So here is a second (and final) chapter.
Thank you to Andorian Ice Princess for your review. There might be a touch more Manstead just for you in this chapter - but is it the right brother?
Chapter 2
The snow was still falling, just as it had been for the last twelve hours. Jay was acutely aware of this because he had seen every hour of the last twenty four! He sat on the window seat nursing his hot coffee as he watched people trying to go about their lives on a Christmas Eve that was plagued by a good six feet of snow in some places. The blanket muffled the normal, every day sounds, apart from the screeching and laughing from the usual neighourhood snowball fight. Jay smiled wistfully, caught in a memory of the years when he had been a part of it.
Not this year though.
He had just come through one of the most traumatic weeks of his life. A shudder ran through him as he thought, not for the first time, that his life may never quite be the same again.
He recalled , once more, the endless nights holding vigil by his brother's hospital bed, sometimes joined by Natalie, but mostly alone. He had watched helplessly as the paralysis took hold of his brother, with seemingly no real hope of curing him. He had begged Will not to leave him...to hang on...to fight it. Then the morning had come when thye alarm on the life support machine had changed to a continuous tone...
He was brought out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He quickly stood and opened the door to a toddler's face beaming up at him,"Hey Owen," he greeted the child with a smile of his own. Owen reached out his arms so Jay picked him up immediately. Owen threw his arms around the detective's neck and hugged him close. Jay could feel himself melting into the little boy's embrace. Presently, Natalie followed, brushing the snow from her coat as she juggled a couple of bags of presents, taking them straight to the tree, "Owen honey, why don't you put the presents under the tree for Uncle Jay?"
Jay placed the young boy on the floor, chuckling as he all but dived in the bags of presents.
"Coffee or hot chocolate?" He asked Natalie after he had taken her coat.
"Coffee would be great, thanks," she smiled.
"Did you have much trouble getting here in the snow?" Jay asked while he busied himself making the coffee.
"No not really. My car's really good in the snow and I took it easy anyway," she told him.
They both moved to the sofa and sat down carefully so as not to spill their hot drinks.
The sat in companionable silence for a while each watching the young child as he arranged the presents around the tree, "So how have you been?" Natalie finally broke the silence.
"I'm ok. What about you?"
"Owen keeps my mind off things...you look tired, have you been sleeping?" she asked, concerned about his exhausted features.
Jay suddenly found the floor very interesting, "I've been sleeping some...probably not as much as I should," he admitted as Natalie nodded her understanding, "I close my eyes and I'm taken back..." he choked, unable to continue.
Natalie placed a gentle hand on his arm, "It's ok...I do too..." her eyes filled with tears "But it will get less in time."
Jay blew out a deep breath, "Yeah...I guess..."
Their musings were cut short by a little body that launched itself between the two of them. Owen looked up at both of them, his cheery smile fading when he noticed their sad faces. Natalie noticed this and hugged her son close, "We're not really sad sweetheart - just sometimes we think of sad things. But you always make it better," she told him as she ruffled his hair, causing the little boy to giggle. Owen's laughter was infectious and pretty soon both adults were laughing too.
"What does a man have to do to get some peace and quiet round here?"
Owen jumped down from the sofa and raced across the room, ready to throw himself at the figure. Jay followed close behind.
"Will!" The little boy cried at the top of his voice.
"Hey buddy," Will replied as he knelt down ready to receive the cannonball heading his way. Suddenly, Owen slowed down as if he had remembered that Will had been sick, and gently moved into the doctor's embrace, "So good to see you - I've missed you buddy," he told the boy as he tenderly stroked his hair.
Owen pulled back to look at him, "You ok now?"
The little boy's gaze was so intense that the older man began to feel uncomfortable, "I'm a lot better Owen," he told him honestly. Owen studied him a little while longer - satisfied that Will had told him the truth, he went back to his mother.
Jay, who had followed Owen to make sure that he didn't accidently hurt Will, chuckled at the exchange, "I could use him at the District," he said, "You need a hand getting up?" he asked as he saw his brother contemplating how he was going to get back to his feet. Will looked up at him gratefully as he took the offered hand. Jay kept an arm around his brother's waist as he supported him through the apartment. He had only been home from the hospital for a couple of days and although the paralysis was gone, it has left his body weakened so it didn't take much to exhaust him. Jay guided him to the sofa where he sat down next to Natalie and kissed her cheek, "Hey gorgeous - I've missed you."
Jay made a gagging sound, "I can't sit here listening to that - coffee Will? A refil Nat?"
"Yes please, " they replied in unison, causing Jay to roll his eyes. He leaned down to Owen, "You was a cookie buddy?"
The little boy clapped, "Yey cookies!"
Jay offered him his hand and took him to the kitchen to give the couple a few minutes together.
As Owen sat on a stool, swinging his legs while munching on a cookie, Jay glanced to where his brother and his girlfriend were say. Will had his arm around Natalie, who in turn placed her head on his shoulder. They were talking quietly and every so often Will would plant a small kiss on the top of her head. Jay smiled, even though it reminded his of his time with Erin. He was pleased that his brother had finally got his act together, especially in light of recent events.
He turned round to find Owen with his hand in the cookie jar, "How may have you had young man?"
Owen pretended to count on his fingers then shrugged his shoulders.
Before long Natalie and Will came into the kitchen, the latter still unsteay on his feet, "What happened to the coffee bro?" Will looked round the kitchen.
"Oh god, I forgot! Been busy keeping an eye on the cookie monster here," he chuckled as Owen triumphantly held up another cookie before taking a bite.
Natalie went over to her son, putting the lid on the jar as she did, "I think you've had enough young man," she told him as she wiped the crumbs from his face, "It's time to go Will is tired," she told the small boy.
Jay helped them both with their coats, "You sure you'll be ok driving in this?" Will asked with concern, "You can stay here you know, it's not a problem."
Natalie stood on her tip toes and kissed him on the lips, "I'll be fine. We're seeing each other anyway tomorrow."
Will still didn't look happy about it but he accepted it as Jay walked them to the door, "Text him when you get home otherwise he'll be up all night worrying."
"Of course I will, " she agreed and kissed his cheek. Owen shouted his goodbyes and then they were gone.
Jay locked the door behind them and turned round just in time to see the last of his brother's energy disappear. He caught him gently, "Bed or couch?"
"I want to say couch so badly but I think bed would be a better idea," he told him.
Jay walked him into his room and helped him into bed, "Thanks Jay, for everything. I wouldn't have made it this far without you," he told him truthfully.
Jay ducked his head, "You'd have done the same for me...I hope," he finished with a sideways glance at his brother.
Will laughed, "Well...I'd have to think about it..." His expression darkened when he noticed that his younger brother was not sharing the joke, "Jay?"
His brother looked at him, his eyes full, much to the older man's surprise, "I was so scared Will..."
"I know, me to."
"No I mean really scared. I hadn't felt that way since combat...you were literally dying before my eyes - hell you did actually die for a few minutes and there was nothing I could do to help you - nothing!"
The threatening tears cascaded down his cheeks now, but he didn't bother to wipe them away.
Will beckoned him and brought him into a warm embrace, "You kept me alive Jay. You made me fight. Don't think that I didn't know you were by my side every step of the way. I could hear you begging me not to leave you. You gave me something to fight for. I know I'm lucky enough to have Nat and Owen in my life now, but you're my brother, my flesh and blood - you made me get well again."
By now both brothers could not control the emotions that were pouring out of them.
Finally, Jay pulled away but kept a hold of one of Will's hands, "Well I guess my hard man reputation is definitely shot now," he chuckled throught the tears.
"What reputation?" Will countered.
"Oh ha ha - see you so called sense of humour didn't leave you."
"Never," Will replied, stifling a yawn.
Suddenly his phone lit up and the older man grabbed it smiling as he read the message.
"Nat got home ok?" The younger man questioned.
Will nodded as he set his phone back down on the table.
"Do you need anything before I go to bed?" Jay asked, stifling a yawn of his own.
Will shook his head, "Just for you to get a good night's sleep. I know you haven't been sleeping that well."
Jay smiled ruefully, "You don't miss a thing do you?"
"Nope," the older man chuckled.
As Jay closed the door to the bedroom, he stopped and turned to his brother, "It's good to have you home."
"It's good to be back home little brother."
There you have it. Complete fluff. Happy new year to you all xx
