Chapter Text
It was a normal and routine day at the 118. There were no natural disasters, five alarm fires, or bombs going off. They had gotten a new probie, a legacy from Texas named Maggie Harris, who was so far fitting in well with the team. Buck was making family dinner, Bobby’s famous lasagna. It had become a tradition to welcome new firefighters to the team with Bobby's lasagna.
The lasagna and garlic bread had just been placed in the oven when his phone rang, Bobby's name and a picture of Bobby and Athena with all ten of their grandkids the previous Christmas popped up.
“Hey Bobby, everything okay?” Buck asked hoping that Andi wasn't going down a panic induced spiral waiting for an acceptance letter from Sarah Lawrence, or Daphne having a panic attack about her choice to go to NYU and that her and Andi wouldn't be living across the hall from each other the next year, or that Robby had decided to pull another prank on his sisters that would just antagonize the already high strung twins.
“Athena and I are taking Robby to the hospital. Athena is on the phone with Tommy and he is going to meet us at Saint Mary's.” Buck's brain did a hard reset.
“What happened?” Buck's head was swirling with worst case scenarios from all the calls he had been on involving kids.
“He fell off his skateboard, after trying to build a ramp out of some wood boards and paint cans he found in Tommy's workshop. He's got a broken arm, I already got it set and in a brace, he's okay Buck.” He took a deep breath,
“I'm going to meet you there.” Buck hung up and got Ravi's attention across the loft where he was reading a parenting book across the table from Chimney who was reading through Jee's final thesis.
“Ravi, Robby has a broken arm and is on the way to the hospital. I have to go, you're Acting Captain. I'll be back tomorrow.” Ravi gave his affirmative. When Buck arrived at the hospital Robby Had already been taken back and Tommy was with him. Bobby and Athena were in the waiting room, Athena was on her phone while Bobby was flipping through a magazine. One of the nurses was kind enough to take Buck back to Robby’s room. His little boy who was no longer so little was sitting on a hospital bed looking more miserable than Buck had ever seen him while his arm was being wrapped in a neon green cast.
“Oh sweetheart.” Buck murmured, squeezing Tommy’s hand in thanks when his husband moved allowing Buck to take a seat next to their youngest.
“I’m sorry Daddy.” Robby sounded so small, the poor boy probably hurt so bad.
“It’s okay baby. You have nothing to apologize for. You were so brave calling your grandparents to come get you.” Buck didn't want Robby to ever feel like an imposition because of getting hurt.
“The doctor said it was a clean break, the cast can come off in six weeks.” Tommy filled Buck in running a hand through Robby's floppy brown waves pushing his bangs out of his eyes. “Our boy has been so brave, Evan. He knew just what to do.”
“Seems like he is pretty lucky, having so many first responders in his family.” one of the nurses commented once the cast was applied.
“Yeah, but he's also smart and so very brave.” Evan said, making sure he was looking Robby in the eyes as he said it. Robby still looked miserable, but he looked less miserable. Finally after Robby was released and the teen was given hugs from Bobby and Athena Tommy and Buck got their son home, Robby rode home with Buck in the front seat of Buck's new jeep that he had gotten the year before now that he no longer has to be a third row SUV parent anymore with only one child at home who doesn't drive. Tommy however made a detour to pick up three large pizzas.
At supper Andi and Daphne were behaving normally, fighting over the last piece of their Buffalo chicken pizza while Tommy and Evan split a margherita pizza. Robby, however, barely finished a slice of his meat lover's pizza before being asked to be excused to his bedroom. That was the moment they knew something more wrong with Robby than just a broken arm. They gave him a minute to process while They finished eating. The twins disappeared upstairs. Tommy put Robby’s leftover pizza in the fridge for later when the teen boy would inevitably be ravenous and eat everything he could find that looked good to him. Buck however went to check on their son. Robby thankfully didn't yell at him to go away when Buck knocked.
Robby’s room was neon blue, with posters tacked to the wall of different football players, Connor McGregor, and even one of Tony Hawk. Robby was sitting on the edge of his captain bed, that was made up in a geometric patterned comforter and matching pillows texting on his phone still looking upset.
“You ready to tell me what's wrong?” Buck asked, sitting next to his son, handing him some tylenol and water. “Or do you want a little more time?” Robby shrugged one shoulder.
“I really am sorry, Dad.” Robby sounded so small in a way that reminded Buck of himself before he had left Hershey.
“What are you sorry for sweetheart?” Buck asked making sure to give Robby enough room that the teen didn't feel smothered or caged in, but also be close enough that he knew his Dad was there for him.
“For not making things easy for you and Pops.” Buck frowned confused until he remembered last Thanksgiving when Robby had been doing something outside and fallen and got hurt. He’d been okay other than scrapes and bruises. His mother had made an off handed remark about how Robby was just like him and doesn't make things easy. He didn't know Robby had heard that. And with how his son is currently hurting, Buck knows that Robby hadn't heard the hushed fight that had followed between the Buckley siblings and their mother. Buck took a deep breath, Robby didn't need his anger right now.
“You know, when I was thirteen, I did the exact same thing as you. Busted my nose up pretty bad, but I broke my arm for the first time a couple months later falling out of a huge tree that was in my parents yard at the time. I was always doing crazy stunts and getting hurt to get my parents attention. I didn't make it easy on them either.” Robby finally looked up at him looking him in the eyes. “Robby, you are my son. It isn’t your job to make loving you easy. It is my job to love you anyway.” Buck leaned over wrapping one of his arms around Robby’s shoulder kissing the top of his head.
“I don't mean to be hard to love.” Evan exhaled slowly,
“Robert Howard Kinard. Loving you is not hard, loving you and your sisters is the easiest thing I have ever done.” Robby held out his pinky,
“Promise?” He asked, the confidence that Buck loves about his son returning to his blue eyes. Buck hooked his Pinky around Robby’s,
“Promise.”
