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Buck looked around the station with his eyes narrowed. He’d gotten a call from Abby wanting to meet after the train derailment and he just breathed before nodding to himself. He wasn’t going to let any of the others know what was happening but instead he gathered his things and went to meet her.
Stepping up to the bench where she had asked to meet he sighed again.
“You know I had a song come on my playlist from my travels as I was coming to meet you...” Buck said without giving her a chance to talk. “And I think it was just the push that I needed. My team thinks I will just cave and listen...But they like you forget something...This dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool...to quote Queen Dolly.” Buck just stood there looking at her. “You probably have all sorta excuses and lies that you told to yourself but...” He shook his head. “I don’t need to listen. You left and ghosted me. I loved you...I stood with you through the last days of your mother’s life. I encouraged you to find yourself. I waited likely longer than I should have but...” Buck looked up and smirked for he knew that Eddie had followed him. “I’m not sitting and waiting or crying any longer. I’ve found something even better and I’m gonna grab it with both hands. I hope you have the life you deserve Abby...”
With that he walked away, not giving her a chance to speak he didn’t need to hear her out. She went on to find love and now he was willing to do the same.
“I figured you’d track me...” Buck chuckled as he walked over and sat beside Eddie. “Want to help me teach the team a lesson?”
“How so?” Eddie smirked.
“I’m gonna blow their expectations out of the sky...They think I’m a ringer...when have any of you known me to quit at anything?” Buck looked over the ocean that had tried to steal Chris from them only a few months before.
“They still don’t realize that we knew each other before finding each other at the 118 again do they?” Eddie shook his head.
“I’m too much of a golden retriever to have ever been a SEAL according to them so why would they ever think that you patched me up or that my team saved your ass on your worst day.” Buck shook his head.
“What’ve you got in mind?” Eddie chuckled.
“They’re planning on doing a karaoke night in a few nights at the start of our four off...I think this time I just might go and give them a song.” Buck chuckled in return.
“What song?” Eddie asked with mischief in his eyes. “And where are we landing after?”
“Ever hear the song Dumb Blonde?” Buck asked with a smirk tugging his lips. “I’ve been called back to action.” The amusement died in his eyes.
“I thought you were done...” Eddie looked at him with wide eyes.
“I’m reserves and since I’m fighting fit again there’s a mission they need me for...I’m done after though. I’m already talkin to Captain Mehta to transfer when I return...Or Captain Cooper.” Buck sighed. “Bobby’ll get the paperwork the shift after our four. When I’m already in the air.”
“Fuck...” Eddie sighed before nodding, “Let’s do it then...I’ll get a sitter for Chris...after you come back to mine...What are you doing with your loft?”
“Renting it out as an AirBnB through a company that will pay the rent even if no one’s staying.” Buck answered carefully.
Two days later Buck entered the karaoke bar that the team had chosen for the night out. He moved over to the person in charge of the song selection to make sure they had the song he wanted to do. He also set up connection with the projector that would put up images he wanted to have shared to help them realize what was happening. He bought the first few rounds, laughing with the group and just enjoying this time. He watched as Maddie and Howie did their little duet while Hen and Karen took turns separately. He laughed when Eddie got up there and did a fun rendition of 9 to 5. When the night was wrapping up Buck slipped away to make sure that the person manning the computer was ready before he took his place on the stage. He looked toward Bobby, Hen, Maddie, and Chimney who had upped their teasing and taunts since they had found out that Abby had been back with a fiancé of all things.
“Don’t try to cry your way out of this
Don’t try to lie or I’ll catch you in it
Don’t try to make me feel sorry for you
Just because I’m blonde
Don’t think I’m dumb
‘Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool” The screen behind him changed from the lyrics to images of his graduation from college, it was clear he was young only 17. And it was clear that it was a university because the image was him in front of the schools main sign. He was in a military uniform with the gown open over it.
“When you left you thought I’d sit
And you thought I’d wait
And you thought I’d cry
You called me a dumb blonde (Dumb blonde)
Ah, but somehow I lived through it
And you know if there’s one thing this blonde has learned
Blondes have more fun” The image changed through pictures of him going through basic and then BUDs and Hell-week. The group that he worked with and the way it paired down quickly with more and more dropping while he exceeded. They watched as he laughed in some of the images while others it was clear that he’d flipped the necessary switch.
“You flew too high up off the ground
It’s stormy weather and had to come back down
But I’ve found new thread for my old spool
Just because I’m blonde
Don’t think I’m dumb
‘Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool” Images of him when it wouldn’t compromise mission integrity. Several of him studying from large books or talking with wild gestures. More pictures of him at graduations or just holding a degree, each one a different level from bachelor’s to doctorates.
“When you left you thought I’d sit
And you thought I’d wait
And you thought I’d cry
You called me a dumb blonde
Ah, but somehow I lived through it
And you know if there’s one thing this blonde has learned
Blondes have more fun” An image of him and Eddie clearly from before the 118 laughing together and joking around. Hen and Chimney blinked looking between the pair while Bobby just sat back in shock. Maddie was blank as Buck looked at her as he sang the part about when the person had left each time with a raised eyebrow.
“You flew too high up off the ground
It’s stormy weather and had to come back down
But I’ve found new thread for my old spool
Just because I’m blonde
Don’t think I’m dumb
‘Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool” The last image was a current Buck back in his SEAL uniform standing at the ready.
As the song ended there was some shock but people were clapping for him. He then moved to the person manning the computer and got the USB he’d given him back before he returned to the table.
“What was that?” Maddie snarled.
“That was the truth of my life Maddie.” Buck stated standing before the table with his arms crossed. “The postcards? Picked up on leaves visiting the family of team members. Mom and Dad checked out and would sign anything. They put me into Military School only bringing me home as soon as they knew you would be there so that they could keep up the belief that it was one big happy family. I know about Daniel, it’s amazing what the military would find out when doing background checks. I’ve known since I was 10. I graduated high school at 12 and got my first bachelor’s at 17. I’ve got degrees in several areas; I speak 5 different languages fluently and 4 others passing. Joined the Navy directly out of school as soon as I was old enough to do so. I never rang out.” He directed that to Bobby. “That was just your assumption I never corrected it. I’ve been in the reserves for the past five years. I’m being called back. The paperwork will be on your desk at the start of your next shift. I’ll be in the air at that time. I leave tomorrow. That is the only reason I agreed to come out tonight as my final goodbye. When I return...If I come back to the LAFD it won’t be at the 118.”
“Buck...” Bobby looked gutted.
“You may have let me back on the truck you may have let me participate and the group here might have ‘forgiven me’ for the lawsuit but the rest of the house has not. Because you haven’t come out with the truth. I won the suit.” Buck said his expression firm. “It was found that I had legal grounds. I was offered a multi-million dollar settlement but I just wanted to return to work. I’m returning to my first family and team. Those I know can have my back. One that won’t slut-shame or victim blame me or make dumb blonde jokes and claim that it’s only joking when the one being joked about isn’t laughing.” He looked at Chimney with a glare on his face. “And Mads don’t worry...you won’t be the one contacted for any medical decisions...not that you ever had the right and the only reason I still have my leg is because the hospital actually followed procedure and called my first Medical Power of Attorney.”
“I’ve put in for a transfer as well. For the time that Buck’s gone I’ll be getting more training in Heavy Rescue and Search and Rescue qualifications while working as the media liaison at Dispatch. The team that doesn’t have my partners back doesn’t have my trust to have mine. As shown in the pictures of us on base we knew each other before. We lost contact because of assholes informing us that the other was dead. In case you don’t realize that was my ex-wife and my parents.” Eddie stood shoulder to shoulder with Buck. “I’ve seen him at his worse and at his best and I’m not about to let him go where I can’t follow again. The only reason that I’m not following him into a war zone is because of my medical discharge and our son.”
“Your son?” Athena asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Our son.” Buck smirked and that was when they finally noticed the wedding band tattoos on their ring fingers that were matching. “You guys have been what I wish my parents were.” He looked at Bobby and Athena. “But...” He looked fully at Bobby. “You let it affect my job to much. I love you like a father but I can’t work with you as my captain.”
“I understand...” Bobby looked as if he was wishing he had something alcoholic in front of him but also so proud.
“So, what degrees do you have?” Karen asked with a smirk, she was one of the only ones that knew how intelligent he actually was.
“I’m not sharing that right now. I’ve got a son to get home to so that we can have one more night together before I ship out.” Buck shook his head. “I just needed to say goodbye my way.”
There were hugs from his friends, though Maddie refused to acknowledge him and what he was saying in her mind he was still the small 9 year old boy she left behind. Chimney supported her and also refused to acknowledge the words that he had said to them as one of the reasons he would no longer work at the 118 when he returned. Neither would realize until they were called in to the higher ups of their work that he had done exit interviews that called many of their actions and behaviors into question.
When Buck returned stateside 18 months later he was met at the airport by Eddie, Chris, Bobby, Athena, Hen, Karen, Abuela, Tia Pepa, May, Harry, and Denny. Maddie and Chimney had moved to Boston in the time that he had been out of touch and had a daughter. Bruised, cut up, and battered Buck only smiled as he met his state-side family again. He didn’t go to a station due to the rebreak of his bad leg that had happened at the end of the mission he instead went to the academy and became one of their best instructors turning out many fabulous firefighters with skills that exceeded those normally looked for. Records that he had broken were in turn broken by those that he taught to his exceeding pride. Bobby followed him to the academy and Eddie stayed at Dispatch but instead of being Media Liaison he became an operator to replace Maddie. Chris ended up following in Buck’s footsteps and graduating early from High School and finishing his first degree before he had even turned 18. He turned to robotics and medicine for his degrees. Buck never did share the number of degrees he had since it was amusing to have the family dinners where Hen and Karen both were still attempting to guess.