A/N: Thank you for being so patient with me. As a person with a disability, I rely on support people to visit me regularly to help me continue to live independently. I recently decided to change from agency workers to employing my own staff. It is a lot more stressful than I imagined sad face but, hopefully, it will be worth it in the end (x fingers!)

The climate at the marina was one of organised chaos. Cops, firefighters, rescue volunteers and paramedics all intermingled, preparing themselves for the arrival of their patients. Some were there in an official capacity, readying fire hoses, preparing oxygen masks and other life-saving equipment, or directing the crowd. Others were there in an unofficial capacity, either because there were already there when the rescue squad arrived and simply wanted to know what was going on, or because they had been searching all afternoon and needed to see for themselves that the boys were alive.

The microclimate over the Reagans was one of tension and fear. Frank, Erin and Nicky had arrived first, having come with the rescue co-ordinator as soon as the call had come in.

Danny thought back to that call. Jamie had persuaded him and Linda to return to the house to collect some belongings that the boys would need once they were rescued. In reality, Danny knew that they were just being kept busy so they would go less insane while they waited for news. News that was a long time in coming.

**FLASHBACK**

Danny bolted from the car as soon as they reached the house. Linda stared dejectedly at his retreating back, feeling like she'd lost her whole family on that wave. Jamie climbed out of the car, alternately cursing his older brother's apparent coldness, and sympathising with him because knew how the older man ticked.

"C'mon," he gently led Linda through to the bedroom the boys were sharing. In the distance, they heard water running.

"He can't stand to be anywhere near me," Linda's tone faltered. "He's taking a shower, for goodness' sake!"

"Go join him, if you want," Jamie offered. Linda glared at him, horrified that he'd think of something like that at a time like this. "You guys need to spend some time together, processing what's happened, and pulling yourselves back together as a team before your boys get back. Go talk to Danny. I'll finish up here." As Linda left, Jamie finally interpreted the glare correctly. Despite the horrendous situation, Jamie chuckled. 'Oh well, I'll sort it out later.' He worked in silence gathering supplies in anticipation of a successful outcome. By the time he had loaded the car, the older couple had reappeared. Since they were clutching each other's hands, it seemed some small progress had been made.

"Coffee?" Jamie invited, passing them each a steaming cup.

Sipping the comforting liquid, each lost in their own thoughts, they were rudely pulled back to reality when Jamie's phone rang.

"Hi, Dad . . . Okay, sure, see you soon." Jamie clicked his phone off. "Let's go!" He ran for the door, then realised nobody was following him. He turned around and meet two pairs of round, terrified eyes. "Two boys have been found a couple of miles offshore. They are being brought to the marina by the Coastguard now!" he exclaimed with a hugely relieved grin, as he shooed them out with his arm.

**FLASHBACK**

"DADDY!" The sight and sound of his oldest son fighting like a rabid dog to get to him broke Danny out of his reverie. It was them! All doubt slipped away as he sprinted toward the distraught boy. Luckily, the EMT realised the lad would settle quickest in the arms of a loving family member, so she let him go. Father and son collided with enough force to send Danny to his knees, fat, wet, tears coursing down his drawn face.

"My precious boy, my darling son," Danny soothed, running his hands over the boy's body to convince himself Jack was unharmed, even though he knew, logically, the paramedic wouldn't have intentionally let an injured patient run away from her. "It's okay now. Daddy's here. Nothing's going to harm you now." Finally the pair calmed down to actually look at each other.

"Daddy." The word came out as a breath, as if Jack couldn't believe he was safe.

"Hi, Bud." The relieved father's smile horizontally split his face in half.

"Where's Mum?" The sodden boy asked.

"Not sure," Danny replied unthinkingly.

"But she was in the water!" Jack exclaimed, writhing to escape from his Dad's arms. He furiously whipped his head back and forth, searching for his missing parent. All he saw was his Uncle Jamie.

"She's safe," he mussed the boy's hair, seeking to assuage his fears. "You go with Dad and get yourself properly checked out, and I'll go find her."

"Promise?" the child whispered tiredly.

"Pinky swear." Jamie held out said digit, which was clasped by his nephew like a lifeline back to normality.

But there was no need to search for the missing mother. As soon as they rounded the back of the ambulance, the trio found Linda sitting on a stretcher holding an exhausted Sean close to her heart, his wan face swamped by a hissing oxygen mask. They were flanked by Frank, Erin and Nicky, the latter now dry and calm. The youngest Reagan could not even summon the energy to acknowledge the newcomers, his Dad and Uncle. Wordlessly, Danny plopped down beside Linda. He threw his arms around his family, and for the first time in an interminable eternity, the clan was reunited.