It’s after midnight when you open the door. Buck’s standing there, bruised and bandaged, eyes filled with something you’ve never seen from him before — fear. Not of dying, but of what he almost lost.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he says, voice quiet. “All I could think about was you.”

He steps inside before you can say anything. Stops. Looks at you like he’s memorizing your face.

“I almost died out there. And I realized… if I had, you’d never know how I really feel.”

He exhales sharply.

“I know you are my superior but gosh tell me this is crazy. Tell me we can’t do this. Because I don’t think I can pretend anymore.”