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“ So,” Buck sighs, leaning back into the couch in the loft, “that did not go how we expected.”
Hen and Chimney settle onto the couch next to him while Eddie opts to stand behind it.
“ They won’t go through with it.” Eddie shrugs, attempting to portray the optimism he hasn’t felt since this whole mess started. Truly, it just seems like one more hurdle piling on top of the massive pile he’s at danger of tripping over and watching tumble down every second ever since Chris left.
“They will,” Hen sighs, seeing Chief Simpson walk into the station over the railing, “they’re already beginning.”
“But they can’t just close our Station,” Buck frowns, “we have to do something.”
Looking around the loft the realization that this station is all he has ever known settles in. The S tation grounded him and led him into aspects of adulthood he never dreamt of reaching before finding his home here. It’s not fair that a personal feud from a politician that’s over her head is capable of ripping his home and his family away from him.
“Like what? Sue the Department?” Eddie grins.
“Something else maybe.” Buck narrows his eyes at Eddie.
“They can’t keep us closed for long,” Chimney intervenes, gesturing around the loft, “morale will go down with us not being here.”
“I don’t think they care much about morale. It’s simply about Ortiz showing that she can and will hurt me. It sucks that you all got involved in the process.” Hen says.
“We’re a team, Hen. If she is after you, she is automatically after the rest of us as well.” Chimney argues.
Hen’s refute that it should not be like that is cut short by Chief Simpson entering the loft, causing everyone to turn their attention to him.
“I’m sure word about the shut down of Station 118 has reached everyone by now,” he begins, visibly uncomfortable by having to rip the Station away from the same people that were granted medals mere months ago “I would like to keep the rest of this conversation as short as possible.”
“Of course.” Chimney murmurs.
“I will read out your names and the Station you will be reassigned to,” he pulls out his list, quickly going through it. With each name and station the nerves rise within Buck.
Eventually, the Chief reaches the end of his list, “Firefighter Han, Station 122. Firefighter Wilson, Station 147.” A sorrowful look is exchanged between the m, the sadness of no longer working side by side palpable before Chief Simpson continues with his relentlessness listing.
“Firefighter Buckley,” Buck’s head snaps up, “Station 136.”
H e frowns.
“Bosko works there.” Eddie tells him.
“My replacement. Great.” Buck grunts out.
“And Firefighter Diaz, Station 217.” Chief Simpson finishes and the rest of what he says is lost on Buck whose head turned towards Eddie so fast that he thought it would break his neck for a second.
Eddie gets to work with Tommy. Eddie gets to work with his boyfriend.
In the midst of it all, Buck had dared to let himself think about getting moved to Harbour and working with his boyfriend. No more conflicting schedules and hours of seeing each other instead of wondering if the other will come home that evening.
But with the words Station 136 the slight sliver of hope for more time with Tommy was crushed. At least for him.
Buck’s eyes narrow at Eddie, who is already looking down at him, “I didn’t create the list, Buck.”
“Great. Buck will have to share Tommy with Eddie again.” Chimney groans, his mind running wild with memories of the last time Tommy’s attention wasn’t solely on Buck.
But Buck ignores them, his eyes staying focused on Eddie’s face. Eddie shifts around on his feet before deciding to walk around and sit on the couch with the others. For no specific reason, of course.
“Harbour.” Buck grunts out and Eddie out of pure instinct moves his feet from Buck’s.
“Not my decision.”
“You’ll work with Tommy.” Buck doesn’t whine in front of them, but it is close to it.
“He will.” Hen snickers, being the only one that can feel the irony in it.
And Buck does not find it funny that Eddie gets to work with his boyfriend while he gets to work with his replacement. It feels like the universe is playing a cruel joke on him.
“I’m going to call Tommy.” he grumbles and gets off the couch to be able to get to a more private area of the Station. One where he can call Tommy and complain about how unfair this all is and whine about Eddie getting to be the one that works with him.
“Buck,” Eddie calls after him, “I appreciate you not tackling me again.”