Chapter Six

"They won't stop, Grandpa," Lila sobbed as both her babies angrily kicked and wailed. "Why don't they stop crying for me, why only Mom?"

Frank sighed getting up slowly, "Because you are panicking, honey and you are under stress. Try to take a couple of breaths before you lift one of them. If you aren't calm, they won't be calm." Frank stooped and picked up little Reagan and put her on his shoulder. She quieted almost immediately. "You see. Strong firm hands, she feels secure. Try now with Finn."

Lila leaned down and reached for Finn putting him up on her shoulder. "It's okay, baby boy. Grandma is going to be just fine, don't cry."

"That's a girl, use your voice to soothe them. I know you're worried about your mother honey, but she's going to be all right, angel."

"How did Aunt Erin handle it when Grandma died?" Lila asked as she opened her blouse to nurse her newborn son.

"She was sad, we all were sad honey. It's hard to lose a parent, when you lose your mom or your dad it's going to hurt, I won't lie, but you're a Reagan first, and you'll get through it."

Lila sighed. "I don't feel much like a Reagan, Grandpa. I feel like…I don't know."

Frank laid Reagan down in the baby chair and hugged his grandbaby, "I know it's hard Lila Joy. Pop-Pop is going to make it all right. Your Mommy is going to be all right. I promise you that my girl."

As Frank rocked Lila, he remembered her only as being his baby, his youngest grandchild. She needed him to be there for her, to be strong and capable. He felt like she was a tiny girl again when Eddie had been admitted to the hospital for morphine during her chemo. Then all he had to do was rock her and things would be all right. Maybe now that would still work, so Frank rocked while both of his great grandbabies contentedly slept.

Jamie stroked Eddie's hair holding her hand gently eyes closed in prayer for his Eddie to be okay all the while fighting back tears.

"Kid, what's going on?" Danny made a beeline for the bed, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. When Jamie looked up tears stung his blue eyes surprising Danny. Jamie was used to Eddie's little health hiccups, they had lived with them most of their married life. It was disconcerting that Jamie was near tears now.

"She's so sick, Danny. Cellulitis now, so they can't do that surgery for the clots. They have to monitor her carefully, Danny. She spiked a fever," Jamie recalled what the doctor said, growing more worried about his wife.

Danny sat on the bed wrapping an arm around Jamie to show support, no words needed.

Joe arrived to find his uncle and his father over his mother's bedside. The color in his face drained as he went over. "Dad?"

Danny turned to Joey, shielding Jamie from his son's view. "Your Mom's worse, Joe," Danny said gently. She's running a high fever so she has to be watched carefully. Your Dad's just taking it a little hard, she's not in real danger."

"Uncle Danny," Joey sighed. He stepped closer to the bed, "Mom, it's Joey. I just called and Lila has the babies crying again. Those little ones won't see their first birthday without their grandma helping out. Poor things, Lila's dolls used to cry when she was playing with them."

Jamie tried to laugh at Joey trying to joke but it came out a choked sob. Joe filled a basin with cool water and wiped Eddie's face. "There, that's going to feel better. You need to wake up so you can drink, Mom."

Eddie heard her son's gentle voice and felt Jamie's hand. She pushed her tired eyes open and smiled at Joey, "Take care of him, Joe…Please…"

Joey panicked a little, "You're not going anywhere Mom."

Eddie laughed, "I know…I know…but Dad is stubborn, he's tired…take care of him. Danny, you listen, take him to rest. Joe is here with me."

"Eddie, I'm not leaving you now," Jamie said firmly. "Take some more water. Joey, hold her head."

Eddie obediently drank the water and fell back against the bed. "So hot…"

Jamie smiled down at her, "I know, sweetheart. It's cellulitis again, but you're on medication and it will pass, I promise. Don't worry about anything, it's all under control."

Eddie smiled and weakly reached out her hand for Jamie trying to touch his cheek. "I want to go home, please, Jamie."

"I know, but you can't go home sweetie," Jamie soothed. "Please honey, don't fuss, save your strength."

Eddie fell asleep again with Jamie's hand firmly in hers. Jamie looked up at Joey and Danny. "Looks like she's going to need me to stay with her at least overnight. Danny can you please talk to Jack and have him coordinate with Meyers…it's her last week but I have to be here. Joseph, coordinate with Jack as well on the robberies you mentioned to us and the Boys and Girls Club investigation. Do NOT let that leak. Do you understand? The scandal will destroy us."

Joey nodded and Danny headed off to help his brother the only way he really could. Joey looked at his exhausted father, "Dad what if you at least get coffee then I'll go okay? I'm here with mom, she's okay." Joe saw how tired his father was anytime he fussed over Eddie.

Jamie hesitated but nodded, first kissing Eddie's head. "I'll be right back."

Joe took his mother's hand smiling at her. "Hey, mom I know you're going to be okay. Molly and me we're going to marry in April with Jack and Rita. She doesn't have her Mom here, she'll need help."

Eddie weakly looked up at him using whatever strength she had to squeeze his hand. "My Joe, my boy."

Smiling, Joe brushed a hand across his face fighting back tears. "Yeah, that's right. I promise you Mom, I'm going to give you tons more grandchildren. Molly and I want a huge family."

Eddie smiled and shut her eyes, "You were always such a good little boy. So sweet, caring so much for your Mommy. When's Daddy going to be home?"

Joey's heart stopped, "Mom, you're in the hospital, Dad just went to get a coffee."

Eddie was delirious, caught back in a time when things were good and calm. When her children were young and she felt her marriage was strong and happy. She was in such turmoil lately, this was a happier and safer place.

"Oh…" Eddie sighed and shut her eyes. She saw her littles ones running about, playing and smiling. "Who's watching Lila?"

"Grandpa is there and Aunt Linda, I'm sure they are spoiling the babies and Lila is getting rest." Joe stroked Eddie's hair.

Jamie was back quickly with a sandwich and cup of coffee for him and for Joey. Eddie had gone back to sleep, sighing as she took each breath. "She's thinking I'm still little," Joey told Jamie. "Is she going to live Dad?"

Jamie nodded, "Yes, she's going to live. The fever is making her hallucinate. Go on home to Molly and check on things at the house. If there's a change either way, I'll tell you."

Joey nodded and hugged Jamie tightly. He kissed Eddie's head then left for his parents' house.

It was very late when Joey and Molly let themselves into the Reagan family home. "I'll go make sure you grandpa is okay, go to your sister. This can't be easy for her."

Joey smiled and gave Molly a hug, he was drawing strength from her to give it to his mother and father. Joey found Lila with little Finn on her breast. She looked tired but at peace with the tiny boy. "Hey, how's Mom?"

Joey sat down by his sister, "She's uh…developed and infection and is on strong meds to combat it and break her fever. Dad's assured me she'll get better but he's really taking it hard."

Lila disconnected Finn from her right breast and switched him to her left, "Well they've been having trouble."

"Trouble?" Joey raised his eyebrow. "Dad seems as dedicated as ever."

"Mom wont' talk about it but she admitted they were fighting a lot, and I've seen it. I've heard her crying at night, I've seen him losing his temper and storming off down here. Maybe, this is just want they need to get things back on track, realize how much they mean to each other."

"I don't think for a minute that they ever forgot that," Joey replied. "I don't know if they are actually having problems or if Mom is jealous of Dad's new assistant. Meyers is breaking the woman in this week, she's smart as a whip but she looks a lot like Mom used to when Dad first met her."

"Oh, that's really just low," Lila sighed. "I can't believe Dad would do something so heartless. Mom is having such a hard time with hos she's looking and feeling and he does that."

"You don't think…" Joey began.

"No, I don't think for a minute but I'm here a lot more than you are and I see how much she's struggling Jamie. I think we need to talk to Dad and ask him to respect Mom and her feelings."

"I think Mom and Dad have been married for thirty year, we need to let them work it out on their own," Joey replied. Reagan began to fuss just as Finn finished. "Can I burp him?"

Lila nodded, "You can change him too if you want while I feed her. Grandpa had two attacks tonight, Aunt Linda was here thank God…"

Joey sighed, so many things were changing. "Well Molly and I are crashing here tonight. In the morning, she'll mind the babies for a bit so I can take you to see Mom. She was talking out of her head and was just so sick tonight, Lil. It was so hard to see her like that."

"She's strong and she has more to live for. You are going to get married, she has new grandchildren…We will make it work, we'll do what she and Dad showed us, pull together. We'll make them proud."

Joey burped his godson and gently changed his little diaper. "I can't wait to have my own. Molly is so excited too."

"I'm excited about what? Oh, can I hold one please, Lila?"

"Sure, Reagan is just finished eating, you can burp her," Lila smiled. "I'm so glad Joey asked you to marry him. You are welcome to any of the stuff I used at my wedding or if you want newer things we can find some great stuff!"

Molly smiled, "I always had brothers, no sisters so I am so glad to have a sister!" Molly snuggle little Reagan in her arms. "And you made the best choice for their godfather, Joseph is a natural with a baby in his arms."

Lila smiled, "Joey was always a great brother. Our Mom was sick when I was really little and he was amazing."

Joey blushed, "You two gushing over me…How's Grandpa?"

"He's good, he's sleeping his breathing is really good and even now and his pulse ox is 97. That's incredible. Let's get some sleep now, Lila is a there a place I can sleep? Joseph and I aren't…"

"Of course, you can take my old room, I'll take Mom and Dad's room and Joey can take the pull out. Let's go…"

It didn't take long for the family to get things settled and soon all of the younger Reagans were sleeping, even the two newest, all with a confidence that things were going to be okay.

Across town at Lutheran hospital, Jamie had slipped into Eddie's hospital bed with his shoes, socks and brace off. He put his sore leg up and sided. "Eddie, I need you so much. I love you so much and I can't…I can't do this without you. My darn leg is so sore, no one to rub it for me with you sick. No one to tie my shoes…no one to tell me it's all right. I need you for so much Eddie. I love you so…"

Eddie heard her Jamie's voice softly in her ear. She sighed in her sleep, all of the fear and rejection she had felt melted in this time he was spending by her side. Eddie hated the fear in Jamie's voice, she hated the pain, she wanted to take it away so badly. Eddie took a breath, dug down deep, and chose that moment to fight with all she had.

A/N: Poor Lila, she really thinks her children hate her and Joey thinks it's funny. Jamie is feeling lucky being from a big family, Danny isn't going to leave his little brother to keep vigil alone. And how aboug good old Frank?

Next Update – July 31st – Joey learns some things about Jamie and develops a new appreciation for his mother.