Chapter Text
"Uh, Sargent Grant?" A young officer, Wilson, nervously beings over the phone.
"Yes?" Athena replys questioningly.
"I think you might wanna see this in person, I'm St John's Hospital, main reception" He explains, sweat beading on his skin.
It doesn't take long for the Sargent to make her way to the hospital she's spend more time in than she's ever want to. Too many close calls in St John's hospital.
Officer Wilson stands to attention as Athena passes through the doors.
"Sargent, this way," He directs her into any empty room, motioning for her to sit.
"What is this about Officer?" Her voice is thick with concern, mainly for her beloved yet reckless family.
"Late yesterday there was a crash," He begins, as the pair take seats.
"I'm aware." She raises a glance at him.
"Well one of the cars had a woman with 2 kids. She died this morning, her name was Carmen Roman. She was 29. Her nephew, 11, and daughter, 6, are in the room beside us both are almost perfectly line bar a few cuts and bruises. It appears that Carmen skidded her car so that the driver and passenger seat took the full force leaving the kids safe in the back."
Officier Wilson takes a reassuring breath before he begins again. "She was her nephew, Diego Rivas's, legal guardian as his parents died 6 years ago. He has no living family except Carmen's daughter, Isabella. Isabella however has a father listed."
Athena prompts officer Wilsons to kindly hurry up.
"Her father Evan Buckley."
The only sound Athena can hear is the racing of her heart, beating like drums. Only one thing racing through her mind, does Buck know? Is this real?
"I know you're close with the 118 and so I figured you'd want to know and I'm sure Firefighter Buckley would prefer to hear this from a friend. Unless not, I can tell him if you're to close to this. But I need to call DCFS if he doesn't claim Isabella, I'm not sure of the proceedings around Diego though." Wilson rambles as Athena stands up, taking out her phone.
"Don't do anything yet, stay here, look after those kids." Athena orders, her fingers landing on Bucks number.
Buck answers on the 3rd ring.
"Hey" Bucks voice smiles through the phone.
"Sorry to intrupt but you need to come to St John's." Athena paces the waiting room in reception as each word leaves her.
"Is everyone alright?" Bucks voice turns serious instantly, the slight glingle of keys barely audible over the phone. "Is it Bobby?" Panic laces his words.
"No, no, Bobby's alright. He's at home." Athena breaths, "we'll talk when you're here."
"Athena. Tell me what's going on," Buck switches the ignition of his jeep, throwing his keys and phone on speaker in the passenger seat beside him.
Athena releases a heavy breath.
"Please."
"Did you ever know a Carmen Roman, would be around 6 years ago?" She begins.
It takes more time than Buck would like to admit, but "yeah we hooked up for like 3 weeks or something 6 years ago."
"She died this morning." Athena takes a seat, "car accident."
"Okay but why I am involved, you don't think I killed her do you? I haven't seen her in 6 years." Buck rambles.
"Oh." The peices click in Bucks head.
Neither side of the call speak for a long time, long enough for Buck to switch off the ignition of his jeep. The only sound being his footsteps.
"Are they okay?" He manages out eventually.
"She has a couple cuts a bruises but alright."
Buck walks through the sliding doors, his eyes finding Athena almost immediately.
"She?" He runs a hand through his short hair, pocketing his phone.
Athena meets him half way across the waiting room.
"Did you know?" She asks, even if Bucks mind wasn't running at 1000 miles an hour he probably wouldn't be able to tell what the undertone of her question was.
"No. She ended it cause her sister died and she had to raise her nephew. God is he there? Is he okay?" Bucks mind jumps to every possibility, only one clear thought echoing through his head.
I have a daughter.
"He's okay, he was in the crash, but Carmen took the full force, she saved them both." Athena lightly rests a hand on Bucks shoulder.
"You don't have to meet her, I have to call DCFS for Diego, but I'll give you a moment this is a lot. And I wish I could give you time to think everything over but unfortunately I can't give you long." Athena begins searching through her phone for DCFS's phone number.
"Wait you're gonna separate them?"
"Diego has no living family, he isn't your responsibility."
"Yes he does. He has my daughter." Even as the words leave Bucks lips it doesn't truly register to him.
"I still have to call, no matter what, his legal guardian is dead. He needs a new legal guardian." Athena reasons.
But Buck is Buck, and what is Buck without his recklessness towards reason.
"If I take her in, can he stay with her?"
"Buck think about this, Isabella is a little girl. One kid a lot, but two?"
Any chance of reason leaves Buck head. Everything replaced by one word.
Isabella.
His daughter is called Isabella.
"Isabella." Buck mumbles absentmindedly.
Athena pauses. A smile creeping onto her face.
"Your daughter is in that room." Athena motions behind them, Buck immediately begins for it.
With every stride Buck takes Athena realises it.
Nothing could keep Buck from that room, not an earthquake, not a Firetruck, not a Tsunami, not being struck by lightning, not a coma.
Nothing would keep Buck from his daughter.