Every Breath You Take (I'll be watching you…)

Summary: Buddie fic. Mysterious gifts start appearing at the firehouse for Buck from a secret admirer, but as the gifts get progressively more sinister and the 118 grow increasingly worried, they must uncover the mystery before someone close to them gets seriously hurt, or worse. Protective!Eddie. Established Buddie relationship. Follows on from Turning Point but can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: I do not own 9-1-1 or anything associated with the show.

Author Notes: Thank you for reading! I love writing these characters so much.

Set after season 6.

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Chapter 5

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Buck wasn't sure what he expected when he volunteered as bait, but it certainly didn't involve him sitting alone at the bar of the Midnight Ace on the Saturday night before Halloween. Given that his stalker had already killed someone and was now leaving 'gifts' at Eddie's, it was only a matter of time before Shawn made his move, and this was their attempt at taking control of the situation. Not that Buck felt all that in control.

Exposed. Vulnerable. Hell, he would even admit that he was scared.

It didn't help that so many other customers were wearing masks and costumes, and Buck found himself wondering whenever someone stared in his direction a little too long. But amongst the lights and music and alcohol fuelled crazy, there was Athena and other officers, keeping an eye but also keeping enough distance that it wouldn't be suspicious.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked, leaning forward across the bar and offering up a bright smile.

Buck cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from the crowd to look at the man in front of him. "Er, soda water, thanks."

"Sure, no problem."

He inclined his head a little and grabbed a glass from under the bar. He motioned toward the ice but Buck shook his head, finding himself distracted by a skeleton near the entrance who seemed to be fumbling with the bouncer. He found he could only breathe again once they'd taken their mask off to reveal a young blond man who looked nothing like Shawn. The clink of the glass on the bar brought his attention back to the bartender and he reached for his wallet to pay.

"No, no… it's on the house." The bartender shook his head and waved his hands. "It's the least I can do for a knight in shining armour."

Buck's brow furrowed, questioning, tilting his head to the side slightly in confusion.

"I recognise you," the bartender continued on in explanation. "You're a firefighter, right? You er, you probably don't remember but the last time you were here, you stopped a drunk guy that was harassing us."

A knot formed in Buck's stomach, his chest tightening. How could he forget? He was the reason said drunk guy was now lying in the morgue. Fredrick Galloway. Who probably had a family, people that missed him and cared about him. And now he was gone because he had chosen the wrong night to get drunk and rowdy and because Buck… Buck took a breath, trying to steady himself and push the thoughts away.

"Anyway, thank you… for that," the bartender said, before reaching a hand across the bar. "I'm David, by the way."

Buck took his hand and shook it, offering up a strained smile. "Buck."

"Well, enjoy your night, Buck," David said with a smile, his gaze darting toward another waiting customer.

"Thanks," was all Buck found he could say.

This was not a night he would enjoy. He knew that deep down inside, sure of it as he gripped his glass and took a long drink in an attempt to steady himself.

-.-.-.-.-

It made Bobby uneasy to see how busy the club was. He slipped through the crowd and found Athena standing by a table, and in any other circumstance, the sight of her would have sent him wild. Her outfit, the way she held herself, the power and attitude… but tonight, his mind was far too filled with worry to entertain other thoughts.

"Bobby?" she questioned when she saw him, the confusion quickly turning to admonishment. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I wasn't going to let him be out here alone," Bobby answered, coming to stand beside her and looking out over the crowd toward the bar and taking in Buck.

"He's not alone," Athena reminded him. "You think I would let our boy do this without taking precautions? You shouldn't be here, Bobby."

"If it's safe enough for Buck, then it's safe enough for me." Bobby took a breath, allowing his eyes to wander through the club. "Just be thankful Hen and Chimney are keeping an eye on Eddie and keeping him from bursting through that door any minute."

Athena let go of a small snort at that and shook her head. "That temper and protectiveness of his remind me a little of someone else I know."

"Oh, yeah?" Bobby questioned with a half-smile. "I wonder who."

She smiled back, relenting. Just like Bobby knew it was useless to argue with her over certain things, she knew that when it came to the 118, Bobby could not be swayed.

"So, tell me again," Bobby continued, "why did it have to be this place?"

"Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a pattern." Her gaze was ever searching, constant and alert. "The two times you were here, so was Harris, and his credit card records show those weren't his only visits. Having Buck out in the open like this, it could draw him out, encourage him to make his move more than if we hid Buck away somewhere like the firehouse."

"But did it really have to be this weekend? Halloween weekend?"

"Believe me, I'm not happy about it either. But you see the new bouncer on the door?"

"The one that doesn't even look old enough to drink?"

"Officer Brody. He's making sure to check everyone who enters, and I mean everyone." She held up her phone, showing a message alerting her to Bobby's arrival.

Bobby held his hands up but offered no apologies.

He had already made his mind up that he was going to be there for Buck, even if it meant standing and watching from the shadows, and as he watched Buck, he knew he made the right choice. Despite his height and build, Buck had a way of looking so much younger than he was. So often Bobby had to remind himself that Buck was a young man, capable and strong.

It was in the way he wore his heart on his sleeve, the vulnerability that shone through so clearly in his eyes. He had grown up so much since first joining the 118, but every time Bobby looked at him, he could still see that fresh-faced youth who wanted to prove himself, who wanted to show that he deserved a place in the world.

Athena placed a hand on Bobby's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looked to her with a sad smile, expecting words of comfort and reassurance, expecting her to tell him that everything would be alright and that they would catch their man, and all go home safe and sound. But Athena had never been one to lie about such things.

-.-.-.-.-

"You waiting for someone?"

Buck turned back to the bar at the sound of David's voice, taking in the raised eyebrow of the bartender as he cleaned the glass in his hand. As the night went on, he had occasionally checked in on Buck, refilling his drink as and when needed, and though Buck appreciated the kind face, it did little to settle the wild thumping of his heart inside his chest.

"Something like that," Buck answered, flexing his hand a moment before gripping his glass tightly once more in an attempt to gain control of the tremor that worked its way through his fingers.

He had never really considered himself the nervous type. When it came to being a firefighter, he couldn't afford to be. There was no room for doubt when you were under pressure like that, making calls that could save a life, or lose one. Letting the doubt and fear in caused hesitation, and hesitation caused mistakes to happen. Time was of the essence in those moments, and perhaps that was why he found himself so reluctantly out of sorts there and then.

There was no pressure, no time limit, just him alone with his own thoughts, waiting.

"You sure you don't want anything a little stronger?" David asked, nodding towards the almost empty glass in Buck's hands.

Buck looked down at the remnants of soda water, and as much as something stronger may have helped his nerves, he knew he needed a clear head. Especially when it was already spinning from the intense heat and lights and noise of the club. He could practically feel the sweat dripping down the back of his neck, his chest tightening and vision wavering against everything pushing in on him.

He shook his head and attempted a smile. "No, this is fine."

"Really?" David shrugged and grabbed the hose to refill Buck's drink. "And just so you know, anyone who would stand up a hero like the 'County Fair Spider-Man', so not worth your time."

Buck felt as if his breath had been stolen and he looked up to David through a narrowed gaze. Mouth suddenly dry, he tried to get his thoughts in order before finally managing to push out, "What did you just say?"

"He's not worth your time," David repeated. "This guy or whoever you're waiting for. He's not worth it."

"No, you, er…" Buck started, eyes falling to his hand and the way his grip slackened around the glass. He cleared his throat and pushed up from his seat, trying not to betray how unsteady his own legs felt under him. The smile that slipped onto his face was false and nervous, eyes flashing to David a moment then to the drink on the counter.

With shaky hands, he pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans and made an attempt to move away, hitching a thumb over his shoulder. He tried to say something about needing to answer a call, but he wasn't too sure what words actually made it out, tongue feeling thick in his mouth and thoughts fuzzy in his head.

The flashing lights from overheard only served to make things worse, the room darkening every couple of moments before exploding into bright lights. It made it hard for him to search the crowd and made it impossible for him to see any sign of Athena or the other officers that were supposed to be there, somewhere. With his vision so blurry and hands so unsteady, he could barely even manage to unlock his phone let alone search his contacts.

Several people cursed him as he brushed by them, several more pushing him back, keeping him from breaking through the rowdy crowd. By the time he could make out the green call button on his phone, he had no idea who he was calling, and realised too late that he was in the darker and quieter area toward the back of the club.

"Buck?" came a small voice from through his phone, worry and fear coating the name.

"Eddie…" he managed to breath out, before the phone was pulled from his grip and he felt the sharp bite of something definitely not good entering the skin of his neck.

-.-.-.-.-

As the night went on, Bobby felt his unease growing. There were no signs of Harris yet, which should have settled him, but fear gnawed at his chest. The way the music seemed to get louder and louder and the club seemed to get darker and darker didn't help matters. It meant keeping on eye on Buck was getting trickier. He found his breath catching in his throat every so often whenever someone blocked his view a little too long and he couldn't see around them.

A group of dancers blocked him this time and he stood up, attempting to look over them, but he could only just make Buck out and it wasn't enough to settle him. He took a step away from the table, casting a quick glance back to Athena as she frowned at her phone before answering it, and edged his way through the crowd until he had a clearer view.

His chest was already tight when he saw Buck falter, then Athena gripped his arm, drawing his attention toward her. She slipped her phone away, and though her gaze was gentle, Bobby couldn't help but feel suspicious of the way her grip on him did not waver.

"They've found Harris," she said.

Bobby swallowed hard. "That's good news, right?"

But his eyes were already moving back to Buck who had pushed up from his seat, and fear truly sparked inside of Bobby. He began to push through the crowd before Athena could even get the rest of her words out, cursing each and every person that held him up, keeping him from Buck. He twisted and turned his neck, trying to keep track of the kid and growing increasingly irate when he couldn't.

"He's dead, Bobby," Athena said. "Murdered."

The words washed over Bobby, determination pushing him until he finally laid hands on the bar and turned left and right for any sign of Buck. But all that remained was the glass on the bar that Buck had been drinking from. The people around were oblivious, lost in their own worlds.

"Where is he?" he pushed out, jaw tight and body tense. "Where's Buck?"

Athena already had her radio in her hands, taking control of the situation. But in all that chaos, Bobby had to wonder how much control they had, numb as he barely even felt his own phone vibrate in his pocket and he pulled it free to see Chimney's name.

He answered wordlessly, bringing it up to his ear as his eyes still searched the club for Buck and his feet moved of their own accord.

"Bobby? What's going on? Eddie got a call and took off. I'm following him in my car, but he's got a head start. I think he's headed your way."

"We were wrong," Bobby said, feeling his stomach knotting up as he turned into the darkened corridor toward the back of the club and could already make out what looked to be a phone lying abandoned on the floor. He picked it up and turned it over to view the familiar lock screen, cracked and dulled across the photo of Buck and Eddie and Chris. "It wasn't Harris, and we just gave the real stalker the perfect opportunity to get his hands on Buck."

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A/N: I'm sorry?