Once again big thanks to my reviewers 50fanofmcgarrett, the guest Libbie, decadenceofmysoul, Pharmergirl, jlmayer, and Nitapeeta138. Your encouragement and words helped me get this chapter out.

Contains scenes from 3x3 and references to 3x4.

The party was in full swing on Sunday and Anna was dancing with Nicky and some of Nicky's friends when Kyle showed up. "Kyle," Anna grinned.

"Hey beautiful," he said, wrapping her in a hug. He kissed her cheek and smiled. "You look great. Let's see." He took her hand and spun her around. "Same dress, different hair, different shoes."

"I'm impressed," Anna said. The shoes she was wearing were flats instead of the new heels she had bought at the thrift store and her hair was down and curled instead of pinned up.

"I have two sisters; you notice the little things. And you must be ..." Kyle turned to Nicky.

"Kyle, my cousin Nicky. Nicky, my boyfriend, Kyle." Anna introduced them.

"You look amazing, Nicky. Happy birthday."

"Thank you. Your pictures don't do you justice." Nicky smiled then she spotted her uncle. "Uncle Danny's glaring, Anna."

"And he will be for the rest of the night. Overprotective," Anna answered. "Didn't you say your friend Luke was coming?"

"Uh ... yeah. I asked him to come. I really hope he does."

"You like him?" Anna asked. Nicky's face flushed red a clear sign she liked the boy.

"A lot. And he was real sweet at the Yankees game."

Anna smiled and turned back to Kyle. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey. So that's your family huh?" Kyle asked, glancing back at the table Danny was sitting at.

"Yeah," Anna answered. She took his hand and pulled him over to the bar where the party wasn't quite as loud. "That's them. I know they look intimidating but they're really not and they won't harass you. You can even stay over here if you want. You don't have to meet them."

"I um ... I met your aunt. She seems nice." Kyle looked down at their joined hands and toyed with Anna's fingers.

"She is, unless she's in court. She's really passionate about her job."

"That's good."

Anna nodded and saw a boy talking to Nicky. She didn't recognize him so she pulled out her phone and flipped through Nicky's timeline to see that the boy in question was indeed Luke. "Looks like that's Luke," Anna said.

"Yeah? Could be."

"He's cute," Anna slipped her phone back in her bag. "Not as cute as you, but cute."

"I guess." Kyle shrugged.

Anna grinned. A few minutes later, Anna saw a man near the Reagan table in a suit that wasn't a Reagan. After Frank sat down, the man turned back towards the dance floor and Anna saw his face. "Kyle, get something to drink, please. I'll be right back." Before Kyle could respond, Anna was off, weaving through the crowd to the table. "Uncle Jack!" Anna squealed.

"Hey!" Jack answered. He scooped her up and hugged her tight. When he sat her down he held her by the shoulders and scrutinized her. "Okay, what have you done with my real sprite? She wasn't this tall or grown up." In European tales most fairies were called sprites and when Anna was little her favorite stories were about fairies. Also the first year her mom and dad let her pick her Halloween costume she had picked Tinker Bell and the costume had been perfect. Jack had jokingly referred to her as his little sprite ever since.

"It's been two years, Uncle Jack. I hit puberty and grew up. Just like Nicky did."

"You know technically I'm not your uncle anymore."

"You're my cousin's dad right? Nicky still calls you dad?"

"Well ... yeah."

"In my definition that makes you my uncle. A parent's brother, an aunt's husband, or, to me, a cousin's father. I mean, you still care about me, don't you?" Anna gave him her best puppy dog pout and batted her best puppy dog eyes at him.

"Of course I do, Anna."

"Besides what else should I call you? Mr. Boyle? Counselor? Jack?" Anna suggested. "I've got a brother named Jack, I've never seen you in court though Aunt Erin says you're really good at what you do, and Mr. Boyle makes you sound really old or like my high school teacher."

"Alright, I get it. So that boy you were talking to?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

"That's Kyle," Anna said, noticing the family was listening.

"The Kyle?" he asked.

"Yes. We've been dating for a few weeks. Are you back in town to stay?"

"I don't know. I'm considering it."

"Okay. Just don't tell Nicky until it's more permanent than once a month. I don't like seeing her upset because you've disappointed her, again." Anna's look hardened and he swallowed.

"Anna ... I ..."

"Like I said, don't disappoint her. Anyway can I call you sometimes if I need advice or ... help?"

"Of course, I told you that."

"Good," Anna said brightly. "I'm really glad you came. So is Nicky," she waited a beat. "Right Nicky?"

"Absolutely," Nicky added from behind Anna.

Anna looked around then at Nicky. "Where'd you leave Luke?" Anna asked.

"By the bar, talking to Kyle," Nicky answered.

Anna glanced over her shoulder to see the two boys talking. "Anna," her uncle Jack said getting her attention again. Anna looked up at him. "You need anything, number hasn't changed."

"Thanks Uncle Jack," Anna grinned.

She turned to make her way back to Kyle but Jamie called her. "Anna!" he said.

She cringed but walked back over to the table and planted a hand on the table then blinked at Jamie. "Yes?" she asked sweetly.

"Are you going to introduce us to your friend?" Jamie asked.

"But you already know Uncle Jack." Anna grinned. Jamie stared at her plainly and Anna's smile deepened. She was careful not to look at either of her grandfathers or she knew she'd break. She stole a glance at her brothers and then Jamie grabbed the arm she was leaning on and spun her around so she fell into his lap.

"Tell me," Jamie said.

"You're mean. You've been demoted. I like Uncle Jack better," Anna pouted, looking up at him.

"Please?"

"Okay, fine. That's Kyle, the bru—the one on the left as you're looking at the boys by the bar. I was going to say brunette but they're both brunette. The one in the grey jacket. You can sit here and glare at him all you want but I don't want to blow this so I'm not bringing him over here. Dad's met him and he sorta approves so that has to be good enough. Please?" She batted her eyes at her uncle and he melted.

"Okay. Have fun," Jamie said.

"Thanks." Anna grinned and got up going back over to Kyle.

"Who was that?" Kyle asked at a lull in conversation with Luke. He wrapped an arm around Anna's waist and pulled her in close.

"That's Nicky's Dad," Luke answered for her.

"Yeah, my uncle Jack. Though my aunt and him got divorced about two years ago and he doesn't come around much, we still get along pretty good," Anna explained.

"And that guy you were sitting with?" Kyle asked.

"That's my uncle Jamie. My dad's brother. Do you want to dance?" Anna asked.

"Sure," Kyle answered though he seemed confused.

"It was nice to kinda, sorta meet you, Luke. I'm Anna, by the way. Nicky's cousin."

"She said that. You too," Luke told her. Kyle pulled her onto the dance floor where they were shortly joined by Luke and Nicky. They danced for a while then it was time for cake.

"Is it just me or does Kyle seem sorta distant?" Anna asked as they stood away from their boys.

"He does, yeah. Maybe it's my fault." Nicky looked a little guilty.

"What did you do?" Anna asked gently.

"When you were talking to Dad, he asked me about the man sitting at the head of your dad's table. He asked if it was the PC. I'm sorry, Anna. I told him it was and that he is our grandfather. I know you don't like being known as that Reagan. I didn't mean to upset anything." Nicky looked tormented and distraught.

Anna sighed softly. She smiled and shook her head. "I'm not mad. Not really. You said the truth and I knew there was a chance that he could find out. If I didn't want him to know or chance him finding out, I wouldn't have invited him, I just would have brought Jim." Nicky looked at her cousin apologetically and Anna waved her off.

A few days later, Jim walked past Anna and Kyle at the start of the school day and saw they were having a serious conversation. He considered stopping to see if everything was okay but knew if she had a problem, she'd let him know, and she was more than capable of handling it herself. Five minutes later as he was dropping the last book in his locker, a hand dropped on his shoulder. He turned to see who it was and saw Anna looking angrier than he had seen her in weeks. She grabbed the lapels of his uniform jacket and slammed him back into the locker beside his. "It's. All. Your. Fault!" Anna snapped out. Each word was punctuated by another push into the lockers.

"Anna, I—"

"He broke up with me and it's all your fault." Her fingers flexed around his lapels and he wisely kept quiet. It could go horribly for him if he didn't find the exact right words to say to her.

Luckily Derrek spoke. "What did he say, Anna?"

She turned her heated glare towards Derrek and it tempered a bit but she didn't release her hold. "He said that he needs to focus on football and his grades to get into college and me being around was preventing that." Her gaze swung back to Jim. Jim understood Kyle's drive to focus on his grades and college and football as both of them were seniors but he didn't think having a relationship with Anna would prevent that. Anna was one of the most understanding girls Jim knew. "He was jealous of you and you being overprotective, did nothing to temper it. You're a jerk." She spat out the last three words and Jim felt worse than he had in a long time. Anna hadn't intentionally called him a jerk or blamed him for something without a teasing tone in her voice since the game he and Drew had supposedly sabotaged to get her to pitch. Anna stalked off, leaving Jim calling after her.

"She's just upset," Derrek said, trying to calm his friend. "Try talking to her after school. Maybe she'll talk to you then." Jim nodded and they both went to class. At lunch Jim watched Anna walk out of the food line and look around then she smiled and walked over to Becky. Jim sighed and decided to talk to her after school.

"Can I sit here?" Anna asked.

"Sure," Becky said, moving her chemistry book. "What happened? You haven't eaten lunch with me for a month."

"Do I really need a reason to sit with my best girlfriend?"

"Anna, I don't mind, I know when it comes to lunch you'd rather eat with your boyfriend or the baseball team. I don't care. We're good enough friends that I can go a month or so without eating lunch with you or only texting and not worry about losing you as a friend."

"That's what I like most about you. Still, I should be a better friend. I haven't asked about your life, your future plans—" Anna started but Becky waved her off.

"My life is as boring as this white napkin. I go to school, I hang out with Beth, I watch my kid brother, watch other kids in the neighborhood, do my homework, bug my parents. I'm not some doll that you put on the shelf when you get wrapped up in your boyfriend and the baseball team. I do have a life and other friends. I'm okay, Anna, and I don't need you holding my hand all the time. I'm okay, really," Becky said. "No offense."

"None taken. I'm glad you have other friends."

"Speaking of my other friends, is it true Kyle broke up with you?" Becky asked. Anna bit her lip and stabbed at her lunch. That in itself was enough of an answer. "I am so sorry."

"Thanks," Anna whispered.

"Is it true, it's because of Jim? That's what everyone's saying."

"I blamed it on him," Anna shrugged, "Kyle was kinda jealous of him."

"Why?"

"I don't know. He said Jim was a little overprotective and no one is that protective unless there's something they want from the other person."

"Kyle's a jerk," Becky answered. Anna stared in disbelief. "He is. You remember Tara right? Cheerleader, dated um ... Shawn on the hockey team?" Anna nodded. "Tara's older brother was overprotective, kinda like Jim is to you and though Shawn was upset by it, he understood. Good guys will. Kyle's a jerk for not understanding."

"Becky!" Anna groaned.

"No, he is, especially if that's why he broke up with you. You have an overprotective friend. So what? That's not a big deal."

"He didn't put it that way you know."

"I know. He said something about his grades. Whatever. Did your dad intimidate him too?"

"I think he tried but I'm not sure how much it was just him. He kinda met the rest of the family the other night."

"Kinda?"

"He was in the same room with them and Nicky pointed them out. She also told him about my grandfather."

"Oh."

"Should I really care this much?"

"Isn't he your first real boyfriend?" Anna nodded. "Of course it's going to hurt, even if his reasons are completely valid. Which by the way, I don't think they are in this case."

"What about Jim?"

"He didn't really do anything. So he's overprotective but he's Jim. Derrek's protective of you too. Krista just tempers it so you don't really notice." Anna shook her head and Becky smirked. After a moment she changed the subject. "So, Chemistry. How do you think the test is going to go?"

Anna sighed but allowed the subject to be changed. When Anna got home that night after work, she found her mom on the couch and her dad nowhere to be found. "Where's Dad? Don't you two usually have some big, fancy dinner or something for your anniversary?"

"Your dad got stuck at work. Dignitary duty or something."

"Oh," Anna said. It wasn't surprising. Danny often got caught up at work and she knew that dignitary duty wasn't his favorite. In fact he was only certified because he got paid to take the training. "Well, I was going to take the last of the triple chocolate ice cream upstairs and mope about being dumped today but I can share if you want. We'll watch some sappy movie, have a good cry, and commiserate." Linda smiled and Anna got the ice cream and spoons. When she came back to the living room, Linda had some sappy movie on TV. Anna cuddled up to her mom and Linda held her close letting her eat most of the ice cream. They talked mostly about Kyle and how Anna felt about the breakup.

When Danny finally got home that night, Anna was fast asleep on her mom's lap and Linda was finger-combing her daughter's hair. "Hey," Danny whispered.

"Why don't you take her upstairs and try not to wake her," Linda whispered back, to avoid the very thing she suggested. Danny laid his suit jacket on the chair by the door, rolled up his sleeves, and lifted his daughter into his arms before taking her upstairs to bed. Linda smiled at the show of strength then frowned remembering she was mad at him. Danny gently laid Anna down on her bed then tucked her in. He went to check on his boys before going back down to his wife in the kitchen. She was pulling a plate from the microwave as he walked in. She turned to him and offered him the plate.

"I'm sorry," Danny said. "I really tried to be here. You can even ask Jackie."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah." He took the plate from Linda and set it on the counter then wrapped his arms around her. I know that things have been tough lately with money concerns and busy schedules and everything else, but nothing can change how I feel about you. You and those kids are my world, despite what Anna thinks at times, and I'm sorry I haven't told you how much I love and care about you lately," Danny said, pulling her close. Well as close as her crossed arms and heated glare would let him. "I promise when this case is over we'll do something."

Linda sighed and uncrossed her arms to drape them over his shoulders. "I love you too. Now, finish your dinner and I won't have to wait to see how much you care about me." Danny grinned not feeling quite as hungry anymore. "Come on, you'll need your stamina after a hard day's work."

"I'll show you stamina," Danny smirked.

"Danny!" Linda squealed pushing him away. He backed off a little bit, for a moment then leaned in close and kissed her.

So, why would Anna ever need Jack Boyle's help? Well maybe you'll find out down the road if you continue to read. Or maybe she just likes to have a backup plan.