Chapter 51
"Morning," a familiar deep voice greeted Erin flatly as she exited the front door of her apartment building already dressed and prepared for court with her brief in one hand and a travel mug of high-octane coffee in the other. For a second her heart stopped, and she just stared back at him bug-eyed like a mouse caught in the kitchen with peanut butter stuck on its whiskers waiting for the giant broom to swat down. All the Reagan siblings knew that tone, and there was little need to wonder what had brought her father here for an apparent confrontation so early in the day. The jig was up and she assumed her little underhanded paper pushing scheme had been exposed in some fashion so the game was over.
Still, she was a Reagan after all and refused to go down without a fight… although given that look on Frank's face maybe the better option was flight at this point.
"Dad, what… what's going on here?" she fluffed nervously anyway as he remained stone-faced in his ever present darkened round sunglasses leaning back up against the SUV dressed in his overcoat and customary three-piece suit with his arms crossed in a clearly assertive and frankly scary fashion. "Is everything okay? I have to go... I'll be late for opening arguments in the Andrews trial," she tried to assuage and made a deliberate hard right at the bottom of the steps intent on avoiding him with a beeline track across the street towards the corner parking garage and her car.
"Walk with me," he demanded as he pushed himself away from the vehicle and deliberately cut off her planned escape path before taking the coffee cup and grabbing her left hand tightly like a child's in a crowded space while he led her down the street as he would have Kaylin.
"Dad, I told you I'm going to be late," she insisted again and tried to tug away once more only to have him increase his grasp as a few passersby raised eyebrows at the sight of a grown woman being guided down the sidewalk by the six-four easily recognizable Police Commissioner as the black SUV trolled behind them to add to her embarrassment. "I'm not eight!" she reminded with a hiss as he made her walk obediently all the way to the corner and wait at the curb for several moments until the flashing "Walk" sign indicated it was safe to cross before carefully checking both ways in an exaggerated fashion and stepping off the curb.
"Well, you could have fooled me," he finally broke his silence once they were safely on the other side as his driver put the lights on to make a showy u-turn in the intersection and continue the apparent slow-speed chase back down the opposite sidewalk. "Must have missed the memo that said you grew up and didn't need someone else leading you around by the hand and pointing you in the right direction because they know better. Keys."
"Dad, come on! Is this really necessary?" she griped red faced as he gripped harder and their little walk-a-bout continued before finally coming to a stop at the garage entrance. "I get it!"
"Keys," he demanded as they stood there at an obvious impasse.
"I have to go to work!" she countered. "This isn't funny!"
"No, it's really not when you're an adult being treated as a child, is it? I'll give you a ride," he insisted. "Detective Nucifero will bring your car. Keys," he demanded for what was undoubtedly the last time.
"Fine," she conceded with a cross look before handing them over and turning to slide into the back seat of the department vehicle. "Third level, to the right."
"100 Center Street, Manhattan," Frank directed his driver after joining her and closing the door.
"All right, just out with it," his daughter added with defeat in a lowered tone as they pulled away from the curb considering there was company in the car. "Give me whatever mind-numbing dead philosopher's quote you have queued up about the failings of being overprotective and tell me what a horrible sister I am for wanting to safeguard my little brother when he can't do that for himself, and I'll say I'm sorry so we can be done."
"Can't do that," Frank admitted as he pursed his lips and took in a deep breath while he sat back. "Couldn't come up with one for this."
"Well, then Hell hath truly frozen over," Erin chuffed insolently as she stared out the window and watched the busy morning street traffic pass by.
"Besides, you're not sorry, and then I'd be in trouble for suborning perjury."
"You're right, I'm not."
"Well you should be," he continued before pausing until they had gone several more blocks. "Did you ever once stop and consider how this was going to come off to them… to Jamie and Eddie? To her it feels like she's not trusted by our family now, and considering the relationships she's had with her parent's growing up, especially her father, that was the worst possible thing you could have done to her. And Jamie… what about him? When he finds out… and believe me he will find out now about what you did, you will have forced him to make a decision between the two women that he loves the most… to support you or her. You'll lose, but not before coming between them and that's not your place. If you felt it was so important then you needed to have a conversation with both and ask if they'd be willing to do it then respect their decision; not play one off the other… that's something you've tried to do all your life, Erin Marie. It's an art form for you, and maybe it's what makes you such a successful ADA, but that's the last thing your brother needs right now… a divided family."
"What he needs? Oh, so you're concerned with that now?" she bit back and stayed on her stubborn track while keeping and even, practiced tone. "Family first, unless it's Jamie and he needs you… then it's be more worried about how it looks to the press or the NYPD and put up as many roadblocks as possible in his way because he's your son."
"Maybe I give him more credit than that... Jamie always lands on his feet," Frank grimaced at that unfortunate choice of words before continuing. "He never needed my help in that way."
"Keep telling yourself that, Dad," Erin shot back as her voice raised an octave with emotion and she looked over quickly with obvious tears welling that she was fighting to hold back. "And maybe think about everything he's already sacrificed for you because of it. Remember you didn't do that for Danny when he got put up for the Medal of Valor or was appointed to Major Case by the Chief of Detectives even after that whole disaster with swirling Donald Banse's head in the toilet in that pedophile kidnapping case back when Jamie was first coming out of the academy. Even my cocky big brother admits he should have been assigned to the motor pool after that. Sounds like you're in as much denial as Eddie is. I have tried talking to her this whole past week since he came back up here… no matter what I said or did to help she shut me down and got offended so I figured I'd do this one thing for him without getting her all overwrought about it, but I guess it came out, anyway. I'm sorry if it upset her and I'll tell her that, but c'mon… even Grandpa sees it. Jamie is not landing on his feet alone this time… he's not going to be able to go back to patrol, and the sooner everyone admits that the better for him because he will literally kill himself trying to live up to what the two of you won't accept. I'm the only one that's putting him first no matter how much it hurts, and for that I will not apologize," she asserted and the pair stayed silent for several blocks. "We're here," she informed as the car pulled up in front of the courthouse.
"You need to make this right," Frank insisted as she opened the door to get out and signaled an end to their conversation.
"So do you," she replied coldly before slamming the door and turning to walk up the steps.
###
"Edit, there's someone at the front door!" Eva called from the confines of her room early Saturday morning with a glance at the alarm clock showing it to be just after six o'clock. "Edit? Were you expecting anyone? Is everything okay with Jamison?" she tried again before grumbling as she retrieved her robe and slippers and made her way out into the hall. A quick peek in the master bedroom revealed Kaylin to be still securely snuggled under the covers on her father's side of the bed while the sound of water running in the bathroom left little doubt that her own daughter was up and already in the shower with the intent of making an early trip up to the hospital to check in on her husband who was still sequestered under sedation, but by all accounts doing as well as could be expected. Henry had spent nearly the whole of the day before watching over his grandson and Eddie had taken over the vigil after work with a short visit from Frank as he picked up his father although there was not much to be done but sit and listen to Jamie breathe. Another firm knock on the front door had Eva scurrying down the steps before it escalated to the doorbell and the noise woke her granddaughter. "Who on earth could be bothering us at this hour?" she griped before pushing aside the small side curtain to peer out through the unleaded glass. "Mr. Wilson!" she exclaimed before punching in the code to disarm the alarm system and undo the lock sets after recognizing Eddie's former full-time partner and now sergeant from the 12th even as he stood before her in worn civilian clothing complete with a ripped flannel jacket and carpenter-pocket blue jeans. "What are you doing here so early? It's Saturday… Edit has the day off," she reminded firmly after opening the door.
"So do we, Mrs. Janko," Wilson smiled as he stood on the porch with a cardboard carton filled with a half dozen fresh coffees and a bag of danishes in his hand before adjusting his tool belt as he was suddenly flanked on either side by Kara Walsh and two other men dressed similarly who were then introduced as Officers Righetti and Reynolds, both also from Eddie's home precinct and apparently ready for an indoor construction project given that their arms were loaded with materials. "But we also have a job to do that might take us a while so we needed to get an early start. Kara here is the chief decorator plus painting detail and these two are my plumbing and tile men."
"Mom! Who are you talking to?" Eddie puzzled as she hurried down the steps dressed in comfortable sweats with her wet hair wrapped in a towel. "Oh! Wilson, Kara? Hey, what are all you guys doing here?"
"We've got a bathroom to remodel before one of our own comes home," Wilson reminded as the little procession made its way inside and crowded the foyer. "Scuttlebutt around the house is that Reagan broke his leg and will be out of commission downstairs here for a little while," he informed knowingly to assure Eddie that he hadn't violated her confidence and revealed any more than that as she had tried hard to keep the true extent of Jamie's injuries quiet. "We all wanted to help out and make things easier on you two, well, three… no three-and-a-half," he finally settled on with a grin and tap of his own belly.
"Oh, you guys… this is really too much... I don't know what to say," Eddie choked up as she looked at people who had become much more than just coworkers in the last few years… they were extended family. "But don't you need plans or permits or something first?" she asked as Righetti and Reynolds busily trekked back and forth from the outside bringing in more supplies and tools. "How did you come up with all this so fast?"
"I got people; all taken care of, we're legal… Just reminded the clerk this is an injured cop we're talking about, and I drew these up this week after work," Wilson assured as he pulled out the detailed diagrams and put them on the counter to show her while everyone else continued with their tasks. "Remember, I've done this a time or two before. Good thing you're just about ready to go. As soon as they unload the truck, Walsh is gonna to take you over to my buddy's tile store on the other side of Prospect Park and he'll set you up with whatever pattern you like. The home center on Shoreline is delivering sheet rock, a new wider pocket interior door and a roll-in shower and wet room kit with a base former to set directly on the joists to make a one level room without having to modify any framing… very cool design. Once we blow out that back wall and utilize the laundry closet space Reagan will be able to wheel into the glass enclosure that keeps the water contained and we'll have handholds there so he can slide himself onto a bench. Reynolds here already has a wall mount sink and toilet in the back of his truck so there's more room to maneuver a chair in there."
"But how did you pay for all this stuff?" Eddie demanded as she gawked at the growing pile including what looked like a state-of-the-art sliding multi-head shower system and became more emotional by the second. "Wilson! C'mon, this has to be expensive!" she added as he pointedly ignored her and turned to start inventorying the items. "And it has like a gazillion comfort settings!" she bawled out while reading the box. "Jamie's just gonna… this was the best thing anyone could've… oh, please let me hug you!" she demanded after stuttering though that as her former full-time partner gave thanks the rest of his volunteer crew were outside at the moment and spared the sight as she wrapped her arms around his neck and latched onto his big shoulder for a cry.
"Aw, cripes, I knew I should have brought more ice cream too," Wilson sighed as he offered a pained look at Eva who was of no help and just stood in her slippers and robe with a hand over her face shaking her head at her daughter's continued hormonal outburst. "I told you, it's taken care of… you know I'll always have your back," was all that he would say at first as he tried to soothe her. "We do for our own. Besides Walsh can be pretty persuasive when she's passing a hat around. She even got twenty bucks out of Dexter, and that's sayin' something. He bought the coffee and doughnuts if that makes you feel better," he smirked and straightened her up at arm's length as she sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "There, now that you've got that out of your system can we get started, Janko? You're gonna make me look like a big softie in front of the guys if you keep this up, so turn off the baby waterworks and go upstairs and get my cutie Kaylin ready to go out for some breakfast. You and your mom shop and pick out the tile with Kara… Tim said you could have anything in stock and he's already got my materials list. Let the men here get to the dirty work. Just make sure that gigantic attack cat of yours is locked up somewhere before he takes one of us down," he begged with a nervous look around that instantly spotted a pair of green iridescent eyes spying on them with intent from the landing. "I told the guys we didn't have to carry in here today. Don't make me regret it."
###
"So Bear stayed in the den all day because they needed to be up and down in the basement, but he wasn't too mad when we let him out. Guess he's getting used to having other people in the house too. Kaylin remembered to move his food and water and everything else he needed in there all on her own. Aren't you proud of her? You should see what a great job they did, Jamie," Eddie offered quietly with a sniff to her sleeping husband later that evening after her planned trip to visit him had been delayed for just cause as the renovations were nearly completed in the promised single-day time frame except for a few things that needed to dry overnight. "It looks like something out of that decorator Houzz app you love to browse through so much, and it'll make things so much easier and safer for you at home. They did it all for you… for us…" she trailed off sadly as the only answer back was the continued soft whoosh of the equipment allowing him to rest deeply and stay oxygenated with less effort. "Kaylin wants to move downstairs so she can use it too… they even let her help spread all that white goopy grout stuff out on the floor while Righetti was doing the tile so she felt like she was helping. She had a blast and got all dirty so it made her feel better to know she was doing it for you. I'll print some pictures you can look at tomorrow once you're awake again. Even Mom was impressed with Wilson's craftsmanship and you know how overly fussy she is with stuff like that. He got a lot of the materials donated and the rest was covered by everyone at the 12th so we didn't have to pay a penny… just some lunch for the guys and Kara that Mom insisted on buying. Wasn't that so nice of them? I still can't believe they did all that. You'll be able to handle almost everything on your own right from the start," she added with relief knowing how important that was for his self-confidence and paused politely for a reply that was not exactly forthcoming. "They all want to see you get better and come home soon."
A small twitch of his hand offered her hope he was on the verge and listening to her, but a closer inspection revealed subtle eye movements that proved otherwise. Jamison Reagan was entranced in one of his dream states and could be anywhere within his mind at this time. Still that was a good sign given their previous experience with sleep deprivation and delusions so she leaned in with a light kiss against his now scruffy cheek and a ruffle of his messy hair before continuing, anyway.
"Tomorrow morning your Dad and Grandpa are coming over after early Mass and we're going to make sure we have everything else we need ordered that Marguerite said you should have, and Danny and the boys are gonna stop by to move a couple of dressers downstairs from the spare room so we can set them up before he has to go to work. I guess Linda's back is still bothering her since your brother hasn't been around much, but by the time you can come home for a few days… maybe next weekend, right?... we should be all ready for you except for a ramp. We were going to rent a temporary one just until you're on your feet again, but Wilson said the Bay Ridge planning commission has all kinds of permits and inspections you need for that first… you know what control freaks they are because it's a historic district... Don't worry though, Mom said she'd take care of it with the company on this week… that kind of stuff is right in her wheelhouse and God help any of those people if they try to deny us. She thinks it would work out best if we put it to the side door by the driveway so you can come into the kitchen from the deck since you won't have to worry about the sidewalks or the step down in the foyer and it will probably get approved easier because it won't be an eyesore for the neighbors," Eddie continued softly to chatter about the everyday issues they were now facing in an effort to make him feel part of it… even if that reality only existed in her own mind at this point. "Almost everyone's been a huge help," she assured with a flippant note of honesty as she recalled that Erin was for the most part now considered unwelcome in their home but continued to visit here, carefully avoiding crossing paths with what Frank had informed her was a now highly irate sister-in-law.
"Everything going okay in here?" Kenzie's newest nurse, Rebecca, the Washington transplant, queried from the doorway as she once again drew the rookie's lot and had been tagged to fill in for Marguerite on her day off now that the more persistent problem-child Quincy had been moved to another wing and was someone else's responsibility to control. "He's been doing really well today," she assured after stepping in to make a check on medication and vitals. "His lung sounds have even improved which the RT was thankful to hear. I know you're anxious to have him back, but this was a good call… to let him rest. He needed it."
"I think so too," Eddie acknowledged even though it hurt to admit that as Jamie's color had come back and the worrisome gauntness around his facial features had diminished a bit, although seeing that NG tube that was responsible for much of the improvement was still disconcerting as he was being fed a high calorie nutrient-rich formula nearly around the clock. "They'll take that out before he wakes up though tomorrow, right?" she worried with a concerned nod to the item. "He won't like it."
"That's the plan, I'm sure," the nurse offered as she hung up another bottle of the white mixture. "Hopefully this just gives him a bit of the boost he needed. I bet once he's able to get around his attitude and appetite will be better. Aaron was in here for half the morning on his day off working on that immobilizer brace Jamie will be using… making sure all the pressure points are away from his injuries," she informed while doing a thorough bandage check of that aforementioned leg which looked thin and vulnerable now propped up on pillows with the bulk of the metal fixator gone even though it was still encased in heavy brown elastic wrap over layers of white cotton padding. "Poor guy was grumbling about needing a degree from MIT to figure it out but it will be all ready for Monday morning so they can get started. I'm gonna put that automatic ice wrap back on," she informed. "Sorry about the added noise, but it doesn't seem to be bothering sleeping beauty though. It's been so quiet in here the last couple of days," she continued while performing the work. "That Quincy's a hoot; he fills up the space."
"Yeah, Jamie's gonna miss his company," Eddie acknowledged sadly although she appreciated the friendly small talk as she considered her husband's apparent new buddy who had moved on without him. "I think he'll be lonely in here with no one else."
"Oh, I have a feeling he'll still get a few visits," Rebecca laughed as it was an unwritten rule now for the nurses to provide some nighttime access for a certain pair of roaming SEALS. "Besides, we have two new patients… Marines… that will be coming onto the ward Monday for scheduled surgery so he won't be that way for too long. Those guys tend to be a bit more rowdy."
"And then after I'm hoping Jamie can come home for a few days," Eddie added optimistically. "At least for Christmas… that's really important for our little girl. She misses her daddy... he can't be away from her for that, she's only three," she insisted and considered that the holiday was looming close as it fell on Sunday the next weekend and she had failed to finish any of their shopping or other preparations. Perhaps it was time to delegate something else, she considered as the week was already full with trying to prep the home for his return and that OB appointment scheduled for Wednesday. Whatever... the best present they possibly could have was if Jamie could be with them.
"Well, I'll pray all this is working and that test Dr. Kenzie intends for him tomorrow after lunch will have positive results," Rebecca added with a sincere smile as she finished by reviewing his online chart. "He's due to be back in here around fourteen hundred hours if you'd like to be present then so she'll be able to review the results with you. The rest of his morning is filled with PT and directed care from William while he's still asleep… we want to do a thorough job of cleaning and debriding all the surgical sites and changing the dressings on his leg which is a complicated process for now. Better for him if he snoozes through that when possible."
"I'll be here," Eddie promised out loud as a glance at the clock showed the hour was growing late and it was the required time to leave. "Good night. I love you lambchop… sleep well. Don't worry, you'll be better in the morning," she quoted Quincy's apparent favorite song since his nightly serenade was now missing and sealed her goodbye with a kiss on Jamie's forehead before making the long and now familiar nightly trek back to Bay Ridge alone.
Hmm, so maybe Frank got schooled a little at the end there by his own daughter, which was a surprise to me as well since that was not the exact intent when I started to write that bit… can't control where the mind wanders when it hears voices sometimes, lol. For the reviewers expressing concern over the length/involvement of other characters in this installment—no worries if it's not for you. It is slower and a bit different than the previous "werks" but I am enjoying the journey and interaction with a few other authors as it's being constructed and since I write these as an outlet to keep my brain busy, it checks that box for me.
So, back to the story, Erin and her father remain at odds over the way the family should handle the situation and she might even have an "I told you so" or two to offer a little further down the road. Next, Danny is targeted with another one of those odd coincidences that will have his mind wandering back to the events from the Blue Templar era once more, and Jamie tries to emerge from his little extended nap during one of his infamous little vivid dreams, but is he ready to face the next series of painful challenges ahead?
