Danny hadn't realized he had drifted off until the creaking of the door opening started his heart. A danger of the job. Erin's silhouette filled the doorway. She quietly came into the room.

"It's getting late Danny." She whispered noticing Jamie sleeping.

As Danny shifted on the bed, the movement caused Jamie to stir. Erin came to his side and pushed his locks back from his forehead and placed a tender kiss. "Hey baby brother." Her hand softly caressed the side of his face. He gave her a weak smile.

"Alright kid, I'm gonna go. You need anything, let me know." Danny softly tousled Jamie's hair before putting a kiss on top of his head. "And let's not have to relive this anytime soon, ok."

Jamie nodded. "Thanks, Danny." He weakly said. His mouth was dry and he felt exhausted.

"Don't mention it, kid. Bye sis." Danny headed for the door.

Clicking on the lamp on the bedside table, Erin took in her baby brother's appearance. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair looked like a mop. He only wore his boxers brief. And she could see the redness peeking out from under his shorts. "Dad, got you good."

"Yea. Definitely one of my worst." He said as he subconsciously reached back and rubbed the stinging behind him.

Erin couldn't help but smile. She sat in the empty spot next to him. "Want to tell me what you did?"

He really didn't, but he felt that everyone else knew. Quickly he gave her a rundown to which she responded, "Dang, Jamie. You really know how to get yourself in some hot water."

He weakly smiled. "And I guess I owe you an apology for my attitude lately. It's been real shitty lately. Ow!" He cried.

Erin had just reached down and popped Jamie on his vulnerable backside. "Watch it." She warned. "Just because you're talking to me and it's true, doesn't me you use that kind of language."

Jamie rubbed the renewed sore spot. "Sorry."

A few moments passed between them. "Could you hear me downstairs?" Jamie was worried. He had been carrying on pretty loudly.

Erin gave him a sad look. "Not really. But you were caught by Jack when dad carried up the hairbrush." Erin noticed it still sat on the bed down by her feet.

Reagan tradition. The offender had to return the implement back to the box. It was part of your penance. Reminded you that it was there to be used again.

Jamie groaned. "Well crap."

Erin couldn't help but smile. "They won't say anything. Or they better not."

That didn't bring much comfort to Jamie's ego. The two enjoyed the comfortable silence together. Erin's fingers lightly scratched the base of Jamie's head like she used to when he couldn't sleep. The motion caused him to easily fall back into a tranquil state of mind where he didn't think of the last two months or of the last few hours.

After about ten minutes of enjoying her brother's company and knowing Jamie would survive, Erin knew she needed to get up from the bed or she'd fall asleep for the night. "Hey Jamie." Her voice softly filled the room.

"Hmm?" He responded barely hanging on the edge of sleep.

"I need to get going. You want to come downstairs or you going to stay up here?" Her fingers continued to stroke her baby brother's hair.

Taking a deep breath, Jamie knew he needed to go downstairs. If for anything, a glass of water. He didn't realize how parched he was until now. His eyes burned as he looked at the clock. It was only 7:30, but he felt like he could go to bed and not wake up to the morning. "I'll go down with you." He decided.

"Why don't you go splash some water on your face before. It'll make you feel better." Erin mothered him, but Jamie didn't mind.

As Erin rose from the bed, Jamie moved to the edge. He knew he would have to roll over to find his feet, but he wasn't looking forward to the experience. His backside made contact and a sharp intake of breath drew the attention of Erin. "You need help?"

Jamie hated feeling so vulnerable and remembered how little clothing he wore. Though Erin had seen more of him throughout his years, he still felt a light blush realizing he was wearing his underwear in front of Erin. "Will you toss me those sweats?"

The sweats remained crumpled on the floor where he'd kicked them off earlier in the evening. Erin reached down and tossed them his way. The ache he felt was nothing he couldn't live with, but he definitely wasn't looking forward to going to work the next morning.

Erin made her way out the door with one more look back at her little brother. He looked so young to her though he was closer to thirty than twenty, but she'd always see the little boy who followed her.

The bathroom light caused him to squint his eyes. He relieved his full bladder. He took a look at his battered backside. Angry red covered from the crown to his thigh. Dark red circles from the hairbrush seemed to mock him. "Ow." He said at just the look of it.

Walking down the stairs caused the material of his shorts to rub against his backside. It was going to be a long time before the results of his dad's handiwork would fade. As he reached the first floor, he heard the voices of his father and granddad coming from the living room.

"Hey." Erin came from the kitchen holding a large glass of water. "Thought you'd want this." Jamie took the offered water and swallowed a large gulp.

The water refreshed his dry mouth. "Thanks, sis."

Erin smiled and draped her arm around her little brother. She placed a kiss on his temple as they walked into the living room where Grandpa and Frank sat in their usual spots. Both sat down what they were reading as Jamie and Erin entered. Nicky, curled in the corner of the couch, dropped her book as Jamie came in. A soft heat rose to his cheeks as he saw his niece knowing she had known about his spanking.

"Hi Uncle Jamie." She softly spoke.

Trying to keep his face as stoic as possible, he lowered himself to the couch, but he couldn't keep help the grimace that crossed his face. Frank watched with a sad expression.

Erin came and sat next to Jamie. She couldn't help but pull Jamie into her side. Though it brought more pain from below, he willingly accepted the comfort. Nicky smiled and crawled into her mother's other side. Erin kissed her head as she wrapped her arm around her daughter.

"Dad, how about we all stay here tonight? I don't feel like driving back to the apartment tonight." Erin asked from her comfortable spot between her daughter and brother.

"I think I'd like that very much." Frank genuinely smiled.

Erin leaned over towards her brother, "You want to stay, too? Probably better than going home."

Jamie hadn't thought much about leaving. "I guess so."

"You know what? I think I could use a second helping of dessert. Who'd like to join me?" Henry pushed up from his chair.

At the mention of anything sweet, Nicky was on her feet. "Yes please!" She squeaked.

"Come on, Jamie. You look like you could use more Junior's' cheesecake." Henry extended his hand towards his youngest grandson. He hadn't gotten to get his hug in since Jamie's walloping and he needed it just as much as the others did.

Slowly, Jamie untangled himself from Erin's arms. "Yea, ok. Sounds good Grandpa." Though he didn't really want any cheesecake, he still got up and went to his granddad's side. The older man paused and took his grandson into his arm.

Hugs did not come often and Jamie hugged his grandfather back. "Sorry, Grandpa."

"Phooey." Grandpa Henry laughed. "All is forgiven." With a squeeze, he released Jamie and the two headed towards the kitchen.

Frank extended his hand to Erin who easily accepted. "Everything will be all right." He kissed the side of her head. "But I think Jamie might need some help getting out of his lease. Think you could take a look at it?" Erin smiled as she fit snuggly under her father's strong protective arm.

"Of course." She hummed.

As the two made their way into the kitchen, Jamie stood with his arm around Nicky resting his chin just atop her head as Henry sliced pieces of cheesecake onto awaiting plates. Frank took a deep breath and knew that they had just waded through some rough waters, but all would be well in the end. As Jamie smiled contently, he knew his baby boy would continue to make him proud each and every day.