Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Unknown number
Friday night had been nothing out of the ordinary. After their shift, everyone had gotten their things for the weekend and headed to their homes to enjoy 48 hours off.
Since they didn't have to be on shift until Monday morning, Eddie had planned a weekend get away for just him and Christopher.
It had been awhile since they'd gotten to just hang the two of them and call it true quality time. Chris was a teenager now and Eddie was taking advantage of his sons willingness to still go on some father son trips. (He wasn't that uncool yet.)
The team was all aware they would be gone for the weekend and Buck had volunteered to grab his mail Saturday morning since Eddie was paranoid someone would take his coupons from the mailbox.
They were set to leave in a few hours, pretty much right after dinner. As Eddie left to finish packing, Buck and the rest of the 118 also parted ways.
Buck had planned an easy night, and an overall relaxing weekend. Since Eddie was gone he didn't have plans to go out. Everyone else was busy with their kids and Ravi had a date night planned with May.
When Buck got home he quickly showered off his day and opened a beer. He put on a movie and made his way to the kitchen.
He spent the night watching old movies and baking scones and muffins. He figured he'd drop some batches off to everyone over the weekend as a little pre-pick me up before their week started again.
After everything was packaged, cleaned and put away, Buck found himself in the shower once more. When he was done he got himself ready for bed. He check the time, 10:03 P.M. before turning in for the night, he sent a final text to Eddie and Chris in their group chat: Drive safe you guys! Have fun!
"Thanks Buck! We're heading out within the next 30 minutes. Running a bit behind. We'll text you when we are there."
Buck and Eddie had gotten even closer in the last few months. After Bucks mom had snapped on him 5 months ago, Eddie had really become his person even more so than he already had been.
A few months ago, Buck and Eddie had a...moment... in his kitchen. He really wasn't sure what to label it as. Or for that matter, what to label them as. Eddie and him and a minor confession of feelings. It wasn't the big *kiss in the rain and confess my undying love* scene Buck had been picturing for the last 7 years, but it was real. It was nice.
Both Buck and Eddie had agreed to circle back to their feelings for one another once Buck had gotten into a better place after his parents...visit, to say the least...it left him emotionally damaged and fragile.
Eddie didn't want their relationship to start off on fresh wounds that hadn't had time to heal. He also didn't want Buck to think he was taking advantage of him in that vulnerable state. Buck knew he wasn't but agreed to hold off on starting anything between them because he too was a romantic and wanted it work. Really work.
It's been 5 months and they hadn't circled back to it yet. That being said, things haven't exactly been the same either. The two of them spent about half of their off days with one another, and every shift attached at the hip.
They called all the time when Eddie wasn't busy or hanging with Chris; and when they were in one anothers presence, they had gotten a bit more physical than they had been.
Nothing intense; hand holding, leaning on one another, and occasionally cuddling on the couch.
They had tried to keep it discrete until they were ready to make it official, but subtle and discrete and never been something either one of them had ever been good at.
The team, though not suprised, decided to go along with the "subtle and discrete" plan. So while the two of them thought they were sneaky, the rest of the team snapped quick pictures, made bets, and communicated about it within their group chat.
Eddie was gone this weekend and Buck was laying in bed thinking to himself how to bring up the topic of them finally making it official. He felt good now. Back to himself. He was confident in his family, and for the first time in...well ever...himself. He finally felt ready to go all in with Eddie.
Buck wasn't sure when he drifted off but at somepoint while lost in thought about Eddie, he had fallen asleep. A small smile stuck on his face.
Ring ring.
Buck didn't wake.
Ring ring.
Slowly, without lifting his head from the pillow, Buck grabbed his phone and accepted the call without opening his eyes.
"..hmmello.." Buck mumbled.
"Hello. This is officer Marino, I am with the LAPD, am I speaking with a Mr. Evan Buckley?"
In an instant Buck jolted awake.
LAPD? He glances at the time...2:33 a.m.
His chest tighten.
"This is him..." he was frozen.
"I am so sorry to have to inform you like this but as the emergency contact for Edmundo Diaz I have to regretfully let you know he has been killed in a home invasion earlier this morning. As the on file legal guardian for his son...Christopher Diaz, we ask you meet the officers at his residence to take custody of his son. Again, I am so sorry to have to inform you like this.
Bucks face drained of all color. The phone fell from his hand. He forgot how to breathe, struggling with every breath. His body beginning to tremble and the tears slowly, slightly falling from his eyes.
No.
No.
He can't...
He isn't..
No..
Oh god... Christopher...
Without really understanding what was happening, Buck lept out of bed. He grabbed his keys and wallet and left without locking the door.
He drove in silence.
Shaking.
Eyes locked on the road and hands gripped so tightly around the wheel his knuckles were white.
No.
Buck thought.
No, he isn't. He can't...
Buck didn't believe it. He dialed Eddie's number waiting for him to pick up. Praying he'd pick up.
Ring ring...
Ring ring...
Ring ring..
Come on Eddie...
Ring ring...
Ring ring..
Ring..."Hey this is Eddie, I can't take your call right now so please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Fuck. Oh my god. No...
Bucks trembling turned into an uncontrollable shake. He was holding his breath. This wasn't real. There's no...
And then, Buck turned onto Eddie's street. The street that was once quiet now lined with police cars and several ambulances. Lights flashing across his face so blinding he was getting angry. Several officers were now coming out of Eddies home. Eddie and Chris were no where to be scene.
Then Buck saw Athena.
Slammimg on his brakes, Buck jumped out and started towards her before the car had fully stopped.
He ran towards Athena, each step felt heavier than the last as his own panic started to take over. When he got close enough to where Athena had spotted him, he broke.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Buck cried.
Tears streaming down his face, body shaking, and his voice cracking.
"WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED?...Wh..what happened..." Buck was now face to face with Athena, nearly crumbling in her arms. "What...i don't...i can't..."
"Buck baby..." Athena wide eyed and now holding him trying to calm him. "Honey no no...he's okay, Eddie's fine. Chris is fine."
"No...i...i..." Buck couldn't breathe. Nothing was making sense. He just kept replaying that phone call in his head, not really able to take in any new information. "They...they said..."
"Shhhh. Honey, I promise you he's okay. They aren't home. We already swept the house...he isn't home, he isn't in there." Athena now holding him in a bear hug trying to ease his fears.
"But, they said...i got a call..." Buck gasping in between breaths.
"Who called you hun? Who called you Buck?"
"LAPD." Buck cried.
"What? What do you mean?" Athena was more confused than ever.
Buck struggled to speak as he was still not convinced Eddie was okay. He had yet to see proof he was alive.
"An...an officer called. Woke me up...Marino. They said Eddie had been..." Bucks voice hitched up and he choked the words out. "Killed. Home invasion. Asked....asked me to get Chris..."
And with that Buck buried his face into Athenas chest and cried. He was shaking so hard Athena was almost convinced he was having a seizure at one point.
Athena was confused as hell. Who from LAPD would make such a reckless call before confirming something so crucial.
"Buck, hey baby..." Athena pulled Bucks face to look at hers. "Shhh. it's okay. Eddies okay, look I'm gonna call him for you and..."
"He didn't...answer"
"Well I'm gonna try anyways...he knows better than to ignore my call...even at 3 a.m."
Athena tried to sound relaxed but she was a little afraid that if Eddie didn't answer she'd have to sedate Buck to calm him down.
As the phone rang Athena kept her eyes off Buck and locked onto the call screen. Buck kept his eyes on the screen as well, frozen, holding his breath.
It rang once...no answer.
Twice...three times...
"Hmmm?" Eddie moaned from the other end of the phone. Clearly he had been asleep.
Buck gasped and fell apart, crumbling to the crib from relief.
"Hey!! Hey Eddie." Athena let out a long sigh of relief, a small chuckles in her voice.
She knew Eddie wasn't in the house but this whole situation had made even her, a bit emotional.
"It's Athena. Just calling to see if you and Chris are okay?"
Eddie heard Buck crying on the other end and slowly panic filled him in return.
"We fine? Athena what happened? What's going on? Is Buck okay?"
"Bucks fine. He is just a bit shaken up. Worried about you is all."
"Me? Why? He knew we were leaving... Oh shit...I forgot to text him we made it. Did he call you?" Eddie now more wide awake, was still becoming increasingly more confused.
"No no... Dispatch got a call to your house that there had been a break in. Officers and medics were requested. It appears to be a false alarm. Buck got a call too. Someone claiming to be an officer for LAPD. They stated you had been killed during said home invansion. Asked Buck to come get custody of Christopher. As you can imagine that freaked him out pretty good."
There was a pause.
"Put him on the phone." Eddie demanded.
Athena passed Buck the phone and sat on the crib alongside him.
"Buck? Can you hear me?" Eddie asked.
"Mmm..hmm" Buck whimpered out. Trying to compose himself.
"Listen to me. I'm okay. Chris is okay. Your okay. Everyone is okay." Eddie stated so matter of factly, yet so gentle.
"Eddie I.. " Buck started
"I know. Its okay. I promise you I'm okay Buck. Try and take some deep breaths with me, okay?"
Eddie walked Buck through some deep breaths and continued to talk him down. Athena rubbing his back to help ground him physically.
Buck managed to stop crying and even his breathing out, but the shaking would not subside.
"Put me on speaker Buck." Eddie finally said.
Buck complied. Still gripping the phone but now holding it between him and Athena trying to steady his hand.
"Athena, let's circle back real quick to the house. You said there was a call made about a break in? Do you know who made the call? Does it look like someone broke in?"
"Caller is unknown but we are following up to see if this unknown number was a concerned neighbor or...someone else. It does not appear that anyone has entered the house, or has even tried to get in. Officers are still doing a final sweep and taking some pictures to be on the safe side."
"Do I need to come home? Deal with any of this?" Eddie asked hesitantly.
"No, not necessarily. If it turns out to be some sort of prank call we'll deal with the caller ourselves. We can conduct a deeper investigation as long as you give your consent for us to search the house more intensly and enter while your gone." Athena said.
"Go ahead and check the house. I don't want to bring Chris back until your confident both as a cop and as a mom, its all good." Eddie paused. "Athena, how convinced are you the officer who called Buck was actually with the LAPD"
Athena glanced at Buck, then back to the other officers still on scene. "Not very. Why?"
"You think its apart of the prank?" Buck asked queitly.
"Could be. Wouldn't be surprised. Lots of people pull these 'hilarious' pranks." Athena grunted.
"Hmm.." Eddie huffed.
"What is it Eds?" Buck asked.
"If this was all a prank...how did they know you would get Chris?" Eddie asked, sounding concerned once again.
"I mean, I'm your emergency contact." Buck stated.
"Yes but thats different than being the legal guardian for Chris. Thats not information thats on an emergency contact form."
They all paused. Nobody said anything for a beat. Buck and Athena looking at one another before Athena finally broke the tension.
"Hey Buck, hand me your phone. I want to see the number that called you."
Buck took his phone from his pocket and handed it to Athena. Athena opened the call log and called back the unknown number from 2:33 a.m.
They all say silent to hear who would answer.
"I'm sorry but the number you've dialed is no longer in service, If you believe this to be an err..."
Bucks eyes widen and locked onto Athenas face, which had quickly twisted up with discomfort. Eddie could be heard lightly cussing on the other line.
"Well. What do we do with that? How am I supposed to take that?" Eddie asked. Clearly frustrated.
"Eddie I'm going to email you some forms to sign and send back that will give me consent to open a bigger investigation on your behave until you get home Sunday. I don't trust this."
"Ya okay, thank you. Are you sure I don't need to be home?"
"No stay, its only two days, plus if your okay with it we can have officers in the house do a deep search to see if anything can help us. You might prefer to be out of the house while they do that."
Eddie didn't respond right away.
"Hey Buck? Do you want me to come back early? You doing okay?" Eddie asked.
"Oh, don't worry about me! Its....its okay! Like Athena said with the ugh, cops in your way- you might be better off enjoying a hotel room and still getting your weekend with Chris rather than dodging cops in ur halls all-day...so stay. Enjoy your weekend, I'll help Athena when needed. You rest!"
Buck was trying to be convincing.
He didn't want Eddie to miss out on his weekend but he was petrified. He wanted more than anything to wrap his arms around Eddie and feel his heartbeating beneath his hands. He wanted to see Eddies chest rise and fall and those big brown eyes staring back at him. The phone call had helped ease his mind Eddie was alright but Buck couldn't really relax. Especially with this unknown caller having some sick twisted idea that any of this was funny.
Buck must have sounded convincing enough, and it definitely helped both of them were tired and probably not fully paying attention to each other's tells. Eddie had agreed to stay at the hotel and enjoy his time with Chris.
"Okay. Well I'll keep my phone on if you need to call me for anything this weekend and I'll email you those forms back Athena."
"Alright sounds good Eddie. We will keep you updated and you do the same. See you Sunday sweetheart." Athena said.
"Will do. See you Sunday. Oh. Hey Buck..."
Eddie said before they hung up.
"Ya?" Buck asked.
"I'm okay. Get some sleep, try not to stress. Everyone is okay." Eddie said gently.
"Okay." Buck whispered.
And with that, they call ended.
Buck took in a deep breath and Athena helped them both to their feet. She glance at Buck one more time before realizing he wasn't wearing shoes.
"Hey Buckaroo...where are your shoes?"
"Oh. I must have left to quickly to have actually put any on."
Athena bit her bottom lip, worrying Buck might not be as okay as he had told Eddie. She knew how he cared for him and how he never let things go...let alone, something like this.
They started walking back to Bucks car when Athena grabbed Bucks shoulder.
"Why don't you come and stay and my house tonight? It's closer than your place, it's late, and your still all nerves. It'd make me feel better you weren't driving as far distracted." Athena explained.
"Okay." Buck answered.
Usually he would have tried to put up a fight, saying he didn't want to impose or he would want Athena to get some rest. But not tonight. Tonight he did not want to be alone. Tonight he wanted Athena nearby incase that number called back. Tonight he wanted his family.
They drove separately but arrived within seconds of one another. Athena got Buck set up in the guest room before they said their goodnights and went off to bed.
Buck looked at the clock; 4:57 a.m.
Thank god they didn't work tomorrow...well, today.
Bucks eyes grew heavy and sleep washed over him. He felt himself taken under by pure exhaustion- both emotionally and physically. Luckily for him he'd be able to get a few hours of sleep before he was up for the day.
Little did Buck know, this would be the last time he would sleep for the foreseeable future.