Chapter Text
Eddie doesn't want to believe it. He wants this whole thing to be a dream. For him to have fallen asleep somewhere and this just be his mind being a dick. Because of course he would think of Christopher after the day he's had. He just needs to wake up. Then he can call Buck and he can tell him they're both okay.
But that doesn't happen. Buck is standing in front of him, looking distressed as he holds out Christopher's glasses to Eddie and tries to explain. Eddie barely hears it. There's a whooshing in his ears and everything seems a little unfocused.
This can't be happening. He can't lose his son. He can't. The best part of his whole entire fucking existence can't be gone. He can’t. Eddie has always been able to pull himself back up, but if he loses Christopher…
He can’t look at Buck right now, can’t handle seeing how devastated and helpless he looks, not when his life feels like it’s falling apart, and he’s close to lashing out at the nearest possible person. Which right now is Buck, and even in his distress, he doesn’t want to lash out at Buck.
He catches sight of yellow and red over Buck's shoulder and sucks in a breath. He knows that shirt and that wet mop of hair.
"Christopher," he whispers, stumbling past Buck to get to his son.
“Eddie…”
He takes Christopher into his arms, the sob he’s been holding back ever since Buck told him Christopher was missing finally leaving him. Only now it’s one of relief. Because Christopher is here. He’s alive and in his arms. And asking for Buck.
Eddie looks over his shoulder at Buck, who’s watching them with the same relief Eddie knows he’s feeling. Eddie makes Christopher look away as Buck starts to fall forward and Bobby, Chim, and Hen lower him to the ground. Even as fear grips his chest and he wants to go to him.
“Bobby?” Eddie calls over to him, unable to keep the concern out of his voice.
Bobby turns his head to look at him, “He’s okay. I think the exhaustion just caught up to him.”
“He did so much,” an unfamiliar voice says to his right.
“He saved us all,” another woman says.
“He’s our hero, Dad,” Christopher tells him. “He saved me, and saved them.”
“Of course he did,” Eddie says, running a hand through his hair. That’s just who Buck is, firefighter or not. He’s always going to look out for everyone else before even thinking of himself. And taking in the state Buck is in he’s done just that.
“Is Buck okay?” Christopher asks him. “I want to see him.”
Eddie looks over at where Buck is still lying. His eyes are closed now, but Eddie can see the steady rise and fall of his chest. “He’s okay, buddy. He just went to sleep.”
“He needs it,” Christopher says.
“So do you,” Eddie says, getting to his feet and taking Christopher into his arms. He smiles and puts his glasses on him. “You’ve had a long day.”
“You’re really lucky to have a boyfriend like Buck,” one of the women says. “He’s very brave, and obviously loves this little boy.”
Eddie opens his mouth, prepared to correct her, but stops himself. Instead, he just smiles. “Don’t I know it?”
Buck has more than proven how much he loves Christopher. Eddie’s seen it, not just today, but in everything he does. And Christopher loves him. He trusts him. Eddie’s just going to have to remind Buck just how much he means to both of them.
“You didn’t tell her Buck wasn’t your boyfriend,” Christopher says as they start to walk away.
“No,” Eddie says, not even sure how to explain why he didn’t.
Of course, Christopher knows. “You want him to be your boyfriend.”
Eddie looks down at him. He’s smiling as his head rests on Eddie’s chest. “Would you be okay with that?” Eddie asks him.
“Yeah, I love Buck,” Christopher says. “And you do too.”
Eddie sighs and looks at where they’re loading Buck onto a stretcher. Maddie is with them now, holding Buck’s hand and brushing the hair back from his face. He’s still passed out. Eddie is once again hit with the desire to go to him. To hold his other hand and tell him everything is okay.
Christopher yawns and snuggles further into his arms, “Are we going home, Dad?”
Eddie knows he should say yes. He should be taking Christopher home. But his legs are moving towards Buck. He needs to see for himself that he’s okay. Hen steps up before he reaches them, smiling as she holds out her arms.
“Why don’t I take him for a bit?”
Eddie lets out a breath of relief, grateful that she understands that Christopher probably doesn’t need to see Buck like this. He turns to his son, “You okay going with Hen for a little bit?”
Christopher nods, “Yeah.”
Eddie smiles and kisses the side of his face, “Just for a bit, and then we’ll go home.”
“Why don’t we go get you something to drink?” Hen asks as she takes Christopher from Eddie.
“No thank you,” Christopher says. “I think I’ve had enough water.”
That startles a laugh out of Eddie. He hears another familiar laugh from nearby, “I think we all have, buddy.”
“Buck!” Christopher says, twisting in Hen’s arms. “Dad, Buck’s awake!”
“I can see that,” Eddie says, looking down at where Buck is peering up at them. His eyes are lidded. He’s clearly still fighting off exhaustion.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Buck says.
At Eddie’s nod, Hen brings Christopher over to Buck. Eddie follows as she leans down next to him. Christopher reaches out, touching Buck’s face as he smiles. “You’re gonna be okay, kid.”
Eddie doesn’t understand. He knows he’s missed something, but Buck smiles and reaches up to gently squeeze Christopher’s neck.
“Are you going to be okay?” Bobby asks, quiet enough that no one else can hear.
Eddie doesn’t understand the question at first. He’s not the one that almost died, even if today was hell. Then he feels the hot tears on his cheeks. When he started crying again, he’s not sure. He just feels so relieved. Christopher is okay. Buck is okay. They survived this hell of a day. Just seeing them together, seeing how much they love each other, makes Eddie want to weep.
“Go to them,” Bobby says, squeezing his arm.
Eddie doesn’t need to be told twice. He moves to Buck’s side, taking Christopher from Hen. He hugs both of them, not caring what a mess he must look like.
“I’m sorry,” Buck says, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay,” Eddie tells him. “We’re okay.”
He knows it might take more convincing to get Buck to trust himself again, but Eddie vows to do whatever it takes to make sure he gets there. To see how much Eddie and Christopher both trust him and love him.
For now, he lets himself take comfort in the fact that the two most important people are alive, maybe a little worn down, but safe in his arms.