#dad buck

Listen. Do I love this donor baby storyline? No. Was that kid adorable and did I fall in love immediately? Yes. And since it's Fuck It Friday, I wrote this. I was tagged by @bidisasterevankinard and @bangpop91

The alarms go off and the whole of the 217 ground crew is on the move, tugging on their turn outs and booking it for the rigs. Tommy has been maxed out on flight hours for half a shift so he joins in the melee, claiming the seat behind Captain Melton before the engine pulls out of the bay, sirens blaring. They're enroute to an elementary school and the fear and concern in the truck is thick enough to cut with a knife.

They're halfway to the loctation when dispatch calls and informs them that there is no fire, just a student who got a little too curious about the red box they were told never to touch.

"Keep the sirens on," Melton instructs the driver.

"Cap–" Tommy starts, but Melton waves a hand.

"No one's going to get in trouble, Kinard. We're just going to remind our young citizens about the importance of fire safety."

The whole school is gathered on the little patch of grass considered a track field when the engine pulls in.

"Kinard, with me. Everyone else, hang back and make us look good."

Tommy follows Melton across the parking lot to the field where a woman who Tommy assumes is the principal is waiting. Another woman is standing nearby, holding the hand of a little boy with what can only be described as a shit eating grin across his face.

"4-year-old male, managed to get himself wedged into the playground equipment. Father attempted removal but the leg is still trapped," Captain Hyatt relayed to his firefighters as they climbed out of the truck.

Tommy yawned, hoping this would be quick. The shift had been brutal and he was running on fumes. He really wasn't cut out for ground crew anymore.

"Firefighters! What number are you?" the little boy called out. He didn't seem too stressed about his predicament.

"Hey buddy, we're here to help," Tommy said, kneeling down to assess the situation.

"I know that. But what number are you? I'm collecting stations." The kid's eyes lit up. "I have the 122, 126, 118..."

Tommy's chest tightened at the mention of the 118.

"Uh, the 217," Tommy said. "What's your name, buddy?"

"Theodore, but everybody calls me Theo and I'm four years old. I just moved into a new house because my mom and dad died in a car crash, so I live with my dad. But he's not my old dad, he's my new dad. My old dad died with my mom. So now I have a different dad and I live in a new house and I have my own room with trucks on the wall."

Tommy's throat went tight. "That's...that's a lot of change, Theo."

"Yeah. It makes me really sad sometimes. I used to call my new dad Mr. Poop, but now I call him Buck."

Tommy froze. "Uh...Buck?" His voice came out strangled. "Theo, what's your new dad's job?"

"He's a firefighter. At the 118! That's why I know that one." Theo beamed proudly. "Do you know my dad?"

Tommy couldn't breathe. Evan had a son. And Tommy had missed all of it.

"I just turned around for a second and he was stuck...I don't know how he manages to do this stuff. He's such a good kid but he's always getting himself into these crazy situations and..." Buck rambled to Captain Hyatt before turning back to Theo. "Hey kiddo, I'm sure these firefighters will have you out in a jiffy."

Then he looked up and froze.

"T-Tommy?"

Their eyes met, and Tommy saw everything flash across Buck's face: shock, hurt, longing, hope. Then Buck seemed to remember how to breathe.

"Evan... you're a dad. This is, uh, wow. How?"

"It's kind of a long story." Buck's voice was soft, uncertain. "Wow, Tommy. I..."

"Hey, is anyone gonna get me out?" Theo interrupted.

"Yep, you got it, kiddo. Why don't you squeeze Buck's hand nice and tight while I use this big saw? Make sure you stay really still," Tommy said, not quite meeting Buck's eyes.

"Okay. I'm very brave," Theo announced.

Buck knelt down beside his son, offering his hand. "The bravest."

Tommy lifted Theo out of the equipment and handed him to Buck. "Why don't you head over to that ambulance and my friend will get your leg all checked out?"

"Okay. Thank you, Mr. 217," Theo said, settling into Buck's arms. "Let's go, Buck!"

Buck adjusted his hold on Theo but didn't move yet. "Tommy, would you...I mean, I know you have to get back to Harbor and I've got all this dad stuff to take care of, but..." He took a breath. "Can I call you? I can explain everything. Maybe we could talk? Actually talk for once?"

Tommy's heart was pounding. Evan was a father. Evan wanted to talk. Evan was standing right there with hope in his eyes and a four-year-old in his arms.

"Yeah," Tommy said quietly. "Yeah, you can call me."

"Okay... okay, yeah, great," Buck said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

GIVE👏🏾US👏🏾GIRL👏🏾DAD👏🏾BUDDIE👏🏾TIM👏🏾

chris: ‘hey buck’

buck: ‘yeah buddy’

chris: “do you know if .. dogs know they're dogs or .. do they just think .. we're just dogs that walk funny”

buck: ‘well that is a very important question …. well humans and dogs have been living together for a while so they probably know we're different but probably just think we're the alpha or parent dog like in a pack because they originally evolved from wolves’

chris: ‘oh’

buck: ‘but i did hear cats think we're just bigger more clumsy cats’

chris: ‘i think my dad would agree’

buck: ‘haha yeah’

chris: ‘buck are you a giraffe?’

buck: ‘um …. no i thought i was a cat?’

*chris and buck laugh*

chris: ‘no my dad was talking abt you and he said that you said that giraffes are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning’

buck: ‘ohhh, your dad said that?? no its because they have a smaller population there have been more human incidents and i think it was probably because i was on a ladder which is basically as tall as a giraffe’

chris: ‘oh, buck why do you know so much stuff especially abt animals’

buck: ‘im not sure, research is fun, and we go to the zoo a lot, do you want to go tomorrow??’

chris: ‘i guess but they're always in their enclosure and i can never see them properly, can't they just be let out’

buck: ‘thats ok I'll just hold you like they hold simba in the lion king’

*buck and chris laugh again*

buck: ‘well the enclosures aren't just for our safety but for animals too’

chris: ‘oh’

buck: ‘did you know ....’

*chris falls asleep*

buck: ‘some animals are actually allergic to humans, yh i think your dad might be allergic to me, and my facts, maybe hes the giraffe .... oh chris!!’

*puts chris to bed*

But now it’s finally hiatus time and freedom

So let’s have the most fun !

Hey Nonnie

Isn't it just!!! I've been thinking about those two striped shirts constantly (when not thinking about the will of it all) since Theo first appeared in it on my screen!

It was such an intentional choice and I've been trying to figure out the full meaning and possible implications of it. I have a few ideas and theories and your ask is the perfect opportunity to actually get them written down!

Ok so we have Buck in Dereks pink and white striped rugby shirt with a white collar and cuffs

and then we have Theo in his blue and white striped rugby shirt, with a blue collar and cuffs

First of all stripe theory is in play here - especially for Theo - because stripe theory is far more connected to kids than to adults - although I have updated thoughts on stripe theory now I have a lot more data, I've just never had the time to actually write an updated post on the subject!

Briefly - my updated thoughts are that my previous thoughts and theory are still relevant and correct - its just that its when we see stripes being worn by kids (specifically) and it representing a major change of some description - because as we've gone through the seasons its become increasingly obvious that stripes when worn by kids meaning change is specifically about their relationship with a parent or both parents changing in some way. (this also bears true to a certain extent when its adults wearing stripes - it tends to relate to a change in their relationship with their child/children!) This really adds meaning to Chris wearing that yellow striped shirt in the Tsunami arc as it further adds to the parent Buck of that arc, and it also adds to Chris in the coma dream as well - because it once again

All that is relevant for Buck as his predicament in 913 is in relation to a parent child relationship - just not his - but he isn't wearing his own clothes and he has been placed into the role of child - the role of Derek!

The pink itself is an interesting choice - pink like all colours has many different meanings - both positive and negative. Pink is kind and compassionate, friendly, playful and nurturing and can also be a symbol of being sympathetic. But it can also mean, babyish or immature, impulsive, weakness and emotional claustrophobia.

Personally I think both the positive and negative traits are relevant and at play in the scenes Buck is seen in this shirt and those meanings continue on through the remainder of the season - because of what happens to Buck while he is wearing that shirt - we are continuing to see the repercussions of the colour even though we haven't seen Buck wear it again, especially around the themes of compassion, nurturing, and emotional claustrophobia and to a certain extent, impulsivity.

I do also want to bring up the tsunami of it all here in relation to Buck as well, because I think it is relevant - especially now that we've seen Theo in the blue and white striped shirt. you see those two colours are the colours Buck was wearing in the Tsunami arc - the white tee and pink shirt. Why is this relevant to whats happening now - well the thing is we don't see Buck wearing pink all that often - but when we do - well its connected to parenting/ parent child relationships in some way.

We obviously have the tsunami - 301-303 and t his is the first time we see Buck wearing Pink. We see him in pink in 312 - when Eddie and him are talking about Chris skateboarding - its the same tone of pink - that dusty but bright pink! we do have the pink gingham shirt from Mays graduation in 318 - notable because Buck is the one helping Chris write on Mays noteboard thing.

Then in s4 we have the same toned, dusty pink sweater in 403 - when Buck and Chris prank Eddie with the Hildy coffee machine. In 408 we have his conversation with Albert when he agrees to go to dinner with him and Veronica. Moving into s5 we have the scene when he gets punched by Chim for withholding information about Maddie in 504.

We don't see any pink again until 809 - when we have the fuzzy pink cardigan Buck is wearing when he's helping Eddie try to sublet his house. And then we have this striped rugby shirt from 913.

With the exception of the 408 Albert conversation, all of them are related to parenting in some capacity - they're all about Chris and specifically about Buck acting in a parental manner in some form (with the exception of the 504 Chim scene)- they're all about establishing Buck as a co-parent to Eddie - even the 913 scenes - because we have Buck being prepared to sacrifice himself to ensure Eddie gets back to Chris - that Chris does't become an orphan. I would also argue that the Albert scene is connected to this concept as well - because it sets up the circumstances later on - when Chris runs to Buck after arguing with Eddie - they couldn't easily have Buck in pink in that scene as they needed him in black for the scenes at Veronicas - because of Taylor being in red, and also because of Bucks discomfort etc. As for the Chim scene in 504 - a large chunk of that scene revolves around Jee-Yun so while it is connected to parenting - its not connected to parenting Chris. Its somewhat of an exception that proves the rule scene and it highlights the difference between Uncle Buck and co-parent Buck.

Then we have Theo in his blue striped rugby shirt. The use of blue here is an interesting choice - there is obviously the connection to Buck - with blue being his colour, but there are also the actual colour meanings of blue as well. this blue is an almost cobalt blue - although it tends towards a denim/indigo blue which is a cobalt with navy undertones. Cobalt blue is a colour associated with enlightenment, ingenuity, persistence, trust, and loyalty. It is also considered unpredictable, uncertain, standoffish and reserved or traditional. its also supposed to be a calming colour (something clearly not working on Theo!).

Considering that to all intents and purposes, Theo is a plot device for Bucks arc, we can transfer the meaning onto Buck and view it as what Buck is feeling/ experiencing in connection with Theo - and once again like the pink and white rugby shirt, all the meanings, both positive and negative fit with the Theo scenes and with Bucks journey.

So when looking at the two shirts and the storylines they are involved in, along with their colour meanings, we have this play between parent and child in evidence which is connected to Bucks sense of self - its Buck as both child and as parent. Its about him being placed in the role of child - through Bonnie viewing him as Derek in 913, and through Buck seeing so much of himself as a child in Theo, and its about him stepping into a parental role by choice - trying to ensure Chris isn't orphaned and that Eddie can get home to him, even if that means Buck sacrificing himself to achieve that end in 913, and in 917 it is about Buck providing the context for Theo's behaviour - the information he has/ can provide because biologically he is a parent to Theo even if legally and from a nurturing (raising/ upbringing) perspective he isn't a parent.

It is also worth mentioning that in Buck Begins, we see young Buck (by young buck I mean preteen Buck - played by kids and not Oliver!) always wearing blue in some form - and that blue is nearly always in stripe form, so we can also tie Theo to Buck here as well - its connecting Kid Buck to Theo visually through colour and stripes helping to emphasise that Theo is very much Bucks child in terms of personality and behaviour.

So all this to say that in my opinion the use of these two shirts is intentional and connected and it is all about Bucks journey - from child to parent.

Hopefully this all makes sense and explains the costuming choices being made by the wardrobe department. I'm very excited to see what else they dress Theo in, because I have a sneaking suspicion its going to tie back to something we've already seen Buck in and I've been trying to figure out what my best guesses are on that front - I'll think on it some more and put forward a few suggestions in a post before we get any stills etc if I can!