*Trigger warning*
Chapter Nine: Back Again

It had been a week since Luna arrived back in L.A. after wrapping up the case and deciding to resign against Derek's wishes. She booked it back to her home, and into the arms of Athena Grant. Who had a pitcher of piping hot tea for her. She explained everything, the fire truck that fell on Buck's leg. Eddie's constant Moping. The endless possibilities of what happened when she left.

She decided it would be best to start work off with a clear head of course, her first shift didn't start for another two hours and she found herself going for a jog on the pier like she always did. Taking in the beautiful view of the city and the sun, how it shined so effortlessly and beautiful. It was calling for longing for her to come closer to breathe it in.

She loved her home, the heat was something that she hated to admit but she missed it alot.  Not to mention that the beach was a few feet away. She was watching, the fair was in town and everyone who could make it was there. She stops to catch her breath. But also to take in the view, she sighs happily eager to get back into the swing of life. To see her partner and the person she was dating. She hadn't told Eddie she was in town yet figuring she would surprise him at the firehouse.

Her view was cut short when an alarm was sound, not just any alarm, the evacuation alarm. She  jumps into Sergeant mode immediately evacuating people off the peer slowly at first.

"Okay everyone, single file line." She says before she sees it. The giant Tsunami heading towards everyone. "Run! Run, run! Go! Get off the pier! Everyone, high ground! Incoming flood, let's go! -Move, move, move! -Let's go! Get off the pier!"

//

Before long the entire pier was covered in water, Luna found herself floating fighting with herself and the water around her. Her chest was burning, stinging from the salt and the water. She emerges from the water findinging herself just floating, seeing a giant heaping mess of waves and water around her. 

It's a good thing, she was a good swimmer because she was literally in the middle of the ocean and  not a  building in sight. All she could do was swim, and keep swimming until she came across a building or a structure or anything. Something was stopping her, making it harder for her to breathe. Of course she was injured, it wasn't going to stop her, she found herself face to face with a boat that seemed to have crashed.  Upon further discovery, the boat was abandoned, she looked down inside the cabin for anything she used, she found a backpack with a flare and a sat phone which was covered in water.

She takes what she can before lifting her shirt up to reveal a fractured rib and a gash on her she patches up the gash and removes her tattered shirt leaving her in a sports bra and attaches the bag to her. She was thankful her phone was water resistant . Of course there were no alerts, or any service. She tucks the phone into the small bag and readies herself to swim again. Of course there was another surge under way. Sucking her under as deep as it could.

//

She comes to the surface seeing a ferris wheel in her presence. A woman reaches her hand out for her and she takes it climbing into the car. Out of breath, she looks up seeing a firefighter looking at her with blonde hair.

"You okay?"

"Yeah I'm good. Anything I can do to help?" She asks, seeing  her hands full with a woman trying to stop her bleeding.

"Do you know anything about how to stop the bleeding?" the firefighter.  asks as Luna pushes herself up.

"I dabble." Luna pushes herself off of the seat and over to help she manages to stop the bleeding from the woman's side and get her patched up with the supplies from the firefighters bag.

"Lena" the firefighter sticks out her hand for Luna to shake.

"Luna"

There was people calling for help and the two women decided to stick together, Lena shoving as much supplies as she could to Luna, "I hope your Spanish is good." Lena says as Luna chuckles.

"mi español es excelente" (My Spanish is Excellent.)

"Show off." Lena mutters as the two women separate, before long Luna finds herself working alongside Lena. triaging as many people as they could, Lena was another car next to Luna's

" Hey, we could use a hand up here." Lena yells to people below as Luna looks down seeing a fire and rescue team.

"Help is on the way."  Before long there were fire and rescue people climbing onto the bars.

"Incoming Debris!" someone yells as Luna is crotched over two ten year old girls using her body as a human shield. There was another surge happening only this time it was the same wave going back to see and dragging everything in its path with it.

//

Luna had gotten the girls to safety before hopping over to another car. As the ferris wheel shakes back and forth. Before long she is just there holding onto to whote bars of the ferris wheel, she moves to another car checking to see if anyone is inside. She finds herself doing this a few more times.

"Incoming Debris!" she hears someone yell and she looks down seeing what could look like a disaster.

"I should've stayed my happy ass in Virgina." she mutters to herself before deciinding that her only way out of this situation was to do something completely stupid. She jumps full force into the water bobbing up to the top.  As someone from the rescue boat pulls her up. Of course she catches her breath in time for the ferris wheel to crash right behind her.

//

The boat brought them to the entrance of the pier where Luna hops out trying to catch up with Lena.

"Hey Lena!"  She sees her talking to a few other firefighters. "You left me high and dry back there."

She walks over seeing Luna facing the other two firefighters whose backs were turned one was wearing a captain's vest.

"Sorry, didn't mean to leave you back there." Lena smiles at Luna as the two firefighters look at the face of the woman who was bleeding under her gauzes.

"Luna?"

Her smile fades as she turns her head to see the person in front of her "Eddie?"

"You two know each other?" Lena asks as Luna is too stunned to speak.

"Sure you could say that." Eddie replies and Luna had never felt so guilty.

All of her emotions were high as Luna winces, her side was hurting badly.

" Why are you holding yourself like that?" Bobby asks as Luna retracts her hand quickly.

"It's nothing, bruised rib"

"Let me take a look at it." Eddie points towards her as Luna just rolls her eyes already knowing his protective side was coming out..

"It's nothing. I  am fine Eddie."

"Clearly, it's not."

"Are we really doing this right now?" She sasses as Lena was giving her a wide eyed look.

" Hey, Luna, let him have a look. I'm not asking."  Bobby instructs as she simply moves her head nodding for Eddie to have a look he practically lunges at her inspecting her side.

"Yeah, that's not a bruise. It's broken. Must be hurting like a bitch."

" Yeah, well, breathing isn't super fun" Luna sasses.

" I'm calling it. You're off the field."

"With all due Respect Bobby.. Sir. You aren't in charge of me. And besides I said I am fine and I am in charge of myself." Luna tries to stand up straighter to make it known that she was serious only it didn't work she finds herself wincing a lot more than she should.

Bobby waves a truck over that is moving behind them. "USAR Command is setting up the VA hospital on Sawtelle. I want you to stick with her just in case her desire to prove how fine she is causes her to lose her way.  I'm gonna meet up with the 118. Rendezvous with us when you can."

"Copy that, Cap."

"If you don't mind I would like to come with Sir. See if I can get any word on my captain." Lena says as Luna scoffs.

"You're leaving me again." Luna whines as Bobby shakes his head yes towards Lena, she mouths a sorry to Luna. as the two walk off leaving the couple.

Eddie pulls out his phone. Which is in a water protective bag and dials a number pressing it to his ear. "Hey, Buck, it's me. I just want you to tell Christopher I'll be a little late picking him up, got our hands full here. It's a good thing you're missing it. Hope you guys are having fun." with that Eddie hangs up.

"I am sure Buck and Christopher are fine"

"Yeah, well, let's worry about you." he scoops her up onto the back of the truck. And places her down on the back before hopping up himself and the truck takes off to the USAR. leaving the couple in a mind numbing silence.

//

The ride was silent for ten minutes just the sound of the truck gliding across the water, the two sat in the back Luna with her chin balanced on her knee.

"When were you gonna tell me you were back?"

Luna just sighs, turning to look at Eddie. Whose jaw was harsh, he was so stubborn trying his best not to show he was glad to see her. Of course he was happy to see her. All he thought about was here, every waking moment was about her and now here was in front of him without so much of a text message. He was angry too, angry that she left him in the first place with some half ass message and not a serious explanation.

"I got back officially today for work, unofficially a week. I wasn't trying to hide the fact that I was back from you. I was nervous, scared, that you had moved on and found someone better. But then Athena told me, that you had been all sad and mopey and then I had this plan to surprise you at the firehouse brighten your day make things better and then..well as you can see I got a little bit busy."

Eddie just nods silently, Luna took it as him processing everything, trying to make peace with what she said.

The truck arrives at the USAR and Eddie hops down first before grabbing Luna by her hand and scoping her up into his arms,

"You do know that I didn't lose mobility in my legs?"

"Yeah well, I don't need you fainting on me." He sasses as Luna rolls her eyes.

"Put me down Edmundo." She says simply as they walk towards the building, Eddie places Luna on her feet.

Eddie flags down a nurse. "Hey. Hey! My friend's got at least one broken rib and showing signs–"

" Can I get your names for the list, please?"  The nurse just hands the list to Luna walking off.

Chaos was a true understatement about what was going on. They walk inside and watch the Chaos ensue more around them. He walks her over to a nearby desk pasting by a few people being treated. Luna watches this Kid who is coughing intently.

"When you left, I didn't think you were coming back."

"Why wouldn't I?" Luna furrows her brows not taking her eyes off the kid who is coughing more and more.

"I don't know...I thought.."

" Maybe I had run off... that things were moving too fast." Luna relies as Eddie nods. "You know you don't have to watch over me, I can  take care of myself."

The little boy starts gagging as his mom grows concerned.

" Kyle, what's wrong?"

"-He's drowning." Luna says as She rushes over to the boy, Luna lays the boy on his side.

"What?" the mom replies as Eddie is kneeling down next to Luna he pulls a flashlight out of his pocket shining it in the boy's mouth as Luna feels around with her fingers. She pulls out a leaf as a pool of water leaves the boy's mouth as well.

"Oh, my God. Kyle, baby, I'm here."

Eddie puts an oxygen mask over the kids face. " Short breaths, Kyle. Nice and easy. Nice and easy."  as Luna waves for someone to come over with a gurney.

"All right, on three. One, two, three."

"Get him to X-ray. See which pulmonary specialist is available."

" Thank you." The mom says as Luna just nods. She struggles to stand up and Eddie helps her.

The two locking eyes. "Good catch. You two Paramedics?" a doctor asks, breaking their intimate moment.

"Used to be." Luna replies as the doctor turns to Eddie,

"No, but I was a medic in the service. In case you couldn't tell, we are severely shorthanded. Any chance that you could–"

" Yeah, sure, just point me where to wash up." Eddie just turns smiling Cheekily to Luna. " Sorry, Lu, looks like you're not getting rid of me anytime soon."

"Huh? Looks like that." Luna replies as Eddie smirks walking backwards he just winks at Luna who laughs before he turns around following after the doctor.

//

Luna was looking for Eddie and was pointed to him bandaging someone up in the corner. Under a red triage tent.

" It looks like you're gonna have to get used to being a southpaw for the time being."

" Best time to work on your change-up and curveball." Luna speaks up from behind him cause him to turn around.

"So you're a pitcher too?"

" Class A regional all-star, two years straight. Naturally. Of course." Luna flips her hair dramatically as Eddie laughs.

" You all fixed up?"

" All taped up, pain killed, and rarin' to get back out."

" You gotta be kidding me." Eddie shakes his head at the woman.

"My job isn't over until I have saved everyone I can get my hands on."

"And there are already people helping."

"There's gonna be one more." Luna sasses as Eddie kisses his teeth,

He tries to his the smirk that was playing on his lips "Man, you're stubborn"

"You can try to stop me, if you wanna know exactly what two broken ribs feels like." She was feisty today and the sass was coming out stronger than before. He didn't mind, he kinda liked it. His face turns into a frown and Luna looks at where his gaze is.

"Thena?" She runs over to her partner.

"Stardust?"

"Hey, Athena." Eddie says looking at the blood on her hands,

" It's not my blood. It's his." She points to the guy on the gurney Who is being wheeled inside. Eddie watches the guy before turning back to the Melanin Twins.

"Stardust." Athena was pulling the woman into a bone crushing hug.  

"I missed you too Thena."

//

Luna gets to work helping people at the Veterans hospital. It was nice to work alongside Eddie. 

" Need some help here!" Someone yells out and Luna and Eddie are making their way over.

"Buck?" Luna stops in her tracks. She turns to see a very beat up Buck. " Wait, what are you doing here? Are you okay? Wait, where's Christopher?"

" Eddie..." Buck clears his throat.

"Why do you have his glasses?"

" We, um... me and Christopher, we were...at the beach, and--um...and listen to me, okay? I swear to you... okay, I tried...  And I just...but I... Eddie, I just don't know how to say it. He--he just--he... he just vanished." Eddie was trying to process everything as Luna was listening, watching his demeanor cautiously.

"Christopher?" Eddie looks behind Buck and runs over to a woman who is holding a child in a red hoodie. " Christopher?"

"Dad!"

"Oh, my God!" Eddie begins Kissing Christopher. "Thank you. Thank you."

"Buck Why don't we get you checked out?" Luna suggests as Buck stares at the scene before them. 

"Make a hole! Buck, what happened to you?" Chimney stares at him before looking at the woman next to him. "Luna?"

"Chimney."

Hen walks up as Luna is holding onto Buck's arm. "Luna?"

"Hen." 

Bobby walks up looking at Buck who was staring at Eddie and Chris. "Hey You two okay?"

" Yeah, we're great."  Buck loses his balance and falls forward. Luna tries to pull him back to steady him luckily with help of all the rest of the 118 they get him seated. He was panting, shortened Breathe. 

//

There are a lot of ways to be lost at sea. It's not the same as being abandoned or stranded. Those things happen beyond our control. Sometimes, we just take a wrong turn too close to the tide. The waters rise and sweep us away.

The world was adjusting, trying to get back to the normal they knew. It had been a week since a tsunami had hit and people were still searching for their loved ones, still trying to make sense of the madness that took place in Los Angeles. Luna found herself at Eddie's doorstep, pacing, trying to figure out what to say, of course when he opened the door and let her inside, the words she rehearsed didn't come out of her mouth.

We fight the currents for a way back to dry land and solid ground, to each other...To normal.

"I was scared, Yes, I was terrified, but not of how things were going, I was scared of what would happen if they ended. If I messed everything up, Because for some reason when I am around you, I don't feel like I deserve it. You Eddie Diaz are absolutely too good for me."

And when we catch our breaths, we search the shore for all that we lost and everything we loved, for our families...

"That's not what I am here for...I.... Did you know the word soup comes from French soupe "soup", "broth" , which comes through Vulgar Latin suppa-"  Luna feels the anxiety come over as Eddie approaches her he cups her face and Kisses her

"I like you alot too." Eddie replies as she laughs wrapping her arms around his neck.

For our dreams and our futures... Our friends and loved ones... And for the ones who couldn't swim. Sometimes, being lost is not knowing how to get from where we are to where we wanna be, where we need to be.

"You know I just dropped Chris off at  Buck's for the whole day. I read the schedule wrong and it turns out I am not supposed to be working today."

Luna gasps." We have an entire day to ourselves. What shall we do?" she pretends to be thinking as Eddie chuckles. 

"I have some ideas." He flings her over his shoulder as she squeals happily.

A few choice words can sometimes be the life raft that gets you home. To be seen... to be found... isn't that what we're all searching for?

Word count: 3400