#i love hen and karen and chimney and maddie and bobby and athena as couples

[justsomeguycore]

i feel like me and my 911 watch friend are the only people in the universe who prefer lone star lol

[cjlouwho]

prompt: the rest of the 118 see tommy and buck be affectionate together for the first time. not just the aftermath, like with the wedding kiss, but they actually witness it. cuteness overload!

It took a few weeks for everything to calm down enough for everyone to get together.

The 118 was adjusting to working under Captain Gerrard.

Bobby and Athena were adjusting to moving into an apartment half the size of their house.

Hen and Karen were adjusting to visits with Mara every chance they could get.

Chimney and Maddie were adjusting to having two young girls running around the house.

Eddie was adjusting to being alone.

And Buck was less adjusting and more enjoying his new romance with Tommy.

He didn't mention Tommy much at work. He got sick of Gerrard's one-off comments pretty quickly. Usually, he would have been egging him on every chance he got, but it turns out he was more protective of Tommy than he originally realized, and anytime his name came out of Gerrard's mouth it made him want to punch the man.

It was easier to not bring him up.

When Bobby and Athena had finally settled into their new place, which very conveniently had a grilling and picnic area on the roof, they invited everyone over.

Bobby made sure to include Tommy in his invitation. His and Buck's relationship may have been new, but he was an old friend to the majority of the 118, and a new friend to those he hadn't known all that long.

He did not include the fact that Athena was insistent on seeing their dynamic because, “One of them is gonna give the other a run for their money and I can't figure out which one's which yet.”

In fact, the majority of the group was interested in seeing Tommy and Buck together. Everyone except Eddie, who accidentally witnessed far too much of their dynamic a couple weeks ago when he decided to head into Buck's place without knocking first.

It would be the last time he ever made that mistake.

The others couldn't help their curiosity. It was the first time Buck had ever seemed so settled in a relationship. The first time he wasn't asking for near-constant advice. The first time he wasn't endlessly concerned he was doing something wrong or about to screw things up.

Something was different. Something had shifted. They wanted to know what it was.

And while Hen and Chimney had known Tommy for a long time, they hadn't exactly stayed in touch after he left. Up until the cruise rescue, Hen hadn't really spoken to him at all, and Chimney would send him a text or two each year just to ask how he was keeping up. The Tommy they knew was closeted, scared, defensive under Gerrard's leadership, cocky, and seemingly always searching for something... more.

“I'm kinda bummed,” Buck said as they headed up to the roof.

“What?” Tommy glanced at him curiously. “Why?”

“Because everyone already knows you,” he explained. “I can't introduce you as my boyfriend.”

Tommy smiled, eyes crinkling up in the cute way Buck loved. He switched the wine bottle he was holding to his other hand took Buck's hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “You can still do that, if you want. I mean, they might look at you funny, but who cares, right?”

Buck squeezed his hand back. After a moment, he gasped, eyes widening as he did a little jump. “I can introduce you to all the kids!” he exclaimed.

Tommy couldn't help but laugh at Buck's excitement. “That sounds perfect, Evan.”

*****

Bobby wasn't sure how they'd gotten to this point only five minutes into Buck arriving, but here they were. Before Tommy had even handed off the wine, Buck was going into a story on Gerrard mentioning the 1933 Griffith Park Fire, but he had been wrong about some information.

“And I was trying to tell him how twenty-nine people died, not twenty-seven, but he was insistent that I was wrong. I knew I wasn't. I had just spent a couple hours the other night reading over articles about it. When was it, Tommy?” he asked, turning to his boyfriend, “Two nights ago?”

“Uh, three. Three nights ago.”

“Right, three nights ago. See, two people died later at the hospital, so they weren't included in the initial death toll. So, obviously, I had to get online and show him...”

As Buck continued, Bobby nodded along, trying to take in at least some of what he was saying. Sometimes, when Buck got on tangents like these, it was hard to keep up.

As the discussion got more heated, Bobby noticed Tommy's hand drifted to Buck's back, resting at the base. Buck continued without missing a beat, but his voice calmed and his posture relaxed.

“Did he ever admit defeat?” Tommy asked. To Bobby's surprise, Tommy had kept his eyes on Buck the entire time. He seemed genuinely interested in every word that was coming out of Buck's mouth.

Buck shook his head. “No, he'd never do that. But he was quiet for the rest of the day, so I took it as a win.”

“Oh, that's definitely a win,” Tommy agreed.

Not that he ever doubted, but it was then that Bobby knew his initial analysis was correct. Tommy was good people, and he was good for Buck.

*****

Hen's eyes drifted over the rooftop, settling between Tommy and Buck. She had noticed earlier how they always seemed to gravitate toward each other. Now was no different. Even though they were on opposite sides of the roof, Buck talking to Maddie, and Tommy having a very expressive conversation with Jee, they would steal glances at each other. A smile here, a wink there. Buck even gave Tommy a little wave, like they hadn't been sitting side by side only five minutes ago.

“I don't think it's just the honeymoon phase for those two,” Athena said, scooting a chair closer to Hen before sitting down.

Hen rolled her eyes affectionately at yet another tiny wave from Buck before turning to Athena. “I think I agree. I've never seen Buck so smitten before, and I don't use that word often.”

“Mhm,” Athena hummed with a nod. “Tommy seems just as smitten as Buck. I don't ever remember him looking so peaceful before. I haven't worked with him much since he transferred to Harbor, but I remember what he was like before.”

Hen huffed out a laugh. “Arrogant?”

“And stiff.”

“Yeah. He changed a lot, especially after Gerrard left, but this is different.”

They kept watching as Jee got distracted by Mara and they ran off to play. Tommy walked over to Buck, who held out his hand for Tommy to take before Tommy was even close.

As soon as he could, Tommy took his hand and sat down beside him on the little couch. Buck leaned in close, whispering something in his ear, then they laughed deep and loud.

“If I watch anymore of this I'm gonna throw up,” Hen said, standing up. “I'm gonna go rescue Karen from whatever game Denny is showing her on his phone.”

Athena laughed, squeezed Hen's hand as she went by, but kept her attention on the boys.

She couldn't seem to look away.

*****

Maddie tapped Chimney's thigh, nodding toward where Buck and Tommy were standing in a corner of the rooftop, watching the sunset. They had their arms wrapped around one another, occasionally stealing a chaste kiss. “They look so happy,” she said, a warm smile on her face.

“Yeah, they do,” Chimney agreed. “I'm happy for both of them. They're good together.”

“Yeah, they are. Did you know Buck hasn't even been to his loft in a week? When he's not working he's at Tommy's place.”

“And they're not sick of each other yet?” Chimney laughed. “Oh, they're in deep.”

Before Maddie could respond, Eddie was coming up to them, kneeling down beside Chimney. “We gotta hide the clipboards.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm serious, man, we're gonna be in deep trouble if we don't.”

Maddie leaned forward. “Why do you need to hide the clipboards, Eddie?”

Eddie motioned to Buck and Tommy. Tommy had an arm around Buck's shoulder now, both of Buck's still wrapped around Tommy's waist. He had his head resting against Tommy's shoulder, and Tommy pressed a kissed to the top of his head. “Have you seen the two of them? I'm not even gonna go into what I witnessed a couple weeks ago-”

“Thank God.”

“-but they've got it bad for each other. I give it six months before they're engaged. You know what happens after that?”

Chimney thought for a second, sucking in a breath when the realization hit him. “Wedding planning.”

“Wedding planning,” Eddie repeated.

Maddie shook her head. “You guys are crazy.”

“What? You don't think they'll be ready to walk down the aisle in six months time?” Chimney asked.

“Oh, no, they definitely will. You're just crazy if you think not being able to find a clipboard will stop him. I don't know if you guys know this, but Notes app Buck is far worse than clipboard Buck.”

[sherry-cleo-salvadore]

9-1-1 really nailed the established couples on the show - Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen, Maddie and Chimney, and now hopefully with Buck and Tommy - like I love how they make them the perfect blend of reality and drama. A lot of time television shows just shove unnecessary and unrealistic dramas upon couples that are just so cringe honestly but 9-1-1 is always so tasteful, grounded in reality, and authentic with it, even when they are about being involved in near-death disasters or when there is an emotional distance between the couples.

Like I will never get tired of Bobby and Athena showing each other such unconditional and devotional love amidst disasters. Even when the dialogues are the usual romance drama dialogues, 'Tell me you love me when you see me' and a man standing on top of the fire truck to create an airplane runway on a freeway.

Because personally, it's not unnecessary love triangles and cardboard cut-out couples with a lot of sex scenes that make me kick my feet with glee but couples grounded in reality who are unafraid to commit to love, even when it's hard they try to communicate and be as emotionally intelligent as possible and are never afraid to show their love, who don't run away at the first sight of character flaws but stay and fight for love.

[xtarmanderx]

Hm, prompts or headcanons...I'm very in the mood for married BuckTommy. Anything about that.

I definitely have some thoughts!!

So. For the first two weeks after they have returned for their honeymoon and are back to work, Buck mentions his husband on every single call. (Hen wins over $500 from bets the station has placed.) There is literally no need for it most of the time, but Buck finds a way to sneak his husband into the conversation every chance that he gets. (Eddie finds out from Lucy that Tommy has actually been annoyingly tight-lipped and loses $50 to her.)

Married life looks good on both of them. Buck is actually pausing before he jumps into action, thinking things through even more than he was previously, and he accepts advice a lot more willingly than before. Tommy’s coworkers don’t notice a chance in Tommy’s professional behavior, but he’s suddenly a lot more friendly and is smiling all the time and distracted by his phone when they have downtime. And no one will ever say this to his face, but he’s a little bit softer now around the middle and Lucy knows it’s from Buck’s cooking.

Their first fight as a married couple is actually a fight they’ve had before. Buck trips over Tommy’s bag when he is taking the recycling out to the garage and he’s had a rough shift. So he storms in, snapping at Tommy, except Tommy just beams at him and promises ‘I’ll do better, husband of mine’ and Buck immediately forgets why he was upset and practically begs Tommy to take him then and there. (They barely make it to the bedroom and Tommy has to plaster and repaint the hall wall on his next day off.)

Tommy accidentally loses his wedding band first (the nice gold one) and feels extremely guilty over it and tells Buck immediately when he’s home from shift. And Buck just smiles and pulls it out of his pocket and says ‘Chimney’s pretty sure Jee is teaching her little brother to steal jewelry so they can open up shop’ and Tommy actually sobs and is filled with relief. (He’d completely forgotten taking off his ring the night before while doing dishes at the Han household.)

Tommy is the first one in the hospital after they get married and it’s not even helicopter related. He threw out his back while doing maintenance on his truck and couldn’t get out from under the car lift. Eddie shows up and takes him to the hospital while Buck’s working an extra shift for a coworker and as soon as Buck arrives, he kicks Eddie out of the chair and says he has husband privileges now when Eddie rolls his eyes at him.

They’re both terrified of messing it up in the beginning. Buck finds himself at Bobby and Athena’s some nights or Maddie and Chimney’s on others trying to ask them how they made it work. Tommy’s the one who goes to Hen and Karen because they helped him so much when he first came out. They put in immense effort to take each other on dates and hold open and honest communication and it only makes them stronger. Of course they stumble along the way, but they love each other and fight for each other every step of the way.

After they’ve been married for a couple of years, Tommy’s considering retirement (or private flying gigs) and he’s the one who broaches the topic of kids. Buck’s definitely surprised because they’ve talked about it before but never had a solid yes/no conversation about it. It was never a dealbreaker or ever on the table for being one. He mulls it over for a couple of weeks and they sit down and hash everything out. As much as they would love a newborn, Tommy points out all of the other kids in the system who need a family just as badly. So they look at group homes and take advice from Hen and Karen and their social worker and eventually adopt siblings. It’s an older brother and twin younger siblings, a boy and a girl. The oldest is a handful because he doesn’t trust them at first and he’s a vandal. Uncle Eddie is actually the first to get through to him and once that breakthrough happens, the walls come down and everything shifts. Tommy and Buck have a family now, three kids they love fiercely and would do anything for, and Buck cries himself to sleep the first time their little girl calls him dad and Tommy papa.

[aringofsalt]

okay so i've been thinking a little bit about the "i don't think you're ready" of it all and how that's played out in the other main couples over the course of the show

athena asking bobby to move in and bobby not feeling fully ready for it but then doubling down and they end up getting married like immediately

maddie not feeling ready to date and not ready to say i love you, madde and chimney not being sure about having a kid and not ready to get married

and then it's been a minute since i've seen this episode, so correct me if i'm wrong, but with hen and karen, karen almost left cause of denny and not wanting to rush into "married with kids"

something something not feeling fully prepared but working through it because of how you feel about the other person and making mutual choices and making gestures big and small

something something not being ready and being told "i don't think you're ready" to saying "i'm ready for something and i think that something could be with you" to proving it by kissing the hell out of your boyfriend and parading the evidence in front of god and everyone in a hospital room

[bibewilderedandbuck]

I just had a thought

AU where the madney wedding goes off without a hitch. All the couples, the bride and groom, Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen, ((Eddie and Marisol….Probably? Right?)), Buck and Tommy are dancing and everyone is smiling and laughing and enjoying themselves.

Buck appears at Chim and Maddie’s side and asks if he can borrow her for a second. He takes her hands and twirls her and tells her how beautiful she looks and that he’s so proud of her for making it here. They sway together and she says the same thing. It’s been an uphill battle for them both at points. Music swells and they’re laughing. Aw the buckley siblings are best friends.

Cut to tommy and chim fucking twiddling their fingers…And chimney says something about how happy they both look (that’s the LOVE OF HIS LIFE).

Then he looks up at Tommy and he’s like……”wanna dance?” And Tommy bursts out laughing bc he was so in head. He didn’t really know anyone here sides him, hen and buck. But Chim doesn’t even blink, just offers his hand.

Anyway, later when they’re drunk Tommy and Chim reannact the dirty dancing lift to roaring applause.

[apdreadful]

Since the election I have deactivated some of my social media. Blocked some people I never should have ever engaged with to begin with, and unfollowed several accounts on IG that just don’t bring me joy.

And 911onabc was one.

Is it because Buck & Tommy didn’t end together? No. I’m a grown ass adult. I can be irritated by the something and not be dramatic or hateful about it.

It was because several storylines lately have been complete bullshit.

They start strong with solid good storytelling. But then..eh we’re bored. Only whatever we do absolutely can not make sense!

The lazy fucking way they wrote Christopher’s character out, and that weird ass doppelgänger storyline.

New season? Let’s start by putting Bobby and Athena through to some major disaster! Hey it worked last season! Let’s do it again! (Do not even get me started on that fucking drug cartel shit..what the hell even was that??)

We are only allowed to have one character or couple drama free at a time. And if we can’t come up with a plausible way to create discord or havoc, we’ll just do some stupid shit instead!

Spend several seasons showing the deep strong bond between Eddie and Christopher. Gavin’s family moves? Just make it something dumb..but fast! I know let’s have him get mad at his dad and ask to move in with his grandparents!! Never mind he’d never do that!

The amount of psychological trauma they have inflicted on Maddie. The near death experiences of Chimney. Jesus. Just what tf?

Hmmm. Karen and Hen..the fans would revolt if we broke them up. So let’s go after their kids!! And we can’t make it about them being gay! Let’s create this over the top villain Councilwoman Ortiz. Who’s the mother of that drunk coked up dude from the accident. Only we absolutely cannot have Hen or anyone defend what happened or shut that shit down by saying “Your son was a fucking menace and maybe if you hadn’t kept covering for him he would have gotten some fucking help and not caused an accident.” Also do not mention Hen was cleared of all wrong doing. Nope. Logic has no place here!

Ok so the fans have been clamoring for Buddie. But Eddie Diaz is straight. Period.

So hey! Let’s make Buck bisexual. And tell everyone we are getting him off the hamster wheel (because really, we’ve given him the emotional depth of a teaspoon for a while now)..And his love interest/boyfriend should be Tommy Kinard, who used to work at the 118, and we will invest time to give him a compelling backstory, and lay a ton of Easter eggs showing how richly we can mine this pairing and these characters.

And make them HAPPY for several episodes. Blissfully in love. And then totally out of the blue, let’s break them up. But the reason has to be complete bullshit, totally against character out of left field BULLSHIT. Like they should start out the episode great and about 80 percent in..wait! Let’s also make him the SAME Tommy Abbie from season one was engaged to before she started banging Buck! And then let’s make Tommy who is so into Buck it’s palpable, dump him because he’s afraid of getting his heart broken! Even though it’s one of the most tired, overdone, stupid tropes ever!!

Yeah. I don’t know WTF is going on in the writers room I would swear it’s like there’s this talented group of writers who start stories, and then they go out in Wilshire Blvd and ask some random person on the street to write the ending, but they have to do it, right there in the next 20 minutes.

No I am not going to stop watching 911 forever. I just don’t really want to see them on my IG. This last stunt, sparked only incredulity and scorn.

[jewishgirlrevolt]

Inspired by @niraves post

I wouldn't have minded Brad as a concept and thing if they'd maybe leaned a little bit more into the meta, after wrapping up a couple of other storylines. So Imagine. Here's my rough breakdown of how 8a could have gone.

Episode 1/2 is the opening disaster bees and plane crash (plane crash is one episode now, not two). Brad does NOT go with Buck and Bobby to help Athena, but he tries. We get Athena involved in helping Henren.

Episode 3 beginning wraps up Athena's storyline and we continue going into the aftermath of Buck maybe killing Gerrard. We find out about the budget cuts and how the LAFD is getting a lot of money from the studio making Hotshots. Gerard says something along the lines of I was happy in my retirement until the she-witch forced me back. I need a desk job. Something like that. Maybe Gerard also lets something slip about Ortiz. The others don't catch it. But Hen 100% does. Buck talks to Tommy about Gerard. They cuddle. And a scene with Eddie along and sad in his house picking up his phone and calling someone saying "I need help."

Episode 4: Bobby and Athena redraw their building plans on the house. Michael mention. Athena says something like Maybe I'm getting too old for this. Bobby continues to work with Brad, who wants to know more about his stories with the LAFD, and invites him out to lunch. We get a bit more insight into the plot of the show. Hen and Karen talk to their lawyer and lay it all out there (Maybe a scene where Hen and Athena talk about Ortiz). After they all meet up at the park with Madney and Mara and Jee. We get some calls amidst all of this. But this is a Henren and Bathena episode. Athena notes she had fun doing all the PI like work (setting up for 8b where Athena either decides on the academy that'll be an 8b episode or if she wants to be a PI).

Episode 5: The episode opens with Eddie talking to someone. It's a priest or therapist, I really don't care. Actually, make it Frank. We love Frank. Then we get a court date for Hendren. This is where they really have to fight in court to get Mara back. Athena brings the proverbial smoking gun, and we get Mara back with the Wilsons in time for Halloween. Mara is back with the Wilsons. But Gerard is still at the 118. Maybe there's a quick nod to Josh and Eddie's moustache and we find out that Chimney had texted Maddie a photo of said moustache and he got a kick out of it when Maddie showed him.

Episode 6: We get a Madney and BuckTommy episode. Buck has been feeling very burnt out and is maybe contemplating a new job. We get more domestic BuckTommy. Madney meanwhile are dealing with Jee missing Mara, and contemplating if they want to have more kids. We also get the 118 and Gerard getting called to the Hotshots lot, where we see the staging for some traumatic diaster they dealt with. Like Chim and the Rebarb. Everyone's a little uncomfortable and Chim asks Bobby what's going on. Bobby says he tried to stop then, but the show wants to take from real life. We also get more meta for the show, since all their calls this episode are about that. Also Josh and Maddie meet up for brunch. They don't talk at the call center.

Episode 7 continues off that. Buck and Tommy deal with a relationship hurdle, Buck realizes how lonely and sad Tommy really is and just how scared he is. Maybe the run into Tommy's ex who thanks him for you know, opening his eyes and being his first and what not and that makes Tommy close in on himself a little and then Buck and Hen talk about this. Meanwhile, Gerard is just getting really bad at his job, to the point where Eddie actually gets hurt. Not significantly, but enough that maybe Buck texts Chris to tell him that Eddie got a little hurt at work and that prompts Chris to call his dad. Gerard's blunder makes news. He's fired and Hen is promoted.

Episode 8 is Hen and Bobby talking to the chief, Bobby is asked to come back. Brad Torrence demands to shadow Bobby around more. And we get to meet, on a call a charming older Captain from the 122 who wants to retire. But doesn't want to leave the job altogether. Eventually, he ends up as the new consultant and Bobby comes back to the 118. Chris tells Eddie he isn't ready to come home. Eddie decides he needs to go to Texas to reconcile with his son, but promises to be back. Uses all his unused PTO. Seriously No one takes PTO. Buck talks to Tommy about this career and his future and how while he's happy Bobby's back, he's not sure what's next for him career wise. Hen wonders if she would like to be Captain full time and if its maybe time to move on from the 118.

Episode 9: Bobby back to being captain full time. But there's still a little tension between him and Buck. Not enough to be concerned, but enough that everyone notices. Buck and Bobby finally talk about it. They catch up, have a heart-to-heart, and talk about how they consider each other father and son. They resolve their issues and then we have a dinner double date between Bathena and BuckTommy.

It would also be funny if they talk about the show within the show. Like Hen mentioned Karen loves hotshots and totally ships that one firefighter and that dispatcher or something like that and Brad is like "Oh yes, we've heard, the firefighter's love interest we introduced last season actually got a lot of harassment online. Fans can sometimes be absolutely crazy." Looks at the camera. But that might be too on the nose.

So obviously, if I was a showrunner this would be fleshed out more and you have to balance call scenes and whatnot. But I think this is ok.

[saras-almanac]

911 Season 8 Rewrite - title tbd (nothing sounds or feels right but this if I'm honest...) I wrote these all this weekend and wanted to put them out before starting on the rest of the fic and the chapters. These are all little vignettes of where each character is sort of at and hopefully throwing a few of them forwards to know what we might be covering. Some things are going to just expanding on canon and some is just adding more stuff to it or stuff they could have (should have) explored more. Not sure how I'm going to organize each chapter cause they're likely going to be long, so it's either they're just written like fiction or I try to group things together to feel like an actual episode with calls and things. I'm not sure and I think that's something I'll have to figure out in the writing. Once I figure out a title, I'll post this to ao3. So for now, enjoy it on tumblr!

ATHENA

Athena stared at the computer screen in front of her, her mind both blank and whirling 100 miles an hour. She was technically off shift—had been for the last 48 minutes, but she didn’t want to go home. Mostly because it wasn’t home she was going back to. Not anymore.

The fire had burned nearly everything up. There were some things that survived, but most of those were so badly damaged they weren’t worth keeping. There were the stones from the patio littered around and some burnt wood pieces and Athena couldn’t bring herself to get rid of them because then it’d be really over, her home—the home she raised her children in, the only real home she’s had that felt hers—would really and truly be gone.

They were still waiting on their insurance money and the settlement to be paid out before they could start figuring out what they wanted to do, where they wanted to live. They’d spent a little time in a hotel room before taking Michael and David up on their offer of coming to stay with them for a bit in Florida. They had lasted only two weeks before they had to come back—both for testing that Bobby had to do for his heart (though David had been very focused on doing his own tests on Bobby) and because both Bobby and Athena wanted to get back to work. May was trying to convince them to stay with her for a couple weeks, but Athena hadn’t been able to take her up on it for more than a weekend. While it was sweet and gracious and Athena loved being able to be in the same place as her daughter, it hadn’t sit right with her. She was the mother—she was supposed to take care of her children, not the other way around.

Hen and Karen offered to house them for a bit while they figured out a rental or an apartment situation. But with everything going on with them and their fight to get Mara back, it was just a little too much, so they only stayed a few days. Now they’re staying with Chimney and Maddie and it’s nice, but it’s just not home. But Bobby seems to enjoy being around Chimney since they’re no longer working together, so Athena’s going to just suck it up and be happy to have a place to stay that’s not a sterile-but-not-sterile hotel room.

“Athena, you’re still here?” Ransone stopped by her desk.

“Uh, yeah,” she said. “Just packing up to head out. You need something?”

“Maybe,” he said. “I got a case and if you’ve got a minute, maybe I could run it by you, talk it over?”

Athena smiled at him. “I’ve got time. Let me grab a coffee and I’ll meet you in your office.” Sometimes staying late does pay off, but not in the ways you expected.

MADDIE

“And then Mara said the cutest thing to Jee last night when she didn’t want to go to bed,” Maddie said to Linda and Josh as they made their coffee in the breakroom. “She told Jee that the sooner she went to sleep, the sooner it’d be morning and they could have a tea party when she got back from school.”

“That is adorable,” Josh said.

“They’re both getting along?” Linda asked.

“Amazingly,” Maddie said. “I was a bit worried how Jee would take to having another kid at the house when she’s so used to be an only child, but she loves it.”

“And Mara’s settling in okay?” Linda asked. “I know it was tough on her to be taken away from the Wilsons.”

Maddie nodded. “I think she’s doing as best as can be expected. She misses her moms a lot, and Denny, but I think it’s weirdly helping her to have Jee to take care of? I know she had a younger brother so I think that protective part of her is giving her something else to focus on.”

Maddie sighed. “It’s just so hard because I don’t know how to assure her that she’s going to go back to her home because we all just don’t know when that’ll happen.”

“Or if,” Josh said. “I mean, they’re up against some big odds.”

“They’re been up against worse. I have to have hope that they’ll all be reunited because the alternative breaks my heart,” Maddie said.

“Have you and Chimney talked about what you might do if they can’t get Mara back?” Josh asked her.

Maddie hesitated. “No. Not really.”

Was that something they should have been talking about? Probably, but they were just so focused on making sure that Mara was safe and okay and that Hen and Karen and Denny knew that Mara was safe for the time being—the idea that Hen and Karen would never get Mara back never even crossed their minds.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out,” Linda said gently. “But having a conversation might be best, just to make sure you’re both on the same page on what the future holds.”

“No. Yeah,” Maddie said. “You’re right. I guess we just were so focused on the positive outcome we didn’t stop to consider anything else.”

“Does it change anything for you?” Josh asked.

“No, of course not. Mara’s welcome with us for as long as she wants,” Maddie said. “it’s more about what that might do to Hen and Karen that I’m worried about.”

“Hey,” Josh said, gently squeezing her arm. “I didn’t mean to bring anything down. It’s just, in our line of work, we know that we should be prepared for any potential or possibility.”

BOBBY

Bobby stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the receptionist. “Bobby Nash. Here for a meeting with Chief Simpson.”

The man clicked on his computer and then glanced up, gesturing to the seats. “If you want to have a seat, he should be ready for you shortly, Captain Nash.”

“Thanks.” Bobby sat in the chair, his heels clicking together as he straightened. He let out a long breath, trying to ease his nerves.

Bobby had been out on medical leave for the past few weeks—mostly due to an abundance of caution for Athena’s sake. He took it easy and didn’t press to be released from the hospital too quickly. When he’d woken up, seen everyone waiting around, he could tell that this hospital visit had been different, more intense.

It wasn’t until later that he convinced Chimney to tell him everything—that he’d been clinically dead for almost the entire drive to the hospital and that it was a long shot he’d even wake up again. And Athena had sat there, wondering if he’d wake up, the position he’d been in back in Minnesota. So he’d stayed at the hospital, listened to all the advice, and actually took days off to really focus on resting and healing up. He’d even let David and Micheal take them in for a week or two before Bobby had to get back to work.

Which is why he’s here now, waiting to talk to the Chief.

“Captain Nash,” Chief Simpson greeted, reaching out a hand to shake Bobby’s. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Bobby said as he got up to follow the Chief into his office.

“It’s amazing how often the advice of rest actually ends up helping,” the Chief said with a chuckle. “And yet, it’s so hard to follow.”

“It’s why I’m eager to get back to work,” Bobby said.

“I can imagine so.” The Chief sat down at his desk. “I’m glad you changed your mind about retirement. The department would be sad to lose a man as capable as you.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bobby felt his nerves amping up for some reason. “So… how is that all looking? I believe you got my medical clearance?”

“Yes,” Chief Simpson said.

“And…?”

The Chief sighed. “Medically, you have been cleared for restricted duty.”

Bobby frowned. “Right. So I just won’t be leading the charge for calls, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.”

“Before you were awarded the Medal of Valor,” the Chief said.

“I… don’t know what that has to do with anything.”

“For better or worse, you’re well-known now. More than before,” the Chief said. “And I’m not interested in having more attention on you, or on me, than necessary. So we’re going to keep you on light duty for a little longer, until you’re fully cleared to return to full duty. Think of it as an abundance of caution.”

“Caution.”

“Look, Bobby, I’ll level with you.” Chief Simpson leaned forward, and folded his hands on his desk. “You know I’m tentatively interested in throwing my hat into the ring for Mayor, so I have to be very careful how I proceed here, not just with you, or the entire Fire Department, but also the other potential candidates. I don’t want to give them any ammo against me or against anyone who’s working under me.”

“I see,” Bobby said.

“The 118 has a bit of a magnifying glass on it right now, with the medals and media attention and I don’t want to cause people to dig even more there when they don’t need to,” the Chief said. “So until you are fully cleared to return to full duty, I can’t let you back as Captain.”

“I understand,” Bobby said, though he didn’t really. “So am I on fire marshal duty?”

“I think you’re a bit above that,” Chief Simpson said. “I had another idea in mind for you. There’s a show that’s shooting in LA that has requested an advisor of sorts. I think you’d be perfect for it.”

“To work on TV?”

“To work for a TV show,” the Chief corrected. “Look, I know it’s not what you want, but I also know that you’ll be able to handle this and not let it lose sight of coming back into the fold. And who knows whether that might be to resume your Captain position or perhaps a higher title.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bobby wiped his hands on his knees, pushing himself up. “I will report to duty as an advisor then. And will let you know when I’m medically cleared.”

“I appreciate your understanding,” Chief Simpson said, standing up and reaching out his hand to shake. “I’ll send you the information and contact for the position. We’ll be in touch.”

EDDIE

It’s quiet now, more than he’d ever noticed before. His house was silent, not even a creaking or groaning of settling. Even the firehouse felt silent in a way. It felt like everything was frozen, including himself.

He’d spent so many years now being a dad that he didn’t know what to do now, now that that option was taken away from him. Now that Chris has left. And not just for the summer or a break, but indefinitely.

There’s a list that sits on his night stand now of all the things he wants to get done around the house now that Chris isn’t here, updates and repairs, little things he’d been putting off for ages. Things he knows will keep him occupied at home for the next few weeks—Buck and Tommy had both offered to help him with those projects if he wanted.

The problem was Eddie didn’t know what he wanted, besides Chris coming home. Would working around his house make him feel better and show that he’s learning to keep a handle on things when Chris wasn’t there to sort of force him to? Or would it be more like he’s making changes to adapt for the rest of his life to be without Chris? Would Chris feel like he couldn’t come back if Eddie did some projects, like Eddie was making his life better without Chris? And if he didn’t do anything, would it look like he’s just throwing a tantrum because Chris left while he didn’t do a single thing to change or make things better?

Eddie didn’t know. He didn’t know the right answer or the right decision—if this was even a decision at all to make. And it’s not like Chris was talking to him. He was barely replying to Eddie’s messages and calling him didn’t help because he was getting one-word answers. It was clear that Chris was only accepting his calls because he felt he had to because Eddie’s his dad or because his parents were forcing Chris to answer. Eddie wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer to that.

“Bobby should be back today,” Buck said as him and Chimney came into the locker room.

“I’ll be sure to tell Hen that you didn’t enjoy her leadership,” Chimney said, slapping Buck on the back.

Eddie smiled at their antics because he was supposed to.

“That’s not what I meant!” Buck protested. “Eddie, you’ll back me up, right?”

Eddie held his hands up. “I am pleading the fifth.”

“Even your bestie knows you’re wrong,” Chimney said.

“Whatever,” Buck said. “You talk to Chris yesterday?”

“Depends on your definition of talking,” Eddie said, closing his locker. “I got him on the phone, but he barely said anything. I think I got “Hi,” “I’m fine,” and “I gotta go.” So not much to go on.”

“That’s rough,” Chimney said.

“You just gotta give him some time,” Buck said. “I’m sure he’ll come around once he calms down more.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Thankfully anything else they were about to say to cheer him up was interrupted by Hen coming in to gather them outside.

“We’re being called out for a meeting,” Hen said.

“A meeting?” Chimney asked. “Who called it?”

“The new Captain,” Hen said.

“New Captain?” Buck asked. “What about Bobby?”

Hen shrugged. “You know as much as I do.”

“Oh no,” Chimney said looking out passed Hen.

They all turned and saw Gerrard walking down the stairs, his uniform as crisp as his moustache.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Hen whispered.

“Are they really letting him take over for Bobby?” Buck asked.

“Gather up!” Gerrard shouted. “Time to inspect the way this station has been thrown to the wayside so we can course correct.”

“I guess so,” Eddie said, slamming his locker closed and walking out. As shitty as it was to not have Bobby back, having a new Captain might be just what Eddie needed to stay focused on his job and not have to think about his empty house all through his shift.

KAREN AND HEN

Hen slumped into the chair and leaned heavily onto the table.

“Denny all set for bed?” Karen asked, tidying up the papers in front of her.

“He’s not the only one,” Hen said.

“Long day?”

“Long year,” Hen said. “Gerrard back, Mara gone, it’s just… every day feels like a fight.”

Karen nodded. She felt the same and there wasn’t more they could really talk about regarding their feelings on it. It was bullshit and horrible and it broke her heart, but she was tired of talking about it without action. “How is it having Gerrard back. Like really?”

Hen sighed. “I don’t know. The same, but different? It’s hard to explain. It’s not like he’s suddenly become this beacon of humility and humanity but he’s also better? It’s hard to know if he’s better because I have so much else to worry about or if it’s because he’s not as overt in his sexism or maybe he’s chilled out and actually grown a bit in the last decade.”

“Well, I guess it could be any of those,” Karen said. “Or a combination.”

“Time will tell with him,” Hen said. “It’s not the worst I’ve experienced and not even the worst under him, so I’ll take whatever win I can get. What’s all this?”  

“I’ve been looking for a lawyer for us. One that will actually take our case and isn’t going to be scared away or disbelieving that we’re being targeting by a councilwoman,” Karen said. “So, I’ve been doing some research.”

“Of course you have, in between all your free time at the lab, I’m sure,” Hen said with a small laugh. “Job interviews without the interview?”

“There will be an interview,” Karen said. “Obviously we need to know how seriously they’ll take us but I need to know that they’re someone worth meeting with. It’s crazy to see how many attorney offices are linked with the politicians in this city. Just finding an office that didn’t have an overt connection to Ortiz or anyone connected to her was difficult.”

“People like that flock together,” Hen remarked. “Can I help with anything?”

“Well if you want to take a look at these people and give me your thoughts?” Karen suggested. “I want to see what your instincts say before I tell you what I’m thinking.”

“My instincts?” Hen said. “What if my instincts were to go run you a bath and get you to stop thinking about this and relax for at least an hour?”

Karen raised her eyebrows. “Only an hour?”

Hen laughed and got up, pulling Karen with her down the hall. “I guess I’ll have to show you more than hour.”

Karen smiled as she followed Hen down the hall, noticing that Hen grabbed the files as well.

CHIMNEY

Chimney slammed his locked closed, tightening his belt as he looked over at Hen lacing up her boots. “You ever think that maybe we’re in someone’s sick joke? Like someone’s own Truman Show?”

“You think we’re interesting enough for people to watch?” Hen scoffed. “I don’t think so.”

“Well that’s why they keep throwing stuff at us, keeping us interesting to the viewers.” Chimney turned to her. “Like Gerrard coming back to the 118 after all this time.”

“I’d rather be boring then,” Hen said. “Though him returning is the least of my worries right now.”

“How’s the lawyer process going?”

“Slow,” Hen said. “Karen’s been meticulously combing through every possible candidate. We’re just trying to make sure that whoever we hire will actually be on our side.”

“You’ll find someone,” Chimney said. “Especially if Karen’s on the research. I remember when she moved in across the hall—she came with a checklist for the property manager.”

“Sounds like my wife,” Hen said. The laughed quietly.

“You’ll get it sorted,” Chimney said. “I have faith in that. And until then, Mara’s safe and secure and just a short car ride away.”

“Yeah,” Hen said. “You’re right. Just have to focus on one step at a time.”

“Exactly!” Chimney came behind her to squeeze her shoulders as they walked out. “Like today and our bet of how many minutes into the shift before Buck starts complaining about Gerrard.”

Hen laughed, catching sight of Buck already in line up and waiting for their new Captain. “I’m gonna say he’s not even gonna make it through inspection today.”

“Five bucks says you’re wrong,” Chimney said.

“You’re on.”

BUCK

“He hates me,” Buck said. “No matter what I do, it’s wrong.”

“That’s just how he is,” Tommy soothed as he washed the dishes from their dinner. Buck was drying but it was hard to care about drying dishes when his boss was an asshole who seemed to have it out for him specifically.

“I don’t even know what I did wrong,” Buck said. “I’m trying to do everything the best way possible but he seems to only want things done his way, to hell with efficiency.”

“Hmm,” Tommy said, passing him a plate.

“And it’s not even like I’m jumping rank or anything on calls!” Buck angrily wiped at the plate. “Even when I’m trying to follow his order to the letter it’s still not enough for him. It’s like he lives to find fault in everything we do.”

“He just likes to be in charge and feels the best way to do that is to constantly correct everyone, even when there’s nothing to correct,” Tommy said. “Especially when there’s nothing to correct.”

“I don’t how everyone else is handling it,” Buck said. “

“Probably the same way you are,” Tommy said. “Anything to keep from boiling over on shift.”

“I have come so close to wanting to hit him so many times,” Buck admitted.

“Thank god you haven’t,” Tommy said.

“Because I’m above that,” Buck said. “Yeah, I know.”

“Because you’d look awful in that orange jumpsuit,” Tommy said. “You’re cute, but bright orange rarely works for anyone.”

“So you’re saying you’d dump me if I was arrested for hitting Gerrard?” Buck asked, setting the towel on the counter.

“Of course not,” Tommy said. “I’d cheer you on. It’s the orange jumpsuit that might make me call it quits.”

“I thought you said I was adorable,” Buck reminded him.

“You are,” Tommy said, smirking at him as he placed the sponge back on the holder in the sink. “But even your adorableness has its limits.”

Buck just grinned because how could he not? He had a partner, a boyfriend who seemed to genuinely like spending time with him in a way that Buck’s never had before. He didn’t feel like he had to try so hard—obviously he still did, but it was because he wanted to for Tommy, not to get him to stick around. After all, the man had seen him at his worst and most… dramatic and chose to kiss him and ask him out anyways.

“I guess we’ll have to do some experiments then,” Buck said, grabbing his phone off the counter and pulling up some shopping sites. “See how much bright orange I have to wear before you don’t want me anymore.”

[sammyunhinged]

Would It Be Different…?

Explicit | Complete | 10 chapters | Read on Ao3

When Maddie accidentally lets it spill that there’s a betting pool about when Buck and Eddie will get together, the two of them hatch a plan. The goal: prank their team, win the bet, and get payback for their friends conspiring behind their backs.

Featuring: fake dating, embarrassing flirting, Hen and Chimney having a bet, mutual pining, requited love that neither of them know is requited, our fave idiots in love being idiots in love, and eventual smut

“What??” Buck and Eddie stared at Maddie across Eddie’s living room. Buck already had a look of near-offense plastered on his face. His mouth was parted and his expression hard. Eddie, on the other hand, was mostly…confused. No, that wasn’t the word. He was surprised and a little amused but not confused, exactly.

“Um…” Maddie’s eyes widened, and she flushed red, matching the chair she was sitting in.

“What do you mean they have a bet?” Buck pressed on, putting his elbow onto the armrest of the couch so he was leaning toward her.

Maddie sighed. “There’s a bet,” she began slowly, “about when you will get together.”

“Together?” Eddie raised his eyebrows.

She nodded shortly. “Together,” she confirmed.

“Like together together?” Buck asked though Eddie didn’t think it was necessary. It was very clear what she meant.

“Yes.”

“Right.” Buck leaned back into Eddie’s couch, molding perfectly into the cushions as they gave in under his weight. “Why would they think they we’re ” — Buck gestured between them — “going to get together?”

Eddie didn’t think that question was necessary either. To him, it was pretty obvious why they would think that. It was always “Buck and Eddie” just like it was “Hen and Karen” or “Bobby and Athena” or “Maddie and Chimney.” They got treated like the fourth couple of the group, always paired off during game nights and invited to things that in any other situation would be like a double or triple date. And Eddie wasn’t an idiot, he knew they were closer than most friends. Buck wasn’t an idiot either, of course, but Eddie had been thinking a lot more about their relationship than usual recently, things Buck had probably never thought about.

Frank had been having him take apart the big things, like a wall, one brick at a time. At first, it was just, of course we’re closer than normal, most friends haven’t been through what we’ve been through . Then it was the will and the panic attacks and Shannon, and fuck, I’m in love aren’t I?

In his free time, Eddie fixated on the small things, which he picked apart and broke open bit by bit. Like the fact they both had toothbrushes at each other’s apartments. And they knew each other’s coffee orders perfectly, even down to the tiny seasonal changes and new obsessions (like Buck discovered salted vanilla lattes two weeks ago and hasn’t stopped drinking them). And they texted each other every minute they were apart because it made them feel like they were doing everything together. Things he knew individually might be normal for two grown best friends, but together painted a different picture, a picture of domesticity, stability, and commitment.

Maddie seemed to think the answer to that question was obvious too because she just blinked at Buck silently.

“Right,” Buck said again, sighing, apparently accepting it was a dumb question. “But a bet? Seriously? A bet makes it seem like they think we will actually end up together.”

Maddie shrugged. “I think it’s mostly a joke,” she said. “The bet’s just in case it happens. As a possible scenario.”

“How do they even make bets about when we’ll get together?” Buck went on, “Are people making bets like ‘oh in winter of 2026—’”

“No, no,” Maddie cut him off, stifling a smile. “Nobody would win then. It’s vaguer than that. There’s bets on holidays, Christmas or Thanksgiving. There’s bets on your birthdays. Or on vaguer things like after one of you gets hurt or after a break-up. Things like that.”

“Chimney told you about this?” Buck asked, and Maddie was quiet for just a second too long. Buck gaped at her. “Are you seriously in on this, Maddie?”

All Eddie could do is laugh.

Keep reading on Ao3

[c0rvidfagg0try]

Favorite pairings (romantic or platonic) in the show that ARENT Buddie:

Buck & Hen (Big sister/little brother, i need them to have more screen time)

Buck & Chim (Deeply underrated, Brother-in-laws)

Hen & Chim (BESTIES & SIBLINGS‼️‼️‼️)

Hen & Athena (Wine Moms Gossip Night fr fr)

Maddie & Josh (BESTIES, so funny, so sassy)

Josh & Chim (under explored dynamic)

Buck & May (also underexplored, step-siblings)

BOBBY & MICHAEL (PLZ ONE OF MY FAVORITE DUOS THEY R SO FUNNY TOGETHER)

Eddie & Hen (theyre so underexplored??? Eddies relationship w/ the team except Buck feels so underexplored but thats besides the point, i think these 2 should have gay little bitch fests together)

Eddie & Josh (theyre so funny i wish we saw more of eddie & the dispatch team in general)

Eddie & May (follow up from prev, she feels like he little cousin or smthn)

Maddie & Eddie (also criminally underexplored i feel like theyd be so funny together)

Karen & Eddie (in my heart they r friends)

Ravi & Everyone basically (I love him, he deserves more screen time PLEASEEE)

Albert & Buck (they r hilarious together)

Albert & Chimney (i love seeing siblings rebuild their relationship)

HEN & HER MOM TONI‼️‼️‼️ (i love toni she really grew on me)

Taylor & Buck (BUT AS FRIENDS!!! REALLY LIKED THEM AS FRIENDS THEY WERE FUNNY)

Buck & Athena (THATS HIS MOM‼️‼️‼️)

BOBBY & MAY (& Harry) (THATS THEIR STEPDAD!!! THEY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER SO MUCH PLZ I WANT MORE)

Maddie & May (i am a big big fan of may i want her and maddie to be sisters)

May & Josh (dispatch team go brrr i think hes like her gay uncle in my heart)

BUCK & JEE-YUN (uncle buck has my heart)

Hen & Karen (theyre such a good couple theyre so healthy and have worked so hard on their relationship its impossible not to love them)

Bobby & Athena (i adore them, they r the sweetest couple, i love the fact that theyre older but theyre still flirting and having sex and just being in love with each other, theyre so good for each other)

MADDIE & CHIMNEY (my favorite ship on the show, they have done SO much work to be together and love each other so so much, they are soulmates, they choose each other every day, they r silly, they show their love to each other so obviously and r so devoted to each other, im obsessed with them im so excited for their wedding)

[littlespoonevan]

i think it's funny that there's a sort of inevitability to buck and eddie becoming a popular ship when you look at the start of s2. and it's not because they're two attractive guys or because of their chemistry or even because of what their relationship becomes later on. it's because of how eddie is introduced and folded into the narrative

with abby gone, there's a void in the show

maddie slips into her role at dispatch, taking over that 911 operator pov and offering the compassionate and clever perspective abby brought to the emergencies she dealt with

eddie, on the other hand, takes on her role in buck's life

abby is the person buck spends the most time with on a one to one basis in s1. abby is the one he talks to and who also confides in him when she's struggling. abby is the one he makes a conscious decision to step up for at the end of s1.

with her gone, it would make sense narratively to introduce a new love interest for buck. instead they introduce his sister (a dynamic we understand already exists, even if we don't know it yet) and his new coworker/best friend (and rival for approximately 20 mins lol) and everything abby was to buck and was for buck basically gets transferred to eddie. this is the person he's spending time with now, this is the person confiding in him, this is the person he can show up for over and over again because he wants to

i remember when i was watching the show for the first time back in 2021 i was trying So Hard not to get sucked in to buddie so i was very much watching as an outside observer. and i remember watching those first 4 or 5 eps of s2 and thinking, 'oh yeah i see why this is a thing because if this was a man and a woman all of this would be hinting to them falling in love down the line'

and even all these years and rewatches later it still reads like that!!!!

so much of those first couple of eps is orchestrating moments to establish buck and eddie's dynamic:

buck reassuring eddie during the earthquake that chris is fine before bringing eddie to pick him up at the end of the night (vs. say, buck helping abby look for her mom when she's goes missing and reassuring her, until he brings her to the hospital once she's found - significantly their first meeting and the thing that changes things between them).

and then buck taking eddie to the hospital when pepa calls about isabel's accident, giving bobby a head's up about eddie bringing chris to the station, discussing eddie's struggles with maddie bc he wants to help, calling carla to help eddie with childcare (all a direct parallel to bobby's encouragement he step up for abby and the way he did try to do that before she left)

those first few eps tell us eddie is Important to buck and he is personally invested in trying to make eddie's life better/more manageable (and on the flip side, they obviously need to create connections between eddie and the other characters if they want us to root for him. and with bobby and athena together, hen with karen, and chimney about to meet maddie for the first time, the only person missing a counterpoint is buck)

and none of this is me saying the show intentionally put eddie in abby's shoes (they definitely didn't) but from a purely logistical perspective of making eddie buck's primary new scene partner and when you consider the show didn't make the effort to establish ali as a new viable rival to what abby was for buck, it's like, of course people are gonna latch onto eddie and buck's relationship instead!!!!! of course this is where we were gonna end up!!!!!! what else did you expect!!!!!!

[johanna-swann]

I haven't been able to write much recently, but here's a little Bucktommy thingy for NYE. Have fun everybody, don't party too hard.

Eddie can pinpoint the exact moment he realises that maybe they all should've minded their own business and just let Buck call Tommy. Regardless of who dumped whom and whose fault it was and what went down exactly. It's New Year's Eve, the only winter holiday this year that the entire 118 family is off work. They're celebrating together at the Han house and Eddie tries to soak up the atmosphere. He's supposed to move to El Paso in only a few weeks and who knows how many 118 barbecues he'll get to attend after that.

Everyone's having a good time. Bobby seems almost relieved that he's not hosting for once and is animatedly chatting away with Karen and Mrs Lee. Athena and Hen are on their second glass of red and laughing loudly. Maddie is sitting with them too, her hand suspiciously not holding onto a wine glass. The kids are watching a movie in the living room, Mulan or maybe Merida? Eddie can't keep up with all the Disney Princesses. He, Chimney and Mr Lee are standing around the grill and Buck- Buck is technically there too. He seems distracted though, his thoughts a thousand miles away.

When Eddie met Buck and the guy was still so god damn hung up on Abby he thought it was an outlier that should not have been counted. Your first serious relationship will do that to you, it's difficult to let go of something so special. Eddie would know. But with every relationship afterwards it only took Buck a couple of weeks at most to bounce back after the break-up.

Eddie assumed it would be more of the same when Tommy plucked the cord. Sure, Buck was mopy and baked like a madman, but that wasn't going to last forever, right? Right. But then Thanksgiving came and went, November turned into December, the Christmas Holidays passed by, the new year was rapidly approaching and nothing changed. Sure, Buck toned down the baking spree a little bit, but they were still collectively waiting for the "bouncing back" part.

Buck had almost obsessively planned the New Year's Eve party instead. He had figured out a menu, made a playlist, offered his bartending skills, taken care of the shopping. Chimney was ready to hold an intervention when Buck whipped out a clipboard while they were discussing drinks. Only Hen's "be nice to him, he needs this" stopped him from hiding the offending object away in the ambulance.

Here and now though, standing in the middle of their get-together and everything going quite perfectly so far, Buck looks anything but happy or even content. He laughs weakly at Chimney's movie reference (Eddie is almost certain that Buck does not know what "we're gonna need a bigger grill" is even from) and nods along when Eddie recalls an anecdote from a few years ago. But then he's checking his phone again and frowning. A few seconds later his hands twitch like he wants to check again before he starts fidgeting with a napkin instead. He's restless and anxious and everything Eddie hoped he wouldn't be surrounded by the warmth and love of his family.

A few minutes before midnight they all gather in the garden to watch the fireworks. The kids have all fallen asleep in front of the movie, so they decide to skip lighting any themselves and just enjoy the show. With only 30 seconds left on the timer all the couples are holding each other close. Athena is tugged in closely under Bobby's shoulder, Hen and Karen are sitting so close on a bench that Karen is basically in her wife's lap, Chimney is hugging a giggling Maddie from behind and the Lees are holding hands while Anne rests here head on her husband's shoulder.

Eddie smiles sadly. He knows that being on his own, working through his issues is where he needs to be right now, but he still misses having a partner like this. Nonetheless, he couldn't be more happy for his friends. He looks over to Buck, expecting him to be in a similar bitter-sweet mood, but his best friend is once again on his phone. Tommy has been gone for almost two months, it's maybe the last time in a long while that they're all going to be together like this and normally Buck would be excited and relishing in this feeling of family and togetherness. But instead he's once again checking his texts.

That's when it really hits Eddie that something is wrong. A chorus of "HAPPY NEW YEAR"s erupts around him and thousands of fireworks are going off over LA, but Eddie is looking at his best friend who is staring at his phone and he thinks that maybe they were wrong to talk Buck out of contacting Tommy. Oh well. It's a new year. Time for a new tactic.

[guac-da-human5]

Okay just realized smth that’s probably stupid and just a coincidence haha but I’ve been reading a bunch of buddie posts (aka feeding my delusions aka coping) but the entire 118 is paired off (except for Ravi ofc) as a couple who’ve kinda coparented or adopted kids at one point.

Buddie um yeah very obviously Buck coparents with Eddie for Christopher.

But then also Chimney and Maddie at one point coparented Jee after their split (which they got back together bc it’s Madney and yeah).

Then HenRen, where Denny is I guess technically Hen’s kid bc yk the situation with Ava. But Karen chooses to adopt and raise Denny with Hen cuz love!!!! And they become a family.

And then Bathena where Athena splits with Michael and then Bobby comes in and basically adopts Athena’s kids as his own and becomes a family.

Like. There’s a billion ways two ppl can be besties and just besties only. But coparenting? Like this? Being each other’s rocks, guiding the kid together and both being that kid’s rock, and the kid having EQUAL care and attention from both ppl? Dude.

And I’m not saying that coparenting can never be platonic or that it doesn’t work if the parents are split or that it will never last and the partners will have to get together eventually. I’m not saying that. But in the context of this show. Come on man.

(So sorry for the long ass rant which continues in the tags but I need to get this out 🥸)

[bekolxeram]

I had an idea of Buck finding out who Maurice was through Athena months ago. No one gave me that fic, I guess I'd better feed myself. I've never written any fic before, (You read that right, I don't mean for this fandom, I've never written any fic in my life) so I was planning for a short little humorous piece. Well, I'm around 2/3 of the way done, and it's already over 2.5k words long. I don't think I'll able to finish it in the very near future, and I still don't have an AO3 account, so I decide to share the first half of it with you? To give myself the motivation to keep writing?

I just want to get my ideas out there, I'll probably correct the grammar and refine the word choices when I finish the whole thing. Please enjoy and give me feedback. (Gently, it's my first time writing anything fictional outside of high school English exam)

The first time Buck heard the name Maurice, was at Chimney and Maddie’s hospital wedding.

Neither his sister nor his now brother-in-law had much luck in love. Murderous ex, surprise pregnancy, all sorts of trauma, mental health struggle, break up, make up, you name it, they had been through it all. Even on their wedding day, the universe decided to sprinkle in a little viral encephalitis as a last minute wedding gift. Any other couple would have taken all this as a sign of destiny’s disapproval of their relationship, but not Chimney and Maddie. Life kept trying to set them apart, but they chose to get back together, time and time again. Even when they were deep in delirium, when they had lost all sense of self, they always instinctively crawled back to one another, like it was in their very nature to love each other.

Buck agreed with his mother, getting married at a hospital was indeed appropriate. Plenty of newlyweds said their vows just for the sake of traditions, but when Maddie and Chimney pledged to their lives to each other, in sickness and in health, they had their entire relationship to back it up.

Buck was ecstatic, when Bobby pronounced them officially married. He envisioned how the day would be panning out quite differently, but he could not complain. Sure, he would prefer to have his date by his side, but as a firefighter himself, he understood the safety of the city was more important than his own feelings. If anything, on that day, he learned that life would not always let you have your dream wedding, or your dream date, but as long as you treasure and prioritize each other, everything would work out in the end.

Then Tommy walked into the hospital, still in his turnout gear, covered in soot, all apologetic.

Buck just knew he had to close their distance, taste the alluring flavor of smoke straight from his lips.

Tommy came, without stopping by to get changed or to wash up, because the wedding was important to Buck, because he promised to come. Buck once thought duty and romance was a question of either/or, but Tommy made enough of an effort to make them both work.

Buck knew very well how dirty his face must have been after making out aggressively with his date, but he did not care one bit. He had not been this happy for so long, he wanted everyone in the room to see how elated he was. He wanted to wear his happiness on his face.

He briefly congratulated the newlyweds. His sister, like the caretaker she was, pulled out a baby wipe for him to clean up his lower face. He tried his best to wipe off all the soot, then he took a piece a cake and started looking around the room for his date. He found Tommy having a conversation with the Wilsons.

“Hey,” Buck put his hand on Tommy’s lower back, “What are you guys talking about?”

“Just what an entrance you two have made,” Hen said with a smirk. Karen was struggling to hide her chuckle.

“Look at him, can you blame me?” Buck gazed adoringly at Tommy, “I was planning to show him off on the dancefloor anyway.”

“You’re full of surprise, Evan, you know that?” Tommy smiled, the ocean blue in his eyes filled Buck’s heart with affection.

“I’m sure it went a lot better than the last time you tried kissing someone in front of me,” Hen interrupted, with a devilish grin.

“Huh?” Tommy reacted, puzzled.

“Maurice.” The Wilsons were fully giggling at this point.

“Oh no.” Tommy covered half of his face with one of his hands, seemingly embarrassed by Hen’s teasing, “You guys are never going to let me live this down, aren’t you?”

The conversation kept flowing, but Buck was deafened by the thousands of questions in his head.

Who’s Maurice? Why have I never heard of him? Why was Tommy trying to kiss him? In front of Hen too? Was he Tommy’s crush? Who rejected him? No, were they… together?

“Evan?” Tommy noticed Buck’s lapse in focus.

“Uh… yes… yes, Tommy?”

“The cake?” Tommy pointed at the piece of dessert in Buck’s hand.

“Sure… Of course.” Buck handed the plate over. He really wanted to find out more about this Maurice, but at the same time, he recognized the recency of his budding romance with Tommy. Tommy would get around to mentioning this mysterious figure from his past eventually, Buck thought, so he decided to let it go for now.

“Sorry, I haven’t eaten since last night. I’m starving.” Tommy explained, while shoving a sizable chunk of wedding cake into his mouth. “Mmm, this is so good. This is everything I’ve been waiting for.” This man loved his cake, even the soot and fatigue on his face could not hide the genuine joy radiating from his face, in all its crinkly, wrinkly glory.

“The cake huh? Is that all?” Buck asked, flirtatiously.

Tommy flirted back, with his signature deadpan expression but burning lust in his eyes, “Well, I have to refuel my body before engaging in whatever activities await us tonight.”

Buck’s heart skipped a beat, probably from the sudden rush of blood down south. Yeah, Maurice could wait.

The second time Buck heard the name Maurice, was at the medal ceremony.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion.

Not only did none of them get fired, they were all given medals for borrowing LAFD property and leading a pre-authorized rescue mission off the coast of Mexico. None of that would have been possible without the pilot. Yes, all of them played their part in saving Bobby and Athena from the sinking cruise ship, but Tommy in particular put his career, even his own life at risk just to help a few old colleagues he had not seen for years, just because there might be people in need. Judge him all you want, but seeing Tommy on that stage, being awarded for his skills and heroism, Buck simply could not conceal the fondness and enamorment written all over his face. Bobby and Athena being alive and well, looking like a classic Hollywood power couple, was obviously the most important part, Buck told himself. Although, Tommy being appreciated for the absolute ace he was, while in his dress blue, came as a close second.

The way the rigid fabric splayed across the pilot’s strong muscular body, buttons holding on for dear life against his bulging pecs, pants just tight enough to accentuate the curvature of his glutes, a feature Buck found enticing in all genders. Buck was not alone in ogling the real life erotic fantasy in front of him, about that he was sure, but he took comfort in knowing he was the only one there who got to touch this body, to worship it, to savor every inch of it, to feel it against his own. He might have almost missed his own call to the stage because he was too busy gawking at his boyfriend.

He was looking forward to celebrate this moment with his loved ones, maybe a little foreplay in costume with Tommy too, until Gerrard showed up and ruined everything.

Upon spotting the former 118 captain, Tommy looked as if he had seen a ghost.

The second Gerrard made a limp wrist gesture at Tommy, insinuating a homophobic slur, Buck realized he was more than an ignorant old man. He barely skirted the edge of blatant bigotry just to abuse his targets while staying on the side of possible deniability. If he used merely 10% of his brain power allocated for creative insults, Los Angeles would be a much safer place.

Tommy was clearly upset after their unexpected encounter with Gerrard. He was forking the food on his plate, without eating any, then abruptly, he stood up, “I don’t feel like eating these right now. I’m gonna get some cake, I’ll be back in a minute.”

Buck gave him a forced smile and a small peck to his temple, then he sent his boyfriend to his beloved sweet treat.

“I’m worried about him,” Buck turned to Chimney, “I’ve never seen him like this before, being so… small.”

“Working under Gerrard was not exactly a fun time worth keeping in your memory” Chimney sighed. “Like most of us, it took Tommy a long time and a lot of soul searching to become who he is right now. He did have a fat head back in the days, but I can’t say I blame the guy. Sometimes you do things you’ll regret further down the road just to survive at the moment.”

“Yeah… he told me the 118 was a regressive place back then.”

“Gerrard isn’t just another asshole, he’s an asshole with power, particularly power over his people’s safety. Tommy almost died because of him.”

“I know… Gas explosion, right? He said you saved his life.”

“I guess I did, but hey, Gerrard only gave me one month of KP duty as a reward, so that was a plus,” Chimney snickered, sarcastically.

“He punished you for saving Tommy’s life?” Buck never fully grasped the injustice, mistreatment, and suffering his loved ones faced under Gerrard’s reign of terror. He made a mental note to thank Bobby later for his gentle fatherly guidance.

“That’s who he is, Buck. All power trip, no leadership. I’ve never seen Tommy so scared of somebody,” Chimney continues, “except maybe... Maurice.”

Maurice, this name again. Buck still knew close to nothing about this cryptic individual.

Tommy was very upfront about how abrasive his was in his youth. Having to desperately hide his true self from his abusive father, then intolerant military policy, and finally his homophobic superior, he had learned very early on that the best defense was a solid offense. He was cold, distant, downright rude to anyone and everyone who tried getting too close, to the truth, to his desire, to his heart. So if Tommy was reluctant to share the parts of his life that he was less than proud of, Buck would not try to pry… At least until Chimney told him how fearful Tommy was of Maurice.

“Who…” Just as Buck opened his mouth, his brother in law rose from his seat, grabbing the red wine filled glass with him. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take this wine to my wife.”

As soon as Chimney left, Tommy returned with a piece of cake in his hand and a subtle smile on his face.

“Heyy-” Tommy greeted Buck in his usual playful tone.

“Hey, feeling better?” Buck was relieved, sensing Tommy’s change of mood.

“Um…” Tommy looked down, seemingly pondering. Then he retook the seat he previously occupied, the one right next to Buck, and hooked one of his feet under his boyfriend’s chair. He gave the chair a swift, firm tug, and in the blink of an eye, the physical distance between them vanished.

“Now I am,” Tommy murmured with his deep, gravelly voice.

Just like that, the rest of the room ceased to exist for Buck. No Gerrard, no Maurice, only Tommy. Buck’s fingers slowly slid towards the strong, burly thigh leaning against his own, but Tommy stopped him on his track, by grabbing his inquisitive hand.

“This is not exactly... appropriate for work, don’t you think?”, Tommy said, without letting go of Buck. “People may have questions if they see us.” His grip tightened, just enough to reignite the fervent desire building up between them since the start of the day. “Hen and Karen asked me just now about my intentions with you, if they are…” He looked down at the shinny medal currently decorating his boyfriend’s chest, and used his free hand to adjust the ribbon, “honorable.”

“And what did you say?” Buck asked breathlessly, almost panting.

“I told them, we’re taking it very slow…” Tommy inched closer and closer. “You’re taking the lead, I’m just trying to keep up…” His lips ghosted over Buck’s cheek, then he whispered into his ear, “Where should we go now?”

Buck responded by simply dragging Tommy onto the station rooftop. With the “no visitors” sign blocking the stairs, it was the perfect place for some private pastime.

[yeah-uh-the-pilot]

Nobody asked for this but last night I couldn’t sleep and my only thought was ‘wait what kind of music does the firefam listen to????’. So, here are my opinions:

Bobby: dad rock. I mean it. 70’s and early 80’s music is his jam. Even at his most depressed he still accepted to go to a Springsteen concert with the probie. David Bowie is like his hero tho.

Athena: she still listens to the same stuff she used to listen to while in college and before Emmett died. Late eighties/early nineties RnB mostly.

Hen Wilson: I feel like her playlist would be a bit all over the place time wise BUT what all the artists she listens to have in common is that they’re either self-made women (particularly self-made black women) or big sapphic names in music. She loves Rihanna a lot, but Chappell Roan has been on a loop in her ears in the last couple of weeks.

Karen: I could make a joke here and say that she listens to lots of musicals but I won’t do that. She mostly likes instrumentals, quite stuff she can listen to when she studies or works. Her favourite album is the OST to Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Chimney: he does not have a favourite genre, his playlist is the current Top 50 and he has an incredible memory for them. He loves EVERYTHING. I know you guys like to believe Buck is a Swiftie, but Chimney is the one who has been listening to her religiously since Day 1. Fun fact no. 1: the only times he did not keep up with the top 50 was when Kevin died and when Maddie left for Boston. Fun fact no. 2: one day he came into the 118 singing Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter and the rest of the firefam did not know what to do with that fact.

Maddie: BALLADS BALLADS BALLADS BALLADS.

Eddie: This man cannot get himself to listen to new music to save his life. Most of the songs in his library are songs he just stumbled upon on the radio or that were part of soundtracks. For this reason, there are lots of Spanish songs from his silly little telenovelas in there. He mostly loves poetic songs. For some reason, he cried for like 30 minutes straight while listening to Dos oruguitas from Encanto for the first time

Buck: he doesn’t really listen to much music. He used to have this playlist for the gym but now that he trains at the station he loves listening to the people that he loves moving around him. When he’s driving he puts on a podcast and he tries to learn something new everyday.

Tommy: Bobby but like 20 years later. Rock music from the late eighties and early nineties. He cried when he heard that Guns n’ Roses where splitting up and was the first in line to buy Chinese Democracy when Axl Rose finally released it. He loved Kurt Cobain. He still listens to Foo Fighters. He LOVES Metallica. Enter Sandman was his favourite song for a long while but now for some reasons his favourite song is Patience by Guns n’ Roses.