Work Text:
It was well known throughout the LAPD that Athena Grant-Nash had in all ways but legally adopted Evan Buckley.
Between her and her husband, the young man had healed from the bombing that had nearly ended his life. Because of Athena’s legendary stubbornness, she’d been able to outvote Buckley’s own sister to get the man to move into their spare bedroom upon his release from the hospital. Those few months had made the newly blended family of four a now tightly knit family of five. It had done wonders to help assuage the feelings of regret that seemed to surround Captain Nash, while also giving Firefighter Buckley the family he’d gone searching for.
Lou Ransone was introduced to Evan “Call me Buck” Buckley about a month after the bombing. The young man was stuck at the Grant-Nash household in the middle of the week as both Athena and Bobby were on shift and the kids were stuck at school. Lou had volunteered to go over and check on him while also bringing food, as he was not allowed to be on his feet yet. After all, he’d just returned from having one last surgery on his leg to replace the screws in his leg that seemed to have been causing some damage. According to Athena, in any event.
He used his borrowed key to enter the house, immediately clocking the young man sound asleep on the couch with his leg propped up. From where he was standing, he could see the brace that was surrounding the limb, keeping it immobile.
Lou took only a few steps before Buck woke up on the couch. “Athena?” he called out.
“Check your phone, Firefighter Buckley,” Lou said, going with the official route. Athena had warned him that Buck’s painkillers sometimes made it so that he didn’t immediately put two and two together when he first woke up, especially if it was because someone was around that he wasn’t expecting. “Athena texted you. My name is Lou Ransone, I work with her.”
He watched as Buck picked up his phone, saw the message, and sighed. His whole body visibly calmed. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly.
Lou came fully into the room, holding up the bag of food that was freshly cooked by Bobby at the 118. “You’re fine. We both figured you might not remember.”
Buck’s eyes locked on the bag. “Where is that from, Detective?” he asked while trying to carefully sit up. Lou took an aborted step forward to help, only to receive a quick headshake.
“Captain Nash sent lunch so that you wouldn’t have to cook,” Lou said, moving to set the bag down on the coffee table. He ended up pausing again at another headshake.
“Sorry, Athena made it clear to me that the only food allowed in the living room was snack food. I can make it to the table.” He was able to smoothly push himself to one foot, grabbing hold of a cane that had been tucked away out of right in the same movement. Then he awkwardly made his way towards the table, limping behind the detective.
Once Captain Nash’s lasagna was dished out and both were seated at the table, the meal passed with quiet conversation. Lou found Buck easy to talk to, just as Athena had told him he would be. The young man had knowledge in a variety of subjects and wasn’t afraid to discuss it. Only when they finished eating did the shop talk start, talking about different scenes they’d been at, but still keeping the conversation light and fun. Some of the stories Buck passed on to Lou were ones he’d never heard of, or ones that he’d only heard parts of.
Before they knew it, nearly two hours had passed and Buck was fully wincing. Lou immediately figured he was late for one of his medications. He wrapped up his current story and gave the mild suggestion of a nap, which he was surprised to hear Buck agree to.
“The meds make me sleepy,” Buck shrugged at his surprised look.
A half hour later, Buck had limped back to the couch and was fully passed out, sleeping off the food and the remnants of pain. Lou cleaned out the last of their dishes and quietly crept out of the house, locking up behind himself. He gave Athena a courtesy text to let her know that Buck was back asleep and had eaten so she didn’t worry, which she absolutely would.
He just didn’t mention that he left his card underneath Buck’s phone with his personal cell number, just in case Buck needed someone else to talk to. It was worth it.