New Beginnings

by MsDaHedgehog

Summary:

Now back with the 118 with both personal and professional relationships back in tact and better than ever, Buck and Eddie find themselves taking that next step. Not everything can be plain sailing though, and they may find some trouble along the way.

Chapter 1

Two months has passed since Buck had returned to the one-eighteen and things could not be any better. He and Bobby continued their ‘dates’ as they still liked to call them, taking the time to talk and, so far, there hadn’t been any problems. There has been no issues within the firehouse at all; he was getting on well with everyone and he felt he was able to voice any issue if they did arise, which is something he really had struggled with in the past. He was still making good on his promise to Harry and kept in touch regularly, the two of them and Tanya meeting once a fortnight for drinks – he even joined his old crew at the on-oh-seven every few weeks for a night out. He hadn’t introduced his two crews to one another as of yet, but he would – there just hadn’t been the time between differing shifts and each of their own personal lives. He’s been spending more time at the Diaz house to, possibly even more than he had before, staying long after Christopher had gone to bed, sharing a couple of beers with Eddie just talking. The itch for something more was there but Buck was content with what he had - for now.

 

---

 

The first of July brought the weather in LA to a record high with no sign of changing anytime soon, much to everyone’s dismay. Their air conditioning at the station had failed twice so far, leaving everyone hot and irritable, though tensions at yet to reach a boiling point. Buck had taken to carrying around a small pocket fan with him, holding it high out of Chimney’s reach every time he tried to grab it. It didn’t help all that much, but he’d offered it to a few people on calls to try and give them a sliver of comfort if he could.

 

Dispatch had agreed to take them offline for an hour or so to eat, rest and restock after eight straight hours of back to back calls, some simple and some both mentally and physically taxing. They’d picked up take-out on the way back, consuming it while still in the rigs, and with the effort of them call combined, both trucks and the ambulance were fully stocked relatively quickly. It gave them a little extra time to rest, which is what they were all currently doing (apart from Bobby, who couldn’t be kept from the kitchen).  Some had opted for a quick nap in the bunks; others, Eddie and Hen included, were taking the opportunity to check in with their families. Buck himself, was lounging on the couch ready a book, keeping an ear on Bobby and Chim’s conversation (it did concern his sister after all).

 

“How’s Maddie doing?”

 

“Well, she’s thirty-seven weeks now,” Chim said gleefully, excitement lacing his voice. Buck didn’t even have to turn his head and look at him to know he was grinning wide with his eyes bright – it was his default look as of late where Maddie was concerned (as much as Buck teased him for it, he secretly loved how in love with his sister Chimney was). “She’s very, very over being pregnant.”

 

Buck snorted softly, a smile creeping to his face. He’d been on the phone to his sister just the day before listening to her complain about any and everything; the heat, the bump, the bladder – the fact that she still had another three weeks to go. There hadn’t been much he could say to make her feel better.

 

“That’s classed as full term, right?”

 

Buck did look up then as Carter spoke, his face morphing into surprise. She usually stayed clear or any talk regarding babies and children, it being common knowledge (at least to him) that they were not her strong suit. She shrugged at him when he caught her eye.

 

“Technically,” Chim said in agreement. “Her doctors booking an induction for when she’s forty-one weeks just in case she doesn’t go into labour naturally.”

 

Buck had also heard that from Maddie the day before -his sister expressing her excitement but also her fear and trepidation about the impending birth. She’d gone as far as listing statistics (that was his job, Maddie) on inductions and how they often ended up resulting in c-sections, and that was something she definitely did not want. She hadn’t needed reassurances, she’d needed a sounding board, someone to vent to who would just listen – and Buck had.

 

“They reckon she’ll make it that far?” Bobby asked.

 

“Maddie says that as ready as she feels for her to come,” Chim said with a sigh. “She doesn’t think her body is in any way ready.”

 

Maddie had also told Buck that, had explained all the ways she didn’t feel ready. She’s been completely open with him throughout her pregnancy, and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been thoroughly enjoying it. He’d loved that she was allowing him to be so involved in this part of her life. He’d asked her about it, one night weeks before he’d brought it up and asked why she was being so open and choosing not to keep some things just between her and Chim, and she’d quite firmly told him that she’s made a promise to herself to include him. Maddie had said that they’d been forced to miss out on so much of each other’s lives for years, and that there would probably be things they never told one another, but this she would have him be a part of. It had led to many tears and snotty noses and a very confused Chim being sent out for more tissues – and ice-cream.

 

“Marcy was induced with Brooke.”

 

The statement was made so suddenly that Buck instantly marked his place in his book and closed it. Bobby rarely spoke about his first wife and their two kids, so when he did, you stopped what you were doing and listened.

 

“Really, Bobby?” he asked, smiling softly at his captain, turning his body to look at him over the back of the couch. He secretly loved these insights into Bobby’s life before.

 

Bobby nodded at him before looking back at Chim. “She went for her final appointment and quite literally threatened the doctor with bodily harm if he didn’t help get the baby out of her.”

 

They all laughed at that. Chim, slightly wide eyed, asked, “where were you when she was doing that?”

 

Bobby looked sheepish for a moment before sighing. “I was on shift, working a double to get a little extra money before she arrived. Marcy called me from the hospital to say they would be admitting her the next day.”

 

They all laughed again. Hen and Eddie appeared at the top of the stairs then, both beelining for their respective partners. Eddie threw himself down on the couch, knocking his shoulder against his, smiling at him. They were touch from shoulder to knee, no space between them. Buck blushed as his stomach flipped – he’d been doing that a lot lately and he knows that Eddie had noticed. He grinned back at Eddie before turning his attention back to Bobby.

 

“What about with Robert Jr?” Buck asked carefully, not wanting to potentially push Bobby for more than he was willing to give.

 

“Emergency c-section when she was thirty-five weeks,” Bobby responded, a far away look in his eyes, one he got whenever he was lost in memories of the past. “Marcy had pre-eclampsia and he needed to be delivered.”

 

There was a beat of silence. They all knew the risks of pre-eclampsia, having attended to calls in the past that hadn’t always ended in a positive light, though those were usually cases of it going undetected and progressing too far to fix.

 

“Pregnancy scares the absolute shit out of me.”

 

Buck was not the only one that snorted at Carters statement. Hen, though, was nodding in agreement. Buck had asked her once, and she’d told him that though she’d always known she might want kids one day, she had no desire to carry them herself. Child-baring was not something that every woman could commit themselves to; a woman’s body went through so much both during and after, and they mental toll it took as well. She would happy being a mom, just not the mom that gave birth – and that was okay.

 

“Not planning on birthing a child, Carter?” Chim asked, flinching away from Bobby and his knife as he made to steal a piece of sausage from the cutting board.

 

“God no,” she said, shaking her head vehemently, looking physically repulsed by the idea. “Me and Hannah are gloriously child free and plan on staying that way, no offence to you all, but children just aren’t me thing – never have been, never will.”

 

Buck knew why, or at least a version of why. Neglected, forced to take care of a brother six years younger, being separated from him and then left in the system until she aged out, seen some of the horrors that the unlucky ones went through. He didn’t blame her.

 

“Fair enough.”

 

They lapsed into silence then, the only sound other than general station life being those of Bobby taking the time to prep a dinner they most likely wouldn’t get to eat and would either be sent home with them or saved for B-shift to enjoy (Buck hated when B-shift got to reap the benefits of Bobby’s cooking). Buck reopened his book, acutely aware of Eddie’s leg still firmly pressed against his own. He had to force himself not to reach a hand out and squeeze his thigh – they weren’t quite there yet. Eddie was fiddling with his phone, turning it over in his hands, distracting Buck from his reading. He heard Eddie sigh and looked up, finding him watching him with a glint in his eye.

 

“What?” he asked quietly, frowning.

 

Eddie smirked at him and shook his head, and Buck knew then that the man had something planned, and that he wouldn’t like it. He rested a hand on Buck’s shoulder as he turned in his seat to find Chim.

 

“Hey, Chim?” he called, and Buck stared at the side of his best friends head, narrowing his eyes. “You gonna try all the methods of inducing labour?”

 

Buck threw Eddie a dirty look, knowing exactly what he meant. Chim barked out a laugh.

 

“If you start talking about having sex with my sister,” Buck called to Chim in warning, shoving Eddie’s hand off him as the man beside him laughed. “I’ll throw my book at you.”

 

Buck heard Bobby’s soft mutter of ‘children’, catching him shaking his head but he made no move to get them to stop – he knew Bobby loved it really.

 

Chim simply looked at him, snapping his gum.

 

“Well, they do say -,” he was cut off by Buck’s book, which he launched at him, soaring through the air and hitting him square in the chest. He spluttered while Hen cackled, everyone else laughing. “Cap! He threw a book at me!”

 

Bobby sighed, thoroughly unimpressed, shaking his head, but he kept his attention on the food in front of him. “He did warn you.”

 

---

 

“How are you doing, Buck?” Elizabeth asked with a gentle smile. “It’s been a while since our last session.”

 

They were experimenting with stretching his sessions out to every three weeks now rather than two and so far it was going well. Neither were quite comfortable with making them once a month, and they’d both expressed that it would be counterproductive to fade out the sessions completely. Buck knew he was likely to be in therapy for the rest of his life, and there was nothing wrong with that. He saw too many things on the job not to be, and there were still things from his childhood that he had to work through. Plus, it was nice to talk to someone about his feelings… even if sometimes it left him wanting to curl into a ball from feeling raw and wrought out.

 

“I’m good,” Buck said, smiling brightly at her. “Doing well I think.”

 

He wasn’t lying – he was doing well.

 

“I’m glad to hear it,” Elizabeth said, smiling again as she made a note in the book resting against her leg. Buck had come to have a ‘love-hate’ relationship with the sight of that book (it was the third notebook, the other two filled and filed he didn’t know where… he wondered if he’d ever get them when they eventually stopped seeing each other?). “How have things been with Bobby?”

 

“Really good,” Buck said instantly, not having to think about it. “I think we’re even closer than before.”

 

Completely true. He doesn’t think he’d ever felt as close to Bobby as he did now, and he was loving it. He finally felt as though he had the father-son relationship he deserved, with someone who loved him like a father should. There wasn’t a day that went by that they didn’t have some form of communication; whether that be a short phone call or a few texts throughout the day – they always spoke.

 

“We’re still making a point to spend time together to talk, take time just for us.”

 

“I’m happy to hear that,” Elizabeth said, making another note with an approving nod. “And how are things going with being back at the one-eighteen?”

 

He’d had a few sessions with Elizabeth since transferring back, but he’d long since noted that she tried not to ask him the same round of basic questions every time they saw each other. As a result, they hadn’t actually talked about his transfer back since his first session after, and now he’d been back for over two months.

 

“It’s been almost like I never left and nothing’s changed, yet everything has.”

 

“Oh,” Elizabeth said, frowning a little. “How so?”

 

“I really don’t think I can explain it,” Buck said, frowning now himself. He really didn’t think he could explain. Sometimes it was as though he’d never left, but then there were moments when it was clear that he’d spent more than half a year away. “I think, as a whole, everyone is more open with each other and there’s less tension all round. We talk, more than we ever have.”

 

That was something that was an immediately noticeable change. Naturally, those who rode together tended to band together, it was like an unwritten rule and he’d found it was the same in other houses to. If you rode in ladder, then you stuck with those in ladder, the same with engine and paramedics in ambulance. That’s not to say you couldn’t spend your downtime in the house with others, but it wasn’t usual and though everyone talked before, it wasn’t like it was now. Buck found he was being drawn into conversation by those he usually wouldn’t, but it was the same for everyone else to. It was more common now to find the entire shift spending time in the loft rather than splitting between the bunks and gym. It was nice, and it made for a more enjoyable working environment. Elizabeth nodded in admiration, liking what she was hearing and smiled at him.

 

“And things with Eddie?” she asked and he felt heat rising to his face as he blushed violently, refusing to look at her. She laughed quietly. “Ah.”

 

“Nothings happened!” he was quick to say.

 

“Not yet.”

 

He never been in a situation before where he shared a mutual attraction with someone, was so very obviously in love with that someone, and had not acted on it. He and Eddie were both painfully aware of their feelings for one another, but neither were quite in a place to make the first move – that didn’t stop the little things though. They were both, equally, more tactile with the other. Any excuse to touch the other was taken, compliments thrown about, soft looks and Buck had definitely caught Eddie staring at his lips on more than one occasion – he himself had been caught doing the same. It was a waiting game now, to see who would make the first move… and he had a feeling Eddie was waiting for it to be him. He sighed before agreeing with a nod.

 

“Not yet.”

 

---

 

“Where’re we heading, Cap?”

 

It was Chim who’d finally bit the bullet and asked. They’d bundled straight into the rig off the back of another call (a simple fender bender with minor injuries, nothing strenuous for any of them), and Bobby had yet to give them a run down despite being on the road for over five minutes.

 

“Building collapse,” Bobby said, though Buck noted there was something off with his voice that he couldn’t quite place. “We’re assisting another house; one of theirs is trapped and communication has been lost.”

 

Eddie let out a low whistle from beside him. The news of a downed or missing firefighter always left a feeling of dread in the pit of the stomach, regardless of who they were or if they were known to them, today was no different. It had been while since they’d been in this position.

 

“Damn,” Hen said, shaking her head. She and Chim were both riding in the rig with them today, another set of paramedics running the ambulance, though it was known to all that they’d still likely take point, being the most experienced. “How long they been missing?”

 

“About thirty to forty minutes,” Bobby said, his voice again sounding weird, almost as if he was forcing himself to keep it even, which set off a feeling of dread in the pit of Buck’s stomach. “We’re the closest free company available.”

 

“Which house?” Buck asked. He wondered if it was one they usually tended to cross paths with, possibly the one-thirty-three or the one-thirty-six and that was why Bobby was acting cagey. He looked round at his teammates when Bobby failed to answer, each one shrugging at him with looks mirroring his. “Bobby?”

 

It was a moment before Bobby replied, and when he did, the feeling of dread intensified.

 

"The one-oh-seven.”

 

“Oh damn,” Chim said, his voice a near whisper.

 

Buck could feel all eyes on him, as if they were waiting for him to explode or freak out or something, to give some sort of reaction. He’d been with the one-oh-seven for six months, built friendships with many of the shift he’d worked with, but not so much with many of the others. There was no guarantee that it was his shift… right? There would be no use freaking out until he was sure. He blinked, once, twice, three times because clearing his throat.

 

“Do we know who the trapped firefighter is?”

 

Somehow, he knew before Bobby responded that he wasn’t going to like the answer.

 

“Firefighter Shipman.”

 

Well fuck.

 

Buck tried not to react more than sucking in a sharp breath and closing his eyes, placing his head in his hands. No one said a word, all waiting for him. Of all the friendships he’d made in his time there, Harry’s was the closest. He and Tanya were the only ones he’d kept any real consistent contact with, even though he sometimes saw the rest of the team when he joined them for a night out. It was those two he had a group chat with, that he had separate message chains with and Harry had sent him a picture of a dog stuck on a roof just that morning. Eddie nudged his shoulder into his, drawing his attention. Buck looked up at him, finding him looking down at him with worry and concern.

 

“Hey, look at me,” Eddie said softly, just for him even though they both knew the rest of the team could hear them. “You good?”

 

Buck nodded but didn’t speak. His brain was already running into overdrive, thinking of all the possibilities that they would be driving into. Would they turn up and him be dug out and completely fine – or would they get there and be informed that Harry was gone? Eddie nudged him again to stop him from spiralling.

 

“I know he’s your friend and you’re close, but -,”

 

“I’m good,” Buck said, letting out a shuddering breath as he tried to clear his mind of any negative thoughts; it would do him no good to dwell on what he didn’t know. He’d been working with Elizabeth for months on ways to stop himself catastrophising everything. He tried to smile but given the frown on Eddie’s face, he hadn’t succeeded. He sighed. “He’s a good firefighter; he’s resourceful and he knows how to keep himself out of trouble if he can.”

 

He and Harry had been caught in their fair share of sticky situations while they’d been paired together, and half the time it had been Harry that had got them out and back on solid ground. He knew that, if he was in a position to, that he would be able to keep himself out of trouble. He couldn’t stop the snort that bubbled up, earning himself a few strange looks.

 

“He’s also known for breaking radios, so I’m not surprised communications been lost.”

 

“How many we talking?” Chim asked slowly, eyebrow raised.

 

Buck snorted again. “Forty-seven in the time I was there.”

 

There was a solid fifteen, maybe twenty seconds of silence before everyone starting spluttering, talking over each other… even Bobby had turned in his seat to stare wide-eyed at him.

 

“How on Earth…”

 

“How didn’t he is more the question to be honest,” Buck said, tilting his head as he thought back over every time Harry had had to request a new radio. He frowned as one particular memory came to the forefront of his mind. “He once dropped one down the toilet on a call, cracked the bowl and shattered the radio itself and to this day still swears he doesn’t know how it came unclipped. Another time he bent down to pet a dog that had run up to us and it literally grabbed it from his shoulder and ripped it off.”

 

“I -,” Hen started to say but whatever it was died on her lips as she shook her head, not able to form the words.

 

There had been a running bet on how he would break the next one but they’d abandoned that after the apartment fire. It hadn’t felt right joking around while they were waiting to hear on Rodd’s prognosis. Buck had left after that – he wasn’t sure if they’d ever started it up again.

 

“We’re here,” Bobby said suddenly and the rig started to slow as it pulled up next to that of the one-oh-seven.

 

They all clambered out, Buck instantly spotting a huddle of his former team standing a few feet away from the crumbled entrance of the five storey storage building. He stood shoulder to shoulder next to Eddie, who reached down his hand to squeeze his wrist as Bobby spoke.

 

“Head to Captain Munez to see how you can be of assistance.” They all made to move off but Bobby stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Buck, a word.”

 

He should have expected this, to be pulled aside. He wanted to sigh, to be annoyed that Bobby was doing this but he knew that he was just looking out for him, that he was concerned.

 

“I’m fine, Bobby,” he said, throwing it out there before Bobby could say anything.

 

“I know,” Bobby said, smiling tightly and giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “But if at any point you feel you’re too close and you need to step back, you’ll tell me, right?”

 

“Of course,” he assured Bobby. The only reason he’d have to take a step back was if it was the worst case scenario and Buck was hoping beyond hope that it wouldn’t be the case.

 

Bobby nodded before dismissing him, sending him off to join everyone else. It felt weird standing between his two teams, listening to his former Captain giving the one-eighteen the run down. Buck listened as Munez explained that they’d just gotten the fire under control and put out, cleared the last of the units and everyone was on their way out to regroup when the floor on the third floor caved in, rattling the whole building, bring down floor two as well. Harry was buried beneath all that rubble, the structure still too unstable to risk trying to dig him out just yet… and they hadn’t heard from him at all.

 

“Buck!”

 

Buck snapped his head to the side. Tanya came stumbling towards him, covered head to toe in dust, bits of brick stuck in her wayward hair, bloody scratches lining her cheeks. She looked frantic, shoulder at an odd angle and arm clutched to her chest. Hinds and Minnick both rushed to follow, coming to a sudden stop when she collapsed into Buck’s arms.

 

“Tanya!” he said, clutching her so she didn’t fall. He felt rather than heard her sob into his chest and he gripped her tighter, hiding her from view as Eddie, Hen and Chim came to join them. “What happened?”

 

“We were evacuating,” she stuttered, breathing hitching as she spoke. “The building was too unstable, the ceiling was coming down and he – he pushed me out of the way. He didn’t come out behind me, Buck.”

 

Buck shushed her gently, swaying side to side and rubbing a soothing hand down her back. She hissed in pain as he brushed over her shoulder. He held her at arm’s length and looked over to the two medics with a raised eyebrow, knowing that she probably wouldn’t list her injuries to him herself. Minnick shook her head while Hinds spoke.

 

“She won’t let any of us look her over even though Cap’s ordered her to,” he told Buck, shaking his head. “We saw her go down and she hit the deck hard. We pulled her out of the dust cloud with a chunk of concrete balancing on her shoulder so I know at the very least it’s heavily bruised.”

 

He was about to scold her when Eddie stepped forward, speaking softly to Tanya and ignoring the looks of everyone else.

 

“He your partner?” he asked.

 

“He’s a dumbass,” Tanya ground out through gritted teeth.

 

Eddie snorted, glancing quickly at Buck before focusing his attention on Buck again. “I have one of them to.”

 

“Hey!” Buck said, mildly offended.

 

“If the shoe fits,” Chim muttered, holding his hands up in surrender when Buck shot him a dirty look. Tanya breathed out a laugh.

 

“Tanya, right?” Eddie asked her and she looked up then, nodding at him with a questioning gaze. “My dumbass is gonna help look for your dumbass and you’re gonna come with me so I can look at your shoulder, okay?”

 

“You offend me, Diaz,” Buck said, shaking his head.

 

He could already feel the tension dropping from Tanya, who had folded herself back into his chest, though her head shot up then, and he saw a glint in her eye as she turned to Eddie, hissing in pain as she did so.

 

“Diaz, Eddie?” she asked. Eddie, bemused, nodded. Buck raised an eyebrow as she stepped out of his hold, much to the amusement of everyone else and held out a hand. “Buck has yet to properly introduce us. Tanya Whelps.”

 

“Eddie Diaz,” Eddie said with a laugh, shaking her hand.

 

Buck wanted to remind her that they had met, almost three months before at the hospital when they were waiting on news about Rodd, but it didn’t think it was the time to bring it up. In fairness, they’d all been too preoccupied with everything that was going on to make introductions at the time. Eddie held his arm out for her to take which, surprisingly, she did.

 

“Shall we?”

 

“Oh dear God,” Buck muttered, staring at the two as they started walking away towards one of the ambulances. “What is happening?”

 

“You’re going to go look for my dumbass,” Tanya called over her shoulder, not bothering to turn around.

 

Eddie turned then, giving Buck the slightest of nods that said ‘I’ve got her’ and Buck nodded back, knowing that she was in great hands.

 

“Why,” Hinds said, eyebrow raised as he watched the two walking away, “do I sense that’s going to be a dangerous friendship?”

 

Buck dreaded to think. “I’m doomed.”

 

Hen and Chim took the moment to formally introduced themselves to their fellow paramedics, asking them questions Buck chose to zone out from listening to. He drifted away, leaving them behind as he walked off to find Munez and ask where he could best be of help.

 

“Shipman,” he muttered lowly to himself. “You better be fucking alive under there.”

 

Munez instructed him to helmet up and aid with removing as much of the rubble from the entrance to make a hole big enough for them to send someone through. He did as he was told, knocking shoulders with members of both houses as they all worked together. It took a while, longer than any of them were happy with to create a wide enough opening to send someone in. He understood why they had to go slow, of course he did – the structure was not safe enough to force their way through, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating.

 

The next ten minutes were spent in tense silence, everyone standing back as Rea went in, the smallest of them able to fit without disturbing anything and sending more rubble raining down. Hen had come to stand by him, a hand on his arm, comforting and reassuring. He wasn’t sure where Chim had gone, but he suspected he was helping Hinds and Minnick prepare for Harry to be pulled out.

 

“I’ve got him!”

 

Everyone’s radios crackled at once as Rea’s voice came through, a sigh of relief filtering the air.

 

“What’s his status?” Munez asked.

 

“Alive and conscious, swearing up a storm, Cap.” Buck knew he wasn’t the only one that could hear Harry in the background, cursing like a sailor. It made him smile, he knew then that Harry would be okay. “He’s in a pocket, leg’s pinned enough for him not to be able to move but not enough to have damaged anything. Think he’s mostly bruised with nothing broken but until we can get his leg out I can’t be certain.”

 

“Working on it. Let us know if anything changes.” Munez hung his head for a second before straightening up. “Alright, let’s get them out.”

 

They worked for more than an hour to stabilise the building enough to risk widening the opening. They had to work carefully and methodically but eventually they got to the pocket, opening it up and revealing the two firefighters inside. It took another twenty to thirty minutes before they had Harry safely strapped to a gurney with Hen, Chim, Hinds and Minnick fussing over him. From where Buck was standing, he could see a nasty gash above Harry’s eye that Hen was placing a thick wad of gauze over, bruising covering most of his face and neck and he watched as Chim splinted his left leg and Minnick prodding at his ribs, causing him to bat her hands away with a hiss. Tanya appeared then, arm in a sling and her hair mostly free from brick residue, Eddie trailing behind her. She made it to Harry, the medics clearing a path for her, stopping when she reached his side. Buck watched in fascination as she gently ran her free hand over him, brushing her fingers through his hair, before flicking him hard on the head, opposite side of the gauze.

 

“The fuck were you thinking!”

 

No one said anything, too shocked by what was happening to comment. Harry though, sucked in a breath and batted her hand away.

 

“Do you mind?” he said, staring at her with wide eyes. “I just had a fucking building on top of me.”

 

“Harry,” Tanya said, voice almost a whisper.

 

Buck sighed softly. The last time Tanya had sounded this vulnerable, she had been drunk outside his apartment admitting she had been in love with a man about to die. The others were doing their best to ignore the two, trying to give them privacy without actually leaving. Harry sighed then to, slipping his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. Buck felt as though he was intruding on a private moment but found he just couldn’t look away.

 

“There wasn’t enough time for us to both get out,” Harry said gently. “You were closer but you wouldn’t have made it without the push.”

 

“Don’t do it again,” Tanya ordered, her voice trembling slightly. “We got together or not at all.”

 

“Erm, no thank you,” Buck said with a shake of his head, stepping forward to wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Neither or you are allowed to.”

 

“Do you mind?” Tanya said, rolling her eyes and elbowing him in the gut. She turned her head to Eddie. “Diaz, take your dumbass away – he’s ruining our moment.”

 

That brought a round of laughter amongst them and eased the tension in the air. Hinds and Minnick resumed assessing Harry while Hen and Chim bade them goodbye and disappeared, presumably back to Bobby for further instructions. Eddie remained, stepping up to Bucks side. He reached past him, tapping Tanya on the arm.

 

“Take care of that shoulder and remember what I said,” he said with a smile. Buck raised an eyebrow at the two of them, not knowing what Eddie meant but he was waved off by both of them. Eddie held a hand out to Harry, who took it instantly. “Glad you’re okay.”

 

“Thanks, man,” Harry said, shaking Eddie’s hand before letting go. He nodded towards Tanya. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

 

“Anytime.” Eddie nodded to him before turning towards Buck, clapping him on the shoulder. “Come on, we’re packing up and heading out in a few.”

 

“It was nice to finally meet you, Eddie,” Tanya said before Buck could respond. Glancing between the two of them with a glint in her eye. Buck rolled his as she pointed a finger at him. “You, set up dinner will you?”

 

“Sure,” he said with a nod. He’d been meaning to for months but none of their schedules ever fully aligned, but he would try and set something up soon. “I’ll see you both soon, though maybe we’ll have dinner in if you’re gonna be laid up for a while. No more heroics, eh?”

 

Harry shot him a dirty look. “Why, because that’s your job?”

 

Buck laughed then. “Too right.”

 

He bid goodbye to them both, following Eddie as they made their way back to their team. Bobby spotted them first, silently asking Buck if he was okay. He nodded in confirmation, smiling brightly. He was okay; Harry was fine, Tanya was fine, everyone was fine. The one-eighteen weren’t required to stay now that the danger had passed, and Bobby was itching to get them back to the house to shower and eat. Munez waved them off, shaking both Bucks and Bobby’s hands and thanking everyone for coming. They loaded up, Buck waving a last goodbye before slamming the door closed. The truck started moving then and Buck turned to Eddie.

 

“You’d push me out the way, right?”

 

Everyone snorted, Bobby shaking his head from his place up front.

 

“You even have to ask?” Eddie said fondly, a soft smile on his face. “Dumbass.”

 

---

 

Buck had indeed set up dinner for the four of them – for the following week. Both Harry and Tanya were on medical leave, Chris occupied with a midweek sleepover and both he and Buck not scheduled in for another two days, leaving the two with the ability to have a late night. Eddie sat in the back of an Uber with Buck, a six pack of beer, two bottles of wine and a carton of juice (a joke gift Tanya had specifically asked for apparently) on the seat between them as they headed for Tanya’s place. Eddie had learned the two lived together, having done so since Harry had joined the team without a stable place to stay, Tanya taking pity on him and offering up her spare room.

 

Eddie dutifully followed Buck to her apartment, waiting half a step behind him. He was nervous – these were Buck’s friends, ones he’d made while they weren’t talking. They meant a lot to Buck, and if he had any hopes of building something with Buck in the future (and he did, he really did), they had to accept him. Before he was fully ready, the door was pulled open, revealing Tanya with her arm still in a sling, wearing sweats, an old LAFD tee and fluffy slippers – Eddie felt severely overdressed in his jeans and shirt.

 

“Glad to see you guys,” she said brightly, pulling Buck into a hug, surprisingly doing the same to him.  She gestured over her shoulder. “Harry’s through there, bitching at the fact he’s still got another couple of weeks to rest.”

 

“Am not!” came an indignant voice.

 

While the man hadn’t broken anything, he’d heavily sprained his knee and ankle, not to mention bruised a number of ribs and gotten a grade two concussion to go with the twenty-two stitches to close the wound on his head. Buck had relayed the information to the team the morning after, just before shift change, when Tanya had called from the hospital. Buck had a disapproving look on his face, one Eddie rolled his eyes at.

 

“I don’t know why you’re looking like that,” he said pointedly. “You’re worse.”

 

Buck gasped loudly, holding a hand over his heart with a look of mock offence. “Lies.”

 

Tanya and Eddie both laughed at him as she led them into the apartment. Buck bounced ahead, greeting Harry warmly before making unnecessary introductions, Eddie shaking the man’s hand. Tanya disappeared, returning five minutes later having changed into a wrap dress, sans the sling. Eddie raised an eyebrow at her, receiving a beer shoved in his hand in response. Eddie watched the three interact, feeling like the odd one out for all of two minutes before Buck was tugging him to the couch, forcing him to weigh in on their current argument.

 

Dinner turned out to be a mass order of Thai food (Buck having passed his usual order to Tanya when the night had been arranged). Eddie found he was thoroughly enjoying himself hearing stories of Buck’s time with them, even if it did send a pang of unease through him. He didn’t like thinking of the time they’d spent working apart, especially now knowing the extent of the trouble he’d had at his new house with one of their firefighters. Hearing their stories though, Eddie couldn’t help but laugh. He was glad Buck had been able to find happiness with his team then when he couldn’t back with them.

 

The three of them noticed Harry’s eyes start to droop as he night went on, softening their voices until he’d been lulled into a gentle slumber. He and Buck insisted on helping to clean. He carried their plates to the kitchen while Buck grabbed a bag and gathered the trash. Eddie placed the last of the dinnerware into the dishwasher when he looked up to see Tanya watching Harry. He cleared his throat.

 

“You and him seem…” he said slowly, looking for the right word. “Close.”

 

“Don’t you start, Diaz,” she snapped, though there was no heat behind her words. “It’s not like it is with you and Buck.”

 

Buck chose that moment to join them, freezing at her words. Both he and Buck went wide-eyed before scowling. She rolled her eyes.

 

“Oh please,” she said, waving them off as she filled her wine glass. “Everyone can see where you two are headed a mile off.”

 

“Tanya,” Buck hissed, glancing at Eddie.

 

“Well, it’s true,” Tanya muttered and Eddie snorted. She wasn’t wrong, was she? He and Buck would get there eventually, when the time was right. “Harry’s the only family I have.”

 

Tanya spoke softly then, watching her partner once more. Buck stepped up to her side then, wrapping an arm round her shoulders. Eddie wasn’t sure what to say as he watched her eyes fill with tears.

 

“Besides,” she said, sniffing. “I’m still in love with the man my sister married, who killed himself trying to kill this one.”

 

She nudged Buck, leaning into his side. Eddie froze as he saw Buck’s subtle wince. A flash of white hot anger burned through him. He still, three months later, could see Buck falling through that window every time he closed his eyes. He was sure it showed on his face because Buck shot him a warning look.

 

“Oh, him,” Eddie said, only the slightest edge to his voice. “Condolences.”

 

Buck pursed his lips at him, unimpressed, but Eddie didn’t care. The man had tried to kill Buck, excuse him for not having an ounce of genuine sadness over his death. Luckily Tanya hadn’t seemed to notice, her eyes firmly set on Harry, who was now stirring, almost rolling off the couch.

 

“Excuse me,” Buck said, moving swiftly towards the man. “Shipman, what the fuck are you doing?”

 

“I haven’t spoken to my sister since the funeral,” Tanya said softly, not looking at him. “Buck hadn’t told him everything, just enough to give him the basis of what had been happening. He truly did feel for her – she’d gotten the shitty end of the stick. “She’s up to her ears in his debt – that was all her fault by the way – and I refuse to help her.”

 

Tanya laughed humourlessly, downing her wine before pouring herself another glass. She offered the bottle to Eddie and he accepted, pouring himself a fraction of what she had. She sniffed and Eddie could see tears in her eyes.

 

“She broke him, broke me, broke us,” Tanya spat. Eddie couldn’t be sure which ‘us’ she was talking about... her and her sister, or her and Rodd. “And she hasn’t apologised – for any of it. I will never forgive her. She’s dead to me.”

 

The air was thick between them, the topic of conversation heavier than either of them expected. Eddie sighed, taking a sip of his wine. Well, if she was sharing…

 

“I barely speak to my parents, because of the way treat me and my son,” he said, grimacing. He doesn’t think he’d said more than two sentences to them since dropping them off at the airport back in March. Tanya raised an eyebrow at him when he paused, silently urging him to continue. He tilted his head, shrugging. “There’s a multitude of reasons, the big four being; they belittle the memory of his dead mother, judge his relationship with Buck, don’t see him as more than his CP, oh and let’s not forget they tried to take custody of him – twice.”

 

Tanya choked on her drink, staring at him with wide eyes. He nodded and she shook her head in disbelief.

 

“Here’s to shitty family,” Tanya said, raising her glass.

 

Eddie snorted, but raised his glass all the same and clinked it against hers. Buck walked back in then, coming to an abrupt stop at the sight of them.

 

“Why are you toasting?”

 

“Shitty family,” he and Tanya said in unison, sharing a brief look before dissolving into laughter.

 

“Oh,” Buck said, taken aback for all of a second. “Gimme.”

 

Buck plucked Eddie’s glass from his hand, raising it to both of them before down it’s contents in one gulp. Eddie shook his head with a smile. As far as Eddie knew, Buck hadn’t mentioned his parents since that day the year before. He’d mentioned it to Chim once, and he’d confirmed that Maddie hadn’t either, as though the Buckley siblings had made a pact. He couldn’t blame Buck, not after what they’d done to him.

 

“Yo, Buck,” Harry called, and Eddie noticed he was no longer on the couch. “Come’re.”

 

“I’m not helping you wipe your ass!”

 

He handed Eddie back his now empty glass. He disappeared again, leaving Eddie alone with Tanya once more. He watched him go, all the while sparing a thought for his parents. He’d made no attempt to speak to them, currently perfectly happy and content to pretend they don’t exist. They’d called three times demanding to speak to his son before he’d felt the need to block them. He’d had them unblocked for the past month and so far… nothing.

 

“You can’t choose your blood,” he said quietly. Tanya looked at him then, her eyes desperate for him to tell her it was okay. He smiled softly, his thought drifting away from his parents to Buck, to everyone at the one-eighteen. “But you can choose your family, the ones who mean the most and will support you unconditionally.”

 

Tanya sniffed but nodded. She bit her lip, as thought debating her next words. “I had reservations about you.”

 

“Understandable,” Eddie said instantly, not taking offence to her brutal honesty. Therapy has done him wonders. “We were not exactly in the best of places when he met you.”

 

He’d still been angry and everyone and everything, bottling it all until he was about to explode. Before, he would have taken badly to her comment but now he took it in his stride. He was different now – better.

 

“I was wrong,” Tanya said softly. She wasn’t looking at him, but rather watching Buck who had reappeared with harry in tow. “You see him, give him what he needs.”

 

“He gives me everything.”

 

Eddie had never felt a statement be truer. He topped both their glasses, holding up his own.

 

“To Buck.”

 

Tanya grinned as she clinked her glass against his.”

 

“To Buck.”

 

---

 

The heat in LA continued with no signs of easing, no rain forecast in the coming week but temperatures predicted to continue rising. Bobby had taken to planning nutritious, filling meals that required little to no use of the stove, no one wanting anything too heavy, nor did he want to heat up the space anymore than he had to. It made for an interesting menu, he and Buck making the grocery run before the start of their shift the day before. They were on an evening to evening shift and though it was fast approaching seven, the sun was still high in the sky. It had been an exhausting shift, and he knew they were all silently waiting for it to come to an end, no one wanting to risk saying it out loud for fear of it invoking chaos.

 

So when the lights flickered and went out, the tv shut off and the whirling of all appliances stopping, Bobby wondered which one of them had pissed off the universe.

 

“What the hell is going on?”

 

Good question, Bobby thought as the back-up generators kicked in. It would give them enough light to be functional and the keep the necessities running but that was about it. Their electrical equipment on the rigs were at risk of running out of power but they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

 

“Cap!”

 

Bobby sighed as he heaved himself up from the table. He didn’t like the frantic calls for him because he had no idea what was going on, much like the rest of them. It wasn’t the first time they’d had a power cut, and he didn’t see reason to panic about it until he had to.

 

“Looks like a power outage,” he called out as he reached the balcony. His voice travelled in the neat silence of the firehouse. “I’m sure everything will be back on soon.”

 

“Uh, Bobby?” Buck’s voice floated up to him. There was a wariness in his tone that Bobby wasn’t sure on, one he’d never liked from him. Bobby was heading for the stairs instantly. “I don’t think it’s just us.”

 

Bobby was not the only one that came to stand alongside Buck, looking out at the street from the bay doors. There were countless, confused people complaining about their loss of power, arguing with one another about the cause and how long it would be until it was over. Bobby sighed again, knowing without needing confirmation that they would be in for a long one.

 

“Keep an eye out,” he said to all of them and no one in particular. He knew that tensions would rise with pressures of the unknown. “If anything turns sour, notify LAPD. I’m going to contact dispatch to see if I can find out what’s going on and then headquarters to see what they’re saying.”

 

The next forty minutes were spent speaking with Sue Blevins at dispatch, listening to her have simultaneous conversations with not only him, but her dispatchers and no doubt others like him all trying to find out the same thing. Their call ended with sighs on both ends and well wishes before Bobby was calling headquarters to get the orders he already knew were coming and couldn’t be avoided. Had they been at the start of their shift, it wouldn’t have been so bad but they were on the tail end of a twenty-four-hour utterly exhausting one… and Bobby hated what he was about to do.

 

“Everyone, listen up,” he called as he exited his office. The entire team had gathered upstairs, waiting for him to come out and update them. “Dispatch has confirmed it’s a city-wide blackout. No one is actually sure what’s caused it but we are going into mandatory sit and stay protocol.”

 

The firehouse suddenly filled with groans, huffs, a curse or two and countless protests. He’d expected it, was even joining them on the inside because he’d had his own plans for after his shift, but he couldn’t let them see that. He held up a hand, them all falling into silence. Bobby sighed.

 

“Look, I know we’re almost at the end of our shift, but there is nothing I can do. I’ve asked dispatch to take us offline for thirty minutes,” he said. He’d had to barter Sue for it, knowing that they were in an ‘all hands on deck’ situation but he’d explained that they were at the end of their shift, due off in less than ninety-minutes and she’d relented, saying that she couldn’t give him a second more. “Do what you have to do, make the phone-calls you need to make because I guarantee it’ll be near non-stop when we go back online.”

 

Many of them who had kids waiting for them at home, Hen and Eddie included, shot up with phones in hand before he’d even finished speaking. He felt for them all, he really did, but this was the job, something they were warned of happening. Others, like Buck and Carter, simply stayed where they were, tapping out messages on their phones. Chim however, beelined straight for him and he braced himself.

 

“Bobby,” the man said, his voice on the verge of desperate. “We’re supposed to be off shift in an hour.”

 

“It’s mandatory, Chim,” he said calmly. He’d expected some resistance, not least from the expectant father before him. “You know what happens in situations like this and why we have to do it.”

 

It was part of their training, something that they all had to attend seminars on once a year to keep them up to date. No one liked the thought of having to do it.

 

“But Maddie -,”

 

Bobby sighed again and he shook his head. “I know, and I understand, Chim. You think I want to keep you, any of you, here longer than I have to? I tried asking headquarters to allow us a few hours respite considering we’ve already been on for twenty-four but I was told no. We’ll still switch out with B-shift when they get in and they’ll take point on calls and then they’ll switch off with C like usual – if it even lasts that long but protocol states we have to stay in house.”

 

Chim made to say something but Bobby shook his head at him. He didn’t want to have to argue with him, he’d already done enough of that while on the phone.

 

“You’re more than welcome to have Maddie come here.” That wasn’t exactly protocol but it was all he could offer as a compromise. “I’m sure it’ll only be a few hours at most. It might actually be safer having her close in case she goes into labour with how busy all unit will be.”

 

He watched the wheels turn in Chim’s head as he considered it. He wasn’t sure how much his assurances were working but at least he wasn’t arguing.

 

“She’s what,” Bobby did the mental math in his head, “three days away from her due date? Anything could happen and the firehouse is the next best place.”

 

Chim groaned but nodded his head and checked his watch. “She should be back home by now, can I at least propose this to her in person?”

 

The house may only be offline for an hour but he could definitely spare one of his paramedics for a short amount of time. There were more than a handful that could take his place on the ambulance if needed.

 

“You’ve got an hour, two at most,” Bobby said, earning himself a hug from the man. “Let me know and I’ll set up a cot for her in my office.”

 

Bobby watched Chim race down the stairs, not bothering to stop and saying anything to anyone. He wished he could do the same for everyone, especially those with young children at home, but he couldn’t.

 

“Hey,” came Buck’s voice as the man came to stand beside him. “Where’s Chim going?”

 

“I told him he could run home and speak to Maddie, see if she wants to come and join us here.”

 

“Oh,” Buck said. Bobby turned to him and found him smiling softly. “That was nice of you.”

 

Bobby nodded, checked his watch and sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. “We’ve got less than fifteen minutes left until we go back online. Want to help me start preparing for this?”

 

Buck nodded and the two headed downstairs, straight for the larger store room at the very back of the firehouse.

 

---

 

The forty-eight-hour mark of the black-out had been and gone with no signs of change anytime soon. Every firefighter from across all three shifts were now accounted for, cots spread along the entirety  of the apparatus floor to allow sleeping space for the extra bodies (the bunks only equipped to handle one shift at a time). The only ones not there (other than the arsenal of reserve and floating firefighters) were those on pre-approved leave, too far away to be called back in. Bobby, along with the rest of the Captains in the LA area, had been informed by the higher ups that they should prepare for the long haul, something Bobby had hated having to relay to his house, to Chimney in particular.

 

Chim had returned to the house without Maddie in tow, disgruntled as he relayed her thanks but refusal. That had changed earlier that very morning though when Maddie had turned up with a bag (three), stating that Sue had ordered her away from dispatch and she was going stir crazy at home. She had asked Bobby to put her to work; whether that be helping with paperwork, rosters or in the kitchen figuring out how to best utilise the rations. He, alternatively, had made her a tea and asked her about her birth plan. True to his word, he had had a cot set up for her in his office, which she had used to take a short nap, otherwise she spent a lot of time down at the ambulance with Hen and Chim, aiding them with inventory.

 

Now though, the two stood side by side in the kitchen, reconstituting dehydrated food to create a worthy dinner for everyone. Usually he asked Buck to help him, but the man and disappeared with Eddie close to twenty minutes ago to speak to Chris, who was being shuffled between Carla and Eddie’s aunt.

 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t send him home to you,” Bobby said to Maddie, genuinely sorry that he couldn’t.

 

He’d tried speaking to the chief, explaining that Firefighter Han’s partner was days away from giving birth and was it possible to send him home to her but keep him on call should they need him, but he’d been told no. Alonso had said that his paternity leave would kick in the moment she gave birth though, should that happen while they were still executing emergency protocol but until then, Chim was to remain at the house. The chief had been sorry to.

 

“It’s fine,” Maddie said, waving him off. It wasn’t the first time they were having this conversation. “I don’t know if he could have handled being at home to be honest; he would have been worried about all of you and the limited contact you’re able to have. Back – back when I lived in Boston, with Doug, there was this huge power-cut that knocked out everything in a hundred mile radius – cell towers included.”

 

Bobby hummed next to her, listening to her as she talked. Her first husband was very rarely mentioned these days – for good reason. She shuddered as the memory washed over her. She sucked in a breath before continuing.

 

“He – he got so mad that he couldn’t get a hold of me, and I know things are completely different now and Howie is not him but being here, knowing that he knows where I am and that I’m safe makes me feel better. Besides,” she said with a small smile. “If I’m here then I know both him and Buck are safe so it’s a win-win.”

 

“I’m still sorry the last of your downtime before the baby comes is not as stress free as you wanted.”

 

Maddie started to laugh but it was cut off quickly by a sharp intake of breath and a very visible wince. “Ow.”

 

Bobby’s head shot up and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Was that a contraction?”

 

“Braxton Hicks, I’ve been having them for weeks,” she said when the moment passed, waving off his concerns. He narrowed his eyes further and she rolled her own at him. “I’m fine, Bobby, honestly – I will be making my induction date next week. I’m a former nurse, and I’ve delivered a few babies myself – I’d know if it was the real thing.”

 

Bobby decided it was best not to mention the amount of birth calls he’d been to that involved the woman maintaining she wasn’t in labour yet proceeding to give birth less than five minutes after they’d arrived. Instead, he hummed again, knowing that he would be keeping a close eye on her from then on. Maddie sighed next to him before pushing away from the counter.

 

“Ugh, she’s on my bladder again,” she said to herself more than to him, but he laughed softly all the same. She called back to him over her shoulder as she walked away. “Don’t worry, Bobby, I promise I won’t be giving birth in your firehouse.”

 

If the black-out didn’t end soon, he didn’t think she’d be able to keep that promise.

 

---

 

“What did you do, Evan?”

 

Bobby raised an eyebrow as Buck rolled his eyes at his sister. Eddie and Rodgers from C-shift helped him down from the rig, Eddie letting him lean against him as they came face to face with him and Maddie, who was frowning hard at her brother, arms crossed across her chest. The two men looked exhausted, dead on their feet. Buck and Eddie had been asked to assist the team on C-shift with a fairly routine call; a couple of kids trapped in the basement on an abandoned building with minor injuries and no way out. Bobby had only let them go on the condition that it would be the last time the two of them were tapped in. He’d already had to take the two of them out of the pool once and he would do it again.

 

“Well?”

 

Bobby’s brow raised further when Buck groaned rather than answered, his face flushing with what Bobby assumed was embarrassment. Rodgers sniggered, all eyes zoning on him.

 

“He tripped over a dog.”

 

When Bobby had been radioed and given a heads up that Buck had been injured, he’d been expecting more than a slight limp.

 

“Evan,” Maddie chided, exasperated, shaking her head, though Bobby could see the beginning of a smile.

 

“It was dark in that basement,” Buck said, somewhat defensively, though to Bobby he honestly just sounded tired.

 

Eddie snorted softly. “It had a light-up collar, flashing and everything. Real hard to see.”

 

The look Buck shot Eddie had Bobby biting back laughter. “I hate you sometimes, Diaz, you know that?”

 

The look Eddie shot Buck was nothing but fond, his voice sweet but snarky. “Should I take a step back and let you fall on your ass?”

 

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Buck muttered.

 

Bobby didn’t have it in him to reprimand Buck’s use of language, not when he was shifting his weight off his bad leg with a barely concealed wince. Bobby turned to Rodgers, who was still hovering.

 

“We’ve got him, thank you. Go get cleaned up and something to eat before you get called out again.”

 

“Sure thing, Cap,” he said clapping both Eddie and Buck on the backs as he passed. “Thanks guys.”

 

The two men left in front of him visibly sagged when Rodgers disappeared, both yawning.

 

“Come on,” Bobby said with a sigh. “Let’s get you both upstairs and an ice pack on that leg.”

 

He let Eddie and Maddie trail on ahead, insisting he could manage getting Buck up the stairs on his own. He knew one of them would get the couch set up and the other would grab a cold compress, plus he figured the two of them heading up before them would draw less attention to Buck. He’d switched to a different channel when he was radioed, meaning he was the only one that had heard the message, him then informing Maddie. He’d only done so when they were barely a couple of minutes out from the house, not wanting her to worry for long, especially seeing as she was on edge already given that Chimney was currently on a high priority call and hadn’t touched base for the last hour or so.

 

“You doing okay, kid?” Bobby asked as they reached the top.

 

“I want a hot shower and my bed.”

 

“Don’t we all.”

 

They had Buck set up and resting within a couple of minutes. It was a testament to just how tired Buck must be feeling that he didn’t put up much of a fight to their fussing, letting them get it out of their system. Eddie had collapsed beside him, any closer and he would have been sitting directly in his lap. Maddie took a seat on the coffee table in front of them, a soft smile as she watched the two shift impossibly closer. Bobby was about to ask if anyone needed anything but was stopped in his tracks by Maddie shooting up straight, sucking in a shuddering breath as she moved a hand to her back. All three men were instantly on alert.

 

“You okay?”

 

It was Eddie that spoke, the first of them to snap back into focus. He’d shifted so he was perched on the edge of the couch now, hand outstretched, concern etched on his face. Bobby and Buck wore identical expressions. Maddie waved them off, huffing out a breath of laughter.

 

“She’s moved and it’s putting pressure on my back,” she said, standing and arching slightly. “I’m fine.”

 

Bobby wasn’t convinced. He’d been keeping an eye on her as much as he could, making a mental note every time she showed any sign of pain and giving his watch a cursory glance. As the day had worn on, he’d become increasingly concerned that the birth was imminent. Bobby sighed to himself.

 

“Buck, I want you to stay up here and not move for the next couple of hours.”

 

“But -,” Buck started, but Bobby cut him off.

 

“I’m taking you and Eddie out of rotation again anyway.” Bobby couldn’t help the chuckle as they both visibly relaxed at that. He made a note to log it with the chief so majority of their callouts would be classed as overtime and they’d be paid accordingly, considering the two had been on enough calls outside their allotted shift to equal an extra one. “Look, Chim’s not here and probably won’t be back solidly for a while given that all med calls are being passed to him and Hen.”

 

He'd have to talk to the chief about them to, but they still hadn’t been called out as much as Buck and Eddie had. A-shift had definitely drawn the short end of the stick. Bobby sighed again, eyes flicking from Buck to Maddie.

 

“Spend some time with your sister and rest that leg, maybe try to take a nap to.”

 

“You saying I look like shit, Pops?”

 

Maddie and Eddie both snorted and Buck smiled innocently at him. He rolled his eyes.

 

“You said it, not me.”

 

Buck’s affronted look had the other two snorting in laughter as he spluttered mock words of offence. Bobby caught Eddie’s eyes and nudged his head to the side, indicating he wanted a private word. Eddie nodded and excused himself, offering Maddie his seat. Bobby moved just far away that they were out of earshot. He leant in close, murmuring as he spoke.

 

“I want you to keep a close eye on Maddie if we get called out.”

 

Eddie understood instantly. “You think she’s in labour.”

 

“I know she’s in labour.” Eddie raised an eyebrow, to which Bobby nodded his head. “She’s adamant she’s not but those Baxton Hicks she’s been having? They’ve gone from being every thirty to forty-five minutes since she arrived this morning to every ten or so.”

 

Eddie let out a low whistle. “And she’s denying it?”

 

“I think she’s trying to convince herself she’s not partly because she doesn’t want to give birth here and partly because Chim’s not back yet.”

 

“Shouldn’t you try and get Chim back?” Eddie asked, glancing back to where the Buckley siblings were huddled together, talking quietly. “See if he can convince her to go get checked out?”

 

“They’re still in the middle of a high priority call,” Bobby said with a shake of his head. “I can’t just call him back if it’s not safe to do so, but as soon as they’ve transported their patient I will and I’ll order him home, damn what the chief says.”

 

He’d argue with the chief after the fact. He should have had another discussion with Alonso once it was clear the blackout would extend past their initial estimation, argued that it was in the best interests of everyone for Chim to be given permission to sit out.

 

“Buck’s more than capable of helping Maddie alone, you know?”

 

Eddie’s words snapped him back to focus. He nodded.

 

“I know, and I’ve seen him deliver babies before.” They’d been talking about calls for years past a while ago and they’d gotten onto the subject of the full moon and subsequently, the shift they’d worked in Buck’s probationary year. Bobby would never forget Buck’s face when they’d come away from the yoga studio after helping to deliver multiple babies in a short span of time. “Honestly Eddie, I would just feel better knowing that there was another medic on hand if needed.”

 

Had it been anyone else, Bobby had no doubt Buck would handle it like the professional he was, but this was his sister and given the current situation, there was a chance of panic setting in. He looked over at the Buckley siblings, seeing them leaning close together again, Maddie’s hand clenched in a tight fist. Eddie followed his gaze, sighing.

 

“I’m on it, Cap, though it’s been a while since I delivered a baby.”

 

As far as Bobby was aware, Eddie hadn’t done so since starting his career as a firefighter.

 

“I’m sure it won’t come to that.”

 

No sooner were the words out of his mouth when the alarm blared, his radio going off at the same time. Bobby called for everyone to stop, listening closely to his radio.

 

“Okay everyone, this is an all hands on deck situation so A-shift need to gear up alongside C. B-shift; hit the bunks and try and get some rest, you may be tagged in if needed. Buck and Eddie are holding down the fort – if there’s an issue you go to them. Let’s move people.”

 

Bobby glanced at Eddie, receiving a last look of assurance before he darted away, grabbing his turnouts and the keys to the captains car, he and Travers from C-shift choosing to take that to the scene instead.

 

He was almost sure the latest addition to the fire-family would be there when they got back.

 

---

 

The crew had been gone close to two hours and Buck had found himself dozing off more than once. His ankle was fine; all he’d needed was a chance to sit for more than two minutes. Eddie hadn’t come back to the couch after Bobby had left, instead making himself useful by cleaning the common area, packing away things that had been left out… though Buck noticed his gaze drifted over to them more often than not. He didn’t know what Bobby had called him away to talk about, but whatever it was had left Eddie on edge.

 

In between his brief states of unconsciousness, Buck had noticed Maddie unable to keep still. She’d stood from the couch not long after the rigs pulled out and had yet to sit back down, choosing instead to pace the floor. He’d asked her more than a few times if she was okay, but she’d snapped at him the last and he’d kept his mouth shut after that. It didn’t stop him worrying, he’d just stopped verbalising it.

 

“How’s the ankle?’

 

Buck lifted his gaze from Maddie to look at Eddie, who was leaning over the back of the couch, face close to his own. He felt Eddies breath fan across his cheek and shivered.

 

“It’s fine,” Buck said, rolling his ankle and finding no pain. “I just needed to rest.”

 

“You and me both,” Eddie said with a snort before yawning. “You want a sandwich or something? Maybe see if we can get her to eat as well.”

 

He nodded in Maddie’s direction and Buck sighed.

 

“Yeah, can do. What -,”

 

A low groan and whimper from his sister cut him off. She was bent over, white knuckled grip on the railing the only thing keeping her upright.

 

“Okay, that’s it,” Eddie said sharply, throwing his hands in he air as he pushed away from the couch and moved to her. Buck frowning as he scrambled to follow. Eddie reached her as she panted back to standing straight with tears in her eyes. Eddie’s voice was softer than it had been when he spoke directly to her. “You ready to admit you’re in labour now?”

 

Buck’s eyes widened. He’d thought he’d been imagining it when he’d asked her and she’d brushed him off, but it was clear now that this was why Bobby had pulled Eddie aside earlier, why Eddie had been keeping not so subtle tabs on her since the crew left.

 

“I’m not -,” Maddie stuttered, but her eyes widened as she looked down. “Oh.”

 

Both he and Eddie trailed their gaze down, finding a growing pile of water between her feet. Maddie’s breath hitched and she spoke in a shocked whisper.

 

“I think my water broke.”

 

“Looks that way,” Eddie said calmly, moving forward to grab hold of Maddie’s hand as another contraction ripped through her. Buck to her other side, letting her use him as a brace until it was over and she would be able to move. “Maddie, am I okay to examine you?”

 

At Maddie’s nod trough the pain, Eddie instantly snapped into medic mode.

 

“Buck, get her to the couch and comfortable.”

 

Buck nodded and gently led Maddie to where he’s been holed up for the last few hours. They didn’t quite make it, Maddie crouching down with her head resting against the seat cushion, swaying her hips. Buck rubbed small circles into the base of her back, the only thing he could think of that might offer an inch of comfort despite knowing nothing really could at this point. He noticed a hair tie on her wrist and gently managed to pull it off, gathering her hair and tying it up and slightly off to the side and out of the way. Eddie came back then, hands freshly washed, sanitised and he was snapping pair of gloves into place.

 

“Maddie, I need you up on the couch so I can examine you properly, okay?” At her nod, Eddie switched his focus to him. “Buck, I need you to help her.”

 

Buck nodded and managed to get Maddie perched on the edge of the couch and supported her weight while Eddie helped remove her underwear and hike her dress to her knees. Buck couldn’t help but watch Eddie’s face, seeing his look of concentration morph into one of shock and surprise.

 

“You’re almost nine centimetres.”

 

“Nine!” Buck shouted out, looking down at his sister in disbelief. “Maddie, you said you weren’t in labour!”

 

“I didn’t think I was!” Maddie shouted back, hand gripping his like a vice as another contraction hit. “Fuck, this hurts so much more now.”

 

“Your waters have gone so it will,” Eddie said, looking up at her. “Though you’ve got a really high pain threshold if you’ve made it to nearly nine and not realised they were real contractions and not Braxton hicks.”

 

She did, if Buck thought about it, so did he. Playing football in school, he’d always tackled and taken tackles with little to no fuss, crashing his bike he’d bought on impulse when he was twenty (not his finest moment, one he hadn’t repeated because he had made the wise decision to never get on one again) and coming out of it with scrapes and bruises but not much pain.

 

“This baby isn’t waiting,” Eddie said, snapping him from his thoughts. “Buck, towels and a paediatric kit.”

 

Maddie’s grip was tight as she held on to him. Buck was frozen in place as the reality of what was happening suddenly hit him. He’d delivered his fair share of babies while on the job but he’d never once imagined being present for the birth of his niece... and he could never have imagined Eddie being the one to deliver her.

 

“Now, Buck!”

 

Eddie’s sharp tone snapped him back into focus again and he nodded as he moved, though he stopped a second later, turning back to his best friend.

 

“Shouldn’t we be heading to the hospital?”

 

He couldn’t stop the worry leaking through his voice. Logically, he knew things were too far gone to attempt to move her. They didn’t do so on calls, so they wouldn’t be doing it with her either. Eddie shook his head.

 

“You know there’s no time, things are progressing too fast.” Eddie said, shifting the coffee table back with his foot to make more room to help Maddie lower herself to the floor. “Get on the radio and alert dispatch, see if we can get Chim back here.”

 

Buck nodded and darted for the stairs, using the rails to keep his balance as he skipped steps. Soon as he had both feet on the ground he was off in the direction of the store room to grab a paeds kit, all the while reaching for the radio still attached to his chest.

 

“Dispatch this is Firefighter Buckley of the one-eighteen,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm and professional. “We have a pregnant female in active labour and about to deliver at our firehouse; thirty-six years old. We need our ambulance back stat.”

 

He’d found the kit while he was talking, hooked the strap over his shoulder so he had a free hand to grab a stack of towels and any thing else he could think of.

 

“Copy, Firefighter Buckley,” his radio crackled with a voice he didn’t recognise, not that he was surprised – he didn’t know everyone at dispatch despite what it sometimes felt like. “Why specifically your ambulance? I have a unit -,”

 

“One of the paramedics is the baby’s father.” He only felt mildly guilty for cutting the man off mid-sentence, but he had to get his point across.

 

“Oh. OH, is it Maddie?” Buck groaned as he exited the store room, arms full with things, his grip on the radio lax. With how loud the guy had exclaimed, it would be all over dispatch before Chim could find out himself. “Is Maddie in labour?”

 

Buck didn’t want to have to deal with this. “Can I get an ETA please?”

 

“They’re just finishing up with transporting their patient; I’ll have them rerouted straight back to you. ETA ten minutes but my guess is they’ll shave that down if they can.” Buck breathed a sigh of relief not only at the knowledge Chim would be back soon, but at the sound of the soft, soothing, familiar voice. Sue. “You take care of our girl, Buck.”

 

“Copy that dispatch.”

 

Buck took the stairs two at a time on the way back up to the loft, beelining straight back to Maddie’s side. He handed over what he needed to Eddie., depositing the rest on to the couch. He brushed the strand of hair that had slipped free from the hair tie out of her face. Tears slipped down her cheeks and ck gently brushed them away.

 

“This isn’t right,” she whimpered before another contraction ripped through her. “Chim should be here.”

 

“Chim should be here in he next ten minutes or so, okay?” Buk said gently, lancing up quickly to find Eddie looking questioningly at him. He nodded to let him know it was true. Eddie grinned before ducking his head down to examine Maddie again. “Take my hand. Ow, fuck Maddie.”

 

He heard Eddie snort as he fought back a wince at just how hard his sisters grip was. High pain threshold or not, it hurt. He’d definitely have bruised fingers later.

 

More contractions ripped through her, Buck and Eddie both coaching and encouraging her through them. Maddie panted in between each one, Chim’s name falling from her lips every so often. Buck’s heart broke for her; this wasn’t what she’d imagined for the birth of her first child, not even close. He subtly checked his watch – the man himself should arriving any minute now.

 

“I see the head!” Eddie suddenly said. Buck’s own snapped up and he stared wide-eyed at his best friend. Maddie did the same. Eddie spoke directly to her. “Next contraction I want you to push.”

 

Maddie nodded, hand gripping Buck’s even tighter than before. He refused to believe his eyes were watering because of anything other than pure emotion. Her eyes squeezed shut as another contraction started.

 

“Okay, push!”

 

Buck watched as Maddie’s entire body tensed as she held her breath and bore down, trying with everything she had to push her baby’s head out. She leaned back against him as she panted once it was over. He grabbed a towel, using it to wipe the sweat from her brow.

 

“You’re doing so well, Mads,” he said, smiling at her.

 

“Shut up,” she ground out through gritted teeth. Eddie snorted.

 

“Shutting up,” Buck said, not offended in the slightest.

 

“Push!”

 

Buck whispered words of encouragement lowly as Eddie told her to keep going. Buck’s head shot up at the faint sounds of sirens fast approaching. He looked over at Eddie, catching his eye and grinning, knowing exactly who it was. Another contraction had him focusing his attention back on Maddie, only acutely aware of the sirens shutting off and more than one door slamming closed.

 

“Maddie?” came Chim’s voice, Maddie whimpering in relief at the sound.

 

“Get your ass up here, Howard!" Buck shouted down at him when it was clear Maddie wouldn’t be able to do it herself.

 

Chim was up there in an instant, kidding to his knees to the opposite of Maddie to him as she pushed again, taking her other hand in his, kissing her knuckles.

 

“I’m so sorry, Maddie,” Chim rushed out, caressing her face with his other hand. Buck felt like he was intruding but Maddie’s death-like grip kept  him from slipping away.

 

“You made it,” Maddie panted, focusing on Chim. “She’s almost here and you made it.”

 

“I did, she is,” Chim said, grinning, thought it morphed into one of concern as she contracted again.

 

“Push!”

 

“Come on, Maddie!”

 

“Heads out,” Eddie said as Maddie let out a gasp, different to any other sound she’d made before. “One more push and she’ll be here.”

 

No sooner had the words left his mouth and se was doing just that. All three of hem chanted to encourage her as she bore down with everything she had left. Buck’s eyes widened as she cursed up a storm like never before until...

 

“Oh my God.”

 

A sharp cry sounded, reverberating throughout the open space, Eddie holding up a small, slimy, bloody, beautiful, wriggling baby, placing her directly on Maddie’s chest. Chim had pulled her dress down at the front so the baby would lay directly against her mothers skin, her cries soothing as Maddie and Chim spoke to her in soft whispers. Buck looked on in awe and found he couldn’t advert his eyes from his niece, not until Eddie called his name softly.

 

“Buck, towels.”

 

Buck nodded, leaning behind him and grabbing the stack he’d brought up with him, throwing a couple to Eddie and wrapping one over the baby, rubbing gently to clear some of the goo before replacing it with a fresh one, giving Maddie a quick kiss on the head and Chim a clap on the back. Both looked at him teary-eyed before staring back down at their daughter.

 

Maddie fed baby girl Buckley-Han as she delivered the placenta, Buck donning his own pair of latex gloves and holding open a biohazard bag open for Eddie to place it in.

 

He hadn’t realised how dim the loft had become until they were blinded by every single light turning back on, all the appliances buzzing louder than they had on the generators and the loud cheer in response coming from downstairs.

 

“Hey look at that,” he said with a laugh. “The powers back now all the funs over.”

 

Footsteps sounded on the stairs and he and Eddie looked up to see Hen and Bobby hovering at the top, wide smiles on their faces.

 

“Is it safe to come up?” Hen asked, a giddiness in her voice Buck hadn’t heard in a while, not since her and Karen’s last foster placement ended.

 

Chim waved them over after getting a nod from Maddie. Buck pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over Maddie’s legs, not only to protect her modesty but because he’d started to notice her shiver. She mouthed a thank you at him. Hen and Bobby approached slowly. Hen cooed as she got a first glimpse of the baby.

 

“Oh, she’s precious. How are their vitals?”

 

She directed the last part to Eddie, who was now standing.

 

“Everything seems fine, but I’ll leave it to you to sign off on that,” he said, yawning as Hen nodded and began to dig through the med kit Buck now noticed was slung over her shoulder. “I’ve written down everything I could on the notepad there.”

 

Eddie pointed to the notepad on the coffee table. Buck frowned, he hadn’t noticed Eddie writing anything down... then again – his focus had been elsewhere.

 

“How are you feeling, Maddie?” Bobby asked, perching himself on the arm of the couch, smiling down at her.

 

“Sore,” Maddie said with a wince before smiling up at him sheepishly. “I may have been in labour.”

 

Bobby let out a short bark of laughter, surprising everyone but Maddie, who was laughing along with him. Buck would have to ask them both about that later.

 

“You don’t say?” Bobby said, still smiling. He reached forward and squeezed Chim gently on the shoulder. “Chim, I’m officially relieving you; let’s get your girls to the hospital.”

 

Buck felt Eddie’s shoulder knock against his own and he looked over, finding his focus firmly set on the family of three, smiling softly. Buck slung his arm round Eddie’s back letting his hand come to rest on his other shoulder, squeezing gently and pulling him into a half hug. He’d thank him late for everything when they got a moment alone. He didn’t think things would have run as smoothly as it had had it just of been him.

 

“I think there’s more than enough people willing to help get you both downstairs.” Buck heard her say. Evidently, he’d missed part of the conversation. “I’ll get the rig ready and send someone up with the chair rather than the gurney.”

 

Maddie nodded, wincing as she shifted. “I’d say not to bother but there’s no way I’m doing those stairs.”

 

Soft laughter filled the space. Hen was smiling as she moved away, reaching the top of the stairs and clapping her hands together.

 

“Baby girl Buckley-Han has arrived!”

 

A loud cheer echoed throughout the firehouse. Buck realised than that all the commotion must have awoken B-shift, who would have chosen to stay downstairs rather than intrude, and both A and C-shifts would be down there to.

 

“I need volunteers to help get these beautiful ladies downstairs – who’s in?”

 

Multiple calls of ‘aye aye, Cap’ came at once. Buck noticed then that Bobby had disappeared and he frowned, not having seen him leave. He reappeared though, arms laden with the bag Maddie had brought with her – well, one of them.

 

“How about letting dad have a hold while we get you up.”

 

Maddie nodded, and Buck watched in wonder as Chim took hold of his daughter for the first time, eyes bright with tears. Eddie nudged him gently.

 

“Go meet your niece,” Eddie whispered. “We’ve got Maddie.”

 

Buck nodded, leaving Maddie in Bobby and Eddie’s very capable hands, and approaching Chim slowly. Together they stood in silence, both looking down at the bundle in her fathers arms. He was vaguely aware of movement behind him, of Bobby and Eddie helping Maddie up off the floor, to clean her up as much as possible until she could get seen to at the hospital.

 

“Hey, Chim?” Buck asked in a whisper.

 

“Hmm?” he responded, eyes not leaving his daughters face.

 

“Congratulations, brother.”

 

Chim did look up then, smiling and pulling Buck into a half hug, not wanting to squish the baby between them. They only moved apart when Hen and a few others appeared at the op of the stairs, chair folded between them. In no time, Maddie was safely strapped in, wrapped in a blanket and being lifted down to the ambulance, Chim following down after, Buck behind him with Maddie’s bag. All three shifts were still present, though they maintained a respectful distance as they congratulated the couple. It was only when Maddie was actually being loaded into the ambulance that Bobby actually addressed everyone.

 

“Emergency protocol is being lifted.” A cheer rang through the bay, and Buck felt himself sag in relief – Bobby must have spoken to someone when he was getting Maddie’s bag. “Everyone who’s team is technically not supposed to be here, you’re free to leave but C-shift you’ll need to eat something and rest before the next call. Dismissed.”

 

It was only Buck, Eddie (who had followed down behind him and came to rest at his side) and Bobby who didn’t move, everyone else dissipating to do their respective things.

 

“You two head off and get some rest – we’re back on shift soon,” Bobby said. Buck and Eddie let out identical groans. “I know, but that’s just how shift rotation fell. I’ve got to inform the chief that I need cover for Chim for a couple of weeks and give upstairs a deep clean.”

 

“Cap, let -,”

 

Bobby waved off Eddie’s attempt at offering to help. “You need to go home and sleep, both of you – you’re dead on your feet. Honestly, I’m gonna just call in someone to do it, covered by the department.”

 

Buck thought that would be a good idea. They always called in someone to clean-up when it was call related, Bobby could call out someone this time to. Bobby tilted his head at them.

 

“I do need you both to fill out some paperwork when you come back in. I know this wasn’t technically a call but -,”

 

“Understood, Cap, first thing,” Eddie answered for the both of them, Buck nodding along with him.

 

Did he want to do paperwork first thing? No. Did he want to do paperwork at all? Also no, but he knew it had to be done and if he didn’t do it as soon as possible he’d come to regret it.

 

Bobby bid them goodbye then, heading in the direction of his office, leaving the two of them alone in the bay.

 

---

 

Buck and Eddie stood side-by-side, shoulders touching as they watched Hen drive the ambulance carrying Maddie, Chim and their baby girl away. Buck, though being exhausted, felt euphoric, all but bouncing where he stood. He had a niece! A perfectly healthy niece with ten fingers and ten toes and a cute little button nose. He’d never thought he’d be holding his sister’s hand as she gave birth. As involved as she’d let him be, him actually being there for the birth had never been on the agenda.

 

Countless firefighters passed them as they finally left for home, calling out their congratulations as well as their goodbyes as they went. A-shift had just shy of eighteen hours before they were due back, and Buck – quite possibly for the first time – could wait. He needed sleep. He felt Eddie sag into his side as the ambulance turned and disappeared out of sight. He wanted to do the same but one of them needed to stay upright.

 

“You gonna head straight home?” he asked Eddie softly as he coaxed him back inside.

 

Eddie hummed and nodded as they made it to the locker room. “Carla said she would grab Chris from Pepa in the morning as I can at least get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.”

 

Despite the fact that they hadn’t technically been ‘on-shift’, they hadn’t actually been able to get all that much sleep. He’d been so glad when Bobby had pulled the two of them out of rotation the first time, and disappointed when he’d had to put them back in. Both B and C-shifts had seemed to want the duo working calls with them and they’d managed to get the least amount of rest out of everyone. Buck hummed as he stripped off his uniform, catching Eddie doing the same out the corner of his eye.

 

“Chim gave me a list of things they need from the apartment.” Chim had listed off everything they’d need as Maddie was being loaded into the ambulance, shoving his locker key in Buck’s direction, telling him to take his house keys out of it. Buck had shoved it back at him, gently reminding him that he had his own and he’d see him in a couple of hours. Buck stared at the items in his locker, contemplating. He turned to Eddie, mouth going dry at the sight of him shirtless. Not the first time he’d seen his bare chest, but it was different now. Eddie was staring back, a similar look on his face. Buck cleared his throat. “You, uh, you showering here or at home?”

 

“Home,” Eddie said, eyes flicking up and down Buck’s body before he shook himself and looked away. “I don’t see the point in showering, getting dressed only to get undressed again there. I’ll shower and dry off enough to not soak the sheets when I collapse into bed.”

 

Buck nodded and looked away, afraid his desire would continue to show on his face if he didn’t. Crawling into bed with Eddie sounded pretty damn good. They dressed in silence, both pulling on sweats and stuffing everything from the last few days into their bags. Buck envied Eddie slightly, being able to go straight home but he would be rewarded with seeing his niece again, and he’d take that over anything else. Eddie finished up first, bumping his fist against Buck’s and bidding him goodbye, promising to be the one to bring in their usual coffee orders for their next shift. Buck watched him go, leaning heavily against his locker.

 

Watching Eddie take charge of the situation with Maddie awakened something in him that he didn’t think he could tame again. Seeing the care he’d given his sister, watching as Eddie delivered her baby, being the one to keep a level head while he panicked was… nothing out of the ordinary yet something new at the same time. He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t act on his feelings for Eddie until the time was right and he was mentally in the right place for it, and he thought that was still a while off but since coming back to the one-eighteen, he’d know it was only a matter of time before he couldn’t ignore it any longer.  He’d told Carla months ago that he didn’t see it happening any time soon and now… he wanted Eddie, and he knew Eddie wanted him to. So why wait any longer?

 

“Dammit, Carla,” Buck muttered to himself, pushing away from his locker, grabbing his bag and jogging to catch up to Eddie. She’d told him they’d be together before the year was out, he should have known better than to doubt her.

 

Buck jogged to the parking lot, catching sight of Eddie throwing his bag in the back of his truck, sleeves of his hoodie pulled halfway up his arms and sweats hung low on his hips. Buck wanted.

 

“Hey, Eds,” he called. Eddie’s head shot up, a small frown on his face. “Wait up.”

 

Eddie frowned harder, giving him a once over. He stepped towards him as he came to a holt. “You okay?”

 

Buck nodded, biting his lip. It was now or never (more like now or in a few months like he’d originally thought). He took a deep breath and smiled. “You wanna grab dinner at the weekend?”

 

“Sure,” Eddie said without hesitation.

 

“Not – not with Chris, if that’s okay?” Buck found himself clarifying, shuffling his feet. He’d never felt this nervous asking someone out before but this was Eddie, how could he not be? “Just us.”

 

“Just us?” Eddie’s eyes widened a fraction, a soft smile appearing on his face that put Buck at ease in an instant. He took half a step further towards him. “Like a -,”

 

“Yeah,” Buck breathed out.

 

“Sure,” Eddie said, standing right in front of him now. “I’d really like that.”

 

They were so close, barely any space between them and Buck had to take a step back before he did something crazy like push him against the truck and kiss him senseless.

 

“Great,” he said brightly, Eddie laughing quietly as Buck backed away from him in the direction of his jeep. “I’ll text you.”

 

“Looking forward to it.”

 

Yeah, Buck was to.