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

Taken

Buck's POV

Buck's pulse hammered in his ears as Phillip's grip on his arm tightened, the pressure threatening to bruise.

"Let go of me!" Buck shouted, his voice trembling but defiant.

Phillip's expression didn't change, his cold, calculated demeanor a stark contrast to the panic swelling in Buck. He yanked Buck closer, their faces inches apart.

"You think you can just erase me from your life, Evan?" Phillip hissed, his voice low and venomous. "You think you're too good for the family that made you?"

Buck tried to twist away, but the alcohol still fogging his system slowed his reflexes. His body felt like lead as Phillip dragged him further down the hallway, away from the bar, away from safety.

"I don't need you! I never did!" Buck shot back, his voice cracking. "You were never my family."

The words only seemed to fuel Phillip's rage. His grip shifted to Buck's collar, slamming him against the hallway wall with enough force to make Buck's head snap back.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that," Phillip growled, his face inches from Buck's. "You owe me everything, Evan. And now, you're going to pay for turning your back on me."

Buck's heart pounded wildly, fear sobering him in an instant. He tried to call out, to scream for help, but Phillip's hand clamped over his mouth, muffling his voice.

"Not a word," Phillip snarled, his eyes cold and calculating. "Let's go."

Buck struggled, his body twisting desperately, but Phillip was unyielding. The hallway door slammed shut behind them, the noise of the bar disappearing like a lifeline being severed.

Eddie's POV

(Eddie had woken up at this point)

Eddie leaned against the wall outside the bathroom, glancing at his watch. Buck had been gone longer than expected, but it wasn't unusual for him to get distracted.

Still, something gnawed at the edges of Eddie's thoughts. Buck's energy tonight had been off—too manic, too forced. Eddie had seen it before, that desperation to prove he was fine when he was anything but.

The sound of the bathroom door swinging open pulled Eddie from his thoughts. He looked up, expecting to see Buck, but the doorway was empty.

Frowning, Eddie stepped into the bathroom, his eyes scanning the small, tiled space.

"Buck?" he called, his voice bouncing off the walls.

The bathroom was empty, eerily quiet except for the faint drip of a faucet.

Eddie's chest tightened as unease crept up his spine. He turned back into the hallway, his eyes darting around. That's when he noticed it—the faint scuff mark on the floor, like someone had been dragged.

"No," Eddie whispered, his voice barely audible.

He pushed open the door to the alley, the cold night air slamming into him. His eyes scanned the dimly lit space, searching desperately for any sign of Buck.

"Buck!" Eddie shouted, his voice raw with panic.

The alley was empty.

Eddie's heart raced as dread clawed its way into his chest. He spun on his heel, sprinting back toward the bar, his boots thudding heavily against the floor.

Back at the Table

Hen was mid-laugh when Eddie appeared, his face pale and his breathing ragged.

"Eddie?" she said, her smile fading instantly. "What's wrong?"

"He's gone," Eddie said, his voice shaking.

The entire team froze, the lighthearted atmosphere vanishing in an instant.

"Gone?" Bobby repeated, standing up. "What do you mean, gone?"

"Phillip," Eddie said, the name catching in his throat like broken glass. "Phillip was here. He took Buck."

"What?" Chimney said, his voice rising in disbelief.

"I saw him!" Eddie snapped, his voice breaking. "He was standing outside the bathroom. Buck must've come out, and—and now they're gone."

"Eddie, calm down," Bobby said, stepping forward. "What exactly did you see?"

"I don't know!" Eddie shouted, his hands shaking as he ran them through his hair. "I went to check on Buck, and he wasn't there. The alley was empty, but there were drag marks on the floor. Phillip—he must've grabbed him!"

Eddie's voice cracked, and he stumbled back into a chair, his head in his hands. His chest heaved as his breathing grew shallow and rapid, the panic swallowing him whole.

"This is my fault," Eddie choked out, tears streaming down his face. "I should've gone in with him. I should've—"

"Eddie, listen to me," Bobby said firmly, kneeling in front of him. "This is not your fault."

Eddie shook his head, his entire body trembling. "He's gone, Bobby. He's gone, and I—I don't know where—"

"Hey, hey," Hen said, crouching beside him. "We're going to find him, Eddie. But you need to breathe, okay? Buck needs you."

Eddie tried to focus on Hen's voice, but the image of Buck's terrified face was seared into his mind. His breaths came in short, shallow gasps, his chest tightening until it felt like he couldn't breathe at all.

"I can't—" Eddie rasped, clutching at his chest.

"Yes, you can," Bobby said, his tone steady but urgent. "You're having a panic attack. Look at me. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth."

Eddie squeezed his eyes shut, his fists clenching as he fought to pull himself together. He matched Bobby's breathing as best he could, his gasps slowly evening out into deeper breaths.

"That's it," Bobby said, nodding. "We're going to get him back, Eddie. I promise."

Eddie opened his eyes, his vision still blurred with tears, but his panic finally starting to ebb. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, his jaw tightening with determination.

"Let's go," he said, his voice hoarse but steady. "We don't have time to waste."

Eddie's Resolve

As the team sprang into action, Eddie stayed quiet, his mind racing. Every second that passed felt like a lifetime, every moment Buck was gone a dagger to his chest.

But one thought kept him moving, kept him fighting through the fear.

I'll find you, Buck. No matter what it takes, I'll bring you home.