Reading Time: 103 Minutes

Title: Home Is Where The Heart Is
Series: Second Chance Home
Series Order: 2
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Angst, Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Pre-Relationship
Relationship(s): Pre-Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, background pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Child Abuse, False Accusations of Child Abuse, Bigotry, Discussion-Child Abuse, Attempted Kidnapping, Attempted Off Screen Rape (Dr Wells), Violence Canon-Level, Character Bashing.
Author Note: Zachary ‘Zac’ Greenaway and Nicholas ‘Nic’ Bryant are borrowed with permission from ScarsLikeVelvet. Thank you so much for letting me borrow them!
Beta: FaerlyGraceful – Thank you so much for all the hard work you put in.
Alpha: FaerlyGraceful
Word Count: 51,193
Summary: Second Chance Home is up and running and Evan has also applied for the Fire Academy after his friends recommend it to him. When he gets asked to take in a disabled child, he comes face to face with five-year-old Christopher Diaz, taken from his father when accusations of abuse are reported to CPS. Evan has to keep an unbiased opinion when confronted with the two sides battling for custody of the child.
Artist: Nightsong21133

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Chapter Eleven

Evan pulled up outside a nice one-story home. It looked pleasant and warm, welcoming in a way that a home should be in his eyes. He got out of the car and opened the back, picking up Christopher as the front door opened.

“Daddy!” Christopher yelled as he saw the man, struggling to get down from Evan’s grip.

Evan calmly set him down as the six-year-old stumbled towards his dad. Before he could even fall, Eddie had caught him, holding him tightly.

“I got you, mijo,” Eddie said, as Christopher burst into tears again. “I got you. It’s all going to be okay, alright,” he said as he carried on the reassuring words. “Please, Mr Buckley, come in,” he said as he gestured to the home, he had been called not half an hour ago, telling him that his son was on his way to him, but he wouldn’t be able to keep him at the home. He had no idea why it was being granted, but he was going to enjoy it as much as he could.

“Sure,” Evan smiled, “And please, you may as well call me Evan,” he added.

“Evan, I’m Eddie, and not Mr. Diaz, that’s… well the man that I am currently related to,” he said, pulling a face.

“Sure, Eddie,” he said as he followed Eddie into the home, glancing around, he could tell that it was well taken care of. There were plenty of photos on the walls, including those of Christopher’s mother and grandparents on both sides. This was a man who didn’t deny his son knowing of his family. Even if they weren’t allowed to see him. Evan sat in the living room, as Eddie calmed his son down, not able to get the whole story from the child before he fell into an exhausted sleep.

“Is it alright if I put him in his room for now, I know he can’t stay,” Eddie said, biting his lip and looking at Christopher.

“Of course, go and let him sleep. I’m not going to take him while he’s sleeping, that would cause more problems I believe,” Evan agreed.

Eddie nodded and got up, taking Christopher to his room and laying him on the bed before covering him in the afghan that Isabel had made for her great-grandson when they had first moved to LA. Eddie walked back into the living room, “Sorry, would you like something to drink?” he asked, “I have coffee and a few herbal teas that my abuela enjoys when she visits. I have peppermint, Chamomile, and a Lemon and ginger tea.”

“I’ll just have a peppermint if you don’t mind,” he answered.

“Sure, no trouble there, I’ve taken to drinking them just as much as my abuela does,” he snorted as he headed into the kitchen and quickly made them both some peppermint tea. He walked back in a few minutes later, setting down a mug in front of Evan and sitting down in a chair across from him. “So what the hell happened?” he asked.

“Ms Whitt saw him at the Mall, we were to visit Santa, though he refused to speak to him unless you were there,” he smiled as he saw the slightly crestfallen look on Eddie’s face, “So you’ll still be able to do that with him. We’ll try and organize something where you can come along,” he added, still not sure when Christopher would be returned to his father since the investigation was now over, all that was needed was the last of the paperwork.

“Damn, Shannon… Christopher is still… upset over what she did. He overheard her talking to me not long before the divorce papers were signed, saying she didn’t want to be a mother. After that, he said he didn’t want to see her again, she left him, Evan, she left him and he’s devastated about it. He’s too scared at the moment to go near her, or even want to talk to her. I tried a few times, but… nothing worked, when she signed the papers he took my phone and messaged her. Telling her he hoped that she would be happy not being a mother anymore and that she was no longer his,” Eddie sighed, shaking his head, “I know she loved Christopher once, but I think that my parents weighed her down with their heavy-handedness and their constant entitlement to parent our son.”

“There isn’t much that you can do,” Evan sighed, “We see a lot of children coming into the home. We’ve not even been open a year,” he told him.

“How did you even get into this?” Eddie then asked, “I mean, you’re young, aren’t you?”

“I turned Twenty-Four three weeks ago,” he stated, “middle of November. And how I got into this, the other guy that co-runs the place with me, Xiaoli, was a foster kid, in and out of homes and families for most of his life until he aged out of the system. He decided that was what he wanted to do, open a home, to give a place where children would feel loved and welcomed. Because not all the homes Xiaoli went to welcomed him, because he’s Chinese, when he got upset or excited, he would often speak Mandarin, and would be told off about it, he hated that because he was different, he was singled out and left out. I know it’s a lot different from then, but it left a scar, as for me… my own parents hated me, and they said as much to me. I haven’t spoken to my sister since the reading of the Will, after Grandma Lizzie’s passing. My parents and Sister weren’t happy when the will was read and I got the Manor. The rest of my family, aunts and uncles, all support the Home and even donate to it regularly, to make sure that it will keep running. I have three businesses that I help run during my downtime to keep funding the Home as well,” he explained, “Damn, I didn’t mean to lay all that on you.”

“It’s fine, sometimes you just need to talk,” Eddie smiled, “I know from Christopher that you’re a firefighter as well as a foster parent,” he stated.

“Yeah, it’s a good job, and while I am away from the Home for 72 hours in a nine-day period with the way the shifts fall, I still spend a lot of time with the children. Not only that, but I do have the option of taking extra shifts and I’ve done that occasionally, I don’t need the money, but I enjoy the work, I’m not one to just sit around,” Evan told him, giving a shrug. “It’s hard, grueling work at times, and the rewards don’t always come up. But I think… it’s a good job to have.”

“I feel you on that, I miss the Army, the way I had people that could watch my back. Here, without that, I feel a little adrift, if I’m honest. Though I did apply for the Fire Academy, I should get word on that just after the New Year,” he stated, “I’m hoping I get in, was thinking about it when I was in El Paso, was going to apply before I moved out here, would have started last year, but decided to move first. Since this is where I want to be, I wanted to be closer to my abuela, and to give Shannon a chance to reunite with Christopher.”

“You were trying, which is more than I can say about some parents while they are divorcing,” he snorted, he’d had two children come into the home when a divorce got nasty, and both had ended up with neither parent in the end, and instead with relatives that lived further away.

“Thank you, for asking about him coming here after seeing Shannon,” Eddie then stated, “She’s been trying to get her rights back, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea, at least not at the moment. I want Christopher settled and to make sure he’s doing his therapy. I think he still loves his mother, but the hurt and anger he’s feeling overshadows that. Having them near each other before he’s learned how to deal with that, is a recipe for disaster.”

“Yeah,” Evan agreed.

The two talked a little more until Christopher woke up and walked into the living room. He made a beeline for his dad and curled against him, “Can I stay?” he asked, looking hopefully at Evan.

“I’m sorry, Buddy, I wish I could let you, but until they give me the all clear I can’t let it happen,” Evan winced as he hated this part, each time the two would see each other, it got harder and harder to separate them. He could see how much they loved and cared for each other.

“Hey, mijo,” Eddie said softly, getting his son’s attention, “I know you want to stay, just as much as I want you home. It’s going to be a little longer, I know how brave you have been and strong,” he said.

“But, Daddy, I just want to come home. I miss you and it’s not the same,” Christopher huffed.

“It’s not, but it’s what we have at the moment. It’s like when I was away, you would call me and I would call you and write letters. I wrote a few while you’ve been away,” Eddie said, getting up and going to a small unit nearby. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a few envelopes, “I wrote them about anything and everything I could think of. I was planning on giving you them when you came home, but I think you could take them with you, so when you miss me, as you did before, you can read them,” he said, walking back over and handing the seven envelopes that looked full of paper.

Christopher huffed and nodded as he took them, “It sucks,” he stated with a firm nod.

“Sucks?” Eddie frowned, not having heard his son say that before.

“Joshie said that when something isn’t nice and it makes you feel bad, then it sucks,” Christopher answered him.

Eddie snorted and nodded, “Yeah, it does suck,” he agreed.

It took another fifteen minutes before Evan was finally able to leave with Christopher, the six-year-old quiet in the back of the car.

XxXxX

Four days before Christmas, Evan was excited, he had received a call from Galen, Christopher was finally being allowed to go home to his dad. the investigation was over, and while it had taken a lot longer than it should have done. Mostly because of how stubborn Helena and Ramon had been about going back to El Paso so that the home study could be conducted, it was finally over.

“Hey, Christopher,” Evan said as he went into the games room. The six-year-old in question was sitting with Mimi reading to her, while she leaned against him, “Sorry Mimi, but I need Christopher.” he told her, as Christopher looked up. He struggled a little to get up from the beanbag that he had sunk into as he had read to Mimi.

“What’s going on?” Christopher asked as he settled with his crutches and began to follow Evan out of the room.

“Well, I have a surprise for you,” he told him, grinning as he led the way to his office. He opened the door and stepped aside.

“Daddy!” Christopher yelled out as he rushed toward him.

“Hey, mijo,” Eddie said as he knelt and wrapped his arms around his son, “Missed you.”

“Missed you too,” Christopher said, “How come you’re here? We don’t meet here?” he frowned as he looked at the other two men who were in the room with him.

“Well, the investigation is finally over, we have everything that we need, and as far as we’re concerned, your dad is a good dad, he loves you and does everything he can to make sure that you’re well looked after and you have everything that you need,” Galen said, “So… you’re able to go home today,” he finished.

“I’m going home?” he said, tears beginning to gather as he held onto his dad even tighter.

“Yeah, mijo, we’re finally going home,” Eddie stated softly, looking up at Evan, “Thank you, for taking such good care of him,” he told him.

“You’re welcome, he’s a delight to have around, I know the other kids are going to miss him,” Evan stated.

“I’m still friends with Joshie,” Christopher said as he turned in his dad’s arms, not willing to be out of them just yet.

“You are,” Evan nodded, and I don’t mind you coming to visit occasionally, and no doubt that Clive will be willing to bring him on a playdate or two,” he added.

“Can a background check be done on me again, so that I can come here as well? I know you prefer to make sure that the adults that come here are all vetted and safe to be around the children?” Eddie asked, he enjoyed talking to Evan the couple of times that they had the chance to. He wouldn’t mind becoming the younger man’s friend. He had precious few of those.

“It can be done since you’ve already gone through most of it,” Galen said, “It wouldn’t be hard to do the checks that Evan likes to be done on visitors.”

“Then I would like to,” Eddie said as he stood up, Christopher now in his arms, “And thank you all, for making it so that we can have Christmas together.”

“I haven’t seen Santa, Dad,” Christopher said, as he looked at his dad, “You need to take me ASAP,” he added.

“You’re learning all the words here aren’t you,” Eddie laughed, “And yes I’ll take you to see Santa,” he promised him.

“Good, I have something important to ask him,” he nodded, relaxing a little more in his dad’s firm hold.

“Okay,” Eddie smiled, “thank you,” he said.

They did a few last things and Eddie left with Christopher, Clive had gone to his room and packed his things away, including the things he had made since arriving at the home almost nine months before. The two Diaz’s finally headed home together.

“I’m glad that he’s back with his dad,” Evan said as the gates closed behind the two.

“I wish it hadn’t taken as long as it did. Court orders, and then two months dealing with the biological mother showing up, but then finding out that she has no rights and that Christopher doesn’t even want to speak to her. The grandparents were something else as well. When they were told they weren’t getting custody of Christopher, the grandmother went off the deep end. I don’t think they should be around their grandson at all. I’ve recommended that they take some classes to get them up to speed with what they might need if they even want to see their grandson without supervision,” Jerry said, shaking his head.

“I would recommend the same, hope you told that to Eddie,” Evan stated, glancing over at him.

“I have,” Jerry said as they began to head back inside.

Chapter Twelve

Eddie grinned as he woke his son up for the first time in nine months. It was early since he wanted to try and beat as much of the crowds as he could to take his son to see Santa. Isabel had already arrived and was finishing up making breakfast for the three of them. Josephina would be joining them at the Mall, having had to finish something off, though what that was, she hadn’t told anyone.

“I can’t believe he’s home,” Eddie said as he made sure Christopher finished in the shower and was getting himself ready for the day. The six-year-old was happy to be home and humming away as he put his socks on.

“I know, nieto, I’m so happy for you. So happy,” Isabel stated, smiling as she started to dish up and move around Eddie’s kitchen with ease.

Eddie watched her for a moment, before starting on drinks. Christopher soon joined them, still a little damp from the shower. “Honestly,” he muttered, grabbing the towel that his son had brought in with him.

“You’ll catch a cold bisnieto,” Isabel admonished, shaking her head.

“But dad dries it better,” he said, as his dad started to do just that.

“We’re going to see Santa, today,” Eddie said as he dried his son’s hair.”

“Really!” Christopher said as he began to eat the pancakes that Isabel had made.

“Yes, I know you wanted to go with me, and that’s why you waited,” Eddie told him, as he sat down to eat his own breakfast.

“Good, can we call Bucky and ask him to come as well?” Christopher asked.

“Bucky?” Eddie frowned, not having heard that name before.

“Mr. Evan, we nicknamed him Bucky because he was on a horse and it was bucking and he was able to calm her down,” Christopher explained, looking up at him, “I really like him, he’s nice and he helped me a lot with my stretches in the morning. He would do them with me,” he smiled.

“I can call and ask, but don’t be surprised if he isn’t,” he warned him.

“Okay, asking is half an answer,” Christopher said.

Both Eddie and Isabel frowned at that, “Why is asking half an answer?” Eddie had to ask.

“Well, if you don’t ask then you won’t get an answer. So it’s half the answer. Without it there is no answer,” he said.

“Okay,” Eddie said, chuckling lightly as they ate breakfast. As soon as it was done, he got up to help clean up and his Grandmother told him to make the call.

Eddie brought out his phone and brought up the number that Evan had given him so he could set up some playdates. “Hello?” came the voice on the other end.

“Hi, Evan, it’s Eddie Diaz,” he said, “Sorry, Christopher wants to know if you would like to join us at the Mall, he’s going to see Santa today, and he wants you to come with us.”

“Oh,” Evan said, sounding a little shocked, “I think that would be nice. He’s a good kid, you raised him right.”

“Shannon did most of that while I was in Afghanistan,” Eddie admitted, “She was a damn good mother until I got shot,” he told him.

“Right,” Evan said, “Well, I can meet you for a bit, I don’t have anything on, Sylvia and Janaia are doing an activity with the kids today, so they are busy and the things I needed to do, well, I did them last night,” he admitted, “so sure.”

“Excellent, I know Chris will be so happy to see you again. He likes you,” Eddie said as they talked about where to meet and hung up. “Chris!” he called out, going to find his son, who was in the living room. “Evan is going to join us,” he told him.

Christopher fist-pumped the air going, “Yes!”

Eddie laughed as they got ready to go, Isabel deciding to join them as well, wanting to see Evan again, as she’d only seen him twice during their visits with Christopher. Most of the time it was the other young man who had been watching Christopher during her visits.

XxXxX

Evan was a little nervous about seeing Eddie and Christopher again. Before he had the barrier of being Christopher’s foster parent for the last nine months, now, he was just another person that the two knew. Christopher was there, right in front of him, happier than Evan had ever seen him. His dad was walking behind him and the grandmother was beside Eddie. The older woman was smiling as she watched her great-grandson walk ahead of them. Both the adults kept a close eye on him should he need them at all.

“Bucky!” Christopher called out, hurrying over to him.

Evan stepped up and grinned, “Hey, Superman,” he said, using the nickname he had given the kid a few weeks before he was able to return home. “Are you happy now you’re back home?” he asked.

“Yeah, it was nice to sleep in my bed again, I had my legos and everything to play with and Dad read to me last night, it was awesome,” he said, his voice soft and full of joy at being home.

“Hey, Evan,” Eddie said, greeting him warmly, “This is my Abuela, Isabel.”

“We have met,” she smiled, “It is good to see you again.”

“Lovely to see you as well, Mrs Diaz,” he said, smiling back at her.

“Come on, we have to see Santa!” Christopher called out, “I don’t want him to not have enough time!” he said as he led the way to where he could see the queue starting to form for Santa.

Evan joined Eddie as Isabel walked alongside her bisnieto. “Thank you for coming,” Eddie told him.

“It’s fine, not often that I can see a kid that has left the home,” Evan said, smiling at him, “Though why he asked for me and not Clive and Joshua,” he said, a little puzzled.

“He likes you, you helped him, and kept him happy when he was with you. I know there are some fantastic foster parents out there, but I worried that they wouldn’t be able to cope with all that he is. It’s hard at times, having to remember all the appointments he has to go to, the preparation there is when he needs something new. He’s growing like a weed as well, no doubt he’s going to be tall as he gets older, and that’s going to put a strain on him, he’ll need another operation before he’s ten, already planning when it should be.”

“You sound like you have your hands full,” Evan frowned.

“A little,” Eddie said, “Worth it to have him home,” he added quietly, “I just wish I knew the red tape enough to make sure that he is getting everything that he needs. There’s so much paperwork, and I can’t make heads or tails of it sometimes.”

Evan laughed, “Yeah, even we can see that sometimes. I know someone who should be able to help you. She was Christopher’s helper at the Home. Since he had needs that the other children didn’t,” he told him.

“That would be great,” Eddie nodded, “if you can get me in touch with her,” he said.

“I will, she doesn’t mind helping, she works as an in-home health aid as well,” Evan told him, smiling as they got to the queue and Christopher demanded that both he and Evan join him in line. His great-grandmother filmed them and smiled as she watched them.

XxXxX

It was Christmas Eve and Evan was working a shift at the 118. He was happy that he wasn’t working Christmas Day, wanting to spend the first one at the Home with the kids. Though he knew that there would come a time when he would be working, as Nicholas and Zachary were. They were at a bar, a young woman had been caught up in a fight and both were now tangled in some of the lights and decorations, causing a few minor injuries to themselves.

“Hey,” someone said, their voice flirty as she sauntered over to him.

“Ma’am, if you could stay back, so we can help these two women, it would be helpful,” Evan stated, it was getting to be an annoyance when he was flirted with while on the job. It wasn’t like he was doing anything to attract them at all. He was just doing his job.

“Oh come on, it doesn’t hurt for you to take my number,” she said, twisting her hair a little as she handed over a little piece of paper.

Evan sighed, but took the number and put it away, “Now, I need to get back to work,” he stated as he turned around.

“Damn, that ass,” she said, giggling to herself as she moved back.

Evan rolled his eyes as he looked at Bobby, the man grimaced. They got to work and soon had the two women free and treated, both refusing to be taken to the hospital at all for a check-up. Back at the station, Evan pulled out the number and headed to the bin.

“Why the hell do you throw those away?” came a question.

Evan turned to see Chimney staring at him, “Because I have no interest in them,” he stated, rolling his eyes and throwing the number he had gotten away, along with one he had received during the first call they had that morning.

“Bullshit,” Chimney cursed, “No doubt you’re just hiding them away and putting the numbers in a little black book,” he said.

Evan rolled his eyes, “No, I ain’t doing that either. I don’t mess around like that. I don’t want something superficial that’s only surface-level. If I am going to be dating someone, it’s going to be serious from the start, I have too many responsibilities to not do so. Anyone that dates me, no matter what, will have to realize how much I have going on first.”

“Come on, you’re twenty-something,” Hen said as she walked over, “You should be out there having fun.”

“I did that before I came to LA. I already had a lot of my fun times out there, and not as much as you would think. Yes I enjoy sex, but damn if I don’t,” he snorted, “But it’s not everything in my life. I have a lot of things that I need to do, and hookups aren’t one of them,” he said, rolling his eyes, “And what business is it of either of yours about what I get up to in my spare time?” he asked them both.

“We’re just trying to get to know you,” Hen protested, hands up.

“Getting to know me is a lot different than trying to find out how often I have sex and who I do it with,” Evan said bluntly, “Getting to know me is finding out what my life is like, like I know that you’re married, have a son that you adore. You enjoy learning things, and reading romance novels that are LGBTQ+ focused. That you also enjoy going swimming occasionally but prefer to do that alone, instead of taking your son and wife as they just like to play in the water. Chimney, has a girlfriend that he lies to-,” he was interrupted by a shout.

“Hey!” Chimney yelled out.

“What, you know that’s the truth, I’ve seen and heard you do it to her. You called her up and then told her about the rescue that Bobby and I did. You also try and get Bobby to cook for you so you can take it home and pretend that it’s yours. It’s disgusting if I’m being honest. That type of intimacy fraud is… its-,” he cut himself off.

“How dare you qu-,”

“Chim,” Hen stopped him, hand on his arm, “He’s right, you do, do that,” she stated.

“Hen!” Chimney turned to stare at her, “Come on, you know me.”

“Yes, I do, which is why I haven’t ever said anything. How can I tell my best friend that something he does repulses me? Why do you think I don’t want to meet her? Why do you think Karen and I refuse to go on a double date with you both? You lie to her so much, we don’t know if she even knows who you actually are,” Hen said, as gently as she could. She and Karen had been wanting to talk to him for a while, but neither of them knew how to.

Chimney looked between the two of them, “You’re just saying that because you don’t have anyone,” he said as he looked at Evan, “Come on Buck, admit that you’re jealous that I have someone, and that’s why you pulled Hen into things,” he sneered at him.

Evan snorted, “Damn, you’re delusional, why would I be jealous of someone who has to lie to get laid?”

“I don’t have to do anything, she falls over anything I say!” Chimney yelled out causing others to look over and join them.

“What’s going on?” Terrance asked, looking between the three.

“Just pointing out to the probie that he needs to keep his mouth shut,” Chimney growled as he glared at Evan.

“More like you’re the one that needs to keep it shut and stop lying to your girlfriend all the time,” Evan snapped back.

Terance shook his head, “Okay, enough,” he said, getting between the two.

“Yeah, sure, side with him,” Chimney stated, sneering at the man.

“I’m not siding with anyone, at the moment, both of you need to stop, we’re a team. We may not like each other, but we need to trust one another, because if we don’t then how can we work,” he reminded them all, giving each of them a look.

Evan said nothing, he wasn’t sure if he could trust Chimney, the man just rubbed him the wrong way and had done since he had first started at the 118. The man was constantly throwing little digs at him, his supposed slutty ways, and the fact that he was currently single. He hadn’t gotten laid in almost a year, he was too busy preparing Second Chance Home to even think about it.

Chimney stalked off, with Hen staring at Evan for a moment before following her friend.

Terance shook his head, “Sorry, but I needed you both to stop.”

“I get it,” Evan said, “I just… I don’t trust him,” he murmured so only the engineer could hear him.

Terrance nodded, “He does try and do things he isn’t qualified for, at least Bobby knows better than to let him. He’s caused a few injuries because the previous captains didn’t look at what each of us could do,” he stated before heading off.

Evan sighed and went to the counter, he needed a drink, he hated arguing, reminded him too much of being in his parents’ home and fighting all the time when they started to berate him for anything they could think of. He shook his head and grabbed a coffee, intending to relax until the alarm went off.

Chapter Thirteen

Evan woke up to excited yells and calls for him to hurry up and get out of bed. Christmas Morning had arrived and the children were excited. Evan and the others hand made sure that each of them got a few gifts, and then some clothing as well for Christmas. Making sure that there was a good balance of both fun things and things that could be useful to them. Being in care as they were often led to them having fewer gifts from the people around them.

“Okay, I’m up!” he called through the door before someone could throw it open. He laughed as he got ready for the day, showering quickly and dressing before leaving his room. Glad again that he had an ensuite. He could hear the laughter and the excited talk coming from the main living room. Joining everyone, he could see so many happy smiles.

“Mr Evan!” a nine-year-old said, her face lit up with joy as she stared at the presents, “There are so many?!”

“Yep,” he answered her, “Right, everyone, you will be given one gift that you can open now and a special bag, then you are to go and get dressed and ready for breakfast. Present opening will happen after that,” he told them all, getting a few pouts, but more excited nods.

Sylvia and Janaia handed out a gift each, while Xiaoli began to hand out the bags for each of the children and even to the adults. Presents were opened and then the bag. Evan, Sylvia, Xiaoli, and Alicia had gone out and gotten new clothes for everyone to wear on Christmas Day. The children were excited about the new clothes, they were a little more fancy than most of what they had.

“Right, go and get ready, change into your new clothes,” Sylvia said as she helped the youngest of the group up and took her to her room.

The others all jumped up excited as they rushed to their rooms to get changed. Evan smiled as he watched them go, Xiaoli, Nigel, and Janaia going to help as Alicia and he remained behind.

“You did something good with that,” Alicia said, giving him a small smile, “Wish Mike was here, he loves Christmas,” she said, thinking of her son. He was at medical school, but he was spending the holidays with his grandparents in New York.

“He’s coming for a small visit in the new year before he goes back to med school?” Evan asked, wanting to clarify.

“He is, though he isn’t staying here, he has a place already set up for him. One of his friends lives nearby, he’ll be staying with them,” Alicia told him, “We should go and get dressed as well, into our new clothes. I see you didn’t dress in yours,” she pointed out.

Evan looked down at the hastily thrown-on t-shirt and joggers. “Point,” he laughed, getting up before offering a hand to Alicia. She took it gracefully and got up. The two headed toward their rooms to get changed themselves.

Half an hour later, everyone was in the dining room, the large table full of breakfast foods of all kinds. It was a hectic kind of mess, but everyone stayed clean and ready to open presents. Xiaoli had brought out his camera ready to take pictures of everything, wanting each of the children to be able to have something to remember this Christmas by.

XxXxX

Evan smiled as he stood at the door, Bobby had arrived with Brooke and Robbie, the two of them running over and hugging him. “Hey, kids,” he smiled, “Glad you could all make it.”

“Same here,” Robbie said, “I’m going to find Carl,” he said as he spoke about one of the older kids in the home that was going to his school.

“I want to talk to Janaia,” Brooke said as she then darted around Evan and headed inside.

“Well, they know what they want to do,” Evan snorted as he greeted Bobby with a hug, “How are you doing?” he asked.

“It’s been a good day, better than last year. We had our quiet moment and lit a candle for Marcy,” Bobby answered as he walked with Evan inside the Home. “How has the first Christmas at Second Chance been?” he asked, smirking.

“Hectic,” Evan laughed, “We’re almost at capacity, we have room for three more children. I’m thinking about hiring another full-timer to move in. I know Xiaoli and I don’t really count that much, but we’re here on days off. Have to say, coming back here after a bad shift has been great. The kids loved the gifts and my aunts and uncles stopped by to give a couple to each of the children as well. One of the older ones said they don’t want to leave,” he added a little subdued at the end.

“You make them feel welcome, and your family has made them all feel like they are family as well,” Bobby pointed out, “To some that would be something they haven’t had before.”

Evan nodded, “It… I never felt like I had family until I met Grandma,” he said, “Then she brought with her aunts, uncles, cousins and more friends as well. It was… nice,” he smiled, “I just want to share that with others that feel alone in the world. We had one leave a few weeks ago, I know I sent a gift to them, and the family did as well,” he added.

“See, you made them family, even when they are nowhere near you,” Bobby smiled.

“I had to send it through CPS though, since we’re not told where they are moved to. Galen and Jerry deal mostly with those who come through the Home. So I asked them to pass them on,” he said as they reached the living room, they could all hear the laughter and talking that was coming from the room.

“Sounds lively,” Bobby chuckled.

“You have no idea,” Evan grinned as he opened the door to chaos, children running around, laughing and playing, adults trying to keep some form of order, but also enjoying the chaos. Bobby laughed as he joined in, Evan quickly followed.

It was an hour later that Xiaoli sneaked out of the room and returned ten minutes later with the man who had been with him at the restaurant fire. “Josh,” Evan greeted.

“It’s good to see you again,” Josh said, smiling at him, looking a little nervous as he saw many eyes now locked onto him. “Why do I feel like I walked into the middle of a war zone?” he asked quietly.

Evan laughed, “Because you have some sense and the children now see you as a target. Someone new,” he grinned at him. “Have fun,” he called out as the children started to swarm Josh and pulled him into their games.

“I think I’ve lost him,” Xiaoli snorted, shaking his head as he sat down beside Evan.

“He’s holding his own,” Evan observed, as he watched Joshua heading towards Josh. “Ah, Battle of the Joshies,” he said. Xioali laughed as he watched the two.

“Your name is Joshua?” Little Joshua asked.

“It is, but people call me Josh,” Josh answered him, smiling.

“Good, I’m Joshie,” he said.

“Good to know, Joshie,” Josh said holding out a hand, “We have an accord on the name Joshua,” he said.

“Yep, an Accord,” Joshua nodded as he shook his hand and then began to tell him all about the pirate ship that his brother had gotten him for Christmas.

XxXxX

Evan rolled his eyes at the man who was tangled in lights and tinsel. It was New Year’s Eve and he would be working until Midday on New Year’s Day. Their shift had been moved slightly to cover an extra few hours. Most of the day so far, had been for small minor calls. Nothing serious and nothing that had led to anyone’s death so far.

“I don’t even want to know how you got like that,” he snorted, shaking his head. The hours were winding down to the end of 2017. The fireworks would be starting at the displays soon enough.

“Neither do I,” Hen snorted as she went over to check the man over.

“I was just-” he hiccuped and lost his train of thought.

“Explains,” Evan whispered, as the smell of alcohol got stronger the closer they got.

“Well, get the cutters,” Bobby said, shaking his head and snorting at the man trying to explain himself to Hen and Chimney.

Evan nodded, running to the truck and getting what he needed from the kit. Evan was quick in freeing the man, and left Hen and Chimney to talk with him before they headed back to the station.

“I can’t believe what people can get into when drunk,” Evan laughed quietly.

“You never know, and when it comes to the Dick Games people play,” Hen grinned at him, “Really, there are so many things some men will stick their dick in, that just isn’t a good idea. Though the Vacuum is one of the most common we’ve come across.”

Evan raised an eyebrow, “Hey, you can’t leave it there!” he complained, “Tell me some of them?” he asked.

“Vacuums, as she said are the most common, how about the Wii Wheel, the hole in the back wheel,” Chimney stated.

“That’s nothing compared to what I saw in St Paul,” Bobby said, “How about the disc drawer of a Desktop. Nineteen-year-old with nothing better to do, it got stuck and he couldn’t get it out. He had to carry the damn thing to the ambulance,” he finished, looking back at them.

“Serious?” Evan said, eyes wide. “I mean I get bored, but damn, I’ve never been that bored to play the, ”Will my Dick Fit in It,” game.”

“There are so many places,” Hen agreed, “And yeah, that tops the one I saw,” she said, glancing at her captain.

“And what was the one you saw that I didn’t?” Chimney asked.

“It was when you were off for the week,” Hen began, “Just after Gerrard was fired,” she continued, “A guy decided that the jet in his jacuzzi sounded like a good idea,” she smirked. “I’ve never seen the appeal in doing something so stupid.”

“Weird,” Evan laughed, “I can’t… I just hope we don’t come across those.”

“It’s going to happen,” Chimney told him, “it always does. Since I became a firefighter, I’ve had seventeen such calls. Mostly all vacuums that they can’t get their dick out of. The Wii Wheel was a one-time thing.”

“Same with the Desktop for me,” Bobby said, “Since coming to LA, I’ve gone on four stuck dick calls.”

“About two a year,” Hen agreed, “Most of the time, they can sort themselves out before we get to them,” she laughed and grinned.

“Good,” Evan said as they arrived back in the station, the man behind opening the doors and letting them park the truck inside.

Evan and Bobby headed up to the loft, they started making something that they could cook as soon as they woke from their napping. The shutters were loud as they decided, the doors closed as well. They had barely finished preparing the food for cooking. When the fireworks started outside. Most of them headed up to the roof to watch as the new year rang in.

“Happy New Year!” The cries rang out between the firefighters and paramedics of the 118.

“Happy New Year,” Evan agreed, smiling as he pulled out his phone and began to message people wishing them the same. His phone pinged occasionally with the incoming message. The last message made him smile, “Eddie,” he murmured. The two men were still talking a lot even after Christopher had gone back to his father. Christopher had also stopped at the home a few times to have play dates with his friends. And had a sleepover with Joshua as well. It had barely been two weeks since he had gone home.

“Aren’t you supposed to not get in touch with the families again?” Bobby asked as he saw who had messaged him.

“Not normally, we’re told to separate ourselves from them. So that the children don’t have to be reminded of what happened, especially if they are going back to their families. Sometimes though, the family gets in touch, wanting to know what their child was like with us, something simple like that. With Eddie… he’s become a friend, and Christopher is often asking if I can join them for a few hours. Christopher has it in his head that we should have a weekly movie night,” he smiled.

Bobby nodded, “Always nice to make friends,” he said, smiling, patting him on the shoulder, “Right, everyone, back inside, we’re still on the clock, but I suggest we get a nap in,” he said, giving them all a pointed look. This was the time before Chaos would descend.

They managed an hour before the alarm went off and it was non-stop until the early hours. Mostly injuries from fireworks and the occasional drunk who had gotten tangled in something they shouldn’t have.

By the time there was an hour left of shift, they were all ready to head home and never return, at least until their next shift.

“Hello,” came a familiar voice to Evan. He went to the rail and looked down, there on the main floor was Eddie, beside him was Christopher.

“Hey,” he called down, “What are you two doing here?” he asked, frowning as he then jogged to the stairs and went down them.

“I wanted to see where you work and wish you a Happy New Year,” Christiopher said, grinning at him as he headed over, the familiar click clack of his crutches echoing and the talking calling attention to them.

“Happy New Year, Chris,” Evan said as he hugged the six year old. “Did you have a good Christmas?” he asked him.

“Yeah,” he grinned widely.

“Happy New Year Eddie,” Evan added as he looked at the man.

“Happy New Year,” he smiled back, “Sorry for just appearing like this, he wanted to see you, and well, I’m a little curious since I’m starting at the Academy in May,” he said, glancing around.

“Checking out what people are like?” Evan asked.

“Something like that,” he nodded.

Christopher started to talk about what he had done the day before, spending it with his family. They stayed for almost twenty minutes before leaving, getting a promise out of Evan that he would see them later.

“So, is that the kid you were talking about?” Hen asked as she stood at the top of the stars.

“Not in the way you’re thinking,” Evan said, looking at her, “He’s a friend, and his kid is amazing.”

Hen nodded, “Okay, keep your secrets,” she snorted, “We’ll find out though.”

Evan shook his head, “Maybe, and maybe I’ll tell you if you didn’t keep pushing the need to know every single thing about me all the time,” he pointed out to her as he headed to help clean up the loft before the end of shift.

Chapter Fourteen

Eddie looked at the letter and file of information that he had just been given by a courier. He sighed, he knew that this was going to happen, he had just hoped they wouldn’t do it after losing the fight to get custody of Christopher by filing false Abuse reports. He shook his head and sat down to read them. It had been a week since the new year, and Christopher was back at school. He began to read, going through what they were saying about him this time.

“Really, still sticking with that,” Eddie rolled his eyes. They were stating abuse once more as the cause of why they were suing for custody.

“What is it, nieto?” Isabel said as she came out of his kitchen. She had arrived an hour before Christopher had been taken to school by Carla.

“They are citing abuse as their reason to sue for custody of Christopher. I’m going to get in touch with Galen and make sure that everything they found will be available for my Lawyer, I’m done being patient and gentle with them,” he said, “I’m sorry Abuela, but I don’t think I will be talking to them ever again. They were even denied visitation rights because of the way they were treating him,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“It’s fine, nieto, Ramon brought this on himself, and so did that heifer,” she said, pursing her lips as she thought of her son and daughter-in-law. “He will have to learn, they both will,” she added quietly, shaking her head.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “Christopher doesn’t want to see them ever again either,” he told her, “He said they were hateful and he doesn’t need that in his life. He’s six, almost seven and he knows too much heartache. Grandparents are supposed to be loving and that. His own mother abandoned him as soon as I got back. She doesn’t want to be a mother, she said that several times.”

“All you can do is to be there for him and do what you can to make sure he has everything he needs,” she told him, patting his arm, “You will put those two in their place soon enough. Maybe think about a restraining order.”

“I’m thinking about it, if they try and push anything more after this is over with. I’m tempted to do so before, but that could work against me,” he told her, “I’m going to talk with Evan and Galen, they might be able to help me,” he added grabbing his phone, he knew that Evan was on shift, but he might be able to talk for a few moments before a call out.

XxXxX

“Hey, Eddie,” Evan answered his phone, “What’s going on? I can tell something is up.”

“My parents are suing for custody of Christopher,” Eddie answered, telling him what was in the information and what they were using as the reason.

“Right, so you’ve already gotten proof that the abuse claims are false and that they were reported when the people who reported them weren’t even in the same state as you. You have a lot working for you in this. I know that Galen will be happy to send a few more things to your lawyer, including the recordings of the visit to the center. That will help since it shows their lack of actual care and understanding of Christopher’s condition,” he said, going through a mental checklist of what Eddie could do.

“Thanks,” Eddie said, listening as Evan gave a few more things about what he could do to protect Christopher, “It means a lot that you’d help like this.”

“Call Jerry and Galen, since they dealt with the Abuse Claims, they will be able to refute them and show what is happening. It’s called Parental Alienation, that’s what they are trying to do, they were constantly on Christopher to say that he didn’t like living with you and that you and his mother were always mean to him. Your mother was the worst for that. But your father would often try to tell him horror stories about how mean and nasty you could be. Turning your service in the Army into something that would make Christopher scared of you. Didn’t work,” he snorted, remembering the five visits that Helena and Ramon had actually gone to.

“I will, thanks Evan, and are you still up for movie night tomorrow?” he then asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, I am,” Evan grinned, as they talked a little longer before the alarm sounded and they were off on another call.

“A baby crying in the walls?” Evan asked, looking wide-eyed as they entered the building.

“That’s what was reported,” Bobby said as he then saw Evan heading for the stairs as the lift was taking a while.

“I’ll meet you up there!” Evan called out as he was already a story up from them.

Bobby shook his head but smiled at the energy the younger man had. Evan was waiting for them outside of the apartment that the caller was in.

“I talked to the guy and he said it’s in the bathroom walls. He also said that he’s not high, but just presently buzzed,” Evan told them, as they walked in and headed to the bathroom.

“This has to be a Hoax, Cap,” Chimney said, shaking his head.

They listened intently for a moment, eyes going wide as they heard the weak cry. “Fuck,” Bobby cursed, as he held out his hand, “Stethascope!” he called for, “Need to find where the baby is,” he said.

Hen was quick to hand it over. “The water!” she exclaimed, “Anyone flushing and the baby could drown!” she rushed out the room, giving out the orders to stop anyone from doing anything.

“The mother should be around,” Athena said as she had been called to see what the case might be.

“Call for a second Ambulance,” Evan stated as Bobby marked where the baby was and he got to work breaking the wall apart to get to the pipe.

“Why? We can transport them in one,” Chimney stated.

“Doing that could be a bad thing. The baby is a victim of attempted murder. It doesn’t matter how old the mother might be either, since no doubt this will be a surprise teen birth,” Evan sighed, he had heard about a number of cases when teens got pregnant, that they would often give birth in secret and hide the baby, didn’t matter if they were alive or not.

“She’s just a child as well,” Athena said, frowning.

“She might be a child herself, but you are also putting a victim in her attempted killer’s path. It’s not fair to either of them. The girl might be just as traumatized as the baby from what she’s done. Putting the baby in front of her could cause trouble for her as well. It’s a way to protect them both in the end,” Evan tried to explain to her as he broke through the wall and ripped it apart to get to the pipe, “Bobby,” he called.

“Have Chim go with you as you search for the mother,” Bobby ordered as he went over to Evan and located where the baby was, directing Evan to where he needed to cut the pipe. “Leave behind a bag as well,” he finished, looking at Chimney. Before he called Dispatch to send another RA unit to their location for a second victim.

Evan nodded and cut the pipe, they slowly moved it down and laid it out, grabbing lube from the pack, carefully and as gently as they could push the baby out of the hole. Bobby got to work on making sure the airways were clear as the baby then gave a cry. It was a little weak, but it was there.

“Right, get down to the ambulance and hurry,” Bobby said.

Evan nodded and took the baby, “Tell Hen to meet me down there.”

Bobby nodded, getting on the radio, “Hen, get down to the ambulance, Evan will meet you there,” he told her. “The second unit should arrive in a moment as well.”

“We found her Cap!” Chimney came over the radio, “She’s bleeding heavily, and needs care,” he told them.

“Get her downstairs, now,” Bobby said.

Evan reached the bottom of the stairs as the lift dinged. Hen exited and looked at him. “Hen,” he nodded.

“I heard about the girl being found,” she said, “What about this one?” she asked as they headed toward the Ambulance.

“Breathing is weak, pulse is there,” Evan said, going through what they had done as well. The tiny baby was wrapped in the caller’s gray towel, the only thing keeping her warm. Getting inside, Hen began to work as the second unit arrived just in time for Chimney and Athena to come out with the mother. Evan looked, seeing how young the girl was.

“She’s young,” Hen commented as the baby began to stabilize, “Right,” she said as he looked at Chimney as he approached, “You drive,” she ordered her friend.

“Buck can,” Chimney said about to get in.

“We don’t have fucking time, move,” Hen told him, glaring at him.

Chimney huffed and headed to the cab and got in. The doors were closed by Bobby and he banged the back as they headed out.

“I didn’t know we had a second unit,” she said as she monitored the baby.

“I asked for a second unit to be called so the mother could be transported,” Evan said, looking at the baby, and keeping her curled against him.

Hen frowned, “She would have been able to travel with her daughter.”

“Hen,” Evan began, “Would you put a victim in the same ambulance as their attacker?” he asked.

“Of course not,” Hen said, horrified at the thought. “Oh…”

“Exactly, it doesn’t matter how young the mother is, she still attempted to kill her baby. It’s doubtful she’ll get more than a slap on the wrist, as she was going through something, obviously. But to make her face the baby as well, that’s asking for her to have a mental breakdown and forcing her to confront what she’d done,” he told her, shaking her head, “It also might not be a good idea to have the baby around her in case she gets attached, she won’t be able to keep the child. At the very least, she’s going to be going into care. With the trauma of her birth, there could be health problems as well, later on.”

“You know a lot,” she frowned at him, wondering where all this was coming from.

“I know the system and how it works for the most part. I will never fully understand it,” he shrugged. He gave a sigh, “I am co-owner of a Children’s Home. We run a large place that can hold fifteen to eighteen children, aged from newborn to eighteen years. At the moment we have thirteen children living there. The youngest is three. The oldest is Seventeen, and about to age out of the system. I’m already working with him on what he wants to do next. We run one of the best ones in LA. As we deal with children with disabilities and behavioral problems as well. We have an on-site therapist that they can see, even at three in the morning. And she has been called at that time a couple of times. She’s there for them, most of the workers are taking psychology courses to be able to help as well.”

Hen listened as he explained a little more about the Children’s Home he ran. “I had no idea…” she trailed off.

“Of course not, Bobby knows as he and his kids have stopped by occasionally,” he told her, “No one else’s business but my own. I put my time in here, go home to them, and make sure that the kids are well, that the CPS are happy with their progress and such.”

“It’s a lot that you do then?” she asked, curiously.

“Kind of,” he said, “I deal with a few of the children, like their main point of contact. Each of those that live in the Home permanently has a couple of them that we are the main ‘parent’ to. At the moment I have three. Two that are young and the eldest. My aunts and uncles own a few businesses, things that they can go into and learn. So they offer internships that pay well and offer them the chance of going to college or university if they wish. We have personal assets that we use to help fund that.”

Hen nodded, “Sounds like a lot,” she snorted as the ambulance came to a stop. Moments later the doors opened and they were headed to the doors. Nurses and Doctors were already waiting for them. Hen rattled off what they needed to know, and information that would be passed to CPS in the end.

XxXxX

It was almost the end of the shift, two days after rescuing the baby. They’d dealt with a lady being strangled by a snake and as the man behind Buck had saved a little girl’s life by helping Athena and a woman at dispatch. Galen walked into the 118. Evan, seeing him, frowned. The man had never contacted or gone near him while he was working.

“Galen?” he called out.

“Evan,” he smiled, “Sorry to come by unannounced like this, but I would like your opinion on something,” he said.

“Come on up, may as well talk there unless it’s private enough that no one is to know,” Evan suggested.

“Considering your station was involved in the rescue, they might be able to know the basics, after we’ve talked,” he said. Evan nodded and with Bobby’s blessing, they went into his office. Twenty minutes later he had gone out, frowning as Galen left.

“What was that about?” Hen asked.

“The baby in the pipe, she won’t be returned to the mother, who has been taken into care herself. They are asking, since the Home I run caters for those with health issues, that I take care of the baby when she is released,” Evan answered her, going over the logistics in his head. It wouldn’t be the first time they had a newborn at the home, but that had only been for three weeks before they had quickly been fostered by a family with intent to adopt.

“Why would they go to you?” Chimney asked, snorting, “You’re a kid and can barely take care of yourself.”

Evan looked at him, “You have no idea about me. You see someone young, but in fact, I run a children’s home and have done for a year. I also traveled the States and worked in a SAR unit. I’m experienced in many ways that others are not. Take that for what you will, I don’t care what you think about me,” Evan shrugged and looked at Bobby, “I might need a shift off depending on when she is released.”

“I’ll put a note down, the chief knows of your circumstances,” he said, agreeing easily as Chimney protested the favoritism that, in his eyes, was being shown.

Chapter Fifteen

Evan sat on the bumper of the truck, looking at those around him. He felt odd, despondent. He knew he would be facing this challenge sooner or later. But to have lost a victim like this. He sighed and hung his head. The reporters had tried to get near him. Devon was a young man who felt like he had nothing left. He closed his eyes, he had felt like that some years ago, the moment he crashed his bike. Evan had felt like he was drowning, and then he got his freedom, traveled, and met Xiaoli, his life had changed just from that one meeting.

“You okay?” Hen asked as she sat beside him.

“I…” he sighed, “I don’t know,” he finished quietly, “I know this was bound to happen at some point. I worked in SAR, and I know what it’s like to have death around me. To have someone dying in my arms even. But this…” he trailed off as he looked up and at the rollercoaster that had malfunctioned.

“We could all see,” she told him, “He let go.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, “It was… I could see it in his eyes, the helplessness, the moment that he had given up.”

Hen frowned, “It’s a hard thing to realize when someone has truly given up.”

Evan gave her a sad smile, “I know the look, because I saw it in the mirror often enough.”

Hen started. “How… why?” Not even sure of what she should say or ask.

“My parents hated me, and often told me that as well. I knew from a young age that I wasn’t wanted at all. My sister told me that they loved me, all the time. They loved her, I can see that, and they loved a brother that they never once told me about. I only knew because of my grandmother. They hid a lot from me. I started to… purposefully hurt myself to get any type of attention from them. Good or bad, I didn’t care as long as they saw me for those few brief moments. In the end, I knew I would end up killing myself. I bought a bike and went around on it like mad when I was eighteen. Then just before I turned nineteen, a car pulled out. I had time to swerve and get out of the way of it. Instead, I sped up and aimed for it. I was done. In that moment, I saw no point in carrying on. My sister barely spoke to me, my parents berated me, yelled at me, and everything. Occasionally hit me. I wanted life over with. I lived, a broken arm was the most severe injury,” he snorted, “I went to see my sister, she gave me her jeep and a bit of money. A friend heard and helped me find a place to work with his uncle. I did try and get Maddie to come with me. She didn’t in the end. But I found something to live for, traveling as I did, people who became my family and then blood family that I didn’t know about.”

Hen reached out to him, “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“It was a long time ago,” Evan told her, “like, six years now, I did the therapy thing, a few times actually, to help when I have problems.”

She nodded as Bobby walked over, “Right,” he said, “We’re out, they are shutting down the fair and an investigation into the cause of the accident is going to be underway,” he told the two.

“Okay,” Evan said as he got up. They headed to the truck and got in. Evan looked out the window as they headed back to the station. His mind went on and on about what he could have done differently to help Devon.

XxXxX

Bobby walked over to Evan, it had been a couple of days since the roller coaster rescue, and Evan seemed to be finding it hard to shake it. “How are you doing?” he asked him, sitting down across from him.

Evan looked at him and shrugged, “I can’t stop seeing him, Bobby,” he murmured.

Bobby nodded, “Sometimes there are those that we meet that leave a mark on us. I still remember the first death I witnessed as a firefighter,” he told him, “She was young and she has stayed with me since that day. You’ll remember Devon, just like that. I wish I could say it gets easier, and in one way it does, but in the other, it doesn’t.”

Evan nodded, “Yeah.”

“The department has people that you can see,” he said as he pulled out a card, “They can help you, talk to one of them.” He handed over the card and Evan took it.

Evan looked at it, not sure if he wanted to do so. He had someone he could try and contact to see them. He didn’t know if a department therapist would work better than one that wasn’t attached to it.

“Some of them are able to help better as they are certified by the department to actually be able to help,” Bobby told him, “I know you’re struggling with this one, take what you need to keep yourself mentally healthy.”

“I’ll see,” he said, nodding and tucking the card away as the alarm went. They headed out on another call.

XxXxX

Evan rushed out of the office, he could hear Dr Wells yelling after him. His flies were undone and he was shaking as he quickly did them up and rushed out of the office. People were staring at him. They could hear the threats that Dr Wells was yelling at him. That he needed to keep quiet or she would make it impossible for him to return to work.

Evan ignored it, still shaking as he got to his car. He didn’t even start it up as tears gathered. He was shaking badly as he reached for his phone, not sure which person to call.

“Hey, Kid,” Bobby said as he answered, “I th-” he began only to stop when he heard a sob. “Evan,” he said, his voice gentle.

“Bo… Bobby I need you here, I can’t… I can’t drive,” Evan said, tears finally falling, “At the… place, come get me.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, “I’ll come and get you, alright, you just wait right there for me. I’ll ask the neighbor to watch the kids, Want to come back to mine?” he asked, as Evan could hear him moving around.

“Please, I can’t go back to the Home, not… not yet,” he stated.

“Alright,” he said, “Stay on the line with me, alright,” he added as he began to talk about the random things that Brooke and Robbie had been doing. Evan remained listening, occasionally murmuring as he quietly cried.

It was almost forty minutes later when Bobby hung up and tapped on the window. “Evan,” he said gently as the young man looked at him, face red and blotchy.

Evan opened the door and darted out, hugging the man, “She… she attacked me, Bobby. She tried to get me to have sex with her,” he blurted out. “I know I should be… be stronger-”

“No, no, don’t do that, Evan,” he told him, holding him, but keeping his grip loose, not sure if anything could startle Evan more than he already was.

“But I-” he began again.

“Evan, you’ve just been through something that is traumatic, no matter what,” he pointed out to him.

Evan nodded and leaned against him a little more, “I’m swearing off women totally now,” he murmured.

Bobby said nothing as he slowly guided him to his car. “Alright, I’ve organized a sleepover for Brooke and Robbie so it’ll just be us,” he told him.

Evan nodded as Bobby locked up Evan’s car and then got into his own. Heading to Bobby’s small house, Evan remained quiet, not sure what he could tell Bobby, or even if he could get the words out about what had happened. Being bundled onto a couch and then a hot mug of hot chocolate in his hands he looked at Bobby.

“It’s okay to ask for help,” Bobby reminded him, “Just like you helped me.”

Evan gave a weak laugh and nodded. “I went in, something about her was… familiar,” he began, not looking at Bobby as he carried on talking, “She sat.. beside me, u… undi… did my zipper, she reached in, Bobby, reached in, I tried to stop her, but she climbed on me,” he said, shaking his head, “I pushed her off and ran out of there. I promise Bobby, I didn’t do anything, I promise. I didn’t,” His mind was going over what had happened to him before.

“Can I hold your hand?” Bobby asked. Getting a shaky nod. He took Evan’s hands and held them gently, “I believe you,” he said, “You’re not the type to do anything like that, ever. You’re a good man, and so very kind. I believe you,” he repeated as he slowly got Evan to calm down again.

“What… what do I do?” he asked, “She said if I told someone that she would make it so I couldn’t work. If this gets to CPS, the Home could be shut down as well. They’ll need to investigate if she says anything like I attacked her?” he then began to worry about other things.

Bobby took a breath, “You need to report her, you have to, Evan.”

Evan was shaking and wanted to say no. “No one will believe…”

“Evan, what she tried to do was illegal, no matter what,” he told him, “She violated the law when she tried it on with you. Report her, I promise that I will be right beside you.”

Evan thought for a moment and then nodded, “O… Okay.”

“I’m going to go through 9-1-1,” he told him, “I don’t exactly have someone on speed dial.”

Evan gulped but nodded as Bobby got up and walked out of the room. So he didn’t have to listen to the call. Evan remained there, staying quiet as Bobby came back. He drank his hot chocolate and waited. Almost half an hour later there was a knock on the door. Bobby was quick to get up and open it.

“Hey,” Bobby greeted Athena and then looked at the very tall man standing next to her.

“This is Lou Ransone, he’s a detective,” she said, “Lou, this is the captain of the 118. You called because you needed to report an attempted rape?” she asked, frowning.

Bobby nodded, “One of my firefighters, Evan Buckley, was having a bit of difficulty letting a call go. I referred him to the department therapist. He… was attacked at the office, but I will let him fill you in on the details. I don’t know if he is the only victim in this,” he told them quietly, not wanting Evan to overhear what he was telling them.

Lou nodded, “Alright, let me speak with him, both of you in the room, if you want. It may make him more comfortable.”

Bobby walked back into the living room, “Hey, Evan,” he said, “Athena is here along with a detective.”

“Hi, I’m Lou Ransone,” he greeted, “I’m sorry to have to meet you in this way. I’ve heard about you from Athena, she said you’re a good man, and doing a good thing at the Children’s Home you run.”

“Hi,” Evan said, curling up tightly. He knew Alicia would refer him to someone who would be able to help him deal with what happened.

“I’m going to record what you say,” Lou said as he set a record down.

Evan nodded, “Okay,” he said, as Lou asked a few questions before asking him to tell him what happened.

Lou let him talk it out before asking a few clarifying questions. Making a note of the friend request on Facebook and the message that had come through on it while they had been talking.

“Thank you,” Lou said, “For talking to me, I know that was hard, and I’ll make sure the investigation is quiet,” he promised him.

Evan nodded, knowing that the Union would have to be informed of what happened, but he would leave that up to Bobby to deal with since he had more connections with them.

Bobby showed them out and then went back to the living room. “Okay, I’ve messaged Xiaoli and he’s going to bring some clothes for you. So you can shower and change,” he told him.

Evan nodded, knowing that Bobby would have told Xiaoli what happened so he wouldn’t have to. He was still feeling raw, especially having had to tell what happened twice, once in a lot more detail.

XxXxX

Bobby walked into the chief’s office, Evan had gone back to the Home, though he could still tell that the man was raw, even two days later. Bobby had made sure he had an extra day off, since Evan was going to be talking to another therapist that Alica knew personally. Those of the Home, after learning what happened, rallied around Evan and were doing their best to make things as easy for him as possible.

“Captain Nash,” Chief Alonzo greeted him, “You asked to see me personally, about a situation?” he asked him, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

“Yes, sorry for doing this, but we have a problem with one of the department therapists and it might be a good idea to at least suspend her while the investigation that the cops are doing takes place,” he said, sitting down.

“What happened?” Alonzo asked, frowning and leaning forward.

Bobby quickly gave him a rundown of what happened to Evan without saying his name. “Not only that but the detective in charge has stated it looks like this might not be the first time it’s happened.”

“Right, I’ll make a note of Dr Wells, and those who saw her, will be questioned quietly,” Alonzo promised, “I would rather this not get out just yet, we need to protect the people who saw her.”

“Of course, my own firefighter is scared, as he has things that could be in jeopardy if she tries to counterclaim,” he added, shaking his head, “He doesn’t need that stress at the moment.”

“We’ll do our best to make sure it doesn’t happen. I’ll be making note of those that come forward, and I’ll keep you informed in that case. Along with the captains of those affected. So that the victims can go to each other for support if they need it,” he said, making a few notes.

“Thank you for taking the time to see me about this. I wish it was better news,” he sighed.

“Captain Nash, one day I do hope that someone comes through that door to give me good news,” he snorted, “I don’t think I have that very often. We see a lot of bad things in this line of work.”

Bobby nodded and then headed out. There was nothing more he could do.

Chapter Sixteen

Eddie walked through the hallway of Second Chance Home. Christopher had been whisked away to play by Joshua. Clive smiled at him as he went to supervise the play going on. Alicia was walking beside him. Eddie had messaged Evan the day before and hadn’t gotten a reply from him. So now, he had called Xiaoli and had been told to head to the Home, that something had happened and that Evan could do with some friends around him at the moment.

“I’ve been given permission by Evan to tell you what has happened,” Alicia said, as she came to a stop before they reached Evan’s door.

Evan turned and looked at her, frowning in worry, “Is he okay?” he asked.

“That… is to be seen, having friends around will help I believe. Especially for Evan, those that he loves and cares about, being around, is a blessing for him,” she told him, as she then explained what had happened with Dr Wells, and the subsequent arrest of her and two others that were covering up what she was doing.

“Fuck,” Eddie said, eyes wide, “He’s okay, for the most part then,” he nodded, “No matter the gender… going through harassment is… never nice, it’s…” he trailed off, not really sure of the words that he could use.

“Exactly,” Alicia sighed, “But most will see that it’s a man and say that he is to blame, that there is no way that a male would say no to sex, and that because he is male, there is no case for sexual harassment or even rape,” she added.

Eddie nodded, “Yeah, I… My sister was harassed when we were teens, she was older than me. My mother,” he said with a tone of distaste, “just said she was asking for it by being out of the house. It’s disgusting that people will often blame the victim,” he added.

“Very true,” she told him, “Now, I advise asking to touch him, at the moment, he is a little weary. I’ve got him set up with someone online who will be able to help him. I will also be doing a little here too,” she stated as they began to walk again.

Eddie nodded and the two were quiet as they reached Evan’s door. Alicia knocked on it, “Evan, Eddie is here for you,” she said.

“Co… come in,” came a trembling voice.

Eddie walked in, smiling softly at Evan, he was curled up on his bed, a little pale but not looking as bad as Eddie had expected. “Hey,” he said, his voice gentle and calm as he walked closer to the bed.

“Ed… Eds,” he said as he slowly uncurled and sat up. “I’m… sorry, I just didn’t think I was up to being out of here at the moment. I have a couple more days before I have to be back at work, I’m working through things though. I promise

Eddie stood by the bed, “Can I sit down?” he asked, getting a nod. He sat on the edge of the bed, “Hold your hand?” he then asked, waiting patiently as Evan slowly nodded and let Eddie take hold of his hand. “We each react to things differently, some will be able to come to terms with what happened quicker than others. It doesn’t mean that they weren’t as badly affected as others. Just like I know I have PTSD from my time in Afghanistan, I still go to therapy for that, my abuela made sure of that and my Tia Pepa enforces it,” he told him, squeezing Evan’s hands before adding, “So don’t be sorry, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. Take the time you need to overcome this. I’ll be right here, and you know the others around you are right here wanting to help as well.”

Evan nodded, “They… they have been so good, people have been stopping by to make sure I’m okay. I’ve…” he trailed off, pointing to the dresser on the other side of the room, there was a load of hand made cards sitting on top of it. “They want me to get better, and I will, I’m de… determined about that,” he hesitated, “I just wish I knew why I am acting like this like it was-”

“Don’t… don’t do that, Evan,” Eddie told him, “Don’t compare yourself to others, as I said, we all react differently to things, we have our own timetable on how we recover,” he added, shaking his head, “Now, all you need to do if you want me to come and see you is to give me a call. If you want to get out for a bit, I know of a nice little park that Christopher adores because he can use most of the things there without too much hassle.”

Evan smiled, “I think, a little later,” he said, “I should make an appearance to the others, I know that some of the kids are worried. One or two know what is going on fully, but they, unfortunately, understand what I’m going through,” he said, his tone soft and sad.

“There are monsters in this world, and they wear a human face nearly all the damn time,” Eddie nodded.

“Yeah, really do,” he agreed, feeling slightly more at ease with Eddie there. “I don’t know why, but you… put me at ease.”

“My abuela says the same. That when I’m around she feels more protected, that she can take on the world,” he smiled, “I’m glad of it though.”

“Your son is the same,” Evan added as he let go of Eddie’s hands, missing the warmth of them.

“We’ll get through this, together,” Eddie told him as Evan got off the bed and cleaned himself up. Before the two of them headed out of the room. The others smiled as they saw Evan walking around again. He had been holed up in his room for almost a full day.

XxXxX

Evan walked into work, his head held high, he still wasn’t fully there, but he was getting there. He had two sessions with Dr Janus and another with Alicia. He had both on speed dial so should he need something he would be able to contact one or the other.

Bobby smiled as he saw Evan, “Good to see you again,” he said gently, giving him a questioning look and getting a nod. The man enveloped him in a warm hug, “If you need any space, my office is open to you, no questions asked,” he told him, “The chief has been informed and we’ve found several more that have been affected by her and the cover-ups.”

“Damn I was hoping…” he trailed off, not sure what he was hoping.

“I know,” Bobby said letting him go, “All we can do is to show solidarity. Some are asking for the names of others, to make a support group. Others want nothing to do with anyone else and prefer to remain anonymous,” he finished quietly.

Evan nodded, “I… I don’t know, I’ll see how things go. I’m doing a lot better, more on an even keel at the moment,” he said with a shrug.

“That’s understandable, take the time you need,” he nodded as he then headed off.

Evan smiled slightly as he headed toward the locker room to get changed. Heading up moments later, he saw that most of the others had already arrived and were sitting around, waiting for breakfast to be served, with a few of them gathering what had been cooked and helping Bobby as he made everything. Evan gave a smile to the man as he turned to greet him and joined him at the counters, starting to pour out juices for everyone.

Breakfast was a loud affair, and Evan remained close to Bobby for most of it. He knew he should have taken that extra day, but he didn’t want to let what had happened get to him more than it already had. His therapist that he was now speaking to and Alicia had both assured him that taking the time would be fine. Trauma is still trauma, no matter how far Dr Wells had actually gotten in her attempt.

They had only two call outs by the time night had started to fall. Bobby was in his office, going over some paperwork that needed to be filed, and most had gone to the bunk room to catch a nap while they could. Evan was focused on the book he was ready and he could hear Hen and Chimney playing a game in the background. He ignored it as Chimney started to go on about Tatiana and his dating.

Chimney turned to look at Evan, “At least I”m not like Buck, who had to try and get himself laid with his damn therapist, like a fucking idiot. Rumour has it that she cried rape and he scarpered.”

“Firefighter Han, my office, NOW!” Bobby yelled as he crested the top of the stairs, to hear what Chimney had said.

Chimney and Hen looked at him, blinking at his sudden appearance. “Cap,” Chimney began, “I’m only stating what’s most likely true, and you know that the LAFD shouldn’t have such people around.”

“My office, right this damn minute Firefighter Han,” he said, again, “If you do not shut up, you’ll be finding yourself out on suspension,” he warned as he waited for the man to get up.

Chimney growled as he stood up, “Only stating facts, Cap, you’re going to have to realize that your golden boy isn’t so damn golden. He’s a menace to women everywhere.”

“Move, Han,” Bobby said, his voice going cold as Chimney sauntered past him and headed for Bobby’s office.

“Cap?” Hen began, only to stop when Bobby held up a hand for her to be quiet as he quickly headed over to Evan.

“Evan,” he whispered softly, “it’s Bobby,” he called out.

Evan ignored everything, eyes wide and face pale.

“Evan,” Bobby said again, this time slightly firmer as he started to talk about random things, about the kids and what they wanted to do next time they visited at the home. Slowly Evan became aware of what was going on around him. Hen was standing off to one side, eyes wide as she watched.

“Bo… Bobby?” Evan said, voice trembling, “He…” he began, only to begin shaking his head, looking like he shrunk against the plush chair he was sitting in.

“It’s okay, I heard,” Bobby said, “and you know that’s not true at all, we have all the evidence of what happened that day. We have witnesses that state what happened as well. And we also have the others that have gone through the same,” he reminded him, knowing that what Chimney had said was a fear that Evan was holding onto.

Evan nodded, tears slowly falling down his face.

Bobby looked at Hen, “Hen, I want you to go to the office and make sure Han remains inside. Do not speak, even if he does. The office has CCTV, much like we do up here,” he warned her, so that she knew and understood that there was footage of what had been going on before he had arrived, which would include the petty jabs that Chimney was throwing towards Evan about his dating life, and what Chimney believed that Evan was doing in his spare time. “I’m going to take care of Evan, and make sure someone comes and takes him home,” he added as he then pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Okay, Bobby,” she nodded, unsure what was going on, and just what type of trouble Chimney might now be in with his comment. She stood there for a second longer as Bobby started to talk to someone on the phone and headed down the stairs toward the office.

Hen could hear Chimney ranting inside. Part of her wanted to tell him to shut up, but another also warned her with alarm bells ringing in her head, not to say a word and just to make sure that Chimney didn’t try and leave. Which he often did when Bobby tried to reprimand him for some of his behaviors. She watched as a tall black woman walked in almost forty minutes later, Bobby greeting her with a hug as the two of them took a pale Evan outside.

Bobby walked back in, “Hen, in the office as well, since I believe with you overhearing, that you need to be in the know at this moment in time.” he stated as he walked past and into the office, he could see Chimney standing there, red faced and angry as he began to speak. “I would shut up at the moment Han,” he stated, voice still cold as he addressed the two, the door now closed tightly. “We’re currently offline as I get a paramedic and a firefighter floaters in.”

“What? Why?” Chimney yelled out, “you have no idea just what you’re golden boy has been doing, and because you don’t want to admit it, you’re going to punish me. You’re just like fucking Gerrard!”

“I’ve talked with the Union and with the chief, as of this moment, you’re suspended for three weeks. You will have a warning on file for Harassment at this moment in time, you will also be going to a few seminars on Bullying and Harassment, since you’ve ignored warnings to such effect for the last two years. I’m done playing nice,” Bobby stated, “And, since you want to spread rumors, how about I tell you the truth of the situation, and be warned, if this is spread around you will be fired for it. Since we are making sure to keep quiet for the victims’ sake. Evan is the latest victim of Dr Wells, she has raped and sexually assaulted over fifteen firefighters over a eight month period. When people tried to report it, they were told they were false allegations We now have proof of what she has been doing, mostly thanks to Evan and the fact that when she started to try and rape him, as he got out she was shouting threats at him, not realizing that the waiting room was semi full of cops and firefighters. What you have done, Han, is victim blame, and I won’t tolerate that in this station. Take the time to re-evaluate your actions,” he told him, “Dismissed.”

Chimney tried to argue, but he could see that Bobby wasn’t going to listen. He stormed out. Hen remained behind as she looked at Bobby, “You knew what had happened?”

“He called me from the parking lot, I was the one that went to the chief about it instead of going through the Union. Good thing, because Dr Wells has a friend in the Union that was making all the complaints go away. It was through that and Athena that I was able to get a detective onto the case. Turned out that three cops have also tried, and were blocked. Wells had a few powerful friends that were making what she did easier. They’ve all been arrested and charged. Though that remains quiet for now, to give the victims a chance before someone tries to leak what is happening,” he answered her, rubbing his face. “Evan… is traumatized, of course. This isn’t the first time that someone has accused him of rape. A previous girlfriend did the same. Proved false and the other victims of her entitled ways, sued her in the end, and she was also jailed for a while too. What Han said, brought all that back up as well. I’ve sent him home, and I’m taking him off shift for another shift at least,” he added, sighing.

Hen was quiet as she let what Bobby had just told her sink in. She nodded as she said, “Thank you, for confiding in me, and I won’t say a word.”

Bobby nodded and dismissed her as he got up to make sure Chimney followed orders.

Chapter Seventeen

Evan was back on shift a few days later, Chimney was still suspended, even though he had gone to the Union, it was being upheld. He would be going on the course on Anti-bullying and Harassment. Evan hoped that this would help to curb some of Chimney’s more caustic comments about his life, but he doubted it.

Bobby looked at the firefighters that were gathered in the loft. “So, people have been coming up with all kinds of wild ideas on why Firefighter Han was suspended for three weeks,” he began, “This stops today. Firefighter Han was caught bullying and harassing a co-worker. To a point that he was even victim blaming,” he stated. Bobby and Evan had spoken earlier on if he should say something, considering the rampant rumors going around. Since most of you seem to enjoy the caustic jabs that are often handed out, the entire station will be heading to the Seminar as well. I hope that we will all learn what actually constitutes a joke in this station. I’ve given you all time and enough warnings. From the moment we have done the seminar, I will not tolerate any more bullying or harassment within this station. It ends now,” he said, looking at them all.

Everyone was quiet, some were nodding and a few were looking down. Evan himself was just looking at Bobby, not wanting to see what anyone else was thinking, or even if they were looking at him. He had no doubt that some had heard about what had happened between himself and Chimney. He wondered if they would blame him for what happened.

“Buck,” Hen said as she walked toward him, “You alright?” she asked.

Evan looked up, “I’m okay,” he said, “Dealing with things as best as I can, friends, family and therapy are helping,” he told her, being honest. They were helping, he knew it could take a while before he felt comfortable again, but he would, he would make sure of that.

Hen nodded, “If you ever need me, just reach out,” she told him.

“Yeah,” he said, though he had no intention of doing so. He headed off, going about his chores when his phone rang. “Hey, Xiaoli, is everything alright at the Home?” he asked.

“We have someone new, her name is May Grant, the daughter of an officer that I know you’ve had dealings with in the past. Sargent Grant doesn’t know that May is here, and she can’t know. Attempted suicide, said that it is the result of cyber bullying and stalking, but of course we’ll do the usual. Alicia is already with her,” Xiaoli said, explaining as much of May’s circumstances as he could.

“Alright, I’ll make sure not to say anything if she asks,” Evan said with a firm nod as he ended the call. He had no doubt that Athena would be coming by the station, the few times they had met he talked often about the work he did. She never asked specifics on the cases she had, but she did talk about what he would do. And of course there were the times when she was called in for a parent or someone that was trying to get one of the children. It didn’t happen often and she had only been called three times, once for Christopher and twice more for another child that had now been moved for their safety.

Evan went back to his chores, another call out taking them from the station for almost three hours. They arrived back and soon Athena turned up. Evan could see she was stressed. She may know how the system worked, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried about her daughter and what she might be going through without her mother being there.

Evan moved so he was in a more private place in case she walked over to bhim, and like he had predicted she saw him and walked over.

“Buck,” she greeted, having taken to the nickname that the station used just as easily. The only one not calling him Buck was Bobby.

“Hey, Athena,” he greeted with a smile, “You alright?” he asked her, not letting her know that he knew what was going on in her life. He didn’t know how she wanted people to know, or not know as the case may be.

“Not really, Buck, but I’d like to talk to you about something,” she said, glancing around, seeing that they were away from people, she began, “My daughter,” she paused for a moment before carrying on and giving him the small run down of what had happened.

“If you want to know where she is, I can’t look into that for you,” Evan warned her, shaking his head.

“I’m not asking that, at all, I know I can’t know. I just want to know what it will be like for her?” she asked instead.

“She’ll be taken to a place where she will undergo some therapy, and evaluation, you and your family will be looked into as well. Interviews will be done as soon as they can. Hopefully, with your reputation and such they will get to it soon. It can take a couple of weeks for something like this. Though they try to contain it within a week. Doesn’t always work,” he sighed, thinking of Christopher and a few other children that had taken more than it should to be reunited with family.

Athena nodded, “So it could be a while,” she sighed.

“It could be a few days to a couple of weeks. Like I said, they are sometimes inundated with cases, and they will get to it soon, the people that will be caring for May, will be the main point. They will be the ones in charge of getting the evaluations done on her. Sometimes she would be taken to a facility where she will be assessed, especially after an attempted suicide. Usually a 72 hour hold,” he warned her.

“Would they do that with May?” she asked, pursing her lips together, worriedly.

“Would depend if it would be detrimental to her mental health. They will be trying to find the cause of what caused her to make the attempt,” he answered as best as he could.

“She was being bullied. Badly, they were telling her to kill herself, making her life a misery and I didn’t even see it,” she said shaking her head, “I was too busy worrying about my damn marriage than what was going on in my daughter’s life,” she hissed, angry at herself. “I just want to go to that bitch and make her pay for what she put my baby through.”

“Don’t,” Evan warned, “It won’t look good for you, and I don’t just mean at your job, I mean it could take even longer for them to make the evaluation and such, because they will worry what you could do,” he told her, shaking his head, “And it’s bullying?” he asked her.

“Yes, on her phone, she kept all the damn messages, voicemails, even the damn DMs that she got from the brat from different accounts after the others were blocked. Same with the calls, nine different numbers over the last five m-” she stopped.

“I think you have a case for Stalking, Cyber Bullying and even more right there, Athena,” he smirked at her. “You want to get to her, then make a damn example with her and have charges filed for all of it. Go that route. She might not get much in the way of punishment in your eyes, or most people’s eyes, but it will still be something. Doing something that can bring you or your family into trouble, isn’t exactly a good thing, no matter how satisfying it would be,” he warned her.

“You’re right, I was watching her, at school, and she…” she shook her head seeing the look that Evan was giving her. “I know, it’s the wrong move. I’m going to file the complaint and hand things over, hopefully they will do something.”

“Push it, if anyone tries to fob you off, you know exactly what they should be doing. You’re one of theirs, they should be very up on it,” he reminded her.

Athena nodded, “Thank you, for talking to me. I just hope May will be okay.”

“I’ve no doubt that she will,” Evan reassured her, “Come on, lunch will be ready soon and I know Bobby’s making that lasagna that you enjoyed last time you stopped by.”

Athena smiled and followed him up into the loft.

XxXxX

Evan was exhausted, it had been a hard shift and they had been let go from the scene of the plane crash. Eddie had called, asking how he was, they had talked for a bit before Evan had started to fall asleep. He still wasn’t fully awake after the few hours that he had gotten. His phone rang on his bedside table. He reached over, slapping the top a few times before grabbing it. He answered it with a groggy, “Hello?”

“Evan,” came Bobby’s voice, “I… I need some help.”

“Bobby,” Evan said as he sat up, instantly alert as he heard the tremble in Bobby’s voice.

“I just… the kids are still asleep, and I just need some help, keep me away from the ledge. The crash tonight… the thought of that kid, losing his mother, like Brooke and Robbie have,” he sighed.

“I’ll be right there, Xiaoli is still at home, so he can take over if something happens,” he said as he started to get up and get dressed.

“Thank you,” Bobby said, “I… don’t want to leave the kids, but the temptation to do so is… strong tonight.”

“That’s okay, I always told you that when you were struggling, to come to me, to call me and ask. I’ll be at yours soon, promise Bobby,” he stated as he kept the line open. Just like a few weeks before, but mirrored this time, Evan went to Bobby, to be his shoulder and support.

Arriving at the Nash family home. Bobby was in the living room, head in hands as he tried to keep himself under control. “I’m here Bobby,” Evan said as he went over, a hand on the older man’s shoulder before sitting beside him.

“Hey, Kid,” Bobby said, moving to look at him, “Thank you, for coming,” he stated, eyes showing exactly how grateful he was.

“Welcome, you know that,” he smiled, “We all need that little extra help with things at times,” he reminded him, “Just like you’ve been helping me, I’m there for you as well,” he stated.

“I know, and just having you here helps me a lot. Gives me someone to talk to and such. I would call my sponsor but I know he is out of town at the moment, visiting family,” Bobby said, thinking of Wendel.

“Right,” Evan said as he started talking about some of the kids that were under his care were up to at the moment, since Bobby stopped by occasionally with his own children. He avoided speaking about May, since he had seen how well that Athena and Bobby were getting along. Athena’s divorce was going through and the woman was reaching out to friends. Hen and Bobby at the top of the list.

Bobby got up and began to head into the kitchen. Evan, knowing what the man was about to do, got up and went to join him as he cooked.

XxXxX

Athena walked into the 118, a smirk on her face as she went up the stairs to the loft. “Buck,” she greeted, “Thank you for the advice,” she told him.

Evan looked at her, “So… arrested?” he asked, eyebrow raised. Lalia may only have been a teenager, but she broke the law in the end and needed to face the consequences for her actions. This may just get her to realize just what she could have caused.

“Yep, Captain Maynard even let me watch as she was brought in,” she told him, “She was crying up a storm, and I know I should feel horrible about that, she’s only a teenager, but she caused my baby harm and I won’t feel guilty about that.”

Evan nodded, “I understand that,” he told her, “What are going to be the charges?”

“Stalking, Cyber Harassment, misdemeanors since she’s a juvenile but… it’s something, the parents aren’t happy,” she snorted.

“Understatement?” Hen asked as she walked over, having heard some of what was going on from Athena.

“Very,” she told them as she sat down, “Oh, thank you Bobby,” she smiled at the man as he put a mug of hot coffee in front of her.

“What was their reaction?” Hen asked as she sat down beside her friend.

Evan joined them as Bobby made more coffees for everyone.

Athena sighed, “They were denying that their daughter was involved with anything and get this, they found her in possession of drugs as well. So that charge is going to be added on as well,” she added, “They were shown the evidence of their daughter stalking, harassment and bullying of May. They tried to come at me, blaming me for what their daughter was going through. I’m filing for a restraining order, since no doubt the daughter will be out. It will mean she will have to move schools and other things. I now plan to include the parents in that.”

“Do it, what May has gone through is sickening, and unfortunately not enough is always done about cases like this. Often people will do the, “they are only kids, they didn’t mean it.” or, “Nothing to worry about, we’ll sort it out,” and then do nothing. I see it a lot,” Evan said, shaking his head.

“Sometimes I forget that you’re a foster parent,” Hen snorted, drinking some of her coffee.

“Don’t see how,” Athena said, “He’s good at what he does as a firefighter and he’s great as a foster parent. Seeing him in action with the children, now that is a sight to see.”

“It really is,” Bobby nodded in agreement.

“You’ve… both seen that?” Hen asked, frowning.

“Yes,” they nodded, Athena gesturing for Bobby to continue.

“I met Evan a while ago now. He was great with my kids, and then when he moved out here. I was around when the Home first started, seeing him with the children, he got on their level in a way that a lot of adults fail to do. Even me. He doesn’t treat them as children, he treats them as adults. Explains things to them,” Bobby told her.

“It’s because they need to know things, if I think that it’s not appropriate for them to know at that time, I will say something like that. They know and understand, because I explain it to them, I can’t always tell them everything going on, but I will do my best to always be honest,” Evan shrugged, not sure exactly what he was doing so differen;y from others.

“Well, I’m glad you’re helping the kids out there,” Athena said, “Part of me wishes that you had May, I miss her so much. Though they told me just two or three days and she will finally be home.”

“That’s great!” Evan exclaimed, happy for his friend, though he already knew that May was getting ready to leave them.

“Yeah,” Athena smiled.

Hen smiled, “I’m happy for you Athena, how’s Michael and Harry taking it all?”

Athena sighed, “Not well, Harry is scared, and Michael is as well. But at least I think things will be better when May comes home.”

“No do-” Bobby began as the alarm sounded. “Davids, you’re the man behind, everyone else suit up!” he called out as they headed down.

Chapter Eighteen

Athena walked up the stairs and went over to Evan, “Thank you,” she told him, “This is the first time I’ve seen you properly since May came home. She told us how you were there for her, talking to her and helping her. She’s doing a lot better and I know she wants to stop by and say thank you as well. She loved the Home a lot, I think if she didn’t love us, she would have been happy to stay there,” she joked, smiling as she hugged him tightly before letting him go.

“‘Thena?” Hen frowned as she wondered what that was about.

“May ended up at Second Chance Home,” Evan said, “Xiaoli was her main point of Contact. But because I knew her mother, she felt more comfortable with me in the end. She was only with us for three weeks, but Athena, she is a wonderful young woman. You should be proud of her.”

“Oh, I am,” she said with a smile, “I am.”

“Joining us for breakfast?” Bobby asked her as he looked over at the woman.

“I’d like that if you don’t mind,” she said.

“Of course not,” he told her, gesturing for her to find a seat, “Should be served soon. Evan went to help get the drinks ready. Hen, can you set up and warn the others.”

“Sure,” Hen said as Evan nodded.

People were starting to gather when Chimney stormed up the stairs. His three-week suspension had ended the shift before. He hadn’t been happy and was often tart and cold to those around him. Bobby was keeping notes of it all as they worked through the shift. This was only his second shift, but there was a tension between everyone that had slowly been building for a while.

“I’m a good-looking guy, with a great career?” Chimney asked as he looked to those who were gathered at the table, ready for breakfast.

“Yeah,” Hen said, nodding as she looked at him, “What about it?”

“Buck?” Chimney said as he looked at him, “Do you think I am?”

Evan stared at him, “I can see the appeal, I suppose. Though, you really aren’t my type.”

“Yeah, you want them with a skirt,” he rolled his eyes.

“Nope, I like both, but I like guys better. I’ve dated several men, and only two women,” he said, twitching his nose a little as he thought of one of them. The other was barely anything and it was when he was in high school that he had dated. He supposed in the end, it was more men he preferred as those he dated after leaving were mainly men. He tilted his head, “No, I think, I prefer men a lot more, I’ve only dated two women, and I’ve never actually slept with a woman either.”

“What?” Hen said, surprised.

“I don’t know why you’re surprised,” Evan shrugged, “I’ve not dated at all since I’ve come here to LA. And before then the last relationship I had was with a guy in Montana, we were together for a couple of months while I was doing SAR,” he added.

“Hey, we’re talking about me here!” Chimney yelled out.

“So, what makes you ask that question, Chimney?” Hen said, almost rolling her eyes at her friend. It wasn’t like he hadn’t asked that question the last time that he was dumped.

“I proposed to Tatiana,” he said.

“Why?” Hen couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Because we love each other,” he rolled his eyes, “she said, no. I don’t understand why.”

Evan sighed and turned around, not wanting to say anything just yet. Bobby gave him a look of understanding as they began to put things together to be put over to the main tables. Davids was the first to appear and help.

“What are those looks for?” Chimney growled as he looked between Bobby, Evan, and a few of the other firefighters.

“Chimney,” Evan said, his tone sounded like more of a warning than anything else.

“No, come on, tell me?” he pushed.

“Fine, you want to know,” Evan said, getting a nod, “Alright, you asked me to tell you what I think. You don’t respect Tatiana and I have no doubt that since she is a ladder and bunny girl, that she doesn’t really care for you either. All she wants is someone who will feed the adrenaline addiction she has. You might be doing that, but you are also lying to her so much that I doubt she even knows the real Howard Han. You lie like you breathe, and as far as I’m concerned, you don’t respect her. From what others have said about previous relationships, you do the same things to them, lie to them. No relationship can be built like that. Hell, you lied to her to get laid,” he pointed out to him, reminding him of the things that he had told them all over the last few months since Evan had first got there.

“And what the hell would a fuck boy like you know,” he snorted, “Can’t even get laid.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “Well, you asked.”

“What about you Bobby? What was the look for?” Chimney then asked their captain.

“Chimney,” he said, shaking his head, “Drop it now. You’re angry, I get it, being rejected isn’t pleasant.”

“You’re right, if fucking isn’t, so tell me what is so wrong with me that she won’t say yes!” he yelled.

“You’re lying to her, on some level she knows. Hell, all she has to do is look up some of the rescues that you claimed as yours to know they weren’t. You were on the damn phone last shift, telling her in minute detail the rescue that Evan did, down to the smallest of details and names of the victims. All she needs to do is a simple search, because it was caught by the news, and she’ll be able to see for herself that you’re lying to her,” Bobby answered him, shaking his head, “So, now, you know. Be truthful in your relationship and you may find someone that will stay with you.”

“And again, what do you know, your wife is nowhere to be seen. No doubt she left you,” he snorted.

Bobby took a breath, “You disgust me,” he stated, “And for your information, my wife died in a fire over two years ago, saving the lives of our children. I’m very lucky that Evan and his friend were there that night, or I would have lost all three of them since I was out getting drinks to celebrate New Year with them.”

“What is this about lying to your partner?” Athena asked, looking between everyone, she could feel the tension in the air.

“None of your damn business,” Chimney snapped at her.

“I would watch that mouth, Howard,” Athena said, eyes narrowed, “Hen?” she questioned her friend.

“Chim has lied to his partners. He has done so recently as you heard,” she answered.

“Hen!” Chimney yelled out, “You know what? Fuck this!” he snapped as he stormed down the stairs. Hen rushed after him.

Athena looked concerned as she followed. “Dispatch, this is 727-L30,” she said a few minutes later, as the others all looked down at the floor below. They could hear the screech of tires as they raced away from the station. She gave a description of Chimmney’s car and the license plate, “He is angry and driving fast,” she added before telling them the general direction. “I do not believe that it would be good for me to pursue him.”

“Athena,” Hen said, frowning.

“I’m sorry Hen, but the way he’s driving at the moment, he’s going to get hurt. It’s best if he is pulled over, the ticket might just be enough to get through to him,” she told her friend, putting a hand on her arm.

“Athena,” Hen began, “He’s going through something and I don’t know how to help him.”

“Sometimes, some people don’t want the help, they want the pity party they have going on,” she replied to her, shaking her head, “At the moment, he’s out there breaking the law, and he needs to be caught before he causes a crash. We don’t want him to get hurt. I know he is your friend, you’ve been through tough times together. Especially in this place. I’m thinking that for him, this is a place of hurt and pain, he’s been abused here, and he’s still in the same place that it happened. It must be playing on his mind. I know it would be for me.”

Hen sighed, “I know that. Karen made me go to therapy a while back, not long after Bobby joined us. Chim never did, didn’t matter that it was offered and even pushed a bit by everyone, including myself.”

“There’s nothing much you can do if he won’t take the help that is offered,” she told her as they went back to the loft, breakfast was getting cold and things were being warmed up. They sat down a little subdued as they began to eat.

XxXxX

Bobby moved away from the group as his phone started to ring, “Rod,” he greeted the man on the other end, a fellow captain.

“Hey, Bobby, sorry to call you like this, but we have a vic, one of your firefighters. The cops are all over the place since it was a chase,” he said cautiously.

Bobby closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, “Chimney, he rushed out of here about two hours ago. We haven’t got the TV on at the moment, so we’ve not seen any news.”

“Well, it was all over it for a bit. Weaving and dodging, I’m surprised that he didn’t end up crashing from what we saw before we were called out,” he sighed, “Bobby, this is going to be bad, he’s injured, but we have two more cars involved. Some are injured, and we’re getting them out, he was asking for us to call in you.”

“We won’t be coming, I’ll be informing the others and pulling us offline, but I won’t send us out. We’re emotionally compromised, and guilty, since there was an argument before he stormed out. We have a cop that stops by occasionally, she called in his erratic driving, hoping that he would be pulled over before something like this happened,” Bobby told him.

“I can understand that,” he said, “I’ve already told him that we’re not going to be able to call another house in. He’s trying to be insistent, but at the moment, he’s been told to shut up.”

Bobby winced, “Yeah,” he sighed, “Thanks for informing me.”

“Welcome, and I’ll update you when he’s on his way. Though I don’t know if anyone will be allowed around him, he will be under arrest from the moment we pull him out of his car,” he said.

“I’ll warn them,” Bobby said as they hung up. He walked up to the loft, gathering the rest of A-Shift as he went. They were a man down because Chimney had run off, and the floater they had called for hadn’t arrived yet.

“What’s going on Bobby?” Hen asked, looking around.

“I have news on Chimney,” he stated, “After leaving here, he was involved in a chase with the cops. He crashed, and two more cars were involved. He has been injured, and he was asking for us to go. I will not let the house g-”

“Why!” Hen asked, “We should be there for him.”

“We’re emotionally compromised, and I do not want that on our consciences should we make a mistake because he is one of us,” Bobby told her, “I know, we would rather be there for him, but staying away will be better for him in the end.”

“What else is going on, Cap?” Davids asked, he had been on his phone most of the time, seeing that a chance had been going on, it wasn’t good if it was Chimney’s.

“I’m not sure if there is anything else. I don’t know Chimney’s condition, but they will tell us when he has been extracted from his car and on the way to the hospital. Chances are he won’t be able to see anyone because he will be in police custody at that time,” Bobby tried his best to explain.

“I’m his medical proxy, so they might call me,” Hen said as she got out her phone. Someone else went over to the TV and turned it on, flicking through the channels until they got to a scene of a car crash. Three cars, two badly crushed and a third off to one side, damaged but not crushed like the others.

“I think this is it, that’s Chimney’s car,” she said as she looked back at the others.

“Thanks, Mina,” Hen said as she and the others all gathered around, watching the rescue of one of their own. However there was dread there as they realized that Chimney was in a whole lot of trouble.

XxXxX

Bobby had stopped at the Home, there was no shift and the children were all at school apart from the youngest ones that didn’t go just yet. Including the baby that they had rescued from the pipe, she had arrived a few weeks before. Evan had taken over most of her car, her bassinet had been in his room from the start when he was at Home, the only time it wasn’t was when he was working, then it was over to Xiaoli.

“You okay?” Evan asked as he put Leyna in his arms, “Here, hold her, it’ll make you feel better.” he said, careful of the feeding tube that she was still using. Leyna was having trouble eating, and this was the only way that she could be home from the hospital. A few other things were going on as her time in the pipe was laden with complications out of it.

“Chimney has been fired and charged with reckless driving and vehicular assault, three people other than Chimney were hurt in that crash. He’s lucky no one was killed because I’ve seen the footage and it was bad. The type we usually see a death come from,” he sighed looking down at Leyna as she waved her arms a little before settling against Bobby, “She is beautiful.”

“She is, and a delight as well. They don’t know if she will be adopted at all, because of the health problems that she has. There might even be some developmental delays as well. She’s still feeding most of the time through the tube. She has started to have some milk, but she spits up most of it,” he sighed, “but she’ll be okay. We’ve got her.”

“You do,” Bobby said as he told him a few more things about what was going on with Chimney. There wasn’t much, as Hen had been the main point of contact for everything. She had been sorting out everything and was looking frazzled and hurt by it all.

“Not much we can do to help, just be there for her and Chimney if he allows it,” Evan said with a shrug.

Bobby nodded and he began to talk about other things, asking how things were going between Evan and Eddie, since Bobby had a sneaking suspicion, which proved to be correct, that they liked each other.

Chapter Nineteen

Hen walked into work late, she had gone to Chimney’s trial. She didn’t look happy as she changed and joined everyone in the loft. “Hey,” she said, sounding as subdued as she looked.

“Hen,” Bobby said as he walked over, a mug of her favorite hot chocolate in his hands, the one with a hint of orange in it. He placed it in front of her.

“Thanks, Cap,” she smiled at him. “He’s been sentenced for two years,” she said, “He has twenty-four hours to sort everything out before going in. He’s got someone helping him close up his apartment and put things into storage and such for the duration,” she sighed as she went through it, “He’s lucky, he could have easily been sentenced to longer.”

“It carries a two, four, or six year sentence, depending on several factors,” Evan said, having looked it up, “Could have been worse. He can get out on good behavior as well,” he added.

Hen nodded, “I… he blames everyone else for it,” she said, “He blames me.”

Evan reached over, putting a hand on her back, “Hen, we’ve been telling him for a long time to get help. You especially, Bobby has as well. We all could see he had a temper when things weren’t going the way he wanted.”

“I know, but we… We went through a lot together, fought for our right to be firefighters in this house. I thought he would be here for a long time. Especially now with Bobby in charge, he’s turned this place around. It’s a good station, people of all kinds feel more welcomed here than in any other, and that’s on Bobby changing that.”

“Not just on me,” Bobby spoke up, “It was on you as well Hen, when I first got here, talking with you and finding out what things were like, helping me find the guide posts that I needed to make this station a team, a family like it is.”

Hen gave him a smile, “Yeah, you did good, the ones we had before tried, but they never wanted to listen.”

“A good captain knows how to listen to their people and work with what each one brings to the table. You had experiences that I will never have,” Bobby said, “You went through something I haven’t, and will never go through. Listening to you and to Chimney as well, helped me find out the spots that needed to be sorted out. To be cleaned up and those that needed to be transferred.”

“Wish we could have kept Tommy, though,” Hen said.

“He needed a fresh start, just as much as you did,” Bobby said, it had been Tommy who had wanted the transfer.

“Yeah,” Hen nodded, getting it. She had thought about transferring herself at first, but then Chimney had wanted to remain, and Hen had decided to do the same, remain at the 118.

Evan stood up, “All you can do now, is to be there for when he’s released. Hopefully, he’ll realize where he went wrong in things, and what was going right in his life. He won’t be able to come back as a firefighter, but… there are other jobs he could do with what he has.”

Hen nodded, “Yeah,” she said, sighing heavily as she took a sip of the orange hot chocolate and closed her eyes. The conversation was over.

Evan and Bobby went to the counters and began preparing for dinner. They were about to put everything on to cook when the alarms blared and they headed off to save another life.

XxXxX

Evan could see how pissed off Bobby was as he got the man away from the building manager. “Man, I know,” he said, shaking his head, “It’s collapsed, but you can’t be like this. Go through the proper channels will be best, you know that,” he added. Evan felt just as pissed off himself, since he still remembers the code violations that had gone on in the apartment building they had both lived in.

“So many could have died, this could have turned out to be even more of a tragedy than it is,” Bobby said, “How many have died from that man’s greed,” he said as he and the others started to clean up. The last of the bodies had been pulled from the rubble and victims had all been taken to the surrounding hospitals.

Evan put an arm around him, “I know, I know, Bobby, and I want nothing more than to tear his head off, but we all know we can’t do that.”

Bobby took a breath, another crew was arriving to take over the last of the cleanup. They had been there for hours, along with two other crews when it turned out so many were still missing. “Right, 118!” he called out, seeing that most of his firefighters were already near the trucks. “Pack it up and let’s get back to the station. We’re off for four hours, so we can clean up, eat, and have a small nap.”

They nodded and trudged toward the engine and truck and got on. The drive back was quick since traffic was blessedly light for once. Inside, Hogan, the one that had stayed behind, had already put food in the oven and drinks were being made. The smell of food enticed them to the table as soon as they had showered.

“Thanks, Hogan,” Bobby said, clapping the man’s back and sitting down.

“Welcome Cap,” he nodded as he went to one of the smaller tables and joined his friends.

Everyone dug in, tired but hungry after the rescue. Part way through dinner, Evan’s phone started ringing. Picking it up, he saw Eddie’s name. “Hey Eddie,” he said, frowning.

“Sorry, I was going to call earlier, but I just got Christopher settled down,” he said, “Hope the day has been… alright,” he said, considering his words carefully, as he knew that Evan and the others could be a little superstitious about things.

Evan chuckled, as he took one last bite of his food and got up. He was full and wanted to talk to Eddie more. “That’s okay, we’ve only just got back.”

“Yeah, I saw on the news, building collapse,” he said softly, “You alright?”

“Yeah, we’re good, no one hurt on our part, the victims, well. It’s never easy,” he shrugged, sitting on the couch and leaning back.

“Good to hear,” he told him.

“What’s going on, I can tell by your voice that something is,” Evan prompted.

“You’re getting to know me too well, here Evan,” Eddie laughed dryly, “And yeah, something is going on. I just wanted to… talk to someone who’s an adult. I was at home when I was served papers. My parents are now going to sue for custody, claiming that CPS failed to take Christopher’s needs into account. The man that delivered them, said aloud what he was there for. Christopher heard and started to yell and become upset. He’s refused all contact with his grandparents, not that I can blame him. Galen and Jerry agreed with me that my parents are toxic and could cause trouble for him. Parental Alienation, they called it. They are still trying though. I’ve not had them contact me at all, and now, if they try, I’m just going to shove them towards my lawyer. I want nothing to do with them again.”

“Well, I don’t blame you on that, whatever you need Eddie, you know I’m right there with you,” Evan said softly.

“I know, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you right there as well. Now, I don’t want this to dominate our conversation tonight,” he said to change the topic. “Was wondering if you wanted to join me for Lunch tomorrow?”

“I’d like that, but isn’t Christopher in school?” he asked, frowning softly.

“Yeah, Evan, I know. I’m asking for just us to meet. I love the fact that you adore Christopher just as much as I do. I just want some adult time with you, and maybe… we could talk about having a date sometime?” he asked.

“I’d like that a lot,” Evan smiled softly.

“Then get some sleep after your shift and I’ll pick you up,” Eddie told him, “And keep safe,” he added.

Evan nodded, then snorted as he said, “I will Eddie, sweet dreams.”

“Night,” Eddie said as they hung up.

Evan got up with a small skip in his step as he went over and began to help with the cleanup.

“What’s got you energized Buck?” Hen asked, seeing the spring in the young man’s step.

“I think… I might have a date,” he grinned, answering her.

“Oh,” Bobby said, glancing over, “who?”

“Eddie,” he answered, “He wants to meet tomorrow after I’ve slept a bit after shift. We’re going to have lunch, Christopher is in school, so it’ll just be us.”

“Finally,” Bobby snorted.

“Eddie?” Hen said, “The one that came here that day with his kid?” she asked.

“That’s the one,” Evan grinned, “He’s great. He’s funny, but he has that dry sense of humor that you don’t expect. His kid is great as well. He loves that kid to bits too,” he said, happy to talk about Eddie a little more.

XxXxX

Evan got out of the jeep and headed over to the little cafe that Eddie had found. The man was standing outside waiting for him. Jogging over, he waved. “Hey,” he greeted.

“Hey, yourself,” Eddie grinned, “Glad you could make it.”

“Like I wasn’t going to turn up,” he rolled his eyes with a grin, “And thank you, for asking. I know… we’ve talked about dating a couple of times in the past. But… with what happened and how I fell apart…” he began.

Eddie stopped him, shaking his head, “Evan, you went through a trauma, of course, you have a right to react however you do and you can take all the time in the world to recover. Everyone is different, don’t judge yourself against how someone else deals with trauma, it isn’t fair to you or them.”

“Thanks,” he smiled as Eddie reached out, without hesitation this time, he took the offered hand and the two walked into the cafe together.

They ordered and sat down to wait for their coffees and sandwiches to be made. “I start at the Academy in May,” Eddie said as they sat down, sugar and sauces ready on the table.

“Really?” Evan grinned, “That’s great, I can’t wait. Though I don’t know what station you’ll be put into though at the end. It’s usually a bit of a luck of the draw in where you go. I was pulled into the 118 because of Bobby. I knew him before I joined the Academy, even before he came out here. He’s… family,” he stated in the end.

“He seems to really care for you, and he talks about Xiaoli a lot as well,” Eddie smiled, “I know my abuela and Tia adore you. Christopher thinks the world of you as well,” he added.

“I adore them as well, they make the best food I’ve ever had, they beat Bobby hands down and I know he could easily go professional,” he snorted.

“I can believe that with what we had that day at the 118,” he agreed, “So…” he paused for a moment.

“Dating?” Evan asked him.

“Yeah,” he smiled, “I’d like to take you out on a proper date, not a coffee date, but a date with a meal, maybe some dancing, a movie?” he said, making a few suggestions.

“I’d like any of that,” Evan laughed, “I really would.”

“Good, I’ve got plans to woo you,” he laughed gently as Evan blushed.

“Woo, really Eddie?” he asked, an eyebrow raised as he laughed a little.

“Abuela’s got me watching the soaps she likes,” he snorted, “can’t help what comes out from them at times.”

Evan laughed brightly, “I can believe that,” he said.

Eddie laughed as well, “Oh, and I want to apologize right now, Carla has started working with me for Christopher,” he told him.

“I know she said she was going to offer her services for you to use. She’s really good at her job and loves children. She often works with adults who need extra help, but I know she’ll do best with you. She already said that she’d still come by the home occasionally to help when it’s needed,” Evan reassured him.

“She is a God sent Angel,” Eddie praised, “She’s got Christopher into a school that is better suited to his needs, his physical and other therapies are going well, and he’s settled in even more since he came home. It’s… nice to see it. He was wound up so tight and I think that might have been more because of my parents than anything else. He doesn’t want to speak to his mother or grandparents. My parents, I can understand, but Shannon, she’s his mother. I’ve got him still talking to his therapist about that, but…” he trailed off.

“It’s going to take time,” Evan said, reaching out and taking a hand, “I know that he’s still feeling abandoned by her. So let him take it one step at a time, and maybe one day he’ll want to see her again.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Eddie nodded. “She’s tried to get her rights back, but since she signed them away willingly, it doesn’t look like she’ll be able to.”

“That’s on her, not on you. She had the chance to keep in contact with her son and chose not to. Christopher… talked a little about what happened,” he said carefully.

“I know, and I don’t mind you knowing at all. I would have told you myself. I do blame myself for some of what happened. I know it wasn’t all on her. I wasn’t right for her, and she wasn’t for me. We both wanted things that the other couldn’t really give. When she left, it was the fact that she never contacted Christopher that got me. Even a damn letter once in a while would have been good. But there was just nothing. That is what Christopher is angry about. Then she comes back in, sees Christopher twice, realizes that I won’t get back with her and she fucks off again without even saying goodbye to Christopher,” he said, pausing and taking breath, “Sorry, it still angers me a little, Christopher is really upset and it doesn’t help that my parents are trying to sue for custody since CPS didn’t work out as they expected.”

“Well, I’m right here, and I’ll help, and so will the others. You have a case against them as well, with all that they did during the investigation by CPS. Since they attempted to take Christopher from the Home and from the Center,” Evan reminded him.

Eddie nodded and turned the talk to something else, not wanting to think about his parents anymore. They had already taken up most of his time, he didn’t want them to take over the time he spent with Evan as well.

Chapter Twenty

Bobby and Hen looked at Evan as he walked into work. It was a few days before Valentine’s Day and he had already put his plans into action.

“What?” he asked the two of them, eyes going wide as they folded their arms across their chests.

“You booked Valentine’s Day off,” Hen said.

“Yeah, I want to do something with Eddie, this will be the first and we’re finally… official dating. We’re going to be telling Christopher in the morning that he has a date with Isabel, Pepa, and a few of the cousins for a sleepover. Then Eddie and I are going out for the night,” Evan shrugged, wondering why the two were there.

“So you have something planned?” Bobby asked him.

“Yeah, I do. I booked the restaurant a while ago, and found a place where we’re going to go for a walk,” he smiled as he went over the plans in his mind. The two loved a nice walk after a meal, sometimes they would just find a place that was quiet and had a good view, sit, and talk. Eddie did his best to not talk about the case that was going on with his parents. They still had a couple of months for the trial to take place, but the evidence was gathered and the date was trying to be set. Though Helena and Ramon were doing their best to drag things out.

“Well, good to hear,” Hen smiled, as she walked over and hugged him, going slowly in case he didn’t want it.

Evan hugged her back, “I didn’t know if I would be dating again for a long time. But Eddie’s been great about things, about everything. He’s helped and so have the others. Xiaoli is happy, though he and Josh are getting a lot closer, I could see Xiaoli asking him to move in or something if we were at a normal place.”

“He won’t be able to because of the home?” Hen asked.

“More like he’ll need a background check to make sure that he won’t be a danger. That he is safe to be around them long term and such. He might even be required to take a small course to make sure that he’ll be good should he and any of the children be left alone. Since we often take the harder cases, those with special needs or even thoughts that are going through custody battles of any kind. We get those that are going through things so we have a number of vulnerable children at the Home. We have to be careful, every single person that spends any time at the Home has to have a background check.”

Bobby nodded, “I did as well, was even interviewed,” he told Hen.

“Eddie has been, I know that Josh has only come to the Home twice. But he’s going to have to go through the checks now if he wants to spend any more time there,” Evan informed her, “We have vulnerable children.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she nodded, smiling, “You really do all you can to protect them. I can tell that. You don’t ever mention names, and the only child I’ve ever seen come this way was Christopher, and he’s Eddie’s child.”

“He is, the only other one you’ll know about is Leyna, and that’s the one we rescued in January. All parental rights have been severed. The mother is getting the help that she needs and is taking into care of herself. She was only a child,” he shook his head, “We don’t think Leyna will be adopted since she has medical needs that aren’t easily met. It’s hard, she’s a wonderful little girl, but with the tube feeding and the numerous hospital trips that are being taken to make sure she remains as healthy as she can, it’s going to come to a point where people won’t be able to cope with the toll it takes. I hate seeing her when she becomes ill, and she’s had infections and colds on and off for the last two months. Six trips to the hospital.”

“Poor baby,” Hen cooed, “Hopefully, she’ll find that forever home one day soon.”

“So,” Evan shrugged, “What’s on the list for today?” he then asked, changing the subject, there was only so much he could talk about the Home. He didn’t like talking about the children there, he only did with Leyna, because the others were there when she was rescued.

“The usual, Evan, you’re on inventory,” he stated, “make sure you take note. C-Shift said something wasn’t quite right with the numbers. Hen, we have a new paramedic starting today, they are going to be a little late, but not to worry, they are good at their job,” he told her.

“Let’s see,” Hen said, they’d had to deal with floaters for a while after Chimney’s arrest and firing. Now, she was getting a new partner, and she wasn’t sure what to feel about that.

Bobby handed out more orders and sent everyone on their way as he began to make something for breakfast, something simple.

XxXxX

The week passed all too fast for Evan. He was excited as he and Eddie met up for breakfast that morning. Christopher greeted him with a warm and welcoming hug. “Hey, Chris,” Evan greeted him, “How was school yesterday?” he asked, they would be taking him to school in another two hours, enough time for them to eat and get him to school since they had chosen a place that was near Durand.

“It was good, Bucky, I really like my teachers,” he said, “They are nice and they don’t treat me like I’m stupid. ‘Cus, I’m not,” he added as he took Evan’s hand and they headed inside.

“That’s good to hear,” Evan smiled as he placed their order and found a table for them to sit at.

“Chris,” Eddie said.

“Uh, Oh,” Christopher stated, looking at him, “I don’t like that tone, Daddy, that’s the, “I got something important to tell you,” tone.”

Eddie snorted, “You’ve been spending too much time around Tia Pepa and Abuela,” he said, shaking his head, though he was still smiling. “And yes, I do have something important to tell you. And no you’re not going anywhere,” he stated, making sure that thought never even entered his mind for more than a split second.

“Okay, then what is it, Daddy?” he asked, looking from Eddie to Evan and back again, a little frown marring his face.

“You see, mijo,” Eddie began, “Sometimes, grown-ups like each other, and I really like Evan.”

“So do I, Daddy, I told you, you have to put a ring on him if you want to keep him,” Christopher nodded a few times.

Eddie blinked as Evan laughed and blushed at the implication. “Mijo,” he sighed, punching the bridge of his nose and wondering which family member that came from.

“What, just telling the truth, Daddy,” he grinned, “Now you two like each other?” he asked.

“We do, Christopher,” Evan said, taking hold of Eddie’s hand, “I would like your permission to date your dad?” he asked him.

Christopher’s eyes narrowed, “You promise to take good care of him, Bucky?” he asked, “He got hurt by Mommy, and I don’t want him to get hurt again.”

“I’ll take the best care of him,” Evan promised, “I will do whatever I can to make sure he will be happy.”

“Just like I will be doing the same with Evan,” Eddie added, smiling as he looked at Evan and squeezed his hand.

The two smiled at each other and Christopher watched them, “Oh you’re going to be so gross and kissy aren’t you?” he asked them both.

“Occasionally,” Eddie laughed, “Wait until you grow up and you’ll be all gross and kissy one day too,” he said and then his smile dropped, “Actually, let’s put that off until you’re thirty,” he joked.

“I’m going to have to grow up, Daddy, it’s not fun, but tough,” he nodded. Grinning, “You can be gross and kissy occasionally, as long as we can have another movie night?” he bargained with them both as the waitress came over with their pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

“I’m good with that,” Evan said as he and Eddie shared a smile, “A night on the couch, a good film?”

“Making out while the child is watching a film?” Eddie suggested to Evan, teasing his son.

“No, not that, Daddy!” Christopher said, waving his hands and almost sending a piece of pancake across the room.

“Yes,” Eddie smirked at him, “I’m a grown-up and I like cuddles just as much as you.”

“Fine, a couple of gross and kissy moments, but no more, Daddy, a kid doesn’t need to see that!” he protested, shaking his head with a heavy sign. Though there was a smile on his face and mischief in his eyes.

“That kid is up to something,” Evan whispered a moment later.

“Oh yeah,” Eddie nodded in agreement.

Breakfast was fun and the two men took Christopher to school. Each got a large hug from him before he went inside.

XxXxX

Evan was riding high as he walked hand in hand with Eddie. Their first official date was just beginning. “I can’t believe we’re going on a date like this,” he said, grinning over at Eddie.

“Well, believe it,” Eddie smiled, swinging their joined hands a couple of times, making Evan laugh. “Couldn’t help it.”

Evan laughed again, and bumped against Eddie, “I don’t care, it’s fun,” he agreed.

“It is, it’s like I can breathe, that… I’m where I want to be,” he said, looking at Evan, “You do that. You did that for me. When you took Christopher into the Home, you gave him focus, and Carla, you gave him someone that he could trust. That was you. You brought him home and gave him things that not many could. I’m so damn grateful that I met you. I don’t know if we would have met outside of this, so I can’t say that I regret Christopher being taken. I would rather you be in my and his life.”

“He’s one of the best kids I know, Eddie. He’s such a good child. Kind and helpful. You’re a good dad to him, he adores you, Eddie. Most children I see are often scared of their parents. Or one of them at least. He wasn’t. He’s angry at his mother for her abandonment, but he’s getting help for that. He’s… amazing, Eddie,” Evan complimented as they reached the restaurant.

“He really is, but I can’t take credit for it. Shannon brought him up. She raised him for the most part, I was there a month out of each damn year. I missed a lot, and I will be making that up to him for the rest of my life. Shannon… I know her mom died, that’s got to hurt, and I know they were really close. But it’s the fact that she abandoned him, I mean, I wasn’t the best husband around, really, I wasn’t,” he said before Evan could protest, “But she ghosted him, and it hurt him. When she came back… she wanted me but not him. She didn’t want to parent him, look after him, he knew that, felt that, and sensed it.”

“That’s not a relationship that you can fix, Eddie,” he said as he then turned to the maitre d’ and said, “Table booked under the name of Buckley.”

“Right this way gentlemen,” the man said, smiling at the two of them before leading them to a table. “I shall leave you with the Drinks and Meal menus, your waiter for tonight is Alan. He will be by soon.”

“Thank you,” Eddie said, taking the menus and sitting down.

Evan sat across from him, with his own menu. They looked over it, discussing what they wanted before putting in their orders. Their food soon came and they began to eat. Sipping their drinks occasionally, both of them decided not to get anything alcoholic at all, since neither of them drank much.

“Christopher is no doubt enjoying his night at Abuela’s,” Eddie said, a soft smile on his face, “I’m actually going to miss having him at home again,” he snorted.

“Of course you do, you love that kid with all your heart Eddie,” he smiled at him, reaching out and taking a hand for a second, “I-” he began.

“Someone help!” someone called out from across the room. The woman panicked as she looked at the man across the table from her.

Evan sprung up, Eddie less than a second behind him. “Okay, what’s going on?” Evan said as he assessed the situation, seeing the man was choking. He got him in the Heimlich position and began to squeeze.

“He was eating and then he started choking. He’s not allergic to anything at all. So it’s not that. We’ve been here so much,” she said, hands over her face, “We’re… we’re celebrating our fifth anniversary,” she cried, “Please.”

“It’s going to be okay Ma’am,” Eddie said, putting a hand on her shoulder as he did his best to calm her down while he called 9-1-1.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” came a voice on the other end.

“I’m at Delicion,” Eddie stated, “I have a male…”

“Eric Morris, 32,” his wife said, watching Evan and her husband intently.

“Eric Morris, 32, choking at the moment. My partner is off-duty firefighter Evan Buckley of the 118. He’s performing the Heimlich at the moment. It’s worked,” he added as soon as a bit of meat went flying.

Evan was laying the man down, checking him over. “Hey,” Evan said.

The man wheezed but weakly waved a hand. Evan kept him awake, though not talking as the man’s throat was hurting him. The paramedics arrived and took over the scene.

Evan and Eddie stepped back, “You’re badass under pressure,” Eddie complimented, “You didn’t even hesitate to go over and help.”

Evan blushed and smiled at him, “It’s just second nature, and what about you. You were less than a second behind me, rushing in to keep his wife calm so I could do my job.”

“Well, where you go, I go,” he stated, smiling at him.

Evan nodded. They went back to their meal as people calmed down after the excitement and the couple headed off with the paramedics. “Well,” he said as he looked at his meal, “Let’s hope that’s the only drama tonight.”

“Yeah, it best be,” Eddie said, nodding as they went back to eating.

Almost two hours later they were heading back to Evan’s jeep, when he said, “You know. I had a wonderful time tonight. We will have to do this again… soon,” he added, glancing at him.

Eddie nodded, pulling him around to face him, “We do,” he said, leaning in, slowly giving Evan time to move away.

Their lips met, and their eyes closed as they shared their first kiss.

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