911? Somebody come get this bitch

When all the shadows almost killed your light

Eddie doesn't know much about Buck's parents. He knows about his best friend's time in South America, his try-out for the SEALs, but not a single thing about his life back in Hershey. Buck never mentioned it to him and taking cues from Buck, he never brought it up either. He knows a thing or two about not getting along with your parents so he isn't judging.

So it's a surprise to hear that they were in LA. More so that they're having dinner with Maddie and Buck.

He supposes he can understand Maddie wanting to reach out to her family during her pregnancy. But the way Buck seemed nauseated by the mere idea of it made a pit of unease sit in his stomach.

He offered to go with Buck, of course. He couldn't just let Buck suffer through something he doesn't want to alone. But Buck was insistent that he didn't want to bring Eddie into this. That he didn't want to worry him.

As if Eddie wasn't worrying already.

He checked the clock. It was almost 10 pm. He should probably go to sleep. Hopefully when he sees Buck tomorrow, he'll be okay.

**

Eddie's years in the army made him a light sleeper. So it didn't take more than the sound of the front door being unlocked to wake him up.

He was immediately alert, hearing footsteps. He slowly reached for the baseball bat under his bed. He slipped out of bed and tried to muck as little noise as possible as he left his room and headed towards the living room.

He rounded the corner, with his bat raised high, only to come to a stop as his eyes land on a familiar outline.

"Buck?"

Eddie flicks the light switch and it was indeed Buck. He looked utterly exhausted, his hair looking like he ran his hands through it one too many times. Eddie could tell that Buck came straight from the dinner - or at least never changed his clothes. And there was this look in his red rimmed eyes. Like he was pained.

"Are you okay?" Eddie immediately wanted to punch himself. What a stupid question. He was obvious not.

"I'm sorry I - I didn't know where to go." Said Buck and his voice was quiet. "I didn't want to go home and I drove around for a while and-"

Eddie immediately dropped the bat, marching over to the other man and pulling him into a tight hug.

"You're always welcome here Buck." Eddie said. "This is your home too, you know?"

And he could feel Buck shaking in his arms and he wanted to hurt the ones who hurt him so bad. But he can't, at least not now, because Buck needs him and Eddie isn't letting him go anytime soon.

He buries his hand in Buck's hair, the other on the back of his neck and pulls him as close as humanly possible. He feels Buck's shuddering breaths, warm against his neck.

"What happened?" He asks.

He feels Buck shakes his head against his shoulder, and a wet spot on his shoulder. He rubs Buck's back soothingly.

"Come on. We can't stand here forever." he says, practically pulling Buck towards the couch and sitting them down. Eventually Buck's shuddering gasps, muffled for Christopher's sake, subside except for the small hitches in his breath. But still Eddie doesn't take his arms off, keeping them around Buck.

They remain like that for a while, and only once Buck's breathing is back to normal do they detach. Although they stay pressed from shoulder to thigh.

Buck clears his throat.

"Sorry for that." He says, with a nervous chuckle.

Eddie frowns. "Buck, no. I'm your best friend. It's kind of in the job description. I'm glad that you trust me enough to let me see this side of you."