And love
Chap 67 Trouble II
A/N: I didn't want to leave you all hanging for too long. Aren't I kind? Yup!
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Driving fast toward Stony Brook, Mal with her, Eddie is calling in the cavalry. She starts at the top. She has interrupted her father-in-law who was on a call.
"Frank Reagan is busy. Shall I interrupt?" Siri informs Eddie.
"Yes, interrupt!"
"Please verify interruption with the password."
'SHIT'! Thinking. "Mary Margaret Reagan!" (The ONE person who could, and would, interrupt Frank if need be)
"Password accepted, interrupting."
"Frank Reagan, who in hell is this?"
"Frank, it's Eddie. I need your help!"
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"Frank, Jamie has taken AJ and is driving to Stony Brook!"
"Eddie, slow down. What happened, my dear?"
"Well, AJ has been having these weird spells . . . it's like he zones out . . . then he comes back and he's fine-
"How long has this been happening?"
"A week or so. I hadn't mentioned it yet – HEY YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"Eddie! Calm down, what happened?"
"Some guy just tried to cut me off!"
"Sweetheart, what can I do for you? Is anyone with you in the car?"
"Yes, Mal. We were starting to talk about it and Jamie just exploded on me. What can I do, Frank?"
"DAMN . . . Eddie, Jamison had a terrible experience today. I'll get my detail and meet you there. He really needs you right now. Do not take anything he says or does at face value, please. I'll be there ASAP. Drive carefully sweetheart."
CALL ENDED
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45" later Frank Reagan enters the ER at Stony Brook medical center. He approaches the front desk, "I am Frank Reagan, NYPD PC, I believe-
"Your son and daughter-in-law are here. Yes sir, they are. Sorry, I recognize you. This officer can help you," the clerk motions to an approaching security officer.
"Commissioner," the officer holds out his hand. They shake and greet one another. He is recognized here too.
"Sir, your son, Lieutenant Jamison Reagan is in detention."
"WHAT!"
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30" PRIOR
Eddie is 10" out; "Mal, you heard grandpa?"
"Yes, mommy."
"Daddy needs us right now, something bad has happened. When we see him, he won't be your normal, loving daddy. Keep that in mind, please?"
"I will."
"Good girl," she reaches over to squeeze Mal's hand. Then back on the steering wheel.
STONY BROOK ER
Eddie pulls up, squeals to a stop at the valet parking desk. She and Mal jump out as 2 valet attendants rush up, each eager to help. Man are they eager!
She hands her keys to one of them and takes her ticket. If she were to look back, she would see a real Donny-brook over who gets to park the silver Porsche. A compromise is reached, w/o car damage.
Meanwhile Mal has both their back-packs in hand; they trot inside. They run to the front desk, both a little out of breath.
"I'm Eddie Reagan, is my son AJ here?" She pants.
"Ah . . . yes ma'am. Right this way," the clerk leads them to bed #10.
Eddie sweeps the curtain aside. She sees Jamie sitting on the bed, holding AJ in his arms. Her husband looks up; when he sees her his faces clouds over. "What the HELL are you doing here," he shouts. He clutches AJ closer to his chest.
"We are hereto help you and AJ, Jamie."
"You had your chance, but you frittered it away! Go away!" He is shouting now. AJ starts to cry.
Security is alerted, two officers hover just outside the cubicle.
Eddie reaches for AJ, realizing instantly that she made a wrong move.
"NO!" Jamie turns and lays AJ on the bed; Mal rushes to the other side and wraps her arms around her brother, protectively.
Jamie swiftly spins and slaps Eddie! So hard that she stumbles back, looses her balance and falls on her backside. "Oof, Damnit Reagan!" Eddie huffs.
Security intervenes; they help Eddie to her feet and one officer grasps Jamie's wrist to prevent another blow.
"Let me go you SOB!" (Sound it out!)
"Easy buddy!" The security officer maintains his firm grip, his partner joins him.
"You aren't my buddy, a-hole!"
"Ok, that's it!" The burley officer and his partner cuff Jamie and lead him off to a secure room.
Of course, Jamison is quite unhappy, and lets them know all about it. Too bad he doesn't have one of his dad's courtesy cards.
Eddie and Mal comfort AJ, Mal holds him close. They await a doctor.
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PRESENT
"Mrs. Reagan, I am doctor Winters, neurology. I believe I took care of a relative of yours. Henry Reagan?"
"GG?" Mal voices.
"Yes, Henry is my daughter's great grandfather." Eddie looks to Mal and nods.
"Ok, a pediatrician is coming soon to assess your little guy. I saw the name Reagan and thought I'd stop in; is there anything I can help you with?"
"I don't think so, thank you." Eddie is embarrassed at all the attention. 'I hope he didn't see or hear what just happened.'
"Oh, here is doctor Andrews. Sylvia, this little guy is AJ. I cared for his GG recently. Eddie, you are in great hands." Dr. Winters bows out.
"Eddie Reagan, I am Sylvia Andrews. I'm on call for peds; who do we have here?"
"This is my daughter Malina and my son AJ. Or Alexander Jonathon. He has been having some weird spells."
Sylvia shakes hands with mom and daughter. She ruffles AJ's hair gently and starts the exam. As she checks AJ over, she asks questions. She is impressed that mom lets Mal answer some, and at the precision of Mal's answers.
After the exam and all her questions, Dr. Andrews asks "Eddie, is your husband coming to be with us?"
Eddie glances at Mal, then looks down. "He . . . ah, is here. We had a shouting match and security asked him to step out-
Mal interrupts, "My daddy is a cop and something terrible happened today so he's not himself and-
"Enough baby," Eddie pulls her tight to her side and kisses the top of her head.
"Why don't we sit down in a small conference room and talk? Is AJ due for a feeding?"
"Yes, I'll deal with that."
"Breast feeding?"
"Yes."
"Cover-up?"
"Ok." Eddie gets set up and they talk.
"AJ's exam is completely normal. He is a normal 4-month-old boy. The spells sound like petit mal, or absence seizures-
"Epilepsy?" Eddie gasps; AJ loses the nipple and fusses.
"No, no, not epilepsy as we think about it. Let's take a little break while AJ finishes, ok?"
'Damn, I should have used another term!'*
Sylvia steps out and bumps (literally) into doc Winters. "Jim, a word?" *
"Sylvia, what's up?"
"Do you know if a 4-month-old can develop petit mal?"
"Well, AJ? AJ is quite young to have that. I'd say it's very doubtful. Is it confirmed?"
"No. I was going to counsel the family to keep a log of the spells. And see me, or their regular pediatrician in 1 month."
"Exactly what I'd do."
"Thanks!"
"Any time."
Sylvia returns after Mal grabs her attention, telling her that AJ is finished. "Eddie, I spoke briefly with doc Winters and we agree. AJ is very young to develop absence, though it can occur. Absence is a mild type of seizure; it does not cause brain damage or cognitive impairment-
"He'll be ok?"
"Yes, unless he develops other problems. This all by itself is benign."
"Does it lead to other things?"
"No. What you need to do is keep a log of the spells. Record the date, time of day, length of spell, what he was doing before, how he behaves afterward. Bring the log to an appointment in 1 month; either with me or his regular doctor."
"We don't have a peds doctor for him yet. At least one I like. Can you be AJ's doctor?"
"Patrick," Mal whispers.
"And his twin brother, Patrick?"
"I would be happy to do that. Here is my card, call Debbie tomorrow for an appointment." (Another Debbie)
"I will, thanks so much!"
Sylvia exits, an ER nurse enters. "Even though we are not calling AJ's spells seizures, here is a little booklet to use for recording his spells." (It says seizure log on the front)
"Thanks."
"Mal, it's time to find daddy!" Mommy and daughter walk hand in hand up to the front desk.
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TBC
Been there, done that!
Looking back, Dr. Winters didn't have a first name. Now he does.