Work Text:
Evan "Buck" Buckley was more than happy that morning as he came into work. He just had another DXA scan that showed he was down another half percent, and so much closer again to his ideal weight and muscle mass. It also meant that he was that much closer to being fit for duty again should he decide to re-enlist because if he went back, he wanted to be at his best to make sure that what happened to take him out of commission never happened again.
Due to extensive injuries, he had been honorably discharged about two years ago from his employment with the Navy SEALs, as his projected recovery time had been longer than his remaining contract. Still, it had been made clear that he could reapply once he was fit enough again and that his bosses would love to see him back.
That he had not been fit enough for service in the SEALs had been the reason he had applied to the fire academy, acing the tests easily. He had asked HR to keep his service out of his file, which they had done, even if Buck regretted it sometimes when the others, and especially Bobby, treated him like a dumb kid. It was a nice second career should he not be deemed fit enough by the psychologists he had been seeing. Buck could easily see this becoming his second calling, but he hoped that it was also only a matter of time until they cleared him. Physically, he was fine by now and his psychologist was also quite happy with his progress.
Buck, immediately upon entering the station, bounced over to Chimney, crowing about his scan, and fell into the ribbing with both Hen and Bobby about the calendar when they had come over as well. Once the talk about the calendar stopped, Bobby told them that they had a new recruit, which immediately led to Buck fearing for his place at the 118 for a moment until he pushed that fear down. Even if things did not work out here, he had a plan B. Really, firefighting was his plan B and he hoped that plan A could come into effect by the time he was no longer needed here should this really mean he was being replaced and would be training his replacement.
As Buck listened to Bobby waxing poetical about their newest probie, there were some things he just couldn't hold in, especially when he saw the still slightly red scars on the man's body as he changed in the locker room. Really, just who had thought glass walls were a good idea?
Just as Bobby started to lead them over so that they could meet the other man, his hand shot out to grab his captain and Hen's shoulders, stopping them in their tracks.
"Buck?" Hen asked, confusion coloring her voice. "What's wrong?"
"Do not ask him about how he got the Silver Star," Buck replied, his voice hushed and harried, trying to get across how serious he was about the issue. "Or his service."
"What?" Chim, who had stopped when the others had, asked a frown on his face. "Why wouldn't we? He must be proud of having received such a medal. "
"He most likely really isn't and no one wants to be reminded of one of the worst days in their lives. If he wants to talk to you about it, he will. But don't push him," Buck answered, causing all three members of the team to frown at him even more.
"Why would it be one of the worst days in his life?" Bobby asked, dumbfounded. "He got a Silver Star for it!"
"Well, they don't hand those things out for just your participation over there," the youngest in the team replied. "The Silver Star Medal is awarded for singular acts of valor or heroism over a brief period, such as one or two days of a battle, and only if the action does not warrant one of the higher awards. It is the highest award for combat valor that is not unique to any specific branch and only bestowed on 1 in 250 veterans, so it's rather rare."
"Have you swallowed a Wikipedia article?" Chim asked, his tone caustic as it was a lot of the time when Buck spewed some random trivia.
"I don't care what you think. Most veterans don't want to talk about their service; if they do, they will do it on their terms and bring it up themselves. The things those guys see out there are not something people stateside understand, despite what they think, and there's always trauma involved with getting medals like that, so please, for the love of god, don't be assholes and bring it up, okay?"
All three team members looked at their youngest and Bobby was the first to nod his agreement, even if it was just because it seemed so important to the younger man. The other two followed after a sharp look from their captain, even though they did not understand why and also could not fathom how their youngest knew all of this.
"Thank you," Buck breathed a sigh of relief and moved over to welcome their newest team member. Once he was out of earshot, Chim turned to Hen and Bobby.
"That was strange right?" he asked and the other two nodded their agreement. "I wonder why he knew that stuff and why he felt the need to make sure that we didn't ask Diaz about his service."
"I- I have no idea," Bobby replied, vowing to take a look at Buck's file again to see if there was something in there that could explain both. As he watched Buck with their newest recruit, he was glad, however, that the younger man seemed to welcome their new probie into their midst. He had been a bit worried that Buck would think he was getting replaced and get territorial. That was the last thing he wanted as he had hired Eddie especially to be Buck's partner in the field.
The two of them seemed to get on like a house on fire though and Bobby wondered if that had something to do with the insights into veterans Buck had just shared with them. He wasn't about to ask, however, as Buck had been very adamant that most veterans didn't like being asked about their service.
.o0o.
It was about an hour later that they were on their way to their first call since Eddie joined them. Buck had no idea why Chim was with them in the engine, as it was a medical call and they would need the ambulance that Hen was driving, and normally Chim went with Hen, but the older man had clambered in after them, sitting across from Eddie and Buck and tucking the headphones into place.
Buck had frowned at the action, but as time was of the essence, he had not said anything. And really, it was not his place to comment, as everyone could choose whichever seat they pleased as long as everyone needed was there. Still, the other man's presence in the engine didn't sit right with him and he made sure to keep an eye on him.
They were halfway to the place dispatch had directed them to, when Buck saw the exact moment Chim concluded that the idiot probie, which was all Buck was to Chim and all he ever would be, had no right to tell him what to say and what not and started opening his mouth to ask Eddie about his Silver Star. That Eddie and the talk they had earlier was the topic of the older man's thoughts had been apparent from the way Chim had looked back and forth between Eddie and Buck.
However, before Chim could even get the first word out, Buck stomped on his foot before distracting Eddie from the older man's angry squeak by asking which name Eddie was the short version of. When Chim started to complain, Buck just talked louder, winking at Eddie.
"What the hell is going on back there?" Bobby asked when Chim didn't stop complaining about Buck kicking him.
"He just kicked me without any provocation!" Chim exclaimed.
"Yes, I got that!" Bobby replied. "Buck?"
"He was about to ask what I told you earlier not to ask," Buck answered calmly.
He could see Bobby rubbing his face in despair at the older man's actions and he was not sorry for ratting Chim out, as Bobby would have heard the question had he let Chim ask it.
"Chimney," Bobby sighed.
"He kicked me!"
"He prevented you from making an ass of yourself!" Bobby shot back, glaring at Chim over his shoulder. "You should be grateful!"
"Anyone mind telling me what this is about?" Eddie asked, frowning because he didn't know what the others were talking about and he didn't like being out of the loop especially since it seemed to be about him.
"Wonderboy here told us not to ask you about your service," Chimney replied before anyone could stop him and Buck kicked him again for his big mouth, kicking a third time when he saw Eddie's face close off.
"I just figured that you might not want to talk about it," Buck said as he turned to Eddie, the glare that he had leveled at Chimney being replaced by a look of concern.
Eddie felt his stomach drop at the chance in conversation topic. He swallowed heavily before squaring his shoulders.
"You're absolutely right," he replied, reaching out and squeezing Buck's wrist quickly in thanks for his attempt to spare him the discussion about his service. "I'd rather not."
Then he turned away and stared out of the window for the rest of the drive and behind his back, he could practically feel Buck glare at Chim. His suspicion was confirmed when he chanced a glance over his shoulder when he heard the older man squeak in fear. While he wasn't sure how Buck had made Chim afraid since the man seemed to be the epitome of a golden retriever, he was grateful that Buck had his back without even knowing him.
He was also glad that he agreed to the 118 if it got him someone watching his back from the get-go without wanting anything in return. Maybe this could work out after all. He couldn't wait to get to know Buck better.