****buck****

Buck sat there looking at the message, he had started replying casually till his brain had read the message again and he deleted the message he just typed.

Sitting in the apartment it felt like his thoughts were just bouncing round the place, Owen was on a 24 hour shift so Tk explained that Buck was to crash at his and Carlo's to which they both left for shift when they dropped Buck off.

Had Eddie meant it as a friendly meet up and drink or was it asking him out. Buck started to think back Eddie never actually said he was into guys, the only thing he knew was that his wife had died. But thinking about how easy they found it to talk, it was only natural for one of them to propose drinks.

Noticing the time he knew that a reply would have to be quick as the last thing he wanted to do was keep Eddie up, so he replied to Eddie.

'Sure, be nice, there's a nice coffee shop Tk took me to on the way back from the airport, should make chatting easier. Let me know when just not tomorrow as I have a busy day visiting the firehouse and a meal. Sorry for the late reply.'

He quickly places his phone down and groans as he leans his head back. Buck always knew he fell for people too quickly and that's the problem that seems to be appearing now. Eddie was a guy he had saved and happened to be having great conversations with. Everything was easy. And that was the problem. It felt too easy.

To take his mind off it all he started cleaning, granted it wasn't messy obviously Carlos was very ocd with cleaning, everything had a place and was set straight. Buck knew TK was never the easiest to make the effort to clean. Eventually after walking around doing what little there was to do he flops down on the sofa and sticks the TV on and ends up nodding off.

"Buck." It's a soft voice and Buck looks around he's back in the apartment with Alex, but the voice isn't Alex.

"Buck, come on, wake up." The voice sounds more recent, he shifts a bit and slowly opens his eyes.

As he adjusts he realises he is on his back on the sofa and looking up at the ceiling. Looking to the side he see's Carlos sitting on the table looking at him and smiling.

"He awakes." Carlos says smiling.

"Shit sorry, didn't mean fall asleep." Buck explains as he sits up.

"Buck, there's no need to apologise, but there's a spare bed through there for you, so no need to fall asleep on the sofa." Carlos states, Buck knew the bed was there but he didn't get the choice in falling asleep.

"Yeah, but my body said no sleep here so I did, how was the shift?" Buck asks, if he was honest it was weird been alone with Carlos, he had been with TK and no doubt TK had told him all about their relationship which puts Buck at a severe disadvantage.

"Was a quiet one, I'd ask what you did but it's obvious." Carlos points to the kitchen where Buck had tidied up.

"Can't stand the mess." Buck mumbles out as he stands up.

"Well you know how messy TK can be." Carlos says and there it was the comparison.

"Ugh.. yeah but that was many many years ago." Buck explains.

"Yeah it was, but he's still hurt from it all and I know you are, you're just as bad as he is at not speaking about it, you rather suffer in silence and do whatever to cope with it." Carlos explains, Buck looks at him in shock with how blatant he was.

"We're fine, we are friends, it didn't work and now he has you and I have…. No one." Buck says, just like TK no one wanted to stay with him, he couldn't blame TK though there was a lot going on for him, but everyone always just left him.

"Yeah he has me, but I know what dark road he went down, god that sounded awful, look you're not alone me and TK are here if you need to talk, but I do think you and TK need to have a long chat." Carlos explains and Buck wants to question what dark road TK took as he was always happy when Buck saw him.

"Erm yeah I will maybe at the meal I can steal him for a long chat." Buck says.

"Well that's an idea, but it's just you and me for tea as TK is on shift, so how about we go out and I introduce you to a proper Texas breakfast, if we set off now we can walk to the cafe it opens at 6am" Carlos asks.

Buck sat there, he wanted to go out but at same time was comfortable in staying at the apartment especially given the time it was. But he also knew being here was to push him outside and to see the world.

"Yeah, let me get changed and then we can head over, how far is it?" Buck questions.

"About a 30 min walk." Carlos replies.

Buck grabs some clothes from his bag and starts to change, the conversation with Carlis firmly in his mind, he knew that he and TK needed the conversation but he hadn't realised how much TK was affected by him going.

Soon enough there on the way out walking up the street, Carlos making small talk Buck replying half heartedly, even this early in the morning it was warm and Buck regretted ever coming here he hated the heat was so dry.

They soon arrive at the cafe and Carlos is talking to the waitress who smiles and obviously recognises Carlos the way there chatting and Buck just stands there by the entrance, he's so fixated on Carlos he doesn't see someone come up from behind and jumps as something grips his shoulder.

"Ugh, what?" He grumpily says as he turns, catching the look Carlos gives him.

As he turns and sees the face of the guy who had tapped him they both burst into laughter, Buck doesn't even think and pulls Eddie into a tight hug.

"Sorry to make you jump, and did you moan about me touching you?" Eddie chuckles.

Buck breaks the hug and tries not to show he doesn't want to, fishing his phone out his pocket and opening up the voice app.

"Yeah, sorry, just not a morning person. What are you doing here?" Buck says and hands the phone over.

Buck watches as Eddie reads the message and smiles, at least he wasn't mad but the guilt was there. Buck had done exactly what Chris had explained other people did to Eddie while they were out in shops. He made a promise in the future to think before he does.

"Well I couldn't sleep, so I decided to pop to the closest cafe for a takeout, just wanted some peace, my sister is driving me mad. Why are you here? And so early?" Eddie questions.

"Buck, our table is over there." Carlos states and Buck turns and smiles.

"Oh on a date, sorry to interrupt." Eddie says and Carlos bursts out laughing to which Buck slaps Carlos for laughing, and takes his phone from Eddie who looks confused.

"First, hell no, he's my friend's boyfriend, we're just here for breakfast as he has not long finished his shift and I'm awake. Sorry about him, but his name is Carlos." Buck speaks and hands Eddie to read.

"Carlos, this is Eddie, so some kindness please." Buck smirks, he knew Carlos would feel guilty when he realises who it is and been a cop.

"Bit of warning would have been nice." Carlos says, slapping Buck's arm.

"Me speaking to my phone and handing it over to him is not enough for you." Buck chuckles.

"Hey Carlos, I'm Eddie, but I guess he told you that already, sorry for saying you're on a date." Eddie states and Buck could swear he saw Eddie go slightly red.

Carlos smiles and holds his hand out to shake Eddies and then takes Buck's phone obviously wanting to reply, so Buck shows him what to press.

"It's fine, and trust my standards are way higher, yeah heard a little bit about you, would you like to join us for breakfast?" Carlos says and smiles at Buck as he hands the phone over.

"Why did you ask that?" Buck asks, but Carlos just shrugs his shoulders.

"Only if that's ok with Buck after all I'm guessing you have things to talk about." Eddie says Buck couldn't believe how caring Eddie was.

"Can we make the table for three please." Buck quickly says looking at the waitress and smiles at Eddie.

They follow the waitress to the table and sit on the chairs, Buck felt nervous it was ok when it was the hospital or over text as he could hide the blushing he did when Eddie messaged, but now he would have try calm his ever growing crush over Eddie, this morning was going to be long. Buck knew he could deal with this, he just hoped his brain and mouth were in sync.