Into The Unknown - Chapter 5 - BuddiefanRPNJ (2024)

Chapter Text

Monday, July 10^th

“DAD!” Christopher exclaims. “I am going to robotics camp for three weeks. I’m not moving back to Texas!”

“Yeah, but…” Eddie’s voice trails off as he tries to think how to explain how he is feeling about this. Putting his feelings into words is still something he struggles with, and realistically, Christopher knows how loved he is. He has to, right? By now, Christopher must know that Eddie would move heaven and earth for him. Right? His son had to know that Eddie would do anything, give up anything to make him happy and give him the tools he needed to succeed.

Realistically, this is Eddie’s issue to work through, not his son's. Christopher is growing up, and Eddie needs to learn how to deal with him doing things independently. He looks around quickly, and from the sad looks on Buck, Cole, and Wes’ faces, he is happy to notice that he’s not the only one having separation anxiety and struggling with his son going off on his own for three f*cking weeks!

Christopher playfully huffs an annoyed breath and eyes Buck, “Buck, get your husband under control.” The preteen says, his voice dripping with enough sass to pass a DNA test proving he is, in fact, Eddie Diaz’s son.

“Chris, you need to understand...” Buck starts to say as he turns his hands, palms up in a pleading gesture.

“Oh, Jesus, not you, too!” Chris exclaims, now huffing in annoyance before turning to face Cole and then to Wes. His voice is filled with despair as he realizes he is in a no-win situation. He shakes his mopey-haired head from side to side, rolls his eyes, and finally gives in, “Fine, but you only get one hug each, and that’s it! My friends will see!” He holds his pointer finger up, waving in front of each of the adults, reinforcing the one-hug limit.

Eddie smiles, knowing they have won this round. He takes a knee and immediately pulls his son into an embrace. “Are you sure you have everything you need?”

“Yes, Dad.” Christopher huffs in his now patented and copyrighted, annoyed, preteen voice.

“Don’t forget; we aren’t leaving for our trip for a while. If you need anything...”

“You and Buck will show up at camp and embarrass me.” Chris deadpans, tilting his head. “Yeah, I know. I have been trying to forget.”

Eddie pushes back from their embrace; he knows his son is pushing him for a reaction. Father and son look at each other with matching dirty looks, a Diaz standoff. Eddie raises an eyebrow, and Chris mirrors him, like father, like son. Eddie crosses his arms, rolls his eyes, and huffs in annoyance, forcing Christopher to laugh genuinely.

Christopher's annoyed voice softens, him now knowing it was time to actually say goodbye. “I’m good, Dad. I promise I will call if I need anything.” He steps in, dropping his crutches, wrapping his arms around his father's midsection, squeezing as hard as he can, giving Eddie a real hug this time, ignoring his one hug each limit. “And if I need anything while you are away, I will call Tia Maddie or Tia Pepa; I got it.” He says, looking at Buck as Eddie releases him, and he steps closer to Buck, the taller man wrapping his arms around the pre-teen's mid-section, lifting him off his feet while Eddie picks up Chris’ crutches off the ground.

“You stay safe, Superman. Please promise me you will stay safe; no crazy science projects without me.” Buck pleads, putting their son back down.

“I promise. I would never do that without you. I mean, who will I blame for the mess if you are not there.” Christopher crosses his heart playfully and teases, smiling genuinely at Buck.

Buck’s mouth falls open, shocked at what he just heard, and then he snaps it shut, “Keep it up, you little sh*t. We will see who talks your dad into letting you go to camp next year.”

Chris rolls his eyes, huffs, and waves Buck off, turning to Wes and Cole next. They bend down, and both take turns hugging him tightly. Wes looks over at Eddie, and he nods in approval.

“Osito, buddy, we have some stuff for you,” Wes says, using Cole’s nickname for him. He pulls an Apple watch from his hoodie and wraps its black Velcro strap around Christopher's slender wrist.

“Is this a real Apple watch?” Christopher asked doubtfully, his eyebrow-raising as he twisted his wrist to check out the gift.

“It is, but I may have made some modifications?” Wes says, winking at Christopher.

“Wes modifications?” Christopher asks hopefully, his eyes bulging slightly behind his black-rimmed glass. He raises his eyebrow curiously, and Wes nods, his smile a mix of pride and smugness.

“What did you do to it?” Christopher asks.

“It has a GPS tracker in it. I can find you anywhere in the world with this. Now, it’s just in case, but if anything goes wrong, you open this app.” he turns Christopher’s smaller wrist over with his hand, taps the screen, and shows him which app, “You press this, Chris, and we will come running. I will come running.” He says as a promise. Chris nods, and Wes hands him a new cell phone. “Yes, it’s a new iPhone 15, Pro Max. But it’s connected to a private satellite. You will be able to call us anywhere in the world. This way, we can keep in touch with you while we are on the Cruise. These are yours to keep; they work like they are supposed to and are already connected to you to your phone number. I cloned your phone's data onto them already.”

“These are in case the bad guys show back up?” Christopher asks.

“No, this is in case the bad guys show up,” Wes says as he hands him a small, rugged-looking flashlight. He flips it over and shows Christopher how to open it. There is a sizzling crackling sound and a flash of bluish-white light from the flashlight's back end.

“A stun gun!” Chris exclaims.

“Yes, but this one will work more than once. It works the same as the one that Wes already showed you to use earlier this year. Hen and Karen have a matching watch and phone for Denny.” Cole explains.

“I still can’t believe we are arming my almost teenager,” Eddie grumbles, running his hands through his hair, but they all had talked about this ad nauseum. Finding out that Connor had been working for Calle has made them rethink their safety and security measures. Having Christopher prepared is more important than anything else. They know it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Do I really need all of this?” Christopher asks.

“Well, it's this, or the four of us dress up as camp counselors for the summer. Which one embarrasses you less? Because I already have the uniform, I saw what counselors were wearing in an older Night Before Friday at Summer Camp horror movie. So, I ordered a pair of those short shorts, you know, the ones that come up here.” Wes deadpans smugly, tapping his thigh just below his hip to show how short the shorts are

Christopher gives him the patented Diaz glare, and Wes grills him back as if saying, “Test me, you little sh*t.” Christopher caves because he knows not to press Wes of all people because he is absolutely certain that Wes would show up at the camp dressed just like he said, and probably wearing a T-shirt that says, “I’m here with Christopher Diaz” on the front and “f*ck around and find out on the back,” just to prove he would.

“I’ll take the stun gun,” Christopher says, raising his hands in mock defeat. But he leans in and hugs Wes and Cole again before ordering, “Take care of my Dads.” After they release him from the hug, both men stand at attention and salute him as if he is their commanding officer, prompting Chris to cackle on his way to the bus.

Buck and Eddie grab Christopher's duffel bags and walk him to the bus. He waves Buck over, hugs him again, and then turns to Eddie. Both Diaz men steal their emotions but crash into each other in a tight embrace.

“I’m really going to miss you, mijo,” Eddie whispers.

“I’m going to miss you too, Dad. But promise me you are going to have fun. You deserve a nice break from everything. Even if you are going on a cruise without me!” Chris says, poking his dad in the side playfully as they release each other from the embrace.

“Well, that just means I get to check it out for us to go with you next time,” Eddie replies.

“I like that idea. I love you both.” Chris says, looking from Eddie to Buck, then turning and walking up the stairs onto the bus.

They watch as he takes a seat next to a smiling Denny. Both boys wave at them happily, and then Denny points to the side, where Hen and Karen are smiling and waving at the group. They load his duffels into the bus's undercarriage, and then they join Wes and Cole before walking to where Hen and Karen are waiting for them.

The six adults wait and watch as the bus pulls away, taking Chris and Denny away from them for the next few weeks. As much as it sucks, they need to let their children flourish. Both Denny and Christopher have been incredibly excited about this for the last year. Both boys put in the work to get the grades needed to earn their spots here for the summer. It is a fantastic opportunity for them and one that neither set of parents would ever keep their child from.

“Would you two beautiful ladies like to join us for breakfast? My treat?” Wes asks Hen and Karen. But Hen shakes her head, declining. No one can blame her. She only got out of the hospital on Saturday, and considering how bad her concussion was, they are surprised she made it here this morning.

“I’m going to have to pass this time. I need to get some rest. I still have a bit of a headache. Wednesday is going to suck, and we all need to be ready to roll.” Hen explains.

“Of course. Let me know if I can do anything for you,” Wes says, hugging her, and then Karen saying goodbye. “I’m going to call you later, though; I want to run something by you both.” Hen smiles and nods before looking at her other boys.

“You two ready for Wednesday?” Hen asks Buck and Eddie before both men nod.

“As ready as we can be. I have no idea what Steve and Chief Williams are up to. But, whatever happens, we will deal with it together.” Buck answers confidently.

“Yeah, what he said.” He co*cks his head toward Buck, “I hope they are ready to deal with us; otherwise, we will probably get written up.” he says jokingly.

“Well, if you can keep the sass down, we should be fine,” Hen responds, playfully bumping shoulders with Eddie’s good arm.

Eddie chuckles, “Me...” He leaves it hanging dramatically and rolls his eyes at Hen. “Right, I’m sure I am the only one we need to worry about. How much do you want to bet Hen has something to say about outdated, archaic hom*ophobic rules?”

“Not taking that bet,” Karen answers; Buck laughs, agreeing, while both Wes and Cole shake their heads, all of them knowing better.

“Exactly,” Eddie says, laughing as he hugs Karen and Hen. Buck does the same before leaving the Wilsons in front of their SUV and getting into Cole’s Hummer’s backseat.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Wes asks, looking at Buck and Eddie in the rear-view mirror, and the other three men chuckle.

“Breakfast first,” Eddie answers with a knowing grin on his face.

“And then what?” Wes asks.

Eddie turns to Buck and asks curiously, “He can’t be this slow, right?”

“I just think it’s because he hasn't had his Red Bull yet,” Buck replies with a laugh, reaching into the front passenger seat, rubbing Wes’ head, and messing up his neatly styled dark hair.

“Babe, their son is gone for three weeks, and they are off work. What do you think they are going to do all day?” Cole teases.

“I’m not slow. I just wanted to see if Eddie would actually tell me,” Wes winks in the rear-view mirror at Eddie. “Or they could let me watch.” He finishes, winking at Eddie again.

“Not everyone is into that, babe; leave Eddie alone.”

Eddie scoffs, “I’m getting annoyed with everyone thinking I'm a prude or something. Well, except Chim, who thinks I’m a freak.”

“It’s not that they think you’re a prude, Eds. They know you don’t have the same level of experience as the rest of us do.” Buck tries to explain before realizing that he just stuck his foot in his mouth.

“I seem to remember making you cum untouched the first time I f*cked you.” Eddie deadpans, not caring he is over-sharing in front of the other men; the four of them are long past being shy in front of each other. “For someone that doesn’t have the same level of “experience,” he curls his fingers making air quotes around the word, “I would say that was pretty f*cking good.”

Buck blushes, Cole coughs, and Wes cackles, saying, “I’m honestly not surprised at that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eddie looks at Wes and asks defensively.

“Okay, Eds, first off, not being insulting. It was a compliment. Tone down the attitude.” Wes quips back, “Little bit.” He squeezes his thumb and pointer finger together, emphasizing his little bit of comment.

“You have a lot of...” Wes pauses, thinking how he wants to word it, “Rhythm. I mean, we have all seen you dance. The way you move your body, let’s say, we can tell you that you're skilled in the bedroom. You are very controlled, calculated, and methodical in how you do things. I am willing to bet; you always make sure Buck gets off before you do, or it's as close together as you can manage.”

Buck laughs because Wes nailed it.

Cole chuckles and changes lanes, “Eddie, he’s not making fun of you here. Even I can see it. Watching you with Buck, and even when you dance or spar with Wes, you have a kind of flow. Does that make sense?”

“I didn’t mean you don’t have experience, Eddie. I think I would know better than anyone else how skilled you are. You have done things to me that have blown my mind. I stuck my foot in my mouth there. I didn’t mean it how it came out.” Buck explains.

“What did you mean then?” Eddie asks, his defensive tone gone now and replaced with curiosity.

“Forget it; I’m going to say it wrong,” Buck answers dismissively.

“I think your man feels guilty,” Wes answers for Buck.

“What, why? Why would you think that?” Eddie asks Buck.

“Thanks, dick,” Buck says to Wes.

Wes scoffs and rolls his eyes in the rear-view mirror again, “What? You started it; explain to him what you meant. It’s not a bad thing. Just be clear about it. Him misunderstanding of what you mean is the issue here, Buck, not what you are telling him. Be clear. Enunciate.” He says dramatically.

Buck turns to look at Eddie, “What this idiot over here picked up on has nothing to do with your skills as a lover. What I meant by you not having experience has nothing to do with technical skills or anything like that. I meant that you have only ever been with me and Shannon. There are a lot of things you could have done and experienced if we hadn’t gotten together so quickly. How do you know what you like if you don’t know what’s out there?”

“That's not how I work. But, so what? Do you think, if I had casual sex before we got together, it would have expanded my horizons? Something like that?” Eddie asks. “Am I not giving you something you need?” a tone of hurt in his voice.

Buck leans forward and smacks Wes up the back of his head, “This is why I didn’t bring this up, you jackass.”

“That’s not what he said, Eddie,” Cole interjects as he turns onto the highway.

“Eddie, it’s not that. But am I giving you what you need?” Buck asks, and Eddie looks taken aback. “We have talked about you letting go; I know it’s in there; I can see it in your eyes.”

“Buck,” Eddie says warningly.

“You won’t hurt me, Eddie. I trust you.”

“BUCK,” Eddie says, raising his voice, trying to warn Buck back.

“I’m not Shannon, Eddie. I’m not going to break.” Buck snaps and then claps his hand over his mouth before shamefully lowering his head.

“Cole, pull the f*ck over,” Eddie growls.

Cole pulls off the highway at the next exit and into the nearest gas station. He and Wes get out of the Hummer and head into the market, giving Buck and Eddie a moment alone.

As soon as the door slammed behind Wes, Eddie climbed over onto Buck’s lap, straddling his thighs.

“Look at me, Buck.”

Buck shakes and lowers his head, his eyes downcast, unwilling to look at Eddie, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It was wrong.” Eddie leans in and slides his hands through Buck’s hair, pulling it back, exposing his throat, and slowly licks a stripe up Buck’s neck, sending a shiver down Buck’s spine. But Buck, still ashamed of his words, won’t look at him.

Eddie leans in again and sucks his favorite part of Buck’s neck before biting down, illicit a moan from Buck. He sucks harder, knowing he is going to leave a visible mark on Buck’s neck right before their hearing with the LAFD and not caring at all.

Eddie presses his hips into Buck’s belly, letting Buck feel how turned on he is and how much he wants him. Buck finally turns to meet Eddie’s gaze, his eyes skeptical, and that won’t do for Eddie. He slides his left hand through Buck’s hair, grabbing it and pulling it sharply, exposing the other side of his neck.

“I know exactly who and what you are. Don’t you ever f*cking forget that, Buck.” Eddie says, his voice a low and deep, passionate growl. He feels Buck relax under him, the tension releasing from his stiffened form.

“Say it. Please, Eddie.” Buck begs. “I need to hear you say it.”

“Mine. f*cking mine, Buck. My Buck. My Evan.” Eddie growls again, crashing his lips to Buck’s and biting his lower lip, with an umph barely escaping Buck's lips as Eddie claims them. They lose themselves in the kiss and don’t even notice when Wes and Cole return to the Hummer and start the drive home.

It’s not until Cole reaches over and smacks Wes on the chest playfully that they realize the other men are back in the car. “You aren’t allowed to watch unless they tell you can.” Cole grumbles, “And it’s not fair 'cause I can't see.”

“I can’t help myself.” Wes groans, “Dominant and Possessive Eddie is hot as f*ck.” Wes forces himself not to look in the rear-view mirror.

“You have no idea.” Buck’s blissed-out and breathless voice comes from the back seat. Wes looks back and sees Eddie no longer in Buck’s lap.

“You guys settle your little misunderstanding?” Cole asks.

“It’s a work in progress. But let’s say I reminded Buck of things. I think we both needed the refresher.” Eddie answers.

“Does that dominant side come out often?” Wes asks.

“Sometimes,” Buck answers.

“That’s interesting,” Cole adds, leaning up to eye Eddie through the rear-view mirror; Eddie notices and raises an eyebrow. “Why?” he asks.

“The four of us are switches,” Wes answers. “We each have the regular roles we fit into, but we will flip-flop with each other.

“Only Eddie.” Buck explains, “He’s the only one I will let take control of me like that. He’s the only one who gets that part of me.”

“It’s the same with us. Can I ask about it?” Wes questions. Buck looks to Eddie for permission, and he nods back at Wes, “Go ahead, Ry.” Buck says.

“Have you guys experimented with those roles?”

“No,” Eddie says, while Buck says, “Yes.” They both look at each other, confused. Buck pauses for a second and then continues, “I don’t think Eddie fully understands what categories some of the things we do would fit into. He goes with what feels right in the moment.”

“Ah, gotcha. Your experience comment makes more sense now.” Wes says, nodding his head in understanding.

“I’m still lost,” Eddie adds.

“I got this one,” Cole says as he pulls into the diner's parking lot. “Eddie, what would you call what just happened between you and Buck?”

“What do you mean? What would I call it?”

“Eddie, you took control, and Buck let you,” Cole explains.

“Yeah, but it’s not... we are always like that,” Eddie says, and Wes and Cole both turn to look at him with knowing looks on their faces.

“When he has a bad day, do you take control to get him out of his head?” Cole asks, and Eddie nods. “And do you let Buck take control when you need him to?” Eddie nods in agreement again.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” Wes laughs.

“Buck, you good with me stepping in here?” Cole asks, and even Eddie can hear him asking for permission to talk about something completely different from the question he actually asked.

“Just explain, that’s it,” Buck says as he exits the Hummer. Wes gets out, walks over to Buck, and loops his arm around Buck’s, pulling him into the diner to get seats while Cole stays back.

Eddie gets out and walks over with Cole. Both men sit on the curb, and he feels he is about to get lectured.

“Why are you so tense? I’m not going to yell at you,” Cole teases, leaning in to bump his shoulder into Eddie’s affectionately. He realizes that is what he was waiting for and that he was waiting for Cole to tell him he was doing something wrong and not treating Buck right.

“Am I doing something wrong? Am I not giving him what he needs?” Eddie asks, unable to keep the hurt out of his voice. He loves the physical side of his relationship with Buck. He has never been this happy in his life and doesn’t want to f*ck this up.

“I think you just proved you are. That’s not your issue.” Cole says, elbowing Eddie in the side. “You and I are a lot alike. It took me a long time to understand the roles we play with each other.” He turns to face Eddie, “Do you remember when I told you how long it took to let Wes top me?”

Eddie nods, and Cole continues, “I think you are having the same kind of mental block. I get it, especially right now after you remembered things from when you were a kid.”

“I’m not following you. I like it when Buck tops me; I started this relationship accepting that. I’ve never been against it. So, I’m kind of lost here, Cole.”

Cole laughs, “That’s the point, Eddie. I’m not talking about him topping you; that was an example of me working through something, which is what you need to do now. Why do you think it’s wrong for you to be dominant to Buck? Do you somehow think it makes him lesser than you?”

“f*ck no.” Eddie rushes out. Because it's true, there is nothing that would make him think less of Buck.

“Do you think other people will think less of him if they find out?”

“No. It’s just...”

“It’s just what?” Cole asks forcefully.

“Wrong. It’s wrong for me to take advantage of him like that.” Eddie says. “Isn’t it?” His voice changes from defensive to unsure.

Cole let out a deep belly laugh. He leans forward, holding his stomach from laughing so hard. “You’re not taking advantage of him. He asked you to let go, didn’t he?” Eddie nods, “Has he asked you to trust him to tell you when he’s had enough.” Eddie nods again. “Then there you go.”

Cole shifts so he is on his knees, turning so he is looking directly at Eddie, “If he asked you to stop, would you?”

“Immediately.”

“So, who really has the power in that situation, you or him?” Cole asks.

“He does.”

“So why is it wrong?” Cole asks, and Eddie looks confused when Cole presses on, “I know the answer, and you aren’t going to like it.

“Spill.”

Cole laughs again, “There is a stigma around these things like it’s something perverted or wrong. And I’m not talking about people with dungeons and things like that. Even now, me using the term dominant or submissive has you on the defensive, doesn’t it?”

“We aren’t...” Eddie starts to say, and Cole chuckles because he hit the nail on the head.

“You are.” Cole states, “Eddie, listen to me. You and I were raised a certain way. There is nothing wrong with liking aggressive or rough sex, taking control in the bedroom, or letting Buck take control. With Wes and I, it extends outside of the bedroom. Have you ever seen Wes have one of his panic or anxiety attacks?”

Eddie shakes his head, “He’s come close, and he has mentioned them to me, so I am aware of it, but no, he hasn’t had one in front of me.”

“He’s in a much better place now and doesn't have them as often. Now, they tend to be severe when he does, and sometimes, I need to take control. It’s not sexual. But he needs me to control the situation when he can’t. He trusts me to do it, and it helps him relax, knowing I will take care of him. Buck does the same with you, and neither of you realizes it. And I will bet you any amount of money that Bobby and Athena are the same way.”

“I don’t need to think about that.” Eddie laughs.

“That’s because you assume it’s sexual. It’s not, or it’s not always. Just think about it, okay? Really think about things, like when Buck starts to spiral and stuff like that. He sometimes needs someone to take control; other times, he needs to be the one driving. It kind of plays with his ADHD. You need to talk to him about it. The only person who can assure you is Buck. He’s done it for you too, Eddie. Spend a little time over the next few weeks and think about it. But know I’m here to answer any of your questions, and so is Wes.”

“So, you let Wes take control?” Eddie asks carefully, trusting Cole to be honest with him.

Cole nods enthusiastically, “I f*cking love it, Eddie. We joked the other day about him throwing me around; it just does it for me. But it’s more than that. It’s when I’m falling apart with family sh*t, and he steps in. But it’s also when he takes control and has me give him what he needs. I love it when he bosses me around and tells me how to give him what he needs or wants. Have you ever heard the term “topping from the bottom?” Eddie shakes his head, “We can work with that. Wes is a pro.” Cole chuckles, “But even when he’s not in charge, and he’s falling apart, he is somehow solid and strong and still my Ry at the same time. Does that make sense?”

Eddie has watched these men for months. He knows how much they love each other; anyone can see it. But sometimes, when he hears them talk about each other, he wishes he could be that open and honest about his feelings.

“You really love him, don’t you?” Eddie asks.

“Eddie, there is no way for me to explain the depth of my feelings for that man. I know you feel the same about Buck. I can see it. Can you do what I asked? Think about it, and what he has been asking for?”

Eddie nods, “He’s asked me to let go, to take what I want from him. He said he wanted me to use him.”

“And what’s the problem with that?” Cole asks. “Was that all he said?”

Eddie shakes his head, “No, he said he wanted me to lose myself in him.”

“Again, what’s the issue with that? Do you not trust him?”

“It’s me I don’t trust.” Eddie snaps, unable to control himself for a moment.

“Why?” Cole asks, letting Eddie’s momentary anger roll off him, knowing it's not aimed at him.

Eddie closes his eyes and takes a deep breath; when he opens them, he sees Cole smiling at him like he knows what Eddie is about to say before he says, “Because I like it, and if I let go, if I let that side of me out...” He pauses, “Am I... It’s not...”

“Say it, Eddie,” Cole says, and Eddie shakes his head, not wanting to put a voice to this concern. “Then I’ll say it for you. Being rough with him is not abuse, Eddie. He said it himself; he’s not going to break. You’re not beating him; you’re not hitting him. You are not hurting him.”

“You don’t know that.” Eddie snaps again.

“I do,” Cole growls back, not backing down from him. “I’ve seen a hurt and abused Evan, and I can tell you very confidently that is not this Evan. I have never seen him happier, more complete. Whole. You may know him better than me, but I have known him longer, and the fact that he is comfortable enough with you to ask for what he wants… Eddie, what’s going to happen? What is so wrong with being your genuine self? Not just with him, but with us?”

And that, right there, is the heart of Eddie’s issues with himself. He keeps the parts of himself hidden, only letting them come to the surface but never letting them out entirely. It’s been a defense mechanism for so long, but does he still need to hold back? Who would it hurt to show himself to the others? To more than just Buck?

“I know we struck a nerve here today, and I don’t wanna push you too much. Just promise me you will talk to Buck and maybe Frank. If you need someone else to talk to about the sex side of these kinds of things, we are here, and there is someone Wes can connect you with; she’s a shrink, but she helped both of us. If you need pointers taking charge, I got you.” Cole aims his thumb at his chest, pointing to himself and winking at Eddie playfully, their anger long gone. “You should talk to Wes about this; he will see things and know where to push you to help you a little better than I can.”

Cole steps to his feet and extends a hand down to him. Eddie takes his hand, and the next thing he knows, Cole is pulling him to his feet before wrapping his arms around him and pulling him into a hug. Eddie has a moment to be reminded of how great Cole's hugs are. Being so much bigger and broader than him, the man envelopes him, and Eddie can’t help but feel safe in his embrace.

When they join their husbands in the diner, Wes has an empty can of Red Bull in front of him, a chocolate shake for him and one for Eddie, Buck has a black-and-white shake, and there is one for Cole.

Eddie sits beside Buck, sliding in on the bench next to him until they are pressed side by side, while Cole mirrors him on the other side. Eddie doesn’t hold back, leaning in and laying his head on Buck’s shoulder, seeking his comfort and affection; Buck responds by shifting slightly so Eddie can lay on to him. He wraps his arm around Eddie’s waist, holding him tight.

“You guys suck.” Wes giggles as he watches the interaction.

“Jealous?” Buck teases, his upper lip curling in a smirk.

“These chairs don’t let me cuddle Cole like that.” Wes pouts, crossing his arms.

“Buck, would you mind driving home?” Cole asks, and Buck knows he is asking so he can cuddle with Wes in the back of the Hummer. He nods, and Wes beams a smile at him.

“You guys order yet?” Eddie asks, and no sooner does he finish asking when plates are placed in front of them.

Buck has an egg white omelet with spinach and other veggies, Cole has an omelet with ham, cheddar, and broccoli, and Wes has what looks like poutine with fried eggs on top of it. Eddie has a moment to be jealous when the server puts the same plate down in front of him.

“Who?” Eddie asks, looking around the table to see who ordered breakfast for him. Realistically, it could only have been Buck or Wes.

“We figured you needed a cheat day,” Buck says, smiling happily at his husband. Eddie can only smile back, happy that his husband knows him so well.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

An hour and change later, Eddie Diaz pulls a new bathing suit up his legs. These shorts differed from the regular board shorts he usually wore around the pool at home. These are more revealing and come up higher, to the mid-thigh, showing off his muscular legs. The pair he has on is red, with a white waistband and drawstring. Buck had bought them and a few others for him for their upcoming trip. They are the right amount of sexy without being too revealing. Not that he gives a f*ck what he wears in his own backyard. The boys won’t care; hell, they would probably like it, and none of them cares what their crazy neighbor thinks.

Eddie checks how they look in the stand-up mirror and likes how they look and feel on him, how they make him feel. The red material stands out against his sun-kissed skin. He might have to disappear with Wes and go shopping for him and Buck before they leave on the cruise and get some things for them to wear together. Dressing each other quickly became one of Buck’s favorite things to do. They have almost become competitive with it, and after seeing how good he looks in these shorts, Eddie knows he needs to pull out all the stops. The only downside is that Eddie is out of his element and unsure where to shop. But he has an ace in the hole, with Wes living across the hall. If anyone is going to be able to help him pick out clothes that Buck will like and that will push the envelope, it’s Wes.

Eddie opts not to put the sling on while lounging by the pool with the others. He hears Buck turn the shower off and heads downstairs because he knows that when Buck walks out of the shower with just a towel around his waist, they will end up having sex. This way, he can tease his husband and build anticipation for later.

He walks down the stairs, through the dining room and kitchen, and to the back door. He hears music coming from outside already, and he slides the door open to find Cole twirling Wes, both men shirtless, in similar styled bathing suits as Eddie’s, and dancing to Madonna’s Get Into The Groove.

Wes spins back into Cole’s arms, steps up on his tippy toes, and kisses his husband. Wes struts away from Cole to the beat of the song and dances by himself in front of the Jimmy Buffet machine while it blends away their Pina Coladas.

As Eddie gets closer, he hears Wes sing, “Only when I’m dancing can I feel this free, At night, I lock the doors, where no one else can see,” Eddie knows what the next line of the song is, he raises his finger to his lips in a shhh, motion and Cole smiles at him. “I’m tired of dancing here all by myself tonight, I want to dance with someone else,” Eddie slides in and presses his body to Wes, mirroring his movements.

But Wes is two steps ahead of him; he presses back into Eddie, giving no f*cks. Eddie reaches down and spins Wes around by his hips so they are face to face; Cole slides in behind him, sandwiching Wes between them, the three of them grinding along to the song before it ends.

“You know I have had dreams like this,” Wes teases. He looks Eddie up and down, eyeing how the shorts fit his muscular legs. “They fit good. Buck chose right.”

“You went shopping with him?” Eddie asks, and Wes nods. “Why, you need some help picking some stuff out?” he raises his eyebrow, almost hopefully prompting a smile from Eddie.

“If you don’t mind?”

“How far do you want to push the envelope?” Wes asks, winking at Eddie.

“If I wanted some stuff like this, and maybe sexier?” Eddie asks. “So, pretty f*cking far.”

“I know just where to take you.” Wes agrees, smiling happily.

“If you guys are going to any fun stores, I want in,” Cole adds, sipping his drink and leaning against the table.

“Sure. I want to surprise Buck with some stuff for the trip. Can we keep it between us?”

“Of course.” Wes and Cole say simultaneously.

“You and I will talk more about this morning. I have ideas to help you push the envelope but at your pace.” Cole adds.

“Please teach him the rope thing,” Wes adds, and Eddie blushes and asks, “Rope thing?”

The back door slides open, and Buck walks out. He is wearing the same type of black mid-thigh shorts with a white waistband and drawstring. The black material stands out against his milky complexion. He has no shirt on but is wearing Ray-Bans and has tube sunblock in his hands.

Eddie watches him walk closer; he looks his husband over and wants to climb him like a tree. He finally listened to Eddie and stopped shaving his chest. His chest hair has grown in, in his more naturally sandy brown than the sun-streaked dirty blond highlights on his head. He notices the bruise on his hip, now a deep purple like the one under his eyes. Seeing his injuries like this only makes Eddie want to take care of and coddle him more.

Buck joins them, and Eddie walks up to him, leans up on the balls of his feet, and presses a kiss to Buck's lips. Eddie pulls away from the kiss, and Buck looks Eddie up and down, licking his lips.

“You look good, Eds. Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Eddie laughs, “Because if you would have come out of the bathroom in only a towel and I was wearing these, we would still be upstairs.”

“I know. That’s kind of the point.” Buck chuckles.

“Do you think we aren’t going to have sex at least once a day for the next three weeks?” Eddie teases.

“Only once a day?” Buck asks as if he’s hurt.

“I said, at least, didn’t I?”

“You promise?” Buck asks hopefully.

“Depends on how good you can be?”

“I can be good for you, Eddie. You know I can.”

“I’m starting to agree with Wes; if you aren’t going to let us, watch, stop teasing.” Cole chuckles happily.

“Stop stealing my thunder,” Wes adds as he hands each of them a red solo cup filled with Pina Colada and a chunk of fresh pineapple on the rim of the glass.

Wes lifts his cup, “To the nights we’ll never remember, with the friends we’ll never forget.” The four of them cheer their cups together before taking a sip.

The day is precisely what they need. There is no stress or drama. They are just sitting, relaxing, and enjoying each other's company. The four of them ebb and flow seamlessly. Eddie finds himself spending equal amounts of time dancing around and fighting over music with Wes, joking and doing shots with Cole, or finding ways to touch Buck and build the anticipation up for later.

The day goes on, and Wes makes the drinks, Cole makes sure they stay hydrated to avoid any hangovers, Buck grills up lunch, and Eddie makes sure Buck has the right sunscreen on and reapplies it to him as necessary, taking every single opportunity to touch him he can.

“This is equal parts groping me and making sure I don’t burn, right Eds?”

“Yes, to the groping, and it’s more to make sure you have a base tan for the cruise. The sun in Bermuda will turn you into a lobster. You don’t tan naturally like I do. So, we get you lightly toasted before the trip, and then we have less to worry about.”

“Gotcha, I don’t want to be miserable. So, tell me what to do.” Buck agrees.

“We should get you something for your leg, too,” Eddie says, tapping Buck’s scarred leg.

“Why?”

“Sun exposure can damage the skin of the scar. You don’t need it to burn or harden from the sun. You won’t need the cover all the time. But we should take extra precautions.”

“I don’t want to draw attention to it. I hate the way it looks.” Buck reaches down to cover the old wound with his hand. It took him a very long time to wear shorts around them. Even when he was just with Eddie, he always packed sweatpants when he would stay over at the Diaz house. It wasn’t until the first time that Christopher asked them to take him to the beach after the tsunami that he wore shorts around them, and even then, he would cover his leg with a towel when he could.

Buck has come a long way in letting others see the old wound; he doesn’t hide the old wound away from Eddie anymore, but Eddie knows it will always be something his husband will be insecure about. Eddie felt the same way with his bullet scars at the beginning, but they were easily covered compared to Buck’s leg.

“I know, Buck. I do. I’m not saying to cover it because it looks ugly. There is no part of you that is ugly. I want to protect the damaged skin so it doesn’t bother you more. Trust me, I will take care of it.”

“Ok, Eds. You’re in charge.” Buck winks playfully.

“You do really like it when I’m in charge, don’t you?” Eddie asks, and Buck nods enthusiastically.

“But you don’t always want me in charge?”

“f*ck no, I like you on top of me just as much as I like being on top of you. I might have to get my clipboard out from time to time.”

Eddie’s eyebrows raise; he knows he is showing his hand here, but who gives a f*ck if Buck knows how it turns him on? He's supposed to know. There has always been something about an organized and competent Buck that gets Eddie worked up. “Promises, promises,” Eddie teases, pausing for a moment. “Cole mentioned something to me earlier: “Topping from the bottom.””

Buck chuckles, “Yeah, Cole would know all about that. Wes can be bossy when he wants to be. Do you understand what it means?”

Eddie sort of shrugs, “I guess, maybe a little. He told me I could talk to them about it.”

Buck smiles at that, knowing that Wes and Cole will listen to him and help Eddie figure out different parts of himself. He nods at Eddie, “You should do that. I know you are more comfortable talking to them than other people. But is that something you would be more comfortable with at first? Me taking charge and telling you what I want or need? Or how I want you f*ck me? Would you hearing it come from me help you let go?”

Eddie stops to think about that for a moment; he needs time to process what he has talked with Cole about today; he might need to do some research. He definitely needs to talk to Wes to get his perspective. “That might work. But let me research; I already have some questions up here.” He says, tapping his temple. “But between the boys, you, and doing some research... I really just need some time, Buck.”

“Eddie, there is no rush. I am more than happy with what we do in the bedroom. Do you understand why I am pushing for you to cut loose?”

“I think so. I just...”

“Let it out, Eddie. Don’t be afraid to talk to me.” Buck pleads.

“I’m afraid.”

“Why, Eds?”

“What if I hurt you, Buck?”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I trust you, and you would never hurt me.”

“What if you don’t like it?”

“Then I tell you to stop,” Buck says simply.

“What if we like it?” Eddie asks.

Buck tilts his head at that one, how Eddie went from Buck not liking it to both liking it, “I know we will. It won’t be much more than we already do, Eds. Just maybe a little rougher and aggressive. Maybe some other things in the future.”

“Like?”

“Oh, you remember when you tied that guy up with the zip ties?” Buck says, his eyes lighting up. “Maybe not zip ties,” Buck shivers uncomfortably, like a chill running through his body. “That sounds painful, but restraints, you know, tying each other up. I want that.”

Eddie shifts on the lounge chair, palming himself to adjust his growing hardness, “I think I’d like that.” Wes mentioned something about ropes; he added it to his mental checklist of things to talk to Cole about.

“We can talk to Wes; Cole is good with ropes. I know he took a class in Shibari because Wes liked it so much. He can help us out.” Buck says, and Eddie nods, thinking Buck just read his mind. They look over to where Wes and Cole are in the pool. Cole standing up in the shallow end, with Wes’ legs wrapped around his waist and his arms over Cole’s shoulders. It’s innocent, as all they are doing is holding each other, but they still look good together.

“And you guys have never?” Eddie asks.

“Cole and I,” Buck chuckles, “No, nothing sexual. Well, actually, that depends on what you see as sexual. Like, we’ve slept cuddling each other, stuff like that. Cole gives excellent hugs.” Eddie laughs because he had the same thought earlier today. “We kissed on the lips once during a game called Spin the Bottle a long time ago. But, no. I mean, we were always close, and he’s hot and all that. But no. Wes is a different story, and you've heard some of it already. We have never had anything happen one-on-one. We did have a really bad threesome. There was some touching, and we kissed.”

“Kissed or made out?” Eddie asks.

“Does it matter?”

“Not really. I’m just curious.” And it doesn’t matter to Eddie; he knows Buck has a past, and it’s never bothered him.

“It was a little more than making out. I told you it was a really bad threesome. We made out while we got sucked off. It was awful; if he weren’t such a good kisser, I would never have gotten off that night.”

“That’s it?” Eddie asks again.

“Well, since they have lived with us, I have walked in on them twice.” Buck laughs.

Eddie mirrors him, laughing intensely, “Do we need to worry about Chris seeing something he shouldn’t?”

Buck shakes his head, grinning at Eddie, “Both times, I was downstairs in the hot tub; Chris doesn’t go down there unless we are all doing something downstairs. Plus, both times were the middle of the night when we got off shift, and it was just the two of us and them in the house.”

“Is that why Wes keeps saying we should let him watch?” Eddie jokes.

“Maybe, I mean, I did kind of watch for a minute each time.” Eddie slaps his thigh, “It was f*cking hot, Eds. I couldn’t help myself. But Wes has always liked putting on a show; it’s his thing.”

“I noticed.” How could Eddie not? Wes was one of those people that just drew everyone into him. He unites everyone and brings them together as Buck does. The two of them together are downright addicting. But at the same time, when it’s just them, they are both like that, too.

The more time Eddie spends with them, the more similarities he sees between them and him and Buck. There is something to that, including the way they share traits.

“Is that...” Buck pauses, “Do you...” He pauses again, “I... I... I mean...” He stammers.

“Whatever you are trying to ask, just ask, Buck. I won’t get mad at you.” Eddie says.

“Is that something you want to do?” Buck rushes out, like he is afraid to ask the question.

“What are you asking?” Eddie says, and then he puts his hand on Buck’s chest. “I’m not trying to ask you to explain something you were clearly nervous about asking me. But I didn’t catch what you were asking.” Eddie pauses and looks at Wes and Cole again, “Were you asking me if I wanted to watch them? Or do more with them?”

Seeing Eddie not blow a gasket steels Buck’s confidence, “I don’t know, Eds. Either? Both maybe? I don’t know. I just...” He leans in closer to Eddie, “I’m happy with our sex life, Eddie. Don’t get it twisted.”

“Is that something you want?” Eddie asks.

“You need to answer my question, Eddie. Don’t flip this on me. I like sex. I have already seen them have sex, and I have already had a threesome with Wes. What do you want?”

“Buck, I don’t need anyone but you,” Eddie answers immediately.

“I know that, and I don’t need anyone but you,” Buck says, grabbing Eddie’s hand. “But I didn’t ask what you needed. I asked what you wanted.” Eddie knows he's right, so he avoids the question, unsure how to answer it.

Buck knows he avoiding answering, “We could maybe watch them tie each other up or something like that. Or watch their dynamic when Cole takes charge? It would solve your curiosity and help educate both of us a little.”

“My curiosity?” Eddie asks.

“I’m not blind, Eddie, and neither are you. You’re curious about them. I am, too. I just have some of those questions answered. This thing between the four of us, whatever it is. I feel the attachment, or the bond to them, just like you do. I’m pretty sure they feel it, too. We have all been touchier with each other.”

“Buck, I don’t...” Eddie pauses, unsure what to say but not wanting to lie to Buck.

“You do, and it’s okay, Eds.” Buck smiles at him, “I know the way you work. That connection you need for that kind of attraction, you have it with them. You're allowed to be attracted to people, Eddie. There is nothing wrong with it. I’m very secure in your feelings for me, Eds. You’re not betraying me or cheating on me here. So, get that out of your head. I’m not upset that you find the two of them hot; I do, too. Maybe that’s what you’re picking up on. You were honest with me the second you met Cole.”

“Do you think that I’m…” Eddie leaves it hanging.

“Talk it out, Eddie,” Buck says supportively.

“Do you think I’m gay?” Eddie asks nervously.

Buck smiles supportively, “I think the question you need to ask is “Do you think you are gay?”

Eddie takes a deep breath, “I don’t know. Demi feels right. But there is more to it. I've been thinking a lot about this.” Buck mimes for him to continue, “I mean, Tyler, right, I had this connection with him. Yeah, we were kids, and who knows what would have happened. Then there is Santana.”

“The girl who lived across the street from you guys?” Buck asks.

“Yup. She was close with Tyler and me. She had the biggest crush on me; I liked her. But it wasn’t like how I liked Tyler. Then when I went to high school, I was more focused on baseball and karate. I met Shannon, and I mean, Shannon and I were really good friends. We drifted here and there, and then later, things changed. Everyone had a girlfriend or boyfriend, and I felt like I was weird for not having or wanting one. Shannon asked me out, and I felt like I had to say yes. But she was my friend; I already cared about her, and then things moved so fast.”

“Then Chris,” Buck adds.

“Yeah, Christopher,” Eddie says, his voice dripping with affection for his son. “Fast forward to meeting you. There was something about meeting you, Buck. Like it was supposed to happen. I never felt anything like I did when I met you. Not Tyler, not Shannon. You changed my life, Buck.”

Buck shifts on the lounge chair and straddles Eddie’s lap. “You changed my life to Eddie. I searched for you for a long time.”

“We went through his roller-coaster, right, but my feelings for you only grew stronger, even when Shannon was back. There were times when I was with her, and I felt like I was cheating on you. We fit together like puzzle pieces, Buck. When I met Cole, there was a spark there. It's not like when I met you, but he’s the only other person I have ever felt an immediate attraction to. I don’t know about Tyler, and I haven’t seen him since we were kids. I don’t know if I had that spark with him. But now Wes. That’s new.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did, Buck.” Eddie teases.

“Does it matter if you are Demi Gay, Demi Bi, Demi Pan, or just Demi?” Buck asks. “Do you really need a label?”

Eddie smiles because, no, he doesn’t. Whatever society would use to define him means absolutely nothing to him. “The only label I need is yours, Buck. That is the only one that matters to me.”

“You keep this up, and you’re getting lucky tonight, Mr. Diaz.”

Eddie scoffs and waves him off, “Knowing the Demi thing, understanding that side of me is important. Understanding why I don't feel things like other people, I needed that for me. Does that make sense?” He asks, and Buck nods. “But as I figure myself out, it helps me understand these parts of myself. I don’t need a gay, pan, or bi label. I know that. Even with me being Demi, the only people I have ever developed a strong level of attraction to are You, Cole, and Wes; you’re all men. I know it doesn’t really matter; I’m me, and that's all that matters. But with me, only feeling like that towards men might mean something.”

“What if it’s not that?” A voice asks from behind them.

They both turn to find Wes and Cole standing over them, still dripping water from the pool. “Sorry, I’m not trying to eavesdrop or butt in. But I have another theory to throw at you.” Wes adds.

Buck and Eddie both shrug simultaneously, “Go for it.” Buck adds.

“It’s just something to think about. I don’t know or have the answers for us, at least not yet.” Wes adds.

“Wes, just tell them,” Cole adds.

“What if it is this thing between us? As we know, the four of us are connected in some way that makes zero sense to any of us. What if that is what we are feeling?”

“Say it differently,” Buck says.

“We know that bond we have, which has us sharing traits, emotions, and things like that. What if we are sharing our love for each other?” Cole says. “Like you are picking up my love for Riley and his for me?

“Like, because you two are attracted to each other, we are attracted to you and vice versa?” Buck asks.

“It’s a theory of mine,” Wes suggests.

Eddie shakes his head confidently, “Out of the four of us, I know you are usually on point with these things. But that doesn’t feel right.” He continued shaking his head, “You two care about each other so deeply; if we were picking up on that, I would feel more than I do for both of you.”

“You seem very confident of that. Why?” Cole asks.

“You and I have talked about me being attracted to you from the start. Part of that is me being more open to my feelings and accepting that side of myself. Part is my understanding of what it is based on how I feel about Buck. But with Wes, when I met him, there was no attraction.” Wes claps both of his hands over his heart dramatically, and Eddie rolls his eyes as he continues explaining, “But now there is. As we have gotten closer, it’s grown. It didn’t exist at all until we got closer. It feels different than other things I pick up from either of you.”

Wes tilts his head and starts to open his mouth to say something, but Eddie continues. “I could tell you were nervous the other night, and I could feel Cole calming you. I picked that up from you. But the feelings I have for you both feel they are a part of me and not you. Does that make sense?”

“Maybe say it differently?” Wes asks.

“When you were hurt the other day, I knew it was you on the other side of the door. The feeling, the fear, the pain, it… it tasted like Wes. That's probably a sh*t way to say it. But I knew it was him on the other side of the door.” Eddie explains.

“So, did I. I knew it was Wes, and something was wrong,” Buck adds.

Wes nods, “I like how you described that. That it tasted like me.” Eddie waits for the joke about tasting him, but it doesn't come. Surprised, Eddie meets Wes’s gaze, finding his eyes focused and deep in concentration, his forehead creased with focus as he carefully absorbs Eddie's words.

“Did I stump you?” Eddie asks.

“Tasting me and now stumping me? Aren’t you married, Diaz?” Wes teases.

“There he is. I was getting worried there for a moment.” Eddie chuckles.

“I’m processing here.”

“We can see the smoke coming out of your ears, babe.” Cole says, bumping his hip against Wes’, prompting Wes to scoff and give him the finger. “But I think I agree with Eddie on this one. Maybe it is the Demi side of both of us, but how I feel about them has grown, but I’m not in love with them the way they are with each other.”

“Do you think you, in particular, are picking up our feelings?” Buck asks Wes pointedly. “It would be different for Wes than the rest of us, no?

“Maybe? I mean, it’s different. It’s not the way I feel about Cole. But it’s incredibly strong. I have loved Evan for a long time, but not like that, and now it’s different. And Eddie, well, that came out of nowhere.” Wes tries to explain.

“Well, I think it would be more intense for you than the rest of us,” Eddie says. “Wouldn’t it?”

Wes tilts his head curiously, “Why do you say that?”

“You’re an empath, right? You feel our emotions. Wouldn’t that have some impact on your feelings for us?” Eddie asks, “You know, you have this loving bond with Buck, but now you're feeling Cole’s affection for him, and add in me being in love with him.”

“That is an excellent point, Eddie,” Cole says.

“I’m not saying I’m right. I’m lost with all of this, and I’m probably talking out of my ass here.” Eddie says, dismissing his own train of thought.

Wes shakes his head, “No, you might be right. You have a habit of figuring things out, and I think you are right with that leap of logic. I just wish I understood all of this.”

“Okay, enough deep thinking. I want shots!!!” Buck exclaims, hoping to his feet and rushing to the table, Wes on his heels.

Eddie shifts on the lounge chair, and Cole reaches down, extends a hand, and helps him to his feet.

“You good?” The larger man asks.

Eddie nods, “I’m good.”

“Seguro?” Cole asks, and Eddie nods. “Estoy aqui si necesitas hablar.”

“I know, Cole,” Eddie says, lopping his arm around Cole’s and walking him toward their husbands.

Wednesday, July 12^th

Eddie stares at his and Buck's reflections in the metallic silver sheen of the elevator doors at the LAFD headquarters. Both are dressed in uniformed dress blues and jackets, with their hats in their hands, as they wait for the elevator to lift them to their fates.

Okay, maybe Eddie is being a little over dramatic there, you know just a smidge.

It’s not like their lives are over, or they will need to divorce if the hearing doesn’t go their way. The LAFD doesn’t have that kind of power over them. Eddie is used to being the underdog in a fight for his life. The only difference is that, right here, right now, he isn’t just fighting for himself; he’s fighting for Buck, Hen, Chim, Bobby, and the 118. He is fighting for his family.

That thought alone steels his resolve. Eddie is a fighter—he always has been. Even before he was trained in martial arts, he was still a fighter. He never would have survived his mother’s abuse and tyranny if he hadn’t been.

It’s in his nature to protect; it's who he is at his core. He is a protector and will fight to protect what is his. Give him something to fight for, and Eddie Diaz doesn’t know how to f*cking lose.

Buck leans in and bumps his shoulder affectionately. In response, Eddie reaches down and slots his fingers in between Buck’s, holding his hand as tight as he can tolerate, making a silent promise to himself and Buck. No matter what happens here, they would figure it out. They were forever, and no bureaucratic bullsh*t was going to get in the way of their happiness. He wouldn’t let it; no, they wouldn’t let it.

He lifts Buck’s hand and presses the back of his hand to his lips, sealing his promise without saying a word out loud. But he knew that Buck knew what he was doing, that Buck could feel the intent behind the action.

The elevator door slides open, and they are greeted by Battalion Chief Miranda Williams shaking hands with a man Eddie doesn’t know. Chief Williams turns to look at them and smiles warmly. The smile genuinely reaches her eyes, and she happily waves them over.

They walk over, still hand in hand, refusing to separate; the core reason they are here.

As they get closer, Eddie looks both up and down, taking them in. Both Chief Williams and the man are dressed in full dress blues, with polished shoes and hats in their hands. It’s not until Eddie gets a closer look at the man that he realizes who he is.

Fire Chief Gael Alonzo stands before him; Eddie can’t help but do a double take, thinking how much he resembles Antonio Banderas. His hair is slicked back in a mix of salt and pepper, his skin a deeper sun-kissed brown than Eddie’s, and he has a thick and shiny visible burn scar on the right side of his neck.

“Boys,” Chief Williams says, leaning in, hugging, and kissing Buck and Eddie on the cheek. Eddie has a moment to think; this is not how she should greet them, especially considering what they are here for, never mind that they don’t have that kind of relationship. But as he watches Chief Alonzo clock the interaction, he sees what she is doing, just as much as Eddie and Buck do.

Chief Williams once told them she was playing chess, and it seems she is still playing. In one swift move, she has shown Alonzo whose side she is on and where her loyalties are. Eddie can’t help but smile at her, this little stunt of hers impressing him.

“Gael, it is my genuine pleasure to introduce you to the Diaz’,” She turns from the Chief to Buck, “This is Evan Diaz, more affectionately known as Buck,” Buck steps forward and shakes the Chief's hand, “Good to see you, sir. It’s been a long time.” Buck says genuinely.

Alonzo smiles, “It’s good to see you, Buck!” His Latin-accented voice was filled with warmth and affection, and Eddie's concerns about the man holding a grudge against Buck for the Lawsuit evaporated. “I’m glad to see that you have healed so well; you gave us quite a scare there last year.” Alonzo pats Buck on the shoulder like a long-lost uncle.

“Thank you, sir.” Buck smiles back.

Chief Williams then turns to Eddie, “And this is the original Diaz, Chief, meet Eddie Diaz.”

Eddie steps up and offers his hand to Alonzo—the chief steps in close, standing slightly smaller than Eddie. “Mr. Diaz, it’s nice to meet you finally. You have quite the reputation, young man, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what you do next.”

“Please call me Eddie, and thank you, sir. I think?” Eddie responds, not quite sure how to take Alonzo. He has a moment to understand Steve's apprehension about trusting the man. But his interactions thus far seem to be genuine. Yet, Eddie can play the game, too.

“I very much meant it as a compliment. Tell me, when are you from, son?” Alonzo asks as he tilts his head curiously, smiling at Eddie.

“El Paso, sir. I moved to LA with my son when I was discharged from the army a few years ago.”

Alonzo nods, “Ah, Diaz Junior. I have heard stories of the little man from Lena Bosko. I was hoping to meet him, but it was a good decision not to have him here for this. Where is your family from?”

Eddie doesn’t take the bait on their son, “My father's side is from Mexico; my mother is Swedish.”

“So, I am willing to bet Eddie is short for Edmundo, correct?” Alonzo asks, his upper lip forming a teasing grin.

Eddie’s head jerks back in a surprised motion. “Yes, sir. Named after my grandfather.”

Alonzo nods again, “I had an uncle named Edmundo; he was a great man.” Now, that really gets Eddie’s attention. Edmundo has never been a common name; it is generally kept within families and is handed down from father to son, or, as in Eddie’s case, him being named to honor a grandparent.

Eddie debates what to say next as the thoughts fly through his mind. He is rarely caught off guard like this. Before he has a chance to reply, they are sidetracked. “Excuse me, sir.” A squeaky voice interrupts them.

A younger and petite blonde woman, her hair tied in a neat bun, dressed in formal blues, walks over and hands Alonzo a thick folder, and they can see it has the names of the members of the 118’s A-Shift on it. “If you will excuse me, I need to do some prep work for our little pow-wow. But I believe Steve and Bobby are in a waiting room just down the hall. You can go and meet them.” He says, pointing down the corridor. “It was a pleasure to catch up with you both. I hope we can do it again soon. But hopefully in a less formal environment.”

Eddie steps away from Alonzo before turning and looking back at him. He finds Alonzo watching him and Buck. Alonzo smiles and winks at him, and Eddie has a moment to wonder what the Chief of the LAFD is up to. Because he is definitely playing something close to his chest, but before he can think more about it, Buck pulls Eddie down the hallway, opens the first conference room, and finds Bobby, Athena, Steve, and Danny waiting for them.

Bobby, of course, is standing next to Steve, clearly preparing for what is to come. Danny, being a gentleman, is sitting with Athena and pouring her a cup of Coffee. It’s Athena who spots them first.

“Come on in, boys,” Athena says, waving them in. Buck steps in first, leading the way. Eddie follows and looks around the room, seeing Bobby and Athena both in dress uniforms, Danny in a black suit with a white dress shirt, and Steve in a light smokey gray suit, black dress shirt with a matching gray vest and tie. Steve is somehow both looking dressed to impress but ready to roll up his sleeves and kick some ass at a moment's notice.

“There is coffee on the table,” Steve offers, pointing to the table, before pulling Buck into a quick hug. Once Buck breaks the hug, he turns to Danny and bumps his fist to his playfully.

“We just bumped into Chief’s Alonzo and Williams,” Eddie tells the room.

Bobby nods, “From what I have been told, the hearing will be overseen by three Chiefs and two Captains. They will be the ones making any decisions. I heard a rumor that Gael Alonzo would personally be overseeing this, but he’s such a busy man, I didn’t believe it until this morning.”

Buck reaches up and rubs the back of his neck nervously, “Is that a good or a bad thing for us? I mean, I don’t have much experience with him outside of the...” He leaves it hanging a bit, not wanting to bring up the lawsuit.

Bobby catches it and doesn’t mention it either, “Alonzo is a neutral party in this. He’s a bit of a stickler for rules and procedures but also a very reasonable man. I would think he is personally involved because of the ramifications this could have for the whole of the LAFD.”

Despite Bobby’s warning, Eddie can’t help but feel that someone else is on their side based on their little chat. Well, maybe not on their side because he couldn’t get a full read on Alonzo, but there was something there about how he greeted them. He has a good feeling about the Chief being willing to listen and not jump to conclusions and can’t shake the feeling that Alonzo has something else in motion he hasn’t figured out yet.

“What do you mean?” Buck asks Bobby.

“Evan, you need to understand that if you and Eddie are green lit to work together, that makes it okay for others to do so. The two of you may be changing history here and for the better, kiddo.” Steve explains, clapping Buck on the shoulder affectionately the same way Alonzo did.

“I’m glad it’s them, too,” Athena says, pointing to Buck and Eddie.

Buck turns to face her, the curiosity on his face. “Why is that? We are happy to help others like us, but we didn’t start this as a movement for change. We were never in this to make waves. We have enough eyes on us. Neither of us needs to go viral again. We just want to be able to work together. The two of us work better as a team than we do apart.”

Bobby nods his head in agreement, and Athena smiles, “I’ve seen many things in my years, baby. One of these days, you need to ask Hen and Chim about their old Captain and how they were treated under him. That man and his team,” she pauses and shakes her head. “I think you two, being the ones to push for change, will help others be comfortable speaking up.”

“I am a little slow today; I might need more coffee. Why us?” Buck asks Athena.

She smiles at him affectionately, “Have you seen yourselves?” She pauses, pointing back and forth between them, “You are both good-looking. You do not physically fit the presumed stereotype of a “gay man.” You are both masculine, good-looking men.” She flexes her bicep to both tease them and emphasize her point. “You being a mixed-race couple also brings a little something extra to the table. If this goes well, I wouldn’t be surprised if more members of the LAFD come out regardless of gender.”

The conference room door opens, and Hen wheels Chimney in. The smaller man is still in a wheelchair due to his stomach injuries. Buck rushes over to help; he pushes Hen to the side, not wanting her to strain herself more than she already has.

“Buck, I can manage him fine.” Hen adds dismissively, and Buck waves her off. “I know you can. I would never say you couldn’t.” Buck adds, beaming a smile at her, and Hen slaps his arm playfully.

“I still don’t see why we couldn’t push this back a few days. I mean, we all almost died a few days ago.” Buck says to Steve.

“I know,” Steve says, cracking a huge grin.

“Ok, I really need coffee; I’m not picking up on anything this morning.”

“He wants to use it to our advantage,” Eddie explains, and he points to a weak and run-down-looking Hen, Chim in the wheelchair, Bobby on crutches, then to Buck’s hip, and finally lifting his slung arm.

“Let’s just say I want to highlight how the 118 have put their lives on the line countless times. I’ve done the research, and your firehouse tends to get big emergencies. Not that the 118 does it alone, but more often than not, the 118 is on the front lines if not in the trenches themselves.” Steve explains.

“Honestly, every time we hear of a natural disaster, I just assume Buck is in the middle of it, with Eddie chasing after him.” Chim laughs.

“Nah, not natural disasters, just ladder trucks.” Eddie jokes. “I mean, it’s ladder trucks three and Buck zero at this point.”

“How do you get three?” Hen asks. “I count two, the bombing and the lightning.” She says, counting them off on her fingers.

“Do you remember the day the CAD system went down when Buck climbed the ladder, and it snapped in half?” Eddie says, trying to jog Hen’s memory.

“Oh, you mean the day you did your little Spider-Man routine?” Hen says, raising an eyebrow smugly.

“THANK YOU!” Buck cheers, leading to Eddie shaking his head and grinning.

Steve cuts in, wanting to change the topic and get them prepared. “Anyway, I hope you are all ready for this. It’s not going to be a fun experience for any of us. But I promise you, here and now, if this doesn’t go our way, you have other options. You won’t be unemployed.” Steve says, forcefully tapping on his files to stress his point. “I don’t know what they are going to throw at us, but I’m ready for that douchebag.”

“How is this going to work?” Hen asks.

“I’m assuming, like any TV trial you have ever seen. Each of you will be called and questioned by both sides. Either side can question you or one of the Chiefs may have added questions for you.” Steve explained.

“How bad is this going to get?” Chim asks.

“I wish I knew. As I said, I went through all your files and records with the LAFD. There are a few bumps, but nothing that should cause this kind of hearing. This started as a simple fraternization case and has turned into a witch hunt. There are those in the LAFD who have it out for the 118, and I think someone with deep pockets from the outside is bankrolling them.”

“This is going to be a sh*t show,” Eddie says confidently.

“What makes you say that, Eddie?” Steve asks.

“Because I can see the future,” Eddie says, smiling sinisterly. “You all know I’m right. Something is going on here that we are not ready for, and we will be put on the defensive.” He’s met with murmurs of agreement from all the members of the 118 and Athena.

“I know how to play the game, Eddie. They aren’t the only ones playing their cards close to their chest.” Steve says, with an utterly evil smile on his face.

“What are you up to?” Buck asks, and Steve checks his watch dismissively. “We should head to the hearing room.”

“Steve, what are you up to?” Buck asks again.

“Come on, we should hurry; we don’t want to be late,” Steve says, heading out with Danny following him.

“STEVE!” Buck yells, chasing after them, with Eddie and the rest of the 118 trailing behind him.

The hearing room is larger than Eddie expected it to be. For some reason, he thought they would be in a big conference room, but no, they were in an actual hearing room.

The dais is a large half-moon-shaped desk at the front of the room. Eight chairs are behind the desk, but only five microphones are set up on it. Behind the dais are gray acoustic panels and speakers. To both the left and right sides, screens hanging from the ceiling project the LAFD logo.

On each side of the room, there is a desk set up for each opposing side. Each desk has a microphone, a monitor, and some kind of AV wires. Eddie is way too much of a technophobe to identify what any of them are for.

In the center of the room is a podium configured with a microphone and wires for whoever is speaking to showcase a presentation. Right behind the podium is an adjustable stool for the person presenting or being questioned.

Steve and Danny head in and to the front of the room. Steve places his briefcase on the table on the left. He opens it, takes out a laptop, and hands it to Danny, who starts setting it up.

The members of the 118 assemble behind Steve and Danny. Buck moves the first two chairs out of the way, and Hen wheels Chimney into their location on the aisle. She takes the seat right next to Chim; Bobby is next to her; Buck takes the seat directly behind Steve and next to Bobby, and Eddie is next to him. Eddie looks down the row at the others and smiles, realizing they are sitting in the exact order they joined the 118.

The door opens, revealing Maddie in a sleek black blazer and skirt, followed by Karen, dressed in a smokey charcoal pantsuit. Following in behind them, Ravi, clad in his dress blues, holds the door open while Nate and Dani wheel Lena Bosko in, also in a wheelchair with an arm braced tightly to her chest.

Seeing her, Eddie and Buck are off their feet instantly to help her into the room. Buck makes it to her first; he leans down and presses a kiss to her cheek, then steps to the side, and Eddie leans in. She wraps her good arm around his neck, pulling him in close, and whispers, “Kick some ass, Diaz.” prompting an evil smile from Eddie.

The door opens again, and the last person Eddie Diaz ever wanted to see again walks in.

Standing there, dressed like a barracuda in a white pantsuit, her flaming red hair laying over her shoulder matching the color of the Louboutins on her feet, is Taylor f*cking Kelly.

Eddie turns to Buck and sees his husband more pissed off than he ever has before. Buck turns to Steve, who already has his palms up in the air and open, facing them with a pleading gesture that both says please calm down and trust me simultaneously.

Taylor steps to the side, and for the first time they have known each other, she looks stumped and doesn’t know what to say. Instead, she smiles at them and barely lifts her hand into a wave to them.

The door opens again, but Eddie is too busy watching Taylor to see who has joined them. Instead, he sees Taylor’s smile turn to one of utter disgust. He hears Buck suck in a breath and turns to look at his husband, but Buck doesn’t have a look of disgust; his look is one of utter hatred.

Wondering who could make both of their looks so venomous, Eddie turns to the doorway and finds Chase Mackey standing there. Four years later, he still looks like a lanky sleazeball in an overpriced black Armani suit with the ugliest tie Eddie has ever seen. Mackey gives Buck an evil look of pure and utter disdain before sauntering over toward him and Eddie.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite mistake,” Mackey says.

“What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?” Buck snaps.

“Oh, just wait, this one,” Mackey points to Eddie, “He will get tired of your bullsh*t and kick you to the curb, just like your parents and everyone else in your life has done.” He says smugly.

Buck steps closer to Mackey, and Eddie slides his hand in front of Buck, pushing him back so he can step closer to Mackey. Buck lets him, and Eddie steps right into Mackey's space, “I’m really going to enjoy watching you lose another yet another case.”

“HMM HMM.” Someone coughs, Mackey turns around, and Buck and Eddie watch as his eyes roll from the polished shoes and up the navy-blue material of the legs and jacket of a dress uniform. Mackey’s eyes pause when he gets to the chest area; he takes in all the service ribbons and then looks up into Cole’s peach-fuzzed and pissed-off face, with the taller man looking down at Mackey like he is something stuck to the bottom of his shoe.

“Oh, this dickhe*d is here,” Wes says, and Mackey turns to Coles's left to look at him. He does a double take when he sees the ribbons on Wes’ chest outnumber the ones on Cole’s. Mackey's mouth falls open when he notices the sky blue, starred material around Wes’ neck. His eyes trail down to the trident holding a five-pointed star depicting Minerva, holding a shield: the Medal Of Honor, the highest decoration awarded in the United States Armed Forces and the Navy Seals.

“I... I...” Mackey stutters as he stands between the four of them.

“You what?” Wes asks, aggressively stepping closer to Mackey.

“I...”

“He just realizes not only is he out of his league, but he outclassed,” Cole says, stepping up to his husband's side.

Mackey gives Cole a dirty look and opens his mouth to say something, but Wes cuts him off. “Take a walk, you f*cking snake.”

“Who the f*ck do you think you are talking to?” Mackey snaps.

“Weasel.”, “Bottom feeder.”, “Loser.”, “Ambulance chaser.” Wes, Cole, Buck, and Eddie all say simultaneously.

“A piece of sh*t unethical jackass who should have been disbarred years ago. But somehow managed to get dirt on and extort the right person.” Taylor adds. “Now, why don’t you shoe and let the adults have a conversation.” She says, flicking her hand in a showing motion away from them. Mackey huffs, grabs his briefcase, and then walks over to his table.

“I f*cking hate that guy.” Taylor mumbles.

“Did Taylor just back us up?” Eddie asks, his face a mix of shock and confusion.

“I think she did. But the question is, why?” Buck asks, tilting his head in equal confusion.

“How much you want to bet she’s getting something out of it?” Wes asks.

“Obviously.” Cole chuckles. “That woman has never done anything for anyone unless it somehow benefits her.”

“Listen up here, you Jack Reacher-looking mother f*cker!” Taylor snaps and then pauses. She takes a deep breath and fixes her pantsuit.

She huffs out a breath, “Listen, we aren’t friends and probably never will be. I’m good with that because, frankly, I cannot stand any f*cking one of you. But…” She pauses, turning to look at Buck. “That asshole.” She points to Mackey, “And whoever he is working with on the LAFD and whoever is backing them financially needs to be knocked off their high horse.”

Buck pauses momentarily; the last thing he wants is to deal with Taylor and her drama. While it would be entertaining as hell to watch Eddie, Cole, and Wes rip into her, it’s not what they need right now. He has to admit, in a situation like this, with Mackey, she might just be helpful to them; at least, that’s what he hopes Steve is up to by involving her.

“Okay, clearly, there is something we are missing here,” Eddie says, and Taylor nods.

“Eddie’s right,” Taylor says, nodding in agreement, surprising Eddie that she didn’t go the obvious dig on him. “I can’t tell you everything right now, but there are rumors of corruption in the upper ranks of the LAFD. I’ve been working on a story. I’ve shared my information with Steve. There have been reports of bullying behavior by Captains, and it is being overlooked by HR and hidden from the senior brass. Leaders with multiple ethics violations are somehow still being employed, and when they have been brought in for mediation, they throw Mackey at them.”

“f*ck!” Buck adds, knowing Eddie was right that there was more happening than they knew.

“Now, they only bring in Mackey under certain circ*mstances, and every time, it’s been to cover certain topics or cover the asses of certain Captains. Mainly two Chiefs and a few Captains.” Taylor explains.

“Still doesn’t explain why you are here to help us,” Eddie adds.

“Well, it could be I owe you and Buck for saving me, or it could be that I owe your son for getting him involved in the Calle situation. It could be that I owe the 118 as a whole for a little bit of everything. But you know that old saying. ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’” Taylor smiles smugly.

“Somehow, I think there is more to it than that,” Eddie adds.

“I really don’t f*cking care what you think, Diaz. But believe that I want to take that piece of sh*t down, and if I need to help you and Buck to do it, then that’s what I’m going to do.” She gives them an evil grin, “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to have a conversation with Steve.” She pushes past them smugly, her heels clicking against the floor as she walks over to Steve.

“I don’t know about you guys, but this just got a lot more interesting.” Wes chuckles as they walk over and take their seats, with Wes sitting behind Buck and Cole behind Eddie.

Eddie reaches over and takes Buck’s hand in his, slotting their fingers together again. He has a slight feeling of nervousness and anxiety, but with Buck by his side, the Seals at his back, and surrounded by his found family, he feels like they are ready to face whatever is about to come their way.

It doesn’t take long for the sh*t to hit the fan. As soon as the group of LAFD officials walks into the room, a feeling of tension and anger radiates from Bobby, Hen, and Chimney. Eddie looks up to the dais and sees Chief Gael Alonzo, Battalion Chief Miranda Willaims, Captain Jeshan Metha from the 133, and two men he doesn’t know.

Both are older white men. The first one is much older, taller, slender, and gaunt, almost sickly as if he has lost too much weight in a short amount of time. He has military-short cropped white and gray hair and a matching bushy mustache. The man has a sinister smile on his face as he looks over the 118. The look he gives his friends has Eddie on edge.

The other man is older but not as old as the first, his hair a mix of black, white, and gray spreading through. He’s slightly smaller, but the man is solid muscle. While the first man has Eddie on edge, this one has Eddie scared; something about him has Eddie ready to fight.

Eddie slides his hand away from Buck and absentmindedly cracks his knuckles as if he is preparing to throw down. The gesture doesn’t go unnoticed. He feels Cole lean in behind him and press a hand to Eddie’s trap, massaging the muscle. Wes does the same with Buck, but Buck reaches out and takes Eddie’s hand back in his.

A feeling of warmth, compassion, and contentedness washes over him, and Eddie knows that Wes and Cole are holding hands behind him, completing the circuit of the four of them touching.

“Eddie,” Wes whispers, “who are those men?”

Eddie doesn’t verbally respond to him; he shrugs his shoulders. “Evan?” Wes whispers, and Buck shakes his head.

“I think a round of introductions is in order. I will start with the members of this panel, and then I will turn it over to Captain Nash and Mr. McGarrett.” Chief Alonzo says, continuing when he doesn’t get a rebuttal.

“My name is Gael Alonzo, and I am the Fire Chief for Los Angeles County. To my left, I have Battalion Chief Miranda Williams. She oversees the multiple firehouses, and the 118 falls into her district. On her left, I have Captain Jeshan Mehta of the 133. To his left, we have Battalion Chief Jeffery Mudgett.” Eddie looks over at the man who has him ready to fight and sees him nod his head at Alonzo’s acknowledgment of him. “Lastly, the furthest to my left is Captain Vincent Gerrard.”

As soon as the man is identified, Eddie wants to flip the table in front of him. He hates f*cking being right; he knew there was a curve ball coming their way. He knows exactly who that piece of sh*t is and now fully understands why Hen, Chimney, and Bobby were so pissed off as soon as they saw him.

“I’m going to stop you right there, Chief,” Hen says immediately, shooting right to her feet in protest. “Can you maybe tell us why we are here today?”

“Maybe you should let the man speak,” Garrard says.

“And maybe you should go to hell.” Hen snaps back, shocking everyone on the dais.

“Firefighter, Wilson is correct,” Alonzo says, shutting down the back and forth before nodding at her, “Sure. I probably should have started with that. We have never had a situation quite like today, so my apologies to all; this will be bumpy.”

“We are gathered today to make a few determinations regarding the 118. The first topic is whether Firefighters Evan and Eddie Diaz should be allowed to remain working together. As you may or may not know, the LAFD doesn’t have any fully defined fraternization policies for spouses working together in the field, never mind same-sex spouses; therefore, a determination will need to be made. Secondly, many accusations have been made against the 118 and the members for not adhering to LAFD protocol and violating our code of conduct and ethics. Lastly, a proposal was made to have the 118 be part of a new task force. They were included as potential candidates for this task force due to their experience dealing with high-level emergencies and disasters. Both sides will be allowed to state their cases for each determination, and this group will decide.”

“That is good to hear, but shouldn’t your group of leaders and decision makers be made up of impartial parties?” Hen asks.

“Why, yes, it should be. Do you feel it’s not?” Alonzo asks.

“It’s not,” all five members of the 118 say simultaneously. Alonzo looks shocked, and his reaction settles the members of the 118 slightly.

“Who on this board do you have an objection to and why?” Alonzo asks.

Hen crosses her arms and smiles smugly at Captain Gerrard. “Captain Gerrard.”

“You would single me out,” Gerrard says.

“Oh, you mean like how you did to me and countless others?” Hen snaps back.

“This is ridiculous,” Gerrard yells, standing to his feet, spit flying from his mouth at each word. “She couldn't handle doing the work that the Men did and complained about it. Everything with her was affirmative action. She wanted to be treated like everyone else but couldn't perform like the real men.”

Gerrard's aggressiveness toward her causes Buck to start moving from his seat to defend her, and Hen turns to look at him. Without a word, just a single look from her, he stops, knowing this is something she needs to do for herself. This is Hen’s fight and if Buck or any of the men get involved, it will just prove him right. This part is for Hen to do alone.

“Actually, I am very confident that if you check my file, all my certifications are up to LAFD standards. If you have questions about the LAFD testing policies and protocol, I’m sure someone in this building would be able to help you educate yourself.” Hen says smugly, shutting Gerrard down momentarily. “Now, Chief Alonzo, if you check your files, you will see that Captain Gerrard used to oversee the 118, and after years of being a racist, sexist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and hom*ophobic bully, he was finally removed. Frankly, I don’t understand how he still has a job in the LAFD. Never mind how you have him on a board where he participates in making a determination on rules and regulations.”

Alonzo turns to Chief Williams, “Is this true?”

“It’s true, I swear to you it is. You can check the files, and I’m sure it’s in Gerrard's somewhere, despite someone obviously covering it up to get him here today.” Hen interjects.

“What do you mean by that?” Alonzo asks.

“I didn’t think it’s an accident that the only Captain that the members of the 118 have a problematic history with was placed on this board. Nor do I think it was an accident that Gerrard has a history of racism, sexism, xenophobia, and hom*ophobia, and he was assigned to a case where the future of a queer couple's employment will be determined. Buck and Eddie are exactly the type of people he would lash out at. A mixed-race queer male couple, Gerrard would have had a field day with them if they worked under him. Never mind the fact that he has a chance to get back at Chim and me for getting him removed from the 118 or Bobby for making the 118 into the all-star unit it is, something Gerrard could never do. But the fact that he is even in this room, never mind that he still has a job after what he subjected us to, is mind-blowing to me and makes me wonder how fair this hearing will be.” Hen says, driving her point as she finishes saying her piece.

“Those are some wild accusations to make, Firefighter Wilson.” Chief Mudgett says.

“Doesn’t make them any less true,” Hen answered back.

“How much of this can you verify?” Alonzo asks Willaims.

“I would need to pull the files. As you know, Captain Nash has been at the 118 since 2016. His placement there superseded my role as Battalion Chief.” Chief Williams answers.

“Now, wait a minute,” Gerrard says.

“It’s true. I served under Captain Gerrard for years before Hen joined the LAFD. Everything she has said is true. I watched that man bully every single person under him for years.” Chimney pipes up from his wheelchair, sitting next to Hen. “Hell, the first time I walked into the firehouse, one of the other firefighters said, “Did someone forget to tip the delivery driver” and Captain Gerrard laughed, encouraging the behavior.”

“I have heard the stories from both of my firefighters, and I can assure you when you check their personnel files. You will find the complaints filed against Captain Gerrard and additional complaints filed against some of the other firefighters who followed his lead and participated in his bullying and mistreatment.” Bobby adds, standing up next to Hen in a show of solidarity.

“The rest of you need to follow me outside now,” Alonzo growls. Each member of the board stands up and follows him out of the hearing room. “Chief, you’re not going to listen to this, are you? You know how it is when someone doesn't fit on your team.” Gerrard says as he walks through the doorway.

Alonzo shakes his head. “I don’t want to hear it, Vincent, " his voice says as the door closes.

The door opens less than fifteen minutes later, and Alonzo walks back in the others, sans Gerrard. Behind them, a petite Black woman dressed in a regular LAFD uniform walks in and takes Gerrard's old seat.

Eddie looks her over. She has black hair tied back in a tight braid and large-rimmed red eyeglasses. She is too far away to read her name tag, but Eddie can see a pride rainbow pinned under it.

“My apologies for the delay. My staff is looking into the matter, but in the meantime, please welcome Sonia Gutierrez. Ms. Gutierrez is the acting Chief of the LAFD’s Professional Standards Division and is currently in charge of building out our Diversity and Inclusion Bureau.” Alonzo explains, looking at Hen, who nods in approval, then he turns and gives Mackey a nasty look, “Mr. Mackey, as you know, both you and Mr. McGarrett were allowed to choose two members of this board; Captain Gerrard was one of your choices. If I find out anything underhanded is happening here, heads will roll. I promise you this.” Mackey flinches and Alonzo’s gaze shifts to Bobby, “Now, Captain Nash, if you wouldn’t mind, please introduce us to the members of A-Shift.”

Cole gets up immediately and walks over to Bobby. The taller man hands Bobby a crutch and helps him walk to the center podium. He moves the stool behind Bobby, adjusts the microphone, and taps it to ensure it is on before nodding at Bobby and continuing to take his seat.

“Thank you, Cole,” Bobby says before turning to face the board. “Thank you, Chief and assembled leaders of the LAFD. My name is Robert Nash, and I have been Captain of the A-Shift of the 118 since mid-2016. The A-Shift of the 118 consists of two firefighters/paramedics, two heavy rescue firefighters, two regular firefighters, and one person behind.”

Bobby turns and points to the bench behind him, “First, I would like to introduce our firefighter paramedics. Our Senior Paramedic, Howard “Chimney” Han.” Chim raises his hand from his wheelchair. “Please forgive him for not standing to greet you; he was injured in the line of duty this week and had abdominal surgery,” Bobby says, and the board members murmur.

“Firefighter Han has been with the LAFD and stationed at the 118 since 2005. Next, we have Firefighter Henrietta “Hen” Wilson.” Bobby pauses, and Hen stands, “Firefighter Wilson has been with the LAFD and Station at the 118 since 2011. Now, on to our Heavy Rescue Firefighters. First, we have Evan “Buck” Diaz, more affectionately known as Buck.” Buck joins Hen in standing to identify himself before Bobby continues, “Buck has been with the LAFD and stationed with the 118 since 2018. Buck is certified in Heavy Rescue. Additionally, he has SAR and FEMA certifications. Buck also has certifications in civil engineering and fire science. Then we have Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz.” Eddie stands with Buck and Hen.

“Firefighter Diaz joined the LAFD and has been stationed at the 118 since 2019. He joined the LAFD as a decorated serviceman from the US Army and is a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient. He and Buck have matching certifications in SAR and heavy rescue. While Eddie has the same fire science certification, he does not have Buck's civil engineering certification. However, he was a field medic and is certified to help when needed on medical calls.”

“That is a nice balance,” Alonzo says, with William, Mehta, and Gutierrez nodding.

“What levels of SAR and Heavy Recuse do they have?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“All of them,” Bobby chuckles.

“All of them?” The Chief questions, and Bobby nods.

“For Search and Rescue, they are fully certified in all five categories,” Bobby says, and Eddie can see the curiosity of Sonia Gutierrez; Bobby must notice it too because he adds, “The categories are Ground, Air, Maritime, Urban, and Mountain.” Bobby finishes. “They are also HR 3 certified.”

“You expect me to believe that we have members of the LAFD that are fully certified in all five branches of Search and Rescue, have FEMA certs, and have not been poached by another agency?” Mudget asks.

Steve chuckles, “I mean… I tried, and that’s part of why we are here. But it’s the truth. Frankly, both Diaz men are overqualified. In fact, all the members of the 118 are.” Steve says, speaking up for the first time. “I have copies of their service records and certifications for all of you.” Danny gets up and walks to the dais. He hands each member a bound presentation before he walks over and slaps a copy on Mackey's desk.

“Each member of the 118 is overqualified to just be a regular firefighter, and the fact the leaders in this room have no idea is concerning,” Steve says.

“I’m not sure I like what you are implying,” Chief Mudgett says.

Steve jerks his head to the side, “Oh, I haven’t implied anything yet. When I do, you’ll know.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“Gentleman, enough. Mr. McGarrett, please make your point.” Alonzo interjects.

Steve nods, “You all have copies of their files in front of you. Various rescues and events are going to come up and be discussed today. I implore each of you to look them up yourselves, in the actual records. Now, on to my point, each member of the 118 that Captain Nash has described thus far is overqualified.”

Steve looks up at the dais, and they are all looking through the bound presentation that they provided.

“Starting with Captain Nash, his record speaks for himself, and how he is not at least a battalion chief yet is beyond me. Now, I understand that the LAFD as an organization is flat, and there are no Sargent and Lieutenant positions in the firehouse like there are in other parts of the country, but how someone like Chimney Han isn’t even in the running for a Captain’s role after being on the force for close to twenty years, is baffling to me. Hen… The woman attended medical school; she was this close to being a Doctor,” Steve says, pinching his thumb and pointer finger together, “Buck and Eddie, I’m not even going to touch on the military backgrounds.”

“Maybe we should.” Mackey chides.

“Just because they have black files and cannot be accessed by the general public doesn’t mean they have problematic pasts,” Steve responds.

“What does a black file mean?” Sonia asks.

“It means their service record is considered national security, and they took part in covert operations,” Steve explains.

“Don’t you think we have a right to know?” Mackey asks.

“No, I don’t.” Steve answers.

“Why not?”

“Mackey, I wouldn’t trust you to walk my grandmother across the street, never mind with national security.” Steve chides back. “I am willing to bet you there are things in the files they don’t even know about. I’m sure there are things they haven’t told each other, and very few people love and trust each other like Buck and Eddie do.”

Buck leans in and whispers, “Are there things I don’t know about?”

“You are not the only one with secrets, but now is not the time, Buck,” Eddie whispers, but he raises his eyebrow suggestively, and Buck’s mouth falls open.

“Captain Nash, you mentioned that your team consists of eight firefighters, but you have only introduced us to five of them. Where are the others? I would expect to hear from the entire team.” Sonia Gutierrez says, shifting the focus back to Bobby.

“Additionally, we have Fire Fighter Marilena “Lena” Bosko; she is here today but is also injured. Her collarbone was broken in the line of duty.” Bobby pauses, and Ravi wheels Bosko around so her wheelchair is next to Buck and Eddie. “We also have Fire Fighter Ravi Panikkar.” Ravi stands next to Bosko. “Our final member, Firefighter Jamie Knox. My apologies: I am not sure where he is right now.”

“Firefighter Knox is in the building. He is on a special assignment for me.” Chief Alonzo explains. “He will be here to give his statement when necessary.”

Sonia nods, “Why would you not have introduced them like the others?”

“The three of them were not named in any of the complaints,” Bobby explained, and that caused a reaction from everyone except Chief Mudget. “They have not been linked to this in any way. It seems whoever filed the claims against us only talked about the original members of A-sh*t and not our expanded team since the zoning districts changed. It’s almost as if they didn’t have any inside information on the new members. I wonder how that happened?” he says, looking at Mackey, who cringes at the accusation.

“Does anyone want to explain what is going on here?” Alonzo asks Mackey, who looks like he is at a loss for words.

“First Gerrard, now this. This is the second time I’m saying this today, but if there is something underhanded happening in this department, heads will roll. I swear this to all of you.” Alonzo says, looking around at the others on the dais before looking to Mackey and then at the members of the 118.

“Hen already started mentioning some things, and I have a theory I will cover during my presentation,” Steve adds.

“Shall we get started then?” Alonzo asks. “Captain Nash, please take your seat. Mr. Mackey, please proceed.” Cole gets up and walks over to Bobby again, helping the Captain back to his seat.

Mackey stands to his feet, fixes his suit, and walks to the podium on his side of the room. He adjusts the microphone, leans down, and starts to speak when an ear-splitting feedback sound erupts from the speakers.

“Jackass,” Wes mumbles under his breath, prompting a stuffed laugh from the members of the 118 and the board sitting on the dais.

“Esteemed members of the…” Mackey starts and is cut off by Chief Williams. “Mr. Mackey, this isn’t a trial where you need to kiss the jury's ass. Please state your intentions; we don’t have all day.”

“Absolutely, Chief,” Mackey responds, being fully chastised.

“I have evidence to present why each member of the 118 has violated the code of conduct and ethics set forth by the LAFD and intend to show that they are a danger to the citizens of Los Angeles. I will call them to the stand one at a time to question them.” Mackey explains.

“Very well, please begin,” Alonzo replies.

“First, would Mr. Evan Buckley please have a seat,” Mackey says, pointing to the table in front of the dais with an evil grin on his face.

Eddie had expected this. Mackey, the sleazy weasel that he is, was out for blood; he would go right after Buck, and Eddie was looking forward to this face-off. This Buck, his Buck, is much different from the man he was years ago when Mackey preyed on his insecurities. His Buck is more confident and settled in who he is: a man, father, husband, and firefighter. He may still have insecurities, but Buck is light years away from the young, naive man he once was. This Buck was ready for this face-off and more than ready for this fight. Mackey has no idea what he is in for.

Buck turns to Eddie and gives him a sinister look before his eyes meet Bobby's, Athena’s, and Maddie’s. He stands up, ready to face off with Mackey.

“Diaz,” Buck says, looking right at Mackey.

“Excuse me?” Mackey scoffs.

“My last name is Diaz. It’s kind of the whole reason we are here today, isn’t it.” Buck chastises.

“His name is Evan Diaz. Which you very well know. Hell, Buck is right; that’s the main reason we are here. I know you have a personal vendetta against him, but at least try to hide it.” Steve chuckles.

Eddie can’t help himself; he laughs, too. They have barely begun, and Steve is outplaying Mackey at every turn. He’s already highlighted that Mackey is biased against Buck and found a way to bring up their past. Eddie pulls Buck back into his seat and crosses his arms, waiting to see who makes the next move.

“You purposefully used the wrong name to prompt a response from him,” Steve says, but Alonzo cuts him off.

“Hang on here. What personal vendetta?” Alonzo asks, standing to his feet at the dais, giving Mackey a death stare.

“All in due time, Chief,” Steve says, with a cheerful grin.

“I don’t like being strung along, Mr. McGarrett,” Alonzo adds, and Steve nods.

“Mr. Mackey, please call one of the more severely injured members of the 118 first. They were injured in the line of duty, and the least we can do is get this over with for them so they can return to the comfort of their home to rest and recuperate.” Steve adds, knowing full well that none of the 118 are leaving this courtroom unless it’s together.

“Fine. Howard Han, will you please step up to the podium.” Mackey asks.

Cole again gets to his feet, walks over, and wheels Chimney to the podium. With Chim unable to stand, Cole grabs the microphone from the desktop and hands it to Chimney. He taps it to make sure it works.

Mackey adjusts his ugly tie and looks down at his notes, “Howard, may I call you Howard?”

“It is my name but not my preference,” Chim answers.

Mackey ignores him and says, “So, Howard, Captain Nash has stated that you have been with the 118 since 2005. Is this true?”

“Um, yes?” Chim answers, his tone unsure.

“Oh, do you not know?” Mackey asks.

Chim shakes his head, “I know. But it seems you don’t. I would think a know-it-all like you would have at least checked and read my file before today. But I guess you were too busy being a sleaze bag to do any actual prep work.”

“Firefighter Han, please keep the personal commentary to a minimum. Please just answer the questions.” Alonzo says, shaking his head while Mackey looks smug. “Mr. Mackey, please ask relevant questions and not already established or known facts.”

“But…”

“A copy of Chimney’s service record in the in the bound files we have provided everyone,” Steve adds.

“Please get to the point, Mr. Mackey; this is tiring.” Chief Williams adds.

“Howard, there is a reprimand in your file for attempting to perform feats for which you were not certified. Can you tell us about that?” Mackey asks.

“There is?” Chim asks disbelievingly.

“There is,” Steve confirms. “If you all turn to the area of the provided files where Chim’s records are, you will see a reprimand filed by Captain Vicent Gerrard for Chimney performing medical tasks for which he was not qualified. However, you will also find that it was not signed off on by the Senior Paramedic, Eli Cobb. Chim also did not sign off on it, meaning he never received it. I'm curious how this even wound up in his personnel file if it was never formalized. On the next page, you will find an affidavit from Eli Cobb stating that he refused to sign off on the reprimand because he was training Chim and supervised the entire procedure.”

“What was the point of this question, Mr. Mackey?” Alonzo asks.

“Howard here has a history of performing or attempting to perform tasks and maneuvers he is not certified to do. In fact, he also has a history of lying about what he has done in the field.”

“Excuse me?” Chim asks defensively.

“Do you not have a history of using other firefighters' good deeds to pick up women? Were you or were you not taking credit for things others have done to help you get laid?”

“I… Uh… I may have embellished here and there from time to time. But that was a long time ago.”

“Again, Mr. Mackey, what does Firefighter Han’s personal flirting techniques have to do with this hearing?” Alonzo asks.

“It speaks to his character. If he was willing to lie to women for sex, I'm sure he would lie to this committee to save his job. How can we trust the words of a known liar and manipulator?” Mackey says confidently. There is a murmur from some of the people on the dais.

“What do I have to gain by lying? I could easily have denied the earlier accusation, as there is no LAFD record of my earlier dating habits, but I told the truth.”

“How about your history of anger problems?” Mackey asks.

“What do you mean anger problems?”

“Were you or were you not driving recklessly after your previous girlfriend declined your proposal, which led to you being out of work due to a car accident where you were impaled through the head with rebar?”

“That was an accident. There were no extenuating circ*mstances.” Chim responds.

“Were you, or were you not, on your way home after your then-girlfriend declined your proposal.”

“Yes,” Chim answers because he has no choice but to; it is the truth, after all.

“I wonder why that wasn’t investigated.” Mackey smugly asks while giving Bobby a dirty look.

“Are you implying that a Fire Captain would be able to influence the LAPD and push them not to investigate the scene of a vehicular accident?” Steve asks.

“Oh, don’t worry, I will get to Captain Nash, his wife, and their meddling soon enough,” Mackey says, his chest puffed up, full of self-righteousness, thinking he has uncovered a secret plot.

“Now, Howard, as far as your history of anger problems. Tell me about the time you assaulted a fellow member of the 118.” Mackey continues, his smile now mischievous.

“When did I…” Chim starts to say until his eyes fall on Buck. “Oh, wait. How do you even know about that?”

“Do you deny it?” Mackey asks.

“No, I don’t. In fact, it is probably one of the biggest regrets of my life.” Chim says.

“Fire Fighter, Han, would you mind explaining it to us?” Chief Willaims asked.

“I’m not sure how much this group knows about the 118, but we have been in the trenches for some of the city's biggest emergencies. A few years ago, we had that blackout caused by those hackers,” Chim says, and everyone on the dais nods, remembering.

“That was a very difficult time for my fiancé and me. We have been through a lot together in our relationship. She had recently given birth to our daughter,” Chim pauses and looks at Maddie; she nods, giving him the okay to talk about what happened. “We didn’t know it at the time, but Maddie was struggling with PPD. There was a situation while we were on call for the blackout. Maddie was alone with our daughter for days, with no sleep or rest. It only amplified her PPD. Maddie was suffering worse than I knew; she left to get the help she needed. I was not in a good place myself. I was alone, suffering, trying to find out where she went, raising my daughter, and being a firefighter. I was talking to Buck about Maddie, and he let slip that he knew about things that she had confided in him about, but not me, and I reacted badly. I lost control, and I hit him. I know I hurt him more emotionally by my actions than I did physically, and that’s saying something because he had a hairline fracture on his zygomatic bone from what I did to him.” Multiple people on the dais flinch back at that.

“I’m not proud of what I did. When I eventually found Maddie, she was in an inpatient care facility, getting the help she needed. She suggested I see someone, and so did Bobby. I was later also diagnosed with PPD.”

Mackey scoffs, “Since when can men suffer from PPD?”

Buck shoots to his feet, “Studies have shown that approximately one in 10 men developed what's known as male postpartum depression or paternal postpartum depression. It's also called paternal post-natal depression or PPND.”

“Firefighter Diaz, do you care to comment on this physical altercation between the two of you?” Chief Willaims asks.

Buck stays standing, “Not really. It was a personal matter between Chim and me. We have talked about it and cleared the air. He wasn’t in a good headspace, and neither was Maddie. I didn’t know about it because they chose to keep it private. The three of us each have regrets about what happened during that time of our lives.”

“Who is Maddie to you, Mr. Buckley?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“Maddie is my sister,” Buck answers honestly.

“Biologically?” Mudgett asks.

“Yes, sir.”

“Which is yet another concern within the 118. It’s another example of fraternization.” Mackey says.

“This is hardly something new within our community.” Chief Alonzo interjects. “Fire Departments all over the country are made up of legacies and intermingled families. I guarantee you that the majority of the firehouses in LA have members who are currently or have dated siblings or cousins of their coworkers. It takes a strong partner to deal with the life we lead. Most of us are with partners who are first responders, a family member of first responders, or medical professionals.”

“I understand that, but it’s another example of the problems with the 118. It bears questioning whether Howard or Mr. Buckley will make the right decision in the field if one of them is in danger. Will they prioritize saving each other over a civilian? Would they be reckless and do something stupid to save the other?”

“Diaz,” Chimney says.

Excuse me?” Mackey says.

“You called Buck, Mr. Buckley again. His last name is Diaz.” Chimney quips out, “You might want to keep track of facts, Chase.”

Steve chuckles, “Let’s answer Mackey’s question right now. To all of A-Shift, yes or no answers only, is there anything that would prevent you from laying down your life for one another.”

The room is met with seven simultaneous “No’s.”

“That’s what it means to be part of a family, Mackey, but you wouldn’t know anything about that kind of comradery, would you?” Steve asks.

Wes chuckles and gets slapped in each shoulder by Athena and Cole before muttering an “Ow” and rubbing his arm where Athena hit him and then the other side where Cole did.

“As far as Chim’s little issue with Buck, if you check his records, you can see that he completed the necessary psychological evaluation before returning to work after his PPND diagnosis. He was cleared to return to work both mentally and physically. Everything there is on the up and up.” Steve explains.

“You have an excuse for everything, don’t you?” Mackey asks.

Steve’s had enough at this point and lets his anger show, “No, you just seem to think this is an actual courtroom, where when you break the law, everything is punishable. These are people's lives, and they put them on the line every day for the people of this city. They have ups and downs, and there are protocols for how to deal with them, especially when it comes to their mental health. You have no idea what these men and women deal with on a daily basis, and it is simple for someone like you to sit safely behind your desk and never have to face the trauma of losing a patient or not being able to save someone or watching a brother in arms fall, that no matter what you do it’s too late. These things weigh on our first responders, and sometimes they have negative reactions. That’s why there are support systems in place.”

“I have to say that I agree with Mr. McGarrett, and I am seriously starting to wonder what the LAFD is actually paying you for, Mr. Mackey. You have strung us along for the last hour and have yet to show us anything that would cause concern. Everything in Fire Fighter Han’s file is noted appropriately. I dread having to sit through you questioning seven more firefighters. We will be here until 2026 at this rate,” Chief Alonzo says.

“I agree. Mr. Mackey, this is not a courtroom. Perhaps we should adjust how we are handling this.” Sonia Guiterrez says.

“Sonia, what would you recommend?” Chief Willaims asks.

“I agree with handling this one firefighter at a time, but maybe Mr. Mackey could list his concerns, summarize them, and allow this committee and Mr. McGarrett the ability to ask questions and set the record straight.

“Agreed.” Chief Alonzo says. “What do the rest of you think?”

“Agreed,” Williams, Mehta, and Gutierrez said.

“I will agree to this, but I would like to be able to ask deeper questions if I feel it’s necessary.” Chief Mudgett says, and the rest of the committee nods in approval.

Mackey looks like someone canceled Christmas and is not happy about the turn of events. He grabs his notes, trying to figure out his next steps.

“Mr. Mackey, if you have anything else about Fire Fighter Han, now is the time; otherwise, please move on.” Chief Willaims says.

“Well, there is the situation with Jonah Greenway,” Mackey says.

“Please explain,” Gutierrez says.

“Well, Howard here, and Henrietta over there,” Mackey jerks a thumb over his shoulder at Hen, “thought themselves to be Sherlock and Watson. They discovered Greenway was playing an angel of death and shared the information with Taylor Kelly and Chanel 8 instead of reporting accordingly.”

“That is not what happened.” A voice yells from the audience, and everyone turns to see Taylor Kelly standing up. She walks to the front of the room to where Steve is standing.

“What Chase, over here, just described is not an accurate representation of what happened,” Taylor says.

“Please, enlighten them,” Steve says smugly.

“At the time, I was dating Buck. I’m sure you all remember the dispatch fire. Well, there was a dispatcher who unfortunately died. However, she was treated by Paramedics Han and Wilson, and what she died of did not present itself at the scene. This raised a lot of questions for them. My cameraman was covering the entire scene, and on a hunch, Hen and Chim asked me to review the footage. We were able to find evidence of Jonah Greenway injecting the victim with something that caused her to die a few moments later. They were the ones who uncovered it. Collectively, we researched and found that Jonah had a history of miraculously saving people from these weird occurrences. We were able to discern that he was causing them to flatline in order to save the people and get the notoriety for being a hero. I was asked to keep it under wraps while they reported it to the proper authorities, which I did not do. Instead, I reported what we could prove on the eight o’clock news that night. Now, while I don’t regret sharing the information with the public because I believe they have the right to know, I do regret what happened to Hen and Chim. Them getting hurt was not my intention.”

“What do you mean they were hurt because of it?” Chief Mudget asks.

“After he found out that they knew what he was up to. Jonah Greenway essentially abducted Hen and Chim. Hen was made to watch while Greenway tortured him, repeatedly stopping and restarting Chimney’s heart multiple times.” Taylor explains, and the dais sits in stunned silence.

Steve gives them a moment to process before he continues, “I know this seems like the plot of a TV show, but I can assure you, this is only one of the horrors the members of this team have faced while they have put their lives on the line to protect the people of Los Angeles and as you can see, Mr. Mackey’s accusation has been debunked by the source herself.”

“Firefighter, Han, thank you for your service to the city of Los Angeles; you should take your place back with your team,” Alonzo says while giving Mackey a look that says, I dare you to disagree.

“Mr. Mackey, please move on,” Chief Williams says.

“I was going to move on the Henrietta next,” Mackey says. “I have a list of occurrences where she violated policy and procedure.”

Alonzo rolls his hand at Mackey to hurry up and continue.

“Henretta was directly involved in more than one questionable decisions both as a paramedic and during her time as interim Captain. Most recently, we have the incident last fall at the happiness convention where her slow response and decision-making resulted in a death. Additionally, we have her getting involved in things she shouldn’t. She had no business getting involved in the identification of a victim post-mortem or performing a procedure on a victim that she was unqualified for. Lastly, she is directly responsible for the death of Evelyn Fisher.” Mackey says, laying out some of the worst moments in Hen's history as a firefighter.

“I'm going to stop you right there,” Steve says, cutting Mackey off. “The situation with Evelyn Fisher, while tragic, is not Hen's fault. Yes, she was driving the RA when Ms. Fisher was struck; however, you failed to mention that the City’s EMTRAC system malfunctioned, which is the actual cause of the accident. Additionally, the LAFD investigated this, and Hen was cleared of any wrongdoing.”

“Mr. Mackey, is this another example of you bringing up situations that have already been dealt with and investigated by the LAFD?” Chief Alonzo asks, “Is there anything you have to say about Firefighter Wilson that has not already been investigated?”

“Uh... Um…” Mackey stammers

“Do you have anything relevant to share with us today, or are you just wasting our time?” Alonzo asks, now highly annoyed with the turn of events.

“I can answer that for him if he can’t say it himself,” Steve says. “Because the answer is no.”

“f*ck you, McGarrett.” Mackey snaps.

“Chief, I can tell you precisely what he intends to showcase for every member of the 118m. Would you like me to summarize?”

“Please do.” Chief Mudgett says.

Steve nods and grabs his notebook, walking to the podium and shoeing Mackey away.

“When it comes to Captain Nash, he intends to highlight his past behavior regarding his treatment of his team. He will call out situations where he showed favoritism to team members. However, he has instances where he has shown favoritism to each member of his team, showing that he treats them all the same. And as you know, this was also something that was investigated previously. Additionally, he will bring up Captain Nash and his meddling, which led to the Calle situation last year. Now, while I won’t comment on that, I will say that it seems like it is irrelevant to why we are here today. Captain Nash overstepped but alerted the LAPD of what was happening. The rest was managed by members of my task force. Granted, it should have been brought to you sooner, but National Security and all that.”

Steve flips past a whole bunch of pages, “When it comes to the newer members of A-Shift, Mr. Mackey has nothing to report. Firefighters Knox, Bosko, and Panikkar are in the clear. In fact, I bet Mr. Mackey wasn’t even planning to call them to testify.” Mackey doesn’t respond, proving Steve right.

“I’m confident in saying that all of the issues he was planning to highlight to you all are things that have already been investigated. He was planning on using all of these events to build a big picture and say look at all of this; they are unfit to stay together. I believe this whole event was orchestrated by those who have a grudge against the members of the 118, including Captain Gerrad. Earlier, I mentioned Buck having a past with Mr. Mackey and the vendetta he has against Buck.”

“I was wondering when we would get back to that,” Alonzo says, grilling Mackey.

“Well, you see…” Mackey says, and Alonzo gives him a look that has the lawyer shut his mouth. Alonzo looks to Buck, “Mr. Buckley…” Alonzo huffs, immediately correcting himself, “Mr. Diaz. Firstly, I apologize for using the wrong name. I promise I don’t mean anything by it; it’s that half of your paperwork says Buckley, the other half says Diaz, and the other half says Buckley-Diaz. Which is your preference?” He asks, chuckling at his own joke.

Buck stands to his feet and smiles at the Chief, “You can just call me Buck, sir. That is my preference. But if you need to use a surname, please use Diaz.” he doesn’t mention that Alonzo mentioned three halves.

“Very well, Buck. What is Mr. McGarrett referring to? Why would Mr. Mackey have a personal vendetta against you?”

“Well, you already know about the lawsuit I filed against the LAFD and Captain Nash a few years ago.”

“I am well aware of it. No one of our finest moments.” Alonzo says, giving Bobby a disappointed look.

“Not one of mine either, sir. But we aren’t here to talk about water under the bridge, are we?”

“Not at all. But what does Mr. Mackey have to do with this?” Alonzo asks.

“Well, sir, when I filed the lawsuit, Mr. Mackey was my counsel. So, when I dropped the suit, Mr. Mackey lost out on a significant payday. He told me he would get even with me one day, and it looks like this hearing is how he intends to do it.”

You could hear a pin drop in the room. Alonzo, Williams, Mehta, and Guiterrez all turn to look at Mackey as if they are waiting for him to explain, and Chief Mudgett looks like he wants to strangle Mackey.

“Chief, I’m not sure you are aware, but Mr. Mackey has been involved in dozens of cases against the City of Los Angeles, the LAFD, and the LAPD. Frankly, I’m not sure how he was able to be employed by the LAFD as any form of counsel. This case alone is a conflict of interest as he has sensitive information about his opposition that would be covered under attorney-client privilege.” Steve says.

“Mr. McGarrett is correct. This is a human resource and PR nightmare. How did this happen?” Gutierrez asks.

“I intend to find out,” Alonzo says, lifting his phone to his ear. “Andrea, can you come in here, please?” he says into his phone.

Seconds later, the blonde assistant they watched talked to Alonzo this morning and walked into the room. She heads over to Alonzo, and he steps off the dais to take her. As he whispers to her, her eyes dart around the room, from him and Buck to Steve and then to Mackey, where they turn sour. She shakes her head and says, “On it, boss. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“While you handle that, I would like to talk openly with the other members of the 118 and then to Buck and Eddie. They have the biggest targets on their back and are the topic we should be discussing.” Steve says,

“Please do so, Mr. McGarrett,” Alonzo replies.

Steve turns to face the members of the 118, looking from Chimney all the way down to Bosko before settling back on Chimney.

“Chim, you have a unique perspective here, considering your relationship with Maddie and Buck. Would you mind telling us how you feel about this? Tell us how you feel about being on a team with Buck and Eddie while they are married. We want to know if you have concerns about your safety, their safety, or things like that. Positive or negative, please speak honestly; this is your chance to set the record straight.”

Chim nods and shifts in his wheelchair while Steve hands him the microphone.

“Um, I’m not really sure where to start. When I first met Buck, he was a bit of a douche, you know.” Buck chuckles from his seat, “He’s not wrong.”

“This co*cky and arrogant kid shows up one day, and he’s a bit reckless but also kind of a badass. All kidding aside, he walked in the door with skills that other firefighters take years to develop. But even then, there is the ability to know how and when to use them, and Buck just knows. So does Eddie. Honestly, it’s scary how in sync they are. I like to joke that they share one brain cell. I’ve seen them do some things together that would blow your mind, and all of it without a word said to each other. I’ve never been worried about any of our safety when they are around. In fact, I think we are all safer with them working side by side with us.” Chim says confidently.

“Anyway, back to when I met Buck. There were a few times when I wanted to wring his neck, but I still do from time to time. But as time passed, I watched him grow as a man. I always felt like there were things he wasn't sharing with us. He had a bit of a reputation, but you could see that he was a good guy underneath all the bravado. We joked about calling him a golden retriever. He started to get better after his first real relationship, but it wasn't until Maddie came back into his life and Eddie joined the 118 that he really changed.”

“Why do you think that is?” Steve asks.

“Like I said, it’s because those two share a brain cell.” Chim teased, and everyone laughed. “Honestly, I have never seen two partners pick up each other's mannerisms like they have. I swear they can read each other's minds. Hen and I are good partners; we read each other well, but those two take the whole silent communication thing to a different level, and it's freaky.” Eddie scoffs, and Buck chuckles.

“Over the last few years, I have watched Buck mature into a good man, and I think a lot of that is due to Eddie. Bobby, too, but Eddie is the real driver here. Those two were partners in every way long before they married. I watched them fight for each other and this team for years before they got together. I only wish it had happened sooner, but they both needed to deal with a few personal things before they moved on to that phase. Honestly, I have no issues with them being together. I know they would do anything within their power to save me or anyone else, for that matter. Hell, Buck saved me a few days ago.”

“Any chance you could share more about that?” Chief Willaims asks.

“Well, the 118 was trapped in that bridge collapse last week. We were on the bridge one minute, and the next, it was like I was in a disaster movie. I was trapped in the back of the RA, impaled through the abdomen. Buck was the only one who was not trapped. He did what he needed to do—first taking care of Hen, then securing Bosko. I think he got Eddie out of the trailer after that. Once they had additional resources, I was rescued. Eddie helped patch me up, and I was airlifted to the hospital. They both saved me. Buck easily could have gone for Eddie first, but he didn’t. He followed the procedures and protocol. He made all the right decisions. No notes,” Chim says, chuckling.

“Anything else you want to add, Chim?” Steve asks, and Chim shakes his head. He hands the microphone to Hen and she stands up.

“My turn, I guess,” Hen says, and Steve nods and waves toward the dais. Hen shifts slightly so she can look at the decision-makers, “I don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but Chim hit the nail on the head.”

She turns to look at Buck, “When Evan Diaz started at the 118, I wanted to strangle him. But I could tell he was dealing with something. You could see he was searching for something. I knew what it was from the start. He was looking for a family; for acceptance; for people to love him regardless of his faults.”

Hen shifts her focus to Bobby. “I’m not going to lie. That first year together, the four of us really went through it. We each had our hardships and had to learn how to trust and rely on each other. We all needed to learn that it was okay to ask for help.” She reaches down and takes Bobby’s hand in hers.

“I can understand why Buck was so nervous when Eddie showed up. We had just hit our stride as a team, and this insanely good-looking, competent, and skilled firefighter showed up. But Eddie brought us together in a way I don’t think any of us knew we needed. Chim jokes about them sharing a single cell, and I can’t argue with that. I tell my wife that they match each other's freak.” Half the room chuckles.

“Honestly, as a group, we have all lucked out. We have amazing partners in all parts of our lives, and frankly, it's about time these boys found each other. They are each other's person. They are two halves of the same whole. They are a good team on and off the job. Chim is right; having them in the field with us is safer. I have no doubt in my mind that they would do anything to save one of us.”

“I've read the LAFD handbook, and currently, there are no rules or regulations against same-sex partners or heterosexual partners working in the field together. I agree that not every couple will be Buck and Eddie and that others may hinder their team and safety. Some kind of vetting process needs to be implemented. I am happy to see that the LAFD is taking this seriously, and I am thrilled to see that the rumors of the Diversity and Inclusion division is something that is actually being stood up.” Hen turns to look at Sonia Guiterrez, “For too long, blatant racism, hom*ophobia, sexism, and other forms of discrimination have run rampant in the LAFD, and it needs to stop. I said it earlier today, but the fact that the LAFD still employs Captain Gerrard is concerning and deeply disturbing. He and the others under him should have been fired years ago. We need to do better! We need to be better! I think it’s clear where you can start!” She turns back and waves a hand at Buck and Eddie.

“You have an unprecedented opportunity here. I implore you to take advantage of the situation Buck and Eddie have dropped on your lap and be the change we all know is needed. These two break the mold. They are a mixed-race couple and are both strong, good-looking, masculine men. The fact that they don’t fit the stereotype of a queer man is an asset to you. Do you have any idea how impactful it would be to other queer firefighters to see the brass support and accept them?”

Buck shifts closer and lays his head on Eddie’s shoulder, prompting Eddie to lay his head on Buck. It’s such a soft gesture, and Eddie can’t help but see smiles come from everyone on the dais.

Hen turns to Bobby and hands him the microphone. Bobby stands up, and Hen hands him his crutch. Bobby shifts and gets his balance before lifting the microphone to his face.

“The first thing I was to say is that I am very proud of this team. Hen, Chim, thank you for your bravery both in the field and here today. It’s not easy standing before your friends, family, and peers and having everything analyzed for people to pass judgment on you.” Bobby says.

Eddie can’t help but turn to look at Bobby, and for the first time today, he realizes that Bobby f*cking Nash is pissed the f*ck off.

“Frankly, this whole situation is nothing sort of a travesty. The fact that the LAFD employs Gerrard and Mackey is a joke. And while I agree with Hen, things need to change. But the truth of the matter is that fraternization cases have always been at the discretion of the sitting Captain. Why was my sign-off not enough?”

“Captain Nash, I can assure you that…” Chief Alonzo starts to say, and Bobby cuts him off, “Gael, I have every confidence that you will clean house now that this has come to light. But it never should have gotten this far.”

Alonzo nods, and Bobby continues. “The fact that my boy…” Bobby pauses and then shakes his hand, “That my boys are here defending themselves, and their service record is ridiculous. We have had our ups and downs as a team, but we are stronger together. I have been the Captain of this shift since 2016, and since that time, none of my firefighters have transferred to another house or left the team. I take that as a sign I am doing something right.”

“We count on each other. You ask how they act in the field and whether we feel safe around each other. I can honestly tell you that I feel safer having them both in my life. Period.”

“I called them my boys before, and I almost backtracked on that because thinking of them as my kids may be inappropriate to you, and honestly, I don’t care what you think. Both of these men have saved my life countless times. I literally would not be here today if it weren’t for them.”

“Are you willing to expand on that?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“Do I need to?” Bobby snaps.

“No, you do not. But if you're going to throw punches, then by all means, Captain Nash, throw them.” Chief Mudgett says, and he actually smiles at Bobby.

“My history as a person with a substance use disorder is no secret; I trust everyone in this room is aware of that. Living the life we live, sometimes, is like walking on a razor's edge. I relapsed when I first came to LA, and it was Buck and Hen who helped me get my act together. Earlier, Hen said that we needed to learn how to ask for help, and that was a lesson I learned from her and Buck. They helped me get the help that I needed. They brought me to a meeting.”

“Thanks to them, I got the help I needed and am a better person for it. Maybe even a better Captain. I have been on the wagon since then, but I almost relapsed twice. The first time was after the situation with Jonah Greenway. I couldn’t believe I allowed it to happen. I blamed myself; I was seconds away from falling into a bottle, my doorbell rang, and that was the first time Eddie Diaz saved my life.”

“And Mr. Diaz saved you more than once?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“Well, the second time was him literally saving me. I was shot during the situation with Trey Calle. Hen and Chim are very capable EMTs and paramedics, but Eddie is a combat medic. Now, I want to be very clear: Hen and Chim are more than capable of doing their jobs. But Eddie stepped in, and he was able to stop me from bleeding out and dying.” Bobby explains, and Eddie can’t help but notice how he doesn’t bring up the blood transfusion that he administered from Buck to Bobby, which also saved his life.

“Do you think Hen or Chim would have been able to render you the appropriate care?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“Does it matter?” Bobby asks.

“Humor me?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“I’ll answer it for him,” Chim says, “No, I would not have been able to do what Eddie did. I don’t know about Hen. She has had more surgical training than I did.” He looks at Hen.

“I honestly don’t know. I wasn't there when it happened, so I cannot speak to it. But hypothetically… Could I have performed borderline surgery on the fly and stopped Captain Nash from hemorrhaging from his brachial artery… maybe? But I don’t know how I would have reacted to the violence in the room. Eddie was a combat medic; he was the right person to do what needed to be done in that situation.” Hen replies. “I may have more medical training than Chim, but he’s still the senior paramedic, and Eddie’s training differs from ours. We use that for our advantage when needed.”

“Why are you asking?” Bobby asks Chief Mudgett.

“It goes to Mr. McGarrett's earlier point about your team being overqualified for their roles. It makes me wonder if we need a higher tier of paramedics. I’m starting to see why this task force makes more and more sense.” Chief Mudgett answers. “Please proceed, Captain Nash.”

“Just this past week, I was trapped, and it was Buck and Eddie leading the charge to save me. Now granted, this was after the bridge collapsed, and Hen, Chim, Bosko, and Eddie were rescued. They were both injured and still fought to save my life. Like I said, they have both saved me numerous times.”

“Captain Nash, there have been a few comments made about the relationship between you and Buck. Would you maybe expand on that?” Chief Mudgett asks.

Bobby nods, “I called them my boys earlier. The bottom line is that the 118 is a family. I may have played a fatherly role to everyone, but it’s always been different with Buck. When I first met him, I was still dealing with the trauma of losing my wife and children. We bickered like a parent and a child. Earlier, Hen said he was looking for a family, and I think I was too. But I fought against it and him. He and I had a lot of issues to work through, but we did. Before I knew it, I had coached him about relationships and taught him to tie his tie for a date. While it will never be completely filled, Buck helped me fill the hole in my heart that losing my family left. I think the lawsuit he filed clearly shows that I have not always done right by him. But we have come a long way since then.” Bobby turns to look at Buck, and Eddie takes Buck's hand in his hand, knowing Bobby’s words have hit home.

“And you have no concerns or issues with having married firefighters under your command?” Chief Mudget asks.

“The only issue I have with Buck and Eddie being married is that they went to the courthouse without us. But I can’t throw that stone because my wife and I did the same thing.” Bobby laughs, “Now, I want to be clear: they have earned that. I’m not sure how I would feel with others, but that’s why Hen is right, and there needs to be a complete vetting process.”

“Is there Anything else you want to add?” Steve asks. “No, but I will speak up if I feel necessary,” Bobby says and hands Steve the microphone. Steve takes it, walks over, and hands it to Bosko.

She shifts in her wheelchair, “I’m not one for long-winded speeches. I’m going to speak my mind quickly and hand it off to the next person. I have no issues with Buck and Eddie working together. I think it would be stupid to split them up. I have seen how things are when they are not together, and no one needs to deal with that drama. They are stronger together; this team is stronger together. If you want to use some bureaucratic bullsh*t to split them up, you’re going to lose the rest of us as a result.” She turns and hands the microphone to Ravi.

Ravi stands up and lifts the microphone, “Umm… not sure how to follow that epic speech.” He says, and Bosko slaps his arm. “Ouch.” …” Ravi turns to the dais, “Look, I’ve been around for a bit with this team. I have been on different shifts at the 118, and while A-Shift is always in the middle of it, there is nowhere else I would rather be. I have learned a lot from everyone on the team. Bobby is a fantastic Captain, Chim is an incredible mentor, I can’t say enough positive things about Hen, Buck… is a … decent … well, there was a thing with a chainsaw… But look, I learned a lot from Buck when I was a Probie. I haven’t worked with Eddie as much as I have with Buck, but I have watched him be a badass on more than one occasion. The five of them are an amazing team, and splitting them up would be a disservice to the LAFD and the people of Los Angeles.” He hands the microphone to Steve, and the older man heads back to the podium and places the microphone back down.

He turns to the face of all of the members of the 118, “Thank you all for your words and honesty. Before I move on to Buck, would anyone else like to ask any clarifying questions?” When no one does, he turns to Buck, “Evan, would you mind?”

Buck gets out of his seat, walks over, and sits on the stool at the podium. He adjusts the microphone and then nods to Steve.

“Hey, Kiddo,” Steve says.

“Hey, boss,” Buck responds with a big, bright, and toothy grin.

“You okay, Evan? I know this whole experience must be incredibly stressful.”

“It is what it is, you know? Sometimes the universe tests you, and this is one of those times.” Buck answers.

Mackey lets out an indignant scoff. Steve turns to him wide-eyed, asking, “Do you have something to add?”

“I just find it funny how I was belittled for calling him Evan, and you say it, and there is no recourse.”

“Well…” Steve starts to say and is cut off by Buck, “Well, when someone fights by my side, bleeds for me, saves my life, or helps me straighten my life out, then and only then will they have earned the right to call me Evan. Even after that, I still might not trust them with that side of me. Since that will never f*cking happen, you will choose to respect how I identify myself.”

“I didn’t know it was such a big issue,” Mackey says, trying to downplay it, and Buck chuckles. “You want to try that again? Only this time, maybe don't outright f*cking lie.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mackey waves him off indignantly.

“Liar.” Buck chastises. “You are well aware of my struggles with the use of my first name and why I don't use it.” Buck snaps.

“Is this true, Mr. Mackey?” Sonia Gutierrez asks.

“I uh….” Mackey stutters, reaching back to rub the back of his neck while he pauses, trying to think of what to say to get himself out of this one.

“Lie faster, Chase,” Steve says.

“f*ck you, McGarrett.”

“Mr. Mackey!” Chief Alonzo thunders.

“I apologize for the use of inappropriate language,” Mackey says immediately, not wanting to press Alonzo after everything else that has already happened.

“We can continue as long as Mr. Mackey agrees to address Mr. Diaz correctly,” Steve says.

“I will do my best.” Mackey agrees.

“Do better. Your best has been lacking thus far.” Chief Mudgett says.

Steve turns to look at Buck. " Are you ready to continue?” he asks, and Buck nods.

“So far today, we have heard a lot of BS from Mackey, but a few other things have been in between all the mess. We have heard from the others about how good of a team the 118 is as a whole and individually. You all speak highly of each other, your capabilities in the field, and your everyday lives. But I would like to get a little more personal with you for our conversation if that’s okay?” Steve asks.

“I guess. I’m just not sure why?” Buck says.

Steve nods, takes his jacket off, adjusts his vest, and rolls up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Well, one of the core points of contention we are here to resolve is if you and Eddie can work together without being compromised. In my mind, that is a very personal topic, and therefore, we need to dive a bit into your relationship with Eddie. Now, I won't ask anything too deep, but I need to be slightly invasive. Please tell me if I go too far, and I will adjust my approach. Does that sound fair?”

“I mean, I guess so,” Buck responds, his voice a bit nervous.

“When did you first start to realize your feelings for Eddie were more than friendship?” Steve asks, getting right to the point.

No sooner does Steve finish the question than Eddie sees Buck's shift. He is nervous and anxious, and Eddie knows what is coming next before it starts to happen. Buck starts rubbing his knuckles, then rubbing the cuticles on his fingers, and begins picking at the skin; he’s stimming.

“Hmm, hmm.” Eddie coughs, and Steve turns to look at him. Eddie reaches into the front pocket of the blazer of his dress blues and pulls out a 6-inch, neon green, stretchy fidget rope. It’s something Eddie had started carrying a while ago but hasn't needed to break out until now. He and Buck ordered a box of fidget poppers to find something that worked for Buck. It took some time as what really worked for him was flaring the switchblade. But that was not something he could use in public. The stretchy strings were good enough; those worked publicly and for Buck. He found that twirling and interlacing it through his fingers provided the same stimulation as flaring the knife.

Eddie waves Steve over, hands him the string, and points to Buck. Steve’s eyebrows furrow with curiosity, but he takes the string from Eddie, walks over to Buck, and hands it to him. Buck absentmindedly takes the string and starts looping it between his fingers before turning back to Steve, “Sorry, boss. Can you ask me that question again?”

Steve turns to look at Eddie with a triumphant smile as if Eddie had somehow helped him find the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

“Sure, kiddo. The others have talked about how close you and Eddie always were and how you two worked as a seamless team almost from the beginning. Maybe we should start there. The others mentioned that you and Eddie didn’t get along at first. Let’s start there.”

“Sure,” Buck says, now spiraling the string around the pointer finger on his right hand. “Well, you see, none of us knew that there was an open spot on the roster; at least, I didn’t. The four of us worked well together, and it took me a long time to feel like I fit on the team. I had been searching for something like that, an almost family, for a while. I thought I had it in the SEALs, but the 118 is different.”

“Give us an example of how.”

“Well, with the Seals, there was always an agenda. It wasn't our agenda, but we had our orders. The 118, we have one mission: save lives. That’s it, and together, we are really f*cking good at it.” Everyone but Mackey laughs at this before Buck continues.

“When I first started, I was not in a good place. I had just left the SEALs, and I was working through that trauma. Well, I thought I was, but I wasn’t. I was trying to find my place and finally did with the 118. But I was a punk kid still dealing with everything I was running from. I almost got myself fired on a few occasions. I pulled some stupid stunts. Hen was really the one who stood by me at first. I had finally pushed Bobby too far and was on my way out the door. But Hen, she was there for me. I don’t think I would be here if it weren't for her. She had my back in a way that no one ever had before, and, in a way, she helped heal a part of me I didn't know was broken.”

Eddie and Buck had talked about this. They knew there was a chance they were going to have to go deep and open up. While Eddie may have heard Buck’s thoughts and feelings for the others, it wasn't something he had ever vocalized in depth to the rest of the 118. Hearing this, he knew it would resonate with them. He turned to look at Hen, who had her fist pressed to her mouth, holding in her emotions. Karen opened her purse and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her to wipe away the tears. Unable to see how the others were taking this, he turned his attention back to Buck.

“Things with Bobby were weird. They were for a really long time. I don’t think either of us knew what to do with the other. One day, he went from advising me on approaching a rescue to the next, teaching me how to tie a tie for a date. We had fallen into a pseudo father-son dynamic, and that was a bit rocky until recently.”

“Why is that?” Steve asks.

“It’s been a challenge for me to box that up, to separate Captain Nash from Bobby Nash, the man I see as a father. Not all of us are Eddie and have his focus, compartmentalization, and ability to lock down his feelings. But for me, it’s always different. I was looking for that family I always wanted and never had. And the 118 were that for me, and I don’t think it was for them, at least not at first. But you can’t live the lives we live and not grow to care about each other. Hen loved me even though I was a punk kid. Bobby looked at me as a son when my parents never wanted me. Chim, well, I haven't talked much about Chim. Like he said, we haven't always seen eye to eye on things. I wasn't a fan of some of his behaviors during my first year with the team, and he made it clear he wasn't a fan of mine. It would ebb and flow. But somewhere along the way, my interactions with him started to remind me of Maddie. We developed that older sibling, younger sibling dynamic, and that has only strengthened over time, and now, he’s going to be my brother-in-law. We were all trying to find out how we worked as a team at the time. It wasn’t always the best, but we found our way, and we did that together.”

“It must have been hard to have someone come in and get in the middle of all that,” Steve adds.

Buck nods, “It was. I finally felt like I fit in. Like I had earned my place there and, more so, earned their respect and affection. I’m not sure how much into that I should go.”

“What do you mean, Buck?” Steve asks.

“Well, last year, I was diagnosed with ADHD and RSD. I don’t want to go too deep into it. But do you know what RSD is?” Buck asks while sliding the green string through his fingers.

“Is that what that is helping with?” Steve asks, pointing to the green string.

Buck looks down at his hands curiously, as if he’s unsure where the string came from. “Yes, I sometimes stim. It’s the ADHD, and I don’t realize I'm doing it.”

“Eddie did,” Steve says.

“Well, Eddie is good at reading me.”

“I just want to point out to everyone that Eddie noticed Buck was starting to stim, and he handed me the string to help keep Buck focused. Buck, would you say Eddie helps keep you leveled out?” Steve asks.

“Without a doubt. I’m more focused in the field. I think being here has me off.” Buck says defensively.

“Many of us have seen you in action, son; that’s not in question here today. I have seen firsthand how focused you can be. This,” Captain Mehta points to Buck's hands, “is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Thank you, sir; I am still getting used to it,” Buck responds.

“Mr. Diaz, why were you diagnosed so late in life?” Chief Mudgett asks, “I am aware that your diagnosis is none of our business, but considering your background with the Seals, it seems it should have been caught.”

“It should have been caught when I was a kid. But my parents… Look, we aren’t here for my sob story of a background. There are issues with how I was raised, and that’s why I have always been looking for the family I have with the 118.”

“Chief Williams, would you mind ensuring that HR works with Mr. Diaz to ensure that he fully understands all of the benefits available to him to support any of his needs.” Chief Mudgett asks.

“It would be my genuine pleasure. I will speak with HR and Captain Nash.” Chief Willaims responds.

“I don’t need any special treatment.” Buck rushes out.

Chief Mudgett waves his hands, “I did not mean to single you out, son; I just want to make sure you know what support you have available to you. I fought very hard to make sure our firefighters have the right kinds of help available to them, and it would be a shame that you don’t take advantage of them because you don’t know they exist.”

“Um, thank you, sir.”

“Buck, you mentioned RSD; that is something I don’t know much about; would you mind telling us about it?” Steve says, shifting the focus back to the topic.

“RSD stands for “Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.” Essentially, someone with RSD feels intense emotional pain related to rejection. For someone like me, when I’m on the outs with someone I care about, let’s say it’s an emotional trigger for me.”

Steve nods, “Thank you for sharing that.”

“I didn’t know this at the time. But now, knowing some of my behaviors when I first started with the 118 can be tied back to my RSD. When I felt I wasn't fitting in, it would trigger me, and then I would react in the wrong way. It was very circular.”

“And how did you finally start to level out?” Steve asks.

“Honestly, after I met Eddie. Bobby had given me some advice about a previous relationship and told me to step in with them. That’s kind of what I did with Eddie without realizing I was. But I was an ass that first day. Again, thanks to my RSD. I show up to work one day, being my egotistical self, talking about trying to get a spot in the firefighter calendar, and I look over and see the most beautiful man I have ever seen.” Buck pauses and looks at Alonzo. “We really need to get the glass in the locker room frosted. The first time I saw Eddie. He was half-naked in the locker room. I dare anyone in this room who is remotely into men to look at Eddie’s eight-pack and tell me he isn't beautiful.”

Eddie laughs, and so does half the room. “True story,” Wes says from behind Eddie, clapping him on the shoulder.

“So, here I was confronted by someone who was better looking than me, more competent and confident. I thought a better model was replacing me, and I acted like a little sh*t toward him. I was afraid for my place on the team. Again, my RSD. But Bobby kept trying to get me to give him a chance, and I just couldn’t. It wasn’t until we were faced with a literal grenade that things changed.”

“What do you mean a grenade?” Sonia Gutierrez asks.

“Well, we were called a scene. There was a gentleman; let's just say he was someone who was a collector of military… ordinance, munitions… and let’s say he collects items and weapons from prior military actions. He obtained one such item and, during his inspection of it, fired a grenade into this thigh.”

“Oh, wow. But wouldn't it just have exploded?” She asks.

“No, ma’am. At first, we were told it was a dummy round. But that didn’t matter. The grenade was embedded in his thigh and severed his femoral artery. Firefighter Diaz was familiar with the ordnance and volunteered to help remove it. I wasn't about to be outdone by the new guy, so I offered to help. While Eddie was trying to remove it, he noticed the cap on the grenade was blue, not gold. This indicates that it was a live round and not a dummy round. The reason it didn't detonate is because the round is designed to explode after it travels a certain distance. So, as long as we didn't move the gentleman around too much, it wouldn’t detonate. Together, Eddie and I were able to remove it and save him before he lost too much blood. The two of us working through that together put any of my concerns about Eddie to bed. We promised to have each other’s backs that night and have done so since.”

“Convenient, how you left out that the two of you destroyed an ambulance that night, costing the taxpayers tens of thousands to replace it and never mind the property damage,” Mackey interjects smugly.

“How were we supposed to control that?” Buck snaps back. “Seriously, I want you to explain to the people in this room how Eddie or I was supposed to stop a grenade from exploding.” Buck huffs and shakes his head, waiting for Mackey to respond, and when he doesn't, Buck continues, “The grenade was made to detonate after it traveled a certain distance. It was an old ordinance. We are lucky it didn't explode when we were removing it from his leg. The bomb squad was an hour away. Sure, we could have taken him to a hospital, but then it surely would have exploded there, killing or injuring people, or it could have exploded on the way, maybe in the middle of a crowded street. All we lost was an ambulance and a small patch of grass. We did as we were told. We placed the grenade in the proper safety container while we waited for the bomb squad to manage it. There was nothing we could have done. All of us were a hundred yards away from it when it went off. You made it sound like Eddie, and I purposefully detonated it.”

“Context is important.” Captain Mehta adds.

Steve waits a moment to see if Mackey is going to respond to Buck. He turns to look at him, and Mackey waves his hand for Buck to continue. “I’m going to go back to my original question. “When did you first realize your feelings for Eddie were more than platonic?”

Buck nods, “It’s not a simple question to answer. But I’m going to try if that’s okay.”

“Sure, kiddo. Go for it.”

“The first time I consciously thought about him like that was when the ladder truck landed on top of me. I was trapped, and I was in pain. I could see Eddie off to the side with Hen and Chim. The three of them were taking turns holding each other back. After the scene was secured, everyone was trying to lift the ladder truck off me, everyone except Eddie. Eddie took my hand in his and held it; he didn't let me go until the hospital made him when they took me in. Eddie’s strong grip grounded me during the most painful moment of my life. I almost passed out numerous times, and if Eddie wouldn't have been there to be my anchor, my tether… I don't want to think about it. From that day on, I consciously knew I had more than platonic feelings for him. But in retrospect, it started a long before that.”

Steve nods his head, encouraging Buck to continue. “One of the first shifts we had together was that 7.1 earthquake in 2019. That was when I found out that Eddie had a son. He was scared, and I spent the day trying to calm him down and reassure him, explaining the LA school system has protocols to protect its students. At the end of the shift, Eddie was beside himself, wanting to get to his son. But that’s when we discovered his truck was damaged in the quake. He needed a ride, so I drove him to get Christopher. Seeing them together, it… I’m not sure how to describe how it made me feel. I was happy, and I had this fluttering inside.” Buck says as he rubs his hand up and down the center of his chest. “Looking back on it now, I would say that’s the moment, whether I was conscious of it or not. I mean, besides the fact that when I first saw him, I wanted to climb him like a tree. That eight-pack man. But wanting to sleep with someone is not the same as having feelings for them.”

“So, by the second shift working with Eddie, you had feelings for him?” Steve asks, straight forward, pulling no punches.

“Yes,” Buck says confidently.

“So, by my math, that is over five years ago at this point.”

“Closer to six. But yes.”

Steve smiles and nods, “So, is it safe to say that you have been working side by side with Eddie for almost six years, and in all that time, you have never crossed a line, letting your feelings get in the way of you doing your job?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. I mean, I cross lines on the job every day. Sometimes, you need too, to save a life. But I can say that I have never let my feelings get in the way of doing my job; I have never chosen to focus on him over someone who needs my assistance.” Buck says.

“THAT’S A LIE!” Mackey launches to his feet. “That is a blatant lie, and I have proof.”

“Do you? Since you are so sure, why don't you show us this alleged proof?” Steve says sarcastically, waving his hand dramatically, encouraging Mackey.

Mackey, very smugly, reaches over and pulls a laptop from his briefcase. He opens the top, fiddles around with it for a moment, then reaches over and grabs one of the wires on his desk, plugging it into the side of the laptop. Within seconds, a video is loaded and ready to play on the projector screens in the room.

Steve turns to face the audience. “I know what Mr. Mackey is about to show you. Just a warning for the family members in the room: It is difficult to watch.”

Mackey being the petty asshole he is, smugly presses the space bar on his laptop, and the video starts to play.

Almost at once, they hear Chim’s voice come over the speaker system: “Eddie’s all right; he just needs a ride.” The video shows Chimney handing young Hayden Benson off to a paramedic to be checked out. Seconds later, thunder rumbles across the sky, and there is a blinding flash as lighting hits the drill. The camera pans to see Buck tackle Bobby out of the way of being crushed by the collapsing drill, saving his life. The camera then pans to the hole in the ground, or where the hole was before it collapsed in on itself. Buck then throws himself on the ground, desperately digging and trying to get through forty feet of dirt and rock to get to Eddie. The heartbroken tone of his voice as he screams, “Eddie! Eddie! No! Eddie!” He continues digging until Bobby pulls him back. The camera zooms in on his face as he looks up at the sky, crying and looking utterly devastated and heartbroken.

“As you can see, this video very clearly depicts that Evan Buckley cannot control himself nor his emotional state when his husband's life is in danger.” Mackey says smugly, “We now know that he was aware of his feelings for Mr. Diaz at this point. He is, very clearly, compromised.”

Steve chuckles, and Mackey gives him a look of pure and utter disdain. “What do you find so funny? His behavior here is completely unprofessional. I have just proven my point.”

“What exactly do you think is happening in this video?” Steve asks.

“Mr. Buckley is emotionally compromised by Mr. Diaz being in danger. He lost control at the scene of an emergency, and his behavior could have cost the lives of civilians and that of a little boy.”

“Is that what the video shows?” Steve asks.

“Now, now, Mr. McGarrett, have you taken one too many blows to that jarhead or yours, or are you just not smart enough to comprehend what you are being shown?”

“Neither, actually. Context is important in a situation like this. And your bias against MR. DIAZ,” Steve says, reinforcing the use of Buck’ married name again, “has you making assumptions. A simple check of the incident records would have clarified the sequence of events here. I mean, it is evidence you have submitted, and you didn’t even pull the file, did you?”

“Go ahead, try and downplay what is very clear in that video,” Mackey says, crossing his arms.

Steve turns to Buck and smiles, “Mr. Diaz, I know this video is not easy to watch, but I was hoping you could walk me through what is happening here.”

Buck smiles back and nods, “Sure. You see, we were called out to a scene. We were searching for a child on his family's farm. Eddie was doing a search of the grounds, and he found the boy. He had fallen down a shaft leading to a well. He was trapped somewhere between 30-40 feet underground. It took a while, but we were eventually able to get a drill on site and excavate down to rescue him. Eddie had formed a rapport with the child by talking to him. So, when it came time to harness up, Eddie went down after him. He was given thirty minutes to get him, or we would pull him out. Eddie had to dig across through some more dirt before he could get to the shaft where Hayden was. By the time he got to him, he had seconds to spare before we were supposed to pull him out. Eddie had Hayden in his hands, and we began to pull him out, forcing him to lose his grip on Hayden. You see, we were above ground, and we could not radio him and keep in touch through forty feet of dirt and rock. We had no idea; we knew Eddie was running out of air and needed him top side. He was so close, and he made a decision. He cut his tether and went back after Hayden. If he hadn't, then Hayden would have drowned in the shaft. Eddie dug him out, and Bobby sent Chimney down after him. The video you were shown is the end of that situation. Chimney went down, and Eddie handed Hayden off to him. We brought Chimney and Hayden up, and Hayden was handed off to the other paramedics and given proper medical care. After that, everything you see in the video happened.”

“Exactly,” Mackey says smugly.

Steve ignores him, “So when you tried to dig Eddie out, were there any civilians in danger?”

“No. Hayden was already with paramedics.” Buck answers.

“So, I’ll ask again. Were there any civilians in danger?”

“No. Look, I f*cked up. Eddie was trapped under 40 feet of dirt and rock. I panicked.” Buck says nervously.

“I see that, kiddo. Let’s stay on topic here. Is it fair to say that when you had this little breakdown, any civilians were already being treated? That it was only LAFD personnel at risk?”

“Correct. I know it wasn't professional, but no, once Hayden was in the care of the paramedics, technically, the emergency was over.” Buck says.

“Mr. Diaz, I will admit, your behavior on screen is less than desirable. But if this sequence of events is true, then I would agree with Mr. McGarrett here.” Alonzo says. “What about the rest of you?”

Except for Mudgett, the others agree with Alonzo, “How did Eddie Diaz make out after that?” Mudget asks.

The whole room turns to look at Eddie, who stands up, “There was an underground pool that feeds the reservoir on the grounds. It’s where the water that was filling the pipe was coming from. I dug my way into it and swam to the surface. Honestly, it was one of the scariest moments of my life.”

“I’m glad to see you are alive and well, Mr. Diaz.” Chief Mudgett says.

“Thank you, sir,” Eddie says and sits back down.

“Now, Buck, we both know that Mr. Mackey has other things he feels showcase that you are not fit to work side by side with Eddie. I would like you to tell us about them in your own words. You don’t need to go too deep into detail, but I would like the members of the committee to hear your feelings on these topics.”

“Um, okay, sure,” Buck says, reaching back and rubbing his neck.

Steve turns to the dais, “I know we have talked today about this team being in the heart of some of the biggest emergencies in this city's history, and while that is true for the 118 as a whole, it is even more so for Evan and Eddie Diaz.”

Steve adjusts his sleeves, rolling them up tightly again before continuing. “As you heard earlier, Evan Diaz was the firefighter who was trapped under the ladder truck all those years ago. What you may not know is that he is also the unknown firefighter who helped rescue the thirty-some-odd people the day of the Tsunami.” There is dead silence in the room.

“Steve…” Buck says, almost pleading.

“No, they need to know,” Eddie says, standing to his feet, “If this douchebag,” Eddie points to Mackey, is going to sit there and throw out every little thing we have ever done wrong as a cause against us, then we don’t hold back, Buck. You don’t have to talk about it, but they need to know, Ev.” Buck nods.

“What a minute?” Alonzo says, “Buck is the man we have been searching for all this time? He is the man who pulled all those people on top of the fire truck from the 133?”

“Yes,” Steve says simply. Buck takes a deep breath and nods to Steve, giving him permission to continue.

“He was on the pier that day with his and Eddie’s son Christopher. Buck has already testified about how he felt about Eddie, but what he hasn’t touched on is his relationship with Christopher Diaz, and that topic is not open for discussion today. All I will tell you is that they are incredibly close. Mr. Mackey wants to paint a picture of how Evan Diaz is emotionally compromised; well, I want you to all think about something.” Steve pauses, letting them all anticipate his words, “Imagine the first wave of that tsunami hit you, and you were desperately clinging to your child. You got him out of the water and to safety; how many of you would jump back in the water to save another thirty people? Not only that, but doing it a few months after a ladder truck fell on you, you had reconstructive surgery on your leg and were on blood thinners to battle blood clots to prevent pulmonary embolisms.”

“You have no proof that he did all that,” Mackey says.

Taylor launches herself to her feet again, “Steve doesn’t, but I do.” She clicks her Louboutin heels back over to Steve and hands him a USB drive. “That drive has all of the footage Channel 8 was able to get their hands on after the tsunami. There are dozens of hours of footage, including CCTV from stores near where the 133’s engine was during the tsunami. I don’t know if it is appropriate to show it to his friends and family; it is difficult to watch. But you can see Buck and Christopher on the pier, him picking his son up, running, and trying to hide him as the wave hits. Then you can see him battling the water to get to him before placing Christopher on top of the engine and then stringing a fire hose as a rope across to help others have something to grip onto. You can also see him jump back in the water after Christopher Diaz falls back in. There are more shots of him walking through LA, beaten and battered, bleeding out on blood thinners, still helping people while he looks for Christopher.”

“Mr. McGarrett, is there anything else you feel you need to show us?” Alonzo asks.

“Why, yes, there is. We also have footage of the day Eddie Diaz was shot.”

“He was shot?” Guiterrez asks.

“By a sniper, in broad daylight,” Steve says. “Buck was there and recused him.”

“I was also there for this. I saw what he did firsthand that day.” Captain Mehta says.

“Is that also on this drive?” Alonzo asks.

Steve nods, “Yes, and there is also footage of the lighting strike from last year.”

“The what now?” Chief Mudgett asks.

“In November of last year, Buck was struck by lightning while on a ladder truck.”

Chief Midget turns to Buck, “Son, how have you not sought other employment?”

Buck shrugs, “I’m supposed to help people, Chief.”

“That video is a little different. You can see Eddie Diaz save Buck. That last one is important for you to see as they are married at that point. It shows how they perform when the other is in danger.” Steve finishes.

“The group of us will step out momentarily to review the footage. We will be back shortly. Ms. Kelly, Mr. Williams, if you wouldn’t mind following us,” Alonzo asks Taylor and Danny. “We can use the tech support.” He smiles at them before he turns to Mackey. “Mr. Mackey, please leave the room until we return. The last thing I want you to do is disturb these people with your behavior.”

“But…”

“Chase, take a walk before I make you,” Alonzo says, dropping all pretenses.

Eddie watches as Buck heads back over to him while the committee members head out the back, and a pissed-off Chase Mackey rushes out another door.

Steve turns to the friends and family in the audience, “You can all head out and go to the bathroom, maybe stretch your legs for a moment. The videos they have to watch will take them a few moments to view.” Dani wheels Bosko outside of the meeting room, with Ravi and Karen following behind.

“Well, Mackey is pissed.” Buck laughs as Steve, Maddie, Chim, Hen, Bobby, and Athena gather around him, as do Eddie, Wes, and Cole.

“He is, but we lucked out here today. Alonzo and the others are taking none of his bullsh*t. If we had different LAFD leaders here, it may not be going our way.” Steve replies.

“I think that's why Alonzo is here himself. He knows how important this is for the LAFD as an entity.” Bobby adds.

“How are we doing so far?” Buck asks Steve, his voice hopeful.

“I think we have easily proven that the 118 shouldn’t be split up and that, based on your experience, the lot of you are qualified to be assigned to the task force. The remaining concern is Buck and Eddie working together. But again, if they say no, we have other options. But from what we have seen so far, I don’t think they will side with Mackey.”

“Have you watched the footage?” Bobby asks, and Steve nods.

“The Well is the only one I was worried about, but that looks to be a non-issue based on the timeline of events. The others all show they can remain in control while the other is in trouble.”

“What’s next?” Eddie asks Steve.

“Well, after they come back, I’m going to switch to talking to you, Eddie, and let them hear from you. You’re the only one who hasn’t really had a chance to speak up today. Your voice needs to be heard, just like the rest if of the teams.”

The door opens, and Karen steps in to hold it open while Ravi and Dani wheel Bosko back inside and to their seats next to the rest of the 118.

“Once Eddie had a chance to speak and answer everyone's questions, I’m going to press them for a decision. They may have other questions to ask. I’m not sure if Mackey has anything left in his arsenal, but I still have my ace in the hole to play.” Steve says.

Twenty minutes later, Bosko and the others have returned to the room. The side door opens, and the senior leaders of the LAFD walk in, with Danny and Taylor following them. No sooner do they take their seats than the back door opens, and Mackey walks back in and takes his seat.

Alonzo leans forward and moves the microphone back toward his face, “Thank you for allowing us time to review the footage. I believe the footage speaks for itself, and personally, I am ready to make my decision. The other leaders would like to ask a few additional questions. They would like to clarify certain facts.”

“That works for us, Chief. I wanted to give Eddie a chance to be heard as well.” Steve says.

“I believe the questions the others have are for Eddie.” Alonzo nods.

Eddie stands up, walks over to the podium, sits on the stool, and adjusts the microphone so he can speak without leaning too far.

“Good afternoon,” He says as a greeting.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Diaz,” Sonia Guitterez says, “Firstly, I wanted to thank you for your service. Actually, I would like to thank the others in the room for their service as well. I was not fully versed in all of your backgrounds.” She turns to look at Buck, “My apologies for not saying it earlier.”

“Thank you, but the apologies are unnecessary,” Buck says from his seat.

“No, I have to agree with my colleague here,” Chief Mudgett says. “The information we were provided about this hearing was scarce. Frankly, I agree with Chief Alonzo, and we will be launching a full investigation into how we got here today. I’m not a fan of rule-breaking and reckless behavior. But I have been on the job long enough to know that sometimes, you need to do what you need to do. I am not sure what the opposition has hoped to accomplish here today, but thus far, all they have done is make us wonder why the LAFD employs them.”

“Agreed; now, Eddie, would you maybe provide us with your take? We heard from Buck, but I think if we heard from you, it may answer the questions the others have.” Alonzo says.

“Sure, sir,” Eddie answers, and he turns to look at Steve.

Steve smiles and leads the charge, “Eddie, Buck told us about the day you met and how he was a… “

“Brat,” Eddie chuckles.

“Well, that’s one way to put it,” Steve says, laughing back.

“I don’t understand why Mr. Buckley’s childish behavior is a joke to all of you.” Mackey quips.

Eddie spins on the stool, “How many times are you going to try and bait him today?”

“What are you talking about?” Mackey says defensively.

“You walked in the door and referred to him as a “mistake.” You have repeatedly used the wrong name to identify him. His name is Evan Diaz, and he prefers to go by Buck. Get it right.” Eddie snaps.

Mackey scoffs, “Oh please.”

“Please, what?” Eddie growls, “You have purposefully chosen to invalidate his identity all day; it’s tiring. Grow up, man. He withdrew the lawsuit. No one here cares how much money you lost. I’m pretty sure most of the people in this room are happy that the LAFD didn’t have to shell out millions of dollars to an asshat like you.”

“Mr. Diaz does have a point,” Sonia says from the dais.

“It’s not just Buck. He also tried to do it to Chimney and Hen by using their legal names and not how they chose to identify themselves. His tactics aren’t working out for him, though. Right now, he is trying to make me angry so he can bring up my past fighting and anger problems. He’s been trying to bait us all day.” Eddie says.

“That sounds like somewhere to start,” Chief Willaims says.

“I need to go further back to explain what led to that,” Eddie says.

“Start where you feel it is necessary, Mr. Diaz,” Chief Mudgett says before turning to look at Mackey, “If you keep up with the bullying tactics, I will personally escort you off the premises. Is that clear?” Mackey nods and sits down.

Chief Mudgett keeps his gaze on Mackey before he looks to Eddie, smiles, and nods for him to continue.

“I moved to LA from El Paso around six years ago—just my son and me. My wife had left me for various reasons that have no bearing on this hearing. I graduated from the academy at the top of my class. A handful of firehouses pursued me, but when I met Bobby, the 118 felt like the right choice. When I started at the 118, most of the team was happy to meet me, with the exception of Buck.”

“Hey, I’m sorry!” Buck quips from his seat.

Eddie smiles at him and continues, “We were both going through it when we met. We had similar situations happening. We both had someone who left us, which should have been something for us to bond over, but we were too thick-headed. It takes me a long time to open up to people. I didn’t share that I had a son with them for a few shifts, and I didn’t tell them anything about my ex-wife until I had to. Buck knew more about my life than the rest of the 118. After the grenade thing, we became closer. He was my best friend.”

Eddie looks around at the dais to see if anyone has any questions and then continues, “I had a hard time managing to be a single dad while working the hours that we need to work. I was struggling, and my family, well, the less said about them, the better. But I did have some support here; my Tia and Abuela were here, and they helped a lot at the start. But they are both a bit older and couldn’t care for a seven-year-old. You see, my son has CP, and it's not just regular childcare he needs. We were at a scene, and I received a call; my grandmother was in the ER; she had fallen and broken her hip while watching our son. He called 911.”

“You taught him well,” Chief Alonzo says, smiling at Eddie.

“After that, I opened up to Buck about my struggles, and as he said before, he stepped in with me. He was already a big part of our lives. But he went above and beyond and introduced me to Carla Price. Carla is a home healthcare aide, and she was able to help me find the care I needed for our son through various programs from the LFAD and the VA. She even helped me find a school for him that would help him excel. But in order to get him admitted, I needed authorization from both parents, and they wanted to meet my ex-wife.”

“I take it you were not legally separated at the time?” Chief Willaims asks, and Eddie shakes his head, “No, we weren’t.”

“I reached out to her, needing her help. She did help out, but having opened that door, we started to rekindle our relationship. It was a hard time; I wasn’t sure how I felt about her or us as a couple. Then there was Buck and my feelings for him. He confused the hell out of me. I had never felt anything like that before, not even for my wife.”

“Were you not out at that time?” Sonia asks.

Eddie shakes his head, “No, I wasn’t. It took me a long time to process and understand what the feelings I had for him were. You see, I don’t experience attraction the way ordinary people do. I am what you would call Demisexual. Do any of you know what that means?” There are low murmurs from the dais, and they all shake their heads.

Eddie nods and continues explaining, “Someone who is Demisexual only experiences attraction when they have a close emotional bond with someone.”

“That’s not a real thing,” Mackey says, standing to his feet. “He can’t even admit he’s gay.” He scoffs.

“Keep running your mouth, and I’m going to slap it shut.” Wes’ voice comes from the audience.

“Who said that?” Chief Mudgett asks.

Wes stands to his feet, “My apologies, Chief. I’m just sick of this. First, he invalidates their identities and now Eddie’s sexuality. Demisexuality is a very real thing. My husband is Demisexual as well as Eddie.” He reaches down and pulls Cole to his feet.

“It’s true. Demisexuality has been recognized since 2006. Demisexuality lives in the Asexual part of the spectrum.” Cole explains.

“Asexual, so that means he doesn’t like sex. Another lie, he has a child.” Mackey scoffs.

“You really are a dickhe*d, you know that.” Wes snaps.

“Not helping, Wes.” Cole says, “Actually, it’s a common misconception that Demisexual people don’t engage in sexual contact or that they don’t enjoy casual sex. In fact, it’s about how they experience attraction. You can have sex and not be attracted to the person. Everyone is made differently. Eddie and I are Demi, and we have talked a lot about our different experiences. I could have casual sex, but Eddie can’t. We are just on two different sides of the spectrum.”

“And who are you, gentlemen?” Chief Alonzo asks.

“Sorry, sir. Lieutenant Commander Nicholas “Cole” Cross. Cole is my preference,” Cole says, indicating his name and rank.

“Captain Riley Cross, sir. You can call me Wes,” Wes says.

Chief Alonzo turns in his seat to look at Steve, “I am assuming these gentlemen are a part of your task force?”

Steve nods, “They are. Cole is the Field Commander for the LA branch, and Wes is the strategic Operations Lead for North America. Cole and I are the same rank, but Wes outranks both of us.” That causes everyone in the room to turn and look at Wes.

“Again, I apologize for speaking out of turn. I just don’t like bullies, and I have dealt with enough bureaucratic bullsh*t that dismisses who we are as individuals. You asked Eddie to provide a summary of what happened, and this asshat,” He points to Mackey, “is taking potshots about him being gay. Comments like that have no business in a hearing where you are determining the future of how queer fighter fighters are treated. He should have been removed with Gerrard.”

“He’s not wrong,” Sonia adds.

“Gentleman, please take your seats. Thank you for providing additional context.” Alonzo replies, “Now, Mr. Diaz, please continue.”

Eddie looks back at Wes and Cole with a sinister smile on his face before he continues, “As I was saying, I was confused about my feelings for Buck. I had never experienced feelings like that before, not even for my wife. You see, we met when we were young. She was pregnant at 18, and I enlisted and was in a war zone at 19. I never really had the time to discover who I was. I was a dad, and I needed to provide for my family. After two tours, I was home with three bullet holes and trying to make sense of my life. You know the rest.”

“Eddie, back to the fighting. Because I know Mackey is going to get doing his little seat dance until we talk about it.” Steve adds, pointing at a pissed Mackey shifting in his chair.

“Right, so my ex-wife and I were trying to figure our sh*t out, and Buck and I just continued to get closer. I think both Shannon and I had this fantasy of this happy ending would have if we could work things out. It was unrealistic. We weren’t the foolish kids anymore. Shannon was braver than I was, and she asked for a divorce. Twenty-four hours after that, we were called to a scene where a woman was struck by a motor vehicle, and it was Shannon.”

“I am very sorry for your loss,” Alonzo says immediately. “I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that.”

“I was not in a good place after that. I was having issues with my family; they wanted me to move back to Texas. I was struggling with fighting with them while trying to grieve her and the future I thought I was supposed to have with her. Days after that, someone started placing bombs around Los Angeles and then tried to blow up our ladder truck. Buck was pinned under it. I felt like my life was falling apart.”

Eddie pauses and takes a deep breath, “I lost my wife, and then I almost lost my best friend. Saying I was in a bad place is underselling it. I needed something to focus on. I tried to help Buck and kept things under control for my son. I never let myself grieve or process. I bottled everything up for months. Buck eventually got better and then recertified. We celebrated, and he was back in the hospital that night from a pulmonary embolism. We finally figured out what is happening with him, and then the tsunami.”

Eddie huffs, remembering, “If I thought things were rough before, they continued to worsen. Buck was convinced what happened during the tsunami was his fault; my parents were pushing, Christopher was having nightmares, and then Buck filed the lawsuit. I had lost my only lifeline. I had so much anger and other emotions built up that I was ready to explode. A friend took me to an underground MMA fight. She knew I had a background in fighting and thought it would help me blow off some steam before I really lost it. These underground fights would let people sign up, and I signed up. I needed an outlet. I’m not proud of it, but I fell into it. Things eventually went too far, and I hurt someone and needed to provide them with first aid. Bobby and I spoke about it, and he helped me get the help I needed to deal with my anger.”

“Did you see someone from the department?” Chief Willaims asked.

“Yes, I did. I went through all of the necessary and required evaluations. I was approved to return to active duty.”

“Mr. Diaz, it seems you have had your fair share of close calls on the job.” Chief Mudgett says.

“That goes without saying. But it’s the life we chose, is it not.” Eddie responds. “I’m not trying to be this macho tough guy; I’m not. But it comes with the territory.”

“Convenient how you left out being arrested for assault.” Mackey quips.

“I didn’t leave it out. It’s just not relevant. There were no charges filed against me. To provide some context, before I started fighting, I had dropped my son off at a birthday party. I have a handicapped parking pass due to my son's disability. I was parked in a handicapped spot, and someone confronted me about it. He didn’t believe I had a son with CP. He made ableist and derogatory comments about my son, and I lost control. This was all disclosed to the department therapist and is in my file. The gentleman declined to press charges after it was discovered that he was breaking the law by using an expired and forged handicap pass. The department therapist cleared me.” Eddie explains.

“But you just can’t help yourself, can you?” Eddie asks Mackey, “You have already had your hand slapped multiple times for bringing up past events that have already been dealt with by the LAFD.”

“I’m just doing my job.” Mackey snaps back at Eddie.

Eddie shakes his head vehemently, “I don’t believe you for a second. Who are you really working for? What is this really about?”

Mackey turns his gaze away from Eddie, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“You’re full of sh*t, Mackey,” Eddie growls.

“Eddie, ease up.” Steve pleads.

Eddie shifts his focus to the older man, and he wants to trust Steve; he really does, but he wants to know what the f*ck is going on here. “Come on, Steve, you don’t find all of this a little suspicious?”

“Of course I do, Eddie. I'm not stupid, and I don’t think any of the leaders in the room are, either. They can all see that something else is going on here.” Steve explains. The door to the room opens, and Jamie Knox walks in wearing dark blue jeans and a hoodie with a file folder in his hand and backpack on. He looks at Steve and smiles sinisterly.

Steve looks at Eddie and winks. “Do you remember earlier when I told you I have yet to play my ace?” Eddie nods, “Well, Eddie, say hello to my ace in the hole.” Steve laughs.

Knox walks further into the room and joins Eddie at the podium. He nods, and Eddie raises his fist and bumps knuckles with Eddie.

“Chief, may I?” Steve asks, his focus on Alonzo, but he is looking into the audience.

“What is going on here?” Mackey asks.

“Is Sargent Grant here today?” Alonzo asks, and Athena stands up. Alonzo nods, “Thank you. Would you mind taking up a position at the main entrance? Mr. Cross,” Cole shoots to his feet, “Can you and your husband please support Sargent Grant?” Cole looks confused, but he and Wes follow Athena to the room's main entrance.

“You may proceed,” Alonzo says to Steve.

“Stop; someone needs to tell me what is happening right now,” Mackey interjects, angrily slamming his hand on the desk.

Chief Mudgett stands, “Mr. Mackey, sit down and shut up.” Mackey looks around the room and, maybe for the first time, realizes he’s alone with no other support. He nods at Chief Mudgett and takes his seat. Chief Mudgett, however, seems not to trust Mackey at all. He leaves his seat at the dais and walks around to the other side before nodding at Steve to continue.

“Earlier today, we identified that a member of the 118 was not in attendance, and Chief Alonzo advised that he was in the building somewhere and that he would be here when needed.” Steve turns and waves to Knox, “I present to you, Jamie Knox. He is the most recent addition to the 118.”

Eddie leans back away from Knox and looks him over curiously, he tilts his head and squints, and his eyes blow wide as if he has a realization, “Son of a bitch,” Eddie grumbles, and he bumps shoulder with Knox, “My sister is going to kick your ass, and then I’m going to kick your ass.”

“What did Eddie figure out this time?” Buck says out loud.

Knox looks at Buck and winks, then leans forward toward the microphone. “I have been a part of the 118 for the last few months. I was assigned there because of the need for additional support due to zoning changes. Well, at least that is what the members of A-Shift were told. While yes, I am a firefighter and worked side by side with them, that's not really why I was there, at least not at first. I am actually a member of NCIS. Basically, I am Naval Special Investigations. I was placed at the 118 by Chief Alonzo and Commander McGarrett.”

“No way,” Hen says, shocked.

Chim shakes his head, “I let you in my murder house and everything!”

“I let you sleep on my couch, and OMG, Adriana is going to kill you!” Buck exclaims.

Knox smiles at them before continuing, “As a member of Special Investigations, I was sent there for a few reasons. Firstly, evaluate how Buck and Eddie work together and make a recommendation. Secondly, I was to evaluate Captain Nash and his ability to function as a leader. Additionally, I was to report on the team dynamics and make a recommendation if the team should remain together or be split apart. Lastly, I was given the opportunity to dive deep into the rumors of corruption within the LAFD as a whole.”

“Hold on, you came into my house and …” Bobby started to say, pushing himself to his feet awkwardly in frustration. The movement is too fast, and he tetters on his bad leg, almost falling over. Buck slides himself against Bobby’s side, and the older man wraps his arm around Buck’s shoulder, helping him keep himself from falling from his injuries.

“Captain Nash, if you will please let me continue, all will be made clear,” Knox says. “I promise you one of those topics is incredibly important.”

“I’m going to be quick here, but please let me know if you have any questions based on my report,” Knox tells the room.

“My first day with the 118, I was welcomed with open arms immediately by Hen, Eddie, and Buck. Eddie jumped at the chance to welcome me to the team. Buck questioned my arrival, thinking I was a Probie. As soon as I heard him mention me being a Probie, I was expecting teasing, hazing, or bullying. You know, those normal rites of passage our firehouses seem to insist upon. But Eddie shot down any talk of me being a Probie. Buck stopped making breakfast and greeted me like I was an old friend. They immediately identified themselves as husbands. They were honest, upfront, and open about it with a complete stranger. They also explained about this hearing. I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to see how they reacted to me and how real they were with me.”

Knox bumps Eddie’s shoulder again: “The whole crew was supportive. They acted like I was an established part of their team. We were called to a scene shortly after I arrived. A vehicle had crashed into a funeral home. There was an incident with one of the victims. Buck had helped patch her up, and as he was talking to her, she made light of his trauma associated with the lightning strike last year. He handed off to one of the other members of the 118 and stepped away, taking a moment to compose himself.”

Eddie hears Bosko mumble something off to the side when he remembers that she was the one who told him Buck was struggling that day.

“Captain Nash sent Eddie to check that Buck was okay, and the rest of us stayed to work the scene. Now, you may think that was the wrong course of action, but I can assure you it was not. The scene was almost wrapped up anyway. A minute or two later, Captain Nash and I went to make sure Buck and Eddie were okay. Buck openly talked about his therapist and asked Bobby about getting more help. Bobby had mentioned talking to Chief Willaims about it and a group session, being they were all there when Buck was struck. Bobby and Eddie returned to the scene to oversee the wrap-up, and they left me with Buck. While I sat with him, he opened up to me. He told me about his therapy, the strike, and other things. Then he invited me to a family gathering.”

Knox shakes his head, “I have been a part of a lot of investigations, but I wasn't ready for this. They hid nothing. They welcomed me into their family and their homes like I was supposed to be there. Since that first day, I have been through it with the 118. I have never seen a tight nit and closer crew, and it is a complete asset to the city of Los Angeles that not only Buck and Eddie but the whole of the 118 remain together, with Captain Nash in charge. I would also like to formally request that my placement at the 118 be made permanent.”

“I don’t know about the others, but I would be happy to have you with us,” Buck says.

“You just want to see Adri kick his ass.” Eddie jokes from the next to Jamie.

“We can get to Mr. Knox’s placement later. Right now, there are a few other things we need him to report on.” Chief Alonzo says.

Knox nods, “Yes, sir. A fair amount of suspicious activity was brought to our attention. They ranged from bribes to unfair treatment. Even in situations where employees should have filed suit, instead, they were forced into hearings like this, only to be railroaded and dismissed unceremoniously. And every single one of them involved Mr. Mackey.”

The entire room shifts its focus to Chase Mackey, who looks like he is ready to bolt for the door. Eddie would pay to see him try to get past Wes, Cole, and Athena.

“Mr. Mackey seems to be a part of a group of individuals who should not only be fired but arrested and sent to jail for the rest of their lives. While I was missing today, I was tasked with searching Mr. Mackey’s office and computer. The evidence I have found will not only put him and Captain Gerrard behind bars but a few others as well. I’m not going to name his other accomplices with the department because we don’t need it getting out before we have a chance to arrest them. However, the most important thing I found was when I dug into Mr. Mackey’s financials.”

At this, Mackey stands up, grabs his briefcase, opens it, and reaches inside. Eddie watches as he pulls his hand out and sees a flash of metal. His first thought is of Buck, but he is on the other side of the room, far away from Mackey. But Knox isn’t, and whatever Knox knows, it was triggered by Mackey. Before he has a chance to move, a body slams into Mackey, knocking him to the ground, and the gun flies out of his hand, slides across the room, and stops right in front of Steve.

Eddie looks back over to Mackey, pinned to the ground face down, and finds Chief Mudgett on top of him, twisting Mackey’s arm behind his back painfully. Eddie hears Athena and feels Wes and Cole come from behind him before he sees them. Eddie looks around to see Ravi, Hen, Bobby, and Karen all standing around Buck protectively.

Cole and Wes help Chief Mudgett stand Mackey up, and Athena takes the handcuffs off of her waist before cuffing him. “Not sure what you thought you were going to do; there was no way you hurt anyone in this room and walk away,” Athena says as she tightens the cuffs behind his back.

“It won’t matter if you take me in. They will have me out as soon as possible; I’ve been loyal.” Mackey responds.

Buck pushes past his protectors, “Who? Who will have you out?”

Eddie watches as Mackey smiles sinisterly, looking from Buck to Eddie and then to Cole, finally landing on Wes.

“You know, I knew you were slow, Buckly, but even I didn’t think you were this slow.”

“Say it,” Buck pleads.

“Jessie says, Hi!” Mackey cackles. At the mention of Jessie, all of the blood drains from Buck’s face; Wes looks around, instantly on alert. Cole cracks his knuckles, and Eddie feels the anger boil in the pit of his stomach. “I’ll be out on bail in an hour and have so much to share with him.”

“You think they will let you out? After this?” Athena cackles. “Whatever crimes you committed were one thing, but you just pulled a gun on a room of first responders and civilians. There will be no bail. Do not pass go; you are going directly to a jail cell.”

“No, you can’t. If they can’t get me out, they will have me killed!” Mackey pleads. “You can’t.”

“Watch me,” Athena says, walking Mackey toward the door.

“Danny,” Steve says, and Danny walks over, shadowing Athena, backing her up.

“You can’t. They will kill me,” Mackey is yelling at Athena, and Danny takes him out of the room.

Eddie turns to Chief Mudgett and extends a hand. “Thank you, sir.” The Chief takes his hand, and Eddie feels a static discharge when their hands meet. Chief Mudgett pulls his hand back and shakes it, shrugging off the sting, before reaching back out, taking Eddie's hand, and shaking it.

“No thanks, necessary.” He replies.

“What happens now?” Buck asks Chief Mudgett as he shakes his hand, also thanking him.

“Gael,” Mudgett says.”

“I think it’s been a rough day for all of us, but the 118 in particular. I have been more than ready with my decision since I watched the footage. I propose that Buck and Eddie be allowed to remain side by side with the rest of the 118. Captain Nash is to remain in charge, and they will be appointed as part of the new task force.”

“Seconded,” Chief Mudgett says.

“Agreed.” Gutierrez and Willaims say at the same time.

“Now, a few things need to be worked out with how this task force functions. Chief Jeffery Mudgett will be assigned as a liaison between the LAFD and the task force. While A-Shift is the lead, the rest of the 118 shifts will also be a part of this task force. Battalion Chief Bobby Nash will oversee A-shift directly,” Buck Cheers at Bobby’s promotion, “and the 118 as a whole with support from the other shift Captains and…” Chief Alonzo pauses and looks to Steve, “I trust that in this new structure, you will have appropriate titles and ranks assigned for Fire Fighters Han, Wilson, and both Diaz’.”

“I have something in mind already for Hen and Chim. Buck and Eddie are a little more difficult because of their military ranks, but we will figure it out.” Steve says, smiling.

Alonzo looks around the room and finds Bosko and Ravi, “As far as Firefighters Bosko and Panikkar, you both are welcome to remain with the 118, or if you choose to do so, you can transfer, and we will help you find optimal placement.”

“I am staying,” Bosko says instantly.

“I need to think about it,” Ravi answers, shocking them, “Hey, I love you all, but this isn’t what I signed up for. I’m not saying no, but I need to know more about what this means before I agree to it.”

“Take your time. This change will not go into place until the 118 has been cleared to return to duty. There is plenty of time to work things out,” Steve tells Ravi.

“Now, as far as Mr. Knox,” Chief Alonzo says, “With this change, do you still wish to be a part of this team?”

Knox nods, “I would like to know more about the task force, but my gut says yes. I think my past with Naval Intelligence would be an asset to them, and I know I will have to rebuild their trust after hiding who I really am from them, but I want to be part of a team, this team.”

“Then as long as Mr. McGarrett agrees, your request is granted.” Chief Alonzo says, and Steve nods.

“Good,” Knox replies, “Because I think I have the task force's first case.” He grabs his backpack and places it on the table in front of him. He pulls out a folder and slaps it on the table. “This is the rest of what I was able to find from Mackey. There are blueprints, bills of lading, and schematics for small explosive devices. There are correspondences between him and a black ops mercenary group.”

“Where and when are they planning to attack?” Steve asks, cutting in front of everyone.

“They already did,” Knox says, handing Buck and Eddie the blueprints. " Do they Look familiar?”

Eddie and Buck lean into each other and look at the paperwork. It’s about an elevated structure; the blueprint highlights where to set the explosives to cause it to collapse.

“Is that…” Buck asks.

“A bridge…” Eddie finishes.

“Exactly, the bridge didn’t collapse; it wasn’t an attack. We were all targeted; they tried to take out the 118.” Knox says.

“Who did?” Bobby asks.

Knox shrugs, “I don’t know. My research led me to a dead end. The only thing I could find was that the money sent to Mackey traces back to a weapons company called Genesis.”

Eddie and Buck both turn to look at Wes and watch as he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and growls, "Motherf*cker!"