Even Buckley Severide or Buck as the 118 knows him, he likes to keep things to himself if you notice he wouldn't say much about his past just like odd jobs he did. So when he told the 118 he was a bartender that's what they all thought he did before joining the 118, but no Buck life before the 118 was simple Buck always knew that he wanted to be a firefighter but not just any but a squad guy just like his brother and his dad. Evan did that and broke records doing it too but he wanted to travel and see American so he moved to L.A under a 2 year contract to learn more about fighting fires and soon the 2 years are up.
Evans POV:
We are just getting back to 118 when I get a call from his old fire Commissioner and godfather Karl Grissom.
"Hey Griss, what's up?" I ask, thinking this is just a check in like he normally does every couple weeks.
"Hey Evan, listen I have an offer that you won't be able to refuse." he says and I'm intrigued as my contract is about up here with the 118 and I'd love to go back to Chicago.
"Okay, you have my attention." I told him.
"I want you to run a second squad rig out of 51, Squad 9 will be yours and I want Eddie Diaz to come with you and work under you on Squad 9. He will go to the academy to get certified and work on Squad 9 as he's doing it, as the class will only take a week because he's done so much stuff like the squad does, there in L.A" Grissom says.
I'm shocked, this is what I've been waiting for. I took my lieutenants exam three years ago and could have been placed at any house in Chicago but I wanted a squad at 51, back then there was talk about second rigs joining some houses, but it was just in the starting process, there was to much red tape to go through, so I didn't think it would happen honestly.
Also grissom wanting to recruit Eddie, isn't that surprising Eddie is an amazing firefighter, and I'd be lucky to have him on my crew.
"Really? Okay, let me talk to Eddie and I'll let you know on that but I'll take the offer,
when do you want me to be back in Chicago?" I ask.
"I want you and Diaz here in two days, also from what you've told me about this man and reading his file. I really want him in Chicago, so if he wants he can have a one shift trial basis, if that will help make up his mind." Grissom says
"Okay I'll let him know." I say, then we hang up and I go to find Eddie.
I find him in the locker room as shift is about over so I sit on the bench by the lockers, "So I have something I need to tell you and talk to you about, think we could grab breakfast?" I say and ask.
"Yea sure, everything okay?" Eddie asks, concerned.
"Yea, it is actually." I say happily.
He gives me an odd look but nods,
"Okay, wanna go to our usual diner?" he asks, I nod then we head out to our vehicles and then drive towards the diner.
Once at the diner, we grab a booth, and order coffee, and he orders bacon and eggs while I order pancakes.
"So what's up?" he asks.
"Well, I want to tell you some stuff about my past." I say taking a deep breath.
"So before L.A I was a firefighter in Chicago I was on an elite team called squad." I tell Eddie looking at him.
He has a shocked expression on his face but says "Well that explains why you knew so much when you came here." Eddie says.
I laugh "It also helps that my older brother and dad are also firefighters. They are pretty much royalty in the CFD and my godfather is the commissioner of the department." I say nonchalantly.
"Wow, okay yeah you have some firefighting in your blood then." Eddie says chuckling.
"Yea, anyone the commissioner called and wants me to lead a second squad truck out of my old house, he has also been looking into you and wants you in the squad rig with me."
"What?" Eddie says, almost choking on his coffee.
"Yep, and I'd be your lieutenant, as I am a certified lieutenant for 3 years now." I told Eddie.
"Wow, okay, I'd love to but there's so much to consider and factor in, like Chris and up-rooting his life, yet again." Eddie says and I can understand that.
"I get that, but maybe this could be great for Chris, and you. Also Grissom, the commissioner said you can have a one shift trial basis in two days if you want it." I explained.
"Wow, okay that makes things a bit easier, and you might be right, about this being good for Chris and I… I'll see if Carla can watch Chris for a couple of days." Eddie says and I nod as our food comes.
"So how would this work as I'm not a certified squad member." Eddie easily says he takes a bite of his food.
"You'll get the training while you're still on squad with me." I say. Then add. "Where you've done a lot of rescues like squad does, here in L.A the training will only take a week."
"Okay, that's good." he says
I nod.
We chat while we eat, then we pay and I go home to get things straightened out with my apartment and everything. I pack and have stuff shipped back to Chicago. The day goes by quickly.
Eddie POV:
As Buck and I walk into the station the next day we find Bobby waiting for us.
"So I hear you guys are thinking of going to the Windy City?" He asked.
"Yeah Buck got the call last shift I had no clue that they would want me as well." I answered "I'm still not sure why Chicago wants me to join the squad team. I haven't done any of the training needed but Buck told me I can do it there and still be on the truck.
"This is a great opportunity so why are you nervous? You and Buck work well together." It is funny how Bobby can see right through the panic.
I sigh, and scrub a hand over my face, then say. "One, I'm worried about Chris, and uprooting his life again. Two, I'm worried that I won't find a good enough school or career for Chris. And three, I'm worried I'm not good enough for squad."
I sigh.
"Eddie, I'm sure Chicago has good schools and caregivers for Chris just like we do here, and you are going to find that care, I'm sure Buck knows some people in Chicago that can help you. Also you are more than good enough for the squad, that's why one of the best houses want you in the CFD, that's why the CFD wants you in the first place. Don't ever doubt your skills." Bobby tells me with a hand on my shoulder. It makes me feel better knowing Bobby's confident in my skills.
"Thanks Bobby, that means a lot." I tell him as he claps me on the back.
"So you guys are just here to grab your stuff out of the locker room, right?" Bobby asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, and Bucks saying goodbye to everyone." I told him.
"Okay. Hens got a cake waiting for you guys up in the loft." Bobby says just as Buck appeared from the locker room.
"Of course she does." Buck and I say in unison chuckling.
"Come on, let's go have some cake, when does your guy's flight leave?" Bobby asks
"Three hours." I told him.
"Okay, well then we have some time for you guys to have cake.'' Bobby says as we climb the staircase to the loft, and everyone yells surprise, Maddie, Chris and Carla and Abuela are all here with Athena and the 118 to see us off.
Chris runs to me, and I pick him up and swing him around. I'm gonna miss this kid for the next few days.
"Are you going to be okay with Carla for a few days?" I asked him for the millionth time.
"Yes dad." he says like he does every time.
"Okay." I say and set him down, Carla comes over to me and says."He'll be fine while you're gone, are you going to be okay though?" She asks, knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.
"Yea, i'm just worried, if this does work out then I'm uprooting him again, and I don't want to go through the headache of finding care and a school for Chris.'' I told her.
"Don't worry, about care, I've got something up my sleeve if you decide to go to Chicago, don't worry so much Eddie, it'll put wrinkles on that gorgeous face of yours." She says and we both chuckle.
"Thanks Carla, for everything." I tell her as I hug her.
She nods and goes back over to where Chris is with Bobby.
I go over to where Buck, Maddie and Chimney are.
"I'm going to miss you baby brother, but I'm happy that you're finally getting to lead your own squad." Maddie says to Buck, hugging him.
"I'm going to miss you too sis, but you know you can always come home too." Evan tells her.
"I know, but this is my home now, I'm happy, Chicago will always have a piece of me, but I've found myself here, I'm happy.'' Maddie says and Buck nods.
Maddie looks at me and comes over and hugs me saying. "Take care of him out there, I know our brother and everyone will look out for him, but it's nice knowing you'll have his back on his crew." maddie whispers to me.
"Of course." I say.
Soon enough we are all finished with goodbyes and grabbing our stuff from our lockers. I hug Chris one more time, then we leave for the airport.
Once we boarded our plane I sighs as I sit back in my seat. "What's up?" Buck asks me.
"Just worried about Chris, worried that things are going to be too different from L.A as from you just explaining that you're one of the many officers at this firehouse confuses me." I told Buck.
"Okay well Chris is with Carla he's fine, things will be different, but you'll get use to them, also yes there's a lot of more officers in a house, in Chicago then there is in L.A. as in Chicago every truck company has an officer then the ambo has what we call PIC or Paramedic in the battalion Chief has command over the whole house." evan says
"Weird, so if the Chief has command over the house why are there other officers?" I ask
"We have control over our truck company, so like we get orders from the chief then we take what he says and direct our crews accordingly." Buck tells me and I nod.
"Okay who's the other officers, are they stuck up? Or are people in this house sorta like the 118?" I asked.
And buck chuckles then says. "First off 51 is basically a big family, when one is in need we help them, when one is hurt we all hurt, it's just the way 51 has always been even when my dad and the commissioner was there." Evan says,
I nod, saying. "That's good, I think that's how a firehouse should be run." I told him.
"I agree, now the Chief he's great, he is the papa bear of the household tough as nails when he needs to be but he's always there for you as well. Then there's Captain Matt Casey who is my brother in law, he's captain of Truck 81, he also commands a scene if Boden is not on the call with us, then there is my brother Kelly Severide who is the Captain of Squad 3. He can come off as an arrogant ass but he's actually a big teddy bear, just don't tell him I said that." Evan says and we chuckle at the last part. He then continues. "Kelly definitely doesn't take shit from anyone, but he's there for you whenever you need him to be." Evan then says. "Then there is Lieutenant Christopher Herman of Engine 51. He will bust your balls but he means well. Him and his wife Cindy are the sweetest people you'll meet, and Herman, we just call him Herman, has a bar with my other brother in law Otis. It's called Molly's and all of the first responders go there. Then there's Shay. She's the PIC. She has a kid with my brother and Matt. she's a badass, and a total mama bear, don't mess with her family weather that's her actually family or her 51 family, because, well she's terrifying.'' Evan says and I chuckle.
"Everyone sounds like a family there, that they care about their people." i say.
"We do, we are the definition of a family. They all will take you and Chris under their wings admittedly." he tells me and i nod "i hope so, i like knowing that people have my sons back." i say.
We chat some more than we land, and drive to the apartment that bucks brother had got for him, he's letting me stay with him, until i get a place if i decide to stay in chicago.
I call Chris and talk to him for a while, then we sleep most of the afternoon, then have dinner which consists of take out pizza, because neither of us can cook. Then buck drags me out to mollys..
Evans POV:
The night before my first shift back at 51 I head to Molly's with Eddie, I introduce him to Kelly and Matt right off the bat and they are all getting along which I'm happy about.
I ordered my drink, with beer in my hand I looked around. It's good to see all my old friends again and some new faces. With Eddie outside calling Christopher before he went to sleep. I walk over to Kelly but not looking where I'm going I bump into something hard. Looking up I see I bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry, let me buy you a drink to make up for the one I spilt on you?" I asked too nervously, to look him in the face because on my first night here I made a mess out of things.
"It's fine it happens but I won't say no to a drink, hang on Evan?" The mystery guy asks, looking up to see who it is.
"No way Jay your back." I shouted, giving him a hug.
"Wow, it's been like 4 years since I last saw you. I was on my last leave, it's so good to see you again, let's get that drink and catch up."
"Ok." I said while nodding to Kidd for another round.
I quickly text Kelly and ask him to keep Eddie company while I talk with Jay, and he agreed thankfully.
We grab a table in the back, and I hand him a beer.
"So how have you been?" I ask because it has been so long since we talked.
"I'm good, I'm a detective in the intelligence unit over at the 21st district now, I'm done with the army." He tells me, I smile at him. "You always said you'd join CPD when you were done, I'm proud of you for getting into the intelligence unit, that's a hard unit to get into." I say
"Yea, Voight actually recruited me when I got back from the army, so it was kinda like fate." He then adds. "So I heard you're in L.A now."
"I just moved back today actually." I tell him, and I see that grin, that I love so much, that always got us into trouble, one way or another.
"That's good you going back to Squad 3?" he asks, taking a sip of his beer.
"No, actually, 51 finally got their second squad rig, so I'm now the lieutenant of Squad 9 out of 51." I say then add "Grissom and called and gave me the offer, he also recruited a friends of mine that was at the same house I was at in L.A.'' I tell him, he raises an eyebrow and says "I'm happy for you, you always wanted to run your own squad one day, so this guy." Jay trails off and I quickly say. "He's just a platonic friend, he's straight.'' I tell Jay who nods.
"Good to know, are you with anyone, back in L.A?" Jay asks and I shake my head. Then ask. "Are you with anyone?" he shakes his head 'no'. "Nope, I was but she left for the FBI in New York, things weren't going the greatest with us anyways, I've been single for 7 months now." he tells me..
"Interesting." I say
"I've missed you." Jay says reaching for my hand but hesitating.
"I missed you too." I say resting my hand on his, he smiles at this gesture as he knows what this means for me, as I hadn't come out to anyone but him and Kelly back then.
"I came out to everyone three years ago." I tell him, he nods and says "I'm glad I know that must have been a big deal for you." He says. "It was but people were more understanding than I expected." I told him.
"Good, I'm happy for you." he says then adds "You should give me your number, and we can catch up some more." he says with that grin that always makes me weak in the knees.
"Sure, I'd like that.'' I say passing him my phone as he passes me his.
We put our number in the other's phone then I say. "Well I better get going, I have an early day tomorrow." I tell him and he nods, saying. "Okay I'll see you around."
"that you will." I say with my own grin, and head out of the bar, Itext Eddie to meet me out front, after a minute I hear the bar door open, I look up expecting to find Eddie coming out but I'm faced with Jay walking over to me, he gets to me and takes my face in his hands, oh those hands that I've missed so much, he runs his thumb over my jawline stubble then his lips are on mine, the kiss is full of passion, he bites my bottom lip asking for entrance, and I grant him it. His tongue is exploring my mouth making me moan, then all of a sudden he pulls back, us both breathless, and kiss swollen lips.
"That was better than our first kiss." he says breathlessly and I chuckle remembering our first kiss and two inexpereanced teenagers, experimenting and exploring with each other.
"That it was." I say just as breathless as he is.
"Well I better let you get going, but I couldn't let you leave without doing that." He told me and I smiled. Just then Eddie comes out of the bar.
"I'll see you around Lieutenant." Jay says with his sexy smirk.
"See you around Detective." I told him right back with my own smirk.
Once he's gone back into Molly's Eddie comes over to me and chuckles. "First night back and you're already getting kissed."
"Shut up." I say playfully as we head to a cab that's waiting, he must've called one.
We get in the cab and head back to my place, in the back of the cab all the memories, the good and bad of Jay and I flood into my head.