Tortured Overthinker

Of course, it’s basketball. Buck hates basketball, but if Theo wants to try it then he’ll do whatever that kid wants. When he goes to sign Theo up for the sport, they say they’ll have to add him to a waiting list. The reason? They don’t currently have enough parent volunteers to coach another 4-5 basketball team.

Buck knows nothing about basketball. Literally nothing - not that this seriously matters because it’s 4-5 year olds - but he can’t just let them not have a team that Theo and can play on. So what does he do? He tells the rec he’s got a perfect volunteer to coach and signs Eddie up.

After doing so, Buck is a little worried that Eddie is going to be mad that he signed him up for this without asking so he makes a big dinner, gets his truck washed, buys his favorite beer at the store, and goes across down for Eddie’s favorite desert. But it turns out he didn’t need to do all that because Eddie’s not even remotely mad. He’s thrilled, telling Buck, “Theo wants to play basketball? Are you kidding? This is perfect! Finally there’s a Buckley that wants to play basketball with me!”

He shows up to their next shift with a pair of basketball court shoes and a tiny LA Lakers jersey for Theo. As well as a dry-erase clipboard with the basketball court outlined on it and markers because he’s planning on making practice plans during their down time. The rest of the 118 are so confused as to why Eddie is the one coaching this team and not Buck, and keep sharing so many funny looks. But Buck can’t stop smiling because Eddie is just so excited.

When the first practice rolls around Eddie picks up Theo to take him to the gym while Buck goes to pick up Chris from some after school thing and bring the post-practice snacks for the kids because Eddie might be the coach, but Buck is the official snack dad. When Chris and Buck show up at the gym they stake seat on the bleachers with the other parents waiting for practice to end and watch. It’s a little chaotic because they’re 4 year old boys, but Eddie is so good with kids that they’re latching on to every word he says. Are the kids any good? Not in the slightest, but they’re trying their best and Eddie is beaming the whole time.

One of the mom’s comes and sits next to them, introduces herself and asks, “Which one is yours?” When he points out Theo, she says, “Oh, Theo? That means you must be Coach Eddie’s husband. God, you really know how to pick him. That man’s a miracle worker. You’re so lucky.” Buck nearly chokes, but before he can correct her, Chris pipes up beside him with a smirk replying loud enough for her to hear, “Yeah, Buck. We’re so lucky you’ve got a husband like dad.” Buck glares at him because now all the team parents are going to think he and Eddie are actually married, but Chris just gives him a shit-earring grin before going back to scrolling on his phone.

When they take turns practicing shooting at the end the only one to make a basket is Theo and everyone is so excited. The other kids cheer for him, but the first thing he does is go rushing over to Eddie who scoops him up in a big hug as Theo giggles with excitement over his basket, talking a mile a minute by giving him a replay of the shot as if Eddie hadn’t just witnessed it. Eddie just listens intently, nodding along grinning widely as he reacts to Theo’s retelling. Buck physically can’t stop the way his chest cracks in half at seeing the two of them together. Beside him Chris sighs and says, “Those heart eyes you’re wearing right now? That’s why people think you’re married.”

Buck scoffs, “I do not look at your dad with heart eyes.”

“Buck, you’ve looked at my dad with heart eyes every single day since I was seven. I know what it looks like. It’s seared into my brain.”

Buck doesn’t have time to think about Chris’s comment because Eddie calls for practice to end. After a quick chat and a team chant, Eddie directs the kids over to Buck and Chris to get snacks. In the chaos of Buck and Chris handing out snacks he doesn’t realize at first that Theo hasn’t joined them. Not until he’s got two extra snack baggie and juice boxes (one labeled with Spider-Man and the other Coach Eddie). When he looks up he sees Theo still running around on the court giggling wildly, carrying the basketball as Eddie chases him around. Eventually Eddie scoops up the 4-year-old and lifts him up to basket and lets Theo dunk. With a cheer, Theo kicks his legs for Eddie to let him down to he can get the ball and they can do it again.

That feeling comes back as he watches them this time, only for Chris to elbow him and tease, “You’re doing it again.”

Maddie is being distant and disapproving, keeping herself and Jee away from Theo, stressing at every opportunity that it’s only temporary, etc.

Meanwhile Eddie is being over-invested and defensive, putting himself right in the middle of it all and barking like a guard dog any time anyone tries to get near Buck or Theo, or to question anything Buck does, or to even suggest he might need their help.

Ultimately it’s because Maddie is terrified that Buck will be broken hearted if Theo’s grandma or whatever turns up and takes him away, so she’s trying to protect him by being cautious and careful with how far she connects with Theo, trying to model a safe route through a rough situation.

And Eddie is working through his own issues about both the way his parents made (make) him feel inadequate when he was (is) trying to care for Chris, and also his massive guilt about not being the supportive partner Shannon needed for those first few years, by making Buck feel like his decisions are good ones no matter what anyone says (including Buck when he questions himself or wants to ask for help from other people), and showing him that Eddie has his back.

So they’re both coming from a place of love and support, but they’re approaching it so differently that it creates tension and conflict between them, which makes everything worse.