Chapter 18: Counting our Blessings

Author: zeusfluff

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals. Date Started: 11/24/24. Date Finished: 11/30/24. Enjoy!

Eddie moved in the bed and groaned. She was still recovering from the surgery. Jamie had just come into the bedroom with a cup of hot tea.

"Easy babe. Here. I'll help you sit up. Ok, there we go. Would you like something to eat?"

Slowly shaking her head, Eddie blinked and looked at the steaming cup of tea Jamie had placed on the bedside table.

"Jamie, I don't think I can stomach much right now. How much longer am I going to have to take the Morphine. I want to bond with her on an intimate mother/baby level."

Jamie sighed and leaned in for a kiss. He'd move the entire Earth for her. He knew she was just frustrated. When they pulled apart, Jamie ran a hand down the side of her neck.

"Just a few more days of the Morphine, ok?"

Eddie gave a sigh, and her hands landed in her lap.

"Ok, but two more days."

Jamie was doing his best to negotiate with Eddie, but he didn't want her to become dependent on the Morphine either. He watched as her eyes began to get heavy.

"Doesn't hurt so much anymore. I am getting kind of hungry now…"

Jamie gave her a sympathetic smile and ran a hand through Eddie's hair.

"Have a little nap babe. I'll wake you in a couple of hours."

Eddie nodded but looked at Jamie with a serious look on her face.

"Who's taking care of Sadie?"

Jamie smirked and ran a hand through her hair one more time.

"Cora. She finished her homework and her chores and is reading to her."

Eddie smiled and closed her eyes.

"Cora is so good with her. So tired…"

Jamie nodded and kissed her forehead once more.

"Get some rest babe. I'll be here with something to eat when you wake up."

Eddie was fast asleep, and Jamie placed another soft kiss to her forehead. Shutting the light off, he turned the bedside lamp on and closed the bedroom door. He could hear Cora reading to Sadie in her room just two doors down. Smiling, he made his way over to it, knocking.

"How are the two of you doing in here?"

Cora looked up from her computer and smiled at Jamie.

"We're ok in here dad. She just fell asleep."

Jamie gently reached into the bassinet and ran an index finger over Sadie's tiny nose.

"Alright. Does she need a diaper change soon?"

Cora shook her head and smiled at her little sister.

"No. I had Patrick help me change her diaper."

Jamie smirked and shook his head.

"Your brother is going to have to help out more with the chores in the house. His mind seems to only be on baseball all of a sudden."

Cora sighed and nodded.

"Dad. He's 11. Baseball is his life."

Jamie sat on the edge of the bed.

"Onto some more serious talk. How are you doing with your schoolwork? You doing ok?"

Cora sighed and shook her head as she pulled out her math homework.

"My teacher sends my math homework in the mail. Dad I just don't get Algebra. How am I supposed to get into medical school if I can't get math right?"

Jamie felt a smile begin to form on his face.
"Medical school huh? What brought on this decision?"

Cora flashed Jamie a smile. Jamie never felt prouder.

"You saved my life dad. I want to help others. Plus, I've seen how much your job makes you happy."

Jamie reached over and closed Cora's laptop.

"It's a lot more than just bringing healthy babies into the world honey. I take care of both the women and their babies. Make sure they are both healthy. Sometimes it can be difficult. You have a lot of classes to take before you get into medical school. You have your general classes, pre-med and then medical school. It's a great goal honey. Your mom and I will support you and help you every step of the way. What are you getting in your other classes?"

Cora kept the smile on her face.

"All A's."

Jamie ruffled Cora's hair.

"Good grades will pay off. Now, how is your teacher mapping out these math problems for you?"

Cora ran a thumb against the right side of her nose. Jamie felt a small laugh escape his mouth. Taking a breath in and then letting it out, Cora began explaining the problem.

"So, Ms. Nelson explained the problem like this:

-5y3=2(4y12). I guess I don't know where to start."

Jamie took a pad of paper out and a pencil and wrote down the math problem. He then handed Cora the pad of paper and pencil. Taking the pencil from Jamie, she wrapped her hand around it rather than hold it with her thumb and index finger. Frowning, Jamie looked at Cora's hand.

"How long has your hand been like that ladybug?"

Cora looked at her hand and gave out a frustrated sigh.

"A couple of days."

Furrowing his eyebrows, Jamie pointed at the pencil.

"Try writing your name."

Giving another frustrated sigh, Cora nodded.

"Ok, but it's going to look like I'm in Kindergarten again."

Jamie placed a hand on Cora's shoulder.

"It's ok. Take your time. I'm not going to judge you."

Cora frowned as she barely finished writing down her first and middle name. Before handing the pad of paper back to her dad, she flipped a few pages back and showed him her name written in more steady form.

"See dad? I can't write."

Jamie shook his head no.

"You just did honey. This may be temporary. I want you to put the pencil down and can you squeeze my hand?"

Cora kept frowning and placed her hand in Jamie's. She squeezed his hand as hard as she could.

"I am. Why do you think I'm eating soup all the time? I can hold a bowl. It's hard to hold a spoon or a fork."

"You were right dad. I guess it was temporary."

Jamie held out his hand and Cora squeezed it as hard as she could. Nodding, Jamie smiled.

"That's more like it. I want to test something. Here. Catch."

Tossing a stuffed animal towards Cora, Jamie watched as she caught it. She squeezed it and smiled some more. Then he continued his conversation.

"I want to try one more thing. I want you to write your name again."

Cora felt the smile vanish from her face.

"Dad, we've been over this, I can't write my name the way I used to."

Jamie kissed Cora's forehead.

"We're counting our blessings ladybug. Just please humor me."

Nodding Cora took the pencil in her left hand holding it with her thumb and index finger, beginning to write. Her smile came back right away.

"My hand works! I can write again! My hand isn't swollen anymore either."

Jamie kissed Cora's forehead again and hadn't noticed Eddie in the doorway.

"That's great honey. Are you finally getting the hang of Algebra?"

Cora nodded and showed Eddie her problems she was working on.

"Yup. Thanks to dad. Now I'm on track to go to medical school."

Eddie shook her head.

"Whoa. Slow down there. There's plenty of time to think about going to medical school. For now, it's time you focus on being a kid. You know, hanging out with your friends, having sleepovers, going to the movies."

Cora nodded and set down her pad of paper with her math homework on it.

"Oh yeah. That. Which reminds me: mom, can Jessie and Natalie sleepover on Saturday?"

Eddie nodded and walked slowly into the room.

"Of course. You know Jessie and Natalie are welcome here anytime. The three of you have been friends since you were three. So many friendships fall to the wayside these days."

Cora's face lit up and she got up from her desk chair and went towards the door. She pulled Eddie into a light hug.

"Thanks mom!"

Eddie heard Patrick yell from down the hallway.

"Mom! Keena took my baseball! I can't find my bat!"

Rolling her eyes, she started to leave the room, but Jamie placed a hand on her shoulder as he reached the doorway.

"I'll take care of it babe. Spend some time with Cora. Some mother/daughter time will do you some good."

Eddie gave Jamie a soft smile and went over to the bed and sat next to Cora.

"So, what other homework did you need help with? Your dad has his hands full with Patrick."

Cora let out a light laugh.

"I think Patrick is going to follow in your footsteps mama."

Eddie smirked and shook her head.

"You may be right on that one Cora. He does show a fierce protectiveness of all you girls."

Eddie cocked her head sideways.

"I have no doubt your brother will become a great cop. If he wants to be. It's really his choice. We give all of you kids a choice. Your dad and I. Whatever choice you make. We will be behind you 100%. For now, though, you just focus on being a kid. We are counting our blessings."

Cora nodded and sighed.

"Well, I do know our family is never boring."

Eddie squeezed Cora's hand.

"That is very true honey. We're here for all of you. You know you can always come to us with anything you feel you need help with. We'll always be here for you. No matter what."

Eddie knew promising that was never a guarantee. But she did it to keep the kids reassured.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, what'd you guys think?