Sideways

Chapter 2. Peacemaker

Thursday Evening, November 16th, 2022

Eddie pulls up to the back of the station to find Buck's jeep already there. He glances down at his watch, 5:15 Pm. He's forty-five minutes early for the start of their shift. The fact that Buck is already here immediately makes Eddie uneasy and more on edge than he already is. Buck usually strolls in twenty minutes or so before the start of his shift. So, for Buck to be here this early means something is up.

He grabs his duffel from the back of his truck and heads into the station. He is in no way ready for the chaos waiting for him when he gets to the top steps of the loft.

Buck is there with Maddie, screaming at each other in a way only siblings can. The Buckleys are surrounded by Bobby, Hen, Chimney, Athena, Karen, and, oddly enough, Ravi. When did Ravi get back from the academy? He walks over to the group standing behind Maddie and Chim directly in Buck's line of site.

"Evan, seriously, what the fuck were you thinking? Who even are these people? I mean, frat boy, Connor. Someone you knew ten years ago and haven't heard from in over three years, someone most of us have never heard of, shows up out of the blue asks you to make a life-changing decision, and you just say yes?" Maddie Screams.

She comes up for a breath and continues. "The fact that you did it and didn't talk to me beforehand speaks volumes. You knew I would have something to say. I know you want to be a father. But Evan, you won't be this child's father. Like Hen said, donor, not Dad. I know you. You aren't going to be able to handle knowing this child is out there. Your child is out there, and you can't have anything to do with them. So why would you do this to yourself? I know you're in this place where you want to say yes to new experiences. But you sat there the day you met with Connor and told me to my face that the Age of Absolutely wasn't about life-changing decisions. I have news for you, little brother; this is life-changing."

The look on Buck's face tells how pissed he is with being belittled in front of his coworkers and friends while at work. "Enough, Maddie; I am an adult. I don't need your permission to make decisions. I had the chance to help them. I did. It's a good thing. What if this is my only chance to be a Dad? Yeah, I know I won't be raising them. But they said I could be involved in some way."

Athena steps up to the plate. "Involved in what way? I am asking Buck. I am not mad at you or upset with you. I don't understand. What kind of involvement could they promise you to make you agree? You know better than any of us; being related to someone biologically doesn't make you a parent."

"We still have to work that out. But we have time to figure that all out before the baby is born." Buck says.

"You should have worked that out before you agreed to this, Buck." Maddie says, still clearly pissed off.

"I know this is hard for all of you to get. But you all need to accept this. It's already done. Kameron is pregnant. This is happening." Buck waves his phone around as he looks around the room pleading for anyone to take his side. Then, finally, his gaze meets Eddie's over Chim's shoulder. Maddie immediately clocks where Buck's eyes are now focused. She turns to face Eddie.

"Eddie, you have been awfully quiet on this subject. How could you let him go through with this? I thought you cared about my brother. How could you sit by and let him do this?" cries Maddie.

"Whoa, Maddie, you're out of line. I know you're upset with me. But this had nothing to do with Eddie. Don't take this out on him. He didn't know about this. "

At this statement, the entire room sucks in a breath.

"Let me get this straight. You didn't even talk this through with Eddie." Asks Bobby, clearly frustrated now.