#in which Buck told Maddie about his feelings for Eddie and Maddie has fully accepted Eddie as her future brother-in-law | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

stagefoureddiediaz · 2 years

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Hey, given that I love reading your meta and spec and costume analysis, do you think that during BT breakup we could get something paralleling Eddie’s "the idea of us"? Because I suppose that, even for different reasons, a relationship with Taylor was exactly that same for Buck: an idea, an ideal, something you had to build from the foundations to resemble something "functional" and validating, and the more he got aware he was simply fearing of being abandoned once again, the more commitment he put into building this idea into reality. Only, he misunderstood the assignment....

Hey Kiki

How lovely to have you in my inbox and I'm glad you enjoy my ramblings!

I do think we're going to get something along the same lines as Eddies 'the idea of us' for Buck, his own version of it - I think it will probably be very different from the confident but quiet way that line was delivered by Eddie. Eddie knew he was going to hurt Ana and had accepted it was part of doing the right thing - necessary and unavoidable so Eddie shouldered that and got on with it. Buck however - wants to avoid hurting anyone the way he's been hurt in the past and so he keeps digging himself deeper and deeper which means that the hurt is going to be even greater for everyone.

In someways we the audience have already had it - only Buck told Maddie not Taylor 'I want to believe I asked her for the right reasons, but I can't help wonder if I was just scared of being left again.' That is Buck verbalising - for the first time- that he's not being honest with himself about why he's in the relationship. Now the audience is just waiting for Buck to actually end things - to realise he can't avoid the fallout and bite the bullet. He is getting there, its just taking a while for him to fully understand what he actually wants. We have to think of Buck as being in survival mode for the entirety of season 5. From the moment Eddie was shot, Buck has been doing what he has needed to do to get through each day - taking what he can get and where he can get it from - ensuring that everyone else is okay first and foremost. It's what Buck does and he hasn't yet stopped to look at what he actually wants, needs and whether what he currently has is good for him.

Buck has been going round attempting to fix everyone else's problems and not tending to his own - Christopher and Eddie - their needs are more important in the aftermath of the shooting -its such a traumatic and shocking event and his brain is scrambled - but it didn't happen to him so he pushes his feelings aside and directs his focus at them - that allows Taylor an in - because he is vulnerable so he accepts that affection and clings to it.

If we imagine for a moment that the shooting hadn't happened - Buck and Taylor would probably have hooked up again in an almost friends with benefits way or in an attempt at a relationship until Taylor dropped him, or Buck realised that he needed more (far far quicker than he currently is) and ended things.

So we have Buck focusing on Eddie and Chris, and he is also aware that Maddie isn't well, so he is focusing some of his attention on Maddie, Chim and Jee-Yun - more things for him to fix - but thats okay because if he keeps busy and focuses on all of them then once they're okay he can sort himself out. Maddie leaves and Buck is in a bind - she doesn't want people coming after her - but she's honoured her promise to Buck by keeping him somewhat in the loop and she's his sister and he believes her, so he lies to Chimney and ends up with a black eye for his trouble - a harsh lesson in not being able to keep everyone happy and also that there are different types of relationship.

This is one of the reasons why I think they've been holding off on showing any sort of reconciliation between Buck and Chimney - because it is super relevant to Bucks own relationship - everything Eddie said on the balcony about Buck and Chimney loving Maddie in different ways and knowing her in different ways because of that - all very much relevant to Buck understanding 'what he wants in a relationship and partner' I think he understood what Eddie said and has applied that understanding to others, he just hasn't applied it to himself yet and once we see him and Chim actually talk - things will click into place for him on a more personal level.

So we have a Buck that is being pulled in to fixer mode on several fronts, ignoring his own needs and therefore accepting a relationship that isn’t doing him any favours. But now - things are beginning to mend, some of it gets worse before it gets better, but Buck is there through it all. Some semblance of conversation has happened with Chimney - so Bucks guilt about that has, while not completely gone away, eased off. Maddie comes back and Buck is reunited with her. she’s clearly better and while she still has work to do (and we know that includes reuniting with Chimney) she’s in a place where Buck can step back on his need to fix things. Then there is Eddie - who gets worse - so Buck steps in more - and Eddie lets him and Eddie begins to get better - he’s not there yet, so Buck still needs to be all the way in with him and Chris - he gets to keep on fixing - finding Charlie under the guise of horse therapy for Chris - putting the pieces in place to begin ‘fixing’ two things in one go.

But now everyone is on their respective healing paths, Buck can step back - it leaves room for his own thoughts and feelings to reestablish themselves and thats what we’ve been watching through 5b - Buck kissing Lucy was a part of this - it was his own need for healing trying to help him - to sabotage this relationship that he’s been clinging to, but which is in effect preventing him from tending to his own needs - only Buck manages to subvert it and now he’s doubling down on fixing his relationship with Taylor. However as things continue to mend and heal for others, it’s bringing Bucks own wants and needs into sharper focus.

As Maddie learns to love again and accepts she’s a good mother, Buck will being to accept what they’ve already spoken about - that he’s a clinger - but if Maddie can learn not to flee, then he can learn not to cling when he doesn’t need to. As he reconciles with Chimney he will begin to understand the differences in their separate relationships with Maddie and that will allow him to reflect more widely on his own relationships and understand better how is level of understanding around Taylor isn’t right - isn’t the same as Chim and Maddie have with each other.

As Eddie works through his trauma and moves forward and learns to accept himself for who he is - embracing what he’s kept locked away for so long, Buck is beginning to see that ‘he misunderstood the assignment.’ Its such a loaded sentence - it pulls on so many of the strings Buck has in play - he misunderstood what Eddie meant by the will, he misunderstood how much his life is better with Eddie and Chris, he misunderstood that he’s been building the family he wants so desperately with the Diaz boys, he misunderstood the depth f his feelings for Eddie, he misunderstood that he’s been forcing things with Taylor an he misunderstood that when people say relationships take work, they don’t mean that its should be like pulling teeth - they mean that that work might be hard, but its always enjoyable and worth it.

This is all ongoing and will come to a head over the next 3 episodes culminating in the end of his relationship with Taylor and I think Buck accepting that he needs to go and do some work on his own foundations before he can start further work on the ones he’s been building with Eddie and Chris without realising - then they can actually start work on the structure - not just the foundations - because they will all be in the same place - completed intersecting foundations as they start the next phase of building - upwards and fully together!

I’m not sure if I got a bit off track here, but I think it went somewhere interesting?!!

#kym answers things #kiki asks #911 #911 on fox #911onfox #911 fox #buck #eddie #evan buckley #Eddie Diaz #buddie #anti taylor kelly #anti bucktaylor #he misunderstood the assignment #911 speculation #interesting asks #911 meta

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wanderingwomanwondering · 2 years

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Buddie, Madney, & The Universe

I can’t stop thinking about all the damn universe references in 911. They’re fun and awesome and consistent and eroding my brain.

Chris has so much universe/galaxy/deep space imagery in his costuming and in his room. Like so much. And that’s just costuming and background set elements. That actual dialogue and story bits and even more brain destroying. Anyway, we know how important Chris is to both Buck and Eddie. In addition to Buddie’s shared calling/vocation as firefighters, Chris is a huge part of the glue that’s bringing them together...and he’s linked to the universe directly and indirectly in several ways. Chris has so much gravity in a Buddie context it makes me crazy. *chewing glass*

We had the universe screaming and Eddie refusing to listen in Jinx…then Eddie began his ill-fated r/s with Ana (one of Chris’ former teachers!). Buck was told that he should wait for the universe to come to him in Breaking Point in terms of romance and he was told that he already has meaningful relationships…and then Chris showed up at Buck’s loft after a fight with Eddie over Ana. Chris/the universe was warning Buck and Eddie off of their respective LI’s at the time and marking both relationships as problematic in some way.

Chris via the heart imagery of this season feels like as aspect of the red thread of fate linking Buck and Eddie which is fun and glorious. Anyway.

In Outside Looking In “Cosmo” (the universe) did NOT endorse the current explosive breakneck course that the Speed call victims were on. And in that same ep, Chris came to Eddie wearing galaxy pajama pants (I’ll say more on this in another post) and told him exactly what Buck had told him earlier in the ep: Eddie misses “the job” and that job is actually totally Eddie’s calling/vocation if you ask me. It’s a huge part of who he is. Just like it is for Buck.

Buck and Eddie’s shared vocation/life path made Eli’s whole speech to Chim in Boston about finding Maddie and how the universe actually works that much more insane because Eli emphasized the need to follow your calling/vocation and let the universe work instead of standing still. Our fate/destiny is met when we are in motion but it has to be movement that’s aligned with who we truly are. Beautiful. Lo and behold!!! Madney reconnect in Boston when they are BOTH in motion and doing what they love, which is helping people. Chim was serving as a volunteer paramedic and Maddie was following her gut instincts about a friend in need and using her dispatcher/nursing skills to boot.

[Side Note: When Chim and Maddie resolved to stop pretending with each other, it called back to Buck’s conversation with Eddie in the kitchen where Buck told Eddie that he doesn’t have to pretend with him. But Eddie did choose to pretend with him. However Eddie did not pretend with Chris when Chris echoed what Buck had said earlier about missing being a firefighter. By the power of the galaxy pajama pants, Eddie will eventually realize/understand/accept that he can be real with Buck (cue 513/514). That he can lean on him. That Buck can handle it. That Buck really truly does have his back in ALL things. Having Universe!Chris say the same thing to Eddie that Buck said earlier was another red thread of fate moment.]

The importance of movement in the right direction was huge in Boston. Once the universe started to align, they very intentionally showed the not-at-all-clumsy Maddie bumping into pretty much every person she passed. It seemed like road blocks to me at first but she kept following her gut instead of her initial avoidant/running away path. She consciously chose to help her friend, to follow her helping instincts and even though the road was bumpy, it led her back to Chim and Jee-Yun. With the strong parallels between Eddie and Maddie, it feels like Eddie is up for a lot of bumps (duh) on the road back to his vocation/calling, back to what Chris actually needs (i.e., Eddie allowing himself to be whole and fully present as his true sometimes messy self) and back to Buck who is his true partner in all things. But as long as Eddie sees it through, no matter the bumps along the way, he will be better off and so will the people who love him.

This whole friggin season is about breaking through and moving through rather than “moving forward” or “moving on”. Moving through is about being fully engaged, dealing with the hard stuff, talking about problems and issues, healing and recovery. Moving forward and moving on can be deep and meaningful but too often those concepts are used bypass the hard stuff rather than leaning into it, especially for Eddie. That has to change and I’m glad we get to see that change unfold, no matter how incredibly hard it will be.

#send help immediately. i am unwell.#911 fox #911 season 5 #911 meta #evan buckley #eddie diaz #christopher diaz #maddie buckley #chimney han #buddie #madney #buckley diaz family

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hmslusitania · 3 years

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Prompt: AU to 2.01. during the workout scene Eddie brings up Abby and Buck feels hurt and betrayed that Chim would share his private life with basically a stranger. When Chim says Eddie’s cool Buck says he can be wary of the new guy who gets so comfortable right off the bat when Buck himself got hazed like crazy as a probie. When Chim says Abby’s not a big deal Buck turns to Eddie and asks if he found his abandonment amusing. Eddie feels horrible and Chim finally understands his screw up. Buddie

Hi Anon! I’m not 100% sure this will satisfy your prompt, for which I apologise. That said, in a longer fic I’m currently working on, this scene gets examined hardcore from both Buck and Eddie’s POV and I hope to post that fic soon, so if this does not quite do it, hopefully that will. All that said, I do hope you enjoy this:

The kid is like a brother to him, but good god. It’s only Eddie’s second shift and they haven’t even all clocked in yet, and Buck is already being a dick. Chimney sighs – on the inside – and keeps buttoning his shirt while Buck slams locker doors and Eddie just tries to change.

When Buck finally stomps out of the locker room, Eddie takes a second and then turns to Chim.

“So, is it just me, or…”

“Try not to take it personally,” Chim recommends. He likes Eddie, has liked him since they met. It’s nice to have another medic on the shift, even if Eddie isn’t certified as a paramedic like him and Hen. Bobby’s and Buck’s EMT certification is great and useful but sometimes that little bit of extra medical knowledge comes in handy.

“So he’s just a dick to everyone?” Eddie asks.

Chim sighs. “Nah,” he says. “He’s just – look, the kid’s got a heart of gold, he really does, and most of the time he’s the sweetest guy you’ll meet, like a giant 6’2 golden retriever, but his first serious girlfriend just dumped him and then ghosted him, and he’s been a bit…in a bad mood.”

Although, now that he thinks about it, Buck’s straight up denial about Abby having dumped him has kept his mood afloat well enough. Up until Eddie showed up at the 118. But Chimney can’t fathom how the two would be related.

Eddie nods like that makes sense and they continue getting ready for their shift.

Chimney does his best to stay out of Buck’s way for most of the morning. It’s only by coincidence he finds himself in the gym at the same time as Buck and Eddie. Buck, clearly trying to comfort himself with the hot firefighter calendar, starts taking selfies over by the bench press.

Chimney does not know why Eddie decides to start something.

“You’re in the wrong light, man,” Eddie says. Chim frowns. Light? For a selfie?

“Some of us don’t need lighting to look good,” Buck shoots back.

Chim glances at Buck, but he’s distracted by himself.

“Hey, Eddie? What did you mean by the wrong light?” Chim asks.

Eddie explains about warm side lighting as opposed to flat blue light, and shows off the pictures his niece had taken for him. Chimney doubts that most of the effect is just because of lighting. As he’d pointed out on Eddie’s first shift, that is a beautiful man.

Still, having well done photos can’t hurt.

“You think she’d be willing to take my pictures for me? I’m told I photograph like an Asian Fabio,” Chim says, which gets him a laugh from Eddie.

“Sure she would,” he says.

And then, of course, Hurricane Buck.

“You shouldn’t get his hopes up,” he says to Eddie, all glower. “No offence, Chim.”

Chimney isn’t sure how he’s supposed to take that as anything but offensive. But—

He’s got a heart of gold, Chim reminds himself. He’s got a goddamn heart of gold.

“None taken,” he says, heading back to his bench dips. “Evan.”

He gets maybe two reps in before he hears Eddie say, “Okay, man, what’s your problem?”

Chimney winces and looks over to see Buck getting up in Eddie’s face.

“Okay, you,” Buck says. Chimney frowns. Eddie? It really is personal? “You’re my problem. Your comfort level. You’re – you’re not supposed to just walk in here like you’ve been here for years. There’s supposed to be a getting-to-know-you period. You’re meant to respect your elders.”

That’s what Buck is pissed about?

“You’re not his elder, Buck,” Chim points out. As he says it, he realises he doesn’t actually know how old Eddie is. He’s been assuming due to his work history that he’s on the other side of thirty from Buck, but he doesn’t actually know.

“Look,” Eddie says. He sounds calm and rational, in complete contrast to Buck’s anger and irritation, which Chim takes as a good sign. “I in no way meant to, uh, be too familiar or step on anybody’s toes. I know you’re going through some personal stuff right now.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Chimney can see Buck flinch.

“What personal stuff?” he asks.

Whoops.

“I know your girlfriend recently broke up with you and you’re coming to terms with that,” Eddie says.

“No, I’m not,” Buck says. Which, points for honesty, Chim thinks. “And she didn’t break up with me. Who told you that?”

When they both turn to look at him, Chim tries to melt into his exercise equipment.

“I’m just saying, I hear you’re a good guy, and I’m sorry you’re going through pain but you don’t need to take it out on me,” Eddie says.

“I’m not in pain,” Buck snaps, wounded.

Chim doesn’t mean to heave a dramatic sigh, but it happens. Buck rounds on him.

“And why are you telling all of my personal shit to strangers?” Buck asks.

Chim winces. There are a lot of reasons – Eddie asked; Eddie is already a clear part of the team, not a stranger; because Chimney’s worried about him and gossip is how they deal with things at the 118; but he doesn’t think Buck’s in a mood to accept any of those.

“I asked if you were pissed at me or something else,” Eddie says. “And I’m sorry about your girlfriend, man, I know what it’s like to have someone you thought loved you disappear on you in the dead of night.”

Chimney stops doing his dips and turns to scan Eddie, concerned. But Eddie’s just looking at Buck.

“She didn’t – I drove her to the airport,” Buck says.

He sounds so damn small and vulnerable that despite how much of a dick he’s been recently, Chim kind of wants to just hug him. He’s spent so much of the past four months since Abby left acting like he was completely fine most of the time, and so they hadn’t really…

Well, they hadn’t been there for him. Bobby’s got his reasons, Chim knows, since Hen’s almost certainly right about the secret Bobby-Athena relationship going on in the background. But Chim and Hen could’ve done better.

“Look, man, all I can tell you is that staying in denial isn’t gonna help,” Eddie says. “You’re still gonna get the divorce papers in the mail eventually.”

“We weren’t—” Buck starts and Chimney almost jumps into the conversation to make sure Buck isn’t actually that stupid. “Oh.”

“Truce?” Eddie asks, taking off one of his boxing gloves and holding his hand out in Buck’s direction.

Buck swallows and, after a long, awkward moment, takes Eddie’s hand. “You’re still a probie.”

“I promise you, there is no worse hazing you can do to me than the guys in Afghanistan already did,” Eddie says.

Chimney wonders if he feels like eating those words later that night when Eddie and Buck get into an ambulance with a live grenade. Chim and Hen aren’t on the call with them, since they were already doing a transport from the previous call, but when they all get back to the station, something has clearly shifted between Buck and Eddie.

“You two idiots got in an ambulance with a live grenade?” Hen demands, hands on her hips. Chim has seen her deploy this expression at Denny before. It usually gets her immediate apologies and chagrin.

“Eddie was an army medic,” Buck says. “We were totally safe.”

“Until the ambulance exploded,” Eddie points out.

“Yeah, but we weren’t in it anymore,” Buck says, knocking his shoulder into Eddie’s while they sit at the kitchen counter together. Hen shakes her head slowly, like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “And besides! We saved the patient.”

“Which is what matters,” Eddie adds.

Hen throws her hands up, exasperated. “I’m so glad there are two of you now.”

She stalks off and Chim watches while Buck and Eddie exchange bright smiles. Chim couldn’t say for sure, but he thinks the last time Buck smiled like that, he was talking to Abby. Which is certainly a development Chim didn’t see coming.

He finds Buck later in the bunks.

“Hey,” he says, knocking on Buck’s partition. Buck isn’t asleep, he’s just scrolling through his phone. “Got a sec?”

“Sure,” Buck says, sitting up and dropping his phone into his lap.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Chim says. “Telling Eddie about Abby, I mean. I don’t think any of us really realised how much you’re still hurting over that.”

“I’m fine,” Buck says. It’s too quick, and just a bit too sharp to be genuine.

Chim just waits.

“I’m – I’ve – I’ve been single for four months, haven’t I?” Buck asks quietly.

“Yeah,” Chim says, because Eddie had pointed out, denial just hurts more.

“Great,” Buck says. He clears his throat a couple times like he’s trying to get rid of a blockage. Chimney takes that as an opportunity to clap him on the shoulder.

“You’ve still got your family,” Chim says. “By which I mean the 118, because as far as you’ve said, you may as well have sprung out of the ground fully formed.”

Buck snorts. “I’ve got a sister,” he says, which is the first biological family member Chimney has ever heard Buck mention. “Maddie. She’s actually sleeping on my couch right now.”

“God, a female Buck,” Chim says. “I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must be.”

Buck scoffs and elbows him. “She’s not like me at all. You might even like her. She’s basically the best person ever, just a heart of pure gold.”

Chimney doesn’t quite trust Buck’s judgement when it comes to his sister, but if he’s right, well…

“Certain shitty comments you’ve made recently aside, that sounds exactly like you, Buckaroo,” Chim says.

“Thanks, Chim,” Buck says and sounds like he means it. “And I’m sorry for being a dick.”

Chim nods and claps him on the shoulder again before turning to head back to his own bunk.

“Hey, Chim?”

Chimney pauses.

“Do you think Eddie’s—”

Chimney waits, but all Buck says is “never mind.”

Their next call isn’t until morning when they find a group of idiots who have cemented their friend’s head into a microwave. When the kid falls into a pool, Buck jumps in to save him without hesitation and Eddie is only a split second behind him.

Chim doesn’t think about it until they’re all back at the station and changing out for the end of shift, but he thinks that this particular level of drift compatibility between Buck and Eddie might be a bit of a dangerous thing.

When they’re all back in civvies, Eddie says goodbye to everyone and starts to leave, only for Buck to follow him out, calling, “Hey! Eddie! There’s a really great brunch place down the street if you want to grab something, maybe?”

Chim and Hen watch them go, and wait until they’ve both driven off – together, even if in separate vehicles – before commenting.

“They’re gonna give us all heart attacks, aren’t they,” Hen says, resigned.

“Oh yeah,” Chim agrees.

“At least Buck seems happier?” Hen asks.

“Small victories,” Chim replies. “I’ll see you on Thursday.”

“See you then,” she says, going back to cleaning her locker.

Chimney only makes it as far as the parking lot before he’s stopped dead in his tracks by a breathtakingly beautiful woman. He’s never been a poetry kind of guy, but he’s pretty sure he could wax poetic about the bright stars in her eyes for several days if pressed. It doesn’t hurt that she’s holding a large Tupperware of baked goods.

“How can I help?” Chim asks, swallowing his gum. There’s nowhere to spit it out and no way to do that in front of a pretty girl that doesn’t look tacky.

“I was actually looking for Evan Buckley,” she says. “I wanted to surprise him. He said he was having a kind of intense shift.”

Chimney feels an instant spike of envy, and then realises who she is.

“You must be Buck’s sister,” he says.

“I am,” she agrees. “Maddie Kendall. Well, Buckley, again, I guess.”

“I’m Chimney,” he says, offering her his hand to shake.

She balances the container of baked goods on one forearm and shakes his hand. “It’s nice to put a face to a name. Buck says you’re one of the best guys at the station.”

Chimney can’t help but smile at that. “That’s funny, I was just saying the same thing about him.”

Maddie laughs and Chimney is struck by the desire to make her laugh always.

He stands there, grinning at her like an idiot, for much longer than he should until Maddie finally says, “So, where would I find him?”

“Oh! Sorry! You just missed him,” Chimney says. “He already left for a brunch date with the probie.”

Maddie’s eyebrows lift, delighted. “A date?”

Chim shrugs. “I’m not sure either of them knows that part, but definitely.”

“How about I put these down somewhere and you tell me absolutely everything,” Maddie suggests, holding up the box of muffins.

“I don’t know if I should,” Chim says, showing her up the stairs to the loft where D shift are working on the coffee maker. “I kinda got in trouble for telling people things about him recently.”

“Mm, big sister’s prerogative,” Maddie says, happily accepting the cup of coffee Chimney offers her.

“Okay, but if he yells at me again, I’m blaming you,” Chimney says. He takes one of the muffins from the now open container and groans. So not only is she gorgeous and the best person ever by Buck’s estimation, she can also cook and she thinks Chimney is funny. “These are amazing.”

“Thank you,” Maddie says. “And I’m sure we can work something out about Buck re blame. So long as you dish.”

Chimney grins. “Deal.”

#the ghost ship scribbles #the ghost ship answers questions #9-1-1 #9-1-1 fic #pre-buddie #pre-madney #2x01 revisioning #Anonymous

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sugarandspace · 3 years

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Where’s Dad? (Buddie)

Summary: The lights are still on when Buck parks in front of the Diaz house. He stays in the Jeep for a moment, gathering strength to go inside even though he knows that no time in the world would prepare him to deliver the news he’s going to have to tell Christopher.

Warnings: graphic mentions of injury and blood (no MCD)

AO3

For a moment, everything stops. For one blissful moment, Buck’s brain is unable to process what happened right in front of him.

He can’t stop looking at Eddie.

But then Eddie’s eyes fall closed and Buck knows he needs to get to him.

He snaps into action, all his senses coming back to focus in one blink of an eye. Suddenly he can feel his heart beating erratically, can feel the specks of blood drying on his face and he can taste it on his lips and it makes him want to throw up.

It’s Eddie’s blood.

There’s so much blood on the ground and Buck knows he needs to get to him, no matter that they still don't know where the shot came from. He’s not letting Eddie lie there alone.

Dying.

For one blissful moment, Buck’s mind was quiet. But as that moment comes to an end, everything is in razor-sharp focus and he has to act.

While helping Eddie and while in the ambulance with him and Chim, he has a single-minded focus. Help Eddie. Keep him alive. The blood on his face no longer matters because there’s so much of it in his hands as he’s trying to press against the wound while Chim is working next to him. Everything happens so fast but simultaneously it feels like the time is moving very slowly because Eddie is bleeding out and needs to be in the hospital now.

He knows it only takes them minutes to reach the hospital but it feels like hours.

When Eddie is wheeled in from the ER doors, the time goes back to moving slowly.

Buck feels off-balance, like there’s a fog in his mind. All that determination to help Eddie no longer has an outlet, and Buck finds himself unsure of what he should do now. Chim leads him to the bathroom. Helps him wash away all the blood. Finds him a clean shirt that Buck recognizes as the type the nurses wear.

The waiting room is full of people. Bobby must have notified Eddie’s family since Abuela and Pepa arrive not long after the rest of the team has found their seats in the room. Maddie is there too, and her comforting hand on Buck’s shoulder is the only thing that keeps Buck from falling apart. She tried to talk to him when she first arrived, probably having heard what happened from Chim, but eventually stopped when it became obvious Buck wasn’t going to talk.

The room is full of people, but you could hear a pin drop in the silence that has fallen over the terrified group.

A big portion of the fear disappears when the doctor tells them that the surgery went fine, that Eddie is stable and is expected to have a full recovery. Buck’s heart calms a little, the pressure around his lungs easing up and letting him draw in a deep breath for the first time in hours.

They are allowed to visit him, but the doctor warns them that the medication they gave to Eddie is strong, and he will be sleeping until morning. Abuela and Pepa are the first ones allowed into the room and Buck really doesn’t know to expect it when Abuela walks over to him and takes his hand, leading him in with the two women. Buck wants to thank her but his throat is blocked with emotion. It seems like she understands as she smiles at him warmly.

It’s a relief when Buck is finally able to see Eddie. He looks pale and frail in the hospital bed and he’s lying so motionlessly that Buck would be terrified if it weren’t for the steady beeping of the heart monitor next to him. They stay in the room for a while, and he wants nothing more than to stay until Eddie wakes up, but there’s something he needs to do, someone who doesn’t yet know what happened to Eddie today.

The drive back to the station to change his clothes and retrieve his car goes in a blur as Buck tries to come up with a way to tell Christopher what happened to his father today. How do you tell a child that their father got shot?

Christopher was still little when Eddie was in the army, not fully understanding the dangers brought in by a warzone. Christopher knows that his father’s current job can be dangerous at times, but getting shot shouldn’t be one of the things they’d need to worry about anymore.

But it happened, and Buck feels like he should be the one telling Christopher.

The lights are still on when Buck parks in front of the Diaz house. He stays in the Jeep for a moment, gathering strength to go inside even though he knows that no time in the world would prepare him to deliver the news he’s going to have to tell Christopher.

When Buck walks in, Carla finds him before he’s able to fully take off his shoes. As soon as he straightens up he’s pulled to a strong hug and it feels like Carla’s warm and comforting embrace is able to put some parts of his frayed heart back together. He can’t help but let out a sniffle, to which Carla responds by squeezing him harder.

“I know honey,” she says. “I know.”

They are interrupted by Christopher’s voice from the living room.

“Dad?”

It sends a pain so strong through Buck’s heart that he thinks he’s going to crumble right there.

“He doesn’t know anything,” Carla confirms. It’s what they agreed on. Christopher shouldn’t have to spend half of the day worrying when there was nothing they could do. It was better to wait until they knew Eddie was going to be okay.

It’s still going to be difficult, but at least he can tell Christopher that his father will be okay, that the dangerous part is over.

Buck refuses to spare thoughts to how differently this evening could have gone.

“Do you want me to stay?” Carla asks.

“No,” Buck says. His voice is rough from disuse. “Thank you for staying with him today.”

“You know you don’t need to thank me,” Carla says. “I love that boy. And I can stay if you need me to.”

“No,” Buck says. He appreciates the offer but it isn't needed. “It’s okay. Go be with your family.”

“If you’re sure,” Carla says. “But I’m only a call away if you need me.”

“Thank you, Carla,” Buck says. They hug again before Carla moves to the living room to say goodbye to Christopher. Buck uses the time to take a couple more deep breaths in the hallway. As Carla walks past him she reaches up to squeeze his shoulder.

“He’s going to be fine,” Carla says. “They both are. These boys are strong and they have you to help them.”

Carla’s last words are kind but Buck is struggling to accept them. There was absolutely nothing he could do to keep Eddie safe today. They are partners and they are supposed to watch each other’s backs while out on a call. Buck knows that what happened today was out of his control, and he’s getting better at not blaming himself for things like that, but at the moment everything is still a little too fresh for him to think rationally. He thinks briefly of how he should make an emergency appointment with doctor Copeland tomorrow.

“Goodnight Carla,” he says and musters up a small smile. He really is grateful for the faith she has in him, and the optimism he has about Christopher and Eddie.

“Night Buck,” she says, and then she’s out of the door.

Buck takes a deep breath and walks into the living room, finding Christopher on the couch watching a movie. It’s a little past his normal bedtime, but he doesn’t seem suspicious of being allowed to stay up later. When he hears Buck walk into the room he turns to look at him.

“Buck!” He says happily. “I didn’t know you were coming too!”

“Hi buddy,” Buck says.

“Wait,” Christopher says. “Where’s dad?”

He must have realised that his father should have been in the living room by now, greeting him with Buck and talking about bedtime. But it’s only Buck, and Buck knows that he looks a little worse for wear.

“Christopher,” Buck starts but Christopher keeps talking before Buck can say anything more. He gets up from the couch and starts moving towards Buck.

“Where’s dad?”Christopher asks as he stops in front of Buck, leaning on his crutches. His tone is confused and a little bit scared. He’s a smart kid, he knows something is wrong.

Buck kneels so he’s on the same level as Christopher. His words are quiet as he speaks.

“Your dad is not coming home tonight.”

“Why?” Christopher asks, his words slow. It’s like he’s scared to hear the answer.

“Something happened at work,” Buck says. “Your dad was helping someone and he got hurt. He needs to stay in the hospital for a few days.”

“Is he okay?” Christopher asks. Buck can see tears welling up in his eyes and his voice comes out wobbly. Buck tries his best to control his own emotions because he needs to be strong for Christopher.

“He will be,” Buck says. “I can take you to see him tomorrow if you want to.”

Christopher nods and the tears fall over. Buck pulls him into a hug when he starts crying, the crutches clattering to the floor.

“He’s not going to go away? Like mom?” Christopher asks between sobs and Buck is immediately reminded of a conversation they had weeks ago. Buck closes his own eyes tightly as he holds Christopher close.

“No,” Buck replies, making sure that his tone is steady and sure. “The doctor said he’s going to be okay. He’s just sleeping right now. He’s going to be okay.”

The reminder is as much for himself as it is for Christopher.

Christopher nods against his shoulder but keeps crying. He’s unsteady on his feet and the position is starting to hurt Buck’s back, so he picks Christopher up and carries him to the couch. When Buck sets him down, Christopher doesn’t let go, so Buck sits down next to him and settles them in a way that’s comfortable, Christopher’s arms around his neck as Buck tries to help him calm down by brushing his hand up and down Christopher’s back.

Buck thinks about how he hasn’t even told Christopher what happened to Eddie, but as he feels Christopher’s crying calm down and the sobs turn to hiccups, he doesn’t have the heart to tell him more tonight.

All the crying has worn him out and there’s no need to upset him more tonight. Christopher is a child, and hearing that your dad got hurt is traumatic enough. Telling him that it was because someone shot him, that it wasn’t an accident but rather someone actively wanted to hurt his father? Buck would rather do it before they go to the hospital so that Christopher doesn’t need to wait overnight to see his dad. Christopher starts leaning more heavily against Buck, and Buck moves his hand to brush through Christopher’s hair, hoping that it calms the boy more.

“Buck?” Christopher asks. It’s obvious the crying has worn him out and he’s on the verge of sleep.

“Yeah?”

“Will you stay?” Christopher asks.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Buck promises. “Go to sleep. You’ll see your dad tomorrow.”

“Right after breakfast?”

“Right after.”

Buck doesn’t want to keep Christopher away from Eddie any longer than he has to, and he knows that if Eddie is awake in the morning, he will want to see Christopher. They’ll both need each other.

And Buck is really looking forward to seeing Eddie awake as well. He knows that Eddie is in the clear, but he feels that only seeing him awake and talking will finally calm his heart.

It doesn’t take long until Christopher is asleep. Buck picks him up carefully and carries him into his room, setting him on the bed and tucking him in. He hopes Christopher’s rest will be undisturbed and that today’s events won’t make their way to his dreams like Buck is sure they will come to his - that is if he manages to fall asleep at all.

Buck turns the lights off but leaves the door open, wanting to be able to hear Christopher in case he has a nightmare or needs him in the middle of the night. He goes back to the living room and sits on the couch, unsure of what to do now. It’s the first time he’s alone since this morning before he went to work. So much has happened in the past twelve hours that the morning feels like a completely different life. One where things were good and none of them were in danger.

Eddie got shot today.

It brings out the worry that someone is apparently targeting firefighters, and that that someone is still on the loose. But it’s only an afterthought for Buck, who can’t forget the way Eddie looked, how he fell, how much he bled and how he almost died.

They nearly lost Eddie today.

Buck can’t keep it in anymore. There’s no one here he needs to stay strong for. No Eddie, no 118 or Eddie’s relatives, and no Christopher. Buck buries his face in his hands as he cries, letting out every tear that has wanted to escape since he was able to process that Eddie was injured. He tries to stay quiet so that he doesn’t wake up Christopher, but he cries for every terror-filled moment he’s had today, all the vivid memories that are playing on a loop in his mind, every should-have and what-if.

He lets himself feel it all.

Eventually the day catches up with his body as it already has with his mind and he feels tired, his shoulder sore from when he hit it earlier when he was pushed down. He takes the blanket from the back of the couch and pulls it over himself when he lays down on the couch, reaching for the remote to turn the tv off but not bothering with lights. Getting up feels like too much effort.

So he wraps himself in the blanket that smells like Eddie and lets his eyes fall closed, succumbing to what will probably be a very restless sleep.

#buddie #9-1-1 #evan buckley #eddie diaz #buddie fic #my writing #i'm posting this at 4am so i know it has mistakes #but i needed to post this tonight #this is my attempt at processing even a fraction of the things we saw this week #and the things we've seen about the finale #i hope you enjoy!

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matan4il · 4 years

Text

For the anon who prompted me with the following from the sensory prompts list:

(thank you to @toughpaperround for the beta!)

"The tender ache when you press against bruises" Eddie presses his lips to the row of splattered bruises across Buck's back. They've been slowly fading, but still very much there. A dull ache rises and merges with the softness of the kiss. "Does it hurt less?" Eddie asks. Buck nods, biting down a small groan as mouth and purpled flesh reconnect. The pain has been diminishing and is now far below the threshold of worry. "Good. In a few days," Eddie continues between one fluttering kiss and the next, "they'll be gone. It won't hurt anymore." Which is the problem. That thought leaves Buck already longing for the bruises and the low pain accompanying them before they're even gone. Trying to explain it is difficult, it sounds too alarming. But when the ache is at exactly this level, it's a confirmation of being alive and a reminder of a crucial moment in time. Buck isn't ready to part with that, not yet. He fell. Through the night and the smoke, he fell when a rope gave out. None of them saw it coming, so the inflatable mattress wasn't fully in place yet. Luckily, it wasn't from a great height that Buck fell, but while he was, it felt like it was happening forever. An eternity composed from a string of flashes in his mind. His parents and an uneasy childhood marked by a distinct lack of affection. Maddie and her unwavering smile, his only antidote. Her leaving when Buck was still too young for loss and the summer in South America that it prompted. Trying to build himself by going for the Navy SEALs and experiencing a new failure. Figuring out what missing link caused him to fail, picking himself back up and eventually arriving at the 118. Bobby, Hen and Chim, the way that they greeted him. Their smiles over time, their hugs, the unspoken agreement that they all knew their ties were familial. And Eddie, newly arrived. Putting on his shirt in plain view, as if that wasn't breathtaking. Chris, or rather the picture of him on the phone screen that Eddie trusts Buck to see. Father and son in an embrace after the earthquake has struck, a circle of love that they've formed on their own through several difficult years. The same Eddie and Chris, somehow accepting Buck into it. Every moment of joy the three of them had spent together. He hadn't told Eddie yet what that had meant to him, what he had come to realize, and then, Buck was falling. "What if I don't want it to?" he wonders quietly. "Why wouldn't you want the pain to pass?" Eddie frowns. And there it is, now there's an explanation that Buck must provide because stupidly, when he feels this much, he can only keep it to himself for so long.

He touches the bruises, the spots where Eddie's lips were but a moment ago. "That was the night you told me that you loved me," Buck says.

Eddie grimaces. "When you hit the ground like that, I was sure we lost you. I'm going to be grateful when that stops replaying in my head."

"I don't think about that. Every time you press against those bruises or kiss them, I can see you hovering above me, first one there. You ran, didn't you?" Buck takes Eddie's refusal to reply as confirmation. "I thought I was going to die, that I would never get to tell you that I love you. But instead, you held me up and told me I wasn't allowed to. Because you love me. And we have a whole beautiful life to live together first."

"And it's been good since, hasn't it?"

"The best. I still can't believe you slept every night in the hospital on that awful plastic chair."

"Just don't forget that the next time you volunteer for another dumb rope rescue. You want pain? That was real levels of it."

Buck grimaces. "It's not the pain I want. I'm scared I'm going to grow complacent. That I'll get used to this and I'll stop appreciating how lucky I am. Isn't that what goes wrong in lots of friendships and relationships, people start taking being loved for granted? And all because they forget that there was a moment when things changed. When love was added in to the mixture. A moment that might not have happened. I don't want to forget or to have the bruises gone, not yet. This thing, us. It's still so new. When you press in and I feel that ache, it reminds me and I'm not ready for that to disappear."

Eddie replies resolutely after a brief instant of considering all this. "You don't need the pain."

"But..."

"No," he cuts Buck off, tone stern, but touch gentle. "Because I'm going to love you even more tomorrow than I do today. And more than that the day after. I'm going to love you so much more each day, Evan Buckley, that it won't be just one moment and you'll never struggle to remember."

#Buddie #buddie fic #911 fic #prompt fill #911 on abc #911 abc

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thefutureduchessmarie · 3 years

Text

My thoughts on Buck Begins (and why it was such a letdown to me)

There was a lot to love about this episode (particularly the background it provided on Buck and Maddie), but ultimately it failed to live up to the expectation for me. Here’s why: FOCUSING ON BUCK/MADDIE INSTEAD OF BUCK/CHOSEN FAMILY

So far the season did a great job in showing exactly how and why Buck grew up with so many abandonment issues and feeling like he wasn’t enough. But the issues didn’t come from Maddie. Sure, he was hurt when she moved away, but that had already been mostly dealt with. And of course discovering she lied to him his whole life was hard, but I feel like given their current relationship Buck would always forgive her for that, he just needed time to process it. What I really needed from this episode was for Buck to realize/accept that he’d already found the family he’s been looking for his whole life.

The idea that he 118 are each other’s chosen family is one of the central themes of the show, and I needed that energy now, more than ever. All I wanted was to see them doing everything they could to save Buck, not because it’s their job, but because they love him. And they did - each one of them walked into that building, knowing they could very well die. We just didn’t get to see that because the show failed to realize that should have been the climax all along.

Was there seriously no one who could tell him that he doesn’t have to save every single person on the planet in order to be worthy? That he’s enough on his own? Because that’s the reason why he keeps putting himself in life-threatening situations to begin with. And instead of helping him realize that, they praised him for it and told him that’s why they love him so much, reinforcing his belief that he needs to be out there saving people in order to earn the right to be loved.

BOBBY

The father/son relationship between him and Buck has been an important part of the show since season 1. So when it was revealed that Buck Begins would address Buck’s complicated relationship with his parents and culminate with him being stuck in a fire - a situation that mimics the way Bobby’s children died, it felt like everything was lining up for this dynamic to be the heart of the episode. It seemed to offer the perfect opportunity for both of them to make peace with their past (Bobby couldn’t save his children, but he could save Buck; and Buck could get closure from his parents and fully accept Bobby as the only parents figure he needs in his life). The crossover only seemed to confirm that.

By ignoring that, and not showing any special focus on Bobby, they didn’t just waste the opportunity to tell a beautiful and meaningful story. They completely disrespected Bobby as a character. Because you look me in the eye, and tell me that seeing someone he recognizes as a his kid, someone he loves and feels responsible for stuck in a building on fire wouldn’t be triggering as fuck to Captain Nash! The show can’t just ignore the single most traumatizing event of his life simply because they don’t know how to address more than one relationship (Buck/Maddie) in one episode.

EDDIE

If there’s one thing I hate in television, it’s fan service. Its always painfully obvious when a show is doing something not because they believe in it, but because the fans want it. However, right now 911 is doing a sort of anti-fan-service that is just as terrible. Basically, they created a “Buddie monster” that doesn’t seem to have been planned and now they have no idea how to handle it. It was so clear that they were going out of their way to avoid any Buddie moments in this episode, that they ended up throwing Eddie’s characterization and the beautiful friendship they wrote for him and Buck out of the window.

The Eddie I’ve been seeing for 3 seasons now would be the first to rush into that building after Buck, even before he got any confirmation or authorization from anyone. Instead, they turned him into this ice cold person right when Buck was feeling so unloved and abandoned. They don’t want to make Buddie as a couple? Fine. I can live with that. But please don’t disrespect the amazing friendship that has been canonically written. If they don’t think they can show us Eddie caring and worrying about his best friend without making it romantic, then it means they’re not doing they’re job well.

They also inadvertently created a power imbalance between those two that literally no one asked for. Because now, if you compare how each of them reacted to the other being stuck in a life risking situation, it comes across as Buck caring way more than Eddie. Which I don’t think it’s true, but alas…. Its there now, and it reinforces Buck’s feelings of never being enough.

(And yes, I’m already taking into account their different personalities. I never expected Eddie to panic in the way Buck did in Eddie Begins. But I was expecting him to freak out in his own Eddie way, which he didnt. At all. Despite the show repeatedly showing us how important Buck is in his life and how much he unravels without him)

The cheap queer baiting (“I feel like he’s working his way through the village people”? They were purposely showing past-Buck in queer stereotypes and they know it. And Im really getting tired of them not putting their money where their mouth is) v them going out of their way to make sure there were no meaningful interactions between Buck and the man people ship him with

PLAIN-ASS INCONSISTENCIES OR WEAK TV :/

First thing Bobby told them when they got to the scene was that they couldn’t separate from the team. They’re all trained professionals, fully aware of how risky the situation was. They’re also aware that Buck is the most reckless member of the team on a normal day, and that day he was dealing with some particularly difficult shit. So why the hell did no one stop him when he tried to separate from the team? If you wanna convince yourself the 118 suck and don’t love Buck, fine, but I know its not true. So Hen and Chim letting Buck go just feels out of character to me. Something the writers did, not because it made sense, but because they needed to have him alone and couldn’t come up with a better plan.

Now compare that to Eddie Begins, for example, a Begin episode that followed a very similar structure. Eddie being stuck didn’t feel forced, because the situation was properly explained and contextualized. Everything made perfect sense given their line of work, the team dynamics and protocol. It felt like the natural consequences of a very risky job. It also made sense that Eddie Begins focused so much on Eddie/Christopher and climaxed with him fighting like hell to return to his son, because that’s Eddie’s struggle - feeling like he failed as a parent.

Buck’s struggle is feeling like he was always the one left behind. The one people didn’t love enough, because he it made it hard to. So by not focusing on his relationship with his chosen family, all we’re left with is “Buck and Maddie against the world”. Which is not where any of those characters deserve to be and ignores all the progress that has been made for 4 seasons.

By focusing so much on this one relationship, they also turned this into “Buck and Maddie Begins”, instead of Buck Begins. THEY COULDN’T EVEN FOCUS ON BUCK IN HIS OWN EPISODE. Tell me how is this supposed to help resolve his insecurities?

I did love all the flashbacks and the moments between the siblings tho. And I cried reals tears when Maddie pulled out her own version of Buck’s box. I guess I’ll just have to rely on fanfiction and headcanons to fill all the voids mentioned above

#911 fox #evan 'buck' buckley #maddie buckley #bobby nash #eddie diaz #buck begins #Sorry if this is such a downer - I just needed to get it all out of my chest

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holidaywishes · 4 years

Text

Embers IV

Chapter IV: the company you keep

Summary of series: Katie moves from Peachtree, Georgia, to L.A. with her son, Alex to start fresh after the death of her husband. When she meets Evan Buckley, a young firefighter, she falls fast but will her son be so quick to accept Evan into his life?

Summary of chapter: The time has finally come for Katie and Alex to have dinner with Evan and his team at the firehouse. She’s nervous and he’s reluctant. Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Evan is micromanaging Bobby’s cooking and telling everyone what they can and cannot say.

Warning: Fluff

Author’s Note: After last night’s episode had me on the edge of my seat, I thought it was time for a short chapter with some fluff. A few more chapters and I will have some very ‘angsty,’ dramatic chapters for everyone to indulge in. They’re pretty clear in my head so I hope it translates when I finally write it out. Anyway, until then, I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep reading the series! Cheers, xx! 😘

masterlist

the other masterlist

Evan’s P.O.V.

“Thank you for cooking, Bobby,” you said, standing in front of your captain in the kitchen, “but can you just like... keep a closer eye on it?”

“A closer eye on it?” Bobby said, raising his eyebrows at you, “Buck, relax. Everything is going to be fine. I know what I’m doing here okay?”

“Her kid’s only 8. I want to make sure he actually eats th--” You started but stopped when you realized what you sounded like, “sorry, Bobby. I’m just gonna.. go.” You said, pointing to another area of the room before heading there.

“He’s really stressing,” Eddie said to Bobby, laughing as he offered to help, “he must really like her huh?”

“Seems like it,” Bobby added, instructing Eddie to set the table, “I just hope this one is different. You know? He had a string of hook ups before Abby and then she left, then he met Ali and she couldn’t handle him at his worst.”

“She is different,” Eddie answered, “but she is also a mom. She’ll choose her son every time, so I just hope Buck’s ready for that...” He looked over at Christopher, knowing how well Buck took care of him during the Tsunami and afterwards but you were curious how he’d fair with a kid who he’d have to impress.

“I think he understands that but I understand the concern. That’s why he has us.” Bobby replied, bringing Eddie back to the conversation

“Okay listen up everyone!” You called everyone together, “there are some ground rules for tonight.” The group laughed, sitting around the table thinking that you was joking

“You’re serious?” Chimney said, noticing the scowl you gave the group

“Evan, relax. We’re not going to embarrass you” Maddie added but the firefighters in the room disagreed

“We have some stories she’d probably love to hear” Hen said.

“Yes, exactly. Don’t say any of that!” you remarked, “We’re not just trying to impress her, we’re also trying to impress her son...”

“We?” Athena said as she came up the stairs with Harry, May and Michael

“Yes, we. We’re a family and the impression you make reflects on the impression I make. Got it?” They hummed as you tried to make your case, going through a list of topics you wanted them to stay away from, but the group wasn’t paying too much attention to you.

“Buck,” Maddie said, walking over to you, “calm down. These guys love you and, from what you’ve told me about this girl, she’s not likely to run from a couple embarrassing stories.”

“I’m just nervous. I really like this girl and everyone here is my family. I want everyone to get along.”

“And they will. But you gotta let it happen naturally; let them talk about what they want to talk about. Okay?”

“Okay.” You agreed but took a deep breath, still nervous that this could be a huge disaster.

Katie’s P.O.V

“Okay, buddy,” You said to Alex as you prepared to head out, “you ready to go?” He nodded but suddenly ran to his room; coming out with the plastic T-Rex that Jesse got for him two Christmases ago.

“I wanna take him with me.” He said and you smiled, agreeing before saying that it was time to go, opening the door to head to the cab, “Nick?” You questioned in surprise as your teenage client stood outside the door with his large Bodyguard

“Hey,” he said, inviting himself in, “can I hang with you two for a bit tonight? Maybe even stay the night?”

“Uhh,” you hesitated, looking between Nick and his bodyguard, “actually...”

“I just don’t feel safe at home. There’s some psycho stalking me or something. I can feel it.”

“That’s what you’ve got Big Jeff for!” you tried

“Yeah.. but Big Jeff doesn’t speak”

“Come on Jeff. Big Guy. You’ll keep him company right?” He just looked at you, slight sympathy in his eyes but didn’t say a word, “look, Nick, I would love to hang out with you tonight--”

“GREAT!” he interrupted

“But,” you continued, “Alex and I already have plans and they can’t be cancelled. I’m sorry.”

“That’s cool. I’ll just come with!” he interjected and your mouth gaped, “Big Jeff too!” You felt Alex tug at the hem of her dress and knew you’d regret it if you didn’t let Nick tag along.

“Fine. Just let me make a call first.” You stepped away from the boys to call Evan quickly to let him know the change of plans

“Hey..” you greeted, somberly

“Hey!” he replied brightly, “you on your way?”

“Yes, but there’s been a slight change of plans.”

“Change of plans? What do you mean?”

“One of my clients is freaked out that someone is stalking him. So he’s gonna tag along tonight... Is that okay? He’ll take care of himself while we’re there. We don’t need to watch him or anything.”

“Oh”

“I know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell him he couldn’t come. He’s a good kid, I promise, I think he’s just lonely.”

“No problem. I’ll let everyone know, I’m sure we’ll have enough food for everyone.”

“Thank you, Evan.” You ended the call and took a deep breath before directing the boys out of the house and into the cab that was waiting outside.

“This looks amazing, Captain Nash!” you exclaimed

“Thank you, Katie,” he smiled, “but please, call me Bobby.” You smiled back at him and guided Alex through the room while Evan introduced the two of them to the rest of the team. Alex kept his attention focused on his T-Rex, though, and you were worried what Evan’s friends might think of him.

“I’m sorry,” you tried, “he’s just nervous. Alex, sweetie, can you say Hello?”

“Hi” he whispered but ran to wear Christopher was sitting

“I’m sorry. He’s usually better than that...”

“It’s alright,” Athena said, “I understand. Trust me. Any time, I introduced Harry or May to someone new, they hide behind me.”

“And don’t think for a second that Evan wasn’t the same way when he was little” a long-haired brunette chimed in

“You must be Maddie!” you exclaimed, excited to finally meet Evan’s sister

“That’s me!” she smiled, shaking your outstretched hand, “your son is adorable. Buck says he’s 8?”

“He listened. Good to know,” you giggled, “yes. He’ll be nine in a few months. I can’t believe how fast time is going by.” Athena nodded and raised her eyebrows in agreement

“Ain’t that the truth.” Athena said and you laughed as everyone began heading to the table and found your seat next to Evan; Alex sitting beside you. The meal was great and the company was better, the conversation, however, wavered between great and awkward. You noticed Nick’s bodyguard get up and begin to pace around the space.

“So... what is Katie short for?” Chimney asked

“Hmm,” you hummed, swallowing the bite of food still in your mouth, “Katerina. Mom was a big Katarina Witt fan before I was born so she named me after her.” You smiled, placing your hand on Evan’s knee, “what does Chimney stand for? I tried to pry it out of Evan but he did not budge.”

“It’s a secret. I can’t tell you. With time, maybe. But I’ll have to trust you first.” The table laughed and you narrowed her eyes sarcastically at him, which he was all too quick to return

“Alex, buddy, how do you like LA?” Bobby asked

“It’s okay, I guess,” he said simply, “I miss the peaches though.” You laughed, grateful he was able to make some kind of joke, even if he didn’t realize it. Evan took your hand in his and you turned to smile at him, tilting your head to fully look at him for a minute

“You moved here last year?” Hen asked, bringing you away from Evan

“Mmm, no,” you began, swallowing the sip of wine that you’d just taken, “a couple months ago. We needed a fresh start after last year but there were a lot of things we had to get in order before we left. So we’ve been here for about 3 months.”

“Right,” Hen adjusted herself and you were unsure if she should continue her questioning, “because of your husband...” Evan squeezed your hand before huffing at Hen. Nick’s bodyguard, Jeff, suddenly started to move closer to the table as if he couldn’t hear the conversation from where he was standing and wanted to know more.

“Hen!” Evan scowled and Hen raised her hands in defense

“No no,” you smiled, “it’s okay. Yes. My husband was a Navy SEAL and he passed away last year while he was overseas. It was hard, unbelievably so--” you said, brushing your son’s hair to the side-- “which is why I decided to find a job here and move us out to live near my Mom. She moved away after my Dad died, so I guess running to L.A. is genetic.” The group laughed and you squeezed Evan’s hand to reassure him you were fine.

“So what do you do for work?” Athena asked

“Ahh, me!” Nick chimed in, making you practically choke on her wine, “I mean, that’s where I come in. She’s my saviour.”

“I’m Nick’s publicist. He showed up unannounced at my house last minute which is why he’s here.”

“What’s that like? Being a publicist?” May asked and you glanced at Athena, to see what kind of answer she should give

“It’s great!” you decided, “it’s a lot of uncertainty and, depending on the clients you get, it can be extremely taxing. I’ve been lucky enough to have easy clients with good heads on their shoulders, like this one, but some people are tasked with looking after Politicians and entire businesses. It’s a lot of fun though, I really enjoy my work.” You smiled, a gesture that May returned

“I’ve gone through five publicists,” Nick admitted, “but Katie’s the best. I think it’s ‘cause she’s a mom. She seems to know what’s good for me and what can keep me grounded.”

“I think it’s time we go” Jeff interrupted

“Nah, Big Jeff, we’re good. I’m enjoying the company.” Nick tried to convince him but when you looked down at Alex and Christopher, you decided to take Jeff’s side

“You know what, it looks like the boys are getting pretty tired. I should probably get Alex home anyway. But we’ve really enjoyed tonight and getting to know everyone.” You said sincerely, “I hope we can do it again sometime.”

“I’ll take you home” Evan sad as he stood up

“Su--” you attempted to agree only to be stopped by the bodyguard

“I’ll do that, Firefighter.”

“Excuse me?” Evan’s voice was harsh and his face contorted into anger

“I can take care of them. You just stay here.. with your trucks and your little toys.“ You were unsure of where this was coming from and it was clear that the group was uncomfortable

“You’re not saving the world, Big Jeff, you’re just his bodyguard. You don’t need to protect her.” Evan said through gritted teeth

“Okay then!” You interjected, “that’s enough testosterone for tonight. Evan can I talk to you downstairs please?” He agreed but his eyes never left Jeff’s until he followed you down the stairs. The group tried to subtly listen to the conversation but they rushed to the Bannister and were easily visible to you and Evan

“What the hell is going on?” Evan started

“I don’t know but it’s just a ride home. He’s gotta take Nick home anyway, so it’s not a big deal. Just relax.”

“But why is he antagonizing me?“

“I honestly don’t know. I didn’t think you did anything. Everything was fine. Just let me talk to him on the ride home, okay?” You pouted at him, intertwining your fingers with his, hoping you’d get your way

“Fine.“ He agreed just as Nick, Alex and Jeff walked past, Jeff glaring at Evan, and Alex waiting for you, “just be careful please? i don’t trust this guy. I’ve got a bad feeling about him.” You laughed, pushing yourself up onto your tiptoes to kiss Evan gently

“I will, I promise.” You replied, “I really do have to get Alex home though. I’ll see you tomorrow?“ He nodded before giving you one more kiss and turning his attention to Alex

“Hey,” he leaned down, “did you have fun tonight?”

“Yeah” Alex answered and Evan smiled

“Good. So you think we can do it again?”

“I don’t know. I guess. Maybe earlier? I’m tired.” He whined but Evan knew not to take it personally

“Sounds like a plan, big guy.” You gave Evan a hug goodbye, taking your sons small hand in yours as they began to walk out, stopping suddenly to ask Evan a question

“What do you think they thought of me?“ You gestured to the group above, knowing they’ve been spying the entire time, laughing softly when they backed away from the Bannister. “Everyone always loves Alex, so I’m not worried about them but it seemed like, before all of this, that they kind of adored me...”

“I don’t see why they wouldn’t.” He cooed and you smiled brightly at him

“Yeah, you’re right.” You said triumphantly before walking out of the firehouse, meeting Jeff at the door where he put a hand on your back and you could imagine Evan would be angry at the gesture so you tried to quickly diffuse it by turning around to wave goodbye. Making the whole night feel like a success, no matter how it may have ended.

#9-1-1 fic #9-1-1 imagine #9-1-1 series #9-1-1 on fox #daily 9-1-1 #911 #911 on fox #911 fic #911 imagine #masterlist #the other masterlist #evan buckley #buck #tag list #embers tag list

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