Reading Time: 103 Minutes

Title: Some Things Are Meant To Be
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Slash
Relationship(s): Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley/Eddie Diaz, Minor/Background Pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Hate Crimes, Homophobia, Domestic Abuse, Bigotry, Character Bashing, Dark Themes, Permanent Injury, Violence – Canon Level, Stalking, Discussion – Child Abuse, Discussion – Domestic Abuse, Discussion – Rape
Author Note: Thank you to HarleyJQuin, ScarslikeVelvet for all the help you have given. And to those that helped turn a small one-shot scene into a massive monster. Rape discussion is related to Dr. Wells.
Beta: ScarslikeVelvet, HarleyJQuin
Alpha: ScarslikeVelvet, HarleyJQuin
Word Count: 180217
Summary: After it comes to light what the Diaz Parents had done to make sure a mother couldn’t talk or contact her son, Shannon and Eddie finally meet after two years and decide that while they cared about each other, the love they had is gone. Instead they decide to Co-Parent Christopher and Shannon does nothing but tease her Ex-Husband to be on the crush he has on his new co-worker, Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley. But will it all be plain sailing as relationships change and grow?
Artist: Halestrom

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Chapter Eleven

Buck was still grumbling that he would have to wait another few days before he could be back at work. His arm was out of the sling and according to his doctor, the wound on his stomach was healing fine, with no complications.

“Come on, Buck,” Christopher said as he was ahead of them. There was a celebration at the Grant-Nash house for New Year and a double celebration for Bobby and Athena’s engagement.

“Yeah, I’m coming, Superman,” Buck said.

Eddie took his head and smiled, “A few more days,” he reassured him.

“I know, but that… I hate not working, it’s boring. Okay, spending time with Chris is great, that’s the best thing about being at home all the time. But I’m still used to being a lot more active than I have been,” Buck grumbled, though there was a little smile on his face as he looked at Christopher.

“Spending time with Chris is always great,” Eddie said, “But I understand what you’re saying,” he told him, squeezing his hand as he reached up and knocked on the door.

Athena opened the door, receiving a hug from Christopher, “Hey,” she smiled.

“Congratulations, Miss ‘Thena,” he smiled at her, hugging her tightly again before he was let past her where Denny and Harry had jumped up to come and get him.

“Congratulations, Athena,” Buck smiled, letting go of Eddie and hugging the woman tightly, “Here you go,” he said, handing her a bottle of her favorite wine, he had another gift for Bobby as well.

“Thank you, Buck,” she smiled, taking the bottle.

“Congrats,” Eddie smiled at her, he was still a little unsure of the woman, he didn’t know her that well yet.

“Thank you, Eddie, come on in, mostly everyone has already arrived,” she said, letting the two of them pass.

“Looks like Christopher is already down the stairs,” Buck smiled.

“He’s getting better at going up and down them, with a little help. Still scares me most of the time,” Eddie murmured as he watched his son wander off with the two boys to one of the bedrooms.

“He’s growing up,” Buck murmured.

Eddie nodded sadly as they went to join the rest of the gathering. Athena headed over to Hen, as Buck pulled Eddie to go with him to meet with Bobby in the backyard.

“Bobby,” Buck called out, a large smile on his face as he went over to the man, “Congrats,” he grinned, handing over their gift.

“Oh, thank you, Buck, Eddie,” he smiled, frowning as he wondered what was in the bag. “Really, thank you,” he smiled as he saw the rather expensive ingredients that Bobby had been looking at recently to cook with.

“I can’t believe that you’re engaged, Bobby,” Buck grinned at him as he was handed a drink.

“I… I’ll always miss Marcy and the kids, I’ll never forget them,” Bobby said quietly, looking to where Athena was showing her ring off again. A loving smile appeared on his face, “Dwelling on the past as I have for so long, I don’t think they would have liked how I have acted.”

“Bobby, you were grieving your family, we all grieve differently,” Buck said quietly.

“I know, but there is something that I should say, back then, when you nosed at the book, I slammed you against the wall. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry,” Bobby apologized softly.

Buck looked stunned, “Bo… Bobby, you don’t have to. I was doing something I shouldn’t have and pushed you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Buck, I still did it and I should never have done so,” Bobby shook his head, “I’m sorry. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and well, it’s about time I apologized for my behavior.”

“A… apology accepted Bobby, and I forgive you, I did when it happened. I knew I was being a little shit and pushing when I shouldn’t have done,” Buck grinned at him.

Bobby smiled and shook his head, “Still doesn’t matter what you were doing, my actions are on me, not on you.”

“Still-”

“Buck,” Bobby stopped him, “My fault, not yours,” he repeated again, finally getting Buck to nod and agree, “Good,” he smiled, “now, go and celebrate with everyone.”

“Okay, and congrats,” Buck said as he turned to leave, “Oh, isn’t Chim here yet?” he asked.

“He and Maddie are going to be stopping by in a bit. He said that he was picking up Maddie and that there was a bit of traffic,” Bobby answered him.

“Okay,” Buck grinned.

“Congrats, Bobby,” Eddie said, taking Buck’s hand and the two of them headed off to talk with some of the others gathered.

Athena grabbed Buck and Maddie a little later into the night, taking them aside so she could talk to them privately. “I have a little news. Captain Maynard said that I could tell you. Doug Kendall is being kept in prison until his trial date. He’s been considered a flight risk since he lives in Pennsylvania and not here in California.”

“That’s good,” Buck sighed, relieved that his sister didn’t have to fear Doug getting free and coming after her.

“They tried to have him released on his own recognizance, his job as a surgeon would normally help. But we have too much on him. Your friend at your old workplace,” Athena smiled at Maddie, “They documented every single injury you sustained from him. And sent that information on as well. They consider him too dangerous to be released and a danger to you both.”

“Thank you,” Maddie said, her voice a little shaky, but a relieved smile on her face, “I… I don’t think I would have been able to get this far without you both. You’ve both helped me so much,” she said as he went forward and hugged Athena tightly, before doing the same to her brother.

“You know I’ll be happy to stand between you and any danger I can,” Buck stated once more.

“I know, that doesn’t mean I like the thought of you getting hurt again,” Maddie muttered, “Thank you, Athena, for telling us.”

“It’s a weight off the shoulders, so thanks,” Buck added his own thanks, smiling at the woman he had come to hold in high esteem.

“Welcome, the both of you, now let’s re-join that party. Eddie and Chim are looking this way and I don’t think they’ll be happy with me if I upset the two of you,” she joked, getting the two of them to smile and laugh as they headed back to their partners.

XxXxX

Buck laughed as he was welcomed back to the 118. The cake was in the middle of the table, and though it wasn’t the masterpiece that Rebar Chim was, it was still fun when it was cut and red syrup came spurting out. Hen had to change her shirt when some got on her. “Thanks,” he smiled around, as he took a bite of his cake, “This is good,” he grinned.

“At least this one hasn’t got anything added,” Bobby said, getting the others of the station to nod in agreement.

“That was not a fun day,” Buck added.

“Nope,” Eddie agreed.

They got to enjoy the cake before the alarm went and they all rushed off. Buck was grinning from his place beside Eddie as they headed to the scene. It was an easy call, getting another kid out of a claw machine.

“An easy one,” Eddie grinned as the kid was clinging to Buck even as their mother was trying to coax her son to get down.

“Yeah,” Buck laughed as he turned to the three-year-old that was clinging on to him, “Come on Kiddo, time to go to Mommy. I need to go and help someone else now,” he said, his voice gentle and calm.

“Fire?” the child asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “I have to help people.”

“Hero,” he said, hugging Buck tightly before letting his mother finally.

Buck was smiling as they headed back to the truck. “I like those calls the best,” he said as they climbed in.

“I know,” Bobby laughed as he got in the front.

“Come on, seeing a kid happy and their parents relieved that they are fine, what’s not to like about that,” Buck shrugged, laughing as well as Eddie smiled.

“You’re always so good with kids,” Eddie said as he knocked his shoulder into him for a moment, subtly taking his hand.

“Really boys,” Hen said, as she spotted them.

“What?” they asked innocently.

Hen just laughed and left them be. Bobby gave them a look but said nothing as well. Eddie and Buck shared a look and smiled as they headed back to the station. “Welcome back, Buck,” Eddie murmured.

“Good to be back as well,” he said, glad that it had been an easy call. If it hadn’t he would have had to remain behind. He was on light duty for the next three shifts after all.

“Right,” Bobby said as they pulled into the station, “the chore list is already up, so you know what to do. Buck, you’re on light, so paperwork that needs sorting and a checklist for storage needs to be done. Take Hen with you, and no I’m not letting Eddie go with you.”

“Cap!” Buck protested as they got out of the truck, “it’s not like we’ll get up to anything!”

Bobby looked at him, a little smirk on his face, “Maybe not, but I won’t take that chance.”

Buck pouted and looked at Eddie as he headed off to do his own chores in the loft.

“Come on, Buckaroo,” Hen said, handing him a clipboard, “Time to put you to work.”

Buck sighed and took the clipboard, following Hen to the storage cupboard. They started to go through, marking down what they were low on and what might need some maintenance. “I miss Eddie,” Buck muttered as they finally finished.

“It’s been an hour, Buck, it’s not the end of the world if you’re not right next to him you know,” Hen rolled her eyes at how dramatic that Buck was being.

Buck looked at her, “Hen, I’m so used to being around Eddie that the last two weeks at home without him were boring as hell, even with Christopher on distraction duty. We spend almost all the time with each other, at work and at home.”

“Home…” Hen said cautiously, a little smile on her face as she then added, “You’re calling Eddie’s place home.”

Buck froze and blinked before nodding, “I love my apartment, but… Eddie’s is home,” he murmured, ducking his head in embarrassment, “I just… I feel at home there, welcomed and wanted.”

“You should tell him that,” Hen advised him, a smile on her face as they headed to the loft.

Buck quickly locked the storage cupboard up and walked with her. “Maybe,” he muttered finally, “Maybe.” He repeated himself when he saw the look Hen had given him. “We’ve not been together that long,” he reminded her.

“If things feel right, who’s to say how long it should take,” she pointed out to him.

Buck just gave a small nod. They reached the top and Buck headed over to where Eddie was helping Bobby in the kitchen.

XxXxX

Eddie and Buck walked over to the pickup line. They spotted Shannon at the head of it, smiling as she let the children go with their parents or guardians. Soon enough it was their turn to collect their child.

“Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley,” Shannon said, laughing lightly as she did so. She had to keep it professional, even in the school pickup line.

“Miss McKinley,” Eddie said, just as amused.

“Christopher,” Shannon called to her son, smiling as he walked over from the group waiting to be picked up.

“Coming, Miss McKinley,” Christopher giggled as he walked over, “Dad, Bucky,” he grinned at the two men.

“Hey, Superman,” Buck greeted, kneeling and hugging him tightly, “Let’s get going.”

“Okay, Bucky,” Christopher said, waving back at Shannon, “See you later!” he called out.

“Will do,” Shannon smiled, laughing lightly as she watched her son go off with her ex-husband’s boyfriend.

“Who was that?” the other teacher that was helping with pick up asked as she looked over at Shannon.

“Oh, Ana,” she smiled, “That is my ex-husband’s boyfriend,” she murmured, as she then called another child from their play and handed them over to their father.

“Mr Diaz?” she asked.

“Yeah, my ex, he’s still a good friend. Helps that his boyfriend is great with Christopher as well,” she told her as she saw the last child with their parents off. “And pick up line is over for the day,” she said, as she turned to head back into the school.

“I didn’t know that you had been married to him,” Ana said as she followed the other teacher.

“We were married for seven years and decided that we were better as friends than husband and wife. And then there’s Buck, he’s amazing with Christopher, Eddie, and Chris adore him, and I can easily see why,” Shannon laughed as she reached her classroom.

Ana stood there in the doorway of Shannon’s classroom, “I would have thought that you would have tried to sort things out, letting someone else try and parent their child must be hard?”

Shannon turned from where she was sorting out her students’ tests and looked at her frowning, “There is nothing to sort out between Eddie and me, we’re better as friends. Buck is brilliant with Christopher as well. He rounds us out very well I think,” she said as she went back to putting her papers away.

“I am just trying to say that you should be more careful about who you let around your son. I don’t know how long you have been divorced, but I don’t believe that it’s been long. I do remember seeing you and your Ex-Husband in the parking lot when you were getting Christopher to enroll in the school, and you looked close then,” she said as she entered the room fully.

Shannon turned, “That was actually the first time I have seen Eddie in two years. I had been taking care of my dying mother while Eddie healed from being shot down in Afghanistan,” she told her, “Now, why are you asking?”

“I’m just worried, Christopher is such a sensitive child, it wouldn’t do to have… undue influence on him,” Ana said.

“Christopher is a lot stronger than you think. He is independent, curious and so kind-hearted. Christopher has no undue influences in his life, just those that love him and want the best for him,” Shannon told her, “Not that it’s really any of your business how my family works.”

“I was just worried, I can see that everything is fine,” Ana said as she began to head out of the classroom.

Shannon rolled her eyes, she knew exactly what Ana was thinking. She had heard her and many of the other teachers and some of the single and not-so-single parents talking about Eddie, and even Buck the couple of times he’s picked up Christopher. “Told Eddie he was hot, same with Buck,” she muttered, though laughed as she packed her things away and then began to sort out her classroom ready for the next day.

Chapter Twelve

Bunk was lying in his own bed in his room staring at the ceiling and wishing he was at the Diaz house instead. “Why the hell did I say that I’ll come here instead of there,” he muttered to himself as he threw the blanket off and got up. Yawning he headed to the kitchen. He went through his cupboards and sighed, there just wasn’t much there, he had spent most of the last couple of weeks at Eddie’s home, and considering he called it home more than his own place, it didn’t surprise him that there wasn’t anything. He went back to the couch in his living room and flopped down on it, and then cursed as he realized he left his phone in his room as it gave a chime to tell him he had a message.

Buck remained there for a few more minutes before getting up and heading back to grab his phone. He grinned as he saw that it was from Eddie.

Eddie

I can’t sleep.

Buck

Neither can I, doesn’t feel right.

Eddie

Come over?

Buck

Sure, be there soon.

Buck was quick to get dressed and pack a bag for himself. Grabbing his keys and phone, he locked up his apartment behind him and went to his jeep. Pulling up at Eddie’s, he got out, seeing Eddie waiting at the door for him.

“Hey,” he smiled as he went over.

Eddie smiled back as he welcomed him with a kiss, “Welcome home.”

Buck’s smile grew at the words. “Good to be back,” he said, kissing Eddie back before they headed inside.

“Come on, let’s get to bed,” he said, taking his hand and pulling him along after locking the front door again.

Buck just smiled as he let himself be led into Eddie’s bedroom. “I…” he began as they started to get ready to go to bed again.

“What is it, Buck?” Eddie asked, looking over at him.

“I don’t know what I was thinking about going to the apartment, I don’t… I don’t want to go there,” he said quietly.

Eddie smiled, “I didn’t want you to either,” he told him, turning the bed down and getting in. “I don’t ever want you to leave.”

Buck laughed quietly as he got into bed as well, curling closer to Eddie. He sighed, happy and content now that he was home. “This… this is home,” he muttered as he closed his eyes, already relaxed enough to start drifting to sleep.

“Then move in,” Eddie murmured, pulling him closer.

Buck’s eyes flew open, “What?” he asked.

Eddie looked at him, smiling sweetly as he said, “Move in.”

“Are you… are you serious?” he asked once more.

He leaned in, kissing him, “I am, I know we haven’t been dating long, but… this feels right. Maybe we are rushing, but it doesn’t…”

“Feel like it,” Buck finished, kissing him back, “I would love to move in with you. I do really like my apartment.”

“And you’ve brought a few new things for it,” Eddie pointed out.

“Yeah,” he agreed, “but some of that can come here. Especially the couch,” he grinned.

Eddie rolled his eyes, but nodded, “Yeah,” he said, “Now, let’s get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning when we’re not tired,” he yawned, pulling Buck as close as he could and closing his eyes, “Night Buck, I love you.”

Buck smiled softly, “Love you as well, Eds,” he murmured back, an arm snaking around Eddie as he drifted to sleep.

XxXxX

Buck walked into the café and went over to Maddie, who had been waiting for him, “Hey,” he smiled, “What you want? I’ll grab for us.” he asked as he stood beside her table.

“Just a latte for me,” she answered, “I don’t really feel like much if I’m honest,” she added, biting her lip and looking worried.

“I’ll order our drinks and then you can tell me what’s going on,” he said as he went to place their order, taking the plaque to show where they were when their order was done, he went and sat back down, “Now, what’s wrong?”

Maddie waited until Buck was seated before she said something, “They are pushing Doug’s trial up.”

“Pushing it up?” he frowned, leaning in a little.

“Yeah, instead of six weeks, it’s going to be at the start of February,” she answered, “Doug’s lawyers are wanting it to be held as soon as possible.”

“Fuck,” Buck said, leaning back and shaking his head, “Is there any way that they can contest it or something?” he asked, frowning in worry as he observed his sister.

“I’ve agreed to it since I’m the main witness, they asked what I wanted to do,” she replied, giving a little shrug, “I just…” she trailed off as the waitress brought their drinks over, “Thank you,” she gave a shaky smile.

“Welcome, sugar is over there,” she pointed out before leaving.

“Want any sugar?” Buck asked, already standing to get a few packets for himself, she didn’t always have sugar in her drinks. Maddie gave a nod and he went over, grabbing some before turning to watch Maddie for a few moments. She was hunched in on herself, her hands, clasping the latte and staring at the swirls on the top. Shaking his head, he went back over, and put a few down, “Here you go,” he smiled.

“Thank you, Evan,” she smiled back, taking the packets offered and putting them into her drink, stirring it as Buck added some sugar to his own.

“So,” Buck began, “You agreed to bring it forward?” he asked, getting a nod, “Are you sure that you want to do that?”

“I… don’t know. I want it to all be over. I really do, I’ve continued to apply for a divorce as well, I’m hoping that they’ll be able to grant that to me when… when this is over,” Maddie looked up at him, taking a sip of her latte, “Though… I’m scared, terrified I think. I’m talking with a therapist, you were right about me going. Not listening to what our parents kept telling us, not doing what they taught me to do.”

“No running, but going forward,” Buck smiled proudly, leaning back a little on his chair, “I’m proud of you sis. And you know I’ll be right there in the courtroom as well.”

“You might not be able to, since you’re a witness as well,” she pointed out to him.

“Yeah, but after I will be,” Buck promised, “I want to be there, to make sure that he will never get near you again. If you don’t want to be in the courtroom after your own testimony, I’ll be there as much as I can with work.”

Maddie smiled and nodded, “Thank you.”

“You know I’ll always be there to help you, Maddie, you’re my sister and I love you,” he smiled, drinking some of his coffee.

“Love you too, little brother,” she laughed lightly before going somber again, “I still don’t really know how I feel about seeing him again. The last time I did he had… he had beaten me and I ran. I finally left him, I was so scared that day, that he would find me. I went around the country on the buses for weeks before I finally made it to LA, and he still knew where I went. I don’t know how.”

“He knew you would come to me, and I’m not exactly hard to find,” Buck sighed, shaking his head.

Maddie snorted, “No, I don’t suppose it was hard to figure out where I would go. I would never go to our parents, they… they would just keep telling me that they told me so,” she rolled her eyes, thinking of the people that had raised her.

“I haven’t spoken to them since I left. I just… I don’t want anything to do with them, ever,” he told her, “They’ve never reached out, even when I did, so I’m done with them.”

Maddie nodded slowly, “Yeah,” she murmured, “I… there is something that I should tell you, that I’ve been wanting to for years, but… I couldn’t not with them around, and then Doug. After… After Doug’s trial, I’ll tell you then.” She was looking at him and there was pain and even fear in her eyes.

“Okay, I’ll… remind you,” he frowned as he wondered what she was talking about.

Maddie nodded, “Thank you, for coming out and seeing me, I know that you wanted to spend your day off with Eddie,” she smirked.

“I always want to spend the day with Eddie, that hasn’t changed,” Buck snorted, smiling at his sister.

“How are things going?” she asked. She had seen the two together a few times and they looked stupidly in love.

“Well… he’s asked me to move in with him,” he answered, “I want to as well. I know I’ve only had my apartment for a couple of months, but… it feels right Maddie, it really does.”

Maddie watched him and smiled, “If it feels right, then who am I to say anything,” she pointed out to him, “And are you happy about it?”

Buck smiled and nodded, “I am. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Happier than when I was with Abby, or well, anywhere and that. I finally found the place where I belong, my home. I have you back in my life. I have an awesome boyfriend and his kid. Even his ex-wife has become a great friend as well.”

“Seems like your life is coming together,” she laughed at how love-struck her baby brother looked like.

“Yeah,” Buck grinned proudly, “And so is yours now. You’re going to be free of that bastard, and never have to see him again when this is all over, and I’ll be right there beside you. I know that Chim will be as well,” he smirked as he saw his sister blush.

“He has been so sweet,” she said, shifting in her seat for a moment before saying, “I was talking to my lawyer about the case and she made a suggestion, and I don’t know if I should,” she murmured.

“Oh?” Buck murmured, “What is it?”

“Anita said that I should go in for some therapy, that what I went through with Doug could leave hidden problems behind,” she said, her voice low as she looked at her half-empty mug.

Buck sighed, “Why don’t you?” he asked her.

“I don’t think I need it, I’m fine, and it’s all just…” she gave a little shrug.

“Why am I thinking that you are believing what our parents said about therapy, they always said that it was no good, just a bunch of baloney and all that. But… it helps,” he told her, “Talk to someone, you might not click with the first therapist that you come across, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll all be the same. You… I think it might be a good idea, you don’t want something to happen and it ends up stopping you from doing something that you want to do,” he added, frowning at his own words.

“I don’t know,” she sighed, looking up at her brother, “I just… I want to be fine.”

“There is no quick and easy fix to feeling fine, sometimes it takes a long time and some hard work,” Buck pointed out to her, something that his new therapist had been telling him. After the Dr. Wells situation, which had been dealt with quietly after Bobby had been told by someone else, who Buck still didn’t know who. “I know that it’s scary, and you don’t want to talk about what happened while you were with him, but… it helps,” he murmured, “I… I see someone myself, I only go every couple of weeks, to keep myself straight, but it helps me to have someone on the outside of my life to talk to and go over any problems that I’m having.”

Maddie looked shocked as she took in what Buck was telling her, “I had no idea you… you were seeing someone.”

“I lost someone in my probation period, it affected me badly, and something else happened. It took a few months before I felt comfortable about going to see someone, but I did. I… don’t talk about it often,” he told her, feeling a little uncomfortable speaking about what had happened. It had all gone down before Buck had even seen Maddie again. “I was having a hard time after the catfishing as well, not really trusting myself while I was out, scared that another of his victims would find me and attack me. Bobby thought it was a good idea to try someone else, and I found someone that I got along with and it helps a lot,” he admitted, giving her a soft smile, “It could be good for you as well.”

“I’ll see if she can recommend someone,” Maddie nodded, “And you’re right, I do have Mom and Dad in my ear telling me it’s a load of trash and that it doesn’t help.”

“I’m happy that you’re not listening to them,” Buck told her, “have you… have you talked to them at all?”

Maddie sighed, “I sent a message to Mom to tell her what’s going on. Got nothing back, of course,” she shrugged, looking up at him, “When was the last time you talked to them?”

“The day I left,” he admitted quietly, “I sent a message to them, but after being hung up on twice without a single word spoken from them, I gave up. So I haven’t talked to them since, and I… don’t really care to. I’m good without having to deal with them again. I know… they don’t really care about me. I’ve always known that, and I know you’re going to say that they love me, but Maddie, you… you weren’t there the last few years that I lived at home. Things were even worse, I barely spoke to them, unless they wanted to berate me about anything they could think about.”

“Oh, Evan,” she whispered, looking heartbroken at her baby brother, “I, you’re right, I would have said they do, but… I believe you. Are you okay about that?” she asked with a worried look now on her face.

“I’m okay, I know they don’t love me, I think I’ve always known that. So, please, don’t worry about it, I’ve made my peace, talked it all out with my therapist and everything,” he smiled, hoping to reassure her that he was really okay with that knowledge.

“Sometimes, I wish I hadn’t gone,” she muttered, drinking the last of her latte.

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter,” he told her, “What’s happened has happened, and we’re here now, together, and we’ll face the world together again,” he grinned, getting a nod.

“Pinky Promise?” she said, holding out her hand with her pinky ready.

“Pinky promise, Sis,” Buck nodded, hooking their pinky fingers together and shaking twice before laughing.

Chapter Thirteen

Buck took hold of Maddie’s hand, they were waiting outside of the courtroom. Maddie would be testifying soon, and she didn’t want to be in the room until she was called. Buck would be taking the stand soon enough as well, but he had asked permission to be in the courtroom while his sister was testifying. It had been granted by the Judge for him to be in there, but only during her testimony. “It’s going to be okay, I’ll be in the courtroom as well, and if you don’t even want to look at him, you can just look at me and answer the questions, it’s all going to be okay,” he was doing his best to reassure her.

“I know, I know, we have so much against him, but he is trying to make me out to be a clumsy woman that doesn’t know how to do anything,” she said, knowing what Doug had been saying about her. His parents had made it a point to go to the papers and news outlets to try and paint their son as a victim of a sadistic woman.

“They are going to be hard on you, but I know you can do this,” Buck grinned at her, “Just think, after this, you’ll never have to see him again. You can move on with your life, but he’ll forever be tainted by this, no matter what he does or where he goes. Even if he gets off, he’ll still have that shame around him.”

“I know,” she sighed as she was called in, “I’ll see you in there,” she nodded as she got up and followed the court officer.

Buck stood himself and went into the public gallery sitting near the back, and making sure he was in Maddie’s sight as he sat back down.

“Mrs Kendall,” Doug’s lawyer said as he walked over.

“It’s Ms Buckley, I’m now divorced,” Maddie pointed out, “I’m no longer married to Mr Kendall.” She had been granted the divorce a few days before the trial began, much to Maddie’s relief.

“My apologies, Ms Buckley,” the lawyer said, though everyone in the courtroom could tell it was just words and had no real meaning behind them. “Ms Buckley,” he started again, “When you met Doug Kendall, what did you think of him?”

“I thought he was charismatic, loving, kind. He was attentive to me, and I liked the thought of him being there for me, caring about me. He would do anything you would expect a potential boyfriend to do,” she answered him, her voice almost flat as she tried to suppress the emotion of disgust at what she had once thought of him.

“And you had a good relationship?” he asked her.

“At first,” Maddie answered.

“And you were in love?” he continued to question.

“Yes,” Maddie answered.

“You know that your … ex-husband has a lot of money, his family is well off and he has a good-paying job,” he began, “Divorcing him has led to you getting quite a bit of alimony?” he asked.

“No,” Maddie said, shaking her head, “I don’t want anything from him.”

The lawyer carried on trying to make her trip up and to say that Doug was still a loving and caring man. He moved back to his desk and Doug whispered something to him. Going back he stood straight, “The police showed up at your home at one point. You told them that nothing happened?”

“Of course, I told them nothing happened, Doug was right there listening to everything. You have no idea how much I wanted to say something, to plead with the officer to take me away, but he said, that should I leave him or even try it he would kill me,” Maddie burst out, shaking.

“Ms Buckley,” the lawyer said slowly, “You could have said it then, you could have escaped and gone to the police then, instead you do so months after you left him.”

Maddie looked at him, glancing at Doug. “Once upon a time I believed that he could change, he would always say sorry for hitting me. I believed him and stayed, I realized after being with him for most of my adult life, that he wasn’t going to change and that he would kill me if I stayed. I left, I ran to my brother and sought shelter with him. He helped me move on with my life. I wanted a divorce and was starting to look into it. I was scared in doing so, I remembered his threat against me, that he would kill me if I left. But I no longer cared, I would lose my life staying, this way I had a chance. Those around me, I told them, showed them a picture of him and found out he was already in LA searching for me,” she shuddered, “Then he went after my brother.”

He tried once more to get her to trip up, but he wasn’t able to, so he finished and sat down. The prosecution now taking over the questioning.

“Ms Buckley,” he smiled at her, “Can you tell us about when you decided to leave Mr Kendall and what led up to it?”

Maddie nodded, “It was Christmas, and I had made dinner for him and his family who had come. I had a bruise on my face, but he laughed and said that I had walked into the door. His mother laughed and said I must be very clumsy as I was always covered in bruises and cuts. When they left later that night. He beat me up, I hadn’t cooked the vegetables right, and his father had complained about it. Said it was to correct me, and that I needed to learn how to do better. He had knocked me into the tree, and the card that my brother had sent, with him as a firefighter, I saw it and knew that I needed to leave or by next Christmas, I would be dead. The cop arrived not long after. Doug had a grip on my arm, warning me that if I said anything, he would kill the cop and then me,” she answered.

“So you left that night, that week?” he asked.

Maddie shook his head, “No, I needed to prepare. To save some money, to be able to get away from him, I knew I needed some funds. A friend helped me, she wanted to go to the cops as well about what was going on, but I was too scared. I just wanted to get away from him and never see him again. It took almost four months for me to get everything I needed together. To plan a route. My friend helped me in getting it all sorted and ready, and made sure to lay a trail that would lead Doug elsewhere should he come after me. It took me another two months to reach Evan, my brother. He took me in and helped me feel safe enough that I could stay.”

“I see, and how did you find out that Mr Kendall had followed you?” he asked gently, a reassuring smile on his face.

“I wanted to send divorce papers to him, but I was worried that he would find out where I was. Evan said that I should tell the others what was going on, so they knew to keep an eye out. One of our friends is a police sergeant with the LAPD. When I showed a picture Howard Han said that he had met him. Athena, the police sergeant, looked into it and found out that he had attacked my former boss, who was the one that helped me escape. She was badly injured from the beating she had received from Doug. Not long after that he broke into my brother’s home and attacked him trying to find me.” her words were steady as she answered, glancing over to where her brother was. Chimney would testify if it was needed.

“I see,” he nodded, walking around a little before asking a few more questions before he was finished as well. Maddie was finally able to leave the stand, but she took a place in the courtroom. It was a few moments later that Buck now took the stand.

“Mr Buckley,” Doug’s lawyer began, “Is it true that during the so-called attack that Mr Kendall was asking about your sister?”

“Not really, he was telling me that I should stop sniveling after her and that she should never have come. That he was going to find her and make sure she knows that she is the cause of things,” Buck said as he talked more about what had happened that night.

“You claim that he had a knife with him, and whose knife was it?” he then asked, a little frown between his eyes, as he wasn’t getting what he wanted from either of the Buckley Siblings.

“It wasn’t one that belonged to me, I have two sets of knives and they were all accounted for. So he must have brought it into my home, to use on me,” Buck answered, almost smirking as he could see the annoyance on the man’s face and the anger on Doug’s.

The man was quiet as he went to the desk, looking at his notes before asking, “You almost dislocated my client’s shoulder while you attacked him.”

“I didn’t attack him, I restrained him,” Buck pointed out, “After he had knifed me, I was able to get the knife away from him and then took his arm and made sure that he wouldn’t be getting back up to try and kill me.”

“Mr Buckley, you have never liked Mr Kendall, have you?” he questioned, going towards the witness stand.

“No,” Buck answered honestly.

“I would say you would do anything to take Mr Kendall out?” He tried to lead Buck.

“No,” Buck shook his head, “That’s not who I am.”

“But you hated him?” he pushed.

“I do, I didn’t like him when I first met him, there was something about him that set me on edge. And after spending time around him. After a few weeks, he started to stop Maddie from coming to see me. Then stopped the calls and things. When we were able to meet up, he would call her all the time, making sure that she was where she said she was, and often calling her home. She would always make excuses. I didn’t know about the abuse, but I suspected it the last time I was able to see her when I was nineteen,” Buck answered him, not stopping when the man looked to interrupt.

The man was still trying to catch him out, but again, it didn’t work. He was trying to paint Maddie and Buck as the ones that had harmed Doug and not the other way around. Nothing had worked to be able to get them to word things differently. When the prosecution’s turn came, there was nothing else for Buck to say. He told them about the attack and what Doug had said. The cops arrived not long after he was able to subdue Doug.

Buck went over to Maddie and was able to get her out of the courtroom before the end of the day. He didn’t want her around Doug’s parents, and since Doug was released into their custody, Doug would be with them. Chimney ended up testifying the next day, to show that Doug was after Maddie. Two days later the verdict was in and Maddie and Buck, along with Eddie and Chimney were in the courtroom for it.

When the Guilty verdict was read, Maddie sagged against Chimney, tears in her eyes. She was free.

“Mr Kendall,” the Judge said as she addressed the man standing before her. “You made it your mission to try and destroy a young woman, controlling and abusing her until she broke free. Instead of leaving her, you chased her and decided that she was to die. Attacking her brother was just one step in your plan. Taking them both out was your goal. I sentence you to 25 years, with a possibility of parole after 20 years served,” she finished.

Murmurs broke out among Doug’s family, protests of his innocence coming from them all. Maddie and Buck watched as Doug was led away.

“Finally free,” Maddie murmured.

“Yeah,” Buck said, smiling at her as they all left the courtroom as soon as they could.

“Mom contacted me,” Maddie said quietly, “She isn’t that happy that I made a song and dance of things, her words, not mine.”

“This is why I don’t have any contact with them,” Buck muttered, “Don’t they even care?”

“They just don’t like to draw attention to themselves from the wrong kind,” Maddie rolled her eyes.

“Typical of them, all about appearances,” Buck rolled his eyes, “Well, just don’t talk to them anymore. They aren’t worth our time, you know what they are like, they have these expectations about us and since we don’t match what they wanted, they ignore us, and cut us off. You didn’t marry someone they wanted, and they cut you off,” he sighed, looking over at his sister.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “I think, I might do that.”

“You always were the worst type of woman for my son,” came a voice from behind them.

“You were happy to laugh at me when you thought I was clumsy, but you just don’t want to admit your precious son was abusive towards me. The bruises you saw were all caused by him,” she said as she turned to see Doug’s mother, Rita.

“You’re making it all up,” she said, shaking her head as she held onto her husband, “You’re making it all up.”

“No, I’m not, I wish I was,” Maddie said, “You have no idea the nightmare that I lived with. He was a loving partner until we married and then slowly he cut me off from my family and made me so terrified to say anything. You laughed when you came and saw the bruises on my face as he told you I fell down the stairs, not one of you even asked if I was okay. You laughed and called me clumsy, none of you even noticed the look Doug gave me when Mathew said that the vegetables didn’t taste as good as normal. That night was the worst beating I had received, and I had to get up and pretend to be normal when you came over the next day, seeing more bruises on my face and believing once again that I had fallen. Not one of you cared to see anything deeper than that,” she finished, shaking her head as she turned to walk away.

“Let’s go home and put this nightmare behind us,” Buck said, glancing back at the Kendall family. “I feel sorry for you, he’s your son, you love him. He terrorized my sister and I can’t forgive him. Please, just leave us all alone. We want nothing more to do with him, or you.”

The four of them walked out of the courthouse, Maddie smiling brightly and easily, she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder anymore.

Chapter Fourteen

“I can’t believe the CAD is down,” Chimney muttered, shaking his head, “You’d think we would have a backup for it,” he added.

“Maddie messaged and told me that there are people there investigating things to find out what’s happened,” Buck said.

Chimney sent him a pout, “Why didn’t she message me?”

“Your phone’s on silent,” Buck answered, “And you left it at the station, I think it’s near the coffee pot,” he said as Chimney began to pat himself down and cursed.

“Damn it!” Chimney cursed again.

“Language,” Bobby said in that dad tone of his as he glanced back at them.

“Sorry cap!” Chimney said absently as he looked at Buck, “Can you tell Maddie?”

“Already done so,” Buck answered, grinning.

“How in the hell do you know it’s on silent?” Hen then asked.

“Well,” Buck smirked, “Maddie was trying to get in touch with him before we went out and it was just vibrating along the counter instead of ringing. She called me afterward. I was supposed to tell him, but then we got word that CAD was down and we had to head out to patrol.”

“She’s going to kill me,” Chimney muttered, hanging his head.

“Nah she isn’t, it’s not like she hasn’t done the same thing several times,” Buck reassured him, laughing at the hanged dog look that Chimney was wearing.

“Right,” Chimney sighed as they all stared at Eddie as his phone began ringing.

“Hello?” Eddie answered, feeling a little self-conscious as the others stared.

“Eddie, what the hell, why is no one at Doheny Park? The place is going up, fires everywhere, but there are no fire engines at all!” Shannon yelled down the line.

Eddie blinked, “What?” he said, “At Doheny Park?” he asked again.

“Yes, it’s on the damn news, but no one is there, and people are saying that 911 is down as well,” she pointed out to him.

“It is,” Eddie nodded and looked at Bobby, “Cap, fire at Doheny Park, Shannon says that no one is in attendance at all.”

“I’ll call it in and see, if not, we’ll head there,” Bobby said, getting on the radio and calling it in. “Okay, let’s get going, no one has called it in, so we’ll be first on the scene. Someone see if they can get some news footage about the fire, so we can at least see a little of what we’re dealing with?”

Buck was quickly searching and found something, “Looks like multiple gas explosions in the neighborhood, Cap,” he said as he added, “Car accident as well from what I can see,” he said.

“Thanks,” Bobby said as he relayed that to the other engine and ambulance that was following.

They sped along to Doheny Park, arriving and taking in the situation.

“Help!” a man shouted as he stood near a house, a young teenager beside him, “Please, help, my son is inside!” he yelled out as the crew exited the engines and got to work.

“Okay,” Bobby nodded, seeing the boy in one of the windows, waving and calling for help. “Buck, on the ladder,” he directed as he looked to Hen, Chimney, and the two other paramedics that they had on their shift, “Go around and start triage,” he told them, looking at a few of the other firefighters, “Get over to the car and see about the driver, help where needed, no one else is on the way at the moment to help, we’re all there is for now!”

“Cap!” they yelled as they headed out to do their tasks.

The ladder truck headed closer to the house and Buck went up on the ladder. “Hey, Kid,” he called out as he neared the roof to climb over and rescue him. Buck’s eyes went wide as he heard a creaking, he didn’t even get a chance to warn anyone before he and part of the ladder fell to the ground.

“Buck!” Bobby and Eddie yelled as they rushed over.

“I’m fine!” Buck said quickly as he got up, “Really,” he added as he saw the worried looks.

“Okay,” Bobby said, as Eddie gave him a quick pat down, feeling more reassured doing so.

“Right,” Eddie said as he and the others looked at the house. Eddie shook his head and headed off, climbing up the building.

“What the hell! Eddie!” Buck called after him. “Why aren’t you yelling at him, Bobby? If that was me I would be getting a tongue-lashing,” he huffed as he glanced over at his captain.

“Honestly, the two of you are too alike, always in trouble. I thought he would be a good impulse control for you, boy, was I wrong,” Bobby muttered, shaking his head.

Buck watched, his eyes going wide as there was another explosion. “I’m gonna take a fire extinguisher and see-”

“Cap!” Chimney ran over, “We’ve lost pressure, the only hydrant in the area is toast. We can’t fight the fires!”

Bobby nodded, “I’m radioing in and seeing what can be done.”

“I have an idea Cap,” Chimney added, “Buck, can I borrow your phone, I need to call in Tommy, he’s at the 217, he should be able to give us some air support, we’ll all need to take shelter, but, it should put out all these fires.”

“Do it,” Bobby ordered.

Buck handed over his phone and Chimney made the call.

“Eddie,” Bobby called into the radio, “You need to find cover,” he said as soon as Chimney gave him a nod, “We have the 217 incoming and they are going to rain down on us.”

“Right,” Eddie came through, “I got the kid, he’s out cold, but seems okay so far. Smoke inhalation.”

“Get cover,” Bobby ordered, “Buck, Chimney, get those you can and spread the word to everyone to take cover.”

“On it,” the two men said as they ran off.

It didn’t take that long before everyone had taken cover and the rumble of engines could be heard. Bobby looked to the sky and saw the converted plane heading straight for them. “Eddie, brace yourself,” he told the man as he and the others ducked under the trucks, others taking refuge there as well. Moments later tons o water rained down on them.

Buck watched as the water ran down the trucks. Slowly he and the others made their way out as Eddie did the same. Coming out with the kid in his arms. Chimney and Hen rushed over to take him from their fellow firefighter and see to him.

“You are an idiot,” Buck said, as he patted his back. “Why the hell did you do that?”

“Didn’t think,” Eddie said.

“Yep, really are two of you,” Bobby said, patting Eddie on the shoulder and nodding, “Good job, but no more Spiderman routines, I could do without having a heart attack from what you two get up to,” he added before walking away and dealing with the last of the incident.

“Sorry, Cap,” Eddie said, though there was a grin on his face at a successful rescue.

XxXxX

Buck brought over the drinks, Eddie beside him with even more and handed them out, “Well, that was a day and a half,” he said as he joined them all around the table.

“I’ll say,” Chimney agreed.

“Well, at least it’s over and the problem was solved,” Bobby said as he raised his soda and they made a toast. “To surviving the old-fashioned way,” he grinned.

“Aye!” they called out before drinking.

“So what was the problem?” Hen asked as she glanced over at Maddie.

Maddie smirked, “Well, we had the FBI in saying it was a spyware or firmware attack on us,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“That could have been dangerous,” Karen nodded.

“It wasn’t though, it was a simple fire and as soon as we were able to find the fault and fix what was wrong, everything was back to normal,” Maddie explained, drinking some of her own drink before leaning a little more against Chimney in the booth, “It was a low priority, so it wasn’t sorted, but we’re now aware that there is something important in that area for us, so we’ll be careful should a call come in again. Though Sue said that they are going to discuss more measures to make sure it won’t happen again.”

“Well, good,” Buck nodded, “Be proud Sis,” he grinned at her, “You spotted it.”

“Yep,” she grinned at her brother.

“Started without me?” Athena said as she walked over, “Harry, May, and Denny are with Michael, he’s having a movie night. Wanted me to ask if you want to send Christopher over as well.”

“Yeah, Shannon has him at the moment, I’ll send her a message and the address. She’d like to come and join us. If that’s okay?” Eddie said, already pulling his phone out.

“How does that work?” Chimney asked, a little curious.

“What work?” Buck asked him, looking up from what Eddie was writing.

“The relationship with Eddie’s Ex-Wife around?” he expanded his question.

“The same as any relationship does, like Bobby and Athena’s,” Eddie said as he glanced up. “Helps that Shannon’s a Buck Fan,” he rolled his eyes.

Buck grinned, “It’s because she loves teasing you.”

“I know,” Eddie muttered, rolling his eyes, “I forgot how close friends we were before Chris,” he sighed, “She was my best friend, neither of us wanted to marry, but we did so to shut my parents up mainly. We… kind of forgot that when Chris came along. But now we’re apart, we have that friendship back.”

“She’s so good at causing Eddie to spit take,” Buck grinned, “She has the best timing. And she can make him jump. Shannon catches him unawares a lot.”

Eddie sighed and nodded, “She’s had years of practice,” he muttered, “Anyway, she’ll be here in about an hour she said, I say a little longer, but we’ll see,” he shrugged as he leaned against Buck.

Talk turned to their calls over the day, including their miracle of a call with the mother coming back as her baby was laid on her. Maddie was in tears as she listened to Hen talk about how she did everything she could to keep her alive, but nothing was working. Athena was the only one to spot the tall woman with long wavy brown hair heading towards them. She said nothing as the woman leaned down behind Eddie.

“Good to see you, Edmundo,” she murmured into his ear.

Eddie jolted and jumped trying to turn around in his seat as he glared at Shannon, “Shannon, seriously can you stop with the heart attack specials!”

“Not a chance,” Shannon grinned, “But I’ll leave it to Buck here for your daily dose of Le Petite Mort,” she smirked, as Eddie spluttered, “Though if you ever want a threesome, I am first in line. Eddie is a demon in bed.” She was wiggling her eyebrows at Buck as she spoke.

Bobby choked on his drink, Athena patting his back as she looked on in amusement. The other two couples watched as Shannon teased Eddie.

“Shannon!” Eddie yelled as he finally found his voice.

“What, you know that I think Buck is hot, you are too, and the image of the two of you together, YUM,” she laughed as Buck ducked his head, blushing as Eddie just glared at her.

“Sit down and shut up,” Eddie ordered, glaring still as he turned back in his seat, “This, this is why I don’t ever want to take her anywhere.”

“You love me,” Shannon smirked as she went around the table and took the seat that was left for her, “Thank you, and I’m Shannon, this one’s Ex-Wife, a pleasure to meet you all. Christopher talks about you all, all the time.”

“Like a hole in the head,” Eddie muttered as he picked up his beer and drank half of it in one go.

“Easy, Eddie,” Shannon warned him, “You won’t be able to get it up if you carry on.”

“Fuck,” Eddie said as he sloshed his drink and glared at her again.

“Been there, did that, got the kid too,” she laughed.

“Say something new for once,” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Something new for once,” Shannon repeated.

“Damn it, Shannon!” Eddie said as Buck pulled him back and made him rest against him, “That woman is going to be the death of me,” he muttered as he cuddled close to Buck.

“I know,” Buck said as he patted Eddie’s arm.

“I wish I had some popcorn,” Chimney grinned as he watched the two banter back and forth.

“Same here,” Hen agreed, “She’s entertaining,” she added, drinking her own cocktail, “Right, Shannon,” she said, “I’m getting another round, what would you like?” she asked as she stood up.

“Oh, I’ll come up and see what they have to offer,” Shannon said as she stood up, “Eddie, you’re going to have to tell me what Buck is like in bed, I wanna know.”

“Not happening!” Eddie and Buck called after her as she went up with Hen.

Buck and Eddie slumped against each other. “And that is Shannon McKinley, my ex-wife, and mother to my adorable son,” Eddie sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing them, before picking up his beer and downing the rest of it.

“She seems like a lot of fun,” Maddie smirked, “I’ll have to get to know her better.”

Buck looked at his sister and shook his head, “NO!”

“Why not, we can share what we know about the two of you, it’ll be nice to have another friend as well,” Maddie said, her voice sounding so innocent as she let her eyes go a little wider to sucker her brother into her way of thinking.

“No, just… no,” he shook his head a few more times, “Come on, Sis, you-”

“I have so many good stories to tell about you,” Maddie said, “Like the time when you were four and you didn’t like your clothes and we had grandma and grandpa around along with some of our parents’ friends. You striped right there in front of them and ran around. No one could catch you for ages.”

“Maddie!” Buck whined, “Why you gotta do that?!”

“So Buck was always a handful then?” Athena asked, smirking as she saw Buck pout at his sister.

“Oh yeah,” Maddie nodded, “Always doing something that would end up in a trip to the hospital. Broken arm, leg, collar bone, more ribs than should be possible. And that was all before I left for college. Let’s not forget about the time you decided to do that skateboard jump that ended up with you in the hospital for a week.”

Buck slumped, “I hate you.”

“No you don’t,” Maddie said sweetly as Shannon and Hen came back with all their drinks.

“Do too,” Buck whined, “You’re so mean,” he muttered as he leaned against Eddie, “Sisters are mean.”

“Especially older ones,” Eddie agreed, “And ex-wives,” he added glaring at Shannon again, who just blew him a kiss, before moving in and kissing both Buck and Eddie on the cheek. “Yuck!” Eddie said as he wiped his cheek and then Buck’s.

“Only want Eddie’s kisses,” Buck agreed.

“What have those two been drinking?” Shannon asked.

“Tequila shots, a couple of body shots as well,” Maddie said, “Most entertaining,” she laughed as she remembered the horrified looks on Bobby and Chimney’s faces at the body shots.

“Damn, I missed a show,” Shannon cursed with a sigh.

“I filmed them, so I got ya,” Maddie grinned as she waved her phone.

Shannon grinned, “This is going to be a beautiful friendship.” Maddie nodded along as she started the video.

Chapter Fifteen

Eddie walked over to Buck, who was at the table in the loft of the 118 looking through some paperwork Chimney had given him. “Hey,” he smiled as he sat beside him, knocking his knee lightly against Buck’s. The last four days had been hectic before they had gone back to work. Christopher had his birthday, he was now eight years old and Eddie hated that his baby boy was growing up all too fast.

“Hey,” Buck looked up and smiled, “Easy call?” he asked, as he had been man behind that time.

“Yeah, nothing serious, the kid’s fine, just scared and a couple of scrapes. Scared the parents more than anything I think though,” he answered. They had ended up going to a home where a kid had climbed up a tree and had gotten stuck.

“That’s good,” he nodded, going back to his paperwork, “I hate doing this,” he muttered.

“We all do, Buck,” Chimney said as he walked up the stairs, “Right, I’m going to order pizza for dinner.”

“I put something together for us to eat while I was man behind. It’s already in the oven, should be ready soon,” Buck said before Chimney could call.

“Really?” Eddie asked, getting up and heading over to the oven to see what Buck had made, “Ohh, Mac’n’Cheese!” he grinned, it was one of the 118’s favorite meals, easy and simple.

“Yeah, Bobby gave me the recipe of his, so thought it would be nice to use it,” Buck gave an embarrassed shrug, “Hope that was okay, Acting Captain Han?” he asked the man before him.

“It’s fine, just give me a warning, I was looking forward to Pizza,” he huffed, but walked over and sat down.

“You need to calm it on what you are doing as Captain,” Hen said as she went over to her best friend. “I know you’re trying to make your mark, but you’re driving a wedge between you and the others.”

“I’m not,” Chimney protested.

“You… kinda are, Chim,” Buck said, giving him a wincing look, “Look, I know, you’re trying to fill some damn big shoes, but drilling us like you are isn’t doing any favors for yourself. It’s annoying people, they’ve done those drills for a long damn time.” he reminded him, shaking his head.

“You have nothing to prove to anyone that you belong as a captain, even if it’s only until Bobby comes back,” Hen added, sitting down next to him, “We’re doing well, you need to chill out a little more.”

“I just…” Chimney began, sighing, “I don’t want to mess this up, while I don’t think I will ever be comfortable as a Captain of a house, I still need to… do this right.”

“And you are,” Eddie said as he walked back over, “Just be yourself.”

“We like you for you, Chim, not for the drill sergeant that you’re now being,” Hen said, patting his arm.

“I had enough of those during basics,” Eddie snorted, sitting down beside Buck again.

“And done!” Buck grinned, “And Chim, you need to learn how to do this yourself. It’s your job, not mine!” he said as he pushed the paperwork over to him, “Seriously, Chimney, next time, I will refuse.”

“Thanks, Buck,” Chimney said, not listening to the last part as he went through it.

“I mean it, Chim,” Buck repeated, finally getting a nod from Chimney. “Right, I’m going to check on dinner, start rallying the troops for food,” he said as he got up and went over to the kitchen.

“Need any help?” Hen offered as she stood up, she could see some side dishes already put out and ready.

“Please,” Buck answered, “Eddie, set the table, Hen help me bring everything over. Chim, go and shout for everyone.”

“Who’s the Captain here?” Chimney said as he pretended to glare.

“At the moment, no one,” Buck said, “I’m the Chef and I say to get people here if they want to eat sometime today.”

Chimney muttered but laughed as he went to do as he was told.

Buck and Hen brought everything over as Eddie finished setting the table. It didn’t take long for the others on their shift to join them. Talk started up around the table.

“Any idea when Bobby is going to be back?” one of the other paramedics asked as she looked at Chimney.

“No idea,” Chimney said, “They keep telling me that they are still investigating.”

“I don’t like it,” Buck muttered, “Why the hell did they have to suspend him.”

“He didn’t tell them about what happened in St Louis,” Hen said softly, “They don’t like it when you hide something like that.”

“Still, he’s done so well here, done a lot of good as well,” Buck muttered as he began to eat.

“I know,” Chimney agreed, “Stupid fucking brass,” he said, getting a round of cheers for that remark.

“Do you think if we petition the brass that they will let him come back?” Eddie asked, curiously.

“I don’t know,” Chimney answered him, “All we can do is hope that when they are done, Cap will be back, and I can go back to being a paramedic.”

“Yeah,” Buck and several of the others nodded in agreement. Chimney glared at them, only for them to laugh.

“Hey, I’m not that bad!” he protested, “You can shut up, Buckley, or I’ll make you reroll the hoses again,” he threatened.

“I will rebel!” Buck said, glaring back before the two laughed.

XxXxX

“Hey, Cap,” Buck said as he walked into Bobby’s apartment. The man walked back over to the table and sat down.

“Hey, Buck,” Bobby smiled, as he closed the folder in front of him.

“Wedding plans?” he asked, grinning.

Laughing, Bobby nodded, “Yeah. Athena still wants me to move in before we’re married, but…” he trailed off with a shrug.

“You’re more traditional,” Buck nodded, “Yeah, I get it. Any ideas on how I and the others can help Chim to calm down on his drill sergeant routine?” he then asked.

“He needs to find out what he is best at,” Bobby told him, “you have to give him time.”

“Cap, I would love to give him time, but his punishments are running more drills than I ever did at the Academy,” he snorted, “And really, he is okay, he’s no you, but no one would be. When he’s not doing the drill routine, then he’s actually not bad, doesn’t like doing his paperwork though,” he muttered, pulling a face.

“Ah, the bane of anyone in charge,” Bobby laughed as he got a nod from Buck.

“I’ve helped out with that a couple of times, I don’t want to be stuck as man behind so that his paperwork is done,” Buck sighed, “Hey, Bobby, do you think it’s too soon for me to move in with Eddie?” he asked, looking a little lost.

“Well, I’m not exactly the one to tell you it is, or not. Do you think you’re ready for this step?” Bobby asked, “What does your heart tell you?”

Buck sat up straight and closed his eyes, “To go for it. I know it’s not been long, only a couple of months since we started dating, but it feels… right. I think I’ve talked to everyone about this,” he snorted, opening his eyes and shaking his head. “I just… I want to feel like I’m not rushing it, part of me does, but a lot of me doesn’t.”

“It’ll be fine, have you talked to Eddie about it?” Bobby asked.

“He thinks it’s right as well. I just… I think part of it might be that I just got my own place after never having that before. I’ve always lived in shared houses, hostels, partners’ homes, or even in my jeep at times. The last time I had a place to call home, it wasn’t even mine, it was my parents, and to be honest, that wasn’t even a home for me,” Buck sighed, slumping over his folded arms on the table.

“Buck,” Bobby began slowly, “I think you’re not sure if you want to move because you’ve never had a place to call your own, and are scared of losing it.”

Buck sighed, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I think I might need to talk to my therapist about this, maybe he has some helpful hints to stop this block I feel like I’m in,” he straightened up in his chair.

“There is no set timeline for a relationship, Buck,” Bobby smiled at him, “Marcy and I, we were dating four years before we finally married. With Athena, well, it’s not even been a year yet.”

“Right,” Buck nodded, standing up, “I should let you carry on with the planning, I can’t wait to see you get married,” he said as he stood up. “And if you want any help, I’ll do my best too,” he added before leaving Bobby alone.

XxXxX

“A second bomb has been found,” Chimney said as he walked into the loft of the 118. “I can’t believe it,” he murmured.

“Do the cops have any idea what’s going on?” Hen asked, looking up from the book she was reading.

Chimney shook his head, “None, so far they don’t look like they could be connected at all.” He sat down at the table, a report in front of him that he had to write. “Hey Buck,” he said as he looked at the young man that was standing near the coffee pot.

“No!” Buck yelled, “I know what you are going to ask and the answer is no. You’re the senior of the team, you have to do the paperwork. You are getting paid extra to do so, and I’m not,” he said as he turned and glared at him.

“Nice try, Chim,” Hen said, laughing as she patted his arm.

Chimney grumbled but started to do the paperwork.

“Right,” Buck said as he walked over, “Eddie and I are going to be making enchiladas for lunch today,” he grinned, “We’ve got everything that we need, and we prepared some already, so most of it is just the cooking part.”

“And getting the side dishes ready,” Eddie added as he joined Buck and the two began to work together, occasionally jostling each other, as other members of the shift came over to see what they were doing, and even offer help.

It was as they were finishing when another call came in, dinner plates were left as they rushed to the trucks. Chimney had the headset on as he relayed what the call was about. “We have a pedestrian hit by a car. The pedestrian is awake and responsive but in a lot of pain. Has not been moved. The car has a single occupant. Both are female, Buck, Eddie, you deal with the driver, and Hen, you’re with me on the pedestrian. Miles, Caleb, and Rita, you’re with Buck and Eddie. Naomi and Mathew, crowd control, Fatima make sure there are no leaks from the fuel tank.”

“Right,” they all said, quiet for the rest of the journey, reaching the accident site. Buck and Eddie headed over to the car. They began to help her, with Rita coming in and making sure she was secured with a neck brace before they would be extracting her. Buck glanced over just before they did, eyes going wide as he saw the pedestrian on the ground.

“Shannon,” he murmured.

Eddie looked up at the name, moving away from their victim and seeing his ex-wife on the ground.

“Eddie, stay where you are, we are helping her,” Hen said, seeing that Eddie had noticed who she was treating.

“She-” he was cut off as he felt a hand on his. He looked up and saw Buck there, “Buck.”

“I know, but Hen and Chim are the best, so let them do their job. When she goes in the ambulance, you go with her. I’ll carry on working, you stand near them,” he told him, squeezing his arm, “It’ll be okay.”

“She has to be, Chris… Chris will be devastated,” Eddie murmured.

Buck hugged him quickly, “Let’s hope for the best.”

Hen and Chimney worked quickly as they assessed Shannon. “Eddie,” Chimney said as he walked over, “She has a spinal injury, I don’t know how bad, but she doesn’t have much feeling in her legs. It might only be temporary or might be permanent, but I don’t know.”

“Okay,” Eddie said as he followed Chimney to the ambulance. Shannon was on the gurney, tears in her eyes as she spotted Eddie. “Hey, it’s going to be okay, you’re strong, we know that.”

Chimney climbed in behind, as Hen went to the driver’s seat and got in. “Right, let’s get you to the hospital.

“Eddie, tell Chris, that I love him. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she said, crying.

“Hey, don’t think the worst, you can’t think that, not at all. You’re going to be fine,” Eddie said, taking hold of her hand, “I’m here, and Chris will be and so will Buck. And you can’t forget about your sister, Niamh, she won’t be happy if something happens to you. She’ll be bringing you back to kill you herself.”

Shannon gave a sobbing laugh, “She would, she really would.”

“So you fight, as hard as you damn well can,” Eddie told her.

Eddie carried on talking to her as they reached the hospital, going back as he pulled out his phone and called Niamh to tell her what had happened. Chimney and Hen stopped by one last time before Chimney told him to remain there, and that he’ll try and get someone to cover Buck as well as Eddie so he won’t be alone.

Eddie was alone for almost an hour before Niamh made it to the hospital. She rushed into Eddie’s arms, sobbing and asking if there had been any news yet. “Nothing yet. I’m going to see if I can find out, wait here, Buck should be here soon as well.”

Niamh nodded, sitting down as Eddie went to find some information. It didn’t take long for Buck to appear and sit with her. Eddie came back with no news but said that someone would be out to talk to them soon.

It took almost another two hours before someone finally came to see them. “I’m the one that worked on Miss McKinley,” she said as she walked over to them after they stood up when Shannon’s name was called.

“How is she?” Niamh said, “I’m her sister, Niamh,” she added as she got a questioning look.

“I’m Doctor Shoaf, She came through the surgery well, she does have several fractured ribs, a break to her right tibia and fibula. She had a few internal injuries, which we have repaired, and she is in recovery at the moment. Her spine was injured as well, but we don’t know if she’ll be able to walk again. No matter what she is in for a very long recovery. Time will tell how much she will recover,” she smiled, hoping to reassure the family.

“Thank you,” Niamh said, leaning against Eddie as he held her, “Thank you,” she murmured again.

Eddie nodded as he and Buck remained with Niamh until they were allowed back to see Shannon, who was still sleeping.

Chapter Sixteen

Eddie walked back into Shannon’s room. She was awake, having just been examined by the doctor. Niamh was inside with her. Eddie had talked Buck into going home and being with Christopher. “Hey,” he said as he walked in, “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a car,” Shannon said, giving a watery laugh, before she began to cry.

Eddie and Niamh were beside her quickly, reassuring her that she’d be fine. “You know we’re all going to be here for you,” Eddie told her.

“I… I know,” Shannon said, “They don’t know if I’ll be able to walk again,” she said quietly, “The injury to my spine, they don’t know if when the swelling goes down if it will heal or now,” she added, “What am I going to do Eddie, Niamh, I just…” she trailed off into tears.

“We’re here,” Niamh said, “And life isn’t over, maybe adaptations need to be made, but we’ll get through it, you have people around you that will help.”

“Buck and I would be glad to,” Eddie smiled at her, taking a hand and squeezing it, “You have so many of us right here with you.”

Shannon gave a smile, “I… I know,” she gave a slight nod.

“You’ve only just woken up,” Niamh said softly as she looked at her older sister, “One bit at a time,” she added, “We’ll deal with everything as it comes our way.”

Shannon nodded, shuffling around on the bed slightly, wincing as her ribs protested, “This is going to suck.”

“Recovery from an injury does,” Eddie snorted, “It really does.”

“I expect to be waited on hand and foot,” she told her ex-husband.

Eddie rolled his eyes, “I’ll think about it. Though I know Abuela is already cooking up a storm for when you need to eat,” he smiled, causing Shannon to return it. “She’s been told what’s happened and she wants to make sure you’re okay. So expect her as a visitor. I’ll bring Christopher by tomorrow as well, I’m not letting him go to school tomorrow.”

“He should go to school, we ca-” Shannon began to protest.

“No, he’ll want to see his Mother and make sure she is okay. Buck messaged that Chris wants to come now, but we already spoke with the doctor and he said not tonight, so I expect to get home to a petulant Chris who doesn’t want to go to bed and wants to see his Mom. But now that you’re awake, we can do that,” he smirked as he pulled his phone out.

“What?” Shannon frowned.

“Facetime, a video call so you can see each other and Chris can be reassured that you’re okay,” Eddie said as he began to call up Buck.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, I’m a mess,” Shannon protested, “I don’t want to scare him.”

“What scares him more is not being able to see you,” Eddie told her as the call connected.

“Hey,” Buck’s voice sounded in the room, “How is she?” he asked.

“Awake, and go and see Chris so they can say goodnight to each other,” Eddie said as he moved around so that Shannon was in the frame as well. Niamh joined in on the other side.

“Okay,” Buck said.

Shannon watched as Buck moved around Eddie’s home and into the Living room, where Christopher was curled up on the couch.

“Hey buddy,” Buck said as he sat down beside him, “Got someone on the phone for you,” he grinned as he sat down, letting Christopher curl up against him.

“Mommy!” Christopher yelled as soon as he saw her, bursting into tears, “You okay?”

“I am sweetie, just a few owwies that will heal in time,” Shannon said, tears in her own eyes as she tried to reassure her son, “I’m okay, I just have to be in here for a while to get better. Your Dad said that he’s going to bring you by to see me tomorrow. So I look forward to a big hug.”

“I’ll make you a card as well, Mommy, and I’ll give you all the kisses to help you get better faster,” Christopher sniffled as he was hugged by Buck.

“I look forward to seeing it, and I know those kisses will help me heal so fast because they are all from you, my special little guy,” Shannon smiled, there were some tears in her eyes, but she was quick to brush them away. She didn’t want to worry Christopher more than he already was. She smiled at her son again and then said, “You be good for Buck, and I’ll see you soon, okay, Sweetie?”

“I will Mommy,” Christopher nodded, “I’m always good, you can ask Buck and Bisabuela as well, they always say I’m an Angel,” he smiled back, wiping away his own tears as he stared at the screen.

“Right, Superman, it’s time to say goodnight to Mommy, as you need to get to bed. You need a good sleep if you want to see her in the afternoon tomorrow,” Buck said softly, hoping that the promise of seeing her in person would let him be more agreeable to going to bed. He had refused to do so until he heard from Shannon.

“Can’t I talk to Mommy a little longer,” Christopher pleaded, looking up at him.

“Sorry, Sweetie, but I think I need some sleep myself, I’m really tired,” Shannon said, yawning a little.

“Okay, Mommy,” Christopher said with a heavy sigh before smiling a little and saying, “Night night.”

“Sleep tight,” Shannon replied.

“And don’t let the bedbugs bite,” they said together with a giggle, “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, Sweetie,” she replied as the call ended, she relaxed a little more on the bed, “He’s okay.”

“Yeah, he’s a tough little guy,” Niamh said proudly.

“That he is, takes after his Mother,” Eddie said, as he looked at Shannon. He put away his phone, “Now, you get some rest, Niamh is going to be staying with you tonight, and tomorrow I’ll come with Chris and she’ll be getting you some extra things from home.”

“Neither of you has to stay, I’m just going to sleep and rest,” Shannon said.

“Not happening,” Niamh told her firmly, “Now, get settled in for me telling you about the latest person looking for a home and the list of things they want and don’t want,” she grinned.

“Oh boy,” Shannon rolled her eyes.

Eddie laughed, “Right, Shannon,” he said, kissing her forehead, “You rest and take care, I’ll see you tomorrow with Christopher and Buck.”

“Okay,” she smiled back, rolling her eyes at the kiss, “And really a forehead kiss?”

“Sorry habit when saying goodbye and goodnight to someone in a bed,” Eddie laughed.

“Hope you don’t kiss Buck like that, I bet he likes a good smooch on the lips,” she smirked back.

“Seriously, even half dead you’re still an annoying bitch,” Eddie muttered.

“You better believe it,” she cackled until her ribs reminded her that they were fractured and hurting. “Damn, gotta stop that.”

“I would say serves you right,” Eddie said, as he glanced back at her, “But you don’t deserve pain for anything. Just the occasional moment of embarrassment.”

“Plenty of those coming,” she retorted, “Night, Eddie.”

“Night, Shannon, Niamh, if you need me, call me,” he reminded them before leaving.

XxXxX

Eddie flopped down on the couch as Carla sat across from him. It was two days after Shannon’s accident. “He’s asleep,” he said as he smiled at the woman.

“Good to hear, now what is it you wanted to talk about?” Carla asked as Buck walked into the living room, coffees in hand.

“It’s about Shannon, when she’s released, we know she’s going to need some help as she adjusts, and she won’t be walking at first, and there will be appointments and that as well. We’re thinking about having someone come in to help her when she comes home,” Eddie answered her.

“I see,” Carla nodded, “And do you know where she is going to be going home?”

“Niamh, her sister, and I have been talking about that. Shannon’s place isn’t really fully set up for someone, it’s why Shannon tends to stay here when she has Christopher a lot. She was looking for a new place. We’re going to be talking to Shannon and seeing if she wants to move in with us, and we’ll find a bigger place for all of us. One that is designed with her and Chris in mind. Niamh is already looking and she’s found three places that could fit what we need with only minimal adjustments needed,” Eddie replied, “Thanks, Buck,” he smiled as his boyfriend sat beside him.

“I’ll be moving in with them as well,” Buck grinned, sharing a look with Eddie.

“Well, at the moment, I’m down two clients that I help with, and since you will be living together, I should be able to take on Shannon as well, if not, then I know a few that would be able to help,” Carla smiled, “Just make sure you talk all this over with Shannon, she needs to be in control of this, or it could play on her as she recovers.”

“I will be, it’ll be up to her in the end, I’m hoping that she will,” he sighed, “But, we’ll take it all one day at a time, she’s got a long recovery ahead of her.”

“Spinal injuries usually do,” Carla smiled at him, “Now, is that all?” she asked.

“For the most part, we’d like you to be there as we chose the house, as you’ll know even better than us what we need for both Shannon and Christopher,” Buck answered her, Eddie nodding in agreement next to him.

“I’d love to help you both,” she laughed and nodded. “So you’ve finally decided that you are going to move in with Eddie?” she smirked over at Buck.

“Yeah, everyone was saying the same thing, if it feels right to me, then it’s the right thing to do for myself,” he smiled, leaning against Eddie, “And, I think I’ve spent more time here since we started dating than I have at my apartment. I love the place, it’s lovely, it really is, and perfect for me.”

“But you feel good about moving in with Eddie,” she laughed, “I get where you’re coming from. It’s a big step no matter who you are taking it with. I remember when Howard and I made that step, I felt ready, but I was still a nervous wreck. Howard made everything so easy for me and made sure that my sisters and brother, and my parents would always be welcomed. I have spent most of our married life in the same house, we raised our babies there, the last one is about to fly the coop and I don’t know if I should be proud or sad about that.”

Eddie groaned, “Oh, don’t remind me about that. I’m dreading the day that Christopher grows up, he needs to stay my little boy forever.”

Carla laughed, “That child is growing up well, you and Shannon have a lot to be proud of. He’s smart and willing to try anything.”

“That’s what scares me half the time,” Eddie confessed, “That he’s going to try something and get hurt.”

“But we all do that,” Buck pointed out, “Do you know how many times I got hurt learning to ride a bike or a skateboard? I even had broken bones a few times. Getting hurt is all part of growing up.”

“You sound like a terror,” Eddie deadpanned, “I’ve heard a few stories from Maddie about your daredevil days. Though it does seem like they’ve never ended from what Bobby said about your exploits as a firefighter.”

Buck ducked his head and laughed, “Yeah, well, people forget that I have SEAL training. While I might not have served, I was a day away from graduating from it all,” he said, “I know what I’m doing when I do some of my more hair-brained stunts.”

“I didn’t know you trained as a SEAL?” Eddie said with a frown, glancing over at him, “I can’t picture you being a SEAL,” he added.

Buck paused, “Oh, yeah I did the training and everything before I dropped out right on the very last day and decided that firefighting was something to try instead. Though the Commander decided that I wore my heart on my selves, I couldn’t just flip a switch and turn off my emotions like they wanted me to,” he sighed, “So in the end, I decided to drop out and take his recommendation and joined the Fire Academy within three days.”

“I didn’t know that about you,” Eddie said, snorting, “What other things are you hiding away?” he asked.

“Well…” Buck said with a grin, “I’ve had more jobs than you can imagine. Once, I think it was Chim, who asked what I would be if I wasn’t a firefighter. They gave a bunch of answers for me, and all I wanted to do was, did that, to a bartender, that too, to the bouncer. When Hen said bouncer at a strip club, I wanted to go, I did that and was the stripper once too.”

“Stripper?” Carla said, a little surprised.

“How else do you think I got around the US and down to Peru in a Jeep with no money to my name?” Buck said, giving him a look.

Eddie snorted, “Just… Please don’t tell Shannon that, she’ll want a show.”

“Nope, I hung up the G-String a long time ago,” he laughed, “Wasn’t as… well defined as I am now.”

“Well, maybe I’ll ask for a show,” Eddie smirked.

“And with that, I’m out of here, you boys have fun, and I’ll live in my fantasies,” Carla laughed as she drank the last of her coffee and got up, “Goodnight!”

“Night, Carla,” the two men said as they got up and showed her out.

“I don’t plan on telling anyone else about that, so zip it around the 118, especially Chim. They already think I’m just a meathead,” Buck rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, not going to say a word, because I know Shannon,” he grinned at him, “But, I can picture it well after some of our… nights in.”

“Well, maybe I can put on a special performance, for an audience of one,” Buck smiled as he was pulled into Eddie’s arms.

“Sounds,” he said as he started to kiss along Buck’s jawline, “like a plan,” he finished.

“Let’s… lock up and then bedroom,” Buck stated.

Eddie nodded in agreement before he pulled Buck down for a bruising kiss and let him go, “See you in the bedroom,” he smirked at how flushed Buck looked.

“Damn it, Eds,” Buck cursed as he adjusted himself.

Eddie just laughed and winked as he went to lock up, before pulling Buck into the bedroom, the door closing shut and locking behind them.

Chapter Seventeen

Chimney walked into the loft at the station, looking a little more confident in himself as he went over to the kitchen and began to pull things out of the fridge, “Right, I’m cooking lunch today,” he said.

“Wonder who he talked to,” Buck said as he noticed how calm Chimney was this time.

“He talked with Bobby, they had a good talk,” Hen said as she came up behind them.

“Ah,” Buck nodded, “Hey, Chim, want some help?” he asked.

“Sure,” he called back, “Just going to be making some pasta, get it all ready, so at least if we do get a call out, we can come back and just bung it in the oven,” he grinned.

Buck grinned back and went over to help. “How’s things going with Maddie?” he asked, he was curious as to how they were doing.

Chimney smiled, “Things are going well, we decided to do couples therapy. She started therapy during the trial, but she’s stuck to it. I’ve been going myself recently, she talked me into it, and I’ve come across a few problems that I had that I didn’t even realize were problems. I’m determined to be better,” he said, glancing over at Buck.

Buck nodded, “I’m glad that you’re getting help for things,” he said, “I know that in the end, we all need something. I’ve… been seeing someone myself, done so since Wells,” he added quietly.

Chimney paused, “I’m sorry,” he murmured, “I teased you about that, and I really shouldn’t have. I let you down on that, not only as your friend but also as your superior here at work.”

“Chim,” Buck frowned, “I… It’s not your fault that it happened.”

“No, but making light of it was,” he said, “Like I said, Buck, it’s on me to have reported it. When you first said something, I joked and made light of it. Buck, you might have been someone I knew that went through that, but there could have been others that heard me joking about such a thing and needed someone who would help them get justice for what they went through. I’m supposed to be a leader, and it’s taken this to get me to realize that I wasn’t being a leader, I was being a joke.”

Buck shook his head, “Chimney,” he began.

Chimney turned and looked at him, a somber expression on his face as he said, “Buck. I let people down, including myself. Wells has now been seen to, making sure that she can’t do to you and a few others again. We let you down, I let you down. Buck, I’m supposed to be second in command of this shift, and I wasn’t doing my job. Paperwork is only the tip of it.”

Buck snorted, “Paperwork you don’t want to do,” he pointed out, grinning and trying to joke with him.

“Which was also wrong of me, it’s how we see problems and things, and if I don’t do it, then I’m not going to notice anything wrong with those under my command,” he sighed, “Buck, just leave it that I’ve done wrong and trying to correct it all.”

“Chim,” Buck began slowly, “Thank you,” he added, “I… I have to admit, that when it happened I wasn’t so bad, but a day or so later, I was starting to feel even worse. I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone.”

“Which is on me,” he said, looking over at him and sighing heavily, “I really fucked up, Buck,” he told him, “Really fucked up. I reported it to Bobby and I know some others have. She’s been taken care of, no longer works for the department at all, and even had her license to practice revoked. She’s looking at spending a few years behind bars as well, it was done quietly. I know that Bobby informed you that something was being done,” he added, getting a quick nod from Buck. “I… I didn’t bring your name into it, I didn’t want you to be reminded of it all. Bobby figured out it was you pretty quickly. I’m trying my best to rectify what has happened and my own failings. Bobby makes all this look easy though,” he snorted, shaking his head and smiling slightly, “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” he nodded again, “I’m seeing someone, to help with that and other things as well,” he said quietly, concentrating on the vegetables that he was preparing.

“Yeah, which makes you the better of the two of us. I… I never went to therapy after the rebar, and I should have. I should have done it all properly instead of just saying what I knew would get me back on the job as soon as I could,” he sighed, “I messed up. Maddie… She believes that she has as well. She’s taking your advice in doing the opposite of what your parents have done. So she is taking things a little more seriously now as well.”

“That’s good,” Buck grinned, “I’m glad that she’s listening to me.”

“Yeah,” Chimney nodded as they carried on preparing their meal.

XxXxX

Eddie walked through the hospital hallways and to Shannon’s room. They had looked through the many homes that Niamh had found for them and chosen one that they had quickly and easily fallen in love with. It was perfect for them all, including the accessibility that was already sorted with it. A few things needed to be done, but not as much as they first thought they would need. Now it was time to broach the subject with Shannon and make sure that she was on board staying with them for a while as she got back to her feet, or was able to do things with minimal help.

Knocking on the door to her room, he was called in. Shannon was sitting up in bed, a book in her hand and a grumpy look on her face as she read. Eddie smiled as he watched her, she always got so into her books and hated to be interrupted while she read anything. He waited until she marked her place and put her book aside, he knew better than to interrupt her much, he hated the yelling and grumpiness that came with it all.

“Afternoon,” Shannon said, a small smile now appearing on her face. It had been two weeks since her accident and she was still scared that she would never be able to walk again.

“Hey,” he smiled back, “I thought I would come and see you, but there is also something else that I need to discuss with you as well.”

“Oh?” Shannon said, eyes narrowing as she watched her ex-husband coming towards the bed and settling on a chair.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “Look, we know that for a while you’re going to need some help, please… don’t think that I think you are weak or anything like that at all,” he told her quickly when he saw the scowl on her face.

“Eddie, I know I’m going to have trouble and such,” she sighed.

“Exactly, look, Buck and I have found a place, and have put down an offer and it was accepted this morning. It’s a four-bed, three-bathroom home on one floor. It’s accessible for the most part, Buck and I have modifications in place for you and Christopher in mind. So you can come and stay with us, we don’t want you to go anywhere else, to be honest with you. You’re my best friend and I want to help you get better,” Eddie told her in a rush.

Shannon sighed, “Eddie, I could be like this permanently, what then?” she asked him, shaking her head.

“Simple, you stay with us until you feel confident that you can go home alone, and you have a place which is set for yourself,” Eddie answered her, smiling slightly.

“Eddie,” she began again, trying to think of something that she can use to get out of living with them.

“Shannon, I know you want to be independent, and I don’t blame you for that. But at first, you are going to need some help to figure things out for yourself. It’s going to be hard, and Carla has agreed that if you want, she is willing to take you on as a client as well to help you get yourself around and go to what you need to,” Eddie told her, “She would like to talk to you about that if you want. Since she’ll be taking care of Christopher as well, she doesn’t mind doing the same for you. She knows you as well.”

Shannon paused, really thinking about what Eddie was telling her, “You really put a lot of thought into this?”

“Of course I did, you’re my best friend you know. You mean a lot to me, and of course, you’re also Chrisotpher’s Mother and that will never change. Buck likes you as well,” he smiled at her, leaning closer to the bed, “Shan, we’re friends, and if you can’t rely on your friends for help when you are down, then you can’t rely on anyone.”

“I… I want to talk with Buck and Christopher first before I make my decision. I don’t want to do this if it’s going to put a strain on them, it’s already going to be hard with Christopher,” she pointed out to him.

“But it will also make it easier as well, with Carla helping. She said she is going to come in and see you and talk about what you need and want. If you agree, she’ll also talk with your doctors and such as well, to get a better idea of how best to help you get to a stage where you are independent, or recovered,” Eddie told her, “I know, it sounds so daunting, but you can do this.”

Shannon rolled her eyes, “It’s not that, I don’t want to become a burden to you and Buck,” she told him, adamant that she not be such for their new relationship. They had only been dating a few months, and she didn’t want to see it fail because the ex-wife had to live with them.

“Buck was the one to bring it up first, about you living with me,” Eddie smiled, “He wanted to make sure that you would be well-taken care of. He likes you as well, maybe not how I once did,” he grinned, seeing her smile and even give a small laugh, “But, he does.”

“I like him as well, he’s been good for you, he loves Christopher as well. In my eyes, he is damn near perfect,” she snorted, “But that doesn’t mean that you are both ready for me to be living with you,” she said, again trying to get Eddie to see what she was trying to say, “I don’t want to strain anything between the two of you, and I feel like this will. Who wants their partner’s ex-wife living with them.”

“Buck,” Eddie answered her, laughing as she rolled her eyes, “I’m serious, he said that you should live with us, and I agree, you’re going to need some help and such for a while, and it might be a whole year of you living with us, and we’re both prepared for that as well,” he told her, shaking his head when she was going to protest again, “look, you keep saying the same thing, just as I am, you are welcome to stay with us, Carla has offered to take you on as a client and trust me, there is no one better to have on your side and in your corner, she will help so much with things,” he smiled.

“And what about Christopher, I don’t… he’s…” she trailed off, trying to think of an argument for why it would be a bad idea for her to live in their home.

“We weren’t going to tell Christopher anything until after we had talked. But he came in while we were discussing things. He’s very happy at the thought of you coming to live with us. He knows it only until you are better, or such, he even has plans on teaching you how to use crutches when you get to that stage,” he smiled as he thought of all the things that Christopher wanted to do with his mother living with them. “If this goes well, I could easily see you staying with us all the time. I know Christopher would love it.”

Shannon shook her head, “No, nope, it won’t be forever,” she said, waving her hand a little, “I… I don’t think I could handle the hotness that is you and Buck together. One kiss and I’m going to need CPR,” she joked, wiggling her eyebrows at Eddie.

Eddie rolled his eyes and snorted, “Not happening, we’ll get someone else to.”

“Hmm, Chimney? Bobby? They would be nice choices as well,” Shannon laughed as she watched Eddie’s reaction.

Eddie shook his head, “You know, if that happens I can see Athena coming after you, and maybe even Maddie too,” he warned her.

“Hmm,” she nodded, “I can see the problem, so are you all in agreement about me staying with you?” she asked.

“We are, and Buck and Christopher will be fine to talk to you as well if you are still worried,” he smiled, “Really, Shan,” he sighed, “You’re always going to be part of the family and we want you around, at the moment you need a little bit of extra help, and just like with Chris, we wouldn’t deny you our support.”

“Thank you,” Shannon smiled, “And we’ll go with it for a while, and see how it goes. I know there are a few rehab places that I can go to as well.”

“Yeah, and if you think they will be better to help you, then you know I won’t stop you at all. You need to think of yourself, your health, and your needs as you recover. Buck and I can cover a lot of things as well, to make sure that things are easier for you. Living with us will also mean that you still get to spend as much time with Christopher as you want. Carla will also be there to help as well,” he said, hoping that she would be able to stay with them, he may not be in love with her as he once had been, but he still loved her. She was his best friend alongside Buck.

“Fine, it’s going to be two weeks at least before I’m ready enough to come home anyway, maybe this will be a good thing,” Shannon sighed, “But, if I think it’s causing problems for you and Buck, I will head to a rehab place instead. I know the house I have with Niamh isn’t suited for a wheelchair, even though we were going to renovate it for it,” she added, looking at him.

“That’s fine, and I’ll tell Carla to come and talk to you as well. You can also talk with Christopher and Buck,” he told her, “So, please, Shan, don’t worry about things, it’ll be okay,” he said, hoping to reassure her.

Shannon smiled, “Okay, I’ll trust you all,” she said.

Eddie laughed and began to talk about the latest gossip that he had heard from his Abuela and Pepa.

Chapter Eighteen

Eddie looked around the house that they had bought. Buck and Eddie had bought the house and had been able to get a rush on the paperwork and move into it. Instead of it taking a good month, it had taken two weeks from the moment their offer was accepted to when they moved in. With their resources pulled together, they were able to afford it. Especially since Buck never really spent money on himself as he traveled around the country.

“Well,” Eddie said, glancing over at Buck.

“It shouldn’t be too hard to make sure that everything is set to rights,” Buck said, there were so many boxes, more than both of them thought possible. They had gone through all their things, donating what they didn’t need and choosing whose couch, bed, and all that would be donated and what would be for their new home together.

“I can’t believe you’re moving already,” Chimney said, shaking his head as he walked in with another box.

Buck looked over, “Well when you know, you know,” he gave a shrug.

“It seems like only yesterday that we were helping you move into your apartment, Buck,” Maddie smiled as she brought in a few things as well.

Buck bit his lip, “Yeah, well…” he trailed off, shrugging again.

“It’s not a bad thing,” she hurried to say, seeing that he was again second-guessing himself about moving in with Eddie and now buying a house together. It was a nice four-bedroomed home, all ground floor. Easy for Shannon and Christopher to get around in, and wheelchair friendly as well. It had been one of the main draws of the property, ease of access and most of it was already ready for those with any mobility issues. It was in a nice area as well, and a little closer to Christopher’s school.

“It isn’t,” Chimney added, “Now, where is everything going and will there be pizza later?” he grinned.

“Yeah,” Buck rolled his eyes but smiled a little as they began to organize the house again.

“When is Shannon going to be arriving?” Maddie asked him as she followed him to one of the bedrooms.

“She’s being released in two days,” Buck answered, “Chris is excited to have his parents in the same house. Though he doesn’t like it that Shannon’s hurt of course.”

“Of course,” Maddie nodded, “How are you feeling about her coming into your home though?” she asked, her voice quiet.

Buck smiled, “I’m fine with it, they are both over each other, and it’s a little amusing to watch the two banter back and forth. She knows a lot about him and knows what to say to make him spew his coffee all over the place,” he grinned and laughed, “She had him at the hospital, a nurse walked in and she basically said that Eddie should be doing the sponge bath, not the first time he’s seen all of her. Said it would be his last chance to look. Eddie spluttered and I was laughing. Shannon can be a riot at times. She’s not shy about sex or anything about it.”

Maddie snorted, “I’ve talked to her a bit since that night at the bar,” she said, “Maybe I’ll be able to get to know her even more.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, “Niamh is really nice as well, that’s Shannon’s sister, she is a little shy though, unless she’s talking about work. She is the one that helped us find this place and my apartment.”

“Oh,” Maddie nodded.

“Hey, Buck!” Eddie called as they began to return after dropping boxes into the kitchen.

“Hey,” Buck smiled warmly, they shared a quick kiss, to the giggles of Maddie as she watched them. Chimney was there rolling his eyes but smiling.

“I was thinking, since we have your TV in the living room, that we put mine into Shannon’s room, in case she wants some alone time without having to be around?” he suggested.

Buck nodded, “Good idea, I can get that set up for her. Oh, Niamh is going to be coming over with some more of her things and putting them away. Carla is at the hospital with Chris visiting her and getting the low down on her injuries so that she knows what she can and can’t do while helping.”

“Big change from going to the park,” Eddie rolled his eyes, but he knew how persuasive Christopher could be when he used his big puppy dog eyes on someone. No one was safe from that look.

“Yeah,” Buck smiled, “But Chris wanted to see her, and since we’re moving and being out so long tires him, I thought it would be okay for Carla to take him there.”

“It’s fine, and it does save us having him under our feet, he’ll be wanting to help organize and everything would be everywhere. When we moved from El Paso he emptied all the boxes he could in the living room, took me a while to sort it all out,” he snorted, shaking his head as he and Buck began to work together to set up the TV in Shannon’s bedroom. A good bed for her had arrived and the things she would need to get in and out of bed herself. She was doing some rehab already in learning how to do things herself.

XxXxX

Shannon wheeled into the house, looking around, she was finally free of the hospital, mostly, and in her new home for a while. She didn’t know if she was happy about this development, as she hadn’t wanted to burden Eddie and Buck, especially with their new relationship, but the two were insistent about her moving in while she recovered. Shannon had warned them that it could be a year before they would be free of her. Neither of them blinked an eye at that timeline. Both wanted to help her and having her with them would be easier on them all since the home she currently shared with Nimah wasn’t very accessible. It was fine for a night or two, but not longer than that.

“Well,” Shannon said as she looked up at Eddie, “Thank you.”

“You’re one of my closest and only friends outside of work and Buck,” he pointed out to her, “You know that I’ll do what I can to help. Being here with us and with Carla around, I think it is easier. It’s all up to you in the end.”

“I know,” she said, “I’ll see how things go, there is a place that I looked at when I’m a little further along in my healing that will help me start to learn how to walk again and adapt to what I can and can’t do,” she added as she was led towards her bedroom. She was happy that Eddie wasn’t pushing the wheelchair, that he was letting her do things herself.

“If you feel the need, you go, we’re not going to stop you from doing what you think is best for your health,” Eddie added, “And this is your room, across from you is Christopher’s, and just beyond this room is mine and Bucks. The other room is a guest room.”

“It’s nice here,” she said as she looked around the bright room, noticing that some of her things were there. “Niamh came, I take it?”

“Of course, she wanted you to feel at home as best as you can. There are two bathrooms that are set up for accessibility, one next door to your room, and the other nearer to the guest room. Buck and I have an ensuite. So you don’t have to worry about that,” he added.

“Aww,” she pretended to pout, “So that means I won’t be able to accidentally walk in on the two of you wet and naked?” she wiggled her eyebrows at her.

Eddie looked down at her, “Not a chance, I’ll be making sure the doors are locked and telling Buck to do the same.”

Shannon laughed, “You always spoil my fun.”

Eddie rolled his eyes, “Well, you’re here, Buck will be back with Christopher soon, he’s so excited to see you, no doubt he’ll be in and out of your room when you’re in here. And you are free to go around the house, it’s your home as well at the moment,” he reminded her.

“I know, you keep telling me. I don’t want to intrude, this is your home,” she said, shaking her head, “I know for now I’m staying here, but this… it’s-” she cut herself off and sighed heavily.

“Shannon,” Eddie said as he knelt in front of her, “Look, you’re my best friend alongside Buck, we all get along, and you’re the Mother to our son. I will do anything to make sure you’re okay,” he sighed, “I know, it’s going to be hard and an adjustment, but at least this way we can be there for you and you can enjoy some extra time with Christopher. He’ll be wanting you to read him a bedtime story or two. He’s been going through his books and finding the ones he wants you to read and putting them aside.”

Shannon smiled, “I don’t know what we did to get him for our son, but I can’t help but be so proud of him.”

“He has a great Mother,” he smiled, “You were there when I wasn’t. You raised him, even with my asshole parents. Which, does remind me.” he paused for a moment, “My parents will be coming when it’s my Shield ceremony when I become a full firefighter instead of a probie. I’m not really happy about it, but they won’t take no for an answer. I’ve already warned them that if they misbehave chances are I’ll never let them come to my home again. Though, part of me thinks about not letting them here anyway, and just meeting at Abuela’s.”

“It’ll be fine, I can see them again, and maybe put them in their place this time. I want to know why the hell they hid those letters,” she growled as she thought of all that she had missed because of it.

“Yeah,” Eddie sighed, “Though if they answer I would be surprised about that. They are rather tight-lipped about things. Part of me thinks that it was my Mother that was mainly doing it. She is the driving force behind me moving back or taking custody of Christopher. Neither of which are going to happen. I have a life here.”

“Wait until they find out that you’ve bought a house instead of renting,” she smirked.

“I can already imagine the yelling,” he snorted, getting back up, “They are going to be nightmares, though I think Pepa and Abuela are going to be great in helping keep them under control.”

“If not, I can always run them over with my wheelchair,” Shannon said, “I’ll just pretend I’m not very good with the control.”

“Have fun with that, see if you can break a foot or at least a toe,” Eddie laughed as he began to head to the door, “I’ll let you get properly settled in. Have a look around, and if there is anything you need, tell us so we can do something about it.”

“Just a gorgeous man or two to share the bed with, or a beautiful woman,” Shannon said as Eddie walked out of the room.

“Not going to happen!” he called out to her, shaking his head, but with a smile on his face, grateful that she was still mostly herself even as badly injured as she was.

Shannon laughed for a few more moments as the door closed. Looking around her bedroom, she started to relax. She had a long road ahead of her, but Eddie was right, he and the others would be there for her as well. “Well,” she said to herself as she started to explore a little, finding it easy to maneuver around on the wooden floor. Most of the house was the same, though she knew that would change when she left or was out of a wheelchair at least.

Eddie walked into the kitchen, he needed to make a start on dinner, he was just going to make a chicken stirfry, which Christopher had been asking for. He settled in to do the prep work, and he could hear Shannon going quiet in her room. He sighed and wondered how long it would be before Christopher and Buck would arrive home. He was almost done when the front door opened and he could hear the clack of Christopher’s crutches and his voice as he talked excitedly at Buck.

“Okay, Buddy,” Buck’s voice drifted towards him, “We’ll get homework done first, and then it’ll be dinner.”

“But I want to see Mom,” Christopher replied.

“Fine, knock on the door first, she might be sleeping,” Buck warned as he began to put Christopher’s bag by the table so he could work while Buck helped Eddie with dinner.

“Okay!” he called back.

“I think she’s awake still, a little quiet,” Eddie said as Buck walked into the kitchen.

“He was talking about all the things they could watch and read together when we were coming home. He’s really happy to have her home again,” Buck said as he began to help prepare the chicken.

“Yeah, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t have let Shannon take full custody and then he comes to stay with me,” Eddie said quietly.

Buck looked at him, “She’s happy with the arrangements we have. She’s already said that she might get a little overwhelmed being here all the time. She was having trouble being a Mother in her eyes. Though we both know she did fantastic with Christopher.”

“I know, but with how excited he is for her to be here, I wonder if he would be happier with her when she’s better, or able to cope alone and with him,” Eddie sighed.

“No, it wouldn’t. All he wants to do when he comes to see me is to come home and see you and Buck,” Shannon said as she wheeled up behind them. “Christopher’s grabbing something he wants to show me from his room,” she told them as they looked around for him.

“Right,” Eddie said, “Are you sure, he’s always talking about staying the night with you, and he’s so excited for you to be living with us.”

“I… asked him,” Shannon said, “Who he wants to live with. He didn’t say anything, but I knew then that it was you he wanted to live with fully. I can understand that. I then said it, and he agreed, he loves living with you, he loves you both so much. And yes, I know he loves me as well. But he’s happy with you, and I’m very much fine with that,” she told the two, “Now, hurry up with dinner, I am starving.”

“Okay,” Eddie sighed, “I won’t bring it up to him.”

“Good, he’s happy, let him just enjoy the novelty of me being here,” Shannon said, “Anything I can help with?”

“We’ve got it handled, if you get Christopher to make a start on his homework that would be great,” Eddie answered.

Shannon nodded and called out for her son, it was homework time.

Chapter Nineteen

Bobby pulled out his phone and answered the call coming through. He was getting some groceries for tonight’s dinner with Athena and the kids. “Athena, is everything okay?”

“Bobby, can you come here,” she said, “We… We had one on the doorstep. Harry almost picked it up. When Michael told me that, I thought my heart was going to stop. I’ve just arrived and they are starting to take care of it now, but I really want you here, I need you here.”

“Of course, I’ll call Buck and tell him what’s going on, so he can warn the others what’s going on and make sure that they remain safe,” he said as he looked at the cashier, “I’m sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush,” he said.

“I’m almost done,” she said, having heard a little of what was going on and knowing that Bobby was a firefighter. She began to rush, tallying it all up and helping to bag it all.

“Thank you,” he said as he paid and ran out, he had just wanted to leave it all behind, but felt bad as he only had a couple of items left. He drove quickly towards Athena’s home, pulling up and heading over. He was able to get through the police tape to where Athena and the kids were. Michaell was standing there as well, looking on in shock as Harry stood beside him, holding him around the waist.

“Bobby,” Athena said, holding out a hand for him to take, her other wrapped around May.

“‘Thena,” he said, nodding, “May, are you okay?” he asked the teenager.

May looked up and gave a shaky nod, “I… think so, I just don’t understand why this is happening to us?”

“It’ll be okay,” Bobby said, hoping to reassure her as Michael and Harry made their way over to them as well, “Michael,” he greeted with a nod, “Harry,” he smiled at the child as he looked up, worried brown eyes staring at him.

“I was able to remember,” Michael said, his voice shaking as he held onto Harry tightly, “I almost let him pick it up.”

“You didn’t, he’s okay, you all are,” Bobby said as he glanced over at the police, “Athena,” he said, as he gently got her away from the others, “the people that have been targets, they are all people that I know, or rather, knew for a short time.”

“Are you thinking about that case, the arson one, with Costas?” she asked him.

Bobby nodded, “It’s the only time that we worked together with all of those. Each of them, including you, worked on that case.”

“Then you could be a target as well,” Athena said, “You… you need to warn them all,” she said.

“The station, you think they would go there?” Bobby frowned, “We should talk to the cops, and tell them what we’ve figured out.”

“Yeah,” she nodded, following him over to where Detective Romero was standing talking to the bomb squad. “Romero,” she called out to him.

“Sergeant Grant,” he greeted back, “Wish I could say it’s good to see you again,” he told her, “Glad that it’s not the aftermath of one of these,” he sighed.

“Yeah, we have an idea of who it could be, or rather a connection. Something that ties all of the victims together. Including Athena,” Bobby said quickly, worried that someone else could end up getting hurt.

“And what could that be?” Romero frowned, “We’ve tried to make connections between them all for a while now and nothing really gels, there are too many cases that they have all worked on together.”

“But only one where Bobby and I worked with them,” she answered him, shaking her head, “Romero, Costas,” she told him, “It was an arson case that we had to handle. Left behind a wife and son, he should be still in prison at the moment. You need to find them, and we also need to have someone sent to Bobby’s apartment, to make sure there isn’t another one there.”

“Right,” Romero nodded as he got on the phone and started making a few calls.

XxXxX

“Your apartment was clear,” Athena said as she walked into the room, the window before them giving them a view of Mrs Costas being interviewed.

Bobby sighed in relief, “That’s good.”

“They can’t find the kid,” she then added, “He’s in the wind, and among his things are bomb-making equipment.”

“Do you think… he would go anywhere else?” he asked, frowning as he looked at Athena.

Athena frowned as she turned to listen to what the woman was saying in the next room. “I don’t know, he might have done.”

“The… station,” Bobby’s eyes went wide as he thought of it, “Would they hit there?”

“He could,” Athena was a little slow as she answered, “We’ll send someone to go and check.”

“We should head there as well, I want to make sure that they are all okay with my own eyes,” Bobby said, already heading out of the room.

XxXxX

Buck jogged up the stairs at the station, grinning as he saw Eddie on the couch, he was playing Mario Kart with Hen and grumbling as he was once again losing to her. Most of the A-Shift had lost to her, she was the reigning champ after all. Though she still lost to Christopher, that kid was ruthless when he played. “Hey,” he grinned as he joined them both on the couch, “Where’s Chim?” he asked, not seeing the man at all, he hadn’t been downstairs either.

“He’s in Bobby’s office doing the paperwork, he said he didn’t want Bobby to come back and find it unfinished and just lying around,” Hen said, a little distracted as Eddie finally got past her, though his victory shout didn’t last for long as Hen was able to take back first position.

“Damn!” the man cursed as he leaned against Buck, still playing but not really paying that much attention to what he was doing as he began to drop down the ranks.

“Eddie, pay attention!” Hen snapped at him.

Eddie grumbled but began to play, even though he complained, “Well, it’s not like I’m going to win at all.”

“You can at least put some effort into it, one day you might just beat me,” she grinned as she zoomed past the finished line, “But today is obviously not that day,” she laughed.

“Ugh, I’ll never win,” Eddie said, putting the controller to one side and curling up closer to Buck.

“You know if Chim catches you he’s not going to be happy,” Hen warned them as she got up, seeing that Eddie wasn’t going to play anymore, she also had some chores to finish.

“I know,” Eddie mumbled, “But I need some nice reassurance that I’m still good at games from my boyfriend.”

“Idiot,” Hen snorted and rolled her eyes at the grumpy look on the man’s face, “Seriously, you act worse than Denny when he loses at a game.”

Eddie did the most grown-up of things and stuck his tongue out at her before burying his head against Buck’s shoulder.

Buck just grinned and looked at Hen, “I’ve done all my chores.”

“Good, I’ve got one left to do,” she said as she headed for the stairs, “Eddie, if you have one, I would do it before Chimney comes out of that office.”

“Drills if not,” Buck reminded him as well, knowing that while Chimney was relaxing a lot more into the role of temporary captain, he still got them to do drills if they hadn’t done their chores and they had some downtime.

“I’ve finished already, I wouldn’t do anything before I had finished,” he told them, opening his eyes for a moment. He was tired and wanted to nap for a bit.

“Christopher had a nightmare last night,” Buck said as Hen sent them a curious look.

“What happened?” she asked, frowning.

“Shannon,” Eddie mumbled, “He thought she had died instead,” he opened an eye to look at her, “It’s not the first one, but he didn’t want to sleep alone last night and he was very clingy.”

“Surprised that Buck’s not in the same boat then,” Hen nodded.

“I’m younger,” Buck grinned at her, “Not only that, but I had a small nap earlier.”

“He cheated,” Eddie muttered, huffing and trying to get comfortable enough to sleep. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to sleeping in random places.

“I was smart and took a nap after I finished everything and did so when I could,” he nodded, avoiding saying the ‘Q-Word’.

“Well, have fun until Chim spoils it,” she said, rolling her eyes and leaving them alone.

“Mn,” Eddie grunted, already half asleep.

Buck smiled down at him, wrapping an arm around him and closing his eyes, he wouldn’t mind another nap while he could get it.

“As soon as my back is turned I find the two of you cuddling somewhere,” came Chimney’s voice a few minutes later.

Buck opened his eyes, “Well, Eddie wants some cuddles as he sleeps. He’s having a nap,” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Well, I asked that you not do so,” Chimney reminded him.

Buck nodded, “I know, but we had a tough night last night,” he told him, his voice quiet as to leave Eddie sleeping for as long as he can.

Chimney frowned and walked over, “Okay, what happened?” he asked, concern in his voice, he had noticed when they had all arrived at the start of shift that Buck and Eddie looked tired, he had thought they had just had a night overindulging in adult fun. Which he really didn’t want to think about.

“Christopher has been having nightmares occasionally, where instead of Shannon getting hurt, she dies,” Buck answered him, shaking his head slightly, “So Christopher was extra clingy last night and Shannon needed her rest, so he clung to us instead. He didn’t let us sleep for a while, he actually stayed off school because the nightmare was so bad that he was almost panicking leaving the house this morning. So Carla is looking after him and Shannon while we work.”

“Right,” Chimney nodded, glancing at Eddie who was snoring slightly. “I’ll let you get away with it for now,” he told him, “But try not to make a habit of it.”

“I won’t,” Buck said, a soft smile on his face.

“Just make sure you don’t make a habit of it,” Chimney reiterated.

Eddie grumbled as he said, “Thanks, Chim, now shut up, m’tryin ta sleep.”

Chimney stared at him and laughed, “Talking in his sleep?”

“He does sometimes,” Buck nodded, “Especially when people are talking around him, he will interact with them”

“I can see that being a problem,” Chimney snorted.

Buck nodded again, “Oh yeah, Christopher found out his birthday gift by talking to Eddie while he was sleeping. We’ve had to make him promise not to do it again,” he told him, grinning.

Chimney laughed, though was trying to keep himself quiet, “Right,” he nodded, “That kid.”

“I know, he is so sweet and innocent and then he does something so sneaky,” Buck shook his head and smiled, “He’s a good kid, he didn’t realize what he was getting out of Eddie when he talked about his birthday, he was a little upset when we made him promise, he hasn’t tried talking with Eddie while he’s asleep since.”

“Yeah, he’s too… good to do anything else really,” he nodded, “Right, I’ll leave you two be, and really, Buck, don’t make it a habit, I’m letting you off this time.”

“Thanks, Chim,” Buck nodded, closing his eyes again.

Chimney gave a small smile and then carried on down the stairs to find Hen and help with restocking the ambulance.

Buck slipped into a light doze for a while, a little smile on his face as he could hear the light snores coming from Eddie. Knowing he was there was always soothing to Buck, able to drift off to sleep knowing they were together. Both of them jumped to their feet when the alarm rang. heading downstairs, Eddie began to head to the ambulance, only to see Chimney there.

“In the ladder,” Chimney told him, “I’m taking this with Hen,” he said.

“Okay,” Eddie nodded and headed to the back cab of the Ladder truck. He grinned at Buck who was in the front. “Right, let’s get going,” he said, nodding as the last of them climbed in and the doors slammed shut. They pulled out of the station and the sirens went on.

“What are we facing, Chimney?” Buck asked over the radio, sitting in the spot that Bobby would normally be in when they traveled to a scene. Eddie was in his normal spot, for only the second time since Chimney had taken over as Interim Captain.

“We have a-” he began only to be cut off as Dispatch got in contact with them

“118, 118, this is dispatch, we have Bobby Nash on the line,” the man on the other end called out.

“This is 118, what?” Chimney asked, glancing over at Hen as she looked just as confused to be hearing from their captain.

Buck and Eddie were looking confused as they heard that Bobby Nash was on the line to talk to them. “Wonder what’s going on,” Eddie said as Buck nodded.

“Yeah, I know that they found a bomb on his doorstep,” Buck began before the world around them, “He messaged me that it was on Athena’s doorstep and that Harry almost picked it up. Michael just about stopped him,” he added.

“Damn,” Eddie said as the others in the ladder truck nodded in agreement

“We have Bobby Nash on the line and he says that it’s urgent that he talks to you,” the dispatcher said.

“Okay, put him through,” Chimney agreed, shaking his head as he wondered what was going on. Bobby knew that he could call them and they would answer as soon as they were available to do so. He knew what shifts could be like.

“Chi-” Bobby’s voice came through.

Buck frowned as he heard Bobby’s voice. Then there was a loud bang and the world tilted and everything went dark.

Chimney swore as Hen and the truck before him pulled to an abrupt stop as they heard the loud bang behind them. “What the hell!” he exclaimed as he got out of the ambulance and stared behind them only to see the ladder truck now falling to the ground. Fire around it as bits of it fell to the tarmac of the road, still burning. “Dispatch,” he began, only to see someone walking through the smoke and towards the truck as it lay on its side, he could only just see the firefighters that were now outside of it. All of them laying on the road, with Buck with part of his leg stuck under the ladder truck. “We’re going to need help.”

Chapter Twenty

Eddie blinked, his head pounding and he wondered for a moment where he was. He remembered the bang, an explosion, was he under enemy fire? He glanced around him, barely able to make things out with a blurred vision, but it was obvious that he wasn’t in Afghanistan as he saw buildings and tarmac. Though the world did look as though it was on fire in front of him. He was somewhere else. “Wh-” he blinked a few more times, his memory starting to get clearer.

“Well,” a strange voice said as they walked through the smoke and towards the firetruck that Eddie now noticed was on its side.

Eddie’s eyes went wide as he saw Buck, he was looking around, but as Eddie followed the man’s body towards the truck he gave a half-croaking yell of, “Buck,” as he saw the man’s leg was underneath it.

“You’re new,” the strange man said as he looked down at Buck and then at Eddie, who was lying nearby looking towards them, “And so are you,” he smirked.

“Wha… what do you want?” Eddie gasped out as he started to shift around, trying to get up.

“Ah, ah, ah,” the man said, shaking his finger at him, “You stay right where you are, don’t do anything funny,” he warned him, moving aside his jacket so Eddie could see what was strapped to him.

“Fuck,” Eddie cursed.

“At least you’re clever enough to know what this is, let’s see if you’re clever enough to survive this,” he snorted as he looked around, “I want the Captain!” he yelled out, as he hadn’t seen Bobby anywhere yet.

“I’m the Captain,” Chimney said as he walked around the other truck and into view.

“No, I don’t want you, I want Captain Nash,” the man yelled as he faced away from Eddie and Buck.

Eddie felt a hand on his leg and he looked over, seeing Mathew Lecroy reaching out, blood on his head. “What?” he whispered, not to let the man hear them.

“I’m ready to help when you are,” he said, “I’m bruised as hell, but I think I can still get up and rush the bastard,” he added.

“Right, Matt, we need to wait until he is fully distracted,” he whispered back.

“Okay,” he nodded, moving around a little and checking himself over, “Yeah, I’m good.”

Eddie gave a sharp nod, ignoring the pain that was coming from his head and the pain in other places including his wrist. Though he didn’t feel as bad as he could have done.

“Give me Captain Nash!” the man demanded as there was now a police line around them stopping people from coming closer.

“I’m here, Freddie!” Bobby yelled out as he was able to get past the barrier and towards them. He had been watching Eddie and Matthew for a few moments before stepping in.

“Nash,” Freddie spat, glaring at the man.

“Why are you doing this?” Bobby asked him, even though he had a good idea as to why.

“Why do you think!” he yelled, “It was your fault, you and that bitch and all the others!”

“We were doing our jobs!” Bobby called back, “What do you expect to get out of this?” he asked him.

“Justice,” Freddie sneered, “Justice that my father didn’t get, he died in there, because of you all.”

“I’m sorry for what happened, but there was nothing we could do, he was the one that set fire to that restaurant,” Bobby said, moving around as he saw that Eddie and Mathew were getting ready to rush.

“Do anything and we’ll all be blown up,” he laughed cruelly, “Including your boys behind me,” he told him, pulling his hand out from his pocket, “I drop this and we all go sky high.”

“You think you’re a victim,” Bobby said, shaking his head, “But the moment you left that first bomb, you stopped being the victim. You’re nothing but a murderer, and just like your father you’re going to be going to prison, but this time, for the rest of your life.”

“I’ll be ending it soon enough, taking you with me,” he snapped at him.

“And what about them,” Bobby said, gesturing to the firefighters that were on the ground around them. Eddie and Mathew, quickly lay down in case Freddie looked behind him.

Freddie did turn for a second, “Collateral damage,” he snorted, “They shouldn’t have gotten in my way to you,” he shrugged.

“They have a family, a son,” Bobby shook his head, “And you think you’re innocent, just like your father, well you aren’t. He broke the law and we were doing our job. What he did was wrong, and he was caught.”

“You broke my family apart!” Freddie yelled at him, turning to face him, his arms at his side, “You broke my Mother.”

“Do you want her to see you die?” Bobby asked, knowing that Athena had brought her with them.

“I-” he began.

“Freddie,” Mrs Costas said, her voice shaking as she was guided by Athena past the barrier, “What… what are you doing?” she asked him, shaking her head.

“I, I’m doing this for us, they-” he began, looking distraught at his mother.

“No, Freddie, we… no,” she said.

Eddie and Mathew shared a look and both of them moved quickly. Bobby was doing the same as all three of them converged on Freddie. Bobby was able to get the deadman’s switch from his grip, quickly passing it onto the bomb squad as police took Freddie from Mathew and Eddie who had taken him down.

“Buck!” Eddie yelled as he rushed over to him, “Hey, hey cariño, I need you to stay with me,” he said, as he held a hand, Hen and Chimney rushing to Buck’s side as well. The other paramedics, as well as those called in, went to the three other firefighters that were still on the ground.

“Eddie,” Bobby said, putting a hand on his shoulder, “You need to get checked out as well,” he said, noting the blood and the unfocused gaze in his eyes.

“No, not leaving Buck, I won’t,” he said, glancing up before paying attention again as Hen began a few lines to help. People gathered around the engine and began to try and lift it. Bobby going to help.

Buck let out a pained cry as the lift failed, “Eds,” he slurred, not able to focus on his boyfriend.

“I’m here, right here, okay, and you’re going to be just fine. I’m not going anywhere,” Eddie babbled at him.

“We don’t have enough people,” Chimney said as he took in the situation, “It’ll take too long to get something in here to get it off him,” he added.

Moments later people broke through the barrier and they all began to help. Chimney and Bobby said, a small smile on each of their faces as they nodded as Chimney led the lift.

Hen and Eddie worked together to get Buck from under the truck and set to work. Eddie was pulled away and Chimney took his place.

“No, I need to-” Eddie began, trying to get back to Buck.

“Eddie, you need to get taken care of as well, it’s just you and Buck that we need to take care of,” Bobby was the one to pull him away so that Chimney and Hen could see to his injuries, another paramedic from another station was heading over to them. “I would say concussion, and he’s favoring his left arm, I think he’s done something to that as well,” he added, reporting what he had been able to observe from Eddie.

“Right,” the paramedic nodded as he began to try and treat Eddie, who was still protesting about being apart from Buck.

A few minutes later, Buck was on the gurney and being taken towards the waiting ambulance. Eddie pulled himself from the paramedic and headed over, “I’m going,” he said, glaring at everyone, making sure that none of them would be able to stop him.

“Get in,” Bobby said, knowing better than to stop him. Athena was now next to him, holding him as Eddie gave them a small nod.

“Just make sure you get fully checked out when you get there as well,” Athena said, giving Hen and Chimney a look.

“We’ll meet you at the hospital,” Bobby called out.

Athena leaned against Bobby as the ambulance doors closed, “He’s going to be alright,” she said, though she didn’t know if she was saying it for Bobby’s sake or her own.

XxXxX

Eddie was separated from Buck again as they took him into surgery as soon as they stepped into the hospital. “No, I need… I need to go with him, Hen,” he said, looking at her.

“Eddie,” she said, her voice calm and gentle, “They need to help him, and someone else needs to come and check on you, so you come with me,” she added as she caught the eye of a doctor and she followed the two to a more private cubicle.

“Another firefighter from the explosion?” the doctor asked, a little blunt, but she was already beginning to check Eddie over for a concussion.

“Yes,” Hen nodded.

“I’m Doctor Sunita,” she said, her voice brisk as she carried on checking Eddie over, “I want him to get an X-Ray on his left arm, his wrist is looking swollen and I want to make sure it’s not broken before we wrap it,” she added, as she then called for a nurse. Instructing her to clean the wounds that could be seen.

“Yes, Doctor,” she nodded.

“If you could get into a gown, Firefighter Diaz,” Doctor Sunita said, seeing his name on the tag, “I want to have you fully examined, make sure that there is nothing else hidden.”

Eddie nodded absently, “I just want to be near Buck, he… he might need me,” he said, looking over at Hen.

“Chimney is out there, and Maddie is on the way as well. You get checked out and we’ll go and wait. I’ve called Carla as well, to tell her what’s going on. She’s going to bring you a change of clothes, and Christopher saw what happened on the news, he’s very upset and he wants to come as well. Carla said that it will be up to you,” Hen told him, she had been in the corner of the room, on her phone talking to several people to make sure everyone knew where to go and to ask for a few things to be brought in.

“Bring him,” Eddie said, “he… he won’t sleep if he’s at home. I don’t know about Shannon.”

“She wants to come as well, support her friend and her family,” Hen answered her, “Carla doesn’t mind bringing them here.”

“Please,” Eddie said, wanting Christopher close, afraid that something might happen to his son. He knew in his head that Freddie Costas wouldn’t be able to do anything, but that didn’t stop his heart from worrying about him.

“Okay, I’ll call Carla back and tell her to bring them both,” Hen smiled going back to the edge of the room as Eddie changed into the gown with a little help from the nurse. Laying down on the bed, Doctor Sunita began to fully examine him, as the nurse then organized for someone to come and take him for X-Ray.

Hen stayed as Eddie left, getting a message from Athena that she and Bobby had arrived and asked how Eddie was doing. Leaving the room for a moment, she went to find them. “Hey,” she greeted as she saw Bobby pacing.

“Hen,” Athena was the one to greet her. Maddie was crying as she was held in Chimney’s arms.

“Any news on Buck?” she asked, glancing around the room.

Maddie looked up, “No,” she said, “They’ve asked to talk to Eddie since he’s Buck’s medical proxy, I told them that he was being checked over. They’re going to find him and talk to him.”

Hen nodded, “Okay,” she took a deep breath, “Eddie is mostly okay. Mild concussion and he is extremely worried about Buck, doesn’t like the fact that they are separated at the moment. I’m thinking he might have had a flashback to being in Afghanistan when the… the truck exploded,” she said, shuddering as she remembered the bang that had occurred. “They have taken him to X-Ray, they’re worried about his wrist.”

“He was favoring it,” Bobby said quietly, “Nothing else?”

“Scrapes, bruises, but that’s it. How about the others?” she asked.

“Mathew has a concussion, Miles and Clarissa have a broken arm and leg respectively,” Chimney began, “Lucas, is in surgery as well, bleed in the brain they suspect,” he finished, “Lucas and Buck are who we are most worried about, they both have serious injuries. Lucas’ wife is on her way, as are Clarissa’s parents, and Miles’. Mathew’s brother is heading this way as well.”

“Right, Carla is coming, and Christopher saw the news, he’s coming as well, along with Shannon. I asked Carla to bring something for Eddie to wear after he is done,” Hen told them.

“Right,” Bobby nodded, glad that they had been given a large side room to wait in instead of the waiting room.

“I’ll go and wait for them,” Athena said, “And bring them here.”

“Thank you,” Hen smiled at her friend, “I’m going to wait here for them to come and then take Eddie the clothes, he’ll be thankful for the change.”

Athena smiled as she headed out of the room. It didn’t take long for her to come back. Shannon, Christopher, and Carla followed behind her.

“Where’s Dad?” Christopher asked as he looked around, eyes red-rimmed from the crying he had done as he saw the news.

“He’s getting checked out to make sure he’s okay,” Hen answered him, “I’m going to be taking him the change of clothes that Carla brought,” she added, as Carla handed over the bag.

“He’s okay? What about Bucky?” Christopher asked, tearing up again as Shannon reached out and rubbed his back.

“We… we don’t know yet,” Maddie said slowly, “But your Dad should be just fine, he’ll be joining us here in a bit, and Buck… Buck will as well, he’s strong,” she said, her smile wobbling as she tried to treasure the child.

Hen took the back and headed off to meet with Eddie again. It didn’t take long for Eddie to be dressed again. “Chris is here, and he’s worried about you and Buck,” she warned him as she finished helping him dress, his arm back in a sling, and his wrist bandaged. It wasn’t broken but was badly sprained.

“Right,” he said, feeling more stable as he got up and followed Hen to the waiting room.

“Dad!” Christopher yelled as soon as he saw him.

Eddie winced a little, as he knelt and let his son rush into his arms, “Hey, Mijo,” he said, holding him with one arm.

“Daddy, Bucky, and you were hurt, I saw it and I was so scared, Where’s Bucky, Dad? Is Bucky okay?” he asked frantically as Hen walked over and helped Eddie stand with Christopher in his arms.

“Buck is like me, Mijo, he will fight to come back to his family,” Eddie reassured him as he went and sat down, sitting around and waiting for news.

 

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