Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 99

Scene: The Next Morning – Buck and Eddie's House

The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room, painting everything in warm, muted tones. Buck blinked awake, feeling the comforting weight of Eddie’s arm draped across his waist, their legs tangled together beneath the sheets. The steady rhythm of Eddie’s breathing was a familiar sound that Buck had grown to cherish, especially on mornings like this—when the day ahead carried a weight neither of them could ignore.

For a moment, Buck didn’t move, savoring the stillness of the early hour. He could hear the faint hum of traffic outside, the distant calls of birds just waking with the sunrise, and the low buzz of the city beginning its day. But in their room, it was peaceful, a quiet bubble that felt safe and untouched by the world outside. It was a rare kind of stillness, the kind they didn’t get often in their line of work.

But today wasn’t just any day. It was the day they had been anticipating—and perhaps dreading—for weeks. Their first day back at Station 118.

Buck’s chest tightened slightly at the thought, a swirl of emotions rising to the surface. He knew what today meant, what it represented. It wasn’t just a return to work; it was a return to everything that had happened. The fire. The accident. The months of recovery, both physical and emotional. It was all still so fresh, the scars not just on his body but in his mind. And yet, there was also a sense of relief in going back—of reclaiming a piece of his life that had been put on hold for far too long.

Eddie stirred beside him, his arm tightening briefly around Buck’s waist before he blinked awake, his dark eyes meeting Buck’s. There was a quiet understanding between them in that moment, a shared acknowledgment of the significance of the day ahead. They didn’t need words to communicate what they were both feeling—the weight of it hung in the air, familiar and unspoken.

Eddie (voice soft with early morning grogginess): “Ready for today?”

His voice was thick with sleep, a slight rasp to it that made Buck smile despite the nerves knotting in his stomach. Eddie always had a way of grounding him, of making even the most daunting days feel a little more manageable.

Buck stretched, feeling the slight pull of his healing muscles, the dull ache that still lingered but no longer dominated his every movement. His body was still heavy with sleep, but his mind was already racing ahead, anticipating the day’s events, wondering how he would handle it all.

Buck (murmuring): “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The words were quiet, almost tentative, but there was a resolve behind them. He wasn’t sure if he was truly ready—could anyone be, after what they’d been through?—but he knew he had to try. He had to face it, if not for himself, then for the people he loved. For Eddie. For Christopher. For the team that had been like family to him for years.

They both knew this wasn’t just another day at work. It was the day they would return to the firehouse, the place where their lives had changed so drastically months ago. For Buck, it was the scene of his greatest triumphs but also his greatest trauma—the accident that nearly took his life. Today, he would face it all again, step into the space that held both his best memories and his worst fears.

Eddie shifted beside him, propping himself up on one elbow as he studied Buck’s face. His gaze was steady, calm, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes, a quiet question that didn’t need to be asked aloud. Eddie always seemed to know when Buck’s mind was racing, when the weight of his thoughts was threatening to pull him under. It was one of the things Buck loved most about him—his ability to read Buck’s silences, to offer comfort without needing to be asked.

Without a word, Eddie leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Buck’s forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment longer than usual. It was a simple gesture, but it carried with it a promise, a reassurance that they were in this together, no matter what the day brought.

Buck closed his eyes briefly, letting out a slow breath as he soaked in the warmth of Eddie’s touch. He could feel the tension in his shoulders ease just a fraction, the tightness in his chest loosening enough for him to take a deeper breath.

Together, they climbed out of bed, their movements slow but synchronized, a familiar routine that had become second nature to them. The soft rustle of the sheets, the quiet creak of the bed as they stood, all sounds that were comforting in their normalcy.

Eddie moved toward the kitchen, the sound of his footsteps light against the hardwood floors, while Buck lingered for a moment by the window, his gaze drifting out to the world beyond their small sanctuary. The sky was painted in shades of pale blue and gold, the first rays of sunlight cutting through the trees outside. It was beautiful, peaceful—so different from the fire that still haunted his nightmares.

He shook his head slightly, pushing the thoughts away. Today wasn’t about the past. It was about moving forward.

The smell of coffee soon filled the house, rich and familiar, pulling Buck out of his thoughts. Eddie was already at the counter, brewing their morning pot, the routine as soothing as anything else they did together. Buck watched him for a moment, a soft smile tugging at his lips. Even in the simplest of tasks, Eddie had a way of making Buck feel at ease, of reminding him that, no matter what, they were a team.

Buck took his turn in the shower, the hot water working out the lingering stiffness in his muscles. As the steam curled around him, he let himself relax, just for a few moments, letting the heat seep into his skin, loosening the tension that always seemed to settle in his bones these days. He stood there longer than he needed to, letting the water run over his face, his thoughts drifting but never fully escaping the looming reality of the day ahead.

By the time he stepped out, Eddie had already set two mugs of coffee on the table, steam curling lazily from the cups. They shared a quiet breakfast, the hum of the city waking up around them providing a comforting backdrop. The conversation was light, punctuated by comfortable silences, but underneath it all was the shared knowledge of what was to come.

When they were both dressed and ready, Buck pulled on his jacket, feeling the familiar weight settle across his shoulders. It was like muscle memory, each movement bringing him closer to the inevitable moment when he would step back into the firehouse. But this time, he wasn’t doing it alone.

Christopher was awake now, his small feet padding softly across the floor as he made his way into the kitchen, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. He smiled up at them, his face lighting up at the sight of his two dads, ready for the day.

And just like that, the knot in Buck’s chest loosened a little more.