Buck always got the feeling that people tended to act differently around him, relationships barely lasted, his parents didn't want him, Maddie left him. It's strange because at some point they all seemed to be completely drawn in and enraptured by him (well his parents never did), which just made it all that much harder when they inevitably left.
He was eighteen when he decided that he needs to escape his parents who look at him with glassy eyes and sneers. Maddie answers this call, for once, and sneaks away from Doug to give him his anchor that kept him from sinking, her jeep. Maddie, no matter how much he begs, refuses to go with him claiming it's better this way because the further away from Doug he is the better.
It breaks his heart but he has to get away - to break free of the chains of his parents locking him inside a hate-filled house that Buck never truly understands.
In all honesty, Buck has never known true stability before, yes he had his sister - but Doug took away that lifeline. He didn't even realise what he was missing until he met Bobby on the cusp of adulthood in a big new city.
Bobby had found Buck and according to him it was like Buck was beckoning him towards him. They were both grieving a terrible loss; Buck desperate for parental affection and Bobby for a family.
Bobby gave him a home, security, and most of all the paternal figure he's always craved. He'll always be thankful that he stumbled into that bar seven years ago.
Buck doesn't know how he finds himself in these situations but here he is. He had just arrived in Los Angeles with only a duffel bag and the jeep to his name. All he wants to do is eat something before trying to find a place to stay for the night. He hasn't yet decided where he was putting down roots and was just driving until he hit somewhere that felt right. He had been aiming for maybe South America and doesn't know what made him stop in Los Angeles of all places tonight.
Turns out danger seems to find him anywhere.
The moment he steps into the bar - the feeling of something being off wouldn't leave him, he considered turning around and walking straight out the door but his grumbling stomach didn't allow it. Traveling in the jeep for such a long time was, at times, boring and tiresome, and right now he was starving from not having eaten since breakfast.
He makes to move towards the counter when a loud bang sounds, the whole bar vibrates and everything seems to suddenly rush all around him. He could hear screaming and great rushes of heat flicker all around him.
Buck stumbles completely thrown off guard but manages to right himself before he could be crushed by the many feet rushing towards the door.
What the hell just happened?
From what Buck could see, the kitchen had already been completely engulfed and he just prayed that nobody had been in there before the flames had ignited.
He grunts as someone knocks into him forcing him to crash into one of the small tables, he holds in a yelp as his stomach takes in most of the impact. That'll leave a bruise.
Nothing seems to register with him at that moment until he realises that he should probably be getting out of there. The smoke doesn't seem to be touching him, his lungs didn't feel invaded - instead he just felt on edge.
Buck goes to leave out the door before realising that through the chaos of the stampede there's a teenage girl decked out in server uniform on the floor crying, coughing, and clutching her arm to her chest.
It's all instinct that makes Buck head towards her.
"Come on, I got you," he says wrapping an arm around her good side. She's coughing unable to say anything to him, it's hard to see anything with the smoke but he could probably guess that she's nodding frantically. He manages to lift her to her feet and together they rush towards the door, Buck at her side to stabilise her if needed.
When they reach the outside, Buck doesn't dally around and leads her towards an open ambulance with two paramedics inside - the number on the outside reads 118.
An Asian man pops out of the doors as soon as he sees Buck approach looking both him and the girl over in a way that doesn't make him feel uncomfortable, but protected.
"She's inhaled a lot of smoke and I think her arms broken," Buck informs him passing her over. A woman in the same uniform joins the man who's looking towards Buck more than the girl.
"Okay kid, we'll take it from here," the man says kindly, with an air of gratitude.
"Cool," Buck says going to walk away before a hand shoots out to grab his forearm. He turns to find the waitress gripping onto him struggling to get words out as she pulls down the oxygen mask given to her.
"Thank you," she rasps.
Buck flushes and looks down, "You're welcome." He turns to look at the two paramedics who can't seem to stop themselves from grinning.
"Have you be checked over already?" The man asks.
Buck shakes his head. "Nah, I'm okay."
The woman looks at him over the top of her glasses like she's checking him over herself, "You sure you're okay?"
Buck gives her a cheeky grin, "All good here."
She smiles, "Okay, but make sure you get that bruise checked out at the hospital."
Buck falters, looking back at the smiling paramedic in confusion wondering how she could possibly know about the growing bruise fluttering along his ribs. He thinks that he may have been walking funny, but he's always be good at hiding his injuries before.
"Okay," he mumbles, slightly dumb-struck.
His feet drag him towards a curb and he sits down staring at the chaos unfolding in front of him, sirens blare, multicoloured uniforms rush in and out all trying to control the blazing inferno. Buck's never really known how to feel about fire and he still doesn't now. He could've been burned to a crisp in the restaurant and yet he didn't feel scared at all.
He's aware his hands are shaking a little though.
He's pulled out of thought by a hand on his shoulder, standing above him is a firefighter decked out in turnout gear and dusted in soot. He registers that the number on his helmet is the same as the one on the ambulance he just helped the girl into, so they must be part of the same team. He wistfully sighs at the idea of being part of a team.
"You okay kid?" He asks.
Buck begins to nod before it becomes more frantic, it's hard to pull the words from out of his throat and he doesn't know whether it's from the smoke inhalation or the adrenaline that's slowly leaking out of him.
A water bottle is pushed into his hand and Buck gratefully opens it taking a gulp.
"Thank you," Buck whispers looking up at the firefighter.
The firefighter smile taking a seat next to Buck on the curb, "No problem."
"That was a brave thing you did in there, Lindy told us how you saved her," he adds.
Buck shrugs not really knowing how to reply to that, it felt strange hearing a compliment come from someone's mouth. All his life he's had to build up a pretty thick skin in order to fend off all the barbed words he's received, so he doesn't know how to react when he's complimented. He always felt as if there's a catch hidden within the words.
It's nice to know the name of the waitress he helped.
"Did everyone get out?" He asks rubbing his hands along his thighs, anxiety thrumming through him. He feels gross and overwhelmed, and he just wishes he could go home - despite having nothing to go back to.
The firefighter looks surprised at his question but manages to quash it down quickly, "Yeah we did."
"Alive?"
He doesn't hesitate when he nods which reassures Buck.
"That's good," he mumbles.
"How old are you?"
For some reason, the question doesn't throw him off. He feels completely safe talking to this stranger, which he finds weird, Buck normally feels uneasy around anyone new, "I'm eighteen."
"Are you traveling alone?"
He nods.
Bobby frowns and looks at him, it feels as if he is trying to peer into Buck's very soul. The look Bobby's giving him doesn't make his skin crawl, he looks concerned. Buck doesn't what to do with that since he hasn't been at the end of that look very often. It's mainly been disappointment, anger, or the blank stare where it feels Buck is being completely looked through - ignored and invisible. He hates that one the most.
"Do you want me to call anyone for you?"
Buck shakes his head. "No, I don't really have anyone right now," he murmurs not looking at the other man.
He smiles sympathetically, "Me too."
Buck gives him an incredulous look gesturing to his turnout gear, "Seriously?"
The firefighter laughs, it's throaty and warm, "Yeah I am."
Buck's eyes narrow and he's a little suspicious when he asks, "What's your name?"
"Bobby Nash," he says and sticks out his hand, "What about you?"
Buck looks at the hand in front of him, wondering who even shook hands anymore - it didn't stop him from placing his own in Bobby's. It's warm and the touch is gentle, Buck could feel the roughness of Bobby's from many years of work.
"Evan Buckley."
"Nice to meet you, Evan," Bobby says, warmly.
"Buck," he blurts out, "I like Buck."
If Bobby is fazed by the nickname he doesn't show it which is… new.
"Okay, Buck," he adds, "Where are you staying?"
"Uh… hmph… I…" Buck falters before sighing, knowing he probably can't get away with a lie, "Nowhere… yet," he hastily adds.
"You can stay with me until you find something."
Buck stops himself from laughing and looks at Bobby properly, his face is open, inviting, and warm - it doesn't send a chill down the back of his neck, no hairs standing on end. Buck has always been good at noticing danger before it even happens, but Bobby doesn't seem to be dangerous - especially towards him.
Instead, he feels like he wants Bobby to step inside his life - to be a part of the glow that is Buck.
"Are you serious?"
"People like us need to stick together," Bobby says seriously.
Buck tilts his head, brow furrowed, "Lonely people?"
Bobby rears back in surprise, "Huh," he says to himself and then nods his head, "I'm gonna look after you kid."
Buck smiles, "Yeah?" He asks breathlessly. He's trying to find the catch, nothing else has worked out for him like this before. He wonders if the other shoe will drop later on, but he's willing to walk down this road until it does. Bobby feels familiar, he feels safe and he seems to want to help Buck, to look out for Buck and only Maddie has ever done that for him.
Bobby smiles back, "Yeah, now come on," he gets up off the curb, "Let's get you to the hospital then we'll take you home."
The promise of a home makes him go along with being looked over at the hospital. It feels incredibly right.
"Home, I like the sound of that."
Buck doesn't end up searching for a new place or even considering leaving LA after that day, he tries half-heartedly until Bobby comes over and closes the laptop then drags him over to the DVD pile to pick a film to watch.
Something felt incredibly right being with Bobby, being a family with Bobby.
A few years into living with him and they're family gets even bigger when they meet Athena, and everything for Buck seems to fall into place
They're everything he's ever wanted and it all feels too good to be true.
Buck really shouldn't be here again, he promised Bobby that he would cut back and try to curb his behaviour ever since he was reprimanded for taking the firetruck. He didn't know how to explain it at the time, but it felt like something under his skin was vibrating and he just needed to get out. So, he acted out.
But honestly, recently, he's been in a really good place.
The Buckley siblings had finally reunited a few months ago after nearly three years of no communication. Maddie finally broke free of her abusive husband and Buck couldn't be more proud of her. Nothing felt better than being able to see his sister again, she had practically raised him from childhood - always there to act as a shield from his parents blocking away the hate and disappointment they tried to impugn on him.
For some reason something was compelling him to get out tonight, so he ran out of his (well Abby's apartment) to try to walk it off. He ends up outside of Divine Angels, bright lights and loud music belting out of the doors.
For some strange reason, the name made him giggle.
The moment he enters the club a flock of people surrounds him. It's why he likes going to places like this because people always like to be around him. It certainly makes a change to when he was growing up with only Maddie as his number one supporter.
Today though he's not feeling the crowd, he's not really feeling like trying to pretend like he's having a good time and really wishes he had listened to Bobby and his sister.
That all changes when he sees Eddie.
When Buck first saw him entering the club it felt like his breath had been taken from him. There, just coming into the sea of people, was the most god-like man he had ever seen normally Buck had more of an affinity towards women - but, he would give them up for a second to have just one night with this man. He was olive-toned and had all-around dark features, accentuated by his flopped-over dark hair and black leather jacket squeezing his muscles in the right places. Not to mention the black skinny jeans that emphasise, well everything, it makes Buck flush just thinking about it as a thrill of heat travels along his spine.
He finds himself completely drawn to the man and can't help the excitement that thrums through him when the man comes up to him, and only him.
It's strange because the instant they come together it's like they're the only people in the club, everyone else seems to step away. Maybe it's something to do with the aura around Eddie that screams confidence and authority making everyone else back away.
Buck truly thought that he and Eddie had a connection and was fully prepared to go back and spend the night with him. It doesn't matter whether it was one night, Buck knows that when it came to Eddie he would take what he could get.
He wasn't expecting Eddie to just leave so suddenly though.
Buck was so sure that he felt it too. Instead, he was left with the promise of more, but after Abby, Buck knows how empty some promises can be.
He's convinced that he'll never see Eddie again, the guy couldn't get away from him fast enough after the soul-shattering kiss they shared.
Once again, he wishes he never left his apartment.
He couldn't stay in the club any longer once Eddie had left, he lingered on Buck's tingling lips, under the bright lights of the dance floor and within every crevice of the club - no one approached him anymore as if Eddie had staked his claim like some avid hunter who confidently let his prey go once he lost interest in it.
All the fun had been sucked out of the club and Buck decides that he just wants to go back home, tuck himself into bed and try not to dream about Eddie.
His team is stood around together talking in a circle when he arrives at the station.
"We're getting a new recruit," Bobby announces in lieu of greeting like he's ripping off a bandaid, the whole team turns in surprise. This is the first time they were hearing about this, they weren't expecting to get another addition to their team - not since welcoming Buck two years ago.
"He should've already arrived, I had to fight with Station 6 to get him. But we have something special at our station."
Hen and Chim look at Bobby knowingly, Buck doesn't notice anything already thinking too much about the new recruit. He's the newest member of the team, what if the recruit somehow replaces him? Or what if they end up liking him more than Buck? He knows he's probably being irrational the 118 are his family, heck Bobby is his dad - but he can't help the lingering self-doubt that's been enforced on him since his childhood.
"And what do we need him for?" Buck mumbles, causing Bobby to chuckle and look fondly at him.
"Ah, there he is," Bobby points towards the locker room.
"Now that is a beautiful man," Chim admits.
"Where's the lie? And I like women," Hen agrees.
Buck turns around to look at this new recruit and nearly stumbles in alarm. It's Eddie from the club, his Eddie. Eddie with an eight-pack. Eddie has an eight-pack.
He really needs to be cool right now, Buck reminds himself.
When Eddie said that they would definitely see one another again, he didn't think that it would be this soon.
"That's Eddie Diaz our new recruit, he likes to be called eight pack," Bobby says patting Buck on the back and moving with the rest of the team to introduce themselves to Eddie.
Buck gapes after him.
Eddie moves away from the rest of his team after introductions coming towards Buck.
"Evan, I think we should talk," Eddie says to him quietly making him grimace, those words together are never good.
He goes to open his mouth to try and make up some excuse to get out of it when the bell goes for a call. He tries not to breathe out a sigh of relief right in front of Eddie.
Instead, he simply calls out, "Let's go," rushing to get changed and head out to their first call of the shift.
They're driving to the call when Buck allows himself to properly look at Eddie again since seeing him shirtless that morning, he won't lie and say he's had to try and wipe that memory clean from his mind very thoroughly because Eddie is a fine specimen and seeing what's underneath the clothes definitely doesn't help after what they did at the club.
He has to admit that Eddie looks just as good kitted out in their uniform, somehow he pulls it off and it all clutches him in just the right places. He doesn't allow himself to look down any further.
"So, what's Eddie short for?" He tries to distract himself, although learning more about Eddie seems to be counter-productive.
Eddie turns his head to look at him, "And why would I tell you that?" There's a curve to his lips which implies that he's teasing Buck.
"Eduardo?" He guesses, pouting when Eddie shakes his head, "Come on what are we supposed to call you?"
Eddie glances around at the others in the truck, "Is he being serious?"
"We like to operate with the knowledge that he's never serious," Chimney says.
He tries not to let the hurt show, he knows Eddie's eyes are on him, and by the way, they narrow he realises he hasn't done a good job at hiding it. He shuffles uncomfortably in his seat under Eddie's intense gaze.
The first call is honestly crazy.
"The air nozzle is embedded in his ass cheek," the employee says once they've arrived to a screaming inflated man.
Huh, Buck thinks, that's new.
"I shut it off, but was too afraid to move him. You know." He nods towards Bobby like they're sharing some kind of unwritten secret.
Bobby nods back in acknowledgement.
"Okay Hector, can you hear me?" Bobby asks.
Buck and Eddie grip him on either side and they ease him off the nozzle, he tries not to grimace as Hector screams right in his ear.
"Get him on his side," Bobby commands.
"The pressure's pushing everything out, I can't even get air through his nostrils" Eddie notes as both he and Chim struggle to inject morphine and start a nose cannula.
Bobby nods, "Buck I need you to get a 14-gauge Angiocath."
Buck scrambles to get one moving to insert it into Hector, his hand shakes a little.
Eddie notices, "Want me to help?"
"I'll do it."
"I'd go lower."
He looks at Eddie incredulously, "Uh no, second intercostal space."
"I've seen this before," Eddie says seriously and something in Buck just knows to trust him - like Eddie has a wealth of knowledge that Buck can't begin to comprehend.
"Do it," he mutters passing it to Eddie and moving away. He watches as Eddie expertly inserts it in drawing all the air out in one go.
Hector sighs in relief, "Thanks, that was a close one huh guys."
Eddie looks at Buck intently before nodding at Hector.
"No problem."
"And thank you, Angel," Hector says smiling at Buck.
All of his team stiffen, he gets it he does - Buck 1.0 was a menace on calls, flirting, and sometimes sleeping with the people they helped. But he's changed.
This Buck really doesn't think it's appropriate to flirt on call anymore, "Uh, you're welcome."
They all breathe out a sigh of relief, Hen and Chim quickly wheel him away before he can say anymore. The rest of the team head back to the truck.
Bobby mumbles something to Eddie before he gets into the front, Buck only manages to catch a few words at the end, "glad you recognised what he really was."
Buck frowns as he walks up to Eddie, stopping before him and trying to awkwardly find something to say.
"Yeah, good call," Buck begrudgingly admits, walking past him. He can feel Eddie's lingering gaze following after him and he has this feeling that Eddie's not going to let him avoid this again when they get back to the station.
He wishes he wasn't right.
"Evan!" Eddie calls out to him when they return to the station, the others have gone upstairs and Buck had been going to the gym to pout all by himself. Of course, Eddie had to follow him.
He tries to ignore how Eddie saying his first name out loud sends a rush of heat straight down.
"It's Buck," he says petulantly.
Buck knows he's being a brat, okay, but he can't help it. Eddie is now working here, at this station. The guy who gave him a smouldering kiss and then left him high and dry to deal with it alone because that's what he did - went home with his tail between his legs, instead of on someone else's arm like he normally would.
It was silly to think that Eddie would stick around, but there was something about him on the night that didn't make it feel it was going to lead to a one-night stand. It felt like more and to have Eddie then rip that away for no reason and leave him balking in the middle of the dance floor was a kick in the teeth.
"Okay, Buck," Eddie raises his hands as if he's trying not to spook a wild animal, it makes Buck's eyes narrow.
"Buck, what's going on? I thought we really hit it off at the club, you know when we-"
Buck quickly puts a hand over his mouth stopping him from saying any more.
"Don't mention that here," he begs then realises he's still got his hand over Eddie's mouth, "Oops sorry," he removes it hoping Eddie isn't too mad, but all he looks is amused.
"Okay, I won't say anything here," he still looks amused with the whole situation.
"I don't know why I feel this way and at," he leans in and begins to whisper, "the club I felt it too, but now we're working together and I just need to try and separate Club Eddie from Firefighter Eddie so we can work together."
"What can I do to show you it can work both ways?" Eddie asks, eyes alight with sincerity.
"I think I have to do figure this out myself, I'm sorry," he admits looking down, "Maybe something will happen that will speed it along," he shrugs, "but I don't see that happening any time soon."
"We'll see," Eddie says simply gripping a hand on his shoulder squeezing lightly and walking away. It's all so quick Buck has no chance to flush in surprise at the confidence in Eddie's tone.
He shakes his head trying to brush away Eddie's lingering touch and any arousal he's feeling hoping that a gym session will help clear his head.
"What's this I hear about a new person on your team," Maddie says taking a seat next to him on the couch a matching glass of red wine in her hand.
Buck swirls the wine around in his glass a pout on his face, "How do you know that?"
"Chimney," she says, simply.
Buck scowls, "Of course, you two seem close." He points out.
Ever since Maddie had been introduced back into his life all his 118-family have welcomed her with open arms, surprisingly the warmest welcome was from Chimney - who was introduced when they helped move Maddie into her own apartment. They've been super close ever since much to Buck's disgust and suspicion.
Maddie flushes, "We're not talking about me right now."
"We're not talking about me right now," Buck mimics.
"Evan," she chastises making him feel as if he's ten years old again and coming home with mud caked all along his freshly washed jeans.
"Fine, fine," he hastily adds before she can bring out the big guns, "His name is Eddie."
"And?"
"And his last name is Diaz."
"Evan." Although her eyes flash in alarm like she's heard that name before which would be impossible, so he lets it go.
He groans, "He's our new recruit and I don't like it."
"Why?"
"Because we've already met before," he mumbled.
Maddie gives him that look, "What?"
"Because we've already met before," he says again.
"Oh," Maddie's eyes widen in surprise and she puts down her wine to lean closer to him, "Where did you meet him before?"
"At a club."
"A club," she repeats, unamused.
"Mm-hmm," he doesn't look at her.
"Did he do something Evan? Because if he did I swear I'll-"
"No, no," he stops her, "Nothing like that, he's a good guy. I think. We had a good time, it felt amazing."
She tilts her head in confusion, "Well what is it then? Why are you acting this way?"
Buck sighs, "I don't know when we first met there was this instant connection, and I honestly didn't think I was going to ever see him again," he runs a hand through his hair, "but now he's part of the firehouse and I don't know how I feel. There's this territorial part of me that worries about him taking my place, but another part of me kinda wants to jump his bones."
"Okay," Maddie interjects, "I don't want to think about that."
He lets out a weak chuckle, "Sorry, but Maddie I really don't know what to do. I don't want to feel this way, I don't want to let myself feel things for him especially after Abby."
Maddie scoffs and Buck grimaces. He probably shouldn't have brought up Abby knowing Maddie's obvious aversion for her. Despite Buck's powers to easily forgive, Maddie wasn't the same she holds a grudge to extreme especially against those who hurt her brother
"We're not talking about Abby right now," she says tightly, "And not everyone is Abby okay, you need to not be afraid to let people in.
"I'm trying," he admits weakly.
She smiles sympathetically at him, "I know you are."
He's reminded again of how good it is to have his sister back with him, now they're in the same city again it makes it easier for both of them to come to each other for anything. He still hasn't forgiven himself for leaving Maddie with Doug and then ducking out of Pennsylvania, despite Maddie reminding him that it was for the best for him to leave.
Maddie reaches for his hand, "From what I've heard, Eddie sounds like he's here for good reasons - maybe you should give him a chance."
He frowns at her weird phrasing, "Maybe you're right."
She smirks.
"I can't believe I just said that."
"You did," Maddie cackles, "And no take-backs."
Buck groans head falling back against the couch, he can't help but laugh along with her.
Yeah, it felt really good to have Maddie back.
Next shift, Buck's lounging on the couch waiting for Bobby to prepare lunch and just stewing in his own thoughts. Normally, he'd be helping his dad but he really doesn't feel like it today - it's like his life has been shifted all of a sudden and he's trying to find a way to slot everything back into place.
It's hard to do when you have one Eddie Diaz trying to fit his way into it.
"It's Edmundo."
Speak of the devil.
Buck looks up at Eddie as he sits down next to him, "Huh?"
"My first name."
"Suits you," Buck mutters.
"Look Buck, I don't want things to be awkward between us and I'm not trying to step on any toes."
He remembers the words Maddie said about giving Eddie a chance, groaning to himself when he can hear her voice in his head repeating it.
"I know, it's just… I can't want this with you Eddie," Buck admits, trying to ignore the way Eddie's eyes flash at his admission, "Not when we work together."
Eddie sits back and hums to himself he looks to be fighting back saying something and seems to come to a decision when he opens his mouth.
That's when the alarm goes.
It really does love to interrupt his conversations with Eddie, this time he isn't relieved. He really wanted to know what Eddie was trying to say.
The call they arrive at is completely bizarre, a man had set off a grenade whilst cleaning it not even realising that it was a practice round. It's now embedded in his leg.
Bobby sends both Buck and Eddie in the ambulance to stabilise the patient whilst they drive to the hospital, much to Buck's annoyance. He knows this has his father's meddling written all over it, sure let's send Buck and Eddie in with the patient whilst Chim and Hen, two perfectly good paramedics, are right there. He could see both of them glancing back in obvious amusement at the tension rolling off Buck in waves compared to the relaxation in Eddie's shoulders.
Buck doesn't know how none of this is bothering Eddie, it's like he's a well-oiled machine that could live through and deal with anything life throws at him.
"Charlie I thought you said this was a practice round," Eddie asks interrupting the silence.
"It is."
Buck frowns leaning forward to look at the grenade and then at Eddie, "What's going on?"
"Practice rounds have blue caps, live ones are gold," he bangs on the ambulance to get the attention of Hen and Chim, "Pull over!"
"Yep there it is," says a bomb technician indicating the grenade shown on the X-ray on the screen.
"He's got a live round embedded in his leg," Bobby deadpans.
"I thought he said it went off," Buck questions.
"It's fitted with a proximity fuse, from his hand to his leg wasn't far enough to detonate," Eddie pipes up causing Buck to look at him in surprise.
Eddie shrugs, "I've been to a lot of wars."
He tilts his head but before he can ask any more questions Bobby cuts in sending a warning glare Eddie's way.
"We called the military for help."
"Why can't you do it," Buck exclaims rounding onto the bomb squad, "You're the bomb squad!"
"You don't defuse a grenade, we need someone to pull it out."
"He doesn't have that time!"
"I'll do it," Eddie interjects, rolling his eyes, "seems simple enough, I've done it before. You get the thing out, put it in the container the bomb squad will supply, and then get the hell out of there."
Buck really thinks he shouldn't be this turned on by Eddie's confidence, but come on the guy is making taking a live grenade out of someone's leg sound like a walk in the park.
"Well, then I'm coming with you," Buck pipes up, ignoring the incredulous looks of everyone around him. "What? I don't want the new guy having all the fun."
Eddie looks like he's swallowed a lemon, it takes a while for him to grit out, "Actually, it would be helpful to have someone there to hold the container."
Bobby looks as if he wants to argue but doesn't.
This is probably the most insane thing he's ever done. But with Eddie beside him, he feels as if he can take on anything.
"Buck, you don't have to do this," Bobby whispers stepping up to him.
"You wanted us to bond as a team, besides we may end up real close," Buck says winking, trying not to let the nerves show - by Bobby's knowing look he sees right through him.
"Just be careful," Bobby finally says, pulling Buck into a quick hug.
"You know me, pops," Buck grins moving forward to stand next to Eddie and place a protective vest on.
"Yeah, I do."
"If we get blown up, are these vests really gonna help?" Buck mumbles within earshot of Eddie who snorts in amusement.
They move towards the ambulance once they're set up, Buck clutching the box he was supplied tightly in his hands.
"How are you feeling, Charlie?" Buck asks as they enter the ambulance.
"Like a world-classed idiot," he mumbles, "My wife if she was alive would be saying 'I told you so.' Well, maybe she'll be able to tell me in a minute."
"Nobody's dying tonight," Eddie promises moving to sit beside Buck. "Start a drip."
He moves to do so, looking back at Eddie again who's currently conversing with Charlie about military branches - Buck blocks it out as he starts the drip, he's practically able to do it in his sleep at this point.
Eddie's gaze meets Buck's own when he's done, moving to grip his hand softly in his own, "You ready?"
Buck nods too breathless to speak.
"Let's do this," Eddie squeezes his hand one more time before letting go to start removing the grenade from Charlie's leg.
"He's losing a lot of blood," Buck mutters.
"Keep pressure on it," Eddie says tightly, his face twisted in concentration. "Not too much pressure." If Buck wasn't concentrating too, he'd be admiring the way fire has ignited in Eddie's eyes in the face of danger and the way his lips purse in concentration that makes Buck want to drag his eyes there and remember the night of the club.
Buck can admire his beauty later though.
He shouldn't, but he really wants to.
"There it is."
"Alright, so pull it out."
Eddie looks as if he wants to laugh, but holds it in. "I got to be careful, can't do too many rotations with the sensors picking up the distance traveled. The key is to turn the shell while pulling it out."
"Okay yeah, so don't turn it."
Eddie has to stop himself from laughing again, Buck's added commentary is a welcome during this tense moment.
"You got this," Buck says again.
"Get the box," Eddie mutters, Buck scrambles to lift it up opening the lid for him.
Buck's hands are steady as he holds the open container for Eddie who slowly moves the grenade towards the box.
They all sigh in relief once the grenade is inside and the lid is shut.
"Told you I could do it," Eddie says victoriously, winking at Buck. "Simple." For some reason it also feels like an 'I told you so' about something else too.
He flushes, "Yeah, yeah, simple."
They both pass Charlie off to Hen and Chim to take to the hospital calling out 'thank yous' as he went.
The pair moves away from the ambulance adrenaline still ringing in their ears.
"Wow," Buck breathes out turning towards Eddie who does the same, "That was amazing." His hands didn't even shake once with Eddie as his partner.
Eddie's eyes flash and he licks his lips, "You're a badass under pressure, you can have my back any day."
Buck lights up, "Yeah? Or you know… you can have mine."
Eddie smirks holding his hand out to Buck, a mirror of when they first met in the club, Buck slots his hand into Eddie's feeling warm all over when Eddie's thumb rubs along his. Something seems to be glowing within him.
"Deal."
Maybe having Eddie on the team isn't such a bad thing after all.