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Buck sighed as he went over all the equipment again to make sure that everything was in order. For months, that had been the only way he could ensure that his team was safe out in the field and it was grating. He had thought about resigning or at least trying to find another house that would take him, but Bobby had hammered it home that no other captain in the LAFD would take him, and resigning felt too much like giving up and that was just something that was not in Buck’s vocabulary.
He was just about to start the checks of the next lot when there was a shout out in the bay for him. Buck sighed again and rolled his eyes, no doubt someone had found fault with something he had done again. It wouldn’t be the first time by far and it sure as hell would not be the last. He put down his clipboard and the gear, laying everything out in order so that he could later resume where he had left off before he made his way out into the bay, his eyes immediately landing on a face he had not seen in years.
Saluting the older man was second nature and the salute back just as much.
“At ease, Master Chief,” Lt. Commander Ray Smith said and Buck fell into parade rest without thinking when faced with his former CO. The rest of the station was gathered all around them, all of their eyes wide at the visitor and at Buck’s actions. “Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately?”
“Anything you have to say to Buck, you can say to us all,” Bobby interjected before Buck could reply.
“I’m afraid not, Captain Nash as the nature of my visit is classified,” Smith said mildly. He had heard from the team that Buck’s new captain didn’t take privacy very seriously, never mind the younger man’s new team who was always up in each other’s business. It was really a miracle that Buck’s past as a SEAL had not become common knowledge before now and he was sorry to change that for the younger man. However, time was of the essence and there were still too many hours on Buck’s shift for him to have waited until he was off shift again.
“As Buck will tell us what this is about anyway if he wants to stay in this house, you can tell us all right now and save him the hassle later,” Bobby shot back, hammering ‘my house, my rules’ home again.
Smith raised a brow at Buck, making the younger man shrug as he was honestly done with the others’ attitudes to him. Maybe this way they would realize that he wasn’t the innocent frat boy they all believed him to be. Also, he knew that Smith would be able to word things in a way that would make it so that no classified information was given to civilians.
“Alright,” Smith said, shrugging as well before he focused on Buck. “Team Seven has missed four check-ins so far and they’ve officially been declared MIA. Team Nine is the only one available right now, but as Master Chief Mitchell is out of commission, as you know, we need someone to lead them on the rescue mission.”
Buck’s blood froze as he heard that his former team was missing and then his heart beat double time at the implications. Due to the nature of his agreement with the Navy, they couldn’t just recall him out of the reserves whenever they wanted. Any return had to be voluntary on his part so Smith and the powers that be couldn’t just order him to lead any mission, but this was pretty much the only reason he would come back. That and the world ending.
“And you want Buck to be that someone?” Chim asked, as usual sticking his nose and foot in, laughing derisively. “Please, he can’t even hurt a fly and he’s really not equipped to run any rescue missions. You better go looking somewhere else.”
Buck shot Chim a glare before he turned to Smith again.
“Of course, I’ll come,” he said, ignoring the older man. “When will I leave? I trust you have the necessary paperwork with you?”
There were protests all around that Buck could not just leave and that this was surely a joke that was in very bad taste.
“It’s not a joke and you have made more than clear in the last few months that you don’t need me anymore, so why should I stay when I can finally be of help somewhere again?” Buck asked. “Especially as it’s my team that needs help.”
“We’re your team!” Eddie exclaimed. “And what about Chris? You can’t just leave him!”
“Chris?” Buck asked mockingly. “Which Chris? I haven’t seen any Chrises in the last six months so as far as I’m concerned I have already abandoned him. As you said. You’re better off without me and my whining. Time to suck it up and stop being exhausting.”
Eddie recoiled as if he had been struck, the words hitting home just as Buck had intended them to. During that time, Smith had pulled out the paperwork he had brought, handing Buck the bundle and a pen which the younger man quickly took, starting to sign everything.
“You can’t just leave!” Bobby protested again. “I won’t allow you to.”
“Take it up with Uncle Sam,” Buck said as he handed over the copy of the paperwork that was for his current employer to Bobby, keeping another that would get filed at HR as he didn’t trust Bobby to file the papers which would result in Buck losing his job when he failed to clock in next shift. “I would say it was a pleasure and a year ago it still would have been. Now? Well, now I hope you have a quiet shift.”
With that, he left the station after collecting his things as the alarm blared. He listened to the others cursing his name as they scrambled to get into their gear and on the road, exchanging a grin with his CO as they left the 118, possibly the last time for Buck.
“Thank you for this,” Buck muttered as he got into his truck.
“No, Buckley, thank you for coming when we need you.”