A/N I love all the main characters. It just doesn't work for this story. As I haven't exactly planned this story, more tags will be added. Anti 118, Anti Ana, Anti Buckley parents, Anti Maddie, Disabled Evan Buckley, and talk about child abuse, not graphic. Please ignore medical things as ages are used just for the story.
Just to let you know if you've never read my fics before. I suffer permanent pain, so depending on how bad I am not always able to write. June 2020, I had a mild stroke, so now and again, I have a problem with my right hand, and hopefully, I will be having surgery for my kidney stones. Apart from that, I am all good You can find me on Facebook (and a Facebook page), Twitter, IG, Tumblr, Tiktok, all under wereleopard58.
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"I'm sorry; your parents want to do what?"
"They've always believed that Christopher would be better off with them." Eddie leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes.
"Christopher is better off with you, and Ana wants me out of your life. They are still trying the reward or punishment thing," Evan sighed. There was something else he wanted to say, but it might be too much.
"What is it?" Eddie mumbled.
"Huh?"
"That sigh, there's more you want to say."
"Yes, but you've been through a lot."
Eddie sat forward and looked over at him. "If this is to do with Christopher and my parents, I need to know. You were right about the 'reward' system."
"I always imagined that the only reason you showed love to Christopher was because of Abuela and Pepe. I don't know your parents very well, but they didn't seem to show much love."
"You're right Abuela and Pepe are amazing. My dad is what you imagined. He's an old-fashioned man who never apologised, but the weird thing is with me, I had to be a man. I had to stand up and do what I had to. But he's the opposite with Christopher. My mum was there. She took care of us but never really showed love. So tell me what you are thinking?"
"I think your parents liked you better when you were young kids. You did what they said. You followed their lead. As you got older, things changed, and you had your own thoughts and opinions."
"Don't most kids?"
"Yes, they do, and in my case, that was a good thing." Evan could see Eddie look at him. "I'll tell you about it. Your parents clearly want you to be a clone, which brings us to Christopher. If they make him 'helpless', he will always need them and do what they want. I don't think they're doing it consciously. Still, they don't seem to like him doing anything independently, like drinking out of a normal glass. The last place Christopher needs to be is with them."
"I never thought of it that way."
"Normally, kids don't want to think of their parents negatively. I know you doubt yourself, but I needed you to understand how much worse and unhappy Christopher would be."
"What do I do now?"
Evan wanted to help, then a thought hit him "Wait, when your parents or Ana talk about taking Christopher, what do they say?"
"That they take him, he should be with them."
"So they just say they'll take him?"
"Yeah, why?" Eddie was confused and felt like an idiot. Evan had spotted something.
"Well, unless they mention getting custody of him legally, it sounds like kidnapping. They do think you will hand him over willingly. What will they do if you don't?"
"They've always been controlling. I am guessing that they assume being their grandparents, they have that right."
"I know we've just met up, and we still have things to talk about, but I truly believe Christopher belongs with you. Let me help you."
"How can you help?" He wanted to believe there was something Evan could do. He was so glad they were together again.
"Okay, my grandparents are rich. Let me call them so they can talk to their lawyers. If we can get a letter sent to your parents by very expensive and outstanding lawyers. If you still have the text messages, answer phone messages the lawyers can spin it to make it looks like they are planning a kidnapping."
"Will that work?"
"What do you have to lose? The main thing is what are you going to do now about them. If you carry on as you are, they aren't going to give up and Ana agreeing makes them think they are doing the right thing. But anyone who says the opposite is jealous."
Eddie knew things had to change. He took a deep breath. Ana and his parents had gone too far.
"Can you call your grandparents? I promise to pay you back."
"I'll call them, but you don't owe me anything."
"But–."
"Just accept it. You won't win this argument." They both laughed. "So, what else are you going to do?"
"I'm going to call Ana and split up with her. I don't think I'll do it in person after what she has done to you. I'm going to tell my parents I am cutting contact with them and getting a lawyer. I don't think Christopher will be emotionally safe or happy with them," Eddie felt like a weight had been lifted off him. He didn't know whether it was the decisions he made or the fact Evan was back in his life. It was probably both.
"How are you doing?"
"I feel exhausted, but I don't want to be alone."
"Let's check on Christopher, and then we can have a nap on my bed."
"Evan..."
"There is something you should know. If it makes you uncomfortable, I understand."
"Why would I be uncomfortable?"
"After the fire truck explosion and the tsunami, my calf started to hurt. I went to see a specialist, a few of them actually. They tried different things, but nothing worked, and they had to amputate below my knee. I still need the crutches because I haven't found a prosthetic that works for me and my balance is still off. It's why I handed in my resignation. We were still trying things, so that's why it took some time."
"Oh my god Buck, I mean Evan. I should've been there with you."
"Now I know you had a lot going on."
"I still should have been there for you, and no, I'm not uncomfortable. I'd love to take a nap with you," Eddie stood and held out his hand.
Evan reached out and took it and was pulled to his feet. They walked towards the bedrooms hand in hand. If Eddie walked a little closer so Evan could lean on him, neither of them said anything.
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Ana glanced down at her cell. Eddie still hadn't contacted her. His parents must have let him know that Christopher should be with them. She couldn't wait until it was just the two of them; eventually, they would start a family of their own.
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Helena and Ramon looked at each other. Usually, Eddie would have text or called them by now.
"Maybe he now understands Christopher should be with us," Ramon said
"Perhaps, he would be safer. We'd make sure that he knew what his limits are."
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"What are you planning to do as a job?" Eddie asked.
The two men lay on their sides on Evan's bed and looking at each other. They had woken Christopher up, eaten and watched some movies. Evan had contacted his grandparents and then back to bed.
Eddie and Christopher were still hiding. No one knew where they were.
"I do have a qualification. I was going to do that. I decided to travel for a bit and eventually became a firefighter. I'm a qualified physiotherapist."
"Now, that makes sense," Eddie said after a little while.
"Why?"
"Christopher kept saying you were much better than his last physio. I thought it was because of how much he loved you."
"If he'd had a bad day or he needed to do his exercises, I would help. I'd do anything for him."
"Thank you for contacting your grandparents about the lawyer. My parents are not going to be happy when I text and inform them I cannot talk to them until my lawyer gets in contact."
"It's for the best. I can't believe you; Abuela and Pepe are related to them."
"My sisters are wonderful. I can't wait for you to get to know them. Oh, Abuela and Pepe want you to call sometime tomorrow. They've missed you and completely agree with what I am doing with my parents. They're also not going to say anything."
"I've missed them too."
"What is it with you and your sister?" Eddie saw how his face fell. "You don't need to tell me."
"No, it's okay. You've been bluntly honest with me, and I need to tell you. It did end up involving you, as in, I wasn't around."
"Are you sure?"
"I am, it's been years, and I did talk to a professional. I finally accepted it wasn't my fault."
"Okay, if you're sure." Eddie reached over and took Evan's hand.
"There are two things Maddie will do when you talk to her about certain things. She'll always say 'I' had a wonderful one if you ever ask about our childhood. The other is if you ask about her brother, she will pause until Maddie remembers that I exist."
"Wait, what."
"The reason there is quite an age gap between us is because she had a younger brother called Daniel. My parents loved the two of them. They had the 'perfect' family. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with leukaemia. They needed a bone marrow match, and there wasn't one."
"I'm so sorry, Evan."
"I don't really have a connection with him. You'll understand soon. They decided to have another kid, me. I was a match, but it didn't take, and he died. I was blamed."
"But it wasn't you're fault. You were a kid?"
"That's because you're a caring person. My parents didn't see me as their kid. I was just born to save Daniel, and I failed, and they punished me. When I finally saw my medical records, they started beating me when I was six months old. A month after Daniel died, it got worse. It continued until I was eleven."
Eddie didn't know what to say. "What about Maddie?"
"They raised her to not consider me family. They'd pretend when we went out. That's why she pauses when you ask about a baby brother because she thinks of Daniel. My parents weren't great with money. If their company was in debt, they would get money from either of their parents. They loved having another grandson. So my parents would make sure they would arrange dates to visit so I wouldn't be touched, and if I was bruised, they wouldn't see it."
"That's horrific."
"As I got older, I became more withdrawn. My maternal grandparents wanted to know why. My paternal ones travelled a lot and didn't talk to me as much. They made a surprise visit. My parents had a horrible day and took it out on me, then they picked up Maddie from a friend's after they had a sleepover and then went to the beach for the day."
"How old were you? What about the police, the hospital visits?"
"I was eleven, and where we're from, image is everything. It can be gossiped about behind closed doors, but nothing can be mentioned in public. It would put a black mark on the reputation of the neighbourhood. Then certain members of the police and hospital received sizeable 'donations'."
"I think I'm going to be sick."
"My grandparents turned up and found me. They were livid, and they were so sweet and caring I hadn't seen any of them for a while. I felt so alone. I burst into tears and told them everything. I'd always been told no one would believe me."
"But then did?"
"Yes, they did. There was a nurse who had tried to help, but she'd been threatened. She was looking after her younger sisters. One of them was disabled. She was there when my grandparents came storming in. She managed to talk to them privately and gave my actual file."
"What?"
"Certain people at the hospital had an 'abbreviated' version. But she had copied everything. Then the Captain of the police department found out and he was angry what had been happening. A few officers ended up losing their jobs."
"And then were jailed?" Eddie asked hopefully.
"They're rich, white people who know many judges." He watched as Eddie got angrier and angrier. "Both my grandparents said they had to give up guardianship. They were going to disown them, but it was their choice if they had a payment first, and Maddie would get a small trust fund."
"They sold you."
"My grandparents had to get me out of there somehow. It was also clear apart from Maddie; the next most important thing was money. I think that Maddie was so used to being my parents' whole world, so when Doug did it, I guess it felt normal, and that's how love was to her."
"You still helped her?"
"Of course, no one deserves to get treated like that. But once she was settled here and started dating Chimney. I was then taking attention away from her. Remember, I was in the background for her whole life, and she shined brightly on centre stage. It's why she talked to the lawyer and gave him whatever info she got about the station. I assume she told Bobby and the others I was at fault. No one would believe Mackey without anything 'backing' him up."
"You and your grandparents worked so hard for you to become the kind, loving man you are now."
"It's why I don't like the way people tell Christopher he can't do anything."
"You've given him so much confidence by just talking to and believing in him. You're an amazing man Evan Buckley."
"So are you, Edmundo Diaz." He glanced over at the clock and groaned. It was 4am. "We need to get to sleep."
"Thank you for everything."'
"You're welcome, Eddie."
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Athena was looking at the paperwork in front of her and frowned. She'd managed to get Evan Buckley's resignation letter. It was three weeks before the lawsuit. But that didn't make sense. Why would he sue for not being allowed to work? By the time it went anywhere near a court, he'd no longer be a firefighter.
What the hell was going on? Bobby had told her he had seen the evidence. Did he lie? Did someone show him something fake? Athena had to find out what actually happened.
TBC