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The air was cool against his skin as it brushed against him, he always loved Fall such a calm time and the colors were mesmerizing. He stood with Nian waiting for the arrival of his family, he couldn't get away, Ryan held a gun to his temple, threatening to go off and spill his blood into the water. He loved East River park, the memories flooded his mind. The football games with Danny and Joe, picnics with his Mother, Erin and Nicki on summer break, when Linda and Danny announced that they were expecting Jack, his Father playing Frisbee with him, his dad and him fishing, there were so many and he wanted there to be more.
This place was a good thing to him but now it was going to be tragedy. He then thought of his Mother and Joe, if he were to die now he hoped to see them first thing, be wrapped up in their warm embrace and spend the next million years catching up. As a regular church go-er he believed in heaven and hell, he hoped he did enough good in this world that he could see them, that everything he did wasn't a waste. he looked out into the park, it was empty today as the skies threatened to break and release a down pour, the water behind him was choppy, if he fell in he would probably drown, that must be Nain's plan.
For some reason he his emotions were not focused on the fact that he was about to die but more on how much he missed his mother and Joe. When his mother died he saw it coming, doesn't mean it was easier but he knew she was sick but Joe he was a different story. Joe was so sudden, he had just come home from school for spring break and the next thing he knew he lost a brother. Both deaths hit him hard, Joe was close with him, more than Danny and his Mother, well you only get one of those and losing her put him in a depression as did Joe. If he died today he looked forward to see them once again. Another breeze swayed him as he waited for the end.
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Danny sped through the streets on NYC, breaking many laws but he needed to get there and he was sure everyone with him sped too so he was not worried. They entered the park on Day 6 and began running toward the far end of the park his family with him. His heart ached from the past week it had been a traumatizing one and now he had to bring his kids and niece to see what had happened to Uncle Jamie. Oh young Jamie, he always had to be in peril, Danny never understood why he changed his career, he thought it was because of Joe but Jamie said it was the calling.
"There!" Linda pointed to two men standing on the wrong side of the barrier separating land and water. They all ran to them stopping a few feet away, all cautious.
"We brought it all here take it!" Erin held out the papers in a pleading voice.
"Tell them Jamie," Nian snickered. Jamie's face began to change to one of great sorrow and tears began to brim in his eyes, he looked at his family who held similar to his. Then he just gave them a wary smile and began,
"Dad, remember we used to go fishing here, I never caught anything," he laughed with a lump in his throat. "Oh Danny, when Joe you and I played football games, remember how you had to get stitches because Joe tackled you to hard, or when you and Linda told everyone that you were pregnant with Jack." He smiled, "Erin, the picnics with Nicki , Ma, and I we had some much fun on those picnics pushing Nicki in the swings, and Pop you taught me how to ride a bike here, I must have fallen 20 times before I got it." the lump was inching its way up and a tear escaped down his cheek, all the others were crying too knowing what came next.
"I love you all so much Dad, you taught me so much and raised me to know right from wrong, Pop you always talked me through tough times, Danny after Joe died we became so close, you look out for me and I so glad you have been there, Erin you are the only sister I have, you are smart and wise and when I make stupid mistakes you always help me feel better. Linda I'm so glad you are here, you make Danny sane and you are so kind and loving you make a great Reagan." his voice quivered as the gun pressed harder into him.
"Nick, you are so beautiful and bright I know you will go places, and do amazing things, like I said before, Jack and Sean always keep that brotherly bond strong, you can do anything and be anything you want , make life count. I love you." he looked to all their crying faces and smiled through his tears, "Don't worry about me."
"Nian please we brought you everything, let him go , please" Frank pleaded.
"Commissioner, let me tell you a story, once there was a man who moved to New York to get away from his parents, he became a cop and had an amazing partner, but that partner the one he loved got shot, and the man got into some bad things and hasn't been able to get out since, Reagan family know this, Life isn't fair, why should any of you deserve a happy ending!?" and with that he moved the gun to Jamie's torso and fired, the watched as both men fell into the water and disappeared in the current.
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"Jaime!" Erin screamed, they all pulled the kids to a safe place and ran to the rail. The current was a rough one pulling the two man away, Nain let it over take him and he disappeared but Jamie, weak Jamie fought it trying to keep himself above. Danny wanted to jump in but Erin and Linda had held him off, that's when he say is a cop jump in and off in the distance he heard someone yell, "Renzulli!" they all ran to where Renzulli entered and watched as he made his way to Jamie but then he stopped and something pulled him under, and it wasn't the current. Every one gasped with terror, but in an instant he was back pulling a slumped figure. Quickly he fought his way to the edge and gave them an unconscious Nian who now sported a bloody nose. Then to the other cops dismay Renzulli was off again to Jamie, but the young man had disappeared. "Over there!" Jack pointed, he had been following his Uncle, Renzulli swam to that spot searching frantically for his former partner but he came up empty handed, he had fear build in him until he saw it, a hand that's when he had him. He grabbed Jamie and with adrenaline pumping he same against the strong currents and got Jamie and his self out. "He's not breathing," Renzulli called.
A gasp for air came from the young man laying on the ground, Linda turned him to his side as she patted his back. Jamie was back, alive for now. "Danny give me your coat!" Linda demanded as she stripped Jamie to his boxers, "Frank you too. She lifted him up and hugged him trying to warm him up, Danny offered his coat, "Put it on him." Danny and Frank placed the coats on Jamie's shivering form, his lips were a deep blue and he shook like he was having a seizure. finally the Paramedics showed and began to wrap heating blankets on him
"He is at 82 degrees we need to warm him face and get him to the hospital ASAP!" a paramedic yelled to his co worker. Frank started toward the ambulance, "I'm coming too" neither of them protested. He climbed alongside his son and reached for his hand, it was ice cold and graying, if it weren't for the shivering Jamie would look dead. Every ounce of his being hoped that Nian would die, he never wished this on anyone but Nian was an exception.
Danny looked to his family and rounded them up sorting out how they were going to get to the hospital, he was terrified, mortified, and furious all at once Jamie looked bad but his amazing wife had brought him back from the dead, no amount of thank yous could add up to what she did but Linda did it because Jamie was her family and she loved him. they jumped in the car with the kids and took off , Erin and Nicki were doing the same, all in hysterics over what had just happened. "Mom, is Uncle Jamie going to die," Nicki felt guilt consume her, that if she would never had left he would have been, Erin could read that in her face, "No Baby, he is strong, he will make it."
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They sat there waiting for hours, Jamie had been red lined to surgery, he was on bypass and his temperature was still low. Erin stroked her daughters hair as she slept on her chest. Linda had gone off to see what she could find out, Danny held his boys and Henry held Francis' hand. Jackie and Renzulli stood against the wall, both were devastated at what was happening but then again they were close to the family. The wait was eating everyone alive, and soon Linda came back with no update, they sat together in silence.
In the operation room, doctors worked quickly and efficiently to save the young cops life, they all knew Linda, she was a ray of sunshine for the hospital the one who really kept everyone in place so to them failing to save her brother in law was not an option, "Suction, and get the patch ready." They worked with caution, Jamie's condition was fragile and he wasn't looking to good, "Damn, he's crashing, get the internal paddles, charge to 200."
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"Jamie, wake up Jamie." he felt a light shake and tried to move away from it but the shake continued. He slowly woke rubbing his eyes and sat up, he didn't expect to be where he was. He was back at the park and alone, no one in sight he was so confused until a football landed at his feet.
"Come on Jamie through it back' he blinked in awe, there in front of him stood Joe, smiling and very much alive.
"Joe?" he was completely dumbfounded
"Yeah buddy who else," the laugh was just as he remembered it hardy and full of joy.
"I'm I.."
"No baby, just a little out of it" the second voice was a surprise and when he turned he saw his mother.
"This isn't real, you two are , are dead!" Her hug seemed to prove him wrong, it was so real so warm and filled with love, the ones he had missed all these years.
"Jamie, I'm proud of you kid, you saved our niece and nephews, you are a hero." Joe gave him a slap on the back.
"My, Jamie, my sweet sweet boy, you are truly they glue of the family" His mother stroked his cheek and tears began to form, his stomach knotted he had missed them so much and now here they were.
"I'm not Ma," he laughed through tears
"Yes you are you are the peace keeper always keeping everyone on their toes, your dad always says that you remind him of me, I guess it was all of the babying that I did." Jamie smiled his heart was aching he had missed everything about her, when she died a piece of him had ripped out, that was what he imagined anyone felt with loss, he felt the same way when Joe was killed.
"Kid without you Danny would probably go insane." Joe let out another laugh.
"I can't die, I can't leave Danny and Erin or Dad and Pop, they already lost you two." The displayed sad smiles upon their faces.
" I know kid we miss them so much, we miss you too" Joe looked straight into Jamie's soul.
"Just know Jamie that we love you and that you have to fight against this, to live and Joe and I will be here with you the whole way." His mother kissed his cheek, his brother hugged him and then they were gone but he stayed in the park he felt so weak and fighting seemed like a losing battle but he needed to try.
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Erin had practically bitten off all her nails with worry as they waited, she no longer had Nicki as she was forced to go with her dad who wanted to see her, only after the whole ordeal, but Erin knew that Nicki would be distant the whole time. She had stopped crying hours ago, she had no energy left, he Dad was sitting with her Grandpa praying while Danny sat with her holding her hand in his. Linda had brought the boys downstairs to the cafeteria to keep them occupied.
"Family of Jameson Reagan," a doctor came in fresh scrubs. All of them rocketed from their chairs and stood huddled by the doctor. She gave a wary smile and began, " We retrieved the bullet and patched up the wound but we had complications, he coded twice and it took us a few times to revive him, for this we have place him on life support, with the mixture of his hypothermia we need to monitor him closely for the next 48 hours, I'll have nurse Ramie take you to him, " and on that note she left.
Linda joined the family in his room, Jamie was so small, the mountain of blankets and tubes and monitors surrounding him and the bandages were intimidating. She stood with Danny and snuggled in with him, "He is a Reagan, he will be okay."
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The sun hit the window reflecting light into the room, it was Sunday morning and the day was bright. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to regain focus, his sister laid beside him with her hand on top of his, his niece curled up on the couch, he ached and was in pain and on top of it all there was a tube down his throat. He twitched his fingers causing Erin to stir, at first she was oblivious to her brother but then she grew shocked and began to talk to him and stroke her fingers through his hair.
"Jamie!, oh thank god everything is going to be okay, I'm going to get a nurse." but he yanked her hand not wanting her to leave, that's when Nicki woke up, "Uncle Jamie!" she bounced up and grabbed his other hand. The next thing he knew nurses were around him and a doctor came in, and soon the tube was out, it all happened so quickly but he was glad Erin was there. She couldn't stop staring at him, she didn't want to blink and the next second have him back on life support. Tears of joy rolled down her face as she continued to comfort him. " I'm so glad you are alive Jamie, I was so that I was going to lose someone else that I loved!"
"I'm not going anywhere" he said in a raspy tone.
"Mom shouldn't we call everyone," Nicki asked. Jamie could tell she was keeping her distance from when he first woke up, "Nicki come here," He gave her a one armed hug and let her cry into her shoulder. "Uncle Jamie, I'm so sorry this is all my fault!"
"This is no one's fault Nicki but that jerk Nian," Jamie's face changed as he remembered the events that day. "He is dead," Erin said in a solemn voice, and even though someone had died Jamie felt absolute relief. Erin continued on and began to dial,
"Erin, what's wrong is Jamie okay?" Jamie smiled as he heard his father's voice
"What is it Francis? " he heard his grandfather ask in the background fear evident in his voice. Erin smiled and nodded toward Jamie. "Hi Dad, " he heard his father begin to cry over the phone and his grandfather's voice soon came over, "Jamie, oh thank god"
"I love you Jamie we will be there soon, and with that his father hung up. Erin had tears in her eyes and she began to dial the next number, "Sis, what's going on, we are on our way down the hall,"
"Well then hurry Danny," Erin said before hanging up. No sooner than she hung up did Danny, Linda, and the boys come bounding into the room and immediately Danny began to cry and clung to his brother. The water works began as everyone showed up and saw for themselves that Jamie was okay.
"Jamie, you are a true hero, we are so glad you are okay kid." Danny cried.
"I always knew I was going to be okay, I'm a Reagan and with family like you I have nothing to be worried about."