CH. 10: I have a baby, and I'm not afraid to use her
With Mary and Frank home again, things were beginning to return to business as usual. They had just finished with breakfast, when Mary returned to the list of chores she started on for her slob sons. She was sitting on the sofa and leaning over to use the side table as a desk, when she remembered everything she bought for Devon while she was away. "Where is the sack with the things I got for Devon?" Mary asked, looking over at Frank who unloaded the suitcases.
"What sack was it in?" Frank didn't remember seeing it.
"White," Mary remembered.
"It must still be in the car," Frank figured, thinking he may have left it in the backseat.
"Frank, you were supposed unload the car, while I made sure there wasn't any serious damage inside the house," Mary reminded him.
"Hey," Danny protested, knowing she thought he and Jamie tried burning the house down or something awful along those lines.
"Stay out of it Daniel," Mary glanced at him, fire burning in her eyes.
"Time to go find Uncle Jamie, Devon," Danny picked his daughter up out of the bassinet, before turning the bili-light off, and heading for the stairs and over to his brother's room. "Hey little brother," Danny didn't even bother to knock before walking in.
"What do you want Danny?" Jamie replied upset, sprawled out on his bed. "I'm really not in the mood to do a lot of talking."
"Dad get to you?" Danny recognized his brother's painful expression.
"How did you figure that one out?" Jamie said sarcastically.
"Your usually not so depressed," Danny noticed. Knowing that his brother was normally in a good mood. He was good in school, sports, and he knew what he wanted to do with his life.
"What else have you figured out Sherlock?" Jamie's mood, was obviously not in the norm.
"Give me this one kid, I'm working on my detective skills," Danny took a seat on the edge of the bed, appearing as if he was looking forward to going on and on, and showing off his growing form of knowledge in the criminal justice system. "But for one, you normally always have your phone with you. And you don't," Danny pointed at him with his free hand. "Your stereo's missing, your basketballs gone, and half the other stuff you had in here yesterday is gone too."
"What's your conclusion Detective?" Jamie said sarcastically.
"Based on your missing items, Dad took them. And based on the caged animal look you have in your eye. He grounded you for two months." Danny was able to easily interpret.
"I can't believe it. I can't go anywhere but church and school, unless I'm with him, mom, you or Erin," Jamie started to pout.
"Not Joe?" Danny sounded surprised.
"He thinks I'll have too much fun if I go somewhere with Joe," he grumbled.
"He's probably right," Danny muttered under his breath.
"Not you too Danny, please? I'm miserable enough without you agreeing with him." Jamie stood, and walked over to the window to peer out, feeling as if he was in lockdown.
"I know this isn't going to help matters," Danny decided to change the subject, knowing how his brother felt from past experiences. "But look at this list of chores mom wants us to do," Danny handed his brother the list, dreading the fact that they had to spend the day cleaning. Then again, it wasn't like he had a choice. This was his parent's house, and he agreed not to live like a slob while there, and he did after all need a clean environment for his daughter to live in. Even if his parent's house, never could be classified as a messy environment, at least not compared to some of the homes he was forced to go into and remove children from, because of drugs, alcohol, neglect, and other disgusting things a child could come in contact with.
"When do we have to do this?" Jamie asked, before getting too involved in the list.
"Today," Danny mumbled.
"I can't," Jamie shrugged. "Another part of my punishment is, I have to stay in my room all day today and tomorrow. I can only go out for bathroom, meal times and mass." Thinking that getting out of cleaning, was the only enjoyable part of the whole punishment.
"I'll talk to dad, because there's no way I can do the laundry, dishes, sweep, mop, vacuum, and countless other things," Danny shoved the list in his shirt pocket. "At least not on my own with Linda coming to check on Devon again."
"I have an idea," Jamie brightened. "Let's not tell mom and dad about Devon having an accident on their sheets. That way it lessens one load of laundry," Jamie suggested, grinning at his older brother, thinking his idea was beyond brilliant.
"And what do you suggest we do when they find out?" Danny rubbed his chin, as if he was about to get started on a long, lengthy lecture. "Because they are mom and dad and they always find out."
"I haven't gotten that far yet with my brilliant idea," Jamie admitted, slumping back on the bed.
"Give your brain a break, and stop while your ahead," Danny said sarcastically. "Unless you want mom and dad to go to bed and then wake everyone in the whole neighborhood yelling at us because their bed smells like urine."
"When you put it like that, it doesn't sound like such a good idea," Jamie admitted, appearing as if he was on the brink of coming up with a new plan.
"That's because it's not you idiot," Danny whacked him in the back of the head. Jamie started to go after him, but Danny stopped him. "I have a baby and I'm not afraid to use her," Danny held the baby out towards him.
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Danny retuned the down the stairs, when he figured a safe enough time elapsed between his parents, and his mother wouldn't be glaring at him anymore. "Hey Dad," Danny approached his father carefully. "You have to let Jamie out of his room."
"Oh really," Frank crossed his arms over his chest. "And please tell me why, me, my sons father cannot discipline him the way I deem appropriate when he does something wrong?"
Danny, who was trying not to appear nervous at his father's glare and stature, walked over to the bassinet, and turned the light back on, before placing Devon inside. "You are going to want to leave the room," Danny looked at his father, before heading in the kitchen and getting started on his explanation.
"What for?" Frank, sounded confused, before following his son into the other room.
"Because she has colic, and is only happy when I'm holding and walking her up and down the house. I've been doing it for two whole days." Danny was by no means exaggerating, and he knew that if he was going to talk to his father, it was going to have to be away from his screaming daughter. "Not to mention, she always starts to frown before a full-fledged cry comes, and that's what she was starting to do when I laid her down. She absolutely hates jaundice, and I agree with her. Especially since I'm the one that has to listen to her."
"And what does Devon have to do with your brother in trouble?" Frank was in a hurry, so he could go by the precinct and check on things, considering he had been away for so many days.
"Mom wants." Danny just started to say before Mary interrupted him.
"What does Mom want?" Mary had a feeling he was trying to get out of the house cleaning.
By now, with both his parents glaring at him, he was even more nervous, then before. And for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. "I was just trying to tell Dad, that you wanted me and Jamie to clean the house. But Jamie isn't allowed to leave his room," Danny posed the problem.
"Frank," Mary looked at her husband annoyed.
"I didn't know you wanted them to clean the house?" Frank tried picking up for himself. He didn't know why his wife was getting so upset, she was fine just before they got home. Then again, by the looks of the house, he was beginning to grasp her frustrations. Knowing how much his wife hated a disorganized house.
"Next time discuss his punishment with me, before you actually give it to him. This house is a mess, and he's part of the reason."
"In my defense," Danny interrupted. "It has been a little crazy around here the past few days. My newborn has colic and jaundice, and a nurse has to come by every day to check on her. And on top of that, Jamie got hurt."
"Didn't I teach you better than to interrupt your mother, boy!" Mary focused her complete attention, on her eldest.
"Mom, I," Danny started to explain for his reasoning.
"Get out of here, so I can talk to your father alone!" Mary was completely ignoring his attempts to get her to listen to him.
"But Mom?" Danny tried again, for about the third time in a row.
"Your still not too old for me to take my wooden spoon to you." Mary warned, pointing a finger at him.
"Dad?!" Danny looked at his father for help.
"You might want to listen to her," Frank said just above a whisper. "She's fuming right now, and at this point, I don't think, even I could stop her," he admitted.
"Fine," Danny mumbled, giving up, before walking back into the living to listen to his daughter scream once again. "Just when I think, I'm all grown up, and I don't have to listen to my parents, they prove me wrong. AGAIN." Danny threw his hands up frustrated. "Devon," Danny peered over the side of the bassinet. Devon stopped fussing for a brief moment, looking up at her Daddy when he started talking to her. "Daddy promises, that once you grow up. He won't tell you what to do anymore." Devon let out another cry, and Danny laughed. "Yeah, your probably right. I don't believe me either," Danny shook his head. "Good luck, kid." Danny picked her up, and after a few seconds of getting her settled, the cries ceased.
"Your mother and I discussed it, and have decided that cleaning can be seen as a punishment," Frank enlightened him, as he and Mary walked into the room. "So, your brother can come out of his room to work."
"If cleaning is a punishment," Danny looked at his father confused. "Then why do I have to do it. I'm not a kid, and I didn't do anything wrong," Danny had a point.
"You, young man is going to do exactly as we say. No ifs, ands or buts!" Mary said firmly, interrupting before her husband had a chance to reply. "You agreed, that you wouldn't live like a slob while living here, and I'm not about to let you go back on your word, boy." Mary was doing such a fine job at laying down the law, that all Frank could do was stand back, and watch his wife go after their son.
"One quick question," Danny held up his index finger. "Would you still say young man, even if I was an old man?" Danny couldn't help but grin.
"Daniel!" Mary said reaching for him.
"Careful, I have a baby and I'm not afraid to use her." Danny grinned mischievously, holding his infant out in front of him. Mary huffed, walking away, vying that she would get him back one day soon, knowing he couldn't hold the baby forever.
"She's going to kill you one of these days, boy," Frank warned, shaking his head, although he had to admit that what his son said was funny. Yet, he also knew his wife, and he had a feeling, she would come out the winner. Danny might be tough, but Mary was tougher.
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"Come help me clean the house," Danny poked his head, in his brother's room.
"But Dad said," Jamie started to remind him.
"I talked to Dad, and you can come out to clean," Danny burst his bubble.
"I wish you wouldn't have," Jamie grumbled, knowing that being forced to stay in a room with nothing in it, was better than cleaning the toilet.
"Just come on, so we can get this over with," Danny grabbed his brother by the shirt and drug him over to the laundry room, where the cleaning supplies were stored.
"What all do we have to clean?" Jamie wasn't sure which supplies he needed to pull out of the cabinet.
"Everything," Danny started a load of dirty baby clothes in the wash machine.
"Everything!" Jamie repeated, only with a great deal more exuberance.
"Yes," Danny was annoyed. "Now get started, I have to go change my daughter before Linda gets here."
"What! Danny! You are not leaving me to clean this whole house just because the nurse, you have the hots for is coming over!" Jamie sounded angry with his to think that the only reason his brother spoke to his dad on his behalf, was for slave labor.
Danny took a deep breath and glared at his brother. "I don't have the hots for Linda. And before you say anything further, I suggest you think long and hard. Because Dad left for the precinct, and he isn't here to keep me from killing you."
"Sorry," Jamie grumbled again, before slipping past his brother with the bathroom cleaner.
Danny was just about through cleaning the kitchen, when Mary came in, an empty bottle in hand. "I just gave Devon a bottle, and she's asleep."
"Good," Danny started to wash up the bottle. "I want her to be in as good a mood a colicky baby can be in when Linda comes by to check her jaundice level."
"Linda," Mary repeated the name aloud, thinking. "Isn't that the pretty nurse from the hospital, that helped us with Devon that first time?"
"That's the one," Danny answered. "She was at the hospital, when I took Jamie in. She works part time at the pediatrician's office that Devon goes to, so she's been coming over every day to check Devon's jaundice level."
"Have you thought about asking her out?" Mary pried.
"Not you to Mom, please? I've heard it from Joe and Jamie, and I really don't need to hear it from my own mother." Danny was too tired of dealing with the same questions that he got from his siblings all the time, and he wasn't by any means, interested in hearing them from his mother.
"All I'm saying," Mary tried to explain her question.
"I have a baby mom; no woman is going to be interested in getting involved with a man with a newborn baby and who works a dangerous job at that." Danny ignored her, before beginning to put the dishes away in their appropriate places.
"I married your father, and he has a dangerous job," Mary wasn't trying to tell him who he should date, but she did have a point.
"Yes, but Dad wasn't raising me on his own." Danny said pointedly.
"I would have married him anyways, he's handsome, and you were just the cutest baby," Mary pinched his cheek.
"Augh Mom," Danny didn't like thinking of his parents as a couple, it was too nauseating, and he was afraid he was going to throw up all over his clean dishes. And he especially didn't like, her pinching his cheek.
"Well you were," Mary added. She appeared as if she was on the verge of saying more, but Danny walked out of the kitchen, to get started on another chore. He was just about to head up the stairs, to put clean sheets on his parent's bed, when there was a knock at the door.
"Hi Danny, how's Devon doing today?" Linda greeted cheerfully, as Danny stepped aside, so she could come in.
"The colic is still there, but her color looks good," Danny led Linda over to the bassinet, where Devon was sleeping, and laying under the lights.
"She does look better," Linda smiled, looking at Danny.
"She and I will both be thrilled, when she doesn't have to deal with this anymore. And mom will be thrilled when this light can go back, and her living room can go back to normal." Danny didn't want it to sound like he dreaded Linda coming by, in fact it was quite the opposite. But he had to admit, he hated his little girl having to go through something she hated so much.
"I'm sure your credit card will be too. With the rental fees you've had to pay for it," normally Linda wouldn't have said something like that to a client. But Danny was different. Danny would take it as a joke, and laugh about it. Oh, how she enjoyed spending time with him, even if it was for just a few minutes, while she tended to his daughter. Augh, Linda had to clear her thoughts. She couldn't get involved with someone right now, she was too busy trying to get her life together, and the last thing she wanted to do was get in a relationship, considering her last relationship didn't end well, and she didn't think she was in the position to put her herself out there, and risk her heart getting broke again.
"You are right about that," Danny laughed, just as Mary walked in.
"Linda, you remember my mother Mary," Danny gestured at his mother.
"Mrs. Reagan, how are you? Did you enjoy your trip?" Linda greeted, just as cheerfully as she did, when she questioned Danny about Devon.
"It was very nice, I got to relax and shop for Devon," Mary said with a smile, holding the bag of baby things she bought, preparing to go through them, and wash what needed to be washed.
"Are you in a hurry?" Danny asked looking at Linda. "She hasn't been sleeping for very long, but I can wake her up if you need me to," Danny didn't wasn't to cause her any inconvenience, yet at the same time, he didn't wake up his daughter, knowing the colicky cry would return.
"I have a few minutes," Linda took the seat on the sofa, that was offered to her.
Mary took a seat next to her, and started to show the young nurse all the new baby clothes she bought for her granddaughter. Danny, who was sitting in the arm chair not very far away, was then subject to choruses of 'Oh that's so cute. And that matches perfectly with the pink onesie.' "We are planning to take her, for her newborn pictures soon. And I was thinking she could wear this." Mary held up a little red dress, with bloomers. Along with a small red baby headband.
"She isn't going to like that headband," Danny could only imagine the amount of tears that were going to be streaming down his baby's face.
"She might tolerate it for a few minutes," Mary said hopefully.
"From what I could tell by looking at her, her jaundice is starting to clear up, so at least she won't be yellow for her pictures. But I won't be able to tell for sure until the blood test," Linda said hopefully.
"Do you think I should wait to get her pictures done, until the colic goes away?" Danny, who wasn't paying all that much attention to the women's conversation voiced the question.
"Danny," Linda said carefully. "Do you know how long a baby can have colic?"
"No," Danny shook his head. "I've never had kids before."
"Let me put it to you this way then. You may never get baby pictures if you don't do it." Linda tried breaking the news, as gently as possible.
"Are you serious?" Danny looked worried, thinking of all the lost sleep he was going to get, along with the hearing he was going to lose, when he had to listen to her screams when he put her down or did something she didn't like.
"There's really no given time, when it may subside. Sometimes, they just have to outgrow it." Linda really hated to give the young father such news, but she figured, he needed to know what to prepare for.
"Maybe we should wait till she's a month old, and hope for the best," Danny mumbled, still not sure if he even believed that it would elapse in that amount of time. Knowing that she was his daughter after all, and tradition showed that she was just as difficult as he ever 's blood test and checkup came out good, showing that she was on the mend, and Linda would no longer be coming by every day. Danny walked her out, and thanked her for everything she did to help Devon. And even though he didn't want his daughter to be sick, he had to admit that he would miss the nurses company. He didn't know what it was about her, but she was so nice talk to, and he found himself enjoying the time, they got to speak. He was just walking back to the house, where he heard Devon crying for him, and he doubled his pace. Reality was returning, and he knew he couldn't even think about the nurse. He had a baby, and she was his number one priority. For the rest of his life, Devon would be his responsibility. He was more than content with that knowledge, knowing that he loved his daughter more than life itself. But that didn't excuse the fact that he would miss not having someone to share his life with.
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That evening, and the Frank Reagan home, settled down for dinner. "I'm so glad your back home and cooking again mom. I was starting to get hungry." Jamie scooped another pile of mashed potatoes onto his plate.
"What happened to all the food I cooked and left in the refrigerator for you?" Mary remembered not seeing any of it when they got home, and figured they had eaten it. "Joe came over and ate it all," Jamie enlightened him. "Last night got so bad, that I had to beg Danny to let me order a pizza."
"Speaking of Joe," Mary looked at Frank. "Have you talked to him, and let him know we were home."
"I did," Frank nodded. "I went over to the apartment, after I left the precinct. He said he will be here for family dinner tomorrow."
"And Erin?" Mary questioned.
"All of our children will be here," Frank said with a smile.
Devon, who was napping in her pack n play in the den, started to cry, and Jamie jumped up, volunteering to go get her. "Since when does Jamie volunteer to help with the baby?" Mary looked from Frank to Danny, in complete and utter confusion. Knowing that Jamie often shied away from anything that had to do with baby.
"Since he doesn't want to get sent back to his room, Frank figured.
"He actually helped me out quite a bit when you were gone," Danny couldn't believe he was actually picking up for his brother.
"Are we talking about the same Jamie?" Mary was still surprised.
"Mhmm," Danny nodded. "He helped me give her a bath, he made countless trips up the stairs to get things for her. And I know this is hard to believe, but after some time. We actually got along."
"How did you manage that?" Mary knew that Jamie was deep in the teenage angst and he and Danny seldom got along.
"It was an uphill battle at first," Danny admitted. "With the party, the constant begging to go stay with Erin or Joe, arguing with me regardless."
"What made him stop?" Mary had a feeling, it would make for an interesting story.
"We came to an understanding," Danny shrugged.
"No, really son," Mary pushed for more of an explanation.
"Mom," Danny said annoyed. "All I can say is, we're brothers. And we came to an understanding, that we could both live with."
"He threatened him," Frank interpreted.
"Pretty much," Danny walked out of the room to check on his daughter.
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After dinner, Jamie was doing his best to help with Devon as much as possible, hoping to avoid being sent to his room. Danny, on the other hand was more than happy to let his brother tend to the little girl, knowing that he would be up all night with her anyways. Frank was relaxing in his arm chair next to the fireplace, reading the newspaper, while Danny stretched out on the couch skimming through channels on the television. Jamie on the other hand, was laying on a blanket on the floor next to Devon, trying to keep her awake, as well as keep her from fussing. Surprisingly, he was doing a fairly good job, and the little girl was content to stare up at her uncle face. Mary who had been upstairs unpacking their suitcases, surprised them all, when she came down the stairs, holding four different pairs of boxer shorts in her hands. "Does anyone care to claim these?" Danny and Jamie jumped up, and ran over to their mother, before jerking them away from her.
"Mom!" The two yelled in unison.
"Why were they on the floor of both yours and my bathroom?" Mary wanted an answer, and she wanted one fast.
"You were gone," Jamie shrugged. "We weren't going to share a bathroom if we didn't have too." he had a point. "Danny's a slob."
"You know I've had just about enough of people calling me that," Danny turned on his brother.
"Keep it civil you two," Frank warned firmly, looking up from his newspaper. "And that's an order." Frank knew Danny was tired, and when Danny was tired, and he got upset, getting him to calm down, wasn't an easy task. It took a minute, but Danny relented and took a step back.
"I thought I told you to clean the bathroom Jamison?" Mary looked at her youngest questioningly.
"I did," Jamie nodded. "I cleaned the shower, sink and toilet."
"Jamie, you know better than to do a job half-way. That is not what you have been taught," Mary was sounding more and more frustrated.
"What was I supposed to do, spray cleaner on them?" Jamie wasn't exactly trying to be sarcastic, but Mary was a little fed up with his smart mouth, when she knew very well that he knew better. It was obvious to all in the room, that Mary's temper was on the brink of spilling over, and Danny took the opportunity to lighten the mood. Knowing that if his mother started yelling, she wouldn't stop. Which would in turn startle Devon and make her start yelling, and she wouldn't stop.
"I'm surprised you were brave enough to touch those things, without gloves," Danny gestured at his brother's boxers.
"I've touched a lot worse than this. I used to wipe your butts when you were little. And let me tell you, that was no picnic."
"Awe Mom," Jamie squirmed uncomfortably.
"Dad, would you please stop her?" Danny looked at his father, the last thing he wanted was to get his mother started on child rearing.
"It is true," was all Frank said, before folding his newspaper, and picking up his granddaughter, who had been left lying on the floor.
"I'm never bringing something up like that again. And I can't believe you would bring our boxers down here." Danny mumbled regretfully, making his way up the stairs to return his boxers to the dirty clothes hamper.
"Yeah mom, that's embarrassing," Jamie said, before following his brother.
"If you two would learn how to pick your clothes up off the floor, I wouldn't have to do it," Mary wasn't willing to give up yet, hoping that one day her sons would learn better manners.
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Surprisingly, Devon had done fairly well that day with the crying. But as soon as it turned dark, and the lights were off, so the family could go to sleep. The crying started up once again. "Devon," Danny whimpered, rolling out of bed. Little tears, started to stream down her face by the time Danny managed to wake up enough to stumble towards her crib. His room was still dark, but Danny figured he didn't need a light. He knew where everything was in the room, and he knew it wouldn't take much for him to pick her up. Unfortunately, picking her up, didn't help much, and she continued to cry. "Are you hungry?" Danny asked her, before making his way down the stairs. Sure, he knew it could have just been the colic making her cry, but he figured that he would at least try to alleviate any other possibilities, just in case it wasn't. He was racking his brain, trying to remember the last time she ate, but for the life of him, he couldn't. "It must be the stress and lack of sleep clouding my brain," Danny mumbled under his breath. "I know you are not crying because your diapers wet," Danny felt the diaper. "You wouldn't care if I left the same diaper on you all day. All you care about is, me making you mad because I change you." Devon let out another loud cry, and Danny apologized. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. But Daddy knows how you feel about things like that." Danny juggled her in one arm, while preparing a bottle for her in the other. The bottle didn't do much to soothe her, and all Danny could do was pace the floor, doing his best to soothe her, and keep her from crying too much, knowing that pacing the floor, was usually the only thing that even remotely helped. After several minutes of listening to Devon cry, the worried grandparents made their way down the stairs to check on their son, who was doing his best to calm her down enough just to whimper rather than just crying. "I'm sorry," Danny apologized, when he saw his parents. "She's been doing this a lot lately," he said yawning. "I'll keep her downstairs tonight, so you can sleep." Danny carried her into the kitchen, hoping it would help mask the crying even more.
"How much sleep have you had this past week?" Mary followed him into the kitchen, knowing her son was tired.
"Not much," Danny shook his head yawning again.
"I'll stay up with her tonight," Mary volunteered, knowing she had, had a great deal more of sleep than her son.
"That's okay mom," Danny turned her down. "I'm used to it," he said filling the coffee filter with grinds, so he could make a pot of coffee to help keep him awake. Knowing the last thing he needed to do, was fall asleep, in a chair, and accidentally drop her.
"Danny," Mary tried again.
"Don't worry about me Mom. I can take care of my daughter." Danny placed Devon up on his shoulder, knowing that was one of her favored positions.
"Okay," Mary exchanged glances with her husband. "Come get me if you change your mind," she wanted to let him know that the offer still stood, before she and her husband returned to their upstairs bedroom. "Our son, the father," she said, looking at Frank after closing the door behind them, thinking of how much he changed since that first day, she handed him his daughter.
I am working on making the format of my stories better. So please stay with me. I have noticed that every time I format my stories, as soon as I click the publish button, the fanfiction site, changes it to the way they want it. Hopefully it will get better soon... Anyways, hope you all enjoyed the update, I know I had fun writing this chapter... Again, thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews, they really mean a lot... JusticeStandsTRUE