Chapter Text
Bobby
The waiting is the worst.
It’s wearing on everyone, especially the kids and Eddie.
Bobby can see him being pulled in a hundred different directions, which is made all the more difficult when Chris doesn’t want to leave Buck and Zac is too afraid to go see him again.
At least this is something Bobby thinks he can help with.
“Hey kid, let’s go take a walk.”
It becomes their little ritual. They walk and Bobby lets Zac talk. The kid is a completely open book, every thought and feeling and fear spilling out as they walk laps around the hospital grounds.
He reminds Bobby so much of Buck and gives him a little insight into what ten year old Buck must have been like.
“Is he going to die?” Zac asks after Buck’s put on the ECMO.
They’re sitting on a bench in the sunshine eating sandwiches delivered by May, but the question almost makes Bobby choke.
He puts down his lunch and turns to Zac on the bench.
“I don’t know,” Bobby answers truthfully. “But I have faith in the doctors who are helping him. And I have faith in Buck, that he’ll keep fighting.”
Zac stares off into the distance, his lunch forgotten in his hands.
“I just want everything to go back to normal.”
His face crumples, tears falling.
Bobby scoots across the bench to pull Zac into a hug. “Me too, kiddo. Me too.”
They head back inside, running into Maddie and Christopher.
“Hey guys, we were just looking for you.” Maddie meets Bobby’s eye to mouth everything okay?
Bobby shrugs and makes a so-so gesture. Things are as okay as they’re going to be in this situation.
“Well, I was going to go get Jee and spend a few hours at home. Did you want to get out of here for a bit?”
Zac’s already shaking his head. “I don’t—“
“There you are.” Margaret Buckley rushes around the corner and up to them. “Isaac.”
He finches, stumbling back and into Bobby’s legs.
Steadying Zac with a hand on his shoulder, Bobby turns to Margaret. “Can we help you with something?”
“What are you doing with our son?”
“Mom—“ Maddie cuts in, shocked.
“What, Maddie? You're okay with some—“ she looks Bobby up and down —“stranger just wandering around the hospital with Isaac.”
Maddie rolls her eyes. “He’s not a stranger. Zac’s fine.”
“Fine? A child should not be spending his days in the hospital. We’re taking him home.”
Zac presses back against Bobby’s legs. “No.”
“This isn’t a debate,” Philip starts.
“Dad, he said no.”
Margaret frowns. “We are his parents.”
“No, you’re not,” Chris tells them, stepping forward. “Buck and my dad are.”
Bobby keeps his hand on Zac’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but you gave up those rights years ago. Zac’s not going anywhere unless he and Eddie are okay with it.”
“Mom, you don’t have to like it, but Buck is Zac’s legal guardian.”
“And look how that’s gone,” Margaret cries. “One impulsive decision after another, and now with Evan in hospital— it’s not healthy, the amount of time Isaac spends here. We’re taking him home .”
“I’m not going,” Zac tells them. “You can’t make me.”
“Isaac.” Margaret tries to grab his arm but Zac pulls free.
“That’s enough.” Maddie steps between them. “You need to leave.”
“Maddie—“
“This is not okay, Mom.” She turns to Philip. “And you were just going to let her take him? I want both of you to go.”
“But—“
“Maddie asked you to leave,” Bobby says, stepping forward. “I think you should listen to her.”
The Buckley’s share a glance, then Philip tugs Margaret away. As they disappear around the corner, Bobby hears her burst into tears.
“Are you okay?” He asks, turning to Maddie.
She nods, her mouth set in a thin line.
Zac’s still clinging to Bobby, Chris next to him, half in front of the younger boy like he’s protecting him.
“Are you okay?” Bobby asks, crouching in front of Zac.
“Can we go see Eddie?”
Nodding, Bobby straightens up. “Yeah, let’s go find him.”