Chapter Text
Buck stands in the parking lot, staring up at the 118, his hands slightly clammy as he tries to steady his nerves. This is it—the place where he’ll prove himself, where he’ll make his mark. He’s heard the stories while at the academy — the 118 was a tight knit team that wasn’t exactly welcoming to newcomers and it’s hard to feel confident when they have a reputation for setting the bar impossibly high. But none of that matters to Buck. He is ready to dive in, even if it meant getting his feet wet in a world of high expectations.
He’d met enough people at the academy to know how easily a rookie could get overlooked—dismissed as someone who needed constant guidance. He isn’t about to let that happen to him. He wants to be a vital part of this team, not just the guy they call when they need extra hands. Buck takes a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering anxiety in his chest. He has the skills. He has the heart. He knows he has what it takes to succeed and today, he is going to start proving it.
He pulls his duffel out of the back of the jeep and walks into the station. Looking around, he notices that most of the team seems to be in the loft upstairs. He heads towards the stairs, climbing them two at a time. When he reaches the top, he finds them all sitting around a large table with what looks like lunch in the middle. They all turn to face him and for a moment he feels nervous.
Looking at the man at the head of the table, he pulls up the grin that got him into and out of so many situations in the twenty-six years he’s been alive, “hi, I’m Evan Buckley, new recruit. I was told to report to Captain Nash.”
The man gives Buck a quick look before turning to those at the table, “You know a Captain Nash?” Buck watches as they all shrug and feels a moment of panic before the man turns back to Buck, “Take a seat, Evan.”
“Uh, Buck....Ev... Everyone just calls me Buck.” Buck says as he drops his duffel on the ground before dropping into the seat the captain had pushed out for him.
“Well, welcome to the 118, Buck.” Captain Nash says as the guy in the seat across from him fills up a plate for him before pushing it towards him.
“Thank you.” Buck looks around the table at his fellow firefighters sitting elbow to elbow while enjoying a meal together and feels his smile become a little more real. “Ah, this is amazing. Is it always like this?” He thinks back on the neatly set table he ate at as a child, surrounded by cold silence and hope that this might be where he finally finds his place.
“Always. Well, when Bobby's in the captain's chair, anyway,” the female firefighter next to him says, a soft smile on her face.
“I think I might be in the right place,” Buck says, smiling at Captain Nash.
“Considering that’s my usual seat, I’m not sure you are, kid,” a deep voice says behind Buck, causing him to turn around. Standing right behind him is a handsome, well-built man at least 10 years older than him. Buck feels a flutter in his chest as he looks at the man’s blue eyes. As Buck moves to get up, the man puts a hand on his shoulder and shakes his head, before heading around the table to an empty seat on the other side of the table. “I’m guessing you’re our new probie?”
“Tommy, this is Evan Buckley,” Captain Nash says, “Buck, this is Lieutenant Tommy Kinard, second in command at the 118. He’ll walk you through your paperwork and show you around after lunch.”
“Welcome to the 118, Evan.” Tommy says as he fills his plate.
“Thanks! Sorry for taking your seat.” Buck says. He watches as Tommy starts eating without responding other than lifting an eyebrow.
“Tommy was kidding. I’m Henrietta Wilson, but everyone calls me Hen,” the woman next to him says. She points at the man across from them, “Chimney and I are the team paramedics.”
“Hey, I’m Chimney—well, technically Howard, but no one calls me that unless I’m in trouble. It’s a long story involving a rescue and maybe a mild concussion. Anyway, I’m kind of the team’s go-to guy for everything. Need medical? I’m your guy. Fire? Got it. Bad jokes during high-stress situations? Certified expert.” He says with a grin and a wave of his fork.
“Certified idiot, you mean,” Tommy says with a nudge to Chimney’s side. He looks at Buck before saying, “don’t encourage him, he thinks he’s a regular George Carlin.”
“Who’s George Carlin?” Buck asks before, taking a bite. He looks up to see everyone at the table staring at him.
“You don’t know who George Carlin is?” Chimney asks, looking slightly scandalized. “Please tell me you are joking.”
“Chim, I think he’s serious.” Tommy adds in. He turns to face Buck before adding, “George Carlin was a comedy legend, a philosopher, a truth-teller. He did a whole bit on the seven words you can't say on TV.”
“Okay… so like an old-school stand-up guy?” Buck scratches behind his ear.
“Old-school? The man practically invented the school.” Tommy says with a groan.
“He’s an integral part of comedy history.” Captain Nash chimes in with a slight look of disappointment on his face.
“I think I need to lie down.” Chimney mumbles. “That’s like saying you’ve never heard of Mozart.”
“Buck, you just triggered three midlife crises at once.” Hen says with a laugh.
“Four, you have to count mine twice.” Chimney sighs dramatically.
“You better brush up on your old school comedians, Buck. These guys quote Carlin and Pryor more than they listen to me.”
“I’m not that young!” Buck interjects, slightly offended. “And anyway, I didn’t really watch TV when I was younger. I mostly played video games, Xbox, PS2, Wii.”
“I can’t even handle this,” Chimney groans, “Man, I had an Atari. One joystick, one button, and we were grateful.”
“Now I feel like I need to lie down. I’m officially a relic.” Bobby sighs, rubbing his temples.
Tommy shakes his head, “We get it, kid. You had a childhood of apps and no commercials. Next, he’s going to tell us that he doesn’t remember DVDs or know what Blockbuster is.”
“…Wasn’t Blockbuster like a movie-themed something?” He notices the looks of shock on everyone’s faces. “I mean… we had Netflix.”
“Oh, sweetie, you are way too young for this conversation.” Hen says with a soft smile. “Exactly how old are you?”
“I’ll be 26 in June.”
“God, we hired a fetus.” Chimney leans back in his chair, “Twenty-six? I’m pretty sure that I’ve got socks older than you.”
“You all roast every new guy like this, or am I getting the VIP treatment?” Buck grins, looking around.
Tommy leans back and gives Buck an unimpressed look, “kid, you’re new, barely washed off the shiny academy polish off, and already parked yourself in the best seat at the table. That’s not VIP—that’s bold.”
“The only way to get anywhere in life is to be bold. Grab the bull by the horns, you know?” Buck says with a smirk.
“Oh god, he’s got motivational poster energy to go with his blonde good looks and peak fuckboy vibes,” Chimney says with a laugh.
Hen shakes her head and gives Buck a quick look, “let’s just hope he doesn’t try to grab an actual bull. Or a chainsaw. Or anything on fire.”
“Let’s just see how long that ‘bull by the horns’ energy lasts when you’re on a real call, kid.” Tommy leans forward.
Buck shrugs, “I’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing.”
Bobby pushes back from the table and picks up his plate before heading back to the kitchen, throwing over his shoulders, “Famous last words, rookie.”
Chimney follows Bobby over and whispers, “You sure we’re not going need a safety net for this one?”
“If we do, it’ll probably be because he jumped headfirst into it without checking the depths first.”
They turn around and watch as the conversation continues between Buck, Hen and Tommy, with Hen telling Buck, “When you’re standing in front of a burning building with a hose, I hope ‘I know what I’m doing’ is more than just a catchphrase.”
“Keep that confidence. You’ll need it.” Chimney snickers as he grabs a soda from the fridge. “Just don’t forget that while confidence is great, a helmet wouldn’t hurt either.”
Buck throws him a wink, “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. You’ll see.”
Bobby walks back over from the kitchen with a stern look, “You better. The 118 doesn’t make room for cocky rookies who think they’re invincible. We all learn the hard way around here.”
“And sometimes, learning the hard way is the only way to get it. But don’t worry, kid. We’ve all been there.” Hen adds with a smirk, “Just… don’t break anything too important, alright?”
Buck smirks and shrugs. “Don’t worry, I’m used to breaking bones. Did it all the time as a kid—always bounced back. I’m like a rubber band, just with more bruises.”
Chimney snickers, clearly amused. “Great, so we’re basically babysitting an overconfident rubber band with a hero complex.”
“Let’s see how that rubber band holds up in a real emergency,” Tommy raises an eyebrow, clearly not impressed.
Buck’s grin widens as he responds with confidence. “You’ll see. I’m tough.”
“You’ll get the chance, kid. Just don’t make us regret it.”
Buck’s grin lingers as he meets Tommy’s gaze, the challenge clear in his eyes. He wasn’t about to back down. This was just the beginning.