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“Buckley! I need to talk to you.”
Buck’s head snapped up, panic flooding him before he saw the easy smile on Bobby’s face. He hadn’t done anything wrong since the last time he stole the engine, but his job still felt like it was hanging by a thread some days.
Shaking himself, Buck took off at a light jog to catch up to Bobby. He slid in the open door to Bobby’s office and took a seat with one last wary glance at the man’s easygoing face. As much as he trusted that Bobby wouldn’t fire him with a smile, he couldn’t quite squash the anxiety that simmered below the surface of his skin.
“What’s up, Cap?” He asked, trying to exude a level of calm that he did not feel.
Bobby sat behind his desk and laced his hands together. His eyes traced over Buck in a way that felt far too assessing for a casual chat, and Buck sank further into the chair across from him while he awaited his fate.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
A favor. That was good, right?
“What’s the favor?”
“We’re getting a new recruit next week,” Bobby started, watching Buck carefully. Clearly he expected a reaction, and Buck shoved down his initial protests. What the hell did they need another probie for, anyway? He didn’t need help. Everything was fine the way it was. “His name is Eddie. He’s new to LA, and he and his son have been staying in a hotel while they try to find a place to live.”
Buck frowned, his displeasure at the possibility of being replaced melting away.
“That must suck,” he said, wincing at how ineloquent he sounded. “I mean– for the kid. A hotel isn’t a great place to stay.”
“It isn’t,” Bobby agreed easily. “Especially for them. Christopher– that’s Eddie’s son– has a physical disability, and their elevator has been faulty. With how the market is right now they’re having a hard time finding a house, and I was thinking…”
“I have a spare room,” Buck said, the realization dawning on him.
“You do.”
***
Eddie and Christopher were already waiting on the stoop of Abby’s house when Buck got home that evening.
He waved awkwardly as he got out of his Jeep, trying to get a good look at them through the glare of the setting sun. Eddie was a large man– nearly as tall as Buck and probably just as broad. He had a strong set to his shoulders and an objectively handsome face. Not that Buck was paying attention. Christopher, beside him, was absolutely adorable. He was like a puppy, sitting on the stoop and wiggling with a massive grin as Buck approached. “Hey,” he called out, “I’m Buck! Glad you guys found the place alright.”
Eddie stood as he approached, a tense smile on his face. “Eddie. Diaz. I, uh– I really appreciate this. Promise it won’t be for long, we just…”
“Hey, man, I get it!” Buck clapped the other man’s shoulder as he passed by, shooting a grin at Christopher. “It’s tough to find a place right now. I had about four roommates before I moved in with my girlfriend here.”
There was silence following his words, and Buck glanced over his shoulder to find Eddie watching him with his eyes wide. “I don’t mean to interrupt,” he started, but Buck waved him off.
“It’s alright. She’s on a, uh, self-discovery journey… thing. She’ll be gone for a little while longer.”
Buck didn’t bother looking up from where he was trying to get his key to unlock the door. He had a feeling he knew what he would find on Eddie’s face– the same mixture of pity and disbelief the rest of the 118 had been sporting for the last month. Honestly, he was starting to not believe himself too, but he wasn’t ready to admit that to anyone just yet, certainly not the strange man standing behind him.
“Well,” Eddie said, his voice deliberately light, “thank you again for letting us stay.”
Finally, Buck managed to get the door open and he guided them inside. He watched carefully as Christopher made his way up the last step to the door and then down the narrow hall into the living space.
“It’s no problem,” he said, walking further into the house. “The second bedroom is just over there, and my room is across the hall. The bathroom is here, and the kitchen is down that way–” Buck pointed lazily as he spoke, the exhaustion from a full shift finally hitting him. “I’m gonna head to bed. Do you– should I make up the couch for you?”
It was only at that moment that Buck realized the flaw with Bobby’s plan– as nice as Abby’s house was, it only had two bedrooms. Sleeping on the couch might be fine for a few days, but once Eddie officially started at the 118 he would need a good, restful night of sleep on a proper mattress.
“The couch is fine, yeah,” Eddie said, oblivious to Buck’s whirling thoughts.
Eddie was starting in a few days. Buck had until then to figure out something else.
***
Part of him had expected living with a stranger to be weird. Sure, he had done just that for most of his travels across the country, but it had been a while. Buck had settled into living with just Abby quickly, and after she left he had gotten used to living alone even faster.
He didn’t like it, but he was used to it.
On the fourth morning that he woke to the sound of quiet voices and laughter, Buck started to wonder how he had ever lived without it.
He got up and ready for the day quickly, determined to get out of his room before Eddie took it upon himself to try making breakfast again. Buck wasn’t a great cook either, but at least he could produce eggs that weren’t simultaneously dry and runny.
Thankfully, when Buck emerged into the living space Eddie and Chris were still sitting on the couch. His eyes glanced over them, lingering for a moment on the crease in Eddie’s cheek from sleeping slumped against the arm of the couch again.
“Buck!” Chris cried out, a bright grin spreading across his face. “Dad said I can come see the firetrucks!”
“Did he?” Buck asked, shooting an amused glance at Eddie.
Eddie smiled sheepishly back at him. “I’m going a bit stir crazy here. I know I start tomorrow, but I thought maybe I could come by today? Just to visit for a bit.”
For a moment, Buck was overcome by the idea of bringing Eddie and Chris in as his. Not his roommates, not the people he was letting temporarily stay in his house as a favor to Bobby– his. He shook his head to dispel the thought, shocked at himself. He must still be tired.
“Yeah, that– uh, that sounds good.”
***
Eddie didn’t follow him right to work. He and Chris still had a whole morning routine to go through while Buck shoveled cereal in his mouth and rushed off to work. It was only as he was getting changed in the locker room that Buck came to a sudden realization.
Over the last month, he had texted Abby good morning every single day before he got out of bed.
He hadn’t remembered to text her in three days.
Buck froze with his shirt halfway over his head, blinking into the darkness.
Fuck.
He shoved his arms through the sleeves of his shirt, dragging it down his stomach and tucking it in as quickly as he could. He needed to talk to Bobby. This was a situation that felt like it called for fatherly advice, and Bobby was right there, and–
And Eddie was staring at him through the glass of the locker room.
Buck cheeks flushed with… embarrassment? It had to be. He was embarrassed to be caught with his shirt half on. He definitely wasn’t feeling anything else. After all, he still had Abby.
Even if she hadn’t responded to a text from him in weeks.
“Who’s that?”
“Jesus– Hen!” Buck pressed a hand to his heart, flushing even more. At least this time it was definitely from embarrassment.
Hen snorted out a laugh at his reaction, coming up to stand at his shoulder. “Is that the probie that’s been staying with you? Cute kid.”
“Yeah. His name’s Eddie, and his son is Christopher. They’re… they’re really great.”
Hen turned to him, one eyebrow raised. Desperate to not talk about whatever she was about to say, Buck avoided her eyes.
“They’re great, huh?”
“Yeah,” Buck said again, quieter this time.
“How’s Abby?”
Buck blinked, furrowing his eyebrows. “I don’t know. Fine, I guess. Why?”
“Just haven’t heard you talking about her for a few days. Since Eddie got here, really.”
Needing to focus on anything other than the implications of that, Buck turned back to the glass walls of the locker room. Eddie was still on the other side of the glass, looking more and more confused with every passing moment that Buck stood talking with Hen instead of going to greet him.
“I should go introduce him to everyone,” Buck said eventually, buckling his belt with one decisive motion.
“You really should. Before Chimney gets there first.” Hen’s voice was clearly teasing, but suddenly Buck was picturing all the stories Chim had about him and his admittedly pathetic waiting around for Abby.
He couldn’t let that happen.
***
“So,” Eddie said, once Chris was in bed that night. “Abby.”
Buck watched him warily. Eddie didn’t look like he was going to make fun of him. If anything he looked interested, sitting on the couch and watching him with an inviting warmth.
“What about her?”
“Is she… Buck, is she coming back?”
Well. That was the question, wasn’t it?
Buck fell heavily onto the couch beside Eddie, chewing on his lip as he thought over what to say.
“I like to think she is. Or… I did, I guess. I don’t think I’ve been feeling as, uh, invested. Recently.”
The corners of Eddie’s lips curled up at that, and one of his arms came up on the back of the couch. Buck could feel the warmth of his hand on his shoulder through the fabric of his shirt, Eddie’s fingers just barely grazing the seam of his collar.
“When she left, she said we should feel free to… explore, I guess. Be with other people. I told her all I wanted was her.”
“Buck,” Eddie said, his eyes infinitely gentle, “I think maybe she was breaking up with you.”
“Yeah. I think so, too.”
It felt good to get off his chest– like he could finally move on and embrace the next chapter of his life.
“Are you… feeling okay about that?”
Buck smiled softly, his eyes flicking between Eddie’s. They hadn’t known each other long, but Buck had grown attached to him in a way that felt important. Inescapable.
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Eddie smiled back, his fingers curling into the fabric of Buck’s shirt. He didn’t grip it tightly, but it still pulled at Buck’s skin a bit. It was grounding.
It made him feel brave.
“I think I’ve sort of… started to move on already.”
“Yeah?” Eddie’s smile grew wider, hope making his voice lilt. “You think so?”
“I do,” Buck said, scooting closer to Eddie on the couch until their knees were knocking together. “I really do.”
They sat in silence after that, Eddie’s arm coming down more firmly around Buck.
With Abby, everything had felt like a whirlwind. This was just… comfortable.
Eventually, though, they would have to go to sleep. Eddie had his first day in the morning. Buck shifted on the couch, debating the pros and cons of asking for what he wanted.
“You, uh…”
Eddie turned, one eyebrow raised. He had humor written all over his face, so Buck tried not to feel judged. “I?”
“You start at the 118 tomorrow.”
“That’s true,” Eddie agreed easily.
Buck sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You should sleep better. More comfortably.”
“...Okay? Are you saying you’re going to bed?”
“I’m saying that you should come to bed with me.”
That had Eddie’s eyes widening, and Buck scrambled to correct himself.
“Not like that! I just mean… it’s a big bed, and I know the couch isn’t the most comfortable, and–”
“Buck,” Eddie cut in, his hand a warm weight on the back of Buck’s neck. “I would love to.”
Buck breathed out a sigh of relief, exchanging helpless grins with the man beside him.
“I really suck at this,” he admitted, feeling like he had to warn Eddie.
“I don’t mind,” Eddie said, his eyes going soft again. “Let’s go to bed, Buck. We can talk more in the morning.”
“Yeah. Bed.” Buck stood, reaching out to tug Eddie alongside him, as if he could somehow get lost on the short walk to the bedroom.
As they settled in together that night, Buck felt more settled than he had in years. One chapter had closed, and a new one was opening.