"Reunion" Chapter 3

[SueWalsh]

"You want to what?" Liz Miller looked up from the sandwich she was making, disbelief on her face.

"I know, I know, it sounds crazy. But Liz, it's what I need to do." Barney tried to explain.

"You spent years dreaming of making Deputy Inspector. Everytime the promotions came out and your name wasn't on it you'd be heart broken. You made it and now you want to give it up? It is crazy, Barney!"

"I know, and at the time I did want it-bad. But I realized something, Liz. I realized that I need to be where I can make some kind of difference out there, however small!"

"Can't you make a difference as deputy inspector?" Liz asked, handing him the sandwich.

"Are you kidding? Listen, I spend all day sitting in that office pushing papers around, signing this, approving that..day after the day the same thing. I don't even feel like a cop anymore!"

"Well as I recall you spent most of your time as a Captain behind a desk as well. Only now you're getting paid better." Liz pointed out.

"Maybe so, but as a Captain I was in touch..with my officers, with the community..now I just stare at the walls. Luger's retiring, and he's recommended me as his replacement. When he told me I felt nothing but dread. Damn it Liz, I don't want to end up like him, longing for the good old days and stuck with a useless title!"

"Barney," Liz said gently,"Luger's stuck in the past..he couldn't go back again..thinking you can is what'll make you end up like him, can't you see that?"

"You're right, Luger couldn't get his glory days back. But this is different. Wojo, Harris, Dietrich..they went back...they got the chance..why can't I?"

Silence fell. Finally Barney sighed and walked over to his wife. "Look, I know it means a paycut-"

"We'd manage. You didn't do badly as a Captain and my salary as a social worker will make up the difference. We've already saved for David's college-" she stopped when she realized Barney was gazing at her. She sighed and slipped her arms around his neck. "I get it, okay? Being a cop isn't just your job. It's part of who you are."

"You mean..you're okay-"

Liz nodded. "I'm okay. Really. I want you to be happy and I have to admit you've been pretty miserable since the 12th closed. So..if asking for a demotion is what you need to be happy again, who am I to stand in your way?"

Barney smiled. "It is and..I..thank you Liz. I love you."

"I love you too, Barney. What are you going to do if you can't get reassigned to the 12th?"

He thought a moment. "Well I'll be disappointed but at least I'll have the chance to do some real police work again," he grinned. "But I'm not worried. There isn't a chance in hell Scanlon'll make it as a captain for long." I hope, he added silently as he hugged her.
******************************************************
Meanwhile, back at the 12th, the door to the squad room swung open and a familar voice filled the room.

"My God, it really hasn't changed."

"Fish!"

Harris, Wojo, Dietrich and Levitt stood up and greeted him warmly.

"Good to see you! What brings you around these parts?" Harris asked.

"I have a lunch date," Fish replied, looking around. "Good lord, how could they have run out of money? They didn't change a thing!"

Harris chuckled. "You ain't kidding!"

Fish stopped in front of the bathroom. "Excuse me."

"Sure. Welcome home, Fish." Wojo said, grinning as the older detective disappeared inside and closed the door.

Harris jerked his thumb toward the bathroom. "Who says you can't go home again?"

A few minutes later Fish emerged. He went over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.

"Nick would be proud." he said after taking a sip.

Wojo beamed. "Thanks Fish."

The older man looked around and sighed, stopping to stare at Barney's name on the door.

"Tell Scanlon not to get too comfortable, will ya?" he said finally.

"Why? You know something we don't?" Harris asked.

"Yeah Fish. C'mon share." Dietrich added.

"Well, Inspector Luger's finally gonna retire. Guess who's up as his replacement?"

Wojo's face fell. "Barn."

"That's right. And he's not exactly celebrating."

"You mean he doesn't want it?" Levitt exclaimed.

"Hell no. He wants to be back here, where he should be. Where he belongs!"

"Can't argue that." Wojo replied.

"That's all find and good Fish, but what's he gonna do? Ask to be demoted instead of promoted?" Harris scoffed.

Fish looked up at the ceiling. "Well you didn't hear it from me."

"You're serious!" Levitt said, disbelief on his face, "He wants a demotion!"

"Why that devil...I knew it! Didn't I tell you I had a hunch he was up to something?" Harris laughed.

"Like I said, you didn't hear it from me." Fish repeated, trying not to smile.

"Hear what?" Wojo grinned. "Keep us posted though, will ya?"

Before Fish could answer the door opened behind him.

"Uncle Phil! You're early!" Emily walked over and kissed him on the cheek.

"Stop that! This is a police station!" he scolded gently, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Your lunch date, I presume?" Harris said with a smile.

"That's right," he turned to her, "Ready?"

"Sure am." Emily smiled and took the arm he offered.

"Hey Fish, how come you never told us you had a niece?" Wojo asked.

Fish stopped. "You never asked."

"Touche." Dietrich replied.

"Don't talk that way about my neice!"

"Fish, touche means point taken. It's a french-"

"Oh yes, nothing's changed at all." Fish looked heavenwards, then back at the detectives. "And thank God for that!"
*******************************************************
Back at Manhattan South, Barney hung up the phone and sighed. He'd
done it. He'd put in for a demotion. Now all he had to do was wait. As he
leaned back in his chair all he could do was smile. Scanlon, watch out. Your
days are numbered! Glancing at the paperwork on his desk he shook his head.
May as well keep myself busy, he thought, reaching for a pen. He didn't
realize how much time had passed until his door flew open.

"Barney? Barney, what is this poppycock I hear about you wantin a
demotion?"

"Hello Inspector. Yes, I'm afraid it's true. I've formally requested
to be demoted to Captain."

Frank Luger stared at him as if he was speaking gibberish. "Well what
the hell for? Something wrong with what you're doin now?"

Barney sighed and took his glasses off. "There's nothing wrong with it,
Inspector. It's just not..it's not what I was cut out to do. I realized I
belong back in a precinct, working in a squadroom again."

"I guess this means you don't want to replace me, huh?" Luger looked
down,brushing some imaginary lint off his jacket.

"Inspector,it's not personal. I just don't belong here. I don't feel
like a cop anymore!"

"Oh,so you's saying I'm not a real cop now, just because I don't walk
no beat or work in some filthy squad room is that it?" Luger made no attempt
to hide his hurt.

"No, that's not what I'm saying!" Barney stood up. "Look Inspector, not
everyone is a good fit for every job. I mean, look at Fish! He retired as a
Detective Sergeant! He would have made one hell of a Captain, but he never
went for it. You want to know why? Because he said he knew nothing was as
right for him as where he was already. He was a smart man."

"Barney, I just don't get it. You wanted to be Deputy Inspector so bad
you could taste it! It used to kill me everytime they gave it to some other
fool. What happened?"

"I guess I found out that having wasn't nearly as satisfying as simply
wanting."

Luger sat down across from him and gave him a cynical stare. "Or maybe
you found out that that jackass Scanlon's runnin the old 1-2 now."

"Oh yes, I heard. Tell me Inspector, why'd he get demoted? He finally
irritate the wrong person?"

"Ayup. You could say that. He tried to nail some Sergeant at Manhattan
North for some trumped up hoohah, but it blew up right in his face. He
turned out to be the Commissoner's nephew. He didn't take too kindly to
having one of his relations messed with."

"I bet he didn't." Barney couldn't hide his amusement.

"Anyway, they figured stickin him at the 12th was good punishment."
"For who? Him or the men?"

"Yeah I know what you mean. Who they got over there anyway?"

Barney looked surprised. "You mean you haven't heard? The old crew is
back. Harris, Dietrich, Wojcehowicz, Levitt, even Kogan. They all asked for
a transfer when they heard it was reopening."

"You're kidding? Well I'll be damned. I'm gonna have to pay the ol boys a
visit!"

"You do that, Inspector, and send them my regards."
*******************************************************
"I'll have a pastrami on rye,mustard on the side," Fish said, "and a
pickle. Half sour."

"Uncle Phil, you're not supposed to eat pickles, remember? Too much
salt." Emily scolded gently. "What would Aunt Bernice say?"

"Hush child.What she doesn't know, won't hurt her. And one pickle won't
hurt me. I drank Nick's coffee for years, and look at me!"

She giggled. "I wish I could have met him. You make him sound so
wonderful."

"Nick Yemana was one of the best. I meant to tell the boys that Pickard
got denied parole again." Fish reached for his coffee.

"Pickard?"

"The son of a bitch that killed him in that jewelry store heist." his
voice was a mixture of anger and grief, "ambushed him from behind. He never
had a chance."

"Oh Uncle Phil..." Emily reached for his hand.

"Nick had turned his back to help the store owner who'd been shot in the
thigh. He was dragging him to safety when he ran into Pickard trying to
escape. Wojo was on with him that day. Barney said it took him, Harris and
Dietrich to keep him from ripping Pickard apart. They'd never seen him so
angry."

"I can imgine," Emily said softly.

Fish looked off into the distance for a moment, then shook his head.
"Enough about the past. How are you getting along at the 1-2?"

"So far I'm really enjoying it, Uncle Phil. The guys are just like you
said."

"They're treating you right?"

"Of course they are. They've all been very friendly. You were right about
Wojo. He's very sweet." Emily smiled.

"He's come a long way, believe me. But listen, you be careful around
Scanlon. He's as rotten as they come."

"I know. He was a complete jerk this morning. And do you know he left for
lunch at 10:30?"

"I believe it. Sounds just like him. He was the only thing about retiring
I was happy to say goodbye to!"

Emily laughed. "Do you think Deputy Inspector Miller would mind if I
stopped by Manhattan South and said hello? I'd really like to meet him."

"You did, when you were 6." Fish reached for his coffee.

"Really? I don't remember that."

"You came to visit during your summer vacation. That was long before Wojo and the boys though."

"Okay, well do you think he'd mind meeting me again?" Emily grinned.

"Course he wouldn't mind. But don't call him Deputy Inspector. It makes
him nauseous."

"What?"

"Oh that's right, I forgot.You haven't met Inspector Luger yet." Fish
looked up as their sandwiches arrived.

Emily looked even more puzzled. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Oh you'll see. Trust me."

[Already Gone]

Poor Nick. I'm glad Pickard got denied parole. This is a great story Sue, I can't wait to read more.