Buck POV

Buck settles his takeout on the counter and tries to hide any signs of inhibition. He was so confused and somehow nervous about whatever it is that Eddie wanted to say. Honestly, what was there to be said? Buck wondered if this had something to do with him hitting Buck after… After being falsely accused.

Unsure of what to do, Buck goes on with his routine whenever he has visitors. Bring them a glass of water then ask if they want something to eat. So he does just that. Should he even be giving Eddie the time of day, but truth be known Buck wanted an answer to a simple question he had. But he doesn't know how to say it.

"Here." Buck states passing Eddie a glass of water, which Eddie takes. "Do you want something to eat?"

Buck gets why he punched him. He gets what he did. But why does he feel so betrayed? They were just friends, right? Right… Just friends.

"Buck..." Eddie tries to start but gets cut off.

"Do you want something to eat?" Buck repeats his question trying not to change his tone.

Some part of him wants to just make him leave, just kick his ass out of his apartment and tell him to screw off. And yet there's another part of him that wants to forgive him outright. In his head, he knows that's what he should do, to forgive him. But he can't bring himself to do it. Why? He doesn't know.

"No. I'm good." Eddie says looking down. Buck knew Eddie's tells when he was nervous, he would look down for a bit and then check the surroundings, eyes frantically looking around as if someone was there to shoot him. "Listen, Buck…"

Again, here he was trying to make Buck listen. But what was there to listen into? Did he listen to him when he was accused? No, he did not! He believed Ana more than him, and for some reason, that's what hurt the most. So here it goes again, and now all he wants to ask is...

"Why?" The one Buck has played over and over in his head.

"I don't-" Eddie pauses then puts his hand together around the cup Buck gave him. "Know why I punched you..."

"No, not that. Why did you believe her? Why didn't you even try and hear my side, you know me, right? You were meant to be my best friend and you didn't even give me the time to give you my side, WHY?" Buck shouts the last word and he feels something pop. A feeling he kept hidden so hard because the last time he felt this, it was about his parents. And that did not turn out so well.

Eddie's face proves that he was taken aback. After that shout Buck finds himself walking over to the kitchen to get away and get a chance to clear his thoughts.

Keep it together Buckley. Just for the night, try to keep it together! Buck tells himself while closing his eyes hard. He is becoming woozy now and he's shaking. He needed his fix now, he needed to take those drugs right now… But he can't. Eddie was here, and if he finds out God knows what he will do.

He can hear Eddie close behind him and stops. Buck slowly opens his eyes to see Eddie leaning against the sink. This scene reminded Buck of when he was so close to telling Eddie his true feelings. To tell him that he actually wanted him, that he was attracted to him, and that he wanted to be with him. But chickened out and made a joke about going for 'the title.' Buck looks at Eddie waiting for him to give him an answer but he says nothing.

"Come on Eddie, I know you don't like to talk about emotions but how come you could easily berate me because I've "hurt" Ana? How come it was so easy for you to talk back then. You know Bobby even believed her, did you know that?" Buck states hoping it may get Eddie started. He looks over and sees Eddie shaking his head, Buck rolls his eyes. "Yeah, he actually believed her and was telling the others but then we spoke, and after he heard my side he knew there was no way I could have done that."

"The rest of the team also believe that but the one person whom I trusted, cared about the most, and loved didn't. So why the fuck!" The question leaves his mouth again in a frenzy and he covers his mouth. He watches as Eddie's eyes widen as he stops fiddling with his glass.

A short moment of silence passes both of them after which he hears Eddie whisper something in Spanish. Well, there we go, Buck just cussed after a long time and he may or may not have told Eddie that he liked him… Crap.

After a silence that felt like an eternity, Eddie finally speaks up.

"Would it be too crazy to tell you that I believed in her because I knew I couldn't be with you?" Eddie says and Buck looks at him confused, "I believed in her because I knew after what I have done we wouldn't be coming back from that. I know that I messed up, and there's nothing that I could do to mend that. So I'm sorry."

"After hearing about everything from Hen, I confronted Ana and told her to fuck off. I made her leave because I didn't want to be strung into her lies. Buck, I don't know what to do or say to you especially after what I did. So if there's something you want me to do, just for you to forgive me I would do it."

Buck stands there shell-shocked after hearing everything. Those words sounded familiar, then he remembers.

"So that's how it's going to be?" Buck says while carrying the remaining decorations from Halloween. "You're just going to ghost me? Because I remember Halloween ended about an hour ago."

He didn't really know what to expect but he hears Eddie turn around and so does he. He looked tired, beaten from the day of rescuing people while Buck was left behind because of what he did.

Buck knows that what he did was stupid and that maybe he deserves worse. But somehow, Eddie not talking to him, constantly giving him the cold shoulder seems to be much worse than being transferred to another department. How was it like that? That being ignored by him hurt Buck the most?

What did Eddie say back then?

"I don't know what you want me to say, Eddie… I don't think I can forgive you." Buck says with finality. But does he really mean it? Back then, when he still had feelings for Eddie, he didn't tell him because he too was afraid that if he does then everything might change.

He glances towards Eddie and sees that he's been sucker-punched in the face.

"I- understand…" Eddie says and gently places the glass on the counter before making his way to the front door. " I know I messed up, and I don't deserve any forgiveness from you but-" Eddie stopped mid-sentence, "Never mind… I think I'll just go."

Athena POV

Athena rolled up to her home tired and pissed, the reason being that the day had gone from bad to worse. First, the interviews seeing what Ana had said about Buck. To be fair, she didn't know why she was so worked up about this case. Thank God she was off this case because if she was, then there would be blood.

"Even better." Bobby says.

What did that mean? Does Bobby know something that she doesn't? Athena knew that Bobby loved Buck like his own, and because of that Athena, herself has grown fond of Buck also.

She calmed herself before getting out of the car and heading inside. All she wanted to do tonight was sit back, relax and crack a bottle open. Athena knew Bobby would be in later and wanted an update of what happened later in the day. Although, she really didn't have time nor info because Carter had kept her busy.

As Athena walked through the quiet house, being glad that Michael had Harry tonight while May was still working over at the call center. She opened the fridge, got a bottle of wine out, and as she set it on the counter the doorbell rings. She pulls a face because she wasn't expecting anyone tonight. Her husband, sure… But he won't be here for three hours. Walking to the door she spots Hen through the glass to the side of the door.

"Hen, I wasn't expecting to see you." Athena greets her friend in a hug but can instantly tell something is off. "What's wrong?" Athena asks signaling for Hen to enter. Hen wasn't her usual chirpy self wherever she came around so that within itself is an indicator for Athena.

She follows Hen into the kitchen and waits for Hen to start talking.

"Athena, I think I may have done something wrong…" Hen starts.

"Okay… What?"

"She did it, she confessed it to me." Hen blurts out.

"What do you mean she confessed? Who?" Athena asked sternly.

"We found evidence that proved Buck was innocent so Lena and I... Confronted her." Hen explains getting a phone out.

"Hang on, so you're telling me you had vital evidence to prove Buck is innocent and you didn't call me or the station straight away you just went vigilante and went after her? Who else knows about this." Athena's mind was livid from what she heard, but at the same time was exploding. There were consequences to this and that Athena knew what this would entail for her and the station tomorrow.

"Well us four and Eddie, we made him stand outside and listen to her confess, he wouldn't have believed us otherwise." Hen explains and as she does she goes quieter and quieter as Hen might have noticed Athena's shift in her facial expression.

"You're all a bunch of fools, do you know what this means? You gave her a chance to run! Meaning we won't be able to bring her in for what she's done to Buck. Why didn't you come to me?" she asks as evenly as she could but her temper was already boiling out.

"I don't know, I think it was just a rush to have the evidence to prove him innocent. We got lost in it, do you think she will run?" Hen questions

"She might, she knows Taylor did that news report, and now that it's proven she lied her face can be plastered all over so she may run and go into hiding." Athena states as she looks at the phone Hen is holding and raises her eyebrow.

"Oh, here watch for yourself." Hen says passing the phone and pressing play.

Athena feels her blood boil as she watches the video, the lying bitch played them all. Poor Buck didn't deserve to be treated like this. She was going to make sure Ana got what she deserved. She picks her phone up and presses the dial button.

"Detective, I may have evidence to prove one of your perps are innocent."

EDDIE POV

"Fuck!" Eddie exclaims out loud while in his car. He was already halfway through his journey home when he realized that his phone wasn't with him. "Where did I fucking… Shit."

Before searching his car any further he goes to the side of the street where he wouldn't be sideswiped by a car when he stops. He frantically looked around in his car if his phone was there and it wasn't.

Eddie knew that he still had his phone before he left for Buck's apartment, and he was checking it while waiting for him… So that means that he left it back at his apartment.

'Puta!' Eddie hisses.

This would mean that he had to go back to Buck's house and ask him. Meaning that he had to cross a boundary that someone just placed and made it clear that they didn't want it to be crossed. He could just go back now and get it, it shouldn't be a problem, right? But it is a problem because he would be disrespecting someone's space.

"¡Ayúdeme Dios! Maybe tomorrow he'll come to work and he has my phone. But isn't that kinda awkward an asshole move to do? Like you just basically burned down a bridge and now you want to walk on it again after burning it?" Eddie thinks to himself.

Things just got worse from here on out basically.

6:10 AM

The following morning after his 'talk' with Buck and getting Chris from Abuela, Christopher asked something that really rattled him.

"Where's Ana?" He asks and Eddie… Didn't have an answer to that. What could he say to his son? That she was a lying bitch who was insecure about herself and that Eddie basically kicked her to the curb?

In the end, all he could say was that she had to go somewhere for now. And when he said that Chris pulled a face. The same face that he pulled when he told Chris that Shannon wasn't coming back home anymore because she died.

"Hey, Buddy… I've got to tell you something." Eddie says, kneeling to hold Chris' shoulders.

"What is it, dad?" He asks almost to a whisper. But then Chris pulled a face like every muscle in his face stopped working and went offline. Almost as if Chirs already knew what had happened.

He quickly glances up to see Abuela covering her mouth already. They knew. And telling this to your child, that their mom died. It's not something that he couldn't describe and something that he doesn't want to experience ever again.

"Your mom's gone… Shannons gone..." Eddie says before breaking apart into tears while hugging his son. They both were crying over their loss and again it's something that he doesn't want to feel ever again.

"She had to say goodbye because she needed to work on something…" Eddie says while cursing himself inside because he was just covering up for her.

"Oh, okay…" Chris says and eats his breakfast. Carla was there also which Eddie was glad that she was.

After a deafening breakfast, Eddie glumly changes into his uniform and mentally prepares himself for today. He still needed to go to work and so he was going to do just that. Eddie checks the time and he needs to leave now if he doesn't want to be stuck in traffic and be late for work.

Eddie arrives a little bit too early if he's being honest. But that's fine because he needs all the time to think about how he should face everyone starting now. He needed a game plan before he would come face to face with Buck and another plan for handling the team.

But before he could he sees a familiar face coming in from the entrance.

"Taylor? What are you doing here?" Eddie calls her attention and she swirls around.

"Is Buck in yet?" She asks.

"No, not yet. Why?"

"Oh, nothing… Just that he hasn't returned any calls or texts since yesterday." Taylor says fidgeting with her phone and looking like she was rearing to run. "Anyway, it's just about something that we talked about before."

"Do you want to…" You don't have your phone remember? "Nevermind." Eddie says and pockets his hands.

"Can I be honest? With you Eddie?" Taylor asks him this time she looked more stern, "What is Buck to you? And before you ask why I am asking you is that because I'm pretty sure he slipped up in telling you that he actually likes you. So tell me what he is to you?"

"What am I to you Eddie?"

He could distinctly remember Buck asking the same question some time ago. They were in the middle of an outbreak, regulations being passed left and right, and first responders dropping one by one. It was a dark time before.

"Hmmm?" He remembers just grunting to Buck's question. They were in their makeshift beds made into the ground floor where half of the team was separated by makeshift containment units as they waited for their test results.

But after a while Buck didn't respond so Eddie opened his eyes for a bit to see that Buck was sitting up from his bed seven meters away from him.

"What's up?" Eddie says as he breathes out while covering his eyes. For a short while he could see Buck's mouth open slightly, mulling over what should he say

"Nothing… Nothing to worry about heh. Just had a thought." And Buck drops it as he goes to sleep.

Eddie didn't think much of it then but after everything right now? I think he was asking him the same question Taylor is asking him today.

"What is Buck to me?" Eddie mutters to himself and stares at the floor intently as if it held the answers to the universe. "He's my- well used to be best friend I guess. He's someone I trust in, someone I care about, and someone who I… Adore."

"Adore huh. Well, I guess I get what he meant by you being old-fashioned." Taylor remarks before turning around and walking out.

"Bye? I guess." Eddie bids farewell and goes back to work.

7:21 PM

It has been a full twelve? Thirteen? Hours since they've been working non-stop today. Hen was drinking coffee in the back area, Chim was writing something down, and Bobby was preparing dinner as fast as he could because they all knew this… Tranquility wouldn't last long. Meanwhile, he was also waiting for Buck to appear for work to apologize again. Or to give him space. But he never came to work that day. Booby, Chim, and Hen tried to call but no response.

Earlier, Eddie was able to talk to all of them and they were pretty cool with what happened. They understood the events that transpired, and albeit there were some words exchanged (especially with Hen) they were chill surprisingly. They all said something similar along the lines that it wasn't them he should be saying sorry to but to Buck.

"Alright, dinners ready!" Bobby hollers and everyone was just rearing to eat. But as everyone was about to sit down for the food, the bell fucking rang.

He could hear everyone moan and some cursed out loud.

Bobby sighs before announcing that there were some granola bars at the kitchen island and so they got some and everyone loaded into the trucks.

7:32 PM

Dispatch just told them that there was a multi-car pile-up on the 17th freeway and boy were they in it for another overtime on their shift. As soon as they arrived at the scene it was carnage. Cars on fire, the scent of carbon, oil, and blood wafting through the air made Eddie relapse into one of his locked memories from his time at the army.

"Okay, everyone! You know your jobs. GO! GO! GO!" Bobby says and they all scramble to assess the situation.

Albert's POV

Five minutes before the crash

7:22 PM

It's been almost a week since the incident with Buck and him stumbling upon Veronica with Albert, which to be fair was actually an ass move because Buck made it clear that he didn't feel comfortable with her around. And then Ana happened and Albert couldn't feel bad because he feels like he just added more problems for Buck.

He wanted to apologize so badly but he knew he had to give him a bit of space. So maybe a week after could be a good time to do so? Right?

"Ah screw it!" Albert says and dials Buck's number.

Albert was currently on the freeway on the way back to his apartment complex, where ironically he was still close to Buck. It had been a long day and unfortunately being an uber driver wasn't much fun. Especially, if your passenger was a racist and supported Trump. But he had no say in that because it was their belief and he'll just respect them even if they're outright rude.

"H-hello?" Buck's voice comes through and Albert puts it on loudspeaker.

"Hey, Buck. Say, I know it might be weird to ask but can I come over?" Albert bit his lips as he waited for an answer. A few seconds of silence and Albert bites it, that maybe he isn't willing to. "Listen, I know I've been an asshole to you as a friend, and also as a family, but-"

"No, you can't." Buck says in a hushed whisper.

"Oh…" Albert says dejectedly. 'Maybe it wasn't the right time then.'

"Buck…"

"C-can you please shut up! She's here!" Buck whispers rapidly that Albert couldn't almost hear him.

"What?! Whose with you?" Albert questions suddenly on high alert.

"S-she's here… Help." That is all Albert heard before all he heard was Buck shouting 'Why are you here!' Over and over again.

"Buck? Buck! Say something!" Albert says while starting to speed up the freeway. But not before he saw a car speeding through the wrong side of the freeway, straight right for him.

He manages to swerve in time but in doing so he swerves out of the road, into the ditch, and the car tumbles up and over.

All Albert could feel before losing consciousness was Buck's voice, his vision being blurry, and pressure going to his head.