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He knows it’s a bad day as soon as he wakes up. It’s not the first time it happens. It’s been over three years since he has been pinned under a fricking fire truck. He had been lucky and had been able to go back to work, but sometimes it still happens to have days where his leg hurts and his muscles spasm.
It usually starts as a dull soreness in his thigh, something dismissible, nothing too invalidating. He’s able to go to work but if he doesn’t take anything, it usually gets worse in a couple of hours, the pain spreading to his knee and his ankle. At the end of the day with no painkillers is ankle is usually on fire from pain. It’s where the fire truck had pinned him to the asphalt three years ago.
And today is one of those days where his body isn’t cooperating. He had woken up late, so he had to skip breakfast in order to try and get to the firehouse in time. Once there, he had barely had the time to change into uniform that the alarm had rang and they had to run on a scene. Painkillers well forgotten.
It’s a possible jumper on the roof of a ten-story building. Middle aged man, possible under influence, says the dispatcher as they reach the target.
“Panikkar and Diaz, you go to the roof and establish contact but don’t approach him yet. Chimney you handle the ladder while Buckley, you go up there. Try to talk him down. Hen, I want you on standby if something happens.” Bobby explains as they get off the truck. Buck slightly winces as his leg impacts on the ground but recovers quickly as he gets ready to climb the ladder.
There is little crowd piled up around the building and Athena sends them a tight smile as she tries to control the people that are trying to film the scene.
Eddie checks Buck’s harness as Chimney extends the ladder towards the man on the roof and gives him a once over, tightening the straps. Buck eyes the building. It’s a long climb.
“You good?” Eddie asks him. Buck looks a little lost in his thoughts but nods as he puts on the helmet and the gloves.
“I’m good. Be careful up there.” He smiles quickly and offers Eddie his wrist.
“You too.” Eddie bumps his wrist against his and takes off after Ravi.
Buck reaches the control panel of the ladder truck where Chimney gives him a thumb up as the ladder is set up. He clips his harness to the ladder and starts his ascent. He tries to ignore the pain shooting up from his thigh and his knee as he keeps the pace. He needs to stay focused and do his job.
By the time he reaches the top the pain is tremendous. White needles send him waves of pain step after step.
“Hey, I’m Buck.” He grits his teeth when he’s within earshot to gain the man’s attention. “What’s your name?” He tries to gain his trust
“Who cares. You’re bothering me.” The man sways his hands dangerously.
“What are you doing up here?” Buck tries again and he fixes his helmet as the man dangerously sways near the edge. Buck extends his arms, ready to catch him, but the man recovers quickly and looks at him with bloodshot eyes.
“I wanna fly.” He simply answers. Buck shoots a quick look at Eddie and Ravi behind the man’s shoulders. They are a little behind and Buck shakes his head, exchanging a glance with Eddie and wordlessly telling him to stay there. He sees him radioing Bobby and explaining the situation.
“Why don’t you tell me all about it while we go down? Why you wanna fly?” Buck tries, already knowing that the situation can only end bad.
He doesn’t even have the time to think about it that the man murmurs a quiet no and goes for the edge.
Buck is good at his job. After all those years at the 118 he knows when someone is about to do something stupid. So, he reacts before the man goes over the edge. He jumps and pushes him on the ground backwards.
But as he does so, his ankle gives out under him and sends him a sharp spike of pain through his leg and Buck can only fall and hang, suspended in the air, at 100 feet from the ground, grateful for the harness that’s saving his life.
“Buck!” Eddie shouts as he bolts to lean over the edge of the building while Ravi tackles the jumper. Buck is there, his face scrunched up in pain, as he swings from the abrupt jump. “Hey, Buck. Can you grab onto something and climb up?” Buck doesn’t answer him, his body still riding the wave of pain, his head dizzy. “Cap,” Eddie clicks on the radio as he keeps an eye on Buck. “Buck doesn’t answer me, but he’s conscious. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“Okay Eddie, can you harness up and get to him? Athena is coming up to take the man into custody.”
“Copy that.” Eddie turns and nods to Ravi who was listening to the radio as well. He harnesses up and anchors his line to a safe point, without taking his eyes off Buck. “Buck, I’m coming.” He stresses as he carefully gets his feet over the edge.
“Eds.” Buck’s tight voice reaches him as he starts to descend.
“I’m here, Buck. I’ve got you.” Eddie is breathless from worry as he reaches Buck and gets a hold of his harness, stopping him from swinging. “What happened?” Eddie immediately checks him for injuries with a concerned look.
“It’s my leg. I’m okay, but I can’t climb up.” Eddie works fast to secure Buck’s harness to his line and then unhooks him from the line connected to the ladder.
“Okay, hold on to me.” Eddie says softly as he straddles him to safely descend the line. “What’s up with your leg?” They are so close Eddie can see the little drops of sweat covering his forehead, as Buck clings to him with a grimace. He works the line as fast as he can to reach the ground and get him help faster.
“It hurts. I just need a painkiller and some rest, that’s all.” Buck stares at him as he’s focused to get them both down to safety.
“Cap, I’ve got Buck. Keep Hen in standby.” Eddie radios in, receiving an intimidating glare from Buck.
“I’m okay, I don’t need to be checked over.” He sighs as he looks around at the approaching ground. The crowd has dissipated as LAPD has the scene under control.
“All of this because you wanted to be held bride style by me?” Eddie sends him a quick smirk as Buck blushes.
“You’re such a jerk.” Buck reacts bumping his ribs lightly.
When they reach the ground, they’re instantly approached by their worried team.
“Buck.” Bobby calls him as he helps them land with a careful hand on Buck’s back. “What happened?” Buck winces as he puts his feet on the ground and tries to favour his right leg.
“Nothing. That dumbass was about to jump, and I had to stop him before he decided to ruin the day.” Buck huffs annoyed as Eddie unhooks them. Hen’s hands are immediately on him as she checks him again for injuries. Chimney is in the back, ready with a gurney if it’s needed. “Hen! Hen, please, stop it.” He exasperatedly slaps away her hands.
“He hurt his leg.” Eddie supplies as he takes off his helmet.
“Can you walk to the truck?” Bobby asks keeping his hand on Buck’s back.
“Maybe it’s better if you sit down here.” Chimney suggests.
“I just need a painkiller and some rest. Help me to the truck and let’s go back to the station.” Buck tries and leans on Eddie as soon as he offers his help.
They quietly comply, deciding on leaving him some space, and get back to the firehouse, where Eddie helps Buck up to the loft. Buck sits down on the couch and extends his aching limb on the coffee table, as he leans his head backwards and covers his eyes with his arms. He is tired and the throbbing in his leg doesn’t help a bit.
“Here, take this.” Hen’s hand appears with a white pill and a glass of water. He gratefully accepts it and downs all without a second thought.
“So, what’s this all about?” Eddie sits besides his leg on the coffee table and puts some ice on his ankle.
“You won’t drop it, will you?” Buck sighs and lets his muscles relax under the cold feeling. He opens his eyes and moves his arms. Eddie’s looking at him with expectant eyes and Bobby is behind him with his hands on his hips. “I have chronic pain. Sometimes the pain flares up and if I don’t take something it just gets worse.” He explains carefully, ready for the lecture he knew it was coming.
“Why didn’t you tell us before? It’s happened right after you got hurt or it’s something recent?” Eddie’s concerned eyes are on him.
“Because usually I take a painkiller and it’s like nothing’s happened. I just hadn’t had the time this morning because I was late.” He explains flicking his eyes from Eddie to Bobby who stands there with a frown. “And I’ve always had these aches. Since the beginning. It’s okay, I promise. I’m already feeling better.” Bobby sighs and gets near him.
“You should’ve told us you weren’t feeling great today.” He places a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezes lightly before turning his gaze to Eddie. “Take him home. Make sure he rests and ices that leg.”
That night Buck ended up sleeping in Eddie’s bed because I can’t let you sleep on the couch and I’ve got to keep an eye on you, Buck.