Chapter Text
"Buck we are glad to have you back. Life at the 118 is shockingly quiet without you" Chimney teased as the crowd around them whooped and booed at Chim's bad pun. He gave Buck a quick hug.
"But seriously Buck we are very happy to have you back here with us. We've missed you" Hen said giving him a warm smile and a loving hug.
"Welcome back Buck" Bobby said warmly hugging Buck and lingering for just a second as he sent a silent prayer of thanks up to God that he didn't have to bury another son.
"It's not the same without you bud. Welcome back" Eddie said stepping forward and hugging Buck tightly breathing in the warm scent of Buck's aftershave. Eddie's hands ran along Buck's ribs feeling them whole and healed. Neither man noticed Hen and Chim exchange a knowing grin or a few firefighters walk off to give them space.
Buck stepped back smiling happily around him keeping one arm loosely around Eddie's shoulders. "Thanks everyone. There's no place I would rather be" Buck said honestly. Everyone cheered and began to break apart to help themselves to the food Bobby and Athena cooked for the occasion or a piece of cake that Hen was plating.
Eddie meanwhile realized he was still clutching Buck and released him quickly. "How's the loft? Has your mother stopped sending you outrageous things?" Eddie asked him taking two plates of cake from Hen.
Buck blushed slightly. "It's her pattern. I get hurt and she buys me stuff. Yesterday she paid movers to bring me this expensive area rug" Buck said his mouth twisting with distaste.
"You hate it" Eddie said knowingly taking a bite of the vanilla cake with strawberry filling, Buck's favorite.
"It scratches my feet and it's so expensive looking" Buck grumbled around a mouthful of cake.
"Why don't you tell her you hate the couch and hate the rug? Maybe tell her something you would like" Eddie suggested. Buck frowned, his eyes pained. Eddie couldn't take it.
"Or we can secretly sell all the furniture and use the money to take Christopher to Disneyland" Eddie grinned broadly.
"Eddie you can sell your kidney if you are that strapped for cash" Hen teased stepping next to them.
"Hey Hen do you need a new area rug?" Buck asked with a smirk.
"Yeah Mrs. Buckley and I have vastly different tastes. Good try" Hen laughed. A few firefighters and cops dragged Buck away to saw goodbyes or well wishes. Eddie watched his departure, a feeling of panic crawling up his throat.
"He'll be fine if you look away for a minute" Hen said softly. Eddie's head snapped back to her quickly.
A light blush touched his cheeks. "I'm glad Buck's back. But I still can't shake that...."Eddie exhaled.
"I know. None of us will forget it anytime soon. But we have to remind ourselves that he's right there. Happy and healthy" Hen said glancing over at Buck as he laughed aloud at something Jenkins, a firefighter from the 121 said.
Eddie smiled softly, loving the way Buck's grin stretched his face making his eyes dance. Eddie drank in the image before him letting it wash away the other images of Buck that had been haunting him for weeks.
Of course at that moment the bell rang. Eddie and Hen jogged down the stairs. Buck claps his hands eagerly from behind them. "Alright first emergency" Buck clapped him on the shoulder.
"Dispatch 118. Fire downtown 1200 South Grand Avenue" the call comes over the radio as they all race to throw on their gear.
Buck stops in his tracks. Eddie notices and then frowns.
"Wait Buck that's..." Eddie says realizing.
"My loft" Buck murmured horrified.
Hen stopped as well. "Well we'd better hurry then. Come on boys" Hen urged.
~
They made it downtown in good time considering LA traffic. By the time they made it to the building most of the people were streaming out of the building. Buck noted happily that most of the building seemed intact but a fire appeared to be raging...on the seventh floor.
"Mr. Buckley" Jasmine called, his elderly neighbor who he would sometimes buy groceries for and she would bake him her amazing macaroni and cheese.
"Jasmine are you okay?" Buck asked jogging over.
"Why yes dear I'm alright but they are saying the fire broke out on the seventh floor" she said patting his hand clumsily.
"Well we're on it" Buck told her with a nod, his chest tightening with anxiety.
"Buck" Bobby called waving him over while the rest of the team worked to put out the fire.
"Me and you are going in. Make sure everyone got out safely" Bobby told him. Buck understood what Bobby was doing. He was shielding him, protecting him. Buck would have hated it but since his accident he had felt the need to latch onto Bobby.
"Alright. Let's go" he agreed.
~
Buck was attending to a neighbor from the sixth floor and helping him put on an oxygen mask when Mr. Polts, a fire officer Buck recognized came striding over. Mr. Polts was a thin, reedy man with large glasses that always reminded Buck of an large bug.
"Mr. Buckley. Nice seeing you again. Wish I had better news for you but my investigation has found that your apartment was the source of the fire" Mr. Polts announced.
Buck's heart sunk. "What? How? I don't burn candles. I'm a firefighter for god's sake" Buck demanded. His voice carried through the air and Eddie and Bobby strode over.
"Is something going on here Walter?" Bobby asked glancing between Buck's devastated face and Walter's stiff face.
"Mr. Buckley are you aware of the recall on the Khoket couch you have in your apartment?" Walter asked adjusting the glasses on his face.
"No. My parents bought that couch. My couch started this fire?" he asked confused.
"I believe so. The Khoket couch was recalled because it is quite flammable. Your blinds were open and the sunlight may have caused the couch to catch fire" Walter said studying Buck with his large, bug eyes. Buck felt guilt twist his stomach.
"Bobby was anyone hurt?" Buck asked swallowing hard. He felt a familiar hand on his shoulder, steadying him and he looked over to see Eddie studying him worriedly.
"No Buck. Thankfully everyone was able to get out of the building. A few with smoke inhalation and some cuts and bruises but nothing major. Buck I'm sorry but its seems the damage was mostly to your loft. The neighbors on both sides will have some damages but your loft...." Bobby inhaled miserably.
"Can I go up?" Buck asked softly.
"Prepare yourself" Bobby advised frowning giving Eddie a warning look. Eddie sighed. Buck has already been through so much. He didn't deserve to have his happy place burned to the ground.
Together they headed inside. "How could I have done this? I'm a firefighter. I should have known" Buck said his tone thick with disgust.
"Hey none of this is on you. That couch was bought by your mother. You didn't even like the thing. Also shouldn't the furniture company have reached out to people who recently bought the couch?" Eddie said as they clambered into the elevator.
"They wouldn't have been able to sell the couches anymore so Buck you might be able to get more insurance if the couch was sold to your mother after the recall" Bobby advised him.
"I'll call Carla. She'll know what to do" Eddie told him as the elevator came to a stop. Buck stopped and stared at the black scorched walls extending outward from his apartment.
"Come on bud" Eddie murmured softly tugging Buck along softly. There was crime scene tape across the door and Buck ripped it out of the way. He took in the sights slowly. His blackened, scorched kitchen. His kitchen table had collapsed and was still smoldering. Most of his kitchen chairs were ruined. His stairs had collapsed into his den. His couch was a pile of ashes. His tv was cleaved in two, embers spilling through the middle. His furniture which had been in his bedroom lay smashed in his den.
~
Eddie stared at the ruined apartment. He felt a little guilty because a small part of him had always disliked the loft. Now it was ruined beyond repair and Buck looked heartbroken.
"Buck look we have plenty of room since May went off for college and Harry is in Florida. You are more than welcome to stay with us for however long it takes" Bobby told Buck as he continued to stand frozen in place.
Buck got to his knees and retrieved a smashed photo of him and Christopher at the zoo. Eddie got to his knees and met Buck's broken gaze. "Or you can stay with me. You know mi casa es su casa. Come home with me and Christopher" Eddie said softly.
"Eddie I don't want to..." Buck stammered. Eddie reached a hand out and placed it warmly on Buck's shoulder.
"Buck I want you to stay with me and Chris. You have already stayed with us in the past. I mean...you're family. So come home with me" Eddie said his heart twanging wildly, a strange desire coursing through him.
~
Bobby stepped back giving them a moment. He was glad his ploy worked. He would love for Buck to stay with him but he knew Buck belonged with Eddie. Plus Athena and him were getting kind of used to having an empty nest. Bobby watched as Buck visibly softened under Eddie's touch. Buck's eyes flitted with internal conflict. He just barely heard Eddie murmur "please Buck".
"Okay. We'll come by here after the shift to see what's salvageable" Buck agreed softly. Bobby watched Eddie fight a grin from spreading across his face. Then he winced slightly with guilt before his face smoothed. He pulled Buck to his feet.
"Why don't you two stay? We'll leave the truck and I'll call you to meet us when we get a call" Bobby said decidedly.
"Thanks Bobby...and Bobby I really appreciate the offer. When Eddie gets sick of me I will crash at your place okay" Buck said walking over. Bobby noticed a blush creep up Eddie's neck as he rolled his eyes and looked away.
"Right if that happens you are more than welcome to stay with us" Bobby said, a knowing smile tugging his mouth before turning and walking out of the ruined apartment. Leaving behind two confused men to pick up the pieces.