Summary:
Buck wakes up.
Chapter Text
"Hi baby." She said and Buck launched himself at her pulling her into a tight hug.
Buck pulled back with tears cascading down his face.
"How are you here? Wait am I dead?" Buck asked starting to panic. He wasn't ready to die. He couldn't leave Eddie and Chris and Bobby and everybody else.
"You're not dead baby. You're just..drifting." She said trying to calm him.
"But I- How?"
She shrugged, "I don't know."
Buck bit his lip unsurely. So he wasn't dead but clearly if he was here he wasn't exactly living either.
"Don't worry about it sweetie. Let's just enjoy the time we've gotten to spend with each other for now." She said placing her hand on his cheeks.
"I see you found your dad huh?" She asked.
"Yeah. He's amazing mom. I'm so glad I got to know him."
"I always knew he'd be an amazing father. Just like that boyfriend of yours." Layla smiled.
"You know about Eddie?" He asked.
"Of course baby. Can't you hear them? Listen closely to the waves to hear their love."
And so Buck listened concentrating on the sound of the waves on the shore and just like that he could hear voices. He recognized the voices of his team. He could hear JT and Ty and Jake. That laughter. That's Bobby.
Then there it was. That deep voice that belonged to the man he had grown to love and cherish. Eddie.
Eddie and Bobby were here with his team.
"They're all here for you baby so make sure you fight for them okay?" She said looking at him lovingly.
"I don't want to leave you mama." Buck said holding onto him tightly.
"You won't have to just yet okay? But you can't stay. You have a family waiting for you so enjoy it for now."
Buck and her walked on the beach just talking. He missed his mom dearly and was happy for this time
with her even if it was a just a weird dream. It felt so real though. Buck couldn't miss the feeling of love that had enveloped him since he got to this beach.
This break was exactly what he needed. Just he and his mom like old times and so Buck continued drifting.
Buck's infection eased up after a couple of days and so they had started to lift the sedation. His body had been severely weakened by the sepsis but they didn't want to keep him under for any longer because it was too much of a risk.
They'd taken him off the sedation completely two days ago. A full 21 days since Buck had been brought back to the states. The doctors had said that it was up to Buck to fight to wake up now. The bright side is that Buck was going to keep his leg and his injuries were healing nicely. Buck just had to wake up.
Bobby and Eddie had taken extended leave to continue to be here for Buck. Bobby was grateful that Chim had taken over and was running things smoothly back home. Bobby had had to stop Athena from flying out here on multiple occasions because at the end of the day someone needed to look after the kids.
JT's wife, Anna had given Eddie the extra key that Buck had given her for his apartment in case of emergencies when she dropped by to see Buck. Eddie had learnt that Buck was a regular fixture in their household and regularly babysat their kids whenever he could. No wonder he had been so great with Chris.
Anna had also not so subtly expressed her happiness at Buck finding love and reconnecting with his father. Buck had radiated loneliness to her and she was happy to welcome him into their household because the boy clearly had no one else.
Eddie understood what she meant. Buck had no real blood family after his mom died until he and Bobby connected. With Buck's personality people naturally gravitated towards him but those people were friends not family. There were only so much friends could do because at the end of the day they all had their own families to return to while Buck had nothing but an empty apartment.
Buck's apartment was actually pretty nice. It was two bedrooms with an open floor plan and a fairly big kitchen which surprised both Bobby and Eddie considering Buck couldn't cook for shit. The apartment clearly cost some money and Eddie couldn't really figure out how Buck had managed to afford it. The military didn't really pay that well even with the many bonuses being a Seal gave.
Anna had told him that Buck had made of a hobby of investing in different things. Turns out the kid was pretty good at it too. It certainly helped that Buck had some friends from college working in finance who helped him.
Buck's apartment was nicely furnished but it felt cold and barely lived in. It fit with how often Buck traveled for work. Buck's office was a different story how ever. It had bookshelves lining the wall filled with tons of books that had clearly been read before if the page markers indicated anything.
There was a book on some chemistry concept that was open on Buck's armchair. Eddie remembered that Buck had a degree in biochemistry from Harvard. He really lucked out. Imagine that his boyfriend had a degree from thee Harvard. The armchair had a fluffy pillow and blanket and Eddie could tell Buck spent a lot of time sitting there reading. This office was the only room in the apartment that felt like Buck.
Much like Buck, Bobby and Eddie barely spent time at the apartment. They spent most of their days in Buck's hospital room and only came by to shower and catch some sleep.
In the time that they'd been in Virginia Beach, they ended up learning more about the operation Buck had been hurt on. The president himself had held a press conference about it. They'd been informed that Buck was actually being nominated for the Medal of Honor.
He'd led a successful high risk operation and then when it went to shit he fought through and managed to save his pilot while he himself was severely injured. He'd also managed to secure the body of his second in command which his family had been so grateful for. His family had been able to bury their son and give him a proper send off.
Shark's family had invited him and Bobby to attend the funeral but Eddie had decided not to. It didn't feel right and Buck had needed him more right now. Shark's family had actually stopped by to see Buck. They'd left flowers and well wishes saying that they'd pray for him. Eddie was grateful that they had had it in their heart to pray for Buck even though he came home alive while their son didn't.
The rest of Buck's team was a welcomed constant. They visited frequently sometimes together and sometimes individually. Cage also called often to check in. Eddie was grateful for their willingness to fill up the silence in Buck's hospital room. Other than that it was just him and Bobby and their thoughts. His thoughts were fixated on the kind of hell Buck had gone through.
Eddie still couldn't imagine what it had been like for Buck during that time period. Buck had to deal with his own injuries while helping the pilot. Both of which would have been in close proximity to their dead man. Eddie wasn't sure how he'd begin to process that if it were him in that position instead.
He had begun to research therapists and psychologists who specialized in dealing with veterans. He wanted to be proactive so that he could get Buck help sooner rather than later if he needed it. The team had even pitched in some suggestions and had pledged their help.
Eddie sighed as leaned back in the uncomfortable chair. Bobby had gone to get something for them eat. Eddie had so much on his mind right now he was glad for the little alone time even if he wasn't technically alone with Buck being there.
He had to go back to work soon. There was only so much time he could take off. He needed the money to help care for Chris. Bobby and Athena had assured him that they could help but it didn't feel right to take money for them just so he could stay at Buck's bedside.
Buck needed to wake up soon. Eddie was so close to hitting his breaking point. He felt overwhelmed. He knew that Buck's body was healing but he really wished that it would heal faster. He would do anything to see those beautiful ocean blue eyes.
"Buck baby please wake up. I need you so much right now. I don't know how much longer I can do this." Eddie pleaded at his bedside.
Buck was still on that beach. He was laying on the sand with his mom with his head on her lap when he heard Eddie's pleas.
"Baby I love you. Please just come back to me."
Buck's heart broke into two. He needed to go back to Eddie. His time here was over.
Buck sat up looking at his mom. She looked so radiant and angelic. She had a knowing look.
"It's time for you to go baby. They need you." She said holding him tightly.
"I know mama. I love you. I wish you could come
with me."
She looked at Buck sadly, "I will always be with you baby. I love you too."
Buck hugged her one last time and closed his eyes feeling himself letting go until he could no longer feel his mother's loving embrace.
He came to slowly. He could hear an incessant beeping sound and smelled antiseptic. He came to the conclusion that he was in the hospital. How did he get here? His chest felt weird. Kinda like he was being forced to breathe. He noted that his hand was clearly being held by someone. Probably Eddie his head filled in.
Buck mustered up all his energy and slowly opened his eyes and squeezed Eddie's hand. Eddie shot up in shock and locked eyes with him. His eyes widened as he noticed Buck was awake.
"Oh my God Buck."
