Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 24

Scene: Fire Station, Two Days Later

The firehouse buzzed with its usual activity as Buck and Eddie prepared for their shift. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on Buck's mind, his heart still raw from the rejection by his parents and the nightmare that haunted him. He tried to push aside his emotions, focusing on the tasks at hand as they suited up and headed out with the rest of the team.

Scene: Emergency Call: Young Boy in Crisis

The call came in just after lunch—a distress call from a residential neighborhood. A young boy, barely in his teens, was threatening to jump from the roof of his home. The team rushed to the scene, adrenaline pumping as they prepared for the rescue.

When they arrived, the scene was chaotic. Police officers were trying to calm the distraught parents down while firefighters set up a safety perimeter. Buck and Eddie quickly assessed the situation, their training kicking in as they approached cautiously.

The boy stood precariously close to the edge of the roof, tears streaming down his face. His parents, standing below, looked on in disbelief and horror.

Buck: "Hey there, buddy. My name's Buck. Can you tell me your name?"

The boy glanced down at Buck, his eyes red and filled with anguish.

Boy: "I... I'm Alex."

Eddie: "Hey, Alex, I'm Eddie. We're here to help you, okay? You don't have to do this."

Alex shook his head, his voice trembling.

Alex: "They hate me. My parents... they hate me because I'm gay."

Buck's heart clenched in his chest. He knew all too well the pain of parental rejection.

Buck: "Alex, listen to me. It's going to be okay. We're going to help you get down from there safely."

But as Buck tried to approach closer, memories of his own recent trauma flooded his mind. The harsh words of his parents echoed in his ears, blending with the cries of the distraught boy before him. His breath caught in his throat, panic tightening its grip on his chest.

Buck: (whispering to himself) "No, not now..."

His vision blurred, the world around him spinning as he struggled to maintain his composure. Eddie noticed Buck's distress immediately, his instincts kicking in as he moved closer.

Eddie: "Buck, you with me?"

Buck nodded weakly, but his body was rigid with fear. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Alex, who teetered dangerously close to the edge.

Buck: "I... I can't..."

Eddie gently took Buck by the arm, leading him away from the scene.

Eddie: "Bobby, I need some help over here!"

Bobby rushed over, concern etched on his face as he assessed the situation.

Bobby: "What's going on?"

Eddie: "Buck's having a panic attack. We need to get him away from here."

Bobby nodded grimly, his voice calm and steady.

Bobby: "Buck, come with me. Let's get you to the truck. The other firefighters will take care of Alex. (To another firefighter) Hey Captain Rogers, can you and the rest of the 136 handle this? I have a firefighter of my own who needs my help."

Captain Rogers of the 136: "No problem Nash"

Buck stumbled alongside Bobby, his legs trembling beneath him. The world felt distant and surreal, his senses overwhelmed by the memories and the present crisis unfolding before him.