Eddie walked into the fire station, his gear slung over his shoulder as he prepared for another shift. His eyes scanned the room, searching for Buck, but his friend was nowhere to be seen.
Eddie's smile faltered, concern flickering in his eyes. "Again?" he murmured, a knot forming in his stomach. It was the third time this week that Buck had called in sick, it was so unlike him to even miss one shift.
"Eddie, you're worrying too much," Chimney said as he heard Eddie's comment, flashing him a reassuring smile as he noticed his concerned expression. "Buck's probably just taking some time to rest up. You know how he is, always pushing himself to the limit."
Hen nodded in agreement, her voice gentle but firm. "Sometimes we all need a break, especially after everything Buck's been through lately. He'll be back before you know it, good as new."
Eddie forced a smile, though his worry still lingered like a shadow at the back of his mind. "I hope you're right," he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's just... not like Buck to miss this many shifts in a row."
Bobby, who had been listening in from his desk, chimed in with his calm demeanor. "I understand your concern, Eddie, but let's trust Buck to take care of himself. If he needs anything, he knows where to find us."
Reluctantly, Eddie nodded, trying to push aside his fears and focus on the tasks at hand. But as the day wore on, his worry only grew, a relentless ache in his chest that refused to be ignored. His mind was constantly drifting back to Buck's absence again and again. He tried to focus on the tasks at hand, but his thoughts kept straying back to his friend, wondering what could be causing him to miss work so frequently.
Finally, as the shift drew to a close, Eddie made up his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and he refused to ignore it any longer. With determination in his eyes, he made his way to Buck's apartment, praying that he was overreacting.
He arrived at his best friends front doorstep and knocked on the door. Eddie's heart raced as he waited for a response, but the silence that greeted him only fueled his anxiety. "Buck?" He spoke loudly, intensifying the knocking.
He could hear faint crashing and banging from inside the apartment, making his worry escalate into full-blown panic.
"Buck!" he tried one more time.
Without hesitation, he stepped back and kicked the door with all his strength. The door flew open, the hinges breaking as Eddie rushed inside, his heart pounding in his chest. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.
The apartment was in shambles, furniture overturned, holes punched through the walls, and broken glass scattered across the floor like twisted confetti. It looked like a tornado had ripped through the place, leaving destruction in its wake.
"Buck!" Eddie's voice echoed through the chaos as he called out his name, his eyes darting frantically around the room. "Buck, where are you!?"
He followed the sound of the crashing to the bedroom, his heart sinking at the sight that greeted him. There, in the corner of the room, sat Buck. His knees were up against his chest and hands balled up in his hair, his chest heaving with exertion as he cried.
"Buck, what happened? What's wrong?" Eddie asked, his voice laced with concern as he approached cautiously, leaning down and taking Buck's hands in his. Buck's hands were bloody, the glass leaving cuts on his palms.
Buck lifted his tear-streaked face to meet Eddie's gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of anguish and shame. "I... I don't know, Eddie," he choked out between sobs, his voice raw with emotion. "I just... I couldn't... I couldn't stop it. Every time I close my eyes, I see Daniel's face, and I can't... I just can't..."
Eddie's heart broke at the sight of his best friend in such distress, his own eyes welling up with unshed tears. Gently, he pulled Buck into his arms, holding him close as he whispered words of comfort and reassurance.
"It's okay, Buck," Eddie murmured, his voice soothing as he rocked him gently back and forth. "I'm here now. You're not alone. We'll get through this together, I promise."
Buck's sobs began to subside as Eddie held him close, the warmth of his embrace offering some comfort amidst the chaos. With gentle hands, Eddie guided Buck to sit on the edge of the bed, his touch tender as he carefully cleaned and bandaged the cuts on Buck's hands, his movements deliberate and soothing.
As Eddie tended to him, Buck's gaze remained fixed on his best friend, a silent plea for reassurance and understanding. And Eddie, sensing the unspoken need, stayed by Buck's side, refusing to let him out of his sight for even a moment.
In a moment of desperate longing, Buck leaned up and kissed Eddie hungrily, his lips seeking the familiarity of their connection, wanting to forget about his pain, even if it was only for a moment. But Eddie, though taken aback by the suddenness of the gesture, gently pulled away, his hands cupping Buck's face as he kept their gazes locked.
"Not like this," Eddie said softly, his voice filled with tenderness and understanding. "Not when you're hurting like this, okay?"
Buck nodded, his breath hitching as he leaned back into Eddie's embrace, allowing himself to be held close, finding comfort in the simple act of being together.
For hours they remained there, Eddie refusing to leave Buck's side. He was determined to be the anchor Buck needed in his darkest moments.
As the night stretched on, Buck's anguish began to soften, his tears giving way to exhaustion. With gentle persuasion, Eddie guided him to lie down, tucking him in with care as he settled beside him on the bed.
"I'll be right here," Eddie murmured, his voice a soothing melody in the quiet of the room. "I won't let anything happen to you, Buck."
And when Buck fell sound asleep, Eddie quietly walked downstairs and out on to the patio. Taking his phone out of his pocket he dialed a number, bringing the phone up to his ear until a familiar voice answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Bobby... we need to talk."
- - - - - - - -
A/N:
Request from @Jacktranman
