G is for Gauze
Jamie winced as he climbed the steps to the front door. His head throbbed and the gauze pad taped to his head was uncomfortable. He pushed open the door and removed his coat. Gauze was wrapped around his bicep. There was red starting to show on that one, and he made a mental note to change it. Frank looked up from his paper.
"Hey Jamie."
"Hi Dad." It hurt Jamie's head to talk. He sat sown in a chair close to Frank.
"How are you? I got a call telling me what happened."
"I'm good. Head still hurts, but I'll be fine."
"You look tired."
"Yea, I'm beat."
"You know Danny is going to be pissed when he finds out that you didn't call him."
"He'll get over it. Besides I'm fine." Frank glanced at Jamie and then back at his paper.
"Erin's in the kitchen, preparing dinner." Jamie stood slowly and made his way to the kitchen. Erin was cutting up some vegetables.
"Hey Sis, need any help?"
"Yea, um you could finish cutting these vegetables while I start the pasta." Erin turned to look at Jamie. Her smile instantly disappeared. "What happened?"
"Nothing too bad."
"Jamie." He turned to look at her.
"I'm fine."
"That didn't answer my question." Jamie sighed and explained what happened. Erin rested a hand on Jamie's shoulder when he finished.
"You got him right?"
"Yes, he is safely behind bars."
"Good, now you go sit, I will finish dinner." Jamie made his way to the living room and switched on the T.V. He was flipping through channels when Danny came in, with his family.
"Hey Dad." Frank looked up at his son, and motioned towards Jamie. Danny walked towards the living room and sat down next to him.
"Hey kid." Jamie said hi and tried to hide the right side of his head. "So what happened today?"
"Not much, just caught so guys for vandalism and assault of a police officer."
"Who'd they assault?"
"Me." Jamie thought the best way to tell Danny was to bluntly state it.
"What?" Danny reached an arm out to Jamie. "Did they hurt you?" Jamie turned to look at Danny.
"Not too bad."
"What'd they do?" Danny motioned towards the gauze pad on Jamie's forehead.
"Hit me with a beer bottle."
"What about your arm."
"Grazed with a bullet."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"Because I can take care of myself."
"Next time call me."
"Yea, sure."
"I mean it Jamie." Danny gave Jamie a quick hug. "Next time it may not be such minor injuries. Call me whenever you get hurt." Jamie looked at Danny.
"I get that you care, but sometimes I can do things myself."
"I just don't want to lose you kid."
"Dinner!" Erin called from the dining room.
"You're not going to Danny, now let's eat." Danny watched Jamie walk away and was glad that his brother was still with him. He couldn't survive if he had to lose another brother.