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Buck looked at the stair climber before him and stepped on. He was in full gear even though he was off shift. He began climbing keeping a fast steady pace. He fought the tears that flowed from his eyes. He may have told people that he didn’t know what he was going to do when he left Hershey but deep down he stopped lying to himself. He remembered where he was when the world stopped turning and black smoke filled the air. He remembered watching as the first tower fell. He remembered seeing the shock on so many faces and hearing about all the lives lost especially those that had run into the smoke and chaos instead of away. He’d known that day that he would be one of those that ran in to danger instead of away from it if it was the last thing he did.
He hadn’t told any of the rest of his team what he would be doing that day. He hadn’t told them his decision on their day off to be one of the many who did the stair climb. It was twenty-five years since the towers had fallen when he was ten years old sitting at school. He would climb those steps even if his leg was screaming by the end. Even if he wondered if he should even be a firefighter any more. He was so grateful that the nightmare he’d had since the lab hadn’t really happened and that he hadn’t lost Bobby to a random disease, that he had remembered that the type of illness that they were warned against wasn’t an airborne disease and they looked into what else the lab had been manufacturing allowing them to make the changes necessary. The fact though that Bobby was now officially medically retired due to the scaring on his lungs from the event and the damage to his heart made work hard. Chimney had been promoted even though he didn’t have the necessary requirements for the promotion. Even though Chimney continued to attempt to destroy Buck’s career on the say so of his sister. He’d lost his passion for the job something he never thought would happen. But for now he’d wear his full gear, something he’d secretly gotten permission from the Chief to take from the station, and he would climb the 110 flights of stairs while fully weighted down with gear as the men and women who had run into the towers had done. Chimney and Hen would be sitting at home with their families. Eddie was somewhere with Chris, they didn’t talk outside of work and even there it was rarely any sort of meaningful conversations ever since Buck had chewed Eddie out for cheating on Marisol with Kim and not actually working on his grief in therapy like he was supposed to. Yeah he was pissed at Kim for showing up looking like Shannon and playing on Eddie’s grief as she did but he was also pissed at Eddie for actually letting her into Chris’s safe space. He was also pissed at Chris for calling his grandparents instead of him and had been glad that he had been there to stop them from leaving the state with the kid. He’d pointed out the stupidity of doing so with the fact that Chris still had doctor appointments and such that he needed to attend. He’d taken Chris in with him until he was willing to work with his therapist and his dad but after they had mended things they had all but ghosted Buck.
Now he was dealing with shit at work and at home, he’d moved out of the loft that he had lived in for a few years wanting something that was just one level. He missed the connection that he had with Eddie, he missed the easy comradery that they’d had at the station as a family that had all changed through the years. He hated the way that he was seen as the idiot probie he had first been and how everyone was making jokes about his past as if it wasn’t a trauma for him. He used the frustration and anger to push through the pain that the stair climb was causing as he continued at a steady pace. He thought back to the dream that he’d had the night before and couldn’t help but shake his head because there was no way for that to happen with the way everyone looked at him as if he was an idiot. He made a mental note to visit Bobby and talk to him about it because he had been the cause of the dream in a roundabout way. After all it was during his recovery from his heart attack that they had both gotten into watching Master Chef and debating if they’d be able to make the things mentioned on the show or if they’d be able to do the challenges that were given. But to have him and Bobby along with Eddie’s sister Adriana all on the show and attempting to win was something that could only happen in a dream.
When he finished the climb, he’d made sure to time it to the moment that the first tower fell when he started. Tears were flowing from his face and he slowed to a stop, making sure to take it easy as he did so not wanting to cause cramping or other issues. He took the towel gratefully from one of the people that had stopped to watch him do it, there were those that realized what he was doing and had hopped up beside him even without gear on. The tears were from the memories and from his decision. Nodding to the watchers he stripped from his gear carefully and left the gym he had chosen outside of the zone of the 118. He loaded his things in his truck and then after a quick shower and change at home headed for Headquarters.
“Chief Alonzo...” Buck stated as he entered holding an envelope in his hands, hands that were shaking slightly as he took a deep breath. “I am regretful to inform you that because of irreparable differences between myself and the main team of the 118 that I am tendering my resignation effective immediately.” He handed over the thick envelope. “You will find there the reasons with time stamps all the way back to my first year as a probie at the station. It was an honor to serve the LAFD but I don’t trust them to have my back any longer nor for my sister not to misuse dispatch resources to control me if I were to just transfer stations.”
“Where will you go?” Alonzo asked gently.
“I have had offers all over the states through the years though I have refused all of them. Instead, I will be heading to Hawaii and taking up my CO’s offer to join his team there in the 5-0.” Buck stated simply.
Chief Alonzo was one of the only people to know that he was formerly a SEAL and didn’t actually ring out because he himself had been one at one point. “It is a great loss for this Department but thank you for your years of service.”
“I will leave my gear with you so that it may be returned to the station. I have already emptied my things from there over the past few shifts without them realizing. I just wasn’t sure until I was doing the Climb if I was going this step or asking for transfer.” Buck stated simply before turning and leaving as soon as he was dismissed. He knew that he was leaving a bomb in his wake with the fallout that would happen when the information that he shared in his resignation letter was made known. He knew that he was killing not only Chimney’s career but also Eddie’s but he didn’t let himself grieve that for long. Instead, he got in his truck and drove to Bobby and Athena’s house. He felt it would be better for them to hear it from him instead of anyone else. “Hey Pops...you got a moment...”
“Where are you going?” Bobby asked without preamble.
“Hawaii...I’m gonna join the 5-0 there...I may have bluffed a bit in my probie year by saying I only tried for the SEALs...I...I’m joining my CO from them...the warmth will be good for my leg. I thought about joining the department in Minnesota, your old house there put in a lieutenant offer but...” Buck gave a tight smile and shrug, he should’ve known the man would know the truth without him having to say anything.
“But your sister and her husband have been a hinderance to you long enough...” Bobby nodded. “Maybe when I can talk Athena into retiring we can come see you there. Maybe even move there.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Buck gave a tight smile. “My flight leaves in two days...The others’ll be on shift and learning about my resignation then. I’m not informing anyone but you and Ma...” He looked over at Athena. “I’m sorry I can’t continue to look after Harry but...he’s joined in the ‘teasing’ that the rest of the shift do toward me...Only Ravi hasn’t joined in even though he hasn’t spoken up at all against what is going on. Even though Wells was fired with cause and stripped of her license do to extreme misconduct with a jail sentence they still treat it as if it was voluntary on my part to be raped and joke about me sleeping with my therapist during a session after my first loss on the job. And that is only one of the ‘jokes’ that are going around and not being dealt with in that house...I just...I’ll be getting a new phone before I leave, you two will be the only ones I’m giving my number...I don’t even want Maddie to have it ever...I’m cutting all ties...” He looked back at Bobby with tired eyes.
“We’ll make sure they don’t find out.” Athena whispered pain in her eyes. She remembered May saying how Bobby brought a kid into the family when Buck was in his coma and knew deep within her heart that he was just as much her kid as the two she gave birth to. “I’m proud of you for knowing when to step away. And I’m glad that you won’t be cutting those ties with Bobby and I. Now come in and have a final dinner with us. Harry’s off with Denny doing something and May’s studying at her apartment.”
“I’d like that...” Buck gave a tight smile before entering the house and breathing deep for what felt like the first time in a long time. “I need to tell Bobby about this crazy dream I had the other night after falling asleep watching the latest Master Chef so we could talk about it...”
“I look forward to hearing about it...” Bobby gave a sad sorta smile as he placed his arm around his heart-son and lead him into the kitchen. “You can help me fix something for us all to enjoy while you tell me about it and we can toast those we lost 25 years ago. Don’t think I didn’t see the video that popped up about a firefighter from the 118 performing the stair climb to be perfectly timed with the arrival to the fall...” His voice got choked. He had been one of those that had left Minnesota to help with the searching in the rubble.
Two days later Bobby drove Buck to the airport early in the morning so that he would be on the plane and leaving before the rest would arrive at the station. Giving his son a hug, they had gone to a courthouse and finalized the adult adoption that Bobby and Athena had been working on in secret the day before. He promised that they would be to visit before he knew it and then watched as he disappeared through security knowing that because of the events 25 years before he wouldn’t be able to go to the gate with him and watch from there. Taking a deep breath, he exited the airport and returned home, he was helping Buck with being his POA and being the one to facilitate the selling of his house, truck, and other goods that he wasn’t taking with him and had a meeting with a lawyer to make sure things went smoothly with that since they knew Maddie would attempt to take over if the contract wasn’t iron tight.
At the 118 station there was absolute bedlam as Chief Alonzo arrived and called them all to attention. He then looked over the team with his arms crossed and a glare on his face.
“Effective immediately this whole shift is suspended pending investigation into the harassment of a fellow firefighter that felt quitting before being sent home in a coffin was the best way to go. Before that though there will be two changes from the investigation that has already been active. Eddie Diaz, you will report immediately to the academy and attend the necessary courses to be a paramedic before you cause us a lawsuit or you will report to your new station as a firefighter only.” Alonzo glared toward Eddie, “Just know this you will be at a different station since a majority of this team will be separated since it has created a toxic environment.”
“Excuse me sir,” Ravi spoke up, “but shouldn’t we wait for Firefighter Buckley?”
“Firefighter Buckley is why we are here. He came to me on the 11th and handed in his resignation effective immediately because of irreparable differences.” Alonzo glared at Ravi and then at the rest of the house. “He left a twenty-five page report with time stamps leading all the way back to his first year as a probational firefighter as to what has been going on and why he felt that he could no longer trust his team to have his back.” He snarled; he had to admit that he enjoyed the slight flinch from Diaz at the statement about having his back. “Captain Han, it has come to the attention of HR and all those in the upper levels that you have none of the necessary qualifications beyond time in the field with which would earn you the promotion that you were given. It was also revealed that you were only given that promotion due to blackmail and intimidation and therefore we are letting you go affective immediately. You will be hearing from the lawyers and the police for your actions and fraud. You will gather your things and leave immediately.”
Chimney sputtered looking around with wide eyes before they narrowed as he mentally started to blame Buck for this happening. He made mental plans to inform Maddie as soon as he was home and then work with her to make Buck’s life hell now that he was no longer his subordinate. Little did he know things were going bad for Maddie at work at the same moment.
“Maddie I’d like to speak to you in my office please.” Sue spoke firmly before leading the way and gesturing for Maddie to sit. “I know you’ve not been back long since the birth of little Kevin but I’m afraid that some information has come to light recently and we are going to have to let you go.”
“What?!” Maddie sputtered with wide eyes.
“We’ve learned that you’ve been using dispatch resources to interfere with your brother’s lively hood as well as tracking him.” Sue answered evenly. “This along with the points where you interfered with his medical when you were not at any point his Medical Power of Attorney as well as the time that you were stalking a victim of domestic abuse all add up. Therefore, we are letting you go affective immediately. Please turn in your badge and gather your things.”
Maddie sputtered before doing as asked and then gathering her things. She attempted to vent to Linda and Josh but they sneered at her and told her not to bother. They had both warned her what could happen if she continued to re-route calls that her brother was skilled for to another house as well as the fact that she was interfering with things she had no right to. She was just lucky the re-routed calls hadn’t ended in death because of the time it took for the other houses to get there to assist when the 118 was closer. They had been two of the people to report her after a close call the last time she had done so. She hadn’t dared while Bobby was Captain but as soon as Nash was retired and her husband put in his place she had made calls that were in no way hers to make.
When she got home and found out that Howie had been fired as well, and they would later learn that they were both blacklisted from ever working in a first responder position ever again, she had been pissed at her brother. The feelings only increased after she attempted to call him and learned his number was no longer in service. She drove over to his house, still angry that he had a nicer place than she did, only to find a For Sale sign out in front and no sign of her brother’s vehicle in the driveway.
Three weeks later when Buck got a call from CPS attempting to place his niece and nephew with him he explained that he was unable to take guardianship of them and why. He didn’t believe that he could connect with them without seeing the pain and hurt that their parents had caused him through the years and felt it wouldn’t be fair to the children. They were placed in the system and while Maddie was fined for her actions and blacklisted Chimney actually went to prison due to the truth of some of his actions that had happened.
Four years after Buck left LA and the 118 Bobby and Athena moved to Hawaii into the small in-law cottage that he had remodeled on his property. Hen had fully left the fire department after one scare to many for Karen. Harry had thrived after being transferred to a different training station that helped him see the toxic environment that he had been supporting, Sal Deluca taking him under his wing as a favor to the man that had actually inadvertently helped him by transferring him to a different station after his insubordination. Ravi, after speaking with a therapist, left the LAFD and focused only on his apartments and other investments he had going on.
Eddie and Chris moved back to Texas, though to Austin where Eddie joined the 126 team as a dual certified firefighter/paramedic and finally realized that he was asexual but forcing himself to ‘perform’ for his parents by having girlfriends and attempting to make things work. Chris got into a University in Austin which is what lead to his father transferring. Eddie had reached out through social media to Buck to apologize after really putting in the work in therapy after finding a therapist that didn’t take any of his toxic masculinity bullshit. Buck never responded beyond a ‘too little too late’.
Maddie had gotten her children back and moved back to Hershey with the Buckley’s after divorcing Chimney when it came out that he had been lying about a lot of things to her and others. Chimney actually ended up mouthing off to the wrong person in prison within his second year of a seven year sentence and ended up being killed. It was later learned in autopsy that he had an infection growing in his brain that developed from rust left behind from the rebar in Buck’s first year that affected a lot of his actions.
As for Buck he thrived in his new position and finally found love in a place he never expected but was grateful for. He got married with his feet in the ocean and his service dog sitting at ease beside him. He’d found that while he could do the job as a cop he wasn’t ready, nor would he ever be again, to hold a gun without having a break down later. He had instead started working at the food truck with Kamekona and found a passion where he started his own food truck to park beside Kamekona. Bobby and Athena both walked him down the aisle and posted pictures celebrating the marriage of their oldest child. The family he left behind realized that he had healed outside of their actions and moved past them finding a new family that supported him in all ways. He still did the climb every anniversary, with Bobby beside him until the day they finally said their final goodbye, though as the years went by Bobby would be sitting to the side cheering him on when he could no longer physically do the climb himself. Buck would continue the climb until like Bobby he couldn’t any more but he would still show up and cheer on those that did never wanting the memory to fall away of what had happened on September 11, 2001 in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania.