It's Crazy, But

by darkgirl3

Tommy and Buck meet five years before the cruise ship disaster. They meet after Buck's second surgery after the ladder truck fell on his leg. The meeting is because of someone that Tommy saw when he almost died years back in the gas leak.

AN: I got this idea while writing another story. I actually wrote it twice, but I think this one is the better of the two. So deleted the first one and this is what happened. It's a different first meeting because as say at the end, this is not how planned it. .This is not season 7 Tommy, he's still figuring things out so if seems OOC that's why, especially first part in 2005. Though did try to make him like in the Bobby Begins Again episode on the second part so hope that was okay.

AN2: I have also come to a realization that the writers did not follow some story lines from Fox to ABC switch over and this is why. Chimney joined the 118 in 2005 and Tommy was already there. (I'm going with him just finishing his probie year) Well it was 5 years later that Hen joined in 2010. So that mean Tommy's been there for 6 years. He said had been in army which I'm going with a four year tour at most before joined 2 at the least because maybe got hurt like Eddie did (IDK). In the episode that had the awards ceremony Bobby said Buck had been there for seven years. (Which hilarious cause Tommy said he'd transferred out 5 years before and been at harbor since to Gerrard (LOL) ) Anyways, so that means Tommy's been a firefighter for 19 years if add the other years he was in army then he's close to 44 which is around Chimney and Hen's age. I have been going by him being 39 which is Lou's age lol. Was talking someone about this and I agree the writers might not have done fact checks when was doing the parrel to Eddie lol. Sorry for rant it's just I find this really funny. I love Tevan forever and even though I still love Buddie I don't ever want this to end so I want Tarlos again badly with these two so if don't like no comments on that part.

Summary: Tommy and Buck meet five years before the cruise ship disaster. They meet after Buck's second surgery after the ladder truck fell on his leg. The meeting is because of someone that Tommy saw when he almost died years back in the gas leak.

Title: It's Crazy, But

2005

Daniel knew there wasn't a lot of time for him to do this. It was the perfect chance though since the firefighter that he knew would one day be his brother's husband was lying unconscious. He had to do something though. He'd been watching for a while now since he had nothing else to do. He wasn't supposed to be doing it, but there needed to be a little nudge. It wasn't like he had made the gas leak or the building itself start falling in. He was working off that because something had to change. Though it would be nineteen more years before Evan met his man. His brother was thirteen right now.

The sad part was that Evan didn't even know about him because his parents nor sister told him. He didn't want that burden on Evan when he was older if they did tell him. The idea that he was a savior sibling. Evan was more than that, he was going to do so many great things in his life. Daniel had seen some of them, but a few things he wasn't able to see. He still didn't understand why Evan had a full leg cast in one part he'd seen. It was probably due to another insane stunt that he pulled trying to get their parents to see him and care. He got that they were grieving, but how they could just forget Maddie and Evan was beyond him. He might be in his child body right now, but he was far beyond that.

It was how he knew he needed to talk to the man his brother would eventually marry. He had to get him on the right track even if it was going to take more years. If he could put that bug in his ear letting him know something that he kept lying to himself about it might help. He also knew that the firefighter named Howie was going to be his sister's husband. He would be so much better than the bastard Doug. Both his sister and brother's husbands were at the same station fighting fires and being a paramedic firefighter too. Though his brother's husband was going eventually be a firefighter pilot. That was cool and knew his brother would think so too.

Daniel could change his appearance easily, but he went with the photo image that Maddie had in her box that their parents didn't know was there. He went with it because it was the only one left of him. Another thing he wanted to scream at his parents over. At least for a time his dad had kept the bike. He was in the clothes from the bike picture now, he had materialized the helmet as well. He had only a few minutes before his future brother in-law came running in to save his other future brother in-law.

That captain was horrible and he thanked god that eventually Bobby would be there. Bobby who would be so wonderful to his brother, after a rough patch. He would shape Evan into the man he was supposed to become. He felt bad he couldn't change everything in life to take Bobby's pain away when he lost his family. Though if he saved them then Bobby wouldn't be able to be who he was meant to become. Just like if he didn't say something now, he was scared that Tommy wouldn't get there to his brother. He was just glad that Howie who would one day be known as Chimney was going to come in here to save Tommy.

Daniel knelt down gently shaking Tommy. He knew he wouldn't actually wake up because he was out. He had inhaled a ton of gas which he was going to be sick for a little. Thankfully Howie was starting to figure out that there was a gas leak. The dickhead captain said wasn't, stupid horrible man. The shake didn't do it so he used his ability to go inside of Tommy's mind making it seem like he was awake. It wouldn't do any damage and might give him a little more time. He couldn't take away the gas he'd inhaled and he was sure he wouldn't feel that great, but he'd make sure it didn't kill him until Howie got here.

~BT BT BT BT~

Tommy groaned blinking his eyes open. He was not expecting to be looking up, what exactly had happened. He'd been on the way back out of the building. That was all he could remember though. His eyes started focusing and he could see a kid which was not good. Something was wrong in the mall and the kid had to get out of there. He was willing his self to get up, but he really didn't want to. It was the thing no one really knew. He kept it hidden and he wouldn't actually kill himself. Though if he died right now there wasn't anyone that would miss him. He was tired and if this was it then that was fine. He'd served his country, got back home and he'd saved other people as a firefighter. Maybe if he died, he wouldn't feel empty or alone. He had felt hollow for a while. His now ex-girlfriend accused him of being a shell. The one that people still thought he was dating. It was easier to lie about it than say she'd dumped him.

"No, you stop thinking that shit right now." Daniel bit out. "You are not dying in here. It's going to take time, but you're going to meet the person you will end up with." He wasn't sure if saying his brother's name was the best right now. He'd wait until the last second because he didn't need Tommy countering him. He could tell that he was refusing to admit he was gay.

"What are you some kind of angel?" Tommy asked cause he wasn't sure what he believed. He went back and forth on that. "Cause if this is some kind of Marley's ghost thing where you show me the past present and future, I'll pass. Just let me go. I'm not worth saving."

Daniel sighed he really hadn't thought it was this bad. He wasn't even sure if he'd have enough time now to get all he needed to say across before Howie got in here. So he did what he knew was against the rules he froze time. He had to because if he didn't then Howie would have Tommy before they could talk. It was his one chance at this and how dark Tommy's mind was, was not good.

"I know your life sucks right now, feel like you're drowning and just want to sink. The world won't be better if you were gone. There are people you are supposed to save. I'm not Marley's ghost, I hated that movie. Thank of me as your guardian angel if you want. You're going to be saved. Howie's already on his way to get you, but I need to talk to you so might take little." Daniel said. "Your captain is a dickhead by the way and you seriously need to stop being a jerk yourself. Let people in, like Howie. He doesn't have to come in here and save your ass, I mean you haven't been nice to him. So that's step one into things to do when you are out of the hospital. Become friends with him because he is someone that is going to make you so much better." He took a breath.

There was so much more he needed to say, but time was going to run out. Daniel kept going though. He talked about how Tommy had to open up his eyes and see how this wasn't the stone age. No more going along with what the others said. If it was horrible talk then stay silent or walk away. No more getting on the bandwagon because that wasn't him. He knew for a fact that one day that Gerrard would be gone and that was going to be because of his stupid ways. So in five years when they got their first woman firefighter do not under any circumstances be on the captain's side of thinking. She could do the job and she was going to be a paramedic and Howie's partner. He probably shouldn't tell all, but he needed to do something. Hen was going to be a great friend and damn good paramedic and firefighter. He knew that Tommy would be one of the ones that helped kick Gerrard out by reporting the bastard for the things he does.

"I've only been here little over a year. He's been here for ages. Who do you really think they are going to believe. He's the same as all the others, same as my dad and rest the ones that put him there." Tommy tried arguing. He said anything and he'd be out of a job and even if he didn't care about living, he did love this job.

"In five more years things will be changing. Howie and Hen are going to be two of your close friends until you go to harbor. You'll stay in touch more with Howie than Hen after that though. I mean when someone saves your life you get this bond that doesn't really go away. You're going to get a second chance at life Tommy. Use it because it gets better. I've seen your future it's linked with two people that I love so much. My sister and brother are going to in your life. There will be kids and a niece maybe a nephew too. There will be a friend who's kid you're like a stepdad to. You get your own kids too because you are worth it." Daniel said. "They need you to live because without you living right now then there is a lot of people on a cruise ship that will die. One of them will be like a dad to you and I mean what a dad's supposed to be like. He'll be the same thing to the one you marry. He shapes that person into being who their supposed to be and you make them so happy."

He could feel the time starting to return to normal. He could hear Howie calling out Tommy's name. He was out of time, but he did really fast say the last things he needed to. It was better to rip that band aid off now. He gave Tommy the name, he had to give him that much at least. It would take time, but he would be Evan's husband. They would be happy together and a family. He was the missing piece to his brother.

"What, I'm not gay. You've lost your mind." Tommy said eyes going wide. The angel or whatever had lost their minds.

"I'm not lying to you, it's going take time, but you're going to see it. You'll stop lying to yourself and let yourself be happy. It's why you feel so lost now, you feel like it's not right when you're with a woman. It's why, it's because you're supposed to be with my brother. I have to go because Howie's here. Remember, Evan Buckley. Oh and you're going be the one that makes him realize he's bisexual. I'm sorry in advance for your first date, but he really has a bad, like epic proportion bad times a tsunami, earthquake, and mud slide level bad first date record. So be patient with and when he calls for a second chance give it to him." Daniel said before he got up moving as Howie grabbed hold of Tommy pulling him back into the real world again. "Tell him I love him and approve." He added not sure if it was heard.

~BT BT BT BT~

2019

The news report had played more than once of the scene of a firefighter being trapped under a ladder truck. Tommy had saw that it was the 118's. The same firehouse he'd worked at until he'd transferred. He'd wanted to fly again more than just on his days off. He'd wanted that freedom of being up in the air again. He'd also been trying to find that piece he was missing. He'd kept lying to himself for years. Even though he could replay that conversation by heart. It drove him nuts sometimes. That kid telling him he was gay. He'd refused to listen, shoved it away, though he'd known it even deeper inside. Going to harbor had been an almost clean break. He still talked to Howie at times. He had called him months back in need of help at a fire. Afterwards they had met up at the badge and ladder bar they used to go to. He'd heard about Maddie and what had happened to Howie. How they had both survived the brutal attack of her now dead husband. How Howie was alive because of Maddie's brother finding him since he lived with her.

At that time Howie kept calling him Buck, but he'd heard the name on the news as Evan Buckley when the update had come through that the firefighter had survived. There was no way there was two Evan Buckley's out there, right? He'd thought to himself, and it had drove him crazy all week. It was why he was standing here right now looking into the room that Evan was in. He had to know, if the man he'd seen on TV was the one that Daniel had told him about. The one he was supposed to marry. He knew that Evan had shown up after he transferred from the 118. He was his replacement after all. He'd left to see if he could find him, and he'd been right where he'd left the last two years. It was kind of ironic. If he had stayed he might have found him sooner, but he couldn't have stayed there. He'd needed the fresh start, needed to be honest.

He wasn't exactly sure how he was supposed to go about this. He felt it the second he saw Evan when he got here. That pull of familiarity, the gut instinct that he'd relied on so many times before. The voice in his head even now that sounded like Daniel telling him this was the right guy. It was five years earlier than Daniel said though. He'd said 2024 was when he'd meet Evan. It was 2019, but he'd known it the second he'd heard the name he needed to come here. Daniel had never said what his sister's name had been. He hadn't connected the dots sooner because he didn't realize that Maddie was the sister to the guy he was supposed to marry.

"Hey Tommy, I didn't know you knew Buck." Hen said with a smile on her face seeing her friend.

"I don't, not technically, but Howie's always talking about him. I saw the news and wanted to know how he was." Tommy said, it wasn't a lie. He didn't think explaining the ghost and the future deal would make him seem sane right now. "I thought they had released him already. Howie didn't say why he was back in here, was a call out." He'd been a little worried when he'd seen the message and that was hours ago.

"Buck had them go back in and do a second surgery. The doctor told him he should wait, but Buck being Buck didn't want to." Hen said with a sigh. "I think we may all strangle him soon. We love him and I get it, he's terrified he won't be able to work again, Though Chim, Bobby and I might need your help dumping his body in the ocean really far out there." She joked with fondness in her voice.

Hen was looking at her friend in the hospital bed then she looked back at Tommy. He was watching Buck in a w ay that was giving off these vibes that Tommy wasn't just asking because he was their friend. She knew that Tommy was gay, she'd figured that out ages before her friend did. It had been before he'd transferred out that she heard the words from him though. They had been out one night for drinks; Chimney had bailed on them. Chimney was horrible at keeping secrets so she'd already been told by her best friend too.

Though she'd listened when Tommy told her. She had been the first person he'd told he was leaving the 118. She'd told him she was proud of him. She hadn't been there for those first six years he'd been at the 118, but the last two and half years she had been. She'd watched him become a better person and a real friend. She hated that in the last two years they hadn't stayed in touch much. The first six months yeah, but Chimney talked to Tommy more. He had gone to bat for her with Gerrard. Been one of the ones that got him tossed out. Life got in the way, but he was still a friend.

"The last time you staired at me like that was when told you I was leaving the 118. You'd already figured out I was gay too. So why the look because I don't have any secrets I'm keeping." Tommy asked.

Even if they hadn't talked in year and half Hen was still one of his friends. Daniel hadn't been wrong in thinking she was a great firefighter and paramedic. She'd was an awesome friend too. He hadn't thought twice about that complaint he'd filed on Gerrard. It had been Hen that gave him the motivation to do it, but it had been for him too. He'd finally reached that breaking point and couldn't take it anymore. Who knows where she might be in another five years. He could see her even being captain someday because she was that good. Maybe run the entire LAFD if she wanted to.

"You keep watching Buck. It's not a look of firefighter concerned about another one or a friend checking in on another friend's friend. It's the same look that I see on Karen watching me or Bobby looking at Athena. Even Chimney watching Maddie. It's like you're looking at the love of your life in there." Hen said. "Scared that you could have lost him."

She knew that Buck's girlfriend Ally had ditched him. She had been more of a rebound for Abby. I mean the names rhymed with only two letters difference. Abby had gutted Buck with how she'd left and she hadn't come back either. The woman should have made it clear, but she knew Buck was the one that held onto hope. Her friend clung to people because he didn't want to lose them. She didn't know anything about his childhood, but there was something there that caused a lot of pain. Looking at Maddie and Buck both there was a story there she just didn't know what it was. Looking at Tommy right now was telling her there was something there too.

"You'd think I was crazy. I probably am." Tommy said because he thought he was at times for hanging onto that little boy's words. The one that said he'd been Evan's brother, but Howie hadn't mentioned one dying when he'd told him about Maddie.

"I think we're all a little crazy, but whatever it is I promise won't think it is." Hen said with a smile. "So why are you staring at our Buckaroo like he's your forever?"

"He is, which is the problem. How exactly do you tell someone that doesn't know you that you met his dead brother, when you almost died and they told you that you're going to marry their brother. Which I hadn't even accepted I was gay at the time." Tommy asked. "It's nuts and early, wasn't supposed to happen until 2024." He let out a breath because it sounded like he'd lost his mind. Maybe he'd hit his head or something and this was another dream.

Hen took the information in and it was a lot. That was not what she'd expected to come out of Tommy's mouth. Dead brother, she hadn't heard about a dead brother from Buck or Maddie. That would be a topic they had covered. She did remember hearing about Chim saving Tommy from the explosion from gas leak before she'd joined. It was how they'd become friends to start with. Saving someone's life could do that to people.

"You could always just talk to him. Might not want to lead with the dead brother's ghost told you that you two will be married. I don't think Buck's figured out he's bi yet." Hen said. "Or that he has a dead brother because that's never come up. And trust me Buck shares everything. Sometimes we want to duct tape his mouth." She said with a laugh on that one.

Tommy groaned because yeah that was probably not a way to start a conversation. He was sure he'd be told he was nuts by his future husband if he did that. He'd thought Hen would, but she hadn't. He should have known she wouldn't though. It just sucked that he knew all this information and just going in there and seeing Evan had him almost freaking out. Maybe if it was 2024 he'd be better at this, but it was 2019 five years away from that. Maybe by then Evan would know about Daniel. He wanted to be braver, but putting his self out there still sucked. The guy he'd been seeing months ago had been horrible in the end. He'd become obsessive and tried getting him to quit his job. He'd ended things after that not needing that because it had been clear he wasn't Evan. His future husband was a firefighter after all which made him doubt he'd have the need to try and make him quit his job.

"Okay, I can do that. Here's hoping don't scare him off." Tommy said.

"Come on, I'll introduce you two. I already know what to say." Hen said seeing that Buck was awake. She grabbed hold of Tommy's hand pulling him towards the door.

"What, I'm not ready. Hen, fucking hell no, I might say the wrong thing." Tommy said almost stumbling.

"Suck it up buttercup." Hen said putting more weight behind the pull. "Or I will pick you up and carry you."

"You wouldn't dare." Tommy said, but he knew she would.

"Try me." Hen smiled trying to stop the laugh.

She was practically dragging Tommy now. She knew she could easily lift him and any other of the firefighters or a victim. They'd been doing drills at the firehouse and each one of them had played the victim in a round. It had been after Bobby joined the 118 and Chimney had been out that day. Tommy had been her partner and she'd lifted him fireman carry. He hadn't complained once like right now when he was trying to stop her. She wasn't going to give in though.

~BT BT BT BT~

Buck looked up hearing a commotion and was confused as to why Hen was dragging a guy into his room. It was kind of comical really and he wondered if he was dreaming. He had to be dreaming because it was the same guy he'd seen when he'd been out. The guy had been older, but it was the same guy. The little boy kept telling him that his future was waiting on him and that he would be a firefighter again. He'd been terrified that he wouldn't be able to do the job again. The doctor had said he'd walk but didn't know if he'd ever work. It was why he'd pushed for the second surgery so he would have a better chance.

When he'd been under he'd met the boy who'd said his name was Daniel. He told him that it would all be okay. That in five more years it would all make sense. In five years he'd meet the person that was going to be his forever. The thing was that person who's face he'd seen wasn't a woman it was a man. He hadn't given it a lot of thought at the time. Now, he felt something inside of him opening up. He had felt weird since he'd woken up and at first he hadn't remembered, but it was all there now. Daniel said he knew it would make sense one day. That he'd feel this click when his future husband kissed him. He'd also been told not to freak out when he saw Eddie on the first date. That hadn't made sense at all either and he was probably nuts. He had to be dreaming what he had and now seeing the same guy.

"I know you." Buck said trying to place a name. Daniel had said it right at the end. It started with a T. "Tommy, you're real."

"I thought you said he hadn't met you?" Hen asked looking from Buck to Tommy who had almost crashed into her when she'd stopped short.

"We haven't, not really." Buck said. "The little boy said I wouldn't see him til 2024. Wait, I haven't been in a coma that long, have I?" Buck asked a little worried.

"No, it's still 2019." Hen said. "I guess the little boy was off by a few years. So, what did he tell you?" She asked wondering if the stories matched.

"That I was going to be okay. Not to try and sue the city and I had to remember the name Tommy. We were going get married and have kids. Are you sure it's not 2024?" Buck asked because he'd seen some of his life playing out. Nowhere had he seen Tommy at first then he'd seen him in front of him flying the helicopter. They were going to save Bobby and Athena.

"Well, I think this little boy missed by a few years." Hen said. "Though, he had to of been right if he told you both the same thing." She should have known that the message would get to Buck too. "So how about I leave you two so you can talk. Tommy doesn't bite and he's pretty cool, he does…" Hen started.

"Fly helicopters and planes." Buck said. "You're the one that dumped the water when Chimney called that day." Buck smiled one that he hadn't before. "What if I want him to bite though?"

Hen started laughing at that because she couldn't help it. This would be nuts to someone else, but it had been a wild few weeks. She was pretty sure that they were going to get along just fine. Especially when she saw the grin on Tommy's face at what Buck had said. She gently gave Tommy a push towards the bed before she left the room. Daniel had played matchmaker, and it would be a perfect fit she thought.

"Was kind of terrified you'd think I was nuts. I didn't plan on coming in here." Tommy said still nervous even if Evan had a visit from Daniel too. It seemed Daniel hadn't spilled on being Evan's brother though.

"Then Hen dragged you in here and I recognized you?" Buck said. "Was kind of funny her threatening to carry you in here if you didn't. She'd do it too, love her to death, but don't mess with her when she's right and you're wrong. Being on the receiving end of that look is terrifying." He said.

"I know, she just gave it to me for second time." Tommy said. "Is this weird, because I can go."

"No, stay. I mean I do believe in that whole thing about fate. I don't know what is going on, but did have the kid desperate to convince me I was going to marry a dude." Buck said. "I still don't know if this is real though. Maybe I'm still dreaming or maybe we both are." He wasn't sure how to figure how he was awake. "Maybe we're both dead and this is some other…" He started, but he found himself cut off.

Tommy had been listening to Evan rambling. He found it adorable how he was kind of spiraling. The same he'd been doing and he'd kept watching his lips. The ones he really badly wanted to kiss. Then Evan said about if they were even alive so he'd bent down tilting his chin up and kissed him. He felt Evan kiss him back after a moment. He wanted to make it longer, because it felt like he found what he'd been searching for. He pulled back looking into Evan's eyes that he could get lost in. The surprise look on his face, but the smile forming too.

"How was that, proof enough?" Tommy asked.

"Yes." Buck said feeling like he was supposed to say something else. There was words in his head about fake mouth static and the kiss was better than that. The kiss had been perfect. He felt like he was floating and it wasn't because of the meds. "Maybe since I can't go anywhere for while you could do it again. Plus, if some ghost or angel kid says we're supposed to get married we might want to get to know each other. Buck 1.0 would totally have agreed to run off to Vegas, but I'm Buck 2.0 now and he doesn't do that. Though maybe it's 3.0 because the other one didn't know he was bi." He was starting to ramble again which was not a good thing.

"I have been known to be a little impulsive, but I'm trying to figure things out about myself still. So running off to Vegas probably isn't the best option. Though, we could start with names. Thomas Kinard, but my friends and anyone that wants me to answer calls me Tommy." Less he was on the job, but he didn't add that.

"Evan Buckley, but I go by Buck since there was three Evan's in my academy class." Buck said.

"So, Evan, you think I could have a seat?" Tommy asked hoping that Evan didn't mind he used his first name. It was what he had in his head all these years.

"I don't mind on either." Buck said because it wasn't how he felt when his mom or dad, even Maddie said his first name.

It felt right and he liked it. He'd been feeling miserable when Ally had told him to pick. She'd wanted him to quit the job to be with her. How on earth he could ever do that he didn't know. Being a firefighter was all he could imagine. It was his life, his everything. Right now he felt like maybe there was at least someone that would love him and his job. After all Tommy was a firefighter pilot. So he had to understand the job, he'd once been at the 118 too. Things were clicking into place even if it was years before the kid Daniel said it would be. He didn't care what anyone thought and he knew Hen wouldn't freak, she had brought Tommy too him. If she hadn't then maybe the others wouldn't either since they all cared about him. He watched Tommy sit in the chair beside the bed and he reached his hand out with Tommy meeting him halfway. He could definitely get used to this and maybe it was the one good thing that could come out of the hell his life had been all these years and these last few weeks.

~THE END~

Thanks in advance for reviews and kudos. This went different than I planned and a lot better than the original one that I wrote. That one was shorter and I wanted to add Hen in this. Was rewatching Bobby Begins Again yesterday and loved their banter, plus when Hen showed up at Harbor and the helicopter was already ready to go. Like hey, this might be nuts, but I'm on board. Might been a while, but we still friends, so I'll steal a helicopter for a search and rescue mission. I really wished that they'd had a deleted scene of the phone call or Chimney, Eddie, and Buck getting there.