Buck looked up from where he was lounging back in the couch; feet propped up on the edge of the coffee table in front of him. His legs were bent and sketch pad against his thighs as he shaded in and colored the scene he had drawn in the last half hour. He had been watching Denny for almost two hours now; the boy had fallen asleep curled up on the couch next to Buck about forty minutes ago after having a snack of some apples and peanut butter that Buck had fixed him when the boy had said he was hungry. He hadn't gotten any word from Karen or Hen (he had sent her a text shortly after Karen had left Denny with him at the station); but now he could hear the trucks pulling back into the bay.

It didn't take long for him to hear and see Hen climbing the stairs; Chimney right behind her. Buck watched as Hen quickly stepped up to the side of the couch and looked down at her son; carefully running her hand through his hair before turning her eyes on Buck. Buck was watching as more firefighters came up into the loft; Eddie among them; all heading for the kitchen and completely ignoring what was going on by the couch - he was sure because he was sitting there still.

"Thank you."

The hushed tone and small smile Hen gave him had Buck swallowing and smiling back, giving her a nod that he heard. Then Hen and joining the rest of the team at the table while Bobby and Chimney started on a late lunch for the group. Buck knew that was his queue to leave and get back to his chores now that Hen was back to look after her own son. Buck placed his feet on the floor and began gathering up his supplies; ignoring as another person came up the stairs and passed by the couch heading towards the table. He ignored the shuffling and words behind him as he snatched up his art kit and sketch book and stood. He carefully stepped away from the couch; making sure not to disturb the sleeping boy; and headed for the stairs. He had just grabbed hold of the railing and placed his left foot down on the first stair to descend.

And then he froze when a murmur rushed through the people behind him in hushed panicked tones.

And then he heard his name.

Slowly he turned around, his mouth open ready to call out that he was right there. But he didn't. Not when he saw the woman pointing the gun towards the other firefighters; towards Hen and Eddie and Harris as they were closest to where she stood between him on the stairs and them at the table. Her blonde hair was matted and in a really messy updo. Her back was to him so he was unable to see her face; unable to tell if he recognized her or not. But all he could focus on was the gun pointed at his family. They all had their hands raised; eyes wide. Buck wasn't sure if anyone else noticed the subtle shift in Eddie's stance. He knew the older man was ready to tackle this woman for the gun.

Buck took a step forward when he caught Eddie looking at him out of the corner of his eye; not wanting the woman to realize someone was behind her. He saw the subtle shake of Eddie's head that was basically telling him in no uncertain terms to keep him mouth shut and not move. Buck was not okay with that and struggled to listen. His head was screaming for him to gain the woman's attention. She had asked for him; he was sure of it. She was looking for him. If he could get her to turn around to look at him; look away from the rest of the group; Eddie could do what he needed to do without the gun already being pointed at him. Right?

"Where is Evan Buckley!?" The woman screamed; the gun shaking in her outstretched hand as she swung it from pointing at Eddie and Hen to pointing at Bobby and Chimney who stood on the other side of the kitchen island where they had been making food.

Again, Buck opened his mouth to speak up but this time he caught a look from Hen. Only Hen wasn't looking at him. She kept turning her attention towards the couch. Buck's eyes followed her gaze and he took in a silent deep breath. Denny. The boy was still sound asleep on the couch and he hoped it stayed that way. But the way this woman was swinging the gun around and demanding him; Buck was frustrated. He took two steps sideways towards the couch. If anything went south like it seemed like it was going to as he saw Eddie take a step closer to the woman; Buck wanted to be ready.

"Stop moving!" The woman yelled; the gun once against pointed at Eddie who was now closer by a few more feet.

Eddie froze, his hands still held up at his side. "Okay, okay."

"Ma'am." Bobby spoke up as he rounded the island to step closer.

The gun rounded on him once again and he stopped moving.

"Ma'am, Firefighter Buckley isn't here today." Bobby stated.

The woman's laugh was almost hysterical. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not." Bobby shook his head as he stepped to the side; Buck realized it was to hide Chimney behind him.

Buck still had a pretty good side view of Chimney that as soon as Bobby was blocking the woman's view of him in the kitchen the shorter man was scrambling for his pocket to pull out his phone. Buck sighed as he realized Chimney was probably going to be texting Maddie at work; or Athena. Buck turned his attention back to the woman as she seemed to growl in frustration.

"Stop lying!" She screamed and then seemed to calm just a little. "I saw his jeep in the parking lot. I know he's here."

Buck swallowed as he looked between Bobby and Eddie. The Captain was still trying to keep the woman's attention and Eddie was once again taking short, subtle steps closer. Or at least he was until the woman practically hissed and turned the gun back towards him. This time though she aimed it above his head and pulled the trigger. Everyone closed their eyes and ducked while someone from down below the loft screamed. Buck flinched but stayed where he was; eyes now wide as he quickly looked over Eddie to make sure that he really hadn't been shot.

"Give me Evan Buckley now." The woman pointed the gun once again at Eddie.

Buck took another step forward and opened his mouth ready to announce himself; get the attention of the rest of the crew; when movement at the couch caught his attention. He kept his body towards the rest of the room but watched at the corner of his eye as Denny started shifting on the couch; the gun shot clearly startled the boy awake. Buck knew instantly this wasn't going to be good; and he couldn't announce himself being so close to the couch and the young boy if this woman decided to shoot him instantly. At the same time Buck saw that Hen had turned towards the couch as well.

Suddenly everything seemed to slow down as Denny sat up rubbing at his eyes and turned on the couch; climbing to his knees as he spotted Hen over the back. "Mom?"

Then everything sped up to fast and Buck wasn't sure who had really moved first. Hen in her attempt to reach Denny; Eddie and Harris in their attempt to grab the gun from the woman and tackle her; or Buck himself. As soon as he had heard Denny's voice he knew what was about to happen. The woman had turned her attention to the boy; her arm holding the gun swinging with her momentum and before she could take into account that it was a child; Buck moved; the gun went off and people were screaming again.

Buck wasn't sure about much more other then the fact that he was facing the television and that Hen was on her knees between the couch and coffee table with a crying Denny crushed to her chest. He could hear movement behind him but there was a low buzzing in his ears as the pain radiating from his lower back and between his ribs on his right side. His hand still held out hovering over the couch where he had pushed Denny's head down into the couch as he had stepped between the boy and the gun suddenly going off.

"Buck?"

Buck blinked once and slightly turned his head to look down at Hen; opening his mouth to say something but no words coming out. Hen was watching him with wide tearful eyes. He could feel the hot and sticky spread across his back and chest. He knew what it was but he refused to look down. He had seem enough of his own blood on the outside of his body enough times in the last year; he didn't need to see anymore. He could already see a spray on the couch; on Denny's shirt; on the coffee table and the drawings that Denny had drew earlier. That was enough for him at the time.

He was still staring at Hen when he heard his name being called from behind. Once again he opened his mouth to say something. "I uh..." He tried to swallow and winced. "I think... I think I need to go to-to the hos...pital again."

And then his legs gave out.