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“Buck! Something’s wrong with dad!”
Buck’s heart sinks into his stomach as he hears the panic and fear in the kid’s voice. “Chris?” He’s up off his couch and moving across the room before he even realizes it. He doesn’t remember grabbing his keys or heading outside until he’s climbing in his car. He keeps Christopher on the phone, listening to the kid’s panic knocking and calling for his dad. Real fear cuts through Buck as he listens to the noise and the muffled screaming over the line. “Fuck…”
“Buck?”
“I’m here, Chris.” Buck says as he pulls into the driveway. “I’ll be right in.” He hangs up the phone as he races towards the door. He practically rips it open and rushes down the hall. “Chris!” He kneels down in front of the kid and pulls him into a hug. “Hey, buddy. Are you okay?”
Christopher leans against Buck for a moment before he looks at the door. “He won’t come out.” The kid answers. “I keep calling him but he won’t answer.”
Buck releases Christopher and pulls away. He glances at the door and swallows. He doesn’t hear anything anymore. “Umm… okay. Well…” He stands and looks down at Christopher. “You uh… y-you just… w-w-wait here.” He stammers. “I’m gonna go get him, okay?”
Christopher nods. “Okay.”
Buck breathes in deeply as he steps closer to the door. He leans against it, putting his ear against it. But he still can’t hear anything and he feels hollow. “Uh… hey… hey Eddie.” He says loudly and still gets nothing. “It’s uh… it’s me… can I come in?” He bangs on the door and still, there’s nothing. He can’t hear anything inside and now he’s really scared. “Fuck… Eddie!” He calls before he tries the doorknob. But it’s locked and Buck shakes his head. “Eddie! I… I’m gonna come in, okay? Stay away from the door!” Buck doesn’t wait for an answer because he knows he won’t get one. He sucks in a sharp breath before he slams his shoulder into it.
The wood splinters and the door swings open easily. Buck stumbles for a moment before he stands. His eyes widen and his mouth drops open as he looks around the room. Everything is destroyed and ripped. There are holes in the wall and the furniture is upturned. He even sees a few splatters of blood and he gasps. “Eddie!”
Eddie sits, almost crumpled on the floor, by his bed. He grips the end of a baseball bat tightly, his blood dotted fingers turning white with the intensity. A sob wracks him and he leans more heavily on his knees, hunched over. He can feel Buck in the room, can hear the man’s voice. But he doesn’t want him near. He doesn’t want the one person in his life he can count on to see him. He shakes his head and grips the bat even tighter.
Buck’s eyes widen more and he gasps. “Eddie?” He rounds the bed and drops on the floor in front of him. “Eddie?” The man doesn’t react and Buck slides closer. He touches Eddie’s shoulder gently. “Eddie… can you hear me? Please, Eddie! Answer me! Are you alright? What’s going on? Eddie!”
Eddie lifts his head slowly. He hardly sees Buck. There are tears in his eyes and his voice shakes as he speaks. “They’re all dead!”
Buck frowns and leans closer. “Who’s all dead?” He asks softly.
“Everybody that I saved.” Eddie sobs. “They’re all dead. They’re all dead…” He repeats, whispering the words in an eerie mantra.
Buck doesn’t know who Eddie’s talking about. He sighs and shakes his head. Eddie hasn’t pushed him away and Buck takes that as a good sign. He moves his hand higher, sliding his fingers along Eddie’s shoulder to his neck.
Eddie’s eyes snap to him again. “You should leave.” He whispers.
Buck shakes his head. “Never.”
Eddie swallows, fresh tears in his eyes as he looks away. “Everyone I love dies.”
“Shhh!” Buck leans closer. He tightens his fingers around Eddie’s neck and pulls him closer. He wraps his other arm around Eddie’s back and hugs him tight. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, sweetheart.” Buck says, his lips against Eddie’s ear.
Eddie closes his eyes and wraps his arms around Buck, finally dropping the bat. He digs his fingers just a bit too roughly into Buck’s skin but the other man doesn’t flinch or push him away and Eddie only seems to cling tighter to him. “What if I can’t save you, Evan?”
Buck chuckles softly and rubs his fingers along the back of Eddie’s neck. “You don’t have to always be the one to save everyone. I’m right here, Eddie. Let me save you.”