A/N: Well, this is it. Part 4 of 4. We've come to the end. I thank you all again, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! :) Until next time. :)
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue.
When the Past is New Again
Chapter 4
Frank sat in silence as the rest of the family chattered amongst themselves. Linda had Danny's hand grasped firmly in her own. She kept watching him, worry printed all over her face. He had been staring off into space since he'd arrived, obviously lost in thought. Erin and Henry talked quietly, their conversation unheard by the rest of the family.
They had been informed by Frank upon their arrival that Jamie was going to be fine. He was still in Recovery, but he would be moved to a regular room at any moment. The atmosphere in the waiting room was calm and relaxed. Except for Danny. Frank frowned.
"Danny?"
"Yeah, Dad?" Danny asked, looking over at his father.
"Walk with me."
Danny nodded, wearily giving Linda a kiss before standing and following his father out of the room. Frank motioned him towards the front of the building, leading him outside. They sat on an empty bench a short distance away from the main entrance.
"What's up, Dad?"
"I should be asking you the same thing, Danny."
Danny hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"Do you think that I can't see that you're distracted? That you've been staring off into space since you arrived here? Jamie's going to be okay, you know."
"Yeah, I know that."
"So what's wrong?"
Danny scrubbed a hand over his face, sighing. "It's going to be in the report… but I don't want you to find out that way."
"Find out what, Danny?"
Danny's jaw clenched. "Klondeski's been documenting our family for the last twenty years. He has boxes and boxes of photos and newspaper clippings… there were only a few items dated right after you arrested his son, but after Tyler was killed in that prison fight, it's like it all exploded… he kept everything. Mostly photos that he must have taken himself or had someone else take them, but there were newspaper clippings, even those with only a mention of a name, of Erin's big case victories, of my promotion to Detective… Joe's death… Jamie's Harvard graduation… Nicki's big soccer award… everything up until the present. The photos… they were the worst. He had drawn a slash through each of us, as if to wipe us out one by one, but you and Jamie… the two of you had bullet holes, real ones as if he used the pictures for target practice, through the images. Dad, he had no intention of letting the two of you out of there alive, and I think, for whatever his reasoning, he thought that the two of you were the closest out of all of us."
"I don't play favourites with my children, or anyone in this family." Frank muttered, his voice shaky.
"I know that, Dad," Danny told him. "But he seemed to think that the relationship between you two was extra special; he was extremely organized and kept his pictures and clippings in order. One of the first images right after Tyler's death was of you at one of Jamie's ball games, or maybe it was a practice. Joe was in it, too… but you had just hugged Jamie, and that was the moment the picture was taken. I think it's why he kidnapped Jamie. Maybe it was the first real interaction he witnessed."
Frank nodded. "He knew that hurting anyone in the family would hurt me in return – that's why he caused your accident, slashed Erin's tires, tried to get to Nicki – but he wanted to watch me suffer. To be there, to cause Jamie's death, and to physically watch me suffer, that would have given him the greatest pleasure."
"And he would have killed you right after he killed Jamie."
Frank nodded in agreement. "I don't doubt it, son."
"Dad, why did you go in without us? Why didn't you wait?"
Frank let out a breath. "I was already there when I sent you the message, son…"
"What? Dad… what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I would get my son back." Frank responded, a hard edge to his voice.
Danny lowered his eyes. "We were supposed to work together… we had it all worked out. As long as you followed his instructions, Jamie would be okay. Then we'd surprise him – together – and take him out."
Frank shrugged. "I wasn't willing to risk Jamie's life, son… he had to think I was the only one who was there. I knew the rest of the team would show up, but I didn't want him to have any idea. I had to go it alone."
Danny finally looked at him. "I'm not going to bother arguing with you, Dad… but I still think you're wrong."
"I know…"
"But I'm not angry with you, Dad," Danny told him softly. "I'm disappointed, but I understand. I probably would have gone in alone, too, if it had been me in your place."
"I'm sorry, Danny."
"Don't be, there's nothing to be sorry for."
Frank nodded again. "Thank you, Danny."
"This is stuff nightmares are made out of, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"That a past case will come back to haunt us. That someone will come after our family just because of who we are and what our job is."
"It is, Danny. I worry all the time… but I don't let it take over. You can never let it take over."
"I know, Dad," Danny said, giving him a smile. "I'd have to lock myself in a padded room by now if I did."
Frank smiled back, finally reaching towards his son. He pulled him into a one-armed hug. "I'm proud of you, Danny."
In the dark, Danny smiled, taking the quiet, private moment to lean into his father. "Thanks, Dad." he answered. He didn't even care if anyone saw them. They both needed it.
~~BB~~
Jamie's brow furrowed; he was positive he could hear his siblings arguing. He cracked open an eye, squinting. Sure enough, Danny and Erin were standing on either side of his hospital bed, arguing in low tones about nothing at all.
"Can't a guy get any sleep around here?" he rasped, causing them to look at him in surprise.
"Jamie!" Erin squealed, launching herself at him. She grabbed him gently in a hug, laying kisses all over his face. He pushed her away with his good arm, blushing and glaring at her.
"Get off, Erin…" he grumbled. "Don't you dare!" he muttered to Danny, who grinned at him.
"Why not?" he teased. Instead, he reached out a hand, grasping the one Jamie had raised up. "Good to see you, kid," he mumbled, looking teary himself. "Had us worried for a while there."
"Sorry…"
"Stop, Jamie," Danny sighed. "It's not your fault."
Jamie just gave him a tired smile in return, sleep starting to claim him once again.
"We'll go, Jamie," Erin told him softly, squeezing his arm. "Sleep well."
"Proud of you, Jamie." Danny added, lightly tapping Jamie's face. Jamie smiled again, his eyes closing.
"Love you…" he mumbled to them, sleep quickly consuming him.
~~BB~~
Jamie opened his eyes, spotting his father sitting by his bed and reading a magazine. Every time he woke up, he seemed to have a visitor. He smiled slightly.
"Dad?"
Frank looked up, smiling at Jamie. "Jamie, how do you feel?"
"Groggy," Jamie sighed. "Some pain, but it's fine."
"Do you want me to get the nurse?"
"No, I don't want any more drugs."
"Okay, let me know if you change your mind."
Jamie nodded, looking down. Frank gently touched his face.
"What's wrong, son?"
"He documented our lives, Dad… those boxes…"
"I know, Jamie… Danny found them, too. I'm so sorry, Jamie, I never should have let him get this far."
Jamie shook his head. "Don't, Dad… short of shooting him for no reason, you couldn't have stopped this. You said it yourself, he never did anything that kept him in jail for very long, but he was always getting under your skin. You couldn't have done anything different."
Frank nodded, still feeling guilty. "I know that, son, but it's still my fault."
"He was going to kill me."
"Yes."
"Then he was going to kill you… he had no intention of letting us out."
"No, he didn't."
"Then you know why I'm angry with you…"
"Yes. I could read your eyes, Jamie. You'd already found the boxes, you'd realized his intention after you'd seen the pictures… that's why you told me to leave. That's why you looked angry when I put my gun down."
"You couldn't protect yourself, then."
"I was more worried about protecting you."
Jamie watched him seriously. "Dad, I know he was all about getting rid of me to make you suffer… he would force you to watch, he would be able to see your pain. What about me? What if he decided to shoot you instead of me? Putting your gun down opened yourself up to that; he could have fired and you wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. Do you think I wanted to watch that? Do you think that everyone else would just forgive and forget and move on from it? You shouldn't have come…"
Frank's throat was tight. "I wasn't going to let you die, Jamie. And I had a team put together…"
"Yeah, a team you didn't bother to wait for." Jamie grumbled.
Frank smiled grimly. "Danny?"
"Yes, he mentioned it…"
"You're upset with me."
"I was… Dad, it would have killed me if I had to watch him shoot you, even if I knew by then that I wouldn't be getting out of there alive either."
"Then you know exactly how I felt," Frank responded, leaning forward towards his son. "I didn't even know you'd been shot, Jamie. I heard the gun go off, but you didn't seem to react. You didn't even flinch. I figured he missed. Then when he pushed you down, he pointed the gun at you, and I knew, in that moment, that he would fire again and this time he wouldn't miss. I just… I snapped, Jamie… I attacked him… I just wish I knew he hadn't missed the first time."
"Why's that?"
"I would have found my gun and shot him on the spot, if only to get you help faster."
Jamie regarded him seriously. "He would have shot you before you got to it. It was closer to me than it was to you."
Frank nodded, reaching over to the shelf on the wall beside the bed. He picked up a small object, placing it on Jamie's chest. Jamie picked it up, looking at it curiously.
"My badge?"
"Jamie… you upheld everything that this badge represents and more… I'm proud of you, son. I couldn't ask for anything more from you. You put your life to the side to protect mine… to protect our family. This entire time, you never once thought of yourself. You were first in line to help Danny after his accident, vowing to find out who hit him even though it's not your department. You were first in line to protect Nicki… you practically lead the investigation. You deserve so much more than this badge."
Jamie swallowed, his throat tight. "I would do it again."
Frank stood and leaned forward, placing his forehead briefly against his son's. "I hope you never have to go through this again, Jamie, but I know you would."
Jamie looked at him, his eyes burning, feeling more than seeing the unspoken understanding between them.
~~BB~~
Jamie sat on the back step, his eyes wandering over his family members. He watched as his grandfather patiently showed Nicki a few gardening tips, completely oblivious to the bored look on her face. He could hear his father and Erin chatting quietly somewhere behind him. Danny was talking quietly to Jack while Linda stood nearby, looking both annoyed and amused. Jamie smiled slightly, feeling warmth spread through him, a surge of protectiveness following right behind.
"Uncle Jamie!"
Jamie barely looked down, his thoughts still far away as he absentmindedly rubbed at the bandage on his shoulder.
"Uncle Jamie!" the voice snapped again, more annoyed this time.
Something wet hit Jamie in the side of the face, startling him. He jumped, wiping away the water. Danny grinned at him, waving the water pistol in his hand. A look of surprise washed over Jamie's face before a glare replaced it.
"Danny, what…?"
"Uncle Jamie," the small voice snapped again. "Pay attention!"
Jamie finally looked down to see Sean glaring up at him.
"Sorry, buddy… what did you need?"
Sean huffed. "I've asked you a million times already…"
Jamie shot him a look. The glare remained on Sean's face.
"Do you want to play with us? Jack and Daddy and me?"
"What are you playing?" Jamie asked, warily watching the green water pistol in Danny's hand. Now he realized why Linda looked annoyed. She hated guns of any type.
"Cops and robbers, numbnuts." Danny snorted from across the yard.
"Will you play?" Sean echoed again.
Jamie hesitated. "I still have to take it easy, buddy." he answered, gesturing to his left shoulder.
"That's not your shooting hand." Sean answered back.
Jamie shot him a funny look, feeling slightly unnerved as to how Sean knew that. He tried to keep his horror stories away from the boys. He didn't even want them to know how he held his gun. He didn't even know why; he just wanted to keep his police work away from the kids as much as possible.
More water hit him in the face. He growled, wiping the water from his eyes. "Shoot me again, Danny…"
"And you'll what?" Danny mocked, a grin in his voice.
Jamie hesitated again. "I don't have a pistol…"
"At your feet, genius."
"Stuff it, Danny…" Jamie grumbled, reaching for the blue plastic pistol at his feet.
"You'll play?" Sean asked, looking excited.
"For a short time, kiddo," Jamie answered, spraying his nephew. Sean squealed, tearing away from him. "But first, I have to get your father!" He said, lunging off the step. Danny laughed, running away as Jamie got him squarely on the back.
Frank and Erin shared a smile as they listened to the commotion. Frank chuckled as Jamie finally got his revenge, filling Danny's face with water. As Danny sputtered and wiped at his face, his boys tag-teamed him, jumping on him and egging Jamie on to squirt him again.
"Maybe we should get Jamie to sit down again." Erin piped up, a smile still on her face but worry creeping into her voice.
"He's been sitting for days, Erin. The exercise will do him good." Frank reassured her.
"If you say so."
"Don't worry about him, Erin. He'll be able to go back to work in a few days."
"I know… I just don't want him re-injuring himself."
"He'll be fine." Frank responded, fully believing his words. He watched his sons and grandsons, their laughter, squeals, and shouts filling the air. He smiled again. It may have taken twenty years, but he didn't have to worry anymore.
His family had come through it stronger than ever.
~END~