With all writing about Jamie's being dead, and RL trying to kill me as well, I couldn't really find it in me to write another chapter. And then "Superheros" by riowolf came on, and… I knew that I had to update again, and at the same time I knew and know that her way to describe the brothers and Erin as kids just can't be reached. So I guess that this story will end a bit sooner than I planned at the start. There's two chapters left to come about the childhood (including a story mi guard gave me the idea to, and I hope I'll get it right), and then there'll be something about Danny's wedding, Nicky's birth (so both siblings get their share somehow), Mary's death, probably the introduction of Sydney, and Joe's death of course, since that when Danny's got to face the truth: He'll never stop worrying about the little one.
Actually I'm pretty much overwhelmed by what I read here, I've never seen a fandom that vivid, colorful and emotional as this. This is amazing (sorry, that had to be said once).
To you guys, and to the Reagan family!

"Jamie? Can I come in?" Danny called softly. It was his last evening home. Tomorrow he'd head over to the army camp, and five weeks from now he'd be gone from the continent.
The only thing heard from inside was Jamie sobbing, and Danny cursed himself quietly. He had screwed up today. Not only with Jamie.
"He won't answer you right now, he's too afraid he'll cry for real if he sees you." Danny turned around. He'd screwed up with Erin, too. "I…"
"For my part at least, I'd be afraid to cry. And that this would be the last picture you had from me." She tried a smile but failed, and as she moved closer Danny could see her eyes were red, though she quickly looked away as she knocked on the door.
"Jamie, come on, get out of here!" She waited for a second, then hit the wood with her flat hand. "Get out!" She threw a look back to Danny who shook his head. "It's okay, don't force him if he…"
"Jamison Thomas Reagan, open that damn door now!"
"You really still think that works?" Joe came up behind them, sighing. Nevertheless he, too, hit the door. "Jamie, come on! We've got to talk to you. Please?"

Silence. Danny swallowed. As Joe raised his hand again he stopped him. "Let him be, Joe. Either way I've gotta talk to you guys, too." He looked from one to the other. "I'm sorry for what I said. Not only today but… all the time. I love you, you know that?"
Both quickly nodded and Danny smiled relieved as he reached out for his sibling's hands. They took them, and Joe even reached for Erin's free hand to close the circle. Danny smiled at the sight. Even more so as Joe looked at him questioningly. The fifteen-year-old had taken the challenge to be the oldest brother from now on, even Erin was still one year his senior.
"You need to take care of them for me, okay, Joe?"
"But who's gonna take care of me as long as you're away?" The words came over Joe's lips only reluctantly. He hated to say, to admit even to himself, how much he still needed his big brother. Danny took hold of Joe's shoulders, forcing him to look at him. "You're not alone, Joe. No matter what's going to happen, no matter where I am, you will never be alone. Understood?"
"That's not an answer." Joe was unimpressed. "Who's there for taking care of you, normally?" He frowned as he tried to find the answer to his own question. "There's nobody you have, is it?" New approval shone in his eyes, and Danny couldn't help but smile. "That's not true."
"Yes, it is." Joe was very earnest now. "You're all alone with us, and we're not really helpful always. I'm sorry." He swallowed. "I don't think I can do this, Danny. You're the hero in this family!"
"Joe, shut up!" Sighing, Danny hugged his little brother, more to stop him than anything else, and he was half expecting Joe would wind out of the embrace at once. As the younger one held him close instead Danny felt his heart widen with both pride and love. "I'm not alone" he whispered, "I couldn't do this if I was alone. But I'm not. I got you. You and Erin and Jamie and mom and dad and grandpa, and grandma…" He carefully pulled back but still held Joe on arm's length, "Joe family's no one-track road. I'm grateful every day to have you. I know I can trust you, and I know you will take care of the others, probably better than I can. Jamie's looking up to you, and Erin is, too. In a way she'll never look up to me, come on!" Joe laughed, and Danny fell in happily. "You're gonna do this, Joe. I know you can. I'm proud of you. And I love you, don't forget that, okay?"

At least one he had managed to get a good goodbye with. Danny sighed. "I'm really sorry, Erin."
Erin shrugged. Her fake smile was better now than before, but it was still fake. "You're a jerk, Danny, I know that. It's okay." She squeezed Danny's hand. "Just make sure you'll come back the same jerk you leave as."
Danny chuckled. "Did you really say that? Joe, you're a witness, she just said that!"

"I…" Erin shook her head disapprovingly, but after a quick glance to Danny she changed the rest of what she'd wanted to say. "You have nothing against me! I never said that!"
"Yes, you did, I'm a witness! You better get a lawyer, Erin!"
"Oh I will… and I've gotta be the lawyer myself!"
"Lawyer…" Danny looked his sister up and down. "Yes, maybe you will. But don't be such a jackass as lawyer Crowley, okay?"
"Why's Crowley a jackass? I like him!"
They all turned around as Jamie finally left his room. His face was red but dry, as if he had just wiped the last tears off – and not gently.
"Hey, Jamie!" Danny walked over to his little brother. "Thanks for coming out."
Jamie shrugged. "I'm still mad at you."
Danny nodded. "I know. I you're right to be mad at me, it's just…" He knelt down so he was almost at eye's height with his baby brother, "I want you to know that I didn't mean it, okay? I know school's a big deal. And you've got every right to be nervous about it, just… don't be afraid, okay? You're gonna do this."
Jamie shrugged again, biting his lower lip. He was at the edge of crying again, and Danny didn't know if he could stand having Jamie crying without crying himself. It was almost ridiculous how sentimental he had become in the past days, but he couldn't help it. He loved his family more than he had thought he could love, actually – them and Linda, but if he thought about her he surely would cry. If only she waited for him… but wasn't that egoistical? Shouldn't he just wish her a wonderful life, and that she'd be happy with whoever there was to love her?

The doorbell rang, and suddenly Jamie's face lit up. "Okay" he said quickly and grabbed Danny's hand, "come on, let's see who's there."
Erin and Danny looked at each other, then at Joe, then altogether shook their heads. Danny turned to Jamie again. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"
Jamie shook his head, pulling Danny downstairs. "I forgive you", he declared solemnly, "now come on! She's there!"

"She?" Erin and Joe quickly followed them down.
Danny frowned. "Jamie, what do you…"

"Hey, Jamie! Hey, Danny!" Linda stood in the kitchen, smiling shyly. Danny started smiling immediately. She was so beautiful, he almost couldn't believe she was here, at his home, to see him.
"Hey, Linda. You're… it's good to see you, how…"
"Jamie called me." Linda smiled at the little one who went straight into her arms now, and gently tousled his hair. "Hey, Erin, hey, Joe!"
Joe couldn't stop laughing, he just nodded at the girl his big brother had fallen for. Erin smiled, too. "Hey, Linda. Jamie, come on!" Obediently Jamie left Linda's arms to join his sister, but Danny stopped him. "Jamie? How did you…"
"Mom told me how to use the phone" the little one beamed, "you said you love her and you want to marry her when you come back… I wanted you to remember that you really need to come back, cause if you don't, I'm gonna marry Linda myself!"
The others laughed, Linda blushing, as Danny knelt again down with tears in his eyes to hug his little brother. "Thank you, Jamie."
"Love you, Danny."
"I love you too, little one."