Work Text:
“Hey Buck, I’m-“ Eddie says as he wakes into his house, to see Buck laying on the floor in front of him, (he’s breathing, don’t panic) legs spread, feet by the door, and hands overlapped on his chest.
“What we doing Buck?” Eddie questions, dropping the bags of groceries and walking to stand next to his head, looking down at him.
“I’m just thinking.” Buck says, in a high pitched tone. “Join me.” He tells Eddie, patting the floor beside him.
“What you thinking about?” Eddie says while getting down and copping bucks position.
Buck sighs deeply, “Just stuff. Bobby, you, Chris, Maddie, work, the state of the world, the big things.”
He turns his face to look at Eddie, who was already looking at him.
“Quiet time?” Eddie whispers, Buck nods lightly.
They both turn to look at the ceiling again.
“Everyone’s coming round soon, we should probably get up?” Eddie asks after a couple minutes of quiet.
He doesn’t like the quiet, he has too many thoughts.
The 118 and co is coming round for a movie night to celebrate Buck moving in with Eddie… again.
Buck hums, “you know I love you.”
Eddie looks at him again, “yes buck, and I love you.”
“Good.” Buck smiles pleasantly.
“Have you not taken your meds today or something?”
“Shit, I knew I forgot to do something this morning.” Buck exhales. He always forgets to take his daily meds, when he does, well, Eddie will walk into some situations like they are in now.
“I’ll get them for you.” Eddie says, he starts to sit up but Buck puts his hand on his chest pushing him back down.
“Later. It’s peaceful now.”
They stay quiet for another few minutes, until the door opens. Eddie lifts his head up to see Chris walking in, very confused to see his dad and Buck laying right in front of him.
“Hello?” He says.
“Quiet time.” Buck says, patting the floor next to him, inviting Chris to lay down too. “We’re thinking.”
Eddie is not thinking, something he point blank refuses to do if it’s in his own mind.
“Oh thank god.” Chris exhales, dropping his bag next to Eddie’s groceries and making his way onto the floor next to Buck. “School sucks.”
“Did something happen?” Eddie asks, quietly.
“No, just tired.” Chris replies.
And then the house is silent again. Aside from the clock ticking which is what Eddie is focusing on.
A few more minutes and there’s another knock. Eddie thinks that would be there cue to get off the floor, before Buck shouts. “Come in.”
Maddie and Chimney open the door. “What’s…you know what, not gonna ask.” Chimney says, picking up the groceries Eddie left and taking them to the kitchen to evacuate the situation.
“Hey guys, what ya doing?” Maddie chuckles.
“Thinking.” Buck and Chris say simultaneously.
“Is he high?” Maddie whispers over Eddie.
“The opposite, he forgot his ADHD meds, they are in the bathroom cabinet could you grab them.” He asks her, she nods heading for the bathroom.
“What are we thinking about?” Maddie shuts through the hall, grabbing Buck some water to take the tablet.
“Maddie this is quiet thinking time.” Buck shouts back.
“Sorry.” She whispers when she comes back into the room. “What are we thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about a lot of stuff, Chris is thinking he wants to ask what’s for dinner cause he hasn’t yet and Eddie isn’t thinking, he’s listening the the clock cause his finger keeps tapping every time it ticks.” Buck says to her, looking up at her.
Eddie stops tapping his finger, he didn’t even realise he was to be honest.
“I see. Here.” Maddie says, holding the water and tablet over him.
“I’ll take it if you join us, I promise it’s good.” Buck tells her.
Maddie rolls her eye, Eddie holds back a snort and she sits down at bucks head.
Buck sits up slightly, putting the pill in his mouth followed by water swallowing it quickly. “Now lay down.” He tells Maddie.
She spins round, placing her head above Buck’s.
“Oh god, Maddie.” Chimney whines coming back in living room with a sigh.
“Come on Chim.” Buck says, quietly. “Nobody gets the idea of quiet time.”
Eddie feels Chim roll his eyes, but he gives him, laying next to Maddie, above Eddie.
Another few minutes, another knock. “Come in, but be quiet.” Buck shouts.
“Why are we being- nevermind.” Athena starts, immediately stopping.
“Oh floor time yay!” May smiles, running over to lay next to Maddie.
Athena is still stood in the doorway, Harry next to her.
“You know what, I spent 40 minutes on a treadmill today, I’m lying on the floor.” Harry says.
Athena tuts at him.
“Hey guys, sorry we’re late. The sitter- why are they in the floor?” Hen says, walking up to the front porch, meeting Athena.
“Thinking.” Buck says, Eddie can tell he’s starting to get frustrated his thinking keeps getting interrupted. He’ll probably have a thought and it will get interrupted and he’ll completely forget it 2 minutes later. Another problem with him not talking his meds.
“Athena, hen, Karen. Please join us on the floor, leave the door open for Ravi, no more interruptions. Buck is thinking.” Eddie says firmly, he feels bucks pinky tap his thigh. A small thank you.
Athena, Hen and Karen find a spot on the floor. And it’s quiet again.
Eddie knows there will be at least 5 minutes of silence cause Ravi is always late.
And right on queue, “why is the-“ Ravi starts.
Eddie leans up. Puts his finger on his lips, motions for Ravi to close the door and for him to find somewhere to lay. He does it quickly and then it’s quiet.
Probably not as quiet with 11 people breathing around then it was when it was just Buck. But this seems to be working for Buck.
Everyone accepts what they were told to do. They all peacefully lay there, staring at the ceiling, for another 20 minutes.
Buck sighs. “Thank you guys.”
Everyone mumbles a reply, still settled in the quiet.
“Can we get up now?” Eddie asks him.
Buck hums, “slight issue.”
Eddie looks at him, Buck turning to him as well. “I can’t stand up, my leg is killing me.” Buck chuckles dryly.
Everyone else laughs as they get off the ground going to grab drinks and snacks from the kitchen. Eddie stays next to Buck though.
“I was taking a pain pill, dropped it on the floor and then got stuck, then I started thinking, and it was nice and quiet and I know it’s gonna hurt if I try standing.” Buck sighs at Eddie.
“This is why you take all your pills in the morning.” Eddie sighs, getting off the floor, pulling Buck up slowly, him not putting any weight on his left leg and all of it into Eddie.
He’d carry Buck across the country if he had to.
“Couch?” Eddie asks, Buck nodding.
He gently puts him down, Buck hissing when he accidentally leans on his bad leg.
“I’ve got you, you’re okay.” Eddie comforts.
“Thank you Eddie.” Buck smiles, lifting his leg onto the coffee table with Eddie’s help, needing the couch for seating.
“You’re welcome Buck,” he doesn’t need to thank him at all, he’s got Bucks back… or his leg. “You want popcorn?” Eddie asks.
“Yes please.” Buck smiles.
Eddie pecks his lips and heads to the kitchen, everyone else trailing back out with all their chosen snacks, finding a seat somewhere.
“What are we watching?” Ravi asks.
“Mamma Mia!” Buck grins at him. Everyone replies with a cheer, it’s one of their favourite movies to watch together, or soundtracks to listen to to get a crowd of them going to some big gathering.
Eddie comes back in, handing out the popcorn, which they will share, obviously. He looks at Ravi who is sitting next to Buck. If looks could kill.
“Exactly where do you want me to go?” Ravi asks, rolling his eyes.
“Shuffle.” Eddie says, flicking his hands at him.
Ravi shuffles as much as he can, May and Athena still next to him. Eventually there is a tiny gap, Eddie squeezes into it, just so he can be next to Buck.
“Seriously?” Ravi sighs.
“He might need a big strong firefighter to help him up.” Eddie happily replies.
“We are all firefighters, you idiot.” Ravi tells him.
“No we’re not,” Maddie, Karen, May and Athena all reply, everyone chuckling.
“I need my big strong firefighter.” Buck says, kissing Eddie.
“Okay stop. I want to watch mamma Mia before bleaching my eyes.” Maddie gags.
Buck plays the movie, everyone paying attention to the tv. Eddie tucks his head onto Buck's shoulder, Buck lays his head on top of Eddie’s.
Eddie gently massages Buck's thigh and knee during the film, eventually moving to the floor to massage his calf, Buck doesn’t hiss in pain, because Eddie knows exactly what to do. He would never hurt him.