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The last place Eddie expected to be shot was in a hospital. Honestly, Eddie didn't expect to ever be shot again. Maybe Buck was on to something about the universe because it seemed to have it out for him when it comes to gunshot wounds. He had been making his way to the elevator, so he could step outside and give Christopher a call while they waited for news on Athena, when Hooks had called out to him. Eddie turned around right as the gun went off. The bullet struck right below his ribs on the right side. Hooks was already running off before Eddie even got his hands on the wound. Somehow, he managed to stay upright and make it to the elevator. Pressing the down button several times as if that would make the doors open faster. Once the doors opened, Eddie quickly threw himself in the elevator and slammed all the buttons until the doors finally closed. As soon as they shut, he slid to the floor trying to keep pressure on the wound despite the blood still seeping out between his fingers. The elevator suddenly screeches to a stop and the lights dim. And he can almost hear Buck’s voice telling him that the universe is screaming at him. He closes his eyes trying to breathe through the pain.
“I thought the risk of bullet wounds were supposed to be significantly less with the LAFD than the Army?” A familiar voice tease.
“I think they need to update those statistics in the recruitment pamphlet at this point.” Eddie laughs, opening his eyes to see Shannon sitting across from him.
She looks the same. Frozen at 26. Still just as beautiful. She's wearing the same yellow blouse and jeans she was the day she died.
“Maybe you should have just been a cop instead.” She laughs at him.
“I actually thought about it for a minute.” Eddie says laughing at himself. “When I was back in El Paso. The gas station I always stopped at while Ubering got robbed one night. The guy was barely an adult, and I was able to disarm him pretty easily.” Eddie shrugged. “The officers that showed up to arrest him suggested I check out the police academy.”
“I could never see you being a cop.” Shannon shakes her head. “Not with how much you love being a firefighter.”
“More of a paramedic now.” Eddie sighs, “I still love it, but I do miss working with Buck in the field.”
“Codependent.” Shannon mumbles.
“Hilarious.” Eddie deadpans. “He's my best friend. God forbid I just enjoy being around him.”
“As the person who previously held that title, I know.” Shannon smiles at him.
“You two would have been great friends.” He says, almost a whisper. “Which probably would have been a nightmare for me.”
“Absolutely it would have.” Shannon laughs. “You wouldn’t have been able to get away with anything. Everything would be three against one, because we both know Christopher is going to side with his mom and his Buck.”
Eddie smiles and closes his eyes. Blood is still slowly leaking out of him, and the pain has yet to dull. Rationally he knows this is probably a good thing. As long as there's still pain, there's still hope that this isn't the bullet wound that's going to take him out.
“You should tell him.” Shannon says softly. “He is probably panicking right about now.”
“I don't want to tell him I am hurt.” Eddie says, opening his eyes again. “He just had to watch two of his friends die, I don't want this to be the thing that breaks him completely.”
“You aren't giving up are you, Eddie?” Shannon challenges him.
“Never.” Eddie says with conviction. “I will always fight to come home to my family.”
“You at least need to text him and tell him you're stuck in the elevator.” Shannon says, looking at him like he's dumb.
“Yeah, that's probably a good idea.” Eddie nods, reaching to get his phone out of his pocket. There are already several texts from Buck.
Buck:
Are you okay?
Did you make it outside?
Tell me you are outside?
I can't call you Eddie, please just tell me you are safe
There is a shooter in the hospital everything is locked down
EDDIE
I'M SCARED PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE OKAY
Your location says you are still here. Why aren't you answering?!?!
Eddie knows Buck is panicking. He quickly fires off a text.
Eddie:
I'm stuck in the elevator
Buck:
Are you okay?
Eddie:
I'm stuck, and my phone battery is low.
(It's a lie Eddie is hoping Buck doesn't call him on.)
Buck:
Okay I'm going to head that way once they clear our floor.
Eddie:
No get yourself out. One of us has to be safe.
Buck:
Are you not safe?
Eddie are you in danger or hurt?
Eddie:
I'm stuck in the elevator Buck. My phone is going to die. Just get to safety.
Buck:
You aren't answering my questions
I'm going to find you
Eddie locks his phone, closing his eyes with a sigh.
“He's already panicking?” Shannon smiles.
“Yes.” Eddie sighs, “I just want him to get out. Chris needs one of us.”
“He's going to have both of you.” Shannon says, glaring at Eddie. “He's been through enough; you aren't adding to that pile again.”
“Ouch.” Eddie says, cocking his eyebrow at her.
“Yeah, well I call it as I see it.” Shannon crosses her arms.
“Tell me how you really feel, Shan.” Eddie snarks back.
“I honestly don't think you could handle it.” Shannon rolls her eyes. “You will just deny, deny, deny.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Eddie says defensively.
“You know what I mean.” Shannon says not backing down.
“I'm not going to argue with what is probably a hallucination from the pain.” Eddie sighs.
“Yes, let's try to use logic to explain why you are having a conversation with your dead wife” Shannon rolls her eyes.
“There is no trying. My body is in shock, and my brain is attempting to cope with it. That is all this conversation is.”
“Well, if that’s the case, that means everything I say you are already thinking.” Shannon smirks at him. “And you know I am right because I am from your brain.”
Eddie just stares at her, jaw slightly dropped by her logic. Shannon just laughs at his face. God, he missed her laugh. Sometimes he can hear it when Buck really get Chris going.
“I miss you.” Eddie whispers causing her smirk to drop.
“I know. But you have part of me waiting at home for you.” She gives him a sad smile. “And I’m always watching over my boys. Even though there are times I want to shake you both and tell you how dumb you are being.”
“I feel like that is more geared towards me.” Eddie lets out a painful laugh.
“I mean yes, but despite what Buck might thing Chris isn’t perfect either.”
“Honestly, I’m kinda annoyed he ended up with the ‘run when things go wrong’ trait.”
“With his DNA coming from the two of us? Kid didn’t stand a chance.”
“I’m sorry I even put him in a situation to make him activate it.”
“Eddie, I know you are.” Shannon gives him another sad smile. “Give yourself a little grace.”
“I don’t deserve it.” Eddie shakes his head, closing his eyes.
“Eddie.” Shannon says forcibly, causing Eddie’s eyes to open again. “Do ever actually think about when my accident happened?”
“Why would I think about the day you were forced to leave us again?” Eddie snarls at her.
“Because that is not the only thing that happened to you.” Shannon fires back at him, every bit of the woman he remembers arguing with.
“What?” Eddie asks, shocked.
“Think about it Eddie.” Shannon said. “Not even two weeks after my accident, your ‘best friend’” She adds air quotes to best friend. “Was literally blown up and crushed by a ladder truck. He almost died. You were trying to help him with what you could, while trying to help Christopher navigate a grieve that you weren’t even sure how to navigate.” She gives him a sad smile. “Then when you thought Buck was good, and things could actually go back to normal for you, he wasn’t and you almost lost him again.”
“Watching him vomit blood was somehow scarier than watching him get blown up.” Eddie whispers.
“Then the tsunami, the nightmares, the lawsuit. It was so much all at once Eddie.” Shannon shakes her head. “Your way of dealing with it was a manic bathroom haircut and a fight club.”
“I went the therapy.” Eddie says defensively.
“Seriously?” Shannon gives him a deadpan look, “You literally almost killed a guy, and Bobby had to force you.”
“But I went.” Eddie defends; he is starting to feel less of his bullet wound.
“I’m just saying you should have gone sooner.”
“I should have gone sooner.” Eddie agrees quietly.
“That’s not the only thing you should have done sooner.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eddie asks confusedly. His brain was getting foggy now.
“Eddie.” Shannon says softly, “You have to tell him.”
“Shan.”
“You really gonna make me say it out loud.” Shannon rolls her eyes. “You are the one that needs to say it. Maybe if you tell me, you can finally tell him.”
“I am not going to tell my dead wife. You don’t deserve that.”
“Eddie, saying it out loud doesn’t diminish the love we had for each other.” She gives him another sad smile. “Our love is different, and not in a bad way, to what you feel for him, yeah?”
“It's like I was forcing it to be more.” Eddie whispers “I love you; I love you so much. I love that we got Christopher out of it. But I never should have tried to force it to be more. Maybe things would have been better if I hadn't.”
“You weren't the only one. We were dumb kids. How were we supposed to know any better?”
“I didn't know it could feel like this.” Eddie's eyes close. He can feel the tug of sleep.
“Eddie, wake up!” Shannon says sharply. “You can't go to sleep yet.” Eddie's eyes snap open. “You need to tell him you are hurt. He is already assuming the worst.”
“Okay.” Eddie mumbles pulling out his phone.
Buck:
Tell me you are safe please
Eddie I am freaking out I can't do this again
Just tell me you are okay
I still see your location so I know your phone isn’t dead
ANSWER ME DAMNIT
TELL ME YOU AREN'T BLEEDING OUT IN AN ELEVATOR
Eddie:
That would be lying and we really don't do that to each other
Buck:
WHAT
Eddie this isn't a time to be joking
Please tell me you are joking
Eddie:
I wish
I have a GSW to my right side
I think it was a through and through but I don't know
Hooks is the shooter
Buck:
Hooks?
He is literally arguing with the nurses telling them he has to get to Athena's room because the shooter is after her
Eddie:
He is the shooter Buck
Get somewhere safe, for Chris
Buck:
No Eddie
You aren't leaving me again
I won't let you
You have to hold on okay
I'm going to find you
Eddie:
Please just get somewhere safe Buck
I'm not giving up but you need to be safe just in case
Eddie waits for another reply that never comes.
“He's going to do something dumb isn't he?” Shannon asks.
“He is probably actively doing something dumb.” Eddie sighs.
“That's your man?” Shannon raises her eyebrows at him.
“That's my man.” Eddie lets out a huff of a laugh. “At least hopefully someday he will be my man.”
“He's gonna be your man. When you get out of here you will tell him.” Shannon tells him sternly.
“Sure.” Eddie chuckles
“I mean it Eddie. You know how unpredictable life can be. You need to stop waiting. You already almost lost him multiple times. Do you really want to risk it again?”
“I just don't want to chase him off like I did to you.” Eddie whispers, “Because I'm pretty sure it would kill me.”
“You moving three states away didn't chase him off. I think you're good.” Shannon reassures him.
“We will see.” Eddie mumbles, sliding down a little more.
“Eddie, you need to hold on. He is coming.”
“You'll stay till he gets here?” Eddie asks, eyes trying to stay open. “I don't want to be alone.”
“You aren't alone. Just stay awake.”
Suddenly the power kicks back on. The lights cause Eddie to squeeze his eyes shut. The elevator jerks causing pain to shoot through his side when he's jolted from the movement. Then they're moving again. But Eddie can feel himself fading.
“You will be okay Eddie.” Shannon sounds far away. “Just hold on. He's going to be here any moment.”
“Shan. Don't go.” Eddie mumbles sliding further down as the elevator stops. “Not again.”
“Eddie!” is all Eddie hears from Buck's mouth before the darkness finally wins.
“No, not yet. But it should be any time now.” A familiar voice is whispering when Eddie slowly starts to regain consciousness. He doesn't want to open his eyes just yet.
“Yeah, I’m gonna stay. I honestly don’t think I would be able to relax if I left at this point.” A moment of silence. “You don’t have to do that.” More silence. “Okay, okay Pepa. Thank you. I’ll let you know if anything changes. Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.” Then a long sigh and the sound of someone dropping into a chair that is clearly pulled up to his bed.
Suddenly there is a hand on his arm. Eddie knows who that hand belongs so. Its makes him relax even more. He can feel himself starting to drift when he hears Buck talk again.
“I really need you to stop doing this too me Eds.” Buck says softly. Eddie can hear all the emotions Buck is feeling in that whisper. “I know I have done it to you way too many times, but I just can’t handle anymore loss right now. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t gone to find you.” Buck lets out a sigh. “I’m going to be here till they let you leave. You aren't alone I promise.”
Eddie let that promise wrap him in comfort as he drifts off again.
The next time Eddie regained consciousness, he can feel a heavy weight on his arm and the room is full of Buck’s snoring. Eddie blinked slowly against the dim lights of his room. He turned his head to look at the sleeping man on his arm. Eddie winces slightly at the way Buck is currently twisted in his chair. Eddie squeezes Buck’s hand, that had moved into his own at some point. Buck immediately shoots up.
“Eddie?” He lets out a gasp. His eyes are a little wild has he looks over Eddie. Checking as if another bullet would is going to appear. “Are you okay? Are you in pain? Do you-?”
“Buck.” Eddie interrupts with a hoarse whisper. “Breath.”
“Let me get you some water.” Buck turns to grab the pitch and cup that the nurse had clearly left for him. Bringing a straw to Eddie’s mouth once it was full. “Slow.” He whispers as Eddie drinks.
“What happen?” Eddie asks, once he throat no longer felt like sandpaper.
“You were shot Eddie.” Buck says gently, not unlike how he talks to victims on calls.
“Yeah, I know that Buck. Trust me. I can feel it.” Eddie rolls his eyes. “I meant with Hooks and Athena. Is she okay?”
“Sorry.” Buck scoffs. “You weren’t really coherent when I was pulling you out of the elevator, so I didn’t know what you remembered. Athena is going to be okay. Hooks was arrested. He never made it to her room.” Buck was avoiding eye contact at this.
“What did you do?” Eddie asks, knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“I mean, he didn’t know that I knew he was the shooter. So, I played dumb and then I might have tackled him.” Buck shrugged.
“So, the opposite of staying safe like I asked.”
“Well, if I hadn’t you would have died in the at elevator.”
“And you could have died trying to stop him. And then what would have happened to Chris?” Eddie doesn’t mean to get angry with Buck.
“If I have the chance to get you home to that kid I am going to take it Eddie.” Buck says finally looking back at Eddie. “I am always going to do what I can to make sure that kid has his dad.”
“I’m sorry.” Eddie says softly after a few moments of them just staring at each other. “It just scares me how willing you are to throw yourself into danger for others.”
“You scared me so bad Eds.” Buck says, barely above a whisper. “The elevator looked like it was out of ‘The Shining’ and you were begging Shannon not to leave again. Telling her to that you didn’t want to be alone.” Eddie took a sharp breath in at this. “I thought I was going to lose you too.”
“Hey. I’m okay.” Eddie offers him his hand in comfort. “You know I am always going to fight to come home. Always.”
“I thought you were going to her.” Buck whispers, taking his hand. “I know you miss her.”
“I do. She was my best friend.” Eddie gives him a sad smile. “I saw her there with me, when I got shot. She sat with me, told me to text you. Kept bullying me about stuff.” Eddie laughs. “I know it was just my brain’s trauma response. But I wasn’t going to go with her. Not when there are people here who need me and I want to stay for.”
“I’m glad you weren’t alone at least.”
“Me too. Though I could have used a lot less of the bullying she was giving me.”
“What was she bullying you about anyway?” Buck asks laughing.
“I’ll tell you when I get out of here.” Eddie smiles. “For now, would you get the nurse? My side is on fire.”
“Oh my God Eddie! What didn’t you say something sooner? I’ll be right back.” Buck then rushes out of the room to go find a nurse. Eddie smiles at his retreating back.
Eddie is going to tell him when he gets out of here. He is determined. He’s, for once, not scared. That is going to be his man.
“You were right Shan, like always.” Eddie whispers, still smiling. “Thank you.”