You don't have to be anything for anybody.

[fandom-means-family]

So we could've had

- Buck and Harry elevator action scene to get to the still unknown person trapped in the elevator

- Eddie blinking at the light just to see the emergency exit opening to reveal Buck

- Buck and Harry trying to stop the bleeding

- Harry volunteering to sneak out to get blood bags

- Buck and Eddie talking, about the small things, the big things, never the one thing; Buck shaking Eddie every once in a while to keep him awake

- Harry running into May, Ravi and Athena and making the choice to get back to Eddie, acknowledging that he fully trusts Ravi with his family; Harry understanding that he really is meant save people, can save people, but not everyone

- Eddie using Buck's phone to call Chris

- Buck's oh moment about Theo

- Eddie realizing that he doesn't want Chris with Buck, he wants Chris and Buck; Eddie's oh moment about Buck

- Harry returning just as Eddie falls silent; Harry putting up the transfusion because Buck's hands are shaking so much that Harry pushes him away, "You're too close for this", paralleing the woman and her cardiac arrest husband

- Buck's oh moment about Eddie

- dramatic NDE montages switching between Athena and Eddie

- Angsty hospital bedside montage

- happy end

And instead we got... well.

[fujokafka]

one thing that both pisses me off but also makes the character so much jucier in my eyes is the way they handle eddie's isolation and loneliness in the show. he'll run around town looking for buck while injured and bleeding. he'll stay at his house for support when he's struggling with addiction. he'll offer to teach hen how to dance to help her recover from an illness. he'll pray and beg the lord to save athena. eddie would literally break himself in two if it meant helping his friends and the people he cares for, and yet......... and yet he's alone, and he's bleeding to death in an elevator and nobody even notices, and he's alone in his hospital room (buck doesn't count) recovering from said stab wound, and he isn't part of the joyous group hug moment. it's like he got buried alive in season three and never actually came out

[fandom-means-family]

It's like he got buried alive in season three and never actually came out.

[fandom-means-family]

"Buck, no, we're not doing that. You're not doing that."

"Do what?"

It's clear that Buck knows exactly what Eddie is talking about. And yet he glares stubbornly at Eddie, defiant and resolved.

"The sacrifice play."

The words leave Eddie's mouth and something sharp cuts through his chest, a pain that has nothing to do with the bullet wound that he keeps hiding too well.

Not Buck. Not this time. Not when he has a chance.

"Eddie -"

It would be easy to tell him that out of the two of them, only one is in good enough shape to run. But then Buck would never leave.

"Buck, please." He grits his teeth. Tries to mask the pain and the rising panic as the footsteps approach. His palm is wet from sweat and blood where he presses it against his side, shifting a little and trying to stay upright. "Evan."

"Don't 'Evan' me."

Buck's voice is unsteady. Maybe, deep down, he knows.

"Buck, look, you can make it. You get out and get help and then you come back to me. But I'm begging you - think of - of -" His voice almost falters. "He'll need you," he ends with barely a whisper.

"I'll never get Theo anyway," Buck mutters, unable to hide the pain flickering across his face.

Eddie's vision starts to swim. The footsteps are getting louder.

"Wasn't - wasn't talking 'bout Theo."

Something cracks in Buck. For a second or two he just stares back at Eddie, realization washing over him, lips formed to a silent plea.

"Run, Buck. I'll hold him off."

"For how long?"

"As long as you need. I'll have your back."

If it's the last thing he ever does, he'll always fight for his family. Even it means he won't make it home.

[fandom-means-family]

Buck would go through Hell for Eddie, but Eddie would burn Heaven to the ground for Buck.

[fandom-means-family]

Do you think that, when Buck was giving himself up in exchange for Eddie's life, he heard Eddie's voice, "If you ask me to chose between you and my son, you're gonna lose every time"? Because I think about that a lot.

[poughkeepsiesjr]

eddie dragged his broken and beaten body all around an unfamiliar state, jumped out a window, borrowed a horse, stole a car, held a woman at gunpoint, used that same woman as a shield to hold her ex-husband at gunpoint, ran toward buck and away from cops holding HIM at gunpoint, and then when it was all said and done drove them ten hours back to the safety of LA with that same broken and beaten body. no one can EVER say he doesn't love buck exactly as much as buck loves him

[fandom-means-family]

No but the fact that they could've easily have let Buck and Eddie talk in the car about the bar incident and have Eddie justify his outburst by saying "Look, just because I'm straight doesn't mean I'm okay with homophobes, and I sure as Hell not when they're harassing my best friend", and yet they actually went into the opposite direction for the rest of the episode.

[brainwormsoop]

surprised my neighbours didn't call the police after the shriek i let out today at 4pm when carry on wayward son started playing in the fucking buddie episode there's no WAY they didn't know what they were doing with that

[fandom-means-family]

I can't stress enough just how grateful I am that they let Eddie do this on his own. No Athena, no Maddie, no fire department of any city. Just Eddie doing whatever it takes to get his Buck back.

[fandom-means-family]

Look, I'm nit asking for much for 9x13.

Just maybe Eddie ripping out the IV, storming out of the hospital, stopping a taxi by jumping right in its way, screaming at the driver to go faster, slamming to a stop at the site of the accident, and then collapsing to his knees as the adrenaline and pain killers wear off and clasping his St Christopher medallion with trembling fingers, whispering "Please come home."

That's... not too much too ask, is it?

[fandom-means-family]

Any German 911 fans here who know how to watch the crossover? I get 911 LA via Prime and it's usually available the morning after the US airing. But for Nashville, no idea...

[fandom-means-family]

Eddie steps out of the water, dripping wet, a strand of hair plastered to his forehead, his already tight shirt and pants clinging to his body leaving little to the imagination.

"Whatta man" blares at full volume from one of the cars stuck on the bridge.

And Buck's brain simply short-circuits.

[vividfaces]

Eddie Diaz is a bitch and a lover and a child and a mother and you WOULDN’T want it any other way

[fandom-means-family]

Buck doesn't know why he even mentions Tommy. It's certainly a subject he should not talk about. Not with Eddie, not over FaceTime. But Eddie always knows when something is up, even if he's miles away.

He tries to read Eddie's expression when he briefly tells him about the hookup and the fallout.

"He thinks I'm - I'm not - well, not in love with him."

"Are you?"

The answer should be simple.

He doesn't want to answer anyway.

"Look, it's complicated, right? I'm complicated."

"Buck -"

"He must know that. I'm sure you two talked about me."

He fakes a grin and tries to wink. On screen, Eddie narrows his eyes. Opens his mouth, closes it again, and finally just nods courtly.

"Sure."

"By the way, he told me you broke off contact with him after he dumped me."

Eddie leans back in his chair and crosses his arms.

"Yeah."

"I - I know you liked him."

"I did."

"Then why did you do it? You didn't have to."

Eddie shifts in his seat. For a few moments, the connection is silent.

"No, I know I didn't. But he broke your heart, Buck." He sighs quietly, and Buck wonders why his chest is suddenly aching. "He left you."

His head starts to pound. He shouldn't say it. He shouldn't.

"So did you."

The words hang in the air, between LA and El Paso, and Buck wishes he could take them back when he sees Eddie's face crumple.

My friend. Just my best friend. Not a partner. It's not like that.

"I'm sorry, Eddie, it's not - I mean, you're -"

Just my person.

"It's not the same," Eddie agrees. "It's not, because - because Tommy had a choice. He did have a choice and he still didn't choose you. And it made me so angry. Still does. Because he doesn't know how lucky he is."

His voice cracks.

Their eyes meet, and Eddie's are shining even on the screen, filled with sorrow and fear as if he was scared of his own words.

"Ask me again," Buck whispers, throat suddenly dry.

He doesn't need to specify.

"Are you in love with him?"

"No." He takes a deep breath. "I never was. It was never about him."

Would that be so crazy?

On the screen, Eddie runs his hand over his face. When Buck sees it again, he's smiling.

"Maybe tell me all about it when I'm home?"

[fandom-means-family]

2x01: Buck sees Eddie as competition.

8x11: Eddie actually is the competition. Just not like that.

[fandom-means-family]

Eddie NDE but it's actually an accident that involves him and Chris, and they can only get out one at a time. And Buck's on the scene and it's Buck who has to choose between Eddie and Chris. Eddie tries to tell him that he's fine, but he knows that Buck knows that he's lying. Time is running out, Buck chooses Chris, and Eddie has his realization (TM) just before he passes out.

[fandom-means-family]

"Stay safe, okay?"

"Sure."

Eddie feels Buck's grip tighten on his shoulder.

"And come back to LA when you're ready," Buck adds with an urgency in his voice that is mirrored in his eyes.

Eddie glances at the trailer, at his house, back at Buck.

"I don't... I don't know how long that'll take."

His stomach clenches painfully.

"Doesn't matter. Just - just come back with Chris." To Eddie's horror, Buck sniffles. As if it had been easy before to hold back the tears. "Promise, Eddie."

"You know I'm not shipping off to war, right?" he tries to joke. "It's only Texas."

"Eddie -"

It's too real. It's the military base all over again. It's Shannon's tears and the uncertainty and the fear all over again, and worse. Because last time, he knew he was doing the right thing for his son. This time, he's not so sure.

"I'll always fight to come home to my family", he says softly, yet determined.

Somewhere behind Buck, he thinks he can see Shannon, a ghost, a reminder, a warning that he doesn't quite understand.

"You're going to your family," Buck replies. His eyes are a little red.

The ghost flickers. For a second, everything becomes suddenly clear.

"I'm going to get Chris home. Because that's what this is. This is home. Family." Eddie's voice catches in his throat. "You're family. So yeah, I'll do whatever it takes to come home. If only -"

His voice breaks. His eyes are stinging. He feels the tips of Buck's fingers on his skin, pressing, pulling him closer.

"Of course I'll wait for you," Buck whispers.

And suddenly, the rain feels a little less cold.