Lost and Found || Buddie

Chapter 15

Buck doesn't let his feelings get in the way of his visit to El Paso, instead he relishes in his time with Christopher who was attacked to Bucks hip for the weekend despite his dad being home. "I'm convinced he likes you better than he does me." Eddie laughs softly as he looks at Buck and Christopher as they play on the floor, the boy absolutely beating Buck at Candyland.

Buck looks up and shakes his head, he reaches forward and ruffles Christopher's hair, the boy giggling in response. "Not true Eddie." And he knew if Shannon hadn't gone out for the day, she would roll her eyes at her husband. "He loves you, you're his dad."

Eddie just shrugs his shoulders. "He'd rather do stuff with you over me." He tells him, and Buck wasn't sure why Eddie was saying that.

"He'll be attached to your hip when I leave tomorrow, I can guarantee that. But I'm not sorry that your son loves me. I'm just cool uncle Buck. Plus, you can't do much with him right now and I think he realizes that." Buck says and starts playing with the wooden blocks that Christopher sat in front of him, the game of candyland being forgotten.

"Yeah you're probably right, I'm just feeling sorry for myself." Eddie laughs and runs his hand through his hair. "I know I said it already, but thanks again for coming out."

Buck waves off his best friend. "It wasn't a problem Eddie. You're my best friend and Shannon and I got close when I lived here. Just wanted to make sure everyone was okay."

"I know. You're a good friend Buck." He told him, and he meant it. "How's Maddie? How are things in LA?"

"Maddie's good, she's a dispatcher. She's kind of seeing one of my coworkers. And LA is good, I love being a firefighter. My team is amazing and I'm glad I made the decision to move out there." Buck explained to Eddie who nodded in response, looking at the tv that was playing some cartoon that Christopher was now immersed in, leaving Buck playing with the blocks himself.

"Well, once I'm back on my feet Shannon, Christopher and I might have to come visit. I'm sure Chris would love to see where his Buck works." Eddie smiled.

Christopher started yawning and both men knew it was nap time for the boy, so Buck stood up and scooped the boy into his arms, taking him to Eddie so the man could kiss his forehead. "Have a good nap Mijo." He whispered and Buck carried him to his room. The man tucked him in before rejoining Eddie in the living room and started cleaning up the toys.

"Buck, can we talk about our conversation yesterday? I feel like we didn't get to finish." Eddie says softly, watching as his friend hurried around the living room to pick up. He knew better than trying to stop him, the man would just keep going.

"What's there to talk about?" He asks, furrowing his eyebrows. He knew they had finished the conversation, he felt like Eddie just wanted to bring it up again to hurt Buck.

"You said you loved me." Eddie starts and before Buck could cut him off he continues. "And then you said you didn't mean it."

Buck shrugs his shoulders and glances over at Eddie. "And? I said I didn't mean it. Why can't you just drop it?" He asks him incredulously. "You have Shannon and Christopher." He repeated what the man had said to him the day before.

Eddie nods and sighs heavily before dropping the subject. He wanted to continue but he didn't know how, not without annoying the other man.

Bucks last night in El Paso went by quickly, he tucked Christopher in that night because he knew the boy wouldn't be awake when he had to leave for his flight, seeing as he would have to leave around 5 in the morning. The three adults sat in the living room having a couple beers and Shannon complained about Buck having to leave but the man reassured her that he'd be back eventually. Eddie wasn't too thrilled about his best friend leaving either, but he couldn't just force him to stay.

The younger man said his goodbyes to the two before they headed to bed that night, not wanting them to have to wake up just to see them off. He even declined Shannon's offer to drive him to the airport, stating that Eddie couldn't help Christopher if the boy woke up while she was gone. The woman just nodded and gave him a smile, hugging him tightly.

Buck stayed awake that night, knowing that he could just sleep when he got home. Once five rolled around, Buck grabbed his suitcase and walked out the Diaz household, getting into the Uber he had ordered. He looked down at his phone as it buzzed.

Eddie: Have a safe flight home Buck, let one of us know when you're home safe.

Buck: will do.

—-

Buck wasn't surprised when Maddie wasn't home when he walked into their apartment, she had warned him that she would be at work when he arrived home from the airport that day. He put his suitcase in his room and decided to send Maddie, Eddie, Shannon and the 118 a text, telling them all he made it home safe, before laying in his bed and passing out until his ringing phone woke him up a few hours later.

"Hello?" Buck answers groggily, he barely remembers pressing the accept button and putting it on speaker so he doesn't even know who's calling him.

"Buckaroo!" Hen says excitedly on the other end and the man smiles to himself. "You sound tired, I'm sorry if I woke you up. But Bobby and Athena are hanging everyone over for dinner tonight if you're up for it. I guess Maddie is coming as Chims date."

And Buck laughs softly as he hears Chimney in the background. "She's not coming as my date Hen. She's coming as my friend." There's a brief silence. "I may have invited Tommy too." He heard the man say.

Buck groans at that. "Thank you so much Chimney." He says and runs a hand over his face. "But yeah, tell Bobby I'll be there." He says.

"Alright, we'll see you then." Hen said before hanging up the phone.

Sighing heavily the man got out of bed and took a quick shower before throwing on a pair of jeans and a shirt, not even caring what he wore. Maybe he cared a little bit but he was too tired.

He wanted to curse chimney for inviting the man that he clearly had a crush on, he didn't want to make a fool of himself in front of everyone because the man made him nervous. And Buck wasn't sure if it was because Tommy was so attractive, or because of the trauma he had been through.