A/N: Just a few more 'missing-moments' between Danny and Linda Reagan and their family. As usual, I obviously do not own anything nor am affiliated with Blue Bloods in any way. I just really love the show. No copyright infringement intended. Anyway, I really hope you enjoy reading it!
Danny sighed, quietly dropping his shield and keys onto the dresser. It had been an intense few days, but it was finally over. He had been restored to full-duty. The case was over. The Internal Affairs investigation was finished. Most importantly, Tedesco was okay.
Danny sunk into the squashy armchair beside the window, watching as Linda slept soundly. He smiled as she shifted in her sleep, her face illuminated half-hidden in her pillow. God, she was beautiful.
Some days she drove him crazy. Though, he supposed – there were probably days where he drove her just as crazy… He couldn't imagine his life without her. He didn't make sense without Linda. She was the only one who could calm him with a single touch. He never felt more relaxed or safe or more at home than when she wrapped her arms around him. Her smile still made his heart race - which he kind of loved. She was the only one who could quietly pull him back into line. Who could make him see things from a different perspective, could make his breathing return to normal. She was always in his corner… She was smart. She was strong, her strength inspired him. She was brave. She was funny. She always knew how to make him laugh. How to lighten his day, how to coax a genuine smile out of him, to ease the weight of whatever case it was that he was working on. She was kind; she was the best person he knew. She knew him better than anybody. She was everything.
He rested his elbow on the arm, his head in his hand as he listened to the soft steady rhythm of her breathing. She was his rock.
Danny watched as Linda's eyes slowly fluttered open. She frowned squinting sleepily at him. He rose from the armchair, crawling across the covers.
"Hi." He whispered, leaning over and kissing her softly.
"Hi, how long have been home?"
"Not long." He replied as she let her head drop into the soft pillows once more.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Good, I'm glad. You coming to bed?"
"Yeah." Danny nodded with a smile, pressing his lips to her forehead.
Linda froze in front of the television screen, watching in disbelief as Danny walked into the bank. She felt her heart rate quicken, a cold trickle of fear settling in her stomach. She felt the pressure of Erin's hand on her shoulder, hearing nothing but the sound of her heart beating loudly in her chest.
Closing her eyes she paced the length of the kitchen, her hands on her hips – going over and over the morning in her mind… She hadn't even said goodbye to him. The thought made her feel sick. Her stomach churned. Guilt and panic rose in her chest painfully, like a balloon. She could barely remember the last thing she had said to him. He had left early. She could vaguely remember the bleep of the alarm-clock. The sound of the shower and the smell of coffee wafting up the stairs… Danny's morning routine had been the same as every other day. Her hand covered her forehead as she scrunched her eyes tight. He'd kissed her. She could remember that. He had kissed her softly, his lips brushing her temple – the way he did every morning. Or had that been the day before? Then she'd heard the click of the front-door. The alarm-clock had sounded again and she had climbed out from beneath the covers… Linda sighed, staring out the kitchen window as her eyes blurred. She hadn't told him that she loved him.
Erin had found her in the kitchen, scrubbing the last few dishes in the sink furiously. Somehow, her sister-in-law had gently coaxed her back to the living-room. They had watched the updated News report. Danny had emerged safely from the building, Henry and Erin had breathed loud sighs of relief. Linda exhaled softly. He was okay. She could breathe. Although her stomach still knotted painfully. The thought of losing him forever, still present in her mind.
Danny had met her on the front-steps of their home, looking dishevelled. Jack and Sean had thrown themselves at him – clueless to the events of his day. She watched as he smiled, his eyes closing briefly as he hugged them. She'd kissed his cheek quickly as she'd ushered the boys inside, brushing past him as he reached for her. They were going to be late. The four of them had changed their clothes, hurrying out of the house almost as fast as they had entered.
Linda hardly touched her food at dinner that night. She wasn't sure her knotted stomach could take it. The conversation had inevitably revolved around her husband and his idea to go into the bank. Frank had had nothing to do with it. Henry handed her the paper and she scanned the front page with a frown.
"What a surprise." She muttered, her eyes catching Danny's. Linda looked away quickly, pushing her food around her plate, not trusting herself to look at him directly. Linda picked up a casserole-dish, needing to get away from the table as a fresh wave of anger washed over her. How could he have done that to her? To them?
"So glad I married a hero." She murmured, quickly making a break for the kitchen. She slammed the dish onto the bench, hastily packing away the various items that scattered the island, her chest constricting, a lump forming in her throat. She heard Danny kick the door closed behind him, his hands attempting to gently rest on her shoulders. She shrugged him off briskly, moving to the other side of the bench; in an attempt to put as much distance between them in the confines of the kitchen as she could. Danny followed her as she finally exploded.
"What's gonna happen to our kids the next time you swagger into one of those buildings and then you don't come out?!" She asked infuriated, punching his shoulder. "What about our kids then? Huh, Danny? What about me!?"
Danny watched as his wife threw the last remaining items into the casserole-dish violently, her face crumpling. He watched as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, her shoulders shaking slightly as she brushed them away furiously, pulling away from him again.
"I was watching it on TV, Danny." She choked, close to tears once more. "I saw you." His face softened as he moved closer to her. "It scared the crap outta me." Linda whispered. Her bright blue eyes met his, properly, for first time that day. He could see the concern she had for him, how worried she must have been - how much love she had for him. Danny frowned, the realization of how her day must have been, dawning on him. His heart ached as he watched her face crease once more. Unable to stand the distance between them any longer Danny reached for her; grabbing her shoulder gently and wrapping his arms around her upper-body, hugging her to him, his lips beside her ear.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He breathed into her hair as she sobbed. Her body settled back against his, her hands grasping his forearms. "I love you. I love you and those boys more than anything else on Earth. And I promise you, I won't let anything happen." Linda shifted in his embrace, gulping back tears as she listened to him, her breathing returning to normal. "The first and last thing I think about every day - before I do anything – is to get home safe to you."
He held her, quietly reassuring her that he wasn't going anywhere, that he loved her and that he wouldn't let anything happen to him. Linda exhaled, turning abruptly in his embrace to face him. Her eyes reddened from tears, pouring into his.
"You better." She whispered. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders tightly, her face pressed into his neck. Her body shook silently as a fresh onslaught of tears soaked into the fabric of his white shirt. Danny ran a hand soothingly up and down the length of her spine; the other cradled her head, his fingers buried in her hair.
Slowly she released him, ducking her head as she stepped out of his embrace, noticing the smudges of mascara she had left on the collar of his shirt. Gently he cupped her cheeks with his hands, his thumbs wiping away stray tears from beneath her eyes. He kissed her forehead tenderly.
"Let's go home."
Danny glanced up from his spot on the end of the bed as Linda entered their bedroom.
"The boys are asleep." She sighed running a hand through her short hair, heading for their bathroom. He nodded, watching as she went about her nightly routine. She paused in front of the mirror, exhaling slowly before turning to him.
"I don't know what I'd…" She started quietly, leaning against the frame of the door. He frowned at her confused. Flicking off the bathroom light she folded her arms across her chest, walking towards him. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"Babe…" He started, moving to stand before her. Linda shushed him, sitting down on the bed beside him, stretching her legs across his lap. His hand rested lightly on her thigh as he turned to her.
"I don't know what I would do without you." She repeated, her hand holding his arm. "And I don't wanna know. Okay?" He nodded, wanting nothing more than to interrupt her, to kiss her, to reassure her that nothing would happen to him. That he would never leave her. Linda sighed, her hand tracing the length of his arm to his shoulder, coming to rest comfortably on the nape of his neck. "You're a part of me."
His face softened as her words washed over him. He understood. She was a part of him too, probably the best part.
"You and our boys are everything… And today was just… A lot." Linda said quietly, the tips of her fingers threading through his short hair. "You're not invincible, Danny."
"I know." He answered honestly, his hand gripping her leg.
"Do you?"
"Yeah." He assured her, brushing her hair back from her face. Linda nodded her face creasing as her eyes prickled with tears. Danny wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "I'm sorry I put you through that." He breathed, his hands holding her tightly.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye to you this morning." Linda murmured into the crook of his shoulder, her voice cracking.
"Babe, I'm not goin' anywhere. I promise." He whispered firmly, his forehead against hers. Danny watched as Linda nodded again.
"Good." She whispered, kissing him fervently.
Linda groaned sleepily at the sound of the alarm, nuzzling her face into her pillow as she heard Danny switch it off. Her eyes opened blearily as she heard the steady rhythm of the shower followed by the sound of Danny dressing quietly in the wardrobe. She listened as he padded down the stairs, the faint smell of fresh coffee soon floating throughout the house. She smiled to herself as he returned to their bedroom. Danny pressed his lips to hers, his hand brushing her fringe from her face.
"See you tonight." He whispered, nudging her nose with his. Propping herself up on her elbow and grabbing the end of his tie firmly, Linda captured his lips once more. He groaned as the kiss intensified, flattening her into the rumpled bed-covers. His forehead rested against hers as they both caught their breath.
"I love you." She voiced softly, gazing up at him.
"I love you more. I'll see you later."
"Bye." Linda whispered as he straightened his tie with a smirk before heading out the door. She sighed, listening to the front door as it closed behind him.
Their weekend had finally fallen into place. There had been a few disruptions; Danny had caught a case last minute, though for the most part – it had worked out in the end. Linda glanced across at him as he drove them out of the City. She reached over to him, the backs of her fingers tracing his jaw line to the lobe of his ear.
"I'm sorry about this weekend…" He said quietly, catching her fingers and bringing them to his lips. "All the interruptions, the case – getting in the way… You know I really wanted it to be just us, right?"
"I know, Danny. It's okay, really. We are okay." She replied squeezing his hand as he pulled into the drive, parking behind Jamie's Chevelle. He looked across at her lovingly.
"I meant what I said last night; I always love you. I'm always thinking about you."
"Always?"
"Always."
"Hey, so how was your weekend with my brother?" Erin asked, elbowing Linda as they set the dining-table together. "Or don't I wanna know?" Linda scrunched her nose with a grin.
"Probably not." She answered as Erin laughed, pulling a face and wrapping her arm around Linda's shoulders.
"Well, Nicki and I would be happy to take the boys for a weekend, whenever you and Danny want."
"Thank-you. And you know we can take Nicki whenever you need a little break as well." She replied with a smile. Erin rolled her eyes, shooting Linda a grin.
"Okay, you better go find Frank and the guys." Linda said as Henry, Jack and Sean trooped into the dining-room their arms laden with plates of food. Erin nodded, ruffling Jack's hair as she wandered through the living-room.
"So you had a good weekend at your Grandpas'?" Danny asked as he and Linda helped Sean and Jack get ready for bed, later that night.
"Yup. We had dinner and went fishing off the pier." Jack started, pulling his pyjama shirt over his head.
"Sean, did you give up the great green-vegetable-strike?" Linda asked with a frustrated sigh as Sean shook his head. "Okay, we'll work on that." She added catching Danny's eye as he chuckled.
"Grandpa taught us about restaurants. And told us never to order chilli from a fast-food place, ever."
"Well, that's good advice." Danny nodded as Linda tucked Sean in, brushing his hair back from his forehead.
"And to learn to cook sandwiches!" Sean added loudly, looking up at his parents with a grin.
"And then to know how to cook for a girl." Jack chimed in from the door-way, taking off his glasses. Linda raised her eyebrows at Danny who suppressed a laugh. "And Grandpa said we can always live in our car."
"Alright then, it sounds like you learned a lot with Grandpa and Pops." Linda said swatting Danny as his shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Night Sean, we love you." She said, pushing Danny and Jack out the door and flicking off the light with a smile. Linda turned to Jack, her hands on his shoulders. "You, bed."
"I remember guy's weekends with Dad and Grandpa." Danny said as he unbuttoned his shirt with a smile, poking his head around the wardrobe door. "Old movies, getting to hang out in the City, making sandwiches…"
"Uh-huh, so that's where you learned your culinary skills?" She joked, glancing at him as she took out her earrings with a smile. He poked his tongue out at her. "I'm really glad the boys had a good weekend. But, please tell me we have a few more years before we need to worry about Jack and Sean cooking dinner for girls?" Linda said with a worried frown. Danny grinned, climbing into his side of the bed and kissing her quickly.
"I don't think we need worry. They can't even make sandwiches yet." Linda breathed a sigh of relief with a half-laugh. She settled comfortably against his shoulder, his arm cradling her to him.
Her family had never been big on holidays. She and her sister, Wendy had usually resented the forced quality time. Though, of course their relationship was different now – which she loved. Holidays had only started to really mean something when she had met Danny and his family. There was something about Thanksgiving with the Reagans. It was Henry's favourite holiday… And over the years it had become one of hers.
They'd set up in the hospital, waiting for news on Henry. Jamie had finished his tour, and was helping Sean and Jack with their homework; Nicki positioned herself on the window-sill beside them.
The angioplasty had worked. Henry would be fine. They had collectively sighed in relief. Henry meant so much to them all.
"I wish we could bring Thanksgiving to Grandpa." Jamie said quietly, scratching his head as he handed Linda a steaming cup of coffee in the hospital cafeteria. She frowned, an idea forming as she glanced at her brother-in-law.
"Jamie…" She said slowly, grabbing his arm. "You're a genius."
"What?" Linda shushed him. Handing her coffee back to him quickly, digging in her pocket for her cell.
"You go find your Dad; I'll call Danny and Erin." She said walking backwards holding her cell to her ear, leaving him standing in the middle of the cafeteria – a coffee in each hand.
"Wait, what?"
Standing on the step-stool in the Reagan kitchen, Linda rifled through the overhead cabinet.
"Where is that stupid casserole-dish?" She muttered, stretching her arm towards the back of the cupboard, the step-stool tipping violently.
"Whoa!" She heard Danny exclaim behind her, his large hands resting on each of her thighs, steadying her. Linda glanced down at her husband with a smile as she passed him a large ceramic bowl from the depths of the cupboard.
"Hey, when did you get here?"
"Just in time, apparently." He replied, taking the bowl. One hand still rested on her leg as she rose to her tip-toes continuing to rummage through the cupboard.
"Did you get my message?"
"Yeah, something about having Thanksgiving at the hospital with Grandpa?"
"Uh-huh." Linda answered passing him down a large platter, with a smile. "Erin and Nicki are making the pie and taking care of the vegetables. Jamie's setting up in the cafeteria – he managed to talk some of the nurses into letting him use a couple of tables for all of us." She added, moving to descend from the step-ladder. He lifted her down easily, kissing her softly as he set her down. "Which means; you and I are on turkey-duty." Danny nodded, shaking his head with a smile as Linda darted around the kitchen, gathering plates, cutlery and Grandpa's favourite turkey-platter.
"Honey, can you slow down? You're making me dizzy." He said with a grin, leaning back against the bench as she bustled around the island bench. Linda pulled open the oven with a grimace examining the turkey.
"Almost… Can you take a look at this? I've never done the turkey without Henry." She muttered. Crouching beside her, he wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.
"He's going to be alright." Danny said reassuringly kissing her hair as she nodded, closing the oven door. "He's tough, the angioplasty worked and he's recovering really well. He's going to be fine. We all are."
"I know." She sighed, sitting on the floor beside the oven. She leaned into Danny's shoulder, her back resting against the lower kitchen-cabinets. "I'm just glad that someone was here with him. I mean, it could have been…" She said quietly.
"I'm really glad it was you."
"Huh?"
"You, you're really great in an emergency situation. You're calm; you don't get all freaked-out and panic. You don't lose your head. You're smart. You always know what to do." Linda scoffed, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes. Danny continued. "I'm serious. I'm so thankful it was you."
"Aunt Linda, I've got pie!" Nicki announced marching into the kitchen with a grin. She paused tilting her head to the side as she caught sight of her Aunt and Uncle sitting on the kitchen floor in front of the oven. His arm draped around her, her head on his chest tucked beneath his chin. "Chop, chop. We eat at four!" Nicki added with a giggle as the oven chimed loudly.
"Alright, everybody ready?" Danny asked, glancing around the decorated cafeteria tables at his family. He squeezed Linda's hand quickly as they stood, shushing everyone as they watched Frank briskly roll Henry into the dining-area with a large smile.
"Happy Thanksgiving!"
Linda leant against the window-frame, smiling to herself as fresh heavy snow blanketed the front-lawn. There was something about New York when it snowed. Yeah, it could be impractical – but that didn't make it any less beautiful. The snow made everything feel brand-new. Like anything could happen. Linda lifted the window, breathing in the crisp, clean scent of the snow. She watched her breath fog in front of her in the cold night air with a smile. Closing the window and folding her arms across her chest, Linda felt her smile stretch into a grin. The snow was here to stay - for a while, anyway.
"Here." Linda said wrapping a chunky blue scarf around Jack's neck. "Don't make that face, it's cold out." She said with a smile, ruffling his hair and handing him his hat. Linda glanced around at her family as they pulled on knitted hats and scarves, mittens and boots in the Reagan foyer, before trooping out the front door. Linda laughed as Sean and Jack bounded down the front-steps. They shrieked, chasing and tackling each other, sinking into the snow gleefully. Danny shook his head; his grin wide as Nicki raced passed him to join them.
She wasn't sure who threw the first snow-ball, though she suspected Jamie. It had hit Erin's stomach with a thud, knocking her back a step as flakes of snow fell from her jacket. She watched as Frank and Henry chuckled from their spot on the porch. All-out war had soon erupted.
"Girls versus boys!" Nicki yelled, her gloved hands cupping her mouth. She grinned from the top of the stairs. Erin glanced at Linda, elbowing her with a wink. They'd hurriedly scattered across the yard, flecks of snow flying from their shoes.
"We need a plan." Linda whispered, wiping her reddened nose with the back of her hand. "We're outnumbered."
"Tell me about it – I forgot how fast Uncle Jamie could run." Nicki replied, clutching her side. Linda laughed breathlessly, her hands on her knees as the three of them huddled behind the front-wall. Erin chuckled as she knelt in the wet snow, pressing fresh snow-balls together. The melting snow seeped into the fabric of her jeans.
"They're faster, but we are smarter." Erin replied peeping over the wall with a grin and lobbing a snow-ball at Jack who dodged it, laughing loudly.
Linda held her breath as she silently crept around the side wall of the Reagan house. She glanced across the yard catching sight of Nicki, throwing a series of snow-balls at Sean and Jack chasing them down the drive.
"Hey, guys! Not near the road!" She called stepping into the middle of the driveway watching Nicki shepherd the boys up the front-stairs and towards the centre of the front-yard. She grinned, shaking her head, her breathe clouding in the cold air before her. She glanced at the snow-covered street. It was so beautiful.
"Ow!" Linda cried as a snow-ball collided with her behind, soaking into her jeans. "Hey!" She whipped around quickly, catching a glimpse of Danny's cheeky grin as he sprinted across the lawn away from her. Oh, it was so on.
Linda ducked around her family as they scattered across the front-yard, tossing large and increasingly sloppy snow-balls at each other, tearing after her husband. She half-laughed, glancing over her shoulder as Jack and Sean followed her enthusiastically, Erin and Nicki trailing behind them, Jamie bringing up the rear. Linda frowned as Danny headed towards the side of the house. Narrowing her eyes, she changed course. She pressed a finger to her lips, grabbing Erin's hand as the rest of the family halted to a colliding stop and gathered around her.
"He's coming around the other side. Get ready." She whispered, back-tracking quickly and crossing the front-lawn. They paused by the front-steps, each of them bending quickly and pressing together fresh mounds of snow. Linda chuckled as Danny reached the front-yard, glancing over his shoulder as he stepped into the open lawn.
"Now!" Erin hissed as Danny was caught off guard and mercilessly bombarded with snow by his family. Linda laughed at his shocked expression as Sean and Jack launched themselves at Danny, tackling him bodily into the trampled snow. The pile grew as they all joined in, the slushing snow covering them all from their knitted hats to their boots.
"Alright kids, dinner!" Frank called from the porch, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat as he surveyed his children and grandchildren joyously rolling around in the snow. He smiled as they looked up awkwardly untangling themselves from each other, sodden and dishevelled.
Linda smiled, accepting Nicki's hand as she hauled her to her feet. She glanced at Danny, still flat on his back in the wet snow as Sean crawled off him, latching onto Jamie who hoisted him easily over his shoulder leading him towards the porch. Linda smirked, stooping to gather a handful of icy snow and dropping it discreetly onto an exposed section of Danny's abdomen. Linda grinned as he started, staring up at her with an astonished smile. She winked, darting away from him quickly before he could retaliate. Gotcha.
Frank shook his head as his family trooped up the stairs, each peeling off snow-soaked layers of clothing as they marched through the front-door.
"Nice shot." He said quietly to Linda as she passed him, her hands on Jack's shoulders. She grinned, shrugging slightly.
"He had it coming."
"I think you had all better change before dinner." Henry said with a bright smile looking around at his red-faced, panting family. "There's a trunk full of clothes from when you were kids, upstairs. I'm sure you will all be able to find something clean." He added, accepting various hats and gloves from them as they tailed; shivering slightly, after Jamie to the second floor still nudging one another, chuckling quietly.
"Better?" Linda asked Sean, her hand brushing back his damp hair as she knelt to roll-up the sleeves of the old hockey jersey he had pulled on, which had once belonged to Jamie. "Isn't it great that Grandpa still has all these old clothes?" She smiled at Sean and Jack who nodded, enjoying the novelty of wearing the warm, miss-matched apparels that had clothed their father and uncles for years. "Here, put these on." She added, handing them each a pair of thick, brightly coloured woollen socks.
"Hey boys, we're setting the table." Nicki stated, poking her head through the door with a grin. Linda smiled glancing at her niece, sometimes she looked so much like Erin it was uncanny. The fact that Nicki was dressed in an old pair of Erin's jeans and her mother's red track-team sweatshirt – made the resemblance even more accurate.
"You look adorable." Linda said as Nicki rolled her eyes with a grin.
"Thanks. Don't tell Mom, but I think I wanna raid her teenage closet. There's some pretty cool stuff in there." Linda laughed as Jack and Sean followed their cousin down the hall, hopping awkwardly as they tugged on their socks.
She couldn't help but smile as she glanced around at the Reagans. They had certainly never had Sunday dinner in sweats before. Everyone was warm and clean and bright-faced. She leant against the door-frame watching as Jamie adjusted the hood of a faded blue jumper that had once belonged to Joe, elbowing Danny who was dressed in an old grey Marines sweatshirt of Frank's. Picking up a few discarded items of soaking wet clothing from the foyer floor, she headed for the laundry grinning at Erin - who was dressed in a pair of Joe's old jeans, her knees exposed through the fringing denim and a soft purple sweater that had been her mother's - as she passed. Linda flicked the switch on the machine, stepping back as it rattled into life.
"Hey, time to eat." Danny announced, startling her as she exited the laundry. He grinned, looking her up and down, his smile broadening. Linda rolled her eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing. You just, look really good in my clothes." He answered with a small laugh. Linda glanced down at herself with a grin. She was wearing an old soft baseball jersey of his, with long red sleeves tucked into a pair of his dark-blue sweatpants, her toes enclosed by a pair of fluffy grey socks.
"Funny."
"No I'm serious, it's cute!" He protested, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her as she wriggled in his grasp. "It's very cute." Danny whispered in her ear as they walked towards the chattering table. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, her fingers clasping his.
Linda smiled handing Frank a mug of coffee as she passed his armchair, sinking into the couch cushions beside Danny. She tucked her feet beneath her legs, her back against his side. Danny's arm stretched across the back of the lounge behind her head as Henry picked up the remote, flicking it towards the TV before sitting between Jack and Sean on the other lounge.
"Now this is a heist film." Henry started glancing at Sean and Jack as the opening credits of the original 'Ocean's 11' crackled across the screen. Erin caught Linda's eye with a grin from her spot on the cushion-covered floor where Nicki rested comfortably against her. Linda grinned glancing around at her family crammed together in the sun-room as the sky darkened outside. She loved it when it snowed. It felt like anything could happen.
"Just don't make me laugh again." Jamie pleaded as Danny patted his shoulder affectionately with a grin.
"Ow, geez!" Jamie cried as Linda gingerly pressed a frozen-bag of peas to his severely bruised face. She shushed him, holding her hand beneath his chin and tilting his head towards the light. She watched as he winced, his bruised eyes scrunching painfully.
"Sorry." Linda muttered concentrating on dabbing at the cut that had re-opened on his bottom-lip.
"You know, you usually ask me a hundred questions when you're patching me up." Jamie said as Linda handed Danny the bloodied gauze she had been using. They exchanged a look, before she turned back to Jamie with a smile.
"You already told us what happened. You're a clumsy kid. And I'm not asking you any questions - because the more you talk, the more your lip bleeds. So, shut-it." She replied shaking her head and re-applying the peas. Jamie nodded as she pressed his hand to the bag. "Okay, you can go watch football now. Keep the peas."
Linda gathered the various blood-stained gauzes that littered the table together, dumping them in the bin as she headed to the sink washing her hands thoroughly. She glanced across at Danny, his arms folded across his chest.
"You're worried about him." She observed drying her hands and crossing the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around his biceps, holding him in place. "Being undercover." She muttered into his shoulder.
"You're not supposed to know about that." He chided quietly.
"Well, he didn't exactly fall down a set of stairs this time, did he?" Danny shook his head resignedly.
"Please don't say anything. Gramps and Erin don't know anything about it." He pleaded with a sigh. Linda shook her head with a small frown.
"I won't. But you are worried about him."
"Yeah, of course I am. I mean, look at him! Aren't you?" She nodded kissing his collarbone as he hugged her.
"Yes. I worry about him - almost as much as I worry about you."
Linda leant her hip against the door of the patrol-car, watching through the window as Jack and Sean slept on the back-seat. She sighed, hugging her coat tightly around her. How had this happened? How had they been watching the Jets game that afternoon? Eating dinner? Joking around with Erin and Nicki? Chatting to Henry? Singing in the car? It all seemed so far away. She blinked back tears as Danny gathered her to him…
Finally they were able to leave. She could barely talk as he drove them home. She half-listened as he ranted, his voice low as the boys slept in the backseat. She felt sick. She'd finally had to tell him to stop talking. The lump in her throat aching painfully, Linda sighed, her hand on her forehead as she actively tried to not look at the shattered windscreen.
Danny was silent as he parked on the curb in front of their house. Furiously she climbed out of the car, slamming the door and helping a drowsy Sean out of his seat. Exhausted, they ascended the front-steps, both boys wearily following them inside.
Danny stared at the ceiling, listening to his wife breathing beside him. His stomach clenched, the silence enveloping the room. He was still angry. He vowed silently to himself that he would find whoever it was that had shot at his kids, his wife, his family… He hated that they had been exposed to that. He hated that they had been scared. He'd stood silently outside the door of the bathroom, his heart wrenching. He was sure he had heard his wife's muffled sobs, drowned out by the sound of the shower. He just wanted to fix it. To make it better.
"You awake?" Danny whispered glancing across at her, her profile illuminated in the dim-light. Her arms crossed over the top of the duvet.
"Yeah."
"You okay?"
"No." She breathed. "Are you?"
"Not really." He admitted, reaching across the bedspread for her hand. "Babe…"
"Mom? Dad?"
Danny propped himself up on his elbow, Linda mirrored him as Sean and Jack stood in the open door-way to their bedroom.
"Can we stay in here?" Sean asked quietly, as he and Jack made their way toward the edge of the bed.
"Of course." Linda whispered, glancing at Danny through the darkened room as Sean and Jack crawled between them, burrowing under the rumpled quilt. Danny watched as their boys – their babies – made themselves comfortable; Sean and his bear half-sharing Linda's pillow, Jack curling into Danny's side. Extending his arm, Danny gently brushed the hair from Linda's forehead as she kissed Sean's forehead, his eyes fluttering closed.
The school had called. Linda had rushed through the doors of the front-office breathlessly. She found Jack sitting in one of the chairs in the reception area.
"Jack!" She cried dropping to her knees in front of him. He fell into her arms, burying his face in her shoulder, his glasses dangling in his hand.
"Come on, let's go home." She said quietly, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and nodding politely to the school-nurse. He was quiet as she drove them home, Linda watched in the review mirror as he stared out the window beside him, the midday sunlight streaming through the car.
Linda followed him inside the house, dropping her bag and keys on the hall-table, taking his coat from him. He stood quietly in the middle of the living-room, studying his shoes.
"Are you mad?" Jack asked looking up at her. "About school?" Linda felt her eyes fill with tears as she stared at her ten-year-old. She shook her head, pulling him into a tight hug.
"No baby, I'm not mad." She whispered, kissing his hair. She felt his tears soak into the fabric of her shirt, his small hands clutching her waist.
She released him gently, her thumbs wiping his tear-stained cheeks.
"I'm gonna call Daddy, okay? See if he can come home?" Linda said softly as Jack nodded, sniffling.
Linda smiled tightly; the lump in her throat returning, her eyes watering as she watched Danny walk through to the kitchen wrapping his arms around Jack. Her chest constricted as Jack buried his face in his father's chest, his shoulders shaking. Danny kissed Jack's head, his eyes closed as he held his son.
They'd been driving each other crazy all week, unable to agree on anything. Sunday dinner had been a disaster. She was so sick of hearing about the case, of talking about the case. Of reliving it all…
They'd driven home in silence. Sean and Jack chatted quietly between themselves in the backseat. She sighed staring out the new, intact windscreen. Linda glanced across at Danny. His jaw clenched, his eyes focused on the road.
As much as she hated to admit it, Jamie had been right. Of course Danny was the best detective they had; she knew that. This one was just way too close to home. She could see how it affected him. How it affected them all. She stretched her arm across the console, resting it lightly on his leg. Linda smiled as his hand covered hers, his fingers grasping hers.
She just wanted to protect them. All of them…
Danny sighed, wrapping his arms around Linda's waist as she stood in the door-way of Jack's bedroom, still in his dress-blues. He kissed her hair as she leant back into his embrace, crossing her arms over his, holding them in place.
"Do you think he's okay?" She whispered faintly as Jack slept peacefully. Danny nodded.
"He will be. Are you?"
"Yeah." She replied honestly, closing her eyes as his lips found her pulse-point. She grasped his hands, her fingers threading through his. Somehow through all of it; she and Danny had become closer - reaching a new level of understanding, of respect, of love…
She reached into her back-pocket, her fingers tracing the edge of his shield. Her stomach flipped as she remembered his words from earlier that afternoon. He had given her his shield. The gesture had made her heart race. She didn't want him to stop being a cop. It was such a huge part of who he was. He loved it. And she loved him, all of him. She would never ask him to do that.
"I just need you to know that I would."
"You can have this back." She whispered, pulling his shield out of her pocket and placing it in his hands. She smiled as he squeezed her tightly, peppering her neck with kisses. She covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing a giggle as she squirmed in his arms. Shushing him as he laughed, Linda pushed Danny lightly up the hallway towards their bedroom.
"You sure you're alright?" Danny asked quietly, dropping his shield onto the dresser. Linda nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear, glancing up at him as she pulled back the duvet and crawled beneath the covers. He joined her, lying on his side facing her. Biting her lip, she moved across the mattress towards him.
"Yeah, just don't let me go, okay?" She said quietly snuggling closely into his embrace; his arms snaked around her waist. She held his large hand between both of hers, kissing the inside of his palm softly.
"Never." He whispered, his warm breath trickling down the length of her spine.
The four of them had spent the day in Central Park. Linda grinned, her arm around Sean's shoulders as Jack and Danny walked ahead of them, hand in hand. After everything that had happened over the past week, they needed a day like today. As the afternoon sun began to fade and the breeze whistled through the trees, they had headed home to Staten Island.
"Hey, are you okay?" Linda asked Jack gently grasping his shoulders as she perched on the arm of the lounge, her eyes meeting his. Jack nodded staring down at his hands, which Linda looped through hers. "Are you nervous about school?" He shrugged non-committedly. Linda nodded. "Uh-huh. You wanna talk about it?"
"The other day… When, I cried. Everyone saw…" He mumbled, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Jack, there is nothing wrong with crying." Linda said, her heart aching in her chest as she looked into her son's blue eyes. "When something bad or sad happens, when something hurts us or scares us – it is okay to cry about it. It's normal. It's healthy." She smiled. Jack's nose scrunched as he nodded contemplating his mother's words. "You don't need to worry about what the kids at school may or may not think, honey."
"I just wanna be strong like Dad." He muttered. Linda shook her head, her hands cupping his young face.
"Baby, part of what makes Daddy strong - is that he's not afraid to cry. We all cry – all of us. And I promise – it's okay to cry, Jack. Because when horrible things happen, sometimes crying helps us get through them. It helps us to just; let it out, to let it go. It helps us to be stronger." She finished reassuringly. He nodded, his face breaking into a genuine smile. "Come here." Linda said wrapping her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"I love you, Mom." Jack said quietly into her shoulder. Linda smiled, her eyes watering as she held him.
"I love you too."
"Okay guys; just put the groceries on the counter. I'll be back in a minute." Linda said over her shoulder, letting the screen-door snap closed behind her. She smiled, bounding down the front-steps as Danny pulled into the drive. She frowned, standing on the bottom-step watching as he crossed the lawn wearily. He looked exhausted. Some days; she just wanted to hold him - to take away the weight of his day - to never let him go. Danny's face relaxed slightly into a tight smile as he stood before her, his arms dropping to his sides.
Linda held his face in her hands; his stubbled cheeks grazing the tips of her fingers as her thumbs softly traced his cheekbones. His eyes drifted closed, leaning his face into her soft hands. She kissed his forehead, her lips smoothing his furrowed brow. He was cute, she thought as she moved to gather him to her. His eyes remained closed as she hugged him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She felt him exhale softly into the lee of her shoulder; her fingernails lightly scraped the nape of his neck beneath his collar. Her lips brushed the corner of his jawline. Danny's large hands came to rest on her hips as he pulled back from her embrace. His dark eyes met her bright blue irises in the overcast afternoon, the wind whipping her short blonde hair across her face. Linda frowned, her hands cradling his face again.
"You look tired." She said quietly as he laughed softly.
"You look pretty." Danny replied. Linda rolled her eyes with a smile. Her eyes fell to his lips, chapped from the cold. Tenderly, she covered them with her own. Her fingers moved from his face and slid into his short hair. His fingers grasped her hips through her jeans as she deepened the kiss. He tasted like coffee. Linda suspected a few cups of station-coffee were all he had consumed that day. His hands glided up her sides, his palms bunching the material of her sweater. She gasped softly into his mouth as the cold wind crept beneath her sweater, causing a series of goose-bumps to spread across her skin. Breaking the kiss with a grin, Danny rested his forehead against hers.
"You okay?" Linda murmured, her hands falling to his broad shoulders. He leaned into her again.
"I am now."
"Mom!"
Linda smiled against Danny's lips, her brow creasing as she chuckled softly.
"Come on." She whispered, tugging on the lapel of his jacket and leading him through the front-door.
Linda inhaled deeply, her stomach churning as she stood before Tracey Gates' front-door. Hold it together. She urged herself blinking back tears as she knocked tentatively.
"Linda." Tracey wept her face crumpling as she hugged Linda tightly on the stoop.
"I'm so sorry." Linda whispered, clutching Tracey. "I'm so sorry."
Linda sighed as she was ushered inside, her heart aching as she caught sight of the numerous funeral brochures that littered the dining-room table. Linda gulped, forcing a friendly smile as Tracey's children hugged her waist, their young faces tear-stained and tired. She glanced across at Tracey who busied herself with the kettle, preparing cups of tea.
"Here, let me help you with that."
"Thanks." Linda said quietly as she accepted a steaming cup of tea from Tracey. "This is probably a stupid question, but – how are you feeling?" She asked awkwardly glancing across at her. Tracey offered her a small smile, shaking her head.
"I feel like I got too comfortable." Tracey admitted quietly as they settled on the couch. "You know, Roland being on the job for so long, being safe for so long. I think I thought that it could never happen. Not to us. Isn't that crazy? That Roland was too good. That he worked too hard to come home to us every night. I just expected him to be here… Because he knew how much we needed him. That maybe it wouldn't happen to us... How could this have happened?" She sobbed softly, burying her head in her hands. Linda rubbed her hands along Tracey's back soothingly as she felt hot salty tears fill her eyes.
"It's gonna be okay." Linda whispered faintly. "I know it doesn't seem like it now. But it will be." She finished lamely. Tracey nodded watching as her children stepped into the room. "They need you." Linda breathed. "More than ever." Tracey sniffled nodding once more.
"This is the thing we were always afraid of." She finished inaudibly.
Linda glanced down at the various photographs scattered across the coffee-table. Tracey was right. Losing her husband in the line of duty, or losing him (or their boys) at all - was what she the most afraid of. Linda bit her lip; Tracey was living her greatest fear. She could barely imagine it. Linda choked back a sob as she picked up a photograph from the strewn pile. It was them. Danny was grinning, his arm around her shoulders, her fringe falling into her eyes as she laughed. Roland and Tracey stood behind them, their faces young and full of joy. It was their wedding day; the photo had been taken at Tracey and Roland's reception. Linda scanned the picture, she could remember that day. They had been so happy.
"We have to pick out a few pictures for the service-sheet. To, to be displayed in the church for when we - when we have the funeral." Tracey murmured, meeting Linda's gaze as she nodded.
Linda wiped her eyes as she walked through the front-door of their home. She sighed, she needed to see Danny. To hold him. To ensure for herself, that he was alright. He probably wouldn't get a chance to come home and change, she supposed. He probably hadn't eaten all day either. Decisively Linda bounded up the stairs, heading towards Danny's side of their wardrobe. Scanning the contents of his wardrobe, she brushed her hand across the sleeves of his shirts lightly. She paused, her mind drifting back to Tracey; who would never pick out clothes for her husband again – with the exception of his funeral. She would never run him a set of clean clothes or a fresh plate of food at the station again. Linda sniffed, her eyes blearing. She really wanted to see Danny. Exhaling, Linda pulled a clean light blue shirt from a hanger. He always looked good in blue. She smiled, grabbing his favourite tie from the rack as well as a clean suit jacket. She trooped down the stairs quickly, pulling the door closed behind her. Mostly, she just wanted to hug him.
Linda smiled tightly as Jack and Sean ran from the kitchen, leaving their Sunday dinner plates on the island bench.
"Hand." Linda said firmly extending her own and taking Danny's badly bandaged one into hers.
"It's fine." He protested as she dragged him towards the sink, pulling the First-Aid kit across the counter. She shushed him, gently un-wrapping the blood-stained bandage from his hand. He winced, grunting uncomfortably, his other hand gripping the edge of the sink beside her hip. Danny pressed his face into her shoulder-blade as cold water rushed into the broken skin of his knuckles. She gently moved his wrist, bending it up and then down, holding his large hand in both of hers.
"You okay?" He mumbled, his eyes scanning her face as she padded his hand dry. Linda turned to face him, resting back against the sink. She shrugged, her eyes not meeting his as she concentrated on freshly bandaging his hand and wrist. He flexed his hand as she folded the sleeve of his sweatshirt down over his wrist. She tucked her hands under her elbows, her lips pursed as she looked up at him, her chest constricting.
"We went to their wedding." She whispered inaudibly. He nodded, his hands grasping her shoulders.
"I know." He murmured pulling her to him, wrapping his arms around her small frame. Her fingertips clutched his shoulder-blades as she blinked away tears.
"I gotta get back." Danny said quietly, kissing her collarbone softly. She nodded, releasing him as Erin and Jamie walked into the kitchen, their arms laden with additional plates. "I'll see you later." He added, pressing a kiss to her forehead quickly.
"Please tell me you're planning on changing your clothes?" Erin said, pulling a face as Danny walked past her tugging on his jacket.
"What?"
"Dude, you need to shower." Jamie stated placing the stack of plates he had been holding into the sink. Erin leaned back against the sink beside Linda. Danny frowned as they both nodded in unison.
"Love you." Linda laughed, brushing the palm of her hand across her eyes as Erin wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Danny stood at the base of the church steps, his hands resting on Jack's shoulders. They watched as Linda gently passed Tracey her newly Baptised infant with a kind smile, Sean standing by her side.
"It was a good Christening." Jack said quietly, leaning back against Danny. "Mom did really good."
"Yeah, she did." He agreed as Linda hugged Tracey briefly before taking Sean's hand in hers and descending the stairs.
"Hey." Danny greeted her quietly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Linda smiled her eyes watering as she leant into his chest.
"Are we going to Grandpa's now?" Sean asked tugging on Linda's hand.
"Yes, we're headed to Grandpa's." Danny sighed, ruffling Sean's hair with a smile. "Come on." He added leading his family towards their car, piling the boys into the backseat. He watched as Linda paused, her hand on the open door. He followed her gaze back to the stairs of the church; to where Tracey was standing detached from the crowd, her children huddled around her.
"You need a minute?" Danny asked quietly, his hand on her elbow. Linda smiled shaking her head, pressing her lips to his cheek softly. His eyes drifted closed as her lips lingered against his skin, his hand slipping to her waist. She pulled back with a smile, climbing into the car.
"Hey, is your Dad okay?" Linda asked sleepily, rubbing her face with the palm of her hand as Danny walked into their darkened bedroom loosening his tie.
"Yeah, he's fine…" Danny answered quietly, peeling off his shirt. "A friend of his had a thing… I think my Dad has a - a girlfriend."
"What?" Linda laughed faintly, leaning back against the head-board.
"You heard me." He muttered, shooting her a look over his shoulder as he pulled off his shoes.
"Girlfriend?"
"Or, maybe more of a beneficial friend? I don't know. And I don't wanna know."
"Who?"
"Melanie Maines, the investigative reporter."
"Huh." Linda said with a small nod, watching her husband shift uncomfortably on the edge of their bed.
"Seriously, that's all you have to say?"
"Honey, what do you want me to say?" She grinned with a shrug, reaching over to him as he crawled beneath the doona. "He's an adult. He's single…"
"He's my Dad!" He whispered loudly with a shudder. "It's weird!" Linda burst into hushed laughter, her hand covering her mouth as she moved closer to him, laughing into his shoulder. "Okay, stop laughing."
"I'm sorry." She chortled, her shoulders shaking. "You're just so cute when you're freaking-out."
"I'm not freaking-out." He hushed; the corners of his mouth twitching, unable to contain his smile as his wife's infectious laughter reverberated quietly throughout their bedroom.
"Oh you so are." Linda whispered, kissing his shoulder lightly. Danny groaned in response, shaking his head with a chuckle closing his eyes as Linda collapsed into giggles beside him once more.
"Hey." Linda greeted wedging her cell between her ear and her shoulder as she handed Jack his lacrosse bag, closing the car door quickly.
"Hi, are you busy?" Erin asked her voice crackling through the phone.
"Nope, just taking the boys to lacrosse, what's going on?"
"My case just imploded." She heard Erin sigh exhaustedly. "I'm heading in now, which means I'm going to be stuck here all day and probably 'til late. Do you think you could pick up Nicki after her soccer game? Can she stay with you guys tonight?"
"Yeah of course. Are you okay?"
"Thank-you. Yeah, I'm okay. It's just this case… Anyway, Nicki has all her stuff with her. She's still grounded, so absolutely no fun, alright? Do you need me to bring anything for Sunday dinner?"
"No fun. Got it. Don't worry about dinner – we'll handle it. Just don't be late." Linda replied smiling into the phone.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks, Linda." Erin said sincerely.
"Anytime."
"Hey, cheer-squad." Nicki grinned, shouldering her soccer bag as she walked towards Linda and her young cousins standing on the sidelines of the soccer-field. Linda hugged her with a grin, kissing Nicki's short damp hair.
"Honey, you were great!" She said as Jack and Sean high-fived her excitedly. "You ready to go?" Nicki nodded waving goodbye to her team-mates over her shoulder. They crossed the surrounding fields, heading towards Linda's car.
"So I guess I'm spending the last night of my sentence with you guys?" Nicki said, climbing into the passenger seat.
"Yup. And I'm under strict instructions not to let you have any fun tonight."
"Nice."
"Why isn't Nicki allowed to have fun?" Sean asked from the backseat. Linda glanced across at her niece who grimaced.
"I've been grounded for the past week, Seano."
"How come?"
"Sean." Linda said warningly, glancing at him in the rear-view mirror.
"What?" He asked shrugging. Nicki smiled, glancing over her shoulder at Sean and Jack.
"Not telling the truth." She answered honestly, her large brown eyes meeting Linda's. The boys nodded, her answer sufficing as they chatted between themselves.
"Okay you two, go get cleaned up." Linda instructed as Sean and Jack raced passed her and up the stairs. "Uniforms in the laundry-basket! That goes for you too." She added glancing at Nicki who carried the groceries through to the kitchen. Linda eyed her niece as she placed assorted fruit in the fruit-bowl on the counter.
"You wanna tell me about it?" Linda asked as Nicki rested against the bench with a sigh.
"I got caught in a lie." She admitted. "Last weekend, Melissa snuck out to go to a party with some seniors and I covered for her. She told her parents that she was spending the night at my place, when she really went to the party. Mom found out and called Melissa's parents and both of us ended up grounded."
"Nicki." Linda chastised, fixing her niece with a look.
"I know, hence the week-long grounding." Nicki pulled a face, elbowing Linda. Linda smiled, shaking her head.
"Come on, you never snuck out when you were a teenager?" Nicki probed, looking at Linda as she pulled ingredients for dinner out of the refrigerator. Nicki watched as Linda paused slightly behind the door.
Linda bit her lip, breaking into a relieved smile as she heard Danny walk through the front-door.
"Hey!" He said loudly, closing the door behind him. "Babe, did you hear from Erin? We're supposed to look after Nicki tonight…"
"Yeah, we're in here!" Linda replied as Danny walked through to the kitchen his eyes falling on his niece leaning against the bench beside his wife. "We're not having fun at all!" She added winking at him.
"Good. No fun for you!" He instructed sternly, pointing at Nicki in mock-seriousness. Nicki rolled her eyes with a smile. "Hey!" Danny exclaimed gleefully as Sean and Jack raced into the kitchen, hugging him quickly.
"Shower's free." Linda said glancing at Nicki, her eyebrows raised. "Just chuck your uniform in the basket." She added. Nicki nodded, pushing past the boys with a grin.
Danny smiled, switching off Jack's reading light and tucking in the covers around his sleeping son. He walked across the hall to Sean's room, leaning against the door-jam as his youngest shifted in his sleep, snuggling into his pillow. Wandering further down the hall, he paused outside the door of the spare-room listening to his wife and niece chatting while they made up the spare-bed.
"Seriously, you never snuck out?" Nicki asked.
"Nicki… Ugh, okay fine – I may have snuck out to go to a concert in the City, once…" Linda answered, peeling back the duvet with a sigh.
Danny smiled, resting his head back against the wall. He knew this story. He had been there that night. At that same dingy concert-hall that had smelt of cigarette smoke that had hazed in a cloud above the heads of the crowd illuminated by the fuzzy yellow house-lights. It had been years before they had officially met. Back then, they had just been two kids at a concert. They didn't speak, they hadn't been introduced. Though he was sure she had passed him at the bar, her long blonde hair swishing past him. It had been on their second date that they had discovered that they had both been there that night. Realising how close they had been to potentially meeting years before. Danny had taken it as a sign; that they were always meant to be together. That she was the one.
"Aha! I knew it!" He heard Nicki crow, tossing a pillow at Linda.
"Hey!" She swatted the pillow away. "Do not tell your mother, I told you that!"
"I promise." Nicki giggled, sliding the pillow into a fresh pillow-case. The room quietened and Danny moved to leave his eaves-dropping spot, he stopped abruptly standing still as he heard his wife's voice.
"But seriously, Nicki – it is not okay for you to lie for your friends. What if something had happened to Melissa? Their parents should know where they are, they should know that their kids are safe."
"I know." She agreed solemnly.
"Good!" Linda laughed as she tugged the duvet into place. "Now go get ready for bed!"
Danny grinned, his hands folded behind his head as he lay stretched out on their bed.
"What are you grinning at?" Linda asked as she switched off the bathroom light, sinking into her side of the bed. He shook his head with a shrug.
"Nothin'… I'm just thinking about this concert I snuck out to when I was a teenager…" He watched as Linda froze, biting back her smile. "Oh, no wait - that was you!" He chuckled, prodding her gently in the side. She shook her head with a small smile.
"Shut-up. You were there too, big-ears." Linda answered as Danny moved towards her beaming mischievously. Linda burst into quiet laughter, squirming out of his grip as he tickled her, hiding her grin in her pillow.
Danny smiled as Linda gently bumped her nose against his. She shook her head with a smile, retrieving the remote from the coffee-table. He sighed, sinking back into the couch cushions as she tucked her feet beneath her legs. His arm fell across her knees as the opening-credits of 'It's A Wonderful Life' rolled across the screen. Danny stared at his hand, his fingers lightly tapping her knee.
"Hey, uh – that thing Joanne was saying today…" He started quietly, his eyes not meeting hers. "You - you don't feel like that do you?"
"Like what?"
"What she said about - about how when Chris was there, he – he hadn't really been there…" Danny explained glancing at her nervously. He shifted beside her, studying his hand. "Do you, I mean – you don't…?"
"Honey?"
"When I'm here, do you feel like I'm not totally here?"
"Danny…" Linda said softly taking his hand in hers, forcing him to look at her. "No." She said meaningfully. He raised his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth twitching into a brief smile. Linda propped her elbow on his shoulder, her chin resting in her hand as her eyes scanned his face. "When you are home, you are home… And yeah, sometimes you get a call and you have to run – which can be frustrating, but it's your job and I understand." Danny's eyes met hers as she continued.
"But Danny, I never feel like you would rather be out working a case instead of or more than being here at home with me and the boys… Never. And, I think maybe Chris was starting to…" Linda finished quietly, trailing the backs of her fingers along his jaw as he smiled. She scrunched her nose, regarding him with a small smile. Sometimes he was kind of adorable. "Jack, Sean and I - we know how much you love us. Danny, when you're here with us, you're here."
Linda smiled shyly, focusing her attention on the screen. Warmth spread across her chest as she felt Danny's eyes on her.
"Would you just watch the movie, please?" She asked, trying not to smile and elbowing him playfully. She caught sight of his grin widening mischievously out of the corner of her eye.
"I am watching the movie."
"No, you're not. You're watching me, watch the movie." She said placing her hand over his smiling face, snickering as he tried to kiss her fingers. She laughed; collapsing back onto the lounge as he gently tackled her, his body covering hers. Danny scattered feathered kisses along her collarbone as Linda laughed breathlessly, arching into him. Her legs wrapped around his. Her fingertips trailed his torso beneath his shirt.
"Okay, so I'm not really watching the movie." He admitted with a grin staring down at her, his forearm supporting her head as she lay beneath him. Linda bit back a smile, shifting under the familiar, comfortable weight of his body upon hers.
"Eh, it's okay - we know how it ends." She replied with a shrug, raising her lips towards his once more as the sounds of 'Auld Lang Syne' crackled through the television set.
"So what do you think?" Linda asked leaning back on her elbows on the floor of Jack's newly wallpapered bedroom, Jack and Sean on either side of her.
"It's so cool!" Jack replied scanning the bright orange and blue baseball border that adorned the fresh white walls.
"I liked the trains." Sean said, resting his head against Linda's shoulder. She kissed his forehead with a smile.
"Me too. But this is Jack's room, so he gets to choose what it looks like." Linda answered lying back on the floor, her hand beneath her head as both boys joined her. "Speaking of which; what are we gonna do with these glow-in-the-dark stars, hon?" She asked glancing sideways at Jack, who studied the pale glowing stars that covered the ceiling with a frown.
"Keep 'em." He nodded, Linda grinned. He may have out-grown the train wallpaper, but he was still her boy.
"It's so big in here." Sean stated propping himself on an elbow and looking around Jack's empty room. "How come Jack gets the big room?"
"Honey, it's not bigger. It's the exact same size as your room. I promise. There's just no furniture in here, that's all."
"Maybe we shouldn't put furniture back in here." Jack suggested, glancing around at his spacious bedroom.
"Uh-huh and you're just gonna sleep on the floor, are you?" Linda chuckled as Sean and Jack laughed.
Danny grinned, standing in the door-way of Jack's bedroom staring at his wife and sons as they lay side by side in the middle of the hardwood floors pointing out glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling.
"We gonna move this furniture in or what?" He asked stepping through the door. Jack shook his head with a grin.
"Nope, I'm sleeping on the floor."
"Oh, okay then." Danny shrugged sinking to the floor beside Sean, his head resting on a rolled-up drop-sheet.
"Can we move my bed in here too?" Sean asked leaning against Danny's side.
"No way." Jack answered immediately. Linda laughed, glancing across at Danny.
"I don't think so, Sean. You two have been sharing for a week now. I think you could both use a break."
"Plus, when we move Jack back in here – you'll get your room all to yourself again." Danny added nudging Sean who grinned with a nod.
"Hey, Mom?" Jack started quietly as he stacked books into his bookshelf. "Can Sean sleep-over in here tonight?" Linda smiled; adjusting the pillows on Jack's newly made bed.
"Uh – yeah, it's fine by me. Are you sure you wanna share for one more night?" He nodded earnestly his eyes meeting her gaze.
"Alright, then. Let's make up the trundle-bed." She said with a shrug, kissing his forehead. "You are a really good brother."
"Okay, seriously you two – lights out!" Linda called down the hall as she headed into the bedroom, a basket of laundry balanced on her hip. She rolled her eyes as Danny chuckled.
"One more night." He smirked. Linda shook her head, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder at the sounds of Jack and Sean chatting and giggling wafting from Jack's bedroom. Danny grinned poking his head around the door. "Guys! Now!"
"They're cute." Linda muttered, picking up one of Jack's tee-shirts and folding it quickly.
"They know it."
"Geez, I wonder where they get that from?"
"Oh, they definitely get that from you." He answered grinning as Linda threw him a look, tossing one of Sean's lacrosse shirts at him with a grin.
"Come on." Danny whispered ushering Sean and Jack quietly down the stairs. He halted as Sean's foot discovered a loudly squeaking floorboard. He glanced over his shoulder making sure Linda was still sleeping soundly. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, go!"
"What are we doing?" Jack mumbled, rubbing his eyes as they padded into the kitchen.
"We – are making Mom breakfast in bed." Danny answered pulling open the refrigerator and hastily placing ingredients on the bench.
"Why?" asked Sean, yawning.
"Because, it's Mother's Day and she's your mother."
"Aren't we having Mother's Day dinner at Grandpa's tonight?"
"Yeah, we are. But this is a surprise - just for her." Danny answered as Jack perched on the bench beside him.
"You're making her favourite, right?" Jack asked, hopping down from the bench and standing beside Danny as he started adding ingredients to a large blue mixing-bowl.
"Yeah, blueberry and banana pancakes."
"With honey." Sean added firmly, handing his father the bottle.
"With honey." Danny repeated pouring the fresh pancake-mix into the frypan.
"Okay, upstairs." Danny whispered grinning as Sean and Jack crept passed him, each holding a bunch of bright flowers. He followed as they led him down the hall, balancing the tray laden with warm pancakes, fresh juice and coffee in his arms.
"Morning!" Jack announced, bounding into the room and jumping onto Danny and Linda's bed. Sean joined him, landing in Linda's lap as she sat back against the head-board. She caught him with a laugh, hugging him to her as he squirmed beneath the warm covers, sitting beside her.
"Happy Mother's Day." Danny said quietly kissing her softly, placing the tray on her knees.
"What is this?" Linda laughed glancing down at the tray with a bewildered grin. "Breakfast in bed?"
"We made you pancakes!" Sean beamed. "Blueberry and banana. With honey."
"My favourite." She said pressing her lips to his forehead as Danny crawling under the warm duvet beside Jack. "Thank-you." Linda added intently looking across at Danny, gently squeezing his shoulder. He kissed her knuckles. "These look amazing."
"Okay, be good for your Mom." Danny said as he bustled towards the door kissing the tops of the boy's heads as he passed. "I'll see you later on at Mass." He added with a grin as Linda handed him his coat.
"You be careful out there." She murmured, adjusting his collar. Danny nodded promising her that he would. Linda smiled kissing him lightly as he headed out the door, throwing her a grin over his shoulder as he trekked across the lawn.
Linda leaned against the door-frame of the kitchen. Watching as Jamie and Danny finished up the Sunday dishes. She grinned at Jamie as he passed her, nudging her gently. Wandering through to the kitchen she stood beside the island-bench, Danny's back to her. He glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of her. He smiled.
"You're not supposed to help with the dishes on Mother's Day." He said quietly. Linda shook her head.
"Oh, I'm not. You missed a spot." She added with a grin. Danny rolled his eyes.
"You're a pain."
"You love me." Danny smiled. She had him there. He dropped the tea-towel onto the counter, turning around and leaning back against the sink facing Linda.
"You were right." He said quietly his gaze meeting hers, his arms folding across his chest.
"I always am." She joked, hoisting herself up onto the bench. "Wait, what are we talking about?" Danny chuckled, shaking his head.
"About me and Jamie; you were right. Joe was the bridge." Linda watched him with a compassionate smile.
"So did you build a new one?" He shrugged, nodding slightly.
"Started to…"
"Good. Seriously Danny, you two are so alike." Linda replied shaking her head, with a half-laugh. He frowned moving to stand between her knees. Linda's hands rested on his shoulders as he shifted closer to her. "Thank-you." She said quietly, her lips inches from his.
"For what?" He whispered. Linda shrugged, smiling into his mouth.
"For breakfast this morning… And just, for everything."