prompts: postcards to Tommy
Three postcards Buck writes but doesn't send + one that he does
I've used all the flour in my apartment again trying to distract myself from you, but now it's two in the morning and nothing is open to go buy more and I still want to call you. I figured this was safer, no chance of you seeing me typing or accidentally sending it.
I keep thinking about the night you left, wishing I could go back and do it all over again, fix what went wrong. The whole Abby thing just got into my head and really threw me for a loop, then Maddie and Josh got me more mixed up, and I did what I always do. I jumped without looking to see where I'd land or who I'd hurt when I hit the ground. I guess it's kind of a pattern, I find someone I care about and I want to keep them as close as possible because I'm scared they'll leave, but I only end up pushing them away instead.
I asked you to move in because I was too afraid to say I–
I guess it doesn't matter now.
Guess who can't sleep again.
I didn't get a chance to see you after the funeral. I needed to be alone for a minute and when I came back you were already gone. Which is fine, I just thought you might–
I never really got to thank you for everything you did to help me that day. That you picked up the phone at all was more than I ever would have hoped for. Then you showed up. You always showed up for me, any time I needed or wanted you. I miss that.
I'm sorry that I caused you more trouble. All the questioning and non-disclosure shit me and Athena had to deal with was bad, but being the one that took the helicopter and defied direct orders from the army, you probably had it much worse.
I know I should call you, but I don't I can hear your voice without breaking down. I know that's not fair to you, especially after everything you risked for me. But if I call, you'll ask me how I am, and you won't believe it when I say I'm okay. I'll make it about myself again, like I always do. The best thing I can do for you is stay away and let you forget you ever met me, even if it kills me to do it.
I thought I had them pretty well under control between the therapy and the sleep meds Dr. Copeland prescribed, but after everything that happened...
I guess I should fill you in, huh? I'm sure you saw some of it on the news, the Hen and Athena part. And that was bad enough, knowing two more people I cared about were in trouble and there was nothing any of us could do. Well, almost any of us; I should have known Karen would figure out a way to get them back. But before that, it felt like I was right back in the lab, you know? But then sky start falling and we ended up taking Athena's son out on the engine and l think that helped a little. I had to keep it together to keep him together.
But then we got called to help this woman in the subway. Her leg was pinned and water was rushing in, she was running out of time. Chimney had to...Now it's all I see everytime I close my eyes.
I can't sleep, because every time I try it's not just Bobby in that lab anymore. It's not that woman's leg Chimney is sawing off. There's knife-wielding robots and cars no one can stop and flaming space junk knocking helicopters out of the sky.
I have an emergency session with Dr. Copeland tomorrow, maybe she can get me something stronger. You know I never slept great before, but I always slept better when you were next to me. I wish you were here, you would know what to say to make all of this stop, and even if you didn't, just being around you would be enough.
There was a guy living in my attic. What the actual fuck? Did I not have enough bullshit to deal with? Why couldn't it have just been a ghost?
I really thought things were starting to turn around for me. I guess I should have known better than to hope for that, huh?
I know you probably think it's crazy to send you this instead of calling or just coming to your house. Maybe it is, but you're probably used to me doing things the hard way by now.
We almost lost Hen. Again. She's been sick and didn't tell anyone. She passed out on a scene and we almost didn't find her in time. She's okay, at home with Karen recovering, but it hit me hard. I'm so tired of losing people because we won't ever say how we're really feeling out of fear.
So, here it is. I love you, Tommy. I've loved you since that day in the cemetery, maybe even before then, but that was the moment I knew. I've tried seeing other people, but all I could think of was how much I wanted it to be you sitting across from instead. There's no moving on from this, not for me. Being with you was the first time in so long that I felt like I was where I belonged. You made me feel safe. You made me feel wanted. Even when you thought I was being insane, you never made me feel like I was too much, that I needed to be smaller or less like myself to be yours. You made me feel like you loved me anyway.
They're sending me and Eddie to Nashville for some kind of firefighter tournament. We'll be gone for about a week, I guess. Long enough for you to get this and make a decision.
I thought you would be better off without me, and maybe you are. Maybe you wish you'd never met me. I can't say I blame you if you do. But if by some miracle you don't see my name on this card and toss it without reading it, if you want to try again, I'll be waiting for you.
You're sleeping right now, making that cute snuffling snoring sound that you swear you don't. You've also commandeered my pillow again, not that I mind. God, what does it say about me that I even love your horrendous morning breath?
I know I should try to get back to sleep, you have us on a tight schedule tomorrow, and you'll completely lose it if someone has to try to find concealer to make me look good for the pictures. I don't think I can though. It's not nerves, at least not in the cold feet sense. I just never thought I would have this, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get to have it with someone like you. Even after everything we've been through, all this time, it still blows me away that you want to do this with me.
I'm not foolish enough to think that this will be easy, because it never has been. You'll say things you don't mean, I'll try to run, but I know we'll always come back to each other, because it's where we belong.
Loving you is the most thrilling, frightening adventure of my life.
I can't wait to marry you, Evan.