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1)- Jurassic Park
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury was so very not fun, Chimney would not recommend it to anyone. And recovering from a traumatic brain injury alone in your apartment because the girl you thought you’d spend your life with leaves you while you’re in a coma is even less fun.
It wasn’t like there was anyone he could call. He had enough headaches as it was without reaching out to his stone-faced father. Things with John and Anne had gotten better in the last few years, but that wall of grief remained in between them. Besides, he’d already failed to save their son the least he could do is try not to remind them of him or ask them to keep him company while his brain healed. Bobby and Hen had already spent so much of their free time taking him to countless appointments and checking in on him. All things considered, he was lucky to be stable enough to be out of the hospital and stumbling around his apartment.
So for now his companion was his trusty couch and his DVD collection. His meds kept him in a constant haze but even just the vague sense of his favorite comfort films helped him relax a little.
He’d just taken his latest round of pills when there was a knock at his door. Unless his memory was acting up again, he was pretty sure he hadn’t ordered any food. Grabbing onto the cane he had to use for balance, he got unsteadily to his feet and hobbled over to the door. Of all the people he expected to see, Buck was certainly not one of them.
“Buck?” he greeted in confusion.
“Hi Chim,” the younger man replied. “I… I was just stopping by to check on you, maybe see if you need some company?”
In the few months Buck had been their probie, Chim had learned about just some of the many forms of Evan Buckley. There was cocky hothead Buck, who was the most fun to tease. There was caretaker Buck that came out on calls, especially around kids. There was scattered brain Buck, who could spend hours buried in a book or rattle off fun facts but also trailed off in the middle of his sentences (Hen was so close to convincing him to get tested for ADHD).
But this Buck? He didn’t come out often. This was nervous puppy Buck, the one who was cautious in how he moved and how he spoke. Chim remembered this version from Buck’s first day meeting the team and he’d only appeared a handful of times since. He couldn’t make fun of this Buck without feeling like a total monster.
“Uh, sure,” Chim finally said. “Come on in.” He limped back over to the couch and plopped into the cushion with a groan. “Probably won’t be the best host right now.”
“Right, yeah that makes sense,” Buck replied. “You should stay off your feet. Do-do you need anything?”
“I’m good right now,” Chim answered. “Buck… aren’t you supposed to be on shift still?”
Buck’s tight smile turned to a grimace. “Bobby might’ve sent me home a little early.”
Chim raised a brow. “And what did you happen to do this time, Buckley?”
“It’s not what you think, okay?” defended Buck, starting to wring his hands. “We got a call to an MVA. And you know I’m usually pretty good at those, so Bobby told me to get the jaws and start getting people out. Everything was fine, the injuries weren’t too bad until we got to the last car. I get the door open… and the driver was impaled.”
“Shit, that’s rough,” Chim said softly. “Were they-“
“He was fine,” Buck interjected. “No thanks to me. I just kinda…froze. Bobby told me to go home and get my head sorted before next shift. Didn’t even make it home, I-I had to make sure you were okay.”
Chim took a moment to process, finally making the connection between the impaled driver and his own recent accident. “You came over here just because you were worried about me?” Buck nodded uncertainly, still fidgeting with his hands.
Damn this kid for being so inexplicably adorable and getting under his skin. How could Chim possibly send him away after that?
“Well don’t just stand there,” he told the young man. “If you’re staying for a bit, pick a movie and sit down.”
Buck visibly brightened at that, strolling over and sorting through Chim’s DVD collection. “I don’t think I’ve seen any of these movies.”
“I swear your lack of cinematic education will be the end of me,” Chim grumbled. “Just pick one, it’ll make the world a better place.”
After a moment, Buck held up a copy of Jurassic Park. “This is the dinosaur one, right? I fricking love dinosaurs.” Okay, Chim would officially be joining Hen in her quest to get Buck an evaluation.
“Surprisingly solid pick, Buckley,” he admitted. “I’ll get to say I introduced you to a classic.”
Buck put the disc in and then plopped beside Chim on the couch. “You think Bobby’s pissed at me?”
“As a general rule, probably,” Chim teased with a weak nudge to his shoulder. “But not about this. I’m not letting you forget that you’re a softie, though.” The first genuine smile appeared on Buck’s lips.
As the movie began, Chim finally let his meds carry him off into a pleasant haze. And when he woke to the familiar credits traveling up the screen, he caught a glimpse of Buck tidying up his apartment. Maybe keeping him around when his probation ended was a good thing after all.
2)- The Wizard of Oz
Buck still being with them was nothing short of a miracle. It felt like they’d never get the ladder truck off of him, and even then they’d held their breath for hours in the waiting room until they knew that the doctors had managed to stabilize him. But he was a survivor. That didn’t stop all of them from worrying about him constantly.
He was hurting plain and simple. The healing process was a long and agonizing one for something as severe as a crushed leg. Even being out of the hospital, he was still alternating between PT appointments that left him in pain and pain meds that made him sleep for most of the day.
They all took turns looking after him because no matter how much he lashed out, they knew he couldn’t be alone right now. Truthfully, it soothed all of them even more to lay eyes on him after the close call.
Bobby took him to most of his PT appointments and kept his fridge stocked with plenty of food. The guilt in his eyes from the young firefighter he held so much affection for being injured by someone who was trying to hurt him instead hadn’t faded in the least.
Eddie brought Christopher around most days that he wasn’t on shift, like something soothed him at being able to keep his eyes on his son and his best friend as often as possible. They knew that the grief in his chest only burned brighter and he was desperately trying to channel that energy into taking care of his boys.
Maddie was almost frantic on days she didn’t get to see her little brother. Chim tried to look after her just as much but he got it. She’d raised him. They’d finally reunited after so many years apart and within a matter of months Doug had tried to rip her from Buck and Freddie had tried to rip Buck from her.
Today it was Chim’s turn. He made sure to get some food in Buck (reheated chicken tacos from Bobby to be specific) and gave him his latest dose of meds. Now his task was keeping Buck comfortable and distracting him until the meds kicked in and he was out again.
Over the last year and a half, Chim had done a lot of work showing his young friend as many classic films as possible. Casablanca, The Godfather, Back to the Future, and so many others had gotten crossed off the list and it had become something of a bonding ritual for them. But this wasn’t an ordinary watch party. Chim had spent hours days ago making an active list of films that wouldn’t be triggering for Buck while he recovered. Nothing with explosions was allowed for now and nothing involving leg injuries (sorry Forrest Gump).
He was pretty sure he had the perfect selection to watch with Buck that day. Everyone liked the Wizard of Oz. There were cute characters, bright costumes, and comforting musical numbers. It would keep Buck calm and happy for a little bit.
However, Chim soon realized that he might be an idiot. Because he’d been so fixated on explosions and leg injuries that he forgot the part where a witch literally gets crushed by a house.
Now he had a 6’2 injured golden retriever sobbing against his chest and he was feeling like a massive dick.
“Buckaroo, I’m sorry,” he whispered to his friend. “We-we can find another movie, okay?”
“I c-can’t do this anymore,” Buck cried. “I-I’m n-never gonna be a f-firefighter again. I l-lost everything.”
Chim held onto him firmly, running a hand through his hair. “Listen to me, buddy. I know that all of this sucks. None of this is fair. But this isn’t going to be forever. You’re gonna get better and you will walk back into the firehouse good as new.”
“You d-don’t know that,” Buck replied.
“I made it back into work after getting rebar in the head,” Chim reminded. “And you’re way stronger than me, Buck.”
“Don’t feel like it right now,” muttered Buck.
“Well that’s what you got us for,” Chim told him. “You can let us take care of you for a little bit. But you’ll be okay, buddy.”
Buck’s breathing seemed to settle, his body slowly slumping further against Chim as the crying and his meds wore him out. “Thanks, Chim.”
Chim smirked, helping Buck lay down comfortably across the couch and elevate his leg. “I owe it to you anyway, I was captain when you got hurt.”
“Not your fault,” Buck mumbled. His eyes were fluttering but they still glanced at the TV. “Sorry about the movie.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chim told him. “I’ll turn it down so you can rest.”
He lowered the volume and pressed play, letting the dreamy colors soothe Buck to sleep. They’d have to rewatch it another time, but at least Buck was taken care of. There’d be more rough days and their little makeshift family would be there to see him through every one of them.
Shaking out the blanket folded over the back of the couch, Chim draped it over Buck gently. “I’ve got you,” he promised.
3)- It’s a Wonderful Life
It might’ve been Chim’s favorite Christmas since those early years with his mother, certainly the best he’d ever had on shift. Spending even a few hours surrounded by his family, the first proper Christmas he’d spent with Maddie, was damn near perfect. After everything they’d been through that year, everyone was okay again.
Things had slowed down significantly in those early hours of night (although Chim wasn’t dumb enough to use the q word). Once all their families went home and the remains of Christmas dinner stored away, the team had decided to try and get some rest in the bunks.
When Chim’s stomach woke him, protesting the size of the feast he’d eaten earlier, it was just after ten. Still Christmas, then. He climbed out of his bunk and shuffled up to the loft, only to hear the quiet sound of a movie playing on the TV. Buck was laying on the couch, silently watching the first few minutes of It’s a Wonderful Life.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Chim asked, accidentally startling the younger man.
“Hey Chim,” Buck replied softly. “Nah, not happening tonight I guess. Figured I’d get one more Christmas movie in, never actually seen this one.”
“Come on, move your big giraffe legs,” Chim said, plopping onto the seat next to him. “I can’t believe you’ve never seen this.”
“Christmas was never that big of a deal,” Buck answered with a shrug. It was rare for Buck to say much about his past beyond his dating history, they hadn’t even known Maddie existed until she showed up in Los Angeles. Chim credited the information to the exhaustion lines under Buck’s eyes, their youngest member always seemed more likely to open up when he was tired or drunk.
Chim decided to skim over the vague hint at the mysterious Buckley parents. He knew that they were alive but beyond that he hoped to never have to meet them. “Well you’re in for a treat.”
“It always seemed kinda sad when people told me about it,” admitted Buck. There was a strange sort of melancholy in his eyes that didn’t belong there. “Like who starts a Christmas movie with a dude being suicidal?”
“That’s not the point,” chided Chim. “The point is that he gets to see all the ways he’s touched the lives of his family and friends.”
Buck hums quietly at that. “He’s lucky then. Getting to know, I mean. The rest of us just have to wonder our whole lives.”
Chim raised an eyebrow, turning toward the younger man. “Buck, you and Athena are the only reasons today was as special as it was. I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“I had a lot to make up for,” Buck replied.
Ah, so that’s what this was about then.
“No one’s mad about the lawsuit anymore,” Chim reassured him. “Families fight, but they’re still a family.”
He was pretty sure that no one had been truly mad at him in the first place. Their lives would’ve been a lot easier if Bobby just admitted the real reason he was more protective of Buck than his other firefighters. But he kicked himself for not catching the skittish look that lingered on Buck since that first shift back, the same one he’d worn plenty of days as a probie when he seemed so sure he’d be kicked to the curb again soon.
“Today was really good,” Buck said, though there was no smile to accompany it. “I wasn’t sure if I’d get to have that again. Sometimes… I get worried I’ll mess it up.”
“Pretty sure you’re already past your return by date,” Chim said, nudging Buck with his elbow. “We’re not going anywhere, Buckley. And neither are you.”
Buck didn’t respond, but Chim could see the tension leave his face as he focused back on the movie. Watching George Bailey go on a journey of self worth, Chim made a note to remind the rest of their family to check in on their youngest member. Everyone could use a reminder sometimes.
“Merry Christmas, Chim.”
“Merry Christmas, Buck.”
4)- The Princess Bride
It had certainly been an exhausting week to say the least. Chim never thought he’d say this, but the Buckleys somehow made his own familial history look almost normal by comparison. At least so many things about Buck finally made sense to him. The guy was always looking for approval, always scared of being tossed aside, and no wonder with the home he’d come from.
When the elder Buckleys finally returned to Hershey, Chim was left with two Buckleys to piece back together. Maddie and Buck had mended their relationship, but the ache of Daniel’s memory still loomed over them. He’d returned home the day before to find both of them red eyed, looking over a photo of Daniel and sharing in their grief for the first time.
So today, Chim decided to invite Buck over for another movie night. They’d checked a lot of things off the list during the few months he was living at the loft, but Chim knew Buck still had several blind spots despite his best efforts.
“I have options,” he told Buck as the younger man settled on the couch. “What are we feeling for today?”
Buck shrugged. “Something comforting, I guess. Head’s loud today.” That was one of the phrases Dr. Copeland had taught him to express the bad days for his ADHD now that he’d finally been diagnosed. Chim wasn’t surprised he was struggling more with everything that had happened.
“I think I know just the thing,” Chim said. “I’m going to introduce you to The Princess Bride.”
“What the hell is that?” asked Buck with a raised brow.
Chim, already putting the disc into the player, glanced back at him. “Only one of the best movies of all time. There’s romance and comedy and duels to the death, buckle in Buck.” Buck looked skeptical still, but he stayed quiet and kicked his feet up.
It didn’t take long for the younger man to visibly relax, lost in the kingdom of Florin just like Chim knew he’d be. Chim pretended not to hear Buck stimming by softly mimicking lines he found funny under his breath.
Chim had let his own guard down enough that he wasn’t expecting Buck to pipe up halfway through the movie with “Sorry for stressing Maddie out. I didn’t… hurt the baby right?”
“What?” asked Chim, completely startled. He grabbed the remote and paused the movie. “Of course not, buddy. The baby is totally fine. And you didn’t stress her out, alright? Your parents did. She was just worried about you. We all were.”
“Oh,” Buck replied like he hadn’t considered not being at fault.
“Besides,” Chim continued. “Your sister isn’t the one who had to pull your ass out of a warehouse fire.”
“Was just doing my job,” Buck muttered sheepishly. Chim could’ve called him out on it, that he’d had his own suspicions about that even before Hen and Bobby told him about what happened in the ambulance. But he let it go and settled for a comforting squeeze of Buck’s shoulder before restarting the movie.
The sound of their laughter eventually drew Maddie out of their bedroom, watching both her boys with a fondness in her eyes. When Chim caught her eye, she mouthed ‘Thank you’ and he gave her a soft smile.
‘As you wish’ he mouthed back to her.
5)- Lilo and Stitch
They’d all been walking on eggshells since Boston. Since Maddie had fled under the weight of her illness. Since Chim had done something he’d never forgive himself for and then chased after her with their baby girl in tow.
Now they were back, he’d returned to the 118, but everything was still cracked and one breath from falling apart. Him and Maddie were broken up, maybe forever. Eddie was at dispatch, struggling with his own trauma. And Chim and Buck… they didn’t know how to act around each other anymore.
Gone was the familiar ribbing, the comfortable rhythm and chatter around the station. Instead, Buck seemed to tense whenever he was nearby and they barely spoke to each other even in a group setting. No matter how much Hen encouraged Chim to fix it, he couldn’t figure out how. Other than an apology text sent while he was still in Boston, he’d been too much of a coward to act further for fear of breaking their fragile bond even more.
Maybe he needed to just start small. If nothing else, the one thing that had always been theirs were their movie nights. So he sucked it up and approached Buck in the locker room one evening after shift.
“Hey Buck,” he greeted. The flinch that came when Buck heard him stung, but he knew it was deserved.
“Hey Chim,” Buck said, forcing a smile.
“Listen,” Chim continued, scrambling for words. “I was thinking you should come over, we haven’t had a movie night since I came back.”
Buck’s eyes went wide. “Oh… um, I don’t know. I-I should probably see if Taylor wants to do anything tonight-“
Chim sighed, knowing he had to pull out the ace card. “I mean if you’re sure, but Jee has been asking for more Uncle Buck time now that we’re home.” He could instantly see Buck soften, caving at the thought of spending time with his niece.
“Y-yeah, okay,” the younger man agreed. “I’ll see you in a bit then?”
As Chim returned home, he couldn’t give in to the urge to pace while Jee was watching him so instead he got the nervous energy out by playing with his daughter. When Buck knocked, Chim brought Jee to the door with him. She clapped her hands together with a happy squeal.
“Buh!” she shouted. The joy that appeared on Buck’s face when he saw her was the first genuine happiness Chim had seen on him in a while.
“Jee Yun, my favorite girl!” he greeted. Chim transferred her to his arms and he cooed down at her.
“Come on in,” he told Buck with a smile. “Hope you’re okay with Jee picking the movie tonight, she’s the real boss around here. You ever seen Lilo and Stitch?”
“Can’t say that I have,” Buck replied, still too timid for Chim’s liking.
“Well you better get used to it,” he said. “She’s obsessed with it right now, isn’t that right honey?”
“Lilo, Lilo, Lilo,” babbled Jee.
Chim got a sippy cup ready for Jee and settled down on the couch, watching Buck carefully position himself with Jee. His hold had always been solid, but he was tentative now, and his eyes kept darting back over to Chim.
Predictably, Jee dozed off only a few minutes into the movie. Her head rested against Buck’s chest, Buck staring down at her like the most precious gift in the world. Chim left the movie playing, content not to interrupt them for anything.
“I got a lot of pics and videos to send you,” he promised.
“Thanks,” Buck answered softly. “Haven’t gotten to see her much since you guys came back. N-not to overstep or anything, I know Maddie wants a lot of alone time with her right now to make up for lost time.”
Chim only realized the potential trigger of this cute Disney film seconds before it happened. And then the line happened.
“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.”
Sure enough, there were steady tears leaking from Buck’s eyes. He pressed a soft kiss to Jee’s head and Chim knew he couldn’t wait until after the movie for a proper talk.
“I’m really sorry, Buck,” he told Buck shamefully.
Buck sniffled, still avoiding eye contact. “You don’t have to apologize again-“
“Yes I do,” Chim whispered, the urgency in his voice growing. “Because you didn’t deserve any of that and because I didn’t just leave the 118 behind. I left you too.”
“Everyone does,” Buck stated morosely. “I get it. Was probably a lot quieter without me around.”
“Actually I missed it a lot,” admitted Chim. “But you’re still quiet and I don’t know what to do. I was an asshole and I hit you and now it’s like you’re scared of me and I feel like I’m just as bad as Doug.”
“No,” hissed Buck. Jee stirred in his arms and he froze, not moving until she settled again. “You’re nothing like him, okay? Don’t say that. He spent years making Maddie feel worthless. He didn’t even really want me at the wedding because he wanted her isolated from everyone. You brought her back. I’m not scared of you. I’m… I’m scared of driving you away again. Both of you.”
“You didn’t drive anyone away,” assured Chim. “Maddie was sick, and I blamed myself for not noticing. It was easier to blame you and that’s not fair to you. I will never forgive myself for what I did, I am so sorry.”
Buck nodded thoughtfully. “Just don’t leave again. I-I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“You won’t be,” Chim told him. “Buddy, I promise you we’re not going anywhere again. But I don’t want you to forgive me right away or tiptoe around me at the station just to keep the peace. We’re family, when one of us messes up, we make up for it.”
Buck smirked at him. “Well I wouldn’t say no to more movie nights with the best niece ever. I missed her a lot.”
“I think I can make that work,” Chim replied with a smile. “It’s too quiet around here anyway. Especially without Maddie.”
“She’ll come around,” assured Buck. “I know Maddie. She always finds her way back.”
“That’s just what you do for the people you love.”
+1)- Heartstopper
Getting married right after he almost died yet again was just par for the course of Chim’s life at this point. But damn if Maddie Buckley in her wedding dress hadn’t put more life in him than he’d ever felt in his life. Yet somehow, the most surprising moment of the day had come from his (newly official) brother in law.
Look, Chim wasn’t a saint. There’d been a couple discussions over the years over which side of the magnet Buck was drawn to, so to speak. Buck 1.0 was a womanizer, but he also seemed pretty content to flirt with anything that had opposable thumbs. So it wasn’t terribly surprising to find out the man was further right on the Kinsey scale. Buck finally figuring out and apparently dating Tommy of all people, now that was a little more unexpected.
Still he’d been on bed rest for days since getting released from the hospital, so he had lots of time to overthink. Was he supportive enough to make Buck feel safe? Was he informed enough about this stuff? And most importantly, would it be more homophobic to keep teasing him about his dating life or to not tease him about his dating life? That last one he might need to consult Hen about.
When Maddie had to go back to work, Buck was the first to volunteer to look after him and Jee for the evening. Chim was pretty sure Buck still carried some guilt about losing him the night before the wedding, despite both Chim and Maddie assuring him several times that it wasn’t his fault. But if Buck wanted to offer some company and free babysitting Chim sure wouldn’t say no.
“I think Jee’s princess adventures wore her out,” Buck said softly as he returned to the living room. “Think I’m getting too old to be her trusty steed, though.”
“Tylenol on the counter,” Chim replied with a smirk. “You heading out soon?”
“Nah, I said I’d keep you company,” Buck told him, plopping on the couch.
“And here I thought you only come over for your niece,” joked Chim. “For the millionth time, you don’t have to keep beating yourself up about the bachelor party.”
Buck shrugged. “That’s not what our parents said. If I’d paid more attention we could’ve gotten you to the hospital sooner.” Chim grimaced at the memory of lying in a hospital bed and hearing the barely lowered voices of Philip and Margaret Buckley berating their son yet again.
“Well, your parents are thankfully on a plane back to Pennsylvania,” Chim assured him. “I’m glad you and Eddie had a good time.”
“Maybe too good of a time,” Buck admitted with a chuckle. “We may have had to pay for damage to the hotel room.”
Chim couldn’t help the belly laugh that came out of him at that. Buck tried to look offended, but soon devolved into giggles himself and they both had to quiet themselves to avoid waking Jee.
When they finally calmed down, Chim leaned back against the couch. “Movie night then?”
“Actually…” Buck replied, nervously fidgeting with his hands. “I thought maybe we could try this show Chris has been bugging me to watch for a few weeks. It’s called Heartstopper.”
Chim could silently admit to being curious, especially concerning Buck’s nerves about suggesting it. When he pulled it up, he realized why. It was that teen queer show he’d heard about a couple years ago. With an encouraging smile towards his brother in law, he pressed play. It couldn’t hurt to watch a couple episodes.
Except three and a half hours later, they were midway through the season finale. Listen, Chim was invested at this point and needed to see if these kids got their shit together. Buck had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout their spontaneous binge, mesmerized beyond a silent nod every time Chim asked if they were watching another episode. The tension in his shoulders during the bullying scenes definitely gave Chim some questions for his wife(damn he loved that word). But when the boys finally kissed and made up, declaring themselves boyfriends, there was only warmth on Buck’s face.
By the time they got to the coming out scene, both men had tears in their eyes and Chim was already planning on going to Christopher Diaz for several more TV recommendations. Buck gasped softly when the word “bisexual” came from Nick’s mouth, as if figuring something out himself.
The credits began to play and Chim turned back to him. “Is that what it feels like for you?”
Buck took a shaky inhale, wiping his eyes. “I think so. I thought it came out of nowhere, but maybe… it’s been there my whole life.”
“I’m guessing you were pretty nervous about us knowing?” Chim asked gently.
“A little,” admitted Buck. “I mean, I know that’s kinda unfair. You guys are great and I trust you. I guess I just… can’t help but see myself a little differently now. And it makes me scared that the people I care about will see me differently too.”
Chim shifted on the couch, looking Buck up and down. “Let me take a look. Still taller than you have any right to be. Still a great firefighter. Still a big, lovable goofball. I think you’re still the same little brother, I just know more about you now.”
Buck ducked his head bashfully. “Thanks, Chim. Although I think you’re kinda stuck with me as a brother in law anyway, marrying my big sister and all.”
“Buck,” Chim said. “You’re not my brother because of your sister. You’ve been my brother since that first day you walked into the 118.” As Buck wrapped him up in a bear hug, Chim thought that maybe he knew what his brother needed after all.
When Maddie returned home early in the morning, she found Chim and Buck passed out on the couch. The movie they’d put on continued to play without them, but they’d have plenty more chances to watch it. Movies nights were their tradition after all.