You're All I Need: Squeal of "Transfer to Help Himself"

Chapter 24: Buck Everlasting

Ever since their little fight, Buck was left alone. The people who were there when he woke up came less and less, most likely because Buck didn't know them. Eddie stuck to his word and brought Chris to see him, but didn't talk to Buck himself. Buck tried reaching out to Maddie, but to no avail. He couldn't help but feel as though Eddie was right. Buck knew Maddie would answer him soon though. There's no doubt about it. While he waited for her to call him or answer, he decided to call Athena. Maybe she could help him contact Maddie.

The phone rang about three times before she answered. "Hey Buck. How are you doing?" Athena asked. He thought about what to say before answering, "I guess I'm ok. Eddie isn't talking to me, but that's to be expected". It was silent for a little, because Athena was confused on what Buck meant. "What do you mean, Buck? You and Eddie are best friends."

Buck scoffed, "Sure. Diaz and I? Athena, you know how much we don't like each other. He just started."

On Athena's end, she gave Hen a worried look. When Buck had first hinted at him and Eddie not being friends, Athena had put her phone on speaker. "Buck, you and Eddie have been friends for two years. You basically co parent Chris," Hen was the one to respond, before she texted Eddie about what was happening. "Not you too, Hen. Eddie tried pulling that joke on me earlier."

Hen's phone chimed and she showed Eddie's text to Athena. "Oh Buckaroo, you can't stay out of the hospital can you?" Athena questioned. They talked for a little bit before Buck asked if she had heard from Maddie. "Buck...It would not be a good idea for you to talk to Maddie. Not after what happened the last time you two talked. I know you probably don't remember, but you will soon," Hen answered him. Buck just hung up, leaving Hen and Athena worried about what would happen if he did talk to Maddie.

Buck just wanted to talk to Maddie. He didn't like hospitals nor did he like the random people who came in to visit him. Two of them apparently were his boyfriends, but Buck knew he was not gay. Not after what happened last time he thought he was. He only liked women. He needed to tell Maddie the awful and terrible joke that Athena, Hen and Eddie were playing on him. He wanted to go home.

Thinking about that, Buck started to get a headache. He shut his eyes, hoping it would stop.

"You need to man up, Evan. You don't need to work as a firefighter anymore. It's too dangerous for you. For Jesus' sake, you were crushed by a firetruck! Please, just stop." Maddie had pleaded when Buck told her he was going to take the recertification test. "Maddie, being a firefighter is the only thing I have. Without that, I'm nothing. I have no meaning. You wouldn't understand." Buck remembered telling her. That was the first time they had an argument after Maddie was saved from Doug. He remembered her walking out and slamming the door. He remembered the phone call he received from Chimney when Maddie went to their apartment.

Buck was startled awake. Was that a dream? There's no way Maddie would have said that, right? She knew what being a firefighter meant to him. No, it had to be a twisted dream.