Title: The Act of Heroism
Chapter title: Wings
Summary: Jamie didn't have time to think, he just reacted. "Reagan!" Renzulli's voice was the last thing that echoed in the street before the car impacted and the sound of metal crushing metal was the only thing heard.
Author's Note: So, I have very sad news for you guys … This is the last chapter in this story. I know, I know, but before you yell and leave bad reviews let me explain. At the beginning of this story I wrote that this was a random story that came to me suddenly. That is what it is. A short, random and angst-filled story.
I never expected the feedback to be that positive! It really means a lot! Every single one that have reviewed, followed, and added to favorites, both the story and me as a writer … Every one of you rock! And I love you!
(And a special shout-out to Estel-Undomiel25, who pointed out that I used Macklemore song titles for chapter names, since I completely forgot to mention it at the beginning)
However, your positive comments have really raised my confidence and that means that, if my muse will allow it with everything else that is going on, I will work very hard to write a longer story with longer chapters like I normally do. So until then … You rock, I love you and stay awesome!
Enjoy this last chapter and don't forget to review one final time!
Disclaimer: Let's take it one final time, shall we? I own nothing! Absolutely nothing!
"One part brave, three part fool" - Christopher Paolini
As time seemed to drag by, the entire family had assembled. Erin had arrived first with Nicki and Henry. Linda had soon followed with Jack and Sean in tow. With the whole family present the Reagans had settled down on the couches in the waiting area for as long as it would take.
Erin was sitting in one of them, with Nicki's head in her lap as her daughter slept, and her eyes travelled every minute towards the doors. Jack and Sean were taking up half of one sofa, sleeping curled up around each other and next to their mother and father. Henry was leaning his elbows on his legs and his gaze shifted from each family member until there was no one left and then turned it to the floor, only to start over again. Linda had a comforting hand on her husband's back, knowing without asking that he needed it as much as she did. Danny was in a similar position as his grandfather, but his right leg was bouncing up and down franticly. He was staring as intently on the floor, lost in thought, as Frank was staring on the doors.
He hadn't budged from stance since he arrived. He had only twisted his body to greet the rest of his family when they got to the hospital but he did not engage in any conversation or attempted to start one himself. Not that conversations were currently running high among the Reagan family members. He stood by himself, still and alone. And at the moment that was what he preferred.
However his solitude didn't last long as he felt a presence coming nearer.
Turning around he found himself facing his own father, looking at him in concern. Though Frank suspected that the concern was a mixture of worry for both his grandson and his own son. No matter what it was, Frank did not deny its existence and try to calm it down. For the worry and concern and fear he saw in his father's eyes, he had no doubt they were mirrored in his own. Instead he settled with a low, "Pop?"
"You alright, son?" Henry asked carefully.
"I'm fine," Frank was quick to answer.
"Really? Because you are standing here all alone," the former Commissioner argued.
"I don't need your third degree. Just because I would rather be here instead of over there does not mean there is something wrong." Frank did his best to keep his voice from rising. He was not in the mood to argue or even just talk. The only person he would want to be talking to in the nearest future was Jamie's doctor. Until that conversation happened he wanted to be left alone.
"I am fine. I just …" at that point his voice broke and he found himself unable to finish the sentence.
"Francis?"
"I can't lose him, Pop," Frank said and finally looked at his father with teary eyes. "Not so soon after Joe."
"Neither of us can."
"I won't lose another son," Frank said and as to close the conversation he looked at the double doors again, feeling like he had spent too much time looking away from them.
Henry didn't question it further. Instead, he placed a comforting hand on his son's back. There they stood, like statues frozen in time, and waited.
In the end, all of the waiting and the worrying had paid off. Frank was aware of that as he was looking longingly through the Plexiglas window he was standing in front of, and at his youngest who was lying on a hospital bed inside a room Frank had no access to yet.
Jamie had been lucky … or so the tired yet relieved looking doctor had told him when he had confronted the impatient family in the waiting room.
But as Frank had listened to the list of injuries along with later seeing his son he didn't feel like Jamie had been lucky. In the crash he had received a severe concussion which was what led to his collapse on the scene; he had been propelled into the steering wheel of the Sedan with such force that it led to minor internal bleeding and on top of that he had several cuts and bruises. He would probably be sore for weeks, but he would be okay eventually. At least according to the doctor.
Currently he was in an observation room where he would stay through the remainder of the night and then be moved to a recovery room. The doctor had only allowed one visitor at the moment and it would only be by the window as Jamie's body was still weak from the surgery. The vote on got to be the lucky one was unanimous. And it had been a relieved Commissioner that followed the older doctor through the hospital halls and towards Jamie's room.
Which was where Frank was currently standing, wishing for nothing more than to be in there, next to his youngest son. He wished he was standing at Jamie's side instead of the nurse that was in the process of checking his vitals and controlling the IV bag.
The grey-haired doctor walked up next to him, holding a clip board in his arms. "I'm sorry, Commissioner, but visiting hours are almost over and he needs his rest," he looked at Frank apologetically. "You can return tomorrow."
Frank sighed and looked at his sleeping son's form one last time, before he reluctantly left.
As he made his way through the hospital towards the waiting family, he noticed Danny standing in one corner talking into his cell phone.
"Thanks, Jack," he was saying. "Yeah, I will."
"What's going on?" Frank asked his son as he hung up.
"I just talked to Jackie," Danny sighed. "The driver that crashed into the other cars and Jamie was already dead before he hit them. Heart attack."
Frank raised his eyebrows. "Any ideas what caused it?"
"The coroner ruled it a natural, so …" Danny said and let the sentence hang in the air before he continued. "Fate sure knows how to bring down helpful people." The words were heavy with poison and Danny let him know just how he felt about that fact.
Frank tightened his lips."There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul," he then said. "Ella Wheeler Wilcox."
Danny looked at him questioningly.
"Jamie won't stop trying to help people, no matter what happens. It's as much in his blood as it is in yours or mine. This accident isn't going to change that," he elaborated.
"You think he knows that?"
"Of course he does. He never would have become a cop if he didn't."
Danny accessed him for a moment before nodding his head. He knew, of course, his brother would never stop to help people whenever he could. And though it sometimes drove him nuts, he knew he could never change his brother. And he would never try to.
When Jamie first woke, he felt tired and disoriented.
He had no idea what had happened or where he was. What he did know was that his entire body was sore and heavy. He felt like he had just run an entire marathon in one take and, he noticed as he swallowed, seemingly without a sip of water either. He couldn't recall when he would have had the time for such a run or when he signed up for one. Danny must have done it for him. It would be typical for him to sign his little brother into something he didn't want. He would probably have given a big speech about how good it would be and how proud he would be of Jamie and he wouldn't have shut up about until Jamie would have surrendered. It sounded likely except for one little detail: He could not remember running a marathon and he was pretty sure he would recall such a race.
But then what …?
A sterile and clean smell reached his nostrils and he had been in enough hospitals to know where he was. What he couldn't figure out why he was there. It was then all of Jamie's memories returned to him and he remembered everything that had transpired.
Struggling he attempted to open his eyes but found that they weighted a ton. It was like they were clued shut. Then a calm and gruff voice penetrated the silent darkness.
"Jamie? Son, can you hear me?"
Dad?
"Jamie?" another voice joined, this one higher pitched and impatient.
Danny.
Suddenly he felt like he was floating and Jamie tried to call out but his throat was so sore and raw that all he managed to croak out was a moan that sounded very pitiful to his own ears.
"It's alright, son. I'm right here," his father's voice coaxed him.
Instead of trying to speak again, Jamie focused on opening his heavy eyelids. Armed with a strong determination he managed to pry open his eyes.
The number of Reagans in Jamie's hospital room went down slowly. Erin had left with Nicki, Jack and Sean first, seeing as it was a school day after all. No matter how much they protested and argued for why they should and would stay, it had been a lost battle. Erin also knew that when Jamie would wake, he did not need the entire Reagan family present. There would be enough of that later on. Though she wanted to be with her little brother and comfort him, she also knew he would be in safe hands. So she had left but not before making her father promise to call as soon as anything changed.
Linda had soon followed suit with Henry so they both could get some decent sleep once they were assured Jamie was going to recover.
It had left Frank and Danny as the only Reagans left and both refused to leave.
Which meant they were the ones present when Jamie stirred several hours later.
It was Frank who noticed it first. He was sitting in a plastic chair by Jamie's right side while Danny was on his left, slumbering uncomfortably in another chair.
It was a small motion; a small flicker of Jamie's fingers. A movement so small Frank thought he had imagined it at first. But when the movement was repeated and Jamie's head moved an inch to the right Frank was certain. The fatigue he had felt from sitting all night on hard chairs completely disappeared. Jamie swallowed and his eyes started to move beneath his eyelids, but he didn't open his eyes yet.
"Jamie? Son, can you hear me?" he tried, hoping his voice would guide Jamie towards awakening.
Danny was roused from his light sleep at the sound of Frank's voice and as his words sunk in, he was suddenly wide awake too.
"Jamie?" he joined in hopefully.
Jamie was moving his head slightly towards the voice as each of them spoke. He opened his mouth as if to speak but only a low moan escaped his lips. Frank placed his warm hand on top of Jamie's and squeezed.
"It's alright, son. I'm right here," he said and hoped his assurance would be enough.
Both of the Reagans smiled when Jamie's eyes started to flicker. Then he blinked them open slowly, squinting as if he had a headache, which he probably did, and tired hazel orbs looked at first Danny and then settled on Frank.
"Dad?" his voice was raspy and barely above a whisper.
"I'm right here, son," Frank said and gave his hand another squeeze.
"Hey, kiddo. How are you doing?" Danny asked.
"I'm alright," Jamie answered and his gaze shifted from Danny to Frank and then back again. "You're hovering." His lips grew into a smile.
"Get use to it, kid. You gave all of us quite a scare," Danny shot back, his own smile never wavering.
"I'm sorry," he replied while he tried to shift his position in the bed. He quickly regretted the action when he winced in pain.
"It's alright," Danny quickly sobered and placed his hand on his little brother's shoulder. He took in the bruises forming on the kid's pale face and the starting line of bags under his eyes. "Get some sleep, kid. We'll be here when you wake up, alright?"
Jamie nodded and leaned back against the pillows. Soon his eyes dropped and he fell asleep again, this time safely knowing both his father and his big brother would be by his side.
During Jamie's hospital stay, Renzulli had been by his room to check on him and to relieve his heart. It had been awkward for both parts at first since none of them was good at heartfelt speeches and none of them knew where to begin. It was only after Jamie thanked him for not abandoning him out there in the chaos, that the older officer himself started to soften up a bit.
It didn't take long for them to get back to their usual bantering. Jamie telling Renzulli he could have the honors of protecting the victims of the next car crash, which hopefully would never happen, and Renzulli being glad to see that Jamie's head really was as thick as he suspected.
After a promise of returning to duty as quickly as possible, Renzulli had exited the room, feeling relieved and happy to see his trainee and friend alright again. He just prayed he would never have to face the Reagan family like he did that night again. As he had told Jamie: they could be downright scary when they were distressed, Danny being the worst.
A week later came the day of Jamie's release. When it had been told to the Reagans, Frank had volunteered to pick him up and bring him home before anyone had the time to open their mouths.
Which was why, the Commissioner was currently walking down the white halls of the hospital and before he knew it, he found himself watching his son in the open doorway.
Jamie looked as tired and worn as ever, but he was still looking a lot better than when they first saw him. He was sitting on the edge of an already made bed, a bag containing his personal items by his side, while he was desperately trying to put on a pair of black socks. His sore body protested every time he tried to bend down too much and after several painful tries he simply ended up, staring hatefully at the small pair of fabrics.
Without a word, Frank waltzed right over, took the socks out of his surprised son's hands and pulled them over his feet.
"I can't remember the last time you had to do that," Jamie huffed.
Frank smiled gently up at his youngest, while he braced his hand on his knee to stand up again. "Me neither."
"Can we make a deal and not tell Danny or he would have a field day about this," Jamie said while he struggled to get to his feet. His stitches pulled and the bruises protested at every movement he made; he winced all the way up. It was going to be a long week before any of that healed up.
Frank knew that Jamie would only reject his help, so he was forced to simply stand there and watch his son's struggles. He couldn't keep down the ache he felt as a father and all of the sudden he could sense an overwhelming sensation surge through his body. It was the same one he had gotten ever since Garrett walked into his office. One that would always lurk deep down and peer its head when bad news involving his family popped up.
This time he could and would react to it.
So he took a step forward and enveloped his youngest in his arms. He hugged him as tightly as he dared without hurting him further.
Jamie stiffened at first, unsure. "Dad, what …?"
"I love you, son," Frank said behind Jamie's back, his voice thick of emotion.
Jamie was stilling standing there stunned for a single moment. Then everything clicked and he understood. He then put his own arms around his father and pulled him closer, ignoring whatever pain his body felt.
"I love you too, Dad."
The End
Maybe a little cheesy, but I figured that since Frank was so anxious at first, that was exactly what he wanted to do the most. Anyway, let me know what you thought, not just about this chapter but also about the story in general
And if you have any ideas or wishes about a Blue Bloods story don't hesitate to let me know :)
Crimescenelover out!