With a deep sigh he shoved the key into the lock and stopped. It was nearing midnight and Eddie had just returned home from the hospital. His head was still trying to wrap itself around what has happened but at this point he was about to walk into his home where his son was sound asleep; his son who for the last two months has asked daily when he gets to see his Bucky again. Eddie had given excuse after excuse as to why Christopher wouldn't and couldn't see the other man; their best friend; and now each and every one was cycling through Eddie's mind as guilt riddled his heart. None of those excuses were a good enough reason to not only hurt himself and Buck by keeping the blond away; but also Christopher.

And now he has to shatter his son's heart again when he sits him down in the morning to tell him that Buck was yet again hurt and in the hospital. Eddie knew there was no way he was going to be able to keep his son and Buck apart after this; even if Buck never wanted anything to do with Eddie himself again. He was prepared to make a custody agreement with his best friend to keep Christopher and Buck happy. He knew it would hurt him but he also knew that it would be nothing compared to how he's sure Buck had been feeling lately; or now as he was in hospital once again.

Eddie was brought out of his thoughts as the snick of the lock on the door popped and the door slowly opened to reveal his Tia. Eddie had told Carla over the phone hours ago that if she wasn't able to stay the night to call his Tia or Abuela and see if they could take over; it seemed that had been the case. Eddie's hand fell from his keys still in the door as he looked at his Tia. Within an instant she had her arms wrapped around his shoulders and was pulling him in. Eddie wasn't ready to break; he needed to stay strong; but he wrapped his own arms around his Tia and tucked his face into her shoulder; squeezing his eyes closed. He took a few deep breaths to settle his racing heart before pulling away.

"Carla told me, how is he?"

Eddie pulled his keys from the door and followed his Tia into the house; quietly closing the door behind him. "Still alive and right now that's everything."

Pepa nodded as she headed into the kitchen with her nephew; warming him a plate from dinner that Carla had made for Eddie and Christopher - when they didn't know about what had happened yet. Eddie sat down at the table with a long sigh as he ran his hand over his face and through his already mused hair. When a warm plate of shepherd's pie with buttered bread was placed in front of him along with a bottle of water and a cup of coffee; Eddie looked up from where he was staring at the woodened table. She joined him at the table with her own cup of coffee.

"Carla said he was injured at the station."

Eddie nodded as he picked up his fork. He was starving; all those hours at the hospital waiting on news for their youngest friend and the only thing he had eaten were a few bites of the sandwich brought back early on by Harris, Anderson and Ramirez. But at the same time Eddie wasn't too sure if he could eat without feeling sick to his stomach. He ended up just pushing the food around on his plate instead.

"He was shot."

There was a gasp from Pepa and Eddie looked up to see her staring at him.

Eddie swallowed and nodded again. "A woman... the wife of the lawyer he used to... to sue the department for his job. She showed up demanding to see him. Pulled a gun on us..."

"On all of you? Are you okay, sobrino?"

"Yeah, yeah... I'm..." Eddie frowned. "Physically, yes." He took a sip of his coffee. "Hen's son Denny was asleep on the couch, her wife Karen had dropped him off with Buck because she had a family emergency. When the first gunshot rang out it startled him awake." He shook his head; knowing he could never tell his Tia that the first shot had been fired at him, or at least above his head. "It happened so fast. I didn't... I didn't even know he had moved." He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "Harris and I had tackled the woman to get the gun away from her. I thought that was it, it was over. I knew there had been a second shot fired but I didn't... know."

Pepa reached across and took her nephew's hand in hers and squeezed. "Eddie this is not your fault."

Eddie scoffed. "I know that."

Pepa arched a brow and Eddie flushed realising who he was talking to.

"Sorry."

"What did the doctor's say?"

Eddie sighed as he relayed the information they were able to get from the doctor after Buck was finally out of surgery. By that time it had been down to himself, Hen, Karen, Denny, Chimney, Maddie, Bobby, Athena, Harris and Anderson left in the waiting room. The rest of their crew, and other random ones from other shifts at the 118 came and went over the hours. Eddie knew that more then likely Bobby would update everyone once they knew more about Buck's condition. Once Buck was in a private room about an hour after he was finally out of surgery the lot of them left had been allowed in for a few minutes to see the younger man - and that was something Eddie never wanted to see again.

He had seen Buck in hospital enough in the last seven months and he never wanted to again; but this time was the worse. Even after the latter truck bomb by the time Eddie had seen his best friend the blond was awake and talking with Maddie; with the embolism it was much the same, he and Maddie had followed the doctor to his bed and Buck was already awake and talking. With the tsunami Eddie didn't see him until the next morning when he was dropping Christopher off at Buck's apartment after the night that almost took both his son and best friend from him.

This time however Buck was silent and still; looking small in the hospital bed. When they had all shuffled in slowly Eddie had frozen at the door when he saw his best friend just laying there; the tube down his throat; his skin almost as white as the sheets he was laying on; his birthmark a bright pink against his pale skin. They had only been allowed to stay for a few minutes; it was really only to see the younger man was still there; still with them. Then they were all told to go home. A lot of them had to carpool back to the station, police officers escorting them inside and to the locker room in order to collect their items; keys, wallets, etc. Eddie had opted to stay outside when Harris had offered to grab his things.

By the time Eddie was saying goodnight to his Tia it was almost one in the morning. He had barely eaten anything but he was still unsure his stomach would be able to take anything. Once he had the house locked back up and the lights off in the kitchen; Eddie had stopped to check on Christopher. His son was sound sleep flailed out across his bed, head hanging off the side and blanket on the floor at the end of the bed. With a smile Eddie stepped into the room to right his son and recover him with his blanket; carefully running his hand through the boy's curls and giving him a lingering kiss on his forehead. Eddie was exhausted but knew as he climbed into his own bed after changing into sweats and a t-shirt (one he knew was Buck's that had bee left months ago) he probably wasn't going to get any restful sleep.

Not when in just six short hours Christopher would be awake and asking about Buck just like he always did every morning - and this time Eddie had no idea what he was suppose to tell his son.