in another life

✧

Tires screeched up to the ambulance bay of the hospital and instantly, the group of firefighters yanked open the back doors while they watched Chimney try and resuscitate Buck. They had only been driving for around three minutes, but there hadn't been any sign of life on the monitor.

Water splashed around as they ran through the ambulance bay and headed for the automated doors.

"30-year-old male struck by lightning," Bobby announced as the gurney pulled through the doors. "Full cardiac arrest. He was down three minutes before we started compressions."

"Lightning went through his hands and out his knee, right down the midline. Could be some damage to major organs."

"He's in V-tach!"

"Alright, clear!"

"We've got a pulse."

"Okay, he has a history of blood clotting," Bobby listed. "He's not currently on any medication, but he does have an allergy to naproxen!"

"Got it!" The doctor shouted. "We'll do our best!"

"Do more!"

In sync, the group looked at each other almost dumbfounded. Without another word, Bobby wrapped his arm around Olivia's shoulder and the rest soon followed suit, holding each other tight almost as if they were afraid to let go.

✶❤︎✶❤︎

"They ran out of oat milk." Eddie made the announcement to the Han brothers as he and Hen walked over to the two while they stared through the window of the ICU's hospital room. Buck's current status still wasn't too great, all they could do was wait until there was a sign of lividity emitting from the monitors.

"Chim, go home," Hen sighed. "You need to pace yourself, it won't do Buck any good if you're here and not getting any rest."

"So, who's gonna tell him that?" Chimney crossed his arms and nodded at the window.

"Uh, anyone know where Liv went?" Eddie looked around, confused.

Albert pointed toward the elevator. "She said she was going to the chapel."

"Didn't know she was religious?" Hen raised her brow.

"She's not."

Eddie handed off the coffee to Albert before walking in the direction of the elevators. He took a glance at the hospital directory and pressed the level the hospital's chapel was on before going about finding his girlfriend.

When he did, he found her seated in the last row of the chapel as she stared blankly ahead.

"What are you doing in here?"

Olivia lulled her head to the side and saw Eddie standing in front of her with his hand outstretched, offering her a cup of what she assumed was coffee.

"Not up for coffee right now," she waved him off.

"Good thing it's tea. Drink." He took a seat beside her, letting out a low sigh. "What's with the change of scenery?"

"Can't take standing outside of that room and just...staring at him."

"Have you tried walking inside the room?"

Olivia nodded, taking a sip of the hot liquid. "I don't know what to say to him." She scoffed, feeling the tears well behind her eyes, and tried to push them away. "Am I supposed to say sorry for sending him up there and practically killing him? Or sorry for not speaking to you for the past few weeks because I'm selfish and stubborn?"

"It's not your fault, Olivia. You couldn't have predicted that lightning would strike."

"No. I-I know that. I just don't know what I'd do if he..."

"I know." Eddie opened his arms and engulfed her in them. "I also know you haven't eaten today. Do you want to go down and get some food from the cafeteria?"

"Elisa said she and May were coming by after they were done with their classes," Olivia shrugged. "I'll ask her if she can pick us up something. I'm sure we could all use some food."

"Sounds good. Ready to get out of here?"

"Not yet." She gathered his hands in hers and squeezed them. "I love you for checking up on me but he's your best friend too. How are you holding up?"

"Waiting is the worst part of this," Eddie confessed. "But that's all we can do."

"And it's not the first time you've had to sit around and wait by someone's bedside. I'm sure this brings up some feelings and if you want to talk..."

"I know. You're always here," Eddie gently caressed his thumb across her cheek and smiled. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

✶❤︎✶❤︎

Olivia sighed as she crossed her legs and sank deeper into the chair by Buck's bedside. After taking some time to be by herself in the chapel, she tried again to sit and speak to the unconscious man, but again, she could not muster any words.

Another silent moment slipped by and the door opened, she turned her head to see Christopher walking into the room with Eddie behind him.

"Hey, how did you get in here?" She asked, standing up from the chair to greet the two Diaz boys. "I thought kids weren't allowed in the ICU."

"Couldn't tell him no," Eddie shrugged. "Elisa's here, by the way."

"Is he sleeping?" Christopher asked.

"Something like that," Eddie responded. "He's resting. So the machines can do all the work."

"What are all these tubes?"

"That's part of the ECMO machine," Olivia said. "It takes his blood and puts extra oxygen in it. And then that blood goes into his body."

"Can he hear me?" Christopher glanced at his parents.

Olivia softly nodded. "I'm sure he can."

"Hey, Buck. It's Christopher. I know you're sick, but it's only temporary. You're gonna be okay. That's what all the machines are doing." Christopher reached his hand out to rest on Buck's arm. "Making you better. But wherever you are, you have to come back."

Olivia bit down on her bottom lip to suppress the sob that wanted so badly to escape from her mouth. She put her head down and secretly swiped away a few tears before lightly touching Eddie's bicep.

"I'm going to step out for a moment. You okay here?"

"Yeah, we're gonna stay for a little longer."

Exiting the room, Olivia decided to ditch the hospital in its entirety. She made it to the front of the hospital when she spotted her younger sister sitting on a bench with a plastic bag beside her and a small frown etched on her lips.

"El, what are you doing out here?"

"Just wanted some fresh air. May and I were in the waiting room for a while because we didn't want to interrupt."

"How are you feeling?" The older woman reached for her sister's hand.

Rolling her eyes, the college student huffed and sagged her shoulders. "I'm getting kind of sick of only seeing everyone when someone's in the hospital."

"I know. Me too. Is there anything I could do for you?"

"A hug from my big sister would be nice."

Olivia chuckled but didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around her younger sister. She squeezed her tightly and only pulled away when the girl had enough and tried to wiggle out of her tight grasp.

"Are you doing okay?" Elisa questioned. "You're not...stressing yourself out too much, are you? I know you guys haven't left the hospital much."

"We haven't but we're all hanging in there. For Buck."

Elisa smiled as she squeezed her sister's hand. "For Buck."

✶❤︎✶❤︎

Olivia watched as the car drove up beside her, she bent her knees slightly and waved at the man in the driver's seat before opening the passenger door and eyeing her son unbuckle himself. A day had passed, and the doctors decided to take Buck off the ventilators and hope he would finally start breathing on his own, which he did.

Since he was alert and patiently awaiting visitors, Olivia reached out to Tyler and asked if he would be willing to drop off their son. It wasn't her week so him being apart from everyone was especially difficult and she knew he would want to be there right as Buck woke up.

"How are you, munchkin?" Olivia dropped a kiss on his head before they headed for the hospital doors.

Malakai hummed as she shrugged his shoulders. "Just glad Uncle Buck's okay."

"Yeah, me too."

By the time they made it to the waiting room, everyone was sitting around and anticipating the doctor's appearance. Maddie was inside of the room getting updates from the doctor and catching her brother up on everything but before they knew it, his doctor was exiting the room and notifying them that he was ready for visitors.

An instantaneous round of cheers elicited the moment the group entered his room. Buck had a bright smile on his face, almost like nothing happened and was waiting for everyone to greet him with open arms.

Playfully zapping Buck on the arm, Eddie grinned and gently nudged his sons toward the man but not without zapping him once more.

"Too soon," Olivia chastised and elbowed the man. She made eye contact with Buck and sent him a soft nod, smiling. "Glad you're okay."

Buck sent her a soft smile back. "Me too." He then glanced around the room and let out a chuckle. "Oh, do I have some stuff to tell you guys."

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authors note

-he's alive! sort of had some difficulty writing this one since there were so many scenes about the alternate universe but I tried my best🙂 next chapter is very exciting👀🤭

-hope you all enjoyed the chapter!