Reading Time: 106 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 Twenty-One

It was hours before a doctor stepped into the room. Christopher was sleeping on Eddie’s lap, clinging to his dad after he refused to go back home without seeing his Bucky. “Family of Evan Buckley?” he asked, glancing around at the people that were gathered.

“Yes,” Maddie said, jumping to her feet. Eddie wanted to do the same as he watched everyone start moving around.

“We’re after Edmundo Diaz, as well,” he added.

“That’s me,” Eddie said, “But whatever it is that you have to say, they can hear it as well,” his words were quiet, as he didn’t want to wake Christopher just yet. Not until he knew if he would be able to see Buck or not.

“Right,” he nodded, “I’m Doctor Bruno Osvald, I am one of the ones that helped with the surgery for Mr Buckley,” he began. “His leg was badly damaged, but we have done what we can to repair it. More surgeries may be needed later, depending on how it heals. So far we’ve put in a rod and four screws to keep it stable. He has a concussion as well, and several scrapes and bruises. He has three bruised ribs, one is fractured as well, but he is doing well, stable, and in recovery. We believe he will wake sometime tomorrow morning,” he said, as he gave them a few more details.

“Can we see him,” Eddie asked, “Please,” he was almost begging and Maddie was nodding along with everyone else.

“I’m sorry but I would like him to rest,” he told them.

“Daddy,” Christopher whined as he began waking up from all the talking, “We see Bucky?” he asked, blinking.

Shannon looked at her son as Eddie was trying to explain that he wouldn’t be able to see him. “Look, Dr. Osvald, can you please let those two go and see Buck… Evan, that’s his boyfriend and his son, let them at least see them for a moment,” she said, wheeling herself closer, “Chris saw the news, and he’s inconsolable most of the time, we only just got him to sleep.”

Doctor Osvald looked at the man, arm in a sling and child curled up in his free arm. The child was beginning to cry and asked for someone called Buck, who he guessed was the young man that he had seen. He sighed and nodded, “I can give you a few moments, but not long,” he relented.

“Mijo,” Eddie said, rubbing Christopher’s back as best as he could, “We can see Buck for a moment, just a little moment and then I have to get you home and to bed,” he told him.

“I- I can s- see Bucky?” he hiccuped looking at his dad.

“Just for a moment,” Eddie nodded, “The doctor is being really nice and letting us see him,” he said, as he helped Christopher to his feet, Chimney was already there and handing him his crutches. Eddie stood up and followed Doctor Osvald to Buck’s room, Maddie smiling as he went.

“Is Bucky going to be okay?” Christopher asked the doctor as they headed through the corridors.

“He’s going to need a lot of help, but after a while, he will be just fine,” Doctor Osvald said, a gentle smile on his face as he answered the eight-year-old.

“Is he really going to be okay?” Christopher asked again, still scared of what he had seen on the TV before anyone could turn it over.

Doctor Osvald nodded, “He will, it will take a long time until he’ll be able to get back to doing all he could before, but he will recover.”

“Will he still be able to be a firefighter?” Eddie asked, knowing that Buck would need to know the answer, the man loved being a firefighter and called it his calling in life.

“We don’t know,” Doctor Osvald said, “If he heals well enough, then yes he may be able to get back to being a firefighter. I can’t really say if he will or not,” he pointed out, “It’s all according to how he heals, it might be months before we know for sure if he can go back.”

“Right,” Eddie said, sighing and nodding, as he looked at Christopher, who was frowning at the answer as well.

Doctor Osvald stopped in front of a door, “Now, he is still sleeping, so don’t worry too much, he has some cuts and bruises on his face but he is okay, and his leg is in a temporary cast for now.”

“Okay,” Christopher said, “I won’t be scared. I’ve had three surgeries, and I always look so tired,” he said, grinning at Doctor Osvald.

“Oh, we have a pro in our midst then,” he smiled, “Well, you know how it’s going to be then.” Christopher nodded as Doctor Osvald opened the door.

Eddie let Christopher go first, the eight-year-old rushing into the room. Eddie had expected him to call out for his Bucky, instead, he was silent as he went over to the bed. Eddie followed him, a worried look as he saw Buck sleeping on the bed, cannula, IVs, and other things surrounding him, but he was breathing, he was alive and Eddie felt a rush of relief go through him.

“Wake up soon, Bucky, Daddy and I will be here again tomorrow,” Christopher said, glaring at his dad as though daring him to comment, since Christopher knew he had school tomorrow morning.

Eddie rolled his eyes but gave a nod, “Okay, no school tomorrow, but you will be going the next day,” he said as he looked down at Christopher.

“Fine,” Christopher muttered, “But you better take care of my Bucky,” he said.

“Of course,” he smiled.

“And yourself, I don’t like it when anyone’s hurt,” he added, looking at his dad, worry in his eyes.

“I know,” Eddie said gently as he looked from Christopher to Buck, “Everything will be okay,” he reassured him.

“Yeah,” Christopher said.

“I’m sorry, but you’re both going to have to leave, you can visit again in the morning, he should be waking up around then,” Doctor Osvald told the two.

Christopher nodded looking up at his dad, “We can come back tomorrow, can’t we?” he asked.

Eddie nodded, “Yeah.” He guided Christopher out of the room, to where the others were still waiting.

“How… How is he?” Maddie asked, she wished she had been able to go herself, but she knew that Eddie and Christopher really needed to see him for themselves, to know that he was going to be okay.

“He’s sleeping, and there are lots of things around him,” Christopher was the one to answer her.

“He’s a little banged up, but he does look okay,” Eddie said, “he’s sleeping okay.”

Maddie sighed, “Thank you,” she said, teary-eyed as Chimney stood beside her, an arm around her.

“They aren’t going to be letting us see him until the morning, so I suggest we get home, sleep as best as we can and have some food and come back tomorrow. We should be able to see Buck then,” Bobby suggested to them all, “The others are all settled for the night as well. We can’t see them until after their family has been to see them.”

“Yeah,” Hen said, she didn’t want to leave without seeing Buck and the others, but they weren’t allowed to see them just yet.

“I don’t want to leave,” Maddie said quietly, “I really don’t want him to wake up and none of us being there, or even here for him.”

“I know, none of us want to leave, Maddie,” Athena said, “At the moment we’re not allowed back there, and he would be the first one to tell you to go home and get some rest.”

Maddie nodded, “I know.”

“Just, doesn’t make you feel better about it,” Eddie agreed with her, he didn’t really want to leave, but he had to get Shannon and Christopher back home.

“Home, food, and sleep,” Shannon said, looking at them all. “He’ll know you’ll have wanted to stay, and Athena is right, he would want you all taking care of yourselves as well. So do as advised and we’ll come back tomorrow and see if we can see him and spend some time with Buck.”

Eddie sighed and agreed, “Yeah, home. Carla,” he began.

“I’ll be driving you all home, don’t you worry about that,” she smiled, “I’ll come as well in the morning to help out and get you all here,” she added before Eddie or Shannon could even ask “I wouldn’t mind seeing Buck as well.”

They began to head home, Christopher dozing in the back, only waking up when they arrived home. Carla made them all something to eat, before leaving them, promising to come by in the morning.

“Dad,” Christopher said as he was being tucked in.

“Yeah?” Eddie asked, placing a kiss on Chrisopther’s forehead.

“Is Bucky really okay there alone?” he asked him.

“He will be, there are loads of nurses and doctors around to make sure he is treated well,” he told him.

“But Mommy didn’t have to leave me when I had my surgeries, she was able to sleep in the hospital,” he pouted, “Why can’t we do that with Buck?”

“When you’re young, they like to let you have family around you, so you don’t get scared. But when you’re an adult, they think you don’t get scared, so you’re okay to be alone for a little while and sleep until morning when people can visit again,” he explained.

“But, what if Buck is scared there all alone?” Christopher asked, suddenly worried about his Bucky.

“Then we’ll figure something out, so he won’t be scared,” Eddie reassured him, “We can ask him tomorrow if he is scared about being in the hospital on his own.”

Christopher nodded and yawned, “Okay, night, Daddy,” he murmured as he snuggled down on his bed and started to drift off to sleep.

“Night, Mijo,” Eddie smiled as he stood up straight, his body aching something fierce after what it had been through, but he didn’t think he would be able to sleep any time soon. Going into the living room, he found Shannon, settled in her wheelchair.

“Hey,” she said, a gentle smile on her face, “I made hot chocolate, you just need to grab it,” she told him.

Eddie nodded, going into the kitchen, he grabbed them with one hand and walked through to the living room, “Here,” he said, putting them down and moving one closer to her, “Thanks,” he said, sighing as he sat down, his body sinking into the plush couch. “I ache bad,” he muttered.

“I’m not surprised, and I’m surprised that you weren’t kept in,” Shannon said.

Eddie looked a little sheepish, “I may have signed myself out,” he told her, “I wanted to know how Buck was, and I didn’t think they would tell me if I was a patient.”

“Eddie,” Shannon sighed, and rolled her eyes, “How are you feeling? Pain wise?” she asked, “I know what you’re like when hurt,” she added, remembering the snappish attitude that Eddie had when he had returned home after being shot down in Afghanistan.

“Not as bad as then,” he told her, leaning back on the couch and closing his eyes, “I’m more worried about Buck, and my arm should be fine after a couple of weeks. Bad sprain,” he added, yawning.

“Anything else I need to know?” she asked him, “I saw the aftermath on the news. They… they zoomed in on Buck and that’s when Christopher came into my room and saw it,” she asked, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want him to see that.”

“It happens, he likes to wander around,” Eddie reminded her.

“I forgot about that, he wasn’t… as mobile back then as he is now,” she smiled, “You’ve done really well in getting him moving around,” she said, “He’s so adventurous.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to see,” he murmured, “Buck helps a lot with that, and Carla… she’s amazing in making sure that he has everything he needs as well.”

“How on earth did you find someone like Carla?” Shannon asked, wondering where the woman had come from.

“Buck,” he answered, “Abuela broke her hip not long after I started at the 118. After that, Buck introduced me to Carla, she had been the nurse that cared for his ex-girlfriend’s mother. She walked into my life and made things so much easier. It was her that found Durand, and made sure he was able to get all the therapy that he needed.”

“She is amazing,” she smiled, “She’s been making sure that I get to things as well. Doing aqua therapy at the moment, helping to strengthen the muscles now that the cast is off,” she added.

“Can’t believe that was a month ago,” Eddie sighed.

“Neither can I, but my doctor said that my healing is going really well, and the bones are healing really well, which is why I’m out of the cast now,” she told him, “Carla has been an angel in helping me navigate everything that they are telling me.”

“Good to know,” he smiled, opening his eyes, he reached out for his hot chocolate and drank it down. “Thanks for that,” he said.

“Welcome,” Shannon grinned, “I still don’t trust the tray for the chair at the moment,” she told him.

“Yeah,” he nodded, wincing as his head throbbed, “I think I’m going to sleep.”

“I’ll be calling your phone to wake you up, concussion check,” Shannon grinned.

Eddie grumbled but agreed as he got up and got ready for bed. He stayed under the hot water for a moment, looking at his wrist without the bandage on, it was bruised and slightly swollen, but not as bad as he feared it would be. Taking stock of himself, he could see where most of his aches and pains were coming from, bruises were blossoming here and there around his body, from where he had landed on the road. He thought of Buck, the fear he had when he had opened his eyes and saw him, and realized what was going on. Shuddering, he couldn’t help the tears fall, lifting his head up, he let the water wash them away. He had been so scared when he saw Buck there and noticed he was trapped, with someone standing over him with a damn bomb. Eddie thought he had left that type of thing in the deserts of Afghanistan.

He stayed there for a few more minutes before stepping out and getting ready for bed. He lay there awake for a while, eyes staring at the ceiling all he could think of was Buck and how he had been trapped. He might have been able to put that aside for a while, but now that he was alone, in a room that he shared with Buck, he missed having him next to him, the quiet snores as he was curled into Eddie, a warmth beside him that was missing. Eddie forced his eyes to close, hoping that sleep would soon take him.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Christopher was leading the charge toward Buck’s room, eager to see his best friend. Eddie was following behind him. Maddie had called, telling him that Buck had been moved to another room and had been awake for a while that morning. Eddie had trouble getting Christopher up at first until the eight-year-old remembered what had happened to Buck. Maddie had been with him until she had a shift at dispatch. She was going to take a few days off, but after seeing Buck, he had told her not to, and she had finally relented and had gone to work.

“Bucky!” Christopher yelled, as soon as he entered the room and saw Buck sitting up on his bed.

“Hey, Buddy,” Buck smiled, relieved to see the little boy and Eddie, walking into the room. He saw the sling and gave a frown, “Eds?” he asked, gesturing slightly to the sling.

“Sprained wrist, bumps, and bruises,” Eddie answered him, “Mild concussion, so headaches are great,” he carried on as he closed the door and went to the second chair that was free in the room.

“Who else was injured?” he asked, worried for the rest of the crew.

“Mathew is fine, he was released this morning. Miles and Clarissa will be let go tomorrow. Lucas had a bleed on the brain, and he’s in ICU for now. I heard from his family that he’s doing okay. That he is recovering okay at the moment, and the doctors aren’t too worried,” Eddie answered him.

Buck gave a small nod as Christopher pouted at him, “Yeah?” he asked the child.

“Can I sit with you?” Christopher asked, wanting to be close to his Bucky.

Buck nodded, “You’re Dad’s going to have to have to help you,” he said.

Eddie nodded, and with one arm, he helped Christopher onto Buck’s bed so the little boy could cuddle with him. “How are you feeling?” he asked him.

“Okay, in a little pain, but feeling better with my boys here,” he smiled slightly as he wrapped an arm around Christopher.

“I was so scared, Bucky,” Christopher mumbled, “I saw you on TV and you were trapped, and I saw Daddy as well.” He shuddered as he huddled closer to Buck.

“Oh, Chris,” Buck murmured, “I’m sorry for scaring you, but you don’t have to worry, okay.”

“You okay then?” he asked, looking up at him.

“I will be just fine,” he smiled, glancing at Eddie, “I… They said they don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to being a firefighter,” he murmured.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, please, let’s concentrate on getting you back up and about and home,” Eddie said as he took hold of his hand and squeezed it, “I’m going to be right there, and you know that Carla is going to help as well.”

“I know,” Buck said, “I just… I finally have something that I’m good at, Eds, and I don’t… I don’t want to lose it all.”

“You won’t, Buck, we’ll figure things out, but it’s not even been a day and we don’t know what things might hold. We can plan for the worst and hope for the best, that’s all we can do. As we have with Shannon, she’s planning for the worst, but hoping for the best,” Eddie reminded him, “That’s… that’s all we can do for now,” he told him, singing a little.

“It’ll be okay, Bucky,” Christopher said, patting him on the side, “We’ll all be here, together, we’re family and we help each other,” he grinned up at him.

“Yeah,” Buck smiled down at him, “We are, and that’s very important.”

They talked a little longer, though Christopher fell asleep on the bed for a little bit. “Was he okay last night?” Buck asked, now that Christopher was asleep.

“He was okay, didn’t want to sleep properly until after he saw you. Was hard to wake him this morning. It wasn’t until he remembered what happened that he got up,” Eddie sighed, shaking his head.

Buck winced, “I wish he hadn’t seen anything,” he murmured.

“Same, but it happened and we just have to deal with it and the fallout. He didn’t have a nightmare last night, but that doesn’t really mean that much. No doubt he was too tired for it,” he said, running a hand through Christopher’s curls.

“Let’s hope they aren’t too bad,” Buck whispered.

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed, “Look, Buck, I know that you are fearing the worst,” he began, “But, you can’t let that stop you at all, we’re going to get through this.”

“I know, I know we can, and yeah I’m scared that I won’t be able to be a firefighter again. That I’ll end up being left behind again, that if I’m not I’ll lose everything,” he sighed, looking down at Christopher.

“You won’t though, Buck, I love you, and so does Christopher. You’re not going to lose us at all, we love you too much to even let you think you are leaving our life,” Eddie said, hoping to reassure him.

Buck nodded, “In my heart, I think I know that, but my brain keeps telling me that people always leave. Maddie did it twice when she went to college and then when she married Doug,” he murmured, “I just think of that, and then I start getting scared about it again.”

“Well, I’ll just have to prove to you that we’re not going to be going anywhere,” Eddie smiled at him. Buck smiled back as they talked about a few other things before Eddie had to get Christopher home so he could have dinner. Bobby and Athena had now turned up to see Buck.

“I’ll see you either later, or tomorrow,” Eddie said, as he looked at Buck, he didn’t want to leave, if he was honest with himself.

“Yeah,” Buck smiled, as Eddie leaned in for a kiss, “Love you.”

“Love you as well,” Eddie replied, kissing Buck again, not wanting to leave.

“Go, head home and I’ll see you tomorrow, you brought my Kindle and a few other things to keep me occupied,” he told him, “So I’ll be just fine.”

“Okay,” he said, reluctantly moving away.

“Bye, Bucky,” Christopher said as he and his father finally left the room.

Buck waved as they left, the door closing behind them. Bobby watched Buck as he seemed to collapse into himself.

“Hey, Kid,” Bobby said, gaining the young man’s attention.

“B… Bobby,” he said, his voice hitching a little, “I…”

Bobby sat down on the bed, Athena taking a spot on the other side, “We’re right here with you, kiddo,” he said, reaching out and carefully hugging him.

Buck broke as he began to cry, all the fear and hurt that he had kept at bay since he had woken up. “I’m scared, I’m scared that I won’t be able to…” he trailed off.

“It’s okay, Baby,” Athena said, a hand on Buck’s back as Bobby held him tightly, “We’re going to be right there with you, through it all.”

“We’re staying right here, we’ll make sure you’re okay,” Bobby added, sharing a look with Athena.

Buck cried for a few more moments before he finally stopped, his chest was hurting him badly, but he felt a little better in himself for the cry. “So… Sorry,” he hiccuped, holding his ribs.

“I’m going to get a doctor to come and check you over, make sure that didn’t hurt you further,” Athena said, kissing him on the head, “You’re okay, Buckaroo,” she told him, giving him a smile before she got up and left the room.

Bobby sat there, gripping Buck’s hand, “I… I’m sorry this happened.”

Buck looked up at him and saw the guilt in Bobby’s eyes, “No, it’s not your fault, none of this is.”

“It is though,” Bobby murmured, “I… Freddie Costas was a teenager when I helped lock up his father for arson. If I hadn’t gotten involved, then… I wouldn’t have been targeted.”

“Bobby,” Buck frowned, “You… you were doing your job, just like the rest of those that he targeted. It’s on that person, not you.”

“It wasn’t actually my job, the investigation side of things, I helped Athena out…” he sighed, “I couldn’t do anything to help you when he… targeted you,” he murmured.

“You tried to warn us, that’s why you were on the line?” Buck asked, getting a nod, “Then you were doing what you could to make sure we were safe. I can remember some bits, and you… you went out there as well, talked to him. Gaining his attention so that you, and Eddie and Matt, could take him down.”

“I still feel like I haven’t done enough to keep you safe, that I should have done something,” he said, as the door opened and the topic was shelved for a moment.

The doctor looked Buck over, making sure the crying he had done, hadn’t damaged his ribs anymore. “You’re fine,” she smiled and left, “if you need anything more for the pain, take it, that’s what it’s there for,” she reminded him, gesturing to the morphine pump that he had been hooked up to.”

Buck gave an absent nod. He was still looking at Bobby, who was now sitting on a chair. The doctor left and Buck spoke again, “It’s not your fault, Bobby.”

“What’s going on?” Athena asked, looking between the two.

“Bobby believes that the bombing was his fault,” Buck said as he looked over at her.

“Bobby,” Athena said shaking her head, “That’s it, therapy, and I think I’m going to make a point of making sure that everyone on shift that day gets some,” she muttered, “Really, Bobby,” she sighed, as she got up and went over to him, “You know it wasn’t your fault at all,” she told him, “You were helping me find out what the hell had happened, Bobby,” she reminded him.

“I know,” he sighed.

“Do what ‘Thena said,” Buck told him, “I think… I might need more myself after that,” he admitted.

“I’ll be making sure you all take care of yourselves. I’ll be talking with Eddie as well,” Athena said.

“Mention Christopher with Eddie, it’s usually the way to get him to do something he doesn’t like. Christopher will need some therapy as well, he saw the newscast and saw that it was me,” Buck sighed, looking away, “I know Eddie’s worried about nightmares he might have. He already has some about Shannon and her accident as well. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he had more to add to it.”

“I suggest you get Shannon to help you there, the two of you might have a good chance of getting them both into therapy,” Athena smirked at him.

“Yeah,” Buck smiled, “Shannon has a way of being blunt enough that most just listen to her.”

“She seems that way,” Bobby smiled, having met Shannon a couple of times.

Buck yawned, “I hate being in the hospital,” he muttered, “I want to go home.”

“Well, we have lunch and Michael has dinner sorted, he’ll be coming over with May and Harry, who want to see you. Hen and Karen will come tomorrow. And I know that Maddie is planning on stopping by again later, she’ll be bringing Chimney with her,” Bobby said as he brought over the thermal bag and took out the food that he had cooked for the three of them to share. He had offered to bring some in for Eddie and Christopher, but he had told them not to, that he wanted to get Christopher home to work on some of his schoolwork. No matter what he said, he would be going the next day.

“Thanks, Bobby,” Buck said, as he took the offered food and began to eat.

“Welcome,” Bobby smiled at him.

XxXxX

Shannon was sitting beside Buck’s bed. It had been a week now since the explosion, and Buck should be released soon. The house was already set up, and Carla was going to help with all three of them. Shannon felt bad for how much work Carla had taken on. She was now planning on making sure that she got an extra special bonus soon to thank her for everything.

“So, out of here soon, and then me and you will be heading to physio together,” she grinned at him.

Buck rolled his eyes, but smiled, “Having a friend going through this might keep me from wanting to flake.”

“I don’t think you would, even if you were on your own doing this,” Shannon told him, smiling, “They’ve got me in the water at the moment, trying to build up my muscles. The feeling is all there again, but my movement is just… not happening.”

“You’ll get there, it’s only been what… a month and a bit?” he asked.

“Six weeks in total,” Shannon sighed, “I know, they did tell me it could take up to a year for me to be able to walk with crutches, and even longer to walk unaided, but I want to be up and about, enjoying things with Christopher, and I feel like I can’t being stuck in this damn thing,” she cursed, huffing.

“I know, it’s going to suck,” Buck agreed, “Though they’ve given me crutches,” he said, gesturing to them, “I’m allowed a short walk each day now, get used to them. Christopher was here when I first got them, he decided to give me a crash course and is planning on bringing some stickers in, as he thinks I need them to look cool,” he grinned at her, “He’s a trooper.”

“Yeah, and in therapy, he’s doing well, had his first session today. Came home a little teary, but happier. Eddie is… reluctant, but I told him off about that. He’s going in two days. I caught him griping about it and I just told him outright, if Buck and Christopher can, if I have to, then so do you,” Shannon huffed and then smirked, “he gave in. I heard that Bobby is going as well, and Chimney is talking things through with his as well.”

“Maddie is as well, she said she wanted to try and control what my treatment is and tell me I shouldn’t be a firefighter anymore, but she knew that it was because she was scared that I would get hurt again, or killed. The other was because she wanted me to take things slow,” Buck told her quietly, “We… talked about things, and she’s worried, but stepping back a little,” he added.

“Good, Eddie is your proxy, like you are his,” she rolled her eyes, “Protective siblings, who’d have them,” she muttered.

“I take it Niamh is being protective with that?” Buck smirked.

Shannon stared at him, “You have no idea, she wants to go around her place and make sure that if I come I’ll be safe, but she’s basically talking about baby-proofing it all,” she shook her head, “I’m trying to get through to her to calm down. I know she’s worried, and she wants me to live with her again. I want that as well, but Carla and I are in agreement, that I shouldn’t until I’m at least on my crutches more. And since that’s going to take a couple of months,” she sighed.

“She’s pouting and trying to talk you into going back,” Buck said, “Even though it was partially her idea that you come and stay with us since we have Carla.”

“I know she’s missing me, but she has her own life that she is living, she’s having fun, but she still misses me,” Shannon smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll be talking to her again, and making it known that I’m not going anywhere for a while.”

Buck snorted, “Tell me how it goes,” he said, getting a nod, “Now, help me with this damn puzzle, May brought it in for me to do, and I just want to get it done,” he muttered, gesturing to the book he had been given. Shannon wheeled closer and transferred herself to his bed and they began to work on it together until Athena turned up with dinner for the all three of them.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Buck was finished listening to his surgeon who was thinking about doing another operation on Buck’s leg to help it with healing. Maddie was with him since she was the only one with time off that day. “I thin-” he began.

Maddie was shaking her head, “No, no, I don’t think that is something that you should do, Buck,” she told him, “Look, it’s going to be quicker, but there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to do anything afterward,” she said, ignoring the surgeon as he tried to speak to Buck. The man was frowning at Maddie as she spoke.

“Mrs Kendall,” he began, “I ask that you not talk over me. I’ve explained everything to Mr Buckley and he has understood all the risks and the benefits involved in having this operation. And while you may think that it’s unnecessary, this will actually help with the bone’s stability and healing.”

“It might not do that,” she said, turning to face the surgeon for a moment.

“Maddie,” Buck started, frowning at his sister, she had been trying to interfere with his choices about his care and what he wanted to be done for the last few days since there had been talk about another operation. She was against it and he had no idea why.

“Buck, I’m just trying to look out for you,” she said, smiling at him, there was worry in her eyes as she looked him over, along with fear.

“Maddie,” he said, “I’m doing this. I need to do this operation, it will have a better effect on my healing with my leg,” he told her, sighing. He had been in the hospital for two weeks now, and he had another before he would be able to go home, even with the upcoming operation.

“Mr Buckley, I will come back and talk to you later on,” the surgeon said as he could see that the two siblings needed a frank talk with each other, and that wouldn’t happen with him in the room.

“Thank you,” Buck said, shaking the man’s hand before he left the room.

“Now,” Maddie said, turning to give her brother her full attention, “I really need you to go with me on this. I’m your sister and I know that you want to hurry and get better, but you need to take it easy. If you rush things too much, you could really hurt yourself,” she warned him, shaking her head and sighing, “I know you, Buck, you do this all the time.”

“Maddie, I’ve not done that in a very long time. I haven’t done that since you left for college. I knew they were only paying attention to me because they had you there. As soon as you were gone, they didn’t care if I hurt myself. I could have died and they wouldn’t have even noticed until my corpse stank up the place enough for them to care,” he rolled his eyes, “So don’t start on me about hurting myself for attention or wanting to rush things because I have some need to prove myself. I’m done with that shit. I… I saw my therapist to help me with that.”

Maddie frowned, “I’m just… I’m just looking out for you. I want you to be safe in everything that you do.”

Buck snorted, “I’m a firefighter, and I will be again,” he told her, shaking his head.

“No, I think you should choose another job, another profession where you can help but not be in so much danger. Do you know what it was like to see you there, under that truck, and not be able to do anything to help you?” she demanded to know.

“Maddie, I know what you and the others were like. Eddie is still scared and is always checking on him. He comes to the hospital so much, that the nurses have to come in and shoo him and tell him off so he would go home. He knows what’s happening as well, and he asked so many questions. This meeting with the surgeon was to go through the final checks about it, to make sure I had all the information that I needed to make an informed decision on if I want to do this operation.,” he sighed, shaking his head as he then lay back a little, tired of Maddie already. She was so worried and scared about losing him that she seemed almost zealous about keeping him safe. It was beginning to chafe him badly.

“I’m looking out for you, it’s what older siblings do,” Maddie said, a little more firmly.

Buck took a deep breath, “Maddie, I don’t need you to control my life. I know what I want,” he said, looking at her again.

“I-”

“Maddie, what is going on?” he asked her bluntly, “Why do you… why are you being like this?”

Maddie was quiet, “We never did have that conversation after Doug’s trial, did we?” she said, looking up at her baby brother.

“What… why are you changing the subject?” he asked her, frowning as he sat up a bit better so he could see.

“Okay, I should have told you this, a long time ago. And I do mean a long time ago, like before I even left for College, but I didn’t want… them to know that I told you. When you asked me to go with you, I thought about telling you then, while we were traveling, and then I… I was too scared to join you because of him,” she sighed, slumping in the chair, seeming to be even smaller than she actually was.

“Mads?” Buck asked, reaching out to her.

“I’m sorry, Buck, I’m sorry, I never said anything,” she said looking up, this time there were tears in her eyes and slowly making their way down her cheeks.

“Just tell me,” he promoted her, taking hold of a hand, she was gripping it tightly like she thought at any moment he would rip it from her hand.

“We… we had a brother, he was a year younger than me,” she said, her voice trembling. “He was just like you, adventurous and always wanting to do something. Wouldn’t sit still at all most of the time,” she said, a watery smile on her face. “I… I hid a couple of pictures of him. Mom and Dad, they threw everything out, not a thing of his remained,” she sighed, “They wanted to erase him and they did, for the most part.”

“Wha… What was his name?” Buck asked, his voice starting to shake, he didn’t know if he should be angry or sad that Maddie was only now just telling him.

“Daniel, Daniel Paul Buckley, he was eight when you were born,” she smiled, “He loved you the moment he held you in his arms.”

“What happened to him?” he asked, not knowing if he wanted to hear the stories of someone else being in his family that cared about him.

Maddie sighed, “Leukaemia,” she told him, “He started getting ill before you were born. Mom and Dad tried… everything to help him, cure him but nothing was working. None of us was a match either,” she added, biting her lip.

Buck was silent, “No one was a match?” he asked, getting a nod. “I… they made a match, didn’t they?”

Maddie nodded, “Yes.”

“Me, and I failed to help him and that’s why they hate me so much. That’s why they never cared. I was only made for spare parts, and when that didn’t work the way they wanted,” Buck began to ramble as he shook his head.

“No, no, they… they do-”

“They don’t love me, Maddie, please, take it that I know that much about them. In the years you were gone, things were not pleasant in that house. As far as they were concerned I didn’t exist unless I was needed for something. They kept up appearances, but that was all they did,” he told her, shaking his head again and wanting to hide away, to think of what this all meant for him.

“Fine, even if they didn’t, I and Danny did. We loved you the moment we were able to first meet you. Danny is the one that named you Evan and I’m the one that chose Christopher as your middle name. We were the ones that loved you the most. Danny, he would always want to hold you, spend time with you, everything. If he could have, he would have taken you to the hospital with him each time he had to go. When he was in isolation before the transplant, he would ask for pictures of you, to see you through the window. You would… you would cry when you couldn’t reach him, you were a beautiful baby and as far as I’m concerned you were mine and his, not Mom and Dad’s,” she said, looking at him, wiping away the tears, “We love you, Buck, he would be so happy with what you are doing.”

Buck was silent, trying to take in what Maddie was telling him, “I think… I think I need some time to process that,” he finally said.

Maddie looked at him, seeing the look on his face. “Know that I love you still, they may have been shit parents, but I always told you, you were the brightest star on earth, and that there was a bright star watching out for you. That would be Daniel, he would be up there watching you always,” she told him, standing up, “I love you, Buck, Eddie loves you, so does Chris, and trust me I get a kick out of the name,” she grinned a little, wiping away the last of the tears. “Call me when you want to talk more. There is so much about Daniel that I want to tell you. I know you might not remember, but I do have things squirreled away so I could show you.”

Buck gave an absent nod as she kissed his cheek and started for the door.

“I’m scared of losing you like I lost him,” she said quietly, “That’s why I get so scared and worried. I know you have to live your own life. Sometimes I just can’t help but try and change something. I’m sorry for that. Therapy is beginning to help.”

Buck stared at her and nodded, still not saying a word as she left. The door closed behind her as he let the tears he was holding onto fall.

XxXxX

Buck had the operation and it was the next day as he continued to recover that he finally called Maddie and asked her to come and see him. Maddie had brought a few things with her, a large bag on her shoulder. “Maddie,” he said, sitting up on the bed and smiling a little as he saw her.

“Buck,” she said, “I’m glad to see you, you’re recovering well?” she asked, knowing he had the operation thanks to Eddie telling her when she asked.

“I’m doing well, they said that it looks to be a good thing to take out the screws when they did. Looked like they were irritating things in there,” he grinned a little, “Sit, please.”

“Of course,” she said, nodding as she sat by his bed. “So…”

“So…” they both said, laughing a little. “I wanted to ask about Daniel. You…”

“I would love nothing more. I hated that I couldn’t ever talk about him. That I couldn’t show you what your big brother was like. What he did… he knew… he knew he was dying. The doctors had told our parents that even with a match the transplant might not work. Danny, Danny said he knew it wouldn’t. That he was still happy that you were born, he was fine with what was going on. He had wanted to stop treatment a while before. He just wanted to enjoy what time he had left. He was only nine when he died, not long after his birthday. Your birthday is only five days before his. He said you were the best early birthday present ever,” she smiled, it was sad, but there was a little spark of happiness in her eyes finally able to tell him about a brother they had shared.

“He wanted to stop treatment?” Buck was shocked as he heard that.

Maddie nodded, “He knew it wasn’t going to work, that nothing would. The odds were that low that there was no chance. But Mom and Dad insisted on going through with it. He didn’t like that they ignored his wishes. He wanted to be home, to spend some more time with you. He was only just able to come home for your birthday, which he made sure to celebrate as best as he could. He loved you so much, Buck. Evan is what he called you, and Mom and Dad decided to let him name you, and Daniel insisted that I help and gave you your middle name, as you know.”

“Explains why they say my name in such a weird way,” Buck sighed.

“It does,” she murmured, “Now, you want to know about him, ask me anything and I’ll tell you what I can remember. And in the bag, I have a few videos of him and of you as a baby. Mom and Dad thought they had thrown them out, but I took them, and hid them as best as I could. I thought one day I would be able to show you. I just didn’t think it would take this long to do so. I had them all made into DVD a few weeks after I moved out here. They were some of the things that I took with me when leaving, there was no way I would leave anything so precious behind. Those, the pictures and the postcard you sent were the main things I always kept safe.”

Buck smiled slightly at the thought of her still keeping the postcards. “Oh,” he nodded, “Show me the videos?” he asked.

Maddie nodded, setting up the small portable DVD player she had and putting in a disc. Pressing play, she let the video start. He could see his baby self in the arms of a boy, he was so thin and pale, but the bright smile on his face was just like his own.

Maddie showed Buck as many of the videos she had and told him so many different stories about a brother Buck couldn’t remember. After seeing the videos, he knew that the boy had loved him, and wanted the world for him. Before Maddie was to leave, she pulled out a box.

“This is everything Danny and I could save over the years for you. Danny made sure to add as much as he could to it before he died. I carried on until I left for college, though I did add a few other things to it,” she said as she handed it over.

“What?” he frowned as it was set down on the little table.

“He wrote letters for you, he wanted Mom and Dad to give them to you over the years. They tried to throw them out when he died. I… found them and saved them. So they are yours to read when you are ready,” she smiled, “Never forget that they might not love you, but you have me, and you had him, and he’s no doubt watching over you.”

Buck nodded, taking the box off the table and starting to look through it. Seeing the letters, and odds and ends that he can remember having. There was a stuffed bear, looking so well worn, on the ear was the name Daniel, and the other had Evan. “He gave me this?” he asked, getting a nod.

“He did, the moment you were born, he said it was to protect you when he couldn’t. You kept it until you were almost four, they tried to get rid of it several times. But you screamed until it was given back,” she smiled sadly.

“I… remember,” he said, rubbing at the ear with Daniel written on it. He smiled softly, as Maddie told him about a few of the things before she left. Buck spent a little time going through it before Christopher and Eddie arrived to share dinner with him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Buck was finally being allowed home. Bobby was standing there, looking a little guilty as he watched him get ready to leave. Eddie would be arriving soon. “You know,” Buck said as he looked at him, “You’re seeing someone about what happened?” he asked him.

“Athena insisted,” Bobby nodded, not mentioning that he had been seeing his sponsor a lot over the last couple of weeks. Not wanting to relapse again. He had been close a few times at the start. But when Athena had caught him staring at a bottle, he knew he had to fight it. He didn’t want to lose the family he now had.

“Good,” he nodded, “I already know I’m going to need to see mine again.” He was thinking more about what he had learned about Daniel. He had only told Eddie about it so far, but he had a feeling it would be all over the station soon enough. Maddie would tell Chimney, and Chimney… Well, he didn’t know how to keep a secret for long.

“So, you wanted to talk to me before Eddie arrived?” he asked him.

Buck nodded, “Yeah,” he said, “sit down, please.”

Bobby was frowning but did as he was asked and sat down. “So, what do you need?” he asked him.

“More like what I need to tell you. No doubt Chimney is going to find out, and when he does, so will the rest of the 118,” he sighed, “I’m not hiding anything, and Maddie has only just told me. But we had a brother, his name was Daniel and he died from Leukaemia when I was one, like two weeks after my first birthday,” he sighed, shaking his head, “I was created as a savior baby, one of the first from what I was able to find out,” he added, “So, expect that to hit the station, if you could make sure that they don’t talk and gossip about it too much, I would be happy.”

“They are going to gossip,” Bobby nodded, still reeling a little from what Buck had said, “But I’ll do my best to put a stop to that,” he added, “I know it isn’t pleasant to be gossiped about.”

“Thanks,” he smiled, telling him a little more about what he had learned. “I just can’t believe they kept that from me for so long. I was… a little angry at Maddie for keeping the secret for so long. But each time she wanted to tell me about it, something happened and it stopped her. At least she told me now and gave me things that they both saved. Daniel even left letters for me,” he said, he had asked Eddie to take the box with everything in it home for him the day before. Not wanting to let it go, but keeping it at the hospital was pointless, he could go through it again when he got home.

“So plans are in place for what you need?” Bobby then asked, making sure that they had packed everything up in the room.

Buck nodded, “Yeah, Carla is going to help and Shannon and I both have therapy at the same place. We both said that we’re going to work together to get back on our feet. She’s starting to try and walk now,” he said, though it was in the water at the moment. But it was still a step in the right direction for her, her movement had come in the last couple of days and she was excited about it.

“Good to hear,” he smiled, feeling a tiny bit better about things as he saw that Buck was looking more positive on things.

“Yeah,” he smiled as the door to his room opened and Eddie and a nurse walked in. She was pushing a wheelchair and Buck gave it a look of distaste. “Do I have to?” he asked, “I can just use the crutches,” he said, gesturing to them.

“Hospital policy, Buck,” Eddie grinned at him, “Now, park your butt in it and we’ll get you home.”

“Right,” Buck muttered but did as he was told.

Bobby was smirking amusedly at the two of them as they began to head out to the parking lot, where Eddie’s truck was ready for the three of them to head to Eddie and Buck’s home.

“I am so glad to be out of there!” Buck commented as he rested back on the car seat. He had to admit, if only to himself, that he was a little tired after that. He closed his eyes as he felt the truck start to move.

“We have a small gathering at the house, everyone wants to welcome you home. I’ve already told them that they can’t stay for that long,” Eddie warned him, giving the man a quick glance as they left the parking lot.

“Don’t know how much I’m up to if I’m honest,” he said, opening his eyes again and looking at Eddie. He could see Bobby in the back, smiling at the two of them fondly.

“It’s more of we’ll have a quick meal, and make sure you are fully stocked for the next few weeks. Eddie is still off work for another week,” Bobby said as he looked between the pair.

“I could have gone back yesterday,” Eddie told him, “The sprain has healed up well.”

“I know,” Buck smiled, “Nice of you to take some extra time off,” he added, knowing that it was Eddie that had suggested that he take another week so that he could be there when Buck came home.

Eddie blushed a little and nodded, “Yeah, well, I want to make sure you’re okay being back home. Christopher is worried, and you know what he is like at the moment.”

Buck nodded, each time Christopher had come to see him, he would do everything he could to try and stay the night. He had done the same with Shannon a few times before she had been able to go home. The eight-year-old had been scared that something was going to happen to his dad as well and had been extra clingy whenever Eddie had to go to work. Or even just leave the house. Carla had been a blessing and found a therapist that Christopher could talk to, but it was still early days.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “I hope we can reassure him that things are going to be okay.”

“Same, doesn’t help that my parents will be coming soon. I had hoped to get them to only come for a day or two. They are planning on staying a week, and they wanted to stay at our place. They aren’t that happy about us,” he added, finally having told them.

“You said they never are,” Buck reminded him.

“I know, but I can hope sometimes that they would actually be happy for me for once,” he muttered, shaking his head and going silent.

“Just know that the rest of us are happy for the both of you,” Bobby said from the back, “It may not seem like much, as everyone would prefer their family to be supportive of them.”

“I know, it’s a good thing,” Eddie said, a small smile appearing. “Mom and Papi hate that I have people here that I can rely on. They keep saying that I don’t have family here. I do, Abuela and Pepa as well as everyone at the 118. We have more family here, people that will actually help instead of waiting for me to fail so badly that they can swoop in and do what they want.”

“Always, Eds,” Buck grinned at him, “We’ll always be flying, well, as much as we can,” he laughed a little, “Not like I’ll be much use just yet.”

“I don’t care about that Buck, you need time to heal, and they said it might take a year. So you and Shannon are going to be physio buddies for a while. She’s… somewhat excited about that. I think she was beginning to feel a little isolated and alone since we didn’t understand what she is going through,” Eddie frowned as he thought of his Ex.

“Shannon is wanting to get a little more freedom, she hasn’t that she’s not walking yet, it’s only been two months since the accident. She’s doing a lot better than the doctors thought she would at this point. Hell, she’s got some movement in her legs while she’s in the water at her last appointment,” Buck said, shaking his head, not sure he could understand why she was feeling so bad when she’s made so much progress.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “She’ll be there soon enough, she works hard to keep going, Carla is a great help there though,” he added.

“She makes sure to help Shannon pace herself better, so she doesn’t overdo things and end up back where she started. It’s always a fear for her,” Eddie told Buck.

“Yeah, I’ve been told about that, Maddie is worried that I’ll push myself too hard. I’m not that person anymore, I have so much going for me now, that I can make sure to take my time in coming back, in getting back into shape. Do I already want to be healed? Yes. Do I want to push it so that I will end up right back where I started? No. Will I be listening to what the surgeons, doctors, and physiotherapists have to say? You damn right I am,” Buck muttered. Maddie had made her opinion known about it once again the day before. She was trying to respect his view on his healing, but she occasionally let her fear take over.

“Right,” Bobby frowned, “You’re going to be careful?”

“Of course I am, Bobby, I want to get back to work. I know they said that it was possible that I might not heal that well. But I’ll know more about that later on. They are optimistic that things will be fine,” he said, glancing back at him, “Really, I know what I’m doing Bobby, I’m going to be careful, I don’t want to jeopardize my chance at returning to work,” he finished, giving him a smile.

Bobby nodded and talk turned to other things as they headed to Eddie and Buck’s home.

XxXxX

Christopher was curled up next to Buck on the couch, he had been since the man had arrived home a few hours before. The last of the guests were being seen out and Buck was glad of it. He was tired and wondered if he would be able to get a nap in before a late dinner.

“Buck,” Christopher said softly, glancing at him.

“Yeah, Superman?” Buck asked tiredly as he glanced down at him, smiling.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked, “Now that you’re home, will you be okay?”

“It will take time for me to heal,” Buck answered him, “But I’ll be okay. Soon enough we’ll be heading to the Zoo or the beach and having some fun.”

Christopher smiled, but it wasn’t as bright as usual. “I’m scared Buck, Mommy was hurt, so was you and even Dad was hurt,” he murmured.

“I know, but sometimes bad things happen, and we have no control over it. All we can do, is do our best to keep fighting and to make sure that we come back home each night,” Buck told him, his words gentle as he hugged the eight-year-old close, “I know it’s scary, I was so scared as well, but I’m going to be okay,” he added, kissing the top of his head.

“You sure?” Christopher yawned.

“I am,” he said, yawning.

Eddie walked back in a few minutes later after seeing Maddie off. The woman was persistent, he had to give it to her about that. She was scared, he knew that, hell, he was scared himself. Though he knew better than to try and limit Buck like she wanted to do. Talking with her was the only way that he could try and get through to her that she would end up driving him away. Being scared is one thing, but trying to control her brother wasn’t something she should even try and do.

He stopped as he saw the sight on the couch, smiling as he shook his head and went over. Grabbing the afghan from the back of it, he draped it over the two, making sure that they would be comfortable before he left the room again. Eddie went into the kitchen and brought out minced beef that he had made, ready for when they were going to be made into meatballs. He was on cooking duty that night. Shannon was at physio and Carla was with her since he would be home for Christopher.

Eddie almost jumped out of his skin when he was almost finished as Shannon entered the room.

“How long have they been asleep?” she asked. Carla behind her.

“About an hour, they fell asleep while I was saying goodbye to everyone and talking with Maddie,” he said, huffing a little at Buck’s sister.

“Is she still scared?” Shannon asked, she had already talked to the woman about things a few times.

“Yep,” he sighed, “I know it’s going to take time for her to get over that. Her therapist is trying to help, but part of her is being stubborn as all she is thinking about is how she lost Daniel.”

Carla nodded, “It’s hard to lose a sibling, and Maddie is someone who cares for those around her. Not being allowed to grieve, Buck’s accident brought up the fact that she could lose him and all the feelings she had back then. The feeling of grief, anger, and such that she never had a chance to process because of being made to keep things secret and never even being able to talk about the brother she had grown up with.”

Shannon looked at her, “So basically, it’s like she has just lost Daniel, now that she can talk about him.”

“A little yes,” she nodded at her, “Look, grief is unique to every one of us. Some take days to get over things, others it could be years or decades. There is no true timetable for things like this. Maddie never had a chance to even process things before she was moved from her home and support network and told to forget Daniel even existed by her parents.”

Eddie nodded, “Yeah, I get it,” he sighed, “But that doesn’t stop her from trying to force Buck to choose another profession, or to keep telling him he is already pushing his healing too much. She said she was going to take a step back, but that only lasted for a few days.”

“Keep talking to her about it, in the end, she’ll see. Also, let Buck deal with her as well. I know you’ve only just got him home, but he is going to want to in the end. It might even be better coming from him than any of us,” Carla said.

Eddie nodded and went back to preparing the meatballs. Shannon remained in the kitchen with him, as Carla started to get her things together to leave.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Buck was back home and he didn’t know if he should be happy about that or not. It felt like his life was on hold, he wasn’t going to be able to work for a long time, and he wasn’t going to be able to do anything that he enjoyed doing. Shannon had already grabbed him and started talking about the activities that she had been able to do, and while a few sounded like fun, it wasn’t the activities that he would normally choose to do when he had some free time. Buck was used to being active, running, hiking, climbing, surfing, you name it and Buck’s most likely done it at some point.

“Hey,” Eddie said as he walked into the living room. Shannon was out with Niamh, Christopher, and Carla, letting the two men have a little alone time while they could.

“Eds,” Buck said, reaching out towards him, in another few days Eddie would be having his Shield Ceremony. It had been put on hold until Buck was out of the hospital since he had to stay a little longer after having the second operation.

Eddie took the hand and let himself be pulled towards the couch, flopping carefully beside him he leaned against Buck. “I have to say, I am so damn tired,” he muttered.

“I know, so many visitors,” Buck snorted, “I didn’t think we had that many friends that wanted to say hello,” he murmured.

“What do you expect, you made friends with all of Christopher’s friends’ parents, my family wanted to make sure you were okay. Abuela has been cooking and preparing everything she could think of to put in the freezer to make things easier for us all. She did the same when Shannon was hurt and moved in with us as well. Then there are, of course, those from the 118 and their families. People we’ve worked with from other stations,” Eddie said, continuing to list all those that had wanted to see Buck and how he was doing.

“Fine, so we have a lot of friends and family that like to see us,” Buck snorted, “Doesn’t mean that I want to have to host them all. I only arrived back here two days ago and I’m actually wishing I was still in the hospital,” he yawned.

Eddie shifted around so Buck was leaning against him, “Why don’t we head to bed for a bit, have a nap? No doubt when Chris gets back he’ll want your entire attention while he starts planning on how he is going to decorate your cast,” he added, smirking a little as he thought of their son.

“He is adamant about making sure it’s nicely decorated,” Buck snorted before nodding, “A nap does sound like a plan, though I think Shannon was thinking of more 18+ activities rather than family-friendly,” he joked.

“I know, she was making all the hints as she was heading out. Carla was doing her best not to laugh at how red I went,” Eddie muttered as he stood up and helped Buck to his feet, and handed over the crutches.

“I can imagine,” he grinned as they headed towards their bedroom.

“She does like to embarrass me,” he sighed, shaking his head at the way his ex-wife was. He was glad to see her return to how she had been when they had first met, instead of how argumentative they had become of each other. They never should have married, they both knew that now.

“She does, it’s kind of funny,” Buck carried on grinning until he yawned again, “Ugh, I hate being so tired.”

“You’re healing,” Eddie pointed out as he got Buck to lay down first before joining him on the other side.

“I know,” he mumbled, snuggled as closely as he could with his leg in a full cast.

Eddie ran a hand up and down Buck’s back, knowing it would help the man fall asleep. Pain medication was now mostly on an as-needed bases, which wasn’t that often. Almost four weeks after the bombing and Buck was healing, truly healing now. Plans firmly in place by his team for his recovery. Shannon egged him on to join her with some of her activities. He had hoped the two wouldn’t do anything to hair raising, but this was Buck and Shannon, so something was bound to happen on that front.

Buck was asleep and Eddie was close to it when he heard someone knocking on the door and then the doorbell ringing. Sighing he slowly pulled himself away from Buck, hoping that man would stay asleep. He needed it, in the last two days, he hadn’t had much because everyone wanted to stop by. He had sent a message in the main group chat that morning to tell people to not visit to let Buck rest a little better without the constant grab for his attention.

Eddie frowned when he opened the door and saw Maddie standing there. “Maddie, I thought I told everyone in the group chat not to visit today,” he told her, not letting her in, though she clearly expected it.

“I just want to see my brother, I did tell you that I would be coming by as often as I could,” she reminded him.

“And I reminded you that you don’t push things. I know you want to see him and make sure he’s okay. But he feels when people are here to see him that he has to be awake when all he wants to do is sleep and rest. At the moment, I’m not going to be letting you in, everyone is out and Buck and I are going for a nap. You may come by tomorrow to see him, and not before,” Eddie stated firmly, “Look, Maddie, I know you care and are worried, that’s fine, but he needs to rest and heal as well. The last two days were full of visits from everyone, yourself included on both days. So let’s have a break from it all and relax at least for one day before the masses descend on us again.”

Maddie didn’t look happy, “I just want to see him for a moment.”

“No,” Eddie said, “Please, leave for today, I’ll tell Buck that you came by and that he should call you later. But no visitors today,” he stated once again.

“You can’t keep me from my brother!” Maddie yelled, getting angry.

“I’m not, I’m asking for one day so that we can both rest and recover a little. You came by yesterday and stayed for six hours. Buck was exhausted when people finally went home. He was also in some pain, but because the medication he takes knocks him out, he won’t take it with people around. The day he came home you stayed until almost midnight and didn’t even want to leave then. I get it that you’re worried, but that’s… overstaying your welcome,” he reminded her. It had been hard to get rid of her that first day, Buck wouldn’t take any of his medication until the house was just filled with those that lived there.

“I need to make sure he’s okay,” she repeated herself.

“I know and that can be done over a phone call or even a Facetime call instead, but you are not coming in,” he said, “Now, I’ll see you sometime tomorrow after your shift at Dispatch,” he added as he began to close the door.

“I-”

“Go home, Maddie, and I’ll have Buck call you later after he has rested,” Eddie repeated himself as he closed the door. He headed straight for the bedroom, making sure that Buck’s phone was on silent before grabbing his own phone and repeating his message of no visitors today, saying that Buck was resting. He climbed back into bed and fell asleep, only waking when Shannon and the others returned home.

XxXxX

Buck sighed as his sister walked into the living room. She had been messaging nonstop since yesterday. Eddie had told him of her visit and wished to see him. He’d been thankful that the man stopped it, he wasn’t up to hosting people again. He didn’t even want to today, but she was insisting.

“Buck,” she smiled as she hurried over, wanting to hug him, “It’s so good to see you.”

“You make it sound like we haven’t seen each other in months and not two days,” Buck said, rolling his eyes as he endured the hug and let her sit down.

“I just want to make sure you’re doing alright,” she said with a soft smile on her face.

“I’m fine, tired,” he answered her, shaking his head and leaning back. He was actually in a little bit of pain, he had banged his leg that morning while trying to get himself dressed enough for when Maddie arrived.

“Are you sure you want to stay here, I can have you stay with me. You’ll be well looked after,” Maddie said, taking a hand and looking her brother over.

Buck sighed, “I’m fine right here, I have Eddie and Carla helping me and I have Shannon and Chris as well. I’m not leaving,” he added, shaking his head, “I don’t need to go anywhere.”

Maddie pursed her lips as she said, “I think it would be a good idea for you to do so. I won’t keep you from seeing people.”

He stared at his sister. “Keep me from seeing people?”

“Yes,” Maddie said, straightening. “Eddie wouldn’t let me come in yesterday to see you. I just wanted to check on you and spend a little time with you,” she huffed, shaking her head. “You need to be careful with that type of behavior.”

“Oh no,” Buck said, shaking his head and glaring, “Eddie isn’t like that. He knew that I needed some proper rest that I couldn’t get with you here. I can’t take my pills, I can’t relax because you are hovering like a… a…” he trailed off, not even able to think of a word to call her.

“I care,” she stated, “And I care a damn lot, I just want to make sure that you’re not overdoing it.”

“The only reason why I’m overdoing things is that you keep visiting and then staying so damn long that I am exhausted afterward. You constantly hover, and the only time I even tried to get some rest, you started to talk to me and ask me so many damn questions that I had to get Eddie to stop you because you weren’t listening to me. I needed some damn time to myself and I wasn’t going to get it unless the boundaries were forced. I don’t know why you want to be around all the time at the moment, but I’m not going to have you coming here every single day as I recover.”

Maddie stared at him, “I’m doing the best I can to make sure that you don’t push yourself too far too soon. You already had an operation that you didn’t even need,” she pointed out to him, frowning.

“So that is what this is about,” he sighed, “You’re still angry because I had that operation, it was to help stabilize the bone even more, to make sure it was healing correctly. It was a good thing as well, they found out the screws they were using were causing a reaction. So now they are monitoring the situation to make sure it doesn’t cause me any harm.”

Maddie looked shocked, “What are they doing? What is being done to control the situation?” she said, beginning to ask as many questions as she could to try and find out what was going on.

“Stop,” Buck told her, holding up a hand.

“Buck, I’m just trying to get to know what’s going on. I’m a nurse remember, I know how to help with a dozen or more different situations,” she reminded him, giving him an almost smug look.

“You might be a former nurse,” Buck began, “But you’ve not been keeping up with that qualification, and you know how quickly things can change,” he replied, “Now, as for what is going on, it’s all fine. It’s all being dealt with and monitored. There’s nothing that can be done apart from that. I’m not going to be leaving my home either. So get that out of your head right now.”

“I’m worried,” she murmured, “All I can see when I close my eyes at night is you under that truck,” she muttered. “I want you to be safe, and you can’t do that as a firefighter. People will still be there for you if you change your job. You know that people will understand.”

Buck looked at her in shock. “Maddie, I’m not going to quit being a firefighter,” he told her, shaking his head as soon as he recovered. “I know I may not return, but I’m going to work damn hard at getting back if I can. I won’t give up on one of the only jobs I’ve ever had where I felt like I was doing it right. That I had found something that… that was me.”

“Look, I know you want to carry on, but you have to think about your health,” she told him, shaking her head, “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. I could have lost you to Doug a few months ago, and now this…” she trailed off, eyes beginning to tear up.

“Maddie, stop that,” Buck said, looking at her unimpressed with her behavior. “I don’t know what you are playing at,” he stated, “But you… you can’t think that I’m going to die without fighting to keep alive. I have so much going for me.”

“And when you push yourself too far?” she asked him, “What then?”

“I won’t be. I’ll be listening to those around me, like Carla, my doctors, and my physiotherapist. I’m going to listen to Eddie and myself on things as well. I’m not alone anymore, I have a family that I’m part of, and you’re part of it as well. I’ll listen, but I’m not going to be changing who I am to make someone else happy. I want to be happy that I’ll be trying everything I can to go back to what I want to do with my life,” he finished, sighing, “I love you Maddie, but you’re not… not in control of what I do.”

“I just want to look out for you, you’re my only family here,” she told him sadly, her tears still there, but no longer threatening to fall.

“And you’re mine,” he told her, “you are family, Mads. I just don’t want you here every day, I need to rest and recover. Eddie was doing what he needed to make sure I got that yesterday. He’ll be doing so occasionally as he knows what I’m like when people visit.”

“Fine,” she said, there was almost a huff in her voice as she added, “I won’t come every day, I promise. But try and call me at least so I know how you’re doing?”

“I will call, but not all the time,” he reminded her, a gentle smile on his face as he added, “Now, anything else you want to talk about, I’m sick of the heavy stuff and the How are you doing,” he rolled his eyes.

Maddie finally laughed, wiping away the last of the tears, and said, “Well, I do have a little gossip from dispatch,” she said as she began to tell what she had heard.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Eddie was laughing as he watched Buck and Christopher battle it out on Rainbow Road once again. “Really, the smack talk that you two do is so funny,” he muttered, shaking his head. He wished he had brought his phone in from the bedroom where it was currently charging. Eddie would have loved to have recorded this, Shannon would find it hilarious. Though he did recognize some of the insults that Christopher was using as the more family-friendly versions of what Shannon would often use.

“You’re one to talk, Dad,” Christopher huffed as he passed the finished line first once again, “And take that, Buck!” he yelled out, fist pumping in the air.

“Ugh,” Buck grumbled as he put down the controller, “Seriously Kid, ease up on me. I’m injured.”

“Your legs hurt, not your hands or brain…” Christopher trailed off as he looked over at him, “Then again, you are dating, Dad so… maybe your brain is hurt.”

Buck’s mouth dropped, “Really…”

“Hey!” Eddie protested, “I happen to be a catch, ask your mother on that one,” he grumped.

Christopher laughed, “I did, she said that you were great at some things, and then a pain in the butt on others.”

“Savage,” Buck muttered, snorting.

“There are levels of savagery, Buck, I’m just at the beginner level, Moms on a whole level that’s just for her,” Christopher said wisely, “I’ve been asking her to teach me.”

Buck and Eddie shared a look, “Are we happy about that?” Buck asked.

“Nope,” Eddie rolled his eyes, “We are going to be roasted,” he added with a sigh.

“From Shannon and Chris, not fair,” Buck nodded.

Christopher rolled his eyes at the two of them, “Oh, well, at least you’ll be warm.”

Buck snorted, “Really, kid,” he shook his head.

Christopher just smirked at him before looking at the screen, “So, who am I beating next?” he asked.

“Not me, I’m out of pride, it’s crawled away and is whimpering in a corner somewhere,” Buck said, looking at Eddie.

“I still have some left, may as well see it get knocked out,” Eddie sighed, though there was a smile on his face as he took up the controller and began to play. It wasn’t long after they started that someone was knocking on the door. Buck and Eddie frowned at each other, the 118 were all on shift, and Maddie as well. Athena would be stopping by after hers since she finished that night and the kids were with Michael. She wanted a little company since Bobby would be at work until the morning.

“I’ll get it,” Eddie said after a moment. The game paused as he went to answer the door. He bit back a groan as he spied through the peephole and saw his parents. They weren’t supposed to arrive in Los Angeles for another two days. “Mom, Papi,” he greeted them as he opened the door, “What are you doing here so early?” he asked.

“We wanted to see our son and grandson of course,” Helena sniped.

“Mijo, aren’t you going to let us in?” Ramon asked as he glanced around the house that his son now lived in. It looked a lot better than the last place he was living.

Eddie sighed and let them in, he hadn’t told them about Buck yet, not wanting to go through the same thing with him as he did with Shannon. “I live here with my boyfriend and son. Shannon is also staying with us at the moment until she is recovered,” there was a warning note in his voice.

“And why would she be staying with you?” Helena frowned, “She shouldn’t even be near Christopher anymore,” she huffed, as she was let into the house.

“The fact that Shannon is Christopher’s Mother doesn’t even register with you, does it?” Eddie looked at her. “She will always be his mother, she will never not be. No matter what is going on in our respective lives, Christopher is our priority.”

“Mijo, you know that you-” Ramon began.

“Nothing you say will change who and what I am, so don’t even think about it, Papi, now if you truly do love me, and not just Christopher I will let you in,” Eddie reminded them, staring at the two of them waiting for an answer.

“We’re wishing to stay with you,” Helena interrupted him before he could say anything more.

“No,” Eddie was blunt in his answer, “It’s not going to happen at all. We have a full house, no spare room. Shannon is in a wheelchair at the moment, she is staying here as we have Carla, who is a home health aide that works mainly with Christopher. Buck is also hurt at the moment,” he said, not wanting to lead them into the living room where Christopher and Buck were just yet. He wanted to make sure they knew the lay of the land and that he was done taking their shit about his relationships and how he parents his own son.

“Eddie,” Helena began, “We’re doing what we can to make sure you are happy.”

“No you’re not,” Eddie sighed, the few sessions he’d had with a therapist at Buck and Shannon’s assistance since the bombing had started to help him see what his parents were really doing to him.

“Mijo,” Ramon said, his voice stern, “Are you even going to let us see our Grandson?” he asked him.

“Are you going to respect his parents, all three of them?” Eddie retorted, “I want you to know, that any of your usual put-downs and snide comments I will have you out of that door faster than you can blink. I will no longer be putting up with it. You chased away Shannon, you chased away myself and Christopher. You need to realize as well that Christopher is growing up. He’s not a toddler anymore.”

“He needs the extra help, Eddie, you know that,” Helena shook her head, “Why can’t you see that we’re just looking out for him? He needs so much help.”

“He actually doesn’t,” Eddie told him, “He is adaptable and able to do a lot of things, you think he is too young for. He’s not. He reads at a high level, he’s in the grade above his own at school, as they place not on age but on ability at Durand,” he added, “You see his disability and not him. You try to smother him, did you know he was so happy when I said we were going to move away from you? Because you baby him too much.”

Helena stood up straight, “I do not, I treat him with the care and consideration that many don’t.”

“No,” Eddie shook his head, “I want you to pay attention to how Christopher is, don’t say anything, don’t do what you usually do. I want you to see for yourself how capable Christopher actually is.

Helena pursed her lips as she then answered, “Fine.”

“We will do so, Mijo,” Ramon nodded in agreement. He wasn’t happy at all about being told what to do, as far as he was concerned Eddie would end up changing his mind eventually when he realized exactly how hard things will be for him.

Eddie walked to the living room, smiling as he saw Buck and Christopher battling it out on Mario Kart once again. “Hasn’t your pride taken enough of a beating today?” he asked as he walked over, sitting on the couch as he had been before.

“Buck needs to learn that I’m the champion in this house,” Christopher laughed as he once more passed the finish line before Buck.

“I give up,” Buck muttered as he then noticed the two people that had followed his boyfriend into the house. He knew from pictures who they were. “Mr Diaz, Mrs Diaz,” he greeted them both, “I’m Buck, it’s nice to meet you both. I would get up, but at the moment, it’s a little ill-advised,” he added, gesturing to his leg at the end.

“Nice to meet you, Buck,” Helena said, though the tone of her voice said she was anything but pleased to meet him.

Ramon looked at the young man that was seated next to his family and wasn’t happy. He said nothing but gave a small nod of greeting as he looked at Christopher.

“Grandma,” Christopher smiled, slowly getting to his feet, he didn’t sound too enthusiastic as he went over to her, hugging her before going to Ramon and said, “Hi Abuelo.”

“Christopher,” Ramon said, smiling down at the almost eight-year-old. In a few more weeks and he would be celebrating his eighth birthday. He was growing too fast.

“Christopher, how are you enjoying school?” Helena asked as she commandeered her grandson’s attention once more.

“It’s great, I’m learning so much and they said that I might end up with a few extra classes so that I can learn even more,” he grinned excitedly, telling them a few more things about what he was learning at school.

Eddie smiled proudly at his son, and then looked at Buck, “They wanted to stay here, I’ve already said no.”

“Right,” Buck said, “That’s a firm no.”

Eddie nodded in agreement. He turned back to watching his parents with his son, making sure that they were letting him talk and not trying to smother him or put him down. It was nearing dinner time when Eddie stood up, “Okay, I’m going to make a start on dinner, Shannon should be back soon as well.”

“We should bring our things in from the car,” Helena said as she looked over at Ramon.

“I already told you, you’re not staying here,” Eddie turned to face her.

“You would throw your own Mother onto the streets?” she looked at him, horrified that he would do something like that.

“Considering you didn’t even care to tell me that you were coming, nor any warning that you wanted to stay here, yes,” he told her bluntly, “I already stated when you first arrived that you wouldn’t be staying here.”

“Now, Mijo,” Ramon said as he stood to face his son. “Do you really think it would be a good time to try and find somewhere now? It’s starting to get late.”

Eddie sighed, “You’ve had the last six hours to be able to find somewhere, instead you decided to just sit there and glare at things,” he pointed out to him, “I will not be having you stay here, talk to Abuela or even Pepa and see if they can put you up for the night. You’re not staying here,” he repeated himself.

“Edmundo,” Helena snapped at him, “We haven’t seen Christopher in so long.”

“So, you can see him and spend time with him another day,” Eddie said, “It’s a school night,” he reminded her, “He will be having dinner, making sure homework is done.”

“Surely you could take him out of school,” Helena said with a little smile as she looked at Christopher, “You would like that wouldn’t you, Christopher?”

Christopher looked at her and shook his head, “No, I don’t like having to take days out and I’m already having the day off for Dad’s Shield Ceremony,” he told her, “I like school.”

“But Christopher, we’re only going to be here for a week, don’t you want to spend as much time as you can with us,” Helena tried again.

“It’s not going to happen,” Eddie said, shaking his head, “I’m not taking him out of school just because you’re here early. I told you this when you wanted to come last time. I’m not going to change it just because you’re actually here this time,” he sighed, “Right, Mijo, want to help me with dinner?”

“Yes!” Christopher cheered as he got up, “We still have Mr Bobby’s Mac’n’Cheese?” he asked.

“Of course and I need my sous chef to make sure the cheese is shredded right,” Eddie grinned at him as they headed to the kitchen.

Helena stared for a moment before yelling out, “He can’t do that, it’s too dangerous!”

Eddie turned, glaring at his mother, “He can, we have things and adaptive tools that he can use, at the moment we’re starting to help him learn how to prepare foods for cooking. By the time he is twelve, thirteen, we’re hoping that he’ll be able to cook something simple.”

“Eddie, you can’t let him do that, he isn’t going to b-”

“Don’t even think of finishing that sentence, and I suggest you leave, both of you, and start looking up the term Abelist because that’s what you both are!” Eddie said, gesturing to the door. “Now, I want you both to leave,” he ordered, corralling them both enough that they had no choice but to head to the front door.

“Mijo,” Ramon said sharply, “You can’t just kick your parents out because you don’t like it when the truth is told to you. You have to realize that Christopher is special, that he needs extra help, and you planting ideas into his head that he’ll be able to do things everyone else can is only going to lead to pain for him when he realizes that he is so different from everyone else.”

“That’s not the case, he knows that he has some limitations, but we make sure that he doesn’t see them. He might have to go at things differently than how we would, but it doesn’t stop him from doing anything,” Buck was the one that spoke, having made his way to the hallway where the three were. He had sent Christopher to his room, so he wouldn’t have to listen to the bullshit that his own grandparents were saying.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Helena snapped at him, glaring at the man.

“It has, he is family,” Eddie stopped her, “He’s Christopher’s second Dad as far as myself and Shannon are concerned. Christopher loves him.”

“He isn’t family, your family is in El Paso, and when you realize that, I hope you haven’t ruined Christopher and brought him down because of your own selfishness,” Helena said as she walked out the front door, Ramon following behind her, giving his son a disappointed look.

Eddie was about to say something as his parents stopped on the walk toward their rental car.

“Well,” Shannon said as she looked at her former In-Laws, “I didn’t think we would be seeing you for another couple of days,” she murmured, shaking her head.

“Hey, Shannon,” Buck called out to her.

“Buck,” she smiled, “Have I got something to show you,” she laughed as she wheeled herself towards the door. Carla was behind her, smiling as she followed.

“You can-”

“I don’t know what rock you crawled out from under, but you should go back to it.”

“Considering it was because of you that Edde and Christopher never got my letters, well…” Shannon smirked at them, “It would be more like you should crawl back under the rock. We’re only cordial with you for Christopher. If I had my way, and Eddie I would say, you would never see him again.”

Helena went pale, “I was doing what I needed to protect my Son and Grandson from you.”

“We didn’t need it, leave, we’ll talk about this another time,” Eddie said, he hadn’t talked much to his parents after leaving for LA. He had only started talking to them again when Adriana had her first child, a little girl. It was the only reason he had talked to them again.

Helena glared at Shannon before huffing and walking to the car. Ramon quickly followed her. Shannon entered the home with Carla, it was only after the three adults were alone, did they talk about what they were going to do and how to deal with Ramon and Helena, and what they had done. Shannon had never really confronted the woman. And since Eddie was only occasionally talking to them, and limiting the contact they had with Christopher, it was going to be a blowout and Eddie just hoped they would not cause a scene during his ceremony. He hadn’t even wanted them there, but when Isabel accidentally mentioned it, they jumped at the chance pretending that they wanted to make amends, with what they saw, Eddie and Shannon knew that was the last thing on their minds.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Shannon sat in her wheelchair watching as Isabel answered the door. Eddie was seated on a chair beside her. It was time to finally confront the two about what they had done. Eddie hadn’t said much, just limited his contact with them, only talking to them more when Adriana had her baby. It had been hard listening to the way they were praising her and how she was doing with her daughter, compared to how they had done nothing but berate Eddie and Shannon as they tried to parent their son.

“Mom, Papi,” Eddie greeted the two, not getting up as they walked into the living room.

“I’ll bring the drinks through,” Isabel said, giving her son a stern look before heading to the kitchen.

“What is she doing here?” Helena snapped as she glared at Shannon.

“Considering what you both did, I would shut up. She is more entitled to be here than you at the moment,” Eddie told her, “I want her in my life.”

“Are you saying you don’t want your own parents in your life?” she frowned at her only son.

“At the moment, no I don’t. You don’t even care what you did, do you?” he frowned, “You knew that Siobhan was dying that she was so ill that she wouldn’t last that long,” he added, “And you stopped Christopher from saying goodbye. From them seeing each other one last time.”

“It wasn’t like she was in his life that much anyway,” Helena was dismissive.

“She was a better Grandmother than you,” Shannon snapped at her, hating what she was hearing about her own mother. “Christopher and my Mum would talk often, on the phone and through Skype when she couldn’t get down to El Paso. She was a better Grandmother because she at least let him try things himself, to let him grow. You stifle and baby him so much that he was glad when he moved here.”

“He really was,” Eddie nodded, “Hated the fact that the two of you treat him like a baby all the time. He’s almost eight years old now, Mom, eight, you would never have done even a tenth of what you do to him to me, Adri, or even Sophia,” he sighed, “Then again, I’ve noticed that you don’t have a go at Adriana like you did me and Shannon when Christopher was born. She might be the oldest but you favor both my sisters. Even Sophia got a pass when she had her children. You cared, but you were never telling them that they were useless as a parent.”

Helena stared at him, “Well, you are, you’re doing nothing to make sure that Christopher has true expectations of the world. He’s special, Eddie, what do you want me to say, that he’s going to be a rocket scientist, he won’t. He won’t be able to do anything, it’s better if you limit what he does now, so he doesn’t have high expectations.”

“Shut up,” Shannon snapped as Isabel came out with the drinks. “You have no idea what Christopher is capable of, or were you not listening when we told you yesterday that Christopher is in the grade above his age? That he reads at an even higher grade than that. He is so smart and you don’t think he could become a rocket scientist. I have no doubt he could. He can do anything he damn well wants if he puts his mind to it. Will he need to adapt certain things so he can do them, yeah, but then again, so do many people have to have things adapted to them to make sure that they can do their job.”

“I can’t believe you’re planting ideas like that into his head,” Ramon said, shaking his head, looking at his mother, “Thank you, Mama,” he nodded while taking the tea.

“It’s not planting ideas in his head, it’s encouraging him to be himself,” Isabel told them, “And he is a joy and a pleasure. I’ve seen his report cards, and I’ve no doubt he could do anything, he is so smart, Ramon, and I have no idea why you both have this thought in your head that he can’t do anything. Do you know how calm and collected he was when he was here and I was watching him? I had a fall and broke my hip. Christopher made sure I wouldn’t move, kept me warm, and called 9-1-1 by himself and made sure to tell them where we were and what had happened. He knew how to do that,” she sighed, sitting down, “Get it out of your head, Ramon, he is a wonderful and bright child with a beautiful future ahead of him.”

“Isabel,” Helena began, sighing, “It’s not that we don’t want that for him, we’re just being realistic about what he would be able to do.”

“You have no idea,” Shannon said, shaking her head, “You’re both selfish people.”

“Agreed on that,” Eddie said, “you have an idea in your head that you are the best parents around, I have to say, that you’re not at all. And you have no idea what Christopher needs at all, you want to drown him, to put him down so much that he is no longer a happy and well-adjusted child. To beat him down as you did with me. Well, I’m not going to let you do that. I’ve been really meaning to ask what the hell you thought you were doing keeping the letters back from Christopher and myself?”

“We were trying to protect you both,” Ramon was the one to answer, “We didn’t want her to get in the way of you being a good father to him.”

“Not that you were, or even are,” Helena said, “you work all the time, leave him with complete strangers, bring a man into your life, and pretend that you’re gay and with him,” she sneered as she thought of the man her son and grandson seemed to love.

“See, there you go again, putting me down instead of doing what you do with Sophia and Adriana, which is just telling them a few hints and tips on how to do things when they make mistakes. Unlike me, you berate and put me down. I think you’re right, Shannon,” he added as he looked at his ex, “I think this might never be a good relationship to have.”

“Toxicity in any form isn’t good,” Shannon nodded, “I learned that the hard way, why do you think I left, not only because my mother was dying, but because they were chipping away at who I was,” she said, glaring at the two.

“What are you on about?” Helena said, frowning at the two of them.

“Considering you told Christopher he was a burden because of his CP,” Eddie began, “I’ve been thinking long and hard over the last couple of months, just how much I want you around him when you say things like that,” he told them.

“We’re just telling him the truth, he is a lot of work. We’re trying to get him to see that he might be better off at a point going into a group home. We found a lovely one in El Paso for those like Christopher when their parents can no longer cope.”

Eddie looked at them horrified.

“Out, out of my home and out of my life!” Isabel yelled as she got up, “I will not have you in here saying things like that about my bisnieto. He will be a wonderful young man and you would kill his very spirit. I had hoped you would be ready to truly see what you have. Out! I never want you to step into this home again. I have NO SON!”

“Mama!” Ramon said, eyes going wide.

“And I want you gone, I don’t want you near our son ever again,” Eddie said, “My son will grow up without ever knowing you from now on. No more contact between us. I… I don’t want to see you and don’t come to my Shield Ceremony, you are nothing to me.”

Shannon was vibrating with anger, “At least my Mother never called him a burden, at least my Mother would see him fly rather than drown, and at least my Mother would have never ever abandoned him like you two plan to!” she said, her voice going into a shout at the end. “You stopped my Son from seeing his Grandmother, the one Grandmother that actually cared about him. You two pretend, but you truly don’t. Eddie, I never want them around him.”

“Never,” Eddie agreed as he stood up, “I suggest that you listen to Abuela, she said to leave, you both should, and go back to El Paso, you are no longer welcome in my life and home, nor in Abuela’s,” he said, seeing that his grandmother was shaking in rage as she was glaring at the two.

Ramon and Helena were frozen as they remained seated.

“Out before I call the cops,” Isabel said, “I no longer consider you family for what you are saying,” she said, looking hurt and disappointed at her oldest son.

“Mama,” Ramon said, pain in his own voice as he stood up.

“You are all making a mistake, and when you realize that, don’t come crawling back to us,” Helena said, shaking her head as she and her husband left Isabel’s home.

Eddie rushed over to his grandmother and wrapped his arms around her, “I’m sorry, Abuela.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Nieto, they are the ones that should be sorry. I do not know what has happened to Ramon, but he is not the man I raised. He has changed so much. I know my Edmundo was hard on all of our children, but he was nothing like how Ramon is. He still loved us and showed us that in what he did. He may not have said it much, but every action he took he showed us,” she shook her head and looked up at her grandson, “Don’t you worry, I will be just fine. Maybe one day, they will realize what they have lost.”

“Isabel,” Shannon said quietly, “Thank you for the way you love Christopher, he adores you so much.”

“Of course he does, he likes the cookies I make him,” she joked lightly, trying to shift the mood.

“He does, but he loves to spend time with you and watch those dramas of yours,” Shannon added, “Learning from you, cooking, baking, and Spanish, he loves it all.”

Isabel let go of her grandson and walked over to the woman, “I thank you,” she smiled, hugging her, “And you and my nieto are raising a joy, a bright star in this world. Now, let us have lunch, and you should talk to your sisters, and tell them what is going on.”

Eddie sighed and nodded, “They aren’t… berated like I was, I don’t know if they will believe it.”

“They will,” Shannon said, “They saw a lot of what Helena and Ramon were doing to me while you were deployed.”

Eddie nodded, “Yeah, they should know that we have cut contact.”

“I’m going to message Carla and Buck,” Shannon added, pulling out her phone, “I don’t want to take the chance that they might try and find them and do something.”

Eddie messaged his sisters, telling them the basics of what happened, knowing that his ceremony tomorrow would end up with the three siblings talking about what was going on. His sisters were always the apple of their parent’s eyes while Eddie was always a disappointment, nothing he did was good enough for Ramon and Helena.

XxXxX

Eddie smiled at Bobby as Christopher walked towards him, helmet in hand. He couldn’t help but take a step towards him and pick him up, “Hey, Mijo, what you got?”

“I got your helmet,” he grinned as he slowly put it on his dad’s head.

“Thank you, Mijo,” he said, hugging him tightly for a moment before the rest of those that had gathered went over to congratulate him.

Buck stood up, crutches in hand as he went over, “Congrats,” he grinned, as the two hugged, and shared a quick kiss.

“Thanks,” he smiled, as his sisters approached, his new niece in his oldest sister’s arms as she smiled at him.

“Well done, little brother,” she said, kissing his cheek.

“Yeah,” Sophia nodded, her two children attached to her husband as he joined them.

“Down please, Dad,” Christopher said as he was set back down on his feet and he took his crutches from his Tia Sophia, “Thanks,” he grinned up at her.

“Here,” Adriana said as she placed his niece into his arms, “Now, that’s a good look on you, with a baby in your arms,” she grinned.

Eddie rolled his eyes, “Maybe,” he murmured, “Hello, Rosa,” he smiled as the baby girl had her eyes opened, a hand waving slightly around as he reached for it, and let tiny fingers clasp it tightly. “Good grip there,” he smiled.

“I’ll say,” Sophia snorted, “She likes anything dangling. Like my hair, necklace, and dangly earrings as well,” she added, rolling her eyes.

Adriana looked at her younger sister, “Weren’t you the one to tell me not to wear those around a baby?” she asked her.

“Maybe,” Sophia shrugged, “We’re still going to have that talk tonight?” she asked.

Eddie sighed but nodded, “Yeah, I think we need to,” he agreed, he would be having a rather frank talk with his sisters about their parents. That he would be cutting contact with them. They knew that was the plan, just not the full reasons behind it all.

“Okay, Terry is going to have the kids along with Antonio,” Sophia said, referring to her husband and Adriana’s partner, Antonio, they weren’t even married, which was normally a cardinal sin according to Helena and Ramon, but they let it slide for their eldest daughter.

“Good, Chris is going to be with Hen, having a sleepover with Denny and Harry,” Eddie smiled, “It’s going to be hard to hear some of it and what they… what they had planned,” he sighed, shaking his head. He was still in disbelief at what they had said.

“Sounds like he has a very active social life from what he was telling me earlier,” Adriana said, smiling as she watched her nephew head over to Sophia’s two and talk to them.

“He is a social butterfly, really. I think there is a sleepover with a friend at least once a week, sometimes twice during the holidays. Most of the time, on the weekend, he’ll be wanting to go to the park because that’s where all his friends are,” he smiled, watching his son as Shannon headed over to them, “Hey,” he looked at her.

“Hey, Bobby said food is open for us to grab, so let’s?” she asked, “I’m hungry and have heard many wonderful things about Bobby’s cooking, so I can’t wait to try some of them,” she added.

Eddie laughed, “Yeah, let’s go and get some food,” he agreed, knowing that Christopher would be wanting something as well. The family followed as the celebration continued for another hour before it had to stop and they went back to work.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The talk between the three siblings had been a hard one. Sophia and Adriana knew what their parents were like towards Eddie, they had both hated it but had felt powerless to change anything since Helena and Ramon never listened to what the two of them said. Sophia and Adriana were going to be limiting contact with them, though if they started to say anything about Eddie, they would cut contact fully. They believed what was said and both were disgusted with the two of them, but they still had a good relationship with their parents, unlike Eddie. Even after hearing that Isabel had practically disowned her own son. Though all three of them believed that it was more in the hopes that it would shock Ramon enough that he would realize what was going on, and what he stood to lose.

Buck flopped down on the couch. Another appointment to see how things were healing. He would be out of the cast in another week or two if he carried on healing the way he was.

“Buck,” Shannon said as she wheeled herself into the living room.

“You look tired,” he said, as he glanced over.

“That would be because I am, in therapy earlier, they are going to be letting me try and stand next time. Three months, almost four and they said that I’m a damn miracle,” she snorted, “I should still be in the chair and not even thinking about taking a few steps for another few weeks at the very least,” she added as she went over.

“That’s great,” Buck grinned, “You’ve been hoping that it would happen for the last month,” he reminded her as she transferred herself to the couch.

Leaning against her friend she nodded, “Yeah. I’m happy, getting that little bit closer to being able to go home and live there. I’ve missed that, you know. I love being around you, Eddie and Christopher, don’t get me wrong.”

“You just weren’t expecting to be in this position,” Buck said, looking at her.

“Not exactly,” Shannon frowned, as she tried to put into words what she was feeling. “I love Chris so much, but it’s hard being around him all the time. Helena and Ramon really got into my head. I know, I know, therapy, I’m going through that. Seeing him struggle sometimes, even though he’s always smiling and laughing, makes me feel inadequate for him, that I’m only harming him by being around him. I want him to do what he wants in life, but part of me still hears Helena and Ramon and what they say.”

“They got into your head and being around Christopher makes you think you’re a failure of a mother?” Buck summarized.

“Yeah,” Shannon sighed heavily, “I know I shouldn’t let their words battle my heart. I know I’m a good mother, but sometimes, I feel unsure, I always thought it was my fault he has CP. Took a long time for me not to believe it.”

“You are a great Mother, my own… my own doesn’t even acknowledge my existence most of the time. I haven’t talked to her since I was nineteen and I left to travel around the US,” Buck said, a small smile on his face, “You… you love him so much, you want the best for him. We all do, so you don’t have to worry about that,” he told her, “But take care of yourself as well. You can’t be there for Christopher if you’re not there for yourself.”

“I know, I’m in therapy, and have been since the accident,” she sighed, “Right,” she said, “There is something that I want to talk to you and Eddie about. But I want to talk to you first.”

“Oh?” Buck frowned, “What about?”

“Nothing bad, I’ve been talking to my doctor to see if it would be possible even with me still recovering,” she said, not cluing him into what was going on.

“Right,” he said slowly, still frowning.

“I know you and Eddie have been together for what, six months? It doesn’t seem long, but even you and Eddie have admitted that what you both have is special. Time doesn’t mean anything at the moment. You’re both in this together, I and everyone else can see it,” she told him.

“This is the only relationship I want, I don’t think I could be with someone else if something happens with Eddie. I really don’t,” he sighed, not even liking the thought of Eddie not being in his life.

“Exactly, you’re both in this for the long haul,” she smiled, “So, I’ve been talking to my doctor, and even with Carla. They both agree that even with me recovering, I should be able to do this in another month or two. Since it won’t really affect me too much at the start.”

“What are you on about?” Buck finally asked her.

Shannon smiled at him, “I’m talking about having another baby. But mainly for you and Eddie to raise. Of course, I’ll be the Mum to them both. It will be like with Christopher, they will live full time with you and Eddie, with a night here and there with me and day trips when I can as well,” she told him, “I’ll be working again full time after the summer holidays. So do you think you would want that?” she asked, “And you can say no, you can do anything you want, this is for you and Eddie mainly. Yes, I wouldn’t mind another child, even though it seems like I don’t with me stating they will live with you and Eddie, but like I said, this is mainly for the both of you.”

“Can I… talk with Eddie about this?” he asked her.

Shannon nodded, “Of course, you can, it’s a big decision to make, and it won’t be just yet.”

Buck nodded, his mind now whirling with what Shannon had just suggested.

XxXxX

Eddie walked through the front door after a long shift. He heard a sound from the living room and could tell that someone was still up. Toeing off his boots he put them away and headed inside, dropping his bag on the small shelving unit near the door as he passed it. “Hey Buck,” he smiled as he saw his boyfriend sitting on the couch with his leg up. “How did the appointment go?” he asked as he kissed him before settling beside him, letting the younger man lean into him.

“It went good, another week or two and the cast can come off,” he grinned, “So that is a bit of good news.”

“That is good news,” he smiled, “What else did they say?”

“That it’s healed well enough that I can still do my job, I just have to build myself back up to the same strength,” he answered, happy with that.

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, happy and proud that he would be getting his partner back at work in a few more months. It just wasn’t the same without him being there. The floaters they had, just were up to the same level as Buck.

“Though there is one other thing that I need to tell you about. Something that Shannon brought to me for the two of us to think about,” he added, “She’s in bed, as well as Christopher at the moment,” he told him before the man could even ask.

“Okay,” he said slowly, “What is it?”

“So, she came today when I got back from my appointment,” he began, and then told him what Shannon had said.

Eddie was silent after Buck finished explaining, “Oh.”

“Exactly,” Buck said, “I don’t know what to think or say or even do, Eds,” he told him, “This is huge!”

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed, still a little shocked. “What do you think about it?” he then asked, “We’ve not been together that long.”

“Around six months now,” Buck told him, “And I don’t know, would I love another kid, yeah. I would, Chrisother is great, and a little brother or sister for him, I think he would love it.”

Eddie snorted, “He would, one of his Christmas wishes last year was for a sibling, so yeah, he would love it.”

“Yeah?” Buck frowned, “Right, well, what do you think?”

“I think yes,” Eddie told him, it won’t be right now, so that means we have more time to get things in order, to get some savings put up and everything,” he said, looking down at him as the man was curled against him as best as he could with a cast on.

“I do like the idea, but I think by the time they are here, we would have been together for over a year,” Buck murmured, “I wouldn’t mind another.”

“Neither would I,” Eddie agreed.

“Good,” came a voice from behind them. Shannon was there, looking at the two of them, a soft smile on her face as she observed them cuddled together.

“Shannon,” Eddie smiled as she wheeled herself over.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I do want to talk to you both,” Shannon told them as she looked at them both. “So,” she began, “I do want to do this, but I want to use Buck’s sperm for the baby,” she finished, looking between them both.

“What?” Buck blinked as he stared at her.

“Yes, we have one for me and Eddie, and I think we should have one with your genes running around,” she grinned.

“I second that,” Eddie smirked as he looked at his former wife.

“I-”

“Look, the three of us are a family, I don’t really live with you both, but we are. And this, I really don’t mind doing this. I know the two of you will be brilliant Dads to this one, just like you are to Christopher,” Shannon told the two of them, “Now I won’t be able to do this for another month or two, until I’m better healed, but I want to do this,” she added, looking between the two of them.

“Then I think we’re doing this,” Eddie agreed, as he then looked at Buck.

“Okay,” Buck said, a smile beginning to form, “Never really thought I would have kids, I want them yes, don’t get me wrong, but I just didn’t think I would have all this,” he said, gesturing a little to the home around him, to Eddie, and to Christopher asleep in his bedroom.

“Something to look forward to,” she smiled at him as they chatted a little longer before they headed to bed.

XxXxX

Buck looked down at his leg, it was finally out of the cast. “Well,” he said as he glanced at Eddie who had gone with him to the appointment.

“It’ll be fine and you know it,” Eddie whispered, reaching out and taking a hand as they looked back at Buck’s doctor.

“Buck,” the doctor began, “As you know, the physio will start up within the week. It will take some time for the muscles to be back to where they were.”

“I know,” Buck sighed, “You are sure that I will be able to go back to being a firefighter?” he asked once more.

Doctor Claws nodded, “I am. You’ve healed better than I thought you would. I’ll be honest with you, I believed that in the end, you would end up losing the leg after it may have failed to heal. But we took a rather aggressive approach to things, and it’s helped a lot in speeding up the healing as well as making sure that the bone was stable. I would say that you are doing great, we’ll of course be keeping an eye on things. We’ve removed the last of the hardware that was in your leg, so there is no need to worry about that now. Normally we would have left it all in, but since you were reacting badly to them, we didn’t want to do so,” he finished.

“Great to hear,” Buck smiled as they finished up the appointment. Referrals in hand as they left. Buck was still using the crutches, his leg not strong enough at the moment to hold his weight.

“Well,” Eddie smiled as they headed outside and towards the parking lot.

“Finally free, though still got a good two months of rehab to do,” Buck said, sighing as he wondered how much longer he was going to feel like part of his life was on hold.

“You’ll be back soon enough,” Eddie reassured him, as they reached Eddie’s truck and got in.

“I know, it just feels like part of me is still stuck under the truck,” he sighed, wincing as he saw Eddie’s hand grip the steering wheel tightly. “Sorry,” he murmured, reaching over and taking a hand, “I-”

“No, Buck, you’re entitled to feel how you feel,” he interrupted him before he could apologize again. “It might be hard to hear, but I understand, it’s like a part of you has been left behind,” he said, thinking of his own trauma from Afghanistan and when the helicopter he was on went down. Part of him still, even now, felt like it was missing, still somewhere in the desert.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded, seeing that Eddie understood.

“Let’s go home, cuddle with Chris, and be relieved that we’re one step closer to you coming back to work,” Eddie smiled at him.

Buck nodded, “Yeah, yeah, we’ll do that,” he smiled back as Eddie started up the truck and they headed home.

“Good,” Eddie nodded, “Oh, and Chris will be wanting your help on the weekend, he has a science project to do, and he said that since you’re better at it, he wants your help.”

Buck snorted, “He just knows that I’ll help a lot more than I most likely should.”

It was Eddie’s turn to snort at that, “No, he wants your help because you’re better and he learns a lot more from you about what he is working on.”

Buck smiled softly, “He’s so smart,” he murmured.

“He is, and I swear he doesn’t get that from me,” he said, “I love that kid and how he loves to learn, and with you, he can indulge that as often as he wants. You know so much and he loves the little facts that you tell him. I know he’s been telling everyone at school about them as well. Each time he learns a new one so does the rest of his class.”

“Yeah?” Buck said, proud of that little fact himself.

“Yeah,” Eddie told him. The two headed home, being welcomed back by Christopher, who hugged Buck tightly as he moaned about the fact that the cast he had drawn on and given his artistic talent to was now gone. “It’s fine, Mijo,” Eddie said, “You’ll just have to see what you can remember and draw them all on paper so we can always remember them.”

“Exactly that, Superman,” Buck agreed, not sure if he really wanted to remember being in the cast, but he could see that Christopher was a little upset about them being lost forever.

“Okay, I’ll get started!” Christopher grinned. Hugging Buck tightly he added, “Glad you are getting better, Buck.”

Buck watched him go before joining Shannon and Eddie in the living room.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Shannon looked over at Buck and Eddie, both had gone with her to her physio appointment, then again, Bucks would be just after hers. But today, today was special. She was at the bars, standing on her feet. She had been practicing hard, now today was the day that she would be taking her first steps using the bars. Buck and Eddie held hands as they watched. The elated smile on Shannon’s face as she was able to take a few steps before she started to wobble.

“It’s a great start,” her physiotherapist, Luke, said as he helped her back to her wheelchair. “You’ve come a long way since you first came here.”

“I know you say that, but it still…” Shannon sighed, “Sometimes I feel like I’m at a standstill and not getting anywhere.”

“I know you do,” Luke told her, “All people feel like that, it’s natural. Though I do make a chart of what could be done at the end of each week, and you can see from it that you have been improving. Last week, you wouldn’t have been able to take those steps, this week you took three.”

“While leaning on the bars,” Shannon snorted.

“Give it time and you’ll be doing it without,” he reminded her, “Things, unfortunately, take time.”

“I know,” she muttered, but smiled as she saw Buck and Eddie grinning at her.

“You were awesome, Shan,” Buck grinned at her, “now it’s my turn.”

“Show ’em what you’re made of,” Shannon joked with him as Luke looked between the two.

“Ah, you must be Buck, the Evan Buckley I have next on my list,” he nodded, not having met the man, but heard enough of him from his client.

“That I am,” Buck nodded, as he got up, leaning on his crutches, he had tried to stand without them, but it hadn’t gone so well. Eddie and Carla had spotted him and told him off about it.

“Right, let’s see where you are in your recovery. I take it you would prefer being called Buck?” he asked as he went to the notes he had been given.

“I would,” Buck nodded, “Not that keen on my first name at all,” he grinned.

Luke nodded, going over the notes, “Right, says you have healed well, need to bring up the strength in your leg that you lost while it was in the cast. So let’s get you on the mat and see where you are with that,” he said, gesturing to the mat.

What came next was a grueling hour of being put through his paces to see where his leg was in terms of healing. When it was over, he was leaning against Eddie on a chair, exhausted and in pain.

“Well,” Luke said as he started making some notes. “Loss of muscles is a give of course. It shouldn’t be that hard to get you back into firefighting shape.”

Buck grinned, “That’s good, how long do you think it’ll take?” he asked.

“Give it a few more sessions and then maybe I’ll be able to answer that one,” he smiled back, “I’ll be giving you some gentle exercises that I want you to do between sessions, do not overdo them. All of this is to build you back up. Push too hard and you’ll fall back to the beginning and have to start over,” he said, warning Buck of the consequences.

“Right,” he nodded, knowing he would be listening to what the man was telling him. There was no way that he wanted to jeopardize him going back to work as soon as he could manage it.

“Well, let’s show you those exercises, Eddie, pay attention, he might need you watching the first few times, to make sure he is doing it right, and for some help,” Luke said as he got Buck to head back to the mat, this time Eddie following.

XxXxX

Buck was almost asleep against Eddie when someone started banging on the door. “Ugh,” he groaned as Eddie got up to answer it.

“What are you doing here?” Eddie hissed, not happy to see two people he had thought he had told to never darken his door again.

“We-” Helena began.

“No,” Eddie told her, stopping her from speaking.

“You will listen to your Mother, Edmundo, and stop all this nonsense,” Ramon demanded, taking a step towards the door, as though he was going to try and break his way inside.

“Don’t even think you can come into my home with your high-handed demands and expect to be listened to. Don’t even expect me to show any respect to two people that wanted to send my SON to a home. To take him away from his family!” Eddie yelled at them, glad that Christopher was at school and Shannon was out with her sister.

“We are trying to do what is best for him, you have filled his head with so much that he thinks he can do anything he puts his mind to. What about when he’s older and you can no longer care for him?” Helena yelled back, “You’re going to regret not choosing to make sure he knew his place-”

“Get lost, get the fuck out of my life. I already told you that I never want to see you again, and I really don’t. If you don’t stop harassing me, I will get a restraining order,” he warned them again, “I mean it, I want nothing to do with you, and I don’t want you around my son or family ever again. As far as I’m concerned my parents are dead because that is what you are to me.” He went to slam the door shut in their faces.

“We will sue for custody!” Ramon yelled at him before the door could fully close.

Eddie opened it again, staring at his so-called father, “Do so and you will lose. Because you don’t have Christopher’s best interests in your heart at all. You only care that he is causing you an embarrassment,” he sneered, “Just because he has CP, doesn’t make him stupid. He’s so damn smart but you will never be able to see it because all you can see is his CP. Leave, now, before I call the cops.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Ramon snarled as he put his foot in the door, “I suggest that you g-”

“Cops have been called,” came a voice from inside.

Eddie glanced back, making sure that Ramon couldn’t enter the house. He saw Buck standing there with his phone in his hand. “Thanks,” he smiled briefly before turning back to the two people he never wanted to claim as his parents ever again.

“Welcome,” Buck smiled back as he came a little closer, in case Eddie needed any backup, though he wouldn’t be much help.

“How dare you interfere in this family matter!” Ramon yelled, looking at Buck.

“I dare because you’re here to be a nuisance and idiots. No one is ever going to allow you to be around Christopher with the attitude that you have at the moment. You think he needs to go into a home, he is a child that needs his family. You keep saying that, but you don’t even mean it, all you mean is to take him away and hide him. Well, Eddie and I, as well as Shannon and the rest of the family, don’t feel that way,” Buck hissed at him, “You are ashamed of your own grandson because he is a little different. Well, we’re not, his real family loves him for who he is, which is a bright and happy almost eight-year-old, that is smart as a whip and is the most caring young boy I have ever met in my life.”

“You have no idea what it’s like to have to-”

“I don’t care what you have to say,” Eddie told his mother, shaking his head, “Now leave my property, and never ever come back. I don’t even know why you are, since you were supposed to go home a month ago.”

“We did, but we wanted to make sure you knew what was going to happen shoul-”

“Shut up,” Eddie told her as he saw the cops pull up. “I think these are going to be your escorts out of here. And don’t come back, and if you try and sue, I will make you pay for everything you have ever said and done towards Christopher,” Eddie warned them, “I will not rest until I know that you will never be a threat to my family again,” he hissed.

“You will regret this, Edmundo,” Ramon said as he and Helena left before the cops could head toward them.

Eddie sighed as he nodded at the cop that was heading toward them, “You can come in and I’ll tell you the situation,” he said, letting them inside. Eddie believed it would be a good idea to report on it all, just in case.

XxXxX

Eddie smiled as he got changed, he was on shift, and he knew that within another two months, Buck should be back. The first three weeks of the man physio had been grueling in a way that had left Buck grumpy and only cuddles with Christopher had soothed him.

Chimney headed over, “Hey, Eddie,” he greeted, “You going to see Buck?” he asked.

“Of course I am, we do live together,” Eddie deadpanned, staring at him.

“Yeah, right, sorry,” he snorted, “Wanted to know if he wants to do a get-together with everyone. It’s been a while since we were all able to go out. I know that Buck is doing well at the moment, mostly thanks to you and Maddie keeping us updated. She’s calmed down as well, not so gung ho on trying to get Buck to change jobs. It would be a damn shame if that happened, he’s one of the best I’ve seen,” he added.

“I know, I’ll be glad to have my partner back, the floaters aren’t… good enough in my eyes,” he said, giving a one-armed shrug as he picked up his bag.

“I don’t think anyone will be,” Chimney smiled, “So, what do you think, in a couple of days, have a night out, adults only?” he suggested.

Eddie smiled and nodded, “It would be nice, Buck was reluctant to go out too much with his crutches, he doesn’t need them much now,” he said, “So, yeah, sure, I’ll make sure to find a babysitter, as I think it would be a good idea for Shannon to come along as well. She’s a little lonely, Niamh has gone on holiday for a few days. She’ll be moving back home soon, and she is dreading it as much as she is looking forward to it.”

“Yeah, that’s fine, she was nice to joke around with,” Chimney grinned remembering some of the things she had said when she had joined them on a night out last time.

“I’ll see when we’re all free. Shannon and Buck have physio on the same day, so they tend to do that together each time. If I’m free, I’ll go with them, if not, Carla does. Though with the way that Buck is steadily improving I would give it another couple of weeks before he’ll be fine to do it all by himself,” Eddie said, proud of how far Buck had come in his healing, it had just been five months, and September was around the corner. Shannon was doing so well she was going back to work after the holidays. Having taken a more permanent position at Durand.

Chimney and Eddie went over times before deciding on a night out, ready to inform the others what would be going on and if they wanted to join.

XxXxX

Buck walked in, with no cane, crutches, or anything, it would be the first time he would be going out without either. He was getting further along in his recovery that physio had now taken to getting him back into shape and ready to go back and requalify. Looking around, he saw his sister and Chimeny already settled at a booth. Athena and Bobby were at the bar, though there was no Hen and Karen currently.

“Coming,” Eddie said, as he took his hand and began to lead him over. Shannon was behind the two of them, she was in her wheelchair, though she was starting to use crutches and a frame a little more around the house. She didn’t feel she was ready to do that on a night out.

“Yeah,” he grinned, glancing back toward Shannon and nodding.

“Well, let’s go and get drunk,” Shannon grinned, though all three knew that they wouldn’t. Shannon still had some medication that she had to take, and while Buck didn’t, he wasn’t going to drink much at all.

Heading over, Bobby and Athena joined them, drinks in hand, having messaged the three to find out what they would want. “Hey,” Buck grinned at them all. “Good to see you.”

“And you, looking a lot better than back then,” Athena smiled at him, “no doubt you’ll be back at work soon.”

“Yeah,” Buck nodded, sitting down and taking the sofa that she had gotten him, “I’m looking forward to it. Luke said that in another two weeks and I could start the training again to get ready for the requlifications. So hopefully, if things go well, I’ll be back mid-September, end of,” he said.

“Good to hear,” Chimney grinned as Bobby did the same.

“It’ll be nice having you back,” Bobby agreed, smiling at the young man.

“Sorry, we’re late!” Hen said as she and Karen rushed over, both of them flopping into the booth, “Denny didn’t know what to bring on the epic sleepover,” she rolled her eyes. Denny, Christopher, and Harry were all staying with Michael for the night, while May was staying over a friend’s.

“I wonder what they are going to be up to, Michael had plans,” Athena smirked.

“Oh they are going to be going out the window,” Karen said, “I don’t know what those boys are planning, but they are planning something,” she added, shaking her head.

“What do you want to drink?” Chimney asked the two ladies as he stood up, “I’ll get them,” he said before Hen could protest and get to her feet.

“Fine,” Hen said as she told him a cocktail she would like, Karen asking for the same. It didn’t take that long for Chimney to come back with the two drinks and hand them over.

“Right,” Maddie said as she leaned against Chimney, “It’s nice to get together like this.”

“I’ll say,” Shannon added, “And we still have a few things to talk about,” she grinned at the other woman, who grinned back.

“Oh, yes, pictures of baby Buck,” Maddie grinned, moving away from Chimney and scooting closer to Shannon as she pulled out her phone.

“Mads, please!” Buck said, horrified, he knew he had sent her a lot of pictures from his time traveling, he had put them in emails, so he wouldn’t lose them if something happened to his phone.

Maddie just smirked as she began to show the pictures, much to Buck’s mortification. Shannon then started doing the same with what she had of Eddie during their friendship and marriage. Much to his embarrassment and Buck’s amusement.

Chapter Thirty

Shannon sighed as she looked around the room that had been hers for the last six, almost seven months. She had been welcomed into the home of her ex-husband and his partner so easily. She could even imagine living there permanently. At the same time, part of her liked the idea of being around and seeing Christopher all the time. She knew, in the end, she had to go back home. Niamh was already chomping at the bit to get her home, missing her. The two still lived together, even though they had made noises at various times about getting their own place. Still, they never followed through, especially after returning from Ireland and burying their mother.

“You okay?” Eddie asked as he walked into the room.

Shannon turned to look at him, crutches making the familiar sound as she did so. “I don’t really know. Have I loved my time here? I have seen Christopher and how you and Buck are with him, it’s been so nice. I’m ready to carry on like we were before. I admit that I’m a little upset about leaving, but Christopher is still better off full-time with the two of you. I’m still living with Niamh,” she snorted.

“Like he doesn’t love his Auntie Ni,” Eddie snorted, “He adores her, and why wouldn’t he want to live with you.”

“He loves it here, and I know he is torn about who to live with as he doesn’t want to hurt either of us. Carla got out of him what he would like,” she told him, reminding him, “He wants to live here and I see no problem in that at all. I’m not hurt by it, I know the way things went down after I left to take care of my Mum, he was, in his eyes abandoned. The silence between us, while not our fault at first, not mine at first, still happened,” she said, correcting herself, “It hurt him so much. I will regret that for a long time, we need to build that trust between us again. Being here, it’s a start towards that.”

“You don’t have to leave, you could stay?” he said quietly, “Buck and I don’t mind,” he added, walking towards her.

“But I do,” she told him, “This isn’t my home, it’s your family’s home,” she added, shaking her head when she saw him about to say something. “I know that I’m family in one way, but I’m not the family that you are trying to make now.”

“I-” Eddie began only to be cut off by Shannon holding up a hand.

“Listen, we both know that Christopher needs to stay with you, you have a great home for him and a system. And I still see him daily, even when it won’t be my turn to have him for the night and that’s because I work at his school. I go back to work soon, I’m looking forward to it all. Having my own home again and getting back to work,” Shannon reminded him, smiling softly. “I get to see him in an environment that not many parents will ever see.”

“Yeah,” Eddie sighed, “I just know he’s going to miss having you here. He’s going to ask why you can’t stay like you already have been.”

“He will, just like I know I will wish I was still here, but he’ll be just fine, this is where he wants to be,” she said, “Now, let’s get the last of this in Niamh’s car so I can get home and make sure she hasn’t messed everything up,” she added as she let Eddie grab the last bag that was in her former room. She guided the way out, heading to where Buck and Niamh were talking.

“Ready to go home?” Niamh said, grinning at her sister as she headed down the path and towards the car.

“Yeah,” Shannon smiled, Eddie putting the bag into the car.

“Right,” Buck said, looking a little morose as Shannon went over to him. “I’m going to miss our complaining days,” he said, as they hugged tightly.

“Don’t worry, we’re never going to be stopping them,” Shannon grinned, “We have so much to go through still,” she told him, letting him go and slipping her arms back into the crutches she was using to get around. Her wheelchair had already been put in the car. She still had it just in case she needed it, but she was using her crutches more than the chair for the last couple of weeks. It was what had prompted her to try and go home.

“I’m still going to miss having you here,” he sighed, “But I understand about wanting to get back to normal and the way things were.”

“Yeah,” Shanonnon laughed, “And don’t forget, in another month, we’ll know,” she grinned.

Buck grinned, and nodded, “Yeah, still don’t know if I feel excited or scared.”

“You should be both. Excited and scared, I was with Christopher, not so much this time,” she told him, “And Christopher is all happy about it.”

“Said that he wanted a sibling last Christmas, now he gets one next year,” Buck snorted.

“Exactly, he’s excited,” Shannon smiled, “Now, we both have another therapy session, it will be your last, I know, you’ll be going for re-certs after that.” She was excited for him, he had worked hard and steadily towards getting back to work, and it was getting closer and closer each day.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “I’ll see you then,” he said as she then hugged Eddie and got in the car.

Niamh waved at them as she got in the driver’s side and they headed home.

“It’s going to be so odd not having her here,” Buck said as he turned to Eddie.

“I know,” Eddie agreed, “But she has things she wants to get back to, and more privacy,” he added, snorting.

“I know that, just going to miss her, she’s great to have around,” Buck said, as they headed inside.

Eddie nodded, “I feel the same, she’s a great friend, though could do without the more embarrassing moments,” he said, thinking of the night out they had almost a week ago.

“Ugh,” he groaned as he thought of his sister and Shannon ganging up on the two of them, “Yeah, Maddie should never have met her. It was the biggest mistake ever.”

“Yeah,” agreeing, Eddie closed the door behind them as they headed to the living room and settled down, wondering what they should do until they had to pick Christopher up.

XxXxX

Buck was grinning as he entered his home. Only to find Eddie pacing back and forth in the living room. He was on the phone and the rapid-fire Spanish he was hearing and he knew that something had happened. “Eds,” he said, calming as Eddie finished the call.

“Helena and Ramon have now crossed the last line,” he said, as he turned to face Buck.

“What have they done?” he asked, being handed an official-looking letter.

“While you were out, CPS came around, they wanted to do an inspection and to start a case on Christopher. They have had a report of abuse by my partner and myself on our son,” Eddie growled, “I have our solicitor already informed and they are going to make sure that they are well informed about what is going on and that they are making sure we and Christopher are protected in all this mess.”

Buck read through the letter and growled a little, “So Helena and Ramon complained to CPS and accused us of abuse?” shaking his head.

“Yep,” Eddie said, doing his best to calm himself down. “I’ve sent everything I have, all the emails, voicemails, and everything they have ever sent me when it comes to Christopher, and even myself and Shannon, as well as you too,” he sighed, as he went over to Buck and let the man hold him for a moment.

“Has Shannon been informed?” he asked.

“Yeah, she is pissed, and is doing the interview now, they’ll be back to talk to you later. I told them where you were since you’re retraining at the moment,” Eddie sighed against him, resting his head against Buck’s shoulder and just wanting to bury his head in his neck and stay there.

“Right, what have they said so far?” Eddie asked, guiding Eddie to the couch and getting him to settle down against him.

“That things look okay, they have someone getting in touch with the school and interviewing the teachers, and someone is also talking to Carla, since she is one of the best Home Health Aides in LA, she’s in their good books. A number of families have had Carla’s help in the past. She has a history with the CPS here and registered as a foster at some point in the past. No longer does,” Eddie mumbled, not really making all that much sense.

“Right,” Buck said, taking a moment to try and think through what he meant. “So us having Carla is a good thing, CPS isn’t worried about Christopher at all, but they are following procedure in their investigation.”

“Yeah,” Eddie nodded against him and closed his eyes.

“Rest for a bit,” Buck said, running a hand up and down Eddie’s side. He could feel the man relaxing into him. The two hadn’t seen each other since the day before. Eddie had been on shift until that morning, but Buck had already left the house by the time he had gotten home. No doubt that Eddie was tired from his shift along with the emotional turmoil that was now happening thanks to Helena and Ramon Diaz.

Eddie hummed, already half asleep. Buck remained beside him until someone was ringing the doorbell. “Eddie,” Buck said softly, waking him up, “Someone’s at the door,” he added.

“Ugh,” Eddie grumbled as he slowly woke up, “Must be Cassandra,” he said, “She’s the CPS that wants to talk to you, she did say that she would be coming back.”

“Right,” he said, finally getting free from Eddie’s octopus-like grip. Going to the door, he opened it, “Hello.”

“I’m Cassandra Lewis,” she smiled, “You must be Mr Buckley?” she said.

“I am,” he nodded.

“I’m from CPS,” She said, pulling out her ID for Buck to check, “I did talk with Mr Diaz earlier, about coming back to speak with you.”

“He did mention it, “Buck said, stepping aside, “Please come in.”

“Thank you,” Cassandra smiled as she was let into the house. She had already looked around the home, finding nothing to worry about.

“Cassandra,” Eddie greeted as Buck led them into the living room.

“Eddie,” she greeted back.

“Please sit down,” he added gesturing to one of the chairs.

The three of them sat down and Cassandra pulled out her notes.

“Thank you for seeing me again,” she said, “I just want to speak with Mr Buckley, as someone else that is in young Christopher’s life. ”

“I don’t mind, and please call me Buck,” he said, “So, go ahead.”

Cassandra nodded and quickly asked a few basic questions for her note before starting the more serious ones. “Now Buck, how would you describe your interaction with Christopher?”

“They’re good, he’s so smart and he loves learning.” Buck answered, “We were working on a science project and he was asking so many questions. We had to look up some of the answers,” Buck was smiling as he answered.

Cassandra made a few notes. Listening to Buck as he answered some more of her questions. “Thank you,” she said, as she carried on asking a couple more questions, with Buck answering her as truthfully as he could.

“Really, I love the kid so much, he’s a ray of sunshine, no matter what his CP throws at him, he keeps smiling, not letting it get him down. Yeah, he’ll have bad days, we all do. But He does his best to always smile,” Buck smiled fondly as he thought of the eight-year-old.

“I see,” she said, making a few more notes. “Thank you, for all that, sorry for taking up so much of your time,” she added, as she looked up. “We’ll be wanting to talk with Christopher at some point as well, within the next few days. It will be fine to have Carla with him while he speaks, as she is a trusted Child Advocate,” she added, standing up. “At the moment, we’ve found nothing to worry about when it comes to your son,” she smiled at Eddie.

“Thank you,” Eddie nodded as he began to show her out, “I know who reported this to you,” he said.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at that, “Oh?”

“Helena and Ramon Diaz are Eddie’s parents. They aren’t happy that we are letting Chris do what he wants, learning what he likes and such. They don’t like it at all, they even said that they don’t want him to learn and think he can do things because they don’t want him to be disappointed when they decide that he is too much of a burden for them and put him into a home of some kind,” he sighed, looking over at Eddie.

“I cut them off when I learned that is what they want to do with Christopher. Since there is no way that I’ll allow them to fill Chris’ head with thoughts of being a burden or anything like that. That he can’t do anything just because he has CP, I won’t allow it. Christopher can do what he wants, yeah, he’s going to have some limitations, but I would rather we found those out together and see if there are ways we can overcome it,” Eddie said, smiling at Buck, “All three of us and Carla work together to make sure he stays safe and is able to do so without any harm to himself either.”

“I see,” she nodded, making a mental note, “I shall take that into consideration as well as I go over things. As I said, we will be wishing to speak with Christopher soon.”

“I know, and I will give permission for Carla to be with him. If you don’t mind me watching from another room?” Eddie said, not really wanting Christopher out of his sight.

“I can agree to that,” Cassandra nodded.

“We’ll speak soon about organizing it,” Eddie said as he led her out of his home. As soon as the door closed behind her Eddie turned and let himself fall into Buck’s arms, “I hate this.”

“I know, we had a feeling that they would try something, and now we know what they are trying,” Buck said, “We can counter this, we all know that Christopher is fine and they are just trying to grasp at straws, they won’t get anywhere,” he reassured him, holding Eddie tightly for a moment.

Eddie snorted, “They are going to find out, I meant what I said, that I will never be letting them back into my life.”

“We won’t be, ever,” Buck agreed, “I doubt that Shannon will be sad about that. I don’t think even Christopher will, he’s been complaining about them babying him when they are around.”

“Yeah,” he laughed and nodded, before yawning, “I think I’m going to get a small nap in before Carla comes home with Chris,” he said.

Buck smiled and said, “I’ll join you after a shower.”

Eddie nodded, “I’ll see you then,” he yawned again before heading towards their bedroom. Buck followed so he could have a quick shower before joining him.

 

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