Chapter 10: Fathers and Daughters
Author: zeusfluff.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. Date Started: 10/17/24. Date Finished: 10/20/24. Enjoy!
"Dad. No more strawberry."
Cora looked at Jamie and frowned. Jamie sighed and nodded. He squeezed her hand and put the protein shake down on the folding tv tray/stand. Running a hand through her hair, he kissed her forehead.
"Your procedure is in a couple of days. We're going to get to the bottom of this. Ok?"
Cora sighed and glanced at the other two flavors of protein shakes that were sitting on the tray. One was chocolate and the other vanilla.
"I guess the chocolate might not be so bad."
Nodding, Jamie shook the can a few times and then opened it. He squeezed Cora's hand again and reassured her.
"I'll go slow, ok? I want you to keep swallowing. Good. Good girl. You're doing great honey. Almost done. Just this last little bit. Ok. All done."
Cora looked away from Jamie and her face turned a shade pink. Jamie gave Cora a concerned look.
"Are you ok ladybug?"
Cora tried to shrug her shoulders but found it difficult.
"At least I don't have to wear diapers anymore. I'm not a baby."
Jamie took a breath and let it out, weighing his words. Dealing with a teenager was sometimes tricky. Especially his own. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he looked her in the eye.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of honey. None of that is your fault. You weren't able to get out of bed. Now you can. You're getting better and stronger every single day. You're learning to walk again. You're strong honey."
Cora's nose flared.
"Relearning to walk daddy! I didn't ask for any of this!"
Jamie swallowed the lump in his throat and weighed his words again.
"I'm sorry, poor choice of words. I know you didn't ask for any of this. Those girls are spending time in Juvenile Detention. They now have records. Your mom has made it clear to each of their parents that they are held accountable for their child's actions. Those girls aren't getting out for a very long time. Now, do you want to go downstairs and see what everyone else is up to?"
Cora smiled a genuine smile for the first time in it seemed like forever.
"I'd like that daddy."
Jamie was about to pick Cora up but stopped himself.
"Oh, I forgot to put your chair downstairs. I'll be back."
Cora leaned up against her pillow and wiggled her fingers and did her best to move her arms. Things were slowly getting easier, but it was taking time. She looked up as Jamie knocked on her door.
"Ok ladybug, ready to go downstairs? We've decided its family game night."
Another smile came to Cora's face.
"You know I'm going to win."
Jamie let out a laugh and motioned at her.
"Ok ladybug, wrap your arms around my neck and I'll carry you downstairs. There we go. You ok?"
Cora slowly nodded her head.
"I'm good daddy. Let's go."
Jamie was careful as he carried Cora down the stairs. Setting her in the wheelchair over by the couch, he wheeled her into the dining room and there at the table sat the entire Reagan family. Cora's face lit up as she saw Henry sitting at the end of the table.
"Poppy. You came to family game night."
Henry smiled and started setting up the Monopoly board.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world ladybug. Now, which piece do you want?"
Cora smiled and pointed to the dog.
"I'll always take the dog poppy. By the way dad, can we get a dog?"
Jamie smirked and then laughed.
"Smooth how you slid that in there honey."
This got Patrick, Keena, Maisie and Kaitlyn going.
"Yes! Can we have a dog? Please?"
It was Maisie who looked up at Jamie with puppy dog eyes.
"Pleaase daddy? Can we get a really cute puppy? I want a lab! A yellow one! I want to name him Oscar!"
Keena was the next to speak up.
"NO! I want to name him Buster!"
Kaitlyn was the most like Jamie, she put her hands up and shook her head.
"Wait! Let's take a vote."
Maisie and Keena looked at Kaitlyn with their mouths open. Patrick made a face and shook his head.
"A vote? Who said anything about voting?"
Henry looked Patrick in the eye and spoke.
"Keep it civil Paddy."
Patrick gave Henry a look.
"I don't want to be called Paddy anymore poppy. I want either Pat or Patrick."
Eddie threw in her two cents.
"He thinks he's getting too old to be called Paddy anymore pop. He's going through some stuff right now."
Patrick sighed and looked to Cora.
"How about we let Cora decide. She's the oldest."
Cora put her Monopoly piece down on the board.
"Alright. If dad agrees to let us have a dog, and it will be a yellow lab, we all agree on that part at least, we are getting a girl dog, and her name is going to be Luna."
Now it was Jamie's turn to put his hands up and weighed his words before he spoke.
"Ok. Time out everybody. We can get a dog."
Cora smiled and managed to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Thanks dad."
When she let go, Jamie put his hands up and the rest of the kids quieted down as he gave the rest of his answer.
"But each of you will be responsible for him or her. That means cleaning up messes, feeding and watering, and taking them for walks. Got it?"
All five kids nodded their heads. Cora looked at everyone and smiled.
"Ok, who's ready to play? I'm going to win!"
Patrick looked at Cora and shook his head.
"No way! I'm going to win!"
Jamie turned his gaze to Erin and gave her a look.
"I wonder where they learned how to play like that?"
Erin only shrugged to deflect the attention back to the game in front of them.
"Ok enough stalling. Let's play!"
Cora picked up the dice and rolled.
"Ooh! A seven! Park place. Guess what Patrick, you owe me $600 rent! Pay up!"
Patrick took a few colorful bills from his pile and handed them to Cora.
"Here."
Cora beamed and took the colorful bills from her little brother.
"Thanks kid."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. It was Danny who smirked.
"That's my niece."
Jamie shook his head, and the family continued playing.
To Be Continued…
A/N: So, what'd you guys think?