Sideways

Chapter 25 Fire Fam +

Eddie hears the beeping of the heart rate monitor as he starts to come to. His eyes come into focus, and he realizes he is in a hospital room, yet again. But this time, he isn't a patient. He looks down to find Buck's head lying on his chest, and sitting across from them is a sleeping Athena. Eddie looks over at the bed to see Bobby smiling back at him.

"Hey, Cap." Eddie whispers.

"Hey, Eddie." Bobby whispers back.

"How are you feeling, Bobby?" Eddie asks while trying not to move too much and wake Buck up.

Trying to stretch and adjust himself while not jostling the sling on his arm, Bobby massages his neck with his good hand. "Honestly, I am in a lot of pain. But I'm dealing."

"You want me to get the Nurse?" Eddie asks.

"Nah, I won't take the pills they want me to anyway." Bobby shakes his head.

Eddie moves a little too much, and Buck jumps up awake and on edge. "What, where am I?" Buck says. Eddie reaches out and takes his hand softly and pulls him back down in the chair to sit beside him. A half-asleep Buck looks over at Eddie. "Hey, babe." Buck says as he cuddles back into Eddie. Eddie pulls Buck's head back to his chest and rubs his fingers through his hair, trying to settle him.

"I'm not going to lie. I really like seeing you two with each other like this." Bobby says. Buck's head snaps up, and he looks over at Bobby.

"Why didn't you tell me he was awake?" Buck yawns as he turns to look at Bobby.

"Eddie only just woke up himself. You all are clearly exhausted, and from the looks of you, it sounds like I miss something else."

"We found Taylor and a boat full of people," Eddie says.

"Alive? How many people?" Bobby asks.

"She's alive and in custody. She has a habit of sharing information she shouldn't. That is being handed by Buck's people. There were close to seven hundred at last count." Athena yawns at them. "And I agree with Bobby, seeing you two like this, soft and caring with each other. Especially after what the hell we all just been through, it warms my heart to see you both so happy." She then gets out of her chair, walks over, and leans down to kiss Bobby. "How are you feeling?" She asks him.

"Sore. But you know, it goes with the territory."

"Can I get you anything?"

"Some kind of juice would be great." Bobby says.

"Boys?" She asks, and Buck looks at his watch. "The Starbucks in the lobby is open now. I'm going to get us all coffee. Eds, you want one of those sandwich things you like?" Buck asks, and Eddie nods and yawns. "I'll grab us some stuff to snack on. Ed's you hang with Pops, we will be right back." Buck says as he and Athena leave the room.

"Eddie, come sit with me." Bobby says, pointing to the chair closest to his bedside.

"You sure that's ok?" Eddie asks, and Bobby laughs.

"Come on, Eddie. Please sit with me?" Bobby asks, and Eddie pulls a chair closer and sits beside him.

"Bobby, I ... I don't know what to say and do here."

"I get it. But we need to clear this thing between us up. Sooner than later, hopefully."

Eddie takes a deep breath and looks at Bobby. "I want to apologize for how I treated you, but at the same time, I don't. That makes me even more conflicted."

Bobby stops and thinks for a moment before speaking, "Eddie, I don't think you owe me an apology. I think you were right to lash out. Maybe you took it a little far, but I think you had cause for it. You are not the kind of person to lash out without cause."