Not a surprise this is the second longest chapter of the story thus far at 13.3K words. I would have been very disappointed in myself otherwise. And I am far from disappointed.

Sylvie and Eddie work for their lives, their family rushes to find them, and it all comes to a head at the Sun & Salt. And when the dust settles in the end . . . well. Let's just say, I think I've written the definition of an "emotional rollercoaster."

Enjoy the conclusion and aftermath of "Bad Call!"

***

Eddie's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he drove their ambulance down the streets of Austin, the man keeping his gun subtly aimed at him. He pulled into the Sun & Salt, and he quickly parked and climbed out of the ambulance. He opened the back doors, and Sylvie waited for him to climb inside before she jumped out. "I'll get the key."

Eddie watched her find one of the stone animal statues by the kitchen and pick it up, then gently shake the key. He heard a faint rattle, then the spare key to the kitchen dropped into her hand. "Clever," the man narrowed his eyes.

Sylvie ignored him as she opened the door, and Eddie smothered a grin as he carried their victim inside. "As soon as he's down, Eddie, start a line of saline," she ordered. "I'll get his shirt off."

"Copy," Eddie nodded, carefully setting their victim down before searching through his bag.

The woman remained by the victim's side as the man searched the kitchen, making sure it was empty. He paused by one of the walls, and he made a surprised sound. "Cute touch," he remarked, causing Sylvie and Eddie to look over. He was examining handprints from paint on the walls, and Eddie tensed, recognizing those prints. After all, the hands' owners had wanted to do hand painting with Christopher to get some decorations on their new fridge. "Your kids?"

Both paramedics remained silent, not wanting to give anything away. "Got something to lose," the woman sneered with a smirk. "That's good."

Eddie scowled, looking at Sylvie as she went to work on the victim's shirt. "Realmente estoy empezando a odiar a esta perra," he grumbled.

"Tú y yo las dos, Eddie," Sylvie mumbled in reply. Eddie blinked in surprise, and Sylvie gave him a small smile. "Cruz."

"Makes sense," Eddie conceded, then blinked as Sylvie pulled the victim's shirt away. "Cap, his chest," he pointed.

"I see it," she sighed, slinging her stethoscope off her shoulders and putting it on.

"What?" the man frowned, walking over. "What is it?"

"You see how your friend's sides aren't rising evenly?" Sylvie pointed as she checked the victim's chest.

"His lung collapsed?" the man guessed.

"Worse," Sylvie shook her head. "You hear that slushing sound?" The man nodded suspiciously. "It's called a hemopneumothorax."

"In American," the woman narrowed her eyes. "What does that mean?"

"His chest cavity is filling with blood," Sylvie deadpanned as if she was talking about an incoming rain shower. "He needs a tube in his chest to drain it."

"So do that!" the man ordered.

"You called 9-1-1 for paramedics, so you got paramedics," Eddie snapped. "We're not surgeons. We don't have the equipment for that kind of a procedure!"

"Well, if he wants us to do this, then we'll improvise," Sylvie folded her arms. "But we need equipment from the rig first."

The man scoffed, but Sylvie raised an eyebrow, standing her ground. Eddie's eyes flicked back and forth between the two as if he was watching a tennis match, and he smirked when the man growled. "Go with her," he ordered, and the woman nodded, stepping away to point her gun at Sylvie. "Be quick."

The two walked past, and Eddie moved to follow his captain, only to receive the man's gun in his face. "You stay with me," the man shook his head.

***

"How long does a person down, unknown causes typically take?" Kelly asked as he stepped out of the hotel bathroom, finishing unloading his toiletries.

"Depends on that the causes are," Matt shrugged from where he was reclining on his bed.

"Yeah, but Sylvie said it was a woman in labor," Kelly held up his phone. "That shouldn't take this long."

Matt frowned, picking up his own phone and checking the time. "Maybe they had to deliver the baby themselves?" he suggested. "We don't know how far Austin Center Mall is from whatever hospital they had to go to."

Kelly sighed, plopping onto his bed. "I don't like this," he muttered, tapping his phone against his palm. "We should've heard something by now."

"Give them another fifteen minutes or so," Matt said. "Then we'll start to worry."

Kelly smirked. "Too late."

***

Buck turned away from putting his dishes in the washer when his phone suddenly buzzed on the countertop, and he checked the Caller ID before blinking and answering. "Captain Vega!" he greeted. "Is Christopher causing trouble already?"

"Oh, Christopher is an angel as always," Tommy chuckled. "No, he's almost bouncing off the walls in excitement. He's very happy he gets to spend the night with the girls."

"I know," Buck grinned. "He was talking about it nonstop before Eddie dropped him off before shift."

"Honestly, the best thing out of the Diaz boys moving here probably isn't Eddie at the 126, it's my girls getting a best friend," Tommy laughed.

"Hey, one is best from Eddie, one is best from Christopher," Buck leaned against the counter with a laugh. "Win-win."

"Good point," Tommy agreed. "Now, why I called . . . it's not about Christopher, actually."

"What's up?" Buck asked. "Need a hand with anything?"

"No, we're all handled here," Tommy hastened to say. "No . . . it's about Eddie."

"Eddie?" Buck straightened off the counter immediately. "What is it? What happened?"

"That's what I'm wondering," Tommy admitted. "He said he would give us a call to tell Christopher he was finished with shift. I know 99 got a call before shift ended . . . but it's getting late into the evening, and I haven't heard a word from Eddie yet. Have you?"

Buck checked the clock on the oven, and an uneasy feeling stirred in his gut as he took in just how late it had gotten. "No," he swallowed. "No, I haven't heard anything. Sylvie sent a message to one of our chats, it should just be a woman in labor."

When he didn't hear an immediate response from Tommy, he felt his heart rate increase a few notches. "Unless something went wrong at the scene, I don't think it should be this long for a woman in labor," Tommy finally said. "Maybe I'm overthinking, but – "

"I'll check," Buck promised.

"Alright. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"Not a thing," Buck promised. "Stay sane over there, OK?"

Tommy laughed. "Will do, Buck."

The call ended, and Buck immediately flipped open one of his chats.

Buck: How long should a woman in labor take?

Two responses came quickly.

Kelly: That's just what I was asking Matt

Matt: You haven't heard anything from Eddie?

Buck swallowed.

Buck: Not a word

Buck: Sylvie?

Kelly: Nothing

Matt: Now I'm starting to worry

Buck: Yeah

Buck: Me, too

***

"Oh, man," TK leaned back in his chair, smiling lazily as Carlos picked up their plates and silverware. "You have the best tamales recipe I have ever tasted."

"Thanks, babe," Carlos smiled, putting the plates by the sink. "It's a recipe from mi madre."

"She taught you well," TK beamed, reaching for Carlos's hand as he returned to the table. Carlos took it instantly, pulling his chair next to TK so his boyfriend could lean against him. "Thank you," he murmured.

"For what?" Carlos asked, running his fingers through TK's hair.

TK preened at the attention, nestling closer to Carlos. "Dinner, for one," he lightly joked.

Carlos chuckled. "You're welcome. And second?"

TK tilted his head, looking up at Carlos with adoring eyes. "For showing me what it really means to be loved by someone," he answered quietly.

Carlos's eyes flashed with emotion, and he leaned down, softly kissing TK. "For that, you will always be welcome," he whispered before kissing him harder.

TK smiled into the kiss, reaching up to hold Carlos closer when both of their phones started vibrating rapidly. "What the?" he blinked, turning in surprise.

"What's that about?" Carlos frowned, reaching to pick up his phone. He did a double take, then gave TK a concerned look, showing the Caller ID. "Casey."

TK checked his own phone, and he swallowed. "Buck," he said, quickly answering. "What is it?" he asked.

"I'm so sorry I'm interrupting," Buck let out in a rush. "But please say Sylvie or Eddie have checked in or something."

TK's heart sank, and he pulled his phone from his ear to check his notifications. He thought he could hear Matt's worried voice as he spoke to Carlos, then he returned to his own call. "No," he said. "Not a thing."

Buck cursed. "Captain Vega called a few minutes ago. She asked if I heard anything from Eddie since he promised to call Christopher when his shift was finished. It's been almost an hour, and there's been nothing."

"What?" TK asked in disbelief, checking the clock on the wall. "Didn't they say it was just a woman in labor?"

"Yeah," Buck confirmed. "Captain Vega had the same reaction. She said something could have gone wrong . . . "

He trailed off, and TK gulped. "But you don't think so."

"No," Buck agreed.

TK turned to Carlos, and he got a worried look in response. "Yeah . . . I don't think so, either." Carlos pointed to his car keys, and TK lowered his phone, covering the mouthpiece. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"It's Sylvie and Eddie," Carlos said simply, picking up his keys. "Of course, I'm sure."

TK nodded, putting his phone to his ear again. "Buck, meet at my dad's," he said, Carlos relaying the same information to Matt. "We'll figure this out."

"I'm already out the door," Buck responded. "Meet you there."

"Copy," TK nodded, ending the call and blowing out the candles before following Carlos out the door, already dialing another number on his phone.

***

Sylvie mentally ticked items off on her fingers, looking around the makeshift supplies she had gotten from the rig. All she needed now was –

"What are you waiting on?" the woman snapped impatiently.

Sylvie glared at her. "Do you want blood sprayed all over you, or do you want me to find something for a chest tube?" The woman bristled, but her mouth clicked shut. "Eddie, find some cleaning bottles," Sylvie ordered.

"On it," Eddie wove through the kitchen, searching all the shelves.

Sylvie snapped on a pair of surgical gloves, eyeing the site of the hemopneumothorax worriedly. She had done several cuts with scalpels in the field before, but Eddie was right; they were paramedics, not surgeons. Eddie finally returned, holding out one of the cleaning bottles, and Sylvie finally noticed she couldn't see a silver chain around his neck, one she knew led to a medallion he never removed. Her eyes flicked to Eddie's, and her partner raised an eyebrow in response. Sylvie set her jaw, then took the bottle from Eddie. She would do this if it meant Eddie would be going home to Christopher.

She unscrewed the lid and removed the thin tube to the spray nozzle, using scissors to make the cut she needed. She then surveyed the bottles of sauces, finding one that contained alcohol. She drizzled it onto the side of the victim's body, covering the area she needed to cut. "Alarma de incendios," Eddie murmured, lips barely moving as he watched.

Sylvie subtly shook her head. "Necesito que me ayudes," she answered.

Eddie looked up, a determined glint in his eyes. "You have me," he promised, taking a pair of gloves.

Sylvie grinned. "It's what I recruited you for, isn't it?" She watched as he pulled the gloves on. "Ready?"

"Your mark, Cap," he confirmed.

Sylvie took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Scalpel." Eddie handed the tool over, and Sylvie counted down the ribs. "Fourth, third . . . " She carefully cut through the skin, and she winced when she met resistance. "I can't get through the muscle," she shook her head. "Get me the hemostat."

Eddie reached for the required tool, keeping his eyes on their captors as he did.

***

"What did TK say was wrong?" Elliot asked, watching Owen pace back and forth in the living room, Buttercup doing the same from his bed.

"Sylvie sent a message that their call was to a woman in labor," Owen answered. "And it's now over an hour past shift's end."

Elliot immediately frowned. "I'm not a medic of any sort, but I don't think it would take that long for a woman in labor."

"TK's dual-certified, and he agrees," Owen snorted. "And all of this conversation has gone on in a chat both Sylvie and Eddie are in. They haven't answered any of those messages, and Casey and Severide have been calling Sylvie nonstop. She hasn't answered."

The door to the house was wrenched open, and Elliot turned to see five men stumble over themselves to get inside. "That's not good," he said unnecessarily.

Buck popped to his feet first, somehow managing a worried expression and an upset scowl at the same time. "No, it's not!" he agreed.

"Have you tried anything yet?" Matt asked, focusing on Owen.

"I waited for you guys to show up," Owen shook his head, pulling out his phone. "You said you tried Sylvie and Eddie?"

Buck, Matt, and Kelly all nodded. "Straight to voicemail for Eddie," Buck said.

"Same with Sylvie," Kelly agreed.

"Alright," Owen checked his contacts. "Then I'll go right to the captain on duty, see if he's heard from either of them."

Matt blew out his breath in a rush, running a hand anxiously through his hair. "Thanks."

Kelly turned to TK and Carlos, the firefighter drumming his fingers on his knee, the police officer's hand tight around his boyfriend's other hand. "I'm sorry we interrupted – " he began.

"Don't even start," Carlos shook his head, holding up his other hand to stop Kelly in his tracks. "TK and I have other nights we can use to celebrate. If something's wrong with Sylvie and Eddie, then that's more important."

TK nodded determinedly. "Always show up for family."

"Copy," Owen said, and everyone turned to see him nod, jaw clenched. "Alright, I appreciate it."

"Well?" Matt, Kelly, and Buck asked at the same time.

Owen turned towards them, green eyes narrowed. "The ambulance is still out of the house," he said. "And Captain Harper said that they haven't heard from 'em all night. No radio in, no call, no nothing."

Buck gulped. "Oh, God."

"Get outside," Owen ordered, crossing to where he left his jacket and keys. "Let's go looking for them."

"Heard," Matt nodded at once.

Owen slung his jacket on, and he watched as Elliot searched through his bag by the door. "You don't have to come," he began.

"When I said family of yours and TK is family of mine, I meant it," Elliot shook his head, pulling his off-duty weapon from the bag and holstering it around his waist. "I'm coming."

Owen didn't argue further, and Elliot swiped his badge from the counter before following Owen outside.

***

"Oh, man," Maddie's eyes fluttered shut as she dug into her stir fry. "I think I love you."

Nancy giggled as she opened her own takeout. "It's just dinner, Maddie."

"Yeah," Maddie nodded slowly. "Dinner on a very tiring shift. And I get to eat this in a fifteen-minute timeframe. I'm serious."

Nancy ducked her head bashfully. "Well . . . good to know the way to your heart is through food."

Maddie grinned. "I'm a Buckley. It's always the way to our hearts."

Nancy hummed around her chopsticks. "I'll tell that to Eddie."

Maddie burst into a peal of laughter. "Do!" she encouraged at once. "And send me the video of his reaction!"

"Yes!" Nancy nodded in agreement, grinning widely. "Yes, forever blackmail material!"

"Exactly!" Maddie crowed.

Their laughter died to giggles, and Nancy sighed. "Oh, this is great."

"Thanks for visiting me on shift," Maddie smiled. "You really didn't have to."

"No," Nancy agreed. "Is it OK if I wanted to?"

Maddie looked at the paramedic, who looked at her softly, and she felt her heart somersault in her chest. "Yeah," Maddie smiled shyly. "You always can if you want to."

Nancy smiled happily, but her glee faded when a throat cleared behind them. "Maddie?" Maddie twirled in her seat to see one of her fellow dispatchers look apologetically at her. "I know it's your break, but I have a personal call on line four from an Owen Strand?"

Nancy gasped behind her, and Maddie swallowed her bite, quickly getting off her chair. "Yeah, I'll take it. Put him through."

"Thank you," the dispatcher nodded. "Whatever time you take on this call, add it to your time."

"I appreciate it," Maddie hustled to her desk. As soon as she sat down and had her headset in place, she gave a thumbs-up. The dispatcher nodded, and with a click, Maddie was connected. "Captain Strand?" she asked. "It's Maddie. What can I do for you?"

"Hey, Maddie." Maddie was instantly on edge; she had only heard Owen sound that curt once, and that was when confronting De Leon in San Angelo. "We're trying to get a 20 on Captain Brett's rig. The shift ended over an hour ago, and they still haven't come back to the station."

Maddie bit her lip, turning to her monitor. "OK," she murmured, pulling up a program. "I did send them on a call tonight . . . let me pull up their GPS." She heard Owen murmur in reply, but she was too busy typing the unit ID for the squad ambulance. She clicked enter and waited for coordinates.

No unit found.

Maddie blinked in shock at the response she received, and she swallowed. "No, no, no," she whispered, feeling her heart speed up.

"Maddie?" Owen asked.

"That can't be right," Maddie shook her head wildly, standing from her station and waving to get her supervisor's attention.

"Maddie, what's going on?" Owen demanded.

Maddie took a deep breath, trying to calm down, especially when she saw Nancy look at her in concern. "Captain, their unit is not on the grid. It's like they have disappeared."

As her supervisor rushed over, Owen demanded, "Where was the last place you saw 'em?"

Her supervisor transferred the line, and Maddie put down her headset, rushing back to the breakroom. "What is it?" Nancy asked, eyes on her worriedly. "What happened?"

Maddie swallowed. "Sylvie and Eddie are missing."

***

"Captain Strand? This is Dispatch. EMS 99's last call was to the Austin Center Mall, west garage."

"Thank you, Dispatch," Owen nodded, seeing Elliot dial on his phone. "I appreciate it."

"Good luck finding them, sir. If we find them first, we'll contact you immediately."

"Copy." He hung up with the dispatch center, and as Elliot held his phone up, Owen waited for a click to answer.

TK responded immediately. "Yeah, Dad?"

"Austin Center Mall, west garage," Owen said; in the back seats of the battalion vehicle, Matt and Kelly exchanged worried looks. "Have Carlos stop at the top, let you and Buck out. Bring the flashlights."

"Copy," TK answered.

***

Eddie watched blood run from the makeshift chest tube into one of the tin trays, then he relaxed minutely as he checked the victim's chest. "Cap, bilateral chest rise," he reported.

"Good," Sylvie sighed in relief, exhaustion clear in her eyes as she removed her bloody gloves. "Clamp him off."

Eddie nodded, moving around the table to join her. "So?" the man asked, walking over. "Did it work?"

"He's stable," Sylvie replied. "His blood is oxygenating." The woman gave a small smile, which the man returned, and Sylvie sighed, turning to Eddie. "Monitor him?"

"Yes, Cap," Eddie nodded.

Sylvie turned and headed to another one of the cabinets, stopping when the man stepped in her path. "Whoa, what do you think you're doing?" he frowned, aiming his gun at her.

Sylvie narrowed her eyes. "What, a girl can't get a glass of water after she made your guy stable?" she snapped. "I did what you asked. Please move."

The man looked her up and down, then gave a leery smirk. "You're brave."

The purr made Eddie's head shoot up, and his gloves protested the tight fists he made. Sylvie paled at the tone, but she took a deep breath. "I'm angry," she hissed.

The man looked more amused than anything, but he stepped to the side and gestured with his gun. Sylvie moved to grab a cup from one of the shelves, and she filled it with ice and water as fast as she could. She turned her back on the man, refusing to let him see her face as she took a few sips, hoping she was hiding her disgust. This was the latest in a line of times she'd been held a gunpoint . . . but she'd never been leered at like that before. Someone, find us, she thought desperately, setting her glass down with a shaking hand. Please.

She heard a remote click, then the man quip, "Someone's still paying for the cable."

Sylvie sighed, walking back to join Eddie, barely listening to the TV. "Dios, quiero matarlo," the man snarled under his breath.

"Mantén la calma, Eddie," Sylvie whispered. "He hasn't done anything."

"Not yet," Eddie pointed out.

" . . . asking for the public's help to find two men tonight in connection to an Austin apartment explosion and a bank robbery." Both of them, and the woman, looked up at the news report showing two men displayed . . . one of them on the table, the other watching with wide eyes. "Texas Rangers say Anthony Marlowe and Chris Wolfe are to be considered armed and extremely dangerous."

Marlowe shut the TV off with a growl. "How do they know about the bank?" he demanded.

"Because you let that guy go!" the woman snapped. "I told you he was gonna go straight to the cops!"

Wolfe suddenly started gurgling on the table, and Eddie blinked. "Cap!" he warned.

"What's wrong?" the woman spun around as Sylvie started analyzing Wolfe top to bottom. "What's happening?"

"The tubing slipped," Sylvie realized. "He's backfilling. We have to drain him." She quickly pulled another pair of gloves on, biting her lip. "Eddie, uncap him."

"On it," Eddie took her place, removing the clamp.

Blood gushed into the tray, and once Sylvie's gloves were on, she went to work adjusting the tube. She listened to Wolfe as she worked, and she eventually stilled, hearing what she needed. "Good," she nodded. "He's breathing again. Trans spore tape."

Eddie nodded, turning to his bag. "Is he OK?" the woman asked nervously.

Eddie paused, looking at her like she was nuts. "No!" he scoffed. "No, he's not OK. He's in a kitchen in a restaurant. It should be an operating room in a hospital."

The woman drew her gun again and clicked off the safety, taking aim at Eddie. "We told you no hospitals."

Sylvie swiftly moved into the line of fire, ignoring Eddie's sound of protest. "This is a temporary fix at best," she told her, standing firm as Eddie tried to move her out of the way. "He can bleed, he can clot, his risk of infection is off – "

Wolfe suddenly surged off the table, and his hand wrapped around Sylvie's throat in a vicelike grip. Sylvie's breath was cut off midsentence, and she made a retching sound, both hands clawing at the one around her neck. "Sylvie!" Eddie lunged forward, pawing at Wolfe's hand.

The shouts of their captors were white noise in Sylvie's ears, and she felt her lungs burn as she tried to inhale. Black spots dotted her vision, and she was afraid she was about to pass out when the hand around her neck released. She dropped like a sack of potatoes to the ground, and the only reason she didn't faceplant was Eddie's hands grabbing her sides and slowing her fall.

She closed her eyes, coughing and hacking, one hand reaching to her throat. Eddie stopped her from reaching, and she tried to focus on his voice. " – hear me?" she finally realized what he was saying. "Cap! Come on!"

"Hear you," Sylvie croaked, flinching at the rasp in her voice. "Hear you, Eddie."

"¡Oh, Gracias a Dios!" he sighed in relief, and Sylvie nodded weakly, feeling him press his forehead to hers.

A growl came from Wolfe, and both looked up to see the man glaring down at them. "Who are they?" he asked.

"They're paramedics," Marlowe answered. "We called 9-1-1."

Wolfe blinked slowly, then turned to glare at the man. "You called 9-1-1?" he repeated. "You out of your mind?"

"You were in bad shape, buddy," Marlowe explained as Eddie helped Sylvie to her feet. "We needed help."

Wolfe snarled as the woman cried in relief and hugged him. "You blew me up!"

"It was an accident!"

Wolfe narrowed his eyes. "An accident?" He suddenly reached into the woman's waistband and pulled out her gun, shooting Marlowe three times. Sylvie backed up into Eddie, eyes wide, and he wrapped his arms around Sylvie, shoving her behind him. "That wasn't," Wolfe smirked down at Marlowe's body. He turned back around, eyeing the paramedics with an unreadable eye. "Somebody get me a glass of water," he ordered, his eyes landing on Sylvie. Eddie knew that look easily, especially as the man licked his lips. "I'm parched."

Sylvie whimpered.

***

As soon as Owen rolled into the garage, he slowed to a stop. Elliot's reflexes, honed from years of experience, allowed him to get out of the vehicle before Matt and Kelly, though the fire officers were right behind him. Carlos pulled in right behind them, and Buck and TK leapt from the vehicle. "Alright, spread out!" Elliot ordered, clicking his flashlight on. "Look for anything on the way down!"

He got confirmations from everyone as they made their way down the garage, flashlights and headlights illuminating every corner. They scoured all levels of the garage, and Elliot could feel the desperation in the air as every level led to no sign of Sylvie and Eddie. "Sylvie?" Matt shouted, voice wavering.

"Eddie!" Buck's call was even more broken.

"We're almost to the bottom!" TK checked around the corner.

"Could it have been the east garage?" Kelly swung around, a wild look in his eyes.

"Dispatch said it was this one!" Owen shook his head.

TK sighed, jogging to check the far end of the bottom level. The rest of the firefighters spread out, and Elliot heard Owen and Carlos park to join them. When he put one foot down, he felt resistance under his shoe, and he paused in his step, directing his beam down. He paused, then bent into a crouch. "Owen!" he called.

Owen turned from checking behind a few cars, and he joined Elliot as he lifted a chain from the ground. "What is it?" he asked.

"A medallion," Elliot answered, careful with the neckwear as he heard the others join them. "Catholics often wear one of their patron saint. The music minister at our chapel in Manhattan had one of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music."

"And this one?" Owen asked.

Elliot turned the medallion to glimpse the front, and he swallowed. "St. Christopher," he answered, and he heard TK smother a gasp. "Patron saint of travelers."

"That's Eddie's," Buck whispered, eyeing the medallion in terror. "It was given to him by his wife before he left for his first tour." He looked up, blue eyes blown wide. "He never takes it off!"

"He obviously did to let us know he was here," Elliot held out the medallion; Buck held out his hand, and Elliot let it pool into his palm. "Now we just need to know where they are."

"The ambulance isn't here," TK pointed out.

Kelly snorted. "The clearance was less than seven feet, man. The ambulance is at least eight. It wouldn't be down here."

Carlos, meanwhile, had started investigating around the area once again. His eyes moved from car to car, then they lingered on a van behind one of the support posts. He paused, shining his light on the van, and he pointed. "Detective Stabler?" Elliot turned to see what Carlos noted. "Brown panel van."

"What about it?" Elliot asked, following Carlos.

"The case my father's been working on," Carlos explained. "Two suspects wanted, operating out of a brown panel van."

Elliot nodded, drawing his sidearm from its holster. Carlos held back as Elliot circled the van, waiting for any sign of movement. He shone his light through the windshield, and he relaxed, not seeing anyone. "Clear!" he announced, clicking his flashlight off.

Owen immediately ran for the doors to the back of the van, TK joining him. The Strands pulled the doors open, and Kelly directed his flashlight into the back. He stiffened, and he forced out, "Blood."

Matt and Buck quickly joined him, and Matt swallowed. "God, that's . . . a lot of blood."

"He said the suspects might have been injured," Carlos tried to reassure them. "The same guys blew up their own apartment today."

"We were at that call," TK's eyes lit up. "If someone stood next to that bomb when it went off . . . "

He trailed off, and Buck's fist tightened around his flashlight. "So they weren't called here for a woman in labor."

"No," Owen shook his head, fury in his eyes. "They needed medical attention, and they couldn't trust a hospital."

"And we didn't see their ambulance at all, so wherever they went they're in there," Matt paced the length of the garage restlessly. "Where the hell in Austin could they be?"

"What places in Austin could they have access to?" Elliot asked, looking around. "If they had to patch this guy up, they needed somewhere they could do it that isn't a cramped van."

"Which means they probably didn't stay in the ambulance," Kelly murmured, eyes narrowed in concentration.

Carlos perked up, eyes wide. "Sun & Salt!"

"Where?" Elliot blinked.

"Charles Vegas's restaurant?" Owen did a double take. "How would they have access there?"

"I remember Charles talking about it at TK's party," Carlos gestured.

"I remember that!" TK nodded in agreement as Buck opened an app on his phone. "He uses the kitchen for catering jobs. And on the occasion he forgets his key . . . "

"There's one hidden in one of the statues by the door," Carlos finished. "Sylvie was part of that conversation. It's got power, it would be empty – "

"And it's not far from here," Buck held up his phone, displaying the map.

Elliot nodded, clapping Carlos on the shoulder. "You're a good cop, Reyes."

Carlos snorted. "Tell that to my father."

"You tell him," Owen shook his head, walking back to the battalion vehicle. "Gotta call it in."

Carlos blinked, then sighed, pulling out his phone and dialing his father's number. Gabriel picked up quickly. "Carlitos!" he greeted jovially.

"Dad, we found the bombers' van," Carlos let out in a rush.

"What?" Gabriel barked. "Where? And who's 'we?'"

"I'm with members of the 126 and friends," Carlos answered. "We're at the Austin Center Mall parking garage, but we think they're at the Sun & Salt with two hostages. We're on our way."

"Son, stay where you're at," Gabriel told him firmly. "That's an order. I'm heading there now."

The call ended without further ado, and Carlos shoved his phone back into his pocket with a fume. "I know that look," Kelly frowned. "What did he say?"

"He ordered me to stay here," Carlos huffed.

Elliot paused in opening the passenger door of the battalion vehicle. "Rules or heart?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Trust the book or your gut?"

Carlos didn't hesitate. "Trust my gut," he answered, opening his door.

Elliot grinned proudly and slid into the vehicle with Owen. "Atta boy, Reyes!"

***

Sylvie was harshly shoved into one of the chairs at a table, and Eddie grabbed her arm, stopping her from crashing to the floor. The woman sneered in reply, gun aimed firmly at them. "Y'all stay put," she ordered before heading back to Wolfe.

Sylvie slowly exhaled, clasping her hands and resting her hands on them. "Sylvie?" Eddie asked quietly, reaching up and putting a hand on one of hers. "You OK?"

"I'm as good as I can be," Sylvie murmured. "Feel like the guy keeps stripping me with his eyes."

"Yeah, that's the attitude I'm getting from him," Eddie glared at Wolfe. "Shoulda let me punch him."

"And let her shoot you?" Sylvie shook her head. "No way. You've got Christopher to get back to, Eddie. If either of us is getting out of here, it's you."

"You're my captain, Sylvie!" Eddie insisted. "You're not going into anything alone! I'm with you every step of the way!"

"I'm your captain," Sylvie told him blandly. "You do as I say."

Eddie's jaw tightened. "Well. You know from San Angelo how good I am at following orders I think are bullshit."

She swallowed. "Eddie – "

"You." Wolfe's rasp made them turn, and Eddie tensed when he saw him point his gun at Sylvie. "Get up. Get your stuff. You're coming with us."

"No," Eddie rocketed out of his chair before Sylvie could move. "You're not taking her."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion," Wolfe sneered.

"You didn't," Eddie retorted. "If you want someone to go with you, you want me."

"No," Sylvie shook her head, getting to her own feet. "He's not the one that worked on you. I am."

"You aren't the one who clamped him shut," Eddie argued. "He'll need me to fix it."

"And if a kink in the tube happens first?" Sylvie challenged.

Wolfe's rasping laughter made them tense. "Partners?" he asked. "Or lovers?" They glared sharply at him. "You," he pointed his gun at Sylvie. "You are hired. And only you."

"On one condition," Sylvie raised her chin. "He stays here, unharmed." She nodded at the gun. "Or you may as well shoot me now."

Wolfe narrowed his eyes. "Unharmed," he repeated dubiously. "For what?"

Sylvie gulped, remembering the look he had given her before. "I'll do anything you want," she whispered. "But he's not harmed."

"Sylvie!" Eddie hissed.

Wolfe's lips turned up in a lecherous grin. "There a walk-in pantry here?"

Sylvie pointed over her shoulder. "There's one in the back."

He nodded, turning to his girlfriend. "You lock him in, barricade the door, and let's get the hell out of here, girl."

"Sylvie!" Eddie protested, even as the woman marched over to him.

"Go," Sylvie ordered as the woman grabbed his arm. "Eddie, go."

"The hell I will!" he snarled, trying to yank his arm out of the woman's grasp.

"Go with her, or I shoot your pretty little captain right now," Wolfe growled, clicking the safety of his gun.

Eddie looked at Sylvie with wild eyes, but her eyes shifted down to her hand. Eddie followed her gaze, and he faltered, seeing what she held in reverse, hidden against her leg. He clenched his teeth, still putting up a small fight as the woman tugged him back. "I swear, if you hurt her," he threatened.

"Come on!" the girlfriend yelled, yanking him back.

She pulled him right past the table, and in the blink of an eye, Eddie grabbed one of the chairs off the table and slammed it into the woman's back with all his might. She shrieked and went flying to the ground, causing Wolfe to roar and aim at Sylvie. She ducked under his arm and reached for the gauze covering his side, reaching underneath and pulling the clamp free. As Wolfe doubled over, Sylvie stood and jammed her syringe into Wolfe's neck, causing him to howl in pain.

The girlfriend clawed along the ground for the gun, but Eddie swooped and plucked it from the floor, aiming at the woman. "You move, I will put a bullet in your head," he threatened, stance perfect.

Sylvie cried out behind him, and he turned to see Wolfe shove her back into another table, and his captain crashed to the ground. "Fucking bitch!" Wolfe yelled, stumbling upright and aiming at her.

"No!" Eddie shouted, aiming his gun.

BANG!

Wolfe jerked and fell to the ground in a heap, and Eddie faltered, looking down at his gun. Sylvie scrambled to her knees, finding the syringe she used, and Eddie looked around, instinct causing him to lift his gun again. He made sure he stood in the way of anyone trying to get to Sylvie, determined not to let anything happen to her.

He came face to face with Elliot, the detective's own gun raised . . . the same gun responsible for downing the man who would have shot his captain. "You good, Diaz?" he asked, lowering his gun.

Eddie let his stance relax, and he let out his breath in a rush, nodding. "Yeah," he dropped his gun on the table. "Yeah, I'm good!"

Elliot nodded curtly, turning to look at the woman still on the ground. Eddie raced to Sylvie, who was eyeing Wolfe in disgust. "Sylvie!"

"Get the Narcan, Eddie," she said in a dull voice. "And find a phone to call an ambulance. He's not getting another ride in ours."

Eddie nodded, then gently shook her shoulder. "Hey." She looked up at him, and Eddie swallowed, seeing the tears in her eyes. "We're OK."

She nodded shakily. "Yeah," she sniffed. "We're OK."

Eddie nodded, giving her a tight hug. She curled into it at once, whimpering into the fabric of his shirt. She flinched when they heard the crash of doors opening, and Eddie moved before he realized what he was doing, pushing Sylvie behind him.

Carlos skidded to a halt, eyes wide as he took in the dining room. "Oh, my God!"

"Eddie!" Buck burst past him.

"Sylvie!" Matt called in relief.

Eddie waited for the two Chicago officers to reach them before he rose from the ground, bracing himself for impact. Sure enough, Buck's entire weight slammed into him, and Eddie stumbled into the table behind him. "Oh, thank God," Buck choked.

Eddie hugged Buck back as tightly as he dared, just now able to realize just how hard his heart thudded in his chest. "I'm fine, Buck," he promised, swallowing hard. "I'm alright."

Matt and Kelly had barely dropped to the ground before Sylvie launched at them with a cry. Kelly's hand supporting him was all that kept Matt from toppling onto his back when Sylvie crashed into them, and Matt wrapped his free arm around her tightly. "We got you, Sylv," he promised, resting his forehead on top of her head as Kelly's other hand cupped the back of hers, fingers tangling in her hair. "We've got you."

"I knew it," she sobbed into their jackets, and Kelly's hand tightened on his shoulder. "I knew you'd find us!"

"Always," Kelly vowed, pulling back to cup Sylvie's cheek, making her blink up at them through her tears. "You hear me? We will always find you, no matter what."

She nodded her head, another sob bubbling from her throat, and Matt yanked her back into the safety of their arms, and Sylvie curled into them without a fuss. He kissed her temple, and as Kelly tucked her head under his chin, the fire captain turned his glare onto the man slumped on the floor, gun limp in his hand. What he wouldn't give for there to not be two cops in the room so he could make good on Squad 3's offer to hide a body.

Owen stood above Wolfe, the 126 captain vibrating with rage as he glared at the bomber who dared to threaten his paramedics. "Any chance we can leave him like this?" he bit out, acid coating his tone.

"Captain Strand," Carlos warned.

Owen tore his eyes away. "Do whatever needs to be done," he ordered TK, who looked reluctant as he took the medical bags. "Then we throw him to the Rangers."

"Don't forget his buddy in the kitchen," Eddie peered over Buck's shoulder. "Though he's beyond saving. He's dead. Bastard killed him."

"Oh, great," Owen rolled his eyes. "One less person I need to worry about my house killing."

"It's not the house you need to worry about, Captain," Kelly growled; when the man looked over, he saw Sylvie had practically crawled into Matt and Kelly's laps, as close as physically possible to the men. "Squad 3 promised to be alibis if needed."

Owen's lips curled in a smirk. "Don't tempt me."

***

By the time the Texas Rangers arrived with Austin PD and ambulances in tow, TK had administered the Narcan to Wolfe and worked on keeping him stable. Eddie had managed to convince Buck to release him so he could patch the gunshot from Elliot, but Buck hadn't budged more than a few inches from him.

Owen watched Sylvie, Eddie, Carlos, and Elliot give their statements, then turned as TK gave the paramedics a rundown on Wolfe's injuries. Gabriel Reyes finally walked up to Owen with a whistle. "You ever considered a career change, Captain?" he asked. "You'd make a hell of a Texas Ranger."

Owen shook his head. "There were a lot of heroes here today," he said, watching Sylvie nod and wearily stand from her chair, immediately joined by Matt and Kelly.

"Yeah," Gabriel agreed as Eddie shook another officer's hand. "But only one who drove like hell to rescue your paramedics."

"Judd Ryder was the one who discovered the explosives," Owen told him. "Detective Stabler was the one who fired the shot that saved Captain Brett. But the only reason he was able to get through the unlocked door is 'cause of that brave officer right there." He pointed to Carlos as the officer stepped back, having finished his statement. "He's an impressive guy."

Gabriel nodded in agreement, then walked over to his son. "Thought I told you to stay put," he said.

Carlos straightened, then nodded. "You did."

"You went with your gut."

"I did."

Gabriel smiled. "Good for you." Carlos blinked in surprise, and Gabriel squeezed his shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son."

Carlos smiled bashfully. "Thank you, sir."

A commotion from the ambulance caught their attention, and they turned to see TK with his hands on his hips as he leveled a glare at Wolfe that could melt tungsten. "And if that clamp comes loose in transit, no one would complain!" the firefighter barked.

"TK!" Owen rolled his eyes.

"What?" TK spread his hands defensively as he left the ambulance, jogging back to his father. "We wouldn't!"

Gabriel snickered. "You gonna go keep an eye on your boyfriend?"

Carlos's head whipped back to Gabriel, his eyes wide. "You knew?!"

"Since the day we ran into you all at the market," Gabriel nodded, giving Carlos a reassuring smile. "I expect a proper introduction next time."

Carlos bit his lip, then smiled happily. "I think you're really gonna like him, Dad."

"I already do," Gabriel decided, watching TK bicker with Owen, the NYPD detective joining them with an amused expression. "My son has got great instincts when it comes to people."

Carlos's radiant beam made Gabriel's evening, and he took a few steps back to the ambulance, watching Carlos return to everyone. He took in everything he saw: Owen giving Elliot a thankful smile; TK swinging an arm around Carlos's shoulders like it was nothing, and the ease with which Carlos returned the favor; Buck leaning against the table with Eddie, their sides pressed tightly together; and Sylvie, the paramedic tucked between Matt and Kelly, the two Chicago officers shielding her against any unwanted eyes.

That was a family he was happy his son had.

***

The last hour had felt more like ten seconds to Maddie. After she had received the call from Owen about EMS 99 being missing, she vaguely remembered her supervisor telling her she was released early from shift. She remembered stumbling back to Nancy, who had taken one look at her face and bundled her in her coat before taking her hand and leading her out of the dispatch center. She didn't remember anything about the drive back to Nancy's apartment; all she remembered was praying and hoping that Sylvie and Eddie were safe, or at least not in any imminent danger.

She came to on Nancy's couch, and she blinked slowly when she felt something sharp pierce her hands. She flinched lightly, a small whimper leaving her lips. "Hey," Nancy reached up, putting a hand on her face. "Maddie? You with me, Mads?"

Maddie's heart fluttered at the nickname coming from Nancy, and she looked down at where her fingernails were digging into her palms. She relaxed her hands immediately, hissing at the sting. Nancy's hand covered hers, and Maddie looked into the paramedic's dark eyes as she crouched in front of her. "Hi," she managed to whisper.

"Hey," Nancy gave her a small smile, squeezing her hands. "There you are."

"Sorry," Maddie swallowed. "I just . . . it's – "

"I know," Nancy nodded. "It's Sylvie and Eddie. It's never easy when a member of your house is in trouble. It's even worse when they're your direct coworkers . . . and your family."

Maddie nodded, relieved Nancy understood. "Eddie and I were always there for each other when Buck left Los Angeles," she told her. "He means so much to me, not to mention to Buck . . . and Sylvie, oh God . . . "

"Hey," Nancy shifted and sat on the couch next to Maddie, slinging her arm around her and gently turning her face so she looked at her. "Maddie . . . this is Sylvie and Eddie we're talking about. Those two jumped across a minefield together. Whatever's happened to them, they'll make it out. I know it."

Maddie nodded, chewing on her lip, then she nearly toppled off the couch when her phone rang. She pounced on it, grabbing it off the coffee table and punching the answer button. "Hello?" she asked.

"Mads." Buck's voice shook with relief. "We got 'em. They're OK."

"Oh, thank God," Maddie slumped, covering her mouth to stifle a sob.

"It was those two bombers that took out the apartment earlier in shift. One of them got injured in the blast, and his buddy called 9-1-1 to get paramedics to help." Her brother let out a slightly hysterical laugh. "One of them shot the other dead, Eddie used a chair against the last guy's girlfriend, and Sylvie jammed narcotics into his neck. They were awesome."

"And they're OK?" Maddie looked at Nancy, and the paramedic's eyes lit up. "Both of them?"

"Sylvie's pretty shaken, but yeah, they're OK."

Maddie closed her eyes, slumping forward so her forehead met Nancy's shoulder. "Thank God," she whispered.

"I'm gonna get Eddie back to the house. Will you be alright?"

"Yeah," Maddie nodded. "Nancy's got me."

"I owe her a drink or two. Sleep well, Mads."

"You, too, Buck."

The call ended, and Maddie's phone fell from her hand. Nancy caught it and placed it back on the coffee table. "They found them?" she asked.

"Yeah," Maddie giggled, crying in relief. "They found them."

Nancy hugged her tightly, and Maddie curled into her on the couch, all her energy leaving her now that she knew members of her family were safe.

***

Tommy stared at the text on her phone, and she cleared her throat, turning to Charles. "I'll be right back, OK?"

"Yeah, sure," Charles blinked, looking over to where their daughters and Christopher were curled on the floor, enjoying a Pixar marathon. "What is it?"

"If I had to guess, something to do with the firehouse," Tommy shrugged.

"Go on," Charles nudged her. "I've got my eye on the kids."

"Thanks, babe," Tommy kissed his cheek, making her way to the front door. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her, then turned and walked down the sidewalk to the driveway.

Owen gave her a strained smile from where he leaned against the hood of his car. "Hiya, Tommy."

"Hey, Owen," she gave him a smile; it wavered when she saw how exhausted he appeared. "Oh, no. What happened?"

"One of the bombers from the structure fire earlier was caught in the blast," Owen answered heavily. "His girlfriend and his buddy faked a pregnancy call to get paramedics to him. They were held at gunpoint for over an hour to get a hemopneumothorax fixed."

Tommy's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh, my God," she whispered.

"Sylvie remembered Charles talking about getting into the Sun & Salt," Owen continued. "I'm so sorry, but they hunkered down in your family restaurant to complete the operation. The Texas Rangers will be checking in to explain all that happened." He sighed heavily, running a hand over his face. "There was at least one chair busted, and I don't know what all got used in the kitchen. Everything just . . . " He swallowed. "It's been a hell of a day."

"No kidding," Tommy swallowed, her head spinning as she thought about what it would take to solve a hemopneumothorax. That would take a hospital to fix . . . if they had to do it in the Sun & Salt kitchen, of all places . . . "I'll let Charles know," she murmured. "Uh . . . we'll have to see what all was used. If a chair was the only thing broken, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. Cleaning up any blood, on the other hand . . . "

"Elliot shot the last guy standing, so . . . " Owen shrugged, teeth sinking into his lip.

Tommy eyed her friend, seeing the lost look in his eyes. "And Sylvie and Eddie?" she asked, stepping forward.

"Hmm?" Owen blinked, looking at her.

"Sylvie and Eddie," she repeated. "Are they OK?"

"Yeah," Owen nodded. "Yeah, they're OK." He took a deep, shuddering breath. "Thank God, they're OK." Tommy moved in front of Owen and held out her arms, and the fire captain gratefully stepped into them for a hug. He let out a shuddering sigh into her shoulder, closing his eyes. "They're OK," he repeated, as if trying to convince himself.

Tommy squeezed him tight. "You found them," she assured him. "And even if they're not OK, they will be."

"I know," Owen whispered. "When I heard the gunshot, I thought . . . " He shuddered. "I can't have another kid shot, Tommy. I can't."

Tommy didn't know what to say in response; she simply pulled back and cupped Owen's face in her hands, forcing the man to look her in the eye. "They're OK, Owen," she reminded him. "They're OK."

Owen closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I know," he whispered and nodded. "I know."

***

"Man," TK sighed as he walked into Carlos's house. "Sylvie's getting all the fun calls now."

"You call her getting kidnapped by arsonists fun?" Carlos raised an eyebrow, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"OK, by fun, I mean dangerous," TK elaborated. "I'm used to me and Dad being the danger magnets of the house. And now it's . . . really just him and Sylvie." He wrinkled his nose. "Seriously. Crossbow, volcano, wildfires . . . now a minefield and arsonists."

"Well, as much as I hate Sylvie, Eddie, and your dad being in those situations," Carlos walked up to him, "I'm very happy you're not in immediate danger on calls like those."

TK smiled. "Well, if it makes you happy, babe."

Carlos nodded, watching TK head into the kitchen where they had leftover cake from his sobriety party, and he took a deep breath. "My dad knows."

TK paused in cutting himself a slice, and he looked up at Carlos. "What?"

"My dad, at the Sun & Salt," Carlos elaborated, walking forward. "He knows you're my boyfriend."

"He does?"

"Yeah," Carlos chuckled, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Uh . . . turns out he's known since you met at the market."

TK snorted softly. "Cops." Carlos playfully shoved him, and TK looked at him in concern. "And, uh . . . how do you feel about that?"

"Good," Carlos answered honestly with a smile. "He expects me to properly introduce you next time."

A hesitant smile spread across TK's face. "Next time?" he repeated softly.

"Yeah," Carlos cupped his face. "Next time. He already likes you."

TK's smile widened. "I guess he knows you've got good taste."

"According to him," Carlos grinned, "I've got good instincts."

"Damn right, you do," TK agreed, kissing him. "Thank you for coming to help save Sylvie and Eddie."

"Anything for you," Carlos promised. "Anything."

***

"You're brave."

"Pretty little captain."

Sylvie flinched as Marlowe's and Wolfe's voices echoed in her head, and she turned off the scalding water in the shower. She grabbed her towel outside of the curtain and wrapped it around herself, then leaned her forehead against the wall, trying to take deep breaths. She had been on several calls where she had been held at gunpoint, and while it rattled her, she always walked away with her head held high.

Never had she been in such a situation and thought she would potentially be assaulted.

She rushed through drying herself off and dressing in her civvies, mentally cursing her shaking hands as she fastened her watch. She yanked a brush through her hair, wincing when she hit tangles and snags. When she finished, she swung her work duffel over her shoulder and shut her locker, flinching when it slammed harder than normal. She took a deep breath and turned on her heel, walking out of the locker room, head low to avoid looking at any of the other crew members.

Elliot was leaning against one of the posts when she stepped out of the locker room, and she sighed. "I'm fine, Detective."

"You're sure?" he asked, pushing off the post to walk with her.

"Nothing happened to me," she told him. "Eddie and I walked out unharmed."

"Physically, I agree," Elliot nodded, looking her up and down. "Did you walk out of there mentally unharmed?"

Sylvie stopped in her tracks, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I just need to go home and sleep this off, Detective," she said tiredly.

Elliot looked at her long and hard, then finally nodded. "Alright," he said, and Sylvie contained a sigh of relief. "But if you need to talk to someone who isn't a firefighter . . . "

He left the offer open, and Sylvie gave him a grateful smile. "I appreciate that," she told him. "And thank you for shooting that bastard before he could shoot me."

"Oh, I think if I hadn't gotten to him, Eddie would've made sure he was shot dead," Elliot smirked. "You have a hell of a partner, Sylvie."

She smiled proudly. "Hell yeah, I do."

Elliot chuckled. "And I would do it again in a heartbeat," he told her. "Family of the Strands is family of mine. No way was I gonna let him shoot you." He nodded out of the apparatus floor. "Now, I think you've got a few others to keep reassuring."

Sylvie smiled fondly, seeing Matt and Kelly quietly conversing by their rental car. "You know, I told them in San Angelo I wouldn't regret letting them be overprotective bastards . . . I wonder if I might after this."

Elliot laughed, patting her shoulder. "At least you know they care."

Sylvie nodded. "I do." She readjusted her bag over her shoulder. "Have a good evening, Detective."

"You, too, Captain."

Elliot headed to his own car, and Sylvie walked out of the firehouse towards Matt and Kelly. Both men instantly zeroed in on her, and Matt's eyes raked over her from head to toe. "Are you – ?" he began to ask.

"As good as I can be after that kind of call," Sylvie gave him a weary smile. "I just wanna go home . . . and have a drink."

Kelly smiled. "We can do that, sweetheart."

***

Sylvie almost nodded off on Matt's shoulder during the drive back to the Strand house, and she stirred when she felt the car roll to a gentle stop. "Do we need to carry you in?" Matt joked.

"Not that tired," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she undid her seatbelt.

"Say that again while sounding less tired?" Kelly grinned at her through the rearview mirror.

Sylvie flicked his ear, smirking at his yelp and Matt's laugh as she stepped out of the car. "Shut up, Sev."

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am," Kelly gave a jaunty salute.

Matt laughed louder, causing Sylvie to roll her eyes as she unlocked the front door. Paws puttered on the floor, and Buttercup bounded around the corner, tail swaying back and forth. "Hey, boy," she leaned down, scratching his head. "Let's get you outside, huh?" Buttercup woofed in response, and Sylvie turned as Matt and Kelly stepped into the house. "Beers in the fridge," she told them, pointing to the kitchen. "Grab me one, too."

"No wine?" Matt asked.

She snorted. "Not tonight."

Neither man argued, and she opened the door to the backyard, letting Buttercup run outside. She sat on one of the chairs on the patio, looking down at her linked hands, trying to stop their minute shaking. She hadn't felt like this before, even after she and Mills had been kidnapped in Chicago.

Boots on stone gave her the warning she needed to not be alarmed by a gentle hand on her shoulder. Sylvie looked up at Matt, who offered one of the beers he held. "Thanks," she murmured, taking it from him and taking a long pull.

"'Course," Matt nodded, sitting down next to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders and gently tugging. She scooted so she pressed against his side, settling against him like it was second nature. "Sev's getting our bags from the car," he told her, making her blink. "Captain Strand offered to let us bunk in the living room since Buck moved in with Eddie."

Sylvie blinked back tears, smiling. "So I don't have to ask you to stay?" she whispered.

Matt looked down at her. "We would've said yes if you did," he replied, thumb rubbing circles into her shoulder. "Neither of us want to let you out of our sight right now."

Sylvie exaggerated looking around. "And yet Kelly is – ?"

"Right here," the lieutenant stepped out onto the patio, his own beer in hand. "As long as one of us has eyes on you, I'm happy."

Sylvie smiled, patting the seat on the other side of her. "Both of you is better."

"Agreed," Kelly nodded, sitting down so their legs touched. His hand reached up, but he hesitated a few inches from her. She gave him an encouraging nod, and Kelly gently touched her neck, finding the finger-shaped bruises from where Wolfe had grabbed her. His green eyes darkened in anger. "Stabler should've shot him in the heart."

Sylvie sighed, arching into Kelly's touch as he cradled the back of her neck. "I . . . honestly would've been fine if he had."

Kelly's grip ever so tightened, and Matt twisted, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her. "What happened?" he asked, just shy of demanding.

Sylvie swallowed, looking down at her bottle. "I have been down to my underwear in an MRI room because the magnet would've attracted all the metal in our uniforms," she said. "And when I was in full uniform, Marlowe and Wolfe, in a few words and looks, made me feel more naked than I was then." She shook her head, taking another long drink from her bottle. "They didn't do anything to me, and I know Eddie wouldn't have let them. But every time I've been held in a situation like that . . . that's never happened before." She chuckled darkly. "So, yeah. I wouldn't have complained if Stabler shot Wolfe dead."

Matt gritted his teeth, seething in rage. "We would've burned the body."

"But they didn't touch you?" Kelly asked.

"No," Sylvie shook her head, smirking. "You know, aside from the usual 'come with us or we kill you' shove and pull. Nothing else."

Kelly sighed in relief. "Thank God."

Sylvie nodded in agreement, finishing her beer. "I don't want to think about it for the rest of the night," she whispered, twirling her bottle in her hand.

"Then we won't," Matt said simply. Sylvie could have kissed him . . . then he frowned and asked, "When was the MRI call?"

Kelly burst out laughing as Sylvie gawked at him. "Oh, she called me about that when Squad was on its way back from a call. Tony almost drove us off the road when she let that slip."

"Kelly!" Sylvie protested, cheeks burning red.

Matt grimaced. "I would not want that call."

Sylvie groaned. "You two suck."

"Hey," Kelly lightly nudged her. "If it makes you smile, we'll say anything."

Sylvie leaned her head on his shoulder. "You two already make that happen by being here."

She bit her lip so she wouldn't purr when Kelly's thumb lightly stroked her neck, brushing against her pulse. "We'll make sure it stays there, then," he promised, kissing the top of her head.

Sylvie smiled, eyes fluttering closed as exhaustion started to take hold once again. "After Pilot Knob, Owen and I camped in the living room together," she told them. "Neither of us could be alone in our rooms after Tim died. Can we . . . ?"

She trailed off, but Matt took her hand and squeezed it. "Absolutely."

Sylvie smiled in relief, then reluctantly lifted her head from Kelly's shoulder. "Buttercup!" she called. "Come on!" The dog loped back towards her, and Sylvie stood from her chair, leading him back into the house. She tossed her bottle into the recycling, then looked through the linens closet. She grabbed every blanket she found and brought them back into the living room, setting them on the couch. "I'll be right back with the pillows."

"Take your time," Matt assured her, closing the door behind him and Kelly.

Sylvie nodded, walking back to her bedroom. She knew the extra pillows were stored in her closet, which meant she could get changed into comfier clothes before heading back out. In the time it took her to don AFD sweatpants and a T-shirt from when she rode Squad 9, her phone started to buzz from where she tossed it on her bed, and she picked it up, finding two texts that made her giggle.

Nancy: The next time a paramedic from our house is in danger and then out of it, I demand to be told immediately

Nancy: That's an order Cap

She smiled, texting back.

Sylvie: Copy that, Nancy

She picked up the three pillows that were kept in the closet, then shuffled down the hall. Matt and Kelly apparently had the same idea as her, dressing in sweats and CFD shirts with their rigs emblazoned on the backs. "When you get the guest room, you get all the extra pillows in your closet," she mumbled.

"Hey, we helped unpack your linens, remember?" Kelly smirked. "We know you hog every pillow you get."

Sylvie smacked him with her pillow in response. "Shush."

"Oh, are we pillow fighting now?" Kelly raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"No," she huffed, dropping onto the floor. "But I will not hog your pillows if neither of you hog the blankets. Deal?"

The other officers exchanged amused looks. "Deal."

Sylvie sighed in relief, ignoring their snickers as she got comfortable on the floor. She was tired enough that she almost slipped into sleep as soon as her head hit her pillow. She was kept awake by the light shuffling and movement on either side of her, then the sudden warmth of blankets and two bodies surrounding her. She made a pleased sound, snuggling into the cocoon, and Matt quietly chuckled behind her. "We got you, Sylv."

"You always do," she hummed sleepily.

Kelly smiled, watching her drift off into slumber. Matt slung his arm over her waist protectively, and the captain dropped a kiss to the top of her head before getting comfortable and closing his own eyes. Kelly remained awake for a few more moments, watching Buttercup circle at their feet before plopping down and resting his head on his paws, letting out a content sigh. Good dog, he thought, looking back down at Matt and Sylvie. He bit his lip at the warmth the image stirred in his heart, just relieved that the two he loved most were safe in the same room.

His heart lurched when his thought truly sank in, and his eyes widened; he was glad neither of them were awake to see the realization across his face . . . he loved both of them.

Oh, my God.

***

"Dad!"

Christopher's excited shriek made Eddie wince at the volume, but a delighted smile spread across his face anyway. His kid could always make him smile, no matter what he was feeling. "Hey, mijo," he said. "I'm sorry it took me so long to talk to you."

"Ms. Tommy said you and Sylvie were on a very long call," Christopher said.

"That's right, Chris," Eddie nodded, rubbing a hand over his brow. "We were out for a long time, but we made it back."

"Good." Christopher sounded very satisfied, then he sounded concerned. "Everything's OK, right?"

Eddie sank his teeth into his lip. "I'm OK, mijo," he said. "It was just . . . " He sighed. "It was a bad call."

"Oh," Christopher said simply. "Would a hug help?"

A laugh bubbled out of Eddie before he could stop himself. Thank you, God, for my kid, he thought. "A hug when I get you tomorrow would be the best, Chris," he said.

"Good." Lord, he could hear Christopher preen through the phone. "Then Buck can hug you until then."

Eddie pressed his lips together, knowing he was blushing. "Yeah, I think he's got that covered."

Christopher giggled. "Good night, Dad. I love you!"

Eddie closed his eyes, fighting tears. "I love you, too, mijo."

He heard a crackle as the phone switched hands, then Tommy spoke. "I haven't told him anything of what happened tonight, Eddie," she said quietly.

"Gracias," he told her thickly. "I'll think of what to tell him.

"De nada, Eddie," she responded. "Do what you need to take care of yourself tonight, OK? We'll take care of your boy."

Eddie smiled gratefully. "You are a godsend, Tommy Vega."

She laughed. "Thank you very much, Eddie. Have a good rest of your night."

"Thank you. You as well." He hung up the call, staring down at his phone, then exiting the app and looking at the home screen. Ever since the tsunami that hit Los Angeles, his home screen photos always had the same thing in common: Buck and Christopher, smiling for the camera.

If tonight had gone sideways at any point, I never would have seen either of them again.

The thought hit him like a bullet, and Eddie dropped his phone onto the couch like it was a hot potato, and he took a deep breath, running a hand over his face. He had gotten rough calls while on the job before, of course he had. The well had scared him like no call before. Stuck with Sylvie, knowing Marlowe, Wolfe, and Wolfe's girlfriend would have gladly killed them at any moment if they did the slightest thing wrong? That terrified him.

He felt the cushions sink next to him, then Buck pressed against his side, grounding him. "Feel a little better after talking to Chris?" he asked.

Eddie's lips quirked in a smirk. "I always feel better after talking to Chris."

"Little guy's magic, I swear," Buck grinned in agreement.

"He's always been my good luck charm," Eddie smiled.

"He's the best," Buck nodded, then he perked up. "Oh!" Eddie blinked, turning to Buck in confusion, watching him dig through his pockets. "Speaking of Christopher . . . "

Eddie's eyes widened as Buck pulled a familiar chain out of his pocket, and he swallowed hard, heart pounding against his ribcage. "You found it," he whispered.

"Well, Detective Stabler found it," Buck shrugged. "But I held onto it. You were smart, leaving it in the garage for us to find."

"I didn't want to leave it," Eddie said quietly. "But I had to do something."

"You did exactly the right thing," Buck assured him. "As soon as Carlos saw the van, everything came together. We knew who had you, we knew where you were going. And we made it." He held out his hand. "Here."

Eddie opened his hand, and Buck let his St. Christopher medallion pool into his palm. Eddie bit his lip as the chill from the metal sank into his skin, and he curled his fingers around the medallion before carefully placing the chain back around his neck, where it belonged. "You found us," he said, still trying to get the thought through his head.

"I'll always find you," Buck said truthfully. Eddie looked at Buck, seeing the protectiveness and sincerity in his blue eyes . . . and an emotion he had hoped but never thought he would see. In a blink, it was gone, and Buck cleared his throat, standing. "Need something to drink?" he asked, moving towards the kitchen. "Water? Something stronger? I might need something – "

"We need to talk, Buck."

The words were out before he even realized he said them, and Buck froze mid-step, and he slowly turned, swallowing. "Uh," he stammered before walking back around. "OK."

Now or never. Eddie sighed, patting the seat next to him. "I almost died," he said. "Again." He shook his head. "I've had a lot of close calls, on this job and in the army. This one wasn't even my closest."

"Yeah," Buck flinched, not wanting to think about all the times Eddie could've died when he wasn't watching his back. "Eddie – "

"Just let me finish," Eddie bit out, and Buck's mouth clicked shut. "Or I won't be able to," he finished in a softer tone, looking down at his clenched hands. "After the last time, when that well collapsed on top of me . . . "

"Which you survived," Buck reminded him.

Eddie nodded. "After that, it got me thinking, you know . . . what would happen to Christopher if I hadn't?" The blood drained from Buck's face at the thought, and Eddie nodded, seeing how pale he looked. "So I went to my attorney and changed my will," he revealed. "So someday, if I, uh . . . didn't make it . . . Christopher would be taken care of." He took a deep breath. "By you."

Buck felt like his world tilted on its axis again, and his jaw dropped as he stared at Eddie in shock. "What?" he breathed.

Eddie nodded, completely serious. "It's in my will if I die, you become Christopher's legal guardian."

Buck floundered for words, completely thrown by that revelation. "H – how does that even work?" he stammered. "Don't you . . . don't you need my consent?"

Eddie smirked. "My attorney said you could refuse."

Buck blinked at him. "You know I wouldn't."

Eddie nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I know you wouldn't."

Buck licked his lips, trying to wrap his head around the thought. Him, Christopher's legal guardian? "I mean, he – he has grandparents, other family – !"

"After Shannon left, they all tried to guilt me into giving Christopher to them," Eddie shook his head. "It's not what I wanted then. It's not what I want now."

Buck bit his lip. "If it came to that, wouldn't they fight for him?" he asked nervously.

"I don't know," Eddie admitted. "Maybe. Probably. But no one will ever fight for my son as hard as you. That is what I want for him."

Buck nodded in agreement. Eddie had that correct; Buck would fight tooth and nail for anything regarding Christopher's happiness. Then the rest of Eddie's statement sank in, and he reeled back. "Wait, you did this last April?" he asked in disbelief. "Why are you telling me this now?"

Eddie closed his eyes, lowering his head. "Because, Evan," he said, emphasizing his name, causing Buck to do a double take. "I know without a single doubt in my mind that you belong in our lives however you want to fit. There is no one I trust with my son more than you." He took a deep breath. "There is no one I trust with me more than you," he whispered.

Buck swallowed hard. There was no way Eddie was saying what he thought he was. "Eds . . . "

"I saw videos of what happened at the well," Eddie interrupted him, and Buck balked. "I only knew what happened down below, when I was trapped. Lena asked if I had seen what happened above ground." His eyes returned to Buck, an intense look in them. "Would you have really dug barehanded through all of that mud if it meant you saved me?"

Buck gulped. "Eddie – "

"Evan," Eddie's voice was wrecked. "Please."

Buck nodded jerkily. "I would have done anything to get to you," he whispered.

He did not expect the bright smile that formed on Eddie's face. "When you said you were moving to Texas, I told you Christopher and I would've stowed in your bags if we could," he said. "I wasn't kidding. When Amaro visited the station, Chimney joked that I would've followed you to Austin if possible. I told him I absolutely would have. And when Amaro called me out on it later, I told him I meant every word."

Buck licked his lips, anxious about where this was heading. "I know you did."

"When Sylvie came to Los Angeles, something happened on shift that everyone else bugged me about," Eddie told him. "She knew right away that what they were talking about wasn't what I wanted. She asked me point blank if I knew what I wanted . . . and when I told her I did, she told me I should get what I want because that's what I deserve. She dropped what I wanted right in front of me, and when Christopher agreed, so did I. What I wanted was to be in the same city, the same house, as you, Evan. It's that simple."

"You uprooted everything," Buck whispered, "because of me?"

"Because there is nowhere else in this world I want to be," Eddie nodded, swallowing hard. "I want to be with the person who I know will put my son first because he means the world to him. I want to be with the person who promised to always have my back, and has kept his word ever since." He took a deep breath. "And I want to be with the person I would do anything to have, just like you would do for me."

Buck thought his heart would jump out of his chest, it was beating so hard. "Eddie," he swallowed, squeezing his hand so tightly his nails dug into his palms. "You mean – ?"

Eddie's hand covered his and gently pried his fingers away from his palm, then interlaced their fingers together. "I love you," he admitted, looking Buck in the eye. "I don't know when I started, but once it happened, I fell and never wanted to get back up. You moving here tore me up more than I thought was ever possible, and nothing felt right until I told Sylvie I would take the paramedic position here. I didn't say anything before because I didn't think it was possible for me to have. But after everything you and I went through tonight . . . " He shook his head. "You need to know," he finished with a swallow. "Whatever happens, you need to know."

Buck stared long and hard at Eddie, wishing time would stop just for a second, because if this was some trick, he wanted it to last a little longer. But the clock kept ticking, the world kept spinning, and it struck him . . . there was no trick whatsoever. "This is real," he realized.

"Yeah, Evan," Eddie nodded. "This is real."

Buck swallowed hard. "Every time TK and Sylvie talked to me, I didn't think it was ever possible," he said hoarsely, and Eddie's head shot up. "I thought up excuse after excuse, ones they shot down so easily, but I never let them get my hopes up because I didn't want to hope for something impossible."

Eddie started to smile again, its radiance taking Buck's breath away. "Not impossible, Buckley," he promised. "Abby and Ali? Their loss . . . my gain."

Buck smiled widely, and with a laugh, he leaned forward and finally kissed Eddie like he'd wanted for so long. Eddie, as always, was on the exact same wavelength and kissed him in return, his hand tightening its grip on Buck's as his other hand cupped the back of his head, holding him in place. They had been an unbreakable team for two years, they knew exactly how to read each other both on and off the job, even in this which was so new to them. Every increase of pressure was returned, every movement to deepen the kiss was mirrored, and as Buck slid his hand into Eddie's hair, he felt relief like he never had before. After months of excuses and what ifs and impossibilities . . . this was happening, it was real, and it was possible. He loved Eddie, and Eddie loved him back.

His lungs finally started to burn, and he tore his mouth from Eddie's, panting harshly to try and regain his breath. Eddie inhaled just as greedily, but neither were able to stay apart for long, their foreheads meeting, their hands still clinging to each other. "I love you, too," Buck whispered. "I love you so much, you and Chris, it broke my heart to leave. You two were the ones who would've convinced me to stay."

"Leaving was what you needed to do, Evan," Eddie shook his head, hand moving so he cupped Buck's cheek. "You needed a new start, I understood that. We both did. We just needed the right chance to follow you here."

"The happiest I ever felt was when you said you were here to stay," Buck grinned. "I mean, even if I didn't think I could have this – "

"Chris wanted to be with you again," Eddie cut him off. "I wanted to be with you again. We went for what we wanted." He smiled, caressing Buck's cheek. "And I promise, whatever you want . . . I am all in."

God, Buck felt like his heart would explode. "Anything and everything," he whispered.

Eddie nodded in agreement. "Anything and everything."

And all Buck could do in response was kiss Eddie again. His day had started with thinking this was impossible, led into fearing the worst-case scenario when Eddie was missing, and ended with Eddie being the one to take the jump into the deep end and making him realize this was most certainly not impossible. In a matter of months, he had the crew he wanted in Austin, the sister he wanted in Austin, the boy he adored in Austin . . . and now he knew without a doubt he had the man he loved, too.

Finally.

***

And now I can officially say Buddie is "established" in this book! Have to admit I'm pretty proud of that scene, and it took me forever to write because I wanted it as perfect as I thought I could make it. I knew without a doubt that, once I decided Eddie would be a paramedic, that Buck and Eddie would get together at the end of this episode. That was probably the easiest decision of the book. I should also warn everyone, I've never dated, much less kissed, anyone before, so if my writing lacks in those departments, my sincere apologies.

And oh, boy . . . poor Kelly's in for the rough road. Now it's just up to Matt to make that final realization.

As always, keep an eye out for new chapters! I foresee a lot of original content in the next one, so hopefully this keeps you tied over until then. :)

graphic by marvelity