#my911 fanfic

[tails89]

Run into trouble

911 - 1.4k - G

Written for the Bad Things Happen Bingo: doesn't realise they've been injured.

"This— firefighting— it's just something that I'm meant to do, same as you," Eddie says, without any hesitation. "Plus, Hen and Chimney are pretty damn good at their jobs. They've patched you up enough times."

"Too many times," Buck groans. "They're never going to let me live this down."

Read on ao3

"Holy shit that was close." Buck climbs to his feet and brushes off his jacket, his fingers catching in a tear in the thick material. "Maybe, uh— just a bit too close." He grins, turning to Eddie. "You good?"

"Am I good?" Buck can hear the disbelief in Eddie's voice. "I'm not the one who was just sent flying. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, barely got me." Buck almost can't believe it himself, but other than getting the wind knocked out of him, he's fine. 

"Only you," Eddie says with a shake of his head, and Buck catches the fond eye roll beneath the mask. 

He can't help the quick smile as he keys at his radio. "Hey Cap. We're on the second floor, where do you want us?"

"We've got reports of people trapped on the delta side."

"Copy that, Cap." Buck gestures for Eddie to lead the way. 

They work together to clear each apartment as smoke pours into the corridor, and Buck can't believe how much he missed this— working with Eddie. 

They move from door to door, calling out as they go. The heat from the floor above is intense, pushing back against them with every step. Buck can feel the sweat pouring down his side as he pounds on the door. 

"LAFD! Anyone in there?" 

"Yes! Oh my god, help!" 

They find who they're looking for in the next apartment— two young women with ash-streaked faces. 

"Are either of you hurt?" Eddie asks, going straight into medic mode while Buck radios Bobby to let him know they've found them. 

"I'm going to check the last apartment," Buck tells Eddie, clapping him on the shoulder as he brushes past. 

"Be careful." 

"Always am." That earns him a scoff from Eddie as Buck ducks back out into the hallway. 

The last apartment is empty, so Buck heads back to join Eddie and the two women, breathing heavily as he returns to their apartment. 

"Okay, the floor's clear," he tells Eddie, still panting as he catches his breath. "You ready to get out of here?"

"God, yes," the blonde woman says nodding. "Can we please get out of here?" 

Eddie chuckles and turns to Buck. "Yeah, we're ready. Let's go."

They head back out into the hall with the two women in tow. Eddie takes the lead, guiding them over towards the fire stairs, and Buck takes the rear, making sure no one gets left behind. 

They're just reaching the first floor when Bobby radios the order to evacuate the building. 

"Firefighters Buckley and Diaz, we're clear," Buck responds as they step out into the parking lot. 

They usher the women away from the building and over to the gathering crowd of emergency personnel.

 

"So?" Buck bumps his shoulder into Eddie's as they make their way over to the rest of the 118. "Does it feel good to be back?" He pulls his helmet and mask off, turning to glance at Eddie. 

"Yeah." Eddie has his own helmet in his hands. "I can't believe how much I missed this. Missed us."

"You say that like the two of you haven't seen each other in months," Chimney says, falling into step beside them. "When I know for a fact that Buck was over at your house yesterday."

"It's different," Buck argues, glad they have then flashing red and blue lights to hide his flushing face. 

"How?" Chimney asks, coming to a stop. 

Buck shares a glance with Eddie.

"It just is."

"Sure," Chim says, dragging the word out. "I'm just glad that Buck has stopped moping around the station. It was getting sad."

"Hey." Buck goes to take a step forward but stumbles, suddenly light-headed.

"Woah, you okay there?" Chimney asks, clapping a hand on Buck's shoulder.

"Yeah, I—"

His legs buckle as a wave of dizziness crashes over him. 

There are twin shouts from nearby, and hands catch him before he can hit the ground. 

"Hen! Cap!" Chim calls, helping Buck to sit. "Need you guys over here."

Eddie kneels on Buck's left, his hands tugging at Buck's jacket.

"You said you were okay!"

"And you believed him?" Hen scoffs, kneeling on Buck's other side to help him out of his heavy turnout coat. 

"In my defense," Buck says weakly, shutting his eyes at the sudden sharp flare of pain. "I really did think I was okay. I didn't even feel anything."

The jacket gets tossed to the side and a hand on his shoulder pushes him back to lie flat. 

"That was probably the adrenaline," Chim tells him.  "What about now? Any pain?"

"'s kinda numb," Buck mumbles, blinking up at the worried faces above him. 

The scissors are cold against his skin as his shirt is cut away, and somewhere above him there's a hiss as his chest is revealed. 

"You really didn't feel this?" Hen asks, her hands prodding at the bruised skin along Buck's side.

He sucks in a harsh breath.

"Can feel it now," he mutters, eyes screwed up as Hen continues to work. 

"Yeah, I'm not surprised,"Hen says, sitting back on her heels. "He's bleeding internally. Chimney, can you start a line?"

"On it." There's a pinch in the back of Buck's hand, but it's nothing compared to the fire in his side.

"What can I do?" Eddie asks.

"You just keep doing what you're doing."

"What's he doing?" Buck mumbles. 

There's a warm pressure on his hand, like someones squeezing it. 

"This." 

"Oh." Buck squeezes back. "Yeah, keep doing that."

"Bobby, can you radio the hospital?" Hen asks. "Let them know we're on our way?"

Buck lets her voice wash around him, letting it all fade into the background. 

"Hey, eyes open." Fingers tap at the side of his face, and Buck glares up at Eddie. "You know the drill, Buck."

"'m awake."

"Good. Let's keep it that way," Eddie tells him. "Tell me about the zoo last weekend. Chris said that one of tigers had cubs."

"Mm, twins—"

His body feels so heavy. It would be so easy to just close his eyes and drift away.

"His BP's dropping," Hen says, her voice little more than white noise. "We need to get moving."

And then there's nothing.

"You know, I didn't come back to work just to watch you get hurt again."

Buck drifts, letting the sound of Eddie's voice wash over him.

"I should have noticed. I should have known something was wrong."

Someone— Eddie?— is holding his hand, rubbing circles into the skin above above his wrist.

"You could have died and I— I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"It wasn't your fault."

The hand on his disappears and Buck immediately mourns the loss.

"Buck, I—"

"It wasn't your fault," he repeats, shifting to look at Eddie. "And I didn't even realise— I would have said something, I swear."

"Yeah, I know." Eddie leans forward in his chair. "You scared me though. Scared all of us."

"I'm sorry. I—"

"Don't." Eddie cuts him off. "Don't apologise. It's— one of the hazards of the job."

"Yeah. Are you sure you're okay with that?" Buck watches Eddie's face for any sign of indecision, but all he sees is determination. 

He wouldn't blame Eddie for having second thoughts about returning. He's been back less than a week and Buck's already proving all his fears to be true. 

"This— firefighting— it's just something that I'm meant to do, same as you," Eddie says, without any hesitation. "Plus, Hen and Chimney are pretty damn good at their jobs. They've patched you up enough times."

"Too many times," Buck groans. "They're never going to let me live this down."

"Yeah, it's up there." Eddie grins. "Just promise me it won't happen again, and I'll promise not to take their side when the teasing starts."

"I thought you'd always have my back," Buck complains, setting back against the pillows. 

"Always," Eddie tells him before his smile turns sly. "Well, mostly," he teases and Buck sighs. "I'll make it up to you though. If you want I can ask Carla to drop Chris over later."

"I like him better than you," Buck mutters, but he's grinning, even as the drugs threaten to pull him back under.

"Uh huh." Eddie nods, still teasing. "How about you go back to sleep. We'll be here when you wake up."

Buck doesn't argue. He's not sure he can when his eyelids are already too heavy to keep open.

As sleep pulls him under he feels Eddie's hand slip around his once more.