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This was a new start.
Except he was back where he started.
Back in the field.
A field he once promised to protect.
A field that tore his world apart.
Drinking was his only escape now. Firefighting was once his escape, but that’s behind him now.
So, here he was, sitting on a bar stool all the way in Peru. Drinking the trauma away. That was until a short man sat next to him
‘’Army?’’ The man asked
Did he look Army? I mean maybe the gun might have been a little excessive, but you never know. Or maybe it was the dog tag? Yeah it probably the dog tag.
‘’Seal actually. You?’’
‘’Army Medic.’’
…
They had spent the rest of the night, drinking, and talking. Until it was time for the shorter man to leave.
‘’By the way, I am Evan.’’
‘’Huh? Oh right. Well then, I’m Eddie.’’ The man, Eddie, replied.
And that’s how that friendship started.
Over the past few weeks, Evan learned that Eddie was in a serious relationship, which was currently going downhill, and that they had a son, named Christopher, with Cerebral Palsy.
The two new friends had exchanged numbers before Evan had to leave for a mission. Soon the two become very close and would often meet up whenever they could or call each other. That was until Eddie announced, his departure to LA with his son Chris.
A Year Later
Evan, and Eddie continued their friendship via calls and letters. Evan was also introduced to the sweet Christopher. Christopher had also soon learnt about Evans early arrival to LA, somehow. (Red swears he didn’t utter a word about this to the child.)
It was early December and Chris had secretly sent Evan a letter with Eddie’s December work schedule. (That will remain a secret between the two), and also convinced Red to take him to the airport to pick up his ‘’Buckaroo’’, and that readers, is how our sweet Evan found himself carrying a happy 9-year-old child, in the middle of the airport.
…
It was nerve wracking to say the least. He stood in front of the 118 firehouse and took a deep breath before walking in. He was almost immediately spotted by a tall woman with short blonde hair. Lucy. He remembered her when she had come for an internship with the 118.
‘’Buck! Is that you?’’
‘’Hey Lucy. Long time, eh?’’
‘’You bet! What are you doing here? I thought you quit?’’ Lucy had asked out of curiosity.
‘’Oh, yeah, I did. I’m actually here to see some-‘’ However, he was immediately cut off when an excited yell came out from an ambulance.
Eddie.
Eddie was here.
‘’Eds!’’ He called out
‘’Evan! Dude I thought you weren’t off for another week?!’’ Eddie yelled out, as he approached the blonde man.
Evan just laughs at the flabbergasted look Eddie gave him.
‘’Well, the mission ended early, and we were all officially discharged from service.’’
‘’Oh yeah? And what about that arm of yours Buckley?’’ The (still) shorter man asked with a stern voice. Evan had recognized the said stern voice. It was the tone Eddie used whenever Chris got himself in trouble.
‘’It’s not what it looks like.’’ Well, this is bad.
‘’You sure? ‘Cause it looks like you have a broken arm with 5 bullet wounds in it.’’
‘’Red told you didn’t he.’’ It wasn’t a question. Whenever Evan told Red something, that old man would always make a note to tell Eddie about all his injuries. (And yet he still denies it.)
‘’Yeah, he did. Honestly Evan be careful with that arm would ya? I would rather not have u getting it amputated.’’
‘’Awh, does Edmundo Diaz care about me?’’ He teased.
‘’Not the time Ev.’’
‘’Buck?!Is that you?!’’ A voice came.
Okay remember when I said this was going to end bad? I take that back. This is going to be a disaster.