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Buck shuddered as warm lips pressed against his too cold skin. The deep clutches of sleep felt like syrup pulling him down further and further into oblivion as familiar fingers curled under his jaw. The soft rumble of a hum made him peel his eyes open even though it felt like splitting concrete.
The darkness of his room only had a few streams of sunlight bleeding through beneath the curtains onto the wall.
“You've still got a fever,” Eddie said, curling his palm over Buck’s cheek.
Buck groaned as he turned into Eddie’s hand, nosing at his wrist even as that gentle thumb caressed the soft skin under his eye.
“How you feeling, baby?”
His body hurt all over and his head was throbbing in time with his heartbeat. His chest felt like his lungs were caked in cement and like his joints were connected to his limbs with rusty broken screws. His head was tight and his ears were too hot while the rest of him was too cold. The low grade nausea that had been roiling in his stomach like a storm was lingering just on his periphery and Buck kind of wanted to curl up under the covers and never move again.
But saying all that required an effort Buck didn't think he was fully capable of having.
Instead, he just made a low mumbling noise and curled into Eddie’s thigh.
Eddie chuckled as he scratched at the small hairs at the nape of Buck’s neck. “That good, huh?”
Buck buried his whine into Eddie's hip.
He must have lost time at some point because he didn’t even realize Eddie had pulled out his phone until he heard the soft murmurings of his voice drifting above him.
“Hey Cap… Yeah, he’s still down… Sounds good. I’ll be in soon… Ok thanks. Bye.”
Buck peered up at his boyfriend through cracked gummy eyelids and tried to find an ounce of shame about the fact that he was a full grown adult who had been taken down by the flu so badly that he needed someone to call his boss to let him know that Buck wouldn’t be able to come into work but…
Again, that would’ve required effort.
Eddie gave him an almost apologetic smile as he swept his fingers through Buck’s hair.
“You have to leave?” Buck croaked, curling his arms to his chest to fight off the ridiculous sting that would make him cry if he wasn’t careful.
“Not yet,” Eddie said, scratching behind Buck’s ear. “In a little bit. But I can stay for a little longer. C'mere."
Buck groaned as Eddie did most of the work of sliding down underneath him and maneuvered Buck's body to curl on top of his chest.
"Don't want to get you sick." Buck mumbled even as he buried his face into the hollow of Eddie's throat. He was so warm and so comfy and Buck would never ever move even if he could.
Eddie's chuckle was a deep rumble as he curled his arms around Buck and rubbed up and down his spine. "I think we're well past that. If I was going to get it, it would've been when you sneezed in my face."
Buck poked his side. "You turned into it."
"You didn't cover your mouth."
"It caught me by surprise!"
"Most sneezes do!"
"Stop being mean to me," Buck said, painfully aware that his words were stretching out into a whine that he was too tired to care about to be honest. "You said you forgave me."
"I did," Eddie said, laughing softly again as he turned to press his lips to Buck's curls. Buck sighed at the kiss and the way the mere weight of Eddie's attention was enough to melt through Buck's spine like butter. "I just won't be forgetting any time soon."
Buck knew he had something else to say. Really, he did. It would've been witty and adorable and made Eddie smile that fond but exasperated smile of his that said he loved Buck even when he was being ridiculous. But Buck must have fallen asleep to the hypnotic lull of Eddie's breathing and the super comforting up down of his hand on his back because he didn't wake up again until Eddie was slipping out from under him.
"I'll be back first thing tomorrow," Eddie said, his lips so close to Buck's ear that he could feel them graze across his skin like a caress. "Try and get up to move around, eat something, drink some water. It'll help."
Buck groaned instead of making any promises.
Eddie laughed again and curled his hand to cup the nape of Buck's neck before he pressed a kiss to his temple.
"Love you," he said, pulling the covers over Buck's shoulders.
"Love you too." Buck forced his mouth to work to get out. "Stay safe."
He drifted again and only woke briefly to the feeling of Eddie pushing the blankets up over his calves before gently grabbing his ankles. Eddie quickly pulled off Buck's socks one after the other and Buck whined the instant the cold air reached his toes. But whatever confusion Buck had disappeared the moment Eddie switched out Buck's socks for overly warm ones that he must have thrown in the dryer. The cocoon of warmth felt like heaven on earth and Buck could only shiver as he burrowed deeper under the blanket. His too cold toes curled against the thick pocket of fabric as Eddie tucked his feet back in again.
If Buck didn't already love Eddie with his whole chest, he would've right then and there.
"Bye," Eddie whispered but the sickness and the warmth and the sheer overwhelming love Buck had flowing through his veins sent him back into the deep syrupy sleep he'd been fighting before he could respond.
When Buck woke up for the… He'd lost count honestly.
When Buck woke up again, it was to an empty bed, his body feeling flattened and his mouth thick with cotton. He'd burrowed too far underneath the covers that he was just on the brink of being overly warm even with his fever and his stomach was caught between wanting to eat something and never wanting to think of putting together a meal ever again.
Applesauce. That sounded good.
He didn't have to make that. All he had to do was peel back the foil from the top and find a spoon… maybe. The spoon could probably be negotiable.
Buck's eyes burned as he opened them and he rolled onto his back to stretch the heaviness of sleep from his limbs. He'd overslept. He could tell by the way his body felt like it was weighed down with sand, but even with that knowledge, Buck found it hard to resist the urge to fall back asleep. He padded at his side until he could find his phone on the nightstand and grimaced down at his too bright screen as he scanned through his notifications.
Bobby: Sorry you're still not feeling great, kid. I'll send some soup home with Eddie. Rest up.
Buck hoped it was the chicken and noodle soup Bobby made. He always used those wide egg noodles Buck loved so much.
Maddie: How you feeling?
Maddie: I'm going to take it from your silence you're doing your hibernation thing.
Maddie: Let me know if you need anything. I can stop by before my shift in a few hours.
Eddie: Feel better babe.
Eddie: Try and walk around when you wake up. Love you.
Buck smiled as he thumbed over the message to send back a heart before he typed back a quick message.
Buck: I'm alive. Barely. Stay safe. Love you too.
The head rush was not worth sitting upright and Buck groaned into his hands as he leaned against the headboard.
At least the nausea seemed to have dissipated. Now, all Buck had left was the heavy feel of his body not being quite attached to his head and his skin being a paper thin layer of ice over his burning blood.
God.
Buck couldn't remember the last time he felt so terrible. And it was the kind of terrible that brought with it the anxiety and dread of something even worse being wrong than a simple flu. It was like a beast clawing behind his rib cage and made his heart hammer against his chest to try and get out. One wrong move, one wrong turn, and it could spiral into IVs from being too dehydrated, ambulance rides, hospital noises and oxygen masks, and the rush rush rush of a gurney getting rolled away to some kind of test because Buck's body had failed to do the one thing it was supposed to do: fight off whatever horrible awful crud was wrecking havoc in his immune system.
Eddie was worried.
But Eddie was always worried. And with that came a pit of guilt that Buck couldn't control just like Eddie couldn't control the worry. He knew that. He'd done the whole therapy circles to build the muscle memory in his mostly functioning brain to know that when his insecurities reared their ugly head. Still, the pit came anyway.
But they weren't there yet. It was just a bad flu. Buck couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten sick. His body just wasn't used to it. He'd be fine. And he'd promised he'd get up, eat something, drink something, and move around a bit.
Applesauce and a Gatorade sounded nice.
Buck sort of… rolled out of bed rather than his usual climb and there was a real moment where he had to make sure his legs were going to hold him before he moved away from the bed frame but since no one else was around that was between him and the ceiling fan, thanks.
His knees wobbled as he walked out of their bedroom and his comfy socks that weren't quite as warm as they'd been when Eddie had slipped them on fresh out of the dryer a few hours earlier felt a little precarious against the hardwood like Buck was one weak ankle away from slipping. His shoulders brushed against the wall more than he cared to admit but he stayed upright so he counted it as a win. By the time he made it to the kitchen, a thin sheen of sweat had slicked across his skin and coated the small of his back even though Buck's teeth practically chattered with how cold he was.
He opened the fridge with numb fingers and tried not to pay attention to the way the world around him felt fuzzy and out of focus as he zeroed in on the applesauce and mini bottle of Gatorade tucked on the bottom shelf. White flavor because it was the best flavor if not a boring color.
Buck would go to his grave before he ever admitted that it was way harder to open the stupid thing than it should've been and how he'd nearly been in tears when the seal finally popped. The sweet flavor of cherry on his tongue was bright and soothing, washing away the cotton dryness from sleeping so long. The electrolytes did their job and made him thirsty enough for some real water that he managed to drink before he dug into his applesauce. The foil lid, thankfully, was not nearly as difficult as the Gatorade bottle had been and Buck finished his snack in a few bites, washing down shredded apple sweetness with his Gatorade and water.
By the time both were done, Buck was spent and ready to curl up back into bed again. He wouldn't sleep— maybe Eddie or Maddie could talk on the phone a little bit— but he couldn't be upright anymore. It was too much and gravity felt too heavy on his shoulders.
But when Buck went to throw his trash away, he stopped when he saw the tied off bag sitting beside the empty can. Eddie must have meant to take it out and forgot in his hurry to get out the door, rushing probably after Buck had clung to him for as long as he could. A quick glance out the small window showed the also forgotten trash bins sat in their usual spot on the back porch.
Buck let out a sigh. The temptation to leave them was stronger than anything Buck could ever possibly remember experiencing. But the trash collectors came around six and Eddie wouldn't be home until eight. Which meant if Buck didn't take the cans to the curb, they'd be sat with trash for over a week. It wasn't the end of the world but…
Buck grabbed the bag and slipped his socked feet into some boots without tying the laces.
He didn't have the effort to clear out the fridge. They would just have to survive that hardship somehow.
The effort it took to toss the full bag of trash into the can was frankly embarrassing but Buck did have to admit the sun felt nice. Maybe he'd sit out in the yard for a little while to talk to Eddie or Maddie instead before going back to bed. He gave the door camera a small wave as he stepped out onto the back patio, knowing Eddie would've gotten a notification on his phone. He was a worry wart like that. For someone who didn't trust even a smart remote for the TV, Eddie had been insistent on setting up cameras when they moved in.
Whatever, it made him happy and Buck liked making Eddie happy.
Pushing the trash around the garage and to the curb was easier considering both bins had wheels but even he knew he was riding on a particular brand of pathetic with how winded he was by the time he got the street.
Ok universe, he got it. Could he be done now? Please?
The sounds of sirens blaring in the otherwise quiet of the neighborhood had Buck looking up on instinct. The frenetic whirl of the sound cutting around corners as cruisers and trucks sped through streets had a language all their own, like heartbeats that were unique to the drivers directing them to the emergencies. Buck was so used to them that he barely flinched anymore but sick or not, even he knew that they were closer than what was considered a usual response. Most of the times, when they were turning into residential areas, they cut the sirens so as not to disrupt entire neighborhoods if they could help it and only in extreme cases did they speed fast enough to dust up gravel and dirt through quiet streets. Buck watched as one cruiser then two then three, lights blazing and sirens wailing, raced up and down his street before turning down every side street as they flanked out into a high speed grid chase.
Curiosity nearly won out. Buck's brain, sluggish as it was, raced in all the possible codes they could be executing with such urgency, and he felt a little naked without having his radio attached at his hip as he watched a fourth cruiser race after them.
But as much as he wanted to see what was going on, Buck also knew that nine out of ten times, it was most likely something incredibly boring and his legs were about two minutes away from giving out on him.
Eddie could fill him in later. Buck wanted his bed.
Walking back up the drive felt herculean and Buck barely made sure to close the backyard gate behind him. The wail of more sirens cut through the air as he reached his back door and Buck grimaced as a sharp pulse started to throb behind his eyebrow at the sound. The backdoor groaned as he opened it and the cool air from inside felt like ice on his skin as he—
The hand wrapping around his mouth was bruising. Buck's yelp died beneath the smother of tightly clamped fingers digging into his cheeks and yanking his head back and around. His whole body throbbed with the ache as he stumbled back onto his heels and he flung his arms out front to over correct.
"Make a sound," a voice he didn't recognized hissed in his ear. "And I'll empty this entire clip in you kidney, understand?"
The hard, unmistakable pressure of a gun pressing into his side made Buck's skin feel like it was buzzing.
Buck could barely move his chin with the hand was clamped over his mouth before he was dragged inside.
"Are you alone?" The voice demanded. "Is there anyone else in the house?"
Buck couldn't shake his head with how tightly he was being held but he tried anyway.
"Close the door!" Buck's world spun as he was whipped around to face the back door. The gun shoved deeper and harder into Buck's side. "Close it!"
Buck wrapped numb fingers around the handle of the door and pulled it closed before he was dragged through the kitchen. The hand over his mouth disappeared only to clamp down hard on the back of his neck. Buck bunched his shoulders up to his ears as the growing pressure of the fingers digging into his skin built and built and built until his vision nearly turned into static.
"Move asshole!"
Buck tripped over his boots as he was shoved further into his house at a speed that his body was wholly incapable of going. The static behind his eyes rushed beneath his skin as his ears roared with blood and the sharp copper taste of adrenaline coated his tongue. Everything in his body ached, warring against the instincts to submit and to scramble to get away. But Buck knew the best course of action was to go easily, don't put up a fight, and wait for the moment he could get away.
Cooperate. That was the word his too tired brain provided as he let himself get led into his living room.
"The-The k-keys are on the table by the front door. There isn't much money in my wallet but it's yours, man," Buck said before he was whirled around in a sharp circle. The world went a warped sense of wrong and his throbbing head hollowed out behind his eyes as spots danced across his vision.
Buck bit down on his lip to keep from groaning.
"Shut up!" The man holding him hissed. A pause stretched into silence almost too long to be intentional. The sound of sirens wailed in the distance as panting gasps fell out in curses behind him before his sweatshirt was snatched and yanked up to yoke him around. "C'mere!"
Buck didn't have much choice as he was dragged over to the front window as the gun was jammed into his side hard enough to make him wince.
"Close those blinds! Do it! Now!"
Buck's entire depth perception seemed to have been left back in the bedroom in the bed he was regretting getting out of because closing the blinds took way more effort than they had any right to. He stumbled over his shoes again, his ankle rolling in the unlaced boot, as he was dragged from one window to another before he was shoved down onto the couch hard enough to make the frame creak.
If the situation wasn't as dire as it was, Buck would've been willing to admit it was nice to not be standing anymore.
His stomach rolled with a cramp as the nausea came back.
Great. Just… great!
"Hands on your lap. You move and I put a bullet in your knee cap."
The man wasn't anyone Buck had ever seen before. He was tall and on the thin side but not naturally. More like he hadn't had a proper meal in a while and his muscles were starting to wane because of it. The bulk of him was bulging through his adrenaline and the tight way his entire body radiated tension hard enough to make Buck's own teeth hurt just looking at him. His was cropped close to his head with nearly military precision but his stubble was ragged and uneven in places. His skin had a waxy almost ashy complexion beneath the streaks of sweat and dirt and his chest heaved the way lungs did when they were too slow to catch up that the body had stopped running.
The gun pointed in Buck's face was unmistakable.
"O-Okay," Buck said, lifting his hands up before settling them over his kneecaps as if they'd some how protect him from the man's mean snarl and a bullet.
Buck's stutter or maybe his soft spoken compliance only seemed to set the man's teeth more on edge as he curled back his lip.
"I'm not going to hurt you. But I need a place to lay low until the cops move on. You don't give me any trouble and we'll be good. You understand?"
Buck didn't believe a single word he said. For one thing, even with a fugitive on the run, the police presence in his neighborhood wasn't typical for something as simple as a man hunt. The LAPD weren't just looking for the man; they wanted him. They wanted him bad enough to divert excessive resources to find him.
Secondly, the man wasn't wearing a mask. Buck could see his face.
That usually never bode well for the victims in Buck's situation.
But Buck just rubbed his knees and nodded. "I understand."
The man sniffed once before he nodded and stepped back, letting the gun shift away from Buck's general direction. He snatched up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the TV, pacing in a short line as he scrolled through channels until finally, he found what he was looking for: the news.
"If you're just now joining us," the newscaster said with the same serious drawl they always had even when they were reporting on the price of milk. "A terrifying ordeal in downtown has the police on the hunt for a suspect in an armed robbery of Tresco Bank which left a man in critical condition today. Logan Gallo—"
The man— Logan apparently—let out a curse as his picture appeared on the screen beside the newscaster. The bright light of the TV was like straight lasers piercing into Buck's skull making him squint as he stared back at the man currently waving a gun in his living room.
"— and three other men held several tellers at gunpoint before shooting a security guard in their attempts to escape with nearly three million dollars in water proof backpacks. Police apprehended two suspects. A third suspect was killed after confrontation with police. Gallo was last seen driving a blue Honda Civic before evading LAPD on foot. He is considered armed and dangerous." Buck wasn't exactly in the most charitable of moods as Dwight from the news stated the obvious. "If you have any information of the whereabouts for Gallo please call the LAPD tip line at the number below."
"Son of a bitch!"
Buck flinched at the shattering of the remote clattering against the wall before falling to pieces to the floor. His brain was whirling like an engine that wouldn't turn over. Adrenaline simmered in his veins but none of it mattered when he felt like his skull was clogged with fog detaching his thoughts until they were lost in a garble of noise.
What did he do? He could run. He could fight. As long as he got out of the house, he'd have a chance. But just the thought of trying to stand made the joints in his knees ache and his stomach roll with nausea.
Everything hurt. But Buck was somehow detached at the same time. Like a frayed edge of his nerves were holding on by pulse points that were radiating enough of an electric current to zap him into a painful freeze.
There wasn't anything around to use as a weapon. Nothing but a couple of throw pillows and a coffee table from IKEA.
He had to get away. Logan and his friends had shot someone, Logan was the last to be caught, and his desperation was almost thick enough for Buck to taste on his numb tongue.
It didn't matter.
Logan raked a vicious hand through his hair before all his fury, all his frustration, all his desperation turned onto Buck. Buck shrank back into the couch before he could help himself, lifting his hands up as he tried to appear as unassuming as possible. The faintest of trembles made his fingers quiver and Buck didn't know if it was the fear or the way his elbows felt like they couldn't hold up his arms that was causing it.
"J-Just—"
Logan was on Buck before he could finish.
"I said," Logan snarled, jamming the barrel of his gun into Buck's temple so hard Buck couldn't help but bow down beneath the pressure. "To keep your mouth shut!"
A breath fell from Buck's lips on a stutter as he looked down at the cushion. "Ok… ok! I'm s—"
Like Buck said, his brain was going too fast and too slow at the same time. That was why he missed the swing of the man's arm. All he felt was pain and then nothing at all.
When Buck woke up again, he was face down on the hardwood and shivering. Shivering hard enough to make his teeth chatter as he sucked in a breath and fed oxygen to the fire beneath his skin.
Everything hurt. Everything. Not one ion of Buck wasn't aching with pain and freezing as if he was thawing out from being frozen in snow. The creeping tingle in his fingers and toes crawled up his spine and skimmed across the back of his neck until the pulsating throb of his head roared into focus like a beast lunging forward.
Buck croaked out a whimper as he curled his knees up to his chest.
Why was he so cold?
"What's wrong with you?"
Reality fell on Buck like a structure collapse and along with it his memory of the—
Buck grimaced as he squinted up at his living room where the light had dimmed the low warm tones of the afternoon.
So not night time. That was good. That meant he hadn't been out for too long. Just long enough for what was his name to throw everything on the coffee table onto the floor beside Buck before flipping it on its side to cover the front windows. The couch had been shoved aside too as if he'd been planning on using that for his half hearted barricade but changed his mind at the last minute.
The living room felt cramped and too big Buck on the floor in the middle at the same time. Like Buck was that Alice chick who fell down a never ending rabbit hole.
"Hey?" A boot nudged Buck's shoulder and Buck's irritation only seemed to make him shiver more. "You good?"
Buck gritted his teeth as he fought against the instinct to curl his too cold fingers into the cuffs of his sleeve. His eyes felt too hot but his nose was too cold and everything was just tilted in a way that made his stomach roll.
Buck didn't bite out his retort about how the last time he tried to talk, the man pistol whipped him. Somehow, even concussed and raging with a fever, Buck had a feeling that would only end with him getting hit again. His head hurt enough before the goose egg swelling at the back of his skull, thanks. Instead, Buck just curled away from the boot nudging him.
"I'm sick." Buck grumbled because even admitting it with a literal gun to his head made him feel like an idiot.
Logan? Buck was pretty sure it was Logan… Cursed as he stepped back.
"It's not like… cancer or something, right?" He asked sounding almost hesitant as if that somehow would've made a difference to him ambushing Buck in his own home with a gun.
Buck glared up at him even as his vision swam from the effort it took to look up.
He was wearing Eddie's clothes.
Buck couldn't even remember what the man had been wearing before but he knew that shirt. He knew how it stretched over Eddie's shoulders and hugged his waist to show off the outline of his abs. Buck knew what that shirt felt like over his hands as he slide them under it to search out smooth skin.
He knew that shirt.
He was wearing Eddie's clothes.
The impulse to snap at the man to take it off was almost strong enough to let Buck get upright.
Almost.
But then his elbow wobbled and he had to stop to catch his breath.
"No." Buck pushed himself up onto his hip. "It's just the flu."
Logan stared down at Buck like he just threw up on his shoes. "You're not contagious, right?"
God Buck hoped so.
"Guess you'll have to find out later." Preferably far away from Buck. He reached up to touch the bump on his head that was throbbing in time his heartbeat and hissed as his fingers nudged too hard against the growing knot hidden under his hair. White hot static streaked across his eyes as he winced and it took Buck a few blinks before he was able to look at his fingers.
No blood. That was good.
The TV was still on but a commercial was playing so Buck had no idea what was going on but Logan was in Eddie's clothes and he'd trashed their living room. He didn't think he was out for long but somehow, all the same, Buck felt like he woke up in a totally different reality.
He just wanted to go back to bed.
Screw the Gatorade and applesauce.
Logan paced across the living room before peering through the curtains. Buck couldn't hear any sirens but that could've had something to do with the ringing in his ears.
"Look," Buck said, shoving the heel of his hand against his brow. "You're wearing my boyfriend's clothes; they don't know where you are. Just take my truck and go. I won't stop you. I…
Buck waved a hand down at himself. "can't stop you. Go while you still can."
Logan scoffed. "Yeah and give you a chance to call the cops before I make it out of the neighborhood? I don't think so."
"Okay so take my phone." Buck didn't bother pointing out that the police were probably long gone already. He waved his hand in the direction of his bedroom. "Lock me in my room or something. Someone will come find me eventually."
If Logan opted to tie Buck up in his bedroom at least he could nap on his bed until help or Eddie came home. That would've been something.
The floor was freezing.
Logan's head whipped around to Buck as his face went slack. It was too quick for Buck to follow before Logan's jaw tightened and he stormed across the living room towards him. Buck's heart flew up into his throat as he scrambled back but it didn't matter. A fist snatched Buck's hoodie and yanked him up onto his feet. His knees buckled beneath him but Logan didn't let him drop.
"Where's your phone?"
"It's-It's—" Buck held up his hands when Logan aimed the gun at his head. "It's on my bed!"
Buck remembered the text messages and the way he had only planned to get out of bed for a few minutes. It was probably blowing up with messages from Maddie or Eddie or maybe even Hen making sure he was still breathing.
Logan gave him a sharp shake that made Buck's bones feel like they were rattling beneath his skin. "Where?"
Buck pointed down the hall that led to their bedroom and almost immediately went queasy at the thought of Logan stepping foot in his and Eddie's quiet oasis from the world.
"Move!" Easier said than done but Logan shifted his grip from the front to twist Buck's hood until the collar nearly choked him. The push forward had Buck stumbling into motion towards his bedroom before Logan pushed dragged him the rest of the way.
When they got to the bedroom, Logan's push dragging turned more into dragging as he spun Buck around and yanked him around like a disobedient dog by the collar. As if on cue, Buck's phone lit up with a notification in the pile of blankets on the bed, acting as a beacon for Logan to snatch up. Buck barely got a chance to see the line of notifications waiting for him before Logan shoved the phone into his pocket and whirled Buck around to face the closet.
The motion was too fast and Buck's vision went spotty as he groaned, acid burning at the back of his throat.
"Ease up!" Buck barely got out through clenched teeth. "Otherwise I'm going to puke all over you."
Or pass out. The possibility of both were terrifyingly close to the surface of the threshold of Buck's body giving out. But he didn't say that part out loud.
"Yeah, well, do that and I'll add a few more bruises to that one on your head." Logan shoved Buck towards the closet. "Open the safe."
Swallowing, Buck pressed in the code with a shaky finger before he turned the knob to open the small door. It wasn't much, just a small grey safe they had tucked in their walk in closet. It was small enough in the blink and you'd miss it kind of way. But considering Logan had apparently already gone through their wardrobe to help himself to some of Eddie's clothes already, Buck wasn't surprised he knew about it.
The stash inside was probably pretty disappointing for someone who had robbed a bank only a few hours earlier. Passports, legal documents, and an extra set of keys to both their cars sat in a neat pile where Eddie had put it last. There were letters addressed to both of them with an additional one Buck had written for Maddie in the event one of them didn't make it home that were tucked in the back like a warning and a promise to each other to stay safe out in the field. Eddie's silver star was nestled in the sleek black case next to a box that had his abuelo's pocket watch he had inherited and there was an envelope of emergency cash they kept just in case.
Buck didn't have much. Just a set of cufflinks he'd bought with one of his first paychecks as a firefighter, his probationary shield he'd been embarrassingly sentimental about every since he'd got it, and a watch Hen, Chimney, and Bobby had all pitched in to buy him when they'd found out Buck didn't have any family to invite when they'd been planning his graduation party. Buck had teared up when he'd opened it, something they'd teased him about while hugging him, and Buck had rarely worn it out of fear of nicking the metal.
Part of his chest felt like it wanted to crack into pieces as he took out everything with value and handed it over to Logan.
Logan didn't even blink as he shoved it all in a duffle bag he found on the top shelf.
That was how they spent the next several minutes: Buck handing over anything that could make Logan some quick cash, jewelry, sneakers, Eddie's xbox, some left over prescriptions. Logan shoved it all in a bag like it was trash.
Buck should've never taken out the trash.
By the time the bag was full, Buck's headache had turned into a piercing pain right behind his eyeball and his legs shook with every step he was forced to take.
Once they were back in the living room, Buck handed over his wallet and the news had changed to some reality show Buck couldn't follow. The afternoon light was fading into evening and whatever lingering sirens or sounds they may or may not have heard had gone quiet.
"Stay down." Logan barked out with a rough push that sent Buck crashing down to his knees so hard that lightning raced up his thighs and coiled tight into his hips. "In the corner until I tell you otherwise."
Buck bit down on his cheek hard enough to taste blood as he pushed himself up to sit back in the corner.
Logan barely gave him a second glance before he went to the window and peered through the curtains.
Why wouldn't he just leave?
Buck had no idea what time it was but he did know Eddie would be back in the morning. Would he be walking into an active hostage situation, expecting to find Buck right where he left him? Or would he just find Buck's body on the floor? Or worse, would he find Buck missing because Logan had decided that taking a hostage during his escape plan was a better option than leaving him behind?
Logan hadn't made any attempts to hide his face and Buck knew his name, what he was wearing, and probably what vehicle he was in. There was a good chance he wasn't going to be left alive.
But Buck's brain felt like it was on fire and he couldn't linger in the worst case scenario or he'd lose it. His skin felt wrong and his body hurt and he felt like a bus had run over him and then circled back to make sure he stayed flattened on the pavement. The discomfort was bordering on overstimulating and his adrenaline was running on fumes.
He just had to bide his time until he could find his opening.
"Could I at least have a pillow?" Buck heard himself ask before his brain caught up to his mouth.
Logan shot him a disgusted sneer but honestly, Buck didn't care. The hardwood wasn't doing his back any favors.
Buck waved a hand at himself. "I've been asleep for most of the day and the room spins every time I stand up. I promise not to attack you with a couch throw pillow."
Logan snatched one of the pillows— the thinnest, smallest possible one out of the pile he possibly could've chosen— and chucked it at Buck's head.
It missed and hit the wall before falling beside him on the floor.
Whatever.
"Now shut the hell up so I can think!"
Buck grabbed his pillow and tried to get comfortable.
He didn't know how long they stayed like that but eventually Buck found a position that was comfortable with his head on the pillow propped up in the corner and his knees drawn to his chest.
Buck didn't mean to fall asleep. He didn't. But with nothing but the sound of his own heart roaring against his too hot ears and the collection of his body heat pooling to his middle, Buck was out faster than was probably normal for someone in a hostage situation.
When he woke again it was to the door bell ringing.
Buck heard Logan bit out a curse and Buck tried not to flinch. Sleep or maybe unconsciousness pulled at his senses and kept him from fully opening his eyes but the lizard part of his brain that hadn't been completely fried by his fever knew he shouldn't make any sudden moves.
God, he just wanted to stop feeling terrible for a minute. That was all he—
The bell rang again and Buck felt it rattle through his skull.
He groaned as he stretched out his legs but Logan was on him in an instant, gun pressed into his cheek and fist wrapped around his hoodie.
"Make a sound and I'll kill you and whoever is outside that door."
Buck stared back at him through slits and shivered under the weight of Logan's seriousness.
He held up a shaking hand and nodded.
The door bell rang for the third time and Buck's breath stuttered as Logan bared his teeth.
"Not a sound." He warned before he let Buck go and stood up.
Buck watched as Logan hid the gun behind his back and walked towards the front door.
The door opened a crack as Logan peered just his head out to see whoever was standing on the front porch.
"Can I help you?" He asked, his voice as unfriendly as possible.
"Oh hi! You must be Buck's boyfriend! We're your new neighbors from down the street. We just—"
Buck squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to push himself up. He didn't remember any new neighbors.
The hand that slipped over his mouth was gentle but firm the way it always was whenever it demanded Buck's attention. He knew it instantly from the way his skin lit up at the contact of callouses and soft knuckles. The same way he knew it when it would curl under his jaw to lift his gaze up or caress his cheek after sweet lips peppered him with kisses. It was warm when Buck was freezing and he startled anyway as he forced his eyes open to stare back at Eddie's pinched expression.
Eddie. His beautiful, steady Eddie. Eddie with his strong ferocity and gentleness. Eddie in his uniform and wild tufts of brown hair like he'd run his fingers through it too many times.
Just Eddie.
His Eddie.
Buck had half a mind to wonder if he was hallucinating, his fever officially burning away any sense of reality.
But he wasn't. Because Eddie was there, covering Buck's mouth, and wearing a bullet proof vest. The smallest of smiles graced his lips even though stress was radiating off him in waves and making his eyes wrinkled at the corner but it didn't matter. Buck melted instantly as Eddie lifted a finger to his lips. Buck had no idea how he got in the house but he didn't care. Because Eddie was there and everything would be okay if Eddie was there.
Eddie's strong hand curled around his bicep and pulled him up onto clumsy legs that felt numb all the way down to his toes. Buck's limbs didn't feel attached to his body anymore and his weight on his knees nearly sent him buckling to the floor. But Eddie simply hoisted him back up and dragged him back towards the kitchen where the back door was wide open. They were moving too fast and Buck wasn't helping Eddie at all. Strong, warm hands held him hard enough to bruise and Buck only got a glimpse of Logan's back towards them before the cool fresh air of outside kissed his skin.
They were so close. Close enough that Buck could smell sun warmed grass and hear the sounds of the city. Just one more—
Buck yelped as his hoodie yanked hard against his throat and nearly sent him flying backwards.
"You son of a—"
Buck's heart slammed against his sternum as his thoughts clattered like a pile up in his brain.
Logan. Eddie. Too close. They were too close. The gun.
He felt Eddie disappear from beneath his hands and icy paralyzing fear jolted through him like lightning as he felt the gun brush against his shoulder.
But Eddie ripped Buck away with a viciousness that sent Buck falling to the ground before Eddie swung a fist and nailed Logan in the face with a furious right hook. Logan cried out as he crumbled to the floor and Eddie launched himself at him with a snarl. Buck scrambled away from the flailing legs kicking out towards him as Logan and Eddie wrestled for control of the gun.
"Buck!" Eddie bit out, his name sounding desperate as he pinned Logan's arm down. "Run!"
Even if Buck wanted to, there was no way in—
"LAPD!" The announcement came at the sound of Buck's front door being kicked in.
But Eddie and Logan didn't stop fighting. If anything, Logan only grew more vicious, more frantic, as he screamed out a sound similar to a wild animal as he kicked Eddie off him. The breath from Eddie's lungs punched past his lips as he rolled onto his back with an audible thud.
Logan swung the gun to aim at Eddie and Buck moved before he could think. He threw himself over Eddie and braced for the impact of the pain.
After hours of his body not feeling like his own, Buck felt heavy then. The pain and discomfort that had been surrounding him like a blanket he couldn't take off went numb and Buck didn't know he'd stopped breathing until his lungs kicked him in the ribs.
Buck waited for it to end.
"Drop it!"
"Drop it now!"
"Hands in the air!"
The commands clattered in a hurricane of boots and screams as LAPD surrounded them and the bullet never came.
It never came!
"Alright!" Logan snapped. "Al—Oomph!"
Eddie wiggled from under Buck before a noise fell from his lips that sound both like a curse and a prayer.
"Jesus Christ Buck!" Eddie's arms wrapped around Buck and Buck's whole body gave out at the permission. He collapsed into Eddie's chest as fingers carded through his hair and lips pressed against his brow. "Don't ever do that again!"
He was pretty sure Eddie meant for it to sound like a scolding but was too fond as he kissed Buck again and again.
"You're one to talk." Buck huffed, knocking his hand against the Kevlar keeping him from feeling his boyfriend's heartbeat beneath his palm. "Who'd you steal this from?"
Eddie laughed against Buck's skin and the warmth of the sound washed over him like a balm.
"I'd like to discuss that as well." The sound of Athena's voice above them was just another unspoken permission for Buck's body to turn back into an unmoving pile of limbs. He turned his head to peer up at her and smiled when he found her frowning down at Eddie, unimpressed.
"Hi 'Thena." Buck breathed, closing his eyes as the feeling of Eddie's fingers combing through his curls made the adrenaline crash a little more manageable. "How'd you guys know he was here?"
"That asshole missed the camera when he grabbed you," Eddie said with a point to the camera aimed at the back door. "I saw everything on my phone."
Athena hummed. "And then he got tired of waiting for LAPD to form a plan to get you out and decided to sneak in without back up."
Well that didn't add up. If the LAPD didn't lead the charge then who had been ringing the doorbell?
"Buck!"
"Eddie!"
Athena rolled her eyes as the sounds of Bobby, Hen, and Chimney's footsteps rushing through his house.
"And here comes the rest of the reckless calvary."
Eddie didn't bother to apologize as he laughed into Buck's hair.
It was a whirlwind of questions and bullying that got Buck into the back of an ambulance. Bobby, Chimney, Hen, and Eddie fussed around him as he tried to answer whatever questions the detectives had before the others shooed them away.
"Well Buckaroo," Chimney said with a sigh. "I've got good news and bad news."
Buck, who had been using Eddie's shoulder for a pillow, only groaned as he anticipated what he was going to say.
"You've got yourself a trip to the hospital in your future," Chimney said sounding at least somewhat apologetic, his chewing gum popping between his molars. "You most likely have a concussion and I'm concerned about your fever. You're up to 103.2."
Buck's whole body shivered through a chill before he could even protest. Eddie nuzzled his cheek into Buck's hair as he squeezed his hand in sympathy.
"But," Chimney said, dragging the word out with a wide grin. "If you get into the rig like a good boy then Hen can start your IV rather than letting the hospital make a pin cushion out of you."
Buck grimaced at the thought of an IV but Chimney was right. The hospital staff could never find Buck's veins while Hen always managed to stick him on the first try.
Hen grinned as she waved her gloved hand at him. "Come on, Buck. Let's get you lying down."
"This never would've happened if you'd just let me sleep for a week." Buck grumbled into Eddie's shoulder.
"Yeah yeah," Eddie said, lifting Buck's hand up to kiss his fingers. "Come on, baby. The sooner we do this the sooner we can get you back to bed."
"I'm not getting up for anymore Gatorade," Buck said as he stood up. Eddie's hands wrapped around his waist to help him up into the back of the rig where Hen was waiting for him with one of the thick LAFD blankets. It was too scratchy and nothing like the ones he'd buried himself under before the whole mess with the bank robber but it would do. "You're going to have to bring me anything else in bed."
"So demanding when you're sick." Eddie teased as he settled himself on the bench out of the way of Hen but still positioned so Buck could see him.
As promised, Hen got Buck's IV in on the first try. It was uncomfortable the way IVs always were but Buck quickly found himself fighting to keep his eyes open as the rocking of the ambulance lulled him into the syrupy numbness of sleep.
Eddie leaned forward and kissed his birthmark. "Go back to sleep, Buck. We'll wake you when we get there."
And well… Between the warmth of Eddie's kisses and being horizontal for the first time in hours, Buck did exactly that. He slept.