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"I'm fine," Buck insists for what must be the tenth time.
"No, you're not," Eddie disagrees, also crossing into double digits. "You need to go home."
"I'll walk it off," Buck suggests, swaying a little as he gets to his feet so that Eddie has to reach out a steadying hand and catch him by the shoulder. He just manages to steer Buck out of the way of walking directly into the counter.
"Buckley, Diaz," Chim barks, coming out of his office, hands on his hips as he glares up the stairs to the loft. "What are you two still doing here?"
The answer to that question is pretty straightforward. Buck is being an idiot and Eddie is, unfortunately, allowing it.
"Working," Buck replies as he narrowly avoids tripping over the pool table thanks to Eddie's guiding grip.
"We're going," Eddie promises. "It's just taking a little convincing."
"I will call Maddie," Chim threatens, pointing a warning finger at Eddie.
"I've got it handled." Eddie holds on a little tighter as Buck sways precariously close to the opening for the fire pole.
"If you're not out of here in ten minutes, I am firing you as Buck's emergency contact, and amending his paperwork myself."
"Copy that, cap." Eddie gives Chim a placating salute. To Buck, he whispers, “Come on, man, you're making me look really bad here."
Buck turns huge concerned, eyes on him, gaze tracking intently over Eddie's face for several seconds. Finally, he shakes his head.
"No, I'm not, you look so good." This remark is accompanied by a dopey grin that might have Eddie blushing under other circumstances, but simply has him shaking his head and rolling his eyes in this one.
"You do," Buck doubles down with a pout.
"Alright," Eddie agrees, deciding to use this to his advantage. "Why don't you let me take you home then, big guy?"
Buck narrows his eyes. "Our shift isn't done."
Eddie sighs defeatedly.
They've been stuck having the same argument for the past twenty minutes, ever since they returned from their last call where a support beam fell directly onto Buck's head during a structure fire. There had been enough force to actually crack his helmet on impact. Hen had declared him concussed on scene and he was only not sent to the hospital because his emergency contact was another paramedic.
In the engine on the way back from the call, Chim had given a direct order for Buck and Eddie to go home as soon as they were at the station.
Either Buck is suffering from short-term memory loss or a serious case of selective hearing, because he's been insisting that he feels fine and should finish his shift ever since. Eddie had managed to talk him into sitting down for a few minutes, but as soon as he suggested heading home, Buck was on his feet to prove just how ‘normal and also healthy’ he was feeling. His words, not Eddie's.
"Seriously, Buck," Eddie tries, tone low and entreating. "You can't even walk straight, don't you think it's time to admit defeat?”
"No, Eddie." Buck's eyes go big and watery and pleading as he shakes his head. "I can't go home yet."
"Why not?" Eddie asks patiently.
With a dramatic sigh, Buck slumps into Eddie's side to voice his counter argument. “I’m not done being a firefighter yet.”
"Alright." Eddie sighs and uses this heightened proximity to firmly loop his arm around Buck's waist. "We're gonna go downstairs now."
"I can go downstairs myself," Buck argues petulantly.
"Of course you can," Eddie agrees. "I just like you so much that I'm gonna go down with you."
"Okay," Buck concedes reluctantly, like he's doing Eddie a big favor. "I guess if you really want to."
"I do." Eddie assures him. "You know me, can't stand to be separated from you."
"That's true." Buck thinks hard for a moment before his lips curve up in a wide smile and he squeezes Eddie’s shoulders. "That's why you're my cuddle bear."
Eddie considers releasing Buck and launching himself headfirst down the stairs. He's sure his demise would be swift and far less mortifying than the barely contained looks of amusement both Hen and Ravi are directing his way.
“Buck,” Eddie mutters, blushing furiously and nudging him lightly. “What did we say about pet names at work?”
This was evidently the wrong thing to say because Buck stops dead in his tracks and they're only two steps down.
“Oh,” Buck sniffs, clearly offended. “So now you don't want to be my cuddle bear?”
This is one of those moments where getting sniped in broad daylight doesn't actually seem that bad. Comparatively.
“I never said that,” Eddie disagrees through gritted teeth. “But time and place, bud.”
“Can you believe Eddie doesn't want to be his cuddle bear anymore?” Hen asks Ravi in a loud, exaggerated voice.
“Kind of fucked up if you ask me,” Ravi replies. “Clearly the guy’s already distressed.”
“Getting a concussion and losing his cuddle bear all in the span of an hour.” Hen shakes her head sadly. “Tough day at the office.”
“No one suffers like Buck,” Ravi agrees.
“That's true.” Buck nods his miserable affirmation.
“Oh my god. Okay,” Eddie groans. “I'm still…” he closes his eyes and takes a fortifying breath before declaring, with conviction as he looks directly at Buck, “your cuddle bear. There.” He turns defiantly to face the peanut gallery. “Everyone happy now?”
“Enormously,” Hen says, grinning manically as she tucks her phone into her pocket.
“Please tell me you did not record that,” Eddie begs wretchedly.
“Oh, we did,” Ravi confirms gleefully, setting his own phone face down on the coffee table. “From multiple angles.”
“Great. Wonderful.” Eddie grimaces. “I’m sure that won't do anything detrimental to my reputation in the groupchat.”
“It’ll only solidify what we all already think of you,” Hen tells him, smiling sweetly.
And Ravi, unhelpfully, mouths ‘whipped.’
“Thanks for that, Buck,” Eddie mutters, turning away from their coworkers and prompting his husband to keep moving down the stairs.
“You're welcome, baby,” Buck replies innocently, looking genuinely oblivious to Eddie’s embarrassment, which unfortunately is both endearing and solidifies the fact that he really is suffering from a minor brain injury and they need to be getting home where Eddie can take care of him properly.
It only takes a little more effort to get Buck out of the station after that. He must be getting tired because he only pouts dejectedly through their exit but doesn't offer any further argument.
Once they're out of the building and met with the harsh sunlight in the parking lot, Buck squints and makes a pathetic, pained noise in the back of his throat. Eddie takes off his own sunglasses and sets them carefully on his husband’s face.
“Thanks,” Buck mumbles, accepting a kiss on the cheek before Eddie opens the passenger door for him.
“You're going to be out of commission for a few days at least,” Eddie starts as he navigates the truck out of the parking lot. “Is there anything I can stop and pick up for you on the way home? Snacks? An ice pack?”
Buck, who’s slouched down in his seat, shakes his head. “I’m fine. I barely even bumped my head. I’m sure I'm gonna feel all better tomorrow.”
“Sure, but maybe we should be prepared just in case,” Eddie reasons calmly.
“No.” Buck crosses his arms.
“Okay,” Eddie agrees reluctantly. “But don't complain later when I have to run out to the store and leave you alone at home.”
“I’ve never even done that,” Buck lies stubbornly.
Eddie levels him with a look.
“Well,” Buck amends begrudgingly. “Maybe I have once or twice, but I'm not gonna do it this time.”
“Alright, sweetheart.” Eddie simply smiles and nods, not buying it for a second but also knowing that the path of least resistance really is the best course of action with Buck sometimes. “As long as you're sure you don't need anything.”
“I don't, because there's nothing wrong with me,” Buck reiterates, crossing his arms even tighter.
It is after this vehement declaration that Buck promptly falls fast asleep, his chin falling onto his chest and his mouth dropping open.
Eddie takes the opportunity to pull into the nearest grocery store to load up on a few freezer meals, Buck’s favourite snacks, and a couple bottles of ibuprofen.
Mercifully, Buck is still napping when he makes it back to the truck. In fact, he’s still dozing when they reach home and Eddie has to gently shake him awake after unloading the groceries and their work bags.
“C’mon,” he murmurs, lightly rubbing Buck’s shoulders. “Time to go inside now, sleeping beauty.”
Buck groans and mumbles something incoherent, Eddie's sunglasses sliding down his nose. The instant the light hits his half-opened eyes he hisses and squeezes them tightly shut again. Eddie pushes them back in place and reaches across Buck to undo his seatbelt.
“We can leave all the lights off when we get inside,” Eddie promises, taking Buck’s hand as he unsteadily heaves himself out of the truck.
He waivers on his feet for a moment before Eddie makes the executive decision that Buck should not be walking anymore than absolutely necessary right now.
“Here.” Eddie drops his hand and turns around, back facing Buck. “Let me give you a ride.”
“I'm too big for you to carry,” Buck argues, heavily draping his arms over Eddie’s shoulders regardless.
“No you're not,” Eddie scoffs indignantly. “I pick you up all the time.”
“That's different. That’s for sexy reasons.”
Eddie doesn't bother pointing out that Buck weighs the same in all situations, since he's ninety percent sure that any logic and reason his husband possessed was effectively evicted by the support beam.
“Well, I am also trained to carry people out of burning buildings,” Eddie reminds him.
“You're going to throw your back out again and get grumpy,” Buck accuses, but dutifully hops up and lets Eddie catch him under the knees for a piggy-back ride.
“That happened one time,” Eddie huffs, closing the car door with his hip and fumbling with the key fob in his pocket. “And I remember you promising not to bring it up again.”
“You certainly brought it up again,” Buck mutters. “You kept complaining like it was somehow my fault.”
“I just wasn't expecting you to jump up on me like that,” Eddie recalls defensively.
“You had been away for two days. You should have been prepared.”
“I should have,” Eddie agrees. “And now I know better for next time.”
“Why would there be a next time?” Buck demands. “Why would you ever leave me for that long again?”
“I wouldn't,” Eddie backtracks swiftly. He’s learned his lesson about picking up overtime without consulting his husband first. “Of course not. You're right.”
“Good.” Buck’s arms tighten protectively around Eddie’s neck, like he's trying to ensure Eddie won't suddenly slip away for forty-eight hours again.
“See? Easy,” Eddie announces when they reach the front step without mishap. “I told you I’d have no problem carrying you.”
“And I believed you,” Buck affirms, not entirely accurately. He nuzzles into Eddie’s neck and reaches down to grab at one of his biceps. “I married the biggest, strongest firefighter in LA.”
“Funny,” Eddie remarks as he deposits Buck gently onto the ground and lets them through the front door “I could swear that I married the biggest, strongest firefighter in LA.”
“Hmm,” Buck muses, using one of Eddie’s forearms for support as he kicks off his shoes. “I guess we can switch off.”
“Sure.” Eddie takes Buck’s hand again and leads him down the hall toward the bedroom. “I don't mind switching with you.” He raises an eyebrow and receives the exact lopsided patent Buck grin he was hoping for in return.
“I know.” Buck knocks their shoulders together but Eddie can't tell if he’s being cute or if he’s just struggling to balance.
Once they're in the bedroom, Buck flops down unceremoniously on the bed, cringing when the impact jostles his head.
“Ouch.”
“Careful,” Eddie murmurs. “You need to take it easy.”
“I am taking it easy,” Buck argues, unimpressed. “I’m literally laying in bed.”
“And I’m expecting you to stay there,” Eddie warns, pointing a cautionary finger.
“Only if you're joining me,” Buck bargains, impatiently patting the mattress next to him.
“Like I was going to leave you to suffer alone,” Eddie replies, slightly offended.
“You know,” Buck comments, blinking up at Eddie as he kneels on the edge of the bed. “I've heard that skin to skin contact is really good for the brain, makes it release all the feel good chemicals and regulates stress and stuff.”
“Hmm.” Eddie narrows his eyes, considering. “Sounds like an excuse to get me shirtless.”
“I don't need an excuse for that. You're my husband,” Buck says, pulling his own shirt up and over his head and knocking his sunglasses askew in the process. Eddie reaches over and plucks them off his face, setting them down on the nightstand.
“Oh, so you just think you're entitled to my body whenever you want it?” Eddie asks, reaching for the hem of his sweatshirt.
“Yeah.” Buck nods. “Pretty much.”
Eddie shrugs. “Can't argue with that.”
He shimmies out of his sweatshirt and finds a contentedly smiling Buck waiting for him on the other side.
“Come here then.” Eddie lays down and beckons for Buck to come closer, which he happily does. He scoots back into Eddie’s embrace, easily tucking into his arms.
“Comfy?” Eddie asks when Buck has stopped wriggling against him.
“Mhm,” Buck confirms, already sounding sleepy again.
“Good.” Eddie kisses his temple. “I’m going to have to wake you up in a couple of hours to check on you.”
“M’kay,” Buck mumbles. “But you have to kiss my forehead when you do.”
“I’m pretty sure I can manage that,” Eddie reassures him, hiding a smile against Buck’s bare shoulder.
“Promise you won’t forget?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.” Buck heaves a heavy sigh of pure exhaustion. “G’night, baby.”
“Night, bud, sweet dreams,” Eddie dutifully replies despite the fact that it's barely two in the afternoon.
True to his word, Eddie doesn't leave Buck to suffer alone. He waits until Buck is in a deep sleep, chest steadily rising and falling, snoring softly, before he extricates himself from bed.
He takes care of a couple of household chores he knows he won't get the chance to once Buck is awake and vying for his attention, arranges for Chris and Theo to get picked up from school and spend the night with the Wilsons and Hans respectively - since Eddie figures the silence of a child-free house for one evening might benefit Buck’s recovery - and he books Buck a doctor’s appointment for the following day.
With his other duties attended to, Eddie makes his way back to the bedroom and finds, to his horror, that Buck is no longer asleep, but holding his phone mere millimetres from his face.
“Buck!”
Buck startles and narrowly avoids bashing his phone into his face. “What?”
“What are you doing?” Eddie exclaims, gesturing between Buck’s eyes and the extremely bright screen burning into his retinas.
“Reading about sharks,” Buck answers without missing a beat.
“Why?” Eddie is not overly successful at keeping the exasperation out of his tone.
“Had a dream.” Buck shrugs. “I had to check something.”
Eddie shakes his head and holds out his hand. “Give it here.”
“Why?” Buck pouts. “I’m not finished.”
“Did it escape your attention that you have a concussion?” Eddie asks incredulously. “You're supposed to be resting. No reading and certainly no screens.”
“It was a short article,” Buck mumbles defensively but obediently relinquishes his phone to Eddie.
“I thought you were sleeping,” Eddie admonishes as he crawls back into bed.
“Yeah, well, my personal heater got up and walked away,” Buck complains. “Kinda hard to nap when I’m freezing.”
“We have plenty of blankets.”
“And none of them cuddle me or play with my hair.”
“Alright, alright,” Eddie relents, slotting into his rightful place behind Buck and wrapping him in his arms once more. “I’m here now. I won't get up again.”
They're quiet for a few minutes as Buck shifts around, trying to get comfortable again. Eventually he sighs, defeated and drawn out.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?” Eddie asks, rubbing a soothing hand across Buck’s chest.
“My head hurts,” Buck informs him dejectedly.
“Okay, hang on.” Eddie pushes himself up into a sitting position. “Let me get you something for that.”
“I thought you said you weren't going to get up again,” Buck reminds him, turning big, betrayed eyes on Eddie.
“But I want you to feel better.”
Somehow, Buck’s eyes go even wider and Eddie ducks down to press a light, lingering kiss to his lips in apology.
“I’ll be quick, I promise.” He drops a reassuring kiss to Buck’s birthmark next. “I’ll be back in under a minute. You won't even have time to miss me.”
“I always miss you,” Buck sighs wistfully, but admirably doesn't wrap himself around Eddie like an octopus and force him to stay put.
“I’m still right here,” Eddie calls over his shoulder as he exits the bedroom into the hall.
“Well I can't see you anymore, so it doesn't count!” Buck shouts back.
“Stop yelling! It's bad for your headache!”
“So is my husband abandoning me!” Buck continues to yell.
“Your husband is getting you Gatorade and ibuprofen,” Eddie projects from the kitchen, grabbing both items off the counter before heading back.
“And I thank him for his service, but I wish he would hurry up!”
“Was that fast enough?” Eddie asks, leaning against the doorframe and panting for dramatic effect mere seconds later. He did jog all the way back from the kitchen but his cardio isn't actually bad enough for it to make a dent.
“Super fast, baby.” Buck nods approvingly, unbothered now that Eddie is back in his direct line of sight.
“I know.” Eddie puffs out his chest. “I did outrun a beenado once.”
“I remember,” Buck assures him. “That was super hot.”
“Was it?” Eddie laughs as he rounds the bed to Buck’s side. “I recall looking pretty goofy in that outfit.”
“It was still hot,” Buck maintains.
Eddie shakes his head in disbelief. “The bee suit, that's what does it for you, huh?”
“You do it for me,” Buck corrects. “And,” he adds, cheeks flushing a little. “The moustache might have helped.
“You know, I’ll grow it back if you just ask,” Eddie tells him honestly.
“That is far too much power to bestow on a man with a brain injury,” Buck says seriously.
“Well, you know where to find me when you're feeling better.” Eddie twists off the cap of the Gatorade bottle and hands a couple of pills to Buck. “Now, take your meds so you can go back to sleep.”
“Yes sir, Eddie, sir,” Buck teases, giving him a little salute before accepting his drink.
“Very funny.” Eddie rolls his eyes.
“Thank you.” Buck beams. “I’m hilarious.”
“You are,” Eddie agrees, smoothing an errant curl away from Buck’s forehead, then leaning in to plant a kiss right between his eyebrows.
“Eddie?” Buck asks as he climbs back into bed again.
“Mm?”
“I really wanna finish reading that article.”
Eddie sighs. “I’m not giving you your phone back.”
Buck looks at him and bats his eyelashes. “Please?”
“No. But,” Eddie reaches to pick up Buck’s phone from the bedside table. “I can finish reading it aloud to you if you want.”
“Really? You're the best.” Buck happily tucks himself under Eddie’s arm. “I love you so much.”
Eddie huffs a warm, fond laugh and can't stop himself from dropping another kiss to Buck’s forehead. “I love you too.”
Over the next few minutes, while Eddie finishes reading an extremely niche article about lunar navigation during shark migration - which has him internally questioning what Buck could have possibly been dreaming about to Google this immediately upon waking up - Buck snuggles into his side and hums contentedly while Eddie runs his free hand across his back, fingers tracing the notches of his spine.
“There you go,” Eddie concludes when he's scrolled to the end. “Happy now?”
“You always make me happy,” Buck mumbles, using that soft, sappy voice he only makes when he's exceptionally tired.
Eddie highly doubts that Buck absorbed any of the ultra specific scientific information he just spent the last several minutes spewing at him, but that doesn't really matter. Eddie didn't absorb much either.
“You're sweet,” Eddie whispers, nuzzling into the curls at the crown of Buck’s head and breathing him in.
“I’m Buck.”
“My Buck,” Eddie repeats.
“Your Buck,” Buck agrees.
“How's your head?” Eddie checks as he shifts them into a more comfortable position.
Buck glances up at him through drooping eyelids and smirks weakly. “I haven't gotten any complaints yet.”
Eddie swats him lightly on the arm. “Not what I was asking about.”
“I know,” Buck smiles sleepily.
“You're an idiot,” Eddie tells him affectionately.
Before he can offer either counter argument or confirmation, Buck is passed out on Eddie’s chest.
“I love you,” Eddie says again, just for the sake of it. Just because he gets to.
He holds Buck a little tighter, and in no time at all his own eyes are falling shut.