Trouble Don't (File Two of The First Responders Files)

Chapter Eighteen

"I'm guessing there's some bitterness?" Frank raised an eyebrow.

Olivia grimaced. "Owen and Gwyn . . . fell apart after the Towers fell," Elliot said diplomatically, reaching out and shoving Fin when the sergeant scoffed. "First it was Owen spending hours on end rebuilding the 252, but once Owen realized what he was doing, he put a lot of his focus into TK. Then it was Gwyn spending hours on end working at her law firm. That distance never really healed . . . at least, it didn't before I left."

"If anything, it scarred more when TK joined the FDNY and ended up at the 252 with Owen," Fin shook his head. "The Strands were inseparable once that happened. I think after Owen's actions following 9/11, it irked Gwyn that the rift could be repaired."

"It's gotten way better since they went to Austin, though," Amanda chimed in. "And of course, that put them even farther away from Gwyn."

"That was the last we heard from her," Olivia nodded. "Until we heard of her death."

"What happened?" Sam asked quietly.

Olivia steeled herself as she swirled her drink around in its glass. "She was struck with a delivery man's bike in the street," she answered. "She pushed her infant son's stroller out of the way so he wasn't hurt. She died of blood loss caused by major head trauma when she hit the ground. It was practically instant. She was dead before the paramedics arrived."

"Oh, my God," Ayanna's eyes widened in horror.

"She has another kid?" Kevin asked in concern. "Does he have somewhere to go?"

"Gwyn's been in a relationship since shortly after her divorce from Owen," Olivia nodded. "Jonah will be in Enzo's custody."

"Damn," Jet whispered, her hands trembling as she held her drink between them.

"How close of a friend was she?" Jack asked, looking between Olivia, Elliot, and Fin.

Fin shrugged. "I saw her less and less once she started cracking down on her firm."

"We . . . " Elliot exchanged glances with Olivia, then he sighed. "Well, things with Gwyn were civil. Owen really started leaning on us once the divorce happened. The three of us teamed up often to make sure TK was taken care of. I don't know exactly what she thought of that arrangement, but above all else, she cared for TK's well-being."

Olivia chuckled weakly. "Did I ever tell you about the time Gwyn practically demanded I help her pull TK out of a drug den?"

Elliot almost dropped his drink. "You what?"

"Oh, I remember this," Sonny grimaced. "That was when she put him on a plane to Los Angeles."

"She what?" Kevin's eyes widened.

"Once addicts are addicted for a while, they get good at hiding when they aren't well," Olivia explained heavily. "And Gwyn noticed when TK wasn't doing well. So she asked me to accompany her, just in case, to find TK at one of the drug dens. We found him with a needle in his arm, and Gwyn put him on a plane and flew with him to drop him off at a rehab facility in Los Angeles."

Elliot swallowed hard. "When was this?"

"2017," Olivia smiled sadly. "Barba's last year with us."

Sonny sighed and shook her head. "Poor TK."

"I called Nick and told him," Amanda said quietly. "He's not able to get here in time, but he said he'll send his regards to Owen and TK."

Jack nodded thoughtfully, then he looked at Olivia. "I assume you will attend the funeral, Olivia?"