Sculpt me like a pretty boy

Ch II

It wasn't quick. It wasn't a sudden realization.

But Eddie knew something was up with Buck. He was disappearing more often than not. He'd get off work and disappear somewhere before he could even ask if he wanted to hang out. To get a beer or go out and see a movie. Just to do something. The two of them. No it wasn't a date.

It wasn't like Buck was completely ignoring him. He talked to him during work. Even after. But for a few hours he was disappearing. He would even come over after those hours. It shouldn't be weird or odd. Some people need some time alone after spending so much time together. They worked twenty four hour shifts together.

But not Buck. It was different for them. They were by each other's sides constantly. If they needed something. They were right there at each other's sides. Not that Buck isn't still there for him or for Chris. He's done nothing but been by their sides. It's just something different about him.

And really Buck didn't have to be so great towards them. Eddie's the one that put all the responsibility on him. Made him Christopher's guardian. Asked him over for movie nights. Asked him to cook. He even got grocery's for them. Not that he ever asked that. Unless it was an emergency.

He almost considered the idea of him seeing someone. Maybe Buck was back to dating. Or sleeping around. But that wouldn't be the case. Buck wasn't Buck 1.0 or even Buck 2.0 anymore. He had done work on himself. He didn't just sleep around, he wanted a real relationship.

Maybe he was trying to find someone to settle down with. Maybe he wanted a family of his own. Kids and a wife. The perfect dream. The thought left a nasty feeling in his stomach. But if Buck wanted that. Then he deserved it. If anyone deserved to settle down - to have a family. It was Buck. No one was a better person than he was.

Buck has been through so much. So many different relationships. He just got out of a relationship with Taylor. Abby leaving him. Leaving him in her apartment and not even breaking up with him. She ghosted him. Causing him to fall in love with her. She had Buck and she just let him go.

Eddie's stomach twisted and he frowned at the thought. If she didn't want him didn't know how good of a man she could have had. Then it was her loss. He just got there when she left. When Buck was going through it at the worst degree. But they didn't know each other. He just got there. He was still trying to get over Shannon and create a life for him and Chris in La.

He wasn't worried about some bickering between a man he didn't even know.

But as soon as the idea struck. That Buck could possibly be dating or doing other things.. He quickly shut that thought down. Buck would have told him. The only reason left that he could figure was that Buck was tired of him. That he needed or wanted space between each other. And he could do that.

He just needed Buck to tell him face to face. He could take it.

They just finished a day shift. Well it was day now that they were over and could leave. Twenty four hours and about six calls back to back. It was like everyone suddenly had an emergency. And as soon as he got to bed or tried to eat. If it wasn't for snack bars and multiple coffees Eddie would have dropped earlier.

All Eddie wanted to do now was kiss his son's forehead and take a long nap. Maybe sleep for the whole day. Even though he wouldn't do that. Not when he had free time with his son. He blinked and let out a small sigh. Buck was beside him. Pulling on a jacket and getting ready for who knows what.

He set up from the bench to come up beside Buck. His shoulder against the closed locker. Buck only turned to him for a second acknowledging him before he turned back to his locker. Grabbing his watch and putting it back on. The others were still in the locker room. Well Chim was. Hen had an almost empty locker room to herself and Bobby got ready somewhere he wouldn't say.