Brave Enough

Ten

*** so thank you for your patience. It's been an interesting work week.***

     "So it's really odd. The victims everything is so eerily similar to Aless. Listen Buck," Marcus looks around being sure no one is around to hear him. "All of the victims are Latin American women around the age of twenty. The MO I don't really get he's stabbing them then cutting out their hearts and lying them next to the body with a shard of glass stuck in it. They think they are from wine bottles or something. This guy is smart enough to not leave prints, hair, or anything." Buck's body goes rigid in his seat.

      "Do not tell Aless. Do you understand me? She will panic and that is the last thing she needs right now. It is a lot weirder than you think Buck. The heart thing. That scar on her chest do you remember it?"

     "Yeah why?" Buck tells Marcus the gory details of how the scar came to be. "Shit. This is going to be hard to prove. I need him to slip up. I now have the lovely job of undercover work and actually working this case as a FBI agent," Marcus says.

      "I'll call you back. Maddie is calling with an update," Buck hangs up and answers Maddie's call. "Hey sis how is she? Have they determined what happened?" The words fly out of his mouth rapidly.

     "She's out of the woods for now. They say it was a scar tissue infection. They've got her in the ICU right now but say within the next couple days she will be in a normal room. You can breathe now little brother. I'll call you with more updates," Maddie says.

"Thank you sis. I'll pick up Cleo and come by in a couple hours when my shift ends..." his words are cut off by the sound of boots clomping across the firehouse floor.

"Evan what time are you getting off?" Athena asks. Buck turns to find her holding Cleo in her arms. "Cleo and I are having a mini date night with Bobby and she wanted to know if you would come. We're trying to keep her busy and in our sights at the same time. Zara is great and all but..." Bobby walks in the room.

     "But my wife has gotten attached to the Malina sisters," he interrupts her sentence. "It's okay. I have as well. Marcus says there's some things the three of us should discuss eventually just not with Aless yet?" Bobby asks but it seems to Buck like it's more of a statement. "He gets off at seven with me. He's already told Maddie he's taking Cleo by the hospital so we'll do a quick loop then go to dinner and see a movie."

     "That works. Then I'm taking Cleo home with me for the night. I've already spoken to Marcus about it. He was fine as long as she's with Zara during the school week so she gets to school every day," Buck tells them. Athena nods and Bobby just reaches over to take Cleo from her. "Sound like a plan little lady?" He asks.

Cleo giggles. The alarm rings and her face contorts with fear. Her little hands fly up to her ears. "Alright Cleo let's go home and get ready so Buck and Pops can go help someone in need. Come on sweet pea. I think maybe a nap time is need as well," Athena says watching Cleo rub her little eyes as Bobby hands her back over and follows Buck to put on the fire gear. "Be safe boys. We all need you."

•••••

Colin's knee twitches as he listens to the case facts being repeated. Adam his least favorite detective watches him closely. Could he know? Could he know what I've done? Colin thinks to himself. Whatever he has no proof. His mind wanders back to Billie. Everyone's been asking questions. Questions he's had to answer with lies. Where's Billie? Is Billie okay. Billie Billie Billie.

Colin stands up and starts walking for the door. "I'm going to go to the scene. I'll check to see if we missed anything," he says. Marcus stands up.

"I'll join you," he says. Colin shakes his head. No now he can't take this moment of pleasure from me, Colin thinks to himself.

"It's okay. I work best alone in these situations. I have to make a call on the way as well. Private you know?" Colin says hoping Adam would back down. Luckily Marcus backs down but gives him a suspicious look.

The minute Colin is in his car he pulls his phone out and dials Billie's number. "Hey Billie. Why are you ignoring my calls? I've missed you baby. I'm sorry for what happened but I promise I've been getting help. You'll see. Did you get my gift?" Colin lies through his teeth. He knows the second she's back there will be hell to pay. It's probably why she's avoiding him.

•••••

Maddie sits on the visitors chair waiting for James to finally wake up. Maddie and Athena had convinced James to make them her emergency contacts. They never expected to get the calls but they did. Well at least Maddie did. Athena has Bobby calling her in before the ambulance left the station. Maddie grew terrified James was the sister she never had. The love Buck always deserved and the parent Cleo needed.

James moves in the bed then takes a deep breath. A groan comes out of her. "James? James you're okay. You had everyone so scared," Maddie says.

  "Maddie? What? How long?"

"You had a severe scar tissue infection. It nearly hit your heart but they managed to stop the infection. You were in the ICU for three days and you've been here a week. Cleo has been staying with your father's friend Zara. Well except for Saturday. She went to dinner and a movie with Bobby, Athena, and Buck. Then spent the night at Buck's apartment. They wanted to ease her little mind."

"Maddie I'm so sorry. It's like one thing after another," James cries. The shaking from her cries made the pain in her chest spread causing her to wheeze. "Maddie are they okay? Is everyone okay? Buck..." James is in too much pain to talk. Maddie finishes her message and looks up at James.

"Alessandra don't you dare do that. It is not your fault that this is happening. We all chose to stay in your life. So no you are not allowed to go there. Everyone is fine. It's you we were worried about. How are you feeling? I saw you grabbing at your chest. Do you want some meds? I need to call the nurse," Maddie presses the call button and a little old woman walks in.

"Well welcome back to the world Aless. Your friends and I have been quite worried about you dear. I'm your nurse today. My name is Jane. How are you feeling?" She asks.

"I'm okay thank you. I have some pains in my chest. I'm assuming it's a mixture of the pain from the original problem as well from the surgery. No I don't want any pain meds though. Well maybe some ibuprofen but no morphine or anything," James says not giving up a possible reason.

"Aless.... Baby.... you're.. awake..!" Buck says out of breath which is surprising to James since he's in incredible shape. He gives her a sloppy smile. "Hey baby."

"Babe What did you do? Run here from the station?" James asks jokingly. But instead of the assumed no he nods yes causing the three women in the room to gasp. "Baby are you crazy?"

"Crazy in love with you," Buck's words hang thick in the hospital room.