Work Text:
Buck felt disgusting. He had spent the majority of the day crammed into entirely too small airplane seats. Seriously, who designed these planes? He’d experienced a lot during his time in the SEALs, slept on the ground for weeks at a time, but this was nothing; that was until he hit his knees on the back of the seat in front of him for who knows how many times. He just had to hold for a few more hours, and he’d be... well, in LA. He couldn’t call it home if he’d never lived there before and didn’t have anywhere to live currently, but Maddie was there. That was enough. In fact, this was the first time in nearly a decade that he didn’t have a clear plan.
When he had finally decided not to re-enlist and instead leave the SEALs, he had had no idea what he was going to do with himself. It wasn’t as if he could go back to Pennsylvania to his parents. Everything had made sense since he found out about Daniel, and he’d come to peace with it, eventually. One thing the SEALs had taught him was that he didn’t need to waste time on people who didn’t want to be in his life. One of his buddies had offered to put him up for a little while, but he’d tentatively reached out to Maddie instead. They’d got back in contact since she finally left Doug. Buck was only sorry he hadn’t been there to put that bastard 6 feet in the ground himself. Whatever death he’d received hadn’t been painful enough. He knew she hadn’t told him the whole story, just enough that he understood. It wasn’t a story she liked reliving, and he hadn’t wanted to push her to divulge all the information through their limited contact.
He was still hesitant to see Maddie. Communicating through scattered letters and grainy video calls would be very different to being there with her. Maddie had a life without him, with friends, a fiancé, and a child – people she considered her family. What would they think of him? His career hadn’t allowed him much time with kids. What if they didn’t get on? Maddie was all he had in LA There were so many variables he couldn’t control, and he didn’t like it. He couldn’t tackle this like a mission, and he had so much riding on this. He had to figure out how to fit into her new life. Maddie wasn’t who he remembered, and the same was true for him. He wasn’t her hopeless little brother anymore.
He was concerned about returning to civilian life in general. He hadn’t had much downtime over the years, most of which he’d spent with the families of his team. He couldn’t begin to imagine what it was going to be like, how he was going to adapt to even basic comforts he hadn’t been afforded. When he finally arrived at his destination, he sighed internally. This was it - no going back now. He sent Maddie a text to let her know he’d arrived. At least they’d been able to exchange phone numbers. It had been one of the first things he’d sorted out. He put his phone away and stood up to grab his bag from the overhead, which quickly turned into him helping everyone around him. One woman told him, “Thank you, and thank you for your service.”
Buck gave a tight smile and nodded. “You’re welcome and thanks.” He’d received that a few times during the day, and he couldn’t figure out how to respond. None of them knew what his service had entailed. He couldn’t exactly educate them on it either. So, what exactly were they thanking him for? Risking his life almost every day for the last decade? Well, that was just part of the job. That was what he had signed up for. Someone had to do it, and he’d thought better of him than someone who had people waiting for them to return.
He slung his duffle bag over his shoulder, almost everything he owned fitting in one bag. Buck walked through the airport, focused on reaching the exit. Buck stood near the baggage claim. He’d given up trying to blend in; he was a 6ft 2 broad guy in Navy camos. The airport was too busy for his liking, and he was tired. He felt wired tight, as if he were bracing for something.
He heard her before he saw her.
“Buck?” Her voice was quiet, unsure, just audible over the crowd. He turned.
There she was – Maddie. Softer, maybe. Lighter. Happier. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She looked a little older, but undeniably her.
Buck didn’t move at first. Just stared. He still carried the version of her who disappeared. Who ran. Who didn’t say goodbye. The version of her who was supposed to guide him through life but instead left him to fend for himself. It’s funny how, after enough time passes, you think you’ve moved on from something, but the second you have to confront it, it’s like no time has passed at all. One look at her and he felt like that lost teen ready to run away. He supposed he did run away in the end.
“Buck!” Maddie called to him again, louder this time. That was when he noticed the tears in her eyes. Everything became a blur as she ran to him.
Maddie crashed into him, and for a moment, the terminal disappeared. It was just the two of them. He stood frozen as she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as if she was worried about what would happen if she let go.
“I’m so sorry, Buck. I’m so sorry I left.” Her voice broke as she started crying into his uniform. It shook Buck from his daze, and he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
“You’re here now.” He didn’t cry–not yet. But his voice was thick, ragged at the edges. In that moment, it felt a little like home, and he wasn’t ready to face that yet. He pulled back just enough to look at her.
“I thought you were gone for good. I thought maybe I lost you forever.”
“I didn’t know how bad it would get. I didn’t want to pull you into it. And then it got worse, and I didn’t know how to come back.” She swore.
Buck just pulled her into another hug. Tighter this time. “I know, but I would’ve been there for you in a heartbeat. You and me against the world.” He whispered the last bit over her head. “You don’t have to explain it right now. I just - God, I missed you.”
She laughed through tears. “Same. You look... older.”
Buck grimaced. “Pretty sure war zones will do that.”
Maddie smiled sadly at his attempt at a joke. “Still an idiot?”
He chuckled. “Always.”
They both laughed. It was raw, honest, and laced with everything they’d been through separately - and everything they’d rebuilt together now.
After a moment, they separated. Buck picked up his bags with one arm and put his other around Maddie’s shoulder. “Come on then, I’m dying to use a decent shower.”
A month passed quickly. The wedding planning hadn’t left much time for anything else. Maddie had done her best to keep Buck out of it as much as possible, but that left him trying to adapt to his new life and looking for a place to live. He appreciated Maddie letting him stay with them. It had given them the chance to get to know each other again. He was also able to meet Jee-Yun and Chimney. Jee-Yun quickly became one of his favorite people. All it took was one look and an “Uncle Bucky” from her, and he caved like a house of cards. Maddie pretended to be annoyed with him every time he folded, but there was no malice in her voice when she told him he was spoiling Jee-Yun too much.
At first, he wasn’t sure what to make of Chimney. If he hadn’t known better, the nickname would make him think of a military background. While Chimney hadn’t told him the story behind the name yet, he had shared plenty of other stories, which was how they bonded. It seemed the 118 were no strangers to crazy rescues and adventures. It made him think about what his next steps would be. He wasn’t the type of person who could sit idle or work a desk job. He considered reaching out to some of his old teammates who had gone to work in various law enforcement departments.
He liked Chimney a lot more than Doug. It helped that his contacts had run a background check on the man. In his defense, he needed to put his mind at ease. He knew firsthand just how well a person could play nice.
He was still adjusting to civilian life—the quiet, the routine, the absence of adrenaline, and even some of the daily comforts. His body wasn’t used to sleeping for long, and he never thought he would need to adapt to sleeping on a soft mattress. Around every corner was a potential threat. Every time a car backfired, he thought he heard gunshots. He found himself looking for enemies in the shadows. Maddie and Chimney tried to look out for him; they did their best to be mindful of his change of scenery, but they had their own routines. He was an outsider who wouldn’t let himself feel comfortable. The wedding planning had distracted Maddie, and he was grateful for the time, but he didn’t know how long that would last afterwards. He was partially correct when Maddie then asked him to walk her down the aisle.
“When are we going to meet this mystery brother?” Athena asked.
Maddie, Chimney, and Jee-Yun were at Bobby and Athena's with all the 118 crew for a low-key pre-wedding BBQ. It was the usual fanfare – all of them sat outside, music, beer, and the smell of grilled food. Denny and Christopher were playing with Jee-Yun off to the side.
“Yeah, Maddie. You’ve been a little mysterious about him. You’ve given us spreadsheets, seating charts, emergency backup lists... but barely a word about your brother since he got back.” Hen said teasingly, arms crossed.
“He’ll be at the wedding, so you can all meet him then. Just take it easy with him, alright? He’s been struggling.” Maddie tried to appease them.
“Well, that’s just even more mysterious. I was thinking he was ‘shy accountant’ mysterious, but now that sounds more like ‘used to be in a cult’.” Eddie half-joked and took a sip of his beer.
Chimney grinned. He hated keeping secrets, so he was glad to be able to talk about Buck finally. “He’s neither. Think... ‘used to jump out of a helicopter’ mysterious.”
Everyone looked at Maddie, shocked. Hen's eyebrows raised. “Wait, what?”
Maddie chuckled softly. She looked down at her hands. “Buck’s... complicated. He was serving overseas for years. Navy SEAL. He just got out.” Maddie felt the mood change.
“Must’ve seen a lot,” Bobby said gently.
“Yeah. Too much probably. He hasn’t shared too many details, but every so often he gets that look in his eye, you know?” She sighed. “He enlisted right after high school. You’ve met our parents. He was desperate to get away... and to prove something. Led him directly to the Navy. He excelled.” Was it bad that she wished he hadn’t?
“It’s an adjustment. I’ve known people who have signed back up just because they couldn’t handle civilian life.” Eddie empathized with Buck, but that was a story for another day. “So... what’s he like?” He asked quietly.
“Honestly? He’s a pain in the ass. Stubborn, competitive, cocky. The kind of guy who makes fun of your playlist one minute but will jump in front of a bullet for you the next. He’s quiet most of the time, but if you get him talking after a documentary, he’ll talk for hours with facts. He knows the most random information. He’s so active and is great with Jee-Yun. The way she has him wrapped around her finger... It’s hard to imagine he was a SEAL.” Maddie shot Chimney a look, and he went quiet. She smiled gently and turned her attention to the rest of the group.
“He’s got a big heart. It’s... buried sometimes. But it’s there. He’s protective. Loyal. And he’s doing a terrible job at trying to not seem nervous about meeting all of you.”
“Why would he be nervous?” Bobby asked curiously.
“Because I talk about you like you’re my family, and he wants to be a part of that. We were so close, and well... then I left.” She was still ashamed about leaving him behind. “The closest he’s known to family for a long while were his SEAL team, not that he’ll tell us anything about them.”
There was a small silence, not heavy, but meaningful, as they took in the new information.
“Does he know what he’s doing next?” Eddie asked. “A lot of us vets go into firefighting or the police or something. It gives us a bit of what we’ve grown used to overseas. Gives us a bit of purpose again.”
“Thanks, Eddie. I don’t know if he’s ready yet, but we’re getting there.”
“If he’s you’re family, he’s our family too,” Bobby stated.
Athena nodded her agreement. “We’ll go easy on him. Mostly.” She gave a sly smile.
“Yeah, we can’t wait to meet him,” Hen added.
“You’ll like him. He’s... different. But in the best ways.” Maddie let the conversation drift into other topics, but she continued to think of her brother – the comments he would make and how he would fit in with her family.
Buck had clearly been mistaken thinking he could blend into the crowd. His full-dress uniform and seat with the wedding party meant he was sticking out like a sore thumb. The fact that it was a small wedding hadn’t helped either. The wedding was in a candlelit vineyard just outside the city – warm, romantic, and buzzing with celebration. It had been a beautiful ceremony. It healed something in him to see Maddie do it right and get the wedding she deserved. There would be no worrying about what she was going home to. No – she was at peace, she was happy. Buck couldn’t be more grateful that she had found the people she did.
Despite the glances in his direction, most of them had kept their distance beyond the gradual introductions. Maddie said they didn’t want to overwhelm them, so instead of meeting them all at once, they were taking turns. First had been Bobby and Athena, who seemed like the parental figures of the group. There was a story there. Then it had been Ravi. Ravi was only a little younger than Buck in age, but he made Buck feel a lot older. Their conversation had been nice. He may even get to know him a little better. He couldn’t get rid of the nerves that he wasn’t making a good impression. He needed them to like him, to accept him. Would they all tire of going at his pace? Buck sat in his seat with a beer in hand, observing the room.
“Buck! You should meet Eddie!” He sighed internally – time for his next introduction. Buck looked towards Chimeny who was heading his way. Next to him was the man Buck had been trying to ignore all evening. He was wearing a classic black tux, sleeves rolled up slightly. When Buck had first noticed him, he had been with a kid who had made his heart melt. The kid had left earlier with a somewhat older woman, Carla, he’d thought he’d heard. Buck definitely hadn’t been keeping up with the group all night. The man, Eddie, he’s presuming, had an easy smile.
“Eddie Diaz. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Evan Buckley, most people call me Buck.” He shook his head. “I suppose you already knew that, though, right?”
“Yeah.” Eddie grinned and shrugged. “This seat taken?” He gestured to the seat next to Buck.
“No, all yours.” Buck nodded his head towards it.
As Eddie sat down, he could’ve sworn he heard Chimney mutter “my work here is done” as he walked off, forgotten by them both.
“So is your full name Eduardo?” It’s a stupid question, but Buck felt the need to fill the silence. His team would be mercilessly mocking him for his awkwardness right now. In his defense, Eddie is one of the most attractive men he’s ever met. He almost heard What a Man playing in the background the first time he turned around.
“No.”
“Do people ever call you ‘Diaz’?” Where was someone to shut him up?
“Not really, not if they want me to respond.”
“Oh.” Damn Chimney for leaving him with Eddie. He was out of practice with small talk. He glanced around the room, hoping to make eye contact with someone who would save him. He failed. “Is it true you got stuck under a collapsed well?” It was out of his mouth before he realized. “Sorry, that’s probably insensitive, you don’t have to answer. Chimney tells all these stories about you and the crew; they seem a little extreme for a firefighter crew in Los Angeles. I mean the zoo animals escaping. I’m still not sure I believe him about the rebar through his skull.”
Eddie smirked. “I wasn’t here for the rebar, but the rest all tell me it happened. They got him a cake of it and everything – which that they did show me photos of. The zoo incident was a crazy day. Christopher, my son, loves the zoo, wouldn’t stop talking about it for weeks.” Eddie smiled fondly. “And yes, I did get stuck; that was one of the worst ones, along with getting shot. It’s ok, Maddie told us you were a SEAL. I was an army medic myself. I don't reckon I saw the amount you did, but it wasn’t easy.” Eddie looked at Buck. “I know it will be a while, but if you want to talk to someone about it, I’m a willing ear. I thought I had it all dealt with, but several years later, I struggled with it badly. The crew got me into therapy, but I couldn’t have done any of it without them.”
Buck nodded but didn’t respond. “So... you have a son? I love kids.”
“Yeah? Well, I love this one. He’s all I got.” Eddie pulled his phone out of his pocket, then pulled up a photo to show Buck. “He has CP, so I worry a lot, but he won’t let anyone feel sorry for him.”
And so, they started talking – slowly at first, then effortlessly. The rest of the wedding and the reception were forgotten. Every so often, someone would walk up to the table to pick something up or sit down for a few minutes, but Buck and Eddie were in their own little bubble, and everyone left them to it. Neither one explicitly flirted, but they couldn’t deny the pull between them.
Later in the night, the DJ softened the tone. The dance floor emptied into slow, swaying couples. Buck started preparing to leave, to say his goodbyes, when Eddie stopped him. He stood up and held his hand out towards Buck.
“Dance with me.” He didn’t ask – just said it, quietly but directly.
Buck paused, caught off guard. He stared up at Eddie. “I don’t really...”
Eddie tilted his head. “It’s just a dance.”
And it was. Until it wasn’t.
They stepped onto the dance floor, surrounded by strangers. Eddie placed his hand on Buck’s shoulder. Buck’s hand found Eddie’s waist. It wasn’t anywhere near as awkward as Buck was anticipating. Instead, it was grounding. They didn’t say much during the dance. They didn’t need to. In the quiet between the notes, something shifted.
They felt it.
So did everyone around them.
Buck purposefully ignored Maddie’s beaming smile. She looked every bit the proud older sister, despite it being her wedding day.
They didn’t let go immediately after the song ended.
Buck sighed. “I have to go.”
“At least let me get your number first.”
Buck smirked and gave Eddie his phone.
“I’m glad I met you tonight.”
“Me too. I think I needed to.” Buck responded. He walked over to Maddie and said goodbye, telling her they would talk about it later.
Eddie watched Buck as he left.
Weeks later, Bucked showed up at Eddie’s house for dinner with Christopher. There was no rush, no pressure. Just the three of them, working it out on their own timeline.