There are rumblings of some kind of Blue Bloods spin off / extension in the works for after the original show ends and I can't help but feel that maybe season 14 has been some kind of subtle set up for this – or it could just be my wishful thinking but my mind started to wonder what a spin off could look like and once I started thinking a potential entire first season story arc came to mind of what I'd like to see - I kid you not.
Now, do I have time to write this? Not really so I decided to write a few chapters that would be the gist of what happens in the first episode and then after that – probably just a summary of the 'highlights' of what the rest of the season would involve. I don't know yet.
…..
New Series Title: Blue Bloods: Family Ties
Chapter 1: Branching Out
Lieutenant Fleming closes a file in his hands then looks at Jamie across the table in the black room of 1PP "And you're sure you want to do this?"
"Yes." Jamie confirms.
Fleming sighs "Have you talked to Officer Janko yet?"
Jamie shakes his head "No, I didn't want to bring it up with her until I got approval from you."
Fleming takes a deep breath "Well you're right." He admits "This might be the only way to take Meretti's organization down and believe me, others have tried."
"I know Boss." Jamie confirms "That's why I want to go at them from the inside."
"That would take you out of our jurisdiction though." Fleming notes.
"I know." Jamie repeats "But he's trying to expand into New York City. We can't let him get a foothold here. It would be an all out war."
"True." Fleming agrees "Okay, I'll make some calls - we'll set up a joint Federal operation."
Jamie nods in acceptance "Thank you Boss."
…
Eddie looks up from the kitchen in the apartment at the sound of the door opening "Hey you!" She brightly greets at the sight of her husband entering "Just in time!" She quips as she holds up a plate of food "Dinner's ready!"
Jamie tries to just simply smile at his wife as he contemplates how exactly to broach the subject with her but Eddie, knowing her husband so well, can already tell something is up "What's wrong?" She queries in concern.
Jamie's smile turns tight "Let's talk…"
…
It's yet another Sunday at the Reagan household and as everyone settles into their seats around the dinner table Jamie and Eddie exchange a 'its now or never look' so Jamie clears his throat to get everyone's attention "Um before we say Grace…" he begins "...Eddie and I have some news."
"Oh my god you're finally pregnant!" Erin excitedly blurts out.
Jamie and Eddie turn to look at Erin "Um, no." Jamie rejects before shifting his focus to his wife "Right?" he then hesitantly questions.
"Right." Eddie agrees.
"Right." He repeats with more confidence before continuing on "We just wanted to let you know that this will be the last Sunday dinner that Eddie and I will be attending for a while."
An unhappy look appears on Henry's face "Why?"
"Well ah…" Jamie slowly begins as his eyes drift over to his father "...we have accepted a long term under cover assignment."
"What?" Henry questions in surprise.
"Together." Eddie reiterates in clarification as both she and Jamie wait for the fall out.
"Together?" Danny questions in confusion as he and the rest of the Reagan family all look over at Frank for explanation who with a slightly unhappy look on his face, just stares at his youngest son and his wife "Oh don't look at me." He deflects to the table "This is the first I'm hearing of this."
"Seriously?" Henry questions.
"Seriously." Frank deadpans unimpressed before looking at his youngest son waiting for an explanation.
"Wait, exactly how long is long?" Danny suspiciously inquires.
Jamie jostles that around in his mind "A least a year – maybe more."
"A year!" Erin repeats in shock as everyone around the table all start talking at once, one on top of one another and Jamie and Eddie have a hard time deciphering anything anyone is saying.
"Look it's a deep undercover assignment." Jamie loudly explains cutting them all off so when they've all settled down he reluctantly adds "That will take us well out of our regular jurisdiction."
"Francis!" Henry unhappily chides – the tone of his voice demanding his son do something.
"There is nothing Dad can do Pop." Jamie adds "It's a joint taskforce with the FBI. They are running it, not the NYPD."
"But you AND Eddie?" Erin questions.
"Yes. The cover calls for a husband and a wife." Jamie explains before looking at his wife "And I wouldn't accept an assignment like this without her."
Eddie nods her head in agreement "Look we talked about this and it's something we agreed we want to do together."
"A year." Danny sighs out with a shake of his head "That's a long time."
"I'm sorry." Erin interrupts as she turns in her seat to look at her father "How do you not know about this?"
"The official request will land on the Commissioner's desk tomorrow." Jamie replies instead as he shifts in his seat to look at and address his father "I've never asked for anything professional from you before but I'm asking…"
"We're asking." Eddie quickly corrects.
"We're asking…" Jamie repeats "…for you to approve this."
"And you thought it was a good idea to blindside him with this at the dinner table?" Danny bites at his brother.
"No this is us giving him – everyone – a heads up." Jamie corrects.
"It's the Meretti operation isn't it?" Frank suddenly states in realization before sighing "I can't say I'm surprised."
Eddie looks over at her father in law "You're not?" She queries in a bit of surprise herself.
Sensing her father will give in and worried for her brother and sister in law Erin warns "Dad…"
"Erin don't." Frank warns right back "As a father I don't like this anymore then you do but I'm also the Police Commissioner and Sergeant Reagan has been doing incredible work with the Field Intelligence Unit. I can completely understand the FBI wanting to pull him – and Eddie - into this operation. I hate to say this but – they are perfect for it."
"So…" Jamie hopefully begins to prompt "Is that a yes?"
"I will need to review the request." Frank counters "I know you are both capable but you are still my family."
"Um isn't that blurring the lines Grandpa." Sean begins to point out "You just said…"
"I know what I said." Frank interrupts with hints of frustration "But Jamie is my son and Eddie is my daughter in law – I will review the request with an open mind when I get it." He promises "Now until then, it's Sunday, so let's eat."
"Especially if it will be Uncle Jamie and Aunt Eddie's last." Sean states.
"Not last." Jamie corrects "We will be back."
"Just not for a while." Eddie adds.
"A long while." Henry unhappily tacks on.
"Bless us oh lord…" Frank suddenly begins signalling the end of the conversation – if he were indeed to approve this operation he wanted to make the most of this dinner with his son and daughter in law…
...
Henry is in the kitchen eating left overs when Jamie walks in and slows his pace to a stop at the sight of his grandfather. A second later, he moves towards the table "Listen Pop..."
"I get it." Pop interrupts "I may not like it, but I get it. It's your calling - even all the way back to when you were a rookie, under cover work is in your blood but can I ask one thing?"
Jamie pulls out a chair and sits down at the table "Sure, Pop."
"Can you at least call when you can? I'm not getting any younger here."
Jamie smiles at grandfather "Sure Pop."
"Good." Henry accepts before picking up a second fork on the table and offering it out to Jamie "Hungry?"
Jamie can't help but laugh.
….
Frank sits at his desk at 1PP when the door opens and Abby enters "Sergeant Reagan and Officer Janko sir."
Frank gestures for them to come in so stepping aside, Abby motions for the couple to enter.
Dressed in their dress blues, Jamie and Eddie enter the office and both salute.
"At ease." Frank offers before gesturing to the chairs in from of him "Have a seat you two."
Jamie and Eddie move to settle into their seats and once they do Frank clasps his hands together and places his arms over a file on his desk with a slight thud as he plasters a big smile on his face "So I reviewed the request…"
"And?" Eddie can't help but nervously inquire before slightly kicking herself for the interruption "Sorry." She apologizes "Go on."
Frank as Police Commissioner stares at the officers across the desk from him one second more then heavily sighs and Frank as a Father speaks next "And you're sure you two really want to do this?" he just has to ask.
"Yes." Jamie and Eddie reply in unison without even having to look at one another and it's that unwavering commitment Frank sees from them that tips the scale so sighing, Frank reaches over, picks up a pen and signs his name at the bottom of the form. He then puts the pen down, closes the file, picks it up and offers it out to Jamie "Good luck Sergeant Reagan, Officer Janko. Do good work and come back safe."
"Thank you Sir." Jamie and Eddie both reply.
"Please." Frank the father then implores to his son and daughter in law "Come back safe."
Jamie nods at his Father "We'll do our best Dad." as Eddie nods in agreement.
…..
"No loud parties." Jamie warns his nephew as he, Eddie and Sean stand in middle of Jamie and Eddie's apartment and Jamie hands him a set of keys.
"Otherwise Mrs. Riley next door will call the cops on you." Eddie adds.
"No loud parties, got it." Sean accepts.
"Try not to break anything." Eddie requests.
"Unless it's that vase over there." Jamie adds as he gestures towards some décor in the corner of the room.
"Hey!" Eddie protests to her husband "I thought you liked that vase?"
"Meh." Jamie honestly admits.
Eddie turns her attention to her nephew "Do NOT break the vase."
"Got it." Sean again accepts "Do not break the vase."
"Rent is paid for the next three months." Jamie reminds his nephew "After that it's on you."
"I know." Sean accepts "Don't worry."
"I do worry." Jamie admits "Because we like this apartment so we don't want to come back only find out we've been evicted because you didn't pay the rent."
"Everything will be fine Uncle Jamie." Sean promises as he moves around Jamie and Eddie and heads to the door "I got this." He adds as he opens the door and Jamie and Eddie turn to look at him "Go." He instructs.
Jamie and Eddie both take deep breathes – this was it – they both silently note as they themselves start for the door.
"Look at him kicking us out of our own apartment." Eddie tells her husband as she and Jamie lean down to pick up the couple of bags they have by the door.
"It's my apartment now." Sean corrects with a happy smile before gesturing a hand out the door "Off you go!"
"Does feel that way doesn't it?" Jamie agrees to his wife as the couple step outside the door "Okay well, we're off." Jamie states to his nephew.
Eager to start making the place 'his', Sean simply plasters a smile on his face, raises a hand and waves goodbye.
Rolling his eyes slightly at his nephew's actions, Jamie turns to walk away and Eddie begins to follow but suddenly Sean calls out "Hey Uncle Jamie, Aunt Eddie?" causing Jamie and Eddie to both stop and turn around to look back at their nephew "Love you guys. Stay safe okay?"
Jamie and Eddie both slightly smile, touched at his sentiment "Love you too Sean." Eddie replies while Jamie – not one to get overly mushy raises a hand and while still holding a bag in it manages to point a finger back at his nephew "Don't break anything." He again warns.
Now it's Sean's turn to roll his eyes "I know!" he states before just turning, walking back inside the apartment and shutting the door.
For a moment Jamie and Eddie just stand there looking at their closed door.
"He's going to break something isn't he?" Eddie inquires.
"Yup." Jamie agrees before the couple both take in a deep calming breath of air.
"Well." Jamie finally states.
"Well." Eddie agrees.
"Here goes nothing." Jamie adds as both he and his wife turn to walk away.
…
Jamie and Eddie step out of their apartment building to find Danny and Erin leaning against Danny's squad car waiting for them.
"What is this our police escort out of town?" Jamie jokes to his brother as he and Eddie walk over.
"Funny." Erin deadpans right before out of nowhere just reaching over and pulling her younger brother into a big hug.
Caught off guard a bit, Jamie chuckles out an "Okay!" but the hug itself is a bit awkward for him because he's still carrying bags in both hands.
"I'll just take those..." Danny helpfully offers as he swipes the bags out of his younger brother's hands allowing Jamie to now be able to properly hug his sister back in return but that just makes Erin squeeze him tighter.
"Erin..." Jamie awkwardly manages to get out as Danny opens the trunk and puts the bags inside "I can't breath."
"Hey!" Eddie jokingly warns her sister in law while smiling at the exchange "Don't kill my husband, only I get to do that."
"Alright fine!" Erin huffs out as she suddenly steps back and slightly pushes her brother away before turning her attention to Eddie and the next thing anyone knows Erin is hugging Eddie.
"Oh!" Eddie notes in surprise as she feels Danny swipe the bags out of her hands next "I get a hug too!"
"Of course you get a hug." Erin confirms as Danny shuts the trunk and walks back over.
"Hugs all around." Danny prompts as he looks at his brother.
"No." Jamie rejects.
"Yes." Danny reiterates before just pulling his brother into his arms in a rare show of affection.
"Quick!" Erin jokes as she pulls out of her embrace with Eddie "Take a picture!"
"Shut up!" Danny tosses at his sister while lightly pushing his brother away from him.
"It was a blink and you miss it." Eddie notes as she opens her arms towards Danny and Danny move to hug her too.
A moment later they break apart and then the foursome just stand on the sidewalk looking at one another.
"You take care of him." Erin states as she looks at Eddie but points at Jamie.
"And you take care of her." Danny instructs as he looks at his brother but knocks his head in Eddie's direction.
"That is the plan." Jamie promises.
"Yup." Eddie agrees as a solemn silence befalls them.
"So are we giving you a ride or what?" Danny suddenly prompts.
"Um no." Jamie replies "We're taking the cars."
Danny looks at his brother super unimpressed "Then why did I put the bags in the trunk?"
Jamie shrugs and tries to keep the smirk off his face "I don't know."
...
Jamie and Eddie open the door to their new small but doable room "Well this is quaint." Eddie deadpans as she plops a bag down and looks around.
"We aren't here for long." Jamie reminds her as he shuts the door behind them.
"I know." Eddie agrees "Come tomorrow we begin moving on up in the world right Mr. Jamie Conners."
"That is what the new ID says." Jamie confirms.
Eddie sighs "Who knew my Dad's real life ponzie scheme background would end up working so well for us as a cover in an Op."
"They took our house..." Jamie recounts with a sigh before a small smile appears on his face "But at least we got to keep the cars."
Eddie grins.
...
It took some time for Jamie and Eddie to finally crack their way into the outer circle of their targets through staged 'chance' meetings, to playing on common interests and using sheer charm and charisma but they finally got their first invitation to Meretti's home – his grand mansion.
Now they drive up the winding driveway in Eddie's Porsche "Alright." Jamie states as he pulls the car to a stop in the loop across from the front door "Here we go."
The couple get out, walk to the door and exchange a silent look before Jamie lifts his hand to knock.
As they wait, they try to ready themselves for whatever they are about to walk into but nothing could have prepared them for when the door opens, they come face to face with the last person they ever expected to see – their nephew, Joe Hill…
...