#chimbuckleys

Ever since that first talk, Buck and Eddie found themselves to be more open with each other than they ever were before. Buck started coming over more, in the beginning, to help Eddie research and learn more about asexuality and its spectrum. From all their readings and discussions, Eddie felt that Buck was right the first time, demisexuality felt like the right fit, and for the first time, he felt completely at ease with his identity.

It’s been a few months since then, and Buck had progressively become a reoccurring fixture in his life. Initially, he was around more often to help with the research, and then it started turning into a routine that he’d be around at least once a week to hang out and catch up on things outside of work. Christopher loved it to no end and Buck seemed to take pleasure in it just as much.

It’s now gotten to the point that Buck was around almost every second night and Eddie had taken to having the spare bedroom set up, should Buck ever need to stay the night after a late night or after one too many drinks.

Eddie didn’t mind it, in fact, it actually felt nice having another adult in the house to share responsibilities with again. So when, during some downtime at work, Buck starts talking about how the lease on his apartment was nearing an end and he was thinking of moving closer to the station, Eddie offered his spare bedroom.

“Seriously? Eddie, I wouldn’t want to impose.” Eddie rolls his eyes as if Buck hasn’t practically been living at his place already.

Chim snorts at that, “You say that like you weren’t couch-surfing at our places for weeks after you moved out of Abby’s place.”

Eddie ignores Chim’s dig and looks back at Buck, “Yeah, don’t even sweat it. I have that spare room that I haven’t put to use since I got the place.”

“You sure you want Buck to be living with you? What if one of you ends up bringing home a lady friend and wants some alone time?” asked Hen, jumping in on the conversation as she joined them on the couches.

Buck sits ups straighter at that, glancing in his direction when he noticed him shift uncomfortably at the notion that Hen was implying that he would just bring a random person over for sex. “I don’t know about Eddie, but I’m not looking to be bringing anyone home with me anytime soon and even if I did, there would be well advanced warning, and even then knowing Christopher would be home I’d be more likely to take them to a hotel instead.”

Eddie perked up at Buck subtly using the word them, but it didn’t seem like either Hen or Chim did. Buck catches his eye and they both share a look, each conveying their appreciation to each other, but before they could talk more on the matter, the firehouse alarm sounded.

Bobby was solemn on the drive to the job as explained the situation. That this was going to be a body retrieval. The police had been called to the discovery of a body that was floating face down, caught against one of the pylons of one of the bridges in the LA River. There had been some heavy rainfall in the past week, making the water levels higher than usual with a strong current, which was something that the police were not equipped for lest they get caught up in the flooded waterway themselves, so they had requested for more specialised assistance.

As they approach the scene and start piling out of the bus and the truck, Cap starts assigning positions. “We are going to approach this from above, Buck get harnessed up, I want you going down for recovery. Eddie, you’re on the winch. Hen and Chim, get the bus ready, we don’t know how long that person has been in the water, so there still might be a chance for resuscitation.”

Eddie goes to collect the gear and as both he and Buck prepared the ropes, Bobby followed them to the bridge’s edge. “Buck, the water is going to be cold, so get in, secure a rope and get out a quickly as possible, we’ll have a towel and blanket ready for you.”

Buck nods an affirmative he gives his harness and rope a once over and gives Eddie a brief fist bump and a thumbs up before starting his descent. He must have worked swiftly because he was back up on the bridge in no time at all, uniform soaked through and teeth chattering as he helped haul the body up over the lip of the bridge.

Eddie watched as Buck quickly disengaged from his rope and the body linked to him despite how much his hands were shaking, allowing Hen and Chim to take over. Eddie can’t help but follow him with his eyes in concern as he collects the towel and blanket before disappearing behind the truck, shoulders hunched over. He understood the quick getaway, it wouldn’t have been pleasant to hanging side by side with an ice-cold body attached to him.

They don’t see him again until everything was packed away and Hen and Chim were on the way to the hospital to handoff the poor soul who was well and truly gone by the time they had gotten to him.

Buck was seated back inside the truck, both towel, and blanket wrapped tightly around his torso as he stared intently down at the floor still shivering, barely acknowledging their presence when they return back to the truck. Bubby doesn’t say much to his disappearing act, recognising that the man had done what was asked of him without any complaint and was clearly trying to recover from the cold temperatures of the water.

It was worrisome to see Buck so subdued, so Eddie does the only thing he can think of and gently knocks his knee against Buck’s and successively gains his attention. “You good?”

“Y-yeah, j-just cold. Can’t w-wait to have a hot shower.” Buck answered with teeth still chattering as he smiles at him, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Thankfully it was the last call of their shift and with everyone’s low energy they were all quick to get out of there except Buck who opted to have a shower to wash away the freezing fetid water of the LA River before he went home.

Eddie had just hooked his duffle bag onto his shoulder and was just about to leave before Buck stalls on his way to the showers, towel in hand. “Hey, Eddie.”

“Yeah, Buck?”

He looks down hesitantly, “Were you serious about offering me your spare room?”

“Yeah man, I mean it’s practically your bedroom anyway with the number of times you’ve stayed over.” Not that he wasn’t serious before, but the radiant smile he gets from Buck makes the offer well worth it. And he goes home smiling himself, happy to have improved his best friend’s mood even just a little bit after the night they’ve had.