It was me in there( 9-1-1 )

Caught

The house felt unnervingly quiet as Eddie stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. It was later than usual, and he had expected Buck to be on the couch, watching something mindless on TV, or maybe on his phone. But the silence in the house felt different—off. Eddie's stomach clenched, and he instantly felt that familiar twinge of worry.

"Buck?" he called, his voice echoing through the empty living room. There was no response.

He tossed his keys onto the counter, the sharp sound of metal hitting wood filling the air. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut. Eddie moved through the house quickly, checking the living room, then the kitchen, before making his way down the hallway toward their bedroom. The quiet was suffocating.

That's when he heard it—the faintest sound coming from the bathroom, a soft, rhythmic noise that made Eddie's heart skip.

He pushed the door open without knocking, his breath catching in his throat at the sight in front of him. Buck was hunched over the sink, his eyes wide and strained as he leaned in too close to the mirror. His hands were trembling, gripping the edge of the counter as if he was holding onto something to keep himself steady. Eddie's stomach dropped as he watched Buck quickly pull back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

It was a familiar gesture. One Eddie had seen before, but he had hoped he'd never have to witness again.

Buck's eyes flicked up to meet Eddie's, a quick, guarded look before he turned away, dropping his gaze to the floor. The tension in the room felt suffocating.

"Buck..." Eddie's voice was soft, almost hesitant, but the concern laced through it was unmistakable. "What were you doing?"

Buck's head shot up, a forced, shaky smile on his lips that didn't reach his eyes. His voice was strained, almost robotic. "I'm fine, Eddie. It's nothing, really. Just... stomach's off. Probably just something I ate."

But Eddie wasn't fooled. The way Buck's body was trembling, the panic in his eyes, it told a different story. Eddie's heart squeezed painfully in his chest as he stepped closer, not sure what he was about to hear but knowing that it wasn't just about food.

"No, Buck," Eddie said, his voice firmer this time. "I know when something's wrong. Talk to me. What's really going on?"

Buck stiffened, then his posture seemed to deflate, shoulders slumping as he let out a shaky breath. He glanced up at Eddie, eyes full of vulnerability, and for a moment, Eddie saw the depth of the pain Buck had been trying so hard to hide.

"I don't know," Buck said quietly, his voice breaking. "I just... I don't know how to make it stop, Eddie. Everything's so overwhelming. It feels like my mind won't stop, and the thoughts... the thoughts won't stop. I just wanted the noise to go away."

His hands were still trembling, but now they were clasped together in front of him, as if holding himself together. Eddie's heart broke at the sight of Buck trying to keep his composure, trying to hold back the flood of emotions he was obviously struggling with.

"I thought if I could just... I don't know, make myself throw up, maybe the feeling would go away. Maybe it would help me feel in control for a minute." Buck's voice wavered, and the tears he had been holding back began to slip down his cheeks. "I just wanted it to stop. The feeling of... everything crashing down around me. I don't know how to fix it. I don't know what to do anymore."

Eddie's chest tightened, and without thinking, he crossed the room, wrapping his arms around Buck. It was a reflex—Buck needed him, and Eddie needed to be the one to pull him back from the edge. He held him close, pressing his forehead to Buck's, trying to convey everything he couldn't say with words.

Buck tensed at first, as though he wasn't sure how to react to the comfort, but then he relaxed, sinking into Eddie's embrace.

"You don't have to fix it alone, Buck," Eddie whispered, his voice full of warmth and determination. "I'm here. You don't have to fight this by yourself."

Buck shook his head slightly, as if he didn't believe Eddie. "But it's too much. I keep feeling like I'm failing. At everything. At work, at home... and I don't even know how to explain it. How do I tell you that I'm barely hanging on?"

Eddie tightened his hold on him. "You don't have to explain it. You just need to know that I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere."

Buck's breath hitched, and for a moment, Eddie thought he might pull away again, but instead, Buck buried his face in Eddie's chest, his tears wetting Eddie's shirt. It hurt to see Buck like this—so broken and raw—but Eddie held him tighter, silently promising he wouldn't let go.

"I'm not going to leave you, Buck," Eddie said softly, brushing his hand through Buck's hair. "You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together, okay?"

Buck nodded against his chest, his sobs soft but desperate. Eddie could feel the weight of everything Buck was carrying, and he wished he could take it all away. But for now, all he could do was be there, holding him, and reminding him that he was loved.