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

The Statement

Buck's POV

Buck sat upright in the hospital bed, fiddling nervously with the thin blanket bunched in his lap. The quiet hum of the machines had become almost comforting over the last few hours, but his stomach churned as the tension in the air grew thick.

Eddie sat beside him, his body slouched in the chair, though Buck knew better—Eddie was anything but relaxed. He hadn't left Buck's side once.

The door creaked open, and Buck's heart jumped. He looked up, expecting another nurse, but instead, Athena Grant stepped into the room. Her sharp gaze softened the second she saw him.

"Oh, Buck," Athena said gently, taking in the sight of him—pale, bruised, but alive. "I didn't know..." She glanced at Eddie, her tone carrying a quiet question. "Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't have time," Eddie said softly, guilt flickering across his face. "We were focused on getting him back."

Buck shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the blanket as Athena stepped closer.

"Buck, I'm so sorry I'm just now getting here," she said, her voice warm but professional. "But I need to ask you a few questions, okay? It's important for the investigation."

The word investigation sent an icy chill down Buck's spine. His fingers tightened involuntarily around the blanket as his pulse picked up speed.

"Now?" Buck whispered, his voice barely audible.

Athena gave him an understanding look. "I know it's hard, but the sooner we get your statement, the better. Phillip's in custody, and we want to make sure he stays there."

Buck swallowed hard. The thought of Phillip—of his cold, lifeless stare and his bruising grip—flashed through his mind. His throat closed up.

Eddie leaned forward, his voice gentle. "Buck, you don't have to do this alone. I'm right here, okay?"

Buck glanced at him, his chest tightening. "I-I don't know if I can..."

"You can," Eddie said firmly, his hand resting on Buck's shoulder. "And if it gets too much, we'll stop."

Buck nodded faintly, though his heart was already hammering in his chest.

Athena's POV

Athena pulled a chair closer to Buck's bed, keeping her movements slow and deliberate. She'd seen this before—victims trying to hold it together while their body betrayed them.

"Buck," she said softly, pulling out her notepad. "Let's take it one step at a time, okay? I'll ask simple questions. If you don't know, just say so."

Buck gave a weak nod, his knuckles white where they gripped the blanket. Athena kept her voice low and steady.

"Do you remember when Phillip approached you at the bar?"

Buck flinched at the mention of Phillip's name, his breathing becoming uneven. He nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I saw him outside the bathroom. He—he was over Eddie. Eddie was on the ground."

Eddie's hand tightened slightly on Buck's shoulder, his presence a quiet anchor.

"What happened next?" Athena prompted gently.

Buck's gaze darted to her, then back down at his lap. "He—he grabbed me. Dragged me out the back. I tried to fight him, but he's—"

Buck's voice broke off abruptly. His breath caught, his chest rising and falling faster. The room seemed to tilt, the walls pressing in on him.

"Buck?" Eddie's voice cut through the fog. "Hey, look at me."

Buck couldn't. His vision blurred as flashes of memory overwhelmed him—Phillip's iron grip on his wrist, the sound of the car door slamming, the cabin's suffocating darkness.

"I can't—" Buck gasped, his voice high-pitched, his breaths shallow. "I can't breathe."

Eddie's POV

Eddie was out of his chair in an instant, his hands gently cupping Buck's face. "Hey, Buck, listen to me. You're safe. You're here. Phillip can't hurt you anymore."

Buck's eyes darted wildly, his chest heaving as he fought for air.

"It's happening again," Buck choked out, his voice panicked.

"No, it's not," Eddie said firmly, his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest. "You're not there, Buck. You're here. Right here with me."

Eddie took Buck's trembling hand and pressed it to his own chest. "Feel that?" he said softly. "That's my heartbeat. I'm right here with you. Breathe with me, Buck."

Buck's breath hitched, but Eddie held his hand firmly in place, exaggerating each slow inhale.

"In... and out. You can do it, Buck. Come on."

Buck's breathing stuttered, but Eddie kept going. "Focus on me, okay? Just me. You're not alone."

Gradually, Buck's breaths slowed, though his whole body was still trembling. Tears streamed silently down his face, his expression crumpling as the panic ebbed away.

Eddie wiped his thumb gently across Buck's cheek. "You're okay," he whispered. "You're safe. I've got you."

Athena's POV

Athena stayed quiet through it all, giving Eddie the space he needed to bring Buck back. She'd seen her fair share of panic attacks, but watching the bond between the two of them—that quiet understanding—was something else entirely.

When Buck finally looked up, his face pale and tear-streaked, Athena softened her tone. "We can stop for now, Buck. You don't have to push yourself."

Buck wiped at his face with a shaky hand. "No. I-I want to finish," he said hoarsely. "I don't want him to win."

Athena nodded, respect in her eyes. "Okay. But we'll go slow. Eddie can stay right here with you."

Eddie gave Buck an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere."

Buck managed the faintest of smiles, and as Athena resumed her questioning, Eddie stayed right beside him, his steady presence a lifeline Buck could hold onto.