Sunday after Family Dinner
Danny asked Jamie to drop Sean off at his dorm after Family Dinner and then headed out. Sean was finally able to convince Danny to pair his cell phone with his car so he could use his phone legally while driving. He spoke the magic words to initiate a call while driving to his destination.
"Hey, Danny, what's up? Everything go okay today?"
"Yeah, it was good today. Is Elena still awake?"
"Well, I was just about to give her a bath before putting her to bed. Want me to wait till you get here?"
"Do you mind? I haven't seen her all week and…"
"You miss her. No problem, I guess you're on the way. What about Sean?"
"Jamie and Eddie said they could drop him off at his dorm. I should be there in about fifteen minutes. I appreciate you doing this for me."
"I'm not just doing this for you, she loves to spend time with you. And when she's in bed you can tell me what happened at dinner. See you soon, want some coffee?"
"No, I think I had enough today but thanks. Be there shortly." They hung up and Danny concentrated on his driving. No sense getting picked up for speeding.
An hour later
They had just settled down on the sofa. Elena was thrilled to see Danny and he loved giving her a bath. Maria was always amazed with the way he was with the baby; Elena laughed almost the entire time he was giving her a bath and getting her ready for bed. After they settled Elena in her crib they walked out to the living room. Sitting on the sofa, Danny reached for Maria's hand. "Thank you for letting me come over and spend time with your daughter. Being with her - it just makes me feel so good. It's like the bad guys can't win. The innocence of children could change the whole world if only people could see it. Maybe kids should run the world; life would certainly be different."
"Yes, it would be. Meals would start with dessert and veggies would only be served on special occasions. Now, tell me what you said to Jamie." Danny told her a condensed version of what he said but it wasn't everything he had said to Maria.
"Well, you really nailed some of it with him, didn't you? I think you deserve a special treat. I made this great cake and I've got ice cream to go with?"
"Sounds good, want me to help?"
"I can do it and that way you won't be eating out of the container." Maria dished up dessert for them and brought it to the table. They chatted about the weekend, her time with her family and after cleaning up the dishes they went back to the sofa and sat together. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close. This was his second favorite time of day. Playing with Elena was first for now but just sitting here, quietly, he could feel all the nervous energy fade away. Somehow being with Maria had a calming influence on him. He couldn't explain it, but he lived for these moments.
"So, what exactly did you say to him?" asked Maria.
"Well not everything I told you, you know about Joe and my father, I just…"
"It's okay, maybe next time. Why not ask him to come out after his shift, some neutral place where you can talk, and I mean really talk. Let him know how much it scares you that something might happen to him. Tell him how much time you spent in the chapel at the hospital while he was in surgery."
"I can do that but if it doesn't go well, can I come here? I don't know how you do it but being here with you and Elena… I can just feel all my worries and crap fade away. If this is what meditation does for people, I should have started years ago." He kissed her on her forehead, and she looked up at him. Maria caressed Danny's cheek, and he leaned down and softly kissed her lips. They remained cuddled closely and Danny could feel himself becoming even more relaxed. Driving home would cause him to lose the relaxation he had attained.
He waited a few minutes, "Would you mind if I spent the night here? I can sleep right here..."
"Do you have your bag in the car?"
Recently he had begun having a bag in his car with work clothing for a few days as well as lounge pants and a few tee shirts.
"Yeah, one of your best suggestions ever."
"Go get the bag, maybe we'll watch a game on TV then call it a day." Danny stood up and walked outside. He came back with the bag then handed Maria his gun and shield. She walked over to the front closet and placed the items in her gun safe and locked it. "While you were outside, I found a basketball game; it just started." Danny opened his bag, took out his casual pants and shirt and went into the bathroom to change. Maria also changed into her pajamas, and they cuddled on the couch watching the game. By halftime they were both asleep.
Just after midnight
Maria heard Elena crying but couldn't move. Danny was sleeping and she hated to wake him, but she needed to check on the baby. "Danny, wake up, Elena's crying. Please move," she asked quietly. When that didn't work Maria gave him a shove and was able to get up and move to the baby's room. She turned on a very soft light and checked the baby. A quick change of her soggy diaper, putting on clean pajamas and Elena was soon sleeping. Maria watched for just a moment to be sure she would stay asleep, then turned to leave the room and ran into Danny at the same time.
"I missed you, sorry I didn't hear her before you did."
Maria pulled him out of the room. "It's okay, I think I need to change to the next size diaper. I'll try to get to the store tomorrow. How about we move to bed? You were sleeping really well; you'll sleep even better…"
Danny held her hand as she moved to the bedroom. He watched her get under the covers and moved to his side of the bed. After making sure Danny was comfortable, Maria snuggled close, and they slept till their alarms woke them.
Three days later
They had driven to work together but Maria was very quiet during the ride. He thought back to the last few days, and he didn't think he'd done anything. Maybe it was something with her family and she just needed some time to tell him about it. While stopped at a traffic light Danny reached for her hand, gave it a quick squeeze and when Maria looked at him, he gave her a big smile. "You seemed to be very deep in thought. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not yet, I'm trying to figure something out and when I do, I'll let you know. But I have been thinking about the case we've got with the two mothers getting physical with each other. What do you think about…" They tossed ideas back and forth for the rest of the drive. Once in the office all their attention was directed toward solving their current cases. After talking with the two women, they decided to bring them back to the precinct and see if the situation could be resolved without going to court. Danny took the older woman into one of the interview rooms while Maria spoke to the other woman at her desk. Maria was finally getting to the actual start of the confrontation when her phone rang. She saw who was calling and decided to take the call.
"This is Detective Baez, how can I help you today, Madam Prosecutor?"
"Hello, Detective. I've been trying to reach your partner, but he doesn't answer his phone. Can you tell me what is going on with Ms. Morales and Ms. Esteves?"
"Right now, I'm working with Ms. Morales and my partner is with Ms. Esteves. We're both trying to get all the facts so we know who will be charged with what offenses and then we can turn this case over to your office." Maria listened to Erin complaining that she wasn't getting updates in a timely manner. Maria agreed to speak to her partner and would ask him to call her, but she couldn't guarantee that he would listen to her. She hung up the phone and turned around and asked Scott, one of her co-workers, to ask Danny to come see her. Danny's voice could be heard throughout the office and her request was denied. Scott walked away and shrugged his shoulders at Maria.
Danny started commenting to his suspect about the grief he was getting from the DA's office and how they never let him do his job and why did his younger sister think she could get away with treating him this way. This helped to open the dialog between Danny and his suspect, and the woman finally told him what had happened between the two friends. Danny asked his suspect to wait a moment and he stepped out to talk to Maria. They compared the stories, and they were the same. Danny and Maria walked over to their boss's office and explained the situation. It was holiday time; tempers were on the rise, but these two women had been friends for years and neither woman wanted to press charges. They developed a plan that included mandatory counseling for both parties and if there were no further incidents, no charges would be filed.
Danny and Maria stood up about to leave Mike's office when Maria turned back. "Mike, thanks for your help with this case. I think it's the right thing to do and they won't be back here again. Do you mind if Danny and I go out for lunch? We could bring something back for you…"
Danny looked at Maria, wondering what she was doing. Mike looked at his top detectives also wondering why she would ask. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm meeting my wife for lunch today. We need to discuss the upcoming holidays. Don't stay away too long. Dismissed." Danny and Maria acknowledged the order and brought both women into the interview room. They confirmed that neither one wanted to press charges and they were willing to do whatever had to be done to make things right again between them. Danny laid out the requirements and both women agreed to everything, happy that neither would be facing jail time. They signed the prepared documents agreeing to the terms and made an appointment with the suggested counselor before they left the room. Danny and Maria watched the ladies walk out arm in arm and returned to their desks.
"Do you know what the best part is about resolving this case without involving the prosecutor?" asked Danny.
"No, are you gonna tell me?"
"My sister is going to be pissed and that, partner, is the best part of this deal. You mentioned lunch, any place special you want to go? I'll even treat…"
Maria just smiled, grateful that he had agreed to go out. She had a plan and didn't want to discuss it in the office. They headed out and walked to a popular luncheonette two blocks away. Once their orders were taken, Maria spoke up. "I've been thinking about this issue with you and Jamie for a long time. Please hear me out, I think there's a way to tell him what he needs to hear, and it can just be the two of you." Danny looked at her and motioned for Maria to continue.
"When is the next Family Game Night?"
"Next Saturday."
"How about we invite Erin and Jack along with Eddie and Jamie for dinner. After we've eaten, you take Jamie outside and take a walk while the rest of us clean up dinner and get the place ready for the games. We can set up some snacks and drinks, and invite Sean, Joe, your father and grandfather to join us for the game part of the evening. We don't need to hear what Jamie needs to hear. I think you'll find out he doesn't want to lose you either and he worries about that all the time."
"You're probably right, these are the things we never talk about. You know I'm not good with that kind of thing - dealing with emotions." He reached out and caressed her fingers. "We can try what you've suggested. I can't lose another brother and he might be thinking the same thing. But can I ask a favor from you?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"I'll help in whatever way I can, but could you cook dinner? If I do it, the food might not be great." They discussed what to have while eating their lunch. Maria would make the telephone calls inviting the family. Together, they would grocery shop and Maria would be cooking some of her favorite dishes.
Family Game night
They had spent the morning picking up the groceries and the afternoon preparing the vegetables for the salad. Next, Maria cooked the chicken breasts she would use to make chicken enchiladas. She gathered the items needed to make enchilada sauce while Danny shredded the cheese. Next, Maria prepared dirty rice and set it to cook on the stove. Danny watched her shred the chicken and then added the meat to a bowl with enchilada sauce and black beans and stirred it all together. Together they rolled the enchiladas and made several dishes filled with enchiladas and prepared the dishes to be placed in the oven to be baked. They played with Elena before setting the table and preparing for their dinner guests.
Dinner had been a success. Danny asked Jamie to go with him on a run to the liquor store. Jack volunteered to get the dishes in the dishwasher and wash those items that did not go into the dishwasher. The table had been enlarged and extra chairs added for everyone who would be there. Maria took Elena upstairs and put her to bed; she wasn't sure her daughter was ready for what she was sure to be a very rowdy evening of Reagan's playing games.
The Talk
Danny and Jamie put their coats on and headed out. Jamie headed for Danny's car. "Sorry, kid, we're not going for a ride. Finnerty's is in the car along with two bottles of white wine. Red wine is in the house. Let's take a walk. It won't take long." Danny started walking away from his home. Jamie caught up to him and they walked side by side for a few minutes.
"Okay, what's going on, Danny? Why did you need to get me away from the family to talk to me?" He thought about recent events, "Danny, is there something wrong? The boys are okay?"
"Yeah, you'll see Sean for the games. Jack, last I heard, was doing so well, I no longer have to worry about paying his tuition. He's found his spot, and the school is giving him a scholarship for room, board, tuition and books. He's got a part time job that puts gas in his car and lets him have a beer or two. This is about us, you and me. Only one other person knows what I'm about to tell you."
"You know that if you need help with the bills or a body part…"
Danny looked at him and smiled. "My parts, as you say, are just fine. And the bills are all caught up and I've even been able to save some money. My partner is a wiz. Several years ago, she managed to save up enough money to buy a condo by herself. It wasn't huge but it was great for her. It was in a nice area, well maintained and the value had gone up by more than a third since she bought it. When Maria decided to adopt the baby, she had enough equity in that place to buy a house in a great area, with good schools and childcare close by. She's renting out the condo and that rental income is paying for both places. I wish I had half of her brains." Danny paused for a moment. "She's the one that convinced me that I needed to tell you some things and like I said, only one other person knows about this."
"And that would be the person who made that great dinner tonight for us?"
"Yes. She's also helping me be a better cop and detective. Haven't been called into Mike's office to get a RIP in a long time. Thanks to her. Now, just listen to what I need to tell you, okay? Don't interrupt or I'll never get it all out."
"Danny, I can handle almost anything but please spit it out; it's cold here." They walked for a few more minutes. "Danny, here's a bench, how about we sit, and you tell me what I need to know." They walked together to the park bench and sat down.
"This started with our brother Joe. And when he was murdered. You were in school; I was called out to the scene, and someone notified someone else who called Dad." Danny took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Jamie, I've never seen what I saw that night. I had never, ever seen Dad afraid of something in my life. Never.
"At that time, he'd been on the force over thirty-four years, he'd never been afraid but that night, I saw fear in his eyes. And Dad hasn't been the same since that night. When you were shot when you got involved in one of our cases I was afraid Dad was not going to handle it. When Joe died, I made a promise that I would do everything in my power to keep him from experiencing what he had the night that Joe died. Now, I know that Joe was murdered by some crooked cops and the guy who shot you was a perp, but I could only think that I was going to lose my only brother and that would be…"
"Danny, you don't have to worry about keeping me safe. I can…"
"I know you think you can but if something happens to you, Dad probably won't recover. I can't take the place of you and Joe. We're all Reagans but we're all very different. It's like Dad's qualities were split between us. I need you to be here now and in the future. I know you think it's not my job to keep you safe but if I don't, Dad will suffer. And I can't live with that. I need you to stay on the sidelines and stay out of harm's way. Yes, I know it might make me look like an ass but it's the only way I can live. And keep our father sane at the same time. I can't disappoint him any more than I've already done."
"You don't think Dad would be just as upset if something happened to you?" asked Jamie.
"No, I don't. Not that he doesn't love me; I know he does but I'm just a grunt. I don't even come close to what you do and what kind of a future you have in the department. I'll never be more than a detective. And I love my job and really don't want to be anything else. But you can make it all the way to the top, be Chief of Department and maybe even Commissioner someday."
"Maybe that's not what I want, Danny. I like the work I do; I don't like pushing papers around or being tied to a desk. I want to do police work, not be an administrator. And, despite what you think I don't think he's disappointed in you. Except, maybe that you don't see what's right in front of you. The best thing you'll ever have in your life. And I know he told you not to follow him and Pops and remain single." They both stood up and started walking back.
Danny smiled and looked at Jamie. "We're making some progress on that. But I still have some convincing to do. I'd marry her tomorrow if Maria would say yes. She thinks it's too much for me to raise another family. So, I do what I can. I come and play with the baby, we cook together some nights, watch a game or movie and just be together. We go over to her family home and have dinner so grandma can spoil her only grandchild. When I'm there, grandma doesn't say anything to Maria about her job and how she should find a real job and leave the NYPD." Danny stood up and stretched his arms. "Now, I think we've been gone long enough. But think about what I've said, please. I need you to always be safe and out of danger."
"Tell you what, Danny, I'll try to stay away from trouble, but you need to take care of your business, too. Or I'm gonna have to have a chat with…"
"No, I'll take care of her, don't worry. She really is the best part of my life and I'll do everything I have to do not to lose her." Danny unlocked his car and reached for the three bottles on the back seat. He handed one to Jamie, held onto the other two and locked his car. They walked into the home and greeted the newcomers who had arrived while Danny and Jamie were out walking and talking.
They played a card game using two decks of cards for a game called Cheat, switched over to Go Fish and ended up playing Gin Rummy in teams. Several hours later Frank and Henry decided it was time to leave; morning would soon be here and that meant church and family dinner to prepare. They were followed by Erin, Jack, Eddie, Jamie and Joe. Sean would spend the night in his room and began clearing away all the dishes that needed to be washed and loaded them in the dishwasher. Danny picked up all the items that belonged in the trash and Maria wiped the table and got it ready for breakfast. Danny checked the doors to be sure they were locked while Maria turned off the lights. Sean headed upstairs to his room and was followed by Danny and Maria. She checked on the baby while Danny prepared their bed. They snuggled together and Maria decided now was as good a time as any to find out how the talk between Jamie and Danny had turned out.
"I never got a chance to ask how your walk with Jamie went," said Maria.
Danny thought about it. "I need to thank you for giving me the time to talk to him. He's not happy about what I had to say. I think he's still a bit too cocky thinking he's not going to get hurt out at a crime scene. I'll just have to do my best at keeping him safe whenever we're together at a crime scene. He did say that I should get my act together and make an honest woman out of you." He leaned in and kissed her very gently. "Thank you for tonight," he kissed her nose, "making dinner," he kissed her left cheek, "playing the games," he kissed her right cheek, "for making me talk to Jamie. You always have my back - at work as well as at home."
"Well, that's because I like being the best detective in the NYPD. And working with number two just makes me look even better," said Maria with a silly grin on her face . Danny had a puzzled look on his face.. "Alright, I'm kidding," said Maria. "Together we make the best detective team in the city. I love you and I love that you love Elena as much as I do. But I don't want to lose my partner. If you can fix it so we don't get split up, I'm all for it." They talked for a while trying to decide the best way to keep the status quo at work before they fell asleep.