Disclaimer : I don't own the characters of the show !
Another work translation ! Hope you'll like it !
Los Angeles !
The day had started off so well. How could he have found himself in such a situation ? No one could have predicted such an event, but he had to be in the front row and hit hard by the wave.
A few hours earlier !
Eddie had gone to work, like every morning, hugging his husband and son. Then Buck got Christopher ready for the day and dropped him off at Isabel – Abuela* – who greeted the two boys with a big smile.
"We are going to make lots of cakes." she said to Christopher, who chuckled.
Buck knelt down beside the young boy, took him in his arms and said:
"Have fun with bisabuela*. I'll pick you up after snack time."
"Okay !" said Christopher.
"And don't eat too many cakes. Otherwise, Dad won't be too happy." Buck said, referring to Eddie.
He kissed Christopher on the forehead, who walked into the living room, careful where he put his crutches. Getting to his feet, Buck thanked Isabel for taking care of Christopher for the day.
"If you ever have a problem, you call me and I come and get him." Buck told her.
"Do not worry about me." she reassured him. "We're just going to cook and watch cartoons. Come on, you need some time for yourself."
…
The time for him had consisted of going to see his doctor to see the progress of his recovery. His leg was better, and he was ready to go back to work even though he was on blood thinners. He had even broken his own record during the reintegration exercises, but he had promised Eddie that he would wait until he was 100% recovered. So Buck took his troubles patiently. He was taking care of Christopher, doing his exercises to strengthen his leg and regain his form before the bombing, during which he had been trapped under the truck. This day off without his son was supposed to be calm and uneventful, but then a tsunami had hit the Santa Monica pier, and Buck had been there. The wave had engulfed everything in its path. Buck, after successfully climbing onto the roof of a fire truck, had helped as many people as possible out of the water as much as he could, not hesitating to dive back into the waters to rescue others injured. When the water had started to recede, after what had seemed like an eternity, the truck had been rocked in all directions, until the ground was visible again once the wave had receded. The sea had become calm again, but part of Los Angeles would be scarred forever by this natural disaster.
The danger was now over, and although Buck had no serious injuries, others needed help, so he climbed out of the truck with the survivors he had been able to save, and the adrenaline flowing in his veins helped him stay upright. He had to help all these people, but he also had to find Eddie.
"Are you going to be okay ?" he asked them. They nodded. "We have to get out of here and try to find help. They will take you to hospitals that have not been affected by the wave."
"Aren't you coming with us ?" asked a young woman who must have been around twenty years old.
"I'm a firefighter, and I can't leave without helping those in need." he told them. "If you want to stay with me, fine. I would probably need some help."
"How will we know where to go ?" asked a man, whose suit was ragged in places.
"We need to find a phone." Buck said. "My sister works as a 9-1-1 dospatcher and she will know where to go. Before setting off, are you injured somewhere ?"
He quickly surveyed the few people who decided to follow him. He was neither a nurse nor a doctor, but he was married to a former military medic. Eddie had taught him all kinds of things, both on and off the field.
"In case you need to rescue someone and I'm not here."
And he had been right to insist. Buck had also very often observed Hen and Chimney, the paramedics on his team. Once the troop of people – eight in total – were ready, they set off. At the head of the march, Buck kept his eyes open to help anyone injured or trapped under debris. They walked for more than two hours, stopping from time to time, helping several people. Unfortunately, some had died. Despite everything, they continued to advance until a less affected area came into view.
" We're taking a break." he told them.
But if the survivors fell to the ground, Buck continued to advance in order to find a phone or other survivors. He didn't walk away from the group, but the adrenaline was racing through his veins. He couldn't stop. It was not in his temperament. He would stop when he got those people back to help, and he found her husband. He knew that the 118 was out of reach of the tsunami, but his team members, his family, must have been on the ground since the wave hit. Taking a few seconds, Buck looked down at the wedding ring he had on his left ring finger. A gold ring with the date of his meeting with Eddie on the inside. If someone had told him that one day he would marry someone he worked with, he would never have believed them. But Eddie was the exception. Both openly bisexual, they had taken them a little time to tame each other. Buck didn't take kindly to the newcomer's arrival at the 118, but after a rather risky call, which included a bomb, the two met at a bar to get to know each other. It was there that Buck had learned that his new partner was going through a divorce, and that he had a seven-year-old son with cerebral palsy. In turn, Buck told him about his difficult beginnings at the 118 because of his playboy attitude, then his relationship with Abby. He was ready to move on because deep down he knew she wasn't coming back. Which wasn't so bad, since things between him and Eddie had changed immediately. It had become more serious after the earthquake. And since then, they have not left each other. Eddie's divorce had been finalized, and the ex-serviceman was free to be with Buck. Totally free. They had to prove themselves to Bobby to be able to continue working together, and the fact is that being a couple made them just as effective in intervention. They remained professional as soon as they set foot in the 118th. The necessary papers were signed, and their relationship only grew. After six months, Buck had moved in with Eddie, much to the delight of Christopher, who adored his Bucky.
"Sir ?"
Buck snapped out of his thoughts when one of the survivors handed him a phone.
"Here, it works." he said to him.
Buck thanked him and took it. Twenty percent battery. If he did it right and quickly, he could call Maddie, then Abuela to make sure she and Christopher were okay, and finally Eddie. He dialed 9-1-1, hoping to hear his sister's voice.
"9-1-1, what's your emergency ?"
"Maddie, it's me."
"Buck ?"
"Maddie, listen to me. I was on the pier when the tsunami hit."
"Oh my god you…"
"Maddie, I'm fine. The phone I am using is very low on battery and I have to call Abuela and Eddie. Tell me where is the closest working hospital to my position. I have several survivors with me, and some of them need a doctor."
"Give me a second !"
She quickly gave him the information he needed. He thanked her and hung up before dialing Isabel's number.
"Hello ?"
"Abuela, it's Buck."
"Buck ? I don't recognize this number."
"Abuela, I need you to listen to me and not panic. Did you see the news ?"
"Yes, and Christopher is worried. We had Eddie a few minutes ago, he's fine, but we couldn't reach you."
"Don't tell him anything, but I was on the pier, and I got swept away by the tsunami but I'm fine, otherwise I won't be talking to you." He waited for a few seconds after Abuela started sobbing, but she recovered very quickly. "Give me Christopher, please."
It only took a few seconds before Christopher's voice came through and engulfed Buck in a whirlwind of warmth and comfort.
"Hey buddy, are you okay ?"
"Yes. Where are you ?"
"Listen bud, I might be late. I have to help people because of the tsunami, you understand ?"»
"Yes, but are you okay ?"
"I'm fine, buddy. I don't want you to worry about me. I'm going to join dad, and when we're done helping everyone, we'll pick you up, but in the meantime, you're going to stay with Abuela, okay ?"
"Okay !"
"You saved me some cake, I hope ?"
His joke had the desired effect and Christopher laughed. He ends up hanging up after Abuela tells him that she will keep Christopher for the night. Thirteen percent battery. He texted Eddie, entering his number quickly on the phone. It's Buck. Hang up. He made sure the message was read before making the call. And Eddie answered immediately.
"Buck ?"
"Eddie, don't panic."
…
If there's one thing Eddie didn't expect when he woke up this morning, it was a goddamn tsunami hitting Los Angeles. It was, however, a very ordinary day. He had woken up in his husband's arms, and they had made love just before their son woke up too. He had left the house, hoping that the day would be calm and pass very quickly so that he could return and find the two most important people in his life. But Mother Nature decided otherwise, and he had spent the day saving the people of Los Angeles hit by the tsunami. When the wave had receded, he and his team, along with all the firefighters in the city, went to work on the ground. It was mid-afternoon when he found himself in a hospital with Lena Bosko, a firefighter from another station, who had broken her wrist. He had just been helping a young boy who was a victim of dry drowning when his phone vibrated in his uniform pocket.
"So that's dry drowning. It's the first time I've seen one. Impressive !" Lena said.
"You are a doctor ?" asked a doctor.
"No, but I was a medic in the army." Eddie replied.
"As you can see, we are seriously understaffed. Can you help us ?" asked the doctor again.
"Sure. Give me a second and show me where I need to change." said Eddie, opening the text he had just received from an unknown number. It's Buck. Pick up. As soon as the message was read, there was an incoming call. He picked up immediately, his heart skipping a beat. "Buck ?"
"Eddie, don't panic. I was there when the tsunami hit. On the pier."
Eddie's heart skipped more than a beat. He pulled away from Lena and the doctor, his face contorted with fear, which the young woman noticed. She followed him.
"What do you mean you were on the pier ? Are you... are you okay ? Please tell me you're okay and you're not hurt."
"A few scratches, and I'm standing on adrenaline. Listen to me, I'm with a group of survivors who need care. I was able to reach an area passable by road, I will try to find a vehicle large enough for everyone, and I am going to the hospital closest to my position that Maddie found me."
"Which one ?" Eddie closed his eyes, relieved when he heard the name of the hospital, which was where he was now. "I'm already there, I'm going to help the doctors, they're understaffed. Be careful, okay ?"
"I promise you. Damn, the phone I'm using has run out of battery. I'll be as quickly as possible. I love you !"
"I love you too !"
The line cut, and Eddie swore.
"Are you okay ?" asked Lena, who was clutching her left wrist.
"Yes, it was my husband. He was on the pier when the tsunami…" He swallowed, unable to continue. He took a deep breath. "He's fine, he will come here with survivors. I need to get busy before I lose my mind, and you get that wrist fixed."
He followed the other doctor so he could lend a hand. For several hours, which seemed like an eternity to Eddie, he helped triage incoming patients and helped doctors treat those who were less severely affected. His team was also outside, helping out. But Eddie couldn't stop thinking about Buck. As soon as he learned that a tsunami had hit the Santa Monica pier, Eddie felt distressed. In the truck leading them to the edge of the pier, swamped by a huge wave, he had called Abuela to make sure she and Christopher were okay. He had then called Buck, but he had immediately gone to voicemail. The anxiety kept growing. Buck was still answering, and his doctor's appointment had long since passed when disaster struck. He had put that fear aside when his unit arrived at the sunken pier. It was there that he met Bosko. They made a pretty cool team, but that was nothing compared to his team up with Buck. They had been a team for over a year. Their meeting, their relationship, their engagement, then their marriage… All that had only strengthened the bond that had been created between them. It had not been easy, but things had settled down after this risky intervention.
Flashback !
"You know what, Diaz ? I think we make a really good team."
Sitting in a bar, just the two of them, drinking beer after removing a grenade from a man's leg, the two men were getting to know each other now that there was no longer any animosity between them. Or rather, now that Buck had stopped seeing him as an opponent.
"I do too !" Eddie said.
"Tell me about you !" Buck said.
"I have a seven-year-old son, he has cerebral palsy, but he is quite independent. At least since I moved away from my parents." Eddie explained. "They tend to overprotect him and prevent him from learning to fend for himself. I mean, he's disabled, but he's able to do some things on his own. That's what I'm trying to teach him. I was too often absent, and with his mother, we argued all the time. When she left, it was for my son that I suffered the most. Deep down, I knew Shannon and I weren't made for each other."
"And, what made you come to Los Angeles ?" Buck asked.
"Shannon lives here, and I wanted Christopher to be closer to his mother." Eddie replied. "We tried to put her and me back together, but it didn't work anymore. We are in the middle of a divorce."
"Are you going to fight over custody of Christopher ?" Buck feared.
"No, I have full custody." Eddie said. "But I don't want to cut her out of our son's life. We agreed that she would have it on weekends and half of the holidays. And I can call on her if there's a problem with the job."
"That's good, at least for your son." Buck said.
"Yeah !" Eddie finishes the bottom of his bottle. "What about you ?"
Buck told him about his 118 debut and his addiction to sex, which made Eddie laugh. He told her about Abby, how their story had progressed and the woman's departure after the death of her mother.
"I know she's not coming back. I live in his apartment because it's convenient for now and I can save money, but it's time to move on." he said.
"What are you looking for, exactly ?" Eddie asked. "Something serious with a younger girl ?"
"Gender doesn't matter." Buck replied. "I'm bi, and I admit that I don't want anything serious at the moment. Well, nothing too serious. I'm not going to go back to sleeping here and there. Just… find someone to have fun with. By the way, you don't mind that I'm bi, huh ?"
"Nope !" Eddie said. "I am too."
"I never would have guessed." Buck said, surprised. He sketched a smile. "Can I tell you that you're hot without risking it getting weird between us ?"
"You can, and I'll tell you the same." Eddie returned. "Do you want to get out of here ?"
Buck nodded. Eddie put a twenty dollar bill on the table, stood up and grabbed Buck's hand in his. The young man had purposely chosen a bar near his home, just in case. The car ride only lasted five minutes. He parked his truck in its usual place, and preceded Eddie into the building. Once in the apartment, he pulled out two bottles of water from the fridge and gave one to Eddie. It did them both good.
"What time do you pick up your son ?" Buck asked, pinning Eddie against the table.
"Not until tomorrow night." Eddie replied. "My aunt takes care of him."
He sat up, and slipped his hands into the back pockets of Buck's jeans, pulling him closer.
"Is this your girlfriend's apartment ?" Eddie asked.
"My ex, and yes, it's her apartment." Buck said. Their lips touched. The sexual tension kept growing. "We better get to the bedroom before my sister…"
"Hmm !"
Eddie and Buck turned their heads at the same time after that throart clearing.
"Maddie ?"
End of flashback !
Eddie stifled a laugh at the memory. If he had been a little embarrassed, Buck had been mortified that his sister could see him in this position. Introductions made, Maddie just asked them not to make too much noise, and she went back to her room. Eddie burst out laughing before kissing Buck to make him forget that his big sister had caught him with a boy. Each time Eddie finished with a survivor, he looked around to see if his husband had arrived, but still nothing, so he took care of the next survivor, and so on.
"Dios mio*, Evan, it's been hours. What's taking you so long ?"
...
Every vehicle large enough to accommodate the survivors was either out of gas, or with a flat tire. An hour had passed—or maybe two—since he had called Eddie, and Buck was tired. His left leg was throwing him, but it was bearable as long as he didn't stop. When he finally came across a working van, he went to open the back doors.
"You're going to have to squeeze onto each other." he said to the survivors, helping them up inside.
He had about fifteen people with him, all stable but with a few injuries that needed to be treated. A minor head wound, a broken ankle or arm etc. He had made splints with what he could find on his way, remembering every instruction from Eddie. Eddie... He wasn't far from the hospital. Once the injured people were in the van, Buck closed the doors and climbed behind the wheel. There was a small window that separated him from the back, so he pushed it open and, after making sure everything was fine, he turned on the ignition.
"Let's go !" he says.
As he drove, he remembered the day Eddie had offered to move in with him.
Flashback!
"Wow !"
Short of breath, sweaty body, Buck lay on his stomach after his boyfriend dropped down next to him, in the same state.
"Damn Eddie, that was awesome."
"Yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself." Eddie turned his head to Buck. "I love getting you in such a state of excitement that you come to beg me once alone."
"You are playing with my nerves on purpose." Buck accused him.
Eddie didn't answer. He moved to the side and let his hand run along his lover's back.
"When I think we're having sex in your ex's bed." he laughed.
"I have to move." Buck said. "I started looking for an apartment, but it's not easy to find one within my means."
"How about you come and live with me ?" Eddie offered. "I have a spare room, although I would prefer you to be in mine."
"Wait, are you serious ?" Buck asked, straightening up to sit down. "We've only been together for three months."
"So what ?" Eddie pulled Buck back down, locking his body with his. "We spend our time together, whether at work or outside."
"And Christopher, in the story ?" Buck asked.
"He adores you, and he constantly asks me after you when we're not together." Eddie said. "And to be honest, Buck, I'm a little sick of coming to your ex's place."
"Jealous ?"
Buck was amused, but part of him was glad Eddie was.
"Yes !" affirmed the ex-soldier. "Because if she comes back, there's no way I'm walking away. She's gone, and you haven't heard from her anymore. I am here, and I want you completely."
"You're going to tell me you love me, while you're at it ?" Buck chuckled.
"I'm serious, Evan." Eddie replied, which silenced Buck. "I fell for you as soon as I saw you, even if you were a little mad at me because you were afraid that I would take your place." Buck wanted to retort but Eddie put his hand over his mouth to stop him. "Yes Buck, I am falling in love with you. I stopped taking our relationship for fun after the earthquake. You and I are a team on the field, and I want it to be the same off. Nothing prevents us from doing so."
Buck manages to free Eddie's hand in order to speak.
"We could be separated. Bobby could separate us…"
"Buck, if he has to separate us it will be because we will be unable to reconcile our private life and our job, but it has been three months, and in three months, we have not once made the slightest mistake. Nothing in the rules prohibits us from working and being together. All we have to do is fill out some paperwork for HR so they know two of the firefighters at Station 118 are having an affair, and it's serious. For me, it's serious. What about you, Evan ?"
End of flashback !
For him, it had been serious from the first weeks, but he had said nothing. He didn't want to scare Eddie, who was going through a divorce. A divorce which had been pronounced two weeks before the proposal. It only took a second for Buck to make up his mind. Two days later, Buck was packing his things and leaving Abby's apartment to go live with Eddie. With Eddie. Christopher had been very happy to be able to see his Bucky every day, but it was Shannon's reaction that had the young firefighter anxious. Which was unnecessary.
"You are a good person, Buck. When I see the way he looks at you, I know we made the right choice by filing for divorce." Shannon had told him.
Shannon had always been welcome, even if only for a few minutes, and she and Buck became fast friends. He hadn't judged her on her past with Eddie, and how she left. Everyone made mistakes, and Buck had made some too. Unfortunately, he couldn't go back. They had become so close that Shannon had made Buck promise to always be there, with Eddie and Christopher, if anything happened to her. He had promised her, and her death had affected him in ways he never expected. For more than a month, the four of them had formed a blended family. Shannon had even been there when Eddie proposed to Buck.
"You found the right person, Diaz !" Shannon laughed, hugging her ex-husband. Coming next to Buck, she had told him in a confidential tone : "Don't forget your promise."
Buck shook his head to collect himself. Night had fallen on Los Angeles, and he realized that the hospital was finally in sight.
"We there !" he announced to the survivors.
He parked near the emergency services, cut the engine and got out of the van to help the survivors down, who were immediately taken care of by firefighters and caregivers. He was thanked, again and again, until the last survivor was carried away by a rescuer. Adrenaline was starting to drain from his body. In a few minutes, he would collapse from exhaustion. He had to find Eddie first.
...
"How's your wrist ?" Eddie asked, when Bosko joined him outside.
"The meds are starting to work." she replied. "Your husband still not here ?"
"No, and it's starting to drive me crazy." he said, glancing around.
"Don't take it the wrong way but, I never thought you were gay." Lena said.
"I'm only halfway, and I'm often told that." he replied, scanning the surroundings. No trace of Buck. "Damn it !"
"How long have you been married ?" she asked.
"Three weeks." Eddie said. "We were supposed to get married in February but we had to postpone the wedding because of his accident. He got stuck under a firetruck after a bomb attack."
"It was him ?" Lena gasped.
"Yeah ! He took months to recover, between operations and rehabilitation." Eddie said. "He should have gone back to work two weeks ago but this moron preferred to hide from me that his leg was hurting again, and he started vomiting blood. He has been on blood thinners ever since. I made him promise to wait until he was fully recovered before going back to work."
"He seems stubborn." Lena said.
"You have no idea !"
And it drove Eddie crazy sometimes.
Flashback !
To say he was angry was an understatement.
"Do you have any idea how I felt when I saw you throw up blood before passing out ?" Closing the door to the hospital room, Eddie turned to his husband, who was sitting up in bed and dressed in an ugly gown that must have scratched him. "What took you to hide from me that your leg was hurting again ?"
"I didn't want to worry you." Buck defended himself.
"You didn't want…" Eddie swore in Spanish before sitting down on the edge of the bed. He took Buck's left hand and touched the wedding ring. "We are married, Buck, and I will never stop worrying about you, just like you will never stop worrying about me. You don't have to hide anything from me, cariño*. We could have avoided this if you had told me about it."
"I know, and I'm sorry". Buck said. "I don't want that to stop me from going back to work."
"Buck, no one will steal your place." Eddie assured, letting go of his hand to cup his husband's face. "Bobby, all of 118, and I wouldn't allow it either. You're going to rest, recover from all this bullshit and you'll come back to work when you're 100% recovered, otherwise I can assure you that I'm going to get really angry."
"Okay, no more hiding, and I'm going to rest." Buck said. "How sexy you are when you're pissed off."
"You haven't seen anything yet."
Eddie kissed him...
End of flashback !
"This guy attracts disasters like a magnet." mumbled Eddie.
"Cooper !"
He watched Bosko rush to a stretcher where there was a dark-skinned fireman, in very bad shape and with his arm severed.
"Eddie !"
That voice, that way of pronouncing his name, it was as if lightning had just struck him. Turning his head to the right, he saw him. Buck. He was in a bad state.
"Buck !" he said under his breath.
He was barely aware of his moving legs, until his arms clung to Buck. And vice versa. They clung to each other like a lifeline.
"You took your time !" snapped Eddie, not letting go.
"Excuse me, but I was not alone." Buck said. "I helped as many people as I could, and I brought them here to…"
"I know I know." Eddie said, pulling away so he could cup his husband's face in his hands. "You look terrible."
"I was hit by a tsunami." Buck taunted.
Eddie laughed but very quickly, his throat tightened and tears welled up in his eyes. He begged for another hug.
"When you told me you were on the pier, I thought someone was ripping my heart out." he said, a sob in his voice. "For a second I imagined you stuck, or dying without me being able to do anything."
"I'm here." Buck reassured him. "I am alive, and I have come back to you."
"I love you !" Eddie breathed.
"I love you too !" Eddie kissed him, and Buck relaxed, but his strength was starting to fail. "Eddie, I think I'll…"
His legs bent under the weight of exhaustion. Eddie caught him in time, and he threw an arm over his shoulders to hold him against him.
"I'm taking you inside. I have to examine you."
Eddie found an empty, isolated room. He made Buck sit on a chair, and took off his t-shirt. At first glance, there was no trace of broken ribs or internal bleeding. Gently, he placed his hands on his husband's skin and began to examine him.
"You haven't broken anything." Eddie finally said. "Are you hurt somewhere ?"
"What do you think, pretty boy ?" Buck raised. "I feel like I went under a steamroller. Wait a minute, it does."
"Very funny !" Eddie helped him put his shirt back on, and cleaned the welts on his face with some equipment he had borrowed along the way. "What are we going to tell Christopher ?"
"The truth !" Buck said. "I called Abuela before you to talk to Chris…"
"You called my grandmother before your husband ?" Eddie retorted.
"You and I both know very well who my favorite Diaz is, and of course I'm talking about our son." Buck teased to lighten the mood. "I told Christopher I'd be late because of the tsunami, which he saw on TV by the way, but I didn't go into details. I simply said that I had to help the survivors who were affected."
"He'll…freak seeing you like this." Eddie said.
"I'm not going to lie to our son." Buck said.
"You didn't mind lying to me about your leg." snapped Eddie.
"Seriously ? Are you going to bring that up again now ?" arched Buck.
"Excuse me !" Eddie sighed. He finished cleaning the wounds on his face, threw the compresses in the trash and stood up. "We just got married, and it's already the second time you've come close to death. I'm not sure I'll survive a third recurrence."
Buck called on what little strength he had left to stand up and take his face in his hands.
"I'm fine, Eddie. I made it through, and no matter what happens to me, I will fight until the end to get back to you and Christopher."
"You bet you will !"
They couldn't tell who made the first move. They exchanged a kiss full of urgency, fear. The fear of being again confronted with certain death and of losing the other.
"I'm exhausted !" Buck finally said. "And I'm cold."
"We'll find you some clothes…"
"No I, I'll wait in the truck while you finish." Buck cut him off. "They still need you."
"Ok !"
Supporting him, one arm around his waist and the other around his shoulders, Eddie led his husband, exhausted and cold, outside to the 118th truck. They passed Bobby, Hen and Chimney.
"Buck !" hunkered Hen.
"He is fine." Eddie reassured them. He got into the truck with Buck, and wrapped him in his jacket. "Hey…" He stroked her cheek. "I'll be right back, ok ?"
"Ok !" Buck muttered.
He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the side of the truck. Reluctant to leave him alone, Eddie got out of the vehicle and closed the door.
"What happened to him ?" Bobby asked.
"He was on the pier." Eddie replied. His colleagues immediately understood, and their faces turned pale. "He helped a group of survivors reach the hospital about half an hour ago. I checked him up, nothing was broken. Just minor bruises. He is mostly exhausted."
"Alright, stay with him. I don't want him to be alone." Bobby ordered. "And you won't be good for anything if it's to worry about him."
"Thank you Chief !" Eddie climbed back into the truck, and woke Buck up to sit between him and the side of the truck. The young firefighter mumbled. "It's me. I stay with you."
"Hmm..."
Eddie wrapped his arms around himself before pulling out his phone to call his grandmother.
"Eddie, mijo*, are you okay ?"
"Yes Abuela, I am fine. And Buck too, he's with me."
"Gracias Dios*."
"Christopher's awake ?"
"No, he fell asleep an hour ago. You want that…"
"No, let him sleep. I don't know when I'll be home, but I'm going to call Carla to pick him up to take him home."
He hung up, texted Maddie to tell her Buck was safe with him, and called Carla to tell her what had happened. He heard her sobbing when he told her that Buck had been hit by the tsunami but was with him, safe and sound, then, when she calmed down, asked if she could pick up Christopher the next morning from Abuela. Which she accepted. He let out a long sigh, and he couldn't stop the tears he had been holding back all day from falling. Fatigue got the better of him, and Eddie fell asleep a few minutes later.
It was five o'clock in the morning when the 118 team returned to the station. Eddie helped Buck into his car, and he retrieved his things that Chimney had fetched for him. He thanked him, and wasted no time getting started. Once in the comfort of their home, with a slightly more awake Buck, Eddie led them to the bathroom. He ran the water in the shower.
"I am tired." Buck said, squeezing a yawn into his hand.
"Me too, baby, but we need to change our clothes and take a shower." Eddie undressed, then Buck. "Then we'll go to sleep."
The hot water did them good. They stayed close to each other for a long time, forehead to forehead, neither moving nor speaking.
"I'm going to wrap you in bubble wrap and never let you out of the house again." Eddie finally said.
"Kiss me !" Buck whispered.
Eddie instantly captured his mouth, and kissed him full. Their tongues intertwined, their hands caressed, seeking the comfort of each other's soft, familiar skin. They washed each other, gently, tenderly, then, once rinsed, clean from this crazy day, they got out of the shower and dried themselves before going to their room. Buck grabbed the first pair of pants he could find before putting on one of Eddie's hoodies. Wasting no time, he collapsed into bed. Once dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, Eddie pulled back the covers and covered his husband's body, before turning off the light and joining him. Buck immediately snuggled up against him, shaking. Eddie hugged him as hard as he could, kissed his forehead and whispered comforting words until Buck's breathing slowed and he stopped shaking. He had fallen asleep, and Eddie was not long either. When he emerged a few hours later, Buck was still against him, his head resting on his chest. Eddie kissed him on the forehead before pulling away slowly so as not to wake him. He passed through the bathroom, when he heard whispers coming from the kitchen. A delicious smell of chocolate invaded his senses, but it was the sight of Christopher that reassured him.
"Hey, my boy !"
"Dad !"
Eddie hugged his son, holding him close for far too long, but Christopher wasn't trying to end it.
"We're baking a cake for my Bucky !" said Christopher. "Carla says it will make him happy."
"Carla is right, my boy." Eddie said. He kissed his son on the forehead before pulling away to hug Carla. "Thank you for picking him up."
"How's Buck ?" she asked.
"He's exhausted, and he's still sleeping." said Eddie, who sat down next to his son. "Mijo*, I need to tell you something about Bucky."
After Shannon's untimely death, Eddie initiated adoption proceedings for Buck to be Christopher's second parent. He wanted his son to be able to count on him when he was not there. He knew Shannon would approve of his decision. The papers had been signed after the wedding, and Buck had legally become Christopher's adoptive father.
"There's no right way to tell you, boy. You know there was a tsunami at the beach, right ?"
"Yes, Abuela saw it on TV." said Christopher. "Bucky called to say he had to help people."
"Yes !" Eddie nodded. "He helped a lot of people, but you have to know he was on the beach when the tsunami happened, but he's fine. He's tired, and you'll see wounds on his face, but I don't want you to be scared because he came home safe and sound. Alright, big guy ?"
"Alright !" said Christopher. "Can I go see him ?"
Before Eddie could answer, a half-asleep Buck walked into the kitchen.
"It smells of chocolate." he said in a sleepy hoarse voice.
"You are falling short. Your son wanted to come see you." said Eddie, who lifted Christopher in his arms to join Buck. "I just told him about… well you know."
"Come here big boy !"
Buck scoffed at his body's protests and hugged Christopher. The eight-and-a-half-year-old boy wrapped his arms around him.
"You should sit down." Eddie didn't wait for an answer and sat his husband down in a chair. "I'll make you some coffee."
"The coffee maker is hot." said Carla, pulling out two mugs from the cupboard.
Christopher, settled more comfortably on Buck's lap, reached up and brushed the welts on Buck's face.
"It hurts you ?" asked the young boy.
"No !" Buck replied. "Your dad took care of them, and they will quickly disappear, you'll see."
Eddie set a piping hot cup of coffee in front of Buck, as Christopher buried his face in his second daddy's neck. Eddie pulled out a chair to sit next to them, and put a hand on the back of his husband's neck.
"Slept well ?"
"Yeah, even though I hurt all over." Buck said.
"I swear I'll never let you out of the house again." warned Eddie.
Christopher chuckled, when the sound of a gurgling stomach was heard, which made the boy laugh.
"I think Bucky is hungry." he said.
"He's not the only one." Eddie confessed.
"Which is good, since your Abuela gave me food." Carla said. "Give me ten minutes and I'll prepare this for you."
She preheated the oven and pulled out a bagged glass dish lined with aluminum foil. When she took off the foil, the couple salivated. Chicken enchiladas.
"She made them this morning. I just have to warm them up for you." Carla said.
"I'm so hungry I could eat them cold." Buck said.
"Same !" Eddie said.
"Be patient, gentlemen !"
After ten minutes of the longest wait of their lives, Eddie, Buck and Christopher ate with evident appetite.
"She'll have to teach me the recipe." Buck said, taking another bite. "It's so good."
"I helped her make them." said Christopher.
"You did a good job, buddy." Eddie told him, smiling.
Carla stayed with them all day to occupy Christopher so that the two firefighters could rest. They resurfaced in the early evening, just before dinner.
"I'll pick up Christopher to take him to school tomorrow morning." she told them before leaving. "As for you my little Buck, if you get in trouble again, I'm going to get involved."
"I'll do my best."
After dinner, the three of them sat on the sofa, Christopher between his two dads and they watched The Princess and the Frog. Christopher fell asleep in the middle of the movie, and Eddie went to put him to bed before returning to the living room. Instead of resuming his place on the sofa, he turned off the TV before sitting astride his husband.
"How do you feel ?"
"Eddie, for the thousandth time, I'm fine." Buck said. "Stop… "
"Stop worrying ?" finished Eddie for him. "Would you stop worrying if I was the one hit by the tsunami ?"
"Probably not, no !" Buck agreed, smirking. "But, honey, I'm fine. I promised you not to hide anything from you, and I'm not lying to you. I hurt all over but it's ok. I'm going to rest, and in a few weeks I'll be back to work. My replacement will only have to behave well because I will not leave him the place indefinitely. I know you miss not working with me anymore."
"I miss seeing you in uniform." Eddie confessed. "You are so sexy."
"Shut up and kiss me !"
Eddie cupped his face and kissed his full, long. The tiredness that Buck felt flew away and gave way to overwhelming desire.
"Bedroom. Right now !" he said.
More than okay, Eddie stood up and tugged his husband by the hand. With the lights off as they passed, they made a detour to Christopher's bedroom to make sure he was still asleep. He slept soundly. Once in their room, Eddie closed the door, pushed the lock, and undressed with the same impatience that inhabited Buck. He waited until his husband was naked in turn to push him onto the bed, then lay down on him.
"You'll have to be silent, Mr. Buckley." Eddie whispered against his mouth.
"It's…Buckley-…Diaz !" Buck replied.
"My apologies, handsome !" smiled Eddie. "If I hurt you…"
"Stop talking and take me, or I'll take care of myself." Buck warned him.
Eddie grabbed the bottle of lube and a condom from the nightstand drawer, before letting out a hiss as Buck's hand closed around his penis. Buck took the condom from him with his free hand, giving Eddie the freedom of movement he needed. He spread lubricant on the tip of his middle finger and gently inserted it into his partner's anus. He inserted a second finger, increasing the pressure until he found Buck's tender spot, right at his prostate. He used his free hand to block his husband's mouth, which was getting a little too loud.
"Do you think you're ready ?" Eddie asked, spreading his two fingers.
He got a muffled but positive response. He withdrew his hand, then his fingers, and Buck sat up to tear open the condom wrapper with his teeth, not taking his eyes off his husband. He wrapped the protection along his sex before laying back, spreading and lifting his legs and hips a little more. Eddie smeared some lube on his protected penis before entering his husband with a slow thrust so as not to hurt him. The lack of the last days made itself felt very quickly. Eddie accelerated his back and forth, and had to swallow his partner's moans as he kissed him.
"Touch yourself !" he ordered Buck between kisses.
Buck took his cock in his hand, stroking himself in time with Eddie's penetration. He speeded up and slowed down with him until orgasm hit them. Buck's seed shoots out onto his belly. He let go of his cock, and tied his hands behind his husband's back to keep him close.
"Hi !" Buck breathed, smiling and satisfied.
"Hi !" Eddie kissed her. "Shower ?"
"Oh yes !" Buck agreed.
...
The next morning, Eddie grumbled as he turned off the alarm clock. Twenty minutes to wake Christopher, so he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around his husband, who had his back to him, but woke up and smiled when he felt Eddie's body pressing behind him.
"It's too early for me." Buck muttered.
"You'll have all day to sleep." Eddie told him, kissing his neck. "Have breakfast with us. Our son is going to want pancakes, and we know all about my disastrous cooking skills. Wouldn't you like me to accidentally poison us ?"
"I will especially deny you access to the kitchen." Buck replied, turning around and opening his eyes. "Hello, handsome !"
"Hello." smiled Eddie. "I would have woken you up in a whole different way if we were just us."
"You'll have plenty of other opportunities for that." Buck said, kissing him on the corner of the mouth. "Well, since you don't want to settle for cereal this morning, let me get up !"
After a trip to the bathroom, Buck went into the kitchen while Eddie woke Christopher up before getting ready for the day. He wasn't expected at the station until mid-morning, but might as well be ready. He put on his watch, waiting in the doorway of his son's room, who was finishing putting on his shoes.
"I'm ready !" he said.
"Perfect, son." said Eddie, who went to hug him. "You are hungry ? I woke up Papa Buck to make pancakes."
"Yeah !" exclaimed Christopher, raising his arms.
Three plates of chocolate chip pancakes were waiting for them on the kitchen table. Buck had learned to cook from being around Bobby, and since living with Eddie, he was taking more and more pleasure in preparing meals for his two men. Which pleased Eddie and Christopher very much.
"Bucky, what are you going to do today ?" Christopher asked.
"Your father has forbidden me to leave the house until further notice." Buck replied, making his son chuckle. "Then I will rest and watch TV."
"You know what's going to happen to you if I ever find out you're out." Eddie reminded him.
"Yes sir !" said Buck, giving a brief army salute.
Eddie rolled his eyes. Carla arrived to take Christopher to school, and the couple were left alone.
"What time do you have to be at the station ?" Buck asked, as he cleaned up the kitchen.
"At ten-thirty. I still have some time ahead of me." Eddie said, helping him finish. "Why ? What do you have in mind ?"
Buck didn't answer right away. As soon as everything was put away in the kitchen, he took Eddie's hand and led him into the living room. He made him sit on the sofa before sitting on top of him and kissing him.
"Um, if I didn't have to go to work…" Eddie mumbled.
"I know." Buck said. "I'm sorry, Eddie…"
"Hey…" He reached up to caress the younger man's cheek. "You have nothing to apologize for. You couldn't foresee what happened. No one could. The most important thing is that you are alive. Yes, I had the fear of my life when you called me, but I felt better as soon as I saw you and hugged you. Stop blaming yourself for something you couldn't control, and kiss me."
So Buck kissed him. He knew that this tsunami was unpredictable. Buck had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and even though he had saved lives that day, he blamed himself for nearly dying and leaving his husband and son behind. Never again… His job was not without danger, he could be killed during an call, but he would always fight to return to his family. To Christopher. To Eddie.
9:50… On the doorstep, Eddie grabbed Buck by the collar of his t-shirt, and pulled him close to steal a kiss.
"Stay home, please !" Eddie told him, almost pleading.
"And you be careful." Buck said. "I promise not to move from here, but you have to promise me to be careful. Tell my replacement that if he doesn't have your back, I'll kill him."
"Why do you have to talk to me like that when I have to leave ?" Eddie growled.
He kissed him passionately, until he lost his breath.
"Go away, or you'll be late." Buck told him.
A month later !
Station 118 !
It was Buck's big comeback. He'd gotten the go-ahead from the doctor to return to work, and even though he was still on blood thinners, he had promised Bobby that he could work. In the locker room, as he buttoned up his uniform shirt under Eddie's protective gaze, Buck felt as much impatience to be reunited with his 118 family as he did apprehension. He had been sidelined for too long. For the past few weeks, Eddie had been working with 136 firefighter Lena Bosko while their station were being repaired after the tsunami hit. She was good, and she had had Eddie's back the whole time, but he was glad to be able to find his place again and be the one to watch his husband's back. Clenching and unclenching his fists, Buck took a deep breath. He was ready ! Eddie walked over to him and put his hands on his shoulders.
"It was time for you to come back." he said.
"Yeah, you'll be able to keep an eye on me all the time now." Buck joked.
Eddie does not contradict him. They exchanged a kiss before exiting the locker room, where Buck was greeted by a big hug from Chimney and Hen.
"Welcome home, Buck !" Bobby told her, shaking his hand.
Yes, Firehouse 118 was his home, as much as the one where he lived with Eddie.
"It's good to be back." Buck said.
"Are you ready to go back ?" Bobby asked, as the alarm sounded.
"More than ready, Captain !" Buck replied, smiling.
"So on track, Buckley !"
Climbing into the truck, he grabbed his jacket, with his new name written on the back. Buckley Diaz. His jacket, badge, and Eddie's had been replaced with their names combined. If at work, they remained Buckley and Diaz to be able to differentiate them, Buck finally felt in his place. Sitting in the back, he held out his hand to Eddie, who grabbed it and only let go once at the scene of the accident !
END !
Spanish lexicon:
- Abuela : Grandmother
- Bisabuela : Great-grandmother
- Dios mio : My God
- Cariño : Cheri
- Mijo : Son
- Gracias Dios : Thanks to God