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Season Three : Episode One, Kids Today

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September, 2019

Becca stood near the locker room, pulling her newly bleached blonde hair into a high ponytail with practiced ease. Beside her, Violet deftly worked her long brunette hair into a braid, her fingers moving quickly as the hum of activity filled the station. Bobby stood at the center of the room, briefing the team as they prepared to head out.

"We've got a situation on the 710," Bobby began, his tone calm but serious. "A 1970 Ferrari Daytona Spider, brakes and gearshift broken. Teenage driver, unable to stop. He's speeding down the freeway like a runaway freight train."

"Kid's got nerves of steel—or no nerves at all," Chimney quipped, earning a chuckle from Hen.

"They've cleared a stretch of Woodley Avenue. That's where we're meeting up," Bobby continued. "We're going to slow him down before he crashes."

"So we're on cleanup duty?" Chimney asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not exactly," Bobby replied.

Violet smirked as she slid her turnout gear off the hook. "This is going to be a long afternoon," she muttered under her breath.

The team climbed into the fire engine, the sirens already blaring as they navigated the busy streets. Bobby took a moment to explain further as the engine wove through traffic.

"How fast is he going?" Hen asked, adjusting her gear.

"105," Bobby said evenly. "Once he reaches Woodley Avenue, he'll hit the brakes. Hopefully, that'll slow him down. And that's where we come in."

"Wait, what kind of car is it again?" Becca piped up from her seat.

"A 1970 Ferrari Daytona Spider," Bobby answered, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

Chimney raised an eyebrow. "That's a vintage car."

"You worried about damaging a classic, Chim?" Eddie teased, glancing at Chimney, who already looked apprehensive.

"I'm worried about damaging a kid," Chimney shot back. "Airbags weren't standard until the '80s."

"A car that old, we're lucky it has a shoulder harness," Hen added, shaking her head.

"But if we can get it down to 60 or 70.." Eddie said

"I like his chances better." Chimney Added

"What kind of crazy person came up with this plan?" Violet asked, incredulity in her voice.

Bobby smirked, his tone carrying a touch of pride. "My wife."

They all shared a look and Hen shook her head, "That sure sounds like an Athena Grant plan." She Said

The fire engine roared onto the freeway, their mission clear. Becca adjusted her gloves, stealing a glance at Violet, who shot her a quick smile.

"Let's see what this Ferrari can handle," Becca muttered under her breath, her adrenaline already starting to spike.

On the Freeway as they approached the cleared stretch of Woodley Avenue, the sight of the bright yellow Ferrari weaving dangerously through lanes came into view. The team exchanged looks, ready for what was sure to be a high-stakes rescue.

"Everyone knows the plan?" Bobby asked.

"Got it," the team responded in unison, the weight of the task ahead sinking in.

"Let's get this kid to safety," Bobby said, determination in his voice.

Tony's voice crackled over the phone as Maddie coached him from the dispatch center.

"You're doing great, Tony," Maddie said calmly, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "Are you ready, Tony?"

"Y-Yeah!" Tony stammered, "Yeah, hitting the breaks now."

"Remember, constant pressure. Don't pump them." Maddie Recalled

"Slowing down..It's shaking again. I don't like this." Tony Said, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel. The classic car shuddered beneath him, its engine roaring.

"No, no, no, that's okay." She reassured him, "That's okay, it's gonna shake. Just stay on the brakes, keep the wheel straight. What's your speed?" Maddie Asked

"95, 90, 85..80.It's not going any lower." He sees the 118 truck come into view and swerved, "Oh, my God, there's a fire truck! What do I do? Do I go around it?" Tony Asked

"Keep going straight. Stay right behind the truck." She ordered, "Do you know where the emergency brake is?" Maddie Said

"Uh, yeah." Tony Said, "Oh, the truck's slowing down. It's getting real close."

"Good, now pull the parking brake and hit that truck." Maddie Said

"What?!" Tony Said

"Hit the truck!" Maddie Shouted

The yellow Ferrari Daytona Spider tailed the fire engine, its bright paint glinting under the September sun. Bobby, sitting up front in the fire engine, gave instructions to the driver.

Everyone inside the engine braced themselves.

"Here it comes," Becca muttered, gripping the side handle as the engine decelerated.

The Ferrari slammed into the back of the fire engine with a jarring thud. Inside the engine, the crew felt the impact reverberate through the vehicle.

"Contact made!" Bobby shouted. "Stay steady. We've got him!"

The fire engine gradually slowed to a stop, dragging the Ferrari along with it. Smoke billowed from the front of the classic car as the 118 piled out of the engine, each member springing into action.

Eddie, Becca, and Violet quickly grabbed tools from the truck to access the damaged vehicle. Hen and Chimney hurried to the ambulance, pulling out the gurney and medical equipment.

Becca and Violet worked together to pry open the driver's door while Eddie shattered the passenger-side window for better access.

"Hang in there, Tony," Eddie called out as they worked.

Bobby leaned into the car and carefully pulled the teenager out with Eddie's help. They laid him onto the waiting gurney as Hen and Chimney immediately began their assessment.

"Smoke's getting heavier," Violet said, glancing at the car.

"Get the dry chem extinguishers!" Bobby commanded.

"On it, Cap!" Eddie replied, running back to the truck with Becca and Violet.

As the trio worked to put out the smoke and potential flames, a police cruiser pulled up, and Tony's father, Charles, stepped out in a panic.

"Tony!" Charles shouted, running toward the gurney.

"Dad," Tony said weakly, his voice muffled under the oxygen mask Hen had placed over his face.

"Is he okay?" Charles asked, his eyes darting between his son and the firefighters.

"He's got a broken nose, possible concussion," Hen explained.

"He hit the steering wheel was it just your head or chest too?" Chimney Asked

"Head." Tony Replied

"Alright I'm not seeing any signs of chest trauma, but they'll do some chest scans at the hospital just to be sure." Chimney Said

"Okay Buddy, they're going to take you to the hospital..it's gonna be alright okay?" Charles Said

"I'm sorry, Dad," Tony said, guilt heavy in his voice.

"It's all right," Charles said, his voice softening. "It's just a car."

As Eddie finished extinguishing the smoke, he reached into the car and retrieved the broken gearshift. Becca and Violet joined him.

"Any idea what happened?" Becca asked, brushing soot from her gloves.

Eddie held up the gearshift. "Yeah, I've got a guess."

Nearby, Athena approached Charles. "There'll be an investigation to determine what caused the car to malfunction."

Bobby joined them, inspecting the gearshift. "Looks like it broke clean off under the boot. Throttle must've stuck wide open when the linkage snapped."

Charles nodded understanding, as Tony sat up and looked at the car with regret. "How bad is it? Can it be fixed?" He Asked

"Here," Eddie said, handing Charles the broken gearshift. "Something to remember it by."

Charles took it with a small laugh. "You know, I heard there's a Testarossa coming up for auction soon. What do you say we get that instead?"

"Does it have airbags?" Tony asked from the gurney, earning a laugh from his father.

Hen and Chimney loaded Tony into the ambulance, with Charles climbing in after him. The crew watched as the ambulance pulled away, the father and son safely on their way to the hospital.

Athena put on her sunglasses, shaking her head with a wry smile. "Kids today."

The 118 shared a few smirks before turning back to finish their cleanup duties. Becca nudged Violet with a grin.

"And you said it was going to be a long afternoon," Becca said.

"Wrong again," Violet replied, playfully rolling her eyes as they walked back to the truck.

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The Grant-Nash household is alive with activity as the surprise party for Buck is being set up. Bobby is grilling outside while Athena oversees the final preparations. Becca is making sure everything is in order, checking decorations, food, and keeping an eye on Bryan, who's running around the house playing tag with Harry, Athena and Michael's son.

"Bryan! Watch out for the coffee table!" Becca calls out, shaking her head as the boys laugh and dart around.

Hen and Karen enter the house with their son Denny who runs off to go join with the other kids, warmly they are greeted by Michael, who's just returning from the bathroom.

"Hey—are we late?" Hen asks, scanning the room.

Michael chuckles. "The guest of honor hasn't arrived yet."

"Good," Karen says with a sigh of relief. "I'd hate to miss an opportunity to cry."

Michael smiles and hugs both of them.

Athena approaches with a warm smile. "Are the IVF shots taking their toll?" she asks Karen sympathetically.

Karen sighs. "I feel like a human pin cushion. A very weepy pin cushion."

Hen squeezes Karen's hand. "You're doing great, babe," she says softly.

Athena laughs. "You've got this."

"So," Hen says, looking around the decorated space, "first official party at the Grant-Nash household."

Athena beams. "It is."

"I honestly didn't think it was gonna happen," Hen teases with a smirk.

Michael, with his signature sass, chimes in, "Or that any of us would be invited."

Athena rolls her eyes. "See? There you go again. I told you, don't take it personally."

Chimney laughs as he walks by, phone in hand, "Don't take it personally I didn't get you guys no
gift, And—They're almost here."

"And we are almost ready," Eddie says, stepping in from the patio with a plate of ribs.

"Wait, no, no, not yet! There's no cake!" Becca says, looking around in a mild panic.

"Where the hell is Justin?" Violet asks, frowning.

"He texted me ten minutes ago," Becca says, pacing slightly. "He said he was on his way here with the cake."

"They?" Eddie asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, they. He's bringing Rosie with him," Becca replies, still glancing toward the door.

Violet smirks. "Hopefully she told him to drive faster. You know he drives slower than an old lady."

"No kidding," Becca mutters.

The doorbell rings, and Becca freezes. "Oh god, please don't let that be Buck."

"Relax, baby, I got it," Athena says, walking to the door.

She opens it to reveal Justin, holding a large bakery box, and Rosie standing beside him.

"Justin! Rosie! You're just in time," Athena says with a smile.

"We're late," Rosie says with a sigh. "Please don't tell me we're late?"

"Don't worry," Athena reassures them. "Buck hasn't arrived yet. Come in."

"Thank god," Justin says, exhaling. "Hi, Athena. Thank you."

"No problem," Athena says, stepping aside to let them in.

"Nice to see you again, Sergeant Grant," Rosie says with a smile.

Athena waves her off. "Please, hun. I'm off duty. Athena is fine."

Justin and Rosie head downstairs, where Becca is waiting impatiently.

"What took you so long?" Becca asks, crossing her arms.

Justin raises his hands defensively. "Hey, don't look at me like that. It's not my fault—"

"No, you can blame him," Rosie interjects, smirking. "I told him we needed to leave earlier to avoid traffic."

Becca hugs Rosie quickly. "When it comes to time management, Justin never learns," she teases.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I messed up," Justin says, setting the cake down on the patio table. "But the cake is here, and it's perfect."

"It better be," Violet says with a grin.

Justin lifts the lid off the box, revealing a stunning cake with white frosting, red and black details, a firefighter helmet with two axes, and the words "One Buck is worth more than a million dollars" written in red frosting.

Becca smiles. "This is perfect. Thanks, Justin."

"No problem," Justin says, stepping back.

"Nice to see you finally didn't mess up a cake," Violet jokes, earning a playful glare from Justin.

Becca leads everyone back inside, just as May steps out onto the patio to check on Bobby.

"Sorry, Bobby. No sign of any other platters," May says.

"I saw your mom put some stuff in the shed. Maybe check in there," Bobby suggests.

Becca pokes her head out. "Bobby, May—they're here!"

The doorbell rings, and Athena opens it to Maddie and Buck.

"Maddie, Buck! I'm so glad you guys could come," Athena says, ushering them inside.

"No problem," Maddie says with a smile.

"Yeah, thanks for having us," Buck adds.

The second they step into the house everyone then shouts, "Surprise!"

Buck jumps slightly, startled by the sudden cheers. He looks around at the smiling faces and the firefighter-themed decorations, realizing what's happening.

"Aw, man!" Buck says, grinning from ear to ear. He turns to Maddie. "Did you do this?"

"Yeah," Maddie says, laughing. "But I had a little help."

Buck laughs, pulling her into a hug before moving through the crowd to greet everyone. He hugs Eddie, Hen, Violet, Chimney, and Bobby before lastly spotting Becca.

"You knew about this, didn't you?" he asks, pointing at her playfully.

Becca smirks. "Of course I did. Maddie made me swear to secrecy."

Buck laughs and hugs her. "You're lucky I'm too happy to be mad."

"Come on," Violet says, tugging him toward the patio. "You've got to see the cake."

The group gathers as Justin proudly shows off the cake. Buck bursts out laughing as he reads the message aloud.

"One Buck is worth more than a million dollars?" he says, shaking his head. "You guys are ridiculous, cheesy but I love it.

Justin grins. "You're welcome, Buck."

"Let's cut the cake!" Chimney shouts excitedly.

Buck picks up the knife and makes the first cut, handing the first slice to Bryan, who soon runs off with it to join Harry and Denny as they have slices now. The party kicks into full swing, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and heartfelt toasts celebrating Buck and his accomplishments.

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As the party has settled into a comfortable rhythm. Guests are chatting in small groups, laughing, and enjoying themselves.

Becca stands in a corner of the living room with Violet, sipping on a can of soda. They lean against the wall, observing the scene unfold with quiet amusement. Outside on the patio, Buck is kneeling on the floor with the kids, holding a stack of hand-drawn cards.

Christopher stands proudly in front of him, while Dylan stands in beside, eagerly waiting for Buck to open his card. Bryan and Aryana giggle nearby, whispering to each other about their own drawings.

Becca takes a sip of her soda, nudging Violet with her elbow. "Look at them. They're eating this up."

Violet grins. "Kids love him. He's like a big golden retriever."

Becca chuckles softly. "Yeah."

Buck is examining Christopher's card, his face lighting up as he takes in the detailed drawing as Eddie is nearby.

"Wow, thanks, buddy. This is great," Buck says with genuine excitement.

Christopher points at the card. "It's you and me."

Buck's smile widens. "Oh, and what's that?" he asks, pointing to a smaller drawing in the corner.

Christopher beams. "It's a surfboard."

Eddie, standing nearby with his arms crossed, nods with a smirk. "He's obsessed, yeah."

"Oh, wow," Buck says, clearly impressed.

"'Dear Buck, you are an awesome firefighter. Love, Christopher.' Very sweet, Christopher. Thank you," Buck reads aloud, his voice warm.

Christopher grins, proud of his work.

"Don't forget mine, Buck!" Dylan says, his voice bright and eager. He steps forward, holding out his card.

Buck takes it with an exaggerated gasp. "Yes, and last but certainly not least, Mr. Dylan Murray. Let's see what you've got here."

He opens the card, his eyes widening at the colorful drawing. It shows Buck as Captain America, hoisting a firetruck above his head, surrounded by flames with "Buck The Unstoppable" written on it.

"Whoa, is that me?" Buck asks, pointing to the superhero figure.

Dylan nods enthusiastically. "Mhm! I drew you as Captain America because he's really strong, and he can lift things, and you're really strong. And he has hope. My mommy said you never gave up hope on becoming a firefighter again, so that's what I made."

Touched, Buck looks at Dylan with a soft smile. "Dylan, this is amazing. I love this."

"And because Captain America is his favorite," Bryan pipes up, earning a laugh from the group.

Buck glances back at the card, clearly moved. "Dylan...this is incredible. I love all of the cards you guys made me. Thank you so much, really."

Dylan beams and suddenly steps forward, wrapping his small arms around Buck's neck in a hug. Buck immediately lowers himself to Dylan's level, hugging him back warmly.

"You're welcome," Dylan says, his voice muffled in Buck's shoulder.

Buck pats his back. "Thanks, buddy."

A few feet away, Becca and Violet watch the moment unfold. Becca can't help but smile, her expression softening as she sees the heartfelt connection Buck has with the kids.

Violet nudges her lightly. "You're smiling pretty hard there, Becks."

Becca glances at Violet, her cheeks flushing slightly. "What? It's sweet. He's good with them."

Violet raises an eyebrow, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "You think he'd be good with your future kids?"

Becca nearly chokes on her soda. "Violet!" she hisses, her voice low.

"What?" Violet says, laughing. "I'm just saying, the guy's practically built for this kind of stuff."

Becca shakes her head, trying to suppress a smile. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, yeah," Violet says, waving her off. "But you're still watching him like he's the star of a rom-com you're in."

Becca doesn't reply, her eyes drifting back to Buck as he stands up, holding the cards in one hand and ruffling Dylan's hair with the other.

She sighs softly, more to herself than to Violet. "He's just...he's a good guy."

Violet grins knowingly. "Yeah, he is a good guy..that you like."

Becca shoots her a look as the two fall into a comfortable silence, watching as Buck and Eddie takes the kids by the food table, laughing and joking. Becca takes another sip of her soda, thinking to herself.

A few minutes later as Violet was busy talking with Eddie, Justin and Rosie. Buck walks over to Becca, who's now standing by the dessert table with her soda in hand. Her newly blonde hair catches the warm glow of the string lights overhead. Buck stops in front of her, his signature grin in place.

"Last time I saw you which was two days ago, you were a brunette," he teases, crossing his arms casually.

Becca smirks and flips her hair back with exaggerated flair. "Yes, but I figured, why not enter fall as a blonde? I haven't been blonde since I was 14, and...well, that's a long story."

Buck chuckles. "Oh, now I want to hear that story."

Becca shakes her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Not tonight, Buck."

He laughs again. "Fair enough. So...do I dare ask? You waiting for compliments, or do you want the truth?"

Becca tilts her head, raising an eyebrow. "Why? You don't like it?"

"No," Buck says quickly, his tone softening. "I really do. It suits you. And, uh...it kind of highlights how pretty your eyes are."

The compliment lands, and Becca feels a rush of warmth bloom in her chest. Her cheeks flush slightly, and though she tries to play it cool, the butterflies are undeniable. She offers a casual shrug, her tone light.

"Well, good to know it's Evan Buckley approved," she says with a small smile.

Their eyes meet, lingering just a little too long, as has become their habit over the past three months. There's a quiet tension in the air, but palpable.

Buck clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck, shifting the conversation. "So, uh, your kids? They're seriously talented. And funny. Those cards were amazing."

Becca's grin widens, grateful for the shift. "Well, they get the creative skills from their mom. As for the funniness...well, don't tell Justin, but that's all me too."

Buck laughs, shaking his head. "I believe it. You're secretly the funny one in the family, huh?"

"Not so secret anymore," Becca replies with a wink.

Buck gestures around the room. "Seriously, though, thanks again for putting this all together with Maddie. It means a lot. You didn't have to go through all this trouble."

Becca waves him off. "It's no trouble. I just wanted you to feel congratulated after passing your LAFD certification test. I know how hard that test is. I remember when I took it and passed with flying colors." She adds the last part with a smug grin.

Buck narrows his eyes, feigning offense. "No need to gloat."

"Sorry," Becca says, not sounding sorry at all. "But hey, I'm happy for you. The firehouse hasn't been the same since you've been out."

Buck's grin returns, this time more playful. "Is that you basically admitting that you missed me?"

Becca raises an eyebrow, refusing to take the bait. "Those words didn't come out of my mouth."

"Mm-hmm," Buck replies, clearly enjoying himself. "But it's basically what you said."

Becca groans and playfully punches his arm, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And you're stubborn," Buck retorts, still grinning.

The moment lingers again as their playful banter fades into a comfortable silence. Becca looks at him, her smile softening.

"Seriously, Buck. Congratulations. You deserve this."

Buck nods, his voice quieter. "Thanks, Becca. That means a lot."

Before the moment can turn too serious, Maddie calls from across the room. "Buck! You better get over here before the kids finish off your cake."

Buck glances toward Maddie, then back at Becca. "Duty calls."

Becca laughs. "Go on, Captain America. Don't let them steal your spotlight."

He shoots her a wink before jogging off, leaving Becca standing there, her smile lingering long after he's gone. Buck and Bobby stood outside on the patio, the noise of the party muffled behind them. Buck was nervously fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve, the weight of tomorrow's return to the firehouse on his shoulders.

"Okay, they're sending me the paperwork in the morning, and you'll officially be back. How's that feel?" Bobby asked, his voice full of warmth and reassurance.

Buck let out a relieved breath, rubbing his chest lightly as his gaze drifted over to Becca, who was chatting with Justin and Rosie, the kids running around between them. "Oh, I'm just glad it's over. You know, I hated not being with you guys."

Bobby smiled, nodding in understanding. "Yeah, we missed you too. It'll be nice to have the whole team back together."

"Thanks, Cap," Buck said, his tone sincere. "And I don't just mean for the party and the cakes. Um... thank you for being there, you know, for the surgeries and the rehab. I, uh... I know I wasn't always the easiest person to be around."

Bobby let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Oh, my God. Oh, really?" he teased. "No, you weren't that bad."

Buck laughed softly but winced slightly, his chest tightening. "You should tell that to my—" He started coughing, cutting himself off. "Ex-girlfriend, sorry."

Bobby chuckled, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Hey, she just wasn't the right fit. You'll find someone new."

Buck continued coughing, but this time it sounded worse, more strained. His eyes flickered to the others, trying to ignore the discomfort, but his coughing persisted, causing a few people to glance over.

"Sorry, I, uh—" Buck started, his voice raspy.

"You okay?" Bobby asked, his concern evident.

Buck nodded, but his coughs grew more intense. He stepped back, trying to regain his breath, but the sound caught the attention of Athena, Becca, Violet, Eddie, Hen, Maddie, and Chimney, who were all now watching from a distance.

"Buck?" Bobby asked, stepping closer to him, his voice laced with worry.

Buck's coughing fit worsened, and suddenly, he coughed up blood into his hand. His eyes widened as he glanced up at everyone, his face paling. Becca's worried expression met his, and she rushed toward him, her heart racing.

"Buck, are you—" Becca started, her voice shaking, but she was cut off when Buck coughed up more blood and collapsed to the ground.

A wave of panic swept over the group as Maddie and Becca rushed to his side. Becca immediately knelt beside him, gently cradling his face in her hands. She could feel his shallow breaths, and she knew something was terribly wrong.

"Rosie! Rosie!" Becca shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Rosie sprinted over, calm but focused, assessing the situation in an instant. She crouched down next to Buck, quickly checking his vitals. Maddie, kneeling nearby, leaned in, listening closely to Buck's breathing.

"Could it be a—" Maddie started, but Rosie interrupted her with a grim nod.

"Yup, definitely showing signs of pulmonary embolism," Rosie said, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Okay, we need to get him to Mercy General right now."

"I'll call for backup," Chimney said, already pulling out his phone and dialing.

Becca, her hands trembling, looked down at Buck, her heart aching as she gently caressed his face. "You're gonna be okay, Buck," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she believed it herself.

Everyone moved into action, but Becca couldn't take her eyes off Buck, the sight of him unconscious on the ground filling her with a feeling she hated. She hadn't seen him in this vulnerable state since May, and the weight of the situation was suffocating all over again.

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Becca sat beside Buck's bed, her hand gently resting on his. Maddie stood across from them, arms crossed, giving him a pointed look that made Buck feel more than a little uncomfortable. He could feel the weight of their worry, and despite being grateful that he was alive, the guilt was starting to settle in.

"You got lucky," Dr. Wallace said, his voice calm but serious. "Most people who suffer a pulmonary embolism don't do it surrounded by trained medical professionals, especially Dr. Stratford. It saved your life, Mr. Buckley."

Buck shifted in the bed, still processing the news. He felt the tension in the room as Maddie spoke up.

"So, what caused the blood clot?" she asked, her tone a mix of concern and frustration.

"Clots, plural," Dr. Wallace said, looking at them both. "There's the one that hit his lungs, and then there's two more in his leg."

"As to the cause? It's still unclear," Rosie added from the doorway, her voice calm as always. She had been on call tonight and had been keeping an eye on Buck's condition since they arrived at the hospital.

Chimney looked over at Dr. Wallace. "Yeah, but he just got a clean bill of health last week. This came out of nowhere."

"Did it?" Dr. Wallace asked, turning his gaze to Chimney. He seemed to be studying him for a moment before his eyes flicked back to Buck. "No pain or tenderness in the leg? Skin discoloration, swelling?"

Buck's silence spoke volumes, and Becca turned to him, her worry turning to frustration. "Buck, answer the question."

Buck cleared his throat, glancing at the floor. "I thought I just pulled a muscle or something," he muttered.

Maddie and Becca both sighed, their eyes locking in a silent agreement before Becca spoke again. "Okay, I've been training for my LAFD recertification test," Buck added, looking sheepish.

Dr. Wallace nodded. "Well, it's not surprising. Training hard can lead to dehydration, which can increase the risk of clots."

Buck frowned, his mind still foggy. "Okay, um, well, great. Look, I'm not dead. You found the clots. When can I get out of here?"

Dr. Wallace looked at him with a stern expression. "We'll move you to a room, keep you on the anticoagulants. Tomorrow, we'll run some more tests. And then, we'll see."

"Thanks, Doc," Buck said, his voice laced with exhaustion.

"Dr. Stratford, follow me," Dr. Wallace said, turning to Rosie, who nodded and followed him out of the room.

Chimney, sensing the tension between the three of them, stood up from his chair. "You know what? I'm gonna go tell everyone that you're okay. Let them know that you're staying a while, all right?"

He kissed Maddie's forehead, offering a small smile before leaving the room. Becca and Maddie stayed behind, both of them still glaring at Buck. The silence between them was heavy, and Buck could feel his anxiety rising.

"So... who wants to go first?" Buck asked, trying to break the tension.

Maddie looked at Becca. "Becca, would you like to do the honors?"

Becca nodded, moving to the other side of Buck's bed. "Gladly," she said, her tone sharp. "When did your leg start bothering you, Evan?"

Buck hesitated, his mind still trying to catch up. "Like a day or two ago."

"Buck!" Maddie sighed, her hands on her hips.

"And you mention this now?" Becca added, her voice rising slightly.

Buck raised his hands in defense. "Becca, Maddie, I—I was not ignoring this, okay? I—I didn't know what it was. I thought I had a leg cramp or something."

"Clearly it wasn't, this was way more serious than a cramp" Becca said, her eyes narrowing.

"It's not like I wasn't careful." Buck Said, in defense.

Maddie's voice was steady, but her concern was evident. "Yeah, well, you need to be more careful. Because if this had happened when you were alone, you could have died."

Buck's gaze dropped to the blanket, the gravity of the situation hitting him hard. "But I—I didn't, okay? I just passed out—"

"Yeah, just passed out after vomiting up blood," Becca recalled, her voice softening slightly but still tinged with worry.

Buck's eyes widened in confusion. "What? I don't—I don't remember that. I vomited up blood?"

Maddie and Becca nodded in unison.

"At Bobby and Athena's house?" Buck asked, his voice shaking with disbelief.

"Yeah," Maddie confirmed, her tone flat but with a trace of concern.

Buck's stomach dropped, and he ran a hand through his hair, his face pale. "Oh, no."

"Oh, yeah," Maddie and Becca said in unison, their voices full of both concern and frustration.

Buck leaned back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, trying to process it all. The next day came as Becca and the team are back at work, they get a call over to a Senior Living Facility, as a woman called about her father being locked inside a room.

Only for them to get in and find out the man had a flesh eating eating STD at his age of 82, but they found out that most of the elderly residents there has been sleeping with each other and the team advised them all to be checked immediately.

Later That Night

Becca pulled into a gas station, her car's tank nearing empty. As the pump clicked, she pulled out her phone and sent Buck another text.

Hey, just checking in. How are you feeling today?

She waited, staring at the screen. The text showed as read, but no response came.

"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.

After filling up, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Instead of heading home, she drove straight to Buck's loft apartment.

When she arrived, she knocked twice on the door. No answer.

"Buck, I know you're in there," she called out. "I can hear MasterChef coming from your TV. Please just open up."

After a long pause, the door creaked open. Buck stood there, looking disheveled and utterly defeated.

"Hey," Becca said softly, stepping inside. "What's wrong? You're not answering my calls or texts, which is unlike you."

"Sorry, I'm busy," Buck mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

"Doing what?" she pressed. "Talk to me."

Her eyes landed on the kitchen counter, where a bottle of tequila sat, a glass already half-filled.

"Bobby came by the hospital today to check on me," Buck finally said, his voice heavy. "He delivered some news."

"Like what?"

Buck hesitated before blurting out, "The Chief won't clear me yet. Even though I passed my physical and recertification test... they still won't let me back."

"Buck, maybe Chief Alonzo is just taking precautionary measures. You got hurt—badly—"

"I know, Becca," he interrupted, his frustration evident.

"He's probably worried about you stepping back in before your body is truly ready," she said gently.

"But I am ready!" Buck snapped.

Becca raised an eyebrow. "Clearly you're not, if you're passing out and throwing up blood."

Buck sighed, rubbing his face. "It's just... I'm tired of waiting. I've been busting my ass for months, trying to get back to the only job I've ever been good at. Helping people, saving lives—that's where I belong."

"And you still can," Becca said, stepping closer.

"No, I can't!" Buck yelled, startling her. "At least not anymore... I quit."

Becca's eyes widened. "What do you mean you quit?"

"The Chief wanted me on light duty. A desk job. That's not me, Becca, and you know it." Buck Said

"You're being ridiculous. Light duty isn't a demotion—it's temporary." Becca Scoffed

"It's temporary and not for me," Buck insisted. "I don't want to do it."

"So what? That's it? You're just going to give up?" Becca Asked

Buck turned away, grabbing his glass and taking a sip. "Looks like it."

"Evan... please," Becca said, her voice breaking slightly.

"I think you should go," he said quietly, looking into her eyes. "I'd rather be alone for a while."

Becca hesitated, wanting to say more, but she saw the pain in his eyes. Pushing him now would only make things worse.

"Fine," she said softly, heading for the door.

With that, she left, the sound of the door closing echoing in the empty apartment. Buck stood there, staring at the glass in his hand, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

At the firehouse, the team gathered in the kitchen, helping Bobby prepare lunch. Becca was slicing vegetables while Hen stirred a pot on the stove. Violet and Chimney were setting the table, and Eddie leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.

"Maddie said Buck hasn't left the apartment in a week," Bobby said, his voice tinged with concern.

"Yeah, she's tried to get him to go out a couple of times, but it's always, 'Why would I need to leave? Everyone delivers,'" Chimney added with a frustrated shake of his head.

"He won't even take my calls," Bobby said.

"Join the club," Becca muttered, her tone laced with worry as she focused on chopping.

"He's just sulking, guys. He'll get over it," Eddie said, his voice even but firm.

"I don't think so," Violet chimed in, glancing up from the table. "Buck's a pretty emotional guy. This is really taking a toll on him. Losing something he was really good at must feel like a tough blow."

"And the Buck we know will bounce back from it," Eddie insisted, glancing around as Chimney nodded in agreement.

Hen sighed, leaning against the counter. "Hey, I like to give Buck crap as much as any of you, but this was a body blow, guys. The guy's allowed some time to mourn."

"The question is, how much time?" Chimney asked, setting down a plate with a clatter. "I mean, his daily routine of walking from the bed to the couch and back again isn't gonna help the situation."

"Look, I know it sucks, but that's life, right?" Eddie said. "Whenever stuff didn't work out for me, my dad always told me to brush it off and keep moving forward. It wasn't easy, but he wasn't wrong."

"Mm, wise words spoken from Ramón Díaz," Violet teased dramatically, earning a playful hip bump from Eddie. She laughed, and the tension in the room lightened momentarily.

"But move forward onto what?" Becca said, setting her knife down and looking at the group. "We all had lives, jobs before we entered the department. And we have things outside of it."

"Yeah, I mean what—what does Buck have?" Hen Questioned

"Buck has us," Bobby said, pulling a dish out of the oven and setting it on the counter. "Even though he may not believe that right now."

Becca looked down, her lips pressing into a thin line. Bobby's words struck a chord. Buck did have them, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't know how to let them in, or maybe she just needed to try harder.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

The next day Becca stood outside Buck's apartment door, a determined expression on her face. In her hand, she held the spare key Maddie had given her for emergencies. Today, this qualified. She glanced back at the group of kids she'd brought along—Bryan, Aryana, Dylan, and Christopher—all waiting patiently.

"Alright, troops," she said with a small smile, kneeling to their level. "You know the plan, right?"

"Cheer up Buck!" Christopher said with a grin, earning nods from the others.

"Exactly. Now let's get to it." Becca said

Unlocking the door, Becca led the kids inside. The apartment was dim, with only a small beam of light sneaking through the closed blinds. The kids immediately headed to the couch, whispering among themselves and turning on the TV.

Becca, meanwhile, climbed the stairs to Buck's loft bedroom. She found him lying in bed, cocooned under the covers, his face barely visible. Channeling her inner mom, she crossed her arms and took a deep breath.

"¡Se levanta, Evan! Levanta tu trasero ahora!" she barked, ripping the covers off him in one swift motion.

Buck groaned, squinting up at her. "Becca—what the hell?"

"Morning, sunshine," she said cheerfully. "And by the way, I said get up."

Buck rolled over, pulling the covers back. "Why? There's no point."

Becca wasn't having it. She grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off again. "Because it's morning, and you've got things to do."

"No, I don't," Buck muttered, refusing to budge.

"Oh, yes, you do." She planted her hands on her hips. "Get up, take a walk, and get some fresh air. Trust me, it's a game-changer."

Buck sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. "Why? What's the point?"

Becca sighed, softening her tone. "The point is your life isn't over just because you're not a firefighter right now."

Buck snorted. "Says the firefighter."

Becca crouched to meet his eyes. "You could've died from that blood clot, Buck. But you didn't. That means something."

"Lucky me," he muttered bitterly.

"Yeah, lucky you," she shot back. "You have a whole life ahead of you. So stop wallowing and start living it."

Buck sighed deeply, dragging himself out of bed. He shuffled toward the stairs, grumbling under his breath. Becca followed him down, her arms crossed as she watched him head for the living room.

When Buck turned the corner and saw the kids sitting on his couch, he froze.

"Hey, Buck!" they chorused, grinning at him.

He blinked and smiled, caught off guard. "Hey, guys... Uh, what are you doing here?"

"They're here to hang out with their favorite guy," Becca said brightly. "And since Eddie had to work, I figured, why not take Chris off his hands for the day?"

"Where's Carla?" Buck asked Christopher.

"She went to Morongo," Christopher replied, shrugging.

Becca smirked. "So here we are. Now, go get dressed, Buckley. The kids have big plans."

"Becca—"

"No excuses," she cut him off, stepping closer. "You're spending the day with us. And I know you're not going to say no to these adorable faces, are you?"

Buck glanced at the kids, who were now watching TV and giggling. He sighed, knowing he was cornered.

"So, kids," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "What do you like to do for fun?"

"Rollercoaster!" Christopher shouted immediately.

"Laser tag!" Bryan chimed in.

"Mini golf!" Aryana added.

"Cotton Candy and Ice cream!" Dylan said, his eyes lighting up.

Becca grinned, giving Buck a playful nudge. "Looks like we've got a busy day ahead, cause I know a place that has all of those things."

Buck thought then realized what she meant, "The Pier?"

Becca nodded, "The Pier."

Buck shook his head but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Alright, let's do it."