Chapter Text
It was a slow day when the call came in. An old apartment building had partially collapsed. It had been condemned three years ago due to structure instability but the city had never gotten around to tearing it down. It was meant to be empty but reports had confirmed the abandoned apartment complex as a popular spot for the homeless. That meant people had definitely been inside.
Eddie had groaned internally as he climbed into the fire engine. It was only two hours before shift was over and he was desperate to go home to spend time with Christopher before he had to leave for his sleepover that night. He knew it was wrong to feel that way but he was mentally exhausted. It hadn’t been a busy day but it had been long and the thought of lounging on the couch with his son and partner was more appealing than all the money in the world. Eddie also knew that night was important to Buck.
Buck had been making a huge deal about that night for days. He was planning to put his cooking lessons from Bobby to the test and cook something big. Eddie had an idea of why Buck was being so extra. Their six-month anniversary was approaching in the coming week and he wanted to celebrate.
Eddie and Buck hadn’t told anyone about their relationship yet. They weren’t ashamed, they just wanted it to be theirs . They wanted time to properly settle themselves into their new dynamic. The only person who knew they were together was Christopher and that was only because he walked in on them kissing in the kitchen one day. It was extremely embarrassing for Eddie, having to hear his own son give him the shovel talk. Chris loved Buck, Eddie did too.
Eventually, keeping their newfound romance became automatic. Months had passed and neither Buck or Eddie had mentioned a word of being together to anyone outside of home. The more time that passed just meant it became harder to tell the truth. It was especially becoming difficult with Buck’s upcoming move. His lease was ending and instead of continuing to pay for an apartment he never even used, Buck decided to finally take Eddie's offer of officially moving in. Eddie spent more days waking up with Buck next to him than not. It may be considered “too soon” to some people but Eddie knew that there would be no one else or him. Buck was it.
A half-hearted kick to his shin pulled Eddie away from his thoughts. He looked across from where he was seated to face Buck. A small smile rested on his face, one Eddie knew was only reserved for him or Chris. He broke their eye-contact and looked outside. While Eddie had been stuck in his own head, they had arrived at the scene.
The truck came to a stop and everyone quickly exited. Without hesitation, they all gathered around Bobby waiting for instruction. Eddie examined the crumbling structure in front of him. One side of the five-story building had completely collapsed and was nothing but a pile of rubble. The other side was intact but looked as if a single gust of wind would bring the whole thing toppling down.
“We have no idea how many people are inside. Be quick and thorough,” Bobby announced to the team. “The East side of the building is caved in. Chim, Hen, I want you two to start there. If anyone survived, they’ll need immediate care.” Hen and Chimney nodded and ran to the East side without a word. Bobby turned to Eddie and Buck. “Buckley, Diaz, you’re taking the West side. Right now it’s secure but that could change any minute. Look for survivors. If they can walk, send them out. You need to focus on those who can’t.”
“On it, Cap,” Buck responded. He turned to run towards the building and Eddie followed suit. Eddie could hear Bobby giving out orders to the remaining teammates behind him but he didn’t register the words. Buck was his only focus. Another day of following the love of his life into danger. Buck pulled open the main entrance, turning to look at Eddie with a smile. “So much for date night, huh?”
“Uh uh. You said you’re making me chicken piccata. I’m holding you to that,” Eddie said, pointing at him as he shoved past. Buck smiled in response and gave a small salute.
“Yes, sir.”
---
The first two floors were entirely empty. Eddie and Buck cleared it within minutes. As they made their way up the stairs Eddie heard yelling in the distance. He looked to Buck to ask if he heard it too but the expression on his face confirmed it.
“Let’s go.” Buck bolted up the last few stairs and kicked the stairwell door open. Eddie hurriedly trailed behind him.
As they sped down forward, the yelling became comprehensible. A woman's voice echoed through the corridor.
“Help! Please, help! I can’t open the door! Please!”
The pleas were coming from apartment 3E. The door was clear of any obstructions. The only thing out of order was the rotting wood. Buck grabbed the doorknob and twisted. He looked at Eddie and shook his head when it didn’t open. Eddie stepped up to the door.
“Ma’am, it’s LAFD! Are you hurt?” He asked through the wood.
“I-I fell and I think I broke my wrist!” a fearful voice replied.
“Can you walk?” Buck interjected.
“Yes. Yes, I can. But I can’t get the door open. Please get me out of here! I don’t wanna die!” The woman sounded like she was getting more scared.
“Hey! Take deep breaths! We’re gonna get you outta there, okay?” Eddie said the most reassuring voice he could muster. Buck grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back from the door.
“Door won’t open. The cave in must’ve caused the doorways foundation to warp. We’re gonna have to bust her out.” Eddie nodded and took a step back.
“I got it. Move,” he ordered as he unclipped the axe from his belt, thankful that he impulsively hooked it to his gear. It was a smaller axe but it would do the job. Buck stepped aside, giving Eddie space. “Ma’am, I need you to take a few steps back from the door. Cover your eyes,” Eddie warned.
“Okay,” the woman responded.
Eddie waited a few seconds to be safe before making the first strike. The axe penetrated the wood easily. Eddie prayed out thanks to no one in particular. The rotten wood made tearing the door down much easier. Three more strikes and the woman's face became viable from behind the door. Her clothes were old, torn and covered in dirt along with her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Hey!” Eddie exclaimed at the sight. He dropped the axe on the ground as he started prying the door apart with his hands. Buck quickly joined in and soon they created a hole big enough for the woman to get through.
“You’re gonna have to step through, okay?” Buck said as he reached a hand out. The woman took a stride forward but hesitated to move further. Buck leaned further into the hole. “It’s okay,” he said calmly. “It’s all gonna be okay. We just need you to come through this hole so you can get help from our friends outside.”
The woman nodded and slowly made her way to the door. Once she got close enough Buck took her hand and helped guide her through the hole.
“That’s it. You’re doing great. So good,” Buck’s words made Eddie's heart melt. He was always so good with comforting people when they were scared. He admired Buck’s genuine compassion for the people they helped. It was one of the reasons Eddie fell in love with him.
Once the woman was completely through the door she lurched forward and gave Buck a hug with her uninjured arm. “Thank you,” she said. It was muffled by Buck's chest. Buck smiled with a laugh and patted her on the back. He was always so shocked when people returned the care he gave. Eddie watched the scene in front of him fondly. He really was gone for him.
The moment was interrupted by the static of their radios.
“The structure's integrity has shifted. We have maybe an hour before we have to abandon the site,” Bobby’s voice spoke over the radio waves. Buck pulled out of the injured woman's embrace and reached for his radio.
“Copy that, Cap.”
---
After the woman left Eddie and Buck discovered one more person on the third floor. An unconscious man who had passed out sometime in the previous hours. Once they were able to wake him up, they found no real injuries on him. Just scrapes and bruises. They cleared him to get out on his own and moved on.
On the fourth floor they found two people. A boy that couldn’t have been more than 16 had draped himself over the body of an older man refusing to leave without him. Blood poured from the man's head. Buck and Eddie rushed over to them.
“Are you hurt? Can you tell me what happened?” Buck asked.
“When everything started falling, part of the ceiling broke. He pushed me away,” the boy spoke through tears. “S-something hit his head and now he won’t wake up.”
“Let me have a look at him,” Eddie said as he kneeled beside the man and grabbed his wrist. “He has a pulse. It’s weak but there.” Eddie quickly did a check on the rest of the man and turned on his radio. “We have an unconscious man on the third floor. Head injury, no sign of any other wounds. We’re bringing him down.” Eddie let go of his radio and turned to face the boy. “What’s your name, kid?’
The boy swallowed and took a deep breath. The innocence in his eyes reminded Eddie of Christopher. “My name is Max. My dad’s name is Doug. Is… is he gonna be okay?” he asked. Eddie reached over and rested a hand on Max’s shoulder.
“He will be when we get him out of here. But I need your help, okay?” Max nodded. “We don’t have time to get a backboard, but your dad doesn’t appear to have any broken bones so that's good. I need you to help me carry him down while my partner keeps looking for people. You got that?” Eddie explained carefully.
Buck stepped forward. “Woah, no way. I’m not letting you go alone,” he objected. Eddie sighed. He really wished there was another option, but time was running out and they couldn’t risk leaving civilians on the fifth floor.
“This man needs help now and there's still an entire floor we haven’t searched. One of us has to go while the other stays.”
Buck had a sour expression as he took in his words, but Eddie could tell he won as Buck huffed and stepped back. “Just please be careful,” he said softly. Before Eddie could respond Buck was leaving the room to, Eddie assumed, check the fifth floor.
Eddie turned back to Max and Doug. He pulled a neck brace from his bag. “Okay, lift his head. Just an inch so I can put this on,” he instructed. Max did exactly that. “Good job. Now let's get your dad outta here. I’ll lift his left side. You get his right.” Max nodded and quickly went into position.
Together, Eddie and Max slowly carried Doug down to the first floor. Once they made it to the exit Chimney ran over to them with a gurney.
“Okay, get him to the ambulance. He needs to get to the hospital immediately,” Chimney spoke as he did a hasty examination. “What hit him?”
“Part of the ceiling. I-I think it was a piece of wood but I’m not fully certain…” Max’s voice faded as Eddie stood and watched him follow Chimney with his dad. He took a breath, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. Turning as went, Eddie began to walk to the entrance. Before he could reach the doors, Bobby stepped in front of him.
“Woah there, Diaz. Where do you think you’re goin?" he asked. Eddie tensed up.
“I’m going after Buck,” he answered, gesturing to the building. “He’s still in there.”
Bobby shook his head. “Time’s up, Eddie. No one’s going inside. Buck will have to come out on his own.”
As if summoned, Buck’s voice sounded over the radio. “Fifth floor is empty. I’m heading down.”
Bobby gave Eddie a look that seemed to say I told you so . Eddie relaxed a fraction and stepped back. Buck would be fine. They had done searches like this more than Eddie could even count. Hell, Eddie and Buck had been separated on calls even more. He was just nervous this time. It was the first big call they’d been separated on while actually being together.
“Why don’t you go join Wilson? She could use the assistance,” Bobby suggested. Eddie nodded in agreement. If Chim had left with Max and Doug the Hen was probably working double. Taking another step back Eddie pointed a finger at Bobby.
“You send his ass to me the moment you see him, got it?” he ordered, only half serious.
Bobby laughed as he waved Eddie off. He knew Bobby would do exactly what he asked. The last of the tension in Eddie’s body seemed to disappear as he backed away.
Later, Eddie would remember it in slow motion. The loud groan of the building as cracks several yards long began racing up the walls of the first floor. The way he could feel everyone freeze in place. How the groaning went quiet and the pin-drop silence that followed felt like minutes. It was all broken by a single yell.
“It’s gonna fall!”
Eddie wasn’t sure who sent out the warning. He wasn’t even sure if it was a man or woman. As if shocked to life, everyone around him jumped to action, moving themselves and others out of the way.
In reality it was maybe thirty seconds in total. Eddie was still standing in place, frozen. The sound of panic surrounding him twisted into a ringing buzz. He was unable to tear his gaze away from the building in front of him.
The building that was collapsing.
The building that Buck was inside .