For the shivering prompts: bucktommy + 5 if it inspires anything! 💜
5. "Oh. I didn't notice. I'm... I don't feel very well." + Bucktommy
To be completely honest, Tommy wasn't surprised when he got the call. In fact, he was going to take a lot of joy in telling Evan I told you so at an undetermined date in the near future. Not now. Not when he was already down and out for the count. But soon.
If anyone minded that Tommy double parked in front of the station, no one said. As much as he was fully prepared to give Evan the ultimate I told you so of all I told you so's... There was also an itch beneath his skin that crawled up the back of his neck and wouldn't quit until he could lay eyes on Evan.
“Hey,” Tommy said as he spotted Chimney in the ambulance bay.
“Hey!” Chimney’s eyes lit up as he waved him in. “Thanks for coming. I would’ve called Maddie but she’s on shift.”
The thought of anyone else being where Tommy was standing made something coarse twist in his chest. It was amazing what a few near death experiences and an adorable blue eyed reincarnation of his own personal sun could do to a guy. It was the same firehouse where the mere thought of anyone even hinting at his sexuality would’ve sent Tommy running only a few years earlier. Maybe a few months earlier even. But that had more to do with the intensity of the ache in his chest from all his own deep insecurities prodding at him than being outed.
He fell for Evan Buckley hard and fast and it was terrifying still.
But Tommy wasn’t running. At least not away and he didn’t intend to do so again any time soon.
“Thanks for calling,” Tommy said instead. “I tried to tell him this morning but you know.”
He had. Multiple times. In multiple different versions throughout his house as Evan slugged through his morning routine trying to get to his shift on time.
Chimney snorted as he nodded.
“Buck’s got to Buck.” Chimney popped his gum between his molars as he led Tommy through the station. “Hey, do me a favor. I don’t love the sound of his lungs but there isn’t anything worth sending him to the ER for yet. Just keep any eye out and keep me updated?”
The tedious balance between humor and worry tipped further on the scale as Tommy nodded.
Something must have shown on his face because Chimney waved a hand as if to displace the slinking cobwebs of doubt that had crept into Tommy’s mind.
“I don’t think it’s anything some antibiotics and rest won’t fix. Probably just something he picked up when he fell into the drink last shift.”
Right. The rescue at the pier where their teams had crossed paths assisting the 133. Harbor station hadn’t arrive until after the incident where one victim had panicked and shoved Evan right off the pier giving nearly everyone a heart attack in the process before he resurfaced and held up a thumbs up to them. But Tommy had been able to sneak aside his wet pouting boyfriend shivering beneath a rescue blanket for a quick kiss to try and make it better.
Evan had said he was fine. He’d said that Hen and Chimney had looked him over and then Eddie after their shift had ended. He’d said he was fine.
A pit opened up in Tommy’s stomach as he stepped in to the bunk room and spotted him in the corner.
Evan’s long legs were curled up tight to his chest beneath a blanket that was still too small for his long frame. The fanning of his eyelashes shadowed against his pale face, splotchy with pink from the fever that was raging through his body and the thinnest wheeze whistled past his lips on his every exhale.
“Thanks Howie,” Tommy said quietly. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Let me know if you need help getting him to the truck.” Chimney said in parting before he closed the door behind him.
Tommy sucked on his cheek as he stepped over to Evan’s bunk and bent down sit on the bed. Evan barely stirred, only curling into Tommy like he was the only source of warmth he knew even subconsciously.
“Evan,” Tommy said softly, sweeping his fingers through loose curls. “Time to wake up sleepy head.”
Evan’s face scrunched in annoyance before he tried to burrow away in the blankets his fist had pulled up to his nose.
“Hey,” Tommy said and tried not to frown at the harsher wheeze that fell from Evan’s lips as he exhaled. “C’mon baby.”
The full body trembling only seemed to rocket up in frequency as a bleary eye opened into a slit to stare up at him.
“Hey you.” Tommy smiled and settled his hand on Evan’s scalp, rubbing his thumb in circles at his temples.
“T-my?” Evan croaked before a congested cough rattled its way up through his chest. “Mm’Doing here?”
“Taking you home.”
A frown twisted on Evan’s pink plump lips. “I still got a shift.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said with a shake of his head. “That shipped sailed a while ago. Your teeth are chattering, babe.”
The mention of his trembling only seemed to make them worse and Tommy already regretted not bringing in his hoodie from the truck.
“Oh. I didn't notice. I'm...” Evan rolled his lips together like he didn’t know how to use them anymore. The fever blazing off him was already sending Tommy’s blood pressure through the roof. He didn’t think anything else could pierce through the armor surrounding his chest cavity until watery, tired, vulnerable blue eyes stared up at him in dawning defeat. “I don't feel very well."
Tommy pushed back his hair and leaned down to press a kiss to his temple. “I know. But I’m here to take you home now.”
Evan groaned as he tried to curl into Tommy like he could shield him from the rest of the world. God, only knew how hard he tried to do just that sometimes.
“Don’t think I can walk that far.” It was a quiet confession. One that was blanketed with humor to hide the vulnerability beneath it.
Tommy heard it anyway.
“‘S okay,” Tommy said. “I can carry you.”
He back wouldn’t thank him. Not for the distance it would take to get Evan from the bunk room to his truck. But he’d do it.
And Buck smiled, small and tired, but a smile all the same.
“C’mon,” Tommy said. “Let’s get you home.”















