Reading Time: 104 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 Thirty-One

Christopher’s interview had gone well, he had talked about his parents and Buck, as well as his grandparents, though he had made his feelings known on what he thought of them. Cassandra looked over at Buck and Eddie, Shannon hadn’t been able to make it as she was starting to get things sorted at work.

“Well, from everything that we have seen and heard, there is nothing to report,” she told the two men, “Christopher is a happy eight-year-old.”

“He is, and he’s looking forward to his cousin’s birthday. Some of our other cousins are going to be coming over to celebrate. Buck has already promised our Abuela to help her out with some of the cooking,” Eddie grinned as he heard Christopher laughing from the other room.

“He is a lively child, happy and healthy, even with his CP,” Cassandra nodded

“Yeah,” Buck smiled, “He is.”

“We’re not going to be continuing after this, the case is going to be closed,” she told them, “We also investigated where the report came from in the first place. What you said about Mr and Mrs Diaz, well, they were interviewed by some colleagues down in El Paso. Asking them what their vision of Christopher’s future was…” She shook her head and sighed, “They showed us a brochure of a home that they were looking at for him. When we spoke to those that ran the place, they admitted that they didn’t think Christopher would be a good fit for them, he is not the type of children and young adults that they cater to, but the Diaz’s were trying to insist that he would need their help as he got older. I was shocked to see that the facility was trying to get through to them that Christopher and his CP didn’t need their care.”

Eddie snorted, “Doesn’t surprise me,” he said, “My parents are… set in their views, they don’t want to change. I’ve given them so many chances and it doesn’t work at all, they just carry on with what they want to believe and ignore everyone else.”

“I see, well, you are, of course, free to take Christopher home and I will, hopefully never have to see you again,” she smiled.

Eddie held out his hand and shook hers, “Same here,” he agreed, “And thank you.”

Buck was already out of the room, meeting with Christopher, who was starting to tell him a joke he had heard in school the day before. Eddie quickly joined them, heading out of the building, Carla remaining behind for a moment to talk with Cassandra, before joining them as well.

XxXxX

Buck was grinning as he finished the last of the course. He could see Eddie there, waiting for him to head over to him.

“Well, Buckley, you passed again. Broke a few more records while at it as well,” the man said as he pulled him to his feet, “You’ve passed your re-certs, so off you go and celebrate. I’ll be sending it all to the 118 and Captain Nash so he can add you back to the rota, I know he has been waiting for it,” he smirked.

“Thanks,” he said, glancing over to where Eddie had been waiting for him. Eddie had been the one to drop him off at the Academy and had decided to wait when Dean Jones said he would be fine to do so.

Eddie walked over, seeing the elated look on Buck’s face, he hugged him, “I take it you passed?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course, did you really think I wouldn’t?” he snorted, grinding as he hugged his boyfriend. “I’m going to be back at the 118,” he murmured, “It feels like it’s been a lot longer,” he added.

“I know,” Eddie said, holding him tightly for a moment before letting him go, “Well, you know that there is going to be a party being held, don’t you?” he grinned.

“I’ve already heard the whispers of that,” he grinned back as they headed to the changing rooms so Buck could shower and change. “Athena can keep a secret, but she and the others all made the mistake of letting Chimney know, and he really can’t keep a secret, even when he does try.”

Eddie snorted, “Yeah, we tried to tell Hen not to tell him when we were making the arrangements, but well…” he trailed off with a shrug. “I don’t think he means to let loose.”

“He doesn’t, he just has no situational awareness half the time and forgets that I can be just around the corner when he talks about something,” he said as he walked to the changing rooms and grabbed his things for a quick shower.

Eddie waited outside, sending a message to Bobby and Athena about Buck passing the re-certification. He smiled as he got a message back from Bobby saying that in two weeks Buck would be back on rotation. Eddie was happy with that, as he had missed his partner, the floaters they had over the last six months were all fine, but they didn’t hold a candle to Buck and what he could do. Buck had the most certifications out of anyone in the 118, and always took on more when they became available to him.

“Ready?” Buck asked as he stepped out, hair still a little wet.

“You should dry your hair, you’ll catch a cold,” he said, rolling his eyes and wondering if he could grab the towel and dry it the rest of the way.

“That’s not true you know, you can’t catch a cold from having wet hair,” Buck told him.

Eddie rolled his eyes a gain, “Doesn’t matter, you shouldn’t go around with wet hair,” he said, “Come on, let’s get going. Christopher is going to be happy to know you’ve passed as well.”

“When is this party?” he asked him.

“Later on tonight,” Eddie sighed in answer, “Really, Buck?”

“What, I may as well know when,” he shrugged following his boyfriend to his truck and getting in. “I can’t wait until I’m back at work. You told Bobby?” he asked.

“I have, and he said two weeks, so basically after this roster you’ll be put back on,” he replied, starting up the truck and heading home.

“Yeah, I know Chris is excited about something as well, he keeps wanting to spend time with Shannon,” Buck frowned a little.

“I have no idea what is going on, but there is a folder that he has been keeping a secret. Won’t let me look at it at all,” Eddie snorted, “Shannon told me off when I told her about it, said that it was private Mommy and Son things and that we’ll get to know one day.”

“Right,” Buck snorted, “I’m glad they are having fun, have to admit that I’m curious.”

“Same here,” Eddie agreed, “Party tonight, I know that you and Maddie are going to be going off before that.”

“She’s the distraction,” Buck grinned, “Honestly, just giving it all away,” he said, glancing over at him.

“It’s not like you haven’t figured it all out already. You know that I won’t be around a little later, as I’m going to help set up. Abuela and Pepa are also going to be there with Carla, Shannon, and Christopher will also be with me, so you’d be on your own. Maddie said she’d take you out for lunch and then coffee, while we set up and then you’ll come, so try and act surprised?” he told him, shaking his head.

“Of course. Can’t disappoint Christopher, no doubt he’ll be yelling surprise the loudest,” Buck laughed as they talked about Buck going back to work in two weeks.

“Of course, he’s been working hard on a card for you as well,” Eddie smiled, he loved how close they all were, including Shannon. Buck and Shannon had become rather close thanks to their joint rehab woes.

“I can’t wait,” Buck was grinning as they carried on home.

XxXxX

Buck was grinning as he looked around the Grant house, everyone had gathered to celebrate his return to work. Bobby had already taken him aside and told him that he would be back on rotation after the last roster was over. Buck was happy and bounced from group to group for most of the night. Athena was the only one to guess that he knew that there was going to be a party, he had been able to fool everyone else. Christopher had been vibrating as he finally got the chance to hand Buck the card he had made.

Buck knelt down as he took it, “Thanks,” he smiled as he saw himself on the front of it, with a surfboard and Christopher next to it. “This is awesome,” he said as he opened it up and read it allowed, “Dear Buck, you are an awesome firefighter, love Christopher and… baby sibling…” Buck looked from the card to Christopher who was grinning widely. Behind him were his parents. Eddie was looking just as confused as Buck was while Shannon was laughing as she stood there.

“Suprise,” Shannon said, “It worked a lot sooner than I thought it would,” she said, as Christopher was giggling and walking back towards his mother.

“I’m gonna be a big brother Buck, Dad,” he grinned at the two men, leaning against his mom a little. She was only using a single crutch that night, feeling a lot stronger than she had in a while.

“I know it’s early still and things can still go wrong, but…” Shannon gave a little shrug, “I thought you both should know, and little mister here decided to overhear while I was talking with Abuela. Knew had to say something soon or he would spill the beans.”

“It’s good news, Mommy,” Christopher looked up at her, a large happy smile on his face.

“I know, baby,” she murmured, running a hand over his hair, tugging lightly on the curls.

“It is,” Eddie said, as he reached out for Buck and took his hand, “I still can’t believe it. You said, we all…” he stopped shaking his head.

“We thought it would take a lot longer than the very first try,” Buck said what Eddie had been trying.

“I know, I thought that as well,” Shannon smiled, “Looks like we lucked out, I’m being careful as I can, and listening to what the doctor said, they’ll be doing a scan in a couple of weeks and as soon as I know the date, I’ll tell the both of you so you can both be there. This is going to be one happy kid, just like his big brother,” she added as she glanced down at her son.

“I have so much to teach them,” Christopher said as he began to list a few things.

“They are going to be very loved,” Buck murmured as he listened, leaning against Eddie.

The little family talked for a while longer before Buck got pulled away to talk to others. “Hen, Karen,” he smiled at the two women, they were vibrating as much as Christopher had been earlier. Their excitement and happiness were shining brightly for them.

“I heard the news that there is going to be a new addition to your family,” Hen was smiling as she spoke, looking at the man that had become a much-loved little brother.

“Yeah, I can’t believe it, we were told it might take a while for it to work. She’s only said so now because Christopher found out, and there would have been no way for him to keep that quiet for long,” he smiled.

“Yeah, he’s already told Denny,” Karen smiled as she was fiddling with his phone, “you won’t be the only ones to maybe hear the pitta patter of tiny feet,” she said, “We’re going through IVF with a sperm donor at the moment,” she added, pulling up a picture on her phone and showing it to him, “This is the sperm donor, well, a picture of him when he was ten,” she smiled, “So we have an idea of what our kid might look like.”

Buck looked at it a large grin appearing on his face, “Really? When do you start?” he asked.

“We already have,” Hen smiled, “Shannon was there when we went to talk to one of the doctors about it. We decided to try a few days later, so,” she trailed off, taking Karen’s hand.

Buck put two and two together, “So, you ‘e pregnant now?” he asked quietly, not wanting to let anyone else hear him.

Karen nodded, “We were going to wait a few more weeks, maybe another month or two before we started trying. After talking with Shannon, we decided to try a little earlier than planned. Confirmed it this morning, it’s still early days, but I’m excited, we… I didn’t think we would do this. I have to be honest with you.”

“I’m so happy for the both of you. Denny is a great kid, and I know your next is going to be just as awesome as he is,” he gushed, happy for the couple. He knew that the couple had gone through a few ups and downs a while back, but he was happy that they were moving forward and working hard at keeping their relationship going.

“So, are you happy about your own news?” Karen asked.

Buck nodded, “I can’t wait, we have Chris already and he is a star, he really is, and I can’t wait until he gets to be a big brother. He’s going to love it, I know, he’s already made lists.”

“Yeah, he’s been sharing them with Denny as well, though Denny is a little upset as he isn’t going to be a big brother. He doesn’t know yet. We’re going to wait another month or two before we tell him. Want to make sure it all goes well,” Karen said, gripping Hen’s hand tightly.

“It’s going to be fine, I just know it. So is Shannon’s as well. These two are going to end up as best friends, just like Chris, Denny, and Harry are,” he smiled, congratulating them again.

“Yeah, I’d believe that,” Hen smiled as she shared a look with Karen.

Buck was dragged away to see his sister and Chimney, doing the rounds of the party. Talking with Bobby again as he listened about heading back to work in two weeks. Bobby and Buck made their way over to the cake to get another slice as Christopher went over, grinning and chattering as Buck picked him up, the eight-year-old was able to talk him into getting a second piece of cake as well, which both Shannon and Eddie told him he was dealing with the sugar high. Buck didn’t care, he was too happy to.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Right,” Eddie said as he looked at Christopher and Buck, the two of them would be spending the day together. Buck would be back at work in another couple of days, and Shannon was at Durand getting ready for when it opened next week. “You two have fun, keep me updated on your adventures as well,” he reminded them, knowing that sometimes when the two of them went out together they would get lost in what activity Buck had suggested for the two of them.

“We will, Dad,” Christopher grinned as his dad hugged him tightly.

“Have fun, Buck,” he then said as he let his son go and kissed Buck.

“We will,” Buck smiled at him, as they let him head to work. “So, Chris,” he said as soon as the door closed behind Eddie, “What shall we do?”

“Breakfast out?” Christopher suggested.

“Sounds good,” he agreed, he knew that Eddie was going to be having breakfast at the firehouse. Bobby was cooking that morning and Eddie and Buck had agreed that Buck would take Christopher out for breakfast if he wanted.

The two got ready for their day out, talking about where they would like to go after they finished breakfast. Christopher reminded Buck to send pictures to make Eddie and Shannon jealous of what Buck and Christopher were up to. After talking it out, they decided to head to the pier. Christopher had been wanting to go for a while, so he was taking the chance he could to go now before school started. Most schools were already back in session, but Christophers and a few others were still a week out.

“Buck,” Christopher said while they took a break at the pier, Christopher was looking out over the ocean and Buck was watching the people pass them by, as he gripped the top, making sure he didn’t fall.

“Yeah, buddy?” he said, glancing at him, smiling as the kid looked back at him.

“What do you think I should be when I grow up?” he asked him, “One of the teachers from last year was telling me that I won’t be able to do a lot of things,” he said, looking sad, “She said that I should find something that I can do sitting down,” he frowned, still looking at Buck.

Buck was horrified at what he was hearing, “Hey, Superman, you can be a lot of things. You might have to find other ways to do it than how others do, but that shouldn’t stop you,” he told him, “Yeah, things will be harder for you. Please, though Chris, don’t let that stop you from finding out what you like and what you really want to do with your life,” he smiled up at him.

Christopher smiled a little more at that and then nodded, “I want to work with NASA, be a Rocket Scientist, like Auntie Karen, or maybe I could become a firefighter like you and Dad,” he said, “I know I won’t be able to do the rescues like you and Dad, but I can be like Auntie Hen, can’t I?” he asked him, “I could do that?”

“Chris, I think you could do anything if you put your mind to it, will it be harder than other things you could pick? Christopher, you work hard on everything you put your mind to. I know that you’ll be able to find a way to do things because you are so damn smart. As for your teacher, she doesn’t know you properly. She sees the crutches and thinks because of them you can’t do anything. But we both know that doesn’t mean anything, we have to work that little bit smarter and harder to be able to do things. Not everyone is good at everything, everyone has their little talents and abilities that are better than others,” he answered him, giving him a smile, “Just make sure that you love what you do. Like I love being a firefighter, some people told me that I shouldn’t be a firefighter anymore, because I got hurt.”

“But you love being a firefighter, like Dad!” Christopher exclaimed as he stared at him.

“Exactly, I love being a firefighter. They wanted me to be safe, so they wanted me to do something else.”

“Like my teacher wants me to be safe,” Christopher said, as he titled his head.

“Yeah, but being safe like that can make you sad and it can hurt your heart when someone doesn’t believe in you. So you do what you love, you can be anything if you work hard and think about how you can make the world work for you,” Buck smiled at him.

“Yeah,” Christopher nodded, looking back out over the ocean. “Buck, where did all the water go?” he asked, feeling confused, he didn’t think that could happen.

Buck was quick to jump to his feet, he stared out at the water for a second, seeing what was on the horizon, he glanced around, the Ferris Wheel, it was tall, and it wasn’t like it would be the first time climbing such a thing. He could do it, he had to make sure Chris got to safety, and that would be safe for a while as the water rushed towards them, anything else and they would be swept away. “Tsunami!” he yelled out, picking Christopher up and tossing him over his shoulder, “Off the Pier, get to high ground!” he was yelling as he headed towards the Ferris wheel, the operator was doing his best to get the lower baskets cleared before he started to climb. Buck followed him up as did some of those that were in the lower baskets.

Buck climbed, higher, making sure to keep a good grip on Christopher as he told him, “Hold tight, Chris,” he said, moving fast he was over the halfway mark, others now taking the same route that was still on the Ferris wheel and near it. Climbing up, hoping that it would be enough to get above the wave. He glanced behind him, seeing the wave almost on them, “Into the Basket,” he said, as he began to help Christopher into one, it would be safer for him to be in that, than clinging onto the side. “Brace yourselves!” Buck yelled out, as the roaring of the water rushed towards them. He felt the first splashes of water as he got Christopher into the basket, the boy clinging to an arm, fear in his eyes.

The Ferris wheel shook as the wave hit it, but it held firm. Buck knew that it wouldn’t remain that way in the end. It might take an hour or so for it to collapse but it would. “Someone call 9-1-1 and tell them where we are,” he called out, hoping that someone would be able to reach out to dispatch, “This thing won’t remain standing for too long,” he warned.

“Already on to them!” someone called from another of the baskets. The family that was in the one with Christopher, the mother was keeping him safe, though he still had one hand on Buck’s arm.

“Good, tell them where we are, mak-” he began as the Ferris wheel carried on shaking. One of the people that was hanging on began to lose their grip and started slipping. Buck doing what came naturally to him, reached out, stopping her, but ended up falling into the rushing water below.

“BUCKY!” Christopher yelled, it was the last thing Buck heard as he crashed into the water. The power of it took him away from the Ferris wheel, debris tossing him around as he tried to swim back up to the surface. Only able to get a gulp of air before he was dragged back under again.

Buck didn’t know how long he had been in the water before he was able to grab something and pull himself up. Looking around, he found himself in one of the main streets that led towards the pier. He could no longer see it at all, and he just hoped that Christopher was okay. The water was still dragging him inland, further away from the pier and where he hoped Christopher still was. He reached out and grabbed a lamppost as he went past it. The water still trying to push him around. Buck looked around him, trying to find somewhere he could go so he could get out of the water. There was a balcony, the doors were closed, but he hoped that they weren’t locked, he didn’t like the idea of breaking into someone’s place, but he needed a place where he could stay for a moment and try and get in touch with Eddie to tell him where Christopher was. Buck wondered if the place had a landline, he knew as many houses had them since mobile phones were easier to use and have on hand.

The water wasn’t rushing as badly as it had been, and he was a strong swimmer as well. He headed over to the balcony, he could see into the shop below, just about, the water was almost at the top of the door inside. It looked like an extreme sports shop, he knew there was a good one near the pier. Hadn’t visited it at all, but had thought about it. He reached the building fully, there was a bit of a reach up, so he used the debris and the drain pipe and climbed up. He felt over the railing and sat there, closing his eyes for a moment.

“Hey, are you okay?” a male voice said, full of concern.

Buck opened his eyes, to find a man standing before him, he looked about thirty, maybe a little older. “I think.. so,” he said, as he went through a mental checklist.

“Can I check you over, I’m a Doctor I work over at Cedars Sinai,” he said, “I have my hospital ID in the apartment, I’m Martin Sanchez,” he said, a small smile on his face as Buck looked at him.

“I’m fine, really, first responder, firefighter,” he said, “Cuts, bruises, but nothing else I believe.”

“I’d still like to check, no doubt your adrenaline could be covering a few of your injuries up,” Martin said, shaking his head as Buck gave his agreement.

“I’m Buck,” he said, “Work out the 118. One day off with my kid, well, my boyfriend’s kid, but he feels like mine as well,” he said, glancing towards the pier. “I got him into one of the higher baskets on the Ferris wheel, but I fell after stopping a woman from falling.”

“Well, for now, believe that he is fine, I’ll see if I can get the word out from here, but the lines are mostly down,” he sighed, “My husband usually works downstairs, but he had something happening with his sister, so I know at least, that he should be safe with her. Not that I can make sure,” he told him, looking Buck over and confirming what the man said, “Okay, nothing too serious, I would like to clean them up and bandage them.”

Buck shook his head, “No, don’t think there is going to be much of a point,” he said as he stood up, going to the railing and hearing someone call for help. “I think I need to do what I can to help them, you alright with having your home invaded?” he asked Martin.

“I’m fine with that,” he agreed, “I’ve got a good first aid kit here, and I know there are some waterproof kits downstairs that should still be fine and clean. Pulley system?” he asked as he looked out, “Sorry, my husband and I like extreme sports. Might not be up to your qualifications, but I can help as best as I can,” he finished, glancing over at him.

“All good at the moment, any skill that can help, will be helpful, and you being a doctor even more so. What department do you work in?” Buck asked him.

“Emergency,” he answered with a wry smile.

Buck snorted, “Well, welcome to the middle of one.”

“Not often I work in the field, but I’ll be doing my best,” Martin said, his voice calm as he then went inside. Coming back out moments later he brought with him a number of bags full of ropes, “This is what Kyle and I use when we head out, they have high ratings, so should be good enough, I’m going to see if I can get into the shop at all, and see about gathering any more supplies that we need.”

“Be safe, I don’t want to have to come and rescue you. If you find yourself unsure, get out of there and retreat,” Buck advised him as he started to sort out the ropes that he was given. It didn’t take him long to have things set up so that those in the water would be able to climb up onto the balcony, and those that couldn’t would be able to be lifted up. Martin was back with more first aid kits and ropes just in case Buck needed them.

Buck went over the railing and into the water, Martin at the other end of the line as he let it out slowly. Buck swam through the water, creating a catchline with some of the rope that he had braided together to make it thicker. He reached the young man that had been calling for help and guided him back along the rope to be hauled up to the balcony and into Martin’s care.

Time passed quickly and all too slowly, as Buck was in and out of the water, rescuing those that he could. Coming across children, adults, young and old. Martin’s apartment was almost overflowing with those that the two had been able to rescue. Martin had been able to reach Kyle to relay what was happening. The man was at the far edge of what was going on, not caught up in anything, and not able to get near his husband. Kyle had said he would try and find someone to relay where they were and the status of some of those in the apartment.

“Okay,” Buck said to the little girl that he was helping, she looked to be a little younger than Christopher. She was crying quietly, scared, and at the moment alone on a piece of debris. “I’m going to tie this around you, and we’re going to head over there.”

The little girl nodded, wiping at her face as she let Buck tie the rope around her, just in case she fell into the water, they had a chance to save her. Though it did mean that Buck was no longer tethered. The water started surging again.

“Hold on tightly,” he told her, as he tried to do the same, the water was strong and the amount of debris that was rushing towards them was huge. “Martin, pull!” he called out, the surging water too strong for him to keep holding on as he was pulled away, hearing Martin and the others that were helping pull people in, call his name as he ended up under the water.

Chapter Thirty-Three

“You know the drill, do what you can for those that need it, put aside those you can’t help. I know it’s hard,” Bobby said as he got into one of the boats. “We’re heading for the pier. the Ferris Wheels starting to come apart and there are people on it that need help,” he told them all.

“Cap,” Eddie nodded, his phone away, though he had kept it with him. He had heard from Shannon, and she was fine, of course, she was at Durand, and nowhere near this disaster, they had heard a little from Niamh. There was just nothing from Buck and Christopher, and that was worrying them. Hen had gone with the other rescue boat as they had sorted out the two men on the boat that had ended up inland. they had promised to try and meet up again later on at the VA that had been repurposed for the emergency situation that they now found themselves in.

“Right, let’s get to work,” Bobby said as they reached it. “Eddie, you climb up and help out,” he began as someone shouted down.

Eddie nodded and headed up, taking up some equipment, he was getting higher, and almost at the basket that he had been ordered to go to when he heard a voice yelling.

“Daddy!” came a frantic voice, “Daddy, Dad!”

Eddie turned his head, “Christopher!” he yelled back.

Bobby seeing what was going on said, “Chim, you go up and take Eddie’s place, so he can go to his son,” he said,

Chimney nodded and headed up, “Hand over, Eddie,” he said, taking the things from the man and carrying on up.

“Th…thanks,” he said, shaking a little as he began to climb over to his son, “Chris, what are you… what are you doing here?” he asked him, nodding to the three that were with Christopher. The others that had been hanging on to the sides already climbing down to where the boats were.

“Bucky put me in here when the water was coming. I can’t see him, Dad,” Christopher said as Eddie climbed into the basket and Christopher flung himself at him, rocking it a little.

Eddie looked around, noticing that Buck wasn’t in sight at all. “What happened?” he asked.

“The man that was with him, put him in here, he saved a young girl’s life, she has climbed down now,” the man said, “We watched over little Chris. He is very upset about Buck, he fell off as the water was surging inland,” he added. “We’ve not seen him since he fell into the water.”

Eddie’s heart felt like it had stopped. He held Christopher tightly as the little boy sobbed in his arms. “Okay,” he nodded, his voice shaking, “Chris, we’re going to get you out of here, okay,” he said, as he looked down at Christopher.

“No!” he yelled, pushing Eddie away, “We have to find Bucky, he’s alone, Dad!”

“I know, and I will look for Buck, but I need you to be somewhere safe so I can look. I promise I will be doing all that I can to find him and bring him home,” he said, knowing that he couldn’t promise to bring him home, just that he would be doing the best he could.

“Promise to bring him home!” Christopher demanded.

Eddie’s heart broke again, “I can’t promise that Chris, you know that,” he said, as Christopher began to cry again. “I wish I could, I wish I could say that I will bring him home and he’ll be fine.”

“I… I know Daddy, but I need Bucky to be okay. I… wanted to ask if I could call him Papa today,” he said, holding onto Eddie again.

Eddie didn’t know how many times his heart could break that day. He was just hoping that it wouldn’t be breaking again later on, but the chance of someone surviving in the tsunami from the pier was low, very low. “I need to work, so I’m going to help everyone get down and into the boats. I’m going to try and get in touch with Shannon or Auntie Niamh,” he told him, “So they can come and get you.”

“No, I will wait for Bucky,” he demanded, giving his father a glare.

Eddie sighed, “We’ll see,” he told him, not wanting to argue with him.

Eddie got to work, working with Chimney and a firefighter he learned was on the pier when it hit, along with the rest of her crew. It took a little while, but as the Ferris Wheel broke apart, the last of them were in the boats and headed away from it.

“Eddie,” Bobby said, as he rocked Christopher in his arms gently, so as not to make the boat sway.

“They were together, Buck fell in the water and hasn’t been seen since,” he answered him quietly, knowing what the man wanted.

Bobby went pale, “I,” he began, shaking his head.

“He’d be wanting us to do our job,” Chimney said, “If he’s out there, you better believe that he is doing the same thing,” he added, looking at the two pointedly.

Bobby and Eddie shared a look. “We’ll go out as directed, but we’re going to be keeping an eye out, we let other teams know that Buck is out there and that they are to keep an eye out for him,” Bobby said finally.

“Cap,” Eddie said, “I,” he looked down at Christopher, “I can’t leave him alone until someone comes to get him,” he pointed out.

“That’s fine. I’ll head out with Chimney and Hen, and three others. You keep the other half of the house around the VA where we are heading now,” he suggested, “Then you’ll be sent out to help as soon as someone comes to get him.”

“Not leaving until we find Bucky,” Christopher glared at Bobby.

Bobby looked at him and then finally nodded, “Then someone will have to watch you there,” he told him, “You won’t be able to go out and help search.”

“I know it’s because of my CP,” Christopher huffed.

“No, it’s because you’re a child, anyone can help with the searching, it would be hard going around the terrain, but we all do it. I’ve fallen more times than I would like to think of while doing search and rescue,” Bobby told him.

“Really?” Christopher said, looking up at him properly, the glare now gone from his face.

“Yeah,” Bobby told him, “We have a lot of people that help us in situations like this. There are those that have trained dogs to help us find people, and we have some that use drones to help as well now,” he said, explaining a few things as Chimney took them to the nearest bit of land.

They reached land and the boats were being emptied and people triaged on where they had to go. Eddie and Bosko headed to the VA, with Christopher in tow. Niamh said that she would meet them there, and Shannon would be at Eddie and Buck’s home, waiting for them and making sure that food was ready to warm up for them all. She had wanted to come, but her back was painful with how much walking around the school she had been doing with her crutches, and Niamh had convinced her that she would be better there than at the VA.

Eddie took Bosko inside, so she could be fully checked over, though she had tried to run around him to say that she was fine. It was Christopher that had told her to stop being silly, having an eight-year-old tell you that, was a bit of a revelation for the woman.

“Sorry, kid,” she said, “I just want my Captain to be okay.”

“Just like I want Bucky to be okay,” Christopher told her, “But you’re hurt, and I’m a kid, we can’t go out because of those things, so we have to stay here and hope that others will bring them home,” he said, he was still annoyed that his dad was going to be able to go looking for their Bucky.

“Okay,” Bosko snorted, “I’ll stay here, but I’m not happy about it.”

“Neither am I,” Christopher nodded in agreement.

“Mijo, Auntie Niamh is here for you,” Eddie said as he walked over to the two, Niamh a step behind her former brother-in-law.

“Hi Auntie Nia,” Christopher smiled and waved at her, glad that she had thought to bring his second pair of crutches.

“Right, he has some snacks and water that he needs to drink. The Doctor will be around to check on him agai-” he stopped when he noticed a kid nearby begging to choke. He rushed over to help, explaining what he found to Bosko, who had joined him.

Eddie went back a few minutes later, having turned down the doctor that had asked him to stay there so he could help triage. If he knew that Buck was safe at home, he might have stayed to help, but his other half was out there somewhere, and he needed to find him.

XxXxX

Buck leaned against a wall and looked around at the debris that littered the road. he could hear people now walking and talking around the streets. Pushing himself off the wall he glanced around again and tried to figure out where he needed to go. Buck would have made his way towards the Pier, but he had overheard that a crew had gone out to the Ferris Wheel and picked up survivors there, he just hoped that Eddie now had Christopher, or that he would be reunited with them soon.

“Help! Please, I need help!” someone was yelling.

Buck rushed over, “What can I do?” he asked him, trying to get a grasp on the situation.

“There’s a kid under here,” he said, “I need help lifting it.

Buck nodded, gathering a couple more to help as they lifted the sign up and were able to get it off a teenage girl, he was quickly wrapped in someone’s arms as she sobbed out a thank you.

Buck looked at them and started to walk, helping the occasional person as he went past. He asked if anyone knew what happened to those that had been stuck on the Ferris wheel, but got the same answer, to head to the VA as they were doing triage there, and most were already going that way. Buck thought for a moment about heading to Martin’s again, to see if he was okay, along with those that they had rescued.

Buck slowly made his way towards the VA, only to get pulled into helping someone else, this time it was a bit too much for him alone. “Look, does anyone have a working ph-” he began to call out when he heard a loud rumbling. A truck was driving towards them. Buck dashed towards it, waving his arms, and hoping that even with the darkness he would be spotted.

The door to the cab opened and someone jumped out before the truck came to a stop.

“Buck!” came a relieved voice.

“E… Eddie!” he gaped, as he stared at the man, “You have to go to the VA, Christopher should be there somew-”

“I know, I was one of the ones that headed to the Ferris Wheel and found him there,” Eddie said, bringing the man into a hug, holding him as tightly as he dared. “Are you okay?” he then asked, as he let him go and started to check him over, the paramedic that was in the truck, got out and joined them.

“Let’s put that aside, someone is trapped, and we need to get them out,” Buck said, pushing them both away as he began to organize what needed to happen to free the young man that was stuck.

“Okay,” one of the firefighters said, turning to Eddie and Buck, “He’s free and on his way to the VA, where we are now taking you, Buck?”

“Sure,” Buck said, “Is Chris okay? I tried to… I wasn’t there for him,” he said, shaking his head.

Eddie enveloped him in his arms, “He’s fine, worried about you,” he told him, “He’s scared, just like I was. Now, let’s go and get him.”

Buck nodded as the paramedic came over and finally examined him more thoroughly. “How am I doing, Nina?” he asked her.

“Well, bruised ribs from what I can tell, the wrist is slightly swollen as well, I would suggest that you head to a hospital and get it checked out, but I don’t think it’s broken at all. Cuts, bruises, dehydration, so there is some water in the truck, drink that as we head back in,” she told him.

“Okay,” he nodded as Eddie kept a hold of him as they all made their way over to the truck.

Buck was tired, happy, and relieved to hear that Christopher had been rescued so soon after the disaster. Leaning against Eddie, he sipped at the bottle of water, knowing better than to just chug it down, no matter how thirsty he found him. Buck slowly told Eddie what he had gone through after falling off the Ferris wheel. “I just hope Martin and the others there are okay.”

“Martin, is he a doctor?” Nina asked, “He is one of three Martins that I know that live around the pier.”

“Yeah, Doctor Martin Sanchez, he works at Cedars,” he added, looking over at her, “We holed up in his apartment, able to save a few people as well before I got washed away from the surges,” Buck yawned again, leaning more and more against Eddie.

“Well, you’re both safe and so are those that were with him. He had almost fifty in there when a group went to go get him. He’s a friend of my brothers,” Nina said, “But, yeah, he’s okay, all of them are, they were triaged a few hours ago. He’s with Kyle now.”

Buck blinked a few times and nodded. No one else said anything as they let the man doze a little in the back of the truck. Eddie couldn’t believe that they had been able to find him, Christopher was going to be so happy to see him. It took them almost an hour to get back to the VA. In front of them was a mail truck that looked like it had been used to ferry people in it. Eddie was gentle as he woke Buck up. Helping him from the cab, they went in search of Christopher. Meeting Bobby and the others, each of them hugging Buck tightly as they saw him. Chimney told him that he’ll inform Maddie and tell her that he was alright and that they might stop by tomorrow to see them all.

Buck nodded as he heard the family click clack of crutches heading towards him. They were quick, quicker than usual.

“PAPA!” Christopher yelled out as he saw Buck, hurrying towards him.

Buck turned to face him, falling to the ground as the eight-year-old reached him and let Christopher fall into his arms, “I’m so glad that you’re okay, Superman,” he told him, tears in his eyes as he held him as tightly as he could.

“Eddie, you’re to head home, we’re all being let go, others are here to take over,” Bobby said as he walked over, Athena beside him.

“Okay,” Eddie nodded, getting his son and boyfriend up off the floor. Niamh went over and grabbed the crutches, as Eddie picked up Christopher, who had reluctantly let go of Buck for the moment as the four of them headed to where Niamh had been able to park her car, there were so many cars there, mostly people that were helping, and a few, like Niamh who were there to pick family up that had been located or to even see if family had been located.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Eddie helped Buck from the car, the man was flagging badly now that he wasn’t rushing around trying to help people. Christopher was already half asleep, feeling safer and better now that he knew Buck was safe. Niamh picked him up and headed up the garden path to the front door, which was quickly swung open. Shannon stood there, leaning on a single crutch as she watched them walk towards her.

“Oh my god,” she murmured, happy to see them, tears already in her eyes as she looked from Eddie and Buck to her sister carrying her son, “They both okay?” she asked, she had gotten a few messages through from Niamh, but they were sparse thanks to the cell coverage at the pier.

“Tired, a little dehydrated, but he’ll be okay,” Eddie was the one to answer.

“And Buck?” she asked, knowing that he was telling her about Christopher first.

“Cuts, bruises, dehydration, and exhaustion. His wrist is twisted, going to take him to the hospital tomorrow to make sure it’s just that, but for now, I’ll bandage and clean the wound up properly here. I have a good first aid kit,” he said, as Buck swayed a little as he reached the front doorstep.

“I’ll get that, you get them where you need to,” Shannon said, moving into the house.

“Thanks,” he called out to her as he let Niamh take care of Christopher and get him cleaned up. He wasn’t really dirty, since he hadn’t ended up in the water, but he still needed to get ready for bed. He guided Buck to their bedroom and the bathroom attached to it. “Okay, let’s get you clean and then I’ll see to all the injuries,” he told him.

Buck looked a little glassy-eyed but nodded, “Okay.”

Eddie gave him a small smile and helped him undress and got him in the shower. He felt Buck jump as the water first hit him. “It’s okay, you’re safe,” he reassured him, knowing that he was reacting to the water because of what he had been through. “I’m right here, let’s get you cleaned up,” he kept up the litany of words as he helped Buck wash. He heard Shannon in the bedroom, and her call through the door telling him the first aid kit was waiting for him. “Thanks,” he called back before attending to Buck once more. He checked his wrist and nodded to himself, it was looking more like a really bad twist than anything else. It might put Buck on light duties and be man behind for a while at the station for a bit, but it shouldn’t stop him from coming back. He knew that would be something that Buck would want to know when he was more awake and with it.

“Eds,” Buck finally said as they left the bathroom, both of them with only a towel wrapped around their waists.

“Yeah?” he said, guiding him to the bed and making him sit down.

“Where’s Chris?” he asked, looking around for the eight-year-old.

“He’s all tucked up in bed, hopefully,” he answered him, grabbing the first aid kit and getting out what he needed. “Sorry, Buck, but this is going to sting a little,” he warned him as he started to clean up the cuts that he found all over Buck.

Buck barely reacted, until it got to the larger one on his arm, the same arm where his wrist was still swollen. He gave a small whine as Eddie washed it thoroughly, making sure there was nothing in there that could cause a problem later on.

“I know,” he murmured, looking at Buck, “how about after we get you cleaned and dressed, we go and check on Christopher before we go to bed?” he said.

“Chris, yes,” he nodded, eyes already half closed, but the man jolted a few times when he got too close to sleep.

Eddie worked quickly as he started to dress the wounds that needed it and then helped Buck get dressed into some comfy sweats and a loose t-shirt. He got dressed, and then put away the first aid kit, making a mental note of what he had used to make sure he was able to replenish it later. The two made their way to Christopher’s room. They could hear murmuring inside.

Opening the door, the two men stepped inside.

“Papa!” Christopher called, struggling to get out of bed, “I want to stay with Papa tonight, please!” he begged, it sounded like he had been doing so since he had been tucked into the bed by his aunt.

Buck looked at Eddie, with a pleading look.

Eddie nodded, “Okay, you can share our bed tonight, but only tonight,” he told him, going over and picking him up, “Just tonight,” he repeated, making sure that Buck and Christopher understood that. However, he had a feeling he would give in at least once more after this. There was no way he would be able to deny either of them the comfort they needed after the day they had.

“Thanks,” Buck whispered as they headed back to their room.

Shannon was there, “I’m going to pour you all some of the soup I made,” she told them, “And yes, you can have it in bed, tonight only,” she added, seeing a little curious look aimed at her from Christopher.

“Is it Seanmháthair’s Special Soup?” Christopher asked, stumbling over the Irish words slightly. The eight-year-old had shown an interest in learning a little of the language when Niamh started to rant in Irish a few weeks ago. He was only just learning but was happy to have that added connection to his mother and her side of the family.

“Yes, it is,” Shannon smiled, proudly at him, “Now, you all get comfortable and Niamh will bring it all in for you,” she told the three of them, giving Eddie permission to remain with them.

Niamh soon came into the room with three bowls of soup, Shannon followed with a bread basket of rolls and the two set things up.

“I’m going to lock everything up and we’ll see you in the morning. Just leave the bowls to one side and we’ll clear up in the morning. It’s been one hell of a day,” Shannon said as the three started to eat. Eddie had only had a protein bar during the day and Buck had nothing. Christopher had lucked out in him getting sandwiches and snacks as he waited for them to find Buck.

“Thanks, Shannon,” Eddie said, Buck, nodding along as he dug into the bread and soup with relish.

Shannon smiled and closed the door behind her before she and Niamh went around the house and locked up for the night. The two went to her former bedroom and settled in the same bed. Buck and Christopher weren’t the only ones that needed someone to be there that night. Shannon had almost lost her son and her friend, she shuddered as she finally let the tears flow. Niamh followed her as the two held each other and cried, grateful that the worst hadn’t happened before they fell asleep.

XxXxX

The next day brought a new set of problems when Eddie tried to take Buck to the hospital without Christopher. The eight-year-old was not happy about letting his Papa out of his sight at all. Shannon and Niamh had a hard time with him while the two were gone. As soon as the door opened and Buck and Eddie walked in, Christopher was there, looking and staring.

“Your arm!” Christopher said, seeing the sling that Buck was now wearing.

“It’s okay, Chris,” Buck tried to reassure him with a smile, “Nothing too bad, just have to rest it for a while, and this helps,” he told him, as he walked over.

Christopher was already crying when Buck knelt before him, “You got hurt because we were separated,” he sobbed as he leaned carefully against Buck.

Buck wrapped his arm around him and held him as tightly as he could. Though Christopher was trying not to because Buck’s other arm was in the way and he didn’t want to hurt it. “Really, Buddy, I’m okay,” he said again, “You don’t have to worry at all. Now, how about we go and watch something?” he asked him.

“O… okay,” he sniffled as he and Buck went into the living room.

Eddie sighed as he watched them, Shannon walked over to him and asked, “How is he really?”

“There’s a small fracture, not enough for a cast, but he needs to rest it a little for the next week and then go back for another X-ray, he should be fine though, it’s not bad. His leg is fine as well, there is some strain but no more than what a day on the job will do,” Eddie answered her, “He really is okay. I’ve been told to watch the cut on his arm, it’s deep and I need to make sure to keep it clean. They recleaned it there, and they put some butterflies over it to keep it closed, but if it opened one too many times then he’ll need some stitches for it,” he finished before heading towards the kitchen.

“I’ll help with lunch, Niamh has headed into work, a lot of people are looking for temporary homes and she and others are trying to compile all the places that people have volunteered to be temporary housing until the Pier and surrounding area is fit for living in again. People are rallying around, the schools are planning to do fundraisers for victims and food drives as well,” Shannon said, she had received an email about it and knew that a lot of people had been displaced from what had happened, and not only that but the number of people that were still missing made her shudder.

“I got a message from Bobby, I’ve been granted one extra day before I need to head in,” he told her, “We’re on search and rescue, though it will most likely be more recovery,” he sighed heavily, “I hate this. Death on this scale, it just… doesn’t sit right.”

Shannon reached out and rubbed his back, “I know, but we’ll all be doing what we can to help those left behind. Though I would have thought you would have had a little more time than that to help with Chris and Buck.”

“Bobby wanted to give it, but it’s all hands on deck, we lost three stations in that area, and two more were damaged. We haven’t lost any firefighters, but out of those that were on duty that day for those five stations, only 6 are still able to work, the rest are all injured in some way. Some will take months to recover, others only weeks. The 118 is being asked to cover a larger area. Three are going on bereavement leave, they lost family members,” he said, leaning against the counter, “It’s fucked up, Shan,” he said, glancing over at her.

“I’ll see if the school can do things as well to help with keeping the first responders going,” she said, “No one really thinks of anyone else outside of the victims of such an event,” she added, “I don’t think I ever have.”

“No one does, we’re the ones you call when you’re having the worst day of your life. We go in and do what we are trained to do and then at the doors, we have to leave them to the doctors and nurses that work at the hospital. Most of the time, we never find out what happens to them after that. Whether they live or die, we don’t know. We see the worst as well, we see the death and destruction that goes on. We have other units that are responsible for recovery, but sometimes we have to help out as well. Most of us will do a rotation with them to help them. So, yeah, Bobby wanted to, but at the moment, too many were affected by what happened in other ways. I know they are safe, there are some out there that aren’t,” he said, glancing at where the living room was and glad that the two were safe.

Shannon nodded, “I get you. I cried like a baby last night, I almost lost them both, our son and my friend, I… it came crashing down as soon as I got to my room.”

“I know, when they were asleep I think I sat there on the bed watching them for most of the time before I fell asleep. I… They were unharmed, well Christopher really was unharmed, not a single damn scratch, he didn’t wake last night from nightmares, but Buck did. He made sure Christopher was there a couple of times. I’m expecting more nightmares from Christopher as time goes on. Bucks’ already said that he feels like he failed because he wasn’t able to stay with Christopher.”

“He saved him, he got him to safety,” Shannon frowned.

“I know, but that doesn’t stop Buck from feeling that way. Hopefully, Christopher and us will be able to get it into his head that he didn’t, he did what parents are supposed to do, make sure their kid is safe,” he sighed as he began to head over to the fridge and pull out a few things to start making lunch.

Shannon watched him for a moment, “We’ll make sure they’re okay. I think we should look into someone for Christopher, make sure to get ahead of any worries for him,” she added.

“Maybe we can talk Buck into doing the same. I know he saw someone a while ago, but don’t know if he is still seeing them,” Eddie agreed, “I think we should all do so, I know what happened has shaken me up,” he admitted slowly.

Shannon nodded in agreement, “Okay, we’ll do a family thing, get Niamh as well, we were both crying our eyes out last night before we went to sleep.”

“Good point,” he snorted, “separate and together,” he nodded glancing over at her, “Want to start on some of the veg?” he asked, gesturing to the vegetables that needed cutting up for the salad he was planning.

“Sure,” she smiled, setting her crutch aside and getting to work beside him. “We’ll be okay, we’ve gone through a lot, and we’re still here, going strong,” she reminded him.

“Yeah,” he smiled at her and then grinned as he heard laughter coming from the living room, “Now that is what has been missing,” he sighed, feeling a little better as he then heard Buck gave a barking laugh, joining in with Christopher.

“Yeah,” she smiled, feeling just as relieved to hear it as Eddie. The two cooked lunch together, before calling in Buck and Christopher to the dining room, where Christopher told them all a joke that one of the kids in the baskets had told while they had been waiting for rescue.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Shannon walked into her classroom, she had one last day before the students would be back. She had taken the day before off to spend it with Christopher, Eddie, and Buck. They had set up a few appointments to happen over the next couple of weeks, easing into the therapy they needed after what they had been through. It had been a long day in the end, Christopher was still tired and achy when she had left that morning. Having stayed a second night. Buck was tired himself, though keeping a smile on his face each time Christopher was around, not wanting to worry him.

“Shannon,” came a concerned voice.

Shannon looked from the desk she had been heading towards, back to the door, “Ana,” she greeted back, not that happy to see the woman.

“Isn’t it all terrible, the poor victims and some people will never find out what happened to their family,” she said, shaking her head as she walked into the room.

“It is, and so many were affected by it all,” Shannon agreed, knowing the other teacher was talking about the tsunami, it’s all anyone wanted to talk about.

“We’re already started organizing the fundraiser for victims, and those displaced by everything,” Ana said.

“Are we doing anything for the first responders that went out?” Shannon then asked, turning to face her properly.

Ana frowned, “And why would we do something like that?”

Shannon sighed and rolled her eyes. “Who the hell do you think went out there to find people? Who will be going through the debris left behind to make sure that any more victims that are trapped will be found?” she asked her, “Eddie was one of those that responded to the disaster, he went out there with hundreds of other first responders, and he’ll be going out again for search and rescue, as will others. Is it important that we support the victims and those affected by the tsunami? Yes. Though, we need to help support them as well,” she told her, “Now, why are you here? Don’t you have your own classroom to get ready?”

“I wanted to see how you were, you didn’t come in yesterday,” she said, walking over to the desk, “How are you? I know it must have been a fright to learn that Christopher was at the pier.”

Shannon stopped at that, “How do you even know that Christopher was at the Pier? I only told Marie that, and only so that she understood why I wanted to not come in yesterday. And I asked her not to speak of it, as I don’t want Christopher singled out when he comes back to school unless there are problems that need to be addressed,” she said, almost glaring at Ana.

“There was a video online, I saw it. It has that man that Edmundo is seeing carrying Christopher away from the pier and up to the Ferris wheel,” she told her, “I’m so-”

“Don’t call him Edmundo, he hates it,” Shannon snapped, “It’s Eddie, or rather, Mr Diaz to you, you’re not a friend of his, or even an acquaintance. You’re only just about to become our son’s teacher. Stop being so familiar,” she added, “and what do you mean video?” she asked her.

“Online, there are videos of the tsunami and the people fleeing from it, though not all of it is on there. It does cut a few things out. We see people running, and then the Ferris wheel being knocked around. Christopher is on it, being tucked into one of the baskets,” she said, pulling out her phone and showing it to her, “There, watch for yourself,” she told her. “I don’t know what Edmu-”

“Mr Diaz,” Shannon snapped at her again, “I don’t know where you get off calling him by a name only FAMILY is allowed to call him. I will report you and ask for my son to be removed from your class if you continue,” she told her, glaring, barely watching the video, she had heard a lot about what happened in those first few moments from Christopher over the last day. It was more the fact that the video existed that worried her.

Ana huffed and rolled her eyes, “Mr Diaz,” she said pointedly, “He may need to rethink who he allows into his son’s life. That man took him to a place that wasn’t suitable for someone like Christopher.”

“Excuse me? Just who the hell do you think you are to tell me, my ex-husband or his partner, on how we parent our son?” she asked her, standing up and taking a small step towards her, “Really, who the hell do you think you are saying such a thing?”

“I’m just pointing out what others might see,” she told her, “And it isn’t right for a child like Christopher to be there, anything could have happened to him.”

Shannon stared at her, “I don’t think I want you teaching my son if that is your attitude towards those that have some physical disabilities,” she told her, grabbing her crutch and heading to her door, “Please leave my classroom, I believe I need to talk to Marie Summers about this.”

Ana frowned as she watched her head towards the door, “Surely you must understand why he shouldn’t have gone there. You didn’t go, you know that you g-”

“Out of my classroom,” Shannon demanded, “now.”

“Shannon,” she began, following her to the door and leaving the classroom, “I don’t know why you’re so angry at me, I’m pointing out things that you already know. We work in a school where we have to make sure the children here know what they are to expect as they age. To make sure that they don’t have the dreams and aspirations of normal people. It could harm their sensitive emotions so much to have t-”

“Will you stop the drivel that you are spilling,” Shannon told her, heading towards Marie Summer’s office, she needed to speak with the woman about the teacher that was following her. “Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean it stops them from doing anything. Yes, some will have to work that little harder than most, but it doesn’t stop them at all,” she told her, “Now, leave me alone, I really don’t want to speak with you at all.”

Ana huffed as she walked off. Shannon watched her go, she had been having a little trouble with the woman last year, before the summer break. Ana Flores thought she knew a lot about how to help the children in the school, but more often she clashed with the parents on her views that just because they had a disability of some kind meant that they would never be able to be a functioning member of society.

Shannon smiled as she saw Artie, one of the main secretaries that worked with the principal. “Hey, Artie, is she free for me to talk to for a moment?” she asked as she approached him.

“Sure, just knock on the door first,” he waved her past him and towards the door.

“Thanks,” she said, going forward and knocking on the door and waiting until she was given permission to enter. “Marie,” she smiled as she walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

“Shannon, is everything okay?” she asked, looking up from what she was working on.

“Not quite,” she sighed, sitting down, “Marie, Ana Flores came into my classroom, not long after I got in there. She told me she knew of what happened to Christopher.”

“I didn’t speak with anyone,” Marie began, frowning

“I know, a video was taken of the day, and some of it showed what happened to Christopher, no doubt most of the teachers here have seen it, and Ana seemed quite happy to show it. To her, it was proof that Christopher shouldn’t have gone to the pier at all because of his CP,” Shannon said, waving a hand and smiling at her, “She was very… ableist is the only word I can describe what she was saying. She basically told me that Buck, my Ex’s partner, shouldn’t be around our son because he took Chris somewhere that was too dangerous for ‘someone’ like Christopher. That I should understand that, because I currently use crutches to help me get around,” she sighed, shaking her head.

“I see,” Marie Summers’ frown deepened as she thought of the teacher in question. She had a few complaints in the past. Ana Flores had been able to explain that the parents hadn’t taken her words well when it came to the abilities of the children in her classroom.

“When I came here for the interview for my son in getting him into this school, I loved the fact that you and the others were all working into making sure that a child would be able to keep dreaming of what they could do and to see the world in a different way, to make it work for them and that the sky was the limit,” she said emphatically. It had been the main draw of the school for herself and she knew that it was for Eddie as well.

“A Disability doesn’t mean an Inability to do something, but a challenge that must be overcome with hard work and a different attitude,” Marie said, she looked at Shannon and added, “It’s our main focus in this school, to make sure that any child will be able to have the confidence to go out into the world and make it work for them instead of facing the closed doors and mindedness of others.”

“Exactly,” Shannon said, “But what she said, it was like we are to prepare the students in this school for a life of disappointment and that they won’t be able to do anything. I’m really not comfortable with having her as Christopher’s teacher this coming year, either. It doesn’t help that she has started to call Eddie, Edmundo. While that is his full name, it’s not one that is used outside of his birth family often. He doesn’t really like it that much. She has never even met him.”

“I understand that, and I will see if Artie can have him transferred to another class. I will also be informing her about the apparent lack of respect she is showing a parent. I will also see what she is saying about how she is treating the students. I may have to get in contact with former students of hers and their parents. We had a few complaints about her in the past, but she was able to explain what they were about when she said that there was a difference of opinion on children’s futures. I had thought it was because most parents that come here have seen the disparities that their child has, having lessened their ability to do anything outside of what they had been allowed,” Marie said, nodding as she made a few notes, already knowing which parents to call, one had taken their child from the school at the end of last year. The others had asked for transfers out of Ana Flores’ class.

“I’m sorry to bring this to you so close to the start of the school year,” Shannon told her.

“Don’t be, I would rather it be known now,” she told her, “I will deal with Miss Flores,” she said, “I believe we may need a new teacher before the day is out,” she added with a sigh. “I will not have a teacher bringing the children down with thoughts of them not being good enough to do anything.”

“Good to hear, and I’ll get back to sorting out my classroom,” she said as she stood up.

“Thank you, Shannon, for bringing this to me,” Marie said as she then asked, “Can you send Artie in, please?”

“Of course,” she smiled back at her, nodding once more as she left the room, “Artie, Marie would like to talk to you,” she said.

“Okay,” Artie said, shutting down what he was doing on the computer and heading into the office.

Shannon headed back to her classroom, sending a message to Eddie about the video that she had seen. Even though they weren’t in contact with Eddie’s parents, she knew that they would somehow find it, they always found anything to do with Eddie and Christopher. There were so many family members that were in LA on the Diaz side of things, that any post on social media was often found by them.

XxXxX

“Fuck,” Eddie cursed as he received Shannon’s message, he shared it with Buck.

“Oh,” Buck said, going pale, “There’s really video out there?” he asked.

“I can look for it, so you won’t be blindsided by it if someone talks to you about it?” Eddie offered, “You don’t have to watch it, I will and can give you a summary of it,” he added.

“I think, I think we should both watch it,” Buck said as he then thought of Christopher, “Chris, he’ll be… people might know about it at the school and they might ask him as well.”

“Then we’ll tell him that there is something online, I’ll also make sure that Principal Summers knows that we don’t want people to say that Christopher is in it,” he said, looking for the video, his heart was beginning to beat that little bit fast as he thought about what he was going to see. He was scared of what he was going to see. He knew what had happened, but there was a difference between seeing and hearing about it.

“I’m afraid of what I’m going to be seeing,” Buck said, he remembered everything from that day, the helplessness, the pure panic at the thought of anything happening to Christopher, and what he could do to stop it.

Eddie found it and had it loaded up, ready to play, “I am as well, we just have to remember that Christopher is napping in his room at the moment and you are safe right here,” he said, taking a hand and pressing play.

Watching it and seeing how it captured the start of the tsunami and how people reacted. Buck knew that almost all of those that he was seeing on screen were gone. Some still lived, he knew that, he remembered seeing a few of the faces later on as he walked around and headed towards the VA. Seeing himself fall, he felt Eddie’s hand tightening his grip. Then a little more with those on the Ferris Wheel, it jumped a little, as he was seeing people in the water, trying to get to safety, another jump and someone helping a few people. He recognized another firefighter, the uniform told him it was someone from the 136, they had been on the pier at the time. Then another jump and he saw himself, helping people to safety with Martin. The video ended not long after, with one last jump to the water leaving and people slowly starting to walk around, looking lost and terrified, but determined to put one foot in front of the other.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Eddie had his phone on silent as he was curled up on the couch with Buck. The video was still playing over in his mind as he let the other man doze against him. He could see the messages from family and friends coming through, each of them asking the same thing. Shannon had warned him of the video, and not two hours later, it had been used in news coverage about the tsunami. Another message popped up, this one from Bobby, the man was at work, along with the rest of A-Shift. He read the message, and quickly took a picture of a sleeping Buck, knowing that Bobby needed reassurance that Buck was okay. He had the same jolts of needing to know that Christopher and Buck were okay.

Eddie put his phone away as soon as he got a thank you message back. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the back of the couch. Christopher was having a midday nap in his bedroom, while he had been rescued very close to the time of the disaster, he had still walked around the VA after it had been established, looking for Buck, and dragging Niamh with him to try and find him. The day had left him extremely tired and a little sore, thankfully nothing was found when they took him to the doctor the day before.

Buck himself was tired out, grateful that he wasn’t starting work for another couple of days so he could rest. Bobby had stopped by before his shift and talked to him about what he wanted from him when he returned to work. Buck would be the man behind until his wrist had healed up, which he didn’t mind. Eddie opened his eyes and looked down at the man, a soft snore coming from him as he carried on sleeping. Eddie smiled softly, pulling him a little closer and causing Buck to move around a little.

“Dad,” came a quiet voice.

Eddie woke up, having dozed off as he sat on the couch with Buck. “Hey, Mijo, you okay?” he asked.

“Wanted you and Papa,” he murmured as he climbed onto the couch and slowly slotted himself between the two men.

“Okay,” Eddie adjusted them all so they could be comfortable as Buck murmured Christopher’s name in his sleep and pulled the eight-year-old closer. Eddie smiled as Christopher sighed happily before going back to sleep.

Eddie didn’t know how long he had been asleep when he heard banging on the front door. He cursed as Christopher and Buck began to wake at the noise as well.

“Who the hell is that?” Buck grumbled as he sat up straight.

“Don’t know but they can go away, they are so noisy,” Christopher complained as he carefully flopped onto Buck and cuddled against him, “Go tell them to go away Daddy, Papa and I need sleep.”

Eddie snorted but got up, “Okay, Mijo,” he said, ruffling the child’s hair.

“Daddy,” he whined, waving his hand to try and bat away the offending hand.

Eddie grinned as he left the two and headed to the front door. He opened it, “H-” he stopped as he saw who was standing there.

“Well, aren’t you going to let us in?” came the demanding voice of his mother.

Eddie stared at her and shook his head, “I don’t want you here, we don’t want you here. So leave. I already told you that after that stupid stunt that you pulled with CPS, that I no longer want any contact with you and I meant it. Now leave before I call the cops,” he warned them, about to shut the door only to find that his father had put his foot in the way.

“You will let us see our grandson, and you will let us take him unless you want us to sue you for custody,” Ramon hissed, trying to barge his way in.

“Then do it, and see how far you get,” Eddie sneered at him, “You won’t get far at all, we already established that you just want to send him away. I’m never going to le-”

“They… they want to send me away?” Christopher’s voice trembled as he stood there, backing away from the door. He had gone to see who it was and tell them to leave and ask his dad for some food.

“We won’t be letting them, Mijo,” Eddie said, glaring at his parents and happy to see that Buck had already picked Christopher up as he walked into the hallway.

Buck held Christopher close as he clung to him, “Eddie, sort them out and I’ll get Christopher to calm down.”

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, stopping his father from trying to get into the house a second time.

“How dare you turn him against us!” Helena yelled.

“I did nothing. You both did that yourself when you tried to take him from me. When you disparage his Mother in front of him, you put me down in front of him. He doesn’t like you because of that. Now he knows that you had plans to send him away into a home. I would never, ever do that to Christopher. He doesn’t need that at all, he’s fine the way he is and he will be able to do anything he can think of because he is smart and determined enough to do so,” Eddie told them, getting his father to move back a little.

“We will sue you,” Ramon warned him again.

“As I said, do it. We have the CPS report that shows we’re fine. We have co-parenting in the bag and everything we need to make sure you will never get near him. What do you have on your side? You’re both getting on in age and you won’t be able to keep up with Christopher anymore. You see his CP, you never see Christopher. You don’t see how smart he is, or what he can do. All you see are those crutches and believe that is all that is to him,” he sighed, disappointed in his parents, though he had been for a while now since he had returned from Afghanistan, maybe even before then when Christopher had been born.

“We’re trying to make sure that he will have the best life when we are gone,” Helena protested, “You don’t care that when you’re gone he’s going to have no one to be there to help him, to look after him.”

“He isn’t going to need looking after. He is capable of doing so many things on his own, and at the moment, he gets a little help with things. I know that Christopher is growing up to be an independent young man, you hate that he’ll be that. You want him to rely on you, but I won’t ever let that happen. Now I told you once, I’ve told you twice, get out of our lives because we don’t need you in it. We don’t need the toxic negativity that you try to push on everyone around you. Leave, and this time, if you don’t I will call the cops and get a restraining order out,” Eddie stated, wishing he had his phone with him so he could do so anyway.

“We’ll see you in court,” Ramon told him, “Then you’ll see that we know what’s best.”

Eddie snorted, “You don’t, but I’ll see you there to see you put in your damn place. I’m Christopher’s Father, not you, you’re not his parents at all. You’re supposed to spoil and treat your grandchildren and be happy to hand them back, just as Abuela was when I was a child. Instead, you’ve done nothing but try and undermine Shannon and me from the moment that Christopher was born. We’re not going to stand it.”

“Here,” Buck said as he walked up, “Christopher is in his room, adamant about never seeing his mean Grandma and Abuelo again.”

Helena reared back at those words, “I’m not mean!”

“To him you are, learning that you had planned to send him away has left him wondering if you even love him. Because if you love someone you don’t send them away because things are hard, you get people to help you. Like professionals, like Carla, and family members, like Tia Pepa and Abuela,” Buck told them, shaking his head, “You caused his need to have you as far away from him as possible. He thought you loved him, but to know that you want to send him away, he thinks you don’t. That you want to take him away from his parents, so in his eyes, you don’t care about him. You need to take a damn look at yourselves and how you are behaving and ask yourself, is this how you want your grandson to see you both.”

Eddie was able to shut the door and left them there, if they knocked or did anything more then he would call 9-1-1. He was not going to let them interfere anymore, no matter what they wanted.

“I hate this,” Eddie said as he turned to face Buck.

Buck wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer. He felt Eddie resisting a little, but only to move around a little so he didn’t put any pressure on Buck’s bad arm. “I know you do, just keep putting your foot down with them. Hopefully, they will start to think.”

Eddie snorted, “Doubt that’s going to happen, they haven’t so far,” he said, leaning against Buck for a moment before letting go of each other and heading to see Christopher.

“Daddy,” Christopher said, getting up and heading straight to him. “You’re… you’re not going to send me away are you?” he asked.

“Of course not, I could never send you anywhere,” he said as he knelt and hugged his son tightly, “I would never, I don’t know why Grandma and Abuelo want to do that, but I am never going to let them. I promise, I will not do that to you, you mean the world to me, and to your Mom and Buck,” he added.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded as he knelt as well, and hugged the two tightly, “We’re family, and family don’t ever send you away and are mean,” he added.

Christopher nodded and held them both for a while longer before they got up to start a late lunch since they had slept through it.

XxXxX

Shannon finished the last thing she needed to do in her classroom. There was a knock on the doorframe and she looked up. Marie Summers was standing there. “Come in,” she said, gesturing for her to do so, “I’m just finishing up,” she smiled, “I think we’re going to be doing okay for this year.”

“Good to see you’re settling in well here,” Marie smiled, “I know you were a temporary teacher last year, but you fit in well here, and with Christopher also, you really knew how to communicate with parents. They sang your praises well,” she complimented as she walked inside and looked around, “You’ve got a theme going?” she asked.

“Yeah, Christopher has been asking what he can do when he’s a grown-up. He’s come up with a number of things so far. I could see him doing a lot if I’m honest, and not just because I’m his Mother. He’s bound and determined to make the best of everything and find what he loves,” she smiled, sitting down and resting a little. She would be up and about a lot more when school was back.

“Congratulations on the baby as well,” she added, “I’m hoping we’re not going to be losing you completely,” she said, sitting down herself.

“No, my ex-husband and his partner are going to be the main parents for this little one,” she said, touching her stomach, “I’m going to be a Mother of course to them, but the baby, when they are born will live fully with them. I may stay with them for a while at the start to nurse, but plans are already in place for them to do the most.”

“I’ve never really heard of something like this happening before,” Marie commented lightly, “Sorry if I seem a little insensitive about it. I’m curious and wish to learn.”

“It’s fine, how do we learn if we don’t ask questions,” she replied, smiling, “And maybe it is, but Eddie, Buck, and I get along really well. So we’re all happy with it. Buck is the bio dad this time. I know it was a bit of a risk with my injury at the time we started thinking about it. The doctor is unsure if I will continue to recover and go for a full recovery, or if I remain like this. I had Theo in to help me rearrange the classroom a little, just in case there are days when I need my wheelchair, at the moment, they haven’t happened in a while, but I’ve no doubt that as I get further along, I may need to at times,” she sighed, as she glanced around her classroom.

“Well, this school is more set up for such things,” Marie said, “I wanted a quick word about Miss Flores,” she then added.

“Ah, how did that meeting go?” she asked, biting her lip.

“It didn’t go well. She was adamant about her viewpoint. I never knew that she felt that way about it,” she sighed, shaking her head, “I have put her forward for some retraining on diversity and inclusion and such, and she will be on probation for the first semester of the school year. If I find she has changed her attitude then I will let her carry on for the rest of the year, but still be watched and audited every month. I want to make sure she’s not just doing it to not lose her job,” she added.

“I can see that, people can hide a lot of ugly behind the pretense of care,” Shannon said, thinking about her former in-laws, “I know the type well.”

“I’m going to be sending all teachers on such training one by one over the year, to make sure that they realize exactly what we are trying to do in this school. I don’t want students leaving here feeling like they can’t do anything,” she shuddered, “My sister is disabled, my parents treated her like she couldn’t do anything for herself. It got so bad that when they passed, she found it difficult to do anything, she couldn’t cook, clean, or anything. She was fully capable but didn’t feel like she could because our parents and those that should have helped her to fly, trod her down so much, she had no confidence or belief in herself. It took me and my brothers years to help her find those things in herself. She has a job and lives on her own. We go in to see her and help with anything that she needs, but it isn’t a lot. So I want to make sure that no student leaves here feeling like she did.”

“I want the same for Christopher,” Shannon smiled at her, “Let’s hope that Ana finally comes around and sees what she is doing to students with her attitude and she changes it.”

“As do I, which is why you and two others that I have chosen will be the ones that will keep an eye on things. I would send emails to parents, but I don’t want a witch hunt to start,” she sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, “Now, I’ll leave you to put the finishing touches to your class, and let’s look forward to the start of the school year.

“I know I am,” Shannon said, getting up, she cleaned up her desk as Marie let herself out of the classroom. Heading home she walked past Ana who didn’t look happy, but that was her problem and not Shannon’s.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Eddie slammed down the letter that he had just finished reading, “Well,” he said as he looked at Buck, grateful that Christopher was already at school and they were just getting ready for work, “They are going to do it. They are going to sue for custody of Christopher.”

“On what grounds?” Buck snorted as he reached for the letter and read it. “Danger to him, well that’s already been proven false. No care about his future, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that he can do what he wants as he grows up,” he shook his head as he put it down, “We have a lawyer already, from when CPS was called.”

“I warned them that it would be the final nail in the coffin, then again, I keep saying that and I still give them that little sliver of an opening to come back,” Eddie said, cursing himself as he grabbed his things, “Come on we need to head into work.”

“Eddie, they’re your parents, no matter what you’re going to love them, and wish that they thought the same with you,” Buck pointed out, “come on my own parents are complete assholes, and part of me still wishes that they cared a little about me,” he added as two the of them left the house, locking up behind them and getting into Eddie’s truck.

“Buck, you have to make sure I stick to it this time,” he told him, shaking his head as he headed to the 118.

“Eddie, I’ll do what I can,” Buck said, nodding and reaching over to squeeze his hand while they were stopped at a red light.

Eddie turned and smiled at him, nodding before concentrating on the road. “When we get to the station I’ll call Neil, he can start things off,” he mentioned quietly.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded, as he adjusted the sling he was still wearing. His wrist didn’t really ache at all now, it felt a lot better than it had four days ago, after the tsunami.

“How do you feel about finally going back?” Eddie then asked, changing the subject, he’d rather not continue to drive and be angry, it could cause an accident.

Buck smiled, “I feel nervous, wondering if I’ve forgotten anything. I know I did the re-certs but that doesn’t mean much when it comes to the real thing. I know, I know that I’m just going to be the man behind because of this,” he said gesturing to his sling and arm, “but there are some calls I can still go on, no doubt Bobby’s going to want me on the claw machines still,” he grinned at the thought. They had always been a favorite call of his.

“Well, I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” Eddie smiled and they lapsed into silence, with only the occasional comments about the traffic that they were hitting as they neared the station.

Arriving, Eddie parked in his usual spot, “Well, welcome back.” Eddie said as he got out and the two of them headed inside.

Buck was grinning as he saw the banner hanging over the railing. “Thanks,” he grinned as he went to get changed so he could hurry upstairs to greet everyone.

“Welcome back,” Bobby said as breakfast was laid out and a cake was in the middle of the table.

Buck looked around and grinned, even with one arm taped up for another couple of days, he was finally back at work.

XxXxX

Being back at work was great until they ran into Chase Macky at the fire drill, not two shifts after Buck started back at the 118. It had been going well until someone had a seizure which caused a domino effect and had people falling down the stairs. Then the fake emergency turned into a real one. Buck was finally out of the sling at this point but wasn’t doing the heavy lifting just yet. His doctor wanted him to have a few more days before he started working up to it.

“Mr Mackey, can you please get out of the way, you are causing us to have to continually work around you to deal with our patients,” Hen snapped at him, though she kept her tone as polite as she could. It wasn’t the first time that Mackey had gotten in the way of trying to talk to one of the people they were treating.

“Dispatch this is Captain Nash of the 118,” Bobby said, “Can you send a patrol officer to our location, we have someone that keeps getting in the way.”

“Sending someone your way, Captain Nash,” the reply came.

Chase Mackey had no choice by the time the officers arrived to leave, or be arrested for causing a public nuisance. When the last one went off to the hospital, they headed back to the station, with a note on file that there were a few improvements for them to take into account. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

“He was annoying,” Buck muttered as they got back to the station.

“He was, but you’ll find those types everywhere,” Hen said as she sat down at the table, “That was a disaster,” she added, shaking her head before resting it on her crossed arms.

“Yeah,” Eddie snorted, “Didn’t help that we got caught behind an accident on the way in,” he rolled his eyes.

“Well,” Buck said as he looked over at Eddie, “At least it’s done for a while,” he said, trying to look on the bright side, “it wasn’t a complete failure though,” he added.

“It wasn’t, but we have a few things that we need to improve on,” Bobby wanted them all, they would be back in rotation in another hour. Bobby sat them down and started going through them.

Eddie since as his phone started ringing. “Damn,” he muttered, “Sorry, Bobby,” he said as he glanced at it, “It’s Neil,” he added, looking over at Buck.

Buck looked at Bobby, “Can we?” he asked.

“Go, my office, it’ll give you both some privacy,” he answered.

Buck and Eddie headed to the office, as Eddie answered the call, “Hey Neil, we’re just heading somewhere a little more private as we’re at work.”

“My apologies,” he said, “I forgot that you would be working. I can always call back later on when you’re not?” he offered, his British accent rather thick as he talked.

“It’s fine,” Eddie said, “We’re free to talk for a moment.”

“So, what’s going on?” Buck then asked as Eddie had the phone on speaker.

Niel sighed, “Well, the Diazs aren’t going to give up at all, no matter what is said against them and such. We’re going to be having a hearing in two weeks, and the Judge will then decide, but chances are with the way that Helena and Ramon Diaz are behaving, they are going to try and insist that this goes to a trial. They have no leg to stand on, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“You sure?” Eddie said, biting his lip, he didn’t know what he would do if they lost his son.

“I am, you have a good relationship with his Mother, who is co-parenting with you, and you also have another child coming into the house. They are trying to sue under the grounds that you are not able to care for your child, and I have reports from CPS and the school saying differently. Not only that but you have character witnesses as well,” Neil reminded them, “You both have a lot going for you. You’re in a stable relationship, have good jobs, and that’s all three of you. You have a lot going for you all. With the investigation into the two of them, we have come across several things that we are going to be raising in the hearing. I’ve sent an email detailing everything. It’s not good, and doesn’t work in their favor either,” he warned the two of them, “Now, I’m going to send one last letter to them, to see if we can stop this. If not, then in two weeks, we’ll be seeing them,” he finished.

“Thanks, Neil,” Eddie said, looking at Buck, there was worry in his eyes.

“Welcome, Eddie, Buck,” he said before hanging up.

“Well, at least we know we’ve got a good chance against them,” Buck said, “I can see about getting the email on your phone so you can go through it now instead of letting it sit in your head for the rest of shift?” he asked as Eddie started to tuck away his phone before handing it over. “I take it that’s a yes,” he smiled as he went into Eddie’s emails and found the one that Neilhad sent and opened it up, “Here,” he said, handing it over so he could read through it first.

Eddie took it as they headed out of the office and back up to the loft. Bobby had a few notes for them to go over from what the report came back as, but it wasn’t that much. Eddie settled down to read the email as Buck went through them, only to swap when they were done.

“Well,” Buck said as he finished reading the email, “I… I don’t even know what I want to say about that,” he said, closing it down and handing the phone back.

“You’re not the only one,” Eddie muttered, “Chris already knows that they want to send him away, he’s going to be devastated by all of that if he ever learns of it.”

“I won’t ever let him,” Buck said, “I don’t… he really dislikes them at the moment, he wants them to remember him and not his crutches, and as far as he is concerned, he really doesn’t want to see or talk to them at the moment. It might be a long time before he’ll ever want to.”

“I doubt he will, Shannon and I have passed our stubbornness onto him. Did you forward that email to Shannon?” he then asked, looking over at him.

“I did,” Buck nodded, “W-” he began as the alarm went off.

“Suit up, four car pile up!” Bobby said as he heard the report from dispatch as they all headed to suit up and get to the trucks.

XxXxX

Shannon smiled as she let her class out for lunch. “Miss McKinley,” came a voice as someone knocked on her classroom door.

“Miss Flores,” she said, almost sighing at the sight of her, “What can I do for you?” she asked as the last student left her classroom, “I’m on Lunch duty today,” she added, standing, grabbing her crutch and heading to the door.

“I was just wondering how you are doing now that you are back to work full-time. I didn’t think that you would be coming back after your accident and the injuries that you have,” Ana said, looking at her, mainly looking at the crutch she was using to help her get around.

Shannon stopped, “Miss Flores, I would like to warn you that you are beginning to cross a line. Just because I have had an accident that makes certain things difficult, doesn’t mean I can’t work.”

“I’m just wondering why you decided not to?” Ana asked her, “I mean no disrespect.”

“You may say that,” Shannon said, “And to answer your question, it’s because I enjoy being a teacher. I trained and worked hard to be where I am now, and I’m not going to let anything stop me from doing what I want.”

Ana just nodded and was silent as she then walked away. Shannon watched her go, frowning, wondering what that was about. Shaking her head she carried on towards the cafeteria. Smiling as she saw Christopher with his friends. He waved to her but then went back.

“I don’t know how to cope with working in the same school as your son,” one of the other teachers that were on Lunch Duty with her said.

“It’s not as hard as I thought it would be. Feels odd when he calls me Miss McKinley, but not as odd as I thought,” she gave a little shrug, looking around the hall to make sure that she couldn’t see any problems among the students.

“I don’t think I could do it, it’s hard enough when I see Jessie off to school each morning,” she said, “That girl is seven going on seventeen with the attitude I’m seeing. Though no problem from her school at the moment,” she snorted.

“Are you waiting for that?” Shannon asked her, glancing over and then back to the room at large.

“I don’t know,” she murmured, “Jessie is doing well at school, enjoys it. Part of me is wondering if it’s just a problem with me she is having at the moment,” sighing she was about to say something else when a couple of yells went out. None of them sounded happy. “I’ll see to this one,” she said before Shannon could even move.

“Okay,” she nodded, going back to look around the room.

“Hi, Miss McKinley,” came a giggle as Christopher walked over to her, he had finished his food and was heading out to the playground.

“Christopher,” she smiled, “Carla will be picking the both of us up tonight after school, so come to my classroom after your last lesson and we’ll leave together,” she told him.

“Okay,” he nodded, “When will Dad and Buck be home?” he asked her.

“Tomorrow morning, just before you head off for school,” she answered, “They have the next few days off as well, so this weekend we’re heading out for a picnic,” she added, adjusting how she was standing, “It’s Abuela’s birthday as well soon, so we’ll be going to find something nice for her.”

“I made a card and I want to get some flowers,” Christopher said, giving a few other ideas he had for gifts.

Shannon laughed, “I know, there’s a lot to get her,” she told him, “Go on out and play, your friends are waiting.”

“Okay, bye,” he said grinning, she could see that he wanted to give her a hug but knew better than to do so while they were at school.

Shannon smiled down at him and then gestured for him to go as the other teachers returned. “Diane,” she greeted her, “Everything sorted?” she asked.

“Yeah, swapsies really should not happen at all. The students love to swap what they have, but when they find out the food they got doesn’t taste as nice as they thought, they get into a fight,” she sighed, “It happens at least once each lunchtime.”

“Yeah,” Shannon laughed as they carried on watching the students before they followed the last of them into the playground to carry on with their duties there. Lunch was soon over and she headed back to her classroom, opening her door, she let them all in and began her next lesson.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Buck and Bobby brought the drinks over as Shannon, Eddie, and Athena sat down in the living area after dinner had finished. “Here we go,” Buck said as he handed a drink to Shannon and then one to Eddie, before returning to the kitchen to get his own and joining Eddie on the couch.

“Well, that was a good meal,” Athena said, raising a glass to Buck and Bobby, “Thank you both.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised with how good the two worked together, though I supposed I shouldn’t be with the way that they do so at the station,” Shannon said, having visited twice with Christopher when he wanted to show off something to his other parents.

“How is being at work treating you?” Athena asked Shannon, turning to face her a little more, “I heard that you’re having a lovely time with one of the teachers.”

“Unfortunately I am,” Shannon snorted, “Ana Flores, she’s a good teacher, but I really don’t think she fits well into Durand. It’s her second year there, and she had no idea how to actually be an encouraging influence on children that have disabilities,” she sighed, shaking her head.

“Oh?” Athena queried.

“She doesn’t believe that they can do anything because of a disability. For Christopher, she doesn’t think that he could do anything apart from something sitting down. She even questioned me, she questioned why I was teaching, and that maybe I should find another job as she didn’t think that I was suited for it. Marie overheard that one, though it wasn’t the first time she had brought up me teaching,” she rolled her eyes, “It’s not been nice, me and two other teachers are in charge of auditing her lessons, to make sure that she wasn’t trying to force children to give up on things, like their dreams. It isn’t a pleasant job, either. I’m just hoping she does something soon so we can finally fire her.”

“Really does sound like she isn’t suited to the field or school she is working in,” Athena said, shaking her head.

“I know, the thing is, she does think she is right in her beliefs,” Shannon said, “She doesn’t believe that children like Christopher or many of those that we teach can do anything. Believing that they shouldn’t even be in a school. I’m surprised that she is sticking to the curriculum at all with the way she thinks,” she pursed her lips together.

“I wish that she was gone,” Buck muttered, pulling a face.

“Yeah,” Eddie said, shaking his head.

Shannon snorted as she looked at Eddie and Buck, “She has been trying to make a move on Eddie. She has been going on about Edmundo and how he shouldn’t be dating Buck, that there is something wrong with him doing so, and that he is a poor influence on Christopher,” she rolled her eyes, “It’s getting a little annoying. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t want Christopher in her class. There is no way that I’m going to subject any of my boys to her behavior.”

“Has she done that before?” Athena asked, a little curious.

“Going after a parent of a child?” Shannon asked, glancing over. Athena nodded. “I’ve heard rumors of her doing things like favoring a child of a single father, a few times. Often calling them their given name and not Mr whatever and that,” she said, waving a hand, “So, yeah, you could say that she has, I’m hoping that with Christopher not being in her class, that there is no chance of that happening.”

“Let’s hope, but make sure to report it if it does, it’s not morally right, or ethical in such a situation,” Athena shook her head.

“I know,” Eddie said, muttering, “I’ve met her a few times in the pickup line, she was very instant on getting a little too close and familiar,” he added, pulling a face at the thought of the woman, “She was calling me Edmundo and only family can call me that.”

“Let’s hope it will be over soon,” Athena snorted.

“Yeah, I also have my parents to deal with,” Eddie muttered, “They are trying for custody of Christopher. We have a good case against them already, and things are working in our favor.”

“How is that going?” Bobby asked.

“Good, we have the hearing in a few days, on our days off,” Buck answered, “We’ve gotten the needed reports together, home inspections. They’ve had to have the same done as well. From what I’ve heard, that didn’t go well,” he smirked a little.

“They didn’t do well because they never even really planned to have him at their home, but to send him straight to a facility that they have organized,” Eddie snapped a little, growling as he thought of Christopher being sent to such a place. He knew that some people needed that round-the-clock care, but Christopher didn’t, he was an independent child that was learning how to make his way in the world.

“We know,” Shannon said as Buck rubbed his arm, “We know and they have no leg to stand on,” she added.

“They don’t, but that doesn’t mean that Christopher isn’t scared. He knows that they are wanting to try and take him away, and send him away. He’s… scared and angry,” Eddie said, “And really hurt by what they want to do.”

“What child wouldn’t be hurt by that?” Athena shook her head, “Well, you know you have all of us standing behind you, so you don’t need to worry. We’ll be making sure they get nowhere near Christopher.”

Buck, Shannon, and Eddie smiled and thanked her.

“Though we do have other news to share,” Buck began, glancing over at Shannon.

“Oh?” Bobby asked a little frown on his face, “Some good news?” he asked, a little hopeful.

“We all think so,” Shannon smiled, “I’m pregnant, coming up to ten weeks now,” she told them, “We’re going to be telling people a few at a time, we don’t want to tell everyone at once.”

“It might seem like a silly idea,” Buck said, “But we don’t want the rush of people muscling in. Maddie I know will want to know everything that is going on. Chimney can’t keep a secret at all, and we know that Karen and Hen are doing something for themselves as well. So, we thought you and Athena should be the first to know,” he said, holding Eddie’s hand.

“So, Shannon is pregnant, with a child for the three of you?” Bobby asked, wanting it clarified.

“Yes, biologically, Buck is the Dad this time. We went through IVF,” Shannon smiled, “I offered not long after my accident and Buck’s. I didn’t want to wait too long. I’m being monitored because of my injury, but it’s not affecting anything at all. Things are going well,” she added.

“Good to hear, and congratulations to all three of you,” Athena and Bobby said.

“Thanks,” Eddie smiled, “We’re pretty happy, and so is Christopher, he overheard what we were doing and couldn’t wait until he could tell people. We found out the day before Buck’s party.”

“That was almost six weeks ago,” Athena stated, “You knew back then?”

“I knew two weeks after the IVF that we were successful. Didn’t say anything until I told Eddie that morning before the party. He had to know because of the card he found Chris making for Buck. So, I told them and they passed it on to Buck,” she smiled, giving a little shrug. “Karen overheard me talking to Christopher about it as well.”

“Well, I’m happy for you all,” Bobby said, “No matter how it comes out,” he laughed, shaking his head.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded, “I’m keeping the card, it’s tucked away nice and safe,” he added, a soft smile on his face.

Eddie smiled, kissing his cheek before the talk turned to other things.

XxXxX

Buck answered the call from Maddie, “Hey,” he greeted, sitting back on the couch at work.

“Buck, Evan,” she said, her voice shaking, “I need you to stop me from doing something stupid,” she told him.

“What’s going on and where are you?” Buck asked, sitting up straight, eyes wide as he glanced around, wondering if there was someone around that he could ask about getting his sister help.

“I just got out of work, and…” she trailed off, taking a breath that Buck could hear, she was trying to calm herself down. “I’m sitting in the parking lot and shaking Buck,” she finished.

“Head to the station, Bobby should be fine with you stopping by for a bit. I can talk to you here,” he said, spotting Bobby and getting up to make sure he was okay with that.

“Yes, okay,” she mumbled.

“Stay on the line,” he instructed, “I just want you to get here safe, and the way that you are speaking and acting, I would rather you take an Uber here,” he added.

“An… An Uber, yes, I’ll order one of them instead,” she said, quickly using the app while she remained on the phone with Buck.

“Cap,” he whispered as he put himself on mute, “Something up with Maddie, I’ve told her to come here, it’s okay right?” he asked.

“Yeah, of course,” he nodded, “If you need to talk privately, then head to my office and talk there.”

“Thanks, Cap,” he sighed in relief.

“You’ll be the man behind unless we need you,” Bobby added as he headed over to the kitchen area and started to make himself a coffee.

“Okay,” he nodded and then unmuted himself as he could hear his sister talking to an Uber driver. Impressed that they were quick to pick her up. Buck knew it would take about an hour for her to get to the station, but at least she was on the way. He talked to her a little about what was going on around the station, and how things were going with Eddie. The project that Christopher was just starting as well. Anything he could think of, he talked to her about. The alarm went off, and the crew headed out just before Maddie arrived. He ran down the stairs as soon as he saw her, finally hanging up the phone as he took her into his arms and held her as she cried.

“I want to help her, Buck, but I know I can’t. I can’t do it, I want to search for her and tell her that it’s okay to leave him,” she added, “I started to, I did, I started to look for her,” she clung to him.

Buck frowned, “What’s going on, Maddie? Tell me from the beginning,” he instructed as he took her up to the loft, making her a hot chocolate as he knew that when she was upset, it was the best drink for her.

“Okay,” she nodded, waiting for him to come back. She took the large mug, wrapping her hands around it and blowing on it before taking a tentative sip. “So, I got a call a few days ago, I could hear them on the phone, hear her on the phone, her husband in the background, and her panic. I could hear it all, Buck. I made that same call so many times in the past. Just trying to get brave enough to say something, but I never was. I searched about the call, and they’ve called a few times. I listened to them, and they are all the same,” she closed her eyes for a moment.

“What else did you do Maddie?” he asked her gently.

“I started at that new gym, she was there, she was right there and I left. We got another call today from her. And, damn it Buck I want to help, but I know that… if she is still putting the phone down, she’s not ready for someone to come in and tell her that she needs to leave. If someone did that to me, at that point, I would have told them to leave. Hell, I did tell a cop to leave when they tried to help me. All I had to do was say help me, and he would have done and Doug would have been arrested right then. I was scared and I still loved him. I left when I realized that he would never really love me, he wanted to possess me, not love me,” she shook his head, “And this woman, Tara, reminded me how I once was. I wanted to go up to her and shake her and tell her that she just has to say something.”

Buck reached out, putting a hand on her knee, “Maddie, there isn’t much that you can do,” he told her, “She has to find the same courage you did to leave her husband.”

“But what if I could help her?” Maddie said, shaking her head.

“If I had come to you, telling you that I could help you get away from Doug,” he began, knowing that in a way he had done so when he was nineteen and asked her to go with him. “Would you have done it?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she said, sure of herself.

“I asked you at nineteen to come with me, I knew even then that something wasn’t right. I asked you to come with me, and you fobbed me off, remember,” he pointed out to her, “You weren’t ready to throw in that towel on your relationship. You still had hope, and it sounds like this woman still has that hope as well. When you lost that hope for your relationship, you came to me. I was talking to my therapist about it, how I asked you to come with me, she told me that sometimes, people will stay until they are ready to leave, till the thought of them being in love is gone,” he said softly, “This woman has to realize the same thing that you did. That staying isn’t going to change him. Until she does, she’ll stay,” he finished.

Maddie sighed heavily as she nodded, “I thought this time he means it, that this time he’ll change and we’ll finally be happy. It took so long to realize that he won’t change,” she said, “I wanted to search for her, find her out, and I did meet her by accident yesterday, at the new gym, I recognized the voice. The makeup she was wearing didn’t fully cover the bruise on her face either. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t.”

“Don’t go back there, find another gym. If you’re found to be stalking a caller, you would be the one in trouble,” he reminded her.

“I know,” she nodded, “I won’t go back, I promise, I won’t have anything more to do with her unless she makes a call and I’m on the other end,” she gave him a trembling smile as she then finished her hot chocolate.

“Hang around for a bit. Chimney and the others should be back soon, and I’m going to get started on dinner, you can help,” he said, grabbing her mug and getting up. Maddie smiled a little more as she followed him to the kitchen and the two began to cook dinner for the crew.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Carla was with Christopher at a nearby cafe, though she would be bringing him to the courthouse in a little while. Buck and Eddie didn’t want Christopher there and seeing his grandparents just yet. Didn’t want the chance that they would say something to him either. Christopher was still upset with them and hurt. Therapy for him was going well in helping him work out what he was feeling concerning them.

“Are we ready?” Neil asked as he looked at the two men and the woman that were now seated in front of him.

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Shannon snorted, shaking her head, “I really don’t know why they are so determined to take him.”

“I wish I knew,” Eddie sighed. He could see his parents walking into the waiting area. He turned to face away from them, reaching out and taking Buck’s hand.

Helena and Ramon tried to approach them, but their own lawyer stopped them, shaking his head. Soon enough they were called into the room, the Judge was there, and introductions were made.

“Right,” Judge Reacher said as he looked at the two groups, “This is a custody hearing about the Minor Child, Christopher Diaz,” he stated, getting nods, “I’ve been reading through a lot of what this case has already gathered. I want to hear from Mr and Mrs Diaz on why they believe that they will be the right choice for looking after Christopher.”

“We’re the best choice, we have raised three children already,” Ramon began, “We know that someone like Christopher needs special attention and we want to make sure that he gets all that he needs. He can’t get that while Edmundo is working, and while his Mother is around as well, they no longer live together and are divorced. Christopher is passed from one person to another while he is in their home. It’s no life for a child like him.”

“He needs a stable environment, which is why we have been talking to a facility in El Paso, they would be very suitable in taking care of Christopher, they have round-the-clock care for each of their patients and I’m sure that Christopher will do well there. It’s wheelchair friendly as well,” Helena added a gentle smile on her face, “I don’t wish to put my grandson in such a place, but he’s not going to have a life out here, and in there he’ll be more secure, safe away from those that wish harm to him because he is different. There he won’t be someone to stare at, to make fun of,” she finished, sounding so sure of what she was saying.

“You are going to place him in a facility?” Judge Reacher asked her.

“Yes. Edmundo needs to live his life, and I’m… I’m sorry to even say this about my own grandchild, but Christopher makes that hard for him. He is a needy child, needs constant care and attention, and Edmundo, he is a good father, but he needs to realize that he isn’t enough for a child like Christopher,” Helena answered him, “That he’ll want to have a wife again, and more children, but he can’t do that with Christopher being there.”

Eddie clenched his fists under the table, stopping himself from saying anything while his parents talked. He looked down as he felt a hand over his, and unclenched his fist, turning his hand over and holding onto Bucks. He sent him a grateful smile as Helena finished talking.

“Mr Diaz, Mr Buckley, and Miss McKinley,” Judge Reacher said as he then addressed the three, “Do you have anything to say about why you should retain custody of Christopher Diaz?”

Shannon was the one to answer first, “He is in a loving home, he has three parents that love him, adore him, and help him to build his independence. He is already showing how he can do things on his own, much like children his age are. He’s smart and capable, no matter what Mr and Mrs Diaz have said. I may not have been in his life for almost two years, but that was more because my letters were being kept from my ex-husband and son. I came back to a son that is thriving and happy.”

“Christopher is a kind child, and sensitive,” Helena began, “H-”

“Mrs Diaz, you have already spoken, it is now their turn to speak,” Judge Reacher stopped her before she could say anything more.

“I’ve only been in Chrisotpher’s life for around a year and a bit, but it’s been the best year of my life. Christopher is a joy to have around, I love taking him to the zoo and aquarium, and all the museums around. We learn so much together, and I love how curious he is about the world around him. I couldn’t imagine stopping that, taking that away from him, and shutting him away. He is happy with us, we have a Health Aide, Carla Price, that is with him when one of us can’t be. He is doing so well, his physiotherapy is going really great. They said that he might not need a wheelchair for a very long time, if ever. He might need another operation or two to make sure that he’ll be able to keep walking as he is, but that is something to talk about when it happens,” Buck said, a soft smile on his face.

“I see,” Judge Reacher nodded looking at Eddie, “Mr Diaz, is there anything you wish to add?”

Eddie took a breath, “My parents don’t even want to care for Christopher themselves. They know that they don’t have what it takes to look after him, which is why they are pushing to send him to a home. I will not give Christopher over to them, they have called CPS on us, and harassed me and others, about how we care for our son. It got so bad that I left El Paso to get away from them and their remarks that they should have Christopher. I’ve only just found out it was because they wanted to send him away,” he shook his head, “I love my son, your Honor, I want to see him thriving, not locked away from the world he finds so fascinating. My parents don’t care that my son is independent. They want to see him shackled, and I have taken measures to make sure that never happened. I stopped them from contacting Christopher as soon as I learned what they wanted to do. All contact has stopped. Christopher found out what they wanted to do and he hates them. He’s so upset that they would even think of doing that to him, he no longer wants to see them.”

“We just want him to be happy, and he won’t be with them,” Shannon added, “They harassed me all the time I was living in El Paso, never happy with anything I was doing to make sure that Christopher had the best chances. Anything myself, Eddie, and the Doctors agreed on, they questioned and said was wrong.”

“I see,” Judge Reacher said, “And is Christopher here?” he asked.

“He wasn’t in the waiting area,” Ramon stated, “We were hoping to speak with him before the hearing.”

“Which is why I had his Health Aide, Carla, take him to a nearby cafe until I sent her a message that we were heading in,” Eddie stated, “Christopher doesn’t wish to see them, and his therapist said that we should honor his wishes as much as we could.”

“I see, I would like to talk with him,” Judge Reacher said, looking at Eddie.

“I’ll go and get him,” Buck said as he stood up.

“I would prefer my parents not be here, as I know they’ll say something to him,” Eddie sighed.

“I will be talking with Christopher privately, his Aide may remain with him, everyone please leave as Christopher is brought in,” Judge Reacher said.

“We W-”

“What you want, Mrs Diaz, means nothing to me. This is not up for debate, you will leave the room while I speak with Christopher,” he repeated himself.

Everyone else stood up and left the room as Carla brought Christopher inside.

“Good afternoon, Christopher,” Judge Reacher said as Carla settled at the back of the room.

“Hello,” Christopher said, a little frown on his face.

“Do you know why you are here?” he asked.

Christopher nodded, “Yeah, Abuelo and Grandma want to send me away,” he said, “They want to take me from Daddy, Papa, and Mommy, and my baby sibling,” he added, “I don’t like them. You don’t send family away, that’s what Daddy said.”

“You’re right,” he smiled, “Now, I want to ask who would you like to live with?”

“With my Dad and Papa, they love me a lot, and they always make sure that I try things on my own. They know that I want to be able to do things on my own. Grandma always tells me I can’t do something. I don’t like that at all. Papa takes me out to lots of places and we were learning about space and Pluto and how it’s not a planet but Papa thinks it should be,” he grinned, remembering the things that Buck had said about its downgrade from planet to dwarf planet.

“Do you like living with them a lot then?” he asked.

Christopher nodded, “Yeah, and I’m going to be a big brother. I asked Carla to help teach me how to be a big brother so I know what to do when Dad, Papa, and Mom need any help,” he said, “I always wanted to be a big brother, but I didn’t think it would happen,” he murmured, biting his lip, “I know Mom and Dad aren’t together, but they are all having a baby together because they are really good friends and Mom wants another child as well as Dad and Papa, so I got my Christmas wish from last year coming true.”

“Oh,” he nodded.

“Yeah, and this year I’m going to wish that Papa and Dad get married. Me and Mommy have been making plans,” he said, “But you can’t tell them, they are secret.” Christopher started to giggle.

Judge Reacher smiled and laughed, “I promise not to say anything,” he said, pretending to zip his lips.

Christopher gave him a thumbs up and then said, “I don’t want Grandma or Abuelo to come though, I know they don’t like Mommy, they say mean things about her a lot. They started saying mean things about Daddy as well. I don’t want them to say mean things about Papa. It’s not nice, and I don’t like them, and they want to send me away, I don’t want to leave Mom, Dad, Papa or Miss Carla, or anyone. I have so many friends here, I didn’t have any in El Paso, Grandma would chase them away.”

“Okay,” Judge Reacher said, “Thank you for telling me,” he said, asking a few more questions of him before he let Christopher leave the room with Carla. The others were brought back in with Carla quickly making sure that Helena and Ramon didn’t even get a chance to say hello to Christopher as they left the area. “Well, that was a very informative talk with young Christopher,” he said as he looked at Eddie, Shannon, and Buck, “You three are raising a bright and happy child. That is the main thing that I am looking for, which home would give Christopher the love and attention, and care that he needs.”

“Which is why you should let us have him,” Helena sniped a little.

“Mrs Diaz, do not talk unless I ask you to,” Judge Reacher reminded her. “This wasn’t that hard of a decision, especially after talking with Christopher. I’m ruling that full custody remains with his Father. Christopher’s parents are to decide if they will allow either of you supervised visitation, but my recommendation is that they don’t.”

“What?” Ramon blustered, “Why would you give them custody?” he demanded.

“Mr Diaz, you and your wife don’t even wish to take care of your grandson, all you want to do is send him away. That, from my very short talk with him, has upset him greatly. I do not recommend that you have any type of custody or visitation with a child that you would throw away just because they have a disability. He is thriving in the environment that he is currently in. The facility that you have been trying to send Christopher to is for those that are in a mostly vegetative state, and need round-the-clock care as they are unable to do so themselves. Christopher is an independent young child, who knows his own mind even at a young age. His thoughts and feelings on what you are trying to do have given him a mistrust of you both. In his words, you don’t send away family,” he stated, looking at the two.

“We’re just trying to do what is best for him,” Helena said, clutching at her chest.

“What you think is the best for him, does not mean that it really is in the best interest of the child. You would strip away who he is and take his family away from him in your desire to do so. I will not award custody to you at all, and I will be making any notes on the files should they end up in someone else’s court on what your plans are. In case you try and hide them,” he carried on, shaking his head, “I will recommend that you not go to a trial either, you will both lose.”

“I-”

“Mrs Diaz, there is nothing else that you can say that will change my mind,” he told her.

“Thank you,” Eddie said, nodding at the Judge.

“I wish you all luck in going forwards, Mr Diaz, Miss McKinley, Mr Buckley,” he said, shaking their hands.

“Thank you,” Buck said.

The Judge got up and left the room.

“We wish to see Christopher,” Helena demanded, “You won’t keep our grandson from us any longer.”

“Not going to happen,” Eddie said, “I’ve already told you that you’re not allowed to contact him, and that still stands. I don’t want your toxic ableist behavior around Christopher. The fact that you wanted to get custody of him just to send him to a home, sickens me so damn much. I want nothing to do with either of you. I will be filing for a restraining order against you. I no longer trust you anywhere near my son,” he finished, moving to go with the others as they started to head out of the room.

“Edmundo Luis Diaz, you do not walk away from me,” Ramon yelled, standing firm as he looked at his only son.

“I will be, I want nothing to do with either of you, as far as I’m concerned, you’re no longer my parents. I hope to never see you again, and this, you brought on yourselves. You stopped Shannon from contacting us after she left to be with Siobhan. You berated her constantly while she raised Christopher while I was in Afghanistan, and then you did the same to me when she left. You have constantly tried to take my son from me, and I am just done,” he said, shaking his head again and sighing, “Please, just leave me alone. Maybe one day, I’ll talk to you again, but I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive you for what you have put myself, Shannon, and Christopher, through over the last several years.”

Eddie walked away, hearing his parents call for him. Shannon and Buck took a hand each, giving him an encouraging smile as they went in search of Carla and Christopher.

Chapter Forty

Halloween crept up as it always did. A rush of trying to find the perfect costume for Christopher, he would be going trick or treating with Shannon and Niamh, as Buck and Eddie were both working. They had promised to pop into the station so that they could see everyone. Karen and Denny would be doing the same as well. The night was like any other, some kids being idiots, and others getting into mischief. Nothing that was out of the ordinary for Halloween. Then a call to a home, and in its basement children, tied up, scared, and starved. When the call finally ended and the children were all sent off to the hospital. They were finishing cleaning up on the call, each of them quiet and lost in their own thoughts.

Buck pulled out his phone, messaging Karen and Shannon, asking them to bring the kids around. He then messaged Michael telling him the same. Athena would be joining them as the case was being handed over to a detective to take charge of it. He carried on messaging any of the significant others of the crew, knowing that at the moment, they needed them, especially those with children. It was late, and he knew that some would be in bed, but hinting that it was a call involving children and that they needed to know that they were all fine, would be more helpful than a phone call with those back home.

“Buck,” Bobby called, noticing that his firefighter was standing off to one side.

“Just checking something,” he called back, “I’ll be there in a moment,” he added.

“Okay,” Bobby nodded, “We’re almost ready to leave,” he told him.

“Okay,” he called back, finishing the last of the messages, he was quickly getting replies about people heading to the station. Michael said that he and some of the others would start a meal for them all. Bobby had already confirmed they would have a good hour or two offline to recover from the call.

“You ready?” Eddie asked as he came up behind him.

“Yeah,” he nodded quickly, tucking his phone away as the last message came through. “We could make a quick stop somewhere on the way back, just want to grab something,” he added.

“Ask Cap,” he said, as they walked over to the truck.

“Hey, Cap,” Buck greeted him, “Is it okay if we make a quick stop at the store,” he said. He had orders to grab some extra ice cream from Michael and Maddie, who wasn’t on shift that night.

“Why?” Bobby frowned as they started to get into the trucks.

“Ice cream, I don’t know about you, but that is my comfort food right now, we should have some for when we get back to the station and I knew we haven’t got enough for all of us,” Buck said, quickly making something up.

“Sure,” he nodded, he didn’t feel like protesting much, and he wouldn’t mind some ice cream himself. Telling Mathews about the stop they headed away from the scene. Athena followed behind them in her patrol car.

XxXxX

Buck got out of the truck and headed to the petrol station that was nearby, they had ice cream, as it was one that he had gone to before on the way home. He stopped as he saw a car in the lot, a female about to enter it. “What the?” he puzzled, “Fuck,” he said as he heard a groan from what he had thought was a Halloween decoration and sprinted towards them. He heard another groan from the victim just as they pulled out. Instead of heading into the petrol station shop, he sprinted to the truck, “Cap, the car that just pulled out, it’s not a mannequin, it’s a person!” he said, “Follow it!” he demanded.

Mathews was quick to get the go-ahead and with sirens blaring they chased after the car. Bobby called it in along with an ambulance to be sent to them, as Hen and Chimney were delivering the last of the victims to the hospital from their last call.

The truck got ahead and was able to get them to pull over. Buck was out of the cab before anyone could say anything, including to put back on his turnout. “Ma’am,” Buck called out, “Can you exit your car, please,” he asked her, keeping himself calm as he glanced that man over.

“What are you doing?” the woman demanded as she got out of the car. Buck winced as he saw the large bump on her head, “Eddie, come, take care of her!” he called out, knowing he would be better able to deal with the woman.

Eddie followed, “Ma’am,” he stated, guiding her to one side.

Buck jumped into the car and began to check the victim over, “Hey,” he said, “It’s going to be okay, we’ve got help on the way,” he said, he could hear sirens getting closer.

“Buck,” Bobby said as he brought over one of the medical kits they kept in the truck.

“Thanks,” he nodded, taking a few things that he needed to keep the man stable enough for the paramedics to arrive.

Buck stood to one side as the paramedics were taking care of the driver and the victims. “Glad we stopped there,” he said, Looking over at Bobby.

“So am I,” he smiled, “let’s head back to the station,” he added, getting the others to get back on the truck as the other unit took over.

In the truck, Eddie pressed against him, taking a hand and holding it the rest of the way to the station. Getting out of the trucks to find that Hen and Chimney were already there, at the loft waiting for them.

“Buck,” Hen called out as soon as she spotted him, waving at him to hurry up the stairs.

The others all headed up, hearing chatter coming from above along with some very delicious smells.

“Hey,” Buck said as he saw everyone gathered. The others of A-Shift went over to their families or those that he knew were close friends of the few that were single. The comfort that they could all find from those that knew them best.

“Thank you,” Hen said as he hugged him and then let him go. “Karen told me that you were the one to organize this, a little last minute, but… it’s good,” she told him, smiling before heading back over to Denny and hugging him tightly again before kissing her wife.

“Papa!” Christopher yelled out as he let go of his dad and headed over.

Buck grinned and knelt down, wrapping his arms around the eight-year-old, “Hey, Superman,” he said, just enjoying the feel of holding his son in his arms.

Chrsiphter laughed brightly as Buck slowly let him go, using an arm to balance. The eight-year-old frowned, “Papa,” he said, “You’re bleeding!” he exclaimed as he felt something wet, only to look at his hand now covered in blood.

Eddie and the others all stopped what they were doing. The man went over and checked on Buck’s arm, “Cut, not that deep,” he said as he checked it over, “Didn’t you even feel it?” he asked.

“No,” he shook his head, “Must have done it on the car when I was helping that man,” he said, as Hen grabbed the first aid kid and began to tend to it.

“Call the hospital and explain, get a check on the other guy, in case of cross-contamination,” Hen said as she finished patching him up.

“I will,” he nodded as he stood up, “I’m going to change and then come back because that food smells delicious,” he grinned over at Michael.

“I’ll start serving,” Michael said as Maddie went over to assist.

Buck came back, sitting down beside Christopher and Eddie. He glanced around, getting a nod from everyone on A-Shift in thanks for bringing people there for them. It might be a very late dinner for them, but it was needed after that call. A reminder of the good in the world.

XxXxX

Eddie and Buck walked ahead of Maddie and Chimney, they were having a double date. It was Maddie’s idea, and Eddie and Buck decided why not do so. Chimney hadn’t looked too happy at first, but in the end, he had been quick to cave.

“I’ve been seeing the reviews for this place,” Buck said as they were guided to their table.

“Oh,” Maddie said quietly, “I-”

Buck looked at her and then followed where she was looking. It was a couple who were already seated at a table. The woman looked nervous as she ate. “Tara?” he whispered, getting a nod. “Well, I think we’re best off ignoring them at the moment. Only say something if one of them does. Since he’s never met you, it’s fine. She’s only met you once at the gym, correct.”

“I bumped into her as I was getting coffee, and I do mean bumped,” Maddie said, “We talked a little. I… I told her I’m getting my life together after an abusive ex who’s now in prison.”

“Maddie,” Buck sighed, “Come on, let’s go sit down and let’s not think about them.” He made sure that Maddie was seated with her back to them, so she wouldn’t be faced with the couple all the time.

Maddie gave him a grateful smile as they sat down. “So, do you know what’s good here?” she asked her brother.

“From the reviews, the steak is usually perfect. The ribs are good as well,” Buck said as he went through more of the options that he knew Maddie liked best, “The Lamb Shank is one of their most popular dishes.”

Maddie and Chimney put the menu between them as they went through each of them.

Eddie smiled and turned to Buck, “So, you know what you want?” he asked him.

“Yeah, I’m going to have the rack of ribs,” he grinned, “Their BBQ sauce is supposed to be really good,” he added, “you?”

“I’ll have the lamb,” he said.

The waiter came over and took their drinks order as Maddie and Chimney were still trying to decide what they wanted. Drinks were brought over and then their orders were taken.

“It’s nice to get out like this,” Maddie said, as she glanced up at her brother and his partner, “I like it,” she smiled.

“Yeah, don’t know if we’ll be able to do this often though,” he said, thinking about what was to come.

“Make the most of it,” Eddie said, taking his hand.

“Yeah,” Buck smiled back.

“What’s going on?” Maddie asked as she looked between the two of them.

“We’re…” Buck began.

“Just enjoying the honeymoon period while we can, and the fact that Shannon is happy to take Christopher for the night,” Eddie answered, glancing at Buck and getting a few nods.

“I don’t believe you,” she snorted, shaking her head and sighing, “Fine, don’t tell me, but you will soon,” she added, giving the two of them that patented big sister look.

“Maybe,” Buck said, smirking a little at her huff.

Chimney looked between them, “I agree with you there, Maddie,” he said, “Something is up, I smell a secret being kept,” he smirked, causing Maddie to laugh.

“We’ll talk about things when we want and not before,” Eddie said, giving them both a look, he knew that Buck would end up caving, and they wanted to make an announcement together when Shannon was a little further along.

“Okay,” Chimney nodded, “I look forward to finding out, or guessing,” he added, a soft chuckle as the two men rolled their eyes.

“Right, I’m just going to the bathroom before the food arrives,” Maddie said as she got up. She headed to the bathroom and as she entered the room, she stopped when she saw Tara.

“Hello,” Tara smiled as she saw her, “Maddie, isn’t it?” she said, getting a nod.

“Yes,” Maddie nodded, “How are you?” she asked, already seeing the makeup that was on her cheek, hiding most of a bruise beneath it.

“i’ well, I’m here with my husband, we’re having a meal,” she said, her voice starting to shake. “How…” she stopped.

Maddie looked at her, “I know he’s hit you,” she said, “I recognize the method of covering up a bruise, but not doing it properly hoping someone will notice,” she added, gesturing to the cheek. “I did the same when my In-Laws came around, hoping one of them would ask. They never did.”

“I-”

“I know, you have to get back to him before he starts to question why you’re taking so long,” Maddie said understanding. “I’m a… 9-1-1 operator,” she said, seeing that Tara paled a little more, “I understand better than most after being in your shoes. I got away, there is help out there, sometimes you just have to take that courage and leave. Family that you haven’t talked to, friends. They are waiting for that moment for you to go to them. There is help out there, you just have to call. My brother was my safe haven. He gave me shelter and helped me find my feet. You can too,” she said quickly, “Now go before he comes in here,” she added, “My own ex did that. Now he’s in a prison cell and I’m finally free.”

Tara nodded before hurrying from the bathroom. Maddie stood there, sighing and closing her eyes. She went about her business and washed her hands, standing with them under the hot water for a few moments before she shook herself off and headed back out. She glanced at Tara, who looked at her and gave her a trembling smile before talking with her husband, who didn’t look too happy about her interaction with someone that wasn’t him.

“Maddie?” Buck asked, seeing it and also observing his sister shaking.

“Tara spoke to me in the bathroom. I told her that when she is ready, she should go to friends and family. That there is help out there for her. I just… I just hope that she takes it. I can’t really do anything more,” she said, looking at her brother and seeing the understanding look in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he said as the food arrived.

Eddie and Chimney took up to talk about the Marvel film that Christopher wanted to watch next. They were mostly through their meal when Tara and her husband left. Tara spared Maddie a glance and gave her a grateful nod before hurrying to follow her husband out of the restaurant.

Maddie bit her life, “I wish there was more that I could do.”

“We all wish that when we come across those calls, sometimes you can’t do anything to help them when they are still protecting those that abuse them,” Chimney said quietly, “I’ve… come across many over the years,” he told her, “Not easy calls at all,” he admitted.

Maddie nodded, “I know,” she agreed, she had been on both sides. The side where she didn’t want to leave Doug, where she thought that they could make their relationship work. Then on the other side, listening to someone fall in line with what their significant other demands.

Maddie changed the subject and started talking about Thanksgiving since it was coming up at the end of the month.

 

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