Title: Rebuilding a home.

Author: Alexandria Kanaras

Rating: M - Later chapters and will be marked at the top.

Summary: He doesn't know how to do this. She doesn't know how to help him.

Pairing: Linda/Danny, Maria/Danny, Eddie/Jamie(background)

Author Notes: This was started before I completed Season Eight and will discount Season Nine entirely. This is a monster of a story, if you read my other one this one is about 3 times longer. Chapter lengths will vary due to how the story is presented. Some will be shorter. Others will be longer.

Chapter 1 - Anniversaries.

September 28th

Maria frowned as the door was opened before she could knock. Jack giving her a nod. "Hey… thanks for coming."

"No problem… what's going on?" He had texted her earlier, asking her to come over and he would explain when she got there. Her heart had been thudding hard since. It was rare the boys called her, or texted her, unless they were trying to get a hold of their dad in an emergency.

"Sean is at Grandpa's and I am heading over to Aunt Erin's but… I didn't want to leave him." He said softly and glanced over his shoulder to make sure the scene was clear. "It's their wedding anniversary…' she nods, that explained the mood for most of the day. 'thought maybe… that he would let you stay."

"I got him." She promises and Jack nods, she steps inside just as headlights of Erin's car pull up out front. Jack waving as he disappeared out the door, overnight bag over his shoulder.

She finds Danny in the living room, a mostly full beer bottle in his hand, a game on the television. His tie, jacket and shoes have been removed. She also didn't see his gun.

"Hey Partner."

"Baez?' She watches as his brow furrows, his head turning towards her. 'What are you doing here?"

"Boys are worried. Didn't want you to be alone."

"Oh.' He says softly, 'I'm fine." She raises an eyebrow let's her face speak her answer. "Fine…' he says evenly, 'I'm not going to swallow my gun."

"I know that. Still… you don't have to be alone in it."

He doesn't answer but she doesn't expect him too. "I miss her."

"I know."

"Everyday."

"I know that too. I miss her too." He nods, "What game are we watching?"

"Uh…' he glances back to the screen. 'No idea."

"Alright.' She takes the remote, settles beside him on the couch. 'Let's start from the beginning."

Jamie knocks once before pushing open the door, the noise from the television greeting him and sighs to himself. Knows where to find him as he steps into the living room. The image freezes the words before they pass his lips though. Danny was asleep on the couch, stretched across the cushions like he expected but Maria was pressed against the far right side. Her feet kicked up on the recliner part. Danny's back was too the room, his head resting on her lap, his face pressed into her stomach. The throw that the boys used to cover up with while playing games was across his shoulders.

The image was startling but spoke of comfort and god knows that Danny wouldn't accept it from anyone else. Anyone but family. Maria's head was rolled over to the side, the circles under her eyes had spoke of a hard night. Her end of the couch was reclined just a bit, enough for her to be comfortable without adjusting Danny's stance. One hand on the arm of the chair, the other on Danny's shoulder.

She blinks first, focusing on him and holds a finger up to her lips. Jamie nods gestures towards the kitchen, holding up a bag and coffee container and she nods once. She knows she has no hope of moving without waking him and judging from the circles under his eyes he hasn't been sleeping. Makes the choice to just stay where she was, Jamie steps back out and gestures to the door and she nods again, hears the door close and then lock behind him.

Let's herself drift off again, the next time she wakes up it's because his phone beeps softly, Danny grumbling as he registers it somewhere in his head. She scales a hand over his head, settling his movements but the beep turns into an actual ring and he rolls enough to grab the offending noise off the table.

"Reagan.' He answers gruffly, 'not on call." He mutters and closes the phone call letting the phone drop somewhere onto the cushions.

"Jamie came by."

"Good for him.' He answers and burrows back into her lap, eyes not even bothering to open. She gives an indulgent smile before trying again.

"With food."

"Food?" He opens one eye and she nods. He thinks about, truly thinks about it but food wins as he groans, rolling over to sit up and scrub a hand over his head, trying to clear cobwebs. "What kind of food?"

"Why don't you go find out?" She answers as she stands up and heads towards the bathroom. Let's him stumble his way to the kitchen.

She comes back out to him holding out coffee and two donuts. Takes them both as she settles back on the couch.

"Was that dispatch?"

"Yeah. Something or something. I'm taking the weekend. We're not on call anyways."

"Yeah… we could use the break." He hums, let's himself close his eyes as he sips on the coffee.

"Thanks… for…'

"Anytime Danny… just call." He nods but isn't listening so she reaches over, touches his arm lightly and he glances her way, "Seriously. Call."

"I will."