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Buck slumped against the wall of the locker room. He let out a breath that seemed to drain the last of his energy. The lights buzzed overhead, and the noise grated on his nerves, an unwelcome reminder of the shift he’d just endured. He’d lost count of how many calls they’d run, each one blurring into the next—fires, crashes, moments where life hung in the balance. It was the life he’d chosen, and he wouldn’t have it any other way, but some days, it felt like it was taking everything he had just to hold on.
"Hey, you okay?" The familiar voice cut through his thoughts, warm but tinged with concern.
Buck opened his eyes to see his boyfiriend standing in the doorway, arms crossed as he looked at him. Even in a t-shirt and jeans, Tommy still had the calm, steady presence that Buck had come to rely on.
"Yeah, I’m fine," Buck lied, trying to sit up straighter, only to wince as his body reminded him of every call.
Tommy frowned, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of Buck. "You don’t look fine," he said, and Buck knew there was no hiding from him.
Buck shrugged, avoiding his eyes. "It’s just a lot, you know? Non-stop calls, not enough downtime—feels like I’m always running on empty."
Tommy nodded, his hand resting on Buck’s shoulder, grounding him. "I know the feeling. You can be a hero, Evan, but you still need to take care of yourself." He squeezed his shoulder gently. "You can’t keep pouring from an empty cup."
Buck let out a shaky breath, the tension in his shoulders finally starting to ease. "I don’t want to let anyone down. It’s like if I slow down, someone could get hurt."
Tommy’s expression softened, a mixture of understanding and something warmer. "Listen, you’re not in this alone. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. You have your team"
There was a moment of silence, and then Buck finally nodded, leaning into Tommy’s touch. He felt the tension begin to fade.
"Thanks." he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
"Anytime," Tommy replied, a soft smile on his face. "Now, let’s get you out of here and somewhere with less fluorescent lighting, alright?"
Buck chuckled, feeling lighter than he had all day.