Lost and Found || Buddie

Chapter 16

Buck waited until Maddie got home to leave, so that the two could arrive together. When they were both ready, they got into Maddie's vehicle and Buck started driving toward Bobbie and Athena's.

"So, how was the trip to El Paso?" Maddie asks from the passenger seat, typing away at her phone. Buck assumed she was texting Chimney.

Buck shrugs his shoulders and stops at a stoplight, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. "It was alright Mads. Eddies fine, just recovering. Shannon is over the moon that her husband is home for good." He spoke and continued driving when the light turned green. "And Christopher of course is happy that his dad is home."

"That's good. I was worried Shannon would have been a basket case. I texted her but she didn't respond." The woman said, pocketing her phone.

Buck nodded and sighed softly. "When I got there Friday and told her what happened she was terrified but when Eddie got home she seemed okay after that." He said and brought the car to a stop outside Bobby and Athena's house. "I of course was trying to keep myself busy by doing anything and everything so I didn't spiral."

Maddie laughed softly and unbuckled her seatbelt, opening her door. "Sounds like a typical Buck move." She teases and hops out of the car.

Buck turns the car off and gets out of the car, putting the keys into his back pocket. The two walked up to the door and before Buck could knock Athena was pulling the door open with a huge smile. "Buckaroo." She smiles, pulling him in for a hug, which Buck gratefully returned.

"Hey Athena. This is my sister, Maddie." He introduced and Athena pulled Maddie in for a hug as well.

"Nice to meet you. Come on in, everyone's in the backyard. Bobby's grilling." She says and leads the two to the backyard.

Buck introduces his sister to Hen and Bobby, Chim and Tommy already having met her prior. "So, Tommy says you bailed on him over the weekend." chimney says as he walks up to Buck, Tommy close behind.

"I didn't say that, Chim." Tommy groans and gives Buck an apologetic look. "I just said my plans were canceled ."

Buck rolls his eyes at his coworker. "I had a family emergency in El Paso Chim." He says, sitting down in one of the many chairs that were scattered around the backyard.

"And yet Maddie didn't go with you?" chimney raises an eyebrow.

"I don't know why you're interrogating me." Buck mutters. "It was my best friend. He was shot in Afghanistan so I went out to El Paso." He explains to the two men, shrugging his shoulders.

Tommy frowns and sits in a chair next to Buck. "That's rough." He says. "But he's okay?"

"Yeah he's okay. He's home with his wife and kid now." Buck says and watches as Chimney walks away to find Maddie, the two hugging when they found each other. Buck smiled at that. "You're not mad that I canceled are you?" He asks.

The other man shakes his head and takes a swig of the beer he had in his hand. "No, of course not. I understand. Family comes first."

Buck smiles at the man hums softly, watching as everyone has their own separate conversations. Hen and her wife Karen, Maddie and Chimey, Athena was with Bobby at the grill. Buck assumed all the kids were inside playing video games or something of the like.

The night went on, everyone catching up, telling stories about how they became a firefighter, or in Athena's case, a sergeant. Maddie and Chimney were the first to leave, claiming they had a movie to get to and next was Hen Karen and their son Denny because it was a school night.

Tommy announced he was leaving so Buck decided it was about time for him to leave too.

"Alright, I'm going to head out myself." Buck stands up and yawns, walking over to give Bobby and Athena a hug. "Thank you for dinner." He says and smiles before heading toward the door to go inside, Tommy following behind him.

The two men walk out the front door and Buck stops, turning to look at Tommy. "I really do feel bad about canceling on you." He laughs softly, running a hand through his hair. "And I know you said it was fine and that you weren't mad but I still feel bad."

Tommy laughs and shakes his head. "Buck, you're ridiculous. I can assure you, I'm not mad. You'll just have to make it up to me." He shrugs his shoulders. "Come over to my place Thursday night?" He suggests.

"Uh, maybe somewhere in public?" Buck says, looking down at his feet, not wanting to see the disappointed look on Tommy's face. "I'd feel more comfortable if it was in public and I know that's dumb but I have my reasons. If you don't want to then I'd understand." The younger man started rambling.

"Oh no, it's okay Buck. We can go to the movies or something then." He offers the other man a smile even though he wasn't looking at him. "I'll text you the details tomorrow about Thursday. I'll see you later." Tommy says as he walks to his truck, climbing in before driving off.

Buck let out a breath he didn't know he was holding before heading to Maddie's car and driving himself home. Once home, Buck immediately crawled into bed and fell asleep for the night.

—-
Three weeks later

Eddie was bummed to say the least when Buck had left. It had been nice to have his best friend around. Don't get him wrong, he loved Shannon but the woman hovered, Buck didn't hover. Or at least she hovered for the first couple of the days and then she began to pick stupid fights.

"What'd I do now?" Eddie asks, slowly following Shannon out to the kitchen after she stomped through the living room. The man was off of his crutches, but it still took him a bit to get around.

Shannon scoffed and whipped around, looking at Eddie, her eyes full of something Eddie couldn't pinpoint. "I'm taking care of Christopher by myself even though you're home!" She exclaimed. "I know you were hurt, but you could help some. It's almost like you're not even here. But you are."

"I'm trying to help but whatever I do isn't good enough, he asks for you Shannon. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Eddie says to her, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen.

Shannon just shrugs and folds her arms across her chest. "I'm leaving Eddie. My moms sick and I'm going to take care of her, but I don't know if I'm coming back." She told him in a soft voice.

Eddie's heart broke. "I didn't know your mom was sick."

"You didn't ask." The woman just shrugs.

"What do you mean you don't know if you're coming back?" The man asks, he's not even sure if he wants to know the answer.

"I love Christopher and I love you, but I just need some time. I'm going to take care of my mom and you'll have Christopher, I know he'll be in good hands." She gave him a small smile, tears in her eyes.

"I love you Shannon, I need you." Is all Eddie says, willing the tears away.

Shannon shakes her head and walks out of the kitchen before saying. "You might think you love me, but I don't think you do. I think you need to figure things out."

"I don't even know what that means." Eddie whispers to himself as he watches Shannon disappear down the hallway into their room.

Minutes later, Shannon emerged from the bedroom with a suitcase and a frown on her face. "I told Christopher goodbye when I put him down for the night." She tells the man who was watching her. "Goodbye Eddie." And she walks out the door, leaving Eddie in tears in the doorway of the kitchen.

How was he going to do this, how was he going to raise Christopher by himself? He wasn't sure of the answers but he had to try.