Work Text:
Buck receives the email to his inbox while he's at the fire station. Things are relatively calm right now. Slow enough that Eddie's pulled out his crossword book, but not so slow that Eddie has attempted to try and use Buck's shoulder as a pillow to nap. Though, if they don't get another call in the next twenty minutes, Buck suspects he might.
The email is from Theo's preschool, which at the beginning of Theo's time with him would have spiked Buck's heart rate, but he's learned quickly that emails were usually a good sign and phone calls were almost always bad. So, Buck doesn't panic when he opens the notification to find a video attachment titled "Happy Father's Day!"
Buck can't help the little wave of guilt that he feels when he reads the word father. He holds a confusing place in Theo's life and the preschool's words are an unwelcome reminder of that. Regardless, he still wants to watch the video. Theo's preschool is great about taking pictures and giving updates about their students.
Before Buck can press play Eddie is crowding into his space, "New Theo mail?"
Eddie loves updates from Theo's preschool. Buck knows some of it is because Eddie regrets missing those years with Christopher. Buck can see it in the way Eddie keeps Theo's pictures on the fridge and traces his finger across the small hand-print art Theo brings home. It's more than just missing those years with Chris though, Eddie and Theo have a bond unlike anything Buck's ever seen before.
Eddie has never once seemed phased by Theo's rambunctiousness or extreme energy. It's different from the way Maddie handles Theo's energy—with an air of nostalgia and years of practice— Eddie is just genuinely happy to be around Theo. Like they're two souls who were always meant to find each other.
Sometimes it's hard to think about, the way that Eddie loves Theo so deeply without any sort of catch or agenda. He just saw him for who he is and thought, I love this kid with everything I have. The weight of it sits heavy on Buck's chest, threatening to rip a hole straight down to his heart. Buck can't quite put his finger on the way it makes him feel, but he's sure the gravity of it is enormous.
Buck moves too slowly for Eddie's liking, too lost in his thoughts, so Eddie grabs the phone from his hand, "Come on, I want to see Theo's video. My phone is charging on the other side of the room. Don't make me get up."
Buck frowns in confusion, "Since when are you on the preschool mailing list?"
"Since Martha noticed I wasn't on it and asked me for my email when I picked Theo up for his appointment," Eddie shrugs.
"That was weeks ago."
"Correct. Now show me the video. Actually no, let's put it on the television and make everyone watch it."
Eddie, of course, doesn't actually know how to put a video like that on the TV. Buck's sure Eddie's poor technology skills are why he keeps Buck around. So, while Buck sets up the television Eddie shuffles off to round up the station to watch with varying levels of excitement.
"Is this really more important than my attempt to beat Harry's high score on the pinball machine?" Ravi asks.
Eddie glares, "Yes. One of the most rewarding parts of being a new parent is forcing your coworkers to watch videos of them."
Hen nods, then, sporting a wicked smile, says, "You'll understand when you and May have babies."
Ravi groans and ducks his head, but it's Harry who begins to whine, "Please don't make me think about the idea of my coworker and my sister creating life. I don't want to share a family tree with this fool."
Ravi and Harry continue to bicker until Eddie shushes them and motions for Buck to hit play on the video.
The video opens on one of Theo's classmates, Nora, "That's Theo's friend. She ate a worm so Theo thinks she's cool," Buck explains. Eddie makes the same face he always makes when Nora's worm eating habit is brought up, and with Theo's love of worms it's brought up often.
Nora is a sweet girl, brown curly hair and round cheeks. In the video she's got a streak of mud on her leg and she's holding the microphone with a wide grin.
"Nora, what does your dad do for work?" Asks the voice behind the camera, Theo's teacher.
Nora thinks for a moment, "My dad goes to work, and he brings his lunch."
Chim gives a small chuckle, "Sounds like a good job."
The screen changes to a picture of Nora's dad in a lab coat with the text stating Nora's dad is a genetics researcher.
That gets a laugh out of Hen, "God, I don't know if Denny would have been able to explain Karen's job at that age."
The video continues on and they watch as the kids answer what their dad's do for work. Eddie or Buck will often interrupt with their commentary. Often about the child's relation to Theo, or in Eddie's case bitching about parents he doesn't like—which is at least half.
Finally it's Theo's turn. His hair is slightly askew and he's wearing his back up shirt. Buck makes a mental note that he'll probably have to spot clean whatever stain Theo got on the shift Buck sent him to school in. Despite the stain, his chest still fills with that familiar ache he feels every time he sees him.
God he just loves this kid so fucking much. Theo gives a toothy smile for the camera and Buck's chest constricts just a little bit more.
"Theo what do your grown ups do for work?"
Theo smiles, fidgeting slightly, "My Buck goes to a special house and cooks yummy food for our family and then he helps save people. He's brave like me."
Buck pauses the video, tears already forming in his eyes. Eddie squeezes him on the shoulder. Chim laughs, "The kid thinks with his stomach before anything else huh?"
"Cooking our food is an important part of the job thank you very much," Buck defends, still teary eyed.
"90% of the times Theo has visited have been during meals, it makes sense that's what he thinks Buck does," Eddie's hand doesn't leave Buck's shoulder, now rubbing small circles on it.
"You've got a good kid there, Buckaroo," Hen smiles brightly at him.
"Alright let's finish the video, I want to see how Maria explains what her evil father does all day," Eddie presses play.
Before Buck can defend Maria's father, who, for the record, isn't evil just a little overly flirty with Buck and strangely cold with Eddie, the video continues. Buck watches in confusion as Theo continues to speak.
"My Eddie helps people feel better. He puts big bandaids on people's booboos and has a special bag that fixes people. Like Doc McStuffins!" Theo pauses thinking for a moment, "He keeps my Buck safe too."
Buck's heart beats loudly in his chest. Eddie's hand does not leave his shoulder, if anything it tightens it's grip. The peanut gallery goes silent, and Buck can feel all of their eyes on him. Buck chances a glace at Eddie. Eddie returns the glance with an unreadable expression on his face.
Before either of them can say anything, the alarms sound. Eddie startles, finally removing his hand from Buck's shoulder. Buck's off the couch in an instant, running toward the fire engine.
Because life hates Buck he's actually not all that useful at the call. Dispatch had thought they'd need the assistance getting one of the drivers out after an MVA, but by the time they arrive on the scene everyone is out of their cars and screaming at each other. Eddie and Hen get to work on a passenger with a head lac, but the rest of them don't serve much purpose.
Harry and Ravi abandon Buck to set out cones and redirect traffic, so Buck's stuck with Chimney trying to deescalate the drivers until the police arrive. One of the drivers is older and smells a little bit like fish in a way that makes Buck's stomach turn.
"My friend's head is bleeding out and you're pissed off because your car is dinged up," screams a twenty something girl who is a least a foot shorter than Buck. Normally Buck would be all girl power about her standing up to Fish Man, but he just wants everyone to stop screaming.
"Ma'am please it's all going to be alright," Chimney tries to placate.
"Listen bitch, my car is worth more than —" Fish Man doesn't get to finish the sentence before she's flinging herself at him. Chimney grabs her and pulls her away, but that means that the brunt of Fish Man's anger is now directed at Buck.
"What the fuck is your guys problem. If you can't control crazy bitches like this what are you good for?" Fish Man's face is quickly turning red.
"Sir, I'm going to need you to back up. We're doing our best to handle the situation," Buck lifts his arms to try and calm the guy, but that seems to only rile him up more. He places a large hand on Buck's chest and pushes while swearing at Buck.
Buck doesn't have time to process what the guy is saying or doing him before he's being laid out. Buck blinks and suddenly the guy is on the ground and Eddie is over him as he creates space between Fish Man and Buck. "Don't fucking touch him."
Despite this really not being a good time, Buck feels his knees weaken, he keeps my Buck safe. He sure does. Buck doesn't get to watch as the guy gets lead away by the police officer because Eddie is already pulling Buck toward the ambulance.
"Eddie, I'm fine," Buck protests.
Eddie shakes his head, "Let me be the one to make that decision."
Buck relents while Eddie checks him over. He really is fine, Fish Man has barely touched him. At worst he smells a little fishy. Eddie seems to agree— to the fact that Buck's fine, he doesn't comment on the fish smell.
"Harry, ride with Hen in the ambulance," Eddie calls, as he drags Buck back to the engine.
Harry frowns, "Why? That's your job."
Eddie rolls his eyes, Harry's too new to know that Eddie gets like this sometimes. Overly protective of Buck after moments like this, unwilling to leave Buck's side. Eddie's always been like this when Buck is even close to hurt, but it feels different now, heavier. Five years ago Buck's stomach didn't flutter the way it does now.
Buck knows it's different for Eddie now too. There's a part of him that's thinking the same thing Buck is, they have kids to go home to. Theo's preschool made a video for the parents and Theo mentioned Eddie without prompting. Eddie is on their mailing list. They're a family, as crazy as it sounds.
"Pretty sure we all saw the video with my updated job description," Eddie counters, "Fix people and keep Buck safe." Eddie doesn't give Harry time to respond before he's pulling Buck into the fire engine and tucking himself in across from them. Buck bumps his knee in thanks.
Buck watches from the window as Harry throws his hands up in defeat before getting into the ambulance. As the rest of the team loads up, Buck watches Eddie.
"Where did he even come up with that anyway?" Buck wonders out loud.
"He watches Doc McStuffins with Jee," Eddie shrugs.
Buck shakes his head, "No, the keeping me safe part."
Eddie flushes, oh that's where he got it.
"Eddie, what did you tell Theo?" Buck squints his eyes in suspicion.
"He had a nightmare one night, and I was still up on the couch so he came and cuddled with me. He told me that he had a dream that the fire truck got smashed and he was scared."
Buck's heart drops. Theo's been pretty good about dealing with his anxiety around cars but occasionally things like this will pop up. "So," Eddie continues, "I told him that he didn't have to worry about that because we work together, and I would always keep his Buck safe."
Buck's throat tightens and stupidly all he can think to say is, "You jumped off a bridge less than a year ago."
"So you wouldn't have to," Eddie shrugs.
Before Buck can respond Ravi groans, "I should have gotten into the ambulance with Harry and Hen, we're twenty minutes to the end of shift. Can you all put this on pause until I'm not forced to listen to it?"
Eddie rolls his eyes while Buck blows him a raspberry. Still, Ravi's words have the intended effect of cutting through the tension. At least until they make it back to the station and Eddie's aiming his big doe eyes at Buck.
"Your house or my house?" Eddie asks as they load into Buck's truck.
"Mine. Theo asked to go get ice cream and the place by my house is better," Buck fiddles with his music. It's still on the kids station from dropping Theo off at preschool yesterday morning.
"It's only better because they have the weird purple ice cream you like," Eddie mocks.
"Ube," Buck corrects absentmindedly, fingers tapping the steering wheel.
Eddie shifts in his seat to look at him, "You're freaking out."
"What?"
"You know I know it's ube. We always have this same argument. You've never in your life failed to argue with me about how ube ice cream is the best flavor of all time. What's wrong?" Eddie's eyebrows knit together in concern.
"I feel like I'm missing something," Buck answers honestly. It's not a great answer, but it's the only one he has.
Eddie nods, clearly understanding something Buck himself hasn't quite grasped, "It took me a while to understand it."
"Understand what?" Buck asks, taking the red light as an opportunity to fully look at Eddie.
Eddie shakes his head, "I don't think I can tell you. I think you have to get there on your own."
Buck nods, despite the confusion he trusts Eddie. Still, he wants to understand all these thoughts that are swirling around his head.
"How about this," Eddie begins, placatingly, "I'm going to go to the grocery store and then pick up the boys from school. You use that time to try and figure out what's going on in that big head of yours?"
Buck nods, pulling into his driveway. Eddie's quick to exit, speed walking to Buck's side to open his door for him. The strange swooping in his chest is returns. Buck makes a mental note to think about that once Eddie's gone.
Buck hands over the truck keys at Eddie's request, trading it for Eddie's work bag. Buck reminds himself to do their laundry while Eddie's gone. Eddie doesn't get in the truck right away, instead he looks at Buck carefully.
"When you figure it out, just know I'm right there with you, alright?"
Buck nods, still confused as all hell.
Eddie's find my friends dot is three minutes away, and Buck has still not figured out what the hell is going on. He knows these feelings in his chest have to mean something. It's like some confusing math problem he can't solve. Everything is so different than it was before Theo and yet it's perfect, exactly what he's always wanted. Almost.
Buck knows when he pictured the white picket fence and two kids he'd pictured being happily in love, and he doesn't have that. So why doesn't it feeling like it's missing?
He doesn't have time to answer the question because Theo burst through the front door, "Buuuuuuuck!" He singsongs, "Did you see my video?"
"I sure did Spider-man!" Buck smiles as Theo rushes to him.
Theo crawls into Buck's lap on the couch, "Can we watch it again?"
Buck nods, pulling out his phone. Chris settles into the arm chair across from him, not looking up from his phone. Buck can hear the sounds of Eddie unloading the groceries in the kitchen. Buck starts the video for Theo at the same time Chris starts speaking.
"Are we doing anything for father's day this weekend?"
Buck let's out a surprised noise he didn't intend to make, "Huh, I hadn't thought about that. Why?"
"Denny wants to hang, but he told me he wanted to respect my," Chris holds up his fingers to do air quotes, "father centric household."
"Maybe we could pick you up Sunday morning and we can go out for brunch or something?" Buck offers.
"Cool, I'll text him."
"Do you need money to get him a father's day present?" Buck asks.
Chris shakes his head, "Nah, I bought it when dad took me and Theo shopping today."
"Your dad took you shopping for his own father's day present. That doesn't sound like him," Buck cocks his head to the side.
Chris snorts, "No, he took us shopping for your father's day presents. You're going to love my gift by the way. Theo picked his gift out himself fair warning."
Buck's brain screeches to a halt, "You bought me a father's day gift?"
Before Chris can answer, Theo squeals in delight as his face fills the screen. Buck turns to watch him talk about him and Eddie. His parents. Oh my god, Eddie and Buck are Chris and Theo's parents. Buck stepped into Eddie's mess all those years ago and now Eddie's stepped into his. That's love.
"Dad," Chris calls, "I broke Buck."
Buck blinks hard, and shuts his mouth which he hadn't known had been hanging open. Eddie appears in the living room giving Buck a smile, "That's partially my fault sorry, bud."
"Eddie!" Theo cheers making grabby hands to encourage Eddie to sit with them. Eddie sits on the cushion next to Buck, but Theo is quickly pulling him in closer until Eddie's practically on top of them, "Cuddle puddle!"
Buck watches the way Eddie smiles at Theo, fuck, he's in love with him.
Eddie turns to look at him and then smiles even wider, "Figure it out?"
Buck nods, "I think so."
Chris seemingly notices the change in the room, because he quickly announces, "Theo let's go to my room so we can wrap presents." Theo cheers and only lightly kicks Buck in the kidney in an attempt to get off the couch quickly.
"Hey Eddie?"
"Yeah, Buck?"
"Are we in love?"
"Sure are."
Buck sucks in a breath, "Cool."
Eddie snorts, "Really cool." Then Buck's being kissed. It's been a while since Buck's been kissed, but Buck's certain it's never felt like this before. This kiss is shared coffee in the morning before preschool runs and doing silly voices at bed time. It's teaching Chris how to skateboard, and dozens of trips to the zoo. It's familiar and life changing all at once.
Eddie ends the kiss and pulls away, but not before planting a kiss on his birthmark. Buck heart flutters even more. "By the way Theo bought you four rolls of toilet paper for father's day. Please try and act excited."
"Toilet paper?" Buck can't help but laugh.
"He thought the bear on the front looked like you," Eddie shrugs, "He insisted."
Buck doesn't know if he's offended or not. Eddie comforts him with another kiss, "The joys of fatherhood."
Buck smiles, feeling a little love struck, "Yeah, the joys of fatherhood."