Chapter 13: Careful What You Wish For
Alisa had just come back home from Cedar-Sinai for her last shift of the month. She announced her presence and placed her belongings in her designated cubby hole at the entryway before walking to the den. "Mommy, you're home!" Christopher greeted from his spot on the couch where he was reading the 3rd Harry Potter book.
"Welcome home, Alisa!" Carla greeted as she brought a snack for Christopher and placed it on the coffee table.
"It's good to be home." Alisa kissed his forehead, "How was he today? Was he causing mischief like the Weasley twins?" she teased and tickled Christopher.
"Oh, he was an angel. 50 points to Gryffindor, I say!" Carla grinned as Christopher's laugh echoed in the house.
"Well, I guess we can stop tickling you for a while." Alisa giggled and brought him in for a hug, "Okay, I'll just freshen up for a bit, and then you can go, Carla."
"No worries. Take your time, Alisa." Carla pushed her gently out of the den, "Have a nice long bath. You look like you need it."
"Thanks, Carla. 30 minutes tops, I promise." Alisa nodded and winked before trekking to the master bedroom where her smile slowly disappeared.
It was a rough day at Cedar-Sinai during her shift and all she wanted was a little peace of mind. Between the children coming in from a heatwave to adults injured from the latest vehicular pile-up and fainting from the heat, the one that took the cake that evening was someone jumping out of his high-rise apartment to get all the money he threw out of his window, the 118 had responded to that one and Eddie could tell by one look that she was very exhausted already and done for the shift.
"This feels nice…" Alisa soaked in a nice bubble bath and relished the peace and quiet for a bit while enjoying the wonders the bath salts were doing to her tired body, "I'll just rest for a bit." She closed her eyes and let the day wash from her.
LINE BREAK
"Daddy, you're home!" Christopher greeted from his spot on the sofa, looking away from watching Finding Nemo.
"Hola, mijo." Eddie smiled and placed his things in his cubby before joining Christopher on the sofa, "Oh, your mom's home. Where is she?" he asked after placing a kiss on his son's curly locks.
"Mommy's still in the bath." the boy replied, "She looked really tired, too."
"Oh." He tilted his head in wonder.
"Hi, Eddie! Welcome home!" Carla greeted, entering from the kitchen, "Your lady love looked really tired today so I told her to have a really good soak but she's been there a while." the older woman thoughtfully added. "Don't you worry, I made dinner for y'all and Christopher helped make it, we already ate as well… He loves his cheese."
"Cheese is the best food ever! Well, next to ice cream." Christopher declared and they laughed at his enthusiasm.
"Well, it looks like you're waaaaay past your bedtime, Cheese Connoisseur Christopher." Eddie stood up and hugged Carla, "I got it from here, Carla. Thank you."
"No worries, Eddie. I got you and the family." She patted his back in a motherly manner, "You take care now."
"We will." he nodded.
"Bye, Carla! See you again!" Christopher grinned and waved.
"Bye, Christopher." Carla gave him a hug then left, locking the door behind her.
Eddie made sure to double-check the locks in his home before ushering Christopher into his room to get ready for bed. The boy wanted to protest but a yawn escaped from his lips causing his father to chuckle and tucked him in bed, "Don't grow up too fast, mijo." Eddie kissed his forehead, "Godnatt, dröm sött."
"Godnatt, dröm sött, daddy." Christopher closed his eyes, "Can we have a beach day?"
"Sure, we can. I'll let your mom know." Eddie nodded.
"Cool…" he drifted off to sleep.
Eddie closed his bedroom door then went to the master bedroom. He expected to see Alisa but only found an empty bed and concluded she was still in the bath. He proceeded to their bathroom and couldn't help but sigh at Alisa who was dozing off in the bathtub, the bubbles had mostly subsided, indicating she's been in there for quite some time. "Mi amor," he kneeled beside the tub and shook her a bit, "you can't stay there or you'll get sick."
"Hnn…" she moaned.
"Vakna, älskling." he kissed her forehead.
"...Eddie?" she slowly opened her eyes, "You're home…" she gave him a sleepy smile.
"I am." he smiled and stroked her face, "I heard you've been here for quite a while."
"Oh no! Carla! Christopher!" she sat up, her water pillow falling in the tub and sloshing water everywhere.
"It's handled, don't worry. Both of them said you looked really tired so they let you be for a while." Eddie explained, "You really do, even when we dropped the man off at the hospital. Now," he got a towel and opened it for her, "Let's get you to bed and our son has requested we plan a beach day."
"That sounds wonderful." she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his shoulder, "I love you."
"I love you too." he wrapped the towel around her and kissed her temple, "Let's dry you up and get you in your pajamas so I can also get ready for bed."
"...sounds really good." she looked ready to fall asleep again.
"I got you, mi amor." he whispered, sitting her on the bathroom counter and drying her up.
"You're wonderful." she smiled at him and Eddie couldn't help but cuddle her to his person.
LINE BREAK
Huntington Beach
The Diaz family finally went to the beach on Eddie's next day off after his 24-hour shift. The couple followed behind Christopher who was looking for the best spot where they could stay. He declared that they needed the perfect spot for such a perfect day where the sun was high but it wasn't scorching hot and the sea breeze was cool. "This is nice. I'm glad we were able to do this." Alisa commented as she walked beside Eddie with their hands intertwined.
"Same. We all picked a perfect day." Eddie grinned, adjusting his hold on the beach bag that carried their things, including the food and toys for Christopher.
"Our son is a genius." she declared, "Who knew we needed this?"
"Well, he has to get it from someone." he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Abuela." she teased.
"I FOUND THE PERFECT SPOT!" Christopher yelled enthusiastically.
After eating their lunch, the couple watched Christopher build a sandcastle a little ways from them as they sat on their beach blanket. Eddie sat behind Alisa with her back resting against his chest and his arms wrapped around her middle and hers rested on top of his arms. "I'm proud of you." Alisa said.
"Hm?" Eddie rested his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled her neck causing her to giggle.
"I'm proud of you for overcoming a lot… you feel lighter." she continued, "Like yesterday's worries are slowly but surely fading."
"That's because I have you, Chris, Buck, and the 118." he confessed, "Here, I have a better environment."
"I don't think we ever said it out loud… but moving here and starting over was the best idea for all of us." she whispered.
"I can't imagine us in Chicago anyway." he chuckled, "But you're right. Moving here was the best."
Twisting her body a little to face him, Alisa stroked his cheek and gazed into his eyes, "Eddie,"
"Alisa," he gazed back.
"Tack för presenten." she smiled.
"Vilken present?" he asked.
"Your love, Christopher, family." she responded.
"I should be thanking you then." he cupped her cheek, "Thank you for making us feel complete."
"I love you." her smile blinded him as it shone as bright as the sun.
"I love you, too." he pulled her into a kiss.
"I love you three!" Christopher snuck up on them and tackled them as best as he could and they burst into such joyous laughter.
"We love you, mijo." they chorused and cuddled him close.
LINE BREAK
TK: What a nice beach day, I'm jealous!
Alisa: We'll go to the beach if you can come next summer.
Alisa: Or you know, family vacation to Hawaii.
TK: I'm looking forward to that then.
TK: Oh, dad's asking if you need lodging while the 3 of you are here.
Alisa: We were able to book an AirBnB near dad's apartment. Thanks for asking though.
TK: Great! Give me all your booking details so we can plan in advance!
TK: All of us will pick you guys up!
Alisa: You're the best older brother!
Alisa: Christopher is excited for the cold and seeing 252 again.
TK: Not as excited as I am to see him, though! Anyway, gotta go. We just got a call!
Alisa: Take care! ILY!
TK: ILY2!
"You look happy." Eddie whispered from behind her causing her to jump in surprise.
"Ah!" she squeaked, "Eddie!"
"I couldn't resist, mi amor." he hugged and nuzzled her from behind, "TK okay?"
"Yup, he's excited for our trip after your shield ceremony." Alisa replied and raised a hand to pet Eddie's hair while sending the details to TK in her other hand, "Sending him the details, too."
"Hm." he hummed, "Are you finished texting with TK?" he nipped at her neck.
"Oh!" she melted against him as he trailed kisses on her neck and shoulders.
"Care to dance, mi corazon?" Eddie whispered, twirling her in his arms.
"Siempre." her laughter sounded like bells in his ears and she pressed a kiss to his lips, "What music?"
Eddie smiled into the kiss and returned it happily before pulling away, "Whatever song you want, I just want to hold you as we dance…" Music suddenly filled their patio and they started to dance.
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I can
Alisa sang to the music while Eddie took the lead as they danced.
How long will I need you?
As long as the seasons need to
Follow their plan
How long will I be with you?
As long as the sea is bound to
Wash upon the sand
How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to
And longer by far
How long will I hold you?
As long as your father told you
As long as you can
How long will I give to you?
As long as I live through you
However long you say
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
Though the song was short, they still continued to dance to the next song, locked in their own little world as the night sky twinkled above them. They didn't notice their son had arrived after spending the day with Buck at the zoo and playing videogames at his apartment before taking him home after dinner. Their blonde best friend was filming them as Christopher walked towards them, the two automatically swept their child in their arms and continued dancing to the next song, and Alisa sang once again.
I'll tell the world, I'll sing a song
It's a better place since you came along
Since you came along
"Mommy, that's your lullaby to me…" Christopher giggled but nuzzled further into her.
Your touch is sunlight through the trees
Your kisses are the ocean breeze
Everything's alright when you're with me
Eddie stole one of many kisses from her and wrapped his family closer to his arms.
And ah, you're my favorite thing
Ah, all the love you bring
Alisa lovingly and warmly looked at her family.
Well, it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colours are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along
Alisa could feel Christopher preening and Eddie getting emotional.
I see the whole world in your eyes
It's like I've known you all my life
We just feel so right
"We do feel so right…" Eddie whispered, stealing another kiss.
So I pour my heart into your hands
It's like you really understand
You love the way I am
"We love you, mommy…" Christopher whispered, wrapping his arms as best as he can around her.
And ah, you're my favourite thing
Ah, all the happiness you bring
Christopher was starting to doze off in her arms.
Well, it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colours are golden and bright again
And the sun paints the skies and the wind sings her song
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along
Now I'm alright, now I'm alright, everything's alright
Buck blushed and sheepishly smiled when the Diaz couple looked at him smiling, he entered their patio and they continued their moment as he recorded some more.
'Cause it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colours are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along
"... That… that was amazing." Buck whispered, a little teary-eyed.
"Thanks." Alisa smiled warmly, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah." Buck wiped his eyes, "I'm okay. The song kinda hit home, is all."
"We're here if you need to talk, buddy." Eddie said, getting the sleeping Christopher from Alisa's arms.
"Thanks, guys." The tall male hugged them and they returned it as best as they could.
"It's getting late, do you want to sleep over again? I'm sure Christopher would like to have breakfast with you before he goes to school tomorrow." Eddie asked.
"That would be cool. Uh… I think I have clothes in the trunk of my Jeep." Buck said.
"No worries, the clothes you left last time are in the closet. Washed and clean." Alisa grinned, "Honestly, you sleep over so often, feel free to leave a bag of clothes."
"I wouldn't want to be a bother." Buck ducked his head.
"You're part of our family. You're always welcome here." the Diaz couple chorused and Buck got teary-eyed again.
"Oh! Buck, send us a copy of the video, please!" Alisa gave him her patented puppy eyes, he couldn't resist it ever. He told Eddie that Christopher's puppy eyes were a copy from Alisa, to which Eddie laughed and agreed.
LINE BREAK
Station 118
Alisa was called again for another shift with the 118 and she was finally going to experience the shift with Interim Captain Howard Han as the lead. It was safe to say she didn't mind him a lot when she volunteered to cook for the day, even making ready-to-cook mac and cheese for the B and C shifts, so that she won't end up eviscerating Chimney. He was doing good but he was having a hard time separating work and personal relationships, as well as trying to figure out what kind of leader he was going to be. "Be Chimney, don't be Bobby." Alisa smacked his hand that was trying to reach for the cookies she baked.
"Ow! Don't hit me!" he whined and tried to reach for another cookie, "Ow!"
"Out of my kitchen, please. I'm not done here." Alisa smacked his hand again.
"Ow! Geez, fine! Fine!" Chimney pouted in defeat and sat at the table instead, "I'm sure Maddie would let me steal cookies."
"I'm not Maddie, Cap." she giggled, "This is worth the wait, I promise. Just mull over what Bobby and I told you."
"How come you know what Bobby told me?" Chimney looked at her.
LINE BREAK
911, what's your emergency?
I'm calling from the Seymour Chocolate Factory in El Segundo. My colleague is drowning in Dark Chocolate!
He's a factory worker?
A social studies teacher! Just please hurry!
LINE BREAK
Seymour Chocolate Factory Pasadena
"How's our drowning victim, Carol?" Alisa asked the woman in a white lab coat.
"Well, he's still in the tank." she explained, "We tried pulling him out but he was struggling so much that he sank even deeper." Carol directed them to the man in the vat, "Our chocolate is the richest in the country. Unfortunately, it's also the heaviest."
"How are you doing there, sir?" Chim asked.
"W-warm." the man stuttered out.
"We had to leave the heat on or the chocolate will harden." Carol added.
"Then we'd be chiseling him out." Chim looked at his team, "Let's get him out."
The 118 ladder team burst to life and started to do their jobs. Buck and Eddie placed a ladder to create a bridge across the vat of chocolate while Hen and Alisa checked on his vitals. Buck and Eddie tried to get him out but it was futile. Chim instructed Hen to put a tube through the man's mouth so he could breathe should he suddenly go under again. "I'm open to suggestions!" Chim admitted.
"..." Alisa began to wrack her mind, "...cocoa butter… it tempers the chocolate and decreases the viscosity."
"Do you have cocoa butter you could spare, Carol?" Chim asked.
"We do." she nodded.
"Great, we need it." Chim looked at her.
Next thing the 118 knew, Chim and Alisa were running with a tank of cocoa butter and poured some in the vat of chocolate. Alisa handed an extra paddle to Hen and they began to mix and when it was enough, Buck and Eddie managed to pull the man out. "How'd you know about cocoa butter?" Chim asked.
"I bake, remember?" Alisa replied.
"Oh yeah…" he hummed.
LINE BREAK
The 118 was cleaning up after themselves of all the chocolate in the showers, Eddie managed to lick some off Alisa from behind watchful eyes and she blushed really hard when he wouldn't stop for a while. It took her whispering they could make their own melted chocolate at home for him to stop and let her escape to the showers while he took a long cold one to hide his excitement.
Sometime later, they were dispatched to a neighborhood where a bomb had exploded on a lady's front porch and she was injured in the blast. Her husband was deathly worried about her but luckily, she was going to make it. Athena informed them that it was a mail bomb and to keep their eyes open for anyone suspicious in their succeeding calls and to be careful.
LINE BREAK
911, what's your emergency?
A car just drove through a crowd of people at a crosswalk! It looks really bad!
Where are you?
Rose Avenue!
LINE BREAK
Alisa could only look in horror at the victim who was laying on the ground as she knelt down beside her. "Shannon?" she whispered as she placed a c-collar on her neck.
"A-Alisa?" the brunette's eyes found hers, "Are you really here?"
"Yeah, it's me." she replied, assessing her injuries, "I'm here." she placed her stethoscope around her neck.
"This is so embarrassing…" Shannon started to tear up.
"No, no." Alisa shook her head, "We're going to try everything we can to help you, alright?"
"EDDIE, WAIT! EDDIE!" she heard Buck warn Eddie.
"Shannon?" Eddie appeared on her other side.
"Eddie?" Shannon's eyes locked on his.
"Her vitals are dropping." Alisa prepped the backboard, "We need to get her to a hospital."
"N-no. N-no. It's okay." Shannon smiled at her, tears falling.
"Shannon, we need to get you to a hospital." Eddie insisted.
"N-no, it's okay… I'm not going to make it." she whispered, "I'm so sorry for hurting you and Christopher…"
"Put her on the board, now!" Alisa ordered and Chim helped her on the backboard so they could place her on the gurney, "Shannon, you can apologize later. Right now, we need to get you to the hospital."
Chim and Alisa loaded her into the ambulance where Hen was in the driver's seat. Alisa got in and Eddie followed her with Chim by Shannon's head, preparing to intubate.
"She's decompensating." Chim looked at Eddie, "Once that tube's in, it might not come out."
"It's going to be okay." Shannon sighed, "I can't feel anything… I haven't in a long time."
"Drive!" Chim ordered.
"Shannon," Eddie swallowed, "I… We forgive you. We got your letter… the letter you sent through Alisa."
"Christopher read it?" she asked.
"He did." Alisa responded as Eddie was about to break down, "They read it together. He wanted to write to you but we didn't know where you were, we tried to find you."
"That's okay…" her eyes began to close, "I was going to send another letter but never did… I wrote it 2 years ago when I heard y'all moved here… I wanted… to tell you… thank you…"
"Me?" Alisa stroked Shannon's face like a mother would her child.
"To thank you… for loving them when I couldn't… for caring… for being kind to me… for everything." Shannon's breathing began to slow, "Please take care of them… And love them always…"
"You're always welcome, Shannon…" Alisa held in her tears as Eddie's began to flow from his eyes like waterfalls, "I will… I always will."
"Thank… you…" she took her last breath.
"Intubating!" Chim called as the line went flat.
That was the last thing the couple heard as they arrived at the hospital.
Alisa let her husband follow the doctors as she stood back with the 118. Her heart broke for Eddie once again as he looked so broken when they saw Shannon. They might have ended their marriage and she left Christopher but she was his first wife and the woman who gave birth to his only son. He might not have loved her like he loved Alisa but they were together since they were in high school. "Aren't you going to follow him?" Buck asked, helping her to a seat in the waiting area.
"No," she sniffed and took a handkerchief out from her pocket, "he needs this closure."
"Are you going to be okay?" he asked, a comforting hand placed on her shoulder.
"I have to be or he'll break." Alisa whispered as Bobby arrived to join the rest of the 118.
A while later, Eddie walked back towards them, holding the bag that carried Shannon's belongings and a sorrowful expression on his face. Everyone stood up and watched him walk towards Alisa who met him halfway, silently mourning with him even if they didn't know the full story of who the woman was. Alisa brought him in her arms and he practically launched himself, silently sobbing on her shoulder as she consoled him by rubbing his back and just holding him.
LINE BREAK
Hours later, when their shift ended, the couple talked to Christopher, Abuela Isabel, and Tia Pepa about Shannon and what happened, they got along with her well when they were still together. Christopher may have had so little memory of her but he still felt sad about what happened, she was more of a stranger to him but was still a little sad. Abuela and tia were also sorrowful about it as they knew her when they were younger and had suggested they go to her funeral. Alisa let them further discuss while she sat in the farthest bench in their backyard for some privacy when she read Shannon's letter they found in her bag. It was the first letter Eddie's first wife had written to her and it had her crying silently, as not to alert her family who sat on the patio couch.
Dear Alisa,
I know this might have been out of the blue but I've been meaning to send this to you. It's not like those movies or telenovelas where the ex-wife is spiteful or anything of the sort.
I just wanted to write to you, to let you know that I'm so thankful that Eddie and Christopher found you in their lives. Thank you for loving Eddie when I couldn't. Thank you for loving Christopher, when I couldn't. Thank you for taking care of them, when I couldn't. Thank you for being their everything… thank you for delivering my letter to them those years ago when we met up for coffee near your fire station…
You were so warm like the sun and thank you for not holding anything against me, even sharing your experience of being part of a broken family. I realized that if you did, they could too.
I knew from the beginning, that Eddie and I weren't meant to last but Christopher was a surprise that we loved but I didn't have the courage or the strength to stay… I would have been miserable if I stayed and I would have made them as well.
The first time I saw them again was with you, Christopher was probably 3 when I visited a cousin in El Paso. At that time already, I'd never seen such joy light upon his face, even with the crutches. And Eddie… Eddie's eyes had looked at you with so much love, it was the real kind of love. He never gazed at me like that. On that same day, I also saw you defending Eddie quite fiercely against his parents who tried to take Christopher away again… you fought for them, even when they put you down. Something I could never do no matter how much I wanted to.
I'm not sure if I will ever send this (but it's always in my purse!) because I didn't know where you were all residing and I was too afraid to send it to the 118 where Eddie was stationed (Instagram really helped!). But if this suddenly reaches you, all I wanted to tell you was thank you for bringing them happiness, love, and safety. Be their pillar of support and never leave them.
Always,
Shannon
"You don't have to worry. I've been doing it for so long and will continue to do so…" Alisa wiped her tears and placed the letter in her pocket, "Please watch over Peanut for us…"
"Alisa," Eddie called from the door.
"Over here!" She replied and he followed her voice, hastily making herself presentable.
"Hey," he sat beside her and pulled her against him.
"Hey," she held his hand.
"Thank you…" he whispered.
"For what?" she asked.
"Thank you for being here…" he replied.
"I'll always be here for you, for Christopher, and our family." she cupped his cheek and touched their foreheads together.
"I don't know what I did to deserve you." he closed his eyes, resisting the urge to break.
"You love me as I love you." she pulled him close, "Let it out." He did as she said.
A/N: I'm horrid at writing letters, I'm so sorry! Huhuhuhu thanks again for all the love and support! it keeps me motivated in writing this for my fellow 911 Fans \(^w^)/
Translations:
Godnatt, dröm sött - Good night, sweet dreams
Tack för presenter - Thank you for the gift
Tack för presenter - What gift?
Songs used:
How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
Better Place - Rachel Platten