Chapter Text
Eddie Diaz couldn’t tell you at what point he fell in love with Evelyn “Buck” Grant-Nash; perhaps it was day one when she was the Captain’s kid who hated his guts, or possibly night one when they pulled a grenade out of a mans leg and she decided she liked him now, maybe it was when she drove him to pick up Christopher after the earthquake, his son instantly falling in love with the woman, solidifying her as part of their family, it could’ve been when he saw her as fire marshal terrorising Bobby with a clipboard, or when she wanted to pick up a meteor with her bare hands so she could take it home, maybe it was when they were both stood on the top of a moving fire engine, trying to catch a parachuter from a plane flying over head.
All he knew for certain was that he was head over heels in love with Evelyn Grant-Nash, he’d just buried it deep down inside because there was no way he was going to ruin what they had. What if it all went wrong between them? He couldn’t let Chris lose a second mother, he couldn’t let himself lose his best friend, the woman who was there for him no matter what, who had his back through thick and thin.
So he pushed his feelings down, even when she was in hospital after having her leg crushed by the ladder truck, holding her as she broke down about the chance she might never work again. Even when he watched blood pour out of her mouth in her parents backyard, her Dad catching her as she collapsed, thinking she’d died before Hen announced that she had a pulse. Or when she opened up about the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of her biological parents when she was a kid, before she’d been adopted by Bobby and Athena, making him want to tear open his chest so she could fit into it, protected by his ribs as she curled around his heart.
And then there was when he’d woken up after being shot and being disappointed to see Ana not Buck at his bedside. He should’ve been happy to see his girlfriend but instead he wanted to see his best friend, work partner and co-parent. But to find out the reason she wasn’t there? To find out it was because she was living in his house so she could care for Chris? All of a sudden her not being there wasn’t sad or disappointing, it was heartwarming, she was caring for their son, because Eddie had thought of Buck as Chris’ Mom for years, since Buck saved him from a tsunami even though it almost killed her in the process.
But the moment he truly realised, truly let himself admit his feelings to himself wasn’t during some high stakes moment, some adrenaline fueled adventure, instead it was a moment of quiet domesticity between her and her baby sister, May.
But we’re not quite at that part of the story yet.
Eddie hadn’t expected to be confronted by a territorial, six foot two blonde woman on his first day at the 118 but there she was, stood in front of him as his new Captain did introductions.
“Eddie this is Henrietta Wilson, Howard Han and Evelyn Grant-Nash, although they go by Hen, Chimney and Buck. Everyone, this is Eddie Diaz.”
“Hey,” He greeted, “Good to meet you all.”
“Likewise, welcome to the 118.” Hen said, shaking his hand.
Chimney followed suit, also shaking hands with him, “Yeah, great to have you here man.”
He expected Buck to shake his hand and say hi as well so he held his hand out, only for her to glare at it with disgust, crossing her arms and cocking her hip. When he didn’t drop his hand, instead looking at her with a raised eyebrow, she scoffed and walked off.
“Excuse me.” Bobby apologised before walking after Buck, calling out, “Evelyn, come on.”
He watched the Captain chase after the firefighter as she stomped up to the loft.
“It’s nothing personal.” Chim’s voice pulled his attention back to the two people in front of him, “She can be…”
“Tricky.” Hen finished for him, “Once she’s warmed up to you she’ll be fine.”
“Trust us, you’ll love her, she’s fantastic.” Chimney promised, clearly trying to run damage control on Buck’s behalf.
But Eddie wasn’t convinced, “I dunno, she seems pretty set on hating me.” And that was the last thing he wanted, he didn’t want to start a new job with an enemy after mere minutes.
“It’s not you,” Hen assured him, “Buck’s just… got a lot going on.”
“Look, I’ve known her since she was fourteen, she’s a great kid, as sweet as they come, you just need to give her time.”
“Fourteen? You meet her through an outreach program or something?” If that was the case there was a good chance the 118 were the reason she was a firefighter, it explained why she’d be so protective of it.
Hen and Chim shared a look, clearly silently debating what to do, eventually Hen spoke up, “Buck’s Cap’s kid, she’s been coming around the station longer than either of us have been here, it’s her second home.”
“She’s also been a firefighter a lot longer than a lot of people around here too, longer than Hen.” Chim pointed out.
“Only by a year.” Hen amended, “Besides I had a career change later in life, whilst she’s a legacy, fifth generation.”
“Look, what we’re trying to say is that she’s a great kid and a great firefighter, you know, she’s kind and funny and goofy, but she’s been through a lot and that means she’s not always the quickest to trust people.”
“But give her time and once she warms up to you you’ll get to see how great she is.”
Buck was sat on the kitchen counter drinking iced coffee when Eddie entered the loft, her feet swinging back and forth, banging against the wood, as she slurped on the straw.
“Evie,” Bobby warned as he chopped vegetables, “Please don’t kick the cupboards.”
“Sorry Pops.” She stopped kicking but was clearly struggling to keep still.
Bobby didn’t even look up from his work as he spoke again, “Do you need something to do?” Now that he’d been told it was so clear that they were father and daughter, the pair too in tune not to be.
“Yeah, please.”
“Alright, you’re on carrot duty.” Buck hopped off of the counter and came to join Bobby, putting her coffee down and beginning to peel carrots.
Eddie couldn’t look away as he sat on the couch so Chim was sandwiched between him and Hen, watching as Bobby and Buck worked side by side, flowing as if this were something they did everyday, although he assumed they probably did, or had, when Buck lived at home.
Eddie could already tell Buck was the kind of person who stood out in a room, not just because of how loud and bold she seemed to be but also because she looked like she was over six foot based on when they’d been talking earlier, and her long blonde hair curled wildly out of the high ponytail it was in. Buck took up space with her personality and her height, she was larger than life in every aspect.
He watched as Buck tightened her ponytail before skipping around the counter, hair swishing from side to side as she gave a quick twirl.
She threw herself over the back of the couch so she could wrap her arms around Chim, pressing the side of her face up against his (the side Hen was on, not him, obviously), “Hey Rebar?” She said in a sing-song voice, “You know you love me?”
“What do you want, Buckaroo?” He groaned, dreading what was to come.
“I said I’d cover for Damon on Tuesday but a friend from school is back in the city for a few days and he’s invited me and some other friends of ours to spend the day together. Pretty please will you cover for me.”
“And what’s in it for me?” He asked, tone fond yet exasperated.
“My undying love and affection?” She offered, getting a scoff out of Chimney.
“I thought I already had that?”
Buck groaned loudly, “Fine, I owe you a favour. How’s that?”
“Perfect. I’ll take the shift.”
Buck hugged him even tighter and then placed a massive kiss on his cheek, “Thank you Uncle Howie.” The nickname got a laugh out of Chim and Hen.
As Buck went to pull away Hen tapped her own cheek with a finger, “What about a kiss for Aunty Hen?” Buck couldn’t stop herself from laughing as she complied and smacked a big kiss on the spot Hen had previously indicated, “Love you Aunty Hen.” She joked before Bobby called out to get her attention.
“Evie, if you’re done being distracted I could really use that extra set of hands again.”
“Yes Chef.” She called back with a mock salute. She kissed Hen and Chim on the tops of the head as she headed back to the kitchen but completely ignored Eddie, not that he was surprised.
So yeah, Hen and Chim had been 100% correct about Buck’s personality, he hoped they were also right about the fact that she’d warm up to him, eventually.
Eddie wasn’t sure if Buck was reckless or stupid but volunteering herself to get in an ambulance that contained a man with a live round in his leg was not a smart choice. Especially getting in with a man she clearly hated.
But it turned out she had a steady hand and could keep cool under pressure, and suddenly there was no one else he’d rather be in the back of that ambo with, or at least the only other person who wasn’t a member of the bomb squad.
They worked smoothly together, Buck following his every instruction to the letter, pushing her personal grievances aside. As bad as it sounded, he didn’t think Buck would’ve been able to put those feelings aside, what with how she’d been on the other calls they’d had that shift.
If he were being honest, at first part of him had wondered if she’d only gotten the job because the Captain was her Dad, but every time he’d seen her work that notion got pushed further and further out of his mind, and now he was certain this wasn’t a case of nepotism, especially watching her now. Yes, she was still peacocking in front of him but when it came down to it, she got the work done.
So thankfully they got the grenade out without any complications and they were able to hand the patient off to the hospital without any problems.
“You work well under pressure.” Eddie complemented, “I’ve seen soldiers who wouldn’t have been able to handle that even close to how you did.”
Buck gave him a genuine smile, it was small and shy but very, very real, her eyes shining with it, “Uh, y-yeah, thanks man, wasn’t even worried, knew I had the best person by my side.”
He smiled back at her, “Thanks.” He clapped a hand on her shoulder, “You can have my back any day.”
“Yeah, uh, o-or you could have mine.” They stood together, feeling a bit awkward for a few seconds before Buck suddenly pulled him into a hug, patted him on the back and then pulled away, speed walking over to her Dad.
And from there everything changed; the pair clicked and became a unit that flowed perfectly, practically communicating via telepathy.