I'm so sorry for the strange chapter. I don't know what I did wrong but I really hope that it's better this time.

„Buck, you are being irrational. The hole is full with dirt and water. How do you think are we gonna get through that mess?"

Buck was breathing heavily panting from all the worry. "I-I don't know but we have to try, Bobby. We are the only ones who can find Eddie. He is under there."

Hen laid a hand on Bucks shoulder. She could feel the vibrations of his tense muscles through the protection gear. "Buck. I think you should head inside. You are cold and tired."

But the only answer she got was Buck shaking her hand of and running out after Bobby. "Bobby, he is down there. We need to safe him." Bobby took a hold of both of Bucks shoulders. "I know that but everything is unstable down there. We can't just dig a new hole. Even if we would get a new drill, and that's highly doubtable..."

Buck looked over at Chim, trying to grt someone on his side but when he saw the sad expression in his face he knew… They had all given up on Eddie. "You all think he is dead." It wasn't a question and it hurt Bobby deeply to see Buck that desperate. Hen tried to intervene before everything escalated. "No one things he is dead, Buck. We wonn't give up on him, so you understand? We just have to find a way to reach him without risking a collapse of the tunnel."

Buck was devastated but he knew that Hen was right. He shook away the hands and made his way over to the tent where everyone else had gathered to form a rescue plan. "What are we going to do?" The commissioner looked at Buck and sighed. "It's a very risky mission but we are hhoping to find another underground tunnel towards the cave where firefighter Diaz is currently." Buck could feel the tears pooling in his eyes so he turned around and left the tent dragging his tired feet towards their firetruck. He sat down on the bumper and lifted his eyes towards the dark sky. The rain was still pouring down on him but at this moment it was more than welcome for Buck. His own tears were starting to blend into the salty raindrops but no one could see it so Buck was thankful for the rain.

A quiet sob escaped his throat but he tried to suppress it not wanting to alarm the others.

He hadn't seen Bobby coming towards him and standing only a few steps away from him hearing the strangled sob. In the same moment Bobby knew that he had to be more than a captain. He had to be a friend in order to safe Buck from his own mind. He went down on his knees feeling the cold of the mudd but the only thing he cared about was Buck. He laid his hand on Bucks neck gently pulling his head down so that he could look him in the eyes. "Hey Buck, what is going on? You know that I do everything I can do to safe Eddie, don't you?" Buck looked down at his muddy uniform. "I know you do but it isn't enough. He is down there suffocating in that dirt and I refuse to let him die." "Nobody wants him to die. We are all working on a plan but it takes time. You can't give up." A few moments of silence passed but suddenly Buck whispered. "I can't lose another brother. Not like this."

The confusion was clear to see on Bobbys face. Could it be that Buck had a brother who died? But why didn't Buck or Maddie tell them? Seeing that Buck was a little bit in shock he tried to use a calmer voice he normally uses on patients. "Come on Buck, speak with me. What do you mean?"

A few tears were spilling down his cheeks. "I am standing right here. A few feet away from Eddie and I still can't help him. I should be down there not him. He has a son and a life." Bobby had hoped for the answer about the brother part but he knew that now wasn't the place to ask about that. They had to safe Eddie first.

"Come Buck, let us go to the others and try to help them, alright?" Buck nodded and hastily stood up swaying on his feet. Bobby caught Buck by his shoulders and supported him for a moment

before Buck pulls away ones again. "Let's go. We have to rescue Christophers father."

All the firefighters gathered in a circle trying to come up with a plan when suddenly a voice got louder. "He is there." The relief was obvious in Bucks face when he finally saw Eddie stumbling towards them. "EDDIE! Get him a blanket he is freezing. Come here Eddie, we get you to a hospital." It took all of them a while to load Eddie into the ambulance. Buck didn't hesitate to jump into the back riding with Eddie while Hen tried to stabilize and warm him up.

"Hey Diaz, I'm giving you a line with a warmed saline drip to warm you up a little bit." Buck was at a loss for words. He was exhausted and cold but happy because he finally had Eddie back. Christopher wouldn't be alone, because he would bring Eddie back home. Eddie lazily opened his eyes and grinned at Buck. "Why are you making that face, huh?" Buck chuckled. "Trying to understand how you pulled that magic trick on us." Eddies words were slurred because he was drifting off. "Same trick as in Afghanistan." Hen looked at Buck with a sad smile. "He will be okay. He just has to warm up a bit and sleep for a while." Buck nodded and rubbed unconsciously over Eddies hand which he held in his own hand.

When they arrived at the hospital a bunch of doctors in white coats whisked away the unconscious firefighter shouting their medical terms trough the hallway. "I need a heated blanket, a new saline drip and I want an x-ray from his chest. He could develop an infection so we have to monitor him."

Buck was standing behind the sliding glass door, trying to distance himself from the emotional turmoil inside his chest. Sure, he was happy that he had Eddie back, but he was also angry at himself for letting the detail about his past slip. He knew that someday Bobby would ask him about the brother part of his meltdown.

Slowly Buck entered the waiting room and sat into one of the uncomfortable chairs waiting for news on Eddies condition. After a few minutes the rest of the team entered the room with coffees and blankets. Bobby laid a thick blanket around Bucks shivering shoulders and pressed a warm cup of coffee into his stiff hands. "You should drink something. It was a long day for all of us. We can talk later, alright?" Buck nodded but he hadn't really heard what Bobby had said. His mind was wandering years back to the fateful day he lost his brother.