A/N: Thank you all so much for all the reviews! I really appreciate it! See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review. :)

Chapter Twenty

Linda walked in just as Heather, another colleague of hers at the hospital, was growing annoyed with her brother-in-law. "Come on, Jamie," she muttered as she was trying to get Jamie to do something behind the drawn curtain. "You can do better than that."

"I could, but I don't feel like it today," he replied, somewhat obstinate. Which, Linda realized, was hiding something.

"I'm gonna tell Linda you're slacking, and she's gonna convince them to keep you a few more weeks."

"She's already in the room listening to this."

Linda peered around the curtain to find Heather attempting to make Jamie walk with crutches, something he apparently wanted nothing to do with today. Yet, Linda didn't blame him. Jamie looked like he'd barely slept last night.

"Good, you're here," Heather said. "Maybe you can help convince him to do something."

"If you want to go home tomorrow, you need to play nice with therapy today," Linda told him.

"Can't I just play nice later today?" Jamie tried. "It's early, I'm tired, and I don't feel like doing this right now."

Linda looked back at Heather, who shrugged. "I have a few others I can check into," she said. "I'll come back after lunch. Would that work better for you?"

"Yes," Jamie replied. He immediately dropped the crutches before hopping his way back to bed on his good foot and climbing back in.

"Oh, sure, you're motivated for that," Heather teased.

Jamie gave her a sad, pathetic look.

"Oh, buddy, I got a two year old who's much cuter than you when he does that, and I can still resist him."

"Damn," Jamie said with a slight smile.

Heather chuckled. "I'll be back for you, Reagan." She winked at Linda before leaving the room.

"You do need to do therapy today if you want to leave tomorrow," Linda reminded him as she picked up the crutches from where he'd dropped them.

"I know," Jamie replied sleepily. "I just don't have the energy right now."

"Yeah, well you better get your nap in before occupational therapy comes in and makes you get dressed."

Jamie nodded with his eyes closed.

"Any particular reason you're as wiped as you are today?"

"Couldn't sleep last night," he admitted.

"Nightmares, flash backs, or just thinking too much?" she asked.

"All of the above."

Linda frowned to herself. Or so she thought…

"Stop frowning," Jamie muttered. "Or I'm gonna get Danny down here."

"Do your therapy today, or I'm gonna get Danny down here," she countered.

"He doesn't scare me as much as you do."

Linda chuckled, stroking her brother-in-law's hair. "Do you want me to see if we can get you something to help you sleep?"

Jamie shook his head, clearly too tired to argue about the attention he was getting from his sister-in-law. "I'll be alright. Thanks, though."

"You're welcome. And, you know, there's no shame in needing something to help you out right now. You know that, right?"

Jamie nodded sleepily.

"Do you want some tea or something?"

He shook his head.

Linda sat down, stroking Jamie's hair gently like she tended to do when something was bothering Sean or Jack. Jamie was asleep within a few minutes, and she stayed, stroking his hair and hoping it would keep him docile enough to sleep.

The kid needed it.

Keri walked in a little later, looking at Linda and a sleeping Jamie. "Heather said he was having a rough morning," she said quietly.

"Didn't sleep last night," Linda replied, matching her tone.

"Should I come back later with Heather?"

"No," Jamie muttered as he woke up. "I'd rather get washed and dressed so I can nap again before she comes back."

Keri and Linda shared a look.

Jamie sat up with very little grimacing, looking between the two women. "Seriously?" he said. "You guys are gonna do the whole, medical-professional-look-between thing? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Linda said.

"Just not sure how much help you really need," Keri added.

"That's what I told Heather earlier," Jamie said. "But, she didn't want to listen to me."

Linda shook her head. "I'll come back later," she said, walking out.

"I don't think she likes me anymore," she heard Jamie joke as she left.

Linda made her way back in after Keri left, finding Jamie resting in bed. "Sean and Jack back in school?" Jamie asked.

"Not yet," Linda replied. "But, they're at a friend's house for the day."

"And you have nothing better to do than babysit your brother-in-law?"

"Nope." She winked at him.

He snorted slightly as he smiled. "You gonna watch me sleep again?"

"As long as you fall asleep."

He nodded, closing his eyes. "I know what's gonna happen, though. The second I fall asleep, Heather's gonna come in and tell me to get up and walk around the room."

"Well, that's her job, to tell you to walk around and get you stronger."

"She's gonna have me work on the stairs again today."

"You're going home to stairs. You need to know…"

"…how to move around on them," he said with her. "I know, Linda. I've had crutches before."

Linda chuckled. "Why do I feel like Danny was a part in this story?"

Jamie smirked. "Because you know your husband too well."

Linda smiled.

Jamie shifted in bed quietly.

"You doin' okay otherwise?" she asked.

Jamie shrugged. "I'll be better once I get home to my place, but I know that's not gonna happen anytime soon," he remarked.

"No. You should be glad it's Frank and Henry, because Danny wanted to take you back to our place."

"Of course. Built-in babysitter."

She laughed softly. "It had nothing to do with Sean and Jack."

"I know."

Heather made her way in, and Jamie grimaced slightly. "Oh, now come on," she said. "I just walked in."

"Kick his ass for that," Linda said.

Jamie offered a glare toward his sister-in-law. "Traitor," he said.

"It's for your own good. I'll see you later, okay?"

"You're just gonna leave me with her?" Jamie joked.

"You don't cut that out, you're gonna regret it," Heather teased.

Linda simply smirked as she walked out.