Anatomy • Eddie's daughter

Playing the Part

20

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──
"I gave you all my best me's,
my endless empathy
And all I did was bleed as
I tried to be the bravest soldier"
── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

The next couple of weeks were surprisingly good for the Diaz family (and Buck). Buck was out of the hospital and on crutches for who knows how long. The school was almost out for the Diaz children. And Eddie was getting out of his probationary era and into his permanent era.

Actually, let me take that back. Eddie, Chris, and Buck had a good couple of weeks. Jo acted the part, but in reality, she just climbed deeper into her hole after her big mental breakdown with her father.

And she needed a friend.

AKA Finn.

Lets rewind.

"I'm here for a meeting with Maria Helms. We were supposed to meet today." Eddie tells the red-headed office lady who smacks her gum like there's no tomorrow. Buck stands behind him, leaning on his crutches and looking at some plaques on the wall.

Eddie thought it might be good for Buck to come. Get out and about. And he just didn't really want to do this alone. "Can I see an ID?"

Eddie ruffles through his wallet, pulls out his ID, and slides it across the counter.

A loud crash comes from behind him making everyone jump and flick their eyes on the source.

Of course, Buck stands there with his eyes on the floor looking at the metal water bottle that's rolling around. "Sorry, still getting used to these."

"Would you just sit down and be still." Eddie ushers as a wave of embarrassment flashes over him. He turns and gives the lady a short smile, but doesn't get one back in response.

"Husbands?" The ginger asks, typing away at her computer.

Eddie's eyebrows shoot up in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

Her eyes trace up Eddie's body and to his eyes rudely. Like he said something wrong. "Does your husband have identification with him?" She pronounces each word clearly and smoothly.

Eddie's face turns red as he quickly shakes his head. "He's not my husband. Just a friend."

"Oh."

———

"Go to the left and then to room E112. Ms. Helms already knows you're on the way." The lady tells them and points to the door.

Eddie and Buck both mutter a thank you before walking out of the office and into the empty hallway, Buck bumping into a few more things on the way out.

Once the two start walking through the hallway Buck takes in a big sniff and lets out an exaggerated breath. "High School. God, to be back here again."

Eddie rolls his eyes.

"The getaway from home. Do you smell that?" Buck asks as he takes a few sniffs in.

Eddie wrinkles his nose up. "What? Urine and drugs."

"Popularity and drama. God I loved high school!" Buck says proudly, earning a small smile from Eddie. The two turned down the hallway and each scavenged for E112. "Were you popular in high school?"

Eddie sighs. "I guess getting a girl knocked up makes you pretty well known. But before that, yeah I guess. I was a star in the soccer and baseball teams till my father made me quit cause it "wasn't a man's job" and "it's taking away from the real things." Eddie says as his father's words play over in his head. "Jo was popular too. In Texas. Now it's like she's just let her whole life fall to bits."