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

26.

Two weeks since that night at the bar.

My phone screen lights up as it starts to vibrate like crazy on the kitchen counter. My mothers name appears on the caller ID. Shit. I quickly answer before the call can make it to voicemail and mentally prepare myself. I haven't called my mother in weeks.

"Stella Lively Moore!" My mother's voice booms on the other line before I could even spit out a hello. I suck in a breathe.

"Hey mom" I shut my eyes momentarily hoping I'm not about to be yelled at. I may be 25 years old, soon to be 26, but it is never fun when your mother is angry with you. Especially over the phone. She yells as if you were in front of her but ten times louder for some reason.

"Hey mom!? It's been how long since I've heard from you and all I get is a HEY! MOM!?" Her face is red. I don't have to be there to know it. I can picture Grant sitting on his recliner shaking his head while trying to hold in a laughter.

"Mom I know but listen I've been very busy-"
"No you listen to me! I don't care if you become one of the greatest most incredible surgeons who are always busy saving lives and all that." She pauses. Then goes on. "You should always make time for your mother. A phone call here and there! It doesn't have to be everyday but it would be nice to hear my lovely daughters voice. I've been worried sick Stella."

I let out a small sigh but away from the phone so my mom won't hear. I feel terrible. She has no idea what I've gone through and I don't have it in me to tell her. She'd hang up before I can say 'I' and show up to my door within hours. Knowing her she'll try to convince me to come back to Florida or she would leave Florida to be closer to me.

"Mom I'm so sooo sorry. Really. I'll make it up to you, I promise." I pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping she'll calm down. I hear her let out a small breathe, the line only quiet for a few seconds.

"Stella, I'm a mother. I worry and not hearing from my daughter for weeks of course doesn't sit well with me but... I hear you're alive and healthy which is all that matters to me. Now, tell me. Any new friends? Particularly a man?" I can hear her smiling. Evan. I haven't told her about him yet.

"Umm"

"So that's a yes. Oh my god!!"

"I didn't even say there is-"

"Oh but there is honey. I'm your mother, I know you so well. How long have you been keeping this from me?" I imagine one eyebrow is arched, finger resting on her chin.

"You are my mother."

"And you can't lie to me. You suck at it" she chuckles. "What's his name?"

"Evan" I say while trying to hold back a smile. "Goes by Buck."

"Evan? Hmm. And what does Evan do as a living?"

I walk over to the fridge as I start to tell my mother everything from the beginning of Evan and I's story, leaving a few things out. I hate not telling her the complete truth but right now is not the time to tell my mother about the times I could've possibly died.

"And then I realized that I'm crazy about him" I laugh. "He helped me with so much since my move here, helping me get comfortable and he makes me feel safe."

"Aww sweetheart. He sounds like a great guy. I need to met him."

I pause. The thought of Evan meeting my mother has not occurred to me. Not anytime soon. I love him and would love for them to meet but no one has met my mother. No one but Dylan.

"Your birthday is next week!" My mother says. "Which I of course had to do it"

"Do what?" I ask.
"Buy a plane ticket of course! I know I said me and Grant might not make it but I lied. You think I wouldn't be there for your birthday? Oh! I'm so excited!!"

I let out a nervous chuckle. My mother is flying to Los Angeles next week. For my birthday. Which I have nothing planned for because I don't plan on doing anything but now with my mother throwing this surprise on me, I have to do something. Evan still has no idea when my birthday is. Every time he asks I tell him it's not important.

"Oh my god haha..well" I struggle to not sound bummed. I'm happy, really but nervous is all. "I can't wait to see you. And hug you" is all I can say. Fuck. My fucking birthday.

"Me too honey! I hope I don't cry, but that is why I called you to let you know I'll be there the Tuesday before your birthday. And to yell at you of course."

"I'll text you the deets! Grant is waiting on me, I was supposed to meet him an hour ago for lunch"

"Mom!"
"What? You think it takes me 30 minutes to get ready? He knows I need at least an hour and a half to get ready. Plus, he told me at 8 this morning about lunch plans. You know I need a days advance" I can't help but shake my head, laughing a little at how my mom will make Grant wait however long she needs. But she loves him. And he loves her.

"Poor Grant. Well, I'll let you go then mom. I love you"

"I love you too sweetie, see you next week!!" She says excitedly before ending the call. I stare at my screen for a few seconds. My mother is coming to town. God help me I wasn't ready for Evan and all my friends to meet her and I only have a week to prepare myself.

As I'm about to put my phone down on the counter, it starts vibrating again.

"Hey Mazzey" I answer.
"Hey, I know you're supposed to be off today! But me and Gigi are at the hospital right now. Do you think you could come in today?"

"Yeah of course, did anything happen?"
"We'll have to tell you when you get here." Is all Tati says. I nod my head even though she can't see me.

"I'm on my way!"

It only takes me 20 minutes to get to the hospital. The warm air meets my face as I speed walk inside. Mazzey sounded concerned on the phone and it's making me feel anxious about why she's asking me to come in without little information.

"There you are!" Mazzey says behind the front desk as I step through the front doors. She rushes from behind the desk and pulls me along down the hall.

"Mazzey what's wrong?" I ask, trying to keep up with her as she rushes the both us of down the halls of the hospital until we turn into one of the room occupied by a sleeping patient. The patient's blonde hair was to one side, her chest rising and falling slowly. Gigi stood next to the patient checking her vitals. Our eyes meet and I see the worry behind her green irises. My eyes fall back over to the patient who I realize isn't just any patient. It's Savannah.

"What happened to her? Is she okay?" I look back at Mazzey.

"She will be. Russell was in the middle of a surgery and Savannah was about to ask him something but then she just.." Mazzey looks over to Gigi.

"She fainted. Nearly took one of the scrub nurses down with her." Gigi says. I give Savannah a quick glance.

"Did we run any tests?" I ask. Savannah might be my least favorite person in the world but I'm not cold to where I'd wish her any kind of harm.

"Yes" Mazzey answers. "Savannah hasn't been taking care of herself. She's dehydrated, barely eating and lots and lots of alcohol."

"Lack of blood to her brain..."
"Which means" Gigi starts
"Not enough oxygen, causing her to faint. But do we know the actual reason? Emotional stress?"

"Well we did a few tests and it turns out that umm" Mazzey places her hands across her chest. It isn't normal of Mazzey to seem this nervous. I look at Gigi waiting for her to tell me what's going on.

"Is Savannah fine or? I'm so lost here guys."

I hear someone walk into the room and when I turn around it's Dr. Russell accompanied by our neonatal surgeon, Dr. May.

"She's pregnant."