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Buck was … honestly, he was pissed. Chim had come into his home and hit him for defending his sister. So. Before he could talk himself out of it, he made a call.
“Detective Romero.”
“Detective, this is, uh, Buck. Firefighter Buckley.”
“I know who you are, kid. What can I do for you?”
“I know you’re probably busy, but, uh, I’m currently sitting at Mercy General.”
“And you’re calling me?” He asked incredulously.
“Look, I showed up because I wanted to make sure that it was just a black eye, but it’s not. There’s a cracked bone in my face and they’re gonna be calling the police anyway and making a case for assault.”
“And you’d rather have someone you know.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, kid, I’ll be there in a few. Pass the phone to a nurse and I’ll let ‘em know so they don’t have someone else come in, let alone inform Sergeant Grant.”
“Thanks, Detective. I really appreciate this.” Buck handed his phone to the nurse who was watching him with narrowed eyes, as if expecting him to dip out. She eventually agreed to whatever Detective Romero said and handed the phone back.
“You’re staying put until he gets here and takes your statement.”
“I am.” Buck agreed.
“I know you think this is overkill, and I know you most likely don’t want to press charges or anything. But you could have been seriously injured. It’s going to be your call if you want to do anything, but I’d suggest at least a restraining order or something.”
“I’ll … think about it.” Buck pursed his lips as the nurse finally left him alone. He waved sheepishly when Detective Romero showed up around half an hour later.
“Geez, kid, I think you undersold this.”
“Yeah.” Buck sighed. “I even have a weird mask thing I have to wear to bed now so I don’t agitate it more.”
“I believe it.” He nodded. “Wanna tell me what happened?”
“Not really, but I’m going to.” Buck bit his lip. “I’m pretty sure my sister has postpartum. Like, bad. And her and her boyfriend were hiding it, or trying to.”
“Wait, so a kid is involved?”
“My niece. Jee-Yun Buckley Han.” Buck said carefully. “She’s three months old. Anyway, the blackout hit, so Chim, uh, Howard Han, was stuck with all of us at the firestation for the whole thing. Maddie left me a voicemail, once it was over and we were finally allowed to go home, saying she had to leave. Pretty sure she’s going to check into a facility. At least that’s what I hope. She didn’t tell me anything, but she also left Jee at the firestation so Chim could take care of her when she left. She left him a message on an iPad. That was over a week ago. He showed up at my place earlier, a little hysterical. He was sure I was lying about what Maddie told me. I still have the message saved on my phone, but he didn’t want to hear it. He said something about Jee going to the ER.”
“He’s the one who hit you?”
“Yeah.” Buck said quietly.
“And now he’s just off, in his hysterical state, with his three month old daughter.” Detective Romero said in a disgruntled tone. “What are the odds you’d be able to take your niece in if it comes down to it?”
“What?” Buck reared back. “I mean, I’d do it, of course I would, but that’s not-”
“He’s spiraling. And has already proven to be physically violent, even if everyone would swear up and down he’d never do that to his daughter or your sister. It may only be for a few days while he’s evaluated, but there’s every chance you’ll be taking her in. I’m gonna file this report and talk to child services.”
“I’m already a certified foster, if that helps.” Buck added, blushing when the Detective raised an eyebrow. “Eddie, uh, Diaz, my partner, has me listed in his will to be his son’s guardian if … if anything happens to him. So I knew it would … smooth things over more quickly if I was already a foster.”
“It would. Good thinking. Alright, I’m gonna work on this. You’ll need to sign a few things for the restraining order.”
“I figured as much.”
“He’s free to go. Just needs to pick up his meds at the pharmacy.” His nurse said, stopping back by when she noticed they were done. “I expect we’ll have an order for his medical record by the time he reaches the station?”
“If not, before the end of the day.” Detective Romero agreed. “Alright kid, you’re riding with me.’
“That’s good, since I took an Uber here.” Buck grinned.
“Look,” Romero looked at him once he parked in front of the station. The drive had been pretty quiet. “I know we don’t really know each other, but I know how Athena talks about that station. She talks about you all like a family. There’s probably gonna be some people pissed that you did this.”
“You think I should transfer.” Buck sighed heavily, wincing when his face twinged a bit.
“I don’t think the LAFD is all that different from LAPD when one of their own is investigated like Han will be.”
“Do you think it would be better or worse than when I sued them?” Buck asked, getting out and walking into the station.
“About the same, probably. Except you’re not really doing anything this time. It’s the people around you doing it. Sit. I’ll grab what I need.”
Buck sat heavily at the desk and waited. He really didn’t want to file anything, but he also kind of did. If there was even the slightest chance that Chim could show this angry side to his sister, who had already escaped an abusive relationship, then he had to do it. The longer he sat, the more his face ached. He accepted the water he was offered so he could take his meds that the Detective had been kind enough to stop and get picked up for him.
When he finally got home, he fell onto his couch, feeling exhausted by everything. He grabbed an ice pack and lay down so it could just rest on his face while he turned on a documentary on JFK. He liked arguing with the tv sometimes, so it distracted him well enough until he heard someone coming in.
“Buck? You here?” Eddie’s voice called, and Buck attempted to sit up but his head swam so he lay back down carefully. He must have groaned or something, because Eddie was over by the couch pretty quickly. “What the hell happened to you?” Eddie winced at what his face must look like.
“Took a hit.” Buck said. “No concussion, but my zygomatic bone is cracked pretty good.”
“Buck, look at me.” Buck looked up and saw how livid Eddie was. “Who did this to you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I already talked to the police and the hospital. I’ll be off for a week or two while it heals.”
“That’s not an answer, Evan.” Eddie practically growled. His hands were gentle as he touched Buck’s cheek, though. Buck grinned at him. He’d never seen Eddie get this … protective. No, Eddie was being possessive . Over him. It made him feel all warm and tingly inside. “Who did this to you?”
“You are not gonna go fight the person who hit me.” Buck countered, sitting up more slowly than he’d tried to do when Eddie first showed up. “Because, Mr. Fight Club, that is exactly what you would go do.”
“I gave that up a long time ago.” Eddie frowned.
“Yeah, but you are getting all growly and territorial because someone hurt me. Shouldn’t you be off somewhere with your girlfriend?” Buck asked, crossing his arms once he was sitting back and looking at Eddie. Eddie grimaced.
“We, uh, broke up.”
“Oh.” Buck hadn’t expected that answer.
“You were right. I … was trying to force something that I didn’t really feel. I wanted to, because on paper, we fit. We’d check all those stupid boxes my parents think need checked. But it’s been nearly a year and I just … I still don’t feel what I’m supposed to.”
“She loved you, but you didn’t love her.” Buck said carefully. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Eds.”
“Says you.” Eddie grumbled. “Want a beer?”
“Probably wouldn’t be a good mix with the pain meds.” Buck shrugged. “But you can have one and hang out?”
“I do find it entertaining when you argue with the tv about who shot first.” Eddie chuckled, getting up and grabbing a beer and another water for Buck. “It’s like watching a conspiracy show.”
“Except-”
“Nope.” Eddie interrupted. “You’re not arguing with me, you’re arguing with the tv. And you’ll eventually slip up and tell me who fucking hit you hard enough to break your face.”
“Whatever you say, Eds.” Buck chuckled, sitting back and just enjoying watching tv with his friend. Who laughed every time Buck got agitated and yelled at the narrator or interviewee.
“You expecting someone?” Eddie asked when there was a knock on his door.
“Don’t think so.” Buck shrugged, getting up, Eddie trailing after him. “Uh, hi.”
“Evan Buckley?”
“That’s me.” Buck said, smiling and wiggling his fingers at Jee who giggled and reached for him. “Hey baby girl.”
“I’m Moira Jones, from CPS. There’s a few things for you to sign, and there’s some officers stationed outside for the next day or two.” The woman said, walking in and signaling the other woman with her to bring in the pack-n-play and diapers, carseat, and diaper bag after handing Jee over since she clearly wanted Buck. “Mr. Han has received his restraining order, and is aware that ignoring it could result in him losing custody altogether. If you can sign these, we’ll be on our way.”
“Alright.” Buck signed everything put in front of him, accepting a copy for his own records.
“We’ve spoken with your sister, and she has checked herself into an inpatient facility in Boston. It’s one of the best in the country, so she’s in good hands.”
“Do you, um, do you know how long …?”
“I don’t. Once she’s back, she’ll come by the offices and we’ll work out a plan to get Jee reunited with her. Mr. Han has mandated anger management and counseling to attend before he can do the same.”
“Ok. Thanks. And thanks for bringing so much of her stuff.”
“Wasn’t actually that hard. Seemed Mr. Han was intending to take Jee and drive across the country to track your sister down. It was all loaded up already, we just switched it vehicles and brought it here.”
“Ok.” Buck nodded, rubbing Jee’s back since she’d fallen asleep against him.
“Have a good night, Mr. Buckley.”
“You too.” Buck shut the door behind them and pursed his lips as he turned to find Eddie leaning against the counter and watching him.
“Chim hit you.” Eddie said more calmly than he looked.
“Yeah.” Buck sighed. “He was-”
“He was an idiot.” Eddie interrupted, making Buck snort before he winced as his face twinged.
“Yeah, he kind of was.”
“Need help setting this up?” Eddie gestured to the pack-n-play.
“You aren’t … I dunno. Mad?” Buck asked carefully.
“Buck.” Eddie sighed heavily, walking over to him and putting a hand on his shoulder like he always did. “Do I know what it feels like to be abandoned by my child’s mother? Yes, I do. I probably would have reacted more harshly toward you if I’d only been told that Chim hit you because he was upset about Maddie. I’ve been there. But I couldn’t focus on being left behind when I had a kid to take care of. He shouldn’t have either. I encouraged him to go after Maddie, but I didn’t know he was going to come yell at you or attack you before he did. Whatever happens, he did this to himself. You’re my partner, man. And you’re now, essentially, a single dad. So let me help you, like you helped me.”
“Ok.” Buck smiled, nodding as Eddie smiled back before taking some of the things upstairs and setting them up.
Jee woke up after a little while, so Buck changed her diaper and set her up with a bottle, which Eddie took from him and sat with her on the couch while Buck made them something to eat as well. He’d just finished when Taylor showed up. She smiled at first, but then she spotted Eddie and Jee and her smile dropped.
“What’s this?” She asked, looking at Buck.
“I’m taking care of Jee for a little while.” Buck said carefully. “Maddie’s gone to a clinic to get some help and Chim took off after her.”
“And you ended up with their daughter? Were there not any fosters available?”
“I’m a foster.” Buck frowned. “And family. I’m the best choice since she already knows me.”
“I … can’t do this right now. Look. When you’re free, we can talk.” She said disappointedly, but Buck stopped her.
“No.”
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” She asked agitatedly.
“I mean, if this is your reaction to me taking care of my niece for a few days, or weeks, or months, whatever it ends up being, then this isn’t gonna work.”
“I don’t want kids, Buck. I already told you that.”
“Yeah, and this is an exceptional circumstance. Would you have taken off if, god forbid, something happened to Eddie and I suddenly had custody of a 10 year old kid?” Buck watched as she pursed her lips. “Oh my god, you would. Fine. That’s … fine. Can I have my key back, then?”
She angrily pulled his key off of her ring and slammed the door on her way out. Buck growled in frustration as he put it with his other keys, getting the plates out for him and Eddie to have dinner. He didn’t say anything as Eddie put Jee on her back on the playmat by the tv. He stabbed a little aggressively at his food before Eddie stopped him with a hand on his arm, giving him a ‘look’.
“Sorry.” Buck apologized, clearing his throat.
“For what? For standing up for yourself?” He raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Buck. “Sorry that happened, for whatever it’s worth. Bring Jee over tomorrow, Chris would love to see you both.”
“Yeah, alright.” Buck sighed.
“I’ll even see if Carla’s free and can help you find a good sitter.”
“Oh yeah?” Buck chuckled, finally losing the tension in his shoulders.
“Yeah.” Eddie agreed. “Just tell me where we’re transferring to so I can make sure we don’t end up somewhere shitty.”
“Eddie-”
“You go, I go, Buck. We’re partners.” Eddie said firmly.
“Alright.” Buck agreed, smiling at him.
Maybe it was petty to file the report against Chim, but Buck was really tired of people walking over him. Even if he was curious about Eddie being all growly and defensive. He’d never had anyone act so possessive before. He kinda wanted to see how far he could push it.
Turns out it didn’t really take much. A few days into working at a new station together, a few people hitting on him, and as soon as they’d gotten home, Eddie had shoved him back until he was sitting on his kitchen counter and kissed him like … well. Like Buck was his oxygen, was the only comparison that came to his mind that wasn’t filled with thoughts of Eddie’s hands and tongue.