Okay, not to Tommy post mid 2026, but I was rewatching random episodes, and the thing that makes the whole way Buck and Tommy didn't really know each other that much more of a red flag, is that Buck is incredibly aware of the needs of the people around him. To the degree that it could end up detrimental to him. Because it's how he copes with the concept that he might be replaced. He tries to anticipate needs so that people will keep him around.
Obviously Eddie is an intense example of how he does that. But also goes down to things as simple as making sure he's getting the correct type of milk for Hen's drink. It's a thing he does. With Taylor in particular, when they are accidentally living together for the 1st half of s5, we get little glimpses of that. And then we have the big gesture of showing up for her even though she told him she needed to do that alone, because he knew she might need him, so he wanted to be available. But also with Abby, besides the big thing with her mother, he's also aware of the things she needs around the house. Buck is not low effort with the people he cares about.
So the lack of communication, the lack of that awareness when it comes to Tommy is glaring. They don't talk and that's out of character. It highlights how it's physical but there is no real connection. I don't have to have feelings for everyone I sleep with and all that. It's the way they don't really communicate. The way Buck didn't notice the Lakers tickets were a test. The way he didn't bother getting a gift himself. The way that he was not aware Tommy felt threatened. He doesn't look that deep into the connection. Which is out of character for him. And that point comes back with the unicorn hunters and the way Buck didn't even bother to know their last name and he's talking about real connection. When what they had was chemistry that Buck let stop at that.
It's why during S4, Taylor seemed like she could be there for a while, because they did establish a friendship before crossing the line even though they had already had sex before. It comes back to how Buck needs someone who gets to know him outside of the physical, so that he's not faking that intimacy right away and letting himself ignore the fact that he wants that awareness, that he likes taking care of the people he loves. Even if he panics that people won't want him around if he doesn't make himself useful. It's a part of how Buck loves. And it makes the absence of it that much more intense.
