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Buck and Eddie have been together for six months now, engaged for one—Eddie proposed—and everything has been bliss.
They couldn't have asked for a better life.
Buck, Eddie, and Christopher together in the Buckley-Diaz household the way they were always meant to be. (And yes, they're going to hyphenate their names and Chris wants to too.)
There have been a few small injuries, bumps, and bruises during their relationship, a broken bone or two, some NDE scares. But nothing like this.
———
Buck's at home with Chris, they're watching a movie on the TV when he gets the call from Hen.
A roof collapsed, a beam hitting Eddie in the head, squishing him, landing on his lungs and ribs—they're both pretty bruised, not quite broken so that's something. Except...Eddie's in a coma.
Eddie's in a coma.
When Buck walks back into the living room—he took the call in his and Eddie's bedroom—he collapses on the couch, instantly breaking down in tears.
"What's wrong, Buck?" Chris asks, scooting closer to Buck, wrapping his arms around the older man.
"T-there w-was an accident at work. A beam fell on your Dad and now he's in a coma," Buck sobs. "His ribs and lungs are bruised. H-h-he's cut up a bit, the only big concern is the c-c-coma."
Chris immediately tears up, shoving his head into Buck's neck, creating a damp spot in Buck's shirt.
Buck wraps his arms around Chris, one hand cradling the teenager's head. "I'm here, Chris. I'm here. I'm here."
Many minutes later, they pull back from each other, the tears subsiding slightly.
Buck wipes the tears off his face with a sniff. "We can go see him or do you want to wait until the morning?"
"Now, please." Chris pleas.
"Okay. Okay. Let's back you a bag. Hen said she and Karen will watch you for a few nights."
"What about you?" Chris sniffles.
"I'm going to stay in the hospital and keep an eye on your Dad. And Hen said they'll bring you by every day to see us." It's summer so none of the kids are in school at the moment.
Chris smiles faintly. "Good."
"Come on, I'll help you pack. Then I'll get a bag packed for the hospital." Buck ends with a sniff.
"Okay, Buck," Chris says in a tiny voice.
———
Half an hour later, they're on the road to the hospital where Eddie is.
When the pair walks into the hospital, Buck, carrying his and Chris's bags, is greeted by Bobby, who pulls Buck into a hug—it's awkward because of the bags.
Denny and Mara walk over to Chris and embrace him tightly.
Maddie finds Buck next, holding him tight as he lets some tears fall.
"Is he going to be okay?" Buck asks through the tears.
"Yeah, Buckaroo," Athena assures. "He's going to be okay. He just needs time to heal."
Buck smiles and walks into Athena's open arms. Then she leads him to the waiting room, where the rest of the team is. Everyone takes their turn to embrace Buck.
And now they're all sitting in the chairs, impatiently waiting for any news on Eddie's condition.
Chris moves away from Aunt Maddie and walks over to Buck, sitting in the open seat next to him, and rests his head on Buck's shoulder.
Buck smiles softly, a tear falling down his cheek as he wraps a hand around Chris, massaging the teen's scalp.
"I love you, Buck," Chris whispers.
"I love you too, Chris. So much. And your dad does too. He's strong. He's going to come back to us. I know he will."
Chris sniffs. "Yeah. I know. And he loves you, too, Buck."
Buck smiles faintly. "I know."
"When can we go see him?"
"I'm not sure yet, buddy. But we're not going anywhere until we do, okay?"
Chris nods, understanding. "Okay."
Buck kisses Chris's curls, holding the boy tighter.
———
Fifteen minutes later, a doctor comes from behind the doors, calling out, "Family of Eddie Diaz?"
Buck jumps up from the chair, looking down at Chris. "That's us, buddy."
Chris grabs Buck's open hands and walks with him to the doctor, ignoring his crutches so he can get to where he needs to go faster, with Buck helping hold him up.
"Doctor, I'm his fiancé and this is our son. When can we go back to see him?" Buck rushes out, pointing to himself and Chris at the introductions, Chris leaning on him.
"Well, he's still in a coma state, but you can see him."
"What's his condition, doc? Other than the coma." Buck asks.
"Well, his ribs and lungs are bruised from the impact of the beam, and his head has also received some trauma from the beam, hence the coma. But he will make a full recovery. We'll be able to tell better when that will be once he wakes."
That makes Buck feel a whole hell of a lot better. "You hear that, Chris?" Buck says with hope and a soft smile. "Your Dad's gonna be okay."
Chris smiles, wiping tears off his cheeks. "Can we go see him now?" Chris asks the doctor.
"Of course, you two go right ahead, he's in room 131. There should be chairs for both of you."
"Thank you, doctor."
"Of course. Let us know if you need anything."
"Will do, thank you." Buck looks back at Maddie. "Can you bring my bag and Chris's crutches, Mads?"
"On it," she springs into action.
Hen grabs Chris's bag from the floor and quickly brings it to her car so it's not forgotten.
Buck and Chris finally get to Eddie's room, and when they walk into it, both of them freeze in place, taking in Eddie's appearance.
Eddie is pale; he's got tubes in his mouth and arm, helping him breathe until he wakes up and can breathe on his own. His face is scratched up with a big bruise on his forehead, most definitely from the impact of the beam.
Chris walks over to the bed while Buck is still frozen in place, sitting on the chair by the bed, placing his hand on Eddie's arm.
"Hey, Dad. It's Chris."
Buck smiles, walking over to the bed, hugging Chris from behind, kissing the teen's temple, eyes locked on his fiancé, lying on the hospital bed.
"He's gonna be okay, kiddo. He just needs time to heal, then he'll come back to us."
Chris nods, squeezing Eddie's arm.
Buck lets Chris go and brings a chair on the opposite side of the bed, sliding his hand into Eddie's—his left hand, the one with the gold ring Eddie proposed to him with, with the engraving: I got your back, always.
God, Buck loves Eddie so much.
"Hey, Eds." He rubs his thumb on Eddie's purple knuckles. Buck guesses those got a little beat up, too, from the impact. "It's Buck. I'm here."
Buck and Chris sit in Eddie's room for an hour, talking to him a little bit. Then the team comes in for a few minutes each to talk to Buck, Chris, and Eddie before heading home, promising to come visit when they can.
Chris leaves with Hen, Karen, Mara, and Denny.
But he says bye to Eddie and Buck first.
"I'll be back, Dad. I love you."
Eddie doesn't react.
Then Chris turns to Buck, who's thanking Hen and Karen for watching Chris.
"Buck."
Buck turns around, looking at the kid with a lopsided smile. He quickly pulls Chris in for a hug.
"I love you so much, Chris."
Chris doesn't hesitate to hug Buck back. "I love you, too, Buck. Please call me if Dad wakes up."
Buck pulls back from the hug, looking into Chris's eyes. "I promise. And you call me about anything you need, okay? Even if we don't talk, and you just need me on the line."
Chris nods, a tear falling from his eye.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Buck." Chris hugs Buck once more before walking out with the Wilsons.
Buck misses Chris the second he leaves.
Once Chris is out of eyesight, Buck heads back into Eddie's room, closing the door behind him, sitting in his spot by Eddie's bed again, holding Eddie's hand with his left once again.
"Hey, baby, it's me again. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere, okay? I love you so much, Eddie Diaz, and I need you to come back to me. Come back to Chris. Come back to all of us. Because we need you here. Chris needs you here. I need you here. You hear me?" Buck's practically sobbing once he finishes.
Eddie doesn't reach, or even flinch.
Buck breaks down harder, resting his head on Eddie's thigh, crying himself to sleep.
———
Buck doesn't leave Eddie's room for the next three days unless he has to.
Members of the 118 come by every day—well, not everyone each day, but some come by each day.
Chris comes by every day, though; either Hen or Karen brings him, or Buck goes to pick Chris up.
Pepa and Isabel come by the next morning after Eddie's first night there.
They greet Buck with tight hugs filled with tears.
It's sad, and Buck can't take it. He needs Eddie to come back to him and Chris.
Chris has gotten better as the days go on, but his eyes don't sparkle anymore, and he doesn't smile or laugh as much as he used to.
Buck doesn't get any better as the days go on. He gets worse.
After Buck's fifth day in the hospital, Bobby and Maddie both have to convince Buck to go home, both of them promising that everyone will come to see Eddie and that no one will leave him alone for too long.
Buck finally listens and goes home, picking Chris up on the way.
When they get home, Buck takes a shower, then he does the laundry. Chris plays video games in his room with Denny while Buck does that.
Once Buck has his and Chris's bags unpacked and the clothes washed and put away—Chris puts his away when Buck brings them to him—Buck starts on dinner.
When Buck sets the table, he puts three plates and three sets of silverware in the usual spots. Buck breaks down.
They don't need three plates and three silverware sets because Eddie won't be home for dinner.
Buck quickly puts them away so Chris doesn't see it and finishes getting dinner ready, calling Chris in once it's time.
After dinner, Buck gets ready for bed. He's exhausted and needs to sleep in a bed and not a grimy hospital chair.
Luckily, he doesn't have to worry about work. Bobby has him off work for two weeks. Because Bobby knows Buck won't be able to get any work done since Eddie won't be there.
Buck has to use his copious amounts of unused PTO, but he doesn't care.
He's just trying to get by, keeping himself and Chris healthy and alive for when Eddie wakes up and comes home.
Whenever that will be.
Buck goes to bed at 8 pm, telling Chris goodnight and to not stay up too late, and to let Buck know if he needs anything.
"I promise. Night, Buck," Chris whispers, hugging Buck.
Buck hugs Chris back. "Night, Superman. Love you."
"Love you too."
———
Buck tosses and turns in the bed, unable to fall asleep, even though he's exhausted.
He just can't fall asleep.
Because every time he closes his eyes, he sees Eddie, lying on that hospital bed, pale and lifeless, then he opens his eyes, tears falling from them, closing his eyes again once he's calmed down, and then the process repeats itself.
He sees his fiancé, lying on a fucking hospital bed, in a fucking coma, and he just can't help but cry. He doesn't even know when Eddie will wake up. Or if he will even wake up...
Everything was going so perfectly; he and Eddie had been living together since their second month of dating, then they got engaged after five months of dating, and now they've started to plan their wedding.
Nothing's official yet; they're still in the beginning stages.
But still.
Everything was going so fucking well. Then a damn beam had to go and fuck it up.
Buck hears the bedroom door creak open at 10 pm.
Buck rolls over to see Chris at the door. He looks deflated and exhausted.
"Chris?"
"Oh, you're awake."
"You okay?" Buck asks, sitting up.
Chris looks down at his feet. "I can't sleep."
"Me neither. Wanna join me?"
Chris looks up at Buck, a hopeful smile on his face. It's small, but it's there. "Can I?"
"Of course, kiddo." Buck waves Chris over. "C'mere."
Chris hobbles over to the bed, Buck throwing the covers back for him. Chris climbs onto the bed, lies his head down on a pillow that smells like Eddie—it's Eddie's pillow—and then Chris cries softly.
Buck lies down on his pillow, looking over at Chris with a sad expression, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"Will Dad ever wake up?"
Buck reaches over and gently holds Chris's wrist. "Yeah, he will. His head has got to heal, and then he will wake up. Once he's ready. Just like how it was with me." After the lightning. "But your dad's coma is way better than mine was." Because I died. "He'll wake up, buddy. I know he will." It'll just take time.
Chris nods. "Can I..." Chris stops himself.
"What?"
Chris doesn't respond.
"Hey, I'm here. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?"
Chris nods. "Can I move closer?"
Buck smiles sweetly at the boy. "Of course you can. C'mere."
Buck pulls Chris closer, wrapping his arms around him, pulling Chris to his chest, then he rolls to his back, with Chris lying on top of him.
"How does this feel?"
Chris snuggles closer, wrapping his arms around Buck, too. "It's nice. Thanks, Buck."
Buck kisses Chris's head. "You're welcome. I'll always be here for you, kiddo. And I love you so, so, so much."
"I love you too, Buck." Chris then tilts his head back and looks at Buck. "You're my Dad too, Buck. You know that, right?"
Buck gulps. "I...I always hoped you saw me like that. I've always loved you like that. But I never wanted to say anything. It didn't want to ruin anything."
"Well, you can't. The only thing that would is that you break my dad's heart. And I know you will never do that." It's true. On both ends. For Buck and Eddie. "Buck, you're my Dad, too. I have two dads. I've always seen you as another Dad to me."
Buck smiles. "I love you so much, Chris. And thank you for telling me. I'll never doubt it again. I promise."
"Good." Chris gets comfortable again, snuggling closer to Buck. "Night, Dad. Love you."
Buck closes his eyes, a happy tear falling from his eye. "Night, kiddo. Love you, too."
The two fall asleep after that, feeling more rested than they have since Eddie's accident.
———
They sleep together in Buck and Eddie's bed every night, cuddled up close to each other, and Chris calls Buck Dad all the time now.
Buck nearly breaks down every time.
It's been a week and a half since Eddie's accident, and Eddie still hasn't woken up.
Chris and Buck come to see him every day, talking to him, telling him to wake up and come back to them.
But Eddie doesn't flinch.
It kills Buck and Chris each more every day.
But they keep going. For themselves and for Eddie.
———
Today is Buck's first shift back at work since Eddie got hurt.
But Bobby won't schedule him for more than 12 hours at a time, so he can take Chris to see Eddie every day. And he knows it's hard on Buck. Knowing Eddie still isn't awake yet.
Plus, work isn't the same without Eddie.
Today, when Buck took Chris to the hospital so they could see Eddie, Eddie squeezed Chris's hand.
"He squeezed my hand!" Chris shouts with an actual smile, a smile Buck hasn't seen from Chris in over two weeks.
And Buck smiles for the first time in two weeks.
A nurse hears Chris shout and comes into the room.
"Nurse," Buck calls. "Does this mean he's waking up?"
"No. Not quite." Chris and Buck's faces fall. "But it means that he's healing and getting better."
"Oh," Chris says, looking down at his hand that's still holding Eddie's.
"Hey, he's coming back to us. Just not yet," Buck soothes with a sweet, calming voice.
Chris nods, a tear falling from his eye.
Buck reaches over and wipes it away with his thumb. "Do you want to get us some snacks from the vending machines? You've been sitting for a while and need to stretch your legs."
"Y-yeah. Okay. What do you want?"
Buck pulls some cash from his wallet. "Surprise me."
Chris half-smiles, taking the cash from Buck, grabbing one of his crutches, and hobbling out of the room towards the vending machines.
Buck looks back down at Eddie once Chris is gone, squeezing Eddie's hand with both of his. "Please come back to us, baby. Please."
Eddie's pointer finger stretches out and touches the gold ring on Buck's ring finger.
It's only for a second.
But it means the world to Buck.
"Baby," Buck weeps, a smile creeping onto his face. "I'm here. I love you so, so much."
Buck then wipes off his face, letting go of Eddie for just a couple of seconds so Chris doesn't see the tears on his face, before holding Eddie's hand again.
It was perfect timing because Chris wandered in with some change and two candy bars in his hands right as Buck took Eddie's hand back in his.
"Hey, Superman."
"Hey. I got you a candy bar." Chris reaches over to hand it to Buck.
Buck takes it, quickly opening it and taking a bite out of it. "Thanks. It's my favorite."
"I know."
"He touched my ring while you were gone." Chris lights up, mid-bite of his candy bar. "It was just for a second. But he heard me. Heard me telling him to come back to us."
"Good. Maybe he'll finally listen."
Buck snorts. "Maybe."
God, Buck really fucking hopes so.
He misses his fiancé something fierce.
———
Three days later, when Chris and Buck come to visit Eddie, the nurses call Buck over to talk to him about Eddie's condition.
"Chris, I'll be there in a minute. You go see your Dad and tell him I'll be right there, okay?"
"I'll tell him."
"Thanks, kiddo."
Chris then hobbles off to Eddie's room, and when Chris is in the room, Buck turns around to face the nurse who called him over.
"What did you want to talk about?" He asks her.
"Well, we've read the file on your fiancé and you're labeled as his medical proxy."
Buck is taken aback by this. He never knew Eddie made him his medical proxy. They are each other's emergency contacts and Eddie is his medical proxy too. He changed it after Maddie married Chim since she has a husband and a kid—now two kids—to worry about. He asked Eddie before he did so, making sure it was okay, and the brunette had no problem with it. Buck can see why now. "I am?"
"Yes. Looks like Mr. Diaz updated his files about five years ago."
Five years ago...the shooting...holy fuck!
"Oh. Uh, why are you telling me this?"
"Well, we wanted to inform you that if he doesn't wake soon, it'll be your call to remove the ventilator and see if he'll breathe on his own. Then you can decide to pull the plug if he doesn't."
Buck swallows, processing all of the words she just threw at him. "Uh..yeah. Does Eddie have a certain number of days written down for when that needs to be decided?"
"21 days."
It's been 17 days already.
That's only 4 more days.
Fucking hell.
Eddie fucking Diaz.
Buck loves him so goddamn much.
"T-thank you, ma'am, for telling me. But I can tell you this right now, I refuse to pull the plug on Eddie. Because I know he's going to wake up."
"Okay then. But we will try and remove the ventilator in a couple of days to see if he'll breathe on his own, at least."
Buck nods, agreeing. "Just tell me when, and our son and I will be here."
"Thank you, Mr. Buckley. And we will." The nurse nods at Buck and then walks off.
Buck's turning around to walk to Eddie's room when Chris is quickly leaving said room, looking frantic.
"Dad! Dad! Dad!" Chris calls, quickly making his way to Buck without his crutches.
Buck spots that and runs over to the boy as fast as he can so Chris doesn't fall.
Chris has gotten better with time in walking without his crutches, but not at this pace he's going. He'll fall. But Buck gets to Chris before that can happen.
Buck wraps his arms around Chris, looking down at him, worried.
"What's wrong, Chris?"
"M-my Abuela and Abuelo are trying to take me back to Texas!" Chris says, panicked.
Fuck!
Helena and Ramon fucking Diaz are in Eddie's room.
"Whoa. Whoa. Hey, that's not going to happen. They're not taking you anywhere. Because I am your legal guardian and I won't let them take you away from your Dad and me, okay?"
"You promise?"
"Of course, Chris. I love you, and I will never let anyone take you away from me. Or your Dad. We're family, right?"
Chris nods.
"Family sticks together. Always. No matter what. Especially when your grandparents threaten to take you away. LA is your home. They'll just have to understand that and move on."
Chris squeezes Buck tighter. "I love you."
Buck tightens his grip on Chris, too. "Love you more. Now, want me to carry you? I don't want you to fall after running like that."
"Okay." Chris doesn't let Buck or Eddie pick him up anymore, but right now, he could use some relief from his legs.
Buck leans down, picking Chris up, resting him against his side.
It's harder than it used to be, but it's still pretty easy. Easier than it is with Eddie, and picking up Eddie is easy as hell.
"Do you want me to kick them out of the room?" Buck asks as he carries Chris to Eddie's room.
"If they won't listen that I'm never going with them again, then yes."
"Sounds like a plan."
Buck carries Chris to his chair that rests beside Eddie's bed, sitting him down on it.
"Good?"
Chris nods. "Thanks, Buck."
Buck bends down and kisses Chris's curls. "Anytime, Superman."
"What are you doing here?" Helena snarls.
Buck bolts upright, turning to face her. "Excuse me?"
"What are you doing here?" Ramon asks for Helena.
Buck steps closer to them. "Because I'm the one who brought Chris here. And because Eddie and Chris are my family." He doesn't say fiancé because he knows that Eddie never told his parents, nor planned on telling them.
Eddie wants to cut them out of his and Christoper's life.
Hence why he never told them, and why he and Chris never called to tell them about Eddie's accident.
Pepa or Abuela must have told them.
"I should really be asking you why you're here," Buck adds on, before Helena and Ramon could say anything.
"Because Eddie is our son," Helena responds.
"Well, Chris and I never called you."
"Josephina called," Ramon says.
Pepa called them?
"She told us that Eddie has been in a coma for two and a half weeks and wanted to let us know and not to race down here because he's being looked over by family," Helena finishes.
"Well, you definitely didn't listen to her because you're here."
"Our son is in a coma and we want to be here for Christopher," Ramon bites back.
"I'm fine," Chris grumbles. "I've got Buck."
Buck smiles at Chris.
"You need to be with family, Chris," Helena says.
"He is with family because he's with me," Buck growls. "And if you actually, truly cared for Chris, we would not be talking about this in front of him. You can be here for Chris and Eddie. But you will not be alone with Chris. And don't even try to take him back to Texas. I will call the cops and have them arrest you for kidnapping. You understand me?"
Helena and Ramon nod and leave the room.
Buck watches them leave, then he checks on Chris. "I'm sorry that we did that in front of you."
"It's okay. Thank you, Buck. For fighting for me."
"I'll always fight for you, kid. You're my kid remember? Mine and Eddie's. Always."
Chris nods. "I know. I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, son." Buck kisses Chris's forehead.
"Ummmmgh," A raspy voice grumbles from Eddie's bed.
Oh my God!
Eddie!
Buck and Chris jerk their heads over to Eddie's bed and he's got his eyes open.
"Nurse!" Buck shouts, standing up, running over to Eddie. "He's awake!!"
A nurse bolts into the room and has doctors come in to remove the tubes because Eddie's breathing just fine on his own now.
He fell asleep in the process, but he's breathing strongly on his own now, so he doesn't need them anymore.
When all the commotion occurs, Buck grabbed Chris and they stood in the corner of the room, in each other's arms, waiting for their cue to sit back next to Eddie.
Which takes about ten minutes because the nurses check on all of Eddie's vitals and injuries.
Everything's normal, vital-wise.
They could feel that Eddie's lungs and ribs are healed, and the bruise and cuts on Eddie's face/forehead have long healed. Eddie's still got some head trauma and needs to stay at the hospital for a couple more days. But he's going to be just fine.
When the nurses leave, Buck sits in one of the chairs next to the bed with Chris in his lap.
"Will he wake up again?"
"Oh, yeah. He'll be in and out of it for a while. Soon, he'll wake up all the way, and we'll be able to actually talk to him. But that'll most likely be tomorrow. Not today."
Chris hugs Buck tighter, snuggling closer, head on Buck's shoulder. "I love you, Dad," he whispers to Buck.
"I love you, too, son. So very much," Buck says into Chris's ear.
"How long do you want to stay today?" Buck asks after a few minutes of comfortable silence, cuddles, and watching Eddie in case he wakes up again.
"I don't know. I don't want to leave and Dad wake up without us here."
"Maybe we can bribe the nurses and have them bring us an extra bed, and then we can stay the night?"
Chris smiles against Buck's neck.
"Want me to try?"
"Please."
"Alright. Up you go." Buck picks Chris up, stands, puts Chris back in the chair, then leaves the room to talk to the nurses.
Buck returns a few minutes later with a smile on his face.
"Did it work?" Chris asks, hopeful.
Buck nods. "They're bringing us a spare bed. But only one. Think we can both squeeze into it?"
Chris grins. "Yeah. We can."
"Alright then." Buck moves things around so a spare bed can fit next to Eddie's, then he sits back in the chair with Chris in his lap again.
"Once they bring the bed, I'll go home and pack us each a bag, and then I'll stop by somewhere and get dinner. If you'll be okay with being by yourself for a little bit. Hour and a half at most."
Chris nods.
"I'll call you once I'm at the house, and you can tell me what you want. Or if you want to call the whole time...?"
"Once you're at the house, until you're back here," Chris decides.
"Okay. Sounds good." Buck kisses Chris's forehead. "I'll go once they bring the bed in."
———
Fifteen minutes later, nurses roll in a spare bed, Buck signs the overnight visitor papers, then he moves Chris to the bed to keep pressure off his feet and legs, and then he's off.
Buck returns almost two hours later with a bag for Chris, a bag for himself, and takeout.
Buck and Chris use the tray the room provides for patients to eat on, sitting on the spare bed together, the TV on, laughing at a comedy show playing on the screen.
At 9 pm, Eddie wakes again.
When Eddie wakes, Chris and Buck are cuddled in the bed, watching an action movie on the TV.
"Buck, Chris," Eddie croaks, his throat dry, looking at them from where he lies.
Buck cuts the TV off at the sound of Eddie's voice, both he and Chris looking at him.
"Eds?"
"Hey," Eddie responds, voice cracking from the lack of liquids to his lips during the coma.
"Dad!"
Buck helps Chris out of the bed and onto a chair by Eddie's bed, then he runs to get a cup of water from the snack area outside the room.
"Here, I got you some water," Buck says to Eddie once he gets back, holding it near Eddie's dry and chapped lips.
"Thanks."
Buck helps Eddie sit up a bit, Eddie taking a few sips from the cup.
"Better?" Buck asks, pulling the cup away from Eddie's now moist lips.
Eddie nods, lying back down on the pillow.
"Good." Buck smiles, setting the cup down in close reach, sitting down in the chair, on the opposite side of where Chris sits.
Buck takes Eddie's open hand, and Chris does the same on his side of the bed.
"How long was I out for?"
"17 days," Buck says.
Eddie's eyes go wide, looking at his boys. "I'm so sorry. I-I didn't..."
"It's okay, Dad," Chris cuts in. "You're okay now."
"Yeah, baby, that's all that matters," Buck adds, squeezing Eddie's hand. "You came back to us. That's all we care about."
"We missed you, Dad."
"So, so much, Eds."
"I'm glad I'm back. Especially because this bed is very uncomfortable."
"Well, I hate to break it to you, baby, but you've got to be here for a few more days."
"Ugh." Eddie groans.
Chris chuckles.
"It's just a couple of days, baby. They just want to make sure your head is okay. How does your ribs and lungs feel?"
"Nothing hurts...well, besides my head and my back from the bed."
"How bad does your head hurt? Maybe they can give you painkillers."
"It's not too bad. I'm pretty tired, though."
"Rest, Dad. Buck and I are staying here tonight."
"I love you both. So, so much," Eddie tells them, his eyes getting droopy.
"Love you too, Dad."
"Love you too, baby."
Eddie softly squeezes Buck's and Chris's hands, then he falls asleep.
Chris yawns.
"Ready to relax in bed for a bit, then sleep?"
Chris nods. "Mhm."
"I'm going to call Pepa and Abuela. Then I'll text the group chat so everyone will know Eddie's awake and okay. You get changed and ready for bed, kiddo."
"Okay. Can you help me get to the bathroom?"
"You hurting?"
"A little."
"We'll do some stretches once you're dressed for bed. Does that sound okay, buddy?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Dad. You're the best."
Buck beams. "Anytime."
Buck helps Chris walk to the bathroom, grabs Chris's clothes, then he waits outside the bathroom while he calls Jospehina and Isabel, telling them about Eddie...and about Helena and Ramon.
They haven't been back since this afternoon, thank goodness.
But Pepa and Abuela need to know that they're here.
Josephina apologizes for them coming up because she called. She just wanted to let them know about Eddie.
Buck said it was fine and that they haven't come back.
Isabel cuts in and tells Buck that she's going to tell them to go back to Texas and to leave them alone.
Buck thanks her, tells both of them that they all love them and hangs up.
They say I love you back and tell Buck they'll be there tomorrow morning to see Eddie.
Then Buck texts the group chat.
118 and Spouses
Buck: 9:31 pm: Eddie's awake! He talked with Chris and me for a few minutes. Chris and I are staying the night at the hospital with him. Eddie's still going to have to be here for a few more days. So you guys are welcome to see him! Just not too many at once. We don't want to overwhelm him.
Everyone hearts the message, and they all say that they're so happy he's awake, and they say that they'll work out something so not everyone is there at the same time.
118 and Spouses
Buck: 9:36 pm: Tia Pepa and Abuela will be here in the morning for a little bit. No more than an hour or two. I'll let you guys know when they leave.
Everyone hearts that message too, saying that they're already working on a visiting schedule.
Buck thanks all of them, now pocketing his phone, knocking on the door. "You okay, Chris?"
"Yeah! I'm almost done. I brushed my teeth and used the bathroom. I'm getting dressed now."
"Just shout when you're done."
Ten seconds later, "I'm done!"
Buck opens the door, walks with Chris to the spare bed, then he works with Chris on a few of his stretches, helping Chris's joints not hurt so much, then Buck gets ready for bed.
He joins Chris in bed seven minutes later, Chris watching something on the TV.
Buck and Chris fall asleep within minutes after snuggling close in the bed, the TV staying on all night, since they fell asleep with it on.
———
Eddie wakes shortly after Pepa and Abuela arrive, falling sleep after ten minutes of conversation, not waking until three hours later when Athena, Bobby, May, and Harry came to visit, feeling a lot more aware and can carry conversation on without wanting to pass out during it.
He even wants some food, so Buck feeds him some Jello and helps Eddie drink some water.
When Karen, Hen, Denny, and Mara visit the next day, Eddie is awake before they even get there, staying awake until they leave after an hour, Buck feeding him some Jello, crackers, and some water before Eddie goes back to sleep.
Maddie, Chim, Jee-Yun, and baby Kevin-Daniel come to visit the next day/Eddie's last day at the hospital, because he's all clear. He just needs to rest for a week before resuming regular activity, and two weeks before he can return to work.
Helena and Ramon come back to the hospital two hours after the Buckley-Han's left, while Chris and Buck are packing up their stuff because they're about to head home.
The three of them.
The house will now feel like home again with the three of them in it.
"Eddie, you're awake!" Helena shouts, seeing Eddie conscious, sitting up, eating lunch. Not hospital food, food that Buck got for the three of them.
He got something light for Eddie since Eddie's been processing the Jello and crackers just fine.
He can now drink and eat on his own without his fiancé having to feed him.
"Mom? Dad?" Eddie mumbles through his bite of food. "What're you doing here?"
"We came to see you, of course!" Helena says, purposely avoiding Buck's eyes.
"Pepa called a few days ago and we rushed over to see you, but you weren't awake," Ramon says.
"Oh. Well, I'm glad you came." Eddie's not really. But he doesn't want to fight with them. Not with Chris in the room. "I'm actually about to be discharged and go home."
"Wonderful!" Helena cheers. "Do you want me and your father to watch over Chris while you rest up?"
Eddie shoves food in his mouth, so he doesn't yell at them with Chris in the room.
"Seriously?!" Buck cuts in. "We just went through this three days ago. Do not make me repeat it. Or do you need me to, so it'll set in this time?"
"I have Buck. Abuela and Abuelo," Chris says.
"Well, Buck," Helena spits out, "is going to have his hands full with your dad. We can watch over you."
"Can I speak to you two for a moment?" Buck asks. "Outside the room."
They actually step out of the room, but they don't say anything; they just look at Buck with anger.
"They don't need your help. I've got them. But don't act like you came all this way for Eddie. I know both of you came for Chris. So don't lie to your son's face about it. Chris will not be coming to Texas with you. Chris stays in LA with Eddie and me. And I'd like it if you two would say goodbye to Chris and Eddie, and leave. Don't come back. My boys deserve more than you two."
"Your boys?" Helena slurs.
Buck holds up his left hand, pointing to his ring finger with his right pointer. "You see this ring? Eddie gave it to me. Two months ago."
"An engagement ring?" Ramon asks.
"Yes. An engagement ring. Eddie proposed to me with this ring two months ago. Eddie and I are engaged. He's my fiancé, and I'm his. We've been together for seven months now. But we've been in love since the moment we met; we just didn't act on it until seven months ago. So, yes, they are my boys."
"That's impossible!" Ramon shouts. "Eddie does not—"
"He does. He loves me. He loves us. We're together, and we're getting married in a few months. And nothing you can say or do will change his mind. Try me if you don't believe me."
"This is ridiculous!" Helena wails. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to get them away from you."
She rushes back into Eddie's room with Ramon right behind her.
They're in there for two minutes before they're walking out of it, angry frowns on their faces.
Buck smirks, watching them avoid him and make their way for the elevator to leave, then he walks back into the room.
"Everything okay in here?"
"Yup. They're never going to bother us again," Eddie says with a smile. "Thank you for standing up for Chris. And us."
"Always." Buck walks over to Eddie and takes his hand. "You're my family. I'm always going to fight for you." Buck looks over at Chris on the spare bed. "Both of you."
Chris smiles at Buck, climbing off the bed and waddling over to the older man, hugging him.
Buck wraps his free hand around the boy.
"Ready to go home, boys?"
"Let's get the heck outta here," Eddie says with a lovesick smile, eyes locked on his fiancé.
"Yay!" Chris lets Buck go, gets his shoes on, and grabs his crutches.
Buck helps Eddie out of the bed and into the bathroom to get changed.
"I love you, cariño."
Buck smiles down at Eddie. "I love you too, baby."
Buck leans down and joins their lips for a sweet kiss. Their first kiss in a month.
"Hmmm," Buck hums into the kiss. "Missed this."
Eddie smiles, both of them pulling back from the kiss. "You'll never go that long without it ever again. As long as I have anything to say about it."
Buck chuckles. "Ready to bust outta this joint?"
"Hell, yes."
"Then let's go home."
"I love the sound of that."