"You took a hard hit to the head, Eddie."
Eddie Janko groaned. The voice, despite sounding as if it were coming from underwater, was familiar.
She blinked slowly, trying to get her eyes to focus. Frank Reagan's face swam into view.
"Commissioner," she mumbled, lifting her hand to touch at her head.
Frank's hand shot out to grab her hand, "Don't touch. You're wrapped up pretty good."
Eddie squinted against the bright hospital lights, "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" She could hear the fatherly concern in her boyfriend's father's voice. And maybe it was the searing pain in her head, but tears filled her eyes.
"No," she said quietly, "All I remember is getting a call about a domestic."
Frank sighed, "From what I can piece together, Eddie, you went to the domestic without backup."
Eddie winced at the rebuke in his tone. She vaguely remembered that. Since Jamie was working an undercover, she was supposed to be working with a temporary partner. Too bad he sucked.
"You took a crowbar to the head," Frank continued, "The EMTs stopped the bleeding, but you have 25 stitches and a black eye."
Eddie winced. She gently prodded at her eye and yep, definitely bruised.
"Uh, no offense, sir," Eddie sighed, "But, why are you here?"
Frank laughed, "No need to call me 'sir', Eddie."
"Sorry, si-Frank," Eddie corrected herself.
"To answer your question," Frank continued, "I'm the only Reagan available. Danny and Detective Baez on on a detail escorting Secretary of State McCord to her meetings with the UN. Linda is on shift, Erin is in court, and Pop is restricted driving duty until his wrist heals up."
Eddie nodded carefully, "Oh. Well, thank you for getting me."
Frank smiled, "My pleasure. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah," Eddie carefully swung her legs off the bed, "I'm definitely ready to get out of here."
She accepted her jacket from Frank and gently eased into it.
"I already signed you out," Frank explained, holding onto Eddie's elbow so she was balanced as they walked out of the hospital.
"Thank you," Eddie said quietly. Her head was throbbing and she was focusing on walking in a straight line, "You really didn't have to do all this for me. I would've made my way back to my place."
She felt awkward and self-conscious waking out of the hospital with the police commissioner holding her upright. Eddie figured that she could be with Jamie for the rest of her life and being around Frank would always be awkward.
Frank looked down at Eddie, "That's the best part of being in this family. You will always have help."
Eddie told herself that the tears that sprang to her eyes were from the hit she took to the head.
A/N: I know this one is kind of short, but I think it did what I wanted it to do. I hope you guys all enjoy this! And please, drop me a review to let me know what your thoughts are.
Just two days until a new episode! :D