Archive of Our Own

Let it be known that one of Chimney’s favourite things to do is have his family together for dinner. His blood family mind you. The last time he had his chosen family around for dinner Buck flicked his mash potato at Eddie, Karen and Maddie drank too much wine and Bobby got weepy over an elaborate case story that Athena really got into over candlelight. And when said candlelight nearly set the table cloth on fire, Chim remembered all the reasons why he didn’t always want to bring his work home with him.

But sitting around the table with Jee giggling away at Albert making faces and Maddie looking at them all soft with her hand over her pregnant stomach? Chimney wished for times like this. His stomach felt warm and content about how things were unravelling.

As Chimney got up to grab another bottle of his favourite red wine, Maddie was laughing though one of her favourite 118 stories that she overhead over the radio.

“-and then Buck’s voice came over the line, well you can imagine I was besides myself! Listening to Athena and Bobby communicating through my ears on their radios was one thing; but my baby brother in the midst of it all? Forget about it”

Albert laughed as Chimney grinned to himself, locating the corkscrew and twisting out the cork.

“But then I found out Eddie was with him and I immediately felt a whole lot better” she reassured as Chimney trailed back to their dining area. “They’re safer together”

“Definitely” Albert agreed, nodding sincerely as Chimney left the hallway. “How long have they been together now? Two, three years?”

Chimney stopped in the open alcove, eyes going wide as Maddie coughed on her water. Chim rushed forward to asist her, she brushed him off and both stared at Albert with wide eyes.

“What?” He said.

“They’re not together” Chimney said as Maddie stared across the table at him.

“They’re not… what?" Albert stared.

“Together” Maddie said. “God help me I wish they were, I thought I was the only one thinking it these days l

Chimney stared down at his wife “ what?!”

“Oh come on Howie, you can’t tell me you weren’t in on Operation BEFF?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Oh man, is that still going on?”

Maddie shook her head. “Josh said it dropped off when I moved to Boston and Eddie left the 118”

“Hang on…going back to you thinking they’re together?” Chim stared at his brother. “And you, Buck’s own sister, wishing they were?”

Maddie smiled as Albert huffed a laugh. “Maybe you should sit down Howie”

Chim did, the chair scraping the floor dramatically as he plopped down at Maddie’s side.

He stared at his wife and brother with wide eyes and his mouth open. The pair laughed at him.

“Let’s put it this way, when Buck came out as bi I wasn't surprised. But him figuring it out by kissing a man that wasn’t Eddie did surprise me” she said, smiling at Jee as she perked up at Buck’s name.

“See that’s where I was confused, I heard he was dating a guy and I didn’t realise it wasn’t Eddie?” Albert said

“Uncle Buck and Uncle Eddie!” Jee cheered with a big gummy grin.

“Exactly” Maddie smiled, “see, even Jee gets it!”

Chim rubbed at his stubbly chin. “Huh. I did think the whole basket ball thing was weird…and the well that was a lot…god and the lightning strike…and Buck’s relationship with Chris I-“ he cut off as Maddie and Albert gave him a pointed look. “ Oh ”

Albert grinned. “Hence operation BEFF”

Chim leaned forward, curious “tell me more about that”

Jee giggled.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Chim peered around the changing room door catching Hen, already in her uniform, rifling through her locker. Behind her Buck and Eddie were laughing about something and Ravi was tying his shoe.

He cleared his throat and to his dismay, all four of them looked over at him.

“Oh uh I’ve got a cough, don’t mind me”

They all went back to their tasks, but Hen, having know him the longest, who really knew him, locked eyes with him and raised an eyebrow. Chim gestured with his head for her to follow him. She sighed and did so, smiling at the others as she shut her locker.

He glanced over both shoulders and looked over Hen’s shoulder to make sure the coast was clear when he dragged her behind the ambulance truck

“You’re acting awfully suspicious” she accused, tilting her head at him.

“Yeah ‘cause I don’t want them to overhear” he whispered in response. Glancing up at the loft to make sure Bobby wasn’t eavesdropping.

“Who?”

“Buck and Eddie”

“Oh god” Hen said rolling her eyes. “What have they done now?”

Startled by this, Chim blanched and stared at her.

“You know?”

Hen folded her arms and set him with a look.

“Know what Chim? You haven’t said anything?”

Chim ushered Hen into the ambulance and swiftly shut the doors behind them. He glanced out the cab window to see Buck and Eddie heading up to the loft. He exhaled.

“Albert thought Buck and Eddie were together ”

Hen only seemed mildly surprised by this.

“Right”

“And Maddie said something about operation BEFF? And then said she wasn’t surprised when Buck started dating a man, but more so that that the man wasn’t Eddie”

“Right?”

“What do you mean right ? You can’t keep saying that!” Chim spluttered. “You knew about this?”

“I didn’t know about operation BEFF, but it’s no secret that Buck and Eddie aren’t exactly normal friends Chim. There’s me and you and there’s them , you know? Like they have this…tension almost? Intensity? Honestly Karen keeps saying it’s only a matter of time”

“Oh my god” Chim said, leaning back on the gurney he had sat on. “Oh my god”

She huffed a laugh. “Glad you finally got with the programme, I’ve been throwing looks at you for years every time something weird happens between them”

“And now Eddie wants to move to Texas ” Chim cringed. “Oh my god, they’re not gonna make it in time”

Hen leant back on the bench to think this through.

“You know, I hadn’t considered that”

“Oh my god” Chim panicked, hands in his hair. “They’re going to lose each other!”

“Don’t you think you’re being a tad dramatic Chim? Eddie’s probably going to come back with Chris, no?”

“You don’t know that Hen” Chim said with a shake of his head. “When I followed Maddie to Boston I was fully prepared to settle wherever she wanted too”

“Thank god you guys came back” hen said with a small grateful smile.   

“Right, but what if the same happens? God what’s Buck going to do? First Maddie gets fucking kidnapped and now Eddie is actually moving. I’m worried about Buck Hen. And Eddie actually. God and Maddie I-“

“Chim” Hen cut across. “Are you seeing that therapist that Bobby set you up with? After everything that happened with Maddie?”

Chim slowly shook his head. “What, Frank? No with Maddie and the baby and Jee I-“

“Chim” Hen said firmly. “Please look after yourself too”

Chim nodded slowly and they fell into silence. Hen reached across the truck to grasp his shoulder and rub it reassuringly.

“And Buck and Eddie?” He whispered.

“I take it operation BEFF was about them originally?”

“Yeah. Dispatch and some of the other firehouses used to try and find ways to get them to get their shit together I think. I think it stands for ‘Buck and Eddie for forever’”

Hen chuckled and made a humming sound that made Chim lift his head up again.

“What are you planning Henrietta?” He asked suspiciously, squinting at her.

“Well Howard, what do you say to Operation BEFF 2.0?” She smiled, wiggling her perfect eyebrows.

“Oh my god. I love you”

“I love you too, bud”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Josh looked through the glass at Chim and Maddie laughing together over the lunch he had brought over for them to share. He sighed and glanced at Hen.

“Operation BEFF 2.0 you say?” Josh quipped as Chimney and Maddie giggled unsuspectingly behind the glass.

“It’ll be good for him Josh, good for them” Hen said, peering over at him.

“Oh absolutely. I just never thought I’d see the day. When Buck came out I kinda expected everything to slot into place”

“Everyone keeps saying that apparently” Hen nodded “so I think we need to start with Eddie”

“ That ” Josh said with a smile. “I can help with”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Josh had been seeing a sweet man called Tristan for a while. He was in his mid thirties, with dark hair, bright blue eyes and came as a package deal with a sweet girl named Anna who was 5 years old.

It’s not that Josh had necessarily made an instant connection between Tristan and Eddie, but when Hen and Chimney arrived at dispatch looking a bit unhinged about the Buck and Eddie situation, Josh knew exactly what to do.

So the following week, he, Tristan and Anna paid a visit to the firehouse. Anna clutched her new Dalmatian toy bought especially for the occasion in her hands and wore a little red cardigan and matching skirt. Josh cooed at her as Tristan picked him up and Anna grinned toothy at her him.

“So remember Anna, remember you really want to be a firefighter and you have lots of questions”

“But Daddy I want to be a spaceman !” She exclaimed. “Do spacemen get doggies too?”

Tristan glanced at Josh and Josh laughed.

“Obviously. Remember Laika?”

“Oh god don’t remind me” Tristan shook his head. “I’m excited to meet your friends, remind me of the plan again?”

Josh took a deep breath and went over the finer details with a quick history lesson before they pulled up outside the firehouse.

“Fireman!” Anna exclaimed as Tristan helped her hop out of the car.

“That’s the spirit!” Josh said “put remember firewomen and firepeople exist too”

“Look at you teaching our daughter to be a good person” Tristan smiled, kissing Josh softly.

Josh gasped “ our daughter?”

“Well you’re more of a parent to her than her Mother ever was”

“Oh god, we really are becoming Buck and Eddie”

“And I haven’t even met them yet” Tristan said, holding hands with Josh and Anna.

They turned the corner into the bay where Buck and Eddie were on itinerary duty. Buck had his clipboard out at full force and Eddie checked the items off as Buck called them out.

“Oh my god” Eddie melted as Anna came running over.

“Fireman!” she babbled, wiggling her tiny fingers at him and bouncing on her feet.

“Hi there!” He said, beaming at her and crouching down so she could pat his cheek.

“What do we have here! Hey Josh! And this must be Tristan and Anna!” Buck grinned, lowering his clipboard and coming over to greet them.

“Hey Buck” Josh said “Hey Eddie” as he hugged them both.

“I see my reputation proceeds me” Tristan laughed as Buck and Eddie shook his hand. “Say hi to Buck and Eddie, sweetheart” he encourage Anna.

“Hi!” she said enthusiastically “this is my dog!” She held out her Dalmatian at them and they each rubbed its fuzzy head beaming at her.

“How old is she?” Eddie asked Tristan, smiling wide and cooing at her as she looked at her reflection in the fire engine and started pulling faces at herself.

“She’s not long turned 5” he said, pushing his hand across the top of her hair.

“She’s only a bit older than Jee!” Buck exclaimed and turned to Josh. “Are you gonna have a play date with Maddie?”

“That’s a great idea! I’ll ask her” Josh agreed.

“Oh wow, I remember that age well” Eddie said as his eyes got a bit misty, Buck glanced at him in concern and opened his mouth before Josh stepped in.

“What are we all standing in the bay for when there’s a wannabe firefighter in our midst! Eddie maybe you could give Tristan a tour and Buck maybe you could show Anna the engines?” Josh suggested, eyes sliding to Tristan who nodded enthusiastically.

“Sounds good to me!” Tristan said and Eddie nodded, leading them away and waving at Anna as he went.

Buck grinned down at Anna and Josh helped her climb the steps to the engine before Buck and Josh followed her inside.

“This is the kitchen and sort of living area I guess” Eddie said, pointing over at the kitchen at where Bobby, Hen and Chim were all working on cooking burritos, a Caesar salad and some sort of fancy looking asparagus side dish.

“Guys this is Tristan!” Eddie said as Tristan waved at them.

“Hey Tristan!” Hen and Chim chorused.

Hen and Chim exchanged a look and Hen nodded at Tristan, Tristan nodded back with a secret smile.

“Ah you must be Josh’s new partner! It’s so nice to meet you, will you join us for lunch?” Bobby welcomed.

“And you must be Captain Nash! I would love to if that’s okay! I’ve got Josh and my daughter Anna downstairs if that’s okay!”

“Definitely! Sorry to interrupt your tour, Eddie”

“No worried Cap” Eddie said and led Tristan over to the couch. “Uh, we have a PlayStation here but that’s mostly a Buck and Hen thing. I mostly watch tv here, if there’s free time” he smiled.

“Josh told me you have a son?”

“Yeah I do, Christopher. Best thing in my life” Eddie smiled sadly. “He uh, he’s living in Texas at the moment”

“Oh with family?”

“Yeah my folks. His mother uh…died a few years back”

Tristan nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry to hear that Eddie. Anna’s mother died a few years ago too. I understand how hard that must be ”

“Oh so you’re…”

“Gay” he nodded. “I know it sounds awful but Rachel dying led me to the my own personal discovery of figuring out who I was, finally gave me the courage to explore what I think I always knew was there” he glanced at Eddie “and that led me to Josh, and he cares for Anna more than I could ever hope for”

“Oh wow” Eddie said, sitting back in his chair and his eyes going wide. “That uh…sounds familiar”

“It’s really great that you have someone in your life like Buck, Eddie. To not only care for you, but your son too”

Eddie blinked heavily, a stunned look on his face and mouth agape. “Right. No yeah…for sure” he trailed off, slightly dazed.

“Guys, lunch is ready!” Chim announced, looking over the balcony where Anna and Buck were playing with the hose and giggling. “Well would you look at that!”

Eddie and Tristan looked too and Eddie all but melted at the sight of the pair, a warm smile on his face and eyes bright.

He glanced at Tristan and Tristan smiled knowingly.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about Tristan, thank you”

“Anytime man”

After lunch, Josh, Anna and Tristan said their goodbyes as Josh had a shift starting in a few hours.

As the others led them to the edge of the bay, Tristan and Eddie chatted amongst themselves as Eddie put something in Tristan’s phone and handed it back to him.

Buck frowned, eyes flickering between the two.

“Well, see you guys later! Nice to meet everyone!” Tristan said, scooping Anna up and leading Josh to the car.

“What was that about Eddie?” Chim encouraged, glancing at Buck and back at Eddie and trying to surpress his grin.

“Oh Tristan asked for my number, so we can stay in touch” Eddie smiled “we uh…have quite a lot in common”

Buck tilted his head, squinted his eyes and opened his mouth to say something but Eddie walked away, already typing on his phone. Buck scrambled to follow him.

Bobby eyed Hen and Chim suspiciously, but smiled and walked away whistling.

Hen and Chim’s phone chimed at the same time signalling a notification from their new group chat.

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Josh: operation BEFF 2.0 is in motion baby!

Maddie: squee!

“Have I ever mentioned I love you?” Chim asked and Hen smiled at him.

“Not enough” she laughed.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Hen and Chim sat scheming a few shifts later, having not seen each other on their 48 off and comparing ideas and notes. When Buck and Eddie walked up the last few steps up to the loft.

Hen and Chim quickly sat up and scooped their notes up into a pile that Chimney promptly sat on, but neither men seemed to notice. Ravi however glanced at them suspiciously.

“Guys I have an announcement to make” Eddie said, motioning for Bobby to come and join the others at the sofa.

“What’s up Eddie, are you okay?” Bobby asked as he perched on the arm of the sofa beside Chimney.

Eddie glanced at Buck who nodded encouragingly, then took a deep breath and cleared his throat. He crossed his arms in front of him and straightened his shoulders, a move surely out of the military.

“I’m gay” he said and the 118 burst into whoops and congratulations as they all jumped off the couch to hug him.

Bobby patted him on the shoulder as Hen shook him victoriously and Chim whooped whilst running in circles.

Buck smiled at the scene, nodding supportively at Eddie as he glanced back at him.

“And also thanks to Buck for uh…helping me feel so comfortable in my own skin. He was the first person I told”

“Always Bud” Buck smiled.

Hen and Chim glanced at each other.

“So anyway! I’ve downloaded Grindr!” Eddie laughed and flopped down on the couch.

“What” Hen and Chim said flatly.

“What?! ” Buck exclaimed, eyes bugging in his head as his mouth fell open.

“Awesome man!” Ravi cheered and Eddie laughed.

“Yeah! I know it’s a bit soon, but I figured no time like the present!”

Eventually, when the bell rang and they all ran towards the truck, Ravi glanced at Hen and Chim.

“I’m not gonna lie, I totally thought Buck and Eddie were gonna get together at some point” he shrugged “maybe it’s just me”

“Oh man” Chim replied, a note of relief to his voice. “I need to add you to this group chat”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The next stage of operation BEFF, just like the last one really, happened naturally. And overall, Hen was really impressed with how quickly Chim improvised on the spot.

They were on a call at a school where a lab experiment had gone wrong and a Bunsen burner had flickered too high.

As Buck and Eddie finished putting out the fire and Hen and Chim sat reassuring the students. The chemistry teacher sauntered over to Eddie, a relieved smile on his face.

“All good here now Sir, you just might want to get that Bunsen burner replaced. As for the scorch marks, nothing a good sponge and a lick of paint won’t fix”

“Ah amazing, thank you so so much” the teacher said, smiling wide. “You know, there’s something about fire that reminds me how much chemistry takes place in this room” the teacher said, beaming at Eddie with his eyes sparkling.

“Oh?” Eddie said, the tops of his cheeks flushing. “You don’t say…” he trailed off, taking the man in.

“Mayday mayday” Chim whispered to Hen.

“Do something about it then!”

Chim dashed across the classroom just as Buck looked up and saw the teacher flirting with Eddie. He ground to a halt just beside Buck and pretended to be helping him reel the hose back.

“I’m Carl” the teacher said, holding out a hand and smirking at Eddie.

“Eddie” Eddie replied, shaking his hand as Carl held on slightly too long.

“Perhaps we could make a little chemistry of our own? I’ve got my business card if you’ll give me one sec”

“Oh! Um, s-sounds great” he laughed nervously, taking off his helmet to push his hand through his hair.

Eddie stood there flushing and with a sudden eureka moment as Buck stood there fuming, said loudly so Eddie could hear:

“Hey Buck, do you think Eddie should wear his brown button up on his hot date with the nice teacher, or the beige one?”

Eddie glanced back and grinned at them, but as he eyed Buck, his smile faltered slightly and he raised an eyebrow.

“Brown” Buck grumbled before he stormed out of the classroom.

Later in the group chat Chim posted:

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Chimney: JEALOUS BUCK IS AGO

Maddie: *cracks knuckles* ask him for dinner, I got this.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Maddie and Chim had Buck round for dinner that weekend. Buck sat crouched over playing with Jee in the corner of the room. Chim cooked his famous ribs and Maddie prepped a pasta salad.

“So Evan” Maddie began, clearing her throat. “I hear Eddie met someone on a call the other day”

Buck looked up and glared at Chim, who raised his hands in the air.

“It’s not my fault you still haven’t put yourself out there, Buck! I have to talk to Maddie about your best friend’s dating life rather than yours!”

Buck rolled his eyes and huffed.

“Wow thanks Chim”

“But it’s nice that Eddie’s dating boys don’t you think?”

“Whatever” Buck huffed and then groaned. “God, maybe I should call T-“

“What?! ” Maddie and Chim exclaimed.

“Absolutely not” Maddie said. “Maybe you should think about putting yourself out there?”

“We’ve already talked about this guys, but what even is the point! Eddie’s already dating around so there’s literally no reason for me to keep trying I-“ he cut himself off, eyes going wide.

Maddie and Chim looked at each other, trying not to outwardly grin.

“Evan” she said slowly. “What are you saying?”

“Oh my god” Buck whispered, looking down at Jee and giggling. “Oh my god”

“What?” Chim encouraged, beginning to grin.

“I’m in love with Eddie” Buck said, stunned. “Oh my god”

Maddie ran to him and hugged him.

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Maddie: guys guys GUYS

Chim : your time to shine Karen

Karen : everyone move over, it's on like Donkey Kong

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

As Eddie started walking down the path, Karen reached for the wine opener, slowly unscrewing open the top of her selected bottle. She looked over shoulder and nodded seriously at Hen.

So as Hen opened the door to greet him, heading out on a shift, Karen already had a full wine glass ready to hand him.

“Hi both, oh…thank you Karen”

Hen glanced curiously at her wife who winked at her, then advanced towards the door. She patted Eddie on the shoulder who pulled his eyebrows together in confusion, still clutching his very full glass of wine.

“Have fun you two” she smiled before closing the door behind her.

“Come in, come in!” Karen ushered Eddie over to the sofa. “How have you been?”

“I’m okay” he said with a smile, taking a sip of his wine and humming in approval. “How are you?”

“Can’t complain really, getting Mara back has been so great and Denny has been doing so well since his surgery”

Eddie smiled “I’ll cheers to that!” And clinked his glass against Karen’s.

“So” Karen said, putting her glass down and surveying Eddie carefully. “Hen tells me you’ve joined Grindr and have been on dates with ‘hot’ teachers?”

“Oh my god” he said, facepalming and growing red “I need to find new friends”

“No you don’t!” Karen giggled as he took a heavy sip of his wine. “Tell me about it!”

So over take out and several glasses of wine, a flushed Eddie told Karen the minor details of a couple dates (and what had happened after a few of them).

Karen laughed at one story involving a lobster and a burnt casserole and Eddie sighed, shaking his head.

“Well, he sounds nice! Are you going to see him again?”

Eddie sighed, took a large sip of his wine again and shook his head.

“Nah, that was a while ago now. If I’m being honest with you Karen, I’ve only seen one or two of them again. It’s just….” He trailed off, a distant look in his eyes.

Karen straightened up on her side of the sofa and took a sip of wine for courage.

“But what?” She probed, trying to keep her tone neutral.

“It’s just…it’s like they’re missing something”

“Oh?” Karen said, trying not to smile.

“Yeah. But I can’t put my finger on what it is. They’re all sweet. Nice even. Hot even” he flushed “but they’re not….”

Karen waited with bated breath, wondering if she should push him or if he’d get there eventually. As the silence dragged on and Eddie’s face got more twisted in confusion, she searched for the right leading statement.

“Have you asked Buck what he thinks?”

Eddie blinked and stared at her.

“What?”

“He’s used dating apps before right, dated guys and that? Maybe he knows what you’re missing”

“I don’t really talk to Buck about it honestly”

“Why not?” She shuffled closer, peering at him.

“Because. Because…” he trailed off and then his eyes grew wild.

Bingo Karen thought as Eddie blushed a pretty pink. She itched to message the group chat but waited for him to continue.

“Oh my god” he said and took a heavy sip of wine. “The thing I’ve been missing is Buck” he pushed a hand through his hair. “Holy shit Karen, you’re a genius”

“I know” she said, beaming at him, leaning forward to wrap her arms around him.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Chim and Hen thought it bizarre that despite the good intentions of their wives and the success in getting Buck and Eddie to admit the truth to themselves. They had yet to admit it to each other. But the most bizarre part was that they were acting almost normal.

Almost.

Hen and Chim witnessed them walk into work together as normal, sit together over lunch like normal, work together on calls like normal.

Except everything was more flirty, more heated. Brushes of hands and soft smiles when handing each other a piece of equipment. Buck winking at Eddie when someone on a call said something suggestive. Eddie complimenting Buck and his bright on idea on how best to get the girl out of the burning room. Giggling together with bright eyes over cleaning the engines.

This was noticed even by Bobby, who glanced at Chim and Hen with raised eyebrows on their next call.

“Have I…missed something?” He asked when they were at their call at a gas station where one of the tanks had set on fire.

Hen and Chim glanced at each other.

“Uhhhhh” Chim trailed off as Hen shook her head at him.

“Oh no!” Ravi yelped and the three of them whipped around to the excess foam that was spewing from the hoses. “I think I made too much I-“

Eddie, who was walking back towards the engine after successfully extinguishing the flames, slipped on said foam and his legs gave out under him.

Buck, who was never really too far away from Eddie, spun around as Eddie gasped, and caught him. Buck’s hands wrapping around his Eddie’s back as Eddie’s chest slammed against his. Eddie’s hands clutched as his shoulders, even when he had regained his footing.

Eddie glanced up at Buck with wide eyes, breathing heavily. Buck starred back, eyebrows raised. Both of them slowly flushed that same pretty pink that Karen had blabbed to Hen about.

“Holy shit” Ravi whispered to Hen and Chim as the two men continued to stare at each other. “Did I just do something? Is this the moment?"

Hen and Chim shushed him, staring intently at Buck and Eddie. Who evidently didn’t know what to do, searching each other’s eyes and waiting for the other to do or say something.

Then Buck exhaled and slowly stepped away from Eddie, face unreadable.

Eddie blinked in surprise, straightening himself out.

“T-thanks” he stuttered out, staring down at the ground.

“Don’t worry about it” Buck muttered and moved away, glaring at Ravi as he did so.

“What the fuck Ravi!” Chim whispered, throwing his hands up in exsaperarion.

“What did I do?! If anything this is the closest we’ve got” Ravi retaliated, hushed,  back.

“Clearly I have missed something” Bobby said from beside them and they all jumped. “My office when we get back you three”

“If we get fired I’m going to kill you Ravi” Chim uttered as Bobby wandered back to the engine.

“Stop blaming this on me!”

Hen rolled her eyes.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

When they got back to the firehouse, Buck and Eddie took off in different directions and Ravi, Hen and Chim trailed after Bobby.

They explained the situation and acknowledged that whilst it was probably unprofessional, they were doing it for the sake of Buck and Eddie’s happiness. That nothing was really being forced, just gently encouraged.

And despite Bobby being deeply unimpressed and skeptical about the ethics of it all. He acknowledged how frustrating it had been to watch the two tiptoe around each other.

And then most surprising of all:

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Bobby Nash has been added to the chat.

Bobby Nash added Athena Grant.

Athena: ??

Athena: what is BEFF

Hen: no WAY

Bobby : SOS we need to tick this up a notch. It’s affecting the team dynamic.

Chim : oh my god

Josh : this can’t be real

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

So with Bobby now very much on board with   Operation BEFF 2.0 and Athena unwilling now too a participant. Matters started to change slightly.

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Bobby: Tristan, you’re up

Tristan: on it cap 🫡

Buck, who was sulking in the changing room playing candy crush on his phone, frowned when he got a message from an unknown number.

Tristan: hey Buck! It’s Tristan, Josh’s boyfriend. My daughter Anna had a play date with Jee and I just wanted to say thanks for helping set that up!

Sighing, Buck began to type out a reply. His eyes flicked up to where Eddie was chatting with a guy from B shift. Buck huffed and looked back at his phone.

Buck: hey man! Ah no worries, I hope they had fun and that you and Anna are well!

Tristan : yeah we’re good! How have you been?

Buck dragged his hand down his face and groaned into his hand. Who even was this guy?

Buck: I’m fine

Tristan: are you sure? Josh said Maddie’s really worried about you.

What’s new? Buck thought slightly hysterically as his phone dinged again.

Buck: fine I’ll bite. Eddie’s moving Texas and I don’t want him to go but there’s nothing I can do about it. I support his choices.

OPERATION BEFF 2.0

Tristan: guys I think we have a problem

Across the firehouse Hen, Chim and Bobby’s phone’s all dinged. Buck didn’t pay any mind to it and waited for Tristan to reply to him as he went back to candy crush

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

“So you remember the plan?” Chim whispered to Athena as he, Athena and Bobby stood in a corner of the loft.

“Yeah. I can’t believe I’m using my day off for this” Athena complained, rolling her eyes with her hands on her hips as Bobby nodded at Chim.

“It’s for the sake of love ‘Thena” Hen reminded her, walking over. “They’ve just arrived, positions everyone”

The group of them scattered and Athena rolled her eyes. Turning to Bobby as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Have they planned out a plan B if that bell goes off?” She asked and Bobby laughed.

“What do you think?” he chuckled.

Athena sighed and shook her head. Looping her hands around Bobby’s neck.

Ravi, who was already downstairs and ready to go. Swiftly herded Buck into the changing room whilst Chim accosted Eddie.

“Oh, uh, morning Chim” Eddie said, trying to advance to the changing room to get changed.

“Morning bud! Bobby wants you, he’s upstairs”

“Oh, okay, thanks!”

Eddie rushed up the stairs to find Bobby and Athena with their arms around each other smiling. Eddie slowed as he got to the top.

“Morning guys, sorry to uh intrude. You wanted to see me Cap?”

Athena smiled at him. “Hi Eddie”

Eddie’s heart clenched at the sight of them together, he wanted that casual affection with Buck so badly he couldn’t even look at him. But then again Buck hadn’t looked at him for days now.

“Hey Eddie, you’re not intruding! Take a seat”

Eddie shuffled over to the breakfast bar awkwardly and sat down whilst the couple still had their arms around each other.

“What’s up?”

From downstairs, Ravi, who was concretely fixing something on top of the engine, motioned to Hen who nodded.

“Buck? Briefings happening right now upstairs” she alerted him.

“Oh shit, thanks Hen” Buck said, jumping to his feet and jogged up the stairs. Hen slowly followed

“I just wanted to check in on how your transfer paperwork is going” Bobby continued as Buck’s footsteps sounded on the stairs.

“My transfer paperwork?” He frowned.

“Yeah, for Texas”

“Oh. I’m not moving to Texas anymore”

“You’re not?” Buck said from the top of the stairs and Eddie whipped his head around to look at him. Buck’s eyes were wide as he said: “you’re not moving to El Paso?”

Eddie shook his head slowly. “I spoke to Chris about it and he’s going to come home in the new year”

Buck’s face split in a grin and Eddie grinned back. Hen glanced at Athena and Bobby anxiously.

“Oh my god, come here” Eddie said and Buck dashed into his open arms to hug him tight. Eyes fluttering shut.

“So uh, what made you want to stay?” Buck asked over Eddie’s shoulder as they continued to embrace.

Chim appeared then, radio very much on as Maddie, Josh and surprisingly Tristan listened in from dispatch. Hen silently called Karen and discretely held her phone up.

“Oh um, like I say, Chris and I spoke about me staying and-“

“Yeah but you were so set on being in Texas with him? Why stay in LA?”

Buck pulled back to look at Eddie then. His blue eyes sparkled with something like hope and Eddie gulped as they remained close, Eddie still very much on the breakfast stool and Buck looking down at him.

“I have you guys here I-” he bravely reached out and took Buck’s hand and Buck inhaled softly. “I have you”

“Me?” Buck said, very similarly to one of their first conversations, it made Eddie feel a bit chocked up just thinking about it.

“Yeah” Eddie grinned. “Come here”

Eddie reached for the back of Buck’s neck and pulled him forward to kiss him. The loft erupted in cheers from the team and Athena, Ravi scrambling up to whoop as those over the different lines also cheered.

Realising still they weren’t alone. Buck and Eddie pulled back and smiled embarrassed at their chosen family. Eddie pulled Buck close again and said:

“Hey, I love you”

“Hi, I love you too” Buck giggled, teary eyed.

“Go Operation BEFF 2.0!” Karen cheered from Hen’s speaker phone.

“Hooray for Operation BEFF 2.0!” Chim said, concurred by Hen.

“Operation what?” Eddie asked, arms around Buck. Both of them frowning slightly in confusion.

“Oh” Athena rolled her eyes. “Don’t even get me started”