Chapter Text
The radio crackled to life, harsh and insistent.
“118, possible injured male reported in alley behind Westbrook Avenue. Caller states victim is disoriented, unable to stand.”
Chimney rubbed the back of his neck. “Alley call at two in the morning,” he muttered. “Probably another drunk. Nothing unusual.”
Hen Wilson grabbed her medic bag and slid the strap over her shoulder. “Or someone got into a fight,” she said. “Let’s just hope he’s conscious.”
Buck and Eddie exchanged a glance as they climbed into the truck. “Drunk guy, or worse?” Buck muttered.
“Could be anything,” Eddie said quietly. “We’ll see when we get there.”
The alley looked empty at first, just the faint glow of a flickering streetlamp casting long shadows across the brick walls.
Hen scanned the area as they jumped down, checking the tight space for hazards. Buck and Eddie spread out slightly, moving with caution.
Then Eddie spotted him.
A figure huddled near the far wall, limbs trembling. Crouched down enough to be mistaken for someone drunk, but wrong in every other way. The bruises were obvious, dark and jagged across the face and shoulders. His clothes were rumpled and damp from the alley floor.
Eddie’s stomach dropped. “Chim… come here. Now.”
Chim approached, eyes widening in disbelief. “Holy—shit.”
Buck crouched a few feet away, careful not to startle him. “…You okay?”
And he felt it was a dumb question as soon as he asked. He was looking at a man that had very clearly been assaulted. A man who was most likely roofied. A large muscular man who looked so wrong looking so small and afraid.
Shane’s eyes snapped open, wide and terrified. They darted from one face to the next, never settling. His lips quivered, and he curled in slightly as if trying to disappear.
Buck’s brow furrowed trying to assure the man, that he now recognized as star hockey player, Shane Hollander. “You’re safe. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
Shane’s voice was almost inaudible. “…I… I don’t… I don’t want… help…”
Hen knelt first, hands visible, and trying to stay calm, although you could tell she wanted to cry “Hey there,” she said softly. “Can you hear me? My name’s Hen, this is Eddie. We’re here to help you. Can you tell us your name?”
Shane flinched violently, curling in on himself. His lips quivered, and when he tried to speak, only a whisper came out. “…I… Ilya…”
Eddie leaned back, trying to give him some space. “Can we look you over, make sure you’re okay?”
Shane shook his head violently. “No… no… I just… Ilya… please…”
Hen reached out slowly, trying to guide him gently, but he recoiled, backing into the wall. “…Don’t… don’t touch me!” His voice cracked with terror. “…Ilya…”
Eddie hesitated, hands raised. “Hey, we’re sorry, we're not going to hurt you. We just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Shane’s body trembled. “…No… no… Ilya…” His voice broke repeatedly, panic consuming him. He pressed his arms to his chest, trying to hide. “He… I need him…”
Buck, having unfortunately been in a devastatingly similar situation himself, crouched a few feet away, watching the scene. "Hen. Eddie." he said gently. “Can you give the two of us a second please. He needs space.”
Hen and Eddie reluctantly stepped back a few feet, knowing that Buck could help in a way they couldn't.
Buck shifted closer to Shane, keeping his own hands visible, voice soft. “…Hey,” he said. “You’re safe. Nobody’s going to hurt you. You’re okay.”
Shane blinked at him, trembling, voice breaking. “…I… I just want Ilya…”
Buck nodded. “I hear you.” He gently draped his jacket around Shane’s exposed body, covering him.“…There, hope that's a little better? You don’t have to move, you don’t have to do anything else.”
Shane pressed his face against the jacket, shivering violently. “…I… I…”
Buck lowered his voice, careful, human. “You keep asking for an Ilya. Want to tell me about him?”
Shane’s lips quivered. “…He… he’s… I just need him…”
Buck nodded. “Okay… okay. We'll find him for you. You’re safe right now. That’s all that matters.”
He glanced at Hen and Eddie. “Give us a few more minutes. He just needs a moment to calm down.”
Shane’s hands clutched the jacket Buck had draped over him, knuckles white. His body still shook violently, and every breath felt jagged, sharp. “…I… I just… Ilya…” he whispered again, voice small, trembling.
Buck crouched to meet him at eye level, careful to keep his tone soft, human, steady. “I know you do and we'll get him soon,” he said. “You want someone you trust. That’s okay. It makes sense. We all need that sometimes.”
Shane’s lips quivered. “…He's my… I just…”
“You don’t have to say more if you don't want,” Buck reassured him. “…But I can tell you about someone I trust. My husband—Eddie. Took me a while to get him, but now… having someone you know will keep you safe? Makes all the difference. You’re not alone”
Shane blinked up at him, eyes wide, voice a little steadier. “…Ilya, he'll … he’ll come? …”
Buck nodded slowly. “I’m sure he will. And we’ll make sure you’re safe until he does. That’s the most important part. Everything else can wait.”
Shane took a shaky breath, pressing closer to the jacket. “…Okay… I'm uh Shane by the way”
“Nice to meet you Shane” Buck said softly. “Let’s get a little check on you. Just a quick look. Hen and Eddie are right here—they won’t do anything you don’t want. I’ll stay right with you.”
Shane hesitated, trembling, but Buck’s presence, his steady words, and the warmth of the jacket helped just enough. “…Okay…” he whispered. “…But… just… I… you stay…”
“Of course" Buck said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Hen and Eddie moved in slowly, professional and careful. Shane flinched at first, curling in on himself, but Buck murmured quietly. “…See? They’re not going to hurt you. Just checking, that’s it.”
Shane’s hands loosened slightly on the jacket. “…Okay…”
Hen gently inspected his bruises while Eddie checked his vitals. Shane flinched and whimpered occasionally, but Buck stayed low, murmuring softly. “…You’re safe… you’re okay… I know you want Ilya but right now… just breathe…”
After a few tense minutes, Shane let them continue without pushing them away. He shivered, voice small. “…I… I…cold”
“You’re doing great,” Buck said quietly. “Just a little more. Then we get you somewhere warm. Someone safe. Okay?”
Shane nodded, trembling, voice barely audible. “…Hospital… I… I want… you…just until Ilya”
Buck’s eyes softened. “…You want me to come with you?”
Shane nodded again, clutching the jacket. “…Please…”
Eddie gave Buck a small, knowing glance. Hen nodded. “Alright,” she said. “We’re done here. Let’s get him to the ambulance.”
Buck stayed beside Shane as they lifted him carefully, still trembling, into the stretcher. “…See?” Buck whispered. “You’re safe. And we’ll get you somewhere warm. Just hang on.”
Shane exhaled shakily, still terrified, still trembling, but for the first time, he let someone lead him. Buck stayed right there, human, calm, a steady anchor in the chaos.
And for now, that was enough.