Eddie wakes to the pain due to how he was sleeping, he looks to the side he can see Buck sitting up head leaning against the headboard, and turning towards Eddie. The drool dripping from his mouth, Eddie lets a chuckle out because he had never seen Buck drool. Shifting slowly he notices Buck's hand has hold of his phone and guesses that he was on a research binge. , Again.
"Buck, babe" Eddie says with a little nudge. Knowing he is smiling from being able to call him babe.
"Huh, What's wrong, is everything ok?" Buck says, wiping his face.
"Everything is fine, though I could do with some pills and you need to lay down. Though seeing you drool is kinda cute." Eddie chuckles.
"Well, I'm glad my embarrassment makes you smile. I'll go grab the pills, why don't you sit up, slowly." Buck explains as he gets up.
Eddie watches as Buck leaves the room, his thoughts travel back to the fact that in the morning they would be heading to the hospital. How would he explain any of this to Chris and his friends? He knew they would want to help but he could do with less stress right now.
"Here take these and let's try to rest more." Buck says waving the pills in front.
"Thanks, I'm just nervous. What if they say it is?" Eddie starts but stops. He didn't want to say it still so slowly takes his pills.
"Look, it's just some tests and a biopsy. We won't find out anything for a few days until the results are in. So it's a waiting game and I know you hate waiting as you are so impatient, but there is nothing else we can do."
"I do hate waiting, but with you here it won't be too bad, Though I know you will be back to work in a few days."
"I will be at work, but Carla will be around and so will Abuela plus I will be around after each shift so don't worry."
"Yeah, but can we keep it between us till we know? W-what if it's nothing? I don't want to worry people all for nothing."
"That's fine but we will have to explain to Carla and Abuela as they will be around and will see you in pain especially after the biopsy, but that can wait. Come on, lay down and rest."
Buck helps Eddie back down and places a kiss on his head. There's a dip next to Eddie and then a warm presence, that's when he realizes Buck's hand was around his waist and it felt like an anchor keeping him there, grounding him, as he drifted off again.
A loud sound makes Eddie stir the coolness behind him and alerts him that Buck wasn't in the bed with him. Slowly sitting up he sees his phone is quiet as the ringing continues he sees Buck's phone ringing. He reaches over ignoring the pain and picks it up and sees Bobby's name. Quickly he swipes the screen to answer without thinking.
"Hey Buck, I need to ask you a big favor?" Bobby asks
"Sorry Bobby, but Buck is out at the moment and left his phone. I can ask him to call you when he gets back, speak later." Eddie says, hanging up the phone quickly and abruptly.
He sat there for a minute thinking about what had just happened and what he said. The whole time was like an out-of-body experience. His mouth was going but his brain wasn't processing anything before speaking. What had he just done?
"FUCK!" Eddie shouts far louder than he wanted.
"What happened?" Buck says barging into the bedroom he was in his boxers but had a shirt on which was covered in flour.
"Ermm, you may have some explaining to do..." Eddie said and Buck raised his eyebrows, "Your phone rang and I saw it was Bobby so I answered instinctively." He continued giving Buck a sheepish look as it dawned on Buck that Bobby didn't know they were together.
"Shit, what did he say? And more importantly, what did you say?"
"Well, he wanted to ask you a favor and I stated you weren't here so you would call him when you got back." Placing the phone down on the bed Eddie looks up at Buck, "I didn't even think about it till I had hung up. I'm sorry."
"Hey, it's fine, I can work with what you said, I will say Chris called me worried about you, so I ended up at yours. Look, I will call him while you shower ok? I know you don't really need one, but it will help to relax you."
"Maybe, it depends..." Eddie says with a grin.
"Depends on what?"
"Can I get a kiss?" Eddie whispers as if he was seducing Buck.
"Who knew you could be so needy?" Buck pouts, "But I suppose now I'm allowed to, I can't see why not." Buck smirks.
Walking over he places a kiss on Eddie's lips before breaking it placing another one on the forehead then heads out. Eddie makes his way to the bathroom, the smell of breakfast wafting through the house and it smelt heavenly. After showering and a bit relaxed he made his way to the kitchen and see's Buck had plated the food already, looking around Buck had cleaned up. Eddie glanced at the living room. He saw his gym bag sitting on the sofa and looked at it confused.
"That's for when we go to the hospital, just in case, you had plenty of clean clothes left from the lodge so just throw some sweats and shirts in. If they keep you in I don't know how long it would be for." Buck says ushering Eddie to sit, it was something Eddie hadn't thought about and why he loved Buck being here.
"Thanks, what did Cap want? And did he buy the story?" Eddie asked rather worried he had messed up.
"So there is good news and bad news." Buck says and Eddie can see Buck instantly shift "Now hold on!..."
"Buck it's fine, just tell me."
"Well, the story worked especially how you were and then my performance" Buck chuckles "Second is Hen has had to go off for a family emergency so Bobby wanted to know if I can cover the afternoon shift. I said give me a few hours and I'll see if I can shift things around and do it."
"Well, they are short on hands… So it would make sense that..."
"I said hold on. I'm staying with you, if they say your biopsy will take time and then you may be out for a while it gives me the chance to do the shift and come back to get you." Buck says smiling.
Eddie nods and they eat, the rest of the morning goes like a blur as Eddie gets ready and watches Buck move around the house gathering things and putting stuff away. The trip to the hospital was quiet but Eddie held a firm grip of Buck's hand the whole way. As they enter the hospital Buck takes the lead talking to the receptionist and showing the letter, they are told to head up to the cancer ward. They trench through the ward to the reception, Eddie looks at some of the patients he could tell they were battling this disease some looked pale and skinny others were hooked up to machines. They all looked so weak and that's one thing he hated the most.
After checking in they sit down and wait for the doctor, eventually, they are taken into a private room where the doctor explains what they will be doing, starting with blood samples and an examination. The doctor leaves while Eddie changes into a gown and then Buck pulls him in for a hug.
"It's ok baby, I'm here."
Eddie sniffles and looks at the door as the doctor walks in. He takes a blood sample, checks the testicle, and explains he will go for a scan now and that will determine the next step. They take Eddie down the hall whilst Buck sits in the room and waits. Eddie follows the doctor and they arrive at the CT room. Eddie follows the instructions and lays down after which felt like hours Eddie comes out and follows a nurse back to the room where Buck is sat waiting and had been crying judging by the redness of his eyes.
"Are you alright Buck? I'm sorry I've put this on you." Eddie states.
"Hey, you didn't put anything on me, I'm here because I love you, we will get through this I promise."
"Thank you."
"Mr. Diaz, sorry to interrupt, could you take a seat." The doctor says.
Eddie sits down and sees Buck's hand reaching for him so holds it.
"Looking at the results of the blood and your scan we feel the best next course is to do a biopsy on you, so we would like to take you down in the next two hours is that ok?" The doctor asks
Eddie just looks at Buck, unable to say anything he was expecting to have to stay but was hoping he didn't.
"Yeah." He mutters out.
"How long will he be? Can I wait here for him?" Buck's questioning voice makes Eddie look at the doctor.
"Well, once we take him he could be a few hours, the biopsy should take around an hour at most then it's just letting the anesthetic wear off and then check the wound isn't bleeding before we let him out." The doctor explains
Eddie felt bad, he didn't want Buck waiting around so long for him, mainly as he knew Buck would go stir crazy.
"Hey, take the shift. I will make sure they contact you ok?" Eddie says with a smile.
"Errm, I don't want to leave you."
"Buck, I'm gonna be out of it, I will be fine till you get back, just go do the shift."
"Ok." Buck says "Doc please make sure I'm called the second he's out and when he wakes." Buck states
"We can arrange that, you're fine to stay with him till he goes." The doctor says as he leaves.
"I think it's time we call Carla." Eddie says and Buck looks shocked.
"You sure?" He questions.
"Buck, someone has to have Chris, and let's face it we can't lie to them and still expect them to help. For now, let's just tell Carla who can explain to Abuela when she picks him up. So can you ask her to come here considering we have time to kill."
"Ok babe, I'll go outside, grab your bag and call her. I love you." Buck says as he gets up kissing Eddie.
Eddie sits in the room on his own, the future he dreamed about so much was fading and he could be leaving Buck and Chris alone, he needed to start moving things ready. He knew Buck would say he had been silly but most stuff hadn't been changed since Shannon was alive and when she died he couldn't face changing things but now? He had no choice.
"See you soon, let me know when you arrive and I'll come to meet you." Buck's voice makes Eddie looks up, breaking his thoughts.
"What did she say?" Eddie questions.
"I didn't say much, just can she come to the hospital, that there was something you need to speak to her about. I will go meet her when she arrives, which won't be long as she is only around the corner with another client." Buck explains placing the bag on the side before sitting next to Eddie.
"Do you think we should tell Chris?" Eddie asks
"Ermm, I mean that's up to you, you are his da.."
"Don't think for one second you're not his parent Buck. You have been co-parenting him for years now, so your input is always welcomed and needed." Eddie says taking a hold of Buck's hand and he can see the tears forming in Buck's eyes.
"I... I don't know what to say, you know I love him as my own and now I can show you how much I love you too. We will be the perfect little family."
"Till I let you both down and die." Eddie mutters.
"EDMUNDO, don't speak like that, and yes I used your full name so you listen to me. We don't know for sure it's cancer, if it is we have got you in the best place possible and we will fight it. We have such a big supportive family who we can lean on." Buck explains.
"I know, but still I… We have to be prepared for the worse you know."
"I know, but Eddie one step at a time, let's get through today and then wait for the results."
Eddie nods at Buck and falls into the man's chest and feels the big arms take hold of him as they hug for a while neither saying anything but Eddie feels safe knowing Buck was there. The sound of Buck's phone ringing makes them split apart and Eddie watches as Buck looks at the phone.
"It's Carla, you ready?"
"As I can be, you know she is going to hug me then beat us both." Eddie chuckles
"Why beat us?"
"Because I'm throwing the, oh I may have cancer but good news me and Buck got our shit together and are together."
"You're right, but you sure you want her to know about us?"
"If we don't tell her we both know Chris will, he will be itching to tell everyone."
"Ok, I'll be back in a min."
Eddie watches as Buck leaves and he starts to mentally prepare himself. He knew Carla would be worried about the likelihood of him having cancer but she would be ecstatic about him and Buck but still admitting it was going to be hard.
'A Diaz man must be strong for his family'
His father's words run through his head but he clears them away. He knew he didn't have to do it alone; there was no shame in asking for help. As the minute passes he starts to get fidgety, they would be here soon and another person would know that he may not be able to support himself or Chris. The sound of the door makes him jump and see's Buck walk in with a smile followed by Carla who looks at him.
"Well I see no broken limbs or cuts so what's going on boo?"
He looks at Carla and lets a smile slip just as Buck sits next to him, laces their fingers together, and notices the big cheesy grin on her face.
"Yeah, so this happened." Eddie says, holding their entangled fingers up.
"OMG, finally I thought I was going to have to shut you both in a cupboard and make you talk." Carla chuckles, "I bet Chris is happy?"
"He is very much happy he caught us kissing and just acted normal like it was nothing. Though he did let it slip about you two talking about us." Buck chuckled.
"I may have explained to him that you both needed to figure it out and we couldn't push you both because you can be so stubborn." Carla points at Eddie, "Chris most likely thinks it's natural as you have both acted like parents around him. Anyway, why are you here and him in a gown?"
This is the part Eddie was dreading but he had to do it, the strong grip of Buck's hand let him know he wasn't alone.
"I found a lump and they're doing a biopsy so they can figure out what's going on.." Eddie mumbles out quickly.
"What he's trying to say is that he found a lump a few days ago, you know how he has been limping around the place? Yeah, it was that painful but he thought he could fight through it, then decided to up and leave for the cabin after leaving me a note on a table. Can you believe that! A note! I found the cabin and we talked, got together and now we're here after I basically forced him to call the doctor." Buck explains and Eddie was glad he was there.
"Ok, well what's happened so far? Does Chris know?" Carla questions.
"I've had blood taken and the scan is done, just waiting to go for a biopsy, Chris doesn't know, we want to wait and see what it is, just in case it's nothing" Eddie explains.
"That's a good idea, let me give you both a hug." Carla says bending between the two and hugging them both
As she pulls away Eddie watches as Carla slaps Buck twice on his arm.
"Oww, what was that for?" Buck says, rubbing his arm.
"For keeping his condition quiet from me."
"So why did you only hit me then?" Buck pouts.
"Hey I may be angry at him too but I ain't gonna hit a sick man, and don't smirk Edmundo if it comes back clear your getting a smack too for making me worry." Carla says and Eddie knows she means business.
"Yes mam, but thanks for being here, so when you get Chris could you explain to my Abuela where i am, i mean when Buck brings me back home i'll speak to her, it's just a lot at the moment." Eddie asks
"Sure boo, now I'll leave you both to it, I'll go get Chris and then I'll spoil him rotten, Buck I expect updates, you hear or I'll beat you again." Carla chuckles
"Will do!" Buck salutes her sticking his tongue out
"Right, be good" She says as she leaves
"Well that went better than expected." Eddie says turning to BUck
"Oh yeah for you, I got your smack, how is that fair." Buck says, rubbing his arm.
Eddie takes hold of Bucks arm and brings it to his lips and pecks where Carla had hit
"Better?"
"Sort of, my mouth hurts too." Buck proclaims
"She didn't hit you on your face."
"But the pain traveled there." Buck had a smirk on him and Eddie knew his game
"Fine." Eddie says placing a peck on Bucks lips
"Sorry i didn't mean to interrupt" A voice comes from the door.
Eddie looks and sees a nurse, she starts pulling a trolley in.
"It's fine." Eddie says
"Well I'm here to start getting you ready for your anitestic so I need to get an iv line set up."
It hit Eddie he was going in soon, the nerves started to flair up but a gentle hand touching his face made him look and see Buck smiling next to him.
"I'll be here till they take you and I will try and be back before you wake."
"I know, thanks." Eddie says
"Mr Diaz, could you lay in the bed and hold your right arm out?" the nurse asks
Eddie follows suit and watches as she places the needle into his skin and tape it down.
"The anesthesiologist will be along in the next ten minutes and then we will take you down, so I will be back soon. Any questions?"
"Can I stay while you administer the anesthetic?" Buck asks and Eddie couldn't help but smile
"Yes, but once he has had it you will have to leave as we will take him straight down."
"Ok thank you."
The nurse leaves and Eddie starts to think, what could go wrong? It's just a general biopsy?
"Hey, what are you overthinking now?"
"Just what can go wrong."
"Eddie, nothing will go wrong. I promise it's a routine operation and god knows how many times a day they do it, the only thing I'm concerned about is not getting back in time for you to wake."
"Buck, we both know work can drag over, I wont worry as I know you're coming back just to keep safe, no reckless actions, I'm not there to have your back." Eddie says
"I know." Eddie sees Buck roll his eyes
"Oi, don't roll your eyes." Eddie says tapping Buck on the arm
They both laugh and look at each other and hold hands in silence till the doctor arrives, he explains about how quick Eddie will go sleep and how long they could expect him to be out for, as the doctor injects the anestic Eddie looks at Buck and can already feel it kick in the last thing he sees is Buck kissing him on the lips before blackness kicks in.
**Buck pov**
As Buck pulled away from Eddie after placing a kiss on the man as he fell asleep, Buck tried to hold the tears back, he knew this was going to be hard even once done they still had to wait round for the results and he knew Eddie would be nervous even if he didn't show it. This was the time Buck had to be strong; he had to put Eddie first.
"We will contact you once he is out of the surgery, and give you another call if he wakes before you return." The nurse explains.
"Thank you." Buck says
He watches as the nurses push Eddies bed out of the room and down the hall, Buck picks himself up and leaves too, once safely in his jeep the tears flow he had kept the emotions back as he wanted to be strong in front of Eddie and he knew that was going be hard as Eddie knew him but Buck was not about to quit wiping the tears away he headed to work.
Work was thankfully within the first five minutes they were out on calls, so talk of Eddie being off and disappearing to Texas took a back burner to everything even when they arrived back no one asked anything, Buck guessed Bobby had told everyone to keep quiet, he was also thankful Hen was off as he knew she would make him crack and spill the beans, but it wasn't his place it was Eddie's to tell the team.
The sound of his phone ringing makes him jump from the chair he had taken in the far corner of the loft area.
"Hello?" Buck asks
"Mr Buckley, this is nurse smith, I'm calling to tell you Eddie has come out of surgery and is back in his room, everything went well and we expect him to be out for the next several hours, we will keep you informed."
"Thank you, any change, call me straight away." Buck says hanging up
"Anything important?" Bobby asks
"Just a friend I know went into the hospital and I was worried so I made some calls."
"Is that why you had a few days off? You should have said I wouldn't have asked you to cover." Bobby explains
"It's fine, they have gone into surgery so I would have just sat around bored waiting, plus this is a good distraction." Buck explains
"Good to know, so I've tried calling Eddie but no answer?" Buck knew he had to play it smart; he couldn't risk Bobby getting suspicious.
"Eddie is doing ok, just needed some time to sort his head, like i explained earlier Chris called me hence why i went round, we spoke and he seemed better I will check on him later." Buck explains it looked like Bobby was going to say something but the alarm went off and they went speeding out.
Eventually after a few hours they arrive back and Buck just wants to leave. He keeps thinking Eddie will wake soon but he knew there were still two hours of his shift left. As they clamber up the steps they are greeted by Athena in her uniform.
"Officer Grant, what's with the visit?" Bobby asks professionally
"I just need a minute with Buck." she says
Buck smiles at her sheepishly and follows her to the far end of the loft where no one else could hear.
"What's this about Athena?"
"Jone's, we had to let him go without charge, there wasn't enough evidence to say he had done anything, he won't be returning here he is suspended for not following orders, Bobby will be getting a call soon. I just wanted to give you the heads up. Have you thought about why Jones would do this?" Athena questions and to be honest Buck had not thought about it with everything else going on.
"To be honest no, but now i'm worried as if he still has it out for me he could try set Eddie's place on fire with me staying there" Buck says
"He won't, he will be watched, just make sure you take precautions, understand and call me if anything looks fishy.".
With a nod Buck settles back down and watches as Athena walks down with Bobby, the next two hours drag but once they finish he heads straight to the hospital when he arrives the nurse explains that Eddie still hasn't come around yet so Buck could sit with him. Walking into the room he notices how peaceful Eddie looks, and guesses this is the first proper sleep Eddie has had in a while, Buck takes a seat next to Eddie and takes hold of his hand, before slouching back into the chair.
********EDDIE POV**********
Eddie wakes slowly he feels the presence of a hand and knows it is Buck, he can feel the soreness down below but doesn't hurt too much as he moves his head he sees Buck asleep and drooling againg he lets out a chuckle.
"Buck!" Eddie says
"Huh, Eddie you're awake, how do you feel?" Buck says sitting up
"I feel ok, sore but ok."
"Good, let me get the nurse."
Before Eddie can say anything Buck is out the door and returning with the doctor, Eddie listens as the doctor explains the biopsy went well and they would be in touch with the results, Eddie was free to leave after two hours as Buck would be at home for the next 24 hours.
The drive home was quiet and left Eddie wondering what would be the result, once home Buck made them food and talk turned to the shift and BUck explaining what had happened but Eddie could sense Buck wasn't telling him anything but he didn't want push as he could see Buck was tired, after settling on the couch to watch a film and both falling asleep they went to bed. Over the next two days they spoke to Abuela who was understanding and explained she was there for the both of them. They took Chris out to the zoo and had a day at the beach.
The third day after the operation Eddie watched Buck leave taking Chris to drop at the school and then Buck would go to work, which left Eddie on his own with his thoughts, he had got it in his head the longer they took to call the better the outcome so sitting down to watch some tv show which bored him to sleep.
After a impromptu nap Eddie potters round the house cleaning bits and bobs and looking at his phone, Buck was keeping him up to date with the calls they were getting today, Eddie knew Buck was only doing it to distract him and he loved Buck for going out his way to do so, the screen changes colour and a call comes through, sliding his ginger to answer he raises the phone to his ear.
"Mr Diaz, it is Doctor Shaw from the hospital."
"Hey, is this about my results?"
"It is, I need you to come in as soon as possible to discuss them and I would recommend bringing someone with you"
Eddie felt his stomach turn.
"It's bad news isn't it?"
"I would rather discuss this in person. Please come in and we can discuss the results."
"I'll be over in the next few hours, thank you"
Eddie hung up the phone, he knew it meant bad news otherwise the doctor would have told him over the phone, but still maybe it was something else, grabbing his keys he jumps in the truck and heads to the firehouse. Eddie knew Bobby most likely would not let Buck go with him but maybe he would let Buck out for an hour lunch.
As he pulled up to the station he saw Buck at the entrance of the station cleaning the rig and no one else was around thankfully, Eddie gets out of the car and gingerly walks over to Buck who spots him and walks to meet him by the doors.
"Eddie, what are you doing here?" Buck asks and Eddie just pulls him in for a hug.
"I got the call, they asked to come in and bring someone." Eddie whispers
"Ok, well let's go then." Buck says placing a kiss on Eddies lips
"So this is why you both disappeared, so you could have time alone, I expected that kind of action from Buck but you Eddie, i'm guessing your mum wasn't sick after all" Bobby states and Eddie can see the look Bobby gives Buck
"We can explain.." Buck starts
"No! Both of you get in my office now." Bobby sounded pisssed
They walk into the office and take a seat as Bobby slams the door.
"You abused my trust, you put the rest of the team under strain and for what? to go have a romantic time away." Bobby says
"Bobby it's not like that, let us explain?" Buck says
"Are you two together?" Bobby asks
"YES!" Eddie shouts "Do you have a problem with that? All I need right now is Buck to come with me, he will be back in an hour I promise." Eddie states
"What so you can have a quickie, no Buck is on shift, I'm glad you two are together but if you want to stay on the same shift you need to respect the rules and you can't just go off because you have urges."
Eddie couldnt believe what Bobby was saying, Eddie could feel his anger building up all he wanted to do was get his boyfriend to come to the doctors with him and now he was getting lectured on sex.
"No, you know what it's fine i'll go find out if i'm dying on my own, thanks a bunch cap" Eddie says standing up knocking the chair over and storming out the building the anger numbing the pain he was is, Climbing in to his truck he quickly starts the engine and drives off, noticing Buck and Bobby stood there getting smaller in his rearview mirror.