Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 62

Scene: El Paso Airport, Early Afternoon

The plane landed smoothly on the tarmac, the Texas sun blazing outside the windows. Buck and Eddie walked in silence through the airport, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Eddie’s mind was preoccupied with the impending reunion with his parents, the weight of the past few days, and now the tension that was sure to come. Buck, always attuned to Eddie, stayed close, offering quiet, wordless support.

After picking up their luggage, they made their way to the car rental counter. Eddie handled most of the talking while Buck stood by, watching his partner’s movements, noticing the way Eddie’s shoulders tensed the closer they got to home.

Rental Agent: “You guys are all set. Here’s the key to your rental. It’s parked just outside in Lot B.”

Eddie took the key with a curt nod, trying to keep his voice steady.

Eddie: “Thanks.”

Once they were outside, Eddie popped open the trunk of the rental, a modest black SUV, and the two of them tossed their bags inside. Buck glanced at Eddie, sensing the storm brewing just under the surface.

Buck: “You ready for this?”

Eddie sighed deeply, leaning against the car for a moment before answering.

Eddie: “As ready as I’ll ever be. I just… I don’t know how this is gonna go.”

Buck placed a comforting hand on Eddie’s shoulder, squeezing gently.

Buck: “Whatever happens, we’re doing this together, okay? You’re not alone.”

Eddie met his gaze, his expression softening just a little. He gave Buck a small nod, appreciating the unwavering support.

Eddie: “I know. I’m glad you’re here.”

They got into the car and started the short drive to Eddie’s parents’ house. The quiet of the car was thick with anticipation, but Buck didn’t push. He knew Eddie needed time to process his thoughts, and so he simply sat there, offering the steady presence that Eddie needed.

Scene: Eddie’s Parents’ House, Late Afternoon

As the car pulled up in front of the familiar, pale stone façade of the Diaz family home, Eddie's breath hitched, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than he intended. The house, with its neat lawn and carefully tended rose bushes, seemed both welcoming and suffocating at once. Memories of his childhood flooded his mind—memories he had buried beneath layers of duty, grief, and the demands of his life as a father and firefighter.

Buck, sitting quietly in the passenger seat, glanced over at Eddie, sensing the tension radiating off him. The usual ease and confidence that marked Eddie's demeanor were gone, replaced by a rigid stillness. Buck had been around Eddie long enough to recognize what that meant. He waited, giving Eddie the space to gather his thoughts, knowing the weight of what returning here must feel like.

Eddie exhaled slowly, his knuckles white against the leather of the steering wheel.

Eddie: “It’s just… strange being back here.”

His voice was quiet, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to Buck. There was something in his tone—a mix of nostalgia, dread, and something else Buck couldn’t quite place. His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken layers of history and unresolved tension.

Buck watched him, taking in the subtle ways Eddie was trying to steel himself for whatever was waiting inside that house. He wanted to say something that would make this easier, something that would dissolve the tension Eddie was feeling, but he knew that no amount of reassurance would make this simple. So instead, he offered what he could—his presence and his unwavering support.