Archive of Our Own ^beta

Evan Buckley, Buck to his friends, wasn’t having a good year.

First the ladder truck bombing, then the months of healing and therapy, the embolism that could have killed him if his friends were any less than first responders, the blood thinners, the tsunami and losing Chris, the lawsuit in his desperate attempt to get his job back, getting his job back, and the cold shoulders from those he loved the most.

He was having the world’s worst year.

He got his job back. He proved his point. And lost everything in the process.

Therapy helped. The nightmares from his injuries and dealing with so much hurt from people that should have understood were fading into sad memories. As much as he wanted to, Buck just couldn’t fight anymore. He’d tried. He’d begged, pleaded for them to just listen.

They wouldn’t.

The scorn, the distain, the disappointment, and the outright anger in some cases broke his spirit.

Bobby, Chimney, Hen, Maddie, even Eddie, his best friend just didn’t listen. They blamed him for the consequences they should have gotten from the start. Bobby claimed he wanted to protect him but lied to do it, Eddie pushed him away with is anger and rage, Hen and Chimney pushed him away with their hurtful comments, Maddie berated him for his choices like a child and Buck was just tired.

He was tired of trying to prove he was worth it.

Chief Alonzo wanted to act and practically begged Buck to make a formal complaint. As many as he’d gotten from other members of Station 118, he could have very well stepped in but to be honest Buck didn’t see the point anymore.

His family didn’t want him anymore.

And he just couldn’t bring himself to care.

Buck’s therapist was a blessing that helped slowly put a broken man beaten down by the past year of events back together. While he’d had his bad days, where getting out of bed was a trial and being productive was almost too much, he hadn’t felt this good about himself in… ever.

The Chief had offered different placement, and honestly Buck was considering it. Alonzo had explained that with his test scores and experience, he could write his ticket anywhere in the country. The lawsuit, being the open secret it was, could have slowed his career down but it somehow made him more desirable and captains across the country were emailing and calling with offers that shocked him.

Privately, Chief Alonzo was hoping the kid would leave. If Buckley did, he would clean that entire house out. All of them would be moved to different houses across the LAFD and some would be outright fired. But Buckley was loyal, and it showed in his actions. Alonzo could respect that.

Buck thought about returning to the Navy. He never lied; he had decided the SEALs weren’t for him. His commander, Steve McGarrett, had been the one to suggest flying and Buck never looked back. Navy Aviation was his bread and butter. He’d toughed it out. Got a degree just to be able to be considered in the Aviation program. And he excelled and was noticed by other branches of the military. After flying with the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment or the Night Stalkers, he earned Lieutenant Commander with commendation. Had he stayed, he could have easily been made captain. Buck, however, wanted to see the world. He wanted to do more than just shoot down enemy fighters. Becoming a firefighter was a dream come true. True, he had to report to San Diego every month for a weekend to keep up his training, him being in reserves and all, and yes that was a hassle considering everyone just assumed he had a date or something, but he loved it.

Now, though, if he got called from reserves, Buck didn’t really think he would turn it down. At the same time, this hodge podge collection of people were his chosen family, and it would never be said he didn’t try to the end.

The universe, however, had no qualms about moving in his favor.

It was a 5-alarm call. Hostage Situation in downtown LA. The 118 was dispatched in case of fire due to the threat of bombs in the office complex. Due to the nature of the emergency, it was all hands on deck and while Buck’s wouldn’t be used for anything but crowd control, he was happy to help.

He’d been the man behind for 4 months.

At some point, Buck could honestly say he stopped caring.

And it really did show.

His attitude at work was polite but distant. Buck would engage if spoken to but other than that would ignore everyone on A shift. B and C shift were met with warm welcomes and smiles. The Captains of the other shifts tried moving him to theirs, thoroughly done with the tense atmosphere of the house, but were turned down. Complaints were flying out of the house like flies. B and C shift had been taking to comparing notes on how Buck was treated and filing them as a unit. Captain Lewis had even tore a strip off Howard ‘Chimney’ Han when a remark was made about Buck’s intelligence in front of him. Bobby Nash, Captain of A shift, had attempted to get his lieutenant off the hook but was informed pretty harshly in front of everyone that bullying was prohibited and he if so much as looked like was taking part, he wouldn’t be a captain in that house for long.

Buck was pretty much ignored after that. He didn’t ask to ride. He stopped trying to apologize. He did his job and went home.

But suddenly, they all wanted to talk to him again.

Henrietta ‘Hen’ Wilson had attempted to invite him over for drinks. Buck politely said no thank you. Bobby invited him over for dinner. He declined. Chimney had offered karaoke and beers. He said no. Maddie, who had been ignoring him for months, showed up essentially demanding his time. He blinked at her and walked away.

Eddie Diaz, absent best friend, was the hardest to turn down.

Eddie had walked up and asked, like the man hadn’t either ignored his existence or hopped in his face like he was ready to punch him, if he wanted to come over to spend time with Chris. For a long moment, Buck simply stared at the man. After being was informed he was exhausting and childish and to stay away from him, Buck did just that. Stayed away. Now months later he was being asked over to see his Superman after being denied.

The longer the silence went on, the more nervous Eddie began to look.

“I have plans. Maybe next time.” Buck turned on his heel and walked away.

He missed the genuine confusion and hurt painting Eddie’s face.

Buck wasn’t sure what happened and quite frankly didn’t care. He had a feeling Athena had something to do with it. She’d always checked up on him and made sure he was ok. So had the rest of the kids of 118, Chris though Denny. While she hadn’t been aware of all her husband was up to, Athena had some guesses and if Buck really thought into it, he would imagine she’d finally got the whole story and went all mama bear.

Now, sitting in the back of the engine, he could really see the almost desperate way his absent family were suddenly trying to somehow bridge a gap they put in place. Hen and Chimney were not so subtly trying to include him in their conversation while Eddie kept shooting him guilty glances. Bobby had even tried to get him talking saying he’d be on calls from here on out but all he got for his trouble was a nod.

Honestly, Buck never felt happier to get to an emergency like he was now.

Before long, the crew found themselves waiting in tense silence by the rig. It wasn’t just a regular hostage situation, if you could call it that. LA SWAT, first responders like them, had been taken hostage when sweeping the building due to a case they were working on.  The perps were demanding a big shot criminal to be released or they’d blow the building. Negotiators were working frantically to somehow deescalate the situation but was having no luck. A 7-block stretch had been evacuated for fear of other explosives. Other than emergency and police personnel, it was completely vacant of the usual life LA would see.

The situation was dire. Being stuck on the roof and pinned by occasional gunfire, it was almost impossible to extract the team without serious risk. The atmosphere was tense, fire and rescue standing at the ready while police and remaining SWAT were furiously trying to defuse the situation. There were whispers of the national guard and military anti-terrorist teams being dispatched.

Buck stood next to the ladder truck away from the rest of his team, a since of calm over him. Eddie whispered to Hen and Chimney what he could remember of what a military response would be while Bobby kept an ear on the radio.

“Ghost?”

Buck froze. Unless on base in San Diego, civilians never called him that. He jerked around to stare at a bald African American dressed from head-to-toe Kevlar and armed to the teeth.

“Mark?”

“Holy Shit. Look. You still fly?” Mark Trabidu hurried over, talking over himself.

“Yeah. Why?” Buck asked confused.

“Still know how to fly a Helo?”

“A Helicopter? You know I can. Why?” It had been years since Buck had flown one.

“Yes or No, Ghost?” Mark asked filled with nervous energy.

“Yes. What’s this about?” Buck replied clueing in on the urgency in the air.

“Look. My team are the hostages on the roof and there’s no way to get them down without them jumping and well, last time I checked gravity still was a thing.”

“And if you have a helo you can fly up. What about the perps. How armed we talking.” Buck quickly put together what his old friend was eluding to.

“All automatic weapons.”

“No missiles? Just auto and a bomb?”

“Yeah. The biggest problem is we can’t get close enough. There’s more swat waiting to take the roof, but we can’t breach, not without endangering the team. And you can’t even fly in without spooking them. There’s got to be something…” Mark was almost vibrating with nervous energy trying to come up with something, anything, that could save his team.

“What if they can’t see us.” Buck stated, an idea forming in his head at lightning speed.

“What?”

“Where’s the helo?” Buck said running to the ladder. Mark followed and watched as he quickly stripped out of his turnout gear.

“4 blocks away. They threatened to start shooting hostages if we stayed in the air.”

“And you’re sure your team is the only people on the roof? You’re absolutely certain?” Buck reiterated.

“Yes. Building was swept. Other than the 5 hostages and the ones ready to take the roof, there’s nobody else.” Mark said nodding.

“Where are they? Like on the side of the building?”

“Uh. If your standing in front of the building with rescue, their on the right.” Mark said confused by the question.

“Get me in the air, Commander.” Buck said with a slight grin, “I got an idea.”

Both men trotted away, completely unnoticed by the rest of their crews and the police. The words domestic terrorism were being thrown around and there was talk about calling the military in to deal with the situation as there were no guarantees this wasn’t an attack. Rescue crews along with news reporters who doggedly refused to leave waited apprehensively as the minutes ticked along slowly.

“Command, this is Trabidu, do you copy, over?”

“Commander, this is command, status.”

“We got an idea. Be ready to breach on my count.”

“What idea? What the hell do you think you’re doing? Who is WE?”

Silence

“Intercept is 200 feet. Hard deck is 20 feet. And Open that door.”

Police and SWAT looked at each other confused. That wasn’t a voice they recognized.

“Buck?” A voice asked softly with disbelief in their tone.

“Intercept is 10 seconds. You might want to duck.”

The unmistakable sound of propellers roared through the air, and the LAPD SWAT chopper flew overhead so close to the ground some threw themselves down thinking they would be hit. It flew at breakneck speeds heading straight for the building.

“Popping in 3...”

“Popping? Ghost, this isn’t a f-22… the hell…”

“2…1…”

The engines roared and the helo went vertical, scaling the 20-story building with a speed most pilots would never attempt. As the helo peaked the building, it went horizonal and looked as if it slid over the top of the building at breakneck speeds.

“BREACH BREACH” Trabidu’s voice screamed out the speakers, “Get off the roof, Ghost!”

“Copy. HOLD ON” Buck’s voice yelled in response.

And with that, the helicopter FELL off the right side of the building to the screams of the crowd below. It fell ten stories, pivoting midair and roared blowing debris everywhere as it came to halt just 10 feet over the concrete below.

“You’re fucking nuts, Ghost.” Trabidu said panting. He would and did admit later to his team that yes, that was him screaming in the front seat.

“But… We are not on the roof.” Buck said, a smile obvious in his voice.

The IC and police listened in shock to the playful banter as the helicopter gently maneuvered to an empty parking lot and landed. All SWAT were present and accounted for, exiting the vehicle with smiles, relief palpable in the air. The last one, was a tall blonde in an LAFD uniform talking animatedly with Commander Trabidu, one of the hardest, meanest men LA SWAT had the pleasure of having on the force.

“What the actual fuck was that?” Police Chief Andrew Carlson stood with arms folded across his chest.

“Um….” Buck stood at automatic attention, frantically grasping for something to say.

“Sir. Using the copter was the only way to get my team off the roof. I was and still am familiar with Ghost… I mean Lieutenant Commander Buckley and knew he would handle the situation with the best skill.” Mark said, his gravelly voice firm.

“Lieutenant Commander? You military?” Carlson’s eyes cut to Buck’s. He was met with the calmest blue eyes he’d ever seen, especially considering the situation.

“Yes, Sir. Navy reserves.” Buck answered, a slight smile on his face.

“You pilots. Crazier than hell.” Carlson said after a moment.

“Aviator. Sir.” Buck’s eye twitched at the word pilot.

Carlson blinked, then roared with laughter.

“I forgot how testy you boys get when someone calls you a pilot. Apologies. That was a hell of a maneuver, kid.”

“Thank you, Sir. I’m used to flying F-22’s but I used to give cover to Commander Trabidu when he requested someone as crazy as him. I picked up helicopter training along the way.”

“Buckley is one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen. I knew he could handle this situation and while I could have lived forever and never fallen in a copter off a building, I trust his skills.” Mark’s tone was resolute.

“Hmmm.” Carlson stood silently for a moment. Buck cut his eyes to Mark, more concerned for the man’s job than his own. A few minutes passed in silence from the older man, regardless of the hustle and bustle going on around them.

The Police Chief dug in his front breast pocket, producing a card and held it out to Buck.

“If you ever need a job, I want you. Give me a call when you get tired of getting singed every time you come to work.” He said with a smile.

“Uh. Thank you, Sir.” Buck replied with a slightly astonished smile and took the card.

“Trabidu, let’s get one more sweep done and get out of here, Buckley, as you were. I think your teams’ looking for you.” Carlson said walking back to the IC tent.

With a smile, a hug, and promises to meet up with Mark later, Buck trotted back to the ladder truck, grabbing his turnout gear he’d discarded beside it. He completely missed the incredulous faces of his coworkers.

“Um. What the hell was that?” Eddie said, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen.

“What?”

“What do you mean What? When were you going to tell anyone, you can fly a helicopter?” Eddie’s voice rose slightly. Of all the things he knew Buck was good at flying anything wasn’t on the list.

“Not something that came up.” Buck shrugged as he put back on his gear.

“Does Maddie know? I mean, you know a lot I’ll give you that, but flight? That’s crazy.” Chimney said while Hen nodded along.

“I’m sure you’ll tell her.”

“I think we all are a little surprised, that’s all. It’s not every day one of our own flies a helicopter to do a rescue. Why wasn’t it in your file?” Bobby asked, genuinely curious now.

Buck shrugged and walked away, ending the entire conversation. The incredulous blinking he left behind was almost laughable if it hadn’t been so long since they’d even spoken to him. The uncomfortable weight of guilt began pressing on them all. They soon were called to help sweep the building, but that guilt never faded. It stayed on the back of all their minds even as work called.

“Sir. Here’s the file of that pilot you asked for.”

A snort.

“Never call a Navy Aviator, a pilot. You might get punched.”

Silence

“Sir, did you see that maneuver? I know pilots right now that would never even consider that. Not in a helicopter.”

“Buckley has always had the ability to think outside the box and do things most people couldn’t dream possible.”

“I see, sir.”

Papers rustled quietly as a stately man sat at a large desk. His sharp brown eyes quickly read over the file he was holding in his hands.

“And this is current?”

“Yes, Sir. LC Buckley has done almost 4000 hours on the flight simulator. The newest hours logged was last month. When asked about it, he responded to his commander that it was something he’d always wanted to fly, and he felt it was closest he could get.”

A sigh.

“He’ll get more of a chance than that. Get Captain Sharp on the line. I want him in LA. NOW.”

After all the excitement that morning, Buck wandered to his car, ready for a beer, a sandwich and sleep in that order. The rest of the day was filled with nuisance calls, two people fighting over a parking space, and a Karen calling the police over a latte. Athena, who they’d bumped into along the way, had that look on her face that said trouble for all party’s involved. She could only stay a moment but gave Buck a quick hug and a glare at Bobby and the rest of the crew.

Well, that confirmed what Buck had been thinking.

“Hey, Buck.”

Buck heaved a hard sigh and turned around.

“Yes?”

“Um…” Eddie looked uncomfortable and completely out of his depth, “I was wondering if you had plans.”

“Plans? Why?” He asked suspiciously.

“Yeah. You haven’t been over in a while, and I wanted to invite you over.”

Silence.

“And who’s fault was that?”

Eddie jerked and stared at hard blue eyes. Buck’s arms were folded over his massive chest and the look on his face said trouble.

“Um…”

“You said to leave you alone, remember. I’m exhausting and I need to suck it up. To stay away from you because you can’t trust me. That we are not friends. Remember?”

All Eddie could do was nod.

“I’m doing that. I’m staying away. So, I have plans. I will always have plans.”

“I… Look…”

“No.” Buck’s tone was resolute. “You don’t get to treat me like shit, then decide one day I’m worth your time. Period.”

“I’m sorry. Just… Look I want to apologize here.” Eddie said getting angry.

Buck tilted his head, and a mean chuckle escaped his lips.

“Oh really. What for? For not hearing my side of the story? For taking Bobby’s? For almost costing me my fucking lively hood? You get chewed up and spit out by Athena and suddenly you want forgiveness?”

Eddie stood in shock. He’d never seen Buck like this. The younger man was furious and while usually not this confrontational, he seemed to be spoiling for a fight.

“OH, I know. You suddenly remembered I was your best friend and now you need me. That it? I’m not a toy, Edmundo. You don’t get to throw me away and then dig me out when you want to play with me.”

“Look. I had a lot going on…” Eddie said with a small voice.

“As do we all. Let’s recap. I got blown up, your wife died, me and Chris got stuck in a tsunami, Bobby refused to let me get back to work knowing I was cleared, you got into street fighting, I sued Bobby for my job back, I get my job back, lose all my friends because you all decided you get a say on how I live my own fucking life, and NOW YOU WANT TO GET IN MY FACE ASKING ME IF I HAVE PLANS?... WITH NO APOLOGY FOR ANYTHING?” Buck screamed in Eddie’s face; hands clenched in fists.

Eddie looked at the ground. Minutes passed as the silence became almost alive, an uncomfortable thing ready to turn into something darker.

“I’m busy, Eddie.” Buck’s voice was soft but filled with hurt and anger. “If Chris wants to see me, absolutely. But you… No.”

“Buck… please.” Eddie said, tears gathering in his eyes. “Let me make this right. I know I fucked up. But please, let me fix this. I need you.”

Buck sighed, staring at the sky. If this happened 2 months ago, he would have been thrilled, ready to have his best friend back. Ready to explore that something more that was between them. Now, he just couldn’t bring himself to open back up to someone that stabbed him in the back so harshly.

“Not now. Not today.” Buck replied, turning away, “You hurt me. Bad. You don’t get to sweep that under the rug. Not now. You want to make this right; you do it my way. And I say, I’m busy today.”

“Um. Tomorrow then? Or whenever really. I’m serious, Evan. I want to make this right.” Eddie replied in a small voice.

“We’ll see. I gotta go.”

And with that, Buck climbed into the jeep and drove off, leaving Eddie standing in the parking lot, shattered.

Eddie couldn’t help but think if this is what Buck felt like all those months during rehab and then being stonewalled from his job.

Lonely.

The last few months had been hard on the entire team, but somewhere along the way they’d forgotten about Buck, of what he went through. But when he stood up for himself, their entire family berated him. And now, even with Athena chewing them all, Maddie included, a new asshole, Buck seemed not to want anything to do with any of them. That distance they all insisted on was now almost unsurmountable.

Would Eddie ever get his Buck back?

Would he ever be able to explore that ‘more’ that was always there?

If He was honest with himself, he didn’t know.

And that hurt more than he could possibly say.

The following day at work was trying. Apparently, somebody (looking at you Jaxon) witnessed the blowout in the parking lot and had told EVERYONE. Guilt had been the order on the menu as everyone from A shift had collectively eaten crow and had suddenly decided that it was crucial to talk to Buck.

As if Buck was going to let it be easy.

True to his word, Bobby had allowed Buck on calls and as usual he performed with his usual excellent standard. Still partnered with Eddie, which was awkward considering what happened the day before, they still worked together like a well-oiled machine, but the easy comradery wasn’t there anymore. No more smiles or easy conversation as Buck would only speak when spoken to unless it was a victim at a scene, then he was his usual self. It hadn’t been for the lack of trying, as Hen and Chimney had taken it upon themselves to try including him whenever possible. Buck would usually give a one worded answer and take to staring out the window again.

By the 4^th call of the day, everyone was emotionally drained and to be honest, it was an eye opener just how Buck was treating them. It was as if they were simply coworkers, he wasn’t interested in them anymore but would put up with it simply for the sake of having too.

How many times had they themselves done the same to him?

“Ghosty!”

A familiar voice echoed across the bay. Buck turned from the rack holding his turnout gear, to see a familiar and very welcome face. Breaking out in a bright smile, he jogged over and almost tackled the man in a hug.

“Willie. Shit man.”

Captain Willie Sharp had been Buck’s wingman. They’d done countless missions together. Willie was the brains, able to change a plan at the drop of a hat and find a way where there didn’t look to be one, Buck was the doer, could make miracles happen behind the stick. It had been heartbreaking when Buck had gone to reserves while Willie stayed. Buck had stood with his wingman when he married his beautiful wife, Billie, had been there when his girls were born. Willie had rooted the loudest when Buck graduated from the academy, had a celebratory drink over skype when he finished his probie year. Willie even took a leave to stay with Buck during his healing.

Their relationship had been forged with trust and fire, blood and tears.

Ghost and Quartermaster or Q for short.

There were very few people that could understand just how close they were.

For long moments they laughed and hugged, talking over each other as they always had.

“Dude. It’s so good to see you.” Buck said brightly. “What are you even doing here? Is Billie ok?”

“Yeah. She’s fine and she sends her love.” Willie replied, “Actually, this isn’t a social call.”

Buck paused. He took a moment to take in his first best friend and realized 3 things. One, unless he had to, Willie never wore his unform, especially his dress uniform. Two, he was holding a nondescript manilla folder. And three, he had two fellow naval officers standing at attention behind him.

“Is there somewhere we can talk.” Willie asked calmly.

“Yeah.” Buck replied already moving towards the stairs.

“Buck?”

Right.

In the loft, the entire A shift stared over the banister with barely concealed curiosity. Bobby himself had made his way down the stairs and was striding over.

“Right. Captain Robert Nash, may I introduce Captain Willie Sharp, United States Navy. Willie, Captain Robert Nash, Station 118.”

A multitude of thoughts flew though the collection standing watching the entire display. And considering the gentlemen in full uniform following him, it became apparent how social this visit really was.

“I apologize for the interruption, Captain. Is there somewhere myself and Buckley can talk privately?” Sharp voice, husky but strong, echoed though the unusually silent bay.

“Sure. Uh. This way. Can I ask what this is about?” Bobby asked politely but extremely confused. It didn’t seem like Buck was in trouble, but something was ringing his alarm bells. With quick steps, he directed the pair to an empty office and stood, hands clasped behind his back.

“No, Sir. Ev.” Sharp said firmly before motioning and both walked inside. The two other uniformed men took stance outside the door, firmly giving the full impression that others were not welcome to the next conversation.

“What the hell is this?” Chimney asked shooting a glance to Eddie.

“Don’t look at me. I have no clue.” Eddie shook his head, shock still on his face.

His gut, however, said differently. Uniformed military never visited civilians unless for specific reasons and as far as he knew, Buck and Maddie didn’t have anyone enlisted that would warrant one of THOSE visits.

“Did he enlist?” Hen’s question made everyone turn and stare at her.

“What?” Bobby jogged up to the group alarm written on his face, “He couldn’t have… Did he?”

“He would have said something. I mean, its Buck, he wouldn’t have kept it to himself.” Chimney stated but there was an undercurrent of guilt in his voice.

“Have we really given him time to talk to any of us?” Eddie’s quiet question broke through the thoughts of everyone present, “When was the last time we even talked to him? Or included him?”

“But. He wouldn’t leave, would he?” Hen’s voice was full of fear. She loved Buck, he was the little brother she never had and the thought of him leaving hurt.

Chimney was already texting Maddie, asking if she knew anyone Buck would know and after being messaged with a negative, he shook his head.

“Maddie said Buck hasn’t mentioned anyone by his name to her. For someone who’s such an open book, he’s an extremely private person.”

The group stared at the closed door, all wishing they could be a fly on the wall in that room. Inside, however, the atmosphere was filled with astonishment and bewilderment.

“They want me to what?” Buck asked, shock in his tone.

Willie hadn’t minced words. The nature of the current situation they’d found themselves in made it urgent that he didn’t.

The International Space Station, or ISS was in a critical state. An undetected meteor shower days earlier had damaged the hull and compromised the entire ship. While repairs were underway and the crew were making good progress, they simply didn’t have the needed supplies to completely fix the issue. The primary orbital engine was nonresponsive and while the secondary was taking the necessary slack, the situation was dire.

“They want you to fly the space shuttle, Enterprise.” Willie stated calmly.

“But. Hold on. Wasn’t it decommissioned? Like in a museum, tourists, the whole nine yards?” Buck asked flailing a bit.

“Yeah. At this very moment it’s being moved to NASA Houston to begin retrofits. You know they never took the engine or rockets out of it, just disconnected them.” He replied.

“But why Enterprise? What about the Orion?”

The Orion, NASA’s latest answer to space exploration, could have been a better fit. With cutting edge technology and its brand-new computer and design, a nod back to the Apollo missions, it should have been a better option.

“It’s too small. The Space shuttle was chosen specifically because It can transport all the necessary payload not to mention if something does go wrong, the engines on the Enterprise can in theory pull the ISS back into orbit. Maybe.” Willie said, shrugging slightly.

“Let me go back to my original question. Why me?”

“Three reasons. First, your service record is damn near impeccable. You’ve got a mission success rate most aviators dream of. Second, you’re the only person in the Navy and Air Force that’s touched the shuttle simulator since the project was scrapped in 2011. You’ve got 4000 hours logged on the damn thing. Third, you’re one of the best, Ghost. That’s why.”

“I…” Buck sat back in his chair, completely overwhelmed. It had been a dream of his to fly the shuttle and even knowing he’d never be able to, flying the simulator gave him a since of accomplishment.

“The Enterprise is going through a massive overhaul. Computers, avionics, guidance, plating, hell even the engines are getting a massive reworking. As of this morning, NASA along with the best Japan and Canada has to offer will start combing the bird to make it safe as possible. We’re just missing a pilot.” Willie stated, leaning on his hands, “I’ve got a list on my desk a mile long of possible candidates and I scrapped the whole thing when I saw your name on the top of the list. I need you, Ev.”

Buck stared at the ceiling. Willie was a pilot, just like him. One of the best. But knowing what he knew of the man, Buck was aware of the reasons why he didn’t want to fly the bird. Commanding was his thing, his job. He couldn’t do that AND fly the bird at the same time. It was rare for the commanding officer not to fly point, but Willie Sharp marched to the beat of his own drum.

Willie gave ideas, Buck made magic.

“How dire we talking?”

“The ISS needs new plating on Node 2, along with brand new computer components due to the fire that broke out after the shower hit. And that’s not even touching on the Primary engine. Enterprise will be bringing all that plus 2 more hands to make the work quick. Right now, the ISS is moving along its current trajectory fine but if they stop it’s possible the ISS’s orbit may start decaying. We’re working against the clock here. And to be honest, 7 people just isn’t enough to complete the repairs.” Wille said leaning in his seat, “And I don’t want to even think of the ramifications if it falls out of orbit.”

At around 450 tons, the ISS could cause catastrophic damage should it enter orbit. While lighter parts would burn up upon reentry, the larger ones could cause massive casualties, not to even mention the lives of all 7 aboard at any given time. The thought of pieces of the space stations crashing into anywhere on the planet made Buck shudder.

Evan Buckley would never turn away from someone who needed help.

“When do we leave.”

Willie jerked, sitting straight in his chair. He studied his wingman closely. Buck staired directly in his eyes, his entire posture relaxed. His blue eyes calm.

“You say yes, we leave. Now.”

“Well. Get me in the air, Captain.” Buck said with a smile.

Willie nodded.

“Let’s fly, Lieutenant Commander.”

The eyes of the entire house were on Buck and Willie when they emerged from the office. By this point Maddie had managed to get off work early and hightail it over and watched as the pair along with their two silent shadows walk briskly across the bay. Buck was gesturing with his hands, talking quickly while the others nodded, making notes and giving affirmatives back.

“Grab your stuff. We have a flight waiting for us.” Willie said, nodding towards the locker room, “I’ll take care of the paperwork.”

With a nod, Buck shot off, making a mental list of the things he would need to grab, missing the stares of his coworkers above him.

“Is everything ok?” Bobby asked walking forward.

“Of course, Captain. I do need to give you this.” With that, Sharp handed Bobby another folder he was holding.

Bobby frowned slightly before opening it and staring down in his hands. The onlookers watched as color drained from his face.

“I don’t understand.” Bobby said shaking his head slightly.

“I don’t see why not. Evan is being called up.”

Eddie felt his heart hit his knees.

“Buck enlisted? Why would he…?” Bobby trailed off, shock on his face and in his tone.

“I think you misunderstood, Captain. Lieutenant Commander Buckley has been Navy Reserves for the last 2 years. While it is regrettable he will be unable to finish his contract in reserves, LC Buckley is invaluable to the Navy. I trust you have everything you need there to file the correct paperwork.” Willie said standing as impassive as ever.

You would never have caught the edge to his voice unless you were looking for it.

Ghost and Q never had secrets.

“Yes, but I’m going to need more than he just got called up.” Bobby said finding his voice, “how long will he be gone?”

“Until the Navy says he’s done. But from what I understand, you weren’t using him anyway. I doubt you’ll miss him.” Captain Sharp stated with a slight smirk. With a sharp nod, he turned away to see Buck jogging up work duffle in hand, “hand your keys to Ensign Miller, He’ll get your jeep to your apartment and inform your landlord of your impending deployment.”

“Yes, Sir.”

And with that, Buck handed his keys over, and walked out the bay.

He didn’t look back.

During the ride to the airport and the subsequent flight to NASA in Houston, Buck split his time between pouring over flight manuals, calculating trajectories, making notations in the margins of the current status of the Enterprise, brainstorming with Willie who he found out would be his copilot, drinking way more coffee than was healthy, and getting a slight vindictive amusement out of how many phone calls and messages he was getting.  

There was only one he answered.

Athena Grant-Nash had sent only one message.

‘You don’t answer this message, I’ll come find you.’

Buck had never called someone as fast.

Never tempt fate… especially with your mother.

‘Buck.’ Athena’s smooth voice promised trouble if he didn’t start explaining.

‘I can’t say too much, ‘Thena. But it’s big and they need my help. Can you trust me?’ He said, almost pleading with her.

‘Are you in trouble?’

‘No but other people will be if I don’t help.’

Athena paused for a moment. He could almost hear her waring with herself on whether or not to press the point.

‘Ok. You tell me when you can, you hear me?’

‘Yes, mama.’

That’s what she was to him. A mother. She’d been a constant from the day he got sent home from the hospital. Athena had taken it upon herself to take him to his doctors’ appointments, physical therapy and his scheduled mandated (by her) therapy appointments. She brought food, drinks, a listening ear, care, and most importantly motherly love to a lonely boy turned man. Athena, after finding out just how involved the rest of their little hodge podge family had been involved, didn’t mince words and wasn’t at all friendly about what she thought.

She’d hoped it would change. It didn’t.

The day she showed up to his lonely apartment the day the lawsuit had been filed and calmly asked him to explain, Buck had been certain she would cut him off just as easily as the others had. Showing her the paperwork from his doctors, the notes from his attorney and the documents from the arbitrator had her fuming at everyone at Station 118. Buck had to almost physically keep her from storming out the door and start screaming at everyone. Athena ranted for a solid hour furiously pacing his living room and threatening all and sundry.

Buck had done the smart thing.

He calmly sipped the juice she’d all but shoved in his hands and stayed silent.

And though it took a lot of convincing, Buck had managed to talk a promise from her to not go all mama bear on everyone. They needed time and he was willing to give them that. She promised to TRY.

Every week Athena would show up to his apartment, sometimes with Harry and May, and movies would be watched, wine would be drank, and Buck would get the motherly love he’d been looking for all his life.

Athena had been on the warpath and after shoving her metaphorical foot in everyone’s ass she’d been ready to make them all beg for his forgiveness. Being called up had changed everything. The frantic phone call she’d gotten from Bobby, who had no idea how much time she spent with Buck, asking if she’d spoken to him recently had her instincts tingling. There wasn’t much Buck wouldn’t tell her and since he didn’t mention enlistment to her before, she doubted he would just up and leave without any reason. Athena coolly informed her husband she would investigate it, hung up, sent one message, and waited.

Buck never disappointed her.

‘You never told me you were in the Navy, Buck.’ She said, slight confusion in her tone.

‘Navy Aviators. And that’s on me. I didn’t do that much when I was in.’ Buck said trying to downplay his role.

‘Whole lie. And you know it, Ghost.’ Willie very quickly reminded him his phone was on speaker.

‘Buck…’ That tone promised trouble.

‘My bad. Captain Willie Sharp, Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash, LAFD. Badass cop and mother of my heart.’

After a few pleasantries, Willie being fully aware of who and what Athena was to him, he’d softly said it was time to go.

‘Listen. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can. I’ll call as much as I can. I gotta go, mama.’ Buck said regretfully.

‘I know baby. You be safe. Call me when you get a chance.’ Athena’s voice was soft and full of concern.

That phone call was the last he picked up. The rest of the messages went unanswered. He simply didn’t have time to entertain anyone. As soon as the private military plane hit Houston, Buck was swept off for briefing and immediate training. Fortunately, his background with the navy became invaluable since it was not far from the very demanding tests he had to now be subjected to. With the retrofits for the Enterprise going at a frantic but extremely thorough pace, the first few days blended together. If he wasn’t in the simulator with Q working though almost every scenario the lab techs could think of, he was pouring over flight manuals and schematics for the Enterprise and comparing notes with scientists and engineers over what could be done to make the shuttle as safe as possible.

The specter of the Challenger and the Columbia hung over them all. It was the pride of every lab tech, every engineer, and every scientist to put their all into this last space shuttle mission. They simply could not fail. The Space Shuttle program put the ISS in space. It was fitting for that same program to save it.

On the fourth day, Buck staggered into his assignment exhausted. All he wanted to do at this moment was sleep. He and Willie had been put though every test, both mental and physical, the greatest minds at NASA could think of. Everyone involved knew just how much was riding on this. The largest concern was his leg. While the screws had been taken out, the metal rod was a permanent part of his body and the question of if it could withstand the g’s it would take to pull from earth atmosphere had been asked. Pre-rod, it was normal for him to pull almost 9 G’s being a fighter pilot and all. Fortunately, considering it would only be about 4 G’s and that Buck was the only one that could even fly the Enterprise, it had been decided it was within operational parameters and the mission could proceed.

There was one point of contention.

The flight crew had, up until that day, consisted of 4 people. Willie, himself, a wonderful 5’1 bundle of fire named Poojah Singh and her apparent partner in crime Leif Jacobson both engineers chosen for the expertise in avionics and engineering respectively.  

The current director of NASA, a portly, beady eyed man that reminded Buck uncomfortably of Vernon Dursley from Harry Potter named Richard Parker had made the decision to add an extra crewmember.

His son, Richard Parker Jr.

And what did Ensign Parker, a year and a half into the Navy program with big dreams of being an Aviator himself but already carrying the reputation of blowing off orders and blatantly attempting to use his father’s position as head of NASA to further his career with no work bring to the metaphorical table…

Not a damn thing.

Sharp argued hard against his inclusion. He had no expertise, barely out of basic, no flight training whatsoever, not even the technological know-how to contribute anything to this mission.

Sitting in the briefing room listening to what Poojah later described as the slimiest whale she’d ever had the displeasure of being introduced to, it was extremely telling why this 25-year-old was being essentially forced on them.

“So, Nepotism.”

Everyone turned and stared at Buck as he leaned in his chair. The smirk on Rich, as he haughty demanded they all called him, fell quickly off his face.

“Excuse me?” Director Parker said, his face turning an unattractive puce.

“You claim we need him on this mission. For what?”

“You see… I mean…” Parker began, stuttering.

“The way I see it, this is either some ill-timed publicity stunt, which if we fail or something goes wrong, you’re sentencing your son to death, or you’re trying to give him a leg up in the Navy and you think that dumping him on us even if something goes wrong is a great idea. Which is it?”

The entire room rang sat in complete and utter silence.

Director Parker was desperate. His son was a flea’s but hair from being kicked from the Navy due to disorderly conduct. He’d thought that the Navy would straighten out his lazy son and give him some purpose in his life. His wife moaned and cried about how her ‘baby’ was too soft and to send him somewhere else, but he stood firm and demanded his lay about son make something of himself.

It worked well for about 2 weeks.

Until the first call came in.

His commanding officer called it a courtesy call and he did manage to soothe his ruffled feathers, Director Parker told his son to stop acting a fool and apply himself. All that did was give Rich the impression he could get away with whatever he wanted by using the line most hard-working people absolutely hate:

‘Don’t you know who my father is?’

The platitudes were no longer working. Rich was on his last leg. One more stunt and he’d be dishonorably discharged. His base commander said very bluntly he didn’t give a rat’s ass who his father was one more toe out of line and it was curtains or so Rich had said when he called to complain and make his father make it better.

This mission couldn’t have come at a better time. His son would come back a national hero. Even if all he did was pick up heavy plating, just being there would write his ticket anywhere he wanted to go.

Director Parker didn’t expect the cold eyes glaring at him from across a table.

“I can have you replaced.” He blustered.

“With who?” Buck asked condescendingly as possible.

“Captain Sharp, you can…”

“No, Sir. I do not have the correct training to fly the bird.” Willie’s voice was dry as the desert, offering no help whatsoever.

Willie and Buck stared at each other for a long moment, a silent argument ensuing before Buck nodded.

“PARKER! Front and Center.” Buck barked out with authority.

Rich’s spine snapped to attention.

Silence.

“This is Captain Willie Sharp, PIC of this mission overall and my copilot. To his left is Poojah Sing, avionics and Leif Jacobson, engineering,” Buck said, his voice devoid of any of the usual friendliness it normally had.

Another long pause.

“I am Lieutenant Commander Evan Buckley, PIC of the Enterprise and second in command. And you…”

“Uh. I’m Ensign…” Rich began his confidence coming back with his apparent win but was cut off.

“are Dead Weight.”

Everyone in the room turned and stared at Buck in astonishment. He’d been a bright friendly face amid almost insurmountable odds. This wasn’t what anyone was expecting.

Buck stood and folded his arms across his chest, the look on his face unforgiving. Willie smirked and folded his hands in his lap.

“You are dead weight. You have no function. You are no help on this mission. You have no say. You have no rank, no command, no anything. You are here because your daddy is willing to risk your life to make you look good. Do you understand.”

The anger on Rick’s face was laughable. He looked like a child being denied a toy. It was laughable on a grown man.

“I require an answer, Ensign.”

“Yeah”

Sharp and Buck’s eyebrows rose to almost their hairlines.

“Y…yes, sir.” Rick looked at the floor, his fist bawling behind his back.

“For the entirety of this mission, you will say nothing. You will do nothing without the express permission of Captain Sharp, myself or anyone above you in rank, which is everyone.” Buck stated, the smooth baritone of his voice full of command.

“You can’t do that!” Rich shouted his anger overcoming his good sense.

“Say’s who?” Buck raised an eyebrow.

“I… but... Dad.” Rich turned around, all but pleading with his dad to do something.

“He can’t help you. I’m pretty sure Director Parker knows how many regs he’s breaking doing this little stunt. Something goes wrong and it’s on his head. You wanna keep your dad at his job, you had best stow the attitude. It may not have occurred to you, but we can easily go past him and have you recalled to the Navy.” Sharp said with a grin in his voice.

“No, you can’t, or you’d have done it.” Rich said sounding as petulant a child.

“Newsflash, Junior. I can. I can have you shipped back so fast your head would fall off.” Sharp replied, “and for insubordination I can have you kicked from the Navy all together. So, watch it.”

“In the meantime,” Buck picked up a massive binder and slid it across the table, “since you have no idea what we’re even doing right now it is up to you to learn. Read it. Memorize it. There will be a quiz later.”

“There’s no need for us…” Director Parker rallied somewhat but was once again cut off.

“Let’s not mince words,” Sharp said standing next to his second, “This mission and its crew has been greenlit by the Navy, joint chiefs, and both the President and Vice President. You think we didn’t notice Assistant Director Kumi is absent? You know as well as I do, she’d not only say no but have you scuttled out of here so fast your face would burn. You need us to say yes before you present it to them. You wanna play fast in loose with your son’s life, fine. But I will not put the rest of us in jeopardy over some overinflated ego. The only reason we’re even entertaining any of this is because we simply don’t have the time to argue over it. Make no mistake. If your son causes anything, it won’t be just him suffering the consequences.”

And that right there was why Sharp was in charge. He didn’t mind not pulling punches when it mattered.

The meeting had quickly ended with Director Parker all but running from the room slightly thinking he’d won. Buck picked up the binder and placed it in Rich’s hands, patted him on the back and said with a bright smile:

“Start reading.”

Rich stood looking lost as the door closed behind him.

The rest of the afternoon was consumed with meetings, training, more flight simulator time and keeping an eye on Rich who’d taken up a chair during the tests reading at an almost frantic pace. Other than a few barked orders to keep him on task, he’d been the quietest.

Now all Buck wanted to do was sleep.

With a soft groan, Buck fell in his bunk ready to sleep at least a few hours before doing it all again when his phone rang. Half asleep and flailing he managed to grab his phone and answer, placing it clumsily to his ear.

“Buckley”

“Buck?”

Buck jerked awake at a voice full of tears and heavy breaths.

“Eds?”

“Buck... I... I can’t… I can’t breathe…. Buck.” Eddie’s voice shook, tears painting his face from 1500 miles away. He sat huddled in his bathroom, his son sleeping blissfully unaware down the hall. Eddie wasn’t even sure what triggered him, but there he sat shaking before he dialed the number he felt almost certain would never pick up.

“Eddie,” Buck sat up fully awake, “Breathe with me. Come on, Breathe.”

“I can’t…. I can’t.”

“You can. Breathe with me, baby. Come on. Breathe with me. Just breathe with me.”

Strangled sobs filled his ear. The next few moments were filled with Buck’s whispered encouragement while Eddie struggled to get himself back under control.

“I’m scared.” Eddie whispered.

“Of what. Tell me. What’s wrong?” Buck asked back softly.

“You’re gone. You’re gone and I can’t be there with you. I can’t watch your back. The man I love is god knows where doing god knows what and I can’t be with you. I’m scared. I’m so scared you won’t come back. I’m an ass and I’m sorry but you gotta come back. I gotta make it up to you. I gotta make this right. But please,” Eddie sobbed into the phone as if it was a lifeline.  

“Please come back. I’m so scared.”

“Eddie. Baby. I’m ok. We’re gonna be ok.” Buck curled around his phone tears burning in his eyes to fall down his cheeks.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Buck… Evan. I’m so sorry. I left you alone and I swore I’d never do that. I took Chris from you. I’m so sorry. Lo siento mucho, mi amor/ I’m so sorry, my love.” Eddie sobbed.

It was as if the floodgates opened. The two men sat sobbing; rambling all their fears and frustrations, shames and denials, angers and rages, hopes and dreams…

The encompassing love they had for the other.

As night fell, Eddie and Buck talked over everything. The ladder truck, the embolism, Shannon’s return and death, the tsunami, the lawsuit, everything. Old wounds were cut open and flushed of the poison that had so long infected their friendship.

That ‘something’ between them was laid bare. The absolute love the two had been looking for in all the wrong places had been in front of them the entire time. It had been Eddie that came up with couples therapy and individual for himself.

‘I need to be good for you, Evan. I don’t want you to think you have to forgive me cause I love you. I do. But I need to be in a good headspace for you. For us. I want us to work. I got issues a mile long with relationships. I want this to be forever, querido.’

In short order, he’d scheduled himself to finally see Frank. It had taken tears and whispers of how proud Buck was of him, but he’d done it.

The two almost lovers fell asleep together, one at home in his bed the other in a bunk with promises of forever on their lips.

Buck had smiled for like the thousandth time at his phone.

It had been a tough 3 weeks.

The Enterprise was going through the final checks. NASA and teams at both JPL and space programs around the world had delivered the best aircraft they could. It was a beautiful mix of old and new technology and as safe as they could make it.

Being run ragged had become almost normal for Buck’s day to day. Between flight simulators, familiarizing himself with the state-of-the-art tech abord the Enterprise, health and fitness checks, mountains of paperwork, and helping wherever his CO needed he still managed time to attend therapy with Eddie via skype.

He did miss his uninterrupted lunch breaks but the things he would sacrifice for love.

The two talked everyday repairing the tear in their relationship. They’d became open in a way they never had been before. They were committed to making this work between them. Eddie would immediately stop Buck when he began putting himself down while Buck would throw his strength behind Eddie when he felt like he wasn’t enough.

Christopher, however, was thrilled over the new dynamic between his two favorite people.  

The joy on the young boy’s face when he saw Buck via Facetime waving had him had him floating for the rest of the day. It had upset Chris that Buck couldn’t come over right away, but he was slightly mollified when he learned he’d get something cool in the mail.

“But where are you? Can’t we come visit?” Chris whined into his not burned slightly brown pancakes.

“I can’t tell you.” Buck said smiling into his coffee.

“But why?”

“Chris. Do you know what classified means?” Eddie asked with a soft smile on his face, “It means he can’t tell anyone what he’s up to. I don’t even know.”

“But. I can safely say you’ll find out soon enough. Your dad may kill me which means you gotta protect me.” Buck said attempting to make light of a serious situation.

It had almost been easy to forget why he was NASA. The ebb and flow of his days would go with military precision. Get up and dressed, have breakfast, PT, flight simulator, meetings, more flight simulator, lunch/call with Eddie or therapy with Eddie, testing Rich on his knowledge of the mission, learning everything he could from Poojah and Leif so he could help as needed, dinner, video call with Eddie carefully hiding anything that could give where he was and what he was doing away, sleep.

Rinse. Repeat.

This day, however, was a departure from the rest.

“Final checks are being completed on the Enterprise as we speak. Barring any complications, we are set to launch in 7 days.”

Buck found himself in the main conference room at NASA standing with his fight crew while their Flight Director gave them the details they were all anticipating and dreading with equal measure.

“This mission will be a grand total of 14 days. You’ll intercept the ISS 14 hours after launch over the Atlantic Ocean. After docking you’ll assist in the repairs. Captain Sharp along with Singh and Jacobson will be mainly aboard the ISS assisting with repairs.  Lieutenant Buckley will stay aboard the Enterprise monitoring its orbit and making sure Yall don’t, you know, fall outta the sky while you work,” Harry Truman, flight director of the entire mission stated.

Buck just breathed. Sharp stood beside him, nodding solemnly.

“What will I be doing?”

The entire room, packed with the entire flight crew, flight director and the entirety of mission control turned and looked at the current problem child, one Ensign Rich Parker.

“I’d imagine whatever Captain Sharp tells you too. Be ready to work, kid.” Truman said rolling his eyes.

The flight crew weren’t the only ones perturbed by his presence.

“Now,” Truman turned to the computer display behind him, “After the repairs on Node 2 and computer systems are completed, your focus will be on the primary engine. Here’s where it gets tricky. The secondary engine will have to be shut off to fire up the primary. In that time the Enterprise will be externally docked to correct its orbit should there be a need. Provided all goes well, you’ll return to Cape Canaveral 20 hours after.”

Silence reigned in the room. Truman turned to the room and stared at the young men that were willing to put it all on the line.

“I’m not going to tell you just how dangerous this will be. We all know what has happened and what can happen, so I won’t go into all that. Yall are some of the best and brightest NASA and the Navy has to offer. We gonna make this space program proud.”

Hope and anticipation filled the room.

“This story will break to the news in 3 days. I can’t tell you how hard it was to keep all this secret, especially moving something as big as a space shuttle from New York to Houston. There’s been some speculation but nothing we couldn’t keep quiet,” Truman stated, “Flight Crew, I’m giving permission for you guys to get your family’s here to spend some time with before and to witness the launch. We’ll tell them before the news does. I’ll have flights and accommodations ready to receive them. Let’s get to it.”

Buck stood watching everyone file out a contemplative expression on his face. It’d never occurred to him to call someone to see this. He knew all he had to do was say the word and Eddie would be on the way with Christopher in tow, but he knew with school and work it just wasn’t possible. Athena wouldn’t be able to make it and considering he wasn’t speaking to anyone at the 118 and his parents were a definite no, there was really no one.

“Who you gonna call, Ghost?”

Willie’s question jerked him back to the present.

“There’s really nobody. Everyone has work and school. I wouldn’t feel right if I called them away for that. I guess I’ll be on my own.” Buck said before walking out of the room a sad slump to his shoulders.

Sharp stood for a moment before shaking his head. It was unfortunately nothing new. Missions where Buck would stand apart from his teammates watching them and their families with a wistful expression while always deflecting where his was.

Self-Sacrificial Bastard.

He pursed his lips before digging out a phone number he’d stolen from Buck’s phone when he wasn’t looking and made a call.

This is Sergeant Grant

Sergeant Grant, this is Captain Sharp. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.

Captain Sharp. Is there something wrong with my boy?

Apologies ma’am. He’s fine. I’m calling about another matter.

Get to the point, Captain.

He’s your boy, right. Your son.

Damn right he is.

Good. He needs you. Can you take some time off work?

Where and when, Captain.

Excellent.

Athena hung up the call with Captain Sharp an exasperated but saddened look on her face. If Buck thought she’d leave him alone to deal with whatever was happening by himself, he needed his head examined. With sure movements, she called in and took an immediate leave from work and sped to the one place he’d always called home.

Station 118.

It was her luck A Shift were there. It had been a slow day with almost no calls. She wasted no time running up the stairs and to the person she needed to see.

“Athena?” Eddie looked confused, “Is everything ok?”

“You love Buck. He told me you did.” She said, her gaze feeling as if it pierced his soul.

“Absolutely.” His answer was resolute.

“Good. He needs us. Can you take off work.”

“Hold on. What’s this about. Is Buck ok?” Bobby asked hurrying forward.

“For the moment, yes. But he needs his family. And that’s all of us even though you fools haven’t been acting like it. So. Are you his family.” She asked with steel in her tone.

“Say the word. What do you need?” Bobby didn’t even need to pause. He’d failed Buck. He wouldn’t again.

Athena smiled.

“We gotta go. Right now.”

Bobby immediately grabbed his phone calling head office to get time for them all off. Eddie went running to the locker room to grab his stuff while Hen and Chimney began grabbing whatever food stuffs they could to find to support them.

They would not fail him again.

It had taken bribery and bullying, but Sharp had managed to get Buck to wait with him for Billie and his girls to arrive a day later. He along with the entire flight crew stood outside an unusually blank building waiting for their families along with Truman, his assistant Amira Clark and Director Parker himself.

Willie had seen the look. The need to lick his wounds in private.

Not this time.

“Look. I love your girls, you know that, but I do have paperwork and simulator training to do.” Buck said, an exasperated look on his face, “Not to mention its hot. Why are we standing outside?”

Even dressed in their usual blue t-shirt with Navy emblazoned on the front and blue cargo pants, 85 degrees at 9 AM in Houston, Texas would be a bit much for anyone.

“Look. It’s bad enough we’re at this random nondescript building on NASA property and I know they’ll be uncomfortable. Seeing you will help settle their nerves. Work with me here.” Willie cajoled while cackling internally.

Buck rolled his eyes behind his true to form aviators and moved closer to the shade and farther to the back of the group. He knew protocol. You got to see your families and pretended everything was ok for a time, just another day at the office. You would play with your kids, show them the sights, play in the simulator and attempt to give them the best experience you could possibly give. You would dance with your partner and talk about the stars.

And completely ignore the horrifying truth.

You may not come back.

Willie needed this. Billie needed this.

And Buck would suck it up until he could cry in the privacy of his bunk before shoving everything down and call Eddie and pray the older man wouldn’t kill him when this mission hit the news. He would swallow the rage he knew the other man would throw at him for keeping secrets even for something out of his control. He’d accept it. He would put on a brave face and smile at Christopher from a thousand miles away and promise him a cool souvenir from space. He’d swallow the sheer panic of watching the love of his life fall apart from so far away and be unable to offer any comfort whatsoever.

Buck would then pray he wouldn’t lose Eddie too.

So distracted by his thoughts, he’d missed the bus that had in front of the building and had begun unloading passengers.

“BUCKY!”

Buck startled at the voice and began frantically looking around.

“Chris?”

Buck only had time to turn around before being almost knocked off his feet by an excited 8-year-old. Without a moment’s hesitation he fell to his knees and hugged the boy tightly to his chest tears burning in his eyes.

“Chris. How?” He asked, pulling back and cradling his smallest best friends face in his hands, his crutches laying forgotten on the ground, “Oh god please tell me you didn’t Uber here.”

“No. You needed us. I don’t have school for the rest of the week. And we get to spend it with you. Are we at NASA? I saw a rocket!” Chris said enthusiastically while tightly holding on to his second favorite person.

“Back up. Us?” Buck tilted his head in confusion.

“Yep. See.” With that, Chris turned and pointed.

Eddie stood in a grey Henley and jeans with a soft smile on his face.

“Buenos dias, mi amor/ Good morning, my love” He said softly with a smile.

Buck stood with Chris clinging to his hand in complete shock.

“I don’t understand. How?”

“Athena got a call.” Eddie said moving to his side, their fingers entwining absently.

“A call? From who?” He asked staring into the brown eyes he had loved for so long.

“From your captain, and if you think you’re not in trouble for the little stunt you tried pulling, you’ve got another thing coming.” A familiar voice stated.

Buck blinked back tears as Athena Grant-Nash strode up to him and began looking him over apparently satisfying the need to make sure he was unharmed.

“But.. I mean…” He stuttered looking for something to say.

“I would take more than work to keep us away. It took a little work, and we don’t have any vacation days anymore, but we all came running.” She said brushing her hands over his face.

Tears began trailing down Buck’s face.

Because over his mother’s shoulder stood the only man he’d ever considered a father.

Bobby Nash.

He stood, unmoving, unsure of his welcome. It didn’t take a wise man to figure out whatever was happening was big. Running out of the Station, his heart had been in his throat the entire time. With a stop at Eddie’s that was long enough for him to pack for himself and Christopher, picking the young boy from school and racing to the airport where 4 tickets were waiting for them, Bobby’s nerves were shot. Every worst-case scenario filled is brain despite the almost constant reassurances from the others that Buck was ok.

Now with Buck standing in eyeshot, Bobby greedily took his form in.

He was healthy. He was safe.

His son was safe.

There was only one thing he could do.

With 3 jogging steps, Bobby snatched Buck into a tight hug.

And Buck broke. Quietly sobbing, Buck grasped Bobby and for a long moment they stood, all 5 of them holding him close.

Buck had imagined this moment, having a family to see before he risked it all, but it paled to reality. Bobby smiling proudly at him while Athena patted his shaking shoulders. Eddie holding his hand with tears in his eyes and Chris smiling brightly at the sight.

“Thank God you’re alright, kid.” Bobby whispered into his ear moving away to study his face, “You had me worried.”

“I’m ok. I’m just really happy to see all of you.” Buck said sniffling and frantically wiping the tears, “but how did you get here.”

“Well since you didn’t call anybody, I did.” Willie stated walking up to the group, “Gonna introduce me?”

Buck laughed. There really wasn’t anything else he could do.

“You ass.”

“Bucky. You said a bad word. That’s a dollar for the swear jar.”

“I’m not at home. You can’t do that.”

“Yes he can. Pay the jar, baby.”

“Et tu, Eds.”

“Evan.”

“Yes. Mom.”

“So?” Willie looked expectantly at his wingman, a smug smirk gracing his face.

Buck smiled brightly.

“This is my family.”

Sitting though the announcement, the kids being sent to a more kid friendly location, Buck just watched them. He sat knowing all this information by heart and watched the emotion cycle on their faces, fear, astonishment, pride. He felt the reassuring weight of Bobby’s hands on his shoulders, Athena and Eddie each tightly holding on as if letting go would cause him to fly away.

That pure feeling of love.

“I understand this is a shock. I want to reassure all of you that every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the crew.” Truman said, after breaking down the entire mission, “Now I need to remind all of you that you cannot tell ANYONE about this. They news and media will be informed by tomorrow afternoon. It’s one on the main reasons why we had you all sign NDA’s.”

“But when can we? I want to tell everyone about my baby” Patricia Parker said in a demanding voice, all but plastered to her son.

Athena’s eyes cut to Eddies, the two already passing judgement. Bobby and Buck shared a stare.

It was best to keep those 3 away from each other.

“As soon as news outlets begin reporting, we’ll give the green light on when you can share the news. But there are stipulations on WHAT you can share. No pictures, no videos, nothing that can be considered classified and considering what we’ve been up to for the last month and a half, that’s all of this.” Turman was having none of it.

“I’m sure we can…” Director Parker, silent up until this point, said.

“No.” Truman replied cutting him off a steely glare on his face, “And you are aware of why.”

“Are you going to let him speak to you like that? Don’t you know who my husband is?” Patricia said, turning red with anger.

Buck finally got where Rich got his attitude from.

“He has no choice and I’d appreciate it if you shut it. You leak anything out this facility and I’ll have you arrested.”

“But… For what?” She shrieked.

“Treason. Leaking state secrets. Sharing classified information to nonapproved parties. There’s a whole list in front of you.” Turman replied with a chuckle, “As it is, your husband is already on thin ice.”

Patricia halted her tirade, her face becoming pale. Then she noticed the entire room’s eyes were on her. With a flush of shame on her face she dropped her eyes to the table, finally silent.

Athena nudged Buck who discretely pointed to her son, her husband and made rude gesture in his hand.

“Ah. Nepotism.” Bobby said fairly loudly from where he was propped behind Buck.

“Yep.” Buck replied with a shake of his head.

Director Parker, Patricia and Rich all looked furious but could hardly refute the claim.

“Anyway. Captain Sharp and his crew still have training to do for the next 2 days after that they’ll have 48 Hours leave to spend with you before launch. We have accommodations rented for your use as well as activities to keep you occupied until your family members can spend time with you. I hope you enjoy your time here at NASA Houston.”

Buck herded his family out the door after snatching his keys to their new home for the next 5 days. There was a glint in Athena’s eye when she looked at the Parkers’ he didn’t like, and he honestly didn’t want to be there if/when it exploded.

In short order Chris was collected with Katie Sharp, Willie’s oldest daughter who followed his sprouting of random facts while popping out her own, and Maggie, who immediately grabbed Eddie and after confirming he was in fact Chris’s dad began asking endless questions about firefighting. She was then directed to Bobby and asked a simple question.

“Are you Unca Buck’s daddy? You a fire Captain, right?”

Bobby stuttered for a moment unsure what to say.

“He sure is, baby.” Buck said, hugging her to him with a smile, “And he’s super good at his job so ask him whatever you need to know.”

Little Maggie, with stars in her eyes, immediately snatched his hand and began bombarding Bobby with questions.

“Yay. Everybody’s getting along.” Willie stated, strolling up with Billie on his arm.

“I’ll get you back for this, mark my words.” Buck said with a severe side-eye.

“I’m gonna talk to ya mom,” Billie said, her Louisiana southern drawl caressing her words, “I know you ain’t tell me everything you’ve been up to.”

And with that she strolled away and immediately introduced herself to Athena.

“Welp. You’re gonna die.” Willie stated.

“Shit. Help me out here.”

“Nope. Not with that.”

“Babe. Please.” Buck turned to Eddie.

“I got your back…. On everything but that.” He said, a forced smile on his face.

Buck studied the older man for a long moment.

“Later, carino.” He said softly, his hand tightening around his fingers.

Later didn’t come until after dinner. Chris had passed out after all the excitement of the day. Bobby and Athena too decided to catch up on sleep even though the wistful expression on Bobby’s face said he wanted to do anything but that. Eddie had disappeared to tuck Chris in and hadn’t returned. Buck found himself sitting on their borrowed back porch staring at the sky, his thoughts flying at a million miles.  

“It has to be you, huh?” Eddie said.

“Yeah. It has to be me.” Buck replied with a sigh.

Buck turned and watched Eddie for a long moment. The older man stood leaning on the door frame, a soft but sad smile on his face.

“I don’t suppose I could beg you not to. Not to go. Stay here with me and Chris safely on the ground.” Eddie crossed the porch to sit at Buck’s side. It was natural to lean against each other, fingers intertwining.

“No. Gotta be me. Somebody else may get it wrong.”

Eddie closed his eyes. He was terrified. He remembered Columbia. As a child he had watched it explode taking the lives of all 7 on board. He wanted to rant, rave, and demand Buck stay with him. He wanted to cry, to scream, to do anything to keep his love at his side. He also knew Buck didn’t need that right now.

“Do your damndest to come back. You hear me.”

“You damn right baby. I’ll fly this mission. And I’ll bring you something cool from the gift shop.”

Eddie burst out laughing.

As they began bickering over whether or not the ISS did indeed have a gift shop, the two never let go of each other.

The following morning was Buck’s least favorite to date.

Per usual, his alarm sounded at 4 AM. Normally he would get up, get dressed, eat a quick breakfast and be ready for PT with the flight crew.

Being pinned to the bed by a sleeping, ruffled, drooling, SHIRTLESS Eddie Diaz was not a part of his usual morning routine. Eddie, who had crawled in his bed after 10 minutes of tossing in his own, for his part had decided sometime in the night Buck was his favorite pillow.

He was warm. He was comfortable. He had Eddie in his bed.

Buck had no interest in leaving.

But needs must.

With a defeated sigh, Buck slid silently from bed and went through his morning routine. And if there was a mighty pout on his face the entire time no one would know but him.

Base housing was only a couple blocks from the main building so with his backpack strapped on he started off with a steady clip, completely unaware of the set of eyes following him.

There would always be a measure of awe at working rocket ships. The wonder at how humans could make something so large and powerful enough to punch though the Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. Being given the privilege to see the inner workings of such a technological marvel was astounding.

While Christopher was sufficiently awed with all the excitement around him and his new best girl friend Katie, who had taken to happily following him around with a backpack full of snacks, juice and a binder with blueprints to the Enterprise every adult was pretty sure she wasn’t supposed to have, Eddie was having a hard time watching Buck essentially work himself into the ground.

If he wasn’t in meetings, he would be in the simulator. If he wasn’t in the simulator, he would be in be in last minute training. If he wasn’t training, he was barking orders at Rich who Eddie had quickly found was as about as useless as tits on a boar. Somewhere in the middle of all that Buck would still manage to find the time to have a quick bite to eat with them in the cafeteria grinning and comparing notes with Chris and Katie who was on a crusade to see the Enterprise in person.

With a quick kiss and a grin to Athena and Bobby Buck would disappear into the bowels of NASA only to return at dinner time and pass out on the couch until Eddie would gently coax him into bed.

The mission breaking to the news made the entire situation even more stressful. Media was practically camping outside NASA grounds and pictures of the entire flight crew were being circulated all over the world. The private lives of the flight crew were being blasted all over the world with reporters calling almost everyone that had ever known them looking for a story.

Eddie did ask (demand) for a copy of Buck in his flight suit. It did something for him. Pride. Whatever.

‘Space suit. Really?

‘Shut it, Evan.’

Buck had looked horrified at his phone when calls from news outlets all across the world began literally banging on his door looking for an interview.

“You know. LAFD employees are prohibited from speaking to the press unless given direct consent from HR and the press department.” Bobby stated after listening to Buck absolutely lose his shit at a reporter that had called 20 times.

“I need to talk to Q.” Buck replied before bolting out the door.

One quick call to Chief Alonzo and a press release from the LAFD threatening legal action to anyone who harassed Buck, or anyone employed at the LAFD went a long way to getting the mob off his back. The Navy quickly followed along with JPL and Caltech.

Buck did agree to the LAFD Press department giving a full permission to post about him as they saw fit as thanks.

It was also the only one he did.

The cat being literally thrown out the bag gave for new problems. Mainly everyone now knew what he was up to. Buck expected phone calls.

He got them.

Hen was the first.

She practically quizzed him on all his medical knowledge while Karen frantically called every colleague she could think of trying to get any information on the project. Hen was practically in tears terrified something would happen or he would get hurt. She repeatedly apologized and begged him to just come home safe.

‘I’ll be fine. You and me, Hen. We’re fine. I promise.’

Chimney called freaking out on what he could tell people.

“I mean I know you and I… people have been asking and man …I just don’t know.” He said all but pacing his apartment.

“Chim. Calm down. Tell them whatever. I don’t care.”

“I do. I’m calm. Man, you gotta come back. I’m freaking out over here.”

Buck had laughed and promised to do so.

Maddie was a different story all together.

When Buck first accepted her call all she could do was screech and yell demanding why he hadn’t told her until he huffed and hung up.

Bobby snorted, looked from his collection of safety regulations and watched as Buck paced the living room huffing like a wild animal.  

“Don’t throw your phone, baby. iPhones are expensive.” Athena absently said reading over the mission parameters for the hundredth time.

Eddie had finally had enough and sent probably the most scathing text message he’d ever written.

‘I don’t know who you think you are but let me help you. You aren’t Buck’s mother. You’re his sister. He’s got so much stress on him right now and instead of supporting him, you’re making it worse. What kind of person are you? This isn’t about you. The lawsuit wasn’t about you. Hell, the ladder truck wasn’t about you. Yeah we all screwed up but at least the rest of us are trying to make it right. Fucking quit. He doesn’t need this right now and I swear if you send one more bullshit message that upsets him again I’ll block you on his phone and he can be the one to talk to you if he decides to.

Saca la cabeza del culo, no es un sombrero!/ Get your head out your ass, it isn’t a hat.’

She didn’t call again.

Buck sat completely exhausted at his borrowed kitchen island staring into his tea his mom all but forced down his throat. It had only been a few hours, but it had felt like a lifetime. The entire fight crew were exhausted, and it didn’t help that good ole Director Parker was relishing in all the positive press.

A few side eyes had been shared at that.

Hyping his no-account son no doubt.

“You ok, kid?”

Buck smiled slightly. Bobby always knew if something was wrong.

“Yeah. Just tired. Sleep is in short supply lately.” He said with a huff, “When all this is over I just wanna sleep for a week.”

“Yeah.” Bobby said before settling down with another cup, “I… You know when I rehearsed this conversation in my head I had a whole paragraph. Right now, I got nothing.”

Buck chuckled softly and for a long moment a comfortable silence fell.

“You’re my dad. You know.”

Bobby turned and stared into blue eyes that were in all intents and purposes his own.

“In a weird way I get it. You wanted to protect me. I get that. I’d do anything to protect Chris. If someone asked me to die in his place I’d lay down and do it. I get it.”

“But I was wrong.” Bobby said, his tone resolute, “I was so wrapped up in my own fears I didn’t even consider yours. And what’s worse is I took out all my insecurities on you. You fought for what you knew was right and I just… threw it in your face.”

Bobby shook his head and stared at his cup.

“We both made mistakes…” Buck began but Bobby firmly cut him off.

“NO. I made mistakes. When you needed me the most I practically ghosted you. And instead of admitting I was wrong, I lashed out. I made life hell for you just because I wasn’t ready to face the fact I was wrong. And I am so sorry.”

Bobby felt tears burning in his eyes. He’d felt guilty, so guilty, about his treatment of Buck. The ladder truck bombing had guilt weighing on his heart. Bobby felt he’d failed another child, his child. Out of the pure desire to keep Buck safe he’d lied, and it completely backfired. Watching Buck walk out of the station that day felt like a dagger to the chest.

Now his son was putting his life on the line and Bobby wouldn’t be there to keep an eye on him. Bobby had trained for just about every scenario as a fire captain, but space wasn’t included in that training.

Bobby would have to watch Buck fly pass the sky and touch the stars.

And he would have to wait on the ground and pray.

Bobby didn’t realize he was crying until a sob broke from his throat. Strong arms wrapped around him and all he could do was hold on. The two men rocked together both finally allowing the hurt and anger to flow away just like the tears from their eyes.

“We’re gonna be ok, Pops. I promise.”

It would take time for their relationship to heal.

But it was a start. That was all it needed.

It had been a wonderful 48 hours with his family.

Bobby had commandeered the kitchen, cooking and grilling a storm and issued invites to the entire flight crew and their families. It had been a wonderful bonding moment. Poojah, her husband and 3 children along with Leif, his husband and their dog Armie all showed up with laughter and smiles.

Even Rich and his parents made an appearance. Patricia and Richard Sr. had been on their best behavior.

According to the NASA rumor mill it had been picked up pretty quickly by the media that Ensign Parker offered nothing to the mission.

It didn’t help that Patricia immediately started making fabricated statements to the press about her son. Athena had laughed herself silly at the ‘all-inclusive interview’ Patricia had given all but making her son out to be the brains behind the entire mission. And as a pack of wolves with prey the media dug up everything they could find about 25-year-old.

It wasn’t pretty.

The Vice President himself all but swan dove down Director Parker’s throat and firmly stated if his son caused ANYTHING it would be his head.

Buck had done himself a favor and didn’t turn the tv on. There was no telling what people were saying and to be honest, he just didn’t want to know.

Eddie got a kick out of it. He and Chris would spend hours scrolling the internet finding articles about him and ask random questions about everything from his service to what he ate for lunch.

“My Buck is a real live astronaut. Nothing is going to top this!” Chris had exclaimed when he realized just what buck would be doing, “Wait. I can bring you for career day, right?”

“Hey. What about me, Mijo? I go to your career day. Big strong firefighter. I’m cool, remember.” Eddie played offended while Bobby and Athena sat in stitches.

“But dad. Buck is an astronaut. He’s going to space! Nobody’s gonna top my career day. Ever!”

Buck had even gotten to sneak everyone to see the Enterprise up close. With smiles, engineers purposefully pretended not to notice the family of 5 walking around while Buck regaled them with specifications and answered Chris’s never-ending questions.

At lunch time the following day, Buck’s phone chimed. It had been a wonderful lunch filled with laughter and smiles. Buck had been chuckling at Bobby’s retelling of a call but went shock still after glancing at his phone. The room immediately went silent.

The message had come.

‘T-Minus 20 Hours 49 Minutes to launch. Return to base 0400 hours.’

Buck froze.

“What’s wrong, carino?” Eddie asked, concern lasing his tone.

Buck simply handed his phone over and watched the play of emotions fly across his partner’s face. Athena looked over Eddie’s shoulder and immediately grabbed Bobby’s hand.

It had been so easy to forget. Pretend it was just a family vacation where Chris could see the rockets and Athena and Bobby could have some sort of honeymoon they had been denied while Buck and Eddie stared lovingly into each other’s eyes and talked of forever.

Reality can be a cruel mistress.

Buck simply sat on the couch for the rest of the day surrounded by his loved ones. He cuddled Chris while Athena fussed over him, Bobby cooking way more food than 5 people could eat. Eddie just sat close a smile painted on his face laughing as his son tried to explain how cool it would be if Buck saw aliens and how they are supposed to be nice.

It was the closeness of his family that calmed his nerves. Bobby’s reassuring hands on his shoulders. Athena’s random hugs. Eddie kissing him breathless when they caught a moment alone. Curling around Chris and Eddie at bedtime and praying to whoever or whatever was listening that he’d come back to this.

Time had officially ran out.

With the effectiveness of years in service in both the military and being a firefighter, Buck quickly got dressed and walked quietly to the kitchen unwilling to interrupt anyone else’s rest.

“Buck?” Athena’s voice softly rang out though the kitchen causing him to jump.

Buck turned to see everyone, including Chris, waiting for him. Bobby handed him a cup of coffee and smiled softly. Eddie stood behind the island pushing a plate piled high with his favorite breakfast foods towards him.

“What are you guys doing? Launch isn’t for another 7 hours. You should be sleeping.” He said astonished.

“There’s no way in hell we would send you off alone this morning.” Bobby said, Captain Nash in full force but there was hidden terror in his eyes.

“Yeah. And. We can see the Enterprise. They moved it to the launch pad yesterday.” Chris said, sleepily but no less enthusiastically.

“We’ve already got permission from Truman to come with. We can’t be with you the entire time, but we’ll be able to see you before you board.” Athena said, running her hands over his shoulders seemingly straightening his unform.

It took everything in him not to break down.

“Ok.” Buck whispered softly.

Eddie said nothing but laid his head on Buck’s shoulder as he ate seeming as though he wanted to soak this moment in his very bones. Every now and then Buck would ghost a kiss on his forehead and simply breathe Eddie in.

It didn’t have to be said this could very well be their last moments together.

Buck felt like time was moving both at the speed of light and at a crawl at the same time. It took no time to arrive at the now completely unclassified base with both military and NASA personnel running around doing last minute checks. The party was quickly directed to Willie who was standing next to the simulator with Billie and his girls waiting for him. Hugs were given all around and for a long moment both simply stared at their families talking and smiling with one another.

“I’m glad you found your place, Ghost.”

“Me too man, me too.”

The duo was quickly whisked away into the bowls of the launch pad being offered more food as well as final health checks and changes into their flight suits. They all stood in probably the most sterile locker room they’d all ever seen with the exception of Poojah who’d been given a more private location to change.

Jokes were of course made about the suits themselves.

“Hold on. How many years has NASA been a thing?” Willie asked staring at himself in the mirror.

“Uh… 64 years.” Buck said mentally cursing out the endless zippers he had to navigate.

“Ok. 64 years and nobody… no one.. came up with a different color flight suit. Its orange.”

“I mean. It was white at one point.”

“Not the point, Ghost. Not the point.”

At 8 the crew found themselves in the hanger awaiting transport to the launch site.

The anticipation was palpable throughout the entire complex. Mission control had already been assembled days prior and were already announcing final checks on the intercom system. Select reporters were already waiting for the bus to take them to the launch pad.

Buck could only look at the countdown on the clock.

T-Minus 3 hours 30 to launch.

“Buck!”

He turned at the shout of his name and smiled brightly at the sight.

The flight crews’ families eagerly walked forward with bright smiles on their faces. They’d been given breakfast and a place to wait until they could meet with their loved ones before launch.

“Buck. You look awesome!” Chris exclaimed a wide grin on his face. Katie, ever present at his side nodded eagerly before stampeding towards her father.

“I’m sorry but you have about 10 minutes before boarding.” Truman stated, his voice echoing across the hanger.

“You’re going to do great, kid. I’ll see you when you get back.” Bobby said cradling Buck’s face before snatching him into a rib breaking hug, “I’ll take care of everything down here. You just focus on coming home safely.”

“Copy, Pops. I’ll see ya in 15 days.” Buck said sniffling slightly.

Athena just grabbed him in a hug and for long moments simply held on.

“I’m going to be fine, mama. You take care of pops and Eddie for me.”

“Don’t I always. And you,” She stated, pointing a stern finger at him, “Be safe. No reckless stunts. No crazy dives. You fly, do the mission and come home. Understand.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I hear you.”

Buck leaned down and gathered Chris, crutches and all, in a long hug.

“Take care of your dad for me?” He whispered in the young boy’s ear.

Chris said nothing but held up a pinky a watery smile gracing his cute face.

With a smile Buck locked their fingers sealing the promise.

Buck stood and locked eyes with the man he loved more than life itself. He the tears Eddie was unwilling to shed and couldn’t help but lift a hand and run his fingers down his partner’s face. Nothing was said between the two, so in tune with each other words were not needed.

“I have something for you.” Eddie said a shaky smile gracing his face.

Eddie opened his hand and inside sat a familiar necklace.

“Eddie. I can’t…” Buck sighed the tears he’d fought to keep at bay streaming down his face.

“Yes you can. Besides. I have my own.” He replied and pulled down his navy Henley and an identical silver chain hung from his neck. “Yours is a bit different.”

“It has St. Christopher on it…” Buck said confused.

With a smile, Eddie turned the pendant over.

“St. Brenden the Navigator. Patron saint of Sailors and the United States Navy. He was fearless and protects those who travel though uncharted water.” Eddie replied, before reaching to lock it around Buck’s neck and tucking it into his flight suit.

“Chris brought me home.” He said after a moment nodding to his son who smiled brightly, “And I know he’ll bring you back. But St. Brenden is a little bit of extra insurance.”

There was no hesitation when Buck gathered Eddie in his arms and buried his face in his neck.

“I love you,” Buck said breathing it into Eddie’s very soul, “No matter what happens, I love you. So much.”

“Captain. Lt. Commander.” Truman’s voice echoed as he spoke, “Its time.”

“Te amo, carino. Voy a estar esperando/ I love you, Darling. I’ll be waiting.”

Buck stared at his family a sense of calm settling into his bones. With a wave he began walking to the exit where he knew the bus was waiting.

“FIREFIGHTER BUCKLEY”

Buck turned and snapped to attention. The entire room went silent.

Bobby, no, Captain Robert Nash stood with his hands folded behind his back accessing the youngest member of his crew. After a moment he walked forward and placed a patch directly below the one signifying him as a member of the Navy. Buck turned his arm glancing at it before jerking his eyes back towards his captain.

There attached to his arm in a place of pride was the patch that signified him as a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

“You carry with you the pride of the entire Los Angeles Fire Department with you as you go. We are all standing behind you. Stand tall, son. Make us proud.”

Buck’s eyes sharpened.

“Yes, Sir!”

*

‘Good morning and thank you for joining us here at MSMBC. We come to you live from NASA Houston where the space shuttle Enterprise is preparing for launch. We have just received word that the flight crew, headed by Captain Willie Sharp, are now being taken from the loading hanger to the launch bay. It is just incredible that this project was put together in less than a month after the meteor shower that nearly crippled the International Space Station. Here they come now!’

Captain Willie Sharp walked out of the loading bay head held high followed by his second in command, Lieutenant Commander Evan Buckley, Poojah Singh and Leif Jacobson, both engineers walked out smiling politely at reporters. Ensign Rich Parker Jr, bringing up the rear waving excitedly.

*

“GUYS, ITS BUCK!” Chimney’s shout echoed through the entire firehouse and cheers began ringing though the air. The TV within the loft at the station stayed on the news since the story broke. Rotations of crew members camped out in front of the TV giving updates and information to the rest if they went on call.

Firehouses around the world watched as one of their own went to save lives in space. Prayers and well wishes echoed through every radio as updates were relayed from dispatches and fire houses from across the globe.

“Look at his arm!” Hen said pointing to the screen.

The Los Angeles Fire Department Patch showed brightly against the orange of his flight suit.

“Bobby. That has Bobby all over it.” Chimney said with a laugh.

Buck paused before his blue eyes stared directly into the camera and what felt like every single person crammed in the loft before smiling and shooting a thumbs up.

“LETS GOOOOO!!” Jax Montgomery from B Shift yelled causing everyone to shout encouragement.

At downtown dispatch, Maddie Buckley watched the television, a prayer on her lips for the brother she desperately hoped she didn’t drive away.

*

Isabelle Diaz, matriarch of the Diaz family and her daughter Josephine Cortez sat watching the tv, prayers flowing from their lips for her for her Evanito.

*

“Alright, Flight directors, I want a go/no go for launch.” Assistant Lead Flight Director Amira Clark said through her com system.

“Retro”

“Go Flight”

“Booster”

“Go Flight”

“ECOS”

“Go Flight”

“Trajectory”

“Go Flight”

“FIDO”

“Go Flight”

“EVA”

“Go Flight”

“CAPCOM Enterprise”

“Go Flight.”

“Ok. Showtime.”

*

“Can I have mine a little looser? I feel like I’m going to choke in this harness.” Rich said attempting to shift in his seat.

“Well, you can. You also may go flying during launch. I can’t guarantee you’ll live though that.” Buck said with a laugh while checking every instrument in front of him.

“Never mind.”

“You’ll be fine.” Willie drawled from his seat.

“I wonder if it’s too late to take that last bathroom break.” Leif stated.

“You may have to hold it. Good luck.” Poojah said laughing.

*

‘Attention. T-Minus 10 Minutes to Launch’

*

‘Good Morning,’ John Carmichael, President of the United States, said standing behind the podium of his office.

‘Today 5 brave souls travel to the stars in an unprecedented show of cooperation, merit, fearlessness and bravery this country has never seen before. They leave today with the prayers of the entire world as they soar to heights seen only by those brave enough to reach for it. Dreams of an entire planet now look to those 5 brave souls traveling to the heavens. To those 5 individuals I pray may God protect and guide you as you travel. Godspeed and Good luck to you all.’

*

T-Minus 5 Minutes to Launch.

*

“Margaret, isn’t that your son?” Eline Baker said sipping her wine and pointing to the television attached to the wall.

Margaret Buckley sat at her usual table in Hershey, Pennsylvania finest country club next to her husband Phillip with their usual friends.

“I’m sorry?” She asked, a confused expression on her face.

“Now don’t be modest dear. I know you must be so proud of his accomplishments. A Navy man and an astronaut to boot.” Eline replied, a sharp smile on her face, “Surely you must know about it.”

“Oh, Evan is on tv now. Look” Jackie McEntire said excitedly pointing to the screen.

‘As we speak Lieutenant Commander Evan Buckley is doing final checks before this historic launch. At just 28 he will count as one of the youngest people to go to space and the youngest to fly a spacecraft. He joined the Navy at 18 and went to reserves with commendation. He is now a proud member of the Los Angeles Fire Department and was specifically tapped for this mission. Sources are telling me he may be the only person in any flight program to even step foot in the Space Shuttle simulator since the program was scrapped in 2011. With that type of determination, I have to say his family must be proud.’

As the reporter spoke Margaret and Phillip got to see their son, for the first time in years, though a feed provided by NASA seemingly going though final checks with a serious expression on his face.

“Yes. Well. I don’t want to spoil it.” Margaret said rallying after a moment’s hesitation, “You know we can’t talk about any of that until they give us word.”

“We are…proud of him. Making a name for himself after how troubled he can be is very impressive.” Phillip choked out before taking a rather aggressive sip of his brandy.

‘I have it on good authority that his family is here today.’ The reporter stated.

“It’s just wonderful your daughter got to be there.” Eline said.

“Yes. Evan and Madelyn are very close.” Phillip stated.

“But why are you here? If MY son was flying to outer space I wouldn’t dare to be anywhere else.” Jackie said an accessing stare on her face.

“I wasn’t sure I could handle…”

‘As you can see,’ the feed cut to an outside venue and to a specific group of people waiting for the launch, ‘Lt. Commander Buckleys’ family has indeed come to see this historic moment. His parents, Captain Robert Nash with the Los Angeles Fire Department and his wife Field Sargent Athena Grant-Nash with the Los Angeles Police Department, his partner Edmundo Diaz, firefighter also with the LAFD and their son Christopher traveled here to be with him until launch.

In a statement he made to us earlier, he said he wanted to give a personal shout out to his family from home: Maddie Buckley, his older sister, Howie ‘Chimney’ Han and Henrietta Wilson his brother and sister from work and their families, the Diazs’ family from Los Angeles and the entire crew at the 118 who couldn’t be here but are with him in spirit. He said quote ‘I love you guys and I’ll see you all when I get back. Save some of Cap’s mac and cheese for me!’

Just a beautiful sentiment’

“Well. Now we know why you’re not there.” Eline said with a condescending laugh.

“How shameful.” Jackie stated.

Both women and their husbands quickly left the table.

The stares and whispers became almost tangible as all eyes fell on them.

They could only blame themselves.

*

‘T-Minus 1 Minute to launch. All crew close and lock your visors.’

*

“Daddy. Its starting!” Chris said excitedly.

Eddie quickly picked his son up and placed him on his shoulders.

“I know, mijo. Watch.”

*

T-Minus 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…main engine start…2…1…

*

Enterprise’s main engine roared to life and began ascending to the heavens with a plume of smoke and ash that could be seen for miles. The sound was deafening as it left the launch tower. Silence reigned as people across the world watched as it made its way into the air and prayed it would do so successfully.

“Mission Control, the tower is clear. They’re all yours.”

Eddie stood on the ground, Chris screaming excitedly around his shoulders, and watched not the launch but the jumbotron that showed the man he loved expertly flying as if he was born for it.

“Go. Go, carino. Keep going.”

Buck stared into the camera for a split second and Eddie could swear he was looking directly at him. Calm he couldn’t seem to gather infused into his soul.

“Start roll maneuver” Buck’s voice echoed though the speakers.

“Copy, roll maneuver.”

The shuttle began rolling to help reduce the stress on the obiter and helping it pierce the atmosphere.

Everyone watched the takeoff, screaming and yelling their excitement.

Bobby and Athena watched Buck. His face was a picture of concentration, his hands flowing from the throttle to stick to buttons in front of him. It was watching poetry in motion. Each movement was exact and precise.

“Good roll program, over”

“Copy. Good roll program.” Sharp echoed.

Buck felt as if he was shaking apart the power from the shuttle and booster rocking his soul. Nothing could have prepared him for how it felt to be propelled to the sky. Fear churned his belly at the thought of almost 20 tons of the rocket fuel below him that could possibly explode at any second. All he could do was simply that, Do.

“Enterprise, we have a max cue.”

“Roger, control. We are a max cue.” Buck replied.

Breaking into the outer atmosphere was a novel feeling. You could feel the ship being pulled backwards but the rockets attached pressed forward dogged in their attempt burn until they ran out of fuel.

Just a few more steps to go.

“SRB, sep.” Sharp stated and with a press of a button the assistance boosters detached, “We are single-engine, press, demi-go.”

“Copy that, Enterprise, press, demi-go. You are go for Main engine shut off.”

The main engines began fading gradually, the shaking that almost rattled them to pieces slowly settling into a smooth weightless feeling. After the violence of liftoff, the feeling of pulling so many G’s to escape Earth’s atmosphere it was eerie to be in such silence.

“Enterprise, stat are good. Main engine shut off complete.” Mission control began reading confirmation that everything was functioning normally. The cockpit was silent as everyone on board took in their surroundings. Stars as far as the eye could see in a vast emptiness. Earth the small blueberry full of life turned below.

“Space, Ghost. Space.” Willie said, the look of astonishment on his face, “We always said we’d make it.”

Buck laughed grasping his co-pilot’s hand.

“And there’s’ nobody I would want in that chair other than you, man.”

“Aw. Shit. Don’t make me cry.”

“Cavities. You guys give out cavities.” Poojah laughed spinning her helmet in the weightlessness.

“Any words of posterity? One small step? Space: the final frontier? Stardate…something?” Willie joked.

“Hey Chris,” Buck said, his voice echoing through every airway, grabbing the new chain sitting warm against his heart, “I’m definitely finding you something awesome from the gift shop.”

*

‘We can confirm the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Captain Sharp and Lt. Commander Buckley will now begin to orbit the planet and will intercept the International Space Station in 14 hours. Sources are telling us the Space Shuttle performed as expected but time will tell if it continues to do so. Mission control at the Kennedy Center in Houston’ spokesperson has stated…..

The first 14 hours had been fairly boring.

Well… as boring as orbiting over the Earth proceeding to specified coordinates … in space.

The Enterprise floated along the edge of outer space flying serenely to its destination over the Bay of Bengal. Buck spent his time monitoring their trajectory and their course giving mission control reports every 2 hours before he had to sleep. He would not be getting too much of that when the mission truly began.

His job was fairly simple. Well… as simple as flying a spacecraft in outer space can be.

While having no technical knowledge he was the only person that could fly the Enterprise. Willie could if called to, but he simply did not have the simulation experience Buck did. The decision had been made that Buck would stay aboard the Enterprise monitoring its orbit and making corrections as needed should something happen during the repairs to the ISS only leaving the cockpit to get his mandatory 6 hours of sleep. To prevent any mishaps all repairs would be halted, both crews sleeping themselves, before he returned to his chair.

It was not ideal. The idea had been tossed around to send someone else as backup but there simply wasn’t anyone that could. Or would for that matter.

Being a firefighter was coming in handy. Buck had become used to staying up for long hours and getting minimal sleep. Of course, he had plenty to keep him occupied during that time. During the 18 hours he would be reporting to Houston regularly giving and receiving updates. He would do a routine inspection from the cargo bay to the cockpit and everywhere in between then break for lunch. The rest of his time would be devoted to monitoring and reporting latitude and longitude and any irregularities.

This is what he got for obsessively researching the most specific thing he could come up with.

The good news?

No more god-awful orange space suits.

Buck could lounge around in his navy-blue jumpsuit complete with his name and rank. He took special care to place his LAFD patch on his shoulder.

“Houston, we have a visual on the ISS, over.”

“Copy. Hold for further instructions.”

Sharp smiled stretching as much as he could in the co-pilot seat.

“Listen up. The ISS is classified as an international entity. So, let’s not step on anyone’s toes. We are here to assist in getting them up and running in a timely manner so put your game faces on. They are in charge we are here simply to help.” Sharp’s statement more for Rich’s sake than anyone else’s.

“Enterprise, This is the International Space Station, do you copy?”

“We read you loud and clear.” Buck said excited for the first day.

“Copy. Proceed to dock hanger 2. Over.”

Buck took a breath. Now the real work would begin.

“Copy. Dock hanger 2. Intercept is 100 feet.”

Pilot and Co-pilot shared a look.

“Alright, Ghost. Take us in. Don’t nick the paint. I doubt they’ll forgive us.”

Buck’s hand began flowing seemingly without his input as he carefully began maneuvering the spacecraft to its destination.

The International Space Station looked like something out of a science fiction novel. A floating laboratory and scientific research center occupying an ocean of emptiness. The retractable metal framework gave it the appearance of a bird in flight as it orbited the Earth all the while doing tests to further space exploration. It was humbling to even be a part of this project.

“Intercept is 15 feet.” Sharp reported staring at the now activated docking port.

“Copy. Moving in for hard dock.”

Buck let out a low whistle sliding sideways inch by inch until he heard a loud click.

“Hard dock.” He said a triumphant smile on his face.

“Enterprise, we confirm hard dock. Welcome to the ISS.”

Sharp blew a breath.

“Alright. Time to get to work. Start the clock.”

Buck flipped a switch, and a timer began signifying the beginning of his first 18-hour day.

“You kiddies be good now. No parties and don’t come home drunk.”

“HA Ha. You’re hysterical.”

And so, it began. Buck would alert Mission Control before beginning inspection from the cargo bay, though mid deck, and lastly fight deck documenting his findings as he went. Then, while having a breakfast bar that reminded him of a grain filled brick and rehydrated coffee that would put the 3-day old rocket fuel from the station to shame, he would began doing system and computer checks while relaying information to and from Mission Control to the ISS and his crewmates. His afternoons were filled with essentially flying around the ISS deploying the arm delivering the repair equipment and doing slight course corrections as need.

Buck did get to send messages to his family. To say Buck cried he got a message back from Eddie and Chris would be an understatement. He would be bombarded with messages throughout his day answering when he could. Mission Control even managed to sneak in a video call to Bobby for their mandated (by Athena) weekly therapy session which caused tears on all sides involved.

The were downsides. Sharp had been apologetic, but Buck would not be able to do an EVA or Extravehicular Activity. No space walks for him. Buck couldn’t say he minded. The thought of floating away into the darkness of space was and would never be appealing to the pilot and he was quite frankly thankful he was opted out. Not to mention Athena’s relieved face when he dutifully reported he wouldn’t be exiting the Enterprise except to land had all the more cemented that thought.

It also didn’t help his nerves that the entire crew were being reported on like they were rock stars. Buck begged Eddie to ignore it as best he could, but his partner got a kick out of quoting from various articles from newspapers.

His first true excitement occurred during day 5.

Chris had been ecstatic at telling all his friends about how his Buck was in space saving people. He’d returned to school going into blistering detail about the launch and how Buck was going to bring him back a souvenir to the overall amusement and enjoyment of all who would listen.

Except one. 

Ana Flores had taken his excited ramblings in stride, nodding along when appropriate. She didn’t watch the launch, didn’t see the reason to, and wasn’t that all interested. There was, however, something that had kept her interested in young Chris Diaz.

Mainly his father.

Edmundo Diaz checked off all the boxes for husband material. Hispanic man, loving father, good career, and drop dead gorgeous to boot. It has become her personal mission to catch his attention. She could imagine them married living a beautiful life and was bound and determined to make that happen. As they all say, the way to a parent’s heart was through their kids. Ana made sure to pay special attention to Chris when he was in her English class. As vice principle, she made it her mission to speak to Edmundo with the goal of ingratiating herself with him as much as possible.

Her plan, however, was not working. Edmundo was polite but aloof, which only made her want him more. If Eddie, as he insisted she call him, didn’t drop Chris off, his carer Carla would. And then there was Evan Buckley. The leggy blue-eyed blonde would wave Chris off with hugs before stopping to talk to the many different parents he seemed to know. He would show up to open house and PTA meetings usually with personally baked treats with Eddie walking right next to him.

Ana hated him a little.

She did see her opening. Buckley hadn’t been seen in a while. He’d missed the monthly open house/PTA meeting to the gossip of everyone present. Ana tried harder but she seemed to be hitting a brick wall. Then Eddie disappeared with his son for a week and no amount of digging could find out the reason. Now Chris had returned to school with tales of seeing the space shuttle launch and while Ana indulged his story telling it was becoming more obvious he was lying.

Ana was beginning to despair until her job came up with a perfect excuse to see Edmundo after hours.

Durand Elementary school had decided to have a program devoted to NASA and space exploration in the gym with special guest speakers for all the children and their parents since the mission broke the news. Door prices as well as a potluck had been put together which almost guaranteed attendance.

When she heard, Ana had jumped on the idea with a soul goal in mind. Another way to get closer to Edmundo. To say she was excited to see not only Edmundo, but his grandmother and aunt was an understatement. This was her chance to not only meet with him but also his family.

“Can anyone tell me, What is the purpose of the ISS?” Ana asked, to a gym full to the brim of parents and children from all grades. For moments silence reigned before a little hand flew in the air.

“Uh. For scientific study. My Buck said they do testing for space missions and stuff.” Chris said after raising his hand his tablet clutched in the other.

“Oh, Did he now?” Ana didn’t notice her tone came off as condescending rather than encouraging.

“Yeah,” He replied, nodding eagerly and looking back at his iPad, “He said there are labs and tests going on for the mars mission.”

“Well. That’s not the answer I was looking for. Anyone else?” She asked, dismissing the boy to look to others. A few people eyed each other at the young woman’s attitude.

Eddie frowned. He wasn’t as oblivious as people thought and had noticed the vice principal’s unusual attention and had thought that ignoring it would be the best option. Clearly not and he really didn’t appreciate the woman’s tone with his son.

Ana asked more questions motioning to the massive projector behind her wanting to engage the crowd more, mainly Edmundo, but he seemed to be frowning at his son as he kept staring at him.

“Next question. Can anyone tell me how fast the ISS travels a day?”

Hands began slowly lifting into the air before a small familiar one shot in the air.

“Chris.” Principle Max Carpenter called to the young boy, but his sharp eyes stayed on his vice principle.

“It goes a little past 4 and a half miles per second.” Chris said, squinting at his tablet, “But my Buck said it was going a little slower cause of the repairs.”

“And how do you know this?” Ana’s voice slashed through the gym, barely restrained hostility in her tone.

“Uh. He told me.” He replied stuttering slightly.

“Right. Lieutenant Commander Buckley told you how fast the ISS goes.” She drawled, completely done with the young boys’ antics, “Are you’re sure you didn’t look it up.”

“Honest. I just asked.”

“Hmph. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say I don’t appreciate liars. I’ll be sure to talk to your father after.” Ana then turned and faced the projector continuing with the presentation, completely missing the look of astonishment and pure anger on Eddie’s face.

Chris stared at his tablet, tears burning in his eyes. Buck’s answer sat innocently in a blue text bubble and for a brief moment he thought about running to his dad.

She didn’t believe me.

What? That’s how fast we’re going.

No. She said I lied and that you didn’t tell me that. She was mean.

Right now. She said that right now.

Yeah.

In front of a gym full of people. She called you a liar.

Yeah.

Hold on.

Chris frowned a bit confused at that message. Before he could even ask, another popped up.

You’re hooked up to the WIFI at school right?

Yeah. Buck people are staring at me.

I got you, baby. Hold on.

What are you gonna do?

Buck?

The projector screen suddenly lit up.

Incoming call.

“What in the world?” Principle Carpenter asked panic slowly appearing on his face, “Just a second folks, this shouldn’t be happening.”

Chris.

Chris jerked when his tablet pinged and blinked when he realized the call was coming from him.

Answer the call.

For a moment he blinked at the message before shrugging and hitting the green button.

“Durand Elementary School, this is the space shuttle Enterprise. Do you Copy?”

Eddie jerked then smiled deviously when an achingly familiar voice echoed through the speakers. He had been ready to storm over and demand what the hell was this woman’s problem was with his son but now… He would sit back and enjoy the show. Isabell Diaz started laughing quietly quite ready to watch her Evanito work while her daughter smirked meanly.

“This isn’t funny. I demand to know who’s doing this!” Ana snarled, an ugly frown on her pretty face.

Chris? Press the video button for me.

Chris gleefully did so.

The screen lit up showing not only the cockpit of the Enterprise and the impressive sight of Earth outside the front windows but one floating Evan Buckley, an impressive frown on his usually smiling face.

“Repeat. Durand Elementary School, this is the space shuttle Enterprise. Do you Copy?”

“Uh. Yes, sir. We hear you loud and clear.” Principle Carpenter stuttered before gaining his footing.

Beside him, Ana Flores turned pale.

“The ISS usually goes 4.76 miles per second. However, considering repairs are underway we are only going about 1.25 miles per second. Does that answer your question, Vice Principle Flores?”

Silence.

“Uh. I mean… How…”

“It does, Lieutenant Commander. And I just want to say it is an honor to have you taking the time to talk to us today. Do you have a moment to answer some questions?” Principle Carpenter jumped on the chance to brag to his colleagues about this momentous call.

“Of course. Anyone?”

Hands, both student and parent alike, began shooting in the air. Buck gracefully answered as many as he could for the next hour, every now and then calling on Chris to explain something from his perspective of the launch.

“Unfortunately, I have to go. I was only delegated one hour for this call. Thank you for letting me crash your program, Principle Carpenter.” Buck said laughter in his voice.

“The honor is ours, Lieutenant Commander. You be safe up there. What do we say, students?” He asked, turning to the room.

Applause and yells of thank you echoed among the cheering while Buck gracefully nodded.

“Oh. Ms. Flores.”

The entire gym went completely silent.

The friendly look was gone a severe frown gracing his face. For along moment blue eyes stared long and hard into her brown ones. She had hoped he wasn’t aware of her comments.

Apparently Buck did know what was said earlier.

And he wasn’t happy.

“I’ll thank you to never call Chris a liar ever again. I’ll be having words with your boss when I get back as I’m sure my partner will have some now. You have a nice one, though.” Buck’s dangerous tone echoed through the silent room.

The call ended. Eddie smirked before standing and making his way over to Principle Carpenter.

“Yeah. My partner’s right. We need to talk.”

With that, Eddie led Principle Carpenter away completely ignoring Ana as she stood embarrassed, angry and now fearful as her dreams and ambitions shattered at her feet.

Eddie had reported later that Ana had been put on administrative leave while the school board investigated her actions. Her showing up at Eddie’s job in some hair brained attempt to smooth everything over sunk like lead balloon and got her arrested for her trouble. According to the rumor mill she was unlikely to get her job back.

Nobody puts his tiny best friend down. Ever.

It had been smooth sailing. No hiccups to speak of.

Well…

No Technical hiccups.

There were, however, personnel ones.

Namely Ensign Rich Parker.

From the moment he stepped foot (in a manner of speaking) his entire attitude shifted from cluelessly meandering from one order to another into attempting to have some sort of command role in the mission. Before he’d been sufficiently crowed due to all the scrutiny surrounding his family but now seemed like since he wasn’t on the ground he felt could behave as he liked.

No one was impressed.

The day Buck caught Rich attempting to move the Enterprise had been a memorable one. Normally, Buck never rose his voice but that day he’d yelled the walls down and stated quite firmly if Rich tried anything like that again, he’d get shot out of an airlock for his trouble. Rich just sneered and stomped (well floated angerly) away.

By day 10, both crews were sick and tired of the entitled attitude. When Serge Petrovich, cosmonaut of the Russian Space Agency or Roscosmos, reported to Sharp that Ensign Parker had ordered him to move the final computer components that he himself was ordered to move Serge simply said no. When Rich began threatening him and his career Serge calmly reported it to both US and Russian Mission Control.

Sharp was not amused. After all, but forcing him back to crew quarters, tearing a strip off him himself, he called Parker’s commanding officer and informed him of his ensigns’ conduct. Unfortunately, Rich Parker’s fate was sealed. Upon returning to Earth, he would be dishonorably discharged from the service. And that wasn’t including punishment for almost causing a diplomatic incident in international waters.

Director Parker was now between a rock and a hard place. His wife demanded that he smooth it over and he tried but to no avail. His son had officially screwed his career up in the service. When Rich called, he begged his son to finish the mission, shut up, and enjoy being a hero. Rich could find something else to do using the experience he had now to make his ticket somewhere.

No one would know how much that talk didn’t work until day 13.

“Alright people. Repairs are complete. We’ve gotten word the new computer system is fully integrated and now all we’re waiting on is final checks on the primary engine before we fire the bad boy.” Sharp stated during their daily mission debriefing.

“The Enterprise is going to detach and place itself towards the bottom of the space station. Barring any complications, we’re going to shut down the secondary engine and fire the primary. Now. Here’s where it gets tricky. Shutting down the secondary engine may cause the ISS’s orbit to decay. If that happens the Enterprise will be on standby to stabilize the station until the primary can pull it back into orbit.” Sharp took a bite out of his sandwich. 

“Big day.” Leif stated staring at his tablet.

“I’ll say.” Poojah said around her breakfast. “I just ready to go home.”

“Ditto. I just wanna sleep man. I’m so tired.” Buck said yawning around his coffee.

“Finish up, people. We’ve got a big day. When you’re done, Buck report to the bridge. Everyone else on me to the ISS.”

“Flight deck. Flight Deck, Q. This isn’t Star Trek.” Buck rolled his eyes with a laugh.

“It’s called the Enterprise for Christ’s cake. You can’t tell me they weren’t thinking about Star Trek when they named it.”

Poojah and Leif both laughed. This argument completely not new to them.

With all the excitement of the day no one noticed just how quiet one crew member was. They would regret that later. It wasn’t long before the Enterprise had undocked and moved to its first position.

Buck checked in with mission control before informing them of his usual inspection and headed to the cargo bay. As he looked around it never occurred to him to check behind him. Usually, it was just him in the Enterprise during the working day.

Pain exploded over the back of his head. The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was the sneering face of Rich with a pipe in his hands.

*

Rich stared dispassionately at Buckley’s unconscious floating figure. If the man had just let him fly he wouldn’t be in the position he was in now. The older man would only be out for a few minutes and by that time Rich would already be in the pilot seat where he deserved to be.

It hadn’t been easy, but he’d managed to cut off all communication to mission control only leaving the line to the ISS open. Rich had to be able to hear when to save the space station. He made only one stop at his bunk before proceeding to the flight deck. With sure motions he settled himself in to the pilot seat and pulled out the one thing that had specifically banned on this trip. It was his mother that helped him smuggle it in.

His cell phone.

Rich sat eagerly connecting it to the station’s WIFI network almost bouncing in his seat with excitement.

‘I’m going to be a hero. And I’m going to make sure everyone sees it.’

*

“Flight!”

“Go, Capcom.”

“We’ve just lost communication with the Enterprise!”

Those words echoed though Mission Control.

Apprehension began moving through the room.

“Get the ISS on the line. I want to know what they see. NOW.” Truman commanded.

*

“ISS, do you copy?”

“Go ahead, Houston.”

“We need the status of the Enterprise. We’ve lost communication with it.”

Sharp jerked before propelling himself to a window expecting everything from aliens to meteors.

“I’m looking at it now. Everything seems normal.” He stated confused, “Did the antenna go down?”

“No. It appears to be functioning properly. It looks like Buck turned it off.”

“No. Buck wouldn’t do that. Something else is up. What about systems?” Sharp began looking frantically.

“Systems check out. What the hell is going on?”

Sharp turned and stared at the people behind him. Then it occurred to him.

Someone was missing.

“Hold up. Where’s Parker?”

Everyone split up and began searching every nook and cranny. They all came up empty.

“He’s not here.” Poojah said a stern expression on her face, “I’ll bet some money on where he is right now.”

*

Truman blinked.

“You don’t think….”

Assistant Flight Director Amira Clark stared at her boss. Then her brown eyes looked past him and all but pinned Director Parker to the wall behind him.

“Uh.. Sir?”

Truman turned to his other assistant holding an iPad in his hands.

“You need to see this.”

*

‘Hey guys, its Rich or CaptainRich29 here. I’m streaming live from the space shuttle Enterprise. It’s just been awesome being able to run this mission but now I can give you a glimpse of just what I do each day.’ Rich grinned at the camera watching as more and more people began joining his Twitch stream.

It had all been his idea. Streaming from space? He’d have more followers than some of the top streamers on the platform. He didn’t need being in the Navy. This stream would write his ticket anywhere.

‘I’ve been working so hard. You know, there’s such hard-working people here and I’m so thankful I got to man this mission and be a part of repairing the ISS. It’s hard though. I’m a pilot myself and I’m just now getting the opportunity to fly the bird since Buckley is… incapacitated. You know I’ve been flying the Enterprise for the last few days and it’s just exciting.’

*

“What the fuck does he mean ‘incapacitated? What the fuck did he do?” Truman seethed.

“Uh. Can we stop the broadcast?” Director Parker piped up it having been the first time he’d spoken since this all unfolded.

“Why? So you can cover for your shitstain of a son? No. We can’t. This is being streamed around the world via an independent streaming service. I told you if something happened it’ll be your head. And it will be.”

Director Parker backed up his false bravado fleeing from him.

“Sir. The news just picked it up.” Assistant Director Clark stated.

‘Good afternoon. We’ve just been informed of an unauthorized live video being streamed from the Enterprise by Ensign Richard Parker Jr. As we have reported, Ensign Parker has no flight experience and sources are telling me it was his father, Director Richard Parker Sr.added him to the flight roster despite objections from the flight crew. Currently NASA has made no announcement, but we are certain one will be made shortly. As it stands, there is already word….’

*

‘that all countries involved with the International Space Station and Skylab are already demanding answers. Currently, the major worry is Lieutenant Commander Evan Buckley and whether he is truly incapacitated or is there something more sinister going on…’

Eddie’s coffee cup smashed into the floor as he heard the news anchor began reporting more and more information as it came in. There it was his worst fear being broadcasted to everyone in the world.

“No. Dios No.” He whispered.

Bobby and the rest of the crew came running before all of them were halted in their tracks.

“Ima fucking kill him.” Bobby said a fierce frown on his face.

Everyone turned and stared at their captain with astonishment on their faces.

“Get in line.” Eddie growled.

*

‘I just got the ok. We’re going to be moving the Enterprise out of the way to the ISS can start its primary engine.’

Rich took a breath. He’d studied how Buckley did it. He’d watched and learned. He could do this.

‘Detaching. Beginning positioning burn.’

*

The Enterprise jerked before rolling out of control; the engines firing too long and hard. Rich was thrown from his seat and smashed his head into the dash knocking him unconscious as it began spinning uncontrollably. The floating debris from the repairs smashed into the space shuttle sending shards flying everywhere.

The autopilot kicked on firing both front and rear boosters in a haphazard attempt to stabilize the craft. It was like watching a train wreck; being unable to look away.

It was only a few seconds but to those watching it felt like a lifetime until the shuttle became stagnant.

*

“Oh God.” Sharp breathed as he watched the Enterprise spin out of control.

“Shit. That debris is coming right for us.” Leif exclaimed.

“Can we dodge it?”

“No, sir. The secondary engine was just shut off.”

“Fire the primary. Now!” Sharp yelled, already putting the commands into the computer.

The ISS suddenly learshed old plating bouncing around them in the vacuum of space. All both crews could do was hold on and pray nothing was punctured else it was all their lives.

“Sir. The primary engine isn’t responding.”

“Fuck. The damn thing must have froze over. Give it a second and try again.” Sharp barked before switching to his coms and frantically looking out the window.

“Houston. Enterprise is static. Repeat. Enterprise is static.”

“Copy. ISS. Hold for further instructions.”

Sharp breathed a frustrated sigh.

“Wait.” Serge said looking around, “Are we moving?”

Everyone froze.

“We are.” Poojah stared at Sharp with fear flooding her eyes, “Our orbit is decaying.”

*

Buck smashing his side into a wall woke him up. His head throbbed and his side felt like a giant bruise. All he could do was hang on as he took the ride of his life before everything became dead still. For long moments he sat as still as he could praying whatever just happened wouldn’t happen again.

“Houston, this is Enterprise. Do you copy?”

Nothing.

“Shit. Ok.”

Buck gingerly propelled himself forward wiping blood off his head as he went. Mentally he went through a checklist. Slight concussion. Bruised ribs. Nothing was broken as far as he could tell.

With steady but careful movements he moved through the now trashed ship, pushing debris out of the way as he went. The flight deck was a mess with mission folders and pins floating everywhere. Buck briefly checked Rich before pushing his unconscious form into a seat and strapping him in a little more tightly than he should have.

Buck’s first order of business was to figure out where he even was. With quick motions he pinpointed his location and realized the ISS was behind him about 20 miles. His hands flew across the cockpit stabilizing the shuttle first then maneuvering the ship into facing the correct direction.

“Son of a Bitch.” He whispered staring out the window.

The ISS was falling.

*

“Holy Shit.” Truman muttered as all eyes in mission control turned to the monitor screaming with alerts. The worst had happened.

*

The ISS began violently shaking as it began descending towards Earth’s atmosphere. Everyone present knew what it meant. The gravitational pull would pull the ISS out of orbit, and they would all fall to their deaths. Crew members across the ISS grabbed whatever was bolted down in a desperate attempt to keep from flying around.

“Anything from that primary?” Sharp yelled over the almost unbearable noise.

“We’re gonna try rebooting the system.” Serge said frantically typing commands into the onboard computer.

“Better hurry. We have less than 20 seconds before it won’t be able to pull us back up.” Leif said all but wrapped around Poojah in an attempt to keep her from flying around with the rest of the debris in the room.

“Stand by.”

The seconds counted down almost at a snail’s pace. Serge and his other colleagues frantically typing could barely be heard over the groaning and grinding the station was making as it descended to the atmosphere below.

“Uh. Guys. Are we slowing down?” Sharp asked staring out the window.

“I think we are.”

Everyone stared at one another in disbelief.

“Did you get that engine working?” Sharp dodged another flight manual hanging on to the computer console in front of him.

“It’s priming. Almost there.”

“How are we……Wait. Pull external planet cameras!”

The screen above flickered on.

The familiar form of the Enterprise wedged between the main supports sent hope though everyone who saw it.

“Buck!”

*

Buck had no time to think.

The Enterprise sped through the sky flipping as it went and positioned itself directly under the main supports of the ISS. He grit his teeth at the grinding noise and began firing front and rear boosters.

This had only meant to be theoretical. Mating the Enterprise to the main supports and slowing its descent by firing there front and rear boosters to essentially push it back into orbit was a maneuver that couldn’t be tested. First he would have to match the speed of the descent before pushing it back up. Any number of things could go wrong.

There was no room for error.

Buck darted his eyes to both the ISS itself and his altitude gauge.

“Stabilizing!” He said to a dead mic automatically announcing his intentions to his dead mic. He felt more than saw the ISS shutter and bow before going still.

“Static. Boosters, 50%”

The boosters, already stretched farther than they were designed, fired brightly and began pushing the space station up. He could feel the atmosphere hugging the Enterprise desperate in its attempt to pull it down.

“Come on. COME ON.” He growled, “Max power.”

With a flash the boosters burned even brighter than before and with a great heave the shuttle left the earth’s gravitational pull. Buck stared at his altitude gauge.

The ISS only orbited 250 miles above earth’s atmosphere.

Just a little bit farther.

“220….225…230…245… SHUT DOWN.” Buck all but smashed his hand on the console killing the engines and allowing the shuttle craft to go completely static beside the hulking form of the space station.

Another flash caught his attention. The primary engine finally roared to life finalizing the stabilization. Both craft began moving next to each other in harmony as if the last few moments had been a dream.

Buck slumped into his seat and blew a relieved breath. He began studying the entire command console in length before pursing his lips and flipping two switches.

Rich, in his ever-enterprising intelligence, had shut off not only coms to Mission Control but the ISS. He’d never checked which button was which. Buck rolled his eyes before wincing reminded how much his head hurt.

“Enterprise, Houston. Do you copy?”

“Buck. You ok? Where are you man?” Sharps’ voice echoed though the silent flight deck.

Buck leaned back rubbing his eyes in an attempt to relieve the headache pounding between his eyes.

“God, I hate it up here.” Buck stated, saying the first thing that came to mind.

“Good to have you back, Buck. Uh.. be advised…Parker’s phone is still streaming.” Truman’s voice was full of relief and slight anger.

“Say again. Streaming?” Buck looked around his blue eyes scanning across the dash before landing on a cell phone duct taped to the plastic. “Oh.”

Squinting, he took in the now hundreds of thousands of comments being posted almost per second. With an embarrassed smile and an awkward wave, he ended the stream and all but threw the phone away from him.

“Enterprise, proceed to hard dock. We gotta talk.” Sharp stated, anger now fully present in his voice.

“Copy.” Buck looked in the rearview mirror placed to stare at Rich’s still unconscious from.

Yes, we do.

*

‘We now have confirmation that the International Space Station has been successfully pushed back into orbit. The Enterprise, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Buckley, arrived just in time to arrest the fall saving the lives of those onboard. What’s incredible about this entire situation is that Twitch users around the world got to see firsthand the events as they occurred in real time. The stream had over a 20 million viewer count, one of the highest the service has ever seen, and the video is being shared all around the world…

*

…NASA has made a statement that LC Buckley has been injured and this will affect the mission, specifically the return of the space craft but also that Director Richard Parker Sr is now being investigated due to the actions of his son, Ensign Richard Parker Jr… It will remain to be…’

The air at Station 118 had been tense. Jax had not only found the stream but had air played it to the TV in the loft and the entire house watched in silence.

Until Buck floated into frame and took control of the situation.

It was as if they all were with him, sitting at his side as they would when they rode, watching that stubborn determination they’d seen him use when all hope was lost.

Eddies stood there with tears streaming down his face, Bobby at his side clasping his hands, watching the man he loved once again overcome insurmountable odds to do what he did best.

Save lives.

*

“I know what you’re saying, Willie. And I’m saying I’m gonna shoot his ass out an air lock.” Buck raged before wincing once again at the pounding in his head.

“Buck. You really can’t. You know this.” Turman said staring into the camera.

A video call had been set up after Enterprise made hard dock between the ISS, the Enterprise and Mission Control. Buck had recounted what happened while getting checked over by the ISS’s doctor, one Jennifer Bowie, who determined he had a pretty good concussion and bruised ribs but stated he would be fine with rest. Sharp had all but flown through the airlock and snatched Buck in a crushing hug before checking his wingman over himself.

As for Rich, he was still strapped in his seat with a few strips of duct tape for good measure. He’d attempted to protest once again bringing up his father only for Buck to ask with a frankly disturbing smile on his face:

“You wanna find out how long it take for a person to suffocate in the vacuum of space?”

Rich hadn’t made a peep since.

“No. No. This douche almost killed me. Would have killed everyone here. And for what? Some views! No. I’m chucking him.” It didn’t help that Buck was both angry and in pain.

“Buck. You don’t want to go down in history as the guy who did the first murder in space, do you?” Sharp asked amused. He could tell his wingman was winding down the anger slowly dissipating to irritation.

“Well. I mean technically the space shuttle itself is American soil so technically as long as you took him outside and left him without causing him any harm in here they wouldn’t be able to charge you with murder. No one country can lay claim to space.” Poojah mused while Leif nodded next to her.

“Not helping.” Turman scolded, but privately he kind of agreed.

“What do you want us to do with him, though.” Sharp asked.

“Charges are being levied as we speak. Space is kind of a gray area but last time I checked stealing a government owned space craft, insubordination and assault are all prosecutable by law. Plus, he did it in Enterprise so there’s that. Right now, keep him in that seat. Other than bathroom breaks and sleep he’s not going anywhere.” Turman replied arms crossed over his chest.

“My father…” Rich began but was swiftly cut off.

“Has his own problems. As soon as he realized he couldn’t cover this up he left the NASA complex all together. Well. Attempted to. By the Vice President’s order, he’s been detained pending charges. And there will be charges. While nepotism isn’t a crime, aiding and abetting is.” Turman paused.

“Congrats, Junior. You’ve managed to screw over your entire family.”

Rich could only blink in astonishment before staring uselessly at the floor.

Buck had been banned to his bunk for the next 12 hours. With his concussion he couldn’t fly until he was cleared, which made going home so much more complicated. Sharp was on the flight deck, heading whatever repairs that needed to be made and doing diagnostics. There was no telling what kind of shape the Enterprise was even in.

That made Buck nervous.

Taking out his tablet he sent a message to the one person who could always calm him down.

Hey, baby.

….

Buck. Oh, Thank God!

Are you ok?

I saw the blood in the video. Did you get hit by something?

Voy a patear el trasero de esos niños, lo juro por Dios/I’ma kick that kid’s ass. Swear to God.

I have everybody with me. Bobby said he’s got first punch and I’m willing to fight him for it.

Babe?

I’m fine, baby. Banged up and bruised but fine. Got a pretty good concussion though.

Tell Pops I don’t want him in jail for assault. He’ll get what’s coming.

Bullshit. Athena’s already said she’ll be an alibi.

Honey…

No. I hate him. Let me hate him. You need to hate him with me.

…

Buck. It’s Bobby. You sure you’re ok?

I’m good, Pops. Well, the banging headache and my ribs are sore but ok.

Your mom said she’s ready to arrest him on sight.

Uhh. She may have to fight the FBI and the military for that.

Athena: Ready and willing. Say the word.

You have a concussion. Get off this tablet and sleep. Let us know if something changes.

1. Night mom.

Buck fell asleep with a smile on his face and peace in his soul.

Unfortunately, it only lasted as long as he was asleep. As soon as he was conscious he was called to the flight deck.

Sharp wasn’t happy.

“So far guidance, telemetry, and avionics are good.” He began a frown already on his face.

“That statement implies there’s something bad.” Buck said getting examined yet again.

“We’re running out of fuel.” Sharp huffed.

“Uh. My bad.” Buck said with a wince, “I wasn’t thinking about how much fuel would get burned pushing the ISS back into geosynchronous orbit. Fuck.”

“No, Not you,” Sharp replied sending a fierce glare at Ensign Parker, “You know as well as I do we gestimated how much we needed and then got sent with extra just in case. Unfortunately, we didn’t anticipate what actually happened.”

“Meaning?” Poojah asked confused.

“When Captain America here stole the ship, he burned our reserves. What we’re running on right now is literally what we’ve got left. And that means…” Sharp trailed off.

“We have to leave. Now. We can’t wait another 20 hours. How much fuel do we have left?” Buck stated leaning back on the console behind him.

“10 hours. Maybe less. Its hard to get a good estimate.”

“Fuck.”

“Mission Control is already attempting to find new coordinates for reentry, but we are in the worst place possible. So far they’ve only managed to find one we can get to.” Sharp sighed in frustration.

“And if we don’t have enough fuel in the main engines to enter the earth’s atmosphere we’ll either burn up or skip off.”

Buck paused.

“Where.”

“You’re not going to like this.” Share stated, staring at his wingman.

“Where?”

“Los Angeles.”

“Triple Fuck. There’s literally no place to lan….” Buck cut himself off before almost frantically grabbing the onboard map and flipping pages.

Everyone stared at one another confused at his actions.

“There.” Buck turned the map and pointed at one specific location.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Sharp said deadpan.

“Nope. Look. The space shuttle needs at least 5 miles of runway to fully stop. I-10 has a 10-mile stretch at El Monte Busway that’s an almost perfect straight line. If I can bring the shuttle directly in and if nothing goes wrong we’ll be able to land with a few miles to spare.” Buck said pointing.

“There’s a problem.” Leif stated staring once again at his trusty tablet, “Its 5PM there. Bumper to Bumper traffic.”

“Pass it though Houston. Is it possible.” Buck said insisting. He wasn’t wrong.

Sharp shrugged before relaying the information to Houston.

It wasn’t long before they got the answer back.

“Yeah. It’s possible.” Truman drawled into the camera. He’d video called when he got word of this crazy idea, “But you’ve got rush hour going on as we speak.”

“Look. I need confirmation, Harry. Yes or No.” Buck asked staring into Sharp’s eyes.

“Yes.” Truman made a split-second decision.

“Q?” Buck turned to the one person who could make or break his idea.

“Alright. Prepare for reentry interface.” Sharp nodded. He’d always trusted his wingman’s judgement and wouldn’t stop now.

“And the traffic?” Poojah asked from her seat.

Buck smiled.

“Ima make a call.”

*

“911 dispatch.”

Maddie Buckley’s dropped the coffee cup she was holding paling at the voice on the line.

“Hey, Mads.”

“Evan?”

“Listen. This isn’t a social call. I need Ms. Sue. Right now.”

“Ok, Evan.” She replied before waving Sue Blevins over frantically then in an instant decision threw the call to the overhead speakers.

“Maddie?” Sue asked, “What…”

“911 dispatch, this is the space shuttle Enterprise, do you copy?” Evan Buckley’s voice echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

“It’s good to hear from you, Buck. What can we do for you?” Sue smiled pride forming on her face.

Buck quickly outlined what he was thinking.

“Copy, Enterprise. We’ll deliver!”

*

“Attention first responders of Los Angeles. We have a priority one request from Lieutenant Commander Evan Buckley, Space Shuttle Enterprise…”

Athena quickly parked her patrol car on the side of the road and turned up the volume on her radio.

Station 118 went dead silent all staring at their radios. A-Shift who were heading to their cars ready to go and be with their families stopped dead at the announcement. Bobby immediately turned up the station radio his heart in his throat. Hen and Chimney both stared at one another in shock while Eddie bit his lip nerves flooding his body.

Houses and police precincts across the city immediately stopped everything to listen.

“The El Monte Busway needs to be clear of all incoming and outgoing traffic. Available PD, FD and emergency personnel route to area. All others on call begin filtering traffic away from the El Monte Busway to other available routes.”

Sue took a breath stealing her nerves.

“The Space Shuttle Enterprise will be making an emergency landing. Let’s give them a clear approach.”

For a moment silence reigned though the airways.

“727-L-30, heading towards El Monte Busway. ETA 20 min.” Sargent Athena Grant-Nash’s voice echoed though the silence blasting sirens and lights.

“Captain 118. All available vehicles loading out heading to El Monte Busway. ETA 30 min.” Captain Robert Nash wasn’t a second behind his wife all trucks in the bays clearing out as fast as they could.

Houses and precincts across the county began answering the call.

One of their own needed them.

It was their pride to respond.

*

“Enterprise, 911 dispatch, do you copy?”

Buck smiled.

“911 dispatch, we copy.”

“Good news Evan. Both FD and PD are rolling out as we speak. We’ll have it clear in less than 2 hours.” Maddie replied shakily.

“Thanks, Mads.”

“Evan…. I….”

“Hey. We’ll talk when I get home. Promise.”

Buck sat back in his seat staring at his hands. He didn’t have to think about the number of things that could go wrong upon reentry. They could implode. They could explode. They could skip off the atmosphere and careen into space. They could burn up during reentry. Not to mention it was dusk in LA. It would be even harder to have a point of reference.

There was nothing for it now.

All he could do was do.

He had to trust his people would have his back.

“How we looking, Ghost?” Sharp asked floating into the copilot chair.

“Well. Traffic will be clear in about 2 hours, which is perfect cause the Enterprise will be ready by then. Systems look as good as we can get them, and we have less than 25% of our fuel left.” Buck ticked off evenly breathing., “How about your end?”

“NASA and military personnel have already been dispatched to El Monte Busway; ETA 1 hour. All hatches are sealed, crew are getting into the orange monstrosities, and Rich is being monitored by Poojah.” Sharp sighed slouching in his seat.

Both men stared out their respective windows lost in thought.

“It’s been a wild ride, Q” Buck said a soft smile adorning his face.

“Yeah.”

Buck turned to his wingman.

“Let’s fuck this pig.”

“Copy, That Ghosty.”

*

It had been a sight.

Los Angeles Police began flooding the El Monte Busway, stopping the traffic as far as El Monte, California to California State University, Los Angeles. Fire Engines began blocking off exits while Rescue and Ambulances lined the way on the toll road below. For safety’s sake all lanes had been cleared. The NASA deployed convoy with full military escort arrived shortly after them and immediately helped clear the roads.

There had been questions about what to do after, but most figured it could be left to deal with later.

Other houses across LA county began redirecting traffic.

The LA emergency line lit every TV, Radio station and cell phone.

“This is an Emergency Bulletin from the Los Angeles Emergency Service. El Monte Busway and surrounding streets up to 15 miles is closed till further notice. Take alternate routes.”

It helped the news had already been made aware of the situation and was urging residents to stay home or avoid the area all together. So far, people were listening, excited to see the events unfolding in their city. People had taken to flooding roofs, balconies, as high as they could get hoping to see a space shuttle land for the last time.

It had been unheard of, only in movies, for a space shuttle to land in a populated city. White Sands, New Mexico, a training strip for shuttle pilots, had been the last place an emergency landing had taken place.

Californians had taken notice it was one of their own. They’d read articles about Evan Buckley. Firefighter, Navy Pilot, tsunami survivor and hero to boot. Never let it be said they would leave one of their own out to dry.

Eddie and Bobby stood side by side on the El Monte Busway staring at the last of the cars exiting to the streets below. The drive over had been nerve wracking. Learning about an emergency landing in one of the busiest cities in the US would have had them scoffing but they knew Buck.

If anyone could come up with an idea like this, it was him.

And Buck would be the one to pull it off.

Bobby stood muttering prayers hands clasped in front of him and the minutes counted down.

Eddie could only stare at the sky waiting to see the first glimpse of the man he loved.

*

“Enterprise, please hold, Captain Robert Nash, Station 118, Los Angeles Fire Department on the line.”

Buck blinked, already in his flight suit and helmet.

“Captain 118 to Enterprise, do you copy?” Bobby’s voice echoed though the cabin sending waves of calm though Buck’s soul.

“Read you loud and clear.”

“You aright, Buck?”

Buck began chuckling.

“Yeah, cap. I’m good.”

“We’ve got the Busway blocked off 15 miles. You’ll have a clear approach right in.”

Buck sighed in relief. He knew his people wouldn’t let him down.

“You got us and houses 181, 101, and 59’s engines blocking off all lanes. You’ll see them as you come down.”

“Perfect. I’ll be coming in from the east, so I’ll be pointed right at Los Angeles. That’ll give me a point of reference.”

Silence reigned for a moment.

“Hey, Pops.”

“Yeah, Kid.” Bobby closed his eyes for a moment, dreading the response.

“Tell Eddie….”

“Nope. Tell him yourself when you get here. See you soon.”

“Copy, That.”

Buck stared one more out the space shuttle window. It had been a wild ride.

Ghost and Q shared a look.

“Let’s go home.”

“Copy that, Q.”

*

“Enterprise, Houston, we show you go for reentry. Begin deorbit burn.”

Buck closed his eyes.

Now or never.

“Go, deorbit burn.”

With a flick of a switch the shuttle smoothly turned around and began reducing altitude to begin the curve that would sending them down towards the gravitational pull of the plant below. With a brief moments’ hesitation, Buck switched off the autopilot for the last time.

“My ship. Entering orbit.”

It was the longest 3 minutes of the flight crew’s life.

“Shutting off RCS thrusters.” Sharp stated, “Signal loss 30 seconds.”

Buck grit his teeth as the massive drag though the atmosphere caused the shuttle to shake violently. The craft began fighting him for control ready to careen off into space. Steady but strong hands kept them on course never once wavering while Sharp read off situational data and reports of their heat shield burning at almost 1650 degrees Celsius.

It felt like forever but was only seconds.

“Signal restored.”

“Where are we?” Buck asked.

“Telemetry shows we are right on target. Speed is…Shit…. Speed is 19500 we’re coming in too hot.”

“Copy. Rotate 180. Let’s shave some speed.”

Enterprise began weaving slowing down with every turn. The sonic boom caused everyone not used to the sound to flinch while pilot and copilot barely reacted. These next few seconds would be crucial. Precision turns would allow the wind drag to slow them down to a manageable speed while also keeping them aloft.

The space shuttle was in essence an aerodynamic rock. With wings.

The skyline of Los Angeles was an amazing sight. Being so high up and flying so fast towards it was a fascinating moment. Buck couldn’t help but think no one else would see it like he could now.

*

The sonic boom startled everyone present on the busway. Many flinched while others actually ducked.

“Captain 118, be advised. Enterprise is 300 miles out. Over.”

Eddie turned, frantically searching the sky.

“THERE!”

Bobby and Athena grabbed each other’s hand.

Eddie clenched his fists, unwilling to turn away.

*

“300 miles. Los Angeles skyline dead ahead.”

Buck rolled his shoulders.

“Ah. Welcoming Committee.”

A line of f-32s met the shuttle as it flew past. Smiles graced Buck and Q’s faces at the site. There on the ground sat almost 20 fire engines with their lights flashing. The entire 15 miles were lit up like a Christmas tree full of red and blue lights.

“Enterprise, you are 20 miles to LZ.”

“Roger. Lining up. Deploy landing gear.”

Sharp hands moved flipping switches.

“Landing gear deployed. Airspeed is 200.”

“Dropping the nose.”

*

Bobby would later reflect on how quiet the Enterprise was when it landed. Other than the sonic boom that alerted everyone to its presence it made no noise whatsoever.

That did not say it was entirely quiet. The sound of it slicing through the air was deafening. Dust from the busway went flying around as it glided overhead. Everyone standing next to the engines ducked as the tires came only a few feet above their heads.

Bobby covered Athena as best as he could from the flying debris.

Eddie shot back up wishing in his heart of hearts there was something, anything, he could do to help. All he could do what wait with his heart in stomach.

The tires bounced off the pavement with a screech before gravity fully pinned the shuttle to the ground. Smoke from the tires flew in the air as the breaks activated in an attempt to stop the craft going so fast before. The parashoot flying out of the tail slowed the craft gradually until finally came to a gentle stop.

The silence following was deafening. For a long moment no one spoke.

“Wheels stopped. Enterprise is home.” Buck stated to both mission control and anyone listening to his frequency.

The 118 as a whole began screaming and yelling, cheering their youngest member while people worldwide began celebrating. At Houston Mission Control, hugs and handshakes were being exchanged with smiles and laughter.

It had been a long few months.

Months full of innovations, concepts, making dreams reality. It had been days filled with worry and hours filled with anxiety and minutes filled with heart stopping fear.

Now only pride, joy and celebration remained.

“Beginning shutdown sequence.” Sharp said with a grin.

“Uh. I got a question. What do we do with him?” Leif asked thumbing at Rich.

Buck began laughing almost uncontrollably actually holding on to the dash to keep himself upright.

“Orders is to hand him over to our military escort. They wanna have words.” Sharp gracefully ignored Buck still chuckling while methodically finishing shut down procedures.

It only took 20 minutes until the Enterprise was finally silent all of its lights and screens dark. It was sad in a way. The sturdy craft had been home for 14 days.

“Farewell, Enterprise. We thank you.” Buck said with a solemn voice. All crew members nodded before silently making their way to the hatch.

“Blowing!” Leif said before the hatch flew open, an inflatable slide folding to the ground below.

*

20 minutes could span a lifetime especially when waiting for someone you loved.

It was the first time Bobby could say Eddie was as hyper as Buck, bouncing on his toes with an excited smile on his face. Athena would later claim Bobby wasn’t much better.

Everyone else present (looking at you again, Jax) would say the trio were all equally bouncing, proud smiles on all of their faces. The cheering hadn’t stopped trucks and police cars sirens blaring in the night.  

Finally, the hatch door flew open and one by one the crew exited the shuttle finally home.

Eddie ran faster than he’d ever had in his life towards the smiling figure with arms already open.

Buck was nearly taken off his feet with the force of his partner slamming into him. Later he would recall the clapping of his crew and the rescue personnel and the pain his ribs gave off at such a violent impact but all he could focus on at that moment was the love of his life in his arms kissing him senseless.

“Bienvenido a casa, mi amor/ Welcome home, my love.” Eddie whispered against his lips a breathtaking smile on his handsome face.

“I’m home, babe. I’m home.” Buck said tears silently falling down his cheeks.

The soft moment was interrupted by Athena all but snatching him into a hug before frantically checking him over. Bobby jogged up, the rest of the 118 at his heels, and engulfed him in another hug.

Buck smiled though his tears.

He was home.

It had been fairly anticlimactic, the after.

The Enterprise had been sealed up then escorted carefully to Los Angeles International Airport where it remained in a hanger until it was attached to a Bowing 757 and flown back to its final resting place in New York. It had been bittersweet watching the old girl go.

Rich had been escorted off by the Navy personnel as soon as his feet touched the ground. The entire Parker family would later be charged with a cornucopia of felonies. It came out his mom had been the one to slip him his phone, given to him when they’d last seen their families before the lunch and that his father had known about it but did not report it. All three were in federal prison awaiting trial.

Sharp, Buck and the flight crew had to return to Houston for debriefing, final health and mental assessments. The extra 2 weeks were some of the longest they’d ever been though but the bright side, according to Poojah, was the fact all this could be done on the ground.

There was already talks about medals and promotions for both Navy men. Since he did sign his reactivation within the Navy Buck would have to finish his current deployment, but it would only be a few months before he would finally be able to retire with full honors. His family wasn’t happy but understood he would have to see it though. Buck didn’t mind. He would be flying with Sharp until they BOTH retired.

Poojah and Leif were finally released back to Caltech and JPL respectively. With promises to keep in touch they’d eagerly left to finally be with their families.

After a grueling 2 weeks of questioning Sharp and Buck finally said their goodbyes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

“See you soon, Ghosty.”

“You too, Q.”

After a 3-hour nonstop flight and coordinating with Eddie who all but demanded his itinerary Buck finally step foot back into Los Angeles ready and willing to sleep a week. As he walked though the gates he couldn’t help but think about the last time he’d been here, hyped up on caffeine and adrenaline, nervously studying a flight manual he’d memorized by heart all those years ago for a moment he’d thought would never come.

Now he’d returned, made history, and came back from a mission that could have and in some cases should have cost him his life. He’d gotten his family back. Even though it wasn’t perfect, it was his. They all had issues they would have to work through but they would together and be stronger for it.

“BUCK!” Chris’s voice echoed though the hall and Buck laughed rushing forward to meet his favorite person in the entire world.

“You brought me a souvenir, right?” Chris asked staring in his eyes.

Buck laughed his eyes scanning over Eddie, Athena, and Bobby who’d come to meet him.

“Well…” he hedged, before pulling out a piece of metal plating out his pocket, “One metal plate from the ISS itself. Don’t tell anybody I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to have that.”

Chris’s smile warmed every part of his heart.

Buck knew he’d have a lot to handle in the months ahead.

For now, Buck would rest well with his family at his side ready to face tomorrow.