A little boy begs his mom to let him walk to school alone. She reluctantly agrees, only to hear him scream and then disappear.

Erin runs into some annoying guy she went to high school with who is a public defender. He says he has a client she wrongly convicted but the DA's office never admits it's wrong, just like her.

Jimmy's mother calls Danny and Baez. She feels she is an unfit mother. Danny reassures her this isn't her fault.

Frank is watching a Captain Phillips on the news who saved a woman who was pushed onto the tracks. His only wish is to meet Frank. Garrett thinks that's a bad idea. He thinks the guy was reckless. Frank says he saved that woman's life. Garrett said fine but he wants something. Frank says the guy is a Marine who saved someone's life. He wants to shake his hand.

Jamie sees two cops fighting. The female cop punches the other one then says it was a misunderstanding she just worked something out with him and that Jamie should stay out of it.

Eddie gives Jamie some papers to sign. She can tell he's upset. He tells her he saw Nichols punch Burner. She doesn't want him to report Nichols. Jamie says she was in uniform. Eddie says give me a day to find out what is going on. Jamie reluctantly agrees.

Danny and Baez talk to the birth mom who apparently sent the threatening text. She thinks her ex took Jimmy. He is Jimmy's bio dad who didn't know Jimmy was given up for adoption. She showed him a photo of Jimmy by the school to calm him down. She doesn't know where they are.

Anthony tells Erin about a lot of holes in a case from 10 years ago. However, the guy confessed at a parole hearing.

Erin and Anthony visit Mr. Williams. The obnoxious public defender claims the DA's office was incompetent. Williams said he had to confess to try to get parole even though he was innocent.

Tommy's PO officer doesn't think he would kidnap anyone. She says he changed his life. She is sure he will show for his meeting tomorrow.

Nichols tells Eddie this is none of her business. Eventually she says the other cop is involved in a hockey team that won't let her daughter play. She doesn't want her daughter to punch the guy too.

Captain Phillips comes to see Frank. Frank reveals that he was a Marine as well. He compliments Phillips' quick thinking. Phillips would love to meet Danny, who served in the same area he did. He says that he couldn't just stand by and watch while a woman was in danger. Frank has a feeling the guy wants to join the NYPD. Philips wants to retire from the Marines and join the NYPD. However he turns 42 soon so he's too old to become a recruit. He was hoping Frank could make an exception to the rule. Frank says that rule is a law so he can't. Philips says he's sure the law wasn't meant to stop him from joining as he is fit. He understands if Frank can't help, but he wanted to state his case. Frank shakes his hand.

The Marine is buying alcohol when all of a sudden a guy pulls a gun. The Marine hits him over the head with a bottle. Garrett wonders how to handle this. Frank says there's nothing to handle. Garrett says but the guy will say in the papers he wants to be a cop. Sid offers to tell Phillips to keep his trap shut but more nicely. Frank doesn't like that idea and neither does anyone else.

Jamie and Eddie have an argument because Eddie thinks Jamie is too by-the-book and that's why no one likes them.

Anthony and Erin keep investigating. They talk to Williams' friend, who denies he was the one who got Julia pregnant. He also thought the case was closed. He was in Lancaster, PA when Julia was killed and he won't talk anymore without a lawyer.

Danny and Baez talk to Tommy. He has an alibi and seems surprised that Jimmy has been kidnapped.

Anthony and Erin come to see Mike, who gloats and acts obnoxious. He says their office did a terrible job. Anthony wants his resources to get over dead ends.  He's sure Bell isn't a suspect.

The city council has agreed to an exception for Phillips. Sid says 42 is the new 30. Garrett is against it. He doesn't see how a combat Marine's skill set translates to being a modern day cop and is afraid that the papers will run a story of the guy only lasting three days. Frank doesn't think that's likely. Garrett thinks law of averages means Phillips will hurt an innocent person eventually.

Jamie comes to the house with yams. Henry realizes something is wrong. Jamie tells him about his dilemma. Henry says to trust his gut on this. Great leaders don't lead according to words on a page.

Danny and Baez argue about whether Tommy is guilty. Jimmy's mother gets a photo. Also, Tommy didn't show up for his PO appointment. Danny sends cops to the ice cream shop while he and Baez go to Tommy's home. Tommy has gone out with Jimmy. Tommy's father is very old and in a wheelchair. He says that Tommy took Jimmy to a carousel in Dumbo.

Baez and Danny arrive at the carousel. Tommy is sitting with Jimmy right out in the open. Baez and Danny come up to them. Tommy doesn't want them to cuff him in front of Jimmy. No one would let him see his son and there was nothing left for him on the outside so at least he got to get to know him a little bit Danny allows him to say goodbye. Jimmy asks where he is going.

Erin questions Bell. She knows he was in NY. He says that Williams did worse than kill his girl.

Jamie puts Nichols and Burner together and conveniently makes Burner work on hockey night. Nichols thanks Jamie.

Frank gives Philips the good news. Phillips says he was in the right place at the right time. Frank says exactly. Phillips can't tell what's going on. Frank says one of his COs always said fight the fight, not the fight plan. But at the NYPD the enemy doesn't wear an enemy uniform. Phillips is sure he can tell the difference between the bad guys and the good guys. Frank tells him mistakes make the nightly news and the world will judge. Frank tells him 99% of the time they are trying not to fight a war. He would be doing Philips a disservice by granting his request because it would be a waste o his talent. However, Phillips may push back on his opinion. Phillips thinks that would be disrespectful.  Frank invites Phillips to meet Danny and him for dinner.

At Sunday dinner Sean wants to know about Phillips. Frank feels bad about turning Phillips away. Danny agrees that not all Marines are wired to be cops. Frank wonders if people can change. He says he wasn't talking about Phillips. About himself. A couple of years ago he would have been proud to have Phillips on the job. Danny says that they all have to make decisions they don't like. Frank is finding it harder and harder to live with his choices.