54 | ❝ EVERYTHING HAS GONE TOO FAR... ❞

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CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

❝ EVERYTHING HAS GONE TOO FAR... ❞

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[season 4, own storyline]

LISSIE POV

SHE CAME HOME ALMOST SILENTLY. That's why, when she set her bag down in the living room, she had no trouble overhearing part of the conversation between her father and Athena. And everything seemed to indicate that she was the main topic of their discussion.

"...we were their age once, too," Athena said. "They were late for their shift, you punished them, but you can't stay mad at them forever. Lissie's a sensible girl. She knows what she's doing."

"It's not that I don't trust her," her father said. "And I don't mind the fact that she's dating Buck..."

"So what's the problem?"

"I see how they're always all over each other, even though they try to hide it..."

Lissie blushed, because it turned out that maintaining the utmost professionalism at work—or at least the appearance of it—was useless under her father's watchful eye.

Athena laughed cheerfully.

"You're jealous that you're no longer the only guy in her life," she said with amusement. "That's what this is all about. You still think she's your little princess."

"Well... Can I not answer that?" he replied, and Athena just laughed even louder. Lissie, despite all her anger and embarrassment, smiled to herself. "I just mean, I know how it is... When Evelyn and I were together, we couldn't keep our hands off each other either, and a year later it turned out she was pregnant."

The blonde leaned her head against the wall, straining to hear. She rarely heard anything about her mother, and this was something new. Maybe it wasn't exactly information meant for her, but she felt a pleasant warmth at the realization that her parents had been crazy about each other and hadn't gotten engaged only because that's how it turned out.

"Are you afraid of becoming a grandfather?" Athena asked, and Bobby said something incomprehensible. "You shouldn't be. You've already got the hang of it with Marrie. The young one is practically like a granddaughter to you."

"What I'm mainly worried about is whether Lissie would be able to handle it emotionally... I know the worst is behind her and that Buck's presence has a positive effect on her, but I can't forget that not so long ago..."

Bobby trailed off, presumably not wanting to voice what she'd been through—rape, kidnapping, a suicide attempt. The smile immediately faded from her face because no matter how much she wanted it to, she felt that it would never stop being a part of her.

"Bobby..." Athena spoke more gently. Lissie was sure she'd placed her hand on her father's shoulder. It was a gesture she often made when trying to calmly point out to him that he was wrong. "You can't keep looking at her through the lens of what she's been through. She's moved on from that. She's happy. She wants to live and is thinking about her future. Her relationship with Buck isn't just a fling, and you know that very well."

Lissie decided to make her presence known.

"You don't have to worry about becoming grandparents," she said, and they immediately looked at her, surprised to see her. "I don't plan on showing up at Buck's apartment anytime soon."

"Did you guys have a fight?" Bobby asked right away, channeling his overly sensitive and overprotective father.

Lissie shook her head.

"He just sided with Chim about moving out of Rosie's place because she might accidentally get COVID."

"What?" Athena snorted. "What has he come up with now?"

Lissie told them what had happened. Her parents agreed that Chim was making a mistake, especially now. Bobby also quickly connected the recent incident with Han's unexpected decision. They also supported her in visiting her friend. She apologized to them because she knew she'd promised to spend the day at home, and everything had gotten complicated.

She took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes. Athena packed some of the macaroni casserole she'd made for them for dinner and said Rosie and Marrie would surely appreciate it. She promised to say hi to them and let them know if she ended up staying over at the girls' place. Lissie herself had doubts about whether she should go see them, because she didn't want to bring any germs into their home, but she knew they wouldn't be able to manage on their own.

That's why, a little while later, Lissie was getting out of the car in front of Rosie's apartment building. She slung her backpack over her shoulder when her phone rang, and this time she saw Marrie's photo on the screen.

"What's up, Marr?"

"Auntie?" The girl's voice trembled. "Mom locked herself in her room and won't come out... I can hear her crying, but she won't let me in. I don't know what to do..."

The girl cried briefly, and Lissie bit her tongue to keep from cursing. This was exactly what she'd feared when Chim decided to disappear.

"Calm down, I'll be right over..."

"Do you promise?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

"I do," Lissie answered without a second thought. "Just leave the door unlocked."

Marrie did as she was told, and then they hung up. Lissie adjusted her face mask before stepping into the building. The wait for the elevator felt like an eternity, as did the ride up to the floor, but once she stepped out, she headed straight for the Buckley-Han apartment.

The door was ajar. Even from the hallway, she could see Marrie keeping watch outside the closed bedroom. The little girl's face lit up the moment she saw her.

"Auntie!" she cried out, a mix of relief and joy in her voice. She sprinted over and threw herself into Lissie's arms. Lissie pulled her into a tight embrace, only now realizing how much she had missed this—real, physical contact, not just a face on a screen. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Flower. Is your mom still in her room?"

Marrie shook her head.

"I'm worried about her. Will you make her feel better?"

"I'll do my best," Lissie assured her. She then handed the casserole dish to her. "Can you take this to the kitchen? Grandma Athena sent over dinner, so I'll heat it up for you guys in a bit."

Marrie gripped the dish tightly and hurried off toward the kitchen. Meanwhile, Lissie walked further down the hall and stopped at the last door. This was only her second time in the apartment, and she still found it hard to believe they were starting a new chapter here. All the memories they had shared in the old place... They hadn't vanished, but it felt strange, stepping within these unfamiliar walls.

Lissie knocked on the bedroom door.

"Rosie?" she called out softly, though she dreaded what she might find inside. "Will you let me in?"

At first, there was only silence, but then came the sound of the door clicking open. Rosie stood in the doorway, cradling her pregnant belly. Much like her daughter had moments before, she collapsed into her friend's arms and completely broke down. Lissie held her tight, rubbing her back in soothing circles, before leading her inside and guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Just breathe, Rosie... I'm here. I'm going to help you."

"I missed you," Rosie whispered between sobs. She gripped Lissie tighter, resting her head on her shoulder. "How is it that he ran away, but you didn't have any problem coming to see me? He's such a jerk!"

"I know you need company right now." Lissie smiled sadly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Rosie's face.

"You have no idea how lonely I've felt. Aside from Chim, Albert, and Marrie, of course, I haven't seen a soul in person for months... And now Chim decides he's just going to vanish, too. What did I do so wrong?"

Fresh tears tracked down her face, and Rosie began to struggle for breath, unable to stop the crying.

"You have no right to blame yourself for his decision. He got spooked after that call we had, and—"

"What call?" Rosie asked, her interest piqued, momentarily forgetting her tears.

"A pregnant woman with COVID," Lissie explained. But Buckley just stared at her, blank-faced. "He didn't tell you," Lissie stated more than asked. It all started to click now. "We got a call. There weren't supposed to be any complications, but it turned out she was infected... She coded in the ambulance, and we couldn't bring her back."

Rosie didn't respond immediately. She wiped her cheeks with her hands and looked at Lissie.

"He thinks the same thing is going to happen to me," she said bluntly. "That I'll die bringing the twins into the world... He ran because he was scared, instead of just talking to me." Rosie buried her face in her hands, looking utterly defeated. "I was so sure that this time..."

"This time what?" Lissie prodded when Rosie trailed off.

"I thought this pregnancy would be wonderful. That Chim and I would be in this together, both of us happy about it... and most of all, that I could count on him. Instead, he just took off without a word. He didn't tell me anything—not about the call, not about his fear, or what he was planning..." Rosie knit her brows and looked down at her bump. "What was the point of all this, huh?" She gestured to herself. "Why the hell did we try for a baby if I'm just going to be a single mother all over again? I don't want this. I can't do this... If he doesn't want to be with me, then I don't want this pregnancy."

Inwardly, Lissie cursed Chim in every way imaginable. His behavior had brought back the Rosie she had first met—the Buckley who had no joy left, who just wanted to give birth and give up because she saw no future for herself. Over the last few months, Lissie had seen Rosie finally find happiness. When she smiled, she did it with her whole soul; she would laugh out loud at the simplest things, cherishing every moment.

"Rosie..." Lissie sighed heavily, completely stunned by her friend's words. "Please, just don't do anything reckless... The twins aren't to blame, and neither are you."

"Then what am I supposed to do? I'm in this alone."

"You're not," Lissie assured her instantly. "You have me. You have my parents. And I'm sure there are plenty of others. Chim will come to his senses sooner or later."

"And what if he doesn't?"

"Then Chloe will go after him with torches," Lissie joked, and for the first time, a small huff of a laugh escaped Rosie's lips. It was a start. "Lay down for now and rest. Try to take a nap while I look after Marrie and heat up that dinner from Athena. I'll stay the night, too, so you guys aren't alone."

"Thank you." Rosie's lips curled into a faint smile. "You're the best, you know that? I just don't understand—aren't you afraid? Chim ran because he might infect us, but you work with the sick, too..."

"You've all been taking the right precautions so far, so we'll be fine. I'll drop by whenever I have a day off. But seriously, lie down and rest. I've got you."

Rosie nodded and let Lissie tuck her in.

Lissie waited until she heard her friend's rhythmic breathing before returning to the kitchen, where Marrie was waiting.

"How's Mom?" she asked anxiously.

"She's asleep," Lissie replied, reaching into her backpack for her phone. "Let's let her rest. It's been a long day."

"Dad's not coming back, is he?"

Lissie sighed silently, once again at a loss for words.

"I don't know, honey... He wants to protect you, but he's going about it the wrong way. He's definitely staying at Uncle Buck's tonight. After that, I have no idea."

"Will you stay?" the girl pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't want us to be alone."

"Of course." Lissie ran a hand over the girl's long hair. "Why don't you make us some tea?"

As Marrie turned on the kettle, Lissie opened a group chat with Rosie's inner circle.

Lissie: Rosie is a mess. Chim hauled ass over to Buck's because he's terrified of infecting her, and she's spiraling into some really dark thoughts. I can't do this alone—we need to keep an eye on her and Marrie.

The first reply came almost instantly.

Chloe: You can count on me. But what the hell is wrong with them? Everything was fine until now.

Ian: It's that pregnant woman... I'd bet anything on it.

Maddie: I'm going to have a word with Evan... How could he let this happen?

Seth: Exactly. As for Chim, better keep him away from me, because this isn't going to end well for him.

Lily: We'll look out for her and the twins at dispatch! You can count on that.

Josh: You can count on me too, obviously. I'll make sure the kitchen at dispatch never runs out of decaf, because she can't function at work without it.

Ian: And I'll try to talk some sense into Buck and Chim during the next shift. You don't treat my friends like that. They need a reminder.

Lissie: Good luck. I tried that today. Didn't work. I just ended up in a fight with Chim, and I told Buck I'm not setting foot in his apartment as long as he's hosting him.

Ian: Buck and a sex strike? That's not going to end well.

IT WAS WELL PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN LISSIE'S PHONE BUZZED AGAIN. She picked it up, unsurprised to see that Buck wasn't giving up and was still trying to reach her. She'd decided to ignore him on principle, but she was starting to miss him. They hadn't spoken since she'd walked out of his apartment, which was likely a record for them since they'd started dating.

Buck: Just let me know you're okay.

Lissie sighed and decided to take pity on him. She knew he was worried.

Lissie: I'm staying at Rosie's tonight, but don't mention it to Chim, or he'll just freak out again. We're fine, but I meant what I said. As long as Han is at your place, you won't see me there. Talk some sense into him—he should be with his pregnant girlfriend, not hiding out at someone else's house.

Buck: When Chim gets something into his head... But I'll try, I promise. And I love you, Liss.

Lissie: I love you, too, Buck. That much hadn't changed in a few hours.

Buck sent back a thumbs-up emoji, and Lissie set her phone on the coffee table. The living room was the only place she could spend the night, though Albert had insisted she take his bed before he left for his night shift. She didn't want to risk it; if he forgot she was there and crashed beside her after getting home in the middle of the night, it would be a very awkward misunderstanding to explain.

She was drifting off when a terrifying, agonized scream jolted her awake. She sprang to her feet and, without even thinking about where the sound was coming from, lunged for Rosie's bedroom door. Her instinct had guided her perfectly. When she burst inside, Rosie was sitting on the edge of the mattress, clutching her stomach. Her face was contorted in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks, and though she was trying to breathe, only gasps and moans of agony escaped her lips.

"Rosie, what's happening?" Lissie was at her friend's side in an instant. "Talk to me."

"I don't know," Rosie sobbed. "Something's wrong... my stomach hurts so bad... What if I'm losing them? I just said I didn't want this pregnancy..."

"I'm going to examine you, okay?" Rosie just nodded, and Lissie immediately went to work, her hands moving with practiced ease. Being a paramedic didn't end when she left the station. "Take a deep breath for me, okay?"

Rosie tried to follow her lead, but she couldn't catch her breath. She kept hyperventilating, moaning in pain every few seconds. The field exam Lissie was performing wasn't telling her much—they needed a specialist's opinion.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Lissie said, rubbing her friend's shoulders. "We're going to find out what's going on."

"I know what's going on!" Buckley cried out through her tears, and the sight of it broke Lissie's heart. "I'm losing my babies!"

"Rosie..." Lissie took her face in her hands. "You are not going to lose them, do you hear me? We're going to do everything to save you and them. Can you stand up?"

Still sobbing, Rosie nodded and slowly, with Lissie's help, got to her feet. Just then, soft footsteps echoed in the hallway, and a sleepy-eyed Marrie appeared in the doorway. She looked at her aunt first, but when her eyes shifted to her mother, they went wide with terror. She tried to run to Rosie, but Lissie stopped her immediately.

"Marrie, stay back. Your mom isn't feeling well, and we have to go to the hospital."

"Okay. I'll just put my shoes on and—"

"No." Lissie shook her head. "They won't let you in. You have to stay here."

"But—"

"We don't have time, Marrie," she cut her off quickly. "Albert should be back soon, so you won't be alone for long. I'm taking your mom to the hospital, and as soon as we know anything, I'll let you know, okay?"

Marrie nodded. Lissie put her arm around her friend, who was barely standing and shaking all over, and they slowly made their way to the door.

"I'm sorry for what I said," Rosie wept on the way to the hospital, staring down at her belly. "I didn't want this... I didn't mean it."

"They know that," Lissie assured her, trying to drive as fast as possible without causing an accident. "Everything is going to be okay. Just breathe."

A few minutes later, Lissie parked at the hospital and burst into the ER like a whirlwind, demanding that someone see her friend immediately. She was lucky; one of the nurses recognized her from the countless times she'd brought in patients and bumped them to the front of the line. She led them to an exam room, and Lissie held Rosie's hand the entire time, waiting for the doctor. She stroked her friend's hair, murmuring soothing words that she wasn't sure were working, but Rosie's breathing began to steady even as she curled up in pain. The only position that offered her any relief was lying on her side.

"Why isn't anyone coming yet?" Rosie asked, her eyes welled with tears. "I mean..."

Buckley didn't get to finish because the door swung open and Dr. Hart-Miller stepped inside. Lissie only knew her by reputation, but she knew she was the one handling Rosie's prenatal care. Apparently, she was on call that night. At the sight of her, Rosie calmed down slightly, but then a fresh wave of pain washed over her, and she squeezed Lissie's hand harder.

"What's going on?" the doctor asked, moving straight to the exam, her expression full of concern.

"It hurts..." Rosie groaned, moving her hand lower on her stomach to show exactly where the pain was most intense. Lissie moved to make room for the doctor, but Rosie wouldn't let go. "Don't leave me, please. I can't do this if..."

Lissie looked at the doctor with a silent question, and the woman simply nodded as she pulled on her gloves. She sat on the rolling stool and pulled the ultrasound machine closer to the bed.

"I'm right here," Lissie assured her.

"When did the pain start?" the doctor asked, prepping the equipment.

Rosie groaned again, unable to find the words.

"She woke me up in the middle of the night," Lissie answered for her. "About an hour ago... I did a quick trauma assessment, but I couldn't find anything... No fluids, either."

"That's good news," the doctor replied, looking at Rosie. "This is going to feel a bit cold, and then we'll see what's going on."

Rosie just nodded, and Lissie helped pull her shirt up. She saw her friend wince at the sharp chill of the ultrasound gel, and then the images of the twins began to flicker onto the screen. The doctor studied the monitor for a moment, carefully analyzing what she saw. The silence felt heavy, but Lissie knew she had to be thorough.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, Dr. Hart-Miller looked at them with a smile.

"The twins are fine," she assured them instantly, and Rosie nearly cried with relief. The doctor moved the wand over Buckley's belly, then pressed a button, and the steady, powerful rhythm of a heartbeat filled the room. "That's Girl A." The doctor moved the wand again, and a second heartbeat, just as strong, filled the air. "And that's Girl B."

"They're girls?" Rosie asked, stunned.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the doctor said. "If you wanted to wait to find out the gender..."

"No..." Rosie shook her head, finally calming down. "I just didn't imagine the moment like this... Chim was supposed to be here." She looked at her friend again, and Lissie squeezed her hand. Then, Rosie placed her own hand on her stomach, new tears appearing—this time, tears of joy. "I'm so sorry... for what I said before. I love you both, and your sister, and I can't wait to meet you. Danielle and Jee-Yun."

Lissie was taken aback. She hadn't realized they'd already picked out names, especially since they hadn't known the gender until now. But the choices weren't a surprise; those names honored two people in Rosie and Chim's lives who deserved such a legacy.

The doctor set the ultrasound wand back on the machine and handed Rosie some paper towels to wipe her stomach.

"If everything is okay, why did it feel like I was having a miscarriage?" Rosie asked as she sat up.

"The pain you felt... those were exceptionally sharp Braxton Hicks contractions. They can be triggered by extreme stress, even in single pregnancies, and with twins, they're almost impossible to avoid... Has something happened recently that might have caused you a great deal of stress?"

"A fight with the twins' father," Lissie answered for her. "I don't know if you knew, but Rosie, the father, and I all work for the fire department..."

"Yes, I remember." The woman smiled at her.

"The father got a bit spooked about bringing the virus home, and they had a falling out... That's likely why."

"I see." The doctor nodded. "In that case, the pain was definitely stress-induced... Your body is just showing us that it isn't handling the stress well."

"So, what now?"

"For now, since you're already here, I'm going to run a few more tests, okay? Just to be absolutely certain, the stress hasn't caused any other complications we should be worried about."

ROSIE WAS HELD FOR OBSERVATION FOR A FEW HOURS. She wasn't actually scheduled to be discharged until the afternoon, and since Lissie didn't want to leave her alone, she gave her father a heads-up about the situation. He allowed her to take a personal day. She promised to make it up to him, knowing all too well what it meant to leave him in a bind—the team would be down one firefighter, and in their line of work, you never knew what might happen.

Marrie and Albert had checked in on her several times, desperate for news about Rosie, but she couldn't tell them much. She only knew as much as the doctor had shared. Since she wasn't allowed back on the ward with Rosie, she waited in the ER for her friend to be cleared and released after all the tests were finished. The only thing she knew for sure was that Rosie had managed to message her daughter with the news about the twins' gender. Lissie wished she could have seen Marrie's reaction firsthand, but she felt like not all was lost just yet.

Finally, Rosie appeared, clutching her discharge papers and test results.

"And?" Lissie stood up immediately. "How are the results?"

"Everything's fine," Rosie answered, breathing a sigh of relief. "I just have to avoid stress and take care of myself. Taking care of myself won't be a problem, but the stress... well, you know how it is."

"Right now, you and the girls are the only things that matter." Lissie slipped her arm under her friend's elbow. "I'm going to look after you. And we're starting the second we get back to the apartment—I'm making your favorite dessert."

Rosie smiled at her, and together they headed for the parking lot. Lissie helped her into the car, and as she clicked the door shut, she glanced up for a moment. That's when she saw it—the Station 118 ambulance parked near the bay. Even more importantly, she saw Chim, Buck, and Ian milling around it.

"Wait here for a second," she told Rosie, her blood starting to boil. She was ready to give Han a piece of her mind. If she hadn't been there, Rosie might not have made it to the hospital in time, truly putting herself and the girls at risk. "I'll be right back."

Buckley simply nodded, and Lissie marched toward the ambulance.

Ian was the first to spot her. He started to wave, but the smile quickly vanished from his face when he caught her expression—the furrowed brows, the set jaw, and the flushed cheeks.

To say she was furious would have been the understatement of the century.

CHIM POV

A FEW HOURS EARLIER

DESPITE HIS DECISION, HE HAD LINGERING DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER HE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING. Of course, he wanted to protect his family; nothing in the world mattered more to him than Rosie and their children. If he lost any of them... he wouldn't survive it.

"I know I'm being terrible," he confessed to Buck that afternoon while preparing lunch for the two of them. He didn't want to be useless, so this was the least he could do to repay his friend for not kicking him out. "But I didn't run because of some whim. I wanted to keep them safe... If it were Lissie in Rosie's shoes, what would you have done?"

Evan let out a heavy sigh but ignored the question completely.

"As I told you in front of Lissie, I don't like how you treated my sister, especially after everything you two have been through," he began, looking away. He shook his head. "The only reason I let you stay is that if I hadn't, God knows where you'd be. You'd probably end up at Hen's, and she'd likely throw a party to celebrate you moving out."

He probably wasn't wrong about that. Hen might have started to tolerate the fact that he and Rosie were back together, but if she heard a single word about him walking out of their apartment...

"Can we not mention at the station that I'm crashing at your place?" he asked the youngest Buckley cautiously. "I don't want any tension within the team at work."

"I can keep my mouth shut, but unfortunately, I'm not the only one in on it..." He shrugged, glancing at Han. "I'm willing to bet Lissie has already alerted the whole crew. You're royally screwed, man..."

He didn't have to wait long. Barely an hour later, while checking his phone, he noticed he'd been added to a new group chat he didn't recognize. Buck had been added, too.

"I think I'm not the only one in trouble." He showed his roommate his phone screen. "At least not according to Ian, Chloe, Maddie, and Seth, because they're all in here."

A second later, a new message popped up from Garcia.

Ian: WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TWO THINKING?! Especially you, Chim. Buck's actions are somewhat excusable, though I'm not saying he did the right thing by letting you stay.

Maddie: You're right, because this situation is so stupid it never should have happened in the first place. Be honest, because I truly don't get it. Do you even love her at all? Or is this some delayed punishment for her running away years ago?

Both men stared at each other in shock at what the eldest Buckley sibling had suggested. Buck was practically speechless.

"This isn't a punishment, is it?" he asked Han softly. "Because if..."

"Do you really think I'm that cruel?" he muttered, irritated. "I've said it a thousand times—I don't hold it against Rosie that she left!"

Chimney: This isn't revenge! I just want to protect my family. Is that so wrong?

Buck: Madds, was I supposed to just let him wander off alone? It's better to keep it in the family...

Seth: Oh, kid... the whole station and dispatch already know. And as for your question—yes, you should have let him go. BACK TO HIS OWN APARTMENT!

Chimney's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, seeing how Detective Navarro was typing. He was usually such a calm man; if he was using all caps, things were truly bad.

Chloe: You can congratulate yourself, because this panic of yours has completely broken your girlfriend.

Ian: And how... Thanks to you, the Rosie we knew back in St. Paul with Lissie is back. That means things are really bad.

That certainly wasn't his goal, but he knew none of the four would take his word for it.

For the next few moments, he stared at the screen, barely moving. He knew perfectly well that if Garcia mentioned St. Paul, it was serious—back then, Rosie had simply "existed" without a purpose. He recalled how, while they waited for news on Lissie after her suicide attempt, Rosie had confided in them, explaining she had wanted to give birth to Marrie and then just fade away because she saw no future for herself. At that time, she had been too ashamed to return to LA after leaving him overnight without a word.

Except, in contrast to Rosie, she had at least left a note saying she'd be back... He hadn't even left a scrap of paper.

The next message he received was, surprisingly, not from the group, but from Marigold.

Marrie: You are the worst dad in the world. I hate you, do you understand? Instead of talking to us, you just walked out without so much as a stupid goodbye because you're afraid... You're making Mom cry in her room while you play the hero, hiding out at Uncle Buck's. It's pathetic. A hero faces danger; he doesn't run away the first chance he gets!

The man felt tears prickling his eyes. He tried to compose himself, but couldn't—an eleven-year-old had summed him up better than the entire group of adults.

"When did she get so smart...?" he croaked, looking at his friend who sat across from him at the kitchen island, fidgeting with his fingers. "I really mean well... I'm not afraid for myself, just for both of them and the little ones. Rosie is already high-risk."

He could see Buck was equally torn. On one hand, he wanted to be there for Han and repay him for taking him in when he was lost. On the other hand, he wanted to be loyal to his sister. And then there was the third side: a furious Lissie, whom they had both failed by acting this way.

"Man, I really do understand that you're scared after everything, I do," he began gently, not wanting to offend him. "It's just... Marrie isn't six anymore. She's eleven and damn smart for her age. You know she's bonded to Rosie, so she's always going to take her side. And you... Let's be real, you just packed up and walked out without a word at the exact moment they need you most. And my sister... of all people, you should know her biggest fear is being alone and losing the people she cares about."

He knew exactly what she feared... and he had plunged her right into her worst nightmare, especially given her childhood.

He looked at his phone and unlocked it again. Ignoring the group notifications, he opened his contacts.

He had to hear her voice. He had to explain that what he did wasn't some twisted punishment for the past, but a desperate attempt to protect what mattered most: his family.

His hand shook as he dialed his girlfriend's number. After several rings, it went to voicemail. He wasn't giving up.

"Please... pick up and give me just one minute..." he whispered under his breath, waiting for the call to connect. It was futile. After two rings, the line went dead—someone on the other end had declined the call.

A minute later, another message arrived, this time from Rosie herself.

Rosie: Don't call me, at least for now. What you did is too fresh, and I don't have the strength for this conversation... Marrie and I both miss you, but we need peace. If you've decided that silence is more important than talking about your emotions, then maybe it really is better if you stay at Buck's for a while.

The man slumped into his chair, defeated. He didn't blame her; he knew he'd brought this on himself.

The only comforting thought was that Lissie was likely with his girls. They might try to hide it from him, but he knew them both too well not to realize it.

THE STIFLING SILENCE THAT SETTLED OVER THE LOFT WAS BIZARRELY UNNATURAL COMPARED TO WHAT HE WAS USED TO. It felt strange not hearing Rosie grumble about him taking up her side of the bed or her inability to get comfortable—he understood, given that at this stage of the pregnancy, her bump was quite large.

He finally managed to drift off about three hours after lying down on the sofa. But it wasn't a normal sleep; it was his own personal nightmare.

He was back in their bedroom, just like the previous morning, when he was still hesitating about moving to Buck's.

He stood over their bed, his packed bag on the floor beside him. He felt as if his heart might leap out of his chest if he stayed there a moment longer.

Rosie was sleeping in the exact same position as she had been then—on her side, the only way she could get any rest, curled around her pregnancy pillow. A faint smile touched her lips, and her hand rested on her prominent belly.

There was no sign that anything was wrong until suddenly, the image began to flicker and tremble. The bedroom transformed into an ICU ward.

His beloved was fighting for every breath before his eyes, hooked up to a ventilator that pumped air into lungs ravaged by the virus that had turned the world upside down. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent.

"ROSIE!" he screamed, pounding his fist against the glass partition. He was shattered, yet desperate to do something. Anything. But his efforts were in vain; no one could hear his cries.

The rest of the nightmare blurred into a montage of horror—the steady, rhythmic beep of medical equipment, doctors in full hazmat suits swarming her bed, blood on the sheets...

Finally, the cries of two newborns echoed through the room—but in that moment, they didn't matter to him. Only she did...

"Save her, I'm begging you! Please..." he sobbed, looking at the medics, trying to reach them, but to no avail. "She can't die... Rosie, don't leave me! Not after everything we've been through..."

His voice broke, but suddenly, the woman on the bed opened her eyes. There wasn't a trace of "his" Rosie in them—only a void filled with resentment for what he had done. A moment later, she went limp against the hospital bed.

He didn't need words to know what she wanted to say. He knew he was responsible for all of this.

"ROSIE!" Chimney yelled, bolting upright on the sofa, nearly tumoring onto the floor.

He was more shaken than he'd ever been. He couldn't catch his breath, and the image of her lifeless body—the doctors' failed attempts to save her—was seared into his mind.

"Chim!" He heard rapid footsteps, and a moment later, a disheveled Buck appeared, clearly alarmed by his friend's shouting. "It's just a nightmare. No one died..."

"I saw... I saw her..." he began to stammer.

"Breathe, man," Buckley said, trying to steady him. "It was just a bad dream... Everyone is alive. Rosie and the kids are safe with Lissie. If something had happened, she would have let us know."

"NO, SHE WOULDN'T! DID YOU SEE HOW MAD SHE WAS AT US?!" he cried out, emotionally unhinged. "And she's right. I screwed everything up royally..."

He wasn't surprised that Lissie had rushed to their apartment. Normally, he would have panicked, but now he was glad—young Nash was far more responsible than he was.

"You might be right on both counts, but Lissie isn't heartless," Evan said calmly. "If Rosie's life or the babies' lives were at stake, she'd call. If she hasn't, it means everything was—and is—fine. Well, except for your mental state."

Han buried his face in his hands, trying to calm down. Despite his best efforts, his body continued to shake uncontrollably.

"Nothing is fine, Buck..." he sobbed, completely broken. "I saw it all, and I couldn't do a thing. I want to fix it, but I can't... not yet."

Rosie's younger brother sighed heavily and sat on the floor, leaning his back against the sofa.

"I'm glad it's finally sunk in what an idiot you've been," he said after a silence. "And that nightmare... It's just the fallout of the fear that made you pack your bags and come here. Rosie needs time, but when she's ready... I'm sure you'll earn her trust back. You two love each other too much to let it all go without a fight."

He offered a reassuring smile. Chim might not know how this would end, but he knew he couldn't give up.

Recognizing his mistake was the first step toward making things right.

AS HE HAD SUSPECTED, THE NEXT SHIFT WAS BRUTAL. It wasn't even the calls themselves, but the way everyone stood united behind Rosie—even Hen, who had grown quite distant from the middle Buckley sibling.

Adding to Chim's anxiety was the fact that Lissie hadn't shown up for her shift, even though he knew she was on the schedule. Ian had arrived as a last-minute sub after being called in by Bobby. Knowing she'd been with Rosie since yesterday made his brain spiral into dark scenarios.

"In your shoes, I'd want to protect my family too," Ian admitted as he, Han, and Buck stood by the ambulance bay, slowly prepping to head back to the station. "But your brain must have taken a vacation when you came up with this plan. You know how Rosie freaks out when she's out of touch with you for too long..."

He remembered exactly why that was—the highway accident three years ago, the rebar through his skull. Back then, she had become completely obsessed with his safety.

At the time, he felt he didn't deserve such immense care after how he'd treated her at the station before the accident, but she had been unyielding, just like Marrie. It had brought them together as a family, something he would never stop being grateful for.

"Earth to Han!" Ian called out, waving a hand in front of his face. "Please, save me, because I'm being forced to listen to Buck 3.0's tirade."

"There's a third version of me?" Buckley narrowed his eyes. "Why am I just hearing about this?"

"Because it's the celibacy version, you moron—talkative as hell..." Garcia explained.

"I wonder whose fault it is that I'm in this version..." Buck shot a stern look at Han. "Lissie and I texted yesterday, which means things aren't totally disastrous, but... they're not right either. Especially since I haven't heard from her in hours."

"That worries me too," Chim added. "She didn't answer when I messaged her, though in my case, for obvious reasons..."

Garcia shut the back doors of the ambulance and looked at his two best friends.

"It's obvious because, in her eyes, you acted like a child," he pointed out to Han. "You have a child and two more on the way... We get that you want to protect the girls, but don't you think—after everything you've been through—you should have said something to your pregnant girlfriend before taking such a radical step?"

Evan sighed heavily.

"Give him a break... it finally clicked for him last night," he commented. "He wants to fix it, but Rosie asked for space."

"To get her to forgive you, you'd have to do something extreme," Ian replied. "Or propose to her again."

A silence fell over the three of them as Buck and Chim shared a meaningful look.

"Ian, you're a genius!" they shouted in unison, making their coworker jump back in alarm. "What?"

"You two are turning into your girlfriends... the talking at the same time thing," he said. "I'm used to it with them, but with you two... It's too much."

They laughed, clapping Garcia on the back. It was then that the Latino noticed someone approaching. As it turned out, it was today's "no-show."

"Dear colleagues, before us, we have an agitated Melissa Nash in her unnatural habitat," he began to narrate, sounding like a nature documentary. "Observation suggests there will be casualties..."

BY THE TIME LISSIE REACHED THEM, SHE WAS LIVID. Chimney had never seen her like this, but her sudden appearance at the hospital made his earlier fears return with a vengeance.

"You absolute pig!" she snarled, pointing a finger directly at Han. "Do you have any idea what you could have caused with your thoughtless behavior?! Do you even realize?!"

"What happened?" he asked cautiously, feeling the color drain from his face. "Why are you at the hospital? Bobby said you had personal business to take care of..."

"Yes. Taking care of my friend, who completely fell apart because of your brilliant plan!

He felt his heart hammering harder than ever. If she had been with Rosie and Marrie, and now she was here... there were only two options, as he'd spoken to Albert earlier. He'd received a harsh lashing from him as well.

"Marrie is at home, and Rosie and the twins are fine," she said, her voice calmer now but still laced with severity. "We know the gender of the babies now, but don't think for a second I'm telling you. That kind of information isn't for runners."

"I'm their father..."

"A father stays with his family, he doesn't crash on his brother-in-law's couch!" she raised her voice. They saw tears welling in her eyes. She paused to steady herself. Buck tried to approach her, but she stepped back. "If I hadn't stayed the night with the girls, I don't even want to know what might have happened..."

"Why?" Ian asked, standing closest to her. Unlike her boyfriend, he was allowed to be near. He managed to wrap an arm around her, which she clearly needed. "Was it that bad?"

"Marrie would have been the one responsible for saving her mother..." She looked at her friend. "And there's no guarantee the ambulance would have even made it in time."

With those words, she walked away, leaving the men unable to find a response—especially Han.