look after you || a buddie fic
âïž @911giftexchange fic for @bombera    hey, tori! i'm wishing you the happiest of holidays! this year has truly been one for the books so i hope this fic will help to end 2020 on a good note for you! it kinda ran away from me but i hope youâll enjoy! âïž
word count: 4.7k || read on ao3
You've begun to feel like home, yeah What's mine is yours to leave or take What's mine is yours to make your own
Infamously December is known to be a hectic month but now, with just a little over two weeks until Christmas, Eddie is feeling the pressure. His work schedule leaves little to no time for him to prepare for the holiday season, time slipping through his fingers with such ease that it had come as a surprise to see just how close he and the rest of the world were getting to the big day.
His concern was bad enough but this last week his mind has been additionally preoccupied with worrying over his son who is the latest person to come down with the bug thatâs running rampant. If he isnât at work, heâs right by Chrisâ side, doting over him and doing his best to insure his comfort.
Throughout it all he has had Buck, his best friend and confidant, a man he can share virtually any thought with. All, really, but one. Eddie groans internally. His unspoken feelings for Buck are the last thing he needs to dwell on now. But the thought is far easier to think than put into practice with Buck sharing this space with him. Even on his day off Buck opts to spend time at the Diaz house, an additional set of hands that Eddie is beyond grateful for at such a time. Buck has long since been a staple in his home and now, more than ever, heâs grateful for his companionship and help to keep him from going under. Buck seems to understand him in ways very few can, sensing his needs and thoughts without a single word uttered.
He can feel Buckâs eyes on him as he pops two slices of bread into the toaster but he focuses on his task, doing his best to keep his head on straight though his mind is a riot of thoughts.
Eddie massages the back of his neck to relieve some tension, stretching it a bit as he draws in a breath.
âAlright, whatâs going with you?â Buck asks.
Eddie turns back to face him and shrugs. âItâs nothing. Iâm just trying to figure out a game plan. I still have to finish holiday shopping but youâve seen our schedule for the next two weeks. Weâre practically going to be living at the station.â
âBut we have today off and itâs only noon. Thatâs plenty of time for you to head out there while I stay here with little man. See? Simple solution.â
âItâs your day off. I couldnât do that.â
âI can watch him, itâs not a problem,â Buck insists.
Eddie hesitates. Itâs a great offer, one that would quickly remedy his dilemma. âI donât know, Buck. Itâs a big ask. Itâs short notice and heâs sick.â
âItâs not a big ask. Itâs not even an ask at all; Iâm volunteering. And besides,â Buck says, puffing up his chest. âBuckleys donât catch colds.â
Eddieâs mouth twists to one side in thought. Today really is the one true window of time heâll have and itâll certainly be easier to stealthily buy Chrisâ presents without his observant son being able to see what heâs purchasing. Resigned, Eddie nods slowly, knowing this is the best offer he could possibly have.
âAlright, yeah, okay. Iâll try and hurry back but still, I know itâll be a few hours until Iâll be back home.â
Buck rolls his eyes. âWould you relax? Take all the time you need, seriously. Chris and I always have a blast together. Weâll be just fine. I promise.â
âNo, I know heâs good with you. I justâŠâ
âSuck at accepting help, yes, I know,â Buck teases, patting him on the shoulder with one hand and gesturing towards the front of the house with the other.
âGo. Iâm officially kicking you out. Donât forget to get me something nice, yeah?â
~*~*~
Eddie returns home with a trunk full of presents after a very successful trip to the mall. Heâs managed to get for everyone on his list and the relief he feels in having this task officially scratched off his to-do list is a major weight off his shoulders. He carries a few bags in with him to the house. From the moment he steps inside he can hear the raucous laughter of Christopher and Buck coming from the living room, his son breaking into a small coughing fit afterwards.
Eddie stashes his purchases into the closet, hiding the bags under his jacket in a feeble attempt to bury it for the time being. Buck and Chris carry on chatting and Eddie is certain that neither of them realizes heâs gotten back, so wrapped up they are in their conversation.
âMaybe we could go to New York like Kevin next year for Christmas? Me, you, and Dad.â
Eddie feels his body tense and he stays in place, curious as to what Buckâs response will be.
Eddie could easily picture it, the three of them taking on the city. The images that flood his mind teem with warmth and joy and sincerely, Eddie would love nothing more than to wrap himself in that. But a trip that elaborate wouldnât be a casual thing between friends, at least not for him. Itâs one thing to have Buck over at his place or for them to go on outings around LA with Chris on weekends. A Christmas getaway would carry far more weight. Itâs something that families do. Something twinges a bit in Eddieâs chest at the thought. Somewhere along the way, without Eddie even fully realizing it had solidified itself, thatâs precisely what Buck has become to him, and apparently Chris too.
âNow thereâs an idea. I would love to go with you guys. Sure you wouldnât mind me tagging along?â
Chris is quick to respond, casting away any trace of doubt. âNope, the trip wouldnât be the same without you.â
Eddie can hear Buck sigh. Itâs clear just how touched his best friend is by Chrisâ sentiment and Eddie would have to agree with his son. Any trip, any facet of life really, is so much better when Buck is thrown into the mix. Heâs so interwoven into the fabric of their life, itâd be hard to picture any moment, big or small, without him there experiencing it with them.
âSee, this is why youâre my favorite Diaz. Donât tell your dad I said that though. It may break his old man heart,â Buck laughs, Chris joining in.
This melody is Eddieâs favorite sound, the lightheartedness of his two favorite guys sharing a private joke. Itâs the little things like this that light him up, that fill him with a warmth so vibrant and strong that it takes every ounce of strength in him not to sit Buck down one day and have a serious conversation. But Eddie has never been good with words and in a case like this, for a topic this important, he knows a talk like that would be best handled with care. Whenever, or rather if ever, that day comes, Eddie hopes heâll be prepared to handle it. Instead heâll stick to this, to cloaking his feelings for the sake of keeping the scales balanced.
âWith laughs that big Iâm guessing someone is feeling better?â he says aloud, essentially announcing his presence.
He steps into the living room and sees the space has been transformed. A giant fort is set up in the center of the room and at the mouth of it is Buck and Chris stretched out side by side on pillows from the couch and Chrisâ bed. It looks like the coziest of setups and Eddie isnât at all surprised to see that Buck got creative in trying to make Chris as comfortable as possible.
Chris slaps on an innocent smile but Buck apparently has a harder time schooling his features.
âEddie, youâre back. I didnât even hear you come in,â he says, picking up the remote.
The end credits for Home Alone 2 flit by on screen. Buck hits pause as Chris reaches for the DVD of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
âCan we watch this one next?â he asks Buck whoâs already nodding.
âOh, definitely. This is one of my all-time favorites. How about I get you another bowl of soup and then we can fire this one up. Sound good?â
Chris gives him a two thumbs up and flops back against the pillows, plucking a tissue out of the box and wiping at his nose. Eddie frowns seeing his son so sick but the best he can do is continue supplying him with medicine and fluids to help him through it.
Buck carefully climbs out of the fort and walks over to Eddie, the two of them going into the kitchen.
âHowâd your shopping go?â Buck asks as he opens the fridge and takes out a container.
âReally well. I managed to get stuff for everyone on my list, including a certain pest I know,â he jokes the second Buck opens his mouth, no doubt to check about the status of his own gift.
âWell, Iâm glad you have your priorities in order then, thank you.â
A comfortable silence falls between them as Buck moves around the kitchen and Eddie is struck, not for the first time since befriending Buck, at how comfortable his friend is inside of his home. Thatâs all Eddie could have ever wanted. Buck moves with such assurance taking a bowl down from the cupboard, pulling a spoon out of a drawer, knowing exactly where everything is without hesitation or having to ask. It warms his heart to see this, to know that Buck must feel comfortable here, that this could somehow be home.
âThanks again for watching Chris for me. I canât tell you how much I appreciate it,â he says as Buck pops the now filled bowl into the microwave.
âDonât mention it. I love hanging out with him and if I can help you in any way, I will. Always.â
Buck holds his gaze and for a moment, Eddie thinks heâll say more. Thereâs something in his expression that looks as if heâs trying to communicate something wordlessly but far too soon, the moment passes and shortly after the microwave beeping breaks the silence between them. Buck smiles softly before turning away but Eddie keeps his eyes trained on his back, getting lost in his thoughts.
Maybe this is all in his head or perhaps an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking is at play but lately something has felt different between them, as if thereâs something going unspoken.
Buck gets a tray and puts the bowl on top of it, carefully picking it up from the countertop.
âI can bring it to him,â Eddie says, gesturing to take the tray. âYou can get out of here, if you want. You should enjoy whatâs left of your day off.â
Buck rolls his eyes as he side steps and laughs. âThatâs exactly what Iâm doing now. Didnât you hear? Itâs Charlie Brown time. No way in hell am I missing him or that tree.â
Eddie smiles softly and shakes his head. He opens his mouth to say something but falls short on words. Buck seems to understand regardless as he smiles back and nods.
âI know,â he says simply. Eddie wants so desperately to ask what exactly it is that Buck knows, what he feels but he lets the matter go for now.
This right here is more than enough, he reasons. To have Buck look at him and comprehend even a fraction of his gratitude.
~*~*~
Eddie knows he worries too much but watching Buck throughout their busy morning and early afternoon with back to back calls, he canât help but to feel a little troubled over Buckâs slower pace and quieter nature. Usually he could be counted on to be the most energized and talkative during calls but today heâs so much more subdued and it feels like a real cause for concern.
âYou okay?â Eddie asks, searching Buckâs face as they wash their hands in the bathroom to prep for lunch.
âYeah, I just need some food in me and Iâll be good to go.â
Buck smiles reassuringly but Eddie isnât convinced. Nonetheless he follows Buck up to the loft where the rest of the crew is already gathered around the table. Eddie takes a seat beside Hen who sits across from Chimney, the two already engaged in conversation.
This leaves Eddie the coveted spot of sitting opposite Buck.
Buck settles in at the table beside Chimney, placing a hand against his throat as he clears it before he reaches to the center of the table to start fixing his plate. Eddie watches him curiously as heâs done all day, noting the way Buck seems to be moving a bit slower than usual, the manâs eyes trained in focus on the simple task of putting food on his plate.
Eddie wonders if heâs reading too much into Buckâs body language but given how well he knows his friend, he feels safe in his assumption that Buck is off today because heâs sick and putting forth his best efforts to disguise this fact. Out in the field it was easy to attribute Buckâs pace to the amount of work the team had to put into their calls but now, with everyone finally able to unwind and catch their breath, Buck still looks put out.
âBuck, youâre really hot,â Chimney says as Buckâs arm grazes his. Eddie purses his lips, his suspicion confirmed easily.
Buck flashes a smile and a wink. âTell me something I donât know. But I donât think Maddie would take it well to know youâre hitting on her brother.â
Chim smacks his hand against his forehead and shakes his head.
âYouâre no match for your sister, I can tell you that right now, but thatâs not what I meant. Seriously, donât you feel warm?â
Buck shakes his head. âNo. Itâs actually kind of cold in here, isnât it?â
Hen pushes back from the table across from him, putting a hand over her mouth and nose.
âNope, youâve got to go. Cap, this bug is making the rounds quick. I swear half of Dennyâs class is out with it.â
Bobby rises from his seat and walks over to Buck, placing a hand on his forehead. Buck looks like a grumpy child as his bottom lip pokes out slightly.
âJeez, Buck. Youâre like a furnace. Iâm afraid I have to send you home.â
âBut, Cap!â Buck tries to protest but Bobby shakes his head and holds up a hand to stop any more objections.
âThatâs an order. And here are some more for you: drink lots of fluids, get in bed, and stay there. Be sure to get a ton of rest until this fever breaks. I know you want to stay on and help but youâre going to sideline the whole team if we donât do this. Sorry, Buck.â
Buck sighs defeatedly and pushes back in his seat, rising to his feet. The crew murmurs their get well soon wishes to Buck as he heads toward the stairs and Eddieâs heart sinks to the pit of his stomach knowing how and why Buck is sick in the first place. He rises from his seat, quickly wiping at his mouth with a napkin before following him to the locker room.
Eddie stays quiet at the door as Buck gets his locker open and takes out his bag.
âSo much for Buckleys donât get sick, huh?â Buck says with a sigh, sitting down on the bench.
Eddie steps further into the room and sits beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. Heâs surprised when Buckâs hand comes to rest over his. Buckâs hand is warm and Eddie relishes in his touch but too soon, the feeling is gone; Buck quickly lets go and clears his throat, shifting his attention to his bag. Eddieâs hand falls limply into his lap.
âThis oneâs on me. Iâll stop by after work and check on you, okay?â he ventures.
âYou donât have to. Iâll be alright.â
âMaybe so but Iâd feel a hell of a lot better seeing that for myself. I can drop you home now, if you want. Iâm sure Bobby would let me run off for a bit.â
Buck smiles softly and shakes his head. âYouâre a good friend, Eddie, but I can manage the trip home. I promise Iâll follow Dr. Nashâs orders to the letter. Iâll be back on my feet in no time, just you wait and see.â
~*~*~
Itâs been two days and Buckâs fever has been making its presence known; itâs Chrisâ symptoms all over again but Eddie is ready for it, already having placed a call to his grandmother for even more of her miracle soup. Eddieâs been anxious at work, keeping his phone within reach at all times just waiting to get replies from Buck when he checks in. Some messages are more coherent than others but overall it seems as if Buck is hanging in there as much as can be expected.
Eddieâs certain that what his friend needs now is his grandmotherâs home-cooking to really send Buckâs ailment packing. Itâs to her house he heads straight to after his shift, his thoughts resting heavily on Buckâs recovery.
âAbuela?â Eddie calls out as he locks back the front door of her home.
âIn here!â
Eddie follows her voice to the kitchen where he finds his grandmother ladling her soup into Tupperware, the remnants of vegetables and spices on the counter.
He greets her with a kiss on each cheek, taking a set back so she can continue filling the container sheâs halfway done with.
âThanks for doing this...again,â he muses. âOne day I swear Iâll learn how to make this stuff.â
She gives him a doubtful look but smiles. âI donât mind making it for you and your boys.â
Eddie eyes her for a moment, taking note of the implication of her wording. Unsure of how or even if he should call attention to it, Eddie switches gears a bit.
âIâm sure Buck is going to appreciate it. This soup was practically magic for Chris. Buck is chomping at the bit to get back to the station. This is just the thing to get him there again soon.â
His grandmother sets the ladle down and secures the lid on the container, double checking that itâs properly sealed.
âAnd Iâm sure youâre eager for him to get back, too.â
Eddie is brought up short by this, his brows furrowing in thought. Isabel Diaz is as formidable a woman as ever and is always far too good at reading things that werenât spoken with Eddie. In a case like this, it only makes him feel on edge rather than comforted.
âWhat are you getting at?â
Isabel shrugs her shoulders but despite how nonchalant the gesture is, Eddie knows there must be more to her thoughts than sheâs letting on just then.
âNothing. Nothing at all. Buck is your best friend, no? I would think itâd make sense that youâd want your partner back.â
Eddie can feel heat rising in his face and quickly turns to the pantry, opening the door to it and taking a tote bag off one of the shelves, taking advantage of the brief moment of reprieve to pull himself together.
Eddie returns to her side and begins packing away the various containers. His grandmother is nothing if not efficient and thorough. These batches will be enough to get Buck through the week.
Eddie stays quiet while he works but just as heâs putting away the last container, she places a hand on his arm, stilling him.
He turns his head slightly to look at her, not quite meeting her eye. She takes it as the invitation it is to say whatever is on her mind.
âHeâs lucky to have a friend like you,â she says softly, as if in thought.
âIâm the lucky one here, believe me. Buckâs always a huge help. At work, around the house, with Chris. This is the least I could do.â
Itâs only then that Eddie looks at his grandmother fully and the knowing smile on her face is so comforting that Eddie feels the tension in his body melt away.
âPeople like that are hard to find in life. Be sure to hold on the good ones for however long you can.â
~*~*~
Visits to Buckâs after work have become the norm all week and with each trip, Eddie feels more assured that Buck will be better in no time. Todayâs check in brings on a sense of dĂ©jĂ vu. In Buckâs living room now is a replica of the fort he and Chris constructed at Eddieâs place a week and a half prior.
âWhatâs your obsession with forts anyway?â he asks as he climbs inside, surrounded by plush pillows and blankets.
âMaddie used to make them for me all the time when I was little,â Buck says. âBuilding one with Chris has me kinda nostalgic, I guess.â
Eddie smiles to himself at the mental image of Buck as a kid. It isnât too hard to picture what he must have looked like back then as he looks at him now, a blanket draped over his head and shoulders sitting cross-legged in front of the laptop, a movie already playing.
âWhat are you watching?â Eddie asks, settling in.
âLove Actually.â
Eddie laughs and shakes his head. âI didnât take you for a romcom lover but I guess that somehow makes sense now that I think about it.â
âWhatâs not to love about them? The build up, the will-they-wonât-they but you know they totally will, the big sweeping declaration at the end? Thatâs what everyone roots for. Who doesnât like seeing people in love live happily ever after? Itâs the dream,â Buck concludes.
Eddie doesnât argue the point. How could he possibly when thatâs all heâs been hoping to have himself?
âThatâs really your dream?â he asks tentatively.
Buck shrugs. âI definitely wouldnât say no if it were to happen. But in order for all of that, someone would actually have to fall head over heels for me,â he laughs wryly.
âYou make it sound like such an impossibility. Like youâre somehow difficult to love.â
Buckâs head tilts to the side a bit. âYou donât think that I am?â
Itâs such a loaded question, a dangerous one really but still, the words fall effortlessly from Eddieâs lips as he replies.
âI would think that falling for you is one of the easiest things a person could do.â
Eddie realizes this conversation is veering off course and Buck probably isnât thinking very clearly given the state of things. For all Eddie knows, Buck is hopped up on cold medicine and doesnât realize heâs asking leading questions. Eddie falls silent then, laying back and staring up the blanket overhead as the movie continues to play on screen. The seconds stretch tauntingly and Eddie knows heâs said too much, gone too far over the line theyâve been treating as a tightrope.
He hears the tap of the keyboard and the movie pauses. Eddie keeps his eyes trained above him, hoping they can avoid delving deeper into this. But heâs kicked open the gate, ushered in this line of conversation heâs been terrified to have.
âEddie, Iâ,â Buck starts but Eddie isnât so sure he wants, or is even ready, to hear what Buck has to say in response.
âYou should get some sleep.â
âBut I want to talk to you. I missed you today. I always miss you when youâre away.â
Eddie freezes, unsure of if this an open statement Buck would be making if he wasnât sick or possibly feeling awkward given Eddieâs last comment but heâd be lying to himself if he said it isnât something that makes his chest warm right in the center.
âIâm here now and Iâm not going anywhere all night,â he assures.
âAll night? What about Chris?â
âHeâs probably on his way to a sugar coma at my grandmotherâs right about now. Sheâs baking tonight and Chris, of course, volunteered to help. I know heâs just in for the leftover frosting and taste testing.â
This seems to be a good enough distraction. Buck laughs softly and grows quiet, pressing the laptop again and Eddie is certain heâs never been more grateful to hear a bunch of British people in conversation with each other. He opts to just listen to rather than watch the movie; his focus is completely shot.
After a few minutes, Buck sighs and burrows in against Eddieâs side. Instinctively Eddie wraps an arm around his friend. Before he can undo it or reprimand himself for getting too familiar with Buck, the man buries his face against the side of Eddieâs neck.
Heâs all too aware of each breath Buck takes, his skin tickling with every exhale. Thereâs nothing casual or platonic about this and Eddieâs heart aches so painfully in his chest that it takes every ounce of willpower he has to keep breathing. But still, before he can allow himself to truly accept what Buck getting this close to him means, he needs to hear it from the man himself.
âBuck?â
âYou didnât give me a chance to say anything before so I figured Iâd show you where my head and heart are instead.â
Eddie sits up slowly, Buck moving with him. Eddie takes in his expression and sees a real clarity in Buckâs eyes that leaves no room for uncertainty that heâs serious. Eddie has spent so long feeling terrified of being presented with this moment but he takes comfort in realizing this isnât one-sided like heâs feared.
âIs this the part with the big sweeping declaration?â he jokes lamely to work out his nerves.
âI sure hope so. That tends to always be the best part.â
âYouâre a lot better at this than me,â he says, rubbing his palm against the front of his jeans.
âTo be fair, I watch a lot of romantic comedies in my downtime.â
Eddie canât help but to laugh at this, grateful for the levity Buck brings to this moment. He cups the manâs cheek and strokes his face lightly with his thumb as he stares into his eyes.
âIâve never been too good with this sort of stuff but you make me want to figure out a way how to be. Maybe in time Iâll be able to get the words out but, if nothing else, just know that I feel a lot for you, Buck. With you, I feel everything.â
Eddie leans forward and kisses Buckâs forehead, his eyes drifting closed as he lingers for a moment. Buck sighs contentedly, one hand settling on Eddieâs knee. Eddie pulls away then, resting his forehead against Buckâs, his fingers carding gently through his hair at the back of his head. Buck bumps his nose softly to Eddieâs who smiles at the move.
âCrap, sorry,â Buck says, pulling away. âWhat if you get sick next?â
âI survived Chrisâ fever. I think Iâll be fine with yours too. If not, then Iâll just have to commission Abuela to make more soup,â he laughs. âSpeaking of which, I should get some for you. Or tea orââ
âNo,â Buck interjects, holding on to his wrist gently, keeping him in place. âPlease, just...stay here for a little while longer with me?â
Eddie looks at him, takes in that soft pleading look and nods. âWhatever you want.â
Buck smiles at this and lays down on his side. Eddie doesnât hesitate in spooning him, his arm securing snugly across Buckâs hip. His face burrows in the crook of the manâs neck, chin propped against his shoulder.
âNow will you get some sleep?â he asks quietly.
Buck laughs, light and carefree. âI donât see how I can be expected to now after all of this,â he replies just as quietly, playing with Eddieâs fingers.
âThis feels like Christmas morning as a kid. All that excitement, wondering whatâs in store. No,â he continues, shaking his head. â I couldnât possibly sleep now. I donât want to miss a second of what comes next.â














