Yellow Roses
“Why did you have to request him?” Eddie asked. “For the same reason you asked about him in the first place.” Hen said, stopping at the light.
Eddie sent her a glare before looking away.
“Oh, so you're just going to pretend that you weren’t checking him out. That's how this is going to work now.”
“Anyone with eyes can see that man is hot.”
“You think he's hot.”
“What no! Stop trying to put words in my mouth. Anyway I’m pretty sure he already hates me.” Eddie sighed.
“He doesn’t hate you. He's like a giant puppy; he can't hate anyone if he tries.” Hen explained.
“Well that big puppy you're talking about has a mean grow.” Eddie said.
“Just wait, you'll love him.” Eddie rolls his eyes. “Yeah right.” he says sarcastically.
—
“You know you should stop scaring every new guy they get, right?” Taylor stated. “I can’t help it.”
“Sure you can. You're just trying to protect your family, it's understandable.” Buck lowered his head in defeat.
“So I’m doing the right thing, by scaring them?” Buck questioned. “At first maybe. But you have to see that they all seem to really like this guy.”
“Yeah, just not yet.”
“That’s a start.” Taylor laid a hand on his shoulder. “Well I have rounds and pre-ups, so I guess I’ll see you at the end of my shift.”
“Yeah sure, I’m going to be stuck in surgery for the next few hours.” Buck said, gathering all his charts.
“Also, do you know where Zach is?” He asked. “He's on call in the pit.” “Okay thank you.”
—
“Hey Zach, what are you doing?”
“Just trying to make sure people don’t die.” Zach said, writing something down on a chart. “So what are you up to?” Zach said, getting up to look at a patient. “Just waiting for my patient to be ready for surgery; and Taylor said something that got me thinking.”
“About how you need to let that protective act go, and give the new guy a chance.” Zach stated.
“Yeah, wait, you knew? Did Taylor talk to you about this?” he asked following Zach back to the nurse center. “What do we not talk about?”
“That is true.”
“It’s just, I don’t want them to get hurt again. After you know, I don’t think they can take another ancient like that.” Buck explained
“Buck, what happened to you was not normal.” Zach looked him in the eyes. “But you can’t keep trying to protect them by pushing, and scaring the crap out of the new guy every time.”
“But -”
“You're trying to protect them, we know. For once you have to have hope, I know you lost faith in it after what happened. But that doesn’t mean you can’t trust that they know what they're doing.” Zach said, putting his pen down.
“I - your right, and I do trust them.”
“Then you better start acting like it.” Zach stated.
“I will.” Buck said, picking up his charts and walking away.
—
“Look who's back, what took you so long?” Chimmy asked.
“We had to get this idiot checked out. Somehow he got his hand burnt.” Hen tells them. “It's not that bad.” Eddie said, sending her a glare.
“Well did you at least say ‘Hi’ to Buck for us.” Bobby asked, before stuffing his face with food.
“Yes.” Hen answered him.
“So did Buck try to scare off Eddie like he did all the others.” Chimmy questioned. “Well it didn’t work.” Eddie chimed in.
“Practically just made him feel like he hates him.” Hen jokes.
“Dude literally gave me a death glare before we walked out.”
“That doesn't sound like Buck, he's a giant puppy.” Chimmy said, throwing up jazz hands. “That's what I said.” Hen spoke.
“Just give him time. He’s protective, we’re all he has except for Maddie, his sister. Just wait, he'll come around.”
—
“Chris, come on, we need to go!” Eddie says,rushing out the door. “You said that like ten minutes ago Dad.” Chris says with a sigh. “Just get in the car sassy pants.” Eddie tells Chris as they get in the car.
They soon pulled up to Grant/Nash’s house. When they get to the door Eddie knocks, the door soon opens with Bobby welcoming them in. He sends Chris off to play with Denny then goes over to talk with Karen.
“So I hear that you think Buck over there hates you.” Karen says, handing Eddie a glass of wine.
“Well, when he practically gives you and ‘I’ll kill you’ look the first time you meet him, you would think so too.” Eddie said, before taking a sip of wine. “Oh, did he now?”
“Yes” Eddie stated.
“Well, I’ll let you know that he will not kill you. He can’t even hurt a fly.” Karen said looking at the blonde playing with the kids. “Just give him time.”
“That's what Bobby and Hen said.”
“Well then that should say something. I should probably rescue Buck.” Karen pointed to the small group around the small coffee table.”From them before he ends up with marker all over his face.” Karen said, putting her glass down and walking towards Buck.
—
“Hey Bobby.” Buck said, walking out on the deck. “Hey Kid, I guess Karen saved you from the kids?”
“Yeah, Jee was so close to putting marker all over my face before she showed up.” Buck said, sitting down on the cooler by Bobby. “This time can you not scare this one off, please.” Bobby said, flipping the steaks.
“Don’t worry, Zach and Taylor already spoke to me about scaring him away.” He paused looking at the duo laughing with Eddie. “Anyway, it doesn’t seem like he's going away any time soon.” Buck sighed.
“Come on Kid, you know it's not like that.” Bobby looked at the pouting blonde at his side. “I know, but it doesn’t mean I can’t have feelings about it.”
“Of course, but maybe this time just let it be. Then maybe you’ll see that no one is trying to replace anybody.” Bobby said, stacking the steaks on a plate. “Ok.” Buck says, taking the plate from Bobby.
“Ok then, let's get these inside before people start eating each other.” Bobby said, patting Buck on the back.
—
“So Buck, how are things at the Hospital?” Hen asks, looking at the youngest. “It’s good, nothing too exciting.” Buck said, grabbing his beer.
“He says that he didn’t throw a whole ass birthday party for one of the kids on the PEDS floor.” Taylor said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
“It wasn’t that exciting.” he mutters under his breath. “He made the kids a giant game board, and had prizes for every kid even if they didn’t win. Practically winning all the kids' hearts.” Zach explained.
“Sounds like Buck.” Karen smiled.
“What!? Was I supposed to not help make the kid’s birthday amazing?” Buck questioned, stuffing his face with food.
“Dad, can I have a giant game board!” Chirs asked loudly. “I don’t know, maybe if you drop that sass of yours you could get one.” Eddie spoke to his son quietly so as to not bring more attention to the two.
As dinner slowly passed more into separet conversations, it was almost time to leave. “Hey Mijo, start saying goodbye, we need to head out soon.” Eddie tells Chris. “Ok dad.” Chris then starts to go around to say goodbye. “You are already leaving Superman? Well have a goodnight then.” Buck says, giving the kid a big hug. “Bye Guys, see you next shift.” Eddie says heading out the door, Chris following him out. “Bye Eddie.” a chorus of voices replied as Eddie closed the door.
—
“Mijo, we can't say stuff like.” Eddie says, when they’re inside the truck. “Why?” Chris askes, “Well you see it seems insensitive.” Eddie answers.
“What does that mean?” Chris questioned.
“Well it means that you show no feelings or empathy towards a person. I know you weren’t but what Buck did was so those kids in the Hospital could have fun, cause they can’t really do stuff like you and I.” Eddie tells Chris.
“Oh ok, so Bucky was just trying to show that they can still have fun even inside the Hospital.” Chris says, sort of understands what he is saying.
They soon make it back home. “Chris go get ready for bed, I’ll be in there in a few minutes to tuck you in.” Eddie says, hanging up their jackets.
“Ok.” Chris says, heading to his room. Eddie puts away the containers of leftovers in the refrigerator, then goes and gets ready for bed himself.
“Goodnight Chirs.”
“Good night Dad.” he hears Chirs say before closing the door.
Eddie lays in his bed thinking about the next week, his brain slowly drifting off to the Doctor with the pretty blues. “Fuck.” he mutters under his breath. Eddie tries to fall asleep but his mind can only go back to the tall blond with his stupid birthmark.