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Buck loved checklists. He really did. There was something so gratifying about completing a task and getting to put that little checkmark next to it. Since it was the start of his 48 hours off he decided he would make a todo list and actually get something done besides sleeping. His list today consisted of laundry, bank, grocery shopping, working out, and cooking dinner for Eddie and Chris. In that order. It was 9am and he already put a load of clothes in so he decided he could run out real quick to get some other stuff done.
He gets to the bank in record time which was shocking as he was used to LA traffic. As he opens the door to the bank his phone pings. He looks down with a smile seeing who it’s from.
Eddie: Friends is playing on the tv and now Christopher won’t let me turn it off because “Buck loves this show!” Thanks, man, it’s my day off and I can’t even watch the football game.
Buck: I will not be apologizing.
Eddie: This kid is turning into you.
Buck: Good. That was my plan all along.
Eddie: I bet.
Buck’s cheeks feel warm as he puts his phone back into his pocket. He loved how he felt with Eddie and Christopher. He never felt like he had a home before them. Sure, he found a family when he joined the 118 but they were different. This was something else. Something Buck couldn’t put into words for fear of losing it.
He was only three people from the teller but the line moves slowly so Buck decides to people watch. There was an older woman at the counter next to him pulling out what looked like a couple hundred dollars in cash. Buck is a paranoid person but even if he wasn’t he feels like it would be testing the fates if he carried that much money. In front of him was what he assumed to be a young couple. The woman was pregnant and the man was standing next to her, one arm around her shoulder and the other hand resting on her stomach. Buck feels a pull in his chest. The way the man looked at the woman and vice versa made Buck crave for something real. He wanted commitment. He wanted forever. With someone. Who was he kidding? He knew who he wanted forever with. But he wasn’t sure how to say that. How to know if it was possible.
The teller says next and the couple moves up to greet the man at the counter.
Just as the couple begins talking to the teller the doors to the bank open up with a loud boom. Every head turns as three large men enter.
“Down on the ground!” One of them shouts, pulling out a gun. Most of the people in the bank get down on their stomachs. Buck could feel the fear in the way the customers moved.
“This is a robbery.” The other one states, a wicked grin on his face. Buck looks to the couple, the terror as they grip each other's hands. He moves towards them, wanting to help. To shield them.
“I said get down!” The gun was now pointed to the three of them.
“She’s pregnant, she can’t.” Buck tells the man with the gun. The robbers huddle up and mutter something. One of them grabs a chair nearby.
“Fine. She can sit there but both of you get down and stay quiet.” Everyone moves quickly. The man never releases his grip on the woman's hand. The woman sits in the chair, holding her stomach as if shielding her unborn child from the madness. The man gets on the ground next to Buck. He nods his head in a silent thank you.
“Wallets in front of you.” Everyone pulls out their wallets sliding them into the middle. Buck feels a moment of relief that they didn’t ask for their phones but that might have more to do with the robbers assuming the people weren’t dumb enough to try anything. They had clearly never met Buck. The other two robbers grab a bag and start emptying the money from people’s wallets. “Who is in charge here?” A scared woman stands up, shaking slightly.
“I am.”
“Come with me.” The man with the gun says, pulling her by her arm. Buck takes a moment to assess. He assumes that a silent alarm was triggered so backup would come quickly. But how quickly? And no one knows he’s here. Or what’s happening inside. While the one robber with the gun is gone he tries to size up the other two. Just because he can’t see any weapons on them doesn’t mean they don’t have them hidden. These guys seemed prepared so he didn’t want to put anything past them. He feels his phone buzz in his back pocket. He takes a risk when the robbers are distracted and sends a quick text to the one person he knows can help.
Buck: @ bank on 7th. 3 robbers. One confirmed armed. 15 hostages.
Athena: On it. Don’t do anything stupid, Buck, I mean it.
“Hey!” One of the robbers yells, directing their attention to Buck. “No texting. Shit, we should have taken the phones. Everyone slide any phones or other communication devices in the middle NOW.”
The man takes the phone out of Buck’s hand and smashes it. Then pulls out a gun from his back pocket and points it at Buck’s head. Shit.
…
Eddie couldn’t help but feel the warmth in his chest as he looked at his son while Christopher laughed at the tv. They had been watching Friends for almost an hour and Eddie knew he shouldn’t let Christopher watch this much television but he was having so much fun. The scene changes and now it’s Monica and Chandler on the screen. Eddie knows Chandler and Monica are Buck’s favorite tv show couple. The scene is of the couple telling Joey that they were moving in together. It was really sweet.
Chris asks Eddie to pause the show and turns his head to his dad.
“Why doesn’t Buck live with us?”
“What?” Eddie looks at his son confused.
“Why doesn’t Buck live here?”
“Because he has his own place.” Is Eddie’s first and only answer to that question. He realizes that he never really explained to Christopher why Buck lived with them for a few weeks after they came back from El Paso.
“But most families live together.”
“And?”
“Buck’s family.”
“Well, of course he is. But that’s different.”
“Why?” Eddie thinks of how to explain this concept to his son.
“Because he’s not immediate family. Kids live with their parents and sometimes their grandparents.”
“But Buck is my parent too.”
“He’s what?” Eddie all but chokes on the words, he is dumbfounded.
“You and Buck are like them.” He points to the couple on the screen. Eddie couldn't even comprehend what his son was saying right now. How had he confused Christopher so much and not even realized?
“Wait. Chris. You think Buck and I are dating?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Chris, why do you think that?” But before Chris can answer, Eddie’s phone rings. He stands up and walks towards the dining room table before answering. “Athena?”
“Hey, Eddie. I need you to stay calm, okay. As of now he’s safe.” Eddie’s mouth feels dry as he responds knowing exactly who Athena is referring to.
“Where’s Buck?”
“There is a hostage situation in progress at a bank on 7th. Buck is one of the hostages.” Eddie doesn’t feel real. He looks around his house grasping for something, praying that it’s all fake and that this is just a dream. But it’s not.
“Dad, what’s wrong?” Eddie feels like a jerk but he ignores his kid.
“I’m coming.”
“No you will not. I already told Buck not to be stupid and now I’m telling you.”
“Athena.”
“Eddie, we will get Buck home safe to you. Trust me. I just needed to give you the heads up. I’ll call you when we get more details. Just stay home.”
When they hang up the phone Eddie turns to Christopher.
“You want to see Hen and Karen?"
“Yeah!” Christopher smiles happily. The two pack their things quickly and do exactly what Athena said not to do. Eddie leaves his house with the intent to drop Christopher off and head straight to the bank on 7th.
…
Being held hostage was boring, Buck decided. The head robber, named Jim, Buck had discovered, was still off with the manager of the bank. The other 2 were walking in circles making sure no one moved. Buck wasn’t sure what their motive was yet but he was going to figure it out. After his little texting incident he became the robbers number one concern. Yipee for that.
But, he was getting impatient and decided to do something about it. He makes his move when a glint of light flashes through the glass doors of the bank. The police were here.
“Excuse me.” Buck says, standing up. The guns are pointed straight to his head. Again. “Look, I don’t know what your plan was, but the cops are here now so there is no way you are getting out of here quietly.”
They look at him annoyed, so Buck stupidly adds. “I know them, I am a firefighter. I can help whatever you need, as long as you let everyone go.” This peaks their attention.
“Dave, take him to Jim.” The shorter robber grabs Buck by the arm and pulls him.
“Woah, hey!” Buck gets dragged into the same back room the manager and Jim went through earlier. Jim and the manager are digging through a case filled with jewelry. Jim looks up as they enter the room. He looks like he’s about to protest when the shorter man, Dave, stops him.
“The kid’s with LAFD. He can help us get out of here.”
“How?”
“There’s a sergeant out there, her name’s Athena, she’s basically like my mom, huh I never really realized that. She kinda is my mom-”
“Cut to the chase kid or I shoot you.”
“Right, sorry. You want to get out of here the only way to do that is by making a deal with the LAPD. Get me on the phone with them and we can work something out and no one has to shoot anyone.” Jim grumbles before agreeing.
….
Eddie already has his whole defense planned for if he runs to Athena. He doubts it will work but he didn’t care. He knew Buck which meant he knew Buck’s mouth would get him shot or worse. Eddie couldn't even begin to think what worse would mean.
“Firefighter Diaz, what do you think you are doing?” Eddie stops in his tracks as he hears Athena’s stern voice. He grimaces as he turns around.
“I was just in the area.”
“Eddie, I told you to stay home.”
“Yeah, but if that was me in there and you said the same thing to Buck what do you think he would have done?” Athena thinks for a moment, remembering that she was in this exact situation WITH Buck a few years ago when Eddie was held hostage by an escaped convict.
“You are both idiots.”
“Yeah. Now, what’s the plan?” Eddie crosses his arms as he listens to Athena and the police chief discuss what to do next.
Eddie turned his head to look at the bank. He hoped Buck could feel him here. That he was going to help keep him safe however possible.
…
“She left you nothing?!” Buck is shocked. Jim and Buck were now sitting on the floor of the office, deep in conversation.
“Exactly! She left everything to my sister. And who took care of her until she passed? Me! While my sister was off galavanting with random European men!”
“That’s horrible!”
“Thank you.” Jim smiles at the support. Buck is aware that this was weird. But he didn’t care. He felt like he understood Jim.
“Let me help you. We can call the police and make a deal so you can keep the money.”
“Okay.” Jim grabs the phone that is on the desk near them and dials 9-1-1..
…
A man in a bullet proof vest approaches them. Eddie assumes he is a hostage negotiator.
“We’ve got the robber on the line, asking for a Sargent Grant.” Eddie and Athena look at each other before she grumbles something.
“That’s me.” Dispatch connects the call so that Athena can hear.
“This is Firefighter Evan Buckley with the 118.”
“Buck, It’s Athena.”
“Athena! Hi!” He sounds like his normal golden retriever self which makes Eddie feel somewhat relieved.
“What kind of idiotic mess did you get yourself into?”
“Oh the usual-!”
“Buck! Are you okay?” Eddie interrupts, much to the glaring of Athena.
“Eddie? What are you doing there? You were with Christopher."
“Right, like I was going to sit and wait around while you were being held hostage by some psycho.”
“Jim is not a psycho! He was just wronged.”
“Buck.”
“I’m fine, I promise.”
“You better be. I need you to come back to me, Buck. I can’t let anything happen to you. I don’t know what I'd do.” Eddie’s voice trails off at the end as if he’s shocked himself. Buck seems to be feeling the same because the line is silent until a new voice enters.
“We will make a deal with you. You let us walk out of here and we don’t shoot your little hero here.”
“Don’t you-” Eddie begins but Athena grabs the phone from him. Her eyes are on the chief who shakes his head. They needed more intel then that.
“Give us a minute.”
…
“Did she just put us on hold?” Jim asks.
“That’s Athena for you. Did you really have to threaten to shoot me?”
“That guy, Eddie? He seemed pretty worried about you.”
“Yeah, he’s my best friend.” Jim gives him a look. “Man, don’t give me that face. Everyone does that to me when I bring up Eddie.”
“I’m just saying that didn’t sound very ‘my best friend is in danger, oh no!’”
“What did it sound like?”
“More like “holy crap the man I love is in danger.”
“Well we do love each other.” Jim raises his eyebrows. “As friends. Look, if there was anything on Eddie’s side he would have figured it out by now. I mean I had a literal boyfriend and he was around all the time. If he was into guys don’t you think at least that would have made him realize?"
“Wait, anything on Eddie's side? So there are feelings on your side.”
“No, wait, no I didn’t mean that.” Buck back tracks. Athena’s voice comes through the phone, saving Buck from this conversation.
“Alright, Jim, we need more information before we can make you a deal.” Jim just smiles at Buck before going back to business mode.
“Okay.”
…
“Look, Jim. We can’t help you until you tell us what you’re doing? What are you after?”
“Jim, come on man, tell them.” Buck’s voice rings over the phone. Eddie puts his face in his hands. Only Buck would somehow befriend the robber.
“My mother died last month. When we had her Will reading and she left everything to my sister. Everything! I am the one who stayed with her until she passed. My sister was off galavanting in the UK. It should belong to me.”
“Okay, here is what we are going to do.” Athena comes up with a deal she knows the robbers won’t refuse.
…
Eddie stares, arms crossed, taping his foot as robbers exit the bank, hands in surrender. Eddie wasn’t really sure what deal Athena made with them, she had walked away with the police chief and some other LAPD big wigs. But Eddie didn’t care, all he cared about was seeing Buck walk out of there. The moment he got that call from Athena it had felt like his heart was outside of his chest. He was tired of holding everything in, of lying to his best friend because he’s scared.
Thankfully the wait is over, he spots Buck walking out of the bank, Athena at his side, deep in conversation. Eddie doesn’t care, he starts moving. He reaches Buck in record time.
“Eddie, what are you doing here?” Eddie responds in a way that surprises them both. He grabs Buck’s face with his hands and kisses him. Eddie reluctantly ends the kiss to mumble.
“Do that again and I will personally kick your ass.” He pulls Buck into a tight hug before Buck even has a chance to process.
“I promise I will not be held hostage again.” Eddie just grins against Buck’s neck. “But… maybe I will if it gets this reaction out of you.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.” Buck is the one to kiss Eddie this time. They both sigh into it as if all the pain and tension and withheld words are finally let go.
“Wanna go pick up Christopher and get some food?”
“Absolutely.” Buck agrees, his hand intertwining with Eddie’s. They say bye to Athena and Buck swears he heard Athena mutter ‘about time’ but he wouldn’t be surprised if he was hearing things. They pass the cop car with Jim in it and Jim just shakes his head with a smile. Eddie starts to question it when someone runs up to Buck and wraps their arms around him.
“Thank you.” The man says. “You are a hero.”
“Don’t mention it man. Get home safe. Take care of your wife and baby.”
“I will.” The man walks away. Eddie turns to face Buck.
“What was that about?”
“Nothing, his wife is pregnant so I helped her out and I got caught texting Athena some intel and got a gun to my face.”
“I love you.” Buck’s eyes widen as a smile breaks across his face.
“I definitely need to get kidnapped more often.” Buck wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist and kisses him lovingly. “I love you, Eddie. Forever.”