Work Text:
1.
Buck has never been this responsible in his entire life. Ever since Cap gave him a second chance at staying in the 118, he’s been on his absolute best behavior. …Okay, maybe not his absolute best, but behavior that’s pretty good for him, all things considered. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. He’s getting more responsibilities, both on scene and back at the station, and he’s really thinking that this was the right call for him. That he’s finally found a place where he belongs.
Every day, Buck gets to wake up and go to work with people who feel more like family than coworkers, and it’s nice. He’s liked his coworkers at jobs before, of course, but there’s just something about entrusting your life to someone on a daily basis that creates a bond you really can’t replicate anywhere else. Buck doesn’t think he’ll ever have to try to, either - he doesn’t plan on leaving the 118 any time soon.
Unfortunately, life rarely follows the plan you make for it.
When the firetruck flips over, the explosion of the event shakes Buck down to his very core. He wonders if this may be the last thing he ever sees, ever does, before he dies. It’s that serious. Yet, even knowing how serious it is, he’s unable to come to terms with the fact that after he wakes up in the hospital, he’s given the news that he may not be able to return to work. Not just soon, not just in the next few weeks, but potentially ever.
“Buck, you’re lucky to be alive,” Bobby tells him, not for the first time.
“Am I? Is it lucky when it means I can’t go back to the job that made life worth living?” Buck says, his tone sharper than it should be. This is Bobby - Bobby cares about him. Bobby is only looking out for him. But Buck doesn’t want someone to look out for him; he wants to go back to work.
“There will be other jobs,” Bobby points out.
“Not for me,” Buck counters. “Not like this.” Buck shakes his head. “I’ll get better. I’ll come back from this. You’ll see.”
It’s days until Buck can fully function on his own again, and weeks before he’s allowed to finally leave the hospital with a new supply of medications in tow. Medicines that make him a ‘liability’ for work, but if he refuses to take them, he will likely land right back in this hospital. He’s tempted, but everyone already knows about his discharge instructions, and no one is going to let him sacrifice his own health for the sake of coming back to work.
That doesn’t stop him from swinging by the station, though.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” Hen asks, eyebrow raised.
“Nah, I’m good to go now. Just came by to grab some stuff I left here the day of the accident,” Buck says, using the excuse to linger around, taking in the electric air of the firehouse. He’s missed it, even for the short time he’s been away. He feels like he can breathe again just being inside these walls.
Two steps towards his locker knocks that air right out of him, though.
“Who’s that?” Buck asks, trying - and failing - to sound casual over the sight of an unknown guy standing in sweats and a black t-shirt in front of Buck’s locker. Or should he say, his old locker, since it has a new nameplate over it and stuff inside that clearly isn’t Buck’s. “And why is he using my locker?”
“We moved your stuff to the back corner,” Hen says, pointing to the locker furthest away from the doors. “Just for now. You know, while you’re gone,” she adds hastily at the sight of his features narrowing. “Every second counts in this job, right? Couldn’t have Eddie late to the truck every call because his locker’s too far away.”
“Eddie,” Buck repeats, walking closer to the locker room now. The plate on the locker reads ‘Diaz’ where ‘Buckley’ used to be, and the inside has some drawings that look like a little kid did them.
Eddie’s talking to Chimney when Buck opens the door to the lockers a little too forcefully, definitely by accident, and not because he’s silently fuming over being replaced before he could even grab his things.
“Hey, what’s- oh, Buck!” Chimney says, turning to look him up and down. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t just mail me my things since you were so quick to give away my spot,” Buck says, his tone more hurt than joking.
“Ah, so you’re the infamous Buck,” Eddie says, holding out a hand. “I’m Eddie. It’s nice to finally meet you. I feel like I know more about you than I do anyone else here, with the way everyone goes on about you.”
Buck considers not taking the offered hand but relents in the end, reaching out to shake.
“Hey! I’m actually glad you’re here,” Eddie says. “I’m inviting everyone over to my place to get to know everyone outside of work a little. I was going to have Hen pass your invitation along, but since you’re here, it’s Thursday night at my place. Give me your number, and I’ll text you the address,” Eddie adds, handing his phone over to Buck. “Very casual, just pizza and drinks, no house-warming gift required. I’d love to see you there.”
Buck’s caught in the whirlwind of Eddie’s easy-going personality and how casually he blew off Buck’s comment about his locker, so much so that he takes the phone and puts his number in without a sarcastic quip.
“Great,” Eddie says, taking the phone back and texting Buck the details. His eyes go up to the clock on the wall behind Buck, and he winces. “Ah, gotta run. Can’t be late picking up Christopher again. Good to meet you, Buck!” Eddie grabs his bag and rushes out the door without a glance back.
“He seems…” Buck starts, but trails off. He wants to find some immediate flaw with Eddie, to nit-pick at anything, but he comes up short. From their brief initial interaction, Eddie seems annoyingly fine. “Whatever. Where’s my stuff at?”
Buck collects his things without saying another word to anyone else, already planning his excuses for not showing up Thursday night.
---
Buck ends up being talked into going. Reluctantly, but at least there’s free pizza and beer. Buck does not bring a gift, just like Eddie said, though he seems to be the only one to make that choice. Which is fine - it isn’t like he’s the one working with this guy, after all. He’s mostly here to be nosy; see what sort of place he’s living in, figure out if he’s really the sort of person Buck can trust to take care of the lives of his best friends - his family.
Buck tries to ask leading questions to get negative answers out of Eddie, trying to pry at whatever past brought him here, away from his home and family in Texas. All he ends up getting are endearing stories with Christopher - Eddie’s kid - at the center of most of them. That, or heroic war retellings that paint Eddie as some sort of goddamn hero.
It takes approximately thirty minutes of trying to get a single piece of dirt on Eddie and failing for Buck to isolate himself away from the living room, wandering down a back hallway, desperate for a moment of silence that isn’t filled with how great Eddie is and how excited everyone is to work with him.
Which is when Buck hears the sound of a familiar video game coming from a room with an open door. He knows it’s Christopher - the kid was out for a little bit earlier to say hi to everyone and grab his own pizza before retreating away from the ‘boring adult’ talk. Honestly, Buck couldn’t blame him. Standing in the doorway, Buck watches as Christopher makes a rookie mistake trying to hide in an easily ambushed area of the game.
“You don’t want to stay there,” Buck cautions from the doorway. “If you can, get yourself about a half mile west. There’s a partial rock wall that’ll cover you on three sides.”
Christopher looks up at him dubiously at first, then begins to move west without a word. When Buck’s spot ends up being just as good as promised, Christopher motions to the spare controller sitting on the floor by the television. “Want to play? I could use more pointers. I’m no good at this one, and all my friends make fun of me when we team up.”
Buck glances back down the hall behind him, then shrugs.
“Sure, why not?” he agrees, grabbing the controller. It’s a full half an hour before anyone comes looking for Buck, only to find him and Christopher sitting side-by-side on the edge of the small bed, excitedly sharing what they see on their split screen to help the other out of a tough spot.
Eventually, Eddie comes by. “Hey, Christopher, why don’t you let Buck go back to the party now, alright?”
“No!” Christopher shouts, devastated by the thought. At the same time, Buck shakes his head and goes, “Nah, I’m good here. I mean…” Buck looks back at Eddie. “Unless I have to. If it’s his bedtime or something.”
Eddie glances at his watch, then back up at the two of them. Buck doesn’t miss the way Eddie’s eyes soften at the sight of the two of them sitting there together, and the fond way Eddie glances at Buck after seeing how much Christopher’s taken to him in this short time, even if it was just bonding over video games.
“Half an hour,” Eddie says. “Then bed.” “Yes!” Christopher and Buck exclaim at the same time. Christopher promptly goes back to ignoring Eddie in favor of their game, but Buck’s eyes linger on Eddie a while longer, taking in the strangely endearing look Eddie’s giving them. Buck’s attention is swiftly brought back to the game in front of him at the insistent tug of his arm when he doesn’t start moving right away.
That half hour goes by much too fast for either of their liking, and soon Eddie’s shutting the console off and forcing Christopher to go to bed, which means forcing Buck to go back to the party.
“Hey,” Eddie says, stopping Buck before he can leave at the end of the night. “I’ve never seen Christopher warm up to a stranger like that before.”
Buck smirks. “What can I say? People like me.”
“They do,” Eddie agrees. “Everyone here had nothing but good things to say about you. Which is why I was wondering… if you hadn’t found another job yet, how would you feel about watching Christopher?”
“Like a babysitter?” Buck asks, eyebrow raised.
“Yeah. Or a nanny, or a… caretaker. Whatever you want to call it. He likes you, you don’t have anything else lined up right now, and finding reliable childcare in this city is a nightmare. Plus, I can keep you updated on all the firehouse gossip when I’m back from my shifts. What do you say?” Eddie asks.
“I could get the gossip from anyone there,” Buck points out.
“Yes, but would they pay you for it?” Eddie counters.
Buck considers that. He has been putting off getting any sort of job to supplement his income, and he did like spending time with Eddie’s kid tonight. Plus, the idea of taking money from the guy who took his job feels like some sort of karmic distribution that he shouldn’t turn his nose up at so quickly. “I guess we could see how it goes,” Buck agrees. “Just until I find something else.”
“Deal,” Eddie agrees immediately. “You’re a lifesaver, Buck.”
Buck frowns at that. “I used to be,” he mutters.
Eddie winces. “Sorry. I know how rough it is to have to step back from a job like this. When I got shot, it took everything in me not to go back too soon afterward.”
“Yeah,” Buck says, hating that Eddie’s probably the one person here tonight who actually does know what Buck is feeling right now. “It’s fine.”
“It will be,” Eddie agrees. “Anyway, thanks. I’ll let you know the details for Christopher, maybe we can drop him off at school together on Monday, so I can introduce you to the staff there for pick-ups?”
“Sure, sounds good,” Buck agrees. “And, uh, welcome. I guess. I’m sure the 118 is glad to have you.”
2.
Buck cannot believe this is happening.
No, scratch that, he can believe this is happening because that’s just his life right now, isn’t it? Just one series of catastrophic failures after another. Except this time it isn’t him who’s suffering the consequences.
“Christopher!?” Buck shouts, wading through water that’s up to his waist in a lot of places, wondering how far away Chris could’ve been swept away. He could be blocks away by now. The second Buck lost sight he thought for sure he’d catch up to him in a matter of time. The longer that time stretches out, however, the more Buck wonders if he managed to pass the kid, or worse… maybe Christopher wasn’t above the water to be found by sight and screaming.
Not that that thought was going to stop Buck. He’d stay out here 24/7, combing the streets until he found Chris. He had to, because the idea of going back to Eddie without his kid was one Buck refuses to consider.
“CHRISTOPHER?!”
Buck’s isn’t the only voice crying out for lost loved ones in frantic tones, but he does his best to make it the loudest.
“Have you seen a kid? This tall-” Buck motions with his hand. He learned in his training that people are better with visual descriptors than specific heights. “Brown hair, maybe wearing glasses, bright yellow striped shirt?” Buck rattles off the description at lightning speed, because it’s one he’s given dozens of times by now, asking everyone he sees in passing.
He’s been watching Christopher for a few weeks now… or is it a few months? Honestly, the time seems to pass in a way it didn’t before he had Christopher and Eddie in his life. Sure, his life isn’t on the line every time he goes into work now, but he feels rewarded in a way he didn’t before. Saving lives is great, obviously, but those are people he never sees again. There’s something special in helping one life- of making a difference that he can see grow day by day.
Plus, if it wasn’t for Christopher, he would’ve hated Eddie on principle for the rest of his life, instead of realizing that the two of them actually get along pretty damn well. So well that Buck finds himself staying an hour, sometimes two or three, after Eddie gets back from work, just so the two of them can have a drink and chat.
And now all Buck can think is that he’s lost both of those things in the blink of an eye. He doesn’t want to be pessimistic; he can’t afford to be with Chris’s life on the line, but as the minutes stretch to hours, he knows the odds - and they aren’t good.
Soon, Buck’s description drops the ‘glasses’ after he finds those among the wreckage of the tsunami. Unfortunately, Christopher isn’t anywhere near them.
Finally, Buck stops searching the streets and starts moving to the triage areas set up around the area. There are lines of people on stretchers getting medical attention, and even longer rows of bodies with sheets over them. He’s resolved not to reach out to Eddie until after he’s searched in every last tent and under every last sheet when he spots a familiar face - just not the one he was looking for. In fact, it’s the last face he wants to see just then.
Eddie. Eddie, still in uniform, still working.
Eddie, who asks Buck if he’s okay before asking about his own son. It’s a level of caring, a level of concern that Buck doesn’t deserve. And then-
“Where’s Christopher?”
Buck can only imagine what his broken expression gives away in that moment, before he can even try to find the words to say. He brings a hand up to the glasses with the red strap that he wears around his neck, stumbling through what he means to be an explanation, a confession… but the words come out as broken as Buck feels, nowhere close to a complete sentence or thought.
When Eddie starts to walk away from Buck, he thinks that this is it, that this is the last thing he’ll ever say to Eddie Diaz.
And then he hears Christopher.
Buck turns around slowly, afraid that he’s imagining things, but when his eyes land on a woman handing Christopher over to Eddie, the relief that surges through Buck is enough to make his legs weak. It’s only then that he allows himself to feel the full effect of what he’s been through - the emotional and physical turmoil of the day finally taking its toll on him now that he allows it to.
Now that Christopher’s safe, and nothing else matters, Buck collapses.
---
Buck doesn’t go to Eddie’s the next day to watch Christopher. He doesn’t answer his phone when Eddie calls. He knows that this is over - despite the happy ending, there’s no way Eddie trusts him with Christopher again after losing him like that, and Buck doesn’t blame him. He just doesn’t need to hear it right then.
So when there’s a knock at his door, and Buck opens it to see Eddie there to drop off Christopher like nothing ever happened, it takes him a minute to process what’s happening.
“I lost him-” “You saved him. That’s how he remembers it,” Eddie says, nodding over to where Christopher sits with the biggest smile on his face. “And that’s how I remember it. If I’d gotten to that center ten minutes later, it would’ve been you who got Christopher back from that woman. He was looking for you out there, not me, remember?”
Eddie looks at him with a serious expression, but not a negative one. It’s obvious he really wants Buck to hear what he’s saying.
“You never stopped looking for him. That’s all I could’ve asked. It’s more than I could ask for, given the state we found you in. You should’ve stopped long before you did - but you didn’t. You love him. And he loves you right back.” Eddie pauses there, looks like he might say something else, but Buck watches the flash of hesitation that changes his mind for whatever reason. “Buck, there’s nobody in this world I trust with my son more than you.”
There it is. So plain and simple and honest. Eddie trusts him. Even after everything… Eddie trusts him. And Christopher still looks up to him. And Buck… Buck is still a part of their lives, of their family. As if there was any doubt left, Eddie’s parting words erased it.
“Oh, and thank you - for not giving up.”
“Yeah… uh, of course,” Buck manages, though he’s relatively certain the door is closed before he gets the words out.
Turning to face Christopher again, Buck can’t help but match the kid’s energy and enthusiasm. Buck can’t help but think that maybe everything is okay - or at least that it’s going to get back there very soon.
3.
“Alright, what’s the next step?” Buck asks Christopher, waiting patiently for the answer before reaching over to grab the flour himself.
“I don’t know,” Christopher says, eyeing the television’s black screen for a moment with clear longing. “You’re the baker, why can’t you just make the cookies yourself?”
“Because one, I’m not ‘the baker’ - I’m here to watch you. And the only reason we’re making these brownies is because you need them for the school fundraiser. Which is why you’re going to help.”
Christopher sighs. “Dad never makes me help,” he points out.
“Your dad buys the brownies from the store and then wraps them in plastic wrap to pretend he made them himself,” Buck points out. “Come on, we’re almost done, then you can play all the video games you want while they’re baking.”
At that, Christopher lights up. “Okay!”
They run through the last of the ingredients, with Buck doing most of the work as far as the actual mixing and pouring go once the ingredients are all assembled.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Buck asks once the brownies are in the oven to bake, the sweet smell of chocolate begins to fill the apartment.
“I guess not,” Christopher says, picking a rogue chocolate chip off the counter and popping it into his mouth.
This isn’t the first time that Buck’s baked something for Chris’s school - a holiday party, Chris’s birthday, little things like those where Christopher wanted to bring in treats for his class. This is just the first time he’s gone out of his way to make sure Christopher is involved as well, instead of just sitting on the sofa waiting for Buck to be done. And despite Chris’s apparent indifference, Buck is pretty sure that by the end, he’s actually enjoying making a mess with the flour and actively helping.
Or maybe he was just enjoying the extra time spent doing something with Buck, though that may just be wishful thinking on Buck’s part.
When the brownies are done, Buck cuts each of them a small piece just to test, and the way Christopher’s eyes light up makes it all worth it.
“Everyone is going to love these, Buck!” Chris exclaims. “They’re the best brownies I’ve ever had!”
Buck beams. “And now you can tell everyone you made them,” he points out. “Don’t let your dad take any of the credit, okay?”
“Oh, I won’t,” Christopher promises.
Eddie’s due back in half an hour when Buck’s phone rings.
“Hey, Buck. Sorry to do this to you, but this call is going to run long. Apparently, half the county’s stations are out with the flu, and we’re the only available backup right now. Can you stay?”
“Yeah, of course,” Buck agrees without a second thought.
“Great. Shit, the bake sale. Uh, if you can just buy some brownies and drop them off for me, let them know I can’t make it-”
“We already made brownies, and I’ll make sure they get there,” Buck cuts in, knowing from the frantic tone of Eddie’s words that he’s already behind on whatever he should be doing to make this call to Buck; he doesn’t need to be worrying about brownies. “I’ve got things here, you just focus on the job.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Buck,” Eddie says through the phone, but the line cuts off before Buck can point out that no, that would be Eddie these days. Buck is just… here.
Except ‘just here’ is a lot more fulfilling these days, he thinks, looking over a Christopher who willingly turns his game off just as the over timer beeps to signal that the brownies should be cool enough to cut and wrap now.
“Hey, your dad is going to run late tonight, so you’re stuck with me a while longer. We’ll run the brownies to your school together - is that okay?” Buck asks.
“Okay,” Christopher agrees. “Do I still get to tell them I made the brownies?”
“Sure, buddy. You can still take all the credit.”
The plan is a quick drop off of the baked goods, but when Buck starts to tell the only volunteer there that Eddie got held up at work, the woman looks like she’s about to have a minor breakdown over the news.
“He was my last hope,” she says. “Everyone else called out sick. Looks like it’s just me trying to sell enough baked goods to feed a small army,” she sighs.
Buck hesitates for a moment, but can’t bring himself to just walk away. “I could stay, if you want? For a little while, at least?”
The woman eyes Buck warily. “And you said you were…?” Christopher comes up behind him just then. “That’s my Buck!”
My Buck. Buck feels like he could burst at the proud declaration. “He’s the best.” “I watch Christopher when Eddie’s at work,” Buck adds. “I’m on the school’s ‘cleared to be on property’ list, if that makes you feel better.”
“At this point, I think I’ll take the gamble either way. You’re hired. Prices should be labeled on each item, but if you get one that isn’t… just make it a dollar,” she says, as a small group of people approach the table and start picking up little baggies of cookies. “I’m Marcy, by the way. Good luck!”
Buck gets to work, with Christopher by his side as a surprisingly convincing helper, and what he only planned on being a half hour, hour tops, turns into three hours of co-running this bake sale until every last baked good is gone.
“I'd better see you two at the next one,” Marcy tells him. “I don’t think we’ve ever done this well!”
Buck laughs. “What can I say, I’ve been told I can be quite charming when I need to be.”
Marcy shakes her head. “Oh, I’m sure you can. Thanks again for staying to help.” “No problem,” Buck says, brushing off the thanks. “Happy to help.”
Buck checks his phone to see three missed texts and a call from Eddie.
‘Finally done, heading back to the station now.’
‘Leaving, be home in a few.’
‘Where are you guys?’
Buck calls Eddie from the car.
“Ah, Eddie, sorry. We’re heading back now,” Buck says before Eddie can get a word in.
“Back from where? Not that I mind you two going out, you just normally leave a note or something,” Eddie adds.
“The bake sale. I’ll fill you in when we’re back. See you soon.”
The second they’re in the door, Christopher rushes up to Eddie, nearly bouncing with excitement. “We sold everything, Dad! And everyone loved the brownies I made!”
“The brownies you made?” Eddie questions.
“Yep,” Christopher confirms with pride. “I got to measure, and pour, and even crack one of the eggs!”
“Impressive,” Eddie agrees.
“We saved you one,” Buck says, nodding over to the countertop.
“I can’t believe they made you stay - I said to just drop them off,” Eddie sighs.
“They didn’t make me. When we dropped them off, Marcy told me everyone else called out sick, so we stuck around to help her man the table. I only meant to stay a little, but I guess we got into a groove, and the next thing we knew it was over.”
Eddie considers that. “Yeah, but still - that was my obligation, not yours.”
Buck frowns. “Sorry if I, uh, crossed a line or anything. I didn’t mean to-”
“No, no. Not like that. I just meant, you didn’t sign up for school volunteering shifts, you know?”
Buck’s smile slowly returns once he’s certain Eddie isn’t mad that he stayed. “It was actually kind of fun. I got to meet some of the other parents, and I’m never going to be mad about something that helps Christopher, you know? I don’t mind stepping in when you aren’t around. It’s what I’m here for.”
Eddie’s expression softens into something that Buck is momentarily concerned is going to result in a tear or two before he tightens it back up slightly. “That’s good to know. I know you’re always here for Christopher, but…” Eddie trails off.
“I’m here for you, too. Whatever you guys need,” Buck finishes for him.
“Yeah,” Eddie agrees. “I’m really starting to get that. Thanks, Buck. I appreciate it. We both do.”
It isn’t the last time he volunteers for something at Christopher’s school, either. Whenever there’s an event while Eddie has a shift, Buck steps in to help run a concession stand, collect tickets for a raffle, or bring more baked goods (which are the most requested, he’s happy to note) as treats for PTA meetings or other events.
Each time Buck leaves feeling more and more like he’s a real part of Chris’s life, outside of just a caretaker. And each time he fills Eddie in on the gossip he heard while volunteering, or about the next project he agreed to help out with, he feels a little more like partners with Eddie in all of this… a little more like family.
4.
Buck arrives at Eddie’s Abuela’s house with Eddie and Christopher, mostly because both of them knew that he’d probably just back out and stay home if Eddie didn’t pick him up and drive him here. Buck is nervous that he’s going to be an unwelcomed guest, despite Eddie’s constant reassurances that that isn’t the case, or that he’s going to make a bad first impression. Eddie and Christopher talk about Abuela so often, and Buck knows how important she is to them - which means he knows how important it is that she likes Buck when she meets him, too.
It’s a lot of pressure, though mostly pressure that Buck seems to be putting on himself. He tries not to read too hard into why he feels the need to impress Eddie’s family, though he knows why, deep down. It’s because these two have become his family, too.
“Ah, so this is the infamous Buck,” Abuela says, greeting him before he manages to set foot inside the house. “So nice to meet the person my grandson and great-grandson can’t stop talking about.”
“Abuela,” Eddie says in a tone of warning, his eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, too,” Buck says, reaching out a hand to shake.
“Oh, no, come here,” Abuela says, ignoring Buck’s hand and pulling him in for a hug. Buck tenses for just a second in surprise before practically melting into the touch, bringing his arms up to hug her back. When he pulls away, it’s with a huge smile on his face.
The rest of the day just gets better from there. It’s Eddie’s birthday, and Buck helps Abuela cook a tres leches cake from scratch in the kitchen. She lets him take the lead on most of it, chiming in with tips here and there to elevate it from the relatively basic recipe he’s working with, the way only a grandmother’s experience can.
It’s nice. It’s more than nice. Buck never got this at home. It’s such a sharp contrast from the family life he knows, the one he grew up in, that even though he’s living it in the moment, it’s difficult to picture growing up like this.
Abuela’s surprised to find Christopher in the kitchen, offering to help Buck with measuring and pouring.
“What’s this?” Abuela asks, eyebrow raised.
“Oh, is that alright? He usually helps me when I bake,” Buck explains.
“He never helped me before,” Abuela accuses, though her tone is light and mostly joking. There’s a smile on her face, filled with that same fondness Buck’s seen in Eddie’s expressions often while watching Buck and Christopher interact. It warms Buck from the inside out, radiating deep in his bones, that Abuela seems to approve of him - a silent confirmation that this really is a family he fits with, one he belongs with.
And maybe, lately, Buck’s found himself wishing it was more than just Eddie’s friend and Chris’s babysitter. But if that’s what he gets, then that’s enough, as long as he’s here.
The day is full of stories from Eddie’s childhood, and even some about Christopher that Buck hasn’t heard before, as well as a bit about Abuela herself. Buck answers questions about himself when asked, making sure to share as much as he’s being given. They eat, they talk, they even put on a record or two and dance a little.
“Thank you for having me,” Buck says at the end of the visit.
“Oh, no thanks necessary, Evan. You’re not a guest here, you’re family, and you’re welcome any time.”
“She’s right, you know,” Eddie says. “You’re family to us, Buck. I hope you know that.”
Buck nods. “I do. You’re… you’re family to me, too,” he agrees.
“In fact…” Eddie says, sounding nervous all of a sudden. Buck catches a very subtle nod of encouragement from Abuela. “I think we should go on a date.”
“A date?” Buck echoes, because surely he isn’t hearing this right.
“A date. You’re so good with Christopher, and you’re my best friend, and… and sometimes I think about coming home from work to anyone other than you, and it just feels wrong. So I think we should… I mean, if you want to…”
“I want to,” Buck cuts in quickly, before Eddie gets a chance to talk himself out of the idea. “I want to very much.”
“Good. Great,” Eddie agrees. “Then it’s a date.”
5.
Buck is out getting flowers - a simple, tasteful arrangement to celebrate his and Eddie’s six-month anniversary - when he hears the commotion staging outside.
Christopher is with Abuela for the weekend, so Buck doesn’t hesitate to tell the cashier he’ll be right back before going outside, eyes scanning the fire trucks for that familiar number - 118.
Eddie stands there, in the middle of the street, and Buck is drawn to him despite the dangers. He wants to check in, to make sure everything is alright, even though he knows that whatever is going on here, the 118 can handle it. Still, he can’t fight those instincts from the time when he was one of them, the urge to insert himself into the fray after being away from it for so long.
Eddie watches two patients go into the ambulances before turning to spot Buck. Whatever the scene here, it looks like the worst of the danger is over, and--
There’s a sound. It’s sharp and reverberating, and Buck’s body tenses instinctively before he processes what’s happening. Eddie’s body jolts, and Buck feels something wet hit his face… but still his mind is blank. Everything seems to move in slow motion, the sounds around them muffled. Eddie seems suspended for what feels like hours until he falls, and all of Buck’s senses come rushing back to him in overdrive as he’s pushed to the ground just as another gunshot goes off.
Because that’s what just happened - Eddie was shot. Eddie was shot, and there’s blood on Buck's shirt and face, and he can see Eddie’s body from their matching positions on the ground, Buck on one side of the truck, Eddie on the other. Except Buck is fine, and Eddie’s lying in a growing pool of his own blood.
The rest is a blur - pulling Eddie to safety, getting him into an ambulance, going to the hospital. None of it feels real. Buck rides in the ambulance to the hospital, his own car left behind, the flowers forgotten in the shop. It isn’t until Eddie’s taken back behind doors that he can’t follow that he realizes everything he needs to do right now. He needs to call Abeula, he needs to tell Christopher… but tell them what? He doesn’t know anything, not this early.
Still, Buck opens his phone and calls Abuela, letting her know that Eddie’s been shot, and that he’ll let her know the second they tell him anything. He also tells her not to tell Christopher anything, not until they know more.
The waiting is awful, and even when the worst of the danger is passed, Eddie is still unconscious. Buck stays for a while, sitting diligently by Eddie’s bedside until it becomes apparent that he isn’t really being of any use here. Buck knows what needs to be done, even if it’s the last thing he wants to do.
Abuela takes the news in stride, offering words of hope and reassurance. She offers to tell Christopher, which Buck seriously considers, but shakes his head after a moment. “No. I should tell him.”
Christopher takes the news surprisingly well, with the sort of optimism that only a child could possess in this sort of situation. Christopher is positive that his dad is going to be okay. There’s no doubt, no hesitation. In fact, he ends up comforting Buck when Buck can no longer hold back the weight of everything that happened and allows the tears to fall while he clutches Christopher close.
And Christopher is right. Eddie does pull through, and Buck’s by his bedside as soon as he gets the call that Eddie’s awake, responsive, and ready for visitors.
The first thing Buck does is apologize for breaking down in front of Christopher.
“You were there for him when I couldn’t be, that’s all that matters,” Eddie reassures Buck.
“If anything happened to you, Christopher-” “Would be fine,” Eddie says without hesitation. “Because he’d have you.”
“I think I already proved-”
“I updated my will,” Eddie continues, undeterred. “So that if anything happens to me, you’d become Christopher’s legal guardian.”
Buck feels his heart skip a beat at that revelation. He’d… what?
“How does that even work?” Buck asks. “Don’t you need my consent?”
Eddie actually smiles at that, as if all of Buck’s disbelief is amusing. “My attorney said you could refuse…”
Buck sighs. “But you knew I wouldn’t.”
“I knew you wouldn’t,” Eddie agrees, looking at Buck as if he just said the magic words Eddie was hoping to hear. The reassurance that of course Buck would be there for Christopher, paperwork or no paperwork. For a moment, Buck watches Eddie’s expression seem to ease, whatever tension may have been there before melting away entirely with the knowledge that Buck would be there for Christopher no matter what.
Buck has to ask the obvious question, though. “His family, his grandparents… won’t they fight for him?”
“Yeah, maybe,” Eddie admits. “But no one will ever fight for my son as hard as you.” It isn’t a question, it’s a statement.
It’s a statement that Buck has to agree with.
“I will,” Buck promises. “Always.”
“I know,” Eddie says, looking at Buck with all the fondness in the world. “And that’s what I love about you the most.”
+1
Buck doesn’t know why he’s so nervous. Eddie’s met Maddie once or twice in passing, mostly through quick stops to the firehouse to drop something off for Chimney now and again, but this is… different. This is intentional. This is the first of Buck’s partners that he’s introduced to his family in… well, in a very, very long time. So yeah, he’s a little nervous.
“Eddie! Come on in!” Maddie opens the door to let Eddie in while Buck is busy in the kitchen finishing up dinner.
Buck tries not to worry about the two of them being alone for a few minutes while he finishes up things in the kitchen. Even when he hears his name float into the kitchen once or twice, or the suspiciously loud laughter that follows. He’s sure it’s fine.
It is, perhaps, too fine. By the end of the first hour, it’s a constant barrage of two-on-one team-ups against Buck, with Maddie giving Eddie all of the most embarrassing stories from their childhood and Eddie sharing some of Buck’s less impressive moments from watching Christopher.
Buck doesn’t stop them. He’s a little embarrassed, sure, but even a lot of that is for show. What he really feels is happy. He’s so goddamn happy that the two of them are getting along and that they’re already so comfortable around each other. He’s glad that his boyfriend is getting along with his sister because if he didn’t, then there would be problems, and he’s especially relieved when he gets the nod of approval from Maddie that she likes Eddie, too.
When Maddie’s phone rings a little while later, she looks down at it and frowns.
“Who is it?” Buck asks.
“Video call from Mom and Dad. Don’t worry about it, I’ll text them that I’m busy and call them back later-”
“No, it’s fine. Answer it,” Buck says, not sure where this surge of confidence is coming from.
“Are you sure?” Maddie asks, eyebrow raised.
“Positive,” Buck says, glancing over at Eddie. “More sure than I’ve ever been.”
The smile that Eddie flashes at Buck is enough to reassure what little doubt he does feel as Maddie answers the call, saying that she’s here with Buck before hesitating.
“Well, put him on, too!” Buck’s mom’s voice demands.
Maddie flips the video so Buck - and Eddie next to him - are visible on the screen.
“Hey, Mom. Dad,” Buck says, giving a little wave.
“Oh, we didn’t realize you had other company-” Buck’s dad starts, but Buck shakes his head.
“No, it’s fine. Actually, I’d like you guys to meet Eddie. Eddie, these are my parents, Phillip and Margaret. Mom and Dad, this is Eddie - my boyfriend.”
Sure, maybe it’s a little unfair of Buck to spring this news on them in the form of a video call, but he’s afraid if he doesn’t do it now then it’ll look like he wants to hide Eddie, and he doesn’t want to do that. He never wants to do that.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Buckley,” Eddie says, flashing his most charming smile.
“It’s, uh, nice to meet you, too. I didn’t realize-” Buck’s dad begins before trailing off.
“We didn’t realize Evan was seeing anyone,” his mom says, finally.
“Evan’s always ‘seeing’ someone,” Buck’s dad counters with clear judgment, and Buck wonders just how quickly they’re going to make him regret this decision.
“Really?” Buck says, rolling his eyes.
“Sorry. Sorry, honey. It really is lovely to meet you, Eddie. We should let you get back to your evening. Maybe we’ll plan a call another time. Clearly, we have a lot to catch up on.” “That sounds good, Mom,” Buck agrees, leaving Maddie to finish up the pleasantries before hanging up.
“That could’ve gone worse,” Maddie points out. “I’m surprised you risked it.”
“Family means a lot to Eddie,” Buck explains. “And I don’t want to hide someone who makes me happy from our parents.”
“You’re right,” Eddie agrees. “That did mean a lot to me, and I know it wasn’t an easy thing for you to do - no matter how much you’ll try to play it off,” he adds, and damn, he knows Buck too well. “Thank you.”
Buck shrugs, but Eddie’s right. It did take a lot for Buck to do, but he knew it needed to be done. Eddie deserves to be more than a secret, and Buck deserves to give his family the chance to love him for who he is without assuming the worst from them. He knows that Eddie deserves the chance to be known by them, too. Buck’s just glad that Eddie appreciates the decision and sees it for what it is - a promise that this is real and worth every chance taken.
“Thank you,” Buck counters. “For being someone worth taking the risk for.”