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Hen is bored. Today isn’t a quiet shift per se, but it also isn’t very eventful either. She isn’t going to risk it of course, but she wouldn’t say no to a little action. Maybe something harmless, like a cat stuck in a tree or something?
She sighs again and looks over to where Buck and Chimney are crowded around the pinball machine together.
Chimney has been trying to beat the high score she set during a slow shifts for the past two years now. Unsuccessfully, she might add. Seems like he recruited Buck to help now. That thought makes her smirk and she is about to go over and gloat when the alarm starts to ring.
Now, Hen will never be happy people are in an emergency and need help, however, a small part can’t help but be relieved at the action.
That is until the details start to filter in. There’s a fire at a school. It’s being evacuated and other units are on their way too, but it’s always scary to have kids in danger. Her stomach ties itself in knots at the news and she can’t help but he glad the school they’re going isn’t Denny or Harry’s school.
Then she notices Buck across from her in the rig, looking absolutely pale. He isn’t looking at any of them, just typing on his phone with shaking hands.
She is about to ask him if he’s okay, thinking that maybe he’s struggling with the idea of kids being in danger like this, I mean, it’s his first big school fire, but before she can they roll up to the scene. There are a bunch of kids on the lawn and fire blazing big in one of the wings.
There is already another house at the scene, so their Captain is in charge of the scene. Bobby instantly checks in with her, while the others go and get the gear from the truck, since they can guess that it will be necessary.
Buck keeps looking over to where the kids are and Hen follows his gaze. There are tears and scared faces, but there are also a couple of kids who appear to be playing a game. A paramedic is going over all of them and Hen wonders if they need more help.
Hen also hopes that the amount of kids will calm Buck’s nerves. She understands that a call like this isn’t fun and she hopes there is no fatality, because those are the worst for her. However, Buck needs to keep his head on right, he can fall apart after this fire is out.
Before she can say something, though, Bobby returns saying: “Not every kid is accounted for, two are still missing, but the 221 is too busy trying to get the flames under control. They just got here too. Someone needs to go check.”
“I’ll go,” Buck volunteers immediately.
Bobby eyes him critically for a moment, he probably saw the same things Hen did and needs to asses if Buck is up for it. Apparently the determination on his face is enough, because Bobby nods and sends him out there with a: “Keep us updated on the radio and don’t go too far in. Teachers assured us the burning part of the building has been evacuated. I t’s no longer stable.”
As Buck jogs off with a promise that he’ll be safe, Bobby turns to Hen and Chimney saying: “Hen, you’re with me on getting these flames out. Chimney, go help check over the kids.”
“Yes, Cap,” both say, setting to their task.
As she and Bobby join the 221 in fighting the fire itself, they listen to Buck update them on clearing the building. It’s almost impressive how fast he’s moving, she is never making fun of his gym bro tendencies again.
He speed runs the not burning side of the building, moving closer and closer to the flames. As he goes, he’s not finding the kids and Hen can feel her own heart beating faster as Buck’s voice gets more frantic.
They’ve managed to stop the flames from getting further and are actively diminishing it, but there is still very much fire when over the radio comes: “This part still looks stable, I’m moving further towards it. Over.”
“Buckley, do not. If they were there, they won’t have made it. Over,” Bobby radios back, voice sounding wrecked at the thought.
“No, I see a door that looks to be okay. I’m checking it out. Over,” Buck voice crackles back and he ignores Bobby’s further orders.
As they hold the hose, they watch the building creak. A part at the far end collapse and they all hold their breath, praying that it doesn’t domino further to where Buck is.
It doesn’t crumble and both let out a breath. Bobby radios again: “Buckley, parts are collapsing. Get out of there now! Over.”
“I have one of the kids. I don’t see anyone else. Bringing her out now,” Buck radios back. “She’s still conscious, but heavy smoke inhalation. Transport has to be ready. Over.”
“We’ll have it ready. Over,” Bobby promises, nodding to Hen to get that ready. She nods back and turns off her hose to go help the kid.
She goes to get Chimney then a gurney. As they’re moving towards the entrance to intercept Buck, Chimney comments: “That crazy kid. He’s gonna get himself killed one day.”
“Yeah, but today he saved a kid,” Hen points out, both not mentioning that there had been two kids unaccounted for. Hen is sure this will haunt Buck, first losses always do.
At that point they’re at the entrance that Buck is coming out of, a small girl in his arms. The idiot gave her his mask and there is soot all over him, he probably has smoke inhalation too now. At this rate, Hen is going to die of stress that their probie will give her.
However, not the time. Hen and Chimney get her on a gurney as Buck updates them through coughs on her condition. Then he coughs: “I’m gonna go back. Look for the other kid. They might still be in there.”
“Oh no, you don’t,” Hen immediately says. “You need medical attention too Buck.”
More medics come running, taking the gurney from them. One of the medics from the 221 smiles kindly as he says: “Go take care of your own. Fire is dying.”
“Thank you,” Hen has the mind to smile back, before her and Chimney go to hold Buck back.
“Let me go!” he struggles.
“No, you idiot. It’s not safe. Cap said no,” Chimney says, nearly getting knocked over.
“I have to get back in there! I have to look for him,” Buck shouts.
Hen isn’t sure they would have won, Buck is already strong on a good day and he is way more motivated now than then. She doesn’t know why he wants to get himself killed so badly, but she isn’t going to let him.
However, salvation comes in the form of the radio crackling: “Second kid located. He’d wandered off to the playground. Over.”
Instantly Buck stops fighting them, instead sagging as he exclaims: “Thank god!” Hen can share the sentiment, grateful all the kids made it out alive today.
She is about to tell Buck to sit his ass down so they can look at him, but he is off again. This time not towards the burning building thankfully, but still. Her and Chimney share a confused look, before running after Buck calling out for him to sit down.
Buck does not sit down.
He beelines to where the kids have gathered, scanning all their faces as he calls out: “Chris? Chris! Christopher!” voice getting more frantic as he doesn’t find what he is looking for.
As she watches him, she gets a sinking feeling she knows why Buck was looking so pale in the rig, why he kept looking at all the kids and why he was so eager to get into that building when he heard there were still kids missing. Buck knows a kid that goes to school here. Maybe has a kid that goes to school here.
That feeling is confirmed when a young boy on crutches makes his way through the crowd, calling out: “Papi!”
“Christopher,” Buck sounds heartbreakingly relieved when he sees him, face breaking out in a big smile. Immediately, he starts making his way over to him, scooping him up in his arms with a: “Hey, Superman,” as he kisses him on the cheek.
“Papi,” Chris whines, rubbing the soot that is now on his cheek.
“Oh, I’m sorry, buddy,” Buck says, not seeming sorry in the slightest as he hugs Chris tight.
“Am I hallucinating or is Buck holding a small kid who is calling him papi?” Chimney’s voice next to her breaks her out of the moment she’s watching.
“Uh, yeah, I think you’re not hallucinating, I’m watching the same thing,” Hen says. In a way it makes sense to her now. They speculated he declined drinks to hook up or party, but being a parent – and probably a single parent with how old that kid looks and Buck’s flirting – would be a good reason too.
“What the actual fuck,” Chimney says passionately.
Hen elbows him in the side for that, hissing: “Chim! There are kids here.”
“Sorry.”
They look back at Buck, who is both bashfully yet proudly grinning as Chris excitedly talks about how cool all the firefighters are and how his papi is a hero. It’s kind of adorable, Hen decides. Buck seems to be a good dad if Chris is so comfortable around him and in awe of him. She can see how he could be with what she knows of him.
Bobby comes up to them asking: “Did Buck come out okay? The girl on her way the hospital? All the other kids looked over?”
“Uh, not yet everyone looked at. Girl’s on her way to the hospital, but Buck walked away before we could check him. Idiot probably has smoke inhalation,” Chimney tells him.
Before Bobby can ask where he went of to, Buck starts coughing, pulling their attention back to him and Chris. Hen can see the relief on Bobby’s face when he sees Buck, then the confusion at him holding the kid, before realization dawns when the kid asks: “Are you okay, papi?”
Buck puts Chris down, coughing some more as he squeezes out: “Papi’s okay, buddy. Just something in my throat.”
“Yeah, that something is smoke,” Hen tells him, deciding that this is a good time to interrupt the two of them. “Sit down, Buckley, and let me check you over.”
He pouts, but sits down. Hen suspects it’s to give a good example, she knows she would and she sees nothing wrong with using that against him. She shoves an oxygen mask over his face and takes his vitals just to be safe.
As she is checking him over, Chris is peering over her shoulder, small frown on his face. “Is he gonna be okay?”
Hen smiles at him reassuringly and says: “Your papi is gonna be okay. He was out there being a hero, saved a little girl, he just got a little smoke in his lungs, but we’re giving him some extra air and he’ll be good as new again.”
“I will?” Buck asks hopefully excited.
“But he’ll still have to go to the hospital,” Hen tells him pointedly. She has noticed how he doesn’t seem to like medical checks very much and she isn’t going to let him duck out on this. If he didn’t want to go to the hospital, then he shouldn’t have taken his mask off.
Buck makes a face, but he doesn’t complain like she thought he would, the glance he gives Chris tells her enough. She can tell Chris has CP probably, so she can understand Buck not wanting to give him the idea that hospitals aren’t fun. So, his forced cheery: “Yay for doctors,” makes more sense.
“Yay,” Chris cheers for him and Hen just melts. Buck being a dad is not what she expected to find out today, but he seems good with the kid and Chris is adorable.
Bobby and Chimney have left to do their own jobs, since the fire is still smoldering and more kids still need to be checked over. Buck seems to be doing okay, but she doesn’t want him to do anything strenuous yet, especially not until they can transport him.
So, she turns to Chris and says: “I’m gonna continue checking other kids, why don’t you keep an eye on your papi for me. Can you do that?”
“I can,” Chris promises with a big smile.
“Good kid,” she praises him, ruffling his hair, before telling Buck: “Sit.”
“I’m not a dog,” he complains, but he is smiling anyway, looking grateful as he pulls Chris into his side and asks him how his day has been before the fire. More kids surround the two as Hen walks away with Chris obviously glowing at the attention that his dad saved the day.
Hen smiles and shakes her head, before joining Chimney. The school is starting to call parents, but all the kids are still hoarded together for now so they can be checked. Most evacuated pretty soon and didn’t even come close to the fire, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As she squads down next to him, he nods over to Buck, asking: “Probie playing the hero?”
“Ach, let him have this,” Hen says, she knows Chim is just teasing.
“Fine,” Chimney winks. “Though, the kid is a surprise,” he adds, a clear fishing for gossip.
“Yeah, but it makes sense I suppose,” Hen replies.
“Because he’s promiscuous?” Chimney asks.
“No,” Hen gives him a look, “because he’s good with kids.” A beat. “But yeah also that.”
“How old do you think he is?”
“I don’t know, around six or seven, there about.”
Chimney whistles. “That’s teen parent territory.”
Hen nods, she has also done that math. Buck can be smarter than he seems and with his frat boy attitude, she always wondered what he was doing at the firehouse. He’s not a legacy and, as far as they know, he doesn’t have an experience with first responders that drove him there, which is a little unusual, but a small kid at a young age with medical bills? She can see why he picked this career path. A whole new level of respect towards him unlocks.
They quickly check the rest of the kids as parents start to arrive, most absolutely panicked and rechecking their kids, some forcing Hen or Chimney to look at them again. It’s a little annoying, but Hen can’t blame them , she’d want to be absolutely sure if it was about Denny. God, she can’t imagine what Buck must have felt like when they got the call.
After Bobby has cleared up, they all reconvene at where Buck and Chris are still sitting in the grass. By now Chris is wearing Buck’s helmet, absolutely glowing, while Buck has ditched the turnout coat.
Buck also still has his oxygen mask on, probably also courtesy of Chris, but he smiles through it as they arrive, asking: “Everything done okay?”
“Yes,” Bobby tells him. “We’re all wrapped up here, so we’re getting you to the hospital for a final check up. Are we going to have a passenger?” he adds, nodding to Chris.
“Ah, yeah, uhm, if that’s okay?” Buck replies, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “I kind of told his teacher I could sign him out and it’s okay. Sorry about this, by the way, uh, this is Chris. Chris, this is my Captain, Bobby, I mentioned him, remember?”
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Chris says politely.
“It’s nice to meet you too, kid,” Bobby smiles, though his eyes shine a little.
Buck quickly also introduces Chris to Hen and Chimney, both getting polite ‘nice to meet you’s as well.
With that done, Bobby says: “We can bring him in the ambulance. I’m driving back in the rig, but I don’t want to see you back to work until you have a clean bill of health, am I clear?”
“Crystal, Cap,” Buck promises, looking a bit saddened by the news nonetheless.
“Good,” Bobby nods, then quickly turns around and walks away, his steps almost mechanical in nature. Hen wonders what that is about, but doubts she’ll get an answer; Bobby is a closed book to all of them.
Putting it to the back of her mind for now, she turns back to Buck and says: “Let’s get you to an ambulance.”
“I can walk,” Buck immediately says.
“But we provide such great service,” Chimney pouts. “But alright, you can walk.”
They haul him up on his feet and Buck helps Chris up, before they all make their way to the ambulance together. There Buck is ordered onto the gurney, while Chimney crawls behind the wheel, leaving Hen with Chris in the back.
Chris is super excited to be there, which usually isn’t the case for people riding along. However, it seems Buck talks to him a lot about a job – maybe a bit too much – because Chris asks Hen all sorts of questions about all the equipment and procedures with incredible detail.
Hen doesn’t mind answering all of it and handing questions he knows to Buck so he can be the cool one with answers. She knows what it’s like to have your kid be interested in your job and think it’s cool, she wants that for him.
Buck and Chris are definitely related. She can see in him the same enthusiasm she sees in Buck. It’s adorable now that the knowledge that Buck is a dad has settled.
A part of her wonders why Buck – who chronically overshares – never told any of them about Chris and just let them think he’s an irresponsible frat boy. However, she also gets it. As a teen parent, he probably got a lot of hate and judgment, she gets not wanting to share. While she never regrets always having been out, which is in part comparable, she knows it made it harder on her.
Then Chris asks: “Are the doctors going to take you when we get to the hospital?”
“Probably not immediately,” Buck tells him. “We’re going to have to wait in the waiting room, because there are other people who the doctors need to see first. I’m not that hurt, they just need to check to make sure. Others need medical attention more urgently.”
Hen is about to offer to stay behind to watch Chris, since Buck will have to be separated from him for testing and stuff and she’s sure Bobby would sign off on it, when Buck says: “But it won’t be too boring. Daddy is coming to keep us company and he’s bringing your book and art supplies, remember? He said so when we called.”
In the front of the ambulance, Chimney sounds like he’s choking on his piece of gum. Hen can’t deny she can’t keep the shock of her face either. Daddy. Another parent. Somehow that is one of the more surprising pieces of information that has come to light about Buck today.
It’s not the queer part that throws her off, she’s seen Buck make eyes at some of the guys on calls, though he doesn’t flirt with them the way he does with women. It’s the other parent part.
Of course, it’s not impossible to conceptualize that Buck might be raising his kid with someone else and daddy doesn’t mean the other dad isn’t also Chris’s bio parent… it’s just that Buck never acted very married. I mean, he flirted a lot. Gave out his number too.
Though, then again Hen never saw him actually hook up with anyone and with the whole being with a man means he could be trying to hide the gay. Even if he didn’t try very hard now. Also, he never did confirm he was with the other parent. Just that he is in Chris’s life. It could be that he is coming to the hospital to check on Chris, since he was just in a fire, not really Buck.
All those thoughts flash through her mind in the split second after Buck’s words. Chris seems oblivious, promising: “I’ll make you a card. The best card. For saving everyone.”
“Ahw, thank you, Superman,” Buck grins at him, ruffling his hair.
For a moment, Hen thinks this will be it. Buck is going to gloss over it and ignore her and Chimney’s reactions, even though he definitely saw her expression.
However, Buck then explains: “Uh, Eddie is Chris’s dad. Other dad, I suppose. He- We’re- It’s a little complicated.” His smile is tight. “But I’ll be okay. Eddie is my best friend and medical proxy, not to mention a medic. He’ll make sure I won’t kneel over when we get home.”
“Uh-huh,” Chris backs him up, nodding very seriously, “daddy is the best at making your scrapes go away. He kisses my scrapes better, he’ll kiss papi’s scrapes better too.”
Buck goes absolutely bright red at that and Hen snickers. It’s a little funny how embarrassed Buck is by getting kissed better by his… Eddie.
Still the ‘it’s complicated’ might be correct with how he splutters a little, not to mention the way he referred to Eddie as best friend and nothing else. She isn’t going to pry though, she has her own ‘it’s complicated’-story with Eva and she doesn’t appreciate people asking either.
In the end, Buck squeaks: “It’s not really like that. We’re co-parenting. Living together right now, ‘cause it’s easiest. Eddie got injured in the service.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain,” Hen smiles gently at him, privately tucking the information away for now. It sounds like a divorce, but amicable. Maybe Buck is still carrying a torch with the way he doesn’t take anyone up on their offers after flirting and the way he looks when talking about Eddie, but she isn’t going to get involved in that. Way too messy.
“Oh, okay. Thanks,” Buck smiles back, looking a little relieved.
At that point, they’ve arrived at the hospital and Buck complains about getting wheeled out, especially since they’re just going to dump him on a chair somewhere, since they need the gurney back again. However, it’s stifled a little by Chris’s giggles at riding the gurney with them.
Hen does the sign in for him, while Chimney theatrically leads Buck to a waiting room chair with Chris. He is also taking Buck’s turnout coat and pants from him, so they can take them back to the firehouse with them and Buck won’t have to deal with the bulky and unwieldy clothes here.
Chimney has brought the clothes to their ambulance has come over to see where Hen is at, because she got caught up in talking to one of the nurses she’s friends with. “Come on, Hen. Bobby is probably getting nervous about us taking so long.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. Bye, Hannah,” Hen says, turning around and planning to say goodbye to Buck and Chris, before leaving.
As she does, a man comes rushing through the ER door, frantically looking at everyone there. He is handsome looking, brown hair and brown eyes, as well as a slight stubble. She is about to dismiss him when his eyes fall on Buck and Chris and he exclaims: “ Gracias a dios, you’re both okay.”
He’s over by them in a second, pulling Chris in a hug as he exclaims: “You had me so worried, mijo.”
“I’m okay, daddy,” Chris assures him, hugging Eddie – because that must be Eddie – back. “Our class was out really quick and papi saved the day. He ran into the building and got Amberlee out! It was so cool.”
“That’s nice,” Eddie smiles, cupping Chris’s face and looking at him once more, as if to for certain assure himself that Chris is in fact okay. Then he whips his head over to Buck, who’d been looking fondly at the scene and demands: “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Uh, that I had to do my job?” Buck replies, sounding almost unsure of himself.
Eddie deflates a little at that, realizing that Buck is right, however that doesn’t prevent him from pouting: “Well, at least do your job correctly then. What happened to your mask? I know they’re required, I helped you study.”
Buck gets a goofy grin on his face at that, before it turns sheepish: “Uh, I gave it to the girl. She’d been exposed to it all for a lot longer.”
“Of course you did,” Eddie shakes his head fondly.
“I had to do it.”
“I know.”
They look at each other for a moment, understanding passing between them. Hen doesn’t know what their relationship is exactly, if they’re divorced, never together to begin with, or still trying, but she knows that those two are in love. That they care deeply for each other.
Chimney leans in and softly says: “Do you think it’s awkward to say bye now?” which makes Hen snort as she shakes her head.
She makes her way over and smiles at Eddie, holding out her hand as she says: “Hi, I’m Hen. It’s nice to meet you. We drove the man of the hour here,” she adds teasingly, ruffling Buck’s hair as he ducks his head with a flush.
“Ah, Hen,” Eddie replies, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.” He turns to Chimney next to her and holds out his hand: “That makes you Chimney?”
“It would. Nice to meet you,” Chimney smiles, shaking his hand.
“Thank you two for keeping him alive,” Eddie says, nodding to Buck, who lets out a: “Hey!”
“Of course. He did something really brave today, even if he was a little dumb for giving that girl his mask,” Hen replies, usually not one for boosting men’s ego, but curious enough about the reaction to do so. Besides, it was Buck’s first big fire and he didn’t even panic that much, despite the possibility of his son being in there. He deserves some credit for that.
“Well, that’s Buck,” Eddie says without missing a beat. “Our very own hero.”
“Oh fudge off, Silver Star,” Buck blushes, bumping his shoulder against Eddie’s side, trying to play it off and maybe giving something away. Not many people walk away from a Silver Star uninjured, which might explain the ‘easier for now’ about the living together. Though, if he was, Eddie seems to be recovering well.
“I hope you’ll be cleared soon,” Hen tells Buck.
“Uh-huh, won’t be the same about your probie-ness,” Chimney jokes.
“Wouldn’t wanna leave you hanging,” Buck rolls his eyes, but he’s grinning.
“Are you leaving?” Chris pipes up, pouting at them. In that moment they can clearly see Eddie in his face and Hen notes Buck and Eddie must both be his parent.
“Yeah, buddy, sorry. But we’ll probably see you around again,” Chimney assures him, melting a little into Uncle Chim that he is with Denny.
“And you’ll answer my questions about the ambulance?” Chris asks hopefully.
“Of course we will. We need someone to tell your papi about the ambulance,” Hen jokes.
Chris brightens immediately and eagerly says: “I hope to see you soon! Thank you for looking after papi and my friends.”
“I hope to see you soon too, kid,” Chimney says, he always gets choked up when it’s kid thanking them. “You did well out there.”
“It’s what we do. We’ll see you around,” Hen promises.
Buck smiles gratefully at them, then turns to Chris, saying: “Now say bye, Superman, Hen and Chim have more people to save.”
“Bye!” Chris waves cheerfully as Eddie also says his goodbyes to them, while the two of them leave the family to the waiting room.
As they drive back to the firehouse, Chimney says: “So… that was sure something.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t know what about all this I’m supposed to be most surprised about. What do you think is up between him and Eddie?”
“Honestly?” Hen answers. “I have no clue. I would say divorced based on what Buck said, or maybe it was a one night stand and they’re trying to make it work, but aren’t together, but…”
“But romantic with the way they were acting,” Chimney fills in.
“Yeah,” Hen agrees.
“Well, hopefully Buck gets that clean bill of health so we can question him next shift,” Chimney says optimistically. He’s always in a good mood when there is gossip to go around.
However, Hen can’t judge him, she’s exactly the same. It’s why their friendship works. Besides, this is the most fun she’s had at work since Bobby took over. Buck being a parent too, not to mention maybe, probably, being a queer parent, is exactly the thing the 118 needed.
Thankfully, as both had hoped, Buck returns next shift with a clean bill of health that he proudly presents to Bobby.
“Ah, this looks to be all in order. Thank you, kid, good to have you back,” Bobby smiles at him paternally, before leaving to file it. Hen has noticed Bobby warming up more since Buck joined the team. It’s good to have the kid around.
But it’s not just good because he’s helping their Captain become more part of the team, it’s also good because with Buck comes newly discovered gossip. So, she comes over to him the second that is done, greeting him: “Buck, hi! Good to have you back. Eddie a lot of a mother hen or does he come across like that more than he actually is?”
“Oh, no definitely also a mother hen. I think it’s just his dad instincts honestly. I didn’t mind that much, though, we ordered food from my favorite place and Eddie did the laundry. It ruled,” Buck tells her with the excitement only he can have about that.
“Wow, that sounds thrilling,” Chimney says, half-genuine and half-sarcastic.
Buck doesn’t seem to notice just nodding. “I also got this cool new drawing from Chris and a bunch of kids in his class also drew me pictures. It’s the best. They’re all so sweet and cute.”
“That’s nice,” Hen says genuinely, smile on her lips. Then she switches topics to what they’re truly curious about: “So, what’s the deal between you and Eddie?”
He clearly hadn’t expected her straight forwardness, blinking at her a few times, but Hen usually preferred it if people just asked instead of danced around. And if he seemed uncomfortable, she was totally prepared to drop it.
However, luck is in her favor, because once Buck gets over the surprise he waves his hand around as if swatting a fly, as he shrugs: “Long story, but me and Eddie are husbands, I guess. For now.”
The sentence clears up exactly nothing, which Chimney lets him know for them by saying: “What do you mean husbands you guess and for now ?”
“Uh,” Buck responds, looking a bit like a deer in headlights. Hen is about to elbow Chimney to drop and change the subject herself, when Buck explains: “Well, it’s- it’s a marriage of convenience, not anything real.” He swallows, then plasters on a smile, definitely carrying a seemingly in his opinion one sided torch. “We got married so I could adopt Chris while Eddie re-enlisted so we could pay off medical bills, you know.”
“Wait, you adopted Chris,” Hen says, delighted by the knowledge that not only does she share being a queer parent with Buck, but also being an adoptive parents. Though, she’s also surprised, since she would have sworn Chris was Buck’s.
“Yeah, I- I did?” Buck replies, sounding unsure about what they’re expecting from here.
Quickly Hen assures him: “Nothing wrong with that, I mean, would be hypocritical of me. I just thought Chris was yours and Eddie’s, since he’s so much like you both. He makes the exact same face you do when he’s asking questions.”
“Oh.” Buck looks surprised for a moment, before a pride flush spreads across his face along with a big grin. “Thank you,” he says and she has never heard anyone mean those words more.
“Course,” she smiles back. There is something special about someone seeing you in your kid. She knows it well and she is glad to have given Buck a chance to feel it now.
Then Buck blinks the expression off his face. “No, but uhm, me and Eddie both cis. I’m bi though, but Eddie’s straight. Like I said, just convenience.”
There is an undercurrent of hurt in his voice now and Hen knows enough. Buck clearly carries a torch for Eddie and while she swears it’s mutual, she also doesn’t know Eddie and if Buck says Eddie is straight then it might just be her.
Chimney also picks up on it, or he picks up on her not gearing up to push further. Either way, both of them drop it.
However, Buck doesn’t get that memo or wants to explain, because he continues: “Yeah, so we were planning on divorcing after Eddie came back, but obviously I wasn’t going to leave him and Chris without insurance of income while Eddie recovers – he was injured during his service – so we’re still married now, but we’ll probably divorce when Eddie is up to work again.”
“Divorce can be rough,” Chimney sympathizes. He might not have had divorced parents himself, but he knows about families splitting up and new people coming in.
“Yeah, it’s gonna suck,” Buck agrees, seeming downtrodden about it. “I’m going to miss Chris so bad.”
Wait. What?
“What the fuck do you mean with that?” Hen asks, the words out of her mouth before she can stop them, despite her resolution not to push moments earlier.
Buck frowns back at her: “What do you mean with what do I mean?”
“I mean, what do you mean you’re gonna miss Chris? You’re still going to see him, right? How long have you been raising him with Eddie? Are you two not going to split custody?” Hen asks.
“Uh, I’ve known Chris for about three years now, helping for two,” Buck answers, voice slightly wobbly. “And we haven’t really talked about it. I guess I kind of assumed, since Chris is Eddie’s kid, I was just there to help. It’s not as if he wanted me specifically.”
Fucking hell. Hen’s heart just breaks at that confession and one glance at Chimney shows that he feels the same. Of course Buck wouldn’t mention any of this, he’s already mourning a family he might not even lose, because he’s assuming he will.
“Buck… buddy,” Chimney starts, hesitating, before he continues: “Shouldn’t you and Eddie talk about this? I mean, I don’t know either him or Chris well, but that kid loves you. You’re his dad too. Don’t you think it’ll hurt him when you just disappear like that?”
By the looks of it, Buck never even considered the possibility that he might be missed back. Hen isn’t sure if she wants to hug or strangle him more.
“Oh, yeah, uhm, maybe?” Buck replies dumbly after a beat that lasts a bit too long.
“I think you mean definitely,” Hen tells him with a stern look so he knows she means it. When that has sunk in, she smiles, before wrapping an arm around him: “But that is a conversation for you and Eddie. Come, I wanna know more about Chris. I think he and Denny would get along, you guys open for a play date?’
That out is one Buck takes gratefully. Hen gets it, they’re just coworkers and this is pretty personal. Gossip is one thing, messing around in someone’s business is another. Still, she does hope it works out between him and Eddie, in whatever form that is. They have a nice family.
But for now, she’s getting Denny another potential friend and another name on the roster for emergency babysitting. It’s nice to have other parent friends.