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"Have any of you been back since they rebuilt this place?" Ravi asks, eyes aglow at the refurbished Santa Monica Pier all around them.
Buck's ahead of him, feet heavy against the wooden boardwalk, on his way to the street performer who passed out, Hen and Eddie just behind him, med bags in hand.
"Eh," Chimney shrugs, hanging back with Ravi, "I guess not. I love a kitschy tourist trap just as much as the next guy, but the pier isn't really for me."
"Really? Seems like it'd be just up your alley."
"Nah, the Jersey Shore's where it's at." Chimney waves his hand, dismissing the thought entirely. "Besides, the last time we were all here, it was a pretty rough day, so I can't imagine anyone'd be particularly eager to return."
Ravi nods slowly, his brain desperately trying to make the connection, when it hits him, snapping into his skin like a rubber band.
"The tsunami, right? Shit," Ravi mumbles in Chimney's direction before turning and facing the team. He'd heard stories about it, was part of the tapestry of motivation to enroll in the academy, but hadn't actually talked to anyone about it, his friends who were there.
"Yeah, that's about right." Chimney's laughing, but it's stilted, like he's asking the moment to go by faster. So he can sneak away.
They both perk up at Hen yelling with the gurney in her hand, "Hey, you two wanna give me a hand over here?"
Chim claps Ravi on the shoulder, and they saunter over slowly, Chimney grabbing the other side of his old partner's gurney like muscle memory, falling back into step in shoes he never took off. Ravi, on the other hand, ends up with his eyes on his own partner, as Buck is staring, wide-eyed and pale, at a vendor selling balloons.
He hasn't moved, seemingly hasn't breathed at all since coming into Ravi's line of sight, and Ravi walks forward, trying to see the ghost that Buck can see.
Can't imagine anyone would be particularly eager to return.
The balloon vendor has bundles and bundles of balloons in lots of colors, interesting balloons in shapes, and is twisting what looks to be a very intricate flower crown, but somehow that doesn't feel right.
Not to put that look on Buck's face.
There are big Mylar balloons, sun glinting strongly off their curves, all decorated with fanciful scenes, straight out of storybooks. There's one of a pirate captain, with his eye patch and parrot; another of an astronaut, planting a flag on an unknown planet.
Some good choices.
And Buck, in his turnouts, staring, haunted.
Cool outfits, too.
Ravi's almost to the balloon vendor when Eddie appears like an apparition on Buck's other side. His hand reaches up and slowly, tenderly turns Buck's face to his own.
"You okay?"
Buck's eyes are the last to turn away from the balloons.
"Uh, yeah—" he starts, swallowing. "You, uh. Chris is okay, right?"
Eddie straightens his shoulders and moves his hand down Buck's jaw to the side of his neck, fingers wrapping around the back—a firm hold.
"Chris has been at school all day. Charlie's dad picked them both up and we'll swing by and grab him on our way home tonight, which is in just about two hours from now." Eddie hasn't broken eye contact, and Ravi can see Buck nodding along softly.
"You think it'd be weird if I called him?"
"Not at all."
"My phone's in the truck."
"Use mine."
Eddie's got his hand in his pocket and his phone at his ear before Ravi can turn away.
"Hey, mijo. No, everything's okay, just—"
"Hey, buddy."
Ravi smiles, letting the sun bounce off his sunglasses, the sweat on his brow.
"Yeah, I'm okay, just… We're at the pier today. And it's… harder than I thought. And I just needed to hear your voice."
Eddie's got his arm wrapped around Buck now, walking them back towards the truck, when he spots Ravi. They exchange short nods and Ravi joins them, all ready to get off this pier.
"I love you too, kid. See you in a few hours, okay?"