Yea! First new chapter of the new year. I hope you enjoy and I want to say thanks to ItsJustBecca, libllama, decadenceofmysoul, and monkeybaby for reviewing and thanks to everyone else for reading.

Contains references to and scenes from 3x10.

Throughout the following day at the school, Anna couldn't stop thinking of what was or could be happening to her brother. Most of her friends picked up on it but Derrek was the only one who questioned it. She sat down by her lonesome at a random table after getting her lunch and Derrek came over and sat down next to her. "What's going on?" Derrek asked gently. Anna refused to look at him. "Hey, you've been quiet, withdrawn, distracted, and out of it all day. Now you're sitting by yourself. I get it, sometimes you want to be left alone, but I get the feeling that's not what this is. Talk to me, Anna. You never have to face anything alone," Derrek said, reaching out and touching her hand.

"I know that but maybe you're wrong. Maybe I've just had a bad morning and don't want to make things worse for everyone around me," Anna said.

"Eight years," Derrek said softly.

"What?" Anna asked finally looking up. That's when Derrek saw how red her eyes were and how tired she looked.

He felt so bad for her so he spoke softly and gently. "Eight years of friendship, I'm not wrong. Please, tell me what's going on." Anna looked at him closely then told him about the accident. "I know that telling you that little boy is going to be fine isn't going to mean much, you're not going to believe it until he wakes up, but he's in the hands of competent, capable doctors. After everything you've been through, trusting in God is difficult but He is here, and He does care. Try to trust Him."

"I hope you're right, but I can't help worrying, he's still my little brother."

"I know, and I don't blame you. Me and the guys are here for support, just let us know what we can do."

"Thanks, Derrek." As Anna walked to pick Jack up after school she called Mr. Lou.

"Lou's Diner, you've got Lou."

"Mr. Lou, it's Anna. Reagan?"

"Of course. You disappeared yesterday, what happened?" He sounded concerned.

"My baby brother Sean was in an accident."

"Car accident?"

"No, uh, bicycle. He was biking and his back tire was clipped by another cyclist. He fell off and hit his head. There's a lot of swelling and he's in a coma and ..."

"Oh, God. Is he going to be okay?"

"I don't know," Anna answered.

"Look, you've been working your butt off and I appreciate that. Why don't you take the next two weeks off, minimum wage and a $150 bonus? Then I'll see you on the second of January. You've been so stressed out and distracted that you deserve a break."

"Maybe but—"

"Just, take the weekend at least. Tell me what you think on Tuesday, that's your next shift."

"Thank you." After getting Jack from his school, they walked home then she paced the living room, waiting for a ride to the hospital.

"How come you just don't take us?" Jack asked from his spot on the couch.

"Because I don't want to be grounded."

"But it's Sean. Our baby brother."

"I know, Jack. I didn't want to leave last night. We can't argue with Mom."

"But—"

"Kid, I know. I'd give anything to be there right now but we have to wait." Anna hated every ounce of insisting this to her little brother but knew she had to. "Why don't we go get changed? We'll be ready to go when someone shows up." Jack stared at her but eventually went upstairs. Anna followed. It didn't take long before they were back waiting in the living room. Jack sat down on the couch to watch his sister pace, which she continued to do as she stared out the window. Finally a horn blew out front as a sedan parked on the curb. "Jack, stay here."

"What if—" Jack started.

"Stay here unless I call for you," Anna said. Jack sighed but didn't move to follow her as she went out front. She bent to look in the window and saw her aunt. After checking the back seat, one could never be too careful, she turned back to the house to see Jack in the doorway. "Grab my bag and lock the door! Aunt Erin is here." Jack did as she asked, coming out to the car with her handbag. Anna slid into the front seat as Jack climbed in the back. Erin took them to Brooklyn and the hospital. They found Linda and Danny in Sean's room and Nicky and Henry on the bench outside it. Jack and Anna approached the room slowly and their parents looked to them. Anna looked at them hopefully but Linda shook her head.

"No change," Linda said.

Anna felt completely defeated. From all the research she had been doing, she knew the longer Sean was in a coma the less likely it was that he'd wake up without brain damage or at all. She couldn't say that in front of Jack and scare him. Instead she took a seat at Sean's bedside as Jack sat opposite her. "Did the doctor say anything?" Anna asked.

"No. Sometimes in these cases ..."

"Things just get really bad and there's no instant fix."

"I'm sorry, honey."

"It's not your fault, Mama. When it comes to the brain, especially children's brains, there's just so much that science doesn't know."

"How do you know that?"

"Internet."

"Sometimes, sweetheart, it's best to let the brain heal on its own."

Anna nodded and looked between her brothers. "Are you okay, Jack?"

"Yeah," he said softly.

Linda moved over to him and they settled in for a long night of waiting. As it got dark out, Linda sent Jack and Anna to get dinner. A few hours after that Anna heard Danny and Jamie talking outside the room. Something about bullets and a going out of business sale. Danny entered the room and went over to Jack. Anna couldn't hear what he was saying but Jack nodded. Danny touched his arm gently then walked to the bed. He laid a hand on Sean's and spoke to him so soft Anna didn't hear him. Then he came to Anna. He crouched in front of her and tried to smile. "I need you to look after your brothers and mother."

"Okay," Anna said softly. She swallowed hard as she looked back at Sean.

"This isn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done. He's going to be okay."

"But you're going back to work."

"What do you want me to do, Anna?" he asked. His tone was more curious than accusatory. "I'm not a doctor. I'd give anything for it to be me, just like I know you would. I gotta do what I'm good at. Right now that's hunting a monster."

"I just want him to be okay."

"Me too. I can't make that happen so we wait."

"Can you tell me what you're working on? What kind of monster you're chasing?"

"Don't worry about it. Look after Jack and Sean, I'll be back I promise." Danny stood, kissed the top of her head, then went to Linda. Anna sighed and leaned back in her chair. Minutes continued to tick by and Anna did her best to keep the worry and fear out of her head. They bedded down for the night; this time Linda allowed them to stay the night. Anna tried hard to fall asleep like her mom and brother but nothing she tried worked so she put in her headphones and played a few games on her phone. Long after her brother fell asleep and as her mom dozed, Anna got up and walked into the hall. The rest of the family had gone home so no one bothered her as she called her dad, not realizing how late it was. "Reagan," Danny answered.

"Hey, Daddy," Anna said softly.

"Anna?" he asked confused. "It's two o'clock in the morning. You should be asleep."

"I know but I can't. Tried, but can't."

It didn't slip past Danny the exact reason why Anna couldn't sleep. Sometimes she was too much like him. "It's not your fault."

"You keep saying that. Not sure I believe you." Anna went quiet. "Can you tell me about your case? It may not help me sleep but it'll stop me from thinking it's all my fault."

"Anna," Danny said.

"He's my baby brother. I'm supposed to protect him and I failed."

Danny gave in. "What have you read about the highway sniper?"

"The guy who has been shooting people on the highway? Three victims so far. High powered rifle. I think it was .223 rounds."

"Basically."

"Do you have anything connecting the vics? The news says you don't."

"They get mail," Danny said.

"What do you know about the suspect?"

"Why am I telling my 16 year old kid this?"

"I can't sleep, I keep going over everything I've been told, imagining what happened and how it could have been different. Maybe if I can do something useful, I'll be able to sleep and stop blaming myself." Danny thought it over, fresh eyes could change things, and he had been about her age the first time his dad had given him more than just the general bare bones of a case. So he told her. "A health food store and eco-friendly bullets? That's a first. Not even my action shows came across that." Anna held quiet for a moment or two. "You know what else these guys have in common? They're all driving. I mean you said they were shot while they're driving on the highway right?'

"Yeah, but the cars weren't the same."

"Okay but they were traveling at 65-85 miles an hour. It's pretty difficult to locate, track, and shoot a particular person even with sniper training. I mean it'd be much easier to pick a random car because it offends them. I mean someone who's an eco-nut has to have a problem with high emission cars."

"High emission cars?"

"Cars that don't have high MPG's. Like my car, it gets less than 24 miles to the gallon. That makes it bad for the environment. I think there's also a tax against that kind of car."

"That could make sense. Why do you think it's your fault? Aside from the fact he's your little brother?"

"You still blame yourself for Uncle Joe's death?"

"Anna," he pushed.

"Past couple of weeks I've been busy. Really busy. You know how it goes, to get money for Christmas presents, you gotta work. Anyway, Sean's been asking me to spend time with him over the past couple weeks. Ever since I came back from Pittsburg really. I just kept pushing it off. Maybe next week, the week after, later. I thought he understood. Maybe if I had just taken the day off ..."

"You couldn't have changed anything. Don't wonder what if, Anna. There's nothing down that road. Kid, I know this hard. You love your little brother. Maybe you being there would have changed things, maybe it wouldn't have. All we can deal with now, is what is. Your brother needs you to stay strong and positive. That's how he's going to get through this. Be there for him now. Can you do that?" Danny asked.

Anna swallowed. "I can try. Do you really think he's going to be okay?"

"He's a Reagan, he'll be fine. Try to get some sleep, okay?"

"You too."

"I gotta go, kiddo. Love you," Danny said.

"Love you too," Anna answered. She hung up and went back into the hospital room to see there was still no change. Anna tried to settle her mind but it didn't work. She closed her eyes, propping her feet up on the bed and waited for morning.

"Anna," Linda said gently.

Anna blinked against the morning streaming in the window. "Morning Mama." Anna smiled then turned her gaze to her brother, her smile fading just as quick as it came. "No change?"

"Sorry," Linda apologized.

"What's taking so long? Please, explain this to me," Anna said desperately.

"Brain injuries are one of the most difficult injuries to diagnose and treat. Mostly because it's soft tissue surrounded by bone. Like your liver however, it's also really good at healing itself, it just takes time."

"How much time?"

"For Sean, I don't know. Could be hours, could be days."

"Not what I wanted to hear, Mama."

"I know. I didn't want to have to say it either. Truth is, sometimes it's best to let your body heal itself and that takes time. It's the best we can do for him right now. Why don't you go get something to eat? Grandpa already took Jack."

"Grampa was here?" Anna asked brightly.

"Henry."

"Oh."

"You know Frank would be here if he could."

Anna nodded, grabbed her bag, and went to the cafeteria to get a slice of toast. She ate it slowly then went back to Sean's room. She and Jack passed the day by playing cards and a few games on Anna' phone. By dinner time there was still no change. Danny called just after eight and he and Linda talked for a bit then she put him on speaker so he could hear their bedtime prayers. Linda held both Jack's and Sean's hands as Anna held Sean's other hand between both of hers. They said their prayer then Danny had to go. They again bedded down for the night, a long, sleepless night and Jamie dropped by in the morning to take the kids to church. Anna wanted to protest but knew her mom wouldn't let her skip out unless she was the one in the bed so she begrudgingly followed her brother and uncle out of the room to the parking garage. The priest took a moment out of his normally busy mass to say a short prayer for Sean then personally offered to continue to pray as well as keep the boy in his thoughts.

It was yet another long day of waiting with no physical sigh of change from Sean though tests had shown the swelling had gone down a bit. For dinner they had Chinese takeout but Anna didn't eat much, not feeling very hungry. The guilt she felt in the pit of her stomach was outweighing nearly every other feeling. The only thing that was probably stronger was the fear of him not getting better. She picked at her chicken until finally Linda took pity on her and let her up from the table. She bolted back to Sean's room and carefully sat on the edge of the bed, taking his hand and leaning close. "I don't know if you can hear me," she whispered, "The doctors say you might be able to and that talking to you can help. If you can then listen up. I love you, Sean, and I don't know how I can ever live without you. Please, don't make me. It was hard enough losing Uncle Joe but my own brother. I need you, Sean. You can drive me crazier than the Mad Hatter but I wouldn't trade that for the world. I know that sometimes it doesn't feel like I want you around but that's the way teenage girls are. Would you like me any better, could you, if I was nice to you all the time? If that's what it takes for you to come back to us then give me some sort of sign. I'll do anything. Please. Anything you want; just let me know. I need my little brother. We all need you, Sean," Anna begged. She watched her brother but there was no change. She leaned down and rested her head on his shoulder.

When Danny stepped into the doorway his heart broke. Not just because his little boy was in that bed but also because of the sight of his daughter holding tight to his son's hand, leaning over to him. Anna brushed Sean's hair back then gently kissed his forehead before standing up and sitting back down in her chair by the bed. Danny wanted to say something to his little girl, make her feel better or at the very least, not so upset about the situation, but knew there wasn't much he could say, so instead it was best to pretend he hadn't seen the display. He entered the room and took the spot his daughter had just vacated. "Thanks, kid," Danny said.

"For what?" Anna asked confused.

"You were right, it was about the cars. They were all gas-guzzlers."

"Eco-nuts," Anna said. She looked back at her brother. "Dad, is he going to be okay?"

The desperation in her eyes sent a shot straight down his spine. He often referred to as his little girl and did see that six year old she used to be from time to time, but now, looking into those big brown eyes, she looked more scared and smaller than she had been in years. Danny took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I will do everything in my power to make sure he is," Danny said. He wasn't sure what he could actually do about it but knew sometimes, a little reassurance went a long way. "I know it's been a while since you've slept in your own bed, and I understand that you don't want to, but your mom is going to take you and Jack home so you can."

"Dad."

"I know," he told her as gently as he could. "You have school in the morning and you need a shower. I'm going to stay here and the instant anything changes, I will call you. Go on. Update your friends and Sofie. I know they're worried too. I'll keep an eye on him. You told me you've never felt safer than when you're with me. If I can keep you safe, can't I do the same for your brother?" Danny asked. Anna took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Then she nodded. He had a point. She had always felt safe when he was there to look after her, so now wouldn't be any different. He might even be more protective because it was his baby. Anna stood as she stared at her dad. He stood as well and pulled her into his arms. She gripped the back of his shirt and held him tight trying to wash away her worries. It didn't really work though. "I got him, I promise."

"Anna," Linda said gently from the doorway.

"Coming," she sniffled. She stepped back, wiped her eyes, then leaned down to say later to her brother.

Monday morning was a start to another week. While that meant that Christmas was one less week away, it meant another week of school and work. Well, work if she didn't take him up on his offer. She really didn't want to take him up on his offer, she could actually make more by working, depending on how generous people were and she had been told that Christmas was one of the most generous times of the year when it came to tips but she was also distracted by Sean's condition and because of end of the semester tests. Maybe he was right; maybe she should take the week off. She thought it over for the rest of the day. In her third period class she felt a peace settle over her. She wasn't sure what had caused it but hoped it was due to her brother and that he was okay. Of course with it being a while until lunch she couldn't check in with her mom to see, so she tried to put it out of her mind and focus on her work. After what seemed like forever, lunch arrived so Anna slipped into the bathroom and called her mom.

"Anna Reagan, you should be in class," he mom scolded the minute she picked up.

"It's lunch time, how's Sean?" There was no answer. Anna told her mom what happened. "I have to know, please."

"You're not working this afternoon, I will tell you in person. Your uncle will pick you up from Jack's school so meet him there."

"Mama!"

"After school. You have to focus. If I tell you he's okay, you're going to be too distracted by wanting to see and talk to him, but if I tell you something bad happened, you'll be too distracted by that too. Hopefully, not knowing will make it easier for you to focus."

"I hope you're right." They hung up and Anna went back to her table to see it had been overrun by Derrek, Jim, Beth, Becky, Todd, and a few of their other friends.

"Well?" Derrek asked.

"She refused to tell me. Said it's best to do it in person."

"Oh, Anna," Jim said sympathetically.

"It doesn't mean he's dead, Jim," Beth said.

Anna snorted, holding in a laugh. Everyone looked at her. "What? Everyone knows that Star Trek line."

"Since when are you a Trekkie or into Sci-Fi for that matter?"

"I'm not but again, everyone knows that line. Anyway, Beth's right. Not knowing either way will drive me crazy but it won't send me into a tailspin or have me counting minutes until the end of school. She's giving me the best chance to focus."

"Oh please, you've been distracted since it happened," Becky said.

"Not that we blame you, he's your brother," Todd added with a glare at the girl.

"Anna," Jim said, waiting for her full attention. When he had it, he continued, "This is bound to be the difficult for you. We just want you to know that we are behind you 100% of the way. Anything you need we're here."

"Thanks, Jim," Anna said. She smiled and he nodded. The bell signaled the end of lunch sending everyone on their spate ways to their next classes.

Now I'm sure some of you are going to say that Danny never would have explained that much detail about his case to his kid, in fact cops aren't supposed to talk about on going cases but I think their explanations above kinda make sense. If not leave me a note below and maybe I'll change something.