Chapter 1: Prologue
Summary:
AN: 8-14-2025 making some edit changes as I re-read through to figure where I'm going next.
Chapter Text
Concerning the Marked, an essay by Buck Evans
One in fifteen thousand to twenty thousand people, similar to the amount that could have albinism, in the world as a whole, develop soul-marks upon their skin. These are not like the soul-marks in popular fiction where they show soulmates. These show the physical status of someone’s soul. There is no way to know for sure who will have one or how they were created. But when a person was Marked it shows their soul upon their skin. Called a Marked among the populace, it was no longer illegal to withhold the information of a Soul-mark upon application for a position as it had been for years prior.
A Mark shows the physical status of the soul, in that flowers would wilt or die, feathers would molt from birds, fur would fall out or wounds appear on animals, and wings would be torn, broken or bleeding when a soul was damaged. But just like a soul could be wounded with the proper help from those who truly care for the person the wounds can be healed.
Now many historians, theologians, and philosophers have recorded is the instance of a Marked, how they come about, why they have been born, and when they are born. It is commonly found that a Marked comes about at the same time as a rise in Sentinels and Guides, though they are not always the same as the Marked. Often, they work together to deal with the situations that might affect the tribe. It is most commonly believed that a Marked will be born at a time of great change, whether it is tied with the family they are born into or something to come as they grow up that the Marked will personally affect.
Now one thing that everybody could agree on was not how or why, but that Marks always moved, acted, and/or felt real. A soul-mark of wings would feel like wings, whether feather or leather depending on the type, animals would move around the body, flowers and plants would move as if in a breeze. Those that were closest to the person who was marked would be able to feel the item which marked the person without causing harm.
Popular fiction would have many believe that having a Mark will lead to finding your soulmate and knowing by first touch. This is not the case. There has been no case of soulmate matches ever being recorded through matching Marks. The only way to tell when one is a soulmate to the Marked is by how the Mark feels or reacts to touch. The way that they feel says a lot of the person and how they will affect the Marked’s life. Only those that are a perfect match, whether romantic or platonic does not discern a difference, will be able to feel the texture of the Mark as it is, feathers will be feathers, fur will be fur, plants will be plants, etc. Anyone that is ambivalent to the Marked will feel only skin and no texture. While those that are harmful to the person baring the Mark would cause actual wounds on the soul-mark.
There were those that felt it was dark magic or evil to be Marked while others felt that it was a blessing to have a Mark upon someone’s skin. Some wanted to have a Mark and would get tattoos that imitate a Mark, though they never move nor change they have the look of one. Others who have a Mark wish to hide theirs and get a tattoo or several to hide their Mark among. There have been tests through the years to try and figure out Marks, there were also those that try to force a Mark to appear, which no one was ever able to do since they were there upon birth and grew with the person. There were those that profited from the items to disguise marks, especially when it was considered evil to have one and wrong.
When it comes to Marks and those that are Sentinels and Guides it is a completely different situation and tied with gifts that the Marked may have...
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October 11, 2002
“Get in here now girl!” Father’s voice rang out into the back yard where Eva was working on the garden.
“Yes, Father?” Eva kept her head down as she stood before her father hands behind her back in the position that had literally been beaten into her.
“How dare you talk back to your mother! Not only that but you cost me my promotion!” Father snarled as he back handed his youngest daughter. “Downstairs now! I’ll be down to deal with you later.”
“Yes, father.” Eva nodded though she was shaking.
Eva had rarely been to school; she was kept at home being ‘homeschooled’ by her mother and father instead of subjecting others to her freakish looks and abilities after her sister went to college. She was able to read, write, and do math, thanks to her big sister Maddie, but she had moved to Boston to go to college a year before. She was able to lose herself in her imagination as she sat on the mat that had been left down there when her punishments lasted days instead of hours. She had been beaten the first time that her father heard her on the phone with Maddie saying how she missed her and their trips. She had lived a fairly normal life until Maddie had left. Now Eva was Girl and wasn’t even acknowledged except if she did something wrong, and she was doing things wrong a lot according to her parents. She felt like Harry Potter from the books that Maddie had started reading with her before she started school. She had given her the set for her birthday only for her father to throw them in the fireplace along with all her other books after Maddie was out of the house.
“Phillip?” Mother spoke from the top of the stairs. “Make sure to turn on the machine that will keep anyone from hearing the screams. We don’t need the police called again. We barely got them to ignore it last time. I think it was only because we moved that they didn’t continue.”
“Of course, darling. Now go and take a nice hot bath. I’ll be taking you out for dinner later.” Father replied from his position on the top step preparing to head down the steps. He flipped the switch that sat next to the light switch turning on the Sentinel grade sound machine that would create a white noise field. “Think of where you’d like to go...we also should plan for a weekend away. I know I’m going to need the relief. Perhaps we should travel to Boston to visit Maddie. Could tell her that the girl is staying with a friend.”
Days later Eva finally dared try to leave the basement, she had heard her parents moving around earlier as they were preparing for the trip away that Phillip had mentioned. She felt a nudge against her side and looked down to see a lynx pushing against her leg. She thought back to everything she had learned the few times she had been able to look into spirit animals, for there was no doubt in her mind that this was her spirit animal. She looked back at the stairs and taking a deep breath opened herself to what may be and what could be. Snapping her eyes open she stepped up the stairs and out of the basement, ignoring the wounds and blood that trialed behind her as she moved through the empty house. Her lynx companion quietly in step beside her as she moved. She didn’t bother grabbing anything but her birth certificate, which the lynx led her to, as well as her medical file that was kept in the same safe. She didn’t know how she knew what the combination was but she was able to get it open without issue. She left it open as she moved back through the house to the front door. Stopping briefly to look at the calendar on the table by the front door she gave a rueful smile.
“Happy Birthday to me...I can do this...” Eva whispered before taking a deep breath and stepping out onto the front porch with her head held high.
They had moved from the house she had lived in since her sister had gone to college, they had said it was so that there wasn’t so much space to take care of but Eva knew it was so that no one would know about her. She wasn’t allowed out front of the house and the back yard had a high privacy fence. Add to that the neighbors were a better distance than they had been in the original house meant that it was unlikely anyone would hear anything, especially with the machine that Phillip had installed into the house. Though Margaret never let her forget the fact that the police had been called after Maddie had gone to college.
“Which way Yolotzin?” Eva looked left and right weighing things in her mind until she noticed her companion moving to the right with a determined step. “Right, it is...” As she walked she wondered where the name that came to her came from and was determined to look it up as soon as she was able, all she knew was that her companion had given her the name by which they were known.
Eva took a deep breath and set off into the chilly fall night. She realized then it was middle of the night of a new moon and she took an even deeper breath though her chest hurt from the beating and she was sure there were broken ribs she needed to get to freedom. She knew that it wouldn’t be long and someone would come across her or her parents would return. She would not be surprised if they had an alarm set on the house that would alert them to her leaving. She needed to find help before that occurred. For now, she just walked.
The sun was rising hours later when Eva finally collapsed. She had walked for hours despite the pain, she did not know how or why but she had not been stopped nor spotted. Yolotzin stood guard over her near the hospital where she collapsed, it was on the other side of town from where she had lived and been treated since she was a child. Her spirit companion had led her to this hospital for a reason and the main reason being that there were none of her parents ‘friends’ within the hospital who would help cover up the fact that she was horrifically abused. Another reason was that they could feel a powerful Guide within the hospital who would help teach their guide.
“I’m telling you Jim that there was a surge on the spirit plain that came from this city...” A native American man stepped out with another beside him. “I don’t know where the emerging guide is but they will be coming here that is something I can tell.”
Jim’s head popped up in shock when the scent of blood and other bodily fluids reached his nose. He looked around and then stopped in shock at the crumpled form of a young woman, she looked to be no older than 10 at the most, though he would find out later that she was only 10. Rushing over to her with Blair behind him calling out for a medical team he skidded to a stop when he saw the large Lynx spirit animal in almost full corporal form standing over her in a protective manner studying him and Blair in equal measure.
The cat bristled as the nurses came running out with a gurney freezing in place at the yowl that occurred. The cat continued to bristle as one of the nurses ignored the warnings and started forward only to scramble back in shock when a claw tipped paw swiped at him. It’s head cocked to the side as it studied Blair and Jim before turning and nudging the young girl enough that it could remove the shoulder bag that she had and bring it over to Blair.
Blair rolled with the shock of it all and took the bag as if having a fully corporal spirit animal was an everyday thing. He opened the bag and looked at the information within.
“Her name is Evangline Danielle Buckley. She’s newly ten...and she’s a fully emerged guide in distress. Prepare a guide suite.” Blair read the information and bit back snarls at what he was reading. “And contact the police.”
“Sir?” One of the nurses stepped forward. “There are no guide or sentinel suites in this hospital. In any of the hospitals in Hershey...” She told them carefully.
Blair took a deep breath; it had only been three years since Sentinels and Guides had come out in the open and he and Jim had taken up as the Prime Alpha Pair for the United States. They were working with the President to get laws in place to protect those that emerged along with testing for the latent genes in children so that they can have lessons and learn how to be prepared for coming online or emerging.
“Do you know where the nearest location is?” Jim asked carefully.
“Pittsburgh has recently installed five. Though also six in Baltimore, Maryland. Either way they are both several hours away.” The head nurse from the ER came out after the one that had been swiped at ran back into the ER complaining about the monster and freak and refusing to help any longer.
“Would a life flight be available?” Jim asked carefully as he finally was able to get close to the child and turn her fully on her back and take in all the wounds in which she was covered.
“Yes but isn’t that dangerous for someone emerging?” The head nurse asked, she was one of the few that Blair could tell was a compassionate person that wanted to help everyone no matter their status.
“If it was a Sentinel emerging it would be but she’s a Guide.” Blair answered. “She also needs medical attention and it is better if it is achieved at a Sentinel/Guide friendly hospital.”
“You can’t take a child out of the city let alone the state without parental permission!” One of the nurses cried out in anger.
“I can when it comes to the intolerable treatment of the guide child in question.” Blair spoke up with a raised eyebrow. “I have here her medical records. All from your sister hospital on the other side of town. In the records there is a very clear case of physical abuse going on.” He explained holding up the information that was in the file. “Starting when she was just ten months old and forced to go through a bone marrow transplant in Harrisburg, at UPMC in Harrisburg.” He said with a raised eyebrow. “From the records that are included in here the transplant was unsuccessful.” He focused on the different nurses and staff that had shown up. He noticed the police that were walking up and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah nope...” He moved to block the police from the child. “You are not welcome to this situation.”
“You can’t stop us. She needs to be returned to her parents. They are very worried about her.” The officer said with an oily voice.
“No. I am claiming her as a charge of the Tribe. She is under our protection.” Jim stated as he stood letting with a nod from the lynx a pair of nurses to step forward and help her onto the gurney to take her up to the roof for a life flight. “Her parents are deemed as Intolerable to the Tribe. If they come near her again it will not be good. If you prevent true justice from happening then you will be charged as Intolerable as well.”
“But...” The officer sputtered looking around before firming his stance. “You can’t do that.”
“You will find that as of 1:00 yesterday afternoon that I can...by order of the President of the United States of America.” Jim pulled out the paperwork. “He’ll be making an announcement during the morning news. We protect our own and I refuse to allow an abuser and rapist to have a second chance at harming one of our own.”
“Rapist?!” The officer blinked in shock as he reared back in horror. “No Phillip would never!” He shook his head.
“He has.” Jim simply raised an eyebrow. “I can smell it.” He crossed his arms. “Now you will move aside and allow us to get a child the help she needs in the environment that she needs while you go and deal with the assholes that caused this. For I very much doubt that the mother was unaware of everything going on in that house.”
Jim then moved with Blair and the lynx as they headed with the trauma team to the roof for the life flight to Baltimore, it was closer and made it easier to get her help sooner.
October 15, 2010
Evangeline ‘Eva’ Reine Ellison-Sandburg, formerly Evangeline Danielle Buckley, looked out over the Cascade mountains with her spirit companion pressed beside her. She had spent the past eight years catching up on so many things she had flown through the schooling that Blair had put her through. Both Jim and Blair had adopted her a year after they had found her unconscious on the ground out in front of the hospital that Yolotzin had led her to.
“Is this the right thing to do Zin?” She looked down at her companion only to get a lifted eye ridge. “I know I’m supposed to trust myself but...” She wrapped her arms around herself as she continued to look out into the distance.
“What’s got you all twisted up inside ma petite reine (my little queen)?” Blair asked as he walked into the room and simply stood close. “You’re leaking from around your shields.”
“I...” Eva took a deep breath before looking at her Papa. “I feel called to travel...I’ve finished the studies that interest me...”
“Breathe petite reine...” Blair smiled softly as he finally stepped forward. “Your Da and I knew this was coming. We could feel you developing wandering feet. You’re Sentinel is out there somewhere and there is no way to find them through computer or anything...though the database is getting a footing...” He gave a gentle smile. “We’re so proud of you for how well you’ve succeeded past everything that was thrown at you. You’ve only come out stronger than ever.”
“You’ll support me even if I go into the army like Da?” Eva asked softly.
“It’ll tear me apart but if it is your calling...” Blair gave a sad sort of smile as he cupped her face. “But I know you’re only saying it to get a rise out of me. I know that you aren’t called to that. Remember I’ve been with you in the plain...”
“I know papa.” Eva gave a sad yet loving smile.
“Now...” Blair reached into his pants pocket and pulled out ring of keys. “Your Da and I got you something to celebrate your graduation from college.”
“I’m so glad that I was able to do it all online for my degree...what I couldn’t do by attending the branch close by.” Eva sighed as she perked up looking at the key ring with wide eyes. “That’s...”
“Outside with ya...your da’s waiting for your reaction...” He pushed her lightly in the direction of the front of the Sentinel and Guide Center Headquarters in the Cascade Mountains.
There parked in the roundabout in front of the Center was a black 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK Sahara with 2.5” Rough country suspension lift 35X12.50X17, with nitto trail grappler tires mounted on 17x9 American eagle wheels. Eva froze as she took it in before looking at her Da in shock. She had spent a night dreaming with the man over what her dream vehicle would be and even what type of tires she would like on the vehicle. It was something that they had done since she had turned 16 as a way to distract her from the trial of her parents finally seeing the inside of the court room over two years after she had been removed from their care. Always during the week leading up to her birthday they would sit and dream over what would be her dream car. She loved going off-roading, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, everything outdoors that she could with her da. It was a way for her to connect with him and work on her skills as a Guide, since Blair wasn’t one to go out into the wilds like he liked to.
“Holy Shit!” Eva gasped as she took in the vehicle before looking at her Da and running to wrap him in a hug. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!” She shouts in joy as she hugs him and then hugs her papa.
“Happy Birthday Little Queen.” Jim whispers as he returns the hugs.
Blair hands over a new iPhone 4 in a heavy-duty waterproof case. “You stay in touch you hear. We want to hear from you every day. Or I’ll come on the spirit plain to check in on you.”
“Of course, Papa.” Eva whispered with tears in her eyes.
“Maybe go down to Peru at one point.” Blair smiled softly.
“Oh, I’m planning on it.” Eva responded with a smile before moving to get her bag, that she had placed in her closet before gathering the courage to talk to her parents about wanting to travel, only to freeze when she saw one of the Sentinels that worked with her parents step out with it and another bag that had her computer in its own heavy duty case, several solar chargers, and then his guide was following carrying a large cooler that they fit into the back and plug into the jeep to help maintain the cold. “Michael...Jacob...” She pursed her lips as more tears wanted to flow. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Jacob, an a-typical looking guide was large standing 6’9 with muscles of hard work instead of just working out, he looked like many pictured Jacob Black from the Twilight series something he got amusement out of.
“We’ll miss you little queen.” Michael said with a rolling Canadian French accent to his voice as he placed the bags in the back seat. He was more what people thought of as a guide instead of sentinel more of a twig than powerhouse. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t have hidden muscle and was strong he just had more of a runners build than a body builder. “But just like your parents you stay in contact, okay?”
Michael and Jacob were the seconds to Blair and Jim and had become older brothers to her. They had been there with Blair and Jim when she had to attend her parents' trials and learned that she had been born a savior sibling only for the bone marrow transplant did not take since her brother had been terminal before she was even born. Maddie had been so mad about their parents going to trial and refused to acknowledge that there had been any truth in what was brought forward. When she had said that Eva was no longer her sister Eva had only blinked and looked at her before asking ‘so what’s different since you’ve left home?’ before turning to her adoptive parents and leaving the courthouse. She knew there was a chance that Maddie would try and get back in touch with her years down the line, but she would simply remind her that she was the one that had decided they were not sisters because of the truth coming out when her parents were found guilty of everything.
“Of course I’ll stay in contact.” Eva whispered as she hugged the two men before turning back to her parents. “Are you sure...”
“Yes...you need to do this for you and for your future. Just stay in contact. We’ve gotten you a phone plan that won’t cost us an arm and a leg to stay in touch, but it requires you actually using it to appease us.” Blair smiled gently as he pulled her in for a final hug with Jim right behind.
“I added a little something in the back for you.” Jim told her. “Just follow your passion and follow your heart.”
Eva was amazed to find the travel easel and backpack full of painting supplies along with the hard sided case to carry smaller canvases while there was also a pile of larger canvases. She wondered how her parents had been able to afford to do this for her but knew that if she asked she would be ignored as it always was when she asked the questions about money. She knew it was a holdover from when she was at the Buckley house because they were constantly harping about how much she was costing them as a minor in their house. Sighing as she settled for a night of camping on the coast of Washington she decided to head over the top of the states before heading down the opposite coast and then into Peru before coming back up toward Cascade with maybe a few trips to the inner most states. She would paint as she went following her passion as her Da told her, something that he had encouraged since she came to their care.
October 15, 2013
Eva was enjoying life, she was dancing in a club in LA, she had only three more stops planned before heading home to Cascade. She had been gone from home only calling from time to time for the past three years. She had called daily as promised, even as phones improved, she kept her old one she’d see about getting a new one when she got home. She had plans when she got back to Cascade, something that she felt drawn to doing since she helped save people from a house fire in Peru and helped during a wildfire when she was working at a ranch in Montana. She felt a man with a slimy feel step up behind her and place his hands on her shoulders before sliding them down, right over her mark which was clearly seen on her back in the form of a pair of tattered angel wings, the work of her parents had healed a lot of the damage done to her soul but there were still wounds upon her soul.
“Tell me darling...have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?” The man spoke as he rested his hands on her hips and pulled her back against him grinding his erection into her backside.
“Can honestly say that I have, and I don’t want too ever do so again.” Eva moved away from his grinding.
“Oh, come on sweetheart I can make it good.” The man continued to plaster himself against her even going so far as wrap his arms around her and making it so she couldn’t leave without extreme force. “Say this tat is pretty sweet. Are you a fallen angel? Is that why you’ve danced with the devil?”
“I already said I’m not interested. Please let me go.” Eva ground out through clenched teeth as her shields were battered by the oily disgusting nature of the man behind her. She could tell that she was not the first woman he had treated this way. “I won’t ask again.”
“Don’t be like that Baby...I just want to have some fun.” He ground even harder against her backside all but humping her to her disgust.
“I told you I won’t ask again. Let me GO!” Eva made sure that it was seen that she was struggling against the man behind her and drew attention to herself.
“And I said DON’T be like that baby!” The man pulled her in even harder, his grip promising to leave bruises.
Taking a deep breath now that she had one arm free, she drove her elbow back into his stomach before driving the heel of her thigh high boots down into his instep. From there she turned enough to drive her hand into his nose then her knee up into his groin. Since she was 6’2 even before the heels had a lot of force that she was able to send into her efforts, as well as the self-defense lessons she had taken and continued to take even as she traveled. There was a collective wince from the men around them and several women offering smirks when the man dropped to the ground with a groan.
“Thank you, Sandra Bullock and Miss Congeniality.” Eva muttered as she stepped back and felt several men step forward putting themselves between her and the man that had accosted her.
“You broke my nose BITCH!” The man groaned struggling to hold his crotch and his nose, which was bleeding heavily at the same time.
“I asked you to not touch me and to let me go several times. I have bruises forming from where you refused to listen as you humped your nasty junk against my ass trying to get off while talking about the fact that you want to rape me.” Eva started to speak up only to freeze as another approached that had a similar slimy feel to the man on the ground.
“Miss I’m going to need you to step over here...” The second man said, he had a name tag on that said Eric and manager.
“What for?” Eva crossed her arms and stood her ground she was not going anywhere with the man.
“We need to wait for the police and EMTs.” Eric stated simply.
“The police for that man correct.” Eva raised an eyebrow.
“No...the EMTs are for him.” Eric returned with his arms crossed trying to intimidate.
“And why would the police be for me?” Eva asked loud enough that others could hear that were not those standing around her.
“Because you just assaulted the owner’s son.” Eric sighed while the man on the floor smirked with vindictive glee on his face through his pain.
“Oh...You mean I defended myself from a person with harmful malicious intent that caused me actual physical pain and refused to listen when I said no several times. You mean that person?” Eva smirked. “You will find that I had every right to defend myself from him and it will be clear on any camera that you and your associates don’t doctor...” She looked around and raised an eyebrow since there were several people with their phones out and cameras on. “After all the club surveillance isn’t the only that is going right now.”
Eric blanched in horror as he realized what was happening.
“You’re not going to be able to intimidate me because I’m not some weak damsel. I was raised by an Army Ranger who is current the Alpha Prime Sentinel of the United States as well as his Guide. I myself am a level five guide.” Eva stated as Zin appeared beside her growling low under their breath as they watched the two men. “Nor is the owner of this establishment going to intimidate me into dropping charges against the man. I’m sure that as soon as the others learn that someone is standing up they’ll find their courage.”
“I don’t know what you mean...” Eric blinked stepping back and looking around.
“Oh, you don’t know that it is clear that this isn’t the first time the bastard’s not listened to the words no or I’m not interested. You clearly need to get your mind checked if you think that this isn’t going to get out there...” Eva stated with a raised eyebrow. “Ah...here’s the police and EMTs...now are we going to tell the truth or are you going to lie through your teeth and make so that the good people surrounding us have to speak up?”
“What seems to be the problem here?” A tall regal looking black female in the uniform of a field sergeant stepped up with the nametag of Grant on her chest, on her collar was the badge of an online sentinel.
“This BITCH assaulted me!” The man on the floor groaned as the EMTs worked on packing his nose to stop the bleeding and applying ice to his groan.
“That bitch as you say told you three times that I wasn’t interested and was actively trying to get away from you.” A young man stepped forward, he had been dancing in front of her without touching and they had been friendly without being handsy.
“Miss?” Grant looked at Eva with a raised eyebrow in question.
“Sergeant...I told him repeatedly to let me go and that I wasn’t interested in his attentions. He was constantly grinding his cock into my ass, and I know that I’m going to have bruising where he was gripping me so I couldn’t get away. After warning him for the third time that I wasn’t interested and to let me go I imitated Grace Hart from Miss Congeniality. I preformed SING.” Eva responded with a raised eyebrow keeping an eye on the man on the ground. “I would like it to be known that I’m a level five Guide with high empathic levels. Also, I’m Marked, and he was both touching the Mark which was extremely painful but also battering against my shields with his disgusting intent.”
“Is that so?” Sergeant Grant looked down at the man with a raised eyebrow. “Isn’t interesting that we’re called to this club again for a very similar case to the last six times only this time someone is actually telling the truth and not reeking of fear.” She raised an eyebrow and when others sputtered, she tapped her collar where the small S shaped badge sat. “Now...as soon as you are done with him, I’ll be reading him his rights and he’ll be getting a personal escort to the hospital for treatment before sitting in a nice cell that’s waiting for him.”
“You can’t do this! Don’t you know who my father is?!” The man on the floor groaned as he was treated and transferred to the gurney that was brought in.
“I do know. And I also don’t care. It’s about time that he learns that his money can’t stop everything.” Grant stated with a raised eyebrow before reading the man his rights and waving over one of the other officers that had come with her to get statements. “Now...are you going to show me the true camera footage of the club floor or am I going to have to take steps to arrest your ass as well?” She turned to Eric with a glare. “Miss, if you and your friend, could come down to the station to get those bruises photographed and then give your statement I’d be grateful.”
“Of course, Sentinel Grant.” Eva nodded in response before turning to the man who had stood up for her. “Thank you for speaking up. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“You're welcome. Do you need directions in how to get to the precinct?” Josh asked with a cautious tone.
“That would be great.” Eva smiled. “This is NOT how I wanted to spend my 21st birthday.” She sighed as she moved out of the club. “Perhaps we should go together. I...I could use a friend nothing more. I’m demi but no one accepts that it seems, though mainly I’m trying to just find my sentinel, but my mind tells me that I won’t find him for a few years yet.” She shrugged.
“I’m gay so I completely understand.” Josh sighed glad they had at least been able to exchange names before dancing; the club was supposed to be a friendly one to the community but there were moments when it made him uncomfortable. “And sharing a vehicle sounds good. I noticed that even though it was your 21st you weren’t drinking?” He cocked his head to the side.
“My Mark is so tattered because of my sperm and egg donors...both tended to ‘drown their sorrows’ in the bottom of a bottle of Jack or a red wine depending on who was doing the drowning. I just don’t want to become similar and plan on not drinking.” Eva shrugs as she led him over to her Jeep which she had parked in the club parking lot. “So...directions to the precinct...” She climbed into the Jeep with ease and started it, she had learned car maintenance in her travels and made sure that even though it was only three years old it still ran as if it was brand new.
Little did she know that she would end up not only with a close friend in Josh Russo but also a mother figure in Sergeant Grant that would come in handy in the years to come.
October 15, 2016
Eva looked at her fathers with a smile on her face. She had done it she not only had a doctorate in Fire Science and Emergency Management but she also was a fully-fledged firefighter with the Cascade Fire Department.
“We’re so proud of you baby.” Blair choked out as he hugged her. He didn’t like that she was running into dangerous situations but he didn’t want her following in Jim’s footsteps either and going into police work as he saw it as more dangerous. “What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to work for six months here...then I’ve already asked for a transfer to LA...” Eva explained softly. “I’m being drawn back there for some reason.” She shrugged in explanation. “I’m going to go through their academy, the next class starts in six months that’s why I’m waiting that long, to make sure I know their rules and regulations and such but I’ll be placed as a full firefighter into a house as soon as I finish those classes.” She explained simply. “Athena’s husband is gonna help me find a place up to guidelines for those who are in the S&G spectrum.”
“I’m glad you have someone to help you in the future there.” Jim said with a smile. “Sergeant Grant is a good woman and a strong Sentinel. She was brought online after the death of her then fiancé...”
“That’s horrid...but she’s an amazing woman just like the goddess that she’s named for. She’s gonna help me get the lay of things there when I arrive. She helped a lot with the case against the Aguirre family when I met her. I’m just glad so many came forward and Federico was willing to settle out of courts instead of going to trial. Though I also wish he’d been willing to go for trial so that more would see the disgusting man that he was.”
Eva thought back to the family that had caused so many issues for people. Federico had been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the multiple rapes that he had been responsible for while his father Alejandro had been arrested for obstruction of justice and blackmail losing his business license and clubs, Eric had been a cousin and had also been arrested for blackmail and obstruction both only serving five years before they will be back in public.
“Well, I’m just glad that you have such a strong woman in your corner.” Blair said with a shrug before they moved away from the others. “Are you sure that you’re wanting to do this?”
“I’m sure papa. Trust me this is what I’m meant to do. This is my calling to support the tribe.” Eva said with a soft expression.
“Then we will support you from now until the end of time.” Blair nodded with a sad smile.
“Just because I won’t be living at home doesn’t mean I won’t stay in touch. I did so during my travels and I’ll continue to do so.” Eva whispered gently.
“I know baby but I still will worry. It’s the dad in me. You may not be mine by blood but you are mine in everything else.” Blair said softly.
“You’ve been my papa longer than by sperm donor. And you’ve shown me what true parental love was both of you.” She looked at Jim who had stepped up beside them with a smile on his own face. “I’m able to do this because of the both of you.”
“But your Mark is still tattered...” Blair whispered.
“And it will likely remain tattered for the rest of my life papa. What Phillip did and what Margaret allowed it leaves lasting scars. But know that I can continue to thrive even with the scars on my soul.” Eva whispered back with a gentle smile and an understanding in her gaze.
“Very well.” Blair nodded; he was sad that she would always carry the scars upon her person, but he knew that she would excel in everything she did because there was little chance of anything else.
October 15, 2018
Eva looked at firehouse 118 and took a deep breath. She knew that there were changes in the air and that she would be subjected to several things that would try her patience and shields but that this was where she was meant to be. Hiking her bag further on her shoulder as she locked the Jeep that had seen her through many adventures, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to Josh and her parents asking them to wish her luck, before she put it away and headed inside.
Hearing voices coming from upstairs she climbed the steps and approached the table where there was a family style meal happening. Cocking her head she raised an eyebrow at the pin on the fire captain’s collar showing he was a dormant guide; there was a black band over the G. She then looked at the others clocking the sentinel and guide pair that worked the secondary ambulance, she had done her research into the house she was being assigned and simply nodded in acknowledgement to the pair.
“Can we help you?” The captain asked looking at the young woman that had approached in uniform.
“Captain Nash...I believe you were alerted to the fact that I would be joining your house starting this shift? I’m Evangeline Ellison-Sandburg. I prefer to be called Buck; it was the call sign I was given in Cascade.” She stepped forward with a gentle smile.
“How’d you know he was the captain, probie?” The Asian man sitting to his left with the name badge Han asked.
“For one I’m not a probie. I went to the academy to get updated on the rules and regulations from LA. I went through my probationary year in Cascade.” Buck answered with a raised eyebrow. “And two I actually took the time to learn about those that I’d be serving with Firefighter Paramedic Han.” She explained.
“Yeah right a Barbie wanna be like you...You’re just wanting to get your kicks...” Han scoffed.
“Believe what you will. I have a doctorate in both Emergency Services and Fire Science, along with knowing six languages fluently. I also have the heavy rescue qualifications required for the rescues I was brought into this station to deal with.” Buck shrugged, not concerned about what he felt about her. “I’m also a registered Level 5 empathic Guide.”
“Yeah right.” Han scoffed before turning back to his meal.
“Welcome to the 118 Buck...please have a seat.” Captain Nash stated as he pushed out the chair to his right that had a plate in front of it leading her to know that she was expected. “It’ll be good to have another here to support Makepeace.” He nodded toward a dark skinned man down the table. “Brian will be your partner for now. I looked over your qualifications and think you’ll be a good match to this house.”
“I’m Hen...so how’d you get the call name Buck?” The dark skinned woman sitting beside her asked with a raised eyebrow, she had the nametag of Wilson on her chest.
“Simply I tended to Buck all expectations of what a Guide is supposed to be like, especially a female guide.” Buck chuckled as she looked at the woman.
“Huh...Well I’m Hen, that’s Bobby or Cap, then there’s Chimney or Chim if you want to shorten it...” Hen then went on to introduce everyone around the table by whatever name they wanted to be called by.
“I prefer for the first while to remain professional until I know you all better if you don’t mind Paramedic Wilson.” Buck said simply. “Though I likely won’t last long before calling you by your call signs or nicknames if we get along well enough.”
“That’s fine.” Hen nodded softly.
“I think I’m gonna like it here.” Buck smiled as she served herself some of the food that had been set on the table.
Chapter 2
Summary:
Warning: This chapter is not that nice to a few characters. I did not plan for the way that Chimney acts in this chapter or what happens to him. It amazed me at how my muse twisted this. Though I do admit I am not a Chimney fan in the show, I think he gets away with too much that would put the LAFD in a bad light if happening in real life. The car accident in the first season for one, his blatant teasing about a THERAPIST sleeping with a client for another when that is against the law in so many states, and many other things. So...yeah...this chapter came about.
I hope that you enjoy this chapter but be warned that it is not a Chimney Friendly story. Don't like Don't read. That simple.
Chapter Text
Concerning Sentinels and Guides, an essay by Buck Evans – part 1
When one is a Guide or Sentinel there are different degrees of capabilities that each will show. It is not uncommon for those that are Sentinels or Guides to work in positions of importance, typically as first responders, military, or educators. They state that they feel a calling to the position that they hold and are usually found to be some of the best out in the fields they are called to.
A Shaman Guide (Alpha Prime Guide) is usually accompanied by a wolf spirit animal, or a spirit animal in the form of a large predator. Shaman Guides are Level 6 and are more readily able to achieve the Spirit Plain, though Level 5s can also reach the Plain they need to be escorted the first few times. For other Guides Level 5 and lower the spirit animals are typically more prey type animals, this is not always a type thing for there are verified Level 5 Guides that have a predator animal as their spirit guide which is usually on the smaller scale for predators. Level 5’s are typically those that are brought in to be the Betas or Alphas of a territory. The Alpha Primes cover the whole to the continent/country that they are a part of or a region of that land. There are currently three Alpha Primes covering the area of China and Russia.
Now a Sentinel that is a level one will only have one enhanced sense, while a level five will have five enhanced senses. The Alpha Prime is a Level 6 in that they have all five senses enhanced but are also able to access the Spirit Plain with their Guide.
A Bonded Sentinel and Guide pair are bonded down to the soul. It is rare for one to survive the loss of the other. They may survive months or years, but it is mostly due to the fact that they have someone keeping them there, a sibling, child, parent. Very rarely would one be able to bond a second time with another after the loss of one.
Guides and Sentinels are labeled as latent, online/active, or dormant depending on several factors.
A Latent Guide or Sentinel is one that has the ability to come online/active in the right situations. These situations are unknown to each individual but typically discovered to be when in high stress or emotional situations. It is not unheard of for a Sentinel, for example, to come online in a war zone, during a fight, or when one of their loved ones is in danger. It is common when this happens for them to go into a feral drive to protect the Tribe until they are safe and those that they are fighting for are safe as well. While a Guide would come online in a situation where the emotions of the environment is high and pressing on them or extremely stressful. Some Latent Guides still have the ability to be empathic to others and are good at making friends or telling when something isn’t right. While some Latent Sentinels will have ‘gut’ feelings that something is not right and be more aware of their environments.
An Online/Active Guide or Sentinel on the other hand is one that has had their gifts come online and are now able to use their enhanced senses to assist others. Level One Guides are able to help those that are level one or two come out of zones while also helping those that are in emotional distress remain calm until aid is found. Level One Sentinels will be able to focus their one enhanced sense on the situations they find themselves in and use it to help in whatever field they are in. Level One Sentinels are less likely to Zone, but it does still happen especially if the enhanced sense is sight, hearing, or smell.
A Dormant Guide/Sentinel is one that has been gone dormant to their abilities due to trauma, broken bonds, or injury. It is more common for a Sentinel to go Dormant in just one or two senses going from say a level five to a level four or three. While a Guide would lose their ability to affect others with their empathic gift over a range. It is rare but Dormant Guides and Sentinels can go fully dormant where they are unable to access any of their gifts. Rarely has there been cases of healing happening enough that the Dormant Sentinel or Guide is able to access their abilities again, though typically it is at a lower level than when they first tested.
A way to identify a Sentinel or Guide that is active or dormant is by the pins that are given by the Sentinel & Guide Council, a silver S or G that they wear upon their uniforms if they are a member of the military or a first responder, if there is a black line over the S or G then they have gone dormant but still have some of their abilities. If they are fully dormant then they will have the option to no longer wear the pin identifying them as such. There is nothing that is worn to mark a Sentinel or Guide that is latent.
Buck walked into the station after a long weekend trying to find a place to stay. She was tired and worn down but she wasn’t going to let that stop her from coming to work. She needed a break from the room share situation she had going on at the local Sentinel and Guide center. She despised the Centers that were not the one in Cascade for they were constantly trying to match her with a Sentinel, usually one that was a level 3 or 4 which would hinder her own abilities. She knew that when she found her Sentinel finally then it was likely they would be come the Alpha Pair of LA because of her near Shaman Level gift. This was something she didn’t want because it would mean giving up her position at the LAFD and she would do everything she could to keep that from happening. She knew that this was her calling and where she was supposed to be.
“Hey Barbie!” Han called out a she entered the loft. “Find anyone to fuck?”
“That is completely out of line Paramedic Han and disgusting.” Brian sneered from where he was making coffee, Nash wasn’t upstairs yet still going over handover papers with the captain from the shift before.
“Come on Brian! I mean look at her!” Han gestured to Buck with a wide handed up and down motion. “Tell me you wouldn’t like to ride that.”
“I’m actually happily married; you remember the station support personnel Adriana?” Brian shook his head as he took his coffee and headed to one of the high-top tables. “Besides talking about a fellow staff member in such a way is means for a sexual harassment charge.”
“Come on I’m just messin with the probie.” Han sputtered.
“Only she’s not a probie. Even if she was she shouldn’t be subjected to your disgusting tone, words, anything.” Brian shook his head in response.
Buck simply ignored Han and moved toward the kitchen to get herself some coffee. She took a deep breath of the brew in her cup before adding a pat of butter and grabbing a stick of cinnamon.
“What the hell is that concoction?” Hen asked as she stepped up to the machine.
“Something my dad taught me... it’s good.” Buck shrugged before sipping it a bit to test the heat.
“Why’s Chimney ranting downstairs?” Hen asked as she fixed her own coffee with a bit of sugar and half and half.
“Because I refused to rise to his harassment and he got called out on it by Makepeace.” Buck sighed as she found the temp was perfect so took a large drink.
“What did he do now?” Hen sighed in exasperation.
“Claimed he was messing with the ‘probie’ by calling me Barbie and then asking if I had found anyone to fuck over the break.” Buck answered. “Makepeace called him out on his words and shut him down.”
“Of course he was saying things like that.” Hen shook her head; she was getting tired of the way her best friend was acting.
“Makepeace was going to report him.” Buck shrugged again. “Especially since he accused of wanting to commit infidelity with me.”
“He wouldn’t!” Hen cried out in shock.
“Oh, he would.” Buck simply nodded.
Buck sighed as the day soon began in a rush after the confrontation with Han and also the conversation with Hen. She got notification while on their way to a call that she would be required to appear before the HR department to answer questions raised by the report that had been made. She saw that they had contacted the regular Union representative but not the S&G Union Representative that was supposed to be called in for every call when a Sentinel or Guide was being questioned. Sending out a message just as they arrived at the call location, where there was a drowning victim who she could tell was a budding Guide, she sent information to the S&G representative.
“What’s going on Buck?” Brian asked as they moved to aid Chim and Hen.
“Just HR, Union stuff.” Buck sighed as she put her phone away.
“What sorta stuff?” Brian looked at her.
“They seem to forget that they need to call in the S&G Union rep because I’m a Level 5 Guide.” Buck shrugged.
“Please! Everyone knows that’s a load of bullshit.” Chimney scoffed as he moved past, roughly shouldering Buck out of the way. “Just like that ‘mark’ you have is a fake. There’s no way someone like you,” he made sure to look her up and down in a very suggestive way, “would have a mark that damaged.”
“Paramedic Han, I was not speaking to you.” Buck looked at him. “And you are here for a job. There is a victim that needs our assistance not you butting into things that don’t concern you.” She looked toward Bobby who was leading the way. “Besides that, I know for a fact that I’ve never KNOWINGLY changed my shirt in front of you and you should have no reason to know what my mark looks like.”
“Please the locker rooms have glass walls.” Chim waved her off as he moved forward.
Bobby called the group into working on the young man instead of calling Chimney out on his words and actions with the blatant leering that he had performed as they moved into the scene.
“Just so you know and everyone else on the team. I have never once changed where the glass walls are.” Buck explained as they moved from helping the teen while Chim and Hen were pushing the stretcher out.
Chimney froze for a moment in his forward movements before continuing forward without paying attention to the fact that by him knowing what her Soul mark looked like meant he’d been looking in on her somehow.
Before Buck could make a report about the inadvertent admittance to the fact that Chim was a Peeping Tom they were called to a potential jumper. She turned her focus on the events that they were being called to before letting her frustration hit her too much. She watched as Bobby climbed up to speak with the jumper and Buck stood beside Hen and Chim down below. She knew that they weren’t going to be able to save this one and it tore at her.
“What’s wrong Buck?” Hen asked looking at Buck who had a lost look on her face.
“She’s a guide... and she’s lost... she’s lost her bonded sentinel... Bobby’s not gonna be able to get through to her this time...” Buck whispered making sure the person that had called it in did not hear her.
“What do you mean? I thought they only went dormant if they lost their bonded partner?” Hen asked carefully as she kept an eye on the jumper.
“No... unless they have someone, usually a child or sibling, rarely a parent depending on the age. A guide or sentinel that’s gone dormant can have a slight bond with the opposite but they wouldn’t have a full bond. A true bonded Sentinel or Guide is bonded down to the soul.” Buck explained as she kept her eyes up watching what was happening. “A Guide like Bobby who was online and active but not bonded was sent dormant due to his grief.”
“What do you mean?” Hen looked at her with a fierce expression.
“I can feel the grief that he lives with every day. I don’t know what happened to cause it but it is soul deep and the reason that he has gone dormant. Nor will I pester him to find out. It is his grief and his story to tell.” Buck looked at her briefly with a raised eyebrow. “As I’ve said before I’m a Level 5 EMPATHIC Guide. There are only six levels to being a Guide with only Shaman above Level 5.” She raised an eyebrow.
“What does it mean to be an empathic instead of say just a guide?” Hen asked, she had never really learned much about Sentinels and Guides but how to interact with emerging ones and how to get them the care they need.
“An empathic is just as people expect... while a guide is able to use mental gifts to help the Sentinel and ground them, guiding them through the steps needed. A Guide is good at calming Sentinels, who has a strong connection to the spirit world, and who are generally a stabilizing influence on the Sentinel they are partnered with. The levels are more tied with the Sentinels. Level 1 to Level 5 is tied with the five known senses. The Shaman level is tied with the Spirit.”
“So, someone that’s a level five is able to access all five of their senses and enhance them.” Hen asked carefully.
“Exactly, and as a level five empathic guide I’m able to pull a level five sentinel back from a zone and be effected by or effect of emotions on people around me.” Buck answered simply.
“So, you could affect her to where she wouldn’t jump?” Hen looked at Buck before looking back at the woman above.
“No... because she is also a level five guide she can’t be as easily affected like others.” Buck shook her head.
“You can tell what level she is from here?!” Brian asked from where he had been standing on the other side of her listening to her explanation, most of it he knew but he also appreciated learning more.
“She’s broadcasting and anyone that’s a guide or sentinel in any way are able to pick it up.” Buck shrugged. “It’s how I knew that she lost her bonded sentinel.”
Buck watched with pain filled understanding as the woman told Bobby that ‘nobody can help me’ before letting herself fall. Closing her eyes she lifted a simple prayer for the spirit realm to welcome her and protect her. She then moved forward with the others to take care of the check and steps needed to deal with the jumper and the one that had called it in to watch it happen.
Buck entered the Human Resources headquarters, still exhausted after the trial that was her shift even though it had ended very late the day before and looked up to see that the S&G Union Rep was still not there. She raised an eyebrow before pulling out her phone and calling the Union to make sure that the rep was sent.
*I’m sorry Miss Buckley...*
“Excuse me that is not my name.” Buck raised an eyebrow before looking at the representatives that were there and glaring at her for holding up the process. “I was legally and fully removed from my birth parents and adopted with legal name change in ALL levels to Ellison-Sandburg. Now do you really want to piss off me and my LEGAL parents in trying to circumvent my rights as a REGISTERED Level 5 guide on the word of a MUNDANE?” She was speaking to not only the S&G Union member but also to the HR and Union Representative that was before her. The ones in front of her raised their eyebrows in shock as they registered who her parents were and what they were in the process of. The HR representative was a petite woman with thick rimmed glasses and her deep red hair in a twist at the back of her head, she had the classic look of a tired secretary with sharp claw like nails and deep red lips. The Union Representative had the slight look of a sleazy salesman that put her back up just looking at him with his smirking smile that made it look like he just needed a toothpick in his mouth as he said, ‘trust me’ with his middle parted flat, slightly greasy hair, rounded face and wire rimmed large glasses. “Do I have to start a SANCTION on the S&G Union that represents the LAFD and the LAPD?”
*No of course not ma’am...* The person’s voice was shaking slightly as there was typing that happened rapidly. *I apologize it seems someone altered your files... Someone will be there shortly to represent you.*
“Make sure they are high enough to deal with the bullshit that is being pulled.” Buck said with a raised eyebrow in response.
*Of course... of course... I’ll also make sure that your file is secure so no one can change it again...*
“Oh, don’t worry my fathers’ll take care of that when they arrive. They’ve been planning on visiting very soon after some very worrying reports.” Buck smirked in response to the cursing she heard over the line and the uptick of worry that came from the pair across from her. She ended the call a short time later before looking at the pair before her. “Now we shall wait for the representative from the S&G Union that is tied with the LAFD. If you attempt to block things... or force the meeting before they arrive...” She tilted her head. “You’ll find I don’t accept gaslighting or victim blaming. I also have records of everything that has happened and that I have submitted the reports of. I constantly wear a body cam when on shift, and I’ve permission on my file that I can wear it without telling everybody every shift that I have it on.” She was still in her uniform and had the body camera on at the time that she was speaking of it and that was when those that were standing there noticed it and their eyes widened. “The only place and time I don’t have the camera on is when I’m changing and in the showers.” She stopped their attempt in its tracks for declaring that she was breaking the law by having her camera active in the locker rooms.
An hour later a large man that made her think of Chris Evan’s Captain America character. Though this version had a full beard and was wearing a full suit with a thin black tie, on his lapel was a S pin, denoting that he was a Sentinel.
“Greetings... I’m Sentinel Grant Roberston,” Sentinel Robertson waved at those waiting. “Miss Ellison-Sandburg’s S&G Union Representative and a Level 5 Sentinel. If you ever need to meet with her again I should be first notified.” His eyes were steely and firm though he had a kind smile on his face.
“Of course...” The Union representative that had been present from the beginning answered with a wide eyed look. “We were informed that she was only claiming to be a Guide...”
“Verify.” Grant snapped. “We were able to find in the short time that we had between finding everything had been changed from the 118 station with the codes from the second-in-command’s codes.” He pulled out the information that he had been sent and sent it over to their computers. “HE also attempted to cancel the reports of harassment and other reports.”
“I... we... um...” The HR representative looked at the information with wide eyes before looking at other reports that they had found records of.
“Now... we don’t want to tell you how to deal with a situation but for the Sentinel and Guide Centers and the Unions attached we do our best to find the information to verify before we accept anything. It should be clear from how quickly it was discovered while on the phone with Miss Ellison-Sandburg that there had been changes made to her file. Including the fact that someone attempted to change her name back to her dead-name.” Grant said simply as he looked at the pair that were meeting with them.
“Dead-name?” The HR representative asked.
“Her last name from her birth parents is considered her dead name to her. Just as when someone goes through transition they potentially have a dead-name, their former names that they don’t acknowledge as their names anymore.” Grant answered. “The change was made in such a way as to trigger alerts not realizing that it would do so.”
“Of course...” The HR representative blinked. “Let’s get this meeting under way at least...”
“Of course, Miss...” Buck raised an eyebrow in response.
“Forgive me... I’m Michelle Johnson. And this is Daniel Brown.” Michelle answered a blush on her face over the fact that they hadn’t introduced themselves yet. “Mr. Brown is here to represent Mr. Han’s interest.”
“Why is Mr. Han not here to answer the questions?” Grant asked carefully.
“He stated that he would arrive later to answer any remaining questions not wanting to encounter the one that brought these accusations against him to our attention.” Michelle answered.
“Ahhh... so he’s hoping that the charges are dropped.” Buck smirked as she said this. “Especially considering the fact that the report that started this was not made by myself but by Brian Makepeace over the fact that Paramedic Han accused Firefighter Makepeace, a known married man, of wanting to ‘ride that’ in context to myself after asking point blank as soon as I arrived in the kitchen if I’d found anyone to fuck over the four day break.” She sat back with a raised eyebrow. “He also refuses to acknowledge my status as a FULL firefighter due to the fact that I finished my probationary year in Cascade, Washington. He repeatedly calls me Barbie or Probie.”
“Well... if the name fits...” Daniel sneered as he looked at Buck.
“Really? You’re gonna be blatantly harassing during a case against harassment because of my looks?” Buck crossed her arms over her chest. She tapped her pin along with the camera that was positioned right below it. “Make sure you think carefully on how you react... after all I am an EMPATHIC level 5 guide.”
Daniel gulped before nodding in return and straightening up. Grant was starting at him with a hard look in his eyes that did not promise anything good.
“Mr. Han was put through some hard times when he first joined the department.” Michelle started to give the reasons that they were letting him sit out the questioning stage.
“So, the fact that he was harassed for his race gives him leave to harass others for their gender and looks?” Buck asked, her head cocked to the side and an eyebrow raised. “As I said while waiting for Mr. Robertson, I have video and audio evidence as well as evidence from the station cameras themselves into his actions and harassment. He even before I left attempted to accuse me of having taken the truck for a joyride to fuck someone.” She leaned forward with her arms on the table before her. “We were then called out for a call about a potential baby in a wall.” She tapped the information that she had printed out.
“I don’t see how this is relevant...” Mr. Brown sneered at her in response.
“I will be getting to that. I’m giving background to the most recent report that I had turned in that affects not only Paramedic Han but also Captain Nash and Paramedic Wilson, I’ve also sent a report to the LAPD as it affects Sergeant Grant.” Buck explained before taking a drink of water. “My shift ended ten hours ago, I put the report in at the end of that shift. This event happened only half way through. There is another that happened after this that I will be explaining as well...”
“Of course...” Miss Johnson nodded in response her expression cool. “Please continue...”
“When we arrived. I was the only one to grab a tool, those that answered the call were Wilson, Han, Nash, myself, and two others who never entered the apartment with us. One to drive the ambulance Paramedic Martin Halls who is the secondary ambulance lead, and one to drive the truck Sam Carlson who is the driver engineer on staff that shift.” Buck explained. “They remained by the vehicles as is regulation. When we arrived on scene as I said I was the only one to grab tools and start for the stairs. Captain Nash stated that since he was 50 he was taking the elevator. Paramedics Han and Wilson joined him. The call was on the fourth floor.” She raised an eyebrow as the looked at the pair across the table from her and Robertson. “I said I would race them and they all laughed... Captain Nash even referred to me as Xena before saying his age and that he was taking the elevator. There was no reason for the elevator since they did not bring up the gurney or a backboard. All three of them should have been able to take the stairs easily to be able to continue holding their titles as Firefighters. When we got up to the scene I was able to feel the emotions coming from the infant in the wall. They, however, refused to listen to me and joked around that the called was stoned and imagining things, IN FRONT OF the caller. Han was the worst about it. All Captain Nash did to check was stand in the bathroom and listen... he did not take a stethoscope or anything else nor did he listen to the EMPATH in the room that there was something. The man who called, he is an emerging Sentinel, using the homeopathic method to calm his senses as they were beginning to overwhelm him.” She took another drink of her water. “I informed the group of this but they ignored it, even though earlier I had explained things about my abilities to Paramedic Wilson, she had fallen back into the thinking that Paramedic Han was attempting to push. That I am not a Guide, though I have the S&G issued uniform markers, and that I don’t have a soul mark.” She looked at the pair in disgust because it was clear that they also had believed and still do if she was honest with herself. “When they finally heard the baby’s cry for themselves they finally started to act. Though Paramedic Wilson left the apartment to call for people not to flush their toilets or run their sinks she did not call for a secondary ambulance.”
“Why would she need to?” Ms. Johnson asked.
“Because the infant was a newborn, premature at that to be able to fit in a toilet pipe to begin with. Meaning that the mother was in the building somewhere. Something that Sergeant Grant thought of and acted on without alerting dispatch or the team already on site.” Buck answered easily. “Thanks to me grabbing tools we had the saw to open the wall without potentially harming the infant. Captain Nash and Paramedic Han were able to extract the infant from the pipe before we went to take her down to the ambulance. They complained that someone had summoned the elevator while we were dealing with things in the apartment instead of actually taking the stairs. I convinced them to allow me to carry the infant to the ambulance because it was a waste of time to wait for the elevator. Something they still did after passing the little girl over to me.” Buck narrowed her eyes. “In that time, between the cutting of the wall and me heading down the stairs, Paramedic Wilson was sent to prep the ambulance for an infant transport. Still at no point was an additional bus called Paramedic Halls was unaware of what was discovered until he was told to drive while Firefighter Carlson was still with the truck.”
“This is important why?” Mr. Brown sneered in response.
“Because as I was bringing the infant to the ambulance Sergeant Grant was having the father of the infant’s mother move her from her bed and carry her down to the ambulance. She did not call for medical support nor did she call for a CPS alert. Something I made sure to correct as soon as I could after we had the infant safely at the hospital. Though that was a close thing. For as I was climbing in and preparing to secure the infant Sergeant Grant comes storming out of the apartment complex calling for us to hold the ambulance and ordering us to take the victim and the mother in the same vehicle breaking several rules and regulations. Captain Nash, Paramedic Wilson, and Paramedic Han all overruled me when I argued against it. True I didn’t go about it the most respectful way and I was wrong for how I spoke to Sergeant Grant in front of the mother and the grandfather but the rules are specific that we DON’T transport them together.”
“Agreed.” Ms. Johnson nodded with wide eyes, she was horrified to hear what was being said.
“Captain Nash climbed in the back with the mother and laid her on the stretcher that had been prepared for the infant. I was still holding the infant and therefore was regulated to the bench. At one point we started to lose the infant’s pulse and the mother expressed concern for the infant. Captain Nash, again against regulations, brought the mother’s hand to the infant’s and had them touch. Because of the way that I had the infant held she was unable to pull the child from my arms thankfully when she attempted to do so. Captain Nash didn’t notice it but it was recorded on my body camera.” Buck explained. “We got to the hospital and the mother and infant were separated. I was able in a brief moment explain that the mother had attempted to kill the infant by flushing her down a pipe, and then also for them to check the infants arms since she had yanked on the one in an attempt to pull her from me.”
“Why did no one else explain this?” Ms. Johnson asked carefully.
“Because they were more concerned that we don’t go beyond the glass doors, I was in the middle of explaining to the nurse in-charge of the infant girl when Captain Nash stopped me from proceeding forward with the orders that we stop at the glass doors.” Buck raised an eyebrow. “As we prepared to leave, after filling out the paperwork that comes with a patient transport, where I again added the information about what the mother had attempted to do, we were accosted by Sergeant Grant in the ambulance bay and she started to verbally tear into me for my actions. She is a dormant Sentinel and should clearly understand what my pin means. She either ignored it or didn’t care because she proceeded to scold me while Paramedic Wilson and Captain Nash stood by and did nothing. Paramedic Han was still inside finishing his portion of the paperwork as he was the one to first catch the baby when they got her out of the pipe. I was given a disappointed look and told to get into the truck before we returned to the station. As soon as we were there I sent in the report that I had been compiling on the way back with the help of the station support staff Adriana Makepeace.” She took another drink of water. “I got a ‘might be something to your guide claim after all’ from Paramedic Han when I went up into the loft for a drink. Before I could respond we were called out again. This time to the report of a woman being constricted by her pet albino python.” Buck smirked at the memory of the call. “Paramedic Han went into a panic and refused to enter the room with the patient because she was a collector of snakes and had a large collection that she allowed to free range in her home. Paramedic Wilson and Captain Nash panicked and attempted to pull the snake from the head.”
*~*~Flashback~*~*
“We got to help her get some air, guys.” Bobby said as he went to try and pull the snake away from her neck by the head.
“Oh, my...” Chim looked like he was about to pass out from where he stood just outside the room. “Oh, my God. Oh, I... This is not good...” Chim refused to step closer looking around.
Bobby was sighing and grunting at the way that Chim was acting while Hen actually attempted to prep for helping the patient.
“Bobby, it’s no use. That think is, like, ten feet long.” Hen stated as she looked at the snake.
“Okay that’s enough! Bobby! Grab the tail pull from the tail not the head to get the snake to release. Hen Vinegar or rubbing alcohol, abrasive and strong scents, spray it in the snakes face. And Paramedic Han get yourself together. I don’t care about your phobia right now because there is a patient that needs you!” Buck pushed some command into her voice, one of the gifts that she had tied with her empathy.
“What do you mean?” Bobby looked up in shock.
“The strongest muscles are at the head. It’s where they work them the most to swallow their prey. Grab and begin to unwind from the tail where it is weakest.” Buck explained. “I traveled a lot and learned a lot of things about animals and such. Trust me with this.”
“Alright... Hen vinegar or rubbing alcohol.” Bobby looked at Hen before moving and attempting to twist the snake from the lower portion first.
Hen pulled out the spray bottle of rubbing alcohol they had to spray on wounds and squirted the snake in the face causing it soon to let loose. As soon as it had Chimney was finally in place to help while Buck stepped back and made a call to animal control.
“What are you doing?” The caller asked while coughing with relief.
“I’m calling animal control because this is a situation that needs to get under control. You have too many snakes and it is not safe. If it hadn’t been for my knowledge of pythons or if it was another team it is likely they would have killed your snake instead of working to safely remove him from you.” Buck explained simply before turning to continue her call.
“Guys, I am totally going to take credit for this with Tatiana. It’s gonna get me laid for a week. Thank you.” Chimney stated with a smug smirk.*
~*~*~End Flashback~*~*~
“He said what?” Ms. Johnson asked with wide eyes.
“He said he was going to use that to get laid with his badge and ladder bunny girlfriend. Though he did say that he was going to tell it like the snake’s head had to be chopped off to save the girl.” Buck answered. “Captain Nash simply ignored the statement and rolled his eyes while Paramedic Wilson just shook her head.”
“He was speaking of wanting to fuck you while he’s actually with someone?” Mr. Brown raised an eyebrow in disbelieving shock.
“He claims rescues from others on the team as ones that he has done. Though he makes sure that they aren’t ones that were televised so she can’t easily verify. He also passes off Captain Nash’s cooking as his own though he could burn water from the rumors around the station.” Buck answered.
“What took place after that?” Ms. Johnson asked carefully.
“We returned to the station and went about restocking the truck. I was asked to drive the ladder to test the brake calibration that happened while we were gone for the snake call.” Buck answered.
“Who asked you to do that?” Mr. Brown asked looking at the file against Buck instead of the file that they were supposed to be dealing with. “After all it says here that you took it without permission and were caught having sex with the lady from the snake call...”
“Wow...that’s fucked up.” Buck shook her head. “To make it clear I am a level five Guide. I do NOT do random hookups, but especially not on the clock. I was approached by Ladder Engineer John Barnett. I questioned it since I was being sent out solo and I know that regulations require to have two with at all times. Makepeace heard the request and the fact that he was attempting to send me out solo. Something he had attempted to do earlier to get the engine washed, that I refused to do since I know that we only take it to a detail if there has been a call that would make it filthy from top to bottom and we were off line for a couple hours. Otherwise, we’re to wash it in bay.”
“You mean this first mark saying that you actually took the truck for a fuck?” Mr. Brown sneered at her.
“Wow... just wow...” Buck shook her head again. “In case you don’t realize Mr. Brown. There are in cab cameras in all vehicles so that someone can’t steal the vehicles but also so that sex does not happen in the vehicles. It would be very easy to prove if I had done something like that... as for the event with the snake woman as I said I drove out with Makepeace riding with me. We came upon the snake lady attempting to take her life, as a Guide with a Sentinel in cab with me we made the call to stop and talk her down. It was called in to Dispatch, again something that can be checked not only with the cab video logs but also with dispatch. Captain Nash showed up as I was finishing with talking her down and preparing to get her into the ambulance that he completely ignored on the far side of the truck when he parked the captain’s vehicle.”
“Why was she attempting to take her life?” Mr. Brown sneered.
“Because she had been fined largely for her number of snakes and had ALL of them removed from her for unsafe conditions. She didn’t have any of them in tanks and all of them were free ranging.” Buck answered. “It is in the report from the call.” She explained. “Captain Nash tried to claim that he had caught us in a compromising situation.” Buck took a sip of her water. “But with Firefighter Sentinel Makepeace being present it went no where, just as the false report about me taking the truck previously, when it was out of the bay it was being driven by Driver Engineer Carlson to test the brake replacement that had happened during C-Shift. Firefighter Makepeace and I were made ‘man behind’ after we returned to the station for the next call out, it gave us time to write out the report for the call. Thanks to being behind when a call came through from Paramedic Wilson we were able to drive out to help Sergeant Grant in a home invasion where a young girl was home alone with two men breaking in. Again, I was driving.”
“Why were you driving?” Mr. Brown asked raising an eyebrow.
“Because I have the training needed for driving the many vehicles of the department.” Buck shrugged. “Anyway, we arrived in the neighborhood and met up with Sergeant Grant. She glared and made a comment about me not chasing waterfalls, not seeing Firefighter Makepeace in the cab. He watched one side while I paid attention to driving and watching the other. We had only the color of a bike and house, but since the house was a neutral color we could only go so fast. We finally found the house and were able to keep the mother from entering the house. When the take down happen Sergeant Grant went alone, not waiting for backup which would’ve kept the second thief, and the lead from what I was able to figure out, from getting away as she took down his ‘friend’. He had grabbed the child that had called in to 9-1-1 for help. Pulling her out of the house she was leaking panic as an emerging Guide. When he dropped her, due to her biting him, he took off. Makepeace stayed with the mother and got the daughter to her while I went up on the top of the engine. Using the water cannon, I stopped the thief from shooting Sergeant Grant or the victim and her mother. We waited to be cleared by the arriving police before heading back to the station. Captain Nash attempted to intimidate because of us taking the truck that he could fire us only to be stopped because of the report from Sergeant Grant. He made it seem as if he was being supportive by letting us remain.”
“What does all this have to do with Paramedic Han?” Ms. Johnson asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It was his reaction that happened after. He continued to come on to me and leer.” Buck explained. “While also brushing off the fact that I knew what I was doing and had the necessary requirements for driving the vehicles. He also accused Firefighter Sentinel Makepeace of having ridden with both times to ‘take a ride’ even though with the latest accusation he had just greeted his wife with a kiss. Guide Adriana Makepeace slapped Paramedic Han for the accusations and called him out on his bullshit. Paramedic Han then threatened to have her fired for her actions. Firefighter Sentinel Makepeace stood between him and his wife and guide and basically dared him to follow through. After all there are several reports that have been filed against him. He had repeatedly also hit on Guide Makepeace, only to be refused and reminded that she was not Makepeace’s sister but his wife and BONDED Guide.”
“There is no paperwork showing that you have the requirements needed to drive the vehicles.” Mr. Brown said looking at his paperwork in front of him ignoring the statements about what Han had done.
“Hmmm... you mean the paperwork that is in her true file and not the altered file in front of you?” Sentinel Roberston asked with a raised eyebrow. “You mean the paperwork that I handed over when we sat down showing the true nature of Firefighter Guide Ellison-Sandburg’s education and qualifications.”
Brown sputtered in shock as he looked between the paperwork that he had and the paperwork that was sitting between him and Johnson that he had been refusing to look at. Roberston raised his eyebrow again waiting for the man to pull the proper paperwork toward him and look it over.
“As you can see there is proof that Firefighter Guide Ellison-Sandburg has the necessary requirements to drive the engine and the ladder, along with the ambulance in a short staff situation.” Robertson said with a raised eyebrow. “Now...”
“We still can’t do anything about Paramedic Han.” Johnson interrupted.
“And why is that?” Robertson asked crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.
“Because this is his first registered offense.” Brown replied with a smirk.
“Hmmm...” Buck looked at him carefully. “But it’s not is it.” She leaned forward again. “I know for a fact that you’re lying.”
“I am NOT!” Brown blinked flinching back into his seat.
“Ahh... Try to actually use your brain that you claim to have by being in the position that you are.” Buck placed her fingers under her chin. “I am a GUIDE we can tell when people lie to us just as Sentinels can through the sound of your heartbeat.”
“That’s myth!” Brown looked between the pair in shock.
“That is fact.” Robertson said simply. “I know for a fact that you’re lying because your heart skipped several beats. As I introduced myself I explained that I am a Level 5 Sentinel, that means I am able to enhance all FIVE of my senses. I can tell that you’re nervous at being caught from the up spike of sweat. I can tell you’re lying because of the skip in your heartbeat. There are several other ways that I can tell that I’m being lied too but those are the most obvious. So, I’m wondering...” He leaned forward and rested his arms on the conference table. “What does Han have on you that keeps you from actually filing the multiple reports and look the other way from following the rules and regulations of the LAFD that as a Union Representative of the Mundane that you are meant to do?”
“As much as I would like the answer as well...” Johnson sighed. “I’m still afraid the only thing we can do is remove his rights as second-in-command and order a full investigation into his interactions within the department.” She glared at Brown as she understood that there was something going on there and she had been misled. “We will open a full investigation but he will be remaining on shift. He will no longer have access as Second-in-command... which according to the files brought he doesn’t even have the qualifications for... beyond seniority in the station...” She was shocked at what she was seeing. “We could’ve been sued so much...” She shook her head. “We will also be notifying Captain Nash and Paramedic Wilson that they are being looked into as well.”
“As long as it doesn’t come back onto me.” Buck said. “I’ve gotten enough grief...”
“We will do our best.” Johnson talked over Brown who had been about to say that it would be her fault. “We will let you know the results of the investigation.”
“Thank you. Know that the S&G Union for the LAFD and LAPD will be looking into this as well. It is sad but all previous Guides have refused to remain at the 118 since after the removal of Captain Gerard, they weren’t even allowed in to the station while the man was there. We will also be looking into the actions taken against Captain Gerard and if he is found to still be part of the LAFD charges may be brought against him.” Robertson said as he stood.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts... William Shakespear...” Buck said as she stood looking at Brown and Johnson. “Be careful that you are not given the parts of Jokers or Fools by a man who sees himself as the main character.” She then turned and left. She was pissed and she was doing her best to keep her emotions from broadcasting.
Robertson walked out with Ellison-Sandburg and with a simple good-bye and promise to keep in touch on the case left. Buck stood looking around herself before nodding and heading to the gym that she had joined that was S&G friendly where she was able to take out her frustration on their heavy bags.
Buck knew she would have to talk to Athena later about reporting her for going against protocol on the baby in the wall case but also knew that she needed to be held accountable. She could have seriously harmed the mother by having her moved before she had been checked by an EMT. She thought about how she was going to talk with the woman that she saw as a mother figure before this argument damaged the situation. She also knew though that as long as there was an investigation going on she could not talk with Athena. As she threw punches and kicks at the heavy bag she let the thoughts of what she would need to do flow through her mind.
“Wow...somethings got your panties in a twist.” A smug voice spoke from behind her as she did a high kick on the bag. “Want me to show you how to deal with that in a productive way sweet cheeks?”
Buck turned from where she had been using the bag and looked at the man before her. He was tall and muscular in the way of a person who only worked out to show off. She looked at him before shaking her head, moving to her water bottle, and taking a drink.
“Come on sweetheart! I can give you a private lesson... just you and me... I’m takin over a place soon... could get you in there.” The man smirked in a way that showed what a smarmy frat boy he actually was.
“No thanks.” Buck shook her head.
“Barry! I’ve told you that you were no longer allowed in this club!” The owner Frank came storming over. “I don’t allow those that stack roids in my gym!”
“Whatever man. I was just getting the last of my things.” Barry turned to Frank with a sneer.
“Get out!” Frank pointed to the door.
“Check out Metro Fitness when you want a GOOD workout darling.” Barry gave a smarmy smile to Buck before walking out.
“Yeah no... not gonna happen.” Buck shook her head.
“Sorry bout that Buck.” Frank sighed.
“Not your fault. Some people just think their God’s gift to men.” Buck shook her head. “You have made this a safe place for many people and I’m glad for it.”
“You’re lookin like you need a spar to get rid of whatever had ya tryin ta kill my heavy bag... Want me to find ya a partner?” Frank asked looking at her carefully.
“As long as they don’t treat me as some fainting damsel or think that they need to prove they’re manly men.” Buck sighed as she wiped her face with her towel.
“Of course.” Frank nodded then moved off to find someone to spar with her.
Buck entered the station with a firm step ready for her next shift. She ignored Han’s blustering and attempt to get in her face over things and went about her day. She was not going to let him affect her doing what she did best.
“Buck! You’re behind for this shift!” Captain Nash called out as he climbed into the truck for the first call of the shift.
Buck simply raised an eyebrow and watched as they pulled out. She knew regulations and the fact that there had to be a firefighter left behind each call unless it was an all hands-on deck situation. But she could also feel the frustration that had been pouring off the man as he spoke during the shift announcements that there was an ongoing investigation into the station and that Makepeace had been placed as the Second-in-command after the roster was gone over and it was discovered he was the one with the actual qualifications for the position.
Han was glaring at her the whole time ignoring the fact that it was Makepeace’s report that had brought this all about in the first place, and that it was Makepeace that was taking his position. She shook her head as she moved to the chore chart and scoffed when she saw the altered writing, she had learned the handwriting of the different people on shift and knew that Han had changed the chore chart giving her the worst of the worse chores to do.
Looking carefully, she was able to figure out what chores she had been given and with a smirk simply took a picture of the chart, knowing when Han got back he was going to try and change it back and complain that she had not done what she was tasked with instead took over others to make it seem as if she was treated badly. It had already happened once on her second shift with the station before she had learned their different handwritings of fellow station members. She made sure that Adriana had evidence of what had happened, since she was the one to write up the charts after Nash decided on who did what. Adriana shook her head and told her what her chores actually were and refusing to let her do the whole thing. She also made sure to record the fact that Buck had been left as man behind even though it was not her turn according to the roster that was in place since the time that Gerard had been removed from the house and Chimney had constantly left as man behind.
“We’ll take care of this.” Adriana told Buck before sending the information not only to Robertson but also Johnson, she had been informed that Brown was also under investigation and was being replaced in the Union, but they hadn’t found a new Rep yet for their house. “Don’t worry Buck, we won’t let them take their frustration out on you for something that should’ve been done from the moment that Chim started claiming the title of Second-in-command.”
“Thanks Adri.” Buck sighed as she moved to work on the chores that she had actually been given.
When the team returned, she could tell that Han was pissed that his ‘hazing’ did not work and was another mark on his file. He was even more pissed when he later went into the office in an attempt to remove the mark only to find all his codes removed and when he found Bobby’s password found that the alterations he had made to Buck’s file had been removed. Snarling he stormed out not noticing that there were even more cameras in the halls and offices showing what he had been doing, something only the captains, chiefs, and second-in-command had been notified of with additional signs around the station saying that there were cameras and recording devices throughout the station recording at all times. The only places free of cameras was the locker rooms and showers.
Buck had gone through the locker and shower rooms to verify when she had gotten there for the day and found the cameras that did not belong. She moved to Han’s locker, which he never locked, and placed the cameras within without damaging them in anyway.
“What’s this?!” Han snarled as he prepared to leave for the day.
“Oh... you don’t own those?” Buck looked at the man with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course not!” Han looked around with wide eyes.
“Lie.” Makepeace said with his arms crossed and a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah I figured... after all...” Buck stepped forward until she was close to Han using her height for once against him. “How else would Paramedic Han know what my soul mark actually looked like? I arrived early today and found them before our shift started. I removed them as soon as Paramedic Han was in the loft before coming up. Just know Paramedic Han... That I am pressing charges. I have a friend who keeps an eye online to see if there’s anything about me. He found something interesting...”
“What that you’re a freak and been outed as such?” Han snarled.
“No... that images of myself topless in the shower room has been placed on pornographic sights. Even while we were on shift today new images were uploaded.” Buck snarled. She looked toward the door where Athena was standing with another officer, this one in a formal suit of a detective with his badge clipped to his belt. “Sergeant Grant and... ”
“Detective Lou Ransone.” He nodded to the firefighter. “We were told there was a case of unlawful filming and distribution of film and photos from this location.”
“Yes...” Buck nodded.
“Now see here... what’s going on? Sergeant Grant?” Captain Nash came out of the office with wide eyes.
“I’m just here to be back up. This is Detective Ransone’s case.” Athena shook her head as she watched everything.
“What is going on?” Captain Nash called out again.
“Detective Ransone, you will find my prints on those cameras as well because I found and removed them from there locations, after photographing those locations. I refused to continue to be subjected to a perverted peeping tom within not only the women’s changing room but also the women’s showers and bunk room.” Buck stood with her arms crossed.
“HOW DARE YOU?!! YOU FUCKIN BITCH!” Han turned and went to throw a punch as she spoke up.
Buck using the training that she had driven into her through her self-defense training and working with her father was quick to block him. Detective Ransone was quick to move forward and cuff him while reading him his rights.
“WHAT IS GOING ON?!” Captain Nash shouted over the chaos that was happening.
“What’s going on Captain is your former second-in-command is being arrested for filming and taking photographs of the women of this station without our permission or knowledge.” Detective Ransone finally answered with a raised eyebrow. “The Cyber division of sex crimes found evidence of the photos of some of the women of this station posted on pornographic sites from HIS Ip-address. These are the camera’s in question.” He held up the Ziploc bag where Buck had placed every camera that she had found, there were seven in total. The small camera’s were the type that were easily over looked for they were nanny cams and meant to be hidden. “He’s also being arrested for attempted assault of a first responder in the fact that he just tried to punch Firefighter Ellison-Sandburg, who is still in uniform and still on the clock.”
“How do you know that?” Bobby blinked in shock.
“Because we asked if Howard and Evangeline were still here when we arrived.” Athena answered. “We were told that Buck was still on shift for another 12 hours because she’s covering for someone from B-Shift. Captain Roberts of B-shift informed us of such.”
“What does this mean with his investigation with the Union and HR?” Bobby asked.
“It means that it will still continue to add to the evidence we have against him already. But it also means that Howard Han you are hereby officially fired from the Los Angeles Fire Department effective immediately due to conduct unbecoming of a first responder, as well as distribution of pornography, sexual harassment, blackmail, and many others.” Another voice joined them this time of Battalion Chief Roberto Alonzo.
“Sir?!” Bobby looked toward him with shock.
“I was coming to alert you to the fact. I had been given a heads up that he was being arrested for several reasons. Then I found the information about the investigation and was amazed at all the reports that had been hidden due to his codes. Not only THAT but also we have new records of him breaking into YOUR account Captain Nash and attempting to destroy Firefighter Guide Ellison-Sandburg’s file a second time.” Alonzo stated with a harsh expression. “Due to the new cameras throughout the offices and the station we were able to see when he entered the office and saw that he had attempted to use his former codes before your account was entered without even a minute passing. Now... we will be looking to see how he was able to get into your account so easily but for now we’re here to make sure that Howard Han knows that he is being removed from the force with due cause and it has been highly documented so that he can not come after us for discrimination or what have you.” He shook his head before turning to the rest of the station as Howard Han was lead out of the station in cuffs kicking and screaming, mostly obscenities but also threats that were being recorded toward not only the department, but Brian, Bobby, and Buck for what he saw as their parts in all of this. “Shows over folks. Those still on shift remain available for questioning if there is any from the officers in this case. Otherwise return to what you are meant to be doing. Everyone else head home. You will be contacted if the police have any further questions.”
“Well, that wasn’t how I expected my shift to end.” Brian blinked in shock as everyone started to move to leave, Adriana beside him.
“Yeah... well... I wasn’t expecting to get notification that my digital image had been found on several porn sites before I came in. That could have killed any career I wanted if it wasn’t for the fact that I could prove that it wasn’t me that had posted them.” Buck sighed as she looked around. “And to think I’ve only been with this station for three months.” She shook her head.
“You put up with a lot of shit in those three months Buck.” Hen said with a sigh. “And I apologize for my part in it. When I was called in about the report for the baby in the wall I have to admit that I didn’t think when Athena came running. We were all in shock...”
“Yeah well...” Buk shook her head before waving it away. “Whatever... I’m not getting into that since it is still an open case.” She turned to go and talk with those that were on the shift she was covering, ignoring Hen’s attempts to continue to talk to her.
Buck looked at her phone after her covered shift was done and bit back a sigh. She had gotten a warning from the S&G representatives in the precinct that Han had been taken to. They had picked up on his obsessive threats and wanted her to be on high alert. Worried that he would attempt to harm her. Because of the threats against her, Bobby, and Brian he was being held until his bond hearing instead of being released until the date. She sighed as she looked at her Jeep and knew that she would have to alert her parents to the threats against her. It was likely they would have to make the call to make Howard Han Intolerable to the Tribe, like they had done with her parents. She silently wondered how he knew her dead last name, since all records of it had been removed with her legal adoption by her dads.
“Hey baby! Want a ride?” A man catcalled from the sidewalk as she headed to her Jeep.
Taking a deep breath, she continued on her way until she was in her vehicle and on her way to her house. A thought to look for different housing popping up again as she went. For while Josephine Kent, one of the other Guides living at the common house had become a good friend and been the one to find her information online, the others were not as respectful of her space and her need for quiet after a rough shift.
When Buck entered the common house she blinked at the sight of all her things packed up in the front hall. She also noticed that Josephine’s things were there as well.
“What is this?” She snarled looking around until Mandy Brockton stepped forward with her head high, nose in the air.
“We don’t want a whore living here! You say you’re a firefighter but we all know the truth! You’re nothing but a whore and Kent is just your Pimp! You can take your things and go!” Mandy snarled.
“And how did you find this supposed truth?” Buck asked as it was a female guide only housing and Mandy was at best a level one.
There were only the four girls in the house, Josephine, Buck, Mandy, and Kimberly. Of the four, Mandy was a level one, Kimberly a level two, Josephine a level four with Buck a level five online guide.
“We were sent a link to your porn pages. You’re Sick!” Kimberly snarled from behind Mandy.
“Wow...” Buck nodded. “Okay... One neither of you have any say in the running of this common house. You don’t have any right to go into anyone else’s room and remove their things.” Mandy and Kimberly stood stonily with their arms crossed over their chests. “Two someone was just arrested for FALSELY posting pictures and videos of me on those sites.” The girls only sneered at her. “Three...”
“The Council decides who stays and who goes in our authorized housing.” A voice came from behind Buck, the male voice was one that brought relief to her as she wanted to sag back into her Papa’s strength. “And this has not been brought to them. Nor will it. Because you two are going to be the ones to leave.”
“And who are you? Are you her pimp instead of Kent?” Mandy sneered.
“Shush!” Kimberly looked at Mandy in shock. “That’s the Alpha Prime Shaman Guide of the US!”
“What?” Mandy looked at Kimberly in disbelief before looking back at the man. “That’s Blair Sandburg?!”
“Yes.” Blair said with a raised eyebrow. “And I came to see my daughter only to listen to the incredibly FALSE accusations against her. Get your things girls. As I said you are both the ones that are to be leaving. If anything, that belongs to Ms. Kent or my daughter here is found in your things charges will be placed against you. Along with if anything in their things is damaged the same will happen.”
“She’s actually your daughter?!” Kimberly looked from Buck to Blair and back. “HOW?!”
“It’s called adoption. And if you had actually paid attention to my name you would’ve realized. I’m Evangeline Ellison-Sandburg.” Buck sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. “But neither of you wanted to get to know me did you. You saw me as a means to an end. Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been helping yourself to my things when I’ve been on my long shifts.”
“How?” Mandy sneered.
“Because as posted on the outside of the house and on my door there are cameras on the premises.” Buck sighed.
“You can’t remove us!” Kimberly finally gathered her courage. “Like you said you have to have the council’s approval!”
“Except in cases of theft, harassment, discrimination, and blackmail.” Blair said with a raised eyebrow.
“All of which there are records of from you both.” Josephine entered the house looking at the things in the entry and then back at the women that were trying to kick them out. “So, which of you bitches went through my things? Because I know this isn’t all of my things.”
“How would you know that you freak?” Mandy snarled, for Josephine was a trans female guide, Mandy and Kimberly had been constantly attempting to get rid of her as soon as they had found that out.
“As if I’m goin tell you that.” Josephine shook her head before turning to Blair and Buck. “I’m ready and willing to go forward with charges against them. I was preparing to leave anyway because the living situation here was becoming Intolerable.”
“You can’t go throwing around words like that!” Kimberly screeched.
“You’ll find I can.” Josephine sighed. “Especially after the situation that I came home to and the situation that I’ve been helping Buck with. Something that you’ve been making worse for her in this action today.”
“We’ll look into it. But I wasn’t joking girls. Do I have to get some of the security teams in here to have you removed?” Blair answered before turning to look at the pair. “I will do so but if they do you’ll not be able to take anything of YOURS with you. Just know my Sentinel is right outside and will be able to tell if you’re taking something that doesn’t belong to you.”
“Fuck this!” Mandy threw her hands up in a surrender motion. “I’m not about to be declared intolerable. I’m out.” She turned and went to her room where she threw together a few bags of her things only to be stopped by Jim Ellison out on the front lawn and forced to open the bags when he smelled several things that belonged to not only Buck but also Josephine. He nodded to the security team that were standing by after he had called for them and had her arrested for theft since she had actually exited the building with the items in her possession. “What?! No!” Mandy was snarling as she was led away to the waiting squad car when the police arrived and was ready her rights.
“There goes her dreams to be a lawyer.” Josephine whispered to Buck as they waited to see what Kimberly would do; she had left to her room when Mandy had but had not come out yet. “She’s gonna do a sit in protest isn’t she?”
“Yep.” Buck sighed. “She’s determined to stay. She’s also determined to make things harder for me.”
“Do you think she was working with Mr. Han?” Blair asked carefully.
“No... But I wouldn’t be surprised if they ever meet up that they decide to go after me together.” Buck replied as she opened her boxes. She had to gag and then fight back sobs for her clothes and paintings were all covered in bleach and turpentine, thankfully they had not done them in the same containers, using Tupperware storage containers to pack her things in, which she had moved in with as habit form her travels. All her photos were slashed and Whore, Slut, and other derogatory names were scratched into things or written on them with sharpie. “I want them both charged fully.” Buck snarled as she finished looking at the damage. “I’ve got NOTHING. They’ve even destroyed my spare uniform!” She snapped. “The only things they didn’t damage were the things that I kept with me in my Jeep at all times. Or the things they’ve stolen from me.” Zin stepped into sight beside her offering her comfort.
“Jim... bring in the cops. Kimberly Clark is to be arrested. And charges are to be added to those already placed for Mandy Brockton.” Blair said without raising his voice knowing that his Sentinel had his hearing tuned into the things happening in the house while he stood guard outside. “We’re claiming this house from the Council.”
“You’re gonna make it Eva’s?” Jim asked as he entered.
“Yes, as well as Josephine Kent’s house. They both make enough to pay the mortgage.” Blair shrugged, as if he hadn’t just admitted to doing a full background check on the members that were living at the same house as Buck.
“Really?” Josephine perked up in amazement. She was working in the Council Cyber department for LA that worked with the PD, FBI, and other organizations to make sure that those on the Council were being kept accountable and that members weren’t being attacked cyber-ly for being a Sentinel or Guide.
“Really.” Blair and Buck smiled at her with a gentle expression.
“I was going to see if you wanted to go together on finding a place.” Buck said as the police were called in, her things were taken away for evidence of all the damage done to them.
Jim went through Kimberly’s room and pointed out everything that was Buck’s or Josephine’s to the police for photographs to show where they were and what condition they were in. There were several of Buck’s clothes thankfully but they were being seized as evidence against Kimberly and Buck knew she would simply have to go and buy new. She made sure with her parents and Josephine’s help to put in a claim for damage and destruction of personal property with her insurance as well as with the LAFD when she ordered new uniforms from Adriana, explaining what had been done by her former roommates.
“Did someone curse you to live in interesting times or something?” Adriana’s voice asked over the phone with a sigh.
“Hell, if I know.” Buck sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Thankfully, I’ve got 48 off. This is gonna be hell to take care of. And my budget is gonna be pissed...”
“Won’t insurance cover it?”
“You’d think but by the time it comes through or what they attempted to steal from me is returned I would’ve had no clothes or anything but what was in my work bag and gym bag within my Jeep. I’m just grateful that I keep my best painting supplies locked in a safe in my jeep at all times.” Buck gave another sigh. “They even ruined all the food that I have for my diet to stay strong for the work I do.”
“Huh...”
It was clear that Adriana was planning something but Buck had no idea what. All she knew was that this day had been a day from Hell and she just wanted it to end.
“Tomorrow will be a better day sweetheart.” Blair told her as he held her in the living room of the house after the police and council security members were gone.
The house was a Classic Craftsman style house with deep blue siding with white trim, a good sized front porch for the location, two floors, though the top floor was only two bedrooms a small hall between and a full bath to be shared between the two rooms. It had originally been a half bath with a huge storage area but when the Council had first bought it they had remodeled it with a full bath taking away about three quarters of the storage space.
They had also remodeled the first level and partially removed the wall between the dining room and living room making it open for the people living there and giving them more space to hang out. They had also taken half the space and expanded the kitchen putting in modern appliances and a central eating island that was large enough to eat at comfortably. They built on an area off the kitchen for an eating nook, formerly called the ‘breakfast room’ when Buck looked at the blue prints that had come with the house.
Already Josephine and Buck were making plans for the house, Josephine was going to take the upstairs rooms and change one to her office and have the other, the larger of the two, be her bedroom. While Buck was going to take the downstairs rooms and change one to an art room so that she would have a place where she could store her stuff.
Blair had already talked to the Council and because of the way that they had been alternating between ignoring Buck and pressuring Buck, because she refused to let them find her a Sentinel that they wanted her to have, they had already started plans to sell the house at half market value to the pair. Especially after they found out that the other two had been arrested and the reasons why they were more than willing to work with Blair and Jim to make sure the two females would have space that was safe for them.
“Will it truly be better though?” Buck whispered.
“It will baby. Trust your Papa on this.” Jim whispered from where he was sitting in the large couch that they had in the living room.
“I’m trying...” Buck sighed as she leaned into her Papa and just let his presence and shields sooth her.
“Your brothers are coming down as well. They’re gonna take up positions as the Alphas of Los Angeles. They have orders to take over the Council here and get it back on track. No more attempting what’s been done with you.” Jim told her as they went into a café for breakfast, Buck’s food having been spoiled by the two bitches that had formerly lived with them. “I know that Michael’s looking forward to kickin some asses.”
“Jim!” Blair sighed out exasperated.
“I understand...I want to do the same but it would jeopardize my job too much. But are you sure you can let them go?” Buck looked at her parents.
Josephine had bowed out of breakfast wanting to get started on replacing what she needed to of her things, specifically her meds to help her remain as she was as one of the two girls removed from the house had destroyed them.
“We’re sure sweetheart. They’ve been feeling as if they need to come down here. And no, it’s not because of wanting to watch over you.” Blair sighed as he ran a hand through Buck’s hair. “Now... enough business talk. Today we...” he gestured to Jim and back to himself, “are going to spoil you. YOU,” he pointed firmly at Buck, “are going to just nod and accept it.”
“How...” Buck shook her head knowing better than to question her parents in money issues. It wasn’t her business or her worry and that was that. Thankfully, Buck did not have expensive tastes and actually preferred to go to Walmart, Target, and second hand stores for most of her clothing. It was her art supplies that she put most of her budget to just behind food to stay healthy. “Never mind...” She sighed again as they sat to eat.
“Smart girl.” Blair smirked at his daughter before turning back to his breakfast. The one good thing about living in LA his little girl had access to a lot of vegan restaurants as well as regular restaurants that had wonderful vegan options. “Now...first we need to go to get at least one outfit so that you can get out of your current outfit.”
Buck’s current outfit was a mix of work pants and a workout top, she tended to go to regular shirts instead of tanks and sports bras when working out. She was in her work boots as well.
As soon as they finished their meals Buck’s day turned into a whorl wind and before long she was collapsing into bed. She had one more day before her next shift and she was not looking forward to either but knew that it would have to be what it was. She just hoped that her father’s assurance that her life would only get better was true. Right now, she was not so sure.
Chapter 3: Season 1 Part 2
Summary:
This chapter is long and covers the first season. There are jumps through different areas, but I hope it covers things. Both Hen and Bobby aren't portrayed that well to start but they start improving. I hope that everyone enjoys this chapter. I wanted to get through the first season because I am wanting to focus this on the meeting and such between Buck and Eddie which will happen next chapter.
(This chapter was finished and posted while sitting waiting for my kid to get out of school so there may be some spelling or word errors that weren’t caught I just figured everyone was waiting long enough for this to come out)
Notes:
my kids are soon going to be in summer break so chapters will continue to be very sporadic in posting.
Chapter Text
Latent, Emerging, Active, or Dormancy
To be Latent in regard to a Guide or Sentinel status is to have the potential to be one or the other in your blood. Some people can go their whole lives without becoming Active for it usually takes distinct situations that can bring a person online. There are blood tests that can be conducted that will tell if the person has the potential, this used to be required by law but due to discovery of abuse of the information it is no longer required. To many experimental labs were getting a hold of the information and doing everything they could to force the emergence of Sentinels and Guides and then force bonding them to make them partners in the field.
To be Emerging, in regard to a Guide or Sentinel status is to have been in the potential situation that could bring you online fully. There are ways to slow the emergence of a S or G but it is unlikely for the emergence to be fully reversed. Very rarely is there a traumatic coming online of a S or G as seen in the stories that are put out about the community. Those that are traumatically brought online are those that are usually in a high impact field such as first responders or military.
Active Sentinels and Guides are those that have had their full abilities available. They have come fully online; they have or will go through the training needed to be fully able to use their abilities. As stated, before there are different levels of Sentinels and Guides, but this is not in concern to being active or not. To be active is just that to have one's abilities active.
Dormancy is in those that have at one time been an Active Sentinel or Guide. They have either had their gifts forced into dormancy by the council for crimes against others or because it would make something worse health wise for the person in question. There are also those that have gone dormant due to trauma though they have a partial dormancy and will be able to return to being an active S or G with healing and time.
In cases of a forced dormancy or mental illness there are those that can become what is known as a Feral Dormant. A Feral Dormant is one whose mind has snapped completely and would bring about harm to not only the person of their obsession but also themselves. These cases are placed in a secure hospital that will help them, but they usually find a way to either take their own lives or go catatonic and need round the clock care. There is usually no coming back from a Feral Dormancy situation.
The Council, Tribe, and Policies Surrounding Them All
Since the formation of the Sentinel Guide Council there have been many changes to policies through the years. When Sentinels and Guides first came out into the open, they were unable to form a council and had to deal with a lot of harassment and prejudice. Along with a lot of misunderstandings into the ways of a Sentinel and Guide bond.
There are eleven Alpha S&G representatives in the World Council from the North American S&G Council, along with ten from Russia, five from China, four from Canada, 12 from South America, five from Australia including Tasmania, one from New Zealand, three from Greenland, two from Japan, 27 from the African Nations, and 22 from the European Nations. Each council region has its own lead representative that meets with and works with the other nations. Some of the nations are consolidated due to numbers into the others surrounding them. To be a representative on the World Council you need to be voted in by the greater Sentinel and Guide contingent of your region.
The World Council will make the decisions on worldwide laws concerning Sentinels and Guides while each Region will have their own representatives. In each major region there has emerged a Head Alpha Sentinel and Head Shaman Guide who are the final voices if there are too many arguments among the council members.
Concerning The North American S&G Council:
Each region has a council head, but there are Council locations at each major city in all 50 states and the territories. The regions are divided by the North and South West, North and South East, North and South Mid-west, North and South Mid-east, Alaska, Hawaii, and the territories. Over all of them is the Head Alpha Sentinel and Head Shaman Guide of North America. They oversee the Council members and locations to make sure that they are doing what they can to uphold the laws and protect the Sentinels and Guides under them.
The Tribe:
Tribe (noun)
1: A: A social group composed chiefly of numerous families, clans, or generations having a shared ancestry and language
B: a political division of the Roman people originally representing one of the three original tribes of ancient Rome
C: Phyle (The largest political subdivision among the ancient Athenians
2: a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest
3: a category of taxonomic classification ranking below a subfamily
also: a natural group irrespective of taxonomic rank
Family Tribe: Just what it says a Tribe made up family members that all have a Sentinel or Guide gift, or a combination of gifts. Family Tribes can be made up of chosen family or blood family it all depends on what makes the S or G feel most comfortable.
Regional Tribe: This Tribe is made up of all Sentinels and Guides within a region. The Regions tend to focus on counties, big cities, or states. These are mainly focused on the areas with dense populations. Regional tribes take care of issues that can be handled in the region and will also decide it needs to go higher.
National Tribes: National Tribes are focused on the different countries and focuses on all the Sentinels and Guides within the nation. These Tribes make the judgements at a national standpoint. If a judgement affects all Sentinels and Guides then judgements are passed to the World Tribe.
World Tribe: World Tribe is concerned with all the Sentinels and Guides in the world. This is where the World Council comes in.
Policies:
Intolerable (adjective)
1: not tolerable: unbearable (intolerable pain)
2: Excessive – exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal
To declare someone intolerable to the Tribe there must be conditions met. Frequently the person(s) declared intolerable have harmed someone in a way that would or did cause the person to either come online or to go dormant. The worse case would be to bring someone online and the cause their dormancy at the same time.
To be declared intolerable, one must cause trauma and harm to those within the tribe. A person can be declared intolerable between family in the case of abuse, intentional harm through the senses of the Sentinel or Guide harmed; regional in the case of blackmail, abuse, intentional harm of a Sentinel or Guide or a group; National in the case of intentional harm of a large number of Sentinels and Guides, abuse, blackmail, discrimination that leads to harm; World, this is the hardest to achieve, for it is the intentional harm of any Sentinel and Guide that is encountered. The only person/group to be declared intolerable at a World level was Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party for their experimentation on Sentinels and Guides along with the rest of the peoples they had harmed. It had been done post-mortem in the case of Hitler but still they were all declared intolerable.
If there is a reason for a declaration of Intolerable against a person, group, or nation then they cannot be in the same area as those that they harmed or Sentinels and Guides as a whole.
Sanction (noun)
1: A formal decree
2: a: Obsolete: a solemn agreement: oath
b: something that makes an oath binding
3: the determent, loss of reward, or coercive intervention annexed to a violation of a law as a means of enforcing the law
4 a: a consideration, principle, or influence (as of conscience) that impels to moral action or determines moral judgement
b: a mechanism of social control for enforcing society’s standards
c: explicit or official approval, permission, or ratification: approbation
5: an economic or military coercive measure adopted usually by several nations in concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield to adjudication
Sanction (verb) – sanctioned; sanctioning
1: to make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure (such as ratification)
2: to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to
… such characters … look, talk, and act in ways sanctioned by society and novelistic tradition … —Lawrence Chua
3 a: to attach a sanction or penalty to the violation of (a right, obligation, or command)
… the status, procedures, rights, and duties of members are carefully defined by rules that are sanctioned by fines should they be contravened by members. —Malcolm Ruel
b: to impose a sanction or penalty upon
… a Long Island brokerage firm that, at the time, had serious Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC fraud charges pending against it and has since been heavily fined and sanctioned. —Molly Ivins
When the council passes a sanctioning of a person or group that is their warning to be careful of their actions. If someone is sanctioned then they cannot work in the same area as Sentinels or Guides. A work place can be sanctioned and declared intolerable if the environment is toxic to the Sentinels and Guides that work there. If a workplace is sanctioned then all Sentinels and Guides are removed from the environment and the sanctioned place is unable to have any new ones come into the environment until the situation is taken care of. If they refuse to take the steps necessary then they are placed on a Permanent Sanction list where no Sentinel or Guide is able to work for them again.
If an individual is Sanctioned by the Council then they are no longer allowed to be around any Sentinel or Guide.
Hunt (verb)
1 a: to pursue for food or in sport – hunt buffalo
b: to manage in the search for game – hunts a pack of dogs
2 a: to pursue with intent to capture – hunted the escapees
b: to search out : seek
3: to drive or chase especially by harrying – members … were hunted from their homes —J. T. Adams|
4: to traverse in search of prey – hunts the woods
intransitive verb
1: to take part in a hunt
2: to attempt to find something
3: to oscillate alternately to each side (as of a neutral point) or to run alternately faster and slower —used especially of a device or machine
When a Hunt is declared then the person or group that has harmed a Sentinel or Guide to the point of dormancy or death has not only been declared as intolerable but also has been sanctioned but has refused to obey the sanctioning. Imprisonment is sought but if the harm is too much and the person has too much power then a Hunt will be declared and the Tribe will join together to bring the person in or bring them down.
Two shifts after the confrontation with Mandy and Kimberly, after getting her new uniform courtesy of Adriana who had put on in a rush order after Buck had called her, one of the others on shift commented on the Q-word status of the dishwasher, something that had messed with Buck a few times but she knew better than to tempt the fates. A record number of calls for the shift ending with the fire suppressant system going off in the locker room with Buck trapped in there as she was changing from uniform into civies. Laughter from some of the others while she worked on getting out before finally she picked up something heavy, the fire extinguisher that was in the room for some reason as well and chucked it at the window shattering it and getting out.
“Come on Buck...” Sam came over and helped her to the showers. “Let’s get you rinsed off and then get things flushed. Then I’m taking you to the ER.”
“She doesn’t need an ER trip...” Hen shook her head.
“Bullshit.” Brian snapped in return; he had been talking to his wife as she was finishing up with filing some paperwork when he heard the sound of shattering glass. “That shit’s toxic and if it’s in her lungs or eyes it could cause blindness and or permanent breathing issues. If it’s found you were just standing by laughing when someone was trapped in that instead of assisting there will be a write up happening.”
Bobby and Hen blinked in shock at the statement before sighing, knowing that there would likely be one. Buck would go and have her lungs suctioned out along with getting her eyes flushed and her skin taken care of, she would have to change her lotions and such because of the sensitivity caused by the abrasive solution. Three of the B-Shift staff were written up, with one being fired for actually locking the so that Buck could not get out while Bobby and Hen were given warnings and had to take some additional courses on the risk chemical solutions.
Buck looked up with a raised eyebrow as she felt the anger pouring off of Captain Nash as he entered the station. He stormed up to her with anger in his eyes and face.
“What is the meaning of this?” He slammed a piece of paper down on the table in from of him. “Do you know what this could do to Hen and myself?”
“There is nothing that will happen to you because it was handled by them professionally and with care. It’s a simple warning in your files and a recommendation for therapy. It’s not like with the LAFD where there was a warning of a Sanction or being declared Intolerable. That was Former Captain Gerard and Former Paramedic Han, by the way.” Buck simply raised an eyebrow. “It was also those that were found to be of similar mind to Former Captain Gerard and Former Paramedic Han. They have been removed and therefore the Council had no reason to Sanction the LAFD as a whole. There were also those warned that they were close to being declared intolerable as well as Sanctioned. Be careful with your words and actions Captain Nash. Even though you yourself are a Guide you can be declared so as well.” She raised an eyebrow before turning and walking away from the table where she had been having a last minute coffee before shift started.
Later in the shift Buck looked up at the stalled rollercoaster and sighed.
“We came in at the wrong angle...” Bobby sighed looking at Buck. “I need you to go up and secure the passenger and keep the others calm while we reposition.”
Buck simply nodded; still upset with Bobby she did not even think about speaking about how she had joined for this sort of rescue. Instead, she went up and focused on calming the people who were trapped on the stuck upside down rollercoaster. She focused mainly on the young man and the grief, pain, and pure depression that just poured from him in waves. Pushing peace and calm put that not only worked on soothing the young man but also the other passengers she worked down and slipped the harness around him instead of following protocol and having him reach up to take it. She knew that he was barely hanging on for laid over all the painful emotions and depression was the feeling of pure exhaustion.
“What are you doing?” The young man called out in shock.
“I’m just making sure that you don’t fall. I can tell how exhausted you are. You’ve been doing great hanging on as long as you have. I’m proud of you for doing so.” Buck said with a soft smile. “My name is Evangeline...I go by Buck though.” She explained softly.
“B...B...Buck?” The young man looks at her with confusion.
“Yep. Because I tend to buck tradition and the system.” Buck said with a smirk on her face. “What’s your name kid?”
“I’m Devon... How’s Chad?” Devon asked with tears in his eyes and voice.
“Don’t worry about Chad right now Devon. Let’s get you taken care of... see the truck’s already getting into a better position... it won’t be long now.” Buck smiled gently at him and made sure that he did not look down at his friend who was being loaded up, thankfully someone had the smart idea of making it look as if he was being taken to get help though she knew that the fall had killed him.
“I didn’t even want to ride this. I hate rollercoasters... Chad convinced me...” Devon muttered. “I didn’t want people to watch me...Now they’re all watching me.”
“They are... I won’t lie about that.” Buck said softly. “But they’re also amazed that you’re hanging on so well. They’ve seen the struggle that you’ve been having. You’ve been hanging here for so long. Holding on until help got here. That’s not easy. You’ve got to be really strong to do that.”
“I don’t know how I’m doing this...” Devon said softly as he groaned. “My arms are in so much pain and I’m so tired.”
“I know you are.” Buck whispered. “That’s why I’m here to help take the weight.” She could feel that he had Sentinel potential and was close to coming online. “You are much stronger than you think.”
Soon the ladder was in position and Brian was coming up to support her and help get the victims down safely. Soon they were all on the ground and Devon was being loaded by Halls and Wilson.
“Halls... make sure that the attending is aware that we’ve got a sentinel on the verge.” Buck looked at Martin instead of Hen who glared at her for the ‘slight’ not even paying attention to the fact that she was not the lead paramedic on shift after the reviews that were taking place. “Devon here is very close to coming online...”
“I’ll make sure word it passed.” Martin nodded in response before helping load the young man into the ambulance and then they were on their way.
Buck looked over to the reporters who had been drawn to the rescue and shook her head in disgust about it. She acted as if she did not see the reporters attempting to get her attention nor the signals from Captain Nash to go over and make the reporters back off. She was not about to let herself be used as a media darling, no matter how much the PR department of the LAFD had been pushing to have her do so. It would not help her current cases in any way so she refused to do so.
Two shift later Buck was entering the station when someone called out for her attention. Seeing that it was a news station she ignored it and continued through to the locker room where she got changed into her uniform. When she stepped back out she was stopped by Captain Nash.
“Buckley, your to speak with the reporter outside before shift starts.” Captain Nash said with a smirk.
“I’m sorry but I will not.” Buck shook her head looking at her captain with a raised eyebrow. “All I’m picking up from them is lust and pride. I refuse to submit myself to a situation that makes me uncomfortable.”
“It’s an order from the brass.” Nash snarled.
“Then they would’ve informed me instead of letting me be surprised at work. I’ll not answer their invasive questions. I do not and have never agreed to have my face be the face of the LAFD PR department. I have all my social media locked down and verified as being me and will not take the risk of others attempting to push me where I don’t want to be. Due to the cases that I am part of right now I am not allowed to speak to the media and that is not just for the cases that I am part of but complete media ban. Therefore, it would not be an order from the Brass unless they want to be charged with tampering of the cases.” Buck lifted an eyebrow before turning and walking away.
“She’s right you know.” Sam said as he stepped up beside the captain. “I know that you’re dormant but you still need to pay attention to the rules and regulations for Sentinels and Guides. Don’t screw your career for someone that wouldn’t do the same for you. Han would’ve throw you under the bus and walked away without a blemish on his conscious.”
“You can’t know that.” Bobby looked at Sam with wide eyes.
“I can and I will. He attempted many things in his time in this house. Yes, he went through shit with Gerard, but it has been years since then and he was supposed to be seeing a therapist. I heard him bragging that he found a therapist that would let him fuck her in sessions to get an all clear write-up for return to duty. I’ve reported it to HR and the LAPD, it’s been blocked though and I KNOW that she’s still workin with first responders. Makes one wonder how many are actually truly cleared to be in the field. Just as I wonder if you truly think that just talking to a Father at your Perish and attending AA and NA are enough? For I know according the legal regulations that it isn’t considered enough...” Sam lifted an eyebrow in response before walking away.
Bobby watched it all before taking a deep breath and then moving to deal with the press. He would have to deal with the press and remind them that they were not allowed to have her speak with the press unless they wanted charges brought.
Buck watched everything from the loft and just shook her head. She went through the motions grateful that she had been able to save Devon and so was not wracked with guilt over the loss. Rappelling down from the roof to get a hanging window washer she shook her head as she moved through the motions pulling herself back on task before she climbed into the truck at the end of the call. It was an easy shift call wise something she was grateful for, just as the next few shifts were. Thanks to the work of Sam and his putting a bee in Bobby’s bonnet as it were, Doctor Wells was arrested for sexual misconduct and assault and lost her license. Buck was also grateful that the Brass had backed off after getting reminded of the cases against them and everything that was going on.
It was three months after the events of the roller coaster that something changed. They had been through a lot of things, including a car accident where the lead driver of the accident was killed on impact by rebar through the head, Buck had looked at the man who had a very similar body build and such to Chimney but he refused to stay still. Traffic cameras showed that he was angry and blood work showed he was four times over the legal limit for driving.
Buck was also dealing with a persistent 9-1-1 dispatch member who had taken her phone number from a report and was attempting to start a relationship ignoring her rebuffs until she had reported them to the center and they were given a warning from their boss. Josh let her know that the person, an Abraham Clark, was dealing with a lot of things at home and wanting to find something to distract themselves. He had reached out the day she helped save Violette in the pool for help to find his wandering mother, who was dealing with Dementia, not wanting to encourage him she put out word about the missing woman but did not approach him personally to help. Buck hadn’t wanted to put up with it so made sure to keep records and report things as they happened. He had even taken to showing up at the station in an attempt to talk to her on the day before Valentines Day but Buck refused to speak with him and made sure that Captain Nash did not encourage a potential relationship with the man. There was teasing that happened pushing for her to get into a relationship which she shut down because it was not their concern what she did and it was a very old fashioned idea that a woman her age needed to be in a relationship to be happy and healthy.
There was a human trafficking situation where she put her Guide and language skills to use as well as calling in the Council to deal with since five of the people within came online as Active, including the young man who she had helped save with CPR. They also had worked a plane crash partially on the beach but mostly in the ocean. Abraham Clark even attempted to call her when she was dealing with survivors looking for one of the victims but she let her phone go to voicemail as she always did when on a call.
After the call for the plane crash Hen and Buck went to check on Bobby when he did a no call no show for shift and Brian stepped up as the Acting Captain for the shift. When they found the man passed out dead drunk Buck shook her head before hefting him over her should and depositing him still clothed in the bathtub. Hen tried to protest but Buck simply shut her down before blasting the man with cold water from the shower waking him up. Explaining what he was going to do she left him to get cleaned up before she went out into the rest of the apartment and getting rid of all the empty bottles of alcohol and made a bit of toast and scrambled eggs to help absorb what was left in his stomach while Hen worked on getting some coffee made. Offering support and a helping hand she returned to shift and went through the motions of life as Bobby got back into AA and NA and went about his life.
There was a building collapse where Bobby went postal at the building owner for the faulty building practice that led to 16 dead on arrival including one impaled and several others severely injured during a wedding celebration. Buck reported Bobby anonymously so that he would potentially get the mental help that he needed. She did not believe that a priest and a support group were enough for the man though he had not shared much with them.
Buck also had to deal with other things such as the report for the events when she had helped a family while off duty, she lived next door to a family that had a power line fall in their pool due to a car accident hitting the post. The Manny was killed while she kept the father from following him. She had gotten punch as a result of stopping the father before getting him to work with her and help the little girl by stretching a hose across, after cutting off the metal ends. She talked with the Captain that showed up with that and heard that there were several that had reached out for her to be a floater at their stations only to have the requests denied. The Captain asked her why she had refused and when she explained that she had not even gotten the requests she was pissed. Telling Captain Angelo to put out word that requests that are sent to her station will not reach her but also giving her work email, that was private so that they could reach out to her that way, she moved back to her house to deal with the next part of things. It would be found out that it was the results of Daniel Brown in an attempt to get back at her for drawing attention to not only him but also the way they would brush off Han’s actions.
Bobby was remanded to mandatory therapy after the report that came from not only her but also others that had been at the building collapse. He was upset that someone had reported him and it was not just brushed aside. Thankfully the sessions seemed to be helping a little though she knew it would be a time before it would fully help him. He was doing it because it was required but she could tell that he was not putting full effort into it.
Buck looked up at the full moon as she entered an arcade for the first call of the night, the others were responding to a car accident a little ways from there. The call from dispatch asked for someone to go to the arcade because of a child stuck in the claw machine. She thought it hilarious that over the speakers of the arcade was the song ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival was playing. She had to give a chuckle as she moved through the crowd.
“Alright folks, coming through! Excuse me, please!” Buck called out as she entered the area with the claw machines. “Hi.” She nodded to the nervous mother.
“Hi...” The mother responded with a distracted air keeping an eye on her daughter who was playing with a stuffed cow in the machine.
“Hi! What you doing there?” Buck said with a big smile to the little girl in the machine who gave a large smile back at her. “I’m going to have to take you out, if that’s okay with you.” She smiled and could feel the relief from the mother as she kept her daughter and her at ease. At the little girl’s nod, she moved to the side with the door hinges. “All right. You’ll be fine.” She smiled as she started removing the screws in the door hinges to open it up.
The little girl was giggling away as Buck made funny faces at her as she worked keeping her from getting nervous or scared and also keeping the mother calm since she was able to see that her daughter was okay.
“Hi! You ready?” Buck opened the door and held her arms out for the little girl. “Yeah?” The little girl climbed into her arms with a chuckle and Buck smiled. “Watch your head. Oh! I got you.” She lifted her up and moved around to the side of the machine to her mother and handed her over. “I got you... here you go momma.”
“Thank you!” The mom sighed as she settled her daughter on her hip. “I can’t believe they didn’t have the key for this.”
“Don’t worry. It’s one of those nights. And here. Congratulations on your moo-moo.” Buck reached back in and grabbed the cow stuffie the girl had been playing with before closing the machine back up. She made sure to pay the owner of the machine for the stuffie as she moved back out of the arcade into the night. She pulled out her phone and called her Papa. “AWWOOO!”
*You’re as much a dork as you father.* Jim chuckled over the line. *How are you doing?*
“I’m doing okay. Finally got court date notifications.” Buck sighed as she looked around. “Of course, they had to come on the day of the full moon just as I was heading into the station.”
*You’ll be fine.* Jim sighed. *We also got the notifications and will be there to support you.*
“How’s the case going?” Buck asked as she walked along the boardwalk.
*It’s going. This one’s gonna be a little harder because the Guide is in hiding.* Jim sighed again, they had been called away just before Valentine’s Day to handle a case of a young Guide Emerging in Texas, there was signs that it was a traumatic emergence but the gifts were flaring as if it was only occurring at certain times. *Signs are pointing to the child having safe spaces and people which calms them but then there are moments where they are terrified. But even then there was signs as if it was being limited...*
“Could it be someone attempting to slip a kid a suppressor?” Buck asked carefully. There were extremist groups, especially in some churches, where they saw the gifts of Sentinels and Guides as abominations and freaks and felt that they should be suppressed and if that did not work killed. “It’s the full moon so maybe you’ll be able to find them tonight.”
*You know I don’t believe in that.* Jim sighed.
“I still don’t understand how you an Army Ranger, Sentinel, and Police Officer can not believe in the power of the full moon.” Buck shook her head.
*Your father is the same...*
“There is science behind it. Though few realize there are true science reports.” Buck chuckled.
*You’re father believes the same science reports. I know you have had several full moons under your belt but I don’t think it had anything.* Jim shook his head.
“You call me after the moons set. Tell me if you don’t believe it after that.” Buck shook her head as she rejoined the crew while saying goodbye.
“Who were you talking to Buck?” Hen asked with a friendly look in her eyes.
“My Da.” Buck shrugged. “He’s with Papa looking for a young feeling Guide that’s in distress in Texas. There’s signs that if the kid comes online they’ll be Shaman level since people are feeling them all around Texas. Though it makes it really hard to narrow down where the kid is since they are only flaring and not a full emergence.”
“Your parents are high on the Council that they’re called in for things like that?” Bobby asked with a furrowed brow.
“You do remember what my last name is right?” Buck lifted an eyebrow in response.
“Ellison-Sandburg...” Hen said with a furrowed brow. “What about it?”
“Do you even know who the heads of the North American Council are?” Buck looked at Bobby and Hen. She thought for sure that Bobby would since he was a dormant Guide. “Blair Ellison and Jim Sandburg...The Alpha Pair?” She looked at them and they finally took in what was being said. “My parents?” She shook her head. “Whatever let’s go we’ve got more to deal with.” She climbed back into the truck to head to the next call.
As they moved to the next call and Hen and Martin were headed to a call of someone panicking because of someone watching her Buck knew that something was going to happen. She did not have precog but she was still alert enough to the spirit plane. Pulling out her phone she contacted Athena to stay with the woman and to make sure her daughter was safe, the daughter was a guide that did not have guide, the mother was a guide that had lost her sentinel though it was not a full bond, she was only a level one and therefore did not have the full strength. She also mentioned that there were those that the daughter knew that might need protection as well.
Athena had learned through the years to trust Buck’s gut instincts and thanks to that had found out that Nora and her daughter shared a name with only the slightest difference. They were also able to help Nora Jane’s best friend who had helped her get out of the abusive situation that she had been in with her ex-husband. They were able to get protection on both women, especially since Kathy was a known woman to help those who were escaping Domestic Violence. Because of Buck’s gut and her hint to Athena they were able to have someone at Kathy’s house shortly after the call came from her that someone was attempting to break in. They were able to save the woman’s life, though the man had disappeared only to show up at Nora Jean’s hotel room a short time later.
Buck sighed as she went with Bobby and Makepeace to a Yoga studio were there was a report of a pregnant woman in distress. Looking up at the full moon and then back toward the studio she sighed before signaling for Makepeace to come closer.
“Put out a call for additional units to start this way.” Buck sighed.
“What’s happening?” Brian asked carefully.
“The empathic signal is crazy... there are going to be several that are put into labor.” Buck sighed before moving to catch up with Bobby when he called back to her.
Buck tried to break the tension by discussing the mythology surrounding the Full Moon but was rebuffed at every moment. As they entered the yoga studio and assessed the first woman others went into labor and Buck just raised an eyebrow. She dove into action. Bobby was shocked that she was not panicking over several women going into labor. Buck shook her head in frustration before moving to help with the delivery of one of the babies and then helped assess another mother whose baby was too big for safe delivery.
“Dispatch, make sure the hospital is aware of a cephalopelvic disproportion...” Buck reports over her radio only to get another raised eyebrow from Bobby. “Listen Bobby, I don’t know what your issue is with me and frankly to quote Gone with the Wind, I don’t give a damn. I am doing my job and doing it to the best of my abilities even with you attempting to place restrictions on me.”
“I’m not trying to put restrictions on you.” Bobby shook his head.
“You are. You were attempting to micromanage me in there while we were supposed to be focusing on the patients. Even now you’re attempting to place me in a specific category, the one that Han attempted to force me into. I have served my probationary year already as a Firefighter. I am female and these were not my first nor likely would they ever be my last babies I’ve helped deliver. Stop attempting to treat me like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.” Buck climbed into the vehicle to head to the next call knowing it was likely that she would have a write up waiting for her and the way she spoke to her Captain but she was sick and tired of his actions and was willing to call him out on his BS so that he would finally get his head out of his ass. She figured that he would be a good friend to have if and when he figured things out.
“Work on yourself before you attempt to work on me.” She snapped before storming out of the station at the end of shift, just glad the full moon was done. She stopped when she looked toward Hen cocking her head to the side. “Don’t...” She stepped up to Hen. “Don’t throw away everything you have with Karen because of a piece of shit...” She placed a hand on her forehead. “Don’t let someone twist you up and turn you away from the one that is truly meant for you.”
“What are you talking about?” Hen blinked in shock at her statement.
“I overheard you talking to Mama Thena...” Buck said with a sad expression. “About your piece of shit ex that’s come back. Don’t let her twist you up and ignore the moral code of the LAFD. You go to her; you do anything with her that could be constituted as cheating and you could lose your job.”
“What?!” Hen blinked in shock.
“There is a moral code that we have to follow that is laid out in our contracts with the LAFD. If we’re caught in something like what you were thinking of doing it could lead to you losing your job. Don’t let that bitch take your true passion and joy from you. Karen would never forgive you. You want exciting go home and do something freaky with your wife but DON’T go to the bitch.”
Hen nods and looks at Buck before looking at her phone at the text from Karen asking when she would be home. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up the number from Eva and blocked it after she sent one final text to not contact her again. Buck just nodded before walking to her jeep and driving home.
“I apologize Captain Nash, but I cannot continue assisting in this call.” Buck looked at the name of the gym that they were brought to and heard the name of the man that was the owner that they were coming to help.
“Why’s that?” Bobby looked at Buck with a raised eyebrow.
“This man has an active restraining order on him to keep him from being within 50 feet of me. He has been stalking me and attempted to force himself on me a few months ago, before taking over this location.” Buck said simply. “He was forced to leave the gym that I’m apart of because he was caught stacking.” She explained.
“That will make things difficult. It’s likely that he’s had a stroke because of that and the heat from the bed.” Hen shook her head as they moved into the Gym with Buck remaining outside by the truck.
“Karma...” Buck looked over body bag that was being wheeled out, after hearing Carrie explain what he had been planning on doing with his dog in his jacked up truck the day before. “According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a noun. It’s considered a force generated by a person’s actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of a person’s next existence. It’s also considered a force that affects the events of one’s life and a characteristic emanation aura or spirit that infuses or vitalizes someone or something.”
“Where did people come up with the statement of Karma being a Bitch?” Brian asked with amusement as he looked at Buck.
“That’s a more contemporary expression that’s usually used to indicate that someone who has wronged others will eventually have that negativity come back to them in context to the beliefs that are tied with karma in Hinduism and Buddhism.” Buck explained thinking back to the events with the man that was shot with a bullet that his wife had shot at him a year before when he was attempting to get rid of a dying tree on his property where his wife had died due to suicide after dealing with abuse on her husband’s part for years.
Buck looked over at Bobby, who had answered a call on his phone only to have confusion infuse his emotional imprint. She cocked her head to the side and thought back to the things that had been happening and thought back to the events that the blood drive that had happened, it had been the time for the 118 to host one again, the LAFD shifted it through stations every few months. Bobby had been slightly pressured into giving blood, she had also given as it was something she attempted to do whenever she could. She also remembered his statements about why he usually did not donate blood, and how he had given into peer pressure to do so with the rest of the shift. Not her issue and she was not going to push since she was not one of the ones that had pressured him into donating. She just hoped that it was not cancer or something dangerous.
Being called to the zoo due to a degloving Buck looked around in shock. She could feel the fear that was coming from the man that had caused this hell on earth and snarled. Brian was beside her and could tell something was bugging her.
“Can you track him?” She looked at Brian with a raised eyebrow after checking her phone briefly.
“Why?” Brian asked carefully. “There’s plenty here...”
“Because if we don’t stop that tiger they’re gonna have to put him down for murder even if the bastard deserves it.” Buck responded simply.
“What do you mean?” Brian asked as he moved with Buck in the direction of the man and tiger.
“I can recognize the mental imprint of the man. He’s a twisted Sentinel... He uses his gifts to show that he’s a ‘great hunter’ and refuses to work with a guide.” Buck answered with a sigh. “My brother’s been complaining about all the complaints being given about this man who has done what he’s done to a protected lion.”
“How are we going to deal with this?” Brian asked as they moved through the paths ignoring the officers that were attempting to stop them.
“Simple...” Buck stopped at one of the golf carts and grabbed the dart gun that was there. “We’re going to knock him out.”
“The tiger or the bastard?” Brian smirked in return.
“The tiger sadly... the bastard’ll get to live.” Buck responded as she got into position as soon as she caught the man’s fear and panic. “Here kitty kitty...” She whispered as she lined up a shot in the path where the man was hiding in the giraffe enclosure.” Within moments she spots the small amount of movement thanks to the help of Zin appearing and drawing the tiger out. Cocking her head to the side a deep breath and the squeeze of a trigger the tiger was down moments later. “Alright let’s get the bastard out of there and to his nephews so that he can explain to them the reason that he is forever banned from the zoo.”
“What do you mean?” Athena asked as she came up close.
“His oldest nephew, the one behind the events that happened here because he needed ‘the perfect shot’ is bragging all over his social media about how his uncle is being hunted by a tiger after pelting it with pinecones.” Buck showed Athena her phone and raised an eyebrow. “If it weren’t for Zin and my Da’s training with a gun we’d be explaining why the bastard was dead to the kids.”
“Well, I’m thinking the kid’s also gonna be getting a lifetime ban...” Athena sighed as she looked at the photos, and videos, that had all been tagged with a hashtag about the tiger hunt at the zoo.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Sean cried as he was escorted out of the giraffe enclosure.
“I didn’t do this shit for you.” Buck sneered at the man. “I did it for Kobe.” She nodded to the tranq-ed tiger. “You don’t deserve to have another big cat trophy on your wall.” She sneered. “Oh...by the way expect a visit from the council.”
“WHAT?! Why?!” Sean looked at them with wide eyes.
“Because this is just the last of many instances of you using your Gifts to endanger the Community.” Buck shrugged before handing over the tranquilizer gun and heading back to the rest of the team. “Don’t worry this is just Karma being her usual bitchy self.”
Brian and Athena shared a smirk at the way that Buck was acting glad that she was not letting anyone walk all over her.
Buck simply gave Athena a hug a few nights after the karma call when she had accompanied Athena to a bar for a drink and to act as a wing-woman. When she heard the plans for Athena and Michael to divorce so that they could retain their strong friendship instead of letting the resentment grow and tear their family apart even further she had offered to be beside her when she took the step to get back out there. Though she did encourage Athena to wait until after the paperwork was submitted so that she would not be risking her job in the moral causes of her contract just as she had warned Hen on the night of the full moon. Just as she had been there beside Athena when she had gotten the call from Athena that May had attempted suicide. She had shown up and sat beside Athena while they were waiting for Michael to show up, she had stopped his date from getting in Athena’s line of sight after they had arrived because she was not about to let that drama happen at this time.
Buck also gave Bobby a hug when she ran into him at the NICU where she came to hold babies that did not have anyone that could give them skin on skin for various reasons and found out that the reason for the phone call was because he had a rare blood type condition that was able to save babies. He was there because the doctor sensing his reluctance to donate any more had called him to introduce him to the first baby that his blood supply was helping. She stood with him as he was introduced to the father and explained that while he had lost his children and that someday he would be able to see them again he was able to help so many more. She also said that maybe God was teasing him instead of punishing him, like she had picked up the feeling off when in the station during the week of Karma calls. She also reminded him that according to the Catholic belief system that if he followed through with the suicidal feelings that she had been picking up from him he would never see his children again because he would be sentenced to hell for taking his own life.
A call to find a homeless man trapped in a garbage truck after trying to get sleep in a dumpster led to Buck fighting the urge to vomit and claw her skin off at the same time. Thanks to the events with the fire suppressant foam she was more sensitive and all the different things in the garbage that they had to dig through messed with her body in ways that left her skin irritated and her mood testy for the rest of shift, though she did her best to not take it out on the others. She had figured out that he was a homeless sentinel and sent out a message to her brothers, Michael and Jacob, to have them reach out and help him get back on his feet if he wished to do so. She knew that there were those that would prefer to remain as they were as it was the thing that they knew best.
Another rejected call from Clark, another report to dispatch, and moving on throughout her life into the next shifts calls. Buck went down into a flooding elevator, grateful for her diving training as she was pulled under when the young man is rescued. She had heard how the mother finally came clean that his father had left because he had met his sentinel and so went to join them and that Todd had a latent sentinel ability. Raising an eyebrow as she heard the mother telling Todd that she was kicking him out of the house she shook her head.
A call from Athena to come assist her at the home of the man she had met the first time Buck had acted as the wing-woman for her she shook her head and went to help. Using skills her Papa had taught her, she entered the house using a lockpick set before moving through and simply raising an eyebrow at the handcuffed couple.
“Not my circus not my monkeys...” She shook her head, put the key close enough that Athena could get it and then walked away. “Oh, by the way...I’d invest in better locks, it was all to easy to pick the lock on your front door to get in here.” She explained to the man as she left. “I’ll lock up behind me.”
“Ready for a fun date?” Buck looked at Joseph that she had allowed to ask her on a date and had her meet at a slightly remote area on a hiking path.
“I’m not sure...” Buck looked around until she spotted the hot air balloon. “Yeah no.” She shook her head and turned away.
“Come on! It’s romantic!” Joseph called out as she moved away, was a Sentinel that the council thought would be a good match.
“Not to me it’s not.” Buck shook her head. “I was doing this as a favor to a friend for the help they gave recently. But I refuse to go up in a Hot Air balloon. This isn’t going to work between us.”
“Come on...” Joseph called after her but she simply shook her head and continued walking away. “No wonder you’re called the ice bitch...” He snarled at her back.
“Say what you want believe what you want. I don’t give a fuck. I refuse to go up in a hot air balloon for personal reasons and that is all.” Buck called over her shoulder as she walked away without a second thought.
“A hoarders house really?” Buck looked at the packed doors and windows of the latest call and bit back a curse. “not only that but a paranoid hoarders house...” She was unable to go in because while she was thin her hips were too wide.
They were able to figure out a way to get into the house and help the pair of brothers, but not before Buck took a bowling ball to the head from one of the boobytraps that had been set in the house. She made sure that an alert was made to the Adult Protection Services that helps those like the brothers and also to a group that were able to work on cleaning out the house and dismantling the boobytraps safely.
Buck watched as Hen stormed into the fire station snapping on the phone with Eva, who had gotten a new number supposedly so that she could call Hen. She was threatening to sue for custody even though she had signed away all parental rights to Denny while heading to prison. Buck had looked into he woman that was causing so much trouble, for she had felt a bit of guide influence residue on Hen just before the full moon and removed it. She did a soft scan to make sure the residue was still gone and was glad for it. It also helped in such a way that because of that removal there was no legal grounds for Eva to attempt to get custody back of Denny. She did make sure that the name of a good family lawyer that she knew that worked with the Council was slipped into Hen’s locker, after all if Eva was a guide then it was possible that Denny could be as well.
Getting a text from Clark, stating that his mother was dead, only received the briefest of notice from Buck as she continued about her day. She was tired of the man attempting to get into her life. She hoped that he would find something else to direct his attention to for she was tired of being his focus. If he continued after the cease and desist notice was sent to him she would take the steps needed to file a restraining order.
“She’s not British!” David calls out and Buck could see when the light went on in Athena’s head helping her realize what was going on with the young woman when there was a phone call from the same house from two different people.
“A stroke?” Buck looked at Bobby and Athena and they nod having come to the same conclusion.
Hen steps forward with a TPA shot before they load up Diane and take her to the hospital.
“The mind is such a funny thing.” Buck shook her head. “With Guides and Sentinels there is so much that can happen in the mind. In Nulls or Normies... there is so much that could happen that would shock even Guides and Sentinels.”
“I don’t think we’re ever supposed to completely understand the human mind. No matter our status.” Sam said with a chuckle as he walked beside her out of the house.
Buck came to the station early to use the gym and heard Hen teasing Nash about the dating profile that he was creating. She looked up when someone entered the loft where she was getting a bottle of water from the kitchen after changing for her shift and blinked in shock.
“You are not supposed to be near me.” Buck asked as she watched as Mandy entered the station with a glare on her face.
“No...” Mandy stormed forward and went to back hand her. “YOU HAVE RUINED MY LIFE!” She shouted in anger as Buck caught her arm and turned her so that she had her in a restraining hold without harming her.
“Makepeace!” Buck called over her shoulder. “Please contact the police. Mandy Brockton here is violating an active restraining order and attempting to physically assault an on duty first responder.”
“Let me go!” Mandy was struggling against her fighting the hold that she was in while the rest of the station watched and did nothing. Though only Hen and Bobby were in already. “You’ve ruined my life! BECAUSE OF YOU AND THAT TRANIE FREAK I’VE LOST MY JOB!!!”
“No.” Buck snarled. “You lost everything because you were being a bigoted asshole. You lost everything because you refused to let go of the prejudice your parents raised you with.”
“That’s enough Buckley.” Bobby piped up as he finally came over to stop what was going on.
“Respectfully Captain Nash this no longer concerns you since you decided to stand aside as she stormed up spewing hate and attempting to assault me. So, I would suggest, respectfully, that you back off.” Buck looked at the man who blinked in shock at the way his newest team member was snarling at him.
“I’ve got her Buck.” Sam said as he came up to help restrain Mandy keeping her away from Buck until police arrived.
Of course, one of the attending officers was Athena who looked at everything with a raised eyebrow. Mandy was kicking and fighting against the hold screaming and snarling, she was going feral in her actions and brought a raised eyebrow from several people. Buck watched and was shocked to see that her guide gift had gone dormant, not only that but there were high signs that she had put herself into feral dormancy. It was the reason someone that had at one point been working toward being a lawyer had snapped so far as to appear at her place of work with an active restraining order against her.
“Athena... there’s really no need...” Bobby started only to stop when he saw the look in the Sentinel’s eyes.
“The words out of your mouth better not be a dismissal of the charges that are happening here Captain Nash.” Athena snapped before looking at the others. “Paramedic Wilson please get the guide friendly tranquilizer.”
“Thena?” Hen asked with one word what was clearly confusing her.
“We’ve got a feral dormant guide on our hands.” Athena said with a withheld sigh. “Please conform to protocol and sedate them please.”
“Of course...” Hen nodded before going to the ambulance and grabbing the necessary sedation for Mandy before administering it. “What’s going to happen now?”
“Since she’s gone feral she will end up being confined to the Council clinic, where she will remain for the remainder of her life.” Buck answered instead of Athena as she looked at Mandy as she slumped.
“What was with that?” Bobby asked with a snarl and his arms crossed he was upset with how things were handled.
“That was one of my former roommates, who was arrested for destruction of property as well as theft against me and my roommate. She was given a sanction and was fired from her position as an intern at a local law firm. She as also given a restraining order, orders to pay for half the damage to my personal items along with the items of my roommate and told that she had a month to move from LA.” Buck answered as she looked at the woman who had thrown so much away. “Her trial was finished yesterday while I was off shift. Her accomplice is having her sentencing on our next four off.”
“What did they do to your stuff?” Hen asked with a hidden desire for gossip in her emotions.
“I don’t see why it matters just that they were found guilty in a court of law.” Buck raised an eyebrow in response.
“Damn no need to get pissy.” Hen huffed; she was wondering what she had done to make the young lady not like her so much.
“The reason I’m ‘pissy’ is because some people don’t know when to back off. I said it doesn’t matter that should be that. I just had someone that has it out for me attempt to attack me in my place of work and had my co-workers stand by and watch. The others came as soon as the commotion started and helped me with her but you and Captain Nash just stood by and watched. I want to get along and work together like we’re supposed to but you and Nash make it really hard.” Buck sighed.
“How are we making it hard?” Bobby blinked in shock.
“By refusing to respect my boundaries and pushing for your boundaries to be respected.” Buck sighed. “I have been respectful and doing my job, something you STILL refuse to believe that I’m qualified to do. READ MY TRUE FILE FOR FUCK SAKE!” She snarled as she turned and went to work on stocking the truck and ambulance with Martin and Brian while waiting to have their reports taken over what had happened.
Hen and Bobby looked at each other as she stormed away before looking back toward the officers that had responded.
“Henrietta please don’t tell me you’ve still been harassing that girl?!” Athena crossed her arms. “And Captain Nash I expected better from you after everything that you’ve been through and all that you’ve done to get where you are. I would expect you to pay attention to the truth and not rumors or gossip. I suggest you BOTH pay attention to her true file and not that doctored piece of shit that Han attempted to pass off as true.”
“What do you mean Thena?” Hen asked carefully.
“One of the charges that Han was found guilty of was illegal tampering with official paperwork. His case was wrapped up two weeks ago.” Athena shook her head. “It was settled out of court because of everything that was found. He was also found to have had a mental break. He’s being sent back to Korea where his father will be taking over the medical decisions for him.”
“He doesn’t get along with his father after the man abandoned him here.” Hen shook her head in disbelief.
“Only he didn’t. Because of Han’s age his opinion was taken into context and he was allowed to remain here as a US citizen even though he was and is still considered a Korean citizen. He was born in Korea and is therefore still considered a dual citizen. This is because he continues to receive funds from his father for living expenses.” Buck said as she returned to the loft to get the water bottle that she had originally come up for needing to hydrate. “This all came out in the trial just so you know. Because of the mental diagnosis, due to an undiagnosed brain tumor, his father was the one that made the decision to settle out of court instead of putting him through the situation. The tumor has gone undiagnosed for long enough that it’s considered inoperable.”
Hen and Bobby were shocked at the information, especially since they had expected to be contacted for character witness statements or something for Chimney they had not expected to be told that he was being sent to Korea with a brain tumor. Buck with her water bottle in hand turned and went back downstairs and back to getting things ready for the next call and the next emergency of the day.
Arriving at the shop of a Psychic, she shakes her head looking at the man on the ground.
“He’s not dead.” Buck looked at the coroner. “He’s panicking.”
“How can you tell?” The Coroner looked up at Buck with a sneer.
“Because I’m an Empathic Guide. I can feel it. Just as if a Sentinel worth their title would be able to tell you that he was still alive as well. My guess would be that he has not only narcolepsy but also cataplexy. I’m also going to be stating that he should be given an alert bracelet because it is a waste of resources and could harm someone else if they end up extremely scared from his zombie reenactment.” Buck shrugged ignoring the man before moving to assist Hen and Martin in tending to the Psychic.
Thankfully the hospital forced him to get a bracelet since it had been his third close call and the other two times he had ended up in the coroner’s office.
“Fuck...” Buck looked around at the crash scene closing her eyes in grief at what was going to be happening. She watched as Bobby helped the torn apart man talk one last time with his son. “Fuck...” She watched in horror as well as sorrow as others got inpatient as the road was blocked while they dealt with the remains of the accident.
“Come on...” Brian pulled her aside as soon as the call was finished. “Athena’s got Bobby... let me help you.”
“Yeah...” Buck whispered fighting the tears that wanted to fall as she dealt with everything that was pressing on her shields. It was times like this that she wished she could find her Sentinel because he or she would be able to help bolster her shields. “I... Damn it... I need a drink... a lot of drinks...”
“No, you just need a distraction... Contact Josh see if he’s free tonight.” Brian said shaking his head. “Don’t drown this out... it’ll just come back worse if you do.”
“I know but still...” Buck shook her head.
“No buts...” Brian shook his head in return and then moved to help with everything to get this shift done with so that she could be on her way sooner. “I’m gonna be letting my Adri distract me... Find someone to distract you.”
“I...” Buck took a deep breath before nodding.
“Go home Buck.” Brian clasped her on the shoulder before steering her to the doors and out.
Thankfully the call to the motorcycle accident was the last of the shift.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the club needing a night out on the town. She was meeting Josh, both of them back at the club that they had first met at.
“Damn! You look fine girl!” Josh looked at Buck with a wide eyed expression.
Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus started playing and Buck just chuckled before looking down at herself. “I know I’m gonna be okay...” She whispered as she looked at Josh before shrugging and going to get a drink. She was wearing a short black dress had a skater skirt with a mock turtleneck while being sleeveless and had a mesh center panel. She was wearing her purple ombre curl wig, she wished she was able to dye her hair but was restricted some by work. She had simple yet beautiful makeup with a winged eyeliner and a pale pink lip. Her jewelry was diamond drop earrings that she had been gifted for her birthday and a diamond bracelet she had been gifted years before. She had painted her nails silver and had on black heels that added to her already tall height and her things were in a black clutch.
“I know that you’re gonna be more than okay.” Josh said with a smirk as he looked at her as she returned with a soda.
“I have to be.” Buck shrugged as she settled at the table with Josh watching the people on the dance floor.
“There are many things that can help you and many people. You’re not alone no matter how often you think you are.” Josh said softly laying a comforting hand on her arm.
“Thanks... not only for this but for being such a good friend.” Buck clasped her hand over Josh’s hand giving it a squeeze. “Now come and dance with me.”
They spent the rest of the night relaxing at the bar; she was grateful that she remained just drinking soda all night so she was not regretting anything the next morning.
Buck sat with Grant, Michael, and Jacob; she had a meeting with him to discuss the rest of the case against the Union for what they had attempted to do. Especially against Daniel Brown since he had continued to attempt to block her true records from being registered. He had been pushing that he would back off if she just went on a date with him and without saying it out loud but his emotions and such painted it a clear picture that if she had done the date then he would expect her to spread her legs for him. When she refused he continued to attempt to stall her career. Buck was meeting with Grant to see if there was a way to get rid of Daniel without risking things with the Union.
As she sat in the café with Grant talking about the case she was approached by an unknown male low level guide who accused her of ghosting them. The way that the person spoke made it clear that they were of the mistaken belief that she was a sentinel and had been in the courting process with her. Shaking her head in disbelief she was shocked when the guide then threw a hot beverage on her.
“OH, HELL NO!” Grant Robertson cried out as he grabbed the guide and held him firm. “Someone call 9-1-1!” He kept the male in a firm grip before looking at Buck. “Buck you remain still.”
“I’m calling 9-1-1.” Michael stated simply while he pulled out his phone.
“I’ve got Eva.” Jacob started to help her clean off the hot beverage glad that she had flinched back and closed her eyes so that the scalding liquid didn’t get in her eyes.
“The Bitch deserved it she led me on!” The man snarled fighting against the sentinel holding him close.
“The ‘Bitch’ is a GUIDE just like you. There was no leading on there was nothing that she has done to you. She doesn’t even know you!” Grant snarled. “She only has two social media accounts verified and locked to her identity. Were you talking to her on the S&G Social platform or on Instagram?”
“No! She was talking to me on myspace.” The man snapped. “She’s a sentinel!”
“No, she is not. She’s a level five empathic guide.” Jacob snapped. “She’s never even been on myspace.”
“She’s been leading you on! I shared so much intimate stuff with her! I’ve been helping her heal the soul damage on her wings!” The man struggled even more.
“I’ve never heard your name and never talked with anyone online. I’m not stupid enough to open up that way.” Buck snapped.
“Don’t engage Eva.” Jacob turned her attention back to him as he nodded in thanks to the worker who brought over the rag to help clean the hot beverage off of her.
“Why are you calling her Eva? Her name’s Evangeline Buckley and she hates nicknames!” the man snarled.
“Well that just tells us even more that you’ve been lead on.” Athena stated as she entered the café in uniform.
“What the hell you talking about?” The man looked at Athena with a sneer.
“Her name may be Evangeline but she never goes by that. It’s either Buck or Eva.” Athena shook her head. “Also, her last name is Ellison-Sandburg. She has not been a Buckley for a long time.”
“Like hell she’s related to the Alpha Primes!” The man struggled even more.
“They are my adoptive parents.” Buck shrugged as she let the EMT’s come in and help with the minor burns that had been caused by the liquid. “Sergeant Grant... I would contact Ms. Kent and have her look into this supposed Myspace page I’ve been using. She’s the one that has helped me protect my online presence.”
“We’ll definitely be looking into things.” Athena nodded as another officer came in to help with things as she arrested the man who had assaulted Buck with a hot beverage.
“You’re going to be man behind if your station responds to a fire for a few days. Let the burns heal.” The lead EMT explained as they stepped back from helping Buck. “But I don’t believe there is a reason for you to go to the ER.”
“Great!” Buck sighed. “Now just to make sure that Nash doesn’t make it a permanent thing...” She sighed.
“What do you mean?” The EMT asked, Buck saw that their nametag read Johnson.
“Ever since things have been happening due to a report that I made Nash has been a dictator... I think I’ve been man behind seven times out of ten.” Buck sighed.
“Well, that’s something that I’ll be taking care of.” Grant sighed as he shook his head listening in unabashedly.
“Just be careful because I don’t want to wreck his career... He’s working on improving a lot. He’s made large steps but he’s struggling.” Buck sighed in return.
“I’ll do my best.” Grant nodded in response.
“I’ll also talk to Bobby.” Athena said as she finished with the statements of others and came over in time to catch the end of things.
“Did you get his name by any chance?” Buck asked carefully watching as the squad car pulled away with the man in the back.
“Abraham Clark.” Athena sighed, “recently of 9-1-1 dispatch.”
“No fuck? That’s the man that’s been stalking me on the phone and now thinks we were in a relationship through Myspace?” Buck sighed. “I’ve never even seen a picture of the man and only heard his voice through the radio on calls or in the case of the phone with the second case we worked together. In fact, that’s how he got my number in the first place.”
“What do you mean Baby?” Athena looked at her with a tight expression.
“Abraham Clark was the 9-1-1 operator that was the one to patch us together in the home invasion call where it was the little girl that was home alone with a pair of thieves. After the roller coaster he started calling me attempting to strike up a relationship. He didn’t want friendship or anything like that he wanted a sexual relationship. He even came to the station around Valentines Day and several attempted to tell me I should give him a chance.” She shook her head. “I know that his mom has just recently died due to alzheimer’s.”
“So, he might be suffering from a break?” Athena sighed in response shaking her head. “I’ll let the others know.”
“As long as he stays away from me I don’t care. I’m sick of his pushing and now acting as if he hadn’t been chasing me for a while... I’m just done.” Buck shook her head before letting her brothers, which she now counted Grant as one of them as well, take her home. “This has just not been my year.” She sighed as she took in the graffiti on the front of her garage, someone had spray painted whore in a large sweeping flow across it. “I’m just glad that I’ve got security cameras.” She shook her head looking toward the slightly hidden cameras that covered the garage and other parts of the exterior of her home.
“I know good cleansers and power washers to take care of that.” Grant sighed shaking his own head. “We’ll get you through this along with everything else.”
“Thanks.” Buck sighed before heading into the house just exhausted after everything and fighting the pain from the minor burns on her face.
“So... because of the grief and trauma of working for dispatch, Abraham Clark was let go from the call center. He has had his guide gift blocked for now in the hopes that he can recover. Last we heard he’s headed to Ireland to fulfill a wish from his mother before her health failed and her death.” Athena told Buck a week after the attack. “It was found that the person that was writing to him was Kimberly Clark, no relation to Abraham.”
“I know who Kimberly is. She’s got a restraining order against me as well.” Buck shook her head. “She was supposed to be in prison...”
“She is... she was using a prison computer to do the chats and such.” Athena explained. “She has had all access restricted from here on out.”
“Well, that’s something at least.” Buck shook her head before turning back to the rest of the station. “It’s as if I was cursed coming to LA.”
“What do you mean baby?” Athena stepped closer and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“If it’s not someone trying to ruin my career it’s someone attempting to harass me or make my day to day life hell.” Buck sighed. “I felt as if I was supposed to be here in LA... The way the Spirit Plane feels while I’m here is that something good is going to happen but in my first year here I’ve come so close to wanting to get out...” Buck sighed as she slumped against the island in the kitchen.
“Firefighter Ellison-Sandburg, my office please.” Bobby said from the edge of the loft before turning around and heading back down the stairs.
Buck gave a tight smile to Athena before following Captain Nash downstairs and into the office before closing the door at his request.
Bobby took a deep breath before settling behind the desk and looking at Buck. Buck simply stood at attention waiting him to speak.
“First off... You are not in any trouble whatsoever. Second... Thanks to some things that have been going on and the help of several others I’ve finally been taking therapy seriously. I’ve also been putting practices of the AA into practice. The fifth step that we’re taught in AA is admitting to God, oneself, and another person the exact nature of one’s wrongs. My therapist has helped me with this step. I’ve also reached the point of doing step 9 where I’m working on making direct amends wherever possible. I need to admit that I’ve been truly wrong in how I’ve treated you. I won’t make excuses for you don’t deserve them. I was wrong in how I was acting and the way that I was turning a blind eye to so many things. I ask only that you help hold me accountable in how I’m acting so that I don’t fall back into the patterns of before.” Bobby said with a slightly lost expression on his face and it was that expression that told Buck that he truly was sorry for how he had acted and that he had finally seen the wrong in his actions. “Firefighter Makepeace is looking at stepping back from the high end rescues, his wife is pregnant and he wants to be able to live to support her. That said we’re also down a few still in number at the station including another Heavy Rescue asset. I will be looking at the academy with the next class for someone that would work well with you. I will keep you informed on how the search is going.”
“Thank you for letting me know and the apology. It’ll take me a while to see the changes happening before I’m willing to fully forgive.” Buck answered simply. “As for a partner as long as you don’t blindside me I would be grateful to have someone that knows what they are doing.”
“I will keep you informed.” Bobby nodded. “And I will show you that I’m working to get your forgiveness.”
“Permission to start my chores?” Buck asked needing to get out of the situation.
“Permission granted.” Bobby nodded in response and Buck was soon out of the office and heading to do inventory on the truck.
Two days later Athena let Buck know that Abraham Clark was on the plane to Ireland, with orders to not contact Buck any longer as there was now an active restraining order against him, just as she was heading out the door for a date. Buck was going to be staying with May and Harry since Michael was also going on a date. She wished her luck and smiled; she knew that the date was going to be between Athena and Bobby even though they were not saying anything. Buck was glad that she would not have to worry about either of the Clarks that had given her so much hell. She looked at her phone as it rang and answered with a smile on her voice with her phone tucked between her ear and shoulder.
“Hey Papa...” Buck said with a smile on her voice.
*Hey sweetheart... so I have to thank you...* Blair’s voice came through the line with a tight nature to it showing that he was hurting emotionally and attempting to hide it.
“What do you have to thank me for?” Buck straightened a little and looked toward where May and Harry were working on their homework, she had promised that if they finished it then Buck would talk to their parents to take them to the zoo the next day since it was a Saturday.
*Your tip to you da... about the young guide...* Blair’s voice was tight with both anger and frustration.
“I thought you guys lost the trace...” Buck moved to drain the pasta for the mac and cheese that she was making.
*We had but then we finally find the kid... They had moved away with their father... They just came to the LA Center. Michael met the father... and Jacob recognized the imprint of the kid...* Blair explained. *You were right that someone was attempting to suppress the kid... the dad came to register and... fuck baby it was bad... he came to register as latent but he was a suppressed dormant from a young age... From the feeling of him... he’s a perfect match for you sweetheart. You brother’s called me into check...*
“I... um... huh...” Buck wanted to sit down and process but knew she couldn’t at the moment.
*Both father and son need time to recover and fully be cleansed from the suppressors. The father also needs to decide if he’s gonna divorce his estranged wife. It’ll be a few months before a meeting can happen.* Blair explained. *But know that there are going to be those in the Center that’s gonna be pushing for you both to meet.*
“When he’s ready... no sooner...” Buck explained. “Even if he never is.” She looked at May and Harry. “I’m in the middle of watching some of the most awesome kids in LA and then tomorrow I’m taking them to the zoo. Kobe’s being released back into his new habitat. They did a full rebuild so that he can’t escape again. There was so much protest about him being potentially put down because of a pair of idiots. Especially since he didn’t go after anyone but the one that had been attempting to harm him.”
*Alright kiddo. It’s your choice just as it’s his.* Blair’s voice held some relief.
“I’ll let you go... I’ve got some kids to feed then I gotta help them with the rest of their homework.” Buck chuckled before saying her goodbyes to her Papa and heading to join May and Harry at the table.
“Why are you here watching us instead of May just watching me?” Harry asked with his head cocked to the side.
“You remember when I was feeling really sick a little bit ago and mom had to call an ambulance?” May looked at Harry.
“Yeah?” Harry looked at May with confusion.
“One of the things to help mom and dad feel comfortable about leaving us alone so they can go on dates is if there is someone here that’s of adult age. I’m okay with it.” May explained as simply as she could.
“You could get sick like that again?” Harry looked at her with fear in his eyes.
“Not exactly like that but it’s still something that will take mom and dad a while to be comfortable with leaving us alone. Also, mom has basically adopted Buck anyway.” May shrugged.
“I just like hanging out with the pair of you.” Buck shrugged as well as she dished up the meal that she had made, it was pork chops with a side of mac and cheese.
“What about when you find your Sentinel?” Harry asked.
“Still would want to hang out with you both.” Buck smiled at him in response.
Buck smiled as they looked over the tiger enclosure the next day, even though Athena was with them wanting a chance to see it with them. Buck smiled as she watched noticed the reinforced Plexi-glass that surrounded the enclosure so that there was no possibility of someone throwing something into the enclosure.
“They’ve made this a lot better.” Athena smiled as she looked around.
“I’m just glad that the bastard’s karma didn’t affect Kobe.” Buck responded as she watched Kobe prowling along the edge of the enclosure playing with a large exercise ball.
“I’m just glad that you’re smiling and wanting to do something.” Athena looked at Buck with a smile on her face before looking back at her two blood kids. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me this year.”
“You’ve done just as much... by the way how was your date with Bobby the other night?” Buck watched Athena out of the corner of her eye.
“I’m wondering what the next year will bring for you.” Athena responded instead of answering the little poke.
“A heavy rescue partner hopefully.” Buck said with a chuckle letting her ignore the question. “But we’ll have to wait and see...”
“We’ll have to wait and see.” Athena nodded before they moved on toward the giraffe enclosure, it too had been redone for the comfort of the animals after a human and tiger had both gotten in there.
Harry and May were just glad there was laughter and fun that was happening. Buck was just glad that May was smiling and laughing again along with Athena. She had been there when Athena had wanted to go after the little girl that had pushed May so far. She had been able to get her to go the legal route by having someone else go after the girl and catching her with drugs on the school campus along with following the law for the assisted suicide charges, for it had come out that May was not the first she had gone after but the girl before had not been as lucky as being found in time.
Buck just followed along and if she bought the kids each a large stuffed animal that was her business. If she snuggled with Zin in the private of her house, while watching the Princess Bride and sketching different painting ideas, it was all her business. The next few months would bring about so many things and it was something she was looking forward to but also worried about at the same time.
Chapter 4
Summary:
A short chapter but it covers the first three episodes of season two. I've been struggling with this story and so while I wanted to make sure to get something out, I kept it fairly short. I hope everyone enjoys what is here.
Chapter Text
Concerning Bonding between a Sentinel and Guide:
There are many different ways for someone to find their perfect match. And sometimes that does not actually happen if they live too far apart. In the past two years there has been a database that has started to spread worldwide, it began years before but was focused on regions. Since the push to go worldwide instead of region focused there are more perfect matches being made.
Now when it comes to bonding it is not an instant thing such as is currently portrayed in modern and past literature and media. Also, it is not an instant meet and fall into bed with each other to ‘affirm the bond’. There are those that want to romanticize the events of a Bond Affirmation but like any relationship it takes work to have a bond form. Also, the bonds are just as varied as sexual feelings out in the world today. So not all bonds are sexual in nature, there are plenty of platonic bonds out there especially when the bonds are formed between siblings.
Now when it comes to bonding between a Sentinel and Guide it is mainly begun on the part of the Sentinel. When a Sentinel begins bonding with their Guide they start to glut their senses on the Guide. But the Guide is not passive during this time because they have to be able to pull a Sentinel from a Zone out of their senses when they are glutting themselves.
It is only when the Sentinel has glut their available enhanced senses upon their Guide that the final bond is able to snap into place. It is regarded as the Guide fully enclosing the Sentinel into the shields that they maintain in their own head to protect themselves from the heavy press of emotions, thoughts, or any combination around them at any point in time.
When a Sentinel gluts their senses they will focus on one sense at a time, attempting to do more than that would cause them to zone out. A zone out is a dangerous thing for a Sentinel, especially one that is not fully bonded with a Guide.
When most think of senses they know the five common senses that are out there: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. There are two other lesser known senses and are typically only available to high beta or alpha sentinels, Vestibular and Proprioception.
The Sense of Sight is typically the first that a Sentinel will glut themselves on with their Guide. This is not just liking the way that their other half looks, though there are few that would argue with that. It is when they are able to take in every aspect of the person. They focus on any minor blemishes, scars, features, colors etc. They use sight to know when anything happens to injure the one sight is focused on.
Sound is the second that is typically focused on for a Sentinel and Guide. They will learn not only the sound of a voice but also the sound of a specific heartbeat, the sound of the Guide’s body being fully in use. A sentinel will learn the way the blood flows through the body, the sound of the lungs filling with air, the sound of their voice, and the sound of their heart beat. It will allow them to learn how a Guide is feeling, acting, or if they are having issues. They will even be able to tell if someone is lying do to the sound of the heartbeat.
Touch is third in the typical way of things; this is not to say that it will be the one followed by everyone but it is the typical method. A sentinel will focus on the feeling that they learn through touch of skin on skin, it is because of their touch being one of their biggest senses that they are so sensitive to different fabrics and textures. It is also why they prefer more natural cleaners since the more chemical ones will act up with their sense of touch. They will be able to feel if something is wrong with their Guide, it is more common after focusing a sense of touch for a Sentinel to find a cancerous lump in their guide then others, even before their Guide is able to find it themselves.
Now for the final two of the main five senses of taste and smell media would have everyone it has to be focused on during sex. This is where the misconceptions are rampant. For scent the Sentinel will learn the fragrance of the Guide, it can happen during working out together and working up a sweat. It can also be just spending a day together in a more scent neutral place. After all there are those that are Asexual between Sentinels and Guides, as well as those that are repulsed by the very thought of sexual experiences. It is thanks to the work of the Council Centers that they are able to still bond with their Perfect match without fear of having to allow that which they don’t want.
Taste is the last of the senses that are usually glut upon for bonding when it comes to the average range of senses. It is also the one that is the most dangerous for a Sentinel and Guide. If one of them is on the asexual spectrum this can be the hardest. This is the one that is most tied with intercourse. For it is with this sense that they will learn the taste of their skin, their sweat, and in the case of intercourse the taste of their sexual release. This is the one sense that will affect a complete bond because of the at times sexual nature.
Now when it comes to senses that are glut on Guides with Sentinels it is focused on the main five senses. The other two senses come typically after the Bond is in place in full between a Guide and Sentinel. It is after the Guide has enclosed their Sentinel in their shields helping them regulate the main five sense that the next two come into play.
The Vestibular Sense contributes to our ability to maintain balance and body posture, as well as special orientation. The sensory organs for this are located near the cochlea in the inner ear. This sense helps a Sentinel know where they are in orientation to the environment around them when their other senses are focused on something else. It is what helps a Sentinel when they are in a hunt and focused on their other senses.
The sense of Proprioception, that is the sense of self-movement, force and body position. That is how we are able to know where our body parts are without looking at them. When focused on a Guide via their Sentinels it helps them know where their Guide is at all times, it is most common for Alpha Sentinels to have this seventh sense. This also helps with when they are on the Hunt because it allows them to know what their body is doing during the hunt.
A Bond can take anywhere from a week to months even years to form between a Perfect pair. It all depends on the state of the mental and physical health of the Guide and/or Sentinel. There is no set length of time that it is perfect for Bonding. It all depends on the couple. And it will always be up to the Sentinel and Guide not the Council, or family and friends of the pair.
Buck took a deep breath of the heavy air that was pulling down on her. It was so hot out that LA citizens were getting short tempered. She drove into work and had to chuckle as the Billy Joel song Pressure was playing on the radio.
“It’s gonna be a shit show for a couple days at least.” Buck said as she entered and got changed.
“What makes you think that?” Hen asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Simply because of all the heat will make tempers short and things crazy.” Buck shrugged as she changed before going to check the chore chart. “And on the way in Pressure was playing on the radio...” She smirked as she went.
“That doesn’t mean anything!” Hen called out only for their first call was to a car accident where a tour vehicle had gone over the hill. “Still doesn’t mean anything.” She looked at Buck as she heard one of the accident victims ask if anyone famous lived in the house they crashed into.
Buck just raised an eyebrow when their next call was to an eatery that had a pressure cooker explode followed by the sewer line out in the front due to frayed power lines. She simply raised an eyebrow at Hen as she carried the severed arm of the utilities worker that she’d fished out of a pool near by while others helped those that had been having a party only to get the shock of having a sewer lid and a severed arm crash down from overhead.
“Still doesn’t mean anything.” Hen muttered as she helped load up the man that had a bottle of hot sauce imbedded in his shoulder open side down, into the ambulance.
“Keep thinking that.” Buck chuckled looking toward the squad car that pulled up with a couple in the back and Athena driving. She shook her head as she felt the spike of arousal coming from Athena and Bobby as they disappeared in the middle of the trucks. She waited for a few seconds before banging on the side closing a cabinet and then moving toward the squad car. She leaned down to look in with amusement. “Wow...Man just break it off don’t run. Lady he found his Match and it wasn’t you but even I can tell that you’re a controlling toxic bitch.”
“What makes you say that?” The woman snarled toward Buck.
“Because my mama wouldn’t have arrested your ass for being a hurt bride. Only if you’re using police resources for your own gains.” Buck shrugged before moving back toward the trucks and leaving the pair behind. “Mama might want to get the bitch away from the poor guide sooner than later.” She said as she walked past the middle of the trucks without looking toward the pair. She started humming the song that was stuck in her head as she went.
“Still doesn’t mean anything.” Hen muttered when she returned later that shift after dropping several and ending up called to the next pick up before even returning.
“Really? You’re gonna go with that?” Buck shook her head and started humming pressure again.
Hen just shook her head in response.
The rest of the shift went well with several more calls tied with the heat and tempers getting out of control. There was also some house fires from people attempting to run too many fans or space air conditioners along with devices on the system. Buck simply would look at Hen with a smirk and hum the song whenever they had a chance. It had been several months since Buck had heard from her parents about the potential match but she had put it out of her mind giving the Sentinel the chance to recover and get settled in the city. This was something that would come to bite her two weeks later when she entered the station.
Buck heard Bobby complimenting the others in the station and had to shake her head with a smile. Especially as Hen seemed frustrated that he was so happy. She approached chuckling.
“You are cheery...” Hen looked at Bobby as he approached the locker room.
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Bobby asked with amusement on his voice.
“I don’t know,” Hen shrugged, she was still in her civies which amused Buck. “Maybe because you’ve been like this for weeks and it’s starting to get on my nerves. What’s goin on with you?”
“Hen he’s gettin’ laid again.” Buck explained with a smirk toward Bobby. “So, are you gonna go for the calendar like Brian?” She asked. “He just got another DXA scan and was braggin about it earlier and dropping another half percent. I know that Adri’s happy about the results since she’s close to the nine month mark.”
“Ahh does it measure fat in the head?” Martin asked as he approached with Brian.
“Ah, see, that would be funny, but we’re about a week away from submissions being due for the Hot Days, Smoldering Nights, Men of the LAFD wall calendar, and I’m already at my goal weight, so it seems like my head is clearly working perfectly.” Brian said with a smirk.
Buck crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow looking at him, for she could feel his amusement, along with knowing his plans were not to actually put in for the calendar. He was just trying to get to an ideal weight for his wife and the coming baby. She also knew her plan to submit Tanika, Adri, and Hen’s pictures in secret and in protest was kept behind her teeth while she listened to Hen lambast the group of males. She had to fight laughter when Bobby piped in about ‘men being their sexiest when he reaches fifty’. She was silently glad that Chimney was no longer there because she knew he’d be talking about being an Asian Fabio or something similar. She cocked her head to the side as the trash talk between the males started about who had a chance before Martin looked toward the locker room.
“Okay, that...” Martin said pointing toward the locker room, “is a beautiful man.”
“Where’s the lie? And I like girls.” Hen replied as she turned to look toward the locker room and Buck couldn’t help but turn to see what they were talking about.
Buck turned to look at what was happening and couldn’t help but have the song ‘Whatta Man’ by Salt-N-Pepper playing in her head as she looked him.
“Forget to tell me something Bobby?” Buck sighed pinching the bridge of her nose.
“I was sent a Probie from the latest batch. I had been given notice just as we got off shift four days ago and I hadn’t had a chance to speak about it with you yet.” Bobby explained as he looked from Buck to the man changing into his uniform and pulling his shirt down while almost doing a reverse strip tease as he did so. “That’s Eddie Diaz. New recruit graduated top of his class just last week. Supposedly the guys at Station 6 were dying to have him but he was assigned to us, via the Council and HR. He’s served multiple tours in Afghanistan as an Army medic. Guy’s got a Silver Star. It’s not like he’s wet behind the ears. He’s supposed to be your Heavy Asset Partner. Come on, I’ll introduce you to him.”
“So, the Council and HR are being meddlers.” Buck sighed as she shook her head. “I know that I’ve got a perfect match out there. And from what the database says he’s living in LA currently but recovering from several things. I don’t need them attempting to match me with someone they decided would be perfect for me. I’m waiting until my ‘Perfect Match’ according to the database is ready to meet.” Buck followed behind. “Oh...and don’t ask about his silver star. I know my da doesn’t like talking about his awards when they’re not given out willy-nilly.”
Buck watched as everyone was welcoming to Eddie and Buck remained in the back waving in greeting when she was introduced. She saw Eddie’s startled when he heard her full name, but she refused to acknowledge anything more until they were on the truck heading to the first call of the day.
Buck watched as Eddie took over the call, even though he was a probie and had to bite back a sigh. After all she would have been chewed out for speaking up even if she knew what she was talking about the first day but they let Eddie take control. She rolled her eyes as they got back into the truck and returned to the station. Silently though she was still grateful that Chimney wasn’t there because she knew that he would have ignored Buck’s comment about not asking about the Silver Star. She could watch and feel as Eddie relaxed as the team refrained from asking about his military service.
The rest of the day went by with easy calls MVAs and kitchen fires. Buck was grateful when she was able to get home. She looked around with furrowed brows as she registered a feeling that she recognized but didn’t expect within her house. She pulled out her phone and called Athena.
“How can I help ya Buckaroo?” Athena answered her phone with amusement on her voice.
“So... I’ve got an unexpected and unwelcome visitor in my house. How she got into my house I’ve no clue especially since Josephine is at work and has been there since last night as there was a cyber-attack on the archive.” Buck sighed as she looked toward the house.
“Who is it?” Athena asked with the sound of an exasperation on her voice that someone would do this to Buck.
“My big Sister, who is estranged and has been since I reported my parents for their abuse and got them arrested after emerging.” Buck sighed as she looked toward the house. “There should’ve been a silent alarm that sounded alerting people that someone had entered without the code. If it didn’t go off then she had the code which means that someone gave it to her. Or someone ignored the alarm.”
“You’re sure that it wasn’t your roommate?” Athena asked carefully.
“I’m sure because Josephine and I had bonded over bad family and how they were estranged from us due to personal reasons.” Buck sighed.
“Alright I’m on my way, and I’ve got others coming to assist.” Athena answered with a sigh.
“Thanks Mama.” Buck sighed as she kept watching the house refusing to enter.
It took ten minutes before Athena and a few backup members showed up and after getting a run down from Buck entered the house. Athena came back out; she had entered only to enter her code into the house alarm so it wouldn’t be set off again but remained outside due to her connection with Buck. She watched beside Buck as Maddie was escorted out in cuffs with her hair and body still damp, though she was dressed in her own clothing. One of the officers was carrying a suitcase and the other was carrying an evidence bag with one of Josephine’s expensive wine bottles, that Buck knew had not been opened when she had gone into work, that was open and empty. In another bag was a used wine glass, one of the fancy crystal ones that Buck had saved for to treat herself to after passing a year in LA. There was also a bag holding syringes and vials of hormones with garbage around it.
“What the hell Evangeline?!” Maddie called out in anger as she was led to a car.
“No...” Buck turned her back on Maddie and focused on Athena.
“Is this totally not acceptable! I’m your sister!” Maddie called out.
“Ms. Ellison-Sandburg, this female is claiming to be your sister and was found taking a shower in one of the bathrooms. There were several syringes and vials thrown in the garbage and sink. The vials were shattered in the sink.” One of the officers explained why they had this all in their hands. “I also was able to smell the scent of the wine on her breath.”
“My sister doesn’t need that crap!” Maddie called out as she continued to argue.
“It was a brand new unopened bottle. The shots belong to my roommate.” Buck explained ignoring her sister. “Ms. Kent is male to female transitioned. I know for a fact that she will wish to press charges as the bottle was several hundred dollars and was being saved for the day she got married. It was bottled the same year she began her transition.” Buck explained. “I’m also going to be pressing charges for breaking and entering and ask for a full investigation because there should’ve been a silent alarm that would alert someone to the fact that someone without authorization was in the house. I know for a fact I had not sent her a key nor did she have the code to the alarm system in the house. Also, she should have no idea where I live in the first place.” She finally looked at Maddie. “I’ve not interacted with Madeline ‘Maddie’ Kendel née Buckley since she moved from the house when I was nine and she went to attend college. She told me that I was a horrible person for telling lies about her parents that got them arrested and tried for child abuse and rape of a minor, along with plans of solicitation of a minor for sex. It had been found that my sperm donor had made promises to several people that they could ‘have a fun’ time with me in exchange for services or favors.”
“LIAR!” Maddie shouted still struggling.
“She along with my blood parents have active life long restraining orders against them. Something she knows and is currently breaking by being here.” Buck just crossed her arms and looked at her former sister. She felt as Jacob and Michael arrived standing behind her in support. “So, I will definitely be pressing charges.”
“Very well.” The officer nodded in response looking at the S&G Council Center heads who were standing behind the woman who this was affecting with their arms crossed glaring at the woman that was finally being placed into the back of the squad car that had arrived to arrest her.
Buck just stood watching as her last remaining free family member was arrested and taken away. She knew that it was likely that Maddie would not be released or if she was that this would come back to bite her in the ass at some point. She sent a text to Jo about what had happened and that she was going to replace that which was taken or destroyed. She got back a pissed text about the cost of the hormone treatments being destroyed again. Buck knew that things were going to come to a head and she also knew that she would have to head back into work where there was so much chaos of the newbie within the shift. They were only on a 24 off before being back on and she knew that she would get hell for how she was treating the Probie but she had been blindsided by having a newbie in the station and not only that but a Sentinel. Zin appeared beside her rubbing against her in a way that offered support.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Athena asked as she watched the others drive away after they finished clearing the house of any evidence left by Maddie in her chaotic wake.
“Will I ever find peace?” She spoke into the falling twilight. “The past 24 hours has been a chaotic mess of one thing after another.” She turned to face Michael. “Did you know the council was sending a new probie to the station that is a trauma recovering sentinel?”
“No...” Michael furrowed his brow in shock as he reared back. “What’s his name.” He snarled as he pulled out his phone.
“Eddie Diaz.” Buck answered with her arms crossed. She was planning on spending the night at a motel because of what had happened. Until they got the security checked out and changed she wasn’t going to feel comfortable living in that house even if it was her dream home. “He was sent by the LAFD and the Council with only one day notice to Bobby. He didn’t have time to warn me that we would have a new UNBONDED Sentinel in the station before I had arrived for shift.”
“Damn...” Michael and Jacob snarled.
“That is not the way you were meant to meet!” Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at Buck. “Diaz is the father of the young emerging Shaman level guide that was in Texas. He’s being cleansed just like his son.”
“He didn’t mention any child...” Buck whispered with her arms wrapped around her. She had been able to start working comfortably with him by the end of their shift thanks to a grenade in Charlie’s leg but she was still uncomfortable with the fact that it was an unbonded sentinel in her safe space.
“He’s likely attempting to protect his kid while he finishes the cleansing. There’s only a few more days of the treatment for both of them.” Michael explained pinching the bridge of his nose. “We’ve got to go and deal with an overreaching Council. You were supposed to meet on your own time when you both were ready. Thanks to us he’s working on divorce with full custody since his wife abandoned them both in the middle of the night while he was still in recovery from being discharged.”
“Hmmm...” Athena narrowed her eyes. “It sounds like someone wants to mess up Buckaroo’s career.”
“What do you mean?” Jacob looked at Athena was narrowed eyes.
“They send in the one that is a perfect match according to the system while he’s still not fully divorced. If something did happen between them they could both be fired for breaking the moral clauses of their contract with the LAFD and it wouldn’t matter that they were perfect matches.” Athena explained.
“Damn it!” Jacob snarled before nodding in understanding.
“We’ll look into it.” Michael nodded.
“I’ll inform Diaz when I’m at work tomorrow what the possibility might be.” Buck took a deep breath before looking toward the house then back to Athena. “Am I allowed to enter the house and get some clothes and my clean uniform?”
“Yes.” Athena nodded. “Where are you going?”
“I plan to head to a hotel.” Buck shrugged. “I don’t want to stay here until the security is figured out and changed.”
“Come stay at my place. Extra protection and I know May and Harry will love to see you.” Athena offered.
“You sure it’s not so you can go on another date with Bobby?” Buck raised an eyebrow.
“I’m sure brat.” Athena shook her head. “How’d you know about that anyway?”
“I saw you guys on a date one night; it looked like it could’ve been a first date with how fancy you guys looked.” Buck shrugged. “I didn’t want to disturb or out you.”
“Thanks...” Athena took a deep breath. “I’m still adjusting to this and wondering about if it’s the right thing to do...”
“You’re worried you’re not allowed to be happy?” Buck tilted her head to the side as she studied Athena. “Do you think you’re not allowed a Guide and a chance at happiness?”
“I’m just not sure...” Athena shrugged in response.
“Well...I’m sorry to say but you and Bobby are a Perfect Match for each other. In more ways than one. You’ll see it in time.” Buck smirked as she turned and walked into her house to gather some things. “I will come stay at your place though.”
“See you there Buckaroo. I’ll let the kids know to expect you.” Athena sighed while shaking her head and then heading back onto her route.
Buck walked into the station and looked around, she could feel that something was going to be happening soon, she just wasn’t sure what.
“Hey Buckaroo!” Hen called out as she saw her enter. “Ready to get through the day?”
“I will be after I talk with Diaz for a bit.”
“I thought you were getting along now after the grenade thing?” Hen asked with a furrowed brow.
“I am it’s just something came to light in our time off that I need ta talk to him about.” Buck said looked around and finding Diaz as he was working out in the gym. “Hey Eddie! I need ta talk for a moment if you have one?” She didn’t raise her voice knowing with his senses to be able to keep up with her would be able to hear her.
“Be right there!” Eddie called back with a hand wave as he went through his cool down so that he didn’t pull something when they were working later.
“Hey Cap...” Buck looked at Bobby who was coming out of his office. “Could Eddie and I use your office for a moment...and if you could join us that would be great.”
“Okay...” Bobby startled back sort of and then nodded before heading back into his office.
Buck followed him in and waited until Eddie entered. He nodded to her before turning to Bobby with a raised eyebrow.
“So...there was an incident when I got home from shift yesterday and it brought something to light that I think we all need to know.” Buck stood with her back against the wall and her arms crossed.
“What’s that Buck?” Bobby asked looking at her, his gifts were opening more and he was more able to tell what she was feeling but it wasn’t fully open yet.
“So...Edmundo Ramond ‘Eddie’ Diaz...” Buck looked toward Eddie who gave a slight startle when she said his name. “Was registered with the S&G council in LA a few months ago. My fathers helped with the situation because they had been searching for his child to help him since he is an immerging Shaman level Guide that had been crying out on the soul plain. While registering they came up with one potential Perfect Match in the system for him. Evangeline Reine ‘Eva’...what they didn’t give was the last name because of the current issues happening in her life and his own.” She looked toward Eddie. “If they had you would’ve known entering in the station on your first day that the council and the LAFD are playing fast and loose with rules and regulations. Add to that you obviously knew who my parents were when you were introduced to me on your first shift from the way you reacted. But the fact that you didn't react further told me that they hadn't shared my last name, something I confirmed talking with my brothers.” She was looking at him with a knowing expression.
“What do you mean?” Eddie furrowed his brow.
“Because the last name of your potential Perfect Match is Ellison-Sandburg.” Buck said as she tapped her nametag on her chest where E.Sandburg was listed. “Kept short for space.”
“Fuckin hell!” Bobby cursed, much to the amusement of Buck knowing how rarely he cursed.
“Exactly. I know the events you’re going through because my father Blair gave me a heads up. But we figured someone is trying to jeopardize either my job or yours or both in the fact that it would be against the moral code clause in the contracts we both signed for us to start a courtship and bond before your divorce is finalized.”
“What are we going to do?” Eddie looked at Buck with a cocked head as he studied her, she had become a friend though he hadn’t told her much about himself or his life outside of the station.
“We continue to remain friends and slowly work on our bond; we don’t progress past the first three for now. We keep it above board so that nothing can be used against us. Jacob and Michael are going to be investigating with my parents and a few of their most trusted.” Buck explained. “This is to not only to protect us but also your son.”
“You think it’s something to affect him?” Eddie straightened up in shock.
“I don’t know but my parents and brothers aren’t about to let something happen. After all... We didn’t start the fire... But we know how to deal with them.” Buck smirked as she straightened up. “Now something big’s gonna happen today every Sentinel and Guide in the LA and surrounding areas are on edge, some without realizing that they are.” She looked at Bobby and then Eddie who blinked as they both realized that she as speaking the truth. “We need to be even more ready than usual and plan to spend most the day on the move.”
Both nodded in understanding before they moved out of the office. They jumped into work stocking the trucks and ambulances with things that they would need and even things that they weren’t sure of but wanted on hand as just in case. They were grateful when the station was shaken by an earthquake.
“Here we go...” Buck called out as they gathered outside of the station to make sure everyone was okay before the alarm started blaring. “You okay?” She asked Eddie as they headed for the truck. “I saw how Hen had ta catch you.”
“I’m okay...” Eddie nodded just holding his phone as he tried to get a signal.
“He’ll be okay too... Promise.” She whispered closer to his ear so that he’d hear but the others wouldn’t.
“You’re sure?” Eddie whispered back.
“I’m sure.” Buck nodded. “We need our head in the game this is gonna be a shit show...” She explained as she looked out at the crumbled buildings and ruins around them. “We’re gonna be in for it for a long time...” When they pulled up to the leaning tower of Hotel Buck just looked up and took a deep breath. “Well shit...” She looked around before looking up. “There’s at least three that I’m picking up in panic emotions from here...Their almost screaming and it’s loud enough to block out any others. One has residue of lust, one has residue of absolute disgust, while the third is just exhaustion and horror.”
“Up but what about the rest of the hotel and surroundings?” Bobby asked as he stepped up close.
“Oh, there’s others but those three are up high enough that it would take specialists to get to them.” She raised an eyebrow at Bobby. “The one that has horror is a panic that he can’t move horror...I’m afraid it’s a possible spinal issue...”
“Then we’re sending a collapsible spinal board and collar...grab a few extra harnesses. I’ll clear it with the IC. Get the ladder in position.” Bobby nodded. “You and Eddie can head in...secure those that you can...keep on your toes.”
“We will.” Buck and Eddie nodded before bumping their wrists, their way of affirming their bond before going in without getting it too deep.
John was quick to move the ladder truck into position while Bobby went to speak to the IC of the sight to let them know what a Sentinel and Guide pair on their team had sensed and that they were heading in to help with it. The IC wasn’t happy but understood that it was up to the Sentinel and Guide team to make those sorts of calls while she sent the rest of the team into the lobby area while another group was helping a family of three out who were calling for their youngest child.
The rest of the shift was a lot of work where they were able to save the fat lard of a man who had been propositioning one of his subordinates just before the glass broke under him thanks to their sooner entrance into the building than if they had waited for someone to notice him. They also found three other people as well as the young man with the spinal issue. Because of the number of them and the fact they needed to get out before another aftershock hit they didn’t even try going for the stairs they headed directly to the elevator shaft and thanks to one of the rescues being a climber and so was able to repel down with the youngest after Eddie took down the subordinate that had been rescued then Buck had sent down the fat ass and the other who had been rescued with the climber and child. Buck then lowered Batari while Eddie helped support from below. It was finally Buck’s turn to head down and just as she reached the mid-point the elevator above them let go and she barely got through.
“Told you I liked our chances...” Buck smirked at Eddie as he grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“Let’s get out of here...” Eddie shook his head; he was thinking to the fact that Hen hadn’t reported in after the aftershock that took out the window as they were pulling the man out of the room.
By the end of the shift Buck was exhausted and emotionally rung out. She exited the station and looked toward the vehicles. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Eddie’s truck blocked in and simply waved him over to her jeep. She helped him get the booster seat set into the back of her jeep and then had him give her the address for Christopher’s school. Driving over she watched with a peaceful exhaustion as Chris and Eddie met in a swirling hug that brought a smile to her face. She smiled at being introduced to Chris and knew that he would be a bright spot of sunshine and unicorns as long as she could possibly make it so.
“This is Buck, she works with me as my partner at the fire station.” Eddie introduced her to Chris after he climbed back in.
“Hello!” Chris was so bright, and though she could tell he was tired she was also able to tell that he was excited to meet someone new. “Do you think dogs thing humans are a different kinda dog?” He asked getting a smile from Buck as she pulled away to drive them to Eddie’s house.
“I don’t know but I do think that cats believe we’re just their hairless servants sent to please them.” Buck answered with a smirk.
The little boy in the back just looked at her in wide-eyed amazement while Eddie looked at her with humor in his gaze. Buck just smirked internally as she drove, this was going to be her family and she wasn’t going to hide herself even if she did among the rest of the station. She wouldn’t do it immediately but letting her true self out little by little might allow for more healing to happen in her soul.
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