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The second Buck walks into the station, Bobby knows something is wrong.
His shoulders are pulled up to he ears and radiating tension, almost like he’s protecting himself from the outside world. His eyes are sunken in, possibly due to lack of sleep. They look a dull grey, as opposed to their usual bright blue and they’re darting all over the show, unfocused and too hyper aware at once. His back is ramrod straight, almost painfully so. His hair, which is always slicked back, even when he’s not working, is curling unruly on his head. And in his hands, is a thick white envelope.
Bobby keeps an eagle eye on his youngest recruit as he goes through the motions of getting changed into his uniform, almost in a trance. He slowly ascends the staircase and makes a beeline for the couch the furthest away from anyone, not even looking up when some of the others greet him.
Bobby hears Hen snort and turn to Chimney, mumbling “I wonder what crawled up his ass and died.”
“Shut it.” Bobby snaps, in an almost unheard of commanding tone.
Hen blinks up at him in surprise, but with one scathing look, she ducks her head in shame. He pays her no mind as he slowly makes his way over to where Buck is curled in on himself, waving away Martin when he tries to go himself - instead putting him in charge of finishing breakfast. Martin scrunches up his face in confusion, but doesn’t question his Captain, and turns to follow his orders.
Once he’s out of ear shot, Bobby gingerly sits down opposite Buck. He knows the man has noticed him, but he won’t make a move until he’s given the go ahead. He knows Buck well enough that he will just retreat further in his head if he’s pushed, so Bobby lets him come to him in his own time. There’s a long, stilted silence, until Buck finally breaks it.
“I’ve been reinstated. I leave in 2 months.” Is all he has to say for Bobby to surge forwards and gather him up in a tight embrace.
“I’m so sorry kid.” He whispers into Bucks curls as he presses a kiss there because, really, what else can you say?
Bobby is the only person on the team to know Bucks true past. Before joining the 118, he was a Navy SEAL for 7 years, with 2 of those years as a Commander. He was a part of Team 6, possibly the most prestigious SEAL Team known. He was sent home after a mission gone south, but, thanks to his 12 year contract with them, once he was fit enough again, he was placed on the reserves. Bobby had hoped and prayed and begged that this day would never come, and now it was looming over them like a dark cloud.
“I don’t want to go back, Bobby.’ Buck whispers, and Bobby can feel him shaking apart in his arms. ‘I don’t want to be that person again.”
“I know, Buck.” Bobby sighs.
They stay in their embrace for god knows how long. It’s long enough for Bobby to get cramp in his hip thanks to the weird angle he’s sitting in, but he doesn’t complain. Not while Buck is still crying silently into his chest. He simply rubs his hands up and down the mans spine, a movement that has been proven time and time again to be the most effective in soothing Buck.
Eventually, the younger man pulls back and looks up at Bobby. His eyes are now red rimmed, and his face is blotchy, but there is no emotion in the blue pools.
“You’re going to get through this, okay? You have your family backing you.” Bobby tells him gently.
“I haven’t seen my parents in years Bobby, you know that.” Buck furrows his brow.
“I do know that.’ Bobby agrees. ‘But I’m not talking about your parents. I’m talking about your true family- us. Me and Athena. May and Harry. Michael. Hen, Karen and Denny and little Nia. Maddie and Chimney and their little mango. And Eddie and Christopher. We’re all going to be here for you, waiting.”
“What if I never come back?” Buck whispers.
Now. That could be a trick question.
“In what sense?” Bobby asks.
“In every sense of the word.”
Ah.
“You’ll come back to us because you’re a survivor. If 7 years out there, a truck bombing, a pulmonary embolism, a tsunami and everything else in between can’t keep you down, nothing can. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever met, Buck. As for the other thing, I think you’ll always manage to find your way back to us. You just need to remember what’s important.”
“And what is that?”
“That you make it back to American soil alive and in one piece. The rest, we can figure out.”
“You promise?” Buck sounds so small, so unsure, so unlike Buck and it breaks Bobbys heart. He cups the mans face in his palms and forces Buck to look him in the eye.
“I know I haven’t always been there for you like I should’ve been. And for that I will always be sorry. But I will never abandon you again, you hear me? Never. Even if you come back here with no idea who Firefighter Buckley is, I will be there. And I’ll drag him back kicking and screaming if I have to.”
“Yeah?” Buck smiles for the first time, and it’s like sunshine breaking through the clouds.
“You have my word.” Bobby vows.
Buck looks down at the pinky the older man is holding out and lets out a startled laugh. He hooks them together, and they shake.
“Thanks Bobby.”
“Don’t thank me for this. It’s what family do. Real family. Now, do you wanna head to my office and talk about what your plans are?”
“Yeah, I guess we should.” Buck sighs, his smile disappearing again.
Buck and Bobby unfold themselves from their embrace and stand, stretching out their sore limbs as they go. Bobby notices most, if not all, of his firefighters staring at the pair, their eyebrows wrinkled in worry. Eddie and Hen more so, but he ignores them all in favour of leading Buck over to his office with a hand to the small of his back protectively and closing the door firmly behind them.
They get settled on either side of the desk, and Bobby pulls his ‘Return to The Forces’ document out from the bottom of the pile.
“You know, I’ve never had to fill one of these out. I’d hoped I’d never have to.” Bobby says lightly.
“You and me both, pops.” Buck chuckles, but it’s bitter, sounds so wrong coming out of his mouth.
“It’s not forever.’ Bobby reminds him, leaning over to settle his hand over Bucks, which has got a white-knuckled grip on the chair of his arm. ‘And after this, you’ll never have to go back. There’s always a silver lining.”
“Yeah well, I’m having trouble finding it today.” Buck mutters.
“I know, kid.”
They lapse into silence as Bobby reviews the document, getting an idea of what he has to do. Without being asked to, Buck slides the thick white envelope over the table for Bobby to review along with the document.
“Six months. They want me to miss out on a whole six months of my life.’ Buck spits into the comfortable silence. ‘I’m going to miss so much. The day my niece is born, Christophers birthday, Denny’s birthday, your birthday.”
“I couldn’t care less if you missed every single persons birthday in this county. All I care about is you coming back home. Birthdays can be celebrated late.”
“Yeah, they can. But I care. I care that they’re making me miss out of these milestones for no reason. You know, my contract was supposed to be up in 4 months, but they couldn’t even let me retire in peace.”
“War never sleeps, Buck. They need the best of the best out there while they still have you. It’s a horrible truth of being a good soldier.” Bobby sighs.
“Whoah, where did that come from?’ Buck cracks a wry smile. ‘You getting wise in your old age?”
“Watch it.’ Bobby warns, but the grin on his face discredits anything he says. ‘Now. We need to talk about what we’re going to say to the team.”
“Can’t you just, come up with some lie to get them off my scent?”
“Well, other than telling the crew that you’ve been put on loan to another house for 6 months, there’s not much I can do. I refuse to tell them I fired you, and you know they’ll dig if I say it’s for personal reasons.”
“Just go with the on loan thing then.” Buck shrugs.
“That would only work if the crew wasn’t so entwined in your personal life, as well as your professional life. They’ll constantly want to call you, invite you out to meals and gatherings. That, and we’ll have to explain your absence to Eddie and Christopher.’ Bobby points out. ‘I know you don’t want to tell them because you fear they will look at you differently, but I don’t think you really have a choice right now. And I’ve said from day one that they will still love and accept you for who you are, despite your past.”
“It’s easy to say that. We never truly know how someone will react until it’s too late.”
“Now who’s old and wise?” Bobby teases.
“Watch it.” Buck echos with a small smile, and Bobbys tight chest eases up just that little bit more.
“I think it’s time, kid. They’ve known you for three years now, and they’ve trusted you to watch their back while they watch yours for that long. They know the real you.”
“If things go south, I reserve the right to say I told you so.”
“And if things go absolutely fine, like I know they will, I also reserve that right.”
“Deal.” Buck holds his hand out, and Bobby shakes him on it.
“Well, there’s not much else I can do about the forms right now, I’ll have to call the Chief and report this all to Head Office and they’ll tell us what to do from there. So how about, we head out there, have some breakfast, and give those kids the story of your life?”
“You promise to stick with me, even if things blow up in my face?” Buck blinks up at him through his lashes.
“I promise kid.’ Bobby nods. ‘I’ll set Athena on myself if you so much as think I’m doing otherwise.”
“Oh wow, that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” Buck jokes.
Bobby rolls his eyes and choses not to comment. He simply wraps an arm around Bucks shoulder and shoves him out of the door, forcing him to keep his head held high.
Hen, Chimney, Eddie, Martin, Tanika and Riley are all sat at the table, and all look up to watch them approach in silence. Hen is still looking a little chastised, and Bobby does feel a little bad, but Buck is his main priority now.
“I have something to tell you all.” Buck blurts.
“We’re all ears, Buckaroo.” Chimney says gently, and about as serious as Bobby’s ever heard.
He’d either heard Bobby’s warning to Hen earlier, or he used his eyes to see that something was seriously bothering Buck. Or he simply didn’t want word to get back to Maddie that he’d upset her baby brother in anyway. That’s more likely, now that Bobby thinks about it.
“Well, for starters, I should tell you that, in two months, I’m going to be taking some time off work.” Buck hedges.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Eddie asks, his eyes wide with worry.
“There’s a lot wrong right now, but I’ll be going somewhere for a little while.” Buck explains vaguely.
“Well, where are you going?” Riley frowns.
“Baghdad.” Buck eventually admits.
“Why on earth are you going there?” Hens brows furrow.
“It’s not by choice.”
“Not by- wait. Are you- are you being deployed there?” Eddie demands.
“Yeah.” Buck whispers, ducking his head.
“Whoah. You joined the Army and didn’t tell us?” Chimney looks offended.
“No I didn’t join the Army. That would be a choice, remember?”
“Then how the hell are you being deployed to Baghdad without enlisting?” Hen demands.
“Because. I’m being taken off the reserves for the first time in nearly 4 years.”
“You were in the reserves?” Eddie whispers.
“Yeah. But not with the Army.”
“Then with who?” Martin asks slowly, like he doesn’t believe what he’s hearing.
“The SEAL’s.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“Hold the fuck up. You were a SEAL? As in a Navy SEAL?” Hen screeches.
“No as in the marine mammal.’ Buck quips back. ‘Of course I mean the Navy SEAL’s.”
“Holy shit. For how long?” Chimney asks.
“For 7 years before joining LAFD.” Buck confirms.
“Why the hell didn’t we know this?”
Buck shrinks in on himself at the anger in Eddie’s voice, so Bobby steps forward.
“Cool it, Diaz. Buck reserves the right to withhold any information about himself he wants.” He warns.
Eddie huffs, but says nothing more.
“Most of my career with them is classified. Even if I wanted to talk about it - which I most definitely do not - I wouldn’t be able to. Apparently, being a Commander doesn’t even give me the clearance.” Buck admits, sounding a little bitter.
“You were a fucking Commander?” Eddie spits.
“I said cool it Diaz. Don’t make me send you away.” Bobby warns again, raising his own voice.
Eddie lets out a huge sigh through his flared nostrils, but his defensive stance relaxes and his fists unclench.
“Yes, I was a Commander. My full title is Warrant Officer Evan Buckley. And I was in Command of a small team inside Team 6.” Buck finally says.
“Team 6?’ Tanika echos, looking as though she’d seen a ghost. ‘As in, the Team 6 who killed Osama bin Laden?”
“The one and only.’ Buck nods stiffly. ‘I wasn’t in command then, I was just a sniper. Not the sniper who took him out, but I did get one of his guards.”
“Holy fucking hell.” Riley whistles.
“The only reason I wasn’t in that chopper a month later was because I got clipped by a bullet myself.” Buck admits, and not even Bobby knew that.
“Oh my god, I watched that on the news.” The man mumbles.
“Yeah, me too. I had to watch half of my team, my family, die on national television, while all I could do was lay there in a stupid hospital bed and do nothing.” Buck blinks away his tears, and Bobby curls his arm around his shoulder again.
“Why did you never tell us, Buckaroo?” Hen asks softly.
“Because. Aside from not being able to, I’ve been trying to forget it ever happened. The person I was back then, he’s not someone you’d like to meet, definitely not someone you’d leave your kids alone with. He was a heartless war machine.’ Buck chuckles, but it’s hollow and self deprecating. ‘You know, my nickname with my Team used to be Angel of Death. Or Grimm, depending on who you asked.”
“Why?” Eddie whispers.
“Because. I was a killer. I didn’t care who it was, if they were a good person, if they had a family. If they were on my list, they died. Simple as.”
“Was.’ Eddie says, getting everyones attention on him again. ‘He was a killer, he was a machine. You’re not that person anymore, Buck. You left him at the doors of the LAFD Academy.”
“He still follows me.” Buck whispers.
“Only in your mind. Not in your actions, that’s for certain.’ Eddie cups Bucks face in his palms to maintain strong eye contact with him. ‘You’re one of the best firefighters L.A has ever seen, you’re someone I trust 100% with my son. Your past doesn’t change that, it doesn’t define you.”
“When did everyone on this team become so philosophical?” Buck croaks out.
Everyone sat at the table lets out loud barks of laughter at that, lifting the heavy mood somewhat.
“We’ve always been like this. You were just late to the party.” Bobby smirks.
“So, you guys are not mad at me?” Buck looks up through his lashes at his team, a move he knows is their weakness.
“Oh no, we’re plenty mad. But not at you.’ Eddie rushes to remedy before Buck panics. ‘We understand why you didn’t say anything. Hell, if my own experience is anything to go by, you must’ve gone through literal hell.”
“It was definitely… rough.” Buck allows.
“And it makes us even more proud of the man you’ve become.’ Hen smiles, taking her turn at cupping Bucks face in her hands. ‘I mean, the way your parents raised you should have made you and Maddie into much worse people than you are, but to go through, what? 11 years as a SEAL, and to still be the happy, loving and selfless person you are? I would say it’s a miracle, but in reality it’s just who you are.”
“You mean that?” Buck whispers in that ‘I don’t deserve this’ tone he has.
“Yes Buck. You are one of two of the most amazing people I have the privilege of knowing so closely. Secret SEAL past or not.” Chimney assures him.
“For the record, I’m not crying, I have dust in my eyes.” Buck sniffles.
“Sure you do, Buckaroo.” Hen smirks.
“So how long will you be gone?” Tanika asks, and everything comes crashing back down.
“6 months.’ Buck whispers. ‘Definitely long enough to lose myself.”
“Buck.’ Bobby stresses, spinning the man around in his seat with his hands on his shoulders to look at him dead on. ‘I already told you that I will drag Firefighter Buckley back to me kicking and screaming if I absolutely have to. But I don’t think you’re going to lose yourself, not like you did last time, okay? Last time, Commander Buckley had no one to think of but himself. Last time, he didn’t have a loving family waiting for him to return to them. Last time he didn’t have a reason to return. But now you do. You have all of that and more. I irrevocably believe that you will return to us. Not Commander Buckley. Not Warrant Officer Buckley. Not SEAL sniper Evan Buckley and not Angel of Death or Grimm. But you, Buck. You.”
Bucks bottom lip wobbles, before he’s falling face first into Bobbys arms in tears. Bobby holds him and rocks him from side to side, all while spewing soothing words from his mouth. The rest of the team huddle closer, placing heavy and comforting hands on their youngest member.
“The amount of faith you have in me is astonishing.” Buck gasps as he pulls away, minutes or hours later.
“The amount of faith I have in you is justified.’ Bobby amends easily. ‘You’re a good man, Buck. Going back to war for 6 months to fulfil your contract doesn’t change that.”
“And we will all be waiting for you to come home.” Eddie vows, moving to stand behind Buck and kiss the crown of his head.
Buck leans into the touch with a content sigh, closing his eyes and Eddie wraps his arms around him.
“Thanks guys.” Buck sighs, a soft smile on his face.
“It’s okay kid, we’ve always got your back. And hey.’ Bobby calls, getting Buck to reopen his eyes and look at him. ‘I told you so.” He smirks.
“Damn it!’ Buck pouts playfully. ‘I hate it when you’re right.”
“Then you really must hate it here all the time, because I’m always right.”
The bell ringing drowns out Bucks no doubt sarcastic reply.
—
8 Months Later
As soon as Bobby had got the phone call, he was on the phone to the Chief to plan everything out.
Buck was back today.
After two months of training on his days off, and a further six months away at war, he was finally coming home for good.
So the 118 were taken off of the roster for the day, and, unless it was the end of the world, they would stay that way until the end of the day.
Both trucks had been decorated with ‘Welcome Home Buck’ banners, made by the 118’s children themselves. And they carried as many of the 118 as possible inside of them to the airport, with cars full of more family and crew members following closely.
None of them were sure which Evan Buckley would be returning to them, as contact had been cut off shortly after his arrival in Baghdad, and who knows what kind of horrors he saw out there? But, as promised, all of them are waiting for him as he de-boards the plane and makes his way through customs.
Bobby, despite his assurances to the man, was a ball of anxiety for the entire six months he was gone. He had every faith in Buck to come back to them, but any number of things could’ve happened in those long six months to switch him back. He just hoped that his gut instinct was right.
Bobby’s torn out of his thoughts when he sees a familiar bundle of unruly curls make its way through the crowd, a head above the rest, which is something you could easily use to describe Buck and not mean his height. He holds his breath as he goes on his tiptoes to get a glimpse of-
Buck.
The man approaching them in his Navy fatigues with a megawatt smile and clear blue eyes is undoubtedly Buck. Just as Bobby had promised. It’s enough to release the knot of anxiety in his chest. The slight nod of his head is the only confirmation the kids of the 118 need, before they’re all charging forwards, screaming for their Buck.
Buck crashes to his knees, his pack thrown to the side as Christopher, Denny, Nia, Harry and May, as well as Riley’s twin girls; Lucy and Amelia and Martins son; Harrison, descend on him. Their loud squeals of delight as Buck hugs and kisses each and every one of them makes Bobbys heart swell with pride. Passers by in the airport stop and watch with smiles of their own, with some even recording his homecoming.
Athena wraps her arm around Bobbys waist and lays her head on his chest.
“Our son is an amazing person.” She sighs.
“He sure is.” Bobby smiles down at his wife, kissing her forehead.
Although it wasn’t necessary in the slightest, before Buck left, Bobby and Athena had eagerly signed the legal documents that proudly stated that he was their adopted son, after he finally cut all ties to his biological parents. He will always be known as Evan Buckley, or rather Buck, but he was their son now. Officially.
Another official thing that happened in those two months was Buck and Eddie tying the knot. Their wedding had already been in the works, but Eddie had refused to let his then-fiancé go off to war without putting a ring on his finger. It was a small and quiet but intimate ceremony, reflecting their relationship perfectly. Buck had then cried for a solid 5 minutes after Christopher presented him with even more adoption papers. This time, claiming the young boy as his son, and Bobby and Athenas first grandchild.
Finally, after some coaxing from their chuckling parents, the kids all jump off of Buck, allowing him to breathe. The second he gets back on his feet, however, he is ambushed by Maddie, who is carrying a 2 month old Eloise in her arms. Buck gingerly takes the tiny baby from his sisters offered arms, and cradles her close. He’s smitten already, that much is glaringly obvious.
“Hi baby girl. I’m your uncle Buck and I’m so so happy to finally meet you.’ Buck coos. ‘And I know your mommy and daddy are gonna take real good care of you, but I’ll always protect you from anything and anyone.”
Maddie wipes away her tears as she kisses her brothers cheek. “Welcome home, Commander Evan Buckley.”
“That’s not me anymore Mad’s.’ Buck exclaims with a grin. ‘As of today, I officially leave Warrant Officer Evan Buckley, Commander Evan Buckley and Sniper Evan Buckley behind. I am now just Firefighter Evan Buckley. Son, husband, father, brother and uncle. And I’ve never felt so good!”
“I am so proud of you baby brother.” Maddie practically beams up at her brother as she swiftly takes Eloise away so he can reunite with his husband.
Eddie wastes no time in tackling the taller man into a fierce embrace, lifting him up and spinning him around in circles, joyful laughter escaping both of them. Eddie finally settles his soldier back on his own two feet and kisses him with such intensity, Bobby almost has to cover Harry and Christophers eyes. He sees Karen debating doing the same for Denny and Nia.
The couple pull away before it comes to that - thankfully - and they’re both gasping for air.
“Bienvenido a casa, esposo.” Eddie whispers, resting their foreheads together.
“Es bueno estar de regreso, esposo.” Buck whispers back.
“I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, Ed’s. But I’m home now, and I’m never leaving again.”
They stay tangled up in one another for a moment longer, before Eddie releases Buck into Hen and Chimneys waiting arms. The best friends squabble over who gets the first hug, making Buck laugh loudly and drag them both in for a giant hug with his long arms. They both go willingly, squeezing their other best friend back.
“We’ve missed you Buckaroo. The station isn’t the same without you rambling off weird and wonderful facts during downtime.” Hen chuckles.
“And I will not miss having to do your scary as hell rope rescues with a brooding Eddie.” Chimney tacks on, smirking at Eddies glare.
“What? I missed my husband.” The man in question huffs.
Buck rolls his eyes and shoves Eddie’s shoulder playfully, before turning to Bobby and Athena.
“Hi mom and dad.” He smiles.
Bobby and Athena pull their son in for a tight family hug, with Bobby squeezing him from the left and Athena squeezing him from the right. Buck wraps his arms around both of them and pulls them impossibly closer.
“We missed you, son.” Bobby says into Buck’s neck.
“I missed you guys too.” Buck sniffles, tears clinging to his lashes as he looks between his parents.
“But you’re back home with us now, and that’s all that matters.” Athena sighs happily, snuggling closer to the blondes warmth.
“What do you say we get out of here?” Bobby suggests, loudly enough for the small crowd of their family to hear.
Everyone agrees, and then it’s a fight for who gets to holds Bucks hand as they exit the airport.
In the end, Christopher claims Bucks right hand with Lucy holding his other hand, Denny claims Bucks left hand with Amelia holding his other hand, Harry claims a piggyback, Harrison walks just ahead of him with his hand twisted in Bucks camo jacket and Nia settles on his shoulders. Eddie retrieves his pack from the floor and holds it with a warm smile directed at Buck.
“Are you sure about this?” Karen raises an eyebrow when Buck starts walking once everyone is comfortable, his stride not even faltering.
“Yeah, I’ve been carrying the weight of the 118 for a little while now, their kids are nothing in comparison.” Buck winks.
“Oh that’s how it is? Is that how it is, huh?” Hen raises an eyebrow, trying to glare at the younger man, but she can’t help but smile.
Everyone slowly gravitates outside, to where the trucks and the rest of their family is not-so-patiently waiting. Bucks eyes widen as they all shout ‘welcome home!’ at him, his eyes scanning each and every face and the banners, his eyes watering as he does.
Eddie’s Abuela and Pepa manage to wrestle the children off of Buck to drag him in for a fierce embrace, lavishing him with kisses and words of comfort that makes the man blush.
“Es tan bueno verte de nuevo nieto.” Isabel Diaz whispers.
“Es tan bueno verte Abuela.’ Buck whispers back before gently pulling away to address everyone else. ‘You guys did this all for me?”
“It’s not every day someone you love comes home a war hero for the very last time.” Chimney calls.
“I’m hardly a hero.” Buck mumbles, flustered.
“Oh, so the suicide bomber you disarmed to save the lives of 43 innocent children in a school was nothing, then?” Maddie raises an eyebrow.
“How the hell do you know about that?”
“It was caught on camera, and made its way over here. It’s been all over the news.” Eddie informs Buck, his chest puffed out with pride.
“Aw man, my Commanders are gonna push for me to take that stupid award now.” Buck groans.
“What award?” Bobby asks.
“A Medal of Honour.” Buck admits bashfully.
“Don’t you already need a Navy Cross to go up for one of those?” Maddie asks.
“Yeah, you do.”
“And.. you have one?” She gasps.
Buck nods. “Back during the start of my second tour, I managed to save my Team from a group of rebels, and was put up for the Navy Cross. I didn’t want it, ‘cause I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I was just doing my job.’ Buck shrugs. ‘I had to accept it though, and it lives in a box under the bed.”
“Baby, that’s amazing.’ Eddie gushes. ‘And you deserve the Medal of Honour.”
“But I don’t want it. I’m not a hero.” Buck states again.
“Yes you are.’ Athens steps forward. ‘Don’t you dare argue with your mother, Evan Buckley-Diaz.” She warns with an arched eyebrow.
Bobby spies the shiver that Eddie tries to repress at the name drop and smirks. As much as he does not want to think about it, he can only imagine how bad the man wants to get Buck alone after 6 months away from him.
“Lets just head back to the station, yeah?” Bobby calls, still smirking.
Buck agrees wholeheartedly an all but leaps into the drivers seat of one of the trucks. Bobby gives Eddie a ‘go ahead’ nod and his other firefighter wastes no time in joining his husband in the front of the cab. Hen climbs in the back with Christopher, Denny, Harry, Lucy, Amelia and Harrison.
Nia throws a little fit but Karen manages to pacify her with her unicorn as she carries her over to her car while everyone else spreads out in the rest. Bobby drives himself, Paulson, Martin, Riley, Chimney and Martin back in their other engine, bringing up the end of their little convoy.
The station is set up for a party when they arrive, with tables loaded down with food and drinks, more banners and balloons and confetti covering the walls and floors, and a giant ‘Welcome Home!’ cake sits proudly on one of the tables.
Buck flushes all the way down to his chest when he climbs out of the truck and catches sight of it all.
“You guys really shouldn’t have.” He whines.
“We really should have, so buck up Buck.’ Eddie teases as he wraps an arm around his shoulders and pulls him close. ‘I’m so proud of you cariño.”
Buck presses his lips to Eddies. “Thank you, mi amor.“
Bobby takes one look at their darkened eyes and sighs loudly.
“You have 20 minutes, not a second longer.’ He says, and they both look at him with wide, hopeful eyes. ‘The bunks are empty. Just please, clean up after yourselves.”
Bobby barely gets the words out before Eddie is dragging a laughing and blushing Buck away.
“You did the right thing.” Athena nods with a small smirk as she watches them go.
Bobby chuckles and kisses his wife hair, before pulling away and entertaining the group of people gathered for a party for a man who isn’t even there anymore.