Sam wasn't one to open himself up to others. But maybe that that had been for his less than stellar friendships over the years. He had his mother, who he didn't want to burden, and a sister still off in New York.
Los Angeles seemed to have a mind to change that, starting with Eddie.

They had fallen into an easy conversation immediately, a gradual friendship two hours into their hangout at a bar neither of them had previously been to. Sam talked a lot about his past. Past friends, jobs, relationships. But Eddie, he preferred to talk about the present, and the common theme seemed to surround his coworkers.

"You talk a lot about the 118." Sam had spoken bluntly, downing the last of his glass. He had opted for water rather than the beer Eddie had only taken a few sips out of all evening.

"Yeah," Eddie agreed easily, nodding his head as he leaned into the back of his seat at their table, grabbing a fry out of the basket in front of him. "Buck, Hen, Chim, Bobby, they're all pretty great."

Sam imagined how Eddie's friend, Buck may have reacted to a bold statement such as the one he had just thrown at Eddie. Buck would surely duck his head, a bashful smile on his face with a blush of embarrassment to match. He found himself blurting out a question.
"How long have you all been friends?"

"From the beginning." Eddie smiled, before letting out a small chuckle. "Actually, no, Buck and I butted heads, but by the end of my first shift, we were buddies."

"You seem to be close now." Sam tried for nonchalance, leaning forward.

"Yeah," The other man confirmed, voice calm, easy. "Buck's a good guy, even through it all."

Sam's eyes narrowed, keeping his face blank rather than betray his confusion.
"What do you mean?"

Eddie seemed reluctant to continue. Maybe the calm conversation up to that point had loosened his tongue.
"He's just had a rough go of it." The man had shrugged in response, cryptic, and unwilling to continue.

Sam dropped it with a quick nod, lines at the edge of his mouth threatening to give way to a thoughtful frown. A cellphone rattled from the tabletop, where it rested beside Eddie's lax hand. Sam read the contact name as "Bobby" from across the table before the firefighter snatched it up with a quick apology to Sam, holding it up to the side of his face.

"Hey," Eddie greeted, brows furrowed as he listening to the voice on the other line.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." His eyes were narrow, jaw muscles tensing. "I'm not saying here, Cap, I'll be there in ten minutes." He muttered into the phone before hanging up.

"Everything alright?" Sam asked, studying Eddie as the other man shot out of his seat.

"Buck's been hurt." Eddie explained, feeling at the front of his jeans, digging a frantic hand into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet, but Sam beat him to it, a few bills hitting the table.

"I got it." Sam muttered, grabbing at the jacket hanging on the back of his chair as he stood. "Which hospital? I'll meet you there."

"Oak Memorial." Eddie answered, already moving to head out the door, Sam following quickly behind him.

"I'll be there." Sam said in goodbye, parting ways with Eddie to climb into the truck parked beside the firefighter's own.

-

The room was quiet, dotted with a few waiting strangers who seemed equal parts anxious and sad. A few people looked up to eye him as he and Eddie entered, but the others kept their solemn eyes fixed on their chosen points of the room, whether it be a mark on the wall or a speck of dust on the white linoleum flooring.
Sam hated waiting rooms, he found them suffocating.

"Bobby!" Eddie called out, jogging to meet the group of firefighters still in their gear. Sam followed behind. There was a teary eyed woman whom he didn't recognize, quick in assuming she was Chimney's partner as her vice-like grip was kept on the hem of his turnout gear.

"Eddie," The captain greeted out with a sigh, eyeing the doors that lead further into the ER unit before his gaze seemed to fully focus on his subordinate's entrance, and with that, Sam's as well. "Murphy," He nodded.

"What happened?" Sam queried, stepping into the circle of worried firefighters.

"There was a structure fire, a beam fell on him." Hen explained, voice rife with emotion as she shifted her feet. "His pupil response was delayed, the concussion's bad. The beam fell on his chest, his ribs could be broken."

"He's made it through worse." Eddie reminded the team, moving a hand to gently squeeze Hen's bicep. She easily nodded her head in agreement, unshed tears making her eyes appear glassy.
"I radioed dispatch to put us on the back burner until we get news from the doctor." Bobby explained after a moment of stifling silence.

"Family of Evan Buckley," A man called out.

Chimney's partner moved toward him, nodding for the rest to follow. Sam was reluctant to go with, not nearly as close with Buck as the rest of them.
"I'm the emergency contact, his sister, Maddie Buckley." She explained quickly. Sam did nothing to betray his surprise.

"Well, you're brother's ribs are thankfully only bruised. He unfortunately had a pretty large hit to the head, sustaining a major concussion." The doctor quickly explained, eyes darting between members of the group.
"But he's coherent, talking, and he wants to see you. I'd recommend a week of rest before going back to work, and another week before any major physical activity. It'd be best if someone were with him at least through the first twenty-four hours."

"Okay, thank you." Maddie smiled, worried tears diminishing and threatening to pool with ones of happiness and relief.
The doctor led them to Buck's room, dipping his head in goodbye after a few quiet words with Maddie.

"Hey," Buck smiled in greeting, sitting up from the bed. The overhead lights were switched off when they entered the room, the only light offered being from the ajar door.

Maddie rushed to him, her hands grabbing at his own to hold it tightly. "When is it someone else's turn to get hurt." She protested, earning another smile from her brother.

"Not it." Eddie muttered, earning a surprised glance from Buck.

"Eddie?" He asked, his best friend moving forward, as if summoned by his name.
"Thought you were with Sam?"

"He's here too." Eddie explained, hand moving to gesture behind him. Sam was near the door in an attempt to give the people most important to Buck their time with him, face more or less hidden in the dark.

"Oh," Buck murmured, brows furrowing. "Sorry I interrupted your day off." His eyes darted between the two men, apologetic.

"I was bored anyway." Sam grunted out in confession, his sarcasm sounding a little too literal. Eddie fixed him with an amused glare as Buck barked out a laugh, wincing immediately after.

"Let's get you home." Maddie butt in as she rolled her eyes with a smile.

"What? No, Maddie, I thought you had work tonight?" Buck protested, craning his neck back to assess her face.

"I do," Maddie explained. "I'll just call in. See if anyone can cover for me."

"No, no. They need you. I'll be fine." Buck said quickly, placating hands shooting up. The group began to immediately grumble in disagreement.

"I can get Carla to watch Chris," Eddie offered, stilling immediately after in realization. "But I've got a shift tomorrow, but Cap could find somebody to cover?" He murmured, the statement's end turning into a question.

"I'm free." Sam spoke up before Captain Nash could open his mouth straightening from where he was leaning against a wall near the entrance of the room. Everyone turned to eye him. "Off of work tomorrow too."

"No that's—" Buck started.

"Really?" Maddie beamed with an appreciative smile. "Oh, that's so sweet of you! I don't think we've met. I'm Maddie."

"Sam," He nodded his head in greeting.

"Uh, really, guys, I think I'll be fine—"

"Oh, Sam!" Her eyes coloring with realization as she pointed a knowing finger at him. "I think Buck and Chim have talked a little about you. Buck was saying that—" She started, taking a step further toward him.

"Okay, alright, let's go!" Buck shoved at the blanket atop him, kicking his legs out to the side. "Chimney grab my pants!"