#9 1 1 imagine

[llamaqueenprompt]

What You Mean to Me

Characters: Evan Buckley, Reader

Not Requested

Word Count: 1.6k

Inspiration: "You don't even realize what you mean to me"

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As he walks in the firehouse feels different.

Not in any obvious way. The lights are dimmed, the hum of the fridge still buzzes in the background, and someone left their coffee mug in the sink again. But Buck can feel it. Like the air’s heavier. Or maybe it’s just him.

He moves slowly through the halls, each step eachoing back louder than the last, like the firehouse is holding it’s breathe just like him. He’s still reeling. Still trying to process everything Abby said. Everything she didn’t say.

He tought it would give him closure. Seeing her again. Hearing her voice. Actually talking to her. But if anything it just peeled open wold wounds that had never fully healed.

She’s getting married. She’s finally happy again. And Buck? Buck is standing here, heart cracked open and filled with the image of someone else entirely.

Y/n.

He finds her in the back office, exactly where he knew she’d be. She’s leaning over her desk cluttered with paperwork and half-empty coffee cups, her glasses sliding down her nose and a pen twirling between her fingers. She looks tired, like she’s been working too long. Like maybe she’s been waiting up.

When she sees him, she glances up, and the second their eyes meet, something shifts.

“Hey,” she says, softly. Gently. Like she’s afraid she might startle him away. “You’re back.”

He nods, his throat thick. “Yeah. Just got in.”

Y/n straightens, setting the pen down carefully. “How… how did it go?”

Buck leans agaisnt the doorframe, arms folded across his chest to offer him a sense of security. “We talked. About the train. About…everything.”

She nods, and her eyes flick away, like she doesn’t want him to see what she’s thinking. But he sees it anayway, the flicker od pain, the way her shoulders tense.

“She’s engaged,” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “She met someone. Moved on.”

There’s a long silence.

Y/n swallows hard. “I’m sorry, Buck.”

But he shakes his head, stepping into the room. “No. Don’t be. That’s not why I’m here.”

She watches him carefully, warily. Like she’s bracing herself.

And she has every right to. Because what they had, what they have, has always lived on a fragile space. Somewhere between friendship and something more. Something unspoken. Their arrangement started with laughter and tequile and whispered “just this once” promises that turned into every night, and breakfast, and inside jokes, and familiarity that felt an awful lot like home.

They acted like a couple. They felt like one.

But Buck never let them be one. Not completely. Not whule Abby still haunted the edges of his heart.

And Y/n… God, Y/n stayed. She never asked for more. But he saw it. In the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. In the way she said goodbye a little too softly each time he left her apartment.

She loved him. And he let her sit in silenece with it all this time.

“I need to tell you something,” he says, and his voice wavers.

Y/n tilts her head, her hands curling around the edge of the desk. She doesn’t speak. Just waits.

“When Abby left,” Buck begins, “I felt like I’d lost a part of myself. Like I wasn’t enough. Like I’d been left behind.” He lets out a shaky breath. “And then you came in. All sharp wit and warm smiles and coffee with may too much cream. You made everything lighter, Y/n. You made me lighter.”

She blinks fast, her lips parting, but he keeps going.

“And I told myself it wasn’t real. That if I didn’t name it, it couldn’t hurt. That if I pretended it didn’t mean anything, I could keep you without the risk of losing you.”

Her voice is barely a whisper. “But you were still holding onto her.”

He nods. “I was. And that’s not fair to you. It never was.”

Y/n looks down at her hands, her fingers tightening. “I told myself I could handle it. That I could keep you in pieces instead of not having you at all. But it hurt, Buck. Watching you love a ghost while I stood right in front of you.”

“I know,” he says, his chest tight. “And I’m so sorry for that. I should’ve said this a long time ago. I should’ve seen it. Seen you.”

He steps closer, close enought now that he can see the shine in her eyes, the way she’s holding herself still like she’s afraid one wrong move will make everything fall apart.

“I don’t know when it happened,” he says softly. “Maybe the night you stayed up with me after I got hurt. Or when you showed up at the hospital with snacks you knew I wouldn’t eat but brought anyway. Or that morning you kissed my forehead and didn’t realize I was already awake.”

Her breath hitches.

“I just know I looked at you tonight, and everything clicked. I didn’t want to go back in time. I didn’t want to rewrite anything with Abby. I just wanted to come home. To you.”

He reaches for her hand, hesitates, then wraps his fingers around hers when she doesn’t pull away.

“You don’t even realize what you mean to me,” he hesitates. “But I want you to. I want to show you. If you’ll let me.”

Y/n’s eyes close for a moment, and when she open them, they’re glassy with tears.

“You really mean that?” she asks, voice trembling.

He cups her cheek, brushing away a tear with the pad of his thumb. “With everything I’ve got.”

And then she’s pulling him in.

No hesitation, no fear, just her resting her arms around his neck and fingers tangled in his hair like she’s afraid if she’s not touching him as much as possible, he’ll disappear aagain. Buck doesn’t waste a seconf. He holds her back just as tightly, his face buried in her shoulder, like maybe if he presses close enoigh, all the pieces of him, she’s quietly been carrying, will finally come home.

For a moment, neither of them speak. They just breathe. One another. Their feelings for each other.

The silence stretches, but it’s not awkward or heavy. It’s safe. Intimate. The kind of silence that only comes when words aren’t big wnough to hold everything between two people.

Eventually, Y/n pulls back just enough to look at him, her forehead still resting gently against his. Her eyes search his face, as if she’s memorizing the way he looks he looks at her like she is his world.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that,” she murmurs, the corners of her mouth trembling with the beginnings of a smile.

He exhales a soft laugh, one hand still resting on her wais. “I think I’ve been saying it without words for months. I just didn’t realize it.”

Y/n runs her fingers through his hair, slow and tentative, like she’s still trying to convince herself she isn’t dreaming. “I used to imagine this moment. You showing up, saying you wanted me. Choosing me. But I always woke up before the good part.”

“This is the good part,” Buck says, his voice low and certain.

She laughs, a watery, broken sound, and presses a hand to his chest, right over his heart. “I was so scared you’d go see her and realize I was just… a placeholder. Someone to make the quiet nights easier.”

“You were never a placeholder,” he says fiercely, his hand coming up to cover hers. “Y/n, you filled the space I dind’t could ever be filled. You brought me back to myself. You’ve been there tjrough every storm, and I was too blind to see that you weren’t just helping me survive…you were the reason I wanted to.”

He watched as her eyes fill again, but this time, it’s not just pain. It’s from love, open and shining and completely unhidden now.

She leans in, brushing her lips to his, soft at first, just a question, and when he answers with a deep, reverent kiss in return, it feel like the beginning of everything they never tjought they’d get to have.

The kiss in gentle and slow, not rushed like the stolen ones in dim hallways or post-shift goodbyes. It’s full of everything they’d left unsaid: I missed you. I wanted you. I love you.

When they finally break apart, Buck rests his forehead against hers again, his voice barely more than a whisper.

“I want to do this right. No hiding. No halfway. I want breakfasts with terrible coffee and real dates and someone who keep stealing my hoodies even though she has her own.”

Y/n grins, teary-eyed and radiant. “I make your coffee better than anyone here, and you know it.”

“I do,” he says, his smile wide and boyish and utterly Buck. “And I want to fall asleep next to you without pretending it’s just for tonight. I want to wake up knowing I don’t have to say goodbye when I leave. I want us.”

Y/n nods, emotion tightening her throat, but she still finds the words. “Then we’re done pretending.”

He brushes a kiss to her forehead, then her temple, then finally, her lips again, soft and sure.

Outside, the firehouse is still. Quiet. But inside this small office, everything has shifted. The weight has lifted. The longing has found its answer.

And for the first time in a long time, Buck isn’t running toward the past.

He’s standing still, holding the future in his arms.

[oneshotnewbie]

Hello! I was wondering if you're taking requests, specifically for Athena Grant? If so, please could you write something about:

Reader and Athena are together (engaged) and the reader gets injured (either accidently/someone intentionally hurt) and they've had to remove all the jewelry before surgery, so when the reader wakes up, she's panicking about how she's lost her engagement ring (half still under anesthesia and half boasting to the nurses) until Athena gets there and puts the ring back on her finger again? Like re-proposing in front of the team?

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ This one-shot includes the topic of a serious accident, blood, conversations about possible death and the plots are presented. If this triggers you too easily or you just can´t handle the subject, I urge you NOT to read this work. I am NOT embellishing this topic under any circumstance. Read at your own risk.

ᕚ---ᕘ

You leaned against the rolling doors of the fire station as the sun slowly sank behind the skyscrapers of Los Angeles. Daily life at the station was chaotic, as always - the hum of voices and the heavy clatter of equipment filled the air. The icy cold air left an uncomfortable tingling sensation on your skin, a coldness that you couldn't shake off despite the fleece jacket over your shoulders.

Since your engagement to Athena, you had become strangely calmer, your once impetuous nature had changed. But this uneasy silence that this evening brought with it made you nervous. Your finger unconsciously stroked the shiny ring on your hand - a symbol of love, the promise of a shared future that you had given each other.

"Y/n, are you okay?" Hen asked, putting a hand on your shoulder while she cast a worried look at you. "Are you unsure about... the engagement?"

"Oh my God, no Hen. I could never be unsure about Athena. It just feels so... unreal," you replied with a gentle smile as you looked at her while pushing yourself away from the wall. "It is a.. magical feeling and I'm so incredibly happy."

Hen smiled broadly at you and before she could answer you, a shrill alarm sounded, echoing through the walls of the building. The adrenaline immediately shot through your body, your muscles tensed, and the moment of calm was over. It was time for action.

"A serious accident on a construction site in the west of downtown! Several injured, unclear situation, possible danger of collapse!" the announcement echoed over the loudspeakers.

Hen and you exchanged a brief, wordless glance - the mixture of concern and determination in your eyes was unmistakable. You walked quickly together towards the ambulance while the rest of the team jumped into the fire trucks. The engines roared as you left the station in a moment when the air seemed to stand still before the chaos began.

The streets of Los Angeles were packed, but the car's sirens cut through the traffic like a knife. You felt the familiar thrill of adrenaline rising inside you. But today it felt different. Every sound seemed sharper, the movements around you faster - as if the world around you was vibrating with tension. You tried to focus your thoughts, but your eyes kept wandering to the shiny ring on your finger. You couldn't shake the wonderful thought that you would soon be a Grant.

When you finally arrived at the construction site, the extent of the disaster was immediately apparent. A gigantic construction site, filled with half-built buildings, cranes towering into the sky, and workers everywhere, panicking and trying to make their way out of the rubble. The scene was a nightmare: steel beams had collapsed, concrete slabs had been shattered, machinery was blocking access roads, and dust hung thick in the air, as if the entire construction site had been shaken by a major earthquake.

Hen and Chimney jumped out of the car and immediately ran to the injured, while you turned your gaze to the half-collapsed part of the construction site, where the cause of the chaos seemed to be. Sparks flew from a stationary smaller crane that was leaning dangerously to the side and threatened to fall onto the scaffolding below.

You immediately ran, your mind on autopilot. It was clear that this situation was life-threatening but this was your job and you would stop at nothing. The crane had to be stabilized before more people were injured. A team of construction workers tried desperately to secure the heavy equipment with steel cables, but it was obvious that their efforts would not be enough. Sweat ran down their foreheads as they frantically shouted orders to the rest of your team, but time was running out.

"Damn, if that thing falls, it'll kill even more people," you cursed inwardly as you ran and grabbed one of the heavy steel cables, trying to help the workers stabilize the machine before Bobby and the others found a solution.

But the situation quickly escalated. A worker, obviously inexperienced and panicked, began to frantically pull on one of the control levers, ignoring the dangerous weight of the wooden beams moving above him. But before Bobby, Eddie or anyone else could intervene, there was a loud crack that made your blood run cold. You looked up - a massive wooden beam finally came loose and fell towards you without stopping.

Everything happened in a split second. The beam crashed down with a deafening roar and hit you with full force. You felt a sharp, piercing pain as the wood hit your body, as if your entire ribcage was being crushed. Your breath was ripped from your lungs, and you could feel the burning pain flooding your body. The sound of bones breaking echoed in your ears, accompanied by the dull thud as your body hit the ground with full force.

You wanted to scream, but no sound came. You lay under the heavy weight, unable to move, and could feel your consciousness slowly fading. Your head spun, and the pounding of your own heartbeat became duller as the blood from the wound in the side of your torso dripped onto the ground at an alarming rate. Your vision blurred, and the sounds around you became quieter. You knew you were losing control.

The world around you began to blur, but the last thing you consciously perceived was a terrified scream from Hen.

She saw it happen as if time itself was slowing down. The massive beam fell as if in slow motion, and even though Hen knew there was nothing she could do, she felt an indescribable feeling of powerlessness. She had promised her best friend, Athena, that she would look after you during missions. "Y/n! No!" she screamed as she ran across the rubble. Her voice was rough and broken, the shock almost paralyzing her.

Chimney, who had also witnessed the accident, was already at her side, grabbing his emergency backpack with shaking fingers. The sight of you lying motionless under the beam made his heart race. You weren't just a colleague, you were family. The unit was a family, and when one of them fell, everyone felt it.

Hen knelt down next to your head and felt desperately for a pulse. The blood loss was frightening, her fingers immediately soaked by the warm, sticky blood that was constantly seeping from the wound. Hen's heart was racing. She had to keep a clear head, but it was difficult. Chimney worked frantically beside her, trying to put pressure on the wound, but it was clear that the injury was serious. Too serious.

Meanwhile, the others tried to keep the gathering crowd under control while securing the other wooden beams to avoid another accident.

"We're losing her!" Chimney shouted, his voice hot with panic as he performed the makeshift wound care. Hen felt her hands shaking as she reached for the equipment, but she forced herself to calm down. There could be no mistakes. Not now.

"She's strong, no one loses anyone here," Hen whispered, more to herself than to Chimney. The sight of your lifeless body made Hen dizzy. Your chest barely heaved and your face was pale and lifeless, as if the life was draining out of you.

The two worked feverishly. Their hands slid confidently over the injured flesh as they tried to stop the blood seeping from the gaping wounds. The world around them seemed to stand still and all that mattered now was the person in front of them - their colleague. Their friend. Their family.

"Chim, we have to get her out of here. If we don't stabilize her, we'll lose her!" Hen shouted, trying to keep the panic from her voice. Each breath you took was weak, as if the next one might be your last.

"Damn it, Hen, the girder is sitting right on her chest. Bobby, you have to lift the girder! She'll bleed to death otherwise!" Chimney answered hastily, as he secured the pressure bandage to the worst part of your injury. The massive wooden beam had hit you hard, and it was a miracle you were still alive. But for how much longer? Chimney's gaze was fixed on the growing pool of blood beneath his knees.

Bobby, Buck, and Eddy were no time in coming. Each of them knew that time was now their enemy. Buck and Eddie immediately began to position themselves at the respective ends of the girder, while Bobby took the lead and stood over you.

"Okay, everyone ready? On my command! One... two... THREE!" he shouted as everyone lifted at the same time to take the weight off you. The wood cracked under the pressure, and for a moment it looked like they wouldn't make it. But with one last, desperate tug, they lifted it just high enough for Chimney to pull you out.

You were almost unconscious, pale as death. Hen looked at her best friend's bloody, limp face and felt her heart sink. This wasn't just any mission. "Stay with us, y/n," she whispered as Chimney carefully lifted you onto a stretcher.

Bobby quickly put an oxygen mask on you while Chimney applied pressure to the wound with one hand and monitored your heart rate with the other. The situation was critical and the team knew that every second counted. Without hesitation, they pushed the stretcher into the ambulance while Buck closed the doors and ran to the fire truck.

"Hen, Chim, we're right behind you," Bobby called before the doors slammed shut and the ambulance sped off, sirens blaring.

The ambulance sped through the streets of Los Angeles, the sirens piercing the night like the howl of a wounded animal. The city lights blurred into a bright kaleidoscope as the two paramedics inside the car raced against time.

Hen drove the ambulance while Chimney worked feverishly to keep the blood flowing. The oxygen mask over your face was a thin thread holding you to this life. The heart rate on the monitor was faint, and every second that passed felt like an eternity.

"Come on, come on..." he muttered to himself as he applied another pressure bandage over the one already soaked in blood. His latex gloves were red with blood, and his eyes were extremely tense. "We're losing her, Hen. The pressure is off."

Hen pressed her lips together, fighting the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. "Not now. Not here. Not her. We're almost there, keep her alive!"

The ambulance arrived at the hospital minutes later with screeching tires, and the team jumped out, the stretcher with you in the middle. You were immediately surrounded by a team of emergency doctors who moved their bodies like machines, every grip precise, every action practiced.

"Severe chest trauma, internal bleeding! She's losing a lot of!" Hen shouted after the doctors as they quickly pushed you through the hospital doors. Hen and Chimney followed them, both with their eyes downcast and faces covered in sweat.

The rest of the team also watched as you were pushed down the hallway towards the operating rooms and then the moment came when they disappeared around the corner with you and the team was left alone in a state of confusion, concern, hope and fear. In that moment it felt like the air was being sucked out of the hallway they stood in.

ᕚ---ᕘ

Athena stormed through the hospital corridors, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She could hear her own blood rushing in her ears, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic vortex of fear, worry and hopelessness. Bobby had called her shortly after arriving at the hospital, and his words echoed in her head as if they were caught on an endless loop: "It's serious. It's serious."

She reached the emergency room and immediately saw the familiar faces of her friends and colleagues. Bobby was the first to step forward to greet her, his face worried but calm. "Athena..." he began, but she didn't let him finish. "Where is she?" Athena whispered, her voice breaking as she looked around. Her eyes wandered frantically through the sterile, brightly lit hospital corridor until they finally settled on Hen. The paramedic stood with her arms crossed, her shoulders slumped forward, looking exhausted and full of grief.

She stepped forward and put a hand on Athena's shoulder, but she felt that words could not bring comfort here. The pain, the fear, the agonizing wait - all of this weighed heavily on Athena. "She's in the operating room. They're fighting... but it doesn't look good," she said carefully in a quiet voice. Her eyes were tired, the minutes of her colleague's blood loss and the constant tension for her life had left their mark on her too.

"Not good?" Athena shook her head in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe these words. She felt an uncontrollable tremor running through her body that she could barely suppress and the walls seemed to close in around her.

"What does that mean, Hen? Are you going to tell me that she might not make it?" Her voice had gotten louder, almost panicked. Bobby, who was standing next to them, held out his hand reassuringly, but Athena backed away. She needed answers, not pity.

"Athena, we don't know," Hen said carefully, her eyes full of compassion. "She has severe internal injuries and the bleeding was extremely critical. But she's in the best hospital, with the best doctors. They're doing everything they can."

But those words were only a small consolation for her. The worry about you weighed heavily on her chest, and she felt helpless. She wanted to be with you, wanted to hold your hand, to tell you that you should fight and not give up. But all she could do now was stand here and wait. Wait while fate decided the life of the woman she loved.

Athena nodded silently, although inside she wanted to scream. She had to pull herself together, not collapse. "At least tell me that she can feel it... that she knows that I'm here," she finally said, directing her words at her best friend.

"Athena, if anyone can do it, it's y/n. She's a fighter. And she'll know you're here, no matter what."

While the entire team waited, the team of surgeons and nurses fought for your survival. The sterile, cool air in the room was filled with frantic, precise movements. The lead surgeon wiped sweat from his brow as he made another deep cut to find the source of the bleeding

"We've stabilized her, but the blood loss is still concerning. Should we add another unit of blood?" one of the nurses asked as she readjusted the oxygen mask and checked the heart rate on the monitor. Each beat of your heart was weak, almost imperceptible.

"Yes, please. Several ribs are broken, internal organ damage. We need to decompress the left lung," he murmured, handling his instruments more tensely than usual. His hands moved in a routine manner.

One of the nurses, meanwhile, took care of the jewelry that remained on your body. The engagement ring on your finger shimmered in the cold operating room light, a tiny spark in the midst of the fight for life and death. With gentle movements, the nurse removed the ring from your blood-stained hand and carefully placed it in a bowl, along with a chain that had been hidden under your uniform, to later clean these items and hand them over to you as soon as you were able to.

ᕚ---ᕘ

The bright light of the infirmary blinded you as you slowly emerged from the deep darkness of the anesthetic sleep. At first everything was blurry - the shapes, the sounds, the feeling of your own body. You felt that something was wrong, but couldn't grasp what it was. Your head seemed to be wrapped in cotton wool, your thoughts swirled wildly, but one thing was immediately clear: something was missing.

Confusion spread through your foggy mind and your fingers twitched slightly. You instinctively reached for your hand, for the engagement ring that should be there. But it wasn't there. The cool, bare skin of your fingers touched nothing but the air. Panic shot through your body like lightning.

"Where... where is it?" you murmured quietly at first, still too dazed by the painkillers to speak properly. But the confusion quickly turned into naked fear. You blinked, trying to concentrate, but the feeling of emptiness, the loss of your ring, seemed to smother any clarity.

With a sudden, jerky impulse of movement that put the nurses on alert, you began to sit up in your hospital bed. "My ring! Where... where is it?" you gasped, your voice getting louder, your breathing getting faster. The tubes and wires monitoring you pulled taut as you tried to sit up further. Your body was still weak, but your panic gave you a supernatural strength.

One of the nurses rushed to your side, placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "Calm down, everything is fine. Please lie back down, you've just had a serious operation," she said gently.

But you barely heard her. Your thoughts were a wild storm, and the only reality that existed in your head was the horrible feeling that you had lost the engagement ring. Tears gathered in your eyes and your voice broke into panic. "No! My ring... I... I lost it! Where is it? Where is it?!" You desperately grabbed the nurse's hand as if she could give you the answer.

"It's fine, please, try to relax," said another nurse who had now joined you. "We'll take care of you."

But nothing could calm you down. Your chest rose and fell rapidly, the monitor began to beep faster while your heart beat in dangerous panic for your condition. Your eyes wandered around the room, searching for a familiar sign, something that could assure you that you had not lost the ring and everything it symbolized.

"No... no... please... I need it..." you whispered between gasping breaths, your voice full of desperation. The nurses exchanged a worried look, unsure how to calm you down.

Just then, the door opened and Athena entered, closely followed by Hen, Chimney, Bobby, Buck and Eddie. Each of them had spent the last few hours in endless worry, but when they saw you now - your eyes red and filled with tears, your body upright in a bed you weren't supposed to leave yet - a wave of compassion shot through them. The lump in Athena's throat grew when she saw how confused and helpless you looked.

"Hey, hey, everything's fine," Athena called immediately when she saw the panic in your eyes. She quickly went to the bed and knelt by the side, placing her hands firmly on yours. "I'm here, I'm here. You haven't lost anything."

But you shook your head violently, still unable to think clearly. "No... my ring! I lost it! Athena, I lost your proof of love…” The words came in jerky, desperate breaths as tears streamed down your cheeks. You looked at Athena with so much fear in your eyes that it broke her heart.

Athena took a deep breath, then gently squeezed your hand in hers. “Honey, calm down,” she said, her voice firm but loving. She stroked your hand gently. “You didn’t lose it. I have it.”

With those words, Athena reached into her pocket and pulled out the engagement ring—the ring she had put on you months ago when she had promised you to go through whatever life threw at you together. The ring sparkled in the soft light of the hospital room, a familiar, beautiful symbol of their love and future.

Your breathing slowed for a moment when you saw the ring. Your eyes widened, and the panic slowly faded as reality began to penetrate the veil of painkillers. "You... you have it?" you asked quietly, your voice shaking.

"Yes, darling. One of the nurses gave it back to me after she took it from you during surgery for safety reasons. I've been keeping it for you the whole time," Athena said, holding your hand tighter. "I would never let you lose it. You'll always have it. Just like you'll always have me."

Your chest was still heaving heavily, but your panic was noticeably subsiding. You looked at Athena, your eyes filling with tears again, but this time out of relief. "I thought... I thought it was gone."

"It's not gone. It was always here," Athena whispered, holding the ring gently between her fingers before slowly sliding it back onto your finger, right where it belonged.

There was a deep silence in the room. All eyes were on the couple - the team watched as Athena placed the ring back on your finger with as much care and love as if it were the first time. Chimney, Hen, Bobby, Buck and Eddie held their breath as if they were watching a sacred moment.

Athena looked deep into your eyes, her voice firm but tender as she said, "Will you marry me, here and now, a second time, y/n? Will you continue on this path with me, no matter how hard it may be sometimes?"

The words were a mixture of seriousness and comfort, a promise she had made before - and yet now, in this moment, it felt even stronger and more meaningful.

You, still slightly dazed, felt the world around you finally settle down. The fear of losing the ring had been like a huge wave that had washed over you - but now you were back on the shore. The ring was there, Athena was there. Everything was right again.

With tear-filled eyes and a weak but sincere smile, you nodded. "Yes... always yes."

Athena smiled warmly as a wave of relief and love washed through her. She leaned forward, kissed your forehead gently, and in that moment the whole room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The team, which had been in tense silence until then, could no longer contain the emotions.

"This is incredibly beautiful," Buck murmured with a moist gleam in his eyes as Hen poked him in the side.

"It's not often that you see someone propose the same thing twice," Chimney said quietly, his voice full of emotion. Eddie nodded silently and allowed a slight smile to appear while Bobby, the silent observer, took a deep breath. For him, this moment was a symbol of the fighting spirit that united them all.

[callsign-dexter]

Fight to Survive

Summary: The BAU gets called to a case in LA, California, everything is going great then tragedy strikes. Can the youngest team member be saved?

Pairings: Bobby Nash x Daughter!FBI!Reader, Athena Grant x Stepdaughter!Reader, May Grant x Stepsister!Reader, Harry Grant x Stepsister!Reader, BAU x Nash!Daughter!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, guns, gunshots stabbing, swearing, fighting, inaccurate medical talk, hospitals, bruising, being beaten up, strangulation, mentions of sexual abuse (to victims), kidnapping, cheating (not on reader)

Masterlist

A/N: After a long overdue wait I give you the crossover fic that you all voted on. Again sorry for the wait!

It was a late Friday night when everyone on the BAU team got the call that you all were headed to a case in LA. Luckily for everyone, everybody already had their go bags packed. When JJ got the call you, Y/N Nash, were all out clubbing together celebrating a case solved. You had walked outside to your car to call your dad, Bobby Nash, and mother, Athena Grant. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello?" Your father's husky voice came through.

"Hey, Dad." You said quietly you always loved the sound of his voice.

"Hey, honey. How are you? You sound tired." He said a little bit concerned then you heard Athena's voice come through and ask if that was you and to put you on speaker phone.

"Hey, sweetheart!" Athena said in her cheery voice and you smiled.

"Hey Athena. How are you and everyone else?" You asked

"We're good! Missing you." She said and you quietly laughed.

"You didn't answer my question Y/N." Your father back on the phone.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired. The last case got to me." You told them the truth. You always told them the truth.

"Are you allowed to talk about it?" Athena asked.

"I can tell you but it's not to be repeated." You said

"We understand." They both said at the same time.

"The case was about an unsub taking kids that resembled their kid that passed away due to drowning. They would keep them for 3 days and then drown them. We saved the last kid but they were around Harry's age." You told them and they were silent.

"Oh baby girl. I'm so sorry." Your father said. You looked up when you saw a shadow standing outside your window. You saw it was JJ.

"Hey guys hold on. JJ needs me." You told them and opened the door.

"Hey sorry to interrupt but we got a case." She sighed and you nodded.

"Ok let me finish up here and start rounding up everyone I'll drive whoever doesn't have a car here." You told her and she nodded and headed off to round everyone up. On the other end of the line Athena and Bobby were smiling at how you were taking charge, it must run in the family.

"Sorry guys. We got a case." You told them.

"You just got done with a case. Have you gotten any sleep?" Your dad asked concerned.

"Dad, I've gone on a lot less. I'll be fine this is what I signed up for when I joined the BAU. I love you guys." You told them, it was true you've gotten some sleep but not enough and you've ran on 2 hrs of sleep before.

"We love you too. Be safe. We'll talk later." Bobby said.

"Absolutely." You said smiling you said goodbye again and hung up.

About the time you hung up the team was heading your way. You got out to greet them. You all load up either in your car or separate cars, thankfully most of everyone took their own cars.

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When you arrived at the BAU headquarters everyone got out started to file into the building. Nobody was really complaining about being back except for Morgan who had been currently dancing with some lucky ladies.

"Always when I'm getting my groove thing on with the ladies." Morgan said as you all sat down waiting to be briefed. You just laughed.

"Morgan, I don't think you'll have a problem getting your groove thing back." He just laughed.

"You're just jealous that it's not with you." Morgan teased and you smirked.

"Oh, I'm just heartbroken." You faked hurt. He had always flirted with you but you had another man on your mind, a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed, with a unique birthmark, a few tattoos, and is firefighter under your dad's command, even though he has a girlfriend, you had no interest in Morgan. Hotch, JJ, and Garcia walked into the conference room.

"A body of a teenage girl was found dumped in a local park in CA. According to LAPD, this is the 8th girl taken. Her name was Amanda Hills." Hotch said as Garcia pulled up the pictures.

"The medical examiner has confirmed that they were sexually abused and then their throat slit post-mortem. Then dumped during the night in the park and found the next morning they're usually unclothed." JJ said. "We also have gotten word that a 9th girl has been abducted, Amelia Lanco." She reported.

"All the girls had signs of abuse. They also reported that they were stabbed in the same places beforehand and then strangled. They also had their throat slit afterward." You said looking at the tablet in your hand. You swiped the picture to get a better look at the victims and your heart stopped. They all look like May. You took a shaky breath before continuing "They also sent a video to LAPD which they gave to us." You said and Garcia played it, it showed the latest victim chained to a pole blindfolded, and dressed in only her bra and panties. Only a few seconds were played but that was enough for it to be engraved in your head forever.

"It also says here that he keeps them for 2 days and then dumps them." Rossi said to the team.

"Wheels up now." Hotch said and you all filed out of the room and picked up your go bags and headed to the jet. It was a 5 hr flight. As you were walking up the jet Hotch stepped you.

"Are you alright?" He asked you and you hesitated.

"All those girls looked like my sister, Hotch." You said and he nodded in understanding.

"Do you need to sit this one out?" He asked and you shook your head.

"Absolutely not." You said and nodded.

"If it gets too much come tell me." He said and you nodded your head. You both got on the plane and were up in the air in no time.

"It says here that the unsub keeps them for a total of 5 days before killing and dumping them. All of them were 18-24 years old." Rossi said. "The girls are taken during broad daylight but nobody claims to see anything." He continued.

"What if they do see it but just don't want to mention anything?" Spencer said and you nodded along with the others "It says here that 9-1-1 calls were called in from the same number but they always ended shortly after before help could help. All the numbers were the same and dispatch said that there were before the girl could say what was wrong a man came on and disconnected it." He said.

"Ok. I want Y/N and JJ I want you to meet LAPD and the fire department at the latest scene, we ask for them not to touch it until we're there. Reid and Morgan, I want you to go to dispatch and listen to the 9-1-1 calls. Emily, Rossi, and I will go to the police station to start setting up a profile." Hotch said and you all nodded in understanding. 5 hrs went quickly and before you knew it, you were touching down in LA. You all went to where you were supposed to go. You and Reid got into the SUV, you driving, and headed to the crime scene where you met your father, stepmother, and your current crush.

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You strolled up to the crime scene and saw the 118 firetruck and ambulance there along with several police cars including Athenas. You parked in front of the firetruck and got out and killed the engine and got out the same time JJ got out. You both had sunglasses on and walked to the crime scene.

"Welcome Agents. I'm Detective Lou Ransone." Lou announced and JJ spoke up.

"Nice to meet you. I'm SSA Jennifer Jareau but everyone calls me JJ and this is SSA Y/N Nash." She said nodding to you, everyone shook hands.

"Nash? As in Fire Captain Bobby Nash?" He asked and you nodded.

"That would be correct." You said just about the time when Bobby and Athena walked over.

"Hey! I didn't know you were coming to LA." Bobby said and you shook your head.

"Neither did I until 5 hrs ago. So what do we have?" You asked about getting into your professional FBI voice Bobby and Athena was impressed. Detective Lou answered your question as you all walked over to the body and you bent down to examine it along with JJ, who gave you gloves to put on.

"Call came in early this morning, around 7 AM from a frantic jogger that was jogging and discovered the body." Detective Lou said and you both nodded. You were watching JJ when she stopped and that got your attention.

"What do you got JJ?" You asked her.

"This is new." She said and pointed toward the left shoulder. "None of the other victims have had a bite mark on them." She said and your eyebrows shut to the one of confusion.

"You're right." You said, "Do you think we're dealing with more than one unsub or are they changing their mo?" You asked forgetting that the rest were there.

"There could be a good possibility." She said and about that time Buck, Eddie, Hen, and Chimney came over. You looked up and noticed the crowd. You got up which alerted JJ. She looked over and saw the news crew. You looked over at Detective Lou and Athena.

"Tell your detectives and officers that this does not get to the media. Not until we're ready to give a profile." You said and they nodded.

"Buck that means no telling Kelly anything." Eddie said and a surge of jealousy went through you. You didn't wait around to hear the rest. You went back to searching the crowd when you spotted something out of the ordinary. A man in his late 20s with a ball cap that was hiding his face and a jacket on with his hands in his pocket. He saw you and started to move.

"What is it?" JJ asked you

"There is someone in the crowd that doesn't look too concerned." You said and when you both went to question him he was gone.

"Let's get back to the station and get with Hotch and the rest." JJ said and you nodded and did just that

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While you headed back to the police station you talked over all the details with JJ. When you arrived you killed the engine and walked in and to the conference room where you were set up for the time being.

You told Hotch what you had come up with. He nodded letting you know he understood. "I think we're dealing with more than one unsub." You had said.

"Why is that?" He asked asking for further explanation.

"JJ I forgot to show you but I got a picture. There was another set of footprints, smaller than the other. Also, new evidence has been found, there was a bite mark on the shoulder of the latest victim." You said and pulled up your pictures sending them to the tablets. "Also if you look back at the video you can see at least one male forcing moves on her, and another one holding the camera." You said and they looked at you and realization came upon their face. Gracia phoned you all and Morgan answered the phone.

"Talk to me momma." Morgan said

"Ok my lovelies I ran the names through all of the systems and it turns out that they all went to the same high school and lived in the same neighborhood." Garcia said.

"Do you have an address of the latest victim and the other one that recently was taken?" Rossi asked.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I do. I'll have them to you in a jiffy." Gracia said and hung and true to her word she had everyone's phones pinging.

"Nash and Morgan I want you to go and talk to the parents of the latest victim, Mr. and Mrs. Lanco, and start talking to places that they frequently visited show them pictures of Amelia. Rossi and Reid start building a geographical profile and JJ start going through tapes and camera. Prentiss your with me, we're going to go and check out the Hills." Hotch ordered around and you all nodded and you left with Morgan with Preintess and Hotch following.

You both got into the SUV and headed to the address that Garcia had given you. It was in a neighborhood you knew all too well, it was the neighborhood your parents currently lived in. You arrived at the Lanco Residence and got out of the SUV when it was parked and turned off. Morgan stood right by you as you walked to the door. Morgan knocked and Mrs. Lanco answered the door.

"Mrs. Lanco, I'm SSA Morgan and this is SSA Nash." Morgan said introducing you both.

"Oh like fire captain Nash?" She asked and once again you nodded.

"Yes ma'am." You answered her. "Mrs. Lanco, we're here to talk about Amelia." You told her and let you both in and into the living room where Mr. Lanco was.

"Honey this is SSA Morgan and SSA Nash." Mrs. Lanco said her husband got up and shook both of your hands. She offered you a seat on the couch and you took it.

"First I want to say I'm sorry for your loss. Did Amelia have any enemies?" You asked then.

"No none at all. She was a very well-liked girl." Mr. Lanco said "She wouldn't hurt a fly." He continued.

"She always helped around the house and loved everyone." Mrs. Lanco said and you nodded.

"If you have any more to add, here is my card with my number. Please let us know if anything else comes up." Morgan said and handed them his card.

"We will. Have a nice day agents." Mr. Lanco said and got to show you to the door. Once out and in the SUV, Morgan was the one driving this time, you two began to talk.

"Ok so Amelia seemed like a nice girl. She helped out around the house and helped her parents." You said to Morgan and he nodded.

"She also didn't have any enemies, no one to hate her. That we know of." He said and it was your turn to nod. "I wonder if Hotch and Rossi got anything different." He said and you nodded. You started to visit each location the victims frequented but it was no use until the last stop who told you both a description of the guy and actually had videos from CCTV.

You both arrived at the station and got out of the SUV and made your way into the building. When you got to the conference room Hotch and Rossi were already there and were already talking.

"What did you both find out?" Hotch asked and so you spoke up.

"She was a really well-liked girl. She helped out around the house and wouldn't hurt a fly. She also loved everyone. Also, the last place they visited had a video that showed the victims leaving with one of the unsubs. Videos should be here now." You said relaying the conversation that you had with the parents and other information. Hotch nodded.

"This Hills said the same thing about their daughter. So why is this unsub going after friendly girls and who helps around the house? Rossi said and asked.

"He must be going after a specific person but can't have her or saving her for last." Emily spoke up and it hit you. May was like that so he must have May on his mind. You looked at Hotch and he was looking at you, you knew what he was thinking.

While you, Morgan, Hotch, and Emily were out. JJ, Reid, and Rossi had gotten the names of the unsubs, Jackson Phillips and Anthony Bennett. Garcia also gave pictures and. It was silent for a minute then Gracia phoned.

"Guys I just got a video of Amelia from the unsubs." Gracia said "Sending it to you now." She said before you all could get anything else out. Your phones pinged.

Just then Athena walked in "We just got a report of shots fired at 23 South Comet Drive."

"That's the same address that the video sent from. Ok guys let's go." Hotch said and you all threw on your Kevlar FBI vests and you were on your way.

You all got there at the same time as the 118 and the other police officers. You were the first one out of the SUV and then followed by Morgan and the others followed. You saw Buck and he was looking at you but you were too busy running to the door. When you got there you had decided to kick down the door.

"FBI! OPEN UP!" Hotch shouted and when you got no response he nodded at you and you brought your foot up and kicked down the door. In fluid motion and boy did you feel powerful. You all rushed in. Everyone split up.

"CLEAR!" Hotch yelled out

"CLEAR!" Morgan yelled out

"CLEAR!" Emily yelled out and then you got to the basement.

"Guys we need a medic down here!" You said into your comms just as the man coughed and blood spewed out.

Everyone else ran down along with Hen and Chimney. You were bending down when they came in. They worked on him and when they got him out onto the gurney he was awake and you went up to him along with Hotch. "Anthony Bennett?" You asked.

"Yes?" He replied.

"You are under arrest for the murder of Amanda Hills and 6 other kills and the kidnapping of Amelia Lanco." You said authoritatively he just looked down like he was upset that he got caught. An officer gave you cuffs and you handcuffed him to the gurney then turned the officer as Hotch spoke.

"I want an officer posted at his hospital room at all times and when he's healed take him away." He said and they nodded. He turned to you once they loaded him up and left. "You need to tell them who they're really after." He said and you looked at him he would never suggest that. He must've seen the look because he continued "They need to know and I know how you get when you have to keep a secret." He finished and you nodded.

You walked over to Bobby and Athena as well as Eddie and Buck. They saw you and saw the look on your face. "What's wrong?" Buck asked.

"This is not easy for me to say this but the unsub's target is May." You told them and the color drained from their face the same it had done to you when you saw it. "That's the same look I had when I saw it." You said and you felt bad "I wasn't allowed to tell you until now." And that was true even if it wasn't spoken you knew the rules.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Athena asked

"Yes. We want to put someone with her the entire time and we will be calling the 911 command center to let them know. I also want Maddie to know." You said and they nodded. You all talked more and then you needed to go.

"Y/N wait." Buck said as he jogged over to you and you turned. "How have you been?" He asked and you looked at him expression neutral. Even though you were jumping for joy on the inside but you knew he had a girlfriend.

"I've been fine Buck." You said and gave him a small smile.

"That's great! Hey listen maybe we can hang out after this is all done." He said and you sighed.

"We can hang out but Buck you have a girlfriend and I don't want to stand in the way of you two." You told him and he nodded his head "Do you have your phone?" You asked him and he nodded and so you held out your hand and you put your number in and then sent a message to yourself "I have your number now. Text or call me." You said and then turned away and back to the SUV. What you didn't see was Buck smiling like an idiot and what you didn't know was that he liked you too.

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It was the next day and you had gotten zero sleep. You just couldn't fall asleep not with that creep of a murder running around. Everyone greeted each other and got to work. "I think we're ready to give a press conference. Y/N want you to give it." Hotch said and that surprised you but got ready to do one anyways. "Tell them that we have a suspect in custody and tell them what and who to watch out for." He said and you nodded your head. The news reporters and several television stations were there. You were nervous but you were ready to give to do it.

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Bobby had told Hen and Chimney what you had told them and Buck had told Maddie. "Hey the FBI is about to give a statement." Buck said and so everyone gathered around.

"I'm SSA Y/N Nash with the FBI. We have a suspect in custody but the other one is still at large. We ask you not to approach this man he is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is a white male in his early 30s and has black hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen in a black baseball cap and has a scar over his right eyebrow. Up on the screen is a picture that will help you identify him. We also ask any female to not be alone at all times while this case is going on. If you see this man or he approaches you please call the FBI hotline or 911. There will not be any questions at this time. Thank you." You finished your speech.

Everyone was silent. "She looks stressed." Chimney said and everyone nodded in agreement.

"She also didn't look like she got any sleep." Hen said.

"I just hope she's ok. Maybe I can convince her to stay a couple of days afterwards." Bobby said

"We would love to see and hang out with her again." Eddie said and again everyone agreed. Buck was silent he loved you and wanted to be with you but was too stupid and hid it, now he was with Taylor and he didn't want that anymore he wanted you.

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Everyone at the call center gathered around the TV as the news began to play. There was chatter going around and questions. May and Maddie were together when it was playing and it freaked her out because she knew this person.

"I'm SSA Y/N Nash with the FBI. We have a suspect in custody but the other one is still at large. We ask you not to approach this man he is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is a white male in his early 30s and has black hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen in a black baseball cap and has a scar over his right eyebrow. Up on the screen is a picture that will help you identify him. We also ask any female to not be alone at all times while this case is going on. If you see this man or he approaches you please call the FBI hotline or 911. There will not be any questions at this time. Thank you." You finished your speech.

"Oh my gosh." May said in disbelief.

"What? What is it?" Maddie asked her concerned.

"I know that man. He's always in Cali Café. The café that I really like and the one I brought coffee to you from. He's a barista." She said and Maddie knew what she was talking about.

"Have you told Y/N?" She asked and May shook her head. "I think you need to." She said and May nodded her head and pulled out her phone and dialed your number. You answered on the first ring.

"May?" You answered

"Y/N I know that man." May said to you.

"You do?" You asked surprised

"Yes he's a barista at Cali Café. That's my favorite place to get coffee. He was fired last week though for inappropriate behavior towards women and taking off so often." She told you and you nodded tho she couldn't see.

"Ok. May we are sending someone to stay with you until this whole things blows over. I want you to be safe and if you need to stay with Maddie." You told her

"Ok. I got it." She said

"Good. I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you May." You told her

"I love you too sis." She said and then you both hung up the phone.

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You relayed the information to the team and they had sent an officer her way. Everyone was working and trying to figure out a plan and his plan when Athena came rushing in "They just found a body." She said and that had you all getting up and rushing off. When you arrived it was in a park just like he originally had done. There were strangulation marks around her heck and she was severally beaten and the new signature of a bite mark. The 118 also arrived a minute later.

"That is Amelia Lanco." Rossi said standing up from having been bent down.

"Someone needs to go and inform the parents. Reid and JJ you go." Hotch said and they nodded and headed to one of the SUVs.

"I think now that he's dumped her. He's going to go after May now." You said and they nodded in agreement. You all didn't care who heard since you had already told the 118 and Athena. "We have an officer with her, correct?" You asked and Athena nodded her head.

"Yes Detective Lou is with her." She said and you nodded your head. Hen and Chimney had loaded Amelia up and headed off.

"Good." Just then the media rolls up and to be honest you were pissed. "What the hell is the reporters doing here? How did they get information?" You asked sounding pissed and everyone could hear it.

"Rossi and Prentiss go take care of it." Hotch said and he nodded and headed that way then you looked at Buck.

"Did you tell her?" You asked in a pissed off voice.

"I swear I didn't. You have to believe me. Y/N I promise I didn't." He said defending himself and that's when Bobby spoke up.

"He didn't tell her anything. He hasn't even looked at his phone since he's been at work." Bobby said to you.

"He's been with me the entire time." Eddie said and you nodded believing them but it still infuriated you that she found out somehow.

"Agent Nash! Agent Hotchner!" An officer yelled out and you and Hotch turned and saw an officer waving you both over. So with one last look at Buck who had an expression on his face that you couldn't place you and Hotch walked over to the officer.

Buck stood there and looking in shock. He then turned to Bobby. "I swear I didn't tell her." He said.

"We know that Buck. She knows that too but she's just stressed right now and from the looks of it not getting enough sleep. She would never jeopardize a relationship that she truly believes in. Just give her some time." Bobby said and Buck nodded.

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You were truly getting frustrated and were getting little to no sleep. Hotch has pulled you aside and talked to you about snaping on people and that if you didn't stop he was sending you back to the hotel. It was in the middle of the day when you got the worst news any FBI agent or sister to get. Your face drained of color and you would've collapsed if it weren't for Hotch holding you up. Athena was also there when she got the news and you two comforted each other.

Once you got over your shock you really dived into your work not stopping to do anything. "Ok so we know that he keeps them for a total of 2 days. He usually abuses them, sexually assaults them, strangles them, and slits their throats post-mortem. He then dumps them naked in the local park. He used to have a partner but doesn't anymore so it's going to be harder to dump them." You said pacing around thinking. You turned to Rossi "Did it say where May was taken from?" You asked.

"Y/N." He said and you looked at him with a look you've never given them before and it scared them.

"Where Rossi?" You said sternly and he looked at Hotch and he nodded.

"Coming out of the 911 dispatch center." You could've sworn you felt your blood boil.

"Wasn't Detecive Lou with her?" You asked incredibly annoyed.

"Yes there was but they found him knocked out where the cars were. Cameras did show that a black Toyota Corolla stop and the unsub got out and knocked him out and pushed May into the car." Hotch said.

"When was she taken?" You asked sternly

"This morning after her overnight shift." Reid told you

"Does Bobby know?" You asked looking at Athena who had just walked into the room when she heard commotion.

"No he doesn't." She said and you looked at Hotch.

"Go tell him in person. You need to cool off." He said tossing you the keys to the SUV and you stormed out and got into the SUV and drove to the firehouse.

You arrived at the firehouse and blew past several people until you got to the kitchen. You looked him straight in the eye "May has been taken." You could see the color drain from his face.

"When?" He asked "What are you doing here?" He asked again.

"This morning after her overnight shift. They sent me to tell you because I was starting to snap at people. Hotch told me to." You said and he nodded. Just then your phone buzzed. You looked at the message it was from Garcia she gave you the address "1157 California Lane. Is close to here right?" You asked looking up at your father.

"Yea it's about 20 minutes away from here." He said, and you rushed down the stairs with everyone following they watched you throw on your Kevlar vest and then get in the SUV before any of them could say anything and speed off sirens blaring. As you were driving you got a call from Garcia.

"Hey you're on with everyone else including Athena and the 118." She said and you didn't say anything.

"We're right here with you Sweetheart." Your dad's voice came through your phone.

"I'm almost there." You said

"You wait for backup. Understood?" Hotch said and you didn't say anything too busy grinding your teeth "Agent Nash. Do you understand?" He asked again voice going authoritative.

"Understood." You said teeth clenched together.

"Good. Here is the plan. When we all get there we'll all go in together and get May put safely." Hotch said and you knuckles tightened until the turned white. You knew you needed to follow orders but you didn't like it.

They continued you talking but you tuned them out when you arrived at the house. You switched your phone to your comm. You hated waiting. Just then a scream came from the house and you couldn't wait anymore.

"Hotch I can't wait anymore I'm going in." You told them.

"Just wait for backup. We're 10 minutes out." Morgan said and you shook your head.

"10 minutes is too late. I can hear screaming." You said getting pissed.

"Y/N, Sweetheart. Just hold on a little longer. I know its hard and it hurts. We're 8 minutes out." Athena said and again you shook your head.

"Y/N please listen to them. We're almost there." Buck's voice came through and you closed your eyes you wanted to listen.

"Agent Nash. Stand down." Hotch said but you needed to go now.

"I'm sorry, I'm not waiting anymore." You said and got out and ran to the door. They were screaming in your ear but you ignored them.

You got to door and tried the knob and it opened so you pushed it open and quietly walked in. You cleared each room one by one. Until you got to the basement and then May screamed again and that had your aderline pumping and walking down the stairs. You say May and you started to walk to her she had blood coming from a cut over her eyebrow and brushing on her temple along with a cut. She also had some signs of strangulation.

"Y/N/N?" She asked looking up and you nodded you holstered your gun.

"Yea it's me. We're gonna get you out of here." You said and spoke in your comm.

"I have May. I-" you said and then May stopped you.

"Y/N/N behind you!" She said and when you turned around the unsub, Jackson Phillips, was behind you with a 2x4 and he swung it and hit you across the temple. It had knocked you down and your vision was disoriented. You saw him coming for you and you used the wall to help yourself up as he took a swing at you, you ducked and he hit the wall and you stumbled forward holding your head. He grabbed your shoulders and pulled you up and punched you in the face. You need to fight back and so you did. You took a swing and successfully hit him across the face knocking him to the side.

"Jackson Phillips we can work this out." You said

"Oh no. Working it out with you people means guns." He said and stood up and rushed you. You stepped aside and he quickly recovered. This went on for about 3 minutes and both of you were pretty beaten up. He grabbed a knife and got some good cuts and stabs in you but you quickly disarmed him and then he grabbed a gun and you quickly upholstered your gun.

"One last chance. We can work this out and I can get you a deal." You said standing up in front of May to protect her and labor breathing. He raised his gun.

"I'm not going back to prison." He said and both of you fired two shots. One of his hit your shoulder and the other just below your vest. Both of yours hit his chest successfully but somehow he was still alive but barley hanging on. You stumbled over to May and untied her and then collapsed. And spoke into your comm.

"Suspect is contained. I'm gonna need a medic." You said and your words were slurred.

Then everything turned black. You didn't hear May's pleas for you to wake up or the pressure she had on your wounds. You felt nothing.

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Everyone could hear what was happening and it was breaking their heart. They drove as fast as they could. Buck, Bobby, and Athena were taking it the hardest.

They heard you fight with the unsub they heard every hit and every word.

"Y/N/N behind you!" May shouted and they heard you grunt in pain and then hit something metal. "

Jackson Phillips we can work this out." You said sounding out of breath.

"Oh no. Working it out with you people means guns." He said and more punching and throwing around could be heard along with grunting.

"One last chance. We can work this out and I can get you a deal."

"I'm not going back to prison." He said and both of you fired two shots. Everyone’s eyes went wide and they drove faster.

"Suspect is contained. I'm gonna need a medic." You said and your words were slurred.

Bobby had his head hung. Buck was looking wide-eyed. Athena was gripping the steering wheel. Hotch, Emily, Reid, JJ, and Rossi were in shock and afraid for their youngest member's life. They could hear May shouting out at you but you didn't respond.

"Y/N, please! Wake up! You can't leave!" She said but got no response back and they heard her start sobbing.

Everyone arrived and the BAU rushed in along with Athena and the 133 paramedics. Two other ambulances, 133 and 136, had arrived with them. Jackson Phillips was still alive but barley there. They loaded him up as Athena put cuffs on him and then the gurney "Keep him alive I want see him charged for murder and attempted murder of a federal agent." The 133 paramedics nodded and took off with him. Along with another officer to stand post at the room. The other suspect was healed and in prison already.

Emily had removed May with the help of JJ, she didn't want to leave but she knew she had to they took her the 136 ambulance to have her checked out. Hotch was bending down next you and putting pressure on. "Y/N, can you hear me?" He asked but you didn't respond. Chimney and Hen came down with a backboard. They started to put the pulse ox on your finger and hook you up to the heart monitor.

"She has a pulse but it's weak and her oxygen is dropping. We need to move her fast." Hen said and they all nodded and Hotch and Morgan helped them get you onto the backboard and helped them out of the basement and then onto a gurney. They got you into the ambulance and Bobby climbed into the ambulance. Chimney put an oxygen mask on your face as you started to come to and lolled your head the side and saw your dad there.

"Dad?" you asked slurred and he looked at you and you held your hand out to him for him to take.

"I'm here, Sweetheart." He said with tears forming in his eyes.

"Did I get 'im?" You asked eyes wanting to slip closed.

"Yea, Sweetheart. You got him." He said stroking the back of your hand. Then your grip loosened and fell out of his and your eyes rolled into the back of your head and your head lolled to the side as the heart monitor started to go crazy.

"She's flatlining!" Chimney yelled out and started to take your vest off and Bobby helped. Once it was off Chimney started to do chest compressions and then Bobby spoke up.

"Don't you leave me, Sweetheart. I can't lose you." He said and that seemed to work because your heartrate came back your eyes began to open.

"Hey, welcome back." Chimney said just as soon as they pulled up to the hospital. They got you out and wheeled you in and gave you off to the doctors "She codded in the ambulance once but came back." He said and they nodded. Now they had to wait.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

3 hrs. that is how long it took for you to be in surgery to repair some major wounds and remove the bullets. 3 hrs. is how long you spent fighting to survive. 3 hrs. is how long everyone had to wait nervously in the hospital waiting room. 3 hrs. is how long Buck had to wait for an update for the love of his life. Everyone had changed but Athena since she had to work still. Michael, David, Harry, and May were at the hospital as well waiting. Athena had arrived and spotted Bobby who was talking to Hotch and the rest of your team. "Any word?" She asked and they shook their head.

"No, not yet." Bobby said and she was about to sat something when your doctor came out and Bobby looked over and nodded his head.

"Family of Nash." Bobby, Athena, and Hotch walked over.

"I'm her father and this is her mother." Bobby said and pointing to Athena.

"I'm her boss." Hotch said and the doctor nodded.

"I'm Dr. Summers. I was Agent Nash's surgeon and doctor. We lost her twice on the table but she his stable now. I want her to stay here for a few days just to make sure she recovers well. You can see her but if she starts getting overwhelmed I recommend limiting her visitors." She said and they nodded their heads understanding "She's in room 555." She said and they thanked her and she was on her way.

They went over and told the others and everyone sighed in relief. Buck even collapsed in the chair. "We want to limit the people she sees to at least three." Bobby said and they nodded.

Hotch, Bobby, and Athena went first. They walked up to the room and looked through the window. They could see the brutal attack you went through. They walked in and you looked over to them. "Hey." You said weakly.

"Hey, Sweetheart." Bobby said for everyone.

"May?" You asked scooting up and groaning in pain everyone rushed to help you.

"She's ok, thanks to you. A little bruised and some cuts here and there but ok." Athena said and gently grabbed your hand and rubbed it. You smiled and then turned to Hotch, he knew what you were asking.

"They want you to stay here in the hospital for a couple of days. I also want you to take some time off and recover. You're not going to be able to fly for a few weeks so I thought you could stay here." He said and turned to Bobby and Athena.

"Of course. You don't even have to ask. It would be great to catch up." Athena said and you smiled so it was settled you'll be staying home for a couple of weeks.

Everyone visited you but Buck. You were a little sad but put up a wall and masked your feelings. You were just about to go to sleep when Buck knocked on your door and walked in and you smiled.

"Buck." You said his name and it brought chills up his spine.

"Hi." He said and walked over and sat down by your bed and you looked over to him "You gave me, well everyone, a scare." You smiled.

"Sorry about that." You said and chuckled but then groaned in pain and Buck jumped up.

"Are you ok? Do I need to go get a nurse?" He asked and you waved him off.

"It's ok. I promise." You said and he sat back down.

"Listen Y/N I really like no love you. I have ever since I laid eyes on you but never made a move. I was young and naïve and you were just visiting from Quantico. I want to be with you even if it is long distance." Buck said and you thought about it.

"I've always loved you Buck. You never seemed interested so I never went for it. You just never seemed to pay attention to me or knew I existed. I really do love you Buck but you're with Taylor and I don't want to get in the way of that." You said and before you knew it or continue his lips were on yours and you were kissing him back. You only broke apart when air was needed "Buck. What about Taylor?" You asked and he shook his head.

"I don't want her. I want you and only you. I'm going to break up with her when I leave here." He said and you nodded. He sat down and you two talked in a comfortable silence. Bobby and Athena walked back in, they had decided to stay with you until you were ready to leave. Buck left but not without giving you a kiss and a wink.

Bobby and Athena started asking 20 questions and you couldn't help but smile. This was the family you had been missing but you loved your job. Buck and you were finally together and everything was right now. Yes your job was dangerous but you loved it and wouldn't give it up for anything. You couldn't wait to start your recovery with the people you love.

[beautifultypewriter]

The Fourth Day of Christmas ~ Evan Buckley

Prompt: Decorating the Christmas tree

Pairing: Evan Buckley x reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 937

A/N: First time writing Buck, so I hope it's okay!

You struggled to hold the box in one hand as you used the other to twist the key to Buck’s apartment in the lock. You should have just texted him when you were in the elevator, but you figured you’d be fine on your own. You were wrong. The box almost slipped from your hand, but you caught it at the last second. With a sigh of relief, you managed to unlock the door and push it open, “Buck? I’m here.” Before you could even get the door shut, Buck was bounding into the room and taking the box from your hands. You tried to stop him, “I’ve got it.” He gave you a pointed look and you laughed, fully closing the door now, and stepping further into the apartment. Buck set the box on the kitchen island and watched as you looked around at the decorations.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, “So what do you think?” He looked around the room and you smiled as he refused to meet your eyes, instead opting to look around at all the work he had done. There was garland wrapped around the banister of the stairs and lights strung up wherever he could get them. It was colorful and warm

You smiled at him, “It looks great.” He smiled back at you and you clapped your hands together, “Let’s get started on the tree.” You moved over to the box you had brought with you and opened it up. You couldn’t wait to show Buck your ornaments. Each one was unique and held a special meaning to you and you wanted to share that with him. Turning back around, you were met with Buck holding a clear plastic box filled with colorful and glittery baubles. Your eyes moved from the ornaments to Buck’s face and back again, “What are those?”

He followed your gaze down and then he was looking at you again, his eyebrows furrowed, “They’re my ornaments for the tree.” He shrugged one shoulder as you only stared at him, trying to figure out how to word your next sentence.

“No.”

Buck took a small step back, his mouth open and his eyes wide, “No? What do you mean no?” He clutched the box tighter to his chest, turning slightly as if to shield the decorations from you.

You giggled quietly as you stepped forward, “I’m sorry. I just… I meant those are horrible ornaments.” Buck gasped and you giggled again, “It’s just there’s no personality. No sentimental value. Did you get them on sale?” You could see an orange sticker on the side of the box and Buck swiveled again to hide it from you.

“No!” His shoulders sagged and he loosened his grip on the box, “I might have.” His grip tightened again, “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Stepping forward, you ran your fingers through his hair, noting how he melted into your touch, “Of course not. I just think that you deserve something better.” With slow movements, you took the box of baubles from him and set them on the counter. You took Buck’s hand and pulled him over to the box you had brought with you, “Look at these.” You sifted through your ornaments, pulling them out to show Buck what you meant by better. The agnel that had been on your grandmother’s tree when she was a child, your Baby’s First Christmas ornament, the hand painted ornament you had gotten on your trip to Australia, a plastic bauble that had been filled with fake snow and decorated with stickers by your niece, and the Mickey Mouse ears that you had because he was your favorite character. You gushed over each ornament that you pulled from the box, stopping when you sensed that you had shown him enough to get your point across. Looking away from the box, you smiled, “You see?”

Buck wasn’t looking at your ornaments, he was looking at you, a dopey smile on his face as he nodded, “Yeah. Let’s put them up.” You nodded as you placed the ornaments back in the box and carried the entire thing over to the tree. Reaching in, you grabbed the angel and placed her on the tree. Buck followed suit and grabbed an ornament from the box and hooked it onto one of the branches.

The two of you worked together, Buck occasionally asking you about an ornament and you telling him 10 minute stories for each one. When the box was empty, you moved back to the kitchen and grabbed the baubles. Buck bit back a laugh as you open the cheap plastic container and picked a red and silver one, handing it to him. He took it by the hook as you grabbed another one for yourself. The pair of you moved over to the tree and filled in the empty spaces with your baubles. You grabbed a few more and Buck helped you fix any bare spots.

After the tinsel had been set on the branches, you both stepped back. Buck wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you close to his side. Your head moved to rest on his shoulder as you both stared at the glittery tree. Buck smiled, “It looks perfect.”

You nodded to him, “It really does.” You adjusted your position so you could look at him, “Thank you for inviting me and my ornaments to be part of your decorating.”

With a grin, Buck leaned down and pecked your lips, “Thanks for being part of it.” You smiled at him and turned to look at the beautiful tree once again.

[chiefdirector]

Oxygen | Evan Buckley | 9-1-1

No.1: Poisoned

Despite common dangers, and Bobby's constant reminders, it was quite easy to become familiar with dangerous situations, and therefore it was very easy to become lax with the safety equipment and the preventative measures taken when running into burning buildings. Buck knew that he should have been more careful, it had been drilled in him by every authority figure ever, but now he really wished he had double checked everything.

If he had, he would have had made it out of the building. The seal on his mask had been loose. It would have been an easy fix, swap it out for a spare. If he had swapped out the mask, he wouldn't have breathed in a medley of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

It felt surreal, he could hear his thoughts, some clear and some muddy, rushing through his head a mile a minute but the physical response wasn't there. He knew that he had to make it to an area where he could breathe better since his oxygen tank was useless with a broken mask, but he couldn't bring himself to move.

Despite this, Buck tried to lift his head. He barely got it a few inches from the ground before he dropped it quickly, head spinning from the movement. He had always heard the that the room spins around you when you get a head rush, but Buck felt like he was the one spinning.

Vertigo, he thought. He had heard Chimney mention it once or twice. He had always brushed it off, thinking he was just being dramatic but now he wished he had listened. He felt his stomach churn as he felt like he was plummeting down, as if he was on a steep roller-coaster.

Some vomit rose up his throat, it took a couple of attempts but he managed to swallow it down. The acidic taste lingered in his mouth though as thoughts of sickly days and drunken nights were brought to the forefront of his mind.

The more he focus on his thoughts, trying desperately to stay awake, the more he felt sleep lull him. He could vaguely hear his radio buzz with voices, but he wasn't too sure where it was. The familiar weight of it was missing from his shoulder. It must have fallen off when i fell down he thought,

He was sure by now Bobby was silently cursing him as he redirected the 118 to find him. He couldn't help but wonder if they would actually find him in time. Buck was usually lucky with his survival odds but this time he wasn't sure. This time he could feel his impending doom creeping up on him, its icy grasp reaching forwards.

Buck was too tired to fight back against it.

Masterlist | Whumptober Masterlist

And @ailesswhumptober is off to a start. I hope you stick with my this month as I once again hurt my darlings. :):)

[18273773y]

More than Ready

It had started like any normal afternoon. Eddie was in the kitchen, finishing up dinner prep, while Christopher played a video game in the living room. The sound of the front door closing behind his daughter, Sofia, pulled his attention.

"Hey, mija," he called, drying his hands on a dish towel. "How was school?"

"Fine," came the too-quiet reply. Her backpack was dropped by the door, and she walked straight toward the bathroom without even looking at him.

That wasn't like her.

Eddie frowned, watching the door close. He waited a minute before knocking lightly. “Sof? Everything okay?”

There was a pause. A long one.

"...Can you just... stay there? Don’t come in.”

That worried him more.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, already picturing scraped knees or maybe a stomach bug. "I’m not gonna barge in, but you gotta talk to me, alright?"

The door cracked open slightly, just enough for him to see a glimpse of her tear-streaked face. Her voice was low, embarrassed.

“I… I think I got my period.”

Eddie blinked. Not from surprise exactly—he knew it was coming eventually. He’d done the reading, talked to Carla, even bought a few things just in case—but it was still a bit of a shock. His little girl wasn’t so little anymore.

“Oh,” he said softly, stepping back just a bit to give her space. “Okay. That’s totally okay. Do you need anything right now?”

“I… I didn’t know it was gonna happen today. I think I bled through my jeans,” she whispered, face bright red. “It’s so gross.”

Eddie’s heart broke a little seeing how ashamed she looked. “Hey. It’s not gross, okay? It’s normal. It’s part of growing up. I promise, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

She sniffled, still unsure.

“I’ll go grab you a change of clothes. And the stuff we bought last month, remember? It’s in the hallway cabinet.”

“Can you just… hand it all through the door?” she asked.

He smiled a little. “Of course.”

A few minutes later, she emerged in sweatpants and a hoodie, face still a bit pink but visibly more at ease. She mumbled a quiet “thanks” before heading toward her room.

Eddie followed, stopping in her doorway. “Sof?”

She looked up, clearly expecting some kind of awkward dad speech.

Instead, he just smiled warmly. “I know this kind of stuff might be weird to talk about with your dad. But I’m here, always. No matter what. You’re never alone, alright?”

Her eyes softened, and she gave him a rare hug, burying her face in his chest.

“I was scared,” she admitted.

“I know,” he whispered. “But you’re strong. And you’re not alone. We’re a team.”

From the living room, Christopher called, “Are we still having spaghetti?”

Sofia let out a small laugh, wiping her eyes. “Yeah, we’re still having spaghetti.”

Optional Ending Scene:

Later that night, as Eddie cleaned up after dinner, he texted Carla a simple message: “Thanks again for helping me stock that cabinet. You were right—she needed it today.”

Carla replied within seconds. “Told you. You’re doing great, Papa Diaz.”

He smiled at the screen and looked toward his daughter, curled up with Christopher, teaching him how to braid a bracelet.

Yeah. They were going to be just fine.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

THE NEXT PART WITH BE COMEING THIS WILL BE A MULTIPAL PARTS

[holidaywishes]

Embers XVIII

Part Eighteen: The Next Chapter

  Summary of series: Katie moves from Peachtree, Georgia, to L.A. with her son, Alex to start fresh after the death of her husband. When she meets Evan Buckley, a young firefighter, she falls fast but will her son be so quick to accept Evan into his life?

  Summary of chapter: After a year with Evan, things seem to get more serious. Everyone loves a happy ending right?

  Warning: mostly fluff but there’s probably gonna be some angst in there as well

  Author’s Note: Can I just say that I love finishing up series? Don’t get me wrong, having something that I can keep adding to is great -- especially when it’s received well -- but sometimes these series just sit in my drafts for years before I touch them again so looking at them just makes me want to procrastinate more. So when I get to finish up a series, it’s super satisfying; like checking off everything on your to-do list or getting into a freshly made bed. Anyway, this one might be a little long but only because I was steadfast in ending this series at 118 (1 series, 18 chapters lol) so thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it, even just a little. Stay Golden, loves! <3!

  masterlist

�� the other masterlist

xx

Katie’s P.O.V

  After your talk with Bobby, you felt more at ease and things with Evan felt stronger than they’d been in a really long time. Which still made you feel like something was going to get pulled out from under you, it always did, but he’d say things like you were safe with him and that he’d always look after you and you always believed him; because he could always do that. It was like his superpower.

  “What if I told you that I wanted to be Alex’s dad?” Evan asked one Saturday morning while the two of you lay in bed before starting the day

  “Well... you’re not?” you said, confused, before propping yourself up on your forearm to look at him, “I mean you do know that right?”

  “I don’t mean I want to like.. go back in time and become his actual father,” he scoffed and you tucked yourself back into his side, “I want to adopt him”

  “Whoa” you replied, sitting up suddenly, in shock at how easily he said the words

  “What?” you felt him pop up from where he was laying

  “Evan…” you scoffed in return, your back still facing him as you searched for the words, “adopting a kid, any kid, is not just something you decide to do. I know that you and Alex have grown to really like each other—”

  “We love each other” he clarified, finally getting you to turn around to scoff at him

  “His dad was this… hero to him and now you’re a…” you hesitated, gesturing vaguely with your hands, “like a real life hero that he sees do courageous and brave things and that’s amazing. It lets him be brave in his own life but it’s dangerous”

  “Him being brave?”

  “Why do you want to adopt him? Now?” you asked, fully turning your body to him now, “we haven’t been dating that long, so why not wait? We’re not married, we don’t live together, why adopt him? Why go through that process?”

  “Because I love the kid”

  “Do you think I’m not enough for him?” you argued, “that he needs two parents to live a normal life?”

  “Whoa whoa…” he replied, pushing the duvet away from him to move closer to you, “you know that’s not what I’m saying. Hey, I had two parents who barely paid me any attention, so he’s already… I think you’re doing amazing”

  “So why now?” you repeated

  “After everything we’ve been through, I think it’s time we take that next step”

  “The next step would be moving in together,” you scoffed, “or giving each other a drawer at the others place, not straight into adoption”

  “Well, I mean…” he started and you raised your eyebrows, “we already kinda did that…”

  “No,” you said, standing up and raising your hands in defence, “we absolutely did not. I think I’d know if we moved in or gave each other a drawer… it would be hard to miss”

  “How much time have you spent at your place, with or without Alex, in the last like four months? Six months?” You spent about 2 minutes looking at him in disbelief before going back over the months in your head and contemplating your answer

  “I mean… about as much time as here”

  “Right..” he replied

  “That’s not the same thing. We never moved in together. It’s just the situation…” you explained, “your shifts are so all over the place that sometimes I don’t see you if I’m not here. So it’s just simpler”

  “Sure yeah,” he smirked, “of course”

  “Evan…”

  “Katie”

  “Even if it’s true that we have moved in together, without me realizing, Alex hasn’t,” you tried, “his stuff isn’t here. He hasn’t slept here as much as I have and, guess what, adopting him means that he’s around 24/7”

  “Nice try,” he smirked again, walking over to you before his arms reached around your waist, “I believe in this”

  “Believe in what exactly? Adopting him?”

  “Yeah,” he smiled, “and us”

  “That’s cute,” you scoffed playfully, “and that’s great. I believe in us too. But just because you want to adopt Alex, doesn’t mean he wants you to adopt him and none of it is going to be easy”

  “Who cares about easy” he teased

  “I do,” you added, “I really don’t like mess or complications…”

  “Then I’ll make it as simple as possible,” he smiled before leaning down to kiss you softly, “for you.” Your mind wandered into the softness of his kiss and the way his hands squeezed your hips that the topic of him adopting your son was nowhere near a priority. Though, you couldn’t really imagine it. Evan Buckley, a dad. An uncle? Yeah sure. He already was one. A pseudo-godparent? Yeah, okay. But a father? Even an adoptive father? No. It was a lot of responsibility and you weren’t sure that he could juggle work and being a dad, without always being the life-size, real-life action hero that Alex had come to love. All of these concerns made you think that there was something he wasn’t telling you and it made you nervous.

  “You’d tell me if Evan was planning something right?” you asked Hen, Karen and Eddie when the four of you got together on the weekend to take the kids to the park

  “Sure…” Hen hesitated before scoffing in confusion

  “I’m serious,” you laughed, “like you’d tell me if he was gonna do something big that could change our relationship completely?”

  “What are you going on about?” Eddie added with a laugh

  “He wants to adopt Alex” you sighed

  “What?!” Hen and Eddie exclaimed together, Karen taking a back seat to their shock

  “I mean Buck’s great with the kids,” Eddie started, “but being a dad isn’t like being a babysitter”

  “That’s what I said” you replied

  “He must have been just talking figuratively…” Hen added and you shook your head

  “He seemed pretty serious about it…” you continued, noticing a shy look on Karen’s face as she looked away. She knew something…

  “Well what was the consensus?” Hen asked

  “Uncertain,” you said distractedly, “alright what do you know?” You asked Karen, grabbing her attention back to the group

  “Huh?” she said, glancing at the three of you, and you raised your eyebrows as if to say ‘well…’

  “I don’t know what you mean…” she said, fidgeting with her earring, something that clearly meant something to Hen

  “Yes you do!” she scoffed happily, knowing her wife’s tells too clearly now, “what’s going on Karen?”

  “Okay fine!” Karen sighed in defeat, “Buck wants to propose”

  “Whoa” Hen and Eddie chuckled before you let your mind filter through your mouth

  “I’m sorry what?” you scoffed, “propose to me? Propose marriage? Not now though but like… just eventually?”

  “No like now,” Karen admitted, “he said he was gonna give you a key and the two of you were gonna officially be living together. Then he’d wait like a week and he would propose”

  “He’s insane,” you laughed uncomfortably, “he’s insane. That’s the only explanation for why he’s thinking these things — he’s lost his mind. Again”

  “Maybe he hasn’t” Eddie countered

  “What?!” You exclaimed

  “I think he’s thought it through,” he added, “as much as Buck thinks things through but come on. He loves Alex and he knows that the two of you are a package deal,” he laughed lightly

  “I mean if that’s the only reason, we have bigger problems than an early proposal” you quipped

  “You’re important to him,” Eddie clarified, “he loves you and I think if he’s talking about adopting Alex, then he’s serious about a future with you. The question is… do you see a future with him?”

  “Of course I do,” you started, “I mean I think I do but adoption is serious, marriage is serious…”

  “Maybe he’s testing the waters by asking you about adopting Alex?” Karen suggested

  “You just said he wants to propose” Hen chuckled

  “He does,” she admitted, “but he knows that you and Alex have been through a lot, so no matter what he said to me, even if that’s what he wants, he’s not going to rush you into anything. So, maybe this is him being more mature than we realized - all I’m saying is it seems like he’s thinking it through, not rushing into it because he feels like it’s the right time for him.” You took in what she was saying, at least he was being thoughtful but you couldn’t help but think it was still too soon; you already got married once too young and that didn’t work out as well as you hoped.

  “I think you just need to talk to him, Katie,” Hen said, bringing you back to reality, “I’m sure things will be more clear after you do.” You sighed as you nodded in agreement. Th next day, you walked in on Buck sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine, only to toss it aside when he saw you

  “Hey!” he exclaimed

  “Hey,” you said hesitantly, watching as he tucked the magazine under his leg, “whatcha doing?”

  “Nothin’,” he smiled, “just hangin’ out”

  “Can I talk to you?”

  “Sure, is everything okay?” he asked, his face showing his concern and confusion

  “Yeah, everything is fine,” you replied, sitting next to him on the couch, “I just think we should talk… about you wanting to adopt Alex”

  “Oh,” he replied, a smile on his face that quickly faded when he saw the concern on your face, “oh”

  “I think it's great,” you started, “that you love him so much. I love that you care about him but I want to make sure you're thinking about this clearly...” you admitted

  “Of course I am,” he replied, taking your hands softly in his, “I want to take care of him, keep him safe, both of you”

  “Yeah but Ev—” you tried but he interrupted

  “But I also want to share our lives together. Experience big moments and small moments,” his smile stretched ear to ear now, “make new memories. I'm not trying to replace anyone, or make him forget about his dad, I just want to be part of your lives...”

  “You are part of our lives,” you said, returning his smile and placing your hand on his cheek, “but adopting him means you're in it for the good and the bad. And sometimes it can feel like it's only bad. The older he gets, the more of a gremlin he's gonna be”

  “I'm ready for it”

  “Evan...” you took your hand off his cheek as you sighed

  “Katie...” he laughed lightly, taking your hands in his now and sitting on the couch in front of you, bringing you close to him

  “I'm serious”

  “So am I,” he insisted, “I love you.” You hesitated for a second because you knew you loved him but you knew that love can only go so far and you couldn't stop yourself from thinking that he didn't know what he was getting into

  “I love you, too,” you finally said, “and so does Alex, but it's a lot to handle”

  “I can handle it,” he sighed, rubbing his temple as he walked away, “I want us to handle it together. We'll support each other through it all”

  “I—”

  “I have never wanted to wake up next to someone more than I have wanted to wake up with you,” he interrupted again, “I have never felt more like home, more safe or more protective...” You felt your eyes widen as he walked back toward you, 'oh no,' you thought to yourself, 'it's happening.'

  “Evan” you tried but he wouldn't let you, he was on a roll

  “I've become a better version of myself and I want to continue growing with you and with Alex. I love you, Katie, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” He knelt down, opening a small box with a cushion cut ring inside and your mind almost went blank. You had to think about Alex, about what your life should be like for him, about what you wanted for your life and what you wanted it to look like, that you took a long time to answer but when you thought about it, really pictured it, you could imagine everything and you could see continuing a family with him. The love you had for him was so strong and you knew he would be an amazing addition to the little life you'd created

  “Yes,” you said quietly, the words escaping your lips while your face was still in shock, “of course I will” you repeated, the smile growing on your face with every breath you took. When he finally slid the ring on your finger, you squealed with excitement, “oh my god!”

  “This is the start of our lives, baby,” he said before kissing you, “get ready for it”

  “Don't mess it up, Buckley,” you joked, returning his kiss, “because I'm not messing around”

  “I wouldn't dream of it,” he laughed, “I love you”

  “I love you, too.”

xx

Evan's P.O.V

  You didn't know hearing one word could make you so ecstatic and yet, here you were, unable to stop smiling. You and Katie decided to sit down with Alex once you had both come down from your bubble of excitement

  “It'll be fine,” you assured her, rubbing her arms lightly to ease her nerves, “he's gonna be SOO happy”

  “I just don't want him to be caught off guard” she said

  “That's why we're not just eloping and telling him to come with us” you joked

  “Maybe I should tell him on my own,” she hesitated, “ease him into it, you know?”

  “Katie, Katie,” you returned, making your voice as soothing as you could, “don't worry. We're in this together. However good or bad he reacts, we're in this together - all three of us.” You were nervous too, you couldn't lie. Sure, you'd bonded with Alex, and you could see everyone fitting into each other's lives effortlessly, but maybe Alex wanted you at arms length in case something went wrong. Maybe he didn't want a "new dad," maybe he didn't think of you as an authority figure - maybe Katie was right...

  “Of course,” she said as she took a deep breath and a smile appeared on her face, “I’m sorry. You have to understand, our world has been pretty small for a while now, just the two of us, so bringing you into it feels a little… unnatural”

  “I understand that,” you replied, holding her hands in yours, “but trust me, everything is going to be okay.” She nodded and leaned into your shoulder as you kissed her forehead. When you both picked up Alex from school, it was clear that he was a little confused

  “What's going on?” he asked, turning his head between the two of you as he waited on an answer

  “Evan was around and he offered to pick you up.. with me” Katie said, attempting a half truth

  “I missed you buddy,” you laughed, “and your mom and I have something we want to talk to you about”

  “Oh god, what does that mean?” Alex groaned

  “Well.. we can tell you now,” Katie said, “or we can wait until we get home. What would you prefer?”

  “Is it good or bad?" he asked

  “Good” you and Katie replied in unison

  “Then now!” you peaked in the rear view mirror to see Alex's grin lighting up his face

  “Okay, well..” Katie started, turning to face her son while you focused on the road ahead, “Evan proposed”

  “Proposed?” Alex asked, confused

  “I asked her to marry me” you replied through the rear view

  “And I said yes” Katie said with a smile, but Alex was slow to respond and you could see the concern taking over Katie's posture

  “So...” he hesitated, "what does that mean?"

  “Well, that means that the three of us are going to live together,” she explained, “and there will be a big party with all of our family there and Evan's family too,”

  “The 118 too” you added, for good measure of course

  “It means we'll be a family, sweetheart,” she held his hands and waited for another response

  “Okay...”

  “What's wrong, bud?”you asked

  “Nothing” he said quietly

  “Alex, sweetheart, you can tell us,” Katie soothed, “what's goin' on in that little brain of yours?”

  “What about dad?” he finally asked. You knew Katie's heart was probably breaking, it was the one question she didn't want to answer and it was the one question you didn't know how to answer. The car was silent for a few moments and just before you were about to say something, Katie finally spoke

  “Dad will always be with us. With you, with me, with Oma, with Gran and Gramps. He's part of us,” she said, “the love he had for you, for our family, will keep him part of us forever, the love you had for him means he'll always be here. Baby, we're not losing dad by welcoming Evan in, we're just adding a little bit more love to the family."

  “But...” Alex stammered, “dad.. left”

  “Oh sweetheart, no,” she continued before a small tear escaped the corner of her eye, “daddy would have stayed with you forever if he could. He loved you so so so so so so so much”

  “Buck loves you,” he countered, pointing at you briefly, “does that mean he could still leave?”

  “He could,” she said frankly, “but he won't. You're safe with us sweetheart, I hope you know that”

  “I know,” Alex replied softly, “I just thought daddy was safe with us too and then he was gone”

  “Daddy's work is what took him,” she said, “he was safe with us but he wanted to make sure we could be safe without him, that our country could be safe... Alex, he didn't mean to... he didn't want to be...”

  “He loved you very much, Alex,” you interjected when you noticed Katie's stuttering, “and I'm not trying to replace him or take over. I just want to take care of you and your mom the way he would've wanted - the way that he did.”

  “You're not gonna leave?” he asked grouchily

  “I'm not goin' anywhere kid” you smirked

  “Good,” he smirked right back and sat straight against the seat, “then I guess you can marry my mom.”

  “I love you, baby” Katie smiled

  “I love you, too, mama,” he returned, “I love you Evan.” Your heart felt so warm when he said it that you wanted to sit in the feeling for a second before you could respond. A small smile grew on your lips as you took Katie's left hand in your right, grazing her ring with your thumb and looking in the mirror at a now content Alex in the backseat

  “I love you, too, buddy.”

[idkwhatimdoing729384]

Athena Grant x Daughter!OC

Part 1

Kate Grant is the oldest child of Athena and Micheal Grant. What if instead of Athena finding May after she overdoses, it’s Kate?

WARNINGS : swearing, overdosing

Kate is 21 years old, 5 years older than May.

————————————————————————————————————

Kate Grant walks into the house, almost immediately seeing her little brother, Harry, sitting on the floor, colouring.

“Hey bug, how was your day?” Kate asks, walking over and giving her little brother a quick ruffle on the top of his head, and then sitting down on a chair by the couch.

“Great” Harry says, going back to his colouring.

“Good” Kate says. “Where’s mom?”

“She’s out in the garden, and dad said to eat dinner without him” Harry says, not looking up from his colouring.

“I’ll bet he did” Kate mutters, trying to not hold a grudge against their father for what he did. “Where’s May?”

Harry looks up from his colouring, finally. “In her room”

Kate gets back up, leaving her little brother to colour, while she goes to see her younger sister.

“May! Kiddo, whatcha doing?” Kate calls, walking towards May’s closed bedroom door.

Kate knocks on May’s door, not getting an answer. “Damn headphones with that music up so loud”

“May” Kate says, opening the bedroom door to her sisters room. As soon as she opens the door she sees an empty pill bottle on the floor, Kate can feel her whole body go numb with dread. She looks to her right, seeing her younger sister laying on her side, on the floor.

“Oh my god! Oh god!” Kate cries out, rushing to her sisters side, propping her upper body against her bedside, so Kate can get a better look at May’s face

“No no no no no-MAMA!” Kate screams, praying to god their mother can hear her from the garden.

“May? May, it’s okay. May, come on-wake up, wake up-come on, it’s okay-look at me, look at me-MAMA” Kate continues yelling.

Kate holds May’s face in her hands, lightly slapping May’s cheeks. “Breathe jellybean, come on, kiddo wake up!” Kate keeps yelling.

“MAMA!” Kate screams again. Athena rushes into the room, from the garden, her hands still have dirt on them.

Kate looks at Athena, her face tear stained. “Mama, call 911!”

Athena doesn’t need to be told twice, she calls, but doesn’t leave either of her daughters.

————————————————————————————————————-

The ambulance has arrived, and the paramedics have May on a stretcher, taking her to the ambulance.

Kate follows behind her mother, with Harry right behind Kate.

“Mom, Kate, what’s wrong with May?” Harry asks, confused and scared.

Athena kneels in front of him, grabbing his shoulders. “Your sister isn’t feeling well, okay? I need you to go next door, to the Johnsons, call your father, tell him to meet me and Kate at the hospital, okay? Can you do that?”

Kate has already gotten into the ambulance, sitting next to May, waiting for her mother.

“Yes” Harry responds, still confused and scared.

“Lock the door, I have to go and ride with your sisters” Athena says, quickly getting into the ambulance, sitting next to her oldest.

“Her pulse is weak and threads-what’d she take?” The paramedic asks Athena, but Kate answers.

“Hydrocodone, had some left over from last year from dental work” Kate says, she saw the bottle and what it said.

“Do you know how many pills she took? The dosage?” The paramedic asks.

“Maybe six or seven were left, I-I don’t know” Athena answers.

One of the paramedics check May’s pupils.

“Pupils aren’t responding, she’s a six on the GCS, fading.” The paramedic says.

Once they get to the hospital, they’re wheeling May down the hall, Kate and Athena following.

“You’re gonna be fine, jellybean, you hear me? You’ll be fine” Kate says, even though her sister is unconscious.

The paramedics take May to the trauma centre, leaving Kate and Athena in the hallway, both scared.

[ilariyalavorowrites]

Reblogging as I have tweaked a few things after binge-watching Season 7 and the start of Season 8. This has given me a few ideas for a short sequel to Good Enough.

Tagged: @graniairish @madhatter-crazyasahatter-blog @4everflowercore @blueskyredrosegrey @agathaharknessfan96 @ljej95 @yoshinorecommends @horsedragonllama @forever2ne1 @clayzayden @multifandomlesbianic @thepotatoislost @tvshowmasterlistblog @guardianangelsblog @unkindn3ss-of-rav3ns @cptn-nash, @originalsoulcollector, @ateandleftnocrumbz @911readercollection

Good Enough (Chapter Ten)

Imagine: Imagine leaving LA after feeling like an outsider in your relationship with Bobby and Athena as they seem to pull away and distance themselves from you. Only to find that it is almost impossible to actually walk away.

Warnings: Angst with happy ending, AU, Bisexual Athena, BDSM

Pairings: Bobby Nash x Reader x Athena Grant

Word count: 4,025 words

Universe: 9-1-1

Reader gender: Female

Tagged: @graniairish @madhatter-crazyasahatter-blog @4everflowercore @blueskyredrosegrey @agathaharknessfan96 @ljej95 @yoshinorecommends @horsedragonllama @forever2ne1 @clayzayden @multifandomlesbianic @thepotatoislost @tvshowmasterlistblog @guardianangelsblog @unkindn3ss-of-rav3ns @cptn-nash @originalsoulcollector @ateandleftnocrumbz @911readercollection

Previous

Part: 10/10

“I desperately wanted to hate what I could see growing before my eyes, whilst I felt the sting of bitterness deepening within the depths of my soul.

Knowing I was being unintentionally pushed aside, I couldn’t bring myself to hate such tender love, pure and healing those festering wounds within you both. I knew there was no way forward. This was my out and I had to take it before those dreaded dark seeds blossomed. I could not be the one to tear down love as beautiful as yours.”

The sound of silence was almost deafening in how all-consuming it was, as you stood staring straight ahead. You had brought the axe down hard, cutting the conversation dead in its tracks. What else could be said after such a heart-breaking confession?

Your mouth was dryer than the Sahara desert as you waited for the oppressive atmosphere to pass.  You would have regretted the moment those words crossed your lips if they had been a falsehood, a lie to distract from the truth. However this was your reality, this was how you truly felt. You watched as Bobby’s hope deflated as he began to disappear into himself once more.

This cut deeper than anything else, as you witnessed his confidence and self-worth splinter into a million differently shaped pieces. This was not what you wanted but a by-product of your choices.

No matter how you phrased it, no carefully thought-through planned statement could have stopped the blunt force of agony that swiftly followed. It was a hard pill to swallow but you couldn’t skirt around what this was. This was the end of the road when hearts got broken, where feelings were pushed out of the way for the cold harsh light of day. This was a break-up, one that had been long coming. You had heard the deafening sirens in the distance but ignored them for as long as possible. You had truly wanted this to work, you had clung to the notion that they were it, your endgame. 

This was failure plain and simple, no matter how it was presented even neatly with a bow tied on top. This attempt at an unconventional relationship, a throuple had crashed and burnt in a way that you hadn’t given a second thought to. Yet here you were with an increasingly despondent Bobby. Athena had held steadfast to her Second Amendment rights, falling silent and staring anywhere else in the room to avoid your gaze.

You felt as if you had been caught with your hand in a cookie jar when you had been told no treats before dinner. At this moment, shame and guilt were the most prevalent emotions but shades of regret and the anguish of waking up alone tomorrow were starting to manifest, mixing in. The weight of this new dawn was unlike what you had experienced before. You had navigated through both messy and amicable breaks before but this felt on another level.

This would be a whole new scenario to manoeuvre through, the various twists and turns that encompassed the maze that you standing in with walls that stretched as far as the eye could see. Your reality had somewhat shifted, changing the illusionary location rapidly. In a blink of an eye, the interrogation room melted away. This was what your mind replaced it with. An inescapable maze of your own design, that you rushed through but constantly failed to find the correct path that would lead you out.

This was your anticipated worst-case scenario in one way yet things were not playing out as you initially imagined. It was a hell of a lot worse, than anything that your twisted mind would conjure up. You should feel relieved as the pressure on your chest was finally released as you spoke what had been lingering in the back of your mind. However, that dejected look in Athena’s eyes stung more than you ever thought it might as if that knife you used to cut the thread connecting you to them had been turned around and wrapped itself around your damaged heart.

It twisted left then right, damaging just enough with each turn to leave a permanent mark behind. A reminder whenever you found yourself alone with your thoughts. There it would be, a figurative wound, raw and never truly closing for all your days to come. A fractured heart, aching to be healed but the missing piece could never be reclaimed. This was the price too high that would be paid here and now. The piper was calling and this was your reply.

What else was there to be said? The ball was in their court, you just needed to be patient and wait to see what happened next. Bobby Nash, Fire Captain of Firehouse 118 stood off to one side contemplating how small his world had just become. In a few short minutes, his happy little world had frozen over as feelings of failure, inadequacy, confusion and grief overtook his peripheral vision. Sliding over him like the visor clicking down on his helmet. 

This felt like a step to the side, not a step backwards into the darkness. He wasn’t alone in his despair this time. He had a partner along for the ride, sharing the load as he felt Athena slide along before placing her hand into his. An act of comfort, this was what he needed. Tears would come but not quite yet. He had cried enough for more than one lifetime. Athena barely contained the sorrow as it quelled beneath her simmering fury. 

The storm had come and gone, brushed aside in the heat of the moment. A numbness soon followed, settling over the two of them as they took their first steps back into the world, their hearts bruised and cracked but holding firm. Knitting the threads that held them together tighter than before. This had tested them, pushing them to the edge, only to pull them back again. 

One where things hadn’t worked out when they tried taking a different path, by inviting one another in and opening up their cosy relationship. It had been one hell of a ride, where flames of passion smouldered. Ultimately the spark dimmed as that once fierce blaze cooled until three had disappeared right back to where it had been in the beginning, just the two of them. Where a couple stood on by, watching as their third left. 

Had the right person stumbled in at the wrong time? This bizarre thought dared to cross his mind. Maybe this was simply poor timing and ill-planning. He had nothing but time to run through all the questions, the what-ifs and the rabbit holes that it might lead him down. Athena would be there to set him straight when he’d evitable delve too far into the depths of his mind, becoming lost in the dark. She would be the light to emulate the path hidden from his sight.

This was both an end and a new beginning. It would be an uphill battle, only this time he would have someone else along for the journey. “This was never the plan when Athena and I opened up our relationship, to invite you in for a time and then to push you right back out into the cold” He started as he worked through his thoughts, trying to vocalize his rapidly shifting feelings. 

He was everything all at once. A perfect storm locked away in a glass flask but the fierce winds were steadily calming. Athena was another story together as she had remained tight-lipped. All her words were locked away in a vault, under lock and key. There was no doubt that she would make one hell of a poker player, as she masked through each time she bluffed about the cards in her hand. Winning round after round with ease. Burning holes in various pockets and wallets like a seasoned pro. This was different, this was her vanishing beneath her mask and simply walking away.

Storm Athena had vanished in a blink of an eye but was it for the better? That would be the question you would be battling with in the days to come. Overanalyzing all the little details of this moment, trying to find sense and logic in her actions. Trying to almost read what was happening within, to hear those precious few thoughts that indicated her next play, the steps that she would inevitably take.

Would things ever be amicable? You hoped that would be the case in time but that’s all you could do. Hope that the day would crest over the horizon sooner rather than later but you wouldn’t push. They deserved all the time in the world as the walls sheltering their little piece of paradise began to rebuild. As their battered and bruised hearts started on the next stage of their healing journey without you. This was how it needed to be. Athena, I know that you don’t want to talk to me. Hell, I don’t expect you to even respond or read this but please know that I never meant to hurt you or Bobby. I saw the door start to close and simply reacted. 

I should have tried harder to reach out, to be heard but we are long since past that. I don’t know if I’ll be back this way but please know that I did cherish the time that I was there, standing toe to toe with you and Bobby. I would never want to stand in the way, have that loving affection turn sour and embittered by the very experience of having a front-row seat to a show that slowly capsizing.  

You deserve better than this, you both do. The dear John letter was a stupid and careless idea that I never thought all the way through but please know that I will never freeze out the lines of communication if you ever think of me and want to reach out for that long overdue talk. I will say this one last thing, 

I did deeply care about the pair of you, you meant the world to me but this was not our time. This was not ours but it is yours and Bobby’s. I saw that secret smile whenever you locked eyes with him and vice versa. A love story in motion but I was grateful to have been a part of it. I wish you nothing but all the happiness in the world for all that is to come. 

Clicking send hadn’t been the hardest part, as you sat in the back row of the Grey Hound bus heading out of town. The hospital had arranged transport to the bus station then the rest had been up to you. Your one-way ticket was tucked firmly between the pages of the cheesy romance book you had picked up in the little shop at the hospital on your way out. Something to keep your mind preoccupied for the long hours ahead. 

You had let yourself chuckle softly when you had first pulled it out of your bag. You hadn’t even checked the title when choosing between the limited range and selection staring up from the shelves. there had been a grand total of three different books to choose from, you had split down the middle and just gone for door room two which had turned out to be the only romance-heavy option. It was truly karma in action, a borderline cruel reminder of what once had been yours. 

An epic love for ages, well it might have been if the fire hadn’t been blown out. You had been one to finish off those embers, never once giving them a chance to reignite. Now as you sat staring out of the window watching the world rush past. A sense of conflicted peace rolled over. This was a new beginning, a chapter closing as you started on a new adventure into pastures unknown.

Whether the grass was greener on the other side, you’d soon find out as the bus turned the corner and headed out onto the freeway. You had crossed the point of no return more than once in the last few hours. Or so it felt but there was no point in looking backwards, no matter how much it hurt to admit.

Silently you muttered a single word, finally cutting the tattered remains of the thread that held you in place.

Goodbye

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a rollercoaster of ups and downs in the years since you had last dared to step foot in Los Angeles. Both professionally and personally. You pushed any thoughts of those failed relationships and the dead-end jobs that landed at your feet when you had struggled to begin again. 

Home had found you when an unmissable job opportunity crossed your desk one fine day, three months back. It was almost impossible to stop your fingers from typing up and updating your resume. Before you had known it, you had completed the application and clicked the send button launching into the depths of the electronic superhighway that was the internet. Regret did not follow in its wake. You had anticipated some awkwardness resonating within you but nothing occurred.

You had expected nothing to come from it, it was a shot in the dark. Yes, you had the skills and the experience in a similar field but would that be enough? As you worked your socks off day in and day out, you had pretty much forgotten about that one particular job application sent three weeks prior. 

You had long since concluded that if you hadn’t heard by now then you were highly unlikely to hear anything at all. You pushed forward with the daily grind. Going to work and then back home. Rinse, lather and repeat. 

Until that one notification last thing on Friday night shook things up. An interview came and went before a second dropped in and then a third soon followed after. Before long an offer of another job, a chance to spread your wings and take flight back to the City of Angels manifested. All that you needed to do was simply say yes, well that and find a place to set up shop. Apartment hunting pre-pandemic was hard enough but this was a whole new ball game. Virtual viewings were the done thing in the post-pandemic world.

Viewing a possible home through the screen of any available device, a tour at your fingertips allowed you to go from room to room as you tried to ascertain whether this one, the third tour of the day was the one. Whether it met all your basic requirements. Was it too far from your base of operations? Was it located in a reasonable neighbourhood? Were there good transportation links into the city itself?

Question after question arose as you continued to scroll into the next room. This seemed a lot harder than all the times before when you had needed to go apartment hunting. It was turning into a headache, they all could easily be made to look rather bigger with the click of a well-positioned camera lens. 

As text came through lighting up your phone screen, you paused the video for a moment. The name displayed above the message knocked you for six. You hesitated opening it, for it could easily go one or two ways. At this moment in time, you were solely existing in Schrödinger's cat type of scenario.

It could both be a harmless conversation starter, cracking open what once had been slammed shut or yet it could be something that held steadfast to the notion of flogging a dead horse. Or it be both at the same time but until you dared to look inside that box, you wouldn’t know. Without a second more to mull it over, you clicked upon it. You held your breath as the message revealed itself to your increasingly growing anxiety that bubbled within.

After all this time, Athena responded and replied to the mammoth message you sent way back when. Your olive branch to do right by her, to have the chance to sit down and talk like adults. To see if it was truly possible to let sleeping dogs lie and move forward as friends. You hated the idea of completely burning that bridge and cutting her and Bobby out of your life because of the mistakes that had been made. There had been the building blocks for a stable foundation which you have decided had been breaking apart at the seams.

In the time since then, you had searched through every avenue of what had been. Through rose-tinted glasses, you had viewed the long hours, the lapses in replies and the never-ending chain of cancellations and rearranged dates in haste. They were a part of the daily ups and downs when dating two first responders. You had acted with the emotional range of a moody teenager. You hadn’t taken the time to consider what it meant for them, who you were at the end of the day.

You were meant to be their safe harbour, away from the multiple emergencies that lingered on the other side of that door. When it closed, you could have their light in the dark leading through the long nights. Instead of being the salve to heal their wounds, you had ripped them wide out, tearing out their hearts, watching as they bled at your feet when you had penned that letter without even giving either of them a second thought.

It had all been about you. You had changed and grown as a person since then learning more about how to navigate a relationship. The many twists and turns that came and went day in and day out and learning from your past indiscretion. When it came to communication, it truly did lay at the heart of every relationship. Looking back, it hadn’t been your finest hour, the last time you were even in the state. You had run away, with your tail tucked firmly between your legs. Across several state lines until you found yourself darkening your brother’s door. He had been expecting you. 

Only a few weeks later than initially planned. You had kept him updated from your hospital bed, your ear red raw from his worried rants, stuck on repeat like a broken record. Each time you called, he softened his tone and inclination and by the time you arrived. The once bare-to-the-bone wire-like threads that had once connected you had begun to heal, deepened as that proud man opened his heart and mind to welcome home the sibling that had been pushed away. It had been a challenging climb but he had been by your side, walking in tandem.  He had grown as a man, a brother and a human being. 

One relationship had flourished, whilst another faded away. However this message, oh how it made your heart skip a beat. Anxious laden but still hope began to flutter its paper-thin wings as it flicked back to life.

I will not deny that your actions hurt, not only me but Bobby too. It has taken me years to come to terms with how things went down. I’m ready to talk, understand and move forward then we can go from there. 

It had been frank and straight to the point like the woman behind those words but it was a chance. One that you won’t waste this go around. It was hard not to smile, to fight back those feelings that you long since buried. Soon enough those dreaded butterflies would take up residence within your stomach but you won’t let them consume you. This was a fresh start, not a blank slate. 

Athena, thank you for this. Let me know when you are free to speak. I am ready to answer all the questions you have. I’m sure that there are plenty, I will be nothing short of completely honest with you

You watched the screen, waiting for those two little ticks to appear. The sign that the message had been delivered then you’d have to kill time until the colour changed from grey to blue showing that Athena had read your message. You placed your phone down as you couldn’t be glued to that device like a lovesick fool. The ball was now in her court now. 

When the message arrived, it was simple. A date and time staring up at you. A question then arose in the back of your mind, who would be the one to initiate the phone call in question? However, before you could even type out a response, another message appeared. She would be the one to call you. It felt damn near bizarre finding yourself in a situation such as this. However, you’d pushed on through, if it meant salvaging a relationship from the burnt-out wreckage. Even if it would be nothing but wholly platonic in the long run.

As you typed out a quick reply, you smiled softly feeling happier than you had in months, as a renewed sense of peace washed over you as you made your way out of the room. A list as long as your arm began to form in your mind of all the possible questions that might soon be coming your way. 

“It’s a start. It's the best that I could have hoped for” You softly repeat like a mantra as you consider the next steps. Whatever they might be. The bounce in your step would come in time but still, each stride no longer felt like you were walking in treacle. Weighed down by the guilt that you had long since carried upon your shoulders. 

Peace was just the beginning if things truly went well. This was only the first of hopefully many steps upon this new trail off the beaten path. 

New memories were to be made, once you had truly arrived but you knew that shouldn’t get ahead of yourself. One foot in front of the other, never pushing forward unless the opportunity presented itself. You finally could let go of that aching sense of guilt that hung deftly around your neck. The hangman’s noose tightened of its own accord through the day, worsening when you were lying alone at night, clock-watching until sleep overtook you. 

Pushing away the persistent thought of what if, what if you could go back and change the order that events had played out. You simply couldn’t but it was in the past, finally buried when Athena knew the reasoning behind your actions. The why, the how and the emotions that drove your hand when drawing the next card from the deck of life. 

When you drew the next one, it would be the one that changed your tomorrow. There'd be a bright light that you’d lovingly strive to keep joyfully humming in all the days that were to come. Through the many ups and downs as you rode through the hard and trying times, through the days when the sun shone brightest as if it was only illuminated for you and the ones you loved.

The hours seemed to rush past waiting for the sun to slip beneath the horizon. As day seamlessly melted away, the night took hold. You stood silent as a mouse, staring out at the night sky smiling to yourself as innocent enough thoughts overtook as you pictured a new dawn. This was only the beginning, to gain Athena’s forgiveness, trust and friendship was a road that needed to be walked. A journey that you had started, crossing the threshold when you had held out an olive branch.

You had gained ground but that conversation was all that mattered. You wanted to make good on your promise. Tomorrow was now more than just another day, one to toil through the hours until it was time to head home. Athena then maybe one day you could bring yourself to face Bobby.

As you rebuild your world, one thread at a time. It would not be the same as before but still, it would be home.

[foolsocracy]

sometimes JPV and Az make me so sad i have to send Bruce out to go get another ward

[munsonsmixtapes]

Take it All Off

Evan “Buck” Buckley x plus size!fem!reader

You show Buck your new outfit and he’s more than happy to show you how much he loves it.

cw: MDNI (18+) smut (p in v) unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it) body worship, body insecurity

Thanks @the-witty-pen-name for giving me this idea!

You check yourself out in the mirror, turning this way and that, admiring what you look like in the little number that you bought. It somehow looks even better than it did in the dressing room. The top is definitely more low cut and revealing than you would usually go for. It’s a pretty green color and laces up in the front. It shows off more than you usually would, but you have to admit that you love the way you look. Especially paired with the jeans you also just bought.

They hug your body in just the right spots and now you can’t wait for Buck to get home, knowing that he’ll love your new look. He loves you if whatever you want to wear but you know that he especially loves when you wear something tight, the way the fabric hugs your curves. It never fails to make him want to take you right then and there.

You hear the front door open and you tighten the laces to give yourself more cleavage then try your best to put on a flirty face as you see Buck enter the room in the reflection of the mirror. His eyes widen as he gets a good look at you and you continue to fake flirty faces at him.

He marches over and grabs hold of your arm, turning you around to face him. His eyes rake over your entire body, lust filling them as he does so. He doesn’t know what the occasion is, but he’s not going to question it. He thinks you look fucking hot.

He was already hard beyond belief from the photo you sent of the outfit while he was at work, but now he can barely hold it in any longer seeing you in person. He’s got to have you and he’s got to have you right now. He’s going to worship every inch of your body, to show you just how much he loves it. Especially because he knows that you need reassurance sometimes.

“Fuck,” is all he’s able to say as his eyes travel back up to your cleavage. “I mean-fuck-” He’s at a loss for words and your cheeks heat at what you assume is a compliment.

“You like it?” You ask and his eyes travel back up to yours, giving you a look as if to ask if you’re serious.

“Love it,” he replies. “Let me show you how much.” There’s no way you’re going to say no to that. He sits at the end of the bed and helps you straddle his waist, his hands resting on your waist, his favorite place to hold onto. Your arms warm around his neck as he pulls you in for a kiss.

He’s warning you up like always, being gentle before getting rough like he knows you like. You’re the one who always takes it there but he loves giving you the control. He just wants his girl to be happy and he doesn’t care what he has to do to make it happen.

“I’m going to fucking worship you,” he whispers against your lips. “Gonna show you just how much I love you. All of you. Because as much as I love that top, honey, it has to come off.”

Your cheeks heat at his words and he pulls you in for another kiss, his arms wrapping around your waist tightly as his tongue flicks into your mouth. It plays with yours and you can’t help but moan at the feeling, needing him now more than ever.

He continues to kiss you as if his life depends on it as he unlaces the top, going as slowly as possible, wanting to savor your kisses as he does so. Once he’s got it all undone, he pulls back as he pushes it off of your shoulders, the thing falling down your arms and clattering to the floor.

Buck takes a moment to take in your now bare chest. He’s always so taken aback by how absolutely beautiful you are, almost like he’s looking at you for the first time. He always feels like the luckiest man in the world and he can’t believe that out of all the men on this earth, you chose him. And he’ll never take that for granted.

He leans you back just a touch as his hands rest against your bare back. He leans down and pressed feather light kisses to your shoulder, peppering it with them before making a line of them across your chest to the other shoulder. In between, he whispers compliments into your skin, wanting you to know exactly what it is about you that he loves so much.

“Your skin is so soft,” he says as his lips find their way to your neck, tilting your head to the side so he has more access. “And you smell so good.” He takes a deep breath through his nose to get a whiff. “I love when you spray your perfume on my clothes.”

“I’ll do it more often,” you reply as he buries his face into your neck.

“Please do.” He presses another kiss to your neck and another and another before he goes in for a hard suck, making you gasp before melting into him. He knows how much you love when he leaves his mark on you.

He continues to lick and suck on your neck as your hands rest on his shoulder blades. And when he bites down, you let out a loud moan as your fingers curl, your nails digging into his back. He’s holding back a smug smile as he hears how good he’s making you feel.

Your back arches into his as he bites down again and again, making you moan over and over until you can’t take it anymore, orgasming as he gives you one more bite before pulling away.

As Buck picks you up and carries you over to the bed, you know that this is far from over. And you’re happy to let him do anything he wants to you. For once, he’s in charge and you’re looking forward to lying down and taking it.

His hands go to unbutton your jeans and he pulls them down your legs with a little struggle but he eventually gets them off, followed by your panties which both end up in a pile on the floor. He takes a moment to take in your naked body before taking off his own clothes, throwing them to the side where yours have been discarded.

Before you get a chance to look at him, he places himself on top of you and takes your hands in his before kissing your lips. This one is more gentle than the others but it still makes your head spin, especially when he smiles into it because you make him that happy. You really can’t believe you found the perfect man.

Just when you’re getting into it, he pulls away and goes back to kissing your body again, whispering more compliments into your skin, making it heat.

“I love your stretch marks,” he says as he lets his fingers dance along the grooves of the ones that line your hips. He tells you this all the time but feels the need to every time he thinks about it because he just wants to assure you that he loves you just the way you are. “I know you don’t, but I love them. They not only give you character, but they make you you.”

You can feel yourself tearing up and it makes you feel silly considering what you’re about to do but you can’t help it. Buck always knows exactly what you need to hear. He wipes away your tears then pressed a kiss to every single stretch mark he can find and you can’t help but feel yourself tear up again, knowing for sure that this is the most you’ve ever felt loved in your life.

When he comes back up, he peppers your face with kisses, letting you know that you can cry if you need to, wiping the tears away as you fall.

“I just love you,” you tell him which makes him smile before he leans in for yet another kiss.

“I love you too,” he replies and when he pulls back to look you in the eyes again, he knows that you’re ready. He goes to reach for a condom but you’re quick to stop him and he hopes that he hasn’t done something to upset you.

“I don’t want to use one. I want to feel you. I want it to feel more intimate.” He smiles again as he leaves the condom on the bedside table. Neither of you have ever done this before but you have to admit that it feels freeing.

You both watch as he gets inside you-just the tip so you’re not overwhelmed-and he slowly starts to thrust. The whole thing feels so foreign but you both have to admit that feels so good.

Buck’s pace picks up just a bit more and the fact that you already look like you’re close encourages him to go even faster, even harder. You’re already coming undone, feeling like you could come apart any second. And Buck’s encouraging words are definitely helping.

“You look so pretty, angel. Sound so pretty. Make some more sounds for me?” His hands grab hold of your hips, nails digging into your skin as he goes even harder, pounding into you again and again, his sweet words contradicting his movements.

You can feel him, all of him and you’re sure that he’s never been this rough with you before but you definitely don’t hate it. You love that he doesn’t feel like he has to treat you like you’re fragile. Just because you’ve felt insecure in the bedroom before doesn’t mean that you don’t like it rough from time to time.

“That’s it, just like that,” Buck encourages as he watches you moan again and again. You buck your hips against his as your hands move up to his shoulders. He catches you off guard when his hands slide underneath you, maneuvering you so he can get even farther inside, and you whine, tears pricking your eyes again as you can practically feel him in your stomach. “Look at you. Taking all of me so well. Such a good girl for me.”

You know this is going to be the shortest you’ve ever lasted, but you can feel yourself getting progressively more tired as his thrusts get more intense. Your orgasm is approaching as your eyes start to get heavy.

He’s still going as you reach your peak, knowing that you don’t have any more in your, feeling your body getting lip. So as you’re coming down, getting progressively more tired as Buck pulls out, you don’t even have the energy to move when he starts to clean you up. You just lie there as he cleans himself up.

And when he comes back from disposing of the towel, he helps you get into the bed where he pulls you to him, bare skin against bare skin. He kisses you again and again as his fingers dance lazily along your back before you both eventually fall asleep in each other’s arms, thinking that you’re the luckiest people in the world to have each other.

[oneshotnewbie]

In the glow of roses

Athena Grant x Reader

Summary: Athena accidentally forgets her anniversary with you due to a particularly stressful case. When she comes home and realizes that you prepared a romantic dinner, she feels guilty. But instead of being disappointed, you surprise her with how understanding and loving you are. Together you find a way to save the evening and enjoy a romantic moment that proves that your relationship is not about perfection, but about love and understanding.

Authors note: I hope you can still enjoy the fluff, even if it is not angst that you are used to from me. Enjoy ♥

ᕚ---ᕘ

Athena Grant let out a heavy sigh as she finally pulled into the driveway of her house, the hum of the engine echoing in the still night. Night had long since fallen, and the fatigue she felt, digging deep into her muscles, was not only physical, but mental as well. The case she had been working on had taken her hours and drained all her energy. An armed robbery, panicked witnesses, and a chase that seemed never-ending - it was one of those days when her work consumed her completely. The responsibility of protecting lives and bringing them home safely weighed heavily on her.

The adrenaline that had been pumping through her veins was still palpable, but the moment she opened the front door and took the first step into the house, she felt a different kind of unease as a queasy feeling overcame her and her stomach clenched.

The room was bathed in a soft, warm light. Candles were all over the living room, their flickering light reflecting off the shiny surfaces of the furniture. Her gaze wandered further, and as she looked at the lovingly set dining table, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

The anniversary. She had completely forgotten about it.

Her heart stopped for a moment, and a wave of guilt hit her with full force. You had gone through the trouble of preparing a romantic dinner. A bouquet of red roses in the center, fine dishes, a bottle of red wine sparkling in the candlelight, and the scent of freshly cooked food floating in the air - a spicy aroma that she usually found soothing, but now felt like a sharp stab in her heart. It was obvious how much effort you had made, and Athena felt as if she had lost the air to breathe.

Her throat tightened, and she had to blink to hold back the rising anger at herself. Athena stopped dead in her tracks when she saw you coming out of the kitchen. You both looked at each other, and there was unmistakable remorse in Athena's eyes. She expected a look of disappointment or even sadness, but all she saw was gentleness and warmth.

You smiled gently, if a little tired, and your lips formed a quiet "Hey."

She opened her mouth to say something, but her words got stuck in her throat. She could see how much love and devotion went into every detail. "I... I forgot," she finally stammered, her voice rough and brittle as she turned her head slightly to the side. She took a step closer, now able to smell the smell of the food and the roses more clearly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to forget it."

You walked slowly towards her, your eyes soft and understanding, although there was a hint of pain in them. But instead of blaming her, you lifted her chin with two fingers so that your eyes met again. "It's okay," you whispered, your voice radiating warmth as you gently stroked Athena's cheek with your thumb. "I know you've had a hard day. I know how much you sacrifice. And I know you love me - and that's what matters."

Athena felt her heart clench, but not out of pain, but out of relief. The gesture, as small as it was, felt like a gentle embrace of her heart. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to swallow the guilt and pain. "I should have remembered," she murmured, placing her hand on yours, which was still resting on her cheek. "This day is special for you, and instead..."

You shook your head slightly and pulled Athena closer to you, put your arms around her and held her tight as if you never wanted to let her go again. "'thena, it's okay. This day is important to me but I also know how important your work is to you."

She could feel your gentle heartbeat against her own chest, a rhythm that had a calming and stabilizing effect on her. She closed her eyes and leaned your head on her shoulder, feeling the warmth and familiarity that she always valued so much. Your arms around her felt like a safe haven, a place where she could just be herself - without the pressure and responsibility that so often burdened her.

"How can you be so understanding?" she whispered in your ear as she placed her hands on your waist and pulled you immediately closer. The warmth of your bodies, so close together, began to drive the tension of the day from Athena's limbs.

"Because I know you," you answered softly, running your fingers through her hair, letting her feel that every touch was full of affection. "And I know that we don't have to be perfect. It's not about making a day perfect. It's about being there for each other, even on the most chaotic days."

Athena pulled back for a moment and looked deep into your eyes. Her own shone with gratitude and love. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me," she said quietly, her voice sounding gentle and honest. "I will try to show you that more often."

She lowered her head and gently touched your forehead with her lips while her fingers gently glided over your arms, gentle touches that seemed like a quiet promise. "I wish I had realized earlier how perfect you are in my eyes," she said more quietly, almost whispering. "My thoughts should have been with you instead of letting everything else take over."

You smiled gently, your eyes sparkling in the candlelight. "It's not too late. The evening is still young," you said and took her hand to lead her to the dining table. "Then let's enjoy the evening now. It's not too late to create a beautiful moment."

Athena sat down, her fingers still tightly entwined with yours. The wine tasted velvety on her tongue, and the food filled her stomach with love. As you ate together, the tension slowly released from Athena's shoulders. Every smile, every gentle look and every touch made her relax more and more. The warmth that flooded through her was like a reminder that the essence of your relationship was not defined by perfect moments, but by the connection you shared.

After dinner was over, you stood up, a wide grin playing on your lips. "Come with me," you said and led Athena into the bathroom, your hands tightly clasped together. The bathroom was already enveloped in a romantic, dreamlike atmosphere. Here, too, there were candles everywhere, the flames reflected on the walls while rose petals floated on the surface of the water. The scent of roses was in the air and mixed with the aroma of essential oils that permeated the water.

Athena looked around and her eyes widened. She could hardly believe how much effort you had put into making this evening special. "You prepared all this for me?" she asked, her voice almost toneless with emotion. Her gaze slid over the arrangement, the loving details. She felt her cheeks getting hot, not only from the steam, but also from the charged moment.

You nodded and she pulled you gently towards her. Your lips found each other in a kiss that was gentle and intense at the same time. You closed your eyes, let yourself fall into this moment and felt a hot wave of desire rising within you. The touch of her lips, the tenderness with which she kissed your lips, made your pulse race.

Slowly, as if she wanted to enjoy every second, she let her lips wander lower - from your jaw down to your neck. You tilted your head back, enjoying the tingling that spread across your skin. You couldn't help but let out a soft, pleasurable sigh. "You're driving me crazy," she whispered into your skin, her voice trembling slightly with desire as her hands snuggled around your hips and slowly moved upwards.

"That's the plan," you replied with a seductive smile before she placed her lips on your neck again and the kisses became deeper and more demanding. You could feel the heat building between you, the way your heart beat faster, the way her fingers ran along your back and clung to the fabric of your shirt. For a moment you were just two people, united in your love and the moment.

You pulled away from her and stepped behind her, gently placing your hands on her shoulders and began to let your fingertips glide in light circles over Athena's neck. "I wanted you to relax," you whispered, letting your lips now brush along her neck. The kisses were gentle, but they raised goosebumps, as if every single spark was dancing between you. "And I wanted us to have a moment all to ourselves."

Athena closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle touch, the feeling of your closeness, the warmth that emanated from your bodies. "You always know exactly what I need," she murmured as she leaned back further. Your hands wandered over her arms until they gently grasped her hips.

"Because I know you," you answered, and Athena felt the love that lay in your words. They were true. "And because I love you."

Slowly, with a deep intimacy that made her heart swell, you took off your clothes and slipped into the warm, fragrant water together. The rose petals lay gently on your skin as you snuggled up to each other. Her hands slid gently over your middle while yours gently stroked her thighs and she closed her eyes, lost in the feeling of the tender touches, the closeness and the warmth that enveloped her.

"You are my rock," she whispered as she held you closer to her, her arms wrapped around you protectively. "Always," you whispered back, leaning your head to the side to kiss her lips again. "You are everything to me."

Your bodies, floating lightly in the water, melted into a deep embrace that expressed more than just tenderness - it was a sign of the love, trust and desire you both felt for each other. Athena felt safe, secure and desired. The heat that flowed through her was not just that of the warm water, but also the intense connection to you that she felt stronger with every kiss, every touch.

In that moment, enveloped in candlelight and roses, Athena knew that perfection was never the goal in your relationship. It was the unwavering, all-encompassing love that surprised her again and again, fulfilled her and carried her through every hard day.

[callsign-dexter]

Little Nash Masterlist

***SOME FICS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Summary: You, Y/N Nash, were the only Nash child to survive the fateful Minnesota apartment fire in 2014. Now it's just you and your dad battling whatever the world decides to throw at you.

Pairings: Bobby Nash x Daughter!Reader, Athena Grant x Adopted!Daughter!Reader, Athena Grant x Bobby Nash

Warnings: fluff, angst, inaccurate firefighter talk

Masterlist

A/N: Ages range. Additional warnings at the beginning of each fic.

Coming Soon

[tenebrous-academic]

Imagine getting dicked down so good that you get the best night’s sleep you’ve had so far in a house that should feel like a home but instead has felt like a cage.

Imagine you spent the night stumbling through halls and doorways with a man you’ve been pining over, creating new memories and slowly replacing the pain and loss with joy and love.

Imagine that you couldn’t stop baking the entire time he was gone and the first thing he does for you the morning after is make sure you’re fed.

Imagine being soft and sleepy with mussed curls and rumpled clothes and he looks at you like you’re the best thing he’s ever seen.

Imagine holding such hope in your heart for a future together and he lets you know he’s trusting you with his heart too. He’s not so scared anymore that you’ll break it.

Imagine being in love and being loved in return.

[vibraniumavenger]

Collision

TW/CW: Car accident, injuries.

Pairing: Evan Buckley x Diaz!Reader

You smiled to yourself as you walked beside Christopher, your nephew. You had watched him in the morning while your brother was working, and Carla was attending an appointment. You didn’t mind though, you absolutely adored him, and he enjoyed spending time with you. 

You had an hour to kill before dropping him off to Carla, and heading off to work yourself, so you decided to swing by the station to have lunch with the team. It was quiet when you arrived, indicating the team were on a call. You took it upon yourself to make lunch for everybody, knowing it would be a relief to them when they got back. Chris was sat at the table on his tablet, in a world of his own, allowing you to focus on the food. You couldn’t help but smile to yourself as the sound of the shutters opening filled the station followed by heavy boots thudding against the floor as each firefighter jumped out of the truck. The footsteps got closer, the faint smell of smoke mixed with a familiar aftershave filled your nostrils and you instinctively lean back into the body that is now behind you as arms snake around your waist. “Isn’t this a nice surprise?” 

You turn towards the voice, and smile, “Apparently, I can’t seem to stay away.” You lean up to kiss Buck, causing Chris to pull a disgusted face. This seemed to amuse Buck, and he kissed you again. Eddie appeared in the kitchen, and made his way over to his son, visibly happy to see him. “Come on guys, get a room.” You rolled your eyes playfully at your brothers comment, and pulled away from Buck. 

You dished up the food for the team and took a seat, eager to hear about the call they had just been on. You listened intently as you ate, your complete focus on Buck as he spoke passionately about the call. Your heart warmed as you watched his face light up, he loved how much you genuinely enjoyed hearing about the calls, and how his day had gone. Chimney was the next to speak up, “It was a good call, except the part where Buck was playing hero and nearly got himself killed.” Bucks eyes widened and he turned to look at Chimney, giving him a look that immediately stopped him talking. Chimney, trying to help, began speaking again, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn’t any more dangerous than a simple call, the risk is always there. Besides, it was probably one of the safer times Buck tried to save the day, you should’ve seen him on the call last week.” 

“Chim, stop talking.” Buck, who was now visibly on the spot, turned to face you. He studied your face, working out how to approach this. He opened his mouth to reassure you, but you beat him to it, “I thought we spoke about this…” Buck knew you understood that no day was guaranteed, and that saving people on calls was something he would always try to do, even if it put him at risk. He also knew that he had a habit of jumping the gun and putting himself in dangerous situations without thinking it through. “I’m sorry…” 

You checked your watch, and stood up. “I just wish you’d be more careful, Buck.” Chris stood up and hugged Eddie goodbye, and you did the same. “Later bro.” You said goodbye to the team and walked back to the car with Chris by your side. The breeze hit you, and you took a deep breath. Maybe you were overreacting, maybe not but you just needed a moment. You helped Chris into the car and got in yourself, turning on the radio. The short ride to Carlas mostly consisted of Chris laughing as you sang along to the music, and the occasional conversation when Chris wasn’t overly engrossed in his phone. Carla was there to greet you when you pulled up on her drive, Chris was extremely excited and practically jumped out of the car to hug her. Carla gave you a hug, “Y/N, it’s so good to see you!” You smiled and hugged back, “It’s been a while, huh? Life has been hectic.” Carla laughs at this, “You’re telling me, your brother told me all about you and Buck. Moving in together? That’s a big step!” 

“We were practically living together anyway, and if I’m being honest, Eddie is probably just relieved to have his couch back. I was starting to get on his nerves.” You explained to Carla, and she chuckled. “Well, I wish you all the best. I’m gonna get Chris inside, and I’ll let you run off to work. It was lovely seeing you.” You hug Chris goodbye and bid farewell to Carla before getting into your car and beginning your journey to your place of work. In front of you, the amber light turned to red and you stopped. You could see that traffic was beginning to build up on the other side of the junction, and you didn’t want to be late. You sighed, and made the decision to take an alternate route, so when the light turned green, you indicated and pulled out to begin taking your turning. You let out a sudden gasp before you could even properly register the car coming towards you. All you could do was attempt to brace for the impact, and so you did. 

A loud crunching sound surrounded you, followed by the feeling of being thrown as your car was barrelled into. You closed your eyes tightly, scared of what was next. You didn’t have the courage to open them again until the car steadied. The first thing you could see was the airbag in front of you, despite not feeling it deploy moments before. You could smell the burning of the tyres, outside of the car, you could hear the panicked voices of bystanders, but all you could focus on was the blood that was now spread across your arms, unsure of where it was actually coming from. You weren’t in pain, at least you couldn’t feel any in that moment. Is that what shock feels like? You couldn’t think, but your eyes got heavy and you fought your hardest not to succumb to the darkness. 

Back at the station, the call was only just coming in. The alarm blared throughout the station, alerting the team to the call. They were quick to jump into action, grabbing their gear and piling themselves into their assigned trucks. Eddie and Buck sat beside each other, speaking casually between themselves about what had happened earlier. “Just give her some time, she’ll come around. For her, two of the people she loves most are at risk everyday, you’ve gotta imagine it can’t be easy. It’s a risky job as it is, and when you put yourself into riskier situations without needing to, it decreases the chance of making it home at the end. She’s scared. Just talk to her.” Eddie attempted to reassure Buck, who was feeling terrible. He couldn’t shake the image of your face from his mind, the face that showed disappointment in his actions. Before Buck could respond, the truck halted and the team jumped out, ready to give help where needed. Buck stopped in his tracks as an all too familiar car was crushed before him. He tried not to panic, hoping that his suspicions were wrong. His eyes flicked to the number plate and his heart stopped. His feet were moving before his mind could catch up. He shouted your name, drawing Eddies attention. It took Eddie a few seconds to process what was happening. You had not long left the station, it couldn’t possibly be you. Right?

Buck arrived to your car first, nausea washed over him as he caught sight of your injured body. “Y/N? Hey, it’s me. I’m here.” You weren’t completely aware of what was happening, your eyes opened with a struggle. Your movements were weak as you turned your head to look at him. “Buck?” You spoke quietly, not completely aware of the situation at hand. “Don’t move, try and keep still.” He tried to remain as calm as he could, he didn’t want to scare you any more, he was terrified himself. Eddie ran right over to the car, his heart racing as he feared what he would find. His first instinct was to check the back seat, relief finally washing over him as he saw no sign of Christopher. Still, he needed to make sure, “Y/N, was Chris in the car?” 

You shook your head, “Carlas.” Eddie felt a weight off his shoulders, knowing his son was safe. The weight soon came back when he saw the condition you were in. Your eyes rolled back, and you fell into unconsciousness. Bobby was running the scene, assigning Hen and Chim to medically assist you, and he grabbed the gear to support Buck and Eddie in freeing you from the car. Buck didn’t want to let go of your hand, but he knew he had to in order to get you out sooner. The team worked tirelessly, ensuring to be as careful as possible. Bobby handed the halligan to Buck, “Buck, you focus on getting the doors open. Diaz, grab the saw and be on standby.” 

Buck groaned as he tried to pry the doors open, with no results, “Roofs too dented Cap, I can’t get it open.” Bobby nodded, and turned to Eddie, “Saws it is. Get in there Diaz, Buck, you too.” The roof was off in no time, Hen and Chim jumped straight in and equipped you with a neck brace, and got the back board in place to move you. Hen checked your vitals quickly, trying to make sure you were steady enough to be moved. “I’ve got a faint pulse, we gotta move.” They moved you out of you car quickly, and transferred you to the ambulance. “Trauma to the abdomen, possible internal bleeding. I’ll let the hospital know we’re en route.” Buck jumps into the back of the ambulance with Chimney, and instantly takes your hand in his. Hen places herself into the drivers seat, putting the ambulance into 911 mode and begins the journey as fast as she can to the nearest hospital. 

Buck hated seeing you like this. He was filled with anxiety, the nausea constantly there as he studied your visible injuries. His heart sank with every second that went by, the more he thought about you laying there almost lifeless, expecting you to flatline any second now. “I’m sorry baby, we can’t leave things like this. I need you to get through this so I can apologise to you. I know I’m not the easiest person to love, and I also know that I’m the biggest pain in the ass, but I love you, and I need you. Please.” Buck sobbed as he held your hand tighter. Time seemed to be going extremely slow for Buck, yet moments later Hen was pulling up at the hospital. You were rushed in, Hen spewed all your information to the nurses as you were wheeled in and handed over. Buck, Hen and Chimney stood there as you were wheeled out of sight. One of the nurses stopped Buck from running after you, and he sat defeated in the waiting room. The rest of the team arrived soon after, Eddies face was similar to Bucks. Eddie spoke first, “Any update?” The lack of response from Buck had him on edge, fearing the worst. Luckily, Chimney filled the silence. “There’s no update, but no news it almost always good news.” 

Eddie placed his hand on Bucks shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before sitting down next to him. “How’re you holding up?” Buck didn’t look up, instead he kept his head in his hands. He couldn’t respond, he couldn’t trust his voice not to give out. His leg bounced anxiously, and despite not talking, his feelings were painfully obvious. Eddie could empathise, he knew exactly what was going through Bucks mind. It was happening to him too, but he concealed it as much as he could, knowing Buck needed him. “You know, each time we’re sat in these chairs, it never gets easier. You don’t have to talk, I get it. I think you should know that I’m right here for you, I understand. Y/N is going to be okay, that I have no doubt about. She’s my sister, and us Diaz’s, we don’t back down. We fight.” Eddie continues talking, and he’s not sure whether he’s trying to convince Buck or himself. 

A few hours go by, and the team are waiting as patiently as they can for an update. Maddie had arrived some time ago, and was sat with Buck. She was not only there to support her brother, but also her brothers girlfriend, who Maddie had claimed as her best friend shortly after meeting her. Bobby hands a coffee to Buck and Eddie, who hadn’t moved from their seats since arriving. This changed moments later as a nurse approached, making them stand. Buck felt as if his legs were going to give way any second. The nurse cleared her throat, “She’s stable. She’s incredibly lucky to have made it out with the injuries she did, it could’ve been a lot worse. She’s awake, if you’d like to go see her.” 

Buck didn’t stick around to hear whatever else the nurse had to say, he darted through the corridor until he got to your room. He stopped to take a deep breath, and stepped inside. He was scared to look at you, all he could picture was you covered in blood still. His head shot up as he heard a voice, your voice to be exact, “Buck?” 

He was by your bedside in a blink of an eye, taking your hand in his. His eyes wandered over your body, taking in each of your injuries. His heart broke a little more with each one. He finally looked you in the eyes, and that’s when it hit him. His eyes filled up with tears, “Y/N…”

“Hey, don’t cry. I’m fine, see. I’m right here.” You gave his hand a squeeze, trying to give him the reassurance he needed. Buck took a seat close to your bed, your hand in his and against his lips. You move your hand up to his cheek and wipe his tears, Buck practically melted into your touch. “I really thought I had lost you.” 

“I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere. I need to apologise for my reaction earlier, that could’ve been our last conversation earlier and left without saying goodbye, or telling you how much I love you.” 

Buck shook his head, “You have nothing to apologise for, I’m the one that owes you an apology. I’m sorry that I’m not more careful when I’m out on a call, I shouldn’t be that reckless. I’m sorry that I can’t promise to walk through that door every night, safe and unscathed. I can appreciate how you feel now, and I promise I’ll try my hardest to be more careful. I love you, and I don’t want you ever feeling anything close to what I’ve felt today.” You wince as you sit up, making Buck panic. You push through the pain, and pull Buck to you. “Come here.” He stands from his chair and leans down to kiss you quickly. He carefully moves your hair from your face, ensuring he doesn’t touch any of your cuts or bruises. 

“I love you too, and even though I’m petrified that you won’t make it home one day, I trust that you’ll try everything in your power to make sure you do. I’m proud of you, Evan.” As you spoke, Buck smiled to himself. A sense of relief washed over him. Before he could respond, you continued. “So… does this mean I can finally get a new car now?” 

Buck chuckled, “You’re a pain in the ass, Diaz.” 

“Takes one to know one, Buck.”

A/N: So, I think I rewrote this like 10 times. Its been a while since I've done any writing, so please bare with me while I figure out my writing style again. Any criticism is welcome, I appreciate the feedback.

[18273773y]

The quiet one in the office

Based on 9-1-1 : Lone star

The 126 firehouse was unusually quiet for a weekday afternoon. Captain Owen Strand had been locked away in meetings all day, his door shut tight, his sharp demeanor and long-winded updates keeping most of the crew on edge. So, when they walked by his office and saw a young girl — maybe 13 at most — sitting silently at his desk, not touching anything, just quietly focused on some kind of sparkly craft, it definitely made them stop in their tracks.

“She’s in his office?” Mateo whispered to Marjan, eyes wide.

“Yep,” Marjan whispered back. “And she doesn’t look even slightly worried.”

“Maybe she’s lost?” Paul offered, cautiously peeking in again.

“Lost kids don’t do arts and crafts while sitting in the captain’s chair,” Judd muttered as he walked past them, a knowing smirk on his face. “Leave her be.”

The others blinked at him. Judd knew her?

“She’s doin’ diamond art,” Judd added. “And she’s got more guts than most grown folks if she’s waiting for Owen while he’s in that kind of mood.”

“Wait, she’s not gonna get yelled at?” Nancy asked under her breath.

“She’s just a kid,” Mateo said. “Owen will be cranky. He’s had, like, four meetings already today.”

But the moment of truth came when Owen himself finally returned to the office. The door opened, and instead of a harsh scolding, he just paused and gave a long, deep breath.

“There you are, kiddo,” he said gently. “Busy day?”

The girl gave a small nod without looking up from her project.

“I’m almost done with the flamingo one.”

“Well, that’s good,” Owen replied, setting down his folder. “I’ve got five minutes before my next headache— I mean, meeting.”

The team watched in stunned silence as the girl stood up, dusted a few tiny plastic gems off her shirt, and then casually went over and sat on Owen’s lap like it was the most normal thing in the world. Owen adjusted slightly, resting his hand on her back as if it were second nature.

“Who is she?” Paul mouthed at TK, who had just walked in with a smoothie.

“My sister,” TK said simply, sipping his drink.

The team turned to him in shock.

“You have a sister?”

TK nodded. “Yep. Savannah. She's thirteen. Lives with Dad full-time. Quiet. Doesn’t like strangers much.”

The team fell into a stunned silence as they watched Owen lean in and say something quietly to Savannah, causing her to giggle softly and bury her face in his shirt.

—

Later that evening, the team was wrapping up paperwork when Marjan went to ask TK something—only to stop in the hallway near the rec room.

“Guys,” she called out in a low voice. “Come here.”

One by one, the crew peeked in to see TK stretched out on the couch with Savannah curled up beside him, both asleep, arms around each other like it was the safest place in the world for her.

Nancy’s heart melted a little. “She’s like a little koala.”

“She only does that with TK and Owen,” Judd muttered behind them. “Took months for her to even say more than three words to anyone else.”

—

The next day, while Owen was mid-meeting with a city rep in his office, the door creaked open slightly. The team tried to stop her — but Savannah slipped right through.

“Savannah—sweetheart,” Owen started, only to pause when he got a better look at her. She was pale, shaking, her hands trembling and her breath quick and shallow.

Without a word, she clutched at Owen’s arm. He turned in his chair immediately, pulling her into his lap and whispering to her gently. The city rep blinked in confusion as Owen nodded to the team to shut the door behind her.

“She having a panic attack?” Paul whispered.

Judd nodded grimly. “She’s good at hiding it until it gets real bad.”

To their utter shock, Owen didn’t rush her out or ask her to wait. He paused the meeting, helped her regulate her breathing, and let her stay curled up in his arms until she was okay again.

“She interrupted a city meeting,” Nancy whispered after. “And Owen just…let it happen.”

“She’s his daughter,” TK said again, as if that explained everything.

Maybe it did.

—

Later that night, Marjan went to ask TK about a call report. She stopped in the bunk room door again.

There, in the dim glow of the room’s nightlight, TK lay curled on his side, Savannah wrapped against his chest like a blanket, her diamond art kit tucked nearby on the table. TK’s hand rested protectively on her back, rising and falling with her soft breaths.

“She’s quiet,” Paul whispered behind her.

“She’s his whole world,” Judd added simply.

And finally, the team understood.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*next day*

The next morning, the station buzzed with the usual chaos — calls, drills, and a minor disaster in the kitchen involving Mateo and burnt oatmeal. Amid it all, Savannah was quietly tucked away in Owen’s office again, sitting on the floor beside his desk, a new diamond art canvas rolled out across her knees.

But this time, there was something different. Something that made every single member of the 126 pause mid-step, mid-sentence, or mid-bite.

She was wearing Owen’s sweatshirt.

Not just any sweatshirt — the worn, gray 126 hoodie with the faint coffee stain on the sleeve and a hole near the wrist. The one Owen was known for guarding like it was sacred, the one he wore when he needed comfort or was having a rough day.

And there Savannah sat, sleeves dangling past her fingers, hoodie nearly swallowing her small frame, still working on her glittering dolphin design like she didn’t just break every unwritten firehouse rule.

“Is that…?” Marjan whispered, nudging Paul.

“Oh my God,” Paul said under his breath.

“She’s wearing the sweatshirt,” Mateo added, eyes wide.

“I didn’t even know anyone else was allowed to touch that thing,” Nancy said.

“Last time I accidentally moved it to do laundry, he acted like I’d scratched his truck,” Paul muttered.

“I once sneezed near it and he glared at me for five minutes,” Mateo added.

“I wore it once when I lost a bet and had to mop the garage. He made me turn it inside out and then folded it himself,” Nancy said, still sounding slightly traumatized.

Yet there was Savannah — sleeves halfway covering her hands, hood slightly up, completely at ease.

They hovered awkwardly outside the office, expecting Owen to come in and immediately demand she take it off. But instead, when Owen finally walked in from a run to city hall, he took one look at her, smiled softly, and said nothing.

He even went so far as to rummage in his desk drawer for a bag of chips and quietly set them beside her without interrupting her focus.

“Okay,” Paul whispered. “I give up. She’s invincible.”

“She’s like a firehouse unicorn,” Marjan said, eyes still wide.

“She’s a Strand,” Judd said with a smirk. “Y’all are just learning what that really means.”

—

Later that day, after a long call and cleanup, TK was found in the TV room, curled up on the floor beside the couch. He had one arm draped over a small shape — Savannah, again, tucked into his side, her head on his chest. The oversized sweatshirt still hung from her shoulders like a blanket.

“She’s still wearing it,” Mateo said.

“She must be his favorite person,” Nancy added.

“She is,” TK said sleepily, eyes barely open. “Always has been.”

“Does she even have her own clothes?” Marjan teased lightly.

“She does,” TK murmured. “She just steals ours when she’s having a rough day.”

Savannah stirred slightly, one hand gripping TK’s shirt, the other clutching a tiny plastic gem between her fingers.

“She doesn’t even speak much to anyone else,” Nancy said gently. “But she’s always okay with you and Owen.”

“That’s how she was when we found out about her,” TK said. “Took months before she’d even tell the school counselor what her name was. She’s better now, but…it’s like she finds her safe place in people, not places.”

“She ever gonna open up to the rest of us?” Mateo asked, trying to peek at the diamond art she’d started next.

TK gave a tired but genuine smile. “She already has. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALTRNITIVE to the part above this one.

The moment Savannah’s quiet voice floated across the room, telling Judd he was “supposed to be using your reading glasses,” the firehouse fell into stunned silence — but Judd didn’t laugh right away this time.

Instead, he slowly looked over at the girl, and something in his rough exterior softened immediately. His expression shifted from surprised to warm, like the sun peeking through heavy clouds. He didn’t even try to hide the way his eyes shined with fondness.

“Well now,” Judd said, voice gentle, not teasing. “Ain’t nobody ever kept me in line quite like you do, darlin’.”

Savannah finally looked up from her diamond art, her small smile curling shyly at the corners. She ducked her head again, but not before the others caught the flicker of comfort in her eyes — like she knew Judd would never be mad at her.

The room was still oddly quiet, until Paul cleared his throat and muttered, “Okay, what is going on? Since when does Judd let someone sass him and just smile like a proud puppy?”

“Yeah,” Mateo added. “You didn’t even grumble or say ‘watch your mouth.’ That’s gotta be some kind of record.”

Judd, who had gone over to his locker and actually pulled out his reading glasses this time, paused and looked back over his shoulder at the rest of the crew.

“You mean you all didn’t know?” he asked, a little surprised.

“Didn’t know what?” Marjan asked, blinking.

Owen leaned against the wall with his arms folded, a small smirk tugging at his lips. TK just stayed quiet beside Savannah, clearly knowing where this was headed.

Judd turned around, now slipping on his glasses with a look that was more proud than smug. “That sweet girl over there? She’s my goddaughter.”

More silence.

Then: “WHAT?” the entire team exclaimed at once.

Paul nearly dropped his coffee. Mateo looked personally offended. Nancy’s jaw dropped. Marjan actually stepped backward like she needed space to process.

“She’s your what now?” Nancy gasped.

“My goddaughter,” Judd said, walking over and placing a gentle, calloused hand on the back of Savannah’s head. She leaned into the contact without hesitation. “Owen asked me when she was just a baby. I said yes before he could finish askin’. Been lookin’ after her ever since, same way I’d look after my own.”

Savannah reached up and tugged on Judd’s sleeve, just slightly. He crouched beside her without needing a word, and she leaned over to whisper something in his ear. He chuckled, nodded, then said aloud:

“She says I still squint at screens like a grumpy raccoon.”

The entire team burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, I love her,” Nancy said through tears.

“She’s been holding in these comebacks for days,” Paul said, grinning.

“She’s got timing like a sniper,” Mateo muttered in awe.

Judd kissed the top of Savannah’s head before standing. “She don’t say much to many folks. But when she does, it’s gold. And she’s got a big heart. Always has.”

Savannah glanced up at the crew with a small smile, cheeks flushed pink from the attention. TK gave her a gentle bump with his shoulder, murmuring, “They’re just figuring out what I already knew.”

From that day on, the crew not only saw Savannah as Owen’s daughter or TK’s little sister — they saw her as Judd’s girl, too. And with that realization came a shift: a deeper respect, a softer approach, and a fierce protectiveness.

After all, anyone close enough to make Judd Ryder wear his reading glasses with a smile?

Yeah — she was family.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

*next day*

The day started like any other — the steady hum of the 126 in motion. Owen was in his office, Judd and Paul were running drills in the bay, and TK had just returned from grabbing smoothies for everyone. Savannah was due to be dropped off after school, as usual.

But when she stepped through the station doors that afternoon, something was different.

She kept her head down. Shoulders hunched. The sleeves of her hoodie — Owen’s hoodie, again — were pulled low over her hands. She clutched her diamond art case tightly to her chest and made a direct line to the far bunk room instead of her usual seat in Owen’s office.

TK spotted her first. “Savvy?”

She flinched.

He was on his feet in an instant, eyes narrowing as he got a better look at her. A dark bruise was forming beneath her left eye, half-hidden by her hair. Her lip was slightly swollen. And more than anything, she looked ashamed.

“Savannah, what happened?” he asked, voice low.

“N-Nothing,” she whispered, backing away from him. “I just— I fell. That’s all.”

She tried to slip past him, but he gently caught her wrist, just enough to stop her. “Did someone hurt you?”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly. Too quickly.

TK’s jaw tightened, and he carefully guided her into the bunk room, sitting with her on the edge of one of the beds. “You don’t have to lie to me. You know that, right?”

“I just don’t want Dad or Judd to know,” she whispered, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes. “Dad will explode, and Judd will probably go to the school and yell at someone and then I’ll get made fun of even more.”

TK’s heart sank. He brushed her hair gently away from her bruised face. “They’re bullying you?”

Savannah nodded, just once.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Because I’m quiet. Because I don’t talk much. Because I sit alone. Because I draw instead of play sports and I don’t want to be loud or cool or fake. Just... because.”

TK felt like his chest was caving in.

“Stay here,” he said gently. “I’ll be right back.”

—

Owen was already halfway to the kitchen when he saw TK walking with purpose.

“Everything okay?” he asked casually, then froze at the look on TK’s face.

“No. It’s not.”

A moment later, Judd joined them as well, sipping from a cup of coffee before TK said evenly, “Savannah came in with a black eye and a split lip. She said it was from falling. But she’s lying. She’s being bullied. At school.”

Owen’s coffee mug slipped slightly in his hand. “She what?”

“She’s in the bunk room. Hiding. She didn’t want you to know.”

For a long moment, no one moved.

Then Owen’s voice came low, dark, and shaken: “Who did it?”

“She wouldn’t say,” TK admitted. “But she’s terrified you’ll lose it and that Judd will storm the school like an angry cowboy.”

“She’s not wrong,” Judd muttered, his eyes already blazing.

Owen was already moving toward the bunk room, but TK stepped in front of him.

“Dad—” he said quietly. “Be gentle. Please.”

Owen swallowed hard, then nodded. He took a breath and walked in.

—

Savannah was curled up under a blanket when Owen stepped inside. She tried to turn her face away, shrinking into the shadows.

“Hey, kiddo,” Owen said softly, kneeling down in front of her. “Can I see your face?”

She didn’t answer.

He gently reached out, and when she didn’t pull back, he tucked the blanket down and lifted her chin. His breath caught at the sight of the bruise — dark and spreading — and the split lip that still looked fresh.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears falling now. “I didn’t want to ruin your day.”

Owen’s voice cracked. “Sweetheart… my day doesn’t matter. You matter. You think I care about meetings when my baby girl is walking around with a black eye?”

She bit her lip and sobbed. “I didn’t want you to be mad…”

“I’m not mad at you,” Owen said, pulling her into his arms. “I’m mad that someone hurt you. But more than that, I’m heartbroken that you thought you had to carry it alone.”

She clung to his shirt like a lifeline.

Judd appeared in the doorway a few moments later, his face unreadable. Savannah peeked up and instantly tried to wipe her tears, her voice a broken whisper: “I’m okay. Don’t be mad…”

Judd didn’t say a word. He just walked over, sat beside them, and gently pulled her into his arms too, hugging her between him and Owen.

“You don’t ever have to hide this stuff, Savannah,” Judd murmured. “We ain’t just here for the easy days. We’re your wall. We’ll hold you up, even when everything else is trying to knock you down.”

She didn’t say anything — just buried her face into Judd’s chest.

And in that moment, the 126 saw a different kind of strength: not in the fire, not in the rescue — but in the quiet courage of a little girl who finally let her people see her pain… and was held tighter because of it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*next morning*

The next morning came slowly.

Savannah had spent the night at the station, tucked safely into the quietest bunk, sandwiched between TK on one side and Judd sitting nearby in a chair, arms crossed like a watchful guard dog. Owen had never once left the building. He’d sat outside the bunk room most of the night, just in case she needed him. She hadn’t — not outwardly, anyway — but he stayed all the same.

Now, as the sun poured through the windows, the firehouse started to wake. But Savannah didn’t.

Not really.

She was curled in a tight little ball, hoodie sleeves pulled halfway over her face. When TK sat down beside her and gently brushed her hair back, she didn’t move. Her cheek was dark with bruising now — purple, red, and yellow blotched together — and her lip had cracked more during the night. Her face looked sore, and even the slightest shift made her wince.

“Savvy,” TK said softly, nudging her. “Time to wake up.”

“No school,” came her muffled reply.

“Sweetheart…” Owen knelt down beside them, brushing a gentle hand down her back. “I know you’re hurting. But we should talk about it.”

Savannah didn’t move. Her voice came quiet and hoarse. “Please don’t make me go. I can’t.”

Owen exhaled slowly, heart twisting in his chest. “Is it the bruises? Or the people?”

“Both.”

There was a beat of silence. Then Savannah finally looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. “What if they laugh at me for crying yesterday? Or say I got what I deserved? I already don’t fit in.”

“You fit with us,” TK said immediately.

Judd appeared behind them with a cup of warm tea and sat on the edge of the bunk beside her. “You know what we do when one of our own gets knocked around?”

She looked at him warily.

“We circle around them tighter. We don’t shove 'em out into the world until they’re ready. We give 'em space, and safety, and a whole lotta love until they can stand tall again. You’re family, Savannah. You ain’t gotta prove nothin’.”

“She really doesn’t have to go?” she whispered, still unsure.

“No,” Owen said, with complete certainty. “I’ll call the school. I’ll tell them you’re staying home. Or with us here. You don’t move until you say you’re ready. And if they have a problem with that, they can come talk to me and Judd.”

Judd grunted. “I’d like that, actually.”

That pulled a small smile from Savannah. Her lip split slightly from the movement, and she winced again, immediately shrinking.

Owen caught it and held up a hand. “Alright, no smiling today. We’re on facial rest. Doctor Strand’s orders.”

“Doctor?” Judd teased with a smirk.

“She’s not going to school, I’m not going to work, and TK can get smoothies,” Owen declared.

“Smoothies are medicinal,” TK said with a straight face. “It’s basically therapy in a cup.”

Savannah gave a soft little laugh — the tiniest sound, but it meant everything. She leaned forward and slowly, very gently, rested her head against Owen’s chest. His arms wrapped around her instantly.

“You’re not alone, Savvy,” he said into her hair. “You never have to face hard things by yourself again.”

From across the room, Nancy watched the scene quietly, a lump rising in her throat. Mateo whispered to Marjan, “She’s really got them wrapped around her finger.”

“No,” Marjan said, smiling gently. “They’ve got her wrapped in theirs. Exactly where she belongs.”