Work Text:
Monday
“Where’s Eddie?” Buck asks as he’s surrounded by the rest of his family. The elevator dings, doors opening to Eddie.
Eddie.
On the floor. In the corner. Covered in blood.
They run into the elevator in an instant, Harry ensuring the doors stay open. Buck’s down beside him, checking his pulse.
“I”ve barely got a pulse, guys. What the hell happened?”
“Get a gurney in here!” Chim yells.
Hen slides Eddie down, preparing for compressions if they lose the pulse.
“I don’t know. He said he was going to get some coffee, he didn’t make it back before the lockdown, but I didn’t think he’d be attacked.” She replies to Buck.
“That kid must have been in the waiting room. He could’ve followed him. If he knew the case at all, he would know Eddie was close to it too.” Chim turns back to the hall. “Where’s that gurney?”
Buck’s fingers are still on Eddie’s neck, trying to keep his own heart steady. But he feels his drop.
“Lost the pulse.” Buck yells, making way for Hen to start compressions. She does two rounds, switching places when Eddie is wrestled onto the gurney.
Buck begins compressions on Eddie’s chest, just as Eddie had done to bring him back years ago.
“Pulse check.” Hen interrupts him, forcing his hands away. She feels Eddie’s neck, waiting. “He’s back. Good work Buck.”
Buck sighs, climbing off the gurney. “He’s not back yet.”
“Where are you going?” Chim demands as Buck starts to hurry away.
Buck freezes, spinning to face him. “Chris needs to know. Keep me posted.”
“Good call, Buckley. We will. Be safe.”
“You too.”
Buck finds a spot outside the emergency wing, considering his options. He could run back to the firehouse, he’s certainly gone further distances before. Get his truck and drive to Eddie’s, wait for him to get home from school and tell him. He could hijack his own ambulance or firetruck, it wouldn’t be the first time for that either, drive to Eddie’s house. He could call an uber and stew the whole way there. He could call his sister and get her to drive him. He could go back inside and ask one of his team. Or see if May would let him borrow her vehicle. But every single option makes his hands shake, his whole body fill with dread. He collapses until he’s sitting cross legged against the brick outer wall of the hospital, pulling out his phone.
He passes Eddie’s contact first, of course, in his emergency contact list. It’s Maddie, Eddie, Chim, Hen and Athena. Bobby had originally been before Eddie, but he finally let himself remove that one after his rehab, when he finally understood every aspect of Bobby, and knew his father would want him to keep him around in other ways. So he brought himself to remove the contact there, though it’s still in his phone, in everyone’s, he’s pretty sure.
He finds Chris. His thumb rests over the call button, trembling. He did this five years ago, almost to the date. They’re only two weeks past the date when Eddie was shot back then. When Buck tasted his blood, when Buck dragged him under the firetruck. When Buck went to Eddie’s house and broke down in front of Chris but stayed as strong as he could after the fact. When Eddie told him Chris would be his if he ever didn’t survive. It’s a day Buck has always thought a lot about. It’s always there in the back of his mind. Like when he ran to Chris and Eddie when Eddie had destroyed his bedroom.
When he himself was recovering from the lightning strike and Eddie still left Chris with him.
When Chris went to Texas and Eddie followed him forth. What would’ve happened if something had happened then? Would he have still gotten Chris? He’s glad he doesn’t have to think about that anymore, at least.
Even just a couple weeks ago, when Theo came back into his life, when his friends died, when he was left with the guilt of ignoring the child’s existence for four years. Could he handle a toddler and a teenager? Or even a young adult who expects so much from him? All he can worry about right now is that teenager. But he can’t hit call. He can’t do this to Chris again. Not like this. But he can’t pull himself off the ground, either. So he scrolls a little further, to the T’s, because she’s in his phone as Tia Pepa too. He stares at the little phone symbol for what feels like an eternity, but finally hits it, putting the phone to his ear.
“Eddie or Christopher?” She answers immediately.
“W-what?” He responds shakily.
“When we call each other, it’s about one or the other. What’s going on, Buck?”
Buck takes a deep breath. “It’s Eddie. There was an incident at the hospital, we think it’s linked to the human trafficking ring.”
“He told me about that. He couldn’t give me any details, of course, but I’m still very proud of him for trying to help.”
“Yeah, he’s poured a lot into it.” Buck lets himself smile briefly. “But this job is always dangerous.”
“Cut to the chase, Evancito.” She cuts him off.
“Sorry.” Buck pinches between his eyes. He’s understanding now more than ever how he fell into his past habit so quickly. He starts rambling off the events. “Athena was shot. That’s the only reason we were still here. Eddie and Hen said she was going to make an arrest involving the case soon. We stayed waiting for news. I took Harry up to the roof to get some air and when we came back down, the hospital was in lockdown. So we did everything we could to get past the protocols and save Athena from the shooter.”
“But he got to Eddie?”
“Not like that, no. Eddie was away from the group already when the shooting started. Hen said he went to get coffee, but if I know anything about Eddie, he went to the chapel to think, talk, whatever he needed. Chim figures the shooter was in the waiting room even then and followed him first, stabbed him to keep him away from the rest of us so he could get to Athena.”
“Dios. How is he? He must still be alive or you wouldn’t be nearly as stable.”
“He’s alive. He was without a pulse very briefly, but it was easy to get back. A lot easier than mine was.”
“I should hope it was less than three minutes and seventeen seconds.”
“You know the exact number?”
“Of course I do. Can we come see him?”
“I don’t know. We literally just got him out of the elevator before I came outside to call you. He must have been trying to get back to us when the system was shut down. I thought about going straight to Chris, but I just couldn’t do it.”
“I can handle that, it’s quite alright.” She sighs. “But when I tell him, I know it’s going to be impossible to keep him away. Carla and I shared a bottle of wine talking about what they did when you were in there a few years ago. He’ll be finished school shortly, I’ll pick him up and be right over.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
“No. Thank you. I never worry about him when you’re there, Evancito.”
“He’s the best partner I’ve ever had, Pepa.”
“You’ll get him back, I believe it. See you soon.”
“Yeah, I’ll be here.”
He hangs up the phone, dropping it in his lap. His knees are bent to his chest now, head against the wall. He sits there for a minute, collecting his thoughts. What had she meant about when he was in the hospital? And her comment about her trusting Eddie’s safety to Buck. He really isn’t sure what to do with all of it right now, all he can do is think about Eddie bleeding out alone in an elevator. He pulls himself back to his feet, travelling back up to the waiting area.
“You get Chris?” Chim asks as soon as he sees him.
“Couldn’t call him. Called Pepa. She’s going to get him and bring him over after school. Any word?”
“They think he’ll be fine once they stitch him up, but they took him in right away.”
“That’s good news. That’ll make them happy.”
“Mm.” Chim steps closer, setting a hand on Buck’s shoulder. “Maddie is on her way, she’s leaving Jee and Nash with your father. How are you doing?”
“I should’ve noticed he was missing sooner.”
“I’m the captain here, Buckley. I should’ve paid more attention.”
“He was trying to get back to you guys. To all of us. To warn us.”
“He’s always fought for his family. Eddie’s never going to let a stab wound stop him. That’s what family does. You do know how much he did for you a couple months ago, right?”
“Kinda hard to forget. And then I went and shut everyone out as much as I could.”
“That’s not your fault, kid. And I’m proud of you for how well you handled that. And everything this year has thrown at you. You’re stronger than you know. So is he.”
“I guess we all are, aren’t we.”
“Especially when we have each other.” Chim smiles. “You want some coffee?”
“Sure.”
“Buck!” He hears his name as soon as he’s back with coffee. “How’s dad?”
“You did not waste any time, huh?” Buck laughs, hugging Chris. He returns to seriousness, sitting down with him. “He’s getting stitched up now. Doctors say he’ll be just fine, but I imagine he’ll have to stay here for at least a few days. He lost a lot of blood. But we found him in time.”
“Pepa said he was in the elevator. That it was related to a case he was helping Athena with.”
“It was. But everyone involved is put away now.”
“That’s unfortunately not actually true, Buck.” Hen responds. “Elaine is waiting out the cop Athena was working with, they figure he’s going to be stupid enough to come finish the job. But he has no reason to go after your dad, so you have nothing to worry about.” She smiles at Chris.
“I heard him on the phone with grandpa about some immigration thing. Is that this?”
“It is.” Buck replies, squeezing Chris’ shoulder. “Your dad has been helping some trafficking victims try to get refuge here. I imagine your grandparents know a thing or two about it.”
“He does. Dad’s always been a helper. I’m always proud of him. Even when it’s scary.”
“Me too, bud.” He looks up to Pepa, who’s watching fondly. “And when it is, you can always come to me.”
“I know. I love you, Buck.”
Buck freezes. Chris has never actually said those words in the eight years he’s known him. Neither has Buck, even if he’s known it about him and his father for longer than he cares to count anymore.
“I love you too, kid.”
“Diaz family?” A nurse comes in a while later.
Chris perks up immediately with Buck, watching her expectantly.
“He’s out of surgery. The wound wasn’t extremely deep, but he did lose a lot of blood. He’s going to be fine, but we’re going to keep him under sedation overnight to let him rest.”
“Can we see him?” Chris asks.
“Of course. Follow me.”
“Is anybody else coming?” Chris asks, but pointedly looks at Buck.
“I’m right behind you, bud.” Buck smiles softly, rising to his feet. The rest wait for a good ten minutes to follow, giving them the room for a while. The whole family stays until visiting hours are over, but Buck and Chris and Pepa are the last to actually leave.
Buck sits at his kitchen table, staring at his foster licence papers. It’s hitting him how close he was to having a teenager in an instant. And that he almost lost Eddie. Again. Athena would’ve even been too much of a blow after losing Bobby. But Eddie. Buck doesn’t even want to fathom where he’d be without Bobby and Eddie. And he’s never told Eddie, not properly. He’s ignored it for so long, he’s his straight best friend after all. He keeps him close enough to not lose him, but far enough that neither of them can get truly hurt. That’s why he couldn’t come clean in the ambulance. Showing Eddie alone everything in that moment felt like too much. But like Bobby said years ago, he let this family mean more to him than anyone in the world. And he really doesn’t want to let them slip away again. But that might be hard with a barely graduated toddler running around.
He’s interrupted by a knock at his door.
“Hey, Buck.” Chris says quietly, accompanied by Pepa. “Can I stay here?”
“Sure, yeah.” Buck says easily, letting them pass. “My guest room is open. Or you can just have my room if you want it.”
“Do you have any snacks?”
Buck gives Pepa a look, who just nods, allowing him. “I think I have some chocolate somewhere. What do you think?”
“Sounds great.”
Two hours later Chris is settled in Buck’s guest room, Pepa is sitting at his kitchen table, hands around a glass of water.
“You can have my bed if you want. You shouldn’t have to drive home this late.”
“It’s your house. You can sleep in your own bed.” She waves him off.
“I slept on Eddie’s couch years ago after he was shot. I can do it on my own now. I insist. Even if neither of us ends up getting much sleep. Chris included. How is he? I know he puts up a good front, but I still worry.”
“He’s alright, considering. He asked me to come here. I’m sorry if we bothered you, but I couldn’t say no.”
Buck’s jaw nearly hits the floor. “You couldn’t possibly be bothering me. I’m always happy to have either of you, even if the two of us do seem to only talk about the two of them. You’re a part of my life, too.”
“I know that, mijo. I am one of the ones Eddie brought home when he came back to LA, after all.”
“That’s true.” Buck laughs. “Eddie really got me there. I thought for sure he’d just flown back to Texas.”
“He’d never leave without giving you a proper goodbye. And I’m sure Christopher would’ve stayed with you for a while over his grandparents if either you or Eddie would have let that happen. But he couldn’t do that to you. You both mean too much to him. Obviously Eddie is his father, he loves him more than anyone in the end, but he loves you more than you realize, Evancito. You’ve always been there. Every time he needed you.”
“Probably not every time.” Buck sighs, thinking of when the poor kid lost his mother and he responded by forcing himself out of the entire firehouse’s lives.
“The most important times. The times when his father was struggling. You’re his Buck. Nothing can change that.”
“That goes two ways.”
“I know. That’s why Eddie did what he did with his will.”
Buck looks up again. “You know about that?”
“I do. He told me I think not long after he told you. I did give him grief for waiting an entire year to tell you, don’t worry.”
“He picked a good moment, really. He knew what he was doing. He knows how to get me out of my head. And most of the time, that was achieved by bringing Chris into the conversation somehow.”
“I’ve heard him and your sister both employ that tactic. Their kids.”
“They do.” Buck laughs. “And I fall for it every single time.”
“That’s what parenting is like. You’ve just had a more complicated path there.”
“Yeah.” Buck nods. “I guess you could say that.”
She smiles, reaching for his hand. “I’m going to go lay down, will you be alright?”
“Yeah, of course. Thanks.”
“We’ve all got you, Buck.”
Tuesday
Buck sleeps fitfully through the night, finally fully waking up around 5, making himself a pot of coffee. He watches his phone for updates, gripping the mug. After half an hour passes, he opens the file folder from his counter again, staring at the papers. He’s so lost in the trance he doesn’t hear Chris come in, without his crutches to stay quiet.
“You ok?” He asks, sitting around the corner of the table from Buck.
“Not really, honestly. How’d you sleep?”
“I’ve slept worse. Pepa is still out, I just checked in on her.”
Buck nods slowly. “Want some tea? Juice? Coffee I guess.”
“I’m fine right now. How much sleep did you get?”
“Enough.” Buck sighs, fiddling with the mug. He stays silent for a minute, and Chris just waits for his next thought.
“Hey, Chris?”
“Mm.” Chris looks up, meeting his eyes.
“Is it true you snuck into my ICU room after the lightning strike?”
“Yeah.” Chris nods, a small smile on his face. “Carla kept the nurses distracted long enough so dad could get me in there. I told you you would be ok, the machines would make you better, and that you had to come back to us. And then you did. You always do.”
“I’m always going to fight for my family.”
“That sounds like dad.” Chris smiles. “You’re family to both of us too, you better know that by now.”
“I do.” Buck smiles, reaching for Chris’ shoulder. “You are to me, too.”
“We know. We love you.” Chris reaches for the hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. “Is this file related to dad?”
“No.” Buck sits back, letting Chris go. “It’s foster paperwork. I was considering taking in Theo, that boy who lost his parents a couple weeks back.”
“The friends of yours?”
“Yeah.” Buck nods, taking a deep breath. “But the timing is pretty terrible now. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you about it.”
“You talked to me about the team searching your house for meds, Buck. You’re never going to scare me away.”
“Fair enough.” Buck sips his coffee. “He was supposed to come here on Friday if I signed this.”
“So? Sign it.”
Buck squints at him. “I don’t think I can. Bring him into this.”
“Dad brought me into this life. I’ve turned out ok.”
“I know.” Buck chuckles softly. “But I meant right now, specifically. I want to be there for you and your dad. Bringing any toddler, especially that one into it. I can’t be stable enough for him right now. And he’s already lost so much.”
Chris leans forward, shifting on his chair. “There’s lots of people here that know just what that’s like. I know what that’s like. You aren’t alone, Buck. You’ll have your whole family to back you up. Me included. You were stable enough for me, I think you can surprise yourself again.”
“I guess you’re right.”
Chris eyes him, reaching for the pen to put in his hand. “Dad will be awake soon. And I know he’ll say the same thing.”
Buck smiles. “Probably, yeah.”
Chris smirks back at him and Buck takes the pen, signing it before pulling out his phone to leave a text for Diedre. Just as he’s putting his phone down, there’s a message from the hospital.
“Your dad’s awake.”
Chris lights up. “Can we see him?”
Buck nods. “Pepa’s going to want to come with. But yeah, get yourself ready. We’ll go as soon as we can.”
Eddie’s sitting up, eating a fruit cup when they open the door.
“Hey, Superman!” He beams, reaching an arm out to hug Chris, who immediately takes the chair beside him.
“Tia.” He smiles, giving her a hug. “Buck.” He looks up at him softly. “Come here.”
Buck laughs, bending forward to hug Eddie. “How are you feeling?”
“Not thrilled about the fact they want to keep me here for nearly a week, but otherwise I’m fine. Do you know if they got the guy?”
“All suspects are accounted for. And all victims are alive. Hen and Chim channeled the old days and saved the guy he hit in the waiting area when he initiated the lockdown.”
“Good, good.” Eddie nods, trying not to choke up. “I was trying to get to you guys, tried to find anybody to warn them when the elevator broke down.”
“We figured. You did what you could. The job got done, you don’t have to worry about it now.”
Eddie nods. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Buck smiles, squeezing his arm. “You just worry about getting out of here. We’ll have everything else under control.”
Eddie nods again, steadying his breath. He turns back to Chris, instantly brightening. “So which one of these two let you skip school?” He teases.
“Just one day!” Chris giggles.
Buck laughs. “You can blame me, they slept at mine, and I forgot the program. A lot on my mind.”
“It’s ok.” Eddie chuckles. “Told you a long time ago I trust your judgement.”
“That you did. I’ll make sure he goes tomorrow, ok Chris.” He raises his eyebrows at the teenager.
“Promise.” Chris grins.
Eddie smiles between them. “In the meantime, there’s a jello cup with your name on it.” Eddie shakes it in front of him, peeling it open. “Have at it, kid.”
“Are we missing a party?” Hen asks from the doorway, Chim and Maddie with her.
“We haven’t got too rowdy yet, promise.” Buck chuckles as they all swarm in to hug Eddie.
“Rav is with May and Harry visiting Athena. She’s out of the woods, but she’ll be in here a week or so, probably.” Chim explains.
“Perfect, we can race out of here.” Eddie deadpans, getting a laugh from his son.
“You gave us a scare there, Diaz. I’m sorry I didn’t check in with you sooner.” Chim says, taking a chair.
“Not your fault. Buck said you were preoccupied. All I could do was fight for myself and pray for everyone else.”
“Well, it worked.” Hen smiles softly. “We’ll be glad to have you back.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Eddie smiles. “I would have said tomorrow.”
“You absolutely will not work tomorrow, Edmundo.” Pepa pipes up, getting laughs from the group.
“Obviously not. But I know it’ll make me insane stuck in here when I practically feel fine now.”
“That’s the meds talking.” Buck says. “Maybe we can get you and Athena next door to each other or something.”
“I can walk down to visit her. Did a whole lot more last time I was hospitalized. And it was her that suggested I sneak out in the first place.”
“Thanks for that.” Buck grins.
“Always got your back.” Eddie smiles back at him. “When do you guys go back on shift?”
“Tomorrow.” Chim replies. “Then we’re off through the weekend. We promise you’ll see even more of us then.”
“Can’t wait.”
Thursday
“There you are!” Buck walks into Athena’s room, finding her and Eddie playing cards.
“Hi, Buck.” They say in unison.
“Where’s the rest of the gang?” Eddie adds.
“Chim has to relieve Maddie so she can go to work, Hen was going to take home pizza to her kids, and Ravi stayed back to handle shift change for Chim. Harry’s on his way, he was just going to May’s first. Hen was planning on dropping in, but I don’t think Chim will with the kids.”
“Harry did call me.” Athena smiles. “How are you doing? Not taking on more than you can handle, are you?”
“Not yet, no.” Buck smiles. “I’ll get back to you on that tomorrow.”
Eddie puts his cards down, facing Buck. “You’re going for it, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. It was actually a chat with Chris that convinced me. His advice is actually starting to sound a lot like yours.”
“It should.” Eddie huffs. “Good for you.”
“Ok, what am I missing here?” Athena asks.
“Buck is fostering Theo, the boy from the car wreck. His friend’s kid.”
“Wow.” Athena beams. “I think that will be good for you, Buckley. But at the same time, good luck. Harry told me how that boy had you running around in circles at the house.”
“He had his parents running around in circles even more. But like Chris said, he’ll be better off having someone who gets him than some random foster house.”
“That’s my boy.” Eddie smiles proudly. “What time are you going?”
“She’s going to bring him for lunch, stay for an hour or so and then let us be for a few days before the first check in.”
“Keep me posted, I’ll do what I can.”
“I will. Thanks.”
Eddie nods, checking his phone. “Crap. You think you could do me a favour and get Chris from the bus stop? Pepa is still in a meeting with a potential buyer for Abuela’s place.”
“Sure. Bring him back here?”
“If that’s what he wants. If you do come back, bring some pizza or something. I think we’re both tired of hospital rations.”
Buck smiles. “I’ll be right back. Take it easy on Athena, will you?”
“I take it easy on you all the time, you’re just terrible at poker.”
Friday
Buck already knows his hands are full by the time Deidre leaves his house. There’s a cup of juice spread across the table, now sticky. He had a chance to wipe it up but did not get as far as actually washing it up before Theo wanted to explore the toys Buck has in the backyard. And he couldn’t say no to that. Theo’s playing on the slide he got from Hen and Karen’s storage when he hears the doorbell through the screen.
Theo is up in an instant, running past Buck to see who is there.
“Wait!” Buck calls after him, jogging after him, reaching for the handle before Theo can fully grasp it.
“You can’t just go opening the door bud, but we’ll talk about that later.” He sighs, a hand gently holding Theo in place as he opens the door, surprised by who meets him.
“Chris?”
“Hey, Buck.” He grins. “This Theo?”
“It is.” Buck looks down at the boy, letting him go and Chris by. “Theo, this is Chris.”
“Hi!” Theo waves excitedly, looking back at Buck. “Will he live here too?”
“No. He’s just… actually I don’t know exactly why he’s here right now. Which is why we’re careful about opening doors to potential strangers.”
Theo nods, seemingly understanding. Chris sits at the table, helping himself to the plate of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies Buck had made that morning.
“I tried to convince dad to let me leave school early to come for lunch but he wouldn’t bite. So I came after school instead. He gets out in the morning, he said he’d see me then.”
“Yeah, I talked to him this morning. He’s thrilled.”
“We all are.”
“Can I play outside again?” Theo asks, not paying attention to the older ones talking.
“Sure, bud.” Buck smiles, and Theo runs off. Buck grabs some cups from the cabinet, setting them on the table. He can see Theo through the window, still happy with the slide. He grabs a pitcher of water from the fridge, going to grab the cups that take a little extra force to get off the table.
“The juice.” Buck groans. “I forgot about that.”
“Let me guess, he spilled it?”
“Everywhere. It’s probably a good thing your dad wouldn't let you skip school again.”
Chris laughs. “Clean up. I’ll watch Theo.”
“You don’t have to. I’m responsible for him.”
“Don’t make me tell you again. You don’t have to do it alone.”
Buck shakes his head. “You’re really sounding like your dad, kid.”
“That a bad thing?”
“No.” Buck smiles. “Thanks. Just yell if he gets out of control.”
Chris watches until Theo is done on the slide, running over to him.
“Water?” Chris asks, and Theo nods enthusiastically. Chris pours him a cup, passing it over. “Both hands.”
Theo does as he’s told, drinking the entire cup before running back out, playing with a ball. Chris walks out to join him, rolling the ball back and forth. Theo tackles one of Chris’s returns and ends up on the ground, giggling. He rolls it back to Chris from there, not getting up. Chris takes it as an invitation to sit in the grass himself, rolling the ball back and forth a few feet apart.
“How do you know Buck?” Theo asks, holding the ball until he’s finished the question, then tossing it back.
“He’s my dad’s best friend. One of mine too. You remember meeting firefighter Diaz?”
“Eddie!”
“Yeah, Eddie.” Chris laughs. “That’s my dad. They’ve been close ever since my dad joined the fire department.” He rolls the ball back.
“He’s nice.” Theo holds onto the ball, pondering. “I don’t have my parents anymore.” He says quietly. Chris feels his heart sink. He sits, waiting to see if the ball is going to come back at him or if this will elicit a different reaction. He’s not sure how much Theo knows, he hasn’t asked Buck.
“I heard about that. I’m sorry.”
Theo frowns up at him. “I miss them.”
“I know. I lost my mom too. When I was seven.”
“You miss her.” Theo says, not even a question.
“All the time. Dad and I had a hard time with it. But we had Buck. Just like you do now. He’ll make sure you’re ok.”
“I like him.”
“He likes you, too. I’m glad he decided to help you out.”
Theo smiles, crawling over to hug Chris. Chris is surprised at first, but wraps his arms around the boy, willing his eyes to not well up. They’re both safe with their Buck.
Buck finishes wiping the floor around the table, looking up to see the boys curled together in the grass. He pulls out his phone, snapping a photo. As he’s closing his camera, his phone is ringing.
“Eddie! How you feeling?”
“Fine. Is Chris still at your place? He’s not answering my messages.”
“Yeah.” Buck replies shortly, clearing his throat.
“You ok?” Eddie questions.
“Uh, yeah.” Buck takes a breath. “Never better. Chris is busy with Theo. I don’t know how, but he’s almost a different child than he was an hour ago. Thanks for sending him.”
“I didn’t. It was his idea, I just condoned it. He knows what Theo’s going through, and he’s been going back to his elementary school to read with the younger ones.”
“I didn’t know that.” Buck smiles.
“I know. He didn’t want to make a deal about it. But I am really proud of him. He’s great with kids.”
“Really great with this one. But I can still have him home before dark if you want. Or Pepa’s. Or wherever.”
“Nah. If he wants to stay with you, let him. I trust all three of you.”
“Thanks, Eddie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.”
Saturday
“Of course he’s already ready.” Buck laughs, not even bothering to knock on Eddie’s door. “Ready to go home?”
Eddie glares at him.
“I think that’s a yes, Buck.” Chris giggles.
Eddie smiles, hugging his son. “Absolutely.” He looks at Buck. “No Theo?”
“Maddie offered to take him and her babies to the park. I figured Theo didn’t need any more hospital time just yet.”
“Fair enough.” Eddie sighs. “How is he doing?”
“Made a mess of my kitchen, but otherwise he’s been fine. We’ll see if that changes.”
Eddie smiles, looking at Chris. “Yeah, maybe by the time he’s 13.”
“Dad!” Chris groans.
“Ok fine, 10.” Eddie chuckles. “I love you, bud. And I’ll need you.”
“We always need each other, dad.” Chris smiles.
“True. Come on, we can’t keep Buck all day.”
“I’ll still have all the time for you, Eddie.”
Eddies or yours? Is the text Maddie sends him an hour later, when he’s sitting drinking coffee with Eddie.
“Go, Buck.” Eddie says softly, seeing the reaction on Buck’s face.
“I didn’t think it’d be this hard. Leaving you two.”
“You’re not leaving us. And you’ll figure out the balance in time. I’ll be here to help every step of the way.”
“I know that. I just meant right now. But your son was very convincing when he said I should take in Theo.”
“Well, I can get him to come here and convince you to go back to that kid if you need me to.” Eddie smirks.
“No, no, I’m going.” Buck scoffs. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Sure, Buck. Thanks for breaking me out.”
“Any time, Eddie. Just don’t make me do it again any time soon, deal?”
“I’ll try.”
Buck smiles, standing up and heading for the door with a quick bye to Chris.
Mine. Be there soon. He sends to Maddie.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid run around a park that much, not even you.” She’s already let herself in, setting Jee and Theo up on the couch with cartoons by the time Buck comes into the kitchen. “But they had a great time. Nash is sleeping in your room. But I can pick him up and get out of your hair.”
“Let him nap for a while. I’m glad they clicked. Theo got along great with Chris too.”
“Just like you.”
“Don’t.” Buck groans. “I’m not his dad.”
“I didn’t say you were. But you’ve imprinted on him already. Chris showed up and he gravitated to him because he knew you trusted him. And me, and Jee. He knows he’s safe with you and your family. And if this doesn’t end up being his permanent home, at least he still has this when he needs it. And maybe you’ll stay in his life regardless, like you’ve done for Chris. He’s not your kid either, but you clearly affected him a lot.”
“True.” Buck chuckles. “Eddie left him to me, you know.”
“While he was in the hospital?”
Buck shakes his head. “In his will. After he swam out of that well.”
“He’d only known you for what, a year and a half?”
“I know.” Buck smiles. “He told me after he got shot, before I took him home.”
“After you spent all those nights at his house staying with his son.”
Buck nods. “Because I told him after he woke up it should’ve been me that took the shot, it would’ve been better for Chris that way. So that day, he decided to tell me to get it in my head that I’m not expendable either. But then I almost sacrificed it all again to make sure Eddie made it back from New Mexico if I couldn’t.”
“Buck.” Maddie says, voice low, reaching for his hand.
“I know. We’ve had that conversation, some time when I was in my withdrawal. I’ve just been thinking about it a lot because. It shouldn’t have been Connor and Kameron. But it shouldn’t have been me either. It shouldn’t have been anyone. It shouldn’t have been Shannon all those years ago.”
Maddie subtly shakes her head. “We see all these terrible things happen to these people every day. Whether we know them or not. But it’s how we respond, how we step up for them that matters. And you, Evan Buckley, have always been good at that. It makes me incredibly proud of you every single day. But seeing you take in this boy, step up for him when he doesn’t really have any family. I’ve never been prouder.”
“Thanks, Mads.” He smiles, leaning forward to hug her. “I love you.”
“I love you too baby brother.” She replies, letting him go. “I’ll get the kids and get going, give you two some alone time.”
Buck nods. “Sure. Tell Chim I’ll see him on Monday.”
“I will.”
“No Chris?” Theo asks as Buck is setting the table for dinner.
“No, bud. He’s at home with his dad.”
“Eddie’s home?”
“Yeah, he went home this morning. I took him and Chris there while you were out with Maddie, Jee and Nash. I heard you had lots of fun.”
“Yeah!” Theo cheers, clapping. “Can we go again?”
“Of course. Not every day, but we can arrange it. Maybe I’ll come with you next time, how’s that sound?”
Theo just nods enthusiastically. Buck can’t help his laugh. He serves him a plate of spaghetti, glad he picks up his fork to eat it.
“What do you want to do after dinner, Theo?”
The boy looks up at him pensively. “Can we color? For Eddie and Chris?”
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Buck beams, suddenly with an idea. “Why don’t we take it over to them in the morning?”
Theo nods again, and Buck ruffles his hair. “Ok, it’s a plan. But right now you have to eat up.”
Sunday
Buck strides up to the Diaz house door behind Theo, letting the kid ring the doorbell.
Eddie is the one to answer it. “Hey!” He says, looking confused. “Chris, did you tell Buck to come over?” He yells down the hall.
“No.” Chris replies, sticking his head out of his bedroom. “Hi, Buck, hi Theo!”
“Hey, Chris.” Buck smiles as Theo runs to hug him. Eddie gives Buck a soft look at the two boys interacting. Buck only nods, a subtle tell that this is precisely what happened the other day.
“I drew you a picture.” Theo says, handing Chris the paper. Chris takes it, the child’s recreation of the two of them with the ball. “I love it, Theo. I’m going to hang it in my room. What’s the other paper?”
“That’s for your dad.” Theo answers, turning to hand it to Eddie, who’s back to sitting on the couch. It’s Eddie in the firetruck, driving them back to the station the day they met.
“You’re quite the artist, Theo. This is definitely going on my fridge.” He smiles, pinning it up underneath a photo of Buck and Chris at the zoo years ago before sitting down on the chair. “Look good there?”
Theo grins, leaping up to hug Eddie. Eddie winces, but returns the hug.
“Eddie’s still recovering, we have to be careful, Theo.” Buck warns.
“Sorry.” Theo responds sheepishly.
“It’s ok, pal.” Eddie smiles. “Thank you.”
“Theo, want to help me pick a spot on my wall?” Chris asks.
“Yeah!” Theo replies, following Chris down the hall.
“You alright?” Buck asks as Eddie winces more as he straightens up again.
“I’ll be fine.” Eddie takes a drink from the water bottle on the table “So what are you doing here, Buck?”
“Theo asked me about Chris at dinner last night, and I said he’d gone home with you, at which point he asked if he could draw something for you, and I suggested we bring them over in the morning. I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you. At the time I wasn’t thinking about the fact I’m bringing a reckless toddler with me unannounced too. But I brought pancake batter. Just need to use your stove.”
“By all means.” Eddie laughs, gesturing to it. “And it’s fine. Chris talked my ear off about him yesterday. He told me Theo opened up to him. So he told him a bit about Shannon.”
“That… explains a lot.” Buck sighs, pulling out his phone. “I took this of them right before you called me the other day.”
“Wow.” Eddie eyes start to shine. “I always knew he’d be a good big brother. Think that’s partly why I jumped on the idea of getting back with Shannon when she thought she was pregnant again.”
“You wanted another one?” Buck looks back at him. “I thought you didn’t miss the toddler phase, or what you had of it.”
“I don’t. I didn’t then, either. But seeing those two. Makes me rethink it. Again.”
“I can give you Diedre’s number if you want to start fostering. Or you and Chris can watch him or visit whenever you’d like.” Buck quips.
“There’s other ways we could go about it.” Eddie says easily, stopping Buck in his tracks.
“Had a lot of time to think in that elevator. And before the elevator, really. I thought about what I wasn’t ready to lose. Right on the list after Chris was you, Buck.”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere, Eddie. Like you said, we’ll figure out a balance.”
“I know. But I wasn’t really planning on that being a negotiation. There’s no balance if we’re together anyway. The only places I want to go are with you. I think I finally let myself believe that somewhere between the diner incident and breaking out of that hospital to track you down.”
“You mean when the whole place thought we were a couple?”
“Yeah.” Eddie laughs. “Then.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Hadn’t found the right time for it.”
“And you decided when I brought a toddler into my home was the right time for it?”
Eddie shrugs. “Chris did tell you you didn’t have to do it alone. Can you think of a better time?”
Buck shakes his head. “I guess there really is no time like the present. I’ll be honest with you, too. Telling me you were leaving for Texas scared me. For the first time, I was faced with not having you in my life every day, and I realized just what I was letting go halfway across the country. Did a lot of things to distract myself from the fact.”
“Like try to replace me with Ravi? He called me the next morning telling me all about quarters.”
“Did he also happen to tell you he abandoned me at that bar with Tommy?”
“He did. I wasn’t going to ask for more details.”
“That’s for the best. Things happened. He called you his competition.”
Eddie raises his eyebrows. “That’s bold. Not really inaccurate, I guess. But bold.”
“Yeah.” Buck scoffs. “Pissed me off for a while. Went to Maddie about it, and she even asked me if I was in love with you. With a straight face and everything."
Eddie smirks. “How’d you respond to that?”
“By lying through my teeth.”
Eddie nods. “So let me ask you then, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“Everything’s been different since you came home. I felt like we were all still trying to find our footing after losing Bobby. I wanted it to feel more like you and I again before I even bridged the idea of us.”
“Lot of things have changed, we’ve changed, you would’ve been waiting a long time.”
“I know. But there’s also the fact that like I told everyone else that asked me about my feelings, you’re straight. Or so I thought.”
“Yeah, not so much.” Eddie smiles sheepishly. “I don’t really know what I am, but I don’t really think you’re too worried about it. Neither am I. All I do know is I love you. Loved you a year ago, love you now.”
“I love you.” Buck breathes, letting tension out of his shoulders he didn’t even know was there. “But what about Chris? I don’t want to hurt either relationship with him.”
“Learned my lesson there, Buck.” Eddie smiles. “He was elated at the idea of moving to your place sometime soon. And it’s closer to his school, it’s a win win.”
Buck laughs. “Always thinking.”
Eddie grins, reaching for his hand. “So, can I officially cancel my lease renewal appointment in six weeks?”
“Yeah.” Buck nods, smiling bright. “But I have to warn you, some things have changed since the last time you were there. There’s lots of toys littered in the backyard. Some in the house too.”
“I think we can handle that.”
“Good.”
“Great.” Eddie gets to his feet. “I’ll need some help packing up though, still got a healing stab wound here, so if you wouldn’t mi-”
Buck jumps to his feet and plants a kiss on Eddie’s lips, stopping him in his tracks. It’s heated, lustful, several years of repressed feelings behind it.
“Wow.” Eddie gasps when they break apart, eyes locking with Buck’s. “That a yes?”
“Shut up.” Buck laughs. “I’d be happy to. I can even call some reinforcements. I know a team of firefighters that would be very happy to help us.”
“Is that so?” Eddie smiles. “I know a dispatcher and a cop, and a cop’s daughter.”
“I think that’s enough.”
“One last family party at my place before we go to ours?” Eddie asks. “Next weekend?”
“Next weekend?” Buck questions, arms still draped around Eddie’s shoulders.
“Why not? I should be able to do some light lifting by then.”
“You sure about that?”
“Give me a box of pillows if you have to, we’ll figure it out.”
“Not wasting any time, huh Eddie?” Buck asks, kissing his cheek.
“Wasted enough already.”
“No we didn’t. Just took the time we needed.”
“Fair enough.” Eddie smiles, sitting back down. “Speaking of time, isn’t it almost lunch? Chris is going to be very hungry very soon.”
Buck chuckles. “Theo too, probably. I’m on it.”
“Thank you.” Eddie grins, hands clasped on the kitchen table. “It’d been a few years since you’ve cooked us breakfast here, I think.”
“I’ll cook you breakfast as often as you want me to, Diaz.”
“Sounds like a plan, Buckley.”
“Theo is looking for food.” Chris walks in with the boy. “Are we interrupting something?”
“Nope.” Eddie smiles. “We were done. So you know, we’re planning a moving party next weekend. Or pre moving party. We’ll figure that out.”
“We’re going to Buck’s?”
“We’re going home.”
“Home?” Theo asks.
“Yeah, buddy. Chris and I are coming to live with you and Buck.”
Theo beams, wrapping his arms around Chris’ legs.
“Is he going to be staying?” Chris whispers, nodding to the boy at his feet.
“I think he’ll be happy with us.” Eddie grins. “Either way we’re always going to be a family, right?”
“Yeah.” Chris nods, hugging his dad. “I’m proud of you dad, and you too, Buck.”
“Right back at you, kid.” Buck smiles, flipping a pancake.
Eddie nods, watching his boys work together at the stove. “I’ll always be proud of this family.”