Hanging in there

Where did all the water go?

Bucks pov

After quitting I really had nothing else to do other than lay in my bed or lay on my couch and watch TV

I was peacefully sleeping when someone interrupted my slumber.

"Get up." Eddie rips off my blankets and the bright light hits my face.

"Ugh why, man? Come on." I groan putting the blanket back over me.

"Because it's morning and you have things to do." Eddie rips off my blanket again.

"No, I really don't." I try to fix my blanket and get comfortable again.

"You need to get out of this house and take a walk around the block and get some fresh air." He takes my blanket off me once again.

"Why? What's the point?" I get up and walk downstairs.

"Well, the point is, your life isn't over just because you're not a firefighter." Eddie calls out.

"Says the firefighter." I walk down the steps and ground myself trying to fully wake up.

"You know, that blood clot could've killed you. But it didn't." Eddie reminds me "You have your whole life ahead of you, so why don't you just take it as a win and stop feeling sorry for yourself?"

I was about to walk back upstairs when I hear a familiar voice.

"Hey, Buck." It was Christopher and Mel's sitting on the couch.

"Hey, buddy. Uh, what are you doing here?" I confused, I noticed Melany was still in her pajamas because she can't get dressed by herself.

"He's hanging out with his Buck today!" Eddie hugs Christopher "Because I have to go work today."

"Where's Carla?" I asked.

"She went to Morongo." Christopher answered.

"Mm-hmm. So take him out, bring Mel's with you, have some fun. Maybe you'll learn something." Eddie walks next to me "He never feels sorry for himself, Love you, buddy." Eddie leaves me with him and her.

"Love you."

"So what do you two like to do for fun?" I  asked.

***

I got Melany changed first and wedged on her shoes and we decided to go to that new fair.

While we were playing a game a fire truck siren went off and I realized how much a missed work.

"Buck!"

"Dad!" I hear Melany shout and I picked up the bear they were holding.

"Oh, hey sorry I got it."

We had fun for the most part and decided to hang by the edge of the pier, I held Christopher up so he wouldn't fall off the the pier. Melany sat on my lap playing with her stuffed bunny. She loved that bunny more than anything. It's name was Penny and she cherished it like her life.

"You ever think about what you want to do with your life? What you want to be when you grow up?" I asked Christopher I knows it's deep to ask a 4 year old and 10 year old but what the heck.

"I wanna be a ballerina or princess!" Melany smiles and I tickle her stomach and she giggled.

"I wanna be an astronaut or a private." Christopher said.

"Some good choices." I nodded "Cool outfits too."

"No, wait. A firefighter!" Christopher changes his answer.

"Yeah, me too." I chuckled.

"Hey, Dad." Melany says.

"Yes?" I looked down at her.

"Can you buy me a princess dress?" Melany asked.

"Of course." I playfully boop her nose and she continued to play with her stuffed bunny.

"But, Chris, if those career paths don't work, um.. I hope you do find something you love. You know, something you're good at. That makes you feel like you matter. Something you could do forever. You too princess." I looked back down at Melany "because when you do. It's gonna tell you who you are. And it's gonna show you the rest of your life. And the is the best feeling." I stare off for a second "and I hope you get that. And I hope you get to keep it."

"You're gonna be okay Daddy." She boops my nose with her stuffed bunny and I look out at the water realizing it's been all sucked in...

I stood up holding Melany and still holding Christopher back.

"Daddy what's going on? Where did all the water go?" Melany asked.

I then saw a huge wave in the water in the distance and I immediately panicked when I heard the alarms. I grabbed Melany and Christopher and we started running.

I felt Melany starting to cry and I held her tightly, I put them both behind this game tent and I saw the water coming towards me and I jumped back before the wave crashed over.

***
Melanys pov

I can't see. Can't breathe. Can't speak

I felt the water wash over me faster than a bullet no Daddy? No Chris? Where am I. I felt myself slip under water slowly..

***

Christopher's pov

Where am I. The water washed over me and I feel like I'm drowning. Where Buck? And where's Mel's? Am I dead?

***
Bucks pov

When I reached the surface I couldn't find Melany and Christopher. I held onto a power line for support.

"Mel's! Christopher! Melany! Christopher!" I shouted looking around for them.

"Buck! Buck!" I saw Christopher holding onto a pole and I swam over to grab him.

"Grab my hand!" I reached out my hand for him but I drifted away from him.

"I can't hold on!" He was slipping.

"Daddy!!" I heard Melany in the distance but then Christopher slipped under water and grabbed him.

I then saw a little head bobbing in the water and I saw Melany "Dad!!!" She slipped under water and I lifted her up holding them both tightly.

***

Melanys pov

As my dad lifted me up I held onto him tightly I was so scared. My dad lifted us onto a firetruck and I held my stuffed bunny tightly for support.

My dad got onto the firetruck with us and he made sure we were safe.

"Mel's! Chris are you hurt." My dad checks over my body and I'll I could do was cry "shhh, it's okay baby I got you."

I can't wait for Buck and Melanys relationship to build!