Buck didn't realise how time-consuming finding a new place was, Maddie had offered to help look with him (well he had practically begged) but he didn't also want to take up too much time and be a burden on her - his previous childhood insecurities coming back in full force.

He also forgot how expensive apartments were.

He and Maddie had already looked at a few online after their breakfast and they had been to visit a couple of ones around LA.

So far it's been… interesting.

Buck feels as if he's being pulled in so many different directions during the whole process. He still remembers that apartment building they went to visit where there was a toilet in the kitchen and the bed didn't even fit in the room.

(Safe to say he and Maddie got swiftly out of there trying to stop the giggles from exploding and keep the obvious horror off their faces.)

There's been a few that he's liked but the price range has been way over budget - even with him saving from not having to pay rent for the past few years.

It's a little demotivating; something he tells Eddie one day when they're sitting together in Abby's apartment once again, which Eddie still hates, scrunching his nose and looking around in distaste at everything as soon as he enters. Buck finds it hilarious every time and loves to tease Eddie about it.

Eddie's definitely expressed how glad he is that Buck is finally moving out.

He knows what he's looking for - a safe haven where he can relax and feel comfortable. He knows he'll be safe because Athena promised to run background checks on everyone in the buildings he looks at and the crime rate in the areas too. It really helps to have a mother who's very overprotective and part of the police force.

He doesn't know how Eddie managed to rope himself into coming today.

It's probably because he's come to him whining every single time an apartment has fallen through or a day has gone badly, he doesn't know how Eddie puts up with him. But he does. Every time he welcomes Buck with a smile and always encourages him to speak as much as wants without shutting him down or getting uninterested. He remembers when he was ranting about the potato famine after a long research binge the night before and had trailed off - nervous that Eddie would be looking bored or annoyed by him, he was surprised when Eddie simply said 'tell me more.'

Buck thinks he may be a little in love with him.

After all the apartment talk, Eddie's bound to want to join in at some point and, although Buck would never say it, he's glad that Eddie pushed to come along with Buck today of all days.

Maddie had something come up at work so she couldn't come to look with him in person. He can't say he isn't a little disappointed, he was really hoping to get his sister's input on them.

But if not his sister then he's really glad that Eddie's here instead.

It's as they're walking to the next apartment when Buck hears his name being called. (He was feeling a little down as the apartment they had just been to had been way over budget.) Furrowing his brow he turns around only to come face to face with the red-haired vixen from Channel 8 News: Taylor Kelly.

"Long time no see, Buckley," she says with a flirty smirk.

"Hey, Taylor Kelly," he says happily bounding over to her - Eddie silently trailing behind him.

"How have you been?" She gives him a once over, up and down, before looking at Eddie from behind his shoulder for a second her eyes display shock and her face goes slightly pale before she pulls herself together again with a nod towards Eddie's. "See you've bagged the King himself."

Buck frowns. "What?"

"I'll be seeing you, Buckley."

Taylor walks away with a wink in Buck's direction. Eddie is silently glowering behind him eyes darting to where Taylor had just left him.

"Uh- okay," Buck says after her a little putout.

"You know she's literally a demon," Eddie remarks.

"What?" Buck exclaims, mouth open. "Eddie come on, she's not that bad, man."

Eddie rolls his eyes. "She's a demon, Buck."

"Sleeping with a demon that's new," he ribs nudging Eddie in the side hoping to make him laugh.

"You'd be surprised how wrong that is," Eddie mutters to himself, his eyes narrow as he catches a glimpse of Buck who has that mischievous gleam in his eye that Eddie never likes where it leads. "Buck…" he warns.

"Oh, forgive me Father for I have sinned," Buck exclaims raising his hands in the air in a prayer motion.

"Dammit Evan, stop it," Eddie says in distaste, snatching Buck's hands in his own. "You're not even Catholic."

Buck raises an eyebrow in indignation choosing to ignore the use of his first name despite the flutters it's causing him. "I could be."

Eddie scoffs, "You're not."

If Buck had control of his hands right now, he would be placing them on his hips. "Well, how do you know?"

He didn't really know what to think of the enigma that was Eddie Diaz, he sort of just stormed into Buck's life completely uprooted everything he seemed to believe in, and instead of leaving (like everyone else seemed to), he latched onto Buck so tightly, he feels he could never escape. Not that he particularly wants to.

Eddie smirks and moves his lips towards Buck's ear. "Because I know you."

Buck shivers and wonders if he is supposed to be finding this so hot? Or whether it's his body having no control when Eddie's around? Having any scraps of Eddie's attention feels all-consuming, flickers of flames like a sparking volcano take over Buck's entire body.

Eddie moves away from Buck's flushed face and lets go of his hands, Buck can't seem to look away from him. Eddie shakes his head and his expression looks, and he doesn't want to hope, but almost fond.

"You're so dramatic," Eddie chuckles ruining the moment.

Buck splutters.

"Come on," Eddie says, tapping Buck's hand. "Let's go."

Buck narrows his eyes and looks Eddie up and down suspiciously. "Where?"

"Just come on," Eddie sighs, grabbing Buck's hand and leading him.

Buck finds himself glancing down to where their hands are linked and can't help but feel how right it is. Their fingers slot together perfectly like black and white keys on a keyboard - together they seem to be able to create a perfect melody. He's never been perfect in any way, but somehow he feels it now with Eddie. Always Eddie.

What Buck doesn't expect is for Eddie to lead him to the perfect apartment. I mean he probably should've expected it, it's Eddie, somehow he always seems to know Buck entirely.

"Woah," Buck says as he enters.

Eddie gives him a smirk.

The apartment looks modern and new from the first glance he could see a balcony leading out and he could already imagine the early mornings sipping coffee and just looking out at the bustling LA streets. There are stairs leading up to the bedroom and that excites Buck who, for some odd reason, has a love for stairs always choosing to use them instead of elevators. For no reason other than to keep fit but he's also he's been on his fair share of calls involving elevators. He never considered stairs in his apartment but he loves it. The whole place looks like somewhere he would want to stay.

He's trying not to make heart eyes at the kitchen but from the way Eddie is chuckling beside him, he isn't doing a good job. It's big, bigger than most he had seen, there's space to move around, a large counter and actual good appliances - stove, fridge, fryer. Buck can already imagine himself cooking up a storm and practicing from the many lessons Bobby had taught him.

"How did you find this place? How is the price so low?" Buck asks in wonderment still looking around the apartment.

"I know people," Eddie says simply with a shrug.

Buck looks at him in awe. "Eddie this- this is amazing."

Eddie just smiles at him and Buck doesn't think he's ever seen anything as beautiful as Eddie when he smiles.

"Is it Athena approved?" Buck asks hopefully turning big eyes on Eddie.

Eddie smirks. "Oh, yeah."

Bucks skips over to him and without thought drags Eddie into a hug, arms wrapping around his shoulders and excitement pouring out of him in waves, causing him to jitter in Eddie's arms. Eddie's arms immediately come around Buck's waist holding him steady.

He lets his head rest in the crook of Eddie's neck for a little while longer breathing in the scent and comfort of the man himself before pulling away regretfully.

It's not as long as their hug a few weeks ago.

Eddie's hands still linger on his waist as Buck says, "Thank you."

Later, when he's lying in Abby's bed and trying to fall asleep his mind drifts back to Eddie, because of course it does, and how he had once again solved all his problems.

It sends a thrill through him as well as a sense of panic because he's never had these kinds of feelings before. Not even for Abby. Abby felt miles away compared to Eddie like a summertime fling if he were in high school again.

He finds himself itching for his phone and his hand moves towards where it's laying charging on the nightstand. Without him really realising what he's doing, the screen comes to life and the brightness of it makes Buck's eyes squint and his vision go slightly blurry for a few seconds, when his vision returns he holds in a groan when he realises that it's one am and he has a twelve-hour shift tomorrow morning.

Still, his thumb hovers over the home button wanting to open it up. He doesn't know what he wants to do on the surface but deep down, even though he really doesn't want to admit it, he knows he wants to call Eddie, to hear his voice, and once again express his gratitude in any way possible.

He forces himself to put his phone down again trying to chase away the urge to hear Eddie again when it has not even been a few hours since their last goodbye.

Buck's riding high on the news that he's found his new apartment and the generosity of Eddie that it's bound to all come crashing down some time soon.

He's late, he's never normally late - but LA traffic seriously sucks (he really wishes he wasn't in Abby's apartment still) and now Bobby is going to give him that patented disappointed parent look which never fails to make Buck feel like a chastised child. It's been that way since he was eighteen.

It's only five minutes, surely no one is going to notice. He can just sneak into the locker room and get changed then pretend he's been there the whole time hiding out.

They did notice.

"There he is," Chim shouts from the balcony where he stands with his other three teammates. Buck avoids looking at them as much as possible, especially Bobby, as he heads to the locker room to get ready.

This is already turning out to be such a great day and the first call hadn't even come in, he doesn't know why but from the moment he woke up Buck has felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach - like a warning of something to come.

He really hopes it's nothing, he notes with a sense of dread, having learned from a young age to trust these feelings.

Eddie watches him go with an amused look in his eye. He turns to Bobby whose sipping on his morning coffee. "How do I get Buck to believe I'm the King of Hell?" Bobby starts coughing wildly.

Eddie looks on alarmed and goes to reach a hand out awkwardly but thinks better of it like he doesn't know what to do. It always comes naturally to him when he interacts with Buck as if it's been ingrained into him every possible way to elicit a reaction and help him. However, with anyone else, who isn't a member of Hell, Eddie feels a little hopeless.

"You told him," Bobby croaks.

Eddie sighs impatiently. "Yes obviously, he just… doesn't believe me."

Bobby shifts uncomfortably, "He doesn't know anything."

Eddie's eyebrows raise in alarm. "What? Anything at all?"

Bobby shakes his head.

"How?" Eddie wonders.

"His parents didn't tell him because they blamed him," he informs. "You know they wanted to get rid of him but Maddie wouldn't let them," Bobby grimaces shaking his head. "Maddie was so young and now she doesn't know how to tell him."

"He really should be told," Eddie says pointedly.

Bobby tries to mask his grief as his grip on his mug tightens. "I know."

Eddie looks away and tries to mask his own grief because he knows that he's just as bad as Bobby, he's keeping why he's really here from Buck. Although his plans may have changed instantly, it doesn't change the fact that his intentions towards Buck, initially, weren't good. He knows he should tell Buck the truth to lay it all out there, but he struggles to even get the words out and when he finally does try they're always interrupted by something.

Buck's going to have to face the music sometime soon and avoiding his team in hopes of not being embarrassed can only be seen as avoiding the inevitable. Buck's no coward. They loved teasing Buck to no end and he doesn't bother to stop it anymore loving a good family ribbing, it's just annoying that Buck has given them prime ammo this time.

"Pops, I'm sorry I'm late," Buck pleads leaping up the stairs two at a time. "Traffic really sucked today."

Bobby pulls away from where he's having a conversation with Eddie to focus his attention on Buck.

He shakes his head fondly, "It's alright," he says surprising Buck. "There haven't been any calls and it's only five minutes, no harm done." He levels his gaze with Buck's and there it is the look, "but don't do it again."

"Aye, aye, captain," Buck salutes skipping towards Eddie who's been watching him the whole time leaning against the kitchen counter with a certain gleam in his eye. Buck wants to ask him for updates on the letter but before he can make it towards him, Hen stops him with a wave towards the table.

"There's a parcel for you, Buckeroo."

He frowns and walks towards it. "For me?"

It's small and brown and on the front there's his name printed along with the firehouse address. It's weird how they sent it to his place of work and not his address. A small part of him wonders if it could be from his parents, who he sends small updates about his job with the minuscule feeling of hope that they'd reply and be proud of him.

He knows he really shouldn't but he's always been a glutton for punishment.

It's not an envelope, but rather a parcel, and Buck's really curious as to what it is. He can feel Eddie creeping closer as he moves to open it.

He's not expecting what's inside.

Within the package is a silver knife, it's shiny, slim, and pointed at the end. It's something Buck's never seen before, doesn't look it's made for cooking or anything - more for fighting and Buck can't imagine that he's the type to be sent anything to do with fighting. He wonders whether it's some new kind of kitchen utensil and, honestly, it could be from his parents considering they know next to nothing about him.

He pushes that thought away.

"Oh, cool," Buck says going to pick it up but his hand is slapped away before he can and Eddie suddenly pushes him to the side at the same time.

"What the hell, man!" Buck exclaims.

Everyone had stood up at the same time making all kinds of noises.

"Don't touch that!"

"What the-"

"Where did that come from?"

Buck looks around at them all in confusion and alarm. "Guys, what the hell is going on?"

Eddie steps into where Buck previously was and picks up the parcel, glaring at it. If it were possible he feels Eddie would've made it burst into flames with just that one look.

Eddie picks up the blade making sure to keep it out of Buck's reach and moves it around to examine it, his eyes darken as he does so.

"Whoever sent this knew Buck would be with all of us?" Eddie murmurs to himself turning the blade over in his hand.

"This feels like a warning," Bobby says wearily.

"A warning?" Chim asks. "A warning for what?"

A look of realisation crosses Bobby's face. "The strange phone calls," he says to himself.

Eddie's head snaps in his direction and his eyes narrow. "What strange phone calls?" His gaze levels with Buck's with a raised eyebrow and a look in his eye that demands later, it makes Buck gulp.

Bobby goes to say more but before he can a flare of frustration flies through Buck.

"Okay someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on right now!" Buck exclaims, angrily cutting everyone off. "I've had enough of being kept in the dark and biting my lip every time. You guys are keeping something from me and I want to know what it is." He's had enough of letting everyone carry on their conversation whilst he's so far out of the loop he can't even see it.

Everyone seems to stand up their faces completely serious and Buck knows whatever they're about to say is going to completely uproot his entire life, so he takes a seat.

He really hopes they aren't interrupted this time. That damn bell better stay silent he thinks, waving a pointed finger in its direction.

It's Eddie who's the first to say anything, he's not surprised it feels like Eddie's been trying to tell Buck something from the moment they reconnected at the station.

"Buck, you're an angel."

"Uh, thank you?" Buck says, puzzled and flushed because Eddie was complimenting him right now and honestly it didn't seem like the most appropriate time for flirting, especially in front of his family. He probably shouldn't be focusing on that right now, but it makes something in him preen anyway.

Eddie groans. "I can't," he turns to Bobby and wildly gestures to Buck. "He's your son, you do it."

Buck tilts his head trying not to be offended by his exasperation.

"Buck, do you know what the supernatural is?"

"Obviously I've seen the show."

"No, not Supernatural, the supernatural?"

Buck flails for a moment and then gestures to everyone with narrowed eyes. "What's going on guys?"

This conversation was not going the way he thought it was, when everyone had first stood up he was expecting some kind of revelation like 'I am your father'; he says as much.

Chimney snorts, despite the tension in the room, a small smile on his face. "Buck this isn't Star Wars."

Buck frowns. "What's Star Wars?"

Chimney gapes at him.

"Guys, we're getting off-topic," Bobby says waving his hands around with an expression on his face that he always has when his fire family pulls on his last nerve.

Buck grins sheepishly and nervously.

"Buck, what Eddie's saying is true," Hen speaks up for the first time. "You're an angel."

Buck is struck silent trying to wrap his head around what they're all saying. "An angel?" He finally lets out incredulously trying not to laugh wildly and freak everyone out. Although he's the one who's freaked out right now.

"That's right," Hen says with a nod of her head paired with a serious expression.

Buck puts his head in his hands and stops himself from letting out a scream in frustration, "What?" He raises his head and looks at all of them once more, "You realise how insane this sounds, right?"

"We all knew you were an angel from the moment we met you but what we couldn't figure out is how you had no idea that you were."

Buck feels so lost. He laughs to himself; it's bitter and he feels it like a lemon has been rubbed all over him leaving him raw and vulnerable.

This whole time Buck has felt as if there was a part of him that he's never fully understood. A locked away part that he's never been given the key to unlock. He has always felt incredibly isolated from everyone around him, despite the incredibly welcome feeling the 118 family gave him, there was always something in the background keeping Buck away from the rest of them.

(He realises now that this is why he has never felt like he's belonged anywhere, he was never given the chance.)

"How can you tell I'm an 'angel'?" Buck asks sarcastically.

Hen smiles softly at him, "You glow, Buck."

"Figuratively?"

Chim laughs, "No you seriously glow man when you're happy or having a good time or when you meet someone for the first time."

Buck doesn't know whether or not to be embarrassed or to believe any of this to be honest.

"Right…" he draws off.

"People flock around you because you're the literal embodiment of goodness Buck, it's why you can calm people down on calls or talk someone off the edge," Bobby adds.

"You can't be serious," Buck whispers. "This can't be real."

They all look way too serious to playing such a big practical joke on it and it makes Buck want to itch away at the anxiety that's vibrating through him.

"It is, we're all part of this world. It's why we were so drawn to you, it's why we knew what you were from the start," Hen informs him in the voice she uses as if she's speaking to a patient who has no clue what's going on. In some way it's true but it makes Buck want to weep all the more.

"So, you guys only spoke to me because I'm an angel?" Buck said quietly, a look of hurt flashing across his face.

Bobby leaps forward grasping Buck's hand in his. "Buck, no. That may have been what first led us to you, but we stayed because we all loved you for you. Evan Buckley." He takes a deep breath, "I stayed because you became like a son to me. You are my son and nothing's ever going to change that." He says fiercely.

Buck wants to relish in Bobby's hold, wants to throw himself into his arms and be wrapped in the warm security blanket he's had all these years from the family that chose him. But he can't allow himself that, can't bring himself to do it when there's the feeling of betrayal coursing through his veins pricking his eyes with tears.

He moves his hand away to clutch it to his chest like he's shielding himself, protecting himself from his own family instinctively.

"So you've all been lying to me this whole time?" he accuses glancing around at all of their faces guilt-laden and sorrow broadcasting like a beacon all around him. He forces himself to look at Eddie who just looks sympathetic as if he knew this was bound to happen eventually and it makes Buck all the more confused and grateful towards him.

Bobby's face drops in anguish. "We…" he stops himself, "I tried to tell you so many times and I know that's not an excuse, but I just didn't know how."

"You didn't know how?" Buck demands trying to force down all the anger he can feel coursing through him, he hates being angry, doesn't like what the emotion brings out in people. After living in the Buckley household his whole childhood and seeing what monster's anger made his parents when their numb masks slipped through the cracks - he's always tried not to let that emotion overrun him, not wanting to do something he regrets especially to the people he loves.

"Buck, I really think Maddie is the best person to explain this," Bobby begs.

Buck rears back in surprise so great he's surprised he didn't hear anything crack, he wonders if they could hear the crack of his heart after learning that this whole time Maddie has known and not told him.

"Maddie knows?" He croaks out, voice breaking.

Chimney's face drops in realisation.

"Buck-" he starts, but Buck shakes his head before he can say anything rubbing his hands forcefully into his, surprisingly, dry but raw eyes.

Eddie reaches out to take Buck's hand but he moves it away before he can, he ignores the pained look that flashes across Eddie's face. No matter how much he wants to, he can't let himself take comfort with Eddie - he needs to be clear-headed right now. He yearns to reach across and clasp Eddie's hand in his, to feel Eddie's thumb rub across his hand sweeping away the bitterness he was feeling right now.

But he can't.

He jumps up causing everyone to look at him warily as if they're worried that he was about to do something reckless, normally he would probably go off wallow in self-pity and then do something dangerous for attention. He doesn't want attention, he kind of just wants to crawl under the safety of his covers and not come out for a long while.

He's always been good at running away from his problems; has been ever since he was thrown the keys to Maddie's jeep and left Hershey without a backward glance. It scares him how he has that feeling now, to get away from LA, away from the truth he's being forced to face. It's a brief thought but frightens him nonetheless transporting him back to a time where he was the lost, unanchored teenager who was looking for his place in the world.

He knows he'll never truly leave LA, never truly leave his found family behind.

But right now it's a fleeting thought and he really needs to talk to his sister.