A/N: I appreciate the reviews! I apologize for the delay between updates. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please review. :)
Chapter Twenty-Four
Erin was working on paperwork in her office when her door opened. She glanced up as a crutch maneuvered its way in, followed by a foot. She stood up to open the door further, but Jamie beat her to it, slipping in and closing the door behind him.
"Hey," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"I would've brought coffee, but I can't hold it right now," he replied lightly.
She smiled.
"Actually, Heath asked me to come in, so I figured I'd drop by while I was here," he told her.
"Right," she said. "He'd want to go over the case."
Jamie nodded.
"How're you doing?"
He shrugged. "I'm hanging in there. Took a trip to the park earlier with Danny, Sean, and Jack."
She smiled again. "Sounds like a boy's day out."
"Cut short by the meeting with Heath at 4. Which, I was surprised he wanted to meet that late on a Friday…"
She shrugged slightly. "You're my brother. Heath knows you and knows the situation. He wants this closed as fast as you do."
He nodded, sitting down on her couch. She sat next to him as he placed the crutches against the arm of the couch.
"It is over, Jamie," she said softly.
"In a manner of speaking," he replied.
"I know. It's tough to deal with. But dealing with it, that's what you need to do. You can't just let it fester, Jamie."
He sighed slightly. "I know. Everyone keeps telling me that."
"Have you talked to anyone?"
"Danny, today in the park."
She nodded. "Did it help?"
"Didn't hurt too bad, I guess. I might never live it down, though."
Erin shook her head. "As much as Danny likes to tease, he won't hold it over you. He cares about you too much. We all do. We all just want to help."
"I know," Jamie replied softly.
She squeezed his shoulder gently.
"There's not much you guys can do, though," he added. "There's some stuff I just gotta work out on my own."
"But the heavier stuff, we're here for," she said. "There are gonna be days when it all feels like too much. We're here for them. And all the others."
"I know," he repeated. "But…"
"I understand your reluctance to talk," she interrupted. "Anyone who goes through something like you went through wouldn't want to talk about it. Just like Danny never talks about what happened overseas. And there are plenty of times when you'll be okay and fully capable of handling things on your own. But when it's too much…"
"I know," Jamie emphasized again.
Erin smiled slightly. "I'm sorry. I know that you know. It's just…"
"Big sister worries," he finished for her. "I appreciate it."
She nodded, hugging her younger brother gently. He returned the hug warmly.
"Now, you wanna tuck me in at night and read me a bedtime story tonight too?" he teased.
She rolled her eyes. "You need to stop hanging out with Danny so much," she told him.
He smiled.