Chapter Text
“Thanks so much for doing this. I really appreciate it, Eds,” Buck commented as he ran around making sure he had everything for shift.
“It’s no problem, how many times have you saved my bacon when it comes to Chris? Just consider this my way of returning the favor.” Eddie assured giving the other man a smile. “I’ll get Chris to school then Theo and I will find something fun to do today. I have some ideas,” Eddie stated.
“Hopefully they’ll have the pipe replaced tomorrow and the daycare will be open,” Buck commented. Eddie nodded in agreement.
“Hey at least it’s only a 24, you’ll be home tomorrow morning, so that won’t be so bad,” Eddie said. Buck nodded he knew the other man was right. Grabbing his keys he turned to Theo and Chris who were waiting with Eddie by the door. Kneeling down to Theo’s level he pulled the four-year-old in for a hug.
“I love you, kiddo. You be good for Eddie, okay?” Buck requested. Theo nodded enthusiastically.
“I will, I love hanging out with My Eddie! He’s the best,” Theo declared. Buck gave a soft smile.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Reaching out he gave Chris a side hug grateful the teenager didn’t pull away.
“Buck if you don’t go you’ll be late,” Eddie gently reminded him. Sighing in resignation, Buck turned and walked out the door waving to the three left behind.
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“Okay you two, it’s time to take Chris to school, so lets get shoes on then head to the car,” Eddie instructed.
“Come on, Theo, lets get our shoes,” Chris said as the two boys ran off to get their shoes before meeting up back with Eddie to head to start their day.
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After Chris’s door closed and he had made his way into school, Eddie turned to Theo. He was sitting in the backseat in the car seat Eddie had bought so he and Buck didn’t have to keep moving Buck’s car seat between their cars.
“Hey kiddo, what do you want to do?” Eddie asked.
“I want to jump!” Theo cried excitedly. “I want to jump super high, please Eddie?” Eddie smiled as he thought.
“Okay, I think we can do that. Lets go see how much jumping you can do,” he encouraged as he pulled out his phone and looked for the nearest trampoline park. “What do you want to listen to until we get there?” Eddie wondered.
“Cars, please.” Eddie sighed he should have known. The Cars soundtrack had been on repeat in their house for the last couple of weeks.
“Okay Cars it is,” he agreed reluctantly as he started the soundtrack then pulled away from the school and headed for the trampoline park. If he had any idea of how the day would turn out, he would have made a different choice.
“Come on lets go!” Theo shouted as he started to run to the building. Acting quickly Eddie grabbed his hand and pulled him to a stop.
“Hey what’s the rule when we’re walking in parking lots?” he gently reminded.
“Hold hands…” Theo grumbled clearly wanting to just run off but he knew he would get in trouble.
“Very good, now come on, once we get inside you can jump as much as you want,” Eddie told him as they headed towards the door walking hand-in-hand. Five minutes later found them in the large trampoline park.
“Can I go jump now?” Theo begged.
“Once you take off your shoes and put on the socks we bought,” Eddie instructed. Nodding Theo dropped to the ground and kicked his shoes off and quickly pulled on the socks from the trampoline park. Eddie laughed as he saw Theo struggling to get the socks on they were going crooked because he was so excited. Looking up the little boy frowned.
“Eddie… Help, please.” Chuckling Eddie bent down and helped the excited little boy get the socks on.
“Okay, go ahead and start jumping. I’m going to put your shoes in the cubbies over there and will be sitting on the bench right there. You should be able to see me,” Eddie said as he pointed to the bench he was talking about. Theo nodded and took off like a rocket. Eddie smiled as he dropped on to the bench and pulled out his phone to text Buck.
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“Whose got Theo today since Daycare was closed?” Chim questioned. Hen laughed at the question.
“Isn’t it obvious, Chim? Of course he’s with Eddie, right Buck?” Hen checked. Buck blushed but nodded.
“He is, I’m not sure what they’re going to do today but I’m so glad he’s watching him. It definitely made my morning a lot easier. Everyone else smiled at his comment. Just then Eddie’s floater came walking into the station. A broad smile crossed Hen’s face. Mike Sampson was one of the best floaters the LAFD had and she loved when he worked with the 118. He pulled his weight but didn’t try and force himself on any of them.
“Hey there guys, so I’m covering for Diaz apparently? Is everything okay with him?” He hadn’t worked with Eddie often but when he did Mike liked the other man.
“Yeah my kids daycare is closed today due to a broken water pipe so he agreed to watch him since I’m pretty much out of PTO,” Buck explained.
“I told you we would have figured something out,” Bobby argued as he walked into the loft from his office.
“I know but I didn’t want to call out again since I had to be gone twice last week because of mine and Theo’s doctor’s appointments,” Buck replied. Sighing in defeat Bobby turned and greeted the other man.
“Good to see you Sampson, breakfast is almost done if you’re hungry?”
“I’m starved I made sure to come with an appetite. I know how awesome your food is,” Sampson said with a broad smile.
“Well there’s definitely enough for everyone.”
“Chim, Buck, set the table, Hen help me carry the food to the table, Ravi go tell the others breakfast is ready and Sampson grab the syrup and butter from the fridge,” Bobby instructed. Everyone nodded and jumped to do the task they had been given before sitting down and digging into Bobby’s famous pancakes and sausage.” Mike looked longingly at the sausage patties.
“What’s wrong?” Chim questioned.
“I’m allergic to beef,” he mumbled not wanting to make a big deal about it.
“Since when?” Hen wondered.
“Since about six months ago. I was visiting my family in Missouri and got bitten by a Lonestar Tick so I have Alpha-gal now. I’m getting retested next month as sometimes it can get better apparently or so I’ve been told.”
“Well lucky for you, I don’t eat beef so there’s turkey sausage as well,” Ravi commented pointing to the plate near where he was sitting at the table.
“Anyone who wants or needs that is welcome to it. I make sure to thoroughly wash and sanitize the counter and any cooking items before making the turkey sausage.
Mike beamed in appreciation as he grabbed a couple of turkey sausages off the plate and began eating. Thankfully breakfast was done before they got their first call.
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Buck smiled as he pulled out his phone while sinking into his seat on the truck. They had been going nonstop and he was glad that Bobby had taken them off for an hour or so once they got back to the station so they could all shower. Their last call had ended up being a call to rescue someone from the sewer so none of them smelled particularly great at the moment.
“What’s got you smiling like that?” Chim teased his brother-in-law.
“Eddie took Theo to the trampoline park. He’s having a blast apparently,” Buck explained holding out his phone for everyone to see. Theo was beaming and jumping up and down in a bounce house with the head of Mickey Mouse on it.
“That should help him sleep tonight,” Sampson commented.
“You’d think but Theo is a mini Buck and he has more energy than most kids,” Bobby commented good naturedly. Buck blushed.
“I think even Theo will be worn out after a day at the trampoline park,” Hen argued. Buck nodded in agreement.
“Yeah for Eddie’s sake I hope he is,” Buck murmured.
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A few hours had gone by and Theo was having the time of his life. Eddie had managed to convince him to take a couple of breaks and to drink some water. Eddie was scanning a text from Adriana when he looked up to see Theo coming towards him.
“Hey there what’s up, Theo?”
“I’m hungry, can we get some pizza from the café?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere else?” Eddie asked.
“No, I want to jump again after lunch,” Theo answered.
“Okay sounds good, go put your shoes back on so we can go to the counter. I’ll put your trampoline socks in my pocket,” Eddie offered holding out his hand. Handing the socks to Eddie Theo smiled and ran for the cubby that had had his Spider-Man shoes and socks in it. After he put them on by himself he ran back to Eddie ready to eat some pizza.
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They were sitting at one of the tables enjoying their lunch. Theo had gotten cheese pizza and Eddie had got a couple of slices of supreme pizza. He was about to reach out to wipe some pizza off Theo’s face when he heard a loud screeching sound before he heard a loud crash and the wall next to their table started to collapse coming right towards where they were sitting.