Chapter Text
Eddie Diaz knew the moment his partner shifted into a version that he’s never seen before. Since their very first shift together, Eddie has never seen this version of Buck sitting across from him. Buck was always bright and energetic. There was never a dull day around Buck. Of course, the blonde could be serious, but not this serious. Which seems impossible since they’ve had some crazy calls over the years together and a serious Buck would not be amiss.
Yet somehow, this version of a serious Buck was miles away from the blonde’s normal level of seriousness. To say Eddie wasn’t concerned would be a lie.
Just what did that text say?
Knocking their legs together, he sent Buck a concerned look when blue eyes pierced his own.
Oh my god , he could help internally swooning. Super serious Buck’s attention was all en-compassing- downright terrifying. Eddie is pretty sure he needed to adjust himself before anyone else noticed his hardening chub. This wasn't Buck staring at him. This was someone else.
But then, Buck blinked.
Eddie saw Buck’s eyes soften a little bit, in that way he always did when he wanted to convey he was ‘okay’ to Eddie. And he’d believe the blonde, if it weren’t for the fact that Buck was still tense and looked like he had a lot on his mind.
So, Eddie frowned in his silent version of, ‘no it’s not okay. Try again, Buckley’.
Buck gave him a smile, but it was not his usual ear to ear smile or the soft one he gives Christopher when he tucks Eddie’s kid into bed or speaks softly with Jee when uncle and niece get together. No, this smile was amused, but also sad.
I don't like this , decided Eddie. Whatever that text said, it's changed something. And if it was one thing Eddie knew, he hated when Buck was sad. It reminded him of the time during the lawsuit. When he wasn't there to support Buck the way he should've. That had been an awful time. After starting therapy with Frank, Eddie learned what he liked best. He liked it when Buck was happy and carefree. It was when the blonde was at his most beautiful.
Okay fine, so he maybe during that revelation he also learned that he had an itty bitty crush on his partner, but it wasn’t like he was going to act on it. Eddie was very content to sit back and be friends. As long as Buck was happy, Eddie was happy.
“Look alive back there,” said Bobby over the comms. “Looks like we’re here first.”
Eddie looked out of the window to the four alarm fire they were dispatched to not even ten minutes ago. He swore he could hear the fire blazing from inside the rig.
When he felt a knee press against his own, he knew it was Buck’s and met his blue eyes again. Buck nodded once.
‘We got this.’
Eddie took a deep breath and nodded.
‘Always’.
---
Antonio Dawson was quick to corner his lover at the back entrance of the precinct before Jay could slip away. He held him to the wall, checking to make sure the rest of their unit had already dispersed before asking the question that's been bothering him for the last hour.
“Alright Jay, spill. What’s going on?”
Green eyes, normally intense when staring down perpetrators, wavered in uncertainty. Antonio knew what effect he had on the taller man. The same could be said about him. If Jay asked him, Antonio would fold immediately. They were each other's weaknesses, but also greatest strength.
“I…shouldn’t.”
Frowning, Antonio stepped closer, so he could cup the blonde’s cheek. “You know you can trust me.”
“It has nothing to do with me trusting you, Tonio.” Jay sighed, leaning into his hand. “And more to do with national security.”
Antonio raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were out?”
A gun calloused hand came up and waved back and forth in the universal ‘so-so’ way.
Hazel eyes narrowed, but decided to change tactics. “Mi bombón, what can you tell me?”
Green eyes softened slightly. Jay gave a gentle smile before he kissed Antonio’s palm. “That’s playing dirty, Tonio.”
“What?” gasped Antonio in mock offense at being called out. They both knew the younger detective adored whenever Antonio used endearments with him. And Bombón being his favorite. Of course, no one would believe the youngest Halstead to be anything close to a marshmallow. He may not be aggressive like their Sergeant, Hank Voight, or as brutal as Antonio when he gets pissed off, but Halstead never gave ground. In some ways, his stare downs and accuracy with a gun was more terrifying than Voight and Antonio together. Of course, most of Chicago actually had no idea just how terrifying Jay Halstead could get. The only person who did know, wouldn't say anything. He had his own secrets to keep too.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Antiono innocently, turning his cheek.
“Uh huh,” chuckled Jay, looping his fingers through Antonio’s belt loops and pulling their hips flush together so he could kiss the newly offered cheek. “That’s exactly the point, isn’t it?”
Antonio winked, nuzzling their noses together. “So, what’s going on, mi bombón?”
Sighing, Jay pouted, giving in. “A…friend sent out a distress signal, asking for help.”
“A friend?” Antonio’s eyes narrowed. He’ll be the first to admit he was the jealous sort. Their relationship may be on the down-low, but like hell would he share his Jay.
“Calm down, mo chroi,” grinned Jay, using his own nickname for Antonio. “I’m all yours. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Right,” he agreed, leaning up and reminding Jay exactly who he belonged to. Antonio used to hate that Jay was taller than him. At the start of their relationship, he didn’t want the younger man to think that he could dominate their interactions. If anyone was going to dominate, it was him. Chalk it up to his culture or Antonio just being a dominant sort of person. However, after their first make-out session, Antonio was surprised that Jay never made a move to dominate and actually preferred to let Antonio lead.
It was probably the first time Antonio called him, ‘bombón’. His boyfriend was a total sweetheart.
“Let me just go talk to Voight and we can talk afterwards?”
Antonio understood the need for urgency, their jobs required that sometimes. Needing to act before they could speak. Sometimes, it left them shooting themselves in the foot (thank god not literally!), but more times than not, it was the only reason why they were able to close a case.
“I don’t like it,” sighed Antonio, but begrudgingly agreed. “But fine. We’ll talk later.”
---
“Since when did you own a gun?” asked Matt Casey, looking at his roommate with wide eyes. He’s been living with Kelly for about two years now, and not once was there any indication there was a gun in the house, let alone that Kelly had any interest in them. Now, if Kelly had an axe laying around, Matt wouldn't if look twice.
“Uh, I don’t know, decades?”
Matt gave the lieutenant an unimpressed look, which was ignored in favor of the gun being cleaned out. “Seriously, Sev?”
“Yup.”
Rolling his eyes, Matt knew a lost cause in conversation when it came to his roommate and fellow officer. Kelly liked to keep things close to his chest and it took an act of god to get the man to open up about the stuff he really cared about. It took years before Kelly felt comfortable enough to talk about his relationship with his father, but the life Kelly had before the fire academy was locked up tighter than Fort Knox.
Which was why Matt decided instead to focus on something else that he might have better luck getting a response for.
“How does burgers sound for dinner?” he asked, after a quick perusal of their fridge.
Kelly paused in cleaning. “Uh, delicious, but I’m going to have to pass.”
“What? Why?” Matt put the ground beef on the counter and looked for a bowl. It's been a while since he made patties from scratch.
“Above the fridge,” said Kelly instead of answering, going back to his gun cleaning. Matt wasn't an idiot. He could tell Kelly knew exactly what he was doing by how he handled the weapon. There was a casual purposefulness in his hand motions. If Matt wasn't more focused on the fact that Kelly was passing up on dinner, he'd be more worried about the whole gun thing.
Grabbing the bowl from above the fridge, Matt grabbed a few seasonings and pre-cut onions to mix-in with the meat.
"Wait, so why are you passing on dinner? You love burgers."
“Because I have a flight to catch this evening.”
Matt was pulling out a pan when his head whipped back to Kelly. “A flight? Since when?”
“Since this morning. Already cleared it with the Chief. Have all this extra leave that I haven’t taken yet.”
Matt put the bowl down next to the stove, a little louder then he wanted to. But it did make Kelly look up and actually meet Matt’s worried gaze for the first time that evening.
“You do realize how all of this looks, right?” Matt pointed at Kelly’s hands that were now assembling the gun without the older man paying attention to his hands. “What’s going on Kelly?”
So much for focusing on something that would get responses from Fort Knox-Kelly. But Matt didn’t make it to his captaincy by not working through the tough stuff. Shit, he usually faced it head on, which he probably should’ve done with Kelly sooner, but a lot has happened over the years. The last time he tried to learn more was around the time Andy died and that was not a good time for anyone.
When Kelly didn’t answer, Matt huffed and went back to making his burgers. Kelly might be taking off to god knows where, for god only knows why, but Matt was still going to have his burger.
The lieutenant can fuck off wherever he wants. It’s not like the other man owed him an explanation.
It’s not like they were married or dating each other.
“Case.”
“What?”
Matt refused to turn around and instead kept his focus solely on the patties he was now sliding into the heated pan. Maybe he should pull out another pan and slowly toast the burger buns? And also pull out the tomato and get some slices ready too. Did they have lettuce still?
“ Matt .”
At his first name, the blonde froze. Kelly rarely used his first name. It was saved only for serious moments. For when Kelly wanted Matt to listen.
Closing his eyes for a second. He needed to control his emotions before he revealed how upset he really was. They were only roommates, best friends. Nothing more. Matt didn't have a right to be upset about Kelly deciding to go a random, unexpected trip with little to no explanation. If Kelly saw how Matt really felt, he'd have to explain why he was so upset. And Matt was not ready to explain that ! No way, no how.
Feeling calm enough, Matt turned around and was surprised to find Kelly directly behind him. When did the man get so close? And how did he not hear him?
A memory from the time a gang took over the fire house came to mind and Matt remembered how silent Kelly had been sneaking around the firehouse. No one had noticed.
“I’m sorry for the short notice, but I need to help an old friend out. And I know the gun,” they both looked to where it lay resting at the bar top, “I know it’s unexpected. I’m sorry for that too. I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. Maybe one day, but not today. Okay?”
“That was all bullshit, Sev," scoffed Matt, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "You don’t owe me an explanation.”
Kelly shook his head. “I do, Matt. I owe you . No one else, but you. I want to tell you, but it’s not my secret to tell. Not just yet.”
“Oh.” Matt furrowed his brow as he looked at Kelly’s chest in thought. Why did it sound like Kelly was trying to tell him something? It’s been like that for the last few weeks. The man would speak in code at the oddest times, but would never just say what he really meant. It was frustrating, but also, it was just so Kelly. Matt knew what he wanted it to mean, but it’s not like Kelly’s ever shown interest like that before.
Far be it for Matt to assume, but he also knew what his heart wanted it to mean.
“Okay. I can wait.”
Kelly smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
----
Danny Williams has decided that the second he sees Steve, he’s going to punch the man in his stupid face. No, even better, he’s going to break the man’s legs. Yeah, that’s a much better idea. Because then Steve wouldn’t be able to drive and would have to sit shotgun for once.
Oh that definitely, that sounded like a perfect plan. Because then Steve would be stuck listening to the scolding of a life time. Danny would drive around the whole island, for hours, until he's made sure Steve understood just how annoyed he is with his hopeless husband. Then he'd pull over, kiss him senseless.
“Fuck,” hissed Danny as his ribs protested.
God, he hoped Gracie and Charlie were okay. They had to be. He knew the team wouldn’t let anything happen to them. Steve would have both of them under lock and key at the McGarrett house. Probably have them bunking in the older man’s room as it was the safest spot in the house. Danny really hoped that Steve wasn’t showing his babies how to shoot a gun or use a grenade.
Groping the space around his left hand, Danny hoped he could find something that he might be able to use as a weapon. He couldn’t use his eyes to look since his head was covered by a bag. Thank god it was a cloth bag, less of a suffocation hazard that way.
Also another plus, his hands and legs weren’t bound, but he also had the shit beat out of him. He’s pretty sure he’s got broken ribs since it hurt to breath, but no punctured lung. Since it didn’t hurt that bad. Still bad enough to keep the bag on his head.
Though he wasn’t sure what was worse, the broken ribs or the knife in his right thigh. He knew better than to pull it out. It was stopping any more bleeding out from happening.
“Ah, I see our prisoner is awake,” spoke an amused, accented voice. It was not a voice he recognized, but Danny did know one thing.
This was all Steve’s fault and his dumb SEAL better hurry it up.
Danny has plans, dammit!