Black And Blue-E.Buckley (9-1-1)

ThirtyThree

And I know that we can get emotional

But the hardest parts are always worth it

"Are you sure this is what you wanna do?" Eleanor asked as she made-to-go coffees for her and Buck. 

"Are you gonna try and talk me out of it?" Buck took the mug she handed him.

"No, I told you I would stand with you on whatever you decided and I meant that. I just wanna make sure you've thought this through a hundred percent. That this is really what you wanna do."

"I have and I do."

"Okay, then I'll see you tonight when I get home. I'll try to call if I get a break to see how things are going. I'm sorry I can't come with you." Eleanor fixed his tie as they talked.

"It's okay, I get it. I'll text you updates."

"I love you, Buck. Good luck," Eleanor leaned up and kissed him before heading out the door. Eleanor closed the door and let out a sigh. She knew what this meant to Buck and why he was doing it, she just hoped it didn't get messy.

****

Eleanor was cooking dinner when Buck arrived home. He set his keys on the table and sighed as he sat down.

"How'd it go?" Eleanor stirred the pot on the stove and looked at Buck for an answer.

"None of them will barely look at me or talk to me. They wouldn't even let me ride in the elevator with them. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Buck put his head down.

"Buck," he looked back up at her. "You did this for a reason, to prove a point. Don't give up on it now. I'm sure they'll understand eventually and I'm sure it's hard for you not talking to them. You have to stand your ground though."

"You think so? I'm doing the right thing?"

"Do you think it's right? Does it feel right to you?" Buck nodded. "Then you have to see it through."

Buck walked over to Eleanor, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her cheek. "Thank you for sticking by my side. I'm sure nothing that's happened so far is exactly what you signed up for."

"Way better than the last relationship. Maybe the same amount of chaos," the pair shared a laugh. "Definitely better though." 

"What're you cooking? It smells amazing." Buck peeked in the oven to see what she had in there.

"Chicken parm and spaghetti."

"Did you bread the chicken yourself? You haven't even been home that long." Buck looked at her in awe.

Eleanor shook her head and laughed softly. "No, predone tonight. It was a long day."

Buck gasped, "she doesn't do everything from scratch. I'm shocked."

"I don't like to," she threw the hand towel at him. He caught it before grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her against himself as he pressed his lips to hers.

"Dessert?"

"Of course. That is from scratch."

"Wouldn't expect it any other way," Buck smiled down at her before kissing her again, trailing down her neck and shoulder this time.

"Listen, if you keep that up we're not gonna make it to dinner or dessert."

"Mmm, this could be considered dessert."

"Gross," Eleanor laughed, her cheeks bright red. She still wasn't really comfortable talking about this, even with Buck. She was really shy when it came to the topic. 

Buck smiled, watching her cheeks turn as red as an apple. He loved it when she laughed, it was such a beautiful sound. And he loved to see her face light up. Even if only for a few seconds. 

****

Eleanor trailed behind, trying to keep up as Buck raced to Chase's office. He swung the door open, holding it for Eleanor to walk through, and stopped noticing that Chase was on the phone. Chase finished his phone call and looked up at the pair in front of his desk.

"Boy, you got here fast. Hope you didn't break any laws on the way here. Though I do know someone." Eleanor didn't really like Chase, he was too cocky.

"You said you had big news," Buck got right to the point.

"The biggest," he said as he wrote something on a card and handed it to Buck.

Buck looked at it, he looked slightly confused. "What is this?" Eleanor's jaw dropped when she caught a glimpse of the card over Buck's shoulder.

"That is the city's offer. They wanna settle. Now it's only a jumping-off point. We can counter."

"This is all they're offering?" Now it was Chase's turn to look confused. Eleanor knew what Buck meant though. He didn't want money, he wanted his life back.

"Did I, uh- did I forget a zero?" Chase grabbed the card back. "No, I got it right. You do understand they're offering you millions of dollars."

"That's not the point," Eleanor commented.

"I don't want millions. I want my job back. That was the whole point in us doing this."

"But you'd be a millionaire. Congratulation. You never have to have a job again."

"Some people like to work, they like their jobs. Not everyone wants things just handed to them," he was really getting on Eleanor's nerves now.

"Yeah, I didn't do this for money. I did this so that I could go back to doing what I love. To be back with my team."

"You really think they're gonna welcome you back, kid? I mean not to toot my own horn."

"Too late," Eleanor cut in. Chase glared at her.

"But I raked your friends over the coals pretty hard."

"Wait, I told you that stuff not so that you would use it. It was just information. What happened to attorney-client privilege?" Eleanor looked at Buck, wondering what he had told Chase about the team.

"That doesn't work how you think it does. I did exactly what you asked me to do. We won. Maybe not how you wanted but," Chase shrugged.

"Well, this doesn't feel like winning."

Buck was so disappointed when they left Chase's office. None of it had gone the way that he wanted, the way that he planned. He felt terrible for telling Chase those things about his friends, he hadn't known that Chase would use it against them. 

Eleanor placed her hand on Buck's back and rubbed gentle circles while they waited for the elevator. She knew there was nothing she could say at the moment that would change anything for him. 

"Well, well, well, look who has the nerve to show her face." Buck and Eleanor both turned at the same time. Buck was clueless as to who was standing in front of them.

"Please just leave me alone," Eleanor begged, wishing the elevator would come quicker.

"You ruined my son's life and I promise we will do the same to you. Just wait till he gets out."

"Victoria please."

"Listen, she did what she had to do. If your son wasn't such a dick he wouldn't be where he is. Now leave us alone," Buck grabbed Eleanor's hand and guided her toward the stairs to leave.