#probie and mentor

[911-incorrect-quotes-dispatch]

Ravi: I can't do this anymore, I wanna quit again.

Eddie: Join the club.

Buck: Eddie, stop encouraging him. You, sit back down and listen!

Ravi, immediately: I'm sat.

Buck: You know what I’ve learned after all these years?

Ravi: What?

Buck: We're all just very complicated roombas.

Eddie, trying not to laugh: Please do elaborate, Buck.

Buck: You bump into things, you get lost, you make weird noises when you're low on energy. And honestly, you're doing amazing. Keep it up. And if you ever need help just make some noise.

Eddie: Oh...

Ravi, laughing: This is the weirdest way I've ever been cheered up, and I'm kinda mad at how good it worked. Thanks, Buck.

Eddie, holding back tears: It was ok, I guess.

[wandascarletfairy]

*In the firehouse loft*

*Buck and Ravi playing monopoly*

Buck: Ravi, for the last time, STOP BEING A LANDLORD!!

Ravi: No! Now pay up. You landed on my property.

Buck: I don't have enough to pay you.

Ravi: Not my problem, Buckley.

[pettyeddiediaz]

now that buck has converted ravi to an eddie diaz stan, i'm thinking of a future scenario where buck agrees to mentor the new probies and spends all his time talking about how eddie is the best firefighter ever. slowly, they fall into the ravi pipeline of skeptical -> firm believer when eddie does something especially competent while being super hot. rumors start going around that buckley is leading a mini cult in honor of diaz at the 118, but eddie is none the wiser. when eddie gets offered captaincy at a different station, the probies (and ravi) all try to transfer with him. 118 captains henchim are confused because a quarter of their shift wants to leave. meanwhile buck is bragging that his HUSBAND is going to be such a good CAPTAIN and how he wishes he could transfer so eddie could boss him around too :( (chimney tells him to save it for the bedroom). ravi's transfer request gets approved, and buck sends hourly texts asking for updates during their first shift. eddie makes a new rule that buck is only allowed to text ravi once per shift to check up on him after ravi threatens to block buck for spamming his phone.

ravi does continue the tradition of telling new probies how awesome eddie is, and buck comes to visit the station at least once a month to make sure everyone knows beautiful captain diaz is a happily taken man :) yay

[eddiegettingshot]

unethical power imbalances u say.. then i think we need to discuss mustache captain diaz and pink probie buck :) is cpt diaz HIS cpt? or do they just meet out in the field? how long until eddie is calling his buddy hot priest to get some moral guidance? and whose idea is it to hook up on an engine? <3 -meer

MEEEEEERRRRRR. this sandbox is so glorious. 2 me. because i think its not so much about breaking the rules but its about eddie feeling and HAVING a concrete sense of responsibility over buck (someone he specifically does NOT have this issue with irl ...) and falling in love with him and letting him in and trusting him anyway. because. that's his buck. it's 2 delicious in every configuration. right now im kind of imagining a situation where it's like. okay. in this case i think it starts out like eddie's only his captain Sometimes. by the time buck shows up he's b-shift command or something and buck works under him when he picks up overtime, and otherwise he's this guy who is just Around because a-shift will always be his crew.

my question is. is there a world where it's not 25 year old probie buck but 33 year old probie buck who literally drifted for like. a decade. and didn't find his calling until Just Now, as people do... so he has a complex. about the fact that eddie is not much older than him but accomplished and also. in charge. of him. sometimes. but also the fact that eddie's not much older than him, and he's a feature in everyone's life and therefore buck's life outside of work, and the fact that he and buck sort of share values and goals etc. put them in the perfect position for the lines between like superior-mentor-friend-partner to blur badly, especially since buck is a boundary-pusher. eddie can be like, messy and human with him, but then sometimes something happens on the job that sharpens those lines and eddie starts feeling like he's fucking something up. on top of this eddie's like, TECHNICALLY i'm only HIS captain SOMETIMES. technically he is obligated to respect the chain of command, but it's ok, really. because it's only sometimes. and also none of this matters because We Are Not Dating. he's (alive)bobby's probie and that is bobby's business. not mine. he is lying to himself badly. also this is awesome for buck who is developing a kind of father-son relationship with bobby and a. different but strangely similar kind of relationship. with eddie. ?

he does tell father brian about this predicament as soon as he starts getting bricked up about it. and they don't hook up in an engine.........they hook up in the fire command vehicle <3 YAY

[daniclaytcn]

i do think that eddie having even the mildest flirtation with any guy would put buck through unfathomable amounts of torture and make him go through all five stages of grief. but a very specific saw trap would be if eddie struck up a flirty friendship with, like, a probie from another station...a probie who's cocky and unashamedly flirtatious, just like s1 buck but maybe slightly worse. and eddie engages in some mentoring...perhaps even brat-taming. buck loses his goddamn mind and starts regretting ever having worked on himself to change and considers stealing another fire truck to get eddie's attention back on him. do you see the vision.

[mintedwitcher]

hi, i have this thought that it's kinda bothering me but I swear i'm not trying to start anything and this is a genuine question. Sending it to you because I've been scrolling your blog for a while and I liked it <3 and it is also connected to the firefam disgregating lately...

Why do you think Bobby asked Buck to take care of everyone? Because I mean, I love Bobby, and he was dying so he has the right to worry about his people, but he must have known, he must, that Buck would take it to heart, to the extreme, and neglect himself. And it's kinda like Bobby too, like everyone else there, cared a bit more about everyone else than about Buck, but I hate to think that, because Bobby would never...

But really, that's an incredible burden to put on buck without also saying "take care of yourself" or something, so I don't know, I'm kinda conflicted about that specific line...

hi nonnie !! okay so as I said, I have thoughts on this scene. I'm gonna try and keep it concise but I am Bad at that so this might get long.

I think this line was twofold. On the one hand, I think Bobby genuinely believed that the others would need Buck, because over the years, Buck has become Bobby's sort of protege, and we see that really clearly in 8x16, in the way that Buck is making sure everyone is ready and present for the funeral, even going to collect Chimney and giving him some very Bobby-esque advice ("I think you're just supposed to live" is a very Bobby line). So with Bobby facing his imminent death, he assumes and believes that his team will look to Buck the way they have been looking to him.

On the other hand, however, I think it was for Buck, more than the team. Buck spirals without direction, he takes the losses the hardest of anyone on the team, we've seen it time and time again. He's also incredibly bad at taking care of himself (not in that he's incapable, but that he's the type of person to put everyone else first), so looking after himself in the wake of a loss like this is practically impossible for him, he doesn't want to be a burden. I think Bobby told him that "they're gonna need you" in order to give him a purpose in the aftermath.

Buck has grown a lot throughout his time with the 118. He's not the irrational, impatient, arrogant probie anymore. He's a capable adult, he's a damn good firefighter, he knows how to work in a team structure. He doesn't seek glory anymore, he doesn't want to be the Star of the 118 anymore. And all of that growth can be attributed to the way he has learned to take care of others. First with Abby, then Maddie, then Eddie and Chris, and now the entire 118. He views them as his family, he loves them as his family. And Bobby knows all of this, he's seen this progression firsthand. He knows how much Buck loves the team, he knows how badly Buck needs to take care of people in order for him to feel settled. Buck needs to be needed, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can get in his way a lot of the time.

Bobby knows all of this. He also knows that Buck is about to lose his biggest tether, his mentor, his father figure. So what does he do? He offers Buck a new lifeline and begs him to take it. "They're gonna need you," was not a case of putting a burden on Buck, it was Bobby trying to make sure that his pseudo-son won't isolate himself in the aftermath of his biggest loss.

I think Bobby was trying to be kind. But I also think that he overestimated the rest of the team. I don't think he realised, not entirely, that their relationships to Buck weren't as strong as his own. I don't think he realised just how untethered Buck has become over the last few seasons. Of course, I'm not saying that Buck should take priority for everyone, over their spouses and children and families, that's just unfair to say. However, I do think that somewhere along the line, except in very rare instances, Buck has become the "kid brother" of the 118. Hen and Chim still see him as the impatient probie, Eddie still sees him as the tantruming brat he first met. Ravi, I think, is the only person on the team who has actually managed to look beyond his first impression of Buck and see who he is now (evidenced by their conversation in the locker room and both of their bar nights).

Somehow, they've all missed him growing up. They treat him like a child, and therefore everything he does is, in their opinion, childish. He tries to be there for them, and they make fun of his method behind his back. He probably researched for hours on how to take care of people during grief in order to find that psych eval questionnaire, and his "friends" made fun of it behind his back. And okay, sure, the questionnaire is probably not the best method, but I think if Buck had tried to meet them on a personal level, he would've lost it, because he's not coping. So he is trying to take care of them and their grief while separating himself and his, because otherwise he can't get through it. He is struggling, and they think it's funny because he's not behaving the way they think he should.

And I think it's just incredibly unfair how seemingly everyone else's grief is totally validated and understood, except Buck's.

That's the part that hurts me the most about Bobby's farewell to Buck. Because he genuinely believed it, but Buck is finding out that Bobby was wrong.

If this show had any sense of continuity or narrative cohesion, this would be an excellent time to delve into the complexities of fallen heroes - Buck had put Bobby on a pedestal for years, but now Bobby's wrong about this one fundamental thing - the 118 doesn't need Buck - so what else might he have been wrong about? But they won't do that, so instead I'll eagerly await the fanfics about it.

[azaharinflames]

I agree, that the show will most likely end with Buck being captain but my personal best case scenario would be for him to be become captain of another house. I want Hen to become captain of the 118 mostly because atm she is the most qualified and I think it would be a very nice circle back to the Begins episodes. Hen along with Chim started the process of changing the 118 for the better and would it be nice to have the evolution from Gerrard, to Bobby to Hen play out on screen.

Buck, for a very long time, made his job and the 118 the sole focus of his life. He once said he has nothing in his life but being a firefighter. Him growing to the point that he feels ready to emancipate himself from the 118, to know that they will still be in his life even of he does not work with them every day would be a big step. Buck changed the 118, too and helped make it the family it is now. I wish for him to do it for another firehouse, too. Become their Bobby of sorts. Maybe they could even end the show with him telling a new probie to sit down and grab a plate in a nod to what Bobby said to him, when he first showed up.

Oh I agree, Nonnie. And I love the way you explained it.

I think there was a misunderstanding. Me having the theory that the show might be hinting at Buck becoming Captain is not me wanting that outcome instead of Hen being Captain. You just explained all of the reasons why I personally prefer that outcome.

I think Buck being Captain of a new house instead of the 118 at the end of the series could be an amazing choice, again for everything you’ve explained. And I do think if he becomes Captain now, it might be prematurely.

That being said, alarm bells did ring in my head when Bobby was saying goodbye to Buck. Because that was passing down the torch if I’ve ever seen it - granted, it doesn’t have to be in a Captain-way! Buck can be the caretaker of their family in more ways than one, and it doesn’t mean he’ll be Captain.

But I’ve been seeing some things that point to this possibility, and I’ve been seeing things that might point out to Hen making the choice to choose her family and not risk their happiness when it’s taken her so long to get it. Would I be satisfied? Not really. I want to see her as Captain of the house she started to change for the better. But I can see this reasoning coming out of her.

And I can also see it coming from Tim, too. Because he likes shinny new things, and Buck being Captain is. I can see him going for it just based on the shock value and wanting to do something different, and not what we were expecting.

Regardless of who is Cap, though, I do think we’ll see a Buck that is more mature and more settled in his personal life (hence why I firmly believe they’re working towards BT being long term). I think he’ll be taking the role of a mentor a bit more. In short: I think Bobby’s passing will make him reflect and mature. I don’t think this will be a regression for him in the way I’ve seen some people fear.

[buckleysibz]

they should have a new probie enter the station during eddie’s texas era (which i don’t actually think will happen but who knows) and ravi, who is well aware of what kind of probie mentor buck is when he’s missing his family, warns him of the potential things that could go down. (e.g if you see him with a chainsaw, run.)

but in reality buck’s actually treating the new probie better this time. he’s not letting his personal stuff get in the way of his work. (for now.)

meanwhile ravi is losing his mind. because what do you mean????? he was terrorised by clipboard!buck and the new guys gets nothing. he’s somewhat convinced buck is having a stroke.

[eddieydewr]

as much as i liked the eddieravi hug, the whole buddieravi scene confused me, narratively speaking. i thought maybe ravi was meant to be a buffer so people would see that buck and eddie’s friendship is not … normal. it’s a plausible theory! but after the 817 cold open where buck remembers or day dreams about the 118 family dinner, something about eddie and ravi in those two scenes Stood Out to me. i think the show is establishing something, if not foreshadowing.

first, let’s assume that next season, buck and ravi will be partners. hen or chim will be captain, which means we get cheddie or heneddie as paramedics (yay forever). buck and eddie are gonna be Buddie but also buddies, they still have each other’s back. buck and ravi aren’t the new buddie duo without the homoeroticism; ravi will be his own character and he has his individual relationships with the core four.

episode 816 - the funeral that flopped. i thought it was buck being buck when he revealed eddie to ravi (and us) because that’s buck’s special guy! but the next episode where eddie reveals chris to buck? hm. there’s a parallel.

episode 817 - the heartwarming firefam dinner that turned eerie. eddie sits next to ravi who is wondering what’s the deal with waiting for everyone to be present before they can eat (he’s still a probie in buck’s vision). bobby takes a seat as he explains and eddie can be seen patting ravi’s shoulder. we know bobby and eddie are mirrors. eddie asks bobby what to plate up for him, and bobby passes his plate. is he passing the baton? in what sense? i doubt eddie will be captain. but —

going back to 816. look at the way eddie approaches ravi when they hug. it’s almost paternal but not quite. i’d say it’s akin to bobby and eddie’s relationship. it’s possible eddie knows some details about how it went down at the lab, how ravi almost died, and it’s his first time losing a crew member in the line of duty (bobby is alive, don’t even worry about it). eddie lost a crew member in that helicopter crash, didn’t he? he managed to save everyone else but he still had survivor’s guilt, which exacerbated a few years later when he found out the rest of his team who he saved died, one by one, after their tour. ravi could be struggling with some survivor’s guilt because iirc, he was temporarily out for the count, and it was down to bobby to help him. maybe he’s wondering if he could’ve done more to prevent bobby’s death if he didn’t pass out, like eddie who wonders the same if he was there.

the clumsy question ravi asked eddie about the funeral, bringing up how many funeral he must’ve attended since eddie was in the army. it’s almost like ravi was looking for advice or guidance, and he’s seeking it from eddie instead of buck. and eddie seemed patient with ravi. eddie probably didn’t attend many funerals but he did have an indirect hand in other people’s deaths (even in self defence; he was a combat medic and his medic copter was shot down - a war crime if i’m correct. a big part of eddie’s character is to save and heal, not kill). bobby indirectly killed 148 people due to the apartment building not up to code, which exacerbated the fire from the heater bobby left on unattended.

we know when chim went to bring ravi back from the academy, ravi was feeling guilty about the family he couldn’t fully save (one child died). and there’s the backstory with ravi’s childhood cancer. buck and chim did their part in mentoring ravi; it’s probably eddie’s turn to mentor him. but not exactly mentor. he could be there for ravi like bobby was for eddie, who knows a lot about survivor’s guilt - especially with bobby’s death sorta linking them together - and eddie will know a lot about childhoods being spent in and out of the healthcare system, considering his son chris who has CP.

buck and eddie used to be the annoying older brother figures to ravi, mainly buck being the prankster and eddie who is like hehe just observing until buck goes over the top, ok buck, time to stop. now they’re all genuine friends but there are some things that buck won’t be able to help ravi with, like bobby could for eddie when buck couldn’t (dead wives, ptsd/suicide, NunGate relationship with catholicism).

apart from bobby, eddie was the last to sit at the table. next to ravi. and bobby takes his seat and explains about working and eating together as a family. eddie pats ravi’s shoulder. eddie gets the plate from bobby. and back which means alobby, yup. buck is observing all of this.

buck’s in what he thinks is the Bobby Mode, trying to be there for his family, assessing grief levels; he already has the knowledge of ravi feeling insecure as a firefighter and now dealing with a traumatic call where they all lost bobby. buck (subconsciously?) realises that maybe ravi needs eddie. just like eddie needed bobby when shannon died; buck probably called bobby who was off duty when he was temporarily suspended. aka he was away (sounds familiar?). buck reveals eddie to ravi. they hug after bobby’s death, just as bobby hugged eddie after shannon’s death.

now let’s flip the script! it’s likely ravi was the one who called eddie about bobby. eddie was away in el paso and he came back for the funeral. buck was spiralling and eddie felt bad for being mean so he arranges for chris to come visit his buck. he knew chris’ company would be what buck needed. eddie reveals chris to buck.

ryan guzman, in the zach sang podcast, mentioned finally having a (more) solid knowledge of his character after 7 seasons, and he sees those past seasons as a backstory, a foundation. he’s starting to figure out who he is, and i think being a pillar for ravi is one part of it (because i think eddie is more than his sexuality/his relationship with buck, and it sounded like something ryan was eager about re. eddie’s character growth).

but for all we know, new viewers were tuning in after the funeral leaks and bobby’s death, and eddie wasn’t there at all. so the family dinner scene and the eddieravi hug are there to establish who eddie is, and his kind of relationship with buck. not to mention the reintroduction of chris and tia pepa, which is important for establishing buddie canon and buddiechris family unit.

to conclude: buddie canon, bobby lives, potential eddieravi mirroring or relationship akin to bobbyeddie.

[911-incorrect-quotes-dispatch]

Ravi: Sir? I need advice.

Buck: With what?

Ravi: With love. How did you know you were in love with Eddie?

Buck: …

Buck: I’m in love with Eddie?

[bangpop91]

So even though no one asked I've decided to weigh in on the whose going to be the next captain of the 118 discourse because I have a lot of thoughts about it.

As a reminder we aren't going to know who is the captain until s9. Tim has sad as much in interviews. Everything that happens in the next two episodes is to build suspense and tension.

The way I see it, in terms of canon story telling there are three contenders for the position of captain of the 118.

Hen

Chimney

Buck

I say that because they are the three og 118 teammembers who have been there since s1.

Chimney:

Right out the gate we can eliminate Chimney.

Even though he was acting captain in s2 and as a one-off in s4 during the sniper arc in s6 he flat out said he didn't want to do it again.

He's also been very effectively set up to be the mentor figure. If we apply the concept of the Hero's Journey™️ to the 118 Chimney fills the role of mentor. He's the Gandalf, the Merlin. Think of the speech he gave Ravi in s6 and how it echoed the speech Eli gave him in Chimney Begins.

I think Chimney is going to have to have his own journey where he relearns to "hand it off".

Buck:

Buck is the next one to eliminate. He's starting to show his potential for leadership but he still isn't ready.

Once again using the hero's journey. Buck is at the beginning still. He's experienced the death of his father(figure) and now has to go through his journey that prepares him to ascend his father (figure)'s throne.

A great comparison is Carlos's journey from the season finale of s4 through out s5 of Lone Star.

I do think Buck will be the Captain of the 118 in a few years but not yet. He still has some life to live before he's ready.

Hen:

Point blank. I will be shocked and pissed if Hen isn't the captain. This is a plot thread that has been being set up since s6... Actually since Hen Begins. If suddenly Buck was captain instead of Hen it would have been like if Mateo had been promoted to captain over Judd at the end of lone star.

There is a reason the camera panned to Hen during Gerrard's speech about why he was back as interim captain.

It's my personal belief that Hen turning down the captaincy is the red herring. Its TPTB spinning time until s9 and lets the GA engage with the story and possible conflict of who is going to be the next captain. But it also gives the show a chance to let Hen explore her grief and confusion in the wake of Bobby's death.

Maybe this is me being delusional, but I don't think Captain is the end of Hen's journey. Ever since Hen begins I have genuinely believed that Hen's professional journey ends with her as the Chief of the LAFD. I have felt this way ever since she was told that she is the new face of the LAFD dring Hen begins.

Even from a production perspective I think Hen makes the most sense as Captain.

Let's say Eddie stays with the 118 at the end of s8.

With Hen promoted to Captain, Eddie can be shifted into Hen's former position of Paramedic and be Chimney's partner with Ravi shifted into Eddie's position as Buck's partner.

Now let's say Eddie also leaves at the end of s8

They don't need to worry about bringing in two new cast members. They have already laid the groundwork to move Ravi to a shift and be Buck's new partner. Then they can also bring in a probie to be the new paramedic. This allows us two new characters to explore, it opens up new stories for Chimney as well as Buck and Hen.

In my head this was a lot more articulate. But I've got a cluster migraine brewing and needed to get all this out of my head so I can focus on my other stuff.

[hearmypleas]

Fade Into You

Chapter 1 / 10

Explicit, WC 19k

After Eddie's life falls apart, he holds on by a thread with unhealthy coping mechanisms, surviving day to day. Everything is going fine until he gets the responsibility to mentor the new probie at the firehouse. (it's porn, with feelings.)

🔗: archiveofourown.org/works/64351465/

[sorryimlatecapt]

ravi starting out as the new probie in season 4 and buck aggressively taking him under his wing and buck acting as his mentor now when ravi was having doubts about his legitimacy as a firefighter and needing to be told he's still good. excuse me while i cry

[daniclaytcn]

if buck ever does go into a leadership position i could see him doing that at the academy honestly. he'd love the learning by doing aspect of it, the wrangling of future probies, the stories/cautionary tales based on his own experiences? being able to teach? his "this is what's protocol and in the handbook but in the field XYZ gets you the same result faster" anecdotes. the whole "well if you think that sucks try getting your leg crushed under a ladder truck, have an embolism and get caught in a tsunami with your kid within 6 months" ribbing. conveniently inviting the 118 along for demonstrations. getting competitive with the trainees to show he can still break academy records (take that, eddie!). being able to bring that family bonding and camradery from the 118 into the academy. being able to mentor people and empathise with them. being kind to those who quit/wash out and come up with alternatives for/with them because he likes fixing things and he knows how long it took him to find firefighting for himself. inviting maddie and lucy and chim over for different first responder options if firefighting isn't quite right for somebody. he'd be so good at it because he can empathize with overzealous and excited newbies and he LOVES firefighting and if he can instill that into young people? absolutely!

oh i'd really like this, actually, i think it'd be fun to watch!

[lengthofropes]

okay, Oookay, a WIP! (sorry prob a lot of typos, my issue) inspired by my What if Tommy never left 118 series, basically (can't help it)

Despite Bobby’s lasagna being extra delicious today (new secret ingredient?), Tommy feels like he’s chewing on grimy sole. He knew this day would come sooner or later. It’s been over a week since Sal got transferred, and of course they need a new member for their team. But.  But. What? Sal has been a pain in the ass lately (not that he’s ever been anything less, but...), and his constant arrogance and disobedience made it only a matter of Bobby’s patience to be finally kicked out of 118. And to be completely and utterly honest, Tommy got much tired with having to deal with his best friend’s shit to the point it has become harder to even call him a friend.  But. He was his first friend here, in some way, his mentor. And even if they both were under constant pressure of keeping the mark of Gerrard’s ‘best boys’, they always had each other’s back. Always.  It’s just- Strange, not to see him here, sitting across the table, making his obscene jokes with a snarky grin face. And even if Tommy knows now, it’s better to let go of everything that fuels your worst traits, it feels like it’s the Sal’s empty chair that is somewhat a stupid joke itself. Like, if Tommy could blink – and everything would get back to how it used to be, simple and familiar. Nevertheless. No matter the ball of unaddressed feels in his chest, Tommy made a promise to himself to take it as it comes and hold on to this new and better version on himself and try his best to make their new probie’s life here if not carefree, but at least tolerable. He learned his lesson good with Howie and Hen, thanks! He chews and swallows.  He’s gonna be fine, Jesus! He has other friends here too, good friends. And, finally, a captain who knows how to be one. Job is good, his mom is fine, and that girl he met near the gym yesterday agreed to go out with him, and he has a good feeling about this, like it can actually work out this time. Life is good! No need to feel all anxious and insecured again, he’s in a good place, he’s ready for anything.   “Uh, hi. I'm Evan Buckley, new recruit.”

Tommy must’ve gotten too much into his own head with eyes on his plate, he didn’t even notice that someone came near the table. He rises his eyes.  “I was told to report to Captain Nash.” That “someone” looks the right amount shy, but at the same time like he’s trying to make the nicest first impression ever with that ear to ear smile and awkward pull on a shoulder strap of his duffle bag. “You know a Captain Nash? You?” Bobby pulls out a joke, and everyone play along, efficiently hiding their smiles. Kid looks more and more confused, before Bobby takes a pity on him and invites him to the table with one of his kindest smiles.  “Take a seat, Evan.” Evan’s smile grows wider with that. “Uh, Buck. Everyone just calls me Buck.” “Well, welcome to the 118, Buck.” Well, could’ve been worse, Tommy thinks, as kid sits himself down into Sal’s chair, glancing exited at their fabulous lunch. They could’ve easily been tossed with some asshole, but this one looks civilized. At first sight, at least. Gotta see how he will handle the job, though, but as for now, Tommy makes another mental note to himself to treat this “Buck” kid no worse than Bobby.  “Uh, that’s a sauce?” Buck asks particularly no one, just hangs the question in the air, pointing at one of the bottles on the table. So, Tommy decides to become one of the first friendly faces here. “Yeah, but I’d rec the other one -“and he points at the second bottle. “This one is spicier.” Tommy's smile is easy and polite, bit twisted in a chewing process. But what happens within next 5 seconds makes that smile freeze and food stuck in his throat. “Oh yeah? Thanks! Never too much spice, - Buck grins at him and winks. “Just what I need!” He winks. And by any means, it’s near same obscene as Sal’s innuendos.  But no one seemed to notice, and Buck already redirected his efforts into putting as much food on his plate as possible. And maybe - maybe Tommy just overthinks it?? Maybe that’s just the way this guy communicates? Just a silly little playful - Wait, no! Even if so, how the hell is it appropriate?!  They are not friends. They literally just met. They are colleagues (about to become). And Tommy is not a freaking high-school girl to be winked at like this, for fuck’s sake! Buck continues to chew and talk non-stop, smiling at everyone who’s willing to talk to him; table mood is pleasant and unbothered, and no one notices how one of Tommy’s hands involuntarily makes itself into a fist under the table. He’s not angry, in fact. Just.  He doesn’t know. He cannot explain. But one thing he’s certain of, he’s sure as hell won’t be calling that brat a “Buck”.

I have no idea where it goes so god help me 🙃

[fleabagdiaz]

in the perfect beautiful s9 world that I live in in my head bobby is alive of course but either recovering for much of the season or decides to retire/move to a less hands-on position (fire chief Nash???) and we get either hen and chim as captain depending on how the finale goes (with perhaps some tension between them about the captaincy bc I think that would be interesting for their relationship) and eddie becomes licensed as a paramedic (if he isn’t already) to fill their position so we get ravi main as buck’s new partner AND we get a new probie who is a young woman that hen takes under her wing as a mentor. either that or Lucy comes back as captain bc I miss her and I think that would be so funnyyyyy