Soon You'll Get Better

One

"Jamie," Eddie Janko came up to him, dropping her purse in the uncomfortable chair. "I just heard... what happened? Is she okay? Are you okay? Is Danny okay?"

Jamie Reagan grasped her elbow and led her a few feet away. Lowering his voice, he relaid the information they had received from the doctor. "Linda was on the helicopter that was air lifting a patient. Something went wrong- an electrical failure or something. The chopper went down, and she's the only survivor. She... has a lot of injuries. Compound break in her wrist, broken ribs, something called a spiral fracture in one of her femurs? I don't know, and, uh... she's going to need glasses, cause of the way her head hit the ground, but that's the least of her problems. She had a lot of internal bleeding, um, a ruptured kidney and- what's the other one? A spleen."

"Jamie, you're not telling me something," Eddie saw it in his eyes; he was holding something back. "What is it?" She grabbed her fiancé's hand, not sure who needed the support.

"They... don't think she's going to make it through the night."

The blonde's free hand went to her mouth, her brows falling in stunned silence. It took her a while to process the information, "how's, um... how's everyone doing?"

"Dad's Dad, y'know. Stiff upper lip, keeping his shit together. Erin and Nicky are quiet; they've cried a lot, and are trying to make it better for everyone. Grandpa's like Dad, stoic. He's the one who keeps getting coffee and snacks from the vending machines. Jack and Sean are scared, I don't think they're really processing it?" His voice went up involuntarily, a nasty little tick he carried from elementary school days.

"And Danny?"

"I think we've lost him. He's had three hysterical episodes, lots of vomiting and yelling at the staff. He goes outside a lot, probably to keep the boys from worrying."

She gave his hand a squeeze, "how are you doing?"

"I'm... really not okay, but I'm alright. I usually head outside with Danny."

"Should- can I do something?"

"Just... don't mention Linda or death or helicopters. Those are just... touchy, touchy subjects."

Eddie nodded and headed over to the family with her future husband. She hugged each family member, lingering a tad longer with Danny. He barely hugged her back, continuing to stare at the yellow stain on the floor board.

Eddie sat down next to Frank, hoping for more answers. She watched Danny blankly stare ahead, noting he looked pale and fragile, like he'd snap any minute. She watched Danny's partner, Maria Baez, arrive and hug everyone like she had done. The detective took a seat in between Jack and Sean.

"Glad you could come." The commissioner said a little shortly.

Eddie didn't take it personally, "I wouldn't miss this... that, uh, that came out so wrong. What I meant was, you all are family. And family sticks together."

There wasn't a single thought in his head. Danny could heat Eddie and Frank talking quietly, as well as Nicky and the boys. He heard movement and rustling sounds, and someone placed something on the table next to him. He didn't move a muscle, even when he felt someone's eyes burning into him.

"You have to eat something." It was Erin's voice filtering through his ears.

"No." It was all he could manage. He chest was tight again, his throat burned, and his head ached.

His sister picked up the Doritos, almost shoving it in his face. "Eat the damn chips."

He slapped them away with such force, that Erin let go and the slid to the window by Eddie's feet.

Without meaning any harmful intentions, Erin blurted out, "Linda would want you to eat."