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He doesn't even have to think about it. Chimney needs him, and the bike is right there. He doesn't even realise he's grabbed it until the voices rise behind him, shouting his name as he pumps his feet against the pedals.
In the distance he can see the headlights as the car screeches around a corner, and he hops the curb, racing across the grass to cut them off at the next street.
"Stop!"
He breaks hard, skidding to a stop on the bitumen his hands raised as if he can push the car back with sheer willpower alone.
It's not enough.
Buck sees it all in the space between heartbeats. The car's going too fast, he's too close. It's not going to stop in time.
The headlights dip, the brakes squealing and time slows.
Between one moment and the next, he's airborne, his stomach clenching at the sudden weightlessness.
He hits the ground with a thud that rattles every bone in his body and shakes free the breath he'd been holding.
The next breath stutters in his chest overwhelmed by the fire that burns up his side.
Sound washes back in– the shrill whine of sirens and the muffled demands for someone to get out of the vehicle.
Buck frowns, his face stinging with the movement. He's not in a vehicle. He's staring up at the sky, dark with clouds and flashes of red and blue.
"—uck."
He turns towards the voice.
"Hey, don't move." Eddie's face swims into view above him. "Buck, don't move."
But he has to, he needs to know.
"Chim? Is he—?"
"He's fine. You stopped the car." Eddie's mouth pulls down into a frown. "That was the stupidest thing you've ever done." His voice shakes, but his hands are steady as they help strip him out of his heavy turnouts.
"— had to do something," Buck mumbles, as the fire spreads burning so hot he barely feels anything at all. "He's my brother."
"Buck. Hey. Eyes open."
"—had to— help—"
When he surfaces, it's to softly spoken words. They wash over him, indistinct but familiar and comforting.
"—so much trouble—"
He shifts, testing out the limits of his body. There's pain, but it's muted, sitting right on the edge of not quite but almost too much.
"—might actually wrap you up in cotton wool this time. I think I might help them—"
"Chim?" The name sticks in his throat, catching on raw edges.
"I'm right here."
Buck opens his eyes, blinking against the harsh fluorescent light.
"Hey." Chim leans forward in his chair, wincing when it pulls on his IV. "Maddie's going to be so pissed. I only just convinced her to go home."
"What happened?"
"You don't remember?"
Buck shakes his head, rolling against the pillow.
"You tried to stop a car with your body," Chim tells him, leaning back in his chair. "And I guess it worked." He cracks a grin. "Though I'm not sure I ever want to repeat the experience of watching you fly over a bonnet."
"You're okay?" Buck asks, his eyes drifting towards the IV stand beside Chim's chair.
"Yeah, bumps and bruises." Chimney scratches at the tape on the back of his hand. "They were just keeping me for observation. I should be going home tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, your little stunt was last night." Chimney leans forward again, bracing his hands on the edge of the bed. "I made Maddie go home, but I think Eddie might still be around here. Your doctor's making him wait until visiting hours begin."
"But not you?"
Chimney grins. "I'm not a visitor," he says, holding up his hand with its plastic bracelet. "Those rules don't apply to me."
Buck huffs a soft laugh, wincing when the movement jars his ribs. He brings a hand up to press against his side, as if that will hold everything inside.
"So what's the damage?" Buck can feel the pulse of his heartbeat through his skin.
"Four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a lifetime of emotional scarring for those of us who had to watch," Chim says dryly. "For someone who got hit by a car, I think you were the one who suffered the least. You got to sleep through it all while we were waiting to hear if you were going to make it."
Buck hesitates, dragging his lip between his teeth. "I'm not sorry," he says, catching Chimney's haze. "I'd do it again. If it meant saving you."
Chimney sighs, deflating against his chair. "Yeah, I know." He reaches forward, gripping Buck's free hand. "We've gotta work on these self preservation skills of yours, Buck." He gives the hand a squeeze and lets it go. "Now, should we put Eddie out of his misery and call him in?"