Chapter Text
Buck wandered absent mindedly around the incredibly empty firehouse, the light of midday, illuminating the vast vacancy he was surrounded by. His days at the 118, have been nothing short of painstakingly vanilla. The lawsuit tore his 'family' apart, he was the man left behind on the A shift, a cruel task left to him all thanks to his decision of protesting against Bobby's decisions.
He quietly muttered to himself about his disdain for his job, "I'm so done with this place." The crew pull back into the bay, after another call he was left behind on. Lost in thought and forgetting the 118's hate for him at the moment he called for the group, " Hey guys! How was the call? Eddie, Chim?" He was harshly faced with the cold shoulder and a few backward glances from Hen. The tension was thick, he could feel the room shrinking, he longed for the void of emptiness to come back. Then it hit him. This was no longer his family.
Buck struggled through shifts at the 118, getting no more than an awkward encounter with Bobby, discussing how clean the truck is or something even more dim. He was living in a nightmare. Not even his own sister was talking to him! All coming back to Chimney. He was debating his future. He thought to himself "I dont know how much longer I can do this for. I'm losing my shit doing nothing all day!" He could feel the rage coursing through his veins, consuming him. This uncontrollable violent surge caused him to bolt to the locker room, which evoked some confused glances from the team.
He aggressively slammed his fist against the metal bench. "CRACK!" He felt an immense throbbing in his fist, carefully he examined it, seeing a bruise forming. He wondered if the 118 would even notice. Everything was going wrong all at once and he had no one, due to a childish decision made on a whim. He regretted all of it. Deep down he knew that the 118 was not going to stay his home for long, he desperately needed to escape.
Then later that evening a bright idea entered his mind. "Spencer." All of a sudden he remembered the man he owed it all to, the brilliant 'resident genius' Spencer Reid. His spark entered him once again, at the vague memory of Spencer. He knew what he had to do, he pulled out his phone and made the call. "Hey Spence! It's Evan." He spoke softly to not overwhelm the man. "I need a…favour. I'm having some trouble down here in LA and I need a mind like yours to help me out." He knew this would worry spence. "Evan. What is going on?" He blurted with an unusual efficiency. Buck explained his predicament, "Well, I guess I need to leave LA and need some advice…" He said sheepishly. " Evan! You had me worried!"
The men continued to discuss options, and then Spencer knew he had THE idea. He proclaimed excitedly " EVAN! why don't you come to Virginia? We can figure something out from there!" Buck paused, looked at the members of the 118 and swiftly made his decision. He was done with them, for good. " Y'know what spence. Hell yeah, I'm sick of the asshats and their bullshit! Okay I'll call you later and we can plan better, these guys want me. I'll talk to you later , 'pretty boy'!" He teased Reid for the pet name Morgan gave him. Bringing a little joy back to him.
Buck could hardly contain his excitement. A fresh start. Somewhere new with his longest and dearest friend, Spencer Reid. Then he returned to the present and realised, he would have to break this to Bobby and the crew. He muttered "Fucking assholes they deserve it." Bobby looked up, " What'd you say Buckley?" "Oh, um nothing cap!" He proclaimed innocently, with a hint of embarrassment. He quickly glanced around, capturing confused looks from all the 118. He brushed it off, and focused on the task at hand, cleaning the rig. Again. As he cleaned, he envisioned his new life, free from the torment of the 118. He slid his phone out and booked a plane ticket to Virginia (Refundable of course, in case somehow everything changed in 3 weeks).
It was confirmed, Buck was moving to Virginia. There was no turning back now. Or was there?
Buck climbed the steps of the firehouse slowly, taking in his environment, he looked over the firehouse, he could almost grasp some of his fondest memories, however as of recently they had been tinged with sadness. Nevertheless he kept walking. He reached the kitchen, took a deep breath and spoke.
"Hey, uh Cap. Can we talk in your office?"
Bobby looked at him with a tinge of disdain in his eye, "Not right now Buckley, I'm in the middle of something. Finish your duties and then we can speak."
"Yes sir" he replied with a robotic tone.
Buck was inraged, he had fulfilled his duties and done more. Yet Bobby still couldn't find time for him. He mocked him under his breath, "Not right now Buckley" he spoke with a strange intonation. "Fucking bitch."
Suddenly the bell erupted into a loud, piercing scream. The sound of an emergency. The 118 (all except buck) geared up, ready to tackle this incident. Buck looked at Bobby for approval to go, he got a meek shake of the head. Signalling a no. Once again, he was left completely alone. Although this time he didn't complain. He got the chance to call Spencer.
It was 4:00am sharp in LA, meaning it would be 7:00am in Virginia. So Buck knew Spence would be awake. He knew how much Spence enjoyed the early morning sunlight, while reading a book and drinking his first cup of coffee to start the day.
He picked up his phone and dialled. "Hey Spence! Guess what, I booked a flight out to Virginia!" Spencer questioned, "Evan isn't all of this a bit rushed? Shouldn't we plan a bit more? Where are you going to stay?"
"Your couch, of course!" Buck replied cheerfully.
He could feels Spencer's discomfort through the phone, so he continued "It won't be for long, don't worry! I'm already looking for a place."
"Alright Evan, just please be a tiny bit rational, this is a big decision to make in such a short amount of time. Oh my goodness. Evan! Have you even told your boss?"
"Well, uh about that… I tried to but he didn't give me the time of day so, I guess I'll try again when they're back from their call. Ugh, speak of the devil. They're back Spence I gotta go! I'll talk to you later!"
"Bye Evan, be safe! And rational PLEASE!"
"Bye Spence! I'll see about that!"
The group settled after the call, he watched Bobby enter his office. Buck overheard their laughter. He felt hurt, but this place no longer felt like a home. It is a shell of what it used to be. As he looks around now it feels desolate and soulless.
Bobby emerged from his office, and called buck over. "Buckley."
"Coming sir."
"So Buckley, what do you require?"
"I guess I'll cut right to the chase then." "Saying as you are." He muttered under his breath.
"I'm leaving the 118."
Bobbys stone cold attitude seemed to falter for just a moment, then he switched it right back. "Why?" He sounded hurt almost.
"I no longer feel valued as a member of this team, and I have come across opportunities that will better my life. I do not want to be a member of the 118. I have my formal letter of resignation with me, I am ready to leave as soon as possible." He hands him the letter.
"Sit" Bobby says coldly. He glances at the letter, and then reads it. "Are you sure about this Buckley?" "Yes, I am indeed sir."
"Well there is nothing I can do to stop you, however I must say you have been an asset to this firehouse and you hold an excellent standard of service, the 118 will be losing a valuable member of their team. I must once again ask, are you entirely sure about your decision?
Buck nodded.
Bobbys cold persona began to fade, it was breaking at the seams. The love he held for Buck was too strong. He needed to stop him from leaving.
"Wait!", he screeched. "Buck, the 118 is your family. You can't leave us, I know the way we have treated you the past few months has been unacceptable but we can overcome this! We always do."
"Bobby. I am done with the 118. Months of hurt cannot be undone easily, I will work until I can leave, however I do request that due to the circumstances I am able to leave sooner rather than later. Thank you for the opportunity sir. My time at the 118 has been well spent." Buck repeated this robotically, as if he had rehearsed it many times.
"Buck please, don't do this." Bobby begged.
Buck turned on his heels and left. He glanced around the bay and shed a tear, knowing this is one of the last memories this place holds for him.
Bobby returned to the rest of the crew dimmer than before, they all noticed. In unison they asked in an annoyed tone, "What did he want?"
Bobby told them, "Now is not the time, I will tell you soon. Not now, i need time to process this."
Buck came in and worked hard everyday for 2 whole weeks. Bobby called him into his office again.
"The chief has signed off on you resignation, now it's up to you. I have the paperwork. You can take it home and look over it first if you would like."
Buck snatched the pages swiftly. "No, I just want this over with." He hastily signed where it was needed and handed the pages back. Bobby took them sorrowfully.
"Bobby can you do one thing for me?"
"Of course, what do you need?"
"Can you tell the others I'm leaving. Oh and Bobby, I do still hold love for the 118 but right now, I need space. Give me that."
Once again Buck turned on heels and left, with no regrets. He took one final look around the firehouse, sucking it all in, the firetrucks, his 'old' uniform and his 'old' family laughing and joking without him. After this, he knew he made the right choice.
He cleared out his locker, and left. This was Evan Buckley's end at the 118. The place he thought was his forever home, he was leaving to move almost six hours away.