to spend time with more people my age."
"Shelly from the St. Brendan's Soup Kitchen and shelter?"
Jamie smiled. Shelly always did make an impact on anyone she met. "Yeah, she volunteered with my adopted mom, and remembered me when my mom and I came in. She's helped a lot over the years."
"I volunteered there when I was in high school. I got in a little trouble and had to do some community service. I went back and volunteered there when I started my job at the museum. She helped me change my path."
"I co-managed the soup kitchen my junior and senior year. Shelly talked me into it. Even worked with the school, so I spent the last hour of my day working through finances, personnel, and ordering supplies. That experience prepared me more for college and working in the real world than anything else I did up to that point."
"Working there changed my life too."
The two continued to talk for a while before realizing how late it was and that they both had to be at work early the next morning.
Again, Vinny wouldn't give up. He can tell a big difference in his partner. He knows this new girl makes him happy.
"Vin, we volunteer together. It's no big deal."
"Isn't this why Shelly wanted you to join this group in the first place! I mean come on. You said that she's cute and after you finish your leader training, you'll be able to date her. Isn't time you took someone home to Sunday dinner?" Vinny laughed.
Jamie was saved by the radio. A domestic disturbance call came in and they had to take the call. Jamie hated these calls because he was old enough before he and his mom left his dad to remember when this happened to his family. His dad would be gone for a couple days and depending on how bad he and his mom were hurt would determine what the next few days looked like. It didn't help that this call was at Bitterman either.
By the end of tour Jamie was regretting his dinner plans with Danny. He'd had three domestic calls today and two of them were close to those that he'd survived. Survived was the best way to describe it.
They'd decided to meet at one of their favorite places from their childhood, and Jamie was shocked to see Danny had arrived early.
"Hey kid, you're late."
Jamie checked his watch. Danny was right. "Sorry, long day."
"What happened?" Danny was hopeful that Jamie would open up to him, but depending on how things went he was already planning on calling their dad or pops on the way home.
"Nothing, I'm hungry."
"Jamie, that look you have isn't nothing."
Ten minutes later they had ordered their food and were sitting in an awkward silence.
"So, what happened on patrol today?"
"Three domestics, two of them involved kids. One of them was a five-year-old boy and I don't know how he was still alive."
"Those are hard. I understand. At least he survived."
"Yeah, but how long until his dad kills him. It's only a matter of time."
"Kid you can't think like that. Thinking like that will dig you into a hole you can't get out of." Danny wasn't used to Jamie being negative. Jamie usually had a positive outlook despite everything he'd done and seen in his life.
"It's not that Danny. Its…" Jamie couldn't say it. Not to Danny. Not to anyone.
"What? Come on, you're not alone." Danny was worried.
"I know I'm not alone. This is hard." Jamie was fighting back tears.
"Jamie we all know the job is hard sometimes. How is Vinny handling it?"
"He's fine. It was hard for him to see, but he doesn't have my history. He's out on a date. He tried to get me to go. She has a friend, but I told him we had dinner tonight."
"That was a long time ago, and that was never you."
"No, but it's a part of me."
"No, it's not. You're a Reagan. We don't beat anyone up in this family."
"You're right the Reagan's don't, but I wasn't born a Reagan, and abuse is in my DNA."
"Come on kid. You are one of the nicest people I know. You control your anger like no one I've ever seen."
"But what if I ever change?"
Danny laughed. "I don't see that happening. Stop, you are not him, and you will never be him."
Jamie laughed too. "Ok, tonight was supposed to be fun. Enough about work."
The rest of the night is on a lighter note and the brothers ate, drank, and laughed.
Danny had always been protective of his younger siblings, but Jamie held a special place in his heart. He knew after that conversation that he had to spend more time with Jamie to remind him that he wasn't violent, that he wouldn't hurt someone. He always listened for the big things that Jamie could encounter, but now he was gonna try and pinpoint when he had days like today.
Danny wasn't the only one thinking about the day. Jamie and Eddie had only really hung out once, and he had been thinking about the future and asking her out when the time was right, but now he couldn't get the image of the woman and her son being wheeled out on the stretchers to the hospital. He didn't want that to be Eddie. He had to laugh a little too, because he had no idea if Eddie would even be interested in him that way. Maybe he was stressing out for nothing.
The next day was his day off and he was going to spend half of his day at the soup kitchen with Shelly. She asked him to come in and look at something.
"Hey Shelly, is something wrong?"
"Hi Jamie, how's work?"
"Work is work. What's going on?"
"Sorry Jamie. I've got some paperwork I'd like you to look at."
"I'm sorry Shelly. It's no excuse, but I've had a few really rough days. I'll take a look at anything you need, and I don't have to be to the Homeless Avengers until after lunch."
"Jamie, I know you have your big family, but you know you can always come and talk to me about anything."
"I know, and I love you for that. Now what is this?"
"Two weeks ago, one of our regulars died, and his family is blaming us because we didn't contact the family."
Jamie couldn't believe what he was hearing. "If you did that, you'd need a call center and research division. How do they expect you to even know who they are, and it isn't uncommon for many of homeless to either not give their full names or use another name. I know I didn't want to give my real name."
"You know this and so do I. What do you think will happen?"
"Get the church involved. Use their legal team. I bet the case is thrown out. How old was the patron?"
"In his fifties."
"Then he had rights to privacy. Don't worry Shelly it will be okay."
"You know that I would help anyone that wanted to find their family or get additional help." Shelly was trying not to cry.
"I know that better than most. You could have easily just called CPS on the weird little kid that wondered in during a snowstorm."
Shelly smiled and laughed. Jamie was good at making people feel better on bad days. "I did end up calling the cops on you."
"Yeah." Jamie laughed, and he was scared to death when he saw his dad's shield. "I'm glad you did."
Jamie ended up going over the case before he had to head into Manhattan and meet up with another leader for training. He'd found out that his leader training was going to consist of two sessions that lasted four hours at a time, and he could request more if needed. All of the training was on the street. One of the things that he had to do was prove that he understood the neighborhood, so he could get to different groups easily if they needed help. That wasn't an issue and he'd aced all of the questions asked, and even gave some helpful information to get from one area from another on foot.
Jamie's day off had been good and exhausting. He was looking forward to seeing Eddie the following night when they'd be volunteering together again.
Jamie was a little worried that he wouldn't enjoy spending more time on the street, but it was different in his superhero uniform than in his blues.
"I think you look good in tights." Eddie laughed but was happy that she got to work with Jamie instead of Dana.
"Thanks. At least no one will recognize me. Although I'm waiting for my brother to drive by. He's working right now."
"He should be proud of the work that you're doing."
"You don't know my brother." Jamie shook his head and laughed.
"Got any plans Saturday? My friend is opening her restaurant and she's donating a portion of the opening to Homeless Avengers."
"Just as friends?"
"Yes, just as friends."
Jamie couldn't be happier. He was going out with Eddie, even though it was just as friends it was still progress in the right direction.