9-1-1, What's Your Grievance?

CHAPTER SIXTY SIX , UNEXPECTED DINNER INVITES

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"Gunshot wound to the chest."

Athena motions to the woman face first in the pool.

"She was already dead when we got here."

"I'm telling you guys, I'm gonna start switching between being a firefighter and a paramedic." Emery holds her medical bag up and an excited squeak comes from her lips. The group all exchanged smiles from her jumping up and down.

"You know, I am loving this new attitude, Em." Hen motions. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I loved you before. But there's something about you that is so even more you than before."

Emery inhales a deep breath, "What can I say? Texas has made me a changed woman." She shrugs. "It certainly changed, Buck. That's for sure."

Buck rolls his eyes. "For the last time and I mean it! TK made an honest mistake when he thought I was asking him out on a date."

Emery mischievously smiles. "Of course, I completely understand, Buck..." She exchanges a look with Hen that causes Eddie to laugh and Buck to frown.

"I want you two to stop making faces." Buck points between the women.

"I feel like since you four have been back from Texas—I've been out of the loop." Chimney frowns.

They all turn to him. "Oh...no—"

"Did you even notice I was here?!"

Emery giggles, "Of course, Chim." She squeezes his shoulder.

Chimney huffs, "You couldn't even say that without laughing, Em."

Emery cups Chimney's face and kisses his cheek. "Chimney, I'm gonna be your daughter's aunt. Trust me when I say I will never forget you. I'm giggling because I'm gonna get a chance to be a paramedic again today!" Emery then shakes his face and walks into the backyard.

"Oh, that girl is getting laid."

Everyone snaps their eyes over to Hen.

"What?" Eddie and Buck question. They both look at each other and then back at Hen.

Hen blinks, "What? From how happy she's been, you guys haven't thought about it?"

"I have." Chimney snorts. "You think someone's that happy because they visited Texas?"

Eddie slightly pulls his face back and turns to the soon-to-be father. Chimney slightly opens his mouth, "I-I mean, Texas has its perks, Eddie."

Eddie gives him a strained smile. "Nice, Chim." He then walks into the backyard.

Chimney lets out a heavy sigh. "Why do I even try?" he walks into the backyard with Hen and Buck.

"Okay...what did we miss?"

Emery was cowered into the corner with her arms around her knees and her forehead against the wooden plank of the fence.

"We don't need our med kits for this," Eddie says and motions to the woman in the pool.

The realization all hits them. Emery stands up, "You know what? No. It's fine, I said I would switch CB big between being a firefighter and a paramedic. So...now's just not the time to be a paramedic, that's all."

"Hey, that's the spirit!" Chimney shakes her shoulder.

"Crime scene unit's on the way," Athena says. "We just need to get a medical confirmation that she's dead."

"On it." Chimney walks over to the rest of the firefighters. He then freezes when he gets in front of Buck. "Excuse me."

Emery frowns at Chimney and exchanges a look with Buck. Buck chuckles, "Uh, did you just say "excuse me?"."

Chimney walks past Buck and Buck inches closer to Eddie and Emery. "Chimney's being weird."

"How can you tell?" Eddie inquires. Emery pulls her brows together. She lifts her head and watches as Chimney uses the pool hook to drag the body closer to the edge of the pool.

"Ooh, ooh, hey, whoever killed her kicked that gate in good." Buck points. "Saw a clean footprint on it."

"Nice!" Emery smacks Buck's arm. Buck smiles and validation washes over him.

"Well, that foot would be mine," Athena says. "The gate was latched shut from the inside. The front door was locked too."

Emery scoffs and smacks Buck's arm again. "Dumbass."

Buck winces, "Ow! Weren't you just praising me a second ago?"

"Times have changed, Buck. You've gotta change with them." Emery registers what Athena said. At the same moment, Eddie must've thought it as well.

"If everything was locked when she got here how'd the murder get in or out?" Eddie mysteriously inquires.

"It's a locked-room mystery," Buck says.

"A locked-yard mystery," Eddie says. "What do you think?" He nudges Emery. "Home invasion gone bad? Murder for hire?"

"Was she married? Cause...you know, the husband is usually the culprit."

"Oooh! If all the doors were locked then it had to have been someone already in the yard." Emery snaps her fingers. "Could've been a spouse or someone she was familiar with—"

"Are we making a true crime podcast?" Athena interrupts Emery's rambles.

"Calling it—definitely some signs of struggle." Hen then lifts the woman's hand. "Looks like a fresh manicure, too."

Emery walks over to where Eddie is now standing. She places her chin against the space between her thumb and index finger. "What are you thinking?"

"Murder."

Emery softly hums. "Good start." She softly nods.

"Why, thank you."

"Got an ID for the paperwork?" Hen asks.

"Yeah, the victim's name is Delia Narwood." Mike walks in with the detective in training by his side. "She's the Owen and sole occupant of the property—"

The brunette beside him trips over the ceramic garden gnome and stumbles forward. Emery quickly grabs both her forearms to keep her upright. Everyone looks at the brunette as she breathes heavily.

"And, uh, apparently, she's a fan of tiny garden statuary." She swallows and turns to her roommate. "Thank you so much."

Emery smiles, "Of course." She lets go of Wren's wrists. "By the way? This pantsuit? So cute! I told you, you made the right decision with the color!"

"I know, I know. I just get so in my head about things, especially with this being my first day." Wren smoothed out her outfit. "But, I am so glad I listened to you and kept this one on. Blue is my favorite color after-""

"You two done?"

Wren and Emery turn to the group and their faces drop. "Uh, sorry. Yeah, we're done."

"Hey, you know, none of this mail's addressed to Delia Narwood—it's not even the right house number."

Emery makes an obnoxious "ooh!" And runs back over to Eddie. Buck joins the two, "So, she was stealing people's mail."

"There's motive!" Emery wags her pointer in the air like a wand.

"Maybe she saw something she wasn't supposed to...and it got her killed!" Buck suspects.

"Hey, Larry, Curly, and Moe!" Athena exclaims. "I think your work here is done."

Emery's mouth drops open.

"All right, let's saddle up."

Bobby walks out of the backyard with his team following.

"Wait, so who's who?" Eddie asks.

Emery huffs, "I don't know about you two, but I'm Moe, The leader."

"I thought you were going to say Curly." Eddie laughs.

Emery hums, "Am I funny? Hilarious actually. Am I the most iconic? Of course. But out of all of those...I am the boss."

Buck and Eddie slow their walking as Emery continues to the rig. Already knowing her words got them to slow down, she speaks again. "Now, come along, boys."

Buck and Eddie look at each other before they let out deep breaths and reluctantly follow the woman.

☆

"But...your parents are gonna be there..." there's an uncertainty in her voice.

Buck nods his head. He had told Emery that Maddie invited their parents over to dinner and they were currently in California.

"And Chimney and Maddie are gonna be there..."Emery says.

Buck nods his head once again. "And Albert." He holds up his pointer finger. "Can't forget Albert."

"Ah, right." Emery raises her brows and purses her lips. She then softly chuckles, "I'm sorry, but this seems a bit...family-like..."

"even couple-y." She folds her hands into one another. "And we are. Not. That..."

It hurt Buck to hear, but Emery was right. They weren't a couple. Buck recovers from the slight pain that was probably evident across his face and clears his throat. "I didn't want to be the sixth wheel."

"Well, you technically wouldn't be the sixth wheel. I think Albert would be." Emery furrows her brows. "And I'm sure, most of the conversation is going to be about you and Maddie." She snorts. Emery notices the slight puppy dog eye look and raises her brows. She points at Buck and he sheepishly smiles once he knows that she gets it.

"You want to invite me so that some of the conversation points can be directed towards me."

Buck tilts his head, "Have I ever told you how smart you are?"

"You haven't, actually."

Buck frowns, "Well, I should start."

"Buck..."

The teasing smile on his lips drops and he lets out a small breath.

"Em, please," Buck says his voice with desperation. "I mean, it would be nice if you took some heat off of me. But the real reason I invited you is because I want you..."

Emery's jaw clenches and she swallows. Buck's jaw goes slack and his lips part. Please tell me I didn't actually say that.

Holy shit. Think, think, think—

OKAY

"...there. I want you there." Buck says, nervously. "I want you there is what I meant."

Emery arches a brow, "And you're sure you want me there?"

"Of course I am." Buck exasperates. Why the hell wouldn't he not want to have the woman he loves around for dinner? His body still ran cold from the thought of being in love with Emery. There was a slight fear embedded within his chest, but there was a ball of excitement drowning that fear out. It was exhilarating.

"Then I'll go."

Buck blinks and looks at the woman and her eyes are already on his. "Really?"

Emery snorts, "You beg me to join this family dinner—"

"—Well, I didn't beg you—"

"—And now you're shocked that I want to come?" Emery stands in front of him with a small smile. Buck's mouth grows dry as she burns her eyes into his. She slightly shakes her head, her eyes burning with amazement. "You're so..." Emery sucks in a breath and holds it. Buck waits for her to finish her sentence. Maybe there was a part of her that still felt the same way he did now.

But Emery felt something keeping her from finishing her words. Maybe it was her fear of her true feelings. Maybe it was the fact she wasn't a mind reader. She didn't know what Buck wanted. She didn't know that he wanted her.

"...different."

Buck could feel himself deflate. And Emery wanted to facepalm right then and there. Out of all the ways to recover she says different. Oh, Emery needed to get out of there.

"I will see you later." Emery's face was hit with embarrassment. "I will...yeah." She turns her heel and quickly walks to the front door. Emery pulls the door open in time to meet Albert. He smiles, "Emery, hey! I didn't know you were coming over—"

"I was actually just leaving!" Emery laughs. "Funny how fast time can...time." She swallows. "I have to go, my words aren't...working." Emery pats Albert on his shoulder and walks out of the apartment.

Albert blinks, and he then looks at Buck. "Uh, is she okay?" He then notices how red Buck's face is. "Are you okay?"

☆

"Where's Buck? Is he joining us?"

"On the phone with Dr. Copeland," Eddie answers. "Emergency therapy session."

Emery helps set the table. "Those are never fun..." she murmurs.

Chimney swallows, "R-Really?"

Emery turns to him. "Oh, 100%." She snorts. "It's usually when a new stressor has entered your life or come back into it."

Chimney whimpers.

"Again?" Bobby questions.

"Yeah. He had to ask her for advice in some, uh, de-escalation techniques." Eddie states.

"What is he afraid his parents' visit is gonna turn into a hostage situation?" Bobby quips.

Chimney fumbles with the utensils and they clatter against the table. Emery turns to him, "You good?"

Chimney swallows, he turns to Emery and then notices everyone else looking at him. "Yeah, I'm—I am so good."

"What do you think they're like?" Hen walks over to the table with the bowl of salad. "The parents, I mean." She sets the bowl on the table. "I mean, I look at Maddie...and then I look at Buck, and I'm like "there's a story there"."

"You have no idea."

Once again, everyone turns to Chimney, overhearing his words. Emery leans against the table and softly hums. "Do you have something to share?"

Chimney nervously chuckles, "I meant—none of us has any idea." He trains his eyes on the table. "Just too bad, cause you know...if we all knew, we could talk about what we know, and then we'd all know it."

Each team member exchanges a look around the kitchen as Chimney tries to murmur to himself, but it is loud enough for everyone to hear what he is saying. If only they knew what he was talking about. Chimney notices everyone still looking at him and he grows nervous under their eyes.

"I gotta go." He drops the utensils onto the table and sprints away from the group. He slides down the pole and shoots out of the firehouse.

"All right...?" Emery purses her lips and quirks a brow. "Chimney's extra weird. Probably even more than me."

"Do we want even wanna know what that was about?" Eddie questions.

"No." Bobby chuckles.

"Definitely not." Hen's eyes slightly widen.

Emery massages her brows. "I don't even think my brain would be able to handle whatever that just was."

Eddie then nods his head, "'Kay."

...

"I got wine—red, white, sparkling, in cause you wanna do any celebratory toasts, and tequila."

Buck pulls his brows together from the two bottles. "Not sure why we needed two bottles."

Chimney quickly pokes his head between Albert and Buck. "Those are for me." He grabs the bottles and retreats back tot he kitchen counter.

"You know, I'm proud of you, Buck."

Buck turns to the woman. Emery had a small smile tugged onto her lips.

"Really? Why?"

Emery points at the list. "You made a list and it's on a clipboard." she dramatically shivers. "I love a good clipboard, you know this. I've taught you well."

Buck could feel his face getting hot and he was praying no one else noticed. Emery pulls her eyes away from his and looks at Chimney. "You are gonna have to share that with me." She points at the

"Oh, for sure." Chimney rapidly nods his head.

"What?!"

Chimney and Emery turn to Buck. "Uh..." Emery nervously chuckles. "Evan? I am so happy and honored you invited me to dinner with your family. But...this is dinner with your family." She nervously laughs. "I can't be seen nervous. This needs to be nice."

"Nice? Emerson, this needs to be perfect." Buck corrects.

Emery raises her brows, "Uh oh, full name." She tilts her head. "Whatever happened to "nobody's perfect"? I've been therapy far too long trying to burn that into my head."

"My parents don't believe in that." Buck exhales. "Look, after tonight we don't have to pretend to be perfect, because they won't be around. But just for tonight...?" His eyes soften. Emery keeps her eyes on Buck's puppy dog eyes.

"God, Tom taught you that look too well." A chuckle mixed with a scoff comes from her mouth. "Fine. Just for tonight." She walks over to Chimney and grabs a shot glass.

Buck lets out a small breath and looks at Albert. "You need some liquid courage too?"

Albert holds up his glass of water. "Already have it." He turns to Chimney and Emery, who just finished their first shot. "They're wearing jeans."

Emery looks down at her cashmere sweater and blue denim Levi's. Her eyes then shift to her heeled leather boots. "Yeah...?" Emery looks at Albert with her brows furrowed.

"Well, I was told I wasn't allowed to wear jeans." Albert looks back at Buck.

Buck points at his roommate. "You. Stop whining. Pre-heat the oven. 350."

Emery holds hand out to Albert and a warm smile finds her lips. "Please." She adds. "He forgot please." Her eyes shift to Buck, who was running around the kitchen like a maniac.

"We're baking stuff?" Maddie asks.

"Baked Brie. Fig jam." Buck says.

"When did you start liking fig?" Maddie inquires with a smile on her lips. She knows Buck hates figs, but her parents on the other hand were obsessed with it.

"I love cheese." Emery voices. "Wait, do you guys have olives too?"

"No, olives tonight." Buck says.

Emery turns to Buck with an incredulous expression. "That's like telling me to stop breathing."

Maddie sighs, "There's olives in the top of the fridge."

Buck cranes his neck forward as Emery rushes to the fridge. Maddie shrugs, "We all need something to get us through this night."

"Okay, fine—hey!" Buck softly calls out to the woman. Emery turns to Buck with her brows and her hand already around the jar of olives. Buck swallows. He had to say this perfectly. He didn't want to agitate her before his parents even came. "Can we compromise?"

Still on her guard, Emery runs her tongue over her teeth. "I'm listening."

"You can eat your olives...but after you eat dinner." Buck says. "I just don't want you to spoil your appetite. It took me hours trying to perfect this and, it's really important to me."

Emery keeps her eyes on Buck's and her chest tightens. She looks at the jar in her hands and turns back to the fridge. Emery places the olives back into the fridge and closes it. "I'll wait." She looks back at Buck.

He raises his brows, "Really?"

Emery laughs softly, "Really. I can tell this is important to you, so it's important to me too."

Buck smiles, "Thank you, Emi."

Albert leans over to Maddie. "When did they start dating?"

Maddie slightly opens her mouth to answer, but there was a knock at the door. Everyone looks at the door with their eyes wide.

"I think we're ready." Chimney sighs.

Maddie walks over to the door. Emery's eyes trail over to Buck and she watches him exhales a deep breath. She knows she's been trying to beat her perfectionism out of her. But she also knows that this night was detrimental to Buck and Maddie. And these two are some of the most important people to her. So, maybe Perfect Emery could come out to play once again.

Emery inhales a small breath and walks over to Buck. She lightly brushes her arm against his, just telling him that she was there. And Buck could feel his chest untighten.

"Dad! Mom! You guys did not have to bring presents."

The parents come into the apartment with large gift baskets. Emery raises her brows.

"We're grandparents now. Spoiling comes with the job."

Chimney takes a step forward. "Mr. and Mrs. Buckley, hi, I'm Howard Han. It's nice to finally meet you both,"

"Hi, Howard."

Chimney gently grabs the basket from Margaret's arms then he grabs the basket from Phillip's. They softly thank him. Buck brushes his fingers against the back of Emery's hand one more time before he walks closer to his parents. "Hey."

"Evan." Mrs. Buckley softly smiles.

"You look good." Mr. Buckley pats Buck on the arm.

"Ah, so do you."

There was a beat of silence that already wanted Emery to crawl away.

"Uh, this is my brother, Albert." Chimney throws an arm over Albert's shoulders.

"And Buck's roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Buck and Maddie's expressions drop.

"Buck." Margaret says. "You're still letting people call you that."

"It's just a nickname, mom." Buck sighs.

A small groan comes from Margaret's lips. Emery raises her brows, she takes a step forward and stands beside Buck. "Hi!" She holds her hand up. "I'm Emerson. Buck's coworker and Maddie's friend."

Margaret looks keeps her eyes on Emery. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Emerson." She then pulls her brows together. "I recognize you from somewhere."

Everyone except the parents tense. Emery slightly opens her mouth, "Oh, well..." her face gets hot.

"Emery's a badass firefighter." Buck blurts out. Everyone turns to him. Emery's lips part. "She's had so many saves filmed, you probably saw it online somewhere."

Margaret looks back at Emery and hums. "That must be it."

Emery softly smiles. Margaret then trains her eyes back on Buck. "Please don't swear, Evan."

Buck presses his lips together, "Sorry, mom."

Albert clears his throat. "Would anyone like a drink?" He walks over to the refreshments. "We have many options—I believe I'll start with tequila."

"So Howard, do...people call you Howard?" Phillip asks.

He remembers Emery saying her full name. So, maybe that was the safest option. He then looks at Maddie who solidify's his answer. Chimney looks back at Mr. Buckley, "Yes. Yes, they do. Please this way."

Emery turns to Buck, "Thank you for saving me back there."

Buck looks at Emery and he softly laughs. "It's the least I could do."

Emery gives him a small smile and walks away leaving the two siblings to talk.

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