Disclaimer: I do not own or make any money from Blue Bloods or the use of their characters. Special thanks to Werks for the beta.
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Jamie paced outside the boardroom where Danny's reinstatement hearing was being conducted. The brothers had worked nearly nonstop getting Danny ready for the intense physical review he would have to endure to be restored to duty. Jamie knew his brother bled NYPD blue. He also knew that his heart would be crushed if he was denied the ability to return.
After nearly an hour, Danny finally emerged. He had asked for Jamie to be there and only Jamie. It felt strange; they weren't usually that close, but if Danny specifically asked for him to come here that day, he would be here with bells on.
"Well," Jamie asked holding his breath. "How did it go?"
Danny couldn't help but smile, "I'm back, Kid. I am back."
Jamie embraced his brother with more force than he ever thought possible. "I knew it, I knew we could do it!" Jamie appeared to be even more excited than Danny.
"Yes, we did it. I'm on a desk for the next month then I'll be back to full duty. I couldn't have done it without you and Linda… you two were my rocks through all of this." Danny's voice cracked a little.
"Well, you and I are gonna go get a beer, and it's on me. Just let me text Eddie, tell her the good news and we'll go down to the pub."
Jamie shot Eddie a happy text, "He's back!" it read, with a smiley face. "Beers at Crowley's, meet us?"
Eddie texted back, "Yes, don't tell him anything I will meet him there."
Jamie smiled, and they headed to the pub to celebrate. "Two pints of Stout," Jamie requested. "To Danny," Jamie said when the beers were served. "That stubborn streak finally paid off."
Danny clinked his glass with Jamie then they drank their beers. Eddie arrived ten minutes later and ordered a margarita. "How was it today, babe?" Jamie asked.
"Fine, the guys are all being a little protective after the tire thing," Eddie sighed. "Seems the entire precinct thinks Casey was the one behind it. Though if he was, wouldn't he have tried a little harder when he realized I wasn't even affected?"
Jamie sighed, "Perhaps he got scared off when every officer in the 12th started to stick up for you. And now you'll have Danny in the field to check up on things too."
Eddie smiled, "I'm so happy for you Danny," she replied. "Really I am, you two worked so hard. Linda must be ecstatic."
"Linda wasn't sure if she wanted me reinstated or not," Danny confessed. "She was pretty spooked."
"Yeah, I guess I could see that," Eddie said smiling at Jamie. "If something happened to Jamie like that, I don't know if I could go on living." She rubbed Jamie's arm and smiled at him.
"Don't jinx it," Jamie whispered. "I am safe, you are safe… we are healing from your ordeal, everything is going to be fine. Things are turning around for all of us." Jamie dropped a kiss on Eddie's head.
Danny smiled, "I'll drink to that, to trials, to triumph, and to improving my relationship with my kid brother more than I ever thought I could. Here's to the silver lining around this cloud." They clinked glasses, and each enjoyed a second drink.
Later that night, Danny and Linda sat in their bedroom talking. "So I'm on a desk for a few more weeks then back in the field. I worked hard for this, babe."
Linda sighed, "I know you did, Danny. I know you worked hard and I know how much it means to you. I don't want to stand between you and being a cop, but this was just a little too close Danny."
"I know it was," Danny sighed. "And I will definitely be more careful, babe. I promise you this." He held her tight, "Thank you for supporting me in this Lin. I couldn't have done this without you and Jamie, I really couldn't have done it."
Linda kissed him softly, "I love you, Danny. I just want you to be safe. I don't know if I can see you in a hospital bed again, I don't."
Danny held his wife tighter than he could ever remember doing. She was his life partner, his one and only. He took a deep breath, "Lin, if you ask… I'll say yes."
"I won't ask you Danny," Linda replied. "Not after you worked so hard. I won't ask you, not yet."
He smiled into her lips as he kissed her, "I love you," Danny murmured.
"Love you more," Linda replied lying back on their bed as Danny proved his love for her in a way he hadn't been able to for many months.
Across a few bridges and tunnels, Jamie and Eddie had just finished demonstrating their love in much the same way. The part of their relationship had changed since Eddie remembered her attack. It was even more expressive and free than before. Jamie held her in his arms, stroking her back. "You smell incredible," he sighed. "You know when I smell lavender now I immediately think about getting you into our bed?"
Eddie laughed, "I have the same thought when you shower with Irish Spring. Thank God Reynolds only buys that when it's on sale because otherwise I would be thinking about that every tour."
Jamie had to laugh at that one, "Well, I think I want you thinking about being safe on tour. If I need to switch soaps…" He laughed and tickled her sides.
Eddie threw her head back and laughed pulling Jamie close, she opened her arms to him and began to kiss him again. "I love you," Jamie whispered into her ear, his breath tickling hers. "I love you so much." He rolled off of her and pulled open the drawer.
It was still there and this moment it felt right. He pulled out the small velvet box and turned back to Eddie. "I have a gift for you…"
Eddie's eye fell on the velvet box and her breath caught, "Jamie?"
He slid out of bed, pulling on his robe before he knelt by her side. "I planned to do this over a romantic dinner or in Central Park but then I realized that just isn't us. We are pizza and beer, darts and pretzels, making love and pillow talk. It feels only right now so.." Jamie took a deep breath and opened the box revealing a gorgeous square cut diamond ring. "I'm going to ask you now. Edit Janko, will you be my wife?"