^*^*^BB^*^*^
The Reagan family listened in horror at what the doctor was telling them. "Mr. Reagan I'm sure you've seen the bruises and burns, however once we removed his wet uniform we found more bruises on his chest, and on his shoulder," the doctor paused, "looks like someone took pliers to him."
"Poor Jamie," Linda sobbed.
"We are hoping that there is no permenant nerve damage, I'll have an update for you in a few hours."
^*^*^BB^*^*^
Danny sat alone in the box as he waited for Ian Cutter. He wanted to ring the guys neck. In front of him sat a file that made him sick. Pictures of Jamie, Erin and Linda. His Linda. The more he thought about it the angrier he got.
The door opened and Detective Winters pushed Ian into the small room. "You've been busy," Danny waved the file at him then slammed it back on the table.
"Ah the big bad brother." Ian cooed.
Danny smiled. "You haven't seen bad."
"And this is suppose to do what? Intimidate me? Want me to show remorse?" Ian laughed coldly. Danny gritted his teeth. "Don't care what you do. Drop dead for all I care you piece of garbage. See once we get done with you, your going to prison." He looked over at Winters, "didn't you tell him the good news?"
"We did, he wasn't happy." Winters quipped.
"So what, I'm going to be a hero. Kiddnapping a cop, torturing him until he was almost dead." Ian retaliated.
"Oh but there is more, your not going into general population. Solitary."
"You can't do that." Ian screamed.
"Can and did." Danny jabbed, standing up and smirking over at Ian. "Hope you rot."
Ian stayed silent. He'd lost. Jamie had beat him.
"Process him and lock him up."
"With pleasure."
Two years ago Cutter would have had an 'accident'. Danny wasn't that person, and he wasn't going to give the scuzball that nearly killed his brother a 'get out of jail free' card. Danny had contolled his temper.
^*^*^BB^*^*^
Danny briskly walked down the hospiral corridor to his family. "How is he?" Was the first thing he asked.
"He's been beaten pretty good." Frank answered in a low voice.
"Is Uncle Jamie going to be okay?" Sean asked.
Danny looked down at his sons. Bent down on one knee, "boys a bad guy hurt your Uncle and he is going to have a lot of bruises and cuts. So he might look bad, but he's okay. Just can't hug him or pounce on him like you guys usually do."
"We got him a stuffed monkey," Jack pointed at the furry creature Nicki held. "He's holding a heart in his hands." He smiled.
"And Uncle Jamie is going to love it. That was very nice of you guys." Danny brought his children into a hug and kissed the tops of their heads.
Anther hour had passed. The night gave way to the sun, the boys now fast asleep on the couch in the waiting room.
"What is taking so long?" Danny asked agrevated.
"Seems like we should have heard something by now." Henry added.
"Let me go and see if I can find out," Linda said.
They watched as she walked over to the nursing station. Watched as she and the nurse at the desk talked. Turning around she smiled.
"The doctor is on his way out." She hugged her husband, who wrapped his arms around her waist. "Thanks babe."
She smiled.
"Sorry it took so long, Jamie is fine, nothing out of the ordinary. All test came back negative for internal injuries, and no nerve damage. But he does have a broken nose, couple of bruised ribs. And he does look like he's went ten rounds with Mike Tyson. But other than that he will recover nicely."
"When can we see him?" Frank asked.
"Right now, we've got him settled in his room. The seditive is being slowly delutated. So he might not reconize any of you or he just may be a big ball of silly. Its hard to say, he could wake up and be very lusid."
The Reagan family fell in line behind the doctor and eagerly walked to Jamie's room. Jamie looked pieceful resting there. His face battered and bruised.
Frank walked over to his youngest and took his hand. Lovingly he placed the other one on top. "You're safe." He whispered.
They all lined up around his bed, tears in their eyes. Henry patted him on the leg, "Love you kiddo." He choked out.
Erin wiped the tears from her face. Nicki did as well and hugged her mom.
"Why doesn't Uncle Jamie wake up?" Jack asked.
"Well the medicine they gave him made him real sleepy." His mom told him.
Danny didn't say anything he just looked down at his kid brother. He watched, watched for him to open his eyes.
Jamie moaned as his eyes began to flicker open. The flouresant lights burned his eyes and Jamie squinted.
Linda walked over and turned them down on low. "Better?" She asked softly.
"Yeah, thanks," His voice barely a whisper. "Where am I?" He cocked his head looking around.
"The hospital." His dad responded.
"You remember anything?" Danny added.
With bitterness Jamie answered, "Ian Cutter."
"He's not getting out anytime soon." Danny gladly told his kid brother.
Jamie only half laughed. "Funny thats what BPD and their prosecutor said."
"Sorry bout that Jamie." Pierce answered from the doorway.
Jamie looked past his family at the Detective. "Just stopped by to see if you were okay."
"Detective thank you for your help." Frank said.
"No problem, Jamie glad your okay." Pierce was gone.
He looked back at his family. "You know, don't you?" He looked down at the hospital sheets.
"We know." Frank told him. And we're proud of you for doing what you did."
"Thought you might be upset that I didn't tell you what happened in Boston." Jamie responded.
"Never. You thought you were doing the right thing." Frank answered.
"Maybe I need to start looking at you as my equal, not just a kid." Danny piped up.
Jamie looked at his family, "you are what kept me going. Nothing Ian did mattered, but keeping you here," he softly patted his chest where his heart was. "Thats what mattered." Tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Uncle Jamie," his nephews called in unison.
He looked down at them and smiled.
"We got you something." They turned around and Nicki handed them the stuff monkey.
"Awww... thank you." Jamie held out his arms to hug them.
The boys looked nervously at their mother. "Just be gentle." Linda urged.
As gently as they could they hugged their Uncle.
