Soon You'll Get Better

Four

Everyone looked at each other in silence. Most of them knew Danny's history: the drinking, the suicide attempt, the ptsd, so they had been treading very carefully.

Jack and Sean were unaware of most of the trauma that had happened to their Dad, mainly because it was before they were born (or when they were too young to understand), and their parents refused to tell them. They knew a few things: the drink limit, the few movies or tv shows that needed avoidance, a comprehension of flashbacks and triggers.

"Likely isn't 100 percent, Dad," Jack spoke with a funny expression on his face and an eerie calmness.

"Yeah, Dad. That means there's still a chance," Sean tried sounding hopeful, but even he knew it was grim.

"I have to see her." Danny's voice mirrored his oldest's, but even eerier.

"You can't. Not yet," Jamie shook his head.

"I have to see her." He stood up, a glassy look in his eyes. He didn't know what room she was in, but he was going to find her, not matter what. He walked through the doors of the ICU, ignoring the nurse calling to him. He needed to see his wife.

************

"Are we all okay?" Eddie looked around, her arms around herself. She took in the somber faces. "I can get food, or.... food." It was well past dinner, and she was secretly starving.

Henry looked at the crowd, then the clock. It had been almost three hours since they had arrived. "Why don't I take Nicky and the boys to the house? Get some food and rest in you, and come back in the morning."

"Not until we know Mom is okay." Jack stated with determination. He felt Sean shift closer to him on the couch.

Frank nodded silently, praising them in his mind for staying faithful to family. He stood a tad straighter when he saw Danny and a nurse walking back to the private waiting room.  "Nurse?"

"I have to see her," Danny repeated, this time sounding and looking much more tired.

"Seems like someone isn't the greatest at instructions!" She was a young, blonde nurse, probably right out of college. She laughed lightly, not knowing the gravity of the situation. "Also seems like someone is a little too high strung for the ICU."

"I need to see her," he repeated again as the nurse gently shoved him to a chair.

"We had to give him a sedative, cause," she made the crazy sign and whistled twice. "A little bit twisted."

"That's her favorite song."

She whispered, "see what I mean?"

"He's okay, though, right?" Jack pointed to Danny, who looked even calmer than before.

"He's fine. We just got his natural... uh... things... to produce faster. He should be fine. You should maybe go home."

"Do you..." Jamie looked ar his brother, deciding whether to lower his voice or not. He stepped closer to the nurse and lowly asked, "do you have any word on Linda Reagan?"

"The Doctor will come when there's word. The team's working really hard, believe me. I'm sorry I can't be of much help."

Was this tiny person a reincarnation of the woman in question? He shook his head, because that was ridiculous. "That's okay. Thanks anyways."

She smiled and turned on her heel, her blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders.