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“Buck where the hell are you going?”
His legs were aching, begging him to stop cycling and get some rest. But he couldn’t just stop now, couldn’t just give up. He was panting, ignoring his body screaming at him as he continued, and almost failed, to dodge another car that was in his way before turning, effectively turning away from the main road.
The voice of Athena was clear through the radio, even as he was panting harshly. And he knows that Chim was still in the car with that drunk driver. Really, they should’ve taken the keys out of the engine when the man was still unconscious after the first time he crashed into that poor cyclist that Eddie was tending to.
But that was something they had only realised after the man had woken up as Chim was prodding and taking his pulse to see if the man was alive. The moment he awoke, there was something inside of him that made him switch gears and drive away with Chim still inside of the car.
Eddie and the other firefighter were still tending to the man that the drunk driver had hit, securing the splint securely around his wounded leg, and they hadn’t been fast enough to stop the drunk driver from driving away again. And they surely hadn’t been fast enough to stop Buck from grabbing the victim’s bike.
Really, this was a stupid idea.
Buck grits his teeth, rushing through the trees and hearing the sirens come closer. Athena was chasing the drunk driver in her police car but they hadn’t had any luck getting the drunk driver to pull over and it was only a matter of time before the drunk driver would crash, taking Chimney along with him.
The cops were keeping the man in the same area, effectively blocking off every exit to other roads… but they hadn’t considered that the man wouldn’t take an exit road… but that he would turn around and go straight back to where the rest of the 118 was currently still treating the bike victim.
There was another crack of the radio, and Buck almost misses how the suspect was reportedly coming towards the street that he was also nearing. He tries to urge his legs to go faster, but he can barely get to the intersection before the car drives across that same intersection.
Buck jerks at the steering wheel, turning right and following the car that Chimney was in. What the hell was he even going to do?
He feels a rush go through him as there was a barricade of police cars in front of the road, and the car slows down a tiny bit. This is it, Buck thinks, this is where the car slows down and stops, and Buck finds himself actually nearing the car before it suddenly takes a sharp right turn again.
Buck doesn’t hesitate, turning his wheel as well and finding himself on the curb before going off road, through the grass and cutting the car off. The bike jerks as he drives onto the road again, slipping off the curb and coming to a quick halt. He sees the lights coming at him, and he’s frozen as he puts up his hands.
“LAFD, stop the car! Stop the car!” He can barely hear himself talk as the image of Lev laying under the rubble flashes through his mind again.
“It’s okay, I got what I came for-” Lev had whispered as he continued to fade, right in front of Buck’s eyes. “I think I get it now,” He breathes out, before his heart gave out. And Buck… Buck never understood what he got. He never got to ask what Lev had finally figured it out, but he didn’t need to.
Because he understood now too… the words he had spoken, the reply he had given. Just that one simple word, but it was enough for Buck to understand.
“You save the kid?” Lev hadn’t been worried about his own life… he had been worried about the kid. Because he thought the kid was more important. The kid could still live a life, avoiding the mistakes Lev had made by focusing too much on the job.
“Yeah,” Buck had confirmed for him, and that’s when Lev had accepted his death. Because he had done something with his life, given it meaning by giving it to someone else.
And Buck can see a split second of Chim’s terrified face before he hears the tires screeching as the man desperately tries to break and Buck closes his eyes as the car hits his body.
*
*
Hands were all over him, and he wants to panic but for a second it’s like his brain is entirely disconnected from his body and he can do nothing but lay there as pain spreads through his body. People were shouting above him, rushing towards him and he whines as a hand only makes the pain worse.
He wants to move, but he can’t, and that in itself is terrifying enough without the pain. He wants to cry and sob, begging them to leave him alone but the hands aren’t leaving. He feels his coat being removed swiftly but gently, and a strangled cry leaves his mouth before he can stop himself.
“Chim, stay there!” He hears someone shout and his eyes snap open at that. Chim? Chim.. was he alive.. was he okay?
“C-Chim-” Buck whines, feeling like a child as he’s manhandled out of his coat and gently placed down on the ground. Something was beneath him, something soft. He tries to turn his neck but his body still isn't listening to him, and fear shoots through him as his brain tries to catch up.
“Chimney is okay, Buck, we’re more worried about you,” Hen whispers above him, and Buck feels himself relax just slightly when he realises that at least one of the people was Hen. He trusted Hen, she wouldn’t hurt him on purpose. He tries to blink up at the night sky, but everything is still too blurry to make out.
He feels hands on his ribs, and he cringes but he recognises those hands easily, and he forces himself to blink until Eddie’s face was in focus. But unlike the relieved expression, or maybe the worried one, that Buck was expecting, he could only detect anger on Eddie’s face, frustration even.
Buck winces as Eddie checks all of his ribs, but he’s pretty sure that he hasn’t broken anything.
“Bobby I’m fine,” That was Chimney’s voice, and Buck immediately perks up, pushing aside his own pain and trying to get off the ground.
“Stay down!” Eddie hisses, and despite the clear anger in his voice, he was incredibly gentle, only preventing Buck from moving any more than he already had. Buck whines low in his throat, blinking hesitantly and laying back down on the ground with a huff.
“Is Chimney okay?” Buck asks, his voice smaller than he would like.
“More worried about you, no doubt,” Hen says, her voice gentler than Eddie’s. She looks at him, putting a comforting hand on his cheek and Buck feels himself lean into the touch. And he realises someone must’ve removed his helmet after he had been hit, because he didn’t feel it on his head anymore.
He takes a shuddering breath, thoughts getting a little bit more clear as Eddie’s hands continued to assess him, maybe a little bit more thorough than necessary. But Buck wasn’t complaining right now, if only Eddie would just look at him. Buck sends a silent look to Hen, who just seemed to accept it.
Clearly, Hen understood why Eddie was so mad, she knew something that he didn’t and it was driving the young firefighter crazy.
“So am I gonna live?” Buck tries to joke, but it seemed to be the wrong thing to say as Eddie snaps his head up, eyes darkening.
“All good,” Eddie practically hisses, finishing the check up and standing up. Buck’s heart jolts at that.
“E-Eddie wait-” Buck calls out, trying to scramble up but the moment he tries to put his knee under himself he lets out a shout of pain. Hen is there immediately to catch him, and even Eddie comes back, holding him up. “Eddie, what is going on?” Buck whimpers, more focused on his partner than his own injuries.
“Let’s get you into the ambulance first,” Hen instructs, and Buck deflates slightly as he allows the two to guide him to the ambulance, and they quickly sit him down in the back. He slumps, energy quickly draining. He still looks up at Eddie, and he reaches out to him, grabbing his wrist gently.
“What’s wrong?” Buck asks and Eddie seems to explode at the question.
“What’s wrong?!” He shouts, ignoring the looks the rest of them were giving them. “What’s wrong is you jumping in front of a moving car, you could’ve been killed!” He continues, and Buck silently accepts the blanket that Hen was offering him.
“But I didn’t, and I saved Chim, didn’t I? It would’ve been worth it-” Buck tries, not really sure why Eddie would make such a big deal of it. Wasn’t that what he was born to do? Save someone? And he did, Chim was clearly safe, standing just to the side with Bobby and getting checked out by another paramedic.
But he was standing just fine, unlike Buck right now.
“At the expense of you? How do you think that’s worth it? Your life isn’t worth less than his!” Eddie continues, clearly too angry to stop shouting, or to care about the people looking at them. Buck winces, looking down and grasping at the blanket Hen had given him.
“Chim has Jee-yun and Maddie… he has people to go home to-”
“And you don’t?!” Eddie shouts, causing Buck to wince again. Eddie was angry, he was livid at Buck right now. Buck looks up at him, feeling his heart ache painfully.
“No, I don’t,” He whispers, and that seems to drain every emotion out of Eddie, and he completely deflates.
“Buck-” Hen tries, but Buck shakes his head.
“No, it’s okay Hen, I’ve accepted it, you have Karen and Denny, and Eddie has Chris… and I’m happy for Maddie for finding Chim because he’s a great guy, but I’ve accepted that I’m gonna be alone. My parents didn’t want me either so I’m used to it, really, it’s okay,” Buck tries, not able to stop.
It was fine, it was absolutely fine. He knows he’s too exhausting, too much to handle and eventually everyone would leave. Maybe they already wanted to and they just kept him around because it would otherwise be awkward at the workplace. Tolerated to keep the peace really.
He ignores the look Hen and Eddie are giving each other, and the wounded look on Eddie’s face at that but he’s luckily interrupted by Bobby walking over to them.
“You alright, kid?” Bobby walks up to them, and Buck chuckles softly, feeling his eyes drop as more time passes. He still nods, grateful that they dropped the subject for now, even if Buck knows Eddie is totally bringing it up again.
“Eddie said I was all good,” He says, but Bobby is clearly not impressed by that.
“You still have to be checked at the hospital, Hen, Eddie go with him and make sure he actually gets there,” Bobby orders, and Buck stops himself from pouting at that, knowing why Bobby was making Hen and Eddie go with him.
“That happened one time, cap,” Buck tries, and Bobby manages to crack a small smile at the memory of Buck going home despite Bobby wanting him checked out at the hospital.
“What about the drunk driver?” Hen asks, and Bobby glances back.
“The 102 has already arrived to assist us, they’ll check out Chimney as well but aside from some minor bruising from the seatbelt, he seems to be okay,” Bobby states, and Hen nods.
“Okay Buckaroo, up you go, I got you,” Hen murmurs, helping Buck up with a hiss, but he was glad that he was at least able to drag himself over to the gurney without them having to actually use it. Buck groans as he lays down, and Eddie steps into the ambulance as well, sitting on the bench.
Bobby quickly closes the ambulance behind them, and another driver starts the ambulance before driving away. Maybe Julie was driving, but really, Buck didn’t really pay attention to it, nor did he care.
“What are you doing?” Buck asks with a frown, but Eddie ignores him as he grabs the scissors and reaches for his leg. “Hey!” Buck whines as Eddie rips his pants.
“You want me to take them off normally?” Eddie shoots back, already pulling the fabric from under Buck’s knee and he whimpers in pain. His knee was already swelling and turning red before his eyes, his side must’ve clearly taken the brunt of the car when it had hit him. The rest of his thigh was also throbbing, but it was the worst at the knee.
He pushes down the worry about it being his bad knee, throwing his head back and groaning in embarrassment as Eddie effectively removes his pants.
“At least buy me dinner first-” Buck mutters, and Hen sighs above him, rubbing his arm gently as Eddie jostles his leg slightly removing the last pieces of his pants. Still, Eddie was incredibly gentle.
“How’s the pain, Buck?” Hen asks, and Buck’s eyes flutter open again to look up at Hen.
“Not as bad as last time, but still hurts like a bitch.” He can see Hen wince at that, continuing her efforts to comfort him silently. Luckily they reached the hospital quickly enough, and Buck does his best to drown out everything as he’s wheeled inside, half of his pants still missing.
This was going to be a long night.
*
“You’re very lucky, Mr. Buckley, especially considering your previous injuries,” The doctor mentions, and Buck at least had the decency to look sheepish as she continues to update him about his injuries.
“So I can get out of here tonight?” He asks, staring at Doctor Ayad as she smiles at him.
“You can, as long as you remember to take it easy, ice your knee and keep it elevated,” She tells him sternly. “These patellar contusions should heal up within 2 weeks, but if you don’t feel any improvements after a few days, contact the hospital again,” She continues, reaching forwards to check on his knee one last time.
Buck hisses slightly as she removes the ice pack that had been sitting on his leg for 15 minutes now, carefully wrapped to avoid any direct exposure. Still, it wasn’t like that was even possible with the knee compress wrapped around it. Buck sighs, watching his doctor remove the ice pack completely.
“Do you have someone who can drive you home?” Doctor Ayad asks, looking at him with soft eyes as she puts away the ice pack to the side. Buck groans, pulling himself a bit more and fully sitting up on the bed with his right leg stretched out in front of him.
“Eddie and Hen should be outside, or I can call an uber,” Buck waves away, grimacing at the thought of having to climb up the stairs at his loft. Not like he likely would be able to. Which meant he was going to spend the next few days, or maybe weeks depending on how fast he healed, on the chair since he didn’t even have a couch.
“I will send them in, I would prefer you get someone to take you home and safely inside,” She says, gesturing to Buck’s leg. The younger firefighter huffs out a laugh, shrugging before leaning back against the pillows, watching as doctor Ayad walks out of the door and leaving him alone for now.
His leg was still steadily throbbing, and he was already looking forward to getting home and finally being able to sleep. They had already been on the last end of a 24 hour shift, and Buck was just glad that they had been finishing up when the call came in. The next shift wasn’t planned for at least 48 hours.
Not like Buck thought that Bobby would let him come in for that one, even if he probably could if he gave his knee these 48 hours to recover. But Buck can already feel himself grow more tired the longer he was in the hospital bed.
“Hey kid,” Bobby calls out, and Buck startles slightly at the sudden voice.
“Hey Bobby,” Buck replies, wincing slightly as the movement made his knee throb even more. The elevator in his loft better be working because he was not getting up those stairs and he wasn’t sure what he was going to do if it wasn’t. “Are you taking me home?” He asks, but Bobby shakes his head.
“Eddie is taking you home, I have some paperwork to finish up on at the station,” Bobby says, and of course he did… he had more important things than looking after him. Really, maybe it would’ve been better if the car hadn’t attempted to break, hadn’t slowed down before it hit him.
Then at least he wouldn’t be bothering the 118 with his problems right now.
Buck blinks slightly as Bobby puts a hand on his shoulder, looking at him with concern. “Where did you go, kid?” He asks, and somehow Buck quickly figures he didn’t mean that literally. Buck chuckles softly, shaking his head.
“Is Chimney okay?” He asks instead, not wanting Bobby to know what he was just thinking about. It wasn’t his fault, but he knew that Bobby would feel obligated to attempt to prove him wrong, even if the man would probably agree with him if it hadn’t been for his captain’s position.
Bobby nods, glancing up quickly as Eddie walks into the room as well, clearly glancing over Buck’s body to check on the injuries.
“Chimney’s okay, more worried about you.” Buck waves him off, he was fine, he was alive. He would just need to sleep it off a couple of days.
“You ready to get out of here?” Bobby asks, and Buck grimaces slightly.
“They aren’t making me use a wheelchair, are they?” He asks and Bobby chuckles softly.
“You’re lucky they’re letting you leave at all, kid,” Bobby chuckles, already reaching for the wheelchair and Buck groans. This was going to be a long night indeed.
*
*
*
Buck allows himself to drift off as Eddie drives him home, adrenaline completely leaving his body and finally allowing the exhaustion to set in. His knee is still throbbing slightly but the pain was dulled by the painkillers that the hospital had given him, for which he was grateful. Even the rest of his body was aching slightly.
So he closes his eyes, drowning out the almost awkward silence as Eddie continues to drive him home. He knows Eddie is mad at him, but despite that, he wouldn’t have changed anything. It was worth it if it meant Chimney was safe. Chimney was more important than him, so he would always attempt to save him.
Eddie turns on a quiet street, slowing down and stopping the car. Buck frowns slightly, not hearing the usual traffic near his house and he opens his eyes. Immediately he spots the bungalow that Eddie and Chris live in, and he sends an almost frantic look towards the man.
“This is not my home,” Buck croaks, sitting up a little straighter despite his body’s protests. Eddie doesn’t react at first, turning off the car and taking out the keys before letting out a sigh.
“It is, Buck,” He says, and confusion fills Buck, because it wasn’t. “You really thought I was going to let you go to the loft alone? You would probably break your ankle trying to climb the stairs, it’s not like you even have a couch,” He points out, and Buck huffs slightly at that, because realistically he knew that.
And it was fine, he could make it up the stairs, or maybe he would just sleep on the chair. It was fine, he could manage himself.
“Eddie, it’s okay, I can take care of myself,” Buck tries still. “And I know you’re only doing this for Bobby so-” He continues but Eddie wouldn’t let him finish.
“I’m not, Evan,” He says, an emphasis on his real first name, and Buck almost feels too vulnerable, but he also doesn’t seem to mind. “In fact, I had to fight Cap to let me take you home tonight, I wasn’t the only one offering,”
“What?” Buck whispers, and Eddie nods.
“Cap already asked Athena if she could pick you up and take you to their home, I had to talk him out of it since you were coming with me.” Buck looks down at his lip, fidgeting with his fingers nervously.
“He’s out captain, he has to look after his team,” Buck tries softly.
“Maddie also texted me to let us know she could leave work early today just for you-”
“She’s my sister, so of course she feels obligated-” Buck tries to interrupt, but Eddie wasn’t having it.
“No, Buck, it was Chim that offered. Chim texted Maddie what happened and that he wanted you to stay with him,” Eddie fires back, and still Buck doesn’t let up.
“He probably feels guilty,” Buck whispers.
“Damnit Evan, why is so difficult to get it through your thick skull that we want you around. Hen and Karen offered their home as well, how do you want to explain that?” Eddie snaps, a little harsher than he expected. Buck shrugs, still looking down. “Even May offered to drive back this weekend just to make sure you’re alright. Only reason she isn’t is because Athena managed to talk her down, and a promise that you would call her to let her know you’re okay.”
Still, Buck stays awfully silent, not really knowing what to say. Eddie shudders, breathing deeply before trying to calm himself down.
“Why is it so hard to accept that people love you?” Eddie almost whispers, voice barely audible. Buck’s breath hitches, and he finally looks up at Eddie with tears in his eyes.
“Cause I always had to earn it,” He croaks. “And I never did.” And Eddie feels himself break at the confession, way too many emotions rushing through him. Understanding because he knew what Buck was talking about, anger for his biological parents who made him feel like he wasn’t good enough just for being Buck.
Sadness because his best friend was breaking in front of him, truly thinking that he had to prove or earn someone’s friendship, or even attention. But that’s not how a friendship worked, it wasn’t a one-sided transaction that only Buck had to pay for. And he certainly didn’t need to pay for it by sacrificing himself.
“You’re wrong,” Eddie says, struggling to formulate his thoughts. “Your parents were wrong, and I’m sorry they treated you like that but you have to know Buck that… we all love you, and you don’t need to prove anything to us by sacrificing yourself-”
“But-” Buck tries to cut in again, but Eddie shushes him quickly by grabbing hold of his hands.
“Buck, I love you, okay? And that’s not out of pity or because you sacrifice yourself for us. I love you because of who you are as a person. Because you’re kind and selfless, and I love hearing you talk about random facts, and seeing how you are with Chris. You’re an amazing father to him, and I don’t want to lose you,” Eddie pours himself out.
And Buck can do nothing but burst into tears, bowing his head and sobbing. Eddie reaches forwards, pulling Buck into a firm hug and the younger firefighter lets him. Buck cries for minutes, and Eddie is not sure how long exactly but he lets him, also craving the comfort of the man pressed against him.
Eventually though Buck sniffles, and Eddie pulls out of the hug softly only to rest their forehead together. Buck’s eyes flutter open, still brimming with tears.
“You meant that?” Buck whispers, voice slightly hoarse and Eddie frowns slightly. “That you love me?” Buck explains, and Eddie feels his eyes widen.
“Oh shit,” Eddie mutters, oh god that wasn’t meant to come out yet. “Buck I’m sorry, I know you don’t like men that way bu-” Eddie tries, but Buck lets out a shaky laugh, shaking his head.
“I’m honestly offended that you think I’m straight,” Buck chuckles wetly, wiping away the tears. “I… I love you too, but I couldn’t tell you because you told me you were straight,” Buck points out, not pulling away from Eddie even if his back was starting to hurt from the uncomfortable position.
“That was 4 years ago almost, I thought I was straight back then,” Eddie defends himself.
“So what happened?”
“You happened, and then Frank helped me figure it out,” Eddie points out, and at the mention of Eddie’s therapist, Buck’s expression falls slightly. And really, Eddie shouldn’t be so unnerved by the fact that he knew exactly what that meant. “Buck, how long has it been since you saw Dr. Copeland?”
The question caused Buck to shut down again, mouth snapping shut and looking down with a guilty expression on his face.
“Buck-” Eddie tries again, a little more persistent than last time but really, the silence in the car was enough for Eddie to understand what the answer was going to be.
“Not since the shooting,” He murmurs softly, almost too soft for Eddie to even hear him. And that was over a year ago already.
“Evan-” Eddie whispers out, not as soft as Buck’s voice but still soft enough to feel intimate, maybe too intimate. Buck swallows thickly, and Eddie sighs. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow, I think we should both get some sleep, and get you some more painkillers,” Eddie eventually adds, gesturing to Buck’s knee.
They both knew that they had to go to sleep, especially after the 24 hour shift they just had that had since also gone overtime with the last minute hospital visit. So Buck nods, reluctantly taking away his hands from Eddie’s and turning to the door. Eddie quickly hops out as well, rushing to Buck’s side to help him fetch the crutches.
“Are we going to talk about you confessing your love? Cause I feel like it’s very unfair that I don’t get to kiss you after that,” Buck murmurs softly as Eddie helps him out of the car, hissing slightly.
“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before jumping in front of a moving car,” Eddie points out and Buck huffs.
“Hey if it wasn’t for that you would’ve never told me you loved me,” Buck points out, and Eddie rolls his eyes but he can’t help but lean forwards, cupping Buck’s face and gently pressing his lips against Buck’s. The younger firefighter inhales sharply but quickly melts in the embrace.
He kisses back softly, scrambling to get closer to Eddie and opening his mouth to let him in. He groans, hissing in pain as his knee jolts. And all too quickly Eddie pulls away again, looking in Buck’s eyes with a soft but still concerned expression. Buck pouts at that, wanting to lean in again but Eddie stops him gently.
“You’re a tease,” Buck whines, and Eddie rolls his eyes but there is a fond expression on his face.
“Let’s get inside, Chris will be awake in a few hours,” Eddie mentions, and Buck sighs.
“And then we’ll talk?” He asks, emphasis on the last part. Eddie has to fight the urge to roll his eyes again, guiding Buck towards the front door.
“After you call Dr. Copeland for another session, yes,” He mentions, unable to see Buck’s face as they walk into the house. Buck sighs behind him again, but he doesn’t protest which he takes as a good sign. “And no, you’re not sleeping on my couch,” Eddie quickly adds before Buck can even say anything.
“Hey I like your couch, it’s comfy,” Buck says, dragging himself over to the bathroom where Eddie was already filling up a glass and taking out the painkillers that they had taken from the hospital. Buck frowns slightly as he sits down on the toilet seat as he dutifully swallows the pills down with water.
And he stays right there on the toilet seat as Eddie silently hands him a toothbrush, his toothbrush. Eddie doesn’t seem to mind the silence, watching him and not even trying to be subtle about it.
“What’s going on in that thick head of yours?” Eddie remarks as Buck is done brushing his teeth, handing his toothbrush back.
“That’s my toothbrush,” Buck says, and Eddie frowns as he glances down at the thing.
“You thought I would give you another toothbrush?” Eddie asks, a little confused and Buck chuckles, stifling the sound to avoid accidentally waking Chris up even if they both knew that Chris could sleep through an active tornado drill.
“No, but it’s mine, at your house, and remember when I mentioned that I didn’t have a couch?” Buck starts, and Eddie nods.
“Because your last two girlfriends came with couches, and you didn’t want to make the same mistakes,” He supplies, and Buck shrugs sheepishly.
“And I already had one here,” Buck says softly, almost hesitantly. “I just didn’t realise it yet,”
There was a short silence, before Eddie sighs. “You’re getting another partner with a couch?” He challenges, and this time Buck can’t stop the huff of laughter escaping him.
“That’s so not the point, and you know it, and I’ll have you know that I’m getting another couch with a partner, you’re the secondary gain here.” Eddie just rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he heads out of the bathroom for a moment to allow Buck to go to the toilet. Eventually Buck emerges from the bathroom, hobbling over to the bedroom.
Eddie was already in his pyjama shirt and boxers, and Buck huffs out another laugh.
“This is also mine,” Buck whispers as he picks up the shirt that Eddie had already grabbed for him. “We’re really idiots, are we?” He asks, running a hand across his face.
“Maybe, I mean I’m pretty sure the 118 already knew,” Eddie mentions, helping Buck put the crutches away and getting into bed himself.
“So basically we’ve been dating for years without actually knowing it,” Buck says, laying down on his back as Eddie crawls into the bed as well. “We missed out on so much good sex,” Buck whines.
“Don’t worry, we got plenty of time,” Eddie reassures him, rolling onto his side and staring at the man. Buck falls silent for a moment, just staring up at the ceiling as the painkillers were slowly starting to kick in.
“Buck?” Eddie eventually asks softly, and Buck hums softly but doesn’t look at Eddie. “Do you believe you’re loved?” And the silence from Buck was enough to answer Eddie’s question. Eddie can almost hear his heart breaking, shattering in a million tiny pieces at the admission.
Eddie wordlessly reaches out, tugging Buck into his chest despite Buck’s half hearted struggles. “You’re loved Buck, by all of us,” Eddie murmurs, and Buck bursts into tears, hiding his face in Eddie’s embrace. “I love you, te quiero,” Eddie continues, gently rubbing Buck’s arm.
And he knows Buck wasn’t going to immediately believe him, but the touch and the soft words in both English and Spanish seemed to calm Buck down enough to finally fall asleep. Next day the first thing he would do was continue showing how much he loved Buck, even if the man wasn’t ready to accept it.
After the emergency session with Dr. Copeland at noon, when Buck remained silent and completely exhausted mentally and physically in pain, he continued to stay close to him. Showering him with praises and staying with him to cuddle. Buck clinging to him the entire day until Carla brought Chris home.
And when they told Chris about the fact that they were dating, the boy reacted with surprise, “you weren’t already?”
And Buck genuinely laughs for the first time since his session, quickly hugging Chris from his spot on the couch where he was still stuck and looking at Eddie with fond eyes as Chris rambles excitedly about Buck hopefully finally moving in, and how they would both be using crutches now for a few days.
And Eddie knew that they would be alright, it would just take some time.