Buck again did not get much sleep. The text he received played on his mind and every time he closed his eyes he saw the message. He did not know who it was or how they had gotten his new number. He looked at his clock and it was already 4 am, he knew he would be getting up soon as they have to leave at half 4 to get to the airport by half 5. He finally decided to sod it and got out the bed. He moved into the bathroom and got himself all freshened up, changed, and headed down picking his phone up. As he went down thinking to himself he needed to get away. Buck entered the kitchen and he quietly made a coffee to help keep him awake. He decided to call the number and as he pressed dial all he got back was 'this person's phone is currently switched off and you are unable to leave a message.'
Buck got frustrated with the message been played down the line and threw his phone down it lands with a loud thud on the counter. He turned to the fridge to get some milk and jumped when he turned around.
"For fucks sake Eddie!" Buck says hands on his chest nearly dropping the milk.
"Sorry, guessing you got a bad message? I heard the phone get slammed down." Eddie says grinning.
"Something like that, sorry if I woke you, Brew?" Buck asks.
"I couldn't sleep. I'm all excited and yes please." Eddie said.
"I bet you are, I was thinking of going away for a few days. Maybe a week? I need to take care of some things, plus I was thinking it would give you some time with Chris and without me interrupting as you get him settled." Buck explains and passes Eddie a brew.
"Oh ok. I mean that be good, but Chris was expecting see you, but I understand if you need time to you get comfortable with having a kid with CP around." Eddie says rubbing his neck again.
Buck grinned knowing that tick, but then he let the words Eddie just said sink and in and 'oh shit' he thinks.
"No, you have it completely wrong Eddie. I don't mind Chris and his CP, definitely doesn't bother me, this time away is for me personally. I need to get my head right, something from my past creeped in and I want to get myself sorted that's all. I promise it has nothing to do with Chris, ok?" Buck says putting his cup down.
"My bad." he says Buck see's Eddie rub his neck more.
"If I am being too nosy just say and I'll leave it, but your old team, did they really make it that weird and unconfutable for Chris and you when he came round? I ask because your first reaction to me when I said I needed some time away was to ask if it was to do with Chris's CP." Buck asks. He sort of knew the answer already, but he wanted to understand what was going through Eddies head.
He watched as Eddie continued to rub his neck, his face going red and his mouth opening and closing then opening but no words and it close.
"Look I can see your struggling to explain so let's leave it, but like I said I just need some time for me that's all, I've already been researching how to help with Chris" Buck says
Again, he watches as Eddie seems to be lost for words, Buck shakes his head and puts his cup in the sink and holds his hand out to take Eddies
"Come on, we need leave otherwise we will be late, I just thought I don't have a booster for him" Buck realises
"Take the one out my car" Eddie finally speaks
Buck watches as Eddie walks off and he hears the door he places the cup off Eddie in the sink and follows after him, as he gets to the door he closes it and see's Eddie stood by Bucks jeep waiting with the seat, Buck unlocks the jeep as he locks his front door and by the time he is down the path to the jeep Eddie is in the and waiting, Buck starts the engine and sets off, it quiet and no talking so Buck focuses on the driving he knew traffic could be sometimes be hell around this time with people trying to get in and out of London, and he didn't want push Eddie in to speaking.
"My old team were unformattable with having Chris round, and some did not like him been round and made it very clear where they stood by saying it to me in front of him, I'm sorry I automatically assumed you were the same it is just hard you know when you build defences up to protect someone you love and to let the defences down" Eddie says
Buck listens and lets it sink in, he has always been a part of a team that stuck together and helped each other he did not know what it felt like to have a team that wouldn't be there but here's Eddie explaining that his old team did just that.
"I'm sorry to hear that Eddie, you shouldn't have had to put up with it especially Chris, what did your club say" Buck questions
"I never told them, no point the rest of the team would have stuck together and denied it all, I fell out with a few of them and when they did family events we just didn't turn up, was easier that way no awkward silences and stares, they felt like he would break if they touched him and I would sue them and all that, which when Athena said about the opportunity of playing over here I took it" Eddie sighs
"If you want stop you don't need explain anymore I get it, but understand were not the same here as you have seen already we will help" Buck explains
"I know just hard when you spent so long protecting you know" Eddie says "But can I ask why you never said you were from the states, Christian explained you were but to be honest I hadn't noticed the accent till this morning" Eddie asks
"It is a long story which involves my parents making decisions for themselves and not me and Maddie and when they decided they had enough they wanted to leave but me and Maddie were settled, that's the short version sorry I don't like talking about it" Buck explains
The rest of the journey was in silence bar the few times Buck was honking and flipping people off for cutting him up, he caught Eddie laughing a few times as he did it, they eventually pull up at the airport car park and get out Buck making sure he has his cap and glasses on not to draw attention and Eddie just laughed and shook his head, they look at the long list of arrivals looking for which terminal Chris would arrive at and where to go wait for them, as they walk to it Buck messages Athena
Buck: 'Hey Athena I know its super early, but I got a text last night see the picture I forwarded I tried calling the number but it turned off, I need some time away do you think you could ask Frank if I can get a week or two away I just don't want be around at the moment thank' he sends the text and the screenshot of the message
They arrive at the terminal and stand waiting, the plane had landed but obviously they had clear through passport control and collect their bags before Buck or Eddie would see anyone, Buck stood next to Eddie as they waited watching people walk past and even though it was early in the morning it was hustle and bustle in there, eventually people started walking through the doors and Eddie moved and started to look, Buck just stayed back and watched from a far he knew the reunion needed to be just them, he gathered Chris was here when he hears a kid shout
"Daddy" Chris shouts
Buck watches as Eddie kneels and hugs his son his son's crutches hitting Eddie on the back, Buck slowly moved over and by the time he arrived Eddie was stood talking to his sister
"Buck" Chris asks looking up at Buck, Buck kneels
"Yeah that's me, nice to meet you Christopher" Buck says
"Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors that's silly" Chris chuckles
"Ah you see, I have to hide my identity, so people don't pester me when I'm out" Buck explains
"Oh, like dad did when we went shopping at the supermarkets" Chris asks
"exactly, plus it makes me feel like a superhero hiding in plain sight" Buck chuckles
"Let us move out the way" Eddie says "Buck this is Isabella my sister" Eddie continues
"Hi nice to meet you" Buck says
"Buck? That is a weird name is it not? But it's nice to meet you to and thanks for looking after them, it's nice to see there are actual nice players out there" Isabella says
"My name is Evan Buckley but my nickname is Buck and it kind of stuck so everyone calls me that I rarely answer by my first name now, and I've heard some things about them players like that give the rest of us bad names, so when do you fly back" Buck asks
"Plane is at 9am so I can head through the gates soon" She explains
"We will walk you over, least I can do for bringing Chris" Eddie says
"He is my nephew of course I did it, I wasn't going let him travel alone, even though he sweet talked the flight attendant in to giving him extras" She chuckles giving Eddie a funny stare
They all slowly walk through the busy airport heading towards the terminal that Isabella needed to go to, as Chris wanted to walk instead of been carried as Eddie pulled his suitcase along, eventually it was getting to busy, and people started knocking in to them and Buck saw Eddie roll his eyes at a guy as he bumped Chris
"Come on ill carry you, people don't seem to watch where they are going" Eddie says sounding frustrated loud enough for the guy to look back at him but carry on
"Can Buck carry me" Chris asks and Bucks head spins and if Eddie could see his eyes it would be the what look
"Erm I'm not sure if Buck would be ok with that" Eddie explains
Chris wanders over and pulls at Bucks shirt and Buck kneels
"Yeah Buddy, don't you want your dad to carry you instead" Buck says
"Nope, can you, you're taller so people won't bump into you" Chris says, and it earns a chuckle from both Isabella and Buck and Eddie sighs
"Ok then, up we go" Buck says as he picks Chris up and Eddie takes hold of the crutches
"Not even met properly and he has your wrapped round his finger" Isabella jokes "He does it to anyone who's nice to him, just be careful he doesn't take advantage" She explains and hears Chris giggle
"Oh, I won't but you can't deny this cute little face really can you" Buck laughs as he turns to Eddie "Come on bag boy, you need see your sister off" Buck chuckles and Chris laughs
"Don't give him ideas please" Eddie says rolling his eyes at Buck "Thanks for bringing him again, message me when you get back" Eddie says
"I will, now Chris look after you dad and be good" Isabella says, "Nice meeting you Buck" She says
"You to" Buck says
They stand and wave to her as she goes and once out of view they head out to the jeep and load Chris suitcase in and place Chris in the seat and Eddie sits in the back and Buck starts driving, he can hear them talking but turns the radio up slightly so they had some privacy and eventually he sees Chris is out cold, they finally make it back and Eddie takes Chris out as Buck gets the suitcase and opens the door, he watches as Eddie takes Chris to his temporary room and Buck follows placing the suitcase down quietly and then leaves, he sees a message off Athena
Athena: 'Frank gave you a week from tomorrow as he wants you in training but there may be a chance he needs you back sooner if a friendly gets accepted in which he will message you to get back so be prepared for that ok, next you must contact someone every day you know why, I have already put feelers out about the number and where it was from we will have information and ill sort it don't worry just get a nice place to relax you know I'll sort it'
Buck: 'ok, I'll get a lodge up at the lakes I went to, gives me time and I will check in with someone'
Athena: 'I want to know who so I can make sure they have heard off you, I will worry you know that, just sort your head and come back'
Buck: 'I would ask Maddie, but I don't want worry her, but it will be her as she will beat me if I don't'
Athena: 'Good ill speak later'
Buck then messages his sister
Buck: 'Hey, you free for a quick chat?'
There isn't a reply so he places the phone down and heads out in to his garden, as he sits on a chair enjoying the morning sun on his skin, he looks out at his garden it's a long garden and flat with grass mainly so it looks like a mini field for football with a few plants down the side, Buck gets up and starts walking up and down the garden kicking a ball between his feet whilst listening to the birds and the other sounds he hears coming over the wall he looks towards the backdoor as it opens and see's Eddie
"So, Chris is asleep, thanks for taking me to pick him up sorry he is a bit forward I don't know where he gets it from, where do you plan on planting your vegetables?" Eddie asks walking on to the grass
"Its fine honestly he is a little ray of sunshine, I was thinking most likely in that corner over there where that pile of rubbish that really needs go the tip is, was going get a raised bed so I can get some potatoes in there but I will sort it out when I get back from my trip" Buck says as he kicks the ball to Eddie
"Do you have to go? I mean would it not be better sort your head out round family and mates" Eddie questions and starts doing some keepy ups with the ball
"I would but to be honest last time I ended up trashing my sisters spare room" Buck says looking down "And I don't want scare you're son when he's only just got here, with me moping round or worse smashing things" Buck continues as he looks up and Eddie kicks the ball to him
"Ah ok, I can understand that, my anger hasn't helped me either in the past but it's always good to talk you know I had to learn that the hard way, look you have had my back from the first day it only fair that I have yours, if you need go then go, just promise not to get arrested and also Chris is excited to build Lego with you when you get back" Eddie chuckles and Buck again wonders what happened but he knows right now is not the time to wonder
"Part of the deal I have with Athena getting me the time is that I come back and if gaffer needs me back earlier for training I come straight back and that I must contact someone every day, so I said I would message my sister she will hate me when I tell her and I don't want to put her through it again but she is my only family I got" Buck says as he kicks the ball a bit too hard and smacks Eddies leg "Sorry" Buck mumbles
"First ow and apology accepted, second why don't you contact me I mean I'm staying in your place so you can make sure Chris hasn't painted your clean white walls with god knows what, which by the way I apologise in advance for anything that may happen to them" Eddie chuckles "that way Athena is kept happy and you don't have worry your sister with you been away and you can explain it to her when you get back" Eddie says as he kicks the ball back
"You would do that for me?" Buck questions he knew it was a lot to ask someone especially when they did not know the reason he had to leave or known him that long
"We are teammates and it's what we do" Eddie says his hand rubbing his neck and Buck smiles
"Oh, using my words against me now I see" Buck laughs and kicks the ball up high and Eddie tries to head it but misses
"Well someone has to, just go get sorted come back and we can start our training to thrash teams in pre-season, I got hopefully someone coming to look after Chris while I'm out playing and training" Eddie says
"Let's head in, I need book my lodge and then ill pack and set off" Buck says
"Ok cool" Eddie says
They head in and Buck walks upstairs grabbing his phone as he passes and grabs a mini suitcase from under his bed and starts packing the bag with clothes and other bits he will need, he sits down on the bed and opens his phone to book a lodge but sees a message from Maddie
Maddie: 'yeah what's up?'
Buck: 'its ok I've sorted it; I'm just having a week away but don't worry speak when I'm back'
He smiles and starts looking at lodges and finds one and by the lake just like he wanted, he books it and instantly sends a message to Athena
Buck: 'Change of plan will be contacting Eddie, he offered to save me stressing out Maddie, ill see you when I get back'
He closes the phone and heads down and as he places his bag on the side he sees Chris walking out his room and can hear Eddie in the kitchen
"Hey Buddy, you sleep ok?" Buck asks
"I did and thank you, the room is amazing, it's like a treasure room every time I open something there's more stuff so thank you" Chris says
"Glad you like it, just don't let your dad in he won't leave" Buck chuckles
"Ok, where are you going? I thought we were going see sights" Chris questions
"I've got go do some football work away for the week, but when I'm back we will go out, just don't build all the Lego ok" Buck says smiling
"Ok, as long as you bring me something good back" Chris chuckles
"Christopher don't be so rude, sorry Buck he gets carried away sometimes" Eddie says walking over to them "Go on Chris your food is waiting for you" Eddie says
"Have fun Buck" Chris says as he waves
"You to buddy" Buck smiles "Thanks for this mate" Buck say looking at Eddie
"Well you are letting me, and my son stay till our place is sorted least I can do, I'll come to your jeep I need get his seat out before you leave" Eddie laughs
"Good point" Buck says
They start heading out and Buck picks his case up and heads to his jeep while he loads the jeep he sees Eddie getting the seat out the back and places it on the floor, Buck closes the boot and heads round to the driver's door and Eddie is stood there
"Be safe and make sure you keep in contact and if you need anything call me, I may not be able get there but if you just want chat or someone just to listen as you ramble I'm here ok" Eddie says placing a hand on Bucks shoulder giving a squeezes and lets go, Buck instantly missed the touch
"Thanks mate, right I best be off, ill message when I'm there and I'll see you next Monday night unless gaffer summons me back" Buck says smiling
He gets in the jeep and heads off waving to Eddie as he leaves, he sets the sat nav and it's a good three hour drive, the drive itself is filled with traffic and annoyance which Buck would normally hate but it is keeping his mind off other things so he doesn't mind, eventually he turns up at the lodge reception and heads in to get his key and find out where his is, as he follows the directions he was given he sees the one he is looking for it is set between some trees and he looks and the other lodge is a good distance away from him, he gets out the jeep and grabs his case and heads in, its beautiful and spacious especially for one person but he just knows he can just be him and now one will judge, he walks through to the kitchen and the window looks out over the lake, he looks at the big bed in his bedroom and heads out the patio door which leads on to a deck looking out on to the lake
"This is going be a great week" He says to himself as he gets his phone and takes a picture and sends it to Eddie
Buck: 'Just arrived all is good and look at the view, speak tomorrow'
Buck sends the message and turns off the phone, over the next couple of days he spends time just walking round and enjoying the nature that surrounded him posting some pics on his social media accounts, he had a few nights where he sat up all night and cried and panicked about what could happen if that one mistake came out, he also thought about why he was letting something that was a part of him tear him up so much, he shook them thoughts when he looked at his future he wanted to enjoy his career, each day he would turn his phone on read the messages off Eddie and looks at the pictures of Chris playing in his room, he would end up texting Eddie more and more each day even though he knew he shouldn't but Eddie never once moaned at Buck about the random things he was texting, as it got to late Sunday night he relaxed down next to the fire and got hold of his book he was reading about Ancient Egypt he was going enjoy his last night and he heard his phone go off he thought Eddie must be saying night with it been so late but he opened the phone and looked at the message
Unknown: 'so you get to enjoy a fancy lodge, most likely shacked up with a few people for you to use you are pathetic'
Buck just threw his phone against the wall and it shattered he then ended up smashing up the living room before falling to the floor crying, after a while he looked up at the mess and decided he needed get out so went for a walk it was dark by the time he left the lodge and as he walked he just kept walking eventually he found a spot by a lake and he just sat there watching as the world went by, he was there for hours and night became day and all he could think was how was he meant move on when people could find him, he just wanted be free, his train of thought was broken as he heard people coming close, he looked down at the lake and saw a bright shiny rock he put his hand in and picked it up it was white with black and blue speckles he place it in his pocket just as the people started to walk past, he smiled at them as they passed him
"Excuse me do you have the time at all? I forgot my phone and watch" Buck asked
"Yeah, it's nearly 10:35am" The lady says
"Thank you" Buck says and turns to start walking back
'I was out the whole night, it only seemed like a few hours tops' he thinks to himself
As he starts his walk back he realises he walked further than he thought by this point he knew he was thirsty it had been hours since his last drink, he just picked up speed and carried on walking eventually he saw the lodges come in to view over the last hill he climbed up, as he got closer to the lodge he was staying in he saw another vehicle parked up, he couldn't make it out as his jeep was in the way and he could hear banging on the door, he gets closer and finally he sees whose knocking
"Eddie, Chris, what are you doing here?" Buck asks shocked as he sees Eddie stood there with Chris in arms
"Where have you been? I text you at 8am and by nine when I had no answer I called your phone and it said it was switched off so I thought maybe you were asleep but when it got to half 9 I tried again and it was still off so I looked up the lodge and they gave me the number for the lodge and then you didn't answer so I came as I thought you needed someone and when I got here I saw the mess, are you ok?" Eddie asks
"Yeah something happened, and I smashed my phone and then the living room and then walked out, sorry I didn't mean worry you, you can go" Buck says trying hide his red face
"Can we see the lake?" Chris says smiling
Buck looked up and saw Chris's cheery face he could not say no, no matter how much he wanted
"Yeah buddy, but let your dad carry you as there a bit of mess" Buck says as he walks up and opens the door
They enter the building and Buck surveys the mess he made, he hadn't noted what he had done in his fit of rage as he left, he watched as Eddie walked through to the kitchen keeping Chris eyes diverted and hears the patio door open, Buck starts moving some of the broken bits and bobs thank god he paid extra for any damages, as he picks up bits of broken glass and his broken phone Eddie appears with a dust pan and brush, after ten minutes they have cleaned it all up and sort of made it look ok, they empty the shards and broken items in to the bin, He grabs a bottle of water and necks it and Buck makes sure not to look Eddie in the eyes he didn't want see the pity look he knew he was going get
"Dad, come look at the fish" Chris shouts
"Coming, and you come to, I don't fancy picking up broken plates" Eddie says and Buck nods as he follows
"Buck, this place is awesome" Chris says
"It is, I tell you what maybe we can arrange for you and your dad come spend a week here before we start the season" Buck says putting a fake smile on
"Really can we dad" Chris says jumping
"We will see, you know I have a lot of practicing and so does Buck if we want our team be the best" Eddie says
"I know dad" Chris groans as he looks out over their water
"Well we will leave in twenty minutes so take it all in, me and Buck will be in the kitchen ok" Eddie says
"ok" Chris replies
Eddie heads into the kitchen and Buck eventually follows he knew there would be questions and he was wracking his brain on what to say
"Eddie, I can .." Buck starts but is cut off
"No need explain, you're ok well physically anyway and that's the main thing, also the gaffer messaged everyone this morning he wants us in later for training at 4pm but I'm guessing you haven't seen the message as your phone is broken and when get back if you want talk we can or if you want just sit and watch tv we can, but Carla will most likely will be there to" Eddie says
'who is Carla, is she a girl Eddie met had he moved a random hook up in' Buck thinks to himself
"She is Chris's carer you know the one you helped get well the club got her, but you told them so thank you, I could see the lost look in your eyes when I said her name" Eddie chuckled
"yeah I thought you were going tell me you had a hook up moved in" Buck laughed
"No, dating is off the menu, let's face it who wants a single dad with a kid with CP doesn't really scream prize catch" Eddie laughs "Go get your stuff so we can head off" Eddie continues
Buck just chuckles and heads off collecting his stuff and packing it up, with in twenty minutes the lodge is locked up and the key returned Buck explain what happened minus some details to the reception and paid for the damages and then he was driving his jeep back to his, when he arrived he could see another car pulling up and guessed it must be Carla, he gets out his jeep and grabs his bag as the lady walks towards the door
"You must be the infamous Buck, was expecting someone flashier" She says
"Yeah I'm Buck and what you mean flashy and I'm guessing you are Carla" He questions
"That I am, a boy of your profession and the club you play for well you know I've seen a lot of players houses and yours isn't flashy if you get me" She chuckles
They enter the house Buck still trying get his head round what Carla meant and can hear Chris coming as his crutches tap on the floor
"Carla you are here, come on we got make a fort today" Chris says as tugs on her shirt
"You wanna tag in Buck, I'm a bit to old be playing forts" Carla says
"Ah he can't he got come with me, we been called in for a training game before we have a friendly at the end of week, sorry" Eddie says
"Oh, Chris I have this for you, I found it in the water" Buck says as he fishes out the rock out of his pocket
"Wow, it so white and speckly" Chris says with a big grin
"Ok have fun, I'll be most likely passed out in the fort" Carla chuckles and disappears with Chris
Buck hums and heads up, he quickly showers and grabs his training kit before heading back down, Eddie was stood in his training kit, they head to the ground and once Buck hits the pitch he forgets everything but football they spend hours with the team doing drill and training exercises Buck shows off what he has been practicing and pushing the others to perform better to keep up with him he ends up banging balls in to the net scoring pretty much every time making Kepa work extra hard and giving them the normal banter every time he scored, after they finish they quickly shower and grabs some food from the canteen they make excuses and head back as it was getting late and training had gone on longer than expected mainly as some players hadn't kept to their training regime during the off season so they all had do extra.
As they entered the house Buck waved hello and bye to Carla as he headed upstairs and just collapses on the bed he looks at his clock it was 10pm and he was knackered, the lack of sleep form last night and then training caught him and he just closed his eyes just to rub them but ended up falling asleep on top of the bed.
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DISCLAIMER: I have used real life football players and places, the comments and actions in this story are of my OWN imagination and NOT of the people I have used so please remember this when reading my story. Also I will be making a few surprises in this which again DO NOT reflect the real people.