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chicgeekgirl89 · 1 year

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Mothers and Sons

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Characters: T.K. Strand, Carlos Reyes, Andrea Reyes, Gabriel Reyes, Owen Strand

Summary:

“I didn’t even think about her,” T.K. says. “I don’t…I don’t think I’ve thought about her all week. Things have been so busy and stressful and I—I just didn’t think about her. So I didn’t remember that she wouldn’t be coming. I forgot that my mom is gone and she’s not coming to my wedding.”

An unanticipated question during wedding planning revives T.K.'s grief. Fortunately Andrea is there to offer comfort.

CW: Religion, Gwyn Morgan’s Death

Read on AO3

T.K. had always privately laughed when the women in his life told him that wedding planning was a full time job. How hard could it possibly be? Some flowers, a cake, something to wear, you just made phone calls and shelled out cash until it was taken care of.

It turns out they were right and he’s an idiot and planning a wedding in less than eight weeks is potentially about to kill both him and his fiancé before they ever reach the altar.

It was therefore necessary to rehire both of their parents plus Gabriel to try and get everything done in time. They’ve been given strict instructions to only do exactly what Carlos and T.K. tell them too, and so far (barring one incident involving the vegan dinner option) they’ve been beyond helpful in getting things finalized.

At this point they are less than a week out and both of them are feeling the pressure. The cost of everything is sky high, the florist is having refrigerator issues and is claiming they might have to change their order last minute depending on what’s available, and Carlos cried in the shower this morning for no reason at all other than that this is the biggest moment of their lives and they both feel like they can’t even enjoy it because they’re so busy and stressed out.

Right now they’re sitting in front of the venue’s wedding coordinator, a cheery woman named Julissa whose face doesn’t seem to do anything other than smile. “Excellent,” she says, clapping her hands together, “so we’ve coordinated everything with the caterer and the bakery, which means food is all set. You brought the wedding favors and the table cards and we’ll set those all up along with the linens and the centerpieces once we hear back from the florist about what’s going on. The DJ is bringing his own gear and will be here an hour before the ceremony to get things hooked up. So that’s the reception basically taken care of, let’s focus on the ceremony.”

T.K. is only half paying attention at this point. He’s chewing on the inside of his cheek as he tries to remember who they tasked with picking up the tuxes. Was it Judd? Or Paul? They should have just kept them, but his dad had insisted they needed additional tailoring and now he can’t remember who’s getting them back.

“So, as I understand it, the two of you want to walk down the aisle together?” Julissa asks.

“Yes,” Carlos says, his voice warm and happy.

“Unconventional. I love it! So we’ll seat the parents first before you come down, what order would you like to go in?”

Carlos looks at T.K. who shrugs in indifference, so he looks behind them to where their parents are sitting quietly for once. “Any preference?”

“Whatever you boys want is fine,” Andrea tells them.

“I guess alphabetically then? My parents first?” Carlos says.

“Great,” Julissa says, writing a big checkmark on the clipboard in front of her. “So we’ll seat Gabriel and Andrea followed by Owen and…oh. I’m sorry, I don’t have any notes on this. Will T.K.’s mother be joining us?”

The mood shifts immediately. T.K. feels as if someone has dumped a bucket of ice water over him. His entire body stiffens up as his heart does something weird and painful in his chest. “Um, no,” he says woodenly.

“T.K.’s mom passed away last year,” Carlos tells her, reaching over to gently cradle T.K.’s hand with his own, his thumb moving back and forth in a soothing motion.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Would you like to do something to memorialize her? Some people do a candle or leave a chair empty with a marker. I’d be happy to show you some examples.”

“Oh that’s a lovely idea!” Andrea says.

“I can’t believe we didn’t think of it,” Owen chimes in. “Yes, I think it’s a great idea to do something to honor her. Totally up to you though son, whatever you want to do.”

“I—“ T.K. feels like he’s suffocating. He isn’t prepared for this question and he doesn’t know what to say.

“Can we think about it and let you know?” Carlos asks, clearly seeing the strain and uncertainty on T.K.’s face.

“Yes, of course. We can throw something together up until the last minute if we need to,” Julissa tells them. “Okay, this seems like a good time to do a walk through of the ceremony and reception spaces, just so you’re super familiar with them and in case you have any last minute questions.”

They all rise and his dad immediately starts asking about how many electrical outlets are in the rooms they’ll use to get ready for the ceremony, while Andrea and Gabriel are talking about when Carlos’ sisters flights arrive.

Everyone else is still deep in the throes of planning, but T.K.’s mind is spinning, his breathing a little too fast. He’s completely thrown off, it feels almost like he’s not even here at all.

“Hey, you okay?” Carlos asks quietly.

No. He’s not. Not even a little. “I think um, I think I need a minute,” T.K. tells him, then makes for the nearest exit before Carlos can ask to come along. He needs some space.

There’s a patio outside with a railing that overlooks a pond full of koi fish and lily pads. It’s quiet, a good enough place to just be alone for a minute.

He takes a few deep breaths, clenching and unclenching his fists. He doesn’t feel the need to use right this second, but it’s there, not buried quite as deeply as usual, and if it pokes through he’s going to need a meeting. There’s no time to fit one in this week, but he’ll do it if he has to. He’s not starting his marriage on the verge of a relapse.

He hears a door open behind him and waits, expecting Carlos or his dad to join him. He should have known he wouldn’t be alone for long. This is his second dramatic exit from a wedding facility in a few months, naturally one of them will be coming to try and talk him down.

Instead it’s Andrea. He smells her perfume seconds before she joins him in leaning against the railing.

She doesn’t say anything, just stands next to him, her presence soft and calming. T.K. has to resist the urge to turn and cry into her arms. She would let him, he has no doubt. Both she and Gabriel have gone above and beyond these last few months making sure he knows he’s a part of their family now.

“Do they need me back inside?” he finally asks, his voice coming out a little raw.

Andrea shakes her head. “No. We can stay out here as long as you need to.”

He blows out a shaky breath. “I figured it would be Carlos or my dad coming out here after me.”

“They wanted to. I asked if I could come instead.”

He looks back out at the water, watching as fish swim lazily back and forth under the surface. “I didn’t even think about her,” T.K. says. “I don’t…I don’t think I’ve thought about her all week. Things have been so busy and stressful and I—I just didn’t think about her. So I didn’t remember that she wouldn’t be coming. I forgot that my mom is gone and she’s not coming to my wedding.”

Tears are threatening and he tries to choke them back down as he turns and looks at Andrea, his heart so heavy it feels like it’s going to fall out of his chest. “I’m a terrible son.”

“Oh mijo.” Her eyes are full of sympathy as she reaches for him.

Carlos hugs him all the time. His dad does his fair share of hugging as well. And the 126 is a pretty touchy feely group in general, but the hug Andrea gives him now is different. There’s a warmth and a comfort to it that can’t be replicated by anyone else. This is a hug that has healed skinned knees and bad grades and broken hearts and as T.K. sinks into it there’s an overwhelming sense of relief and comfort.

She holds him for as long as he wants, waiting patiently for him to be the one to pull away. “I’m sorry,” he says wetly when he finally does.

“You do not apologize,” she tells him firmly, reaching into her purse and handing him a tissue. “This is what family is for.”

“She’s my mom,” he says, feeling a little numb. “How could I have forgotten about her? She deserves…she deserves everything. Not something thrown together at the last minute.” He quotes Julissa’s words and they taste bitter on his tongue.

“T.K.,” she says his name in that patient and slightly chastising tone. “Sweetheart you didn’t forget about her. You’re busy doing your job and planning a wedding at the same time. You can’t think about everything all at once and that’s okay. Us moms, we understand being busy.”

“That feels like an excuse,” he says. “It’s the most important day of my life. She should be a part of it.”

His voice breaks, another tear trickling down his cheek and he quickly wipes it away.

Andrea reaches down and grabs his hands. “I want to tell you something,” she says. “And I want you to really listen, okay?”

He nods and she smiles fondly at him. He can see so much of Carlos in her face. They have the same eyes, the same smile. He wonders how much of his own mother is looking back at her through his eyes.

“I only got to meet your mother once, so I can’t pretend I knew her well, but I can tell you that she glowed with love and pride for you. The way she lit up when she talked about you, she loved you so deeply T.K., anyone could see it,” she tells him

“Thank you,” he says, voice barely more than a whisper.

“I’ve been a mama for a long time now,” she says. “Much more of my life than I haven’t. And us mamas, no matter where we come from or how different our lives are, deep down we’re very much the same. We love our babies with our whole hearts and we will do anything to make sure they are safe and happy. So I can tell you with complete certainty that she will be there. She will be at your wedding.” She squeezes his hands gently. “You may not be able to see her, but I have complete faith that she would not miss it for anything.”

It’s an incredibly sweet sentiment, but it doesn’t quite soothe his ragged spirit in the way she probably intends.

“You know Jews don’t really have the same concept of Heaven as Christians and Catholics do,” T.K. tells her, his heart heavy and sore as he voices something he’s wrestled with in the months since his mother passed. “I’m not even sure my mom believed in an afterlife. So I don’t know—“

“Don’t worry,” Andrea waves her hand dismissively. “I have already spoken to God about that and I told him to work it out.”

And that’s what finally does it. The mental image of her sitting in a pew, holding her rosary beads and bossing God around with that no-nonsense tone she uses makes him laugh, breaking through the guilt and sadness that weigh him down. Because if there is anyone in the world who can tell God what to do and make him bend to her will, it’s Andrea Reyes. “Thank you,” he says.

She nods. “T.K. I am not your mother, and I would never dream of trying to replace her. But I hope, with all of my heart, that you know that we are family now. Forever. When you need us, we will be there for you.”

“I do,” T.K. says and he means it. “I do. I’m so grateful that you’re here. You and Gabriel. It means a lot to both of us to have your support.”

He takes a deep breath, feeling a little steadier than before. It still hurts, but it’s manageable now. “We should probably get back inside.”

“Yes, we should. Right now Carlos is the only thing standing between your father, my husband, and wedding chaos. He’s a strong boy, but I’m not sure he can handle them on his own for much longer,” Andrea says.

Her words make him laugh again. “Yeah,” he says. “Let’s go rescue him.”

#911 Lone Star #911lsfic #Tarlos #Carlos Reyes #TK Strand #Andrea Reyes #Family #Family feels #Emotional Hurt/Comfort #Sad TK Strand #Tarlos Fic #Tarlos Wedding #Tarlos Wedding Fic

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reyesstrand · 2 years

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obsessed with tk and carlos being that couple…..the way they just get so much out of hosting their friends (family)…..the way they’re on the job and are still able to be unashamedly themselves with the inside jokes/private language only they understand and small touches they share without hesitation in front of everyone……

#lone star spoilers #they’ve just settled so much into who they are now they they’re SURE they’re each other’s person y’know #like they had the miscommunication and break up but now they’ve literally been through it all….always looking forward to their future…#THEIR future………is so set in stone………they just get to have this love and be themselves about how they show it and are just comfortable…..#they’re like a foundation now…….for everyone…….just tkandcarlos……#911ls #911 lone star #tarlos

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guardian-angle22 · 9 months

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Tarlos Wedding Celebration Event [Week 10] -> favorite hug(s)-> 3.13

#911 lone star #911lsedit #tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #tarlosweddingcelebration #tarlosweddingevent #its wild cause I literally *just* finished this set and realized I have a MORE favorite hug than this one soooo... now what #I'm a fraud #I love the domesticity of the 'coming home at the end of the night' hug #but then also the 'coming up from behind to comfort' hug is also amazing #tk's hands on carlos' waist is a weakness of mine actually I think #and carlos lives in tk's neck its canon actually #but anyway I guess I'm off to go make another set for the same prompt because I turned out to be a liar #my gifs #episode: s03e13 riddle of the sphynx

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whumpdoyoumean · 6 months

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Whumptober #12

xxx i haven’t slept in days, but who’s counting?

TK is awakened by a hand on his shoulder.

“TK?” Carlos whispers.

He’d been having a good dream (fall in New York with Carlos, where it wasn’t so hot), and for a second he tries to fall back asleep in the hopes of holding onto it a little longer. And then Carlos shakes him a little.

“TK! Hey!”

TK lets out a little sigh and opens his eyes, rolling onto his back. “I’m up, I’m up!...What time is it?” He turns onto his side to face his boyfriend (husband, he reminds himself happily) and frowns. Carlos is sitting up, and even in the darkness TK can tell he’s distressed. “Baby, you okay?”

Carlos nods. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. I’m sorry I woke you, you should--you should go back to sleep. I’m okay.” He’s trying hard to hide it, but TK knows him well enough to hear how upset he is.

“Hey.” TK puts a hand on Carlos’s arm and frowns. “Babe, you’re shaking. What’s going on?” He reaches over and flicks on the lamp on his bedside table, frown deepening as he realizes that Carlos is crying.

Carlos turns away quickly, putting his hands over his face. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles through his fingers. “This is so embarrassing.”

“It’s not embarrassing,” TK says firmly, sitting up the rest of the way and scooting over so his leg is touching Carlos’s. He puts an arm around him and pulls him in close. “But I am worried about you. Tell me what the matter is. Please?”

Carlos takes a deep, shaky breath, lowering his hands. “I had a nightmare. I had to make sure--I had to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m okay,” TK says gently, rubbing his thumb over Carlos’s arm. “You wanna talk about it?”

“About the nightmare? Not really. It was…awful.” He shudders a little, sniffling. “I don’t even want to think about it…Just…” His breath hitches. “I’m so scared of losing you.”

TK leans forward, gently pressing his forehead against Carlos’s. “You’re not going to lose me.”

Tears roll down Carlos’s face and he closes his eyes. “You can’t know that,” he whispers.

He isn’t wrong, is the thing. Both of them have learned from experience that life is fragile, and fleeting. TK sits back, looking Carlos in the eyes.

“How long have you been feeling like this?”

Carlos chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment before he answers. “Honestly? Since the first time I saw you in that hospital bed after you were shot. For a while there, I was…I was doing okay? But, um. It’s gotten worse. A lot worse. Ever since--ever since my dad…”

He lets out a sob, collapsing in on himself, and TK wraps him in a tight hug, pulling him in close.

“Hey,” he murmurs. “Hey, you’re okay. You’re okay…”

They stay like that for a long time, Carlos crying while TK holds onto him. TK doesn’t say anything, just runs his hand over Carlos’s arm, silently assuring him of his presence. When Carlos has calmed down a little, TK speaks.

“I think…maybe…it would be helpful if you talked to someone. Like, a professional I mean.”

He’s not sure how Carlos is going to react, but after a moment, he says, “Okay.”

TK lets out a relieved sigh. “Okay?”

Carlos nods, sniffing. “Okay.” He looks over at the clock and groans. “God, it’s so late. I’m sorry.”

“Quit apologizing,” TK says with fake sternness. “If you want, I’ll stay up all night with you. We can watch Netflix on my phone. There’s a new season of The Great British Baking Show out.”

Carlos smiles a little at that. “No. No, we’re supposed to go back to work tomorrow. We should try and get some sleep.”

“You sure?” TK says.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Thanks, babe.”

“Okay,” TK says, planting a kiss on Carlos’s forehead before turning the light off. He shifts until he finds a comfortable position, and then closes his eyes. A moment later, he feels the warm, comfortable weight of Carlos’s head on his chest.

“This okay?” Carlos whispers.

“Of course.”

“I like being able to hear your heartbeat.”

“I love you, Carlos,” TK murmurs.

“I love you.”

TK stays awake until he hears Carlos’s breathing even out and then, only when he’s certain that Carlos is asleep, he lets himself drift off.

xxx

#whumptober2023 #no.12 #“i'm up i'm up”#911 lone star #fic #nightmare #comfort #emotional whump #tears #tk strand #carlos reyes #tarlos #tarlos fic #whumptober #my writing #my fic #whump #whump fic

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herefortarlos · 5 months

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Fandom Holiday Gifts Day 1

Today it was Re-read a comfort fic and so I went through my bookmarks and found @welcometololaland's Seven Ways (Back to You), a 32K word post Push series that I love and adore!

I love how Lola writes TK and Carlos forgiving and coming back to each other, and they are just so sweet and flirty and clearly in love, it fills my heart with so much happiness! So yes, definitely a comfort fic that I was happy to revisit and I highly recommend it if you haven't already had the pleasure 🥰

#fandom holiday gifts #reread a comfort fic #tarlos fic rec #fic rec #tarlos #tarlos fic

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detective-giggles · 1 year

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Better With You

Hi @marjansmarwani!! I have an exchange fic for you! I really wasn’t sure which prompt to do and even debated trying to combine prompts 2 & 3, but in the end the hurt/comfort prompt won out. In a convenient 3+1 format! :) I hope you enjoy! @chaotictarlos: thank you for the beta and helping me when I got stuck! @noxsoulmate: thank you for helping me brainstorm!

******

Carlos doesn’t even have to open his eyes to know this is gonna be a bad day. His head feels like it’s going to explode, and he can’t quite see straight.

He stumbles into the kitchen and manages to start some coffee before slumping on the couch to wait.

That’s where TK finds him an hour later, having not moved to get the coffee he started, breathing heavily as he tries to fight against the nausea that’s been rising in his stomach since he sat down.

“Babe?” Concerned, TK sits next to him and cradles his face in his hands, no doubt checking for a fever.

“‘M okay,” Carlos murmurs, waving TK’s hands away but the gesture is weak. “Migraine,” he explains. “I just need a few more minutes; then I’ll get up.”

“Let’s get you back to bed. I’ll reschedule the appointments,” TK offers.

“Maybe that’s a good idea.” He sighs, they have meetings with the bakery and a florist today. He doesn’t want to disappoint TK, but he knows he can’t handle leaving the apartment this afternoon. They’ve had this appointment set up with the bakery for weeks, he hopes she can accommodate a different date.

“Come on.” TK stands and reaches out to help Carlos up.

“I’m gonna be sick,” he mumbles. He gets up and hurries to the bathroom.

Carlos knows TK has seen worse, but he’s grateful that TK gives him a little privacy as he violently empties his stomach. As soon as he’s done, TK swoops in, and he feels a cool towel on the back of his neck. TK uses another one to wipe his forehead, his cheeks, and finally, his mouth. He hands him a water bottle, and Carlos rinses his mouth and takes a couple of small sips.

“Thank you. I’m sorry,” he adds pathetically, his voice rough.

“It’s okay. Let’s get you back to bed,” TK whispers.

Carlos stands on shaky legs, and together, they make their way back to the bedroom.

“Take these,” TK hands him a couple of pills and the bottle of water. He swallows them obediently and then lays face down on the bed and pulls the covers over his head. He sighs, hoping the meds kick in soon so he can sleep through the worst of it. TK presses a kiss to his head and disappears to make the phone calls.

It’s mostly dark when Carlos opens his eyes again. There’s a sliver of light shining through the curtains.

He's not quite sure how TK got the blackout curtains up without waking him, but he’s relieved. The pain in his head is better but not gone completely.

He rolls over and TK is there next to him, sitting up in bed, silently playing on his phone.

“Hey,” he whispers. “How are you feeling, babe?”

“Still hurts, but I don’t feel sick anymore.”

TK makes him take another sip of water, and he lays down again, resting his head against TK’s thigh. TK rubs his back and he shifts uncomfortably, unable to fall back asleep.

“Want me to hold you?” TK asks.

“Please.”

“Okay,” TK agrees. He sets his phone aside before slipping under the covers. He curls his body around his fiancé, and Carlos is finally able to relax enough to fall asleep again.

“Reyes!” Carlos stops dribbling the basketball and pivots toward the voice yelling his name. There’s an opening and he bounces the ball with force to his teammate. She catches it, then shoots, earning them another two points.

“Nice job!”

He hurries over and gives Detective Jones a high-five before pausing at the benches and taking a large swig from his water bottle.

He takes a second to peek at his phone. TK should be meeting him any time and they’ll walk home together. While he enjoys his weekly pick-up basketball game at the precinct with some of his fellow officers, he enjoys the evening walk home with TK more.

They play for a few more minutes and he manages to make two more baskets for his team.

Having a moment to breathe between baskets, he pauses and pulls the hem of his shirt up to wipe the sweat off his face, and as he does he hears a wolf whistle coming from the direction of the benches. He knows it’s TK, even without the accompanying playful teasing that comes from the guys.

Still, he looks over and smiles as TK takes a seat on the bench, ready to watch Carlos finish up his game. As he gives TK a little wave, he hears his name getting called and he turns, too late. Merely moments after he turns, his face explodes in pain.

Carlos staggers backward, and, in his daze, it takes a bit to realize the basketball is the culprit. He’s surrounded in a matter of seconds; by teammates trying to make sure he’s okay and, of course, TK.

TK stops in front of him, trying to lead him to the bench and starting to assess the damage. A couple of officers run off to fetch ice and a towel while TK pokes at his face which doesn’t help as much as it hurts.

He’s unsure what hurts more, his face or his pride, and he hisses in pain as TK examines him. He knows he’ll wind up swollen for a couple of days, but he just hopes nothing’s broken.

Jones is back with the first aid kit and a clean towel, and TK uses it to wipe some of the blood off his face.

“I don’t think your nose is broken,” TK says. “We should probably go to the hospital to be sure, though.”

A patrol officer Carlos has worked with a few times, and the one Carlos is fairly certain threw the ball, returns with a bag of ice and offers to drive them, but he declines emphatically.

He hisses as TK presses the ice to his face. “I’m okay. It’s my fault. I should have been paying attention.”

“Instead of being distracted by your boy toy over there,” Lexi teases.

“Come on then, let’s get you home,” TK says.

They take the ride offered by Carlos’ partner and promise to call her if they need anything. TK carries Carlos’ bag while he focuses on keeping the ice on his face, and they make their way into the elevator.

“Sorry I distracted you, babe,” TK finally says.

“It was my fault,” Carlos says. He settles on the sofa while TK rummages through the freezer. He finally joins Carlos on the sofa with a bag of frozen vegetables, and Carlos would laugh if he wasn’t sure it would hurt so much.

TK just shrugs, “it’s softer than ice cubes. It’ll work.”

Carlos doesn’t care at this point, if it helps his face from swelling up and the pain is some of the worst that he’s ever felt - he’ll take it. He lays down, settling his head in TK’s lap, and TK gently places the bag of veggies on his face.

“They’re not going to let you live this down, are they?”

“Not anytime soon,” Carlos admits.

Carlos sits at the edge of the bed and pouts. He desperately wishes he was at home in his own bed, with TK’s arms around him.

Instead, he’s all alone in the ER waiting for the doctor to return and finish his stitches - which is taking longer than he would like for it to.

He wonders if his partner has called TK, or if that’s been left for him to do himself when they release him. He hopes that someone called TK and told him what was going on, with how slow the doctor was going he’s definitely going to be late for dinner and he doesn’t want TK to worry.

He’s nauseous and Carlos knows that’s a bad sign. He groans and his fingers lightly brush the plastic emesis bag the nurse had left for him before leaving him alone for a few minutes for the local anesthetic to kick in. He closes his eyes and takes a couple of deep breaths hoping that will help calm his stomach and when he opens them again TK’s standing just inside the curtain.

“Oh, babe,” TK crosses the small space between them and wraps his arms around Carlos.

Carlos knows the look he’s getting from TK well. TK’s eyes and hands frantically roam over his body as he checks for any additional injuries that the doctors might have missed. TK never believes that Carlos is okay until he checks him out for himself.

“I’m okay,” Carlos insists. “Just a little bump on the head.”

TK evaluates the wound on Carlos’ forehead. “I’m thinking that’s going to take at least five stitches, Carlos, that’s not nothing.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I was serving papers and I don’t even know what happened.”

“You don’t know or you don’t remember?” TK frowns and he knows he should mention the concussion but instead Carlos just shrugs.

TK gives a little sigh as he hugs Carlos tightly. “Do you need anything?”

“Just you. I feel better now that you’re here.”

“You big softie,” TK teases.

“How does it feel to be on that side of the exam table?” Carlos asks.

“Not good,” TK murmurs. “I hate seeing you hurting.”

TK steps back as a nurse joins them, setting out everything they’ll need for the stitches.

“Why are you sitting up, Mr. Reyes?” The nurse gently guides him so he’s settled back in the bed. “The doctor will be right in, and then we’ll get you checked in,” he says.

“You’re admitting him?” TK asks, surprised and he turns to look at Carlos. “What didn’t you tell me? Did you lose consciousness?”

“Twice,” the nurse chirps. “Once on scene and once in my ER.”

“Carlos!”

“I’m fine,” he insists.

TK opens his mouth, likely to protest, when the doctor walks in. TK doesn’t argue, but slides to the head of the bed and sits, slipping his hand into Carlos’ for comfort. He stays silent while the doctor stitches up Carlos’ forehead. It’s a quick affair and it doesn’t hurt the way Carlos expects it to, but Carlos squeezes TK’s hand the whole time.

“They’re almost ready for you upstairs, officer. We’ll keep you overnight for observation and do another CT scan in the morning.” The nurse pushes in a wheelchair and Carlos sighs.

“Another CT? How hard were you hit?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he mumbles. He clumsily slides off the bed and TK steadies him until he gets settled in the wheelchair whispering something about hospital policy.

“I’ll call your parents and then I’ll be up.” Carlos gives a half-nod, even though he really doesn’t want to be alone.

It takes longer for him to change and climb into bed than he thought it would. Getting comfortable is a joke, but he tries to relax and wait for TK. He doesn’t have to wait long, however, TK joins him in minutes.

“Tell me a story,” Carlos says, closing his eyes.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I don’t walk to talk. I like hearing your voice,” Carlos explains.

“Okay,” TK says. He joins Carlos in the bed that’s not really big enough for two, and talks.

Carlos’ radio crackles to life.

“RA 126… We need APD assistance in the kitchen.” It’s Tommy’s voice, calm as always. He can vaguely make out Nancy’s voice in the background but she doesn’t sound as calm.

He grabs another officer’s attention, a rookie, and turns him back toward the residence they had just cleared.

“Go,” he orders. He draws his firearm, holding it at a low ready, and follows him into the house. The new officer stops suddenly, just past the threshold of the kitchen, and Carlos would have bumped into him if he hadn’t been on high alert.

Just past the rookie, he sees Nancy and Tommy kneeling - TK lying in a pool of blood between them.

“Dude came up the basement stairs,” Nancy says, not taking her eyes off TK. “He had a knife.” She jerks her head towards the open screen door. “Went out the back.”

Carlos whips around, stepping towards the other officer. “I thought you cleared the basement?” he asks.

“I-I-I did!” He insists, taking a step away from a very angry Carlos.

Carlos cocks his head to the side and steps towards him, backing him against the counter. He sees Tommy coming towards them in his peripherals, but keeps his focus on the young officer. “You did? Then why is my husband-”

“Carlos!” Tommy’s hand is on his shoulder, gently pulling him back. “Let your sergeant deal with him.” Carlos glances to the side and sees TK reaching for him, despite Nancy’s efforts to keep him still.

He turns back towards the rookie. “Get back up and search the area.”

“Yes, sir.” Carlos steps aside and the younger officer hurries past, shouting into his radio.

“TK?” Carlos turns and kneels at TK’s side, smoothing his hair back and caressing his cheek softly. Up close, it looks worse than he thought, but TK is moving and talking and laughing at him, so he hopes it’s not life-threatening.

“You were really giving him the business,” TK chuckles.

“He had one job, TK, keeping you three safe.”

“Two outta three isn’t bad,” TK jokes. “Besides, I’ll be okay.”

“You always are.”

Carlos watches anxiously as Nancy and Tommy load TK onto a stretcher, prepping him for transport.

“You coming?” Tommy asks.

TK chuckles again. “That’s a dumb question. Of course, he is. I need him. He’s always here when I need him.” Carlos follows Tommy and climbs into the ambulance.

The ride to the hospital takes ages and yet, in no time, TK is being ripped away from him and whisked up to surgery, and Carlos is shuttled to the waiting room with the rest of the 126. He tries to collapse into a chair but Paul stops him and pulls him into the bathroom, helping him wash the blood from his hands.

He sits and waits, paces and waits, but mostly waits.

“Mr. Reyes-Strand?”

“Yes?” Carlos jumps up. “Is he-”

“Surgery went well. He’s awake and asking for you.” Carlos sighs with relief and hurries down the hallway. “He needs to rest, but you can have a few minutes with him.”

Carlos agrees and before he steps into the room, he can see TK’s already reaching for him.

“See, babe, I told you I’d be okay.”

“You did,” Carlos laughs and sniffles. “Are you in any pain?”

“A fair amount,” TK admits.

Carlos starts to pull away. “I’ll grab the doctor.”

TK keeps a tight grip on his hand. “Later. Right now, all I want is you.”

Carlos nods. He sits on the edge of the bed as best he can, and holds his husband.

#tarlossanta22 #hurt/comfort #tarlos #911 ls fic #tk strand #carlos reyes #work injuries #sports injuries #headaches #they're just a snuggly bunch okay?#off-screen whump

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lonestardust · 1 year

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Carlos comforting TK with a kiss : 4x02, 4x12

#sobbing here over how when tk's insecurities cut in and he immediately assumes he's the problem #carlos gets closer pins him down with his gaze and shuts down his reeling mind with a kiss so gentle to reassure him #HUMANS IN LOVE (TARLOS) MAKE ME WEAK #😭#911 lone star #911 ls #tk strand #carlos reyes #ronen rubinstein #rafael silva #4x12 #4x02 #carlos comforting tk

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nancygillianmvp · 1 year

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if there are tears to weep

3,330 words. rated t. summary: TK and Carlos attempt to find solace in the aftermath of 4.04.

As soon as the ambulance doors close, Carlos softens his posture and allows himself to sink into the stretcher bed he’d insisted wasn’t necessary only moments earlier. As the paramedic buzzes around Carlos taking vitals, placing an oxygen mask over his mouth and starting a line to run fluids, TK adjusts his grip on his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

They have so much to talk about, but for now, all TK wants to do is wrap his hand around Carlos’, holding on tightly—if it were up to him, he’d never let go again.

Carlos pushes the oxygen mask off his face to talk, “I didn’t think,” he pauses, his breath hitching and tears flowing, “I was ever going to see you again.”

TK reaches out and gently replaces the mask, brushes a blood-stained curl off his forehead, kissing him gently, “Shh. Breathe, just breathe. You’re safe now, baby. You’re safe now. ”

When they arrive at the hospital, one of the paramedics turns to TK, looking at him with a sympathetic expression he’s all too familiar with. This is the ‘family has to wait in the waiting room, no exceptions’ conversation he has with his own patient’s loved ones every shift.

“This is as far as you can come. I’m sorry, man. Someone will come to update you as soon as they can.”

And then they wheel Carlos through the double doors, and he’s alone. His hand feels strangely empty as he stumbles to the waiting room where Andrea, Gabriel and the 126 are waiting; everyone is there. Everyone except the one person he needs right now. Everyone except his dad.

keep reading on ao3 or under the cut

Gabriel holds his wife close in a set of chairs across the room, she’s clutching her rosary close to her chest and praying quietly, and TK knows if they were to see him or he was to go over there, Andrea would be on her feet with her arms open to embrace him. But as Gabriel said earlier, he’s not the only one who loves Carlos; they’re hurting too, so he sinks into an empty chair around the corner, alone.

But he’s not alone for long. Soon Nancy takes a seat on his right, taking his hand, “Whatever happens, dude, we’re here.”

And Captain Vega sits down on his left, “Whatever you need, we’re here.”

Paul, Marjan, Mateo, Judd and Grace sit opposite him, offering to get him food, tea, coffee, a change of clothes, or anything else he might need.

As supported as he feels, he can’t help but feel something—someone—is missing.

“Can someone find my dad? He’s not answering calls, his voicemail is full, and he’s not here.” He asks.

Judd stands up and takes out his phone, “I think I have an idea where he might be. Hang in there, kid.”

“Do you need anything else?” Paul asks, and TK nods.

“Could somebody go by the apartment and get us some clothes, toothbrushes, that sort of thing, please?”

He sinks into the chair while his friends—his family—buzz around him, offering support in every way they know how, though there’s nothing they can do. He feels a pit in his stomach, every worst-case scenario runs through his brain at a million miles an hour and being a paramedic, he has so many more worse-case scenarios to ponder than the average person.

Worse still, he can’t help but wonder how it felt for Carlos every time he’s been in the hospital. He starts to think of how alone Carlos must have felt when Nancy called him to the hospital while they were broken up, but before he can dwell on it further, the doctor comes out with an update.

The 126 and Andrea and Gabriel gather around with him to hear the update, with Nancy and Paul on either side of him, holding his hands, and he suspects, ready to catch him if the news is bad and his knees give out. But the doctor has good news, well, as good as the news can be given the circumstances.

She runs through a list of injuries Carlos has sustained, including cracked ribs and an intracranial hemorrhage. But none of that matters when she says, “So far, he’s stable and being transferred to the neuro ward for monitoring. Would you like to see him? He’s been asking for his fiancé; that’s always a good sign.”

TK follows Gabriel and Andrea to the ward. Gabriel wastes no time going to his son’s bedtime, but TK hesitates in the doorway, pressing his nails into his palms and anxiously bouncing from foot to foot. Noticing TK’s hesitation, Andrea hovers beside him.

The sight of his fiancé laying in that bed looking so small and vulnerable, hooked up to half a dozen machines and monitors and IV medications, with an oxygen cannula in his nose and a mess of blood still staining his hair, is enough to make TK’s stomach heave. He doesn’t want this to be their reality. He’s not used to being the one by the bedside rather than in the bed, and he’d trade places with his fiancé in a heartbeat.

“What can I do for you, mijo? I’m here.” Andrea says, turning to face him, forcing a smile across her tear-stained cheeks and squeezing his hand. He blinks away tears of his own, and his soon-to-be father-in-law’s words stick in his mind; ‘if there are tears to weep, we do it when the time comes, not before.’

“It’s okay to cry, mijo.” She says, “It’s okay.” And that’s when he finally lets himself cry. The tears come slowly at first. His nose burns and a few tears roll down his cheeks, but then he starts to sob with his entire body as the weight of all that’s happened finally hits him.

Andrea puts an arm around his shoulder and hands him a tissue from a pack in her purse, “Let it out; it’ll be okay; our boy is strong.”

“Thank you, Andrea.”

“No, thanking me is not necessary,” She says, taking his hand and squeezing it reassuringly. “He’s lucky to have you, and we are too. Gabriel and I always wanted another son, and now we have one. We have you. You’re as much a part of this family as Carlitos is. Even if it won’t be official until you stand up at that altar in eight weeks and become a Reyes, you’re already one in my heart.”

“I am?”

“You have no idea how much you’ve changed my boy’s life, TK. He was a shell of the man you know now when you first met. You saved him. I won’t pretend we’ve been perfect parents; Gabriel and I have made mistakes, unforgivable mistakes, and I can never make up for the hurt I’ve caused him, but somehow you put him back together, and you brought us back together. I can’t ever thank you enough for that, mijo.”

“I don’t know what to say. I—I can’t let Carlos see me like this, not after everything…”

“Shh, you don’t need to say anything,” She says, dabbing at the tears on his cheek’s with a tissue and leading him to the small waiting area by the nurse's station and sitting before pulling a takeaway container and a fork from her tote bag, “Now, when was the last time you ate something?”

TK reluctantly sits in the chair beside her, “Is this fried rice? From the place near the loft?”

“Carlos said it was one of your favourites,” She replies with a motherly smile.

“When did you have time to stop for takeout?”

“I didn’t. I asked Paul if he could pick it up as he was already going to the loft to get clothes; you need to eat, mijo.” She opens the lid and gently pushes the fork into TK’s hand.

TK pushes the food around the container with the fork absentmindedly, still too anxious to eat. “He was so mad at me,”

“Why would he be mad at you, TK?”

“I went to see Iris without him. I just wanted to show her I was enough for him so she could sign the papers, but then she went missing—again—and he was so mad that I’d gone to see her at all,”

“Oh mijo, I don’t think it was you he was mad at; not really. I think he was mad at himself and at the system for letting Iris down again. You can get past this; just talk to him, TK,” She assures him with a smile. “Are you ready to go see our boy?”

TK nods and follows her into the small hospital room, to Carlos’ side. Carlos is still partially sedated, and there are a couple of nurses in the room adjusting his medications and oxygen, but the energy changes when Carlos finally spots his fiancé.

“Hi baby,” He says with a sleepy smile as he reaches for TK, clutching his hand tightly and pulling him close, “I’m sorry. For everything, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry too, Carlos.”

“You have nothing to apologise for, TK.”

“I do, but now isn’t the time.” TK sinks into the plastic chair at his fiancé’s bedside. “How are you feeling? Any pain? Can I get you anything? Ice chips? Juice? Tea? Jello? Do you need anything from the apartment? Or what abou—”

“Take a breath, TK. I have everything I need right here in my hand,” Carlos says, smiling down at their interlaced fingers and squeezing TK’s hand gently. “Everything I need but sleep. I know you all just got here, but I’m just so tired. Will you stay with me, TK? I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Get some rest. I love you.” TK says, stroking Carlos’ hand gently as his eyelids flutter shut.

“Love you,” Carlos mumbles sleepily.

Andrea presses a kiss to his forehead as she and Gabriel go to step out, “Sleep tight, mijo. We’ll be right out there when you wake up.”

Later, early in the evening, around 7 o’clock, the beep of an IV pump startles Carlos awake, but TK is already silencing the alarm and pressing the call bell for a nurse to come and fix it, all without loosening the vice-like grip he’s had on his fiancé’s hand every possible moment since he was found.

“You can go home; it’s okay,” Carlos whispers. His voice is hoarse, so at first, TK thinks he must have misheard. Carlos did not just tell him to go home, not after everything they’ve been through today. “I’m okay, TK. I’m okay . You can go home away from the beeping and the smell of sanitiser—”

TK doesn’t mean for it to happen, but he’s been holding in so many emotions all day, and Carlos’ refusal to accept what’s happened is the final straw that breaks him. “God, Carlos, you’re not okay. None of this is okay. I’m not okay, and I know it’s selfish because you need me to be okay for you right now, but I’m not okay. I can’t be okay because you were dead, Carlos. Do you get that? You died in my arms, and I didn’t think I’d get you back, and I felt your ribs breaking under my hands while I was giving you CPR and I—“

“I’m sorry,” Carlos says sleepily, his brown eyes wide and brimming with tears as he looks up at TK.

“Why don’t you try and get some more sleep? We’ll talk more in the morning.” TK says, pressing a gentle kiss to Carlos’ cheek and adjusting the askew oxygen cannula on his face, carefully tucking it behind his ear.

“M’kay,” Carlos mumbles as his eyelids flutter shut, and soon his face relaxes into the most peaceful expression as he drifts off to sleep. TK can’t help but close his own eyes, it’s only early in the evening, and he’s vaguely aware that Andrea, Gabriel, Paul, Marjan, Nancy and Mateo are still in the waiting room, but after the day that unfolded, TK is bone tired—so tired he doesn’t even care that he’s shivering cold and his stomach is growling.

TK dreams of his mother wrapping him in a blanket and stroking his hair and is surprised to wake up a couple of hours later, carefully draped in his favourite throw blanket. Andrea smiles at him from across the bed, where she sits stroking Carlos’ hair.

“You’re awake, TK,” She says, speaking softly enough that Carlos doesn’t stir in his sleep. She produces a thermos from the giant tote bag at her feet, “How about some dinner?”

“You brought dinner?”

“It’s just soup; you have to eat something, mijo. Otherwise, you’ll end up in a hospital room of your own, and I think we can both agree you’ve spent enough time in these beds for a lifetime. And at my age, I’m too tired to be visiting both of my boys.”

She stands and brings the thermos over to TK with a spoon, “Thank you,” he says as he accepts the soup with one shaky hand while his other hand still wraps tightly over his fiancé’s.

“This should warm you up,” Andrea says, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“What time is it?” TK asks as he sips the warm soup.

She glances at her watch, “It’s ten-eighteen,”

“You’re still here this late?” TK asks, surprised. He’s spent more time in the hospital than most over the years, and his father has never stayed so late—his mom, on the other hand, would have been by his side all hours if he’d allowed her to be, or more accurately if visiting hours had allowed her to be. All day he’s wanted nothing more than to call her and hear she’ll be on the next plane out to be there for him, but at least he has Andrea here with Carlos, and to his surprise, with him.

It’s not like he hasn’t become close with Carlos’ parents—Andrea in particular over the past few months especially. TK’s been comfortable enough to pop around for lunch or afternoon tea with them when Carlos is on shift, or even just to bake with Andrea and hear stories about Carlos’s childhood and look at old photo albums with Gabriel, but for them to be more of a support system for him than his dad while dealing with their own fear and grief will always stay with him.

“My boys need me, so I am here,” She says simply as she adjusts the blanket around TK’s shoulders, “I will be here as long as you need me, mijo, either of you.”

“It means the world that you’re here. Thank you for all of this ,” TK motions to the soup and the blanket, “Thank you for caring.”

“Always, TK. The mother in me can’t help but worry and fuss, but please tell me if I ever overstep, okay? I would never dream of replacing your mom or trying to take her place, but if you ever need me, I’m here,”

In lieu of a response, TK reaches out to envelope her in a one-armed hug, and for a while, they sit in comfortable silence while TK finishes the soup. And when Andrea can’t stop yawning in the chair across from him, TK turns to her, “Are you sure you don’t need to get home? Carlos assures me these chairs are terrible to sleep on. Not that I’m not grateful you’re here, but we shouldn’t both have a sleepless night. I’ll keep him safe until morning. Thank you again for everything.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? I’m only a phone call away, no matter what time it is, okay, mijo. Why don’t you let me sit with him for five minutes while you get a change of clothes and brush your teeth, and then I’ll head home.”

The way she offers is so motherly, so TK relents and digs out a change of clothes—his comfiest sweatpants and one of Carlos’ t-shirts that’s perfectly oversized—from the duffle Paul brought over, along with a toiletries bag with his toothbrush.

When he returns from the tiny bathroom attached to Carlos’ room, Andrea kisses him on the forehead on her way out the door, “Goodnight, call me if you need absolutely anything, okay?”

“Goodnight,” TK says, settling back at Carlos’ bedside before deciding hospital air conditioning was much too cold for just a t-shirt and heading back to the duffle bag in search of a hoodie.

As TK unzips the duffle, he remembers something Paul said earlier when he dropped it off, “I picked up a copy of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe off the bookshelf, too. Carlos keeps his books so pristine, but this one has become pretty worn over the years, so clearly, it’s somebody’s favourite. I don’t know if it’s yours or Carlos’, but it’s the kind of book you need when things are like this.”

TK finds a soft, well-worn, pink hoodie that’s always comforting to wear, pulls it on over his t-shirt, and then settles back in the chair at Carlos’ bedside with the book.

There’s a bookplate inside the cover with ‘this book belongs to Carlos Reyes’ written in neat child’s handwriting with a marker. He runs his fingers over the words, trying to imagine how old Carlos was when he wrote them and remembering a photo atop the Reyes’ mantle of a mop of brown curls and reading glasses popping up over the top of this very same paperback when Carlos was maybe seven or eight years old.

Carlos startles awake just after four am, shouting and flailing his arms against an invisible assailant. The fear in his widened eyes breaks TK’s heart as he rushes to his feet to comfort his fiancé.

“Carlos, you’re safe. It’s me. It’s TK. You’re safe. You’re safe with me, baby. Breathe. Just breathe.”

“I thought I was back there—I thought he was—I'm sorry,” Carlos stutters, and TK can feel his pulse pounding in his wrist, but as Carlos reaches out and pulls him closer, pressing his face into his neck, the rapid heart rate normalises. “Hold me?”

TK positions himself carefully on the edge of the narrow hospital bed beside Carlos, there isn’t really enough room, but he makes it work as best as he can. He reaches his arm around Carlos’s shoulders, gently pulling him close and feeling the tension melt away as he softens, leans in and rests his head against his chest.

TK eyes the book on the chair beside him, remembering how Carlos would climb into bed and hold him close while reading him poetry while he recovered from hypothermia and how safe and comforting it felt, so he reaches for the book and opens it to the first chapter.

“Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy.”

“Is that my copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ? Where did you get that?”

“Paul brought it. He stopped by the loft to pick up some clothes and toothbrushes and stuff for us and said it looked like one of our favourites,”

“Looked like?”

“Don’t ask me. I’m not the one with the Sherlockian powers of deduction,” TK responds with a shrug, “Was he right, though?”

“He was. I read this easily a dozen times as a kid. I loved the escapism of it. Looking back now, there’s a certain irony of a closeted kid finding solace in a book about a magical world in the back of a wardrobe,” He says with a small laugh, and it’s music to TK’s ears.

TK stays curled around Carlos reading aloud to him until the morning when the warmth of first light first breaks through the slated hospital blinds. As he reads, the beeping machines, IV lines, and the reality of the situation slip away, making room for magic, adventures and Narnia, even if only for a few hours.

#9-1-1 Lone Star #911 lone star #911ls #tarlos #fanfiction #9-1-1 lone star fanfiction #my writing #my fic #ao3 #carlos reyes #tk strand #cross posted #read on ao3 #hurt/comfort #soft hurt/comfort #andrea reyes #epiosde coda #9-1-1 lone star s04e04 #4x04

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