"Buck, they need to be a little higher," Hen called from below him. He readjusted the string of lights with a huff as he balanced at the very top rung of the ladder. It was a mid-December day, one of the colder days even for California but here he was on the top step hanging Christmas lights because Hen had said the firehouse wasn't festive enough. "No Buck, now they are too high."

"I don't see you on the top of this ladder," he called back down as he lowered the strand.

"I thought daredevil Buckaroo would want to do it." She couldn't see him roll his eyes but he was pretty sure she knew. "There, don't move them." He groaned, they had returned to the last position they had been in before she had called up to him. He pinned the lights and slid his way down the ladder to see his handy work.

"I think it look's good," Bobby called as he walked out of the firehouse.

"I told you," Hen grinned, "we needed to be more festive." Buck laughed and put the rest of the lights away. He may have complained but he wouldn't change being here at the firehouse for the world. It had taken time but he was back, were he belonged. After his lunch at the firehouse things were a little ruff, he still wasn't sleeping but some how he would convince Maddie to let him go home. At night he would wake up in that cold sweat, sometimes crying, sometimes breathless but he would be alone. After a while he told himself that talking to Maddie wasn't going to be enough so after a week alone he found Dr. Ian Morrison who saw him once a week. Slowly he began to sleep through a night here or there but eventually the dreams would die down. He still had those moments waking up in a panic but his team and his sister were always a only a phone call away. He wouldn't return to work until late November; Bobby started him off easy and for the first time he was appreciative. He worked part time for the first week, and eventually fall back into place and beginning to feel like he had some control of his life all the while his team, his family stood by his side.

"Well, I came out here to get you both for dinner."

"What did you make tonight," Hen inquired.

"Chili, I figured it's the perfect night for it."

"I am all for that," Hen clapped her hands together and rushed inside. Buck shook his head and laughed as he set the lights aside and started to head in.

"Wait a minute Buck, I have something for you." For a moment Buck was nervous but Bobby face was nothing but kind and he wore a subtle smile.

"What's up Cap?" Bobby seemed a little hesitant but he pulled an envelope from his back pocket and handed it to him. "This came for you today, from the house that saved you, they said that Madison left for you." His heart pounded in his chest as he flipped the letter over and observed the perfect calligraphy, his full name written neatly across.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

"Nah, I'll meet you in there," Buck was still blindsided by arrival of this letter. Today was a significant day, it would mark two months since the accident.

"We are in here if you need us." Buck nodded and thanked Bobby, waiting until he had disappeared inside to sit down against the firehouse and open the letter. For a moment he stopped himself, he was afraid to read what was inside but with a letter crafted so carefully he soon pushed away the worry after a deep breath and ripped the seam. The letter itself matched the neat cursive of the envelope on a beige paper folded carefully in a trifold. He fumbled it open to begin reading.

Dear Evan,

I hope this letter finds you, it took me a long time to come up with the right words to say to you, everything I needed to tell you and I still don't think this letter will fully do that. I should start off by thanking you, though there is no way that I can truly thank you for saving my life that day on that ledge when you, yourself were injured. When I work up, I did not remember being rescued, the last thing I can recall is feeling like I was floating but your voice pushing through, begging me to stay awake. I will not lie that haunts me at night, knowing that you did your best to keep me alive and me being ready to let go, but I did not. I woke up to Annie's beautiful face, I got to hear her sweet voice every day because of you. I thank God everyday for you Evan, you saved my life, kept your promise about bringing me home and for that I will never be able to repay you. I have been seeing a therapist trying to cope with everything, the trauma of it all, the loss of my leg; she was actually the one that suggested this letter. I sat at my desk, there were tears shed, a couple of glasses of wine and some pep talks from Annie to get through it all because I held so much guilt for what happened to you. When I woke up, I asked about you, for a long time I was not given an answer and I worried that for some reason that meant that you were either really hurt or dead. Annie held my hand as I waited for something, but it would not come until after I was moved out of the ICU and place on the floor that you had been released from days earlier. I cannot tell you the relief I felt when I heard you were okay, safe and home with your sister. I really hope you are dealing with this okay, I remember you telling me of your struggles before with your PTSD. I hope that you are safe and sound, that you have gone back to doing what you love, back to a firefighter because if I learned anything it is that you were meant to do it. I hope you made amends with your friends, become a family again like you told me you once were. Most importantly, the one thing I want over everything for you is for you to be happy. I want you to be happy, I want you to feel normal again like you wanted. You were my saving grace, I saw you struggle, I saw you fight with yourself and when you thought I was out of it I heard you cry. I know you thought that you didn't do enough but what you did was my miracle, I could live without a leg, as long as I am alive that is all that matters and it is all thanks to you. Because of you I get see my friends and family, because of you I married the love of my life, in the hospital bed while I recovered. Because of you I will go on living, for many years, growing old and maybe someday sharing the story to my grandchildren about the insane events that lead up to the incident and the way you, Evan Buckley save my life with no medical supplies and a limited amount of medical knowledge. I don't know if you will get this letter or if you do maybe you wont read it but as I sit here trying to come up with a perfect way to end this, just knowing you are alive will be enough for me. I sent you a picture with it, if my makeshift wedding day, so that you can see that I am happy and okay too. You will always have a special place in my heart and an a gigantic debt of gratitude that I will carry forever.

Thank you again,

With Love

Madison Strella.

Evan let out a shaky breath as he wiped the tears that fell down his face. He hugged the letter tightly to his chest for a moment; maybe this was a piece of closure that he needed. Knowing she was excelling, even though she struggled like he did she was pushing forward and so was he. He pulled from the envelope the picture she was talking about; her and Annie, looking lovingly into each other's eyes while someone snapped the picture. He pulled out his wallet and tucked the photo and the letter inside, it would serve as a reminder that she was okay and that he had helped her. He picked himself off the floor, wiping away a few pebbles that stuck to him and headed inside. The intoxicating smell of Bobby's chili was calling to him and his stomach agreed with a grumble. He jogged up the stairs and was greeted by the faces of his family.

"You okay," Bobby asked as he handed him a bowl.

"Yeah," he smiled. "I'm doing great."

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The End, I hope you like this story, I know you I should have had him meet with Madison but everytime I sat down to write it, everything seemed wrong about it. I hope to write another 911 story soon, I do love Buck and the gang, maybe I will pick another character soon. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, I love the feedback and appreciate each and everyone of you.