9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Mommy issues - Eddie Diaz

The fire station was alive with its usual blend of banter and urgency. Eddie Diaz was mid-laugh at one of Chimney's jokes when the alarm blared, its urgent tone cutting through the camaraderie.

"Possible overdose," the dispatcher announced. Eddie's stomach twisted into a knot. He felt a sense of dread he couldn't shake, though he tried to dismiss it as routine anxiety. The team moved swiftly, each firefighter falling into place as they sped toward the address.

Eddie's pulse quickened as they approached a familiar, run-down apartment complex. His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Please, no, he thought.

They reached the apartment and burst through the door, only to be met with a scene that confirmed Eddie's worst fears. Katie, Evelyn's mother, lay unconscious on the floor, a needle still in her hand. The room was a disaster—dirty dishes piled high, clothes strewn everywhere, and a suffocating stench of neglect hanging in the air.

But what shattered Eddie's heart was the sight of his daughter, Evelyn, cowering in the corner. Her eyes were wide with fear, her small body trembling. Her clothes were dirty, her face streaked with tears, and she clutched her teddy bear as if it were a lifeline. Bruises marked her tiny arms.

"Evelyn!" Eddie shouted, rushing to her. He scooped her up, feeling her small frame shake against him. "Daddy's here, baby. You're safe now."

"Daddy," she whimpered, her voice breaking, "I'm scared."

Eddie's heart broke. "I know, sweetheart. I'm here."

He looked around, his anger building as he took in the full extent of the neglect. Drug paraphernalia littered the floor, and there was no sign of Evelyn's belongings—no toys, no clothes, nothing that indicated a child lived there. How had he missed this? How had he let it get this bad?

Hen and Chimney were already working on Katie, administering Narcan and checking her vitals. Hen glanced at Eddie, her eyes full of sympathy.

"We've got this, Eddie. Focus on Evelyn," she said firmly.

Eddie nodded, trying to keep his rage in check. He looked down at Evelyn, noticing more bruises and the general state of neglect. He felt a wave of guilt. How had he not seen this coming? How could he have let his little girl suffer like this?

Katie began to come around, groaning as the Narcan took effect. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around in confusion and shame. When her gaze landed on Eddie and Evelyn, tears spilled from her eyes.

"Eddie," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry."

Eddie's jaw tightened. He didn't look at her, he couldn't. That woman had been hurting his daughter.

As Hen and Chimney carried Katie to the ambulance, Eddie held Evelyn close, shielding her from the chaos. Back at the station, he set up a quiet corner for her with some toys and a blanket, trying to keep her calm and distracted. The other firefighters took turns entertaining her, their support a small comfort to Eddie's frayed nerves.

Bobby approached, his face etched with concern. "Eddie, what happened?"

"It was Katie," Eddie said, his voice thick with emotion. "She overdosed. Evelyn was there, alone. The place was a mess. There were drugs everywhere. I didn't realize things were this bad."

Bobby placed a comforting hand on Eddie's shoulder. "You did the best you could, Eddie. You can't blame yourself for not knowing everything. The important thing is that Evelyn is safe now. We'll figure out the rest together."

Eddie nodded, though the guilt still gnawed at him. He spent the rest of his shift close to Evelyn, making sure she was okay. The other firefighters rallied around him, their camaraderie providing a small measure of comfort.

When the shift finally ended, Eddie took Evelyn home. He knew he had to shield her from the worst of the trauma but also needed to address what had happened. Christopher, always perceptive, sensed something was wrong as soon as they walked in.

"What happened, Dad?" Christopher asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Eddie sighed, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him. "Katie had an accident, Chris. Ev needs her big brother right now" he smiled.

Christopher nodded solemnly, his maturity always astounding Eddie. "Okay. Ev, do you want to play with my new Lego set with me? It has 1000 pieces!"

Evelyn's eyes lit up a bit, and she nodded. "Okay."

As Christopher and Evelyn played, Eddie watched them, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow. He had failed to see the signs, but now he had to make sure Evelyn was safe and loved.

That night, after putting Evelyn to bed, Eddie sat in the living room, his mind racing. He knew he had to take immediate action to ensure Evelyn's safety and well-being. He picked up the phone and called a lawyer to discuss custody arrangements and reached out to a child psychologist, arranging for Evelyn to see someone to help her process the trauma.

****

As the weeks turned into months, Eddie focused on creating a stable and loving environment for both Evelyn and Christopher. He made sure Evelyn had everything she needed, from clothes and toys to emotional support. Christopher, ever the supportive big brother, helped in every way he could, their bond growing even stronger.

Evelyn began to open up more, her laughter returning as she settled into her new routine. Eddie watched her with a mix of pride and sadness, knowing how much she had endured at such a young age.

One evening, after a particularly challenging day, Evelyn crawled into Eddie's lap, her small hand clutching his shirt.

"Daddy do I have to see mommy again?" She asked, scared.

Eddie looked into her innocent eyes, his heart aching. "No, sweetheart not anytime soon. She's getting the help she needs."

Evelyn nodded, her eyes drooping with sleep. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, Evelyn. More than anything in the world," Eddie whispered, kissing the top of her head.

As he held his children close, Eddie felt a renewed sense of purpose. No matter what, he would always be there for them, protecting them, loving them, and making sure they knew they were never alone.