Tommy Gavin

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Tommy Gavin is a fictional character on the television series Rescue Me. He is portrayed by comedian Denis Leary, who is also the series' co-creator.

[edit] Professional life

Gavin is a senior firefighter with the New York City Fire Department. His dedication to the job is unquestionable, although the pressure is starting to get to him; he is constantly tormented by visions of the people he failed to save, often appearing to him as ghosts in the form he last remembers them. One of these ghosts is his cousin, Jimmy Keefe, who died on September 11, 2001. He often appears as the least disfigured apparition, although he has a bandage over one of his fingers, the only piece of his body eventually found. It is yet to be made clear whether his visions result from mental stress or represent actual supernatural visitations.

Gavin's visions have included divine elements, including Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene themselves attempting to guide and save his soul. These visions come as a surprise to his other cousin, Mickey, who was once a Catholic priest.

Tommy has recently begun crying at random times, like when he is brushing his teeth or is playing hockey. He realizes that he has survivor guilt, and that it is common among those in the FDNY and the New York City Police Department. An NYPD officer tells him the only way to get rid of it is by being drunk, which tempts Tommy to drink heavily when he is reminded of September 11 or has visions.

[edit] Personal life

Gavin's personal life is in shambles. His alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder and womanizing have led his wife, Janet, to disappear with his three young children during Season 2, but they returned shortly thereafter. He was involved in an affair with Sheila Keefe, the widow of his cousin Jimmy. Sheila became pregnant, but later miscarried; soon after, the relationship fell apart. In season 3, Sheila confronted him about them having a baby, in order to give him a male heir to the family name.

[edit] Family life

Tommy's marriage with his wife Janet had recently disintegrated before the events of the first season, and although there have been brief periods in which the relationship was resurrected, it continues to see no signs of success. He is constantly trying to gain a foothold back into Janet's life and to remain the head-figure for his kids. He loves his children deeply and explodes at the mere mention of anyone taking them away from him.

At the end of Season 2, Gavin's only son Connor was killed by a drunk driver, a loss that has destroyed his reconciliation with Janet. Tommy continues to attempt to have somewhat of a normal relationship with his two daughters, but often is left bribing them or offering gifts to earn their affection. Most, if not all of his problems contribute to his short temper, as Tommy is known on several occasions to be quite violent. In Season 3 of the show he discovered his brother, Johnny, was sleeping with Janet. In a fit of rage, he beat his brother and left him bloodied in the middle of the street. In a discussion with his wife over the division of property, an off-hand remark over a furniture set sent him over the edge, and he "raped" her. Janet enjoyed it, however, and she seduced him only a few days later. Tommy and Janet then began a sort of secret sex-only relationship. This also seems to have ended once Janet discovered that Tommy was also sleeping with Johnny's ex-wife, Angie. Janet has recently discovered that she is pregnant, and Tommy may be the father. Near the end of Season 3, Johnny was shot and killed before he could testify in court against a powerful drug dealer. Both brothers left messages to each other, apologizing for their recent falling out, but neither heard them before Johnny's death.

It appears that Janet wishes to move back in with Tommy, if only to give the baby a stable family environment. This conflicts with Tommy's other plan, which is to retire from the FDNY and move away with Sheila. He ultimately decides to stay with the FDNY and with Janet. But as Season 3 ended with Tommy trapped inside of a burning house, it remains to be seen what will happen.