Work Text:
Athena frowned at the Jeep tucked away at the back of the parking lot. Someone had reported it as belonging to a rough sleeper, and she was hoping they were just mistaken, because she knew she'd seen it outside the 118 just a few days ago.
She did a slow circuit. The windows were all covered. The hood was cold to the touch. And she could definitely hear snoring from inside.
She rapped on the window. A thud came from the back seat, like maybe a six foot plus adult had suddenly jerked awake and forgotten that he was in a space that was really far too small for him. One window cracked open.
“I'm not drunk, I'm not high, I just broke down and I'll be on my way once I've been to an auto parts store and fixed her.” Buck sounded like he'd rattled that line off a thousand times before.
“Uh-huh, and you didn't call someone to give you a lift because…?”
Buck groaned as soon as he recognised her voice, and the door locks clunked as they disengaged. He slid himself out, and gave her a sheepish look.
“My roommates are having a party this weekend. I honestly slept better in my Jeep than I would have at the sharehouse.” Buck shrugged. “But I really did break down.”
Athena cast an eye over him. Rumpled clothes were to be expected, given that she'd just woken him up. The rough bandages tied around both hands weren't though, and she raised an eyebrow at them. Buck quickly hid them behind his back.
“Now, you either did that at work and you managed to hide it from two, no three experienced medics, plus a dozen firefighters, or you did it after work and thought you could hide it from everyone on your next shift.”
Athena was guessing it was the second option. There was no way Henrietta had missed injuries to both of this boy's hands. She was far too used to his tendency to hide when he was hurting.
“I, err, triedtotakethecapoffthewaterreservoirwhileirwasstillhot,” Buck blurted out. Athena gave him a flat look, until he repeated it at a more understandable speed. “I took the water reservoir cap off while it was still hot. It sticks, so I need to use both hands.”
Buck unravelled one bandage and then the other, carefully keeping his palms flat and using only his fingers and teeth to tug the bandages loose. One of them stuck to the hand it was on, and he winced in pain as he pulled it away.
There were blisters raised on both palms, on top of reddened skin that looked painfully sore. Buck shrugged as she glared at him.
Athena felt like shaking him. That was a rookie mistake, one he should have known better than to make.
“I guess that's why I don't do maintenance on my car on thirty six hours without sleep.”
No, that wasn't the best idea. Nor was sleeping in his Jeep. Anything could have happened to him.
“Get in. I'll drop you at mine, and get Henrietta to come take a look at your hands.” Athena glared at him. “And then you're going to get yourself some proper sleep in the guest bedroom. Sleeping in your car instead of calling me. Really.”
“I didn't want to be a bother,” Buck said quietly. “You've got a family, you don't need me getting in the way.”
“Boy, you better stop talking before that hole gets any bigger.” Athena shook her head. “I don’t make offers that I don’t fully mean, you hear me. You’re no bother, really. Who told you that you are?”
Buck squirmed. And then he gave a sullen shrug, his body language closing off. “No one. Well, no one here. Not really. I mean, it’s not been said, but… it’s how it always goes. Ever since I was a kid. Don’t be a bother, Evan. Don’t make a fuss, Evan. Don’t make trouble for your sister, Evan. Figure it out for yourself, Evan.”
The way Buck’s voice dripped with hatred for his own given name made Athena’s heart hurt. How anyone could instill such self-loathing in their own child was beyond her.
She really wished the Buckley parents were around, so she could give them a piece of her mind for hurting this wonderful specimen of a man.