After the mess of the Christmas wrapping paper had been cleaned up, Frank and Danny went back into the kitchen to make hot chocolate for everyone. "Need help with the marshmallows?" Sean asked as they began filling mugs.
"Only if you put more in the cup than you eat," Danny laughed, knowing good and well what he was up to.
The Reagans enjoyed their Christmas movie, napping occasionally and genuinely just enjoying being together. "Mr. Uncle Jamie, can we call Ms. Officer Eddie and wish her a happy Christmas?"
"Sure, Cricket," Jamie smiled as he pulled out his cellphone.
"FaceTime," Millie said as she moved his finger and pressed the button.
"Hey Millie!" Eddie chirped when she saw Millie snuggled in the crook of Jamie's arm. "Watcha doing?"
"We just had Christmas."
"Cool. What did you get?"
"A cotton candy machine, an elephant as big as me named Sheldrick, a grey boggan, some clothes, a new nativity, more gymnastics, and a bicycle from Santa and a season pass to the Children's Museum from Mr. Uncle Danny and Mrs. Aunt Linda."
"Wow. That sounds great!"
"And fingernail polish from Nicki. It has sparkles."
"That's awesome, Mil."
"What'd you get?"
"Umm… a new kitchen table and chairs."
"Cool. What'd Mr. Uncle Jamie get you?"
"Not a thing, Millie. Can you believe that?"
Millie shot Jamie a disapproving look. "What? I've been looking for you!" Jamie smiled. "I haven't had time!"
"Don't worry, Ms. Officer Eddie. I'll help him find a good present for you."
"I'm sure you will. Merry Christmas, Mil."
"Merry Christmas, Ms. Officer Eddie."
"Hey," Jamie smiled as he turned the phone toward himself, "I'll call you later."
"Sounds good. Have fun."
"So," Jamie looked to Millie. "What do you think we should get Eddie?"
"A necklace."
"A necklace?"
"Uh huh. Let's get her a locket… and put our picture in it."
Jamie cracked up. "Sounds like a plan. How about you pick it out?" Jamie looked up lockets on Amazon and handed his phone to Millie. "Which one do you like?"
"I like the heart one."
"Good choice," he smiled as he added it to his cart and completed the order. "It should be here Friday."
Millie sat up and looked around, noticing Danny was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Mr. Uncle Danny?"
"He's in the kitchen getting a drink," Linda answered. "He'll be right back."
Millie got up and made her way into the kitchen to find Danny rummaging through the cabinets to find a glass. "Hey you," he smiled. "Want a drink?"
"Sure."
"Good. You need to drink a lot." He handed her a bottle of water. "Did you take your medicine this morning?"
Millie's eyes got big. "I forgot."
"It's ok," he smiled. "We all forgot. Hey Lin!" Linda made her way into the kitchen. "We forgot Mil's meds. How much of this does she take?"
"Oh my, we did forget didn't we?" Linda picked up Millie and sat her on the counter as she got the Amoxicillin out of the refrigerator, shook it up, and filled up the little oral syringe. "Ready?" she asked as Millie made a face.
"Mrs. Aunt Linda," Millie said as she gagged down the pink liquid, "this don't taste like bubble gum."
"No, but this tastes like cheesecake," Danny said as he gave her a bite of the cheesecake on his plate. "Better?" Millie nodded. "Good. Let's go see what the boys are up to, huh?"
Millie jumped on Danny's back for a piggy-back ride back into the living room.
"Dad, Grandpa's in for a game of Risk. Wanna play?"
"Me and Mil will sit and watch… and help out where needed. You do know that game lasts forever?"
"We've got time," Jack smiled, "and me and Sean are finally going to beat Pop."
"Ha!" Henry laughed. "Good luck. I'm the reigning champ for a reason."
"Set it up," Jamie said as he pushed the love seat closer to the coffee table so that he and the boys woudn't have to sit in the floor.
"Mil, you want me to paint your fingernails?" Nicki asked as she sat, painting her own.
"No thank you. I just want to sit with Mr. Uncle Danny." Danny shrugged at Linda as she and Erin went back to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
"So… how are you doing?" Erin asked as she took a seat at the table and Linda sat the coffee pot down on the table in between them.
"I'm ok. How could I not be? We truly got our Christmas miracle. Millie's back."
"And not letting Danny out of her sight."
"Not for a second. I take that as a good sign thought."
"What do you mean?"
"She's been a daddy's girl since day one. If she'd come back terrified to be around him or any of the men, I think we would've known that they did something really horrible to her. I mean, as if you can even compare something as to what they did to her as even more horrible."
"I get what you mean," Erin assured her.
"Who's going to get the case?"
"I talked to the DA. He was leaning toward Tyler Lowe."
"Is he good?"
"He's a shark. He'll go for the max and won't even entertain the thought of a deal."
"Good."
After an entire afternoon of playing Risk, Frank decided everyone could use a breath of fresh air. "Let's go for a snow walk," he suggested. "Everybody bundle up."
"Are you going? Millie whispered to Danny.
"I sure am. Let's go get some fresh air in our lungs. Go grab your boots."
The Reagans all bundled up in their winter weather gear. "Hats, scarves, and mittens on, please," Linda instructed as she passed them out to all the kids. "Nicki, put a hat on that head."
"I have earmuffs."
"Hat, please," she insisted, tossing one to her niece. "Pop, why don't you take your cane in case it's slippery?"
"No thank you, I'll hold on to this pip squeak," he chuckled as he grabbed Jack's arm.
"Where are we going?" Jamie asked as they all took off out the front door.
"Just down and around the block a few times. We're turning into lazy vegetables."
Sean cracked up. "Grandpa if you were a vegetable, what would you be?"
Frank thought for a minute. "A potato."
"Why a potato?" Erin asked, intrigued.
"Potatoes have a lot of eyes. I have 35,000 cops. I have eyes everywhere."
They chuckled. "What about you, Aunt Erin?"
"Easy," Danny answered. "She's an artichoke. Looks like a porcupine."
Erin bent down and packed a snowball before throwing it at Danny's head. Danny cut his eyes around at her. "You really want to do that?"
Erin grinned as Danny picked up his own snowball. "Daniel Fitzgerald, don't you dare."
"Hey," Frank intervened. "Not on the street. We have children. I don't need the grownups running around like fools."
Danny and Erin put a hold on their showdown until they successfully looped the block twice and Frank headed back to the house. The minute they crossed into the Commissioner's front yard and Erin let down her guard, Danny ran and tackled her in the snow. "Hahaha!" he yelled as he shoved a handful in her face. "Take that!"
The minute Erin got to her feet, the chase was on. Danny and Henry slowly backed up on the porch while they kept watch over their insane family, having a wonderful time in the snow. They battled for a few minutes before calling a truce and building a snowman. After that, Linda declared all outdoor activities over. The sun was going down and it was extremely cold. She was convinced the kids lips were turning blue.
"Shake out your clothes and pile them in the mud room," she instructed. "Then get in there by the fire while you all wait your turn for showers. "Nicki, you want to go first?"
"Sure."
Nicki ran upstairs while the boys warmed their hands in front of the fireplace.
"Jack," why don't you run up to my bathroom? And Sean, you can have Pop's."
"Ok, Grandpa," they both agreed as they took off in a dead sprint.
"What about me?" Millie asked.
"As soon as Nicki gets done, you can have the guest bathroom."
"No bath tonight?"
"Afraid not. It'll have to be a shower. There are a lot of us here tonight, so we have to make it quick."
"Ok."
When all the Reagan kids were bathed and once again pajama clad, Henry invited everyone into kitchen for a bowl of chicken stew.
"Uncle Jamie are you going home tomorrow?" Sean asked.
"Yep. If I don't, my neighbors may never give Gunnar back to me."
"So… what are we doing tonight?"
They all looked to Nicki who seemed to be the self-appointed entertainment planner.
"Tonight, we have Reagan family talent show. Start thinking of what you can bring to the table, figuratively speaking of course. Pop, you and me," Nicki smiled in Henry's direction as he gave her a thumbs up.
Millie leaned over to Linda and whispered, "I don't have a talent."
"Don't worry," Linda assured her. "I have an idea."
"Uncle Danny, what are you going to do?"
"It's a surprise," he grinned.
The Reagans sped through dinner and made their way into the livingroom to prepare for the show. "I gotta go find something," Danny said as he ran upstairs. "I'll be right back."
"What are we going to do, Mrs. Aunt Linda?"
"How about we do a puppet show? We can draw some faces on some of Uncle Danny's socks."
After about 30 minutes, the Reagans reconvened in the living room. Frank had appointed himself judge. "Let's go, Danny!" he yelled up the stairs as they all took a seat and got ready for the show to begin. "Coming! I'm going first!"
"What is he doing?" Jack asked curiously as they all waited for him to descend the stairs.
"Close your eyes and NO PEEKING!" he yelled as he made his way to the top of the stairs.
"Ok!" they all called back.
"I mean it!"
He ran down the stairs with boombox in hand, decked out in a white glove, his Michael Jackson jacket, and a black hat. "Ok. Here we go!" He yelled as he cranked up the boombox and began performing as his favorite pop artist. The family doubled over in laughter as he danced his way around the livingroom.
"Yeah… there's no topping that!" they all agreed when Danny finished.
"You mean I won?"
"Absolutely," they all agreed as they tried to stop laughing.
"That was amazing, Uncle Danny," Nicki smiled.
"Ok, well if I did that, the rest of you have to do something," Danny said as he took a seat and removed his white glove.
"We'll go," Sean said as he and Jack got up and did a magic trick. It wasn't great, but it had Linda all sorts of confused/intrigued, so they considered it a definite win.
Nicki and Henry went next and did a stunning rendition of Silent Night. Had this been an actual talent show, they would've blown away the competition. It was absolutely beautiful.
Poor Jamie had to follow with the only thing he could think of, naming all of the presidents in order. He even attempted to do it while singing a rap. It pretty much left them all in hysterics, and Danny making fun of him for being a nerd.
Millie and Linda were the final two, putting on a puppet show. They had converted two pairs of socks into a Frank, Danny, Jamie, and Erin. It was pretty funny.
"Ok," Erin smiled once they finished. "It's getting late. I say we all turn in."
"How about one story from Pop first?" Jack asked.
"Only if you brush your teeth first. Go go go."
The kids ran upstairs and brushed their teeth as the adults settled down with a cup of coffee.
"Don't make it a scary one, Grandpa," Danny said.
"No worries. Already thought of that."
Millie made it back downstairs before the rest of the kids and quickly found Danny. "My tummy hurts."
He looked at her strangely and then to Linda. "Again?"
"Uh huh."
He sat for a minute and thought. "You know, it's probably the medicine they are making you take. Antibiotics hurt my tummy too. Grab that blanket and you can sit with me until it's better." Danny knew good and well it was more than just the antibiotics. Sure, they probably had upset her stomach, but he also knew that the little girl was still a barrel of nerves from the kidnapping. It was still very fresh on her mind and rightfully so. He just had to figure out how to make her feel safe again.
Henry regaled them in stories for half an hour before Frank announced that it was bedtime for everyone. Jack and Sean shared the pallet in front of the fireplace. Nicki took the sofa. Danny made sure Millie was asleep before gently placing her on the loveseat, before all the adults retired upstairs to their old rooms.
"Think they'll be ok down here?" Linda asked as they started toward the staircase.
"No place safer than this house," Jamie assured her.
Danny and Linda shared Danny's old full-sized bed. There wasn't a lot of wiggle room, but Linda didn't mind being wrapped in Danny's arms all night. Much like Millie, she'd missed him.
"Hey Danny?"
"Yeah, Babe."
"What's the plan when we go home?"
"What do you mean?"
"Millie."
Danny waited a beat before answering. "I don't know, Babe. We just gotta figure it out."
Around 6am, Millie woke up, in somewhat of a panic. She knew where she was, but she didn't know where Danny or Linda were. She heard Henry in the kitchen making coffee, but didn't know that it was him and she was too scared to go and look. Shortly after, she heard footsteps on the stairs and popped her head up to see who was coming.
"Good morning," Frank smiled. He looked at her face and could tell she was a bit troubled. "You ok?"
"Where's Mr. Uncle Danny?" she whispered.
"He's still sleeping. Want to come to the kitchen with me and Pop?"
Reluctantly, Millie got up and walked with Frank into the kitchen.
"Hiya, Peanut! Want some juice?" Millie shook her head no. "Want some breakfast?" Again, no.
"Don't worry," Frank said. "They'll be up in a little bit. I bet if we start making breakfast, they'll be up even sooner."
As always, Frank was right. Just as they finished up making the French Toast, everyone in the house was awake and ready for breakfast. The minute Millie saw Danny walk into the kitchen, she leapt into his arms.
"Hey," he grinned as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"I don't like nighttime anymore."
"That's ok." He patted her back as he raised his eyebrows and looked to Frank who just shrugged.
After breakfast, the Reagans all finally packed up and headed back to their respective houses. Danny and Linda were eager to get back to somewhat of a normal routine… even if that was just being in their own house. The two of them had the following week off work and had given Jack and Sean the option of staying out of school to try and help Millie heal, to which they happily obliged.
The first night was a struggle. Finally, after much coaxing from Danny and Linda, Millie was back in her own bed with Phil and Gus, shortly before 10pm... about two hours after her bedtime. They should've known their small victory of getting her into bed wasn't going to last long. Around 3am, Millie woke up from a terrible nightmare of being back at Dino's. It was very real and she was very scared as she sat straight up in bed, screaming. Danny and Linda both jumped to their feet and ran to her room to see what in the world was the matter. The minute Danny turned on the light and sat down on the bed, Millie jumped into his lap and quickly put a death grip on him. "Hey," he whispered as he hugged her tight, "you're safe. Everything is ok. You don't have to be scared." He kissed her in the middle of the forehead. "I've got you."
"Did you have a bad dream?" Linda asked.
"It was dark and I was in there and I couldn't get out. I don't want to never go back there," Millie sobbed.
"Oh Mil, don't worry. You never ever will," Linda assured her as she leaned over and wrapped her arm around the two of them.
"Aunt Linda is right," Danny agreed. "It was just a dream. You're never ever going back there. Ever again. I promise. You want to go get a drink of juice?"
Millie shook her head no as she buried her face in Danny's chest. "My tummy hurts."
Danny looked to Linda. Maybe this was more than just nerves. "How about we go sit downstairs for a little while? Huh?"
"Ok."
"Let's all go," Linda said. "I'll find you a heating pad and maybe that will help your tummy."
The trio made their way downstairs. Danny turned on the television and slowly rocked Millie in his recliner as Linda found a heating pad. "Here," she smiled as she plugged it in and turned it on low. Put this on your tummy and see if it helps.
"You think maybe you're hungry?" Danny asked. "You really didn't eat much today." Millie shook her head no as she held on to him tightly. It didn't take terribly long for her to fall back asleep.
"Finally out?" Linda asked as she saw Danny struggling to slowly get up out of his recliner.
"Yep. Have you made her an appointment with the pediatrician yet?"
"Yeah. She's supposed to go next week. I don't know if we'll be able to get her to go any earlier. It wasn't a very pleasant experience for her last time."
"What do you think about these stomach aches?"
"I don't know. It could be the antibiotics, but it's probably more stress related."
"What are we going to do?"
"Love her. We're going to pour on the love… and I will call the Pediatrician in the morning to see if we can get her appointment moved up. At least it will put our minds at ease and we can go back to just trying to love her through this. Right now though, it's 3:30am and we aren't going to save the world. Let's go back to bed, huh?"
"Ok, Mama."
