FIRE & BLOOD • EVAN 'BUCK' BUCKLEY / 9-1-1

72.

Mazzey and Amanda were waiting at my front doorstep as Gigi, Eddie, and I pulled into my driveway. We had got onto as soon as Gigi was cleared to fly. Evan and I stayed with my parents for two days while they kept Gigi at the hospital to make sure her system was clear of any drugs Dylan had injected her with. My mother and Grany were in complete shock when Jay dropped us off, and even more in shock after I sat them down and told them everything. From the very beginning to when I moved to California up until now, and then I saved the last bit of news for last in attempt to lighten the mood. Everyone was drowning in their tears by the end. Evan picked me up from my chair and screamed loud enough that I wouldn't be surprised if the entire town had heard him. The baby news softened the angry lecture my mother had in store for me after finding out I had gone through such horrible things without confiding in her. Both her and Grant made me swear to never keep such things from them again. 

It felt good to be back home after experiencing the longest two days of my life. Well, that's how it has felt for the past year but I was happy to just be home with my friends and the love of my life. Mazzey nearly broke into a sprint as I stepped out of the car, throwing her arms around my neck. I could feel her wet cheek against mine. Amanda walked past us and embraced Gigi, also with tears staining her cheeks. "Thank god you two are okay" Mazzey whispers into my ear. 

"We're okay" We embrace each other a moment longer before Mazzey and Amanda swap places. Amanda's lip was trembling as she reached for me, her blue eyes scanning my face. 

"I'm okay" I reassure her. "Everything is okay."

"I'm so sorry you two went through that alone." Her body trembles as I hold her, rubbing her back gently. "It must have been horrible. This whole year has been a nightmare!"

"You don't need to apologize. It isn't your fault any of this happened."

Amanda shakes her head, wiping the tears from her face. "Still, I hate how any of this happened but thank the lord you all have made it back safely. I thought Eddie was with you guys?" Amanda takes my bag from me without giving me the chance to protest that I can carry it myself. Mazzey walked arm in arm with Gigi behind us as Evan took up the back, following us all inside after I unlock the front door. 

"He went to pick up Christopher from his grandmother's house" Gigi answers. We dropped Eddie off at his grandmother's, he was desperate to see his son after not seeing him for days. He had asked Gigi if she wanted to come along but Gigi kindly declined, said she wanted him to have some time with Christopher and that she would see them as soon as we all get settled in. Those two were definitely becoming more than casual. They were stuck to each other like glue when Gigi was cleared from the hospital, Eddie refusing to let Gigi out of his sight. Evan wouldn't let me out of his sight, either. But truth is I am the one who wouldn't let him out of my sight. 

I glanced around my house which looks exactly how I left it before I made the choice of leaving to Florida. Crazy to think about the events that have transpired shortly after. My ex boyfried is dead. Jay had sat us down and went over everything. When they arrived, how they split up and had Ayla and Atwater, the detective who I saw help Gigi out of the cage, check the back entrance of the warehouse while Jay and Kim took the front. Ruzek was with Hank back at Dylan's last known residence. As soon as Atwater got eyes on Ayla after she was slammed into the wall, he was ordered to stand down and wait for Hank to show up to the scene. Jay and Kim showed up just as soon as Ayla started coming back into consciousness and told me this nightmare of a year was orchestrated by both Dylan and Savannah. I could tell Jay hated staying back and watching as Ayla could barely stay awake and fight Dylan off but Hank ordered them to. He admitted he nearly ran in the second Dylan had Ayla pinned against his chest. Hank took matters into his own hand and barged in the second he got to the warehouse, firing two shots into Dylan's left knee and the blow to the head that took him down for good. I swallow down the boulder in my throat as I relive the fear that went through me when I heard those gunshots. How it brought back the memories of Tianna...

"Welcome home" Amanda drops my bag down on the couch, smiling that bright smile she always carries on her fact no matter how dark or horrible the situation may be. I never tell her how much I appreciate her, that I am beyond lucky to have her in my life. She was such a light in my life. All of our lives. And Mazzey, despite her being the most mysterious and closed off person I know but she may have her reasons for that, I couldn't have asked for a better group of friends. Mazzey and Amanda still do not know about the pregnancy news but I decided I want to wait to share it with them until after our boards. They were coming up in a few weeks and I am confident we all will pass. Even after the year we have had, I know things will get better and each one of us will be closer to becoming surgeons. 

Evan sneaks up behind me, snaking an arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him while he puts his lips to my forehead. "I love you" he whispers into my hair. 

"And I love you" I look up at him, breathless as those gorgeous eyes of his stare into mine. My medicine. My heart. The air that fills my lungs. The missing piece in my life. He is my entire world and I will never belong to anyone else but him. And now I am carrying our child. This baby is my reason in believing things do get better. No matter what storms we have weathered, what painful experiences life has put us through, the losses we endured. It is never the end and life does gets better. My heart jumps as I take in the people in front of me. Gigi was in deep conversation with the girls, laughing and crying as they sat close to each other on the couch. The man I was created for standing by my side, admiring me like I was the only thing that exists in this world as I admired them all.

Life will get better because I have them.