Title: The Common Denominator
Series: The Smile in Your Eyes
Series Order: 3
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Contemporary, Family
Pairing: Gen, implied Eddie Diaz/Lucy Donato, discussion of past canon relationships
Rating: PG
Warnings: Canon-level circumstances and angst
Author Note: If there’s any confusion about canon references, please see the notes tab on the series page.
Timeline: Season 8
Challenge: Just Write Create Your Own Bingo – Bad Things Happen, Prompt: Injury
Word Count: ~3,100
Summary: Chris and Eddie go for a hike and have a heart to heart about all the things that have changed—and observe the things that obviously haven’t.

The Common Denominator

“Are you sure it was real sage?”

“It was a smudge stick, Dad. Buck got a fancy one that was tied with lavender and some other herbs. But it was mostly white sage. Smelled nice. It was actually really pretty, kind of a shame to burn it.”

Eddie frowned. “What else.”

“On Josh’s recommendation, there was also some palo santo, cedar, and basil. We used a singing bowl, and Buck did something with some black tourmaline.”

“Is that why those are still around the house?”

“Cardinal points,” Chris said with a firm nod.

“And you’re sure you did it right?”

Chris gave him a look.

“Well, clearly it didn’t work.”

“If you’ll notice, Buck and I are not stuck here.”

“Exactly.” Eddie pointed his finger at his son. “Clearly you are the common denominator.”

Chris gave an indignant squawk. “Are you saying I’m cursed?”

“Let me count. And I’m only counting the ones where you’ve been stuck or trapped in some way.” He held up his hand and started ticking them off. “Tsunami, tornado, earthquake, and now mudslide.”

“In my defense, you’re the one who is injured here, not me.”

It was the fact that Eddie had probably broken his ankle that had gotten him down this ridiculous path of talking about the ritual. He was trying to get Christopher’s mind off his worry over Eddie’s injury. They were cut off and not able to do much about their situation for the moment, so distraction was the order of the day.

At Buck’s suggestion, Chris had wanted to give hiking a try again, so they’d gotten him some trekking poles. A few easy hikes had been a success, and Chris had better balance with the poles than his crutches, so they’d planned a bigger trip on more uneven terrain to see how Chris’ balance held up.

Eddie had almost canceled when Buck had to cover for someone on B-shift at the last minute, but Christopher was so eager to try the more rigorous hike, that Eddie had gone with it. Then a mudslide had wiped out part of the trail, blocking their egress. Fortunately, Eddie had seen the impending signs and gotten them out of the way, but he’d seriously injured his ankle in the process.

He carefully considered Christopher’s point about Eddie being the one injured. “When are you ever injured in these little tangoes with nature?”

Chris opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. “That’s a fair point, but in my defense, you and Buck are both bigger and tend to turn into protective meat suits the minute anything goes wrong. I can hardly be blamed for faring better than you.” He gave an indignant little sniff.

“I still think you did the ritual wrong. Nature is clearly out to get you, and you need to appease it somehow.”

“Dad! Nature loves me; I’m sure of it.”

“You must get this ego from Buck.”

Chris laughed, then he sobered again as his hands fluttered around the crude wrapping around Eddie’s ankle. “Is there anything I can do?”

“How’s the phone?”

“Just like last time, the screen still looks like an abstract art piece, but I think I got a text message out. I get static when I try to place a call, but it might be connecting. I left the call going to Buck, but not sure what the result was. The GPS features should still be working, and he has access to our location, so…” he trailed off and shrugged.

“Right.” Eddie sighed and leaned back against a sun-warmed rock. “Well, we might as well relax and not stress it right now. We’ve done what we can, we’ve got food and water to last for a bit, and my ankle is wrapped to the best of our ability. Now we just wait and consider what you two did wrong in this cleansing ritual.”

“Dad! You don’t even believe in curses; how can you think we messed up the cleansing?”

“Because I’m here with the common denominator.”

“Weren’t you the one who had the other mud incident?”

“We don’t talk about the other mud incident, and that was not a natural disaster, so it doesn’t count.”

Chris’ eyes narrowed. “I feel like the tomfoolery you two get up to at work, and the consequences are relevant. Or maybe they’re a more relevant category since I have never been laid up from a natural disaster, but you two get stuck at home from your hijinks all the time.”

“Did you get an obscure word thesaurus?”

“Don’t change the subject, and yes.”

“Buck?”

“Who else?”

“Right.” Eddie pointed a finger at his son. “We are not comparing your proclivity for being trapped due to mother nature’s fury to me or Buck have job-related incidents.”

“That hardly seems fair!”

“Cry me a river.”

“Riverine flooding is one of the eighteen recognized natural disasters. We haven’t experienced that one yet.” Chris smiled sweetly at him.

“I do not know where these trollish tendencies came from, I really don’t.”

“Can’t imagine.”

“Get over here.” He pulled Chris into a side hug and kissed his temple. “I love you, you little brat.”

Chris laughed. “Love you too. Thanks for distracting me.”

“Welcome. We’re still redoing the cleansing ritual, otherwise I’m never letting you out of the house again.”

“Clearly I just need to venture out by myself.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Chris rested against his side, lazily sipping from the bottle of water Eddie had pulled out earlier. “Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“Is Buck okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is he happy?”

“Buck’s usually happy. He’s one of the happiest people I know.” Eddie turned it over in his mind, trying to pinpoint what Chris’ concern might be. “Something specific you’ve noticed?”

“His eyes are different since I’ve been back. The smile doesn’t go all the way there.” Chris hesitated. “I worry he’s not truly happy anymore.”

“He’s happy, mijo.” Eddie now got what Chris was picking up on. “Sometimes there’s just a lot going on with people, and emotions are complicated.”

“Is it about Tommy?”

Eddie sighed. “I think so. He hasn’t wanted to talk about it in a long while.”

“Why?” Chris turned a bit to peer up at him. “Shouldn’t he be able to talk about it if it’s making him sad?”

“He should be able to talk about whatever he wants.” Eddie considered his words carefully. “People sometimes expect you to get past something in their timeline, and then they want to stop hearing about it.”

Chris frowned. “Yeah, I know. Like how so much of the family never wanted me to talk about being sad about losing Mom.”

“Chris…”

“It’s okay, Dad. It was a long time ago.”

“But it was all dredged back up with Kim.”

“I guess so. Yeah, in a way it was. And some people still don’t want me to talk about Mom, like she never existed or something, and it’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not fair. Though, to be reasonable to everyone, a death isn’t the same thing as a breakup.”

“No, but it’s loss, and it’s supposed to be okay to grieve, at least for a little while. They didn’t break up that long ago.”

“That’s true.”

“So, maybe he’s still so sad because he feels like he can’t talk about it?”

“Or maybe…” Eddie hesitated, wondering if this conversation was too adult for his kid, even though Christopher was turning into a young man every day, right before his eyes.

“Maybe what?”

“Maybe Tommy was his person, and maybe broken hearts take time to heal.”

Chris went quiet for a while. “Then he definitely needs space to talk about it. He shouldn’t have to be silent about losing someone he loved that much, Dad.”

“No, he shouldn’t.”

“Do you think Tommy was his person? Like his forever person?”

“It seemed like it to me. But it’s hard to know that from the outside. I never asked Tommy. For that matter, I never really asked Buck.”

“But why?”

Eddie turned that question over in his mind, not entirely sure there was a good answer. He reached down and adjusted his leg, getting his foot propped up to a better level. “I think Buck and I got used to compartmentalizing stuff like that too much. I’m not even sure why anymore. Buck definitely doesn’t let me get away with anything, which is good for me, even if it’s difficult sometimes. But I also don’t always understand Buck.”

Chris gave him a deeply confused look. “Buck says you understand him better than anyone.”

Eddie blew out a heavy breath. “This feels like it might be turning inappropriately adult.”

“Dad, come on.”

“Do you know what aromantic is?”

“Yeah, of course. But, Buck’s not aro, Dad. Why would you think that?”

Eddie cocked his head to the side. “How do you know what it is?”

“Well, we’d been going through health and sexuality class at school, plus Buck was going through his whole sexual identity thing, and decided to fill in all the deficiencies he saw in my coursework.”

“Ah.” Eddie rubbed the back of his neck. “Buck’s not aromantic, kiddo. I am.”

Chris’ eyes went wide, and his mouth formed a perfect O. After a beat, he schooled his expression and swallowed. “That explains a lot.”

“Does it?” he asked on a startled laugh.

“Yeah, cause you pick all these pretty girls for their aesthetics, so I assume you’re attracted to them, but you really suck at relationships.”

Eddie laughed with more humor this time. “It’s because there’s a big part of it that doesn’t connect for me, and it took me time to figure that out. I like having family and having a partner, but the squishy romantic stuff… I just don’t get it. I try, but it feels awkward and performative. I did some therapy on this while you were away, and Buck and I talked about it a little too.”

Chris looked thoughtful. “Is this why you and Buck never got together?”

Eddie took the time to consider that carefully because he knew Chris deserved a real answer. “Buck is family to both of us, and he’s never going anywhere. And to some degree, he probably is my partner in a platonic sense, and he’s your other parent in a way no one else could ever be.” He ruffled Christopher’s hair. “Especially considering your rapid advancement towards the need for geriatric care.”

“Dad!” Chris laughed and batted his hand away. “Yes, Buck is my other dad. Anyone with eyes and a functioning brain cell should know that.”

“The thing is, Buck definitely has a marshmallow center. He’s as far from aro as you can get, I think.”

“Is that the way you interpret it…? I mean that being in love is soft.”

“Well, yes. I suppose so. I feel love for people, so those are softer emotions to me. They are intense, but also soft. I’m not sure how else to say it. I don’t really have experience with the romantic side of it, but it seems like if it’s a manifestation of the love emotions, then, to me, it’s soft. But I’m not implying anything negative with the word.”

“Hmm. Okay. I was just curious. Have you and Buck talked about the parent-partner thing or is he in the dark, and this is just your own realization?”

“We talked about it recently. He’s good with it. Certainly the parent part. He’s figuring out how the platonic life partner thing will work for us, and we’ve got time to figure it out. One thing we’ve discussed is buying a bigger house and him living with us. Future partners for both of us would have to deal with our family dynamic or else they don’t fit. Buck is percolating on it.”

“He does like to percolate.” Chris leaned against him more heavily. “I could be persuaded to this plan of yours.”

“You could, huh?”

“It’s not a horrible idea.”

“I’ll take your non-committal, semi-approval under advisement.”

“Right.” Chris sighed. “So, Buck is more likely to bring in a romantic partner who has to figure out how to fit. What about you?”

“I’m not sure. It won’t be a romantic partner.” Eddie hesitated. “When I told Buck I was aro, he introduced me to someone who is also aro. It’s been nice.”

“Is that who you’ve been hanging out with?”

“Yeah. Weirdly, she works with Tommy, though we’re careful never to discuss Tommy or Buck. We just hang out and have fun.”

“And do the horizontal mambo?”

“Ay Dios, Christopher!”

“Well, isn’t that the whole point of your fun friend when you’re aro?”

Eddie sighed and rubbed his forehead. “We do enjoy adult time together, yes. And it is nice to explore a relationship with someone that doesn’t have a romantic component or romantic expectations. It’s new for me not to be figuring out the next step. She knows Buck is my partner when it comes to you, she’s not interested in romance or being in love anymore than I am, so we’re building a friendship and having fun. Many times that fun is more than sex. So, please give me space to figure myself out, and don’t assume the only thing I do with Lucy is…whatever you said. And please never use that language again in my presence.”

“Sure thing.” Chris patted his leg. “Proud of you, Dad. Thanks for sharing that with me.”

Eddie felt oddly touched. “Thanks, kiddo.”

“Now, Buck just needs to fall in love again with the perfect person who doesn’t mind our family dynamic and won’t mess it up.”

“Do not start meddling or matchmaking. Let Buck sort himself out.”

“He’s not sorting himself out, though, and his eyes are always sad.”

“They’re not always sad; they’re just different. He’s been through a lot the last couple of years. There’s more than Tommy. We’ll give him a little grace, okay?”

“If you say so.”

“Be patient, mijo.”

“Do I have to be patient about everything?”

“What else would you like to be impatient about?”

“Getting out of here! Because there are rocks poking me in the butt, and I’m tired of it.”

“Amen. Buck should know by now that we’re in trouble and be looking for us.”

Chris gave him an odd look. “Why would he know. Unless that call connected.”

“I’m out with you, there was a natural disaster. Of course you were in it!”

“Dad! I am not the common denominator!”

Eddie stared. “Give me another theory, then.”

“I refuse to accept the blame for nature.”

Suddenly, the end of a rope dropped in Eddie’s lap, and they both looked up to find Buck leaning over the edge of the cliff face just far enough above them to be out of reach in Eddie’s condition.

Buck was in his climbing gear with Bobby next to him. “Heads up!”

“You’re supposed to call out before flinging things down at people, Buckley!”

“Oh, is that the order of operations? I forgot in my shock at not being the one stuck down there.”

“What is Bobby doing here?”

“I arranged to call in our team to come get you two. Might as well keep it in the family. No point in traumatizing a whole other shift or firehouse. Athena is here too.”

Eddie and Chris exchanged a look before Chris whispered, “We’re going to get a lecture.”

“Probably.”

“What’s up with your ankle?” Buck asked.

“Definitely sprained, possibly broken,” Eddie called up.

“Wonderful. You good with a tandem harness and I’ll winch you two up, or do I need to come down with a basket and bring you up like a damsel in distress?”

Eddie double-birded his best friend. “We’ll be fine with the tandem harness.”

Chris stilled his hands as he was working on the harness. “We’re okay, right, Dad?”

“I don’t know… are you going to do the ritual properly this time?”

Chris laughed. “Dad.”

“I’m serious. Clearly whatever you did last time didn’t work. We’re all very outdoorsy, so we need to solve this problem.” He gently patted Chris’ cheek. “We’re good. And getting better all the time when we’re together. Right?”

“Right.” Chris looked up. “Hey, Buck!”

“You guys ready?” Buck appeared back over the ledge about ten feet above them. “You’re not ready. What’s up?”

“What’s the deadliest natural disaster?”

“Are we seriously having trivia while injured?”

“Come on.”

“Famine brought about by drought.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yes. Followed by flooding.”

“Oh. Well, what kind of disaster are we most likely to get here?”

“That’s a crazy question.” Buck laughed.

Eddie frowned. “Why is it a crazy question?”

“Because of the eighteen natural hazards in the National Risk Index, I think the only ones we really don’t have potential issue with here are the ones very specific to cold weather, and a couple of those can occur here, such as hailstorms. So, I think that only takes three of the board.”

“Wait wait wait,” Eddie called out. “Are you saying we’re at risk of about fifteen out of eighteen of the natural disasters?”

Buck nodded with a smile, as if the answer had been obvious. “I mean, volcanic activity is pretty unlikely, but we do live on the ring of fire, my man.”

Eddie looked at Christopher. “We’re moving.”

Chris laughed. “Dad… We’re not moving.”

“We have to move. You’re cursed.”

“I’m not cursed. I’ve never even been injured.”

“That’s a good point,” Athena called down. “The rest of you are clearly going to die though. Sooner rather than later if you don’t get your asses up here. I have a roast on for Sunday dinner, and I expect you all there, which will not happen if you keep dawdling down there talking about whether or not Los Angeles is going to be consumed in a volcano.”

“Wow.” Chris breathed. “I’d rather take than my chances with a volcano than piss off Athena.”

“Me too,” Eddie muttered, helping Chris into the rescue harness. “You’ll go with Bobby and Athena, and Buck can take me to the ER for X-rays.”

“I’ll text Josh for a better ritual,” Chris said gravely.

“Thought the last ritual was fine,” Eddie teased.

“Clearly all the rituals are working on me, but you and Buck are jinxed like whoa.”

The End