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The A-shift of the 118 had just been sitting down to a hastily prepared Thanksgiving dinner, a collaborative effort from both Bobby and Buck, when the bells had gone off. The loft had filled with a chorus of frustrated groans as the food was shoved into the fridge and feet shuffled down the stairs toward the lockers.
The fire was at a single-floor vacant office building; no one should have been there, but that also meant no one could be certain about what started the fire. Buck speculated that it had something to do with the unusually dry fall weather they had been having. Chim jumped to arson and vandalism. Eddie and Hen had watched them argue their points with amused expressions, unwilling to encourage the bickering by weighing in.
It was supposed to be a run-of-the-mill commercial fire dispatch, the fire itself hadn't even been that big. They had knocked it down with the hoses pretty easily, and Buck had been confident they would finish quickly. Buck was working with the rest of the team on the hoses while Hen, Chim, and Eddie went inside to clear the building of any possible victims. They split off once inside, with Chim clearing the offices at the front of the building, Eddie taking the ones at the far end, and Hen checking the rooms between her two teammates.
Now, Buck is moving around the building, aiming the hose at the flames erupting from the back of the structure. He hears Eddie’s voice come over the radio, letting them know he’s cleared the last of the offices and is heading back out to regroup with the rest of the team. Buck can’t be certain of what happened from one moment to the next, but he shakes himself back to awareness from his place lying flat on his back on the ground. The flames he had been containing were now a roaring inferno in front of him, his ears were ringing, and he could hear faint shouting from multiple voices at once. Suddenly, two sets of strong hands are helping to haul him away from the heat licking at the toes of his boots.
Dazedly, he hears Bobby frantically calling into the radio, demanding a role call. The team at the front of the building checks in, Voyta calls in from beside Buck, with Ortiz standing at Buck’s other side, Hen and Chim check in as they're exiting the building. Buck waits with bated breath, everyone else falls eerily silent as they wait to hear from the last member of their team. When Eddie's voice fails to crackle over the radio, Buck’s heart seizes in his chest.
“Eddie, respond,” Bobby's voice comes again, and Buck is scrambling to his feet, staring at the ruined exterior wall. Eddie should have been on the other side of that wall. It's silent over the radio. “Everyone regroup at the entrance,” Bobby says over the radio after an uncomfortably long pause.
As soon as Buck sets his eyes on Bobby, he knows the older man is worried, too. Hen and Chim are covered in soot from head to toe, but otherwise look like they made it out unscathed. Buck doesn't wait another second, staring Bobby in the eye.
“I'm going in there,” he says. Bobby takes a calming breath, but doesn't argue.
“Alright, Buck, you and me, let's gear up.” Bobby hands him an oxygen mask, and they both finish attaching their breathing equipment while the rest of the team readys the hoses for another round of suppressant.
The interior of the building is in much worse shape than Buck had thought, the walls were scorched, plaster and drywall broken away from the frames, carpeting still actively burning. Still, it doesn't take the two of them long to maneuver the deadly maze of fallen ceiling and forgotten furniture.
They reach the back offices quickly. There's no sign of Eddie in the hallway, so they start looking through the rooms. Luckily, the previous tenants had cleared out most of the larger pieces of furniture so they didn't have to worry about peering around desks and cabinets.
They find him in the very last office, the one Buck had been spraying down outside. The room is a complete loss. Everything is on fire, the source appearing to be coming from the exterior wall. Eddie is on the floor just inside the door, slumped against the wall. It isn't until an intrusive thought about Eddie's hair catching on fire enters Buck’s mind that he realizes Eddie's helmet is sitting halfway across the room from him.
Buck drops to his knees next to Eddie, carefully rolling him onto his side to get a better look at the damage. There's a large gash that is bleeding profusely at Eddie's temple and his mask has been knocked askew. Buck pats Eddie's cheek with his gloved hand, trying to get a response from the unconscious man, but Eddie doesn't rouse.
“Buck, we have to go,” Bobby shouts, “let's get him up and out of here.” With Bobby's help, the two of them get Eddie up off the floor, slinging his arms over their shoulders as they settle his dead weight between them. It's much slower going on the way back out, and Buck takes a second to fit Eddie's oxygen mask back over his mouth and nose.
They breach the main entrance soon enough, Chim and Hen immediately crowding them to take Eddie from them, laying him out on a gurney. Buck watches them work, replacing one mask for another and inspecting the wound on Eddie's head. He feels numb, just standing there as Eddie is moved into the ambulance. Chim climbs into the back while Hen jumps in the driver's seat. Buck startles as a hand lands on his shoulder, giving him a gentle push.
“Go with them,” Bobby says, nodding toward the open doors. Buck stumbled forward and hoists himself into the ambulance, pulling the doors closed behind him as Chim knocks at the partition, telling Hen to drive.
~
The doctors say the smoke inhalation wasn't that bad, considering it had been mere minutes between the explosion and Buck fitting Eddie's mask back over his face. They were still going to monitor Eddie's lung functioning, but the major concern was the head wound Eddie had sustained and the fact that he still hadn't regained consciousness.
Buck had to watch helplessly once again as his best friend was wheeled away on a gurney, past the double-door entrance to the emergency room. This time, instead of the more unknown faces of the 133 and Captain Mehta, he’s surrounded by both horrified and pitying looks from his family.
Hen’s got her hand on his shoulder, trying to steer him over to one of the hard plastic chairs in the waiting room. Chimney is being checked over by a nurse, a flashlight shining in his eyes to check for pupillary response. If Buck had been paying more attention at the time, he would have noticed the bruises under all the soot on Chim's face, or the scrapes along his arms as he worked on Eddie in the back of the ambulance. Ortiz and Voyta are standing off to the side, looking as grim as Buck feels. Bobby’s speaking with the nurse at the front station, no doubt providing her with intake information for Eddie, as well as more details on what happened.
Buck lets Hen push him down into an uncomfortable chair, his entire body feeling numb. Dealing with the sniper had been one thing; it had been a physical wound that, while severe, had given them certain comforts and statistics. There were things the doctors could do to help Eddie recover and surgeries they could perform to repair some of the damage. Brain injuries were an entirely different ball game. This time, there's no guarantee he'll wake up, or that he won't have lasting complications. Memory loss.
While he's stewing in his own uncertainty, Buck hears the start of a call between Hen and Karen. Hen fills her wife in on what happened, letting her know that Eddie is in critical condition and has been admitted, and that Chimney suffered a few superficial burns and scrapes, but was otherwise okay. Though he couldn't hear Karen's reply, he could see the fond look cross Hen’s face.
“Karen, there's nothing we can do right now,” Hen says, “it wouldn't do any good to have you here, baby, I'm sorry.” Buck’s lips twitch up involuntarily, giving Hen a ghost of a smile. Karen truly was an amazing woman.
It hits him quite suddenly, the fact that someone should be calling Eddie's family. Someone should be calling Christopher. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and unlocks it, then just stares at his home screen. How was he supposed to do this again? The first time had been bad enough, telling Chris someone had intentionally hurt his dad. How was he supposed to tell him they weren't even sure if his dad would wake up this time?
Before he can second-guess himself, he pulls up Chris’ contact and hits the call button, lifting the phone to his ear. Chris picks up on the seventh ring, just long enough to give Buck anxiety that his call would go to voicemail.
“Hey, Buck, what's up?” He sounds distracted, and Buck can hear the sounds of a video game in the background.
“Hey, Chris,” Buck says, trying to inject some lightness into his voice, “do you have a minute?” The game goes silent on the other end of the line, and he can hear Chris’ voice a little more clearly when he answers this time.
“Sure. Is everything okay?” The voice on the other end of the line is much deeper than the last time Buck had done this almost four years ago. Chris wasn't a child anymore, he needed to know the truth.
“Uh, not- not really,” Buck stammers. He takes a breath, refusing to break down in front of his best friend's kid again. “Your dad, he, uh, he got hurt, Chris.” Buck is really starting to hate the sound of silence. Chris doesn't answer him, and Buck finds the words tumbling out of his mouth to fill the void between them. “It was a fire this time. There was a blast, and he got hurt. We're at the hospital now, but he still hasn't regained consciousness. The doctors can't be sure if there's any brain damage until he wakes up and they can run some tests. But they're not sure he will wake up this time. I just thought you should hear it from me.”
Buck’s not sure what he's expecting, maybe for Chris to say he needs help booking a plane ticket, or that he has to talk with his grandparents, but then they'll all be out to see Eddie as quickly as they can. What he's absolutely not expecting is what he hears come out of Chris’ mouth.
“Well, let me know when he wakes up, okay? I gotta go, talk to you later, Buck.” Buck’s phone beeps to let him know the call has been disconnected.
“What… just happened?” Buck stares at his phone again as he replays the conversation in his head. Had he failed to communicate the seriousness of the situation? He knew Chris was part of the generation raised on computer games and pixilated violence, but he knew Eddie had done an amazing job raising his son to be a kind and empathetic person. Had their relationship splintered so much that Chris just didn't care? That couldn't be right.
“Something wrong, Buck?” Hen’s looking at him with creased brows, concern flashing in her eyes. Buck swallows to give himself a moment to compose his thoughts.
“I’m not exactly sure,” he says haltingly. He wishes, not for the first time, that he had Eddie’s parents’ contact information. Bobby probably has it somewhere at the station, but this is the second time Eddie has been in a Los Angeles hospital with life-altering injuries, and they hadn’t even bothered to show up the first time. “It, uh, it doesn’t sound like Chris is coming home to see Eddie.” Hen gives him an incredulous look, like she doesn’t believe him.
“We’re talking about the same kid who used to think his dad hung the moon and the stars, right,” she says. Buck scoffs a little.
“Sure, emphasis on used to, I guess,” Buck falls silent after that, letting the weight of the situation sink in. Had Eddie and Chris’ relationship really been so irreparably damaged? He doesn’t get long to think about it before Hen is nudging his arm, nodding toward where a nurse is stepping out into the waiting room.
“Family for Diaz,” he calls quietly into the room. Buck and Bobby are immediately on their feet, striding quickly forward to meet the nurse. The nurse gives them a wan smile, his eyes looking pinched and tired. “We’ve got him all set up in a room, and he can have visitors now, a couple at a time, but he still hasn’t regained consciousness.” Bobby nods grimly and thanks the nurse. The man walks away after rattling off the room number and pointing them in the general direction of the recovery rooms.
“You go on ahead, Buck,” Bobby says to him, “I’ll go let the others know and I’ll be there in a minute.” Buck nods absently, his feet already moving in the direction the nurse had indicated, his mind replaying the room number like a mantra.
His eyes flick over the room numbers atop the doors as he searches a little frantically for Eddie’s room. As he comes up on it, he has to take a moment to gather his scattered thoughts and calm his racing heart. He peeks around the doorway and his breath catches in his chest. The sight before him isn’t quite as bad as it had been after the shooting. Sure, there are so many more bruises visible now that his friend is out of his turnout gear, and there are still a bunch of machines constantly keeping track of Eddie’s vitals, but he doesn’t have a ventilator helping him breathe right now, so Buck counts that as a win.
It’s weird, seeing his friend like this. Eddie, who is usually so sure of himself, so boisterous and full of life, is lying so still silent in the too-sterile hospital bed. Buck hesitates but slowly enters the room, coming to stand by Eddie’s bedside, then gingerly lowering himself into the chair beside it. He doesn’t speak, starting to feel awkward now that he’s here, now that there’s no banter back and forth between them. Even when they’re sitting in silence together at Eddie’s house, content to just bask in each others’ presence, there has never been this sense of disconnect that Buck is feeling now. He’s at a loss for what to do, wringing his hands together in front of him.
A knock at the door startles Buck a little and he whips his head up to see Chimney loitering in the doorway. He seems about as lost as Buck feels, not knowing whether to step into the room, or if he’s even welcome.
“Hey, Buckaroo,” Chim says softly, “how’re you holding up?” He does enter the room now, but just barely. He leans back against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Buck knows from years of working with Chim that it’s more of a self-soothing gesture than it is defensive. Buck gives a half-hearted shrug and Chimney doesn’t press him for more, he just nods and gives a sigh. “Yeah, me too,” he says.
“What do we do if he’s got brain damage, Chim,” Buck asks quietly, finally voicing his fears. He’s half expecting Chim to crack a joke to try to lighten the mood, it’s what he does after all, but his response is surprisingly tender.
“Then we deal with it together,” he says, “We give Eddie all the support he needs and take things one day at a time.” And Buck has held back the typhoon of his emotions long enough now, has gotten through the conversation with Christopher without bursting into tears again, and he finally lets himself break down. The tears spill unbidden from his eyes as the events of the past few hours catch up with him. He’d been so worried, so tense, so gogogomovemovemove , now that he’s sitting down, now that he’s got Eddie within touching distance, he feels like he can let go of everything that’s been bottling up since the explosion.
“What do I do? How do I help him,” Buck is at a total loss. There’s nothing physically wrong with Eddie right now. Nothing Buck can do to fix him, and it’s scaring him. He’s got this nervous energy that he doesn’t have a target for, he can’t expel it, it’s making his legs twitch.
“Talk to him,” Chim says, “let him know you’re here. Spend time with him. That’s really all any of us can do, and you know, there’s a part of me that truly does believe it helps them find their way back.” Buck sniffles, scrubbing a hand over his eyes to dry the lingering tears.
“Thanks, Chim,” he says. Chim gives him a wisp of a smile, moving closer to clap a hand on Buck’s shoulder. There’s another knock on the door and both men turn to see Bobby poking his head in now.
“I just sent Hen home, she was falling asleep in her chair. She wanted to stop in, but I told her she could come by later.” The older man takes a moment to shift his attention over to the bed, his eyes softening when they land on Eddie. He sighs and returns his gaze to Buck, leveling him with a stern expression. “I know you want to stay, but please promise that you’ll go home and get some rest.”
Buck opens his mouth to protest, to tell Bobby that there was no way he was going anywhere, but Chimney cut him off hastily.
“You got it, Cap,” Chim says. “We were planning on leaving in just a little bit, right Buckaroo?”
“But-” Buck looks between the bed where his best friend was lying, and the two men who were pressuring him to leave.
“We can’t do anything for him right now, Buck,” Bobby says patiently, “we might actually get in the way of the doctors and nurses.” And yeah, Buck knows Bobby has a point.
“Alright, fine,” he capitulates. He stands from his chair and heads for the door, following Bobby and Chim out into the hallway. As he’s got one foot outside, he pauses to turn back to Eddie, whispering into the quiet of the room. “I’ll be back after shift tomorrow, okay? Please come back to us.” Then he’s jogging down the hallway to catch up with Chimney and Bobby, failing to insert himself into the conversation as he usually does, walking behind the other two in a subdued state.
~
It takes nearly a week for Eddie to wake up. Buck sits with him every spare moment he gets, going straight to the hospital as soon as his shifts ends and staying until the hospital staff kicks him out for the night. He talks to Eddie, tells him about the calls they’ve had while he’s been out. He reads to Eddie and watches documentaries he thinks Eddie would find interesting, keeping up a running commentary as the video plays on his phone. He doesn’t mention Christopher or the disheartening lack of communication over the past few days.
Eddie wakes up while Buck is on shift. He’s only five hours into a twelve hour when he gets the call from the hospital. It takes about fifteen minutes of Buck practically vibrating out of his skin before Bobby tells him to just go. He runs out the door to his Jeep, throwing promises of status updates over his shoulder to a demanding Hen.
The nurses at the front desk don’t even bother to stop him. He’s been a constant fixture here over the past few days, let alone the years he’s been with the 118. They really do seem to be prone to winding up here. Buck keeps moving down the hallway, his feet leading him down the now-familiar path unconsciously while his mind was filled with EddieEddieEddie’sAwakeHe’sAwake .
Buck comes up on the doorway to Eddie’s room, fings himself inside, and there’s Eddie, blinking up at him from his half-reclined position on the bed, looking wide-eyed and startled. There’s confusion shining in those big brown eyes and for a second, Buck’s heart drops into his stomach. His fears of his best friend having permanent brain damage return full force and nearly make his knees weak. Then Eddie’s exhausted face is lighting up with a bright smile and the air leaves Buck’s lungs for an entirely different reason.
“Buck!” Eddie exclaims in a voice still rough with disuse, but the relief in his tone is practically palpable. “I thought you would be at work.”
Buck steps further into the room, sinking into the chair beside Eddie’s bed as he watches some of the tension drain from his friend’s posture. He returns Eddie’s smile with a genuine one of his own. “Bobby let me leave early as long as I promised to give them a status update,” Buck explains and is surprised when Eddie’s smile falters and falls flat, a guilty look creasing his brow.
“I didn’t mean to make everyone worry like that,” he says, his eyes downcast while his fingers pick absently at the blanket covering his legs. Buck is dumbfounded by the mumbled words.
“Eddie, you were caught in an explosion,” Buck stresses, “of course we’re all going to be worried about you. Didn’t they tell you how long you were out?”
Eddie nods. “Almost a week,” he says quietly.
“And,” Buck pauses. Eddie clearly remembers him. He wasn’t shocked to hear about the explosion, but Buck needs to be sure. “You remember what happened?”
Eddie frowns briefly, but not in a way that indicates he’s upset, more like he’s trying to focus. It worries Buck a bit that Eddie isn’t immediately nodding and saying yes, he remembers.
“Honestly,” he finally starts, the word lilting up at the end like a question as he lifts his gaze to catch Buck's, and Buck nods encouragingly. The question worries him slightly. Had Eddie not been honest with the medical staff? “The last thing I remember is leaving the house this morning.” He pauses, considering for a moment. “Uh, leaving the house nearly a week ago, I guess,” he amends. “But the days line up otherwise, and my nurse kind of filled in the rest for me.”
Buck sighs. It could have been worse. “Bobby said it was a rusted gas line,” Buck says softly. “I hit it with the hose and the flames outside the building ignited some of the gas that had been trapped after the gas company shut off the line. Eddie, I'm so-”
Eddie holds up a hand to hault Buck’s words. “Did you mean to blow up the building?” His words are even and calm. Buck is immediately shaking his head, his face paling quickly.
“Of course not! I-”
Eddie cuts him off again. “Then don't you dare apologize for doing your job. I'm fine. I'll be fine. I'm missing a few hours of memory, sure, but it could have been so much worse. You came into that building to get me, didn't you?” Buck nods emphatically at this question. “You saved me. I'm sitting here right now because of you.”
Buck's shoulders slump. “Yeah, you're sitting here in a hospital bed because of me,” he says bitterly. Eddie rolls his eyes then beckons for Buck to come closer. Buck leans forward obligingly, then jerks back quickly as Eddie smacks him sharply on the back of his head, making a wounded noise and raising a hand to gingerly rub at the sore spot.
“You deserved that,” Eddie says unapologetically. Buck can't help it, the overwhelming relief he was feeling bubbled up into laughter.
“Sure,” Buck says, scrubbing his hand over his face, massaging over his closed eyelids with his fingers. “I definitely deserved that,” he agrees. There's a warmth in his chest as he listens to Eddie's chuckle. He's not sure what he would have done if he'd lost the sound of Eddie's laugh. He's more than grateful he doesn't have to think about that now. Eddie's here, and he's awake, and he remembers. They don't have to worry about brain damage, and all the other wounds he'd sustained from the fire were superficial and already on their way to healing.
“So,” Eddie hedges, his gaze dropping to his lap again, “how's Christopher?”
Buck’s bright and happy mood instantly sours, his grin crumpling into a pinched, slightly pained expression. Eddie's face contorts in concern, worry crinkling the corners of his eyes.
“Chris is fine,” Buck rushes to assure him, holding his hands up placatingly. “I called him for a couple of minutes the other day.”
His choice of words must clue Eddie in on the state of things and Buck watches as despair clouds his friend's eyes. He swears he sees water collecting beneath brown irises, but he doesn't say anything.
Eddie sniffles. “So he's still in El Paso, huh?” His voice is small, directed at his bedding.
“Yeah,” Buck agrees solemnly.
Eddie nods and swallows, as if coming to terms with the idea that his son won't even come to see him while he's in the hospital. Buck gives him a moment to collect himself, averting his gaze from the tears starting to drip down Eddie's face. Buck’s heart breaks for his friend. Before he's even fully aware he's doing it, he reaches out to settle his hand over Eddie's clenched fist.
Eddie clenches his eyes shut, tears escaping from the corners, and he turns his hand up to link his fingers with Buck’s, squeezing tightly, accepting the comfort.
They don't say anything for a while, both of them getting lost in their grief. After the moment passes, Buck takes his hand back to clap both hands on his thighs.
“Any news on when we can get you out of here?” Buck’s voice is full of forced energy.
Eddie clears his throat with a cough. “They said they wanted to keep me one more night for observation, but as long as nothing happens, I'm free to go home tomorrow under strict orders to remain on bedrest.” Eddie manages to give Buck a weak attempt at a smirk. They both know how well Eddie follows orders when it comes to taking care of himself; the man is stubborn as hell.
“I think it would be best if you listened this time,” Buck admonishes lightly.
“Sure, it would be best,” Eddie agrees easily, “but that's nearly impossible when you live alone.”
It hits Buck suddenly, and the words tumble out of his mouth before he can think twice about them. “I could stay with you for a little while.” Eddie's eyes go wide for just a second. Buck feels his cheeks flush at his impulsiveness and his mind quickly backtracks. “I mean, only if you think it would be helpful.” He half expects Eddie to reject his offer.
Instead, Eddie gives it a long thought, giving Buck confidence in the fact that Eddie is taking the offer seriously and actually considering it. “You wouldn't mind?”
Buck jumps at the chance. “Of course I wouldn't mind, are you kidding me? Eddie, let me help you.”
Eddie's response is so quiet, Buck has to strain to hear him. “Okay.”
Buck knows how poorly Eddie must be feeling to willingly accept help from someone. He gives Eddie a grateful smile and says nothing further on the matter.
They chat absently for another two hours before Eddie's eyes start to droop. Buck takes that as his cue to head out. By the time he turns back to say goodbye from the door, Eddie is fast asleep.
~
Buck sends out a group text to Hen, Chimney, and Bobby as soon as he closes the door to his apartment. There's an immediate influx of relieved messages at the news that Eddie will be able to go home the next day. Smiling to himself at his friends’ responses, he taps open Bobby’s contact and hits the call button. The older man answers quickly and cheerfully; Buck can practically hear the relieved smile in Bobby’s voice.
“Buck, what's up? I would have thought you'd still be at the hospital.”
“I just got home,” Buck says, “he needed to rest. I've got a favor to ask, though.” He's a little hesitant about asking, especially after Bobby let him leave early already.
“Everything alright?” Bobby asks. Buck works up some of his courage to push forward.
“Is there anyone off rotation tomorrow who might be willing to cover for me?” Buck has started pacing absently in front of his kitchen counter. Bobby doesn't say anything for a long moment and Buck is certain his request is about to be denied. His brain is racing, backtracking and changing plans, wondering if it would be okay to call Carla to get Eddie settled at home tomorrow instead.
“I think Ortiz was looking to pick up some time,” Bobby says slowly. “But I can only let him take one shift, will that be enough?” Buck’s heart swells with relief and he nods quickly even though he knows Bobby can't see it.
“Yeah, that should be enough. Thanks, Bobby.” Buck sags into one of the chairs at his dining table.
“Okay, we'll see you again on Friday, then.” They hang up after that. Suddenly exhausted, Buck folds his arms on top of the table and rests his head on them. He must doze off for a while, the sky outside is dark when he next jerks his head up.
Not wanting to waste more time, he levers himself to his feet and climbs the stairs to the loft. He digs through his closet until he finds his sports bag, then shuffles over to his dresser. He's not entirely sure how long Eddie will want him to stay, but he figures he'll pack a few days worth of clothes, then borrow Eddie's washer and dryer if he needs it.
He drops the filled bag by the stairs, already making plans for what food he can bring from his own fridge so he won't have to leave to go shopping. He flops down on his bed, feeling like he can finally relax for the first time in nearly a week. Already half asleep, his mind begins conjuring images of what it might be like living with just Eddie. No Christopher, Hen, or Chimney to provide distractions this time.
~
Buck helps Eddie carefully up the front steps. They had weaned him off of the hospital-grade pain killers over night, and Buck could tell from the stiffness of his movements and the pinch in his brow that Eddie was trying his damnedest to both push down and hide the pain he was in.
Eddie had put on a brave face during the discharge process, but his doctor had told them to expect mild dizziness from the head wound, pain from the healing burns, and soreness in his muscles from both being thrown by the blast and from lack of use. The doctor had handed over a stack of papers to Buck, complete with signed discharge papers and scripts for burn cream and prescription pain medication to get filled at the pharmacy. Her grip had tightened on the papers as Buck reached out to take them, giving him a stern look and holding eye contact.
“I know how you firefighters are,” she had said, “each and every one of you are terrible patients. He needs bed rest,” she stressed.
Buck had nodded solemnly, giving her his most sincere expression.
“Even if I have to tie him to the couch,” he had told her. To Eddie, it must have sounded like something Buck had said just to placate the doctor. Buck had allowed him that illusion, even if he truly meant every word.
Now, Buck helps Eddie lean against the side of the entryway as he fishes his keys out of his pocket. He flicks through his keyring until he finds the adorable white cat key he had insisted on as his copy of Eddie’s house key. Buck fumbles just a little trying to fit the key in the lock, but eventually shoves the door open with success.
They both stumble awkwardly into the house, Eddie tilting worryingly to one side while Buck readies himself to catch the other man if he winds up swaying too far. Eddie groans as Buck starts herding him toward the couch.
“Buck, really, I’m fine,” he says, and Buck can tell he’s starting to gear up to fight tooth and nail to not be restricted to bedrest. Unfortunately for Eddie, Buck is just as stubborn and has the advantage of a fully functioning body to back him up.
“You’re not fine,” Buck insists, “you’re about two seconds from either falling on your face or passing out on your feet.”” Eddie gives him a weak glare, but surprisingly does not argue.
“Fine. I’ll let you get me settled, I’ll even let you make me soup if it’ll make you feel better, but then I’ll take a nap and I’ll be fine.” They make it over to the couch and Buck cups his hand around Eddie’s upper arm to help lever him down onto the cushions. He grabs a couple of throw pillows to prop behind Eddie against the armrest. Together, they get Eddie’s feet raised up against the opposite armrest. Buck pulls the blanket from the back of the couch and tucks it in around Eddie’s leg with a groan of frustration bubbling up from his friend’s chest.
“I’ll just go get you that soup,” Buck says, his grin widening as Eddie flips him off half-heartedly. Buck retreats to the kitchen, but catches Eddie’s drowsy words aimed at his back.
“Fine, but you’re not staying the night.”
Buck’s grin turns softer as he pulls down a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup from the cupboard. He gets the pan preheating and runs the hot water tap as he thinks about kist how delusional Eddie must be if he thinks he’s getting rid of Buck so easily.
By the time Buck brings the bowl of soup out to the living room, Eddie is out cold. His head is tilted back at what must be a severely uncomfortable angle. Buck sighs and sets the bowl on the coffee table then goes about gently, ever so gently, shifting Eddie further down on the cushions so his head is settled on the throw pillows.
Buck reclaims the steaming soup, crashes into the matching arm chair in the corner of the room, and begins to eat. If Eddie is hungry when he wakes up, Buck will happily make him more.
Buck makes himself comfortable, and then he stays the night.
~
It’s been another week since Eddie was released from the hospital. After his token protests that Buck shouldn’t have to stay there and take care of him, Eddie resigned himself to having a houseguest for a while. They settle into a nice, easy routine as Eddie gradually recovers.
They’re two weeks away from Christmas and Buck is just coming through the door after a grueling forty-eight when his ears pick up on something that gives him pause. A voice not belonging to Eddie is coming from the living room, grainy and slightly tinny as it broadcasts over the speaker of what is likely either Eddie’s phone or tablet. Buck pauses just inside the doorway, not wanting to intrude or eavesdrop in case Eddie is having one of his video sessions with Frank that Bobby encouraged him to pursue even while he was out of commission. Then Eddie laughs and the other voice continues on animatedly and Buck sucks in a breath, hope filling his chest as he starts to recognize the voice. His feet carry him into the living room and he comes to stand behind Eddie, who is once again laid out on the couch.
Christopher sees him before Eddie senses him. The face that had grown so cold and cut off over the past months beams brightly at him from the screen of the tablet propped up in Eddie’s lap.
“Buck,” he exclaims. “Dad said you’ve been staying there to help him get better.”
Eddie tilts his head back, smiling joyously at Buck. Buck’s breath catches in his throat. Eddie looks so unbelievably light and happy, like the weight of the world he’s been carrying since Chris left has finally been lifted from his shoulders.
“Welcome home,” Eddie greets warmly. Buck isn’t entirely sure that Eddie knows what those words do to Buck’s heart. There’s a budding warmth there that feels like fluttering wings.
“I gotta go, dad,” Chris says over the speaker, “I’ll talk to you soon?” The question sounds so hesitant and uncertain that it breaks Buck’s heart, and he’s sure it’s even worse for Eddie. Christopher had been so comfortable and confident in his relationship with his dad before everything happened. It was difficult to hear him sounding so wrong-footed.
“You know where I’ll be any time you want to talk, bud,” Eddie says sincerely.
“Bye, Buck!” Buck waves dumbly at the screen as the video call disconnects on Chris’ end. There’s a heavy silence that follows, but instead of the hurt and despair that usually comes after brief calls with Chris, this silence is light-hearted and full of anticipation. Eddie is grinning from ear to ear as he turns to face Buck.
“So you guys finally got a chance to talk,” Buck asks, not even caring that he’s stating the obvious. Eddie nods and his smile grows even wider. Buck’s not entirely sure how it hasn’t split his face yet. Eddie pats the empty spot next to him on the couch and Buck follows the direction without hesitation. He drops heavily into the seat, his body suddenly reminding him of just how tired he is. In contrast, Eddie’s body seems to be vibrating in excitement.
“Buck,” Eddie breathes, his hands moving to grip both of Buck’s where they’re settled on his lap. “Buck, he’s coming home.” Buck stares at him for just a moment, not comprehending what Eddie just told him. Eddie waits patiently for Buck to digest the meaning of his words, his grin never wavering.
After a moment of delay, Buck finally gets it. He squeezes Eddie’s fingers where they’ve settled over his hands. “One call, and you managed to get him to come home?”
Eddie nods, now looking a little pained, and Buck suspects it has nothing to do with his rapidly healing injuries. “He said his calls with you and how much you were worrying made him see how bad it could have been. How bad it was for a while there. He’s spent the past week trying to convince my parents that he needed to come see me, but they kept pushing off his concerns.” Buck feels a surge of molten anger rise up in his chest at this information.
“They tried to keep him from seeing you while you were hurt?”
Eddie gives a non-committal shrug. “Something about how a son shouldn’t have to see his father like that. Coming from my father? That means he thinks I’m weak. Thinks I should have been back to work the day after it happened, ready to prove myself capable of providing for a family I didn’t even have anymore.”
Buck nearly sees red, he’s had just about all he can take of Eddie’s parents’ bullshit. Having them actively try to keep Chris from Eddie while their relationship is so strained might be the last straw. Eddie squeezes Buck’s hands again, like he knows what Buck is thinking. They’re so in tune with each other, he probably does. They don’t need words, even though Buck is dying to tell Eddie that’s not true. That Chris loves him no matter what, even from thousands of miles away while their relationship is still rocky. He wants to beg Eddie to understand that getting hurt and needing help doesn’t make him weak.
The Eddie from five years ago might have needed to hear all of those things. The one who was still reeling from having his wife leave him. The one who had only ever known duty and responsibility. The one who had it ingrained in him that he needed to be society’s very definition of a man, that he needed to provide and shove his own feelings aside in order to do that.
The Eddie they have now is vastly different. He’s learned to rely and lean on his found family, has learned that it’s okay to grieve. This Eddie has lost his best friend and has come to terms with the fact that he can’t save everyone, no matter how hard he tries. This Eddie has sought out and benefitted from therapy. He’s made mistakes and has let himself learn from them.
This is the Eddie that Buck is in love with.
Buck has his crisis right there in Eddie’s living room, on Eddie’s couch with his best friend’s hands encasing his. Buck has his moment of realization, but it isn’t nearly as earth-shattering as he might have thought. It doesn’t flip his world upside-down like his first kiss with Tommy had, and isn’t that a telling thought - he hasn’t once thought of Tommy or had the urge to call him or even to bake since Eddie was admitted. Every fiber of his being has been so focused on Eddie and caring for him that he hasn’t thought about what was the most painful break-up he’s had for well over two weeks. There had been a time he thought he would never get over Tommy, but then Eddie fixed that just like Eddie has fixed so many other things in Buck’s life.
Buck comes back to himself, realizing he’s been staring off into space for far too long. Eddie’s expression has dimmed now, uncertainty lining the creases of his brow. Buck can’t stand that look, much less being the one responsible for it. Much like everything else in Buck’s life, he wants to charge ahead full-steam. He wants to move way too fast and too recklessly for his own good. Now that he’s realized it, he doesn’t want to wait.
The more rational, level-headed part of Buck knows he should be careful about this. He should take things slow so he doesn’t risk ruining his own relationship with Eddie irreparably. He should -
Buck watches as Eddie bites his lip, and then his best friend is leaning closer, his eyes flicking between Buck’s gaze and his lips, and then they’re kissing. It’s awkward and shy and hesitant, but Eddie is kissing him.
It ends almost as quickly as it started, and Eddie resolutely refuses to meet Buck’s eyes.
“Buck, I’m so sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re still getting over Tommy, and just because you’re comfortable with your newfound bisexuality doesn’t mean you’re interested in -”
Buck needs to stop Eddie’s rambling before he starts hyperventilating, and it’s really starting to bug him that Eddie won’t look at him, so he does what he does best and allows his instincts to take over.
Gently, Buck pulls one hand out from under Eddie’s, lifting it to cradle Eddie’s cheek in his palm, and then pulls him in for another kiss. This one lasts longer and has the desired effect. Eddie’s nervous rambling stops and Buck watches as his eyes flutter closed, dark lashes resting against tanned skin. Buck lets his own eyes slip shut as he fully allows himself to enjoy the press of his best friend’s lips against his. They don’t let it get too far, pulling back after a moment longer. Buck doesn’t let Eddie go too far, though, using his light hold on his cheek to tilt their foreheads together.
“You’ve only ever dated women,” Buck says stupidly.
“So had you” Eddie counters, “up until Tommy.”
Buck groans. “Stop saying his name while I’m kissing you,” he grumbles. Eddie huffs out a laugh. “We’re going to have to talk about this,” Buck says, and Eddie hums his agreement. “Right now I just want to keep kissing you.” Buck’s hand has fallen from Eddie’s cheek to grasp lightly at his elbow. He’s not pulling or even really holding, just relishing in being able to touch. His thumb is brushing absent-mindedly over a patch of Eddie’s skin.
“So why don’t you,” Eddie asks, his determined gaze finally fixed on Buck’s.
“I need to know first. I need to know that this isn’t just you expressing how happy you are to have Chris coming home.” Buck’s tone is serious, but not judgemental, as if he wouldn’t bat an eye if Eddie told him he’d just gotten so overcome with emotion that it spilled out in the form of affection.
Eddie’s brows pinch together in that way he has when he’s trying not to show how upset he is. His lips press together in a thin line. He brings both of his hands together to clasp onto Buck’s tightly.
“I know we have a lot to talk about,” he begins, hesitant despite the determined glint in his eyes, “but this, with you? It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time, before I even knew what the feeling was. Jeez, Buck, we’ve been your family for years already. This is just another way of showing that.” Eddie pauses, slight sadness and further uncertainty clinging to the lines around his eyes. “Of course, this is only if you feel the same way. I know I was way out of line just kissing you like that.”
Buck doesn’t really know what to say to that. He’s never really been good with words when it comes to matters of the heart. He’s better with grand gestures and physical signs of affection. He knows Eddie, though. Knows that Eddie needs to hear this out loud in order to believe what Buck is trying to tell him.
“It’s taken me a long time to understand what it was I was missing out on,” Buck starts. “Tommy showed me what I could have, opened my eyes to an entirely new world of possibilities, but it’s always been you, Eds. Right from that very first day. Then you gave me Chris. You entrusted your entire world to me, and it’s taken me this long to realize just what all of that meant to me.” He takes a breath, gripping Eddie’s hands in his and forcing eye contact. “You’re it. You’re everything I’ve been looking for and you’ve been right under my nose the whole time. I want this, I want you, and I want our little family.”
Eddie shakes his head. “You’ve always had us, Buck, even if this wasn’t an option.”
“But it is an option,” Buck stresses, “and I’m not letting it go unless you tell me you don’t want it.”
Finally, Eddie nods and tightens his hold on Buck’s hands. “Okay,” he says.
Buck’s entire face lights up. Just because he can, he surges forward to kiss Eddie’s cheek, then his nose, and ends at his lips. He can feel Eddie’s smile against his own and the soft huffs of laughter escaping from his nose. Eddie kisses back as if it’s the most natural thing in the world now, and Buck is already addicted.
“If our boy is coming home, we should probably work on getting his plane ticket, huh?” Eddie’s words are mumbled against Buck’s lips, but he can still understand them. Buck would be more upset at the sudden shift in conversation if it didn’t involve one of his favorite people in the world coming home where he belongs.
“Couldn’t have let me bask in the moment just a little longer, could you,” he teases.
Eddie’s grin is unrepentant. “There will be plenty of time to bask in all of our future moments together. I’ll even dance in the kitchen with you at two in the morning the way I know you’ve dreamed of.” Eddie turns his body toward the coffee table, uncurling his legs and stretching luxuriously. He leans over to press his lips to Buck’s cheek in an apology. “You know how insane flights are around the holidays. We’ll be lucky to find one, let alone afford it.”
Buck sighs, but he can’t argue with that. He snatches up Eddie’s tablet from the table before the other can reach it, then settles back against the couch. He tugs at Eddie’s arm and his hip until he gets him settled between his legs and against his chest. Once they’ve adjusted and are settled as comfortably as two grown men can be, Buck passes the device over to Eddie.
It takes them two hours of searching every possible airline, but they finally find a flight into L.A. for the following week. It absolutely made a huge dent in Eddie’s bank account, but it was beyond worth it. After sending Christopher the details and getting a thumbs up in reply, Eddie closes the cover of his tablet and reclines fully into Buck’s arms.
Neither of them is quite comfortable enough to fall asleep like this, and Eddie knows Buck is exhausted after his shift. He climbs to his feet and offers his hands out wordlessly to Buck, who takes them and allows Eddie to haul him up as well.
They’re halfway down the hall before Buck realizes that Eddie is leading him to his bedroom. Buck hesitates at the door. It’s not like they haven’t shared a bed before, but with how quickly things had happened, Buck is starting to worry that they’re moving too fast. Eddie once again seems to read his mind, immediately rushing to reassure him.
“You’ve had a really long shift, I just thought you’d be able to sleep better in an actual bed. I’ve been camped out on the couch all day, I was planning on a nap there anyway.” Eddie has already pulled back the impeccably made bedding and is fiddling with a corner of the sheet. “You’re obviously more than welcome to the couch again if you’re more comfortable with that.”
Buck thinks about it. If Eddie’s words are true, if they’ve both felt this way for as long as they suspect, is there really any harm in moving quickly?
“Stay with me,” Buck asks. He can feel his eyelids getting heavy already. Still fully dressed in his jeans and LAFD t-shirt, Buck climbs into Eddie’s bed, absently grateful he had been able to talk the other into investing in a larger bed after Eddie had wrecked most of the things in his room.
“Are you sure?” Eddie’s voice is soft as he asks, his posture slightly rigid and turned like he’s about to leave the room.
Buck’s head has already hit the pillow, and his eyes have drifted shut, but he pats the empty space beside him and lifts up the blankets.
Eddie sits on the mattress, then swings his legs up to settle on his side facing away from Buck. There’s about two feet of space between them and Buck grumbles his displeasure. He snakes one arm under Eddie’s hip and the other around his waist and drags Eddie back so they’re pressed together as closely as they had been on the couch earlier. Eddie makes a sound halfway between a squeak and a grunt, and Buck’s sleepy brian endeavors to file that away to enjoy later.
With his arms wrapped firmly around Eddie’s waist, the heat of Eddie’s body pressed close to his, Buck falls asleep instantly.
~
Buck and Eddie spend their last few child-free days getting acquainted with their new relationship. Every minute Buck isn’t on shift is spent practically glued to Eddie’s side. There really isn’t much that changes between them. Being best friends for as long as they have, going through quarantine together, they find that there really aren’t that many boundaries left between them.
The kissing and cuddling is a new and wonderful development. One thing that came from being with Tommy, Buck had found that he did not like being the little spoon. In his relationships with women, he had always found comfort in wrapping his partner up in his arms, in being able to hold them. He did not like the feeling of being trapped in Tommy’s arms and had always found it difficult to fall asleep like that.
Eddie, on the other hand, absolutely loved being held. Surprisingly, the feeling of Buck’s arms around him grounded him instead of giving him that feeling of being trapped. Buck was more than willing to give him that comfort.
It had taken them a long time to build up to the conversation they’d both been adamant about having, and they stumbled through half of it with immense awkwardness, but once they had gotten over themselves and were able to laugh about it together, things had progressed much more smoothly and comfortably. They had gotten on the same page about what they wanted out of this budding relationship, both comforted with reassurances that they wanted something committed and monogamous.
They had decided to wait on telling the 118 until after Eddie came back from his medical leave. He was due to be allowed back at the end of the week, but with the holidays and having Chris back in his life full-time, Eddie had requested to use some of his personal leave to extend his absence through the end of the year, and planned to return to duty on the first of the new year. He had a lot to do to get Chris set up to start back at school in L.A. after the winter break.
Christopher was another thing they’d had to discuss. After the fiasco with Marisol and Kim, Eddie was near terrified to broach the subject of another relationship with his son. He was afraid of how Chris would react to Eddie moving on from everything so quickly. Buck had had to remind him that he’d spent months trying to better himself, to find himself and become comfortable in his own skin. It wasn’t like Eddie had immediately dived headfirst into something new with some other woman Chris hardly knew. This was Buck, who had been a part of their lives since Chris was seven. Buck had also reminded Eddie gently that Chris was becoming a young adult, and that being open and honest with him was the best thing they could do to try to bridge the gap between them. Eddie’s stubborn determination had wilted a little at that, and he had agreed that it was important to tell Christopher what was going on between them, but he held firm on wanting to do it on his terms, when it felt right.
The rest of their time together flew by and stayed relatively tame. Despite wanting anything and everything with Eddie, Buck had taken his cues from the brunet and had kept things strictly above the waist and over clothes. He could tell that Eddie was still nervous, and Buck could absolutely understand that. He had been the same way when he was first starting out with Tommy. His days of Buck 1.0 were well and truly behind him, and he was content with taking things at Eddie’s pace.
By the time Tuesday rolls around, it hits Buck that he hasn’t slept in his own bed for over a week and a half, and he’s finding that he doesn’t miss it at all. He feels so at home in Eddie’s house and has spent so much time there that thoughts of his own apartment are beginning to feel hollow and strange. He finds himself dreading the day he no longer has the excuse to stay in the Diaz house like this. He fears that with Chris coming home, that day might be approaching sooner than he’d like.
They fall into bed that night with giddy excitement and uncontainable smiles. Chris’ flight would be getting in around three the next afternoon. Buck had been granted the day off, and had left the firehouse that afternoon with congratulatory smiles from his family, each of them asking him to give Christopher their best wishes. Buck couldn’t be sure, but he suspected the news he and Eddie planned to share upon Eddie’s return to work wouldn’t be all that much of a surprise after all.
As had become routine, Eddie falls asleep quickly while cradled in Buck’s arms, his excitement had transferred into nervous cleaning, and he had worn himself out trying to get the house absolutely perfect for Chris. Buck was having a bit more trouble falling asleep. His own excitement at seeing Chris again after the months they’d been apart was leaving him restless, but as he tucks his face into the back of Eddie’s neck, the short hairs tickling his skin and the clean scent of soap and shampoo invading his senses, he feels a sense of peace wash over him.
Some of his anticipation had bled into anxiety over how Chris might react to his dad dating another man, even if it was Buck. He had assured Eddie that it would be just fine, but he found it a little difficult to believe those words himself. Still, this was Christopher. Even if he was nearly all grown up now, this was still the kind and gentle soul who had practically adopted Buck the moment they’d met. There wasn’t anything to worry about, they just had to tell him tactfully.
Buck drifts off to sleep easily after that thought, his smile back on his face, his arms wrapped securely around Eddie’s waist, and one leg thrown over his thighs for good measure.
The next afternoon, Buck and Eddie are standing in the airport watching Chris’ plane taxi into its gate. It doesn’t take long for the other passengers to deplane, and then they hear the rhythmic thunk of Chris’ crutches as he walks down the connecting hallway. He rounds the slight corner with a gate attendant walking beside him carrying his backpack, but as soon as he sees Eddie, he picks up his pace and crashes right into his father’s chest when they meet halfway. Chris’ arms wrap around his father’s chest, his crutches clinking together behind Eddie’s back, and Eddie buries his face in his son’s hair.
Buck stands awkwardly off to the side until Eddie motions him closer, opening up one arm to add Buck into the hug. Buck goes easily, folding his arms around both Diaz boys and pressing a discreet kiss to Eddie’s temple. They stay wrapped up in each other for a moment longer before there’s a quiet cough and Buck suddenly remembers the gate attendant. He detaches himself from the embrace and turns to her shyly, an apologetic expression on his face, but she’s smiling at him kindly and holding out Chris’ backpack. Buck takes it from her quickly and thanks her as she heads back to complete the rest of her duties.
The three of them make their way to baggage claim, and Eddie is easily able to pull Chris’ suitcase from the conveyor belt while Chris fills Buck in on the newest video game he’s been wanting to play with Buck. Buck drives them home in the Jeep with Eddie in the passenger seat next to him, and Chris gibbering away about his flight from the back seat. Buck loves the way the three of them are already settling in comfortably with each other again. He longs to be able to reach out and hold Eddie’s hand with his unoccupied one, but reminds himself that it’s just a matter of time before he’ll be able to do that and more.
Christopher enters the house first when they get home, Eddie following behind, and Buck taking up the rear, tugging Chris’ suitcase behind him while Eddie shoulders off the backpack in the entryway. Chris surveys the room, and Buck hopes he notices how hard Eddie worked to make things perfect for him. Hopes he notices that nothing has changed while he was away.
Chris pauses for a while in the living room, and Buck isn’t sure if he’s remembering the disastrous last time he was in the house, or if he has other thoughts running through his head. It isn’t long before he’s turning around to face them, a bemused expression decorating his face.
“So, are you guys, like, together now,” he asks. Eddie chokes on air while Buck’s brain bluescreens and does a hard reboot.
“Uhm,” Eddie stalls, and Buck can empathize with that, not entirely sure what to say himself. “Why do you say that?”
Chris rolls his eyes, and man, Buck thinks, he’s got this teenager thing down pat. “Besides the fact that it was obviously going to happen eventually,” Chris starts, completely ignoring the strangled sound Buck makes, “Buck’s still staying here to help you, right dad?”
Eddie nods, “Yeah, we figured he would at least stay through the holidays if he wanted to,” and this is news to Buck. There had been no such conversation between them. He practically melts when he realizes that Eddie had already mentally included him in all of their holiday festivities, had planned for Buck to be a part of their traditions if Buck wanted to be.
“Where’s he sleeping? ‘Cause it doesn’t look like it’s on the couch.” There’s a little hint of snark in his voice, but absolutely no judgement. The tension in Buck’s shoulders that had coiled tightly at the first blunt question released like a snapped string. Chris wasn’t judging them for being together. He might be silently judging them for their lack of finesse with this entire situation, but he was giving them one of his small, fond smiles.
Eddie’s face is flushed in embarrassment, but he meets Chris’ gaze steadily. “Is that something you would be okay with,” he asks. Chris huffs out a short laugh.
“Dad, I told you, it was just a matter of time. Buck’s been my dad practically since the day we met,” Chris says simply, looking boredly between the two of them.
There are tears in Eddie’s eyes as he steps forward, and even though Buck can hear the resigned groan that comes from Christopher, he knows the boy isn’t upset at all when his dad hugs him again. When Eddie releases him, Chris moves around him and approaches Buck. Buck holds out his arms with a questioning look, smiling joyfully when Chris accepts the invitation.
Things are still a little stilted throughout the rest of the night. Buck and Eddie let Chris escape to his room for a while, giving him time to unpack and settle in again. The two of them make dinner together, moving around each other fluidly, almost like a dance. They all eat together at the table, and then settle down in the living room to watch a movie. Chris takes the armchair this time, leaving the couch for Buck and Eddie.
Not wanting to push things, they silently agree to sit with a respectable amount of space between them. As Chris dozes off not even halfway through the film, Buck finds himself sliding closer until they’re pressed together from shoulder to hip, his arm curled around Eddie’s shoulders. Eddie leans his head against Buck, and as his partner begins to drift off as well, Buck can’t help thinking about how lucky he is.
All of his past mistakes, all of his experiences, and all of his hardships have led him here. He’s got his best friend curled up against him sound asleep, and his kid snoring softly just a few feet away. It’s not Christmas yet, but Buck feels like he’s been given the most wonderful gift. They’ve still got a lot of work to do, but they’ve each taken those first steps, and he knows they’ll be able to find their equilibrium again.
He turns down the volume on the television and adjusts himself just a bit so he’s more comfortable, mindful not to jostle his partner too much. He lays his head on top of Eddie’s and lets his eyes slip shut. He’ll let them nap for a little while before waking his boys to get everyone off to bed.