Matches

Chapter #1 The Return of Matches

Evan Buckley, or "Buck," sits on his bed, his head in his hands, thinking about what has happened this year. First, the tsunami, then being placed on blood thinners, Bobby being the one who set back his return to work, and lastly, the lawsuit. 

He didn't mean for anyone to get hurt, and he didn't know that his lawyer would say those things. He was hurt and needed to be back at work. The truth was that work was his life. He always needed to keep busy, and he wanted to see his fire family. 

Sure, Maddie and the rest of the team would stop by to drop off groceries or say hi, but no one ever asked how he felt about the accident. the accident was traumatic and scary, and he was hoping to confide to his family about it as he didn't want to go to the therapist after what happened last time.

But no one asked how he was or if he wanted to talk about it. He considered bringing it up several times but didn't want to be a burden. 

He couldn't help but get jealous when he saw photos of the whole team having a get-together at different people's houses. They didn't even ask if he wanted to come. He was well enough to leave the house and go to people's houses, so why didn't they invite him? 

When the city offered him that money, he was upset because he only wanted his job back. So he didn't take the money. The chief gave him his job back. He wasn't expected to have a big warm welcome, but he especially didn't expect what happened.

Every firefighter turned their backs on him when he walked into the firehouse. When he walked up the stairs, his team didn't acknowledge him. Throughout that day, he was left to clean the station when everyone else was on a call. The only people who talked to him were Ravi and Bobby. Bobby only talked to him when he gave him tasks to do. Ravi was nice. He would talk and have a nice conversation with Buck. He even helped with cleaning when the team wasn't looking.

The first day was mostly expected, but I thought they would be more understanding. Throughout the week, it grew progressively worse. The team acknowledged him but only through mean remarks and angry looks. Bobby got worse, too. He once gripped Bucks's wrist so hard that it left a bruise the following day.

Buck thought it would get better eventually, but it didn't. a month later, it grew worse. Buck was mad and sad it reminded him of his childhood.  

Now Buck is sitting with his head in his hands, contemplating what to do. Suddenly his phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. he looked at his phone to see who was calling. The caller ID said, "Ice dad."  

"Ice Dad" was Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. When Buck was 17-18, he sat outside a bar in San Diego crying. Tom approached the young boy and rested his arm on his shoulder. When Buck finally stopped crying, he took one look at the man and started telling him his life story. Tom listened and gave Buck advice, which started a lifelong bond between the two. 

After a month of staying with the man and his wife, he enlisted in the Navy as a fighter pilot. He excelled in every class and was above all the other people there. Soon enough, he was sent to Top Gun, being one of the youngest people there, at which he also excelled. 

He was put on the reserves after an accident that caused him to lose his WSO. He never told Maddie or the team about the Navy as he didn't want to worry them. Buck's phone ringing once again snapped him out of his memories.

He then answered his phone. "Matches," Iceman's scratchy voice said on the phone.

"Sir," Buck replied.

"How are you Match?"

"I'm good sir" 

"stop calling me sir," Ice says, chuckling.

"I'm good, Ice," Matches/Buck says, releasing a happy sigh.

"So I have been thinking, and I would like my best pilot back. Lots of pilots are getting called back to Top Gun for a mission. I know you are busy with your fire team, but we want you back." 

"Umm," Matches says hesitantly. 

Evan looks back at his shelf and sees a tiny Lego model of an aircraft sitting there. Truthfully, he misses flying and feeling in control, and with everything happening with his team, he was considering it.

"You don't have to come up with a decision now," Ice says.

"wait, i-i'll do it," Buck stammers making a decision.

"I'll send you the information now. Welcome back, Matches," Ice concluded.

A/N: Ahhhhh that's the first chapter done! I am so sorry if there are any mistakes. I am not in the Navy, so I'm trying my best to learn. <3