A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! See the first chapter for disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review. :)
Chapter Twelve
While her older brother was definitely asleep on the cot, her younger brother was definitely awake but lying with his eyes closed. She hesitated, not sure what he was going to say or do as she walked into his room.
"M'not gonna bite," he muttered quietly, though he didn't open his eyes.
"I know," she replied softly as she took a few steps closer to the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Everything hurts," he told her.
She nodded, noting the underlying anger in his voice. "Did the doctor come in?"
"Shined a damn light in my damn eyes for five damn minutes. After I told him I had a damn headache."
She frowned slightly. "They have to check your pupils."
"Not for five damn minutes, though. How long does it really take? Oh look, they move. They're equal. We're done. Thirty seconds tops."
Erin shook her head as she rolled her eyes slightly. "I'm sorry you have a headache," she told him softly.
Jamie didn't respond.
"I see Danny's here," she continued as she sat down in the chair beside the bed. Normally, she would've sat down on the bed, but she didn't want to push Jamie when he was already in a bad mood.
"Yeah," he said. "Can't get rid of him, like errant super glue."
"I heard that," Danny muttered in his sleep.
"Yeah, but you won't remember that when you wake up."
Danny snored in response.
"I forgot he does that," Erin said with a smile.
"He's been mumbling on and off for the last hour," Jamie replied. "He says some weird stuff."
Erin nodded. "Remember the time that we recorded him?"
Jamie smiled slightly, opening his eyes to look at Erin. "I still say we should've turned that into America's Funniest Home Videos."
She chuckled. "Yeah, we could've taken home top prize."
"M'not a piece of meat," Danny mumbled.
Jamie and Erin looked at each other before laughing softly.
Jamie scrubbed his free hand over his face, rubbing his eyes slightly. "Damn, I must look as bad as I feel, huh?" he said.
"You looked worse before," she told him.
"Would it kill them to brush a patient's hair once in a while?"
"You want a comb and a mirror?"
He shook his head. "It's held up this long. A little longer won't kill it."
She nodded. "And, just so you know, Linda brushed your hair almost every day. It was worse."
"I don't even want to know." He scratched his forehead. "Little dark, wasn't it?"
"Your hair?" At his nod, she said, "Yeah, it was."
"I need a shower to get the damn blood out, but I got a damn cast," he grumbled.
"Shut up, m'tryin' to sleep," Danny muttered, rolling over.
"Go home and sleep," Jamie countered.
"Bite me."
"He keeps this up, I'm throwing a damn pillow," Jamie said to Erin.
"Now, now, let's not fight," Erin replied.
"I'm not talking about fighting. I'm talking about throwing a pillow at him. Because that would be funny."
"It would until he killed you."
He shrugged. "He won't kill me. Not while I'm here."
She smiled sadly.
"Hey, don't start," he warned. "Look, I'm awake. I'm talking. I'm alright. Yeah, everything hurts, but I'll be fine."
"Shouldn't I be the one comforting you?" she said softly.
He snorted. "Yeah, I guess, but you're the one who looks like she wants to cry, so I figured I'd just step in here."
She frowned.
"Would a hug make you feel better?" he asked, giving her a mildly sarcastic look.
"Okay, now you're just patronizing me," she replied, smiling slightly.
"Touché."
"Stop talkin' 'bout tushies," Danny piped up.
"Should we get him ear plugs?" Jamie asked Erin. "I'm sure they could find some somewhere around here."
She shook her head. "He'd probably still keep talking."
"True, but at least it wouldn't be dead-asleep commentary hour."
"Better than drunken commentary hour."
Jamie laughed softly. "Oh, I forgot about drunken commentary hour."
Erin smiled.
He shook his head, scratching his chest before scratching his head. "I hate burns," he commented. "Because not only do they hurt like hell, but they're also so damn itchy."
"Yeah," she replied softly as he picked at his dressings. "Keep that up, and Linda will put mittens on your hands."
"Oh, bring it on. Mittens can come off easily."
"Not if she duct tapes them on."
Jamie shrugged. "I like a challenge."
Erin smiled wider, shaking her head. "Yeah, you're fine," she said softly.
But her heart knew he wasn't. She saw this for what it was- his way of hiding, avoiding dealing with what just happened. And for now, she was happy to indulge him, but that wasn't going to last much longer. Sooner or later, he was going to have to come to terms with what happened. And they would all be there for him.
As long as he didn't shut them out.
Danny rolled over as he woke up, stretching his tired limbs. "Hey, sis," he said softly. "When did you get here?"
"Some time before you told me to bite you," Jamie replied bitterly.
Danny looked at his younger brother curiously. "I did what?"
Erin laughed.