Work Text:
Hard Won Peace
Buck woke with a start as he felt his dream self pass-away from no back up during a call. They had just lost Bobby and the team was grieving. And not totally paying attention to the one member, everyone kept saying everything was all about him and didn’t realize he was stuck behind in the burning building.
All to believable of the team who all refused to take time to get therapy for their issues, he thought to himself. As he realized he now had more clarity to himself.
It was the day he and Mackey were to find out if things were going to court on the whole lawsuit matter or if the LAFD would settle, and he figured they would settle to just not have things go public on everything dealing with what was going on with the hero of the day what with the bombing and the tsunami.
But with the things he saw in his dream that were all too likely to happen if things weren’t changed. He was going to force some stipulations and thoughts on the station as a whole and his placement on it. As well as why a captain had said on whether he could transfer out if that captain had transferred him to administration. Thereby giving up his power over that firefighter as a whole.
Especially when that selfsame captain had recently been sanctioned for lying to the brass and his feelings of entitlement in not staying in his lane and job were what started the crisis of the bombings to begin with. All because that lying captain, so recently sanctioned by the brass, acted like he was a trained arson investigator back then and did yet another unsanctioned job and the fallout now was something the brass was left to handle.
And it was THIS he reminded the brass of and the fact that he was also suing the captain, who was STILL lying his ass off by telling everyone at his station the lawsuit was against them and NOT HIM.
Then brought up the fact that a sit-down job was AGAINST his ACTUAL doctor’s recommendations as that brought forth more blood clots and did not protect him in the least as the captain otherwise stated. Therefore, the lawsuit against the captain would continue till THAT was settled for criminal negligence in trying to further get him KILLED. Possibly out of guilt of person that showed what he had done.
He wanted his job back but not back at the traitorous same 118 who seemed to back the murderer up. But with him gone all this time, and a person who hadn’t been allowed to finish his training under him due to “Captain” Han’s interference, and that trainee’s second and floater now taking Buck’s place not qualified on hard rescues, the station as a whole needed to be downgraded to a regular station since no one QUALIFIED to replace him would be there anymore.
And THAT should have taken place the MOMENT the current captain refused to return him to the station even if it was to “Light” Duty work. That fact that it hadn’t been, should be looked into to see who dropped THAT ball and then see which station replaced the 118 as the Light Brigade.
Getting shocked, looks from everyone there, and a quick scrabble to see if he was telling the truth and paling faces as they realized he was, and there was no station in that entire area that could take their place, so they were screwed. Especially since the 118 took over other areas in need of the hard rescues in need.
When asked what it would take to get him back to the 118, he told them to move Han to another station as they were in conflict of interest with Han actually dating Buck’s sister. And Han being the one who refused to do more than the basics on his qualifications and had been the one to insist Buck be the one to pay for his bad mood over his girlfriend not giving him bedroom privileges at the time when he was acting captain. Which led to Buck being the one in the captain’s seat and not Han, when the bombing happened. And furthermore, he wanted to know just how the arsewipe got the bomb on the truck and if it was during the time Han refused to let the engineers do their proper job of inspecting the trucks.
The rest of the station as a whole and not just “A” shift was to be put under mandatory therapy and not be allowed to fully work without passing the QUALIFIED therapist. NOT a priest, NOT a counselor. But a THERAPIST. With making sure that the trainee, Diaz, got one that dealt with anger issues and bereavement and C-PTSD. And was actually given PAID TIME OFF to get his wife’s estate and affairs in order. Something neither the current captain, nor Han had actually allowed him.
And with therapy going, the floater from the 136, Bosko, getting an actual physical she had to pass, and that included the mental/emotional as well as the physical as she kept insisting on putting everyone around her at risk by working injured. And was a recruiter for the underground fighters’ networks owned by the mafia. And gave the address he had gathered from his memory/dreams and looked it up on google to make sure he was right.
He wanted the LAFD to pay him his actual full back pay that he was owed plus pay his taxes on it. And pay his full lawyers fees. Getting a smug look from Mackey over that. He also wanted his FULL medical bills paid OFF by them including the bills he had received after the tsunami that the department had refused to pay. And repayment of what had had to pay out of pocket.
And since he was relegated to light duty, till he got cleared to go back to regular work, and since the station would be down bodies anyway, he asked to go back to the Academy to both get more training and to be a ropes trainer since his captain had illegally refused him that job.
He needed confined spaces training and qualifications that would be going on there soon, and he would have signed up for it if he hadn’t been banned from it illegally by his captain.
He also wanted a uniform camera and the station’s cameras actually watched and manned in case there were problems with the crew over everything that happened. And repercussions slammed hard on them when, not if, it happens. As it was about time the shift grew up.
The LAFD knew they got off lightly and signed off on the demands and acted immediately to remove Han to a fire station out and away from the territory of the 118 and fully banned him from having anything to do with Buck because of his actions against him as acting captain. And because he was dating his sister, put in conflict of interest, the outright banned Buck’s sister from the area of the 118 as well and had the Dispatch Station move her to cover another area entirely to not be in conflict of interest with her boyfriend and her brother ever while she worked with the first responders from then on.
Buck also got a whole new phone and number that he refused to give out to anyone at the station not approved by him. Especially as he wasn’t currently working there and they had not kept in contact with him. The only ones with his new number were Carla and Chris. The rest he felt could go to hell.
He also used what was left of his savings and the back pay he got to get a new place to move to as he had sold his loft right after the tsunami to pay for the hospital bills the department had refused to cover. And had been living in his Jeep at campgrounds every night since then. Having sold virtually everything else he owned to make ends meet.
But now he had a decent paycheck coming in so he could start again, and this time he wasn’t going to be the lapdog of the department or his team. His dream had taught him that “taking one more for the team” only got him dead. So, it was time to get things, so everyone quit acting like toddlers who threw hissies when things didn’t go their way. And everyone gets removed from the toxicity they had going to finally act like grown ups he thought they could become.
Either that, or Montana and that ranch there would be a nice place to go back to if he needed. He was still in contact with the family and they were always saying they would welcome him back.
So, he would see how things worked now. But Nash was suspended again for his lying about Buck’s health to everyone. Everyone was let know, everyone meant all firefighters in the LAFD including the station with each station and shift getting personal attention and visits from the Chiefs to tell everyone the truth.
This happening let out the angry steam before it could blow up in Buck’s face when he went back to the Academy for training and to be a trainer. All the while everyone was forced to get the therapy they had long needed. Including Nash and Diaz. Against their wishes.
And further shock when Bosko was quietly arrested for her actions as a recruiter for the mafia’s games and betting. And Diaz got further therapy for his anger when it came out, he had been on the list to be recruited for his anger issues.
Hen was bypassed to be the shift’s 2iC and the ladder truck’s engineer was put in that position instead. As Hen had yet to prove she was anything but a follow in the relationship she had had with Han. And until she could prove herself otherwise, she would not be given a leadership position.
Nash was removed from leadership as compromised and retired from service entirely. The 2iC from the 217 was brought in to take his place instead and told to get things cleaned up from that toxic mess it was.
So, it was a whole new shift Buck returned too after his new qualifications went through. And if some of the crew wanted to hold a grudge at him, they suddenly found themselves written up and had to defend themselves before a board of inquiry at the Chief’s office.
Buck would keep an eye on things for now, but he still had his exit strategy if he needed it. He would wait and see for now.
Fini
8/6/2025