Black And Blue-E.Buckley (9-1-1)

ThirtyTwo

Somebody save me, me from myself

"Hey, thanks for being here," Eddie pulled Eleanor into a tight embrace. 

"Of course, we all need a little moral support sometimes. What else are friends for."

"How's work going? You're rocking those scrubs."

"Thank you," Eleanor's smile widened. "I really enjoy it. How's he doing?" She turned slightly toward the window. Inside the room was Christopher with one of the pediatric psychologists. 

"Good, I think. He doesn't really talk to me so hopefully he'll talk to the doctor."

"He'll talk eventually. It's just gonna take him a little, what he went through was traumatic. I mean, you and Buck don't talk about everything you see on the job. Sometimes it's hard and he doesn't know how to compartmentalize like you guys do yet." Eddie gave her an appreciative smile. A moment later the doctor came out into the hallway where the pair stood.

"Has he talked about the tsunami at all?" Eddie asked the doctor.

"We're getting there. Christopher talked about being at the pier with Buck, how they played games."

"That part isn't the reason he's waking up every night screaming." Eleanor laid a hand on Eddie's for support. She knew how tough it had been the past few weeks, she'd even witnessed one of his episodes and it was heartbreaking.

"His subconscious is still processing the trauma. He's working through it. I know it's hard. You love your son. You wanna fix this but it'll take some time."

"Just wish he would talk to me about it."

"Maybe he's trying to communicate in other ways," the doctor handed Eddie a few drawings that Christopher had done. He flipped through them before handing them to Eleanor. Her heart skipped a beat when she looked at them. The way the woman in the picture was drawn is the same way Christopher drew Shannen. 

"A drowning woman."

"Yes, he does seem to be fixated on her."

"Lot of people died in that tsunami. I know Buck tried to shield Chris from most of it, but.."

"I'm sure your friend did the best he could."

"They were separated a long time. Who knows what else he saw. Or this drowning woman was," Eddie sighed, not wanting to imagine all the horror his son had probably seen that day.

Eleanor wanted to tell Eddie she knew exactly who that woman was supposed to be. She didn't think it was her place though and what if she was wrong. Then she'd have opened old wounds and hurt her friend's feelings. So Eleanor kept her thoughts to herself.

"He'll tell us when he's ready. In fact, if the opportunity is right, he might tell you first."

"Is there anything I can do until then?"

"Just keep loving him," the doctor gave Eddie a sympathetic smile before walking away.

Eleanor leaned her head on Eddie's arm as they stood and watched Christopher through the window. He looked so peaceful just sitting there, coloring away.

****

"So I told that lawyer off big time. You know, I said, you're not gonna get me to sign any affidavit that blames the 118 for anything," Eleanor smiles at her fiance as he tells Bobby and Athena all about his day.