I Love You; I'm Sorry

Buck lifts his hand to knock, then he thinks of what might happen. Maybe Eddie will look through the peephole and see that it's him, refuse to open the door, or maybe he'll shout and ask who it is, and if Buck says it's him, the door definitely won't open, and if he doesn't answer, he's back at the peephole problem. So, he decides to do probably the dumbest thing possible and just walk in. He reaches for the doorknob, and thanks God when he realizes it's unlocked. Is this considered breaking in? The thought only crosses his mind for a second, but then he decides he doesn't care. Eddie can call the police on him if he wants. At least it would force him to sit with him for a few minutes until they came.

"Eddie!" He says it as soon as he steps in the door, just so he knows it's him. He closes the door behind him. It only takes a few seconds for Eddie to step out into the hall to see him.

"Why are you here?"

"We need to talk, Eddie."

"We're fine. You can go."

"No, we're going to go in there, sit on your couch, and you're going to tell me what the fuck has been going on with you."

"Nothing is going on, Buck. I'm fine."

"Maybe you're fine, but we're not, and I can't... I can't keep dealing with it alone. We need to talk. You avoid me at work, and you decline my calls. I know you think you're waiting long enough to trick me, but I count the rings and you're declining my calls..." His voice suddenly becomes softer. "You never decline my calls."

"Buck-"

"I'm not leaving until you sit on that couch and tell me what's going on, or until Sargent Grant drags me out of here herself."

"You telling me to call the cops on you?"

"I'm telling you that that is the only other way I'm leaving. If that's what you want to do, go ahead."

"I could always leave."

"You aren't going to though."

"No... I'm not." He shakes his head, then walks into the living room and sits on the couch. Buck follows him, but doesn't sit down like he said he was going to.

"Do you hate me? Did I do something wrong? You know, if you just tell me what it is, I can fix it. I know I fuck up a lot, but I usually know how to fix it."

"No, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Okay, then why have you been avoiding me? Why do you seem mad at me?"

"I'm not..." He drags his eyes away from him, looking for anything in the room that isn't Buck, then he gulps. "I'm not mad at you." His eyes land back on Buck, looking for his reaction. Everything about him softens.

"Then can you tell me what's going on?" He gets closer to the couch, placing his hand down, then slowly lowering himself down. "Please?"

"Buck I..." He freezes when their eyes lock, then he sighs. "I can't..." He stands up, then takes a few steps back. "I can't do this." He looks down at him and he looks so... hurt. "Fuck!" He drags his hand down his face.

"Can't do what?" Eddie just stares at him and shakes his head. "Eddie, it's me. What could possibly be so bad that you can't tell me?" Eddie freezes, he can't say anything. "Is it... is it Tommy? Do you not like him? 'Cause I feel like this all started when I started seeing him."

Eddie opens his mouth, but still can't form a response. If he says no, it'll feel like lying because he doesn't like Tommy, but that's not the real reason he's been avoiding him. Buck doesn't wait long before he starts talking again.