Reading Time: 111 Minutes
Title: Hold Me
Series: Affirmation
Series Order: 4
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Angst, Crime Drama, Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Relationship(s): Eddie Diaz/Evan Buckley, background relationships
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Hate Crimes, Hate Speech, Violence-Graphic, Violence-Domestic, Violence-Against Children/Child Abuse. Bigotry, Canon Natural Disasters, Canon Typical Violence, Character Bashing, Dark Themes, Death Minor Character, Discussion Death of Children, Gun Violence, Homophobia, Injury, Kidnapping of a Minor, Attempted Murder, Attempted Murder of a Minor, Murder, Stalking.
Author Note: I changed things up a little for this.
Beta: HarleyJQuin. Thank you so much for all the help in editing this.
Alpha: HarleyJQuin. Once again, thank you for all the help with everything, and to BytheBry for your help with the romance side of things!
Word Count: 55,149
Summary: With Eddie home for good, Evan searches for a new career, after trauma killed his future in the LAPD. A new friendship leads him to the fire academy, and when assigned to the 107, he settles into life as a firefighter, and discovers his true calling in life. Eddie is recovering at home, and working out what might be next on the horizon.
Artist: Tpena19
Artist Appreciation: Thank you so much for all the wonderful work you have done. I’m still amazed by it all
Chapter Fourteen
Athena smiled as she saw Evan; they were meeting for their monthly coffee. They had started them not long after Evan had chosen to leave the police force. It was a way for the two of them to keep in touch, and to catch up without everyone else around. Most of the time, the kids liked to come along, Harry and Christopher enjoyed playing together, even though Harry was two years older. May was now a teenager, and while she didn’t often want to play with the little kids in her eyes, she didn’t mind babysitting them and getting paid for doing so.
“Buck,” she smiled, using the new modified nickname that those at the 107 had started using.
Evan laughed, “It’s kind of weird, having a nickname that everyone calls me,” he said as he sat down, a karak chai already ready for him.
“It would, Evan,” she smiled, “How was Thanksgiving?” she asked.
“Hectic,” he snorted. “We had a meeting with the lawyer, Eddie’s parents are adamant about suing for custody. They haven’t got a leg to stand on, but they’re trying to cause trouble. Eddie is… pissed at them.”
“I remember what they did and what they were like at Christopher’s party,” she said, shaking her head before sipping at her latte, “Are they really going down that route? Instead of actually apologizing for their behavior?”
“Yep,” he said, popping the P. “I’ve met them a few times, outside of family gatherings. They didn’t like it when I lived with Abuela and Abuelo; they took me in when I first moved over here. It didn’t help that I was still healing from an attack, and they were helping me a lot. I lived with them for a while.”
“I remember you staying with them while you were looking for a new place,” Athena said, sipping at her latte.
“Yeah, so we’re dealing with that. Thanksgiving itself was nice, I spent time with most of the Diaz family. Shannon and Eric went away for a weekend, for a mini honeymoon. Coco is still annoyed that she didn’t get the chance to help plan a wedding. But Eric told her that she could plan their first wedding anniversary party.”
Athena laughed, “I don’t know what I would do if one of mine went off like that. I’d be disappointed that I couldn’t be there, and maybe even a little hurt.”
“Coco is feeling the same,” Evan said, “which I think is why Eric’s letting her do the party.”
“I don’t blame her,” she said.
“How was your own Thanksgiving? I know you were doing your best to avoid your parents coming down, as well as Michael’s,” he asked her, sipping his tea.
“Yeah,” she sighed, “I… Michael has been avoiding me. He looks guilty about something. When he looks at me, I can see he still loves me, but I think it’s changed, and I don’t think he loves me as a wife, but more of a friend now,” she confessed, “It’s been years since we were intimate with each other. It’s like he just stopped, I’ve tried getting us to go out together. He still treats me like a queen,” she added, feeling frustrated with the situation at home.
Evan looked at her, “The last time I saw Michael he was doing alright. There seemed to be something off, but he didn’t want to talk about it. It might be time to get him to sit down and talk, get everything out in the open. A frank talk could be what’s needed to get things back on track, or to at least find out what the problem is and deal with it.”
Athena snorted, “You’d think with my age, I would know what I’m doing, yet here I am talking with someone at least twenty almost thirty years younger than me about relationships,” she shook her head.
“Sometimes you just need someone that’s outside the relationship to tell you what you already know you need to do,” he shrugged, “I know when Lou and I started to drift, it felt like the end of the world, but… it also felt like our relationship had hit that point where I knew it wasn’t going to be going anywhere else. I would have loved to have it continue, Lou is an amazing partner, and he opened the world to me. In more ways than you can imagine. I still care deeply for him and worry about him, even now that he’s with Tommy, who I know will be there for him during the tougher times. I’ll still worry.”
“I love Michael… he came into my life when I wasn’t even looking for love. To be honest, at that point… I’d give up, I didn’t want anything to do with Love, to do with someone at all. But… he took his time, and then I fell for him over the months, before he asked me out, and I gave myself a chance and said yes. I have two beautiful babies from him. There will always be a part of my heart that will belong to… Emmet, always. His death… changed me, more than I want to admit.”
“Emmet?” Evan asked, frowning at the name. He’d heard Romaro talk about someone called Emmet.
“Yes, Emmet Washington,” she said, “He was my fiance before Michael. He’s the one that was at a job fair at the uni I was going to for my law degree,” she added, a pained smile on her face, “just like I recruited you, he put an idea in my head and I ran with it. Quitting law school to become a police officer. My mother still isn’t happy about it. Nor was she happy about me choosing to stay in LA after Emmet’s murder.”
“I’m… sorry to hear that,” Evan told her gently.
“Yeah, we never found his killer, never got a lead. Rick Romero and Emmet were best friends and partners. He’d been asked to be best man at our wedding,” she sighed, shaking her head, “I… I’ve never really talked about Emmet before, it hurts to talk about it sometimes. To know that the first man I truly fell in love with, I never got the chance to marry and spend a lifetime with. I thought… I would have that with Michael, and now… I don’t think we will have that.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, even though it’s years after it, I’m still sorry,” Evan told her
Athena smiled, “One day, I may talk to Michael about him, thank you, for listening to me ranting and talking about this. Not your wheelhouse, I know, but…” she shook her head. “But I’ll take the advice and talk with Michael.”
“That’s all you can do,” he said, “I know me and Eddie talk a lot about a lot of different things. Even the harder topics, like his parents, and my own. My sister and Margaret, along with Doug. We talk about a lot of things, things we don’t want to but have to. Emmet isn’t something you have to talk about, but maybe one day there’ll be a time when you want to talk about him to Michael, to the kids.”
Athena smiled, “Yeah, there will be. As for me and Michael, well, we’ll see how that goes. Now, how are things going at the 107?” she asked, “it’s been what, three months now?”
“Yeah, it’s been going good. The first loss was hard and thanks for coming to see me. I really needed that, and thanks for taking me home as well. I don’t know if I would have made it home without some form of breakdown at the side of the road, or something.”
“Glad I was able to be there for you. But I’m happy you seem to be settling in well there.”
“I am, everyone is great, Al’s a good captain, and he takes time to talk to everyone, see how we’re doing, and if there are any extra certs that we could be going for, that he thinks would be a good idea,” Evan said as he talked about his time at the 107.
Athena listened and asked questions as Evan soon did the same with what she had been doing over the last month at work. Especially about the idiots that she had arrested since the last time.
XxXxX
Evan walked over to Parker as he looked up from the form he was going through. “What’s up Al?” he asked.
“Looks like your kid’s going to be coming here for one of those station visits,” he grinned, holding up the form he had received, “We do those occasionally with the schools around the area. Durand isn’t in our district, but since you work here, we were asked if we wanted to host this one class at least, since it’s your son’s class and one other.”
Evan grinned, “I knew they were planning on doing a visit to a station, but I didn’t know they were going to be coming here.” He was happy about them coming to his station. He’d get to show off the place he now worked at to his son. He also knew that Eddie wanted to volunteer as a parent chaperone for it as well.
“Well, I’ve sent off the confirmation that we’ll accept them, so in January, we’ll be playing host to your son’s class,” Al told him, “You all ready for your first shift at Christmas?” he then asked, changing the question.
“Nope, I’ve not even told Christopher yet that I won’t be there for Christmas Day. He has… When Eddie was in the army, he hated having his dad be away. We’re a little worried he’s going to be the same when he learns that I won’t be home for the day,” he added.
“Ah,” Al nodded, “Yeah, I remember the first time I had to work a Christmas shift, my kids wanted to riot. I was also subjected to the silent treatment for a day. They forgave me for not being there, it took them a little while to understand that I was here to help people who were having bad days.”
“Chris… He understands not being home because it’s the job, but he hates it. We had a good Christmas last year, and have done since Eddie had taken the time to get a week of leave around the holidays. So they could spend it together. Now I’m going to be the one to be away on Christmas Day and he’s not going to be happy when he finds out,” he sighed, “We’ve got some shopping still to do, and we still need to take him to see Santa. I have no idea what toy he’d like for this year.”
“Some days I look at the toys that the kids have now, and wish I had them back when I was a kid. Because they look so fun to play with. As for the Christmas thing, it might take a few days, but he’ll get over it,” Parker smiled as he got up, “Right, I’m going to tell the chief, that we’ll accept Durand here, and the notice will be sent back to the school. We’re offline for another hour,” he warned. They’d been at a multi-car pile-up for most of the morning and afternoon, which had drained them all, most were still sleeping off the nine-hour call. Thankfully, there had been a miracle, and no one had died, but there had been two that were airlifted to hospital
“Right,” he said, wondering what exactly happened during one of these visits. In the three, almost four months that he’d been at the 107 this would be the first one that they’d have had with him there. He got up as Parker left to go to his office, and went about his chores for the day, which was mostly cleaning the kitchen and dining area of the loft. The living area was on Mathew’s chart for the shift.
Chapter Fifteen
Evan looked over at Eddie, it was just over two weeks before Christmas, and they still hadn’t told Christopher that Evan would be working Christmas Day. With a heavy sigh he nodded at Eddie, letting him know that it was time to talk to him. Eddie smiled and reached out, taking a hand and squeezing it.
“Chris,” Evan called out, seeing their son reading on the couch.
“Yeah, Papá?” he asked as he looked up, pushing his glasses up his nose a little. They had a small tendency to slip down his nose when he was reading or doing anything where he was leaning over a desk or book.
“You know how I’m a firefighter,” he began,not really sure on how to start this conversation.
“Yeah, Papá, I know,” he said with a roll of his eyes and one of those duh looks on his face.
Evan snorted, “Okay, a bit obvious,” he said, as he and Eddie approached the couch and settled on either side of the five, almost six-year-old.
“What is it, Papá?” he asked, looking at them, “You’re acting weird.”
“Just a little,” Evan agreed, “But that’s more because I don’t like what I need to tell you, but you need to know. I don’t like it either but it’s what happens when you’re a firefighter.”
“What’s that?” he asked, putting his bookmark into his book and closing it. He’s taken to reading the slightly longer storybooks over the last few months, and Evan and Eddie had been quick to sign him up to the library because of it.
“Well, I have to work this Christmas,” Evan answered him, “I have to work on Christmas Day with everyone else-”
“WHAT!” Christopher yelled, “No, no I don’t want that, I want you home. Daddy, tell him, tell Papá he has to be home!”
“Christopher,” Evan began, wincing at the yelling, and the fact that Christopher was upset about the news.
“No!” Christopher yelled as he burst into tears, “You have to be home, Papá, you have to, we’re family. You have to be there!” he screamed at him.
Eddie grabbed him and pulled him onto his lap as Evan moved the book so the three of them could be as close as possible. “Mijo,” he said, “I know, I know you want Papá at home, I do as well.”
“Then tell him, he can’t go!” Christopher cried, clinging on to his dad.
“I wish I could,” Evan said as he reached out and put a hand on a wet cheek, getting the child to look at him, “I wish I could stay home, but on Christmas Day there are going to be lots of people that are going to need help. For all those who have mishaps with new toys, get hurt when cooking, or even accidentally setting fire to their home. Me and the others at the 107 are going to have to be there to help them, to make sure that their holidays aren’t ruined. I hate that I’m not going to be here, I really do, but I have a duty to help them. Next year, I should be able to have Christmas at home, with you and everyone else,” he said, hoping that he would be able to be home for the holidays next year.”
“I hate it, Papá,” he cried as he reached out for Evan.
Evan took him into his arms and held him, “I know, I do as well,” he said as he rocked him, “Now, come on, dry those tears, we have to go and meet your mom and poppa soon,” he reminded him.
“‘Kay,” he sniffled as he clung to Evan, not wanting to let him go.
Eddie smiled fondly at the two before reaching out and running a hand over his son’s head before getting up. “I’ll get you something to drink,” he said to Christopher, knowing that his crying would leave him feeling thirsty and tired.
Evan settled on the couch, letting Christopher curl up in his lap as they waited for Eddie to come back.
XxXxX
It had taken two more days before Christopher had stopped clinging to Evan, not wanting to let him out of his sight. Worried that he would leave like Eddie had done when he was in the Army. Now they were in the mall about to see Santa. Shannon and Eric had arrived, Shannon was looking a little pale as she walked over to Christopher and hugged him tightly.
“Mommy!” he laughed as he hugged her tightly, “I’m gonna see Santa,” he grinned at her.
“You are, and I wonder what my little boy is going to be wishing for?” she asked, hoping that he would give the four of them some idea of what he wanted for Christmas.
“I really want to wish that Papá is home for Christmas, but Papá said I can’t wish for that, since he has to help lots of people,” Christopher huffed, “And I don’t know yet, maybe Santa will just know what I’d like without me saying anything,” he said, grinning at her as he was let go.
“I know your Papá would love to be home, just like Poppa wishes he could be home too,” she said carefully.
“What!” his eyes went wide, “Poppa?”
“Yeah, I found out I have half a shift on Christmas day, but I’ll be home for dinner,” he said, hoping that he wouldn’t end up working overtime, as he usually did.
Christopher looked like he was about to burst into tears once more as he was swept into his father’s arms. “Daddy,” he said, crying a little.
“I know, mijo,” he said, hugging him as Eric and Evan looked unhappy.
Shannon went over and looked at her son. “I know it’s upsetting. I want your Poppa home, like your Daddy wants Papá home, too. We all want to be together, but the three of us will still be able to celebrate. We’ll be with Abuela, Abuelo, and Grandpa, too. And Nana Coco and Poppop Darren will be there as well. Everyone else will be there,” she said as the two tried to soothe their son’s upset.
“I’m trying to swap with someone, so I can be at home during the morning at the least and then head into work and do a night shift. I just don’t want to get his hopes up for that,” Eric said as he looked at Evan, he could see that his best friend was just as upset as Christopher about missing out.
“It’ll be great if you could, then at least he won’t be missing you as well as me,” Evan said, knowing that there was no chance he was going to be able to swap shifts with someone. If he didn’t do Christmas this year, then he would end up doing it the next. They tried not to let anyone swap shifts for the holidays. It made it a little fairer to those that had children.
“I’ll do what I can,” he said as the three went back over to them, Christopher now walking again, as he looked at the two of them.
“I wish I could have you both home too,” he said as he almost fell into their legs.
The two went down and hugged him in turn. “We know,” Eric said, smiling at him.
“And we want to be home. It just means that you’ll have dinner with Poppa, and on the next day you have a second Christmas Day with me,” he smiled.
“Not the same, but okay. Do I get a load of presents again then?” he said as a little smile started to take over.
“No,” Eddie snorted, “nice try though, and we can always keep a few presents back to open with Papá if you want?” he suggested to his son.
“Okay,” he nodded as they then headed to see Santa. Christopher wondered which gifts he could save for his second Christmas Day with his papá.
XxXxX
Evan smiled at the rest of the crew, it was Christmas morning and he’d been at work for almost six hours already. Eddie had messaged him and told him that Christopher had woken him up at five in the morning, and now at six the five-year-old wasn’t going to wait any longer for presents. Shannon had arrived, and Eric had managed to change shifts. He was covering a night shift that started at 8 pm instead, but it meant he was going to be able to spend the day with Shannon and Christopher.
“Where are you off to, Buck?” Minjun asked as the other was heading to the stairs, “Me and Xiaoli are just about to start breakfast.”
“Eddie’s going to Facetime me so I can watch Chris open his presents,” he answered, “I’ll be in the bunk rooms. I’ll come and help as soon as I can,” he added.
“Alright, have fun, and I’ll send Mat down to get you when it’s time. Some of the others are doing the same type of thing as well,” Minjun nodded in understanding and headed to the kitchen.
Evan carried on to the bunk room and settled in as the phone began to ring. He answered it, grinning as he said, “Merry Christmas, Christopher!”
“Papá!” Christopher yelled out, “Everyone’s here, Papá!” he said, “I have presents from Santa and everyone, I’m saving ones from you and Daddy until you’re home,” he added with a few nods.
“Alright,” Evan smiled at him.
“Where are the trucks, Papá?” he asked as he saw that Evan wasn’t near them.
“I’m in the bunk room at the moment, this is where we sleep when we’re not on duty,” he smiled.
Christopher pouted, “Ohhh, I wanted to see the trucks, Papá.”
“Maybe another time,” he grinned, knowing that in about three weeks Christopher and two of the classes in his year would be coming for a visit at their station.
Eddie shared a smile with him, since he knew what was being planned as well. “Shall we open some presents then?” he suggested to Christopher.
Christopher nodded, “Yeah, let’s open some, Papá,” he grinned as he slid to the floor, Eddie following him so Evan would get a good view of what was going on.
Evan watched as Christopher began to read the tags and thank the person if they were there with them before opening the present, squealing over nearly everything, and eyes going wide with excitement over others. He smiled and wished again that he could be there for the opening of presents. But at least he knew that next year he would be able to be there. to watch him open them all.
“There were so many presents, Papá,” Christopher said as he was now in his dad’s lap, the phone in his hand as he talked to his papá.
“There were, I hope you kept mine hidden away so they didn’t get opened by anyone,” he joked.
Christopher laughed, “That’s silly, Papá, no one would be so mean.”
“You’re right, everyone is so nice, so no, no one would be mean like that,” Evan agreed, “Did you like your gifts?”
“Yeah, I loved the Superman socks,” he grinned as he pulled the camera down so they showed off his new socks.
“They are so awesome, I’m jealous,” he pouted at him.
Christopher laughed, “Maybe Santa got you some, Papá,” he said.
“Maybe, I’ll have to find out tomorrow, won’t I?” he smiled as the door opened to the bunk room.
“Breakfast is ready,” Sara said, a little teary after talking with her own children.
“Thanks, be there in a bit,” he nodded as he turned back to the phone, “Well, looks like I’ll be having breakfast, and I know Abuela has been cooking, has Nana been helping cook breakfast for everyone as well?” he asked.
“Yeah, Nana said she picked up Abuela and Abuelo so they could be here to cook breakfast for everyone,” he nodded.
“That’s great, you enjoy breakfast, and I’ll do the same, and if I can, we’ll talk a little more later and you can tell me all of the wonderful things you ate,” he said, feeling a small amount of jealousy about the delicious food that Isabel and Coco would have cooked between them.
Christopher nodded, “Love you, Papá,” he said as he went to play.
“Love you, Evan, be safe,” Eddie told him.
“Love you, Eds, and I will,” he smiled back as they hung up and Evan got up to go and join the others for breakfast.
Chapter Sixteen
The new year started with Athena turning up on Evan’s doorstep, looking half broken, half upset, but with an underlying anger as he let her into his home. Christopher and Eddie were out for the day, as Evan had only just finished a shift.
“Sorry to come over like this, but I needed someone to talk to who wasn’t someone from work, and someone that would… I don’t know, give me a different viewpoint on what I just learned,” she sighed as he settled her in the living room with a coffee.
Evan sat down in the armchair, curling up in it a little as he looked at her, “What’s going on?” he asked, frowning.
“I finally talked to Michael, finally got him to tell me what was going on in his head. It’s not what I expected, not at all, and I just… don’t know what I’m going to do,” she added, sighing heavily as she closed her eyes, still trying to process the information that she had gotten from her husband that morning.
“Tell me everything,” Evan coaxed, waiting for her to start.
“He’s gay,” she said, biting the bullet and telling him what Michael had told her, “I told him I would be talking to you, and he doesn’t mind you knowing. For now,” she said, “He isn’t out, and I know his parents, they would… they would be making his life a living hell if they knew. His parents aren’t… that good when it comes to something out of the ordinary. They don’t look kindly on me as I’m a cop. They were trying to get me to quit when I first got married, tried again when May was born, and again with Harry. If they found out he was gay, I don’t think he would still be speaking to them. He suppressed it, all this time, he denied who he was. Met me, fell in love with me, married me, and we even have children together. But he… he says that he can’t keep it down anymore. He’s tried and tried, even went to therapy to try and be a husband to me.”
“What’s the plan for the two of you? Are you going to keep pretending to be in a relationship, or are you ready to let him go and be free yourself to maybe find love again?” Evan asked her.
“I’m not ready for anything,” she snapped a little, “Sorry, I just… he’s lied to me, Evan, he’s lied to me for so long and I don’t even know what to think about all that.”
“It’s okay. You’ve been married a long time. No doubt you’re feeling some betrayal about all that. But you have to think of yourself for a bit. What do you want to do with that information? Is he willing to stay with you? Are you willing to have him still live with you? Do you think divorce is what’s going to happen? What about the children, are you going to be truthful to them if things break up?”
Athena frowned, thinking of what Evan was saying. “You… ask the hard questions don’t you.”
“I do,” he smiled, “I studied psychology for a while, I also do a lot of research spirals about things, and psychology was one of those spirals. A lot of those from the older generation tend to keep everything under lock and key, because of parental disapproval and disownment. A lot of men and women went through that when they came out. It still happens, even now when someone comes out to family. My dad knows I’m gay, but Eddie’s parents don’t know that their son is bi at all. They don’t pay attention, and we don’t think they will until it’s time for the court case,” he said.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t want to live a lie. And… while it well hurts that he lied to me for so long, he suppressed and lied to himself for just as long. It’s going to hurt, and it’s going to hurt the kids too. I don’t want that,” she shook her head, drinking her coffee and sighing when she was done.
“Unfortunately, they’re going to be hurt. But keep them informed of everything, don’t hide the truth from them either. Let them know that while you and Michael are maybe separating, it doesn’t mean you don’t love them and each other. Don’t hide the fact that Michael is gay, in the end, you’re not going to be able to keep hiding it. They’re going to find out, and they too are going to be hurt by the fact that you’re keeping this from them,” Evan told them, “I hated the fact that my dad hid that I had a brother from me for so long. It’s not the same thing, but I felt hurt, betrayed, and a lot more,” he finished quietly.
“Yeah, I’ll talk with Michael, and see about therapy. I don’t want… I don’t want him to cut contact with anyone, and I have to say I’m scared he might do that. I want to at least be able to co-parent with him as well as you two do with Shannon,” she said.
“It takes a lot of talking for it to be like this. We talk a lot. And while at first, Shannon had full custody of Christopher, when her mother was dying it changed for us. She’s having a hard time being around him long-term like she used to. But that’s more because she suffered bad burnout when it came to caring for her mother, that doing the same with Christopher was scaring her and making her resent Christopher, which she hated,” he explained, “So, we have custody now, full custody and Shannon spends two days a week with him and on Saturday night he has a sleepover at his mom’s. We talk constantly about it, to make sure we’re making the right choices for Chris. It’s hard work, but I think you and Michael could easily do that.”
Athena sighed, “Yeah,” she snorted, “I’ll make sure of it,” she added quietly.
Evan smiled and then yawned, “Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry for coming here and unloading on you. I think normally I would have gone to Hen, but I just needed the point of view from someone who is both gay and a parent who is in a co-parent situation, to remind me that it’s possible, and to maybe tell me how to go about this. Hen would tell me to go and have my fun now that I’m free.”
“And I’ll be telling you the same, as soon as you’re divorced. To go and have some fun before finding someone special that you could settle down with again,” he smiled before yawning a second time.
“Right, I’m going to go, and thanks for listening to me ramble and the advice. I’ll talk with Michael again, but he’s… staying at a hotel for a few nights… To give me some space to process what he’s told me. I didn’t want him gone, but also, I think the space might do us some good,” she said as she got up.
“It’s fine, and you know I’m just a drive or a phone call away,” he said, getting up as well and seeing her out.
Athena thanked him once again before heading off home. Evan yawned as he headed to bed to get some sleep before Christopher and Eddie arrived home.
XxXxX
Shannon was nervous. She knocked on Eddie’s front door and waited. It was soon opened and Eddie stood there frowning. He had a rare day off from his job at the law firm. She tried to smile and almost burst into tears instead. Eddie frowned as he took her inside and guided her to the living room.
“Shannon, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern lacing his voice as he looked at his son’s mother.
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out, “I’m pregnant and I don’t know what I should do.”
“Okay,” Eddie said, feeling shock run through him at the admission. He sat down on the coffee table to face her properly, “Shannon, how… do you feel about this?” he asked her.
“That’s just it, I don’t know. I’m scared as hell after what happened with Christopher, but then there is the thrill of maybe having another child. But then I think of not being there all the time with Christopher, and I feel like I’m going to be the worst fucking mother in the world. How could I want another child when I can’t cope with having Christopher with me all the time? I just…” she trailed off, actually crying this time as she put her head in her hands.
Eddie got up and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms, “I wish I could tell you what you should do, but first of all, you’re not a bad mother, you were a full time, solo, caretaker for so long that you burned out, and it happens. I don’t blame you at all for handing over custody to me and Evan, and to be honest, we love having him here. I love being able to be there for him like you were in his early years; I was basically a part-time dad for most of his life so far. I don’t plan on doing that again in the future. So I can keep full custody, and you can still have him on the Saturday nights like you have been, or we can come to some other arrangement. If you decide to have this child, then I know Christopher will be so happy.”
“But he might wonder why I don’t have him living with me as well as his sibling?” she asked him, “if he asks, what the hell do I tell him?”
“That’s… it’s going to be hard to explain I think, but maybe he’ll be okay with living with me and Evan instead of going back to you. We can always ask him, and that’s only if you want to do that. If you want them both,” Eddie suggested even though the thought of not having Christopher around made him go cold. He didn’t like the thought of losing custody of Christopher, he loved his son a lot and wanted to spend as much time as he could with him.
Shannon shook her head, “No, I don’t think I could cope with two children running around. I… haven’t told Eric yet, I just needed to talk to someone and you were there… when we talked about Christopher. I know that was because he was yours, but still you made me calm down and think about it. I just… I want to be ready to have Chris with me, I do. I don’t know if I am, but yeah, maybe we should let Chris decide what he wants to do. He’s such a good kid, and I don’t know, Eddie, I’m worried this will hurt him and I don’t want to do that.”
Eddie snorted, “I know neither do I, but we’ll have to talk to him. And to be honest, it was Evan who made me think about it more seriously,” he confessed, “If it wasn’t for him being blunt with the two of us, then we would have ended up married.”
Shannon gave an aborted snort, “Oh god, that would have been a bad idea. I love you, but I don’t love, love you,” she said, shaking her head, “I think I want this baby, let Chris have a little brother or sister.”
“Then I think you need to talk with Eric and see what you both want from this. Then when you’re further al-” he paused, how far along are you? Do you know?” he asked.
“I don’t, not at the moment, I’ve made the appointment, so I should know in a few days,” she told him.
“Right, so when you know, and you’re a bit further along, we’ll sit Chris down and talk to him about it, all four of us. Since this is going to be something that will affect us all in a sense.”
“Yeah, hope you’re ready to babysit occasionally,” Shannon smiled, “I know… I know that while this is mine and Eric’s child, you’re going to be a part of their lives as well.”
“Of course, me and Evan talked about having more children, surrogacy, he’s got money saved for it, and even I’ve been putting in here and there for it. But we’re going to wait a little while longer for that,” he confessed to her.
“You and Evan are great dads,” she smiled, getting a little teary, “So good with Chris,” she added.
“I’m happy you think so,” Eddie said as they talked a little more about what the pregnancy could mean for Christopher, and how things could change.
Chapter Seventeen
The second week of January came all too quickly for Evan. He was standing behind his captain as they watched a coach bring in the students who would be visiting the 107 that day. Eddie had been able to get on the list of parent chaperones, being one of the first to put his name down. The school was happy when they learned that the station that had been chosen was a student’s parents’ station.
Evan almost jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, “Hey,” he said as he saw Minjun coming up beside him.
“I take it you’re excited?” he asked, grinning at the slightly taller man. Minjun was one of the taller ones on shift, being just below Evan in height. “I think I might be the same if I had a kid coming in for a visit,” he added as he looked out of the bay doors as the students were starting to disembark from the coaches, the parents standing to one side.
Evan was easily able to spot Christopher and Eddie. Eddie towered over everyone there, especially the children. Two teachers were close to his height, but still smaller than him by a good couple of inches.
Sara huffed as she watched them, “It’s going to be a full house,” she grumbled, even though everyone could see she was just as excited as the rest of the shift. “Wonder if my kid’s school would do this one of these days. My kids have visited when they could, but it’s not the same as this; different type of energy.”
“Right,” Parker said, getting the attention of the entire shift, “It’s show time,” he said, clapping his hands together and stepping forward to greet the incoming students, parents, and teachers.
“It’s Papá!” Christopher yelled out as soon as he saw his Papá. This was the first time he was going to be visiting the station. There had been plans for them to do it before Christmas, but after learning that Evan would be working, Christopher hadn’t wanted to go. But after the New Year, he started to ask about it again.
“Yes it is,” Eddie laughed as they all went to the chairs that had been set up for this. Evan grinned and waved at the two of them as they sat down with the rest of the class and adults.
Parker smiled at him and nodded. “As young Christopher Diaz said, this is his papá, Evan Buckley, he’s a firefighter at this station. I’m Al Parker, the Captain of Station 107. It’s great to see you all here,” he said as he grinned at Evan and then looked back at the children. Today we’re going to be doing a few fun things. Myself and my crew are going to be teaching you what we do to make sure we can help people that are in trouble and need rescue,” he said as he gave an overview of how the day was going to go over the next four hours.
Parker had already gotten the groups that were to be set up with a firefighter and began organizing them. Grinning at Eddie and Evan, as he had made sure that they and Christopher would be in a group together. Each firefighter would be showing six children, two parents, and one teacher around the station, explaining each area and what it was used for. Evan was almost bouncing on the balls of his feet as he bound over to where Eddie and Christopher were with their group as soon as the assignments had finished being given out.
Eddie watched as his partner talked with the children and the parents as he showed them around. One of the mothers was listening intently, nodding and looking at their son often as he grinned just as brightly as the other children. Christopher was standing there, wiggling with excitement as they entered one of the back rooms.
“Believe it or not, we have to do the laundry here as well,” Evan said, getting down on the same level as the children.
“Why? Don’t you have someone else do it?” One child asked. “My mommy works in a hotel, and their laundry gets sent to someone else to do.”
Evan smiled at him and said, “That’s because we don’t have as much as a hotel. It’s all the clothes that we have to wear, our uniforms, and sometimes we need to change more than once. I got through all of my uniforms one time, because I had to go in and out of water in a few rescues. It’s not nice to sit around in wet clothes, so I had to shower and change into a clean uniform. If we didn’t have someone doing laundry then I wouldn’t have been able to change clothes,” he explained simply.
“Papá was thrown up on, I heard him complaining to Daddy, it was so gross!” Christopher giggled.
“Ewwwww!” some of the kids yelled out, before giggling as well.
Evan laughed, “Yeah, it does happen as well, and it’s very ewww,” he grinned at them as he stood up and moved the little group on.
Miss Flores was with them, having been put in their group, much to Eddie’s annoyance. He had noticed that Christopher was avoiding her. “Disgusting,” she muttered.
Eddie glanced at her and was about to say something, when one of the other parents spoke up. “Yeah it is, but I’m glad that we have someone like him there to help save people’s lives. He and the others here do a lot to help people. I’m a nurse, and I see the aftermath, sometimes they’re covered in things that aren’t best mentioned in present company,” she explained, “But it doesn’t faze them, because they have to get through it to be able to keep going and save more people. It’s not disgusting, it’s just the way of it. Hell, I’ve most likely been thrown up on more than Firefighter Buckley has,” she added.
“Wouldn’t surprise me, as an Army Medic I saw the same, I think I changed my uniform a few times in the past, but half the time we’re trained to work through it, especially out in the field,” Eddie added with a nod.
“Oh, bad,” she winced, “I’m Melissa Forester, my son is Nigel,” she said as he gestured to the young boy that was standing near Christopher, he was keeping a light hold onto a strap that had been put on Christophers’ arm. Christopher had volunteered to have it so that Nigel would stay with them. His autism often left him feeling left out from the groups he was with. Christopher had taken him under his wing, being gentle and kind, and going at Nigel’s pace when the other tried to verbalize what was going on.
“Nice to meet you, you know my son,” he grinned, nodding and holding out a hand for a handshake, which was taken.
“I do, your son is so proud of you and your partner,” she smiled, both of them now ignoring the sneering Miss Flores that was nearby. They followed the group around the station, Evan explaining everything he could, and answering all the questions sent his way, no matter how silly and stupid they sounded to others. They all ended up in the loft which had been moved around a lot to make room for many small tables and chairs so that everyone would be able to sit down and do a few activities while the crew prepared a meal for everyone.
Eddie left the group and headed over to the kitchen area, where Evan was helping with meal prep. Parker moved over to the children, going around the groups and the parents, speaking with them when they asked questions, and talking to some of the teachers.
Miss Flores stood up and moved towards the captain, “I must say that you should be stopping that,” she said gesturing toward Evan and Eddie who were hugging a little, Eddie looking like he was soothing Evan a little as he brushed a kiss on his cheek. Christopher could be heard sighing loudly and telling everyone that yes his dad and papá were always like that.
“Considering that a few hours ago, Firefighter Buckley had to pull a young child out of the wreckage of a crash, I’ll give him leave to take the comfort he needs to keep going on this job,” he told her.
“But to flaunt such a relationship in front of children is wrong and immoral. I need you to put a stop to it, he’s your firefighter and I find your lack of morals extremely worrying,” Miss Flores pushed, this time one of the other teachers got up and went over to find out what was going on.
“Miss Flores,” the other teacher said, “what’s going on?”
“That,” she said as he pointed to where Evan and Eddie were still close, but Evan was back to helping make the lunch for everyone. “Their disgusting behavior. It’s one thing for that firefighter to claim that he is Christopher Diaz’s father, but it’s another to fool the actual father into a relationship and then flaunt it around. It’s disgusting, and poor Christopher Diaz is having to call that… that abomination, Papá. It’s wrong, and we’re here to try and make sure that they are brought up with proper values-”
“Right, so you’re homophobic,” Parker stated, nodding, “Mrs Lewis, may I speak with you for a moment,” he said.
“Of course,” she nodded as she was about to say something to Miss Flores but she had gone over to Christopher.
“Christopher Diaz, you need to stop calling that man your papá, he isn’t your father at all, you only have one father,” Miss Flores told him, her voice stern and slightly angry as she talked down to the child.
Eddie hurried over, “Miss Flores, leave my son alone,” he stated as Christopher burst into tears.
“Evan, why do you go and take Christopher and Eddie to the bunk room,” Parker said as he looked at his firefighter. “Don’t worry about this, we’ll take care of it all,” he added.
“Yeah, sure, thanks, Cap,” he nodded as he hurried over to where his partner had picked up a sobbing Christopher. “Come on,” he said as he led them down to the bunk rooms.
“I am politely requesting that Miss Flores leave this station, she can wait on the coaches, but I no longer feel comfortable with her in my station,” Parker told Mrs Lewis.
“She’s leaving, and I’ll be putting in a report of what has happened as well,” Mrs Lewis said, nodding as she went to do just that.
Christopher clung to his dad as they entered the bunk room. “Daddy, why is she always so mean. She doesn’t like Papá, and she told me that he’s lying and that he doesn’t love us.”
“Oh, mijo,” Eddie said as Evan stood there in shock for a few moments.
“Superman, I have loved you from the moment I knew you existed, and that was before you were even born. I adore you and love you soo much,” he said as Christopher reached out to him. Evan took him into his arms as he sat down.
“She said I had to get used to Daddy marrying another mommy, that I’ll have a better mommy in the future, one that didn’t leave me,” he sniffled, “But Mommy didn’t leave me, she’s still there,” he said as he began to cry again.
“She isn’t telling you the truth, she thinks that families are only made up of mommys and daddys, and that just isn’t true is it? As you have three daddies, me, Papá, and Poppa,” Eddie told him, rubbing his back as they sat down on the bunk beside them. “You also have an awesome mommy, too,” he added.
“Yeah, Mommy is awesome,” Christopher sniffled, “Ms Flores, she’s always mean to everyone. She told Nina that she couldn’t have two mommies and that it was wrong, like having more than one daddy is wrong. I don’t like her. No one does. She’s mean to everyone and she keeps telling us that we can’t do things just because we’re different,” he leaned against his Papá.
“We’ll have to talk to the principal about her and see what we can do,” Eddie said, getting a nod from Evan as they finished calming Christopher down. They rejoined everyone, and Christopher began to enjoy the day again and Miss Flores was nowhere in sight.
Chapter Eighteen
It was a week before Christopher’s birthday, and a few days after the visit to the fire station. Christopher had told them a little more about Miss Flores and what she was like. How she was cruel to any child that didn’t have the mother and father-only family dynamic. How she pushed her view of what a family was, and that only the father would be able to bring in a new mother.
Eddie and Evan were sitting in the waiting area of the principal’s office at Durand. Carla was with them, and Evan also had the footage of the visit to the 107. It was well known, and there were signs all over the place to say that people were being filmed, and that the recordings included audio as a matter of public safety. He had the video of what Miss Flores had said, and a letter from Parker about what he had heard and witnessed. Principal Summers was going to be meeting with them first, and then bringing in Miss Flores to explain herself. Principal Summers had been given the basics of what happened, and that they and some of the other parents weren’t happy about what Miss Flores had said during the visit.
“Mr Buckley, Mr Diaz, Mrs Price,” the receptionist greeted them as she walked over, “Principal Summers will be able to see you now. I’m sorry for the wait,” she added as she gestured for them to follow her.
“That’s alright, we’re early,” Evan said, trying to be kind about what was going on. This wasn’t Summers’ fault, or anyone else’s but Miss Flores’. They got up and were taken to her office.
Principal Summers stood up to greet them, “Mr Buckley, Mr Diaz, and Mrs Price, it’s good to see you all, though I wish there was another reason for your visit,” she said as she shook all of their hands in turn, before gesturing for them to sit down.
Eddie sat down, as the others did the same. “So do I,” he sighed as he watched Principal Summers sit back down as well.
“So, I heard Miss Flores said something inappropriate during the visit to fire station 107,” she said as she looked at the three.
“Yes, but this goes back to when we had orientation during the first day,” Carla said. “When we were on the tour around the school, Miss Flores told Mr Diaz that he must be hurt that his son called Mr Buckley Papá, and another man Poppa. Mr Diaz is in a relationship with Mr Buckley, and Mr Buckley has been in Christopher’s life since his birth, as has his Poppa, who is married to Christopher’s mother. I made a note of what she had said and reported her to a supervisor at the time, Mrs Forester, while we were at the school.”
“Yes, I looked at the report at the time, and Miss Flores was reprimanded for the incident and sent to a seminar,” Principal Summers said, pursing her lips. It was obvious now that it hadn’t worked at all.
“It’s clear to us and others that she didn’t like the fact that Mr Diaz and Mr Buckley are in a relationship. She made some quite derogatory comments to Captain Al Parker; he’s also sent along camera footage, that include audio of the remarks she made. She made several nasty comments in front of all the parents and the students during their visit to the 107. Captain Parker has also written a letter about the incident. At the time, he asked Mrs Lewis, who was in charge of the visit, that Miss Flores be removed from the station, as she was creating a situation where he felt the morale of his station was at risk,” Carla said as she took what had been given to Evan and handed it over to Principal Summers.
“I see,” she frowned as she quickly read through the letter, frowning at what she was reading.
“She upset our son,” Eddie said, “she upset him because she’s told him several times over the last few months that he shouldn’t call his papá, papá,” he added. “Thankfully, the rest of the family was able to help soothe him. But we have found out from Christopher that she has been making similar remarks to other students that don’t have a mother/father family dynamic,” he finished quietly.
“I see,” she frowned, “Hmm,” she hummed, “Has she said anything else?”
Eddie hesitated for a moment before saying, “Christopher said something, but it’s more of a he said, that she said situation. And while I’ve never really known Christopher to lie about something like this, part of me hopes it’s not true.”
“What did he say?” Principal Summers asked him.
It was Evan who spoke, “Christopher said that she had told him that he only had one mother and one father and that one day his father may marry a woman and she would be a better mother to him than the one that left him. It was rather nasty, and I can’t see a six-year-old saying anything like that, without having heard it from someone else.”
“That… there are no words. And you’re right a six-year-old wouldn’t come up with something like that on their own,” she sighed, “I have already sent for Miss Flores, so we can get some answers from her about what’s been happening, and what she was thinking.”
“Thank you, I’d like to know myself as well,” Eddie said, pulling a face, “She has been cruel to my son and other children, and I don’t know if that’s a good idea to have in a school. Especially with children that have different needs from most. They are already facing cruelty outside of the school from those ignorant of their conditions, and those uncaring of the extra care needed to listen and respond to them,” he added, being diplomatic, his time working at the legal office showing him how to approach certain situations.
They sat there in silence as Principal Summers watched the footage and heard what Miss Flores had said. There was a knock on the office door and she stood, letting Miss Flores into the room. The woman walked in with her head held high.
Miss Flores stepped inside and looked around, pursing her lips as she saw them. “May I ask why I’ve been called?” she demanded to know, looking at Principal Summers as though she was insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
“I’ve had four parents complain about your behavior and words while you were at Station 107 during the visit there. Mr Buckley and Mr Diaz have now brought in a formal complaint about your behavior, along with the fire captain, Al Parker,” Principal Summers began, placing the letter down and turning the laptop around so Miss Flores could see the screen.
“There should have been no complaints, they are-” Miss Flores began.
“Miss Flores, sit down,” Principal Summers barked, and she watched as Miss Flores huffed but did as ordered.
“Now, as for the complaints, these aren’t the first ones that I’ve had about your behavior, as you’re well aware,” she stated. “At the start of the year, I got three complaints, the board was informed, and you were sent to a seminar in an attempt to correct your behaviour. Then by the Christmas holidays, there were another six. All of them talk about your behavior towards children with families that don’t conform to what you believe should be normal. Not every family will have a mother and father. Some will have two mothers, two fathers, two guardians, and foster parents, anything is possible. Families are often made as well as born.”
“Principal Summers,” Miss Flores began, “You have to see if from my point of view, a family is made of a mother and father. It’s normal to hold traditional values and the children need to learn them. They are already going to be facing problems, and they need to learn the truth of the world out there, and the limits that they have,” she said, as she began to proudly tell Principal Summers, Eddie, Evan, and Carla why she was right and they were wrong in what they were saying about her and what she was doing.
“Enough,” Principal Summers said, her eyes wide in shock, “I have never heard such drivel in all my life. I’m sorry to say but at the moment I’m going to be suspending you pending a full review,” she told her. “From what Mr Buckley and Mr Diaz have told me, I need to ask, have you told Christopher that he should expect his father to marry a woman and that she would be a better mother?”
“Of course,” she snapped, “Mr Diaz deserves to have a true Latino wife, and not some harlot that tried to baby trap him with a disabled child.”
“How dare you!” Eddie growled, “You have no idea of the relationship that I had with Shannon, none. I’ve known her since I was thirteen, when she and her mother moved to where I used to live. You have made assumptions about myself, my family, and the way we are, and I find you intolerable for your remarks.”
“Mr Diaz, you have a son that will need care and attention for the rest of his life, you’ll need to find a wife if you want to ex-” she began as she looked at Eddie with a sympathetic look on her face.
“I would really stop there,” Evan said, “At this moment in time, Miss Flores, you’re skating a very thin line.”
“And what would that be, calling you out for what you are, which is a disgusting abomination that is playing with the feelings of a child and a man that is stuck with a disabled child,” she sneered at him.
“You know,” Principal Summers said as she looked at Miss Flores, “With all that you’ve said here, I can see that you’re not suited for this school at all. I’m also going to be going to the educational board about your behavior as I find that it isn’t in line with teaching at all,” she added.
Miss Flores stood there, open-mouthed at that. “You can’t do that, I’m-”
“As a teacher, we teach, however, we do not dictate how families are, we do not dictate what they are to follow or indoctrinate them into a specific way of thinking. We are here to help, to teach, and to guide. You’ve been unnecessarily cruel to children about their families. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing will be informed and all evidence of your behavior will be sent to them. They will then have to decide if you should keep your teaching license, I for one would love to see it revoked. I will have Gerry escort you to your classroom to pack your things. You are done at this school, no review, no reference, nothing,” she said, “Your services are no longer needed at this school.”
“You can’t fire me for having an opinion,” she protested, staring at Principal Summers.
“No, I can’t, but I can fire you for breach of contract, which states that your opinion isn’t to be pushed onto the children. You have a duty of care to help, teach, and guide the students in their daily activities. You’re not to push your viewpoint onto children, you’re not to be cruel to them by telling them that their family units are wrong. That is what you are being fired for,” she stated, “I will fill the appropriate forms out, and send them to the board so you can be processed out of the school within the week. I will not have such an intolerable person within my school,” she finished as she buzzed for a member of the school’s security and had her escorted from the room. “I’m sorry you had to witness that, Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley, Mrs Price,” she sighed as she sat back down, shaking her head.
“It’s fine, at least we know that you have done something about the situation and that it should now be fine,” Eddie told her.
“Yes, that is the only good thing,” she huffed, “Thank you again for coming in with your concerns.”
“You’re welcome, and I hope the next time we see each other there is a better reason for it,” Evan said as he heard the dismissal.
“As do I, Mr Buckley,” she added, getting back up and shaking their hands as they left the school, happy that the situation had been sorted out.
Chapter Nineteen
Edmundo looked at three of his grandchildren. Eddie was meeting with his sisters for the first time in a few years. They had asked to meet with him when he was home. Once more Edmundo was reminded, as was the rest of those who lived in LA, that no one else knew that Eddie had been home from the Army for almost two years now. Since Eddie hadn’t contacted his parents, and his sisters had started taking their side while their brother was in the Army and half a world away.
“So, why do you need to talk to me?” Eddie asked them, drinking the lemonade that their Abuela had made for them all.
Sophia looked at her brother, “We wanted to talk about our parents.”
“I don’t,” Eddie said, “If you wanted to come back into my life, it would have been better to leave them out of it,” he told them, shaking his head and sipping the homemade lemonade.
“Come on, Eddie, you do know they just have the best in mind for you. How often are you seeing Christopher while you’re on leave?” she asked him.
Eddie snorted, “You do know that I’ve not been in the Army for the last two years?” he asked them, seeing their jaws drop as they stared at him.
“But…” Sophia began, she was the middle sister.
Adriana stared at him, “And why weren’t we told?” she asked, “Should we have been informed if you had left?”
“Why would you?” he asked his oldest sister. “Why would either of you be informed? The ones that were, are the ones that care about me as me. I had Shannon, Evan, and Abuela and Abuelo. As well as Tia Pepa and all the family here to help me when I got back. The last time I saw our damn parents they pushed Abuelo aside, and caused him to spend a night in the hospital from the concussion he had.”
“Mom and Dad are trying to make sure that you’ll be able to be with your son. I bet you’ve barely seen him since you got back, I bet any-”
“Shut up,” Eddie hissed at her. “You have no idea what is going on. Mom and Dad have been after Christopher since the start. They called CPS on my partner, because as far as they’re concerned Christopher was being abused. He isn’t, CPS did their investigation and found nothing. He’s happy at school today, and enjoying learning what he can. Like he has done since the start. He’s adventurous and smart, smarter than me. He and Evan love to learn new things, I often see them reading so many different books about everything you can think of.”
Sophia frowned, “Evan spends time with him, but what about you?”
“Of course I do, I have full custody of him; I have done for well over a year. They would know this ,if they had bothered to listen to anything that was told to them over the last few months,” Eddie said, “As I know that my lawyer informed them, when I got the letter telling me that they were suing us for custody they were told that Evan and I have full custody. They refused mediation, and they don’t care what they’re doing to my family, as long as they get their way. To me all they want is Christopher. They don’t care about anything else, they just want to be proved right that myself and Shannon are bad parents, and we’re not. Christopher is a well-adjusted child who is very happy with his home life, and they’ll never see that. I don’t allow them around my son because they almost killed him and Shannon. I tried, I tried to have them in my life, but they made life miserable for myself, Shannon, Evan, and even Christopher. So no, I’m not going to let them have a step in the door. At this moment in time, I don’t want either of you in my life or the life of my family. You came here to talk me into letting them into my life and it’s never going to happen.”
“They’re our parents and they just want the best for us all,” Sophia began, shaking her head.
“No, they don’t. Not for me. Hell, I joined the fucking Army to get away from the mental abuse they piled on me day in and day out. You’re not the one that was always in trouble for stupid little things; things that you two always got away with. They made me feel as though I would never amount to anything. That anything I found enjoyable was bad for me. Baseball, going out with friends, even going to the fucking movies. The one time I did that, I got a lashing with Dad’s belt because I wasn’t allowed. I was fourteen,” he told them. “But you two, you could do what you wanted when you wanted. No matter your age, and don’t tell me you didn’t because I remember Mom and Dad giving you both money to go to the movies when I was a kid. Me? No, I had to get a job and earn money, and then Mom would take it away most of the time. I was never allowed any freedom in that house, not like the two of you had. I was told at five that I had to be the man of the house, that I wasn’t allowed to cry, wasn’t allowed to show emotions unless it was anger,” he unloaded on the two of them, finally telling them all the messed up things that had happened in that house that they just didn’t want or didn’t care to see.
“They-” Adriana began.
“Don’t, no matter what you say about them, it will never justify the way they treated me. Hell, if I treated my son like that, I hope CPS would take him away from me and keep him away from me. I wouldn’t be fit to be near him,” he told her.
Sophia stared at him, “Why, why now? Why come at us now?”
“Because you’re trying to paint Mom and Dad like fucking saints, and they’re anything but. I’ve never had that unconditional love that the two of you have from them. Instead, mine was on the condition I do what they said, when they said, and if I didn’t they would show me how disappointed in me they were. Hell, Sophia, several times you were gleeful when you got me in trouble, and watched with a smile as they punished me. You want me to let my SON near them after that?” he asked her, “Because I would never let that happen. No matter what happens to me.”
Sophia nodded, “I’m sorry, Eddie, I really am. I was a teenager.”
“And I was five years younger than you,” Eddie said, “And I knew better. As I said, you were both given freedoms I wasn’t”
Adriana huffed, “And you need to get over it. It was a long time ago and they’ve changed.”
“Tell that to Abuelo,” he said, “When Helena pushed him aside so hard he ended up in the hospital. Tell that to Christopher, who she snatched up when he didn’t even know who the fuck she was, leaving very large bruises behind. So no, they haven’t changed from their entitled behavior at all,” he told them, “So, again, I don’t want anything to do with them. And until you realize just what they’re after, then I don’t want either of you in my family’s life either. We’re doing pretty fucking well without you,” he said as he got up, “Sorry, Abuelo, but I can’t stay here for lunch, I really don’t want to be around them.”
“I understand,” he said as he hugged his grandson, “you go back to your wonderful family. I know that Evan was taking Christopher out today, why don’t you find them and go with them? Enjoy yourself.”
Eddie smiled at him and nodded, “I will,” he agreed as he left the house.
Edmundo turned to his granddaughters, “Have you realized anything?” He asked them, taking the chair that his namesake had been using.
Adriana looked at him, “Abuelo,” she began, “Mom and Dad are just trying their best to make sure that Christopher is taken care of. They know that something is wrong in that house. That something is going on and causing problems. Eddie just doesn’t want to see it, he never wants to admit when Mom and Dad were right, even when he was younger.”
“So you’re saying that when he was eleven years old it was alright for Helena to take a belt to his backside and beat it seven times because he dared to play baseball during recess at school?” he asked her, “Or what about when he went to the movies with a friend when he was thirteen, paid for by himself and the little odd jobs he had been doing, and that no good man that was once my son, beat him ten times with his belt for daring to have a life outside of that home. When I found all of this out, I made sure that Ramon and Helena knew that the next time they touched a hair on his head, I would bring the law down on them,” he added, looking at the two of them. “You know that he was abused by both of your parents. I know neither of you was touched or punished like he was; you were both hellions. Eddie was scared, and abused, and took to coming here as much as he could during the holidays, just to get away from them and their punishments. For the trouble that you often got in him, Sophia, why do you think you were never invited to stay here during the summers and the holidays like Eddie was. It was because you enjoyed watching him suffer.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. Though to Edmundo he didn’t really sound that sorry.
“Don’t you think you should have said that to Eddie all those years ago? Apologised and realized that what you had done has caused harm to your own brother. To someone who would have helped you should you ask? Now, he wants nothing to do with either of you, since you’re still doing the same thing. The both of you. Demanding that Eddie give in to parents who want nothing but to see him miserable and under their thumb, and what better way than to have custody of his only child? So they can threaten a child to get Eddie to do what they want. I wish I had been able to get him away from them, but they had good friends that supported their rotten behavior. Didn’t care that a teenager was being harmed in a place where he should have felt loved and safe? You both helped create that, and you never stood up for him, and never even helped him. He was always alone in that house. Why do you think it was so easy for him to cut you from his life? Now, when you have finished your lemonade, you may both leave. Helena and Ramon will have their day in court, just like they wish, but they aren’t going to like the outcome from it,” he told them both, leaving them with a lot to think about.
Isabel welcomed Edmundo into her arms, “I am here, mi vida,” she murmured.
“I didn’t like that one bit,” he sighed as he sank into his wife’s arms.
“Of course not, but it was time they learned fully what their actions had done to their brother. He loves them, just as he still loves Helena and Ramon, but that doesn’t mean he has to like them. And he really doesn’t. They have caused him pain, and heartache over the years, and neither of them faced the consequences of what they had done. They’re no longer children, they haven’t been for a long time, but they still do the same thing over and over again, hurting their brother with their actions and words,” she reminded him.
The two sisters walked into the house, seeing the two. Looking sad and abandoned. “Abuela,” Adriana said as she took a step toward her.
“I love you, Adriana, Sophia, I do. But I do not like the people that you are. Even now you hurt your brother, not caring that you’re willing to support two people that are trying to tear him down like they have been doing since he was little. It’s time you realize that your actions and inaction when it came to Eddito, have cost you any type of relationship with him, his partner, and his child. And any others he and his partner may have in the future,” she told the two.
Sophia started to cry as Adriana had tears in her eyes. The two women left, they had a lot to think about. Both were unsure if they would ever have a relationship with the LA side of the Diaz family again.
Chapter Twenty
March came and went, as did April, but it was just before May began, and Eddie started at the fire academy, that Shannon decided that Christopher needed to be told about her pregnancy. She was showing, and he was beginning to ask questions. At almost seven months they were getting too close to the due date, and Christopher shouldn’t be kept in the dark like he had been. So a few days before Eddie’s first day at the academy, they gathered at the Buckley-Diaz home. Eric and Evan were seated on one of the couches in the living room, and Eddie and Shannon were on either side of Christopher. The six-year-old was a little confused as to why everyone was there.
“Mommy has something really important to tell you, Chris,” Shannon said, a smile on her face and a picture in her hand. She’d had a 3D scan done, as well as a video of the baby. She had them done so they could show Christopher his little sibling.
“What is it, Mommy?” he asked, as he looked at her, seeing a smile on her face and no trace of sadness, he knew that it should be good news.
“Well, a really big thing happened and I think you need to know because… well you’re going to be a big brother,” she said, trying to keep her tone light and happy, as she worried that he wasn’t going to take it well.
Christopher frowned and then shouted, “I’m gonna be a big brother!” he yelled out, feeling a bubble of excitement at the thought.
“Yeah, you are, I’m having a baby with Poppa,” she said, laughing a little at his reaction, “so in a couple of months you’ll have a baby sibling.”
“Wow,” he said, “Are they in your tummy?” he asked, staring at her stomach and finally understanding that was why his mommy was gaining a little weight. She was carrying his baby brother or sister.
Shannon nodded, “here,” she said, feeling the little feet kicking out. “Feel that,” she said as a little foot kicked out again, pressing into Christopher’s hand.
“Wow, that was them?” he asked, eyes wide as he then asked something they all dreaded having to answer. “Where is the baby going to live, Mommy?”
“They’ll be living with me and Poppa,” Shannon answered. They had said that they would be truthful about what was going on. Not hiding from him at all. Shannon had been going to therapy even more, just in case Christopher wanted to live with her and the baby. She wanted to be in the best possible place for that.
Christopher nodded, “What… what about me, Mommy, don’t you want me at all?”
“Of course I do, sweetheart,” Shannon said as she pulled her son into her lap and cuddled him, “You’re my son, my baby boy.”
“But I don’t live with you, so why do they get to?” he asked her, frowning as he looked up at her.
“You live with Daddy and Papá. But… if you really want to live with me, we can do that as well,” she told him, her heart was beating fast, and her skin felt a little cold and clammy at the thought, but she barrelled through it. She couldn’t let this fear of having her son with her full-time win. She needed to push past it, even if her therapist advised against it.
“I… don’t know Mommy. I don’t know,” he said as he began to cry.
Eddie moved closer, “Mijo,” he began his voice going soft as he got his son’s attention. “This is all up to you. I would love to have you live with me all the time. But I know you love being with Mommy too. However, you have to realize that having a baby in the house is a lot of hard work, so Mommy won’t be able to play as much as she usually does. A baby needs a lot of care and attention because they can’t do anything themselves yet. You were like it as well when you were a baby. All babies are the same, even I was when I was a baby. All I did was cry, poop, and sleep. And throw up all over my mommy and daddy, and everyone.”
“No, I was a good baby,” he pouted.
“You were the best baby, but you still did all that too,” Evan told him, smiling at the little boy.
Christopher looked at everyone, “Do I have to choose?” he asked, “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” he said sadly as he leaned against his mom and held his dad’s hand.
“Mijo, you’re not going to hurt anyone, it’s up to you what you want to do. We all love you and want you with us. But this is something that you have to think about and decide. If you stay with Papá and me, you’ll still get to stay with your mom and Poppa like you usually do, and spend time with your baby sibling. if you live with Mommy and Poppa, then you’ll come and spend a bit of time here each week, like you do now with Mommy and Poppa,” Eddie said as he began to explain what each option was going to be like for Christopher, trying to keep it as simple as he could, not wanting to confuse his son or scare him that anyone would be mad if they weren’t chosen.
Christopher sighed, “I need to think, Mommy, Daddy. I love you all and I don’t want to choose, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Nothing you chose will hurt us, because what you chose is what will make you happy. And that is what matters the most to me and your dad, and to your Papá and Poppa,” Shannon said as she ran a hand over Christopher’s curls.
“Okay, Mommy,” he said, nodding as he rested against her.
“Want to see something really cool?” she asked, as she handed the USB to Evan.
Evan got up and set it up on the TV, On the screen was a 4D scan of the baby. “That is your sibling,” Evan said as Christopher watched wide-eyed.
“Wow, really!” he asked, getting a nod from his Mom.
“Really, that’s them, do you want to know if you’re having a little brother or sister?”
“I don’t mind what we have,” Christopher smiled, “But I want to know if I have tea parties or cars in the future,” he nodded wisely.
Shannon laughed, “You’re having a little sister, so tea parties. But she may like cars as well when she gets older, especially if her cool older brother shows her how to play with them.”
Christopher nodded, “I’ll teach them everything,” he said, smiling as he watched a video on the screen.
XxXxX
Eddie looked at the building that Evan had gone through to become a firefighter. It had been a while since he had felt like he was looking forward to work, looking forward to doing something that felt meaningful to him. Evan had a great idea when he joined the LAFD. Now, Eddie was about to follow. He had no idea where he would end up, but he was looking forward to it. He walked through and into the room where orientation would be happening. He could see the others that had made it on the short course like he had. He had worked hard on getting some certificates, even working on one with Evan, to make sure that they both had rope rescue and advanced rope rescue certifications.
Eddie waited for the instructor to enter the room. He settled at one of the tables and waited. Others loitering around and talking before taking seats, a few going over to him.
“Hi,” one said as he approached.
“Hello,” he nodded, glancing up at him. A few others joined him and stood around his table.
“Why aren’t you mingling with everyone, before the instructor gets here?” he asked, “Oh, I’m Aaron Kinder,” he introduced himself.
“Eddie Diaz,” he nodded, “Not really the mingling type,” he shrugged.
“Evan Darls,” one of the women said, “Well, we can change that, you just need to loosen up a little,” she said, giving him a flirtatious smile.
Eddie raised an eyebrow at her, “No thanks, happily taken,” he said.
“What? To some woman that won’t understand the pressure of being a fire responder,” she laughed, “My dad ended up divorced when my mom realized that she couldn’t understand my dad.”
“No, I’m with a man who is a firefighter already, and he really does understand what it means to be a first responder,” he told her, not impressed with her words.
Darls huffed as she walked off.
“Well, you’re the fourth that has shot her down,” the man that had first approached him said with a laugh, “Will Alan,” he grinned, holding out a hand. “She’ll no doubt find someone, but not everyone is here to have fun of the carnal type,” he shrugged.
Eddie nodded, shaking the offered hand. “Yeah, let her have her fun, just not with me,” he snorted as Will sat down.
“I’m Evan Claskco,” said another as he sat on the other side of Eddie, “Was lucky enough to get on the short program. I was a volunteer for a while. Thought I would do it as an actual job instead of just volunteering,” he said.
“Eddie Diaz,” he said again, taking the offered hand. “Former Army Medic, not going paramedic, just so people know. Don’t think I could do that again. Wanting to be a firefighter, and hoping that maybe I can con someone into letting me partner up with my partner,” he added, not sure if that would be allowed.
“I heard that it’s not looked down or frowned upon, as long as it’s declared, and you’re both able to stay professional on the job,” Will said, “I know that there are a few married couples in the LAFD, my dad’s an engineer, they want him to go for captaincy, but he’s reluctant to do it,” he said, “So I’m a legacy hire,” he added, “I’ve still got to work hard, as I’m going to be under the microscope,” he snorted, “Dad warned me that you don’t fuck around on the short course. It’s there because you already have experience at fire fighting, or you have something that leads them to believe that the short course is best suited for you,” he added.
Claskco was about to say something when someone walked into the room.
“Take a seat and get ready, I’m not going to pander you or cater to your needs. I’m here to teach you, and make sure that when you put on that uniform, you’re ready to go out there and save lives. This is a hard, and sometimes even a thankless job. We will see losses and more during our time in this uniform. Sometimes it will even be the last thing you wear,” he said as he walked to the front of the room, “Now, you’re all here because you have something that the LAFD believes can be trained into a good firefighter. We’ll have to see if you’ll ever be a great one,” he stated.
Eddie listened as the man set out what the next several months were going to be like. They would be graduating at the end of August and during that time they would be under the eyes of the captains of the LAFD, and several other fire departments around California. Roll call was called out, and Eddie was amused to hear that there were four Evan’s in the class. Each of them was given a nickname instead of being called Evan. When they were dismissed several hours later, Eddie got up from his seat, nodding to the two who had sat with him.
“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” he said, giving them both a smile.
“Yeah,” Claskco nodded at him, grinning, “That was a lot,” he said as he got up as well.
“There will be, we have a lot to learn before we’re let out into the world as probationary firefighters,” Eddie said, thinking of the fact that Evan was going to be having his shield ceremony soon at station 107. He was looking forward to seeing him as a full fledged firefighter after having passed his probation period.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eddie and Evan walked hand in hand into the courtroom. Helena and Ramon were seated on one side, with Eddie’s sisters seated behind them. The talk they had, hadn’t done anything to change what the two sisters believed, and Eddie was done with the pair of them. He’d given them chance after chance over the years, and from his point of view, neither of them truly cared about him. He glanced at them, dismissing them both with a single look, and then turned back to those who were coming to the hearing to support him. His family was there, along with Phillip, and the Baxters, Shannon was also there, along with Eric who had been able to get the next few days off, just in case it went on for longer than a day.
“Eddie, Evan,” said the woman who would represent the two of them in the case. “The judge should be out in a moment, it’s been decided that only the judge will sit for this.”
Eddie nodded, knowing that his parents had been the ones who had asked for it to be a judge only, thinking that a jury would be more sympathetic to Eddie, instead of looking at the cold hard facts. What cold hard facts that would be, was unknown. “Thanks, Sylvia,” he smiled at her as they went and sat down, waiting for the judge to appear.
“Where’s Christopher?” Helena demanded to know as she stalked over to their table.
“Mrs Diaz, you’re not to speak or approach my clients, you’ve already been told this twice. Even the police had to cite you for breaking your court-ordered restraining order,” Sylvia said, as Eddie and Evan refused to acknowledge or even look at her.
“I’m here trying to help my grandson, and that poor boy is being abused and no one wants to see it. Which is why we’re here. Which is why I’m demanding that Christopher be brought here, they won’t allow them to keep him when I present everything,” she sneered at her son and his parents, “They are ruining that child.”
“Ma’am, go back to your seat,” the bailiff said as he looked at her and walked over, “You were told that you weren’t to approach the other table before you entered. This is a court, not a place for your dramatics,” he added.
“How dare you speak to-” she began to speak to them again.
“Ma’am, return to your table, now, before I have you in cuffs and placed in a cell. I’m not joking, you will be arrested if you carry on with your behavior,” he warned her, getting in the way of her view of Eddie, Evan, and Sylvia.
Helena huffed and turned, flicking her hair, “You’ll see when the judge decides that you’re a bad father, Edmundo.”
“The only bad parent I know of is you, Helena,” Eddie muttered, as he avoided looking at her.
Helena turned to say something, but the bailiff was there, giving her a pointed look. She huffed again as she returned to her seat. The bailiff nodded and went to move back to his position. It didn’t take long after that for the judge to come in. They all stood, before being seated once more.
“I am Judge Cassandra Carmichael,” she said as she looked at both parties. “This is a case concerning the custody of the minor child, Christopher Diaz?” she asked, getting a nod from both parties. “Has mediation been tried?” she asked.
“No, your Honor,” Sylvia said as she stood up to address the judge. “My clients have a restraining order out against Mr and Mrs Diaz for past behaviors, including an incident that happened during the birth of young Christopher Diaz. They’ve also tried to forcefully take Christopher Diaz, and at several times harassed both Christopher Diaz’s biological mother and his godfather, as well as his father, into trying to gain custody of the said child.”
“I see,” Judge CarMichael said as she made a few notes. “So now we’re here battling over who should raise young Christopher Diaz,” she nodded, “Where is the child at this moment in time?” she asked.
Eddie stood up. “Your Honor, we have Christopher safely at a cafe nearby with someone we trust, her name is Carla Price and she is a home health aid who works for my family in helping with Christopher’s care,” he answered her, “he is aware that something is going on, and that someone is trying to take him away from us. At this moment in time, he doesn’t know who Helena and Ramon Diaz are. He doesn’t know them at all, and doesn’t remember meeting them,” he added.
“Right,” she nodded, “If need be, I would like to speak to him with your lawyers both present and his health aid as well as a social worker. Do you agree with that?” she asked him.
“I will agree,” Eddie nodded.
Judge Carmichael nodded and gestured for him to sit down. “I will now hear the opening statements from you both,” he said, “Mr and Mrs Diaz, you may go first.”
“Your honor,” their lawyer Martin Standford said as he stood up. “I have two grandparents, who have been cruelly barred from their only son’s life, and not only that but the life of their grandson. A grandson that they love and adore, but haven’t been able to see in years since their son has decided to falsify things just to get a restraining order against them,” he began as he stood at the podium, “Mr and Mrs Diaz are good parents, and loving grandparents to their daughter’s children. They’ve done everything they could to be gentle and firm. But they’ve found out that their grandson is being abused by those around him. He was injured the one time they were able to see him when he was around four years old, and no one cared that he was hurt. No one, so they’re doing what they can to try and protect the child in question. Especially since Child Protection Services are not willing to get involved. They’re willing to work with their son, but they wish for full custody so that they will be able to make sure that Christopher is brought up in a loving and gentle environment after the hardship that he has been facing at the hands of his so-called family,” he finished.
Judge CarMichael nodded and made some more notes before she looked at Sylvia. “Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley, your opening statement.”
Sylvia stood up. “My clients are hard-working and kind young men. Mrs Shannon Baxter, Christopher’s mother, is a hard-working young woman, who is newly married to a doctor who has started his residency in neurology. The day Christopher was born, Mrs Helena Diaz and Mr Ramon Diaz, entered her hospital room, without permission, they refused to leave when security told them to, and their actions forced a delay in medical treatment as they constantly interfered until security was able to get them out of the hospital room. That day, we didn’t almost lose just Christopher Diaz, but also Shannon Baxter, nee Whitt. The delay in treatment for them both caused medical issues, one of which has been detrimental to Christopher Diaz’s development. He has cerebral palsy, because treatment was delayed by their interference, Christopher Diaz was deprived of oxygen during the birth. Without the interference, he would have been able to be delivered by C-Section, instead of a natural birth, which caused further delays in treatment for the distress that was occuring while he was still in the womb. Because of this, my client, Mr Diaz, has not wished for his parents to spend much time around his son, or his, at the time, girlfriend, who had almost died because of what they’d done. She suffered a large bleed from the birth, which wouldn’t have happened should she have had the C-Section like they were trying to do at the time of Mr and Mrs Diaz’s interference,” she paused for a moment.
“Any more to add, Miss Carls?” Judge Carmichaels asked her.
“Yes, your honor,” she nodded, sipping at her water, “I just needed to hydrate for a moment, I apologize,” she added, the judge nodded and gestured for her to continue. “You may think, that was in the past, that they would be able to work past it. Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley, and Mrs Baxter all tried, your Honor. They invited them to the first birthday party, to Christopher’s first Christmas as well. Instead, they were met with two people who were constantly putting Shannon’s parenting down. Berating Mr Buckley for being in the lives of Mr Diaz’s grandparents, Mrs Isabel Diaz and Mr Edmundo Diaz. They painted their visits as making sure that their grandson wasn’t being kept away from his family, said they were ensuring that Christopher wasn’t being kept from Eddie Diaz. No, it was all to gain control. When they began to harass Mr Buckley and Mrs Baxter, Mr Diaz decided that he would cut them off. When filing for custody, Mr and Mrs Diaz didn’t even put their son down, citing instead that they were trying to get custody, at first, to make sure that their son would be able to see his child. Mr Diaz was once serving his country and had been shot down, two years ago. They’re now saying that it is because of the abuse that Christopher is suffering. There is no abuse, but a child that has CP, and has to navigate a world a little differently because of it. Mr and Mrs Diaz, didn’t want to listen to their son when he tried to tell them. They were too busy screaming about the fact that Christopher needed a gait trainer at the time they saw him. A gait trainer he would not have needed, if they had not interfered in his birth as they had. I will show you, your Honor, that Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley and Mr and Mrs Baxter are wonderful parents to Christopher Diaz. That all four love him, cherish him, and want what is best for him.”
Judge Carmichaels nodded, “Witness for the Diazes,” she said, gesturing to Helena and Ramon.
Eddie and Evan watched as they brought out people that they had never met or seen before. Not one of them had anything relevant to say. One claimed that he had the opportunity to speak with Eddie at one point and found him abusive in his words and the way that he acted. It was easily proven false with only a few words from Sylvia on cross-examination. Then it came time for Sylvia to start. She had a gleam in her eyes when she called forth a few people from El Paso, those who were in the know of what Helena and Ramon were like with their only son. Why exactly Eddie would never allow his son to be near his parents ever, and if so, it was only ever in the presence of someone Eddie would trust with his heart and soul.
Closing statements were given, almost four hours after it had started. Judge CarMichael looked at the two sides. “I have one side claiming to love and adore a child they have never truly met, or even listened to the parents when they talk about him. Then I have another side, with four people sharing custody of one child, who is loved, well cared for, and living his best life,” she said. “Mr and Mrs Diaz, you will not have custody of Christopher Diaz, and I’m putting in place a permanent restraining order against you both. You’re not to go near Mr Edmundo Diaz, Mr Evan Buckley, Mrs Shannon Baxter, or even Mr Eric Baxter and their unborn child, and you’re not to go near, talk with, or have anything to do with Christopher Diaz. I find you both despicable parents. You not only abused your only son, but now you want his son, why I can’t imagine. But it’s not going to happen. The restraining order will be filed and a copy sent to you. I suggest that you refrain from going near the Buckley-Diaz or Baxter families here in LA again.”
Eddie slumped in his chair as his mother erupted before getting told to shut up or face charges for contempt of court. The court was dismissed and Evan and Eddie headed out, following the rest of the family, who were going to be gathering at Isabel and Edmundo’s for a meal, Pepa had remained behind with her husband to make sure everyone had some good home cooked food for when it was over.
“Eddie,” Helena came up to them.
“You were just told not to approach me again, and I will call the police should you do so again, Helena,” he told her, “I no longer count you as my mother, just in case you’re wondering why I call you Helena and not Mom anymore. Ramon, the same goes for you. You beat me as a child, abused me so much I joined the damn Army to get away from you both. I would rather have been shot at, and in a war zone, than remain with you any longer than I had to,” he hissed at them, “Now leave me and my family alone, we want nothing to do with any of you. And that includes you both, Adriana, Sophia, I don’t want to hear from you again. You’re no family to me,” he stated as he took Evan’s hand and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Evan took a bite of the cake that Sara and Gio had baked for him. He had finally graduated from probie to a full-fledged firefighter. He glanced around the party that had happened at the end of the shift. Eddie and Christopher were there, talking to Sara’s youngest, Sara hovering around as she went from one kid to another. Isabel and Edmundo were happily talking to Minjun and Gio, swapping recipes from what he could hear. His dad was busy talking with Al Parker along with Darren, and Coco was talking with Steven and Adam.
“You look happy,” came a voice from behind him.
Evan turned and saw Shannon standing there with a hand on her stomach. “Shouldn’t you be resting?” he asked, she was due at any moment.
“I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head and patting her belly. “It doesn’t look like she wants to go anywhere, anytime soon,” she muttered with a little huff. Shannon was over a week overdue, they were going to induce in another four days if she hadn’t gone into labor by then.
“At least we know she’s doing well,” he smiled at her. The pregnancy had been going smoothly and while morning sickness had hit, it hadn’t been as bad as it had been with Christopher.
“Yeah,” she smiled as the two looked over to where Christopher was laughing loudly and leaning against his dad’s legs. “He’s chosen where he wants to go,” she finally said.
“Oh, he hasn’t wanted to talk to us about it in a while,” Evan frowned. The six-year-old hadn’t said a word about whether he wanted to stay with Eddie and Evan, or go and live with Shannon and Eric for a little while; not since the court case three weeks ago.
“He talked to me this morning when I was getting him ready,” she said as they found a place to sit down. She rubbed her back a little and sighed, “ugh,” she muttered, rubbing her stomach and shifting as though she was in pain, “I hate all the achy pains I get. Anyway,” she said, shaking her head and stealing a bite of Evan’s cake. “He said he loved me a lot, but he knows that having two kids is going to be a lot of work, especially a baby.”
“Do you think the visit to Anita’s place may have had something to do with that?” he asked, giving a little snort at the thought.
Shannon laughed and nodded, “Yeah, I do,” she agreed easily, “He came home from that little playdate and looked shocked. I know Anita has a new little brother and he’s been ill the last couple of weeks as well. So, him being home and very fussy…”
“Let Christopher see what it can be like with a baby in the house,” Evan finished, “Well, you know he is welcome to change his mind, but I know that Eddie will be happy. He loves having Christopher living with us, and so do I. I’d miss him like crazy if he had decided to go with you.”
“I would… I would actually love to have him at times, but there are others when I know that I wouldn’t be able to cope with it all. I’m still not fully there yet, which is why I was so unsure if I should have kept the baby,” she stated, wincing and rubbing at her stomach, a little frown appearing on her face “I’m still not in the best place, and I’m going to be monitored for PPD just in case. Since I’ve already got mental health issues, the change in hormones could put me more out of wack.”
“We’re in the know, so we can help if need be. If you and Eric just need a night for yourselves, or even if you just need a few hours for yourself, to unwind and rest, you know that myself and Eddie are just a phone call away when we’re not on shift. You’ve already spoken to Carla, and she’s agreed to come in and help you as well. She can take care of the baby while watching Christopher. We have so much in place to help with anything and everything we can th-” he began as he saw Shannon wince and a hand go to her stomach. “Mat!” he called out to the paramedic, he was the closest one.
“Yeah?” he asked as he hurried over, hearing the urgency in Evan’s call, “What’s up, Buck?” he asked as he reached them.
“I think Shannon is in labor, can you do a check?” he asked as he looked at Shannon.
“No, really, here?!” she said, shaking her head, “no, this baby is ju… it’s braxton hicks, that’s all,” she protested.
“Shannon, I’ve been watching you since we sat down, you’ve winced and rubbed at your stomach as though it’s hurting you three times now. A few minutes apart as well,” he told her, being calm as he put his plate aside, with only a bite of cake left.
“Shannon,” Mathew said as he smiled at her, “How about we get you in the ambo and me and Dana can do a full check just to make sure,” he said as he held out a hand for her to take,
Shannon huffed and nodded, taking his hand and being helped to her feet. Eric was now with them as he looked his wife over. “It’s nothing Eric, they’re worrying over nothing,” she said as she walked towards the ambulance. They were almost to it when she felt something wet gush from her. “Okay… maybe it isn’t nothing,” she said as she winced and doubled over, “Damn, that one was bad,” she grunted through the pain.
“Right,” Mathew said as he looked at Dana, “let’s get her in and sorted, and then we’re heading off,” he told her.
“I’ll drive!” Steven said as he got in the front.
“Dad, in you go,” Dana said, as she gave a wide-eyed Eric a little shove towards the ambulance that Shannon was now inside of.
“We’ll meet you at the hospital soon,” Eddie said, as he clapped Eric on the back and also gave him a shove.
“Yeah, oh yeah, right erm… hospital yes,” he looked shocked as he got in, and Shannon laughed at him.
“For a doctor, you don’t half panic,” she said as the ambo doors were closed. A few moments later the sirens went on and off they headed to the hospital.
“Is my sister coming now?” Christopher asked.
“Yep,” Eddie grinned at him, “She is, so how about we go and find something really nice to give to Mommy, and a nice soft toy for your new sister for when she gets here?” he asked.
“Yeah!” Christopher bounced where he stood.
Parker looked at Evan, “Go on, head out, the party has just become a celebration of new life now,” he smiled at him, “Go and make sure that young man isn’t losing his mind. I know I did when mine were born,” he smiled, “Each and every single time. Though I only fainted the first time,” he added.
Evan grinned and nodded, “Thanks, cap,” he said as they headed out.
XxXxX
Seven hours from the moment Shannon had left in the ambulance, to the moment that Eddie, Evan, and Christopher were called into the room. Shannon was sitting up on the bed, looking exhausted but smiling happily down at the little bundle in her arms. “Christopher,” she said, as she looked at her son, “Come and meet your sister,” she smiled as she waited for him to come over to her.
Christopher was helped onto the bed so he could look at his sister, “She so tiny, Mommy,” he smiled as he reached down and trailed a gentle finger over the soft tufts of hair she had.
“She is, you were just as tiny when you were born,” Shannon told him, “Christopher meet your little sister, Charlotte,” she said as she looked at her son.
“A C name, like mine,” he giggled.
“Yeah, just like all your dad’s names have E’s to start them,” Shannon said, “May as well carry it on,” she added as she looked at the three men.
Eric sat on the other side of the bed, putting an arm around Shannon and he smiled at the baby, “We’re going to let my parents in soon,” he said, “Mom’s just parking up now. Took her a while to get loose and then to go and pick Dad up.
Charlotte gave a little stretch and a tiny arm poked out, it caught Christopher’s hand and she curled her fingers around one of his.
“Looks like Lotties picked her favorite already,” Eric smiled as he ruffled Christopher’s hair.
“She likes me?” Christopher asked, sounding scared.
“Of course she does,” Shannon told him, “You’re her big brother. She knows you’re her safe person, that she can always go to you when she needs help or when she wants to complain about everyone.”
“Will she call Poppa, Poppa, and what about Daddy and Papá?” Christopher asked, curiously.
“Well,” Eddie said as he moved forward, “She’s going to call Poppa, Daddy, and me and Papá, are going to be Uncle Eddie and Uncle Evan.”
“Okay,” he nodded as he looked up for a second and then back down at the baby.
“Which does remind me, Evan, Eddie, Godfathers?” Eric asked, “Would you both be willing?” he continued as he looked at the two.
“We’d be honored,” Eddie said as Evan nodded his agreement.
“Yeah, honored,” Evan agreed, smiling at his best friend, “Godfather,” he grinned.
“Well, we did say that didn’t we,” Eric reminded him of conversations they had when they were kids. The promise to always be best friends and to always be there for each other, no matter what was going on. They had kept them as best as they could over the years.
“We did,” he laughed, “Welcome to the family, Lottie, you’re gonna be so loved. By us, your grandparents, your godfathers, everyone,” he said as he moved a little closer to look at his goddaughter.
XxXxX
Evan walked into work a few days later and was called into Parker’s office before the shift had even begun. “Cap, everything alright?” he asked as he sat down.
“Normally something like this would be up to you, but we’ve had a request for you at another station, a transfer request. They need a heavy rescue asset to partner up with their current one. They’ll be taking on a probie when the class is out; they’ve been earmarked for your Eddie. They’re willing to take you both on as a heavy rescue pair. I know you’ve gone to the academy a few times to work with Eddie on some partnering, the captain of the shift saw you and wants you both, if you’re willing to transfer,” Parker explained what was going on. “I don’t want to lose you, you’re a damn good fit here, but I can also understand wanting to work with your partner. It will be a three-month probation period for the two of you as a rescue pair, if it works, it becomes permanent when Eddie passes his probation.”
“You mean leaving?” Evan asked, frowning, “I… to work with Eddie.”
“Yes, the 118. They want you to start now, it’s another month before the new class is ready, so you’ll have time to settle in at the 118, their captain has been there for a year now, and doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere either. So, you have until the end of the week to decide if you want to take it,” Parker told him.
“I’m gonna take it,” he said, “there is no question. I just need to make sure that Eddie’s on board with the two of us working there. I know the station, I know a couple of the people working there,” he added. Thinking of Hen and Tommy. It would be nice to try and work with the two of them.
“Talk to him and get back to me. I’ll start the paperwork to get it ready. We’ll have a leaving bash for you, but have to say Buck, I’m gonna miss having you around here.”
“I will, cap,” he nodded as he jumped up, phone already in hand, ready to call Eddie. Within twenty minutes, he returned with an answer, that it was a yes, he would be heading to the 118 in a week’s time.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Evan looked at the 118 and smiled. He had been told a few things about the new captain, Robert Nash. He seemed like a nice guy, Tommy had told him that the captain had taken a while to warm up to the crew but it had happened. Shaking himself a little he headed inside.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Tommy said as he went over, “Glad you chose to join us. Though, I’m sorry to say, but you’ve only got me for the month.”
“Finally got that transfer to harbor?” Evan asked him.
“Yep, which is why the 118 has a probie coming in, your Eddie from what I hear,” he grinned as he clapped him on the back and led him inside.
“Yeah, the reason I’m here is because Captain Nash is going to be taking the both of us on as a rescue pair,” Evan said as he was led to an office door. He frowned as he looked around the station, “Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” he said as he took in the glass windows of the locker room.
“I still would love to know what the designer was trying to do with that. Bit of a hazard if there is ever an earthquake,” Tommy added, shaking his head as he knocked on the door. “Go and speak with Bobby, then I’ll come get you to really show you around.”
“Alright,” he said as he heard the voice call for him to enter. “Captain Nash,” Evan greeted, “I’m Evan Buckley.”
“Ah, yes, Parker called you Buck a few times,” he said as he stood up, “I’m Bobby Nash, please either Cap or Bobby. And what about you, Buck or Evan?” he asked.
“I don’t mind either that much, but I do like Buck on the job,” he added, “Eddie does call me Evan and not Buck though,” he added. “Are you really sure that you don’t mind the two of us working together?”
“I’m sure, I could see the two of you working together at the academy when you went there to train together. I understand it was an experiment to see if you could work together. You both did well; you listened to each other, and moved together in a way I don’t see often. I’m willing to give you both the chance to show me what you have as a possible rescue pair. We don’t have many,” Bobby said, “So, welcome aboard, we have a few last bits of paperwork to get through, and then I’ll get Tommy to give you the tour of the place.”
“Thank you, captain,” he said with a nod.
Bobby smiled, “Welcome to the 118,” he said, as he brought out the paperwork and the two went through it. As soon as it was done, the two stood up. Bobby opened the door and let Evan out first. “Tommy,” he greeted the man who was waiting.
“Cap, Evan,” Tommy smiled, “Let’s show you around,” he said as he led Evan away and began to show him the station ending up in the locker room so he could change.
“What’s it been like here?” Evan asked, knowing that the station had gone through a bit of an overhaul since Evan last stepped in the place, and Gerrard was fired and even prosecuted for what had happened within the station. He’d ended up with a three year jail sentence from what he’d heard from Tommy a few months back. It had first seemed like that he’d just be fired and fined. But another case had been brought forth and he’d ended up in jail for it.
“It’s been good; Bobby’s a good captain, and he’s been cleaning things up. There are a few more that are on the list to move to other stations. This place holds a few bad memories for some of us. Which is why I want to go,” he added.
Evan nodded, “I can understand that,” he said, wondering why it had taken so long for him to leave.
“Harbor has someone retiring in three months, but it’s next month that I’ll be going over there to start learning the ropes. So I’ve got a month here to make sure you’re ship shape for when Eddie comes in,” he grinned.
Evan laughed as he finished doing up his shirt. “Right, let’s go and meet the rest of the shift,” he said as he followed Tommy out of the locker room and up the stairs to the loft area.
Hen looked up from the crossword puzzle she was doing at the table, Bobby was in the kitchen area cooking, as a few more of the shift loitered around, curious of the new hire. “Evan,” she smiled.
“Why the hell do we have a cop as a probie?” Chimney stated as he glared at Evan.
“Buck isn’t a probie, he’s a full-fledged firefighter and we’ll be getting his partner from the latest class in a few weeks,” Bobby said as he turned to Chimney, “I told you all this already. Evan Buckley comes to us as a transfer, after Mitch retired. He’s taking Mitch’s place. Eddie will be joining us as a probie in the middle of September, and will be taking Tommy’s spot when he heads to Harbour.”
“I can’t work with the bastard that accused me of murdering people!” he yelled out, gaining the attention of those in the firehouse. Most began to walk over, at least half of the shift had changed since then.
Evan looked at him, “At the time, Firefighter Han, every single person in the 118 was a suspect and each of them were interviewed and talked to about where they were, and who they were with for each of the disappearances,” he began.
“Yeah, I remember,” Hen nodded, “I have to admit it hurt, but Athena said that all the t’s and i’s had to be crossed and dotted, and no stone was to be left unturned.”
“Any one of the 118 could have been integral in us finding out who was doing this,” he pointed out, “It’s how police work, especially detective work happens. We go over everything, we follow the clues, we look at the evidence, and go where it leads.”
“Then why was I dragged in several times?!” he demanded to know.
“You know why, but if you really want everyone to know,” Evan began to answer, getting a glare, “Then I’ll tell you. It’s because you kept lying to us; you lied so many times, you and two others became our top suspects. When asked about your whereabouts you lied to us. We brought you in time and time again to try and establish a timeline. If you had been truthful from the beginning, we wouldn’t have had to waste so much time with you. In the end, it was thanks to Hen’s quick thinking, and calling in Tommy’s disappearance that was able to give us that last lead on who it was.”
Hen nodded, “I’m glad I noticed,” she said, “We lost Deluca,” her words now soft, “he was an ass at times, but he was still a good firefighter.”
“I can’t believe I have to work with that,” Chimney sneered as he stared at Evan.
“Get over yourself, Chim,” Hen told him, “I told you that you needed to be truthful when questioned, instead you lied and you suffered the consequences for it,” she rolled her eyes, “Evan, welcome, though from what Athena was saying, you’ve been going by Buck a lot while working as a firefighter?” she asked him.
“Yeah,” Evan grinned and laughed, “She decided to tell everyone how I got the nickname Buckaroo from her, they shortened it to Buck, and it kind of stuck; I like it,” he smiled at her.
“Well, Buck, welcome to the 118,” she said, “I’m looking forward to working with you. And I heard that Eddie’s going to be our new probie,” she added, as Evan went over to her.
“Yeah, he’s almost done at the academy, he’s top of his class,” Evan said proudly.
“Looking forward to having him here as well,” Hen smiled at him.
“It’s a pity I’m leaving,” Tommy said, “It would have been great to work with the both of you. Bobby said some interesting things about the two of you.”
“Oh?” Evan frowned, “Good things?” he asked.
“Yes, good things,” Bobby laughed, “I told them that you and Eddie worked well together in the training you were both doing.”
“Ah,” he nodded, “Eddie really just wanted to run through it all with someone, and he knew I held the records from my time at the academy, so we decided to run them together a few times,” he shrugged. It wasn’t intentional to train together as they had, but it had been nice to work with Eddie. He was looking forward to when Eddie graduated and would join the 118.
“Now,” Bobby said as he turned to Buck, “I know Al likes to make sure everyone in his station does some of the cooking, so what are you like in the kitchen?” he asked.
“Good enough to keep a six-year-old alive? Oh, and I impressed my partner’s Mexican grandmother at least once during the last…” he paused trying to think how long he had known Isabel and the Diaz family. “Seven… eight years,” he said slowly, trying to do the math and wondering if he was coming up short somewhere.
“A long time to know your partner, have you been together that long?” Hen asked, curious about their new hire.
“Hen,” Chimney said, “Why the hell would you-”
“Chimney,” Hen said as she looked at him, “You’re the only one that’s going to have a problem here, but then you have issues with anyone coming in. It’s also why you were told you’re not going to become head paramedic, but I am,” she added, “You’re looked over because of your behavior. You’ve got reprimands coming out of your ears, and you’re still not listening to what people are saying. It’s also why Bobby has put you down for a transfer, you’re a problem.”
“I just think that Chimney would do better at another station where he doesn’t have such negative memories,” Bobby said as he looked up from his prep work, “And Buck, come and join me?” he asked.
“Sure, what do you want me to do?” he asked as Bobby quickly got him working.
Hen and Tommy looked at Chimney, as Tommy said, “You need to change the attitude,Chim., That man saved my life, Hen helped save my life. Instead of helping the cops when they came around, you obstructed them and lied to them. Because of that, I could have easily been killed. They were closing in on Owlsen and you decided to lie to them. Which meant they focused on you, instead of who it should have been.”
“Why should I have to tell them anything,” Chimney sneered as he could hear their captain and their new recruit talking about recipes.
“Because they were trying to find a serial killer, someone that had killed Sal, tried to kill Tommy, and then almost killed Buck as well,” Hen told him, “I remember talking to Athena after Evan had been shot. Owlsen tried to kill him, attacking him in his own home. She was worried about him, distraught almost. Athena trained Buck, and she was heartbroken when he decided that he couldn’t be a cop anymore. Buck lost his career because of what happened. So he’s chosen something else, a career that has meaning to him, and he’s doing well. I’ve talked to him a few times outside of when he hauled me into an interview room and interrogated me,” she added, glaring right back at him. “Get over yourself, you’re not the center of the damn universe, Chimney.”
“You act like you’re the victim during that case, and you’re not! I’m a victim, Sal was a victim, so many others were victims, and yeah, Evan was a victim as well. You… you were a suspect because of your own behavior, and your belief that everyone should bow down to you because you’re you. Well, news flash, Howard Han, not many like you these days, because you’ve become a bully,” Tommy told him bluntly. “Take a good long hard look at yourself. You’re not the only one that feared Gerrard; I’m gay, happily dating a man, and I have been for a few years now. If Gerrard had found that out, then I would have ended up like Kyle, remember him, retired because Gerrard decided that he didn’t like him standing up for himself,” he pointed out as he got up from where he was seated and went to join the other, leaving Chimney to think about what had been said. Not that Hen or Tommy believed he would actually think about anything. They man knew how to play victim like a professional after all.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Evan was on his tenth shift at the 118, and he was getting sick of the snide comments that Chimney kept making toward him. So far there hadn’t been anything actionable, but it was enough that Evan was keeping a log of what was going on, when and where he said things, and what he was saying. Bobby had given him even more reprimands and even a two-shift suspension, but that hadn’t stopped him at all. Now he was a week away from having Eddie joining him and he was looking forward to it. Working with Tommy was great, and he’d learned a few more things from the man that he was going to be passing down to Eddie as soon as the other man got to the station.
“Can’t wait until we get someone new here, maybe then we can get rid of you,” Chimney snipped at him as he began to walk past him.
“Well hello, Mr Bully,” Evan said, with a little shrug, “Just because you don’t know how to accept the truth, or even handle it, doesn’t mean others can’t. I, at least know that the person coming in is to partner with me, no matter how much you wish otherwise. Not only that, but I also know that you’re on the transfer list out of here, so it won’t be me you’re getting rid of, it will be the station getting rid of a bully like you,” he stated, not caring what the man thought of him anymore. Eddie had told him not to let the man walk over his boundaries, he had done that enough as a teenager with his sister.
“I’m not a bully,” Chimney yelled at him.
“Oh, then what do you call this?” Evan asked him, “You constantly go out of your way to get in my face about anything and everything. You try to demand that I bow down and do what you want me to do. I’m not a probie that you can try and humiliate,” he added, turning to face him. “You’re nothing but a damn bully, and you know it. You’ve already driven off two people that I know of, who transferred into this station in the last six months. I actually went out of my way to talk to those who worked at this station. Every single one of them warmed me about you, how you like to lord yourself over everyone if given the chance, that you will lie to people around you to try and make yourself out to be someone you’re not. Those that left here, left without any respect for you at all. I don’t respect you, and I certainly don’t trust you.”
“You should do what I say because I’ve been on the job longer than you, I know what this entails, and you-” Chimney began to state.
“I don’t care if you have been on this job for a hundred years, I don’t trust you, that means I won’t work with you in certain situations. You don’t have the qualifications to do anything of what you try and volunteer for. Trust is earned, and you’ve done nothing to earn it at all. You lost my trust that very first day I came into this station. Which is why Bobby knows not to put me near you on a scene. I have a partner and son to go home to at the end of the day, and I don’t trust you to have my back and to make sure that happens,” he said as he went to leave.
“Yo-” Chimney began his voice angry as he went to reach for Evan.
“Chimney, my office, now!” Bobby called out, staring at the man, “I’ve had enough of your behavior. You’ve already been suspended once in the last three weeks, I believe another is now due. You’re suspended for three shifts, without pay. I’ll be writing up another report on you. At this moment in time, I’m going to recommend that you be fired. I’ve given you plenty of chances to clean up your act in this station. I was asked if I would keep you here, by Hen. But I’m sorry to say, Hen, that I won’t have such grandstanding behavior in my station and I’m not going to give him another chance,” he told her as she stood nearby, “My office,” he added again, “We’ll be going through what is going to happen next for you in there.”
Hen sighed as she watched Chimney and Bobby head to the office. “I tried to warn him that what he was doing was going to backfire on him. He just… believed that he could get away with it, because Gerrard did. He wanted to… make people pay and suffer like he did. But I told him, I told him it doesn’t work like that. That you can’t just hurt people because you were, it’s a vicious cycle and it needs to stop,” she said, watching them sadly as the office door closed.
“I know,” Tommy said as he put an arm around her, “You’re a good friend Hen, you stood by him for a lot of the shit that he did. Especially in the last year since Bobby came here. You tried to help him, we all did, he just doesn’t want to listen.”
“I’m sorry, Hen, I know he’s your friend, but he has a bad reputation within the LAFD, even at station 107 I heard about his behavior and that he’d gotten someone hurt on the job because he was doing something he wasn’t qualified for,” he added.
“Yeah, that was just before Bobby came here,” Hen nodded, “He was always doing that, whenever he got the chance, and most of the captains we had after Gerrard didn’t look at people’s files, trusting them to know when they can and can’t do something. Chimney was reprimanded for it and had a month’s suspension at that time. He came back about a week before Bobby took over. We told Bobby about what Chimney had done, and from the get-go, he made sure he knew what each of us was qualified to do. He doesn’t let anyone get away with anything. He’s been quick to shut things down, when he sees it. Chimney has been given chance after chance because of what happened, but he’s not doing anything with those chances,” she sighed, shaking her head as she watched Chimney storm from the office, slamming the door and heading for the locker room.
Bobby walked out of his office and followed Chimney, watching him like a hawk as the man grabbed his things and stormed out yelling, “You’ll be sorry!”
Bobby shook his head, “I’m going to be on the phone with the chief about the situation. We may have Chimney here for another couple of shifts after he comes back, but I’m going to put in a report stating that no one on this shift trusts him. He’s going to be sidelined a lot until he is either transferred or worse case, fired.”
“Fired?” Hen asked, frowning, “Why would he be fired?”
“Because some of his actions over the last few weeks have been questionable at best, and at worst, the’are downright dangerous. He’s formed a habit of trying to bully his way into doing things he has no idea how to actually do. Seeing them is a lot different than doing them. Different from learning how to do them all correctly. So far he’s been lucky he hasn’t caused someone’s death. But he had injured someone before I joined. I’ve not given in to his bullying, but he is getting close to being written up for insubordination. He is not listening to orders a lot of the time” Bobby reminded her.
Hen nodded, “I know, but I…” she shook her head, “I don’t even know what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking like a friend, not someone that has to consider the morale and safety of not only the crew, but of those that we are here to help,” Bobby sighed, “It’s not something you should need to think about; that’s my job,” he added as he went back to his office.
“Well,” Tommy said, “I can’t say that I’m surprised by the fact that Chimney might get fired, I’ve been waiting for it. He’s skirting a line that would have gotten anyone else fired at this point.”
“Hmm,” Hen sighed as the alarm started to ring, “Time to go,” she said.
Bobby nodded as he grabbed the tablet, looking at what they were being sent to. “Gear up!” he yelled out as they ran for the cubbies and got their gear on before heading to the trucks.
XxXxX
Evan looked up as his dad walked into the house, “Hey, Dad,” he smiled, “You look worried,” he commented as the smile dropped from his face.
“Yeah,” he sighed, shaking his head, “I’m worried about Maddie. As you know I was in Hershey for business. I tend to see Maddie if I can, Doug is out now,” he said quietly, shaking his head, “He’s… worse than before. He’s not working at the moment, hasn’t since he was released a few months ago,” he stated. “Maddie’s been supporting him all this time as he starts to work towards joining his father in their business.”
“How… how is she?” Evan asked, not sure if he wanted to know.
“She is… not well. She has buried her head in the sand so deeply that she doesn’t want to listen to anyone. Margaret has left Hershey, don’t know where she went. Jessica hasn’t seen her in six months. Jessica hadn’t talked to Maddie in a few months as well. She’s isolating herself from people. She works, she goes home. I tried speaking with her, but she… just told me over and over that everything was fine, even though I saw a bruise. I asked the cops in the area if they could keep an eye on her, and if there is a call to their home, to please be aware of a domestic abuse situation. I wish I could just take her away, and show her that what she is going through is abuse, but she refuses to listen to me. I don’t know what else I can do. I’ve reported it, but since she insists that nothing is wrong, they can’t do anything about it,” he sighed as Evan led him to the kitchen and put the coffee on.
“I wish there was something else as well, Dad,” Evan sighed, “It’s like…” he paused for a moment, “She has to be the one that’s ready to leave. If she isn’t ready, then there isn’t anything that we can do to change her mind. When she’s ready, we’ll be here for her. Well, you will be at least. I don’t know if she’ll want to be near me.”
“She still blames you, and I can’t stop her from doing that. I promise that I’ll help her, but I won’t let her get in the way if I can help it. You don’t need that type of toxicity in your life, Evan. You had enough of that when you were growing up,” Phillip said as he took the offered coffee as soon as it was done, “Thank you.”
“Welcome, Dad,” he smiled a little as he joined him at the counter, “And if she comes here, there’s going to be little choice about the two of us meeting. I won’t put up with her nonsense about me, Dad, and I know that might put you in a bad place,” he sighed, “I just… don’t cut yourself out of my life, out of Christopher’s life, or even Charlotte’s life. That little baby adores you,” he reminded him.
Phillip smiled and nodded, he’d had a couple of opportunities to babysit little Charlotte and he adored the beautiful baby, as Shannon and Eric settled into being parents of the newborn. He loved to babysit her and her older brother when he could and was often called in when Carla couldn’t make it. Charlotte was only a month old, but she had everyone wrapped around her little finger, including Christopher.
“I promise I won’t, but I’m going to get things ready, just in case. I am going to rent an apartment that I can have waiting for her,” he said, as he and Evan brainstormed a few things that they could do as they waited for Maddie to finally realize that she needed to get away from Doug; sooner, rather than later.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Two more shifts and Eddie would be joining Evan at the 118. Evan couldn’t wait for it, but he would be sad that he wouldn’t be working with Tommy any more. The man had been able to help him settle into the 118, and get him up to speed with how the station ran. Each one was a little different, he’d done some extra shifts at others, and while most of it was the same, it was the little things, like chores, set up, and the organization of things that made it a little odd at times.
“Looking forward to Eddie coming?” Hen asked as she sat beside him.
Evan looked up from the book he was reading about mummies, something Christopher had gotten interested in. “Yeah, I am. Eddie’s looking forward to it as well,” he smiled, “it’s going to be great working with him. We even took the partner challenge at the academy, and set a new record too,” he grinned and then laughed, “the instructor was a little huffy, it was his and his partner’s record that was up there until us. We beat it by nine seconds.”
Hen laughed, as the alarm sounded, “Well, back to it,” she said as they headed to gear up.
They got in the trucks and headed to the call site. Bobby relayed what was going on, “Buck, you’re on ropes, Leslie,” he said as he looked at the young woman who was subbing for Tommy while he took care of one last cert that he wanted before moving to harbor, “You’re on winch,” he told her. She had the certs for it, she and Bobby were the only ones other than Evan that had certs for it on this shift.
“Captain,” she nodded as they went quiet for the rest of the journey.
Evan was quick to get out and check out his gear before donning it all, making sure the straps were secured and asking Leslie to check them as well. She went through them methodically and then nodded, “Thanks,” he smiled at her as she secured the winch.
“Right, Buck,” Bobby said as he was at the end, “I want you to go down and assess, see what the man’s situation is, radio up and we’ll send down the basket,” he added.
“Right,” he nodded as he started to go over the side as Bobby headed to where the caller was standing.
Evan slowly started the descent down the cliff. It didn’t take him long to reach the victim. “Hey,” he said as he landed on the small ledge, “How we doing?” he asked as he knelt beside him as best as he could on the small amount of land he had and began to check him over.
“Leg hurts, but other than the ego, I think I’ll live,” the man said, “The ground just gave way on me, and the next thing I know, I’m down here. Is Sandy okay?” he asked, “She was screaming for me at one point.”
“My captain is talking with her and making sure she’s okay and calm,” he answered him, “Now, I’m going to splint the leg, which could be broken, and get you set up with a neck brace. All precautions,” he said before the man could start to worry. Evan got to work, stabilizing the victim before calling for a basket to be sent down. It arrived and Evan bundled the man into it, strapping him down as they began up the cliff face. The ropes jolted several times, causing the basket and Evan to swing wildly, “What’s going on up there?” he demanded to know. “Fuck!” he yelled as he crashed into the cliff face, the basket with the man inside following him and crushing him against the cliff. He could feel the rock dig into his back, “Damn it, what’s going on?!” he demanded to know again.
“It’s under control now, bringing you up,” Bobby’s voice came through, and Evan could tell that the man was pissed about something. They were brought up successfully, and Hen was there with another from their shift, helping stabilize the basket, as Bobby went to help Evan.
“What happened?” he asked, glancing around for Leslie, who was leaning against the ambulance looking a little shaken.
“Han,” Bobby said, “he forcefully shoved Leslie aside and took over the winch, almost fucking it up so badly that it couldn’t be used. I had to have him restrained to stop him from pushing it over the fucking cliff. Officers have been called,” he added, “They’re on the way, we have everything on camera,” he said, pointing to the ones that were on the trucks.
“What the fuck is his problem,” he said as he got up, wincing as his back protested the movement.
Bobby looked at Hen who had handed over their patient to the other paramedic team to take to the hospital. “Hen, look Buck over, think he’s injured,” he ordered as he helped Evan to the truck, away from where Chimney had been restrained.
“Tell me where it hurts, and take it off your shirt,” Hen said as she grabbed a kit and headed over.
“My back mostly,” he told her, “Think it’s more bruising than anything, but yeah, look away,” he said as he took off his turnout coat and then what was underneath so she could get a good look at his back.
Hen checked him over, “I would say bruising most likely, but I’d like for you to get an x-ray on your ribs, to make sure none of them are fractured,” she told him when she was done.
Bobby nodded as he went to talk to Athena, who had turned up.
“Buckaroo,” Athena said when she noted that he had his top off.
“Sergeant Grant,” Bobby said.
“What happened?” she asked as she looked at the captain of the 118.
“Firefighter Howard Han decided to force his way onto the rescue and take over the winch controls, when he began to mess things up. We were on our way to stop him, when he tried to push the winch over the edge of the cliff. If he’d done that, Firefighter Buckley and our patient would have fallen down the cliff fully, no doubt, to their deaths. I’ve got team members restraining Han, and at the moment he’s over there. This was attempted murder in my eyes, Sergeant,” he said.
Athena closed her eyes, “I’m going to have to call someone else to take this, I’m too close to the victim to be able to be objectionable.” She pulled up her radio and called it in, including that she was close to the victim and needed Rick Romero, since, while he knew one of the victims, they weren’t close.
Athena walked over to Evan, who was now putting his top back on. “Evan,” she said as she reached him.
Evan smiled at her, though it didn’t reach his eyes, “I’m okay, Athena,” he told her.
“I don’t think you are, but you will be,” she murmured as she hugged him.
Evan hugged her back, “Thanks, for being here, I know it was because you were dispatched, but I’m glad you’re here,” he murmured.
“So am I, baby,” she murmured, “Now, Rick is going to be on his way. I asked him to deal with this, I don’t think I would be able to remain… calm if I went near that bastard,” she said as she shot Chimney a glare that could have easily sent the man straight to hell should he have been paying attention.
It didn’t take long for Rick Romero to arrive on the scene. He quickly took statements from Bobby, Leslie, and others before arresting Howard Han.
Evan watched it all and looked at Athena, “Why is it always me?” he asked, “What is it about me that makes people want to attack and kill me?” he continued to question, “That’s four people now that have attacked and tried to kill me,” he said, wondering what it was.
“I don’t know sweetheart,” she said, “I wish I did so I could have words with them. I think Phillip feels the same way.”
“Sergeant Grant,” Bobby said as he walked over, “Buck,” he looked at his firefighter, “As soon as we get back, I’d like to get you to the ER to have an x-ray, just to make sure.”
“Okay,” Evan nodded.
“I’ll take him,” Athena said, “And I’ll be contacting your dad and Eddie, they’ll want to know what’s going on.”
Evan winced, “Can we… not, at least let me tell them in person instead of over the phone. it would be better to do that I think.”
“I’ll come with you, I’m nearing the end of my shift, they won’t begrudge me a moment to help a former cop,” she smiled at him. “I’ll follow you back to the station when you’re done here,” she added as she looked at Bobby.
“Thank you,” Bobby smiled.
“Welcome,” she nodded before turning her attention back to Evan.
The two walked over to one side, where Evan sat down on a rock and Athena joined him. “How are you doing?” Evan asked her, “I know things between you and Michael have been difficult,” he began.
“We’re divorcing,” she told him, “We agreed that it was for the best. We’ve sat the kids down and talked to them about what is going on, and why we’re getting the divorce. We’re in therapy together, trying to make sure that we can still co-parent when this is fully over. It’s… hard,” she admitted, “but I think it would have been harder, if I hadn’t pushed a little to get Michael to tell me what was going on,” she sighed.
“At least you know now, and you can still find someone out there if you want to,” Evan pointed out.
“I will, in time, but for now, I’m concentrating on getting the house to rights and making sure I’ve got what I need to provide for my kids,” she sighed, “Now, you, are you really okay, Evan?” she asked him, concerned about the young man.
“Yeah… I’ll be okay. It’s going to suck, but at least I already have a therapist for this,” Evan snorted, shaking his head and wincing at the pull on his back. “This is going to suck for a few days,” he muttered.
“It will, no doubt Isabel is going to be at your home with something nice for you to eat, and something to put on the bruising,” Athena laughed lightly, knowing that was what happened the last time Evan had been knocked around a little on the job when he was in the LAPD.
“No doubt,” he laughed lightly, “She’s a good woman, and Abuelo’s a good man. They mean a lot to me. They’re going to be having their wedding anniversary next year, sixty years,” he smiled, “I can’t imagine being with someone that long. It’s amazing.”
“It is, and I had hoped I would’ve found that with Michael,” she sighed, looking at the crew as they finished with the scene, Leslie was still shaking a little as she was bundled into the back of the ladder truck by Hen.
“Maybe not with Michael, but there could still be someone out there who’s ready to spend the rest of their life with you. You may have to go out and find them, or you just have to be open to it,” Evan said as he slowly got up, “yeah, this is really going to suck,” he huffed as his back protested the movement, “I’ll see you back at the station, alright,” he nodded at her.
“You will,” she smiled at him, getting up from the rock herself and heading to her squad car.
Evan got in the truck and they headed back to the station. Athena arrived not long after them as she had to do a quick diversion to take care of a traffic stop, before taking Evan to the ER to make sure that he had nothing more than a bruised back.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Evan healed up well from the bruising, and he was back at work after two shifts. Howard Han had been arrested and charged with attempted murder. Hen had told him that he had made bail, and he’d contacted her trying to get her to bail him out. She’d refused, it had made the man mad enough that he had stormed her home and tried to yell at her. She had threatened to call the cops if he didn’t leave. In the end, he had, but she had to block his number from all the harassing calls and threatening messages that he’d been sending her.
“I just don’t know what else to do,” Hen said, as she took the phone back after showing the message to Evan.
“Right, go to the local police station, and tell them you want to report harassment and cyberbullying crimes. They’re both criminal offenses, Hen. At this point, he can be arrested again and his bail will be revoked,” he informed her, “I know you might not want to, but he came to your home, your son’s safe space and made threats. You were lucky that Denny and Karen weren’t there, because they could have easily become a target. Don’t put up with it; I’d tell anyone going through the same to do it as well. Report it,” he finished as the office door opened and Eddie walked out, with a grin.
Eddie walked over to them, “Well, that’s it, I’m now a probie at the 118,” he said as he hugged Evan and then turned to Hen. “Good to see you again,” he grinned as he nodded at her.
“Good to see you,” Hen grinned, “We’ll be getting a new paramedic starting here in a few weeks. They’re transferring in from another station.”
“Right,” Evan said, having missed most of the gossip in the station because he had been on medical leave.
“Tommy’s leaving do was alright,” she said, “Considering you crashed it and pushed his face into one of the cakes,” she added.
Evan grinned, “I couldn’t help it,” he said with a shrug, “I talked with Tommy last night anyway.”
“More like a triple date again,” Eddie said as they headed to the loft area.
“Triple date?” Hen asked.
“Yeah, we go out at least once a month with Shannon and Eric, and with Tommy and Lou. Keep up to date with each other. See what’s going on in each other’s lives. It’s been a good way to learn when someone is struggling,” Evan said.
“Like when I was having trouble with my PTSD,” Eddie said quietly, “Tommy helped a lot with that.”
“When Shannon was stumbling a little after Lottie was born,” Evan added.
Eddie nodded, “When Lou’s case was getting to him, and we were all able to get him to take a step back.”
“So you have each other’s backs?” Hen asked, curious as to how it all worked as they started up the stairs.
“Yeah,” Eddie nodded, “it’s been a great help, we started them about two years ago, not long after I got shot down. Tommy was the one that helped me get through New Year, and then 4th of July.”
“When I was struggling with the fact that I needed to find a new career. That Eddie had been shot, and was still healing and injured. So much was going on in my head all the time, and those dinners gave me that bit of normality when my mind was all over the place,” he admitted quietly.
Eddie reached out and took a hand, knowing that Evan had struggled somewhat when he had returned home. And even when he was healing up, it had been a lot for Eddie as well. They squeezed each other’s hands and smiled. Evan went over to help one of the others make a start on breakfast before Bobby joined them.
“Right,” Bobby said, “As you know, we have a new probie taking over for Tommy. His name is Eddie Diaz, former Army, and partner in life and work with Evan, as some of you already know. As for the paramedic opening, we have someone coming in from the 87, he’s been a paramedic for seven years,” he said as he turned to face the crew that had now gathered in the loft.
“Who are we getting?” Hen asked, “I know at least one of the paramedics over at the 87,” she added.
“Kyle Bankmen,” Bobby answered, “He’ll be joining us once he’s finished moving house. His wife is working at a new school, and the children are going to be transferring, the 118 is closer to the new school than the 87.”
“Oh, he’s good,” Hen said, “I look forward to him arriving,” she added with a nod as breakfast was finished and being dished out.
Eddie joined them at the table as they began to eat.
XxXxX
Eddie’s first call as a firefighter was an easy one. Or would have been, if the victim wasn’t scared out of their tiny little mind. Evan smirked as he watched the ladder go up the tree, “Okay, Eds,” he said as he patted his partner on the back, “You got this.”
“It’s a cat, Evan,” Eddie said, rolling his eyes.
Evan grinned, “You say that now, but you’ll… be singing a different tune when it’s over.”
Eddie scoffed and began to head up the ladder.
“He doesn’t believe you?” Hen asked him.
“Nope,” Evan snorted, “He really doesn’t. But I’m so gonna have an ‘I told you so’ moment later.”
Hen laughed as she and the others stood back and watched, as Eddie climbed the ladder that was as close to the tree as it could go. A cat clinging to a thin branch near the top of it. Eddie reached the top of the ladder, trying to coax the cat to come closer, instead it moved a little further away. It took a few moments before Eddie grabbed the cat. It yowled in fear as she sunk her claws into Eddie. Evan winced as he could see that he was in pain from it, but hadn’t yelled out.
“Well, there it goes,” Evan said as the cat began to climb and claw at Eddie as he slowly made his way down the ladder. The owner stood nearby as soon as Eddie reached the ground she was over and plucking the clingy cat from Eddie. Causing him to wince as a claw was still stuck in his neck.
“Ow,” Eddie said as he looked at Evan, “Okay, you were right, and I’m now feeling like a pin cushion.”
“I told you, cat calls seem easy, but they really aren’t. Cats have claws and they aren’t afraid to use them, especially when they’re scared; and when they’re stuck like that, they’re scared. There’s no way to really protect yourself, which is why I suggest you keep the jacket on, it helps a little,” he added, “And the cat carrier, that would have helped if you could have got her inside. Doesn’t always work, but it helps if you can,” Evan said as he took the offered first aid kit and began to take care of the scratches that Eddie now had adorning him.
“I’ll listen to you, promise,” he said, wincing as one of the scratches was treated.
“Best do, I’ve been a firefighter for a year, I’ve rescued nineteen cats, and I’ve now got it down to an art form. You’ll find what works best for you in the end,” he said, “But for now, listen to those that have done it before, several times.”
Eddie smiled at him and nodded, “I will,” he said, agreeing to what his partner was saying as his wounds were taken care of before they got back in the truck and headed to the station.
Eddie jumped out as soon as they arrived.
“Congratulations on a good first call,” Bobby said, “Rescue complete, even if it was a bit of a cliched rescue,” he grinned, “No-” he began only for the alarm to go, looking at the tablet in front of him, “Multi-car pile-up, gear up!” he yelled out.
Everyone nodded, making sure they were geared up fully before getting back into the trucks. Eddie put the headset back on looking around as Bobby started to explain the situation that they were about to be walking into.
“We’re going to be the first station to arrive, nine cars and one minibus involved. The bus has several passengers, teenagers. One of them is on the line and reporting that the driver isn’t breathing, but another of the passengers is performing CPR. We have several people trapped in vehicles. Buck, Eddie, you two are on getting them out,” he said as he began to hand out assignments to them all, making sure to tell those in the ambulance and ladder. Two more stations would be joining them to help out, a few more ambulances would arrive from various others as well.
XxXxX
Seven hours after they left the station, the triple, ladder, and ambulance slowly trickled back into the station one by one. Everyone was exhausted as they got out. The pile-up had been crazy, as three more cars had ignored the warning signs and cones, and had plowed into the crashed cars. Thankfully they had all been empty when it had happened, but nine more people had to be rescued, and two more fatalities had been added to the three that had already passed.
“Shower, eat, and then you can crash, we’re offline for three hours,” Bobby said as he glanced at the crew. “Eddie with me, Buck you as well,” he said.
Eddie nodded as the two followed their captain into his office. “Cap,” Eddie said as the two stood there, the door now closed.
“Well done both of you, you worked together seamlessly today, I just want to touch base with you Eddie, as this one was a lot. Your second call, and your first loss on the job. I have no doubt you went through this before as you were in the Army, but-”
“It hits differently here,” Eddie agreed, nodding, “I… have a good handle on it at the moment, sir, and I’ll make sure to talk to someone and with Evan as well,” he added.
“Good, talk to someone if you need to, we have a few hours before we are back online, take this time to do what you need to,” he said and then added, “no shenanigans, but kisses and cuddles are fine,” he finished, smirking as the two of them blushed.
“Cap,” Evan huffed, “No need.”
“Really,” Eddie added as he took Evan’s hand in his.
“Dismissed, and go and shower, food should arrive in less than thirty minutes,” he told the two of them, smiling as he pulled some paperwork towards him, and began to fill it out, going over the call they had just done.
Eddie and Evan nodded and headed out. They showered and joined the rest of the shift in the loft when the food arrived. Eddie was a little quiet,he but took comfort in the fact that Evan had pressed a leg against his, making sure he knew he wasn’t alone. Sharing a look, they went back to eating. Evan and Hen put away the leftovers and the plates, as Eddie and Bobby cleaned up the tables. The shutters went down and the station locked down for a few hours as the exhausted firefighters took the time to recharge.
Eddie crawled into the same bunk as Evan, wrapping his arms around his partner as Evan moved around so the two could fit. It was a close call, but they managed it. “Are you okay?” Evan whispered into the dark.
“Yeah, I am now,” Eddie murmured, squeezing his arms tighter around Evan for a moment before settling against him.
Evan kissed him and pulled him as close as he could, “Sweet dreams, Eds,” he murmured.
“Ditto,” Eddie mumbled, sleep already claiming him as it quickly.
Evan smiled and closed his eyes, he had a few things going on. Chimney and his attack and subsequent arrest, then there was the fact that his dad was really beginning to worry about Maddie. He’d gone back to Hershey twice in the last month, only for a couple of days each time, but it was starting to worry Evan as well. But for now, he and Eddie were going to be working together, and things were settling down. He held his partner tightly as he let sleep finally claim him.
I really enjoyed this story.
Delighted that Shannon got a another chance at life, including new partner and bub, welcome to Charlotte ❤️
Thanks for writing ❤️
Wonderful addition.
Lots of drama and action (which I expect from your fics), but I also liked the little touches like Eddie being in Canon-Buck’s academy class and the treed cat (and the gentle knowledge reversal of Eddie’s first call in canon).
You are totally rocking it with this series!
Great story.
It repeatedly hits home how lucky they are to have such a good support system to help them deal with their jobs, their histories and their messed up family members. In my experience, difficult events seldom pace themselves and it can be overwhelming to deal with multiple things at the same time or one after another.
I did enjoy Eddie’s first rescue, but I doubt he had much experience of cats, because Helena would not appreciate an animal that did what it wanted and looked down on the minions who housed and fed it!
Another terrific instalment. I love the fixes you’re deploying in this series.
Thank you!
another great story! I am enjoying the hell outta this series, and you are bringin’ the good stuff!
bravissimo! 😀 😀 😀
Really good chapter. Janet’s death hit me hard and I really cried because I went through the same thing with my mother. She was trying so hard to stay there for family and I had to tell her that it was OK to go and we would watch out for my brother and the rest of the family and everyone would be fine… I promised her. With something like that’s going on you reach a point where you don’t know what to wish for… My wish was that whatever was going to happen what happened with Grace and ease and in the end that’s what happened.
This Ana is still cray-cray, lol. Eddie sure did get the short straw when it came to immediate family. Good thind Edmundo and Isabel are awesome! And hello to baby Charlotte and the 118. Chim is still an idiot, and Evan is a psycho magnet. It’s good to have Eddie with Buck at the 118 now.
Awesome story
Great story! I enjoyed this part! I’m looking forward to reading the next part soon. I hate it when work, and other obligations get in the way of my reading!
Thank you for sharing this!
Glad Chimney is gone. That Eddie has joined Evan. That they all have Lottie.
Als9 glad the Texas Diazs’ lost.