A/N: As I couldn't find out the real ages of the Reagans, I just made them up myself…and hope that they aren't too wrong. Enjoy and please review! ;)

Twelve-year-old Danny Reagan stood at the kitchen window, hands clasped around the sink's frame. When he had taken his position, his hands had been so hot and sweaty that the cold of the metal was soothing. Now the sweat had become cold, and the sink was even colder as he was standing there for more than an hour now, waiting, praying for his mom to come home.

"What are you doing here?"

Danny jerked back. Erin and Joe had sneaked up behind him, trying to see what their older brother saw. "Hey, guys", he said with what he thought was a convincing smile, "homework's done?" Erin scowled. "I always do my homework. You're the one who got a detention for tomorrow!"

"Detention? Seriously?" Joe's face lit up. At the age of nine, having to stay in school was no big thing – but it was a big thing to get one, and since it was Danny, it had to be a good big thing. For everything Danny did was good.

Erin's frown grew deeper, making her seeming older than her ten years. "That's not a good thing, Joe"; she said, trying not very successful to emulate her mother's stern voice. Joe wrinkled his nose. "You're not Mommy, Erin." Danny held his breath.

"By the way, where is Mom?" With all brutality she had (which was: none) she shoved Danny out of the way and took his position at the window. "Her car is gone!"

"Mom's away?" Joe's smile faded. "But she didn't tell us she would go." Danny put his arm around his little brother as he heard the slightly worried edge in his voice. "It's okay, Joe, Grandma's still here. Probably Mommy just needed to buy something for today's dinner."

Erin turned around, her eyes wide with confusion. This was obvious a lie, since on Tuesdays it was always Dad who brought home dinner (to Grandpa's deep frustration, but with three kids, Mary had pleaded for at least one evening without cooking). And Danny hated lying.

"You think so?" Joe was ready to believe anything his big brother said. Danny swallowed, then nodded. "Sure, buddy. Now Erin's done with her homework, are you too?"

Joe frowned, exactly the same way Erin had done. These two looked so similar that Danny sometimes suspected he had been adopted.

Eventually, he shook his head. "Too much", he complained, and then, with new hope enlightening his face, "can you help me?"

"Maybe later. Just start it yourself and see how far you get, and maybe I'll help you with the rest, okay?" "Okay."

As soon as Joe was out of sight, Erin spun around to face her brother. "You lied to him!", she whispered, "why did you do that? What's wrong with Mom? Why didn't she tell us?"

Despite the secret, Danny had to smile. His sister could be a real pest, but he loved the fire that burned in her eyes whenever she felt something was wrong. She might never be a cop (that wasn't a girl's job, and hell – if she would, Danny and Joe would have to stick with her forever), but she surely would join the good side. Like becoming a nurse or a doctor – at this thought, Danny's smile disappeared.

Gently, he led his little sister to the living room. Grandma Betty was sitting on the couch, knitting something that looked like…well, that looked like orange. Obviously, her heart was not in it.

"Have you ever seen her so unconcentrated while knitting?"

Erin took a second to consider, then shook her head. "Never. Is she ill?"

Danny sighed. "Not her."

"Mom?"

"I don't know." Quickly, Danny put an arm around Erin's shoulders, just as he had done with Joe before, and led her towards the stairs. "I just overheard her talking to Grandma, right after we came home. She said that she felt it but wasn't sure and that she wanted to check it out before she would go crazy, and Grandma said okay and that she shouldn't call Dad yet." The siblings sat down at the upper end of the stairs.

Erin bit her lip. "But what is "it"? Is it cancer?" Danny closed his eyes. Four years ago, Mary's father had died of pancreatic cancer. "No", he said firmly, "no, it's not. She's okay. The doctor's gonna find out what's wrong with her. And we can't tell Joe!"

"Sure." When it came down to being protective, Erin matched up with Danny easily. That was the Reagan blood, Grandpa Henry always said.

"But I have to find out what's the matter with Mom"; Erin added, her glance trailed off, "I need to know it now or I know I'm going crazy myself. You know any other diseases she could have?"

Danny stared at her blankly. "You make me going crazy! Go ask Grandma if you need to know everything!" He regretted the words as soon as he said them. Erin stood up, poked her tongue out to Danny and went down the stairs. "Grandma?"

Danny sighed. "Kids!" And then he ran to catch up.