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The 118 always seemed to have an influx of probationary firefighters in their midst. To help regulate and make sure they each were getting proper training Bobby began to assign members of the 118 a probie, almost like a big/little situation. It was a great system that seemed to help keep the flow of things, yet each ex-probie had something to say about their first few weeks at the 118.
It started with Melissa Easton being paired with Eddie Diaz. For the first couple of weeks, the two got along pretty well. It was obvious that she was following Eddie’s lead on most things whether it was on-call or at the station.
“So how’s the truck looking?”
Eddie, who was walking by, paused to inspect her work. He gave her a soft smile, “Looking good, Missy.”
Melissa had never been given a nickname before, but on the first day here Buck had been calling her probie so Eddie got him to settle for Missy. She ended up really liking the way Eddie said Missy.
“Thanks,” She replied, trying to blush down the blush spreading across her cheeks.
Eddie took a step closer to her and lowered his voice as he began to speak, “You know you did really good out there on this last call.”
“I- I did?”
“Yeah, you’re really catching on.”
“Oh, thanks, Eddie.”
“It’s nice having someone so quick on their feet,” Eddie said softly before turning around and walking up to the loft.
“Probie, you missed a spot,” Buck mumbled as he flew past her to catch up with Eddie on the stairs.
It seemed that being placed with Eddie meant being forcibly attached to his partner as well. No matter where they were, Buck was always 5 steps behind or lurking behind some corner. Missy couldn’t get him off their back long enough to have a decent conversation with Eddie that wasn’t work-related.
She shot daggers at his back as she dipped the rag back into the container to continue washing. But despite Buck’s comment, it was evident Missy had a pep in her step for the rest of their shift.
A few weeks later, they were all finding seats around the table for dinner. There was an open seat across from Eddie with no Buck in sight. Though Missy knew this was possibly messing with some of their weird dynamic she rushed forward and planted herself in the seat. Eddie had only smiled as he passed her a plate of bread.
Buck, who had been helping Bobby cook, rounded the table with the rest of the sides. Each of his coworkers were complimenting his cooking. He was just waving a hand at them. After he placed them on the table he paused, staring at the seat Missy was currently in.
Eddie had caught his gaze and pushed the seat beside him out, “Saved you a seat.”
Missy looked over her shoulder and up at Buck just in time to see a small smile spread along with a faint blush. She couldn’t help the small scowl that came across her as he all but jumped into the seat beside Eddie.
“Damn, Buck this is really good.” Eddie groaned as he took a bite out of the mac and cheese.
Buck’s face flushed even more as he dropped his head, “Thanks, Eddie.”
Two days later Missy asked for a shift change.
Next on the list of Chimney to take the newest probie, Jackson Bourne. There wasn’t much for Chimney to do with him seeing as he fell into the routine fairly quickly. After a couple of weeks, he was walking around as if he’d been here for years.
Chimney was repacking the ambulance and showing Jackson all the different aspects of the vehicle knowing he wanted to become certified like him and Hen. This eventually led to him telling the story of the craziest calls that he and the ambulance have taken.
“Now, this isn't the same one I started with.” Chimney patted the better vehicle with a fond look in his eye. “No, she must be… number 4, I think.”
“Did the other ones get stolen or something?” Jackson asked with a chuckle.
“No, no one time- Wait he can tell the story better. Eddie!” Chimney shouted whilst waving a hand to get his attention.
As Eddie jogged over Jackson visibly tensed while scooting closer to Chimney. Chimney didn’t pay any attention to him as Eddie approached. “Man, tell him the story of your first shift.”
“The grenadine guy?” Eddie asked as his eyes crinkled at how hard he was smiling at the memory.
“Come on!” Chimney grabbed onto his shoulder. “Tell the story.”
“Look, all I remember is realizing that I was going to be stuck with you guys for a very long time,” Eddie said as he placed his hands on his hips.
“More like stuck with Buck forever,” Hen said, causing the three of them to jump.
She laughed at the three of them before stepping past Chimney and into the ambulance. Jackson seemed to snap out of a trance he was in. “Wait, Buck? Why Buck?”
“He helped me pull the grenadine out of a guy's leg that day. And I guess it kind of solidified our bond.”
“You mean your codependency,” Hen said.
Eddie gave her a look. “We are not codependent.”
Hen hummed with a shrug before turning away. Chimney bit his lip to hold back a laugh at Eddie’s offended face. Jackson looked between the three of them more confused than ever. He had never really thought that he and Buck were that weird with each other… They were, after all, best friends.
“Okay, well I have to finish my duties if you don’t mind,” Eddie said as he turned around to go back.
Jackson turned to Chimney with an eyebrow raise. He just shook his head. “You’ll see.”
And exactly one month later he did.
They were all changing out after their shift and heading home for the day. Jackson’s locker had been a few down from Eddie’s and he took this moment to go after what he’d been working up the courage to.
“So, Eddie.”
“Yeah, what’s up?” Eddie asked while looking down as he tied his shoes.
“I was thinking, maybe, we could go out?”
“Can’t tonight. Me and Buck are taking Chris to watch that new Marvel movie.”
“Oh,” Jackson said, feeling all of his confidence deflated from within him. “Maybe another night.”
Eddie stood fully up and grabbed his bag from the bench. “Yeah, just let me know.”
Eddie gave him that warm smile that Jackson’s taken as something more than friendly for weeks. Now, he thinks it’s been nothing more than friendly- professional even. That realization seeped further in as Eddie patted Buck on the shoulder as the two of them exited the changing room.
Buck was leaning down and whispering to Eddie while looking back at Jackson with what could only be described as a scowl. Jackson shook his head before closing his locker and grabbing his bag from the bench.
Chimney stared at Jackson’s back with furrowed eyebrows. He looked around the changing room to see if anyone else had seen what he’d just witnessed. But there wasn’t a person in sight and he knew no one was going to believe him.
Ravi hadn’t been a probie for a long time, but he remembers his time served like a veteran from war. Which is a joke he makes sure to say when Eddie or Buck aren’t around. And it seems that he’s the only one who has come and stayed after Eddie transferred in. This gave him knowledge in the field like no one else.
So when it was his time to take the newest probie, Lily Noman, under his wing… it was important he showed them more than the basics.
“Now, Bobby is usually the one that cooks for us, but Buck will sometimes be in there.”
“Does anyone else cook?”
“Not really, but we don’t mind.” Ravi shrugged his shoulders. At that same moment, Eddie was rounding the corner of the loft. “Eddie! Let Lily know that we stay far away from the kitchen.”
Eddie shook his head with a smile, “When Buck’s in there it’s better to steer clear.”
Ravi’s eyebrows furrowed at his answer and was ready to move on when Lily seemed to collapse in her seat. One hand came up under her chin as she stared up at the older firefighter, “I’m sure you can cook really good, huh?”
“Not until recently. My kid was giving me too much slack for it.” Eddie said with a fond smile as he placed his hands on his hips.
“I’m sure your wife appreciates it.”
The room seemed to go quiet at that. Ravi looked away from Lily and to Eddie who seemed to be processing the comment. It was innocent, unintentional, which is probably why he politely smiled before speaking.
“No, no wife.”
“Oh, so single then?” Lily asked, clearly not picking up how vibes had gotten awkward.
Eddie raised his eyebrows giving Ravi a look, “I think I should go make sure the truck’s ready to go.”
Lily softly nodded her head, in a daze, as Eddie turned around to walk downstairs. Ravi didn’t miss how her eyes trailed down to follow his ass… Okay, yeah, maybe also Ravi checked out the hot guy's ass as he walked away.
Ravi clapped his hands, “Should we continue?”
“Do you think I’m his type?” Lily paused, realizing what she’d just asked. “I mean like objectively… just wondering.”
“I don’t think you’re what he’s looking for.”
“What does that mean?”
“His type is more… 6ft, dirty blonde, white, and preferably with a birthmark on your eyebrow.”
Lily’s eyebrows flew to the top of her head and looked at him like he’d just told her Beyoncé passed away, “You mean Buck?!”
Ravi’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion, “Yeah… they’re dating.”
“Chimney told me that they aren’t together,” Lily said, placing a hand out in front of her as if it’d ground her into reality. “That he’d rather “jump off a building than have both of them as brother-in-laws”.”
“No…” Ravi drawled out as he shook his head. “Buck and Eddie are totally together.”
Hen, who happened to be passing by, paused in her step with a confused look, “They’re not, Ravi.”
Missy, who’d been playing pool with Jason the entire time. Both of them pretended they weren’t clearly listening to the conversation as soon as Eddie came into their vicinity.
“They aren’t?!” Missy exclaimed as she shot her ball over the table making it clamber on the floor.
Jason also took a step forward, fully invested in the confession, “You’re kidding.”
A loud laugh came from Hen as she bent over holding herself up on her knees. The four of them stared at her in confusion while giving each other equally confusing looks. When she was finished, she held a hand to her chest with tears brimming in her eyes, “Wait, all of you think those two are together?”
“Ooo who do we think are together?” Buck asked, peeking over Hen’s shoulder giving all of them a fright at how he’d appeared out of nowhere.
Each of the ex-probies groaned as they dispersed from Hen, Buck, and Ravi. Buck looked at each of them confused before looking back at Hen. She shook her head with another laugh before patting him on the shoulder and walking off.
“I don’t get it,” Ravi said while eyeing him weirdly before also walking off.
Buck stayed alone at the top of the loft in confusion watching each of them basically run away from him. He may have ruffled a couple of feathers during their beginning months, but it was all good fun. What he was hoping none of them were talking about Bobby catching him and Eddie making out in the storage closet the week before.