Lost and Found || Buddie

Chapter 27

The minutes seemed to tick by slowly as everyone sat in the waiting room, waiting to hear any news about how Buck was doing, about the surgery, literally anything. Eddie felt like he was going to lose his mind as he waited, he just wanted to know that his boyfriend was okay, that he was going to make it. 

He's not sure how long it was until he heard footsteps approaching, hoping it was the doctor. He turned his head towards the sound of footsteps and saw Shannon with a sad smile on her face. How did she know they were there? Eddie hadn't gotten ahold of her yet. He should have though; Buck was one of her friends. "Shannon? What are you doing here?" The man asks, shock clear in his voice. 

Holding up the box of pastries, Shannon just shrugged her shoulders. "Maddie texted me. I figured everyone could use something to eat while they're waiting." She spoke and set the box down on the table in front of the chairs. "I'm disappointed that you didn't say anything Eddie." The woman sighs softly, making Eddie frown. He was never good with knowing that he had disappointed someone. "Any news?"

Before Eddie could speak, Maddie spoke up. "Thank you for coming Shannon. We haven't heard anything yet. Last I knew he was stable, and he was in surgery." She reached forward and opened the box, grabbing a donut with sprinkles. 

"Where's Chris?" Shannon asks, looking around and noticing that the boy was nowhere to be found. 

"He's with Hen's wife Karen." Eddie said, his voice so low he almost didn't hear himself. 

Shannon nodded and leaned back as far as she could. "Okay good. I can go pick him up when I leave, I won't stay long. I just want to know what's going on." 

"Yeah, that's fine Shan. Thank you for coming." 

---

The sounds of beeping and the smell of antiseptic made Buck blink his eyes open, groaning at the pain in his leg. He looked around and noticed two bodies sat next to him. He knew he was in the hospital by the looks of things, he knew what happened during his shift at the station he just didn't know what happened after that. 

"Buck?" That was Maddie. "Eddie, Buck's awake." Oh, Eddie was there too. He visibly relaxed into the bed knowing that both his sister and his boyfriend were there, waiting for him to wake up. "How are you feeling?" She asked him, standing up and grabbing his hand, squeezing it gently. 

Buck knew he was supposed to be mad at his sister, but he couldn't think about that right now. All he could think about was that he was hurting, and he needed the people he loved the most. "It hurts." He whines, looking over at Eddie who was slowly waking up himself. "Eds." He whispers, taking his hand from Maddie's and reaching towards the man who immediately scooted his chair closer and grabbed his hand. 

"Hey baby." Eddie says softly and leans forward, pressing a kiss to the younger man's forehead. 

Buck looks back at his sister. "How bad is it?"

"It's pretty bad Buck. But they were able to save your leg. It was crushed pretty badly, but the surgery helped. You'll have to do a lot of physical therapy to get back to where you were." And it was almost as if Maddie could read his mind. "You should be able to go back to work after you're healed." Key word, should.

Buck just nodded, listening to the words coming out of Maddie's mouth. He squeezed Eddie's hand tightly. "Okay good. I love being a firefighter, I don't think I'd be happy if I couldn't go back."

Eddie tenses at that. The thought of Buck going back to work terrifies him. He tries not to worry about it since he knows it'll be quite some time until Buck is ready for that. "Everyone else is in the waiting room if you want to see them." He spoke. "Everyone was pretty worried about you."

"I don't want to see anyone else right now. I just want to sit with you and Maddie. I'm too tired and it just hurts so bad. I don't want to deal with anyone else." He murmurs, closing his eyes and even though he doesn't mean to, he drifts back to sleep, leaving Eddie and Maddie to themselves.

Eddie looks down at his hands and bites his bottom lip. He had to talk to Maddie, and he just didn't know how to bring it up. He was going to need help with Buck and Christopher while he was at the academy. Shannon had already offered to help but she could only help a couple of days of week, he would need another person to help. "I can tell something's bothering you Eddie." Maddie says softly, once again taking her seat next to Eddie. "Whatever it is, you can talk to me."

"I know. It's just- I'm going to need some help. I can't just take time off from the academy." He starts, running a hand through his hair and looking over at Maddie who was nodding as he spoke. He really hated how easy it was to talk to her, but he loved it at the same time. "Shannon offered to help a few days a week, she'd just stay at the house and help Buck and Christopher as needed. And I know you have a job, but could you help me figure it out? Buck can't be alone and he's not going to be able to take care of Chris like he normally does." He felt defeated.

Maddie rests a hand on Eddie's back and rubs circles comforting the man. "I should be able to help on my days off. And we can talk to the rest of Buck's team, I'm sure they'd be willing to switch off and help while Buck is recovering. We'll figure it out Eddie, I promise." 

Eddie could feel the tears threatening to spill as he wraps his boyfriend's sister in a tight hug. "Thank you, Maddie. Think I'd go insane without you here." He chuckles wetly.

"It's what family does." Maddie whispers, the two holding each other in silence until a nurse enters the room to check Buck's vitals. And if she noticed the two comforting each other, she doesn't say anything when she leaves the room.