Chapter 17: Bold Moves
Jamie again looks at his wife "You said it would be fun." He reminds her "Are you having fun? Because I'm having a complete blast." He sarcastically mocks but at that moment a group of 5 figures – all dressing in black hoodies but each with a different streak of color across their hoods – red, white, blue, green and yellow come running and jumping into the dining area from all open sides of the outdoor restaurant – guns waving in their hands.
"GIVE US YOUR WALLETS, MONEY AND JEWELRY NOW!" the ring leader with red demands before firing a warning shot up into the air.
In a panic everyone in the restaurant including the Reagan party and Simms dart under their tables. As they go, Erin is pulling out her cellphone to quietly call 911, Danny and Simms are pulling their weapons from around their waists, Maria is pulling her weapon from her purse and Jamie is protectively pulling his pregnant wife down and under him.
"All I wanted was a nice dinner out!" Eddie unhappily tosses at her husband as she lifts herself up from under him.
"Eddie, stay here." Jamie implores as now that they are as safe as they are going to get under the table, he pulls his weapon out too.
"Yeah I'm on desk duty, I get it." Eddie tosses back as she also reaches for her gun in her purse "But I'm pregnant, not incapable. I can still shoot if I have too."
Looking over, Jack's mouth falls a little open "You ALL brought your weapons?"
Danny looks at his brother in law in a bit of annoyed disbelief that he even asked that "We're cops." He tosses at him.
"And Eddie and I already went though this once." Jamie quickly explains.
"So yeah." Eddie definitively tacks on.
"Well you wanted fun." Danny unhappily sneers at his brother before quickly popping his head up to survey the scene then quickly ducking back down before declaring "I got the red one."
"This is NOT what I meant!" Jamie snaps back at his brother before he also pops his head up to look then comes back under the table "White!" he claims.
Maria peaks out "I'll take the blue one." She announces.
"Green." Simms tacks on.
Eddie counts the colors that have been listed in her head "Any takers for yellow?" She then questions as she very careful peaks around a chair looking for her target "No? Well guess that's me."
"EDDIE!" Jamie hisses out in disapproval.
Eddie pulls back behind cover and looks at her husband "I will stay behind the table." She quickly promises "But we don't exactly have time to argue here! There is 5 of them and 5 of us!"
"You two!" Danny quietly barks at his sister and brother in law "On three you flip the table down AND STAY BEHIND IT and we…" he continues as he looks at his partner, his brother, his sister in law and Simms "…go. Understood?"
Everyone nods in agreement so Danny counts down "In three, two, one, GO!"
In an instant Jack and Erin flip the table down to act as cover for all of them as our quintet is popping up calling
"POLICE!"
"HANDS IN THE AIR!"
"DROP THE GUNS!"
"HANDS UP!"
"GET ON THE GROUND NOW!"
But of course the perps don't, so the millisecond guns are being pointed in their directions Danny, Maria, Jamie, Eddie and Simms are firing and even though a couple of return shots are fired, when the dust settles, it's 5 bad guys on the ground.
"Everybody good?" Danny double checks as they all look around at one another.
"Are you hurt or shot this time?" Jack seriously asks of his wife.
Erin pats herself down to find nothing "No, I'm good." She sighs out in relief "You?"
"Not a scratch." Jack promises.
"Eddie?" Jamie seriously presses in concern for his wife as his eyes scan her up and down looking for any little hint of anything.
"We're fine." Eddie promises her husband.
"Please still stay behind the table." Jamie seriously requests of his wife.
"I know." Eddie reiterates.
"So we're all good?" Danny again presses as he looks at Maria and Simms who both nod in confirmation so while Eddie continues to just cover her 'guy' from behind cover slowly, ever so slowly, Danny, Jamie, Maria, and Simms rise to their feet.
"ANYBODY HURT?" Jamie calls out to the patrons as the quartet cautiously head towards their designated perps to check for pulses and secure them.
A murmur of negative replies are heard as people slowly start lifting their heads up from under cover at the same time the sound of RMP sirens come closer and closer until 3 RMPs screech to a halt outside the restaurant perimeter, their doors fly open and uniformed officers jump out.
Danny holds up his shield to identify himself as a cop.
"What happened?" a uniform officer asks while running up to Danny.
In response, Danny points back at Jamie "Talk to Sergeant Reagan." He instructs "As the ranking officer, he's in charge."
Nodding in understanding the uniformed officer heads for Jamie calling "Sir!" as he looks for instructions.
Then in what seems like a matter of seconds, the scene is being contained and as a uniformed officer takes custody of his perp, Simms is walking back over to Erin "So I guess you're going to take another year to decide if I should be indicted for impersonating a police officer again."
Wincing a bit, Erin takes a deep cleansing breath, looks at Simms, then looks at Eddie "I didn't see anybody pretending to be a police officer today, did you?" She innocently asks of her sister in law.
Eddie smiles a wide knowing smile "Nope." She confirms as her eyes shift to Simms and she gives him a sassy little wink "I only saw the real deal."
Simms can't help but let out a huff of a laugh not only at their antics, but also in relief.
"And um…." Erin a bit awkwardly begins as she slowly looks back at Simms "I owe you an apology. It never should have taken that long for your paperwork to go through. As bureau chief, that was my fault and I am truly sorry for that so like I said, all I saw today was real police officers at work because without me messing up, you would actually be one today."
Jack and Eddie exchange an impressed look at not only Erin's admission but her 'bending' of the rules.
"Why did it take so long?" Simms curiously inquires.
Erin sighs "My now nonexistent campaign for DA." She honestly admits "I was so wrapped up in promo stuff your file somehow got lost in the shuffle. I should have been more on top of it, I'm sorry."
"Thank you." Simms simply accepts "It's not often you will run into people these days who just admit when they are wrong and apologize for it so I appreciate your honesty."
Now Erin looks at Simms impressed "And it's not often you run into people who are willing to just accept that apology without threatening to sue." She points out "I mean…" She slowly adds "You aren't suing… right?"
"Um no." Simms can't help but laugh "All I want is to get back out there on the job."
Hearing that Eddie pulls out her phone and makes a call…
"Besides…" Simms tacks on "…my sister works for the DA's office out in Boston so I hear from her all the time how understaffed and overworked they are."
"Thank you." Erin accepts with an appreciative and very impressed smile.
….
Frank is sitting at his desk getting an update from Sid…
"So reports are Sergeant Reagan, Detective Reagan and Officer Janko are all involved as well your daughter, her husband and Terrance Simms…"
Frank's cellphone on his desk begins to ring. Looking at the screen he sees Eddie calling and fearing that means someone got hurt, he quickly moves to pick it up and answer it while instructing "Hang on." to Sid before immediately greeting "Eddie." into the phone.
"Commissioner." Eddie suddenly speaks causing Erin, Jack and Simms to snap their heads in her direction "Yes Officer Edit Janko here." Eddie professionally continues "Detective Reagan and I have looked into that matter you requested of us and we can confirm that yes, Terrance Simms is still very much interested in rejoining the NYPD."
Erin's, Jack's and Simm's mouths all fall a bit open at the audacity Eddie had to just outright call Frank direct right there on the spot.
"Okay great." Frank accepts "But is everyone okay? I was just briefed you were all involved in an altercation."
Eddie pauses a second as she listens to her father in law before her face scrunches up a bit "Boy news travels fast." She admits in a bit of awe "How do you even know that?"
"I'm the Police Commissioner, I know everything." Frank quickly reminds her "Now is everyone okay?"
"Right." Eddie accepts with a little snicker.
"Eddie." Frank seriously presses.
"Yeah, we're all fine." Eddie dismissively confirms causing Frank to blow out a breath of air in relief.
"Good, good." He accepts before his face scrunches up a little "So if everyone is fine, why are you calling?"
"Well…" Eddie begins "…like I said former Detective Terrence Simms is still very interested in rejoining the NYPD and he's currently here with me so..."
"So…" Frank slowly picks up in deduction "…you want me to talk to him now?" he finishes in a little disbelief.
"Well that would be up to you Sir." Eddie defers "But ADA Reagan has just apologized to the former Detective for the delay in his paperwork that prevented him from officially becoming a Detective again sooner so..."
Frank sighs at her subtle but clearly leading prompting "Put him on."
"Oh you'd like to talk to him?" Eddie innocently queries.
Knowing she is saying that for Simm's benefit, Frank at first frowns a little but then just gives in "Sure. Fine. Frame it that way." He indifferently relents.
"One second…" Eddie sweetly requests before she removes her phone from her ear and holds the device out towards Simms "It's for you." She giddily muses with a smile.
Blinking his eyes in a bit of awe that this really seems to be happening, Simms slowly reaches to take Eddie's phone and put it to his ear "Sir?" he tentatively greets.
Frank plasters a smile on his face "Terrence Simms, Frank Reagan here." He pleasantly returns "How are you?"
"I…I'm fine Sir." Simms replies as he visibly relaxes a little at Frank's easy going demeanor "Thank you for asking."
"Normally I would not do this over the phone…" Frank admits as Sid drops his mouth open and gives his Boss a serious questioning look "…but given the extended wait you've already encountered…" Frank explains as he silently brushes off his Lieutenant's look of 'what are you doing?' "…I will make an exception – would you like your job back?"
Sid shakes his head in awe at what he is witnessing while Simms back in the restaurant smiles a full on bright, happy smile "Yes. Yes Sir, I would like that very much."
"Great." Frank accepts "Come down to 1PP tomorrow and see Lieutenant Gormley." He instructs but now that procedure seems to be thrown out the window, Sid's face begins to silently show signs of having a better idea…
"I will." Simms accepts "Thank you. Thank you, Sir!"
Watching Simms, Eddie can't help but notice Erin and Jack both shift their eyes from Simms and stare at her in amazed awe at what she just did.
"What?" Eddie simply questions like nothing.
Jack leans down towards his wife "Totally the hormones." He whispers in her ear.
"Ah, yeah." Erin wholeheartedly agrees while trying to contain her laughter.
"I can't thank you enough." Simms appreciatively states as he hands Eddie back her phone.
"Meh." Eddie shrugs off "All I did was make a phone call."
"Yeah…" Erin jumps in "Direct to THE POLICE COMMISSIONER." She emphasizes in disbelief.
Eddie looks at her sister in law and scoffs "What, because you've never done that?"
"Yeah." Erin reiterates with a smirk "That's my point."
Eddie lifts her head and thinks about that "Oh." She suddenly realizes before her face scrunches up a bit in apprehension "Oh." She then cringes in regret "What did I just do?"
Jack laughs "I'll tell you what you just did. You pulled a Reagan."
"Ugh." Eddie breathes out in pure defeat before dawning a bit of an awkward sheepish look "I… I guess this kid inside me really is making me a Reagan huh?" she tries to joke.
"Oh Eddie." Erin full on laughs at her sister in law's cluelessness "I hate to break it to you, but you already were one!"
"What's so funny?" Jamie questions as he walks back up.
"I just boldly called your Dad on his cellphone and had him reinstate Simms on the spot." Eddie reluctantly mumbles.
All Jamie can do is stare at his wife in shock.
"This is your fault!" Eddie suddenly both defends to and accuses of her husband "You put this kid inside me!"
"Okay I do not need that image." Erin mumbles in rejection.
Jamie shoots his sister a side look then focuses his attention on his wife "What did he say?" He curiously inquires.
"He did it." Simms interjects causing Jamie to look his way "I am to report to 1PP tomorrow to pick up my shield."
"Huh." Jamie impressively notes before again looking at his wife "Next time I want something from Dad, I'm having you ask." he jokes a bit before turning to his sister and brother in law and becoming serious "One of them wants a lawyer."
"Aw…" Jack placates "…and you thought of me. How sweet but I can't. I'm one of the 'victims.'
"Well..." Jamie counters "Except, he says he already knows you and you are in fact his lawyer..."
Jack immediately looks over to indeed now see an unmasked man he recognizes "Unbelievable." he mutters out with a frown.
"So you might as well make yourself useful." Jamie amusingly digs at his brother in law.
A look of pure displeasure appears on Erin's face at that remark though "Did I say lobster?" She throws back at her brother "I meant lobster, steak and the best champagne they have!"
"Well not today, and not at this restaurant." Jamie deflects as he gestures around the entire setting "Crime scene." He smugly reminds her as he starts to walk away "Now are you both coming or what here because I don't want the DA's office coming down on me that we didn't follow procedure."
Hearing the exchange as Jack and Erin move to follow Jamie, Eddie frowns.
Simms who is left still standing next to Eddie notices her look "What?" he questions.
"I'm kinda hungry." Eddie realizes.
"Oh." Simms simply accepts. He pauses a second in thought then offers "There's a great burger joint around the corner."
Eddie looks up with peaked interest.
….
With the investigation into the shooting and attempted robbery well underway, Danny, Maria, Jamie, Eddie, Erin, Jack and Simms are all standing together with the Lieutenant who has arrived to take over command of the scene.
"Well considering we've got 5 armed perps apprehended and no serious civilian injuries, I will recommend this as a justified shooting however…" he pauses as he looks at Simms "You are not a cop anymore so..."
"Yes he is." A voice suddenly sounds from behind so turning, everyone sees Lieutenant Gormley standing there holding up a detective shield, gun and a file in his hands as proof. A moment later he steps towards Danny "Here…" Gormley instructs Danny as he gives him no choice but to take the shield and the gun "…hold these."
Danny complies.
Sid then opening the file still in his hands, pulling a pen out of his suit jacket, clicks it open and stepping to Simms "I'm just going to need you to sign right here." He instructs as he holds the form out towards him and taps the pen on the signature line.
Immediately Simms takes the pen and signs his name.
"Great!" Sid quips as he flips the file closed, takes the pen back, clicks it closed and pockets it. He then turns back to Danny, takes the gun from him, hands him the file instead, then grabs the shield up before turning to offers those items to Simms "Congratulations Detective Simms, welcome back."
Grinning, Simms takes his gun and shield "Thank you Sir."
"Well you better get to work." Sid then seriously states as he looks around the restaurant "You just got yourself a hell of a first case here."
"Hey!" Danny protests "This is my case."
"Ours." Maria flatly corrects.
"Ours." Danny immediately corrects.
"No." Sid rejects as he looks at Danny and Maria and swipes up the file Danny is still holding out of his hands "It's not. It's Detective Simms' case." He reiterates as he looks at Simms "He knows the restaurant, patrons and will be able to determine faster if this was random or someone holding a grudge or looking for revenge."
The other Lieutenant on scene however scrunches his face up in disagreement with that decision "Okay no, this is actually MY crime scene and I'll decide…"
Sid turns to face his fellow Lieutenant "Orders from the top." He interrupts which immediately shuts the other Lieutenant up "Oh." He breathes out instead.
Knowing this is quite out of the norm for the not only the chain of command, but procedure, Sid then looks back at Simms "Don't make him regret it." He warns "He's giving you an olive branch here so tread carefully - by the book, every 'I' dotted and every 'T' crossed…" he very seriously presses "Understood? We want this gift wrapped with a nice little bow on top."
"Understood Sir." Simms immediately accepts "I won't let him – or any of you…" he promises as he looks around at the group of people around him "…down."
"I'll make sure of it." The other Lieutenant promises.
"Good man." Sid approves to both Simms and the other Lieutenant "Well I'm off to spread merry cheer somewhere else now!" He then quips before simply turning to walk away.
"I always knew you were Santa Claus!" Danny humorously calls out to him to which Sid sarcastically calls back "Ho! Ho! Ho!" as he goes.
….
With Simms officially taking over the case, the original Reagan party is now walking out of the crime scene.
"Okay can we actually eat now?" Eddie begs "In case you all forgot, I am eating for two you know."
"Yes." Jamie agrees "Food sounds great."
"Where?" Jack inquires.
"Simms said there was a great burger joint just around the corner." Eddie suggests.
In an instant Jamie looks over at his sister and a huge smile graces his face "Burgers and fries!" he arrogantly quips in delight.
"Yeah, yeah fine." Erin relents as she at first gives her younger brother a dirty look but then lets a little smile grace her face.
So the group walk around the corner and once they do, they all look up to see a storefront where the sign says "Dahlburgers."
"I'm going to guess that's it." Danny deduces.
"Works for me." Eddie quips as she makes a beeline for the door and pushes her way through to enter first with everyone following but the second they all enter, they abruptly stop walking to stare at something inside the restaurant they weren't quite expecting.
"Um…" Jamie hesitantly breathes out "Doesn't that…"
"Look a hell of a lot like Dad's dining room table?" Danny finishes.
"Yup." Erin agrees.
"HEY!" Eddie boldly calls out to an employee "Can we sit here?" she inquires as she points to the table.
"Sure." The employee quips with a welcoming smile "Have a seat! We'll be right with you!"
So with that, everyone moves to take a seat at the table.
"Now this is more like it." Jamie nods in approval as they all settle in and a moment later the waitress returns with menus. She begins to hand them out and when she gets to Danny, she offers him one but he immediately rejects it and instead say "What's the most expensive thing you have on the menu? Just get me that."
Jamie immediately rolls his eyes "Here we go." He mutters.
"It's burgers and fries Jamie." Danny tosses at his brother "How expensive could it be?"
"That is not the point!" Jamie profusely counters.
"I'll just get the most expensive item as well." Erin tells the waitress in pure amusement as she also rejects her menu.
"SERIOUSLY!" Jamie tosses at his siblings in disbelief as the 'argument' from earlier starts all over again.
"Aw look!" Eddie suddenly happily coos as she looks at her menu "They've got a burger called the 'smahlburger' for kids under 12."
"Great." Jamie tacks on as he looks at the waitress but points at Danny "Get him that."
"I don't think so!" Danny profusely rejects to the waitress "Do NOT write that down!"
"We are going to have to come back here once the baby is old enough just so we can order that." Eddie muses to her husband.
Jack looks at Eddie a little perplexed "You haven't even eaten here once yet and your already making plans for years down the line?"
"Well to be fair…" Jamie simply explains to his brother in law "…she hasn't met a burger she hasn't liked yet."
"The smahlburger." Danny repeats in thought as he changes his mind and grabs the menu from Maria in pure curiosity "Who comes up with these names?"
"Hey!" Maria protests "I was still looking at that!"
"No." Eddie corrects "You were hiding behind it."
Jack nods his head "You were." He agrees "And in this group, you kinda gotta be bold and just go for it." He explains.
"Like Eddie calling Dad earlier!" Erin laughs.
"Ugh!" Eddie cringes in remembrance as she half buries her face in one of her hands "Please don't bring that back up!" She pleads with a laugh of her own.
"No way." Erin amusingly rejects "That was priceless."
"Hey." Jamie commends of his wife "Don't sell yourself short here Babe - Simms pretty much got his job back because of it." He points out.
"Hear, Hear!" Danny agrees as Maria takes her menu back and Danny lets her "Hey can we get a round of beers for us…" he requests to the waitress as he gestures around the table before pointing at Eddie "And a root beer for her?"
"Orange soda!" Both Jamie and Eddie quickly correct.
"Right." Danny remembers "Orange soda." He corrects before pointing at Jamie "And he's paying." He flat out informs the waitress.
"Fine!" Jamie finally relents "I'm paying!" He agrees in exasperation as Danny and Erin both make their own versions of triumphant gestures "As long as you order something reasonable!" he negotiates.
"Oh my god fine!" Danny relents as he goes to take Maria's menu again but this time, she turns her body slightly to protect and hold it away from him "No!" she chides "Get your own!" she instructs before looking at the waitress and politely asking "Could you please give him his own menu now? Thank you."
Thoroughly amused, Erin gestures at Maria "Now THAT!" She wholeheartedly commends "Is how you do it!" She declares as the entire table laughs, the conversation and night out for the Reagan Party continues, and the screen fades to black.
...
A/N: First I really liked some of your ideas in the comments for this chapter so I managed to incorporate some of the suggestions but some - like Joe being one of the perps - I wanted to include, I did! But no matter how I tried to write it just wasn't working with where I ultimately wanted the chapter to go which was reinstating Simms. Also I just could not help but break the 4th wall a bit in this one. The idea popped into my head to have the characters come across the Reagan family diner table that is in real life currently sitting in a Wahlburger's restaurant in Illinois and I just could not resist LOL.
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