Chapter Text
Eddie loses his voice to call for a doctor as soon as he passed the emergency room. He has seen something! No, someone! He pulls Chimney who is walking around. Chimney stops, eyebrows raising in confusion.
"What? Why is your face like that? You seen a ghost?" Chimney asks, looking at the same direction as Eddie is looking at.
Eddie shakes his head fast. He finally clears his throat to say something. "The guy in the ER just now, is he your patient?" Eddie points at someone tall, bruises on his face and some of them are actually his birthmarks. Eddie really knows everything about him.
Chimney nods. "Yeah. He got into a car accident yesterday morning and, we don't know his name or anything about him. He didn't have any identity card with him. We can't give him anything yet other than anti allergies medicine. Why? You know him?" Chimney finally takes this conversation seriously.
Eddie takes a deep breath. "Oh, trust me I know." He glares a little. "His name is Evan Buckley."
Chimney quickly hurries to the computer, where Hen is working there. Eddie follows him, eyes not leaving Buck who is unconscious alone.
"Hen, find someone named Evan Buckley."
Hen searches up. "Do you finally knows the blonde name?"
Chimney nods. "Please give me his emergency contact."
Hen's face changes. "Aw, snap. His emergency contact is just an email address. Whatever, I'll try-"
Eddie chimed in. "No, I know everything about him. His allergies, his favorites. Everything. Just get me his nurse."
Hen and Chimney both look shocked.
"Oh, I'm his nurse. But, yeah. You can talk to Taylor. She is his personal nurse." Chimney pushes Eddie quickly towards Taylor who is standing near Buck's bed, reading something on his medical reports.
Chimney winks at Eddie before he pushes Eddie in and closes the glass door. Eddie clears his throat and Taylor smiles right away.
"Hey, you are replacing Chimney?" She asks, stepping closer to him.
Eddie shakes his head. He glances at Buck for a second before he looks back at Taylor. "Nope, when did he come into this hospital?"
"Yesterday. We are about to put him on news so that-"
Eddie shakes his head, chuckling. "No need. I'm his..." Eddie takes another deep breath before he exhales right away. "Family."
He stares into Taylor's eyes that were bewildered before she looks shocked and immediately smiles and nods. "Oh, so... Okay, he is your husband. I'm so sorry I didn't know. How come though-"
Eddie doesn't know why is he doing this. He doesn't know why is he letting Taylor, his co-worker to think that Buck is his husband. "Can I see him? He is not in comma, right?"
Taylor shakes her head. "Nope. He woke up this morning but we had to give him some pain killers. You know his allergies?"
Eddie nods. He takes the report from Taylor, leaving the woman in shock before she gets out from the room. Eddie reads the report and then he moves to the chair next to Buck's bed.
Buck has amnesia. The notes say that Buck forgets everything. Eddie knows that this is wrong. But, he needs help with his life right now. He can't really afford a babysitter for his son and he also can't ask for his neighbor's help all the time.
He needs this. Buck was so bad at him. Buck did almost everything that put him into such traumatic experiences. He needs to do this so that he can actually forgive that man. Well, if Buck does help his life to be easier.
So, Eddie begins writing down Buck's allergies that he remembers. He doesn't really have allergies but Eddie still knows a lot about him. Especially when Buck explained his allergies so that Eddie wouldn't get wrong foods for him.
Eddie finally looks at Buck and Buck is a lot lot different. Buck was really slim before but now he is fit and his body is actually gorgeous for a man. His face has a lot more bruises due to the car accident and Eddie will never forget these birthmarks. The only thing that makes Evan Buckley, Evan Buckley.
Eddie shifts closer, adjusting the stool he sits on as well so that he will have a better look. "This is impossible." He breathes heavily and he is suddenly in aware when he hears someone walking in.
He turns and sees Taylor with a food tray.
"So, Eddie. I'm going to give him some more medicine that he deserves."
"I can do it."
Taylor narrows her eyes. "Yes, you can. You obviously can. But, Eddie, you are not under ER. My boss is not going to like this." Taylor rejects carefully as she takes back the report from Eddie. "So, I'm new here but I didn't know you are married."
Eddie shrugs. "No one knows."
Taylor is shocked again. She nods. "Okay, weird." She reads the report and begins taking the medicines for Buck.
Eddie watches her doing her job. "So, is he going to be okay?" He read the report already but he can't help feeling curious as well.
Taylor smiles. "Don't worry, Eddie. Your husband is going to be just fine. Now that he can consume better drugs, he will do a lot better." She finishes injecting those colorful liquids into Buck's tiny pipe. "What is his name?"
Eddie looks back at Buck who looks disturbed. He answers to Taylor slowly, "Buck. His name is Buck." His head shaking before he finally opens his eyes and Eddie is struck with his blue eyes before he smiles a little at Buck, trying to make everything seems natural even though he knows he kind of fucked up already.
"Oh, Buck. You should stay laying down." Taylor pushes Buck's chest. "Buck, your husband is here to see you!"
Buck quickly turns to look at him and Eddie gulps nervously. Afraid if Buck remembers him or anything but Buck looks really confused, which means he doesn't remember him either.
"Husband?! Did you just call me Buck? My name is Buck?!"
Eddie knows he has to take part in this since Taylor is already losing her words. Eddie steps closer, standing now and he takes Buck's hand into his. It feels weird because Eddie hasn't held hands with guys before. And yet, he is doing it with Buck.
"Buck, your name is Evan Buckley. People call you Buck. I'm... Eddie Diaz. You call me Eddie." Eddie speaks while looking into Buck's eyes. He doesn't know what he feels but he certainly feels uneasy to lie through his teeth.
Buck shakes his head. "So, you are my husband?"
Eddie nods.
Taylor smiles. "Is Christopher going to visit soon?" She asks, excited now.
Eddie almost forgets about that. Buck looks more frightened now. "Who is Christopher?"
Eddie grabs Buck's hand tighter. "He is our son. He is seven years old."
Buck looks more shook by the news but Eddie feels all relieved when Buck finally replies his grasp of his hand. That means, Buck is believing all of these.
"I'm so sorry that I can't remember."
Eddie's heart aches when Buck suddenly voices these words out. Why is Buck acting so nice? Is it because of the amnesia or is it because he has actually turned into a better person?!
"It's okay. Please take some rest. I will take you home as soon as you get better." Eddie smiles a little. He releases his hand from Buck, realising that Buck is still squeezing his hand.
"Okay, Eddie. Out out.." Taylor pushes him away.
Eddie glances at Buck who still looks bewildered but he notices something different in Buck's eyes. Eddie thinks it's hope.
.
.
"You are lying." Chimney and Hen deadpan as soon as he said that Buck is his husband. Eddie sighs, realises that he can't fool his two best friends.
"Yes, I'm lying."
Chimney and Hen are surprised again.
"Why would you lie? Do you even know him?" Hen asks, her tone rising.
Thank god, the cafeteria is so loud that her voice doesn't matter.
"Of course, he was my bully, okay? I just want to take my revenge. I know this is stupidly a bad idea but I can't just let him go. I don't think he has any family though."
Chimney and Hen seem not to be in sympathy with him.
"That's wrong! Why is admitting as his husband will be the best way for you to take your revenge?!" Chimney asks this time. His voice louder than Hen's.
Eddie sighs. "My life gets harder these days. If you noticed my routine taking extra shifts then you may know why. Christopher's school bill. The rent. Everything."
Hen and Chimney lock eyes before they sigh.
"Eddie, I know that you are thinking that this is not a big deal but I think it is a very big deal. But, you do need help. I'm not supporting what you do but I'm not going to stop you either." Hen looks softer this time.
Eddie knows that he is putting both his friends into a dangerous situation now. "Chim?"
Chimney nods. "I'm with Hen. You need any help?"
Eddie nods. "Yes, I do. I can take him home tomorrow and you know... My house is full with Shannon's photograph and has nothing to do with him."
"You want to make it looks like he has been there this whole time." Hen says, hitting the bull's eye.
"Well, you are correct." Eddie nods twice. "You guys going to help?"
"You need to buy his clothes. I can buy his clothes though. But, you need to get me his sizes. For shirts, pants and underwears." Chimney offers.
Hen nods. "I can help you get rid of the photographs. I can take those pictures to my house's store. Karen better not thinking that I am having a feeling for Shannon."
Eddie chuckles. "Thanks a lot. I will talk to Chris so he will understand how to act around Buck."
"So, Eddie. You sure about this? You told him but you can still back out. But you know yourself that once you step into this one, there is no backing away." Hen reminds him again, which becomes an annoying message now.
"Yes, Hen. I know."
.
◉‿◉
.
"This man is going to be your other dad starting from tomorrow. His name is Buck. You need to call him dad, okay?" Eddie begins explaining and this is his third time already because Christopher keeps asking.
Hen chuckles. "I'm pretty sure Chris got that already. Ain't I right, Christopher?" She asks loudly while putting Shannon's pictures into a box.
"Yes." Christopher chuckles before he looks at his father. "He has amnesia? And we are going to be his family?"
Eddie nods. "Yes, but he can't know that we are new to him. He needs to understand that he has been with us for a year. Well, after your mum.."
Christopher nods. "Okay I got it." He looks at Hen. "Where is she taking mum's pictures?"
Eddie gulps.
Hen quickly saves the situation. "I'm taking those pictures to my house because it may hurt your new dad's feelings to see her pictures. You want to keep them?"
Christopher shakes his head right away. "No. I don't want to hurt Buck's feelings. He seems nice in the picture and he is sick. I will make sure he will be happy here."
Eddie smiles. He is excited now. Excited to start because then, he just wants an easier life.
.
.
Eddie is finally at the hospital again. He is not wearing his suit as usually because he is here for Buck today. To be honest, Eddie rarely visits Buck even though he can just drop by after visiting any patients. But, he doesn't want to make it feels too real. He just wants to use Buck and visiting Buck can be Buck using him again and he doesn't want that.
So, right now, he is here to take Buck home. Taylor called him this morning that Buck is all good and he can walk but he may limp. Good thing that Eddie actually has insurance with the hospital that paid for Buck's bills or else Buck is using him instead.
"Taylor, where is Buck?" Eddie asks when he sees Taylor arranging Buck's bed. Taylor points at the couch, the place that Eddie didn't even look at before he asked.
Eddie smiles, faking it as he sees Buck smiling back at him. Buck talks so much. Buck is a lot different and Buck now always tries to find anything to talk about and Eddie doesn't like that. No, he is just scared if he talks too much, he will end up spilling the truth.
"Buck, let's go home." Eddie gives his hand to hold Buck's hand and Buck takes his hand with his shiny smile.
Eddie nods at Taylor before he and Buck start walking out from the room. Everyone is looking at them with this weird look. Of course, no one knows that Eddie has been married before. Not that it's true. But, yeah. That's the point!
"Eddie, you work here, right?" Buck asks, when they are on the elevator.
Eddie nods, not looking at Buck who is definitely looking at him.
"Doesn't feel like it. You rarely visited."
Did Buck just sound sad? If he is, then good. Because that's exactly what Eddie is trying to do.
"I'm busy, Buck. A nurse's job is not as easy as you may think it is." Eddie replies coldly. Yeet, he has done another plan.
Never treat Buck too nicely!
He glances at Buck who looks taken aback with his cold voice just now. He stays quiet and Eddie sighs because he already feels really guilty.
"That's the floor. Let's go."
They arrive at the right floor to the parking lot. Eddie pulls Buck with him. They are still holding hands but Eddie doesn't really hood Buck's hand because Buck is holding his too tight already.
"That's my car." Eddie hits his key to unlock the car and then he opens the door for Buck before he rushes to the driver seat, not waiting for Buck to get in, additionally releasing their holding hands moment.
And then, Eddie drives the car. Trying to be as disciplined as possible to not cause any fear to Buck because he notices the younger man staying still on his seat whenever the car speeds up.
After twenty minutes, they arrive. It usually takes Eddie longer but it's mid in the morning, the roads are not busy because everyone has gotten to work.
"This is our house." Eddie pulls the handbrake after the car fully stops. Then, he turns off the engine and looks at Buck.
"I'm nervous to see Chris." Buck says, looking back at Eddie.
Eddie sighs. He is annoyed now that he knows that Buck will probably see Christopher as his son as well. "Well, don't be. I'm sure he is going to love you."
Buck looks disturbed and Eddie just realised he has said something wrong.
"Going to? He doesn't love me now? Or before?"
Dumb Eddie!
"Well, you will see." That's the only thing Eddie can manage to think about. He knows that his four words will definitely give Buck uneasy feelings. At least not suspicion.