Work Text:
Requalify
Buck had driven to a mountain trail from the grocery store where he and the team ended up in confrontation with his ex-best friend yelling at him that he was exhausting and a bad father to his not-son.
Tears streamed down his face as he sat there thinking over and over again at the words yelled at him and no one stopped it. Further thoughts on his no longer father figure breaking their father/son bonds by his words that it was Bobby’s fault Buck had no job. And yet Buck had set new records in his requalification rounds.
Buck had only asked for his lawyer fees to be paid and his job back when the settlement time came, something all sides agreed too, and the Chief had left him his number if there was a problem later on.
Now though, he sniffed, he had a thought. He called and left a message that, if possible, everyone in the station and not just on A-Shift had to go through their requifications like he did. Especially those like Howard Han who had been injured and off the job for a time and immediately came back on bypassing their requalifications entirely. And to get back with him with their answer. Otherwise, he would like a transfer to a smoke jumper station if they could.
C-Shift failed as an entire shift due to the lazy captain not insisting, they keep up on things.
B-Shift passed but barely.
And A-Shift failed spectacularly as a whole. Especially Han. Who was fired for getting so lax he couldn’t even attempt to pass (written of physical). Those that passed the physical failed the written. And had two weeks to get their brains in gear while they were suspended with pay. Both the captains of A and C Shifts were fired for cause. That meant Bobby was out of a job now and with it being for cause he wasn’t going to be hired anywhere else or get his retirement fund.
Eddie was forced into actual hard-core therapy before being allowed back to work. Being forced to work in the job as Fire Marshal in Buck’s place instead until he passed his therapy.
Hen was downgraded to a junior paramedic that had to be watched by a senior one due to her previous actions and her failing the firefighter tests.
And Buck? He went off to serve the summers on lone fire-watch now as he no longer trusted anyone to have his back in firefighting situations. Off season, he worked at the academy in training and to pass on his knowledge on to the newbies.
He never really got back with anyone of the 118 again and had shut his sister, the instigator, out of his life till she too, disappeared into the ether never to be heard from again.
All because of all the lies told by those who thought it was for the greater good. Without further asking greater good for whom.
Fini
8/17/2025
Edit
8/18/25