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"You're gonna be okay, kid". Buck looked up towards that brave little boy. Who had overcome so much and was still the happiest kid in the world. And that same kid was trying to make him feel better.
Buck then saw the people around them staring to the ocean and pointing. He turned around and then felt like he couldn't breath. An enormous wave was rolling towards them with high speed. Everyone just stood there, completely frozen. Then Buck woke up and the firefighter and 'father' in him came to action. He threw Christopher over his shoulder and shouted to all the people on the pier. "RUN! GET OFF THE PIER. GO!" And then Buck ran. Pushing eveyone around him to move. "GO, GO! GET OFF THE PIER!"
He looked over his shoulder and the wave came closer so fast. They weren't going to make it. He saw a ball toss stand. He could never outrun this wave, so he made a decision. He lifted Chris over the edge and turned around. Exactly then the wave crashed against the lifeguardtower. Buck jumped inside the stand and then the wave hit them.
.....
Blackness, water, bodies, Buck saw nothing else. He tried swimming to the surface but there was no surface. Where was up? Stuff crashed against him. Hitting his face, crashing his side. Buck screamed but that only ment more water came in his mouth. Christopher? Where is Christopher? And then Buck saw light. There. The surface. He tried to swim that way but he was suddenly upside down. Swim, swim and then his head broke the surface. Finally he was able to breath. A string of lights was above his head. Buck grabbed it and looked around.
There was blood in his eyes, so his vision was blurred. Christopher, he needed to find him. "CHRIS, CHRISTOPHER!" He looked around. Car alarms were blazing, debree everywhere. He heard people scream but he saw no one. "CHRISTOPHER!" And then he heard it. "Buck! Buck!". A few feet away was Christopher. Holding on for dear life to a streetlight. "Stay there Chris, I'm coming!"
Buck let go of the lights and swam. Closing the gap between him and Christopher. "I'm coming!" The water was so strong. It pushed Buck under a lot of times and it took more and more strength to keep swimming. Suddenly he was close to Chris. "Okay Chris, reach!" But Buck just missed Christopher's hand and the water pulled him further away. "No, no!" Buck swam towards some debree to find some grip. He then turned around towards Christopher again. "Hold on Chris!" But Christopher was screaming "I can't hold on anymore!" and then Chris let go. Washed away by the water and his head disappeared under. Buck swam, and then he saw him. Buck grabbed Chris and pushed him above the surface. This did mean he himself was pushed under water again. Finally his head broke the surface again. "I got you, I got you!"
Stuff was hitting them but Buck made sure none of it hit Christopher. The water dragged them away and Buck couldn't see anything to swim to. And then in the distance he saw it, a firetruck. Buck was fighting against the current trying to swim towards the truck. But Buck didn't see the car coming towards them until there was no way to avoid it. At the last moment Buck was able to turn himself towards the car so Chris wouldn't get hit. The side of the car smacked against his back and head. Buck screamed which ment more seawater got in his lungs. The car pushed them away. Buck tried to keep going towards the truck. He managed to get back on route, but then it happened. A seering pain in his stomach. It punched the air out of his lungs. Chris started crying. "B-buck." Black spots came into vision, but he had to go on. Chris needed to be safe. "I'm o-okay Chris, h-hold on. We're going to the firetruck."
Buck kept swimming, which was a hard task with only one arm. The arm holding Christopher above the water was starting to shake, but he had to go on. "Buck. T-the water around us is red." Buck now noticed it too and immediatly saw it came from him. "It's okay Chris, were almost there. Just close your eyes buddy." Christopher closed his eyes and lay his head on Buck's shoulder.
Finally they were within reach of the truck. With his last strength Buck took Chris in both arms and unfortunately not so lightly trew him on the truck. Christopher was safe. Buck held on to the railing and started pulling himself out of the water. It felt like his stomach was bursting open, Buck couldn't help but scream. When he lifted himself up he saw the cause of his pain. A very tick treebranch had impaled him. It was all the way through his abdomen. His shirt was soaked in blood. With a last scream Buck hauled himself over the railing onto the truck. He just lay there for a few seconds catching his breath. Then with his left hand he felt next to him. His hand felt Christopher's curls. "You okay superman?" Christopher nodded. "Yes, I took surfing lessons." Buck chuckled. Even now Chris saw the positive sight of everything. But then Christopher looked a Buck and his eyes widened. "Buck, you're hurt!"
Buck tried to sit up. "It's okay buddy, don't look at it. I'm gonna be fine." Buck pushed himself up until his back was against the cabin of the truck. Then he grabbed Christopher and sat him next to him. "Look Chris, this way people are able to see us. They will come for us." Christopher lay his head on Buck's shoulder and gave him a hug. Buck took this moment to really check Christopher for any injuries. Besides a few little cuts on his arms Christopher was completely fine. Buck then embraced him and they just sat like that for a while.
Buck eventually saw the huge pool of blood that had formed around them. Stupidly Buck hadn't even thought about trying to stop the bleeding. He took off his overshirt. "Hey Chris, why don't we play a little 'I spy'? Chris smiled and nodded. Buck looked around "I spy, with my little eye something that is....high." Christopher gazed in the air. "Is it a trafficlight?" "No, way higher than that buddy." When Buck made sure Christopher was looking in a different direction, he quickly started working. Tugging his shirt around the branch and tying it of. He tried to keep still, but he couldn't prevent the small whimpers of pain. The shirt wouldn't work long but maybe slow the bleeding just a bit. "Is it the round window on that big building?" Buck saw Chris pointing somewhere. "Yeah! That's it. You're so good at this game." Christopher smiled and then turned towards Buck. "Is it okay for me to look again Buck?" Buck shouldn't be suprised Chris had known exactly what he was doing, but somehow he still was. He pulled Christopher close and started running his hands through his curls. "Yes, it's okay Chris." After a while Christopher said that one thing that broke Buck's heart. "I'm scared Buck." Buck started hugging him even tighter. "Me too Chris, but they will come for us, I know it." I just hope it won't be too late, Buck added in his mind.
......
The 118 was at the scene of a small car fire. They already extinguised it, so now there wasn't more than a car wreck left. Chimney walked towards Eddie. "Any word on how Buck's and Chris' day of fun is going?" Chimney chuckled. Eddie took out his phone and saw Buck had send him a message about an hour ago, including a picture of the two of them.
-Buck-
He wants pancakes. So we're doing pancakes.
After this we're headed to the pier! Someone wants to go on all the rides.
Eddie couldn't hold back a smile. He just saw true happiness on his son's face. Somehow Buck always managed to do that. Hen watched over Eddie's shoulder. "Looks like they're having fun."
"Yeah, definitely, though Buck's gonna regret those pancakes. Right about now Chris has come down with a serious sugar high."
Bobby walked towards them. "Hey, did someone leave a hydrant open?"
Suddenly an alert appeared on Eddie's phone. Eddie's heart just stopped. "I-I don't think it's a hydrant cap." And then he just felt his knees buckling and Eddie was on the ground. All he could see was the tsunami warning which had appeared over the photo of Buck and Chris. Like the universe was taunting him. Bobby was on his knees beside him. "What is it Eddie?" Eddie just turned his screen towards his captain. "They were at the pier."
.....
"Hey Buck?" Buck opened his eyes to the sound of that little voice, but he couldn't even remember he had closed them in the first place. "Yeah buddy?" "It's nothing, but you stopped talking." Christopher was still in his arms and Buck locked his eyes on him. "I'm so sorry Chris, maybe you could help me stay awake?"
Buck felt numb and his speech was so slow. It was very important now to stay awake. He looked at his stomach and saw the blood just running freely. Unfortunately the branch wasn't closing the wound off and the shirt he had wrapped around it was soaked so that wasn't helping anymore. Buck had no idea how long they had been on the truck, but the sun was a lot lower than it was the last time he had checked. He focused on Christopher again. "How are you feeling?" Chris just smiled "I'm good. You saved me." Buck smiled "We did that together, superman."
"And now I'm gonna save you Buck!" Buck pulled Christopher closer "I know you will Chris."
.....
"We need to keep searching, cap! They could still be out there!" Bobby, Chimney, Hen and Eddie were in a lifeboat. They've been searching and rescuing people all day, unfortunately more black tags than saves, but still no sign of Buck and Christopher.
It was getting late and they were losing daylight.
"We only have 2 hours left Eddie, after that we are ordered to stop search and rescue untill the next day." Eddie walked towards the outboard motor on the end of the boat and made it roar. "Well then we have no time to lose, let's go."
....
Buck had trouble seeing cleary. Dark spots were blocking his vision. Breathing was getting harder too. While thinking that, Buck couldn't hold back a wet cough and then he felt the blood dripping down his chin. That was never a good sign. He quickly wiped it away, hoping Chris hadn't seen it.
The sun was almost under and Buck knew what that ment for search and rescue, but he also knew for sure he wasn't gonna make it through the night.
With the sun disappearing Buck could feel Christopher trembling in his arms. "Buck?" Buck tried to say something back but only a small hum came out. "I-I know you're tired, but maybe we can sing our song together?" Buck had no idea how he was gonna be able to get full sentences out, but he wasn't about to let Christopher down. "S'nds like a-a plan superman" Buck was startled by how slurred his speech sounded. "You have to start Buck!" Buck lifted his head, placed his hand on top of Chris's curls and gave him, or better, tried to give him a smile. He started.
B: "Y-You've got a friend... in me."
C: "You've got a friend in me"
B: "When.. t'road looks rough...ahead
C: "And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed."
B: You.. j-just rem'ber what your ol' pal said"
C: "Boy, you've got a friend in me"
B: "Yyou've g't.... a friend in me"
Christopher had the biggest smile on his face. Even now singing this song together made him happy. Buck on the other hand could feel his last strength fading away. Every sentence came out worse than the last. But he wasn't gonna disappoint Christopher. Buck tried to remember all the times they had sang this together. All the nights Chris had woke up screaming from a nightmare and Eddie had to call Buck to come sing this song with him, or when they were in the car together. This was their song, Chris wouldn't sing it with anyone else, not even Eddie.
Chris had started the next chorse.
C: "You've got a friend in me"
B: "........Y-you've g't...friend in... me"
The black edges on his vision were closing in. Buck tried to blink it away but it didn't work.
C: "You got troubles, I've got 'em too"
B: "......Th'r.....isn't anything I-I wouldn't.... do for you.
C: "We stick together and see it through."
B: ........
"Buck this is your part." Christopher suddenly saw Buck's eyes were closed. "Buck?" Chris started
shaking Buck's arm. "Buck, please! This is your part!"
No response. Christopher started shaking even harder "BUCK! This is our song, I c-can't finish without y-you." Buck's hand that had been around Christopher had fallen useless to the side. Christopher started sobbing "B-B-Buck? Please, don't leave me alone." Christopher just trew himself onto Buck and embraced him as tight as he could.
....
Eddie was shining a flashlight over the water. Scanning every bit of the surface. Bobby's radio gave some statics and then came to life. "Rescue team 118, this is your last call. You need to come back. This is an direct order!" Bobby clicked off his radio. Eddie gave him a small nod as sort of a 'thank you' and then focused on the water again. Hen and Chim were also staring around but so far no Buck or Christoper. Every minute Eddie felt more desperate. Suddenly Hen started speaking "Look it's the firetruck of the 136." Bobby responded "Luckily the whole crew is accounted for." The moment Hen took her flashlight away from the truck Eddie saw something that made his heart stop. It seemed like something bright yellow was on the truck.
"Hen! Shine on the truck again." Hen looked a bit confused, but still did it. And then Eddie knew for sure. "CHRISTOPHER!" A small head appeared. "Dad!" Bobby quickly steered towards the truck. They were there within seconds. Eddie jumped on the truck and there before him was a sight that would hunt his nightmares for the rest of his life. Blood everywhere and his crying son clutching onto a very lifeless Buck. "B-buck won't wake up daddy."
Eddie stood motionless for a few seconds but when Hen and Bobby passed him to get to Buck he woke up. He got to Christopher, who somehow seemed unharmed. Buck's probably had something to do with that. Bobby spoke "Christopher you have to let go of Buck so we can help him." That only made Christopher hold on even more. "No, I'm not letting go. I said I'd save him." Eddie got on his knees to be close to his son. "Chris, you must. If you want to help Buck, you háve to let go." Christopher started sobbing uncontrollaby, but his grip finally loosened a bit. Chris was still only focused on Buck, but then he finally let go.
Hen helped Christopher up and hold onto him. Eddie couldn't be more grateful because now he could completely focus on Buck. Bobby was already checking Buck for a pulse but then shook his head. Bobby immediatly started CPR. Chimney quickly searched his bag and came out with a breathing bag. After 30 compressions Chimney put the bag on Buck and started pressing air in his lungs. Bobby got right back to compressions. This went on for a while, each time checking for a pulse, but not getting a respond. Eddie then pushed himself next to Buck to take over from Bobby.
Bobby stared at his hands that were completely covered in Buck's blood and then focused on Buck's face. Eddie could see tears in his eyes. Eddie wasn't gonna give up yet. He started another round of compressions. "Come on Buck!" Christopher was staring at Buck even though Hen tried to turn him away from it all. Suddeny Chris shook Hen away and dropped himself on the ground next to Buck. He put his hand on Buck's face. "Buck please, you p-promised me I'd always have you. Don't leave me!" Eddie felt tears streaming down his face, but he kept going with compressions. "Eddie." It was Bobby. Eddie looked up, but not stopping the compressions. Bobby had a defeated look on his face. "E-eddie, I think he's gone." Eddie just shook his head. "No, no he's not." He kept going even when he heard Bobby say his name again. Then he checked for a pulse again. Just when he was about to let go he felt it. It was almost to small to feel, but it was there. He started smiling trough the tears. "I-I feel a pulse!" Bobby put his hand in Buck's neck to check for himself. "I feel it too!"
Suddenly Buck's eyes started to flutter. Eddie put his hands on Buck's face. "Hey Buck, it's okay. We're all here. You're okay." Buck's eyes then opened a bit, staring at the sky. But then he looked at Eddie. Eddie smiled "Hey Evan" Buck tried to say something, but no sound came out. "It's okay, don't speak. We're gonna get you out of here." But Buck kept trying. "C.....ch....Chr's?"
"He's right here Buck, he's okay, all because you!" That seemed to be enough for Buck because his eyes closed again. Bobby told Chimney to get a backboard. "Let's get him out of here."
Once Buck was on the backboard they all carried him in the lifeboat. Buck was still losing blood so Chimney and Hen focused on the big wound in his stomach. Eddie and Christopher sat next to Buck's head. Eddie put a blanket around Christopher and one on Buck's chest. Both of their temperatures were very low. Eddie grabbed Buck's hand and Christopher lay his head on Buck's chest. Bobby was at the end of the boat, steering them out of there.
.....
Buck felt he was moving. There was a warm hand around his and he felt something on his chest. He tried to open his eyes, they only opened a little. All he saw was a dark but very starry sky. If it wasn't for what happened today he could almost enjoy how beautiful it was. He tried to look down. All he saw were the curls of Christopher, who was asleep on his chest. Then to his right was Eddie. He was holding Buck's hand and his other hand was on top of Buck's hair. Just simply looking at him. When Eddie saw Buck was awake he came closer. "Hey. Just relax. We're all taking care of you." Buck saw that Hen and Chimney were working on the injury to his stomach. It was sort of disturbing how little he felt. It was like he wasn't connected to his own body. Buck tried to raise the hand that Eddie wasn't holding. Eddie noticed. "Don't try to move Buck." But he wouldn't listen. Finally he was able to raise it and he lay his hand on Chris' curls. Only now he knew for sure Christopher was actually there. He was safe. Eddie obviously knew what he was thinking. "He's here and that's because of you. You kept him safe." Buck felt relieve wash over him. Maybe everything was gonna be okay now. He closed his eyes. Somewhere in the distant he could here Eddie say his name, but he couldn't stay awake. He heard his name being said one last time, but then the darkness took him.
.....
Buck heard an annoying beeping sound next to his head and then the familiar smell of hospital entered his nose. Suddenly he felt movement next to him and the beeping stopped. He opened his eyes a little bit, but was greeted with very bright light. Next to him a nurse was changing his empty IV bag, probably what had caused the beeping. When she had left and his eyes had gotten used to the light he opened them completely. Buck tried to swallow, bit his throat hurt like hell.
Then he scanned the room again and realised he wasn't alone. Eddie was in the chair next to his bed, but he was slumped forwards, his head was resting on Buck's bed and his hand was on top of Buck's hand, He was asleep. Bobby was in a chair at the end of the room, reading a book. Just when Buck tried to speak Hen entered the room, holding a tray with coffeecups. "Oh my god, Buck!"
Bobby immediatly looked up, put his book away and came towards his bed. Eddie woke up startled. Then his eyes met Buck's and he was fully awake. All of them were around his bed. Buck opened his mouth but only a small grunt came out. "You just got of the ventilator so that's why your throat hurts." Eddie said. He then came with a cup of water with a straw. "Here, try this." Buck gratefully took a sip and it immediatly felt better. "H-how long?" he asked. Bobby answered this time. "You've been here a week." Buck didn't know what to think of that. "Y-You're all s-still here? Hen put her hand on his shoulder. "Ofcourse we are. Everyone has been here. We weren't allowed with too many people at once, so we're taking turns." Buck turned towards Eddie, who looked like the sleep he just had, had been the first one in a week, because there were dark circles under his eyes. "C-chris?" Eddie smiled at him. "Carla is bringing him right now. And he has been here everyday. Giving you these." Eddie picked up a stack of papers and turned them towards Buck. All of them were drawings Christopher had made. Most of them were of him and Christopher holding hands, with different kinds of get well wishes. Buck felt a tear running down his cheak. That boy meant the world to him. Bobby gestured something to Hen and suddenly they left the room and Buck was alone with Eddie.
Eddie put down the drawings and took Buck's hand in his own. "I thought I had lost you both. But then there you were, on that truck. My son, completely unharmed and y-you....." Eddie blinked some tears away. "You saved my son even though it almost cost you your life." Buck tried to say something "E-Eds..."
"No please Buck let me say this." Buck stopped and just looked at Eddie. "You were gone Buck. And we couldn't get you back. I couldn't get you back. But I kept doing CPR, because I couldn't even imagine a life without you. I-I just couldn't." Eddie's hands started to shake, so Buck held on tighter. "You brought me... b-back Eds. I'm here."
Right at that moment there was a knock at the door and the clicks of crutches could be heard. Carla and Christopher entered the room. Christopher had the biggest smile on his face and came rushing towards the bed. "Buck!" Eddie immediately saw a change on Buck's face. "H-hey Superman!"
Eddie turned around towards Carla who smiled at him and then she left the room, as if she felt this was a moment for the three of them.
Christopher tried to get on the bed, but Eddie slowed him down a bit. "Careful buddy, Buck still isn't feeling great." Buck raised his arm and put it around Chris.
"I missed you Buck!" "I missed you too Chris."
Eddie embraced them both and they just sat like that for a while. And from that moment on Buck knew it was all gonna be okay, because they had each other.