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Eddie can't breathe. This can't be happening again. He can't loose him. Eddie can't breathe.
It was just a normal house fire. Nothing they haven't done before. Buck and Eddie had gone in together to look for the kids. The parents were outside, trying to get around the others, trying to get to their children.
They'd found them upstairs in a bathroom. Eddie had taken one and Buck the other. Eddie made it out, just as the house groaned in a way that meant nothing good. He's just deposited the girl in her parents' arms, when the house collapses behind him. He moves the family back.
But when he turns to look for Buck, he can't find him. "BUCK! BUCK!" No answer.
He doesn't even know that he's moving for the house, untill someone is stopping from doing just that. Hen and Chim are holding him back, as he screams for Buck. He vagely registers Bobby calling for Buck to respond in his walkie. He just keeps screaming for Buck.
His Buck.
They've been together for two month, sneaking around. It's been fun kissing behind the truck, where they couldn't be seen, or in the storage room. They told Bobby, not wanted to get in trouble with the brass, but the rest of the team doesn't know. Chris just rolled his eyes and said "About time." and went right back to his dinner. Maddie had been so excited, she'd cried. But Hen, Chim, Ravi and the rest of the 118 are still in the dark. Though Buck and Eddie have been getting suspicious looks, but none of them have said anything.
His voice is raw, both from smoke and from screaming for the love of his life. The only thing coming out of his mouth is that name, but in his head he sees him, them. Buck cooking dinner, while Eddie watches, because he is not allowed within 5 feet of food, before it's cooked. The two of them doing the dishes. Slow dancing around the house, in the back yard. Movie nights. Mornings spent sleeping in.
This can't be all they have. It can't be all Eddie gets. It just can't, he needs him. Eddie can't breathe. Hen is talking to him, he knows she is, but he doesn't hear it. He just keeps screaming for Buck.
Just as he thinks, he can't scream anymore, there's movement by the front door. Eddie's breathing speeds up. It's him.
Buck.
Eddie doesn't feel Hen and Chim let go of him, but suddenly he's moving again. Buck has just given the second daughter to her parents, when Eddie reaches him. They collide so hard, they fall to the ground. Eddie lands on top of Buck, knocking the wind out of both of them.
Buck pushes them into a sitting position, Eddie now straddling Buck's thighs. Still breathing rapidly Eddie checks his pulse, like he doesn't believe Buck is actually there. "I'm here, Eds. I'm okay, promise."
Eddie sighs in relief and cups Bucks face, pulling his mouth to his own. Right now he doesn't care that they are in public, that their entire team can see them, that technically they aren't allowed to kiss on the job. Buck's arms close around Eddie's middle, pulling him closer. Buck kisses him back just as eagerly, desperately. It's all tongue and teeth. He never wants to stop.
When they pull apart Buck is gasping. A little too much for Eddie's comfort. "I'm fine." That falls flat, when he starts coughing. Eddie gives him a look, he's given him a few too many times. "Okay, I gave the girl my mask." He doesn't even sound sorry.
Eddie gets up and pulls Buck to his feet. When Eddie turns and sees the looks on Chim, Hen and Ravi's faces, he almost laughs. Almost. He's a too worried about Buck, every complication of smoke inhalation running through his head.
Buck laughs though. The three of them are funny to look at. All slack jaws and wide eyes. "Is that how you planned on telling them?" Buck laughs again.
"No, but you were an idiot. Don't you dare do that again, mi corazón." Eddie pleads, even though he knows the answer.
Buck leans into his side, tightening his arm around Eddie's shoulder, Eddie tighens his around Buck's waist. "I can promise the rest of the shift, babe."
"Why do I love you again?" Eddie can't keep the laugh out of his voice this time.
Buck moves in, so he can whisper in Eddie's ear, seeing as the other are close enough to hear if he didn't. "I'll show you, when we get home." Eddie levels him with a look, Buck knows he doesn't mean.
"When? How? What?" Hen gets out, while putting an oxygen mask on Buck's face. Buck just smiles at Eddie, taking deep breath. He is doing his heart eyes, taking Eddie's breath away.
"Look, you two. You know the rules." Bobby looks serious, but Eddie sees it for what it is, all Captain. "So if you promise me, right now, that this won't happen again." They both nod silently, so he continues. "Okay, then I didn't see anything." He shakes his head as he walks away, but they still hear him. "Idiots in love. I owe Athena so much money."
They all break out laughing. Hen composes herself first. "Speaking of money, I need to know exactly when this" she gestures to where Eddie is sitting next to Buck on the ambulance, their fingers laced together. "happen."
Eddie says "Two months ago." at the same time as Buck says "August 15th 7 PM."
Resting his head on Buck's shoulder, Eddie just laughs. Of course his boyfriend would go for the most specific answer he could.
"Yes! You both owe me 20." Ravi says triumfantly.
"Mi corazón, are you surprised, they bet on us?" Eddie turns his head to look up at Buck, who is already looking back, smiling under the mask.
"Nah, babe. I'm really not." His voice is a little muffled under the mask. "But I really would like to know just how much money Cap owes Athena."
They all laugh and look over to their captain, who is talking to a smiling Athena. She gently claps him on the cheek.
Buck squeezes Eddie's hand, where they are resting on Buck's thigh.
Eddie can breath. He has Buck. His Buck.