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They were supposed to be friends. He’d treated Bobby so well, practically worshipped the ground he walked on, and Bobby had left him. Not even a goodbye when he quit Hotshots and went back to his hero life. It was like Brad meant nothing to him. But Bobby meant everything to him.
Brad spent days afterward fixating on the man, countless nights dreaming about what kind of heroics Bobby was getting up to without him. He’d gotten a taste of it from the plane crash and it was addicting, getting to do something real for once. He wanted to be a proper hero, to be next to Bobby every day and save lives together like they were meant to.
Maybe Bobby just didn’t realize that they could still be friends outside of the show. That must be it. He just needed a reminder that they were meant to be in each other’s lives.
He’d gotten the man’s number before, having taken the liberty of sneaking it from some paperwork weeks ago. And now he had the perfect excuse to use it.
Brad: Bobby mate, long time no see. How bout we meet up for some drinks soon? On me.
Bobby: Brad? How did you get my number?
Brad: Asked around, didn’t I? Figured we can still be mates even if you’re off the show.
Bobby: I don’t drink. Sorry, Brad.
Brad: Coffee then.
Bobby: Don’t have as much free time now that I’m back. I’ll get back to you.
He just needed time then. Fine, Brad could wait. That didn’t stop his mind from constantly thinking about Bobby though. Especially when his hero wound up on the news.
The 118 had saved a bus load of kids teetering over the edge of a bridge, just managing to get the last kid and driver out before the bus went plummeting off. Brad recorded the footage and watched it on repeat over and over again without getting sick of it. He didn’t care about the kids or any of the other firefighters doing the grunt work. No his focus was entirely on Bobby, watching him in his uniform. The way he took charge lit something in Brad’s chest, something that had always felt hollow before. His fingers gently brushed his phone screen over where Bobby stood, wishing he could feel the coarseness of his skin and the fabric of his uniform.
Brad: Saw your big rescue on the news, nice job mate.
Bobby: It was the whole team’s save.
Brad: Team can’t work without a proper captain, can it?
Bobby: Thanks.
Brad had hoped he was making progress, but just like that all communication stopped. Bobby didn’t answer any of his texts, no matter how insistent they became, and any hope for actually meeting up with him quickly evaporated. Once again Brad was left feeling abandoned. He hadn’t done anything wrong, why was Bobby acting like this?
He felt like his life was crumbling apart in the agonizing silence. This wasn’t fair, he wouldn’t just give up on their friendship without any answers. Something had to be wrong, something he could fix. So he went online and looked up station 118.
The firehouse was bustling when he arrived. He ignored the other firefighters who stared at him coming in, searching until he found Bobby’s face upstairs. For a moment he just watched, entranced by the smile he saw. There was a familiar woman in a police uniform talking with him. Athena, the wife from the plane crash. No doubt she was the reason his texts weren’t getting answered, jealous of their friendship and how well they could work together.
“Brad, what are you doing here?” asked a voice from beside him and Brad spun to face Buck. The kid had been competent enough when they met on the way to the plane crash, clearly close to Bobby by the way he hung off the older man’s every word. Now his brow was furrowed in an odd concern.
“Dropping by to see a friend,” Brad answered casually. He looked back up and saw that both Bobby and Athena were now staring down at him. “Oi mate, good to see you.”
“Buck, get up here,” Bobby ordered sternly, Brad grinning at the man as he began to come downstairs.
“Bobby-“
“Now, Buck,” repeated Athena. Buck took one more odd look at Brad before obediently darting upstairs, Bobby squeezing his shoulder as they passed.
“Wanted a private conversation, eh?” Brad joked, though he faltered at the glare written on Bobby’s face.
“What the hell are you doing, Brad?” Bobby demanded. “You can’t just be showing up at my work like this.”
Brad felt himself get defensive, this wasn’t how Bobby was supposed to react at all. “Well, you haven’t exactly made it easy to get in touch have you? Need a new phone, Bobby.”
“I was trying to be polite. I hoped maybe when I stopped responding you’d get the hint and move on.”
“Move on?” Brad asked indignantly. “After everything we’ve been through? I forgave you for leaving without a word because I thought if we grabbed that coffee you’d start appreciating me a bit more.”
“Then let me clarify,” Bobby snapped. “There isn’t going to be any coffee, no hanging out. And the only reason I let you tag along to an emergency you are completely unqualified to handle is because I was more concerned with saving my wife than dealing with you.”
Brad’s gaze flicked upward to where Athena was still watching him like a hawk, matching his hatred with her own. “Is that what this is about then? The missus jealous, eh? Scared she can’t compete?”
Bobby stepped even closer but Brad didn’t step away, enjoying the heat between them. “Talk about my wife like that again and I’ll knock your teeth out.”
“The fuck is your problem?” he questioned, this time jabbing at Bobby’s shoulder. In the corner of his eye Buck made as if to intervene, only stopped by Athena’s firm grip on his arm. “We were supposed to be mates, Bobby!”
“No we weren’t,” replied Bobby coldly. “We’re not friends, we were coworkers. And that’s over now. So leave me, my team, and my family alone. Do you understand?”
Brad stepped back, fury alight in his veins. “You think you can just toss me out like rubbish. You’ll be fucking sorry.” He turned and stormed out of the firehouse.
They’d all gotten in his head somehow. They didn’t want Brad to have him and now they’d convinced Bobby that they weren’t friends. The humiliation burned in his gut and he fought against the relentless rage commanding him to act on it. He wasn’t done. He’d make Bobby understand.
The next week he spent calling Bobby’s phone only to be sent to voicemail each time without fail. His messages became more irate every time he was brushed off. He didn’t deserve this treatment, not when he’d been so good to Bobby.
When he came to realize he must be blocked by now, he had to resort to more in person measures. He went back to the firehouse, this time staying in his car at a distance observing. It was almost enough just getting a glimpse of Bobby coming in and out, but he could never be satisfied at such an impersonal relationship. He began trailing Bobby, first to his house so he could gaze on the place his friend slept and relaxed outside of work. Then he took to carefully following the 118 when they were called to an emergency. He couldn’t be obvious about it and there were times when he’d lose them because he had to stop at a red light or expose himself. But the few times he managed to stick with them the whole way were more than worth it. It was even more amazing than the news report, actually watching him work so calmly and efficiently. He still couldn’t reach out and touch him, but there was no screen between them now.
He was able to get away with this for months, gradually getting more obsessed with his hero’s exploits even as it distracted him from work. He’d take pictures of Bobby in command, saving them all to relive later. Sometimes the emergencies would end in tragedy and Brad would watch a deep sadness weigh Bobby down. He knew he could make it go away if only the man would let him. Instead he had to watch one of Bobby’s firefighters comfort him instead. Usually it was Buck, Brad couldn’t help but be jealous of how often the kid got to touch his friend. A shoulder squeeze here, a side hug here. Their eyes always found a way to drift to each other after too long.
It was ironically at a car crash when things came crashing down. He’d tried to stay out of the way enough that he could watch Bobby’s work play out. But things could never just be easy. Soon enough a police officer was ushering him back into his car and pressuring him to leave the scene before he’d gotten more than a glimpse of Bobby. And before he could drive off, he looked back and met Bobby’s gaze several feet away.
Another officer showed up at his door the next day. “Look, this is your only warning,” the officer scolded. “What you’re doing is stalking and doing it to a fire captain and police sergeant’s husband of all people won’t end well for you. Get some help man because the next time we get a call you will be arrested.”
Brad played up the part of repentant tragic figure quite well, he was an actor after all. Or at least he was until he received a call from his agent that he was being fired from the show for unprofessional behavior. It was all being taken away from him and Bobby still refused to see the truth. Brad knew he’d run out of time and chances, he could no longer take no for an answer.
He went to Bobby’s home that weekend. The car wasn’t in the driveway, but he was content to wait for the man to get home so they could talk things out. So he strolled up onto the porch and leaned up against the wall, content to wait. Only he didn’t get to cherish this privacy long.
“You shouldn’t be here.” Brad swore under his breath and slapped a smile on his face as he turned to where Buck was once again rudely interrupting. The kid always managed to be just hanging around and now Brad had been caught in the act.
“Buck, good to see you lad,” he greeted. He took notice of a container of brownies in Buck’s hand that looked freshly made. “Waiting for Bobby to get back?”
“Yeah and you shouldn’t be here when he does,” Buck said, eyeing Brad warily. “This is stalking, dude.”
“Now I don’t know what you’ve heard,” Brad defended coolly, “but this is all just a big misunderstanding between friends. Bobby and I will have it out and clear the whole thing up. Don’t worry your little head about it.”
“Look Brad, just go home man,” Buck snapped. “He doesn’t want to talk to you, just leave before I call the cops.”
“No need for that, mate,” Brad said, raising his hands in surrender. “Just wanted a chat is all. But I’ll get out of your hair.”
He walked down the steps before glancing over his shoulder to see that Buck had already turned his back. The kid even had his own key to Bobby’s house and Brad felt himself growing envious again. Bobby was his friend, he should be the one to be able to come and go as he pleased instead of being turned away. He needed to see inside, needed to inhale the scent of Bobby’s home and all the little pieces that made up his life.
As Buck pushed the door open and slipped inside, Brad found himself charging back up the stairs. The door hadn’t even fully closed when he slammed into it. He heard a crack as the wood collided with the back of Buck’s head and sent the young man sprawling to the floor. The dish in his hands smashed on the ground and brownies went everywhere. Brad stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind him just as Buck started to roll onto his back with a groan.
“Brad?” He slurred in confusion, left hand smeared with blood as he pressed it to the back of his head.
Brad took the opportunity to kneel down over Buck. “Need to work on your manners, lad. No way to treat friends.” The kid was clearly bigger and broader than Brad himself was, so he slugged him in the jaw once for good measure. Buck moaned in pain, eyes dazed and afraid.
This time when Buck moved to struggle, Brad was able to easily pin his arms to his chest. He reached into his pocket with his free hand, pulling out a syringe he made sure to brandish in front of Buck’s face.
“This was meant for Bobby,” he explained calmly, “but you’ll have to do.” He gently inserted the needle into Buck’s neck and pressed the plunger. As he tossed it aside, he thumbed at the drop of blood that spilled from the injection point. “Won’t hurt a bit. Just can’t have you ruin this for me.”
“B-bobby,” Buck called out weakly. “Ath-Athena.” Brad couldn’t risk a neighbor or anybody passing by hearing even the subdued noise. He clamped his hand down firmly over Buck’s mouth, shushing him. Buck squirmed underneath him but his movements were already sluggish from the blows to the head. It didn’t take long for his blinks to slow and his fearful protests to turn to faint huffs of air on Brad’s palm.
Brad waited until the kid had gone fully still to take his hands away, patting him on the chest. There was something satisfying about it all, a new feeling he’d never experienced before yet already wanted to relive again. For a second his hand drifted over Buck’s throat. It wouldn’t take much pressure at all, really. Just a bit of force and the problems would be solved before he had a chance to wake up. But Brad wasn’t there quite yet. Buck hadn’t been a bad kid when they’d met in the ambulance all those weeks ago. It was understandable that he wouldn’t want to share someone like Bobby, he’d just have to learn. Besides, Brad already regretted that this was how things were starting between him and Bobby and he’d prefer to keep them from escalating further if he could.
Instead he wrapped his arms around Buck’s torso and hoisted him up, careful not to drag him over the broken glass as they moved to the couch. He sat Buck upright and positioned him more comfortably. His gaze wandered about the living room and he was drawn to the assortment of memories that had been placed with care. This was what he wanted, a greater peek into the life of his dearest friend.
Much of them were with his wife and two young ones he gathered were their children. But there were so many others, the same handful of people over and over like they were mocking Brad for not being let into this photographic inner circle.
And Buck’s face kept appearing.
Buck at a wedding with the rest of the inner circle. Buck with Bobby’s arm around him at some sort of ceremony at the firehouse. The two in the kitchen together, unaware they were even being photographed. Buck in front of the Christmas tree with the wife and kids like he was part of the family. Even without Bobby in the picture, Buck popped up over and over again. Buck with a woman in a dispatch uniform. Buck holding a little girl in his arms and grinning. Buck with one of Nash’s firefighters beside him and a boy with glasses safely perched atop his shoulders.
Brad briefly considered killing the young man again before shooing the thought away. It was the memories that were the problem. He deserved to be in all of them. So he’d make Bobby destroy all of these mockeries and take a whole new batch with Brad at his side where he belonged.
He continued his study of the living room. On the mantle beside more photos were a series of urns. Marcy Nash. Brooke Nash. Robert Nash Jr. Oh, there was a fascinating story there. But that would come later.
Brad tore himself away from the living room and into the kitchen. He searched through the drawers until he found a roll of sturdy duct tape in a junk drawer, then unsheathed a large knife from its holder. Now it was time to prepare and he had a perfect use for the sleeping young man in the other room…
*****
Filing the restraining order had been more time consuming than Bobby had thought it would be. Yet another step of this whole nightmare that just continued to spiral. But Athena had insisted on it until he finally gave in. Bobby really hadn’t wanted to take such a drastic step. Brad seemed unwell, like he needed help more than incarceration. But the team had backed Athena up when the pattern of behavior continued to get worse. Texts and phone calls were one thing, but following them around even on the job was escalation.
And Buck had gotten more protective in the way he always did when he was worried about Bobby. Bobby didn’t want him involved at all, but he hadn’t been able to say no when Buck had started coming over for dinner more often and double checking the locks on the new house every time he did so. He’d even taken to surveying the area at every call they went on for any sign of Brad’s car.
Buck had offered to cook that night, no doubt he could handle it and he knew that they were coming from the police station after filing the restraining order. Everyone knew Bobby hadn’t been sleeping as well the last few weeks, waking to any sound that could be an intruder in his home. But the truth was cooking side by side with Buck was exactly what he needed. He knew it calmed Buck down, but Buck didn’t realize that it did the same for Bobby more and more in recent years.
They were nearing home when he got a call, Athena glancing over from the driver’s seat as he saw Buck’s name and answered. “Hey kid, we should be there in a few minutes. Just let yourself in.”
“Already did that.” Hearing Brad’s voice on the other line chilled him to the bone and he almost dropped the phone.
“Brad?” he choked out, alerting Athena immediately. “Why do you have Buck’s phone?”
“He’s having a nap right now,” Brad answered. “Figured he wouldn’t mind. We met outside your place and he so graciously let me in. Lovely home you have.”
“You’re in my home?” he asked with a look toward Athena. “I swear if you’ve done anything to Buck-“
“Not much,” Brad replied darkly. “Not yet. But I might get bored if you keep me waiting much longer. So here’s how it goes, mate. You come home and you walk through the front door so we can finally have that chat you’ve been putting off. Nice and simple. But if I hear any cops or sirens, and that includes your wife, Buck won’t make it through dinner.”
“I understand,” assured Bobby. “Just don’t hurt him. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
When he hung up he was shaking. Once again Buck was in trouble and it was because he’d pissed off the wrong person. He barely managed to repeat Brad’s instructions to Athena, grateful that she was able to keep it together for both of them and start formulating a plan. She wouldn’t let anything happen to Buck, they’d get him out of this and Bobby would spend the rest of his life apologizing for all of this.
They pulled up on the curb outside and got out at the same time. Athena signaled to him that she’d sneak around the back to try and catch him off guard. That meant Bobby only had to keep him distracted, nice and simple.
Glass crunched under his feet as he walked in. There were brownies all over the floor and Bobby immediately recognized them as his mother’s recipe from his childhood that Buck had taken to recreating whenever Bobby needed cheering up. Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them away and stepped further through the house until he spotted Brad.
Buck was on his knees, unconscious and seemingly only held up by Brad’s grip on him. There was tape around his wrists, ankles, and his mouth as if he posed any kind of threat in this current situation. But the thing that had Bobby’s pulse racing more than anything was seeing the kitchen knife Brad held to Buck’s throat. It would only take the slightest movement to fatally wound Buck and Bobby would never forgive himself.
“I’m here, Brad,” he stated. “You can let him go now.”
“You know I can’t,” Brad told him, free hand resting on Buck’s forehead to expose more of his throat. “Not when he helps you behave so well.”
Bobby spotted a darkening bruise on Buck’s chin underneath the tape. “You said you wouldn’t hurt him.”
“I said I wouldn’t hurt him more,” countered Brad with a chuckle. “Had to use just a bit of force to calm the lad down.”
“Why are you doing this?” Bobby demanded, letting his temper slip for just a moment.
Brad scowled at him in response. “You, Bobby. It’s all for you, it’s always been for fucking you. All I wanted was for you to be my friend. We were fine for weeks, you and me, and then you fucked off back to your hero life and it was out with old Brad. What is it about me that was so unbearable for you to be around?”
Bobby could think of a million things, but he honed in on a truth that he hoped wouldn’t set Brad off. “You treated me like a hero. I never wanted that, I never deserved that. I was just doing my job, as a firefighter and on that show.”
“Tell me the truth,” Brad spat. “You were never going to stay, were you?”
“No,” confessed Bobby. “I was miserable every day on that set. But I should’ve handled things with you better and I’m sorry.”
“Oh well if you’re sorry it’s alright then. Look at the effort I’ve had to go through just to get your attention, just to get you to listen!” His hand holding the knife quivered dangerously and it took everything for Bobby not to react.
“I know,” he replied, “and that’s my fault too. My fault, not Buck’s.”
“You know I feel like we really know each other,” Brad said warmly. “But I have to ask… what’s the point of this one?” He gestured down to Buck and Bobby’s fists clenched, wanting to pull him to safety and pummel the man who’d hurt him. “I mean, since the first day I laid eyes on him he’s practically followed you around like a needy little puppy. And now you burst in here like you’re Liam Neeson. What’s the motivation here, mate? Is he supposed to be some sort of replacement for your lost family? Because that would be beautifully tragic, really a hell of a backstory.”
“Shut up,” Bobby snapped before he could help it. His eyes darted over to where the ashes of his loved ones sat, a monument to both his love and his failure. And then his eyes moved back to Buck, swearing the next words he said like a promise even though the kid wasn’t awake enough to hear them. “You wouldn’t get it. Buck’s my family, the first kid I was blessed with after I lost everything even if I didn’t deserve him. But he’s never been a replacement. I love him for who he is, not who he isn’t.”
“Very touching,” Brad practically mocked. “Guess you can let someone in after all, if they’re good enough for you. Him and that new wife of yours are in plenty of pictures, aren’t they? But you couldn’t let me have that.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Bobby saw Athena creep in the back door before forcibly turning his gaze back to Brad.
“What do you want from me, Brad?” he asked. “What’s it going to take?”
“The same thing I’ve always wanted,” said Brad. “You and me are going to be good mates like we’re meant to be. We’ll go somewhere new, someplace quieter, and start over just me and you. Hell, I’ll even bring the little one because I know how much he means to you.” He jostled Buck at that part, Buck’s head limply slumping forward and only just missing the blade.
“If that’s what it takes to keep him safe.”
Brad seemed elated to hear that, even moving the knife away from Buck. “Now that’s more like it. You’ll see, Bobby, he’ll come around.”
“You’re forgetting one person though,” Bobby told him. “My wife.”
At that moment, the floor creaked where Athena stepped behind Brad. Brad turned to glance over his shoulder and Bobby took his chance, rushing at him and grabbing the hand holding the knife. Buck was knocked to the side and Athena managed to keep his head from hitting the floor. She tried to help subdue Brad, but he managed to punch Bobby and spin to catch her with an elbow. Athena fell back, Bobby scrambling to his feet in time for the knife to slice across his arm.
“You just don’t fucking learn,” Brad growled. “Maybe if I take away everyone else, you’ll finally appreciate me.”
Bobby tackled Brad before he could swing the knife again. The blade slid out of reach and Bobby lost himself in his anger, unleashing a barrage of blows on Brad. “Don’t. Ever. Touch. My Family!” he bellowed.
It was only a pair of hands pulling him back that finally stopped him. “It’s alright, Bobby,” Athena assured. “You got him. The cops are here now. We’re all safe, baby I promise.” Bobby nodded, still panting as he watched two officers haul a bloodied Brad to his feet.
“They can’t keep us apart forever, mate,” Brad taunted, grinning through red teeth as he was dragged away.
Bobby’s focus returned to Buck as soon as Brad was gone, kneeling beside him and ripping the tape off. “Buck? Come on kid, open your eyes okay?” He gently shook Buck until he was looking at a pair of glassy blue eyes.
“Bobby?”
“That’s right, it’s me,” he whispered softly. “Everything’s okay now.”
Buck leaned into the comfort of Bobby’s hand on his cheek, still looking drowsy and confused. “Brad… got in the house. ‘M sorry.”
Bobby shushed him, pressing their foreheads together. “It’s not your fault, kid. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
The paramedics came and Bobby reluctantly had to let go of Buck, who didn’t manage to stay awake after that. He was grateful that it looked like the kid would only have a concussion and some bruising to recover from this time, plus whatever drugs Bobby could deduce had been put in his system. It killed him not to be able to ride in the ambulance with Buck, but he knew there’d be a lot of police questioning to deal with before he could race to the hospital. Athena would handle contacting the rest of the family to make sure Buck had someone looking after him until then.
“Can you tell me what happened?” the officer asked him.
The first word that Bobby blurted out, “Actors. It’s a long story.”