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

99:Buck+Eddie (Kinda)⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

•Title: "Time"

•Requester: nobody.

•Warnings: Uhm spoilers for 8.15

•Inspiration: I need to write this...

•Type: ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST

A/N: I haven't even watched the episode yet... I'm in a hotel room on my way home from vacation and tiktok told me. I honestly feel just numb. If you haven't watched the episode and don't want spoilers...

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Okay... If you're still here, I can't be blamed for spoiling it...

_____ _____ _____

Buck clutches the strap to his backpack with one hand and holds his phone to his ear with the other as he walks through the Los Angeles Airport. He hasn't showered since he was decontaminated. That was six hours ago.

Six hours.

Three hundred sixty minutes.

He hasn't felt a thing in three hundred sixty minutes.

"Buck, I really don't think you should be traveling right now," Maddie says into the phone, her own voice drowning in sadness.

"I was cleared to fly by the CDC."

"That's not what I mean and you know it," Maddie responds.

"I need to see him."

"Bu-."

"Maddie. Don't, okay? Would I stop you from getting to Ch-."

Maddie sighs, knowing what her brother was going to say and how he meant it, "you let me know the second you land, okay? Hen will call him so that you don't have to say the words."

"Thanks, Mads," Buck says, "I love you."

"I love you, Buck."

+ + + + +

"Hey, Hen, you do realize Texas is ahead of LA, right?" Eddie says groggily into the phone.

"Eddie."

The Texan sits upright instantly. He knows that tone. He's used that tone, "what happened?"

"Bobby... He uhm... He," a sniffle is heard, followed by a deep breath, "Bobby's dead, Eddie."

"W-what?"

The room spins as the words play over and over in his mind.

"It was a call at a lab... There was a dangerous mutated virus and, well, Bobby didn't make it out."

"W-where's Buck? Is he alone? Who told him?"

"Buck was there. Now, he's on a plane to you. We tried to talk him out of it, but.. He insisted."

"Yeah, okay. Uhm, I'll get him at the airport. Send me any information for services. I will be there," Eddie says.

Hen agrees and the call ends. For a second, Eddie just stares into the abyss of his dark bedroom. Then, after he is able to at least somewhat process the news, he gets up. He begins to move around the room in a haze, but his moves are quick and efficient.

He gets out his dress uniform and makes sure it isn't wrinkled at all. He grabs his duffel bag and fills it with spare clothes. Once that's done, he grabs another duffel bag and goes to his son's room. He turns on the light and begins stuffing clothes into the duffel.

"Chris, come on, buddy. You gotta get up. I have to take you to your grandparent's."

"Wh-what? Why?" Christopher asks in a groggy tone-the same one Eddie had just moments prior.

"I will tell you later. I don't have all of the details and want to know that what I'm telling you is the truth," Eddie responds as he zips the bag.

They leave the home and get into Eddie's Prius before the car is promptly started and they drive off.

+ + + + +

Eddie sees the curls first and is immediately moving through the crowd of people. He gets as far as TSA allows him and waits anxiously for Buck-who is moving slowly. He's on the phone, talking quietly as he walks. Eddie sees Buck notice him. It's pretty obvious in the way he mutters something into the phone and puts it down.

Suddenly, Buck's bag is on the ground and he's hugging Eddie as Eddie holds the back of his head. He doesn't cry. He spent the entire two-hour flight sobbing so hard that multiple people asked if he was okay.

"I've got you," Eddie whispers as he holds Buck.

Eddie doesn't cry, either. He cried in his car in an empty parking lot after he dropped Christopher off.

Eventually, Eddie bends down and grabs Buck's bag, "let's get you to my place."

Buck nods and takes Eddie's outstretched hand before following his lead out of the airport.

Neither one of them question the fact that they are holding hands. In fact, Buck is savoring it-then quickly feeling guilty for even beginning to feel the urge to smile.

"I took Chris to my parents' house.. I told them what happened, so they'll watch Chris as long as I need. I didn't think you'd want him to see you like this. Besides, we both need an environment where we can both just feel our emotions."

Buck nods silently.

"Buck," Eddie says softly, "could you tell me what's going on in your head?"

"Time."

"Time?"

"He needed more time. Why couldn't he have more time? He's building a house with his wife. He never got to meet Chimney's son. How... Why, Eddie?"

"I don't know, Evan. I wish that there were magic words I could say to make all of this pain go away, I do. I wish there was a logical reason."

"He needed more time."

_____ _____ _____

A/N: I'm just... His story wasn't over. How is this possible? Again, I haven't seen the episode. Part of me is praying that the entire fandom who watched it live is playing a prank on everyone who didn't... I hope that's the case.