9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lone Star one shots (mostly angst)

97: Buck+Eddie

•Title: "Stay part 2"

•Requester: not really anyone, but I ended on a cliffhanger

•Warnings: talk of abuse, etc

•Inspiration: the first part

•Type: angst

A/N: Okay, so this isn't technically a ship because they won't be tpgether, but still. So, they are just friends in this. Just with lots of tension.

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Eddie sits with Athena and Bobby in the waiting room. Following Buck's wishes, he didn't call Maddie, though he feels guilty for that. His left leg is bouncing rapidly as he stares at the doors Buck was rushed through hours ago. Bobby has his hand on Eddie's back while his other hand is holding Athena's in his.

"How was he?"

"Talking," Eddie says monotonously.

"Edmundo Diaz, here for Evan Buckley?" Eddie stands and walks to the information desk, where a doctor is standing.

"I'm Edmundo-Eddie. I'm Eddie Diaz," he says nervously.

"Evan made it through surgery and is in recovery. I can take you to see him," the doctor says softly.

"Yes, please. How is he? Will he be okay? When can he come back to work?"

"He has four broken ribs and had a splenic bleed which we fixed by removing his spleen. He has a broken wrist and ankle. He also has a mild concussion, so it could be a while," the doctor responds.

"How long, exactly? He lives and breathes his job," Eddie says softly.

"Four weeks minimum," the doctor responds as they begin the walk towards Buck's recovery room.

"When he is out of recovery, he will be allowed more visitors. For now, only you are allowed since you're his emergency contact on file."

"Thank you," Eddie says when the doctor leaves him in front of a door.

Eddie Diaz is not a man that's easily scared. He has gone to literal war. Nobody will ever say he is scared. Staring at this door, however, he feels anxiety bubble inside of him. He has no idea what is on the other side. He has no idea how Buck will look. He wants to inflict every injury Buck has onto Tommy and then some, but he won't. Violence doesn't seem an appropriate response to this situation. Eddie just stares at the door, knowing that everything changes once he opens it.

Eddie remembers the night that Buck opened up to him about having been on a date with Tommy. Eddie had been venting about Marisol, who he has since broken up with, when Buck corrected his previous fib from the night before. Eddie wasn't surprised, really. He had seen Buck check out guys, though Buck thought he was being subtle. He probably was, though. Eddie only actually noticed because he is constantly looking at Buck. He remembers the hope he had that night, realizing that Buck actually likes men. That hope feels gone, now.

He raises his hand to grasp the door handle. He closes his eyes and slowly breathes in through his nose. He opens his eyes as he exhales through his mouth and pushes the handle down. He pushes the door open and steps inside the room with his gaze on the floor. He turns to shut the door silently, still not looking up. With another deep breath, Eddie raises his head.

His body physically recoils at the sight. Buck's face has a bruise on one cheek with a small laceration on another. His wrist and ankle both have beige casts, his left side clearly taking most of the impact. The lights are dimmed in the room, concussion protocol being active. Eddie makes his way to the chair next to the bed and looks at the monitor, watching the steady heartbeat as it registers. He rests his hand on Buck's as he listens to the steady beat.