We're Gonna Go Through This Together

Chapter Nine

"Oh my word! What did you do?" The nurse asked Danny after looking at his battered hands.
"Uh... punched bricks and plaster and hard wood and metal lockers?"
"Why would you do that?"
"Two words: anger. Management." Linda smiled as Danny scoffed.
"Well, mister, you're gonna need stitches!" The nurse turned around.
"Didn't I..." Linda took in a deep breath, becoming more concerned about her breathing.
"Blow your mind?" Danny smiled- he and Linda both enjoyed NKOTB. "You do al the time."
"No... is it... bad that.. I'm having.. trouble breathing?"
"What? Why? What's wrong?" Danny started to panic.
"Okay, hold it. We'll get you hooked to an oxygen machine-"
"Through her throat?!"
The nurse, whose name was Nancy, looked a little annoyed. "Oxygen tank."
"You know... like in... retirement... homes..." Linda assures Danny as Nancy gave her a mask while she set up the machine.
"Okay." Danny started walking around while Nancy helped Linda. He listened to his wife answer questions. Every answer that gave him concern, he'd jump on.
"Exactly when was the last time you slept?" Linda was getting a little annoyed.
"Slept? I dunno. Tuesday, I guess?"
"Danny! It's Saturday! How many cups of coffee did you have?"
"I dunno. A lot. Where's the bathroom?" Danny's hand had been hitting his side nonstop.
"Since this is a private room, the bathroom's over there." The nurse pointed behind her.
"Thanks."
Linda giggled- the full impact of her situation not fully settled in her mind. She could barely recall what had happened as she had lost a lot of blood and had only had a little bit of water on Thursday- two days ago.
There was a knock on the door. Frank cracked it open and asked, "you up for visitors?"
Linda nodded as she thankfully drank the water she had just received. She smiled as her whole family came in.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Jack asked, going straight to her bed.
She nodded and hugged her sons. "I'll be okay. Trust me."
Danny came out of the bathroom. "The gang's all here!" He smiled.
"How're you?" Erin wanted to know.
"Much better. Linda's alive!" Danny sat next to his wife in bed.
"I see you still don't have a shirt on," Erin mused.
"Wait..." Linda thought for a moment. "When you came... to save me... where you wearing a vest?"
"A vest? Of course-" Danny thought for a second. "No. No, I wasn't. I wasn't! I can't believe I wasn't wearing a vest! I always wear a vest! Why wasn't I wearing a vest?" The detective rambled.
"It doesn't matter." Linda shook her head. "You're here, I'm here, our family's here. That's all that matters right now."
The Reagans smiled and chatted with Linda till she felt sleepy. The boys and Nicky had fallen asleep long before Linda told her family she'd like to rest.
"Can you take the kids, Frank?" Linda whispered.
"Yes, of course. Feel better." He smiled and lightly shook the boys. "You're gonna be staying with me for a few days."
They both nodded, probably not quite sure what they were approving.
Everyone told Linda goodbye and started leaving.
"You'll stay with me?" She asked Danny, who had acquired stitches by this time.
"Of course." He got in bed with her as she started crying. "What? Whassamatter?"
"I just.. I jus- realized... that I- I- I was ra-ra-"
"I know what word you're tryin' to say. Go on."
"And how- How-" Linda started sobbing uncontrollably.
Danny hugged her gently, not wanting to hurt her. "Shh.. it's okay. You're okay. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere.... except the bathroom. I'll be back.."