Brave Enough

Nine

***Meant to put this in the last chapter but Skeet Ulrich would be my choice casting for Marcus!!***

      James wakes up tangled up in Buck's arms. She lies on her back while he's on his side one bicep tucked under her head and a large hand placed firmly on her abdomen beneath the shirt she was wearing. His leg is thrown over hers keeping her pinned. But the sight of Buck in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs was all James needed this morning. She smiles down at him before gently sliding his hand off of her and sliding out of her bed.

     Once in the kitchen James opens the fridge deciding on a breakfast meal. Finally setting on bacon, eggs, pancakes and assorted fruits James gets busy with the cooking. A door opens and shuts and James hears a shuffling before feeling arms wrap around her waist and his head lying in the crook of her neck. His warm breath against her neck soothes her. The smell of his cologne makes her shiver. "Good morning beautiful," his voice still slightly dripping with sleep.

     "Good morning Buck. Are you hungry?" She asks. He looks at her licking his lips.

     "Mhmm," he responds. "But we'll save that for later. Why don't you let me finish this up and you can go get Cleo? Hmm?" He asks. Buck grips her hips and kisses her neck. Kissing her again before taking her spatula and nodding her in the direction of Cleo's room.

     "Good morning my little bird. Did you sleep well?" James asks as she sits on the bed next to Cleo. She nods sleepily.

     "I had so much fun yesterday! Thank you James," she leaps up and hugs James. The two walk into the kitchen as Buck plates the food and sets the table.

     "I made some orange juice. I hope you don't mind," he says smiling. "Good morning Cleo," he kneels as he says it opening up for a hug. "So I was wondering if you would like to go by the station today? Just a little tour around or something?"

     "Cleo does that sound like fun? I think you would have fun," James says to Cleo. Cleo nods and jumps up and down. "Alright I think that's a yes. Let's go ahead and eat then we'll get dressed and meet you at the station?"

     "Sounds like a plan. I'll miss you tonight baby. I have an over night shift."

•••••

     "Hey girlie. Yesterday was fun. Thanks for having us. And those cupcakes were amazing. Where did you get them?" Chimney asks.

    "She made them man," Buck brags. "She's going to give Bobby a run for his money in the kitchen." She puts a hand on his arm.

    "Haha thanks. I've got a lot to learn. I went to school for business because I wanted to open a bakery type thing. I was thinking of one on wheels. But stuff happened so I'm just doing the call center for now." James smiles awkwardly smiles and lifts Cleo into her arms.

     "Cleo lets go down the pole," Eddie says taking Cleo from James followed by Chim and Bobby. "We'll bring her back in one piece don't worry," he says jokingly. James's vision goes blurry making her stagger for a moment before regaining sight and balance. Hen grabs her wrist to keep her upright and Buck grabs the other.

      "Aless are you alright?" Hen asks.

     "I think so. I just got a little dizzy and lost my balance. I'll be fine..." her vision blurs again and this time she crumples to her knees clutching her chest. "Maybe not. My vision is blurry, my head feels like it's spinning, and my chest hurts." Buck feels her forehead.

     "She's burning up. Baby it's okay. We're going to get you to the hospital," the panic in Buck's voice makes her feel worse.

     "No no. I'll be fine just let me sit down for a minute I'm sure it'll pass," James holds her chest as she speaks.

     "Eddie!" Hen calls. Eddie, Bobby, and Chimney come running in with Cleo. When Bobby sees the scene he lifts Cleo up and walks back out.

     "Come on Cleo let Pop Bobby show you the rest of the house. Y'all take care of her. You know Athena will be mad if you don't," Bobby says as he turns the corner.

     "Eddie have you seen this before?" Buck inquires. Eddie kneels down next to James.

    "Aless. I'm going to take your shirt off okay? Chim get the stretcher. Hen get the heart rate monitor," Eddie looks at Buck. "You need to relax I'm confident that she'll be fine." Eddie gently lifts James's shirt over her head and lies her on the ground. "This cut was it a deep one?" James nods and Buck struggles to stay calm as he tells him of the situation. "Okay I think this is a scar tissue infection. We need to get you to the hospital as soon as possible." Eddie lifts James onto the stretcher and Hen attaches the the heart monitor to her.

     James tries to fight it but they push her back. "Cleo. I can't leave Cleo!" She cries. The sound of boots marching echos in the firehouse.

      "Mama Athena is here to take Cleo. You my child go to the hospital. I've called your father. He's going to meet you guys there. Bobby! Cleo! I'm coming up. Buckley you're staying here. Don't fight me son I always win."

     Buck lowers his head and kisses James goodbye. "You better come back to me," he says smiling.

••••••

      Colin sits at his desk impatiently tapping his fingers on his desk. "Colin cap wants all hands on deck. There's evidence of a serial murderer and rapist on the loose. He says to call Adam in," Jacob Coslie, Colin's partner pulls him out of his thoughts.

"I'll call him in a second and let him know," Colin brings the phone to his head and dials Adam's number.

"Hello?" Marcus answers his phone.

"Hey Adam. It's Colin. The captain wants everyone back in the department. There's a serial case and we need all hands on deck. Sorry to bring you in while you're on vacation," Colin says annoyed by the interruption his eager plan to find and take what belongs to him.

"Yeah I'll leave in the morning. Tell Captain I should be back by Tuesday morning," Marcus says. "See you then," the line goes dead. Colin sits calm and cold his mind wanders back to the thoughts he had before. Billie Molina.

"So what are we looking at? What's the count and the evidence?" Colin asks the lead detective.

"So far six dead. All Latin American women around the age of twenty. One prostitute, three students, a mother of two, and a teacher. All six were killed by stabbing and their hearts were torn out and later next to the body with a large shard of glass sticking out of it. It's too specific to not be related. The only pieces that are random is location and occupation," Jayla Rigs says. "It's horrific and we're going to put this son of a bitch down as soon as we can."

•••••

"I've got to go. Buckley you call me as soon as you hear about my baby. Do you understand me? There is a serial case in Gainesville and I've been called in. As part of my cover I'm required to obey orders. I've got an old family friend coming to pick Cleo up she's going to stay at my place until James is able enough to come home and take care of Cleo. I'll text you the address as soon as I get packed and leave. I'll also send you her name and a photo so you know it's her," Marcus says. He walks over to Cleo and kisses her forehead. "Daddy loves you baby girl. See you as soon as I can. Take care of them Buck."