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phoebenpiperx · 11 months

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Third Second Time's a Charm

Chapter 4 = TK arrives at the wedding venue, somewhat jealous that Carlos gets a relaxing day with Iris but relieved she came up with this plan.

a 911 Lone Star Tarlos fic - read the first chapters on ao3 here

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CHAPTER 4

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“How’d it go?”

TK smiled as he approached his dad, replying, “Better than expected.” He was frankly surprised Carlos hadn’t put up more of a fuss.

Not that he was complaining!

“Glad to hear it,” Owen said, making it clear he, too, had worried about Carlos resisting the plan to send him off with Iris for the day, far from the pre-wedding planning. “So had he figured it out?”

“Surprisingly no.” TK wasn’t sure if Carlos had exhausted all his detective prowess on investigating his dad’s murder or if he’d simply not suspected anything was in the works.

Though TK had done his best to keep it a secret. After hatching the plan on the drive last night, TK had dropped off Iris and then stayed safely parked as he made all the calls to put their plan in motion. Carlos had barely even acknowledged TK’s casual, “Lotta traffic,” when he finally got home, so obviously the delay had gone unnoticed.

Owen nodded, looking relieved. “I was worried something had happened, since you were so late.”

“Carlos actually slept in,” TK explained. “And you were right—the chamomile totally did the trick.” His dad had suggested he serve Carlos some chamomile tea at bedtime, and it had definitely helped them both fall asleep sooner, despite their pre-wedding adrenaline. Of course, Carlos had awakened in the night, tossing and turning for quite some time, but TK had pulled Carlos close, quietly mumbling soothing endearments in his fiancé’s ear, until Carlos had finally relaxed and fallen into a deep sleep, which had, amazingly, lasted well into the morning.

And while TK had been grateful that Carlos had finally gotten some good rest, he felt guilty that he was only now showing up at the venue, over an hour after he’d asked the others to arrive.

“So what’ve I missed?”

Owen shrugged. “Not much, actually. Andrea’s coordinating with the florist right now, and we won’t need to worry about the caterer for awhile, so I think you can probably just relax for a bit.”

TK was relieved. Despite sleeping in, he still wasn’t fully awake, and he was glad he didn’t have to immediately start organizing things. Besides, he knew the flowers and the rest would be fine in Andrea’s capable hands.

And his dad’s.

“Thanks for helping, dad,” TK said before adding sheepishly, “even after I fired you as my wedding planner.”

Owen shook his head, smiling. “I get it, son. Andrea and I may have been a little—“

“Out of control,” TK finished with a playful smile.

“Yeah,” Owen laughed, nodding. “Sorry about that. We just want what’s best for you boys.”

TK shrugged. “At least you already know all the vendors, which should make today easier.”

Owen nodded, pulling out his phone. “Oh! Speaking of, it looks like the cake has arrived. I’ll go take care of it.”

TK smiled, recalling the amazing taste of the weird gluten-free monk fruit cake his dad had insisted on. “Thanks, dad,” he called after Owen as he scurried off.

Now alone, TK glanced around the beautiful outdoor venue. He had a niggling feeling like he was forgetting something—something important—though he couldn’t think what it could be. Luckily, there were still several hours before the actual wedding, so he figured that if it was really important, it would eventually come to him.

As he wandered, TK started taking a good look around him. He’d forgotten just how much he loved this venue, and it seemed even more perfect now than his memories from that first visit, back when they thought they’d have to wait a year and a half for this day.

Back before someone else’s cancellation had moved up their wedding to only eight weeks.

Back before TK even knew that Carlos had been married once before.

As if his very thoughts had manifested it, a text from Iris suddenly came through.

Brunch achieved announced the wording on the selfie of the two exes in a restaurant, making silly faces at the camera.

TK wondered where they were—it certainly didn’t look like any of the places he and Carlos usually frequented for brunch.

And since when was Carlos willing to be seen at a place with tacky lime green booths?!

Where are you???? TK texted back.

Star Seeds Cafe Our high school hangout Open 24 hours

THAT explained the decor!

Off to mani/pedis next

TK felt a pang of jealousy—he wished HE could be off wasting the day away, luxuriously soaking his feet in a warm bath instead of working hard here at the venue.

Though TK began to imagine what Carlos’s smooth hands would feel like tonight—touching him for the first time as his husband—and suddenly TK didn’t begrudge his fiancé being pampered.

Enjoy! ❤

TK glanced at the pic Iris had sent once again. Carlos looked like he was having a blast...even if he was in a diner with lime green booths.

And that’s when it suddenly clicked, the realization of what he’d forgotten!

“Brunch!” he exclaimed aloud, tucking his phone away in his hoodie pocket. He hadn’t bothered to eat before coming here, and now his stomach was rumbling.

“Ask and you shall receive,” Nancy announced as she and Mateo approached, holding out a large box of donuts.

“This is hardly brunch,” TK disputed playfully. “Besides, donuts? What am I, a cop?”

“No,” Nancy admitted before adding meaningfully, “but you’ll soon be married to one.”

Her simple statement made TK beam. She was right! He was soon going to be married to Carlos!!! Not in 8 weeks, not in a few days, but mere hours from now! TK couldn’t believe the moment was almost here.

No need to worry about his pre-wedding diet today.

And, as Nancy had said, he’d soon be married to a beat cop.

“When in Rome,” TK said with a cheerful smile, reaching into the box and hungrily grabbing a donut.

Mateo, however, looked confused. “I didn’t think the name of this venue was Rome.”

Nancy rolled her eyes, ignoring him, before offering, “This was such a good idea, having us come help so that Carlos wouldn’t have to stress all day. We’re always happy to help out, especially for a good cause. But why didn’t you tell us about it earlier?”

TK gave a sheepish grin, admitting, “Because we didn’t even think of it till last night.”

And by “we”, TK meant Iris. When he’d dropped her off, she’d asked how he was planning to keep Carlos distracted before the wedding. TK had been surprised at her question, having been focused on the wedding itself, not Carlos. But he’d instantly seen the wisdom in her words and was grateful when she’d offered to take Carlos off his hands for the day.

“Isn’t it a little weird, though?” Mateo asked. “I mean, I’m guessing most grooms don’t spend the day of their wedding hanging out with their ex.”

“Iris is more of a best friend than an ex,” TK pointed out, not worried about how weird it might look to others. Besides, he didn’t need to concern himself about Carlos getting back together with Iris—after all, Carlos was gay, and he was TK’s, and nothing was going to stop this day from being perfect.

Especially now that Carlos was getting to relax, far from the stress of the last-minute wedding details.

And Iris had foreseen that distracting him would be best.

“Iris knows Carlos better than anybody,” TK confessed, realizing that not even he—or Carlos’s own mother—had thought about distracting him.

Though Iris hadn’t been through the same sort of stress that he and Andrea had been these last few days, so Iris had been free to think about Carlos...

and their old friendship.

“In fact,” TK said with a giant grin, “Iris knows ALL Carlos’s secrets!”

There was a twinkle in both his friends’ eyes as they leaned in closer, prompting simultaneously, “Like what?”/“Do tell!”

TK was about to eagerly share what he’d learned about young Carlos’s Teen Wolf obsession when he stopped himself.

Now was not the time for this.

Because it suddenly struck TK that this was amazing blackmail material.

And the next time Carlos started playfully referring to his “first marriage”—or teasing TK about his multiple comas—TK could simply threaten to tell his 126 family about Sterek.

That was certain to shut Carlos up!

But that wouldn’t be an option if he gave away that secret now.

So instead TK leaned in, reaching for his phone as he spilled, “Did you know Carlos used to hang out at an all-night diner...with lime green booths?”

...

#911 lone star #911 lone star fanfic #tarlos fanfic #tarlos wedding #special thanks to @yuki chicken for the brainstorming

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thisbuildinghasfeelings · 1 year

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Okay, sorry, but apparently I'm back on a Tarlos spiral already 😅.

Are you scared too that they will actually kill off Gabriel, after hearing their last interview? It seems more and more likely, and if it is I really hope they manage to do it justice, though I can't see it right now, what with everything else it's bound to happen. That was my biggest reason for not wanting him to die right now, needing to explore Carlos' feelings without throwing him into a happy wedding right after (even with a time skip, which seems a shortcut to me at the moment), but then again I'm not a writer 🤷‍♀️ and I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Of course it may as well be something else entirely, with the build up we had I'll bawl for Robert too for example, or maybe it will be a mix of different things that will pull our hearts in a lot of different directions. Jim did say there would be a lot of curveballs.

Surviving till Tuesday will be hard.

I've been extra scared for Gabriel since the finale promo. I still struggle to understand how they can possibly go from Gabriel's death to a happy wedding, but I am pretty certain that SOMETHING is happening with Gabriel. I'm hoping that it's something short of death. The promo opens with Carlos asking Gabriel to be his best man, the episode is called Best of Men, and then they showed us glimpses of the wedding that included pretty much every single character EXCEPT Gabriel. Either Gabriel isn't at the wedding or they intentionally avoided showing him to us. We see Owen standing up with TK as his best man. If Gabriel is Carlos' best man, he'd be up there too...but we don't see him. However, we also don't see someone else in Gabriel's place, which makes it seem like they are very intentionally not showing us who is up there with Carlos. There are a few reasons they might do this--I talked about this a little yesterday, but I've thought it through even more now:

(1) Gabriel is dead and someone else is Carlos' best person--Iris, for example. I think Iris is the only other person we don't see in the promo at the wedding. It's possible we don't see her because she's standing up there with Carlos in Gabriel's place and they didn't want to give that away.

(2) Gabriel is alive and well and standing up there with Carlos but something is going to happen to Gabriel before the wedding and they want us to worry about him. Gabriel gets injured and they want us to think he might not make it, so they didn't want to give it away that Gabriel makes it to the wedding.

(3) Gabriel is alive and mostly well and he's at the wedding but something about his appearance is a spoiler. Maybe he has some visible injury or he's in a wheelchair or something, so they avoided showing him.

I really want it to be 2 or even 3. But could it be 1? Yeah, I think it's possible. I've been pretty adamant for a while now that I didn't think Gabriel would be dying, but I left it open to change my mind if I got additional evidence. The finale promo was that evidence for me. HOWEVER, I still don't think it's inevitable. I'm still holding out hope for Gabriel. Mostly I'm trying to prepare myself a little in case it happens. I don't need a repeat of the premiere where I was writing long, rambling posts about why there's no way Carlos could possibly be secretly married to Iris right up until the day the premiere aired! That mindset didn't make it any easier for me to come to terms with the whole secret marriage thing.

Ultimately, if Gabriel does die, it's not going to ruin the episode for me. First of all, it would give Rafa yet another chance to show off his incredible acting skills. Also, I'm comforted by the knowledge that Carlos and Gabriel are going to get a nice moment together when he goes to ask Gabriel to be his best man. Even if the worst happens, they will get a moment of further mending their relationship. I really hope we get Gabriel telling Carlos he's proud of him or something like that, especially if Gabriel is going to die. That's something Carlos needs to hear! As I said, I still really struggle understanding how they could possibly pull this off and make it work...but we don't really know all that much of what's happening in these last two episodes or how much time they're spanning. In the end, all I really care about is that TK and Carlos are getting married. Everything we've heard about the wedding makes me believe wholeheartedly that it's going to be amazing. I think they're going to do it justice. And we're so close!! Only 4 days away now!

#answered ask #lone star speculation

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after-nine-at-the-oasis · 2 years

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🤔🥰👏😭😭👏🥰🥰😭😭😭OKAY OKAY OKAY I’M BACK

TOOK ME A HOT MINUTE BC TIS THE LIFE OF A PROCRASTINATOR (just bc I had other things to do) AND OVER-ACHIEVER BUT! HERE WE ARE.

Alright now I was just gonna say that 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Anyway, yes I’m having feelings, no I don’t really remember them, and yes this will have less emojis than it would have given that I’m on the computer and not my phone so this goes faster xDD.

ANYWAY

Also I was gonna say (finally remembered it lol) at the time, well I did say out loud, after laughing: ANDREA NOOO HE’S DYING YOU CAN’T DO THAT XDD

But technically it was for when he recovered lol, not while he was still dying, so we’re good XD. Especially because she’s being protective and I just love that in people and characters, especially (especially) because she’s been protective over CARLOS cause just CARLOS, and also especially (especially [especially]) because it’s funny xDD.

Anyway!

Onto the summary, the reaction over all :D.

If you will, it’s time for the:

REVIEW

Alright, so, overall: I. ABSOLUTELY. A D O R E D. THIS EPISODE. :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Now, it may just be because of the Tarlos and Grace (and Judd, obviously), but this is probably my favorite episode this Season so far :)).

Seriously though, I am living my best life. If I had the energy, I might even write a Tarlos talking fic myself. Now, I don’t, not right now, nor the time, which is why I apologize if this is a shorter review than other episodes, which it probably will be - it’s been an hour and a half since the show ended, I can’t use emojis as easily so I get a little less distracted lol, and I’m just less sucked/zeroed in to my phone since like, idk, I’m just more in the environment, and like, aware xDD. Another reason for a shorter review is that I got my covid vaccine booster today, and, as the wonderful words of the amazingly wise mas said/state, that booster sure can covid. In short, I’m gradually feeling worse and worse, so, uh xdd. This is distracting me a little though, so let’s continue on with it :). Lol, maybe it won’t be a shorter review, but certainly less about the episode xD. Maybe not, idk yet, lol.

And also like I said I’m not freaking out as much anymore LOL XD. Well, I mean because of the whole, it ended 90+ minutes ago (100 actually - well, 99 technicallyyyyyy. . . Okay I’m waiting for it to hit 100 but it might actually be a minute lol because I was looking at the clock and it was at like 40 seconds so- ope no the computer switched like half a minute ago as I was typing this lol I just wanted to finish typing, lol ANYWAY, 100 xDD), but, anyway lol.

Okay, so, first off, Grace and Judd (and Billy, obviously).

THEY ARE SO CUTE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Like literally I love them soo much 😭😭😭 xDD. Seriously though, we’ve once again revisited (grammar haha) the fact that Grace tries to do everything on her own. Well, maybe not everything, for example, she’s not trying to have this baby on her own lol (well, the actual birth sure, but xdd). I know that in Season 2 it talked about this in relation to the standards black women and other women of color are held to in today’s society, and I do think that’s very important to talk about, but I think I’ll let a few more of you talk about it more in-depth instead, seeing as I’m white xdd. I do get the pressure to want to do things on your own, though - I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to, no matter what their situation is. But, nonetheless, I thought the scenes of her and Judd were really cute, and I’m just glad they’re all okay :)). And I am so, So, SO, SOOO HAPPY THAT JUDD MADE IT FOR THE BIRTH :DDDDDDD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 :D :D :D :D :D. It just- yes, it was wonderful.

Now. Owen. You know what I’m gonna say, methinks.

STOP 👏 MAKING 👏 EVERYTHING 👏 ABOUT 👏 YOU 👏!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏!!!

Like, sure, I liked your sadness about TK (my BOYYYYYYYY 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭), and I did like your comparison, just bc I know you were actually sad and really, really very scared, specifically for him and yourself, but nonetheless, it’s s t i l l n o t a l l a b o u t y o u. But I will let it slide this time, as it’s all in juxtaposition to TK.

And oh my gosh his hug to Carlos 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. I thought I would literally lose my mind xddd XDDDD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. And just- one more tear from Carlos, everyone being there, the comfort of that hug, Owen just finally seeing the pain of someone around him and CARING and helping him through it, I just- I can’t 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 xDD. I love them so, so much. Well, mostly Carlos, and TK if we’re including him here, but Owen’s aight. Lol, anyway, also Marjan having to find out 😭😭😭😭? Literally killed me. I mean, it really would have if we would’ve had to SEE it, but luckily we didn’t. Still kinda wish we did though xDD. And of course her being surprised about Paul - glad they assuaged her fears rather quickly, because she was still calm in that moment, I feel like - or at least in control of her emotions. Anyway, glad that we finally got to see the rest of them there with TK 🥰🥰🥰🥰. Or at least some of them anyway.

But! Yeah. I think you now what time it is. Time for. . .

T A R L O S !!!

You knew it had to be coming eventually xDD.

OKAY! So, as y’all well know if you follow me or follow what I’m doing here, like my posts, you know I LOVE Tarlos. I mean, I think most of us do xDD. And like- this episode 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Literally I can’t deal. I was stimming. SO. HARD. It’s been a long time since I’ve stimmed like that and- yeah, it was nice :). I REALLY wish I had the energy to say more about them right now. . . I’ll do a little more, but then I really have to go - I get up in 7 hours and I have most likely at least 30 minutes of school left lol. OKAY took a quick break but we back <3. I am definitely not letting this be the smallest, or even second biggest, section XDD. Anyway, yeah, I just- it was really lovely and wonderful to feel such feelings that I stimmed like that again, and it was really great <3. With a recent re-hyperfixation at some really epic parts I’ve been able to stim a little, like, naturally, but this is just a whole new/’nother level :). I was literally kicked my legs up in the air and flinging my arms around lol xD. Like, those legs were 90 degree angles because I was mostly lying down on the cough XD. I just- I love them so, so much. That final, well more like FINALLY, culminative I suppose, handholding and kissing and cuddling at the end 😭😭😭😭😭. Like, when TK woke up I mean - although obviously we’ll talk about the apartment and the ending-ending in a minute xDD. It was like, he was so worn down that as soon as he felt like it was okay to hold his hand, the dam broke for Carlos and he couldn’t handle not touching TK, being close to him, supporting him, loving him. I am, in short, VERY emotional 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭xdd. Just- 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. I LOVE THEM. SO. M U C H. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3. They are perfect (not literally) and- oh my gosh, Ronen and Rafa did SUCH 👏 A 👏 GOOD 👏 JOB 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏!!!!!! I just- I love them so much. Later I will be posting my betting pool between me and the lovely @mas (yes I know that’s not your account/blog name lol I just don’t care <3 <3 <3 xDD) on why the broke up lol, or the whole situation in general - we were both pretty close 🤔!!!! Okay, real quick, just as a last thing or two here, the apartment: it is so beautiful. I really do hope we eventually get at least a little talk, a little on-screen explanation from TK on why he acted the way he did, and while personally I think it was a little much to break up, I also kinda get it. He’s not used to having nice things :’(((((( (I believe I saw someone else say something along those lines and it is %1,000 true in my opinion 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭, if not all the time). I also saw someone say they honestly would’ve preferred if it was Carlos who had made the mistake, whether it was him or TK who actually did the breaking-up with, I believe, but honestly I don’t really care. I think we’ll see more mistakes from Carlos in the future (that was their reasoning), and while I don’t like the fact that TK has to make so many mistakes, he’s been through a lot and I feel like that was the only logical storyline to make the break up fit. Sure, do I wish they hadn’t ever broken up? Yeah! But also, kinda not. TV’s not perfect - in the wise words of Abed Nadir, “It needs to be okay for TV to take a sick day. Or phone in a day.” The show isn’t gonna be perfect - I agree with and acknowledge that. But, to me at least, it’s so very, very good <3. TK will keep making mistakes. So will Carlos. Hopefully, they won’t break up ever again - I really don’t think that’s likely, to be honest, luckily. I love them so, so much, and I think they’ll be okay.

Now, the ending party. Yes <3. I got a special little thrill and :’) of happiness at Mateo ringing the bell, because this is his first time entering that fire house, officially at least, as a full-fledged Fire Fighter. So proud of him <3 <3 <3 :’’’)))))))) 😭😭👏👏👏👏👏👏🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. I just- I love him, I love them all :))))))). Also, yes, stan Paul and his new rich sponsor family <3 <3 <3 xDD. And yes, I was so happy that Gwyn was there 😭😭😭😭. Sure, TK, you may eventually have to admit - to her or to your therapist, I don’t know lol - that you saw her in your coma dream(scape), but for right now, I think it’s just good for you to see the real her :). She supported you through a hard time, and she’s hear to REALLY support you. You know, as a real person xD. And, support everyone of course, but mostly him, and Owen, I think :)). I mean, I know, but I’m sure she cares about the others too xdd. And TK’s little brother, her son 😭😭😭😭😭. I don’t remember his name, but I just- he is adorable. THEY are adorable - Gwyn with him, TK with him, whatever. Glad Owen wasn’t too weird or salty about it :’). Also having Baby Ryder (Charlie!!!!!! Love that so much 😭😭😭 :))) :’)) <3 <3 <3 <3 :pppppp :pp :pp :p) and Gwyn’s second son all (well, there’s two, but, you know, lol xD) around at the same time, it’s just fun and interesting :). Even if she and him (Gwyn and the kid) won’t be here too often, I assume :). And yes - quick note, again, CHARLIE IS SUCH AN AWESOME NAME 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. You mind your business, Evie (I believe it was her, lol xDD) - that’s a wonderful and kick-butt girl’s name 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. And it’s just so, so sweet 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 :’’’)))))))))))).

Anyway, that’s about it!

Overall: I absolutely loved this episode. I adored it. Owen wasn’t too bad, we got to see everyone at least a little bit, and the fire house is back up :). Maybe the ending was a bit quick, but honestly, it’s time that we move on from this storyline lol. It makes sense to wrap it all up right now :). Honestly, I was afraid it would end with a cliffhanger, or like, even if it happened offscreen, a kind of open ending, TK woke up and Tarlos is about to talk scene, but nOPE, we got much better :)). This was an amazing episode, so lovely, from Grace and Judd being amazing as always, to Billy, who was slightly less annoying than usual 🤔. You gotta admit he’s funny though, lol, xD. Ah, I love him. Well, maybe. Probably not as much as the rest of them, but I’m just in a happy mood right now XD. So yeah, I’ll love him :)). The team was adorable and loving, Tarlos hurt so much but ended happily, and it hurt in a good way, since it was amazing <3, Tommy might’ve finally forgiven herself for TK’s accident, :), Nancy helped Carlos open up a little bit, it wasn’t all about Owen, and little baby Charlie Ryder came into the world :)). And, of course, finally: The 126 Firehouse opened back up. Such an lovely ending. A great ending for an exciting episode arc :DD :D. I’m psyched to see more :)))))) 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. I loved it <3. This was an amazing episode :’).

Sooooo, yeah!!

This was my review for. . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 3, Episode 4: Push

Next week!!! I’m so excited for :))). . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 3, Episode 5: Child Care

See you then!!!! :DDDDDD!!!!

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morganaspendragonss · 3 years

Note

I hope that you are doing well! I love the your writing! If you are open to a Tarlos fic request: TK to Carlos after the doctor has told him Carlos might not make it through the next 48hrs "I cannot imagine life without you, please don't let me live my greatest fear. I won't survive."

Carlos has been working a case and it happens that he becomes a target. He starts getting messages at work, at home and becomes paranoid but doesn't tell TK, but TK can see that Carlos is on edge. Carlos picks a fight with TK so that he goes to stay with Owen for a while. Carlos does this to protect him, let him at least stay away so that if anything happens, TK is safe. Then one night, Carlos is alone at home and someone breaks in, torture ensues and he is barely clinging to life. He calls 911, Grace answers and he can barely get the words out "it's Carlos, send help". 📍

holly's august extravaganza day 10: i can't imagine my life without you

thank you!

ao3 | 1.9k | descriptions of torture, major character injury, angst, hopeful ending, open ending

TK knows he’s annoying people. The atmosphere in the ambulance is thick with tension whenever they’re out on a call, and it’s not much better back at the firehouse. He tries to keep his distance, occupying himself in the gym or aggressively doing chores, but he can’t avoid everyone forever and his bad mood is starting to spill over.

Like when he and Nancy fell back into their old pattern of snipping at each other, or when he nearly bit Paul’s head off when he asked what was wrong. It was less the question itself—though TK certainly doesn’t want to get into why he’s so out of it—and more the way Paul phrased it. Nobody likes to be asked ‘trouble in paradise?’, particularly when the answer is yes.

He just doesn’t understand. It had come completely out of left field—one minute everything was fine, the next Carlos had turned to him with guarded eyes and a clenched jaw, and said six words that sent TK’s whole world crashing down.

“I think we need a break.”

Carlos hadn’t explained why; when TK had tried to push, he’d turned it into a fight, until TK had no choice but to leave. He’s been staying with his dad for a week now and he desperately misses his boyfriend, torn between wanting to go over and check on him and wanting to give him space.

He’d settled on a text, a simple you okay?, which still felt woefully inadequate. Carlos had been on edge for weeks before the blow up and TK hadn’t been able to get a word out of him about why.

The text is still unanswered, though it’s been marked as Read.

TK huffs and hauls himself up into the ambulance to check stock. He knows Nancy has already done it and she’s going to be pissed if she catches him, but he needs to keep his mind occupied somehow, lest he start to spin out. But the peace he finds is short-lived, as not ten minutes after he starts, TK looks up from his clipboard to see Judd approaching, hands held out in a pacifying gesture.

It has the opposite effect, TK’s nerves becoming that bit more frayed at the spooked animal treatment he’s getting, but his pointed glare does nothing to deter Judd. Nor does turning his back and returning to work, as he finds out when Judd’s heavy footsteps stop behind the rig and don’t move away.

“TK,” Judd says, his voice suspiciously rough.

TK doesn’t bother turning around, hoping it will get the message across. “Fuck off, Judd,” he says, which would normally be a guarantee of riling him up enough to get him to either leave TK alone or engage in a more physical manner.

At this point, TK doesn’t really care which reaction he gets.

Unfortunately, he’s not in luck today. Which, honestly, tracks.

“I got a phone call,” Judd continues, undeterred, “from Grace. Now, I figure you’ll be getting a similar one soon enough, but we thought it might be better if you heard it from us first.”

TK sighs and hangs his head, reluctantly turning around. “What?” he snaps out. When Judd doesn’t react, not even with a raised eyebrow, a quiet dread begins to pool in his gut, a little voice in the back of his head telling him he already knows ‘what’.

He tries to push it down, but there are very few reasons why Grace would call Judd and ask to talk to him. TK takes the proffered phone in a shaking hand, his heart starting to pound as he lifts it to his ear.

“Grace?”

“Hey, TK.” Grace’s voice is gentle, as it always is, but there’s a soothing note to it now, and more of the pieces start to slot together in TK’s head. “Listen, honey, I’m at work and I just got a call come through. I’m… I’m so sorry, TK. It was Carlos.”

TK’s breath catches, tears pricking the back of his eyes. “What do you mean?” he demands, voice shaky. “What do you mean ‘you’re sorry’?”

“He was… I don’t know. He was barely able to talk, but it sounded real bad. EMS 122 were in the area at the time so I sent them out; they should have arrived at the hospital by now.”

And TK… TK doesn’t know what to say to that. He slumps back on the bench in the rig, breathing turning shallow as he imagines what could have happened to Carlos. The last time they’d seen each other—the last time they’d spoken—it had ended with them throwing insults across the kitchen island and with TK packing a bag and slamming the door behind him.

The thought that it might be the last memory they have together kills him inside.

He needs answers. Before he can face this new reality, he needs to know what happened, which means there’s only one thing he can do right now.

“Grace?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“I want to hear it.”

Judd has followed him up to the mercifully empty bunkroom, refusing to leave after both his and Grace’s attempts to dissuade him had failed. TK ignores him for the most part, but he does give in to his request to put the phone on speaker. Much as he wants to deal with this on his own, it is a kind of comfort to have Judd’s steady presence next to him.

“Are you sure about this, TK?” Grace asks for the millionth time. TK appreciates her concern, but he needs this. He needs to hear it for himself.

“I’m sure.”

“Alright then.”

He hears a few clicks and then the recording starts, Grace’s voice coming over the speaker.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

No response.

“Hello?”

The silence continues, broken only by static, and then what TK recognises as heavy, gasping breaths.

“Hello, is anyone there?”

A few more seconds pass, and then, “Grace.”

TK has to suppress a sob at the sound of his boyfriend’s voice—though, if he didn’t know for sure it was Carlos, he wouldn’t have recognised it. His words come out ragged and hoarse, riding on breaths that seem to be getting slower and more laboured by the second. TK clutches the phone tighter in his hand, biting down hard on his lip.

“It’s… It’s Carlos. I… Send help. Please.”

“Carlos, can you tell me what’s wrong?”

But Grace goes unanswered, and TK suddenly notices that he can no longer hear the sound of Carlos breathing. His own breaths hitch, his lungs refusing to expand properly, and his vision blurs with tears as he curls in on himself, hands braced on the edge of the bed and gripping tightly onto the covers.

He doesn’t notice Judd taking the phone back, nor is he aware of him moving to sit next to him until he’s being pulled into a strong embrace, TK’s head cradled against Judd’s chest. Judd whispers things TK doesn’t hear as his hands gently rub his back, the touch grounding him as he loses himself to tears and the overwhelming pain in his heart.

Five minutes later, TK’s phone rings.

Fifteen minutes after that, they arrive at the hospital.

“Please,” TK whispers, clutching onto the hand in both of his. “Please don’t make me do this. I don’t… I don’t want to live a life without you in it. I can’t, you understand me? I can’t. If you leave, I won’t survive it, so you just hang on for me, alright? Forget what the doctor thinks, you keep fighting, and come back to me. Please, Carlos. Please.”

TK looks up, hoping to see Carlos’s beautiful brown eyes staring right back at him, but of course they’re not. He might never see them again, which is something TK is still trying to wrap his head around. That’s not the only thing either; Carlos has so many injuries that he’s struggling to remember them all—the only thing he does remember with horrific clarity is the doctor’s words when he’d asked to speak to TK privately.

“We’ve done what we can, but I’m afraid Officer Reyes’s wounds are grave and there is a significant possibility that he may not make it beyond the next 48 hours. If he does, then we will re-evaluate, but currently his chances of recovery are slim. I’m truly sorry.”

TK wipes away a stray tear and presses a kiss to Carlos’s bruised knuckles. His other hand is completely shattered, and TK can barely stand to look at his face; it’s been beaten to a pulp, there’s a patch over one eye, and whoever attacked him even went so far as to rip out some of his teeth.

It’s grim, and that’s to say nothing of the rest of his body. Torture is the only word to describe what happened to Carlos—brutal, savage, and without mercy, somebody tortured him in their home.

And he was alone.

“Son, you didn't know.”

“That’s no excuse. I left him.”

“Carlos pushed you away. He was trying to protect you.”

“And where was I when he needed protection?”

“TK—”

“Don’t, Dad.”

“TK, I really shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Please, Mitchell. I need to know. Carlos knew something was going to happen but he chose to drive me away instead of letting me in. I just… I just want answers.”

“...I’ll see what I can do.”

Carlos makes it through the 48 hours, but not without incident. Somewhere around hour 32, the machines had started going haywire, summoning an army of doctors who shoved TK out of the room, leaving him to stare in through the blinds as they worked to save Carlos’s life.

They’d done it, but it had taken TK hours to come down from the resulting panic attack.

“Oh my god.”

Mitchell is standing at his shoulder, watching him warily as he flips through the file she brought him from the station. She keeps looking around anxiously, as if her sergeant is going to appear and arrest her for misconduct at any moment, but TK only has eyes for the images and words in front of him.

“Did you know about this?” he asks, gesturing to the myriad of threatening messages they’d apparently found in Carlos’s desk.

She shakes her head. “We noticed he’d been acting weird, but we figured something was going on between you two. He never said a word to anyone that I know of.” She pauses and sighs shakily, placing a comforting hand on TK’s shoulder. “We, um. We found some at your house, too. In Carlos’s nightstand.”

TK stares, first at Mitchell, then at the file, then at Carlos, still just as silent and motionless as he’s been since the day all this happened. “Why?” he breathes, and he doesn’t know which one of them he’s addressing the question to.

The doctors are amazed when they get to a week and Carlos’s heart is still beating. He still has a ventilator breathing for him and there’s still been no sign of him waking up, but he’s not giving up.

TK wants to say that he never doubted him, but he can’t ignore his paramedic training. He’d heard how badly Carlos was injured; he’d seen the crime scene photos and all the blood coating their bedroom.

(He’d needed several minutes in the bathroom to recover from that sight)

Much as he didn’t want to admit it, all the signs pointed to Carlos not making it.

But he’s still here. Still fighting. And TK can’t help but let that little bit of hope into his heart.

57 notes · View notes

rafael-silva · 3 years

Text

out of darkness, light: a tarlos fic

When the 126 got called to a kitchen fire a little after noon, it never registered for TK that the rest of his day was going to turn out the way it did. If anything, he was thinking about the complete opposite. He was thinking about light and happiness, going home to Carlos at the end of their shared shifts, lying in his boyfriend’s embrace. He thought about comfort and safety. But what he ended up getting, was darkness and fear. The power of manifestation, people had told him. Well, if you ask TK, he never manifested this.

for the bad things happen bingo: tarlos + communication suddenly cut off

established tk strand/carlos reyes, major character injury, emotional hurt/comfort, hurt/comfort, angst, whump, fluff, team as family, hurt tk strand, hurt carlos reyes

6.9k | on ao3

*****

As TK hops out of the firetruck after it comes to a halt at their scene, he sees a very familiar APD cruiser pull up to the scene, most likely dispatched there for crowd control. TK’s face breaks into a wide smile, watching Carlos climb out of the car, followed by his partner, Amber.

TK liked Amber, she was smart, witty and he knew she had Carlos’s back no matter what. All three of them had gone out a few times for dinner and he immediately took a liking to her. And he’s heard from Carlos how well they work together and how they understand each other in the field, and knowing that helps TK relax just that much when Carlos is working.

TK and Carlos don’t have time to exchange any words as Owen starts giving out orders, so they settle for quick, reassuring nods and then both direct their attentions to their jobs.

TK, Judd and Paul are tasked with extinguishing the fire, while Marjan and Mateo are tasked with clearing the residence. Carlos and Amber secure the scene, guiding civilians and on-lookers to the other side of the street and on the sidewalk. He looks over his shoulder just in time to see TK sliding his mask over his face, shouldering and securing his oxygen tank and walking towards the house, his eyes catching the T.K. STRAND printed on the bottom of his turnout coat, shimmering as the sunlight bounced off the name.

Carlos swallowed as the three firefighters disappeared inside, it looked to be a small fire, but still, any small fire can escalate very quickly. Carlos quickly shakes his head, not wanting to go to the worst case scenarios. He trusts that TK is excellent at his job, and he isn't in there alone and Carlos takes comfort in that fact. Even though there’s a little voice in the back of his head, reminding him that his boyfriend is a trouble magnet. (Like Carlos needs reminding.) He expels the thought and redirects his attention back to the perimeter as he and Amber work to keep the scene clear.

It all works out without a hitch. Marjan and Mateo jog out of the house, leading three people out, closely followed by TK, Judd and Paul. Carlos lets out a sigh of relief upon seeing TK clear of the house, watching as TK takes off his mask and oxygen tank.

“All clear, Cap,” Judd reports. “And the fire was contained to the kitchen, no further damage to the rest of the house. Structural integrity is good.”

“Good job, team,” Owen nods.

Carlos looks as Marjan leads the house owners to the ambulance where Tommy and Nancy are waiting to check them out and then makes eye contact with TK.

“You got this?” Carlos asks Amber.

“When do I not?” She teases with a smirk. “People are fanning out anyway. Go,” she nudges her head in TK’s direction.

“Thanks,” Carlos gives her a grateful smile and tries not to jog towards TK. It doesn't work. He jogs.

“Hi, babe,” TK smiles, meeting Carlos halfway on the green lawn.

“Hey, baby,” Carlos replies, wrapping his arms around TK in a quick but firm hug. TK smells like smoke but it doesn’t matter, because TK is here. “You okay?” He asks as they pull apart.

TK nods. “Yup, it was pretty straightforward. Didn’t encounter any problems or surprises.”

“Good, I’m glad.”

“I think we’re heading out,” TK points out as he watches the rest of the crew pack their equipment and pile into the truck. “Your shift going okay so far?”

“Yeah,” Carlos answers. “Just small calls.”

“I hope it stays that way.”

“You and I both,” Carlos nods.

Their heads turn in sync as they hear TK’s name being called from behind them.

“TK!” Judd waves his hand. “Let’s go.”

TK nods, turning back to Carlos. “See you at home.”

“Yeah.”

TK leans in, brushing a chaste kiss to Carlos’s lips. “Text me. And be careful, please.”

“Will do,” Carlos promises. “You too, on both those things.”

TK smiles as he makes his way towards the truck, giving Amber a nod and climbing in.

Leaving the scene, too, TK sees Amber and Carlos get into their cruiser and drive off in the opposite direction.

The crew sit in silence as they drive back the firehouse wearing their headphones and TK stares out the window as the city passes by in a blur.

Then the radio comes to life, but it’s not a call for them.

“Unit 363-H-20, 10-50,” the female voice relays, giving the address of the car accident.

Carlos and Amber. TK knows Carlos’s unit number by heart.

“10-4, dispatch,” Carlos’s reply rings through the channel, his strong voice filling the headphones. “Responding, en route.”

TK could hear the sirens begin to wail in the background.

“Roger that,” the female voice returns. “ETA?”

No response comes.

The female voice tries again. “Unit 363-H-20, please respond.”

Nothing.

And just like that, the silence echoing through the firetruck is deafening, the air suddenly thick and heavy, and TK holds his breath as he waits for a reply from the officers. As he waits to hear his boyfriend’s voice.

Which still doesn’t come.

“Reyes, respond,” the female voice returns, rigid but TK can hear some unsteadiness in the tone.

Still, nothing.

TK can feel the tension rising in the small space. And he’s suddenly hot, his body feels like it’s on fire. He knows the rest of his team aren’t just concerned for him, but they’re concerned for Carlos, as well. Carlos is now part of the family, of their family.

TK finds himself fishing his phone out of his pocket, his mind working on autopilot as he touches Carlos’s contact and brings up the phone to his ear.

It’s fine, it’s okay, there are a lot of explanations for what happened, he repeats in his head as the ringing continues. “Come on, come on, pick up,” TK whispers, mostly to himself.

It goes to voicemail.

“Damn it,” TK hangs up. His heart sinks a little more.

But still, he won’t allow himself to panic. Carlos might be on the phone with dispatch. Or another officer. Maybe the radio broke.

TK tries calling Amber next.

And when her phone goes to voicemail too, the dam in TK breaks as the fear starts coursing through his body, through his veins.

“They’re not picking up,” TK’s voice wavers.

No one says anything, they just exchange worried looks.

“Why aren’t they answering?” TK continues. He doesn’t know the answer. And there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to know the answer. Because his gut tells him he won’t like the answer.

He shakes his head, drawing in a deep breath and shakily letting it out. What do people say about manifestation again? Right. So he tries to think positive thoughts, tries to convince himself that Carlos is okay, that the radio just broke and Carlos will call or text him any second.

TK doesn’t allow himself to think about the what if the little voice at the back of his head keeps supplying.

No, Carlos is fine. The radio just broke.

He waits. No text or call come through.

The more he waits, the most TK’s world closes in on him.

He holds his breath once again as he tries to call Carlos for a second time.

Same outcome.

That's the last string as TK gives into that small voice.

“Something’s wrong,” TK finally says the words out loud, the hot pit in his stomach getting deeper and deeper by each passing second. “I saw him get into the passenger seat, he should be answering.”

“Hey, TK,” it’s Owen who speaks up. “It’s okay, I’m sure there’s a valid and logical explanation.”

But TK’s shaking his head. “We have to do something.”

“I need you to breathe, son. Breathe.”

TK swallows against his very dry throat, doing his best to follow his dad’s instructions. Deep breath, hold for one, two, three, four and let out for one, two, three, four…

He repeats the exercise a few times, feeling his heart begin to calm down.

Before anyone can say anything else, the radio comes to life again, this time a different voice and a call for the firefighters.

Judd looks at TK with a concerned and supportive gaze. “You alright? Get your head in the game brother. I’m sure your man is fine.”

TK nods, sitting up straight in his seat. He can’t let anything affect how he does his job, people are relying on him, his team is relying on him and as much as he wants to curl up in a ball and keep trying Carlos until he answers, he knows he can’t do that. And he also knows that if he lets the worry get the best of him and put him out of action, it would be impossible to get out of bed each morning.

TK sighs, reluctantly putting his phone away and closes his eyes, focusing on his breathing. Yeah, there are several reasons why Carlos couldn’t pick up. He could be at the scene right now, doing his job. And TK needs to do his job, too.

Still, however, he can’t shake off this gut wrenching feeling echoing through his bones.

The silence sits heavy among the crew, each of them busying themselves in any way until they reach their scene. TK slightly startles as an invisible voice speaks suddenly as dispatch is radioing again and redirecting them to a different call.

TK swallows and tries to keep the sickening feeling down. He’ll deal with it later. He has a job to do now. He shares a quick look with Paul, and sees support and grounding in the other man’s eyes. He knows his crew—his family—has his back.

However, all concentration TK had been building to focus on his job goes out the window when the firetruck rolls up to the scene.

When he spots the APD cruiser sitting the middle of the intersection. And his eyes land on the license plate he knows by heart.

He’s jumping out of the truck before it comes to a full stop, his name being called out in a fury behind him but he doesn’t stop. He doesn’t dare slow down. He doesn’t look back at them. He barely registers the shuffling going on as the rest of the crew jump out behind him when the truck stops.

He’s screaming out another name.

“Carlos!” Even TK’s voice sound foreign to him. It sounds broken. “Carlos!”

The closer TK gets, the more he realizes that another one of his worst fears is becoming a reality. It’s confirmed when he’s a few feet away from the car, and it’s clear that the passenger side took the hit head on.

And Carlos had gotten into the passenger seat.

TK can’t hear Judd yelling his name over the beating of his own heart in his ears. He swallows and wills his heart to calm down. So he can work. So he save Carlos.

He hears a groan coming from inside the car. He jumps at it, closing the distance between him and the cruiser. TK gets to the driver’s side, looking through the car to see Carlos resting his head against the door frame. And the window has been shattered into pieces. It’s then TK realizes the sound is coming from Amber.

“Amber, hey, it’s TK,” he says. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” she replies weakly. “Check on Reyes. A car ran a red light and crashed into us.”

Only then does TK see the other car on the other side of the intersection. And his blood boils when it appears that the driver is fine.

He looks over his shoulder to see Marjan and Paul coming up to the car, and then he allows himself to walk around the car to Carlos’s side.

His heart drops into his knees at the sight that meets his eyes. It’s like a bucket of ice water has been dumped on TK’s head.

“Carlos? Carlos, can you hear me?” TK speaks, his voice unsteady. “Carlos, it’s TK. I’m here.”

He’s met with silence from his boyfriend.

With a trembling hand, he reaches out, placing two fingers on Carlos’s neck and waits, praying. He sags slightly when he feels the thump against his touch.

“Carlos, please,” TK tries again with the same outcome.

He hears his father say that EMS is en route.

The firefighter takes in a deep breath, collecting himself and goes into first responder mode. He can’t fall apart now. He needs to save Carlos.

He hears the rest of the team working to get Amber out, and then feels a presence at his side.

It’s Judd, and the man draws a breath himself at seeing Carlos in his unconscious and bleeding state.

TK starts cataloging Carlos’s injuries.

“He’s got a nasty gash on his hairline,” he points to Carlos’s head, the cut which is steadily oozing blood appears to need stitches. “His heart is racing, and from what I can tell, his breathing isn’t good,” he continues. “He’s wheezing, not taking deep, full breaths. Could be from the impact of the crash,” TK analyzes. “I can’t tell about anything else, though.”

Both TK and Judd look up when sirens get closer and TK lets out a sigh when Tommy exists the ambulance, making a beeline for them, Nancy following her with the medical bags.

They quickly secure Carlos’s neck with a c-collar to ensure no further harm occurs to the cop. TK’s eyes drift to Carlos’s closed ones, and the bang in his chest is painful, it’s so painful TK feels like his knees will give out. He misses those bright, brown eyes. He’d give anything to see Carlos open his eyes again.

He redirects his attention to the tangled mess of a door. He pulls at it, trying to get it opened, but it doesn’t budge.

“It’s stuck! We need to get the door opened! He’s trapped!” TK yells.

Wordlessly, Judd moves, making his way to the truck so he can get the equipment they need to bust the door open, while Tommy and Nancy open the medical bags and start gathering what they need.

And in a blink of an eye, the hood of the cruiser goes up in flames.

“TK!” Owen howls. “Get back!”

“I’m not leaving him!” TK yells back, his voice higher than the roar of the flames.

“Judd, Paul, extinguishers!”

TK hears his father scream the order, but he’s looking at Carlos. It’s only Carlos. Carlos has his full, undivided attention.

He doesn’t move even when the heat evaporates, and the fire is put out just as quickly as it had started.

It’s only Tommy speaking to him that breaks TK out of his trance.

“TK, take a set back, I need to check him,” Tommy says, her voice authoritative but still soft.

“Hang on, babe,” TK whispers, watching Tommy press her stethoscope to Carlos’s unevenly moving chest.

“Diminished breath sounds,” Tommy reports. “I think he has a bruised lung.”

TK’s heart sinks even further at the Paramedic Captain’s words.

“We need to stabilize him,” Tommy continues. “Get ready with the IVs and oxygen once he’s out, we don’t have any time to lose. Okay,” she nods at the firefighters, “ready for extraction.”

Judd wastes no time in digging the jaws of life into an open juncture of the mangled door, TK watching with his hands on his heart as the machine slowly works in pulling the door apart, the metal shrieking as it’s torn apart.

TK feels a hand on his shoulder and looks to the side to find his father standing next to him, Owen’s eyes not leaving Carlos.

TK swallows, turning back and drops to his knees, already wanting to be near Carlos as Paul steps forward to help Judd carry him and lay him on the backboard.

But the second he’s removed from the car, blood starts gushing and pouring out of his thigh. And it keeps coming, it doesn’t slow down as it stains the asphalt beneath Carlos red.

“It’s the femoral artery!” Tommy yells, her hands immediately going to the wound and pressing down, hard. She looks at TK, who’s the closest to her, and his face is pale. Unmoving. He’s staring at Carlos, eyes unblinking.

“TK? TK!” Tommy cries out.

But TK can’t move. He can’t bring his muscles to move. There’s so much blood…Carlos…Carlos’s blood…

“I need you to apply as much pressure as we get a tourniquet on, do you hear me, TK?”

But Tommy’s voice is so far away, it’s like TK is under water and she’s speaking from above. But then…

“He needs you.”

That’s what brings TK back. And he’s lunging forward, covering Tommy’s hands with his own as she retracts her, and TK presses down as hard as he can. But there’s still blood seeping through his fingers, and he wants to cry. He want to sob. This can’t be happening. He can’t keep Carlos’s blood inside his body, where it should be. He suspects he lets out a whimper because a second later, he feels another all-too familiar touch to his back. A silent gesture of support.

TK applies more pressure, determined to do whatever it takes to save his boyfriend.

And then Owen’s voice is there in his ear, telling TK to let go.

But TK can’t let go. He can’t. Carlos will bleed out if he does. No. He has to keep applying—

“TK, son, you can let go.”

It’s then TK allows himself to tear his gaze from Carlos’s bloodied face and takes a peak at his thigh. It’s not bleeding anymore. He reluctantly lets go.

“He’s stable for now,” Tommy says.

For a second, TK feels lost. So much is happening around him but he feels detached. Feels like he’s far, far away. He unceremoniously tumbles backwards, and into his father’s chest. Owen manages to take on TK’s weight without losing his balance and wraps his arms around TK’s shivering form.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Owen whispers. “He’s okay.”

“He’s okay?” TK questions, a puzzled look on his face.

Owen frowns a little. “Yeah, Tommy said he’s okay. We’ll get him to the hospital and they’ll take care of him.”

“She did?”

Owen sighs. “She did.”

Owen’s heart shatters at the pain in TK’s eyes, the look painted on his face. It’s a broken look, and TK’s eyes are glassy with unshed tears.

“It’s going to be okay,” Owen comforts TK. “He’s strong and he’s a fighter.”

“It has to be okay, he has to be okay,” TK whispers. There’s no other option.

Owen brushes a kiss to TK’s temple.

“Come on,” he helps TK get to his feet and gestures to the ambulance. “Go, we’ll catch up and meet you at the hospital.”

TK doesn’t need to be told twice. He jogs and jumps into the back of the ambulance, and for the first time, notices the absence of Amber and the driver of the other car. And the amount of APD cruisers that had arrived.

He keeps the tears at bay, or does his best, as he settles on the small bench in the ambulance. He reaches out, taking a hold of Carlos’s hand and giving it a light squeeze.

He can’t help the tear that rolls down his cheek when Carlos doesn’t squeeze back.

Tommy and TK sit in silence, the Paramedic Captain taking glances at the heart monitor to ensure the cop’s stability while TK doesn’t move his eyes from Carlos’s too-still form.

TK watches as Carlos’s check weakly rises and falls with every breath he takes, and this whole sight is wrong, it’s just so wrong. Even though Carlos is a calm and steady sleeper—TK’s the fidgeter and tosser in his sleep in this relationship—Carlos does have a few minimal movements, they’re very small but they’re there, and once TK noticed them, he always watches for them if he wakes up before Carlos. Like how Carlos scrunches up his nose in his sleep sometimes, how his eyes move underneath closed lids when he’s dreaming, how he automatically nuzzles his face against the back of TK’s neck when they’re spooning, those are all Carlos and right now, in this ambulance, this sight is anything but Carlos. It’s too still, too distant. Too cold.

It’s almost like Tommy can sense TK’s mind spiral. She hasn’t been at the 126 for long, but she immediately had picked up on the connection and bond between TK and Carlos. The love they share. She had taken one look at them together and she knew. And knowing about their love from just one look, with the amount of affection and passion that had radiated off the couple, her heart breaks at what TK must be feeling.

“He’s hanging in there, TK,” Tommy breaks the silence like a knife slicing through butter. “I’ll be honest, his numbers aren’t great, but he’s holding on.”

“I—I can’t lose him,” TK whispers.

“I haven’t known Carlos for long, but I know he won’t go down without a fight. And I know he’s fighting to get back to you, too.”

TK doesn’t reply, the words caught in his throat, but he wishes he could express his thanks to Tommy, how much he appreciates her kind words.

It seems that once again, Tommy can read TK’s mind because she’s reaching out and giving TK’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. There’s no need to thank me, you aren’t alone, the gesture seems to speak.

The rest of the trip to the hospital is spent in silence, with thankfully no surprises arising with Carlos’s condition. Tommy had hoped his numbers would get better as he received treatment in the ambulance, but she’s also glad his numbers didn’t plummet.

They’re met with a team of doctors and nurses outside the ambulance bay, the nurses ripping the ambulance doors open and Tommy pushes the gurney, relaying the information of Carlos’s condition and vitals. It all happens in a blur, TK sticking close but giving the doctors and nurses space, rushing through the chilly ER. TK only stops when Carlos is rolled through a door with a sign that reads Authorized Personnel Only.

He lets out a shaky breath, arms hanging heavily at his sides. He feels a presence next to him: Tommy. They don’t say anything, though, the only sound surrounding them that of a semi-busy emergency room.

On autopilot, TK reaches for his phone, fishing it out of his pocket and opens his contact list.

He needs to make a phone call while he can still speaks without every word breaking.

Carlos’s mother.

She answers on the fourth ring.

“Hola, Tyler,” she answers with a gentle tone.

“Camila…”

She immediately knows something is wrong when TK’s voice breaks.

*****

He doesn’t know how long he’s been pacing the waiting room, having been lead there by a nurse a few minutes after he finished talking to Carlos’s mom.

He turns when he hears his name being called, and sees his father and the rest of the 126 marching towards him, all wearing the same worry and concern on their faces.

“Dad,” TK’s voice quivers.

“What’s the latest?”

“They took him straight into surgery,” Tommy supplies from the chair she’s sitting in. “No word since.”

TK nods. “I called his mom, she’s on the way.”

TK’s eyes are bloodshot and swollen, swimming with unshed tears.

It breaks Owen’s heart all over again.

“Come here,” he pulls TK into a tight hug, holding his son close and running a hand up and down TK’s back.

And TK feels so small in Owen’s arms, the way he curls against and into his father’s body and hold, the way TK clutches at the back of Owen’s AFD t-shirt, his tight fists grasping the material. Owen suspects it’s a lifeline for TK, and in this moment, it truly is.

Judd walks past them, squeezing one of TK’s arms as he does and sits on the chair next to Tommy.

“He hasn’t sat down for a moment since we got here,” Tommy tells Judd.

Judd nods in acknowledgment. “Yeah, that’s TK for you. He’s always moving, nervous energy.”

“This can’t be good for him,” Tommy sighs.

“It’s not. But getting that kid to sit still for a moment has been a collective failure for the 126,” Judd replies. “Most of all when he’s worried or anxious.”

TK’s still pacing around, the rest of the 126 having taken their seats, when Owen spots a Latina in her late forties quickly walking towards the waiting room through the glass window. Her long, wavy black hair tied up in a high ponytail, gripping her arm bag tightly, her forehead creased and brown eyes wide with worry and concern.

Owen gets to his feet as she enters the room.

“How’s my son?” She asks right away, eyes landing on Owen.

“He’s still in surgery,” Owen answers, cutting to the chase. “No news yet.”

Camila closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. She still faces Owen when she opens her eyes, and gives him a nod. Her eyes then divert to TK, who had stopped moving when she entered the room, watching the exchange between her and his dad.

She takes in his appearance and her eyes soften.

“Oh, querido,” she breathes. Darling. And then she’s opening her arms wide.

TK closes the distance between them with a few steps, her strong arms going around him and a hand traveling to rest on the back of his head.

Camila is a little shorter than TK, but here, right now, and in his current state, she might as well be a giant and TK a little boy.

“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t—” TK’s voice trembles, muffled by Camila’s sweater as his body shakes in her arms.

“Hey, hey, no, no, amor,” she whispers. “None of that now. I know in my heart that you did everything you could for my mijo and you were by his side.”

TK sniffs as they pull apart.

“Carlos is going to be just fine,” she reassures TK. “My son is strong, he’ll pull through.” TK swallows, nodding.

He can’t stop the tear that falls from his eye, slowly rolling down his cheek. He does, however, give Camila a small smile when her hand cups his face and she wipes the tear away with her thumb.

After brief introductions with Tommy (Camila knows the rest of the 126), and Camila thanking Tommy for everything she did for Carlos, she sits down on one of the chairs facing the door.

“Tyler,” she says and taps the chair next to her. “Come sit with me.”

TK does. He falls into the chair and sighs, comforted right away by her close presence.

“Well,” Judd turns to Tommy. “I guess there is one person who can get TK to sit down.”

Tommy smiles at that.

*****

TK falls asleep as they wait for any news to arrive about Carlos. He had tired himself out, mentally, physically and emotionally. He needed the rest, Owen knew TK was this close to collapsing. And that would have been the last thing they needed.

Owen gently adjusts TK into a better position so it doesn’t ache his son when he wakes up and to keep his muscles from straining.

Camila watches. “He’s exhausted.”

Owen nods, dropping into the chair on her other side with a sigh. “It was hard. It was a…tough scene. I could see that TK was barely holding it together, he never left Carlos’s side.”

It’s Camila’s turn to nod. “Tyler didn’t tell me much about the accident, but I knew enough. That boy’s voice is as transparent as glass. Still, though, it doesn’t change anything. Carlos is strong.”

“Absolutely,” Owen agrees.

“Mi mijo will be back on his feet in no time.”

They sit in shared silence for another hour, the rest of the 126 going and coming with some pastries and coffee, Owen keeping saving pastries for TK to eat when he wakes up. Grace had joined them a short while ago and was sitting next to Judd, clasping his hand as she prayed for Carlos.

The doctor marches into the waiting room about thirty minutes later, a weary and tired look on his face, no doubt from the long surgery.

“Family of Carlos Reyes?”

They can’t read the doctor’s face as they all rise to their feet, Camila being the first as Owen moves to wake TK up.

“TK,” Owen lightly shakes his son. “Wake up, the doctor’s here.”

“Hm?” TK slowly rouses from his sleep state, getting to his feet at the speed of lightning at soon as he registers Owen’s words.

They collectively hold their breath.

“Si, doctor,” Camila speaks. “How’s my son?”

“He made it through surgery,” the doctor reassures him and the tension in the room starts fading.

The family just as collectively lets out the breath they were holding, exchanging relieved looks.

“Oh, thank the Lord,” Grace says.

“It is, however, going to be a tough recovery,” the doctor continues. “He did sustain a bruised lung due to the collision. We’ll keep monitoring his breathing and oxygen levels but he’s already breathing on his own, which is a good sign. The also suffered a concussion, but there’s no evidence of any brain trauma and the laceration on his hairline has been stitched. We repaired the femoral artery in his thigh, and in time and with some physical therapy, the injury won’t present any difficulties for movement. Overall, I expect him to make a full recovery, he’s young and healthy, he’s going to be just fine.”

“He’s…he’s really okay?” TK asks, his mind still catching up with everything the doctor said.

“Yes,” the doctor nods. “He’s really okay.”

And for the first time since finding Carlos in that cruiser, TK lets his tears fall. All of them. He stops holding back and the dam breaks. He pours out everything he’s feeling, all the fear, the hurt, the pain, the relief, is all comes tumbled out.

TK blindly reaches for his dad, and Owen is right there to hold him. TK buries his face in his father��s neck, the tears streaming down his face, and Owen speaks to him in whispers.

“It’s okay, son. He’s okay, everything is going to be just fine.”

TK hears someone ask if they can see Carlos in the background and he wants to scream please! but all that leaves him is a broken sob.

*****

Later, after TK had calmed down and gotten cleaned up, and eating after Owen insisted on it. Now wearing sweatpants and a hoodie, TK finds himself sitting next to Carlos’s bed, the beeping of the heart monitor the only sound.

He watches Carlos for a few moments, the gauze tapped to his forehead, the nasal cannula attached to his nostrils and curving down his face, secured under his chin. Carlos is covered with a blanket, but TK can see the heavy bandaging on his injured thigh.

Slowly, TK reaches out, taking Carlos’s now-warm hand into his and holding it gently. He runs his thumb over Carlos’s knuckles as he finds his voice to speak.

“Hey,” the word gets caught in his throat, and clears it before speaking again. “Hi, babe, I’m here and you’re okay. Everything went fine and they’re taking great care of you. God, Carlos…” TK draws in an uneven breath. “I was terrified. I was…I really need to see your beautiful, brown eyes opened. I need to hear your voice. I need…you.”

It’s not that TK had expected a response, but he wants to cry again when he doesn’t get one.

He mostly just sits there, watching Carlos breathe, until the door is pushed open and Owen appears.

“Hey, how’s he doing?”

“Okay, no change, his numbers are holding.” “That’s good,” Owen says. “The team send their love and support.”

“Thanks.” And before Owen can say anything else. “I’m not leaving.”

“Yeah, I know,” Owen nods. “I talked to the doctor, they’ll let you stay with him.”

TK’s shoulders sag, having tensed up, ready to fight to stay with Carlos. “Thanks, dad. For everything.”

“You’re not alone, son. You’ve got everyone. You both do.”

TK gives Owen a small smile.

Owen approaches TK, and TK gets up to hug his dad, one hand still holding Carlos’s.

“If anything changes or if you need anything, you call, okay?” Owen says.

“Promise.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”

*****

TK doesn’t get much sleep. Between the nurses periodically rounding on Carlos throughout the night and his own anxiety, he probably gets a couple of hours of shuteye. He kept tossing and turning and often had gotten up to check on Carlos.

He’s nursing a cup of coffee when there’s a knock on the door and Owen steps in, shouldering a small duffle bag and holding a medium sized bottle of orange juice and a brown bag, which TK recognizes is from his father bagel spot in Austin.

He holds up the items. “Brought you breakfast. I know hospital cafeteria food, and right now knowing just from looking at you, that’s the last thing you need.”

TK smiles at that.

“And I thought it would cheer you up a little,” Owen gestures to the bagel bag.

TK nods. “It worked.”

Owen sets the bag on the floor near the wall and hangs TK the bagel and juice.

“Finish that first,” Owen points to the coffee cup.

“Nah,” TK shakes his head. “Gone cold a while ago.”

“How’s he doing?”

“The nurse that checked on him this morning says he’s doing better. He could wake up at any moment,” TK replies.

“That’s really great news, TK,” Owen smiles.

TK nods. “I just…really need him to wake up.”

Owen squeezes TK’s shoulder in response.

“Amber stopped by an hour ago,” TK tells Owen.

Owen looks a little confused.

“Carlos’s partner,” TK clarifies.

“Ah. How is she doing?”

“She’s shaken up, as expected. Physically she’s fine, needed some stitches for some cuts and she has a few bruised ribs but that’s about it. Kept apologizing for what happened. Said she was driving, I told her it wasn’t her fault. The other driver ran the red light.”

Owen stays for some more time before he has to leave for shift, making TK promise again to call if anything changes.

*****

The movement is minimal. TK would have missed it if he wasn’t waiting and longing for it. A twitch of a finger.

TK was leaning forward, careful not to disturb the wires connected to Carlos’s body, holding his hand while going through the texts he’s received from the 126.

He feels it, feels Carlos brush up a finger against his palm. TK pauses, not sure if it was his imagination or if it was reality.

Then it happens again and TK’s phone goes forgotten as he gets to his feet, watching Carlos’s face for any signs of consciousness.

He hears a groan next, throaty and low.

“Carlos?” TK breathes, his heart hammering against his ribcage. “Babe? Can you hear me?”

Carlos squeezes his eyes before very slowly peeling them open. His vision is blurry, seeing two TKs that slowly merge into one. Oh, those breathtaking green eyes.

A wide smile, the first true smile since all of this happened, spreads on TK’s face. “Hi, babe.”

“TK?” Carlos croaks.

“Yeah, I’m here, you’re okay,” TK assures his boyfriend. His eyes fill with tears, but they’re happy ones this time. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re awake.”

“What—what happened?”

TK slightly frowns. “You don’t remember?”

Carlos begins to shake his head but stops midway, the action having proven to do more harm than good. Yeah, he’s on painkillers, but that isn’t stopping the feeling that his brain is getting knocked around his skull.

“Whoa, easy, easy,” TK soothes. “No sudden moves. Your concussion won’t like that.”

“Concussion?”

TK takes a deep breath. “You were in a car accident. You really don’t remember?”

“Remember you, the scene and then…darkness,” Carlos replies.

“Well, I think that’s normal with your injuries. But the important thing is that you’re okay.”

Carlos uses his strength to squeeze TK’s hand, and the firefighter can’t express his thankfulness at that gesture.

He moves to brush a kiss to Carlos’s forehead and then touches his own forehead to Carlos’s. He closes his eyes, breathing Carlos in, his shampoo mixed with hospital antiseptic and all.

“I was so scared,” TK admits through a whisper, the first time he speaks those words out loud. “I was…so scared, Carlos. The way your radio just cut off and then…coming up on the scene and how…”

From the way TK’s voice trembles, Carlos knows it’s bad. He just needs to know how bad.

“How bad is it?” Carlos finally asks.

“Let me go get the doctor,” TK tries.

But Carlos tightens his hold on TK’s hand to keep him from moving. It’s not a strong grip, but TK felt the difference.

“TK, please…” Carlos pleads, his brown eyes wide and well, how can TK resist?

“Okay. Well, I’ve already mentioned your concussion, you have a gash on your hairline which has been stitched, a bruised lung, but the doctor said that will heal, you just need to take it easy and they’ll monitor your oxygen levels. Your thigh is going to need physical therapy once it’s healed, your femoral artery was hit, but don’t worry,” TK quickly adds when he sees the gears turning in Carlos’s head, most likely going to a bad scenario. “It’s just to get your strength back and the doctor said you won’t have any problems with movement.”

Carlos visibly relaxes at TK’s words.

“I promise to be with you, by your side, every step of the way,” TK vows.

“You always are,” Carlos gives TK a tired smile.

TK leans in, closing the distance between them with a chaste, gentle kiss pressed to Carlos’s chapped lips. It’s perfect. And it’s more than that, it’s a reaffirmation that they’re going to be okay. And peace surges through TK’s body.

“Amber,” Carlos says. “How is she? And my mom, what—”

“Amber is fine, she visited this morning. Said everyone from the police station sends their love and support and they’ll visit when you’re up for it. And your mom was here yesterday, she’s doing okay. Asked me to update her, which brings me to this.” TK then grabs his phone from the foot of the bed where he had discarded it when Carlos wakes up and opens his texting thread with Camila. “I’ll have to text me dad, too.”

Carlos watches as TK types away. “So, is you and my mom texting a regular thing?”

TK’s eyes snap up to Carlos’s face and then are quickly lowered back to the screen. “No.”

Even silent, and lying in a hospital bed, tired and sore to his bones, Carlos’s power with the look should never be underestimated. TK feels it radiate off Carlos, aimed right for him.

“You text my dad,” TK points out.

“Yeah, to make sure you’re okay,” Carlos retorts back. “I have a feeling it’s more than that with my mom.”

“Okay, fine,” TK raises his hands in surrender. “I mean, it’s also about making sure you’re okay, but there may be another reason for texting with her.”

Carlos is waiting for TK to continue, but silence stretches between them.

“Are you gonna tell me the reason sometime before my stitches come out or?” Carlos quips at TK.

“No,” TK replies, planting a kiss to Carlos’s cheek. “Because it’s a surprise.”

“Ty,” Carlos groans.

“I promise, you’re gonna like this surprise.”

Carlos is about to say something but it transforms into a yawn.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get the doctor?”

“I’m okay,” Carlos says.

“Okay, I’ll just tell them you’ve woken up. But go to sleep, babe and rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Carlos gives TK a smile, feeling love and comfort when TK plants another kiss to his forehead. Carlos feels safe.

TK’s soft touch is the last thing the officer feels before drifting off to sleep.

TK watches Carlos, his heart just about to burst with so much love and relief. He got his biggest love back.

TK thinks back to the call yesterday, he never expected that it would lead to him sitting by Carlos’s hospital bed. They should be home right now, asleep in their bed, in each other’s embrace.

But they will return to their bed. They will lie in each other’s embrace. And they’ll have comfort and safety. He’s going to manifest that.

And the surprise TK was telling Carlos about?

It has something to do with Camila sharing recipes with TK.

It’s about a meal TK wants to cook for Carlos on a very special day that's quickly approaching.

116 notes · View notes

beeexx · 3 years

Text

The missing Tarlos scenes from 2x06

Word count: 4.8 Read on ao3

.......

“You know you need to tell him this, right?”

“No, no, I really don’t.” TK protests loudly, by banging the frozen bag of chickens into the counter, hoping they will shake loose with the excess force he is using. Carlos lifts an eyebrow from where he is standing in boxers and an old tank top, too much skin on display for it to be good for TK’s health, cutting onions into small, stupidly neat pieces on the chopping board.

“TK….” Carlos begins, in that voice of his and TK turns around, eyes flashing.

“Carlos.”

Carlos huffs.

“Babe, this is clearly bothering you, and taking it out on our poor dinner isn’t ideal.” He points out.

“Oh, sure Carlos, I’ll just tell my dad that him having another kid is a terrible idea because I’m a prime example of how they messed up with the first one.”

“TK…”

“Oh and while I’m at it I might as well bring up how I am feeling about it and make it all about myself like I always do, that ought to go down really well.” He snaps and Carlos sighs.

“You don’t make everything about yourself.” TK lifts an eyebrow and Carlos snorts. “Okay, sometimes you do, but often not without a legit reason and this is definitely a situation I feel you’re entitled to feel whatever it is that you’re really feeling and express that.”

“Okay, well if we’re on the subject of telling parents what we really think then why don’t you take a page out of your own book and tell your parents that you have a boyfriend, oh, or better yet, the way you’ve been feeling for years about them refusing to acknowledge that you’re gay.” As soon as the words leave his mouth TK regrets them and he winces at the wounded look Carlos sends his way at his harsh words.

Fuck.

“That’s not the same thing.” Carlos mutters, he sounds bitter about it and were it not for the deeply thoughtful look also making its way across his features TK would take the words back immediately.

“I could have gone about that differently, sorry…. But, but isn’t that exactly the same thing as this is though.”

“We were talking about you.” Carlos points out in an attempt to deflect and TK just chooses to let it go because he doesn’t have the energy to have an argument about two different things at the moment. His head is enough of a mess as it is.

“My point still stands, talking to your parents about all the ways they have hurt you is fucking hard, okay?”

“Yes, okay I will agree with you on that.”

“And if you really want to make this all about me this time then fine. Try telling my dad, Owen Strand, Captain of the 126, adored by his crew, envied by even more, hero, cancer survivor, the list could go on for a long time Carlos, yes try telling that person that oh yeah by the way dad you neglected me as a child and now I have both abandonment issues, self esteem issues and a constant fear that no one is ever going to love me because I am not worthy of it, that will go down real well.”

He hits the bag three more times against the counter and lets out a triumphant sound as the frozen chickens finally rattle loose inside and he turns to hold it up to Carlos, a sly little smile at the corner of his lip, because his tactic did work even though Carlos had doubted it would. Carlos isn’t smiling though, he’s frowning, concern written all over his face, eyebrows pinched together and TK drops the bag in confusion.

“What?”

Carlos puts the knife down and takes the bag from TK, throwing it lazily, without looking in the direction of the kitchen sink before he steps up close, wrapping his arms around TK and pulling him close. TK lets out a huff of air, taken aback by the fierceness of the action.

“I hate it when you do this to yourself…” Carlos starts and TK sighs, wraps his arms around him back and nods against Carlos’ neck, can’t help but breathe him in, feeling the calming effect of it already working through his system.

“Sorry.”

“No, no don’t apologise.” Carlos leans back and TK looks up to meet his stormy eyes. He opens his mouth but he isn’t sure what to say.

“I love you, okay? So much and I wish I could hit that into your thick skull sometimes but I can’t, so I’m just going to have to spend every day in this relationship proving that you are indeed worthy of love and no past damage or mistakes will change that, okay?” TK can only nod, his throat suddenly thick with emotions he doesn’t know how to express.

“With that said, you’re not very good at keeping things bottled up, especially not for a long time and especially not something this big, so you should probably really think about what you actually feel about this whole situation before you choose to do that.”

“Judd said I was jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yeah, something about me wanting to push the baby down a well or something because I couldn’t handle not being the only child anymore.”

“He said what now?” TK chuckles at Carlos’ incredulous look and he shrugs.

“It was some biblical reference I don’t know. Prodigal son?”

“Oh, like Cain and Abel, like a lesser known older brother and the jealousy that stems from it because it’s natural to resent the baby because you’re scared it’s going to take your place.” Realisation dawns on Carlos’ face and his eyes light up like they always do when he gets to talk about things he knows, which at times is a surprisingly big amount of random shit.

“Yeah, yeah, exactly that.” TK says sarcastically, gives Carlos a curious look.

“What? I read.” He shrugs and smirks proudly. TK hums. ”Well Judd is good at a lot of things, maybe giving advice isn’t his forte.”

“And yours is?” TK lifts a challenging eyebrow.

“I am an excellent advice giver, I’ll have you know. The issue isn’t me, the issue is everyone else and no one listening to what I’m saying.”

“Oh, so you have a lot of experience then, giving advice?” TK bites down his smile as Carlos glares without heat.

“I chased Michelle around for years when she was getting in trouble searching for her sister. I definitely have a lot of experience.” TK chuckles and leans up to kiss his nose. It wrinkles adorably and TK’s heart tugs in his chest. He loves Carlos so much.

“I love you too, so much. And I’m sorry for bringing up your parents again, that wasn’t nice of me.” TK apologizes and Carlos nods and watches back with quiet brown intense eyes.

“It’s okay, you were right though.” He grudgingly admits.

“Maybe, but there is no pressure, as I’ve said you can take all the time in the world that you need to figure it out and I’ll support you either way.” He promises and Carlos gives him a soft beautiful smile.

“Thanks.” Carlos whispers, grateful and TK nods, and gently starts scraping his knuckles against Carlos’ scalp, pulling at his curls in a way that makes his face soften immediately, eyes falling shut in contentment and his arms tighten around TK, breathing heavily. His reaction tells TK that Carlos feels really comforted by the way he is touching him and that he needed it more than he let on.

TK has always responded well to touch, Carlos picked up on that a lot quicker than most, but it’s also not uncommon for Carlos to like it as well. He just doesn’t always express it, so TK’s taken to doing it when he senses it’s something Carlos needs, while not always being aware of it himself. It’s these small gestures TK’s learnt, that you do for the other person and that they do for you that love really is.

Carlos’ eyes are closed and he’s letting out soft sounds of pleasure, it’s distracting as hell, and it’s making it even more difficult being this close to him and not kissing him, so TK does because he feels he can’t not do it, and angles Carlos’ head down and captures his lips in a searing hot kiss. As always when they kiss like this, starting out soft, but then growing with intention and heat, the slowburn of arousal starts to make its way through his veins, electric energy flooding his system. Only Carlos has this effect on him.

When Carlos reaches to grab at his hair and then bites at his lip it makes TK whine and chase after him when he moves back.

“Dinner, remember?” Carlos reminds him, but with his curls standing up unruly and his pupils dark with want, it’s very hard for TK to remember the reason why he can’t skip dinner all together and eat Carlos out instead. Carlos huffs and his hands tighten around his sides like he can read TK’s mind.

“After dinner.”

“Is that a promise?” TK asks slyly.

“Yes.” Carlos reassures and the slow self satisfied grin tugging at his lips is fucking obscene and TK cheekily grabs his ass in retaliation. Carlos knows the effect he has on him.

“You know cooking in boxers can be a fire hazard.” He points out.

“Good thing I know an excellent firefighter then.” He says and kisses TK hard on the lips before he steps away, walking back to his mostly finished chopped up onions, giving TK a very nice view of his ass in the black tight boxers he’s wearing. God, his boyfriend is hot as fuck.

The rest of the evening is so nice in fact that for a moment he doesn’t think about his parents or the baby, or anything other than how much he loves Carlos and how lucky he is to really have him in his life.

…….

TK unlocks the door to Carlos’ place, throws the bag towards what he hopes is the direction of the shoes, and puts his keys down in the bowl by the door, where Carlo’s are already lying. He steps inside and almost jumps out of skin when he sees his boyfriend sitting on the stairs, frowning and very clearly waiting for him. Most of the lights are off and it casts his features into stunning relief, even when angry, Carlos is too good looking for his own good.

“So, you heard?” TK gulps and Carlos nods.

“Yes, yes I did hear, from the group chat, but not just that, every goddamn news station in the state is covering how two firefighters jumped through a minefield to save two boys that were hurt.”

“Well, only one of them was hurt.” TK shuts his mouth when Carlos levels him with a deeply unimpressed look and he takes a slow step forward and tries again.

“In my defense, I am certified and I was qualified to do it.” TK stops, draws in a sharp breath, backtracks. “Are you mad?”

Carlos lets out a deep breath, and his features soften slightly before he shakes his head, scrubs a hand through his face and when he looks up his eyes are wide and sad.

“No, no, of course I’m not mad. Just extremely worried.”

“Oh?” TK asks, feels confused, scrambling to catch up with the change, having been expecting that Carlos would be upset with him. Carlos huffs and opens his arms and it’s all TK needs for him to take a few steps forward before he sits down between Carlos’ legs, wrapping his arms around his neck, pulling him close. Carlos plants a kiss in his hair, and tightens his grip around TK, almost unconsciously starts stroking his hands down his back and TK lets him, can’t push away the guilt that’s come on so strong, mixing badly with the elevation he’s also feeling after the day he’s had. But when his boyfriend reacts like this it can’t help but leave an acid taste in his mouth too.

“I’m not sure whether I want to never let you leave my arms ever again or brag to everyone that I am for sure dating a hero.” Carlos says and were it not for the slight tremor of his voice that he tries to conceal, TK would laugh.

“I wouldn’t mind never leaving your arms.” He admits because it sounds appealing, especially now, when adrenaline is starting to make way to exhaustion instead.

Carlos huffs.

“You’d get bored after a day or two.” He points out and TK shakes his head.

“You underestimate the excellent sex we do have, I’m sure I could be convinced for three days or so.” Carlos laughs, but then one of his hands wrap around TK’s wrist, feeling out his pulse, comforted by the steady thumping of it. TK lets him, allowing himself after the hectic day he’s had to tuck his face into the crook of Carlos’ shoulder and neck to breathe him in. They both have different ways of calming themselves down when the other one is near and on certain days they need it a little more than on others.

“Your pulse is beating insanely quick.” Carlos points out after a while and TK hums against Carlos’ neck, gives himself a moment before he detaches himself slightly so he can look at him.

“Adrenaline.” He shows Carlos his hand that’s still trembling slightly and Carlos’ eyebrow pinch in concern.

“I’m sorry -” TK begins because he really does hate it when Carlos is sad but Carlos shakes his head and interrupts.

“No, no, this is on me. I know you have a dangerous job that sometimes requires that you take risks, I just wish they didn't have to be this big, a minefield, that’s just insane.” TK nods, he understands.

“But also really cool.” He can’t help but let slip out, eyes alive in excitement and smirking. Carlos snorts and pokes his nose, a little hard maybe, but only a little.

“Yes and designed to give me a goddamn heart attack, you know I’m not even 30, by this rate I’ll be going grey before I hit 35.” He points out, gives TK a look that speaks volumes about how offended Carlos seems to be over that. He laughs and reaches for Carlos’ hair, tugging gently on it.

“I think you’d suit grey really well to be fair.” Carlos wrinkles his nose in distaste and it’s so adorable that he can’t help but laugh again and Carlos distaste slowly melts into something much softer and he sticks his tongue out instead like a mature 26 year old that he is. “And if we’re pointing fingers, remember that hostage situation a while back where an office was shot and I thought it was you because you wouldn’t answer your phone?” Carlos winces and he looks momentarily guilty about that because TK had been so fucking worried he could barely even do his job that day and when Carlos hadn’t answered by the time they were both off shift TK had lost it a little bit.

“Not my finest moment.” Carlos admits.

“No, so don’t go pointing fingers.” But he’s mostly joking even though that day had been scary as fuck, he so very much understands Carlos’ worry today, he really does. Carlos hums.

“How was it then?” He asks and TK bites at his lip, trying to figure out how to word everything. He turns towards Carlos and sits up on his knees, bringing him eyelevel with him and wraps his arms around his neck. Immediately Carlos’ hands come to rest on his waist, his fingers slipping underneath TK’s jumper to trace skin.

“It was incredible, well the minefield aside which was scary for sure, but after that I’ve been feeling like I’ve been on this incredibly long lasting high ever since.” Carlos lifts an eyebrow at the metaphor and TK shrugs sheepishly.

“Yeah, but it’s an apt metaphor for the feeling. I guess I haven’t felt good like that in a while.”

“No?” Carlos asks and there is no trace of judgement or anything in his voice, just kind and curious eyes looking at him. TK nods.

“The only other times I’ve felt this kind of high is you know actually getting high and when I’m with you, I guess the job’s been missing that spark for a while.” Carlos smiles and leans forward to plant a kiss on his nose.

“I’m not totally sure about comparing this relationship to a high.” He points out and TK snorts.

“I’m not, I’m comparing the feeling. Being with you is like pure happiness you know? I feel, just, like I’ve never felt before and even when it’s tough it’s worth it because I love you so much and I know deep down that you love me too and I never don’t want to spend my time with you, so yeah, the feeling is addictive for sure. I really just love you.” He goes quiet and Carlos' eyes have softened and he’s met by a look of pure love and a breathtakingly beautiful smile breaks across Carlos’ face before he pulls TK close and kisses him softly and slowly, making TK’s toes curl inside of his shoes.

“Fuck.” Carlos whispers against his lips. “I love you too, so much.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Carlos says with adoring eyes and voice full of love before he runs his hand through TK’s hair and gently pulls him close, kissing him hard on his lips again. It’s TK who pulls back though making Carlos lift an eyebrow in surprise because it’s unexpected for TK to be the one to do this, so before TK can chicken out he blurts out the words.

“But I might have done something stupid…”

“Oh?” Carlos asks, amusement dancing in his eyes like he’s totally expecting it.

“Yeah, I might have handed in my resume to Vega for the position to become a paramedic.” He rushes the words out, hates the silence between them and can’t help but feel ridiculously nervous all of a sudden waiting for Carlos' reaction. Carlos opens and closes his mouth a few times then shakes his head.

“Okay, wait, I think you need to back up a few steps here so I can follow.” He says, confusion evident in his eyes. But he’s giving TK an encouraging look at TK takes in a deep breath.

“The minefield was not fun and the thought of what could have happened to me and my dad while out there was really scary. I’m not trying to take massive risks anymore, not when I have you to come home to.” Carlos smiles, lovingly, and gives him an encouraging look spurring TK on. “But I knew someone had to get to the kid and with the help of my dad and Vega that I could do something about it, so I volunteered. And the elevation afterwards, that all came from saving the kid. It just… it felt really good to save someone, to be the one to actually do it.” TK confesses loudly for the first time since his shift ended and he in the spur of the moment added his name to the pile in Vega’s office, and saying it makes him feel a little calmer than he has ever since walking off the field.

“Oh, okay.” Carlos says, not fully understanding yet what TK is trying to say, and yet being so patient with him, waiting for TK to figure it out.

“I don’t know, I sometimes feel like I’m not doing enough in the field, like I could do more... and while I also know that’s not the case because every day we all go out in the field doing our best together. But I think I’ve been carrying this with me for a while now, it’s just that this year has been a lot, and even when there is a pandemic going on people still forget to turn their stove off, and they get into car accidents or have their cats escape up in trees unable to come down. The world hasn’t stopped, it’s been moving and I’ve been moving with it without having the time to reflect a lot on myself and the job. But today, I don’t know, I felt like something just clicked while out there and when I could really help him...I guess, I really liked doing it.” TK blushes because he’s been ranting and he’s averted his eyes but they move back to Carlos by their own accord and Carlos’ eyes have cleared from all earlier confusion, instead understanding has taken over and he nods his head thoughtfully.

“And that’s why you handed in your resume? Because you want to continue doing it?” Carlos fills in and TK nods biting his lip.

“D-do you… Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“It’s not up to me to tell you what to do babe, but you know what?”

“What?” TK asks, hanging onto every word he’s saying.

“I think you’d be good at it.”

“Yeah?” He asks, hopeful, and Carlos smiles.

“Of course, you’d be amazing at it, if it’s what you want.”

“It is yes, it’s what I want.” TK says with certainty. It’s just clicked, like all that has been shaking loose and upended recently inside of him finally settle a little more.

“Then yes, it’s an amazing idea. You’re going to be so good.” Carlos grins and TK melts because while he doesn’t depend on Carlos’ approval for this it’s so nice to see him be actually happy for him.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Carlos promises and TK releases the breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding and his own face breaks into a relieved smile.

“I think I could be good at it too.” He confesses a little shyly and Carlos beams and pulls TK slightly forward, his forehead resting on his and everything just settles for TK because nothing beats this, nothing beats Carlos.

“I’m proud of you.” Carlos says and TK can’t bite down the smile. But it falls off his face after a moment and he moves back, looks a little unsure again.

“I might have done something else that wasn’t very smart.” Carlos huffs, lifts an eyebrow, so ever patient with him.

“What did you do now?”

“I didn’t tell my dad…” He trails off and Carlos grimaces but then a look of determination takes over and he shrugs before he gently grasps TK’s face between his hands, stroking a thumb lovingly along his cheek.

“Well, you know what I think?” TK shakes his head. “I think it’s not any of his business really.”

That surprises TK to be honest and he lifts an eyebrow.

“W-what? I mean really?”

“Yeah, I mean maybe you should have told him before you just went and did it, but it’s your life and not his. And as long as you’re not doing it for someone else then it’s not really his choice to make.”

“I’m doing it for me, it’s what I want.” Carlos’ lip lifts in a proud smile and he nods.

“Good.”

“But, what if he’s not happy?”

“I don’t think he will be unhappy, maybe a little surprised and maybe give him a moment. But if he knows you like I do, then he will realise it’s a good thing.”

“Okay, I hope so.” TK musters up a wane smile, still can’t push away the spikes of anxiety about the conversation he’s going to have to have with his dad. But it can wait, for a little while at least.

“You know Vega is going to bust your ass right?” Carlos jokes, eyes full of mirth, smirking and TK snorts.

“Yeah, yeah I know.”

“I remember when Michelle started training under her, the stories she would tell me, Vega is badass and she taught Michelle who is also a badass, I’m expecting she’s going to do the same to you.”

“I’m already a badass.” TK reminds him and Carlos chuckles.

“True, I think she will do you some good though. Challenge you and allow you to really thrive under her, she has that effect on people.” TK nods.

“It’s a tough job…”

“Yeah, but as you said, you’re already a badass, you’re going to do great.”

“It will be nice to be the paramedic, rather than calling one.” TK says and it grows a little more serious between them.

“I mean -” TK clears his throat at Carlos’ silence. “I have experience of being on the other end and I know what it’s like being helped. I guess a part of me is looking forward to doing the helping.”

“I see, well you care so much about people and if you get a chance to show that, to show them this.” Carlos' hands move to cover TK’s heart and it flutters in his chest, warmth spreading to every cell of his body and he smiles shyly. “Then, well, you’re going to be very good at it.” TK bites his lip and nods.

“It feels… I don’t know, just right.”

“Good, that’s amazing.” TK doesn’t know what to say but he’s grateful, more than how he knows to express at the moment but in the way Carlo’s face softens, maybe he can read between the lines.

“Have you talked to Owen about the baby yet?” TK groans, can’t help but glare, the moment between them broken suddenly, like a bucket of ice cold water has been thrown at him, and he moves his head away, hiding in the crook of Carlos’ shoulder and neck and nibbles at his skin making Carlos chuckle, twitching in his arms.

“No, not yet…” He says though, voice muffled by Carlos’ skin.

“Well, do you want to talk about it?” TK sighs but takes his head away and meets Carlos’ eyes.

“I feel… I mean I am happy for them of course but...” He bites at his lip, hard and Carlos reaches forward with his thumb to gently stroke it over the swollen redness making TK stop the action. He takes in a deep breath instead.

“But they always do this, and I don’t even think they are realising it, but they get so single-minded and focused on themselves that they forget everything else. The fighting isn’t fun, I’ve been in the middle of it and I know how lonely and unwanted you can feel when it happens. What they’re doing, it feels like they are just falling into the same patterns as before without even realising that they are, and it’s not going to last if they do it that way.”

Carlos looks thoughtful and TK feels annoyed and frustrated because he can’t help but think it makes his parents feel so irresponsible and it’s hard to come to terms with that because his parents in their own right are extremely competent people, it’s just when together, they aren’t always.

“I support you, I always will and your feelings here are valid and to be worried is honestly a sign of growth.” Carlos begins.

“Oh, you're calling me mature, that’s unusual.” TK jokes, changing the subject.

“I mean you’re definitely a hot mess, a terrible terrible driver for sure.” Carlos easily fires back.

“God, did Judd text you?”

“And filmed some of it. This is why I’m never letting you drive my baby.”

“Hold on, I thought I was your baby, and here I find out you have someone else on the side?” Carlos’ arms tighten around him, biting his lip, the smile threatening to take over.

“What can I say, I really like that car and I paid a lot of money for it.”

“It’s a terrible car for making out in.” TK reminds him and Carlos smirks, reminded of the few times they’ve gotten frisky in it.

“True, still not letting you drive it.” He teases and TK glares.

“Rude.”

“Maybe, but I care too much about the possibility of my greying hairs to get here sooner than I’d like to, to get into a car where you are driving us.”

“Well I might be a paramedic soon, so at least you'd be with someone where your odds are fractionally better if you were to get in an accident.”

“Still not letting you drive it Strand.”

“Worth a shot.” TK laughs and Carlos smiles.

“So, do you want dinner or?”

TK shakes his head.

“No, I’m good, but I’m getting too old to sit on my knees like this.” He grumbles and shifts to get the blood running again. Carlos chuckles and makes it all the easier by just scooping him up in his arms. TK yelps and Carlos grins, delighted by the sound. TK wraps his legs around Carlos’ waist, tightens his arms around his neck.

“Please don’t drop me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it baby.” Carlos reassures grinningly. “So, bed?”

“Bed.” TK agrees.

He lets Carlos carry him up the stairs and into the bedroom, feeling so safe in his arms, that whatever conversation that’s waiting for him tomorrow with his dad, doesn’t matter as much anymore.

#911 lone star #9-1-1 lone star #tarlos #tarlos fic #tk x carlos #911 lone star fanfiction #911 lone star fic #tk strand #carlos reyes #tarlos fanfiction

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tarlos-spain · 2 years

Text

Tarlos Secret Santa Day 2

So @sivan325 here goes chapter 2 of the story. Hope you like it.

Breaking the ice

Characters: Carlos Reyes, TK Strand, and a few original characters that I really love

Pairing: Carlos Reyes/TK Strand

Chapters: 1/3

Words: 2232 of 8308

Summary: How easy it would have been to tell him that he didn't know how to ice skate very well, that just because he came from New York he wasn't an expert skater. Damn Christmas movies that always made it seem like everyone in the Big Apple went during the Christmas season to skate at the huge rink in Rockefeller Center.

The diagnosis was clear. Total leg rest for at least a month. He had broken his ankle and if he wanted a full recovery, he needed to avoid any kind of effort with that leg. So he would have to be off work for a month, and when the cast was removed, he would have to be in rehab for another month.

TK would never have thought that the idea of a broken ankle and all that it would entail would matter so little to him.

"There's no question about it," Dr. Cook had told them after repeating the blood work and especially the ultrasound test again. "I guess I'm the first to tell you this. Congratulations, you are going to be parents."

From then on, TK didn't look like himself.

With the cast on his leg, he couldn't move around too much.

As soon as they got to the room, TK asked Carlos to help him get comfortable in bed and for the rest of the day he hardly moved from there, except to go to the bathroom twice.

"Do you want us to order food from the kitchen? Mrs. Rainbow said to bring us up with whatever we want."

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," TK said Sunday past noon after throwing up dinner and not wanting anything to drink at breakfast time, except the coffee that it now turned out she could no longer drink with her newfound pregnancy.

"Ty, baby." Carlos sat down next to her and stroked her cheek. "You need to eat something, you need it."

"What for? I'm going to throw it up."

"We can ask Mrs. Rainbow to fix you something milder, you heard Dr. Cook. Your body is changing rapidly and that involves your stomach too and..."

"I know what Dr. Cook said, thank you, babe."

TK lay back on the bed and turned toward the window.

He didn't want any dinner either, although Carlos forced him to drink some broth that the hotel owner herself had brought him. She thought he had caught a stomach virus, which was not entirely incorrect since no one would think he was pregnant and that was why he had vomited.

For the first time since they had known each other, Carlos had no idea how to make his boyfriend feel better and that made him nervous.

Owen and TK himself had told him what the last few months in New York had been like, his depressed states and how that had led him to end up taking pills that had almost cost him his life.

But that was in the past and Carlos was glad to see him happy now. He wasn't pedantic enough to think he was the sole reason for TK's stability, but he knew his boyfriend leaned heavily on him.

That was what he wanted to do now, to be there for TK to help him understand and accept a situation that Carlos himself still thought impossible.

"So what do we do now, doctor?" Carlos had asked as he realized that TK was blocked.

"Well, since you're not from around here I would recommend you go to your trusted doctor with these results and..." Dr. Cook smiled, he had no answer for the boys' doubts because he was full of the same questions. "The truth is I don't really know how we should act, whether we should wait or..."

"We're not going to do anything, because this is a mistake, it has to be a mistake, doctor. I'm a... I'm a man, and therefore it's not possible for me to be pregnant."

Carlos and Dr. Cook stared at TK. It didn't take a doctor to know he was about to have a panic attack.

Carlos knelt down in front of him and held his hands.

"I'm not...I'm not."

"It's possible you're not, but then there's something we're not seeing that's altering all your CBC values."

"Okay, so I'm sick from something, I'm anemic, I'm overworked, or maybe it's a new type of cancer. I'm likely to go through it, maybe a cancer...?"

"Tyler, I assure you that none of the values I've seen in your CBC make me think you have cancer," the doctor interrupted him.

"Then it must be something else, I'm not..." TK squeezed Carlos' hands and staggered to his feet. He grabbed the crutches resting against Carlos' seat and stood on one leg precariously. "Thank you very much for everything doctor, but you're right, I'd better go to my doctor as soon as I get home, I'll get some other tests done and we'll see what comes out."

TK got up staggering, turned around looking for the crutches and was about to fall, Carlos got up too, by that time TK had more or less regained his balance. He left the consulting room without so much as saying goodbye to the doctor, Carlos stopped at the door watching TK already walking down the hallway of the small hospital, slow because he was still having trouble getting used to the crutches and turned around again.

"Doctor."

"If you're going to ask me for confidentiality, don't worry, I won't communicate your situation to anyone, I don't think Tyler is willing to be part of any study. There are only two other cases like yours in the country that I have heard of, and they are being examined. If you want to ask me if I'm sure about what I've told you... I congratulate you again."

Carlos said nothing to TK as they walked back to the hotel for the last part of the conversation with the doctor, preferring to wait until he was back home.

"Ty, nene."

"Sorry."

Carlos certainly hadn't expected him to say that. He waited to see him turn over in bed and lay down next to him.

"What are you sorry for?"

"I've ruined our romantic weekend."

"No." Carlos stroked her cheek and moved in for a kiss. "You haven't spoiled anything."

"I made a fool of myself on the ice rink, I broke my ankle and on top of that I'm sick with I don't know what."

"Mi niño, you're not sick."

TK sat up a little, stared at Carlos, not knowing what to expect from his expression, but Carlos' smile didn't change, neither did the calmness and the love with which his hand caressed his cheek.

"Are you telling me you really think I could be...?"

Carlos had already realized that TK was incapable of uttering the word, so he sat down on the bed as close as he could to TK, and held out his hands waiting for TK to place his own on top of them.

"It's possible that this is a huge coincidence, and it's possible that your CBC is not that of a pregnant person."

"I'm not."

"It's possible."

"I'm not, Carlos, damn it! I'm not…, I can't be, okay?"

He rolled over and curled into a ball hugging his own body.

A moment later Carlos saw that TK's body was shaking, he was trembling and trying not to let it show that he was crying. He hugged him, stuck as close as he could to him and kissed the back of his neck and shoulder several times.

"Hey, tiger, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to always be the one everyone looks at because there's always something wrong with him," TK sobbed, burying his face against the cushion. "I want to be someone normal and I've never been, I've never had a chance for people to get to know me for myself." TK turned away, as bad as it felt, it always helped to be able to look Carlos in the eyes.

There was always so much love in them and his smile always managed to warm TK up when he needed it most.

"What do you think people see of you, baby?"

"Depends. Some see Captain Strand's son and are surprised with that disappointed expression because I haven't followed in his footsteps and I don't want to be like him. Those who know me from New York are sometimes surprised that I'm alive because they know about my substance issues. And then there will be those who will see me from now on with the hype and think I'm a freak."

"You know what I see when I look at you?"

TK shook his head, many times they had had intimate conversations, they had stayed up until all hours of the morning talking on the couch about each other, about them as a couple and about the future. There were few topics they hadn't discussed.

"I see the man I hope to spend the rest of my life with because I love him." TK let out a small smile and blushed. "And many times we've talked about the idea of being parents and having kids. We both want to."

"In the future, when we're ready, not now and by surprise." TK sounded increasingly nervous and his eyes didn't fool Carlos, they never managed to fool him; he was scared.

They both burst out laughing, because they had never imagined they would have such a conversation.

Carlos shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, maybe the future has caught up with us."

"But it could be something else too, babe. I don't have to be the freak of the century."

"You probably won't be the only one, though you'll be the only one I care for as the person I love most in this world...until our child is born."

"Carlos, I may not be-" The word choked in her throat again.

"The first step is to say it."

"Babe, I'm not in a state of denial, it's just that there's most likely some other explanation for what's happening to me. It's no easier for me to have one of those rare diseases than it is for me to be..."

"Come on, tiger, say it."

"Really?"

TK burst out laughing, even more nervous, but the fear was slowly leaving. It was part of the magic Carlos wielded over him and the cop knew it. Carlos sat up and positioned himself on top of TK.

"I like having you on top, but you're injured so I'll make things easier for you." He pressed his legs against TK's hips, even though he knew TK had no intention of going anywhere or doing anything. He leaned down and with both hands on his boyfriend's face, he kissed him to calm him down.

When he heard him breathe calmer he lowered his hands to his side and began to tickle him. TK struggled to get him to stop as he giggled loudly, he moved from side to side but Carlos had him trapped between his legs.

He kept trying to kiss him, but TK wouldn't stop still and eventually the kisses went to his nose, chin and all parts of his boyfriend's face.

"Are you going to say it?"

"Are you going to torture me into saying it?" Carlos smiled and tickled her a couple more times. "Okay, okay, I'll say it but stop, please."

Carlos stood with one hand on either side of TK and stared at him, waiting for him to say something.

TK took a deep breath.

"I might be... pregnant."

Suddenly it sounded easy and even TK felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

Some of the fear was lifted too, because they could have caught a doctor who was crazy, but the tests said she was indeed in the state or had something that made it look that way. But most important of all, Carlos believed in it and as crazy as it was, he looked excited about it, more so than TK was terrified.

"Aren't you scared, babe?"

"I'm scared of a lot of things right now, Ty. I'm afraid of how your body will react, of meeting the world, of what my parents, your parents, all the friends will say; but the thing I'm most afraid of is the thought of not being able to be a good father."

TK sat up and propped his elbows on the bed. Now he was the one who wasn't expecting his boyfriend's response.

"Are you serious?"

"TK, my father wasn't the best example a child and teenager needs and he's the only real benchmark I have for what it's like to be a parent. Then I met your dad and saw the relationship you guys have and I've always been very envious of what I see."

Carlos helped TK sit up in bed, but then TK pulled him back.

"So I'm here terrified at the thought of having a little human growing inside me, and you're not able to tell me you're afraid of not being a good father."

A long, wet kiss interrupted the conversation. They were both afraid, for different reasons, but they both wanted to make the other feel good, for exactly the same reason, because they loved the other person.

"Now that you mention it... How are we going to tell our parents?" asked TK in a whisper.

"Forbidden to think about such things until we've returned home tomorrow."

They spent the rest of the day without moving from the room, watching TV, eating, taking a bath, making love, until they fell asleep.

That's why Carlos didn't understand the next day, why TK was so quiet during the whole day.

#Tarlos Secret Santa 2021 #Tarlos #Lone Star #911 #Hurt TK #TK Mpreg #So much fluffy #So much love #Protective Carlos #Caring Carlos

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reyesstrand · 3 years

Text

let your heart be light

tarlos & firefam dynamics / teen+ / 2.6k

To be fair, TK wasn’t sure what to expect for his first holiday season in Austin. But he has his dad, he has his team, he has Carlos—and it’s enough.

@911giftexchange for @teaamfreewill — i hope you enjoy this AJ, and have a happy holiday season!!! 💗

ALSO AVAILABLE ON AO3!!

“It just doesn’t feel right without snow.”

Paul looks at him with that ever-present, all-knowing look in his eyes, before letting out a sigh and nodding. “You’re telling me, New York.”

“Like,” TK starts, fully aware that he’s gravitating into rambling status at this point, but he can never stop himself. He rests a foot on the bottom rung of the shopping cart, leaning his weight against the handle as Paul analyzes the nutritional facts on two different brands of steel-cut oats. “It doesn’t feel like the holidays without at least one storm that makes you question your existence.”

Humming in agreement, Paul puts one package back on the shelf and tosses the other in the cart, before hesitating and grabbing a few more of the pale-blue bags before they're good to move on to produce. When there's a comfortable lull in conversation, both of them crossing items off the list his dad's very carefully crafted for the bi-weekly shopping trips, TK lets his mind drift to holidays past.

His parents wanted him to grow up with both the tradition of celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas, but as he grew older, Decembers tended to blur into every other month. He'd always call his mom if he was working late, smiling down at photos she'd send him of her attempts to perfect her grandmother's recipe for sufganiyot, always making his stomach rumble. And, even if she was out of the city at the time, she'd always send him a box of homemade pastries and a card with a lengthy message inscribed inside that'd make him feel warmed from the inside out. And his dad would always make him at least come for a dinner on the twenty-fifth, even if dinner was just takeout eaten straight out of the cartons while they watched the Christmas parade he always recorded.

They were simple traditions, but they were theirs.

In Austin, TK's slowly getting used to calling it home. The snow thing had been the first to strike him, because while he's seen his fair share of strange Texan weather, not waking up to white covering every surface and bitter cold nipping at his skin has been throwing him for a loop.

"Earth to TK," Paul says, tossing him a bell pepper. TK catches it, rolling his eyes playfully at his friend. "We should start figuring out a place and time for the Not-Christmas dinner."

"Carlos offered his place," TK says, without thinking. Paul just grins at him.

"That seems to be going well, huh?" Paul asks, hip-checking TK as they walk side-by-side to the checkout. TK feels his face go warm, though he busies himself with adjusting the rolled sleeves of his black t-shirt, printed with the 126 crest over his heart. Paul just musses up his hair before ducking out of grasp for retaliation, sidling up to the cashier and offering his big smile at her while she begins to ring them up. "I'm happy for you, kid. We all are."

TK does smile at that, because it's the one shining light in all of this. He hadn't been sure what a holiday season with a new boyfriend would be like, especially when every single one of his friends were also friends with said boyfriend, but they've all been relatively tame. No shoving them under the mistletoe yet, which TK guesses is only a matter of time.

"Anyway," Paul says, and TK sticks his hands into his pockets, suddenly glad Marjan isn't here to poke at his pink cheeks.

"Anyway," TK agrees. "Carlos did offer to let us use his place, though. He suggested the twenty-second, so that way people could still go see their families."

"The twenty-second it is," Paul smiles, already typing the date into their group chat, followed by five question marks. Because Carlos thought ahead for these things, TK knows they're all already going to be on one of their twenty-four-hour off periods; Carlos works that morning but will be home by noon, and as long as TK has detailed instructions, he won't have a problem starting the food early.

A small knot forms deep in TK's chest, even though he knows there's still two weeks before the proposed group dinner. He just thanks the cashier after paying with the credit card his dad gave him before they left the station an hour ago, and they head back out into the sunny, barely-cool, snowless, December afternoon.

***

TK's just hanging up with his mom, absently kicking at a rock in the lot just outside the bay doors, when he feels someone creep up behind him.

He doesn't even blink, though, because he smells sandalwood and tangy citrus and is smiling before he feels familiar arms settle around him. He tells his mom I love you, too, and stuffs his phone in his pocket and leans back into Carlos' touch, for half a moment, before turning in his arms and pressing their foreheads together.

"Did you know you're impossible to shop for?"

TK grins, and presses a quick kiss to the corner of Carlos' mouth before pulling back enough to look him in the eye. "What a welcoming statement after not seeing each other for twenty-seven hours."

Carlos rolls his eyes affectionately, and tightens his hold around TK's middle. "I missed you, Ty."

"I missed you too," TK grins, cupping Carlos' face between his palms and finally closing the distance between them properly. "But I do take offence to that. I'm perfect in every way."

Carlos huffs a laugh against his mouth and presses in for one more kiss, before scraping his blunt nails against the fine hairs at TK's nape. "Believe me, I know, sweetheart."

He feels a pleasant ripple shoot through him, and TK's struck again by the fact that he gets to have this. He's close enough to see the flecks of gold in Carlos' warm brown eyes, and he wonders how it's only been three months because he feels like he's known him forever. He thinks of decorating with Marjan today and the sudden pang of homesickness that he couldn't quite explain.

"You okay?" Carlos asks, because he can read even the most microscopic of his expressions like the back of his own hand. TK covers it up with a smile.

"Yeah, of course," TK brushes his thumb along Carlos' jaw, before standing back, dragging his hand down the length of Carlos' arm so he could grab his hand and tangle their fingers together. "Come on, I'll buy you dinner."

"My prince," Carlos plays along, hand over his heart, but there's still a look in his eyes. He runs his thumb over the backs of TK's knuckles, and when TK squeezes his hand tighter, he gets a small smile in return.

***

They'd realized sometime between Thanksgiving and the first of December that they'd have to celebrate as a team, this year.

The non-denominational, coined-by-Mateo "Not-Christmas Dinner" idea was agreed upon pretty quickly, and TK is beyond excited to start creating new traditions with his family. But he's struggling, is the thing. He wouldn't ever mention it to anyone because he hates stressing them out, and though he has no urge to do anything stupid because for the first time in a while he's happy—like, really fucking happy—he can't help but to feel like everything has to be perfect.

It boils down to this: he misses his mom like crazy, even though she stayed with him and his dad for a couple weeks back in September when he was still healing. He's finally getting back on track with his dad, after long nights of hashing things out about his childhood. And he and Alex never did much for the holidays save for giving each other a couple gifts because they could never work out how to spend an equal amount of time with both of their families—which, in hindsight, is yet another element of the two and a half years TK lost to the man he thought was his soulmate—but now with Carlos he just wants things to be special. They already have plans to visit Carlos' mom and sisters on Christmas Eve, and Owen had lovingly coerced Carlos into a Strand family dinner on Christmas Day.

It just feels like a lot.

"Hey, are you okay?" Marjan asks, bumping his shoulder with hers as she strolls into Carlos' kitchen. The twenty-second kind of crept up on TK, and now he's here, attempting to hold down the fort while Carlos makes a last-minute trip to the store. His kitchen's a homey space, and, like the rest of his boyfriend's place, it's tastefully decorated with garland and candles and little angel statues that have been passed down through his family. There's a photo of the two of them on Carlos' fridge, pressed together at a pumpkin patch they'd spent a date night at back in October, and TK gets a little lost in the memory. Marjan has to nudge him a little harder to get him to snap back into it. "TK?"

"Oh, hey," TK smiles at her, and goes back to making sure that the green beans don't stick to the bottom of the pan. She claims a burner of her own to keep her tagine warm, leaning back against the counter with her arms folded over her chest.

"You're spacing out a bit," Marjan says, and when TK keeps his eyes trained on the vegetables he swore he could handle, she just makes a small noise and places a hand on his shoulder. "You've been a little quiet lately."

There's a pause, where neither of them say anything, before Marjan drops her voice a little and adds:

"Hey, you know you can talk to me, right?"

"I'm just—" TK shakes his head and bites at the inside of his cheek, turning down the heat to try and kill more time.

He doesn't know how to tell her—and the rest of them—that he's both so thankful for this family he's found and so, so terrified of messing it all up. Thankfully, he doesn't have to; there's a knock at the door and Marjan offers to get it, leaving TK alone with a soft smile. He sighs, and closes his eyes for a long moment.

***

After food has been served, and gifts have been exchanged, they all sit around Carlos' living room. The conversations overlap like they always do, and TK sits comfortably under the glow of the light from the tree and the warmth of Carlos' arm thrown over his shoulder. He's slowly picking at a piece of Grace's pecan pie, and he knows he should just let himself get lost in the moment, but he can't. He taps his foot at a staccato beat against the floor, and even when Carlos throws him a questioning look and settles his hand on TK's knee, he doesn't stop.

He finally excuses himself ten minutes later.

Carlos' place has a nice little backyard area, where they've all gathered for parties and after-work hangouts countless times. It's a little chilly as the sun's gone down, and TK sighs out loud and sees his breath puff out in front of him. He smiles just a little, and kicks his foot against the porch, dropping down onto the steps.

He's expecting Carlos to come after him; or maybe Marjan, or his dad. Instead it's Grace who settles down next to him, a hand splayed over her four-month pregnant belly.

"Honey," she starts, and TK ducks his head. His eyes burn, and he roughly sniffs. "TK. You don't have to hide whatever you're thinking from us."

He takes a deep breath, and scrubs a hand down his face. And then he says: "I don't want to bring down your mood."

Grace gives him one of her warm smiles. "TK, every day I'm reminded why you and my husband get along so well."

TK rolls his eyes and gently nudges her arm with his shoulder.

"Now tell me what's wrong," Grace says, and TK rubs the back of his neck before he starts talking.

He tells her everything. About how the holidays usually meant bickering with Alex. How it meant celebrating with both of his parents, sure, but also dealing with awkward dinners with their new significant others. About how he hasn't felt this good since he was a kid and he doesn't want to fuck it up.

"You could never fuck it up," Grace tells him, squeezing his hand that she's been holding between both of hers. TK meets her eyes and finds nothing but sincerity, nothing but the warmth and reassurance that always seems to be there. "Never. And know that all of us in there don't care about perfect as long as we have you, as long as we're all together. Now, I'm going to send that beautiful man of yours out here so you can talk to him, because he's been worried."

At that exact moment, they hear the telltale creak of the door opening; both of them glance over their shoulders and spot Carlos.

He moves to leave, lifting a hand in apology. "Sorry to interrupt—"

"I was just leaving," Grace says, getting to her feet and squeezing TK's shoulder for a brief moment. When she disappears back into the house, Carlos takes her spot, and wordlessly presses a lingering kiss to TK's temple.

"Ty," Carlos starts, and TK stops him in his tracks with a kiss.

"I'm sorry for being distant, lately," TK murmurs half against his lips, because even though he knows that Carlos has seen him pretty close to his worst he hates the thought of pulling him down; of making him unhappy. "I'm just—it's been so long since I've had this. And I've never had someone like you. I was so worried about not messing things up that I got in my head."

"Hey," Carlos whispers, getting TK to look him in the eye. "Please don't apologize, okay? We're all healthy, and here together—that's what matters, right? That I get to have you by my side through it all?"

Could you blame TK for surging forward to kiss him again?

When they part, TK whispers: "Thank you."

"What for?" Carlos asks, eyes glinting with confusion.

"For being you," TK says, knowing how it sounds.

Carlos shakes his head, moving to lace their fingers together.

They move in unison to press their foreheads together, and TK whispers, "I love you so much. I just needed you to know that."

"Of course I do," Carlos says, smiling into it when he kisses TK before speaking again. "I love you too. And I don't want you to feel like you have to—to hide what you're feeling."

TK just lets himself have what he wants, what he needs in the moment, and it's this: Carlos' mouth against his, again and again.

***

They re-enter the party ten minutes later, and all eyes are on them when they slip into the living room.

TK opens his mouth to make some big declaration, but Marjan catches his eye, and then Paul. Then it's his dad who dramatically clears his throat and points above the two of them.

Because, of course, there's mistletoe fastened to the doorway above them.

"I hate you all," TK mutters, to which Judd yells lies! and Paul yells something about getting on with it. So, TK does; he presses his palms to either side of Carlos' face and grins at him before closing the distance between them. There's a whoop from someone for effect, and then when they pull apart Marjan pulls him down next to her on the loveseat so he can be thrown into a conversation about fighting mall elves they'd had to deal with during a call yesterday.

Looking around the room, he realizes he had nothing to worry about at all. And, to be fair, TK wasn't sure what to expect for his first holiday season in Austin. But he has his dad, he has his team, he has Carlos—and it's enough.

#911giftexchange #tarlos #911 lone star #tarlos fic #my fic

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fireladybuckley · 3 years

Text

911 Verse this or that

Indirectly tagged by @perfectlynervousbeard <3

Buck or TK. Look I adore TK, Ronen is seriously one of the cutest guys I’ve ever seen and TK is adorable and easily my favourite LS character. But it’s not even close when comparing him to Buck, Buck is my comfort character, my absolute favourite of just about anything, ever. I adore Oliver and there’s not a single person you could compare to Buck that I would pick over him, lol.

Eddie or Carlos.

Again, I really do like Carlos. I firmly believe Carlos (Rafa) doesn’t get enough screen time and his character development suffers because of it and I hate that. But again, I love Eddie just SO much. Comparing him and Carlos isn’t fair because they’re very different and Eddie’s storyline and character in general are SO much more developed, I feel like we’ve gotten to know him so much better and that just makes me love him more, I’m more attached. Plus Eddie’s relationship with Christopher alone is just so precious and I love it so much.

Bobby or Owen.

Easiest question ever. Bobby is amazing and the best dad and Owen sucks.

Chimney or Judd Not that I hate Chimney or anything (he gets on my nerves sometimes but overall he’s fine) but Judd is just wonderful. I love his whole southern gentleman vibe while also being a bit of a mischievous little shit which makes me laugh. And the way he loves and respects his wife is just so refreshing to see. <3

Hen or Marjan I wonder if this is kind of like how I feel about Carlos; I really like both Carlos and Marjan, but I feel like I barely know them. Marjan is badass and awesome and everything but aside from her arranged marriage stuff, I feel like we barely know anything about her. Whereas with Hen, I feel like we know her so well she could just be my best friend and it would be amazing. She’s smart, compassionate, hilarious and just awesome and I adore her. I also love her relationship with Karen and Denny and now Nia. If they take Nia away I’m going to riot

Maddie or Grace. This one was tougher, and REALLY close. I really love Grace, she’s amazing and badass and I love her and Judd’s relationship. I just like Maddie slightly more. I love how much Maddie has overcome and how strong she is, how she took care of Buck their whole lives (which was NOT fair to her), and I love their sibling dynamic. I love her relationships with the other 9-1-1 operators.

I will say though that they are both BADASS 9-1-1 operators and they are both queens.

Athena or Tommy Tommy’s fine but she’s very new and I feel like I don’t know her at all (though I love Gina Torres). Not that that matters, however; Athena is QUEEN and no matter how awesome Tommy could be, she would never surpass Athena. Athena is just so amazing and I love her so much. She is compassionate, badass, hard working, hilarious, terrifying when mad but at the same time so gentle and kind. Her and Bobby are amazing together (especially earlier in their relationship), she’s such a good mom to Harry and May (and by extension Buck, and maybe even Eddie). She’s just amazing, ok.

Albert or Mateo I’ll be honest, I was going to choose Albert because I find him adorable and funny and I wish we knew more about him. But this time it’s the opposite problem of the others... I feel like we barely know Albert, even though he’s been around for a while now. The 9-1-1 writers have done a terrible job giving him meaningful backstory imo. Like he’s been in LA for how long now? Does he even have a job? Is he still speaking to his parents? We know barely anything about him besides that he’s Buck’s roommate and he has been on some dates.

Mateo on the other hand is much more flushed out. I loved the story arc where he is just SO dedicated and driven to become a firefighter despite his dyslexia and I’m so glad it was made possible for him to have allowances for the test. I love that his crew doesn’t mock him for it or treat him like he’s stupid, they ALL help him as much as they can, and I LOVE when Marjan goes and gives the tattoo parlour who intentionally fucked up his tattoo a reaming. He’s an earnest, eager younger brother who just wants to help and prove himself and I think he’s adorable.

Michael or Paul. I like Michael, but I like Paul a bit more. I just wish they would give him more screen time and a storyline that doesn’t involve people being transphobic. I’m sorry (not sorry) but the sister storyline thing still pisses me off

118 or 126. The 118, no question. They feel far more cohesive as a team and I love their relationships more, both with each other and with other people. The 118 feels so much more real than the 126, and I’ve no doubt it’s because of LS’s continued sidelining of its characters that are not Owen (and, I’ll admit, TK. I love that he gets a lot of screen time, but not if it comes at the expense of Marjan/Paul/Mateo being shunted to the side).

Maybe the 126 will get better with time. I’m certainly hoping that with TK in his new role, maybe they’ll bring in another firefighter to replace him (hopefully a woman! Both shows definitely lack women in the fire-fighting department imo - but the OG is definitely worse; only Hen in 9-1-1, and only Marjan in 9-1-1 LS but at least LS has Tommy and Nancy as medics. the 118 needs another featured woman firefighter!!)

California or Texas. I don’t know if it’s the filming choices or if Texas is just like that (having never been there, I have no idea), but Texas doesn’t seem nearly as nice as California. That could just be my personal preference; I love lush greenery far more than the more desert-y types of things, and I love the ocean so much. I feel like LA has prettier settings, and LS is more gritty. Not that there’s anything wrong with that at all, I just prefer pretty haha.

Buddie or Tarlos I feel like this is a bit of an unfair question, since it’s still up in the air whether Buddie even exists in canon, and Tarlos is unquestionably real.

But of course, if I’m forced to choose, it’s Buddie. And that’s not to say Tarlos isn’t amazing, because it is... I adore BOTH ships so much. I’m just too drawn into Buddie, and how their personalities compliment each other, and Buck’s special relationship with Chris that places him firmly into the Diaz family unit, Buddie or not. I really do feel like they’ve set them up 100% as a potential romance and as far as slow burns go, it’s amazing so far. Plus, even if they don’t become a couple, I am still so invested in them as best friends.

That being said, Tarlos is fucking adorable and I live for their scenes on LS <3

Tsunami episode(s) or Tornado episode. There was just SO MUCH going on with the tsunami. Of course the entire plot arc with Buck and Christopher is amazing and easily one of my favourites in the entire series, but I also loved that the tsunami episodes showed EVERYONE in their element, doing everything they could to help people. I love that it brought Lena into the mix (I know the fandom is divided on her but I love her unashamedly). The amazing scenes with Athena and May, the scenes with Maddie and that girl with the drone... it was just SUCH A GOOD ARC and I love it. The fact that I can remember SO much about it and I barely remember what happened with the tornado tells me just how much more I enjoyed it, as well.

911 or 911 Lone Star. Unquestionably 9-1-1. I feel like the firefam has become part of my own extended family and I just don’t feel that with LS. Maybe after a couple more seasons it’ll be more like that, but for now, 9-1-1 is EASILY my favourite. I do love LS too, though. I just wish there was less of Owen and more of everyone else. AND I WANT MORE CROSSOVERS!!!

I have no idea who has been tagged so I’m just going to pick a few random people. If you’re reading this and want to do it, consider yourself tagged by me! (And tag me back so I can read yours! <3) @firemedicdiaz @that-firehouse @bicepsie @tulipsfrom-medusa @evaneddie @kittycat-cas @bvckleydiaz @ashavahishta @matan4il And anyone else!!

#911 #9-1-1 lone star #this or that #make me choose #this was fun #and it's become very obvious that Lone Star criminally under uses most of its characters #FIX THAT LS #lksjdflkjsd

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bellakitse · 4 years

Note

Have you considered any Tarlos Au's yet? What if Owen took the job in Texas when TK was 18 so he went to college there and met Carlos and Iris. He and Carlos are BFFs who pine over each other for years, and when TK returns from visiting his mom in NY with a tongue ring, Carlos' life gets a lot harder (pun intended). Best friends to lovers ftw

Flashes of Silver

Carlos is fine with silently pining away for his best friend TK until the boy comes back to campus with a new accessory that makes Carlos’ brain melt with desire.

nonnie, you should know that this request made me scream with delight, thank you for the idea!!

@shippingsailors

“Are you even listening to me right now, Reyes?”

Carlos Reyes looks up from his phone across the small table wherehe sits with Iris Blake, to find her giving him an unamused look as she muncheson her chips.

“You ask me to have lunch with you here in the courtyard, just soyou can ignore me and stare at you’re phone?” she questions, making him winceat her tone. “I could be in the library; I have papers due.”

“We all have papers due, chica,” he shoots back, even though he’sseconds away from being in the doghouse with his friend, he’s never been ableto keep from poking the bear. His family has always said that for such amellow, quiet kid, he’s always had a reckless streak. “Besides you needed toeat, and not in the library, you know Mrs. Powellhates that.”

Iris rolls her eyes at him, but there is a hint of a smile on herface. “Goodie-goodie, no wonder that old bat loves you so much.”

Carlos gives her an unconcerned shrug. It’s true, the university’slibrarian, a grumpy sixty-eight-year-old woman with grey-blue hair, loves him.“She just wants you to respect her books and the sacred space they are held in,is that so hard?”

Iris gives him another roll of her eyes, scoffing at his words asshe bites into her turkey club. “What’s TK saying?” she asks through a mouthfull, pointing at his phone.

“He’s got a surprise, said he’s joining us in a few – “ Carlostrails off, he looks up to see a smug smirk on her face, and Carlos goes redrealizing that he never actually said that he was texting with their friend TKStrand, Iris just figured it out. “How did you –“

Iris snorts loudly, drawing the attention of a few people aroundthem. “Your face, of course,” she starts, pointing a delicate finger in hisface as she waves it around in a circle. “You had ‘TK’ face; it’s verydistinctive. All soft and lovesick, kind of like when someone shows you a puppy,and all you want to do is snuggle it close and love it forever. TK is the puppyin this analogy.”

Carlos’ face is so hot; he’s sure he’s going to catch flame. “Shutup.”

Iris lets out a laugh at his words; her delight is unmistakable.“Great comeback, Reyes,” she says, still chuckling, though her expressionsoftens when he says nothing. She sighs as her laughter trails off. “Carlos,when exactly are you going to do something about the massive crush you have onour friend?”

Carlos feels his pulse spike at her question, his mouth going dry.“I don’t have a crush on TK.”

Iris raises an eyebrow at him; she looks both unimpressed andsympathetic all at once. “No, you’re right, it’s not a crush. It was a crush senioryear when he moved to Texas and flashed those pretty green eyes at you. Afterthree years of secretly pining, never dating for long, moping when he startsseeing someone and being overjoyed when it only lasts a month, I think we cancall it what it is, so…. When are you going to do something about being in lovewith your best friend?”

Carlos opens and closes his mouth, not sure what he wants to say,when they hear their names being called out. Looking across the yard, they seeTK waving at them with a wide smile on his face as he quickly walks towardsthem.

Carlos looks back at Iris panicked. “Please, don’t say anything,”he begs, feeling his hands sweat.

“I would never,” Iris says quickly, just as TK gets to theirtable. She flashes a smile up at the new arrival. “Hey, TK! How was New Yorkand your mom?”

“Crowded, dirty, and fun,” TK laughs as he leans down to hug her.“Mom was in top mom form,” he continues turning his smile towards Carlos.

Carlos gets up to hug him too, letting out an oomph when TKall but slams into him as he hugs him.

“I missed you too, needy,” he chuckles softly when TK doesn’t letgo of him right away. He catches the raised eyebrow Iris gives him and feelshimself blushing again, but he doesn’t loosen his hold on TK until the boy letshim go first.

“I just really missed that handsome Texan face of yours,” TKteases as he steps out of his hug, taking the empty chair at the table.

Carlos tells himself not to react to the comment. TK doesn’t meananything by it; he’s never meant anything by it. TK likes to flirt andtease; he’s a happy-go-lucky guy who knows he’s beautiful and likes to jokearound with everyone, especially his best friend. It means nothing.

“So,” Carlos clears his throat, hoping the smile on his face isrelaxed, and not an awkward mess the way he always feels when TK is around.“You said in your text you had a surprise?”

TK grins at him, his green eyes sparkling with mischief, and withoutsaying a word, he sticks his tongue out.

“Holy shit!” Iris exclaims in amazement, leaning forward to get abetter look. “That’s hot, TK!”

“Thanks,” TK smirks pleased, before looking over at Carlos. “Whatdo you think? Do you like it?”

Carlos hears the question, but he can’t answer. How can he whenhis brain is currently melting, and will at any second, ooze out of his ears.TK Strand has a tongue ring, a silver little round stud that was made with thesole purpose of ruining Carlos’ life.

“I – I, yeah, looks good,” Carlos croaks out.

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Iris biting down on herlip, probably to keep from laughing at how pathetic he is. Looking over at TK, he feels a pang of guiltas he sees the previously bright smile on his face has dimmed, and he looks atCarlos with an unsure expression. He wants to say something, anything to bringthat smile he loves so much back, but he feels tongue-tied and silly. Hisstupid feelings feel right on the surface, ready for everyone to see, and hejust wants to hide.

“I should go,” he says, standing up, ignoring the sound of protestTK and Iris let out. “Gotta study,” he gets out, gathering his things haphazardly.

“Carlos,” TK says his name quietly, looking up at him with a smallconfused frown, his eyes a little cloudy.

Carlos flashes him what he hopes is a smile and not a grimace. Heplaces his hand on TK’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see youlater, okay?”

TK looks at him a moment longer before giving him a nod, though hedoesn’t lose his frown. “Okay.”

With one last awkward wave, he turns on his heel and hightails itout of there, away from the boy he’s stupidly in love with, and his damn tonguering.

֎֍֎

He hides out in the library like a coward. He gives Mrs. Powell awave, getting one back, and even gets half of a smile, which is the most anyonecan usually get from the older woman, before heading for the back to his usualtable.

The thing is he knows that hiding won’t help for long, not when itcomes to TK Strand. Where Carlos likes to be cautious, TK is bold. He stillremembers the boy when he first arrived in Austin, their senior year of highschool. It didn’t take long for it to get out around school that TK was gay,and it took even less time for people to try to mess with him for it. The boyhad a slimmer frame back then, dressed in tight skinny jeans, and had softpretty features. The guys they went to school with thought he was an easytarget, and TK quickly proved that line of thinking was incorrect. He wouldfight back like a hellcat, giving zero fucks about bloody knuckles as long ashis bullies were bleeding worse.

People learned not to mess with the boy quickly after that, andCarlos has been smitten ever since. Becoming his friend had given him thecourage to come out himself. After that, though at the time TK was almost ahead shorter than him, the boy had turned into Carlos’ own personal guard dog,glaring at anyone who even dared look at him wrong for being gay.

Between his sisters, the Blake girls and TK, Carlos never had toworry about anyone saying a single bad thing about his sexuality. No, TK neverbacks down from a fight, so really it’s no surprise when half an hour afterhe’s arrived at the library, nose deep into his forensic science textbook. Thechair across from him scrapes loudly against the wooden floor as it’s pulledout, and TK sits.

Carlos looks up at him, rolling his eyes as TK makes as much noiseas he can, taking out one of his books. “This is why Mrs. Powell hates you somuch; you’re so damn loud.”

“She hates me because she loves you, and she thinks I’m going tocorrupt you with my deviant ways,” TK flashes him a broad smile, and with it, Carlosgets a peek at a hint of silver.

Jesus fuck, that tongue ring is going to be the end ofhim.

“What she doesn’t get is that I have been trying to corrupt yousince the second I saw you, to no avail,” TK shakes his head sadly. “No matterhow much I try, no dice.”

Carlos rolls his eyes again at TK’s dramatics. “You act like I’msome saint, and you’re the devil here to lead me astray, calm down thetheatrics, Tyler,” he says, smirking when TK pouts at him at the use of hisname. It amuses Carlos to no end the way TK always reacts to it but yet nevertells Carlos to stop the way he does with others. Carlos tries not to give itmore importance than he does, it’s not a big deal that he’s one of the very fewpeople who knows and is allowed to call TK by his full name. It’s nothing.

They study quietly for a while, or well, TK studies,absently playing with the ring in his mouth while Carlos stares, his hand itchingto reach out for TK every time he sees the flashes of silver.

“Are you going to ask or just keep staring,” TK murmurs, his focusstill on his textbook even as Carlos spots the hint of a grin on his face.

Carlos clears his throat, feeling himself go pink at being caught,he’s had years of practice staring at TK, you would think he’d be better at it.

“Why?”

TK looks up from his book, he closes it and puts it to the sidebefore leaning in, elbows on the table as he smiles at Carlos, obviouslypleased that he caved. “Because I felt like it, and thought it would look good.”

Carlos nods; he can’t argue with the fact that it looks reallygood on TK, but then again, everything does. “Did it hurt?”

TK tilts his head to the side, thinking about it before wrinklinghis face. “Not as much as I thought it would. Afterward, it just felt weirdhaving something in my mouth.”

“Thought you’d be used to that,” Carlos mutters, smirking when TKlets out a dramatic gasp before he laughs, his green eyes dancing with amusement.

“I am curious about that,” TK comments, a mischievous glintentering his eyes. “I haven’t even kissed anyone since I got it, they say you’resupposed to wait three weeks at least.”

Carlos swallows hard as he does the math, TK’s been away for amonth. “When did you get it?”

TK looks at him as he leans back on his chair, a slow lazy smileon his face as he looks at Carlos knowingly. “The first week I got to NYC,” hesays softly, his eyes hooded as he stares at Carlos before he lets the littlesilver stud peek out again.

Carlos takes a sharp breath, his pulse spiking as he stares backat TK and reads the clear invitation on his best friend’s face. He’s not surewhat his face is saying to TK, probably all his love and the naked lust he’sfelt for him since he was seventeen, but whatever it is, it makes TK smile backat him bright and happy, his eyes dancing.

“Finally,” he breathes, never losing his smile. “I wasbeginning to think I was going to have to hire a skywriter.”

“You –,” Carlos licks his suddenly dry lips, feeling his stomachclench when TK’s eyes drop to his mouth, and he licks his own as he watchesCarlos.

“Since I met you,” TK admits softly, his face going gentle as helooks into Carlos’ eyes. “For such a smart guy, you’re so slow, baby.”

Carlos looks at him with wide eyes; he obviously has to bedreaming. His best friend in the whole world, the guy he’s been crazy about foryears now, can’t be telling him that he feels the same. There is no way he’s thatlucky.

TK’s expression softens even further, reminding him that TK canread him pretty easily. “I have to find a book,” TK starts, pointing towardsthe back of the library where no one ever really goes. Carlos watches him as hecomes around the table, holding his breath when TK runs his hand over the backof his neck, his fingers sending shivers down Carlos’ spine. “Maybe you canhelp me,” he says softly as he walks away, never once looking back to see ifCarlos is coming.

Taking a calming breath, it takes Carlos less than thirty secondsto make up his mind and stand from the table, following TK to the back. He’sfinally been given a chance to have the one thing he’s wanted forever. There’sno way he’s letting it slip through his fingers now.

He finds TK at the very end of the library, sitting on anotherreading table; this one a little dusty from lack of use. TK is biting on hisbottom lip in that nervous way of his, and when he looks at Carlos, gone is thecocky guy from a few minutes ago, and in his place is the not so confident boythat lies beneath his usual bravado. It’s the TK that always sparks Carlos’more protective instincts. He walks up slowly to him, stepping in between hisparted knees.

With TK sitting, it puts them at a height difference that leavesTK looking up at him. Carlos brings his hands up to cradle TK’s face, tiltingit up even further, making sure TK is looking straight into his eyes.

“Are you sure you want this?” he can’t help but ask. The last thinghe wants is to lose his friend for a momentary case of hormones.

“Do you want this?” TK asks back; instead of answering, itcomes out more teasing, but Carlos can still see the hint of nerves.

“I have always wanted you,” Carlos confesses, finally letting itout. His heart beats hard against his chest as he gives life to his secret, butthe way TK’s eyes widen makes it worth it. “Every second of every day, I wantto be with you. I want to kiss you, hold you, have sex with you.”

“Carlos,” TK lets out breathlessly, his hands coming up to gripCarlos’ arms.

“But I want more than that too,” he continues, now that it’s outhe can’t hold back. “I have feelings for you. I’m in love with you, TK.”

TK tightens his hold on him, pulling him closer. “You never saidanything.”

“I was afraid to lose you,” Carlos whispers, now feeling unsure. “Irather have your friendship than not have you at all.”

TK closes his eyes, smiling as he shakes his head. “Idiot.”

“Hey,” Carlos starts to grin, moving forward when TK bringshis hands to the back of his neck and pulls him closer. Letting go of TK’s face,he places his hands on his waist, pressing his forehead against TK’s as the boylets out a soft laugh, and Carlos feels the same kind of giddy joy.

“I’ve had feelings for you since I met you,” TK says quietly, hisbreath touching Carlos’ face. He aches to close the distance between theirlips. “Back when I was so pissed that my dad dragged us here from New York, andI hated everything about Austin. You were the only thing I liked about it, andthen as we became friends, you became the person that made it feel like home.”

“Can I kiss you?” Carlos pleads, not being able to take it asecond longer, not when the boy he loves is telling him he feels the same way.

Carlos feels TK’s smile against his mouth instead of seeing it; hesighs into the kiss three years in the making. He pulls TK by the waist andgroans into the kiss when TK answers by wrapping his legs around Carlos’ waist,bringing their bodies flush against the other, and Carlos can feel how much TKwants him, his own body reacting to it the same way.

“Ty,” Carlos gasps out before TK slips his tongue inside his mouth.He moans helplessly not just at the taste of TK’s mouth, but also at the feelof that smooth silver stud pressing against his tongue as TK takes his time, makingsure he pulls Carlos apart with each flick of his skilled tongue.

“Carlos,” TK whispers back when he pulls away to take abreath. Carlos can’t stop touching or kissing him, and he trails a path withhis mouth from TK’s lips down his jaw, to his neck, kissing and sucking on anystrip of skin he can, instantly addicted to the taste of TK Strand.

“I knew it would be like this between us,” TK moans, his headthrown back as Carlos sucks at the pulse point under his jaw. His hand’s gripat his shirt and Carlos pulls back long enough to pull it over his head.

TK looks at him, his usually bright green eyes darkening as hetakes in Carlos’ bare chest, the piercing on his tongue peeking out as he curlshis tongue and makes an appreciative sound. “Fuck, baby, you’re a workof art.”

Carlos feels himself go hot at the compliment, and the heated wayTK looks at him, he feels it from the top of his head and down his chest.

TK makes another noise, smiling up at him wickedly as he sees hisskin turn pink. “Oh, that’s pretty,” he says softly, his hand reaching out totouch Carlos, his thumb rubbing gently over one of Carlos’ nipples. He shiversat the touch, not being able to stop the whine that escapes his lips. TK’s eyesflicker back up to his, and his smile softens. He uses his legs, still aroundCarlos’ waist to pull him back in.

Hands cup his face, and Carlos closes his eyes as TK brushes hislips across his. “We’re going to be amazing, aren’t we?” he asks against hismouth, and Carlos nods, swallowing hard as he pictures what being with TK isgoing to be like.

Yes, they’re going to be incredible, starting right now.

Carlos goes to kiss him again, more than ready to get theincredible parts started when someone clears their throat behind them, causinghim to freeze.

TK looks over his shoulder at their unexpected guest before helooks back at Carlos; his eyes are wide, but there is a twinkle of amusement inthem when he mouths ‘oops’ at him, like the little shit he is.

“Hi, Mrs. Powell,” he says brightly. Carlos closes his eyes withdread, something tells him after today he isn’t going to be the librarian’sfavorite anymore. “Carlos was helping me find a book.”

Carlos looks at TK incredulously, finding a bright smile on hislips as he looks back at him with zero shame, and shakes his head, but in theend, he can’t feel anything but happiness. This is the crazy boy he chose tolove.

֎֍֍

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Iris calls out as she walksup to them on the quad. Carlos looks up from where he’s been spending timekissing TK’s neck.

“Hey,” TK greets her back as he presses himself to his side, flashingCarlos a bright smile when he throws an arm over his shoulder and pulls himcloser. “Thanks, I honestly can’t believe we’re finally together and that ittook me sticking a metal rod through my tongue to get this going.”

“Hey, that’s not true,” Carlos protests as TK rolls his eyes.

“Don’t even try to deny it,” TK points at him. “I have beenthrowing hints forever and nothing. It took me getting a piercing, and honestly,me being tired of waiting for this to happen.”

“I didn’t know you were throwing hints!”

TK rolls his eyes again before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.“I know,” he says gently. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty because you’re clueless.”

Carlos goes to protest again, but TK stops him by giving himanother kiss, this time on the lips. Carlos sighs into it, ready to get lost init when Iris clears her throat loudly.

“Yeah, still here,” she says sarcastically, giving him an eye rollof her own. “I knew you’d be annoyingly cute once you finally got your shittogether.”

Carlos blushes at the comment, while TK laughs delightfully.

Iris smirks back at them. “By the way, that’s not what I wascongratulating you two on.”

“Oh?” TK raises an eyebrow at her, and Carlos feels dread again asher smirk seems to grow.

She pulls a flyer out of her bag, passing it over to them, andCarlos feels his face turn bright red as he takes in both his and TK’s faces onthe sheet of paper, with the words ‘banned from the library until further notice’under their faces.

“Apparently even though she hates everyone, it takes a lot to getMrs. Powell to ban someone; you two are now legends,” Iris tells them with agrin, wagging her eyebrows at him.

“Oh my god,” Carlos groans, dropping his head into his hands. Heturns his head to the side when he hears a snicker and finds TK smiling wildly.

“You find this funny, Tyler?” he questions dryly, and though TKmakes his usual face at his name, it doesn’t diminish the smile on his face, orthe affection shining in his eyes.

“Hilarious,” TK grins.

Carlos shakes his head, unable to stop his own smile. “Why do I likeyou?”

“Love,” TK corrects, biting down on his own smile. “Yousaid you love me, you can’t take it back now.”

Carlos smiles gently at him, bringing his hand back up to cup hischeek. “I’m never going to take it back.”

TK starts leaning in to kiss him, when Iris groans, forcing themto stop.

“Once again,” she shakes her head at them. “I’m still here.”

Carlos flashes her an apologetic look, knowing it doesn’t come offas sincere when he can’t stop smiling; he’s just so happy.

“Whatever,” she rolls her eyes as she stands back up. “I’mleaving to let you two be gooey and in love, try not to get banned from all ofcampus for indecent exposure.”

They watch her leave before TK draws his attention by tugging onhis hand.

“She’s got a point you know,” TK starts, giving him a dirty smirk.“If I don’t get you alone soon, I’m going to jump you right here.”

Carlos smiles back, his stomach clenching with anticipation. “Luckyfor us, I have an apartment, and I live alone.”

TK curls his tongue, and that little silver stud meant to driveCarlos crazy peeks out. “Then what are we waiting for?”

#911 lone star #tarlos #tarlos fic #911 lone star fic #tk x carlos #my writing #anon #Anonymous #college au

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marjansmarwani · 3 years

Text

just say you're hurt, we'll face the worst

Carlos & Owen || Tarlos || 2.9k || ao3

This is a birthday fic for actual ray of sunshine Paige - @sunshinestrand

You’re a lovely human and you deserve the world, but I hope you’ll take this instead. I hope your day is as wonderful as you are my dear 💕

Additional shoutout and thanks to both @officerrxyes and @terramous who helped me fix this when I was stuck for quite a while. I would be lost (and still staring at this fic) without you both!

One last note: if this seems familiar that’s because it was inspired by one of the parts from my tarlos week fic that’s when I knew - I just took one of the vignettes, expanded it, and told it from Carlos’s perspective.

------------

In hindsight, maybe he should have called first.

Standing on the front step was probably the wrong time for that realization but here he was: on the front step of the Stand house facing the confused expression of his boyfriend’s father.

“Carlos,” Owen said in surprise as he opened the door, “TK’s not here right now.”

“I know, he had a shift.”

Owen raised an eyebrow at that, but didn’t push. They stood in silence for a few more moments before Carlos elaborated, “I’m here for you, actually.”

This got a look of surprise from the older man, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is fine. I just...wanted to know if you wanted a ride to chemo today?”

It came out rushed and Carlos couldn’t blame Owen for his bewildered look. He rushed on with his explanation: “I know TK has been taking you and he had to work today but I’m off so I figured I would take you—if you wanted.”

“Did TK ask you to do this? Because that’s very sweet of you both, but you don’t need to waste your day off on me, I’ll be fine on my own. Which is exactly what I told my son but he seems to have selective hearing on the matter.”

Carlos shook his head, “No, he didn’t ask me. But I could tell he was worried about it so I figured it would make him feel better if he knew you hadn’t been there alone.”

Owen studied him for a few moments before shrugging, “I’m not opposed to the company, as long as you are sure about wasting your limited free time with an old man.”

Carlos held up his keys, “Great, I’ll drive.”

---------

The ride there was silent. Carlos went to open his mouth a few times, to try and start some sort of conversation, but each time his mind went blank. He was fairly certain Owen was having a similar problem, if the glances he kept shooting Carlos were any indication.

He wasn’t entirely sure why he felt so nervous about this — it wasn’t as if he hadn’t spent time with the Captain before. Nights spent with TK had taught him that both he and Owen were early risers, and sharing a cup of coffee in the morning hours had become a routine for them. Those were largely silent moments though; each man taking the time to savor the coffee and the quiet of the start of the day. In all honesty, Carlos wasn’t sure what to talk to the other man about. As far as he knew they only had one common interest: TK.

Of course, there was a lot to talk about when it came to TK Strand. Carlos could easily rave about him for hours. But while talking about how easily he could drown himself in TK’s eyes, never once even thinking about coming up for air with Michelle was one thing, doing it with TK’s father was something else entirely.

Just the thought of TK’s eyes and the things they made him want to do to him pulled him in and before he knew it he was interrupted from his daydreaming by a voice from his passenger seat: “So…” Owen started, “how are things with TK?”

Carlos cleared his throat awkwardly, prying himself back to reality and turning his face so Owen couldn’t see the blush creeping up his cheek. The man did not need to know the thoughts he had just been having about his son. He kept his tone decidedly nonchalant as he answered with a simple. “Good, things are going good.”

And they were back to square one.

---------

Thankfully, the drive to the treatment center was not a long one.

They parked and Carlos hovered anxiously off to the side as Owen got signed in and followed his lead to the treatment room. He took in the surroundings with interest—he had never seen the inside of a chemo treatment center (thankfully). He couldn’t say it looked anything like what he had pictured. But then again, he wasn’t sure exactly what it was he had expected.

He watched quietly as Owen was set up with the IV and smiled at the nurse as she passed by. Then it was just the two of them and they looked at each other with uncertainty.

“So,” Owen began.

“So.” Carlos agreed. He glanced around the room awkwardly before his gaze settled on the IV in Owen’s arm.

“Does it hurt?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Owen shrugged, “it doesn’t feel great, but it’s really after that you feel it.”

Carlos nodded but Owen kept talking, “Why don’t you tell me more about yourself? I really don’t know all that much about you, Carlos.”

“Oh,” Carlos responded, surprised, “are you sure that’s what you want to talk about?”

Owen shrugged, “Sure. I’d like to know more about the person my son is so smitten with besides,” he paused to lift up the arm with the IV in it, “what else do we have to do right now?”

“What do you want to know?” Carlos asked, unable to keep all the anxiety out of his voice.

“Where did you grow up?”

“Here, or pretty close to here. We lived just outside the city.”

“Are your parents still around?”

“My mom is. My dad passed when I was a teenager.”

“I’m sorry.”

Carlos shrugged, “it’s not that I don’t miss him, but it’s been a while. It’s become normal, something I don’t really think about all that much anymore.”

He paused as he realized the territory they were treading into. Given their current location, it seemed a little bit too much like tempting fate for Carlos’s liking.

Thankfully Owen either agreed or sensed his hesitation because he selected a new topic, “Siblings?”

“Two sisters. They drive me nuts, but I love them.”

Owen chuckled, “older or younger?”

Carlos grimaced, “older, and they never let me forget I’m the youngest.”

Owen laughed outright at this, but his laughter abruptly turned into a groan. Carlos sat up, looking at him anxiously, “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

Owen shook his head, “No, there’s just some...unwanted company headed this way.”

Carlos furrowed his brow as Owen plastered on a smile and raised a hand in greeting. He turned in his seat to see an older man waving back at him, a broad smile on his face.

Carlos gave Owen a skeptical look, “him?”

Owen nodded, “him. He may look harmless, but trust me, you will be praying for the awkward silence once he gets going.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It can.”

Carlos was not convinced and Owen shook his head, “Fine, don’t believe me but when it gets weird I will throw you under the bus as a distraction without hesitation.”

“I was raised here,” Carlos deadpanned, “they don’t call it southern charm for nothing. I think I can handle some small talk.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

Any response Carlos could have given was interrupted by Owen plastering the smile back on and nodding to the older man who was now approaching them, “Wayne, how’s it going?”

“Still breathing so I guess I can’t complain. How about you? How are things in the fire fighting business.”

“Busy, as usual.”

Wayne, apparently, chuckled but his expression turned curious as he noticed Carlos.

“And who’s this?” he asked as he settled down into the chair beside Owen’s. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure.”

“Coach, this is my future son-in-law, Carlos Reyes.”

Carlos could feel the blush creeping up his cheeks and it took considerable effort to keep his voice even as he objected, “Owen we’re not...we haven’t even…”

But the older man waved off his protests, “Please son, don’t even bother. It’s only a matter of time. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that you’ll be there sooner or later and I do happen to be an expert in my son.”

Carlos was saved from the trouble of trying to form an answer to that by their neighbor clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Well isn’t that something,” he noted mildly. “What do you do Carlos, are you a firefighter like the Strand boys?”

“No sir,” Carlos responded politely, “I’m an officer with the Austin Police department.”

Wayne turned to Owen, eyebrows raised, “A cop and a firefighter? I thought y’all didn’t get along?”

Owen shrugged, “We try not to hold it against him.”

The older man chuckled as he leaned back in his seat, “It’s good to see you with some more company here, regardless. Did you know this damn fool thought he could do this all on his own?”

The last part was directed at Carlos, who looked over at Owen with a raised eyebrow but Wayne barreled on, “he thought he could keep it all hidden, didn’t want to ‘worry anybody’. Complete horse shit, if you ask me.”

“We didn’t,” Carlos thought he heard Owen mutter under his breath but the coach carried on undaunted.

“I told him that was crazy talk, of course. Not even Superman could do this on his own, and you ain’t him, my friend.”

“That hurts, really.”

Wayne scoffed at him and looked about ready to go for round two when Carlos interrupted, “You’re right, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have a choice anymore — he’s not alone. He has a whole team behind him. Whether he wants it or not,” he added as an afterthought.

Both of the men are looking at him now, with differing expressions. Eventually, Wayne looked back over at Owen, “I like him.”

Owen was studying Carlos, who met his look and refused to drop his gaze, “He has his moments, I guess.”

----------

Things passed roughly in the same for the remainder of the appointment. There was a steady stream of conversation between the three men and as much as Owen may claim to be annoyed by the older man, Carlos had a sneaking suspicion that it was mostly a front. As they were wrapping up and saying their goodbyes, Owen insisted that he would take Carlos to lunch. But by the time they reached the camaro, the spring had decidedly left Owen’s step and he sunk into the passenger seat in a heap, face pale and drawn.

Carlos frowned at him as he climbed into his own seat, “Are you feeling okay?”

There was silence for a moment and Carlos could see him considering — trying to determine how little of the truth he could get away with, he assumed — before he sighed and shook his head.

“I think that took a lot out of me. I’m just feeling kind of worn,” he winced as he looked over at Carlos, “rain check on lunch?”

“Of course,” Carlos assured him without hesitation. Owen gave him a thin smile as he turned on the car and pulled out of the parking lot and back towards the Strand house.

They rode in companionable silence for a few blocks until Owen spoke: “What did you mean back there, when you were saying I wouldn’t be alone?”

“I was saying that you have a family here in Austin, and that family is not going to let you go through this alone. We won’t let you.”

“We?”

Carlos swallowed nervously, but his voice was firm when he responded, “We. That family expands outside the firehouse and your crew.”

“And includes you?”

They arrived at a stop sign and Carlos took the opportunity to meet Owen’s gaze. It wasn’t accusatory or smug. It was simply curious, and maybe a bit hopeful.

“Yes,” Carlos confirmed, “I’ll be here when you need me. You’re the most important person in TK’s life and whatever is important to him is important to me. I will be here.”

There was silence again as Carlos pulled through the intersection and they continued on their way. When Owen spoke again his voice was thick with emotion, “I don’t think I am the most important person in his life. Not anymore.” Carlos looked at him sharply, but Owen just smiled; “I think you have that title now, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Carlos turned his attention back to the road, heat rising up in his cheeks. Owen chuckled from beside him, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to overwhelm you. I just—I just want you to know how happy I am that you make him happy. How happy I am that you two found each other.”

“Yeah,” Carlos responded softly, “me too.”

--------

Owen made it into the house on his own, though Carlos stayed close to his side, just in case. As soon as they entered he seemed to deflate. He looked sadly at the kitchen and sighed.

“I thought I would at least make lunch for us since going out didn’t happen but…”

Carlos shook his head and gently turned Owen towards the hallway containing his bedroom, “Don’t worry about it, I can scrounge something up if I get hungry. Just go lie down and rest for a bit, I’ll hang out until TK gets home in case you need anything. Then maybe the three of us can try dinner later, if you’re feeling up to it.”

“You don’t need to hang out here, you’ve already spent your entire afternoon with me.”

“My mind’s made up, you’re not going to change it. Now go, before you fall over.”

“Are you sure you’re not too good to be true?”

Carlos rolled his eyes and Owen chuckled before turning to head down the hall. He paused at the threshold of the hallway, turning back again, “Carlos?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks, for everything.”

Carlos smiled, “Don’t mention it, I’m happy to help. Besides, I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.”

Owen shook his head at him in exasperation, but his smile betrayed him. With a wave he disappeared down the hall and Carlos waited until he heard his bedroom door close before grabbing a glass of water and settling on the couch to wait. A glance at the clock told him that TK should be home soon so he grabbed a magazine that was sitting on the coffee table to flip through idly, killing time and trying to keep his mind from racing.

It’s not that he’s worried about TK’s reaction exactly, but it did feel like he crossed a line today. Things in his relationship with Owen had decidedly shifted. While that wasn’t a bad thing, Carlos still felt weird about it happening without TK’s knowledge. They always made an effort to communicate clearly; to avoid miscommunications, to ensure that they were always on the same page.

Any worries he had were quickly banished from his mind by the sight of TK stepping through the front door. He paused on the threshold, eyes widening as he noticed Carlos on the couch.

“Carlos?” he asked as he set down his keys, “what are you doing here? I thought we weren’t meeting until later?”

Carlos set the magazine he had been pretending to read on the couch, a bright smile spreading across his face at the sight of TK. “We were,” he confirmed, “but I wasn’t here to see you. Not that I don’t want to see you,” he added hastily, “hi - how was work?”

TK rolled his eyes but his smile betrayed his amusement as he crossed to the couch, leaning over the back to give him a kiss: “Nice save. Work was fine, have you seen my dad?”

Carlos nodded, the smile on his face from seeing TK and getting to kiss him fading with the shift in topic, “he’s resting, the chemo session took a lot out of him today.”

TK nodded solemnly. He turned in the direction of the hallway likely with the intention of checking on Owen but paused, turning back to face Carlos with a curious expression.

“Wait,” he said slowly, “why would you come to see my dad today? You knew he had an appointment…” he trailed off and Carlos smiled sheepishly.

“I knew how worried you were about him going alone and I had the afternoon off, so I went. He was surprised, but I think he appreciated the company.”

TK was giving him a strange look so he stopped and frowned, his mind slipping into overdrive, “Was that not okay? He didn’t seem to mind…”

“No,” TK said quickly, “no, it’s fine. It’s more than fine actually, I just...you spent your afternoon off sitting with my dad at his chemo appointment?”

Carlos shrugged, “I like your dad. Besides, it was important to you so it’s important to me.”

He meant every word of it.

There was silence then as Carlos looked at TK curiously, not sure what to expect. TK for his part was staring at Carlos as if seeing him in a new light. Carlos was just about to ask what was wrong when TK leaned down again, placing a deep, lingering kiss on his lips. Carlos leaned into it, savoring the feeling on TK’s lips on his own. When they pulled apart, TK’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears.

“Thank you, Carlos,” he said, voice low and sincere.

Carlos smiled at him, reaching across the back of the couch to grab his hand. He intertwined it with his own, holding TK’s gaze all the while.

“I’d do anything for you,” he said simply.

The smile he got in return filled his soul and in that moment, Carlos came to a realization. He was hopelessly in love with TK Strand and there was no going back.

Even as he thought it, he knew one more thing without a doubt: he didn’t want to. TK was it for him, and he could be happy loving him for the rest of his life.

[read on ao3]

#911 lone star #911 lone star fic #carlos reyes #owen strand #tk strand #tarlos

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mtngirlforever · 4 years

Text

SRK ❤ pt. 2

So since I'm not really feeling this work day have some Carlos whump with a adorable Tarlos and a baby! Thank you to all you who offered medical input on this! I tried to gloss over it as much as possible so as not to screw it up too bad! Enjoy!

Here is part 1 if anyone needs a refresher https://mtngirlforever.tumblr.com/post/190830195629/srk-pt-1

Oh & In my head for this fluffy story Iris doesn't have any problems sorry not sorry

10 months later

They'd settled into a fairly good routine with Sofia. Iris kept her when they were on shift at the same time which happened more often than not. If Iris couldn't, then usually Grace did if she was off and free. If neither could they resorted to plan c but that rarely happened. They were currently planning her first birthday and waiting for actual words instead of adorable babbles. She'd started walking when she was ten months old and they'd not been able to stop her since. Everybody loved the adorable little girl but none more than her parents.

They'd left her with Iris for the day as they both had shift. TK was on a twelve covering for somebody and Carlos would be off in eight. They'd left her with kisses and promises to return soon.

Carlos ended up having to work over when a call kicked off before he clocked out. He’d texted Iris and TK letting them know he’d be working over, but TK hadn’t heard from him since. TK had two hours left in his shift when they got the call to respond to an officer involved accident. It'd been a routine chase until a car came out of nowhere t-boning the side of the officer's cruiser sending it rolling through the air. The officer was currently trapped in his car and barely conscious. TK's heart dropped into his stomach when he heard Grace's calm voice say "Captain it's Carlos."

Owen gave him an appraising look and Judd leaned over squeezing his shoulder giving him something to ground him. He could only nod back at his dad; his mind running on a loop of praying Carlos would be ok. He had to be ok.

It took all TK had to resemble being professional when they got there. The cruiser was right side up, but the passenger side was caved in, and it was noticeable that the cruiser had flipped. TK was in the car before Owen could even finish giving out the orders; he knew his son would want to make sure Carlos was fine with his own eyes.

It felt like an eternity, but TK knew his team worked as fast as they could to get him out. Carlos was in and out, and TK was worried about internal injuries he couldn’t see. He could tell Carlos for sure had a broken ankle, and multiple cuts and bruises. He was almost positive Carlos had a concussion, and with the way he was in and out, TK was worried something inside was bleeding. As soon as they had him free, TK jumped in the ambulance with Michelle, praying the whole way Carlos was going to be ok.

They'd been at the hospital for two hours now and TK was going stir crazy. He just wanted to see his husband and know that he was going to be ok. Michelle had called her sister and asked her to keep Sofia longer explaining what had happened. Iris readily agreed and told Michelle to keep her updated.

Another hour passed before a doctor came out informing TK that Carlos was out of surgery. His ankle had been fixed, and they’d had to remove his spleen. He had a low grade concussion as well. A few of the cuts required stitches, especially one on his head. The doctor was certain he would make a full recovery, as long as nothing went awry and no infections set in. He promised TK that as soon as Carlos was moved to a room, he could see him.

Owen hugged his son tight once the doctor walked off. He could see that TK was at the end of his rope and just needed a minute. "It's gonna be ok. He's strong and he's gonna be fine," he whispered.

"I know… I just…"

"I know," Owen said, giving him a squeeze. "I'm gonna go get Sofia from Iris but you call me if you need me ok?"

"Yea…. Yea I will. Thanks dad. Give her a hug and kiss from us, yea?" He said giving Owen another tight hug.

"I will kiddo." Owen and the rest of the team minus Judd and Grace left TK with it. Judd refused to leave until he was sure his little brother got back to see Carlos.

Once they had Carlos in a room, TK went back to see him, and Judd and Grace went home making TK promise to call if he needed them. TK walks into the room and let's out a soft sigh. He pulls up a chair and grabs the hand that doesn't have an iv in it. He holds the hand tight, finally letting the tears fall he'd been holding in since they’d gotten the call.

"You've got to be ok. Please be ok," he whispered. He sat there holding his hand and just watching his chest rise and fall until exhaustion took over and he fell asleep. It wasn't restful with nurses coming in and out, but he did get a little sleep. The doctor had told TK with a combination of the concussion and pain meds and anesthesia, Carlos would probably sleep for a while or be really in and out. The few times Carlos woke during the night, TK was asleep and the dim light in the room hurt his head too much to even wake TK. TK's woken the next morning by Owen calling.

"Hey dad," he said, rubbing his eyes as he answered the phone. He could hear his baby girl crying in the background and it broke his heart.

"Hey kiddo. Guess you can hear little miss is not very happy."

"Yea I hear her. Put me on facetime." He just wanted to hold her tight and kiss the tears away but he wasn't sure if she needed to be there and see Carlos like that.

They clicked over to facetime and TK’s heart broke even more when Sofia kept crying trying to reach for him through the phone.

"Hey baby girl. You're ok. You're ok," he cooed at her. "Pops ain't that bad baby," he chuckled.

She kept crying "dadadadada" over and over. She'd started saying dada a few weeks ago, and they were working on getting her to say papa now.

"I know Sof. I'm sorry baby girl. You're ok tho. Daddy and Papa will be home as soon as we can."

He blew kisses at her but nothing was working. "Just bring her on down dad. She's being stubborn like her papa," he smiled. "Oh and maybe a change or two of clothes for us?"

"Yea kiddo if you're sure."

"Not really, but she doesn't look like she's gonna stop anytime soon," he sighed. There was nothing he hated more than seeing his baby girl so upset.

"Alright we'll be there in just a little bit," Owen said as they signed off.

TK put his phone back in his pocket and sighed, picking up Carlos's hand again. "Your daughter is being stubborn just like you," he whispered. "She's giving dad a fit. So you better wake up because I don't want to scare her, you hear me Carlos. You gotta wake up," TK pleaded as he brushed the wayward curls off Carlos's forehead.

Carlos stayed asleep and TK sighed. He kept rubbing his head and holding his hand just praying he'd wake up soon. Carlos came around a little, but his head was hurting too bad from the stitches and the concussion, that he drifted back off with TK whispering sweet nothings to him. TK hated seeing him in pain, so he was glad he was resting some. TK let everyone know he was wake but really in and out from the pain but they could visit.

Owen and Sofia arrived about thirty minutes later. She wasn't crying, but her little face was still red and she was still sniffling. As soon as she saw him, she started crying again babbling dada as she tried to get out of Owen's arms. "Oh baby girl," TK chuckled getting up and getting her. "You're ok Sof," he chuckled, rubbing her back and kissing her cheeks. He settled back in the chair by Carlos's bed glad she hadn't seen him yet as she snuggled into his neck sucking her thumb. She let out the occasional hiccup sob making TK chuckle a little.

"Sorry dad," TK said once she'd settled.

"It's ok kiddo. I remember someone else being just as dramatic when he was younger," Owen laughed getting an eye roll and a smile from TK.

"Sofia Kennedy, Pops thinks we're dramatic," he cooed, rubbing her back. She just sniffled and closed her eyes, not loosening her grip on TK.

A few hours later Sofia was sitting on Carlos's bed patting his legs and babbling to TK. Carlos had slept most of the day, only rousing a little while Sofia was napping. The whole team had been by to check on them and when Grace offered to take her, Sofia threw another fit making TK sigh. "Thanks anyways Grace," he told her when she gave him a hug and told him to call if he needed them.

"Sof, what is your deal?" He cooed picking her up. She had always been easy going staying with someone else until now.

"She knows you're worried and can sense something is going on," Owen said from his perch in the room. "She'll be ok once you're ok TK."

TK just nodded letting Sofia snuggle on him some more. He softly talked to Carlos more and Sofia climbed back on the bed babbling to him. She kept looking at TK all confused when Carlos wasn't paying her any attention.

"Papa's just sleeping baby girl," TK said, picking her up.

"No no no no," she cried, reaching for Carlos again.

"Alright baby girl I think Pops needs to take you home," he told her, kissing her cheek. Owen knew how hard this was on TK and he felt for his son.

"Come on Sof, we'll go check on Buttercup," he told her trying to take her. She wrapped around TK tight crying.

'Sof baby," TK cooed rubbing her back giving his dad the saddest look.

"Ty," they barely heard over Sofia's cries. "Sof," Carlos said slowly waking up hearing his baby girl cry.

"Dad," TK said, pulling Sofia loose and handing her to Owen.

"Carlos babe? You ok?" He asked leaning over and rubbing his hair back as he gripped his hand tight. The few times he'd been in and out hadn't been enough for TK and he could tell this time he was fully waking up.

"Tyler," Carlos said, finally fully opening his eyes.

"Hey babe I'm here," TK said softly kissing him. “You hurting? How’s your head?” TK asked softly. He reached over dimming the lights as low as possible knowing they'd bothered him earlier.

"Sofia?" Carlos asked looking around. He knew he'd seen her napping on TK earlier, and he heard her crying but didn't see her.

"Dads got her. She's ok. She's just being stubborn," he chuckled.

"Or dramatic," Owen piped up bringing her back in.

She was still crying, mad TK had handed her off earlier. "Sofia," Carlos cooed, getting her attention.

Her big eyes settled on him before she rubbed them and reached for him. "Pap pap pap pap," she said for the first time trying to say papa.

"She just…. Carlos she said it," TK said, lighting up as Sofia finally said it. "Come here baby girl," TK cooed, taking her and kissing her face. He held her down for Carlos to kiss on her and she turned the tears off.

"Be easy Sof. We gotta take care of Papa while he's hurt," TK cooed at her when she tried wiggling out of his arms to get to Carlos.

Sofia was getting sleepy, but cried once again when Owen tried to take her. "Take her home," Carlos said, still sleepy himself.

"No. No way. I'm not leaving you here," TK said holding Sofia like a football swaying her back and forth to settle her. Her eyes were so heavy as she babbled sleepily watching Carlos. "She'll be asleep in just a few and dad can take her."

Carlos sighed but nodded. He knew if the roles were reversed he wouldn't leave TK. Twenty minutes of swaying later and Carlos told TK she was out. Her thumb was in her mouth and she was sound asleep. TK shifted her up to his shoulder to make sure she'd stay asleep. Once they were sure she was out, Owen carefully took her telling his sons he'd see them tomorrow.

TK slipped on an APD hoodie Owen had packed and sat back down by the bed. "You really scared me," he whispered, squeezing Carlos's hand tight.

"I know… I'm sorry," Carlos said trying to tug TK to him.

"You know I can't," TK chuckled leaning over and kissing him.

"You can break the rules just once," Carlos turned up the puppy eyes he'd learned from TK and it had TK caving. He crawled in the bed beside him and softly kissed his husband. "Never again, you hear me babe? Never again even if it got our daughter to finally say Papa."

"I know. Never again," Carlos said, running his hand through TKs hair before they both drifted off.

#mtngirl writes #tarlos #tarlos fic #srk ❤#911 lone star fic

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