Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 138

Scene: A Quiet Corner of the Reception Hall – Late Evening 

The reception buzzed with energy, laughter, and the occasional clinking of glasses. Buck leaned against the wall near the bar, his champagne flute in hand, sharing a moment of camaraderie with Bobby and Athena. 

Bobby (smiling): "You know, Buck, I’ll never forget one your first call. The way you tried to do it all by yourself—charging into the blaze like you didn’t even know what a team was."

Buck (grinning): "Come on, Bobby. I wasn’t that bad."

Athena (raising an eyebrow): "Weren’t you? You practically had to be dragged out by your suspenders before you burned yourself out—literally."

Buck (laughing): "Okay, okay, maybe I had a lot to learn. But I like to think I’ve mellowed out since then."

Bobby (mock serious): "Mellowed? You still sprint into danger, but at least now you wait for the rest of us to catch up." 

Athena (with a teasing smile): "And you only attempt the impossible every other day now. Progress."

Buck laughed, shaking his head as he raised his glass in mock toast. 

Buck: "I’ll take it. I mean, if you’re not aiming high, what’s the point, right?"

Athena (leaning in, softly): "You know, Buck, for all the risks you take, you’ve built something incredible here. Look around. This is your family. And it’s because of who you are—the person who always shows up."

Buck’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by something deeper, more reflective. 

Buck (quietly): "I wouldn’t have any of this without all of you. You believed in me when I didn’t even know who I was. I’ll never forget that."

Bobby (placing a hand on Buck’s shoulder): "You’ve earned every bit of it, Buck. And tonight? This is just the start of something even bigger."

Before Buck could respond, Eddie’s voice interrupted the moment. 

Eddie (approaching with Christopher): "Hey, can we borrow Buck for a second? Chris has something he wants to share."

Buck’s laughter faded, replaced with a touch of concern. He set his glass down, straightening up. 

Buck: "Of course. Is everything okay?"

Christopher nodded eagerly, his wide smile betraying no signs of worry. 

Christopher: "Come sit with us!"

They moved to a quieter corner, away from the noise of the crowd. Eddie and Buck sat on one side of a plush couch, with Christopher standing in front of them. Eddie placed a reassuring hand on Buck’s arm, his expression calm but expectant. 

Christopher took a deep breath and handed Buck the envelope. 

Christopher: "Here. It’s for you. It’s really, really important."

Buck opened the envelope slowly, his hands trembling so much that the papers inside rustled loudly. The room seemed to quiet around him, the noise of the reception fading into the background as his focus zeroed in on the contents. He pulled out the first few pages, his eyes catching snippets of words—“child custody,” “legal guardian.” The phrases didn’t immediately register, his brain struggling to piece them together as his heart raced. 

He looked up, confused, his wide eyes darting between Eddie and Christopher. 

Buck (softly, his voice shaky): "Eddie… Chris… what is this? I don’t… I don’t understand."