Chapter 6 – Big Brother

The next day, Danny made an early morning stop before heading into work. He waited in his car across the street until he saw the person come outside to check his mailbox. Danny got out of his vehicle and walked towards the house. He wanted nothing more than to punch the guy in the face, but he held back. Hastings noticed someone coming towards him and looked up. "Danny Raegan," he said as the detective got closer. "I bet I know why you're here."

"Robert Hastings. I bet you do," Danny replied, forcing a small smile. He put his hands on his hips, not shy on showing that he was armed. "You don't wanna know how I was feeling or what I thought when I heard about your 'encounters' with my brother, two days in a row," Danny told him. "So I'm gonna say this once…stay away from him or we're gonna have some problems."

Hastings held his gaze. He knew the man was trying to intimate him, but it wouldn't work. "Is that a threat detective?" he coolly asked.

Danny smirked. "No, just a…friendly suggestion," he corrected. "A very strong friendly suggestion."

Hastings finally looked away when he looked down at what little mail he had. "Well if it's any consideration, I didn't mean anything by it. It is a big city and Jamie is a patrol officer; it's not my fault we've run into each other a couple of times," he explained, looking up at Danny.

Danny's blood boiled when the creep said his brother's name. "Like you said, it's a big city…you can understand why two sightings in two days would seem suspicious."

"Yeah, I can see that. I'm sorry if it came across that way, they really were just accidents," Hastings said.

"Well just make sure you don't have any more or I might have to make another surprise visit," threatened Danny. He walked away and back into his car, then drove away towards his Precinct.

Hastings watched him leave before he went back inside. He's going to have to be more careful if he wanted his plan to work…the last thing he needed was the Reagans barging into his home again to bring him in on stalking charges. He stood by the door and smiled. "Soon Jamie, very soon…"

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Their 4th shift started off like any normal shift…except Jamie had been tense the whole time, looking over his shoulders more so than usual whenever they made any stops. "I don't think the steering wheel is going anywhere," Eddie joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Jamie glanced at his partner and then looked down; his knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. He relaxed a bit, but not completely. "Sorry, I didn't know I was holding on so hard," he said. "I guess I'm just a little worried about running into Hastings again."

Eddie looked at him. "Well if we do see him, he'll be hearing something from me, that's for sure," she said as she turned back to look out the front window.

Jamie gave a small smile and a silent chuckle, not taking his eyes off the road. He breathed in and let the air out, getting himself to relax some more. It worked a little, but part of him was still anxious. He really did not want to see him again. Twice was two too many. He hoped that today would be smooth sailing with no 'chance' encounters again.

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Luckily Jamie got his wish. They had some calls here and there, another domestic, home invasion, even a robbery at a bodega. But what Jamie was most thankful for, other than no one getting hurt, was that he didn't have a sighting of him at all. It wasn't until he was back home again, relaxing on the couch, that he realized how tense he had been all day. Some of his muscles were sore, so he started rubbing the back of his neck. He didn't have his hopes up though…just because nothing happened today doesn't mean it won't happen another day. 'New York is so big though…what are the chances I'd run into him again?' he thought. 'I don't even run into my family or people that I knew from school that much.'

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He tensed again…he wasn't expecting any guests. He slowly stood up and walked towards the door. He relaxed when he heard a familiar voice on the other side, letting him know who it was.

"Hey kid," Danny said when Jamie opened the door.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Jamie asked.

Danny shrugged. "I can't come over and hang out with my little brother?" he replied. "You gonna let me in or am I gonna have to drink all of these myself?" he asked, lifting up the six pack of beer he brought.

Jamie smirked and opened the door wider so Danny could come in. "Well if you came over and hung out more often I wouldn't be asking," Jamie joked. They sat down on the couch and Danny gave him a beer before opening one up for himself. "But we both know why you're here and I'm fine," he told his older brother.

"I know, you've said that to me over the phone. I wanted to see how you were really doing…it's been a few days since I've seen you, you know," he reminded him, taking a sip of his drink.

Jamie opened his bottle and copied his brother. "I know, but I've just been working a lot. You know how it is."

"Yeah, I do. Which is why I wanted to come over." Danny waited a bit before asking Jamie a question. "Did you see him again?"

Jamie looked at his bottle before taking another sip. "No, thank God. Doesn't mean it won't happen though," he said quietly.

Danny looked at him. "Well you shouldn't have to worry about that anymore," he said.

Jamie glanced over at him. "What do you mean? What'd you do?" he asked.

"What makes you think I did something?" Danny asked, acting innocent.

"Because I know you," Jamie simply said, giving him a look.

Danny sighed and set his beer on the side table. "Fine. I may have seen him this morning and possibly gave him a suggestion of leaving you alone," he admitted, raising his hands up in defense.

Jamie gave out a little groan and hung his head. "Danny, I can handle this," he told him, looking back up.

"I didn't say you couldn't…I know you can. I just don't like the idea of that creep being anywhere near you. So I just reminded him what might happen if he doesn't stay away, that's all. I didn't hurt or even touch him, even though I really wanted to…" Danny said.

Jamie took another drink of his beer. He appreciated what Danny did, but he just didn't want Hastings to think that he couldn't fight his own battles. "Danny, I should tell you something…" he started to say, but then stopped.

Danny looked at his brother. He could see him staring off into the distance, lost in his thoughts. "What's up?" he asked gently.

There was hesitation before Jamie continued. "I haven't told you guys everything about when I saw Hastings…it's nothing bad he did or said, you guys know all of that," he said when he saw the look on his brother's face. "It's more of how I was, I guess. Both times I saw him, I—I froze. It's like I couldn't move or talk or anything. I think I had a panic attack the first time; but both times, my breathing got faster and I couldn't stop shaking and it took a while before I could calm down. Even the victim of the car crash we responded to could tell something was wrong…my hands wouldn't stop shaking while I was taking her report." He looked down at his hands and swallowed the lump that was in his throat. "It's like—it's like I was 12 again. I felt like a kid when I saw him…scared, confused. And I haven't been sleeping well, ever since dad first told me about his release. I keep having the same nightmare of that basement and that damn couch and he's always there, wanting to do to me what he couldn't all those years ago," he confessed, his voice trembling a little near the end. He took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I hate it…I shouldn't be acting like this. I mean, I'm older, I'm an adult, I'm a freaking cop! But apparently not when I'm around him…"

Danny listened to what Jamie told him. He sat there in silence for a moment before speaking. "Jamie, it's not your fault for how your body reacts…you saw the man who nearly ruined your life for the first time since you testified against him. You have every right to be scared and mad and everything in between…that doesn't make you less of an adult or less of a cop. Everyone gets scared. I get scared thinking about losing Linda or the boys, or them losing me because of this job…I get scared whenever I know you're out on the streets, and I pray that I don't get a call that I lost another brother…" he said quietly, which made Jamie look over at him. "You're strong and stubborn and a Reagan…and you have us to help you with anything you're going through." Danny looked at his younger brother and smiled, putting his hand on the latter's shoulder.

Jamie grinned back. "I thought those last two went hand in hand," he said, causing Danny to roll his eyes and laugh, putting his hand down. "But thanks Danny. I just need to learn how to adjust with this new "normal", knowing he's out and a free man," Jamie told him.

"Well like I said, you're not alone…alright, kid?" Danny stood up, with Jamie following suit.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Jamie said, giving his brother a hug.

They parted and then walked towards the door. "Go ahead and keep the rest of that beer…just don't drink it all in one sitting," Danny joked as he was leaving.

Jamie just rolled his eyes as he closed and secured the door. He wasn't sure how he got so lucky being in this family, but he definitely thanked God every chance he got that he did. With one more shift to go before his long weekend, Jamie got ready for bed without eating any dinner…he wasn't that hungry anyways. 'Please let me sleep tonight…and please no more nightmares,' he thought as he climbed into bed.

AN: Oooh, what does Hastings have planned? Stay tuned to find out! ;)