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Summary: Eddie finds himself negotiating a potential polyamorous relationship with Buck and Tommy. Fortunately, relationship negotiations are just another skill he picked up in Afghanistan.
Tags: Dual timelines; polyamory; previous relationships; developing relationships; coming out; angst; denial of feelings; the canon deaths happen in the fic as well; grief/mourning; divorce; panic attacks; explicit sexual content; eventual happily ever after [for the throuple where.. they're all still alive.. (buddietommy)]
Chapter 8
Chapter Summary: Eddie struggles to support Buck and Tommy as their relationship falls apart, while also trying to come to grips with what is best for himself.
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Summary: TK takes it personally when Carlos arrives home late for dinner. And Carlos finds a way to make it up to him 😌
Rated E for 1,321 words of explicit sexual content
Note: Yes, the title is meta. I still owe you one more ficlet from the ‘angry/makeup sex’ series, Rebecca. Can you even remember who the pairing could be? 👀
I actually recommend everyone write for a rarepair once because it completely changes your relationship with fandom. Engagement stops being numbers and starts being names. You know who's going to show up. You recognize usernames. Someone disappears for a while and then comes back and you're like “OH MY GOD WELCOME HOME.” It's incredibly wholesome. It is also deeply inconvenient when all six of you simultaneously get writer's block-
I love the way you write Buck and Eddie’s friendship. I’d love to read something from around the time when Buck came out. 🥹
thank you frienddddd for sending this to me. i love love love love love the coming out scenes, and the one with eddie is so soft and loving. so this is a similar vibe, if you will. post-hospital kiss.
we'll call this one "peace after pain."
[wc: 1427]
By the time Eddie gets a slice of cake and sneaks into the hallway, Chris already back at the house with Abuela, headache receding from all the tequila and worry, it’s quiet.
The lights are dull, hospital visiting hours passed by an hour before, only the 118 and a few stragglers remain tucked into chairs lining the waiting room. They sit stacked together offering final congratulations to the happy couple before drifting apart before reuniting for their next shift.
There’s something about the ‘after’ – the way an emergency always heightens adrenaline, carries worry like wildfire, rampant and unending across harried terrain – that softens everything slowly.
Eddie’s used to the chaos – knocked up his girlfriend as a teenager and got carted off to war two times over. Lost his team in a helicopter crash that only brought their bodies home but left their minds back out in the desert. Every day the klaxon rings and every day he prays he makes it home to Christopher, waiting for the day his luck runs out.
But in the aftermath of pain is always peace.
And even if the pain carries on for hours, days – years, even – it always finds its way to peace eventually.
Today was a lucky one, one where his prayers were answered not just for his safety but for everyone he cares about. Chim survived, relatively unscathed, and found his words enough to promise forever with Maddie.
So, today, the peace soothes quickly, brings a barrage of beauty and, with it, Eddie finally feels like he can exhale.
When his eyes scan the narrow hallway, they eventually land on Buck, tucked in a corner on a bench at the end of it, Tommy slumped on his shoulder in sleep. He offers a little wave to Eddie with his free hand, the other holding a plate with cake of his own.
Eddie smiles, warmth filling the last little bits of his chest, love from Chim and Maddie blooming beside moments shared with Chris and Abula already settled there. But it’s not lost on Eddie how big this day was for Buck, too.
How hard it was for him to admit he was on a date with Tommy that night at the loft. The way he’d been so quiet, worry pinched between his eyes until Eddie finally realized he was focused on the wrong thing. Eddie hadn’t experienced something like that, himself, but he knew his job was easy.
Buck let go, and Eddie just had to catch.
When Buck disappeared after the ‘I Do’s and came back with Tommy, dragged along by his hand through the sea of people at the door, Eddie was already grinning. When he looked up and saw the soot lining Buck’s mouth, the giddy smile across his cheeks, he knew Buck made a choice that was so completely him, Eddie couldn’t be prouder.
“Hey,” he murmurs now, sinking onto the bench beside Buck. He leans over to make sure he hasn’t disrupted Tommy, but when he does Buck tosses a dismissive wave at him.
“He’s dead to the world,” Buck laughs. “Was at that wildfire the last day and a half. I don’t think you’d wake him up i-if you slapped him.”
Eddie raises his brows and teases “Or sprained his ankle?”
Buck shakes his head, rolls his eyes, and takes another bite of vanilla and buttercream. He looks happy in a way Eddie doesn’t quite remember seeing him before. Like he finally feels calm.
Peaceful.
“How’s the hangover?” Eddie asks, digging into his own slice.
Buck closes his eyes and takes a breath. “I’m gonna sleep for a day…or five.”
Eddie takes out a bottle of water he’d shoved into his pocket and cracks the seal, handing it over to Buck.
“Thank you,” Buck says before inhaling half the bottle. He offers it back to Eddie with a grimace, “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie shrugs. “There’s more. You keep it.”
They eat a few more bites in quiet company, the occasional door swinging shut nearby, Maddie’s laughter drifting from across the hall. Bobby and Athena duck out and wave goodbye to the pair before heading out themselves.
When they finish, Eddie takes Buck’s plate and stacks it with his own, tossing it in a garbage nearby before settling back beside Buck.
“I’m glad he could come,” Eddie says, gesturing to Tommy.
Buck looks up at him, eyes shimmering with surprise and that alone makes Eddie’s chest ache.
Proving people care in a way Buck doesn’t think anyone does is like fighting the devil himself sometimes, thoughts so ingrained they’re burned into Buck’s bones.
“R-Really?” Buck asks. “I-I mean–”
“Well, I had a question for him about the Cheville,” Eddie says, crossing his arms over his chest.
He cares, but he is still Buck’s best friend, after all – he can’t resist the teasing.
It works and Buck chuckles, the tension in his shoulders dropping slightly, his elbow playfully jabbing into Eddie’s ribs.
Eddie turns toward him, catching his eyes so he knows Buck hears him.
“Really,” Eddie says. “I’m proud of you, man. You didn’t let all this,” he gestures to the hospital halls, rooms lined with crash carts and nurses in scrubs, “trip you up.”
“Yeah,” Buck says, the weight of everything slipping away as he sinks against the wall, Tommy going with him. “Easier to do it a-all at once.”
“I’m sure it’s not easy, but…” Eddie says, leaning against the wall beside Buck. “You seem really happy.”
Buck turns and his smile widens, tears shining in his eyes, the brightness in them dimming the last of the worry. The ache in Eddie’s chest softens at the sight.
“I am,” he says.
Eddie glances between Buck and Tommy and it’s hard to stop the smile spreading up his own cheeks. Buck’s hand is laced lightly with Tommy’s, thumb brushing absentmindedly over his knuckles.
Tommy’s a good guy – and Buck’s the best guy Eddie knows – seeing them together like this makes so much sense, Eddie’s shocked he didn’t realize it sooner himself.
“And,” he nudges Buck, “Now everyone knows. You can bitch about him leaving towels on the ground at work like you always do.”
Buck elbows him a little harder this time. “I don’t always bitch at work.”
Eddie smirks and puts his hands up, “Then how do I know everything about the way your exes left their towels around?”
“It’s not…that’s–”
“Taylor uses three towels for one shower, Eddie. And then she gets another one to wash her face!” Eddie says in his best impersonation of Buck. “I got this fancy new apartment and there’s three places to hang towels in my bathroom, Eddie. Three! And Ali just–”
“Okay,” Buck concedes, laughing himself now. “Okay, yes. Fine. I like towels to be dry, sue me.”
“It’s a thing, Buck,” Eddie says.
“It’s not a thing, it’s normal!” Buck replies without pause.
“It’s definitely a thing,” Tommy mumbles from beside Buck, pinching Buck’s ribs and sinking deeper into his shoulder. “You already yelled at me for using the wrong hook the other–”
“It was the one farthest one from the shower, Tommy!” Buck scoffs, looking to Eddie for support.
Eddie offers none, just laughs and leans over Buck to tell Tommy. “It’s his weirdest thing. That and the other thing – with gum.”
Tommy cracks one eye open and furrows his brow. “What about gum?”
Before Eddie has a chance to explain, pain spikes up his shin and he hisses, glancing to see Buck’s foot collide with it again. “Ow, jeez Buck.”
“Shut up,” Buck grits out. “I have no things.”
“Well,” Tommy smirks, “You have one thing.”
Eddie can’t let it pass by, seizing the moment and saying, “Yeah, the towel thing.”
“I’m leaving,” Buck says and starts to shove Tommy off him and slip from between them. Tommy wraps his arms around him and holds him in place with a playful whine.
“No, no, no,” he says, “We were kidding. Come back, Evan. Please, you’re so warm.”
“You were just surrounded by fire for twenty-four hours, how could you possibly want to be warm?”
Eddie inhales and takes the opportunity, standing and turning toward the couple. “I’m gonna take off. I gotta relieve Abuela so she can sleep in her own bed.”
Tommy offers a tired wave and Buck knocks fists with Eddie before he heads back toward the room to bid the happy couple farewell. The peaceful warmth that slotted into place seeing his best friend so happy carries him all the way home.
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Summary: Buck and Tommy have a little accident one night. Buck devises a plan to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Read on AO3, excerpt below
Tommy stared at the diner menu in front of him, eyes roaming over the same several lines without reading them. Guilt sat heavy in his stomach, so he wasn’t sure what he’d even be able to eat. But he couldn’t look up, couldn’t bear to look across the table at Evan.
“I’m so hungry,” Evan said, and Tommy could hear the sound of the sticky, plastic coated pages being turned back and forth. “Do I want breakfast or dinner? A burger maybe?”
“Anything you want,” Tommy said without looking up. “You haven’t really eaten today.”
“That’s true,” Evan agreed, the sticky pages turning again. “I wonder if they’d let me get a side of pancakes with my burger…”
“Why don’t you get the burger. I’ll order breakfast and you can have my pancakes.”
“Deal!” Evan said cheerfully.
Evan’s cheerful voice still wasn’t enough to assuage Tommy’s guilt. He sighed.
“Tommy,” Evan said gently. “I’m fine-”
Evan didn’t finish his thought. The bell at the diner’s door jingled as someone walked in.
“Hey guys,” Eddie called out as he approached their booth.
Tommy finally looked up and across at Evan. “I didn’t realize you’d invited Eddie,” he said quietly.
Evan gave him an apologetic look then turned toward Eddie. “Hey, man.”
Eddie stopped dead in his tracks and Tommy tried to imagine seeing Evan through Eddie’s eyes. Evan had dark bruises spreading from the bridge of his nose beneath his eyes. His nose was swollen and red, a big scrape and bruise in the middle of his forehead that disappeared beneath a bandage he’d received at the hospital. With his short sleeved shirt, Tommy could also see where the inside of his elbow was bruised, thanks to an intern in the ER who had struggled to find his vein.
Tommy had been afraid to look at him too much, feeling absolutely sick that he’d been the cause of that pain.
“Jesus,” Eddie said under his breath. “What the hell happened?”
Eddie turned and looked at Tommy, assessing him, no doubt noticing that Tommy was completely injury free.
“Sit down so we can order some food,” Evan said impatiently.
Eddie took the seat next to Evan, did a quick scan of the menu, then shut it. Their waitress came soon after to take their order and bring them their drinks, then left them to it.
“One of you better talk,” Eddie said, looking between them, then his eyes landed on Evan and he lowered his voice. “He didn’t do that to you, did he?” he asked, jerking his thumb toward Tommy.
“Not on purpose,” Evan said.
Tommy winced and Eddie glared at him.
“Listen,” Evan said calmly. “I’m fine, okay? Both of you need to calm down about it. But Eddie, there’s a reason I asked you to meet up with us.”
Click Here for Part 1 (June 2024 - End of Summer Hiatus/Start of Season 8)
Click Here for Part 2 (October 2024 - Start of Season 9)
my heated rivalry pseud ao3 account is home_planet_hero_90.
here's a ficlet i wrote for "hold me under" by riley nash
Here's something literally nobody asked for but I will provide anyways. My fic master list (space_cadet09 on AO3).
Details below the cut including Tumblr ficlets and works posted on AO3.
Always taking prompts for rare pairs or buck/tommy! Send 'em to the asks (talk to me baby).
128 works as of 07/09/2026
Labeled to assist: Buck/Tommy, Sal/Tommy, Josh/Eddie, Ravi/May, All Other Canon Couples, Other
Like my work? Check out typicalopposite, writerdot, firewasabeast, bigfootsmom, and do_androids_dream for similar angst work and other authors I love including 30somethingautisticteacher, judymarch15, herrmannhalsteadproduction (Idontgohereeither), nine-one-wanton (nine_one_wanton), and rdng1230 (RiNew1717)!
My sickfic collection
My friends forward (non romance focused) collection
Crash that Helicopter Collection
Edits: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Tommy Kinard/Evan "Buck" Buckley "Bad Things," Tommy Kinard/Evan "Buck" Buckley "Here Comes Trouble", Maddie Han/Chimney Han, Evan "Buck" Buckley & Bobby Nash (cw: addiction)
Tumblr Ficlets/Not on Ao3:
"The Cold" (BuckTommy haunted horror)
"Accusations" (Chris Diaz & Buck; angst)
"kryptonite" cw: dead animal mention
Bucktommy Prompt Request Roundup
"brotherhood" chim & buck spec fic for 9x14
"bobby knows best"post 9x14 ficlet
911 Season 9 Celebration Roundup
Tommy turned on by Buck 1.0 on the news
"Sanctuary" (Bucktommy; Whump)
Sad Athena Ficlets: "A Piece of Him (I)", "A Piece of Him (II)"
300 Follower Celebration (missing fic scenes): Tiny Heartbeats, Rich Boy Tommy, Double Date Disaster, Slice of Life
"Underdogs" (Eddie/Fr Brian & Buck/Tommy)
"Snapped"
"Tommy does this thing..."
"After the fact" (smut post "Holy Mother of God")
217 follower celebration (all hurt/comfort prompts)
"Special Order" (Tommy Loves Buck's Legs)
200 follower celebration: Madney H/C, Tevan H/C, Tevan Crack, SalEddie Crack, Tevan Fluff
"Bi Visibility Day"
"Buddies"
118 word challenge (thank you 118 followers!)
"Bee Mine"
Art for "Soft Silences & Gentle Mornings"
"Broken Glass"
"Give Me Evan Buckley"
Summary: Buck isn't feeling well and, especially after his bout with cancer, he struggles with worries surrounding being sick. Eddie & Tommy care for him.
A fic in universe of @judymarch15's "Better Together" in the "My Best Friend and a Pilot" universe.
Summary: Eddie finds Tommy and Buck after the Han's hasty hospital wedding, eating cake in the dim light of the hall. He joins Buck while Tommy dozes and they share a moment of quiet friendship.
"Something Blue"
Pairings: May Grant/Ravi Panikkar; Harry Grant & 118 Firehouse Crew; Harry Grant & May Grant
Summary: When Ravi proposes to May, Harry's determined to give May a gift that will be meaningful, so he reaches out to someone at the 118 that has a skill he needs to borrow.
"Stone Over Water"
Pairings: Eddie Diaz & Evan "Buck" Buckley
Summary: Buck has a tough day with Theo and work, and when his cravings to use hit their peak, someone shows up and gives him exactly what he needs.
"Like a Phantom"
Pairings: Eddie Diaz & Jack Abott (The Pitt); Eddie Diaz & 118 Firehouse Crew
Summary: The day starts like any other, but when the 118 is called to the scene of an accident and Eddie is tasked with life-saving treatment, it pulls up memories of the Army. Luckily, a familiar face is on scene, helping him - and the patient - pull through.
"Laugh Lines"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: Tommy wakes in the hospital after an on-the-job incident to Buck at his bedside, soothing him.
"Fine Print"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Sal Deluca/Eddie Diaz
Summary: After a scene with Eddie, Sal closes off and leaves a little unsteady - when Eddie follows, his heart stops when he finds Sal the victim of a car crash.
A fic of a "maybe missing scene" from @nine-one-wanton's "Terms & Conditions" - Chapter 17/18.
"Like Old Times"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Howard "Chimney" Han
Summary: The 217 is the first station on scene of Chim's rebar accident and Tommy is shocked by what he sees. He meets the probie that took his place at the 118 and shares a moment of quiet support with him while he waits for news.
Summary: Christopher has a field trip on the Marine Science Floating Lab off the LA Coast - and Buck and Eddie are chaperoning. It doesn't go according to plan, and when they need assistance, the 217, with Tommy, are called in for support. buddietommy exchange 2026.
"A Slice Every Time"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley & Sal Deluca
Summary: Buck attends a recovery meeting and feels a little unmoored, but meets Sal Deluca and shares a small celebration with him as they develop a friendship. sal deluca week day 7: free choice.
"When I'm Gone"
Pairings: Past Sal Deluca/Tommy Kinard; Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: Sal Deluca is diagnosed with cancer and, in a yearly charity event dedicated in his honor, probie firefighter Buck collides with his past partner, Tommy. Sal Deluca Week, Day 2 Prompt: Traditions; Takes place somewhere in season 1; no abby.
"Bet On It"
Pairings: Sal Deluca/Tommy Kinard; Sal Deluca & 118 Firehouse
Summary: Sal's easy with his affection and the 118 makes a bet on it. When Tommy doesn't get the same reaction from Sal, he confronts him on why he's left out, surprised by the answer he finds. sal deluca week, day 1: firehouse shenanigans & prank wars.
"Safer At Night"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: Buck spirals after the events of "D.I.Y." (Season 9, Episode 14) and it's a slow build towards a crash landing. Tommy's there to pick up the pieces.
"Dreams in the Desert"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Eddie Diaz; Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz
Summary: On the last leg of their road trip, Buck struggles with a nightmare and panic. Eddie calls in reinforcements to help him through. Post season 9, episode 13; alternate universe-buck/tommy never broke up.
"Hey Jealousy"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard; Tommy Kinard & Eddie Diaz; Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz
Summary: Eddie's been Buck's best friend for some time and, because of that, knows exactly how to get under his skin. Buck's jealousy can only take so much.
or
Five times Eddie is a little shit to Buck and one time Tommy is.
"Broken Little Bird"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: Struggling through pain, Tommy wades in memories of childhood love and abuse, guided by his mother’s voice and grounded by Buck as he fights to survive. Posted initially on tumblr, cross-posted on AO3.
"The Last Stop"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: After the 118 responds to a school bus accident, Buck learns a tiny hero has a hero dad, too. AU-Different First Meeting.
"Fresh Hell"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: Tommy is diagnosed with Lung Cancer and struggles with how this impacts his relationships and his life. When Buck finds out, they find their way back to one another one piece at a time. Posted initially on tumblr, cross-posted on AO3.
"Carry-On Chem"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: When Buck picks up the wrong luggage at baggage claim - with the wrong passport zipped inside - he goes on the hunt to find the owner, and finds love along the way.
Summary: After a horrific crash with the 217, Tommy Kinard decides it’s time to leave mid-air rescues behind and find work that keeps him on solid ground. Through a friend of a friend, he’s connected to a private security firm and takes on a new role as a bodyguard, one he quickly finds unexpected purpose in.
Meanwhile, Evan Buckley is thriving with the 118 until a call gone wrong sparks fears of a stalker. Reluctantly, he’s forced to hire private protection - and ends up with Tommy assigned to his case.
Through danger, violence, and fear, the two men form a bond that soon grows into something far deeper than professional duty.
"Thirty Days"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: After the loss of Bobby and meeting his attic-dweller, Buck decides to bake for Dwayne's AA meeting and winds up running into someone unexpected.
"Behind the Blue Line" [mild crossover with Heated Rivalry]
Summary: An accident leaves a known reality and alternate life with a man in love in both. Stuck between them briefly, what’s real and matters most is revealed.
"Minestrone Soup" [Missing Scene/Inspired by "Nonno Tom's" by @judymarch15]
Pairings: Eddie Diaz/Sal Deluca
Summary: Eddie calls in sick to work and Sal is worried about him, so he makes him minestrone soup and brings it by.
"Busted (Inked Up)" [Collab w/@judymarch15]
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard, Eddie Diaz/Dr. Val Salazar, Evan "Buck" Buckley & Eddie Diaz
Summary: When Edie, Buck & Tommy's daughter, isn't feeling well, Buck asks Eddie to check her over and they find out the girls went behind their backs to go to a tattoo parlor. Eddie and Evie, his and Val's daughter, share a special moment in the wake of Edie's confession.
"Trigger"
Pairings: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Tommy Kinard
Summary: On a typical call, Buck runs into someone familiar and is confronted by something he thought he'd moved past - the bombing of the 118 ladder truck.
this is for my babygirl @judymarch15 based in her incredible, perfect, fantastic, amazing buddietommy universe (my best friend and a pilot).
this is stemming from her fic (for moiiiii) called better together. everyone should read it because its amazing (mind the tags) but you dont have to have read it for this lil sickfic. a couple lines may confuse you i guess but you're a big girl (gn), you can figure it out.
Ever since he’d gotten the diagnosis – been through surgery and radiation and beat the thyroid cancer head-on – Buck’s been anxious every time a headache has so much as tip-toed into the back of his mind.
The night before, he’d been exhausted – falling asleep before the opening credits finished rolling on a movie Tommy’d picked out and Eddie claimed was a classic. They’d begged him, said he’d love it, “come on Buck, it’s got everything – action, romance, aliens” – and usually he would.
The scent of buttery goodness had wafted through the living room, Chris was at Kaylee’s house – the same girl he’d been on-again, off-again with for the last couple years – and Buck was already snuggled into the cushions.
He was wrapped Tommy’s hoodie, one that smelled like his deodorant and motor oil and coffee, and Eddie was pressed against his side, fingertips dancing through his curls.
He didn’t even notice his eyelids drooping, didn’t feel himself start to drift. It wasn’t until Tommy brushed his hand down Buck’s cheek and pressed a kiss to his temple that he realized he’d missed the whole movie.
Music blared from the speaker and the screen rolled through visual effects artists and the soundtrack, and Buck wasn’t even sure he’d heard an actor utter a single line.
“C’mon,” Tommy murmured, running his hands down Buck’s shoulders to wake him up. “Bed’s waiting.”
“S’rry,” Buck muttered, scrubbing his eyes and aimlessly following Tommy down the dark hall. Eddie was already under the quilt, scrolling through his phone when they got to the bedroom.
He threw back the covers and let Buck crawl in, pulling the blanket back over Buck’s shoulders as soon as he’d collapsed beside Eddie.
Eddie pressed a kiss to his cheek and Buck could feel his fingertips trace over his temple, the soft press of his fingertips brushing under Buck’s jaw.
“You feeling okay?” Eddie had asked, voice gentle in the dim light of the bedroom lamp. Buck could hear the shower running along with the low hum of Tommy’s baritone, a broken melody of some late 90’s rock song Buck didn’t know the name of.
Buck blinked one eye open, squinting up at Eddie. “Mm, just tired.”
“I’m covering tomorrow, remember,” Eddie said regretfully, fingers still tracing over Buck’s cheek. “Tommy will be here, though.”
Buck huffed, dismissing the worry easily. They’d just worked a double and ended on a call that landed them in an office building with eight flights of stairs. Their equipment wasn’t getting any lighter and, if the shimmering flecks of gray in Eddie’s hair were any indication, they certainly weren’t getting any younger.
Buck yawned, shuffling closer to Eddie as he let his eyes close again.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, already feeling the pull of sleep. “You worry too much.”
He wasn’t even awake long enough to hear Eddie’s reply.
Now, he’s up for the third time in as many hours, nausea slowly churning in his gut, skull tight with tension. He’s been trying to fall back to sleep, to will his mind to slow; for the worry that comes with the lingering feeling of sickness to recede and bring the headache with it.
He’s pressed against the tub, feet bare and cold against the tile, but for just a moment – a flash of a second – he’s back at the beach the night of his diagnosis. Toes in the sand, shivering on the edge of the ocean, mind as distant as the sun setting along the horizon.
So lost in his own thoughts, he doesn’t hear the door creak open, the sound of soft footsteps against the floor, the quiet whisper of his name. It’s not until he feels those fingertips again that he realizes he’s still in the bathroom.
“Baby,” Eddie murmurs. “Come on, let’s get back in bed. I can help.”
Buck blinks and suddenly he’s sitting there – on the edge of the bed, a shiver rolling through him. Eddie crouches and meets his gaze, brows furrowed, eyes shining with worry.
“You feel warm, did you take anything in there?” Eddie says, straightening the hoodie on Buck’s shoulders, fingertips finding Buck’s pulse just inside his wrist. Buck hums against the warmth.
“No,” he says. “Felt like I might be sick…ca-can’t sleep.”
Another shiver runs through him and Eddie’s gone, then back again, tugging socks on his feet.
“Wanna lay on the couch?” Eddie asks, handing Buck a glass of water and pills he didn’t even notice Eddie grabbed. “Anything else bothering you?”
Buck hears a soft grumble behind him and the blanket is tugged backward, Tommy shifting before his breath evens back out in a quiet snore.
Buck smiles faintly, assessing each part of his body. There’s an ache deep in his muscles, the nausea still sitting heavy, a headache – symptoms he compares to ones he had…before. He tries to bring up memories of the way his muscles had been tight back then, how exhausted he’d been to the point of frustration.
It’s a playbook he’s memorized by now, one he wishes he could forget.
“I’m sure it’s just something from work – a bug,” Eddie says, as though he can read Buck’s thoughts. “Want me to call Dr. Graham’s office?”
“N-No,” Buck rushes to say, shoving the memories down and focusing on Eddie, warm at his side. “Couch is good.”
Buck shuffles to the living room with Eddie at his back. They split when Eddie makes another pit-stop at the kitchen where he refills Buck’s water and gets a fresh ice pack.
The couch is still soft where Buck was nestled in during the movie, pillows shoved together to snuggle into. When Eddie joins him, he lifts Bucks head and settles him onto his lap before returning his fingers to Buck’s curls.
“Hmm, feels nice,” Buck murmurs, feeling the tension at the base of his neck and into his spine seep into something softer. The nausea that was threatening to overwhelm him settles and his eyelids grow heavy.
He tugs them open and looks up at Eddie when he makes a realization, “You have to work tomorrow.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry, I can sleep later,” Eddie says, smoothing his thumb over Buck’s birthmark. The phantom weight of the touch drags Buck’s eyelids closed again, sleep finally greeting him with hesitant arms. “Get some sleep, baby.”
The next time Buck blinks his eyes open, Eddie’s gone, warm lap replaced by another one, just as familiar and strong.
“Hey,” Buck mumbles, voice rough with sleep. There’s still a drumbeat behind his eyes and he feels a shiver course through him, a thin sheen of cold sweat lacing his temple.
Tommy moves his book and his adorable, glasses-wearing face smirks down at Buck and just that moment – that look of adoration, fills him with warmth he’s been missing. The soft flutter of care smothers the now ever-present nausea, at least for the moment.
“Sunshine,” Tommy says softly. “How’re you feeling?”
“Like I’m being cooked on the inside and frozen on the outside,” Buck says, shoving off the cushions and sitting up. He’s barely straightened out before he’s tipping against a wave of dizziness. Tommy reaches out and steadies him.
“Easy,” Tommy says as he shuffles and grabs something off the table. When Buck pulls an eye open, he reaches out, hand trembling, for the icy glass of water.
It feels like heaven, the rush of cool liquid sliding down his throat. Buck can still feel Tommy’s hands on him; knows he wasn’t the only one that feels the memories of his cancer like they’re branded into his skin.
They’d had to spend a week apart, separated by a door and distance that felt like miles even when it was down the hallway. Buck had done radioactive therapy, had to keep a certain distance in a time when his emotions threatened to crush him at every turn.
Now, if he has a headache, feels a tickle in his throat, feels a chill in the air – Eddie and Tommy are at his side before he can blink. Connected to him until they’re assured that he feels better. Know he doesn’t need them at his side anymore.
“Eddie?” Buck murmurs, tendrils of confusion running through him. He can’t be sure how much time has passed, the room is dim, but the curtains are pulled, the soft light of the lamp at Tommy’s side the only warm haze in the room.
“He’s at work,” Tommy says, bracing his palm against Buck’s neck, grounding him. “It’s still early, not even eight o’clock yet.”
Buck feels the distinct rush of illness – one that leaves him restless but exhausted, sticky with sweat but shivering with fever, wishing he could settle back into sleep easily, but knowing it’s out of reach.
“I feel gross,” Buck says, slumping against the couch.
“Want a bath?” Tommy asks, slowly freeing Buck’s legs from the tangled blanket wrapped around them. “Or I could get a damp washcloth – we could move back into bed if you want.”
Frustrated and worn thin, Buck can feel a tear threaten to fall. He blinks it back, swallowing down the knot in his throat. It’s just a bug, he’s sure, but the rush of emotion unseated from the back of his mind washes over him again in an instant.
Tommy brushes a hand over Buck’s cheek and Buck feels the damp trail of a tear that’s fallen.
“Come on,” Tommy says softly, pulling Buck to his feet. “I think a bath would be nice.”
It’s better than nice. It’s perfect, the warmth of the water and the cool press of Tommy’s hand against his forehead settle him again. Damp skin washes traces of sweat and the stickiness of the couch feels like a distant memory.
Tommy stays with him, leans against the side of the tub while Buck relaxes into a fitful doze. He brushes over Buck’s arms when his skin prickles with goosebumps. He runs a cool washcloth over Buck’s neck when the fever starts to spike again.
The rest of the day moves carefully, quiet and gentle with nowhere to be. Tommy doesn’t leave his side, save for brief trips to the kitchen for oatmeal and applesauce, Gatorade and water. For more pain reliever and ice packs and fresh t-shirts and new socks that are warm from the dryer.
When the fever finally breaks the next morning, Buck feels like a week’s passed, the anxiety of illness skimming through his nervous system along with the last dregs of sickness.
He’s wrapped around Tommy’s middle, eyes still closed while he gathers the courage to open them, when he hears the soft click of the bedroom door.
“Hey hon,” Eddie hums, and Buck can feel him hover over the bed, hear him lean in for kiss with Tommy. “How’s he doing?”
“Fever broke,” Tommy says, the steady rhythm of his fingertips a familiar melody over the last day. “I called Dr. Graham’s office. They said to call back if he’s not feeling better in the next couple days.”
“When he’s up, I’ll give him a once-over,” Eddie says, and the soft care and quiet support mean more than either he or Tommy could possibly realize.
It’s that that lures Buck to finally open his eyes, grateful that the world doesn’t spin when he blinks up at the men he loves.
“Morning,” Tommy says, leaning over to kiss the top of Buck’s curls.
“Hi, baby,” Eddie says, sitting at Buck’s hip on the edge of the bed and leaning in for his own kiss. “Feeling better?”
“Mm,” Buck hums, curling closer to Tommy. “A little.”
“I’m gonna shower, and we can get some more sleep, yeah?”
Buck nods and Tommy adds, “I can make some breakfast. Maybe we can try toast today?”
When they both look at Buck, he sees it all. The years spent working towards something together, the love and affection tucked into every wrinkle, every laugh line deeper because of one another, every moment reflected on back at him.
“Yeah,” Buck says easily. “T-Thank you both.”
“No thanks needed,” Eddie says with a soft smile, then stands, heading to the bathroom. Surprised at his depleted energy, Buck can already feel his eyes getting heavy again.
“Get some more sleep,” Tommy tells him. “When Eddie comes back, I’ll get up.”
“Hm, love you,” Buck mutters as he drifts off once more.
And even if he doesn’t hear the words, he knows them to be true.
That Tommy – and Eddie – would do anything to make him feel better, to make him happy. If the cost of having so much love in his life is being sick now and then, Buck doesn’t think the decision’s a hard one to make at all.
Or just read the epilogue: x-here-x (if you’re already all caught up)
Ship: saltommy
Summary: Sal and Tommy have been broken up for close to a decade. And both have a lot of complicated feelings about that relationship. Old habits die hard, and Tommy reaches out to Sal during a weak moment. They have an opportunity to unpack those complicated feelings and see if they can’t be rearranged into something that looks like a second chance at a future.
A shoutout to @sunnywithachanceofbi for the prompt. It was supposed to 5 sentences, and here we are at nearly 8k.
Sal courtesy 🏷️: @dear-sidney @fenrirscarsback @letsdosciencetoit @chemistry66
@iamfaithmanages @bluroux + @thecarrott (I’ll count it as a belated Sal Saturday contribution!)
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I have several WIPs 🥲 but I will answer for my most active one.
fanfic or original? title?
Fanfic! It is called Now and Them
Because I’ve always wanted a fic where the title just seems like a typo.
first two sentences of your current project
“It’s been months!” Mills proclaimed, after a couple of beers. “We should tell each other our first names.”
“Oh, hell no,” Binder countered.
most recently written sentence of your current project
They all had backup.
favorite line(s) in your current project
I can’t remember lines from anything I’ve written once I’ve written it. Luckily I have wonderful fandom friends that will quote myself back to me as they read and I always wind up thinking, “oh yeeeeeah.. I did write that!”
But since I just posted a chapter today, I sneaked a peek back at some of the last lines of it and I do like this part, bc of the cruel dramatic irony:
He could feel the love and the strength of their evolving family. And he knew with unshakable certainty that this was a lifelong journey that they were facing. And no one was going to have to face it in isolation.
janainaart
izzy806
blakekathryn
tangentwithtanner
kianamaiart
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
origamiaround
