CH. 13 Back to Work
Danny stood in his room, staring at the NYPD uniform he had hanging up on the outside of his closet door. He would be putting it on in the morning and going back to the job he loved. He had to admit he was looking forward to it. But at the same time, he was a little apprehensive. The job was his life. At least so he thought, until he met Devon. Making the job share the center of Danny's life, with an infant. His job was important to him, but so was Devon. His job could also be dangerous. Then again, so could Devon, just in an entirely different manner.
Peering over the edge of the crib, he couldn't help but smile at his dangerous daughter. It took him a while to get her calmed down enough to sleep, after her last crying bout. But once she did, he managed to lay her down in her crib, so he could catch a nap, knowing he would probably be up with her most of the night. Her cries could drive him up the wall sometimes and make him feel almost helpless. A feeling, he wasn't entirely used to in his life. But when she was sleeping, she was the prettiest thing he had ever seen in his life, making the sleepless nights almost worth it. At least most of the time, when she wasn't crying. He had to admit, that most of what he had experienced as a father the past three weeks was difficult. The colic, the jaundice, the countless diaper changes and baths, the spit-up down his shirt, among other bodily fluids that made him want to gag. Then again, there were other times when she would smile up at him, and those difficult experiences would dwindle away. There were times when the only way he could get her to stop crying, was when he laid her on his chest, giving her skin to skin contact, allowing her to hear his heartbeat. And even then, he had to admit he loved it. Even if he did have to stretch out on the couch all night or sit up in his father's chair. What made the difficult times even more worth it, was when she would be sitting with another member of the family, and he would walk in, and she would immediately recognize his face and tone of voice and want him to take her.
He was smiling down on her, when she woke up, and she rewarded him, with a smile of her own.
"Daddy's girl, sure took a good nap," Danny picked her up, and settled her in his arms, hoping to avoid another crying battle.
Devon squirmed, and Danny carried her down the stairs. He stopped when he reached the den, where his father was sitting in his usual place, doing what he enjoyed doing, almost every evening, as a means of relaxation, catching up on his reading.
"It's been quiet up there for a while," Frank gestured at the stairs.
"We were napping, and getting me ready for work," Danny mentioned, taking a seat across from him, on the couch.
"Are you ready for that?" Frank questioned.
"I don't know," Danny shrugged. "I think so, at least as much as I can be."
"You'll be fine," Frank wasn't concerned.
"I wasn't really worried about me," Danny smirked. He really didn't want to sound arrogant. But he knew the job, and he knew he could handle, almost anything thrown at him.
"You're worried about Devon," Frank smiled, setting his book aside. Getting the feeling, his son wanted to talk. And he would always put his children's concerns, above reading a book, he didn't care for, like he did his flesh and blood.
"Is it that obvious?" Danny sighed.
"No," Frank shook his head. "But I was a detective, and deductive reasoning was part of the job. Not to mention, I had a baby, I had to leave, to go back to the job."
"Devon's a month old today," Danny glanced at the little girl who was staring at her grandfather.
"She's certainly grown since she first came to live with us three weeks ago." Frank took her in his arms.
"How did you feel when you had to go back to work after I was born?" Danny changed the subject, tired of holding it in. He knew his concerns had to be valid, he just didn't know how guilty he should feel. He knew he had to go back to work. In fact, part of him wanted to. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but feel bad about leaving his mother alone with his child.
"Sad, but anxious," Frank remembered, the day so many years ago. "It was a long time ago, but its impossible to forget how you feel those first few months as a parent. When you are responsible for a brand-new life. There was always a constant worry, of wondering if you were doing the right thing by them. "I was anxious to go back to work. But sad, that I was having to leave my wife and newborn child." Frank knew, that long before Danny was born, that his wife was more than capable of being a mother to their children. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder, throughout different times of the day, how things were going, with the two, as they learned to get to know one another, as mother and son.
"Your mother loved you so much," Frank remembered how she would walk with him, talk with him, and simply hold him close to her, never wanting to let her baby boy go. "But like any parent with a colicky newborn, she quickly got wore out. I would come home and find her in tears sometimes, because she was so overwhelmed with your screaming, and from her being over tired, as well as not being able to cook anything for us for dinner."
Danny didn't say anything, but his face did hold an apologetic look.
"How did you get through it?"
"It went away when you were in between four and five months. But she would take care of you during the day, and I would take care of you when I got home from work, she could get a shower, and some sleep."
"I'm sorry," Danny said apologetically. "This colic thing is so hard."
"It wasn't all bad son," Frank remembered some of the moments he spent with him, making it all worth it.
"Since your mother couldn't cook all the time. While she was resting. You would help me cook eggs for dinner."
"I wasn't crying?" Danny questioned.
"Not as long as I was holding you and walking around a bit." Frank shrugged.
"Just like Devon," Danny said with a small smile.
"Exactly," Frank chuckled.
"Which brings me to my reason for being anxious about going back to work," Danny started to pace in front of the couch. "I hate to put mom through something like that again with Devon. It would be different if it was her child, and she was only doing what a mothers supposed to do. But it isn't." Danny knew he had a point. He just wasn't sure how to say it.
"She doesn't mind," Frank shook his head. "She's doing a grandmother's job."
"Dad," Danny started. Knowing nothing about being a grandparent. Then again, he didn't know anything about being a parent yet either. He had barely been one of those for three weeks. They were three long weeks, but they were still just three weeks.
"Here me out," Frank silenced him. "A grandparent's job, is to be there when their children need them. The same as your grandmother and grandfather were there for your mother and I, when you were growing up."
"But with a colicky baby?" Danny still wasn't certain. "I would hire a babysitter, but I'm afraid mom would get upset. Then again, if I hired a babysitter, I wouldn't be able to save for a house or a bigger apartment, and never be able to move out of your house."
"Your mom and I already told you, you could live with us for as long as you needed." Frank reminded him for about the hundredth time, since he moved back in.
"I know," Danny nodded. "And I appreciate it. But I need to be able to show Devon that I can take care of her on my own."
"You are taking care of her on your own," Mary overheard their conversation, and no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't remain silent any longer. "You've been the one supplying her with everything and tending to her needs."
Danny started to say something, but Mary silenced him, by placing a hand on his chest.
"You've done great with her son, and we're proud of you."
"I know," Danny slumped back onto the couch. "But is it enough? I was thrust into his parent thing so fast, that I have no idea what I'm doing. Or if I'm even doing it right."
"Oh Danny," Mary took a seat next to him. "Did you ever think that God may have put Devon in your life for a reason?"
Danny didn't say anything, but he did look at her confused.
"You used to run wild when you weren't on the job," Mary started to name the reasonings behind her explanation. "You and Jamie's relationship suffered after you left for the Marines. And you didn't have any prospects of settling down and raising a family. This may be Gods way of putting your life together."
"I wish he would have told me," Danny mumbled. "Because living in my parents' house with a newborn, I'm trying to get to know, isn't my idea of a life put together."
"You never know," Mary reminded him. "Just give it time, and you'll see."
"I hope your right mom," Danny sighed.
"I am right." Inside, Mary wasn't certain. But she wasn't about to tell her son that. "Just look at how much Devon adores you."
"She's certainly getting heavier," Frank gestured, at the little one in his arms.
"I think all that weights coming from her diaper," Danny said with a disgruntled look.
"You need to change her," Frank handed her back to him.
"I would," Danny admitted. "The thing is, as soon I get her calmed down enough to stop crying. She needs her diaper changed. Which she hates, and she starts crying again, and then I have to start all over again, on the settling process."
"Just remember," Frank handed him, his daughter back. "This to, shall pass."
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The following morning, and Danny was up early. He had just finished getting Devon dressed for the day, allowing him to get ready, for his first day back at work.
After gulping down another cup of coffee, Danny prepared to hand Devon over to his mother.
"Daddy needs you to be good for Grandma today, okay? I'll be home as soon as I can." Danny let her go, and proceeded to head for the door, when she started crying for him. "I can't do this," Danny moaned, a pathetic look crossing his face, as pangs of guilt, flooded his heart and mind.
"You have to son," Mary said firmly.
Danny took a deep breath and took Devon back for a moment. "I know you don't understand this, but Daddy has to go back to work, so he can work on making detective, so he can make more money to take care of you."
Devon stopped crying, just as soon as he took her back, and she was content to listen to him talk to her.
"I know you don't know this, but right now, you are taking just about my whole paycheck. And I'm not exactly paying rent."
Devon responded by giving him a small smile, making it even harder for her father to proceed, with handing her back to her grandmother.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine." Mary said firmly, ignoring her sons concerns, when she started fussing again.
"I know," Danny opened the door. "But that doesn't make it any easier," he walked out the door, and over to the car.
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Arriving at the precinct, Danny met up with his partner, Abigail Baker.
"You decide to take a break from Daddy Daycare, and come back to work?" Baker smiled at him, when she saw him.
"Very funny Baker," Danny got into the driver's seat, of their squad car.
"You ready to hit the streets, partner?" Baker buckled her seatbelt.
"Born ready," Danny sped away, for the current location, they had been assigned. "Let's see what crazy thing, we are going to come across today."
"My bet is either give directions or write speeding tickets." Baker figured.
"And here I was hoping it would be something interesting." Danny smirked, hoping his first day back to work, would at least include, saving someone from a car, or burning building. Or something else, heroic.
"Always one for the theatrics, aren't we Reagan?" Baker laughed.
"All in a day's work," Danny pulled over, so they could start walking the beat, and look for something to do.
They had only been walking for about five minutes, when someone burst through a small convenience store, carrying a bag of money, and started running down the street to get away with robbery. Danny picked up his pace, and started to chase after him, while yelling for Baker to check on the people in the store.
Danny had to chase after him for more than a mile, before finally climbing a fence and diving atop of him. A gun slid out away from him, and the perp tried reaching for it, before Danny shoved it further away, and cuffed him. He just picked the gun up, where he could smell the gun powder, indicating it had been fired.
"Oh no," Danny mumbled, before picking up the pace, in a hurry to get back to the store, just in case, they had a victim down.
After shoving the perp in the car, Danny hurried into the store, where he found Baker, hovering over a bleeding teenager. She had her hands pressed deeply against the kid's chest, doing her best to stop the bleeding, while they waited for a bus.
"Is it likely?" Danny squatted down next to her.
"I don't know," Bakers voice shook, always hating this part of the job.
The ambulance arrived, and the officers moved aside, allowing the EMTs to take over. "I want to go with him to the hospital," Baker looked at her partner.
"I'll meet you there, after I get the perp processed," Danny nodded, not wanting to lose his and his partners collar.
An hour or so later, and Danny arrived at St. Vicks hospital to meet up with his partner. He found her sitting in the waiting room, her hands and uniform still covered in blood.
"How is he?" Danny kept his voice low.
"They rushed him into surgery, as soon as we got here," Baker looked at him hopeful.
She tried to wipe the blood on her shirt, but it was already dried on her hands, and she didn't think there was much she could do about it.
"Here," Danny removed his NYPD jacket. "Put this on, it will cover your bloody shirt."
"Thanks," Baker took it from him.
"It might help, if you wash your hands," Danny said gently, knowing how upset his partner was.
"Good idea," Baker stood, and headed over to the nearest bathroom.
Danny paced the waiting room uncomfortably for several minutes. He could see the victim's mother sitting in the corner of the waiting room, trying to put on a brave face. But Danny knew better, he had been on the job long enough, to know when a person was crumbling on the inside. Then again, could he really blame her. He had only been a parent for a few weeks, and he could only imagine how he would feel, if he was in her place, and Devon was the teenage victim, and he sat alone, not knowing if she would live or die. He had to shake the thoughts away, already getting a lump in his throat just thinking about it. And being an emotional cop wouldn't look good. Especially if one of the hire-ups on the police force showed up, that certainly wouldn't do his career any good, and his desire to make detective. He was just about to take a seat, when Baker returned.
"Do you know where the kid's dad is?" Danny figured, his partner had already spoken to the mother.
"He was a couple hours away on business. But he's on his way." Bakers hands were red from all the scrubbing she had done in the bathroom. She had her partners jacket zipped, and that helped her look a little more presentable, considering she was still wearing her black uniform shirt, that was still damp from the child's blood. Even though it did help, now that it was starting to dry. She didn't have kids yet, but that didn't keep her from feeling emotional. One thing about Officer Abigail Baker, was that she was good at keeping her feelings at bay most of the time. And there was no denying she was smart. But when any officer worked a tour, that affected a child. It was hard.
She and Danny talked quietly for a few minutes, as they waited for word on the kid. They knew they didn't have to stay, but they both wanted to be there, when the doctor came out. They didn't know what comfort they could provide to the mother, if the news was bad. But, there wasn't something inside that kept them glued to the hospital.
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Linda was just walking past the front desk, when one of the men in the waiting room caught her attention. She was used to working around a lot of people, and very seldom did anyone catch her off guard, and take her attention off her job. But this man. This man was different. He didn't see her, but she recognized him as the man with the cutest little baby, she had ever seen. He looked different for some reason today. He was wearing a uniform, that looked absolutely gorgeous on him, but his face expression held a look of disappointment and concern.
Disappointed that his first day back at work turned so disastrous. He was used to encountering tragic and unthinkable things on a day to day to basis. It was the job, but his thrill of excitement for the day was fading. Linda didn't think she had seen anything about a baby being brought it, but that didn't keep her from checking the log books anyway, looking for the name Reagan, just in case it had to do with the officer's daughter. She saw another woman in a uniform, sitting next to him, making her think, they were there for the job, knowing that a member of Danny's family would have been there, had it been for Devon. The woman in the uniform looked tired, and her uniform and face expression looked far worse than the mans. Linda wanted to go speak to him, but something stopped her. What if they were a couple? She didn't want to get in between them, or make the moment awkward, by pretending she knew him. Sighing, Linda picked up another chart, and returned to work.
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"Danny! Danny!"
Danny heard a voice, he knew far too well.
"Is it true?" Jamie ran up to his brother.
"Get ahold of yourself kid," Danny grabbed him, and pulled him aside. "Don't run and keep your voice down. We're in a hospital."
"Sorry," Jamie took a deep breath.
"Now what are you doing here? Your supposed to be in school." Danny wasn't sure what time it was, but he knew it couldn't be after 3:00 already.
"I overheard one of the teachers saying, that my friend Ryan was shot." Jamie's eyes were showing concern.
Ryan, Danny said the name repeatedly in his head, trying to remember where he heard that name before.
"Was that Ryan Tanner, the one who threw the party when mom and dad were gone?" Danny questioned.
"Yes," Jamie said quickly.
Didn't look like him, Danny thought. Then again, he didn't guess anyone looked like their normal self, after being shot.
"Why wasn't he in school?" Danny wasn't even a detective, but he couldn't help but investigate. Then again, there wasn't really anything to investigate. He had already gotten the perp.
"I don't know," Jamie shook his head. "I haven't been able to talk to him much, since mom and dad took my phone away."
"Doesn't matter anyways," Danny sighed. "Does mom or dad know you are here?"
"No," Jamie started to look around, but stopped, when his gaze fell upon his friend's mom. His friend's mom always seemed so strong. But now, she seemed like an entirely different person. Then again, he figured his mother would react the same way. But none of his siblings had ever been shot before. He wanted to go to her, but he couldn't move, his feet just wouldn't do what his brain told him.
"Jamie," Danny repeated his name, trying to get his attention. "You need to call them."
"I can't," Jamie choked. "I'll be in trouble."
"You don't need to be here kid," Danny placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I don't know what's going to happen." Danny had to admit, that even he didn't want to be there. Always hating the unknown.
"That's why I need to be here," Jamie looked lost. "I need to be here for his mom."
"Jamie," Danny started to say.
"Danny, please," Jamie looked at his brother seriously.
"Jamie, they have to know where you are, so they don't go to the school looking for you." Danny had a point.
"I don't have my phone," Jamie reminded him.
"I'll call dad," Danny pulled his phone from his pocket. "Isn't he supposed to pick you up?"
"Yeah," Jamie nodded. His eyes, shifting back to the mother.
"Go sit with her," Danny gestured with his head, over towards Mrs. Tanner.
"Yeah," Jamie repeated, before taking a deep breath, and forcing his feet to move.
A few minutes later, and Danny approached his brother, partner, and the victim's mother.
"Did you talk to him?" Jamie kept his voice low.
"Yeah," Danny nodded.
"Was he mad?" Jamie hated to ask in front of the others, but he couldn't help himself.
"No," Danny ran a hand through his hair, before dropping into one of the seats, indicating an end to the conversation. As they all sat in silence, awaiting word from the doctor.
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Danny wasn't sure how long they had been sitting there. Could have been five minutes, could have been five hours, for all he knew. He was too tired to know. He needed to get up and call Mary to check on Devon, but he was too afraid to get up, afraid that he would miss the doctor. It would have been okay, had Jamie not have been there. But he was, and just in case things went bad, he needed to be there for his brother. He and Baker exchanged a few words silently, when the sliding doors of the hospital open and Frank walked in.
"Captain Reagan," Baker stood, followed by her partner.
"Dad," Jamie joined them.
"Any word yet?" Frank looked at Danny.
"Not yet," Danny shook his head.
"They should have let us know something by now." Mrs. Tanner spoke up for the first time in a while, when she saw her sons, friend's father.
"I'm sure they'll let you know something, as soon as they can," Frank said reassuringly.
Danny exchanged a few quiet words with Frank, before silent making his leave, to make the phone call, he had been needing to make for the past several hours.
He spent but only a few minutes on the phone, but it was enough, for him to gather what he needed to know, regarding his daughter's day thus far. He hated to say it, but he had to tell his mother that he had no idea what time he was going to be home. He figured days like this would come, when he just couldn't check out at the end of tour. But he didn't expect it to be the first week he went back to work and had to leave his infant daughter. He returned a few minutes later and slumped back into his familiar seat.
"How's Devon?" Jamie asked.
"Crying," Danny answered with one word. Danny rubbed his face, worried about his little girl, and how much stress she was inflicting on her grandmother. He knew if he ever got home, it was going to be a long night, but even with that in mind. Danny was hoping the doctors would come out with good news, and soon for that matter.
"You two go get some coffee," Frank looked at the two tired officers.
"But," Baker started to question him, not wanting to leave the waiting room, even to go to the next floor, over to the cafeteria.
"That's an order officers," Frank figured that the only way to get them to answer, was by pulling his Captain rank on them.
"Yes Sir," Baker finally sighed, and followed her partner to the elevator.
Just as the two officers returned, the doctors arrived with the news they had been waiting for since the whole incident evolved. They spoke only to the mother, but after a few words, the mother turned to face the Reagan's and Officer Baker.
"It's going to be a long recovery, but he's going to be alright."
Jamie let out a sigh, and a smile crossed his face, when Frank clasped him on the back, grateful that his friend was going to make it.
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By the time they left the hospital and returned to the precinct, it was the end of tour, and Danny was more than ready to head for home and see his daughter.
"How's Daddy's colicky girl?" Danny smiled at her, when he walked through the kitchen door.
"Waiting for you," Mary answered for her granddaughter.
"I need to take a shower first," Danny said glumly. "It's been a long day."
"Your Dad told me," Mary placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you got the man that did it."
"Me too," Danny took the stairs hurriedly, wanting to get back to Devon, just as soon as he could, so he could relieve his mother.
As much as Danny would have loved to stay in the shower much longer, after the long stressful day he had, he spent only a minimal time under the streaming hot water, before he turned the faucet off, pulled on a pair of pajama pants and t-shirt, and hurried back down to retrieve his daughter.
Devon smiled when she saw her Daddy, and Danny laughed. "Did Devon miss Daddy?"
"She just had a bottle a little while go," Mary moved into the kitchen to get started on dinner.
"Did she cry a lot today?" Danny was almost too afraid to ask.
"Some," Mary admitted. "But she and Grandma made it through."
"I'm sorry Mom," Danny said apologetically, an upset look crossing his face. "You already went through this with me, and you shouldn't have to do it with Devon."
"Don't apologize Daniel," Mary looked her son in the eye. "I wouldn't trade the time I got to spend with you as a colicky baby for anything in the world. And I feel the same about my son's daughter."
"Thanks mom," Danny gave her a small smile, before taking a seat in the kitchen, Devon in his lap.
He had a small stack of papers in a file sitting in front of him. And as tired as he was, he knew he had to get them filled out, so he could take them back to the precinct. Devon seemed pretty content, as long as he was holding her, so Danny decided to take his chances and find a pen. He was still on the first page, when Mary started to pay attention to what her first born was doing.
"What you doing son?" Mary turned away from the stove.
"Trying to get these papers filled out, so I can get Devon added on to my insurance at work."
"That's a good idea," Mary nodded. "Babies are always getting taken to the pediatrician for some reason or another."
"I was just thinking, about the Tanners. And as much as I never want to have to go through something like that with Devon having to stay in the hospital. I know it would be expensive, and I would never be able to pay for it." Danny didn't realize how much the experience he went through that day, had affected him.
"We would help you if it came down to that," Mary assured him.
"Just the same, I'd like to be able to take care of her." Danny answered another question on the sheet.
Mary had just turned back to the oven, when Frank walked in.
"Somebody looks content," Frank smiled at his youngest granddaughter.
"At least she isn't fussing," Danny agreed with him.
"I want to hold her later," Frank looked at Danny. "But first I need to talk to Jamie."
Frank left the kitchen, wanting to make sure Jamie was okay after everything that happened with his best friend.
"Mom," Danny spoke up, after a few minutes of quiet. "Do you know what happened to those papers Jenny left in Devon's diaper bag when she dropped her off?"
"I put them with all the other important paper work, in your dad's office." Mary remembered. "Why?"
"I need the papers that Jenny signed that relinquished sole custody over to me, so I can list her as my dependent."
"I'll go get them." Mary figured it would be easier for her to do, rather than trying to explain it to him. Knowing he would spend ten minutes in there looking, and then start calling for her to come help him.
Devon started to squirm, and Danny started talking to her. Hoping it would help keep her from crying, for a few minutes longer, so he could finish up on the paperwork in front of him.
"Daddy needs to fill these papers out since you are solely depending on me. So, I would appreciate it, if you could hold off on the screaming for just a few more minutes."
Devon started to squirm again, and Danny warned. "If you don't, I'm going to have to put you in your pack n play, and let you cry it out in there. Daddy doesn't want to. Especially after all I wanted to do was hold you today. But I'll do it, if I have to. This paperwork is important."
Devon cooed at him, and Danny chuckled. "So, you're going to start talking back already?"
Danny thought about it for a second, and then he pointed a finger at her. "Never mind, don't answer that."
"This is her birth certificate, and these are the papers, that relinquished custody," Mary explained, setting them on the table.
"Thanks mom," Danny picked the pen back up. "Now Devon, I want you to promise me, that I will never need to use this insurance."
"She's your kid Danny," Frank clasped him on the back, taking him by surprise. "You're going to need it."
"Thanks a lot Dad," Danny handed the baby over to him.
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After dinner that evening, Danny took Devon upstairs and into the bathroom, so he could get another epic battle of fussing over with, before he and Devon got started on the comforting mechanisms, he was learning, to get her to go to sleep.
"You know Devon, most people say, that bath time is supposed to be a bonding time, between parent and child." Danny told her, when she started to fuss. "But if it makes you feel better, you go ahead and cry." Danny sighed, as he rinsed the soap off her.
It didn't take him long, and Danny had her dressed and out of the tub. Devon was still fussing, but it wasn't as bad as it was when she was in the tub, allowing Danny to carry her down the stairs so he could talk with Frank, about something that had been on his mind, since he saw Ryan lying on the cold floor of the convenience store.
"Something on your mind son?" Frank placed another log on the fire, after stirring up the ashes on the bottom of the fireplace.
"How can you tell?" Danny started to walk back and forth in front of the couch. Devon wasn't fussing too bad now, but she wasn't exactly happy, and Danny was doing his best to get her comfortable enough, to get her to sleep. So, he could sleep, and face another day.
"Give it a few years, and you'll be able to tell when somethings bothering Devon, without her even saying a word," Frank said simply. "It comes with the territory of being a parent."
Danny sighed, but after a few minutes, he finally spoke up. "Dad, I've experienced a lot of things on the job. But this," Danny shook his head. "Ryan's just a kid, and he was lying in his own blood. And when I saw that, all I could think about was Devon." Danny started to bounce Devon gently in his arms, remembering what Linda had told him, about dealing with colic, and the different coping mechanisms, that were designed to help.
"And then I saw Ryan's mother today, and I started thinking like a parent. And I didn't know what to do. I don't know Dad. Am I not meant to be a cop with those concerns?"
"I had those same concerns," Frank remembered. "And I faced something very similar to this, right after you were born."
"And what did you do?" Danny hated to think, he would have to give up the job he loved. But at the same time, he knew he wouldn't be doing his grandfather, the commissioner any favors, if he was constantly worrying about Devon.
"I love the job just as much as you do," Frank said honestly. "And the thought of having to do something else, scared me to death. So, I took a deep breath, and put one foot in front of the other and kept going."
"How did you keep your mind from racing, when you saw something that reminded you of us kids?" Danny wasn't sure, how else to word it.
"I thought about you kids being safe at home and refused to let it get to me." Frank said seriously. "It's hard, but sometimes that's all you can do."
"I hope so Dad," Danny held Devon close, before placing her on his chest, noticing that she was starting to drift away, into sleep. He wasn't sure how long, she would be content. So, he laid on the couch, hoping to make himself as comfortable as he could. Then again, as long as she was comfortable, that's all that mattered. Considering he was too tired to care, after his long first day back to work.
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Just as Danny suspected, Devon wasn't content for long. The rest of the Reagan's were fast asleep upstairs, making Danny glad he made the decision to keep Devon downstairs. Even if he wasn't as comfortable on the couch, as he was in his own bed.
"Why are you being so hard on daddy, baby?" Danny moaned, sitting up, so he could get started on the pacing again. "Daddy has to go to work again tomorrow and he needs his sleep."
It took a few minutes for Danny to wake up enough to figure out she was crying because she was a hungry, and he eventually made his way into the kitchen. "I know you have no idea, but Daddy's job can be kind of demanding at times and it's better for him and everyone around him, that he get at least a couple hours of sleep." Danny warmed the appropriate amount of water in a measuring cup in the microwave, while he dished the powdered formula into the bottle. "So, you would be doing me a favor, if you went to sleep, as soon as you finished your bottle." Danny stirred the bottle with a baby spoon, before topping it off with a rubber nipple, hoping to avoid all the bubbles getting in her belly when he shook it, therefore making the fussing worse. "Daddy needs to be at his absolute best when he's at work. And your great grandpa can fire daddy, if he isn't. And if Daddy didn't have a job, then you wouldn't have any formula which would be bad for you. You also wouldn't have any diapers, which would be bad for Daddy." Danny started thinking about what he would have to go through if she had to use cloth diapers, and all the poop he would have to touch, while rinsing them out, bringing an all-out gagging experience. Devon smiled at him, as if she realized what he was saying, and Danny moaned. "You have no idea what I'm saying do you?" Danny carried her back into the living room, so he could feed her. Getting the feeling that she would stay awake and cry, just to spite him. Even if she didn't have colic.
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