Chapter Text
It started with a game of 2 truths 1 lie with the 118 and their families. The adults were gathered around in the Nash-Grant backyard as the kids took turns playing the PlayStation inside.
“I can’t think of many things Maddie and Evan wouldn’t know about me… Let me try.” Daniel said, thoughtfully. “I can juggle five tennis balls; I drank jungle juice at a party once and woke up in Oaxaca and…” Daniel paused, trying to think of the last fact. “I had childhood leukemia.”
Maddie shifted uncomfortably at the last sentence while Buck shook his head. “It has to be the third one. I think I’d know if you had leukemia.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows, glancing at Maddie, who turned away. Maddie pushed her chair back abruptly, voice tight. “I’m gonna check on the kids.” She didn’t wait for a response, already halfway across the yard.
Daniel scowled but Chimney spoke up before he could consider going after her. “It’s probably the first one– he can only juggle 4 balls or it’s golf balls instead of tennis balls.” Daniel turned to Chimney with the same amused expression, refusing to give anything away.
After a small debate – Eddie thought it was the second one and Daniel fibbed about the city, Karen, Hen and Athena couldn’t believe the leukemia could be a lie and Bobby was stuck between the second and third one – everyone but Buck settled on one or two. “You’re wrong, Evs.” Daniel grinned.
Buck felt his world tilt. He vaguely registered Chim making a comment, likely at his expense. Daniel’s smile faltered as Buck seemingly forgot to breathe. He immediately reached forward, grabbing his little brother’s hand. “Evan, are you okay? I’m sorry, I thought you knew… I thought it must have come up at some point.”
“When was this?” Buck’s voice croaked. Maddie chose that moment to come back outside and immediately noticed the tense atmosphere.
“Evan?” She called out rushing to his side.
He turned to his older sister. “When was this?” Maddie swallowed, shaking her head.
“Let’s give them some privacy.” Athena declared, guiding the rest of the adults back inside the house.
“Hey, hey, hey, Ev,” Daniel said, gently. “I’m okay. It was a long time ago. I was diagnosed when I was 7, before you were born and recovered before you were even a year old. I barely remember it.”
Buck glanced back as Maddie took a seat next to him. “Did you know about this?” He asked her. Maddie just nodded, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“What– What– How?” Buck asked.
“Ev… I know this is a lot. But Daniel’s okay. He’s here. You’re both here.” She grasped for grounding words, her voice trembling. She looked at Daniel desperately, trying to keep her brothers from digging any deeper into their childhood.
“It’s fine.” Daniel assured him. “They found a bone marrow donor that matched and I healed.”
Buck met his brother’s gaze, eyes shining with unshed tears. “When did they find the match?”
Maddie held her breath, knowing her younger brother was putting the puzzle pieces together. “August 1991,” Daniel replied.
Everything stopped.
Buck blinked slowly. That was 2 months after he was born. “Was it me? Is that why they had me? Is that why they never told me about any of this?” Buck’s voice cracked.
“What? No, Maddie, tell him that’s not true!” Both boys turned to their sister, at a loss of words. Surely he would have known if his brother, his baby brother, had donated bone marrow to him.
Maddie nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I figured it out when I was in nursing school… when we learned about savior babies.”
Daniel and Buck wore identical expressions of shock and horror. “I–” Daniel tried to speak but Buck just stood up and left. Daniel turned to his sister, the last remnants of a pleasant night giving way to the burdens of the past. “Maddie,” he sobbed, “I didn’t know.”
Buck wiped his tears as he reached the back door of the house. All eyes turned to him but he pulled Eddie aside. “Can I stay with you for a few days?”
“Of course, Buck. Do you want to go home right now?” Buck nodded and Eddie tossed him the keys. “Wait in the car. I’ll get Christopher and we can leave.”