A/N: I have always wanted to write a story like this for a while. However I haven't had the inspiration to do so. stilljustme's latest chapter in 'Waiting for Jamie' inspired me the most. Also there is a video on youtube of military reunions. If you need a good cry, go watch that, it get me every time. Please R&R.
Disclaimer: Not mine...
Today had been a long time coming. Even though it had only been 14 months. It had been 14 months away from his family. Away from his parents, grandparents, brothers, sister and Linda, each of them picking up where Danny was supposed to be.
His heart ached at how much he had missed.
His sister had been married a few years when he had been deployed. Erin had become mother to a daughter about a year after she was married. Nicky was like a carbon copy of his sister. Danny adored his niece and was fiercely protective of her. He also spoiled her rotten. Erin and Jack had also moved into a new apartment closer to the university. Erin broke the news to him right before he was deployed, that she had been accepted to NYU law school. With a four year daughter, the family knew it wasn't going to be easy, but they had vowed to help as much as they could. He couldn't have been more proud of his baby sister. His goal was to be home in time for her graduation.
Joe was also prepping for graduation. However it was his high school graduation. Danny had missed his brother's entire senior year. He had heard the glory stories of his success on the soccer field, basketball court and baseball diamond. When he left his brother was in the middle of his junior year, now Joe was a senior about to graduate. He had been accepted into the Criminal Justice major, a two year program at St. John's University. To prepare him for the New York Police Academy. It was not what Danny had wanted for his brother, but he assured Joe that no matter what he decided on, Danny would support him.
Jamie, his baby brother, the one sibling he felt the guiltiest being away from, had just started high school. When he had left Jamie was in the middle of his seventh grade year. Now he was freshmen in high school and excelling in both his studies and on the athletic field.
His family meant the word to him and to be away from them for that long had killed him. When his mom had last asked him when he was coming home, he could only answer with "soon."
The orders that he had been waiting for came the next day. Danny had also been told that he would be able to be home for 6-12 months before he would recalled for another tour, however the second tour, he was told would be much shorter. By the end of the second tour, his enlistment period would be over and he could go back to NYPD. It meant that he could start a family with Linda, warn Erin's husband not to hurt her, spoil Nicky even more than he had before, support Joe in the academy and give him the advice he needs, and be Jamie's older brother and cheer him on in anything he chose to do.
Danny wanted to tell his family that he was coming home. He wanted them all waiting at the airport for him. He also wanted to allow each of his family members their moment with him. After being gone this long, he wanted to savor each moment with his family, and he could not do that if they all met him at the airport.