Beneath the excitement of tomorrow's start to the 118's weekend getaway, tensions simmered between Eddie and Buck. They had been keeping their relationship a secret for months now, fearing how the team might react and if one of them would have to transfer stations.
The two were laying in bed, Buck's head on Eddie's chest while Eddie gently rubbed his back. It was silent, no words being spoken as Buck listened to the sound of Eddie's heartbeat. They stayed like that for a few minutes, until Buck's voice broke the silence.
"Hey babe, what if we told the team tomorrow?" he said hesitantly.
Eddie's brow furrowed, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "Buck, you know why we have to keep this quiet. The team... they're like family. I can't risk losing that."
"But what about us, Eddie?" Buck's voice wavered with disappointment. "We deserve to be happy, to be together without hiding."
Eddie sighed, torn between his love for Buck and his fear of the unknown. "I know, but it's not just about us anymore. It's about the team, about keeping the peace."
"Keeping the peace? Are you serious right now?" Buck's frustration bubbled to the surface, his voice tinged with disbelief.
In one swift motion he was off of Eddie's chest, turning to face the other way as he pulled the covers over him.
"Buck..." Eddie's voice was soft, tinged with regret as he reached out a hand, hesitating before letting it fall back to his side.
But Buck's back remained turned, his silence a stark reminder of the divide between them. The warmth of their shared bed now felt cold and empty, a tangible symbol of the distance that had grown between them.
Eddie sighed, the weight of their argument settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew that he couldn't keep ignoring Buck's pain, couldn't keep hiding behind excuses and fears. But the thought of facing the team, of revealing the truth they had kept hidden for so long, filled him with a paralyzing dread.
As the night went on, the distance between them seemed to widen, and they soon fell into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning was filled with heavy silence, the tension from the night before lingering as they added their luggage to the already packed van.
Chim couldn't help but notice the tension between Buck and Eddie. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he nudged Bobby and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Looks like we're not the only ones packing some baggage for this trip, huh?"
Bobby rolled his eyes, but a small chuckle escaped him as he shook his head at Chim's antics. "Leave it, Chim," he muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Buck shot Chim a grateful smile, appreciating the attempt to break the tension. Eddie's lips twitched in a reluctant smile as well, the heaviness of the morning momentarily lifted by Chimney's lighthearted comment.
Of course Buck and Eddie got stuck sitting together in the very back of the packed van, leaving them practically sitting on each other's lap.
"Hey, Eddie, do you think they make a 'How to Handle Your BEST FRIEND'S Stubbornness' manual? Might come in handy," he said loudly, emphasizing on the 'best friend'.
Hen and Chimney glanced at each other while Bobby had a questioning look on his face. Eddie rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. Oh was this gonna be a fun ride.
- - -
The cabin stood nestled among the towering pines, a cozy haven about 2 hours away from the chaos of Los Angeles. It was supposed to be a weekend of relaxation for the members of the 118, a chance to unwind and bond outside of the firehouse.
