I do not own the rights to 9-1-1 or 9-1-1: Lone Star. Alexander Strand is my own character.

Buck: How was that call?

Alexander: Just a nuisance call. The woman has apparently called 911 on her neighbours multiple times for simple things. Dad ended up arresting her after she faked a heart attack and rejected help from any of us she was prejudiced against.

Buck smiled softly at that, a small spark of amusement flickering through him. He knew that type of person, he'd dealt with a few of them, but it was always sort of humorous. The nerve and self-interest of some people. It can piss you off or, rarely, you can find some humour in it.

A small moan passed Buck's lips as he took another bite of the sandwich he'd stolen when Bobby wasn't looking. It was a simple lunch but it was delicious and it was all he was going to get since the rest of the food was being watched carefully at the table where the others were. In an uncommon bit of free time, Buck sat alone in the far corner, away from all the others. He wasn't as bothered or hurt by this as he had been when he was first allowed back. It had just become… normal. That doesn't mean he didn't hate it though.

Buck: I've been thinking…

Alexander: Ouch, don't hurt yourself.

A soft laugh passed Buck's lips at that. Alexander somehow knew just how to cheer up the man with simple jokes and humour. Buck adored the support he got from the firefighter he'd rarely seen, that support was all that was giving him happiness. It was the only thing that had in a long time.

Buck: Very funny.

Buck: As I was texting, it's been a month since I've been allowed back at work and nothing's changed, Alex.

Alexander: You're considering transferring to Austin?

Buck: I'm considering whether I should consider it.

Buck sighed softly, staring at those words he'd just sent. It was true but it felt unreal. Was he really thinking about leaving the first place he truly felt he belonged? Did he really feel like he belonged there after all the despising looks he'd been receiving? Truthfully… No. He felt like an outsider, looking through a window. He'd stopped waving through it a long time ago, but he still held onto a hope that his family would change their minds and treat him better, treat him like they did before.

Alexander: Well whatever you decide, I'm here for you.

A welcome warmth settled in Buck's chest at that. I'm here for you. The words he'd given to his team so many times. Words they didn't seem eager to return and that thought hurt Buck immensely. His family, the people he would gladly give his life for, didn't want to return the favour and be there for him.

The noise and lights of the alarm disrupted Buck's thoughts. He looked up, watching his teammates get up and hurry downstairs to get their gear. Buck made no move to get up; he had stayed behind on other calls that day, why would he expect to be going on this one? Instead, he just lowered his gaze back to his phone.

"Buckley!" Buck startled at the shout, looking up to see Bobby waiting impatiently by the stairs for him. "Come on, we need as many hands as we can get on this one."

Buck swallowed and nodded hurriedly, quickly sending a 'going on a call' text to Alexander before shoving his phone into his pocket and hurrying downstairs. He dressed in his gear in record time, just eager to get away from the disapproving glances getting thrown at him.

"What's Cap bringing him for?" Buck pretended to not have heard Eddie's purposely-loud whisper. "What, is he gonna sue the fire?"

"Doubt it would do much," Chimney replied, not seeming to see the hate in the other man's comment.

Buck pushed past Eddie in a hurry to get away from him and to the truck where he would be stuck in a confined space with him anyway. Buck sat in the corner of the fire truck's cab, staring out the window. Eddie's words cut him deeply, only adding to the barely-scabbed wounds of the other comments Buck had endured that day and the days before that.

Other conversation went on in the truck but Buck didn't pay any attention to it. He noted how Eddie never mentioned Christopher and that none of his team spoke much of their personal lives; whenever such topics were brought up, someone would throw a glance at Buck and the conversation would change.

Maybe he really should move to Austin… It had to be better than the way he was being treated here. But he would be leaving behind friends and family… Yet those friends and family, aside from Maddie, Athena and Christopher, didn't seem to want him…

So Buck decided that yes, he would consider moving to Austin.

When the fire truck arrived at the apartment, the building was clouded by smoke, flames roaring in the windows. Screams rang in Buck's ears as he stared up at the sight. His mouth set into a thin line and he turned to his captain to see what he could do. Athena was already there and giving Bobby a rundown of what she knew.

"Fire started on the fourth floor," the police sergeant says, walking next to Bobby to where medical aid had been set up. "I've got reports of a family, mother and two children, trapped on the seventh floor, and a lot of smoke inhalation victims already out and needing evaluated."

Buck looked up and, counting the floors, he spotted a woman in one of the seventh-floor windows, frantically waving through the unable-to-be-opened window. Buck didn't miss Bobby's tight swallow as the man also saw the woman but the fire captain didn't let the situation similar to his family's death bother him any more than that.

He slipped into his role and turned to the rest of his team. "Alright, Hen, Chimney, start checking on the victims. Eddie, Buckley, you're both with me, we're going to get that family out."

Eddie and Buck both nodded. The three of them grabbed their oxygen masks and tanks before running into the burning building. Smoke filled the hall and obscured their vision but they plowed forwards, running up the steps to the seventh floor. Buck was panting slightly but he didn't let it show or slow him down. This was the job he loved and he was finally getting the chance to do it.

Bobby lead the way to the apartment the woman had been waving from. Voices could just barely be heard within so the three firemen knew there were at the right apartment. The door was nearly engulfed in flames but it was unlocked, giving easy access to the apartment. Buck was the last one to step inside, just in time to have a young boy thrust into his arms. The boy was covered in ash and soot, terror in his eyes as he clung to the man.

The fire had filled the apartment, had the firemen any later, the family surely would have perished. The smoke was thick and suffocating, flames having been blocking the door to prevent escape.

"Hey buddy." Buck put on one of his best reassuring smiles. "I'm gonna get you out of here. My team with help your mom and sister, alright?" The boy nodded, burying his face into Buck's chest and Buck cradled him tightly, "I'm Buck. What's your name?"

"Alex," came the scared whimper.

Buck tensed at that but he shook the surprise away quickly. Bobby and Eddie had reached the boy's mother and sister, Eddie carrying the young girl while Bobby helped the mother. Buck was in the rear of the group again as they descended the stairs. He didn't really mind, he wasn't at fault for being slow if he wasn't in front of anyone after all.

They reached the ground floor with no problems. They were going to make it! They would have if it weren't for the ceiling deciding to collapse on top of Buck. His breath was knocked from his lungs and he collapsed, managing to release Alex quick enough to use his arms to catch himself so he didn't land on the boy. Alex's eyes were wide in terror as he looked up at Buck hovering over him, the firefighter's expression pained.

Buck's back was definitely going to bruise. His calf as well, pain radiated from his leg. He managed to shake off the debris covering his back but his left foot was pinned by a collection of such debris that he couldn't move. He tried to use his other foot to push enough away to free himself but it wasn't working.

"Alright, Alex," Buck began, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The boy looked up at him and Buck continued, "You see that door?" Alex followed Buck's look to the main door of the apartment building and nodded. "You're going to get up and you're going to run out there, got it? You'll be safe out there and I'll be fine, you understand?"

"Yeah," Alex said quietly. Alex pushed himself up and wormed out from under Buck. He nervously looked from Buck to the door and back again before he ran, calling over his shoulder, "I'll get help!"

A small, grateful smile crossed his lips as that. Help was coming. He would be alright. That reassurance didn't stop Buck from trying to free himself. Now able to lower himself and sit down, Buck twisted as much as he could, using his arms and his free leg to try and heave enough weight off his foot to pull it out.

The fire was getting worse. The flames were getting closer and burning hotter. Buck had to get out soon or not at all. The debris was moving bit by bit but it wasn't enough. No one had come to help him. Alex had to have told someone by then but no one had come.

"Cap, I need help in here," Buck tried calling for help through his radio. He could hear other conversations, he knew it was still in range and working but he got no response. Buck was scared and desperate now. They wouldn't really let him die, would they? "Cap, anyone, please... I'm pinned, I need help."

When there was still no answer and no one appeared through the smoke, a broken sob passed Buck's lips. He was going to die. He would die for the job and the people he saved, yes, but dying like this? Dying because no one wanted to help him? It hurt. It hurt so fucking much. Buck had felt alone for the past month in the 118 firehouse but he never really thought they would let him die. He knew they despised him but he thought he could still rely on them.

Guess he was wrong.

At least he knew Alex would be alright. Alex…

Alexander.

The man who had kept him afloat in the flood of hate and isolation. The man who was there for him and listened to him. The man who would hear of his death only on the news if he bothered to watch the Los Angeles news, not from someone with sympathy and who was grieving as well. Buck's resolve hardened at that.

He was not going to die and leave the only true friend he still had, the friend who had done so much for him and hadn't even been in the same damn state while doing it. Buck was going to get out of there. He was going to live even if he had to bite off his own foot to do it.

Evan Buckley was not dying today.

With renewed strength, Buck let out a strained groan as he pushed against the mountain of debris keeping his foot hostage. His back still burned with pain and so did his foot but he ignored it as best as he could. A sudden shift in the pile removed enough weight and Buck managed to pull his foot free.

The fire was dangerously close now. Buck wasted no time in forcing himself to his feet and running out the door. He dove through it just as the ceiling he was under collapsed. Sparks flew into the air and the loud grumble of collapse filled Buck's ears.

The jolt of his body hitting the ground added to his pain. Buck's back throbbed in pain, his ankle stinging with it too but it didn't stop him from pushing himself up and limping away from the blaze behind him.

Buck didn't go to the medical shelter that was set up. He didn't join his supposed team gathering near the fire trucks. He didn't want to. Why would he? Buck didn't feel angry. He felt hurt. More hurt than anything. He could see the others sending him annoyed glances so he turned his face away.

It was clear they didn't want him. His supposed team had abandoned him and left him to die. He couldn't rely on them. Buck was willing to die on this job. However he was not willing to die because his team didn't have his back.

Buck pulled his thankfully-unharmed phone out, not hesitating nearly as much as he would have previously to call the one he needed to.

"Evan," came the answer. "How was the call?"

"It was… bad," Buck confessed. "No fatalities that I know of but things became clear."

"Clear how?" Alexander asked worriedly. "Are you alright?"

"No… No, I'm not."

"What happened?" Buck smiled softly as the other man flew into a worried rant. "Did you get hurt? Is it bad? Hospital bad? Permanent? Evan—"

"Alex," Buck cut off the man's rant. "I'll survive but…"

Alexander hummed encouragingly, "But…?"

Buck sighed, "Is… Is your dad still looking to fill that last position?"