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Buck wakes to the worst sore throat he’s had in a long time. The first thing he notices when he opens his eyes is how his throat feels like someone has scraped down the inside with sandpaper. Swallowing the first couple of times brings sharp stabs of pain along with the movement before it becomes less painful but only slightly easier to ignore.
Of course, what comes with the sore throat is the undeniable presence of the other symptoms of a very bad head cold. Buck sits up, and the blocked and runny nose combination makes itself known immediately. He sighs, reaching quickly for a tissue. He’s definitely not going to be breathing out of his nose today, which will no doubt make his mouth extremely dry and his throat feel worse. He also feels the beginnings of a pounding headache.
As much as he hates to admit it, today is probably going to have to be a sick day. It’s lucky he doesn’t have work today. He would never hear the end of it if he actually had to call in sick for once.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he grabs his phone and makes his way downstairs on unsteady legs. He may not have to call off a shift today, but he does need to call Maddie.
He starts making himself a tea, knowing it will soothe his throat for a while, and fills a bottle of water to keep on hand throughout the day.
After getting set up with tissues, water, tea, the TV remote, and painkillers all placed within reach, he flops down onto his couch with a blanket. He pulls up Maddie's contact and presses the call button, and he is not surprised that she picks up immediately.
“Hey Maddie, I’m so sorry, but I think I need to cancel my babysitting duties. I feel like my body might give out on me any second now, and I wouldn’t want to give this to Jee,” Buck manages to rasp out, phone pressed to his ear. As if to emphasise how ill he is, his body decides to let out a series of coughs that practically shake his entire body.
“Buck, it’s fine.” Maddie’s voice drifts through the phone. “You sound terrible.”
“Why, thank you, how kind of you to say,” Buck says, voice dripping with sarcasm, or as much as it can in his sorry state.
“Have you taken something for it? And are you making sure to drink water?” She asks, concern evident.
“Yes, Maddie,” Buck laughs. “Just because I like to pretend I never get sick doesn’t mean I don’t know how to make myself better when I am. And besides, you shouldn’t be worrying about me when you’ve now got to find someone else to babysit. I’ll feel so bad if you have to cancel your day out with Chim because of this.”
“It’s fine. The Lees were already an option. I just knew you wanted to spend time with your favourite niece, but they can take her while we’re out. You’re on speaker, so when Chim heard that cough, he went off to call them .”
“Yeah, okay. That’s good,” he chuckles. “Now, stop worrying and go have fun on your date.”
“We will. Let me know if you need anything, though.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Bye! Love you.”
Buck hangs up and reaches for the remote. He’s resigned himself to a day of doing nothing, so now all he needs is to find something to watch.
He isn’t sure how long he spends flicking through his various subscriptions, searching for something. He feels embarrassed to admit that it might actually be almost thirty minutes because so far, nothing has grabbed his attention. Luckily, he’s saved from his endless scrolling by a knock on the door.
If he were feeling any better, he’d be more concerned about his appearance, but right now, he shuffles his way over to the door with the blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Hopefully, this interesting fashion choice and his haggard appearance will deter any potential visitors so he can go lie back down.
He swings the door open to find Eddie standing on the other side, arms laden with two very full bags.
Eddie doesn’t even wait for Buck to speak before he walks straight into Buck’s kitchen and starts unloading the contents of the bags onto the counter.
“Um, hello?” Buck gets out, apparently losing all ability to be even remotely eloquent.
Eddie smiles at him, clearly taking in Buck’s dishevelled appearance, but he says nothing as he continues to unpack.
“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone today. Nothing about me or the loft is particularly presentable for guests at the moment.”
“Well, I’m not a guest, so I think you can get away with it,” Eddie says it as easily as Buck did all those years ago. They haven’t been guests in each other’s houses for a long time.
“You make a good point. Why have you brought so much stuff, though? I didn’t forget any plans, did I?”
“No, Buck. I’ve brought you supplies. I wasn’t sure how stocked up you would be for this sort of thing, so I made a quick stop on the way here. I got you some chicken noodle soup because I know you like that one, and I don’t think I have the skills to make anything actually edible enough to make you feel better and not worse. I got you some more painkillers just in case you didn’t have enough, oh and tissues too. I also got you some ice cream, and I bought you a new pair of those thicker socks because you were complaining that your other ones are starting to get holes. And then there’s some other snacks here too and that stupid juice you like.”
Buck feels suspiciously like he might cry any second now. He’s never had someone care this much about him when he’s sick, apart from Maddie, and he’s never had someone know him this well. He’s not sure he can look at Eddie right this second, so he focuses on everything laid out on his kitchen counter. He’s not entirely sure that's helping the situation, but it's fine; he's definitely blinking at a normal rate right now.
“How did you even know I was sick?”
“Maddie told me. Texted when she was on the phone with you.”
“You and Maddie talk?” Buck’s surprise overrides any previous emotionalness. He’s not sure why this information is so shocking to him.
“Yeah, we text,” Eddie says matter of factly and at Buck’s confusion, he continues. “What, you think I’d just help your sister move and then never speak to her again?”
“Well, no?” Buck’s aware that it came out more like a question, but the fact is that he just hadn't considered that his best friend and his sister had conversations outside of the occasional team drinks or barbecue.
Eddie opens the freezer to put the ice cream away, then turns back to face Buck. “We used to just message about you, but then we became closer after I worked at dispatch.”
At that, Buck knows he must look even more incredulous. “Just because you didn’t see it doesn’t mean it wasn’t happening. Surely you want me to be friends with your sister.”
“Yes, of course I do.” Buck is quick to reply. “But what do you mean you only used to talk about me? It better have been good things.”
“Well, due to you being prone to life-threatening injuries, it was mostly just updates about that sort of thing. Now we’re actually friends, I have heard some embarrassing stories about you. Not sure that's the ‘good things’ you're hoping for”
“Don’t tell me that! I thought you were here to make me feel better, not worse! I can’t believe both of you failed to inform me that you guys talk.” With that, Buck heads back over to the couch, immediately resuming his horizontal position.
Buck can hear Eddie still rooting around in his kitchen before his footsteps head in his direction. Buck rolls onto his side, facing the TV and picks up the remote again.
“What are you watching?” Eddie asks as he gets closer.
Buck tilts his head upward to look at him from where he’s lying. “I hadn’t decided yet before you turned up.”
“How long did you spend looking?”
“I’d rather not say.”
Laughing at him, Eddie asks, “Why didn’t you just put on one of the shows we’ve been talking about?”
“I wasn’t going to watch any of those without you!” Buck’s offended he would even think that.
“Well, I’m here now. Why don’t you put one of them on? How about ‘House’ ? You’ve been on a bit of a medical research binge recently, and it’s back on Prime now, I think.”
Eddie then motions for him to sit up. Confused, Buck follows his instruction, thinking perhaps he wants him to drink more water, but Eddie just sits down where Buck's head was previously occupying.
Buck is trying to make peace with being forced to sit upright to watch TV when Eddie starts pulling Buck back down to how he was lying before, the only difference being that his head is now pillowed in Eddie’s lap.
Praying that his face isn’t as red as it feels, Buck tries to focus on pulling up the first episode of House. It’s like he’s suddenly forgotten how to be a normal human being because nothing feels normal about his head resting on his best friend's thighs, and he can’t tell whether it’s obvious that he’s trying to hold himself very still.
Eddie brings a hand down to Buck’s head, and he starts playing with Buck’s hair. The soothing feeling of Eddie running his fingers through the strands makes Buck relax into it immediately, no longer holding himself in such a tense position.
Buck’s so relaxed that he’s quiet the entire first episode, not even sharing gross facts about the tapeworms onscreen, but it’s not long before his brain-to-mouth filter decides to betray him. If anyone asks, he’ll blame this illness for what comes out.
“Would you still love me if I was a tapeworm in your brain?”
Buck has never felt more stupid in his life. Today is probably not the best day to make it obvious that he’s in love with Eddie, yet here he is, asking stupid questions.
To Eddie’s credit, he doesn’t even hesitate before answering. “Yeah. I’d let you hang out in my brain, as long as you didn't start giving me seizures, but I know you wouldn’t try to kill me like that. So, yes, I’d say I’d still love you if you were a tapeworm.”
It’s nice to hear Eddie say he loves him, Buck can’t help but smile. He’ll just avoid thinking about how much he wants Eddie to mean that he’s in love with Buck. That thought gets shoved as far back into his mind as he can get it.
They watch a few more episodes, with Buck throwing out any fun facts he knows related to any of the medical emergencies. Before long, Buck's eyelids feel heavier and heavier, and he’s helpless to the soothing feel of Eddie’s hands in his hair, lulling him to sleep.
He wakes again slowly. He's unsure of how much time has passed, but it’s definitely been long enough for the medicine to wear off if the pounding of his head is anything to go by. He sits up gingerly, aware of the lack of Eddie’s presence. He fumbles for more tablets and his bottle of water, swallowing them quickly. He turns to face the kitchen in search of where Eddie’s gone.
His gaze finds Eddie at his stove, stirring what Buck assumes is the soup he mentioned earlier. If Buck's nose wasn’t so blocked, he might’ve smelt the food as soon as he woke, but at this rate, he just hopes his taste buds still work well enough.
Buck knew that Eddie wouldn’t have just left him here alone, but seeing him standing in Buck's kitchen making him food makes Buck get that fluttery warm feeling in his chest. God he’s so fucked; his love for Eddie is probably visible from space.
Falling in love with Eddie is one of the best things that’s ever happened to Buck, but in moments like these, where his sickness-addled brain seems to lack any significant filters, it becomes a bit of a problem. As long as he can make it through the rest of the evening without spilling his guts, it’ll all be fine.
Eddie still hasn’t noticed that he’s awake yet, humming under his breath as he continues stirring, so Buck wraps the blanket back around his shoulders and makes his way over to the island.
Before Buck can even attempt to silently pull out a stool to avoid Eddie noticing, the man is already turning around to look at Buck with a fond smile.
“Hey, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?”
“Hungry.” Buck replies as he sits, and Eddie laughs.
“So impatient.” He tuts jokingly. “Just a minute and it’ll be ready.”
Buck is about to get up to shuffle his way over to the fridge for a glass of the juice that Eddie had brought with him earlier, but at that moment, the man himself places a glass on a coaster in front of Buck. Maybe Eddie can read his mind. That wouldn’t surprise Buck, but it does have him worrying about the times Eddie could’ve heard Buck's inappropriate thoughts about him.
Halting those thoughts, Eddie appears beside him to gently place down the bowl of soup and a plate on the side of buttered bread, and all Buck can do is smile giddily at how nice it is to have Eddie taking care of him. If Eddie notices how embarrassingly happy Buck is, he doesn’t show it.
Buck starts shoving spoonfuls of the soup into his mouth. He’s starving, and he's not particularly worried about Eddie judging him. The man has seen him eat before, and he’s also seen Buck eat and talk at the same time. So, as much as Buck’s eating habits are probably a little bit disgusting, he knows Eddie secretly finds it endearing. Not that Eddie would ever admit that to him.
Whilst dipping the bread into his soup, Buck looks over at Eddie, who he will admit is eating his own soup in a much more civilised way, and he can’t help but want to make sure Eddie knows how much he appreciates this.
“Thank you, Eddie,” Buck says softly, with so much sincerity and fondness that it’s almost palpable.
Eddie looks up, with surprise colouring his face, as he meets Buck's eyes. His eyebrows furrow in what looks to be confusion, and Buck knows he doesn’t understand what he means. “I didn’t even make the soup, Buck. All I did was heat it up, but you’re welcome.” Eddie replies, with the last part coming out almost as a question.
Buck needs him to understand how much this means to him. How much Buck loves him. This isn’t the illness loosening his tongue. This is just the overwhelming feeling of being loved by and loving Eddie Diaz.
“No, not just the soup. All of this, Eddie. You didn’t have to come here today and risk getting sick, too, but you did. For me. And you brought all of my favourites and things no one else would’ve thought to bring. I mentioned those socks once, and you remembered.”
“Well, yeah. You always remember stuff for me, and you know I like listening to you.” Eddie shrugs.
“Yeah, Eds. I know you do.” Buck is sure his smile could rival the sun right now. “This might be the worst time to say this when I’m literally so gross,” and as if backing this up, his body decides now is a great time to sneeze. Eddie wordlessly hands him a tissue. “Thanks, man. Okay, what I was trying to say is that I don’t think I’ve ever felt this cared for, to this level, when I've been sick. Now I’m hearing that out loud. I honestly didn’t mean for that to sound as depressing as it did. But you get the point.”
Buck risks a glance back over at Eddie, and he does look less confused, but that might only be because he’s trying to hold back laughter. “Where are you going with this, Buck?”
“I’m sick. You can’t bully me. Let me finish.” Buck laughs.
Eddie holds his hands up in surrender. Buck clears his throat before continuing. “Before, I was hesitant because I wanted to be sure. I didn’t want to ruin anything. But I can’t go another minute without you knowing how much I love you. And I’m pretty sure you feel the same. I really hope you do.
“So I'm sorry that I’m saying all of this when I look like this,” he says, gesturing to himself. “But I love you so much, and I need you to know that.”
“I can’t believe you just called me man right before trying to tell me you love me.”
“That’s what you’re taking from that?” Buck asks, incredulous.
“Yes," Eddie says with a grin. "It’s a good job I love you.”
“Really?”
“Of course I do. I think I have for a long time now. Just didn’t realise it until I was eight hundred miles away from you.”
“You know what they say, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’”
“I’ll say it again, you’re lucky I love you.” Eddie deadpans.
“Yeah, yeah. I know I’m hilarious. I missed you too, when you were gone. I’m glad you’re back," Buck admits. "You and Chris shouldn’t ever leave again.”
“Not planning on it.” Eddie smiles, and Buck somehow falls in love even more.
“I really want to kiss you now, but I’m not trying to pass this cold along, so I can wait.”
“Buck, I don’t care. I’ll happily get ill for you, you’ll just have to take care of me instead. And I think if I don’t kiss you in the next thirty seconds, I might die.”
Buck doesn’t know when Eddie stood up, but he’s now within arms reach. Buck pulls Eddie toward him until he’s stood in the gap between Buck’s legs. They slot together like they were made for this. Buck kind of believes they were. Eddie is inches from his lips, so Buck closes that last bit of distance, slotting their lips together finally.
The kiss is syrupy-slow, and if Buck wasn’t already struggling to breathe, this would’ve taken the breath out of him anyway. He pulls back eventually, before his lungs run out of oxygen, and he can’t help the laugh that falls from his mouth. Suddenly, they’re both laughing uncontrollably, hands intertwined on the kitchen island.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” Eddie says.
“I don’t know, but at least now we have the rest of our lives.”
“You’re that sure of this, are you?”
“Yeah, I am,” Buck replies. “Just don’t blame me tomorrow if you start getting symptoms. If you start complaining, I’ll remind you that you said you didn’t care.”
“Fine, I won’t complain if that happens.” Eddie retorts, even though Buck knows he will.
Eddie doesn’t get sick the next day or the day after, but when he starts coughing on the third, Buck already has all the supplies ready. This time, Eddie complains, and Buck looks after, and he knows they've got each other's backs, now and forever.