Chapter Text
Buck had arrived in Pittsburgh a day earlier than expected. Mel wanted to be the one to pick him up from the airport, but when he had the option to make it in a day earlier, he wasn’t going to throw the opportunity away. He rented a car and headed for PTMC. Walking into the emergency department, this was not what he expected.
He knew that Mel worked in a large trauma center. He had heard plenty of stories about her working chairs. For a little bit, he thought she was exaggerating. But he knew her better than that. Mel wasn’t one to stretch the truth. If anything, she was more likely to downplay things. It was something they both did.
“Sir,” an exhausted nurse sighed as Buck approached the glass.
"Hey, I’m not here as a patient,” Buck looked at her nametag. Lupe.
“Then what are you here for?” She asked before Buck could finish.
“I’m here to surprise Dr. King,” Buck answered.
“Oh, really?” She stood up and took Buck in from head to toe. “And how do you know Dr. King?”
Buck scratched at the back of his neck, “Uh, well, it’s kind of a long story. I was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but I had the opportunity to come and extend my visit. I know it’s always a bit hectic here, but if I could just say hello, I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Alright, Dr. King’s surprise visitor,” Lupe nodded towards the door.
Buck skirted around a few disgruntled patients and waited patiently before security, and Lupe let him in. She walked with him as they moved towards the hub.
“So what’s your name?” She asked.
Buck immediately held his hand out, “Evan Buckley. Everyone calls me Buck.”
Lupe hummed under her breath, “I bet they do, Buck. Well, since you’re important enough for Dr. King actually to use her PTO for, let me show you around while I try to find her. This is a level one trauma center. We get a bit of everything here, but when the shit hits the fan, this is where you want to be.”
“Becca said something similar,” Buck nodded.
“Oh, you know Becca?” Lupe asked.
Buck tilted his head, confused about why he wouldn’t know Becca, “Of course I do.”
“Well,” Lupe smirked, “What do you do for work?”
“Oh, I’m a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department,” Buck answered.
“First responder,” Lupe nodded with approval. She stopped right in front of the central hub. Doctors were staring up at the digital patient boards. Some were perched on the edge of chairs as they typed furiously at their computers. No one had noticed Lupe until she cleared her throat. Once she did, all eyes were on him.
“And who do you have there, Lupe?” A thin woman, a grown-out bob, and sharp eyes asked.
“Well, Dr. Santos, this is Evan Buckley. He is here to surprise Dr. King,” Lupe grinned.
“Dr. Melissa King?”
Buck took in the name badge, Dr. Michael Robinavitch. “Yes, sir. I wasn’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow, but I got the chance to make it in a day early.”
“And how do you know Dr. King?” Dr. Santos narrowed her eyes at him.
“BUCK!” Mel’s voice yelled from across the floor. Buck barely had a moment before he had an arm full of Melissa King. He lifted her off the floor and spun her around. Once she was back on two feet, he held her tightly. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too,” Buck whispered into her hair. He closed his eyes and rocked her back and forth. “I wanted to surprise you.”
Mel stepped back to take him in. Her lip started to wobble. Buck couldn’t have that. He hugged her tightly.
“I hope those are happy tears,” he said.
She took a step back and wiped at her eyes, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I know,” Buck nodded. It wasn’t often that Mel let herself cry in front of others. It made him need to wipe at his eyes. “Cap, let me take an extra day off. He thought I was overdue for a visit.”
“You were,” Mel’s hands started towards his shirt. She had gotten the side of it up and exposed before fully thinking about where they were. “When Eddie told me you took a hit and needed your ribs x-rayed, I was so close to going out to LA. They don’t look too bad. Bruised, but no breaks. Right?”
A long whistle brought Mel back. She flushed red and yanked Buck’s shirt back down, “I am so sorry, Buck. I just needed to see for myself.”
Buck reached out and grasped her small hands in his, “It’s okay. No breaks. My lungs are excellent too. I was only on oxygen for the ambulance right ot the hospital. I was discharged within a couple of hours with meloxicam for pain.”
“I get so worried,” Mel admitted. “Being a firefighter, I just, it’s worse than when you were on active duty.”
“I’m fine,” Buck tugged her in to a hug. “Now, how about you introduce me to all the people you have stunned and staring?”
Mel turned around, “Oh, my goodness. Of course.”
“Um, this is Dr. Robby. He’s my attending.” Mel pointed everyone out as she introduced them. Buck quickly started shaking hands or nodding to those who preferred it. “Then Dr. Santos, Dr. Whitaker, Lupe, you met, Princess and Perlah, then Dana. She’s the true heart of the ED. Then over there are Mateo and Jesse. There are so many more; they’re just seeing patients.”
“It’s great to meet you all,” Buck smiled, “Mel has talked about you guys so much, it’s great to put faces to names.”
“But she hasn’t talked about you,” Dr. Santos said pointedly.
“No one asked,” Mel shrugged her shoulders.
“I knew you had work, but I don’t have a key to your place. I thought I’d grab it, stock up the place, and figure out dinner, while you finished your shift.”
“Handsome and he cooks,” Princess nudged Perlah.
“Oh, sure. It’s in my locker.” Mel turned to Dr. Robby. “Do you mind if I take a couple of minutes to grab that and walk him out?”
“Not at all,” Robby smiled. “Fifteen?”
“Thank you, Dr. Robby.” Mel slid her arm through Buck’s and guided him towards the lockers.
“How the fuck did Mel snag a guy like that?” Trinity asked Dennis.
“She never said he was her boyfriend,” Dennis answered. “Plus, she and Frank kind of have a thing.”
Trinity gagged, “Well, we’re going to find out tomorrow. I bet that is why she invited us over to her place.”
“This was such a great surprise,” Mel said as she dug through her locker. She held the keys out to Buck. “You really don’t have to go shopping or cook tonight.”
“I know,” Buck pocketed the keys, “But I want to you.”
“The spare room is ready for you,” Mel started to explain. “You’re welcome to anything in the apartment. Just remember, stay out of Becca’s room. You know how she is.”
“I remember,” Buck nodded. “Do you need me to grab anything for you? I may drive around a bit since I have a car. Maybe stop in at the local station, see if they’re using different equipment.”
“And they say I’m a geek,” Mel shook her head fondly. They made their way back towards chairs. “It’s supposed to be a break from work. For both of us.”
Buck hugged her, “I know. Alright, let me get out of your hair. Sorry about the gossip that my showing up here is going to cause.”
“Should I tell them you’re my cousin?” Mel chuckled. “Maybe I should let them bet on it for a bit.”
“You’ll be home after seven?”
“Yep,” Mel grinned, “I’m so glad you’re here, Buck.”
“Me too, Mel.”
Buck drove around the city for a bit, taking it all in. Los Angeles was a big city, but Pittsburgh was different. The buildings towered over the roadways. Aged buildings mixed in with new ones. Old churches with bell towers that spiraled up towards the sky. The bridges, the hustle of everyone on the sidewalks. Time was valuable, and no one here would waste it. Even when he lived on the otherside of Pennsylvania as a kid, visiting Pittsburgh seemed like a completely different world.
He took a couple of trips to bring in the groceries and his luggage. It was easy to figure out Melissa’s kitchen setup. She rarely cooked, from the looks of things. Buck was going to have to try to change that while he was here. He’d load up her freezer with meals she could reheat later on.
The spare bedroom was just as Mel had described it. He unpacked and started cooking. There was a bit of a chill in the air, and he knew she’d love the soup Bobby had just taught him. As he set the tomatoes to roast in the oven, Buck let himself take in Mel and Becca’s home fully. The walls were a homey yellow. Mel had hung up pictures. So many pictures. Buck smiled when he spotted the picture hanging of Mel, Becca, and himself from his last visit.
There were floating bookshelves, with knick-knacks on top of artfully stacked medical textbooks. He smiled at the small succulent she had tucked on a window frame next to the front door. It looked like it was barely hanging on to life. The same handmade quilt from their grandmother rested over the back of the couch. The same throw pillows were on opposite ends of the couch. Two faded blue birds. They were a little lumpy. They had definitely spent time in the washer and dryer.
The timer on the oven beeped, pulling Buck back into the kitchen. He blended the tomatoes and steadily set about making a vegetable soup. He’d add the pastina noodles Becca loved when she and Mel made it back home. Until then, he spent a little time updating everyone about his arrival. How well the surprise visit went with Mel.
“They think you’re her boyfriend,” Eddie shrieked with glee. “How long are you going to let that go on?
“I think it’ll be determined the first time they see us outside of the hospital,” Buck rolled his eyes. “Also, if Becca is around, it’ll be quick.”
“Why’s that?” Eddie cursed when he dropped something.
“She always calls me ‘cousin Buck’. No matter how many times Mel and I tell her she doesn’t have to. It’s stuck with her,” Buck explained.
“You’ll have to tell her I said hi. Becca is a sweetheart,” Eddie said. The sound of the station bell ringing ended their call. “Talk to you later, Buck.”
“Stay safe,” Buck said. He let his eyes close. He needed a nap. Cross-country travel, stepping into the madness of the Pitt, and the constant movement, a break would pep him up by the time Mel made it home.
~*~
Someone was poking Buck's cheek. He could tell there were more than Mel and Becca in the house.
In a scandalized whisper, he heard someone whisper, “Mel, you have a gorgeous man on your couch!”
“Sure,” Mel answered.
Another poke.
“Trinity, cut it out!” Someone else whispered, followed by a scuffle.
Buck took that as his cue; he opened his eyes to see that there were definitely more than Mel and Becca in the house.
“Hi,” Buck sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“I am so sorry, Buck. They wouldn’t drop it, and instead of tomorrow, I just said come over tonight,” Mel rushed out.
“No worries,” Buck stood up, and to whom he remembered, Trinity’s glee, caused several people to blush. “I haven’t met everyone here. Trinity and Dennis, I remember.”
“You heard that, Huckleberry? He remembers.” Trinity nudged Dennis none too gently. “He remembers.”
“I hate you. Why do we live together?” Dennis blushed.
"This is Samira and Victoria,” Mel introduced them.
“Nice to meet you both,” Buck shook their hands and then turned towards Mel, “I thought Becca was going to be here tonight?”
“Ah,” Mel clasped her hands in front of her, “apparently she wanted to stay for movie night with her new friends.”
“Fair,” Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I made a huge pot of soup. I just need to add pasta to it. It’ll be enough for everyone if you haven’t eaten yet.”
“I say we eat and grill fire-cowboy over dinner,” Trinity said. Everyone quickly agreed to a home-cooked meal.
“Fire-Cowboy?” Buck mouthed to himself.
“They saw some videos,” Mel ducked her head. “I get so excited talking about your rescues, I can’t help myself.”
“You should be excited about your rescues, too,” Buck bumped elbows with her softly.
“This is ridiculously adorable,” Samira’s eyes bounced back and forth between Buck and Mel. “I’ve never seen this side of Mel before.”
“I know,” Victoria grinned. “She’s so happy that Buck is here. You should have seen her bouncing between rooms, treating patients.”
“Even the flu patient that nearly puked on her shoes,” Samira smirked.
“Uh, well, I mean, if Mel were in Los Angeles visiting me, I’d be the same way.” Buck scratched at the back of his neck. “We just missed each other. It’s been a few months since our last visit.”
“Months,” Victoria and Samira both yelled.
“Uh,” Mel scratched at the back of her neck. “Okay, we have something to admit to you all.”
Everyone froze at the sight of Mel's discomfort.
“Shit, Mel, we didn’t mean to bother you,” Trinity held her hands up.
“Oh, no! You didn’t bother me. Or Buck. It’s just,” Mel looked over to Buck, “You may have gotten the wrong idea about us.”
“He’s your husband, isn’t he?” Samira asked.
“Oh, gross,” Mel shook her head.
“Gross?” Dennis asked.
“What Mel is trying to say,” Buck stepped in, “Is that we’re cousins.”
“Oh shit, Huckleberry,” Trinity smacked Dennis’s shoulder hard with a wide grin. “You were right.”
“Thank goodness,” Dennis let out a heavy breath.
“How did you know?” Mel asked.
“What he did with you at the hospital,” Dennis started, “I’ve done that with my nieces every time I’d see them after it had been a while. My brothers, they’d never hug their girlfriends that way. It was different.”
“Ah,” Buck nodded, “Yeah, there aren’t many people I’d swing around like that in public.”
Buck froze when he realized what he said. “I’m going to go do something.”
He ignored the cackles as he moved further into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the soup. He hated that he would be using the pasta before Becca could have anything. From the looks of things, it was highly unlikely there would be any leftovers.
“They aren’t that bad,” Dennis’s voice was soft. Buck glanced out the corner of his eye to see Dennis perched up on the kitchen counter to watch him.
“I may not look like it, but I’m just as awkward as Mel is. I think that’s why we kept in contact while she and my sister haven’t,” Buck poured the pasta in.
“It’s good she has you. I know she was shouldering a lot with Becca,” Dennis glanced over his shoulder.
“Yeah,” Buck nodded, “I worked with Becca’s social worker to make sure costs for care were covered. Mel’s still getting established in her work. She suffers from something that runs in our family.”
“Oh?” Dennis’s eyes furrowed.
Buck smiled over at him, “pride. We both find it difficult to ask for help. I make it so she never has to.”
“That’s really kind of you,” Dennis said.
“Family is important, even if it is the one you decide to make,” Buck tugged his phone out of his pocket and moved to stand next to Dennis. His side was pressed into Dennis’s thigh. “This is Christopher.”
“Is he your son?” Dennis asked. He watched as Buck flipped through photos.
“Oh no, he’s Eddie’s son. Then this is everyone at my station. Chim is my brother-in-law, Hen, Eddie, Ravi, Bobby,” Buck grinned. “They’re my family, too.”
“Your parents?” Dennis asked.
“It’s just my sister, Maddie,” Buck swiped to a silly picture with her in it. Her eyes were sparkling, and they had just gotten done singing karaoke.
“She’s pretty.”
“Yeah,” Buck agreed. “I don’t talk to my parents. They, well, that’s a story for another visit.”
“Understood,” Dennis smiled at him. “I don’t talk with my family. One of my brothers and their kids. But since I moved out here, became a doctor, and came out of the closet, it’s hard to go back when they just want to preach at me.”
“Fuck that,” Buck turned to face Dennis fully, “Make your family here. These women definitely treat you like a brother.”
“It’s the worst,” Dennis chuckled. “But I know if I ever need them, they’ll show up. Same way I’d do for them.”
“Good,” Buck nodded. “Mel needs more people by her side.”
“She's brilliant, you know?” Dennis said after a moment. “She probably gives our attending a run for his money. Once she’s done with her residency, wherever she ends up is going to be beyond lucky to have her.”
Buck smiled, “She is.”
“Buuuuck,” Trinity yelled from the living room, “When is dinner going to be done?”
“A few more minutes. I’ll get the bowls ready,” Buck shook his head but smirked. “I hope it lives up to the hype.”
“She’ll eat anything,” Dennis hopped down off the counter and moved to help. “I do nearly all the cooking for us. At least, what’s not boxed or frozen.”
“I can teach you a few things,” Buck offered with his back towards Dennis. He shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. “If you want. Even after I head back to LA. I used to teach my best friend, Eddie, over FaceTime when he lived in Texas for a bit.”
Dennis grabbed the cutlery, “I’d like that. Maybe we can swap recipes?”
Buck liked the sound of that. More than he probably should. He set the bowls down next to the stovetop, and then he passed his cellphone to Dennis, “Put your phone number in.”
He watched as Dennis set the spoons next to the bowls. He quickly put his phone number into Buck’s phone. He texted himself, “Now you have mine, too.”
“Grab a bowl first,” Buck urged Dennis. “And get plenty. There won’t be seconds. There never is when I make it back at the station.”
Buck waited until Dennis made his bowl and then a second. At Buck’s curious look, he smirked, “It’s for you. Go tell everyone it’s ready.”
“Thank you.”
It had been a long time since anyone had been considerate towards him like this. Buck was always the one serving everyone else. He was the last to eat. Even when he hung out with Maddie. He always made sure the people around him had gotten enough to eat, and then he would serve himself.
When Buck stepped into the living room, he saw four women scrambling to act like they hadn’t been listening in to what was happening in the kitchen. Buck did his best not to laugh at how obvious they had been.
“Dinner is ready,” Buck nodded towards the kitchen. “Are we eating at the table or in here?”
Dennis walked by him with the bowls of soup in hand, “In here.”
“We only eat at the table when Becca is here,” Melissa explained as she slipped by Buck into the kitchen. “She likes the routine.”
“And you don’t?” Buck asked cheekily. He took the spot next to Dennis on the couch.
“We like to eat and gossip,” Trinity said happily over her shoulder. “And we’ve got some things to talk about. Specifically, about your cousin here and her blooming relationship.”
“Oh? Will I get to give them a shovel talk while I’m here?”
Victoria’s eyes lit up, “Absolutely.”
“I would pay to see this,” Samira teased Mel.
“No,” Mel shook her head, “There are no shovel talks needed. It’s not like that.”
“Oh, but it is,” Trinity took a bite of the soup and let out a happy hum. “Who taught you how to cook fire, cowboy?”
“Mostly my fire captain, but also my best friend’s abuela. She taught me how to cook all the traditional recipes from her family. When I bake? That’s all me. That’s science. This is soul,” Buck answered.
“Please tell me you’re going to make Mel an extra-large batch of breakfast pastries,” Samira shimmied her shoulders.
“I can,” Buck chuckled. “I can even bring something to the Pitt when you’re all scheduled.”
“Okay, Mel, your cousin is allowed to stay. We like him.” Victoria lightly brushed her shoulders against Mel’s. “Also, we may or may not have already been planning an outing that he is invited to.”
Mel’s smile lit up the room. She looked over to Buck, “See, I told you. There was nothing to be worried about. I knew they would like you.”
Trinity leaned over to Samira and attempted to whisper, “Some more than others.”
Dennis choked on a spoonful of soup.
“Jeez, Huckleberry. Did they teach you how to eat out in the country?”
“They also taught me manners,” Dennis rolled his eyes.
The night didn’t last much longer after everyone finished dinner. Everyone except Mel was expected back at the Pitt in the morning. Mel was floating as they finished washing the dishes.
“That was a good night,” Buck said as he passed her a bowl.
“It was, wasn’t it?” Mel bumped against Buck playfully. “You and Dennis seemed to hit it off.”
“He’s easy to talk to. We’re going to swap recipes.”
Mel pinned him with a look full of disbelief, “You’re going to swap recipes? I mean, he can cook casseroles and bread really well.”
Buck barked out a laugh. That was the politest way of saying someone wasn’t that great of a cook. “I also told him I could teach him.”
Mel placed a hand on her chest, “Oh, thank goodness. I wouldn’t want you to end up in the ER due to food poisoning.”
“He can’t be that bad,” Buck chuckled. They finished up in the quiet. He liked that about Mel. She never forced him to fill the quiet with his chatter. She knew when to let him be.
“I should get to bed,” Mel said around a yawn.
“Yeah,” Buck nodded. “I’m about ready to drop.”
“Well, you know you’re welcome to whatever,” Mel darted in for a quick hug, “Thank you for coming to visit, Buck. I really missed you.”
“I missed you, too, Mel,” Buck whispered. “Sweet dreams.”
“Sweet dreams,” Mel echoed.