Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 82

About thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang, breaking the quiet hum of the night. Buck stood from the armchair, stretching his stiff limbs before heading to the door. The cool night air greeted him as he opened it to the delivery guy, who handed him the pizza box with a polite nod. Buck thanked him, paid, and turned back into the house, the warmth from inside wrapping around him as he walked back into the living room.

Setting the pizza box down on the coffee table, Buck glanced at Eddie, who was still curled up on the couch, asleep. He hated waking him, knowing how much Eddie needed the rest, but Eddie hadn’t eaten much all day. Gently, Buck nudged his shoulder.

Buck (softly): "Hey, Eddie. Pizza’s here. You should eat something."

Eddie stirred, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly blinked awake. He seemed dazed for a moment, his mind still foggy with sleep. Then, all at once, his eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright on the couch, panic flashing across his face.

Eddie (alarmed): "Christopher! We forgot to pick him up!"

The sudden rush of anxiety in Eddie’s voice made Buck’s heart clench. He quickly placed a calming hand on Eddie’s shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles as he gently guided him back down onto the couch.

Buck (reassuringly): "Hey, hey, it’s okay. I called Maddie earlier. Christopher’s staying with her for the night. You don’t have to worry about anything. He’s safe, I promise."

Eddie blinked again, relief flooding his features as he exhaled a long, shaky breath. His body seemed to sag back into the cushions as the weight of his worry melted away, but exhaustion was still etched deeply into the lines of his face. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that spoke of his fatigue and mental strain.

Eddie (quietly): "I didn’t even think... I’m just so tired, Buck. I don’t know where my head’s at anymore."

Buck sat down beside him, the concern in his chest growing as he watched Eddie. He knew that Eddie’s exhaustion wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, mental—a deep fatigue that no amount of sleep seemed to fix. He opened the pizza box and handed Eddie a slice, hoping the food would help even a little.

Buck (gently): "I know, Eddie. But you need to eat something. Just one or two slices, okay? It’ll help."

Eddie nodded, but it was clear from his sluggish movements that he was still struggling. He took a small bite of the pizza, chewing slowly, but Buck could tell his heart wasn’t in it. Eddie’s mind seemed a million miles away, lost in the haze of grief and exhaustion that had become his constant companions over the last few days.

After finishing half of the slice, Eddie set it back down, his shoulders slumping as he let out a tired sigh.

Eddie (apologetic): *"I’m not really hungry, Buck. I’m sorry."

Buck frowned, his concern deepening. He hated seeing Eddie like this—so drained, so defeated. He wanted to help, to fix it, but he knew that grief wasn’t something that could be easily mended. All he could do was be there, to offer his support in any way Eddie needed.

Buck (softly, with a hint of worry): "It’s okay, Eddie. I just want you to take care of yourself. That’s all I care about right now."

Eddie’s eyes softened, and for a moment, a flicker of gratitude passed through them. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Buck’s cheek, a silent thank you for everything Buck was doing, even though he didn’t have the words to express it.

Eddie (quietly): "I’m going to lie down. I just... I need to sleep."

Buck watched as Eddie stood, his steps heavy with exhaustion as he made his way to their bedroom. He stood in the living room for a moment, watching him go, his heart aching with the weight of everything Eddie was carrying. Once Eddie disappeared into the bedroom, Buck busied himself by tidying up the living room, putting the pizza leftovers in the fridge and making sure everything was in order. It gave him something to do—something to distract him from the helplessness he felt watching Eddie struggle.

When he finally made his way to the bedroom, he found Eddie already curled up on the bed, his body tucked tightly beneath the blankets, as if he was trying to shield himself from the world. His face was peaceful, but there was still a trace of tension in his features, a reminder that even in sleep, Eddie wasn’t entirely at rest.

Buck quietly slipped into bed beside him, careful not to disturb him. He pulled the blanket over both of them and leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to the back of Eddie’s head.

Buck (whispering): "I love you, Eddie."

For a while, Buck just lay there, listening to the quiet sounds of Eddie’s breathing, the steady rhythm calming him. But despite his own exhaustion, sleep didn’t come easily. His mind kept circling back to Eddie, to the heaviness he carried, and to the uncertainty of how to help him through it. Buck had always been the one to fix things, to jump into action when someone needed help. But this... this was something he couldn’t just fix with a quick solution. It was something that needed time, patience, and understanding.

After a while, he closed his eyes, hoping for a good night’s rest, but in the middle of the night, Buck was jolted awake by the sound of Eddie gasping, his body jerking violently in his sleep. Buck sat up quickly, his heart racing as he turned to Eddie, who was thrashing in the bed, caught in the grips of a nightmare.