Heartburn (911)

Chapter 4

TW: Vomiting, Refusal to eat, Self-Harm, Intrusive thoughts, Death, Injury, Abuse.


It had been two weeks or so since the fire and Ronnie and Eddie had sort of maybe decided to take things slow and not to tell anybody about them. So they made up for it by quick makeout sessions in the bunk room, or when Chris was at school. Her ribs had been getting better and the cuts barely leaving a scar, she was starting to feel happy again and knew she had the whole of 118 by her side if she needed them. Ronnie had started to develop a close friendship with Buck and often hung with him and Eddie and Christopher on days off.

Ronnie was halfway through her first shift back when her phone rang with Carlos's ID flashing up, confused she answered and walked away, a frown upon her brow. Carlos never rang her, it was always T.K unless something had happened. Something bad. Her anxiety spiked at seeing the caller ID, she discretely excused herself from the conversation and went to the locker room where she answered.

"Carlos? Are the girls okay?" She questioned desperately.

"They're fine, Ronnie. But TK's in hospital, Harvey came to the house and beat him up. I kept the girls with me and made sure he had left. Judd and Grace have the girls, I'm at the hospital with him now." He ranted wanting to let her know.

She held her sobs back desperately and took a deep breathe. "Thanks for telling me, I'll see if I can come back. I'll let you know. I'm so sorry, this is all my fault." Carlos reassured her it was not her fault and hang up the phone call. Ronnie took a deep breath and stayed in the locker room for a few minutes to calm herself down. She completely blamed herself for what had happened and she hated that she got her best friend hurt.

Ronnie was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't realise that a certain man had entered the room. "Ronnie? What's wrong carina?" Eddie's soft voice echoed in her ear as she sat shaking trying to keep her emotions at bay but failing as the barricade broke and her tears cascaded down her cheeks as she shook.

"I-It's all my fault. He's hurt because of me." She sobbed as Eddie instinctively pulled her into his chest and held her close, he had no idea what was going on but all he knew was that she was blaming herself and that was not a spiral to go down alone, he wanted to be the person there for her, if she would let him.

She sobbed on his shoulder and he let her, gently running his hand through her hair to comfort her, knowing how much it soothed her. "Who's hurt carina?" His rough voice asked, rattling through her panicked brain. Instead of answering she just sobbed, her whole body shook as she leant on her boyfriend to support her.

Within a few minutes her sobs had quitened a bit and she was slowly calming down. "My ex beat T.K up and he's in hospital. It's all my fault. Harvey wouldn't have done anything to him if he wasn't looking after my kids. What if he dies? I've killed my best friend! Oh my god, it's all my fault." She cried, her hands shaking as Eddie took them and placed them on his chest, slowly grounding his girlfriend.

"It's not your fault, mi amor, you did nothing wrong. Why don't we go ask your dad if you can go? Put your mind at rest, see the kids, maybe bring them back with you?" Eddie suggested taking her hand and leading her upstairs, everyone stared at her but nobody said anything as Eddie shook his head. "Cap, can we talk to you please?" He asked gently, indicating Ronnie who was trying to keep it together but failing miserably, still leaning on Eddie to stand up straight, wanting to collapse in on herself.

Bobby nodded and led the two into his office. "Her friend's been injured by her ex husband looking for the kids, he's in hospital and she's blaming herself. I think she wants to go to Austin and be there for him. Can she have a week or two off please?" He asked gently, rubbing his girlfriends back, her dad nodded and sent her a small smile, a silent conversation passing between the two 'go, it's not your fault.' Two hours later Ronnie and Eddie were heading to the airport, she had booked a week's return flight but could postpone it or bring it forward if necessary.