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Buck would be an absolute liar if he said every bone in his body isn’t aching. But that doesn’t matter. It’s Christmas time.
He would say the whole feeling started after he fell into the snow on a call earlier today. Eddie would say it’s because he’s been overworking himself to the max these past few weeks.
But that doesn’t matter, either. Because Eddie has no say in the matter. Because Buck is fine.
Buck was trying to hold in the sneezes and coughs he had before we started his shift, alas, Eddie heard and practically begged him not to go.
But Bucks stubborn, okay? Sue him! E-Eddie’s even worse!
Eddie’s shift is right after Bucks, they hate when this happens. Buck goes out, Eddie goes in, it’s quite depressing.
He’s not sure when they went full old married couple. But he’s definitely not complaining.
He comes home from his 24-hour shift (that felt more like 24 years) with redness on his cheeks,
a headache, dizziness and Eddie getting ready to leave.
Luckily, it’s only an 8 hour shift.
It’s December 22nd, Chris just got off school a few days ago but is with a friend at the mall, probably getting Eddie and Bucks gifts if he is being realistic, then, Chris is sleeping there for the night.
He’s excited for Christmas. They all are. Because, miraculously, by some miracle, none of the 118, aside from Bobby, is working. He’s not working for long so afterwards they are going to go to Athena’s place to celebrate.
But, guess who’s hosting for Christmas Eve? Yeah. Buck is. Buck and Eddie, obviously. Get ready people! Best damn Christmas anyone’s gonna have.
This is their first Christmas they are celebrating as a married couple. Buck wants to make it perfect.
He’s just gotta shake this damn cold.
“Hey, how was work?”
Buck drops his bag on the floor. “Tiring.” He grunts.
“Feelin better?” Eddie asks suspiciously while walking up to Buck, with his head out ready to check Bucks forhead for a fever.
Buck slaps his hand away with a smirk, “Feelin fine. Feeling great, even.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s Christmas time, Eddie.” Buck says mockingly, Eddie laughs and zips his work bag, then jacket up. “I gotta go. After you change from your uniform, please, for the love of god, get some rest.”
He kisses Bucks forehead then his eyebrow raises, his hand goes up to check for a fever yet again and Buck grabs his hand and kisses his lips.
“Bye, Eddie.” Buck smirks
“Fine. Rest! You won’t be good to anyone if you're sick on Christmas! Bye!”
And there leaves Buck home alone.
—
After changing, a few hours of cleaning (which Eddie doesn’t need to know) and tv binging, he’s sitting upright on the couch.
Okay, listen, Buck tried to rest. He did. He just doesn’t think he’s much good at it.
His whole body is aching, sure. And his eyes are heavy, another truth. But for some reason he can’t sleep.
He was laying down but, after some trouble, sat up staring at the ticking clock.
This type of silence makes him nervous. The sun is setting and no one’s home, the only thing that lights up the house is the Christmas tree and it almost makes him remember the times where he was sick after Maddie left.
One time, his parents had a Christmas dinner party and Buck was left at home. He told his parents how he was feeling, they took some care of him, gave him the necessities (tissues, puke bag, Advil) and left. Said they couldn’t miss it. Which, fine. Whatever. Buck was fifteen, maybe sixteen. He could take care of himself then. And he definitely can now.
…the problem then was that he was full-blown sick. Like, the full deal. Unable to get out of bed, shaking, puking, maybe even a little bit of crying.
He remembers his parents not answering. The house was dark and he was debating on if he should take to sleeping in the bathroom or not.
He even called Maddie. He’s not sure why.
Doug answered. Ew. Made him feel even worse.
He never bothered when he was sick. He never cared. Buck was the type of kid who played in dirt. A little bug never hurt him.
So maybe it was the Christmas nostalgia, or Maddie leaving, or no one being home, or the darkness, but all he knew was that, that memory was not a good one.
And before Buck knows it his face is wet. Jesus, maybe he really is sick.
He closes his eyes for a minute. His stomach hurts after reminiscing on a not-so-good memory. Y’know what? No. He’s fine. He’s gonna have a great Christmas. No more Ghost of Christmas Past.
He glances out the window.
The snow could use some shoveling.
—
Bucks dizzy. Reallll dizzy. Everything’s sort of bright and white and blurry.
His shovel hits a block of ice, and before Buck knows it, he’s slipping and on the floor. He supposes he was leaning too much on the metal shovel.
He grunts and stays there for a while, as the snow falls on the tip of his nose and practically inside his eyes, he can’t help but laugh.
And also almost fall asleep.
Ice ain’t all that comfortable but the idea of sleep seems incredible.
No. No, damn it. What is he doing?
He’s fine. Amazing, even. Right?
He’s never felt better. God, this pillow is tough. The soft white cotton? No…
Fuck, snow.
Snow! Snow. He’s lying in the snow, his pillow is ice. Jesus, get up, Buck.
Come on, you can do it. He thinks.
Hesitantly he’s sitting up. Woah. Everything’s just dazzling.
Haha.
God, there’s so much snow on the road, Eddie’s not gonna be able to park when he comes back from his…shift.
Right. God! Right! Shoveling the snow. Got it.
Has his head been pounding like this all this time?
Buck fully stands up, very wobbly, if he’s being honest. He starts shoveling all over again. Outside is getting darker and darker as he shovels. He doesn’t know if maybe he’s full on delirious, but for some reasons he’s willing to admit it feels just like the time he was sick during Christmas time after Maddie left. Just like it.
“Buck!”
He flinches and the pile of snow that was stacked on his shovel plops off.
“What the hell are you doing?” The voice yells,
Eddie?
“E-Eddie?” His own voice echoes through his head.
“Buck?” His voice gets softer as he gets closer. It’s Eddie.
“What are you doing? Why the hell are you shoveling all alone in the dark!” He whisper-yells, like he’s trying to sound annoyed but Buck hears the concern in his voice.
“Eddie- I-I’m fine!”
“Buck! Jesus! You should’ve let me do that!”
“What, why? I’ve been doing this for like…as long as I can remember. I don’t need you doing it, man.”
And that’s true. It was on Buck to shovel the snow as a teen. Then, when he moved out, there was no one else to do it. And when he was rooming with his friends? You could see how he was the only one somewhat willing to do it. He didn’t complain though. Okay, fine, maybe a little. He tries to look at the upside of all that, his childhood sure did make him somewhat if not very independent.
“That doesn’t matter, Buck.”
“Why?”
“Because, I take care of you now! That’s my job, let me!”
“No- y-you had…work…so I just-“
Eddie puts his hand on Bucks forehead, this time Bucks so tired he can’t move it away.
“Buck, you're burning up.” He sounds…annoyed? Mad?
Worried.
“I’m…fine.”
He can hear himself slurring and putting all his weight in the shovel to help himself up.
Maybe Eddie has a point.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” Eddie puts his hand on Bucks shoulder and starts leading him in,
No! Nevermind, no, Eddie doesn’t have a point!
“No! Nah, man, I’m good! Let me finish!”
“Oh my god! Who cares! Why are you even shoveling to begin with when I told you to rest!” He sounds like a little kid whining. Buck tries not to laugh.
“B-because it’s snowing? Obviously! You wouldn’t have been able to get your car in,” Buck pauses when he sees Eddie walk on the patch of ice, he adds, “Careful, Eds, you gonna slip.”
Eddie grunts, “Buck! You're sick! Let me take care,” his voice goes softer and he comes closer “of you.”
As he puts his hands behind Buck's head, his face changes.
“W-wait, did something happen to your head? Why is there a bump?”
Bucks eyes widen in shock, he sort of forgot the whole falling thing even happened, then his eyes close as his head starts pounding all over again as Eddie attempts to move him.
“Turn around, let me see!” He’s quiet for a moment as he easily turns Buck so the back of his head is facing him.
“Did you fall? What happened?” His voice is tender and sweet and…god, Buck is getting tired.
“Hey, hey, wait, don't close your eyes.” He spins Buck back around carefully. Now Eddie is holding Buck's face. His hands are warm. Eddie is the warmth in Buck and Buck is the warmth in Eddie. Yeah. That sounds right.
“Did you fall? Buck, come on, tell me, you're scaring me. God! Why on earth would you be out in this weather, and when you're sick!”
Buck rubs his eyes, “I told you! It’s s-snowing, I had to! S-Santa’s comin. Santa Claus is coming to town-“
Now Buck is shaking and shivering. Eddie cuts him off mid song. Rude. “Alright. That’s it. Let’s get you inside.”
“N-no, Eds-“
“We’ll get you some hot cocoa or something!”
—
So Eddie takes Buck to the doctors. Much to Bucks protest. They tell him what he expects, mild concussion and a fever. Average “rest” and “make sure to wake him up every so often when sleeping”
Whatever.
It was kinda all a blur. He fell asleep in the car but Eddie woke him up. Buck could see how worried he was. Now he just felt guilty. All for some damn snow.
—
When Eddie woke Buck up, He sat on the coffee table watching Buck laying on the couch. He put a
big Santa mug on the table.
“There’s the hot chocolate I promise. How do you feel?”
Buck could feel his patterned wool sweater under his hand. He liked the feeling. A little itchy and a little soft all at the same time.
“Good. I-I’m good.”
“Liar.” Eddie smirked
Buck sees wrapping paper with little candy canes on it all over the coffee table and floor, followed by tape, scissors, and a big shiney box with the wrapping paper over it.
“Wrapping?” Buck tries to sit up, a washcloth falls from his forehead to his lap, was that always there? He picks it up and inspects it.
“That was to bring the fever down.” He seems to understand the confused expression that lied on Buck's face. ”But, yeah, just getting the presents in order.”
Buck smiles and looks over Eddie’s shoulder, “Oh, yeah? Any for me?”
Eddie puts his hand on Bucks chest, and leans him away from looking any further, “Ha! You wish.”
Buck lets out a little giggle.
“There for Chris. I have to find the gift tags so I can say they are from Santa.”
“What are you talkin about? Santa's is real.”
“Damn right.” Eddie nodded
Buck fell back in his seat, “You look like Santa.”
Eddie barks a laugh. He grabs some of the crisp wrapping paper, crinkles it up and throws it at Buck playfully.
Buck chuckles. After a few moments of silence pass he sniffs and his smile slightly softens. “Listen, I-I wanted to say…Eddie, I’m sorry.”
“Good, you should be.”
Eddie couldn’t help but laugh as saying it and Buck couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he did.
“You really don’t know how to rest, do you?”
“No. No I guess not.”
Eddie smooths Buck's hair, “That’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Just stop being an idiot, will ya?”
“Yeah. Whatever you say, Eds.” Buck smiles. He still feels like shit. But…Eddie being here makes it better.
He’s not that little kid whose parents look at him in sadness anymore. He’s not that teen who’s left alone sick on Christmas. And he’s definitely not that young adult who doesn’t know what he’s doing with his life.
He has a family now. He’s so damn grateful.
He could be doing just this for Christmas. As long as it had his family in it…it would be the best damn Christmas ever spent.