Bewildered Bobby
She lay sprawled out in the lounge chair soaking up the sun. Her husband was out at work doing what he does best and the kids were all at their own places leaving her to do whatever she wanted. Don’t get her wrong, she loves her job more than anything but after the past 2 weeks, she understood why so many women wanted to be stay at home wives. Just this morning she had a hair appointment to get a trim and once that was finished she got a mani pedi at the place her stepdaughter recommended. Connected to the nail place was a spa and since she was already in the area she decided to treat herself to a deep tissue massage. That whole experience will stay between her and Gloria, her new monthly massage therapist. She grabbed a caesar wrap and a smoothie on her way home and after prepping for dinner and getting the house tidied, she finally took a crack at building the chairs that had been sitting in the shed. They were easier than she originally thought and it only took her 20 minutes to build 5 of them. They didn't need this many when it was just the two of them but the children tended to come back far too often for her husband's taste. The pool also wasn’t to his taste but once he saw her tanning by the side of it, it quickly became one of his favorite features about their newly built house. Her plan for the rest of the day was to finish her book by the side of the pool and wait for her husband to come home so they could enjoy dinner together. The sound of her doorbell echoing through her house put a damper in her plans. She sighed and wrapped her bathing suit cover around her as she made her way to the front door.
“I knew the peace and quiet could only last so long”
…
After the initial shock of who they were looking for wore off, they struggled to find a way to the address. As they were on a scene when this whole thing started nobody had their wallet on them so they couldn't take the bus. They did however have their phones and luckily for them Buck just so happened to have the uber app with his card connected. No one dared to ask why, fearing that it would correlate back to his Buck 1.0 days and nobody wanted to relive those days, not even Buck. It was a bit pricey as there were six of them but Buck declined their offer of paying him back.
“Besides bills and groceries, the only thing I spend money on is spoiling Jee and Christpoher so I can afford to pay for a singular uber.” He reasoned.
“CHRISTOPHER,” Eddie basically shrieked. “I was supposed to pick him up after school. He's probably just sitting there with no one to get him. He doesn't have anyones numbers memorized and I took Abuelitas and Tia Pepas off his emergency contact to not put too much strain on them. Oh he's going to be so pissed. You know how teenagers are.”
“Don’t I know it.” Hen mumbled.
“He’ll be fine” Buck flushed slightly “After, you know, you put me as his other guardian I took it upon myself to put Maddie as his emergency contact as well.”
Chimney and Hen shot each other a look at Eddies puppy eyes settled on Buck.
“Huh why?”
“Well I’m there if something happens to you and since we work the same job I figured I’d need someone to get him if something just so happened to injure both of us at the same time. Yes, I get him if you die but if I’m there if something happens to you then I'm not leaving your side until you're for certain dead and not coming back. I’d need someone we both knew and trusted to pick him up while I tried to save your dumbass.”
“You really think of everything, don't you?” Hen gagged silently as Eddie smiled and lightly punched Buck in the arm “Thanks man.”
Buck’s response is cut short when they pull up to where Bobby’s and Athena’s house stood before it went into flames. They all thanked the driver and stumbled out of the car. Before them stood what looked like a newly built california bungalow. It had a half circle driveway to make it easier to come in and go out and a wildflower garden lined the front of the house. The porch wasn't too small that an outdoor couch set and a porch swing couldn't fit and not look too crowded. The floral couches meshed well with the white exterior of the house and the pale yellow door adorned a multi flower wreath. Athena noted the brown typical ‘Welcome In’ sign as she knocked. They all held their breath of the telltale sounds of someone moving around.
“Coming.” Buck had to look down at the woman who opened the door. The woman glanced at them warmly and familiar brown eyes stared back at them. She wore a light green one piece bathing suit and the thin cover over it was white. Her brown hair was greying near the temples and she exuded a motherly vibe. Buck couldn't help but instantly trust her which made him push his way past everyone and speak for the group.
“Hello mam, sorry to bother you.” He slapped on his mother meeting smile and took the hand she offered “We were given this address by the fire captain at the 118. She said the other captain lived here and could help us.”
“Oh so that’s why Sonia was calling me.” she chuckled “I figured she was calling about one of mine being on a scene again so I ignored it”
She mulled a thought over for a minute and then stepped aside inviting them in. Her husband would not be happy about her letting strangers in the house but she’d cross that bridge when they came to it. She waved them over to the living room and disappeared down a hallway. The house was obviously lived in with pictures on the mantle and randomly nicknacks decorating it. The couches were comfortable and had throw blankets scattered on them. The woman came back into the room dressed in sweats and a lapd sweatshirt carrying a tray with stacked glasses, a pitcher of lemonade and a plate of cookies.
“Figured you guys could use something to drink and a snack.”
Yea, Buck was definitely fighting the urge to curl up in this stranger's arms and call her mom. He needed to have a chat with Frank whenever they got back. Badly.
“Thank you,” Athen smiled warmly “I hope we're not interrupting your plans or anything.”
“No, that's alright. It’s nothing I can't do tomorrow. I’m on leave from work so the only plans I have is to lounge by the pool” she laughed lightly.
“So I'm assuming you’re the captain that was recommended to us.”
“Yes, Captain Bobby Nash of the 118.”
“Oh wonderful.” Athena shot a look to her husband and tightly smiled back at the woman.
“So, do you want to start from the beginning and tell me what I can help you with? I know Sonia was probably no help to you. Love her but also will not do anything that's above her pay grade especially if it’s during a meal time, which judging by what time it is now, you interrupted.”
“Yea she didn’t seem too happy.” Hen cringed.
Buck being the man is he jumped straight into the middle of the story, right where he doomed them to deal with whatever this.
…
“I see,” the woman version of Bobby looked extremely bewildered. As woman Bobby should. Chimney really needed to give one of them a different name to call them in his head. He was starting to get a headache and he was positive it would only get worse as they continued to deal with this situation.
“So you guys were on the scene of a car accident caused by a very intelligent young woman who’s weird glowing device somehow made you guys uh ‘teleport’ to the fire station after pushing button on it, which you should never do by the way” the air quotes around teleport was not necessary as that's exactly what happened. Buck shrugged sheepishly at the judging faces shot his way. “except it isn't your station, it’s mine and you're telling me you're…also…Bobby Nash?”
“Yes exactly-”
“Its crazy-”
“My head is spinning and I'm the one it happened to-”
Female Bobby takes a serious look at the group as they chatter over each other. It’s crazy, she knows it is. Absolutely bonkers and if she didn't get mandatory monthly physical and mental checkups she’d think she was going insane. But also…she believed them. She could see it. She saw her family in them. Plus she was the 118 A-shift fire captain. Her team doesn't have the best track record of crazy calls.
“I believe you.” she grinned as they stared at her just as bewildered as she felt. “The 118. My team. My…family. They’re crazy, they’re stubborn, they don't listen and they get into so much trouble that I can feel a vein in my temple throb before I even get a call about them but…I know them. Know them better than I know myself sometimes. So yea I believe you. I know them and I know you.”
Yea Buck is definitely scheduling a meeting with Frank when he gets home.
…
“You didn't have to do all of this.” Athena sat with her feet swirling around the pool as the night crept in. Bobby had managed to find clothes that fit everyone fairly well even though it was just her and her husband here. They had a bag of donations collected from the station that had not made its way to any charities yet. Both Bobby’s stood by the grill as female Bobby prepared dinner. The others lounge in various spots around the yard and Athena was certain that Buck was fast asleep laying on his back in the grass.
“It's really no trouble at all,” Bobby lightly waved the BBQ sauce covered tongs. “I tend to make a bit extra anyway since I never know who will pop up at my door. Honestly I’m surprised Buck hasn't shown up yet.”
“I'm here. I’m here” Buck shot up wide eyed and blinked the sleep away from his eyes.
“No no not you” Bobby laughed slightly “I meant my Buck. She usually makes her way here on Thursdays for dinner. She loves BBQ night.”
“We’re going to have to refer to one team differently because I can't keep saying female Bobby in my head and I don't think I can do it with everyone.” Eddie cut in.
“That's true. My mind can't take it.” Buck pouted and picked at the grass. “Especially if I meet myself. My head will explode. Oo will I meet myself? I wonder what I look like as a woman? Will I look like Maddie? If Maddie is here too, which I assume she is, will she look like me if she's a man? What if we just swapped bodies? Ugh my head hurts.”
“You know, I never really thought about the fact that we could be the opposite genders as well.” Chimney chimed in watching Buck grab fists full of grass and throw them in Eddie's hair. “Like obviously Bobby and Athena are but us? Didn't cross my mind at all.”
“Well better buckle up bc you're in for some serious whiplash because you’re all the opposite genders here. We’re actually pretty well known for having the most females on our team. Majority of the station, all shifts included, are women. Hen is the only male on my direct team.”
“That sucks,” Hen muttered, kicking a rock. “I was hoping I’d be an exception.”
“Nope,” Bobby grinned widely, “sorry to disappoint you but you are very much a man.”
“Baby? You here?” a voice came from the house.
“Yea in the back” Bobby called back and then grinned sheepishly at them “oh I am in so much trouble.”
“You sure are.” Everyone glanced at the french doors leading into the living room. There stood a tall man in blue police pants, one hand on his cocked hip and the other holding onto his police jacket. His gun was holstered but his expression was clear as day. One move and he'd have it aimed at them in a heartbeat. “Bobby Nash, who the hell do you have in our house?”