#captain dad firefighter son

[911-incorrect-quotes-dispatch]

Bobby: C'mon we’re stealing this fire engine to help Athena. Buck, shocked: Wait, really? We're stealing together? Bobby, already tired: Yeah yeah, just get in and gloat about it later. Buck: Just wanted you to admit it.

[incorrect911firefighters]

Buck: Wasn't icarly that guy that girlbossed too close to the sun because he was down bad for Apollo?

Bobby: YOU MEAN ICARUS?

[peggingeddiediaz]

911 tweets Father's Day 2024 pt 2

[reyesstrand]

imagine going back five years and telling tk he’d be married to the love of his life and a stay at home dad. imagine going back five years and telling carlos he’d be married to the love of his life and ready to become a father. imagine going back five years and telling paul he’d become a lieutenant and a personal hero to a kid like him in austin, texas. imagine going back five years and telling marjan she’d be cherished for who she is and about to become a mother. imagine going back five years and telling mateo he’s not a probie, he’s a fully-fledged firefighter, who has found his place with a team that loves him. imagine going back five years and telling nancy there’s no more jocks versus nerds and she’s a core part of the team, and proving herself after a stint as acting captain. imagine going back five years and telling tommy she’d face so much loss but come back stronger than ever. imagine going back five years and telling judd that new captain isn’t out to get you, he’s going to become your best friend and make you the next head of the house as it was always meant to be. imagine going back five years and telling owen he did it—he saved his son and this rag-tag group and was able to go home again, his mission accomplished.

[buddierecs]

fluff buddie fics.

all of these are general audience, teen and up or not rated (no smut) make sure to kudos/comment on these amazing works :)

cinnamon kisses by: tawaifeddiediaz "buck wakes up from a nap, cuddles eddie, proposes, and devours cinnamon rolls, in that very order." word count: 3.5k important tags: sleepy cuddles, getting together, first kiss, soft buddie, friends to fiance. if i loved you less by: spaceprincessem "buck can't use his phone for two days. eddie sends him text anyways" word count: 1.9k important tags: soft boys in love, getting together, love confessions, text messages

got me feeling like it's all gonna be okay by: wafflesofdoom "eddie struggles to voice his want for physical affection to buck as their relationship turns romantic, and buck helps him embrace his clinginess again." word count: 8.3k important tags: established relationship, light angst, ptsd lucky just to linger in your light by: hattalove "in which eddie accidentally waxes poetic about buck to the new york times." word count: 4.9k important tags: getting together, pining!eddie diaz, gay disaster!eddie diaz

the ordeal of dating your captain's (adopted) son by: polish_amber "or, the au where miscommunication abounds as eddie seeks advice about his new relationship, bobby despairs over his adopted son's career prospects and his refusal to talk about it, and evan buckley-nash juggles training at the fire academy, building a family with his new boyfriend, and trying to work out how to tell his overprotective dad that he's already chosen the life he wants, actually. It takes a goddamn tsunami, of all things, to get the story straight." word count: 60k important tags: miscommunication, firehouse 118 crew as family, bobby nash is evan buckley's parent, light angst, protective!bobby nash, developing relationship those two firefighters by: darkfairytale "#thosetwofirefighters starts to gather a following on social media, as everyone tries to figure out if those two cute firefighters from the 118 in LA are a thing or not." word count: 64k important tags: crack treated seriously, oblivious!buddie, internet, social media, slow burn

and here, too, am i by: daisies_and_briars "six months into their marriage, eddie is still struggling to decide whether or not he wants more kids, when he knows buck does. The universe may not scream, but it certainly talks." word count: 41k important tags: established relationship, married!buddie, parenthood, very soft i got all my sisters with me by: ipretendtovesane "eddie's sister has a baby, buck meets the diaz girls, and they're sickeningly in love for nearly seven thousand words" word count: 6.7k important tags: meet the family, established relationship, christopher diaz has two dads a discovery of boxer briefs by: princessfbi "he had to be dreaming, right? or maybe just in heaven and painfully aware of the warm fluttery feelings in his chest that were making him dizzy. because there, in eddie’s kitchen, was buck in a pair of socks with one pooling down his ankle like the elastic had been overstretched, an oversized hoodie, and a pair of grey briefs and it shouldn’t be the thing that made eddie’s head spin but it was." word count: 3.6k important tags: lazy mornings, cuddling, soft!buddie, sharing clothes, morning kisses

i'm cold but you light the fire within me by: beulaugh "buck shows up for career day at eddie's school, and both of them struggle to rein in their attraction." word count: 22k important tags: different first meetings au, teacher!eddie, first kiss, careers day it's golden, like daylight by: rarakiplin “hmm,” buck hums, and eddie feels the vibration of it under his mouth. buck’s nose nudges against the side of his head. “have you thought about that?” eddie laughs against buck’s shoulder, unwilling to lift his head. “thinking? right now?" “shut up,” fingers dig into his ribs, “i mean, would you want to? be married again?" word count: 8.7k important tags: secret relationship, weddings, first dates, getting together i'm someone you maybe might love by: allyasavedtheday "five times someone realises buck is in love with eddie and one time buck realises he's in love with eddie." word count: 6.5k important tags: 5+1 things, feelings realisation, love confessions, first kiss of accidents and inevitabilities by: tawaifeddiediaz "the one where they accidentally kiss, and the cards fall right into place." word count: 3.5k important tags: accidental kissing, soft!eddie diaz, getting together sounding like the rest of my life by: coupe_de_foudre "eddie does a Ravi and swaps shifts for a bit, only everyone on b shift is convinced that he and buck are married. they might not be as wrong as eddie initially thought." word count: 6.6k important tags: pining, getting together, didn't realise they were dating hey now, hey now by: fallingthorns "after returning to the 118, eddie becomes a full-time paramedic and ravi becomes buck's partner. eddie absolutely doesn't feel anything about that, not at all." word count: 10k important tags: 5+1 things, jealous!eddie diaz, paramedic!eddie diaz, getting together, grumpy!eddie diaz 911, what's your emergency? by: coupe_de_foudre "the 911 operator!buck fic that no one asked for but got anyway" word count: 20k important tags: different first meeting au, getting together, idiots to lovers the kermit verse by: hattalove "how is eddie diaz like kermit the frog? let buck and christopher count the ways." word counts: 8.7k important tags: getting together, first kiss, christopher diaz is a national treasure and i just want to wrap you up, want to kiss your lips by: bucksbuddie "five times buck steals eddie’s clothes and one time eddie gives them to him." word count: 9.8k important tags: 5+1 things, getting together, soft!buddie, light angst, sharing clothes, sharing a bed whatever life throws at you by: flirtyhale "it's his first day back after two whole weeks off. two whole weeks of spending his honeymoon in hawaii. with his best friend and love of his life. buck sits in the locker room, and doesn't want to take his wedding ring off." word count: 12k important tags: marriage, boys in love, honeymoon, family feels tell the whole wide world and this room by: hattalove "in which we learn about fermented milk products, discover that dolphins are sex fiends, and realize that sometimes, it really is all about knowing and being known." word count: 5.2k important tags: established relationship, marriage proposal, kissing

nobody knows you, baby, the way i do by: allyasavedtheday "buck and eddie bet hen and chimney that they know each other better than they do and a rivalry ensues. featuring one-upmanship, codependency, ravi as reluctant quizmaster and eddie believing his will is the ultimate trump card." word count: 3.7k important tags: bets and wagers, feelings realisations, first kiss

[dumbass-hyperfixations]

I’ve been doing some thinking, and I would really like to see a “B shift” episode. Just like, Ravi and a bunch of firefighter characters we’ve never been introduced to. And the whole episode is just them NOT passing the “firefam bechdel” test, sp the whole episode is just them gossiping about our original fire fam and treating them like a live drama series.

“Oh yeah yeah Chimney! I know him. He’s the guy who survived the rebar through his head a couple of years ago.” “He what.”

“I mean, Eddie seems nice, but that’s only when he’s next to Buck. He’s terrifying otherwise. I heard he used to do underground fighting, and punched a guy so hard he almost died.” “Wait, Eddie Diaz? You sure? He pulled a double shift with me just last week and he was all smiley ranting about the Zoo trip he and Buck took his son on. I’d bet my money on them secretly dating btw. It would make all the sense.” “Whaaaat, no way! I thought they both had girlfriends?” “Did you ever actually see the girlfriends though?” “Huh. No.”

“Omg, Chimney’s wife and kids came by last week, they’re such a cute family.” “Wait, kids, plural?” “Yeah, looks like they adopted another girl!” “Oh no, that’s actually Hen’s daughter. She and her wife unreasonably lost their fostering licence, so Chimney and his wife took her in until it all gets sorted.” “What?? How close are those people?!” “Like, so close, dude.”

“I mean Bobby definitely plays favorites. I used to work with them on the A shift, but that sort of made me transfer to B shift. Nothing was wrong per say, but I just couldn’t figure out if Buck was actually his son or not? Because they’ve got different last names you know? And I didn’t want to ever be responsible if the Captain’s reckless son gets hurt on my watch.” “Oh no, Bobby’s definitely his dad. I think last name thing might be because of the first marriage? Buck probably just kept his mom’s maiden name, it’s not unheard of.”

“Did you know Hen completed med school?” “No, no, she dropped out. Decided it wasn’t for her or something.” “You sure? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen her do some crazy medical work in the field before.” “Yeah, she’s just like that.”

“My previous captain played poker with Buck once. Lost so much money that night.” “Really?! He doesn’t seem like a guy that can keep a poker face.”

“How do you not remember Jonah? He worked with us a couple times. He’s the guy who kidnapped Hen and Chimney.” “Oh yeaah. That was messed up.”

“Yo Ravi, you work with the A shift a lot more than us. Settle this for us: Buck and Eddie, dating or friends?” “Divorced.” “DIVORCED?” “Yeah, I think they might get back together soon though. They keep hanging out together, and I don’t think it’s just because of their kid.”

And every time they talk about someone from thw firefam, the scene cuts to that person doing some random stuff on their day off, maybe getting ready for a firefam get-together or sth. I just think it would be neat.

[bidisasterevankinard]

Do you have deja vu?

Buck becomnes captain. Not everyone supports or rescpect it not Eddie friendly, so don't like don't read (I'm pretty sure it's Eddie bashing fic but I'm still not sure where the line betwen not friendly and bashing/ also bc of the good headcanon about Sal in the bucktommy fandom you can see it as hopeful ending for Eddie)

Taking the role of a captain was a hard decision. Getting to be a captain of a team that is 99% older than you was even harder. 

How the fuck he should make them all respect him than so many of them saw him as a hot-headed probie? But Buck never thought that the hardest person would be his best friend. 

The only one not to congratulate him. The one who constantly makes comments. The one who put his authority under question worse than Hen or Chim ever tried. And Buck is done with him. Especially after what man did today.

The fire was all around the house, devouring everything on its way with loud sounds of destruction. Not possible to save the construction. Just a quick move to try and save the family inside. 

Making commands, Buck orders Eddie, Ravi and Rose to check and get the family out from the second floor, taking first and basement himself with Alex and Alvara. 

Everyone moves in quick succession, getting parents and two young kids out. He takes a deep breath outside, when Ravi confirms everything is clear. No people on the second floor. 

“118, stay out of the house now. Structure is unstable. We’ll fight it from spreading only.”

The worst happens next. 

The piercing, loud, making blood get cold in veins, scream spreads around, when the mother wakes up and starts crying her son’s name, screaming that he’s not here.

“Maybe he left? We checked everything,” Buck comes closest to the woman, kindly talking to her, trying to calm her and talk to him. Teenager might not even be there. He knows his team checked everything. 

With his peripheral vision he sees turn out move, not having time to repates the order to stay outside. He has time to see the name when he disappears in the fire. DIAZ.

Buck nods to Hen to try and calm the woman.

“Firefighter Diaz, you had no c-command to get back, the structure is unstable! Get out!” Buck barks in his radio, but no answer.

Piece of shit.

“Diaz, Get. Out,” Buck roars so disturbingly normal that Ravi looks scared at him. 

The fire intensifies. 

Eddie is not out.

“Mom! Dad!” The voice screams and the frightened teen runs to his parents. 

“Diaz, the kid is out. He was not at home. Get out!”

Surely, he does. Buck comes close to him not to make a scene in front of a poor family, hissing like a snake.

“In the fire truck. Now. You’re s-suspended.”

“Buck, c'mon,” Chim and Eddie say in unison. Buck just glares, “you want to be suspended and possibly fired too, Han? I-if not, I advise you to shut up and let me and Diaz decide it between us.”

Chim swallows and steps back.

The way to the firehouse was silent. Tensed. Buck was looking only in front of him, not reacting to Hen’s and Chim’s two weak attempts to make a conversation between everyone. 

He was thinking about the last night before shift, when he had the same question weighing on his mind and heart.

What should he do with Eddie?

Buck can’t sleep. Not without an answer. 

“Why are you not in bed?” Tommy mumbles behind him, “It’s almost midnight, Evan.”

“I know,” looking in his herbal no caffeine tea Buck searches for answers. Or drowning himself maybe.

Drowning sounds even more appealing. He just hates to leave Tommy hot-not-even-a-widower’ for young hot gays and bis out there for grabbing. Over his dead body.

Tommy sits near him, taking his face carefully in his hands. Buck hopes man would hide him in Tommy’s chest forever and Buck wouldn't need to face the world ever again.

“He’s still being a dick?”

Buck just makes a face. ‘Being a dick’ is not even putting it mildly.

“M-maybe I’m not what the station needs? Maybe he’s right in not trusting me?”

“Bobby trusted you, Evan. LAFD trusts you. Ravi does. Just because Eddie doesn’t, it means nothing.”

Buck wants to say that Eddie has his reasons. But a voice that sounds like Dr. Coupland is screaming about no bad self-talk and boundaries with toxic people.

“What sh-should I do then?”

Tommy kisses his birthmark. “Sleep now. And you’ll know what to do with Eddie when time comes. I know you will.”

Buck made up his mind. Diaz got it on himself.

The second they are all out of the showers and back in uniforms and cleaning, he gets closer to his ex-best friend.

He can’t even say hi to Tommy, because he’s so angry and he wants his anger to the person who deserves it.

“Firefighter Diaz,” he calls with his best captain voice, “come here and explain yourself about the last call.”

He wants it to be in the center of the station. Some lessons for everyone to learn.

“I tried to save the kid. What if it was Chris?”

Buck shakes his head. Of course he tries to play this card. 

Not today though. Buck won’t let him.

“But it wasn’t. You should h-have stayed outside till we could have more information about if the kid was actually inside. You, Ravi, Rose, Alex, Alvara and I checked the house. It was clear,” Buck gestures and tries his hardest to talk in a normal voice. To keep his cool like Bobby did. How man tried hard to do it from time to time too.

Ablaze in his heart loves the opponent.

“What does it mean? What teen decided to go AWOL because he's a teen and it’s Friday summer night. And look at that, that is exactly it. Guy ran to get drunk with his friends. And you,” Buck points to Eddie, remembering to keep a long distance. He's not him. “You might have killed yourself and the team members, who’d tried to save you. You could’ve killed all of us."

“Oh yeah, because you know how to save people? Or how not to get your team not killed? Do you have skills to be a captain? Unlikely,” Eddie comes closer and Buck sees fire in his eyes. 

“And you do? Have skills? To think on y-your legs? Leader skill? You don’t even have the temper to be a captain.”

Eddie basically runs on him, losing his shirt he still hasn’t put on on the way, but Chim comes in front of him.

“Okay, okay we got it. You’re angry because Buck was right to order us to stay outside,” then he adds in a smaller voice, “now say sorry and let’s forget about it.”

“What? Apologize to him? To the most selfish captain we can ever have? Never gonna happen.”

Buck can’t believe it was his best friend. Did Eddie ever like him at all? 

Well, at least one good thing from Bobby’s death. Cleaning of the space around him from people like Diaz. 

Buck stops Chim with his hand on his shoulder. It’s his fight. And he will fight and win it. With his words. And power.

“You’re gonna l-learn to respect the chain of command, Diaz or you’re not gonna work here anymore.”

“Screw you,” Eddie rolls his eyes, trying to smirk at Ravi and Alex. 

Both probie and Ravi get behind him. 

Buck smirks. Take it, Diaz.

“I guess it’s your answer,” Buck nods, then straightens and loudly pronouns, “you’re relieved of duty,” Buck looks around to make sure they all hear, “you’re not part of 118 anymore, Diaz.”

Eddie gets into his face like that night in the kitchen. Buck doesn’t flinch. People like Eddie don’t strike in public. If they are not paid anyway. 

“You can fire me! Who do you think you are?”

“Full fire captain who passed the exam, s-several training and interviews, and was appointed here by the fire Chief Simpson. As well as I had a recommendation written in my file by Captain Robert Nash,” Buck straightens in his whole height, but takes a step back from Eddie. He's not him, not going to intimidate someone with it. But show himself proudly anyway. “Unlike you, who had several remarks about you not showing the best leadership skill. More likely always stay a follower,” Buck loves who Eddie gets redder in anger. 

He can be a petty bitch. He knows.

“I don’t want you in my station. Pack your stuff. Get out.”

“Treat all your friends like this and you will have not even one!”

“I took lessons from you, Diaz. For years I was looking up at you. So look close to it.”

When Eddie is out of the doors, Buck turns away to Tommy, Chim, Hen and Ravi.

Ravi tries to smile, but gives up. “Are you sure it’s not too hard, Buck? To fire him?”

Buck softly smiles at him, “I will call Chief Sinpson about the suspension for at least six weeks and then transfer to another station, don’t worry, Ravi. I-I know Eddie is a capable firefighter and can be a good man. But he wasn't one here or with me for a while. Maybe at another station he’d get luckier.” 

Buck puts his hand softly on the young man's shoulder, smiling. 

“I’m trying to be a fair captain, Ravi. Like Bobby was. Respect you all and treat you right. But I demand the same and I will not tolerate the attitude like Diaz was showing.”

Everyone nods with smiles.

Tommy turns to Hen and Chim, leaning to them, “so do you two have some deja vu vibes too or?”

Hen and Chim nod with a scared face. 

“Do you think Bobby possessed him or what? Should we call a hot priest for exorcism?” Chim whispers and Buck just shakes his head. 

“118, clean everything, w-while I’ll cook dinner. I want the truck and engine to look like new ones.”

Everyone runs to do the job. Tommy smiles at him.

“Hello, captain.”

Buck smiles, exhaling all the anger and the weight on his shoulders. “Hi, Tommy. What’s this about deja vu?”

Tommy kisses his cheek, “have you ever heard about how Bobby fired Sal, but actually transferred him?”

[paperstorm]

Tim and ABC are dumb as hell. They can try to copy LS as much they want, the dad and son dynamic is so funny, they couldn't switch out dad/daughter instead just to be a little original. Even a female captain would be better. But it was the magic of LS cast and their dynamic and how they elevated their stories combined with diversity that made LS what it is.

Honestly I feel like this whole thing really shows how much people who make these sort of decisions are so wildly out of touch with regular human beings that they really don't have a good handle on what it is people actually like about the movies and tv shows that they watch. I would imagine very few people are tuning in regularly to a show like 911 or Lone Star because they are just super passionate fans of the concept of firefighters. Possibly that's why people started watching, but if you become a fan of one in particular over all the other dozens of first responder shows, it's because you love those characters or the relationships or the specific flavor of storytelling. Nobody 5 years into Lone Star or 8 years into OG is still here because they just can't get enough of watching fires be put out.

The idea of another spin-off when they already had an objectively successful one is pretty clearly just trying to do Lone Star over again but cheaper this time, and making the gamble that the same number of people will tune in. Except they won't, because that didn't happen when they tried to do that same thing by creating Lone Star in the first place. At its best ratings, LS never got the numbers that OG did, because the majority of people who love OG didn't transfer into equally passionate fans of the spin-off. It'll probably be even less true for an additional spin-off, especially since a lot of LS fans are gonna be salty about our show and not watch this new one out of spite.

We don’t want a random white father-son duo putting out fires, we want our show. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can pretty easily figure out that if you want to entice an established fanbase to watch a new show, maybe don't cancel the existing show they love and offer them a blurry photocopy in exchange. And yet people are paid millions of dollars to be this dumb.

[sloasis]

Thinking about werewolf!sheriff Eddie who's the mysterious recluse of their old western town .. he only cares about his son and work and that's it .. he's good at his job but the town doesn't fuck with him , they have tried to invite him to the local gatherings but he always says no . He's seen drinking in the saloon in the corner alone , he's seen riding his horse after dark just patrolling alone . The only time they see him smile is when he drops off his son at the school or when they go riding ... Vampire!cowboy Buck is the town's hotshot , everyone knows him , he's always getting himself in the most peculiar situations and he's friends with everyone . His sister Maddie , is the town nurse , his dad not-dad , Bobby is the town's captain firefighter and is close with his wife Athena , who's Eddie's partner and the sergeant .. and his closest friends are the town's doctor and farmer ( Hen and Chimney ) .. the only person he's never been seen talking to is Eddie . It isn't until an incident at Chimney's farm makes Eddie need to investigate Buck where they finally come together and team up to figure out what really happened .. and if they get really close .... that's just cowboy culture baby .

[azaharinflames]

The show should go for the Buck and Ravi team up, they really should. I think this would make a lo tof people happy (except the harcore Buddie fanatics, but they are lost anyway). Oliver and Anirudh have great chemistry together, I ´d love for Buck to be in a dynamic were he is not the (idiot) kid brother that needs to be handled as is often the case with the rest of the fire fam and it would even make the cast happy. If they bring Eddie back and lean into the paramedic side of things with him, Ryan gets more scenes with Kenny and he said he would like that.

I don´t care if Eddie returns or not as long as we can keep Ravi on A shift aka as main.

Oh, I agree with you, Nonnie! I've been enjoying it a lot, especially this season. I heavily agree, I also think they have great chemistry, as well as an interesting dynamic, where Buck is (for once) in a sort of mentor role, whilst also being a nuisance to Ravi. Idk, I love their dynamic, and it's been a long while since I've loved Buddie's (even outside of their toxic fans), so I would be happy to have Buck and Ravi now.

Also, Ravi is the ultimate wingman for Bucktommy, so I would also love to see more of their dynamic come S9. Idk if they will put all three in a scene together, though I wish they would. Kinda like Ravi becomes their Steve. Or that friend that, once you've been with your partner for a while, you sort of adopt.

Whether Ryan comes back or not, I think Ravi should stay. And, arguably, I think the show is finally making him stay (or, at least, it seems like it after the past few eps). I think it could be interesting if Eddie were to stay and go over to the paramedic side (it would make sense if Hen went for the Captaincy). And it would also help shake things up with the cast! Honestly, I would perhaps enjoy Buddie more if we got less of them - if that makes sense.

Regardless - as sad as I am about Bobby not being there anymore (legit teared up earlier when I realised we won't get more Captain Dad and Firefighter son scenes), I really want them to take this chance and shake some of the cast up. Change the roles a little bit. Idk.

[911-incorrect-quotes-dispatch]

Bobby: Buck, I need you to call a team meeting.

Buck: What should the atmosphere be, festive and casual, or moribund and devastating?

Bobby: The meeting is about budget cuts, so moribund and devastating, please. Thank you, Buck.

Buck: I'll get right on it.

[buddieisgoingcanon25]

Now that Chris is living with Eddie, my theory is that they’re going to try and show him making a life in El Paso until the ‘crazy event’ being mentioned in interviews brings him back.

I reckon the fire station will have a slot for him to directly parallel the captains line about a previous firefighter leaving them because his wife took a job elsewhere where.

My other theory but maybe this is a little too on the fanfic side hahah - is that the crazy event only takes Eddie back temporarily and possibly even without Chris, but I reckon seeing Buck there’s a bit of an ‘oh’ moment when they’re in person together again - maybe even he mentions going back to El Paso for Chris to finish out the school year but season 9 picks up with them back in LA permanently.

I’m really interested in seeing how Eddie & Chris get back into things as Dad and Son in their own home. Instead of having Eddie’s mom and dad interfering. It’s gonna be a welcome change I think. At least for Eddie.

[pokemon1oadvanced]

When Buck confides in Bobby and they have a heart to heart can he do what Captain Holt did and set up a Bi Flag and a Lesbian Flag either in the office or common room?

Like he’d be such a proud dad🥰 Do you think he’d wear a pin? ‘Hi, this is Buck, my Bi son. He’s a firefighter.’

[1heartfanfics]

Hi, I write sickfics too. But I'd love a sickfic written for me this time. Lol. Either a really sick Dean needing Sam to care for him, maybe after a really bad hunt. Or super sick TK, needing his dad to call Carlos to take of him. Or maybe a really sick Bucky, with a freaked out Peter swinging around frantic to find Steve to help the man while in the middle of a fire fight. :) Emeto galore would be much appreciated. Pretty please!!!

okay so I decided to write it for tarlos because I just watched the mid season finale, but let me know if you want me to do the supernatural one too.

Also this ended up getting a bit de-railed toward the end and being more about Owen coming to terms with the fact that T.K. has Carlos now and doesn't need him as much as he used to instead of actual caretaking. Whoops 🤷‍♀️

warning: depictions of vomit, brief mention of addiction history

T.K. had woken up with a headache. But that wasn’t uncommon, side effect of being a recovered addict he’d been told. So he didn’t think about it too much.

But it kept getting worse, even though he’d been sure to drink enough water and eat throughout the day. And then he realized when he helped Nancy lift a patient onto a gurney that his whole body ached. 

“You good?” Nancy had asked.

“Fine,” T.K. responded shortly. Nancy gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him, but she let it drop. 

By the end of their next call, he was dizzy and cold. They’d just dropped the patient at the hospital and we’re heading back to the station. 

“Hey. What’s wrong with you?” Nancy asked as she drove, glancing over at T.K., who was practically slumped against the window in the passenger seat. 

T.K. shrugged, “Not feeling super great I guess,” he admitted. 

“You need to tell Captain Vega dude,” she said as she pulled the ambulance into the station bay. 

“Shifts almost over anyway,” T.K. shrugged again, shaking his head. 

But then as soon as they’d parked the klaxon sounded. ‘Aid car BLANK requested’

“Alright then, let’s just head back out,” Tommy called from the back of the ambulance. 

Nancy shot T.K. a look. His face was pale, even more than it already had been. T.K.’s stomach, which had become increasingly upset for the past hour or so, suddenly flipped. He knew he was done for. 

“Fuck,” he muttered, then threw the door open and practically fell out, landing on his knees with a retch that brought his lunch up onto the floor of the station. 

“Woah!” Someone said, then T.K. felt a hand on his shoulder and his back. 

“Who else is a certified medic?” Another voice asked, Tommy maybe. Everything sounded far away and T.K.’s head was spinning. 

“Yo Marj! Paul!” The voice behind him yelled. Judd, T.K. could tell now.

There were footsteps approaching and then “Woah what happened to him?”

“One of you take T.K.’s place in the rig with Tommy and Nancy. The other one of y’all go get captain strand,” Judd instructed. 

T.K. could hear people running around, then the siren as the rig pulled back out of the station.

"Come on brother, let's get you up," Judd said, grabbing T.K. under his arms and pulling him to his feet. With Judd's help, he walked unsteadily over to one of the benches the firefighters use to put their boots on. As soon as he was sitting he slumped over, head in his hands as he breathed through another wave of nausea.

"T.K.? What happened?" his Dad was asking, suddenly at T.K.'s side with a hand on his shoulder.

When T.K. didn't answer Owen turned to Judd for answers.

"I just saw him spill out of the rig to hurl on the floor, that's all I know. You'd have to ask the girls but they had to run back out on a call. I sent Marj with 'em since they're down a medic," Judd shrugged.

"Thanks Judd," Owen sighed. "I've got him, you can get back to whatever you were working on."

"You sure? Cause he's looking pretty green cap," Judd pointed out.

"Son? Are you still feeling nauseous?" Owen asked.

T.K. just groaned in response, he didn't think he'd ever felt this sick in his life. It had gotten so bad so quickly. He was going to throw up again.

Thankfully Judd was on it, and a trash can magically appeared between T.K.'s knees just in time for him to heave over it. His body convulsed with another gag which brought up more of his stomach contents into the bin.

"Aw jeez kiddo," Owen muttered, sitting down beside T.K. to wrap an arm around him and rub a hand up and down his arm.

T.K. coughed and spit into the trash can, willing his stomach to stop contracting. There wasn't anything left in it to bring up. He felt so weak, like he could hardly hold himself up.

"Woah alright, I've gotcha," Judd was sitting on his other side, an arm wrapped around his chest to keep him from falling forward. T.K. dropped his head down into his hands again, elbows propped on his knees to keep himself upright.

Once Judd was confident that T.K. was stable enough, he pulled back, looking over at Owen. "We need to get him laying down," he said.

Owen nodded, "I think I'm just going to take him back to the house. You mind taking over for the rest of the day?" he asked.

"Of course cap, whatever you need," Judd agreed.

"T.K.? I'm going to get my stuff and then we'll go home okay?" Owen said, leaning down to try and meet his son's eyes.

T.K.'s eyes were shut, but he shook his head in response.

"No?" Owen asked, confused.

T.K. shook his head again, "Just call Carlos, please," he said quietly.

"Right. Of course," Owen was taken by surprise, although he really shouldn't have been. T.K. had moved in with Carlos months ago, that was his home now. And Carlos was T.K.'s person, the one he wanted to take care of him.

He looked at Judd, who nodded, silently answering Owen's unspoken request to stay with T.K. while he called Carlos.

"Your dad's calling Carlos now, I'm sure he'll be here soon to get you home. Just hang in there," Judd said, rubbing a hand over T.K.'s back.

As promised, after Owen returned from making the phone call, Carlos arrived within 10 minutes.

"Oh sweetheart," Carlos sighed when he spotted his boyfriend, hunched over a trash can.

Judd quickly stood up, allowing Carlos to take his spot. Carlos wrapped his arms around T.K., gently pulling him from the slumped position to rest against his chest. T.K. went willingly, pressing his face into Carlos's shoulder.

"Thank you for calling me," Carlos said, addressing Owen.

Owen nodded, smiling softly as he watched Carlos take care of his son. He hadn't missed the way that T.K. instantly relaxed a little at Carlos's touch.

"Let's get you home baby," Carlos said quietly. T.K. nodded, letting Carlos help him to his feet with a hand on his elbow and his waist.

"Let me know if you guys need anything," Owen told Carlos.

"Thank you," Carlos nodded, "I've got him, Owen," he added, seeing the worry on the captain's face.

Owen nodded, reaching out to softly clap Carlos on the shoulder, "I know you do." Carlos gave him one last nod, then wrapped an arm around T.K.'s waist and slowly guided him out of the station toward his car.

As much as Owen worried about T.K., he was realizing that maybe he didn't need to as much anymore. Because while most of T.K.'s previous boyfriends hadn't treated him very well, he had Carlos now. Carlos, who clearly loved and cared for T.K. so much. Owen was glad they had found each other.

[buddierecs]

long (40k+ words) buddie fics

all of these are general audience, teen and up or not rated (no smut) make sure to kudos/comment on these amazing works :)

those two firefighters by: darkfairytale "#thosetwofirefighters starts to gather a following on social media, as everyone tries to figure out if those two cute firefighters from the 118 in LA are a thing or not." word count: 64k important tags: crack treated seriously, oblivious!buddie, internet, social media, slow burn let's hear it for the boy by hattalove "in which eddie attends a self-empowerment group for gbtq men to supplement his therapy, and is empowered to: forgive himself, say "i'm gay" to his own reflection in the mirror, accidentally adopt an adult, make fried rice, and tell his straight best friend that he's in love with him. not necessarily in that order." word count: 56k important tags: self-discovery, coming out, friends to lovers, pining, gay disaster!eddie diaz. what a heart can do by: bvckandeddie "in which buck becomes the guardian of the daughter he never knew he had. together, they discover what happiness truly means to them." word count: 86k important tags: girldad!buck, slow burn, friends to co-parents to lovers, oblivious!evan buckley, therapy, light angst, emotional hurt/comfort hurt locker by: bvckandeddie "after finding out shannon is pregnant, eddie enlists in the military. buck goes with him." word count: 77k important tags: miltary au, pstd, minor character death, childhood friends, slow burn, friends to lovers, miscommunication, oblivious!evan buckley the ordeal of dating your captain's (adopted) son by: polish_amber "or, the au where miscommunication abounds as eddie seeks advice about his new relationship, bobby despairs over his adopted son's career prospects and his refusal to talk about it, and evan buckley-nash juggles training at the fire academy, building a family with his new boyfriend, and trying to work out how to tell his overprotective dad that he's already chosen the life he wants, actually. It takes a goddamn tsunami, of all things, to get the story straight." word count: 60k important tags: miscommunication, firehouse 118 crew as family, bobby nash is evan buckley's parent, light angst, protective!bobby nash, developing relationship if it weren't for second chances by: alasse a story about how buck finds a chosen family, and with a few twists and turns, eventually gets to the 118, meets eddie diaz, and maybe finds himself a second and a third (or, an evan nash story). word count: 47k important tags: alternative universe, family feels, bobby mash is evan buckley's parent, slow burn, therapy we found love right where we were by: polish_amber the one where may ensures buck is enfolded properly into the grant-mash clan, which means bobby (and by extension the firefam, because gossip) suddenly gets significantly more insight into the inner workings of the buckley-diaz family, and all roads lead to buddie word count: 70k important tags: developing relationship, evan buckley is apart of grant-nash family, buckley-diaz family, fluff, getting together, team as family another heart to love by: aroofstories "buck learns that he has a daughter and tries to deal with his past while trying to help his kid with his found family by his side." word count: 94k important tags: girldad!buck, slow burn, sick child character, leukemia (no one dies), friends to lovers, family feels, hurt/comfort, angst, supportive!eddie diaz listen to you breathing (is where i wanna be) by: yavilee the one where buck is presumed dead after a building collapse and eddie has to live through the reminder that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone word count: 41k important tags: presumed dead, major character injury, hurt/comfort, heavy angst, friends to lovers, grief/mourning, panic attacks, nightmares, domestic fluff, mutual pining

the parent trap by: abow123456 "evan buckley is 7 years old when his mother leaves him at a gas station, where he meets bobby nash. 20 years later, evan "buck" nash is a firefighter with the 118, when he meets 7 year old christopher diaz at a gas station, after his mother killed herself. he takes the boy in, just like his father did to him, and cares for him. but, when christophers father finally comes into the picture, how will things change?" word count: 53k important tags: different first meeting au, adoption, bobby nash and athena grant are evan buckley's parents, army!eddie diaz, getting together, idiots in love

[us3rnam3-r3dact3d]

the world (it burns through me)

Ao3 | 3.6k Words | Freelancer's POV

Gabriel Shaw raised his son in this fire house, in this office as Captain. And Asher’s dad was his lieutenant. And Milo’s dad was the beat cop who would divert his route to clear a scene when he heard the 10-19 was on a call. The house was fill of lineage, full of families of firefighters and their sons.

It was a lineage that you weren’t a part of.

_

Firefighter/EMT au. Darlin is still the black sheep. Quinn is still a problem. Sam is still a healer, of sorts. He still heals them, in a way.

TW: blood and injury, medical talk, burn out, passing out from exhaustion, generally dissatisfaction when receiving medical care, refusal of medical care

It was the winter after you flunked out of medical school and you were buttoning up the starched, navy EMT uniform shirt that you’d received a few hours before. Gavin thought that this was a good idea when you’d pitched it, but not for the reasons you’d brought up. You originally wanted to be an EMT as an appeal to your mother, who had, upon your withdrawal from school, languished that her youngest was as much of a disappointment as their older siblings. 

Your sister was a school teacher. Your brother was an artist. By ‘disappointment ,’ Mom meant ‘ not a doctor or lawyer .’

But you couldn’t stay in med school. You tried, you did. You took yourself as far as you could go. You pushed, pushed, tried so fucking hard. You didn’t sleep, skipped meals and social hour and ignored your phone when your friends called. And you were perfect. Straight A’s right up until the end. 

And then Damien found you on the floor of your kitchen at the end of finals week. You’d burned as long and as bright as you could, but by the end, all you were was burnt out. 

Your boys dragged you kicking and screaming to unenrollment. 

Two months later, Gavin insisted that you do something. Not for the money, that wasn’t an issue. What he’d already earned off of his OnlyFans could carry you two for the rest of your lives, let alone what he was yet to make. When you two got serious, Gavin made it clear that you didn’t have to work, that you could leave school and chase a passion, chase a dream. But all you had was medical textbooks and the hazy vision of being a surgeon of some type some day. You wanted to put that prefix in front of your name, hang up your diploma in the living room so everybody could see it. 

You didn’t know if you loved medicine. You thought that you probably just loved a job well done. 

Your hair was a mess. You smoothed it down in the little mirror affixed to the door of your locker. You caught sight of your surname embroidered in gold on the breast of your uniform shirt. Sam had gotten it done the day after your interview. Vincent said that he’d never seen Sam be so sure of something so fast. 

It was no use staring at your reflection. You’d always find something to tweak if you squinted hard enough. You shut your locker and made your way out of the bunk room. 

Station 10-19 was nice, very nice. A huge locker room, individual shower stalls, full sized beds with pressed white sheets. The kitchen had two ovens, a huge fridge, and the biggest pantry you’d ever seen. The firehouses you’d visited while getting certified were much smaller, much less impressive. All of this must have cost a fortune. 

“Shaw’s a master of budget balancing,” Vincent had told you that afternoon during your tour. “I swear, the dude spends hours sitting in his office crunching numbers. It’s honestly a little worrying.” 

You’d met David Shaw in your interview, but Sam Collins was your direct report. Shaw was a big dude, but after meeting a few of the other firefighters, you just started considering yourself scrawny. The whole firehouse was full of mutant giants.

Everybody was nice, but Vincent acted like he’d just gained a new best friend when he’d introduced himself that afternoon. He was a tall, slender man with bright gray eyes and a sharp smile. You recognized his last name, Solaire. His dad was the chief of surgery at Daliah General, the only level one trauma center in the area. It was your top pick for your residency. 

Solaire wasn’t a common name, but if Vincent was the son of a two time Harper-Avery winner, he didn’t show it. He moved with a cool confidence, and seemed to have that same confidence in you. He spoke to you like you knew what you were doing. Which, to be fair, you did. You just weren’t used to people treating you like it. 

“Don’t let Sam’s grumpy attitude fool you,” Vincent grinned as he led you towards the ambulance. “He’s a softy. A bit rough around the edges, but soft for sure.” 

You couldn’t imagine Sam Collins being soft, but you smiled and nodded anyway. Vincent showed you where everything was on the bus, and then reiterated the few things that you would likely actually use. The compression machine, the heart monitor, the AMBU bag. 

When the first code blared in your ears just as Vincent finished shoving everything back into their assigned cubbies. He grinned and patted you on the back, jumping up to the front and hopping on the radio as he revved the bus’s engine. 

Sam made his appearance a few seconds later, hopping into the bus and pointing you towards one of the two passenger seats in the back, strapping himself in. He nodded for you to do the same. 

It was quiet for a long time. Vincent called a few things into the radio before shouting back to Sam. 

“Single vic, third story apartment. Not sure the extent of the injuries. Landlord just found a blood trail.” 

“Let’s prep for a GSW and a laceration.” Sam replied. He grabbed for a few things within reach and threw them into his jump bag. “BleedStop’s over your head, Probie, grab me a few.” He held out his hand. It took you a second to realize he was talking to you. You jerked and reached up blindly, coming back with a few red and white packages. 

“Are these standard issue?” You asked softly, flipping one over in your hand. You heard Vincent laughing from up front. Sam grinned. 

“You were in medical school?” Sam asked after a few minutes. You nodded. “Internal medicine, peds…”

“Surgical.” You answered his unasked question. You ducked your head, looked away. Sam was quiet for a long moment. “I was four years into my residency when I called it quits.” He said. When you looked up, he was focused on the computer output, a pinch in his brow. You didn’t dare ask a question, break his concentration, but something in your chest eased. 

After roughly three minutes of sirens wailing and lights flashing, Vincent pulled up outside of a dilapidated, five story apartment building. This was the sort of street that you would refuse to let Gavin walk down alone, the sort of area you wanted Huxley next to you in. You shivered and kept close to Vincent as he loaded a jump bag on each of your shoulders. 

“It’ll be bloody.” Sam cracked his neck in anticipation. “Just keep your cool. You don’t gotta do much this time around, Probie. Watch the two of us closely and try to keep up.” You nodded sharply and followed him into the building. 

The landlord was waiting for you in the lobby (if this could be called a lobby). He was a short, round man with more bald spot than hair. He was tapping something out on his phone, the font blown up to such a big size you could read his message from this distance. You politely avoided looking at it, instead planting your gaze between his bushy eyebrows and trying to carry an air of confidence about you. 

“Finally,” he huffed, attaching his phone to the little plastic holster on his belt, “took you guys long enough. It’s upstairs, third floor.” He slammed a set of keys into Sam’s hand and turned on his heel, retreating through an office door. You heard the lock slide in place before any of you could say anything. 

“We’ve got the fastest response times in Dahlia.” Sam shouted after him, his face twisted up with annoyance. “Come on,” he turned towards the elevator and took a deep, calming breath. His rugged features somehow looked more handsome when pinched with frustration. The line between his eyebrows was present even as his face relaxed. 

The elevator doors opened to a pool of drying, congealing blood. Vincent whistled, shaking his head. 

“Dude,” he had the nerve to laugh, “these people really don’t like being alive. Whoever this is should have gone straight to the hospital.” The three of you piled in, stepping carefully around the blood. It resulted in you being awkwardly pressed against three separate walls. Vincent stretched to press the button for the third floor. 

“Look at where we are.” You waved your hand around the concerningly rickety elevator. “If they can only afford to live here, I’d bet they don’t have health insurance either.” 

Vincent’s face slackened in confusion, as though that thought had never occurred to him. 

“Dahlia Gen has a free clinic for that very reason.” Sam said. The elevator groaned and he caught the handrail nervously.

The blood trail continued when the doors opened, leading you straight to the vic’s apartment. The door was painted a sloppy brown color, the latest in a long line of landlord-specials. It was peeling around the corners, revealing white, beige, yellow, green…

Sam inspected the door for a few seconds before leaning into his radio. 

“Engine Two to Dispatch, confirm no PD?” He kept his voice low. His radio crackled as a voice called back. 

“Confirmed, Engine Two.” Dispatch replied. “Paramedics were the only ones called to the scene.” Sam sighed softly and scratched his head. 

“Cap?” Vincent asked. 

“Proceed with caution.” Sam replied. “You two stay behind me. We don’t make any moves until we see what we’re dealing with.” 

Sam stepped up to the door and knocked hard, three times, with the side of his fist. “DFD,” he shouted, “Paramedics, open up!”

There was no reply. 

“Hello!” Sam called again. “Paramedics!” 

Something shifted behind the door. You heard a curse, a stumble. Sam backed up and herded you and Vincent away from the door. 

It swung open wide. The apartment inside was dark and barren, like somebody had just moved in. A slumped figure was leaning against the doorway. You could see where the bloodtrail was coming from. Their hand was pressed firmly against their side. The steady drip of their blood against the floor made your stomach turn.

Were you really ready for this? Maybe medical school wasn’t so bad. 

“What?” They growled. Their shoulders were tensed and drawn up to their ears. 

“Jesus.” Sam breathed. He was stunned into silence for a moment, but only a moment. He jerked and then moved slow, indicating his movements boldly, so as not to surprise them. 

Even hunched over and bleeding, they cut an intimidating figure. Clad in a pair of ratty sweatpants and a muscle tee, you could see every inch of lean muscle and scar tissue that made them up. They were as tall as most of the firefighters in the 10-19. You thought they’d fit right in against Lieutenant Talbot’s frame, that they could hold their own in a fist fight against Captain Shaw. 

“You can leave.” They spat, their teeth lined with blood. They had something wild in their eyes, and you were concerned for a moment that they would lash out at Sam to get him away. He held strong, though, didn’t back down or look away. “I’m fine.” 

“You’re bleeding.” He pointed to their hand and cocked his head to the side. 

“This is private property.” They gritted out, close to a growl. 

“Private property owned by your landlord.” Sam nodded. “Who called us. You gonna bleed out on your feet or are you gonna let us in?” He put a hand out to steady them as they listed to the side. They jerked away from him. 

“Don’t fucking touch me!” They snapped, curling in on themself. 

“Well, excuse me for trying to help you!” He held his hands up in surrender, telegraphing his movements even as he griped. “Keep barkin’ at me like that and I’ll let you bleed out.” 

“Yeah well, my bite’s much worse.” They managed. They had gone a bit green and, when Sam reached for them again, they didn’t protest. 

“Well, ain’t you just darlin’.” Sam drawled. His face had gone serious, his focus pulled to the blood dripping down their side and the leg of their pants. “Come on, let’s get you sat down before you fall out.” 

Sam started steering them towards the patch-covered couch that sat in the center of the room. The apartment was a studio, although even that felt like a generous description. It was, really, a dingy, gray box. A sink sat dry in one corner next to a mini fridge and a poor excuse for a counter space. There was no bed, just the dirty, brown couch that looked as though it had been pulled from off the curb. A large section of the lumpy middle cushion was darkened with blood. There was one window that you didn’t think even you could fit out of, let alone your hulking patient. A shadeless lamp sat on the floor in the corner opposite the sink, casting the room in stark, dramatic shadow. 

Sam deposited your patient on the couch, where they collapsed in a heap of muscle and blood. He snapped on a pair of white gloves and held a hand out to Vincent, who snagged a jump bag from your shoulder and supplied him with the gauze he was apparently reaching for. It would be difficult, you thought, to keep up with them at first. These two seemed to be so familiar, so connected that they didn’t have to talk to know what the other needed. 

“Can you tell me your name?” Sam asked, raising his voice to try and cut through the buzz that blood loss left in the ear. “And where you are?” 

“I’m fine,” your patient groaned, shoving at Sam as they tried to sit up again. 

“Hold still .” Sam used his forearms to press them back into their couch without contaminating his gloves. “You’re gonna tear your stomach right open if you don’t ease back.”

“You need to work on your bedside manner, Doctor.” The patient grinned. Their face had gone sheet white. 

“Well, good thing I’m not a doctor, Darlin’.” He replied. Actually, you thought, he was. If he had been in his residency, he would’ve had to have a medical degree. He was a doctor, license or not. 

You reached for the BleedStop you’d stashed in the bus just as Sam’s hand swung back again. When you clapped the pack down in his palm, he turned, surprised. Vincent bumped your shoulder with his, smiling broadly.

“This is gonna sting.” Sam informed them before dumping the BleedStop over the wound and packing it with gauze. They shouted, short and hard, as they clamped a hand down on Sam’s shoulder. Vincent jerked as though to pull them off, but Sam shook his head sharply. Vincent backed off. “Saline,” He said, holding his hand back to you. You dug through your bag quickly before finding a pint of it. Vincent supplied a large syringe. 

Watching Sam work on a patient was like watching an artist paint. He had an intense air of focus about him, and his whole face lit up when he bent over the wound. He watched with rapt attention as the bleeding slowed and clotted. After a few minutes, he pulled a syringe full of saline from the bag and rinsed out the BleedStop. 

It was a stab wound, surrounded by ugly, red and purple bruising. It looked as though someone had punched the blade into them. 

“Can I lift this up?” Sam asked, indicating their shredded and blood-blackened shirt. They nodded sharply once. You watched as their steely face crumbled a bit as Sam touched them. Their bottom lip trembled. “Hey,” Sam said softly, freezing until they met his eye, “it’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.” He said it like it was true, like there was no doubt about it. 

In the end, despite the stab wound and the slash on their thigh and the obviously broken ribs and their split lip and their bloodied knuckles, they refused to go to the hospital. Sam spent fifteen odd minutes arguing with them. Honest-to-God arguing, shouting, cursing, lecturing. You thought that was probably against protocol, but he was right, so you weren’t going to snitch to Captain Shaw about it. The stab wound was concerning enough. The broken ribs were dangerous. One bone fragment, one twist of the skin to make it a compound fracture, one stutter of their lungs in just the wrong way. It could all prove deadly. They let Sam use suture glue on the stab wound and the cut, let him dab anesthetic against their knuckles, let him press a cold compact into their ribs. They didn’t let anybody else touch them. 

“There is a free clinic at Dahlia Gen.” Sam reiterated one last time as they hurried you out of the door. “If you start bleeding or have trouble breathing,” he patted around his uniform until he supplied a scrap of paper and pen from his breast pocket. He scrawled out a phone number and handed it over. Their fingers spread red across the crumpled, white paper. “Please call me.” 

The door shut hard in your faces. 

You made your way back through the blood stained halls. Sam turned the keys in to the landlord. You walked out into the crisp, winter air. 

“Are they all like that?” You asked as you took several deep breaths, free from the iron tang of blood that had permeated their apartment. 

“No.” Sam shook his head sharply. 

“It’s mostly drunk people.” Vincent assured you. 

“And kitchen knife incidents.” Sam chimed in. 

“And cardiac events.” Vincent nodded, hopping into the driver’s seat. You settled into the back of the ambulance with Sam and studied your hands. There was blood on the cuff of your uniform. Sam huffed and reached under his seat, pulling out a fresh uniform shirt. 

“Here, Probie.” He said. 

“Does it get easier?” You asked all of a sudden as you took the shirt from him. Sam smiled. 

“The blood?” He asked. “Yeah. Yeah, the blood gets easier. But not much else.” 

The two of them were right. Somewhere along your drive back to the 10-19, you got a call for a possible cardiac event that turned out to be an anxiety attack. You held the hyperventilating kid’s hand, walked them through breathing exercises you’d learned for Lasko while Sam assured their mom it was nothing to worry about. Straight from there, you got a call for an older woman, Mrs. Henrick, who claimed she fell and broke her hip. She was apparently a widow and a frequent caller. She just wanted Sam to put her kettle on and to ogle at Vincent for a while. He was impressively obliging, and matched her flirting one for one. It was a few more hours of just that; bouncing from call to call, emergency to emergency, but nothing quite like that first one. 

It was nearing dawn by the time Engine Two was finally cleared to return to the 10-19. You were just this side of exhausted, the adrenaline that kept you pushing through the night long worn off. Vincent walked you through the breakdown of the bus. Checking off the medical supplies one by one on your little inventory sheet was almost meditative. It lulled you towards the rest you knew was coming. You were on call for the next twelve hours, and then you’d be off for another twelve. You longed for that plush bunk room and the reprieve a few hours of rest would give you. 

Captain Shaw was in the kitchen when you and Vincent clambered in. He had looked so severe when you met him in your interview, clad in the navy button down of his daily uniform. He must have been getting on duty, because now he was wearing a tight, heather gray t-shirt with the Dahlia Fire Department logo emblazoned across his back. The shirt was stretched across his chest and arms, giving you a full view of his musculature. Sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting his dark features in warm, welcoming light. He was handsome. You couldn’t wait until you had an excuse to introduce him to Gavin. He’d have a field day with a man like David Shaw. 

“There can’t be that much blood in the human body,” he rumbled into his coffee cup. Sam laughed from his spot across the large, family style dining table that filled up most of the floor space in the room. There were pans out near the six burner stove; sausage, bacon, some weird looking strips of what must have been a vegetarian substitute. There was a plate stacked with pancakes, another stacked with waffles, and a bowl filled with sliced fruit. Two cartons of eggs were waiting, untouched, next to the stove. 

“You would be surprised how much a person can bleed and keep going if they have the will power.” Sam shrugged. He was flipping through a pile of paperwork, probably the releases from their calls tonight.

“Captain Shaw cooks every morning.” Vincent indicated towards the feast on the kitchen counter. “You should eat. Once morning shift gets in, it’ll be gone.” 

“And they refused transport to the hospital?” Shaw scoffed. 

“Yup.” Sam popped the ‘p’ in his mouth, shaking his head. He handed over a file from the top of his pile to Shaw, who flipped through their release form with only a bit of interest. 

His dark eyes flicked over the page once, and then widened. He sat up straighter, bending to get a better look at it. His eyes landed on the bottom of it, where your patient had printed their name next to their sloppy signature. 

Shaw’s coffee cup shattered in his hand, sending shards of ceramics and hot coffee all over him, the table, and the offending report.