Time Is Of The Essence

Eddie stopped in his tracks, shocked, before angrily turning to face Buck again.

“I had to. I had Christopher. I had t—”

“And you didn’t tell me about the fucking job. I had to fucking find out through Ravi!" Buck stepped closer, chest heaving. “You were gonna leave for good and didn’t tell me. And now Bobby’s dead and I don’t even know if you’re staying.”

“I didn’t tell you,” Eddie said, low and bitter, “because you weren’t here. You’ve been shutting me out for weeks since—” He cut off, eyes blazing. “You want the truth? I didn’t know if you gave a shit.”

Buck’s face crumpled. “You don’t mean that.”

“I mean all of it.”

They were too close now. The silence that followed buzzed with heat and static. Eddie could feel the rage pulsing off Buck like a second heartbeat.

Buck looked at him, eyes wild. “So hit me. Yell. Do something.”

Eddie grabbed him by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall.

A beam came down with a scream of rebar, catching Eddie mid-step.

Buck dove forward, attempting to shield his head as the debris collapsed around them.Something slammed into Buck’s shoulder, knocking him sideways into a wall. He hit hard, pain flaring, but not enough to stop him.

He groaned, coughing, pushing off the broken concrete. “Eddie?”

No answer.

“Eddie!”

A moan—low, pained—barely audible over the settling wreckage.

Buck turned, heart seizing. And saw him—half-buried beneath a fallen beam, blood streaking down the side of his head, eyes dazed and barely open.

“Shit, shit, no—” Buck stumbled toward him, voice breaking , hands shaking. “Eddie, talk to me. Eddie!”

Buck stood just past the security barricade, hands stuffed deep in his hoodie pocket. His chest ached at the sight of Eddie, all rumpled t-shirt and haunted eyes.

The automatic doors slid open, and Buck’s heart skipped like it always did when Eddie walked into a room—only this time, Eddie looked exhausted. Worn thin. There was a beat-up duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his usual calm buried beneath layers of grief.

"I - I know it's no longer your place, technically, but I still see it as yours. And I feel -"

"Buck." Eddie said empathetically, stopping Bucks rambling.

"Seriously, Eds, it's late. Just take the dam -"

"Sleep with me…" Eddie mumbled, cutting Buck off.

“Yeah. I just hope he doesn’t sprial from this...”

At that moment, Karen appeared at the doorway. “Oh sorry. Wanted to get another cup of coffee.” She said holding up her mug. “I’ll be out of your hair in a minute.”

“No, no, no. Stay.” Eddie insisted, pulling the chair out for her. “ We need to be a united unit at the moment.”

“I agree.” Maddie expressed.

Hen piped up then, her voice unsure. “It might be better if we let Buck tell you. Might be easier coming from your partner.”

Eddie scrubbed at his face, dragging his hands through his hair. This was not making any sense to him. Why was his family not telling him anything?

“Okay, fine.” Eddie exasperated, throwing his hands into the air. “Where is he?”

“He is-, he’s in the spare room.” Ravi speaks, voice sounding tired.