The Family We Choose

Chapter 69

"How do I go home without her?" Eddie breaks Buck's heart with his question. The nurse had insisted the three leave. They had been at her bedside for the pay 56 hours straight. But a simple reminder that they would be no good to Emelia if they were exhausted, got them up and out the door.

But Eddie is stuck. Frozen at the sight of his daughter. Heartbroken by the thought of leaving her alone all night long.

"Together." Bucks says. Eddie looks at him, wanting to tell him that it was okay and that Buck could go home. He knew he was just as much of a wreck as he was. But then it clicked for him.

He was going home.

When they finally get home, they both feel like collapsing at the door. They are so exhausted from the past two days, but Carla has already put Chris to bed and made sure both boys plan on taking a shower before their own bedtime.

"Here Ed's," Buck hands Eddie a towel.

"Carla's right, you're ripe."

Buck tried to joke and it granted him a small smile from the man standing across from him.

"Speak for yourself." Eddie shakes his head before shutting the bathroom door behind him.

Working to get the couch turned into a bed, Buck meant what he said. He was going to be there for Eddie no matter what. That meant staying the night in case Eddie or Chris needed anything.

He remembers the routine from when Eddie was shot. He goes through the motions, finding all the blankets and pillows to form a nice cocoon of false safety and comfort.

When Eddie gets out of the shower, his hair is a wet mess. Buck thinks it's adorable and is about to comment on how his curls are just short of perfect, but when the other man sees the blanket cocoon, he shakes his head.

"I'm not making you sleep on the couch, Buck. You can stay in my room. My bed is big enough for the both of us." He says it, like it's the only answer in the world, but Buck has butterflies swarming in his stomach.

Buck is quick in the shower, finding Eddie sitting at the edge of his bed. Staring at his phone, begging it to ring with good news.

However, both of them knew that news would not be coming tonight.

"She's going to be okay, right? She has to be." Eddie says and his heart breaks. From the look in his eyes to the break in his voice. His eyes are red from crying.

Slowly, Buck takes the phone from Eddie, placing it on the bedside table. He smiles at the picture he has as his background. It's a picture of all four of them. He want to go back to that moment more than anything

"C'mon we need some sleep. Emelia would want us to take care of ourselves."
Normally, if someone spoke for his daughter, they would hear an earful. But this was Buck. He knew her better than anyone.

He knew that she liked to sleep in on weekends. He knew what her favourite soda is and how much she hates having her hair in her face. He knows her favourite author. He knows what questions to ask to get her going on one of her favourite topics and he likes to listen to what she is saying. Like really listens. He knows how to cheer her up and how to keep her cool.

So he listens. 

Crawling into bed next to bed, Eddie fights to become comfortable. Preparing for a night of tossing and turning, until Buck rolls onto his side and presses a hand to his shoulder. Only then does Eddie have the safety to fall asleep.

—

Four days after the accident, Emelia was still in a coma. Eddie and Buck took a leave from work, May talked to Josh about using her sick time and the three of them set up camp at Emelia's bedside. Only leaving when visiting hours ended to get some sleep before coming back early the next day. It's hard seeing her like this, but there's no place they would rather be than right next to Emelia.