Warning: This Chapter contains some PTSD proceed with caution.
Santiago had pulled up to the house with three other police cars the call was for a man with a gun and possible hostage situation, however when Santiago realized who the man was he was in shock. It was nobody other than his old combat buddy Juan Rodriguez. He did in fact have a gun and he looked crazed. The look in his eyes was scary. Santiago didn't recognize the man in front of him that was not his old combat buddy what had happened to him.
He was brought back to reality when he seen all the other officers out of their cars whit their guns drawn pointing at the man he quickly existed his vehicle ready to draw his weapon.
"Wait, I know him." Santiago called out to the other officers.
"Can I…Can I just try to talk to him?"
"We got to keep everyone safe Lopez" a fellow officer told him
"Just let try."
When he seen a nod from his commanding officer he moved to the front of his squad car but was stopped when the officer told him not go move any further.
"Juan, Juan Rodriguez. It's me Santiago, Santiago Lopez remember? Your old Army buddy."
But Juan just kept pacing the yard.
"Do we know who lives here?" Santiago called back to his fellow officers.
"Let me check." One responded before running back to his car and pulling up the information on the computer.
"Looks like a Sarah Wright made the call she's got a 4 year old daughter inside with her."
San didn't remember Juan saying anything about a 4 year old kid or some lady named Sarah.
"That's not right he had an on again off again fling, but her name was Lauren not Sarah maybe she used to live at this address can we do cross check?"
"Stop!" they all heard screamed and seen Juan drop to the ground with the gun still in his hand. Except this time he was pointing it at himself.
"Juan, Stop."
"Look you don't want to do this Juan, it's not worth it, we can get you help and help you find Lauren that's who you're looking for right? You're looking for Lauren." Santiago hollered getting closer to Juan
He had completely gone against everything his commanding officer had told him not to do.
Juan was crying and slowly dropped the gun.
The other officers couldn't make out what was being said between San and the gun wielding man whom they come to learn was named Juan.
They seen Santiago slowly bring Juan to his feet and cuff him with his hands in front and pick up the gun.
Santiago had walked Juan to the back of his police car. Before talking with his fellow officers explaining how he knew the man. When he looked back at his car he seen Juan with his head laid up against his window. He was pretty sure that Juan was suffering some PTSD some vets got that when they got back into the states.
He was praised for how he handled the situation but also scolded for going against the rules.
He took Juan to the hospital and he was put on a 48 hour hold. He was indeed off of his meds and was suffering what they had called an episode directed from his PTSD.
Santiago had taken matters into his own hands while Juan was being checked over at the hospital to locate Lauren. She had recently moved in with her grandparents further up north. When she heard about Juan she was concerned and was making arrangements to come visit.
Santiago couldn't help but think if he was on his regular first shift that Juan may have not been so lucky, because the boys and girls on 3rd were ready to shoot.
Santiago felt guilty going home that morning. Juan had been his bunk mate and combat buddy for 2 ½ years. Once back in the states they had only communicated two maybe three times before losing contact. He told Juan he would always be there for him and he had failed him. He had no clue that Juan was suffering from PTSD and struggling. Here he was happy with a family and new baby.
Before he knew it he was home sitting in his car in the driveway. When he walked into the house it was still quiet it was only 6:30am so he really didn't expect to see or hear anybody he had quietly made his way up the stairs and to the en-suite careful not wake Britt. He showered and was crawling into bed at 6:50.
"Mmm morning babe." Brittany croaked out snuggling further into his chest.
"Shh go back to sleep baby." He replied kissing the top of her head.
Santiago laid their until he heard Nicolas crying through the baby monitor. Brittany stirred and started to get up, but he told her to go back to sleep and that he would take care of the kids.
He feed Nicolas one of the pre pumped bottles and changed his diaper and little Nicolas was already drifting back into dreamland. Looking at the clock he realized it was close to 8am and that Maya would be up within the hour so he laid down on the couch with Nicolas on his chest watching the news and he slowly drifted to sleep with his son.
When he awoke he could no longer feel the calming weight that was his son causing him to panic his eyes shot open and he looked to the floor hoping not to see his son and it was a relief that he wasn't there instead he was in swing asleep by the couch the TV was shut off and he could hear voices in the next room.
Slowly he peeled himself off the couch yawning as he stretched and made his way towards the noise.
"Hey daddy!" Maya chirped causing Brittany and Quinn to turn around
"Hey baby, we didn't wake you did we?"
"No, I'm fine." he was still standing in the doorway of the kitchen having not moved since his presence was recognized.
"Okay, well I made you some coffee." Brittany smiled offering to make him a cup.
"Hey good job last night Puck said that 3rd shift won't stop talking about ya." Quinn smiled looking back at her phone.
"What did you do?" Brittany asked turning around to hand him his cup of coffee.
"Nothing special just helped some guy out."
"Psh, not the way Puck said, Britt apparently San here along with half of Cinncinati police department responded to a hostage situation and you're man talked the guy out of harming anybody and got him to come in with no problems."
"Well that sounds pretty special to me San." Brittany smiled wrapping her arms around his waist and placing a kiss on the bottom of his jaw.
"I'm gonna go lay down upstairs, I'm starting to get headache."
Before Brittany could respond and ask if he needed anything San was already out of the kitchen and making his way upstairs. She furrowed her brows, but decided against saying anything until she could talk to her husband.
"Well I'm gonna go see if Maya is ready if she wants to catch that new Tinkerbell movie." Quinn said making her way out of the kitchen to find Maya.
After Maya and Quinn and left and she knew Nicolas would be okay Brittany made her way to their bedroom she found Santiago laying there watching ESPN.
"Mind if I join ya?"
"Not at all." He smiled moving back to give Britt room to snuggle in front of him.
"San can I ask you something."
"Yea babe, anything."
"Why didn't you tell me about work?"
"I don't know didn't think it was that important."
"San, are you kidding me babe! I'm happy you were able to help that guy out." She leaned in to place a kiss on the underside of his jaw.
"That guy Britt, he wasn't just anybody."
"What do you mean?"
"He was one of my old bunkmates, Juan. I promised him that I would always be there for him and that we were brothers and seeing him last night in the condition he was in I can't help but feel that I…I failed him some how."
"Oh San, honey please don't blame yourself this is not your fault."
She turned to sit up in front of him and slow began rubbing her hand up and down his face.
"Babe, look at me."
"It's not your fault. You were there for him last night and that's what really matters."
"But, what if I turn out like him? What if I get PTSD?"
"San…"
"No Britt what if that happens to me?"
"Baby, it won't. Maybe you should talk to somebody about this though to help you deal with this feelings that you have now, with Juan coming back and being in that situation it has obviously stirred up something's inside of you and that's not good to keep bottled up. I understand you don't want to talk to me about what happened over there and I've learned to accept that, but maybe you should talk to somebody.
"I don't know…"
"Just think about it."
"I'm sorry I'm overreacting and acting like a crazy person."
"Stop, its okay that situation last night had to be very scary, you and your friend on opposite sides in that intense of a situation its okay to feel scared, and question everything."
"You sure do know how to straighten me out." He whispered cracking a smile at the blonde
"Well I am the world's foremost expert in the field of Santiago Lopez."
She leaned down to place a light kiss on his lips when he pulled her down into a deeper one and slid his tongue past her lips. She let out a groan. His fingers squeezed her hip and he smiled into the kiss, which was broken apart seconds later from the cries of their son.
"You grab him? I want to get lunch started before Maya and Quinn get back."
"Yeah, but you owe me later Mrs. Lopez."
Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I won't waste time with excuses I recently started re-reading some old Fanfics that got me back into the writing mood. Only a couple chapters left.