Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Bloods or any of the characters.


Danny shoved his way into the hospital bathroom, stood before one of the sinks, and twisted the cold water on full blast. Cupping his hands, he filled them with the frigid liquid, leaned in and splashed it across his face. After repeating the process several times, he just stood, bracing his hands on either side of the sink, and simply stared at the drain as the water continued to pour down it.

A guy washing his hands at the sink next to him peered at the detective warily. "Tough night?" he asked, vague and awkward sympathy in his voice.

Danny didn't move, or even honor the question with sideways glance. "Yeah," he barely whispered.

The man grabbed a couple of paper towels on his way out of the bathroom, leaving Danny to himself.

Danny stood up straight and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't notice that his eyes were red and swollen, or that his shirt was severely rumpled and partially untucked. His tie had been loosened and the top two buttons undone. But he didn't see any of that. All he saw was his greatest demon: the man who had shot his brother.


Jackie came into the hospital waiting room cautiously. Even though she and Danny were close, and she was acquainted with his family, she felt like an intruder. She quietly sat down next to Linda. "How's Jamie," she asked, her voice respectfully low.

Linda glanced up from the magazine she had been pretending to read. "We don't know. He's still in surgery."

"How's Danny?" was the next question that came. Jackie had been there when the shooting took place. She had seen the look of horror in her partner's eyes, the sickening disbelief, the unimaginable pain, the sheer panic. It had all been there, stark across the oldest Reagan brother's face.

"Not good," Linda replied. "He hasn't talked to anyone…about what happened." Linda was now staring at Jackie pointedly, silently requesting her side of the story.

Jackie sucked in her breath and let it out slowly. "It was wrong place, wrong time, pure and simple. Danny took a shot, the perp took a lucky dive, and the bullet hit Jamie. He'd run into the scene. We had no idea anyone else was there."

"This is like a horrible dream, a nightmare," Linda whispered, "I don't even know what to say to Danny, to comfort him."

"There isn't anything you can say," Jackie said. "Not yet. Maybe never."

Linda stifled a sob.

Jackie added gently, "And that isn't your fault, Linda. This is something Danny is going to have to come to terms with on his own. But what you can do is be there to support him. Be his rock, Linda, because he's gonna sink the lowest he's ever been."

"I know," Linda agreed, nodding vigorously.

Jackie glanced around at the other Reagans and noticed that one—besides Danny—was missing. "Where's the commissioner?" she asked.

Linda sighed. "He was out of state. Business trip or something like that. He's on his way back right now…"

"Can I do anything?" Jackie asked. "Do you guys need some food, or coffee, or anything?"

"We could use some food," Linda said, looking around at her in-laws. They had been in the hospital for hours, and none of them wanted to leave.

"I'll be back," Jackie said. She stood up, placed a reassuring hand on Linda's shoulder for a brief moment, then left.


Danny returned to the waiting room shortly after Jackie left. He sank into the chair next to Linda. "Anything?" he asked, even though he suspected that no news could have come from the doctor in his ten minute absence.

"No," Linda said. "How're you feeling?"

Danny shook his head. "This can't be happening, Linda. This can't really be happening."

Linda took his hand, tangling her fingers in his. "It is, Danny." She leaned against him, putting her head in the cook of his neck and shoulder. "But Jamie's strong. He's gonna make it. He's gonna be okay."

"And what if he's not, Linda?" Danny asked. "What if I killed my brother." His voice broke, and Linda felt warm tears seep into her hair.

"I don't know," she admitted, her throat constricting.

Linda glanced up to meet the gazes of Erin and Henry. Her boys and Nicki were staying with a friend of the family, so it was just the four of them. Though both had offered efforts of comfort to Danny, their attempts hadn't been the least bit successful. On top of that, they were both lost in their own grief, anxiously waiting to hear word from the doctor.

Linda could not even try to imagine what they were going through. She was heartsick for Jamie, and was praying desperately that he would come out of surgery alright; however, unlike the rest of the Reagans, Linda had only known Jamie for a few years comparatively. She had met Jamie when he was an independent teenager, trying not to drown in the sea of overprotective parents, grandparents, and three older siblings. This family had known him since the very moment he was born, squalling and entirely dependent on their love and care. Linda tried to imagine how she would feel if one of her sons were in that operating room, and the other son was devastated by his accidental actions; however, it was too painful to even think such a thing could become of Jack and Sean. Not her babies.

Erin's phone chirped and she glanced at it. "Dad's on his way from the airport," she said listlessly.

"That's good," Linda said when no one else commented. She sat up, but she didn't let go of Danny's hand. "Jackie's picking us up something to eat."

"That's sweet of her," Erin said.

Linda nodded. "Does anyone want a coffee? I know that the hospital stuff tastes like motor oil, but it's something hot."

"Sounds good to me," Henry sighed, and he tried to smile at his granddaughter-in-law.

Linda gave Danny a kiss before she stood up and stretched tiredly. She needed to take a walk, to get some fresh air…even if it was just different hospital air. The heaviness that ladened the room was suffocating.

"I'll call and check up on the kids, too," Linda added as she walked away. She pulled out her cell phone, made the quick call, and then continued down to the cafeteria.


TBC