Sorry for taking so long to get this up. I had to rewrite this chapter. Long story short, it wasn't saved and the comp auto restarted, erasing everything. Computers. Oh well, big thanks to Dasiyangel, YaleAceBella12, Pharmergirl, Mercy156, seleneplaysgames, and the guest Jasmine for all your reviews of the last chapter. Jasmine I've been considering doing that but I'm not sure if that will work out. Also seleneplaysgames, yes there was an error in that chapter but I've gone back and fixed it.

Contains scenes from 4x15

Tuesday at lunch, Derrek pulled Anna to sit between him and Christopher Smith, the left fielder. "Uh, okay," she said. She settled herself down then stared at Derrek. The catcher was definitely up to something.

"Miss seeing you around," Derrek said. He shrugged trying to play it cool.

"You just saw me at tryouts yesterday and advanced civics this morning."

"And where am I supposed to sit?" Todd demanded, looking at Anna. Both Anna and Derrek looked up. Todd glared at his girlfriend and Anna looked down at her lunch. Derrek continued to smile up at Todd.

"There's a chair right there." Derrek motioned to a chair three down on Anna's left. There was something sarcastic in his smile but he made sure to keep it from Anna. The last thing Derrek wanted was to let Anna in on him being protective. She'd be really angry with him. Even more so if she found out that Jim had asked him to do it.

"She's my girlfriend not yours, Jones," Todd answered. Anna looked back up to see Todd's glare now focused on the boy next to her.

"I know that, but you don't need to be with her all the time," Derrek answered lightly.

Two linebackers across the table from Anna stood. They both watched Todd curiously. He looked between Anna, Derrek, and the two linebackers before reluctantly sitting down in the aforementioned chair. Once they were sure he wasn't going to complain any further, the linebackers sat back down. Derrek changed the subject back to baseball recapturing Anna's attention and successfully keeping it away from Todd. This continued for the rest of the week.

"What gives?" Anna asked as they paused next to Derrek's locker.

"What do you mean?" Derrek asked, glancing at her as he put more books in his bag.

"You haven't left me alone with my boyfriend since Monday morning. What is going on?"

"I'm not Jim so I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I've also known you since third grade. Todd. Break up with him."

"Why so I can go out with you?"

"Krista would hate that." Derrek smirked. Anna glared at him. He stood up straight and braced his hands on her shoulders. "Look, I know at least five guys who would give anything to go out with you, three more who would seriously consider it. You are too good for Todd and I'm not going to let you waste your senior year with a guy that stupid and who is going to do absolutely nothing for you. You are too sweet for him and you need a guy who is going to support you, not try to control you."

"I can't break up with him," Anna said softly.

"Why not? You're amazing and you can do anything you set your mind to."

"But he's ..." Anna took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

Derrek wrapped his arms around her. "You are the strongest person I know. If you need support though, I'll have your back the whole time."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Derrek agreed.

That Sunday, Danny watched his daughter from across the table. She looked a bit happier though he couldn't tell why. He decided that his best course of action would be to continue to observe and not pushing knowing that despite the happy mood, she could be upset and he didn't want to make it worse. Several minutes later Sean pushed.

"You still going out with that jerk-wad?" he asked, gaining the attention of the entire table.

"What jerk-wad, Sean?" Nicky asked.

"Not you. Anna. According to Jack and Tyler, Anna's dating a real jerk."

"Bro, come on, not cool," Jack complained, though no one was completely sure if it was because Sean had outed him talking behind Anna's back or if it was because he shouldn't have brought it to the attention of the entire table.

"What about this boyfriend of yours?" Henry asked.

"I've been seeing the outfielder on my baseball team—centerfielder actually—and a lot of my friends don't think he's all too great. He's a good ball player but he's not exactly prince charming. He doesn't abuse me or anything but he can be a bit egotistical. My friends keep telling me I should break up with him and I don't quite agree so they've taken it upon themselves to keep us from being alone."

"This guy got a name?" Henry asked.

"Todd," Anna answered.

"He hasn't been in any serious police trouble, Pops, I already checked," Danny said. "And it had nothing to do with not trusting you."

"I know," Anna said.

"You didn't answer my question. Are you still dating the jerk that made you cry?" Sean asked.

"It's not nice to call people names, Sean," Linda chastised, though she too was curious about the answer.

"And just what makes you think he made me cry?"

"Tyler Stover. He heard it from Becky who heard it from Matt who heard it from Trevor who was talking to Ray who heard it from Emma who was told it by Krista who heard it from Derrek who heard it from Jim after your date last week."

"Just because Tyler heard something from Becky, doesn't mean he needs to tell you and that certainly doesn't mean you need to go running your mouth in front of our entire family."

"Anna?" Jack asked softly.

Anna went on as if she hadn't heard Jack. "And I know it's dumb to be crying over a boy just because he thinks it's proper to tell his girl he wants to bang some hot brunette and then he'd have her too and because said boy also thinks maybe he wouldn't be having such thoughts about other girls if his girlfriend didn't pack on 15 pounds of muscle during baseball season and couldn't keep up with sports talk but damn it hurt." Anna took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I think I'm done. Please, excuse me." Anna left the table and sat on the bottom landing of the steps in the foyer. She didn't sit alone for long before someone walked up.

"Pretty sure I told you once all teenage boys were jerks."

"Not what I want to hear right now, Dad," Anna answered, not looking up.

"I know," Danny said softly. "You remember what you told me when I told you I know how terrible they could be?"

"No," Anna finally looked up and saw her dad leaning against the kitchen doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

"You do," he said, "anyway you said even the bad ones need love and that sometimes you have to get your heartbroken to know how great the right guy is. It hurts and I'm not trying to make light of it or force you to realize I've been there before but it won't hurt for long, especially with your friends."

Anna rested her chin in her palms, her elbows rested on her knees and her fingers drumming on her cheeks. "I know that. I've always known he was bad news but guess I didn't think there was much harm and now I look like an idiot." Anna sniffled.

"You don't look like an idiot. Nobody thinks that. At least no one important least of all me or your brothers. Your grandfather always says it's what you do next that counts."

Anna let out another long breath. "And what do you suggest I do next?" Anna asked.

"Make the baseball team, bring your English grade up, focus on yourself and being happy, and most importantly, don't worry about boys. They'll happen when you least expect it and when I least like it and that will make it so much better. For you at least," Danny told her. Anna nodded then buried her face in her hands.

Danny watched her for a few moments then noticed her shoulders were shaking. He didn't want to sound irritated with her so he held his sigh in as he crossed the room and settled down on the steps next to her. A few awkward pats on the back, and she turned to him wrapping her arms around his waist. Her tears soaked through his shirt and his heart broke. He hated seeing his little girl so heartbroken over a guy, to see her so hurt over something he couldn't protect her from, and he really wanted to. Instead he did what he always did when he saw her crying, he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back. That's the only thing he remembered that calmed her down.

By the time the chest of his shirt was soaked through, Erin came out looking for them and Anna's tears had subsided to sniffles. "Dessert, if you're still hungry," Erin said.

"Give us a couple minutes?" Danny asked. Erin nodded and went back to the table.

"I'm sorry," Anna said.

"It'll dry," Danny said as he rubbed his shirt. He looked back at her and wiped away the traces of tears on her face. "I know you don't want to hear that it'll be okay, but with time and distance, it will hurt less. You'll realize he's an idiot and what he said to make you cry was him trying to make himself look better. Any boy who can think about cheating isn't good enough for any girl, let alone my strong, confident, daughter. There is nothing wrong with you building muscle or being able to talk about sports. What that boy really needs is a good kick in the pants for not realizing how good he actually had it with you, okay?" Danny asked.

"I get all that up here," she tapped the side of her head, "but in here," she tapped her heart, "it doesn't make it feel any better."

"I wish I could say something that did." Danny brushed his thumbs under Anna's eyes again as he cupped her face.

"Me too." Anna pulled back away from him and rubbed her hands along her pants.

Danny let his hands fall to his lap. Anna didn't get up and she looked away from him. He stood. "Do you want me to get your mom?" he asked. Anna shook her head. "Then dessert?"

"Not really hungry," Anna said.

Danny nodded still looking down at her. He shifted his weight contemplating saying something else but decided against it and went back to the table. Anna sat on the steps a few more moments then stood and walked up them to Joe's old room. It still looked the same as it always did meaning it wasn't hard to find her favorite picture of them, the duplicate of the one on her nightstand. She carried it over to the bed and sat down staring at his face. He stared up at her from the photo, arms draped over the photographic Anna in front of him.

"Maybe you'd know what to say," Anna said softly. "You'd kneel down in front of me, look at me with those blue eyes filled with compassion and say ... what? What do you say to a girl who got played the fool? To a girl who knows the guy was bad for her but felt so lonely she didn't really care? How do you ... could you convince her the world wasn't ending? That we all do stupid stuff? Even real Reagans? Would you tell me to get over him and that he wasn't worth it? Maybe I'm romanticizing your personality. Maybe you wouldn't know what to say and you'd leave it all up to Dad."

"I'd have some advice, probably all of that," a voice said. Anna's head shot up and her eyes connected with the man in the doorway. It was almost like seeing a ghost. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She shook her head trying to figure it out.

"What?"

"I said, he'd give you great advice, probably answer a lot of your questions," the man said. Anna focused hard and noticed while the jawline, eye color, and hair style were similar, the man in the doorway had bigger ears and more defined cheekbones. He was also wearing a sweater, something she couldn't remember Joe ever wearing. He preferred button downs and t-shirts. "He'd know exactly what you'd need to hear and how to say it. I'm sure you remember him just fine."

"Uncle Jamie, I'm okay, really."

"I know. You tried real hard to make it work. Gave him more than he deserved. You don't have to just get over it but he really wasn't worth it. High school is tough, so is being the only one of your friends without a boyfriend. The thing we've all admired the most about our Anna is that she's fine with just being herself and doesn't need validation from anyone. If it makes you feel better though, we can get some dinner and catch a movie some time. I know it's not the same as going on dates but—"

"It'd keep me from being lonely. I'm not really lonely, Uncle Jamie, I'm just ..."

"Feeling like you're left out?"

"Yeah, even Nicky's got a boyfriend."

"Don't compete with your friends or Nicky. That's the worst reason to have a boyfriend. Do it because you really like the guy and you feel like the timing is right."

"Thanks, that kinda makes me feel better."

"So how about next weekend you and I get together and hang out."

"I'd like to but, next weekend Mom is taking me to visit the University of Wisconsin. College visit. Maybe sometime after that?"

"I'll check my schedule and get back to you after that. Now, come on, your mom made her apple pie again and there is a piece with your name on it." Anna put the picture back on the dresser and followed Jamie back to the kitchen. Linda served her some pie and hot cocoa then went back to the dishes.

"Uncle Jamie," Anna said softly, about halfway through her pie. He looked up from the magazine was reading. "I—I broke up with him."

"Good."

"He didn't seem to like it but he didn't push very hard to get me to change my mind."

"Were you two alone?"

"Derrek was a few steps down the hall. I don't think I'd have the courage to do it alone."

"I'm sure you would but it's nice to have friends," Jamie told her. Anna nodded.

The following weekend, Anna and Linda left the boys home and flew to Wisconsin. They spent Friday night and Saturday focusing on the college visit but then focused most of the flight back talking about her breakup. They figured it was a good thing and that she would eventually find someone who really loved her and would treat her right.

"Like Dad treats you?" Anna asked.

"Yeah."

"You really love Dad, don't you?"

"Your dad means the world to me. I know sometimes it doesn't feel that way when we argue, but we really do."

"I know you do, Mama."

Linda wrapped an arm around her daughter and kissed her forehead. Anna smiled and leaned against her mother. For her first flight across the country and back, and let alone her first flight ever, this one was pretty good. They got home in just over three hours and with permission Jamie took Anna out to see a movie. They were waiting for Danny to come home anyway.

At dinner that evening everything seemed to be going okay until Henry brought up Sean's overnight trip to watch the Knicks play the Sixers. Though Sean was all keyed up to go, Danny seemed to have change his mind because he hadn't met Sean's friend's dad, which hadn't seemed to be a problem before Anna and Linda had left.

"But that's not fair," Sean complained.

"Yeah, you said he could go," Henry added.

"Pop," Frank warned, knowing Danny had his reasons.

"You let Anna go to Philly with Sofie and she just came back from Wisconsin. That's farther than I'll be going. How is this any different?" Sean asked.

"Don't bring me into this," Anna answered.

"Anna is not 10 and Sofie's family. On top of that, she went to Wisconsin with your mother," Danny answered.

"I'm almost 11," Sean answered.

"Your dad's just trying to take care of you, Sean," Jamie put in which spurred a round of debate of when to let people have freedom and when to protect them which seemed to be hinting at a fight that was brewing between Nicky and Erin.

It mostly came to an end when Sean said, "I'm definitely feeling trampled."

Frank summed it up by saying, "the people with the responsibility need to use it as wisely as they can, and the people being protected need to realize that being safe can cost you something but it beats the hell out of the alternative."

"The little girl that went missing?" Anna asked. Sean had mentioned something about the case Danny was working with a little girl who had gone missing. The only thing that Anna had seen about that was an AMBER Alert for a little girl who had disappeared shortly after school. "The one that went missing from P.S. 87? Do you think it has anything to do with your case from '07? That was about a 10-year-old girl who disappeared around the same time. Wasn't it the same school too? I remember when you caught that case. You were super overprotective back then too. I couldn't stay with Beth and her dad in Manhattan for over a month."

"Anna," Danny warned.

"Got it," Anna answered. She knew he was just being a dad and the last thing he wanted was to come close to losing Sean again, but she also knew that Sean just wanted to feel trusted, the same way he thought they trusted Anna and Jack.

"Anna," Sean said later that night as they got ready for bed. "Do you think Dad isn't going to let me go?"

"I'm sure he will, he's just worried."

"Because of that little girl?"

"Yeah. You know it's always bad when the kidnap victim is the same age as one of his kids. He freaks out a little but he'll figure it out or Mom will talk him down and before you know it, you'll be on your way to Philly and making Jack jealous."

"Yeah, you're right." Sean smiled and went back to his room.

Sure enough two days later, Danny changed his mind again and was allowing Sean to go again.

So how much did you like Danny's talk with Anna?