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Isabel Diaz
“Mamá, have you heard from Eddito?” Pepa asked from the lounge room as the TV played in the background. Every channel was reporting the same thing – a massive tsunami had hit the Santa Monica Pier. Eddie had called them earlier to inform them that his team had been dispatched to help with rescue but they hadn’t heard from him since.
“Not since lunch,” Isabel replied as she walked back into the room, two cups of tea in her hands. She handed one to her daughter and took her seat again. “Esa pobre gente. (Those poor people.)”
“I hope Christopher is having a good day with Eddie’s friend,” Pepa said and Isabel turned to look at her daughter.
“Tell me again about this boy,” Isabel ordered and Pepa rolled her eyes fondly.
Every man and their dog knew that Isabel Diaz adored her great-grandson. Isabel talked about him all the time to anyone that would listen (and even to some who wouldn’t). And the only person who shared the step on the pedestal with Christopher was her beloved nieto, Eddie. For Eddie to choose to leave the most precious person in their lives with someone, he was obviously one of the best.
“I’ve told you mamá, Buck works with Eddie at the 118. He was that poor firefighter that was crushed under the ladder truck,” Pepa said and Isabel nodded.
“Ah yes. Pobre chico. Christopher was so worried about him,” Isabel said and Pepa nodded. “And he’s ok now?”
“Eddie is worried about him and that is why Christopher is with him today. If anyone can cheer someone up, it’s that boy,” Pepa said before taking a sip of her tea. Isabel nodded proudly and turned her attention back to the television. She began whispering a soft prayer for those affected by the natural disaster and hoped her grandson was alright.
Night fell and both Isabel and Pepa were concerned. They hadn’t heard from Eddie in hours, nor had they heard from Christopher (who usually phoned them around bedtime to tell them about his day – even when he was with Buck). They knew Eddie would be busy but surely Christopher could have called them.
“Something is wrong,” Isabel said as Pepa cleaned up after dinner. “I can feel it. Something is wrong with my nieto and bisnieto.”
“Mamá, don’t borrow trouble,” Pepa tried to calm the older woman down but she was struggling. Because deep down she was feeling the same terror in her bones. Before Pepa could say anything else, her phone began to ring in her bag. Racing over to it, she let out a breath of relief. “It’s Eddito. Sobrino, ¿todo bien? (Nephew, is everything alright?)”
“Tía,” Eddie sounded exhausted and Pepa quickly put the phone on speaker. “Tía, is abuela there?”
“Eddito, are you ok?” Isabel demanded and Eddie sighed heavily.
“It’s been a hell of a day abuela,” Eddie replied and both Pepa and Isabel shared a glance. “I wanted to tell you before you found out from anyone else. Let me preface this with Christopher is alright, a few bumps and bruises but otherwise fine.”
“Eddie, tell me he wasn’t there?” Pepa said but the silence spoke volumes. Isabel immediately began crossing herself and mumbling a prayer and Pepa let out a shaky breath.
“He and Buck had breakfast and went to the pier,” Eddie said. “Hold on, someone wants to talk to you.”
“Bucky saved me Tía,” Christopher sounded tired but otherwise unharmed. Although Pepa and Isabel wouldn’t be content until he was in their arms. “He protected me from the first wave then he got me onto the truck.”
“Bring Buck to Mamá’s house,” Pepa ordered and while Chris let out a tired cheer, Eddie made a negative sound.
“We’ve just left the field hospital,” Eddie replied. “Buck sent us home but we are on our way to you guys now. Hen’s going to drive him home from the hospital.”
Isabel and Pepa hung up from Eddie and waited anxiously by the front door for their boys to arrive. When they heard the truck pulling in, the both raced out onto the front porch. Eddie climbed out of his truck and lifted Chris out of his seat. Both were soaking wet and dirty but looked relatively unharmed.
“Oh, mi ángel!” Isabel cried as Eddie walked up to them. Chris let out a soft noise as Isabel and Pepa wrapped their arms around the boys. “Come inside. We need to warm you both up.”
Later, as Isabel helped Christopher bathe while Eddie showered in the ensuite, Chris spoke of nothing but Buck.
“He saved me bisabuela. And he saved so many other people too,” Chris said as Isabel washed his hair. “He kept me safe and then, he jumped off the truck when I fell in. That’s what someone told me. How brave is that?”
“Very mi ángel,” Isabel replied. A noise at the door had her turning and smiling at her grandson. Eddie was staring at his son with a mix of love and relief and Isabel waved him over. “Christopher was just telling me about his Buck.”
“We are very lucky to have Buck in our lives,” Eddie said as he knelt beside Isabel. Chris nodded brightly but his eyes started to dim sleepily. “Aright bud. I think abuela got you all squeaky clean. Time for pjs and bed.”
Once Chris was tucked into his bed, Isabel took Eddie by the hand and led him down to the kitchen. Pepa handed him a cup of tea and Eddie slumped into one of the kitchen chairs.
“¿Cómo estás?” Pepa asked and it was only once he was seated that the two women noticed he was shaking.
“Dios. They were lost for hours,” Eddie said brokenly. “I almost lost them both. And I wouldn’t have known until I tried to collect Chris later in the day.”
“But you didn’t,” Pepa said firmly. “Your boys are alright. One is asleep upstairs. The other is asleep in his apartment. They are ok Eddito.”
“I want to meet this Buck properly,” Isabel said. Eddie looked up at her with eyes shining with tears. “He saved my bisnieto. I must thank him personally.”
5 days after the tsunami, Buck was sitting in the passenger’s seat of Eddie’s truck as Chris chatted happily from the backseat. Eddie and Chris had insisted on taking Buck out for lunch but wouldn’t tell him where they were going. As they pulled up in Isabel’s driveway, Buck looked over at his friend in confusion.
“Where are we Eds?” Buck asked as Eddie switched the car off.
“Abuela has been insisting you come over for lunch so that’s what we are doing,” Eddie said, undoing his seatbelt and jumping out of the car. Buck just sat there frozen. Eddie’s grandmother. The infamous Isabel Diaz. He had seen the Mexican woman at Eddie’s ceremony but given his injury and how busy everything was, he hadn’t had the chance to meet her.
“Come on Bucky! I think she’s making tamales,” Chris cried excitedly as Eddie helped him out of the car. Buck climbed out of the car robotically and slowly tailed after the Diaz boys. Pepa was waiting for them on the porch and she hugged both Eddie and Chris before turning to Buck. Instinctively, Buck shrunk away from the woman. No matter what Eddie said, he still blamed himself for what happened to Chris. Surely Eddie had told his family what had happened and surely, they blamed him.
“Thank you,” Pepa said, surprising him by pulling him into a tight, strong hug. Buck awkwardly hugged her back but when she didn’t pull away, he allowed himself to relax. “Come inside. Mamá’s been cooking all morning.”
Isabel looked up from her cooking as her kitchen door opened. The boy that Eddie led in needed feeding, that was the first thing she noticed. The second was that he still held injuries from his ordeal. The third thing, the thing that had her moving towards him and wrapping his large frame in a hug, was the look in his eyes. It was the look of a wounded puppy who was waiting for its next beating. It was a look that no-one should have, especially not someone who was so important to her nieto and bisnieto.
“Muchas gracias, mi chico,” Isabel said into his ear. Over the tall man’s shoulder, Isabel could see her nieto staring at them with a soft smile and she just smiled back.
“De nada. Pero en realidad, no hice nada. (You’re welcome. But really, I didn’t do anything.)” Buck said in reply, his Spanish nearly fluent. Isabel felt him relax into the hug and tighten it and a small part of her wondered when the last time this boy received a hug from a grandmother was.
“We will agree to disagree,” Isabel said firmly, pulling back and looking the man over. “Come. You are too skinny. Time for food. Eddito, set the table.”
Isabel smiled fondly as Buck attempted to help but Eddie wouldn’t let him. This boy meant so much to her two favourite boys and she could definitely see the appeal (but he needed a good meal and a few more hugs from Abuela before she would be satisfied).
----
Beatrice and Samuel Carter
Athena was at the firehouse and had kicked Bobby out of the kitchen. That was the teams first indication that something was wrong.
“Hen, you’re her best friend, go ask her what’s wrong,” Chim said as the team stared up at the loft from the truck.
It was Athena’s day off and she had burst into the station, bags of food at the ready. Bobby had tried to talk to her but she had banished him to his office and none of the others were game to go up to the loft and confront her.
“Nope. I signed over the responsibility of dealing with this version of Athena when she and Bobby got married,” Hen said. The woman turned to Buck and indicated to the loft with her head. “You’re her favourite. You do it.”
“Yeah, good idea,” Chim said, nodding feverishly. “You’re the only one she might not snap at.”
“You’re all cowards,” Buck said with an eye roll before taking a breath and heading for the loft. Taking measured steps, Buck walked towards the kitchen where Athena was furiously cooking away. “Thena?”
Athena turned sharply and Buck thought she was going to yell. But then, her gaze softened and she took a deep breath.
“Buckaroo,” her tone gentled as she smiled at the man. “Come and give me a hand.”
Buck bounded into the kitchen like an eager puppy and Athena smiled at him. The pair fell into a comfortable rhythm as they moved around the kitchen and Buck gave it a few minutes before he decided to ask the pertinent question.
“Are you alright, Thena?” Buck asked and Athena sighed.
“Just frustrated Buckaroo,” Athena admitted and Buck remained silent, hoping she would keep talking. “My mother phoned this morning and promptly told me her and dad would be arriving in town the day after tomorrow. The last time they were here all mom and I did was fight about my relationship with Bobby, it was like I was a teenager again. And now I don’t even have time to prepare. Plus, none of us can get them from the airport because we are all on shift. Michael and David are out of town so I can’t ask them to collect them.”
“I can help,” Buck offered and Athena looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. “I have Saturday off cause I’m covering Sanderson’s C-shift on Sunday. I can pick up Harry and we can go get your parents. Maybe make a day of it. If you wanted, I mean.”
“Buck, I couldn’t ask that of you,” Athena said and Buck just shrugged bashfully.
“You didn’t ask. I’m offering,” Buck said and Athena smiled at the man. He was leaps and bounds different from the cocky, arrogant young man she’d met that first time. Athena put down her knife and wrapped her arms around the young man tightly.
“Thank you, Buckaroo. I would really appreciate that, and I know Harry would love to spend a day with you,” Athena said and Buck blushed. The two finished lunch for the crew and Buck rang the lunch bell to indicate everything was ready. The others approached cautiously but when they noticed Buck and Athena laughing, they relaxed.
That night, Athena filled Bobby in on everything and the man had a proud smile across his face as his wife spoke of the boy they both thought of as a son. Then it hit him that once again, he would be spending time with his in-laws and that terrified him.
----
“Grandma, Grandpa!” Beatrice Carter looked up at the sound of her grandson’s voice with a smile on her face. The smile turned confused when she noticed a large (a very large) white man standing with an arm around Harry’s shoulders as the young boy waved excitedly. The man was standing there looking around the airport with a smile on his face but Beatrice could tell he was on alert. This must be Evan Buckley, the person her daughter said would be collecting them.
“Hey bud,” Samuel said once they had reached the pair. Beatrice watched Evan Buckley as her husband hugged their precious grandson. There was a look on his face but before Beatrice could try and understand what it was, Harry was launching himself into her arms.
“Mr and Mrs Carter, welcome to LA,” Evan said as he approached them (Beatrice grudgingly appreciated the fact that the man waited until they had both greeted their grandson before stepping up). He gestured to Beatrice’s bag and smiled. “May I take your bags? The Jeep is parked just outside.”
While her grandson and husband talked, Beatrice watched Evan. There was something about the boy that had her maternal instincts flaring. She fell into step with him and the man startled slightly.
“So, what brings you out here today? Surely a handsome young man such as yourself had better things to do than pick us up from LAX,” Beatrice commented and Buck blushed.
“Just doing Thena a favour. She didn’t want you guys having to catch an Uber back to their place. Plus, gives me a chance to spend some time with Harry,” Evan replied with a shrug. Harry, overhearing his name, raced forward and grabbed Evan’s arm.
“Buck’s the best grandma! He is so smart!” Harry said and Beatrice cooed internally as the man blushed again. “If you guys want, Buck said we could go to the Natural History Museum. He knows facts that aren’t even on the plaques and stuff. He helped me get the highest grade in my class for my history assignment last month too!”
“It sounds like we have quite the fun day ahead of us,” Samuel said as he joined the group. Harry nodded eagerly as they arrived at the Jeep and Buck quickly placed the suitcases into the back. Beatrice commandeered the front seat so she could continue speaking to Evan while her husband and grandson chatted away in the backseat.
“So how do you know my Athena?” Beatrice asked as Buck made his way out of LAX.
“I work with Bobby. He’s my Captain,” Buck replied and Beatrice nodded. “And Athena is probably one of my most favourite people. She’s the best.”
If anyone else had said it to her, Beatrice would have assumed they were trying to butter her up. But this boy seemed to be truthful. He genuinely felt that her Athena hung the moon. Beatrice smiled approvingly and patted him on the arm.
“She certainly is,” Beatrice replied and Buck grinned.
For the rest of the day they spent together, Beatrice kept one eye on Evan Buckley. He was the human equivalent of a golden retriever. Eager to please and always happy. He always had time for Harry’s questions and never once got frustrated with him. He was polite and helpful but there was something in his eyes that gave Beatrice the impression someone had tried to dull that exuberance in the past. After their visit to the museum, Buck drove the Carters back to Athena’s house and as he was trying to leave, Beatrice all but dragged him into the kitchen with her.
When Bobby and Athena walked through the door at the end of their shifts, they were stunned to find Buck and Beatrice working away in the kitchen like a well-oiled machine. Harry and Samuel were sitting at the kitchen bench snacking on something that Buck had made and were talking animatedly about something that happened to Harry at school. Buck looked up as he heard footsteps and blushed at the looks Athena and Bobby were giving him.
“Ah, welcome home!” Beatrice said. “Evan and I were making dinner for you all. Now come here and hug me.”
“Hi mama,” Athena said as she hugged her mother then her father. To her utter surprise, Beatrice pulled Bobby into a hug as well before returning to the kitchen. Buck was wiping the bench when Beatrice approached him and patted his arm.
“I should get out of your hair,” Buck said, putting the tea towel down. Beatrice crossed her arms and shook her head firmly. “But it’s family dinner. I don’t want to impose.”
“Exactly young man,” Beatrice said and Buck frowned. “It’s family dinner and you will not be missing it. Once May is home, we will dish everything up. Until then, pick up your towel and help me with the brownies.”
“What the hell did we miss today?” Athena whispered to her husband as Buck nodded and returned to helping Beatrice in the kitchen.
“I think Buck charmed your mother. And she may have adopted him?” Bobby commented and Athena gave her husband a look before they walked to their room to get changed out of their uniforms.
At the end of the night, Buck stood and was escorted to the door by Beatrice. Athena watched as her mother wrapped the young man in a tight hug and smiled. once the door had closed behind him, Beatrice turned to her daughter with a faux stern look on her face.
“Why didn’t you tell me I had a third grandchild?” Beatrice teased before walking back to where May and Harry were sitting on the lounge waiting for her.
----
Charles and Lydia Buckley
Buck had been back at work for a week when a call came in that would change his life. The team were called to a 3-alarm apartment fire where the two neighbouring buildings had to be evacuated as well. When they arrived on scene, the IC gave them a run-down of the scene before sending them off to search the buildings. Buck had just turned to follow his team when a hand grabbed his arm. Turning, an older man was staring at him with wide, panicked eyes.
“Sir, are you ok?” Buck asked and the man shook his head.
“My wife. She was visiting one of her friends here,” the man said as he pointed at the burning building. “I can’t get hold of her and she isn’t anywhere out here.”
“Ok, what’s your wife’s name?” Buck asked as he led the man towards a chair that had been set up for the people evacuated from the building.
“Lydia. She’s 79,” the man said, fumbling for his wallet. He pulled out a photo and handed it to Buck. “Please, she’s all I have. She would have been in apartment 4C.”
“We’ll get her back sir,” Buck promised, committing the image of the woman to memory before turning to head towards the IC. If he’d been paying attention, he’d have heard the man gasp as he read the name ‘Buckley’ on his turnout coat. “Captain Marks. I’ve got a husband over here searching for his wife. Says she was in apartment 4C.”
“I’ve got Brooks and Hayes clearing that floor but they seem to be having some difficulty,” Captain Marks admitted as Eddie approached his partner. When he’d noticed Buc hadn’t followed him, Eddie informed Bobby and turned to find the younger man. “Do you and Diaz feel comfortable going in and helping with the searches?”
“Yes ma’am,” both men said. Eddie radioed the new information through to Bobby before he and Buck geared up and headed for the building. Eddie squeezed his boyfriend’s hand as they entered the burning complex. “I’ve got your back querido.”
Buck smiled and they started making their way up to the 4th floor. They met up with Hayes and Brooks who were escorting a few residents.
“Diaz, Buckley, we’ve got 3 more apartments to sweep,” Hayes barked and the other two men nodded. Buck headed for apartment 4C while Eddie went for 4B.
“LAFD! Call out!” Buck yelled as he forced the door to 4C open. He could hear two women coughing and one of them began to call out for help. “I’m coming!”
Buck entered a small living area where two women were crouching on the floor, wet towels over their mouths and noses. Buck knelt down beside the women and smiled at them as comfortingly as he could.
“Hi. I’m Buck. Any injuries?” Buck asked, casting an assessing gaze over the women.
“Just sore throats from the smoke darling,” the woman he quickly identified as Lydia said. “And I believe I’ve twisted my ankle slightly.”
“Lydia, right?” Buck asked and the woman nodded at him in confusion. “You have a very concerned husband downstairs. Alright. I’m going to carry you Lydia while your lovely friend follows us out. My partner is just outside checking apartments 4A and 4B then he can help us out.”
“Oh, I like you,” the unnamed woman said with a raised eyebrow. “Call me Edith darling. If I’m right, 4A and 4B should be empty. The landlord hasn’t rented out 4A since the Walters moved and Isaac in 4B left for work this morning at 8 and isn’t due back until tonight.”
“Alright Lydia, Edith, lets get out of here,” Buck said. He stood and quickly scooped Lydia into his arms, the woman and her friend both letting out little giggles as Buck did so. They met up with Eddie at the door who raised an eyebrow at Buck. “Eds, this is Edith and Lydia. Ladies, my partner, boyfriend, better half, Eddie.”
“You are so cute!” Edith cooed and Eddie held an arm out for her. The four of them made their way carefully down the stairs until they emerged from the front foyer doors. The fire had been relatively contained to the point of origin and the floor above so Buck knew there would be no significant damage to Edith’s home. Buck walked towards the 118’s ambulance and rested Lydia on the bumper.
“Hen, this lovely lady is Lydia,” Buck said, pulling his mask off and running his fingers through his hair. He noticed Lydia’s eyes were drawn to his birthmark but he didn’t notice her face turn pale as she gaped at him. “I’m going to find Lydia’s husband. Be right back.”
Buck moved back to where he’d last seen Lydia’s husband and found the man exactly where he’d left him. The man was staring intently at the building and jolted sharply when Buck appeared in front of him.
“I got her out,” Buck said and the man jumped to his feet. He wrapped Buck in a hug and Buck laughed softly. “Come on. She’s got a twisted ankle and some smoke inhalation but one of my friends is looking after her.”
Buck escorted the man over to the ambulance and he watched as the man wrapped his wife in a hug. Hen finished checking her out and patted Buck on the shoulder as she walked past him to her next patient. Buck took a step closer and both Lydia and her husband looked up at him. He couldn’t quite decipher the looks on their faces but he smiled at them none the less.
“Thank you Evan. For bringing my Lydia back to me,” the man said and it took a moment before Buck realised what he had said.
“What did you call me?” Buck asked and the couple shared a glance. “How do you know my name? I’ve only introduced myself as Buck.”
“If your surname on your jacket didn’t give you away, I’d recognise that beautiful birthmark anywhere,” Lydia commented softly and Evan frowned. His hand automatically lifted to his birthmark as he rubbed it self-consciously. “I remember pressing kisses to that every time I held you.”
“Who are you?” Buck asked and the couple sighed before sharing a glance.
“We are Charles and Lydia Buckley. Your grandparents,” Charles said and Buck’s jaw dropped. “Your father is our son.”
“But… what?” Buck was speechless. His parents had told him that his grandparents on both sides were dead. But then, given the lies they’d told him over the years, this wasn’t even high on the list of shocks. “You? What?”
“Buck, time to head out!” Bobby’s voice echoed across the scene and Buck turned to where his team bar Hen and Chimney were climbing into the truck. Eddie and Ravi were both staring at him in confusion and Eddie looked ready to run over to him. Hen and Chimney were approaching the ambulance but were looking at him in confusion.
“We’d like to see you again. To properly explain,” Charles said as he pulled a small piece of paper from his wallet. He grabbed a pen Hen had discarded and wrote a phone number down on it. “Please call us. Evan, we’ve missed you.”
“Buck. Let’s go,” Bobby’s voice was more insistent this time and Buck slipped the paper into the pocket of his pants before nodding at the older couple and running back to the truck. Eddie grabbed his hand as Buck swung up into his seat but Buck just shook his head at his boyfriend. The ride back to the station was silent on Buck’s part with the others shooting him concerned looks every few minutes. When they arrived at the station, Buck burst from the truck and headed for the showers. Stepping under the hot spray, his thoughts began to spiral.
His grandparents. They were alive. They wanted to see him. But how? Why had his parents told him they were dead? Buck let out a shaky breath and felt his hand drift towards his stomach. He’d been really good at not cutting since basically moving in with Eddie. Whenever the urge hit, he would seek his boyfriend out and Eddie would help him manage the intrusive thoughts. Now though, Eddie wasn’t around. Buck started digging his nails into his stomach but was quickly stopped by a hand gripping his wrist. Looking down, Buck followed the arm holding his back up to his concerned probie’s face.
“Come on Buck,” Ravi said gently, not releasing his hand as he leant over and turned off the water. With Buck’s permission, Eddie had kept the rest of A-Shift apprised of Buck’s recovery and they’d worked out a system to help with the intrusive thoughts. Buck mechanically took the towel Ravi offered him and quickly dried himself off. He came back to himself just as Ravi was finishing up a story about one of his rescues with C-Shift. “And then Captain Lincoln said that Ella and I did a really good job on the rescue, which we all know is because of your training.”
“Nah, that’s just you guys probie,” Buck said hoarsely and Ravi blushed. Buck looked down to his stomach and felt his heart fall at the scratch marks that now marked him. “Sorry you had to see that.”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” Ravi insisted as he handed Buck his clothes then turned around to give him some modicum of privacy. “Sometimes, we all need a hand. My sister, well she struggled a bit when we were teenagers. Sometimes she just needed reminding that we were there for her. If you need that, I’m happy to remind you all the time.”
Buck watched as the probie remained steadfast and smiled. He’d really come to love all three probies and saw them as part of his family. Knowing that they weren’t judging him was a relief. After he got dressed, he rested a hand on Ravi’s shoulder. The younger man turned and Buck pulled him into a tight hug.
“Come on,” Ravi said once they’d broken apart. “Cap mentioned something about baked Mac & Cheese.”
Buck and Ravi walked out of the showers and headed towards the loft. When they arrived, Hen met them at the stairs and pulled Buck into a tight hug, rocking him back and forth slightly. She guided him over to the table and Eddie all but pulled his partner into his lap. Buck buried his face in Eddie’s neck and relaxed as the older man whispered to him in Spanish.
Their meal was a quiet affair, no one making a comment about Buck and Eddie’s positions. At the end of the surprisingly uninterrupted meal, Buck helped Chimney clear the dishes and smiled at the older man as he clapped Buck on the shoulder. Bobby joined Buck at the sink and Buck smiled softly up at his pseudo-father.
“Sorry for the minor freakout,” Buck said softly. The team all heard it though since the loft was silent for once.
“Buck, it’s ok,” Bobby said with a smile. He took the dish Buck handed him to dry and then handed it to Eddie who was putting everything away. “I don’t know what that couple said to you but you know that we are here if you want to talk.”
“Just when I thought my parents couldn’t get more messed up, they pull a fast one on me,” Buck said after a moment and the whole team looked at him in confusion. Buck turned to Chimney and frowned. “What has Mads told you about our grandparents.”
“She said both sets had passed away,” Chimney replied in confusion and Buck just let out a laugh.
“Obviously not,” he said and the team continued to stare at him. Buck turned his attention back to the dishes in the sink and focused on them as he spoke. “Turns out that couple today, they were Charles and Lydia Buckley. My grandparents. Very much alive and well.”
“Mierda,” Eddie said softly, stepping up and wrapping an arm around Buck’s waist. Hen moved into the kitchen and joined them on Buck’s other side.
“I mean, I just wonder how many more family members are going to pop out of the woodwork,” the laugh Buck let out was harsh and the team winced, not used to that sound coming from Buck. “Do I have another sibling I don’t know about? Maybe I’m a twin. Who knows with my family?”
“Buckaroo,” Hen said before taking Buck in her arms. Buck felt himself collapse into the woman and felt tears run down his face. Hen led him to the lounges and sat down, pulling him down beside her. Eddie quickly moved to join them and wrapped an arm around Buck’s shoulders.
“What did they say to you?” Bobby asked and when Buck looked up, he noticed his whole team had gathered around him.
“Just that they want to explain things. Lydia mentioned that she used to hold me and kiss my birthmark,” Buck replied. He thought back to the slip of paper Charles had handed him and sighed. “Charles gave me his number and asked me to call them. I just… I don’t know what to do.”
“First thing I would recommend is talking to Maddie,” Bobby said and Buck nodded. “And definitely don’t make a decision right now. You are allowed to feel overwhelmed about this and you are allowed to take the time you need to come to a decision.”
The alarm went off above their heads but given it was only a medical call, only Hen and Chimney were required to attend. Ravi went with them for more experience, leaving Bobby, Eddie, and Buck behind at the station. Eddie pulled his partner closer and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“I’ve got you baby,” Eddie said and Buck nodded against Eddie’s neck. “You take all the time you need to think about this.”
“Eds,” Buck whispered and Eddie let out a hum to indicate he was listening. Buck rested a hand on his own stomach and let out a soft sigh. “I started scratching in the shower.”
“Alright baby,” Eddie’s voice was gentle but firm in a way that was grounding for Buck. “Did you draw blood? Should I go and grab the first aid kit?”
“No blood. Probie stopped me,” Buck admitted and Eddie’s fingers ran through his hair. “I just, I was doing so good. Now I’ve messed it up.”
“No baby. You haven’t messed up,” Eddie said and Buck let out a disbelieving noise. “Buck, this is the first time in a month and a half that you’ve done anything Danielle would consider self-harm and it came as the result of a rather shocking situation. But given it was only a few scratches, that’s still an improvement. And Ravi was there to help. You’ve identified the issue and the action, now we just work together to make sure those thoughts don’t stick around.”
“Te amo,” Buck said and Eddie smiled. Bobby left the pair alone as he entered his office to do some paperwork. Once the ambulance returned, Hen drew Buck into a Mario Kart race and the team did their best to keep Buck out of his head.
Later that night as Buck was serving up spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread for himself, Eddie, and Christopher, the doorbell rang. Buck finished plating up dinner while Eddie went to answer it, the man soon returning with Maddie, Chimney, and Albert following.
“Luckily I made plenty of food, right Superman,” Buck teased and Chris giggled as Buck grabbed extra bowls and cutlery. Maddie bypassed the table and pulled Buck into a tight hug. “I’m ok Mads. Eds and the team were there to help.”
“I can still be worried, little brother,” Maddie said, pressing a kiss to Buck’s cheek before sitting down at the table. Eddie rested a hand on Buck’s knee as they ate and Buck smiled at the man. After dinner, Albert took Chris to his room to play with his Legos while the others remained in the living room. Maddie pulled a small photo album out of her bag and handed it to Buck. “There’re some pictures in there of dad’s parents. Let me know if that’s them.”
Buck flipped open to the first page of the album and gazed at the photo of a woman holding a newborn baby. The caption (written in Maddie’s hand) said “Nana Lydia meets baby Evan for the first time.”
“Definitely her,” Buck commented and Maddie let out a breath. Buck looked up at his sister and frowned. “Why did mom and dad say they were dead?”
“I don’t know,” Maddie admitted. “After Daniel died, we stayed with Nana and Pop for a week or two before we moved to Hershey and then never saw them again. Mom and dad never told me anything, just that Nana and Pop wouldn’t be around anymore. I always assumed they had either cut ties with us or died. Mom and dad never spoke about them once we were in Hershey.”
“Well, I guess it’s time we find out why,” Buck said after a few minutes, pulling the piece of paper from his pocket.
“Baby, you don’t have to rush into anything,” Eddie said and Buck nodded.
“I know. But I need to know what happened,” Buck said and Eddie smiled at him. Buck intertwined their fingers and squeezed Eddie’s hand. “Will you come with me?”
“You don’t even have to ask,” Eddie replied, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his lips. “I’ve got your back, remember?”
“Evan, if you want me there too, just say the word,” Maddie said and Buck nodded. Maddie went to say something else before tensing. The three men instantly went on alert, especially with Maddie nearing the end of her pregnancy. Maddie let out a soft laugh before grabbing Buck’s hand and placing it on her belly. “Down boys. I think Mango was just showing their support for Uncle Buck.”
After Maddie, Chim, and Albert had left and after Chris had been tucked into bed, Buck dropped down into his and Eddie’s bed with a sigh. Eddie gathered him up and cuddled in tight behind him.
“Get some sleep baby,” Eddie murmured as he pressed a kiss to Buck’s neck. “Buenas noches mi ángel.”
----
The next morning as Buck was making breakfast, his phone went off in his pocket. Opening the message, Buck couldn’t help but smile. Beatrice (in his phone as “Grandma Bea”) had obviously been informed of the previous day’s events.
Grandma Bea: Remember baby, you’re MY grandson and I love you. Also – don’t forget to send me your recipe for those caramel slice bars. Love you x
“What’s got you smiling querido?” Eddie asked as he wrapped his arms around Buck’s waist.
“Just Grandma Bea,” Buck replied, tilting his head and pressing a kiss to Eddie’s lips. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Eddie said before resting his head on Buck’s shoulder. “What are you thinking about doing today baby?”
“I might see if Lydia and Charles are free,” Buck admitted and Eddie squeezed his stomach gently. “I just, I know that if I leave it to fester, I’ll over think everything and freak out. If I call and try and plan something, at least I’ll know what to expect.”
Chris joined them before Eddie could answer and joined in on their hug. Buck lifted the boy he thought of as a son onto his hip and pressed a kiss to his head. The three of them moved around the kitchen with practiced ease as Eddie helped serve up the pancakes Buck had cooked.
“I might make that phone call,” Buck said as Eddie and Chris cleared the table. Eddie nodded and Buck moved outside to the back porch. He pulled the paper from his pocket and dialled the number before he could chicken out. The phone rang four times before connecting.
“Hello, Charles speaking,” the male voice said and Buck took a deep breath.
“Um, Charles? This is Buck, er, Evan Buckley,” Buck said and he heard the man let out a shaky breath.
“I’m so glad you called,” Charles said breathily. “I don’t think I expected it so soon.”
“I’ve gotta admit, I didn’t think I’d call so soon either,” Buck admitted before taking another deep breath. “I’d really like to meet up. I just, I’ve had nothing but lies my whole life so I’d like some truths.”
“Of course. And you are entitled to them,” Charles said firmly and Buck nodded. “Lydia and I are both free today or tomorrow. You pick a time that suits you and we will be there.”
“How about today, say 1? Maybe McClellan’s Diner downtown, do you know it?” Buck asked.
“I do. Lydia and I will be there with bells on,” Charles said, his voice filled with wonder. “Ev- Buck, thank you for giving us this opportunity.”
Buck hung up the phone and let out the breath he had been holding. The back door opened and Buck smiled at the sound of crutches on the ground. Opening his arms, Chris climbed into his lap and nuzzled under Buck’s chin.
“How did you know I needed a hug from my Superman?” Buck asked, tickling Cristopher slightly just to hear the boy’s giggle.
“Just did,” Chris said and Buck laughed. “Is everything ok?”
“Yeah bub. I just found out yesterday that my grandparents are living in LA. We were organising to meet up,” Buck explained and Chris frowned. “What’s that face for?”
“Are they going to hurt you like your mom and dad did?” Chris asked and Buck stared at him. “Cause if they are, I don’t want you to go. I don’t like it when you are hurt.”
“Baby,” Buck whispered and Chris let out a sniffle. They had tried really hard to keep what had happened from Chris but as always, the boy was a lot smarter and more switched on than they realised. “I don’t think they will. I thought they were in heaven up until yesterday. I think they want to talk and get to know me. But I promise, I’ll be as safe as I can be and I’ll have your dad with me the whole time.”
“That’s right, mijo,” Eddie joined them outside and Buck looked up at him. The younger man nuzzled Eddie’s stomach with his head and Eddie smiled. “I will be with Buck the whole time he is meeting with them. And if anyone tries to hurt our Buck again, I’ll keep him safe. Then I’ll set Athena, Maddie, and May on them.”
“Good,” Chris said definitively and Eddie and Buck both laughed. “When are you going to meet them?”
“Today. 1 in the afternoon,” Buck replied, making eye contact with Eddie.
“That’s doable. Bud, will you be ok spending the afternoon with Abeula?” Eddie asked and Christopher nodded. “Good. Then how about tomorrow we have day just for the three of us? We can do whatever you’d like.”
“Can we have a zoo day? It’s been a while,” Chris asked and then cheered when both Eddie and Buck agreed. Eddie pressed kisses to both Christopher and Buck’s heads before leaving his boys to their cuddling. He called Isabel and asked if she was free to watch Christopher for the afternoon before contacting the 118 group chat and informing them that Buck and he would be meeting the elder Buckleys that afternoon. The team all offered their support and Eddie slipped his phone back into his pocket with a content nod.
The closer they got to the time they needed to leave, the more anxious Buck got. After taking his shower, Eddie found his partner sitting on the bed wrapped in a towel, the palm of his hands running over his thighs and his breath coming in ragged pants. Dropping to his knees in front of Buck, Eddie began to take exaggerated breaths to try and calm him. Buck soon began to copy his breathing pattern and slowly calmed down. Eddie could feel Buck’s pulse rate decreasing and became calmer as his partner did.
“I’ll be by your side the whole time,” Eddie said and Buck nodded. “If you want to leave, you just squeeze my knee three times and we are gone. I won’t have you staying in a situation where you are uncomfortable.”
“Love you Eddie,” Buck murmured and Eddie smiled at him. He pressed his lips to his partner’s and kissed him firmly. The pair finished getting ready and bundled their son up into the car. When the arrived at Isabel’s, the woman was standing outside waiting for them. After hugging Christopher and Eddie, Isabel pulled Buck into her arms. “I’m ok Abuela.”
“I know my Eddito will keep an eye on you but if you need me, you just call me. Promise me, Evanito,” Isabel said as she pulled back from the hug and Buck nodded. She made the sign of the cross on him before kissing his cheek and pushing him back towards the truck.
“I love Isabel,” Buck said as he and Eddie pulled away from the house. Eddie grinned and nodded before they fell into silence. When they pulled up at McClellan’s Diner, Buck looked over at Eddie. “I’m scared Eds.”
“Everything is going to be ok, querido,” Eddie said. He lifted Buck’s hand and pressed a kiss to it (and Buck totally melted inside a little). “I’ve got your back baby.”
The couple walked into a diner and sat themselves at a booth towards the back. The waitress dropped off some menus and water and Buck busied himself by looking over the menu. Every time the door opened, Buck’s eyes would fly up and his body would tense up. At exactly 1pm, the door opened and Charles and Lydia walked into the restaurant. They made eye contact with Buck and the couple walked over to them. Buck and Eddie stood as they approached and Buck tried to smile at them.
“Hi,” Buck said when they reached the table. Charles and Lydia smiled kindly at him before looking over at Eddie. “Oh, this is my boyfriend, Eddie. Eddie, this is Charles and Lydia.”
“Of course,” Eddie said charmingly, sticking his hand out for the Buckleys to shake. “How’s your ankle ma’am?”
“I’m all good dear. None of that ma’am nonsense,” Lydia said as Charles guided her into the booth. “You must call me Lydia.”
Once everyone was seated, the waitress appeared and took their drink orders. The table fell silent as both couples looked over the menus and they only spoke when the waitress returned with their drinks. After placing their orders, Buck took a deep breath and turned to the older couple.
“First, let me we say how incredibly sorry we are that we’ve missed out on so much of your life,” Charles said before Buck could speak. The couple both looked heartbroken and Buck’s own heart went out to them.
“Why weren’t you around?” Buck asked. There was no sense mincing words. He wanted answers. Charles and Lydia shared a glance before Lydia pulled a shoebox out of her bag.
“Do you know about Daniel?” Lydia asked softly and Buck nodded. “When your parents told us what their plan was to have another baby, initially we were hesitant. We didn’t want that child growing up knowing they were only born for the sole purpose of healing their brother.”
“When you were born, it was definitely up there as one of the happiest days in our lives,” Charles said as Lydia opened the box. She pulled out a bundle of photos and handed them to Buck and Eddie. “I was so excited to have another grandson. And your siblings positively adored you.”
“Is that us?” Buck asked as he pulled out a photo of two kids with a newborn. The girl was obviously Maddie, leading him to realise the boy had to be Daniel. “I’ve only seen one other picture of Daniel and never one of him and I together.
“Daniel was over the moon at the prospect of having a brother,” Lydia said fondly. “He never stopped talking about all the fun things you would do together. He was excited to one day teach you how to ride a bike and to build a treehouse with you.”
“Look at baby you,” Eddie cooed and Buck blushed. He pulled out another photo of just him and Daniel and he felt tears well up in his eyes. “Look at your birthmark baby.”
“Daniel found out it was called an Angel’s Kiss mark and promptly told everyone that listened that it meant you were his guardian angel,” Charles said, his eyes misting over with tears.
“I obviously wasn’t very good at it,” Buck said softly and before Eddie could comment, Lydia reached across and grabbed his hands.
“No one could have saved your brother,” Lydia said firmly. Buck looked up at her and she smiled sadly. “The type of leukemia he had was aggressive and had a very low survival rate even with appropriate donors. Unfortunately, Daniel probably wouldn’t have made it to his 16th birthday even if the procedure had been successful. There was nothing you could have done for him.”
“You know, Daniel always wanted to be a firefighter,” Charles said after a few minutes of silence. Buck stared up at him with wide eyes and Charles nodded. “Oh, he was fascinated with them. Promptly announced at the age of 4 that he would be a fireman and nothing would change that. He had uniforms, toys, everything. I even took him once to my firehouse to spend a day with the crew.”
“You’re a firefighter?” Eddie asked and Buck was floored.
“Was son. I’m a bit old for it now,” Charles said with a laugh. “I was a fire captain back in Pennsylvania. Worked for Allegheny County since I was 20. Retired when I turned 65 and Lydia and I moved to LA after spending a few years travelling abroad.”
“Whoa,” Buck said and Eddie nodded. “That’s insane.”
“When you were a baby, Daniel used to tell us that you’d grow up to be a firefighter too,” Lydia said and Buck turned to her. “Daniel would say you’d work together at the same house and be partnered for all calls. I remember him telling every member of Charles’ team that he and his baby brother would be the best team ever.”
“I don’t know, I might have had to fight him for that spot,” Eddie teased and Buck grinned. Eddie turned to the older couple and explained. “Buck and I are considered one of the best teams in the department, or so the chief said recently.”
“We can see that,” Charles said. “The footage of you two working together has been impressive. We just never expected that the hero firefighter we were seeing on TV would be our grandson.”
“What happened in Pennsylvania?” Buck asked once the waitress (who had returned with their food) had left and Lydia sighed again.
“After Daniel died, there’s no denying the family was changed,” Lydia said and Charles took her hand in his. “Your parents were consumed by their grief. You and Maddie came to stay with us for a few weeks while your parents tried to process everything. When they came to collect you, your father told us that you were moving to Hershey. We tried to mention Daniel but they both told us firmly that they would never speak of Daniel again.”
“We got into a fight,” Charles admitted. “I’m not proud of it but I was so angry. I told Phillip that he couldn’t erase their son from existence and that it wasn’t fair to anyone in the family. Your father told us that we could accept their decision to never speak of Daniel again or we could forget we had a son.”
“The next day they had moved. We had no way of contacting any of you,” Lydia had tears streaming down her face and Eddie handed her a napkin. Lydia leant forward after wiping her face and took Buck’s hands in hers again. “We never wanted to lose you. We adored you, so much, and losing you was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to deal with.”
“They certainly kept up the charade,” Eddie said bitterly, taking a bite of his burger almost savagely.
“I only recently found out about Daniel,” Buck admitted when both Charles and Lydia shot him a confused look. “And it was only because our parents gave Maddie her baby box and there was a photo of Daniel in it. They were essentially forced to admit things to me.”
“I am so sorry you had to find out that way,” Lydia said. “You should have grown up knowing about your brother.”
“Not your fault,” Buck replied before wiping his eyes. “I’m sure you’d have told me about him if I’d been allowed to know you.”
“The stories I would have told you,” Charles agreed and Buck smiled. The couple shared a glance before turning back to Buck. “We’d like the chance to tell you those stories. But we also understand if you want nothing to do with us.”
“Growing up, all I wanted was grandparents,” Buck admitted and Eddie squeezed his knee gently. “All I wanted was people who would love me no matter what. My parents weren’t able to give me that.”
“What did they do to you?” Charles’ voice went dark and Buck and Eddie shared a glance of their own.
“That is not a conversation for lunch. That is a conversation we should have at home with Maddie around,” Buck admitted and the older couple nodded. “But I would like to have that conversation.”
“You mean?” Lydia looked hopeful and Buck smiled.
“I want to get to know you both,” Buck said and both Charles and Lydia let out breaths of air. “I want to introduce you to the rest of my family and I want you to be apart of my future.”
“Besides, we have a son who will love having an extra set of grandparents around,” Eddie chimed in and Buck turned to him with a gaping mouth. “What? Christopher is your son baby. Has been for a while now. I think you are the only one who didn’t realise it.”
Buck leant forward and pressed his lips to Eddies, completely uncaring of their audience. Eddie had just given him probably the greatest gift he could ever receive and he’d done it so nonchalantly.
“I love you,” Buck whispered before turning back to his grandparents. Both were smiling proudly at him and he smiled back.
“Now, tell me all about your son. I can’t believe I’m a great-grandmother,” Lydia said and Buck and Eddie launched into stories about Christopher.
Things weren’t completely healed but as Buck watched the man he loved talk animatedly with his grandparents, he was starting to think that things were getting better.
All it took was a grandparent’s touch.