Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned the rights to 911 or its characters. It all belongs to Fox TV and the show's creators like Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy and whoever else.
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A Last Minute Switch, A Lifetime of Relief
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Chapter 1
The Greyhound Bus Station in Los Angeles was always in a perpetual state of constant motion, people walking, running, and in some cases even rolling back and forth every which way, either to get on one of those iconic silver buses or get off of one to head into the City of Angels. Among the many denizens arriving or departing, a blond haired young man stood at the ticket counter with his bright blue eyes gazing back at the travel clerk with a crestfallen look.
" I am so sorry Mr. Buckley, the bus you were originally scheduled to take to Phoenix, Arizona was overbooked due to an error, we sadly just don't have a seat available for you. Would you be willing to have me switch you over to another bus that is scheduled to depart in half an hour on a different route but the same amount of time to get there?" The clerk asked with a hopeful smile.
" That would be great, thank you." Evan "Buck" Buckley replied with a small but genuine smile, a rare occurrence these days.
It had been three months since he had reinstated with the LAFD and returned to the 118 after dropping the lawsuit. Three months and everyone was still mad, still distant and making it known loud and clear that they wanted nothing to do with him. Bobby fully stopped being fatherly to him and piled on every single chore he could think of, always telling Buck that the 118 was his house, so his rules, keeping him as man behind from every single call and piling even more chores on him. Hen was the only one who treated him kindly, still like his other big sis. She just had to do so subtly around the others at his behest, the last thing Buck wanted was for Hen to get shunned too. Chim was awkward and distant, no longer joking with him just giving him this disappointed look all the time.
It was Eddie though, who was the angriest and most hurtful. When there wasn't silence and baleful glares, there were these snide comments both behind Buck's back and straight to his face. Buck had also seen the bruises Eddie was subtly trying to hide, new ones appearing every few days. The one time Buck had tried to breach the topic, Eddie had all but ripped his head off and told Buck to mind his own damn business, looking murderously angry and maybe even a little scared behind it. The worst thing though was Eddie's unofficially barring him from seeing Christopher. He hadn't said it outright, but it was clear to Buck that Eddie would rather not have to deal with his presence in his home even after all these months. The best Buck could do was Facetime his little Superman on Carla's phone whenever he had a few minutes of precious break time between his continuous mountain of chores.
Lord help him if he ever got caught.
The chasm between him and his best friend was impossibly wide, no more shared laughter, no more smiles, or those causal touches that always sent a spark of warmth through Buck each time.
On top of everything else, it really hurt to realize that he was actually in love with his best friend who had only anger and hate for him now.
The other firefighters at the station ranged from just cold and distant to downright mean, some of them deliberately adding to his chores or making their own hurtful comments about "Lawsuit Boy". There were a few shoves and trip ups here are there too, but Buck dared not complain, not wanting to stir up more drama after the lawsuit.
He was well and truly alone and he blamed himself for ruining his relationships with his family.
It was part of why he was here now, waiting for a Greyhound to take him out of town for the next week. It had all become too much, he needed space on his own terms, not the distance that everyone so relentlessly reiterated to him every single day whether he worked at the station or after shift when he was tellingly left out of get togethers and had to find out through posts on social media afterwards. Maddie always called, still came by to spend time with him whenever she could, but Buck just always but up a show that things were fine with him, that he was just too busy to come over and have dinner with her and Chim, or to come to the 118 family dinners whenever Maddie would ask why he never showed. He doubted his big sister would just sit back quietly if she came to find out the real state of things.
His heart was broken, almost shattered completely and this week was meant for him to mend it as best he could and really think about what he wanted to do, both in his professional and private lives.
As he took a seat by the window in the waiting area with his new bus ticket in hand, Buck's mind inevitably went to just yesterday, when he had gone to Bobby's office to ask for the week's leave. His captain had not been happy to say the least, most likely about not having his errand boy around to order more chores onto rather than genuinely not having Buck's. Bobby had been cold and harsh as he had signed off on Buck's leave, even telling Buck to head on home for the day even though they were in the middle of a shift. The Captain's words from when Buck had tried to protest were seared into the blue eyed young man's brain.
" You wanted the leave Buckley, you got it and now I'm giving you a head start on it. Wouldn't want another lawsuit to fall into my lap now would I?"
Buck had just sat there a moment, not knowing whether to cry or full on deck his captain in the face for choosing to bring up the lawsuit yet again. Instead he had kept his face blank and with as much composure as he could have mustered, he had thanked Captain Nash and taken his leave. As he had turned to go, Buck had thought he'd seen Bobby's face shift, his brown eyes growing pained with what could only be described as sad regret, but Buck hadn't stuck around long enough to see clearly, he had been maliciously given the day off so he had decided to take full advantage.
He had calmly walked out of Bobby's office and headed downstairs to the locker room to change with his head held high, ignoring the concerned looks Hen, Chim, and begrudgingly Eddie had thrown his way. He had gotten changed into his civilian clothes and booked it before anyone could come and confront him, not stopping even when Chim had actually called out to him from the top of the loft stairs, Hen and Eddie flanking him and unbeknownst to Buck, looking even more worried.
Buck had gone home, stewed for about an hour and then opened his laptop to dive into researching how to spend his time off. After much tab switching, Buck finally decided that he would book a bus ticket to Phoenix, Arizona where things would be beautiful this time of year and he wouldn't have to go too far, just a couple of states over.
He had called Maddie up and told her of his plans, playing it off as just a nice trip to elsewhere after three months of hard work. Maddie being the big sister that she was had asked multiple times if anything was wrong, but Buck with his shared Buckley stubbornness streak had assured her that everything was fine, that he just came up for vacation time and decided to check out a different state. The truth probably would have sent Maddie straight on the warpath and Buck had been legitimately concerned that there wouldn't have been a firehouse 118 left standing by the time he got back. Other than Maddie, no one had called to ask him if he was okay, or what was going on, it had just been another lonely night of reruns, leftover takeout, and staring yet again at pictures of those he missed most posted on Instagram or what have you.
Buck was abruptly pulled out of his musings by the male voice over the loud speaker announcing that the bus he had been switched to was now boarding passengers. Feeling excitement and also a sense of relief for the first time in a long time, Buck got up from his seat and headed down the corridor towards the appropriate gate where the silver bus would be waiting.
It was noon now, the ride would take seven and a half hours, and he'd get to Phoenix just in time for dinner. It thankfully didn't take too long on the line before Buck was shuffling into the bus, grabbing a seat near the back and stowing his duffel in the overhead compartment. A kindly look older gentlemen ended up sitting beside him in the other dark blue cushioned seat. The man's name was Theodore and he was heading to Arizona to catch up with his brother. They chatted animatedly, Theodore commending Buck thoroughly when Buck revealed that he was a firefighter, Theodore being a retired doctor himself. It just felt so good to have an actual, friendly conversation with someone other than Maddie or Carla, or even Karen or Athena on the rare chance he heard from them, and not barked out orders and disdain. Buck and Theodore were still well into their conversation about twenty minutes later as the silver bus was slowly pulling out of its parking spot and out onto the streets, LA slowly beginning to pass by.
By the time Theodore had decided to conk out for a nap, a full hour had passed by and LA was behind Buck. With Theodore fast asleep beside him, Buck pulled out his phone and gazed at it a moment before coming to a decision. He switched his phone to do not disturb mode and then started googling anything and everything he could find about Arizona, from tourist hotspots and hotels to the history of the city and state. He'd packed his high end digital camera so he was covered for pictures and could keep his phone completely off if he felt like it. Where before he'd often keep his phone in hand and hope for any call or text from those he loved besides Maddie, now he was embracing the solitude thrust upon him. He'd text Maddie if he needed to, but now was the start of his enjoyment, a respite from the constant heartache. With that in mind Buck went fully radio silent, focusing on reading up on Arizona and glancing at the scenery as it passed, even chuckling when Theodore started snoring like a rhino.
About five hours later on Route 10 in the middle of The Colorado River Reservation...
A crash like a bomb going off, the screech of tires against asphalt, dozens of startled and terrified screams that are suddenly drowned out by the roar of metal tearing itself apart upon impact, the collision with rock and dirt too much to withstand.
The silver Greyhound bus rolled violently down the stone and dirt embankment, flames erupting as spilled gas ignited, a blown tire sending the bus clean off the road it had been traveling on. The bus stopped being a bus and was instead a rolling fireball, debris, and bodies flying from it violently as it made it's decent towards the calmly flowing river. The mass of flame and broken metal finally came to a stop just shy of the water, it stood still now and burned brightly against the darkness of the impending evening.
As the sun set in the distant horizon to signal the end of the day, it signaled the end of many lives in violent and fiery fashion as well.
It would be hours before flashing lights and sirens would appear on the distant road heading for the crash site, which was still burning furiously and eating away at all things metal and not.
The next morning back in Los Angeles...
Eddie Diaz rubbed tiredly at his eyes as he walked into the firehouse. The previous night had been a taxing one, and it had nothing to do with the late night and less than legal passtime he had picked up. Chris had once again asked if Buck could come over, to which Eddie had declined and also informed his son that his Buck had actually gone on vacation for a bit. He had left out the part where Bobby had basically booted him out of the station when Buck had asked for some time off. Chris had become sullen and frustrated, angrily asking his father why he couldn't stop being mad at Buck before stomping off to his room. Eddie had had no good answer to that, just helped Chris get ready for bed in silence before shuffling off to his own room and laying awake for hours, plagued by memories of both the wonderful times he and Chris had shared with Buck, to all the anger and hurt he had been lashing out at his best friend with for months now.
" Best friend? Oh dear Edmundo you and him are way past that point and you know it. You know what Buck really is to you." A voice in his head that sounds suspiciously a lot like one Carla Price said without fail.
Eddie quickly quashed down on the wave of just... the deepest yearning that washed over him at the thought of Buck... the man he loved. Harsh memories of pain-filled and heartbroken blue-eyes danced across his own vision as Eddie remembered how he had been the one who had often put such awfulness in said eyes with each harsh word or rejection, each time he had refused to allow Buck to see Christopher.
With a sigh Eddie nodded to a few of his fellow fighters who were working about the trucks before ducking into the locker room to change into his uniform for the day. Once he was dressed Eddie made his way upstairs to the loft. As he reached the top of the stair he caught sight of Chim and Hen already at the dining table eating breakfast, Bobby in the kitchen whipping up more for a few other eagerly waiting firefighters.
Everything was normal... but incomplete and Eddie knew why, because Buck wasn't there. Even though he was still persona non grata he'd still be there to grab a piece of fruit and have Bobby bark out his first list of chores for the day before he'd shuffle off in sadness. His absence was being keenly felt and as Eddie observed, not just by him. Hen and Chim were eating, but the enthusiasm was lacking, and Bobby himself looked a bit worn and muted as he stood watch over the omelette he was preparing. Biting back another sigh, Eddie instead focused on getting himself some breakfast.
" Morning." Eddie greeted as he sat down beside Chim with his plate of eggs and bacon, keenly aware of the empty chair on his other side, the one that usually would have been occupied by the missing blue eyed individual. Eddie felt another twinge of guilt as he remembered how he had basically been excommunicating Buck from his obligatory place beside him ever since he had come back to work three whole months ago.
Bobby joined them a few minutes later and they ate in relative silence before Hen spoke.
" Any word on Buck?" She asked casually.
The air grew collectively still for a moment before everyone seemed to sight as Chim spoke up.
" Maddie said she talked to him, he said he was heading out of town for the week, she said it was good of him to actually relax for a bit after months of hard work." He said as he looked around at them.
" Hard work?" Bobby asked with an incredulous smile, only for Hen's whole face to close off and harden as she quirked an eye brow at her captain.
" You don't think Buck's been working hard keeping this station spotless, catching any mistakes in equipment handling, and taking all of the petty crap you and everyone else has been piling onto him without complaining once Cap?" She asked flatly.
Bobby sat back with his eyes wide, clearly not expecting such ferocity. Eddie himself blinked owlishly as he felt a cold pit open up in his stomach, while Chim just gawked at Hen.
" Hen what do you mean?" Bobby finally said.
" The lawsuit was months ago, he came back months ago, and in that time you've held him back and basically turned him into the maid for this place. Then when he asks for some time off you basically all but pushed him out the door in the middle of a shift." Hen said firmly.
" You are out of line Paramedic Wilson." Bobby said sternly, his entire expression hardening while the entire loft seemed to go quiet and zero in on the stand off that was happening.
" You were out of line first Captain Nash." Hen shot back without missing a beat and not letting Bobby get a word in as she continued.
" You let Bosko tape over his name, dismissed how seeing that kind of disrespect would make him feel, and then last night while I was over for a girl's night with her, Athena finally told me about how Buck found out during the dinner she invited him to that you had lied to his face about how it was the department that was holding Buck back from returning to duty, when it was actually you who told them he wasn't ready." Hen said before she crossed her arms and tilted her head in defiance.
" Cap is this true?" Chim asked quietly, Eddie looking to Bobby as well.
Before Bobby could reply one of the other firefighters' voices sounded.
" Oh man that is a bad one" They exclaimed, all eyes turned to see said firefighter pointing at a special report that was playing on the TV. The firefighter turned up the volume upon seeing everyone's attention focused on the screen so everyone could hear what the serious-faced reporter was saying while firefighters and police flurried about behind her before the camera man zoomed into the still smoking wreckage down at the foot of the hill the reporter was standing on.
" This is Nina Barrows reporting live from Route 10 that runs through The Colorado River Reservation where are you can see behind him, first responders are putting out any lingering flames from what was once a shining silver Greyhound Bus. According to sources, this bus which departed from Los Angeles was en route to Phoenix, Arizona last night when something went terribly wrong. There is no word yet on what exactly happened or the exact number of casualties, please stay tuned as this story develops. Nina Barrows Fox 11 Los Angeles."
From where he sat, Chim felt his heart slam to a stop inside his chest for a moment as he remembered Maddie telling him that Buck was going to Arizona himself, but just as quickly Chim quashed it down as he assumed Buck had taken a flight out which was way easier.
Before anyone could comment of the bus crash, or Bobby and Hen could address the very serious conversation they were having concerning Buck, the bells rang signalling the first emergency of the day. Everyone dropped everything, breakfast, the confrontation between Bobby and Hen, and the news report from Colorado were all forgotten as the 118 rushed off downstairs to get into their turn out gear and answer the call that had been sounded.
The call turned out to be one maddening nightmare of a fire at a storage facility where the whole place basically fell to the flames like dominoes, section by section, needing the 118 and three other engines a full three hours to finally put out. The lynch-pin to their victory had actually come to Eddie, who suggested creating a sort of firewall to head off the flames from eating anything further and the idea had worked perfectly. When the captain of one of the other companies had asked where he'd learned such facts, Eddie could only sigh and explain that it had been Buck, his partner Buck who had gone off on a one of his random facts tangent during a very distant video game night with Chris and explained to him how a fire would not burn through something already burned. A collective heaviness had fallen over the 118, Hen just giving Bobby a quiet look that actually had the captain squirming a little.
Once the scene was secure, the thoroughly exhausted members of the 118 piled back into the trucks and ambulances and headed back to the station. They were a little ways out, so Chim took the opportunity to pull out his phone and text Maddie for a quick second. They exchanged a bit of their usual banter, Chim smiling despite his exhaustion. Then Chim suddenly remembered something from earlier in the day and quickly shot off another text to Maddie.
Hey Maddie, did Buck's flight get in to Phoenix okay?
There was a pause as the three blinking dots indicated Maddie typing her response. Then with a little chirp Maddie's text reached him.
Buck said he was taking a Greyhound bus not a plane, he hasn't texted me or anything but I'm sure he will later, probably just sleeping in since he's on vacation.
Chim felt the smile drop of his face at Maddie's words, but before he could text her anything back she was saying she had to get back to work. Chim could only text her bye and feel a cold sense of unease glide over him like a coroner's white sheet. Before Chim could voice what he had just learned to the others, they were already pulling into the station, put it was as the truck was rolling back into the bay they all notices a couple of official looking department vehicles parked adjacent to the bay doors.
" Hey Cap, isn't that the Chief's ride?" Eddie asked as he pointed to the bright crimson and white striped Chevy Suburban with red and blue lights attached to the roof.
" You're right Eddie it is." Bobby confirmed with a confused frown.
" Surprise inspection?" Hen asked by way of possible explanation, earning perplexed shrugs from her team as the truck rolled fully into the station.
With matching frowns the members of the 118 all climbed out of the trucks and ambulances to see none other than Chief Franklin Alonzo standing tall and imposing at the railing of the upstairs loft, his face deathly serious as he gazed down at them all with unreadable dark eyes.
"Afternoon Captain Nash, glad to see you all back only a little worse for ware after that fire at the Storage facility on Central." Chief Alonzo called down from the loft.
" Good afternoon Chief Alonzo and thank you, I'd say we handled ourselves well enough and got the job done." Bobby said with a quick look of pride to his team before turning his attention back to the Fire Chief.
Chief Alonzo nodded before he spoke.
" I need all of you to clean yourselves up and head on up here, there's an urgent matter that's come up." He said ominously.
The air shifted immediately, everyone growing tense and sharing a look before Bobby took charge.
" On it Chief, we'll be up in a few minutes." Bobby called out to the chief before he lead the way to the gear alcove where there was a bit of a mad scramble to shed all the heavy turnout gear. There was this buzz of anticipation, an inherent feeling that something just was not right. It was with this growing sense of collective unease that Bobby led his firefighters up the stairs to the loft where Chief Alonzo was waiting, and he wasn't alone. He had Deputy Chief Rosa Myers beside him holding some papers in her hand but most alarmingly, he also had LAFD Chaplain Henry Paxton flanking him on his other side, all of them looking grave and dressed in their black uniforms with gold thread accents.
" Deputy Chief Myers, Chaplain Paxton." Bobby said as he stepped forward and shook hands with all three high ranking LAFD officers, Chim, Hen, Eddie, and the rest of the 118 gathering around them in anticipation. In the span of everyone reaching the loft the air had grown thick with tension.
" What's going on Chief?" Bobby asked for everyone.
Chief Alonzo looked around the room for a moment and took a deep breath before he finally spoke.
" Let me start by asking, have any of you been in contact with Firefighter Evan Buckley today?" He began, looking around the room and frowning when along with the many headshakes there were quite a few scowls and glowers at the mention of the young firefighter, especially the closed off look that came over Firefighter Edmundo Diaz's features. It was Bobby who spoke.
" Firefighter Buckley is on leave as of yesterday, he asked for some time off so I gave him a whole week and sent him home early." Bobby explained, his own tone hardening at the mention of his pseudo son. It was Chim who stepped forward.
" Uh Chief Alonzo, he spoke to his sister Maddie yesterday, she's my partner and she said that he was planning on going out of town for his break." Chim said quietly, trying his best not to squirm under the many gazes that settled on him.
" Did she by chance say where Buckley was going?" Alonzo asked.
" Yes sir, Maddie mentioned that Buck was gonna go to Phoenix, Arizona for the week." Chim explained with his heart already pounding.
At this Chim and everyone else watched with a frown as Alonzo, Myers, and Paxton all seemed to tense as one and shared a cryptic look before a quiet resignation seem to come over their all three of their features. With a small sigh, Chief Alonzo spoke.
" Thank you Firefighter Han. Now I know you all have many questions and you will get as much of an answer as we can give, but first I have to ask, did any of you see the special report on the news earlier this morning, the one that reported a catastrophic bus accident that happened last night in the middle of Colorado?" He asked as he looked about the many faces as several people nodded and murmured confirmation while Bobby spoke.
" Yes Chief, we were having breakfast when it came on the news, but then the call happened so we couldn't dwell on it. Why Chief?" Bobby asked, feeling the hairs on the back of his own neck starting to prickle with instinctive dread.
" There has been an unexpected and quite frankly alarming development regarding the bus that crashed in Colorado. It had departed from here in Los Angeles so unfortunately the casualties are mostly our people and the incident also falls within our jurisdiction. About an hour ago I received a call from the Los Angeles County Sheriff himself who had in turn received a call from the Colorado police who are investigating this bus crash. The Colorado police were able to obtain a passenger list for this bus from the Greyhound bus company. They were kind enough to email me a copy." Alonzo said before he turned to Deputy Chief Myers who wordlessly stepped forward and handed him the papers she had been holding.
Alonzo turned back to Bobby and let out a profound breath as he looked over the list, his eyes lingering on a long, horizontal line of highlighter before he looked up at Chim with a grave expression.
" Firefighter Han, did Ms. Buckley mention the method of transportation Firefighter Buckley was going to use to go to Phoenix?" Alonzo asked as Myers and Paxton both stepped forward to flank him.
" Y-Yes sir, we texted on the way back from the call, she said Buck was going to take a... Greyhound Bus, and that he hasn't check in with her yet." Chim said, pausing as realization began to dawn on him, Eddie and Hen turning their heads sharply to him upon hearing his words, their eyes widening, Bobby looking over his own shoulder in askance to which Chim could only stare back in silence, denial in his dark eyes. Bobby quickly turned back to face Chief Alonzo with a frown.
Alonzo said nothing, he simply rotated the papers Myers had handed to him earlier and held them out for Bobby to take. Bobby slowly reached out and gripped the white sheets and brought the papers into his line of sight, his eyes immediately going to the name from the list that was highlighted. The moment he read the name, Bobby felt his entire world stop, his heart freeze mid-beat, the very breath leave his lungs as he looked up sharply back at Chief Alonzo with his mouth falling open and his eyes growing impossibly wide. There was an eternally long moment of silence before Bobby got his voice to speak.
" Chief, what is this?" Bobby asked dazedly.
Chief Alonzo pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and then spoke to reply.
" According to Greyhound, this bus that crashed yesterday evening was at full capacity, eighty passengers and the driver. Based on the list that you are holding Captain Nash, Firefighter Evan Buckley of the 118 was among them. I have been in direct contact with the Colorado State police and as of the most current information I have from them, it was just too violent and sudden a crash, too powerful a fire that started. While there has been no official statement released as of yet, according to the Colorado State police, of the eighty-one souls aboard... none survived." Chief Alonzo said with a profound sigh and deep sadness coming over his features, Myers and Paxton looking on wordless, waiting for Alonzo's devastating words to actually register.
Silence, utter silence.
Meanwhile, seven and a half hours away on Phoenix, Arizona...
Lunch was in full swing at the Switch Restaurant on North Central Avenue in the heart of the city known as the Valley of the Sun. Waitresses were rushing all over the place to handle the afternoon lunch crowd. A young, petite brunette waitress made her way outside holding a large tray laden with fresh, piping hot food meant for some of the guests who had opted to eat outside and enjoy the early afternoon sun. She started setting down dishes in front of the appropriate diners. The last set of dishes she was meant to deliver were a plate of Switch's signature Chimichangas and a side of crispy onions rings with a tall glass of ginger ale. The waitress made her way to a single table at the corner of the restaurant's little outdoor dining patio and smiled at the patron waiting there for his food.
The patron was a tall drink of water himself, a young twenty-something man with dark blond curls and the bluest of eyes, a distinct pink birthmark over his left brow, dressed simply in a blessedly tight plain white t-shirt that showcased a well-built upper body and dark blue jeans that showed of a pair of legs that went on for days.
" Here you are sir." The Waitress said as she set down the plates and glass in front of the blue eyed young man.
" This looks fantastic, thank you so much Ms. Angela." The young man said with a brilliant smile as he looked to her name tag.
" Well you are very welcome Mr..." Angela trailed off, earning a chuckle from the patron who nodded and spoke.
" Buck, just Buck." A very much alive Evan Buckley said with a shy duck of his head.
" Well Buck, enjoy your lunch and please let me know if you need anything else." Angela said with a nod.
" I sure will, again thank you." Buck said with a genuine smile that make his eyes sparkly.
With that, Angela turned away to head back inside to take care of her pending orders and left Buck to his lunch.
As he waited for his Chimichangas to cool a bit, Buck pulled out his phone from his pocket. His thumb hovered over the power button on the side, his smile from earlier gone, replaced with a serious and saddened look. With a small sigh, Buck shook his head and buried his phone back in his pocket.
He had gotten to Phoenix without any trouble, bidding Theodore a fond farewell before finding a hotel close to the bus station. He had gotten to his room and promptly conked out for the night. Said hotel had provided a free complimentary breakfast this morning and right afterward Buck had gone ahead and just wandered the city on foot with the warm Arizona sun shining down on him. He'd walked and explored all without once looking to his phone, enjoying just truly roaming about. Keeping his phone off was him consciously disconnecting from the negativity that stuck to his life like tar and really being able to just enjoy his surroundings.
As he finally dug into his lunch and bit back an embarrassing moan at just how amazing that first bite alone was, Evan Buckley was blissfully unaware of the horrific events that were unfolding back in Los Angeles, the devastation that would wash over all who loved him from a simple error on the part of the Greyhound Bus Company passenger list system.
Buck's only thoughts were of enjoying his lunch, debating whether to indulge in some dessert after, and simply enjoying warm sunshine on his face.