A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! They mean a lot to me. And I'm so sorry for the long delay between updates... life has gotten in the way a bit, and the muses for this story are being difficult... Anyway, see the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review. :)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tony was sitting behind his desk when a knock sounded against his door. "Come in," he said softly.

The door opened, and Jamie slowly made his way in with only one of his crutches. "Hey Sarge," he said quietly.

"Reagan. Down to one, huh?"

"Lost the other one somewhere, figured I'd come down and report it stolen."

Tony smirked.

Jamie maneuvered his way further into the office, plopping down in one of the chairs.

"You doin' alright?" Tony asked.

Jamie shrugged. "More or less," he replied.

"How's the leg?"

"Healing up. Got another appointment next week to check things out. Figured out how to do stairs and everything with just one, so I figured why keep using two?"

Tony shook his head. "Did your physical therapist say you could go down to just one?"

Jamie shrugged again. "Does it matter?" he countered.

"Actually, it does," Tony replied. "You don't wanna rush things, you know."

"Linda tells me that all the time."

"You should listen to her. She's a smart woman."

Jamie tilted his head with a masked smirk. "Still married to Danny."

Tony chuckled softly, shaking his head again as he leaned back in his chair. "So, what's the more and what's the less?" he asked.

Jamie furrowed his brow. "Huh?"

"You said you were more or less alright. What's the more, and what's the less?"

Jamie shook his head slightly. "I didn't mean it like that."

"How did you mean it?"

"Nothin'."

Tony sat forward somewhat. "Did you forget I rode along with you for two years?" he asked. "I know you, Jamie. I know when things aren't right."

"Should they be?" Jamie asked softly.

Tony shrugged. "You tell me."

"Everyone else seems to have an opinion. You don't?"

"I'm thinkin' my opinion doesn't matter."

Jamie scoffed. "Since when?"

Tony shifted in his chair again, leaning onto his desk. "Since this isn't about everyone else. This is about you, and what you're thinkin'. It ain't up to anyone else how things should be. It's up to you."

Jamie didn't say anything.

"It's alright if things aren't alright," Tony continued. "But no one else can say how it should be."

Jamie nodded, remaining silent for a few moments before saying, "you becomin' a therapist now?"

Tony smirked. "Someone's gotta keep your head on straight."

"Thought that was what I had Linda and Dad for."

"Someone other than the family you don't wanna listen to."

"Who says I don't wanna listen to them?"

Tony gestured at Jaime's solo crutch in lieu of an answer.

Jamie shrugged. "Fair enough."

"You can dance around the answer all you want, Jamie, but don't think I don't notice," Tony reminded him.

"I can't dance at all," Jamie replied.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

Jamie sighed softly. "What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

"That might make me unable to return."

Tony shook his head. "I don't make that decision, Jamie. The department shrink does, along with the captain. And your other doctors."

Jamie nodded, more to himself than to Tony, the older man noticed. Yet, the younger man remained silent.

So Tony said nothing.

"I should let you get back to work," Jamie said after a few minutes as he started to stand up.

Tony nodded. "Yeah, sure," he replied. "It's good to see you up and about. Heal up so you can come back, alright?"

Jamie nodded. "Take it easy, Sarge. Tell the family I said hi."

"Will do."

Jamie made his way out of Tony's office, leaving the older man to notice that Jamie had never answered his question. Which said more to Tony than any answer ever could have.