Chapter Text
The last few weeks had been a whirlwind. Eddie had completed his fire academy training, followed by his graduation ceremony—a momentous occasion that Buck and Christopher had been beaming with pride over. On top of that, Christopher had several school events that required planning and attendance, while Buck’s shifts had been particularly demanding. Between the chaos of their schedules, the Buckley-Diaz household had been running on a mix of caffeine, adrenaline, and sheer determination.
But now, as Buck leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Eddie zip up his duffel bag and double-check his keys, there was only one emotion filling the room—pride.
Eddie was about to start his first official shift as a firefighter.
Buck pushed off the counter, stepping closer and wrapping a hand around the back of Eddie’s neck. “You ready for this?”
Eddie exhaled, nodding. “Yeah. It feels…right.”
A slow smile stretched across Buck’s face. “That’s because it is.” He tugged Eddie forward, pressing a firm kiss to his lips before whispering against them, “Go kick ass, firefighter Diaz.”
Eddie chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled away. “I’ll see you later.”
Buck watched him walk out the door, his heart full.
— — —
Eddie’s POV
Eddie stepped into Station 136 for the first time as a firefighter. The building felt both familiar and new, the scent of smoke, coffee, and engine oil settling over him like a second skin. A few people milled about in the main area, engaged in quiet conversation or finishing tasks before the start of the shift.
He scanned the room, quickly spotting the door labeled “Captain of the 136.” With his duffel slung over his shoulder, he crossed the space and knocked.
“Come in,” a voice called.
Eddie stepped inside to find Captain Cooper seated behind his desk, flipping through a file. The older man looked up, offering a welcoming nod.
“Firefighter Diaz. Good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Captain.”
Cooper gestured to the chair across from him. “Let’s get the rest of your paperwork squared away, and then I’ll show you where to gear up.”
— — —
Eddie had just finished lacing up his boots in the locker room when he heard approaching footsteps. A woman with dark hair and a confident stride stepped inside, eyes locking onto him with interest.
“You must be the new guy,” she said, her tone carrying an easy sort of amusement.
Eddie straightened. “That’s me. Eddie Diaz.”
She smirked, arms crossing over her chest. “Well, welcome to Station 136. I’m Lena Bosko, but just call me Lena.”
“Thanks,” Eddie said, offering a polite nod.
Before Lena could say anything else, another voice chimed in from behind her.
“Oh great, Lena’s already flirting with the new guy.”
Eddie glanced up to see a blonde woman tossing her duffel onto a nearby bench, the name Donato stitched into the side.
Lena scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Jealous?” she shot back, turning toward the newcomer. “Besides, you of all people know I don’t like men like that.”
The blonde—Lucy, judging by the name—grinned. “Believe me, I know.”
Lena glanced back at Eddie, gesturing toward the other woman. “Diaz, meet Lucy Donato. My coworker… and my girlfriend.”
Eddie chuckled, standing to shake Lucy’s hand. “Eddie’s just fine. Nice to meet you, Lucy.”
Lucy shook his hand, her grip firm. “Same to you, Eddie. Welcome to the madhouse.”
He had a feeling he was going to fit in just fine.
— — —
Eddie barely had time to put his duffel in his assigned locker before the station alarm blared overhead, signaling a call. The sudden shift in atmosphere was almost electric—Lena and Lucy exchanged quick glances before moving toward the bay with practiced ease.
“Come on, Diaz,” Lena called over her shoulder. “Time to earn your stripes.”
Eddie didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried after them, following the flow of firefighters toward the trucks. His pulse kicked up, adrenaline already surging through his veins. This was it—his first real call.
As they climbed into the engine, Lucy took the seat next to him, her expression shifting into something more serious but not unkind. “First call jitters?”
Eddie exhaled, steadying himself. “Nah. Just ready to get to work.”
She studied him for a beat before nodding. “Good. Just follow our lead, and you’ll be fine.”
The sirens blared as they pulled out of the station, weaving through traffic. Eddie focused on the present, on the weight of his gear, the scent of smoke and rubber already lingering in the air.
“Structure fire,” the captain’s voice came through the radio. “Two-story residence. Reports of occupants still inside.”
Eddie felt his grip tighten on the straps of his air pack. His mind immediately went to Christopher, to Buck. Calls like these were always personal, even when they weren’t.
As they arrived on scene, the house was already engulfed in thick, dark smoke. The team moved quickly, each person knowing their role. Eddie stuck close to Lena and Lucy, waiting for their cue.
“Diaz, you’re with me,” Lena ordered, tugging on her mask. “We’re going in.”
Eddie nodded, adrenaline buzzing in his limbs as they rushed toward the entrance.
His first fire. His first real test.
Time to prove he belonged.
— — —
Eddie followed Lena through the thick smoke, his movements instinctual as they advanced into the burning house. The radio crackled in his ear, the voices of their crew providing updates—Lucy and another firefighter were securing a water line, the captain was coordinating with dispatch, and Eddie… Eddie was about to make his first real rescue as a firefighter.
The heat pressed in around them, but the training took over.
“Stay low,” Lena instructed, her voice calm and steady. “We’re looking for two—mother and child, last seen upstairs.”
Eddie nodded, scanning the barely visible hallway as they advanced. The crackling of flames echoed from somewhere deeper inside, and every second counted.
Lena motioned for him to take the left while she went right. Eddie moved carefully but quickly, peering into rooms, checking under beds, and behind doors.
Then he heard it—a faint, muffled cough.
“Lena, I think I’ve got someone,” he called out, pushing forward.
His flashlight cut through the haze, illuminating a small figure curled up in the corner of a bedroom. A little girl, no older than six, clutched a stuffed animal to her chest, tears streaking through the soot on her face.
Eddie’s heart clenched, but he didn’t hesitate.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “I’m Eddie. I’m a firefighter, and I’m gonna get you out of here, okay?”
The girl sniffled but nodded, her tiny fingers gripping his jacket as he scooped her up.
“Lena, I’ve got the kid!” he called into his radio. “Any sign of the mom?”
“Not yet, but keep moving—I’ll cover you.”
Eddie adjusted his grip on the little girl and made his way back down the hall. The fire was spreading fast, flames licking up the walls, smoke thickening by the second. His lungs burned, but he pushed through.
By the time he reached the front door, Lucy was there, waiting.
“Got her?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Eddie confirmed, passing the girl into Lucy’s waiting arms.
The moment the child was safe, Eddie turned back.
Lena was still inside. And so was the mother.
He wasn’t leaving without them.
Without waiting for orders, he reentered the house.
The heat inside the house was even worse now, thick black smoke swirling around him like a living thing. Eddie dropped low again, his breathing steady as he listened for any sound over the roar of the fire.
“Lena?” he called into his radio.
A crackle, then—“Got her! Back bedroom, but she’s unconscious. I need a hand!”
Eddie pushed forward, following the sound of Lena’s voice. He found her kneeling beside a woman on the floor, her gear smudged with soot, eyes sharp despite the intensity of the fire around them.
“She’s breathing, but we need to move—now,” Lena said, already hooking her arms under the woman’s shoulders.
“I’ve got her legs,” Eddie responded without hesitation.
Together, they lifted the woman and moved fast. The fire had spread rapidly, consuming the ceiling in flickering orange and red. A loud crack sounded above them, and Eddie instinctively threw himself over the woman’s body as a section of drywall came crashing down.
“You good?” Lena shouted, eyes wide.
“I’m fine! Go!”
They reached the front entrance just as Lucy and another firefighter rushed forward to take the woman off their hands. Eddie staggered back, breathing hard, his gear heavy with sweat and soot.
The mother and daughter were safe.
That was all that mattered.
Lena clapped a hand on his shoulder, a proud grin splitting through the dirt on her face.
“Not bad for your first big fire, Diaz.”
Eddie huffed out a breath, finally allowing himself a small smile. “Yeah? You didn’t think I’d freeze up, did you?”
“Nah,” she said, nudging him playfully. “I figured you’d either be great or get yourself killed trying to be a hero. So, you know, solid middle ground.”
Lucy joined them, smirking as she handed Eddie a water bottle. “Welcome to the 136, rookie. You survived your first real call—guess that means you’re stuck with us.”
Eddie took the water with a grateful nod, his heart still hammering from the adrenaline.
He’d done it.
His first shift wasn’t over yet, but already, Eddie knew—this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
— — —
After the trucks rolled into the firehouse, the crew moved like clockwork—shedding their gear, heading for the showers, and then diving into inventory checks. It was a well-oiled routine, one Eddie was still getting used to, but he appreciated the structure. By the time they all made their way into the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and lunch prep was already underway.
Eddie leaned against the counter, nursing a cup of coffee when Lena shot him a curious look from across the table.
“So, Eddie. What made you decide to move to LA?” she asked, stirring sugar into her cup.
Eddie chuckled, lifting a brow. “Is it that obvious I’m not from around here?”
Lucy smirked. “You do have a bit of a Texas thing going on.”
“Fair enough.” He took a sip of coffee before answering. “I grew up in El Paso. After high school, I joined the military, and once I got out, I wanted a fresh start.”
Lucy tilted her head. “So, do you have any family here?”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah, my abuela and my tía. And my partner and our kid.”
Lucy’s brows lifted slightly. “Oh, you’ve got a kid? How old?”
“He’s eight.” Eddie felt the usual warmth spread through him at the mention of Christopher. “Smartest kid I know.”
Lena grinned. “That’s awesome. What does your partner do?”
Eddie hesitated for a fraction of a second. “Uh, he’s in the same line of work.” Technically true.
Before anyone could dig deeper, Lena pivoted. “What branch were you in?”
“Army. I was a medic.”
That answer seemed to spark something in Lena’s memory. Her expression shifted as she leaned forward. “Wait a minute. You’re Staff Sergeant Diaz, right? The one who got the Silver Star?”
Eddie’s entire body tensed before he could stop it. His fingers tightened slightly around his coffee cup. “How do you know about that?”
Lena shrugged. “A friend of mine was stationed at the same base. He told me about a Staff Sergeant Diaz who had just come out of surgery after saving his entire team.”
Eddie’s jaw clenched slightly. He didn’t like where this was going. “That was a long time ago.”
“Well, like a year ago,” Lena continued, oblivious to his discomfort, “but anyways he always remembered it because the first thing you asked when you woke up was if your team was okay.”
Eddie exhaled slowly, setting his cup down with deliberate care. That moment—waking up in a hospital bed, body wracked with pain, more concerned about his men than himself—was burned into his memory. And it wasn’t something he liked to talk about.
Lucy must have sensed the shift in his demeanor because she nudged Lena. “Alright, Sergeant Hero, we get it. Guy’s a badass.”
Eddie forced a small smile, but before he had to come up with a response, the firehouse alarm blared through the station.
The team immediately shot up, the conversation abandoned as they rushed to gear up.
Eddie let out a quiet breath of relief.
Saved by the bell.
— — —
Buck & Christopher’s POV
Buck stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes while Christopher sat at the table, working on a puzzle. It was late—past midnight—but neither of them had wanted to go to bed before Eddie got home.
“When do you think Dad’s coming back?” Christopher asked, glancing at the door.
Buck smiled, ruffling his curls. “Should be any minute now, buddy.”
Almost as if on cue, they heard the jingle of keys at the front door, followed by the soft click of it unlocking.
Christopher gasped. “He’s home!”
Eddie barely had time to step inside before Christopher launched himself at him. Eddie let out a breathless laugh, dropping his bag to scoop his son into a hug.
“Hey, mijo,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to Christopher’s temple. “Still awake, huh?”
Christopher grinned. “We wanted to wait for you!”
Eddie’s eyes softened as he looked up and met Buck’s gaze. His husband stood in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, a proud smile on his face.
Buck took one look at Eddie—still in his uniform, exhausted but glowing with that post-shift energy—and walked over. “Welcome home, firefighter Diaz.”
Eddie smirked. “You’re really gonna call me that?”
Buck shrugged. “I don’t know, kinda has a nice ring to it.” He reached out, tugging Eddie closer by his turnout coat before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “How was it?”
Eddie exhaled, letting himself relax against Buck for a moment. “Good. Different. But good.”
Buck searched his face. “You sure?”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah. It’s a lot to take in, but I think I made the right choice.”
Christopher grinned. “Did you save people?”
Eddie chuckled, finally setting Christopher down. “Yes, kind of but it was more a team effort.”
Buck smirked. “And? Did they figure out how much of a badass you are?”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “They might have brought up the Silver Star.”
Buck snorted. “Let me guess—you changed the subject?”
“Obviously.” Eddie walked into the living room and all but collapsed onto the couch with a sigh.
Buck followed, sitting beside him and running a hand through his hair. “You’re exhausted.”
Eddie hummed, leaning into Buck’s touch. “Long shift.”
Buck pressed a kiss to his temple. “You hungry?”
Eddie blinked up at him. “Did you make pancakes?”
Buck grinned. “Of course. Celebration pancakes.”
Christopher clapped. “We even waited to eat them with you!”
Eddie looked between them—his son practically bouncing with excitement, his husband watching him with so much love it almost made his chest ache. He had spent years looking for this, for something steady, for something safe. And now, coming home to them—this—was the best feeling in the world.
He let out a slow breath, a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright,” he murmured. “Let’s eat.”
— — —
Three Months Later
The day started like any other—except today was definitely not any other day.
It was just before 5 a.m., and the world was still dark outside. In their bedroom, Eddie and Buck lay tangled together beneath the covers, warmth shared between them. Eddie was already awake, his fingers tracing slow, absentminded patterns across Buck’s bare back. His husband was a deep sleeper, his breath soft and even, but eventually, Eddie felt the slight shift of consciousness.
A sleepy, gravelly voice broke the silence.
“Mornin’, Eds.”
Eddie smiled, pressing a light kiss to Buck’s shoulder. “Good morning, cariño.”
Buck groaned softly, burying his face in the pillow before mumbling, “Time?”
“Just before five.”
Buck huffed but didn’t move just yet. Instead, they stayed there, wrapped in each other, neither quite ready to leave the cocoon of warmth. These moments were rare, stolen away in the early morning before the city stirred to life and duty called them to separate firehouses.
Eventually, the alarm on Eddie’s phone buzzed, breaking the quiet. With a sigh, he rolled over and grabbed some clothes from the dresser while Buck stretched lazily before sitting up.
“You make the bed,” Eddie said, pulling on a shirt.
Buck groaned. “I hate making the bed.”
Eddie smirked, tossing a pillow at him. “And yet, every morning, you still do it.”
With a dramatic sigh, Buck got to work while Eddie headed for the bathroom. A few minutes later, Buck joined him, and together they stepped into the shower—quick, efficient, but not without stolen kisses and lingering touches.
After drying off and getting dressed, they made their way to the kitchen for breakfast. It wasn’t much—just cereal and coffee—but it was part of their routine. Their lives revolved around routines, knowing any call could pull them into chaos.
Once their duffel bags were packed, the only thing left was saying goodbye.
Buck slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to Eddie with a smirk. “See you at home, husband.”
Eddie stepped in close, pressing a slow, deep kiss to Buck’s lips before murmuring, “Be safe.”
“You too.”
With that, they went their separate ways, each heading to their station, unaware that today would be the kind of day that changed everything.
⸻
9:00 A.M. – The Earthquake
It happened in an instant.
Eddie had just finished running a check on the equipment at Station 136 when the first tremor hit. It was subtle at first, a low rumble beneath his feet. Then, in a matter of seconds, the entire station started to shake violently.
The walls groaned, shelves rattled, and equipment tumbled to the floor.
“Earthquake!” someone yelled.
Eddie barely had time to brace himself before the world around him lurched. The ground felt unstable, like it was rolling beneath his feet, and for 39 agonizing seconds, chaos reigned.
When the shaking finally subsided, the alarms blared to life.
The bell rang.
⸻
Station 118 – Buck’s POV
The second Buck stepped out of the fire engine, his stomach dropped.
The high-rise ahead of them was leaning—leaning. It wasn’t supposed to do that.
“Shit,” Hen muttered beside him.
Bobby was already barking orders. “Alright, we’re going in! Move fast, watch each other’s backs. Let’s go!”
Buck tightened the straps on his gear, falling in line with his team. He had seen plenty of disasters, but this one felt different. The city was still reeling from the quake, and now they were walking into a potential collapse.
Still, there was no hesitation.
People were trapped.
And Buck had a job to do.
⸻
Station 136 – Eddie’s POV
As the trucks from Station 136 rolled up to the scene, Eddie immediately knew this was bad.
The high-rise was swaying dangerously, glass shattered across the streets, smoke billowing from the lower floors.
“That doesn’t look good,” one of the firefighters muttered. “Shouldn’t a high-rise be one of the safest places during an earthquake?”
Eddie’s gut twisted.
“Okay, suit up! We’re going in,” Captain Cooper ordered.
Eddie pulled on his helmet and checked his gear. Then, as he followed his crew toward the unstable building, one thought pushed through the chaos in his mind.
Please let Buck and Chris be safe.
— — —
Inside the High-Rise – Buck’s POV
The building groaned around them, metal creaking under the weight of structural damage. Buck kept his steps quick but careful as they moved through the lobby, where shattered glass crunched under his boots. The first floor had taken heavy damage, and the ground was uneven from fallen debris.
“Dispatch says we’ve got people trapped on the upper floors,” Bobby called out over the comms. “Building’s unstable. We work fast, clear who we can, and get the hell out.”
Buck nodded and followed Chimney and Ravi toward the stairwell. The elevator was useless, and even the stairs were questionable, but they didn’t have a choice.
“We go up slow,” Chimney warned. “Watch for aftershocks.”
They had barely made it past the third floor when the first one hit.
The building shuddered violently, and Buck instinctively threw himself against the wall as dust rained from the ceiling. Somewhere above, something crashed with a deafening bang, and the whole stairwell vibrated beneath their feet.
“Move, move, move!” Bobby’s voice rang through their radios.
Buck’s heart pounded as they pushed forward, reaching the fourth floor where screams echoed through the smoke-filled hallways.
“We got civilians!”
Buck didn’t hesitate—he ran toward the sound, kicking open a jammed door and finding a woman huddled with a small child in the corner of an office.
“It’s okay, we’re gonna get you out,” he assured them, kneeling beside them. “Can you walk?”
The woman nodded shakily. Buck scooped up the child, securing her against his chest. “Come on, let’s go.”
They rushed back to the stairs, meeting Hen and Ravi as they helped an elderly man down.
“We need to get them outside before this whole place goes,” Hen said.
Just as they reached the stairwell, another tremor hit—stronger this time.
And then, with a sickening crack, part of the ceiling gave way.
“WATCH OUT!” Chimney shouted.
Buck barely had time to react before something slammed into him, and everything went dark.
⸻
Eddie’s POV – Station 136 Enters the Building
Eddie’s lungs burned from the smoke and dust as he followed Bosko and Lucy into the wreckage. The air was thick, and the ground beneath his boots felt unsteady.
He had been in burning buildings before, but something about this felt worse. More unpredictable.
Captain Cooper’s voice crackled over the radio. “Team 136, we’ve got reports of multiple victims still inside. 118 is already in there. Work together and get everyone out.”
118.
Eddie felt his stomach drop.
Of course, Buck would be in the middle of this.
“Diaz, you good?” Bosko asked, nudging him.
Eddie snapped back to focus. “Yeah. Let’s move.”
They pushed deeper into the building, clearing hallways and checking rooms. The whole structure groaned ominously, and Eddie’s instincts screamed at him that time was running out.
Then his radio crackled.
“This is Captain Nash—we’ve got a firefighter down! Fourth floor, north stairwell—he’s pinned under debris. We need immediate assistance!”
Eddie froze.
A firefighter down.
His breath caught in his throat.
Buck was here.
His boots moved before his brain fully registered it. “I’m on my way,” he said into his radio, already sprinting toward the stairwell.
“Diaz, wait—”
But Eddie wasn’t waiting.
⸻
Fourth Floor – The Rescue
Eddie took the stairs two at a time, barely noticing the way the building trembled around him. Smoke clouded the air, but when he reached the fourth floor, his eyes locked on a collapsed section of the ceiling.
118 was already working—Bobby, Hen, and Chimney were clearing debris.
And there, pinned beneath a fallen beam, was Buck.
Eddie’s heart slammed against his ribs.
“BUCK!” The name slipped out before he could stop it.
Hen’s head snapped up in surprise. “Eddie?”
But he wasn’t listening. He was already moving, dropping to his knees beside Buck. His husband was conscious, barely, eyes blinking sluggishly as he tried to focus. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, dust coating his face.
Eddie swallowed back his fear. “Hey, Buck, you with me?”
Buck’s lips parted, and a weak, barely-there voice murmured, “Eds?”
Eddie exhaled sharply. He could barely think, but he forced himself to focus.
“We need to get this beam off him,” he said, voice tight.
“Already working on it,” Bobby said, helping Chimney set up an airbag system. “We lift on three.”
Eddie gripped Buck’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Hold on, babe.”
Buck’s fingers twitched against his.
The airbag inflated, shifting the beam inch by inch. As soon as there was enough space, Eddie and Chimney pulled Buck free, careful but quick.
Buck groaned in pain, but Eddie didn’t let go of him.
“You’re okay, I’ve got you,” he murmured, brushing a hand over Buck’s dust-covered hair.
Buck’s eyes fluttered open, and even through the haze of pain, he managed the ghost of a smirk.
“Knew you’d come.”
Eddie let out a choked laugh. “Of course, I did, dumbass.”
Hen stepped in, checking Buck over. “He’s got a possible concussion and maybe a broken rib, but we need to get out of here now before this building comes down.”
Bobby nodded. “Let’s move!”
Eddie helped Buck to his feet, keeping a firm grip on him as they made their way toward the exit. Every step felt too slow, but the moment they reached fresh air, Eddie finally took a breath.
Buck was alive.
And Eddie wasn’t letting him go.
Not now. Not ever.