Latin: "by virtue and valour"

In which values and morals take center stage when it comes to a con artist in court and someone Frank really wishes could have just stayed away like he was told to.

Also known as "Only The Lonely." Lots of canon divergence in here, not so much in terms of episodic content but in the form of a certain prosecutor's backstory. I wrestled with what I wanted to do, and you'll see pretty quickly what won out. Also, my new favorite teenager makes her first appearance!

***

"Alright, and you're working after school on your group project, right?" Frank asked.

"Right," Lily nodded as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Mrs. Greyson is letting us stay after." She made a face as she picked up her backpack from the back seat. "I hate biology."

Frank laughed. "Unfortunately, you got that from me, sweetheart."

Lily grinned as she opened the door to the car. Sirens suddenly pierced the air, and she groaned. "Again?"

"What?" Frank frowned and twisted in his seat to look at the main road.

"That's the fifth time in the past two weeks the ambulance has been called out at this exact time," Lily shook her head in annoyance as she looked at her watch.

"How do you know it's an ambulance?" Frank raised an eyebrow.

Lily pointed to the main road, and Frank turned just in time to see it was, indeed, an ambulance speeding through traffic. "Because it's always the ambulance at this time," Lily answered. "Wait in the parking lot if you want. I bet it'll be back in . . . " She checked her watch again. "Thirty-one minutes."

"Thirty-one minutes?" Frank repeated blankly. "For paramedics to be called to an emergency? You're kidding."

"I'm not," Lily shook her head. "Wherever they get called to at this time in the morning, it's got to be the same place. They always leave at the same time, and they always get back to the firehouse at the same time. Give or take a minute, maybe, but I swear, Dad . . . it's the same thing."

Frank hummed thoughtfully, then nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up."

"Yeah," Lily nodded, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for the ride, Dad. Be safe at work."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Frank kissed the top of her head. "Have a good day."

Lily waved at him as she stepped out of the car, and she shut the door before running up the steps into the school. Frank waited until he saw her enter through the doors, then he peeled out of the drop-off lane and headed to the parking lot.

Surely Lily had been exaggerating, right? What medical emergency only took thirty-one minutes round-trip?

***

"What's got you making that face?" Jalen asked as they met up for a crime scene a few hours later.

"So get this," Frank snapped on a pair of latex gloves. "I dropped Lily off at school this morning, and an ambulance comes from the firehouse that's just down the street. She told me exactly what time it would return to the firehouse."

Jalen's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're kidding."

"No," Frank shook his head. "Thirty-one minutes. Maybe a few seconds off, but that was the amount of time it took for it to come back."

"An ambulance?" Jalen repeated. "You're telling me a medical emergency took under an hour?"

"I know!" Frank nodded. "We've attended scenes where even if it's a minor medical emergency, it still eats up a lot of time for paramedics . . . but Lily called it. Fifth time in two weeks, according to her"

Jalen shook his head. "You know, I've run into a bit of a similar thing on my drives to the precinct."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I mean, not the same frequency that Lily mentioned, but same street at the same time, practically on the dot, I usually have to pull over for an ambulance. Always the same ambulance, always going the same way."

Frank shook his head in bewilderment. "What the hell is up with this city?"

"I have no idea," Jalen shrugged as they approached the waiting officer. "But sounds like the paramedics are pulling their weight."

Frank nodded in agreement. "What have we got?" he asked the officer.

"DOA is Dana Clarkson," she answered, leading them to the concrete stairs. "Forty-three years old, single, no kids. Lives on Central Park West. Possible strangulation."

Jalen whistled when he saw the woman on the stairs, blood covering her face. "Bruises on her face, abrasions on her hands," he noted. "She put up a fight."

"Have the MLI bag her hands and get a sexual assault kit," Frank ordered.

The officer nodded in agreement. "You get a time of death?" Jalen asked.

"MLI puts it at some time between 8:00 and midnight last night," she answered.

"Witnesses?"

"Woman who runs the laundromat called it in." The officer plucked an evidence bag from the ground and offered it to Frank. "Found the body on the stairs when she came to open up."

"How about cameras?" Jalen looked around as Frank examined the contents of the bag.

"Nothing so far."

Frank held open the wallet for Jalen to see. "She's still got her credit cards and cash."

"Her phone is missing, assuming she had one with her, of course" the officer told them and held out an ID. "Found this on the ground."

"Connectivity," Jalen read. "Must have been at some sort of event."

Frank's eyebrows rose when he found the woman's business card in her wallet. "Looks like she was a crisis consultant."

"Yeah, well," Jalen sighed as he looked down at Dana, "some things aren't fixable."

***

"Well, he's lying through his teeth," Frank declared as they left Peter Royce's home.

"Yeah, we got enough for a search warrant," Jalen agreed. "Let's get patrol to come seal off the location."

Frank nodded, then paused and pointed. "Is today just the day for ambulance calls left and right?" he asked.

Jalen blinked when he saw the ambulance parked right on the side of the street. "Seriously?"

Frank heard a door open next to them, and he turned to see a pair of FDNY paramedics walk down the steps, bemused looks on their faces and no patient in tow. "Everything alright?" he asked them as he held up his badge.

"Everything's fine, detective," the dark-haired woman. "Just a frequent flier."

"Frequent flier?" Jalen parroted. "What does that mean?"

"The woman who lives here is diagnosed with bipolar disorder," the paramedic explained as her partner started to pack up their ambulance. "She has meds that help, but if she doesn't take them, she has some . . . severe episodes. Her neighbors often call 9-1-1 for her, and all we have to do is convince her to take her medication."

"Wow," Frank winced and looked at his watch. "How much time can that take in your day?"

"It depends on how long it takes to convince her to take her meds," the paramedic shrugged. "But unless something gets done to filter out non-emergency calls, it means there are fewer ambulances available to respond to actual emergencies."

Frank paused and mulled that over in his head. "Does Firehouse 243 have any of those calls?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah," the paramedic nodded. "Just had the same caller this morning, actually. They were talking about it when we ran into each other at the hospital. Their frequent flier has early onset dementia. Last week, they had to take her to the hospital because she took expired medication."

Frank grimaced. "Oh, man."

"And all these calls are taking time away from actual emergencies?" Jalen clarified.

The paramedic gave a grim smile. "It's been getting worse ever since the pandemic."

Her radio chirped suddenly. "Ambulance 77, assist requested . . . "

The paramedic grimaced, and Frank gave her a sympathetic look. "Is that another one?"

"Yeah," she sighed and headed for the ambulance as her partner climbed into the driver's seat. "Thank you for checking, though."

"Any time," Frank nodded.

The ambulance peeled away with lights and sirens going, and Jalen shook his head in annoyance. "Now if I see news reports saying victims died in emergencies, I'm going to wonder if they could have been saved if paramedics weren't delayed by non-emergencies," he said.

"You and me both," Frank agreed as he looked away from the house above them. A flash of blue and white caught his eye, and he narrowed his eyes. "Hold up," he told Jalen as he walked down towards the trash cans by Peter's house.

"What you got?" Jalen frowned, stopping at the top of the stairs.

Frank slipped on a latex glove and carefully lifted the lid of the trash can. He came back with a bundle of fabric in his hand, and he held it up for Jalen to see. "Does that look like silk to you?" he asked. "Maroon, blue, and white like the ME said."

"Uh huh," Jalen nodded in agreement.

The door behind them opened, and Peter frowned through the bars of the gate. "What are you still doing here?"

Frank gestured to him. "Sir, you mind stepping outside? Just step outside." Peter walked through the gate, and the moment he was through, Frank gripped his elbow. "Let's go," he said as Jalen took Peter's other arm. "We need to talk to you down at the precinct."

***

When they finally had their man, the same douchebag who had sent them to Peter Royce, Frank's new amusement of the day had been watching Nolan and Sam's faces as they flipped through the various aliases the man used. Sam's, in particular, had twisted in a particular type of disgust that had made Jalen have to turn and disguise his laughter into a cough.

It was almost just as funny when they sat in on the arraignment. "Calling docket ending in 9604, People v. Pierre Briones," the woman announced. "Also known as Julian Matias, also known as Andrew Hilton, also known as Vincent Balanza, also known as - "

"What's his actual name?" the judge asked in annoyance.

"The defendant's true name is Devon Miller," Sam supplied.

"Mr. Miller pleads not guilty," Lindmark said from his client's side.

"I assume the people are seeking remand?" the judge asked Sam.

She nodded in confirmation. "He's the very definition of a flight risk. He has eight aliases and nine dates of birth."

"My client has never been convicted of a crime," Lindmark told the judge. "In fact, he's never even been arrested before."

The judge considered, then looked at Sam. "I'll hear your argument, Ms. Maroun."

"The people's theory is that the defendant romanced the victim, Dana Clarkson, conned her out of almost half a million dollars, and when she found out, he killed her," Sam answered. "The victim's body was found three blocks from Mr. Miller's home. He lied to police about both the nature of their relationship and his true identity, and his DNA was found under Ms. Clarkson's fingernails."

"The DNA merely proves there was physical contact sometime that day," Lindmark argued. "And the prosecutor failed to mention that the murder weapon was found at another man's home."

"Sounds like the people have their work cut out for them," the judge remarked as she raised her gavel. "Bail is set at one million dollars."

As the gavel hit, Miller turned to whisper to a woman in the front row behind him. Jalen frowned and turned to Frank. "You know what that's about?"

"Not a clue," Frank shook his head.

When Miller turned back around, he smiled smugly. "Mr. Miller will post bail forthwith," Lindmark said.

Sam blinked in surprise, and Frank quietly scoffed. "Guess we know where that money is coming from."

***

"He's got profiles on four dating sites, mostly catered to older, affluent singles," Violet told Sam as she flipped through the profiles on her tablet.

"And the two women we know he's dated are both sophisticated, intelligent women," Sam nodded thoughtfully.

"It's not about intelligence," Violet shook her head. "He's an emotional predator. Thank God I'm in a relationship."

"Lucky you," Sam sighed wistfully as she picked up her coffee. "It's hard meeting people these days. Online dating is a nightmare."

"That's how I met my partner," Violet shrugged. "It's a numbers game, but you have to put yourself out there."

"Oh, I put myself out there," Kate snorted as she walked into the room, folder in her hand. "I met my first husband the old-fashioned way: drunk as hell at a biker bar in Queens." Violet snickered into her coffee at the image. "And then my second husband I met through mutual friends." Kate shrugged. "I'm single now." Sam openly laughed that time as Kate joined them at the table. "I did get the Financial Frauds report back, and this guy has conned a slew of women. He's run up their credit cards. He persuaded them to get car loans, mortgages, to wire money into his account. And judging by all the timing of these transactions, he's just using one woman to pay for the next."

"Wasn't he having dinner with that lawyer?" Violet asked. "Grace Pollard?"

"Yeah," Kate nodded.

"You think it was a date?"

"Possibly," Kate shrugged. "I mean, we tried to question her, and she invoked attorney-client privilege."

"I followed up," Sam nodded. "She refused to speak with me, so I issued a subpoena, but she got it quashed."

"Look, we will get you a list of all his other victims," Kate told her.

"Thank you," Sam smiled and took the file of the records.

***

"Where the hell are they?" Nolan muttered through clenched teeth as he checked his watch.

Sam looked over her shoulder as the doors to the courthouse opened. "Right here."

Nolan twisted and sighed in relief when the pair of detectives rushed into the courthouse. "Oh, thank God."

"Sorry we're late," Frank apologized as he slowed to walk side by side with Nolan, Jalen flanking Sam. "Traffic was a nightmare."

"It's usually not too bad this time of day," Nolan frowned as he checked his watch.

"It is when an ambulance tries to get through a whole bunch of cars," Jalen said dryly.

Sam blinked. "Emergency or frequent flier?"

Frank and Jalen looked at her in surprise. "We just learned that during this case," Frank remarked. "When did you learn it?"

Sam pointed to the man next to her. "When Nolan called them that."

As if on the same brainwave, both detectives turned to Nolan at the same time. "You knew that?" Jalen asked.

"What?" Nolan asked defensively. "I heard paramedics call them that, so I picked it up. When was it a crime to know something like that?"

"Uh huh," Frank narrowed his eyes. "No, it's not. I just thought 'frequent fliers' became a thing more recently."

"You only really start noticing when the ambulance calls start crossing paths with your life," Sam shrugged. "My apartment complex is right down the street from the 233, and on my days off, I can tell you the exact times I can expect to see the ambulance roll out and roll back in. Excluding the actual emergencies, that is."

"Yeah, and the 225 is just down the block here," Nolan nodded. "It's like clockwork when I get here at the same time, I can count down when the ambulance is going to pull out of the firehouse." He shook his head and snorted as they approached the courtroom. "Has to drive Captain Karns insane."

Frank's eyebrows raised as he beat Nolan to the door and opened it. "You're on a last-name basis with the captain of the firehouse?"

"Full-name basis, actually," Nolan rolled his eyes. "He's been the captain of his shift as long as I've been under Jack. Longer than that, even. We cross paths often enough."

Frank turned to Sam expectantly and ignored Nolan's offended scoff. "That true?"

"Contrary to popular belief, Nolan and I do not share a social life," Sam held up her hands. "But I have met a few of the 225's firefighters when we do a coffee run. One of the most honorable group of people I've ever met."

"That's the way Karns runs his shift," Nolan nodded.

"Sounds like you know the house better than the casual 'cross paths,'" Jalen remarked.

Nolan blinked slowly, then sighed as they entered the courtroom. "Can we leave it at 'family business?'" he asked. "If it becomes important later, I'll tell. For now, let's just say that Captain Karns and the 225 have been good to me and my family."

Frank tilted his head, his investigative-wired brain assessing every aspect of Nolan. While Nolan wasn't tense in a way that suggested this was a sore subject, the pleading look in those multicolored eyes clearly asked for them to leave it alone. So he nodded in agreement and shut the door behind Jalen. "I'll take that."

"Thank you," Nolan sighed in relief. "Now I have to go give my opening against the jackass that decided to represent himself."

"You're figuring out just what a bundle of fun he is, aren't you?" Jalen gave a bland smile.

Sam rolled her eyes. "That's one way to put it."

***

Nolan could think of a few more choice words to describe Devon Miller after court concluded for the day and he met Jack in his office. "So you can't tell the jury about Miller's lies to the detectives," Jack said as he took his coat and hat from the stand, "but you should be able to prove your case."

"Well, it's not just the lies," Nolan shrugged. "He'll explain away the DNA found under her nails with a false claim that she touched his arm earlier in the day. And we don't have any other women to show that he has a pattern of fraud."

Jack narrowed his eyes, leading Nolan out of his office. "You're telling me if the case were to go to the jury today, you'd lose?"

"We might not even make it over the rail," Nolan admitted. "Judge could dismiss it outright for lack of evidence."

Jack scoffed his opinion of that idea. "Sounds like he's playing the judge and jury the way he played your victims."

"Just about sums it up," Nolan sighed and nodded. "And if he's acquitted, he'll be right back at it."

"You need to pivot," Jack advised. "Link Miller to the murder weapon. Put the scarf in his hands."

"Tried," Nolan shrugged. "No one saw him plant it. We checked surveillance video, subpoenaed GPS in his car and phone."

Jack started shaking his head before Nolan finished talking. "Focus on the scarf, not the defendant," he said. "If the fabric is as rare and expensive as forensics indicate, only a handful of stores sell it. Find out where he bought it."

Nolan tilted his head as he considered the approach. "Men like Miller don't buy their own luxury items," he pointed out.

Jack smirked. "Then track down whoever bought it for him."

Nolan nodded in agreement, then noticed Jack glancing at the clock on the wall. "What?" he asked, checking his own watch. Jack merely held up a hand, then pointed expectantly to the closest window. As if on cue, the wail of sirens began, and Nolan sighed, watching Ambulance 90 leave Firehouse 225's garage and drive down the streets. "Again?"

"Ten times in the past three weeks, Nolan," Jack informed him. "Like clockwork." Nolan pinched the bridge of his nose, hearing the edge of irritation in Jack's voice. "One of these days, a non-emergency caller is going to be the reason paramedics are delayed to a stabbing victim that bleeds out on the streets . . . or to a five-alarm fire which needs as many medics for triage as possible."

"I know, Jack," Nolan nodded as he rubbed his forehead. "I know."

Jack pressed the button to summon the elevator. "Have you made the call to ask about bringing her to start a paramedicine program here?" he asked.

"I have," Nolan grimaced. "But it's a bit of an uphill battle." Jack clicked his tongue, expecting more, and Nolan shook his head. "The field chief who pushed her program to get approved was killed in the line of duty earlier this year. Died protecting a man who stumbled out of a movie theater fire. The building collapsed on them. The victim pulled through . . . the field chief was killed instantly."

Jack sighed heavily in sorrow as the elevator doors opened. "What do the FDNY paramedics vow when they join the force?"

Nolan smiled somberly. "I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind," he recited perfectly.

"Yes, that's it," Jack nodded as he pressed the button for his floor. "Sounds like it's not just the FDNY that asks for that virtue in their people."

Nolan nodded in agreement. "I think I know that better than most in this state."

Jack smiled. "Call again," he encouraged.

"I will," Nolan promised.

Jack nodded in approval as the doors slid shut.

***

"Dad?"

"Yeah, sweetheart?" Frank asked as he finished loading the dishwasher.

Lily tapped her pencil against the kitchen table, then leaned her chin on her hand and looked at him with dark eyes just like her mother's. "How often do you work with paramedics when you get a case?" she asked.

Frank paused in the motion of using his foot to shut the dishwasher door, and he looked at Lily in surprise. She bit her lip and looked down shyly, and Frank sighed as he shut the door. "Not very often," he admitted as he walked to sit next to her at the table. "Sometimes if there's a witness in shock or if a bystander was hurt in the aftermath of whatever happened, there are paramedics there to check them out. Other than that . . . " He shrugged, then watched Lily absently nod and look back down at her textbook. "What makes you ask?"

"We were between classes today and saw the entire firehouse leave," Lily answered quietly. "But the ambulance wasn't with them. It had been called out earlier. It just made me think . . . "

She trailed off, and Frank sighed and put his hand on top of hers. "You know, my partner Jalen and I were talking about that earlier in a case," he told her. "And I bet you're wondering the same thing he did when we learned more about all this."

Lily swallowed. "What if the ambulances get called to something unimportant, and they end up not getting to where they should be until it's too late?"

Frank nodded. "That's what Jalen said, too," he told her, rubbing his thumb over Lily's knuckles. "I've been thinking about that, too. Especially in my line of work . . . I've even heard officers talk around the precinct about if they find someone, if an ambulance arrives and the paramedics aren't able to save the victim, could they have done so if they weren't delayed by another call, maybe one not as important?"

"It's scary to think about, Dad," Lily admitted.

"It's very scary," Frank agreed. "But unfortunately, unless the fire department comes up with a solution, it's gonna be on everyone's minds."

Lily huffed and glared down at her textbooks. "I feel stupid for even thinking this," she muttered. "If they know it's not an emergency, why do they respond?"

Frank smiled wryly. "Because then you think . . . the one time they don't respond, it'll be an actual emergency." Lily nodded meekly. "Your uncle is a firefighter, not a paramedic, but he heard the oaths paramedics take when they join the FDNY," he told her. "'I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind.' As much as paramedics know they would be responding to non-emergencies, they would rather take that call and find out it's nothing than not take the call and learn something went seriously wrong. You hear me?"

"Yeah," Lily nodded sadly. "I know, I hate myself for thinking that selfishly."

"You're not the first person to think like that, sweetheart," Frank shook his head. "And I doubt you'll be the last. Just . . . how about if you hear talk like that at school, you be the better person and point that out to them?"

Lily smiled at him. "I will."

"Good girl," Frank smiled and kissed the top of her head.

***

"Sam's pissed," Jalen whispered unnecessarily as Miller smugly walked away from a bristling Grace, who sat in the witness box after being interrogated over the sex tape video from the night of Dana's murder.

"You think?" Frank muttered in return, watching Sam's dark eyes track Miller's walk back to his seat. If he looked hard enough, he swore he saw smoke pouring out of her ears.

Nolan made to stand, then Sam's hand clapped down on his arm, stopping him from moving. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, and Nolan looked at her for a second before nodding and settling back in his chair. Sam rose and walked out from behind the desk, her dark eyes narrowed to slits. "What Mr. Miller just did in this courtroom reveals who he is, not who you are," she told Grace. "Isn't that true?"

"Objection!" Miller called. "Leading."

Sam looked expectantly at the judge, who frowned before deciding, "Overruled."

"Yes," Grace answered Sam, her head held high. "He's a liar and a ruthless sociopath with no regard for others."

Sam nodded. "And that sex tape was a cheap ploy designed to intimidate you," Sam continued. "Wasn't it?"

Grace scoffed. "If it was, it didn't work."

"Mr. Miller tried to demean you?" Sam asked.

"I will not be demeaned for being a woman, for being a human, in full," Grace scowled. "At times, I'm a professional. At times, I'm a friend. At times, I am a woman seeking physical intimacy. When I fight for the rights of women, I fight for their right to enjoy the full human experience. It is what we all hope for in life."

Sam nodded and walked closer to her. "Did you kill Dana Clarkson?" she asked.

"No, I did not," Grace answered. "Mr. Miller killed her."

"What makes you so sure?"

"He left the house with the scarf," Grace responded. "He was gone for about twenty minutes. When he came back, he was disheveled, and he poured himself a tall glass of whiskey."

Sam gestured to the group of people sitting in the jury box. "And why should this jury believe you?"

Grace braced herself. "I'm sitting here, exposing the most intimate details of my life. I have everything to lose and nothing to gain."

Sam looked at the jury expectantly, and the two detectives glanced over as well. Jalen had a small smile on his face as he watched the jury give suspicious looks at Devon, and he chuckled under his breath. "She's good."

"We work with the best," Frank agreed.

"No further questions," Sam said, giving Grace a small nod before returning to her seat.

***

The judge reviewed the contents of the file handed to him, then he returned it to the guard. "How do you find?" he asked.

The guard returned the file to the foreperson, who opened the file and glared at Miller. "We find the defendant, Devon Miller, guilty of murder in the second degree," she answered.

Miller's eyes widened microscopically, and Frank had to bite on his tongue to smother a satisfied chuckle. Served the conning bastard right. "Thank you for your service," the judge nodded as Miller was led away in cuffs.

Frank stepped out of the bench and let Jalen out as well, and the pair waited for Nolan and Sam to pack their briefcases and join them before they left. "Nice work," Jalen complimented Sam.

"Demeaning, egotistical men are the worst," Sam huffed. "No offense."

Jalen held a hand over his heart and gave her a look of mock offense. "Us, demeaning and egotistical?"

"If we took offense to that, we would be taking it on behalf of all the demeaning, egotistical sons of bitches out there," Frank grinned as he left the courtroom, making Nolan snort and Jalen laugh. "Which really, you should be giving it straight to them."

"She'd probably kill them if she did," Nolan smirked.

Frank shrugged. "Where's the problem?"

"Point," Sam agreed with a smile. "Thank you," she added to Jalen as she nudged him in the arm with her elbow.

"You're welcome," Jalen grinned.

"But at least I was validated on something during this case," Frank shoved his hands in his pockets as the quartet emerged from the courthouse and headed down the steps. "Don't trust what you see on social media."

"Don't always trust what you see on social media," Nolan amended. "And make sure your date only has one passport."

Sam giggled. "Life lessons come from the strangest things."

"So what you're saying is you're never putting up a dating profile?" Jalen japed at Frank.

"Oh, God, no," Frank's face twisted in disgust at the very thought, the expression making Sam burst into laughter. "Why the hell would I do that? I have the most important people in my life already. No way am I gonna trust the Internet with anyone's love life after this case."

"Aw, you hear that?" Sam hip-checked Nolan. "We're the most important people in his life."

"I think he's counting his daughters over us," Nolan said dryly.

"Well, yeah, my family's a bit obvious," Frank smirked at him. "But I didn't meet my best friends online, now, did I?" Nolan opened his mouth, but just as quickly shut it again and shook his head. "Well, best friends and a little sister I didn't know I needed," Frank winked at Sam.

Sam beamed at him. "Back at you, big brother I didn't think I would ever want."

"Geez, are we all just gonna be saps today?" Jalen rolled his eyes.

"These two are, apparently," Nolan snorted, then paused when his phone rang. "Excuse me," he backed away as he looked at the Caller ID.

"Hang on," Sam stopped the detectives and hurried down the sidewalk.

Frank and Jalen remained a few steps behind her as she called Grace's name. The lawyer stopped in her tracks and turned, and Frank felt his spine instinctively stiffen. "Oh, no," Jalen murmured. "She doesn't look happy."

"That verdict was a referendum on his guilt and your courage," Sam told Grace with a smile.

Grace didn't return the smile as she held up her hand and unrolled the newspaper she held with white-knuckled fingers. Sam's heart dropped into her stomach when she saw the headline slamming Grace, along with photographs of her from the sex tape, the bold print saying Tie Her Up: Feminist Lawyer, Grace Pollard, gets Kinky with a Killer. "You think this is a victory?" the woman spat before abruptly turning on her heel and walking away from the courthouse.

Sam deflated, and Jalen sighed. "I'm so sorry, Sam."

"She said it would happen," Sam whispered as she turned back to them. "I hoped it wouldn't."

Frank shook his head in annoyance. "What I wouldn't give to make sure there's a special circle in hell for every perp we convict."

His words brought a small smile to Sam's face. "I like that image."

Frank nodded. "Me, too."

Jalen checked his watch, then he gave Sam a hesitant look. "Do you want to get a drink?" he asked, making Sam look at him in surprise. "I'll buy."

Sam licked her lips, giving Jalen a considering look. After her talk with Violet, she had dipped back into the online dating pool and had agreed to a date after work. But Frank's words rang in her head, too . . . the most important people in her life, save for her family, were already in her life. Jack was her boss, her mentor, almost like a father. Nolan was her best friend, her partner in justice. And like she told Frank, the senior detective was the big brother she never thought she would ever want.

And Jalen . . . her stomach flip-flopped as she tried to put a label on what he was to her. He was more than a friend, he had proven that when he worked diligently to help her crack the Castillo case. He definitely wasn't like her brother, because she didn't see him the way she saw Frank. He was . . . he was . . .

Sam took a deep breath. "If you have more than one passport, I'm gonna sic Frank on you."

The senior detective threw back his head and laughed loudly, and Jalen grinned at her. "One passport," he assured her. "Cross my heart, and Frank can back up that new record he got at the shooting range if he ever finds out I lied."

Sam pointed at Frank, narrowing her eyes playfully. "You heard that, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Frank grinned cheekily. "Jalen, you break my little sister's heart, you just gave me permission to make you the new Lara Vega testing dummy."

Sam squawked and blushed, and Jalen sputtered. "Frank!" both protested at the same time.

"Go!" Frank waved them away, barely able to grin because he was laughing so hard.

Sam shook her head and stepped closer to Jalen. "And now I know what it really feels like to have a big brother," she mumbled.

Jalen shook his head and sighed as he offered her his arm. "I guess that's what we get for ribbing him, huh?"

Sam grinned and linked her arm through his. "I'm his little sister, though. I have an excuse. I'm supposed to tease him. What's your excuse?"

Jalen held up his other hand. "I plead the fifth."

Sam giggled as they headed for the crosswalk. "Yeah, I bet you do."

"Though, since Frank technically opened the door . . . " Jalen looked down at her. "Considering the time, would you be up for drinks and dinner?"

Sam gave him a shy smile. "Yeah," she nodded. "I would really like that."

***

"Yes, I have a very good idea of who would be willing to volunteer for a pilot launch," Nolan was saying into his phone as Frank walked towards him. "I'll be sure to pass along contact information. Thank you."

"Pilot launch?" Frank repeated.

Nolan looked up in surprise as he hung up the call. "Oh, something Jack told me to check back in on," he said in explanation. "I've been asked to keep it under wraps until I get confirmation we can get this off the ground."

"Copy that," Frank nodded in understanding.

Nolan nodded as he slid his phone back into his coat pocket. "Where did Sam and Jalen go?" he asked.

"Oh, they ditched us for each other," Frank smirked. "Sam pulled out the 'one passport' line and Jalen said I could shoot him if he lied about it."

Nolan's eyes widened, then he guffawed. "You're kidding."

"Nope," Frank shook his head, unable to keep a grin off his face as the pair walked down the sidewalk. "I can back up my new record at the shooting range. His words, not mine."

Nolan looked at him with a disbelieving smile. "When did that happen?"

Frank shrugged innocently. "Turns out it's very easy to beat your score when you imagine the target is the attorney who goes on a witch hunt."

Nolan's jaw dropped. "Frank!"

"Hey, I was willing to test my chops on Vega instead!" Frank snorted. "But then my best friend would then have to prosecute me, so I took the next best option."

Nolan was still laughing when they reached the corner of the street. "I can't believe you!"

Frank swiveled in place and leveled his pale gaze on Nolan. "I make no apologies for how I prefer to protect the people I care about the most," he said firmly. "And I would do anything for my girls, Jalen, Lieu, Violet, Sam . . . and you. Get used to it, Nolan."

Hazel-green eyes held pale ones, then Nolan slowly nodded in agreement. "Heard, Frank."

"Good," Frank nodded as he punched the button to change the crosswalk light. "Now, I'd ask if you wanted a drink to wrap up the evening, but I'm already busy the rest of the weekend."

Mischief lit Nolan's eyes to an amber hue. "Do dates last that long?" he teased.

"Thin ice, Price," Frank warned as he jabbed a pointed finger in Nolan's chest. "Thin ice."

Nolan laughed and batted Frank's hand away. "I appreciate the intent of an offer, but there's a meeting I need to set up," he explained. "Rain check it, though?"

"Heard," Frank confirmed. "Have a good evening, Nolan."

"You, too," Nolan smiled, turning to walk down the sidewalk as Frank crossed the street to find his car.

***

Watching Lily's eyes brighten as she bit into the ice cream cone she had gotten made Frank grin. "Acceptable?" he joked.

"Yes!" Lily nodded in delight, making her twin braids bounce up and down. "How have we never gone down here before?"

"Because your dad used to be an idiot and wanted to avoid anywhere near the courthouse at all costs," Frank deadpanned with a snort as they walked down the street.

Lily gave him a wary look. "You're joking, right?"

Frank grimaced and made a seesaw motion with his hand. "Yes and no," he admitted. "Let's just say things between my team and our prosecutors were . . . shaky before a few months ago."

Lily looked at him worriedly. "But things are better now?"

"Much better," Frank nodded with a chuckle as he examined how best to finish his cone. "I should introduce you to Sam some time. She's the partner of the lead prosecutor, and she is not someone you want to make angry. Someone did that in court today, and she was vicious in return. Think of her as a surrogate aunt."

Lily giggled. "You're saying you adopted her?"

"We kind of adopted each other, honestly," Frank admitted. "Her partner is my best friend now. Nolan runs rings around defense attorneys on a good day."

"And on a bad day?"

Frank made a face. "Let's just say if words could be physical weapons, he would be leaving a massacre behind when he left the courtroom."

Lily considered his words as she licked her cone to catch melting ice cream. "That does sound like someone who would be your best friend."

Frank did a double take. "What's that supposed to mean?" Lily merely giggled, and he shook his head. "Brat," he sighed fondly as he tugged her into his side, making her squeak. "I should send you back to your mother for the weekend."

"Thanks for letting me stay with you," Lily snuggled into his side.

"Of course, honey," Frank frowned down at her. "The arrangement your mother and I made was that you and your sisters would stay with her, yes, but you would always be welcome with me. I mean it." Lily's dark eyes stared along the cracks in the sidewalk, and unease filtered through Frank. "Sweetheart," he pitched his paper wrapper into a waste bin on the sidewalk and took Lily's shoulder, turning her to him. "What is it?"

Lily licked her lips, then took a deep breath. "Uncle Jerry has tried visiting us," she told him, and Frank felt his blood begin to freeze. "I've heard Mom stop him at the door, saying you didn't want him anywhere near us. He sounded really angry about it, that she shouldn't trust your words when it was really coming from someone else. What did he mean?"

Frank forced himself to take a calming breath. Fucking hell, Jerry, he thought bitterly. "Lily, it's a long explanation," he began. "During a case we had - "

"Frank!" a very unwelcome voice called. "Lily!"

Both Cosgroves turned at the same time, and Lily's eyes widened as her godfather strode down the street towards them, a smile plastered on his face. Fake, the instincts she inherited whispered, and for the first time since she was a little girl, she shuffled until she was pressed into her father's side, seeking protection from him.

Frank responded immediately, his arm winding around her and pulling her so she was shielded by his frame. "Jerry," he greeted with barely-concealed venom. "This is a surprise."

"Well, I was in the area, and when I saw you, I thought I would drop by," Jerry shrugged, tilting his head as he looked at Lily. "It's been a while since I've seen either of you."

"Cases backing you up?" Frank asked through gritted teeth, despising the small talk.

"Well, that," Jerry gave a thin-lipped smile. "And any messages or calls I make don't seem to go through."

Lily looked up at Frank timidly, and Frank narrowed his eyes, taking in the shops on the street. "Sweetheart, why don't you go inside and get a hot chocolate," he told her, nodding curtly to the shop next to them. "Your uncle and I need to chat."

Lily's eyes darted between Frank and Jerry, then she all but ran into the coffee shop next to them. The bell above the door jingled as it shut behind her, and she looked worriedly as her father stepped closer to Jerry, pale eyes normally warm towards her, her sisters, and her mother now glacial as he spoke to her godfather. She bounced on her feet, worrying her lip between her teeth as she looked between the menu boards and the window.

"Are you alright?"

Lily yelped in surprise and turned around, her heart thudding in her throat. It calmed when she saw the blond-haired man in the black uniform worn by FDNY personnel, and she nodded shakily. "I'm fine," she said, then her eyes widened when she saw the pair of bugles on his collar. "Captain," she added at the end.

The man smiled kindly. "You know your ranks."

"My uncle is with the department," she explained, taking a careful look over her shoulder. She really didn't like how close her father and her godfather were to each other, especially with how they were glaring at each other. "And my dad is a homicide detective."

"A family of first responders," the captain nodded approvingly. "Very good."

"Captain?" A dark-haired man in a suit joined them, and Lily had to blink to make sure she didn't stare. How could a person's eyes have so many colors in them at the same time? "Everything OK?"

"Just fine, Nolan," the captain nodded. "Just making sure there isn't a problem."

"Oh," the man - Nolan - nodded and gave Lily a pleasant smile. "Having a good evening?"

"Yes, sir," she nodded. "Just . . . waiting for my dad to finish a conversation outside."

Nolan nodded and glanced towards the door, then he executed a perfect double take. Those multicolored eyes abruptly darkened to gray, and he looked at Lily again. "You're one of Frank's daughters?" he asked, making her gulp. "Lily?"

"Yeah," she nodded, then she perked up when his name resonated. "Nolan? One of the prosecutors my dad works with?"

"That's me," he smiled; this time, it was laced with tension. "Nolan Price. This is Captain Rick Karns, he runs Firehouse 225 just down the road."

"Nice to meet you," Lily nodded politely.

"Nice to meet you as well, Lily," Karns nodded in return.

"Um," Lily shuffled on her feet before looking at Nolan. "Do you know what they're arguing about?"

Nolan's eyes narrowed as he watched Frank and Jerry. "I probably have a good one," he answered before looking at Karns. "Can you stay here?"

Karns nodded in agreement. "Of course."

Nolan pivoted on his heel and headed towards the door without further ado, and Lily watched in surprise as those in the shop seemed to part for him.

***

As soon as the door closed behind his daughter, Frank let out a snarl that had alarmed looks sent his way. "Are you following us, Jerry?" he demanded, stepping as close to his former mentor as he dared.

"That's a serious accusation, Frank," Jerry warned.

"Not nearly as damning an accusation as you know I have on you," Frank countered, watching with vindication as Jerry's complexion darkened. "I told you to keep away from Evelyn and our daughters after what you said."

"You know, that was delivered with sarcasm at the time," Jerry told him conversationally, eyes narrowed. "And yet every defense attorney doesn't seem too keen to take on a case you and Shaw get . . . because no one wants to take on the golden team where apparently, all the prosecutors need to do is bat their eyes and their attack dogs rush to do their bidding."

Any ice that remained in Frank's blood melted when fury made him boil, and it took everything in Frank's power not to wrap a clawed hand around his former mentor's throat. "If you're trying to insult me with that, you are sorely mistaken," he growled, stepping closer so he was toe to toe with Jerry. "I am insulted on behalf of my best friend, my partner, and my sister. You can have a problem with me all you'd like, but you do not get to bring them into this."

"Your best friend?" Jerry gave him a wry smile. "C'mon, Frank. Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

"What Nolan means to me is none of your business," Frank snapped, pale eyes all but shooting razor sharp icicles at Jerry. "So let me make my point clear . . . you stay the hell away from me, my friends, and my family because I have about had it with you, Jerry."

Jerry's eyes narrowed. "Careful, Frank," he said lowly. "I'm not some subordinate you think you can discipline."

"Oh, I know you're not," Frank's grin was all teeth. "Right now, you're a threat. And you know what I have on you. You want me to turn you into a criminal, too?"

Jerry's lips pulled back to form an animalistic snarl, but before he could hurl whatever words were on his tongue at him, a voice that simultaneously filled Frank with relief yet also dumped ice down his back sounded from next to them. "If my opinion matters here, I'd say yes." Nolan walked forward like a lion on the prowl, greatcoat making him an intimidating figure as he stopped at Frank's shoulder. Not at his side, but just a step behind him, a steadfast presence that bolstered Frank's confidence. His unspoken words were clear: This is your fight, but I'm here if you need me. "It'll get him out of your hair if you do."

"This conversation doesn't concern you, Price," Jerry bit out.

Nolan merely raised an eyebrow. "Your opinion is noted. I value Frank's opinion more, though."

Frank did nothing to hide the smugness those words brought to his smile. "You can stay right here, Nolan."

Nolan smirked. "You got it."

Jerry's eyes darted between the two men, but neither made any sign of bending or breaking before him. He knew the whispers that had spread through the department, that something had happened and suddenly two men who were amicable colleagues at best were forged into partners on and off the job, still formidable separate yet impenetrable when put together. He knew how to get under Frank's skin when he had the younger detective alone . . . but even in the few seconds after Nolan had joined them, Frank's armor solidified to the point he knew nothing he said further would even scratch him.

And he knew whatever rumors were circulating about the pair, they didn't even come close to describing what he saw in front of him. Two pairs of eyes, one pale and the other darkening from multicolored into thundercloud gray, leveled judgmental and challenging looks at him, the detective and the counselor standing united. He had heard how Frank skillfully manipulated Seaver into a trap that allowed Nolan to put a stop to his questioning, had heard how Nolan warped Vega's words from vicious attacks into a cloak of protection around Sam while Frank wrapped an invisible noose around her neck outside the courthouse. Somehow, in a few months, these two had gone from attacking each other's throats to shielding each other's backs.

Frank gave a thin smile, eyes sparking dangerously. "Should we see how many of your cases were made on planted evidence?" he asked quietly.

"I don't think I could ever bet high enough," Nolan smirked wickedly.

Backed into a corner, Jerry mockingly clapped for them as he stepped away from the pair. "Well done," he told them. "I didn't think I would ever see the day a cop and an attorney would be so tangled together."

Frank's eyes flashed. "If you come near me or the people I care about again, you'll see just how well and how far deep we can bury you in the ground."

Jerry narrowed his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut as he turned on his heel and stalked back the way he had come. As Jerry walked further away, Frank bristled, not taking his eyes off his former mentor's back. He felt Nolan finally step to be directly at his side, and he could sense his gloved hand hovering over his back, but the prosecutor remained still.

It was only when Jerry disappeared from view that Frank allowed himself to relax, and he exhaled heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling a migraine brew. Nolan's hand finally settled between his shoulder blades, and unbidden, Frank leaned back into the offered comfort. Nolan put more pressure into his touch in return, and Frank finally turned to face him. "You with me?" the prosecutor asked quietly, blue-gray eyes looking Frank up and down.

"Yeah," Frank muttered, taking a breath to calm himself down. He felt Nolan's hand move up to the back of his neck and squeeze comfortingly, and he gave a tense smile. "Thank you," he told his friend gratefully. "That could have gotten so much uglier."

Nolan nodded in return. "I have your back anytime you need it."

"Yeah, no kidding," Frank lifted his head and looked around in befuddlement. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Nolan chuckled and raised his other hand to make a beckoning gesture. "Detective Ryan conveniently decided to have a chat right outside the building where I was having that meeting I had after work."

The door to the coffee shop opened, and before Frank could blink, he had to stumble backwards when his daughter crashed into him, her arms flying around his waist in a hug that almost crushed his ribs. "Dad!"

"I'm alright, Lily," Frank immediately hugged her in return, hand stroking down her hair. "It's OK."

"What did Uncle Jerry want?" Lily demanded, looking up at him in worry. "Why was he being like that?"

Frank sighed, wrestling with what to tell his daughter. "There was a case that we . . . severely clashed over," he decided, watching Nolan bite his lip to stifle a snort. "It's irreconcilable, sweetheart. I'm sorry." He hoped that would satisfy her curiosity for now.

It appeared to do just that, for Lily nodded and turned to Nolan with a smile. "Thank you," she told him.

"You're welcome," Nolan smiled back. "Your father is my best friend. I'll have his back whenever he needs me."

"Good," Lily beamed.

Frank rubbed her back fondly, then noticed the black-uniformed man that had followed Lily outside. He recognized the bugles on his lapels, and he nodded respectfully as he extended his hand. "Frank Cosgrove. Thanks for looking out for my daughter, Captain."

"Rick Karns," the captain responded and firmly shook his hand. "Happy to do so, Detective."

"So this is where you conduct your top-secret meetings?" Frank asked Nolan with a smirk.

Nolan barked out a laugh. "Nothing top-secret anymore, I guess. Remember how I said 'family business' when it comes to the 225?" Frank nodded in confirmation, and he watched both men's smiles widen. "My sister completed her paramedic training at the 225 under Captain Karns," Nolan explained. "We were no strangers to each other's places of work."

"To the point where I kept getting asked when you would jump ship from Jack's office to join the department," Karns laughed.

Nolan rolled his eyes. "My sister might have drilled all things medical into my head, but I'm no paramedic," he retorted. "Do you want me to rattle off all the times clerks in the office thought she was a prosecutor in Jack's office?"

"Your sister?" Frank asked Nolan in surprise.

He caught his unasked question. "You know the amount of enemies I've made because of my position, both from my defense and my prosecution days," he said, and Frank winced and nodded. "I'm protected behind the courthouse walls, but Sylvie was an open target every time she left the 225. Eight or nine years ago now, there was a firehouse down in Chicago that had a paramedic killed in the line of duty, and the chief was close friends with another captain in the FDNY. Sylvie transferred to his house, and in just over a year, she became the house's Paramedic In-Charge. We haven't been able to see each other in person very much because of our schedules, but we keep in close contact." He smiled. "Close enough that, when the frequent fliers became a problem, I reached out to her and asked for her help with bringing up a solution to the fire department here."

"You have one?" Lily asked with wide eyes.

"We have one the board is willing to test," Karns nodded. "Chicago had this same problem last year, to the point there was one boy Sylvie and her partner couldn't save because they were the second ambulance called when the first was delayed. Her paramedicine program caters to frequent fliers, which has drastically cut the number of non-emergency calls in Chicago. Within a couple of months, the program received full funding from the CFD."

Frank whistled through his teeth, looking impressed. "She's a rock star," Nolan grinned. "And she's coming to New York to make a presentation to the board and make a plan for a program here. Captain Karns has already agreed to recruit the paramedics from his house into the program's test runs, and the board will go from there."

"If you haven't figured it out yet, Detective, when a Price puts their mind to something, there's no stopping them," Karns laughed. "It's something I admired about Sylvie when she started, and when I learned of her program, that only grew. I just worry when that gets this one into trouble."

Nolan snorted. "I'm not the fire cop."

"Fire cop?" Lily asked in confusion.

"Arson investigator," Frank summarized, then he did a double take and looked at Nolan with wide eyes. "Seriously?"

Nolan grinned sheepishly. "It rubbed off onto her?"

"Bah," Karns snorted. "Just like you got her medical knowledge, she absorbed every ounce of investigation and sense of justice she could from you. It doesn't matter if those two officers of hers lure her into it, she dives into the deep end without bothering to find the shallows."

Frank stared incredulously at Nolan, hearing Lily giggle at the comparison. "And we're about to have both of you in the same city?"

"Dream and nightmare come true for Jack, I'm sure," Nolan beamed.

Karns closed his eyes in defeat. "You look just like your sister when you get that mischief on your face."

"How long has it been since you've seen her?" Lily asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

While Frank gave her a stern look, Nolan smiled. Unlike before, this one was tinged with sadness, which made alarms ring in Frank's head. "Twice in a few months," he answered. "Once when I flew out to Portland, Oregon to rip into a social worker and guidance counselor while simultaneously keeping my sister from going hysterical and representing her partners when they fought for custody of their best friend's sons. The second was when I was able to see them for Christmas."

Frank blinked once, then twice. "What?"

"It's a long story," Nolan shrugged. "And I'm too sober right now to tell it." Lily giggled at his words, and the prosecutor winked at her. "But long story short, when Sylvie comes to New York, she may bring a truck captain, a squad lieutenant, and two teenage boys in tow."

"Understood," Frank mumbled, shaking his head as he tried to wrap his brain around the deluge of information given by his best friend.

"I look forward to finally meeting them if they come with her," Karns told Nolan as he glanced at his watch. "But I need to return to the firehouse and get those volunteers."

Nolan nodded and extended his hand. "Thank you again," he said sincerely. "That's from me and from Sylvie."

"Like I told you when she joined my house, Nolan," Karns took his hand and pulled him in for a half-hug. "We do what we can for family."

Nolan smiled. "Amen to that."

Karns clapped him on the shoulder and nodded to the Cosgroves. "It was a pleasure meeting both of you," he told them. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Thank you, sir," Frank nodded. "You as well."

Lily waved in farewell, and Karns waved in reply before turning to walk back down the street. "And I need to get home to prepare for tomorrow," Nolan told Frank while wrinkling his nose, making the detective snicker. "The wheel of justice spins ever on."

"Don't I know it," Frank smiled knowingly. "Thanks again, Nolan. I owe you a drink sometime."

"Just add it to whenever we get the celebratory one after today's win," Nolan chuckled as he stepped to the edge of the sidewalk, raising his hand in the air to call a cab. He turned and leaned in towards Frank, lowering his voice so Lily wouldn't hear. "My promise still stands," he whispered. "Tell me to do it, and I'll blow his career into nothing more than dust."

A shudder went down Frank's spine at the dark vow, and he took a deep breath to cover up his reaction. "If this happens again, I may take you up on that," he answered.

Nolan's eyes flashed viciously in return, and he nodded as a taxi pulled up to the sidewalk. "Hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, Frank."

"You, too," Frank nodded.

Nolan smiled at Lily as he opened the back door of the cab. "It was good to meet you, Lily!"

"You, too!" Lily grinned. Nolan winked in return, climbed into the taxi, and shut the door, and Frank watched the cab peel back into the flow of traffic. Lily tilted her head as she watched her father, then she slipped her hand into his, drawing his attention back to her. "I like him," she decided.

Frank looked down at her, a smile tugging on his lips. "You do?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I do. He's good for you, Dad."

Relief flooded him at her words, and Frank's smile widened. "Yeah," he agreed as he and Lily continued down the street, the courthouse looming in the background behind them. "He is."

***

Yeah . . . I gave in. It turns out once I start writing Nolan Price and Sylvie Brett as siblings, I can't stop. Don't get me wrong, this is still a Pricegrove-centric series, and they will absolutely remain the focus. But if I can sneak my favorite fanon siblings into here, I can't help myself.

I debated when I would bring Lily into the equation because, considering how I rewrote "Benefit of the Doubt," she hasn't made her appearance yet. I knew whenever she appeared, I wanted Nolan's first impression on her to be a good one. Then I was trying to figure out what Latin phrase would be the title when I knew I wouldn't use much of the canon content . . . then the need to have Jerry rear his ugly head came, and this was the result: two men with strong values and virtues against one who we saw would throw them out in an instant if it means getting the bad guy. Can you tell I don't like him?

To sum this up: Jalen and Sam are moving forward, Nolan's extended family is a little (read: very) crazy, Lily is a national treasure I will protect with my life, and since she's made her opinion of a prosecutor known . . . well, what other green light does a detective need? ;)

graphic by marvelity