10 Chapter 10 Eddie POV

Eddie sits there in shock, as Buck stood on front of him. This is the man he wanted so bad who just tapped him on the shoulder when he was meant to be meeting someone else. He was confused and the look on Buck's face said the same.

"What are you doing here?" Buck asks confusedly.

"I could ask the same to you?" replies Eddie retorts in the same tone.

Eddie watches as he sees Buck trying to thin what to say, Eddie knew himself he was struggling to find the right words, he was looking at the door then back at Buck.

'Should I make a run for it or would that make it worse, I don't know,.' Eddie thinks to himself.

Time passes for what feels like forever and neither starts to talk, their shock is broken by another voice.

"About time." Carlos says gleefully.

"Yeah, though I don't think they have clicked onto it yet." TK jokes.

"What are you on about?" Eddie asks, noticing Buck looking at him.

"Well, you both inadvertently have been speaking to each other and never realised, I mean they say love is blind but you two take it to another level." TK says with a grin.

"Eddie, call the guy's phone." Carlos says.

Eddie looks at Carlos then gets his spare phone out he starts to look through and find his date's number and presses call and raises it to his ear, he looks at Buck as hears the ringtone come from his pocket he watches as Buck takes the phone out and it wasn't his normal phone. Eddie hangs up and realises what TK was on about.

"Whose phone is that?" Buck asks confusedly.

"This is my old phone with an old sim as I'm waiting for my new one remember. And what is that phone?" Eddie enquires noticing the writing on the back.

"It's my old phone from a few years ago." Buck says.

"Your old hook up one considering it says it on the back" TK says.

He sees Buck look at TK, he grabs his beer and just downs it before looking at Buck.

"Who are you two? Sorry, I am just simply confused with everything. Buck adorably says.

"Well, go take a seat at the table over there and we will bring the drinks over and explain so what you both having?" Tk says

"Just a beer and a tequila shot I think I made need it." Eddie says looking at Buck

"Same for me too." Buck responds.

"Okay, you both go over there, and we will get them, just don't run off." TK jokes.

Eddie heads off to the table and doesn't look back he doesn't know what to think. Buck was here at the bar. he had been the guy he had been messaging this whole time. As he sits, he watches as Buck sits opposite him and looks straight at him. so, he smiles and starts to shake his head at the whole situation.

"What?" Buck asks.

"Just this whole situation." Eddie says

"Tell me, who are they?" Buck asks, nodding towards the two men at the bar.

"Oh, TK works at the firehouse in Austin and Carlos is a cop but also TK's boyfriend." Eddie explains

"But why they here? And why are you here I thought you were back tomorrow not today?" Buck asks.

"I'm kind of confused now to why they are here but they said they would explain and I came back early as I had done extra shifts so the captain said I could leave a day early and then TK and Carlos came along." Eddie explains he thought there was something weird going on but didn't expect this.

"So, your Principe espanol encantador?" Buck asks, Eddie looks over and Buck isn't looking at him.

"And your babyblueboi" Eddie says with a chuckle

"Yeah, god this is awkward." Buck says.

Before Eddie can say anything, TK and Carlos arrive at the table and hands them their drinks, Eddie watches as Buck downs the shot and then takes a swig of beer, Eddie takes a quick swig and smiles at Buck as he looks at everyone, Eddie then realises something.

"Hang on, that means you stood me up the other week." Eddie says, he watches as Bucks cheeks start to change colour.

"I..I..I'm sorry." is all Buck can say

"Well first let us explain why we are here so we can go, and you can try enjoy the date you both obviously are craving for." TK jokes

"Please." Eddie says.

Eddie looked at Buck who just nods, he smiled he could see Buck had flushed cheeks and to be honest so did he, he looked back over to TK.

"So, when you came over to our station and explained everything about the guy that stood you up and kept going on about the excuse he gave for not turning up, well you know how you left me with the phone while you went and took the call from Maddie about Buck not answering and how you were worried about him." TK says

"Yeah I remember." Eddie says looking at Buck with a little grin on his face.

'He must think I'm crazy worrying about him so much that I had speak to his sister' Eddie thinks to himself.

"Well Buck, do you remember getting a call round the same time as Maddie had been at yours?" TK says looking at Buck.

Eddie was now confused to what TK was on about, he looked at Carlos and he just nodded to Eddie, so he turned back to TK to listen.

"Yeah, from a guy called Tyler." Buck replied, realising.

"That was me, when you answered and said it was Buck, I figured it out. So, I kind of told a white lie that I was from New York but I am originally from New York." TK says with a chuckle "Then when you came back in Eddie and said what was I smiling about, that was it I had figured out that you two were messaging and didn't know about the one and the other, so I talked to Carlos and we agreed that it had get sorted, then I spoke to my dad and he agreed so here we are." TK finishes.

"I'm lost for words." Eddie says.

He looks at Buck he notices him eyeing up the door and can tell he is nervous. He does the thumb twiddling whenever he is nervous, he gives a look to TK and motions his eyes to the bar he know Buck needs a minute.

"Hey, let's get another round in, Carlos" Tk says

"Yeah, same again, you two?" Carlos asks.

"Yes please." Eddie replies.

He watches as Buck nods instead of speaking another sign he is nervous. Eddie doesn't know whether to say anything to Buck or leave him to it. He watches as Buck continues to play with his thumbs, Eddie decides maybe to give him some space on his own.

"I will be back in a minute, I'm just going to the bar." Eddie says.

"Okay." Buck says.

As Eddie gets to the bar, he sees TK and Carlos and stands with them.

"What's up with him?" TK asks.

"He is nervous." Eddie replies.

"And you're not?, how you know he's nervous anyway?" Carlos asked.

"I am nervous, but I have you two here. He most likely feels out numbered. He's twiddling his thumbs and nodding instead of talking normally means he nervous." Eddie explains as they all look over at Buck who is looking at them, they notice Buck has his phone to his ear and holds his hand up and mouths five minutes and heads out.

"And there goes your date?" TK jokes.

"Not funny" Carlos says as he shoves TK.

"He won't run off; he will be on the phone to someone." Eddie explains.

"Who though?" Carlos asks.

"My guess his sister explaining how bad the night has gone, I mean he won't run surely as we work together, what if he has and then phones in sick to avoid me?" Eddie starts worrying

"Well let's take these drinks to the table and go from there." Carlos says.

They head to the table and have a drink of their drinks, Eddie gets his phone out he has a message from Ana saying Goodluck, only if she knew he laughed to himself.

"What's funny?" TK asks

"Just a friend saying good luck, only if they knew eh?" Eddie says.

"Give them a quick call, I mean he is outside at the moment." Carlos says.

"Yeah will do" Eddie says.

He quickly finds Ana's number and calls her.

"What are you calling me for when you're on a date, don't tell me fobbed you off again." She says down the phone.

"No, he is here, well he was, long story short you won't guess who it is." Eddie says.

"What you mean he was and who" Ana says

"It's Buck." Eddie replies.

All he could hear was laughter down the phone he looked at TK and Carlos and laughed.

"You are joking right, the man you never shut up about was the guy you have been speaking to who then fobbed you off." She says.

"That would be the one, I'm going ask in a minute when he comes back if he does. He has gone outside on the phone, so I don't know, just wanted to let you know who it was." Eddie explained.

"Well good luck let me know tomorrow how it ends, at least I don't have worry about you boring your date about Buck considering it is him." She laughs.

"Oh, I hate you, talk to you tomorrow bye." Eddie says annoyedly

"Bye." She replies and hangs up.

"I'll go see where he is." Carlos says and gets up and heads out.

"So, you all good?" TK asks.

"I am and I not, it's a lot to take in, the man I want is the man I was actually messaging with and I never noticed. Why didn't I notice?" Eddie says

"Like I said love is blind, but talk to him, you both have a lot to talk about and sort out, but he is nervous and so are you, use this as time to figure out what you both want and maybe go on a proper date another time." TK says

"Yeah, you might have a point, there are things I need speak to him about we will see. Oh, here they come." Eddie says.

They watch as Buck and Carlos had back towards the table and Eddie stares at Buck and can't believe how cute he looks, it wasn't the way he wanted this to go, but he was going make the most of it. He smiles when he sees that Buck gets closer he is smiling too. As he takes a seat at the table TK stands up.

"Right, we're off, you two talk and let me know how it goes." TK says with a smile.

They exchange farewells and Eddie watches as they leave and smiles knowing he is alone with the man he wants, but also nervous of how it will go.

"So alone at last." Eddie says, and he sees Buck just looks at him.

'Oh, shit that sounded wrong.' Eddie thinks to himself.

"Yeah suppose so. Eddie can I just say sorry about the other week." Buck says

"So, what was the real reason you did the no show routine?" Eddie asks he needed know why his best friend stood him up.

"Well I got here, and then saw you and Ana and I didn't want you see e having a date with a guy. I wanted tell you about me once I had someone, so seeing you two sat there I just bottled it up, why was she there if you arranged a date with someone?" Buck asks

"She was here for support, she knew it had been a while and after you told me about stalkers, I thought at least if she was there and it if was a weird guy she would save me, but then you never showed up so I got slightly drunk and then fell asleep." Eddie said with a chuckle

"Oh right, so you two aren't an item?" Buck asks.

"No, were just friends. Plus, I don't think her girlfriend would be impressed, she basically was the one I spoke to about things." Eddie says turning away.

"What things, you know you can tell me anything." Buck says automatically

"Well if you must know it was about a guy I like, she actually tells me off as I talk to much about him, and if you're wondering it's you." Eddie says he looks at Buck whose cheeks are flushing red again.

"Really, Carlos said you wouldn't stop talking about me." Buck said with a grin.

"Yeah, other people seemed to have noticed I liked you, and you didn't." Eddie says.

"Oh, right like who?" Buck asks curiously.

"Well obviously Ana, TK, Carlos, my Abuela of all people, oh and Hen. She got it out of me when I picked Christopher up." Eddie says with a giggle.

"Your Abuela knows, how? And it will be round the station by Monday if Hen knows." Buck says with a chuckle.

"Well she pointed out I always smile when you call or when your around, Hen said she will keep it quiet. More importantly, who knows about you liking me?" Eddie says sticking his tongue out.

"Well, right now it's only Josh and Bobby. Most likely Athena too, knowing Bobby. Oh, and TK and Carlos obviously, Maddie does know now after…" Buck says pointing to his black eye.

"Ah, yes the fight. I was going ask about that." Eddie starts feeling a bit bad for not asking sooner, but he could see he was okay.

"Yeah, they were calling him names and asked why I should care, then questioned if I was one and I said yeah they attacked. I defended but I had not realised Maddie was there when I said it. She also knows how much I like you and everything else." Buck says as he looks down.

"About your nightmares, from the tsunami?" Eddie asks carefully.

"How did you know?" Buck asks.

"Christopher said something to Hen and I when we were at hers and then it clicked on the day when you froze at the balcony. It was raining, the nightmare had come back had not it? Why didn't you tell us? I'm guessing Bobby knew as he told us leave it alone?" Eddie says.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I just didn't want to say I had a problem, Bobby talked to me that day I cut my finger as I was distracted." Buck looks away knowing he is going red "That's when he found out how much I liked you and the stress I was under." Buck finished

"Distracted by what? And you should have said something to me if you were stressed." Eddie says.

"It was you." Buck says, and Eddie watches as Buck looks down at his hands.

"What do you mean me?" Eddie replies confusedly.

"Well the day I cut my finger, I was too busy watching you and not paying attention to where I was cutting, and then when Bobby was sorting out the cut, I was too busy watching you again and that's how he knew." Buck explains.

"We are a pair aren't we?" Eddie says with a laugh as he takes a swig of beer.

"More than a pair, where do we go from here?" Buck asks.

'That is a good question, I like him and want tell him, but I also don't want ruin the friendship, ill say let's continue the date and see what happens.' he thinks to himself.

"Well, I say we actually have this date it looks like it's been a long time coming don't you think?" Eddie says.

He watches as Buck looks deep in thought and waits for him to answer.

"Well in that case, Eddie Diaz will you go on a date with me tonight?" Buck asks and Eddie can't help but look at him.

"We are already out on one, but yes I would love that." Eddie says smiling back

"Yeah but this isn't us at all, come on finish the drinks I'm going order an Uber to take us on a date we will both enjoy." Buck says

Eddie was glad that Buck offered to leave the bar it was packed and since Eddie liked to keep things private as much as he could so, sitting there with a date was hard enough never mind someone he knew. He was just wondering what Buck had planned, he looked at Buck who was on his phone.

"Okay, that's fine with me." Eddie says easily.

"Where is Christopher?" Buck asks realising he has not asked.

"He is with Abuela all night." Eddie says with a smile.

'I hope that doesn't sound like I wanted more from this date.' Eddie thinks to himself

"Oh right, planning on some action were you" Buck says teasingly.

Eddie tries not to spit out his drink at what Buck has just said he looks at him and can see he is not trying to laugh. He quickly swallows the beer before it dribbles out his mouth.

"No, I don't put out on the first date, it been a long week and wanted a quiet night in plus I didn't know if my date would turn up so was prepared to get drunk." Eddie says.

"And fall over again." Buck chuckles, remembering the specific part of the last time.

Eddie shakes his head at that thought, he looks at Buck when he hears Bucks phone going off. they quickly finish their drinks and he follows Buck out.

"Where are we going?" Eddie asks.

"You will see." Buck replies.

They hop in and head towards the beach, in the car Eddie is looking out the window he decides to be brave he turns his head Buck is not paying attention. He looks down and sees Bucks hand in the middle seat he slowly moves his hand over and places it on top of Bucks hand. He watches as Buck turns his head towards him and blushes and Eddie knows his cheeks are also red, they arrive at the beach front and jump out and look around.

"Wait by that lamp post, I'm going pop into the shop okay?" Buck says looking at Eddie.

"Okay, but hurry will you it's cold." Eddie says.

"Well you should have put extra layers on." Buck says as he sticks his tongue out and Eddie watches him runs to the shop.

"I wasn't expecting to be taken to the beach!" Eddie shouts after him, but he doubted Buck had even heard.

Eddie stands there looking round there is not many people walking round its late and its cold, but he is happy and will endure anything if it means the night will continue with Buck. He watches as cars zoom pass along the road and can hear the sound of the sea behind him. As he turns his focus back to the shop where Buck was, he looks up at the stars it was a clear night and he could see a few stars he then sees a shooting one and makes a wish.

'Please let this work out I love him and want him to be mine.' he says to himself as he makes the wish.

A few minutes pass by and eventually he sees Buck walking out the shop, he looks so happy and looks so hot even though it's so cold, Eddie wonders if Buck is happy about what is going on or if something funny happened in the shop. As he gets closer to Eddie he starts to think how crazy Buck is coming here at this time of year and shakes his head at him.

"What are you shaking your head at, Diaz?" Buck giggles.

"You, only you would think of the beach front in November." Eddie says smiling.

"Come on, let's go for a walk on the beach." Buck says.

"You are joking right; I'm not dressed for the bea-" Eddie starts but stops as Buck throws a blanket at his face.

"It's sorted and before you moan, I have more so you will be warm." Buck says

They head on to the beach and Eddie refrains from grabbing Bucks hand he didn't want to push his luck to much and Buck didn't seem to want to either, so he left it alone. They walk along the shore and he follows Buck who finds a place to sit next to a fence and had dunes round them but nothing blocking the view of the sea. He watched as Buck popped one bag down and got the blankets out laying one on the sand, they sat down, and he watches as Buck wraps a blanket round himself but also puts spares down too. He watches as Buck fishes in the other bag and gets two bottles of beer out and passes him one.

"I know it's not the most perfect first date but if I had known I would have made a better effort." Buck chuckled

"Hang on, so you didn't try back there?" Eddie says

Eddie watches as he can see Buck is thinking and staring into his eyes Eddie just starts to smile to let him know all is good.

"I would have made more of an effort too if I knew it was you that I was taking on a date." Eddie said smiling.

"Oh, really?" Buck asks

"Yeah, if you want maybe we could have a proper first date Monday night after our shift." Eddie says.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Buck asks.

"Well, what do you say?" Eddie asks smiling.

"I say… I'll think about it." Buck says

Eddie looks at him feeling a bit hurt was Buck joking or was he been serious?

"Of course, I will." Buck says with a chuckle

"You're a idiot." Eddie says as he pushes Buck over.

"So, where we going? Hopefully somewhere quiet and not to public." Buck says

"I will think of something." Eddie says

"What about Chris we can't dump him on your Abuela again, it's not fair plus it's a school night." Buck says

"Always thinking of others, but you are right. Maybe we have to have a rain check?" Eddie says but feels sad at saying it.

"I know, how about tomorrow night, we have a date at yours…" Buck starts

"But Christopher will be there." Eddie butts in.

"If you let me finish, yes Chris will be there, but he will also go bed early, as it school next day so how about when it gets time for him to head I will sort out something." Buck says

"You sure you want our date to be at mine?" Eddie asks.

"I'm not fussed on whereabouts we are on the date, the main thing that is important on the date is the people there. So, I'm not fussed if I'm at yours, or you are at mine. We can make it special." Buck says smiling.

"Ok, you win, but I'll sort out the surprise as we both know Christopher will want you to read to him." Eddie says with a smile

"That is true, I make the character voices and the noises. You don't even bother." Buck says smiling.

They sit there enjoying their beers, Eddie looks out at the sea watching the moonlight flicker on the surface and every so often he catches Buck looking at him in the corner of his eye. He enjoys sitting there with Buck, no one near them. Just the two of them. They aren't talking, but Eddie feels content knowing Buck is close by, as he's thinking he turns to Buck and he sees that Buck isn't moving the beer bottle it's like he is frozen, Eddie hears the crashing waves and realises what is happening as he sees the bottle fall he sees a tear forming and moves closer to Buck.

"Buck, are you okay?" Eddie asks gently.

Buck does not answer, Eddie he gets closer to him hoping he can break him out the memory.

"Buck answer me, it's just a memory. Listen to my voice. It is a memory you're okay, I'm next to you. Feel my finger on your cheek." Eddie says

Eddie gently rubs a finger on Bucks cheek to let him know he is there; he can see it is working so continues to it and keeps talking.

"That is, it, Buck. Just focus on me." Eddie says.

He notices Buck finally comes round and wraps his arms round Eddie and buries his head into Eddie neck, Eddie wraps his arms round Buck.

"It's okay Buck, you're ok I'm here." Eddie says

"I'm sorry, I've ruined it haven't I?" Buck asks.

"No, you haven't, how about we head back to yours and get away from the sound okay?" Eddie says

"Okay." Buck replies pulling away to rub the tears away.

Eddie takes out his phone and orders an Uber, they pack up and head to the road and wait for it to arrive. Buck keeps quiet the whole time; Eddie does not know what to say to make Buck talk. He doesn't want to upset him more; he just wants to get him back to his apartment. When the Uber arrives, they jump in and Eddie explains where to head to as the drive towards Buck's place. Eddie looks over at Buck who is looking out the window watching the world go by, Eddie just wants reach over and hold him, but he decides not to in case it upsets Buck more.

They arrive at Buck's apartment block; they do not say anything to each other as they arrive at his door. Buck fumbles with his key as they enter the apartment. He turns round and Eddie walks past him and into the apartment and heads towards the kitchen.

"Let's get a coffee, I know I'm cold and I bet you are." Eddie says

"Yes please, I'll just go throw these blankets upstairs." Buck explains as he climbs the stairs.

"When you come down bring the spare duvet for me so I can sleep on the couch." Eddie shouts up.

"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" Asks Buck.

"I can't leave you after that, so I'll stay on the couch in case you need me okay?" Eddie says.

"I'll be fine." Buck says.

"No buts. I'm staying so go get it." Eddie says.

Eddie starts making the drinks and looking round the apartment. He had not been there in a while and he could tell by looking at it that Buck was not himself. There was a bit of a mess all over where normally, it is all clean and tidy. As he finishes looking round, he heads to the fridge and is shocked that there is not much in their food wise. He grabs the milk and finishes the coffees.

'What is he living on? I'll sneak him some groceries tomorrow.' Eddie thinks to himself.

He moves one of the mugs to the side ready for Buck, he sees Buck come down and hands him some clothes

"Can't have you sleeping in the clothes you have on. They do look uncomfortable, so go get changed." Buck says.

"Thanks, I will., Drink your coffee and warm up." Eddie says, and pats Buck on his back as he makes his way upstairs.

As Eddie got to the top of the stairs he could see the same kind of mess as downstairs, Buck did need some help he would try and say something tomorrow. He gets changed and heads down the stairs placing his clothes on the side and he sees Buck sitting on the sofa, so he makes his way over and sits next to him.

"So, want talk about what happened?" Eddie asks

"Not really, I do want to talk about it. But just not right now." Buck says. Evidently, to Eddie Buck had wanted to try to enjoy the last of whatever tonight was.

"Ok, how about a quick movie?" Eddie asks.

"Yeah, ok as long as it's a quick one." Buck replies

Eddie finds a movie and they start watching it, Eddie is tired from travelling and soon nods off. He wakes up after a few hours all tucked in under the duvet on the sofa, he decides he needs a glass of water, so he gets up and heads over to the sink, trying to be as quiet as possible. As he gets near the sink, he can hear groans from upstairs. He gets a glass of water and stands still a bit longer and he still hears the sounds, so he decides to head up and check on Buck.

As he gets to the top of the stairs, he can see Buck his fidgeting and in the moon light he can see the sweat on his head. He walks over to the bed places his glass on the side.

"Buck, it's just a nightmare. you're okay." Eddie says, trying to comfort him.

Buck does not wake. He continues to move around in bed. Eddie decides to climb in and hold him close to him and hopefully he will wake up. He slides in but sits at an angle. He moves Buck so his head is on his chest and an arm that he rested his arm over Buck's own arm and the other down his back. He eventually stops moving and nods off, Eddie smiles down and nods off too. Eddie wakes when he feels Buck move but does not move or open his eyes. He just enjoys and hope Buck does not move which he does not, and soon enough he is sleeping again, Eddie looks over at the clock its 8am. He should be heading off soon to get Christopher, but he does not want to disturb Buck. As he sits there looking down at Buck, he hears a faint knock at the door. He slowly moves and places Buck down and quietly heads down the stairs.

Eddie slowly opened the door and saw Maddie, he put his finger to his lips to let her know to be quiet and he stepped outside the door, so they were in the hallway.

"What are you doing here I thought you got back today?" Maddie asks curiously.

"It's a long story." Eddie says

"Okay, well is Buck in there? Is he okay? I had a text from Bobby to come check on him something about his date set him off and he phoned Bobby to help calm him down." Maddie explains.

'That explains who he was on the phone to.' Eddie thinks to himself.

"Yeah he is in there, like I said it's a long story. Talk to Buck, he had nightmares again last night." Eddie explains.

"Okay, thanks for being here for him." She says

"Its fine, I need go anyway. I need to pick up Christopher, so I'll grab my things and leave you to it." Eddie says.

They head in and he watches as Maddie heads up. He quickly changes, he writes a note for Buck saying he will see him later and that he had to go get Christopher. He orders a Uber and heads out and down to the lobby and hops in his Uber.

'What a night' he thinks to himself.