CH. 18: Devon's First Christmas
"Good morning baby," Mary greeted Christmas morning when Danny came downstairs with Devon. "How are we doing this morning?"
"I'm good mom thanks," Danny grinned.
"I was talking to my granddaughter," Mary corrected him.
"I know," he laughed.
Devon squirmed in his arms, before she started to whimper, waiting for her daddy to take a hint before she let out a full fledged cry.
"There's coffee if you want it," Frank nodded at the pot on the counter.
"I've got to feed Devon first," Danny opened the can of baby formula while the water warmed in the microwave.
"I'll take her," Frank volunteered. "I don't get very many mornings with her, with always having to go to work." He said, taking the baby from him.
A few minutes later, and Danny handed Frank the bottle and settled down with a cup of coffee.
"Was Jamie still sleeping?" Mary asked, working on some pre-dinner preparations.
"I think he was in the shower," Danny replied. "What time is everyone coming?"
"Grandma and Grandpa are coming early," Mary nodded. "Grandma Betty is supposed to help me in the kitchen."
"That's if she gives Devon up," Frank spoke up. Knowing how excited his mother would be to spend the day with her newest great-granddaughter.
"That's true," Mary agreed wholeheartedly. "Well at least Pop will help me."
"That's is he's not busy with Nicki," Frank reminded her.
"You better hope one of them helps me," Mary contradicted. "Otherwise it's going to be you."
"Luckily for me, I have four kids," Frank felt at ease with his position. "One or two of them will help you."
"My votes Erin and Joe," Danny added his own opinion.
Devon took a couple ounces from her bottle and Frank put her up on his shoulder to burp her. She wasn't very happy about her bottle being taken away, but her grandpa knew how easy it was for her stomach to get upset and for her to spit-up anytime she had just a couple of ounces on her belly. He had just started to pat her back when he felt something warm on his neck. Frank moaned inwardly, already knowing what had happened and he gently shifted her back to the crook in his arm
"Your baby just spit up on me," Frank informed the young man sitting on the other side of the kitchen table.
"Oops," Danny tossed him the burp cloth. "I forgot to give it to you."
"Mhmm," Frank muttered, wiping the residue off his neck, just seconds before she started to projectile once again, only this time it landed on his hand and ran freely down his arm.
"Looks like she gave you a Christmas present," Danny teased.
"Just clean up your baby," Frank tossed him the burp cloth. He knew it was going to take more than that to clean her up. Her clothes were soiled but he didn't want her to be uncomfortable.
"I don't know why she keeps doing that," Danny wiped her face before taking her from her grandfather. "The doctor said it wasn't from the formula or anything."
"She's fine," Mary assured him. "Some babies just do that."
"Doesn't really surprise me, that mine does," Danny smirked. "Now Devon and I are going to go pull her uncle out of the shower so we can get ready for Christmas," he smiled at the little girl who started to coo happily. "You got grandpa good didn't you?" he laughed.
"Grandpas going to go change his shirt so he isn't wearing a shirt with a spit-up stain on it for Christmas," Frank followed Danny and Devon up the stairs.
"Hey kid! Get out!" Danny banged on the bathroom door. "I need to bathe my baby!"
"Just use my bathroom," Frank grabbed his hand before he had a chance to knock on the door once again, trying to keep the peace between the two brothers on Christmas.
About thirty minutes later, Danny and Devon returned both of them fresh and clean from the bath they took. Devon was dressed in a soft red and green striped onesie that read baby's first Christmas on the front that Grandma Betty had gotten her and she appeared to be very content now that she had a warm bath, and happy that her Daddy was still holding her and not leaving her to go to work.
They were just descending the stairs, when Henry and Betty walked through the front door.
"Give your baby to your grandma and help your old gramps carry in the gifts," Henry greeted his eldest grandson.
"I like that idea," Betty smiled broadly.
"Watch for spit-up mom," Frank warned pulling his coat on so he could follow the rest of the men outside.
"It wasn't that bad," Danny shoved him playfully.
"That's because it didn't happen to you."
"Maybe not this time, but I've had my share," Danny admitted.
"Then again, you did a lot worse to me when you were a baby," Frank remembered.
"Are you two going to help me!" Henry hollered, waiting for them out by the car.
"We're coming Pop!" Frank called back.
Frank and Danny had just reached the car, when Joe pulled up.
"Just in time little brother!" Danny hollered at him.
"I got my own stuff to unload," Joe popped the trunk of his car. "Get Jamie to help."
It didn't take long to get the cars unloaded with all the guys working, and they had just removed their coats and settled down in front of the fireplace to warm up when Erin and Nicki came in.
"Grandpa!" Nicki rushed over to her grandfather and climbed up on his lap.
"Merry Christmas Erin," Henry hugged his only granddaughter.
"Merry Christmas Gramps," Erin smiled, before turning her attention to her three brothers. "Just who I need, my three favorite brothers to unload my car."
"We're your only brothers," Danny retorted.
"I know," Erin frowned teasingly. "That's why you'll have to do."
"I don't think we should, if she's going to talk to us like that," Joe looked at his brothers.
"I don't either," Jamie agreed. "Besides, we just came in from out there."
"Go help your sister," Frank ordered.
"Aren't you going to help?" Joe looked at him questiongly, wen he noticed he didn't get up to put his coat on like they were doing.
"I'm busy," Frank replied.
"Doing what?"
"Holding my granddaughter," Frank still held Nicki on his lap.
"I think it's time to feed Devon," Danny started for kitchen.
"I can do that," Henry volunteered. Knowing his eldest grandson was just trying to avoid going back out into the cold.
"I wouldn't want her to spit up on you," Danny tried again.
"I've been spit on before and I'm sure you have plenty of burp cloths I can use," Henry cut him off and headed for the kitchen to get Betty to make Devon a bottle.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," Danny gave up and followed Joe and Jamie out the door.
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An hour or so later, and Mary, Betty and Erin finished the masterpiece they liked to call Christmas dinner.
"Who's ready for dinner?" Betty announced, calling her family to the dinner table.
"Let's eat!" Joe answered for all of them, while racing his little brother to the table.
Devon was asleep, so Danny carried her and the lounger into the dining room and set it near the table so he could get to her if she started to cry. Her tummy was still full from the bottle Henry fed her, and he anticipated her to be content for at least another hour, or so he hoped, at least as long as she stayed asleep.
After blessing the food, Joe was the first one to speak up.
"This is great mom, grandma," Joe was shoveling it in. "Thanks."
"Sounds like somebody's been eating a lot of their own cooking," Danny recognized the tone, from when he rented the apartment his brother now had and he had to do his own cooking.
"Been trying to save money by not going out. Christmas is expensive," Joe admitted.
"Just wait till you have kids," Danny muttered under his breath, thinking of how much money he had spent since he got Devon.
"Isn't that the truth," Erin agreed.
Just as Danny expected, Devon started to fuss in the middle of family dinner, causing him to pick her up and carry her back to the table before returning to his seat.
Devon settled once she was picked up and settled in his arms, and she seemed to enjoy looking around the dinner table while her father ate.
"It looks like somebody can't wait to have their own place at the table," Mary smiled, pointing out how alert Devon seemed to be.
"It won't be long and we'll be adding another high chair," Frank looked around the table, trying to determine where they were going to put it.
"I'm not in any hurry," Danny knew how messy toddlers could be when they were eating. And how difficult it could be to get them to eat anything.
"I love Christmas," Betty sighed satisfied.
"Me too," Mary chimed in.
"I love being surrounded by my family," Betty admitted the real reason as to why she enjoyed the holiday so much.
"And everyone is in such good spirits," Mary and Betty were having their own separate conversation, even if they were on separate ends of the table.
"That's because it's not like Thanksgiving, where your badgering us about decorating your house for Christmas," Joe interrupted.
"Yeah," Danny agreed. "I hate climbing on your roof to hang the Christmas lights."
"Speaking of Christmas lights," Erin spoke up. I'm taking Nicki to look at Christmas lights tonight. Anyone want to join us?"
"You know, we haven't done that in years," Mary thought, remembering the countless years, she and Frank took their own children to look at Christmas lights during the holidays.
"We should all go," a smile started to spread over the woman's face.
"Yeah, no thanks," Danny was quick to turn down the offer.
"You mean you don't want to take your little girl to look at Christmas lights?" Mary looked at her son questioningly.
"I didn't say you couldn't take her. I just said I didn't want to go." Danny clarified.
"It's her first time to look at Christmas lights Danny, and you need to be apart of making memories with her."
"Mom, she's a baby," Danny seriously doubted she was going to remember any part of her early days.
"Maybe so, but your not and you'll remember."
"Alright, I'll go," Danny surrendered. Knowing he wouldn't get a bit of peace until he gave in.
"She sure told you," Joe teased.
"Your going to," Mary enlightened him. "When I said we should go, I meant all of us."
"Erin, the next time you get a bright idea about doing something. Keep it to yourself." Joe grumbled.
"Make the best of it brother," Erin smiled satisfactory.
"Okay, let's not argue on Christmas," Frank had a feeling an argument was about to ensue between at least two or three of his children.
"I want to open presents," Nicki interrupted.
"Me too Nicki," Jamie laughed, agreeing with his oldest niece.
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After dinner, and the family scattered about the house. Some cleaned the dinner dishes, some went outdoors for a few minutes, while the rest sat in the living room.
Danny was squatting down by the fireplace to add another log and stir it up a bit when Joe moved closer to his breath.
"Angela and I are going skiing this week. You and Linda want to go?" Joe kept his voice low.
"Can't," Danny replied.
"Why not?" Joe sounded as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"Joe, I have a baby," Danny reminded him.
"Take her along," Joe shrugged.
"Oh yeah," Danny said sarcastically. "I can just imagine strapping Devon to my back and then barreling down a snow covered slope."
"Good point."
"I also have to work," Danny gave him another reason he couldn't go along. Even if he wouldn't have minded going and asking Linda to go along. Then again, he figured she would never agree to it, after they agreed that now wasn't the time for any of them to get involved in a serious relationship.
"Maybe some other time," Joe was hoping they would have been able to split the cabin cost.
"You just remember to be back for the police banquet," Henry told his grandson firmly. "We all have to be there."
"Don't worry Gramps, I'll be there. Then again, I don't know why it makes a difference if I'm there," Joe shrugged. "I'm not a cop yet."
"Neither is Jamie, but he's going," Henry responded with a firm explanation to why his middle grandson, a cadet in the NYPD must attend.
"Relax Gramps, I'll be back Wednesday," Joe assured him.
"See that you are," Henry pointed at him.
"I'm surprised Dad wants to go," Joe spoke up, knowing how his father felt about banquets.
"He doesn't," Danny answered. "But he knows it's something he has to do."
Seconds later, and they were interrupted by a childish plea.
"I want to open presents now!" Nicki pulled on her grandpas hand. Trying to get him over to the Christmas tree.
"I know," Frank laughed, at his eldest granddaughters expression. "But we have to wait till everyone's ready."
"Gramps, Uncle Danny and Uncle Joe are ready," Nicki pointed at them, before running over to Devon's lounger to see if she was awake. "Devons awake too!" She squealed.
"Is she," Danny got up from where he was sitting on the sofa to check on her. "I'm surprised she didn't let out a scream as soon as she woke up."
"Maybe that was her way of giving you a Christmas present," Joe teased.
"Thank you Devon," Danny picked her up.
"Let's open presents now!" Nick tried again.
"Your cousin needs a diaper change before she starts opening any presents," Danny laughed at the little girls urgency. "You want to help?"
"Ugh," Nicki said thinking. "Okay, I go get a diaper." Nicki ran up the stairs and into the nursery.
"Erin needs to bring her over more often," Danny remained downstairs. "She saves me a lot of steps."
"I gots the diaper Uncle Danny!" Nicki hollered, running down the stairs. "Now can we open presents?!"
"We haven't changed Devon yet," Danny reminded her.
"Well come on," Nicki pulled him over to the pack n play in the corner of the room.
"I'm coming," Danny shook his head at her exuberance. Wondering how he would ever survive when Devon got older and got to be as active as her cousin.
"Who's ready to open presents?" Mary announced a few minutes later, as she, Erin and Betty joined the rest of the family.
"Me! Me! Me!" Nicki squealed, running from one member of the family to the other.
The family gathered near the Christmas tree, Danny on the floor with Devon while
Nicki jumped up and down excitedly, and Joe and Jamie passed out the gifts.
Danny was surprised that Devon had stayed up the entire time the family opened presents, and even Mary would have sworn she saw her smile when she saw the present her daddy was opening for her. And Nicki was all smiles as she pushed her baby doll in the new stroller around the house.
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Once it got dark, and Henry and Betty left for the evening, the rest of the family got ready to look at Christmas lights. Mary still drove a larger vehicle, that she had when she was driving around multiple children. After transferring the two car seats over, the rest of the family climbed in.
Jamie wasn't sure how it happened, but he ended up sitting between Erin and Danny, something he tried to avoid at all cost just a few years ago. Fortunately for Joe, he found a place in the very back between the two youngest Reagans.
Just as Jamie dreaded, it wasn't long before an argument started between the two usual feuding siblings.
Danny was squished between the car door and Jamie and he was trying to figure out how that happened so suddenly. He knew it wasn't Jamie's fault. He seemed to be just as uncomfortable as he was.
"Erin, how much room are you taking up over there?" Danny looked over at his sister. "You know I'm a lot bigger than I was a couple years ago."
"I don't have any more room than you do," Erin tried to justify it as not being her fault.
"Are your sure? Because it sure looks like you do."
"No Danny!" Erin was getting annoyed.
"Have you gained weight? Because that would make sense as to why Jamie and I are squished over here."
"Hey!" Jamie spoke up. "Leave me out of this."
Seconds later, and Erin reached over and smacked her eldest brother in the back of the head.
"Oww!" Danny rubbed his head. "Erin, I'm warning you!"
"That's for saying I'm getting fat."
"I didn't say you were getting fat!" Danny argued. "I just asked if you were gaining weight."
"Trade me places Joe! Please!" Jamie pleaded desperately.
"No thanks," Joe was quick to repute his brothers offer. "I like my seat."
"That's because you're not stuck between them," Jamie complained.
"Grandpa! Make them stop!" Nicki yelled pleading. Causing her little cousin to start crying.
"Isn't it nice having them all back together again," Frank smiled at his wife.
"It's like they never left," Mary ignored the chaos that was erupting in the back seat of her car.
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That night, and Devon seemed to get fussier and fussier the later it got, and
Danny wasn't sure if it was from the colic or from the fact that she was just tired after such a busy day. He had given her a warm bath, and that helped some, but it wasn't enough to put her to sleep.
Danny sat downstairs near the blazing fireplace holding Devon securely in his arms, hoping that a few minutes in her comfort zone would put the little girl fast to sleep. Thinking back on the day, Danny realized just how blessed they both were, especially Devon. She had been passed around from set of arms to the other, giving her tired daddy a break, and she seemed to relish in all the loving attention she received.
Danny spent the day after Christmas with Devon, by putting a few of her Christmas gifts together, and while she napped, he spent his time being lazy, and watching tv. He was wishing he would have had more days off, but he knew he couldn't take any more, knowing he may need those days later on when Devon got sick or when his mother had plans and couldn't keep her.
Danny and his partner were back to working the same section they had before Christmas break and to their satisfaction, things had been relatively quiet. They were sitting in the squad car during their lunch break discussing their Christmas when Danny's cell buzzed.
"Hey little brother, I thought you were skiing?" Danny said into the receiver when he realized who it was.
"Just listen Danny," Joe interrupted, an urgency in his voice.
"What'd you do now Joe?" Danny could tell something was wrong.
"I got hurt skiing and I need you to come get me." Danny indicated a level of pain in his brothers voice.
"Joe, I'm at work, and you are three hours away"
"Danny, please, I didn't know who else to call," Joe was pleading.
"Ugh, Dad," Danny replied sarcastically.
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to listen to a three hour lecture from him on the car ride home."
"I'd like to help you out Joe. But, like I said, I'm at work and as soon as I get off I have to get home to Devon. Mom has plans with Erin and Grandma later."
"Can't you take off early?"
"No, and even if I could, I couldn't take Devon on a six hour car ride."
"She'd have time out of the car when you got here," Joe tried.
"Joe, I can't."
Joe sighed, but eventually continued. "Danny, I hurt my leg skiing and I can barely walk. Angela had to go get help to me get me back to the cabin and off the slopes." Joe finally decided it was time to let on how serious his injury may be.
"Oh Joe," Danny ran a hand over his face. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks Danny."
"Yeah," this time it was Danny's turn to sigh. "I'll let you know when I get on the road."
"I'm at the Pine Mountain Cabins," Joe gave him the address.
"It's going to take me some time to get changed and to get Devon ready. As well as convince Mom that nothing out of the usual is going on. But I'll try to hurry."
"Thanks," Joe moaned, hanging up.
"I'm going to have to take off early today," Danny let on to his partner about his brother.
"I can work on paperwork," Baker didn't sound to bothered by it. Just grateful that she was going to be out of the car and back to where it warm, with how low the temperature was that day.
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Danny hurried home as quickly as he could, and he had to be careful not to burst through the door and make it obvious to his mother that he was in a hurry.
"Your home early," Mary observed from where she was sitting in the living room on one of the single arm chairs, giving Devon a bottle.
"I have plans," Danny started for the stairs.
"You remember that I have plans too, and your dads working late tonight. So neither one of us can stay with Devon." Mary stopped him before he even managed to take three steps up the stairs.
"I know," Danny nodded. "She's coming with me." He continued up the stairs. Stopping by Jamie's room, on his way to his own.
"Jamie," he burst through the door, before closing it behind him, so he could talk freely without worrying that his mother would overhear if she came upstairs.
"Did your forget how to knock?" Jamie said sarcastically.
"Shut-up and listen," Danny said urgently. "Joe's hurt and he needs me to come get him, and your going with me, so get dressed. And whatever you do, don't tell mom." Danny was out of the room just as fast as he had come in.
Jamie was just as confused as he was when Danny came in then he was when he walked out. And if he was being completely honest, he would have to say he had no idea what his brother had just said. At least aside from hearing Joe's hurt and don't tell mom. Shrugging, Jamie pulled a gray sweater from his closet and hurried over to his brothers room.
"So why do I have to go?" Jamie pulled the sweater over his head while Danny pulled a thick henley out from his own closet.
"Because I'm probably going to need help." Danny started throw a bunch of stuff in Devon's diaper bag. "Mom and Dad have plans, so I have to take Devon. Which means you are going to have to try and keep her happy in the backseat."
"I have a better idea. How about I drive and you keep Devon happy," Jamie suggested.
"No drivers license."
"I have a permit."
"Nice try kid, but we're going up to the mountains, where your not use to driving. Now go get me some diapers from the nursery."
"How many?"
"A stack. Oh and some extra wipes too. I'm going to go put some baby water in these bottles," Danny hurried down the stairs.
A minute or so later, and Jamie met his brother downstairs. "I put the diapers and wipes in the diaper bag." He patted the bag draped over his shoulder.
"Are you going with him?"
"Yes," Jamie nodded.
"Where are you going?" Mary wondered.
"Ugh," Jamie exchanged glances with his brother, unsure of how to reply, as to not let on to his mother regarding the truth. "I'm not sure, but he promised food," Jamie nodded at his brother. Figuring that would be enough to convince her as to the reason he wanted to go along.
"Well here's Devon," Mary laughed, handing her granddaughter over to her uncle. "Have a good time," she added before making her up the stairs so she could start getting ready to meet her daughter and mother in law.
"That was easy enough," Jamie looked at Danny, while he shifted Devon to a better position in his arms.
"Let's get going before she comes back and keeps asking questions," Danny took Devon, so he could strap her into her car seat.
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With Devon's belly full, she fell asleep just a few minutes after they got on the road. And to their surprise, she slept for more than an hour and a half, making the trip not nearly as dreadful as Danny expected.
Unfortunately, just as she woke up she started to cry and refused to be comforted by her pleading uncle regarding what toys he tried to appease her with.
"I'm trying Devon," Jamie sounded pathetic as he tried to soothe her with her pacifier. "But I don't know what you want."
The pacifier did little to help and she spit out just as soon as he put it in her mouth.
"I think your going to have to pull over so we can take her out of her seat," Jamie said desperate.
"She's probably hungry," Danny figured. "Get her a bottle ready and I'll pull over just as soon as I can."
"Please hurry!" Jamie pleaded, his nieces cries echoing in his right ear.
"It's not that easy Jamie," Danny sounded stressed. He was worried about Joe, Devon was beginning not to handle the trip very well and Jamie sounded even more desperate than Devon was to get out of the car.
"How much further till we get to Joe?"
"Little more than an hour," Danny glanced at the gps.
Jamie moaned in response and he tried to hurry even faster to get the bottle mixed up.
"Do you think she'll take it even though it's not warm like she's use to?"
"She's going to have to," Danny knew there wasn't much he could do to warm the water. "It's not like we're at home."
"Yeah, well tell her that," Jamie took her out of her seat just as soon as Danny pulled over.
Devon settled down quite a bit once she was out of her car seat and after awhile she settled down enough to take her bottle, allowing Danny and Jamie both to get a few minutes of peace. Which was something they weren't expecting to last very long, both getting the feeling that just as soon as she was returned to her car seat she was going to spend the entire time crying until she got what she wanted.
"We should come back some time and go skiing," Jamie thought of how fun it would be for he and his brothers to have a free weekend of fun with just the three of them.
"That would be fun," Danny said with a smile. "But from what it sounds like, it's going to be awhile till Joe can ski again."
"Did he say what happened?"
"The only thing he said was, he got hurt and Angela had to get help to get him off the slopes and back to the cabin," Danny told him what he knew.
"How come Angela couldn't bring him home?"
"Joe said she got a call from her mom about her grandma being in the hospital and she had to catch a plane to Florida."
"We're probably going to have to take Joe to the hospital," Jamie figured.
"Thats what I'm thinking," Danny agreed.
"Why didn't he just call Dad? He could have gotten here a lot faster without having to make baby stops."
"He said he didn't want to have to listen to a lecture abou
But Dads going to find out anyway
"It doesn't make sense to me either.
"Do you think he hit his head when he got hurt, maybe has a concussion and isn't thinking straight."
"Wouldn't surprise me," Danny shook his head.
"Maybe we should hurry," Jamie sounded concerned.
"Yeah," Danny handed Devon back to him. "Let's get out of here."
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"Which cabin is he in?" Jamie asked, when they pulled onto the Pine Mountain Cabin grounds.
"12," Danny continued to drive, while Jamie called out the cabin numbers. "He said all the cabins were separated and his was the last one."
After locating the cabin, Danny, Jamie and Devon hurried inside, where they found Joe lying on the rustic sofa that decorated the cabin.
"Good to see you still alive," Danny walked over the sofa.
"What happened?" Jamie was curious.
"I'm not really sure," Joe sounded confused. "It all happened so fast. One minute I was gliding down the slopes, saw something to maneuver and when I did I tumbled over a snow covered stump I didn't see and hit the ground in pain, making an imprint of my body in the snow.
Jamie was about to ask what hurt when Danny picked up the blanket Joe had been covering with and his eyes widened.
"Wow!" Danny observed his brothers swollen knee, with a purplish red discoloring surrounding it.
"That's the size of two knees," Jamie could only imagine the pain he was in. "Did you put any ice on it?"
"Yeah, Angela got me some before she left." Joe moaned as he shifted positions, getting tired of sitting in one place for so long.
"Looks like it melted a long time ago," Jamie picked up the leaking ziplock of melted ice.
"Hold Devon," Danny handed Joe the baby. "I'll get you some more."
"We're definitely going to have to take him to the hospital. That knee looks terrible." Jamie whispered once he and Danny reached the kitchen.
"I know," Danny nodded, digging some ice from the freezer. "And soon, it's going to be late by the time we get to the hospital. And the injury occurred this morning."
"What about Devon? She's going to hate getting back in that car seat for another three hour drive before she can get out at the hospital." Jamie didn't sound as if he was looking forward to listen to his nieces cries for a long period of time. Especially considering he was the one having to ride in the backseat with her.
"That's what I'm worried about," Danny ran a hand through his hair.
"Don't you think we should call Dad?"
"Yes," Danny said in all honesty. "But not now. Not till we get closer to the hospital."
"Why do you think Joes so worried about Dad finding out?"
"Because Joe skipped a day at the police academy to go skiing," Danny enlightened him.
"Dads going to kill him," Jamie's mouth dropped.
"I know," a small smile started to creep across Danny's face. "It's about time he gets mad at somebody other than me."
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They hadn't been on the road for long when Devon started to cry in protest.
Danny's phone started ringing and all he could do was moan. The last he wanted was for his mother to hear Devon screaming and then she start pestering him with questions. Especially considering there was nothing wrong with the baby, she had been fed, changed and talked to while they were at he cabin. And the only thing she was upset about was having to be in the car seat.
"Moms calling me. Jamie I'm going to pull over jump out and talk to mom. And whatever you do don't tell her where we are and don't tell her Devon's crying.
"You want me to lie?" Jamie sounded shocked. "I can still get in trouble for lying to them you know."
"Just do it Jamie, or I'm going to leave you stranded hear," Danny threatened.
"I'd love to see what mom and dad would do to you
"You don't get out of this car in a hurry, and your going to see what I'm going to do to you."
Jamie sighed but eventually hurried out of the car.
Were going to have a lot of explaining to do when we get home. And when that happens, you for once don't keep quiet.
"The two of us are grown men, do you think there will ever come a day where we're not having to answer to our parents and listen to lectures?"
"You tell me," Danny turning the tables on him. "Your the one that's worried about Dad finding out. Which makes no sense now, considering he's going to find out once once we get to the hospital since your still on his insurance."
"Alright, I think I got mom convinced were not doing anything illegal," Jamie got back into the car.
"Well the trips not over yet," Joe laughed.
"I have learned one thing from this trip," Danny interrupted, getting back to what was really driving them crazy. "I'm never taking my daughter on long car rides again."
"Your not kidding," Joe pulled his ski mask over his head to help block out some of the noise.
"I don't know why your complaining," Jamie grumbled. "Your not the one that's had to listen to her cry on the way up here, plus on the way back."
"Do you two want to start saying nice about my baby before I leave you both stranded," Danny threatened.
"Hey, you started it," Joe surrendered, even if he knew his brother was only kidding.
"We'll be at the hospital in a little less that an hour," Danny figured. At least if the gps was accurate and the traffic ran smoothly.
"Do you think Linda's working tonight?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Danny didn't like where Joe was headed with his form of questioning.
"Cone on Danny, I know you like her," Joe ribbed.
"If you don't shut-up, I'm going to call Dad right now and leave you stranded," Danny, this time threatened with a smile.
"Do you think we should call the hospital and give them a heads up?" Jamie wondered.
"You mean just in case they want to get a tray of shots ready?" Danny teased. "For pain of course."
"Would you both stop trying to make me feel better!" Joe raised his voice sarcastically. "I'm not exactly looking forward to this!"
Devon cried louder when she heard her uncles raised voice, causing her father to grumble.
"Now look what you did?"
"Uncle Joe's sorry Devon," Joe was beginning to feel a little guilty, that his niece was upset.
"Daddy will get you out of your seat just as soon as he can," Danny promised.
"I think she's hungry," Jamie started to get a bottle ready, so it would be ready just as soon as they got to the hospital.
"When we get to the hospital, you park the car and bring Devon in while I get Joe signed in," Danny was planning on pulling up right to the front where he could wheel his brother in by a wheel chair.
"Okay," Jamie agreed.
"Just don't run in to anything and feed Devon as soon as you can."
"I will," Jamie assured him, that he had nothing to worry about.
"Then I'll call Dad," Danny looked at Joe.
"Nice knowing you," Joe mumbled.
XXXXXXXX
Sometimes Danny wished he wasn't the oldest sibling, and that day was definitely one of those days. Things went as he had planned, and by the time he returned to the waiting room, he found Jamie and Devon waiting for him. Devon wasn't crying like she was, content now that she had a full belly and she was out of her car seat again, and for that Danny was grateful. Joe had been successfully signed in, and he was now being taken back for x-rays.
"How long do we have to stay here?" Jamie looked at the clock, knowing it was already almost 10:00 pm.
"I don't know," Danny shrugged. "We can't leave Joe here alone."
"Did you talk to Dad?"
"He said he would get here as soon as he could, but he's working in another Burrough, so it's going to take him awhile to get here."
"In other words, make ourselves comfortable," Jamie interpreted.
"Pretty much."
The Reagan's had been sitting in the waiting room for almost an hour, and Danny was thankful his daughter was fast asleep and not causing a disturbance.
"I'm going to go walk around," Jamie said getting restless. "'You got any money for the vending machines?"
"No," Danny shook his head. "But Joe does and I'm holding his wallet," Danny handed it to Jamie.
Jamie smiled a broad smile and Danny responded.
"Don't take it all."
"I wouldn't do that," Jamie knew that he was probably the most responsible out of all his siblings, and that was even counting Erin.
A few minutes later, and Nurse Linda came out.
"Danny," she spoke up, getting his attention, after he was to busy digging in Devon's bag for something to notice her.
"Linda," Danny stood.
"You have Devon with you," Linda smiled a broad smile, at the sleeping baby.
"Unfortunately," Danny shook his head. "She's sleeping now, but she's ready to go home and back to her routine and it's been making her fussy."
"Been a long day for her?"
"Very," Danny nodded. "How's Joe?"
"We had to gave him something for pain so we could take the x-rays, but I don't know anything yet. We're still waiting for the doctor to read the x-rays and decide what to do. So he's just resting right now."
"My dad should be here soon to stay with him," Danny enlightened her.
"I think its a knee fracture," Linda knew it wasn't her job to speculate regarding patients. But when it came to Danny, whom she classified as a friend, she figured it didn't count. "Hopefully its just a crack and won't require surgery."
"Hope so," Danny agreed. "He's going to have to have to get back to the academy."
"He's definitely going to have to go easy on it, regardless of what it is," Linda knew that at least part of what she was saying was the truth.
"Mm," Danny moaned. "That means mom will want him to move back in temporarily. And I'll have to help take care of him."
"He will need help to some degree," Linda admitted.
"Luckily, Jamie will be around to help."
"So how was your Christmas?" Linda asked changing the subject.
"Good, spent the day with the family," Danny answered. "How was yours?"
"The same," she nodded.
"My daughter spit up on my dad. So that was a gift all in itself." He grinned.
"Danny," Linda laughed at the young officers humor.
"Hey, you don't know what he's put me through," Danny tried justifying.
"Do you think Devon will say the same thing about you one day?" Linda smiled.
"She better not," Danny had never thought about that. He was too focused on the baby he was taking care of at the present time.
"Hey Linda," Jamie interrupted their conversation, when he walked up.
"Hi Jamie," Linda smiled at him.
"How's Joe?"
"We don't know anything yet," Danny answered for her. "Still waiting for the doctor."
"Here's Joes wallet, and I brought you some chips and a drink," Jamie handed it to him.
"Thanks," Danny handed Devon to him so he could eat without dropping chip crumbs onto her.
Linda returned to work, and Danny and Jamie returned to trying to make themselves comfortable once again. By now it was 11:00pm and they were both yawning. Danny had gone to check on Joe but he was asleep, so he returned to the waiting room to take Devon back. Eventually, Jamie leaned his head back against the wall and fell asleep. He tried to fight it for awhile, and told himself he was only going to close his eyes for a few minutes. But after being up for so many hours, and having such a busy day, he fell asleep for more than a few minutes. Danny wanted to sleep, but he just couldn't bring himself to do so, knowing he was responsible for Joe, Jamie and Devon, and he knew he couldn't feel as if he was in control if he was asleep. Even if the rest of the Reagan's in the hospital building were.
He had just yawned for about the tenth time when he saw Frank walk through the double doors.
"Dad!" He waved him over.
"Where's Joe?" Frank asked immediately, sounding concerned.
"He's fell asleep in one of the exam rooms while waiting for the doctor. They gave him some pain meds so they could take x-rays, but that's all I know."
"How's Devon been handling all this?" Frank took his granddaughter from his eldest son, when he realized she was awake.
"She's good when she's asleep," was all Danny could think to say. "Other than that, she's really gotten to where she hates her car seat."
"I can imagine after that long a trip," Frank bounced her lightly in his arms.
"She has been doing better since we got here," Danny admitted.
"She'll be doing even better once you get her home and she gets a warm bath. Won't you Devon," Frank held her up in front of him.
Devon gurgled at him, but it was interrupted by a yawn.
"Okay," Frank handed her back to her daddy. "I'll stay with Joe, you go ahead and get Devon and Jamie home." He noticed how Jamie was still asleep in his chair.
"Okay," Danny nodded, as he started to gather Devon's things. "Oh, and if you need anything ask for Linda. She's taking care of Joe."
Frank nodded, and started to walk away to check on his injured son, when he stopped short.
"Listen, Danny," he took a few steps back. "Thanks for taking care of things with Joe today. I know it couldn't have been easy with Devon."
"It was nothing," Danny assured him.
"We'll get the kids home and to bed and you can get off duty for a couple hours."
"You mean at least until Devon wakes up wanting a bottle?"
"Give her one just before you go to bed and maybe you'll get more than two hours of sleep at one time," Frank suggested.
"I'll give a try," Danny was willing to try almost anything for even just a little more sleep than he usually got.
"Mr. Reagan," Linda interrupted. "The doctors in with Joe."
"I'll call you and let you know what's going on," Frank told Danny, before following Linda to Joes room.
Danny fastened Devon in her seat, and placed it on one of the hospital chairs before shaking Jamie awake.
XXXXXXXX
The traffic wasn't nearly as bad as it had been, due to the lateness in the hour, allowing them to get to Bay Ridge sooner than usual.
Mary was up and waiting for them, with news that Joe indeed had a knee fracture, but as long as he kept the brace on, his leg elevated, and took the medication the doctor was prescribing him, as well as the appropriate therapy at the right time, they would try to get by without surgery.
"Dads bringing him home with him, so I got his room straightened."
"I figured he would be," Danny nodded. "Jamie's bringing his stuff from his trip in."
"I'll take Devon and get her ready for bed," Mary took her granddaughter in his arm. "So you can help your dad get Joe up the stairs."
"I forgot about the stairs," Danny moaned.
"We'll just have to make do," Mary sounded as if she was just glad her son didn't have to have surgery. "Now I'm going to go give Devon a bath."
"That leaves me to roam the kitchen," Danny was beginning to notice how hungry he was, now that things were slowly beginning to return to normal.
"Good idea," Jamie followed him.
"You know we're going to have to help out with Joe while he's here," Danny said sitting at the kitchen table where he was getting a snack.
"A lot," Jamie agreed. Revealing that he was thinking the same as his eldest brother. "Especially when Dads not here."
"Mhmm," Danny nodded, just as they heard Frank coming through the door, Joe leaning partially on him as well as on his crutch, his injured leg in a brace.
"A little help!" Frank called.
"We're coming!" Danny and Jamie hurried out of the kitchen.
"Stairs are going to be fun," Jamie said when they reached the foot of the stairs.
"Augh," Joe moaned. Thinking of the pain he was already enduring, and he could only imagine how that was going to increase once he was going in a manner of elevation.
"Just don't put any weight on it," Frank advised.
"Definitely not planning on it," Joe moaned.
It took awhile, but eventually they got Joe settled and were able to get themselves to bed. It was already 1:00 am, but thanks to grandma, Devon had already been asleep for more than an hour. Danny was exhausted and literally fell into bed, with every intention of taking the day off work. It wasn't intentional, wanting to save every available day off he could to take care of Devon when she needed him. But sometimes plans changed when you weren't expecting it like when other members of the family needed you, and you had to take your roll as big brother serious.
Hope you all enjoyed the update, I worked hard on this story but enjoyed it... Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews...JusticeStandsTRUE