Heat of the Moment

Part 1

The bustling sounds of the fire station filled the air as the crew gathered for dinner. Buck sat at the long table, digging into a generous portion of spaghetti, his laughter mingling with the chatter of his fellow firefighters. Eddie, sitting across from him, managed a smile, but Buck noticed the way Eddie’s hands gripped the edge of the table a bit too tightly, his knuckles white against the smooth wood.

“Everything okay, Ed?” Buck asked, concern edging his voice. He had learned to read Eddie’s expressions—especially when something was bothering him. Eddie looked up, meeting Buck’s gaze with a forced smile.

“Yeah, just… a little tired,” he replied, though Buck could see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. It was a warm evening, but Eddie’s discomfort seemed to stem from something deeper.

As they continued to eat, Buck couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Eddie’s leg bounced slightly beneath the table, a telltale sign of his anxiety. They had just reached the point of discussing the latest firefighting techniques when Eddie suddenly stilled, his face paling. Buck leaned in closer, ready to ask if he needed anything, when he saw Eddie’s eyes widen slightly.

“Eddie?” Buck’s voice was low, filled with concern. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Shh,” Eddie hissed, glancing around to see if anyone else had noticed. “Not here.”

Buck’s protective instincts kicked in. He stood up, casually nudging his chair back, and leaned closer to Eddie, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“No, I can’t,” Eddie insisted, but Buck could see the tension in his husband’s body. “I don’t want to make a scene.”

“You’re not making a scene, Ed. You’re having a baby,” Buck urged, his eyes softening with affection and determination. “Let me help you. We can sneak out the back.”

Eddie hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. The other firefighters were too absorbed in their food and conversation to notice the growing tension between the two men. With a reluctant nod, Eddie finally relented, pushing his chair back and standing up, though he swayed slightly on his feet.

“Careful,” Buck said, reaching out to steady him. He quickly wrapped an arm around Eddie’s waist, supporting him as they made their way toward the exit. Eddie leaned into Buck’s side, his breath coming in quick bursts, and Buck could feel the subtle contractions that rippled through Eddie’s body.

As they slipped outside into the cool evening air, Buck led Eddie to the car parked in the fire station lot. The drive to the hospital should have taken about fifteen minutes, but Buck’s stomach churned with unease at the thought of how things might go if they hit traffic. He helped Eddie into the passenger seat, his heart racing at how pale Eddie looked.

“Just breathe, okay?” Buck instructed gently, brushing his fingers along Eddie’s arm. “You’ve got this.”

“I know,” Eddie replied, though his voice was shaky. “Just… hurry.”

They were on their way, but Buck’s optimism was short-lived. They barely made it a block before they were met with the dreaded red brake lights in front of them.

“Come on,” Buck muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He glanced over at Eddie, whose face had taken on a more strained expression. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just… just give me a second,” Eddie said, his voice strained as he leaned back in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position. Buck watched in helpless concern as Eddie’s hand found its way back to his belly, pressing against it as if it would somehow help.