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Season Three : Episode Two, Sink Or Swim

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September, 2019

The day had been perfect so far, filled with laughter, games, and more sweets than Becca would normally allow. The kids had their fill of rides, played laser tag, and even squeezed into the photo booth for a set of silly snapshots. Becca had snapped dozens of pictures on her phone—of Buck helping Christopher with the water gun race, Dylan proudly holding up his mini-golf scorecard, and the twins Bryan and Aryana posing like they'd conquered the world after the roller coaster.

The group was heading toward the edge of the pier, where they could feed the fish, when Becca noticed Buck had slowed down, his gaze fixed on something in the distance.

"Buck?" she called, noticing his sudden distraction.

He didn't answer immediately. Becca followed his line of sight and spotted a group of firefighters and first responders helping someone in a mascot costume who looked overheated.

"Buck," she said again, stepping closer and gently touching his arm.

"Hmm?" He blinked and turned to her.

"You okay?"

Before he could answer, Christopher tugged at his sleeve. "Buck, come on! We're feeding the fish!"

"Right, sorry, buddy." Buck managed a smile and turned his attention back to Christopher.

The group gathered near the railing, where the kids tossed bits of fish food into the water below. Bryan and Aryana started teaching Dylan how to make a wish before tossing his food in, while Aryana occasionally hopped on one foot, pretending she could see a dolphin in the distance.

Becca leaned against the railing beside Buck, letting out a tired sigh. "I'm officially beat."

"Coming from the woman who dragged me out of bed and forced me to entertain four kids all day," Buck teased, though his voice was lighthearted.

"You try keeping four kids happy for an entire day. You'll see." She smirked and nudged him with her elbow. "But it was worth it, right? Aren't you glad we did this?"

Buck looked at her, his smile softening. "Yeah. I am. Thanks, Becks."

"Don't mention it."

Christopher leaned over the railing, holding the last bit of fish food in his hand. Buck steadied him by the back of his shirt. "Hey, Chris, you ever think about what you want to be when you grow up?"

The boy turned his head to look at Buck, a thoughtful expression on his face. "An astronaut. Or a pirate!"

"Those are some solid choices," Buck said with a chuckle. "Cool outfits, too."

Christopher's eyes lit up. "No, wait! I want to be a firefighter!"

Becca grinned. "Now that's an excellent choice. You'd make an awesome firefighter, Chris."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Buck said, his tone more serious now. "But, Chris, whatever you decide to be, just make sure it's something you love. Something that makes you feel like you matter. When you find that, it'll tell you who you are. And that's the best feeling in the world."

Christopher nodded, holding his stuffed bear close. "You're gonna be okay, Buck," he said softly, surprising everyone.

"He sure will," Becca added, her eyes warm as she glanced at Buck.

Before Buck could respond, Aryana ran up to them, her face scrunched in confusion. "Mom! Buck! There's something wrong with the water."

Becca frowned. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"

"Look!" Bryan called from farther down the pier. "There's no water!"

The group rushed to the railing and peered over. The ocean near the pier had receded, leaving the seabed exposed. Fish flopped helplessly in the sand, and boats sat stranded.

"Where did all the water go?" Christopher Wondered

Soon they heard sirens ringing across the pier, and Becca's stomach dropped. She knew exactly what this meant.

"Buck..." she whispered, her voice laced with fear.

He followed her gaze, and his expression darkened. "Oh no."

Far out on the horizon, a massive wave was forming—a tsunami.

"Mom?" Aryana's voice quivered. "What's happening?"

Becca took a deep breath, crouching to her kids' level. "Listen to me, all of you. We need to leave. Right now. Stay close to me and Buck, and don't let go of each other's hands, okay?"

The kids nodded, their fear mirrored in their wide eyes. Buck scooped Christopher into his arms. "We'll be okay, but we have to move fast. Let's go!

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The once-lively pier had become a scene of utter chaos. People screamed, pushing and shoving to get off as the wave loomed closer. Becca gripped Dylan's hand tightly, her knuckles white, while Bryan clutched Aryana's hand with equal desperation. Buck held Christopher in his arms, his face grim as he looked back over his shoulder at the incoming wall of water.

"Keep moving!" Buck shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.

Becca's heart raced, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She'd never experienced anything like this before, and the sheer force of the moment was overwhelming. All she could think about was getting the kids—and Buck—somewhere safe.

As they ran, dodging debris and frantic crowds, Becca spotted a sturdy carnival booth up ahead. "There!" she shouted, pointing.

Buck nodded, adjusting Christopher in his arms as they sprinted toward the booth. Becca reached it first, yanking open the side door and helping Bryan and Aryana climb in. Dylan followed, his small hands trembling as Becca pushed him gently but firmly inside.

"Go, go!" Buck urged, putting Christopher in after them.

Becca turned to climb in herself, but the water was nearly upon them now, its deafening roar sending a chill down her spine. Buck grabbed her arm, lifting her into the booth before hauling himself in just as the wave hit.

The impact was unlike anything Becca had ever felt. The booth rocked violently, water crashing into it with relentless force. She wrapped her arms around Dylan, Aryana and Bryan, holding them tightly against her chest as they screamed in terror.

"Hold on!" Buck shouted, clutching Christopher to his chest as he braced himself against the side of the booth.

But the water was too strong. As the wave hit, it was harder than anything she could've imagined, tearing the booth apart. Buck reached out, grabbing Becca's hand, his fingers gripping hers tightly.

"Becca!" he shouted, his voice raw with fear.

"I'm here!" she cried, trying to hold onto him as the water surged between them.

But the force was unstoppable. The wave ripped them apart, Buck's hand slipping from hers as the current dragged him and Christopher away.

"Buck!" Becca screamed, her voice drowned out by the roaring water.

The water was a merciless force, tossing Becca around like a rag doll. She kicked her legs, struggling to find the surface, her lungs burning as she fought to hold her breath. Finally, she broke through, gasping for air as she clawed her way upward.

"Bryan! Aryana! Dylan!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and desperate.

There was no response at first, only the sound of rushing water and debris crashing around her. Then, faintly, she heard voices.

"Mom! Over here!"

Becca turned, her eyes scanning the water until she spotted Bryan and Dylan clinging to a car hood that floated precariously on the churning waves. Relief flooded her chest as she swam toward them, her arms and legs aching with the effort.

"Hold on!" she shouted, swallowing a mouthful of water as a wave slammed into her.

When she reached them, she wrapped her arms around the hood, gasping for breath. "Are you guys okay? Are you hurt?"

Bryan shook his head, his face pale and streaked with tears. Dylan clung to her arm, his small body trembling.

"Where's Buck? And Christopher?" Dylan asked, his voice shaking.

Becca looked around, her heart sinking when she didn't see them. "I don't know, I can't see them anywhere," she admitted, trying to keep her voice steady.

Then her stomach dropped. Aryana.

"Where's Aryana?" she asked, panic creeping into her tone.

Bryan's lip quivered, and fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. "I—I tried to hold onto her, Mom. I didn't let go, but...but the water took her away!"

Becca's heart shattered. "No," she whispered, shaking her head as if to will the truth away. "No, no, no."

She began shouting her daughter's name, her voice breaking as she scanned the debris-filled water. "Aryana! Aryana, where are you?"

There was no response. Just the relentless sound of the water and the cries of others who were also searching for loved ones.

Becca's chest heaved as panic threatened to consume her. She clung to Bryan and Dylan, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. "I'll find her," she said, more to herself than to the boys. "I'll find her. I have to."

Bryan sobbed against her, and Dylan buried his face in her shoulder. Becca fought to keep her composure, even as her heart screamed in anguish. Somewhere out there, her little girl was alone and scared—or worse.

She had to keep moving. She had to find her. And she had to believe and hope that Buck and Christopher were still out there, too.

Meanwhile The 118 was wrapping up their work on the food truck fire, the smell of charred metal and burnt grease heavy in the air. Hen was the first to break the silence, wiping her brow as she glanced at Eddie.

"Any word on how Operation Buck Up Buck is going?" she asked, her tone light despite the exhaustion of the call.

Eddie pulled his phone from his pocket, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, actually. Buck's been sending me updates all day." He tapped on the screen, pulling up a series of photos and holding them out for everyone to see.

"This was this morning," Eddie said, showing a picture of Buck, Christopher, Becca, and the kids at the pier. Christopher was grinning, syrup smeared on his face, while Buck held up a massive plate of pancakes with a sheepish smile.

"Aww," Violet cooed, leaning in for a closer look.

Eddie chuckled and read aloud the text accompanying the photo. "Full stack. Then I think the movies. Good luck. By now, Chris has come down from a serious sugar high, and Buck and Becca are regretting their life choices."

Hen laughed, shaking her head. "Becca'll be fine. She's got experience with sugar highs. Buck? Not so much."

"Yeah, he's probably already questioning his decision to tag along," Chimney added with a smirk.

Bobby, who had been checking the area for any remaining hot spots, suddenly frowned and pointed to the ground. "Hey, did someone leave a hydrant open?"

The crew turned to look, noticing water pooling around their feet, spreading across the pavement.

Eddie's phone buzzed with an alert. He glanced down, and his stomach dropped. "I don't think it's a hydrant, Cap."

Hen, Chimney, and Violet leaned over to see the screen, their expressions darkening as they read the notification.

SMS Tsunami Warning: Earthquake/ Tsunami Alert
Event Type : SEAQUAKE Magnitude 7.5
Location: Santa Monica, Los Angeles County

"Oh god," Violet whispered, her voice barely audible.

A few minutes later The 118's truck came to a halt near the edge of the highway, where they saw the flooded Santa Monica streets. The aftermath of the first wave stretched out before them—cars overturned, debris scattered everywhere, and water pooling in unnatural places. The air was thick with the smell of saltwater, oil, and destruction.

Hen and Chimney climbed onto the top of the ladder truck to get a better view. The higher vantage point offered no comfort—just a clearer picture of the chaos.

"One wave did all of this?" Hen murmured, shaking her head in disbelief.

Chimney scanned the wreckage, spotting half-submerged buildings and people clinging to anything they could find. "Looks like a war zone," he said grimly.

Down on the ground, Eddie stood frozen, his eyes darting over the flooded streets and wreckage, searching for any sign of Buck, Christopher, or Becca and her kids. Violet approached him cautiously, her face soft with concern.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Eddie swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah."

"You're thinking about them too, aren't you?" Violet Said

"Yeah," he admitted, his voice low. "But I'm trying my best to hope that they all made it out alive and are safe."

"Me too," Violet said quietly. She reached out and rubbed his arm in a comforting gesture. Eddie placed his hand over hers briefly, appreciating the support.

The sound of boots splashing through water pulled their attention. Harlan, the chief of LAFD Fire Rescue, approached Bobby with a determined expression. Eddie, Hen, Chimney, and Violet joined them, their faces tense.

"We already had two waves so far," Harlan said, his voice steady but urgent. "Expect another four or five before it starts to recede. We're commandeering everything that'll float to supplement our Zodiacs."

Bobby nodded, his focus unwavering. "I heard there were four firehouses in the path of this thing."

"Yeah," Harlan confirmed. "They've all checked in. Except for the 136."

Eddie's head snapped up at the mention of the 136, dread curling in his stomach.

"They were responding to a call at the pier when the surge hit," Harlan continued. "So, if you see any blue out there..."

"We'll holler," Bobby assured him, his tone resolute.

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Buck crouched on top of the fire engine, holding Christopher close. The floodwaters around them churned with relentless force, carrying debris and creating an ominous roar that filled the air. Buck wiped sweat and seawater from his brow, his chest rising and falling with exertion.

"You good, Chris?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry but steady enough to reassure.

Christopher gave him a small, brave smile. "Yep. I took surfing lessons."

Buck chuckled, his anxiety momentarily easing. "Oh, well, maybe you can teach me," he joked, shaking his head. Then, looking around at the waterlogged streets and the wreckage surrounding them, he sighed. "All right, I'm gonna take a look around and see what I can see. Guess we're gonna have to hang out here a little longer."

Christopher looked at him, his optimism unwavering. "We have a firetruck."

Buck grinned at his resilience. "Yeah, we do."

But the moment of levity was shattered when a voice rang out—a high-pitched, desperate cry cutting through the chaos.

"Mom! Bryan? Dylan?! Someone help me!"

Buck's heart dropped. He knew that voice. "Aryana?" He stood quickly, scanning the flooded street until his eyes locked on a small figure clinging to a streetlight, a block away. "Aryana, it's me, Buck!"

The ten-year-old girl turned her head toward the sound of his voice, her tear-streaked face lighting up with recognition. "Buck? Buck, please help me!"

"I'm coming! I'll help you! Just hold on!" Buck shouted back, his heart racing.

Aryana clung tighter to the pole as the water slapped against her, her small frame trembling. "I'm scared!"

"Okay, okay. Chris," Buck said, turning to Christopher and crouching down to meet his gaze, "I need you to sit right here for me, okay? You promise me?"

Christopher nodded, his trust in Buck absolute. "Yeah."

"Right here, okay? Stay put."

"Yeah. Go save her," Christopher said with a small, encouraging smile.

Buck nodded, determination hardening his features. "I'm coming, Aryana! Hold on!"

Buck grabbed the ladder from the fire engine and extended it across the turbulent water, using it as a makeshift bridge. He grabbed a fire hose from the truck, looping it over his shoulder as he carefully made his way across the ladder.

Halfway across, he spotted movement in a car wedged against a building. A man inside pounded on the window, his face pale with panic.

"Help! I can't get out!" the man yelled.

Buck glanced at him, torn. "I'll help you! I'll come back, okay? I promise!"

The man nodded, though his fear was evident. Buck turned his focus back to Aryana, who was clutching the streetlight with all her might as the water surged around her.

"Aryana! You can let go!" Buck shouted over the noise.

"What? Are you crazy? What if I drown?!" Aryana cried, her voice trembling.

"You won't! You're a good swimmer, right? I need you to trust me and let go! Swim to me!"

Aryana hesitated, her grip tightening on the pole.

"Aryana, I promise I'll get you!" Buck said, his voice firm and reassuring.

Finally, with a deep breath, Aryana released the pole and began paddling toward him. The water fought her every step, but she pushed forward with determination.

"You're doing great! Keep going!" Buck encouraged, gripping the hose for support as he leaned toward her.

When Aryana was within reach, Buck extended his hand. "Gimme that hand! You're so close!"

Aryana stretched out her arm, her small fingers brushing against his. Buck grabbed her securely and pulled her to him.

"Okay, okay. You're doing so great. See? I told you you could do it," he said, his voice soft but filled with pride.

Aryana clung to him, her face buried in his chest. "Don't let me go," she whispered.

"I won't. I've got you," Buck promised.

He swam them both back to the fire engine, his muscles burning from the effort. "Just climb up. You're okay. You got it," he said as Aryana scrambled onto the truck.

Christopher immediately hugged her, his smile wide with relief. "You're okay!"

Aryana hugged him back, tears streaming down her face.

"Buck, look!" Christopher said, pointing ahead.

Buck turned to see more people in the water, clinging to debris and calling for help.

"Help!"

"Please, someone help us!"

Buck nodded firmly. "Aryana, Chris, stay here and don't move, okay? Stay together."

They both nodded. "Okay," they said in unison.

Buck dove back into the water, his focus shifting to the next set of lives that needed saving. The 118 navigated the flooded streets of Santa Monica in an orange rescue boat, the eerie quiet only broken by the sound of rushing water and the occasional cries for help. The devastation was overwhelming—cars overturned, buildings submerged, and the occasional grim sight of deceased victims floating by. Despite the weight of what they were seeing, they pushed forward, scanning for survivors.

"Okay, let's work fast, people, in between waves," Bobby instructed, his voice firm but calm as he surveyed the area.

Suddenly, a desperate scream cut through the air.

"Help! Please, help!" a woman's voice echoed, drawing their attention to a small yacht leaning precariously to one side.

"Cap!" Chimney called from the front of the boat.

"I see it, Chim," Bobby replied, motioning for the team to steer toward the yacht. As they approached, they saw a woman waving frantically from the deck.

"Help! Please hurry!" she cried.

"Don't move, ma'am. We're coming to you," Bobby reassured her as the rescue boat pulled alongside the listing yacht.

The team carefully climbed aboard, the yacht's unstable rocking making every step treacherous. Chimney immediately went to assess the captain, an older man slumped against the railing with blood trickling down his temple.

"I'll check you out, sir," Chimney said, kneeling beside him.

"My fiancé and my son," the woman said, her voice breaking. "Please, you have to save them."

Meanwhile, the woman led Bobby, Hen, Eddie, and Violet below deck. The moment they descended, the gravity of the situation hit them. Two people—a young man and a older man—were skewered together by a large metal pole that had punctured through the hull of the yacht, pinning them to the floor.

"Gentlemen, can you hear me?" Eddie asked as he crouched beside them.

"Yes," the boy groaned, his face pale and strained.

"I'm Jason," he managed, while the man beside him winced in pain.

"Antenna from the radio station pierced the hull," Eddie noted grimly, studying the situation.

"And then it pierced them," Violet added, shaking her head.

"They're skewered together," Hen said, crouching to inspect the injuries. "Through the shoulder and abdomen straight into the floor."

"And the boat is taking on water," Bobby observed, glancing at the rising water level. "We need a plan, and we need it fast."

Hen and Violet followed Bobby back upstairs to strategize while Eddie stayed behind with Jason and Chuck. The tension was palpable as the three rescuers regrouped.

"Normally, we'd travel them both with the object intact and let the ER sort it out," Hen began

"Except in this case the object is the radio station antenna is part of the boat, and we need to separate them can we do that?" Bobby Said

"It seems to have missed the kid's heart and lungs," Violet said. "But the stepdad? It could've hit a dozen vital organs."

Hen nodded grimly. "So long as we keep both pieces of the antenna in them, maybe."

"That's not a no," Bobby said, meeting Hen's gaze.

Downstairs, Chuck turned to Adele, his fiancée, and managed a strained smile. "You need to go, Adele. Leave with Jason. I'll be fine."

"No," she said firmly, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not leaving you—either of you."

"Whatever happened to 'love, honor, and obey'?" Chuck joked weakly.

"I never said 'obey,'" Adele shot back, her voice trembling. "We didn't even finish the ceremony."

Jason groaned softly, his pain etched on his face. "Mom, please, just go. I'll be fine."

Bobby returned with Violet and Hen, his tone gentle but firm. "He's right, ma'am. The best thing you can do now is let us work."

Adele hesitated before leaning down to kiss both Jason and Chuck. "I love you both so much," she whispered before allowing Violet to escort her upstairs.

"Okay, we have a plan," Bobby said once she was gone.

"Only one plan," Chuck rasped, his voice weakening. "Save this kid."

Jason shook his head. "No! Chuck, don't do this—don't be noble. We're both getting out of this."

"Our job is to save you both," Bobby interjected, cutting off the argument. "And that's exactly what we're going to do."

Bobby turned to Eddie. "Cover them up. We need to cut the antenna."

Eddie quickly laid a blanket over the pair to protect them from sparks as Bobby used a hacksaw to begin cutting the pole. The screech of metal against metal filled the cramped space as the team worked quickly. A section of the antenna finally broke free, and Chimney, stationed on the roof, pulled it out.

"Got it, Cap!" Chimney called over the radio.

"All right, Hen, Violet, lift Jason up gently. Jason, I need you to help as much as you can," Bobby instructed.

Jason groaned as Hen and Violet carefully maneuvered him off the pole. His cries of pain were heart-wrenching, but they managed to stabilize him on a backboard and secure a neck brace.

Upstairs, Adele rushed to her son's side as they brought him out. "Jason, I'm here. It's going to be okay," she said, brushing his hair back.

"What about Chuck?" she asked, looking at Chimney.

"They're still working on him," Chimney reassured her.

Back below deck, the water level was rising rapidly, and Hen assessed Chuck's condition. "His abdomen is distended and warm. I'm pretty sure his spleen's ruptured. If we pull him off this pole now, he'll lose too much blood."

"Then we cut from underneath," Bobby said.

Eddie stared at him. "Underneath where?"

"From what the boat?" Violet Said

Bobby nodded. "It's the only way. Unless someone has a better idea?"

Hen, Violet and Eddie exchanged a look before nodding reluctantly. "By all means, Cap," Hen said.

Minutes later, Bobby was suited up with an oxygen tank and mask, preparing to dive. As he adjusted his gear, Chimney gave him a thumbs-up.

"Always did love Jacques Cousteau as a kid," Chimney joked.

"You and me both," Bobby replied before diving backward into the water.

As he swam beneath the yacht, the current grew stronger. Bobby's voice crackled over the radio. "Chim, the surge is getting worse."

Chimney scanned the water. "We've got another surge incoming!" he called out.

Below deck, Eddie, Violet and Hen tightened their hold on Chuck as water began pouring in faster.

"This is a problem," Hen muttered.

"Oh yeah," Violet agreed grimly.

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Below deck, the water is rising slowly, as Eddie is now holding Chuck up in his arms to prevent drowning.

"Water's coming faster, Cap!" Eddie spoke into his radio.

"Copy that, Eddie. I'll bang three times on the hull when it's done." Bobby replied, from the radio.

"Chuck? Can you hear me?" He listened in for his breathing, "He's not breathing." Eddie said.

"What?" She felt for a pulse, "Damnit lost his pulse." Violet said.

"We gotta do CPR underwater." Hen said.

"CPR underwater?" Eddie said.

"We can't do compressions unless he's flat." Hen said.

"How's he gonna get air?" Violet asked.

"He's not breathing anyway. It's just to keep him from drowning. At least for a minute. There's a scuba mask over there. Grab it, put it on him." Hen said.

Violet grabs the nearby scuba mask and puts it on Chuck, she and Eddie look to Hen.

"Three, two, one." Hen said.

Violet and Eddie gently held down Chuck underwater, so Hen could take a turn at doing CPR and then Eddie would take a quick turn, and then Violet.

"Nothing." Eddie said.

"I'll go again." Violet said.

She takes a breath then goes underneath and does CPR, and comes back up and feels for a pulse.

"Nothing." Violet said.

Hen goes again and she feels and shakes her head, then Eddie goes once again doing CPR and feels for a pulse and shakes his head.

"Nothing." Eddie said.

"Come on, Chuck." Hen said.

Meanwhile underneath the boat as they're taking turns doing CPR, Bobby successfully saws off the last part of the antenna and bangs on the boat three times giving them the signal.

"Eddie, antenna is clear." Bobby said.

Violet comes up for air as she felt a pulse, "I got a pulse! Bring him back up!"

Hen removes the mask off Chuck's face and Chuck takes a deep breath, as he coughs.

"There we go. Welcome back, Chuck." Eddie said.

"Oh, hell of a save, Hen. Hell of a save." Violet said, trying to catch her breath and kisses Hen's cheek smiling.

"I can't believe it worked." Hen said.

"Believe it, Bring in that backboard!" Eddie said.

A few minutes later they stabilized Chuck for transport as he was now on the backboard, the rest of the fire rescue helped place Jason and Chuck.

"Ready? One, two, three."

A voice spoke over the radio in the near distance, as Chimney listened in "If you read, 118, we need backup at the Santa Monica Pier."

"Good job down there, guys." Bobby said, looking up at Hen, Eddie, and Violet.

"Thanks." They said.

"Copy that. Cap! The man is asking for available hands down at the Pier." Chimney said.

"Okay, Chim, Hen, you transport the patients." Bobby said.

"Copy that." Chimney said.

"Eddie, Violet, you're with me." Bobby said.

"Copy that." The three of them said.

"We'll regroup at the staging area." Bobby said.

As they prepared to transport the patients, Violet
looked at Eddie, her hands still trembling from the adrenaline of the rescue. "You okay?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through the rush of activity around them.

Eddie nodded, but there was a weight in his eyes. "Yeah. Just... that was too close. Too damn close." He let out a long breath, glancing at Chuck, still secured on the backboard.

Violet reached over, squeezing his arm gently. "You did everything you could. We all did."

Eddie gave a tight smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, but I didn't want to lose him. Not today."

Violet nodded, her heart heavy with the same feeling. "I know. But we got him back. That's what matters."

Eddie met her gaze for a moment, his expression softening, and they both stood there, silently taking in the relief that Chuck was alive, before the next task loomed.

"We better get moving," Eddie said, breaking the silence.

Violet gave a small nod, the weight of the moment still lingering between them, but both of them knew the job wasn't done yet.

Now Buck, Christopher, and Aryana were still stranded on the 136 fire engine, along with the others Buck had helped get to safety.

The water was rising fast, but Buck did his best to keep the young children calm amidst the chaos. He knew the importance of distraction in moments like this, so he decided to play a little game to keep their minds off the situation.

"Okay, I spy, with my little eye, something that... moves people around," Buck said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.

Christopher furrowed his brow, scanning the surroundings, his eyes landing on a scooter floating in the water. "Um... a scooter?"

Buck grinned. "Ah, yeah. Nice one." He chuckled, trying to make it lighthearted. "Okay, genius. Your turn."

Christopher paused, looking around again. "I spy a... shopping cart."

Buck raised an eyebrow. "What? No, come on."

"Hey, that's not how the game works, Chris," Aryana chimed in, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah, you can't just yell stuff out," Buck teased.

"But yelling stuff out is the fun part!" Christopher argued, causing the two of them to laugh.

"You guys amaze me," Buck said, shaking his head in amusement.

"Why?" Christopher asked.

Buck leaned back slightly, his eyes focused on the horizon. "I got some bad news at work the other day, and I didn't wanna get out of bed for a whole week. Until your mom dragged me out of my comfy bed." He smiled at Aryana. "But you two, after everything you've been through today, here you are, still smiling and laughing. You never gave up, even when the water was pushing and pulling you around. You two just kept on swimming."

"Like Dory," Christopher said, chuckling.

"Yeah, like Dory," Buck echoed, a soft smile on his face.

"That's what Mom always tells us," Aryana added. "No matter how hard things get... we never give up."

Buck nodded. "Wise woman she is. And not just today, I mean." He turned to Christopher. "You know, but every day. You never say no, you never complain. How... how do you do that?"

Christopher grinned. "Well, I complained once, but it didn't work."

Buck raised an eyebrow. "So what did you do?"

"Just kept on swimming," Christopher said, a gleam of pride in his eyes.

"Like Dory," Buck said with a laugh.

"Chris, I never realized how wise you are," Aryana said with a grin.

"I'm working on becoming a philosopher," Christopher joked, causing Aryana to laugh.

Buck couldn't help but laugh too. "You two are something else."

Suddenly, there was a shift in the atmosphere. A voice from the crowd of people nearby cried out, "Look over there!" Buck turned, following their gaze, and his heart dropped. A dead body was floating in the water near them.

Buck immediately moved to shield the children's view. "Hey, you guys wanna continue the game?" he asked, trying to keep their attention away from the grim sight.

"Yeah!" they said in unison, eager to keep playing.

"Okay, come sit here, Aryana," Buck said, gently guiding her to sit by the railing with her back turned to the water. He did the same for Christopher, making sure both of them were facing away from the sight.

"Okay, I spy, with my little eye, something that is high," Buck said, keeping his tone light.

"A street sign?" Christopher guessed.

"Nope," Buck replied, shaking his head.

"Uh, high—higher than that. Like, whoa, it's so bright," Buck said, pointing up at the sky.

"Ooh, I got it! The sun!" Aryana exclaimed.

"Good job!" Buck said, high-fiving her.

As the body floated past them, Buck sat in between the two kids, pulling them closer to him, offering them a sense of security. He could feel their tension, but they trusted him. They were safe, for now.

"Buck," Aryana said softly, her voice small, "you think that my mom and brothers are okay?"

Buck's heart ached for her. "Well, Aryana, I like to think so... I mean, you know your mom is a strong person. I know she and the boys are out there looking for us." He wiped a tear from her cheek. "Everything's gonna be okay."

Aryana sniffled, trying to hold back more tears, but she nodded.

Buck turned to Christopher, trying to keep the mood light again. "Now, for you, Chris... I don't know what Becca and I are gonna tell your father. You know, I take you out one time and... look what happens."

Christopher smiled up at him. "You saved me. You saved Aryana, and you saved them."

Buck grinned, ruffling his hair. "No, we did that together. Me and you guys make a great team. Give me a high five. I'm proud of you two."

"Really?" Aryana asked, her eyes wide.

"Yeah," Buck said, pulling them both into a hug. "Really."

Suddenly, a rumble echoed through the air as the water around them shifted. The waves that had been pushing toward the fire engine suddenly reversed direction, pushing back out to sea. The fire engine tilted violently, and several people aboard lost their balance, falling into the water.

"Hey, everybody, get down! Get down and hold on!" Buck shouted, his voice urgent as he held tightly to Christopher and Aryana, keeping them steady as the fire engine rocked.

More people in the water were calling for help, and Buck immediately let go of the kids to lend a hand. But the fire engine shifted again, this time more dramatically, and a few more people fell off into the water.

Buck's attention was pulled elsewhere as he didn't see as Aryana leaned back to brace herself against the shift, only for Christopher to lose his footing and fall into the water.

"No! Christopher!" Aryana screamed, her voice filled with panic. She turned to Buck, wide-eyed. "Buck!"

Buck's heart skipped a beat. He whipped around, eyes searching frantically for the boy. "Where's Chris?" he called, voice rising with fear.

"He fell into the water, I couldn't catch him!" Aryana said, her voice trembling.

"Ah, ah, Christopher! Christopher!" Buck screamed, panic setting in. He dove into the water without hesitation, swimming as fast as he could. "No! Christopher!"