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The music was blasting through his speakers. It was some song that Justin on B shift had sent him with more bass than lyrics. Buck’s windows rattled to the beat as he cruised home. He hummed with the beat, tapping his fingers on his steering wheel. He never saw it coming.
He was in the right lane, and the light turned green. He didn’t take off quickly; the car in the left lane was half a car ahead of him, but in the end, it didn’t matter. One moment, the sun warmed his skin, and the music flowed through his ears; the next, he was coming too- his Jeep was pinned between two cars.
He could see the man in the truck that t-boned him from the right slumped against his steering wheel. If his brain were working right, he would be confused by how close he was. He could feel the heat from his engine burning his arm.
Buck could hear the screams from the left as the young woman scrambled out of her broken windshield. He closed his eyes, trying to block out all the sounds and focus on what was happening to him.
He could feel his legs well enough to know that his bad leg was broken. He knew it was a bad thing that he was looking at his exposed femur. His left arm was pinned between his Jeep and the little blue car that he was pinned against. He couldn’t tell if his hand was still there or if his fingers worked. He knew for sure that he had hit his head as blood coated his face, lips, and tongue. He gasped for breath around his broken ribs.
He could die here. He knew that the right thing to do would be to call 9-1-1, but there was something more important. There was something he needed if he was going to die. Someone else would call 9-1-1.
“Siri, call Eddie.” He reached for his phone, which was tucked into his cup holder. He turned on the speaker as it rang.
“You just get home?” He could picture Eddie standing in his kitchen with his phone tucked between his ear and shoulder.
Buck hummed. “Nah, I’m still in the car.”
“Oh.” Buck could hear plates clinking together. “Chris is staying at Jermey’s. You want to come over for dinner?”
Buck could see the lights in the distance; soon, there would be sirens, and Eddie would panic. “I think I’m going to have to take a raincheck.” Buck coughed up blood. “I just—um—the ambulance is close, so yeah—I um- it’s going to be loud, and I just wanted to hear your voice.”
Buck could hear Eddie slam the plate down. “Buck, what are you talking about?” His breath was coming across as heavy and panicked. “What do you mean ambulance?”
“I--” Buck’s eyelids were heavy. He could hear the sirens. “They-- um—they’re here. So,” He coughed again, it getting harder and harder to breathe. “I’m going to have to go.”
“Buck--”
“Just wanted to hear your voice.” He didn’t know if it came across to Eddie. He could hear Eddie’s voice on the other end of the line but couldn’t understand what he was saying. “Love you.” He had to say it. Eddie needed to hear it. “Eds-”
“Sir, hold on, we’re going to get you out of there.” It was the last thing he heard as everything went black.
Waking up in the hospital always sets him on edge. He could hear the beeping and feel the steady flow of sterile air in his nose. His eyelids were too heavy to open, so he took stock of himself. He could tell right away something was wrong. His body was heavy with static, numbing all his pains.
He could feel the course material of casts on his leg and arm, but the good drugs kept him from aching too much. He wiggled his fingers on his broken arm, hoping that it was nothing as bad as a fire truck on his leg. His head ached in a way that morphine would never touch, telling him he had a gnarly concussion.
“Evan.” Eddie was whispering in his ear. “Can you open your eyes for me?” His voice was warm and rough with sleep and stress.
Buck groaned, his tongue dry and sticking to the roof of his mouth. “Eds-” He tried to get out. His throat hurt. He really hoped they hadn’t needed to intubate him.
“You don’t have to speak. Can you squeeze my hand, baby?” Eddie rubbed soothing circles on the back of his hand, giving him the will to squeeze his hand. “Thank you.” Eddie sobbed. The sound made Buck’s heart break, shattering in his chest.
Buck tried to lick his lips, trying to gather moisture. His face scrunched up as he tried to force his eyes open. “Eds-” His voice sounded trashed to his ears.
“Yeah, baby, I’m here,” Eddie called him baby twice; he couldn’t help but smile. “Let me get you some water.” God, he loved that man.
His eyes finally opened, finding Eddie’s tired face as he brought water to his lips. He took a few sips, trying to loosen his tongue. “You look like shit.”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “You’re one to talk.” Eddie sat down in the chair next to the bed. He grabbed Buck’s hand, pulling it to his lips. “You called me.”
Buck couldn’t stop the doped-up smile that tugged at his lips. “I needed to hear your voice.” He squeezed Eddie’s hand. “I needed to tell you that I love you.”
Eddie pulled closer, leaning closer to press a warm kiss to Buck’s forehead. He closed his eyes, pressing their heads together. “I love you too.” The words danced across Buck’s skin, leaving him tingling in their wake. He pulled back to make sure they were eye to eye. “Don’t do that to me again.”
Buck smiled. “I’ll try my best.”