“Straight to voicemail. So we can assume it’s not just you he isn’t talking to.” Ravi offers a small smile and continues to listen. He redials the number and places his phone on the table, Tommy’s voice comes through tugging at Buck’s emotions again.
“Hey you’ve reached Tommy Kinard. I’m not reachable most days so if you are in need of a time sensitive favour I can’t help. If this can wait leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP but I can’t promise when that will be.”
“So he’s not ignoring you. He’s just somewhere unreachable.” Ravi says locking his phone and pocketing it.
“Where wouldn’t he be reachable? We are in LA for christ sake.” Buck asks feeling a little lighter that he isn’t specifically being shut out but the nagging voice that something isn’t right won’t stay quiet.
“Have you asked Lucy? Or anyone else at his station?” Ravi offers. Buck relaxes a little more, it’s nice to have someone offer him suggestions or help rather than snide comments and eye rolls.
“I called Lucy just before you came out here. She told me never to call her again when the sun isn’t up. I woke her up and she hung up on me.” Buck admits sheepishly.
“So, go see her when we get off shift. She can’t hang up on you then.” Ravi shrugs like it is the only sensible solution.
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s a great idea. Thanks. Thanks for talking to me about this. I know I can be a lot and that I haven’t really stopped talking about Tommy since I met him. But. Yeah I appreciate it.” Buck shrinks into himself waiting for a comment about how he should be happy someone actually listened to him. Or how he shouldn’t speak about Tommy after this.
“Of course. It’s what friends are for right? Get some sleep Buck, go see Lucy after work and find out for sure what’s happening. I’m sure it’s going to be fine.” Ravi smiles as he stands and claps a hand on Buck’s shoulder.
“Ye-yeah. Thanks man.” Buck can feel tears starting to well in his eyes again and he drops his gaze, thankful that Ravi has moved back towards the bunk room already. He has a plan, he has been heard about his concerns and not mocked. He feels better than he did but now he needs the ability to speed up time. The end of shift can’t come soon enough.
~
Buck pulls up at the Harbor station, getting out of his car takes a pep talk and two failed starts to even open the car door. He walks towards to door before turning on the spot and walking back to his car - immediately telling himself to get in there and find out what he needs to know - has him looking like an indecisive mad man.
“Why are you here Buckley?” Lucy asks walking towards Buck, her bag slung over one shoulder and her arms crossed over her chest. Animosity shooting at him and electrifying the air around him.
“Lucy I need to know why Tommy wasn’t working yesterday. Why he’s not finishing up his shift right now with you.” Buck says, his tired eyes imploring Lucy to tell him.
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything but.” She answers running a hand through her hair and deflates before Buck’s eyes. “Tommy reenlisted in the army. So he is wherever we’ve started a war recently.”
“What? Really?” Buck asks shocked, his heart dropping at the thought of Tommy in danger.
“No, not really.” Lucy replies a smug look on her face but Buck is relieved Tommy is safe. Safer than he would be if he was in a war zone at least.
“Where is he?” Buck asks again, more patiently than he believed he could be right now.
“On maternity leave. Congrats you’re gonna be a daddy.”
“Lucy! Seriously where is he?”
“I think he got abducted by aliens, or was it the Men in Black? Pretty sure one of the guys looked like Tommy Lee Jones.”
“Please. Lucy. I need to know.”
“Fine. He got fired.”
“Ha ha very funny. Where the hell is he?”
“I’m being serious. He got fired, he moved out of state.”
“What!?”
“Yeah you and your friends got a pat on the back and a get back to work after that lab fiasco. Tommy got the boot for stealing a helicopter again. And no matter how much all his current co-workers vouched for his character and his record, without any of the 118 there to back him up the brass tossed him out of the LAFD. No second chances, no retirement package, no pension. Just a get out and don’t come back. It really goes to show how self-centred the 118 is. You lot drag Tommy into your mess and leave him to take the brunt of the higher up’s wrath.” Lucy is all but yelling by the time she is done, shaking her head she turns and stomps towards her car.
I know Lucy might seem a little mean but trust me that it will get better.
sorry it really just irks me to see a buddie talk about how wrong the harassment Francois is getting after all the hate Lou got and is still getting. so what, did you finally realize your wrongdoing? or does it only matter when it's about something you like?
if u get a ★★★★★ in ur inbox it means ur moot appreciates u, and your efforts in the community !!!!! send this to 10 mutuals to continue the love ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
looking back, tommy had so little screen time. but lfj really put his whole loussy into his acting. it's incredible how fast he made people fall in love with tommy (or fear his power). 😏
