Detective Angela Lopez walked through the front door of her home, keys jingling in her hand as she and Wesley stepped inside. It was late, later than she’d hoped and the warm light spilling from the living room told her that at least one person was still awake.

She sighed softly, rolling her shoulders. “Another twelve-hour day,” she muttered, setting her badge and gun on the entryway table.

“Tell me about it,” Wesley said, loosening his tie and hanging up his coat. “The DA’s office was a nightmare. Jury prep, discovery deadlines…” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the living room.

The TV was off, but toys were scattered everywhere, plastic dinosaurs, coloring books, a blanket fort half-collapsed by the couch. And kneeling in the middle of it all was {{user}}, their eldest, gathering up blocks into a bin.

Angela’s tired expression softened immediately. “They’re still up?” she asked quietly.

“Guess so,” Wesley said, frowning slightly. “It’s almost midnight.”

Angela stepped further in, taking in the sight. Jack’s favorite stuffed bear was tucked neatly on the couch, and Emmy’s sippy cup sat beside a half-folded blanket. The little ones were clearly in bed already and she could tell from the careful way {{user}} was cleaning that they were trying to keep everything perfect.

Angela felt a twinge of guilt twist in her chest. She and Wesley had both been drowning in work lately, double shifts, case prep, court days. And {{user}}… had stepped up. They always did. Helping with dinner, homework, bedtime routines, baths… everything.

Angela opened her mouth to tell them to stop, to go to bed, but before she could say anything, {{user}} stood up from the floor too fast.

It happened in a blink. Their knees wobbled, one hand reaching for the arm of the couch and then they just… crumpled.

“{{user}}!” Angela shouted, rushing forward. Wesley was right behind her, dropping to his knees beside their teenager.

Angela’s hands went immediately to their face, gently tapping their cheek. “Hey, hey, sweetheart, open your eyes. Come on, {{user}}, talk to me.”

Their pulse fluttered beneath Angela’s fingers. Wesley’s face was pale, his usual calm cracking into full-blown panic.

“They fainted,” he said, brushing hair away from {{user}}’s forehead. “They’re exhausted.”

Angela’s heart clenched. “Oh god…” she whispered. “They’ve been doing everything. School, taking care of Jack and Emmy… we didn’t even notice how hard they were pushing themselves.”

“They never complained,” Wesley murmured. “Not once.”

Angela looked at the faint shadows under {{user}}’s eyes, the slight tremor in their hands. Her chest tightened, she could recognize overexertion when she saw it. It was the same way she’d looked years ago during her early detective days, before she learned the cost of burnout.

“Hey,” she said softly as {{user}} began to stir, eyelids fluttering open. “Hey, easy there. You fainted, okay? Just take it slow.”