Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 104

Scene: Receiving the Call at The Station

The slow hum of the afternoon was shattered by the sudden, piercing tones of the station alarm. The familiar sound cut through the easy rhythm of the day like a blade, drawing every firefighter’s attention immediately to the task at hand. Buck's breath hitched as the call came through the overhead speaker.

Dispatch: “Station 118, respond to a reported structure fire at 1574 Elm Street.”

In that instant, the comfortable camaraderie and banter of the morning dissolved, replaced by the sharp focus and adrenaline that accompanied every emergency. The room, once filled with laughter, was now a flurry of activity as the crew sprang to their feet.

Buck felt his stomach flip at the words 'structure fire'. His fingers clenched into fists for just a moment, the memory of his accident flashing in vivid detail behind his eyes. The heat, the smoke, the overwhelming sense of helplessness as everything had gone wrong that day. He had been through months of recovery, both physical and mental, but he hadn’t confronted this—'fire'—since then. And now, here it was, right in front of him.

Across the room, Eddie was already moving toward the turnout gear, his face calm but focused. Buck followed suit, trying to keep his breathing steady as he moved with the others. The motions were muscle memory—pulling on the heavy gear, fastening the straps, slipping into the boots—but his mind wasn’t quite there.

His heart thudded in his chest as his fingers fumbled slightly with the final buckle on his jacket. The room felt smaller somehow, the sounds of the others around him muted as his own heartbeat echoed in his ears.

Chimney (glancing over): “You good, Buck?”

Buck nodded quickly, forcing a smile. 'I’m fine,' he wanted to say, but the words caught in his throat. He didn’t want to draw attention to the nerves buzzing just beneath his skin. He didn’t want to seem weak, especially not today, on their first day back.

Eddie, who had been watching him closely out of the corner of his eye, gave Buck a quick look. It was brief but full of unspoken concern. Buck could tell Eddie had noticed the small tremor in his hands, the hesitation in his movements. But there was no time to talk about it now.

Together, they rushed toward the truck, the distant wail of sirens already filling the air as the rest of the team piled in. Buck climbed into his seat, his body on autopilot as he strapped in, but inside, his mind was spinning. The familiar scent of the truck’s worn leather seats and the low hum of the engine as they pulled out of the station usually calmed him. Today, however, it felt different—heavier.

The others were talking in low voices—Hen and Chim were going over the call details, Ravi was checking something on the tablet—but it all blurred together for Buck. His thoughts were already at the scene, imagining what they’d find when they got there. Smoke billowing out of windows, flames licking up the sides of a building, people trapped inside, just like before.

He clenched his jaw, willing the thoughts away. 'This is different. I’m different now.' He’d trained for this, survived the worst, and came back stronger. But no matter how many times he told himself that, the doubt lingered, coiling tightly in his chest.

Eddie’s voice broke through the noise in his head.

Eddie (quietly, leaning over): “Hey, you with me?”

Buck turned, meeting Eddie’s steady gaze. There was no judgment there, no pressure. Just that same quiet, unshakable support. Eddie wasn’t asking if Buck was scared—he already knew. He was asking if Buck trusted himself enough to face this.

Buck nodded, swallowing hard.

Buck (softly): “Yeah... I’m with you.”

Eddie’s lips curved into a small, reassuring smile, his hand briefly gripping Buck’s shoulder before he turned back toward the windshield. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to help Buck breathe a little easier.

The truck sped through the city streets, the blare of the siren growing louder with every turn, signaling to the world that they were coming. Buck stared out the window, watching the familiar blur of buildings and cars pass by, but his mind kept circling back to the fire. What if something went wrong again? What if he froze? What if he couldn’t do this?

He clenched his hands into fists, focusing on the feel of his gloves, the weight of the helmet on his head. He had to push through this. He wasn’t the same person who had been caught in that fire months ago. He had survived it, and he could survive this too.

But as they neared the scene, the doubt crept back in.

Dispatch (over the radio): “Reports indicate heavy smoke and possible occupants trapped on the second floor.”

Buck’s chest tightened at the words. 'Occupants trapped'. It was just like before, just like the girl he saved. He could feel the sweat beginning to prickle at the back of his neck, his heart rate quickening even though they weren’t even there yet. His arms, still bearing the marks of his last call, began to burn. It is as if he finds himself again in this fire after having given his gear to the little girl.

Eddie glanced at him again, sensing the shift. He didn’t say anything this time—he didn’t need to. Buck knew Eddie would be watching him closely, ready to step in if things got too overwhelming. But even that reassurance wasn’t enough to quiet the storm brewing inside.