#and make bobby and athena get a house faster

[perfectlysunny02]

Dear 911,

may i have a job as a writer? i promise im good. my 800 followers on tumblr and my 300 ao3 subscribers can vouch for me. i’ll get viewers back.

[apollabarnes]

part seven

"evan didn't do anything wrong," tommy protests, athena's words bouncing around in his head.

"did anyone cheat?"

tommy shakes his head.

"did anyone break the law?"

now it's tommy's turn to arch an eyebrow at her. "even if we did, i wouldn't narc to a cop about it before the statute of limitations ran out."

she laughs at him. it's better than athena getting her scalpel out again. "those are the two things that would mean this mess was only one person's fault."

"the only two things?" tommy asks dubiously.

"the only ones that pertain to the two of you," athena assures him. "so, it's on both of you that you're broken up."

"great pep talk." tommy's voice is dry as the desert, partly on purpose and partly because he's — well, dehydrated.

"drink your tea." athena taps her fingers against the counter until he takes a drink. it's sweet enough to make his teeth ache, and tommy wonders when he told athena how he took it.

"so the thing about buck," she starts.

tommy tenses. he can't blame athena for taking advantage of the perfect opportunity to push. he's already off kilter and he's been avoiding the subject for weeks. if she hammers at the right weak spot he's going to crack. hell, at this point maybe he should — it's not as if anything else has been working for him.

"a lot of people would call him reckless. he has a tendency to run headfirst into situations that don't look great."

tommy shrugs. he can see why people might think that. the hurricane, the bees, riding a motorcycle into oncoming traffic with two flares and nothing else — he called evan impulsive once, but if you ask tommy that's not the same as reckless.

"and he does do that. but buck…" she trails off, leaning forward to make sure that tommy is looking at her. he stares back, almost afraid to breathe. "he's the best at risk assessment i've ever seen. and he does it faster than the rest of us, which is why he'll run into something when we're still trying to figure out if it's safe for us."

oh fuck. forget breathing, tommy wants to throw up. he doesn't, because the last time he threw up he was worried about telling sal he was gay. (it was fine.) he catches athena edging away from the table and waves a hand. he's fine. "i'm pretty sure this is one of those things you aren't supposed to be telling me."

"tommy," athena says firmly, "you basically had a panic attack about sleeping with your ex. and it's not like buck's been walking on sunshine since…"

"last week."

athena frowns and taps her finger against the table. "hmm," she nods to herself. "he's been even worse about that long."

tommy gets hung up on the even. even worse. that means that he was… what? upset about the breakup? something else? evan had mentioned eddie leaving and maddie being kidnapped, and tommy knows that wouldn't have been easy to deal with, but he'd never mentioned missing tommy. true, they hadn't exactly done a lot of talking after they'd gotten to the house, but — "what do you mean, worse?"

"you didn't really think that he was all sunshine and roses about being dumped, did you?" athena rolls her eyes.

"we weren't—"

"—serious?" athena finishes for him. "bullshit. buck hasn't had a casual relationship in the eight years that i've known him." she pauses, considering tommy again. "did you think this was casual? because if you did, this conversation isn't going to be helpful."

"no! no, i thought—" tommy stares at the table. moves evan's book. puts it back. "one day he'll realize i'm not this great guy he thinks i am. he'll be embarrassed. i'll be…" left in the lurch.

"i was embarrassed to take bobby out in public at the beginning. here i was, freshly divorced, gay ex-husband, dating a white boy," she pauses for a moment, inviting tommy in on the joke, "i wasn't supposed to be having fun. i was supposed to be suffering, because that's what happens when you get divorced. i got over it, obviously. but i had to stop worrying what people who weren't in my relationship might think about it first."

part one // part two // part three // part four // part five // part six

[2hff]

I am also upset that the "big emergency" was so fucking lackluster. Like if Tim wasn't so fucking set on having the 118 "seperated and then finding their way back to each other" be at an uninspired building collapse then they could have been done with it in 12 minutes and spent the rest of the show on the actual storylines of the characters finding their way back home.

You know what would have been a MUCH better flow for the episode:

>Everyone at the station. Eddie gets his turnouts. Hen says no cap. Buck, being a dick, says "It's just a number now." Chin looks around and says something like "That's it, then? Eight years of us and it's just over?" Sad faces. Dramatic tension visible as they all won't meet each others eyes, etc. Blah blah moody lighting and camera angles, our babies are going through it.

>They get the call for the building collapse while all still together. Call center makes it seem like they're not going to have a lot of back up (all the other firehouses are actually off grieving bobby or some shit), so Eddie decides to go with them.

>The rescues still play out basically the same except FASTER. Chim AND Hen find Athena cause they're clearing the building. (There was no reason to have the whole athena/chim together thing because NOTHING really happened to move their characters forward until everyone else got there.) Gerrard doesn't let Eddie go with Buck because he's technically not employed so he has to stay down there. When Buck and Ravi get trapped, he has his idea. Bing Bang Boom shave off like idk 7 minutes.

>The Graham scene still plays out EXACTLY as it was on the show. (THAT is what we should have had with Bobby's death.) The whole team working to save him. The tension, the fear, the grief was thicker in that scene then the dust floating around and the soot coating their faces. And then the save. And the relief. And the imagery of them all carrying Graham out into the light as a TEAM?? Breathtaking. And then. And then...they all turn away from each other because even though they were united in that one moment - these people are still monumentally fractured in their mourning.

>Chim's Goonie's Never Say Die speech still happens, but without the whole calling out Buck and Eddie and not giving them the choice. But something more pleading. Please don't leave, please don't break this family even more. Please don't. Slightly more optimistic lighting and camera angles. There's a softening. A small release of tension.

>Then you spend the other idk 29.5 minutes stitching our babies back together. You see someone reach out to the other. You see Hen in the car with Athena. You see Chim and Maddie (and well EVERYONE if this was the 118 from several seasons ago) at the adoption. You see Eddie talking to Chris about moving back, with Buck in the background. You see them packing and unpacking. You see Buck sleeping on the couch with apartment hunting tabs open on his computer. You see Chim stocking gear and Buck checking off on his clipboard. They're teasing each other. You see Hen laughing in the background with Ravi - showing him a picture of Figure Skating Bobby. You see Eddie opening his locker and hanging his photo of him and Chris up. You see Chim slapping him on the back. You see Buck cooking in the firehouse. You see Athena placing one of Bobby's aprons around Buck's neck. She lingers over his heart. You see Maddie joining them for lunch. You see her water break. You see all of them jumping up and chaos getting her down the stairs. You see them piling in to the ambulance and captain's vehicle to race to the hospital. You see Athena clearing the way in her police car. You see Ravi looking like he's going to check how dilated Maddie is and then Buck elbowing him and covering both their eyes as Chim does it. You see Karen ushering Denny and Mara into the car at their house cause Eddie called since Hen's driving. He grabs the bar above the door as they take a turn. Hen flashes him a smile and Eddie shakes his head. You see May on the phone and yelling at Harry and Christopher to stop gaming cause they gotta go! You see the ambulance arrive at the hospital and they're pulling Maddie out of the back. It's cinematically shot almost the same way as when they all brought Graham out of the building. Only this time. This time there is joy. There is family. They are together. They have found each other again. They have chosen this. Chim places Robert KEVIN Han into Athena's arms. "Hello, Bobby."

See. It's basically the EXACT SAME EPISODE. No Buddie Canon, No Bobby alive in a govt research lab. It's the same. Only so so so much better and about the characters. It's about the family of the 118.

[buckwheeler]

This, sort of looking around

buck/eddie, buck & eddie & chris

Eddie’s in the kitchen, his old kitchen, or, Buck's kitchen. His real kitchen. He’s staring into the refrigerator like it might hold any kind of answer, when his phone starts ringing. Chris is in his room- his real room, or. His old room. Eddie’s in his kitchen. Tommy’s name pops up on his phone screen, calling. For half a second, he has half an instinct to screen the call out of sheer habit. The couple of times Tommy tried to reach out to him after everything, Eddie hadn’t even let it ring twice. Felt a little bad but. There hadn’t been anything left to say. Now, though. The instinct is only half an instinct, for half a second. Because of the over-riding instinct. How Eddie has kept note, without conscious decision, of Bucks current whereabouts and who-with-ness from the moment he got off the phone with him a week ago. The call where Buck told him that Bobby was dead. So, he answers the phone immediately. 

“What’s wrong?” Eddie asks.

“Hey, Eddie,” Tommy starts, harried and stumbling and weird.

“What’s wrong?” Eddie asks again. 

“Look, um, it’s Buck…” Tommy says. Of course it’s Buck. What else would it be?

“Is he hurt? Where are you? What’s-“

“No, he’s not hurt, God, I’m sorry. It’s just. He’s… he’s upset,” Tommy gets it out quick, all in a rush, which Eddie appreciates. Wishes he’d go faster. 

“You’re at your place?”

“My place. Listen, I can text you the address if-“

“I remember,” Eddie says, and hangs up the phone, already walking towards Chris’ room where he knows he isn’t asleep. “Buddy,” he knocks, tries to keep his voice calm. 

“Yeah, Dad? Come in-“ 

Eddie cracks the door open. Steady breathing. “I’m just going to pick up Buck, okay? Can you promise me you’ll call me if you need anything-“

“Yeah, I promise. Is he okay?” Chris sits up where he was hunched over his phone, drops it on the bed even. 

Eddie nods quickly. “He’s upset. So I’m gonna go get him, and then everything’s gonna be fine. Okay?”

“Okay. Um. Tell him I love him.”

Eddie could cry. As it stands he takes a couple of quick steps to kiss Chris’ head. “‘Course I will. He knows that. Okay, please call me if you need anything I won’t be long.”

He keeps to the speed limit. Nobody is in physical danger. Buck is upset. He’s upset. He’d seemed okay. He’s been acting so horribly okay. All week. Picking Chris and Eddie up from the airport. Getting them all set up at the house. Always half an ear on the phone. Making arrangements and carting off meals to Athena and Chimney and Hen. He had seemed okay. Every time Eddie tried to talk to him, to find him in a corner, Buck had just told him. He was okay. As okay as he could be. It was awful, it was awful but he was okay. Said Eddie should get some rest. Picked up his phone again.

And Tommy. Tommy had been around. Eddie knew he’d been the one to drive Buck home, after the lab, after everything. He’d been there. It was good for someone to be there for Buck who hadn’t just had their own limb detached. Someone who’s heart hadn’t been ripped out so completely by this. He had seemed okay. 

And at the funeral, Buck had spoken so beautifully. It had seemed normal, after the wake, when he’d slipped out with Tommy. Eddie'd figured it made sense.

Tommys place looks exactly the same. The whole of L.A looks exactly the same. Nothing is.

Tommy answers the door looking pale, disturbed.

“I’m sorry, he-“

“Where is he?” Eddie asks. Hears his own voice like it sounds at a scene, how it used to sound at a scene, calm and direct. He doesn’t have to wait for Tommy to answer because he hears him. Buck. This sound. Down the hallway. He doesn’t register himself crossing the space, to the bedroom. He’s never heard Buck make anything like this sound. 

He’s curled in on himself, on top of the sheets. For a second Eddie thinks Tommy lied, that he is hurt. He’s completely stiff, clutching his own chest. His shirt half-off. He’s red. He’s shaking. The sounds are long, drawn and loud. There’s no spluttering breath between them, just quick, quick gasps. Much too quick. Eddie kneels on the floor by his head. “Okay. Hey. Hey, Buck,” he puts his hand in his hair. “Hey, Buck.”

Buck says “Eddie.” He says “Eddie.” He says, “Eddie.” He says “Eddie.”

“Hey, buddy, can you look at me please?”

Buck looks at him. 

“We need to breathe, okay?”

Buck says “Eddie.”

“It’s okay. We just need to breathe, okay? In.” He breathes in. Buck breathes in. Eddie holds it for a moment. Holds Buck's eyes. Breathes out, loud. Long. Buck mades a sound like before but choked off. Choking.

“Okay. Let’s do that again,” Eddie says.

Buck says “Eddie.”

It takes a little while to get him regulated, in and out, back in the room, back on earth. Eddie gets him sitting up. He gets his arm through the hole of his shirt. He takes a glass of water off the nightstand and brings it to Buck's mouth. Buck drinks. When Eddie takes the glass away and sets it back down Buck says “Sorry.”

“Yeah, okay, well, you don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Eddie says. He wipes at Buck's face with his sleeve. He takes his pulse. It’s fast but it’s alright. 

“I’m sorry,” Buck says again, miserable and spluttering. “I’m okay,” he takes a deep breath. “I’m okay.”

“No you’re not,” Eddie says. He moves to sit on the bed in front of him. He rights the shirt a little better. “Of course you’re not okay.”

“I have to be,” Buck says. “Bobby told me. I’d be okay.”

Eddie feels like someone’s punched him, in the stomach, hard. Bobby. Bobby. He could never stop owing him. For everything. He loves him. He was his friend, he misses him. He wishes he wasn’t dead. “Buck,” Eddie runs his sleeve over his ruddy cheeks again. “you will be okay. Eventually. You’ll be some kind of okay, some day, but of course you’re not okay right now. How could you be? I’m not okay, nobody is, Buck-”

“I have to be. I have to be okay,” Buck insists.

“Okay,” Eddie says, “Okay but it’s me. You’re with me. You don’t have to be okay with me. That’s the deal.”

Buck looks at him for a long moment. His eyes are puffy. He hasn’t stopped crying, still, and there’s a steady stream of snot coming out of his nostrils which he’s wiping on the pillowcase. “Okay.” 

Eddie nods. “Okay.”

“Bobby’s dead,” Buck says, completely baffled. Completely shocked, perturbed, like he doesn’t understand it at all. Like he doesn’t even understand what the words mean. Like someone’s told him a lie. A ridiculous, absurd lie, that could almost be funny if it wasn’t so offensive. He says it a little like he’s asking. Like he’s pleading. Like he’s desperate to comprehend it. Like he’s begging, for something. Like he’s hit. Like he tripped. Like he’s falling.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie says. “I’m really sorry.”

Buck looks offended. “It’s not your fault.”

Eddie knows now’s not the time to point out how that feels debatable. How they could never know, if there was something, something he could have done. If he’d been there. He wasn’t there.

“I didn’t mean sorry like that,” he says instead. “I meant I’m sorry like. I love you, and I wish I could take your pain away.” He can hear himself crying. He doesn’t mean to. 

“Me too,” Buck says. “I’m sorry like that too.” He’s still shaking. Eddie touches his arm. He’s cold and sweaty. Eddie takes his hoodie off, puts it on Buck, pulls his arms through the holes, zips it up. He pulls the hood up over Buck's head and pulls the strings so it’s snug around his face. He holds Buck's head through the material, firmly.

“Chris-“ Buck says suddenly, panicked.

“He’s okay. He’s at home, he’s okay,” Eddie says. “He told me to tell you he loves you.”

“He shouldn’t be by himself,” Buck says miserably.

“No. Well, let’s go home, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Buck sniffs. 

Eddie pulls Buck's legs over the edge of the bed. He finds Buck's shoes, in the corner. He kneels down and puts them on Buck's feet. Ties the laces. Double knots. He stands up again, takes Buck's phone off the nightstand and puts it in his own pocket. Takes Buck's arms and pulls him up. He’s still shaking. He’s not steady.

Tommy’s in the front room, sitting on the edge of the couch. He stands up when they come in.

“Hey,” he says. He looks terrible. Buck's looking at the door.

“Hey. We’re gonna go home,” Eddie says.

“I’m sorry,” Tommy says. “Shit, I just. I thought he was okay-“

“You’re good, man,” Eddie says. “Thank you for calling me.”

“Of course,” Tommy says. 

“Sorry, Tommy,” Buck says. “That was really… intense.”

“No,” Tommy says. “Don’t, I mean. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. I shouldn’t have. I-“

Buck just shakes his head. “No, It’s okay. Really. Thank you for calling Eddie.”

Tommy sighs, and looks so sad. He hands Eddie Buck's jacket. Eddie puts it onto Buck, zips it up to his chin.

“Get home safe, okay?” Tommy says.

“Yeah,” Eddie says, already moving to the door.

Buck’s quiet on the drive home, collapsed against the window. His eyes are closed but Eddie knows he’s awake. He’s still not breathing quite right. 

“I’m not leaving again,” Eddie says. Buck’s eyes blink open.

“Chris,” Buck says.

“We’re gonna figure it out. We can. Or you come to Texas with us, for a bit. Or. I don’t know. I mean that I’m not leaving you again.” He wants to say ‘ever.’ That feels too big for the car. And what matters most is that Buck knows Eddie means ‘now.’ He’s not going to leave him alone, now. 

“Okay,” Buck says. He sniffs and closes his eyes again. 

Chris is awake. He’s sitting on the couch, biting his nails, watching Family Feud. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t ask any questions, as Eddie and Buck shuffle in- Eddie still holding Buck around the elbows, despite how he’s walking okay now. Eddie helps Buck onto the sofa, sits the other side of him. Chris pulls Buck into a hug. 

“Hey, buddy,” Buck says, quiet. Eddie keeps a hand on his back, rubs it, catches Chris’ arm where it’s wrapped around him.

“You okay?” Chris whispers.

“I’ll be okay,” Buck says. “I’m sorry I worried you. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Chris says. Then, “It’s so sad.”

Eddie leans forward, puts his arms around both of them.

“Yeah,” Buck says. 

Eddie can feel him squeeze Chris’ shoulder. He finds Buck's wrist and squeezes it. He puts a hand in Chris’ hair. Canned laughter on the T.V. The smell of Eddie’s laundry detergent, where his face is pressed to Buck’s shoulder. The hum of the kitchen light. Chris’ socked foot propped up on the coffee table. Buck’s breath evening out. The telenovela box sets lined up on the shelf. One of Chris’ drawings, framed, propped up next to the radio. The smell of Buck’s shampoo. Eddie closes his eyes. Chris guesses an answer. The T.V show. He gets it right. Buck says, “you’re so good at that.”

ao3

[do-androids-dream-ao3acc]

[On request, I wrote Tommy in the episode]

Tommy wasn't an EMT, and it looked like that was what was needed most after Athena had landed the plane. The woman whom he - how long had it been now? - had rescued from a sinking cruise ship. How did she always get herself into such absurd situations? In any case, he’d been on duty anyway when all available stations were called to the highway. Because an airplane was going to land there. The chances of this actually working were extremely slim in his opinion, but here they were, a quick triage and apparently hardly any seriously injured passengers later. 

There was orderly chaos, as always during a major operation, and Tommy was focused. So much so that he almost missed Evan running past him. The man half-turned as he ran, almost stumbled, caught himself again and stopped with his arms still flailing. 

“Tommy!”

It wasn't that big grin that made Tommy's heart beat faster, though it almost was – very blue eyes, tousled curls, those ultra-long legs, simply everything about the man was an eye-catcher. Evan in action was yet another special sight. He was brimming with adrenaline, radiating from within; he was exactly where he wanted to be, and that was extremely attractive. 

“She did it,” was all Tommy managed to say.

There were a lot of other things he could have said, of course, but most of them were inappropriate, and time was of the essence. The plane was smoking, it wasn't over yet. 

“She did,” Evan confirmed with that irresistible grin, with that gleam in his eyes that spoke of pride in someone he was very fond of. 

Tommy could only hope that one day he would be the cause for that gleam in Evan's eyes. Ever since he’d seen him smile for the first time, he’d wanted to be the one to turn his sweet pout into a smile. Even now, with all the commotion and smoldering danger still hanging over the people on the highway - not to mention the woman who was still in the cockpit - he couldn't help but cherish the warmth in his heart just by looking at Evan. He'd grown too soft, probably, but it wasn't a bad thing, that’s what life had told him. Life, and love. Though that was a word stored far back in his heart, at least for now. 

“I have to go, the cap... I mean Bobby…”

He was adorable, and this was not the time nor place to tell him, but Evan was Evan, he was a surprise box. He approached him, it almost looked like a leap; then he crushed his lips to Tommy's. It was the shortest and almost most violent kiss he had ever experienced, but that didn't matter. Tommy was so full of adrenaline himself, so close to saying it, but this time his mind would prevail over his heart because it was right. 

"Hurry up," he said, and Evan beamed again, turned and ran. 

Just before the plane, he turned around once more, grinned and waved briefly, then he disappeared from Tommy's field of vision. 

“Sweet, love at the workplace.”

Lucy - who shouldn't be here any more than he was, but couldn't help herself any more than he could - stood behind him, a mocking yet good-natured smile on her lips. 

“Heard you know your way around that,” Tommy grinned and left her standing there. 

A few hours later, the sun had already risen over LA, heralding another hot morning. Tommy lowered the blinds of his house to lock it out. He didn't mind sleeping during the day after a shift, but after this assignment it wasn't at all clear whether he’d be able to find rest soon. It wasn't every day that a plane landed on the highway. What you almost had to reckon with, however, were the numerous overstrained drivers who wedged into each other when the road was cleared, making it necessary to call out the emergency services again. 

Tommy was just thinking about whether he should have a coffee or just pull a pillow over his head when there was a knock. It was a frantic knock, urgent, and he sighed. What the hell…

“Gerrard is back,” Evan sputtered as soon as the door opened. The look on his face was... almost anxious. “He discharged himself from hospital and left us standing at attention at the end of shift.”

“What?” asked Tommy, slightly confused.

He opened the door wide, but Evan just stood there with a desperate look in his eyes.

“Tommy,” he said, and now Tommy was slightly worried. “You… you’ll never believe what he said.”

@supercalime

[imcuriousokay]

Well it has been a few days since i posted the first half..? of my dream and now that i feel much better (after i got a high fever going through the rain to get home faster! seriously don't do that i was a miserable little bitch.)

It is time for me to hopefully finish it!

So as Tommy was holding a sleeping Buck, Buck had this Andy Herrera dream-ish kinda thing going on after her dad died. And he saw Bobby.

"Bobby? You're here" He said as he ran to Bobby's arms.

"hey there kid, i'm here" he said with a fond smile while holding Buck tightly.

The two of them were suddenly sitting infront of a camp fire.

"You left... you just left"

"I'm sorry Buck... it was either Chimney or me or both of us. And as captain its my responsibility to keep my firefighters to come home safe. and i choose to do the right thing"

"I-i know... but we could've done something for you Cap..." Buck was already tearing up.

"You did your best, you always do Buck. And know that i am so proud of you" Buck couldn't say anything but just let the tears fall down his face. "I am so sorry it had to end this way, but i want you to know to matter where you are i'm always here for you. Just in a bit different way this time." Buck just stared at Bobbby with tears in his eyes

"I never said it back..." he finally said, voice trembling.

"You don't have to kiddo i already know"

"Well i'm still gonna say it now anyway.. Love you too Pops" they had a little laugh together.

They were suddenly in Buck's old loft for some reason in my dream idk why. They had cups filled with warm tea as they continued to talk. "Can i say something?"

"I'm all ears kiddo"

"I think you're wrong"

"In what way?"

"That i'll be okay... and that they would need me" Bobby smiled sadly at him. "You will be okay Buck, and they will need you. Maybe not right now, but they will. Right now... i just need you to mourn... it's okay to be sad heck.. i'm dead and i'm sad that i have to die... Don't think that your pain or sadness doesn't matter, because it does"

"Eddie doesn't seem to think that"

"Well he's wrong, and i get that he is hurt too... but that's just not it. I might have to visit him to share a piece of my mind" the both chuckled and Bobby looks at the cup of tea infront of him.

"But i was making it all about me wasn't i?"

"Buck you are mourning, and other than Athena i was the last person to talk to you... I think you deserve to have it about you"

"Okay i guess..."

"I know you don't believe it right now, but you will... So mourn" Bobby had a face like it was weird that he had to give 'permission' for Buck to mourn, but he figures if he doesn't Buck might not ever let himself mourn. Because he just knows Buck like that.

They moved again to Bobby and Athena's new house.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's very Bobby and Athena" They were both silent again, before Buck speaks up. "You don't need to worry Cap, i'll look after Athena and the kids for you"

"I know... and i am eternally grateful for that, but talking about worry" Buck looks at him with a raised eyebrow. And then they were suddenly back at Tommy's house more specifically Tommy's bedroom where he could see himself fast asleep in Tommy's arms, and his heart breaks when he sees Tommy staring at his sleeping form with tears in his eyes. "He seems to worry about you a lot huh?"

"Yeah... yeah he does"

"I'm glad you guys are back together, it's like i said before. Tommy is good people, he's good for you" Buck could only nod as he stares at the man that was holding him like he was the most precious thing in his life. "When you are the mall... before you bought your present for him, i know you were looking at that ring. I think it looks beautiful"

"We're taking it slow Bobby"

"I know... but you know what else that i know of? that you can't see anybody else to spend the rest of your life with" Bobby puts his hand around Buck and gave him a half hug. "Yeah... he's it Bobby"

"Then what are you waiting for kid?"

"I don't know... maybe for the mall to get rebuild first? So i could go there and buy it" Bobby chuckles. "Trust me when i say you will get it faster than that?"

"And how do you even know?"

"I have my ways" Buck starts hugging Bobby back. His face smushed to Bobby's neck while tears start forming again.

"I'm sad that your gone, but for you i'll do my best to keep on moving. I know that you know, well that we both know that you're not my real dad. But i love you like you are my real dad" He felt the stutter in breath while Bobby hugs him tighter. "I love you like your my real kid too kiddo" Bobby says before he started laughing a bit.

Buck pulls away looking at him like he's weird. "What?"

"You know... when you were fighting for your life after the lightning strike. May and i had a conversation and she said Athena brought two kids into the marriage, and i brought one. You" the two starts laughing together,

"She wasn't wrong... such a smart kid..."

"I mean Athena's her mom so..." he shrugged before the laughed together again.

Buck looks at Bobby and he realizes he's starting to fade.

"Is this really goodbye?" More tears start falling down his face.

"Only for now kiddo, always know i'm here with you. Not physically but in here" Bobby puts his hand over Buck's heart, while he starts to fade even more.

"You're gonna be okay kid, love you" And then he vanished.

AAAAAAAAAAA

Tommy wiped away sleeping Buck's tears the best he could while gently stroking his hair.

He went still when Buck starts to murmur in his sleep. Thinking maybe he was about to wake up. But when he heard Buck murmur in his sleep.

"Love you too Bobby... i'll mourn you, but i'll be okay...you don't need to worry. I'll take care of Athena and the kids" he watches as a few more tears fall from Buck's eyes before he seem to settle back into a deep sleep, with a little smile on his face.

For some reason Tommy feels like something was lifted from Buck and now he sees the love of his life falling into a deep peaceful sleep for the first time in a very very long time.

He didn't know what happened, he looked up to his ceiling and whispered. "I'll take care of him... you don't need to worry" Before he adjusts himself into a more comfortable position to sleep. As he was drifting off. he thought he heard a familiar voice saying. "Thank you"

AAAAAAA

A YEAR LATER

(Honestly idk how long it was after this but for some reason i think it was a year later. So yeah it's a year later)

"Are you ready Buckaroo?" Athena asks him as she helps him straightened up his suit one last time. Buck took a deep breath to calm down his nerves, and as they stand next to each other Athena offers her hand for Buck to looping his hand in the crook of her elbow. "There is nothing in this world that i have ever been more than ready than this, Thena" She gave him a smile that said. "I'm so happy and proud of you kid"

"Uhm.. Thena? Thank you for doing this for me" he said his voice getting tight with the tears that are threatening to escape his eyes.

"Baby, i'm honoured that you pick me. And i know if Bobby were here he would be honoured that you picked me to stand in his stead" If Athena's eyes were a bit shiny, Buck will not point that out.

They both perked up when they heard the music starting. Buck took a deep breath before looking at Athena with a warm smile. "Let's get you married okay baby?" Buck laughs and says okay before the doors open revealing the aisle Athena was going to walk him.

"Yeah, let's get married!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAA

My dream skips again and they were having the couples first dance. Buck had his head in the crook of Tommy's neck and shoulder and his husband's (God his husband's!!!)head leaning on to his while they slow danced through their song hearts full of love and happiness.

When the dance floor was flooded with other people, his eyes for some reason went to Athena who was sitting with May and Harry and he swore he saw Bobby standing right behind her with a big proud smile on his face and his eyes full of proud tears. But he blinked then he was no longer there. "Sweetheart?" he heard his husband call him.

"Uh yeah?"

"are you okay?"

"Uh... uhm... i thought i saw Bobby..." he said, his eyes were glassy again. And Tommy just smiles in understanding. "I guess he couldn't stay away for his eldest kid wedding huh?"

"Y-yeah..." Buck looks at his husband with a grateful smile. How did he get such an amazing man again?

"Well... i'm gonna say this. Hopefully he will hear it from far away. Bobby thank you coming to our wedding, it's the biggest gift that we could ever ask for. And thank you for loving my husband like he is your own. I'm proud to be Evan Buckley-Kinard's husband, and i promise you i will always love him and take care of him. You don't need to worry, he'll be well taken care of!" Goddamit! he really is an amazing husband. Buck leans in to kiss his husband and they share a sweet kiss.

When they broke apart he leans againts Tommy and whispered. "Thanks for telling me to marry him Bobby, he's the best thing that has ever happened to me" before they start slow dancing again.

Right behind his beloved wife Athena, with both his hands on her shoulders he whispers back.

"You're welcome kiddo!" with teary eyes.

THE END.

I woke up sobbing like a baby, and i couldn't function that day. Haven't done that since my dog came to my dreams after he died. so yeah.... i feel empty now

Part [1] of my dream btw

[the-amber-raven]

Just thought of something so angsty that I had to share with you immediately in regards to your "Tommy can see ghosts" AU (that I adore with every fiber of my being) - Bobby briefly appears to Tommy after to tell him to take care of Buck.

So fair warning wow did this get long and also it made me cry 😭

I was thinking about this universe in relation to the death as well, and the thing I really find angsty is that I think Tommy would be so torn between wanting Bobby to appear so that he can facilitate a final goodbye and dreading the idea that he'll pop because he knows it will devastate Buck to know that Tommy can see him but he cannot.

I also don't think Bobby would know about Tommy's abilities either. So Bobby would appear at their house - several hours later because of course he'd need to see Athena first - where Tommy is trying to comfort Buck and convince him to sleep. And Buck will be insisting that Tommy wake him up "if he comes" and Tommy is using every one of the tricks his mom taught him to pretend he hasn't seen the concerned ghost hovering in the corner and says that he will.

And its not a lie, not really, because he won't keep it a secret from Evan. He knows it would destroy the trust in their relationship if he did. But he needs to speak to Bobby to find out what he is going to say and he needs to shore himself up to be prepared for the resentment that he knows is very likely to come his way for being the one who has to play intermediary when Evan desperately wants to speak with Bobby again.

Bobby gets the shock of his life death when Tommy walks out of the room and hisses for Bobby to follow him. Learning about Tommy's gift is a nice distraction for him, and he is particularly stunned to learn that Tommy met his first two children. However he is somewhat confused because according to Tommy he is here because he has unfinished business and he thought he did alright tying up his loose ends in those final hours even though he was stuck in the lab.

He does work it out over those in between days before the funeral, although he never tells Tommy (he said LA was his penance but it was his home and he needed that last reminder that his time there mattered and he made a difference in people's lives far beyond his final sacrifice, and besides this he is the consummate Captain and some part of his subconscious or maybe it was the universe or the Grace of God (because of course he prayed for them at some point during those last hours) realised that his crew needed a little more from him and he could never leave them when there was still help that he could provide).

Buck finds out the next morning - he is angry at Tommy at first for not waking him but then he's grateful because he also raged at what he thought was Bobby's ghost and regretted it almost immediately because of course he doesn't hate Bobby and he doesnt wish he never met Bobby so he is ultimately thankful when Tommy told him that Bobby went back to Athena and would join them again later that day, giving him a chance to actually consider what he wants to say without allowing his hurt to fully fuel things. Chimney calls him later that day, begging to know if Tommy has seen Bobby.

Facilitating the conversation between the two of them harrowing - but it ends up being a good thing that Tommy is there because he of all people knows what an incredible man Howie Han is and the insistence from Bobby that Chim was worth the sacrifice is only helped by that additional weight and steadfast belief. It ends with Chimney sobbing into a pillow.

The one with Evan is hard in a different way. Evan is so incredibly devastated but he is determined to take advantage of this opportunity so he writes dozens of pages worth of notes about what he wants to say. About recipes, about trust, about looking after the team. Bobby answers questions patiently - he is far more patient than Evan, who taps on Tommy's arm impatiently to make him 'translate' faster - and then at the end he says that Buck could forget all of it or do the exact opposite and Bobby would still be so very proud of him and he would love him anyway. That's the point that Buck breaks down properly. He manages to get out an "I love you too" before he dissolves entirely into sobbing, and Bobby gives Tommy a small smile and tell him to look after Buck - "he's a special man, and I know what the two of you have is special".

The only other person that Tommy tells is Athena. He feels he owes it to her. She takes it with more aplomb than expected but she does not ask him to facilitate a conversation. She only asks him to tell her when Bobby is there and then asks him to leave so she can speak to him in private. He never finds out what happens after that.

Despite not telling them, he does help Hen and Chimney as well. Bobby tells him he had a journal he was preparing for Hen with the expectation she would be the one taking over from him in a few years anyway, and Tommy moves it somewhere that Hen would easily find it. He types up a note that Bobby dictates to him as well, one that makes sure Hen knows how much faith Bobby has in her capabilities - as much as they try to make it seem natural he's sure that Hen will realise that something is off, but then again the 118 has always been remarkably aware of supernatural ideas so perhaps it isn't that surprising that she never says anything about it.

Eddie is harder, but Bobby has Tommy hunt down a bible that he gave Eddie at some point and they mark off specific passages that Bobby feels are important for him (many of which stress the importance of family in the hopes that Eddie will understand he was exactly where he was supposed to be). Bobby dictates another note - this one Tommy handwrites, because Eddie is not as perceptive as Hen and has never really seen Tommy's handwriting so he feels safer trying to mimic Bobbys writing. Again, Tommy isn't sure what came of it but several months later he learns from Evan that it helped ease Eddie's guilt about not being there.

Beyond the crew, he also drafts some texts from Bobbys phone to May and Harry. Bobby sent them a couple in the lab, but he was rushed and there was more he wanted to say. Athena helps sell the story that his phone signal must have gotten lost at some point and it was only after she charged his phone that the messages sent.

Tommy doesn't know exactly when Bobby left. He was there at the funeral, and at the wake he asks Tommy to tell everyone they did a good job, and to raise a toast to "the best crew any captain could wish for", but he kind of fades into the background after that and Tommy starts thinking he must have moved on when the next few days go by without him appearing. Evan holds out hope for longer, remembering what Tommy told him about Daniel, but he eventually concedes to the differences between the situations.

But as with everything, a brighter part of the story comes one day because it turns out that there is some ghost lore that Tommy wasn't aware of. Because you see, when there is an event that a ghost was looking forward to during their living years then even when they have moved on they will return to be part of that event. And Bobby has of course been waiting for Buck to find love for a very long time.

This time, when Tommy notices Bobby hovering in the corner and watching wistfully as Buck finishes getting ready, he immediately gestures Bobby over and asks him to guide him through tying Bucks tie for him.

Chimney realises what must have happened when he notices just how red their eyes are when they walk out of that room (and also he was there the first time Bobby tied Bucks tie for him and he knows very well has no idea how to do that fancy knot he's suddenly got), he takes it upon himself to guard that empty chair that's been reserved for Bobby to a comical degree. Jee-Yun is tasked with throwing flowers at anyone who approaches, at least one little old lady is relegated to the back row to her great displeasure, the Harbor crewmates start laying bets on what crazy 118 thing is happening now, and Margaret Buckley is appalled (Chim considers that to be a bonus).

[fire-hose]

Abandon me with your love

no warnings, just buck with his

abandonment issues

Buck had abandonment issues, everyone knew that. His parents were practically absent in his life, Maddie had been across the country with her abusive husband, Abby left him with no word, then Tommy. Now Eddie was leaving. He planned on coming back, only after he convinced Christopher though, and who knew how long that would take. Now he had to pack with Eddie, and then drive him to the airport.

“Are you sure? Chris might not be ready to come back” Buck spoke as he paced Eddie’s room, he wasn’t doing much to help pack honestly. “I told you Buck, I can’t keep my kid in Texas, 800 miles from me” Eddie folded a shirt, putting it in the duffle bag on his bed, along with the 3 other bags he already had packed.

Buck stopped in his tracks, he saw Eddie had only a few more clothes to fold and put in the bag, then it was time to leave. He needed to keep Eddie home and figure out how to get Chris back. He loved Chris, he practically helped raise him, but he couldn’t lose both Diaz’s. He wasn’t ready to lose them. He just started getting over losing Tommy, Maddie was about to start prepping for the new baby, Bobby and Athena were working on the new house, Hen had to take care of her kids. Buck was going to be alone again. Just like when Abby left him.

While Buck was thinking Eddie finished folding the last few shirts he had, the zipper of the duffel shoving Buck back into reality. “You ready to go Buck?” The blonde just nodded with a forced smile as he grabbed two bags and his keys, heading outside to put the bags in the Jeep.

After putting all the bags away and starting the car Buck sat in the front, his leg anxiously tapping against the floor as he waited for Eddie. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles went white, he felt like being sick. He couldn’t walk Eddie into the airport like he did with Abby. Eddie was becoming the new Abby, only they weren’t together so him fearing the absence felt worse than if they were. Like he had to get over Eddie being gone faster, because they weren’t together. He felt trapped.

“Earth to Buck” Eddie waved his hand in front of Bucks face, leaning over the center console. Buck was too zoned out to notice Eddie had gotten into the car. The time felt like it was closing in on Buck, like the more time he spent near Eddie the longer he would be gone. He had 30 minutes to convince him to stay in LA, stay with him.

“You ready to go?” Eddie raised a brow as he pulled the seat belt over his chest, buckling it into the retractor. Buck compressed his lips, nodding as he buckled his seatbelt. “Ready as I’ll ever be” Once he pulled his right hand off the wheel he could see the sweat on the wheel. After shifting the gear into drive he backed out, starting to head down West 5th Street.

Buck wasn’t sure what he could even say to Eddie, he wanted to drive as far away as possible, make sure the brunette couldn’t leave, but he knew better. He knew Eddie would easily fight him to make it to the airport. “Eds are you sure? What if Chris takes a year before he wants to come back?”

Eddie turned his head, a sigh before he spoke “Buck, I’m going to El Paso. I’m coming back when Chris is ready” The blonde pouted, his broody pout as so Gerrard would’ve said. “But you’re leaving all of us here, you’re leaving me here Eddie” Buck knew he was being selfish, Chris was his son, and Buck was just his friend. That didn’t mean he would stop feeling that way though.

“I’m coming back Buck” There was no blunt tone, it was full hearted, honest. Those three words were like honey to Bucks ears, the reassurance he desperately needed. He knew it wouldn’t mean as much later on when Eddie was 800 miles away but it felt good in the moment.

“You better or I’ll fly my ass over there and drag you two back myself” Buck forced a laugh as he turned onto the Harbour Freeway. “I have no doubt about that” Eddie leaned his head back, closing his eyes. He knew he would get sleep on the plane, but still being up before the sun was up was hell.

Most of the car ride was silent, Buck still trying to figure out how to get Eddie to stay. When he turned onto Sepulveda Boulevard, he gave up on keeping Eddie there. He was a mile and one turn away from losing his best friend, the person he always relied on. It felt worse than losing Abby, Buck couldn’t understand how though. They weren’t dating, and from what he knew Eddie was straight.

Oh.

Oh.

Evan Buckley was in love with Edmundo Diaz.

How did it take him so long to realize? How did he not realize during basketball? What about when he was shot and put in the will? When Eddie almost died in the mud? Or even after the fight in the grocery store? The tsunami? After the fire truck crushed his leg? How did it take him six years? Now he was dropping him off to leave for months. His stomach churned as he made the last turn.

“Do you want me to walk you inside or just drop you off here” Buck spoke as he parked “You do have a few bags, I help could carry them” Eddie unbuckled and got out the Jeep, popping the trunk. “That’d be great” Buck turned off the car, shoving the keys in his pocket and heading to the trunk to help Eddie carry his bags.

Once they made it to the entrance Eddie grabbed a baggage cart, having Buck help him stack the bags. Eddie stood at the door, ready to walk in. Buck had seen this 7 years ago, and she never came back. When Eddie’s back was him he called out, despite being no more than a few feet away “Eddie wait”

The brunette turned his head back around “Buck I’ve gotta go, I still need to check in” Buck swallowed the lump in his throat, then the word vomit came.

“Eddie I know you’re going to get Chris, and that’s great, I miss the kid, but you’re leaving me. I don’t know how I didn’t notice sooner but I love you. You don’t have to say it back, and I’m not trying to keep you here with it but I just need to tell you. I need you to bring Chris back but I don’t want to wait forever. I’ve already waited six years Eds. I’m rambling again but you get the point. Im sorry for dropping th-“

Eddie’s fingers ran through Bucks curls, kissing him gently. He brought the blondes head a bit lower, their noses bumping. Not that either of them cared, too lost in the moment. Once Eddie pulled away he kept his fingers curled in Bucks hair “The universe isn’t the best to you, but it won’t be that cruel. I’m bringing Christopher back with me.”

Buck wiped the tears that had unknowingly fell “You better. I already told you I’d drag you both back myself” Eddie laughed softly and nodded. He wiped Bucks face before pressing their foreheads together “I love you too Evan. I’m bringing our kid back” This was about to hurt. “But to bring him back I need to leave first.” His hands left Bucks hair hesitantly before he turned his back and walked into the airport.

“I love you more Edmundo” Buck quietly spoke as he watched Eddie disappear into the crowd of people.

[maraudingforflesh]

Buddie recs even though I was severely disappointed with season 8 and need a break from this

https://archiveofourown.org/series/4731889

No One’s Ever Had Me (Not Like You…) (series); a really good exploration of Buck, Eddie, their relationship, their family, and what they mean to each other

https://archiveofourown.org/series/3461665

Rewrite (series); whole show rewrite season by season if Buck and Eddie met and fell in love much faster

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65203312

my place, my peace (8,351 words); Buck becomes tiktok famous after Eddie leaves for El Paso

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65138260

mirror in the sky, what is love? (14,889 words); Buck and Eddie maintain their codependency over FaceTime

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65134591

rivers 'til i reach you (25,090 words); Eddie figures his shit out since absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62152285

the sweetest apparition (20,215 words); Eddie moves to El Paso and Buck starts accidentally telling people he’s dead

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58458346/chapters/148912477

We’re Overdue for a Revival (60,850 words); Buck and Eddie get married so Christopher will move back to LA

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64238941/chapters/164876425

deep in the heart of texas (30,382 words); Eddie realizes he’s gay and in love with his best friend while he’s in El Paso

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60767728/chapters/155194600

oh brother, I see (you burn like me) (47,911 words); Adriana visits LA to see her brother while he’s struggling with Chris moving to El Paso

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58860316

ice cream before dinner (58,577 words); Eddie is missing Chris and Buck volunteers him to babysit Mara and Jee-yun on Tuesdays. Tuesdays become Eddie’s favorite day.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60869218

Who the Hell is Evan? (14,802 words); Chris finds out who his guardian is if anything happens to his dad, but unfortunately he only knows Buck as Buck

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58938313

Eddie Diaz VS The Buck’s Boyfriend Agenda (23,419 words); Eddie hates Tommy and he’s not alone in feeling like this but he does lowkey have the most skin in the game re: getting Buck to break up with Tommy

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59923840/chapters/152875123

you’re in my blood like holy wine (50,718 words); post the fire at Bobby and Athena’s house Buck let’s them live in the loft while he stays with Eddie and helps guide the Diaz boys through healing after the whole Kim situation

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63215539

boy, we ain't got nothin' to lose (26,226 words); Buck gets amnesia and wakes up as Buck 1.0

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59360662

What’s Your Love Language? (18,332 words); Buck is on a mission to help Eddie figure out what his love language is

https://archiveofourown.org/works/55628455

A Series of Unfortunate Attempts (10,402 words); Buck tries to come out to Bobby about being in a relationship with Tommy only to find out the entire 118 has a betting pool about him dating Eddie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59161087

Bobby Versus Buddie (10,391 words); Bobby has to walk a fine line between nudging Eddie and Buck toward realizing their feelings and losing his sanity enough to just yell at them that they’re in love

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24047908/chapters/57866764

I Hit the Accelerator (But the Car was in Reverse) (68,139 words); Buck comes to terms with his breakup with Abbie and immediately falls into a friends with benefits relationship with his new coworker

https://archiveofourown.org/series/4685875

All of This Mixed Up and Baked (series); two absolute behemoth fics that are just powerhouses of complicated emotional turmoil. Everybody should give these a read once but idk if I’ll ever be able to re-read bc it’s so painfully relatable at times

[ambernotember]

Okay. So. 8×15.

I have issues with it.

Obviously the big one.

But also. The manner of death.

Here’s the thing. Do I like that Bobby died?? Absolutely not.

Does it potentially provide new narratives to the story? Sure, if they don’t rush the story/healing like we have seen them do before.

But. But.

I hate that Bobby died from the virus. Narratively, it doesn’t make sense; Chim had symptoms for much longer and progressed at a very different rate. He lasted most of the day; it’s dark by the time they get the antiviral there. Bobby’s symptoms were still minimal when Chim got the antiviral, but he went downhill so much more quickly. Literally minutes from a slight nose bleed to death.

Hen had a literal hole cut into her body but didn’t get the virus!! I mean, come on. Suspension of disbelief, sure, but really

I think that Bobby having a different type of injury, like internal bleeding, could have been a better way to tell this story. Something that, in any other situation, could be dealt with. But because they are trapped in a lab without medical equipment and without doctors, it can’t be fixed. (Like, think of that dad from Lone Star who did everything he could to get his kids out of the collapsed house only for them to find out he had massive internal injuries the whole time)

You still get the grief and guilt; what if we had gotten them out faster? What if there was something more they could have done for him? We can still have Bobby working through the injury, saving his team, knowing that there’s nothing they can do to save him but still doing everything he can to save THEM.

In every other near death experience, Bobby and Athena have been by each other’s sides. To have them separated for his actual death, unable to touch each other and offer that physical comfort seems so cruel to me.

Imagine instead Bobby stepping out of the lab and collapsing in Buck’s arms as his adrenaline finally runs out and he’s feeling the full effects of his injuries. Athena meeting them at the elevator. Athena being able to hold his hand and give him a last kiss.

You can still get the I love you, kid moment. You can still get Bobby telling Athena he wanted to stay with her. You can still have all of that, but provide comfort to Bobby and Athena in that moment as well.

You still have the guilt of the team knowing Bobby saved them while they couldn’t save him.

But having it be a virus where there was no cure available to him, where the one dose available was already spoken for by Chimney… for me, anyways, it leans into a weird area because we saw Bobby struggling last season with some suicidal thoughts and while yes he would do anything for his team it feels a lot more sacrificial, but in a bad way, and now also leaves Chimney with specific guilt because the thing that saved him could have saved Bobby instead (as well?), and I think general guilt about being sick and not knowing Bobby was injured and not being able to help even if he did know would still be more that enough to work with character wise!

I just think that there were other ways to kill Bobby that would have still packed a big punch but also been a little kinder to the characters and audience members. (I can absolutely assure you I am not watching this show for any measure of reality. That went out the window season 1 episode 3).

[jesterofalltrades]

Final thoughts on 911 season 5 ep 10-12

1. The Christmas one was cute I love how Athena and Bobby were able to give those families a Christmas celebration after being displaced the night before

2. Is Eddie gonna get therapy? Cause he needs therapy. Like it’s good that he gets Christopher therapy but he shouldn’t deny it for himself

3. Also Eddie was way out of line for how he talked to Bobby. Bobby said get help first then you can come back because he can see you’re not doing well, like no point to drag up his mistakes. Like Bobby knows that he’s made mistakes and he doesn’t want you’re dumbass making just as big ones because you’re not taking care of yourself

4. I really loved that we got to see Maddie’s journey and I’m glad she’s in a better place. I can’t wait til we see her back in LA like Buck is gonna be so happy

5. Speaking of Buck when is his kiss with what’s her name gonna ruin his relationship with Taylor, cause that’s a ticking time bomb and with what’s her name working at the same house as him this time bomb is counting down a lot faster

5. To be fair tho what’s her name is hot and I would kiss her back too but I’m single so I can do that without ruining anything

6. Like this is an HR nightmare waiting to happen gosh I wished someone warned Bobby before he let her take Eddie’s place.



[tiny-sassy-aggressive]

9-1-1 WATCH AND REACTION

S6 ep 9-10

Ep 9

OMINOUS START WHAT IS BOBBY DOING

Sorry - buck saying not it and Eddie then hightailing to get the kid is peak behavior

OH I I mean yeh Denny is certainly old enough and knows he’s adopted. Curiosity makes sense

Okay wendall is super sus this is very suspicious behavior

Chim can’t be for real about this murder house can he?

Okay— lizzy. Why did nobody ask about potential sa ? I guess not the plot they are going for but bucks question seemed to be heading that way and they looked at him like he was crazy but that seemed like a super reasonable question to ask imo???

Them all sitting on the roof was such a good team experience understanding moment for the audience

WENDALL NOOOOO

Guys the group conference call made me sob. Another amazing group dynamic I NEEDED!!! Bucks a donor dad!!!!! Lowkey hilarious Eddie is so Locked into the video game I LOVE

Okay yes the house is there’s now I guess ! Cute!

DENNY WHAT. DENNY WAITV ALONE???

buck has a tiny firefighter onsie I’m gonna sob

Ep 10

LIFHTNINF OUR OF NOWHERE THATS SO SCADY always love watching buck interact with kids on the scene he’s so good with kids

woah. Full Buckley Han clan

May and Athena going undercover>>>>>>>>

Buck having Bobby try his food I’m gonna start crying they are so father son

EDDIE AND HEN PLAYING CATCH IS SO FUNNY FOR SOME REASON- love the chim call out

First scene in a while I’ve had to turn down volume and barely watch I had trouble with the baby mom and driver. But so so glad that ended alright.

Side note. Anytime baby is with small small babies and children he’s always saying “I got you” and I love that about his character it’s so consistent

first Buckley Han fight OOF bound to happen but already over and look at that family :)

Cowboy. Why don’t you just step on me?

holy mother of holy he could sense it before it happened. Buck is down I can’t I’m genuinely screaming I can’t handle this BUCK THE WAY HE FLIPPED OVER THE LADDER IM SVREMINF

EDDIE ACREAMIING EDDIE SCRWAMIINF EDIE SCEWMINF

Does Eddie realize he was shocked off the fire truck ??? Does he know he was FULLY thrown from the truck and then RAN faster than I’ve ever seen ever up the ladder (without protection) THEN tried to pull buck up before helping him just come down

BOBBY CALLINF HIM KID IMM Cryin

He has NO PHLSE NO MONJO BUCK HUCK BUXK

WHO DID EDDDIE JUST PUSH AWAY TO GET TO BUCK WHAT

oh that shot of the helmet on the ground goodBYE

[writersmess]

Hi I was wondering if you could write an evan buckley x female reader where the female reader is a firefighter that got stuck at the top of a tall building when on a call out and the reader has a bad fear of heights so she has a panic attack but buck is there to help her and comfort her (if you could include a smidge of hen being mother hen I would be so greatful🥰)

I would love it if you could do this☺️

I’LL BE BRAVE | EVAN BUCKLEY

Pairing: Evan Buckley x fem!reader

Warning: panic attack, fear of hights.

Word count: 1.5k

a/n: this is my first request everrr! I am super excited! I apologize if there are any mistakes, english is not my first language. I hope you enjoy it!

Masterlist

...........................................

Today was being a good day. A few months had passed since you had been transferred to 118 and you were officially part of this crazy family. You loved them. You had a special bond with Hen. Your sister worked with Karen and since the two of you started living alone after your parents death, Karen and Hen practically adopted you. You had dinner at their house almost every night and as soon as they heard that you had become a paramedic, Hen made sure to take you to 118.

And it was the best thing that ever happened in your life. You were now part of a family that you hadn’t had for a long time. Bobby and Athena loved you and your sister as if you were their own daughters. Chim and Maddie adored you, and Eddie made you babysit when he needed to solve some things or even go to dates, not that you’re complaining, you absolutely loved being with Christopher.

And there was Buck.

Your relationship was complicated. Nobody could ever contain their surprise when they realized how similar you and Buck were, your (bad) jokes, your charm, your humor. You were practically the same person. And the sexual tension that swirled between you was frighteningly visible. The jokes about you getting a room were constant. Until you got one. And you had the best night of your lives together.

The problem was the after. You didn’t know how to react around each other, everything was so uncomfortable. Until one day you realized that you were developing feelings for the blue-eyed fireman. This scared you so much, that you decided to distance yourself. You were giving him the cold shoulder for a few weeks now, and it was making buck feel really uncomfortable. He didn’t like not hearing your contagious laughter, your ridiculous jokes or not being able to have some of your warm hugs. The two of you were so confused.

“you should talk to him, I can’t stand you two idiots acting all weird anymore” Hen had been trying to make you talk to him for days and today as you were on the way to a call was no different.

“oh sure- Buck, after an amazing night together I found myself completely in love with you. How does this even make sense” you mocked as you prepared to get out of the ambulance and you heard Hen’s laughter.

“first of all, too much details. Second, you could just have a mature conversation together and it would all work out.” You rolled your eyes and Hen held your arm. “if you could only see the way he looks at you.”

Hen released the grip on your arm and you ran towards Bobby who was shouting orders to the team. Today was a tough call. A residential building on fire. You prepared triage for the arriving victims while the firefighters rushed with their equipment into the burning building.

“Cap, I need some help over here. A victim on the second floor with a piece of wood stuck in his chest. I won’t be able to transport him that way.”

You could hear Eddie calling the captain over the radio and your gaze crossed with Hen’s. When she made mention of moving, you were faster.

“Cap let me help. The wood needs to be stabilized and if that doesn’t work, they'll need someone with enough medical knowledge, or that person won’t make it out of that building alive.” Your heart was beating wildly in your chest. The adrenaline was extremely high and you could feel your hands sweating.

You noticed the look Bobby gave Hen and saw when she nodded slightly. The minute you finished gearing up, you saw Buck leaving the building with another victim and when his gaze met you, the desperation was clear on his face.

“Cap no, she can’t go inside. It’s too dangerous.” He tried to persuade the captain, but it wasn’t Buck who was going to undo his decision.

“Buck, you don’t give the orders here, she’s already prepared to go in. Either you will go inside with her, or I will”

He didn’t have to say it twice and in a few seconds you were inside a burning building. Buck was directing you where it was safe to step, when to duck or sneak. Your heart was pounding, your breathing was heavy. It was so hot. As soon as you found Eddie, he gave you the same surprised look, but let you do your job. When the patient was stable, he could finally be transported without danger.

Eddie and Ravi went ahead and you stayed behind for a few seconds. Long enough so that when you went to cross the same hallway you came in, a burning beam fell in front of you. Buck pulled you to his feet just as the beam passed within millimeters of your face. You were in shock for a few seconds.

“We have to go up, it’s the safest option.”

Before you could think, Buck pulled you in and you ran up the stairs to the top floor. As you went through the door that led to the terrace you could hardly breathe because of how many floors you ran up. All you could hear was Bobby’s orders to evacuate the building. It could collapse at any second. Buck radio him your location and the captain said that they were going to position the ladder for you to get out of there. Buck ran to the edge of the building and when he made mention of pulling you in, you could see how high up you were and you got desperate.

“cmon, we have to be prepared to jump on the ladder” He tried to pull you again but you were faster and took a few steps back.

“i can’t- Buck i can’t”

“What are you talking about, we have to-“

“Buck i CAN’T” you shouted the last word and he could see the desperation in your voice. You started to hyperventilate, your head was spinning, and you fell to your knees on the floor before Buck could hold you.

“w-what is going on? are you o-okay?” He asked holding you in his arms but could see you had difficulty in drawing in air. Buck quickly took off your mask and saw the tears streaming down your face. He started to panic.

“i-i can’t, it’s too h-high” You stuttered and he finally understood. You were afraid of heights.

“hey, hey look at me” He held your face firmly and tears were streaming down your face. “We need to get out of here, the building is going to collapse any second. I need you to trust me because I don’t want to lose you today, okay? I don’t want to lose you without having a chance to tell you how I feel about you, us”

Your eyes widened and he continued talking. “I need you to take a deep breath for me okay? Do it for me please"

You nodded desperately and drew deep breaths. You could hear Bobby yelling at you to get out of there soon, the building was about to collapse. Buck stood up and held out his hand to you. “Do you trust me?”

You nodded again and Buck guided you to the ladders.

"i need you to be brave"

He never let go of your hand, and when you were halfway down, the building collapsed. Buck held you as tight as he could as everything came crashing down behind you.

As soon as the smoke cleared enough for you to finish coming down, everyone rushed to meet you.

“What happened, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Hen ran up to you checking you out and you hugged her tight, assuring her that you were fine. Either way she put you in the ambulance to check your vitals and put you in oxygen for your difficult to breath.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, and don’t ever try to be a smart-ass again. Next time you stay and I’ll go” she complained as you parked at the station and you smiled.

“Okay okay, sorry for the scare mama Hen.”

You scoffed as you opened the ambulance to organize the supplies and noticed when a pair of blue eyes walked past you. You quickly pulled him aside and he had his eyebrows raised. “I believe you commented something that if I didn’t die today, you would have a confession to make” you noticed his cheeks turning pink and you laughed.

“thank you for helping me there. I could never imagine I would panic in the middle of a burning building, but my fear of heights took me to a very dark place and if you hadn’t been with me, I probably wouldn’t be-“ Your eyes were watering and buck’s arms surrounded you.

“you don’t need to thank me, I will always have your back” You broke away from the embrace and you saw that damn smirk on his face. “I hope we can continue this conversation at my place after the shift?”

“asshole” You laughed and went back to the ambulance.

You were so screwed.

[spotsandsocks]

Started a coma dream fic… life takes people in different directions inspired by 2 seconds in promo

This is the first part… more may follow (I don’t know..)

The dizziness is overwhelming for a moment, it builds and build until it’s so intense he thinks he might be sick, with his vision blurred like it is it’s impossible to make out where he is. Then as suddenly as the feeling came over him it’s gone and Buck is standing alone in the street blinking in the light, it takes a full circle to orient himself and then he knows where he is, not too far from the station, just a few blocks reallly. He should go there find Eddie or Bobby. He has the strongest feeling he needs to see them, maybe they can help him work out why the hell he’s standing in the middle of the street wearing, he looks down at himself a pale green sweater he’s never seen before.

The first step towards the fire house is taken then the next before Buck notices the man on the other side of the street. Thank God!

“Bobby!” He calls out as he crosses but Bobby doesn’t hear him, well if he does he keeps on walking.

His feet move faster, there’s an urgency gripping him that he can’t let Bobby disappear around the corner. The feeling pushes his name past his lips.“Bobby! Bobby?”

Buck’s legs are longer and he’s faster than his Captain, with his heart beating rapidly against his ribs he reaches out and grabs hold of Bobby’s arm.

That finally gets a reaction, Bobby pulls away with a violent jerk and turns with a harsh ‘Hey!” On his lips followed by a scowl and “What’s your problem man?”

He doesn’t mean to be staring but Bobby’ looks, sounds so different that he can’t help it. There are more lines on his face, his eyes are dull and bloodshot. He looks old. He looks tired. Worn out. Done in .

“B B Bobby it’s me, it’s it’s Buck.”

“You’ve got the world guy. I don’t know you.”

The words hit him like are a blow, like he’s been slapped and ice floods his veins. It’s hard to get his next words out.

“You you do, it’s me Buck. Bobby, it’s me” he can hear the panic in his own voice as well as Bobby can, the older man takes a wary step back from someone he thinks is an increasingly distraught stranger.

Hands up Bobby says simply. “I don’t know you, sorry.”

Cutting through his panic like a knife he sees what Bobby’s holding.

“Is that, is that whiskey? Bobby are you drinking again?” Concern for his captain overrides the worry he’s starting to feel

About his own situation. “Does Athena know”

Bobby steps back again “Whose Athena?”

Now all Buck can do is stare horrified, that’s so wrong, everything is wrong. It freezes his brain and Bobby takes the opportunity to move away from him, it takes a second to gather his wits but then he’s moving after him, Bobby speeds up.

“You shouldn’t be drinking Bobby.”

“What’s that got to do with you? I don’t know how you know my name but you need to leave me alone.”

“No I can’t. I I need you, I need your help.” He sounds desperate but what else is he supposed to do. Bobby’s like his dad. He needs his dad.

“I’m no help to anyone these days kid.”

“Then then I should help you. Something’s wrong Cap, you should know me, you’re my boss at the 118.

Bobby stops and laughs. Buck doesn’t like the sound, he’s never heard Bobby laugh like that, it’s harsh and cold.

“Believe me I’ve not been anyone’s captain for a long time now.”

Not to be deterred Buck continues, “But but you are and we’re we’re a family. You’re my family. C’mon Bobby you know you’re kinda like my Dad.”

The next laugh is even worse than the first, it’s hollow and bitter. “I’m definitely not anyone’s Dad. I don’t know what your problem is mister but I’m going. Don’t follow me.”

Buck calls out after Bobby, “I think something happens to me, I I think I got hurt on a call. Bobby I just want to go home.”

Bobby turns as he walks away, “Can’t help you kid.”

The distance between them is increasing at the same rate as Buck’s panic. He raises his voice calls out after him, “You you taught me your chilli recipe.”

Bobby stops and turns.

“What?”

Buck closes the gap again, hope building.

“Your recipe for chilli.” Buck waits, holds his breath that this will get through to him.

Bobby shakes his head. “I haven’t about that recipe for years.”

“You.” He sighs the word out, desperate to make Bobby remember. “You even told me the secret ingredient. Bobby stares at him.

“Coco powder.” Buck hopes the two word will be the magic he needs to make this all make sense again.

“Unsweetened.” they both say the word at the same time

“Yeah!” Buck risks a smile.

Bobby steps closer. “I’m your Captain?”

Buck nods, jaw tight, Bobby has to help him.

“like your dad you say?”

He nods again, blinking back tears. He just needs to go home. Bobby can help, he knows he can.

There’s a small smile on Bobby’s face too. “I think I would have liked that but I’m sorry kid, I can’t help you.”

Bobby turns and walks away, then he stops and turns,

“I hope you work it out kid, if you do, if you’re right, then maybe we can both go home.”

His mouth opens to call out Bobby’s name again but his voice is taken by a searing wave of pain that takes him to his knees

[toosicktoocare]

okay, spoilers for the most recent 911 episode below (and tagged as such as well)

i haven’t written in months- i just have a lot of feelings, and i needed to work through them

It’s weird, Buck thinks, how quickly the sound around him can fade, how fast the pain in his back and his side can grow fuzzy, almost numb even, until he’s completely disassociating, losing his touch on reality in time with Eddie’s final blink.

He’s back at Eddie’s house, head burrowed in the fridge, and he’s digging around meal prep containers for hidden beers.

“Heard you flipped out yesterday.”

“Huh?” Buck’s only half listening because he’s on a quest of the alcoholic nature, and he’s pretty sure he spots a dark neck of a beer bottle nestled between a container of rice and a jar of low fat mayonnaise.

“At the well.”

This Buck hears quite clearly, and he snags the beer and turns away from the fridge, lips curving softly downward at the edges.

“Bobby said you were frantic.”

The grooves in the beer bottle cap dig into Buck’s palm. Or maybe, Buck thinks, he’s deliberately pushing it into his skin. “You were trapped.”

“And your plan was what, Buck? Dig me out with your hands?”

“If that’s what I had to,” Buck spits back, eyes narrow, shooting Eddie a gaze he is normally on the receiving end of, and it’s just enough to have Eddie’s face go soft before him.

“Not sure if I should thank you because I know that you are genuinely serious, or if I should officially declare you as the world’s biggest idiot because I know that you are genuinely serious.”

Buck laughs lowly under his breath, yet still, his eyes are warm, determined, and he cocks his head to the side. “I said I have your back, didn’t I?”

“This again?” Eddie asks, now laughing with Buck.

“I’m a man of my damn word, Eddie. If I say I have you back, then I have your back.”

“Firefighter Buckley!”

Buck’s gotten used to pulling himself slowly out of a dissociative state, cool and calm, working through grounding techniques, so the abrupt, loud voice in his ear is a gun shot that rips through his mind.

Gun shot.

Buck blinks quickly. Eddie’s face is now in full view, and he looks unnaturally pale and cold, a contrast to his blood still warm and splattered across his face.

“Eddie.”

“Sir, we’ll get to him as soon as it’s safe. We need to focus on you first.”

Buck shoves himself up into a sitting position, ignoring the thrum of pain gnawing at his side. He’s sure he’ll look purple and blue by morning.

“No, Eddie,” he repeats, unable to form much more in terms of sentences. His mind can only collect what’s currently the most meaningful in this situation, and that one thing is only Eddie.

“Eddie,” he tries again, louder, hoping to jostle Eddie awake by his voice, hoping that, maybe, Eddie’s only passed out from the pain and that the pool of blood isn’t actually draining from a potentially severe gun shot wound.

“Firefighter Buckley—”

Buck shoves away from the firefighter beside him. He ignores the hand grabbing at his shirt, ignores the voices shouting for him to come back, and then he’s hovering over Eddie, shielding him, assessing what he can of the wound with shaking hands.

Eddie’s unresponsive below him, and Buck’s stomach twists so tightly, he could double over in pain. He’s just turning around to yell for help when he’s being jerked to his feet by a cop. His eyes stay on Eddie as Eddie’s rushed onto a backboard, and he’s so focused on Eddie’s face, so desperate for a hint of life, a crease of the brow, that he doesn’t process the hand squeezing his arm or the voice close to his ear until the cop is speaking.

“Go with him, and stay low.”

Nodding, Buck hunches over and runs to the ambulance Eddie’s being lifted into, and the second he gets a nod, he pulls himself up, and the door’s closed in front of him.

With as loud as it had been outside, it’s eerily quiet in the ambulance, even with the siren blaring overhead. The paramedics are working quickly and quietly, discussing the best course of action under their breath. Buck stares at Eddie’s sodden shirt, at the too dark stain toward his shoulder, and he reaches over, ripping the shirt open to get a clear look.

“Sir, please let us handle the patient.”

One of the paramedics swats at Buck’s hands, and he leans back, eyes glued to the small silver bullet nestled inside of Eddie’s chest. It wasn’t a clean shot, and Buck knows that poses more recovery complications. He’s sure surgery is just on the horizon for Eddie.

He only pulls his eyes away from the angry wound when Eddie groans, his brow furrowing.

“Eddie?” Buck leans forward, one hand resting just above Eddie’s forehead, his hair soft against his palm. “Can you hear me?”

Eddie’s eyes squeeze before he pries them open. Even through the small slits, Buck can see how glossy and unfocused Eddie looks.

“Buck?”

His voice is shot, weak, and thick with pain, and Buck nods, one thumb smoothing across Eddie’s forehead.

“Hey, man. Yeah, it’s me. You’re going to be okay.”

Eddie frowns, and he lifts one shaking hand to Buck’s cheek, fingers pressing to the blood on Buck’s face.

“You’re hurt?”

“What?” Buck asks, shaking his head. He goes to explain more, to reassure that he’s fine, but Eddie goes slack below him, and the paramedics push him back, shouting for the driver to pick up the pace. Eddie’s crashing, and the frantic beeping is deafening to his ears.

He won’t because he wants all focus to be on saving Eddie, but still, Buck kind of wishes he could throw up to ease the pressure in his gut.

***

“Buck!”

Bobby’s voice rings out across the waiting room, and Buck lifts his head from his hands to see Bobby running toward him with Athena hot on his heels. He can see the question written all over Bobby’s face, and he holds up a single hand, shaking his head.

“It’s not my blood.” What he leaves off is how he’d give anything for it to be his blood. For him to be the one carted off to surgery, not Eddie.

Bobby nods, and Athena sighs softly.

“You okay, Buckaroo?”

Buck’s not sure if it’s just because it’s Athena, or if it’s her motherly nature, but his composure crumbles at her words. He wants to tell them he’s fine— that Eddie is the one everyone should worry about. But, he can’t stop shaking, and his eyes have been burning with unshed tears.

Athena pulls him to his feet, and he falls against her, a sob ripping up his throat. He can feel Bobby at his back, a warm, grounding hand to his shoulder, and Athena’s arms are wrapped tightly around his back, keeping the pieces together.

“You’re okay, Buck.”

He clings to Athena until he’s sure he can stand up on his own, and then he falls into the soft question and answer process, revealing all he knows: Eddie was shot; the police who took his statement have yet to find the shooter, but they don’t think Eddie was specifically a target; he’s in surgery, but the doctors are extremely optimistic.

“Are we going to be able to pry you away from this hospital?” Athena asks, and Buck gives a shaky nod.

“Chris is with a friend, and Eddie was supposed to pick him up. I’m going to... I’ve got to tell him.”

“We can have someone else—”

“—no,” Buck interrupts, stepping back. “It has to be me.” He catches a glimpse of his reflection in the smudged glass of a vending machine: pale face smeared red with dried blood. “I should,” he notions weakly to his face, laughs awkwardly, and Bobby nods, a frown etched across his lips.

“I’ll drive you back to your jeep after you wash up.”

Nodding, Buck slips to the bathroom, thankful to find it empty. He looks at himself, but all he can see is the muted, pale shock written across Eddie’s face looking back at him, painted in the blood splattered across his face. He turns the tap on as hot as it will allow, and then he scrubs, hands moving roughly up and down his face, the hand soap slightly stinging his skin. He scrubs until his entire face burns, and then he stumbles backward with a gasp he covers with his palm.

He holds in a deep breath that quakes against his lungs, and he doesn’t release it until he’s sure he can without falling apart.

“Eddie’s going to be fine,” he says aloud, practicing now to sound as confident and as believable as he can.

***

“Did you get hurt at work, Buck?”

Buck’s not surprised that the first question out of Christopher’s mouth is about his well-being and not of his dad’s absence— typical Diaz behavior.

“Uh, no, bud.” Buck kneels down, leveling himself with Christopher. “It’s not mine.”

“Where’s my dad?”

“He...” Buck stumbles with his words, swallows thickly. “He won’t be coming home tonight, bud. He got hurt at work, but I’m going to make sure he gets better real fast.”

“Is he at the hospital? Can I see him?”

Christopher’s voice is growing more and more unsteady, adopting a waver that’s a brick smashing to Buck’s heart.

“He is, but he’s still busy getting patched up, so he can’t have visitors just yet.”

Christopher nods, and Buck wonders just when it was exactly that Chris matured without his seeing. “He’s going to be okay, bud. But you know what will make him get better faster?”

Before Buck can answer, Carla slips into the room, supplies in hand.

“Make him a really big card!”

“Yes!” Christopher’s smile turns into a giggle as Carla drops markers and glitter and poster boards onto Eddie’s kitchen table.

“Chris, Carla’s going to watch you while I go back to the hospital. As soon as I get the okay for visitors, I’ll call.”

Christopher nods and shuffles to the table, already scoping out markers to use for the card. While occupied, Buck slips toward the door with Carla hot on his heels.

“Is he okay?”

“Still in surgery,” Buck answers on auto-pilot, having muttered those words too many times already to count.

“Are you okay?”

Buck laughs weakly, rakes a hand through his hair. “Ask me again when Eddie’s awake.”

“Oh, honey—”

“It’s okay,” Buck mutters, casting his eyes to the floor. “Sign my name on the card for me?”

“Buck, why don’t you stay for a little bit? Change your clothes? Eat something?”

“I can’t,” Buck shakes his head, unsure how to explain that the only way to easy the jutting pain in his chest is to be back at the hospital. “I need to—”

“Go,” Carla rolls her eyes. “But I’m bringing you food.”

Buck smiles, small but genuine. “Thanks, Carla.”

***

Buck scans his text from Hen, gnaws at his lower lip.

[From: Hen] where’d you run off to? We’re all in the waiting room.

He pulls his gaze up to Eddie’s sleeping form, to the wires sticking out of him.

[To: Hen] I may have waited until a dr walked through the double doors and snuck into Eddie’s room...

His phone blows up shortly after with texts and calls, and he ignores all, instead typing to a 118 group text.

[To: Fire Fam] look, I know I’m not supposed to be back here, but don’t tell on me okay? I know the dr said his surgery went well, but I had to see for myself

[From Chim in Fire Fam] Hen’s rolling her eyes

[From Hen in Fire Fam] damn right I am. So is Athena

[From Bobby in Fire Fam] how is he?

He looks terrible, Buck thinks. His skin is still too pale, and there are dark purple spots coloring below his eyes. His breathing is labored, and his face is pinched as if in pain.

Terrible, Buck thinks, yet so beautifully alive. The relief is edging his nerves, hesitant to completely encompass him.

[To Fire Fam] he looks like hell, but he’s alive

Buck locks his phone and leans forward, resting his head on the edge of Eddie’s bed. He lays one hand over Eddie’s, and he drifts somewhere between awake and asleep, coming to fully when Eddie groans above him.

He jerks forward, leans in close, and squeezes Eddie’s hand. “Eddie? You with me?”

It takes an impossibly long time for Eddie to open his eyes, but when he does, his smile is weak but warm enough to bring Buck’s relief fully over him.

“Buck.”

There’s no confusion in Eddie’s voice this time— only soft certainty, and Buck squeezes Eddie’s hand once more.

“In the flesh.”

“You’re here.”

“Yep,” Buck nods, smiling. “Though when I have to duck behind a chair when a nurse comes in, pretend like you didn’t see me, yeah? Kinda breaking hospital rules right now.”

Eddie laughs, and then he coughs weakly, wincing. Still, his eyes hold Buck’s gaze, and Buck wouldn’t look away even for a second.

“Chris?” Eddie finally croaks out, and Buck nods.

“He’s okay. He’s with Carla. They are coming as soon as the doctor gives the okay for visitors.”

“Legal visitors,” Eddie clarifies, and Buck smiles. If Eddie can joke, he must be on the mend.

“Hey, a part of having your back means I simply must sneak into your hospital room to make sure you don’t croak.”

Eddie’s laugh turns into a harsher cough, and Buck smooths a hand over Eddie’s forehead. “Maybe stop laughing?”

“Stop making me then,” Eddie pouts, and Buck leans back with a smile.

“I gotta talk to Carla.”

Buck cocks a brow. “She’ll be here as soon as she can.”

“She told me to make sure I’m following my own heart.”

Frowning, Buck tilts his head. “Uh, Eddie? You okay, man?”

“She was right— I thought I was but I wasn’t.”

“Okay, maybe I’ll give myself up and grab a nurse. You are talking too weird right now. Clearly something’s not clicking right in that old head of yours.” Buck makes to stand, to leave, his concern heightening behind his poor joke, but Eddie grabs at his wrist, a weak grip that Buck frowns deeply at.

“Eddie, I—”

“Stay. Please.”

Slowly, Buck takes his seat. “As long as you stop being weird as hell.”

“I will for now.”

[elisela]

above the ground (ao3) buck x eddie, 1.3k, domestic fluff, trees of vermont for the second day of @eddiediaz‘s birthday week celebration!

--

The first time Eddie catches Buck staring up at the trees in the backyard he’s just finished pulling all the yellow tile out of their bathroom, plaster dust still coating his arms. Buck had heaved a box full of the cracked clay into the outdoor garbage can, turned to walk back to the house, and just—stopped. “You good?” he asks, and Buck visibility shakes himself out of his reverie.

“Yep,” he says, glancing down at Eddie’s empty hands. “Was that the last of it?”

“Still another pile,” Eddie says, and follows behind him when Buck claps him on the shoulder and pushes past him on the way back into the house.

--

The second—and third—time they’re barbecuing. Or, well, they aren’t, but Bobby is, taking over their backyard because theirs is being reseeded. Eddie’s not doing much of anything; the kids are running around the yard, Buck and Chim are in the middle of dragging Bobby’s patio table over so they all have places to sit, Karen is swatting at Athena’s hand when she reaches into the salad bowl to pinch an olive between her fingers.

Buck drops into the chair next to him after the table placement is approved by Hen, threading their fingers together with an easy sigh and accepting the cold bottle Eddie hands him gratefully. His head is tipped back, eyes trained on the far corner of the yard, one of the corners of his mouth pinched thoughtfully.

“Planning something?” Eddie says, because he knows that look. That’s the look that caused them to strip and restain all the hardwood floors downstairs the weekend before, the look that preceded Buck’s proposal that they rip out the out-of-place island in the kitchen, take out the crappy wire shelving in the pantry and replace it with wood, and while they’re at it, Buck’s never liked the placement of the refrigerator anyway.

“Maybe,” Buck says. He sounds far away, and Eddie wonders what havoc he’ll bring to the house now.

“Cool,” is all he says. There hasn’t been anything Buck’s done that he hasn’t liked—fish scale tile in Christopher’s bathroom aside, because that was one hundred percent his son’s choice. “You know where the credit card is.”

--

In retrospect, he shouldn’t have been surprised when he comes home a week later and there’s a pile of lumber sitting in the corner of the backyard.

--

The plans for the treehouse are stretched across Buck’s desk, and Eddie runs his fingers over the detailed sketch, the trunk of the tree it’s all built around. If he’s reading it right, it’s meant to be just fifteen feet off the ground, an octagonal structure with a deck that faces the backyard, an enclosed room at the back, a staircase that spirals up to it.

“I would have put it up higher, but I had to work around city ordinances,” Buck says from behind him. He’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed loosely over his chest. “That’s as tall—and as big—as I could make it without applying for waivers.”

“This is amazing,” Eddie says, glancing back at the plans. “I didn’t even know Chris wanted a treehouse.”

Buck huffs out a laugh. “Well,” he says, “he hasn’t said anything to me, either. But one of his classmates was talking about backyard camping and how cool it would be to have a treehouse to live in during the summer, and the look on Chris’ face—I just thought it would be pretty easy to give him.”

Eddie’s going to marry this man. “You need help with it?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure when we’ll get started. I called an arborist—don’t look impressed, it was Bobby’s idea, he said we should get the whole yard checked before any more trees decide to crash through the roof—and I’m waiting to schedule with them. Don’t wanna start building before I know if the tree can hold it.”

“Chris is gonna be thrilled,” Eddie says. “But I hope you know that you’re the one sleeping out there with him. I’ve done my time sleeping outdoors.”

Buck laughs and pulls him close. “He’s almost eight, Eds. Let him and Denny go out on their own, and we can have some fun in here.”

Eddie pauses, hands on Buck’s warm, solid side. “You know he’s gone for the next few hours, right?”

Buck still closes the door behind them.

--

Maybe Eddie should be over a shirtless and sweaty Buck, but it’s a sight he never wants to drag his eyes away from. The last weeks of summer have been blisteringly hot, so naturally Buck decided that it would be the best time to build.

Eddie has no complaints—except when Chim starts calling him over to help.

They’d started early, driving a rented lift into the backyard just after sunrise so they could get the frame built out around the tree. Eddie had done his part by staying out of the way and making sure there were enough bagels to satisfy even Buck’s insatiable hunger, picking up lunch from Bobby’s when they took a mid-day break, and was about to disappear again when Chim called his name.

“Eddie,” he says, hands on his hips fifteen feet up, straddling two of the cross-sections that radiate from around the tree, “getting the base down would go a lot faster if you could hoist the planks up to us.”

In the end, Eddie is almost as sweaty as they are, arms pleasantly sore in a way they haven’t been in a very long time.

The build takes three days; they finish the round base and railing on the first day, the staircase takes them all of Sunday, and Buck is antsy all week, never getting home early enough to get started on the enclosed section without losing the light. Christopher walks up the stairs daily, spreading himself out on the base and laughing when Eddie aims the hose up at him.

Buck’s up at daybreak the next weekend, the sound of hammering waking Eddie from what had been a good dream. He’d made Eddie promise not to let Chris watch the progress, so as soon as Chim knocks on the door, Eddie takes Chris and leaves, spends the day running errands and waiting for Buck to give them the all clear, a text that doesn’t arrive until it’s nearly dinner time.

He picks up pizza on his way home, tries not to laugh at the way Chris bypasses the front door and goes immediately around the side of the house, yelling for Buck as he does. Eddie slows his steps—he knows Buck and Chris are already bonded, that they love being around each other, but he wants to give them a moment that’s just for them after Buck has done something so incredibly huge for his son.

Chris is already in the enclosed section when he makes his way up the staircase, and it’s nothing like he had imagined. This isn’t the cheap, hastily built treehouses he’d seen while looking for houses—it’s like a log cabin up in a tree, and although he can see the exhaustion in Buck’s body as he walks around with Chris, the only expression on his face is the excitement that’s mirrored on Christopher’s.

“Buck says we can sleep up here tonight!” Chris says excitedly, tugging on his hand. “I’m gonna go pack my stuff!”

--

“Air mattresses are less comfortable than I remembered,” Buck says much later that night, after Chris had already dropped off to sleep. “Maybe we should get real beds in here.”

“Maybe you were right about letting him be on his own,” Eddie says, linking their fingers together. It’s far from the worst place he’s slept, but Eddie’s a creature of comfort now. “We can give them walkies to check in. I’m calling Hen first thing tomorrow.”