The next few days were a real strain for Eddie, mainly because the doctor wasn't playing ball and wouldn't sign him fit for work until he had done a load more tests, between the tests and getting the house in line for when Chris returned even though Abuela had made it clear she would be stopping at his instead of taking Chris to hers as it was easier, so he found himself sat on the sofa a lot, mainly because that's where Abuela made him stay, sorting bits out and avoiding the calls off concerned family and the angry messages off Shannon, so on the day he is meant to get his results he scrolls through videos on youtube on his laptop which is where he stumbles on the video he had hoped not to see, the fire truck explosion.
His finger hovered over the mouse button which was over the play button he didn't know what to do, a part of him was curious but the other was feeling guilty that the video was on here for all to see, which wasn't very fair for Buck in his eyes.
Before he can decide the phone rings and he shuts the laptop before picking up the phone it's a private number so he wasn't going to pick it up, but he remembers the nurse explaining that the doctor's number would be private so he quickly answers before it stops ringing.
"Hello." He says.
"Mr Diaz, it's Doctor Wener, how are you?" The doctor asks.
"All good, cuts have pretty much healed and I feel great, I'm hoping this call is good news?" Eddie questions.
"Good to hear and yes it is, I am happy with your progress so you can return to work, I will have the fit note ready and available to collect from reception later today so come about 4pm, just look after yourself." the doctor explains
"I will, thanks again doc." Eddie says before hanging up.
He quickly messages Nick quickly explaining he is getting the fit note later and can start whenever. A part of him wanted Nick to say tomorrow, he needed a routine and to keep busy.
"Abuela, good news I'm cleared to return to work, could you take me to the doctors to collect my fit note?" He asks, walking into the kitchen.
"Yes, but are you sure you are ready to return to work?" She counter asks, he knew she had concerns about going back to work so soon and had voiced them often.
"As you know I'm not the best person when I'm sitting doing nothing. I need to work." He replies.
"Don't I know it, ok but make sure its a few hours a day, we also need to look at a carer for Chris, I know you're going to say we have coped and I agree we have but this new place you're working at is on the other side of the town." She explains and that's one thing Eddie hadn't thought about.
"I will start looking, I will ask if I can do it in between school hours." He replies hoping the way he felt defeated hadn't come across.
"Look we can make it work, I don't mind picking Chris up from school if you drop him, that way you can stay till close. I know how much you like to work." Abuela explains and Eddie hates how much she could read him.
"That's fine, especially with you staying here at the moment that works, but like you said I need to look at more permanent things as I can't have you staying here all the time, I know you have your own things to do." He says.
"I do, but family comes first, talking of family have you spoken to your parents? Maybe ask them to come stay, they can help." She says.
The thought of extra help was a great idea but not from his parents, they weren't too thrilled with him, well they were when he said he ended it with Shannon and then when he dropped the bombshell of it happening because he was gay his dad was less than supportive.
"I think we both know what will happen there, plus what would happen if they even did come." Eddie sighs.
"You have to give them a chance, they have had time to get used to it, I know your mother will come and help if you ask." Abuela explains.
"I will try, I promise. At least I will be able to get settled at the office before Chris returns." Eddie explains.
Abuela hums at him before she walks towards the kitchen, most likely to start something for lunch. Eddie felt excited, he was finally getting back to work, ok it wasn't his own place but the job is the same, just new people to deal with. His phone signals that a message has come through so picks it up.
'Hey, Eddie, thanks for the update, if you're up for it would you be ok doing a few hours tomorrow? Was thinking from 10am till 4pm.'
Eddie smiled at the message. It was exactly what he wanted, a few hours got him in the swing of it, he knew waiting to reply was the right outcome but that didn't happen.
'Sure that be great, it will let me get back into the swing of it all, I will bring my note tomorrow. Thanks again.'
He sat there for a second letting it settle in, he was going back to work, was going to have to deal with people, his chest got a bit tight at that thought dealing with people again. The phone pings again distracting him and making the tightness go.
'That's great, I've emailed you some updated compliance you need to read, hope the email on file is correct if not let me know and I will get them sent again. See you tomorrow.'
The worse thing in the world was the every couple of months compliance training and test, he got why they had to be done so frequently but still they were so annoying, looking at his email app they had arrived so quickly sent a text saying he had them and picked his laptop up wanting to get them done before they went to the doctors.
As he lifted the laptop lid the first thing that appeared after logging in was the firetruck video and Eddie found himself unable to stop himself from pressing play.
As the video played it was obviously a phone that took it and was after the initial explosion as the truck was on the side smoking. The video was focused on a kid but a scream makes it pan to where Buck is and the gasp from the person recording makes it hit Eddie hard, seeing the sweet man he met in the poat office trapped and in so much pain.
Eventually it shows the people helping raise the truck up so they can get Buck out and Eddie wished he was there to help. The video soon stops and he just stares at the screen. But he knew he needed to sort the tests so closed the video down and opened his emails and clicked on the file.
"You gotta be shitting me." He says looking at the many tests that had to be done.
"Edmundo, language." Abuela states as she walks in to the room and places a coffee down by him.
"Sorry, just there's so much to do, it looks like a late night." Eddie explains.
"You need to rest as well, no point doing all that work if you are too tired to do the actual job." She replies.
He knew she was right, but still he wanted to be back at work and with no Chris it would make it so much easier to get these done.
"You are right like always, but I should be able to get them done and be in bed by midnight, I don't have to be there till 10 tomorrow so I can have a good rest." He hoped this would keep her happy, she gives him a smile and walks out.
"Just let me know when you want to go to the doctors." She shouts from the kitchen.
"Will do, thanks again for everything." He shouts back.
After a few hours he was just half way through and notes the time so saves the progress it was time to fetch the note. The drive there Abuela was talking about how they could do with more help and that he really needed to look at it. He got it, Abuela wasn't in her prime just like he said earlier they would make it work somehow he just didn't want his parents there.
The stop at the doctors was a quick in and out, he was so happy to have the piece of paper in his hands saying he could return to work, though it had a side note explaining no strenuous lifting or stretching, but he would take that.
He pretty much dances his way to the car, he catches Abuela laughing at him as he gets in.
"What? I'm happy." He says.
"Yes you are, but please revert to dancing where no one can see you doing it." She jokes.
"Abuela, we both know I'm a great dancer." He says.
"Don't I know it, anyway, were stopping at the supermarket, I need some ingredients for cakes." She explained.
"More baking?" Eddie asks.
"Yes, no doubt Christopher will want something to cheer him up once he arrives from staying with her." Abuela states.
Eddie tried not to laugh, it was funny but he also knew how serious she was, she had voiced many times since moving to LA that she was unfit and shouldn't be taking Chris for such long times, but no matter how much he agreed with her he knew Shannon had the right to have time with Chris till he was old enough make his own decisions.
"Thank you, I know you hate that I let her have him, but you know my stance he deserves time with her, till at least he is old enough to make his own decision." Eddie explains.
They arrive at the supermarket and start making their way around the aisles. Eddie felt a little bit lost mainly because it wasn't one of their normal shops they went shopping to, Abuela was looking at fruit so Eddie wandered off knowing she would be a while, walking down the aisles he was looking at the shelves more than he was looking where he was going and bumps into someone.
"Ah sorry, my bad." Eddie says, picking up the stuff the other person dropped.
"Nah it's all good no harm done." The man said and Eddie looked straight at the guy as he recognised the voice.
"Buck? What are you doing here?" Eddie asks and straight away he regrets asking the silly question.
"Erm shopping, what brings you here?" Buck chuckles as they stand.
"The same, well my Abuela is and I just started looking, never been here before." He explains.
"Ah so you're that person, I mean that walks off from their parent's and gets lost in the shop." Buck laughs.
"Guess I am, how's work been any more saves?" He questions.
"Not really, few fires, nothing major. I'm guessing that's your Abuela?" Buck questions and points down the aisle.
Eddie turns to indeed see his Abuela walking towards him, the smile on her face said everything he knew was about to happen once she got to them luckily she had stopped to talk to a staff member.
"That's her, well I best be heading off, nice seeing you again." Eddie says hoping to get Buck away from his Abuela before she has a chance to actually get here.
"Yeah it was, oh a little bird well a very grumpy bird said you were starting at the post office, so I guess I'll see you again." Buck says and Eddie could have sworn he saw Bucks cheeks go red.
"Indeed I am, tomorrow actually. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time I'm nervous." Eddie found himself opening up, which was strange as he was always so closed off.
"I get that, but look you're ok, you've seen what's in place. But if you're worried maybe you should wait a bit longer." Buck explains. A part of Eddie wanted to agree with him but he also knew sitting at home was not an option.
"It will be ok, like you said I'm safe there plus I know there's great firefighters out there." Eddie says.
"Edmundo, so this is where you walked off to." Abuela's voice makes him turn around.
"Yeah, sorry." Eddie says.
"Hi, I'm Buck." Buck cuts in.
"Nice to meet you Buck." She replies and looks at Eddie and he knew she wanted to know who he was.
"Abuela, Buck here is the firefighter who got me out the fire." He explains and oh boy he hoped Buck was ready for what was about to come.
"Oh my, we are so grateful to you, you saved him and made sure he came home to his family, how can we ever thank you?" She says, pulling Buck down to hug him.
"It's ok, just part of my job, plus he did help me the other day to sort some stuff at the post office so it's all good." Buck says and gives Eddie a smile.
"Oh right, you go in there often? Edmundo, make sure you give him great service." She says and Buck giggles which makes Eddie giggle too.
"The fire station I work at is near the post office, so me or the others from the 118 are in regularly. Talking of which I have a shift soon so need to make a move, nice meeting you both" Buck says.
"You too." Abuela replies.
"Yeah, it was nice seeing you Buck, see you around." Eddie explains as he tries to usher Abuela away.
"Yeah, you will, bye." Buck says.
Eddie manages to get Abuela to start moving, he could feel the redness in his cheeks.
"era un buen hombre, lindo también, deberías invitarlo a salir. (he was a good man, cute too, you should ask him out.)" She says a bit too loud and Eddie thanked god it was said in Spanish.
Though as he turned around he could see Buck smiling at them before walking off. After navigating the rest of the shop seemingly managing not to bump into Buck they were finally on there way home, Abuela would not stop speaking about Buck, Eddie knew this was going be a long few days now.