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The beginning!
The dust began to settle as the commotion finally stopped. God why did it have to be this mission, this recon, why couldn't it be any other day? Week? Month, year? This was the one time Evan truly needed to make it back inland, is husband was having a big celebration for his work over the last year. Evan had to be there, of course he didn't promise anything or even say he was going to try and make it but that didn't mean he doesn't want to try.
Eddie's day?
Bombs. God Eddie hated bombs. He dealt with enough of them during his two tours so why should he have to deal with them inland? Just cause some crazed bomber wants to, what, cause unknown harm? All of this was outrageous. Not to mention Shannon had come back to L.A. to visit with Christopher and then died. Unfortunately enough for Eddie his parents just had to be there for the funeral. Him and Shannon split during his second tour. Both Shannon and him had decided to do shared custody of Christopher while he finished his tour. They agreed however, El Paso was not what Christopher needed. So Eddie helped Shannon pick out a house in L.A.
Although looking back on it, the two were better off as best friends anyway. He didn't feel like he lost a lover when Shannon died, he had lost a friend, a best friend who knew all his secrets and unfortunately every inch of his body. Shannon had felt the same way when she served him divorce papers. It wasn't out of the blue either, he had expected it when Shannon had started hinting at it while he was overseas. They had spoken and figured out that they were on the same page about their entire relationship basically. Shannon and him were pressured by their families to settle down, it being Texas and all. They had to find a good, capable partner but neither wanted to. They found everything they needed in each other for the time being, but none of it was what they wanted. God he hated his parents. His father and mother couldn't even wait, they had to mention uprooting his entire life moments after the funeral? In front of Tià Pepà and Abuela? Ramon and Helen had balls, Eddie would give them that. He wished his fiance was back from overseas. Not that it would have mattered he still hasn't told his parents. They would never expect Evan in any way, or their relationship so Eddie didn't want to tarnish that quite yet. Was he ashamed? Never. He would never be ashamed of Evan Alexander Buckley. His parents just have such a way of getting in his head about every decision he has ever made, and Evan was the first decision he felt right about. Then firefighting, and a few small things along the way. Eddie had finally started to see that he was capable of doing this on his own while Evan was away and that he could live his life however he wanted to without his parents approval. He didn't need it, it wasn't necessary.
You know, they say PTSD never truly goes away. That it lurks in every corner and eventually takes over when it becomes apparent that it can. Helicopter crash, ladder truck explosion. They are more similar than you think unfortunately. The good thing was, scraps and bruises never truly hurt no one. The truck flipped and flug most of them out. They were beaten and bruised but no major injuries, well that was until Bobby decided to make a hero of himself. I mean what if the kid just decided to cut his losses and let go of the Deadman switch? Thank god he didn't.
Attached on a live wire.
They say your soul is attached to one person. Or at least that's what I believe. Some say it's soulmates, others will say it's the weird fascination with those you truly love. So how exactly do you explain the phenomenon of being blown out of Humvee on the way to the most important day of your life? Well I'm going to call it fate for now. Walked away with some massive bruises but no one on the team was majorly injured! The explosion did mean that we had to go stateside for a small period of time with family, a compensation for our sacrifice or something. If that makes sense? I'm no longer worried about not making it though, even called my fiances captain! He said he'd keep it a secret till I arrive. Me and Christopher are walking down together to give him his helmet can you believe it? My fiance just graduated from probation firefighter and I get to be there for it.
The Final Step.
Everyone was accounted for, everyone except Evan but Eddie knew he wouldn't be here for this. Had anticipated it for a while actually. Getting personal days for things the government doesn't really care about was hard. Even being able to go home and watch your wife give birth was hard, trust me when I tell you the government couldn't give a damn. So Eddie smiled as he stood beside his captain who was giving a small speech about his probation end, and full fledged firefighter beginning.
Evan heard the commotion as Captain Nash, as he recalled, starts a small speech. He had just landed after being looked over at Presbyterian. Still in his dusty combat uniform with his lieutenant's name tag on his left breast pocket. His hat tucked tight against his head and his hands slightly trembling as he picked up a familiar helmet from the rack. Captain Nash had told him which one to grab and even had Tià Pepà lead Christopher over to Evan before he crossed the trucks. Christopher tried his best to keep quiet but let out a small yelp of excitement. The boy had been warned beforehand that Evan was coming back so that they had a better cover but Evan figured it was going to be hard for him not to give Evan away. Which was fine in his opinion.
Eddie heard his kid from across the room, the chair where he was supposed to be sitting and waiting to hand him his helmet was now empty. He would have freaked out if it hadn't been Abuela who gave him a stern but heartfelt smile and waved it off. His curiosity had been peeved though.
Evan slowly made his way across the edge of the truck, holding Christopher's hand in one of his, and Eddie's helmet in the other. A smile slowly swiping across his face as he made eye contact with the man in question standing maybe a yard away. The man almost made a dash for him before Evan started to walk towards him. Christopher took a seat back at the table with Abuela and Tià Pepà. The moment Christopher was sitting Eddie had apparently decided he couldn't wait a moment longer and closed the gap between the two of them.
Evan just about fell over the helmet long forgotten as it fell from his hand, he wrapped his hands around Edmundo tightly. One finds the indent of his hips and waist, the other finds the side of Edmundo's face. His thumbs quickly wiping at tears that had begun to fall from his eyes as Edmundo just smiled brightly up at Evan. Eddie's hands had wrapped around Buck and he refused to let go under any circumstances. The kiss was magnetic, a small pull from the universe finally giving them a break and allowing them this moment. No repercussions, no regrets, no feeling of sorrow or unidentified fear. Just BuckandEddie EddieandBuck. Evan, and Edmundo.