Chapter Text
The police officer just stared at her and rolled his eyes. "That's what you're going with?"
Ana glared at him. "Of course I am. It's the truth. Do your job and arrest that man. I want to press charges. He's always hated me. Evan Buckley is jealous. He wants me for himself."
Evan couldn't help but laugh. "Do you really think that, or are you just jealous of my friendship with Eddie and Christopher?"
Both Diaz's smile at the mention of a friendship. Eddie will let Buck just see Christopher if that's what was needed. He had hoped they could talk and he could be a part of Buck's life. What was just said made him feel hopeful. As he turned, he could see Ana glaring at them.
"Look, ma'am–."
"Do your job, or is that too much for you? Do I need to go over your head?" She sneered. Why didn't he just arrest him?
"I was trying to help you out."
Eddie and Christopher were going over to Buck. He wanted to help his friend up. It's something he would never be able to do on his own.
"Stay where you are?" She ordered them.
"Excuse me!" Eddie couldn't believe what she had just said. "Did you just order us to stay?" He crossed his arms over his chest. His jaw clenched anger.
Christopher hid behind his dad and peaked around so he could still see what was going on.
Ana could see she had made a mistake. "I'm sorry." She sniffed a little. "I was just afraid he would hurt you both. He's a dangerous man. I bet the crutches were just a ploy."
Evan couldn't help but laugh at the act she was putting on. "Does that actually work?" He asked.
"No," Eddie and Christopher both replied.
The police officer coughed to get the attention back on him. "As I was saying, Ms?"
"Ana Flores." She wished he would arrest Buckley already so she could do damage control with Eddie. Christopher didn't really matter as he was just a kid and didn't get a choice.
"Ms Flores, not only do most of these stores have cameras, some streets do too. I'm sure we could find one with the whole incident on it." He watched as she paled. "But that doesn't really matter, as I witnessed the whole thing myself. I suggest you apologise to...?"
"Evan Buckley." He winced as he tried to move.
"I am not apologising to him." Ana was horrified at the very thought of doing that.
"It doesn't matter. Just let her go." He was hurting and just wanted to go home.
"You heard Mr Buckley, please leave." The officer raised his eyebrows as she stood there.
"Let's go, Edmundo." She smiled sweetly at him.
"No, just go, Ana, and I know it wasn't a coincidence that you were here. You knew very well that this was a day for just Chris and me."
Ana opened her mouth to argue but knew that it would make things worse. She would explain to Eddie when they were alone. Ana turned and walked away in a sulk.
"Thank you, Officer?" Buck looked up at him.
"Jacobson, and you're welcome. I was just glad I was here" He and Eddie both reached down and helped Evan to his feet. "I think you're going to need to be careful with that one. I'm going to make a report. Can I have your contact details just in case?" Both of them gave over their information.
"I could give you Ana's as well if that would be helpful?" He wasn't going to let her hurt Buck again.
"That would be very helpful, Mr Diaz. I am hoping that she doesn't do anything else. Well, it was nice to meet you all. Goodbye, Mr Buckley, Mr Diaz." He looked down at Christopher, "and Mr Diaz. You'd better keep an eye on them both."
"I will, sir," Christopher giggled.
Eddie reached down and grabbed the crutches. He watched as Buck leaned against a post. "I'm so sorry, Buck."
"Evan, I don't go by Buck much now." He took the crutches from Eddie. "But Christopher, you can still call me Buck. If you want."
Christopher just looked at one of the people he loved most. He didn't want to hurt him, but calling him anything but Buck was weird. "Can I call you Bucky?"
Evan realised that it was a compromise. He loved this kid so as much. "I think that sounds amazing."
Christopher knew Bucky was hurting. He had crutches, after all. So he leaned forward and hugged him gently. Evan placed a hand on Christopher's back.
"I'm going to apologise right now because I know I'm going to slip up on the name thing. Just remind me. Okay, Evan?"
He loved the way Eddie said his name and would never get tired of hearing it.
"Okay, I will." He replied.
"What are you doing now? Can we help? Can we take you home?"
"Home sounds like a wonderful idea, but I can call a cab."
"Please let us take you, unless it's too much, too soon. I don't want to make uncomfortable." Eddie felt a little lost around Evan, and he didn't know what to do.
"I would like that, thank you." He smiled at Eddie and then looked down, and Christopher was still hugging him gently. "We can continue this at home, okay?"
"Okay." He replied.
Slowly the three of them made their way to Eddie's vehicle.
XXXXX
Ana stood around the corner, so she could peak at them without being seen. How dare Evan Buckley embarrass her by laughing? Eddie should have stood up for her. It didn't matter that she was lying. She was his girlfriend and now the three of them were leaving together and they looked happy. This couldn't be allowed. She pulled out her cell from her bag and dialled.
"Hello Ramon," she said sweetly as soon as he answered. "I have some news and I am worried about it." Ana waited as he replied. "Well, Evan Buckley is back, and I'm worried for Christopher's safety." She had to pull the phone away from her ear as he started to yell. She eventually put it back. "Yes, I understand. I hope you can talk some sense into him. Goodbye, and talk to you soon," Ana smiled as she put her cell away. He always tried so hard to please his parents. This would drive a wedge to the two best friends, or was it former best friends? It didn't matter. After all, it soon would be over.
XXXXX
"Hey Simon, anything interesting going on?" Athena asked the other Officer.
"Just a crazy girlfriend trying to cause problems." Simon Jacobson replied.
"That sounds like a fun one."
"I felt sorry for Evan Buckley." He didn't notice when Athena froze.
"Oh yeah, why?"
"He was doing nothing, just being careful not to get jostled too much as he was on crutches. Then this Ana woman comes over, slaps him, and kicks him in his leg. I'm hoping he had one good one. She then pushed him hard. He lost his balance and fell."
"Is, uh, is he okay?" She asked.
"He seems to be, the Diaz's father and son aided him. But the thing was, as soon as she saw me; Ms Flores acted as the victim and accused him of attacking her. People like that piss me off. She's made these lies up, making it harder for the victims to come forward if people don't believe them. They have a hard enough time without people like Ms Flores making it more difficult."
"It's a shame people play the victim card just to get their own way." Athena was a little confused. Bobby had told her that Ana had been one of the witnesses overhearing Buck talking about the lawsuit. But with this incident, it made no sense. Athena wasn't going to let this go. Something didn't feel right. "I'm glad Mr Buckley is okay. Well, off to file my reports."
Simon smiled at her. "We have such exciting lives."
"Don't we just," Athena replied, and the two-headed off in different directions to get their work done. But first of all, she needed to tell Bobby who was back.
XXXXX
Bobby walked over to his team, "Buck's back."
Hen and Chimney glanced at each other. A lot of the firefighters remembered Buck fondly. They stayed out of it when the rants started. The newbies had heard of the guy. They'd heard conflicting stories and didn't know what to believe.
XXXXX
"Mum, Chimney just called me. Buck is back. You might be able to get him to help with your parents. Or give his money to you?" Maddie smiled as she talked to them.
XXXXX
Eddie and Christopher looked around Buck's home. It was just one floor, it was a large building. Both of the Diaz's collapsed on the couch and yawned.
"Daddy, I can feel like I could sleep."
Eddie smiled at his son. He felt the same way. They'd had a bad night but still wanted to go out today. But Evan was back in their lives. He was someone they trusted unconditionally. He'd always have their backs. This made Eddie feel guiltier.
"Would you like to have a nap?" Evan asked.
"Yes, please, Bucky."
"This way." The three of them walked into a lovely simple bedroom. "Will this do?"
"I don't have anything to change into."
Evan went to the chest of draws and took out two t-shirts. "These will be a bit big on you, but I don't want them anymore." It was his LAFD t-shirts.
"There are two of them." Christopher smiled at him.
"Yes, there are. Would you like both of them?"
He nodded quickly. "Can I have one here and take one home?"
Before Eddie can say anything, Evan jumps in.
"Of course you can. Call us when you are ready to sleep."
"I will."
The two men walked back into the lounge.
"I would like you both in my life. You and I need to talk. That room was made for him. It has an en suite suited to his needs. He's always welcome here. You both are."
"Thank you, Evan. This means everything to us."
XXXXX
Ana didn't know what to do. Eddie hadn't texted or called her back. She had gone to his house, and he wasn't there. Had her jealousy over Buck pushed her too far. She had to make Eddie listen to her. They were great together. He would listen to her, he would.
XXXXX
Evan and Eddie had sat down on the couch after putting Christopher down for a nap.
Eddie agreed to stay here for the night after nonstop texts from different people. No one knew where he was.
"I guess I should start about why I didn't come and talk to you when this all went down."
"I would like to understand, Eddie."
"First of all, I'm not making excuses. I failed you. I'm just going to tell you what was going on."
"Okay."
"I guess it all started with Shannon. The night before she died, she told me, she wanted a divorce. I was devastated."
"Eddie, I'm so sorry." Evan reached over and took hold of his hand.
"That actually wasn't the worst. After she died, her things were sent to me for Christopher. But in amongst the paperwork was a fairly detailed plan."
"A plan for what?"
"To get full custody of Christopher and to get away from me. Shannon just wanted me for sex. She was then going to build up our relationship, so I would trust her. Then when she believed that we were happy, Shannon would leave with Christopher and sue to get full custody and to find a man that was 'worthy' of her."
"Oh my god, that's horrible. Does Christopher know?"
"No, and he doesn't need to. She's gone, and I think it's important his memories of her are happy ones."
"I would've helped you know."
"I do, and when I was ready to tell you, the fire truck was bombed, and you were stuck beneath it. I like to try and pretend my PTSD didn't exist, but after it hit me badly."
"You got help, right?"
"Eventually, yes. I then met Ana, my parents were finally happy with something I did. Then the tsunami hit. I'd made friends with Lena Bosco and she took me to street fighting."
"Eddie!"
"I know, not my greatest choice, in theory, it was to stop me bottling things up. It just made things worse. I kept getting injured and had to stay away from people. My parents, whenever l did something they didn't like, threatened to take Christopher away from me and Ana agreed with them."
"She what? Are you kidding me?" Evan wanted to yell but was aware that Christopher was close by and asleep.
"I felt like I was drowning." The only reason Eddie could carry on talking was that Evan was holding his hand. "Then the fake lawsuit crap came up. I was about to have another fight when I heard two men talking. One of them had said his wife had left him and had taken their children. He said she had found out about the fighting, and after they argued, she thought it was clear that he was addicted to it. He said this was all he had left. It made me think of Christopher, what he'd already lost, what my parents would do and what you would say."
"I'm glad you stopped, you did stop, right?"
"Yes, I did. I came looking for you. I was too late. I spoke to Maddie, and she said she had no
idea where you would go. She said you had no other family but her and your parents."
"I'm sorry I didn't leave a way to contact me. I needed space and Maddie lied. She and my parents don't consider me family and I was raised by my maternal grandparents from when I was 11."
"Why did she lie?"
"That's another story, and hopefully, I will tell you one day. So you stayed with Ana? Why? Sorry."
Eddie just laughed for a moment. "It's fine. I am going to end things with her. I just thought spending time with you was more important. When I found out you left, I realised I failed you, just like I seemed to do all the time. I was a failure, and I didn't want Chris to see that. I thought being with Ana would make him happy. Once again, I was wrong, and she didn't. I tried so hard to do what everyone wanted; I was losing myself."
"I have no idea how this going to come across, but I am only trying to help."
"I know; say what you need to."
"The odd times you didn't do what your parents or Ana wanted. What happened?"
Eddie frowned at him. "They all said maybe Christopher was better off with my parents."
"Okay, and were you rewarded when you did what they wanted?"
"Yes, I guess my parents would tell me they were proud and loved me. Ana would..." Eddie understood where Evan was going with this. "They were training me like you do a pet. I got treats if I was good and a smack on the nose if I was bad. I can't seem to do anything right."
"No, Eddie, that's not true," Evan pulled him into a hug. "You are one of the most important people in my life. You're an amazing dad. You're a hero to me. My life would be emptier without you. All these people are using you. It's not your fault, but theirs."
The two men pulled back. Evan gently wiped away the tears from Eddie's face. They stared or each other. All Eddie wanted to do was kiss him, but he knew that would be a huge mistake as they had just started to talk again.
Just then, Eddie's cell beeped and broke them off at whatever spell they'd been under. He was about to thank whoever sent it, he read the message.
"Ana's been talking to my parents, and because you're back, they think it's best if Christopher lives with them."
TBC