Chapter Twenty Six

Frank gently but quickly wrapped an arm around Molly and rubbed her arm up and down in a soothing motion. "It's okay, honey. You listen to me, you are not a failure to Joe in anyway. You are a supportive, loving wife and we are lucky to have you in our family. Children will come to you when God wants them to come and not before that time. Did you know the reason there is such a big age difference between Jamie and Danny?"

"Joe and Erin?" Molly sniffled. "Joseph said that his Dad was a surprise, he was unplanned."

"He was a surprise, but that was after we tried for a long time to complete our family after Joe was born. We had given up on a fourth child when we finally found out about Jamie after years of trying."

Molly smiled, "I need Joseph, I can't lose him." Molly wiped her eyes she heard Joey and Jamie on the steps.

"Molly, you ready to go honey?" Joey asked. "We're going to have dessert at rehab, my mom insists she's fine."

Molly smiled, "Of course, let me pack up the trifle to go there. Papa Frank, are you coming?"

"No, I think I'll sit down here and if Eddie needs anything," Frank replied. "Do you think she'll lie down here on the couch so I can keep an eye on her?"

"She's already getting her quilt, she wants to rest on the sofa," Jamie replied. "I'm going to bring her down, Joey, help Aunt Erin and Aunt Danielle pack up the car."

Joey put his arm around Molly and kissed the side of her head, "How about when we get home tonight, you slip on the pretty white nightie and we can pick up where we left off on Thursday?"

Molly smiled, "Well the reason for Thursday has passed but…I think I can do that."

Joey stopped, it hadn't even occurred to him. "Oh Molly, I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry…" Joey held Molly close to him.

"It's all right," Molly replied. "Ye have your work. Let's get ready to see Danny, maybe they have Lizzy there."

Joey smiled, his Molly was such a good woman. Smart, loving, and little Lizzy loved her. "Come on, time to go."

Joey was going to drive everyone over to the hospital to see Danny. He hoped that his uncle would be calmer and not press him on the investigation into Mr Parsons death. He was no where with it, it was a natural death, Joe was certain but to say that set Danny into a tailspin.

Jamie helped Eddie settle on the couch with her feet up at her insistence. "You have to rest, babe," Jamie told Eddie. "I want you to stay lying down with your feet up until I get home. My phone is on if you need anything, do you want something over you? A blanket?"

Eddie sighed, "Yes, a blanket would be nice. You are fussing again."

Jamie saw the change in Eddie's legs in just a few minutes. She was retaining a lot of fluid. He'd mention it to Danielle.

Jamie hesitated. "We'll be fine, Jamie. Don't worry lamb chop. Tell Danny we send our best wishes and we'll come see him tomorrow or the day after."

Jamie smiled and leaned down to place a kiss on his wife's lips. "Love you, see you later, Dad. Take care of her for me."

Frank nodded, "We'll watch the TV." Frank got up and moved so he was on the sofa and his oxygen was plugged into the wall. He put Eddie's legs on his lap with two pillows under them. "There, now that will drain that nasty fluid and you're legs won't hurt you so much. I know about swelled up legs, with the COPD…"

Eddie smiled and shut her eyes to rest.

Jamie stepped outside, "Joe, son, can you handle this with everyone? I don't want to leave your mother, I just don't feel right. I'm going to run and get her some soup and her favorite chocolates and a few films while she's sleeping with Grandpa. Tell your uncle that I'll come see him tomorrow or the next day when Mom is back on her feet. Make sure that you stay on that and Jack, and don't let him get in trouble."

"Uncle Danny is synonymous with trouble, Dad," Joey replied. "Is she really that bad? She just seems sleepy?"

"There are things I don't like, but that's not it. Take a lesson Joe, don't take your wife for granted. I learned that lesson the hard way and your Molly is if nothing else and excellent partner for you. Work's been a little hectic, you have a new partner, don't forget to make your wife feel special."

Joey looked over at Molly, "I plan to do just that. I have this, let me know if you need help with Mom."

Jamie watched Joey pull out of the driveway, Danielle followed heading to her office. Jamie got into his own vehicle and went out in search of provisions for his wife.

Eddie slept under Frank's watchful eye while Jamie purchased soup, some juice, her favorite chocolate covered cranberries, and several movies from the machine at the gas station.

Jamie shifted to balance the hot soup against his body. He held it along with a bag of Eddie's other favorite things in his stronger hand and used his weaker one to push the door opened. He used his weaker leg to kick the door closed before he stepped into the living room.

Jamie entered the living room and saw Eddie and Frank had been in deep conversation before they heard the door.

"Jamie, you're back. I thought you were going to see your brother," Frank popped up in surprise to his Jamie back so soon.

"I thought about it but with Eddie feeling so sick, I don't want to be so far away. I think this is the perfect time for us to have some alone time if you feel like that, sweetie?"

Eddie's pale face lit up at the thought of time alone with Jamie. She carefully stood up and held onto Jamie's arm. "Dad, Danielle is coming back in a little bit to give Eddie some meds, can you wait for Lila to do your bedtime?"

"Yes, I want to watch this here new program. You take care of your wife." Frank was so proud of the choice Jamie made.

Eddie held onto Jamie for strength as they headed up the steps to their bedroom. From his spot on the couch, Frank watched his son and daughter head up to their room, there was never a doubt in his mind of their love. He always knew they were perfect for each other, time had not diminished that.

When Eddie settled down on the bed, Jamie handed her the container of soup. She smiled and liftd the lid of inhaling the aroma. "You went all the way to Elbaum's just to get me chicken vegetable?"

"Of course, and I have chocolate cranberries and a few Bogart films. We don't know what's wrong yet but I do know that we are going to take it on together. I want you to eat at least a little, let's put your feet up…"

Jamie elevated Eddie's legs and poured a little broth off the top for her to drink. "Remember the first time I brought you this soup in particular. You were so sick, you'd been out of work for weeks. We had just started to see each other as a couple…"

Jamie let himself into Eddie's apartment. They had long since had keys to one another's domiciles. Jamie could hear Eddie coughing, a wet cough accompanied by a wheeze. "Eddie, you in bed?"

Jamie's question received a hacking cough response from the bedroom where Eddie had been cooped up since getting sick. Eddie had her covers tossed about carelessly, as she tossed and turned trying to find a comfortable position.

Jamie grabbed two extra pillows and propped them behind his girlfriend's back. "Hey pretty girl," Jamie whispered kissing Eddie's feverish cheek. "I have in this back the absolute best non homemade chicken soup, guaranteed to cure what ails you."

Eddie gave Jamie a weak smile and leaned back against the headboard. "Thanks, lamb chop," she wheezed, a coughing fit forcing her to stop midsentence and her entire body to shake.

"Here…" Jamie held a cup of water then reached into his bag for a ceramic bowl. The stench caused Eddie's eyes to water. "My Pop swears this will help, come on…let me rub it on your chest and back."

"I trust him Jamie but that stuff smells worse than that perp we collared a few weeks ago." Eddie turned her face away to avoid the smell. It was bad enough to be unable to breathe and freezing cold, but to have that on her body too.

Still, Jamie pushed on. He carefully unbuttoned Eddie's nightshirt revealing to his sight her smooth skin. "It will help you breath, I promise. You're so sick, I'm worried about you. Please wear it, I'll stay right by your side, we'll smell it together."

Eddie sighed and immediately regretted it as she launched into another cough. Eddie turned her back to Jamie, "All right, promise you will stay?" Eddie hated the odor but if Jamie said it helped she believed him.

"I promise, you won't spend a sick day alone again," Jamie whispered. "I'm going to take care of you Eddie. Always…"

Jamie kissed his wife's nose. "I kept that promise pretty good too, at least I hope I did."

"You have been great, Jamie," Eddie replied. "The only person I could truly depend on each and every day and I appreciate having you by my side." Eddie and Jamie both smiled and exchanged a soft kiss. They both new how lucky they were.

Danielle returned after Eddie ate her soup, "The lab will be here first thing to take the samples, for now let's get some medication on board and keep hydrated." Danielle injected the medication into Eddie's arm.

Eddie relaxed into sleep a few minutes after the medicine, Danielle nodded to Jamie to step outside. "I don't like the swelling but her pressure is better. I'm pretty sure the tests will show nephritis or cystitis. Keep her hydrated though the night, if we are dealing with her kidneys she'll start to have back and leg cramps, they can be very painful but it's normal. The more she drinks, the better provided the fluid is properly circulated. Based on what I see, there is no cardiac involvement."

Jamie sighed, "So she's real sick again, hospital?"

"Hopefully not, let's see the tests before we panic. Normally, I wouldn't be this cautious but she was in renal failure less than a year ago. If the test say it's her kidneys she needs to get in with her specialist asap. I'll arrange for the emergency visit myself."

"Thank you Danielle. If you need help with Dad, Lila will be home soon. I want to stay close to Eddie."

"Of course," Danielle replied. "I'll see to Dad and sleep in Joey's old room if that is okay?"

"That's fine,' Jamie replied. "I'm glad you are here. I'm going to sit up and worry but if she does anything I'm glad…"

Danielle covered Jamie's hand, "She's strong, she will be fine. Hydrated, comfortable, and quiet until we know more."

Jamie smiled and headed back into the bedroom. He took the book, another mystery, Eddie was reading and found her place in the book. Jamie took a sip of his own water and began to read, knowing the sound of Eddie's voice was the best medicine for him when he felt ill. He knew that she felt the same way, until she was well he would do all he could to pass the time making sure she had everything she needed, mostly important of all making sure she knew she had his love.

A/N: I don't have many notes today except for thanking everyone once again for their loyalty. This story is well on it's way to being the most reviewed and most red of all of my stories at this rate. I appreciate it! To my Danny fans, I did not forget about our ace detective, he'll be back very soon…might have some more brother action too.

Next Update – April 10th – Frank shares some sentiments with Lila, Danielle and Jamie bond over Eddie.