Chapter Text
Buck always goes with Bobby to the doctor.
Not because Bobby asks.
Not because Athena makes him.
Because the one time Bobby had to go alone, Buck paced the firehouse for three hours, stress-cleaned the kitchen twice, reorganized the medical cabinet alphabetically, and nearly called Athena to ask if cholesterol could kill you instantly.
So now, whenever Athena can’t go, Buck does.
And Bobby pretends not to notice how Buck sits forward in the chair the entire appointment like he’s personally responsible for Bobby’s vital signs.
***
“Blood pressure looks good,” the doctor says.
Buck exhales.
“Heart rate normal.”
Buck nods, serious.
“Labs look fine. We’ll call if anything comes up, but everything seems healthy.”
Buck finally leans back, relief written all over his face like someone just told him the world wasn’t ending today.
Bobby shakes the doctor’s hand, “Thanks, Doc.”
Buck shakes his too, “Thank you for taking good care of him.”
The doctor blinks, because it is his job, “…Of course.”
Bobby sighs the entire way to the truck, “You know most grown men don’t bring emotional support firefighters turn sons to their checkups.”
Buck frowns, “You don’t like going to the doctor.”
Bobby pauses, that is true, “I don’t need supervision.”
“You absolutely need supervision.”
Bobby huffs but doesn’t argue.
***
A few days later, Bobby and Athena invite Buck to dinner.
Eddie’s there, of course.
Buck’s there.
Bobby made too much food.
And Christopher is explaining Minecraft with the seriousness of a college lecture.
Everything is normal.
Until Bobby’s phone rings. He glances at the screen. Frowns.
“Doctor’s office,” he says, standing. “I’ll take this.”
Buck immediately sits up straighter.
Eddie notices. Of course he notices.
Buck watches Bobby walk into the kitchen like a dog waiting for the vet to come back with test results.
Athena notices too.
She smirks, “Relax, Buck. If it was serious they wouldn’t call during dinner.”
Buck nods. He does not relax. Not even a little.
***
Bobby comes back a minute later, phone still in his hand. He looks… annoyed.
Not scared.
Not worried.
Just annoyed.
Athena raises an eyebrow, “Well?”
Bobby sighs, “Cholesterol’s high.”
Buck freezes, “…What.”
“It’s not a big deal—”
“Not a big deal?!”
Everyone jumps.
Buck is already on his feet, “You said everything was fine!”
Bobby sighs, “They said everything looked fine. Labs came back after.”
“How high is high?? Is this like, like heart attack high?? Like emergency high?? Like, d-do you need surgery?? Can you get surgery for cholesterol??”
“Buck—”
“Are you on medication? You should be on medication. Why aren’t you on medication yet??”
Athena is trying so hard not to laugh.
Eddie is trying not to stare at Buck like he just hung the moon.
Christopher is watching like this is the best show he’s ever seen.
Bobby pinches the bridge of his nose, “It is not a big deal.”
Buck is already pulling his phone out, “Okay hold on, I’m calling my doctor.”
Everyone stops.
“…Why?” Eddie asks slowly.
Buck is already unlocking his phone, “Because if your cholesterol is high, mine could be high too.”
Silence.
Bobby blinks.
Athena blinks.
Christopher blinks.
Eddie blinks the longest.
“…Buck,” Bobby says carefully, “…why would your cholesterol be high because mine is high?”
Buck looks up like this is obvious, “Because it runs in families.”
Dead silence. Absolute, complete silence.
It takes a full minute for Buck to freeze.
Eddie’s brain visibly short-circuits.
Athena presses her lips together so hard she almost folds in half.
Bobby just stares at him.
“…Kid,” Bobby says slowly, “we are not biologically related.”
Buck blinks.
Once.
Twice.
His brain loads the information like dial-up internet, “Oh.” Beat, “…Right.” Another beat, “…Yeah. Okay.”
He slowly lowers the phone.
Christopher loses it first.
Full giggles.
Athena turns away, shoulders shaking.
Bobby exhales like he just aged ten years.
And Eddie—
Eddie looks at Buck like he’s looking at something fragile and ridiculous and impossibly precious all at once.
Buck rubs the back of his neck, “I mean… still. Could be a coincidence.”
Athena laughs out loud.
Bobby groans.
Christopher is still giggling.
Eddie steps closer, voice soft, “You were gonna make a doctor’s appointment because you thought Bobby’s cholesterol meant yours might be high too.”
Buck shrugs, embarrassed, “He’s… y’know. My pops.”
The room goes quiet again.
Bobby looks at him, really looks at him.
Athena’s expression softens.
Christopher smiles.
And Eddie—
God, Eddie is so in love it’s actually painful. He reaches out, bumps Buck’s shoulder with his, “You’re such an idiot.”
Buck looks at him, defensive, “I care about his arteries, Eddie.”
“I know you do.” Eddie smiles at him like the sun just came up.
Soft.
Fond.
Completely gone.
Bobby clears his throat.
“…For the record,” he says, trying to ease his kids freak out, “I will be switching to low-sodium, low-cholesterol dinners for a while.”
Buck nods immediately, “Good. I’ll do it too.”
Bobby sighs.
Athena laughs.
Eddie just shakes his head, smiling like he’s already planning the rest of his life around this man.
Because honestly?
Buck might not share Bobby’s DNA. But he’s never been more part of the family.
And Eddie has never been more sure that one day, Buck will be part of his too.