Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who continues to read and like this. I hope everyone is still staying safe despite the world we live in. I was really hoping to get this up sooner but I had to go back and edit this one for a few scenes that were not included in the first writing. Thanks to YaleAceBella12, Christopher Joseph Connor, Mercy156, xxxlirielxxx, 50fanofmcgarrett, Taylor Noelle Hood, Daisyangel, seleneplaysgames, and the guest ANON who all reviewed the last chapter.

If you've read the last comments on my story and are wondering what Christopher is talking about it's a discussion at the family dinner table during season 10 episode 2. At first I didn't understand it either, because I haven't seen a full episode since the first one of season 8, reasons, but I watched that scene and yes, I do think Erin had a point. Everyone is entitled to their point of view and in that scene Anna would have agreed with Erin and Sean (she'd probably been the one helping Erin teach Sean that since she's also a pitcher). The one thing in which I will defend Anna's "violence is never the answer" is that she may constantly say she was raised by Marines, cops, detectives, and lawyers but her mom is a nurse who does her best to help people and not harm them unless there is no other option. Anna, being close with her mom, believes that violence is only the answer in the worst cases and typically tries not to hurt anyone unless she absolutely has to as in this case. I also hope it comes across that no one is really angry with Anna for doing what she had to do, if not I apologize.

This chapter is inspired by the end of Season 5 episode 12 of Last Man Standing, in which the main character Mike Baxter's youngest daughter doesn't get in to West Point and it breaks her heart, causing him to end up punching a wall. To me Mike and Danny are real similar when it comes to being protective of their daughters and would do similar things. (I only have 20 TV channels so sometimes you have to watch the marathon's that you have to watch when there is nothing else on).

References to 4x3.

When Anna got home, the boys were playing catch with their lacrosse gear in the front yard and Linda's car was in the drive. She waved to Jamie to thank him for bringing her home then went inside and sat down at the table across from her mom who was working on the computer. Linda closed the lid of the laptop and tried to smile softly but it mostly came out as a disappointed smile. "You've heard?" Anna asked.

"Your brother told me about the video. Said Tyler showed it to him. Your school's social page sent out a message about an incident that happened. Do you want to tell me your side before I go on and make a judgement call?"

"You know my friend Becky the way I do, how much she loves horror. Nothing fazes her. So I stepped in. This is the conversation we had." Anna pulled out her phone and hit the play button on the recording. Once it ended, Anna looked down at her phone and closed the app. "I didn't mean—I didn't set out to punch him. I didn't even think about it. I really am too much like my father and it just happened. I got so angry that he was trying to make girls sleep with him and that he basically blamed it on them that it happened. I know that's no excuse and things don't just happen but I felt like he deserved it at the time. Have you talked to Dad?"

"Shortly after your uncle picked you up. He explained what happened and what's going to happen. I also got a voice message from your headmistress." This time it was Linda who pulled out her phone to play the message. It gave a very general description of what happened and the conditions of her suspension which included her parents signing her in and out both days, her spending the entire day with the computer lab monitor, and completing all of her work to include an essay on why what she did was wrong. She was also benched for Friday night's game and both practices. "Now, what did your dad do?" Linda asked.

"What do you mean?" Anna asked.

"Did he go into Detective mode? Did he back you instantly?"

"He went into detective mode of course, you can't change who you are instantly but he did stand up for me when he found out what had happened. Once he had the facts he was all for investigating but when I reminded him that I needed him to be my dad, he backed off."

"He loves you and I know that he wants to protect you. Seeing you like this can send him into a tailspin. You're his baby girl and I know, just like he does, you're not a baby anymore, but you're still our daughter and we don't want you to have to face things like this when all you should be facing is having a great senior year of high school."

"I know. Dad wasn't very happy to hear she was threatening to suspend me due to me hitting him because he was trying to coerce me. I also know that while Dad seemed standoffish to me, he was just being professional, to get all the facts, before he set the world on fire," Anna said.

"You wouldn't love him any other way."

"I think I'd always love him because he's my dad, but as far as a detective on the case goes, I want that guy. The one who is going to gnaw on case like a dog with a bone. The ones who aren't going to rest until the bad guys are off the streets and the girls are getting the help they deserve. For these girls it's what we deserve."

A smile spread across Linda's face. "I'm glad you got that from your dad."

"Yes, Ma'am. Am I grounded? I know hitting him was wrong and that there is no excuse for what I did. Using that to get him off the streets or at the very least out of our classroom for at least a day, was wrong no matter what he was doing."

"Grounding you now would not make any difference. Being grounded is to make you think about what you did wrong and so you won't do it again. I have a feeling you not only know why you're wrong but you're going to try to keep your temper and automatic responses under control. Plus you're being punished enough, I think."

"Thanks, Mom."

Anna went to the living room and did her homework. Danny came home late that night to see Linda at the table reading a magazine. The TV was turned on low to some old movie and the only light on was beside the couch and over the stove. Danny grabbed some late dinner and sat down across from his wife. "How's she doing?" Danny asked.

Linda stared at the back of the couch for the longest time. "I don't know. She seems okay but she is her daddy's daughter," Linda said finally.

"What does that mean?" Danny asked.

Linda looked back at her husband. "She buries a lot of hurt, like her father, to be strong for everyone else. I think she's scared and hurt but she's going to keep that hidden so everyone else doesn't see her break."

Danny reached across the table and touched her hand. "Our girl is strong and she will come back from this but I'll talk to her. See how she's doing."

Linda opened her mouth to say something but looked down at her hand when she felt something other than flesh caress her hand. "What did you do to your hand?" His normally tanned, sometimes dirty, dominate hand was covered in what looked like ace bandages. She had seen this a few times before, the most recent being after Detective Gates had been killed and he had punched the back of a seat, splitting his knuckles.

Danny instantly retracted his hand and hid it in his lap. Linda gave him a plain look, motioning for him to put it back in hers. He reluctantly did so. "It's nothing, just a flesh wound," Danny said.

"Daniel Reagan, I know you better than that and I've seen my fair share of flesh wounds. What did you do? Beat a perp?" Linda asked.

"No. I stopped by the gym; got a work out in to blow off some steam," Danny said.

Linda smiled then glanced at the couch again before looking back at Danny's hand. She peeled away the gauze and looked over his split knuckles. "How did this happen? I don't mind you going to the gym since that means you don't bring the anger home and blow up at the kids, but usually you tape your—" she stopped when she saw his downcast eyes. "You didn't tape your hands. You went at the bag ... Danny Reagan." Linda sighed.

"That is my little girl and he almost took advantage of her. She's in high school; she shouldn't have to deal with this. My baby," Danny said.

Linda sighed as she inspected Danny's split knuckles. "I know, Danny." She stroked the back of his hand. "I just wish there was something we can do for her, to make her feel better."

"It's just going to take time," Danny sighed. Linda grabbed the first aid kit off the top of the fridge and re-bandaged Danny's hand.

"Danny, please go easy on her. This isn't easy and it's—" Linda stopped as she shut the kit.

Danny frowned then nodded. "I know. Support is important to her mental health. She knows we're here." He went back to his dinner and dug in. Linda stood and put the kit away then kissed Danny before stopping by the couch. She sighed as she looked down at it then headed upstairs. Danny briefly wondered what was on the couch but shrugged off until after he put his plate and fork in the dishwasher. Once that was done he turned off the light in the kitchen then the TV. He turned to turn off the table lamp and his heart broke as his eyes landed on the couch. There, curled up at end of the couch closest to the TV was his little girl. He moved closer to the couch and even though she was asleep, he could tell she had been crying. He pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over her. He knelt next to the couch and rested a hand on her cheek. He brushed his thumb under her eye wiping away the tears. Though he wasn't big on praying or really believed in all the religious stuff he grew up on, he sent a prayer up just in case someone was listening and could help his girl. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before standing up. He brushed her hair back behind her ear then smoothed down the blanket a few times before turning off the light and going to bed. It left him feeling even more useless and angry that this had happened.

For the next two days, Linda wasn't happy about having to drive Anna to school and sign her in nor was Danny who had to show up to sign her out for the end of the day and to take her home, but luckily their bosses were great enough to give them the time to do it. As for Anna, she spent those two days in the computer lab making up her homework and writing her required essay. The essay was just to placate the administration, showing she knew right from wrong and what she would do to rectify her behavior though most of it was just blowing smoke and writing what they'd want to hear even if she didn't mean any of it. In Anna's opinion, she did the right thing even though she probably shouldn't have punched him.

Saturday afternoon after Anna got off work, she found Jim's truck parked next to her car and him sitting on his tailgate. "Hey," he said as she strolled up.

Her hands were wrapped around the strap of her bag as she shuffled over to him. "You know, people are going to talk if you keep showing up like this," Anna told him.

"Since when have you cared what other people think? Also, this is the first time I've showed up like this in weeks." He let the silence rest between them for a few moments. "Derrek told me what happened. Are you going to lose admission over it?"

"To St. Agatha's? No, of course not. Just two days in school suspension."

"No, to college."

"I hope not. Extenuating circumstances and all that."

"Better question," Jim said. "Why didn't you tell me?" Anna shrugged. His eyes traced her face then he reached out and took her by the biceps pulling her to stand between his legs. She stared at him wondering what he was going to do next. He smirked then wrapped her in a tight hug. Anna dropped her arms before wrapping them around him and clinging to him like a lifeline in a storm. She took a deep, shaky breath as he rubbed her back. "It's okay to hurt, to feel bad about what happened, and to cry. Maybe, just once, you can focus on yourself," he said gently. Anna nodded against him as tears leaked out. "You can't keep taking care of everyone else if you don't take care of yourself." Anna nodded again and he continued to rub her back. She gathered her strength to pull back and smiled up at him. "That's my best friend."

"Thanks, I needed that."

"Any time, I mean that." Jim hugged her again before letting her go home.

Anna's stomach was in knots all through church and dinner following it. No one said anything about her suspension, well not until dessert. "What's this I hear about a suspension?" Henry asked.

"Suspension?" Erin asked.

"Things happen," Anna said. "It was in-school anyway. Just write an essay and if you behave yourself and write a compelling essay everything gets graded."

"Was it because you punched that teacher?" Jack asked.

"That's so cool," Sean said.

"You did what?" Henry asked.

"Yes, I punched a teacher and that did result in an in-school suspension."

"Are the rumors at school true? That the teacher you punched was harassing girls and that he was fired because you punched him?" Jack asked.

"Jack!" Linda warned.

"It's a little more complicated than that," Anna said.

"Boys, I think it's time you went in the other room," Danny said.

"Not fair," both of them whined.

"Nicky, maybe ..." Anna looked down.

"Yeah, come on boys. For Anna's sake," Nicky's said. The three of them went into the kitchen and shut the door.

"Want to expand on what happened?" Erin asked gently.

Anna sighed and looked at Henry. "Do you remember a few months ago when Uncle Jamie got suspended from the job for the first time and you mentioned the time you got two days suspension for kicking a rapist?" Henry nodded. "I didn't kick him; I punched him and broke his nose. I've always been told that sometimes you have to follow your heart even if it means breaking the rules and doing the right thing is seldom easy," Anna said.

"You—" Henry stared at her. Out of the corner of her eye, Anna saw her mom roll her eyes.

"He was coercing girls into sleeping with him for grades; trying to do it to my friend Becky. I got a little defensive. He's been fired for that and is being investigated by Detectives Annetti and Mitchell of the SVD."

"Special Victims? He didn't ... with you?" Henry asked.

"No. He tried, I punched him."

"Good for you." Danny and Linda both stared at Erin. "What? Guys like that deserve to feel at least some of the pain they've inflicted on others."

"Until he comes after me for assault," Anna answered.

"And the Richmond County DA can go after him for witness tampering," Erin said.

"I guess. The suspension was kinda worth it now that I think about it but being a responsible person and to make the world a better place, I should not have punched him," Anna said.

"How much of that do you actually believe?" Frank asked.

"About half. Violence should not beget violence and the old saying is true, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and the whole world is blind and toothless."

"But I bet it felt really good to punch him, didn't it?" Erin asked.

"Right up until I got punished for it and, truth be told, it was a pretty good punch." Anna smirked.

"Anna," Linda chastised.

"Oh, come on. Technically speaking it was a good punch. If you didn't want me punching people why'd you let dad teach me?" Anna asked.

"Because you begged him for weeks after Sean was born. Said you weren't going to let anyone bully him and you had to know how to protect your little brothers," Linda answered.

"And that's what I was doing here, protecting people. That's why you're a nurse, to help people. Are you saying I can't use what skills I have to do what I'm good at?" Anna asked.

"Your mom isn't saying that," Danny said.

"She's saying she wishes it didn't have to come to that. I agree. It shouldn't take violence to stop men from taking advantage."

"Sometimes there's no other choice," Erin finished for her niece. "Is there anything you need?" Erin asked.

"No, it's been taken care of. Great lawyer on call," Anna said.

"Jack Boyle always had a soft spot for you," Henry said.

"Who wouldn't?" Anna asked.

"How are you doing with all of this?" Frank asked.

"I'm fine. It's not about me; it's about all those other girls. They've been through so much worse and I just—"

"Stop," Danny told her. "What you went through was different but it still hurts and it's alright to focus on your pain too."

"That's what everyone keeps saying," Anna swallowed. Henry touched her hand.

"Because it's true and you deserve to be a little selfish," Jamie said. He rested a hand on her shoulder. "I think I speak for everyone when I tell you that we all have your back. If you need anything, to rant, to rave, to cry, or even to sit and stare across the room, you let us know." Anna looked around the table to see everyone nodding.

"Thank you," Anna said.

Later that night, Anna found both her brothers sitting on her bed as she came back from the shower. Both looked angry. Anna sighed but waited for them to say something as she busied herself with throwing clothes into her hamper.

"Why won't you tell us what happened?" Sean asked.

"It's not fair, we've already seen the video," Jack added.

Anna frowned and leaned back against the wall. She looked at the boys. "I know you're both growing up and pretty soon you'll hear some pretty terrible stuff, the stuff Mom and Dad don't want you to hear but right now you're my kid brothers. I still remember the day they brought you home from the hospital," she motioned to Sean, "and you, I know you're in high school and heard a thousand rumors about why I punched him, but part of me will always see that scrawny four-year-old waiting for me to get home to play G. I. Joes. I am, and to more of an extent, our parents are just trying to preserve your innocence while we can."

"That's still not fair," Sean complained.

"It won't ever be, but we do it out of love," Anna answered.

"How come you won't tell us?" Jack asked.

"Because aside from what I said, it's a very embarrassing, adult problem. One I don't want to admit happened but for those even more embarrassed or humiliated I can face."

"Even if no one believes you?"

"That's the thing about audio and video recordings. They're pretty hard to dispute."

"But you can't hear anything in the video. There's too much back ground chatter."

"Never said the audio came from the video."

By the time it was time to go back to school after spring break, Anna was more eager than the rest of the family. At least she was until Tuesday after school; her first practice back. "Alright, kiddos. Game tomorrow. Reagan, you're benched. Sampson, you too," her coach told her.

"Coach!" Anna protested.

"I'm sorry, Reagan that's the rule. I know why you did what you did and if it was up to me, I'd let you play. It's why you couldn't be at the game two Fridays ago. The NYCHSAA has seen the video; the assistant coach from the last school we played sent it to them."

"The assistant coach sent the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association the video from when I punched that guy? How'd he even get it?" Anna asked.

"How do you think he got it? Anyway, we replied with the audio recording and they don't blame you but they say it's in the rule book so there is nothing we can do. Any in-school suspension requires a two game benching. Also because the grades that scumbag turned into the office are official until Mrs. Maryland can sort them out, you and Sampson are both benched. Don't worry, she's promised to have them sorted before Friday's game so you, him, and Jones get together outside of school and practice and keep working. I want you two up to snuff for Friday's game against the Goats."

"Yes, sir," Anna said. Sampson was their left fielder and he had been failing though it was rumored he was only failing because he was on to the teacher after his girlfriend had encountered the man.

"And Reagan, maybe call Jim, see if he's got some time to spare to help you out," the coach said. Anna nodded.

Sure enough by Friday, her English grade was back up and she was allowed to play. Then, at family dinner on Sunday, Henry asked about her week. "It went alright. Had to miss two games because of the suspension but my English teacher sorted out the grades so I got to play on Friday and our progress reports came out and I got all A's and B's."

"Even in English?" Linda asked.

"Yep. Our English teacher asked everyone to turn in their past homework, tests, and quizzes from the time she was out and she regraded them. I felt sorta bad because she has a new baby at home but she said her husband teaches kindergarten and would help out."

"You're forgetting to mention the standing ovation you got at lunch on Monday," Jack threw in.

"Jack," Anna protested.

"Really?" Frank asked.

"Someone released the video onto Movpics; social media site that stores videos and pictures for like a day and you can only see it if someone shares the link and someone enhanced it so you can see the exact moment the punch happens. I know it's wrong, but he hurt a lot of girls and objectively, it's a very good punch," Anna said.

"Anna," Danny scolded.

"Sorry," Anna answered.

"Did you hear back from any other schools yet?" Jamie asked.

"Columbia. 'Due to recent actions that have to come to light, we regret to inform you that you are not the candidate we are seeking for admission.' Sucks, but it's their loss." Anna shrugged.

"They didn't let you defend yourself?" Jamie asked.

"No. Like I said, it's their loss." Anna rolled her eyes and dinner moved on.