Author's Note: I'm thinking this may be one chapter per episode, depending on how much happens in that particular episode. I don't plan on this being a retelling of each scene, with a lot of borrowed dialogue. I'm figuring it out as I go along.

Eddie hated being the new guy. It wasn't just because he had to learn a new place and be around new people, although that wasn't his favorite. Letting people get close to him wasn't his strong suit. Especially when it was people who he was going to be around a lot. This wasn't like an office job where you could have casual small talk in the break room, then not have to interact with them again. These were people who he was going to have to work with closely and rely on to stay safe, and vice versa. He had experience with that in the Army, so he knew how important camaraderie was.

The worst thing in Eddie's opinion about being the new guy was feeling like he was ruining something by being there. Messing up the fragile ecosystem. Because he knew what it was like to have someone new come in and mess up what you had. Eddie didn't want to be that person. This job, this career, was so important to him. And he was sure his coworkers felt the same way. He didn't want to be the reason someone dreaded coming into work every day, when they used to love it. So Eddie went into his first day determined to be the best coworker he could be. Then he met Buck.

Everyone else he met was friendly enough, but Buck was different. Standoffish and cool, but not outright rude. Eddie made a note to keep an eye on him, since there were multiple ways this could go. Some people were just mean for the sake of being mean, but he didn't get that vibe from Buck. The whole station seemed great, so it wasn't likely they had some asshole running around unchecked.

When they were in the truck on the way to their first call, the questions started. Eddie had been expecting it, since people were naturally curious, but he hated talking about his time in the military. There were things he liked about it, like helping people and making a difference. But you didn't get awards for the nice stuff. Eddie brushed off their questions the best he could, all while keeping note of Buck's demeanor. Hearing the others tease him gave Eddie a better idea of Buck's place in the group. He was the little brother and probably the most recent addition, before Eddie came along. The picture was getting clearer.

Eddie had been planning on doing what he was told on the call and mostly watching how the others worked with each other. But when it came down to it, he couldn't ignore his instincts. It might not have scored him points with Buck, but he had to put the patient first. He still tried to include him in the treatment, but looking back on it, it probably seemed like Eddie was doing it to have Buck do the grunt work, which was not his intent. They were really off to a bad start.

The little confrontation they had in the workout area really didn't help. Part of Eddie was trying to be helpful with the lighting comment, and a little petty with the girlfriend comment, but another part of him did say it to try and force Buck's hand a little. He hated dancing around a conversation. Eddie thought maybe if they faced the problem head on, it would be better in the long run. It obviously didn't work, but it did confirm Eddie's earlier suspicion about Buck's problem. It was insecurity, not malice. Eddie was going to have to try a different approach.

Who knew a grenade would be the thing to mend the bridge? Eddie thought he'd left them behind after he was discharged, but what did he know? The call started off with the bickering he expected, but when things got serious, they buckled down. They put any differences they had aside and focused on the job. Turned out all they needed was to be in danger of blowing up before everything was put into perspective. They made it out alive, agreed that they could trust each other, then continued on their shift.

Eddie had been a little worried that when the adrenaline of a near death experience and the glow of satisfaction of a person saved wore off, Buck would go back to how he was before. Luckily, that didn't happen. They worked together seamlessly during the idiot YouTubers call. And they even started hanging out around the station during their downtime. It was quickly becoming apparent how well they clicked together, to a degree that surprised Eddie. He wasn't really the type to have close friendships. But when Buck invited him to go out for drinks after their shift, he didn't hesitate to accept.

"This is one of my favorite spots to stop for a couple beers after work. A lot of first responders frequent, so no one looks at you weird if you come in to drink a beer at 6am," Buck laughed as they sat down at a table with a couple drinks.

"That's cool," Eddie agreed, tapping his bottle against Buck's before taking a drink. This was the first time he'd gone out for drinks with another adult in years. It was nice.

"I've been coming here a bit more often, since my girlfriend left town," Buck said, trying to keep a nonchalant smile on his face. Eddie noticed that Buck wasn't very good at hiding his feelings. If you were paying attention, all you needed to do was look Buck in the eyes to know what was going on in his head.

"I'm sorry about your girlfriend. And I'm sorry I brought her up the other day. It's not my business or my place," Eddie said sincerely. "I'm also sorry about those first few days. I didn't mean to make you think I was trying to force my way in."

"No, don't apologize. I'm the one who should apologize. I was planning on it, but you beat me to the punch," Buck scoffed, rolling his eyes. "New guy can't even let me win at being wrong." Eddie huffed out a laugh, shaking his head in amusement.

"Really though. Situations like that are so far out of my comfort zone that I tend to go too far in the other direction. So I act like I belong and nothing phases me, when I'm really second guessing every move I make," Eddie admitted. This was more personal than he planned on being, but there was something about Buck that made him feel at ease. He trusted him to have his back, not only on the job. "This opportunity is just really important to me and I need to do whatever I can to make it work."

"I get it. And I guess I was scared that everyone would see you and realize I was replaceable," Buck confessed, shredding the little napkin that was under his drink. "I've made some mistakes in the past and while I've learned from them, I'll most likely screw up again. If they have someone to replace me with, maybe they won't be so quick to give me a little grace."

"I may have only been around you all for a few days now, but I don't get the impression that they would toss you away like that. And if they would, that's not a group of people I want to be around."

"You're probably right," Buck conceded with a sigh, before shooting him a wry smile. "A war hero, good looking, and smart. How can I compete with that?"

"This isn't a competition," Eddie reminded him, before tilting his head to the side. "What was that second one?"

"Hmm?"

"Really?"

"Come on! You know how you look," Buck said, blushing furiously.

"You're not so bad yourself," Eddie replied, probably surprising himself more than Buck. Eddie didn't flirt. He couldn't even blame being buzzed, since he hadn't even finished one beer. Buck was just bringing something out of him that Eddie couldn't quite explain.

"No offense to Chim, but I definitely would've chosen you for that calendar."

"Yeah?"

"Those pictures you sent in. The calendar people probably wanted to keep them for themselves." It felt like the air between them was charged as they stared at each other across the table. What was it about this guy? He'd been drawn to him the second they laid eyes on each other. Was Eddie deluding himself when he said it was because he wanted to fit in? Because right now, it felt like more.

"Buck."

"Want to check out the lighting in the hallway?"

And that was how Eddie ended up pressed against a wall in a dimly lit hallway with a pair of lips trailing along his neck. Eddie gasped as Buck's strong hands wrapped around his hips, holding him in place. This was different from anything he'd ever experienced. Eddie didn't have an extensive sexual history, but each one had involved him being the larger partner and the one leading the way, for lack of a better term. Buck was in control right now, using his size and strength to his advantage. Eddie found he was quite enjoying it.

Buck ghosted a breath along the shell of Eddie's ear and it made his whole body shudder. It had been so long since anyone touched him like this that he was practically starved for it. Eddie's eyelids fluttered as Buck laid open mouthed kisses across his jaw. He felt guilty that he was giving Buck nothing in return, but he was powerless to do anything beyond stand there and stay conscious. It felt like all the blood rushed from his head and he had a pretty good idea where it ended up.

Buck's hands shifted from his sides to his front, settling on the button of Eddie's jeans. He bit his lip, trying to hold back all the sounds that were trying to escape. Anyone could walk in on them, even though they were in a secluded area out of the way. This was so unlike anything he'd ever done, but Eddie wasn't planning on stopping it. That was, until the sound of his zipper being lowered snapped him out of his lust filled haze.

"I'm married!" Eddie blurted out. Buck's hands froze and he slowly tipped his head back to stare at Eddie. He saw his eyes flick down to Eddie's hand to check for a ring, but he'd stopped wearing one ages ago.

"Uh-"

"I'm sorry, let me explain," Eddie rushed out, finally gaining enough control over his body to reach out and grab Buck by the wrist, in case he was thinking about running off. "My wife left me two years ago, but we're still legally married.."

"Oh," Buck mumbled, before tipping forward and resting his forehead on Eddie's shoulder. Eddie felt him let out a little puff of laughter.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

"Don't be. I guess I've got someone to think about too. I'm technically still with Abby," Buck murmured. Eddie winced at the mention of her. He couldn't really judge Buck for being hung up on someone who'd only ghosted him for months, when he was still clinging to the thought of someone who'd left him years ago.

"We shouldn't do this."

"You're right. This used to be my style, but I turned over a new leaf," Buck sighed. Eddie felt Buck's hands on his fly again, but he just politely zipped and buttoned him back up.

"A new leaf?"

"Buck 2.0," he replied, as if that answered anything. "I'll tell you about it later."

"I really am sorry about this. I was having a good time."

"Me too."

"But I don't think this is the way to go about it. I've got a lot of baggage I need to deal with."

"Same," Buck said, shooting him a sad smile. Eddie could see he was about to walk away, but he snagged him by the wrist again before he could.

"I wouldn't mind figuring out some things with you? If you want?" Eddie proposed. He didn't know how long it would take before Eddie was ready to take the next step with someone, but every cell in his body was screaming that he wanted Buck to be that someone. The slow smile that spread across Buck's face told Eddie he felt the same way.