Archive of Our Own ^beta

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At least the bed is big, Eddie thinks, as he stares at the queen sized mattress in their hotel room.

Every year the fire departments are made to send two employees to take notes at the annual firefighters seminar. It’s only a one day, one night deal, thankfully---and it certainly helps that whoever volunteers to go gets paid overtime for the full twenty four hours.

It’s the main reason Eddie volunteered, at least.

Buck volunteered to go because he’s been fighting a cold for the last two days and figured a day off, in which his only job was to take notes and eat free deli platters would help him recover.

Of course he’s dead wrong. If anything, the constant dribble drab and all the flickering lights and presentations and slideshows make him feel even worse. Buck is nursing quite the headache by the time they reconvene to their room.

The hotel had made a mistake and booked them a room with only one bed, instead of the two twin mattresses they’d been expecting, but neither Buck nor Eddie had fretted over it too much.

Really, the only problem Eddie has with sharing a bed tonight is all the huffing and puffing and coughing and sniffling his best friend is currently doing. “Face that way,” he tells Buck, “I don’t want your gross germs on me.”

Buck sticks his tongue out at him and grumbles something under his breathe. He looks like shit, but Eddie knows---because he specifically went out and got him these things earlier---that Buck has already taken Tylenol and NyQuil to help him sleep through the night, and so there’s not much more they can do at this point except wait it out.

Lights off, heat turned up, Eddie is nearly asleep when Buck starts tossing and turning, making all these uncomfortable little noises in his half-sleep state. Eddie turns to him, but the initial annoyance gives way to concern when he sees the contorted expression of pain on Buck’s face.

Eddie places the back of his hand on Buck’s forehead. It’s warm but not alarmingly so. Buck stirs at the contact and blinks hazy eyes up at him. “What’re y’doing?” he slurs, coughing into his sleeve.

“Just making sure the fever’s not gonna’ fry what’s left of your brain.” Eddie sighs. “Still got that headache?”

Buck nods miserably. “Sorry, I know I’m keeping you up.”

Eddie brings a hand up to the side of his head and starts massaging, his fingers digging into Buck’s skull gently but firmly. It usually helps if Christopher’s having trouble going to bed after a nightmare; he hopes it’ll do the same for his best friend.

Buck lets out a sound that’s somewhere between a whimper and a sigh of relief, and Eddie can actually see some of the tension fall away from his shoulders, as he relaxes a little into the mattress beneath them.

Eventually Buck’s eyes droop shut and he succumbs to sleep. Eddie leaves his hand there for a few moments. It’s been a long time since he’s shared a bed with someone; this should be at least a little weird, he thinks to himself. He’s never been a particularly affectionate man, not even with Shannon, if he’s being honest with himself.

For some reason all of these things which he’s always had a hard time doing, seem to come so naturally when Buck is involved...

He shakes the thought away---it’s late and they have a drive ahead of them tomorrow, he should go back to sleep. Eddie takes his hand away and pointedly turns away from Buck, facing in the opposite direction. Just go to sleep.

It’s nearly three in the morning when Eddie gets woken up a second time. He knows because the numbers 2:48 blink down at him in bright red, displayed on the little alarm clock to the side of the bed. Eddie flips over again on his side to see Buck struggling with the sheets, squirming in his sleep, discomforted.

“Buck,” Eddie tries to shake him awake but it only makes Buck whine and blindly throw an arm out, so that it nearly knocks Eddie in the face. With a frustrated huff, Eddie decides enough is enough, they’re getting a good night’s rest if it kills him. 

Eddie closes what distance there is between them and wraps both arms around Buck, pulling him in so that he’s practically cocooned against his chest.

He’s expecting Buck to wake up confused and start complaining about the manhandling, but is surprised when instead Buck simply ceases all movement and sinks further into his body. The only sound he makes is an incoherent little “Mmm?” and then another, more relaxed, “Mmmm...” as he settles in.

Eddie doesn’t bother wondering why, and tucks Buck further into his chest and shushes him, though not unkindly. “You’re movin’ too much.” he mutters against his head. “Go to sleep.”

“Mm’kay.” Buck puffs out, his breath hot against the collar of Eddie’s t-shirt.

Eventually Buck drifts right back into dreamland and though he’s no longer restlessly in motion, he’s still breathing heavy, lungs rattling, a slight tremor shaking his frame.

Eddie spreads his fingers and caresses Buck’s lower back. “Buck you want some more Nyquil?” the box says he can take two caplets every four hours. He’s hoping it’ll alleviate the congestion and help him breathe better through the night.

Buck moans, only just barely awake, but does nod; his throat is so sore and dry, some water would go a long way right about now.

Eddie regrettably needs to let go of Buck in order to turn on the lamp light and rummage for a bottled water and two more pills. “Here, sit up and take these.” he hands Buck the liquid caplets first and then the water. He hates seeing Buck wince in pain as he swallows them down, throat aching. Eddie rubs a hand up and down Buck’s chest automatically, to soothe the younger man.

Buck has to be out of it, Eddie thinks, because he sighs in relief and leans into the touch. “Feels nice.” he mumbles, sniffling.

Eddie nods, continues to do it, as if this kind of intimacy were a given and not at all terrifying, in reality. “Lay down,” he hears himself say. “It’s late.” Buck hesitates.

“Can I--I mean, do you mind if we could still...” Buck goes red, and Eddie can’t tell if it’s the fever giving him that complexion or the fact that he’s trying to figure out a way to ask if they could go back to cuddling.

Eddie saves them both the trouble and quickly turns the lights off before dragging Buck down with him, throwing his arms securely around his best friend. “Good night Buck.”

Buck is tense for half a second until becoming completely docile, and even curling into Eddie, like a kitten seeking warmth. “G’night ‘ddie.”

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Christopher’s at a sleepover at his friend Paul’s house for the night so Buck invites Eddie over for pizza, some beers, and of course, for a rematch. “Look, I went easy on you last time because Christopher was here and I didn’t want you to get slammed in front of your own kid like that.” he teases.

Eddie grins. “Oh is that so?” he tips his beer back, downing a swig.

Maybe it’s the beer–though between the two of them they’ve barely gone through a six pack–but one minute they’re ribbing each other in the kitchen, and the next Buck’s sitting on the counter and Eddie’s in between his legs, with an arm at either side of him and they’re making out like horny teenagers.

They don’t stop to talk or even take a breath, hurriedly ripping each other’s clothes off as they clumsily make their way upstairs to Buck’s bedroom. Eddie practically tosses Buck onto the mattress and then he’s on top of him, marking a trail down his neck and fuck, Buck can’t remember the last time he felt this desperate. He groans, thrusting his hips into Eddie’s, wanting more. He’s so dizzy with lust he almost can’t believe this is actually happening…

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Buck wakes up the next morning to discover that the side of his bed is cold and empty. He shimmies on a pair of boxer shorts and makes his way downstairs. “Eddie?” he calls out, but silence is his only answer. Eddie’s clothes, which had lain strewn across the kitchen and his bedroom floor are gone, and so is the man himself.

“Shit.” This is what he’d been afraid of. This is why he hadn’t made a move before last night. Buck shakes his head to rid himself of those thoughts. There are other reasons Eddie could have for leaving without saying anything; other reasons besides regret, that is.

Buck calls him but gets sent straight to voicemail after a couple of rings. Sighing, he chooses to text him instead. He’s not sure what to say, except a simple: Hey?

He’s not working today, and neither is Eddie, if he remembers the schedule right–it’s Saturday and their next shift together isn’t until Monday.

Buck really hopes Eddie responds or even calls him back before then, because he doesn’t think he can stand to wait until then to talk.

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Buck texts him again on Sunday: Everything ok?

And still nothing on Eddie’s end. It’s frustrating and the idea that he might’ve just ruined his relationship with his best friend is driving him up a goddamn wall.

Maddie invites him out to lunch but he declines, lying that he’s busy today. He knows that if he were to see her he wouldn’t be able to help himself and he’d end up spill all of his insecurities and anxieties over what happened. And the way it’s looking, it’s likely that Eddie regrets having slept with him and would prefer to keep it a secret.

That thought stings and Buck spends most of his lazy Sunday curled up in bed listening to very cheesy sad love songs.

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The next morning rolls around and Buck thinks about calling out sick. Partly because he doesn’t know how to face Eddie after what happened over the weekend—he couldn’t stand it if his fears were to be confirmed. And in part because he spent the night before tossing and turning and never did actually get any sleep beyond a couple of very restless hours.

He wakes up with a headache pounding behind his right eye and by the time he parks his car in the lot at work he’s starting to reconsider his decision not to call out of work. He’s absolutely miserable.

“G’morning Buck, how was your weeke—woah, hey, you alright?” Bobby stops him on his way into the station, concern knitting his brows together.

Buck sighs. “I’m ok, just tired. My upstairs neighbors were partying all night so I didn’t really get a lot of sleep.” he lies. He can’t tell his Captain the truth. Though sometimes Buck has a sneaking suspicion that Bobby has already caught onto the stupidly longing looks Buck can’t stop giving Eddie…

Bobby pats him on the shoulder and squeezes lightly. “C’mon, it’s still early, take a nap in the bunks.”

Of course that’s the exact moment in which the alarm decides to sound.

Bobby gives him a sympathetic look but Buck shakes it off. He’s got a job to do.

He and Eddie end up riding on different rigs to the emergency call and even when they’re on the scene Eddie, who’s usually standing by his side, stays as far away as possible, lingering on the sidelines, waiting for orders.

The Captain sends Chim and Hen to search the first five floors of a building for anyone who hasn’t left the offices during the fire drill, and sends Buck and Eddie to check floors six through ten.

Eddie and Buck take the stairs up in silence, the only sound being their heavy footsteps as they climb in full gear.

They start at the top and make their way down, clearing the floors as they go. It’s only when they reach the sixth floor that either man speaks to the other.

“Hey, listen, about Friday…” Eddie starts, pausing to get his thoughts together.

Buck gulps, stopping dead in his tracks. He turns around, nervousness making his stomach queasy.

“I know I left kind of suddenly, the next morning.” Eddie sighs, looking away.

Buck’s palms are clammy and his headache is not letting up and he really shouldn’t have skipped breakfast this morning. He’s starting to feel faint, especially after climbing ten flights, wearing roughly an extra forty to fifty pounds of firefighting gear to top it off. He’s glad this isn’t a real emergency, and just a drill.

“Buck?” Eddie notices the way his best friend is swaying on his feet and closes the distance between them quickly, grabbing his shoulders to help keep him fully upright. “What’s wrong? Is it the blood thinners?” He read in a medical journal, after Buck was started on the Warfarin by his doctor, that a possible side effect might include the occasional dizzy spell.

Buck shakes his head blearily, his hands coming up to grasp Eddie’s, to steady himself. “Sorry, I think I need to sit down.” he breathes out.

Eddie helps him take off all of the gear and then he wheels an office desk chair under Buck’s butt. “I’m gonna’ call Cap.”

“No!” Buck half shouts. He stands up too fast and nearly makes himself sick. Not that he has anything in his stomach to throw up.

“Woah, it’s ok, sit, sit, I won’t call Bobby, just sit for me, yeah?” Eddie gently pushes him back into the seat. “You’re pale, did you take your meds this morning?”

Buck nods. “It’s not that.” he looks away, “I just, I had trouble sleeping last night…and the night before that, and I was too nervous to eat this morning so I skipped breakfast and that combined with no sleep for the past two days plus,” he gestures vaguely towards the stairwell. “It’s nothing, I just need to eat something and I’ll be fine. If Bobby hears about this he’ll freak.”

Eddie searches in one of his various pockets and comes up with a granola bar—blueberry, Buck’s favorite— “Here, eat this. I’m gonna get you a cup of water.” He fills a plastic cup with water from the office cooler and hands it to Buck after he’s eaten at least half the bar.

“Thanks.” Buck actually feels a lot better. He could still use a good eight hours of sleep, if he’s being honest with himself.

Eddie chews on his lip. “Buck, I’m sorry.”

Buck looks up. “What?”

“It’s because of me, right? That you couldn’t sleep, and that you couldn’t eat this morning? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left without saying anything like that. I just needed some time to gather my thoughts, but I realize now that wasn’t fair to you.” Eddie grimaces.

Buck shakes his head. “No, it’s fine, Eddie, you had every right to leave, I totally get if what happened that day between us, if you regret that, and if you never wanna’ speak of it again, I respect that, I won’t say anything, we can pretend it never happened.” Buck finally looks up, fear and anxiety brewing in those baby blues. “But I can’t not be friends, Eddie; if I fucked everything up by acting on these feelings I’m so sorry and I promise I’ll keep them under wraps. You’re my best friend, I—” he stops himself, clenching at the armrests in despair. “Can we please please pretend Friday night never happened. I’ll never bring it up again and we can go back to normal, I swear.” it breaks his entire heart to say the words, but if it’s between nothing and hiding his true feelings, he’ll take the latter.

Eddie takes a big deep breath and kneels down in front of Buck, so that he’s staring up at him, his big brown eyes shining. “Is that really how you feel? About us? About what happened on Friday? Be honest with me, I promise I won’t be mad.”

Buck tries to say ‘Yes, that’s how I feel. It’s gonna’ be weird, please let’s stay friends’ but he can’t lie. Not when he’s looking into those eyes. Not when Eddie’s hand is on his knee, not when the man carries around an assortment of his favorite granola bars in his work clothes….

“Fuck, Eddie,” his voice cracks. “I’m so in love with you it’s stupid. I’m sorry.” his breath hitches, and maybe it’s the days of waiting by his phone anxiously, the lack of sleep, who knows, but actual tears spring up in his eyes and Buck is embarrassed to find himself shedding tears. As if this wasn’t humiliating enough.

He’s waiting for Eddie’s rejection. Bracing himself for the “I’m sorry I don’t feel the same”.

“I’m sorry.” he starts.

And there it is. Fuck. Why does he always have to wear his stupid heart on his stupid sleeve? Fuck.

“I left because I was overwhelmed by my own feelings and I needed time and space to sort through everything. I’m sorry I didn’t communicate better. I just kinda’ ghosted you like an asshole.” Eddie reaches up and takes Buck’s face into his hands. “I have been in love with you for longer than I’d cared to admit. Friday night was amazing and I’m just sorry it took me so long to finally act on my feelings. Buck, I love you so much it drives me crazy just thinking about it. When I woke up Saturday morning and you were there, sleeping beside me? God, I was so happy I didn’t know what to do with myself. I haven’t been that happy in so long I honestly didn’t know what the hell to do with myself. That scared the crap out of me so I ran. I’m sorry.”

Buck doesn’t hesitate, throwing himself from the chair and into Eddie’s arms, colliding into him with an oomph!

Eddie holds Buck tight, arms wrapping around his waist to pull him in closer. “I love you.” he says again, pulling back only slightly, and only so they can lock lips. This kiss is different than their first, which was hot and unthinking and desperate. This kiss is soft and tender and so so warm and Buck groans into it, melts into Eddie’s embrace.

“Not to ruin the mood, boys, but uh, your comms are still on, so whenever you two are done um, clearing that last floor, please report back to the rig.” Captain Nash’s extremely amused voice rings out on their comms, startling the men into bumping foreheads. They can hear Hen and Chim giggling like school kids in the background.

Eddie clears his throat. “Copy that Cap.”

Immediately they turn off their comms and both break out into uproarious laughter.

“Well shit.” It was no wonder they’d been left undisturbed up until now, when they’d clearly taken much too long to check the measly five floors they’d been assigned…

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It’s been nearly a month now since Buck came back to the team and despite all of his apologies and all of his attempts at trying to show everyone he regrets putting them all through the lawsuit, not a single person has reached out in return.

Buck regrets everything. He was just so desperate; he wanted to stay a family so goddamn bad, but it ended up blowing up in his face.

Bobby continues to treat him with kid gloves, having him do all kinds of probationary work around the station, reprimanding him for any and every little thing and leaving him on crowd control duty the few times he is actually allowed to go on calls with the rest of the team.

It’s upsetting and belittling but Buck takes it all in stride. He deserves everything he gets and more for his thoughtless, selfish impulsivity. Right?

It’s the dreary thought that’s on his mind as Buck watches his team go into the blazing fire in the bank, on their latest call.

There are patrol officers and S.W.A.T surrounding the perimeter. They’d been called in earlier when the situation had consisted of a lone bank robber and his eight hostages. Somehow—not that Buck managed to get many details from Bobby, who’d only told him he would be standing the sidelines in case anything happened—that had turned into what it is now, a fire emergency, with the bank robber plus four of the hostages still inside.

Buck is on standby, which is killing him, of course. His team is wearing bullet proof vests on top of their already heavy gear, in case the bank robber feels like shooting his way out of a burning building. Please be ok, he prays, please be ok.

He wants to run in there and help, make sure he’s got his people’s backs, but he’s been given clear and direct orders to stay back by the Captain, and though it goes against his every instinct, Buck wars with himself to wait, anxiety curling deep in his belly.

Eventually, while Buck is holding his breath, waiting for signs of life, one by one, they come out of the fire, relatively unscathed, as far as he can see. S.W.A.T. is on standby like Buck, but unlike Buck it’s because they’ve actually got a job to do. The last four hostages were all female, and so it’s easy to locate the bank robber, who had earlier been identified as a stocky white male in his thirties.

While the man is being cuffed and read his miranda rights paramedics on scene start to work on the hostages, none of whom seem particularly wounded, thankfully. In fact, the worst of it seems to be a little smoke inhalation all around.

Buck notices Eddie trying to lead the woman he saved over to the ambulance to get checked; he’s having trouble. Curious, and eager to help in any way he can, Buck hedges closer. “Look, I’m fine, just leave me alone.” the woman is saying, backing away.

Eddie, who thinks she might be traumatized and perhaps even hiding an injury, the way she’s holding her side so awkwardly, carefully reaches for her again. “Ma’am, it’s ok, we’re just here to help—”

But Buck can see something’s not quite right, he can see the panic in her eyes and instantly recognizes it for what it is: she’s feeling trapped, surrounded on all sides. This isn’t good. He’s seen that look before, in the face of that woman he rescued what seems like forever ago now. The one up on that billboard, the one who drew that gun on him the moment she felt like there was no other way out…

“Eddie wait!” But it’s too late.

The woman is already rearing back, a wildness to her, and within milliseconds she’s got a weapon aimed at Eddie’s fucking head and Buck can see that finger on the trigger, she’s not hesitating and there’s no time to think or subdue her. Buck just acts, slamming himself into Eddie to push him out of the way as the woman shoots.

S.W.A.T. is on her in an instant, securing the gun and shoving her onto the asphalt to be cuffed and arrested.

Eddie, still reeling, sits up shakily, heart pounding erratically. “B-Buck?”

Buck is lying prone on his side, deathly still, and there’s already a puddle of blood formed beneath his body, and it’s only growing.

“Buck, Buck!” Eddie panics, scrambling for what to do.

Thankfully the 118 is here and within moments they’re gathered around, and Eddie, he finds himself frozen in place, watching as Hen and Chimney turn Buck over in a flurry of activity. There’s so much blood, Eddie can barely tell where it’s coming from. It’s covering the side of his face and his neck, his chest, his shoulders.

Chim has a portable EKG reading his vitals and it’s not looking good. Hen’s managed to find the entrance wound, right at the side of his neck and she’s keeping a steady firm pressure but there’s still so much blood pouring out between her gloved fingers.

Buck groans, his eyelashes fluttering against his too pale face.

“Buck, son, you’re gonna’ be ok.” Bobby is sitting right next to Eddie, he’s got a hand lingering, hovering just above Buck’s shoulder on his other side. Eddie sees the way that hand trembles and knows the Captain is terrified he’s going to be made a liar.

But Buck is awake now, conscious and moving, if only in response to the pain. His eyes are unfocused, looking somewhere over Eddie’s shoulder, not at him. “Buck, Buck, look at me, you got shot, as soon as you’re stable we’re getting you to a hospital.” Eddie tries to assure him, the panic in his voice betraying his words. As soon as we get you stable, he makes sure to say, not if we get you stable…

But Buck doesn’t acknowledge him. He blinks slowly, his brows creasing—not in pain, but in confusion. He opens his mouth and says something but it’s too quiet for anyone to catch it, not when so many things are going on around them, with S.W.A.T in the background, released hostages and other civilians still reeling from the gun going off, and Hen and Chim working their asses off to keep Buck alive.

Eddie leans in as much as he can, without disturbing their work. “Buck what is it?” his voice is trembling. Hell, he’s trembling.

But what Buck says next makes Eddie go deathly still.

“Shannon?”

All hell breaks loose. 

“No no no no no no no, Buck no, please, look at me!” Eddie can’t even hear himself over the roaring in his ears but he’s sure he’s screaming right now, his throat feels so raw.

But Buck still won’t look in his direction, those hazy blue eyes looking somewhere into the distance, seeing something no one else can. And it is terrifying beyond all belief.

“Please!” Eddie cries, “Please stay!” This can’t be happening. Not like this. Not ever. He has so much left he wants—no, needs to say. It can’t end like this. Not again.

“Don’t you fucking go! I need you!” he’s sobbing and screaming as Bobby holds him tight, keeping him from grabbing onto Buck and shaking him, telling him to snap out of it and come back to them, while Hen and Chim work. Captain Nash is saying something, maybe he’s trying to calm Eddie down, but he can’t hear anything over the sound of the erratic beeps coming from the EKG. 

Buck lets out a very faint gasp, his eyes fluttering shut, and the resounding BEEEEEP! feels like it goes on forever.

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Buck wakes up in a hospital room.

A very crowded hospital room.

Chim and Maddie are asleep on top of one another, taking up a small loveseat in the corner on the room. Hen and Karen are passed out on the couch beside the entrance, as are Bobby and Athena, sitting side by side on some not so comfortable looking chairs, on the opposite end, resting one against the other.

“Buck?”

Buck looks to his side, where the last chair in the room is occupied, by none other than Eddie, who looks an absolute wreck, and sounds even worse, if possible.

“Eddie?” Buck winces. Talking hurts, his throat is so sore. In fact, everything hurts.

Eddie quickly has him gently suck at an ice chip by the bedside, “It’ll help.” he says. Buck notices the tremor in his hand.

After he’s a little more hydrated Buck asks, “You ok?” his friend looks like death twice warmed over.

He’s not expecting Eddie to break down in tears, but that’s exactly what happens. “Am I ok?” he’s incredulous, running his hands through his hair. “Am I ok?” he repeats.

Buck is pretty sure the only reason no one’s stirred awake yet is because neither of them can speak above the level of a throaty raw whisper at the moment. “That lady.” he says, by way of explanation. “With the gun.”

“I’m not the one she shot.” Eddie sobs, not bothering to hide his anguish. “Buck you almost fucking died. You coded in the field after calling out Shannon’s name and I fucking lost you. Buck I can’t lose you. I can’t. Ever. You can’t—you cannot do that, please, you can’t leave me. What would I ever do without you?” Eddie can barely catch his breath and he’s literally shaking. “Buck please, I need you to promise me you’ll never do something like that again. Please.”

Buck can’t promise that. And they both know it. “You know I can’t. What the hell would I ever do without you? Hell, what would Christopher do without you?”

Eddie shakes his head adamantly, breath hitching, desperately grabbing onto Buck’s hand, like it’s a lifeline. It just might be. “He’d be in good hands. Buck, you can’t do that again.”

Buck gulps. “Eddie, Christopher needs—”

“He’s got you.” Eddie cuts him off. “I should have told you before. After the tsunami I changed my will, if anything happens to me, you’re it.” he admits. “So yeah, he needs me, but he also needs you. I need you. I love you so much Buck, I couldn’t stand losing you. I’d—” he pauses, realizing he’s just confessed, and this is certainly not the way he had meant to confess. “I—shit, I’m sorry, I meant to confess after apologizing for—fuck, for everything, for this last month, hell, for the last few months, since the lawsuit, for how selfish and stubborn I’ve been, for not trying better to understand your side, for—”

“I love you too.” Buck squeezes the hands holding his, albeit weakly. He looks awed, like it’s his first time really seeing Eddie, in a while—and it probably is. “Did you really? With Christopher?” he’s too exhausted for full sentences but Eddie thankfully knows what he means.

He nods, “I did. I’m sorry, I know I should have asked, and I was gonna’ talk to you about it, but then, everything just—”

“No, no, it’s—I’m just really happy.” Buck smiles, and it’s his first genuine smile, one he hasn’t had to fake or force, in months.

Eddie practically melts against the side of the hospital bed, laying his forehead gently up against Buck’s shoulder. “Me too.” he sniffles, overwrought with emotion.

Buck’s hand comes up to rest over the back of Eddie’s head, where he can softly caress his fingers, in hopes of providing some kind of comfort, however tired he is. “I know it’s not what you wanna’ hear right now…or ever, but I would do it again, no hesitation.” he confesses.

Eddie buries his face further into Buck’s shoulder, his breath catching on a sob. “I know.” He does know. Because given the chance, Eddie would easily take a bullet for Buck too, no questions asked. A thousand times over.

“I love you.”

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Hen grins. “Is that a friendship bracelet around your wrist?” Though she finds it funny that Buck, a man in his twenties, is wearing one, she also can’t help but think it’s a little endearing, too.

Buck nods, not at all embarrassed, and shows it off proudly. “Albert made it for me. I made him one too.”

Chim chuckles. “Should I be worried about something going on between the two of you?” he teases.

Eddie looks up from his book, brows raised suspiciously, smirking. “Is there?”

Chim stops laughing and blinks, suddenly unsure. “Wait. Uh. Is there? Should I—do I have to like, have ‘the talk’ with you two? Who do I even give the shovel talk to in that case? Because sure, Albert’s my brother, but so is Buck. You know what, the shovel talk is outdated anyway, so I guess I don’t have to worry about that, right?”

Hen nods in agreement. “Way outdated.”

Bobby, who’s been not so subtly listening from the kitchen, where he’s making lunch for everybody, walks over. “Buck, you’re dating Albert? What about you and Eddie?” the Captain realizes he’s said that particular inside thought out loud and cringes. Shoot.

Hen and Chim are both staring at him with giant saucer eyes, mouths agape, so it’s surprising when both Buck and Eddie start laughing like school boys with a secret.

“Cat’s outta’ the bag now, huh?” Eddie shrugs in a good natured manner, smiling at Buck from across the room.

Buck smiles back, dopey and very clearly love struck, and yeah, they’re definitely together, Bobby thinks, watching the interaction. “Yup.”

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