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It's morning hours of their shift and Eddie is sitting on the couch sitting across from Hen when Buck declares his presence loudly and slumps himself next to Eddie.
"Look what I bought." Buck takes a small clear package from the pocket of his pants and dangles it in the air in front of Eddie.
"What's this?" Eddie yanks the package from Buck's fingers and looks at it closely— almost studying it like he is looking at something with a microscope.
"I bought new herbal tea leaves. From a local store."
It figures, because Eddie can see the little pieces of flower leaves in the bag. It looks like some random herbal tea, but he doesn't open the zip lock to smell it.
"Why? You don't even drink that much tea." Eddie knits his brow in confusion.
"Yeah, well it's herbal tea. It's different." Buck explains, his hands gesturing loosely in the air.
"Where did the need to buy herbal tea come from?" Hen asks him teasingly.
With that question, Eddie sees the excitement shining through Buck's eyes as he straightens himself on the couch and starts to explain his new interest. Seeing Buck so knee deep in his curiosities, talking wildly about them with so much passion never fails to bring a smile to his face.
"I just bought this book about flowers and plants recently and— did you know that tea leaves have theophylline in it, which is used for asthma?"
Eddie shakes his head and smiles fondly.
"I did." Hen deadpans.
"Well, I didn't." Eddie says and smiles at Buck, who is already staring at him with soft eyes.
"Chris has the same book, too— Buck bought it for him. And now he is reading the facts out loud at home."
"It's fun." Buck says and he takes the package back from Eddie's fingers and puts it in his pocket.
"Is it safe?" Eddie asks him.
"It's just tea, Eddie."
"Do you know what's in it?" Hen asks, looking at Buck with a frown.
"Well, the guy said it has—"
And before Buck can even finish his sentence, the first call of the day starts with a ring.
"Last offer." Eddie says in the locker room while packing his stuff. "I know you were waiting for that movie to come out."
Buck has been talking about a new movie that's coming out this week endlessly; and now that Chris is at a sleepover, Eddie doesn't need to go home early.
Buck is sitting on the bench and watching Eddie pack. "Thanks, man. But I need to do some cleaning. How about you come over after that?"
"Sounds like a plan." Eddie puts his bag over his shoulder and looks at Buck. "You got everything you need?"
"Yep. We can go."
Eddie locks the locker and they step out of the room.
"Night, boys." Chim says as he passes them.
"Night." Buck says while Eddie waves.
"I'll be at your place at…" Eddie checks his watch. "...let's say 10 pm?"
"Beers are on you." Buck smirks.
"Yeah, yeah, fine." Eddie rolls his eyes.
"See you in three hours."
He is ready to leave the house when he gets a call from Buck.
"I was just about to leave."
"Did you prepare the gears?" Buck blurts out over the phone. His voice sharp.
Eddie's brows furrow, they haven't talked about any gears .
"What gears?" Eddie asks.
"I told you to get ready." Eddie can hear Buck's shallow breaths even through the phone. Not only that, Buck sounds upset.
"Uh— Buck, what's going on?" He really doesn't understand anything, but whatever is happening, he doesn't like the sound of it.
He hears Buck letting out a frustrated groan. "It's so loud."
"Buck, what's going on? Where are you?" Eddie locks the door quickly and paces to his car.
"We're so fucked." The line goes dead.
"Buck?" Eddie stares at his screen for a second to process the weird call he just had with Buck and tosses his phone onto the passenger seat, starting his car to drive to Buck's loft. Something twists his stomach and makes him uneasy. It doesn't feel right.
Eddie shuffles the keys out of his jacket and slowly pushes Buck's door open to slide in. The lights are on, and he quickly glances around to see Buck's phone and his car keys standing on the kitchen island— so that means Buck must be home. Only; Eddie can't see Buck.
"Buck?" Eddie takes slow steps towards the place between the living room and the kitchen and looks around, the room is still other than the distant, constant soft thud sound coming from somewhere to his left.
He turns to the sound and walks to the living room, and stops dead on his feet like he hit a glass wall.
What he sees sends chills down his spine and drains his blood.
"Buck?"
Buck is sitting on the corner between walls with his knees drawn to his chest— his arms folded over his knees. His eyes are closed and he is banging the back of his head against the wall rhythmically; in between Buck's movements, Eddie sees the wall stained with blood.
"Buck!" He immediately rushes to Buck and crouches down next to him, placing his hand between the wall and Buck's head so Buck's head lands on his palm, but Eddie can already feel his fingers getting sticky from blood.
With that, Buck stops moving and rests his head against Eddie's head but doesn't open his eyes.
Eddie puts his other hand on Buck's cheek and gently turns his friend's face to himself. "Hey, look at me."
After Buck slowly cracks his eyes open and stares at Eddie; Eddie notices the haziness draped over Buck's ocean blues, making them look unclear. His pupils are wide. Buck keeps staring at Eddie, but there is no recognition coming from his eyes— it's like he is somewhere else.
Something is wrong with Buck, and it's one of those rare moments where Eddie feels this scared.
He swallows down the panic rising up his throat and rests his fingers on Buck's neck to feel his pulse. It's erratic.
"What happened?" Eddie manages.
"It was so loud." Buck says in a raspy voice, still staring at Eddie with misty eyes. "I wanted it to stop."
"Okay. Okay." Eddie says gently and caresses Buck's cheek with his thumb.
"It will be alright." Buck is extremely calm. "It's okay now."
Something is wrong, this isn't right. This isn't Buck. Something must have happened between them leaving the station and Buck calling Eddie. Something bad.
Oh.
Then, Eddie remembers their conversation from this morning.
"Buck, did you take anything? Drink anything?" He asks calmly.
It takes only a split second for Buck's expression to change from calmness to anger. His brows furrow, his forehead wrinkles, and his eyes squint as Buck wraps his fingers around Eddie's hand and lowers his hand on the ground.
"Did you not hear what I said?" He blurts out sharply. "You don't understand, do you?" Buck starts to his feet and paces around the room frantically. There is no way Buck will listen to him in his state; Buck looks too out of and crazed to even acknowledge what's going on.
So, Eddie decides to play along.
"Maybe you can help me understand?" Eddie stands up and gets close to Buck with slow steps.
Buck turns around to look at him. "We have to get ready, don't you see them?"
"See what?"
"They are all over." Buck runs his fingers through his hair and makes a fist, pulling the strands a little.
"Don't do that." Eddie lifts his hands to stop Buck but Buck takes a step back from him.
This isn't gonna work. He has to find a way to get them to a hospital.
"Maybe if we leave the house—"
"No!" Buck shouts. "No one is leaving this house." His eyes fixed on Eddie's.
"Okay, no leaving."
Buck stares at Eddie for a few seconds more and nods his head, then continues his pacing around the kitchen.
"I'm gonna use the bathroom, I'll be back in a second, okay?" Eddie says and raises his hands in front of his chest— implying that he is not going to do anything.
"Fine." Buck doesn't look at him.
After Eddie enters the bathroom and closes the door behind him, he takes out his phone and dials 911.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"I need an ambulance. 31 year old male, possibly took a hallucinogen without knowing, pupils are dilated and pulse is erratic. He is aggressive and agitated, doesn't know his surroundings."
"Okay, sir. Can you tell me the address?"
Just after Eddie tells the operator Buck's address, he hears a knock on the door.
Eddie unlocks the door and sees Buck standing with a suspicious look in his eyes.
"Who did you call?" Buck sounds upset.
This is not good.
"No one." Eddie tries to assure him and keeps his voice steady.
"Don't lie to me." Buck's voice cracks. He looks devastated. "You ruined everything."
"I didn't do anything." Eddie follows after Buck when Buck rushes to the kitchen and buries his face in his hands, shaking his head. Buck lifts his face and stares at the ceiling, a groan rips his throat.
If only Eddie could manage to keep things under control until the help arrives…
And then, the door knocks.
"Who's that?" Buck blurts out.
"Maybe they are here to help us? Let me open the door?" Eddie's gaze stays on Buck as he takes slow steps to the door and holds the door knob. Without waiting for an answer, he opens the door.
He later realizes it was a big mistake.
"No, no, no, what did you do? You're with them, aren't you?" Buck's voice shakes and he steps back when he sees the paramedics walk in.
"Buck, please calm down."
"They're here to take me. And you let them?!" Buck's eyes shine with fresh tears and he keeps his distance from Eddie.
"Sir, we are just here to help." One of the paramedics says with a steady voice.
"No! You're lying!" Buck shouts, he stops when his back hits against the wall. "Stay back." Faint shivers run through his body.
"No one's gonna take you. I promise." Eddie gets closer to him and puts his hand on Buck's arm.
"Get back!" Buck tries to get away from Eddie's touch, but another paramedic corners him; when he tries to run away, Eddie folds his arms around Buck and tries to hold him down.
"Calm down, calm down." Eddie holds Buck tightly and tries to lower both of them on the ground, but it's hard when Buck struggles under his hold.
They don't have that much of a difference when it comes to their size, but Buck is fighting like he has nothing to lose when Eddie tries his best to not hurt Buck.
"Let go!" Buck shouts and his fingers dig and squeeze Eddie's arm, hard.
Eddie bites down his lip to suppress his scream.
Eddie manages to sit on the ground and take Buck with him, but Buck is still trying to get himself free, struggling and fighting under Eddie's arms like his life depends on it.
"Buck, please." Eddie wraps his arms tighter and envelops Buck's torso and his face in his chest.
He hears a painful whimper coming from Buck when a paramedic sticks a needle to him.
In seconds, Buck goes limp in his arms, his body relaxing and slumping deeper into Eddie's chest.
Eddie holds him and pulls him close to himself as he rests his chin on top of Buck's head.
The moment they just lived— the way he had to hold Buck and watch him struggle under his touch, it will haunt Eddie for a long time.
"Sir, we have to move him."
But Eddie doesn't want to let him go.
"Angel's Trumpet." Athena explains. "That's the name of the flower."
Turns out, the local shop gave him the wrong package that was supposed to be for someone else. Like a sick joke.
After they brought Buck to a hospital, Eddie called Bobby and Athena to inform them and Athena immediately took over the case to bring the shop owner for custody before she came here. They are standing outside Buck's room, waiting for the doctor to come out so they can explain everything thoroughly.
"This must be a joke." Eddie rubs his fingers over his forehead and sighs.
"How was he?" Athena asks him hesitantly.
Eddie closes his eyes and shakes his head. "You don't want to know."
Their heads snap up when the door opens and the doctor comes out.
"How is he?" Eddie asks.
"He is still sedated, he may be disoriented when he wakes up."
"Will he have long lasting effects?" Bobby asks, standing next to Eddie.
"I don't think so. It's not an addictive plant, but like I said, the after effects may linger for a few days and then fade in time."
"Is there something we should d—"
Eddie's question gets cut off with a torturous scream coming from Buck's room.
They all rush to Buck's room and fuck this because they put restraints on Buck's arms and legs; and he is figting against them— trying to pull his hands and break the restraints as he shakes his head to his sides frantically.
Eddie sees red.
"What is this?" Eddie can't control the volume of his voice.
"Give him 2 mg of lorazepam!" Doctor tells the nurse. "He is a potential danger to himself, and people around him." The doctor explains.
"A danger? Let him go." Eddie says. Buck's screams and fights don't stop, and Eddie can not look away, as much as he wants to.
"Let me go!" Buck screams and struggles under them, thrashing violently.
"He doesn't want them, take them off." Bobby interjects.
"I'm sorry but we can't do that. We don't know his mental state."
"Fuck this." Eddie mumbles under his breath and runs his hand through his hair.
After a matter of seconds, Buck's screams die down and he goes limp for the second time in only a few hours.
Eddie feels his hands start to shake and his whole body burns with rage, worry and desperation.
They hold Buck down like he is some kinda violent animal. They hold Buck down with restraints.
The air around him doesn't feel enough. He feels like he is suffocating.
"I need to get some air." He whispers and lets Bobby come with him.
The second time Buck wakes up, Eddie is sitting on a chair next to his bed, keeping his eyes on Buck closely and watching him sleep.
Buck blinks sluggishly and looks around.
"Hey." Eddie speaks to him gently, trying to get his attention.
Buck turns his face to Eddie and looks at him. "Eddie?" Buck mumbles.
The heaviness on his chest suddenly fades when Buck recognizes him.
"Yeah, it's me."
"What happened?" Buck breathes out and swallows, his eyes closing and opening slowly. He tries to raise his hand; that's when he notices the restraints.
Buck's eyes widen as he looks down at his hands and tries to move them, staring at Eddie with a horrified look when he can't.
"Wha— Eddie, what— what's going on?" His voice trembles and his eyes shine with tears. "Why— why, what's going on?"
"Calm down, calm down." Eddie tries to calm him down by speaking quietly, but he doesn't even know how to explain. "They're gonna take them off." Eddie puts his hand on Buck's forearm and strokes the skin under his finger.
"Why did they put them on?" Tears fall down Buck's eyes. He looks scared. "What happened?" Buck asks, his voice small.
"What do you remember?"
Buck takes in a breath and sniffles. "I was at home waiting for you, and I made myself some tea."
"And?"
"I don't remember." Buck's chest starts to rise and fall fast.
"Hey, it's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Nothing serious happened." Eddie rests his hand on Buck's chest and draws circles.
"Tell me what happened."
"You remember the tea you bought?"
Buck nods shakily.
"It was a hallucinogen. You were out of it for a while. But you will be fine."
"How?" Buck whispers and frowns. "I don't understand."
"The shop owner got the packages mixed up."
Buck's mouth falls open. "Is— is this a joke?"
Eddie sighs and drops his head. "They got him now."
"Can they take these off?" Buck asks— pleas. "Please, I'm not hurting anyone." His voice wobbles.
" Buck…" Eddie brings his hand to hold Buck's and squeezes. "Of course you're not hurting anyone."
Buck's words stab Eddie's heart. He wants to rip those things apart. But he can't.
"I'm gonna tell them, okay? They're gonna take them off."
"Okay."
It's been one hour since the nurses took the restraints, and Buck is trying to keep his eyes open even though they refuse to listen. He is laying in bed with his body curled to Eddie's side, and his face is squeezed into Eddie's ribs while Eddie sits on the bed next to Buck and plays with Buck's hair, his fingers scratching Buck's head and slowly feel him relax under his touch. It's a comforting and reassuring feeling.
He lowers his hand to rest on Buck's back and lightly rubs his back to soothe him; Buck buries himself into Eddie more.
"You can sleep, Buck." Eddie whispers. "I'm not going anywhere."
With that, Buck's eyelids droop and he sleeps.