Touches

197 Seconds

"Go get em, cowboy," Eddie said playfully, Buck winking as he started up the ladder.

Eddie kept one hand on the metal rung, one hand secured around the rope that held Buck's harness. He watched him climb up, barely visible through the rain from the massive spotlights and the fire they were battling.

"Can't believe he was keeping track," Chimney mumbled as he jumped down from the truck, Eddie laughing. "You know he does," he commented fondly, Chimney grinning.

Buck reached the top of the ladder, adjusting his hold on the hose. Eddie kept his eyes on him, tightening the cable just a little so if anything happened, Buck wouldn't fall.

Eddie's skin prickled, Buck pausing as he looked around. Eddie frowned, securing the winch and setting his hands on the ladder, ready to pull himself up.

A sudden, bright flash had him flinching, a red hot burning entering his hands. Sparks flew as he was flung back, his hands and chest burning as he landed hard on his back.

His heart beat was loud in his ears, audible under the ringing daze as his head spun.

One, and a two, and a three...

He rolled over with a groan, scrambling for his helmet. He got it on and looked up, breath catching at the sight of Buck hanging motionless from the ladder. "Buck!"

Eleven, and a twelve, and a thirteen

Eddie flung himself forward, ignoring the pain in his hands, chest and back. He ignored the fact that he should have a harness on, that he was heading to the exact spot lightning had just struck in the exact same conditions. Nothing mattered, except getting to Buck.

Twenty, and a twenty one, and a twenty two

He yelled Buck's name, flying up the ladder two rungs at a time. Everything felt wrong, Buck never ignored him when Eddie said his name. Never once had Eddie called for Buck and didn't immediately receive a bright smile, blue eyes crinkling as he tilted his head in curiosity.

Thirty six, and thirty seven, and thirty eight

He grabbed the rope, looking down at Bucks lax expression. His mouth was open, memories of him falling asleep on Eddie's couch with his head tilted back and mouth hanging open filling Eddie's mind.

Except this time, Buck was silent. No sleepy snores, no quiet breaths. And in very rare occasions, usually at 3am when Buck is extra exhausted, the occasional nonsense word or sentence. Eddie didn't think Buck knew he slept talked sometimes, and that Eddie sometimes knew the nights where it could happen and would go check on him, just to hear what he'd say.

"Buck can you hear me?" Eddie screamed, pulling hard on the rope. Buck didn't move, and Eddie caught glimpse of Bobby standing panicked under them. "I need more slack!"

Fifty three, and fifty four, and fifty five

Eddie lowered Buck carefully, eyes locked on his best friends face. He watched as Bobby carefully caught him, Chimney unclipping Buck from the harness and getting him onto the gurney.

Eddie didn't remember sprinting down the ladder, his heart racing in his head. All he remembered was blinking one moment on top of the ladder, and the next he's standing by the gurney as Chimney shouts, "No pulse! Starting compressions!"

Eddie watched frantically, eyes locked on Buck's face. He could see the burns of the Lichtenstein marks peeking out from under his best friends collar, neck burned red even as his skin was pale.

"Still no pulse!" Hen yelled and Eddie lunged forward. Chimney moved before Eddie could shove him off, Eddie counting in his head as he pressed the familiar motions into Buck's chest.