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Oh good lords, I haven't typed that in quite a while and for a new fandom, too! Lacy here, kids, diving into a new world that I love so much. I don't often get into shows that aren't scifi or fantasy based, but the 9-1-1 universe is just right for me. So when a story idea hit, I was powerless to say no. However, it has been some time since I managed to post anything, so I wanted to dip my toes in before diving right into the main storyline for this character.
It's a crossover with Lone Star and I really hope you all enjoy it! Read on!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story idea and the original character placed within the story.
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TK sighed as he sat down on the couch, phone in hand. It was a slow day as far as calls went. One might even call it quiet, if they were willing to jinx the entire house. Having just heard from Buck about a probie speaking the forbidden word and the shift that followed, TK had no desire to fall in the same trap. But he also wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and complain about it being slow. Even adrenaline junkies that were most first responders needed calm days now and again.
Deciding to check his social medias, TK pulled up Instagram on his phone as Marjan dropped down beside him.
"Hey," Marjan looked over TK's shoulder. "Have you noticed this random account tagged in a lot of the 118's posts?"
TK leaned towards Marjan, seeing the highlighted tag 'Baby Buckley's World'. "Isn't that Buck's niece?"
Marjan shook her head. "No, Maddie and Chim have their own joint account for Jee-Yun. And this account started before she was born." She pulled up the Instagram account called 'Jee-Yun's Magic'. It was filled with pictures of the four month old smiling, giggling, sleeping. Anything her parents decided was cute. "This other one is private and its only followers are the 118 and their immediate family."
TK frowned, checking the account on his own phone before pulling up his text conversation with Buck.
Hey man, what's up with this 'Baby Buckley's World' account tagged in so many 118 pics?
Sending the text, TK went back to Instagram and started looking through all the pictures that had the account tagged. He tried to see what was the same in each one, but most were just group shots, always the same mix of people with one or two added or missing.
"I just texted Eddie," Marjan said. "He claims it's not really a secret account or anything, but also not his place to share the mystery."
TK's frown deepened. "How is it not a secret if telling us isn't his place?"
Marjan shrugged. "I have no idea. Any reply from Buck?"
TK quickly looked and proceeded to laugh. "I did not know you could stutter over text." he showed Marjan the reply.
Oh, tht. I..it's nothing. Just, uh, just a side account I made for Jee-Yun.
Marjan snorted. "Oh that boy is nowhere near as smooth as he thinks he is."
TK gave a snort of his own as he typed his reply.
Dude, the account was created before Jee-Yun was even conceived, if I did my math right.
It's a long story, man. I'll explain next time we FaceTime
TK, Buck and Christopher had biweekly FaceTime 'dates' as Carlos and Eddie liked to tease. Actually, everyone teased it, but the three loved sharing stories and fun facts they'd learned during the in-between times and it had helped all three with the pandemic and craziness. TK had thought it was weird to have such a tight bond with a guy he only met once and a kid he'd never met, but that was just the way TK made friends, and apparently Buck and Chris were the same.
I'm holding you to that, Buckley
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As patiently as TK was waiting for the next FaceTime with Buck, he got his answer almost a week before.
Athena, field Sergeant for the LAPD and wife of 118's Captain, Bobby, posted a simple picture on her Instagram account, once more tagging Baby Buckley's World and adding the caption, 'My beautiful grandbaby 3'. It really wasn't hard to figure things out from that.
The picture contained only two people; Athena and a little girl, no older then eight or nine. The child had peach skin with a light tan, piercing blue eyes and curly, bright blonde hair that was pulled into two low pigtails. With her hair pulled back, it was easy to see the port wine birthmark across her left eyebrow. That and the blue eyes connected the dots.
"Buck has a kid?" Marjan nearly screeched when TK showed her Athena's picture.
"That's the only explanation I can see." TK said. "She looks just like him and Buck always said Bobby was like his father. It would make sense that his wife was like his mom and why she was calling the kid her grandchild."
"Judd!" Marjan hollered to the Texan. "iPad! A certain dumbass has some explaining to do!"
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When Buck heard his phone trilling with the sound of a FaceTime call, he knew he was in trouble. He'd given Athena permission the day before to post a picture of her and Brinley from the last family gathering, with the okay to label Brinley as her granddaughter. Buck knew, the moment TK saw the post, he and Marjan were going to be demanding answers. As he glanced wearily at his phone, he knew it was coming. And judging by the poorly concealed snickers from around the loft, so did everyone else.
"Just answer it." Hen advised. "You know those two. Dogs with bones."
Buck nodded and exhaled before answering the call. TK and Marjan appeared on the screen, scowling faces barely centimeters from each other.
"Hey guys," he tried greeting cheerfully. After all, he was genuinely happy to see his friends, even if they didn't appear happy to see him.
"Hey?" Marjan started. "All you can say is 'Hey'?"
Buck shrugged. "I coulda started with how's it going. Or even how's the weather."
"Funny." TK deadpanned. "You know why we're calling, Buckley."
"You saw Athena's post." Buck didn't really have to guess, but decided playing dumb was the way to go. Though, Chim's snicker said it wasn't.
"Oh, you mean the one with the adorable little girl that she calls her granddaughter?" Marjan suggested sarcastically. "The adorable little girl who has very familiar blue eyes and blonde hair? Not to mention a certain birthmark on her forehead?!"
Buck winced. Marjan's voice got louder and louder with each word. "Yeah, that's the one."
"Explain, man." TK kept that neutral tone that let you know he was annoyed and maybe a bit angry, but definitely not happy.
Buck glanced around him. Eddie hadn't moved from his spot beside him on the couch, one hand resting on the back of Buck's neck in silent support as he read on his phone. Hen and Chim were sitting at the table, reading, but Buck could tell they were paying attention, too. And Bobby was making breakfast, but was clearly all ears with the way his chopping was slowed and his eyes bounced between Buck and the food.
"That's my daughter." Buck said finally after hearing Judd in the background asking if he'd run away. "I adopted her about eleven months ago."
"Adopted?" TK sounded confused. "She could be your mini female clone."
Buck chuckled. "Yeah, yeah she could. Her mom was my cousin. She and her husband died when Brinley was around two. Her parents and my parents made the royally stupid decision to put Brinley in foster care rather then take care of her. I only found out about her when Christopher befriended her at school last year. It had been five years since the accident at that point. As soon as I found out about her-"
"-you had to take her in." Marjan finished. "I get that. Though, your parents and aunt and uncle suck, just fyi."
Snorts sounded from both sides of the call, Judd appearing briefly as he walked behind the pair, nodding his agreement.
"My sister likes to say they're not bad people," Buck explained. "Just bad parents."
"They're bad everything." Eddie threw in his two cents.
Buck shrugged, not agreeing or arguing. "So I took Brin in as soon as I could, I was already a registered foster parent, and then began the process of adopting her."
"That's awesome, man." TK smiled brightly. "I mean, not what your parents and relatives did, that sucks. But that you took her in without even hesitating once you found out about her, that takes character."
Buck blushed. "Thanks,"
"So," Marjan made a 'get on with it' motion. "Tell us about her. Is she as much your mini-me as she appears? How's Chris handling sharing your attention? Spill!"
Seeing Buck laugh and launch into well known tales about the little girl they'd all come to know and love in the last year, the rest of the 118 went back to their respective projects. They all knew Buck would talk until he was hoarse or the alarm went off when it came to Brinley. The youngest member of the team had taken to fatherhood like a fish to water and they couldn't be happier for them. And from the sounds of it, neither could their friends at the 126.
And just like that, Baby Buckley's World got just a little bit bigger.
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Okay! So this took on a life of its own, but I love how it came out. Yeah, it's short, but it's just the intro into Brinley's world. Fun fact, her name actually changed during the writing of this one shot. She was originally Carissa, but I felt Brinley suited her better, especially once I fleshed out her character on the 3D avatar creator I use. IMVU is amazing. Let me know what you think, flame policy located on my profile, stands for as long as I write, and I'll see you all in the next story!
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