Title: The Art of Compromise
Rating: T
Pairings/Characters: Buck/Eddie, Maddie
Warning: none
Word Count: 1,903
Notes: Doctor Buck Universe
Buddie Bingo: Making Up After a Fight.
The Art of Compromise
Eddie was stewing. He knew he was. The next time he saw Buck, he was liable to lose it. But he sat in front of the television that was turned off, glaring at the black screen as if it had personally offended him.
He couldn't even turn his attention onto his son as a way to distract him from his anger because he had decided that he wanted some alone time with Buck and had got Hen and Karen to take Christopher for the night to let the boys have a sleepover.
It was the perfect plan. It involved Buck, Eddie, the couch, beer, and later, the bed.
But alas, of course all good plans sometimes got messed up. And once again, Eddie was left alone while Buck rushed off because he had received a call from his answering service about a patient.
It was nearly two hours later when headlights shone through the window. Without looking, he knew it was Buck.
When the door opened, Eddie was on his feet with his arms crossed over his chest as he looked at Buck.
"I'm sorry," Buck said.
"Sorry? You're always sorry."
"It's my job."
Eddie rolled his eyes. "Your job should be a normal 9-5 job, like most doctors, unless you work in the hospital or urgent care center. And maybe sometimes, Saturday mornings."
"You knew the kind of hours I kept before we began dating. Why are you freaking now?"
"Because I'm sick of this. I like you so much. But I'm constantly aware any plans we have could be canceled at a moment's notice if you get a call."
"That's rich! Coming from a first responder. Don't you think you're being a little hypocritical? You get called in whenever there's an emergency."
"Yes, but my emergencies happen occasionally. Nearly every time we get some alone time, you must leave. We haven't had a night with just you and me in weeks! Not to mention I'm the one who needs to look at Christopher's sad face when you skip out on spending time with us together because of a call. I have to tell him that he needs to be understanding because it's your job. All the while, I'm grinding my teeth and stuffing down the same feelings he's feeling. And silently telling myself it really isn't your job. It's something extra that you choose to do for your patients. That you could stop if you wanted to."
"What do you want me to do?" He lifted his arms up in a gesture of not knowing.
"Stop with the house calls. It's not needed for you to keep your patients. The ones loyal to you will stay with you. Even if you're not available 24/7."
"I can't. I like providing that personal touch."
Eddie nearly bit his tongue as he turned his back on Buck. "Then I'm not sure if I can keep doing this."
Buck was so silent.
Eddie would have heard if a pin dropped.
And then finally, "Are you breaking up with me?"
Eddie sighed. He didn't want to. He liked Buck. He could see falling in love with Buck if given time. But this wasn't working for him. "I don't know. I do know that I need some time to think about what I want. To figure if I can keep doing this. Or if I want to keep doing it."
Buck was silent for so long. "I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment as a boyfriend. I'll leave you alone tonight." He quietly went to the front door, opened it, and closed it behind him, and it barely made the sound of a snick.
Eddie covered his eyes. He felt like he just kicked a puppy dog.
xXx
"You're being an idiot."
"Wow, Maddie, tell me what you really think," Buck drawled. He had gone to her place, straight from Eddie's, thinking she would have been on his side. He should have known better.
"I'm sorry. I love you, Buck, but you're being an idiot."
"How can you say that? Eddie knew about how much I worked before we started dating. It's not like I hid it from him. His eyes were wide open when we began our relationship."
"Maybe, but you can't expect anyone to be happy with constantly coming second to a job. I'm surprised he's lasted as long as he has without saying something. And the only reason he probably did last so long was he told himself the same thing. He knew what he was getting into by dating you. But someone can only repeat the same thing so many times before it begins getting old."
Buck crossed his arms over his chest. "Being a doctor is who I am. Just like being a first responder is who he is. I can't just turn my back on my patients. Even if it's after hours. That would never sit right with me."
Maddie rolled her eyes. "Why is all or nothing with you? Have you ever considered the art of compromise?"
Buck's shoulders slumped and for the first time that evening, he lost the defensive stance he had taken. "What kind of compromise?"
"You don't have to eliminate the house calls completely. I know how important they are for you. But maybe no longer have them 24/7, where no matter what time of the day it is, you'll go running. Give yourself some days off where you won't do a house call. And the days you do them, put a firm time that you will do them until, and don't do them after that time. On the days off, there is urgent care for your patients. And if something happens at a time where you've said 'no' to house calls, there's the ER if it's serious enough. And if it's not serious enough, they can wait until the next day."
Buck pressed his tongue against his gum as he thought about what she said. What she said made sense. He could still help his patients with house calls, but he wouldn't be on a call all day, every day. And he could make plans with Eddie and be able to stick to them. And he wouldn't have to disappoint Christopher any more or break a promise to his favorite boys. But still, he couldn't stop the worry from niggling at the back of his mind. "What if that's not good enough for Eddie?"
"Well, like you need to compromise, so does he. If you're willing to bend a little bit, he needs to meet you halfway if your relationship is ever going to work. And I think he will, if he sees your willing to try and work out something."
"Okay, I'll think about a schedule and then bring the idea to Eddie."
"Good. And a word of advice?"
"Of course, Maddie. But I know you'd give it to me even if I said 'no.'"
"Make sure you have at least one weekend day off, so you can spend family time with Eddie and Christopher. And possibly have a date night that won't get interrupted."
Buck nodded, already think of the days and times in his head. "I'll keep that in mind." He gave Maddie a brief hug. "Thank you telling me the truth. Even though, I expected you to take my side without question."
"Sometimes, being on your side means telling you something you don't want to hear," she wisely pointed out.
He moved to her front door and opened it. "Thanks, Mads." He left, closing the door behind him. He had some thinking to do.
xXx
Eddie blinked slowly, almost afraid to believe what he was hearing. "I'm sorry. What?"
Buck shrugged. "I don't want to lose you and while I don't want to stop the house calls completely, I think I've come up with a pretty fair arrangement."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Well, I can cut back on them. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I won't do house calls at all. And on the other days, I will have a cut off time of 9 PM. I'll have a lot more time for you and Christopher that way."
Eddie leaned forward. "And you're willing to do that."
Buck averted his eyes. "I was thinking of it as all or nothing. Either I didn't cut back or I stopped them completely. Maddie was the one who told me that it didn't have to be that way. That we could reach a compromise that could make both of us happy."
"I could live with this, but what about the patients that may not be happy with no longer having access to you 24/7."
"Most of them should understand. A lot of them has commented, when they've seen the picture of you and Christopher, that I keep at the office, that it's nice that I finally have a life. And the ones who don't understand… Well, I probably shouldn't want them as patients anyways. I just want you. You and Christopher. If this isn't enough for you, though, I—"
Buck's impassioned speech was interrupted by Eddie's lips on his, and it was a very good interruption. Buck quickly got with the program and returned the kiss.
When they broke the kiss, Eddie smiled. "I'm very okay with the new arrangement. And whenever I'm off shift, one of your days off will be a date night. Just you and me. And I know Christopher will love having some of your undivided attention on Saturdays as well."
"So, even if you're working, I can still spend the day with Christopher?"
"He'll insist, but feel free to take some weeks off to give yourself some downtime. You deserve to have an actual day off without worrying about watching a ten-year-old."
"I don't think of it as baby-sitting. I think of it as enjoying my time with the coolest ten-year-old on the planet."
Eddie kissed him again.
Buck pulled back. "I'll need to send out letters and emails to all my patients to let them know of the change before I can implement it. It might be a month or so before things change. I can't just blindside them without giving any sort of warning."
"That's fair. I will just eagerly wait for the new schedule. And I will eagerly await for some uninterrupted time."
Buck smiled and pecked Eddie on the lips. "I'm sorry it took my sister knocking some sense into me to see reason."
"I'm just glad Maddie exists."
"Me too."
And there was no more talking as Eddie's lips once again claimed Buck's, and they fell back onto the couch, enjoying each other.
Just when things began to get really interesting, with Eddie's hand under Buck's shirt, grazing the firm muscles in his stomach, Buck's phone rang.
Eddie groaned as he backed away, letting go of his boyfriend.
Buck answered. "Hello? Yes. Who?" He listened for a moment. "Okay, I'll be there in about 30 minutes." He disconnected and looked at Eddie sheepishly. "Sorry."
Eddie sighed. "Well, it's easier to deal with now that I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. Go. Take care of business. We'll pick this up at a later time."
Buck kissed Eddie quickly. "I'll make this up to you. I promise."
"I'm holding you to that," Eddie warned. He watched Buck leave. 'Soon, there won't be an interrupted after 9 pm.' The wait would be worth it.