Yes, I know, I should update my other fics - especially Psych ones - and believe me it's in works. It's just.. did you ever had an idea so aggressively attacking your mind you just had to get it out, even if it was just one short chapter? Well, that happens to me. A lot. I had a feeling I needed excuse, so.. there you have it. Anyway, have fun reading.

Off-duty cop. Quite the title, with a nice ring to it. Especially the 'off-duty' part. In any other job it usually means 'you can go screw yourselves', because hey – not my problem, I'm off duty, call me tomorrow. But not with this job, no. Being off-duty cop just means you're off duty on paper, when in reality, you're always on duty, always looking for threats, always ready to stop the crime, because yeah – that's who you are. So in the end, there is no rest, no chance of putting the day just behind you, enjoying free time without obligation to return to work in like five seconds. Maybe that's why they call it a calling more than a job. Because no sane person would choose it without putting their whole soul in it, not caring about lousy salary, not-paid overtime and big chance of ending his work day in body bag. Not to mention the never-ending duty, 26 hours a day.

Officer Jamie Reagan knew that all too well, but he didn't care. Call it a calling, call it motivation of completely deranged person, but he loved his job. He still didn't get tired of it, even after five years and everything him and his family went through. He just couldn't quit loving this job. But there were times, when he would really really like to get some rest. Let anyone else worry about the mess. But being the 'anyone else', he knew he would never get that. But girl can hope, right? Especially on Sunday afternoon. Who would commit crimes on Sunday afternoon? Come on – it's Sunday!

So when he entered the small grocery shop with no apparent threats, he really didn't expect what was about to happen. There were just four more customers, two kids – one looked like teenager, the other younger, perhaps siblings; middle-aged woman and smug-looking suit. He wasn't sure what Mr. Wall Street was doing in this neighborhood , but maybe he wanted to buy some property nearby, or the building housing the shop itself, which wasn't so unheard of. So Jamie was maybe curious, but not entirely suspicious, dismissing it altogether. More confusing was the fidgeting of the woman, she was shooting glances between the clock, doors and two kids, who seemed to have heated discussion. Every now and then, the older one sharply looked up, scanning the room, laying his eyes on each customer before refocusing on his younger companion. It was the strangest luck – or bad luck, he supposed – that he never looked up when the woman was staring at them. But he did – of course he did! – notice Jamie. Although he didn't stop talking in low voice, he narrowed his eyes as he took in Jamie's demeanor. For a brief second he locked his eyes with Jamie's and Jamie thought there was something vaguely familiar about him, but then the kid's gaze was broken and Jamie was left with no idea where did he see those eyes accompanied by freckles. The kid lowered his eyes, looking him up and down as if searching for any threats. And Jamie was sure, he found it, when he stared at the place he had hidden his off-duty weapon. Well, stared, it didn't take more than two seconds, but when the kid locked his eyes with his again, the whole message behind them was clear. The suspicion was gone, replaced by terrifying gaze, threatening him, daring him to try something, while the rest of his body radiated protectiveness, shielding the younger boy from Jamie. And Jamie knew street kids when he saw them and he knew they would've bolted if he was to approach them, so he did the second best thing, he turned away from them, keeping an eye on the woman instead. He thought about approaching her, but that way, he wouldn't probably get the answers he needed. The way she was stealing glances at the kids just wasn't right. And her demeanor was nervous, yet determined, like that of the petty criminal who was about to make terrible mistake. And boy, she did. The kids were at the counter, ready to leave – when did they get there?! - when she stopped them. Jamie didn't hear what was being said, but he could see the dangerous sparks in teenager's eyes. And look in his eyes changed into downright homicidal, when he glanced out of the shop. There were other two people coming this way, accompanied by two police officers Jamie knew very well. But that was not what set the boy off, no. Although he was giving dangerous vibes, he tightened his jaw, clenched his fists and had homicidal look, he was acting strangely calm. It didn't take Jamie with a gun, creepy woman talking about whatever they were talking about, or other cops coming this way. All it took was the woman's hand on the hand of the younger boy. As soon as she touched him, teenager's calm demeanor disappeared, yanking the young boy out of her grasp and pulling a .45 from place unknown to Jamie. Although the kid was nowhere to calm, his hand was steady and his voice even as he loudly announced:

"You're not taking my brother."

Jamie should be here by now. Detective Danny Reagan was determined not to panic. So he didn't. Maybe he was little anxious. Nervous. Worried. Pissed off. But he was not panicking. Definitely not. Jamie was a little late, so what? He himself has done it thousand times. So no need to worry. What did he say the other day? He's not a kid anymore. He can take care of himself. Right. No need to worry. Except the last time he said it, he ended up being caught on fire. So Danny had hard time believing that he could, in fact, take care of himself. And also it was Sunday dinner, there was no way he would've missed it, not without serious reason, not without letting everyone know. And he didn't. Technically, he still had time to make it, but Jamie was usually early. Always. So that's why Danny was not panicking. But others obviously didn't have the same opinion. They were shooting worried glances at him, his father even asking if he was okay, Danny all dismissing by saying it's nothing, he's fine. Yet he was not fine. Not even close. Jamie wasn't supposed to be late. He never was. But he was not panicking. Definitely not.

"Danny. You look close to heart attack." the voice of the woman he loved said.

"What?" he said distracted, still not panicking.

"What's going on with you?" Linda asked, piercing her eyes to his. Oh damn. He never could resist those. She always got the truth out of him either way, it was easier to give up. He leaned to her and talked in low voice, so the others wouldn't hear.

"It's just.. Jamie should be here by now, right? It's not like him to be late. I know, I know he's not technically late yet, but for him, he is."

"Have you tried to call him?" Linda asked calmly in soothing voice.

"What? No!"

"Why?" Linda said, looking genuinely curious.

"I-I was just.. well, because.. just because!" Danny said, inadvertently raising his voice, looking more and more frustrated with the direction this was headed in. He didn't even notice that he caught the attention of other family members. The only thing he noticed was that Linda did not look impressed.

"I see. Just because. I think you don't want him to think of you as an overprotective panicking and rather annoying older brother."

Danny didn't acknowledge the insult, because once he heard that word, his mind went on the auto-pilot.

"I'm not panicking!" he yelled, making everyone jump.

"What's troubling you, son?" his father, and coincidentally also Commissioner, asked.

But before he could even open his mouth, the phone rang and his world was about to crumble down. Because once in his life, he was not panicking for the right reason. And this time, he hated himself for being right. He looked at horrified expressions of everyone present; once they heard the news, they were unable to move. But not him, no. Because now, he truly wasn't panicking. He was preparing for bloodshed that would follow. With determination in his eyes, more pissed than anything else, he announced more to himself than anyone else:

"They are not taking my brother."