Reading Time: 110 Minutes
Title: What’s Past Is Prologue
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1, Hawaii Five-0
Genre: Angst, Crossover, Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Relationship(s): Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, background pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Discussion-Sexual Assault, Discussion-Violence, Discussion-Combat Injuries, Attempted Murder, Attempted Rape (Wells), Violence – Domestic, Violence – Against Children, Homophobia, Racism, Hurt/Comfort, Dark Themes, Stalking, Canon Typical Violence, Gun Violence, Toxic Family Dynamics, Character Bashing, Ableism, Discussion-Combat Injuries,
Author Note: I entirely blame HarleyJQuin for this monster. She gave me the idea and it really didn’t want to let go. Now that it’s written, edited and all, I bow to you, HarleyJQuin and say, thank you! I loved working on this one.
Beta: HarleyJQuin – You are a miracle worker and an absolute star!
Alpha: HarleyJQuin – this is all your fault, a small idea and look at the monster it became. Thank you for helping me keep going!
Word Count: 131,758
Summary: Moving to LA with Shannon and Christopher after being shot was supposed to save his marriage. Instead, he felt more alone and abandoned than he did in El Paso. That is until he meets Evan Buckley; a former Navy SEAL who was finding his footing in LA. The two rekindle a friendship that had barely started in the sandbox and plan for their futures.
Artist: halestrom
Chapter Fifty-One
The day after the earthquake, Evan was happy to be staying at home. His muscles ached something fierce, and he listened as Eddie told him about his day. Seeing the happy look on his husband’s face was wonderful to see. Evan could tell that the day had helped to heal some of the annoyance and hurt that Eddie had been feeling about being injured, and not being able to join the academy when he’d wanted to. Evan knew that the man would’ve been happy working the earthquake as a firefighter, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Maddie was in her room, starting to pack her things together, as she had found a place to move into. The moving day was at the end of the week, and Evan wasn’t sure if he was happy about it. Christopher had cried when he had learned she was moving out, not wanting his Auntie Maddie to leave him. It had taken a promise for him to be able to have sleepovers and movie nights to get him to stop.
“Honestly, Evan, I’ve never felt like that before,” Eddie said as he leaned against him on the couch.
“I’m happy for you, Eddie,” he smiled, kissing him lightly, “I’m glad that you found something, so you know when you join the academy, you will enjoy the work as well,” he stated, smiling as Eddie nodded.
Eddie’s phone began to ring and he picked it up, “Unknown,” he stated, as he looked at Evan, wondering if he should answer it.
“Up to you,” he stated, “Could be no one important, or it could,” he shrugged.
Eddie sighed, “NO help, husband,” he muttered, causing Evan to laugh. He answered the call, “Hello?” he said cautiously.
“Edmundo Diaz, what the hell were you thinking about moving to LA? We heard there was an earthquake there, you’re going to get that poor boy killed living in that hellhole!” came the stretching voice of his mother.
“I thought I told you that you weren’t to contact me again. I never want to speak to you, and neither does Christopher. You’re never welcome in my life again,” he stated.
“Don’t you dare hang up on me, Edmundo Diaz, I won’t stand for it!” she yelled once more.
Eddie had to move the phone from his ear because of how loud it was, not wanting to have his eardrum burst because of her. “Shut the hell up, Helena,” he stated, using her first name and shocking her to silence. “I’ll say this for the last fucking time, I want nothing to do with you or Ramon. You have outstayed your welcome in my life with your entitled and narcissistic behavior. Christopher is my son, and he will never be in your care. I’d rather he be adopted by strangers than go near you. Adriana and Sophia don’t want anything to do with you either, I heard that they cut you off a few months ago. I for one don’t blame any of us for running away from the harridan that you are. You’re a vile piece of shit, a crap mother that made her three children lives a living hell. We had a father who was more concerned with work than he was with the hurt that his children were going through, and he did nothing to stop you from being a bitch,” he vented, breathing hard at the end of it, “now, I’ll say it again, leave me the fuck alone. You’re not to contact me again or I’ll have the law brought down on your heads. I am not putting up with this shit!” he yelled one last time as he ended the call and put it on silent. Only his Abuela, Pepa, and Evan were able to get through to him. There was no reason anyone else would be calling him, after all.
“You okay?” Evan said as he wrapped his arms around Eddie, holding him tight.
“Yeah, that… kinda felt good. Damn, I have wanted to yell at her for years. I’ve always bit my tongue, always. She was my mother, but now… I don’t think I’ve seen her as my mother in years. She stopped being a parent to me the day she first suggested to Shannon and I that we hand Christopher over to her.”
“When was that?” Evan frowned, looking down at him.
“Three hours after he was born. She’d overheard Janet call him a spawn and no good,” he sneered as he thought of his former mother-in-law. “I don’t speak ill of the dead, but that is one woman I don’t give a fuck about. She hurt my child and I hope she burns in hell for it,” he huffed with a growl.
“Let’s hope, because no one harms our little cupcake,” Evan agreed with him.
Eddie smiled and then groaned as Evan’s phone started to ring. “It’s Abby, I’m not going to answer,” he said as he put it down, silencing the calls, so only those that he needed to pay attention to could get through to him.
“I’m getting sick of her calling. It’s making you on edge, and that’s not good. I hope that you’re going to the VA like you said. I don’t want you getting too stressed out,” Eddie said, he had been going still for himself.
“Yeah, I’ve already had a phone appointment, since so many called in for them over the last day,” he sighed, knowing that for some, the earthquake would have caused a good number of flashbacks.
“Good,” he nodded, settling back, wanting to just spend a quiet day at home.
XxXxX
The first shift back after the earthquake had A-Shift gathered for the handover. “Well,” Bobby said,” since I didn’t get a chance to say it after shift last time, it’s good to be back, but I could do without the celebratory bang, next time,” he stated, getting a few laughs, “Now, on to business. Thank you, Terence, for the good job you did, I know who to leave the 118 in the hands of, when I go on holiday,” he said, smiling. “On to other news, we were going to have a probie join us on shift, but they have all been claimed, and I wasn’t able to select anyone. So we’re going to have to wait, we have someone stepping in since Danvers is leaving us as planned, even though it’s two months later than he wanted to. Charles Beenie is joining us for the next eight months as a heavy rescue specialist, since Buck needs a partner for a while, until we can find a good fit for you from the probie pool. Show him the ropes for the 118, and learn from him as well,” he said to him.
“Will do, Cap,” Evan said as he looked at Beenie. The man was slightly taller than him, but only by an inch. It wasn’t often Evan who came across someone taller than him, it made a change. Even Eddie was slightly smaller.
“I’ll teach him all I can, Captain Nash, and thank you for taking me on for the next several months,” he stated, nodding at the man before looking at Evan and smiling slightly.
“Right, here is the chore list, make sure you do it during the shift at some point. No going home without doing it. I’ve been having words with C-Shift, as they’ve been slacking recently. Two have been written up on that, and one here will be if they don’t start doing their work as they should instead of trying to push it on others,” he warned, looking at one of the older firefighters who just huffed. “Daniels, you will be written up if you continue,” he warned him for the last time. “I am not going to put up with your damn laziness anymore. Right, dismissed, and get to work, Evan, you’re with me on breakfast, Beenie, you come as well, I want to know what you’re like in the kitchen, and to see if you’d be a good candidate to join us on the cooking rotation. So far there are six of us that are good cooks, four that are passable, the rest, I wouldn’t trust with putting water in a jug,” he said, as he looked at the temporary transfer.
Evan and Beenie went over to help and talk, and the start of the shift went well.
XxXxX
At the end of the shift, things changed when a woman that Evan helped to rescue during the earthquake turned up, yelling and angry at him. “Calm down,” he said, hands out, and staring at her, to make sure she didn’t make a move toward him. It was at this point that Chimney would usually butt in, and goad the woman into hitting him. Instead, Hen was glaring at her friend before turning to the woman.
“Ma’am,” she stated.
“He knows who I am!” she yelled out.
“I do remember you, Ali, I helped you in the building that was trying to imitate the leaning Tower of Pisa,” he stated, frowning. “I told you I didn’t want your number, so why are you-”
“I looked you up-” That was all she got out when she saw the man sigh.
“Catfisher, again,” he growled, “What site?” he asked, he was just sick of it all at this point. There had been so many that he was done keeping count.
“Facebook,” she stated, blinking.
“Right,” he said, pulling out his phone and calling Steve, “Another on Facebook, just contacted a woman by the name of Ali,” he added.
“Right, I’ll see what I can do,” Steve replied before disconnecting the call.
“I have someone that is working the catfisher case. He has a lot of resources and he’s been able to find a number of accounts. You’ll get a message from him soon, no doubt telling you what is going on. You will be given a number but also a way to verify that you were being catfished. You aren’t the first, and somehow I doubt you will be the last,” he finished, sighing.
“Oh… I,” she looked around going a little red, “I…”
“It’s fine,” Evan said, “Hen, will you be able to?” he asked her, knowing that she’d be the best at calming the women down after they had found out what was really going on. Especially now that she had the full picture. Usually, Eddie would do it if he was there.
“Sure,” she said as she went over to Ali, “Come on, come and talk to me for a bit. I’ve seen several people in your place recently,” she said.
“You… have?” Ali asked, getting a nod, “How many?”
“We don’t know the full amount. But there are so many accounts. Buck is very happily married to a man. He’s gay, honey,” she told her, “and they have a lovely little boy together. There is only one account that he has, and it’s set to private. Though from what I’ve heard the LAFD wants him to have a public profile. He doesn’t like the thought of that,” she said as they walked down the stairs.
Evan just sat down on the floor where he was, head in his hands, “I just want this shit over with,” he muttered. “They keep making new accounts and they are going through so many damn proxy servers that even Steve is having a hard time,” he muttered, “He’s Naval Intelligence, and his team is top damn notch,” he added.
Bobby went over to him, “Why don’t you head home early? I can get a floater in for the rest of your shift.”
“No, no, I should be fine,” he said, getting up from the floor and dusting himself off.
“If you’re sure,” Bobby said, getting a nod, “Alright.”
Hen returned and said, “She’s gone home, she’s embarrassed, but she did receive the message and will verify what is going on,” she added as she went over to Evan and hugged him, “This will end one day soon, no doubt your friend is doing all he can.”
“Between his own cases, he is,” he stated, “But they’ve had a couple of high profile ones recently, that have taken all their energy, so it might be a while longer before something can be done,” he sighed as the alarm went and over the radio, they were told that there was a jumper.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Halloween was a blast as Mary, Eddie, and Evan were able to take the children trick or treating. Joan and Christopher loved dressing up and talking their parents into doing the same. It was a good night, and Maddie had even been able to join them for a little bit before she had a night shift at dispatch. It had been a good night, and Evan had been riding the high of it for a good week before it came crashing down around him. He had returned home, feeling uncomfortable and like someone was watching him. He had been noticing the feeling over the last couple of days, making Eddie and Maddie aware of it, in case it was Doug.
“I’m home,” Evan called out, hearing Eddie in the living room.
“Christopher is at Abuela’s, she insisted on a sleepover with him and a couple of his cousins, Pepa is there as well to help,” Eddie called out, “We have the house to ourselves,” he said as Evan walked into the living room.
“Good to hear,” he grinned as he went to lean down, only for the window to be smashed with a brick being thrown through it. “What the fuck!” he yelled out as he looked outside, only to see someone rushing towards the house. Evan moved fast as he went to the door, Eddie already pulling out his phone to call 9-1-1. He opened the door to find Abby standing there. Her hair was a mess, and she looked unhinged. Maddie had told him that she hadn’t been to work for the last week.
“You piece of shit!” she yelled at him, “Why couldn’t you do what you were supposed to!” she carried on, throwing the brick she was still holding at him.
Evan brought up an arm to defend himself with, wincing at the impact as he pushed it away, “Abby, what the hell!?” he exclaimed, eyes narrowing as he observed the crazed-looking woman.
“You should have realized that you needed to leave him. I was right there, waiting for you to pick up the signals. Those girls I sent after you, were there to show that you don’t belong with him, that women wanted you, that you were wanted by ME!” she yelled, rushing towards him. Just as she reached him. Eddie grabbed her, pulling her from where Evan was standing, shocked in the doorway, and tossing her to the ground.
“Eddie,” Evan said, voice sounding distant.
“It’s fine, Ev,” he stated, as he subdued Abby, who was screaming at the top of her lungs about how Eddie had ruined things, that Evan was supposed to be hers. “The police are on the way,” he said, as they could hear distant sirens getting closer.
“Thank you,” he said, looking at his husband.
“What are husbands for, if not to be there to protect you,” Eddie said, smiling back at him.
“He’s supposed to be mine. I always have a firefighter, they are always mine. No matter what!” she yelled out, struggling to move Eddie off her.
“You can stay where you are,” Eddie said, as he made sure that she wasn’t going to wiggle free at any point. He didn’t want to take the chance of her going for Evan again. The man didn’t like to defend himself half the time, especially if they were civilians.
The police arrived and Abby was taken into custody. Abby was ranting and raving about sending women after Evan, to make him see that being with Eddie was wrong. That he could easily find proper love, true love with a woman.
“She’s being doing the catfishing?” Evan asked as he looked wide-eyed at Eddie.
“From her rants, it sounds like it,” he said, “Though we should get Steve to check if he has the time. We have a starting place, and the police over here can help as well. They know that Steve and Five-O have been helping you.”
Evan nodded and sighed as Athena walked over. “Hey, Athena,” he said as he looked at the woman that Bobby had recently confirmed that he was dating. “Good to see you,” he smiled or tried to; it didn’t last long.
“You tell that friend of yours to send the information to our DA and to the detective that ends up in charge of this,” she told him, “I’m happy to see that you’re both okay, but do try and keep out of trouble.”
“I don’t do anything, Athena,” Evan pouted, “all I did was be nice to a woman who was having a hard time.”
“I know, I thought of her as a friend, which is why I’m not requesting to not be on this case. I knew her before all this went down,” she sighed, shaking her head, “She was a good woman, kind-hearted.”
“Yeah, that’s what drew me as a potential friend in the first place, Athena. She loved her mother a lot, and I can understand the loss getting to her. But to this?!” he exclaimed, “It sounds as if she messaged women to rile them up and send them after me by not answering them after a while. LIke she wanted to prove that I wasn’t… gay,” he shook his head as he felt a hand slip into his. He turned to see Eddie standing there, he smiled at his husband as the man pulled him into a hug.
“There’s nothing you can do at the moment,” he told him, “Just put it aside and let the courts decide what they should do with her.”
“You take care of yourselves. We have your statements, if they need anything else the detective in charge will be the one to come and talk to you.” he said.
“Thanks,” Eddie said as they headed back inside.
“As if I don’t have enough on my plate. They finally have a schedule for Well’s trial, and it’s taken a lot longer than it should have,” Evan bit out as he thought of the news they had received that morning via a letter; a summons to testify in court.
“I don’t know why they sent out word for it so long before the date. It’s the middle of November, and Thanksgiving is coming up and so is Christopher’s birthday and Christmas,” Eddie added, nodding, November and December happened to be the busiest months for the Diaz family. With the three celebrations coming up, there was also the fact that it looked like Evan was going to be working this Christmas instead of having it off.
Eddie pulled his husband to their bedroom, getting the man to lie down. He went and checked the house, having already called someone to deal with the window, while he made sure that Evan rested a little. Maddie would have to be called and he’d have to make sure Abuela would be able to keep Christopher with her until they had sorted it all out. There was a lot of cleaning up to get done, especially since forensics had been there, to make sure they got the evidence that they needed to make sure the charges would stick.
XxXxX
Evan walked into work, tired to the bone. Eddie and Abuela had planned out Thanksgiving, which was in in two days time; Mary and Joan were joining them for the day. Maddie had work for some of it, but would be stopping by after. The rest of the family were going to be coming and it was going to be a very large celebration, since Adriana and her family, along with Sophia and hers, were also going to be there. Eddie was looking forward to seeing his sisters again. Evan, however, was being contacted by the detective in charge of his case almost constantly, since Steve was helping from Hawaii to make sure that charges would stick. The man wasn’t happy about someone muscling in on what he believed was his case, and Steve was getting very close to heading over to LA to take it up personally, with the help of NCIS.
“You,” Chimney said as he stormed over to him.
“What ever you problem is take a fucking number and join the cue. I don’t want to hear it. I just want to come to work, do my job and go home and snuggle with my husband and son and forget that the world is a shitty place,” he stated, looking him dead in the eye.
“You said something to Maddie about me. I know you did! She doesn’t want to ever join me for coffee or anything!” he exclaimed, getting a few looks from the others in the bay area.
“My sister doesn’t want to date you at all, Chimney. Not only that, but who the fuck do you think you are to corner my sister, and demand that she go with you to a coffee shop?” he asked him, “What gave you the right to tell my best friend and her daughter that they should head home because Maddie would be going with you? You’re no one to my sister. No one, do you hear me? I wouldn’t want her to date someone who has done nothing but lie about himself to his intimate partners. I can’t trust you with my sister’s heart. I’ll never be able to trust you with that, because you haven’t damn well changed at all. You’re still an entitled bastard, who thinks that a woman should date you, just because you say so. Well, news flash Howard Han, you’re not God’s gift to women. You, in my eyes, are a pathetic man who just wishes he had something going on. The thing is though. You could have easily found someone without lying, you’re not bad-looking, you have a damn good job, which you’re fucking good at. But that isn’t enough for you. My sister will never be dating you, and not just because I fucking well said something about your history with women. But the way you have cornered her several times. So get over your damn self.”
Most of those of A-Shift and some of C-Shift that were living were looking on in shock. They had never heard such words come from Evan before. The man was usually very calm, never really saying much to Chimney, no matter what the man said to him.
“Don’t you da-” Chimney began only to be grabbed by Hen and pulled away
“I told you one day he’d blow up at you,” Hen said, sighing heavily. “I warned you. Now what the hell did you do to his sister to earn that?” she asked him.
“What do you mean what did I do? I just asked her out.” He protested, folding his arms in front of him.
“And from what he said, you cornered her, demanded a date and told her friend to leave?” she asked, frowning at him.
“So what, it did no harm to anyone,” he shrugged.
“Buck’s right, you do need to learn a few lessons. You’re not entitled to tell someone that they will date you. Maddie doesn’t want to date anyone. She’s said that a few times, even with you around. I also know that she has turned you down twice, now three times for a date. Why do you keep going for her?” she asked him, “She’s not interested.”
“She is, Buck’s just getting in the way,” he grumbled as he walked away, “You’ll see Hen, she’ll fall for the old Chimney charms sooner or later.”
“I doubt it,” she sighed, shaking her head, and headed up to the loft to help with breakfast. She wasn’t the best cook, but she could handle toast and drinks at the very least.
“Stay out of things with me and your sister. This is between us,” she heard Chimney growl at Evan as he walked past.
“You go near her again, and she won’t be the only one sending in a complaint about your harassment,” Evan warned him, “I’m not going to let her go near another self-obsessed idiot that thinks he can control a woman,” he finished as he went back to cooking.
“I’ll second that warning,” Bobby said, “Your behavior is very close to crossing over the morality clause in your contact with the LAFD,” he shook his head, hoping the warning would sink in, but he didn’t think it would.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Christopher grinned at his cake, the candles on top. “Blow them out and make a wish,” Evan and Eddie said on either side of him.
“But I have everything I wished for, and the other things I’m going to ask Santa for his help. It’s a big thing, and it’s gonna need the extra magic,” Christopher said with a nod, “Soo,” he paused for a moment and then grinned, “I know,” he closed his eyes and wished ‘Help Santa bring me a baby brother or sister’. With a huff and a puff, he blew out his candles to the cheers of his family. “I hope it comes true one day soon,” he grinned as he looked at his dad and papa.
“Let’s hope, it’s nice when wishes come true,” Evan said, having no idea what Christopher wanted.
Isabel came over to cut the cake and hand out slices. “It’s so nice to have all the family together,” she said as she looked around her garden.
“I thought you would’ve been sick of us by now,” Eddie joked with his Abuela.
“I love having my family here, Eddito,” she rolled her eyes, handing out slices to waiting family members, with Christopher, Eddie, and Evan the first ones to get a slice. There had been a few cakes being made, or there just wouldn’t be enough for everyone.
“I know, which is why I am having you over for Christmas. Evan isn’t working this year, they finally were able to let him know he was off. They were going to have him working since he missed so much time. Now we’re spending it together. Maddie is coming, as well as Mary and Joan,” Eddie told her. “I know Pepa is with Luis and his family for the holidays and the New Year,” he stated, looking at her, “So you’re with us.”
Abuela huffed but nodded, “Alright, but Evanito and myself will take care of the meal. He said he wants to cook, so I’ll help,” she said.
“I’d love that, Abuela,” Evan told her, as he handed a slice to Maddie, and grinned as she went back to Mary and Joan, who had their own slices.
“As long as you know, I’ll be in charge,” she said, giving the young man a look.
“I know,” he grinned and laughed as he nodded along with her demand.
Isabel nodded and went back to serving cake as Christopher went off to enjoy his slice and the rest of his party.
XxXxX
Christmas and New Year were a little quiet, all things considered. There had been no drama, no illness, and thankfully no injuries. Evan had enjoyed his time off, and the fact that Dr Wells’ trial was coming up in two weeks had been only one of two dampeners on his time with his family. The second had been there was still no trace of Doug. Each time they found information that led to him, either nothing would pan out, or he’d already moved on. His family was under surveillance after his mother had been caught helping him. She was awaiting a trial herself at the moment.
Evan and Maddie’s parents had been kicking up a fuss over what was going on, not caring that their daughter had almost been murdered by her husband. No, all they had cared about was the fact that their names were in the news, and people were digging into their families; which included bringing up Daniel and his passing, and the events surrounding Evan’s birth. No one had been happy with anything getting out, as it was their private business, but the vultures in Hershey didn’t really care about that.
Evan walked into work, changing quickly and starting his daily chores before anyone could say anything. There was an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew Abby was now in a psych ward, her brother had her committed after her arrest and evaluation, but Doug was still in the wind, with no trace. The Buckley parents were, thankfully doing their best woe-is-me expressions in Hershey. The Diaz parents were cooling their heels in El Paso after Eddie had ripped them a new one in October; Adriana had been suitably impressed with her baby brother. The only thing left was Marie Wells.
Viktor had been quiet since he had told A and B Shift what had happened to him, reaching out to Evan at times when he needed an understanding ear. His ex-wife had made her presence known in his life again, but Viktor had been quick to shoot that down. He didn’t want to be with someone who had refused to believe him. Lisa hadn’t been happy at being turned down, but Viktor had been adamant about not wanting her in his life again with the way that she had left it, tearing him apart and leaving him feeling like he was bleeding on the ground.
“You seem on edge today, Buck,” Hen said as she walked over.
“Yeah, just a bit,” he sighed, shaking his head, “A few things going on, one major coming up as you know.”
“Yeah, I heard the trial was soon. The other three pleaded guilty, but she’s going with not guilty, I heard,” she said walking beside him as they headed to the storage room. She needed to grab a few things for the ambulance, as C-Shift hadn’t had time to get to them, they had almost back-to-back calls all night.
“She is, which means, we go to trial and we have to testify; I’ve already got the summons. So has Viktor and a few others. Most of which were ones that tried to come forward, before I blew it wide open,” he grimaced, as he grabbed the clipboard and started to count inventory and mark down what had been used from the other shift.
“How did you do that?” she asked, “I know that someone outside of the LAPD did it, but nothing else.”
“Steve,” he answered, “I told him what happened and he gathered what he could and sent it to the NCIS agency here in LA. They help deal with crimes against Naval personnel, I might be retired, but I’m still a former SEAL, I still hold some secrets that shall never be repeated,” he told her, shrugging a little at the wide-eyed look she was now giving him. “They took over the investigation since the LAPD was compromised, which is what led to everything being discovered.”
“At least it’s out in the open,” she stated, as she grabbed what she needed, made a record of what she had taken, and left Evan to do his chores as they waited to go back online and head out on their first call of the day.,
XxXxX
Evan, Viktor, and a few others were sequestered in a room apart from everyone. They weren’t allowed to talk to each other, as the bailiff watched over them, waiting for each of them to be called up. He had no idea why he’d be called, yes, he had been the one to kickstart it all, but in the end, what she’d done to him, was nothing compared to what the others had gone through. The defense had gone the last two days, now it was the turn for the prosecution.
Each of them was called in turn, and the time was shorter between each of them as they went out. Viktor was one of the last ones to go, with Evan being the only one remaining. He knew it was more because he had been the one to bring this to the attention of people. Soon enough he was called and sworn in. He sat down and waited for the questions to begin.
“Firefighter Diaz,” the prosecutor began, “You brought this to the attention of a task force in Hawaii? Why?”
“After the attempted assault and blackmail. I first called my captain at the 118, told him the basics of what had happened, and I warned him that Dr Wells may try and call him, reporting me as unfit for duty,” he began, “After that, I called HR for the LAFD and after making my report, I was told to stop lying and they hung up on me. I knew at that moment that Dr Wells had others that were working to suppress the assaults from being investigated. My former commander in the SEALs is Lieutenant Commander Steven McGarrett, he runs a task force in Hawaii, called Five-O. I got in touch with him for some help in finding out more about what was going on. He gave me a run down, and handed the case over to NCIS here in LA,” he explained.
“So you brought it up with someone not even in this state because the LAFD was compromised?” he pushed.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Firefighter Diaz,” he said, pausing for a moment, “Why did you not contact the LAPD?” he asked.
“At first, it was because I didn’t think of it, I trusted Lieutenant Commander McGarrett with what was going on. There was only one police officer that I’d have trusted with this, and she is a Sergeant and would’ve had to hand the case over to someone else,” he stated, “After speaking with Lieutenant Commander McGarrett, I realized that the LAPD could be compromised as well.”
Evan was asked a few more questions before the defense got their turn.
“Firefighter Diaz,” the defense attorney said as he stood up and walked over. “The day that you say that you were attacked,” he began, “why were you there?”
“It had been suggested that I see a civilian therapist, I was struggling to deal with the fact that the young man I was trying to rescue decided to let go, instead of reaching for my hand,” he answered without adding anything more.
“Suggested, so when Dr Wells, my client, found that you were to be compromised, you decided to fabricate something up, and leave a worm in your former commander’s ear, so that-”
“Objection,” the prosecution stated, shaking his head, “The defense is trying to lead the witness with a statement instead of a question.”
“Sustained,” the judge agreed, “Mr Aggrive, please ask your question.”
“Did you say that she had tried to assault you to stop your partner from leaving you?” he asked, pursing his lips together.
“No,” he stated, almost rolling his eyes at the man.
The man stared at him, “So you wouldn’t do anything to save your marriage? Because I have here that your partner’s parents have tried to sue for custody of their child,” he pointed out.
“Objection your honor,” the prosecution said, frowning, “How is this all relevant?”
“Mr Aggrive,” he said, “You reasoning for these questions?”
“I am trying to find out why Firefighter Diaz brought this to someone’s attention that wasn’t even in the state of California. It leads to why they did not take them to either the LAPD or even HR in the LAFD,” he stated.
“That has already been established, strike the question from the record as well as the following statement, not relevant to the case,” the judge said. “Stick to the facts that you have, Mr Aggrive,” he warned. To Evan, it sounded like it wasn’t the first time he had warned about his questioning tactics.
Aggrive nodded stiffly and walked away, turning once more to ask questions, only for the prosecution to object to most of them. Only two of the following ten questions did Evan actually have to answer. Finally, he was done and he was let go. He met up with some of the others in the hall outside of the courtroom. No one wanted to remain in the courtroom to hear what else was going to be bandied about to try and discredit any of the witnesses that the prosecution called up.
“My husband and I welcome you to come to mine, so we can have a drink and talk, no alcohol,” Evan suggested. He got an immediate yes from Viktor and two of the others, with hesitant agreement from the rest. “You don’t have to, I just thought it’d be nice to know each other, we all went through something that not many will understand. We have a stereotype put on us, and that is detrimental to us all. So, I was thinking we can support each other, help each other, and be there if need be?” he suggested.
“Thanks, Evan,” Viktor said, using his actual name and not the nickname that most of those at the 118 called him.
“Welcome, all of you, we’re not alone,” he told them as he gave them his address, Eddie had already agreed to open their home to them, to give them a sounding board and someone that’d listen.
Chapter Fifty-Four
February was turning into a shit storm when it came to Eddie’s family. His parents had been making noise to try and sue for custody, again, but had been quickly shot down. But the rumors of Shannon talking with lawyers had proven to be true, when they had a summons to a court hearing.
They had arrived, and Christopher had been asked to join them, though he had been sequestered in another room so that he didn’t have to go near Shannon at this point. Carla was with him along with a court-appointed minder.
“Mr and Mr Diaz,” the Judge said as he sat down, “Ms Whitt,” he greeted them all as they then sat down, their lawyers beside them. “Now, this is concerning the parental rights of Ms Whitt, and the minor child, Christopher Diaz,” he said as he looked at the docket before him. “May I ask Ms, Whitt, why you signed away your rights to Christopher some time ago?”
“I had just lost my mother,” she began, tearing up, “It was a hard time for me, and I didn’t want to think about having to look after Christopher. He has special needs and I couldn’t cope having to look after someone again. Eddie was hurt and was looking into his options at the time. I didn’t know what else to do, but to get away from it all and clear my head. I mistakenly signed them away, I know I shouldn’t have, but at the time I needed that little bit of freedom.”
“Mr Edmundo Diaz,” he said, pursing his lips, “This is going to get a little confusing to call you both Mr Diaz,” he stated.
“You can call me Eddie instead, and my husband Evan,” he stated, “I hope that’d be helpful, or if it must be formal, Mr Eddie, and Mr Evan.”
“Very well, Mr Eddie,” he said, snorting a little, “Now, why did you ask for the meeting that ended up with her signing away her rights?”
“Janet Whitt, her mother, had made us sign a ridiculous prenup, which meant that anything I put into the household and family, she had to put in the same amount. For a year and a half, she hadn’t done so, but I had put in double through my work in the Army. She had to repay all that was spent, and it reached a lot. I called for the meeting because, although she’d paid off a large amount, I was out of work, struggling to pay for myself and my son since she was no longer helping at all, and after the divorce, she still owed a substantial sum for both the arrears and child support. Christopher at the time was refusing to see her, as she had hurt him, and missed several appointments to see him at the visitation center appointment’s she’d made. She didn’t want to pay anything if she wasn’t seeing him, so she signed away her rights.”
“Why were you not seeing your son?” he then asked Shannon.
“I was distraught, I had so much on my mind that I just never thought about it,” she said, closing her eyes as fresh tears fell from her eyes. “I had lost so much, and it felt like I was drowning.”
“Ms Whitt, I have a list of sixteen appointments that were made in your name and a note by each one that you didn’t turn up. Sixteen times, Ms Whitt, please tell me that over the course of those two months, you at least saw your son once?” he asked her, frowning.
Shannon lowered her head, “No, I didn’t.”
“Ms Whitt, how many times did you see Christopher Diaz after he and his father moved out of your mother’s home?” he asked, frowning and waiting for an answer.
“I… haven’t seen him. At first, I was busy with my mother and then her funeral and will, then trying to find my footing again. I just never seemed to have time,” she tried to defend her actions, or rather lack of them when it came to her son.
“You should have made time. Mr Eddie, how is Christopher in all of this?” he asked, “What are his feelings towards his mother?”
“He sent her a message at one point, telling her not to come near her. He got into my phone,” he shook his head, “That wasn’t long after things started with the divorce if I remember right,” he stated. “Now, he’s in therapy to try and deal with the anger and hurt that he feels towards Ms Whitt,” he added, looking at her, “He also recorded something for today as well. Though I’ve not had a chance to look at it, it is with Carla Price, as she is the one who helped him record it.”
“Mmm,” he hummed, “Geri, would you be able to get a copy of the video from Mrs Price and bring it here, I think we should look at it. This will give me a good idea of how Christopher feels about his mother and if it’d be a good idea to let her go to court and get her rights back.”
Geri walked off and returned moments later, she put the video she had gotten up onto a screen in the room and pressed play.
VVV
Christopher was sitting on screen in the backyard of the Diaz family home. “I hope this reaches you, Shannon,” he said, not even calling her Mom. “Dr Green said I should record down what I think, and it’s been good, but I wanted something for you to see if you are ever around long enough to want to hear from me again. I don’t hold out any hope. I don’t want to see you, and I feel mean about that,” he said ducking his head. “But you hurt me so much, and you hurt Dad too. You didn’t care that Grammy Janny hit me, or that you left me alone all the time. You never cared. You weren’t the Mommy I loved anymore. You were mean, like her. I heard you when you were talking to your friend. That you wished I wasn’t there, you wanted Dad, but you didn’t want me. I was the burden. Like Grandma calls me. A burden, spawn, nasty, evil. I hate you and I hate being mean!” he yelled as he started to cry. “Did you ever love me?” he asked, “I don’t know anymore and I don’t think I do want to know. I don’t want to see you ever again, I have Dad and Papa, and Auntie Maddie. I have Carla, Bisabuela, Tías Pepa, Adri, and Sophia. I have so many that love me because you couldn’t.”
VVV
The video ended and Shannon was crying.
“You made him feel unloved,” Evan said, speaking up for the first time. “You did that to him. You made him scared of the women in his life. He flinched when my sister, Maddie, went near him for the first few months at least, he still flinches with unfamiliar women. He’s getting better, but he’s still scared that if he becomes too much of a burden, we will abandon him, like you did.”
“Ms Whitt,” the judge said, getting her attention, “From what I’ve seen on this video, and from the evidence that was given to me by the lawyers. I have to say that I’m not impressed with you. You abandoned your son, at home alone, knowingly doing so several times. Once even led to him being injured enough to require a cast on his arm. When he left your residence, instead of trying to find a way to see him, you ignored the calls of your ex-husband, and ignored the fact that your son, at the time, wanted to meet with you. When you learned he was no longer holding out that hope to see you, you severed your rights. I’m sorry, Ms Whitt, but with the way that you have behaved and the fact that you still haven’t tried to see your son before your rights were severed, I am not going to let them be returned to you. Mr and Mr Diaz, it’ll be up to you if you let Ms. Whitt into your son’s life.”
“At the moment that would be a no,” Eddie said, shaking his head.
“You bastard!” Shannon spat at him, “You can’t help but kick me when I’m down!”
“Ms Whitt, I suggest that you remain silent at the moment in time or I’ll have you charged with disorder in the court,” he warned her.
“Shannon, he doesn’t want anything to do with you. I brought it up to him several times over the last year, and each time he said no. That is because of you, not me. You did that to him. You, who also tried to support my parents in getting custody of him, so that you could what? Try and marry me again. Sorry, that ship has well and truly sailed. I’m married, and happily so to Evan. I’m not going to divorce him to be with someone that could turn on me and my son, at the drop of a hat,” he stated, glaring at her.
“One day he may want to speak to you, but I doubt it’d be the way that you seem to expect it to go,” Evan added.
“Ms Whitt, your motion to return your parental rights of the minor child, Christopher Irvine Diaz, has been denied,” the judge said, “This court is dismissed.”
They stood and Shannon was glaring at the two men. “I want to see him, I want to explain to him.”
“There’s nothing to explain at all,” Eddie told her, “not at the moment. He doesn’t want to see you and will refuse to listen to you. It’d be better to wait until he wants to reach out to you, but don’t hold your breath. It’s been almost three years since he last saw you, Shannon. Three years, and nothing from you but missed appointments, usually because shopping is more important than your son. He was only four years old. He’s seven now. I know I missed a lot when I was away but damn it, I still called each and every single time I could, I wrote letters, and made videos to send home. When I was home, I was there for you both, and you were never happy; not about anything. You did none of that, you didn’t call, write, or make a single video. There was nothing from you for him to hold onto. All he has at the moment to remember you by, is the fact that you let your mother hit him and yell at him, that you abandoned him, and refused to go near him from the moment we moved to LA.”
“I had to deal with my mental health,” she stated.
“And you could have done that, I would have supported you, since I deal with my own mental health all the damn time; PTSD fucking sucks,” he snapped at her as they began to head out of the room, “But I don’t let that stop me from being there for my son. I do what I can, and I have things in place for when I have those bad days when I can’t be around anyone. You just straight out left, not caring about the harm you did,” he finished as he went to the room where Carla was, and picked up his son.
Evan stood between Shannon and the door, and made sure that Eddie was able to get their son out of the building without him seeing his mother. They were both thankful that the judge hadn’t called him into the courtroom to talk with him, that the video had been enough. “You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. Maybe figure yourself out in the meantime and think long and hard about why Eddie and Christopher don’t want anything to do with you,” he told her before he hurried after his husband and son.
Shannon glared as she gave a yell and she stalked after them, hoping to catch up but only got a glimpse of them as they got in a truck and headed off.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Evan sat in an interrogation room. It was a little cold, but he knew the tactics that the police were using. They had found a shit ton of money in the truck after they returned from the bank, and the team were the prime suspects. He shook his head and yawned; he wanted to go home to his husband and son, but didn’t know when that’d be happening. By his calculations, he believed he had been in the interrogation room for at least five hours, with no one coming to talk to him. But there were the other members of A-Shift that’d need to be spoken to, though, he wondered how Hen was doing, since she had been trapped with their victim in the vault, before they had been able to get her out.
Evan stretched as the door to the room opened and two detectives walked in. “Oh, I was starting to think everyone had forgotten about me,” he said, giving a casual smile.
“We have avenues to investigate that were time-sensitive,” the taller of the two stated as they sat down.
Evan gave a nod, “I can understand that, though I want to ask, do you know how my co-worker, Henretta Wilson is doing?” he asked.
“I have no information on that,” he said, and Evan could clearly see he was lying.
“Detective, I can tell you’re lying,” he stated, sitting up straight and staring at him, “Now, can you please tell me the status of my friend?” he pushed again.
“She’s doing well, and they are trying to find out what caused her reaction,” the other stated, frowning at him.
“Thank you,” he smiled at them and waited for the questions to start.
After asking a few basic questions that were easy to answer, the first one asked, “Mr Diaz, wouldn’t it be true that the money that was found on the truck, would be helpful to you and your family?”
“While it would be nice, money wouldn’t really help at the moment. My husband and I are doing fine financially, we have a good savings account going, it covers everything we need for our son, and my own money has been frugally saved over the decade that I’ve been earning. Having extra, what’s it going to do but sit there? I don’t need it,” he stated, “you’re looking at the wrong people for this. None of us would do such a thing. We don’t need to.”
They continued to press on Evan, trying to get him to say something incriminating. He finally had enough.
“Okay, since you’re going around in circles, I want a lawyer,” he stated, “I won’t be saying anything else to you, since you can’t seem to ask anything of importance.” With that, he stopped saying anything. The two detectives had no choice but to leave. He was still stewing in there, with no sign of being able to contact his lawyer two hours later when the door opened and Steve and Danny walked in.
“You asked for a lawyer, Mage?” Steve smirked at him.
“They were asking dumb questions so I gave them an answer I knew they wouldn’t like,” he told him, snorting. “How did you get here?”
“Your file is flagged for anyone trying to dig, much like the others on our team who did certain highly classified missions. They didn’t like the fact that part of your file was redacted, and tried to force it. The Navy doesn’t take it too kindly when people start digging, and ignore the warnings. So NCIS is taking over the case, and the detectives aren’t happy about it. They shouldn’t have poked the sleeping bear, basically,” Steve told him, “Come on, you’re free to go. Though they say, don’t leave town.”
“Where would I go,” he snorted, “I’m not leaving Eddie and Chris, and Eddie is starting to gear up and get ready for the fire academy.”
“I heard, NCIS will look at the interviews done and the scene itself. Be available, and yes, do have your lawyer. The detectives are very adamant that someone in the 118 has done this, or is part of it at the very least,” Steve warned him as he and Danny led the way out.
“Evan,” Eddie said as soon as the man entered the bullpen of the station. He got up and hurried over, “They wouldn’t tell me what was going on, and they were holding you for a long time compared to the others. Hell, they even brought me in to question me, and I was done in half hour, Maddie as well,” he said in a rush, looking his husband over.
“They don’t like the fact that part of my file is redacted. It’s brought NCIS on their heads though, because they tried to get through the classified block to see what was there, by the sounds of it,” he said, looking at Steve and getting a nod.
“I’ll see you later,” Steve said, “I’m going to be talking with some of the NCIS agents that have come in. They will be talking and doing interviews, this is now their ballgame,” he warned him.
“And they are good,” Evan nodded in agreement as he took Eddie’s hand and they headed home.
XxXxX
Evan woke to a knocking on his door. Eddie was grumbling in his sleep, since it was the early hours of the morning, the sun was only just coming over the horizon. Christopher was happily tucked up in bed, and wouldn’t need to get up for another two hours for school, at the very least. He got up, letting Eddie wake up a little slower as he went to answer the door. Opening it, he saw two NCIS agents that he had never met before. “What can I do for you at stupid o’clock in the morning?” he yawned, not in the mood to be nice. It had taken a while to reassure Christopher that neither he, nor his dad, were going to be arrested, since they were innocent. Though they knew that didn’t always stop the police from arresting people at times; the innocent were sometimes found guilty, after all.
“May we come in and speak with you. We just want to go over what happened and what you saw that night?” the small of the two asked.
“Sure, come on in, I’ll put some coffee on and try and keep it down. My son is still asleep and doesn’t need to get up for a bit yet. My husband is half awake, he may wander in when he smells the coffee,” he warned them as he let them inside and headed to the kitchen, “Please, sit down, how do you want your coffee?”
“Cream and sugar, for me, one spoon,” one of them said.
“Black, one sugar,” the other answered.
“So, ask your questions and yes you can record the session if you need to,” he stated before they could ask.
“Just give us the night, what you can remember?” she asked, as Evan finished making the coffee and they set up the recorder.
“Routine call we thought. Someone collapsing, it happens. We get there, I saw the security van outside, with one of the guards inside the bank, looking like he is reacting to something. It could have been anything, but it reminded me a little of the nerve gas I had seen when I was serving. I murmured it, almost to myself, and one of the other paramedics said it out loud. It caused a bit of a panic, and we went through the protocol for nerve gas. The guy in the vault wasn’t reacting as badly as the guy from the van,” he stated, “I remember talking to the other guard, the one still in the van through the window, he wasn’t allowed to leave it and he was worried about his friend,” he added.
“He wasn’t, what else did you notice that night?” he asked.
Evan closed his eyes, trying to recall everything he saw. “There were a lot of people moving around, the guard, the one in the van, he left it. I saw him getting checked over in the decontamination tent,” he frowned. “He shouldn’t have left his van, he would’ve been fine, no matter what was going on.”
Evan did his best to give them an account from the night, going over everything that he could remember, even the smaller details.
“Thank you,” they said, getting up, “For talking with us,” the taller of the two added.
“Your welcome, I’m glad I could help,” he stated as he saw them out. He yawned again but knew there was no point in going back to bed. He’d have to be up soon to start breakfast.
XxXxX
Three days after the bank heist, it was over. NCIS had arrested the 118’s maintenance guy, Marty, and the former bank manager Marty’s ex-brother-in-law, just before the former manager keeled over and needed emergency surgery, to remove the diamonds he’d eaten while in the vault. Hen had helped when she had her interview with the NCIS agents.
They were in the backyard of Athena’s home, Bobby and Micheal were at the grill, with Danny hanging out there, talking to the two men.
“You have a good thing going here,” Steve said as he looked at Evan. Mary and Maddie were there as well, since they had both been dragged into things by the detectives, before NCIS had taken over.
“I know, married, a kid, good friends, and a great job. My sister is finally back in my life, and living hers like she should have all alone,” Evan grinned at him. “It’s nice to have you meet everyone as well.”
“Though there is one I don’t like,” he said, as he saw the man sulking in the corner. He’d been told to stay away from Maddie once more by the others at the gathering. Maddie had been a little reluctant to join them, but since it was a gathering of friends, and a way for Evan to introduce Steve and Danny to his team, she had joined them, though only since Mary had come, was she truly happy. The two women had hit it off and had become good friends. Joan was playing with the other children of the 118, enjoying herself.
“Yeah,” he said, “I’m not keen on him either. He’s a good paramedic, but that’s the only good thing I can tell you about him. Hen and some of the others have better things to say about him, but not many,” he sighed, “he went through some shit at the 118 from what I know, by a previous captain. He now rides on the coattails of that treatment to keep getting away with his bullying behavior. It’s not going to work for much longer, as Bobby has made a formal complaint to the chief about it, and now whenever disciplinary actions come up concerning Chimney, it has to go through the Chief as well,” he shrugged. “I’d ignore him, but he’s fixated on Maddie at the moment, and I’m wary, I don’t want another abusive man going near her.”
“No word on Doug?” he asked.
Evan shook his head, “No, but we all believe he is in LA. Maddie is doing her best not to let that affect her.”
“I’ll see what Danny and I can dig up, but it might not be much more,” Steve said, as Danny called them over to get their burgers.
“Here,” Danny said as he handed over the two plates. “And I’ve got Christopher and Joan’s plates, please tell the others to come and get theirs,” he stated as he headed to where the children were and handed them their food.
“You ever want kids?” Evan asked him
“I have two, through Danny,” Steve replied, “I’ve got all the ones I could ever want. Do I want another, maybe. But that’s something for another time,” he told him, thinking about it a little more as he watched Danny with the children, teasing them and playing with them before he got up to rejoin them.
“What’s got that look on your face?” Danny asked, as he walked over and frowned at his partner in all things.
“No… nothing,” Steve said, shaking his head and changing the subject.
Evan laughed and headed over to Eddie who was already munching his way through a burger. “Three weeks until May starts,” he said, looking at his husband, as the man approached.
“Fire academy,” Evan smiled, happy that life was starting to go their way for once. He just hoped it’d last.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Eddie’s first day at the academy coincided with a bomb being left on someone’s doorstep. Eddie had shuddered at the news report that was playing in the background of one of his classes, he winced as he saw that the 118 was the responding station He worried for his husband, and knew that both of them had some trauma when it came to explosives; although Evan was better at making and disarming them, it was something he had specialized in after all. He was comforted in knowing the call had happened that morning, and it was now evening, so they were at the end of their day
“Damn,” someone commented, “Who’d do that,” he said, shaking his head.
“I know, right,” another said.
“This is one of the things that you may face out there. It doesn’t happen often, in fact, this is the first time this has happened in three years. Explosions usually happen because of gas leaks, and other factors; an actual Bomb is rare,” the trainer said.
He went over a few things before they were dismissed for the day. Eddie was quick to gather his things and head towards his truck, his classmates tried to stop him to talk, but he was quick to brush them off, “Sorry, I need to go and pick my kid up from my Abuela’s,” he said when the next one tried to stop him.
“Oh, you have a son, that’s nice,” he said, grimacing a little at the mention of a child.
“It is, my husband and I adore him,” he added, seeing the annoyed look go over the man’s face. “I need to get going,” he finished as he put his bag on the passenger seat and got in.
“Hey, I was trying to ask you to come for coffee, we may as well get to know each other since-” he said, trying to give Eddie a flirtatious smile.
“I just said, husband. I’m married, happily so, and I can tell you want more than to get to know me as a potential friend. I’ll not be cheating on my husband, I’ll never even entertain the idea. I also want to get home so that when my husband does return from work, I’m there, since he’s on a twelve hour today, and his station was one of those responding to the bombing this morning. My husband and I are both former military, so I know this might rattle him a little, I’m nervous, and I’m not out there yet,” he stated, closing the door and driving off.
He headed to Durand first, waiting in line for Christopher. He grinned when he saw his son.
“Mr Diaz,” the teacher on duty said, a smile on her face, “It’s good to see you again.
“Hello, Miss Flores,” he nodded, “Hey, Chris,” he greeted his son.
“Dad,” he grinned, “I made something for you and Papa in art class today,” he said, “it’s in my bag, so you can’t go in there until Papa is home as well,” he added.
“Alright,” he smiled, he nodded again to the teacher, “Come on, let’s get home,” he stated as he led the way to the truck.
A few hours later there was new artwork on the fridge, and the picture of their family stood pride of place.
XxXxX
“That’s three now,” Evan said as he walked around the 118, he was pacing, and so were a few of the others.
“Four,” Bobby said as he got off the phone, his face pale and looking shocked, “Though we figured out a good direction on who it could be,” he added.
“Oh?” Evan asked as he looked at the Captain.
“Not long after I got here and took over at the 118, we had a fire at a restaurant. The father ended up being the one to set it, his wife and son could’ve easily lost their lives in the fire. The man died in prison a few months ago. We believe the bomber is the son, Freddie Costas,” he stated. “They are looking into him now, and checking my apartment in case another was delivered there.”
“Bobby,” Evan said slowly, “You don’t spend a lot of time there, you’re either here, or at Athena’s,” he pointed out.
Bobby stopped what he was doing. The alarm blared as they were called to a scene. He grabbed his radio, “Dispatch, send the bomb squad to the 118, and take us offline. Another station will need to attend our current callout, since I believe there may be an explosive on site!” he said, eyes going wide as he went over what Evan had suggested, “you’re right. I don’t spend time at home,” he shook his head, “everyone out, now!” he demanded.
“The trucks are out in the yard,” Hen said, “could they be rigged?” she asked.
“Anything could,” Evan stated, “We need to get away from here, gather together a safe distance from the station. Don’t worry about your shit at the moment , just get clear, move to the other side of the street, keep a corden, and do what you can to block the roads,” he ordered, adrenaline pumping. They didn’t know if they were right.
Bobby’s phone rang again, “Athena?” he answered. “Right, we think we might have the bomb here, at the station. This is my home away from that apartment,” he added.
Evan and Hen helped to make sure everyone was safe, as far away from the station, and out of the potential blast radius, depending on what explosives were used and where they were planted. The 118 was now offline until they could verify the station and all the vehicles were clear.
They could hear the sirens heading their way, the dark sky made them all nervous as they waited for news on what was going to happen next. Evan had the others keeping the perimeter secured, making sure no one was getting closer to the station at all. The roads around the station were now closed at both ends. They were taking no chances with the lives around them.
The doors of the engine were open as they had been in the middle of an inspection that Terrence had wanted to do. As Athena arrived, Bobby rushed toward her, and they waited together for the bomb squad to park. The group was about to come closer, when a loud explosion echoed around them. The engine flipped and rolled, as equipment went flying in all directions, and smaller pieces turned to shrapnel that pelted some of the firefighters that were gathered, all now diving for cover.
Evan winced as something hit him, but he was too busy concentrating on getting people under cover. “Move!” he yelled as one stood there, eyes wide with shock. He pushed her behind something and knelt there, glancing around and making sure no one else was in the way of the blast. Things rained down for a few more moments, before it stopped. Evan stood up, almost falling to the floor as his leg gave out on him at the sudden pain. “Shit,” he cursed as he looked down, seeing that his pant leg had some tears in it.
“Triage!” Bobby ordered, “Those that are injured in any way, remain where you are, those that aren’t injured at all, triage the injured,” he called out as he grabbed his radio, “Dispatch this is Captain Nash of the 118, our engine has exploded and we have wounded. We need help!” he demanded as he went over and began to look at each of his team. A few only had a couple of cuts, some had deeper wounds that needed stitches. Hen was treating someone who had a piece of shrapnel in their chest. Chimney dealing with another with what looked like a broken leg from a piece of equipment plowing into him.
Bobby got to Evan, “Buck?” he asked.
“Shrapnel in my leg,” he stated, “Don’t think it nicked anything important. A few more to my chest and arms,” he added, as he pressed down harder on his leg. The other injuries were sluggishly bleeding. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt badly. “This is going to suck,” he muttered.
“Yeah, it is,” Bobby said as more sirens started to approach them. The bomb squad was doing what they could to make sure the area was safe, and ensure there was nothing else that was going to blow up in their face. Ambulances began to arrive, en masse, and pick up those that were injured to the Cedars, the nearest hospital. “I’ll call the families,” he said as he got up, letting the paramedics take over Evan’s treatment.
“Make sure Eddie knows I’m okay,” Evan said, as he was helped on to a gurney, and loaded up.
Bobby looked around, seeing only six of his shift uninjured, the others going in groups now to the hospital. He felt arms go around him, “Hey,” he said as he looked at Athena, “Any news?” he asked.
“They’ve got his mother, and he was caught ten minutes ago. He was on his way here when he realized the 118 didn’t turn up where he wanted them. I don’t know everything, but from what Mike told me, the bomber had planned to blow the truck while it was heading to a fake emergency. When another station responded because you took the 118 offline, he blew the truck, thinking it was the one in front of him. When nothing happened, he realized it wasn’t the 118, so he started driving here, he was pulled over, and found to have a vest on him. He tried to blow it, but it malfunctioned, and a second bomb squad is with him.”
“So, it’s over?” he asked.
“It’s over, now let’s get to the hospital to see how your people are doing,” she told him.
He nodded, pulling out his phone as he walked. He had a few dozen people to call to tell them that their loved ones had been hurt. He was just glad that he hadn’t had to give the news that one of them had passed away; at least he hoped none did.
XxXxX
Eddie rushed into the waiting room, he’d had to ask Maddie to look after Christopher when he had gotten the news that Evan had been hurt. He had heard on the news about the 118 being targeted, and Bobby had called him telling him that Evan had been hurt, but he was doing okay,
“I’m here for Evan Diaz, I’m his husband, Eddie,” he said, as he looked at the nurse in charge.
“Oh, 118?” she asked.
“Yes, my husband’s station,” he nodded.
“Come with me, we’re putting all those waiting for news on the members of the 118 in a private waiting room,” she said as she led the way.
The door opened and he could see the various members of the 118 and their families. There were of course some missing, but no one was openly crying.
“Eddie,” Bobby said as he saw the man, “So far we haven’t gotten news, but they should be in soon. Your name will be added to the list.”
Bobby had been right, because as soon as the door closed behind him, it had opened again with a doctor stepping through. “Mr Diaz?” he questioned, looking at Eddie.
“Yes, that’s me, is Evan okay?” he asked.
“He’s doing fine, he’ll be discharged tomorrow morning,” he smiled at him, “I’ll take you back shortly, if you want the rest of his crew to know, just say the word and I’ll inform everyone of his condition now,” he stated. Getting a nod, he began, “Evan has suffered a large laceration on his left leg. It required almost 120 stitches, but it wasn’t as deep as suspected. The lacerations on his arms are numerous but shallow, only one of them needed stitches to keep it closed. The chest wounds are much the same. He should be just fine, though he will need a little time off,” he warned, “to recover.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Eddie said.
“Nearly everyone should be out of the hospital by tomorrow evening. There will be two staying longer because their injuries were worse,” Bobby said, “So if Evan asks, everyone is going to be okay. Terrence is the worst of it, his chest was hit by shrapnel and it punctured his lung, but it wasn’t as severe as we first thought, and they said he should expect a full recovery. His partners have already gone through to see him.”
“Thanks, I’ll tell him,” Eddie said as he was led to Evan’s bedside, where he stayed, even when Evan woke up.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Maddie left her home, wanting to go and see Evan. He was back home and was healing just fine after the explosion. She still couldn’t believe what had happened. She shook her head and headed out of the gated community she lived in. She felt safe there since anyone not on the list was refused access, and any known to be a threat to the residents, like Doug, had their picture up in the security office so the security guards knew to call 9-1-1 if they were spotted..
“Maddie,” came a voice she had hoped to never hear again.
“Mr Han,” she said, “I’ve asked you several times to leave me alone. I won’t date you, I won’t go and have coffee with you, and I won’t be giving you my number. I don’t even want to know how you got my address, since I’m not listed anywhere.”
“I just decided to walk aro-”
“Mr Han, please don’t take me for being stupid, for I’m not,” she snapped at him, “Now, please leave me alone. I want to go and see my brother, and see how he is doing after what happened two nights ago,” she said as she began to try and walk around him and go to her jeep.
“Come on,” he snapped, grabbing her arm and pulling her closer to him, “Why the hell can’t you give me a chance?” he demanded to know, “I’m a good guy, I’ve got a good job.”
“And that means nothing, especially now that you’ve put a hand on me,” she hissed at him as she tried to pull herself free. “You have harassed me since the moment I went to see my brother. I don’t want to date anyone. I have an ex-husband who is hiding in the damn shadows just waiting to try and get me, and you think I want to date someone who is showing the same type of obsessive and controlling behavior!?” she said, eyes going wide. “Let. Me. Go!” she demanded, raising her voice.
“No, not until you agree to date me,” he demanded of her.
“The answer is always going to be a no. I don’t have to date anyone I don’t want to. I’d never date you, ever!” she yelled out, causing someone in the security office to come out.
“Sir, the lady has asked you more than once to let her go, I strongly suggest that you do so.”
“No, she is going to be going on a date with me. I am not going to be fobbed off with stupid fucking excuses all the damn time, I’m sick of it. I know Buck has got in your head, but he isn’t a good man and you’re blinded by that.”
“I know exactly what kind of man my brother is and he is a damn sight better than you, he’d never harass, stalk, or do anything like that with someone else! Now let me go,” she struggled a little more before the security officer approached and pulled Chimney off her. “I want the police called. I am filing a report and pressing charges,” she said as she rubbed at her arm, it was hurting her badly.
“The police have already been called Ms Buckley,” the security guard said, “They should be here soon,” he added, keeping hold of Chimney.
“Let me go,” Chimney demanded, “I was just trying to get a date, why the hell is that so wrong.”
“It’s wrong when the lady says no,” the guard said shaking his head, “It’s a full sentence, and she doesn’t need to explain why she won’t date you. But by the sound of it she did, so maybe you don’t understand the word No. Do you need it said in another language?” he asked, and then added, “she said, no, i-ie, nien, non, aniyo, нет, or how about the complete sentence tā duìnǐ méiyǒu xìngqù, she has no interest in you.”
“I doubt he’d ever understand, since I’ve been telling him no for months,” she muttered, shaking her head, “I wonder if his ears are just painted on for decoration.”
The guard snorted as a police car pulled up. “Officer,” he greeted, “This male was accosting one of our residents, Ms Buckley.”
“Sir,” the officer said as he walked over, “May I ask your name?”
“It’s Howard Han, and I’m a firefighter. I was just trying to ask her out.
“Yeah, by grabbing my arm and yanking me toward you, and demanding that I go out with you,” Maddie shot back, “Officer, can I make my statement? And I’d like to press charges, I’d like to know how he found out my address, since I’m not listed. I have a stalker ex-husband who no doubt wants me dead, so I’ve gone out of my way to keep my location a secret, so, I need to know how he has done it, so I can prevent someone else from doing the same.”
“I see, ma’am,” he said as he looked at his partner, “Can you take the lady’s statement? I’ll deal with this one.”
“Sure,” she said as she walked over to Maddie, “Ms Buckley?” she asked, wanting to clarify.
“Yes, that’d be me,” she said as the officer then started to ask her a few questions as she took her statement. “I’ll come down to the station a little later on. I’d really like to go and see my brother, he was hurt two nights ago, and I’ve not had a chance to see him since he was discharged from the hospital.”
“You’re free to go,” she said, as she went back over as Chimney was sat in the police car.
“I’ll make sure his picture is put up,” the guard said, “oh, and I’m Jamal, one of three guards here on the day shift, so give us a call if you need help,” he told her as he nodded and added, “I’ll make sure you get in your vehicle safely, and head back inside.”
“Thank you, Jamal,” she smiled at him as she headed off to the parking lot and where her spot was for her apartment.
XxXxX
Evan had been a little bored during his week off work, but he’d finally been cleared for light duty. He was pissed at Chimney and his behavior, and wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep working at the 118 with the man after he harassed his sister. He looked around, not seeing Chimney, but he hoped that the man avoided him for the shift, as he wouldn’t be able to keep his mouth shut about the disgusting behavior he had shown.
“Everyone, in the loft, now,” Bobby ordered as soon as he walked out of his office. All but two were back on duty from the night of the explosion. The 118 had people covering when it came to A-Shift, moving around to make sure the shift had full coverage. Terrence would be back in another month, as would the other injured firefighter. For now, they had a floater in for the engineer position.”
“Wonder what’s going on?” Hen asked as she and the others looked around, they noticed Bobby didn’t look happy at all.
Bobby did a quick headcount and nodded when he counted everyone present. “A week ago, we almost lost this station and all of us on A-Shift. It is mandatory that we all attend therapy sessions, at least ten,” he stated, “I am taking no arguments about this. If you’re already seeing a therapist, they’ll have to be signed off by the LAFD to make sure that you’re all remaining fit and healthy, not just physically, but mentally. The bombing happened to us all, no matter how hurt, or unhurt you were.”
“I can agree with that,” Evan muttered, he had already been having a few sessions since his nightmares had returned.
“Now, as you may have noticed, Chimney is not with us. Five days ago, he accosted a woman and demanded that she date him. She has pressed charges against him, as he has left her with deep bruising on her arm, he not only harassed her, but stalked her and found out where she was living; which was a place of safety for this woman,” he said, “I am disgusted by his behavior and the LAFD has decided to terminate his contract. He no longer works here as a firefighter paramedic, he’d been given several warnings on his behavior that he had chosen to ignore.”
“But, Chim’s not like that, Cap!” Hen protested.
“Hen, get your head outta your ass,” someone snapped from near her, “You do this all the time. ‘Chimney is never bad. He’s a good guy’,” he mocked, “Well a good guy wouldn’t harass and stalk a woman to her home, would they?” he pointed out.
“But… he wouldn’t have done that,” she repeated, mostly trying to reassure herself that she hadn’t been friends with someone morally corrupt.
“Hen,” Evan began, “You’ve seen what he has been like. You know what he is capable of. He’s done it on calls a few times. Gotten a little too friendly,” he stated.
“Buck’s right, Chimney has four write-ups for his behavior on scenes,” Bobby sighed, “We all tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. June is not starting out on a good note,” he said, “But we will get through this, the academy classes are at the end of the first month, and I’ll be on the lookout for a heavy rescue specialist to partner with Buck. I’ll also be looking for a permanent replacement for Chimney’s position.”
Hen slumped, she’d been burying her head in the sand a lot when it came to Chimney, everyone had been warning her, she just didn’t want to admit that she was wrong about the man; he’d been a good friend to her throughout their years at the 118. She walked off, needing to think. Some of the others looked at her and shook their heads.
Evan went over to her, and put an arm around her, “I can understand wanting to always think the best about a friend,” he told her, “I’m sorry.”
Hen sighed, closing her eyes, “He helped me you know. When I first got here, I was the diversity hire according to Gerrard,” she told him, “Chim… Chimney was a friendly ear, someone to listen to me as I ranted about the idiot we had as a captain, and the sheep that followed his every word and rule, even though they knew it was wrong. He was the one that got me to meet Karen, and talked her into staying with me when I got Denny. He went about it in a bad way, but he still helped me get my life together after Eva,” she added, as she found a place to sit.
“I just wish I could’ve met the man you did. I don’t know what happened to make him like he is, maybe he hid it, or maybe something changed. But it does sound like, once upon a time he was a good man. Maybe this might shock him back to that. I wish it hadn’t cost him his career, but damned if I let someone treat another person like he has,” he said, biting his lip.
“It’s your sister, isn’t it? I don’t blame her for pressing charges after what she’s been through,” she said, sighing, “I tried to warn him away, I did. I could see that Maddie was uncomfortable around him. Told him that he needed to focus on himself instead of trying to find someone.”
“Sometimes, there is no helping someone when they get an idea in their head,” Evan told her, “And yes, it was Maddie. He grabbed her as she came out of her home. There is footage dating back two weeks of him sitting in his car outside of her apartment complex, waiting for her to come out,” he explained.
“Idiot,” she said, sighing and shaking herself, “Right, work, chores,” she said as she got up, “There’s nothing I can do for Chimney, he’s going to have to face the consequences of his actions,” she added, “Do you know when they are going to do a hearing or anything?” she asked, “I want to be there, for moral support, nothing more.”
“I understand, and they said it’ll likely be in July, he’ll be out on bail in a few days by the sounds of it. The charges are minor, so he might only get a slap on the wrist or a year in jail. Depends on what the judge feels, as it’s not a jury trial at all,” he informed her.
“Thanks,” she nodded as they separated and headed off to start their morning tasks, while Bobby had someone else in the kitchen with him preparing food for lunch and dinner later.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
“I can’t believe how quickly time goes,” Maddie said as she looked at the courtroom. She’d testified against Chimney, answering the questions that had been asked of her. She hated that they were trying to paint her as a woman that was leading him on. It didn’t take long for that to be corrected.
“It’s July, Eddie’s happy at the academy. Chris is doing well with his PT, he’s even started to walk without his crutches around the home a little,” Evan said with a proud smile on his face. He nodded at Hen as she sat across the other side of the courtroom. She was sitting behind Chimney, hoping that he wouldn’t be going to jail. He had been found guilty and the judge had decided to take a recess to decide on his sentence.
“I know, I just want this over, and I thought I saw Doug a couple of days ago,” she added in a whisper as the room went quiet when the judge walked in. They settled down after she had sat down.
“Mr Han,” the judge began, looking at the man as he stood up. “You harassed a woman who had told you repeatedly that she didn’t wish to speak to you. That she didn’t want to date you. Ignoring her wishes and her boundaries, you carried on. Until you stalked her long enough to find her home, a safe place and sanctuary from those who chase her; which includes an ex-husband, and now you. You repeatedly ignored the wishes of Ms Buckley and took it upon yourself to carry on as you wished. I am sentencing you for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 12 months in the county jail. You will also pay a fine of $1,000. You will have twenty-four hours to present yourself, so you can get your affairs in order.”
Maddie leaned against Evan as the gavel banged and the sentencing was finalized. Evan looked at Hen and she looked sad but resigned, Chimney looked a mix between angry and confused. He sighed, “Come on, let’s get out of here, and you can tell me when you saw Doug,” he told her as they headed out of the courtroom before Chimney could spot them. He’d have twenty-four hours before he’d be behind bars for a minimum of six months. It felt all too short to Evan, but he was only charged with a misdemeanor, not a felony.
XxXxX
Bobby looked at the paperwork he had, going through it one more time before he met with the board. There was a review happening, all to do with Chimney, and how he had gotten to the place he was now in. Bobby was on the carpet, and it felt like they were trying to push him under the truck as it rushed past. He wasn’t going to go down like that, he’d tried fighting HR for years with Chimney’s behavior, and had been blocked more often than not. His punishments had only started going through in the last 5 months, and only because he had CC’d Chief Alonzo in on the reports.
“Captain Nash, they will see you now,” the woman said as she walked out of the room and held the door open.
Bobby stood up and with head held high he walked into the room. Two captains from other stations were there, two representatives from HR, and his battalion chief, Miranda Williams, along with Fire Chief Alonzo.
“Captain Nash, please be seated,” Alonzo said, “Now, the reason we are here is because of Former Firefighter Paramedic Howard Han.”
“I am wanting to know why Captain Nash never came to HR about Mr Han’s problems before,” HR representative Gail Morris stated, “We’ve had no warning that this was happening. Captain Nash, can you explain why you have not reported anything about Mr Han’s behavior before?”
“I have, I dealt with our battalions HR representative Dale Scooter, I have sent him numerous reports, and each one has been deleted, or any punishments given have been declined or reduced, and his record expunged,” he stated, “These are the copies of the reports that I have submitted, signed and dated by Mr Scooter as being received. I have also included the reports that I have sent in via email. They were dated and I have included copies of the read receipts provided by our email server.” He got up and placed the copies that he had in front of Gail.
Gail began to read through them, “You’re saying that you put this forward to HR?” she asked, looking up from the fifth report that she was going through.
“Yes, since the moment that I began at the 118, I have been trying to discipline all those at the station, as per the mandate I was given when I was hired. And yes, that does include Firefighter Wilson and Mr Han. Firefighter Wilson has responded well to the few verbal reprimands she’s been given, although they weren’t anything that needed to be formally reported. Mr Han, however, had taken on a caustic edge with his so-called jokes, which were more of a harassment and bullying tactic he used against those that came into the 118. He had tried the same with me, and each time I tried to write him up so that he’d be forced to face some consequences, they were deleted, and I was told that I was not allowed to reprimand Mr Han at all, because of what happened with Gerrard,” he stated, “I have an email here that was sent to me by HR a month after I started at the 118, when I first had to write Mr Han up for his behavior.” He pulled out another piece of paper and put it down, “I can even show you the email on my system since I archived it.”
Captain Janet Resse looked at him, “Are you telling me that someone ham-strung you when it came to your station’s discipline?” she asked.
Bobby nodded, “No matter what I did, I was forced to accept what HR wanted. I don’t believe that everyone in HR is responsible for this, just a certain few,” he stated, “But because of this, Howard Han never faced any form of punishment. The only thing I could do was to send him to anti-bullying seminars, in the hope that something from them would stick, but nothing ever did. Within a month, he’d be back doing the same things all over again. I suspended him for two days, and he was back within 36 hours. Someone in HR overturned the suspension. In the end I went to Chief Alonzo, and I was able to get him CC’d on what was going on and all the reports that I sent after that time.”
“Chief Alonzo,” Williams said as she looked over at him, “What were the reports that you read through.”
“Insubordination, not listening to directions, he also tried to take over on three different rope rescues, for which he was not qualified for. Each time a reprimand and a written warning were given, and a suspension for at least two shifts. Not once was any of that approved and the file disappeared from the servers after a few hours. I understand that Mr Han had gone through something with a previous captain, but that does not give him free rein for him to show no care on the job he had,” he stated, shaking his head.
Gail looked horrified, “So we have someone covering for him in HR?” she stated.
“At the very least,” Alonzo stated.
Williams shook her head, “This is a serious problem if there are others that are being… protected like this. This could be a LAFD-wide problem. We will need to go through all disciplinary actions taken in the last four years,” she said as she looked at HR. “HR is going to have to be investigated by people outside of it.”
“I’ve already contacted a few people that will be able to do that,” Alonzo said, “The review has already been started, and we are asking each captain to send in their files of disciplinary actions that had been taken. It’s why Reese and Rodriguez are both here, they’ve already been vetted by me. Their houses are clean as of this moment.”
“Now I understand why you wanted the list,” Reese snorted, pushing a stray hair away from her face, “At least we know that some of us can be trusted.”
“I’ve already checked B and C Shift at the 118, they’ve not had a problem at all like this,” Bobby added, “Just A-Shift. I’d first check any house that former members of A-Shift of the 118 that were at the station under Gerrard. I am worried that it was basically a way to ease the guilt from some of those involved in not following through some of the early reports of Gerrards’ racism, homophobic, and sexist behavior”
Rodrigez nodded, “I think that makes sense,” he stated, looking at Gail, “Do you and Donovan agree that those houses with former members of the 118 should be looked at first?” he asked.
“I do,” Gail agreed, Donovan, who had said nothing beside her nodded in agreement.
“Captain Nash,” Donovan said, “I’m sorry for what you have been through, but can you tell me the first instant that you were told that you couldn’t reprimand Howard Han, and who it was that said it?”
“It was a month after I had joined the 118, still learning the ropes of the different SOPs for LAFD compared to St Paul,” he began, “I realized that I was dropping the ball on a few things and started to go through reviews for each of the firefighters. I caught Han trying to berate a probie that had only just joined us that shift, he told her that she was never going to be good at the job, and she had to do what he said to stay, he also tried to order her to go with him after shift. I believed that he had attempted to force her on a date at the very least, and at worst, try and sexually abuse her. I was able to stop that from happening and she left the LAFD that very night. I filed the report that same night, and that I believed he needed some form of therapy for his behavior and that he should be reprimanded for his harassment, and the way that he drove away a female firefighter. When nothing was done, I received an email from Dale Scooter, and I was told that I was not allowed to reprimand Han at all for any behaviors he showed. I continued trying, as he was starting to flirt with people on calls and I could do nothing to stop him from doing it. I know that a few complaints made by civilians led to nothing being done. I do not doubt that if any of them thought about it, they could have sued the LAFD for his behavior.”
“He wasn’t reprimanded for his harassment of another firefighter?” Gail said, rearing back, and looking shocked.
“No, Ma’am,” Bobby shook his head, “Not at all. After the second female firefighter I tried to hire, quit within days of starting at the 118. I stopped trying to hire any female firefighter or paramedic as I didn’t want to open them up to the sexual harassment that Howard Han presented. It didn’t stop his harassment of any woman who made their way through the bay doors, as evidenced by Maddie Buckley when she came to see her brother. That was the first instance, and he just carried on from there and got progressively worse.”
“Dale Scooter is going to be the first up on the list to interview,” Alonzo stated, writing a few notes.
The group asked a few more questions about what Bobby had witnessed over the years since he had taken over at the 118. Which was a lot when it came to Chimney.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Bobby looked over at Evan and Eddie as they sat in his office. He had been looking at the recruits coming up, since really needed to get someone for Evan, a partner who’d be able to keep up with him. Eddie was perfect for the role on paper, but what worried him was the fact that they were husbands. He had come to know the two, and he believed that they’d be able to work the same shift.
“Right, you’re both perfect to be partners,” Bobby said looking over the report that he had gotten from the lead instructor at the academy about Eddie Diaz, he had glowing reviews, and the testing they had done for him, was matching Evan. “But I want to know, would you both be able to work together, to be able to work when their partner might be in danger?” he asked, looking between the two of them.
Eddie and Evan shared a look and nodded, “We both know that if one of us is in danger we need to keep as safe as we can, we have a son at home that we need to return to,” Eddie began.
“But we understand that sometimes the worst can happen on a shift, one of us needs to go home to our son, no matter what happens. In a moment we might react, but we both know how to compartmentalize and do what is needed,” Evan finished.
Bobby nodded, “Then at the end of the month, when you take your last classes, you’ll be assigned to the 118 for the next three months at the very least. Chief Alonzo stated that if I wanted to hire you, we’d have a trial period for the two of you. We do the same thing for all of the couples that work together, to make sure that they can do the work and concentrate on it,” he told the two of them, “So, Eddie, consider yourself hired,” he smiled as he reached over to shake the man’s hand.
Eddie grinned and shook it, “It’d be nice working with Evan,” he agreed as they began to go over the paperwork.
XxXxX
Eddie took a breath as he looked over at Evan. It was his first day on shift, and Christopher would be starting 2nd grade in a few days.
“You ready for this?” Evan asked his husband.
“I am,” Eddie grinned as they headed into the 118, Evan was the one to show him around before they got ready for a shift.
“Well, now isn’t this a welcome surprise!” Hen grinned as she saw Eddie. Bobby had told them that they’d be getting a probie in that day.
“Hey,” Eddie smiled, “Good to see you again, and yep, I’ll be working here with you all now.”
“Well, it’s great to have you aboard,” she said as she and Evan began to take him around and introduce him to everyone Though Eddie had met most of them when he had been there a few times in the past. Now though, he’d be working with them, and he wanted to get to know his teammates.
XxXxX
The call was over and the 118 were subdued. There had been a high chance of a mother and baby losing their lives because of the delusions of a woman wanting a child. The mother had been found, but only just in time, she and the baby would recover, eventually, but it had been too close for comfort for those at the 118.
“I can’t believe that someone would do that,” Hen said, shaking her head as she slumped on the couch in the loft.
“There is no end to the kind of depravity that a human can do to another human,” Evan said, thinking about his time with the SEALs, he had seen so much over there. He knew Eddie had as well.
“But to cut open a woman and take her baby?” Hen exclaimed, eyes wide as she looked at the two in disbelief.
“It’s disgusting, I’m just glad that things are looking good for them,” Evan said as he walked over with a tea for himself and Eddie.
“Well, it’s one hell of a way to start off your career as a firefighter,” Bobby stated. “Word from Athena is that mother and child are doing well, the woman’s husband is now with them, and the perpetrator is being evaluated.”
“Still,” Hen sighed as Bobby handed her a hot drink. She blew on it and took a tentative sip.
“In Afghanistan,” Evan began, “With the SEALs, you sometimes saw things that’d make your stomach turn, and we’re trained to help put that aside to keep doing the job. Hen, there are all kinds of people in the world, and I hope that you will never have to meet the worst of them. Those that enjoy torture, and take pleasure in it,” he said, his words distant, haunted.
Eddie put his mug down, taking Evan’s from him, and wrapping his arms around him. “I’m here, you’re not there anymore,” he gently reminded him, holding Evan close as the man buried his head in Eddie’s neck.
Hen, Bobby and a few of the others watched, frowning at the reaction that Evan was having. “Is he okay?” Hen finally asked.
“Yeah,” Eddie nodded, “Just a small reminder of things out there,” he said, as he leaned back a little more on the couch and let Evan curl up against him properly. Giving the comfort the other wanted. Eddie had no idea how many missions Evan had gone on, where he had seen the worst that mankind could offer.
XxXxX
“That had to be one of the worst shifts I have ever had,” Evan said as he got out of the truck. They were finally home, after a long shift, and one that had taken Evan a little longer to shake. He knew that a visit to his therapist would be a good idea, but it was more of a case of talking with Steve since he could truly talk to him about what he had seen on his missions, since he had been there for a lot of them.
“Yeah,” Eddie agreed as they got out and then frowned. “Maddie’s here?” he said, as he looked at the jeep.
“Odd, I thought she had a shift starting in about ten minutes,” Evan frowned as he checked his watch. “Carla’s here as well,” they looked at each other, knowing that something is up.
“Something’s wrong,” Evan muttered, as he looked around. “The blinds are closed, and the camera we have looks like it’s not working,” he added as they headed to the back of the truck. Opening it up, he reached in and pulled off a panel. A small gun safe was hidden away.
Evan unlocked the gun safe, took out the two small caliber guns that had been concealed inside, and loaded them, handing one to his husband. They nodded and concealed the weapons as they then began to head to the front door, as though nothing was off.
“Hey, the house!” Evan called out, keeping his voice light and almost bubbly. He walked slowly, easing himself as he glanced into the living room. ‘Doug.’ He mouthed to Eddie. ‘Maddie protecting Chris, Carla unconscious.’ He added as he got a look in. Eddie nodded.
“Carla, I thought you’d have taken Chris to school by now. Is he okay?” Eddie asked as though they were doing their normal thing.
“And I saw Maddie’s jeep,” Evan added. They moved around out of view of the living room doors, Eddie was closer to Maddie and Christopher. Evan had a clear view of Doug, the man was pacing, but silent as he kept looking at Maddie, a knife in his hand, occasionally pointing it toward Christopher and Maddie, threatening them to remain silent. Maddie curled herself around Christopher, keeping him facing away from Doug. She remained silent, and glaring at the man she’d once loved.
When Doug moved away from them, turning towards the opening of the room where Evan was, Eddie moved, grabbing Christopher and Maddie and pulling them away. Evan then made his move, gun raised, “Doug, drop the knife now,” he demanded.
Doug glared at him, “I let you all get away once before, I won’t again.” He turned to go after Maddie, only to find himself face to face with Eddie, gun raised and aimed at him.
“Not a chance,” Eddie told him, as he moved slowly around so he could get a look at Carla who was still unconscious on the floor.
Doug looked between the two, “No!” he yelled, as he rushed toward Evan. Evan fired, aiming low and taking out Doug’s right knee. The man screamed as he fell to the floor, dropping his knife as he clutched at his knee.
“Police and ambulance on the way!” Maddie called, as Christopher was now crying against her in the hallway.
Evan secured Doug, kicking the knife away, before he rendered aid. Eddie kneeled beside Carla as he began to check her pulse. “Unconscious,”
“He hit her over the head,” Maddie said, “I was able to get her in the recovery position, before he pulled me away; I protected Christopher as best as I could.”
“Thank you,” Eddie said, nodding at her, knowing that this wasn’t her fault, it was the fault of the man who was wailing in pain as he cursed out Evan and Maddie.
Maddie stayed with Christopher, doing her best to comfort him. It took a few minutes before sirens were heard, and Maddie got Christopher out of the house and showed the paramedics and police inside.
Eddie and Evan were able to move away, their guns taken for evidence. Statements were taken, and the house taped off, as they were only allowed in to get a few things. Carla had woken by the time she had been loaded into the ambulance, and Christopher had clung to his parents, not wanting them out of his sight as they moved around, and slowly started to organize a place for them to stay.
XxXxX
Maddie walked into the hotel room that the Diaz family were currently staying in. She had called out from her shift, gone down to the station, and made a formal statement. The detective from Hershey had been informed of Doug’s capture. Eddie was on the bed, Christopher sleeping on him. As Evan sat at the table, tapping away on his laptop.
“Hey,” she said, shutting and locking the door behind her. Evan and Eddie had been able to get their formal statements done faster than she had, since she had gone through everything that had happened in Hershey as well. “They are going to be charging Doug soon, and he’s going to be under guard while at the hospital. Carla is doing well, her husband is already with her, and she said that she will expect to see you all tomorrow. She should be discharged tomorrow evening, or the next day at the latest,” she added, having gone around to get as much information as possible.
“That’s good,” Evan said as he looked over at her, “Christopher had a panic attack when he realized that he’d have to go back to the house.”
“So, moving?” she asked.
Eddie nodded, “The home we have now is one that I chose,” he stated, “But, I think choosing one for the both of us, together, and a little larger,” he said, as Christopher moved around in his sleep, a little whimper sounding so loud in the room. Eddie was quick to comfort him.
“I’m already looking at houses, and I’m also looking for a temporary place until we can find a house we like,” Evan said. “I don’t think I want to go back there either,” he added.
Maddie sat down and nodded, “Okay,” she said, “I’ll help where I can, and I have a spare room where you can stay, it might be a bit cramped, but it won’t hurt,” she suggested to them.
Eddie and Evan shared a look. Maddie’s spare room was large enough for all three to stay in for a bit. “We might just take you up on that,” Eddie finally said, “For now, we’re taking a couple of days here, getting therapy sorted for us all, and then we’ll make the decision.”
Maddie smiled, “Sure, the offer is open anytime, I don’t think I want to be alone at the moment either.”
The three talked quietly for a little while longer until Christopher woke up, hungry and happy to hear that Carla was going to be alright.
Chapter Sixty
Christopher yelled out as someone grabbed him from behind. Eddie and Evan were quick to react as they turned, grabbing Christopher, and pushing away the hooded figure that had tried to grab him.
“Daddy, Papa,” Christopher cried as he clung to them.
“I have my rights!” the hooded figure yelled out.
“Fucking, Shannon,” Eddie hissed as he picked up Christopher and handed him to Evan. “Get him out of here,” he said as he turned to the woman who was now taking off her hood.
Evan pressed Christopher’s face into his neck, so he wouldn’t be able to see what was going on. He nodded at Eddie, and headed away, going to the truck that was parked nearby. They had been about to head into the mall, to get a few things.
“What the fucking hell were you thinking, Shannon?!” Eddie demanded to know.
“You can’t keep him from me,” she spat at him, “I’m his mother.”
“No, you’re not, you gave away your rights, and I know for a fact that you didn’t want him, all you want is me. Well, it’s never going to happen. I’ll not let you use my son against me, just because you want me back. I know what is going on in that mind of yours, Shannon Whitt. You weren’t like this when we had first started dating, you hated the fact that you got pregnant. The only reason you didn’t abort was because you knew that my parents would push us into marrying, and that… that is what you wanted.”
“How can you fucking know that!” she said as she got to her feet.
“You ranted on camera, that you just wanted me, and you knew the only way to have me was that you’d have to get pregnant and have a kid,” he snorted, “You forget that I covered that damn house in CCTV, you ranted about it a few days before I left. I didn’t think to check all the footage that I’d gathered, not until you tried to get your rights back. I needed to know your motives so wondered if you said something, and you had.”
“Bastard!” she yelled, rushing towards him, only for him to move out of the way and let her fall to the ground, “I can’t believe you’d do that to me. We could have had a beautiful fucking family, me and you, but I won’t have that damn burden.”
“Christopher is no burden, the only ones that think that is you and that bitch you called a mother,” he spat at her, “Now leave us alone. We want nothing to do with you,” he said as he turned and headed towards the truck, wanting to get out there, “Don’t come near him again. I’ll be visiting my lawyer to get a restraining order, I’ve had enough, Shannon,” he warned over his shoulder before joining his husband and son.
XxXxX
It had taken some wrangling, but they had managed it. They had gotten a day off so they could take Christopher out. He hadn’t wanted to go back to school at all after Shannon had tried to kidnap him, so they had taken the day off and pulled Christopher from school for the day, citing mental health reasons, since the school had been made aware of what had been going on in the last two weeks. With Doug breaking in, and then Shannon trying to take him, Christopher was clingy, scared, and not wanting to be anywhere but with his dad and papa.
“I can’t believe you were too tall for the ride,” Eddie laughed, as Christopher grinned up at his parents.
“It’s stupid,” Evan mock huffed, “I’m not that tall,” he complained.
“Yeah, you are, your head is always in the clouds, Papa,” Christopher giggled.
Evan looked at the two of them and huffed again, “So mean to me, aren’t you. See if I make dinner tonight,” he stated.
Eddie and Christopher shared a look, “Take out?” Eddie said as Christopher chimed in with, “Pizza?”
“Hey,” he stated as they made their way to the end of the pier.
Christopher went to the railing and looked out at the water, Evan and Eddie went to the bench next to him and sat down. Watching as a team from a fire station was taking care of an emergency. “We have three listings tomorrow that we can go to,” Eddie said, “I just want to find a home, one that isn’t going to feel like it doesn’t belong to us.”
“I know,” Evan said, gripping his hand and holding it, rubbing a thumb over the knuckles. “We’ll find somewhere. Maddie doesn’t mind us taking over her spare room for now. We’ve been going back to the house to make sure things are packed away, and what we need is easily available. I’ve found a small apartment near hers that we can temporarily live in. But it’s not really set up well enough for Christopher,” he sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand.
“Daddy, Papa, where did all the water go?” Christopher asked.
Eddie and Evan jumped up, eyes going wide as they saw the ocean had pulled back. On the horizon was a wave that was rapidly approaching. “TSUNAMI!” They both yelled as Eddie grabbed Christopher and they began to run, shouting out the warning as they went. The sirens went off a moment later, and more joined the rush to get off the pier.
Eddie and Evan shared a look as they came to a booth. “Chris, hold on as tightly as you can,” Evan said as they jumped over, and pressed against each other, keeping Christopher between them, and hoping that they’d be able to protect him from the wave that was going to crash down any second.
The wave hit and the air was knocked from their lungs as they held on to each other as best as they could. It just wasn’t enough, as the churning water finally pulled the family of three apart. Evan didn’t know which was up for a moment, and just let his body float, let the water push it around as he made his way to the surface. His training helped him in keeping a calm head. He broke the surface, took a breath, and looked around. He could hear the cries and screams of others caught in the wave.
“Christopher! Eddie!” Evan called out, hoping to hear a familiar voice above the roaring water.
“Christopher!” Evan!” came a fellow call.
“Eddie,” he said, closing his eyes as he then looked frantically around for Christopher, “Christopher!”
“Daddy! Papa!” came the call from their son. Both men felt relief as they heard him. Looking around they spotted each other, and then saw Christopher, he was clinging to a lamppost.
“Chris, hold on we’re coming!” Eddie called out as they both swam against the current and tried to get to their son. Evan just missed grabbing him, but Eddie managed to grab the lamppost and cover Christopher. “Evan, is there anywhere safe?” he called out, glancing around, knowing that where they were was precarious, and it could easily end up with them being washed away, since the currents were still strong.
“I’m looking,” Evan replied, glancing around. A little further down the street, he could see a fire truck. There were buildings on either side, vehicles had been pushed up against the sides of the street, some on top of others. The water levels were pretty high, so he hoped no one was trapped inside the cars under the waterline. “The truck, aim for the truck!” he called out, as he let go and let the water pull him a little towards it. He grabbed on and waited for Eddie and Christopher to come his way. Hand out, he grabbed Eddie’s and pulled them closer. Eddie helped Christopher up onto the truck, and followed, helping Evan up as they checked each other over, only finding minor abrasions.
“Okay,” Evan said as he and Eddie looked at each other, taking stock of their situation, and then waiting for the water to calm enough that they could get down the sides of the truck and see what was available for them to use.
Evan tossed the last bag he found onto the roof twenty minutes after “That’s it,” he said as he claimed back up. “Right,” he said, as he began to let the cries for help drift over him. He and Eddie made sure Christopher was secure before they began to look around, taking stock of the situation.
“Catch line across the street,” Evan said, “use the hose and do that so that people coming in will be able to grab it, and get to safety.”
“We need more than the fire truck, we don’t know how many might reach us, we’re on the main street leading to the pier,” Eddie said looking at the buildings around them, trying to see which one would be easier to get to for people that weren’t badly injured. “That one,” he said pointing to one of the buildings with an intact fire escape, “we can use the rope ladder, to get up there, free climb it first,” he stated.
Evan nodded, “Yeah, I’ll set up the catch line now, and you get that done,” he suggested, grabbing the bag with the rope ladder and handing it over.
“Sounds like a plan,” Eddie nodded, looking at Christopher, “I need you to stay where you are, don’t move from there, okay,” he said.
Christopher nodded, “Go help people, Dad, Papa,” he said, smiling at them as he made sure to sit where he had been put.
The two shared a quick kiss, before Evan dived into the water to put up the catch line. Eddie moved along the truck, going over a car, as he spotted someone inside. Promising to come back for him, he went up and secured the rope ladder onto a balcony, busting the door open and looking around the small apartment. He wasn’t happy with breaking in, but needs must for now.
Evan was back at the truck, when Eddie returned with his first rescue. The man from the vehicle was grateful for the save as he huddled on the truck being looked over.
“Help!” came a cry. Evan looked over and saw a woman stuck in a tree not far from them.
“Hey, you can let go, the catch line, aim for the catch line!” he called out, already getting into the water, to help her. She let go after a few moments. Evan, swimming out a little to catch her and get her hooked onto the line. He guided her across as Eddie joined him in the water when several more people started to drift their way. In and out of the water, as they helped people out of it. Eddie checked them over, assessing their condition, and decided where they’d be sent as the little island that was their truck was quickly filling up.
They didn’t know how long they had been going, when the flood of people finally stopped coming in. Sitting and resting on the roof, they took stock of each other, and cuddled with Christopher a little, playing a game of I Spy with him and two more children that had been rescued from the water.
Suddenly the truck rocked as the water was surging out. “Hold on!” Eddie said, bracing himself as a call went up.
“We’ve got people coming!” the yell came down
“Mijo, sit tight, don’t move,” he ordered his son, as he and Evan went to help those who were being pulled back out into the ocean, as they were dragged along with the surging water.
“Okay, Dad,” he said, as he stayed, watching them as they pulled a couple of people out of the water, moving around the fire truck as they did so. Checking them over, and making sure that they were settled, before going to help again.
Eddie was moving as a large debris field rocked the truck violently, and he began to slip. “Dad!” Christopher yelled.
Evan darted around, trying to grab for Eddie as he began to fall over the side. Only for the truck to rock and for Evan to lose his footing and fall backward, his head landing with a thunk, as a splash sounded at the same time. Eddie had fallen overboard.
“Stay there Chris!” he yelled out before the water pulled him away.
“Dad!” he called out, before looking at Evan, “Papa!” he called, as he moved over, seeing that Evan’s eyes were closed.
Chapter Sixty-One
Christopher clung to Evan as he remained unconscious. The others around them did what they could to make sure that Evan was alright. Christopher cried as he wondered about his dad, the man hadn’t been able to get back to them with the force of the water that was pulling him away from his husband and son.
“Hey, kid,” one of the older men said as he went over to check on Evan again, “Let me check your papa, and then you can cuddle with him again,” he said.
Christopher was reluctant but moved aside so the man could help. He watched, keeping a loose hold on Evan’s hand, as the man checked him over. It had been at least two hours since he had hit his head, and he had shown no signs of waking yet. “Is my Papa okay?” Christopher asked.
The man smiled, “He’s okay at the moment, some of us are going to get off soon and go and get help for those that can’t walk. I’ll be staying here, so don’t worry, I’ll keep helping your papa,” he told him.
“Do you think my dad is okay?” he asked as he looked out towards where he had last seen his dad in the water.
“He’s strong, and he was able to help so many of us like your papa was, I have no doubt he is doing all he can to try and get back to you and your papa,” he said, hoping to reassure the little boy.
Christopher nodded and went back to cuddling up with his papa, hoping that the man woke soon.
XxXxX
Eddie didn’t know how long he was in the water before he was able to grab something. He could no longer see the truck, and he was nowhere near where he had been. He looked around as he clung to the street sign he had finally been able to grab, the sign itself was broken and did not indicate to him where he was.
He found an awning nearby, and headed toward it, pulling himself out of the water, he sighed, wondering what was going on with Evan and Christopher. He had seen Evan stumble, but he hadn’t stumbled overboard. Christopher had looked like he had wanted to jump into the water after his dad but had stopped himself when Eddie shouted at him to stay.
Eddie remained there, looking at the bodies and debris floating around. He’d tried at first, to tie some of the bodies that were going past into small groups, so that when the water went down they could be retrieved, but after a while, he had no choice but to stop when debris started rushing towards him more often than not.
The water was finally lowering enough that he felt safe to get down. He jumped down into the street, the water barely covering his ankles, it was easy enough to walk through. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was, now that he was at street level again. He could recognize a few places, but nothing that really stood out to him. He had vague recollections of them, of anything before the wave hit. It was like his mind wouldn’t let him go back to the before, at least, not when he knew his son and husband were out there.
“One step in front of the other,” he sighed as he headed inland. The debris in the water was unseen thanks to how murky it was. He stumbled a few times, but nothing that caused him to crash into the standing water. He found more bodies, and some survivors, helping them and leading them inland.
“Help!” came another cry as the sun started to set.
Eddie and another rushed over, helping the young man as he struggled to get free of his car. Eddie glanced around, “We need something for leverage,” he stated as the other nodded. The two searched and found something. Going back, they were able to pry the door open and get the man.
“Thanks,” he said, “I saw some firefighters going past, but they didn’t notice me. Though they had a boat full,” he added, “That was some time ago, I thought I was going to remain trapped in there,” he tried to joke, but there was a bit of panic in his voice as he spoke.
“I don’t blame you for that thought,” Eddie said, nodding as he began to check the man over, making sure there were no serious injuries, “You’re good to go, but if anything starts hurting, tell me immediately,” he told him, getting a nod.
Eddie began to lead the way, through the sunset and as night descended, the warmth of the day leeching away. He shivered, feeling the dampness of his clothes with the gentle breeze. Eddie had only just been able to get to the fire truck he had once been on, but everyone was rescued already. At least he hoped they were rescued, he needed them to be safe and sound somewhere.
The bright floodlights that lit up the old VA were like a beacon to those who had survived. A place of safety and help, of water, food, and medical aid. Eddie was shaking with exhaustion as he reached it, looking around as the others that he had helped were all moving on, trying in their own way to find loved ones or ways to contact someone. Eddie looked at the nearest person and headed over.
“Hey,” he said, feeling like he was at the end of his rope.
“Name?” she asked, sounding tired, but resolute, “And are there any injuries that I need to know about?” she then asked.
“Eddie Diaz, firefighter with the 118, on a day off, and cuts, bruises, that’s about it, exhaustion as well. No concussion. I’m looking for my son and husband,” he told her, “Evan Diaz and Christopher Diaz.”
“Diaz, Diaz,” she muttered as she added his name on the list and then began to look through it herself for the names Eddie had asked about.
“Eddie!” came a yell from behind him. He turned to see Bobby standing there.
“Bobby!” he said, relieved to see a familiar face. “We were in the tsunami, I need to find Chris and Evan, I don’t know where they are, we were separated when the water started to go out,” he added in a rush as he stumbled over.
Bobby caught him before he could fall, “I’ve seen them, they were evacuated almost two hours ago after they were rescued. Evan has a head injury, they don’t think it’s serious. I’ve called Maddie, and she is going to meet with him and Christopher. Christopher was fine, but not willing to let Evan out of his sight. He told us that you were still missing, we’ve got a few people out there on the lookout.” he said, relieved that he had met with Eddie. “I’m going to have someone come and pick you up,” he added, knowing that there were a few people who were willing to shuttle people away from the disaster zone.
“Chris is okay?” he asked, getting a nod as Bobby started to talk into his radio asking for a shuttle out to the hospital where Evan was. “Evan?”
“Unconscious, a knock to the head has kept him out for hours. Christopher said he fell and hit his head, he tried to reach for you when you fell. He’s been out since then, so it’s a worry.”
Eddie almost collapsed when he heard that, “Evan,” he cried slightly.
“He’s going to be okay, he’s strong you know that, he loves you and Christopher too much to not fight and keep going. So don’t worry, he’ll be okay,” he stated, hoping to reassure his newest firefighter.
Eddie nodded as he was then checked over as Hen arrived, called by Bobby to come and help before he was directed to the shuttle.
Eddie was quiet as they reached the hospital. Shuffling around and looking about him, hoping to spot Maddie. It took a while, but he found her walking out of the lift and straight to him. “Maddie,” he croaked, eyes full of tears.
“Come on, Evan’s just woken up, Christopher is clinging like a limpet, but damn, is that understandable,” she stated as soon as she reached him. She pulled him into her arms, holding him and rocking him a little as his emotions got to him, knowing that his family was safe. “Evan is just fine, big bump on the head, small fracture, but it’ll heal just fine. Concussion which means they are going to be keeping him in for a while, just to make sure that there isn’t anything else. He won’t be using any screens for a while, but he is fine.”
Eddie clung to her, nodding a few times before she was able to detach him from her and take him through.
The room was dimmed since Evan’s head was hurting him badly, the light wasn’t helping at all with his concussion. Christopher was dozing lightly beside him on the bed. One nurse had already tried to get him to move, only to be met with a meltdown, and a crying seven-year-old who didn’t want to leave his papa.
“Evan,” Eddie murmured as he rushed over to the bed, looking his husband over and seeing the bandage on his head, “Oh, cariño,” he stated, raising a hand and gently brushing his fingers over it.
“I’m okay, Eds,” he stated, smiling at him sleepily.
“I can see,” he said smiling softly, “I’m so glad you’re both okay,” he said, almost falling into the chair that was pressed against the back of his knees. He lay his head on the bed, eyes fluttering closer, “So.. glad.”
“Eddie?” Evan frowned, worry entering his voice.
“Tired, was fighting to get back to you, and you were gone. I was scared that something else had happened. Just… tired,” he said, as he moved his head up, “Evan,” he said, “Marry me again? Like we said when we first got married, the first time was just to protect Christopher, we had only just started dating. But this time, this time I want everything, I want the wedding with all of our friends and family there. I want the cake, the dancing the vows, and making sure that the whole world knows that we love each other without a single doubt in my mind.”
Evan smiled, “I was going to ask you,” he said, holding Eddie’s hand, “I wanted to ask again as well, I do Eddie, I want to do it all again and know that this is really what we wanted. I was scared… scared to bring it up, in case you’d changed your mind about being married to me.”
“I’d never, you’re my husband, and I love that fact more and more each day. I should have said something months ago. We may have only started this to protect our son, but we both knew that we were something special to each other, we worked on that and helped it to grow each day we were together. There is nothing I’d change about us, except to marry you again,” he stated, neither of them was making full sense, but each knew what their hearts were trying to tell the other.
“Then we’ll marry again,” Evan agreed.
Maddie shook her head as she watched them. Evan had told her how they had ended up married, and that while they loved each other, they weren’t truly ready for marriage at the time. Now, they were, they were ready for the last true step that they’d agreed upon three years ago. Evan drifted to sleep, and Eddie was quick to follow, though he had managed to get onto the bed with his husband and son. She pulled the blanket over them, and sent a message to Bobby telling them that they were all fine and together again. A soft smile on her lips as she relayed a picture to Bobby and the 118, along with Eddie’s family. To reassure them all know that they were okay.
Chapter Sixty Two
Evan was finally released from the hospital after three days. He’d developed a mild fever, but had been given a course of antibiotics to help combat them. Eddie had taken Christopher home that morning, though there was much tears and yelling. Christopher hadn’t wanted to leave his papa at all. Evan had been the only one to be able to convince the seven-year-old that he needed to go home to shower, change, and sleep properly. He also needed to get some new crutches, since they had lost his other pair in the tsunami. Eddie had taken charge of replacing phones, and other things that they had lost, canceling some cards that had been in the phone cases, and ordering replacements for them.
“I can’t wait to get home,” Evan said, wincing a little at the bright lights, as he was pushed through the hallways.
“I know,” Eddie smiled, they’d discharged him late in the day, when the sun had started to go down. Evan was still having a little trouble with lights, and he wasn’t able to even glance at a screen without a large amount of pain, so Christopher had taken to reading his books to him when he visited.
“How is everyone?” he asked, wanting to know about Bobby and the others.
“They’re good, it’s hard at the moment since they are doing rotations for clean up and recovery,” he stated, “it’s all hands on deck to help, thankfully FEMA and the National Guard have stepped in to help. They are going to be rotating in and out for a while. I’ll be back with them next shift,” he said, not that happy he was going back to work, he wanted to spend as much time with Christopher and Evan as he could.
“I’m going to miss having you around, and what about school and Chris?” he asked, as they reached the doors that’d lead them to the parking lot.
“It’s a work in progress. He went for the morning, today, but I was called to fetch him after just two hours, but it’s only the first day back at school,” he added since it was only a Monday.
“Try again tomorrow?” he asked.
“Most likely, I’ve got the day off like the rest of A-Shift, but Wednesday I’ll be back at work, and you’ll be home alone, well, with Carla, and Maddie may be stepping in to come and see you as well,” he snorted. “Maddie has been a great help in keeping Christopher busy when I’ve come to see you at night. I don’t think I would’ve been able to leave him home without her being there.”
“She’s always had that way with kids,” he smiled.
“It helps that Mary and Joan have stopped by often. However, she told me that Steve wants a call when you can manage it, I can set the call up for you, but you don’t touch the phone,” he warned.
“Right, I’ll do that when we can. I know Steve, he’ll want to make sure I’m okay,” he nodded, wincing at the pain the movement caused his head, “I’ll be glad when this clears up.”
“It could take a week or two from what the docs said, so take it easy, and let yourself recover,” he warned him as they reached the truck and he helped Evan inside, strapping him in. He was quick in taking the wheelchair back, then got into the driver’s side, “let’s go home,” he said, placing a hand on Evan’s for a moment, before starting up the truck and heading home.
XxXxX
Eddie looked at Christopher in the back of the truck. He had been called to the school to get him again. “Chris,” he said softly, “Talk to me, mijo,” he pushed a little.
“I… I want to know why, Dad,” he said, “Why she left me, why she didn’t want to see me again,” he murmured. “Shelly was talking about her mom, and I need to know, Dad, please. Please,” he said as he began to cry.
Eddie was quick to find a safe place to park and got out, going into the back, he got his son from his seat and held him, “Oh, mijo, why didn’t you ask sooner?” he said.
“You’re angry with her, and I am too. I didn’t know I wanted to see her. And then the tsunami happened, and I was scared I wouldn’t get a chance to ask her,” he said, “I just want to know why.”
Eddie held him as he cried for his mother. It was the first time in a long time that he’d done so. “I’ll see about trying to organize a meeting, but she might not want to. The judge did tell her that she won’t be able to be your mom again,” he warned him.
“I know, but,” he sniffled, “I have to try, I just want to know why.”
Eddie held him until he calmed down, “Okay, mijo, let’s get home,” he said, the small apartment they were living in as they searched wasn’t really a home for any of them, but they were getting closer to finding something better, their realtor had set up a few places for them to look at during the coming weekend.
Eddie got them home and Christopher joined Evan in their bedroom, climbing on the bed, and curling up against his papa. Eddie watched them for a moment, mouthing to Evan that they’d talk later. He went to the small kitchen and saw Carla making a pasta bake for them, “Thank you,” he told her, “You really didn’t have to, I would’ve done something.”
“It’s fine, now what’s got that frown on your face?” she asked as she got him seated at the table.
Eddie sighed and rubbed his face. “I need to get in touch with my lawyer. Christopher wants to talk to Shannon. He doesn’t want to reconnect from what he said, he just wants to ask her a few things. Mostly, why,” he told her.
“Ah, you had a feeling this would happen though,” she reminded him, making coffee for the both of them.
“Yeah, I know, I warned Shannon that one day he might have questions,” he said, as he pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call Nigel and ask him to get in contact with her to organize a meeting,” he stated as he made the call. Nigel was quick to promise that he’d do all he could to make the meeting happen on their terms, and in a place where Christopher would feel safe.
“Make sure you make a few appointments with his therapist,” Carla suggested when he finished the call.
“Yeah, I’ve already done that for all of us. Our first one is on Thursday for each of us,” he told her, looking at the picture of the three of them on his phone. “I asked him to marry me again,” he stated.
“Oh, I heard, Maddie and Evan had been making a few plans,” she laughed lightly, “No doubt you’re going to be roped into that soon enough,” she added.
“I already have been,” he smiled, “We’re planning to have it at New Years.”
“I’m happy for the both of you, I’d better get a front-row seat,” she joked.
“Of course, I couldn’t imagine marrying him without you there,” he told her as he got up. “I’m going to check on them, if you want the rest of the day, you’re free to do so. I know that Howard’s missed you since you’ve been helping me and Maddie a lot with Christopher.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she told him, standing up, “But, I think I’ll take you up on your offer, and surprise Howard, it’s not often I can do that,” she smiled as she hugged him, “Don’t worry too much, you have a wonderful family, and him wanting to get a few answers from Shannon isn’t going to be the end of things.”
“Have fun, and I’ll try not to worry,” he stated as he let her go and went to spend some time with Evan and Christopher.
XxXxX
It had taken almost two weeks before they had been able to organize a meeting, and for Shannon to keep it. Evan had gone back to work, only for half shifts and on light duties, but he was back at least. Shannon didn’t look happy as she sat there. Christopher wasn’t in the room yet, since Eddie wanted to see her first and get her vile words out of the way before Christopher saw her.
“I can’t believe you fucking called me like this,” she snapped at him as soon as he walked into the room, not even caring that Christopher could easily have been following him.
“I called because Christopher has some questions for you. Against my wishes and belief, I agreed to let him meet with you. I don’t think there is anything he could gain from this. But he is hoping for something, and it is up to you what you want to do with this chance,” he told her, shaking his head.
“Fine, let’s get this stupid thing over with,” she stated, feeling bitter, she hadn’t got any rights back, and while she had only planned to use Christopher to get to Eddie, there was still that connection she had to her son.
Eddie waited a moment and then went to get Christopher. The young boy walked in as Evan followed behind him, since he’d wanted both his dad and papa with him while he talked to his mother.
Shannon looked at the man and sneered, “Don’t see why you’re here,” she stated looking at Evan.
“Because I wanted my parents with me,” Christopher was the one to answer.
“Christopher,” she said, her voice softening slightly.
“Shannon,” he said, not even calling her mom, she hadn’t been his mother in a long time. He remembered some of the fun times, but they felt more like wishful dreams now instead of memories. “I just want to know, why?” he asked her, “Why do you hate me?”
Shannon stared at him, “I don’t.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he said, shaking his head, “You had to hate me to let her slap me and hurt me with her words. You were there, and watched her do it, and didn’t care. So why do you hate me?” he asked again, grabbing onto Evan and Eddie’s hands, holding them tightly as he waited to hear from his mother. “Why do you hate me? Why did you leave me like that? Why did you never keep a promise to come and see me?”
Shannon sat there, quiet for a few moments, “I never wanted children,” she stated, “I just wanted Eddie, I admit that,” he told her, “But you knew that didn’t you”
Christopher nodded, “I’m not stupid just because I have CP, she told me that you didn’t really want me a lot. But I needed to know why?”
“Because I wanted Eddie, I had you to get him, I knew he wasn’t going to give me the time of day for long with him being in the Army. I wanted him, and I got him, or I so I thought. Instead, I lost everything. I had you, I had someone that I had to look after, and I never wanted that, I never wanted children. I don’t hate you,” she finally said, “I don’t, I thought I did for the longest time because you weren’t what I wanted in life, but I can’t hate you. I don’t think I love you like a mother should, though. I just wanted Eddie back.”
“Dad’s happy with Papa, and that won’t change,” Christopher told her, “And I love them both, and they love me. I just wanted to hear it from you why,” he said, trying not to cry knowing that his mother hadn’t loved him. But at least he learned that she hadn’t hated him.
Shannon looked at the seven-year-old in front of her, he’d grown a lot since she had last really seen him. When she had grabbed him a couple of months ago, it was more because she saw the chance to get to Eddie. She closed her eyes, “I’m… sorry I wasn’t the mother you should have had,” she finally said, getting up, “This is the only time I’ll do this, I won’t agree to another meeting, but Christopher, I wish you the best, I hope that you have all the love you need and want from those two; I’m sorry it won’t be from me.”
Christopher was startled by the quick hug she gave him before leaving the room. It took a few moments before he broke down into sobs, as his dad and papa wrapped their arms around him and held him tightly as he grieved for the mother he had once thought he had. They would continue the process their lawyer had started for the restraining order, they needed to protect Christopher in case she decided to change her mind yet again.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Steve stepped over to him, adjusting Evan’s dress uniform, “Well, I think I am going to like this wedding better than the last one. It was too rushed,” he told him, smiling proudly at the man.
“Yeah, but this time, we’re both sure that this is the only relationship we’re going to have for the rest of our lives,” he grinned, “thanks, for coming again for it.”
“Well, last time we were there because I had just gotten married and wanted to share the news with you and Mary,” Steve snorted.
“Are you both ready yet?” Danny asked as he walked into the room, Maddie followed behind him.
“Yeah, we’re ready,” Steve said as he brushed Evan down a second time, “Let’s go,” he smiled at him.
Evan nodded as Danny and Maddie headed out to join the crowd. Eddie was on the other side of the hall, Christopher was going to be walking with his dad down the aisle. The eight-year-old had been ecstatic to be told what his role in the wedding was going to be.
Steve and Evan began to walk out, Evan looked up and grinned as he saw Eddie. The man was also wearing his dress uniform, Eddie hadn’t worn it since he had been awarded his Silver Star, it had been hung in the closet and left there, alongside Evan’s. Steve and Danny had been the ones to rescue them and get them dry cleaned and refitted to the two of them, since both men had bulked up a little since they had last worn their uniforms.
They smiled at each other as they headed down the aisle to where Steve took his place as officiant, and Christopher remained with his parents, grinning as he held the rings.
“We are gathered here to see the renewal of vows between Evan Diaz and Eddie Diaz. Three years ago, they vowed to be at each other’s side, to love each other, and to hold each other up when times got hard. They have done that, throughout their marriage. Through the ups and downs, and surprises that life has had in store for them. Today, I am honored to officiate their renewal. Eddie and Evan have prepared their own vows, so I’ll let them get to it,” he grinned as he looked at Eddie and said,” Eddie, your vows,” he said.
“The first time I met you, you were a beacon in one of the darkest moments in my life. You saved my life and became a friend. After losing touch and being returned home, I sunk into a pit that I was trying to crawl out of, to give my son, and myself the life we deserve. Once again you came into my life, shining light all around, and helping us see and find our way. With a divorce behind me, I looked to the future and you were there, with that adorable smile on your face. We started dating and it was the best thing in the world. A new life started for me and for Christopher, we’d found someone we could love, and who’d love us back without abandon, without care of what anyone else thought, or told them. I fall in love with you more and more each day. The first time you said I do, there were butterflies in my stomach, and a realization that I had a partner who had my back with everything. I love you, Evan Diaz, to my very core,” Eddie finished, smiling at his husband.
“Evan,” Steve prompted.
Evan smiled and squeezed the hands that he was holding as he began, “Eddie, I couldn’t believe that I was meeting you again. The first time I saw you out in that desert you drew me in, you slowly became my best friend, and I didn’t see it until you were gone. Meeting you again in the VA, was the best day of my life, to see you again, to be a friend. Slowly we became something more, we married quickly, but I knew you were who I was going to spend the rest of my life with. The fact that you came with a very adorable son, was a bonus, and a blessing I didn’t know I wanted in my life. I love you with every fiber of my being, and I love Christopher just the same. You’re my family, when I thought I had none, you were there and I wouldn’t change a thing. I might be your beacon, but you and Christopher are my heart and soul. Without you both, I’d be nothing. I love you, so much, Eddie.”
“Now,” Steve said, “This is the important part. Eddie, repeat after me,” he said, “With this ring, I vow to love, honor and be faithful to you until the end of our days.”
Eddie smiled as he took the ring from Christopher and said, “With this ring, I vow to love, honor and be faithful to you until the end of our days, and beyond,” he added a little extra.
“Evan,” Steve said, rolling his eyes, but smiling as he looked at the young man, “With this ring, I vow to love, honor, and be faithful to you until the end of our days,” he stated.
“With this ring, I vow to love, honor, and be faithful to you until the end of time,” Evan stated, one-upping Eddie on his vow. he took the ring from Christopher and put it on Eddie’s finger, winking at the man as he lifted the hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.
“Smooth, Mage, smooth,” Steve huffed, but smiled as he added, “With your vows in place, you may now kiss your husband, and keep it clean,” he joked.
Eddie smirked as he moved, grabbing Evan, and twirling him around, dipping him and kissing him, much to the laughter of those around them.
“Well, they kept it clean,” Steve said, shaking his head as pictures and videos were taken of the happy couple.
“Ass,” Evan said as he was set on his feet properly again. Christopher was giggling at them as he threw himself at his parents. They easily caught him, hugging him tightly.
“Love you, Dad, love you, Papa,” he said, much like he had the first time they had gotten married. With a smirk at each other, they peppered kissing on his cheeks causing him to laugh loudly as he tried to break free. “Ugh, so gross!” he complained through his laughter.
The hall was emptying, and the dining room opened for the first part of the meal. Evan and Eddie walked in, as people clapped and cheered for them. They headed to the main table and sat down, Maddie, Danny, Steve, Chris, Isabel, and Pepa sitting with them. The meal was served and everyone began to talk.
Eddie and Evan were laughing and enjoying themselves. Maddie and Steve grinned, as the two would be doing a few speeches along with Christopher. “Okay, everyone!” Maddie said as the meal was mostly over, “We have a few speeches and then it’s time to dance and drink and have some more fun!”
“Hear, hear!” someone shouted.
“Well,” Maddie said, “Since I’m already standing and I’ve got the mic, I’ll go first,” she said, sticking out her tongue at Steve, who glared as if it had been the plan for him to go first. “The first time I met Eddie, he saved my life. They were already married, and I had missed that first wedding much to my disappointment. They never held that against me, taking me into their home and life. I got to see just how in love they were. Each time one of them would walk into the room, the other would light up. The only other person that did that to them is their son, Christopher, who can light up any room he enters,” she said, smiling at the eight-year-old. “I’ve never met two people who were more suited to each other than them. They have made me a believer in soulmates, of someone out there being just for me. Just like they were made for each other. It gives me no greater pleasure as a sister, to see my brother so happy, Eddie, Evan, I hope you have the most beautiful life together,” she said, raising a glass, “To Eddie and Evan,” with that the gathering said the same, toasting the happy couple.
Steve took the mic from Maddie, “Such a pain, much like her brother, always gotta one-up you,” he snorted, as Maddie gave a mocking curtsy at him before laughing and sitting down. “Evan was under my command, and the first time I saw him and Eddie together, I knew, all those years ago, that one day there’d be more between them. It took a while for life to get them to find each other again, but it did. I listened to their romance through the calls from my sister, and Evan as he talked to me and Danno about dating Eddie, and where they could go. It was heartwarming to see when I visited, that Eddie loved Evan, and that the two of them were willing to stand together against anything to have the life they wanted. Eddie, you’re the north star that guided Evan home. He was lost before he met you, not sure what direction his life was going to take. But you guided him to something wonderful, a family, your family. You’re a wonderful man Eddie Diaz, and I know you’re going to be making Evan happy with every single day that you’re married. To Eddie and Evan Diaz, may your life together be long and nothing but happiness.”
“To Eddie and Evan!” the crowd yelled out as they tasted the couple a second time.
“Now, for a little mischief,” Steve grinned as he handed the mic to Christopher.
Christopher giggled as he stood up. “I get to say the cool things now,” he said as he pulled out a piece of paper, “I write them down too, to make sure I didn’t forget anything, because Dad and Papa are a lot of work,” he added, to the laughter of the crowd. “Carla told me that everyone has a string attached to them; the red string of Fate. I know that Dad and Papa have these strings, because even though they were so far apart for a long time, the string got tighter and tighter until they saw each other again. Dad was lonely and hurt after Shannon, but Papa came along and made things so much better for us both. Red strings tie all of us here together, to celebrate my Dad and Papa coming together and getting married again, this time sharing their special day with even more people. Because our strings are strong and tied tightly together, we are all family in a way. Dad, Papa, I hope that we will always be a family, but please let it grow, Santa wasn’t able to bring me my wish of a sibling, but maybe you can help with that.”
“We’ll see,” Evan said, smiling at their son for a moment before looking at Eddie and nodding, “We’ll see.” It’d be nice to bring another child into their family, but that’d be something to figure out in the future.
The hall where they had married was being changed to now become a dance floor, with smaller tables around the edge of the room, and the DJ had set up where they had said their vows. The meal ended and they moved into the hall again. The first strains of Hero by Enrique Iglesias began to play. The newly remarried couple smiled at each other, and walked onto the dance floor.
“Let me be your hero,” Evan whispered.
“You have been since we first met,” Eddie replied, as they began to dance, leaning more and more against each other, as they moved around the dance floor. Others slowly began to join them. Bobby smiled as he twirled Athena around the floor as she laughed brightly, Maddie grinned as she and Mary did the same, Steve and Danny joined them. Christopher bopped along with the music, dancing with Joan as they had fun on the edge, with other couples joining in.
The song came to an end and Eddie and Evan stared at each other, “I love you,” Evan said first.
“Love you too,” Eddie replied as he leaned in for a kiss.
Wish I could like this a million times!!!!!!!!! Your fics are some of my favorites, I click the link as soon as a new story and settle in for what I know will be a thrilling, wonderfully written, fully fleshed out long read. Heaven!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️
SQUEE! I love the story. You changed Evan‘s backstory and Eddie and Shannon‘s journey to LA, yet kept close to Canon for Evan and the 118. I am not a Chimney fan so I am a big fan of how you handled him and avoided a stupid relationship with Maddie and the punch that should’ve ended him being with the 118. I could not put my iPad down until I finished the whole thing. I want to thank HarleyJQuinn for whatever was done to get you to write it because I love it.
So, I just spent most of the afternoon and evening devouring this. Luckily it was take-out night, so I didn’t even have to stop to make dinner.
Wonderful, as usual. I liked seeing how their different backgrounds (and avid use of therapy) altered the events taking place around them in the 9-1-1 universe.
And to add (and as a tribute to Harley 😁): You did a wonderful job putting canon through the “spin cycle.” Toss in two fireboys, add a cute kid, throw in a mix of angst and fluff, and then put them all through a tsunami to finish it up.
Magic!
I loved this. Thank you so much for sharing. 💞💞
I very much enjoyed reading this story. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this story. Thanks for writing
This was a helluva journey for the boys. I really enjoyed how they grew as life happened. Love all the twisty things you did to canon. So much fun.
Thank you!!
Epic story and I think this is the first time I’ve read them both be in the tsunami! Thank you for such an interesting spin on how their lives could go!
This was amazing! I loved all the changed backstories and relationships. I’m surprised any of them want to take a step outside after all the crap they had to go through, but they made it through even stronger. This version of Maddie was fantastic! She was thankful of Evan’s help and willing to get help for herself so that she could be supportive and helpful while being strong. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous journey!
This was a very entertaining read!
Well you’ve gone and created yet another masterpiece! I really enjoyed this journey and seeing all the changes play out. The way these two supported each other without hesitation was amazing. I enjoyed the H5-0 involvement too! Thanks for sharing!
You write a really horrible Shannon. I hated her very quickly. I was cheering for Eddie and Chris to get away from her and her horrible mother.
I love how much Eddie, Evan and Chris trusted each other from the beginning.
I like you twist of Abby being the catfisher. She totally lost what marbles she carried.
Thank you for a great story.
I just loved it. It made me laugh, cry, worry and rejoice. You hit all the buttons and clicked all the boxes. Thanks for sharing this. I’ll hope to re read this a lot in future.
That was truly utterly delightful.
**THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE** This was FANTASTIC!!! Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!!! <3
I really like the story. It was really sweet and different from what I was expecting. Thank you so much for writing this and sharing with everybody.
Awesome and amazing story! I can’t believe i missed reading it last year…❤️❤️❤️❤️