Buck wasn't up from the couch already that someone was at the door. He stood up, cracking his left knee, which wasn't a good idea at the moment, and went to the door, wearing a dumb face.
Confused, he stepped away, making enough space for the boy with the crutches and his father, holding his bag with all his stuff inside.
-I put his medicine in the front pocket as usual and his vitamins in the blue bottle. You remember when to give them to him.
Buck leaned against the door, still stoned about what happened a minute ago when Eddie was walking into his apartment like he was in a grocery store.
-Wait a minute, Buck said, what are you doing here?
The fireman looked at his watch, puzzled, and glanced at him like he was a fool.
-It's Saturday Buck, you're supposed to spend time with Christopher, remember? Got an appointment out of town, I could have driven him to his Abuelita, but she's in Oregon. You're my plan B. I hope you're not going to tell me that you don't want him around today; he was so excited to come; please, don't fail him too.
-What? No. No, of course, Christopher can stay; I'm happy to have him...Just a little bit surprised you trust me to watch over him.
-What do you think? I do trust you to take care of my son, and it won't ever change. Where's the problem?
Buck's fingers tapped on the edge of the table, embarrassed. Eddie was about to leave.
-In fact, Buck stopped him. I do know where the problem is, he said, nervous. The problem, it's you and me.
Eddie turned around to face him, puzzled, waiting for his explanation.
-Listen, I don't know what to do anymore for you to forgive me. I screwed up, and I'm sorry. I don't want you to hate me for my mistakes...
-I already forgave you.
-I wanted to say that...Wait. What? You forgive me?
Eddie shrugs, stunned by the question.
-Yeah. Obviously, I forgive you. You didn't stop looking at me with those puppy eyes the whole week. I couldn't pretend I was mad at you; I already knew you were carrying enough.
If he hadn't any pain in his legs, Buck would have probably jumped on him, laughing and screaming, but he didn't want to seem too aggressive.
-Really?
Eddie arched an eyebrow.
-Really.
He stared at him, amused, before rolling his eyes and opening his arms, knowing it was all Buck was waiting for to grant him. The blondie hugged him and patted him on the back gently, happy to be his friend again. Eddie stepped away, grinning.
-Great, you take care of Christopher. I'll take him back this afternoon. No video games too late! He brought out loud enough to be sure his son heard and saw him dropping the remote, pretending not to have it in hand. He passed by his friend and walked to his son, kissing him on the head. See you later son, Love ya.
-Love you too, daddy!
He patted Buck's shoulder, and at the door, he looked at him.
-Are you taking medication to get the pain away, or are you pretending to work with that face?
-What? Why are you saying that?
-Your leg. May I remind you I used to be a military paramedic Buck, don't take me for a fool.
-It's, it's nothing, he tried to reassure him, making his leg crackling. I'm just missing some training.
-Eat meat. You're more missing proteins, dude.
Buck pointed at him, almost slamming the door on him, a smile on his face.
-I'm a veggie, Diaz, and you won't ever force me to eat animals, you moron.
Eddie rolled his eyes, amused, and nodded, leaving the corridor. Buck kept his eyes at him till he disappeared in a corner and closed his door with his heel. He crossed the room, went to the couch, sat next to the little boy, and smiled.
-One V One on Taken? He suggested filling in the blank.
The boy jumped on the couch, excited and nearly plunged over the remote, ready to try hard.
***
-He wasn't surprised to see you? Asked Maddie when he went back in the car.
-Guess what, I didn't know your brother was scared of ghosts, he laughed.
Maddie sneered, taking her phone.
-I'm pretty sure he's already losing at Taken against Christopher, he continued, making his way out of the parking.
-Buck sucks at Taken.
-He sucks at every game, he corrected her, a finger up in the air.
Maddie couldn't help but laugh out loud, promising herself to never reveal the discussion to her little brother. He'd play drama.
-Thank you for driving me to work. Sorry to make you take another road.
-That's okay, Maddie, I'm going out of L. A for a few hours, so why not pass by the center. But somehow, I wonder why you didn't ask your brother, you know he loves driving his sister.
-Yeah, and even though he pretends not to, he still suffers from his leg. I don't want him to drive; I'd rather say it's Chim, she said mildly.
-Talking about Chimney, everything's alright between the two of you? You don't seem to hang out a lot those days.
-Yeah...How to say that...His brother Albert arrived at his apartment and is sleeping on the living room's couch. Chim's relations with his family are tricky, as you know.
Eddie puffed. Yes, he can relate. Nothing was more complex and foolish than relations between the members of the Buckley family. It was maybe even more complex than his.
-It gives us time to speak together; we don't talk much besides Athena's dinner and parties at the firehouse. We must have plenty of things to say!
Eddie frowned, keeping an eye on the road but couldn't help but see the shotgun staring at him. He leaned over the door, concerned.
-Go, say it, what's the matter?
Maddie swang as if she had always been waiting for that precise moment. She was almost excited.
-I just wanted to know what happened at the hospital. You know, when my stupid brother decided it was a good idea to be crushed by a firetruck. I didn't talk about it to anyone, don't worry, but you have to tell me the truth.
-Tell you what? I was worried about my best friend, and you already know that I don't really like hospitals. You know my wife's dead there a few weeks before Buck's accident, he pointed.
Maddie arched an eyebrow, wanting him to continue, or therefore, to develop.
-I remember yes. I also remember seeing you at the church. Were you praying for him?
The firefighter swallowed.
-Yes. Not a problem, I hope? I know Buck only believes in himself, but if God does exist, maybe he helped him. Who knows.
-I agree. But you can't deny that you're pretty close to him, don't you?
-Like every member of the firehouse, he defended himself. I'd have done that for anyone else.
-You hadn't for Chimney, she retorted, smiling.
-Oh look, we arrived, he dodged, parking awkwardly on the side.
Maddie sneered, reaching her bag in the backseat.
-This discussion is not over Diaz. I'm going to have my answers, she promised, playful.
-Have a nice day, Maddie! He greeted her, fastly making his way to the road again.
He didn't like that curious spot of Maddie. Her curious aspect and weasel, although she was the ideal person to talk with when something was wrong. Though she already has enough of a burden to carry.
When driving around, he smiled. He sometimes wonders what's the common point between the 9-1-1 dispatcher and her brother. She was so serious, professional, calm, and quiet when Buck was the one speaking loudly, always on the move, proud and bragging around. In fact, thinking about it seemed to be pretty obvious. He was unaware; she was overprotective. He loved children, and she always lived like Buck was one -though he's now 26-. They're both jokes' fans, they like hanging out, partying late in the night, eating food at the beach, and they were both open-minded. One difference, however, Maddie was an observer; Buck was the sensitive one. Eddie stopped counting the amount of time he nearly saw his best friend on the edge of crying, drowned in too many emotions. Obviously, learning about his sister having been kidnapped by her ex-husband, knowing her in danger, probably dead somewhere without being able to save her. Having to survive a tsunami and losing the child you were supposed to protect in a wave, being crushed by a firetruck after an explosion, and fainting in his captain's backyard was something to carry. But Buck, just because his laces were undone or just because his car has a stripe, as not being able to eat vegetables at lunch could be the perfect excuse for him to punch something or, somehow, eating a whole pot of ice cream watching a dumb tv show.
Eddie jumped when he finally realized someone's honking at him, and he noted the light was green when he was stopped and not moving. He left Los Angeles with his mind cleaned up of any thoughts, and when he passed by the sign, he decided to leave all his thoughts behind him. What happens in LA stays in LA.
***
-What makes you think that much? Athena said, tired of watching her husband staring at the wall, quiet when usually he's so chatty that no one can stop him.
-Buck, he admitted.
She rolled her eyes, not even surprised.
-Of course, it's him; he makes everyone thinking though he doesn't think a lot. The boy has a golden heart but is unbelievably stupid when he is.
-He kinda reminds me of myself when I was his age. Always on the fire, trying everything to have a minute of action.
-And you injured your back so badly that you couldn't work for a whole year, she reminded him, circling her arms around his neck, letting her chin falling on his clavicle. I hope he'll understand after what happened that he's human-like and not a super-hero.
-He has to act like he is one. All the firefighters have to, he corrected, turning around to face her, staring at her deep brown eyes. Work has to be done that way; we couldn't save lives otherwise.
-Does that mean saving lives and forgetting yours? She asked, knowing she won't enjoy the answer.
-I don't know any firefighters that didn't once almost die saving lives.
She lifted a knife looking threatening though it was her natural aspect and that she was just thinking.
-Eddie.
-He took three bullets in Afghanistan, he corrected her, arching an eyebrow.
-As a soldier. Not a firefighter.
He shook his head, amused. He knew she was right, she always was, and when she's not, he always thinks she is. He didn't need to be the right one; he wasn't interested in being right.
-What's so different with the Buckley case?
-His health. He's always ready to do anything a fireman has to, he sneered, I think we all get that, but sometimes, too much means putting his life at risk every day... I need healthy men, not half men.
Athena leaned over the bar and went towards him.
-You do know who you're talking about, don't you? You're speaking about the kid that spent most of his days doing sport and eating vegetables. Do you realize he's a veggie? What a responsibility for Buckley, she mocked.
-He never tasted any of my barbecues or meat dishes, he recognized, falsely annoyed.
-Incorrect, the last time he came, he ate the terrace, she laughed hard, remembering the accident that happened a few weeks ago.
Bobby sneered, grabbing a towel.
-Remind me of giving him a bib next time he comes.
Athena jostled him to reprimand him gently and handed him a colander. On the counter, the phone rang.
-Guess who send a pic in the friends chat? Look at 'em.
Athena leaned over his shoulder and arched an eyebrow, concerned.
-All I see is an adult and a child, and I guarantee you, Christopher isn't the child, she laughed.
He nodded and cut off his phone. He kissed his wife as he always does when he had the chance.
When he finished tidying the kitchen, about to walk to his bedroom and charge his phone, Athena smiled at him.
-Don't worry about the kid; he's gonna be alright. If he hurts himself again, I'm going to kick his ass, firstly as a friend, then as a freaking cop.
Bobby laughed when vanishing in the corridor, thinking about Buck, talking with Athena about his health when she was maybe the last person he would talk with. Their first meet almost ended up in jail for the firefighter, and if it wasn't to save a premature newborn on the edge of death, he would probably have punched her in the face. Badge or not.
It was that same stupidity Athena was talking about.