Timeless

Chapter 15: Buck

Evan usually loved going over to Bobby and Athena's. They have become a family along with everyone else that was in the backyard today. But right now he wanted nothing more than to be at home with Christopher and reread Eddie's letters over and over. But Bobby had been insistent that he come and bring Chris as well as Pepa and Isabel. He said he wanted a family get-together with the entire family. Evan had been wanting distraction after distraction to keep his mind from slipping into a dark place. He thought maybe being around people who care about him could help. So he got ready and picked up everyone, bringing them to the Grant-Nash house.

Everyone was socializing. Isabel and Bobby were discussing new recipes while Bobby manned the grill, Pepa and Hen were sitting in some of the lounge chairs with Chris perched on Pepa's lap, and Maddie and Chim were sitting next to each other at one of the tables that were set up. Those two had been getting closer since Maddie had moved to LA, her asking Evan for his number after she had met him at the station. He was definitely keeping his eyes on them. Evan found himself standing off to the side watching everyone. He did feel a bit better, being around his family, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something, rather someone, was missing.

"Feels nice to have everyone together," he heard next to him. Athena stood beside him, also looking over the backyard.

"It does," he smiled, though it wasn't really a full smile.

"Bobby and I are so glad you came. And that you brought more additions to our family."

"Yeah. Pepa and Isabel are great. I'm lucky to have them in my life now," Evan said, thinking about how they wouldn't have been in his life if it weren't for Eddie.

"I know you miss him, baby," she said, almost sensing his thoughts. "But you have to keep your faith. He's out there still. You'd feel it if he wasn't."

He really thought about what she said. Would he really feel if Eddie hadn't made it in the accident? Would there be a shift in the universe he could feel? He wasn't sure. He hadn't thought about it that way before.

As he searched his feelings, he noticed Bobby walking away from Isabel and calling Athena into the house with him. She placed a comforting hand on his arm before following her husband, leaving Evan confused. Before he could think about it for too long, Isabel was coming over to him.

"Evan, you have to help me get some of your captain's recipes out of him. He is so tight-lipped about it," she said.

"He won't even tell me," he laughed. "I've had to try to recreate them for him, but I haven't been successful yet."

"Well come sit down and eat. I made you a plate," she said, leading him over to the table where Pepa, Hen, and Chris were sitting. As soon as he sat down, Chris was fighting to get to him. He takes his son from Pepa, sitting him in his lap and feeding him some of the things on the plate Pepa had for him.

"How has he been since you got the news?" Hen asked.

"He doesn't know what's really going on. But I think he knows there's something wrong," Evan explained. "But he's been my rock through everything. He keeps me going and gives me a reason to smile every day."

"He doesn't have to work hard to do that," Pepa smiled, squeezing Christopher's cheek.

"Not at all."

"I love seeing you with him, Buck. You're such a good dad," Hen smiled at him.

"I will never get used to that," Isabel laughed. "I could never call you Buck, Evan."

"Eddie says the same thing. When he first heard it while I was in the academy, he said that he would never call me that."