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Bucks transition from reserves to active duty took less time than he thought. But maybe that was just Ice pushing things through.
Within twelve hours, Rooster, Hangman and he had boxed up his loft, adjusted his will and next of kin information with his lawyer, (Not Mackey.) and had notified the city about not only how Buck was leaving, but about how the 118 had been treating him.
Buck didn’t care if they started an internal review. He wouldn't be there to see it anyway.
His phone had not stopped buzzing and chiming since they left the station.
At one point Hangman had actually answered and told the person on the other end in no uncertain terms that “Sunshine is busy right now. He can call you back if or when he wants to.”
They had collapsed in an exhausted heap on the floor of the empty loft at about one in the morning.
“So… who’s driving with me?” Buck asked, propping his head up on one hand to look at the other two.
“Both of us, you dingus.” Jake grunted, shoving at Bradley’s head where it had been shoved into his neck “We didn’t drive here. We flew.”
Bradley’s head thunked the floor, probably harder than any of them anticipated. Bradley hardly moved. Maybe it was just how tired all of them were.
“That sounds nice.” Buck sighed, laying his head back down on the floor.
They all must have fallen asleep because the next thing Buck knew the sun was sneaking through the windows, blinding his poor eyes. With a groan he sat up.
“Damm… I’m getting too old for sleeping on the floor.” Buck mumbled, easing his way to his feet.
He wandered into the kitchen and started the coffee maker, casually watching Bradley and Jake cuddled up on the floor under the stairs.
The scent of coffee wafting through the loft finally brought movement from the other two occupants and Bradley moaned pitifully as Jake shifted under his head. Jake ran his hand through Bradley's curls, mumbling something unintelligible.
Buck chuckled. ‘Those two have danced around each other for freaking years.’
It must have been the final wakeup call because Jake’s eyes popped open. The speed with which he sat up would have made their commanding officers proud. Bradley's head hit the floor again, waking him up fully.
“The hell Jake.” Bradley groaned, rolling away from Jake’s wide eyes and Bucks laughter.
“Come on you two, coffees ready.” Buck called, easing the underlying tension.
—-----------------------------------
One cup of coffee turned into them eating what was left in the fridge at about six in the morning.
It would have been a quick affair. Should have been quick. All that was left in his fridge was a box of frozen Eggos and a gallon of soy milk. A few sticks of celery maybe in the very back.
Except they were interrupted.
The door to the loft flew open with a bang, smacking the wall next to it.
It made all three men eating at the counter flinch.
Eddie Diaz stood, huffing like he had run a marathon - which was no small task given their professions.
“You were just going to leave.” Eddie snarled, stepping inside the door, “You were just going to destroy our lives and then just leave like everything meant nothing to you!”
Buck flinched back, before the fire lit in the back of his brain. He was done being their sacrificial whipping boy.
“Fuck you, Eddie.”
Eddie froze. “The fuck did you just say?”
“I said fuck you. You only wanted me around because of what I could do for you. You didn’t listen to my side of the story. You never do!”
Buck was stepping around the counter now, face flushed, hands balled.
“I needed you, Eddie. I needed my family! And where were you all? I understand you all have lives outside the 118. I don’t. You were my family! And you didn’t want me.”
He was right in front of Eddie now, hands fisting his shirt as he walked him back out the door.
“I know I messed up alright. I know I hurt you and the rest of the team, but you hurt me too. Why can’t any of you hear me when I say that? You hurt me too! I tried to come back. For so long I tried to get back to my family, and they didn’t want me. You didn’t want me, Eddie. So why should I bother to fight anymore?”
Eddie was wide eyed, mouth opening and closing like a fish before a choked noise came tumbling out, “You… betrayed us… Chirs needed you… I needed you, and you weren't there.”
“You replaced me. You don’t need me anymore Eddie. Clearly.” Evan said, slowly releasing Eddie’s shirt. “You have your team, you have Chris. You have your abuela and Tia Pepa. You have Bosko now. What the fuck do you need me for anyway?” The statement was quiet, but as Buck stepped back and closed the door he could have sworn, he heard a sob escape from Eddie.
Or maybe it was from himself.
Bradley and Jake had been frozen behind the counter the entire time and finally moved when Buck came back into the kitchen.
“Damm Sunshine, I didn't know you had that hiding in ya.” Jake whistled, nudging his cup of coffee along the counter for Buck.
“I did.” Bradley mumbled, taking another sip of his own coffee to hide his growing smile. “Come here little brother.”
Buck walked into Bradley's arms like he had been born for it. You would never know Buck had only been part of Bradley's family since he was thirteen. But regardless. Bradley, Ice and Mav were more family than anyone had ever been.
“Come on” Bradley mumbled into Buck's hair, gently pulling away from the hug, “we have to get going.”
Buck whined but nodded, scrambling up the stairs to get dressed.
“We’ll be out of here soon.” Jake sighed, casually leaning against Bradley.
“We got Sunshine back, we’ll make sure he’s okay, and he won’t have to deal with any of these assholes ever again if he doesn't want to.”
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaving L.A. was not easy.
But it was worth it.
The drive was long, but singing along to the radio with Jake while Bradley bitched about both of them being off key was probably the most fun Buck had had since he started at the 118.
Don’t get him wrong he had good times there before everything had gone down, but this, driving with his brother and his friend, was a weight lifted from his chest.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“SUNSHINE!”
The word echoed around the crowded bar, drawing the attention from more than one patron.
Buck smiled, right before he got tackled by several naval aviators.
Yes it would be an adjustment, but in that moment, surrounded by neon lights, warm arms and music, Buck wouldn’t choose anywhere else to be.