Hey, I'm back! Thought I would be writing loads after the end of the last season but it all seemed to dry up. I am now on my summer break from work so I'm hopeful that the ideas may start flying into my brain now.

So this is set after the tragic events of the final two episodes - a bit of brother time. There might be a hint of angst (come on, wouldn't be one of my stories without it) but I'm hoping that it will read as a day where two brothers hang out together.

Big thanks to Annic, for giving me permission to use her idea of leaving letters to read at a later date (do you remember my message from months ago?)

As always I own no-one that you recognise just dust them off now and again.

Brothers Together

Danny Reagan had a day off! Finally, after working non-stop for the last couple of weeks, rounding up the Los Lordes gang and the fallout from that - not to mention trying to be there and help his brother, Jamie, through the trauma of losing his partner...he was so ready for this day off.

So what was Danny going to do on his day off? Sleep through the day? Spend it with Linda and the kids? No...He was going to spend it with his kid brother.

He had discussed it at length with Linda, who had thought that it was a brilliant idea - another way of building those all important bridges with his brother.

The family were still worried about their youngest. He was quiet, withdrawn and after getting a good look at him during the last Reagan Sunday dinner, it was obvious that he wasn't sleeping or looking after himself very well. He'd been off work since Vinny's funeral as he had had some sort of breakdown - but what actually concerned the family the most was that he didn't seem to want to get back to work. Usually if he was off work for any reason, he would be chomping at the bit to get back on the beat - but this Jamie was anything but that - he seemed to have no enthusiasm at all.

Jamie's former training officer had called Danny a few nights ago to discuss Jamie's return to work and Danny had admitted out loud, for the first time, that he wasn't sure if Jamie would make it back at all.

As he stood outside the huge, wooden door to his brothers apartment, Danny drew in a deep breath, steeling himself for what might be waiting on the other side of the door.

He knocked loudly, smiling when he heard the door being unlocked straight away - the door opening to reveal his brother dressed and ready for the day.

"Hey Danny," Jamie greeted as he stepped aside, to allow his brother access.

"Mornin kid. Glad to see you ready and raring to go."

"Well I'm up..." Jamie mumbled.

"Ah come on kid, what could be better than spending some quality time with your awesome big brother?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

"But it's your first day off in weeks...you should be spending it with your family..." Jamie dropped his eyes as he busied himself pouring coffee."Last time I looked, you were part of that family Jamie!" Danny countered.

"Ok...you want some coffee?" Jamie asked quietly, offering him a cup.

Danny gratefully accepted the cup as he watched his younger brother closely. Jamie sat himself down at the breakfast bar, taking slow sips of the warm liquid, totally oblivious of his brothers close scrutiny.

"You sleeping any better?" Danny queried - he hadnt missed the tremors in the younger man's hands when he lifted his cup.

"Yeah, a lot better thanks," Jamie replied, trying to avoid the older man's eyes.

"Hmm" was all Danny said, making Jamie bristle.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, now staring his brother straight in the eye.

Danny sighed, "Nothing kid," he breathed, hoping to stop any argument dead in its tracks.

"No come on Danny - if you've got something to say, just say it! It's not like you to beat about the bush!" The yojnger man snapped, immediately regretting his words, "I'm sorry..." he finished quietly, his eyes dropping once more to the counter top.

"Look Jamie, I don't want to fight, I want us to have a good day together - so let's lay everything out on the table...but I need you to look at me - I'm your brother, not your enemy."

He watched as his younger brother dragged his gaze up to meet his.

"Bottom line kid is that we're all worried about you,"he held up his hand to silence his brothers protests before they started, "It's obvious to us that you're not sleeping properly, and, I mean, I don't blame you, it's been a tough couple of weeks for you - but you barely eat anything or go out - it's like you've given up. Renzulli called me the other day because he couldn't get a hold of you, to ask me if I knew when you were going back to work and I had to tell him that I didn't know..." Danny was aware of the stiffening of his brothers posture at the mention of returning to work, "But what's got me worried the most Jamie, is that you don't seem to care one way or another..."

"So all this let's spend the day together is an intervention then?" Ja ie growled, suddenly not looking forward to spending time with his oldest brother.

Danny shook his head sadly, "No Jamie, it's not. I just wanted you to know my concerns, that's all. Come on, let's go - I've been looking forward to spending today with you all week," he told him as he got up to wash his cup out.

"I'm sorry Danny, I'm being irrational," Jamie offered by way of an olive branch.

"Don't sweat it kid - come on lets have a great day," Danny threw an arm arojnd his brother as they grabbed their jackets and headed out.

A round of golf had been the first idea on Danny's list. Jamie had rolled his eyes at the idea, never really having had any interest in the game. Danny had teased him relentlessly as they headed to the golf course, promising to go easy on him etc. As it turned out, Jamie almost made Danny eat his words, as he ended up being a much better golfer than either of them had realised.

As a way of appeasing his brother, Jamie bought lunch, comprising of one of the best hot dogs in the city (according to Renzulli), washed down with Danny's favourite chocolate milkshake.

They sat in a comfortable silence, eating and watching the world go by, the soft, warm breeze gently blowing through their hair.

Jamie felt some of the tension from the last few days begin to melt away in the breeze. His shoulders seemed to be relaxing, and for the first time since the funeral, he felt a smile forming on his face, "I think I might take up golfing," Jamie commented as he finished his hot dog, "I think I might be good at it...what do you think?"

Danny grunted something inaudible as he scrunched his paper up and threw it into the bin, causing Jamie to chuckle - which was music to Danny's ears.

"Beginners luck," he continued to grumble, knowing it was making Jamie smile, "Besides it's bowling this afternoon kid and you're going down!" Danny cheered up, thinking of the afternoon ahead.

What actually transpired that afternoon was that Jamie kicked his butt at bowling and Danny ended up with a pulled muscle in his back for his trouble.

Jamie gently helped him into the car, after offering to drive, "Come on old man..."

Danny settled himself in the passenger seat in obvious discomfort, but his petulant expression set Jamie off chuckling again, "Laugh it up chuckles...but if my back seizes uo, you'll have to carry me!"

"I'll take you to mine - I've got painkillers and a heat pad that should help - I'll even make dinner if you don't have to rush off!" Jamie offered, feeling slightly guilty for laughing.

"So you're not just content to see me suffer with my back - you're going to try to poison me too!" Danny groused.

"My cooking's not that bad," Jamie defended, "But if you'd rather go home and explain to your wife and children how your little brother wiped the floor with you...as well as the reason behind your pulled muscle...or I can."

Jamie smiled as he drove, listening to his brother complain about his 'pain in the ass little brother'.

Danny had been so frustrated about Jamie winning, thst he had thrown a ball down the alley, in temper, hence the pulled muscle.

They arrived at Jamie's apartment building not a moment to soon for Danny. His back was feeling really sore after sitting in the same position for twenty minutes. Thankfully Jamie had got over his mirth over Danny's condition and set about helping the older man out of the car.

As soon as Danny straightened up his back went into spasm, causing him to wince, "You ok?" Jamie asked, concern clearly evident on his face.

Danny was annoyed with himself. They had been having a great time and, as usual, one moment of madness had caused it all to go pear shaped.

He quickly glanced at his brother and was pleased to see his face looking more relaxed than it had earlier.

"Yeah I'm good, don't worry about me. It's nothing that a couple of painkillers won't put right," he reassured the younger man, disappointed to see his posture tense yet again.

Their journey to the loft apartment was slow going, but the more Danny walked the looser his back began to feel. Unfortunately though, the relaxed mood of earlier seemed to have disappeared. They walked in silence, Jamie's features pinched once more.

I'm going to finish the chapter here. I was going to do it all in one but looking at how much is left to type it would be one heck of a big one-shot. I'm going to type up the next straight away, but will see what you think of this part first.