BUCK
Buck wakes up and feels refreshed and ready to take on the world, he hadn't felt like this in ages, he slowly sits up and notices it's after 9am so he knew Maddie would have long gone to work. Looking over to the bedside table he sees his phone has a message he opens his phone and smiles when he sees its Ed so opens it, after reading it he feels the same so quickly types a reply.
'Yeh i think it will be, good morning btw'
He places the phone down and heads off to start his day, he throws on some gym stuff and heads to the makeshift gym he was slowly setting up in the garage, he knew with his ribs been sore still he couldn't do much but he wanted to keep on top of what he could do, turning the radio on he starts on some simple workouts and gets lost in the training this is why he loved working out it helped clear his mind.
His workout was going well. He had gotten into a really good groove. He quickly figured out what he could and couldn't do so kept it simple. After an hour he sat on the bench to take a break as the sweat dripped from his head. Moving some of the equipment round so he can change what he was working on he hears a car pull up the tightness in his chest hits him and makes him falter back but after a second he breathes and makes his way into the house so he can look through the window to see who it was.
As he peeped through the window the familiar looking car made him smile but also made him start to panic, made worse once the door was knocked on.
"Evan, it's Hen." Hens' voice follows the knock.
Buck places his hand on the door, he knew she wouldn't judge him if he didn't answer but he promised Maddie and himself he was going to sort this so turns the handle and opens the door to reveal a smiling Hen.
"Hey." He sheepishly says as he opens the door to let Hen in, checking that she's alone.
"It's ok, it's just me." She states as she walks in.
"Sorry, force of habit at the moment." Buck replies by shutting the door and walking past leading her to the kitchen.
"There is no need to apologise l, I'm just glad you've let me in, how are you?."
"I'm ok, injuries are healing and I'm seeing a therapist so I'm hoping to be back soon." Buck smiles, picking up two cups and signalling to Hen who nods.
"Well like cap says no rush, take your time make sure you are ready."
Buck stops mid pour but continues he knew this would come up, people were scared he wouldn't be able get over everything that's happened and couldn't be any good.
"No, I'll be back, I like it there and don't want to lose my job for something so silly because I have a tiny bit of anxiety." Buck says and sees Hen smiling to which he gives her a confused look.
"What?" he asks confused
"Nothing, just it's the first time i think you have said that out loud to anyone other than your sister, it's good" she smiles at him and he feels a weight lifted.
"Yeah you're right."
Over the next hour they talk and the more they do the more Buck feels himself really open to Hen, he felt like this could be a step in the right direction. Eventually the talk moves on to the new probie as it was sitting in Buck's mind and he noticed Hen had avoided mentioning them but spoke about everyone else.
"So, how's the new guy?." Buck questions
It obviously throws Hen who looks shocked but smiles.
"He's good. He moved out here to be with his boyfriend who works at the dispatch centre, he's not really saying much about his life before here, he turns up, does the job and goes, ``I think you two would hit it off." Hen explains
"Why?" Buck asks.
"Just would, to be honest once your back it will be great, can get the family together again." Hen says.
"Family?." Buck just looked at them as work colleagues, family to him and his sister, his relationship with his parents was rocky at the best of times.
"Yeah, once you're back you will see, we will watch out for each other both at home and work."
Buck liked the sound of that he missed having people close to him to talk to about personal stuff, one of the reasons he knew his anxiety was higher than normal. They continue to talk for a while longer.
Hen eventually makes her reason to leave as she has a shift and Buck thanks her loads for the talk and putting his mind to rest about the whole new probie issue and that he wasn't been replaced, they agree to do this again soon but with Chim and Bobby, Buck knew with Hen been there he would be ok and with the help hopefully they could get him back soon.
Once she has left Buck heads up the stairs and starts to shower and get himself ready for the day ahead; he knew he needed to have his theory sessions sooner rather than later. But he could wait for the appointment, with the talk with Hen and talking to Ed he was feeling loads better. He looks at his phone and sees a message from Ed so reads it
'Morning, hope you're good? I will be able to talk later, but in the meantime i may be unable to reply frequently as I got loads on today, hope you understand.'
Buck smiles and replies
'Hey, it's fine. I get it, things can be a pain, I'm just gonna be doing some chores, maybe baking. Speak later.' he hits send and walks out his room.
He heads down the stairs and starts to do some cleaning and busts out a cookbook he wanted to bake something for Maddie and knew he had the ingredients in, once all the ingredients were out on the side Buck starts to bake.
****EDDIE in the morning****
Eddie wakes later than he needs to be so finds himself rushing round, trying to get Chris up and ready and breakfast down before setting off. As they eat their food Eddie reads the message from Buck and smiles before replying and getting the dishes done.
He planned on visiting the local special needs school and hopefully getting Chris into it especially since Hen had messaged him with an appointment . Eventually there in the truck and heading to the school Eddie had researched up and read all the reviews at how well they help kids.
As he pulls up he hears the sigh from Chris and looks at him puzzled.
"What's the matter mijo?"
"Its just, do I have to go school why cant I be home schooled by you?" Chris questions staring at the school
"Because once I have the workmen in at the restaurant I won't have time to teach you and you need to attend school so you can become clever, plus you will make friends." Eddie explains.
"I guess." Chris huffs.
They get out of the truck and make their way through the main entrance and to reception, the assistants ask them to take a seat and the headteacher will be along shortly. As they sit Eddie can see Chris looking round and taking in the surroundings, he had to admit it looked amazing and can only hope he can get Chris into the school.
"Mr Diaz?" The man asks.
"Yeah, you are the headteacher Mr Smith?." Eddie questions
"Yes, I'm glad you came and I'm guessing this is Christopher?." He questions
"That's it, Chris, come say hi."
"Hi." Chris says shyly hiding behind Eddie.
"Nothing to be scared about. I think you will find this school to be fun." The head teacher explains.
They follow the head teacher around the school, he explains all the different classes and even explains how they are adaptive for any child's needs, this puts Eddie's mind at ease as it was everything he could ask for. As they continue to walk around they arrive at a room and the headteacher asks a teacher to take Chris for a bit while Eddie and him speak.
"So Mr Diaz, is this a school you would like Chris to attend?."
"It certainly would, but I fear it is way out of my pay." Eddie explains knowing most of his money was tied up with the restaurant.
"That is fine, Miss Wilson explained and we have a health care assistant who can help you sort it out, the only thing we would need to do is speak to Chris's mother." and there was the big thing that could stop this all happening.
"What if I can't get in contact with his mother?." Eddie questions.
"We do need to speak to her unless she's not around…" There seems to be more to the question and then Eddie clicks.
"Oh she's alive, it's just we split and it was messy, I can try to contact her as it is for her son." Eddie explains.
"That's fine, let me introduce you to the health care assistant, and I can save the place for Chris for at least a week, but after that I'd have to open it to other candidates."
"You would do that?." Eddie quizzes
"Yes, I owe Hen and her team for saving me. This is the little thing I can do." The head teacher explains, he shows his hand to signal Eddie to head towards an office when he enters there is a woman waiting for him.
"Well, hello there handsome, I'm Carla, I hear you may have some trouble with red tape and paperwork." She chuckles
"Wouldn't you believe it, I do." Eddie jokes back
"Good I'm red tapes worse nightmare."
The head teacher takes his leave explaining to Carla what class Chris was in so they could go after. Eddie and Carla spend the next hour discussing what both Eddie and Chris needed with their retrospective conditions, eventually Carla has a plan and is ready to attack the paperwork. The big thing was Shannon.
"So, when can I expect to arrange an interview with mom, to get Chris in."
"That's the big thing I don't know if she will, we split badly. It was all my fault so it's on me." Eddie explains
"Don't be hard on yourself, it can't be all on you? There are two in a relationship."
"It is, I don't want to get into it but I used her, for my own selfish reasons."
"Well you best sort it otherwise no amount of my charm offensive will help you get Chris in. she doesn't have to speak to you, just turn up and talk to the headteacher, that's it." Carla says.
Eddie smiles and nods, he knew deep down Shannon would want best for Chris but would make it hard. He follows Carla to the class, before they go in he stops.
"Can I make a call real quick?"
"Sure, I'll go in and meet Chris." Eddie nods and sees Carla disappear into the room.
Eddie gets his phone out and sees a message from Buck, he quickly replies.
'Hey, there's some good news but followed by bad :(, how is baking?' he hits send and then scrolls through his contacts and finds the name and dials it. After a few rings there's an answer.
"This better be about Chris and nothing else." Shannon's sharply answers.
"It is, I've found him at a really decent school in LA and they need to speak to you before he can get accepted. If I text you a date, can you please attend?" Eddie asks keeping calm
"I make no promises." She answers and hangs up, he isn't surprised at how she is at him, but this was about their son she could have at least asked for information on how he was.
Shaking his head he goes into the classroom where he can see Carla and Chris talking, he notices the big smile on Chris's face and they take their leave.
"How did you like mijo?." Eddie asks as they head to the car.
"I really want to come here dad."
"Well we will sort it hunny don't you worry, i will be round to your place soon and can organise a home care plan so your dad can work and not have to worry about you." Carla explains.
"Yeah we will try to sort it, Carla. What day and time do I need to arrange the interview so I can pass on the information?" Eddie asks
"Say in three days, say 1pm, give plenty of time for them to come." Carla says and Eddie was thankful that she left off the bit it was Chris's mom they were talking about.
Eddie takes his phone out and text's Shannon.
'The interview is in three days, at 1pm, please come for our son.'
He hated having to guilt her but he needed to make sure she came after all without her getting Chris would most likely be impossible.
As they walk he sends a gif to Buck of an oven with black smoke with a simple line: hope your oven isn't like that.
Eddie couldn't believe his luck, and it all stemmed from the fire house he had so much to thank them for. As they continued to walk he messages Hen thanking her for everything she and the team had done for him even though he was a stranger.
They say their goodbyes and Eddie sets off in his truck the next few days were going be good he could feel it, even if it meant having to deal with Shannon.
BUCK a few days later
Over the last few days Buck had been sorting himself out, he had spoken to the therapist twice and they had made great headway and Buck was feeling great he couldn't believe he had left it so long to speak to someone about it all but there was a long way to go and he knew that. He and Ed were talking more, they had called each other a few times which Buck had panicked when Ed had asked but when he spoke to his therapist she pointed out he had already spoken to him when they game to which made calling easier, as well as texting loads all day long sometimes they didn't send messages just memes and gifs trying one up each other.
Buck couldn't believe how much this stranger had helped him and even then the therapist said it was great and showed how much Buck had grown dealing with anxiety in the short space they had spoken. She had explained that maybe he should look at going back to work but on a quiet shift to see how he would cope.
"So what did you say?." Maddie questions as she makes drinks.
"I said, id think about it, I know I need to but I don't know it's a big thing." Buck explains.
"Well speak to Bobby, maybe he can arrange to put you on the night shift with them so it's quieter and less people." Maddie says
"I mean that sounds like a good idea, the night shift does spend most of it sleeping" Buck says smiling.
They continue to talk about their day, Maddie explaining some of the serious and funny calls she had Buck miss going out seeing the city one of the reasons he liked being a firefighter yes sometimes it was dangerous and horrible, but some of the views they get to see that most people would miss made up for it, as they talk about some tv show Buck's phone rings and he knew it was a video calling tone, when he looks at his phone it was Ed's name but as a video call and Buck started to panic. They had spoken loads but never video, Maddie looked at him funny.
"We've never video called." Buck explains
Before he could do anything Maddie taps accept and shrugs when Buck gives her a look, and when the image loaded they both were in shock and pulled their face, there wasn't a man but a kid with blonde curls and red glasses.
"Erm Hi." Maddie says.
"You Buck?." the kids asks
"No I am, and what's your name?." Buck stammers out.
"I'm Chris, you speak to my dad loads, he smiles loads when he does." Chris says no filter at all.
"Erm thanks, does your dad know…" Buck stops as he can hear movement.
"Christopher… What are you doing?. " Buck knows Ed's voice now too well and as the phone moves he gets a quick glimpse not enough to get a full look but enough of a look before the call is ended and well Buck thinks he just fell in love, he heard of love at first sight but never dreamed he would ever fall for it.
"Well, that's no geeky kid you game with." Maddie quims.
"Hmm." is all Buck can say.
"Cat got your tongue or is it a hot gamer man?" Maddie jokes
Buck couldn't answer, he just got up and went to his room it wasn't late but he needed to be alone he could feel himself getting stressed, he had been speaking to a hot guy who has a kid, and here's him with issues and before Buck could think anything else a text comes through and its from Ed.
Buck hovers over the message notification for a while but finally opens it.
'Sorry about Chris, yes I have a kid and sorry, he is very curious. Can we talk tomorrow, maybe on video considering Chris dropped us both in it? I wasn't going to push for video but with how well we get on I thought it would be a good next step. I'll leave it up to you to speak soon I hope.'
Buck sighs this was getting too much but at the same time he wanted to see more of Ed.
'Maybe. But also maybe lock your phone so prying eyes cant access it :P' he wanted to break any tension either had with a joke he just hoped it came off that way.
He places his phone down, turning it on to silent he just needed time to think. Rolling over in his bed he gently nods off.