The siblings continued to sit in silence, as Madelyn waited to be called out for her drunken admissions. She was too stubborn to start the conversation, even though it would get it over with quicker. When Danny gave her his classic eyebrow raise, she sighed, deflated, and rolled her eyes. Ugh. Well…nope just ugh.
"I take it you two are worried about me." A statement, not a question.
Danny huffed. "That kind of genius what you went to grad school for?"
Make it harder, please. "We don't have to talk, Danny. I'm fine forgetting it."
"Okay, okay relax both of you," Jamie interrupted, "Yes, we're worried about you. We didn't know you were still having nightmares."
Madelyn's eyes shut briefly as she sunk into the couch, slightly embarrassed. I really thought we were just going to talk about the phone call. I hoped.
Deciding to give a little and hopefully move on, Madelyn started, "I don't really, not anymore," she responded, "it's only every once in a while." Mostly. And they make me think I saw…ugh nevermind. I was knocked out. I didn't. I couldn't have.
Danny studied her, only partially believing what he was hearing. "Still about the fire?"
Jamie noticed Madelyn start to squeeze and release her hands, a sure sign she was getting frustrated or scared.
"Yeah, most of the time," she paused and then looked both of her brothers in the eyes. "Look, I get it, work has been rough lately and it's bringing up a lot for me clearly. I promise, I'm ok and I'm doing better."
After a pause, "Ok, we'll take your word for it," Jamie said, trying to diffuse a situation that had yet to start. "It's just hard for us to see you like that, you know? You're our kid sister, it's our job to look out for you."
They were never this sappy before Joe.
"I'm ok," She says with a reassuring smile, nudging him with her elbow . "Listen, you both have cases that get to you, I've seen it. I don't come barging in every time. Trust that if I need to talk, I'll come to one of you." Hope they can't tell my fingers are crossed.
"Alright, kid. We can leave it at that. Chick flick moment over? I want to hear more about the models."
Madelyn face palmed her forehead. "Is it because you're interested in a career change, Danny? I know a guy who could hook you up."
All he did was wink at her.
The next week at Sunday dinner, the battle lines were drawn before dinner had even started. Madelyn had talked with Erin a few days before, and apparently her office was "doing their damn job and upholding the law" which stopped Danny from going after a career gang criminal with the vengeance he had hoped. Erin had made a statement to the press that hinted negatively at the police. And boy had that not gone over well. The perks of being uninvolved and the youngest. Erin brought me wine to sit and discuss it, and then Danny brought pizza to my apartment to complain.
Madelyn strategically placed herself between Nicky and Sean, praying that sitting between the kids would keep her out of the fight…while still giving her a good view of it.
Dinner was going well, until Jack asked about the case because he had seen it on the news.
"Well, the main guy, Gino, did a lot of bad things and me and Baez caught him, finally," Danny said, avoiding eye contact with Erin.
"That means he's going to jail, right Dad?"
Madelyn had to fake cough into her hand to avoid laughing outwardly. She knew the situation was no laughing matter, especially because her sister's press conference offended half of her family. But, I can't help it. Jack is so innocent and now it's going to go DOWN.
Jamie elbowed her in the side, telling her she didn't hide her laugh well and to shut up simultaneously.
"He might go to jail, Jack. But there needs to be more evidence before my office can support any moves forward. We're hoping the police can get that for us," Erin piped in sternly, but also hoping to avoid conflict.
Danny actually agreed with her, and at that point, he wasn't steaming because of the case. He had thought a lot about it, and realized maybe…maybe his sister was right. But then she did the press conference and that riled him back up. Damn kid sister and her damn job and her thinking the police are the problem. PLEASE.
"We may need to find more evidence, but it would be nice to have a little support from the DA's office, ya know? Can we really work together if they think we're unethical scumbags?"
And…..here we go.
While Erin and Danny bickered back and forth, Madelyn turned to Nicky.
"How's school going, Nick?"
Nick turned to her aunt, happy to ignore her Mom and uncle fighting. "It's good, I guess. It's getting busier because we have tests right before Thanksgiving."
Madelyn nodded, spooning more mashed potatoes onto her plate. "You'll be good though. You study hard."
Nicky rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because Mom never lets me take a break."
Madelyn leaned closer to Nicky and whispered. "Listen, your mom may be tough now, but when she was your age, let's just say she spent a lot of time at Bobby Pullman's house instead of studying." Erin's the reason Mom and I had to have "the talk." Thanks for that, sis.
Nicky's eyes widened as she yelled, "Mom!" Madelyn elbowed her gently in the stomach. A lot of elbows being thrown tonight.
Erin froze in her argument with Danny and turned to her daughter and sister. "What?"
"N-nothing. Nevermind. Keep arguing. Yay law, bad police. Don't stop on my account."
Erin eyed her daughter suspiciously then turned back to her conversation, while Madelyn nearly spit out her drink.
"Yay law, bad police? Yikes."
"I'm sorry that I'm making you do your job, Danny, but it's my job to uphold the law and make sure people aren't taking advantaged of it!" Erin yelled. No ignoring it now.
"Oh, even if it means sparing a serial rapist with a rap sheet a mile long? Give me a break, Erin. This is about you trying to be better than everyone else on your high horse. Newsflash, you're letting this guy go. If he hurts someone else, that's on you," Danny replied, angrily.
Without another word, Erin threw her napkin down on the table, stood up, and walked into the living room. That, and Linda slapped Danny upside the head, causing her sons to laugh.
After a pause, Frank piped in, "Danny, go talk to your sister, please. We're not ending a Sunday on this note."
"Even if she dumped on the police to the whole city?"
Frank took a deep breath. "Even then, son, yes."
With a huff, Danny got up and headed to the living room for what would no doubt be another riveting round of conversation.
"Madelyn," Frank said, turning the family's attention elsewhere. "I heard you made some new friends. Someone named Tommy?"
Ok, seriously? Someone pull the fire alarm and get me the heck out of here. Dammit Jamie.
Madelyn whipped her head towards her brother, lips thinned into a grimace. "Ugh, Jamie! You're the worst."
Jamie smiled easily, leaning back in his chair a bit. "What? It's not public knowledge?"
With the inclination to slap him upside the head like Linda had Danny, Madelyn glared at him then looked to her father.
"Bea took me out with some friends of hers who happened to be models and one of them is named Tommy. He's a really nice guy and no, before any of you chime in, he's just a friend."
Pop laughed from the end of the table. "That's good. Can you imagine – our Madelyn dating a male model?"
"At least he wouldn't be a Firefighter," Jamie chimed in, still satisfied with himself that he had messed with his kid sister.
"What's this about a Firefighter?" Danny asked, re-entering the room, followed by Erin.
"Oh you know, just talking about my side piece lover."
Danny rolled his eyes as both he and Erin took their seats.
"Was Bobby Pullman a firefighter?" Nicky asked, with Oscar-worthy innocence, shooting Madelyn a quick wink.
Madelyn nearly spit her wine across the table again as she started laughing hysterically. God, I love that kid.