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Christopher squinted against the sun dipping low in the Texas sky as his phone buzzed in his pocket.
For a moment, he considered ignoring it—just like he’d been ignoring his dad’s calls for weeks. The last time they'd talked, it was a tense, one-sided talk with his dad trying to pretend things were fine between them, talking about his day, and Chris saying nothing, just listening in silent disappointment.
That had been a month ago, and since then, he'd avoided all his dad’s attempts to patch things up.
But the screen showed "Tia Pepa," and that gave him pause.
Tia Pepa never called.
She barely texted—birthday messages, maybe the occasional estampita of Piolin in the family group chat. Chris felt a rush of suspicion, wondering if his dad had put her up to this.
He hovered over the decline button, prepared to let it ring out. But something stopped him. His dad might be many things, but manipulative wasn’t one of them. That was one line Chris still believed his dad wouldn’t cross. With a resigned sigh, he swiped to answer.
"Hello?"
There was a pause on the other end before Pepa’s voice came through, steady but with an edge that made Chris’s stomach drop. "Christopher. I know you might not want to hear from me or your dad, and I know this is unexpected. But I’m calling because you should know... Your dad is in the hospital."
Chris felt the world tilt slightly, the gravity of her words weighing on him. His dad? In the hospital? He could almost see Tia Pepa on the other end, her serious face, her eyes softer than her voice let on.
"He’s with Buck there right now," she continued, "he's a good guy, but things are a little fragile, you understand? I would hate for you to be all the way in another state if… if something really bad happened. If you didn’t get a chance to see him… and this was your last chance."
The words echoed, each one carving its way deep into him. Chris swallowed, clenching his jaw as he stared out at the open stretch of land before him, feeling suddenly very far from home.
She ended the call a little after that, telling him to inform her if they were coming, to prepare for them, but she had things to do so she couldn't keep talking right now.
Chris’s heart pounded as he hung up with Tia Pepa, her words ringing over and over in his head.
It had been a while since the last time he thought he might lose his dad. Sure, there’d always been that fear in the back of his mind, a quiet whisper every time his dad went out to work, but it had become part of the background noise. Something they’d all learned to live with—until now.
He quickly called his grandparents, running towards the living room they were in, his voice cracking as he explained what Tia Pepa had told him.
In less than ten minutes, his whole family was on their way to the airport, rallying behind him without hesitation, the same way they had years ago, after what happened to his mom.
The guilt gnawed at him with every mile they got closer to the gate, his dad’s face surfacing in his mind, memory after memory punching him in the chest.
Now, sitting on the plane surrounded by his family, Chris stared out the window, unable to shake the dark cloud of regret.
He gripped the armrest until his knuckles turned white, every turbulent bounce in the air pressing his heart further into his stomach.
Almost seven months.
He’d wasted seven months in silence, holding his dad at arm's length, all over a mistake he still didn’t fully understand, and for what? To punish him? To feel right? He’d let the anger fester, thinking he had all the time in the world to work it out.
But he hadn’t. And now, he might not get another chance.
Chris swallowed hard, his throat aching as he imagined what he’d say if he could turn back time. He’d tell his dad how furious he’d been, but also how much he missed him. That he wanted to talk things through, not just build walls. A shudder ran through him as he thought about every text he’d ignored, every call he’d sent straight to voicemail.
He’d always known his dad’s job was dangerous. They’d gone through that fear time and time again, the gut-wrenching terror of waiting for him to come home, knowing that one day he might not. And somehow, that had felt manageable because he’d been there, close enough to watch out for him, to be the one waiting. But this time, he’d chosen to step away, to leave his dad to face it alone.
A single thought struck him like a punch to the gut: I might have been mad at him the last time I spoke to him. The last time I’ll ever talk to him. He squeezed his eyes shut, but he couldn’t block out the relentless wave of remorse.
What if his dad never got to know how much he meant to him, how much he respected him, how grateful he was for everything they’d been through together?
The flight droned on, every minute stretching into a lifetime, every mile pulling him closer to a city he’d always thought of as safe, and now felt like a stranger.
Chris buried his face in his hands, letting the raw, helpless grief rise to the surface. He wanted to scream, to apologize, to hold his dad close and make up for all the lost time. Instead, he sat trapped in his seat, mourning a goodbye he hadn’t gotten to say and praying that this wasn’t the end.
The moment Chris stepped into the hospital, what felt like months after but wasn’t even 5 hours, he was hit with the sterile smell of antiseptic, the hushed murmurs, the low hum of machines.
His family fanned out behind him, each one tense, ready for news they all dreaded. But there, sitting in a chair, perfectly upright and calm, was his dad.
Eddie looked…fine. Healthy, alert. Chris felt a whiplash of relief and disbelief so fierce it nearly knocked him over.
Without thinking, Chris surged forward, his crutches clattering loudly as he moved, alerting everyone in the room. His dad looked up, eyes widening as Chris closed the gap between them. Before Eddie could stand, Chris was there, throwing his arms around him in a fierce hug, his grip trembling as he held on as if letting go might make him vanish, crutches falling aimlessly next to them.
"Dad," he whispered, but once he started, he couldn’t stop. Seven months of pent-up words, every hurt and every hope, came spilling out, tangled in relief and regret. "I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I was mad, and I didn’t know what to do with it, but I don’t want to waste any more time. I love you. I might not get it all yet, but let’s work through this together. Please, let us talk things out. I can forgive you if we just…have time. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life without you in it. I don’t care what happened anymore, I just—"
He stopped to breathe, pulling back just enough to look at his dad’s face, taking in every familiar line, every exhausted but relieved look in his dad’s eyes. But then, clarity dawned, a sharp, cold realization slicing through the relief. His dad wasn’t the one who was sick. He wasn’t even hurt. He’d been fine all along.
Chris stepped back, breaking the hug. His face went hot with fury, and he felt the bitter twist of betrayal deep in his chest.
"You lied to me," he hissed, loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby patients and nurses. "You and Tia Pepa lied just to get me here, so I’d forgive you? I can’t believe you’d do something like this! I thought—I thought something had happened. I thought you were…"
The betrayal cut him too deep to finish, and he couldn’t believe his dad would manipulate him like this. To get him to let go of his anger, they’d played him, broken what trust he had left.
"How could you do this?" His voice cracked, and he hated how hurt he sounded.
Eddie looked stricken, but there was something darker in his eyes, something Chris didn’t understand yet. "Chris," he said quietly, voice thick with exhaustion. "I didn’t lie to you. I’m not the one who’s hurt."
Chris froze, his stomach dropping. He could read in between lines, he is not the one who’s hurt. Someone is hurt.
He looked into his dad’s eyes, seeing the raw, unguarded pain there. Eddie's gaze flickered down the hall, to a door guarded by worried nurses and distant beeping.
"It’s Buck," Eddie said, his voice breaking. "Chris, it’s Buck who’s hurt."
The room spun as the weight of his dad’s words hit him.
Chris barely had a second to process when the rest of the family crowded into the waiting room behind him. His grandparents, his aunts, his bisabuela—all of them looking for answers, their faces a mix of relief and irritation.
Isabel being the more wary of them all, sure something is still wrong because she knows her nieto and daughter, they will never worry them just because.
Helena was the first to speak, her tone a blend of exasperation and concern. "Eddie, what is going on? We rushed here thinking something terrible had happened to you . We all thought—”
Eddie raised his hands, trying to calm them. “Look, I don’t know what Tia Pepa told you. I barely talked to her yesterday. Just a quick call to say I wouldn’t be able to visit her. I didn’t even explain much—”
"But you told her enough for her to worry us all like this?” Ramón interrupted, shaking his head. "This is no small thing, Eddie. We dropped everything and flew halfway across the country—”
Eddie opened his mouth to apologize, to try to explain, but Chris interrupted, his voice small but urgent, cutting through the room’s confusion.
"What happened to Buck, Dad?" Chris's voice wavered, and he stared up at his father with wide, fearful eyes.
The room went still for a moment as everyone turned to look at Chris.
Then, Helena shook her head, letting out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Wait. Buck? This ‘Buck’ person is why we’re all here? Why did Pepa think it was so important to get Chris involved in this? Why is this Buck guy so important?”
Eddie’s expression cracked, and in that instant, Chris saw a flash of raw vulnerability, the kind his dad never let anyone else see. Tears filled Eddie’s eyes, and he dropped his head, his voice breaking as he finally let go of all the emotions he’d been holding back.
“Buck is my best friend, Mom,” he said, his voice thick with anguish and anger. “He’s more than that. He’s family. He's been there for Chris and me more times than I can count. He’s like…he’s like a second father to Chris. One of the most important people in our lives.”
The words hung heavy in the air, his voice echoing through the silence as his family looked on, dumbfounded. His family doesn't understand, of course they don't, they never got to meet Buck as well as he and Chris do, except for his abuela, none of them spent more than a few hours in his presence.
Isabel said nothing, her face softening with understanding as Eddie’s grief poured out. She stayed silent, her hand over her heart, watching Eddie with a look of deep empathy and heartbreak.
The weight of Eddie’s words sank in, and Chris could feel his own chest tighten with worry, fear clawing its way up his throat. He grabbed his dad’s arm, his fingers digging in, desperate for answers.
“Dad,” Chris said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “What happened? Is he going to be okay?”
Eddie took a shaky breath, unable to meet Chris’s eyes. He was silent for a long moment, as if he couldn’t bear to say it out loud. Then, with a voice broken and raw, he replied, “We don’t know yet, Chris. ”
Chris’s heart twisted painfully as he watched his dad struggle to hold himself together. All his anger, all the resentment, faded away, replaced with a deep, aching sorrow. He felt the tears he’d been holding back begin to fall, his own fears mirrored in his dad’s anguished face.
Eddie pulled Chris close, resting a hand on the back of his head, clinging to his son as if it were the only thing holding him together. In that moment, they were both just two people scared to lose someone they loved.
Eddie’s voice was barely steady as he began to speak again, his words spilling a little more raw than he usually would in front of his son and a lot more full of feelings than he usually would in front of his parents, unfiltered way that made it clear he’d been holding them back, letting them rot inside his chest.
"We weren't even at work when it happened," he said, his voice soft but trembling. He barely seemed aware of the family around him, his gaze fixed somewhere far off, eyes unfocused as if he were trapped back in that moment. "We were just hanging out, crossing the street, talking. Then… this car came out of nowhere. I don’t know if the driver passed out, if their brakes broke, or if it was just one of those split-second moments where everything goes wrong."
Eddie’s hands curled into fists, as if he could still feel the impact, the jarring push of Buck’s body slamming into his, just before he fell out of harm’s way.
“Buck noticed it was coming toward me, and he just… pushed me out of the way. I hit the ground, and when I looked up…he was on the pavement. And there was just…so much blood.” His voice cracked, and he paused, his head dropping as if he could still see his ーonce whiteー shirt, soaked in red.
Chris was looking up at him, his face pale, but Eddie couldn’t stop. His words tumbled out, filled with pain he could no longer keep hidden.
“I tried to help him, to keep him there with me, but he was slipping away. And then this paramedic came, telling me they needed to intubate him.” Eddie’s jaw clenched, and he shook his head, eyes glassy with unshed tears. “As if I didn’t know. As if I hadn’t lived through this before.” His voice dropped to a pained whisper. “And I…I really can’t do this again.”
Eddie’s parents exchanged a look, their faces tight with a mix of shock and discomfort. Ramón opened his mouth, unable to hold back his incredulity.
"Eddie, are you really comparing losing a friend to what happened with Shannon?" His tone was guarded, as though he couldn’t fathom why Eddie was taking this so hard. "I know he’s your friend, but this can’t be the same."
Eddie’s eyes hardened, his pain flaring into frustration, and he turned to face his father fully. “Shannon and I were coming to terms with what we were. We were realizing we weren’t supposed to be partners, that we didn’t work that way." He let out a shaky breath, raw honesty and anger lacing every word. “But Buck and I—we’re not partners now because we didn’t realize in time that we were supposed to be. That this is what we were meant for. We work that way, and now I might lose him before either of us could figure it out.”
Chris tightened his grip on his dad’s arm, his face pinched with understanding, but Ramón just shook his head slowly, bewildered. “Eddie, that’s…” he started, but couldn’t seem to find the words to finish.
Eddie’s mother interjected, her voice softer but still doubtful. “Honey, maybe you’re just…caught up in the emotions of the moment. You’ve been friends a long time, and Buck sounds like a very good man, but this is a lot to put on one friendship, don’t you think?”
But Eddie shook his head, his chest heaving as he tried to keep himself steady. "You don’t understand. Buck isn’t just my friend. He’s been there—through everything. He’s been my family, my support, my stability. He’s been a father to Chris, a partner to me in ways that go deeper than I even realized.” His voice cracked, and he glanced down at Chris, who nodded quietly, as if giving Eddie the courage to keep going. “I can’t… I can’t lose him and live with that. He’s the person I want by my side. The person I… I need. And none of you…none of you ever got to see that. You never met him, not in the way Chris and I know him.”
Isabel reached out and put a gentle hand on Eddie’s shoulder. Her eyes were sad but understanding, reflecting a quiet acceptance that Eddie hadn’t expected from her.
“I know, mi niño,” she said softly, her voice filled with a mother’s wisdom. “I know that when you love someone that way, it doesn’t matter what the label is. I know that he’s family to you.”
Eddie looked up at her, and in her gaze, he found something he’d been desperately searching for.
Eddie let out a shaky breath, his voice barely more than a whisper, but it was the clearest he’d been all night. “I don’t know what that means for me, Abuela,” he said, his gaze still locked on the floor, unable to meet the eyes of his family around him. “I don’t care what it says about my…my sexuality, or whatever you want to call it.” He paused, struggling to find the words buried in the storm of his emotions. “All I care about is that he needs to know. He has to know. But now—” His voice caught, and he choked back a sob. “Now they’re telling me he might not survive. And I don’t know if he’ll be here long enough for me to tell him that I love him.”
The silence in the room was absolute, the weight of his confession settling over each of them like a thick fog.
Helena and Ramón stared at him, faces frozen in shock, and it was clear that any plausible deniability they’d been clinging to had shattered in that instant. Helena’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide and searching as she tried to process what her son had just revealed. Ramón’s jaw clenched, the lines around his mouth deepening, as if he couldn’t reconcile what he was hearing with the image of his son he’d held onto for so long.
His sisters exchanged glances, their initial surprise melting into an understanding tinged with awe. They hadn’t expected it to be this serious, hadn’t known how deep this went for him. But now, seeing Eddie like this, they understood in a way they hadn’t before.
But it was Isabel who moved first. She stepped forward, her eyes warm and soft, filled with acceptance and pride. She’d always sensed the bond between her grandson and his friend, had seen the way Eddie came alive when he spoke of Buck, but she hadn’t expected Eddie to admit it so fully, not in front of everyone. And yet, here he was, owning his feelings without shame, and she could see how much it meant to him, to finally say it.
Chris looked up at his dad, his own face a mixture of surprise and something else—recognition.
A thousand small moments with Buck flickered through his mind, each one finding its place in this new light. Suddenly, everything clicked, and it all made sense. The way Buck had always been there, the way he looked at his dad with the same unspoken care, the way he’d shown up, always, even when he didn’t have to. Buck had been the missing piece all along.
Chris tugged on Eddie’s sleeve, his voice small but steady. “Dad…you really love him?”
Eddie nodded, finally meeting his son’s gaze, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Yeah, mijo. I do. I didn’t realize it until…until I almost lost him. But yes, I love him.”
Chris’s face softened, and he nodded back, as if that simple truth was all he needed. “Then we have to make sure he knows, right?”
Eddie blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over, a faint, grateful smile flickering across his face. He reached down, squeezing Chris’s hand. “Yeah, kid. We do.”
And for the first time in hours, with his son beside him and his family finally seeing him for who he was, Eddie felt a small glimmer of hope that, somehow, Buck might just get the chance to know the truth.
Adriana exchanged a knowing look with Sofia, then stepped forward, gently placing a hand on her mother’s arm. “Mamá, maybe we should give Eddie some space right now,” she said softly, careful to keep her tone calm but firm. “He’s going through a lot, and I think he needs this time with Chris.”
Helena’s brows furrowed in protest. “But he—”
Sofia stepped in, glancing meaningfully toward Eddie, who was now talking quietly with Chris, the two of them holding tightly to each other in the corner of the waiting room. “Mom, Eddie has spent his whole life putting everyone else’s feelings first, especially ours. I think…maybe it’s time we did the same for him.”
Ramón looked between his daughters, conflicted. “This is all very… unexpected. And we don’t know anything about this man, this…Buck.”
Adriana gave her father a pointed look. “We don’t need to know him right now, Papi. We need to trust Eddie and let him work through this however he needs to.”
Their grandmother, Isabel, nodded approvingly. “Your girls are right,” she murmured, a soft but knowing smile on her face. “Let’s give him this time.”
Helena opened her mouth to argue, but one glance at her son, holding Chris with an intensity that spoke volumes, and she hesitated. With a resigned sigh, she allowed Adriana and Sofia to gently lead her and Ramón out of the waiting room, casting one last, uncertain look over her shoulder.
As the door swung shut behind them, Isabel leaned over to Eddie, her voice gentle. “I’ll be in the café, mi niño. I’ll bring back something to eat. You two take your time.”
Eddie’s face softened, gratitude glinting in his eyes as he nodded. “Thank you, Abuela.”
With a warm, understanding smile, she slipped away, leaving Eddie and Chris alone in the quiet of the waiting room. Eddie finally turned his full attention to his son, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry, Chris. You shouldn’t have had to go through any of this.”
Chris shook his head, his grip tightening around his dad’s hand. “Dad, I came here because I wanted to. I wanted to be here for you.” He looked down for a moment, shy but steady. “And for Buck too.”
Eddie’s throat tightened, a wave of emotion washing over him. “Thank you, kiddo. That means…everything to me.”
Eddie sat back, running a hand over his face as he let out a long, shaky breath. Beside him, Chris shifted a little, glancing up with a small, knowing smile.
"So, Dad," Chris began, his voice light but edged with a hint of mischief, "I think I figured out why you were so…uh…bad with women."
Eddie looked down at his son, raising an eyebrow. "Oh really? And what makes you think I was bad with women?”
Chris gave a playful shrug. “I dunno, maybe because you didn’t even like them that way, ” he teased, a sparkle in his eye.
Eddie opened his mouth to argue, but found himself pausing, the words caught in his throat. He wanted to protest, to tell Chris that he’d had feelings for Shannon, that they’d tried so hard to make it work. But when he really thought about it—the spark that never seemed to light the way it did with Buck, the way he and Shannon had felt more like partners in a mutual project than anything else…he didn’t have a defense. And Chris saw it too, a grin spreading across his face at his dad’s stunned silence.
Chris crossed his arms, looking up at Eddie with an infuriatingly smug expression. “See? I am right.”
Eddie rolled his eyes, a laugh slipping out despite himself. “Alright, alright,” he relented, shaking his head. “Maybe you’re not wrong. I guess I just…never really thought about it that way before.”
Chris leaned back with a triumphant look. “Well, you should have. It would’ve saved you a lot of trouble.”
Eddie chuckled, ruffling Chris’s hair. “Oh, now you’re giving me life advice, huh?”
Chris shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Hey, someone’s gotta keep you on the right track.” He hesitated for a moment, his voice softening. “Maybe…maybe you should’ve told me. You know, before.”
Eddie’s expression sobered as he took in Chris’s words. “I know. I guess I didn’t even realize it myself until it was almost too late.” He reached over, placing a steady hand on Chris’s shoulder. “But I’m telling you now. And I’ll never keep anything like that from you again.”
Chris gave a small nod, his hand finding Eddie’s and squeezing it. “Good. Because…you deserve to be happy, Dad. And if Buck makes you happy, then…I’m glad he’s the one.”
Just then, the waiting room door creaked open. Eddie looked up, expecting to see Isabel returning, but instead, Maddie stepped in, her face anxious but softening as her eyes landed on Eddie and Chris. She hesitated in the doorway, taking in the sight: Eddie’s arm protectively around Chris, who leaned against his dad as if he’d never let go.
For a moment, Maddie simply watched, her heart swelling. She knew better than anyone how much her brother cared about Eddie and Chris, but to see Chris come back so quickly, so determined to be here—she felt a warmth and hope she hadn’t felt in days.
“Hey,” she said softly, her voice pulling them from their quiet conversation.
Eddie looked up, relief flickering across his face. “Maddie.”
Maddie walked over, her gaze lingering on Chris. “Any news on Buck?”
Eddie shook his head, the worry creeping back into his face. “No. Not yet.” He paused, glancing toward the doors to Buck’s room. “Bobby’s in there with him now—they’re only allowing one person at a time outside of visiting hours.” Eddie’s voice softened, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “I was giving him a few more minutes alone before I went in, but if you want to go instead…”
Maddie’s eyes softened with understanding, and she shook her head. “No, Eddie. I know how much he means to you. Take your time; I can wait.”
Eddie looked back at his son, squeezing his shoulder gently. “No, it’s ok, Chris and I we’ll both get to see him together if we wait”
Chris nodded, his gaze locked on the door where Bobby was with Buck, hope mingling with his anxiety. As he leaned into his dad, he felt Eddie’s arm wrap protectively around him, both of them holding onto each other in the silence, counting down the minutes together.
The day had been a series of blurred, agonizing moments, each dragging into the next like a slow, tense march. After Maddie finally went in to see Buck, Bobby stepped back out to find Eddie and Chris waiting together, Chris tucked securely at his dad’s side. Bobby’s face softened as he took in the sight, visibly moved by the strength Chris’s presence seemed to give Eddie. He bent down, giving Chris a warm hug, his hand firm on the boy’s shoulder.
“It’s good to see you here, Chris,” Bobby said, his voice steady with pride. Then, standing back up, he addressed Eddie and the rest of the family, explaining everything the doctors had told him.
“They’ve got Buck in a medically induced coma for now,” Bobby began, his voice low, and the weight of his words settled like a cloud over them. “He’s stable, but he’s not breathing on his own, and there are some injuries they’re monitoring closely. There’s damage from the impact, which is to be expected in a crash like that, and they’re watching to see how he responds over the next few hours. Right now, it’s about waiting and seeing, and they’ll be adjusting his treatment as he goes.”
Eddie tried to listen, clinging to Bobby’s every word, but a sick feeling tightened in his stomach, making it nearly impossible to focus. Chris stood silently beside him, his eyes wide as he tried to absorb everything being said, his young face tense with the strain of it all. Isabel, Eddie’s abuela, returned from the café at that moment, bringing pastries she’d picked up as a small comfort. She handed them out with gentle hands, though none of them could manage more than a polite nibble. Even the smell of the food made them feel ill, their nerves too frayed to hold anything down.
At some point of their silent waiting, Eddie’s phone started to buzz again, a few messages being exchanged in the Diaz Siblings group chat.
Bobby glanced at his watch, then at Eddie, his face full of gentle insistence. “Eddie, why don’t you take Chris home for a bit?” he suggested. “Visiting hours start in about four hours. Chris could use a nap in his own bed, and you need a break too.”
Eddie immediately started to shake his head, unwilling to leave. “No. I don’t want to leave him alone,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly as he tightened his grip on Chris’s hand. Chris, ever stubborn, shook his head in agreement, though his exhaustion was starting to show in his drooping eyelids.
But Bobby gave them both a steady look. “I know, Eddie. But he won’t be alone; I’ll stay right here with him. You’re going to need your strength, and Chris will too. Just for a few hours, go home, rest. You’ll be back before you know it.”
Isabel nodded, her voice as gentle as Bobby’s. “Listen to him, mi amor. This place…it’s too much right now. You and Chris need a little break.”
Reluctantly, Eddie agreed, looking down at Chris as he tried to muster a reassuring smile. He could feel the weariness pulling at him too, the exhaustion of holding it all together fraying his edges. With a soft sigh, he reached out and placed a hand on Chris’s back, guiding him toward the exit. They’d be back soon, he told himself. Just a few hours, just a bit of rest.
But as they walked out of the hospital and into the bright, indifferent light of the day, Eddie couldn’t shake the gnawing worry that Buck was in there alone. It didn’t matter that Bobby was with him; he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d already let him down once, and he wouldn’t do it again.
When Eddie and Chris finally arrived back at the hospital just as visiting hours started, Chris was buzzing with nervous energy. Now that he was 14, he didn’t need to sneak in to see Buck like he had in the past when ICU rules were stricter for kids. This time, he’d get to walk right in, no questions asked. His relief was almost a celebration in itself, a small victory in an otherwise tense day.
As they reached Buck’s ICU room, Eddie spotted Chim and Hen standing by Buck’s bed, talking softly. When they noticed Eddie and Chris in the doorway, they shared a quiet look, then each walked over to them, giving Chris and Eddie reassuring pats on the shoulder.
“Hey, kiddo,” Hen greeted Chris warmly, bending down to meet his eyes. “Glad you’re here.”
Chris gave her a small, determined nod. “Me too.”
Chim nodded toward Buck, his usual smile softened with worry. “You’ll make him happy just being here. We’ll give you guys the room, only 3 people can be in the room.”
Eddie gave them each a grateful look. “Thanks, guys.”
Athena, who had arrived moments before, stepped up to Eddie. “Mind if I join you?”
Eddie managed a small smile, grateful for her steady presence. “Of course. I think Buck would like it.”
With a few encouraging glances and shoulder squeezes, Chim and Hen slipped out of the room, leaving Eddie, Chris, and Athena to step closer to Buck. Chris took a deep breath, his eyes widening as he looked at Buck lying still in the bed, unconscious, a maze of machines and tubes surrounding him. He swallowed hard, his voice catching in his throat. He’d spent nearly seven months away, and this wasn’t the reunion he’d imagined.
“Hi, Buck,” Chris said quietly, his voice a mixture of relief and sadness. “I’m here. We’re both here.” He looked up at his dad, who nodded, a hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder.
Athena stepped to the other side of the bed, her gaze softening as she watched the way Chris’s eyes never left Buck’s face. “He’ll be glad you’re here, Chris,” she said gently. “Even if he can’t tell you right now, he knows.”
Chris slowly extended a hand, resting it gently on Buck’s arm. He gave a shaky smile, trying to find words to bridge the silence. “It’s been a while, huh?” he whispered. “Almost seven months. I…I missed you.” His voice wavered, and he looked up at his dad, who nodded in encouragement.
Eddie took a steadying breath, his hand on Chris’s back. “He missed you too, mijo,” he murmured. “More than you know.”
The machines beeped softly, filling the quiet with their steady rhythm. Chris held on to Buck’s hand, speaking softly, letting himself say all the things he’d saved up since he’d been away. He told him about Texas, about his online classes, the way he wanted to celebrate turning 14 with him. He spoke until his voice grew quieter, filled with exhaustion and hope. He kept his hand in Buck’s, the warmth grounding him in the here and now, grateful for each beat, each breath that Buck took.
As visiting hours wound down, the team had graciously let Eddie and Chris stay by Buck’s side for as long as possible. They’d each taken turns rotating into the third spot in the room, giving Chris and Eddie the chance to be with Buck together the entire time. The hours had slipped by in a haze of whispered stories, gentle reassurances, and the shared, unspoken hope that Buck would pull through.
But now, the hours were up. Visiting time was over, and Eddie felt a pit of dread settle heavily in his stomach. The doctors had warned him that the next few hours were the most critical. If Buck’s condition was going to deteriorate, it would likely happen tonight. The thought of leaving him now, when things were so uncertain, was almost unbearable. He kept glancing at the machines, listening to each soft beep as if they were keeping Buck tethered to him.
Chim, who had somehow ended up as the one to stay behind through the night, nudged Eddie gently. “Hey, man. You’ve been here all day, and Buck’s in good hands with me. You should get some rest. Buck wouldn’t want you exhausting yourself.”
Eddie shook his head. “I don’t know, Chim. I don’t think I can leave. What if this…” His voice cracked, and he glanced at Chris, who was lingering by the door, hesitant to leave as well.
Chim placed a steady hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “I get it. But he’d want you to take care of yourself too. Chris needs you, and I’ll call you if anything—anything—happens.”
Eddie was about to protest again when his phone buzzed. He glanced down to see a message from his parents.
He felt a twist of irritation; it was the last thing he wanted to do. But he knew that if he didn’t go now, they’d just keep texting and asking questions. Chris needed him to handle this, to be present for whatever conversation his parents were planning.
He sighed heavily, finally nodding, more to himself than anyone else. “Alright. Chris, let’s go.”
Chris gave Buck one last, long look, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness, hope, and determination. He stepped up to the bed, hesitating only a second before reaching for Buck’s hand. He squeezed it gently, his voice barely a whisper.
“Goodbye for now, Buck,” he murmured, his voice catching. “I… I’ll see you soon, okay? You better come back. I still need you here.”
He let go of Buck’s hand, blinking away the dampness in his eyes. As he turned to leave, Chimney walked up beside him and gently guided him toward the door, sensing that Eddie needed a few private moments to himself.
Eddie lingered a moment longer by Buck’s bedside, his heart pounding as the reality of the situation pressed down on him.
He bent down, close enough to see every familiar freckle, every line that felt like home. “You’re going to be okay, Buck,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “You have to be. Chris and I—we’re waiting for you. We’re waiting for you at home.”
He hesitated, then pressed a gentle kiss on Buck’s birthmark, feeling the rough edge of fear and hope mingling as he held on for one last heartbeat. “I love you,” he murmured, his voice barely a breath. “So, please…please come back to us.”
With a final glance, Eddie pulled himself away, joining Chris in the hallway. As they walked toward the exit together, he tried to hold on to those last words, hoping they’d somehow find their way to Buck, wherever he was, and bring him home to them.
When Eddie and Chris pull up to the house, Eddie spots his parents already standing outside, waiting for them. The sight of their serious expressions in the dim evening light tugs at his chest. Eddie notices something else too—his sisters are conspicuously absent, their usual chattering energy nowhere to be found. He suspects his parents may have snuck away from them, and their absence feels almost like a red flag, an omen of what’s to come.
After guiding Chris up the steps, Eddie opens the door and motions his parents in. “Can I get you anything? Water? Something to eat?” he offers, hoping to ease into whatever this conversation might bring.
But his mom shakes her head. His father glances at her before going straight to the point. “Actually, we wanted to start with Chris,” his dad says, his tone gentle but direct. He turns to his grandson. “Mijo, are you comfortable staying here with your dad? Is everything alright?”
Eddie tenses, bracing himself for another potential argument, but Chris, standing confidently by his side, gives a firm nod. “I’m fine here, Abuelo. This is where I want to be.”
A small wave of relief washes over Eddie, but he’s still surprised when his parents nod in acceptance without a hint of protest. “Alright,” his mother says softly, with a warmth that catches Eddie off guard. “Chris, could you give us a few minutes alone with your dad?”
When Chris heads to his room, Eddie looks back at his parents, preparing himself for whatever they have to say. But what they say next completely throws him off.
“How’s Buck doing?” his mom asks, her voice steady and with a depth of concern he hadn’t expected.
Eddie blinks, taken aback. “You could have asked that with Chris here,” he says slowly. “He knows just as much as I do about Buck’s condition.”
She nods, a quiet understanding in her eyes. “I wanted to ask privately, in case you hadn’t wanted to tell him everything and we put you in some uncomfortable spot”
Eddie nods, a little stunned by her thoughtfulness. “They’re keeping Buck in a medically induced coma for now,” he says, his voice low and tight. “The next few hours are… critical. If he makes it through the night without complications, we’ll have more hope. But right now…” He trails off, trying to keep his emotions in check.
His father places a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We’ll stay in LA until you know he’s okay. If you need us for anything, just say the word.”
As the conversation begins to wind down, Ramón lets out a sigh, looking between him and his wife before nodding towards the door.
“We’ll get out of your way now,” he says gently. “You both could use some rest after a day like this.”
Eddie walks with them, feeling the weight of the day settle heavily on his shoulders. They speak in soft voices as they head toward the front door, Helena asking if he has everything he needs and gently reminding him that they’ll be close by. His dad even offers to help with anything around the house or with Chris, just until Buck’s condition stabilizes. Eddie feels a swell of gratitude for their presence, unexpected as it is.
At the door, they pause, his mom’s hand on the doorknob and turns to face him with a look he can’t quite place—a mix of regret, pride, and a tenderness he hasn’t seen from her in a long time.
“Eddie,” she starts, voice low and a bit hesitant. “I know we never treated Shannon the way she deserved. We always knew she wasn’t… the right person for you, but we were wrong to act on that instead of saying it. We should have trusted you, and for that, I’m sorry.”
Eddie’s dad nods, his hand resting on his wife’s shoulder. “We’ve made mistakes, Eddie, ones we can’t take back,” he says, the words thick with honesty. “But seeing you now—seeing what you’ve found with Buck, seeing that real, true love—we’re proud of you. We’re proud that you’ve found someone who… really is your person.”
Eddie blinks, caught off guard by the rawness of their words. His mother gives him a soft, almost tearful smile. “We’ll be praying for Buck’s recovery, so we can meet him properly one day—and welcome him as part of our family.”
Eddie’s throat tightens, and all he can do is nod, emotion catching in his chest. “Thank you,” he whispers. “For being here. For all of this.”
They exchange a few quiet goodnights, and Eddie watches as they head down the driveway, their figures dimming in the night. For the first time, he feels something lift in his heart—a sliver of relief, a hint of peace—amid the day’s storm.
Eddie and Chris had been dancing around each other all evening, careful not to disrupt the fragile peace they’d managed to build. They spoke in brief exchanges, mostly about Buck’s condition, but the silence between them wasn’t hostile—it was just cautious. Every movement felt like walking on eggshells, as if the wrong word or gesture might send them spiraling back into the distance that had separated them for months.
By the time Chris went to bed, exhaustion was written across his face, but he still hesitated by the door to his room. “Goodnight, Dad,” he said softly, a flicker of uncertainty in his voice.
“Goodnight, mijo,” Eddie replied, forcing a small smile. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
When Chris finally closed the door behind him, Eddie sank into the couch with a deep sigh. His phone sat on the coffee table, its screen dark and taunting. He picked it up, staring at it, daring it to ring. Daring it to bring the news he couldn’t bear to hear. Minutes stretched into hours as he refreshed his messages and checked his missed calls for the hundredth time.
Eventually, exhaustion won out. Eddie’s head dipped forward, phone still clutched tightly in his hand as he fell asleep sitting upright, his mind heavy with worry.
Morning light filtered through the windows, rousing Eddie with a jolt. His eyes immediately sought out his phone, panic bubbling in his chest as he fumbled to unlock it. But there were no new notifications, no missed calls, no ominous updates. He stared at the screen, relief crashing over him like a wave.
No news was good news.
Eddie let out a shaky laugh, pressing the phone to his chest as tears pricked at his eyes, as he allowed himself a breath of hope.
With a renewed sense of purpose, he headed into the kitchen to start breakfast. The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee filled the air as he flipped pancakes onto a plate. He was just finishing up when Chris shuffled in, rubbing his eyes and adjusting his crutches.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Eddie greeted, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Chris sniffed dramatically. “You’re cooking bacon. It’s impossible to sleep through that.”
“Or maybe you just can’t resist my amazing cooking skills,” Eddie shot back, sliding a plate in front of Chris.
Chris rolled his eyes but grinned as he sat down. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Dad. You still burn toast sometimes.”
Their banter felt natural, easy, like slipping into a well-worn pair of shoes. It was a far cry from the tension of the night before, and Eddie felt a weight lift as they settled back into their rhythm.
Once Chris was contently eating, Eddie glanced at the clock, deciding it was a reasonable time to check in. He grabbed his phone and typed out a message to Chimney.
He hit send and set the phone down, his fingers absently tapping the counter as he prayed for an answer that matched his hopes.
A few minutes later, the reply came:
Eddie let out a long breath, his shoulders sagging with relief. He sent back a quick:
before putting the phone away.
“Good news?” Chris asked, his eyes watching Eddie carefully.
Eddie nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. “Yeah, bud. Buck made it through the night.”
Chris grinned, and for the first time in days, Eddie felt like maybe—just maybe—they were on their way to brighter days.
Later found Eddie standing at the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone while Chris set up his laptop for his online classes.
It had been a calm morning so far, the air still heavy with the weight of the last few days. Though Eddie was desperate to return to the hospital, he knew he couldn’t leave Chris alone—not when his son still had classes to attend and everything felt so fragile.
“Everything working okay?” Eddie asked, glancing up from his phone.
“Yeah, Dad,” Chris replied with a hint of amusement. “I’ve done this before, you know.”
Eddie smirked. “Just checking. Let me know if you need anything.”
Chris rolled his eyes, muttering a “As if you were better at technology than I am,” as Eddie’s phone buzzed in his hand. It was the family group chat.
Eddie smiled faintly as he typed out a reply.
A moment later, his mom chimed in.
Eddie hesitated, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. The truth was, he did feel more grounded knowing they were close by, even if their presence brought its own complications. But he also knew he needed to manage this on his own—it was his life, his responsibility to navigate.
Eddie felt a lump form in his throat at their offers. He hadn’t expected this level of support, especially after all the turbulence in their relationship. For the first time, he thought maybe he really would be fine.
His mom replied almost instantly.
Eddie chuckled softly, his chest warming at their words.
“Who’s that?” Chris asked, glancing up from his screen.
“Your aunts and abuelos, checking in on us,” Eddie said.
Chris smiled. “They’re not so bad when they’re not being overbearing.”
Eddie laughed. “Yeah, they’re not.” He ruffled Chris’s hair on his way to refill his coffee, feeling lighter than he had in days.
For once, the idea of facing this without his family hovering didn’t feel overwhelming. Maybe he really was going to be okay.
He maintained himself occupied the rest of the time, giving his son space to concentrate on his stuff but still trying to distract himself just so he wouldn’t be pressing the clock to tick faster.
So Eddie stood in his bedroom, methodically folding a hoodie to shove into his bag, though his hands were trembling just enough to make the task take longer than it should. Chris’s muffled voice floated down the hall as he answered a question in his class, grounding Eddie momentarily.
They had a plan: check in on Buck after Chris’s class, grab something to eat nearby, and wait for the next set of visiting hours. The plan felt solid, manageable, and gave Eddie something to hold onto.
As he zipped up the bag, his phone buzzed on the nightstand, its vibration echoing louder than it should. Eddie frowned, picking it up. The name on the screen froze him in place.
Hen calling…
His chest tightened. Hen was with Buck right now. She wasn’t supposed to call unless—unless something was wrong.
Eddie’s heart dropped into his stomach as his mind spiraled into worst-case scenarios. What if Buck’s condition had worsened? What if they couldn’t wait for time to tell? What if—
“Please, no,” he whispered to himself, his thumb hovering over the answer button. His breathing quickened as he prepared himself for the worst, dreading the words Hen might say.
Finally, he swiped to accept the call.
“Hen?” he said, his voice cracking.
There was a pause, and then Hen’s voice came through, calm but rushed, like she knew exactly what was going through his mind.
“Eddie, hey, it’s okay. Buck’s fine. Nothing’s happened,” she assured him quickly.
Eddie let out a shaky breath, his knees almost giving way as relief hit him like a tidal wave. He sank down onto the edge of the bed, his hand gripping the phone like a lifeline.
“Then—why are you calling?” he asked, still trying to steady his breathing.
“I just wanted to let you know,” Hen said gently, “the doctors were in, and they’re saying he’s stable enough that we’re starting to see signs of improvement. It’s small stuff, but it’s something. He’s not out of the woods yet, but it’s a good sign.”
Eddie blinked rapidly, his throat tightening. “He’s… improving?”
“A little, yeah,” Hen said, her voice warm. “I didn’t want you to find out secondhand or wait until you got here to hear it. I thought you could use some good news.”
Eddie closed his eyes, the weight of the past few days suddenly less suffocating. “Hen, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that.”
“I can guess,” she said, a smile evident in her voice. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. I just thought you should know.”
“Thank you,” Eddie said sincerely. “I’ll see you soon.”
He hung up and sat there for a moment, clutching his phone to his chest. For the first time, his heart wasn’t racing in panic—it was pounding with hope.
Chris’s voice from down the hall called him back to the present. Eddie got up, shoving the last of the things he needed into his bag with renewed energy. They were going to the hospital soon, and now he had something to look forward to.
The faint hum of Chris’s teacher wrapping up the class drifted into Eddie’s room as he zipped his bag. He glanced toward the clock on his phone. It was almost time.
A moment later, there was a loud clap from the other room as Chris slammed his laptop shut. Eddie couldn’t help but smirk at the impatience radiating from his son.
“Dad! Class is done!” Chris’s voice rang through the house, full of urgency. “Let’s go! Hurry up!”
Eddie chuckled softly, throwing his bag over his shoulder. He stepped into the hallway just as Chris zipped past him, phone in one hand and a set of keys jingling in the other.
“Chris, give me a second!” Eddie called after him, but Chris was already at the door, practically vibrating with energy as he stood by it, waiting.
“I gave you all class ! You said we’d go as soon as it ended!” Chris exclaimed, fixing his dad with an exasperated look.
Eddie shook his head, amused, not trusting his son not to try to drive himself to the hospital if he doesn't hurry up. “Alright, alright, I’m coming.”
Chris grinned triumphantly, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet as he fiddled with the keys. “Good, ‘cause I’ve been waiting forever .”
Eddie couldn’t help but laugh as he walked up to him. “Excuse me, it’s not my fault you had class.”
Chris opened the door with dramatic flair, stepping aside to let his dad go first. “Well, you were the one that forced me to be responsible so...”
That hit Eddie right in the chest, softening his smile as he placed a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “Fair point. Let’s go see him, ‘cmon.”
Chris nodded, determined, and the two headed out, both eager to finally be where they wanted to be.
The hospital entrance loomed ahead as Eddie parked the truck. Chris was already unbuckling before the vehicle had fully stopped, his determination shining through every movement. Eddie smiled softly, feeling the same urgency tug at his chest, and they made their way inside.
Bobby was sitting in the waiting area, his phone in hand, typing something. When he spotted them, he quickly finished up, sliding the phone into his pocket as he stood to greet them.
“Eddie, Chris,” Bobby said warmly, offering them both a small smile. “Good to see you two.”
“Hey, Bobby,” Eddie said, giving him a firm handshake. Chris, ever polite, echoed the greeting with a small wave, though his focus was already darting toward the ICU doors.
“How’s Buck?” Chris asked, cutting straight to the point.
“Hen’s still with him,” Bobby said, his voice steady. “I just texted her. She’ll be out in a second to let Eddie in.”
Chris’s shoulders tensed immediately. “What about me?” he asked, his voice already tinged with defiance.
Eddie sighed, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Chris, we talked about this on the way here.”
“I know we did,” Chris huffed, looking from his dad to Bobby. “But it still doesn’t make sense. I’m fourteen! Why can’t I just go in by myself?”
“Hospital rules, bud,” Bobby interjected gently, crouching slightly to meet Chris’s gaze. “Minors between 14 and 17 can only go in with an adult, and even then, only one person can be in the room at a time.”
“That’s so stupid,” Chris muttered, gripping the chair in front of him tightly as frustration flickered across his face, walking past them to sit down in resignation.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear,” Eddie said softly, kneeling beside him. “But listen, in just a few hours, during visiting hours, you’ll be allowed to see him. They’ll let us in together then. For now, I’ll just go in and check on him, alright?”
Chris didn’t look convinced. He crossed his arms and scowled. “A few hours is basically forever, Dad. What if something happens before then? You’ll get to talk to him, and I’ll just be stuck out here. Again.”
Eddie raised a brow at his son’s dramatic tone, trying to stifle a smile. “Chris, nothing is going to happen between now and then.”
“You don’t know that!” Chris shot back, his voice full of teenage exasperation. “I’m supposed to sit here, bored out of my mind, while you get all the updates? You’ll probably forget to tell him half the things I want to say, too.”
Eddie sighed, glancing at Bobby, who was valiantly trying to hide his amusement. “Chris, I won’t forget anything. I’ll tell him everything, word for word.”
“Sure you will,” Chris muttered, rolling his eyes and gripping the wheels of his chair tightly. “I should just sneak in. I bet no one would notice.”
“Uh-huh, because sneaking into the ICU always ends well,” Eddie replied dryly, straightening up and crossing his arms. “You do realize that if I get kicked out because of you, neither of us gets to see him.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed, but he huffed and relented, though not without a parting jab. “Fine. But don’t make me wait too long, or I’m staging a protest.”
Eddie chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. “Got it, drama king. I’ll be quick.”
Chris swatted his dad’s hand away with a small smirk. “I’m not a drama king. I’m just right. ”
“Sure you are,” Eddie replied, rolling his eyes with a grin.
At that moment, the ICU doors opened, and Hen stepped out, looking tired but focused. She spotted them and waved, making her way over.
“Hey, Eddie. Chris,” she greeted with a small smile. “I’ve got some updates.”
Chris straightened in his chair, practically on the edge of his seat as he stared up at her. Eddie nodded, his expression tense.
Hen continued, her tone steady and calm. “The doctors have started slowly bringing him down from the medically induced coma. It’s a gradual process to see if his body starts functioning more on its own. They’re monitoring him closely as they do it. If everything goes well today, they’re planning to try waking him up tomorrow.”
Eddie let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his shoulders sagging slightly in relief. “That’s good, right? Progress?”
“It’s definitely progress,” Hen confirmed, offering a reassuring nod. “They’re still being cautious because we’re not out of the woods yet. They’re watching how his vitals react, and there’s always a chance they’ll have to adjust if things don’t go as expected. But so far, things are looking stable.”
Chris frowned, tilting his head. “What if... what if his body doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to when they try to wake him up?”
Hen crouched slightly to meet Chris’s worried gaze. “That’s why they’re doing this slowly, kiddo. They’re giving him the best chance to recover without putting too much strain on him. It’s like a team effort—his body’s doing its part, and the doctors are helping it along.”
Chris chewed on that explanation for a moment before nodding. “Okay... but tomorrow, right? He’ll wake up tomorrow?”
“That’s the goal,” Hen said, glancing at Eddie with a reassuring look. “And as soon as they let me back in, I’ll keep an eye on everything. I’ll make sure to update you if there’s anything new.”
Eddie squeezed her arm in gratitude. “Thanks, Hen. For everything.”
She gave him a warm smile before looking down at Chris. “Hang tight, kiddo. Your dad’s heading in now, but don’t worry—visiting hours will be here before you know it.”
Chris groaned dramatically, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, yeah. If they’re not late or something.”
Hen chuckled, patting his shoulder before turning to Eddie. “Go ahead. I’ve got your back out here.”
Eddie gave her a nod of thanks, then turned to Chris with a small smile. “Be good, alright? I’ll be back soon.”
Chris waved him off with an exaggerated sigh, muttering something about how it was “still a dumb rule,” and Hen laughed softly as she watched Eddie disappear through the doors.
Eddie stepped quietly into the hospital room, the steady beeping of monitors greeting him as he approached Buck’s bedside. The sight of him lying there, so still and fragile despite his usually larger-than-life presence, hit Eddie like a freight train.
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen Buck in a hospital bed—there was the lightning strike, the leg injury, the embolism—but this time felt different. This time, Eddie could name the feelings swirling inside him. Helplessness. Fear. Love.
His chest tightened as he thought about the moment yesterday, pressing a kiss to Buck’s birthmark and whispering “I love you” to a body that couldn’t respond. That moment was burned into his memory, a bittersweet first confession. It would always carry the weight of this situation, the fear and uncertainty clinging to it like a shadow. But now, as he stood there, he let himself hope for something he hadn’t dared before: that there might be another first time. A first time where Buck was awake, smiling, and able to hear him say it.
Even if Buck didn’t feel the same way, Eddie thought as he sat down in the chair beside the bed, at least he would be there to hear it.
He rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling shakily before he started to speak.
“Hey, Buck,” he began softly, his voice rough with emotion. “I know you can’t hear me—well, maybe you can, I don’t know. But I need to say this anyway.” He let out a small, humorless laugh. “Thank you. For fighting. For keeping at it. For not... not making last night the worst night of my life.”
His gaze wandered to the monitors, as if their steady rhythm was somehow reassuring.
“I’m so damn grateful you’re still here,” he continued, leaning forward. “Chris is here, too. He’s waiting for you, just like I am. We both are. And you know how stubborn that kid is—he’s not going anywhere until you wake up and give him one of those ridiculous grins of yours. So you better hurry it up, alright?”
Eddie smiled faintly, his eyes misting over. “You don’t know how much you mean to us, Buck. Or maybe you do. You’re everything to Chris... to me. I should’ve told you sooner. Should’ve said so many things sooner. But I guess I was scared of what it meant. Scared of what it says about me. But not anymore.”
He reached out, resting his hand gently on Buck’s, careful not to disturb the wires and tubes.
“So you hang on, okay? One more fight. And when you wake up, we’ll be here. Chris and I... we’re waiting for you.”
Eddie’s voice broke slightly on the last word, and he swallowed hard, his grip on Buck’s hand tightening just a fraction. He stayed like that for a while, the silence of the room interrupted only by the soft hum of machines and the quiet sound of his own breathing.
Eddie sat in the chair beside Buck’s bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped tightly together. His gaze was fixed on the monitors, watching the steady patterns of Buck’s heart rate and oxygen levels, almost hypnotized by their consistency.
The rhythmic beeping filled the room, and for a moment, Eddie let himself drift. His mind wandered to the tubing, the wires, and the way Buck’s chest rose and fell with the aid of machines—each breath a quiet promise that he was still here, still fighting. The matchiness of the blinking lights on the machines felt oddly comforting, like they were keeping time for something precious.
He sighed softly, leaning back in his chair. The weight of everything—the fear, the hope, the unspoken feelings—pressed heavy on his chest.
But then something shifted.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw movement. Eddie froze, his eyes darting to Buck’s face. For a second, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. But then it happened again—a flicker, a flutter.
And then Buck’s eyes opened .
Eddie’s breath caught in his throat. His heart slammed against his ribs as Buck’s gaze slowly, groggily, turned toward him.
“Buck?” Eddie whispered, his voice trembling, barely able to believe what he was seeing.
The faintest hint of recognition flickered in those blue eyes, hazy but unmistakable.
Eddie shot out of his chair, leaning closer, his hands hovering over Buck as if afraid to touch him, afraid it would all disappear if he did.
“Hey,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “You’re awake. You—Buck, you’re awake.”
Buck’s lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. His brows furrowed, a weak attempt to communicate through the fog.
“It’s okay,” Eddie said quickly, his own tears blurring his vision. “Don’t try to talk yet. Just... just take it easy, alright? You scared the hell out of me, man.” He let out a shaky laugh, one hand reaching for Buck’s and squeezing it gently.
Buck’s fingers twitched in response, a tiny movement that sent a surge of relief and hope flooding through Eddie’s entire body.
“You’re going to be okay,” Eddie said, his voice steady now, full of certainty. “We’re going to get you through this. Me and Chris—we’re waiting for you, Buck. We’re right here.”
Eddie’s heart raced as he squeezed Buck’s hand, not wanting to let go, but also feeling a rush of panic settle over him. His mind raced— was this too soon? Was he okay? He hit the call button on the wall beside Buck’s bed, his voice tight as he whispered, “I need help. Now.”
It wasn’t long before a nurse stepped into the room, calm and unhurried, the kind of confidence that only came from having seen it all before. She glanced at the monitors, already aware of what needed attention. “Looks like the IV bag needs a change,” she muttered, approaching the setup with practiced ease.
But then she froze.
Her eyes flicked to Buck, who was still slowly blinking, his gaze shifting toward Eddie, confusion clouding his expression.
“You’re not supposed to be awake,” the nurse murmured, her voice a mix of shock and professional curiosity. She quickly moved to the door, hitting the intercom to call for backup.
Eddie shot to his feet, his breath catching in his throat. His pulse hammered in his ears as he turned to the nurse. “Is this a good thing? Or a bad thing?” He could feel the heat in his cheeks, the pressure mounting in his chest. Was this a setback? A complication?
He was a medic, he should know what medical stuff meant, but his brain was refusing to cooperate,
The nurse looked back at Buck, her brows furrowing. “It’s not bad, I think,” she said, her tone a little softer now, though she seemed almost dazed. “It’s... unexpected. And honestly, miraculous. It’s too soon for him to be waking up—his vitals weren’t even indicating he was ready, but here he is. I... I don’t think anyone was expecting this. But it shouldn't be bad.” She turned back to Eddie, giving him a small, cautious smile. “I’m going to call the doctor, but... don’t panic.”
Eddie felt the air leave his lungs, the weight in his chest easing just a little as the nurse moved to notify the doctors. The relief washed over him slowly, like a wave pulling back from the shore. It wasn’t just hope anymore; it was proof . Buck was here, he was awake— and he was going to fight .
He stepped closer to Buck, brushing his thumb over his hand, fighting the tears welling up in his eyes. “You hear that?” Eddie whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You're doing good, Buck. You’re doing good. Keep going. We’re all here for you.”
The door opened just seconds later, and a flurry of doctors and nurses rushed into the room, their movements sharp and practiced. Eddie barely had time to step back as they surrounded Buck, checking monitors, adjusting the IV drip, and muttering to each other in medical jargon that Eddie couldn’t quite keep up with.
“Excuse me, sir,” one of the nurses said softly, yet firmly. She was trying to usher him away from the bed, guiding him toward the door. “We need space to work. You’ll have to step outside.”
Eddie’s legs felt like they were made of lead. “No, I can’t—he just woke up. I can’t leave him,” he protested, his voice cracking as the wave of panic from before threatened to hit again.
“We’re not saying you can’t be with him, sir,” the nurse said, her voice softer now, though she didn’t slow her pace. “But we need to run some immediate tests. We can’t have anyone in the room while we’re doing that. Please, for his safety.” She reached for the door handle, opening it slightly to signal outside.
Reluctantly, Eddie nodded, swallowing hard. He couldn’t push back anymore, though his feet dragged as he stepped back toward the door. It was only when he reached the threshold that he heard one of the doctors call out to him.
“We’ll update you as soon as we have more information, Mr. Diaz,” the doctor said, looking over his shoulder. “Just wait outside, okay?”
Eddie nodded stiffly, stepping out into the hallway, the door closing behind him with a soft click. His chest felt tight, his hands trembling as he wiped them on his jeans. He took a deep breath before he turned toward the waiting area, where he knew Chris, Bobby, and Hen were waiting. He could already see their faces from the distance, the anxious expressions frozen in place.
As he walked toward them, Bobby stood first, concern etching his features as Eddie approached. “What happened?” he asked quietly, his voice steady but a little too tight. Hen was right behind him, her brow furrowed.
Eddie opened his mouth, and for a moment, nothing came out. His heart was in his throat, and all he could think about was the look in Buck’s eyes just seconds ago— alive, but not quite here yet . The words felt heavy on his tongue. This wasn’t supposed to happen this way .
“Buck’s awake,” Eddie finally blurted, almost as if saying it out loud would make it more real. “He... woke up. Early . Doctors are with him right now, running tests, but he’s awake . And... they said it was unexpected. Too soon. But... it’s a good sign. They said it’s... miraculous.” His voice broke slightly at the last word, and he quickly wiped at his eyes, trying to fight the swell of emotion that kept threatening to spill over.
Chris, who had been standing silently behind him, blinked. “Wait—he’s really awake?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, a mix of hope and disbelief in his tone.
“Yeah,” Eddie replied, taking a deep breath as he looked back at his son. “He is. And... they’re gonna keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t have any setbacks. But he’s awake, and that’s more than we could’ve hoped for.” His voice steadied as he said it, even though the knot in his stomach hadn’t loosened.
Hen let out a soft breath, her hands on her hips as she nodded. “I didn’t expect that this soon either, but that’s... that’s really good news, Eddie.”
Bobby clapped him on the back, his smile small but warm. “It’s huge news, man. But... it’s gonna be a long road. We just need to take it one step at a time.”
“I know,” Eddie said, his gaze flicking between Bobby, Hen, and Chris. “But... it’s a start. And right now, that’s enough.”
They all stood there for a moment, taking in the weight of what had just happened. Eddie could feel the air around them shift, and in that moment, he realized just how fragile the last few hours had been—how fragile they all were. It wasn’t over yet, but Buck had come through for them when they needed him most.
“You guys should head back to your seats,” Eddie said after a long pause. “They’re still working with him. I don’t know how long it’ll take.” He looked down at his phone, checking the time. “But... I just need a minute. A minute to let this sink in.”
Hen gave him a nod, and Bobby followed suit, his hand resting lightly on Eddie’s shoulder. “We’ll be here when you’re ready, Eddie,” Bobby said, his voice low and steady. “Take all the time you need.”
Chris, who had been quiet until now, nudged his dad gently. “I’m good, Dad,” he said, offering Eddie a small but reassuring smile. “Go ahead. You’ve got this.”
Eddie smiled back at him, his chest tightening again, but this time, it was from gratitude. "Thanks, kid," he murmured, giving Chris one last quick look before he turned toward the hallway, feeling a new sense of relief beginning to settle in. Buck was awake.
Eddie stepped out into a small outdoor patio, a quiet, peaceful oasis tucked away at the side of the hospital. The sound of distant voices and the rhythmic hum of the building felt muffled here, leaving only the soft rustle of leaves and the faint chirp of birds. He found a bench tucked away in the corner, a place that felt far enough away from the sterile walls of the hospital to let him breathe, to think without the weight of the chaos swirling inside.
He didn’t even realize he was shaking until he sat down, his hands gripping the sides of the bench, his knuckles turning white. His breath came in shallow bursts, and for a long moment, he just stared down at his hands, willing himself to steady. But the tears started to come, slowly at first, trickling down his face before they grew into something he couldn’t stop, something that spilled over in a rush of relief and joy.
He’s awake. He’s really awake. He’s not gone. Not yet.
The words tumbled in his mind, spinning in circles as he looked up to the sky, letting the cool air wash over him. His chest felt tight, but in a way that wasn’t suffocating. It was relief, the kind that hurt because it had been so long since he’d felt it.
He let himself breathe for the first time in what felt like forever, tears slipping down his face in a mix of gratitude and disbelief. God, thank you. Thank you for giving him back to me, for giving me this chance. He’s still here. He’s still here, and I’m not going to lose him.
The words were a prayer, whispered into the air, almost as if he needed to say them out loud to make them real. He hadn’t allowed himself to hope— not really —not after everything that had happened, not after watching Buck go through hell and never knowing if he’d come out the other side. But now, now he knew. Buck had made it through. He was here. He was alive.
Eddie let out a shaky laugh, the sound raw and full of emotion, as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, his fingers trembling. He tilted his head back, closing his eyes, letting the sun warm his face, the peaceful surroundings a stark contrast to the chaos of the last few days.
The weight of it all— the fear, the worry, the hours spent waiting for news —suddenly felt like it was lifting, like the world had shifted and given him a second chance, one he hadn’t known he’d needed so desperately until now.
“Thank you,” he whispered again, the words barely audible, but they were enough. Enough to fill the emptiness that had been hanging over him for so long. Thank you for not taking him from me.
He leaned back, letting his shoulders finally relax, his mind finally able to wrap around the reality that he didn’t have to say goodbye yet. He could keep fighting , he could keep waiting , because Buck was still here. Still fighting. Still breathing.
And that was enough.
For now, it was everything.
Eddie took several deep breaths, wiping the last remnants of tears from his face. The cool breeze had done its job, and while his chest still felt tight with emotion, he was calmer now, steadier. He stood up from the bench, shaking out his hands as if to release the tension still clinging to him.
Buck was awake. That was all that mattered. And now, Eddie had to be there—for him, for Chris, for the people who had become their family.
As he stepped back into the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic and the hum of activity grounded him. He walked purposefully toward the waiting room, his nerves still tingling with the relief coursing through him. When he opened the door, the sound of familiar voices greeted him.
Athena was standing near the corner, her arms crossed in her usual commanding stance but her smile soft and warm as she spoke to Chris. Maddie was sitting next to Bobby, her face lit up with the unmistakable mix of hope and relief, though her red-rimmed eyes showed how much the last few days had weighed on her. Hen was on her phone, likely texting Chimney an update, her grin wide and unrestrained.
As soon as Eddie entered, all eyes turned to him, and Chris practically launched himself toward his father.
“Dad!” Chris exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. “Buck is awake! Did you see him? What did he say?”
Eddie dropped to one knee, wrapping his arms tightly around Chris. “I didn’t get to talk to him yet, buddy,” he admitted, his voice thick. “But yeah, he’s awake. He’s awake.”
Maddie stood and crossed the room in an instant, pulling Eddie into a hug that was surprisingly fierce. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “For being there with him.”
Eddie shook his head, his own voice soft as he replied, “I didn’t do anything, Maddie. That’s all him. He’s the strongest person I know.”
“You’ve done more than you think,” Athena said, her tone firm yet kind as she rested a hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “And you’re going to keep doing it. He needs you.”
The atmosphere in the room was electric with joy and relief, the tension that had hung heavy over them for days finally lifting. Bobby stepped forward, clapping Eddie on the back, his eyes glassy but filled with pride. “You’ve been solid through all of this, Eddie. He’s lucky to have you.”
Before Eddie could respond, a doctor entered the room, clipboard in hand. Everyone immediately quieted, the celebratory energy giving way to nervous anticipation.
“Mr. Diaz?” the doctor asked, glancing at the group.
Eddie straightened. “That’s me.”
The doctor smiled faintly, a touch of exhaustion visible in her features. “I wanted to give you an update on Mr. Buckley’s condition. He’s responding well, considering the circumstances. We’re cautiously optimistic at this point. His vitals are stable, and while it’s too soon to determine the full extent of his recovery, things are moving in the right direction.”
Eddie felt his breath catch, relief sweeping through him like a wave. “That’s... that’s great to hear. Thank you.”
The doctor nodded, her expression softening. “He’s still very weak, and we’re monitoring him closely, but he’s coherent and asking for someone by name.” She paused, looking directly at Eddie. “He’s asking for you.”
The room went silent for a moment, all eyes on Eddie. He blinked, stunned, before nodding quickly. “I’ll go to him. Now.”
Chris grinned up at him, his excitement unmistakable. “Go, Dad. He’s waiting for you!”
Athena patted Eddie on the back. “Go on. We’ll be right here when you’re done.”
Maddie’s voice was warm but teasing as she added, “You better tell him we’re all rooting for him.”
Eddie nodded again, his heart pounding as he turned toward the hallway. Buck was awake—and he wanted to see him. Eddie could barely contain the mix of joy and nerves bubbling inside him as he headed toward Buck’s room.
Eddie stepped into Buck’s hospital room, the quiet hum of the machines the only sound breaking the stillness. The chaos from earlier—the flurry of doctors and nurses—was gone, leaving the room feeling mercifully calm. And there, lying in the bed, was Buck, his eyes heavy with exhaustion but unmistakably awake.
When Buck’s gaze met Eddie’s, he managed a tired, lopsided smile, the kind that had always felt like sunlight breaking through a storm.
“You really are awake,” Eddie said softly, his voice catching in his throat as he closed the door behind him.
Buck let out a weak chuckle, his voice raspier than usual. “Well, you were waiting for me to wake up, weren’t you?”
Eddie huffed a breathless laugh, shaking his head as he stepped closer to the bed. “You scared the hell out of us, Buck. Again. You really need to find a new hobby.”
Buck’s smile grew, and though it was faint, it was undeniably him. “What can I say? I like keeping you on your toes.”
Eddie pulled the chair closer, sitting down heavily. For a moment, he just looked at Buck, his chest tightening with emotions he wasn’t sure he could fully name. Relief, gratitude, fear, hope—it all tangled together, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Buck raised an eyebrow, though even that looked like it took effort. “What’s that look for?” he teased lightly.
Eddie smirked, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “I’m just wondering how many lives you’ve got left. You’ve used up at least four since I’ve known you.”
Buck laughed softly, the sound strained but genuine. “You think I’m a cat now?”
“More like a really reckless dog,” Eddie quipped, his grin widening. “You’re loyal to a fault, constantly getting into trouble, and somehow you always bounce back.”
Buck snorted. “Don’t forget lovable.”
Eddie tilted his head, pretending to think. “Eh, debatable.”
Buck gave him a mock glare, but the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. “I’m pretty sure Chris would back me up on that.”
“Chris thinks you walk on water,” Eddie said, his tone softening. “He was so happy when I told him you were awake. He’s been waiting for this—for you.”
Buck tilted his head, blinking at him. “Wait. Waiting—like here? Like, here here? Los Angeles, California, here?”
Eddie couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at his lips. “Yeah, Buck. Here here. You think he wasn't going to find out about you? That he wouldn’t come if he did?”
Buck’s eyebrows shot up, the exhaustion on his face briefly overshadowed by shock. “Wait—Chris is here? You brought Chris? He—he was ignoring you, wasn’t he? How’d you even—” His voice faltered, his breath catching, but Eddie could tell the wheels in his head were turning.
Eddie chuckled, pulling the chair closer and sitting down. “Chris heard we were at the hospital and decided none of our issues mattered anymore. He moved the whole Diaz clan in Texas around just to get here.”
Buck stared at him, clearly stunned. “Wait. The whole Diaz clan?”
“Oh, yeah,” Eddie said, his tone light but his eyes serious. “You’ve got my parents and my sisters checking in like clockwork, asking about your well-being. It’s like you’ve become their favorite kid overnight.”
Buck blinked. “That’s... unexpected.”
“You’re telling me,” Eddie said with a snort. “My mom even apologized. To me. About... a lot of things, actually. But yeah, they’re all invested now.”
Buck looked genuinely baffled. “I don’t even know how to process that.”
Eddie leaned back in the chair, his expression softening. “Chris and I? We’re still figuring things out. It’s been a rough year, but... we’re talking again. And once you’re out of this hospital, I think we’re going to be in a better place. Chris said you’re part of why he came back, you know. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”
Buck swallowed hard, his eyes glinting with emotion. “I—I didn’t think I was that important.”
Eddie’s chest tightened at Buck’s words, the faint, broken tone behind them sparking something hot and furious inside him. He gripped the arm of the chair tightly, his knuckles white. How could Buck think he wasn’t important? Who the hell made him feel this way?
His blood boiled at the thought, a fire stoked by years of watching Buck give his all to people who never seemed to give him the same in return. Eddie wanted to track down every single person who had ever made Buck feel less than worthy of being loved, every so-called friend, boss, or ex, and make them understand the damage they’d caused.
But that wasn’t what Buck needed right now.
Instead, Eddie swallowed the rage, turning it into something constructive. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at Buck with unwavering intensity.
“You’re important, Buck. You’re so damn important. To Chris, to the team, to me. ”
Buck blinked, startled by the sudden shift in Eddie’s tone.
“Chris came back because of you. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing you. You’ve been a constant in his life, the person he looks up to, trusts, and relies on. Do you know how rare that is for a kid his age? You’ve been there for him in ways I couldn’t be. You’ve been his safe space, Buck. That’s not just ‘important’—that’s irreplaceable. ”
Buck opened his mouth, but Eddie didn’t let him speak. He wasn’t done.
“And it’s not just Chris. It’s the whole team. Bobby, Athena, Hen, Chim—they all love you. They would move heaven and earth for you, and you don’t even realize it. You’ve done so much for all of us without even thinking twice about it. Hell, you’ve done it for strangers! You’re the guy who runs into danger when everyone else runs away. You’re the guy who cares so deeply, so completely, that it scares people. You’re the guy who makes me want to be better every single day.”
Buck’s eyes widened, a flicker of something unnameable flashing across his face. But Eddie didn’t stop.
“And me?” Eddie’s voice dropped, his chest tightening again, but this time for a different reason. He took a shaky breath, his heart pounding. “You’re my best friend, Buck. You’ve been my anchor when I felt like I was drowning. You’ve been my partner in every sense of the word that matters. You’re...”
He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. But then he looked at Buck—at his tired, vulnerable face, at the faint spark of hope in his eyes—and he knew he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“You’re the person I want to come home to, Buck. You’re the one I want to figure everything out with. You’re the one I—” Eddie’s voice broke, and he swallowed hard before continuing. “You’re the one I love. And I’ve been too much of a coward to say it until now.”
Buck stared at him, his lips parted in shock, his eyes wide and unblinking. For a moment, there was only the hum of the machines and the faint sound of Eddie’s ragged breathing.
Eddie took a shaky breath, his emotions swirling into a mixture of relief and regret. He leaned forward again, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped tightly as he stared at the floor.
“Buck,” he started, his voice low and thick with emotion. “I need to apologize.”
Buck’s brow furrowed in confusion, his tired gaze fixed on Eddie.
“I shouldn’t have... I shouldn’t have told you all of that just now.” Eddie looked up, his eyes meeting Buck’s. “You’re barely awake, probably feeling like hell, and here I am, dumping all of this on you. It’s not fair. You deserve better than that.”
Buck tried to shake his head, but Eddie pressed on before he could speak. “You deserve... so much more than a drowsy confession in a hospital room. You deserve something thoughtful, something romantic. You deserve to be told how much you mean to me in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Flowers, candles, cheesy speeches—the works. And I promise, Buck, if you give me the chance, I’ll do all of that. I’ll do everything in my power to make you feel as loved and as important as you’ve always deserved to feel.”
Eddie’s hands clenched tighter, his knuckles turning white. “But I couldn’t wait. Not after everything that’s happened. Not after you pushed me out of harm’s way and ended up here. Not when you’re the reason my son started talking to me again, the reason we’re even on the road to being okay. And definitely not when you’re sitting here, thinking you’re not important, not to me or to anyone else.”
Eddie’s voice broke, and he looked away for a moment, trying to gather himself. “You are important, Buck. You’re so damn important. To me, to Chris, to everyone who’s lucky enough to know you. And it kills me that the world has done such a lousy job of showing you that. That I’ve done such a lousy job of showing you that.”
He looked back at Buck, his eyes glistening. “I just... I couldn’t keep it inside anymore. I couldn’t go one more day without telling you how much you mean to me, even if this isn’t the right place or the right time. I’m sorry for that. But I’m not sorry for how I feel.”
Buck stared at him, his tired features softening into something that looked a lot like understanding. His lips curved into the faintest of smiles, and his voice was hoarse but steady as he murmured, “Eds... you don’t need flowers or candles or any of that. You just being here... that’s enough.”
Eddie let out a shaky laugh, his heart finally starting to calm. “I’ll still get the flowers,” he said softly. “You deserve those too.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Buck’s laugh joined his—weak but real, filling the room with a sound Eddie had been afraid he’d never hear again.
Buck’s gaze softened once they both managed to calm down, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. And then, with a tired but unmistakable smile, he whispered, “Eddie... you really know how to wake a guy up, huh?”
It wasn’t much, but the warmth in his voice and the glimmer in his eyes said everything Eddie needed to hear.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the weight of everything unspoken hanging in the air. It wasn’t new for them to fall into these quiet moments, where words didn’t feel necessary.
But then, Buck’s tired smile widened slightly, his blue eyes shimmering with a mix of exhaustion and something softer.
“I’d really like to give you that chance.” His voice was hoarse and weak, but the words hit Eddie with the force of a freight train.
Eddie froze, blinking as Buck’s lips quirked into the ghost of a smirk.
“But, uh... maybe after I get some sleep? No offense, but this whole being-almost-dead thing is kinda exhausting.”
“Damn it, Buck,” Eddie muttered, running a hand down his face. “I'm sorry. I made this all about me when I should be asking how you’re doing, what you need, if you’re in pain—”
Buck interrupted him with a rasping chuckle, the sound more fragile than usual but still undeniably Buck. “Eddie, calm down,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine... for someone who’s apparently supposed to be asleep for, like, another twelve hours. And honestly? I’d much rather hear you yap about how much you love me than go back to sleep.”
Eddie’s heart flipped in his chest, his cheeks flushing as he shook his head at Buck’s audacity. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Buck’s eyes fluttered closed, but his lips moved again, his words slurring slightly. “I love you too, by the way,” he murmured, the words tumbling out softly, like a secret slipping into the quiet of the room.
Eddie stared, breath catching in his throat as he processed the simple, heartfelt confession. But before he could respond, Buck’s breathing evened out, his body surrendering to the sleep it so desperately needed.
Eddie leaned back in his chair, his heart racing and his emotions a chaotic tangle of relief, disbelief, and overwhelming affection. He let himself smile, the edges of it trembling with unspoken gratitude.
“Sleep well, Buck,” he whispered. “We’ve got plenty of time to figure this out.”
He stared at Buck’s peaceful face for a moment longer before pulling out his phone. He quickly typed out a message to the group chat, wanting everyone to know the latest update.
He put his phone down, standing up and stretching, ready to meet with the doctor and make sure Buck was as stable as they thought. And then, he’d go take to lunch and do his best to give his son a little peace.
When Eddie returned to the waiting area his emotions were still swirling but steadier than they’d been in days.
The team was still gathered there, a quiet hum of conversation in the air, but as soon as he stepped inside, their attention shifted to him. Bobby was the first to stand, a mixture of curiosity and concern in his eyes.
“How is he?” Bobby asked, stepping closer.
Eddie nodded, a small smile breaking through. “He’s... good. The doctors say the tests are going fine and he might be released in the next few days if things keep going so well.”
Bobby’s expression softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “Good. Now, go get some rest—or at least some food.”
Eddie still wanted to argue, to insist he should stay because Buck might wake up from his nap any time soon, but the look in Bobby’s eyes left no room for debate.
Bobby headed toward Buck’s room, and Eddie turned back to the rest of the team, calm that Buck was going to be in the best hands he could be in.
Hen grinned at him, probably already seeing his longing to go back inside. “All right, Diaz. We’re heading to the diner around the corner, and no, you don’t get to say no.”
Athena chimed in, her tone gentle but firm. “You need to eat, Eddie. Buck’s stable, and Bobby’s with him now. Let us take care of you for a bit.”
Eddie sighed, knowing they were right. He glanced at Chris, who was already smiling, clearly excited to join the others. “Fine,” Eddie relented. “But only because I know Chris could use a decent meal too.”
By the time they reached the diner, Karen was already there with Mara, Denny and Jee, seated at a large booth that looked like it had been reserved just for them, their faces lighting up when they saw Chris.
“Chris!” Jee-Yun squealed, rushing over to him and pulling him into a hug. Denny, not to be outdone, tried to give his best version of a cool greeting, though it ended up being more of a high-five with a slight awkwardness. Mara just smiled and waved, happy to see him.
It felt a little like the world was back in its right place, even though Eddie couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
Eddie couldn’t help but smile at the sight. It had been too long since Chris had been surrounded by this kind of love and energy, and seeing him so happy lifted a weight Eddie hadn’t realized he was carrying.
As they settled in, Hen leaned over with a sly grin. “So, I heard something interesting from Chris earlier.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow, already wary. “What’d he say?”
Hen’s grin widened. “Oh, just that he came back to LA because his dad was in the hospital. And then he added that his aunt failed to tell him which one of you it was.”
Eddie’s heart clenched at the mention of Buck as Chris’s dad, and he couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through his chest. Chris had always seen Buck as more than just a friend of Eddie’s, but hearing it phrased so naturally still hit Eddie harder than he expected.
Hen kept teasing, oblivious to the emotions coursing through Eddie. “I mean, you gotta admit, that’s hilarious. Poor kid probably thought you were half-dead somewhere, and instead, you were just here, mooning over Buck.”
Eddie laughed it off, shaking his head, but his heart was still stuck on what Chris had said. It wasn’t just the words—it was the meaning behind them. Chris saw Buck as his dad, as family.
And after the conversation Eddie had just had with Buck about trying to make things work, it felt like a blessing, like his sign to give it all and make him his first and last.
Maddie noticed the shift in Eddie’s expression and jumped in, deflecting Hen’s teasing. “Okay, okay, let’s not overwhelm him. Eddie’s had a rough couple of days.”
“Yeah,” Athena added with a smile. “Let’s let him enjoy his food before we grill him any further.”
Eddie gave them all a grateful look, his thoughts still lingering on Chris’s words and the way his life was beginning to fall into place.
He didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be: sat at the diner table, surrounded by the familiar chaos of his family—the firefam, as Buck liked to call them.
Plates clattered, conversations overlapped, and the kids’ laughter echoed around them, but none of it felt quite right. The seat across from him was empty, and that absence hung over him like a weight he couldn’t shake.
When the server came to take their orders, Eddie found himself pausing. Buck’s usual wasn’t on the table. No pancakes drowning in syrup, no bacon “strategically arranged” for optimal dipping, no exaggerated commentary on how a meal without eggs was “just a snack.” Chris looked at him curiously, and Eddie sighed before waving off the server.
Maddie noticed. Of course, she noticed. “No pancakes for Buck, huh?” she asked lightly, glancing at Eddie. “He’s gonna be disappointed when he hears about that.”
Chim chimed in with a teasing grin. “You could’ve ordered them for him, you know. He’ll need energy when he gets out of the hospital. If you’re thoughtful enough to save him some.”
Eddie rolled his eyes but said nothing, his gaze dropping to his coffee. He didn’t trust himself to speak just yet.
Chris, however, couldn’t let the moment pass. “Dad’s been all quiet and mopey because Buck’s not here,” he declared with a dramatic flair that had Hen and Athena smirking. “You should’ve seen him at the hospital. Chimney and I had to drag him out of Buck’s room.”
The adults laughed, and Hen leaned in closer to Eddie, her grin widening. “You know, Eddie, it’s almost like you miss him or something. Maybe even a little too much? ”
“Or maybe a lot too much,” Athena added, her voice rich with amusement. “You’re practically wearing a sign that says ‘I wish Buck were here.’ ”
Eddie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as the table erupted into good-natured teasing. Karen piled on next. “Honestly, the way you’ve been acting? It’s starting to make sense. Buck’s your other half, Eddie. He always has been.”
Everyone laughed again, except Eddie, who sat back, his expression serious as he glanced around the table.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “He is.”
The laughter died immediately as everyone turned to him, blinking in surprise. Hen, the first to recover, leaned forward with wide eyes. “Wait. What?”
“I said,” Eddie repeated, his lips curving into a small, nervous smile, “Buck’s my other half. Always has been. And yeah, I miss him like crazy right now.”
The table went silent, the kind of stunned silence that only this group could achieve. Chris, who had been quietly smirking the whole time, finally burst out laughing. “Told you!” he crowed, pointing at his dad.
Karen’s jaw dropped. “Did he just... Did you just—”
“Yes, I did,” Eddie said, more confidently this time. “And before you all start freaking out, I’m fine with it. More than fine. It took me long enough to figure it out, but yeah, I love him.”
Hen’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before she finally found her voice. “Oh my God, Diaz. You’re just gonna casually drop that bomb in a diner like it’s no big deal?”
Eddie shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face now. “Figured you’d all figure it out eventually. Why not save you the trouble?”
Maddie shook her head, a wide smile spreading across her face. “Well, it’s about time. We’ve only been waiting years for you to catch up.”
Karen clapped her hands together, practically glowing. “This is the best news all day. I mean, after Buck waking up, obviously. But still, major milestone. ”
Chim leaned back in his seat, still staring at Eddie with mock disbelief. “I can’t believe you actually admitted it. You’re not even blushing.”
“Oh, I’m definitely blushing,” Eddie said, his ears turning pink as he glanced down at his coffee. “But I’m also... happy. For the first time in a while.”
The conversation quickly shifted back to lighthearted teasing, but the air felt different now—lighter, warmer.
Eddie could still feel the ache of Buck’s absence, but it wasn’t as heavy anymore. Because next time they were all sitting at this table, Buck would be here. And this time, Eddie would make sure he knew exactly how much he meant to him.
Later, the group made their way back to the hospital, the earlier levity fading into a collective anticipation.
Visiting hours were fast approaching, and though they had passed the waiting room hours chatting and trying to distract themselves, the buzz of expectation was now palpable.
Eddie couldn’t sit still, his foot tapping impatiently as the minutes dragged on. Chris, seated next to him, kept sneaking glances at the clock while pretending he wasn’t just as eager. Maddie paced back and forth, her arms crossed as if she could will the time to move faster.
As the group settled into their waiting room rituals he suddenly stood, a little too abruptly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I, uh…” He gestured vaguely toward the hallway, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I just need to go grab something real quick. Be right back.”
Chris raised an eyebrow, suspicious. “Grab what? You don’t even have a bag.”
Eddie shot him a look that said don’t start . “I’ll be back before visiting hours. Promise.”
Without waiting for further interrogation, Eddie ducked out of the waiting room, his steps brisk but his mind racing.
By the time Eddie reached the hospital gift shop, he was second-guessing himself. Rows of brightly colored flowers lined the refrigerator cases, cheerful and inviting, but they only made him feel more awkward.
What are you doing? he thought. You’re a grown man, not a teenager buying flowers for a first crush.
He hesitated, pacing in front of the case, his arms crossed. Pros and cons stacked up in his mind like blocks teetering on the edge of collapse.
Pros: He’d promised Buck flowers. It didn’t have to mean anything too dramatic—it was just a gesture, right? Chris would tease him, but he’d secretly love it. Buck deserved something bright after all this darkness.
Cons: It felt silly. Buck might think it’s too much. What if the others laughed? What if it made him look ridiculous?
Eddie sighed heavily, staring at a simple bouquet of white daisies and blue forget-me-nots. His hand hovered over the handle of the case. You promised him. You owe him this, even if it feels like a big deal.
The weight of that promise tipped the scales. Eddie grabbed the bouquet before he could change his mind, paid quickly, and hurried back upstairs, holding the flowers like they might shatter if he squeezed too hard.
When Eddie returned to the waiting room, the bouquet slightly hidden behind his back, Chris smirked knowingly. “Didn’t take you for the flower-buying type, Dad.”
“Yeah, well, there’s a first time for everything,” Eddie muttered, his ears burning.
Maddie spotted the bouquet next and smiled softly, her gaze warm. “Buck’s going to love them.”
Eddie shifted uncomfortably but nodded. “It’s not much, but… it felt right.”
Bobby clapped him on the shoulder as Athena added, “Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter most.”
As the nurse finally called for visiting hours, Eddie felt a wave of nervous energy rush through him. He tightened his grip on the flowers, drawing a deep breath.
"Go on, Eddie," Hen said immediately, giving him a little shove. "You’re up first."
"What?" Eddie blinked, looking at the team as if they’d all lost their minds.
Chim smiled knowingly. “It’s only fair. Go wake up your Sleeping Beauty.”
“I’m not—” Eddie started, but Maddie cut him off with a teasing smirk.
“Yes, you are,” she said. “And I think you should give him the traditional fairytale wake-up kiss.”
Chris snorted loudly, his sass fully intact. “You have to, Dad. It’s, like, the rules or something.”
Eddie groaned, but the tips of his ears betrayed him by turning pink. “You guys are ridiculous, I already saw him awake today, someone else should—”
“Ridiculously supportive,” Hen quipped, interrupting him before he could argue. “Now go.”
Maddie gave him an extra push. “He’s waiting for you, Eddie. Even if he doesn’t know it yet.”
Reluctantly, Eddie made his way toward the room. Chris and Maddie followed close behind, Chris practically bouncing with excitement despite trying to play it cool.
Once inside, the sight of Buck still hooked up to machines momentarily froze Eddie in place. But then he took a deep breath, reminded himself that this wasn’t like before. Buck was awake now—or almost, not comatose at least—and he was going to be okay.
Maddie and Chris flanked him as they entered, Maddie giving Eddie one final nudge toward the bed.
“Don’t forget the magic kiss!” Maddie teased.
“I hate all of you,” Eddie muttered under his breath, but the warmth in his chest told a different story.
Buck looked peaceful, more so than Eddie could ever remember seeing him. His face was still pale, and the monitors beeped softly in the background, but he was there. Alive. And Eddie’s chest ached with gratitude.
Leaning down, Eddie pressed a gentle kiss to the familiar mark on Buck’s forehead. “Hey, Buck,” he murmured. “Time to wake up.”
To everyone’s surprise—and amusement—Buck’s eyelids fluttered, his brow furrowing slightly before his blues opened. He blinked groggily, his gaze landing on Eddie first.
His bleary eyes took a moment to focus, but when they did, they locked onto him. A slow, sleepy smile spread across his lips.
“Eddie?” Buck’s voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.
Maddie gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as tears welled in her eyes. “Oh my God, he’s really awake.”
Chris darted forward, his teenage bravado forgotten for the moment. “Buck!” he exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly. “You’re okay!”
Buck’s smile widened, though he still looked groggy. “Chris? Hey, buddy,” he croaked. “Missed you.”
Chris nodded fervently, his eyes shining. “I missed you too. Like, a lot. And I’m glad you’re okay.”
Buck’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Missed you too, buddy.”
The tenderness lasted all of five seconds before Chris added, with a dramatic sigh, “But seriously, did you have to go and almost die just to get me back to L.A.?”
Buck chuckled weakly, his laugh barely more than a breath but no less genuine. “Figured you’d make an entrance.”
The room filled with laughter, the tension finally breaking as Maddie, Chris, and Eddie surrounded Buck, each of them taking turns to catch him up on the chaos of the past few days. Eddie stood quietly at Buck’s side, his hand resting lightly on Buck’s arm.
Maddie stepped forward, tears streaming down her face as she leaned over to gently hug her brother. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “You’re really okay. I was so scared.”
“Sorry,” Buck rasped, his expression soft as he looked at her. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
There was a quiet moment as Buck’s gaze shifted, taking in everyone around him—Maddie, Chris, Eddie. Each of them looking at him with relief and love etched into their faces.
It was then that his eyes fell on the bouquet in Eddie’s hand. The flowers were held somewhat awkwardly, Eddie's knuckles tight around the stems as if he was unsure of what to do with them now.
“You brought me flowers?” Buck asked, his voice still hoarse but laced with surprise.
Eddie stiffened, glancing down at the bouquet as though noticing it for the first time. “Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat. “I, uh… thought you could use something nice to wake up to. Hospitals are kind of sterile.”
Buck smiled softly, his expression a mix of amusement and something gentler. “Thanks, Eddie.”
Chris, sensing the tension, grinned and leaned closer to Buck. “He was agonizing over it,” he teased. “Took forever to pick them out.”
Eddie shot his son a playful glare. “All right, that’s enough out of you, kid, you weren’t even there.”
Chris muttered a “I’m not wrong, tho,” that his father was kind enough to ignore and not reprimand.
Buck chuckled weakly, his fingers twitching slightly as though he wanted to reach for the flowers but didn’t quite have the strength. “They’re perfect.”
Eddie’s shoulders relaxed, his grip on the bouquet loosening. “Yeah, well… figured you deserved them.”
And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, everything felt just a little lighter.