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Travis walked into the station, an adorable brown haired toddler on his hip. Maya smiled at him. “Thank you for letting me do this, Captain.” “Whatever I can do to help, Montgomery.” He nodded and brought her into the kitchen.
“Oh if it isn’t my favorite little girl!” Vic said, seeing her self proclaimed niece. The little girl smiled brightly and reached out to Vic. “Hey Travis. Who’s that?” Andy asked. He smiled and said, “That’s my daughter, Lily.” The others in the room looked at him. “We didn’t know you had a daughter.” Travis nodded and said, “Michael’s sister normally watches her but she had some stuff to do today and Lily couldn’t go.” They nodded. Travis smiled hearing Vic and Lily laughing.
He and Jack were on aid car together. “Vic really seems close with your kid.” Travis smiled. “She’s been such a huge help. I don’t know what I would do without her.” Jack nodded. “What’s Lily like?” “She’s the best parts of Michael and I combined into a little carbon copy image of him. She’s perfect. I feel like I’m going to mess her up.” He tightened his hands on the steering wheel.” Jack nodded. “Listen man, I know nothing about being a dad. The closest I got was with Marcus and I was more of a fun uncle. What I do know is that you love her and you will do everything you need to make sure she’s happy. That’s who you are. And Hughes won’t stop helping you even for a second. She’s gonna be that mom figure that your kid is going to rely on in ten years.” Travis nodded again as he pulled into the house they were called to.
“How long have you been helping him out with her?” Andy asked Vic who was sitting on the couch with Lily sleeping in her lap. “About a year and a half now. It was actually an accident and now she’s like my favorite person.” Andy nodded. “She loves you.” “I’m glad. I love her. You know when I came to 19, I never expected to find my best friend and be raising his daughter with him. Between us, she’s like a daughter to me.” Andy smiled. “You know Montgomery would never trade it for the world. You’ve been in his corner since day one. You two are soulmates. Never give that up. Ever.” Lily shifted against her chest and Vic said, “Never.”
The next morning, Lily was leaning her head on his shoulder as they were leaving. She was saying bye to everyone. “See you soon Lily.” Maya said. She waved and then closed her eyes, falling asleep against her dad. Travis and Vic got back to the house. After he put Lily to bed, Travis said, “Hey would you consider moving in with us? You basically live here already and Lily just loves you.” “Really?” She asked, her eyes bright. “Yeah.” “Oh of course I will. I love you.” “I love you too Vic.”
A few weeks later, Dean was driving Vic to Heather’s to get Lily after Travis got seriously injured at a call. “How do you tell a little kid that her dad is hurt and we don’t know if he’ll make it. She already lost one dad, Dean. She can’t lose another one.” “Take a breath Hughes. It’s Travis we’re talking about. He’s going to be okay.” She nodded and they pulled up to Heather’s place. “I’ll stay here.” Dean said. Vic nodded.
She knocked on Heather’s door and she opened the door. “Vic, hey. Where’s Travis?” She swallowed hard and said, “He got injured on a call, Heather. He had to have surgery, I…” Vic had tears in her eyes. “Hey, breathe. Let me get Lily. Do you need me to take you back to the hospital?” She shook her head. “Dean drove me.” Heather nodded and got Lily. When the toddler saw Vic, she said, “Vic! Where’s Daddy?” “He’s busy, sweet girl. I’m gonna take you to see him though, okay?” She nodded. “I’ll keep you updated.” Heather nodded. “Thank you.”
At the hospital, Vic needed to tell her. “Hey sweetie?” She said softly. Lily looked at her and Vic’s heart wrenched. “So I told you that your daddy was busy, right?” She nodded and Vic took a breath and said, “Your daddy got hurt. He got hurt really bad. The doctors are trying to fix him up but they can’t do everything.” “Daddy is hurt?” Lily said, her voice soft. “Yeah baby.” She looked at Vic with her bottomless green eyes and said, “You can fix him. Daddy said you always make everything better.” The tears spilled and Vic said, “There are some things that even I can’t fix honey.” “So daddy isn’t going to be okay?” Her eyes welled with tears and Vic hugged her. “Lily, listen. The doctors are doing everything they can so that we’ll have your daddy back. Okay?” She nodded, sniffling.
The two fell asleep, the other firefighters around them. It was a few hours later when Dr. Pierce came out and said, “He made it through surgery. He’s gonna need a lot of rest but he’s okay. Vic, you and the little one can go see him.” Vic nodded and said, “Thank you.” Maggie nodded and told them the room.
They went in and Vic put Lily in his bed and then went to the other side to hold his hand. She leaned her head on his arm. “Trav, you can do it. Do it for her please. She needs you.” He woke up around six hours later and felt his daughter on one side and his best friend on the other. He shifted and Vic woke up. “You’re okay.” She said softly. “I’m in pain.” She smiled. “Do you remember what happened?” “I remember the skyscraper. And the loads of pain.” She nodded. She explained everything to him and he said, “I… god Vic I’m sorry.” “Don’t apologize.” He nodded and said, “Is she okay?” “She was scared but she’s brave.”
He got out of the hospital four days later. Vic drove him home. “Where’s Lily?” “She wasn’t feeling good so Maya stayed with her at the house.” He nodded. Back at house Lily was asleep in Maya’s lap.
After Maya left, the three of them were on the couch and Travis said, “Hey Vic?” “What’s up?” “If something happens to me, will you take Lily? Heather loves her but doesn’t want kids and the parents are just a no.” “You want me to?” “I do. I know you would give her the life she deserves. Please.” “God, yeah I will.” He smiled and closed his eyes. “Um, but Trav?” “Hm?” He responded. “Don’t die please.” He laughed. “I’ll try my hardest.”