It’s late by the time Bobby finishes making dinner. He got interrupted by a call about halfway through, but luckily everything was salvageable by the time the team came back.
The crew sits down at the table, passing around the salad bowl or the mashed potato dish. Buck watches fondly, a smile on his face, as Hen serves him a heaping spoonful of roast beef. The woman smiles back at him with white teeth.
“Hey,” Chim complains, as Hen places the giant spoon back into the dish. “You can plate Buck’s food but not mine?”
“Buck’s my baby.” Hen side-eyes Chim. “You’re a grown man. Fix your own plate.”
Buck and Bobby both laugh. Buck can’t help but admire Hen at that moment. He loves her like a big sister. She’s been there for him since he was a probie, stepping up as his family when he had none. She’s witty, kind, and damn good at her job.
“The favoritism. I thought I was supposed to be your best friend,” Chim huffs.
“You are my best friend,” Hen agrees and leaves it at that.
Chim glares at her playfully, serving himself some roast. Buck stabs a piece of meat, brings the fork to his mouth, and is interrupted by his phone ringing. Quickly, he pulls his phone from his pocket. It’s Eddie calling, and Buck realizes belatedly that it’s already 8:30.
“Shit. Sorry, guys, excuse me for a second.”
Buck pushes his chair out and accepts the call, walking swiftly to the privacy of the bunk room.
“Buck! How’s work?” Eddie greets, voice still nasally from the sinus infection he’s getting over.
“It’s good so far. We just sat down to eat.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I interrupted you. This’ll be quick. Chris just wanted to say goodnight. He’s already upset that you aren’t reading his bedtime story. ”
There’s a fumbling on the other side of the phone, and then Buck hears an excited shout of his name.
“Hey, buddy! You had a good day?”
“Yeah! I got to go to school today.”
Chris and Eddie are recovering from a sinus infection, which Chris passed to Eddie and is why Eddie isn’t working this shift with Buck.
“Really? That’s exciting. You’ll have to tell me more about it when I come over after work tomorrow.”
“Yeah, totally! Ugh, Dad says I have to go to sleep now. Goodnight, Bucky.”
Buck grins softly. “Goodnight, Chris.”
Eddie takes the phone back, and Buck can hear him murmuring to Chris before he leaves his bedroom. “Alright, I hope you have a good shift. I’ll be awake for a little longer if you need anything.”
“Okay, Eds. Thanks. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Buck lets Eddie hang up, not wanting to press the end call button, even if he is so hungry that his stomach aches. Grinning, he exits the bunk room and returns to the table.
“Who was that?” Hen investigates.
“Eddie,” Buck responds simply, finally taking a bite of his food.
“Is he okay?” Bobby’s eyebrows crinkle.
“Yeah, he’s fine. He was calling because it’s Chris’s bedtime.”
“And what does Eddie’s son’s bedtime have to do with you?” Chim asks skeptically.
“Well, I have to tell him goodnight,” Buck says, like it’s obvious. “He’s already upset I’m not there to read his bedtime story.” Buck leans forward smugly. “I do the voices better than Eddie.”
“I didn’t realize you were over there that often,” Hen notes, glancing at Chim and Bobby.
Buck remains oblivious, eating his mashed potatoes. “Yeah, I usually spend the night. It’s easier with Chris’s school and PT schedule when we’re both available, plus it’s better to share a car if we’re going to the same place almost every day for work.”
“Right.” Hen stares, pressing her lips together.
“Bobby, you have to give me this recipe. I think Eddie and Chris would really like it. Especially since Chris hasn’t been eating his vegetables lately. I think he’d eat these mashed potatoes.” Buck requests.
“Of course, Buck. I’ll send it to you after we clean up.”
“Thanks!” Buck beams.
After dinner, Buck, Hen, and Chim clean up, while Bobby retreats to his office to do some paperwork.
“So, Buck,” Chim starts, scrubbing a plate. “You and Eddie are pretty close, huh?”
“Yeah, he’s my best friend,” Buck agrees immediately.
“Which is weird, considering you used to hate the guy,” Hen adds.
“I didn’t hate him,” Buck defends, drying the dishes as Chim washes them.
“Uh huh,” Chim snorts.
“Whatever, man,” Buck rolls his eyes playfully.
“I just didn’t realize you and Eddie were spending so much time together,” Hen continues.
“Well, I like to be able to help out with Chris. And Eddie is great to be around.”
“Didn’t you get Eddie a home aid, though?” Hen asks.
“Yeah, I did,” Buck answers. “But Chris likes being around his dad. And I like being around Chris. Plus, Carla deserves as much time off as possible.”
“Well, then,” Hen finally decides. “It’s sweet of you to help so much, Buckaroo.”
“Yeah, I expect the same effort when it comes to your niece or nephew,” Chim threatens.
Buck mock gasps, fake offended. “Excuse you. I’m gonna be the best uncle ever.”
“I have no doubt you will, Buck.” Chim tells him.
“None at all.” Hen smiles.
-
The next morning finds Hen and Buck playing Fire Truck Simulator. Chim watches, entirely too amused by his friends’ play fighting. Bobby glances up from his cooking every now and then, grinning at his team.
Buck's phone vibrates, and he drops his controller. A glowing smile overtakes his face.
“Let me guess,” Hen says drily. “It’s Eddie.”
“Yeah, it is,” Buck grins softly.
He unlocks his phone and opens his messages with Eddie.
Eddie
Good morning
Buck
Morning! :)
“He says good morning,” Buck tells them.
“Yeah, he’s telling you good morning,” Chim points out. “He didn’t text us.”
“Well, I’m sure he meant it for all of us,” Buck answers, eyes glued on his phone.
“Mhmm, sure, baby. Are you ready to play now?” Hen draws Buck’s attention.
“Hm? Oh, yeah!”
-
Hen sits at the kitchen counter, medical textbook before her. She’s distracted by Chim hovering over her shoulder, so she isn’t doing much reading. Buck watches his friends fondly, as he helps Bobby in the kitchen. They’re not doing anything grand for lunch, just sandwiches, but Hen and Chim insist they taste better when other people make them. Buck and Bobby indulge them.
It’s just as Buck is finishing one of his sandwiches that an alarm goes off on his phone. He hurriedly silences it, glancing around sheepishly.
“Boy, what in the world do you have an alarm set for?” Hen asks, startled.
“It’s for Eddie. He needs to take his medicine,” Buck responds.
“And why do you have a reminder for that?” Bobby questions, confused.
“Because Eddie keeps forgetting to take it. I told him to put a reminder on his phone, but he just insisted he didn’t need one because he would remember to take his meds. So, I put one on my phone instead.”
Bobby, Hen, and Chim all share a look as Buck texts Eddie to tell him to take his medicine. Buck doesn’t understand how the man can be so punctual about having Chris take his medicine, but then completely forget about his own. It’s ridiculous.
Task completed, he puts his phone down and starts making another sandwich. Buck looks over to see Bobby has already made four sandwiches, and his mouth drops open.
“I don’t think I’m that in tuned with Karen, who is my actual wife,” Hen says to Chim. “Is that a problem?”
“No, Buck is just all or nothing. We could never be like him,” Chim responds, a little envious of Buck’s partner powers (especially considering the fact that Eddie wasn’t Buck’s actual partner).
“Yeah,” Hen sighs. “At least Eddie got a good one.”
Completely unaware of the conversation happening right in front of him, Buck continues conversing with Bobby.
-
After the end of a long 48 hour shift, Buck goes home to Eddie and Chris. It’s hard to say who was more excited to see him, but Chris is the one who jumps into Buck’s arms, so Buck supposes that Chris wins.
He passes his work bag to Eddie, who is smiling at his son and best friend, so that he can hold Chris better. The three go inside, and Chris begins regaling his school day to Buck.
Buck smiles, feeling so content that his chest feels full.