Archive of Our Own ^beta

Bobby was curled up in his recliner resting, he still felt like death, but the doctors swore up and down he was getting better. They thought they could clear him for light duty by next month and he was happy for that. He missed work, missed being able to watch out for his fire family. He hated every day he knew they were out there working, putting their lives in active danger and he wasn’t there to help keep them safe. He didn’t fucking trust Gerrard.

He knew his chaos children would have gotten off their latest shift a little less than an hour ago, not that he was keeping track… Athena had told him to stop that, it was stressing him out and stalling his recovery and Bobby would never do something Athena had expressly forbidden… never… wouldn’t dream of it…

Bobby had his feet curled up under him as he sipped a streaming cup of the grossest herbal tea he’d ever had the misfortune of imbibing knowing full well if the mug wasn’t empty by the time Athena checked on him he was gonna get it.

He smiled fondly into the mug.The tea was gross but the fact Athena wanted him to drink it so bad because someone had told her it would help him heal was amazing and he’d drink all the gross tea to have that happy, loved and cherished feeling to go along with it.

His musing was disrupted when his phone buzzed, it was Eddie, the boy shyly trying to slide himself back into his life as if he needed to be subtle about it and Bobby wouldn’t accept him crashing loudly back in. It was okay, Bobby could go at Eddie’s speed, but he missed his boy and wanted to welcome him noisily with open arms. Bobby was afraid that would scare him away. He was a jumpy, squirrely boy at the moment.

Bobby unlocked his phone and was greeted with a photo of a display from Walmart of crockpots on rollback. Only… the sale price said $59.99 followed by a sign proudly stating the original price… also $59.99. Leave it to Walmart to give their shoppers the real steals. Bobby couldn’t help but bark a laugh ignoring how it hurt his chest.

Bobby was unprepared to read the text Eddie sent along with it. A sweet, innocent question that entertained, endeared and also concerned him in equal measures, because, really Edmundo?

Eddie: Is this a good deal?

Bobby had to take a moment to chuckle and pray Eddie had someone else help Christopher with math homework because it clearly wasn’t where Eddie shined.

Bobby wanted to approach this delicately, didn’t want to make Eddie feel like an idiot.

Bobby: No buddy, it isn’t a good deal, why don’t you wait till I am cleared to leave this stupid Lazy Boy recliner and I’ll take you to find one.

Bobby waited a few minutes, far longer than it usually took Eddie to respond. He finally got…

Eddie: No. I want it.

Bobby sobered a moment and then had a thought…

Bobby: Honey, how big are you right now?

Bobby gave him ten minutes to answer this time before ringing through to him with a phone call.

When Bobby was convinced the kid was just going to let him ring through to voice mail he heard a soft “Hello?”

“Edmundo…” Bobby sighed. “I asked you a question.”

“Im very big, daddy!” The little one quickly rushed out and Bobby rolled his eyes and shook his head though his heart was massively relieved that Eddie was calling him daddy again, even if it meant he had dropped. He hadn’t heard a daddy from the boy since before he moved and Eddie had pulled away.

“Oh because you always call me daddy when you’re so very big.” Bobby pointed out and he clearly heard a huff on the other end of the line, but nothing else.

“Edmundo Miguel!” Bobby scolded with as much force in his voice as his still depleted reserves would allow him.

“Daddy…” the little voice whined.

“How did you get to Walmart and why are you there little?” Bobby asked firmly.

“Wasn't little when I comed here.” Eddie argued and that made sense, but it wasn’t like Eddie to just drop without meaning to.

Bobby didn’t actually know when the last time the kid dropped though. He’d been in El Paso for months and since he’d been back Bobby had been holed up and Eddie hadn’t exactly been coming around a lot, he seemed shy and reserved like he feared rejection if he became too demanding.

If he was dropping, and Bobby dreaded that he doubted that greatly, it wasn’t with him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Nothing could ever be easy, could it? He wasn’t cleared to drive, he could not go get his boy and if he tried Athena would tear his ass up.

He wasn’t dumb, no part of him wanted to tango with Athena when she was angry.

And she’d definitely be angry if he drove. So he wasn’t going to do that.

“I want you to go to customer service and wait for me. I’ll be there soon.” There was a loophole, Athena would still be mad, but since he wasn’t technically breaking a rule of recovery she wouldn’t be able to do anything…

At least that was what he was trying to convince himself.

“But daddy, the crockpot.” Eddie whined.

“Little boys don’t buy crockpots, please go to customer service now I’ll be there soon.”

He heard another whine.

“Is that doing what you were told?” Bobby asked.

“I'm going, daddy! You’re the worstest ever!” The boy snapped and Bobby could almost see the foot stomp he heard through the phone in his mind's eye.

Bobby couldn’t help being a little hurt at that, even knowing Eddie certainly didn’t mean those nasty words and he would most certainly feel guilty and awful about them later.

“Well, that’s not very nice and I love you very much. I will see you in a little bit.” Bobby told him, waiting till Eddie confirmed he was in customer service before hanging up.

And then… he called the one person he knew wouldn’t tattle on him… Chim.

“Bobby? You okay?” Chim answered the phone, concerned. Bobby felt a little guilty, he knew this was being a little manipulative knowing that there was absolutely nothing Chim wouldn’t do for him at the moment after the events in that lab… still… he needed to get to Eddie. Chim had to understand that.

“I’m fine. I need a favor.” Bobby told him.

“Anything.” Chim predictably replied.

“I need you to take me to Walmart.”

“Bobby,” Chim sighed, “you know you aren’t up for shopping yet, at Walmart of all places.” He said protectively.

“I’m not going shopping, Eddie is there and he dropped, I need to go get him.”

“Athena’s gonna kill me or at least smack the crud out of my backside, but fine, I’ll be there in ten. If you die on me I’m never gonna forgive you.” Chim warned.

Bobby chuckled softly. “I’ll be fine, I’ll even use one of the ride on scooters to collect the kid.” He promised.

“Okay, okay, I’m on my way.” Chim hung up on him then! Cheeky brat! Had to get the last word here.

Bobby considered getting dressed as he was only wearing green tartan pajama pants (that were barely staying up, tied as tight as the string ties would allow, considering the weight he lost and was struggling to put back on.) and a baggy gray Henley that had once upon a time, been snug.

He was hardly presentable and wouldn’t normally ever consider leaving the house like this and considering his current look he’d fit in well on the “People Of Walmart” wall of shame, but he weighed the shame with the fact that changing would use every ounce of energy he had and he’d then definitely be unable to leave the house… he ran a hand down his face and decided his slip on boat shoes would do to complete this outfit and it was just going to have to be good enough.

He’d no sooner come to that decision than he heard Chim letting himself into his house.

“Bobby?” He called out.

“Living room!” Bobby answered with as much volume as he could muster, which wasn’t much, good thing he wasn’t all that far from the entry way.

Chim popped his head in and smiled fondly at Bobby, scurrying over and leaning down to hug him. He had been extra affectionate since the lab. All his boys had, save Eddie who’d seemed scared.

“Hey Chim.” Bobby smiled, hugging him back as firmly as he could manage.

“You look good.” Chim told him.

“Thank you buddy… Hang up on me again and I’m going to smack your butt for you.”

Chim’s cheeks colored, a red splotch of embarrassment appearing on each apple as he pulled away from Bobby and ducked his head.

“Got it cap.” He mumbled.

Bobby reached up and ruffled his hair.

“Was work okay today?” Bobby tried to change the subject.

“Gerrard was an asshole as usual other than that we didn’t have much excitement.” Chim shrugged.

Bobby sighed. He’d need to talk with Buck, the poor kid had been so clingy. He had plans after work today with Maddie, but most days he came straight home and sat and stared at Bobby till dinner. He still seemed so worried Bobby would just disappear and it didn’t help that Bobby wasn’t able to drop him much with how he’d been feeling. Gerrard just made it all so much worse.

“I’m going to do a check in with Hen, Buck and Ravi later,” Bobby told him.

Ravi had his intensive all afternoon outpatient afternoon therapy program that was once a week, all afternoon and a contingency after his abuse came out for his being allowed to continue on with the fire department as active and not be put on a desk job while evaluated.

He knew it sounded a lot like punishing the kid for the sins of that asshole, but it really was the best thing for him and keeping him happy, healthy and safe and Ravi actually liked it.

It was run by Aaron, the littles’ therapist Athena had found for Buck years before when they’d started to uncover his past abuse and that Buck still saw. They all loved him and he’d become like part of the family. He approached therapy as a whole body thing and not just the brain and he made it fun when the boys were little and engaging and approachable when they were big. Bobby adored Aaron as much as his boys did and he toyed with switching Eddie from Frank to Aaron for years now. It might be time…

“For now, let’s go get Eddie.” Bobby insisted and Chim nodded in agreement.

Chim helped Bobby out to his car and Bobby wanted to tell the other man to knock it off. That he was okay and that he didn’t need help. Only he wasn’t and he did so he didn’t say anything and he let Chim help him into the car and buckle him in, which honestly in Bobby’s mind was a bit too far.

It seemed to make Chim feel better, though, so Bobby left it and let him. He knew even if Chim was the most quiet about it, he was likely struggling the most given how it all went down in that lab and just felt the need to bury it all deep, especially with Buck and Ravi being so needy and Eddie coming back and facing his own trials.

Chim didn’t feel he could be the squeaky wheel, he never did. Which was something Bobby had spoken to him about before, but he always insisted on hiding his pain and fear and needs anyway. They’d have to talk again when there was finally a quiet moment. There just never seemed to be one and Bobby was going to need to fix that because Chim mattered, Howie mattered and Bobby needed that to sink in.

The car ride to Walmart was quiet and uneventful, Bobby was already feeling the exhaustion clawing him down and he needed energy to collect his kid.

He was honestly sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

Chim dropped him off at the front of the store and went to go get a parking spot. Walmart was always crowded and Bobby was not at all looking forward to this.

By some divine intervention there was, in fact, a motorized cart available for Bobby to use and while he felt guilty taking it from someone else who needed it, as he usually considered himself able bodied, he had to admit that he himself did need it too at the moment and he wouldn’t be using it long.

Bobby managed to get the thing to customer service as it screeched, beeped and bumped along and he couldn’t help but wonder how someone who needs these things as an accessibility tool regularly to actually shop handled what poor condition Walmart obviously kept them in.

oOoOoOoO

Chim found a parking spot and made his way into the store not wanting to leave Bobby who was still too unwell on his own, especially with a little Eddie who no one knew when had last dropped.

When he finally met them at customer service they were having some sort of a stand off Eddie had his arms crossed and was stomping his feet yelling no and something about a crockpot.

Chim could tell Bobby was trying to de-escalate the situation without falling over and passing out from the exertion.

“That’s enough Edmundo!” Chim barked with as much authority as he could muster. He wasn’t going to let him give Bobby such a hard time right now.

“No!” Eddie yelled at him. “Shut up Howie! I hate you too!”

“Is this how you’re treating your daddy too? So mean?” Chim demanded.

Eddie screeched and stomped his foot again and Chim could see Bobby trying to muster any energy at all to deal with his little, which is when Chim decided he was going to have to step in. Eddie was his little brother. He’d be damned if he allowed him to act like this and not to Bobby!

Closing the gap between them, Chim grabbed the little’s arm and yanked him close popping his sweatpants covered bottom with the flat of his hand, hard several times.

Eddie wailed, going up on to his toes and trying to wiggle away from the smacks.

“Howie!!! Howie owww!!” Eddie sobbed.

“Yeah ‘ooowww!!!’” Chim agreed as he gave several more smacks. Eddie knew if he was naughty away from home he got punished away from home and that held true even when daddy wasn’t feeling good.

Chim knew it was scary Bobby was unwell. It was scary for all of them, but Eddie absolutely could not act like this.

“Are we done being so naughty for daddy?” Chim asked, keeping firm hold of Eddie’s arm.

Eddie nodded, tears streaming down his face. Chim knew he hadn’t given a hard punishment, but it had affected Eddie greatly anyway.

“Come here kiddo,” Chim pulled him into his chest and hugged him tight. “We can just have a cuddle until you’re ready to give daddy a hug and say sorry.”

Eddie curled himself into Chim’s chest and clung to him as he cried out so many big feelings he didn’t know how to articulate.

Chim rubbed his back and let him get all the poison out. He got it he really did but that didn’t mean he was going to let Eddie self destruct. He loved him and he loved Bobby too much to watch what just happened, happen and not step in even if it had been hard for him.

After a few minutes Eddie sniffled and pushed away from Chim.

“Need daddy, Howie.” He said wiping at his wet face.

“Can you be nice and gentle?” Chim asked and got a nod in response. “Okay buddy go give him a cuddle and say sorry.”

Eddie ran over to Bobby but seemed to realize after a few quick steps and slowed down as he approached. He looked at Bobby anxiously and when Bobby opened his arms to him Eddie gave a sob and carefully fell into the offered hug.

Chim gave them privacy as they tried to reclaim their shaken bond the one that been tested but not broken by Eddie leaving and Bobby’s illness. He could hear Bobby whispering softly to the little, but didn’t concentrate overly hard enough to make any of it out. He was fairly certain he heard babbled apologies obscured by tears from Eddie as the two reconnected as daddy and little.

Chim stood guard in front of them to keep gaukers from intruding on the moment that really needed to take place somewhere other than Walmart, but he supposed you didn’t always get to choose the timing and location of important life events.

Running a hand down his face, Chim felt a small sense of relief at the beginning of rebuilding of their family.