8x15 coda - somebody has to tell eddie
ft. bucktommy + eddietommy (platonic)
"C'mon, baby," Tommy whispers as he scoops a devastated Evan into his arms. There's tears drying on his own cheeks, but it's nothing compared to Evan's grief. "C'mon, they need room." He half drags Evan out of the plastic tunnel so that the workers have room to remove the body—
Bobby's body. His short-lived captain's body. A man whose gravitas Tommy's carried with him since they've briefly met. Because that's just who Bobby was. His missing presence will be a hole that can never be filled. An ache his team and wife will feel for the rest of their days.
He guides Evan out and out into the dark and stops only when they come to a decorative wall. He (very unwisely for a man of his age) plops all the way to the ground, pulling Evan immediately into his lap to hug tightly against his chest.
Evan's wails make his heart break.
The cement of the wall grinding into his back keeps him anchored to reality as he rocks Evan gently back and forth. There's no amount of shushing and sweet nothings that can soothe this ache. But his arms are tight and his kisses are soft as he whispers "It's okay, baby. Let it out."
He doesn't know how long they've sat there. It's past the point of Karen being let in to see Hen and Ravi's been picked up by somebody. His left leg and butt have fallen asleep a while ago. Evan's no longer wailing but the tears have yet to cease.
His phone rings in the grass, and he wouldn't have bothered picking it up if it wasn't—
Hen and Chim were in isolation, or whatever. He hadn't seen Athena. Maddie was still on shift. Karen was in with Hen. Evan was obviously not in the condition to. That left Ravi, but who knew what their relationship was. So that left...
"Tommy? I can't get anybody! I saw the news; what's—"
"It's... b-bad, man. It's Captain Nash, he... uh." Tommy swallows hard, clamping his eyes shut. "It's a long story, man, but uh—We lost him."
There's a soft crash on the other end of the line, some shuffling, followed by a tiny, broken question. "Bobby?"
Tommy nods, forgetting he's on the phone. A fresh tear falls into Evan’s curls tucked under his chin. “Uh, yeah,” he gently huffs. “He, he contracted the virus that bitch made. There was only one antidote.” He laughs then, because it was so in character for the man—“He lied to save Chimney.”
Eddie gives a small laugh of his own. “Oh, I bet Athena was pissed.”
They're silent for a moment. Some sniffling. “How’s everyone? God, I wish I could be— How’s Buck?”
A small smile curves the older man's lips despite the situation. “He’s—I’ve got him,” Tommy decides on saying. He knew that was the true question Eddie wanted to ask and he loves him for it. He and Evan’s relationship was a current question mark, but he was glad Evan had Eddie to care for him too. “But, honestly? I don't know if I’ll be…” The unspoken ‘enough’ hangs between them.
“You always sell yourself short, man,” Eddie merely says, reminding Tommy that he's missed having Eddie around. “Let everyone know I’ll be back as soon as I can. And hey, thanks for picking up, man.”
“Psh, no problem. Have a safe flight. I’ll, uh, fill you in on the details when you get here. Some of it was wild”
“I’ll hold you to it.” A beat. “Thanks Tommy… for being there.”
Tommy’s met with Evan’s tear-rimmed eyes after he hangs up. “Ready to go home?”
Evan nods. “Who was that?”
Tommy sighs. “Eddie. I, uh, took one for the team and told him… the news.” He trails his fingers through Evan’s damp hair. “He’ll be here ASAP.”
“Oh, yeah. Yeah. That's good. Thank you.”
“Nothing of it. Don't worry about a thing. I’ll call an Uber and get us home.” He drops a kiss to Evan’s forehead and allows the younger man to help him up, his muscles protesting.
He’d do it again and again in a heartbeat.
