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welcometololaland · 7 months

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20 Questions aka. Oversharing on the Internet version 92840938

Thanks for the tag @rmd-writes - how did you know i didn't feel like doing work?

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

excluding the ones i've flagged for deletion (when i get around to it) - 46.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

972,000 and i'm going to hit a million by the end of the year! i have one co-written collab so we can subtract about 30k (ish) from that total (but with ALTA i'll still make a milly woohoo).

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Red, White & Royal Blue, 911 Lone Star, Top Gun Maverick (occasionally)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

ah man this kills me because it excludes my most beloved fic (love game lol). in descending order:

Speak for Yourself (RWRB, my very first fic for that fandom! 2021 me in her study writing a random 3k first chapter could never have imagined being this lucky)

The Ring-In (with @dustratcentral) (911 Lone Star, this fic makes me feel like my Tarlos writing has gotten worse instead of better lmao)

Fifty First Dates (RWRB)

(Not) A Cinderella Story (RWRB)

Cursed is a State of Mind (with @dustratcentral) (RWRB, just about to hit 1k! there's something magical about an ifyoustay collab apparently)

jeez i never realised how RWRB heavy that is...

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Always. You put in the effort to comment on my work, I'm gonna put in the effort to reply to you. I appreciate comments so much, even if they're just emojis or one line or whatever. I appreciate every single one of them (except the mean ones).

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't usually go here, but I think it has to be Contaminated (RWRB).

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

99% of my fics have happy endings (except for the fic above lol) but I'd say the happiest ending is in (Un)Professional Services because they're So. In. Love. and they just *spoiler* together and they're about to *spoiler*.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Rarely and I usually ignore it or delete it (so there's no point doing it).

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

A Lot. Usually served with a heavy side of feelings - I like it when the smut drives the plot, when it helps the characters have those Oh Shit realisations. I'm also a sucker for explicit, enthusiastic consent.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I have written like 30% of a RWRB/Lone Star crossover that may never see the light of day because I keep forgetting about it.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

If I have, I don't know about it.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! I've had a few of my fics translated by incredible people! Phonography, Warm Whispers and Baby, Make Your Move have all been translated and can be found above. I'm fine with people translating my fics, so long as they're linked to the original and remain on ao3.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes and I love it. I want to do it more often! @rmd-writes collab was an amazing experience. i've also loved working with @dustratcentral on so many of my more unhinged works.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

I don't think I can choose between Alex/Henry and TK/Carlos.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Probably that damn crossover, unless there's like significant interest in me finishing it lmao.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Oh no. giving myself a compliment help. I would say worldbuilding. dialogue/banter. gratuitous feelings during sex.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

exposition. being concise. overwriting to the max @three-drink-amy (this is an attack on you as well but we are we).

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i've done it before but to be honest i'm scared to. 1) i don't want to get it wrong. 2) i don't want to annoy my very talented friends that can speak other languages by asking them 10 billion questions lol.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

...I plead the 5th.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Love Game. I don't care that it's not as popular. it's my child. Also, ALTA (because of the many tears that went into it). We are bonded by trauma.

open tag on this one and also calling: @reyesstrand @strandnreyes @heartstringsduet @alrightbuckaroo @three-drink-amy @goodways @iboatedhere @wandering-night19 @birdclowns @liminalmemories21 @indomitable-love @clottedcreamfudge @sherryvalli @cha-melodius @cricketnationrise @carlos-in-glasses @bonheur-cafe @theghostofashton @orchidscript @lemonlyman-dotcom @kiwiana-writes @freneticfloetry @sunshinestrand @nelsonnicholas @tailoredshirt @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @lightningboltreader @hippolotamus @dumbpeachjuice @tellmegoodbye @ladytessa74 @louisii-reyes-strand @beautifulhigh @athousandrooms @villiageidiot @inflarescent @marjansmarwani @safeashousespdf @tintagel-or-cockleshells @sanjuwrites @lilythesilly @kiloskywalker @noxsoulmate

#20 questions #personal #tag game #finally early on a tag game what is going on!?

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sarcasticslothy · 2 years

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We’ll run away together, we’ll spend some time forever

Day 2 September 27th: “Do you need that much luggage?” and/or going on a trip together

The fic in which they have a daughter that runs rings around them and packing requires too much effort

Read on AO3

Carlos pulls the door closed behind him, dumping his bag at his feet. He ignores the part of him that would usually hate leaving anything on the ground right at the entrance of their house and heads straight through to the lounge where he can hear the TV playing.

“Sorry I’m so late” he apologises as he enters, and TK, curled up on the couch looks over at him, giving him a soft, sleepy smile in return.

“All good, we got through dinner and bath time without any issue for once” Carlos glances behind him towards the stairs where he can hear strange sounds coming from upstairs.

“And she’s doing what now?” Carlos sits on the chair opposite him, slipping off his shoes.

“I have no idea. She kicked me out” TK shrugs and Carlos imagines that their daughter is either creating a tornado that he’ll spend the evening cleaning up or it is one of the rare nights she will behave and come down the stairs ready for bed.

“How’s the packing coming along?” He asks

“I’ll do mine tomorrow before we go,” Tk tells him and Carlos looks across at him midway through undoing a shoelace, raising one brow at him in question. “It’ll take me 5 minutes” TK stresses.

“We leave tomorrow morning. Why must you always leave it to the last minute?” Carlos rises to join him on the couch.

“Because I know you love it so much” TK smirks at him and Carlos lifts his legs so he can sit down, placing them on top of him.

“Please tell me that Audrey is at least packed?” Carlos asks, running his hands over TK’s legs on top of him.

“She spent all afternoon in her room, so I hope so. I gave her a packing guide and left her to it” Carlos groans in response.

“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to work the day before we leave”

“Why do you doubt that I can help our daughter pack?”

“Because I’ve seen you pack” Carlos deadpans and TK frowns at him before pushing his feet into his stomach.

“Wow, such a mean husband you are”

Carlos grins at him and runs his hand higher up TK’s leg “Need me to make it better?”

TK grabs him before he can make it any higher “Don’t start something you know you can’t finish”

“Who says I’m not going to finish it?” Carlos teases and TK shakes his head at him linking their fingers together.

“Our daughter. I’m surprised she hasn’t come running yet” Carlos relaxes back into the couch, knowing that TK is right. Their luck in avoiding awkward encounters with their daughter must be verging on running out. He brings their linked hands together and kisses TK’s hand before leaning back into the couch and closing his eyes.

“Remember when we could go on a holiday and not have to spend it entertaining our daughter? Carlos asks and TK grabs the remote off the table in front of him, turning the TV off the children’s station Audrey had put on as soon as they had come home.

It’s not their first holiday together as a family but it’s their first since Audrey has been to school and maybe the first, she’ll remember fully. TK knows Carlos has spent the better part of the last month planning the perfect holiday for a 6-year-old and while he has tried to help, he knows he’s useless at organising and planning. Keeping out of his husband’s way was much more beneficial. A weekend away had quickly turned into a week, then stretched even further to ten days and suddenly Grace and Judd had joined the trip as well. TK’s pretty sure that Carlos is aiming for the best planned holiday of all, which guarantees that something will go wrong as is always the way when TK is involved.

“You’re not looking forward to theme parks, zoos and play centres? I told you she’d be fine with going to the beach for 10 days” Carlos stays still, eyes still closed as he answers.

“Of course I am. I just miss us” Carlos continues, opening his eyes but keeping them resolutely on the ceiling “And I’m being dramatic. Ignore me”

“I’m not going to ignore you” TK starts pulling their linked hands towards him, waiting for Carlos to let his head fall in his direction “I’m sorry, I know it’s been crazy lately”

“That’s not your fault,” Carlos tells him and TK wishes he could melt all the stress off his husband, and take him far away from the world that seems to take and take all the best parts of him.

“I’m sure we could make a deal with Grace and Judd. Give ourselves a night to ourselves”

“You think?” Carlos looks pensive for a moment turning to the stairs once again “I don’t want anyone to think I don’t want to spend time with Audrey, I just..”

“Want some adult alone time” TK finishes for him and Carlos blushes at the statement.

“Yes, obviously” Carlos looks across at TK and TK winks at him in a way too obvious teasing gesture that Carlos tickles his side as a payback laughing at the shriek he gets in return “but also I just want to spend some time with you that isn’t overshadowed with who is doing school pick up or what form we have to fill out or god forbid what child I have to restrain myself from telling off this time. Does that make me a bad dad?”

“Hardly” TK scoffs “I want all those things too. I’ll ask Judd, okay?”

“Okay” TK pushes himself upright and leans forward to run his nose against Carlos’s cheek encouraging him to lean closer. Their lips barely brush before they hear the small footsteps of their daughter making her way down the stairs followed by several bangs after her. TK groans quietly against Carlos’s cheek, their timing as good as ever.

“What has she got?” Carlos asks and TK shifts again, folding his legs under him so he can snuggle into Carlos’s side.

“I’m not entirely sure” TK mumbles and watches as Audrey makes it down the stairs and stops in front of them, laughing as he sees she has two suitcases trailing behind her and another bag over her shoulder.

“Hi Mija, "do you need that much luggage?” Carlos asks her.

“Daddy said I could pack whatever I wanted” Carlos feels TK laugh against him.

“Of course he did” Carlos mutters and pinches TK in the side as he wiggles out from next to him to meet their daughter across the room. “Let’s see what you’ve got in here shall we?” Audrey grins at him and happily opens both her bags and Carlos huffs out a laugh at the sight in front of him.

“I got everyone in Papa,” Aubrey tells him and Carlos can’t help but agree, as he looks at two full suitcases filled with soft toys that usually grace their daughter’s bed.

“I can see that” Carlos agrees and turns around to give TK an exasperated look. “I thought you helped her pack?”

“I did!” TK argues “Remember all the clothes I put out for you to pack, sweetie? You were meant to put them in your suitcase and then whatever room was left you could fit your toys”

“I put all the clothes in your suitcase daddy, it was so empty! I have plenty of room for all my toys!”

“Oh” TK responds and gives a deathly glance to Carlos when he laughs at him. Sometimes he’s faced with the predicament of wanting to applaud her intelligence in working around problems, but also tell her off when they’re technically the wrong thing.

“Okay,” Carlos says “Daddy’s suitcase is for his things and you only need one suitcase, baby. I’ll help you”

“But Daddy said I could take whoever could fit!” Audrey’s face falls, tears already appearing in her dark brown eyes.

“Daddy should have been clearer,” TK tells her and quickly joins them, picking Audrey up. He mumbles an apology into her hair, hugging her to his chest to ensure a meltdown - that they’ll spend way too long trying to fix - doesn’t happen.

“You won’t have room for any new things if you fill your suitcase with all your toys, Mija,” Carlos tells her, following them up the stairs, all the bags in tow.

“I get new toys?” Their daughter’s eyes widen at the possibility of new things and Carlos ducks into their bedroom to take her clothes out of TK’s open suitcase on their bed.

“You have to pick your favourite, sweetie,” TK tells her gently and Carlos enters Aubrey’s room, carefully starting to roll her small clothes. They both watch as she painstakingly makes her decision on which toys are to be selected. He thinks, as he watches her consider every single toy, that she is too spoiled but there’s no way they’ll ever be able to stop.

“Papa” Aubrey says, her voice rising in a way that Carlos knows too well. It's times like these that he wants people to see, that even though she may look like Carlos, there are moments where Aubrey is so much like TK even though she shares no ounce of his DNA.

“Aubrey” Carlos replies, sing-song voice like he knows she loves and is rewarded with a slight giggle.

“If I only pick one pair of shoes, can I take Rosie?” Carlos sighs in response looking down at the well-worn rabbit in her arms.

“You need the shoes honey” Aubrey looks at her bag and up to Carlos. And Carlos swears to himself knowing that he’s going to give in, he can never upset his little girl for long and he’s aware she knows it. “Maybe we can see if Rosie can fit in one of our suitcases, okay?”

“Yay!” she screams. Her grin is blinding as Carlos helps her finish packing and get ready for bed, taking the win when she happily does what she’s told, ignoring that it’s because she’s already got her way.

“That girl is too smart for her own good” TK comments much later when they’ve relocated to their bedroom. He walks from their bathroom back into their bedroom minus a shirt and shorts slung low on his hips and smirks when Carlos glances at him from the wardrobe and then does a double take when he notices his state of dress.

“She knows she always gets her way” Carlos replies absently and stares for a beat too long and hurries to turn around when TK raises a brow at him. He knows he should pack for himself now, the likelihood that he’ll push all three of them out of the house on time tomorrow severely takes a dent if he must get himself ready too, but for once he wants to ignore the responsible part of himself. He hears TK move behind him, draping himself over Carlos’s back, his skin still warm from his shower.

“You know, I hear being a very quick packer has its advantages” TK drawls and Carlos can’t resist pushing back into him.

“I have heard that” Carlos breathes

“Wait, you’re going to leave packing until tomorrow? Who are you and what have you done with my husband?” Carlos turns in his arms and puts his hands on his face, not wasting any time before leaning in to press a soft kiss to TK’s neck relishing the way TK shivers at the contact.

“I miss you” he murmurs against TK’s pulse point, before moving upwards to place a kiss under his ear, taking his time to sweep his tongue across the skin. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted”

“It’s okay. Technically we are...” TK’s breath hitches for a moment as Carlos lets his hands wander down TK’s back pulling him until they are flush together “on holiday from now”

“Technically” Carlos agrees, walking TK backwards until they meet the end of the bed.

The next day they are barely ready when Grace and Judd come knocking but for once Carlos doesn’t mind.

#911 lone star #911 lone star fic #tarlos #tarlos fic #my writing #Tarlosweek2022 #sarcasticslothy

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liminalmemories21 · 1 year

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WIP Amnesty (part 1)

I just spent a frustrating hour not mailing the thing I was trying to mail, so WIP amnesty, because these are things I wrote, and liked, but are not actually going anywhere, and they’ve been sitting in my draft file for long enough that anything I’m going to cannibalize from them has been cannibalized already. I liked the idea enough that i wrote it two different ways, and both of them descended into a mire of things of which I do not know and should not speak. But, Part 1 is funny and was originally supposed to be part of a ‘5 times they got caught without their shirts on’ because really there should be more shirtlessness. Was also part of the period where I was exorcising my demons about the lack of follow through on Carlos and his parents and how the show just decided that not talking about something for 10 years would absolutely be easily solved with one dinner.

She rings the doorbell a second time, and then a third and fourth time. She's about to ring a fifth time when Carlos yanks the door open with an irritated expression. She takes in his messy hair, bare chest, and pajama pants, and glances at her watch, "I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be asleep already."

He rolls his eyes, "I wasn't asleep."

She hears water running upstairs and raises her eyebrows, flushing slightly, "oh? Oh! I am so sorry." Pushes past him into the living room anyway, leaving him to close the door behind her.

"Janessa?" His irritation fades into concern.

She drops her bag onto the couch, and then turns when she hears a noise on the stairs, watches as a stupidly pretty man comes down, he's marginally more dressed than Carlos is, and he's holding out a shirt to him, "I thought you might like a shirt, since apparently you have company?"

Carlos takes the shirt gratefully, and his voice is a little muffled as he says, "This is my cousin, Janessa." Waits until he's pulled the shirt over his head to wave in the man's direction, "Janessa, this is TK, my boyfriend." She doesn't think she's imagining the curl of pleasure in his voice as he says that, and it breaks something open inside her.

She holds out her hand automatically, "Nice to meet you." Swings back to look at Carlos, "Wait, is this the guy?"

Carlos gives her a flat stare, "I really want to say no, just to see how you talk yourself out of that corner, but yes, this is the guy." She glances back at TK who looks entirely too amused.

He grins and says, "Be nice, babe, I'm betting your cousin didn't come over at nine on a Tuesday night just to give you a hard time."

Carlos sounds exasperated when he says, "You're only saying that because you've never met her before," but his expression is nothing but fond. He turns back to her, "So, what is so important you had to blow up my doorbell?"

And abruptly the sense of calm she'd felt teasing Carlos vanishes, and she sits down hard on the couch, "Peter got outed at school today."

It brings both of them into the living room, "Shit," Carlos says succinctly.

She looks up at TK and starts to explain, "Peter is my,"

He cuts her off gently, "Your step-son, I know." She raises an eyebrow, and he shrugs, "Carlos talks about y'all a lot." Carlos shoots TK an amused look and mouths 'y'all?' at him. TK ignores him, although he smiles, "Is he okay?"

She shrugs helplessly, "Not really. When I left he was holed up in his room playing depressing music, but he wasn't crying anymore. So, progress?" She looks at them both a little desperately, "What do I say to him tomorrow? What did your parents say to you?"

TK gives Carlos a look she can't decipher, and finally Carlos shrugs, "Janessa and Robert are more like your parents than mine."

#tarlos #wip-amnesty #unfinished #fic #look you can't solve 10 years of anything over one dinner #this is literally the reason I started writing fic for this show

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alwaysablossom · 2 years

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The Proposal

Part of My Tarlos Headcanons Series

Something I made purely for self indulgence after the “My Father-in-Law” comment in 3X05.

*I realized just before posting that it is Carlos’ right hand! So let’s just think TK gives him the ring after this! (Silly me!)

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marjansmarwani · 2 years

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I def think there's some merit into the spontaneous proposal as well! I can honestly see TK and Carlos going to get snacks at the hospital or even leaving the room for a minute and TK just drops to one knee in the hallway. The decision could always be them having the 126 over after they all leave the hospital LOL. I think the first 4 acts of the episode are going to cover the rescue and the 5th will be the fallout and the 6th will be the wrap up of the season. So proposal is possible in 5 or 6!

What you’re laying out makes sense for sure! I support all of it but honestly? If it’s going to happen the way I think it might, I don’t even see anyone getting on one knee. What I’m imagining is TK just saying it, in the middle of a conversation. No plans at all, he just blurts it out. Extra points if he looks just as surprised as Carlos does.

I’m imagining after that there would be a short speech about how no, he really is sure about this, it’s not just because he’s freaking out about his dad. And then Carlos says yes and it’s wonderful, end scene.

The best part about this is that it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on a traditional proposal either, if that’s your thing. Later on, at the end of the episode, when they’re back home before their friends come over, we can see them get on one knee and give the other the ring they have definitely been hiding for a while. We really could have it all, if Fox will allow us.

But either way I am on this engagement clown train until the very last stop. We’ve come this far, after all.

#asked and answered #anonymous #911ls spoilers #911 lone star #tarlos engagement 💍#tk strand #carlos reyes #tarlos

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strandnreyes · 2 years

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"Either could propose at any time" = they both want to, they both have bought rings, and they're both having conversations about how to make it the perfect moment. And so it will become a race to see who gets down on one knee first

ronen saying it could be TK... it could be Carlos 🤨

I actually like the idea of Carlos having a ring for TK but waiting for TK to propose before he gives it to him. It goes along with Tim saying Carlos is a little gunshy after buying the loft. He’s not going to make a big gesture again without knowing 100% that TK wants it (but maybe they do start talking about marriage possibly in 13 idk) but he obviously wants to marry TK so as soon as TK gives him a ring, he’s giving one right back.

Although if this show was a comedy imagine an episode of them just trying to propose to the other one first but things keep getting in the way and it’s quite literally a race to see who can get on one knee first

#ask #911ls spoilers #tarlos

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rafael-silva · 3 years

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in the warmth of your embrace: a tarlos fic

TK goes home to Carlos after a hectic shift, and Carlos takes care of TK in the way the paramedic needs, which partly comes in the form of TK cuddling Carlos and running his fingers through the officer’s soft curls.

for good things happen bingo: tarlos + playing with the other’s hair

emotional hurt/comfort, softness, cuddles, kisses, soft boyfriends, tk and carlos are so in love

2.5k | rated T | on ao3

*****

TK stumbles through the door, dropping his keys into the nearby bowl and lowers his duffel bag to the floor. He toes off his shoes near the entrance, stifling a yawn as he makes his way into the kitchen.

It had been a long, hectic shift, especially for the paramedics. Call after call kept them out of the firehouse for hours, barely even giving them enough time to grab a quick bite in between the radio coming to life with a new call.

He downs half of the cold water he pours into a glass, relishing in the cool liquid running down his dry throat. He loved saving lives, had truly found himself in it, but after exhausting shifts as this one, his knees barely able to carry him anymore, he longed for the moment he gets home to the comfort of his bed, to crawl into the loving and warm arms of his boyfriend.

It was Carlos’s day off, and the officer had spent it running errands and then had lunch at his parents’. Days when both of them aren’t working were a little difficult for them, being apart for many hours. Plus, their schedules haven’t been lining up well lately, making the time apart even harder.

At least when they were both working, Carlos would drop TK off at the firehouse, giving him a chaste kiss and a smile, promising to see him at home. TK returns the smile, reciprocating the promise and with one more echoed between them of please stay safe, they part ways, the knowledge that there are chances of them seeing either other sooner than that on calls bubbling in their stomachs.

But on days when one of them is off work, they try to spend as much lazy time in bed before one of them has to get ready to leave, exchanging sleepy smiles and kisses, mumbled good mornings and stealing some more cuddles under the soft sun rays shinning in through the curtains.

Eventually, though, the love spell has to inevitably be broken when the snoozed alarm rings. With a heavy sigh, one of them gets up, the other watching him with half lidded eyes, still sleepy around the edges. With a series of kisses from the forehead down to the lips, a goodbye is said, both already longing for each other after the first moment of separation.

The excitement at seeing Carlos simmers under TK’s skin, overriding his exhaustion as he climbs the stairs to their bedroom. The house is quiet, and he momentarily thinks Carlos might have fallen asleep, but he soon spots the soft yellow glow originating from the room and knows the officer is most likely still awake.

His gut is proven right when he stops in the doorframe, his eyes landing on Carlos. Carlos is sitting up in their bed, back against the headboard, wearing sweats and one of his old police academy t-shirts. His knee is pulled up towards his chest, an open book resting on his thigh, one TK recognizes is always on Carlos’s nightstand.

But that’s not what really captures TK’s attention, it’s Carlos’s eyeglasses sitting on the bridge of his nose and his loose curls hanging over his forehead that catch the paramedic’s eyes and they linger there.

He leans against the doorframe, arms going to cross over his chest as he watches his boyfriend, a smile spreading on his face. And by the way his curls run wild and free, TK can tell Carlos had just gotten out of the shower.

Carlos is so immersed in the reading material, TK can tell by the slight crease in his eyebrows, but he immediately senses TK’s arrival and presence by the door. There’s always been a tug between them, an invisible string connecting them. They always gravitate towards each other, even in their sleep, their connection cosmic and powerful.

Carlos looks up from his book and a blinding smile takes over his face, reaching his glittering brown eyes.

“Hey, babe,” Carlos greets. “How long have you been standing there?”

“A minute or so,” TK replies as he steps into the bedroom, walking over to Carlos. “I love watching you read, you know that.”

“Mhm,” Carlos nods, a light blush painting his cheeks as he gently cups TK’s face and returns the kiss TK leans in for.

TK sighs happily, allowing himself to feel all of Carlos and to melt against him.

“Welcome home,” Carlos whispers into the small space between them when they separate.

“It’s good to be home,” TK whispers back, leaning into Carlos’s touch and goes in for another soft kiss, resting his hands against the mattress on either side of Carlos to balance himself.

“How was your day?” Carlos asks, watching TK move over to the closet to get changed out of his uniform.

“It was alright, hectic and super busy though,” TK replies as he tugs his shirt out of his pants and starts to unbutton it.

Carlos marks the page and closes the book, returning it to the nightstand. He then goes to remove his round eyeglasses but stops when TK speaks.

“Oh, no, that stays on,” TK smirks.

An eyebrow travels up Carlos’s forehead behind his glasses. “Oh?”

TK shrugs and bites down on his lower lip, his cheeks turning pink. “I like it, you should wear it more often.”

Carlos adjusts the transparent frame as he chuckles.

TK gets on the bed, a knee supporting his body as he leans over to plant a kiss to Carlos’s cheek. “It’s sexy,” he whispers. “And cute.”

“As long as it ticks both those boxes,” Carlos winks.

“Oh, it definitely does,” TK confirms with a wiggle of his eyebrows as he continues to change into something more comfortable. “And I see you’ve finally gotten around to continue it,” he gestures to the now closed book.

Carlos nods. “I had to reread a couple of chapters to get back on track but it’s good, and there was some free time after coming home from my parents’ to really get back into it.”

“Yeah, I would imagine you’d have to do that after months of not having time to read. And how was lunch?” TK asks, slipping an old NYFD t-shirt on and then sweats.

“It was lovely,” Carlos smiles. “Mom and dad really missed you there, though. Made me promise to bring you over for another lunch as soon as possible.”

“I really wish I could have been there,” TK sighs, plugging his phone into the charger. “And here’s hoping our schedules line up better next week so we can do that.”

“Amen,” Carlos agrees. “Come here,” he lifts and opens his arm in TK’s direction. “You’re exhausted,” he adds, noticing his boyfriend is mere seconds away from toppling over.

TK nods, going to remove the duvet on his side and flicking it near the foot of the bed and gets in. The feeling of the soft mattress underneath his spent body is heavenly, but it’s nothing compared to the true comfort he feels as he rests in Carlos’s arm and tucks his face into the officer’s neck.

“I got you,” Carlos reassures, his arm going around TK’s shoulder and pulling him against him even more.

“You always do,” TK replies, brushing a kiss to the exposed skin of Carlos’s neck. “I missed you today.”

“I missed you, too, baby,” Carlos responds and presses a kiss to the top of TK’s head. “Texting will never be the same as seeing you on one of those calls.”

“Yeah,” TK agrees. “And we didn’t do much of that either thanks to the never-ending calls we got.”

“You saved lives, and I’m so proud of you, babe,” Carlos expresses, his voice coated with so much love and admiration for the younger man.

TK replies with another kiss to Carlos’s neck. “I never would have been able to make the change to paramedic without you. You guided me and supported me, your words gave me the final push I needed and your encouragement every day means more than words can express.”

“I’ve got your back, Ty, always,” Carlos vows.

“And I’ve got yours,” TK vows back.

“Is there anything you need?” Carlos asks, his hand moving up and down TK’s arms in the way he knows calms TK.

“Just this. Just you, ‘Los, you’re all I need,” TK replies with a smile.

“You’ve got me,” Carlos says and the kiss he gives TK this time is brushed against his temple.

TK nuzzles closer to Carlos, almost like he wants to disappear into his boyfriend and Carlos understands. On days like these, days that take a big toll on TK, TK is often in need of anchoring and grounding, and Carlos has learned over the months of their relationship that taking care of TK in the aftermath of said days takes on many forms. The officer has also gotten pretty good at knowing how to offer the comfort TK needs without TK having to ask for it.

He would have run a bath for TK and guided him to the bathroom when he returned home, knowing that the warm water and feeling Carlos’s touch would help TK, but after seeing just how tired TK was and how TK so eagerly gravitates towards him, Carlos knows exactly what TK needs.

TK needs to feel Carlos under his touch, to hold him close, to melt into him.

Knowing this in his heart, Carlos shifts, and TK lets out a disapproving noise at the movement.

“Trust me,” Carlos says, slightly pulling back from TK.

TK frowns as they separate, not yet catching up to what Carlos is doing. He realizes Carlos’s plan when the cop positions his body in front of TK’s, his back now to TK’s chest and TK wastes no time in wrapping his arms around Carlos and pulling him close. It’s almost an automatic response, TK needing to be close to his boyfriend.

TK, now holding Carlos, drops a kiss to the back of the officer’s head while running the pads of his fingers over Carlos’s clothed stomach.

Their breathing syncs, slow and steady as Carlos’s hand goes to cover TK’s and he intertwines their fingers together.

TK’s other hand then moves to Carlos’s head and he begins carding his fingers through the soft curls there, Carlos humming in approval as TK weaves through the strands.

TK smiles when Carlos leans into his touch, knowing how much Carlos loves this and how it relaxes him. More than once, Carlos had fallen asleep while TK ran his fingers through his hair as they cuddled in front of the television.

“I love your curls like this,” TK’s voice breaks the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.

He twirls a curl around his finger, watching it scrunch back into place when he lets it go.

“I appreciate your days off because you don’t gel up your hair,” TK continues.

“Oh, is that the only reason you appreciate my days off?” Carlos asks, and TK can pretty much hear the smirk in his voice.

TK chuckles, the vibrations reaching Carlos’s body through their connection, making him smile.

“Not the only reason,” TK replies. “Your cooking is another reason I highly appreciate your days off.”

It’s Carlos’s turn to chuckle, nodding.

“But it doesn’t compare to our mutual days off and all the free time we get…” TK trails off, his voice suggestive and low against Carlos’s ear.

“Mhm,” Carlos agrees in a heartbeat. “Can’t wait for more days off together.”

Carlos lifts their connected hands and brushes a kiss to TK’s knuckles, TK squeezing Carlos’s hand in response. The tension eases and seeps from TK’s body and peace falls upon the couple.

“Feeling better, baby?” Carlos asks.

“Yeah,” TK nods, further anchoring himself through holding Carlos.

Carlos smiles and leans back against TK some more, knowing it’s helping TK.

He doesn’t exactly know what had happened during TK’s shift, if he had a rough call or something of the sort, but Carlos doesn’t push, also knowing that TK might shut down if he isn’t ready to talk about it yet.

Over the course of their relationship, Carlos had learned to give TK some space, that that was the best way to get TK to open up. The months of their relationship have helped Carlos know the difference between TK’s silences, being able to differentiate between those moments when TK is spiraling and needs a hand, and the ones where he’s composing his thoughts and processing his emotions.

There’s subtle differences between those silences, in TK’s demeanor and even engraved in his expressions. And Carlos has learned to tell the difference.

It wasn’t easy at first, his instinct to help TK and to be there for him overriding what he knew was true. Time had proven fruitful, though, and TK started to open up to Carlos more easily and more frequently. Of course, Carlos knew it was also thanks to their developing relationship and the trust built between them, but he also knew not pushing TK to talk had something to do with it, too.

So as TK runs his fingers through Carlos’s hair, gently massaging his scalp as he goes, Carlos knows TK is collecting his thoughts, figuring out his feelings, before talking to Carlos about it.

TK’s process happens in one of two ways, either he goes on a full rant, letting everything sink in as he speaks, usually while pacing back and forth or in moments like these, quiet moments, where it all happens inside his head and it’s those moments he needs something or someone to hold on to.

And Carlos trusts that TK will come to him when he’s ready.

“Wanna sleep, babe?” Carlos whispers.

“In a bit,” TK replies. “Just wanna stay like this for a little longer.”

Carlos nods as TK’s arm tightens around him and he wiggles against TK’s chest, getting more comfortable.

Carlos can tell TK also needs some more time for his mind to calm, for the racing thoughts to quiet down and he’s willing to stay like this for as long as TK needs.

“Thank you for this, ‘Los,” TK whispers, fingers still combing through Carlos’s curls, grounding them both.

“Always, baby.”

Eventually, TK’s heart rate starts to decrease, Carlos feeling the tranquility against his back and he knows TK will soon fall asleep.

“Come on,” Carlos says as he begins to shift, realizing how tired TK is at the lack of response from the paramedic at the officer’s movement.

TK nods and lets Carlos maneuver him, but he pauses, looking at TK.

“Okay if I take them off now?” Carlos asks, his tone a little teasing as he takes hold of his glasses.

TK nods. “I’d hate for them to break. But keep them close,” he winks.

Carlos chuckles, taking off his glasses and folding the handles, gently placing them on the nightstand near his phone.

Carlos switches off the light and the soft moonlight glow immediately shines into their bedroom. They shuffle in bed for a few moments before settling down, Carlos now holding TK, the gesture offering wordless comfort.

Carlos drapes his arm over TK’s middle, pulling him closer into his chest and then brushes a soft kiss to the side of TK’s neck.

“Get some rest, baby, we’ll deal with everything tomorrow,” Carlos murmurs.

TK lets out a content sigh and in the safety of Carlos’s hold, engulfed in Carlos’s scent and everything that is Carlos, he drifts off.

And wrapped in Carlos’s arms, TK is truly home.

(Carlos wearing eyeglasses was inspired by the photo Rafa posted on his Instagram story a while back!)

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bellakitse · 3 years

Text

Carlos and Grace save the world

Carlos is surprised at first when Grace seeks him out, but when she explains that she’s worried about her neighbor possibly being abused by her husband, Carlos instantly agrees to help.

They become friends.

The story I wish they had in 2x05

(I started working on this about two weeks ago when we heard that Grace and Carlos would have a story together in the last episode. I then put it on hold to work on the tarlos valentine’s event. At the time, I was worried that the story would be pointless after the episode, and then the episode happened, and the story was given about a minute of airtime, so I figured I would finish this.)

Warnings for: Mentions of Domestic Abuse, Threats of Violence, and Knife injury.

Carlos will admit he’s a little surprised when Grace seeks him out. They don’t really know each other that well. The only interaction they really have is when he’s answering one of her dispatch calls. Or when the 126 is having some kind of gathering at the station like now.

Still, they don’t really talk.

“Officer Reyes?” she greets him with a tentative smile, coming up to him as he pours himself a glass of water. Around them, the 126 and extended friends and family mingle. They’d finally come together to honor Tim the way they couldn’t when the wildfires were roaring.

“Mrs. Ryder, hello,” he answers politely. He points at the pitcher of cold water in his hand, offering to pour her some.

“I’m good,” she answers with a shake of her head and another smile. “And please, call me Grace.”

“Only if you call me Carlos, ma’am,” he gives her a smile of his own; it grows as she lets out an amused chuckle and nods in agreement.

“Okay, that’s a deal.”

“Good,” he says jokingly. He puts the pitcher back in the fridge before turning to give her his full attention, frowning when he finds her fidgeting, shifting from foot to foot nervously. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure,” Grace blurts out, looking as surprised as him. “I wanted to talk to you about something, but now I’m not sure if I should, or if it’s any of my business – or if I’m even just imagining things and overreacting.”

Carlos raises an eyebrow at the woman’s run-on sentence. “Well,” he starts off slowly and with caution. “I know we don’t know each other very well – ”

“We should change that,” Grace interrupts him with a kind smile on her pretty face.

“I completely agree,” Carlos concurs, liking Grace’s welcoming presence even before this conversation. “But what I do know about you is that you just don’t seem like the type of person who overreacts. So why don’t you tell me what’s going on, and we’ll see if I can help,” he finishes with what he hopes is an encouraging look.

“TK got himself a good one,” she says with a fondness that makes him blush slightly. “Okay, so I have this new neighbor, Rosie,” she starts to tell him.

Carlos listens as Grace explains about the newly married couple on her block, Rosie, a jumpy young thing, and her husband, Derek. He frowns as Grace tells him about her first encounter with them, the way the girl went from friendly and lively when they were alone in her front yard to subdued the moment her husband showed up.

“I can’t explain it,” Grace lets out a frustrated exhale. “He was friendly enough; he didn’t grab her in any way that would raise concerns, and yet alarm bells went off the moment he walked up to us. Even as she was smiling, there was something in her eyes that has stuck with me.” Grace sighs again. “Like I said, maybe I’m overreacting, looking for trouble where there isn’t any.”

“Grace,” Carlos starts with a shake of his head. “I have been on a number of your calls, and I hear you over the radio. You are an amazing operator because you have good instincts. If you’re worried about this girl, I don’t doubt you saw a reason for it. What does Judd say?”

Grace’s expression softens at the mention of her husband, her eyes shining with love and affection. “I haven’t told him yet. Judd, bless him, is so tenderhearted and protective. If I said to him that I think something is wrong with this slip of a girl, you better believe he would be pounding down their door before we even find out if something is really wrong.”

Carlos gives her an understanding smile. “Sounds like TK,” he tells her, earning a chuckle in return.

“Why do you think they clashed when they first started working together?” she questions with a twinkle in her eye that lets him know she’s heard as many complaints about TK from Judd as he’s heard from TK about her husband. “Those two are reckless softies who want to save the whole world, and if no one is there to check them, they dive in headfirst,” she says with a pointed look at him.

“Is that supposed to be us?” he questions jokingly. “We’re going to keep them in check?”

Grace shrugs easily. “Well, I married mine, so I pretty much signed up for the job. You’re still dating, so that’s up to you to decide.”

“Can you be my support group?” he questions. It’s not like he really needs to decide after all. He might not be married to TK yet, but he has known since the night of the solar flares and maybe even before that, that it’s his job to keep TK safe.

Grace grins at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners from her smile. “We can meet on Wednesdays for pie.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Carlos says easily, only half-joking. He likes Grace’s easy energy and can see himself becoming good friends with her. “Now, how do I help you with Rosie?”

֎֎֎

“You and Grace were talking for a while back at the station.”

Carlos looks up from the book in his hand over at TK as he comes out of the bathroom into his bedroom. He licks his lips as he takes his boyfriend in, dressed only in a pair of grey sweats that rest low on his hips.

“Carlos?” TK questions as he runs a towel over his hair, a smile taking over his face when Carlos jerks his gaze from all the tantalizing skin.

“Huh?” he questions, blinking a few times, hoping to focus. He blushes slightly at the knowing chuckle TK gives him in response.

TK throws the towel in the hamper before he crosses the distance to him. He presses a knee on the bed by his thigh, throwing the other over him.

Carlos quickly drops his book on the bedside table, freeing his hands to place them on TK’s hips as he comes to sit on his lap. He runs his thumbs over the soft skin right at the edge of TK’s sweats. This time it’s his turn to smile in satisfaction as the simple touch causes TK to shiver under it, his eyes going hazy and soft as he looks down at him.

“Don’t think you’re distracting me,” TK accuses him softly, even as he sits more firmly on Carlos’ lap, arching into his touch as he moves his hands from his hips to his back, fingers touching the constellation of freckles he now knows by memory. “You two looked deep in conversation. Is everything okay?”

“Grace has a neighbor she’s worried about,” he tells him, watching as TK goes from soft to tense and alert. “She has a bad feeling about the woman’s husband and asked for my opinion as a cop.”

TK frowns, concern replacing the previously touch-induced daze on his face. It’s not surprising to Carlos in the least. He’s pretty sure he’s never met anyone more empathetic than his boyfriend.

“Does she think he’s hurting her?” he asks, worrying his bottom lip in distress.

Carlos runs his hands up and down TK’s back once more, this time not to arouse but comfort. “Maybe,” he says with caution. From everything Grace told him, he understands her worry, but he also doesn’t want to make up an opinion before having all the facts. “She’s going to visit her tomorrow with some food as a late ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ thing, and asked me to tag along.”

TK bites down on his lip even harder, causing Carlos to reach up and press his thumb against it until he releases it. “Hey,” he starts softly. He tips TK’s chin to look at him in the eyes. “It’s fine. I’m just going for support and to offer a helping hand if there’s something to Grace’s concerns.”

“You’ll be careful?” TK questions, his voice low and worried. “Domestic situations have a way of spiraling out of control quickly.”

“Of course,” he answers, tugging TK forward. He lets out a content sound as TK settles on top of him. He turns his face into TK’s damp hair, giving it a kiss. “Everything will be fine, I promise,” he whispers, holding his boyfriend close.

Later, the promise will ring loudly in his ears.

֎֎֎

“Relax,” he says to Grace quietly as they stand on Rosie’s front steps. He arrived at the Ryder’s home thirty minutes earlier and waited as Grace finished her peach cobbler before they crossed the street, food in hand. “You’re just being friendly, and I’m tagging along for the ride.”

“Right,” Grace murmurs back as she presses the doorbell. She spares him a look with a raised brow. “That’s a nice shirt, by the way.”

“TK got it for me a few weeks ago,” he says, running a hand down the light-weight cream color polo. “The color makes me look less intimidating, don’t you think?”

Grace’s mouth quirks upward in amusement. “Carlos, sweetheart, you’re massive. I don’t think a soft-colored shirt will hide what you’re packing. Luckily you have a kind, gentle face to balance out all those muscles.”

Carlos grins at her, his smile growing when she rolls her eyes at him. “Yeah, you’re cute,” she mocks sarcastically, her dimples winking at him.

Carlos laughs at the begrudging compliment and Grace’s teasing ways. It reminds him a lot of his sisters and the way they gently like to mess with him. He’s still mid-laugh when a young woman with long light-brown hair and big green eyes opens the door. Her eyes remind him of TK, and he instantly feels protective of her. He remembers Grace calling her a slip of a girl, and he understands why. She’s small and sweet-looking in a heavy long sleeve shirt and print leggings.

“Grace?” she questions curiously, her eyes shifting quickly from Grace to him and back again.

“Hi Rosie,” Grace greets her with a bright smile that convincingly hides the tension she had moments ago. “This is my friend Carlos,” she points to him, not adding anything else. Better to keep her attention off him as he studies her. He takes in her clothes again, the shirt so big the sleeves come down to her fingertips, the thickness odd for the current warm weather. “He was visiting, and I mentioned I hadn’t had a chance to properly welcome you to the neighborhood, so we made you cobbler. Can we come in?”

Carlos smiles in what he hopes is friendly and reassuring as Rosie sneaks a look at him again. She looks over her shoulder towards the inside of the house before giving them a nod. “Sure, Derek is not home anyway,” she says, stepping aside to let them in.

He lets Grace cross the threshold first, but not before sharing a pointed look with his friend. The mention of her husband and her being comfortable with letting them in because he isn’t home already setting an alarm off for him.

“Sorry about the mess,” she says as she follows them into the living room, where there are still a few moving boxes on the floor. “I haven’t had a chance to put everything away,” she says with a self-conscious chuckle. “I can’t make up my mind where I want things to go. It drives Derek crazy.”

“It’s fine,” he tells her with an understanding smile, speaking for the first time. “When I first moved into my place, it took me a month to put up curtains because I couldn’t decide what color I wanted.”

Rosie gives him a small smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly at his comment. It only makes Carlos more tense and aware. He’s already starting to see what Grace was talking about. Even with the friendly smile on the girl’s face, there is an air of tension around her as she moves – the slightest shake of her hands as she takes the cobbler from Grace while she asks where Derek is.

“Oh, who knows,” she answers with a smile that looks more like a grimace. “He likes to wander about. This looks delicious Grace, thank you. I can’t bake to save my life,” she says with an awkward laugh. “I’ll serve some up, be right back.”

They watch Rosie walk into the kitchen silently before they turn to each other.

“Okay,” he starts once they’re alone. “You’re right something is up. She’s nervous, even scared. She only let us in because he’s not here, and I don’t like how she put herself down twice already, like someone who’s used to hearing negative things about themselves.”

“It’s pretty warm for a sweater today,” Grace comments quietly, her brow wrinkling in the middle as she frowns. “I don’t want to be right about this, Carlos,” she whispers, obviously pained by the idea.

Carlos has only known Rosie for a few minutes, and he knows exactly how she feels. He opens his mouth to reassure her that they will not leave without helping the young woman when the front door opens and the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

Derek – is almost as tall as him but slimmer, with limp, dirty blond hair and cold blue eyes. He has a mean look on his face that Carlos doesn’t like one bit.

“Who the fuck are you?” he sneers at them, making zero effort to hide the fact that he is not happy they’re in his home.

“Derek!” Rosie exclaims as she walks back into the living room with two small plates in her hands. Her eyes are wide as she looks at her husband. “Hi, baby,” she says, trying to smooth her expression out but failing as her eyes dart back and forth rapidly. “You remember Grace, right? She’s our neighbor from across the street.”

“Hello again, Derek,” Grace greets him, but there isn’t a hint of a smile on her face as she looks at him like a bug.

Derek notices if the way his eyes narrow is anything to go by. He turns to him with a raised eyebrow. “And you? Who are you?”

Carlos wonders for a second how he should play this, but as he catches Derek’s angry looks at his wife and how Rosie seems to be shrinking into herself the longer she stands by the archway of the room, he decides to rip the bandaid off and let the chips fall where they may. “I’m a friend of Grace’s, Officer Carlos Reyes with Austin Police.”

The reactions are, unfortunately, instant. Rosie drops one of the plates she’s holding in fright while Derek snaps his neck to look at her.

“What the fuck have you been saying?” he questions her, taking a menacing step forward.

Carlos moves too, getting in the space between them, holding up his hands defensively to Derek. “Back up, man,” he warns him, his voice hardening.

The ugly twist of Derek’s face grows nastier, meaner, and now that he’s closer, Carlos can smell the bourbon coming off him.

“Seriously, Derek, back the fuck up,” he grits out through clenched teeth when the guy takes another step forward, ignoring his warnings.

“You don’t tell me what to do,” Derek all but shouts angrily. “This is my house, and I’ll do whatever the hell I want.”

“Like hurt Rosie?” Grace asks him with a stern look, and while Carlos understands the sentiment, he groans internally at the question and the way it takes Derek’s focus off him to Grace. Behind him, he can hear Rosie quietly crying.

“And what if I do,” Derek questions with another sneer. “What are you or anyone else going to do about it? She’s my wife. I can do what I want with her.”

Grace looks at Derek with the same look of disgust he feels. Quietly he pulls out his phone and sends a quick message to his partner, grateful he had the forethought of mentioning the situation to her before he came.

“Only cowards hurt their wives,” Grace answers with another nauseated look and shake of her head.

Carlos admires her bravery. It proves the wrong thing to say, though, as Derek sticks his hand in his pocket and Carlos catches a flash of silver.

“You have a smart mouth on you, don’t ya?” Derek snarls at Grace with a switchblade in his hand.

He moves, and Carlos does too without really thinking. Like with Rosie, he gets between Derek and Grace, only this time Derek is ready, and he swings his knife-carrying hand at him.

Grace and Rosie both shout, Grace quickly moving out of the way and towards the young woman when she tries to step forward to intervene.

“Derek, stop!”

“Put the knife down, Derek! He’s a cop!”

Derek doesn’t listen to either of them, and neither can Carlos, as he jumps back to avoid the knife being lunged at him. The fight happens for Carlos in a blur as he tries to avoid the blade, disarm Derek and keep him from turning his rage toward Rosie or Grace.

“Please stop!” Rosie screams again, loud, and so scared it breaks Carlos’ focus for a moment. Unfortunately, it’s a moment too long, and he lets out a shout of his own as the knife pierces his skin on the left side of his flank.

Grace shouts, alarmed. “Carlos!”

He holds her back with one hand as she rushes towards him. She shoves it away, placing hers on his wound to put pressure as his shirt quickly stains with his blood.

Derek stares wide at him, the realization of what he’s done coming over his face. He doesn’t have a chance to react further than that as Austin Police barges through the door, Carlos’ partner at the front.

Carlos leans on Grace heavily, and Rosie comes forward to help him stay up as the three of them watch Derek be dragged to his knees and handcuffed.

“You can’t stay out of trouble even on your day off, Reyes,” his partner shakes his head at him before signaling for EMS to come in.

He tries to roll his eyes at her, but he’s starting to feel lightheaded, and he’s just grateful when the gurney rumbles in.

Rosie and Grace hand him off, but not before Rosie apologizes, he tries to reassure her, but he finds it hard to speak as he gets sleepier. He thinks he hears Grace tell her it’s not her fault, and he nods tiredly in agreement.

Looking over at Grace, he smiles, hoping it will ease the worried look on her face. “TK is gonna be pissed about the shirt,” he jokes right before he passes out.

֎֎֎

Carlos wakes up to bright lights in his eyes. He groans, annoyed at them as he tries to cover his face and finds that he’s tugging on his IV.

The hospital, shit.

“Everything will be fine, I promise,” says a soft mocking voice to his right, and when he turns his head, he’s not at all surprised to find TK sitting there with a raised eyebrow, trying to hide his worry behind a sarcastic look. “Getting stabbed, needing surgery, and having your spleen removed doesn’t scream ‘everything is fine’ Carlos Reyes.”

“Hey, baby,” he rasps out, his throat dry like the Sahara. “Sorry about that.”

TK gets up with a deep sigh. He crosses the distance to him and leans down, pressing a kiss on his forehead before he lays his against Carlos’. “You were being a big damn hero, so I forgive you,” he whispers as he touches his nose to Carlos’. “But if you can please avoid getting hurt while you save the world next time, I would appreciate it.”

Carlos makes a humming noise in the back of his throat, closing his eyes for a moment as he basks in TK’s closeness.

“I would have to agree.”

Carlos opens his eyes to find two other people in the room he didn’t notice before. Grace and Judd sit on the other two chairs of the room, both standing when he looks over at them. They walk together to the foot of his bed, and Grace wraps her hand around his ankle, giving it a squeeze.

“If we are going to be friends and go on adventures together, you can’t end up stabbed, honey,” she says with a sweet smile on her face.

“Carlos and Grace save the world,” TK says with a proud but dry smile. He looks over at Judd, sharing a look with the older man. “God help us, brother,” he says, getting a severe nod in return from the cowboy, while Grace scoffs at both of them.

“We didn’t save the world,” Carlos protests at the repeat of those words.

“Tell that to that sweet, scared little thing you two helped get away from her abusive husband,” Judd answers, still somber.

“Yeah,” TK agrees with a nod. He combs a soothing hand through Carlos’ curls. “Pretty sure Rosie would tell you differently.”

“Is she okay?” He asks, seeking Grace’s eyes, letting a relieved exhale when she nods.

“Your partner had a social worker ready, and they are setting her up as we speak,” Grace assures him. “She said thank you.”

Carlos lets out another deep breath. “That’s good.”

Grace looks at him for a moment with a small frown on her face. “You had them ready, even when we weren’t sure if I was right – “

“I trust your judgment, Grace,” he interrupts, answering her silent question. “You knew – so I prepared.”

Grace gives his ankle another squeeze, and Carlos nods at her in understanding.

“We should go,” she says with a smile. “I’m sure TK wants to scold you some more and then smother you with kisses.”

TK lets out a sound of protest that has Judd snorting. It makes Carlos chuckle despite the pain it causes.

“Pie on Wednesday?” he asks Grace, grinning at the twinkle that enters her eyes as she smiles back widely at him.

“I’ll see you in my kitchen – 4ish?” she points at him. She starts to turn with Judd after he agrees, but the older man stands still, looking at him.

“Thanks for keeping my baby safe, brother,” Judd says to him quietly.

Carlos swallows hard, the weight of the words impacting him. He looks up at TK to find him staring at him with a soft loving look on his face. “You keep mine safe all the time, just returning the favor.”

The Ryders both smile at him as they leave; Grace makes a signal that she’ll call him, blowing him and TK a kiss before closing the door, leaving them alone.

“So you and Grace are friends now.”

“Yeah,” Carlos answers, smiling at the comment and how true it is. They’re friends now.

“That’s cool,” TK says, smiling as he sits at the edge of his bed. “But for mine and Judd’s sake, can you two keep the dangerous situations to a minimum?”

Carlos snorts at the comment, grinning when TK rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I know,” he grumbles sarcastically. “Look who’s talking, right?”

“You said it, not me.”

TK shakes his head, but his expression goes soft as he looks at him. “I was so scared when Grace called me,” he tells him with a trembling smile. “But then she told us how you kept her and Rosie safe, and I was so proud of you, baby.”

Carlos reaches for him, tugging on his hand until TK gets the hint, and lies next to him on the small bed, resting his head on Carlos’ shoulder, his arm going around him, careful of his wound.

“I love you,” TK whispers into the slope of his neck.

Carlos closes his eyes as tiredness starts to take over again. He’s in some mild pain, and he’s sure there is gonna be a mountain of paperwork later waiting for him, but Grace and Rosie are safe, and he’s in TK’s arms, so everything is okay in his book.

He turns his face towards TK’s, finding it inches away as TK looks up at him.

Pressing a kiss against his lips, swallowing the soft, peaceful sigh TK lets out, he whispers back. “I love you too.”

#911 lone star #carlos reyes #grace ryder #tarlos #tarlos fic #grace & carlos fic #911 lone star fic #my writing

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sunshinestrand · 3 years

Text

Falling In Love In The Setting Sun

Number 83: “Stay there. I’m coming to get you” from this prompt list

[1843 words] AO3

The rain beats down relentlessly onto TK’s windshield as he sits on the side of the road at a complete standstill. His car had died a little over five minutes ago and he’s suddenly regretting his decision to take the small detour. But at the particular moment that he had decided to, he wasn’t really thinking about the impending storm. He was, as usual, thinking about Carlos and he wishes he hadn’t left the station without telling him where he was going first. He can only imagine his fiancé sitting in their home worrying about where he had gone. TK stares at the rain falling onto the window, his mind swirling with the thought of not apologising to Carlos before he hung up from their phone call.

TK tries to restart the car and it turns over a few times before it goes silent again. He sighs and accepts defeat before he grabs his phone from the cupholder and attempts to turn it on, but finds it too is still dead. He isn’t even sure how long it has been off for and it pains him that Carlos is probably trying to get a hold of him. TK leans his head back against the headrest and takes a deep breath before he leans forwards to look in his rearview mirror. There’s lights from a roadside diner that he had just passed while driving. He figures it’s his best bet, instead of simply sitting in his car and waiting. He puts his hood over his head and gets out of the car, slamming the door closed and he all but runs towards the lights.

It doesn’t take him long to make it to the diner, pushing open the door. The inside is nearly empty and when TK looks up at the clock on the wall, he finds it’s close to one in the morning. He walks to the counter where an older woman is standing, cleaning mugs and she gives him a friendly smile as he approaches.

“What can I get you, honey?” She asks, her tone sweet.

“A coffee, please and thank you. Do you also happen to have a phone I could use? My car broke down and I need to phone my fiancé to come and get me.”

“Sure thing.” She says as she passes him a phone. “I’ll get you your coffee.”

“Thank you.”

She turns away from him and he stares at the phone for a moment, he knows he’s going to have to very well explain himself to Carlos and TK hopes that he has just gotten home from shift and hasn’t been sitting worrying for the couple of hours that TK has been gone. He’s not even sure that Carlos would want to hear from him but in the end decides that no disagreement would ever make it so they wouldn’t want to hear from one another. Finally, he begins dialing the number that he knows by heart and puts the phone to his ear as he begins to chew on his lip.

The phone rings three times and TK almost sights in relief when Carlos’ voice comes through to him.

“Hello? Carlos Reyes speaking.”

TK smiles, because he can’t help it and he nearly bursts into tears right there and then. “Hi babe.”

“TK?” Carlos says and there’s relief in his voice but also a hint of concern. “Thank god, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. I was worried. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry. Uh, my phone died and my car broke down.”

“What? Where are you?” Carlos asks, his voice considerably more aware and TK can hear the rustle of footsteps and keys in the background.

“I’m at that little roadside diner about ten minutes from the city.” TK explains, knowing that Carlos will know what he is talking about.

“Okay, stay there. I’m coming to you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” TK whispers. “And Carlos? I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too, but we can talk when I get there.”

TK nods despite Carlos not being able to see him. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

And with that, he’s gone. TK exchanges the phone for a fresh mug of coffee and he gives the waitress his best tired smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Did you get a hold of someone?”

“Yeah, he’s coming.”

“Well, we are open all night, so stay as long as you like.”

TK nods and she walks away to deal with another new customer. TK sighs, wrapping his cold hands around the warm mug, his mind wandering back to the phone call he and Carlos had before the both of them had to go back to shift.

“I just don’t understand how you could be so incredibly reckless. Running into a situation like that with zero protection.”

On the other side of the phone, Carlos snorted and TK had froze in his pacing around the bunk room.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” TK asked, referring to the noise that had just come from his fiancé.

“Nothing. I just find it hilarious how you of all people are lecturing someone about doing something reckless.” Carlos said after a moment, his voice is hushed and TK really wished they could have had this conversation at home instead of over the phone.

“That’s different.” TK tried.

“Maybe so. Maybe I’m not made to go through fire, TK. But when you became a paramedic and you ran into that burning building one day without so much as a mask or a helmet? That’s the exact same thing.”

“It’s not, you didn’t have to watch that happen.”

“No, you’re right. I just had to witness the noise of a gunshot or seeing you with a concussion after being hit over the head with a gun.” Carlos said and TK could hear the hint of sadness in his voice when he says it.

“I didn’t ask for those things to happen, I didn’t go running into something that I knew was dangerous.”

“Everything we run into is dangerous, TK. There’s no way of avoiding it.” Carlos said and before TK could reply, he quickly continued speaking. “I have to go back now, we can talk about this when we get home, okay? Be safe and I love you.”

TK sighed, but had accepted the defeat for the moment. “I love you too. Be safe.”

TK had been scared, there was no doubt about it and then he allowed himself to get upset because of it. He had realised long ago that the fear of anything bad happening to Carlos was so deeply rooted within him, that he would shatter into a million pieces. Sometimes that fear took him over and he’s not sure how to handle it. He loves Carlos, like truly and maddeningly loves him. It’s why they had decided to spend the rest of their lives with one another. But he wasn’t mad at Carlos, he was mad at the universe for putting Carlos into a situation that could have potentially harmed him. Or worse.

He’s nearly done his second cup when the door dings from behind him and he instantly turns around to find Carlos. TK stands, giving Carlos a smile and his fiancé doesn’t say anything before walking over and pulling him into a bone crushing hug. TK instantly hugs him back, his arms going around Carlos’ neck.

“I’m sorry,” TK mumbles into Carlos’ neck. “I didn’t say it when I hung up, but I’m sorry. I was just scared about losing you and I took it out on you. You didn’t deserve that.”

Carlos is silent through TK’s ramblings until they pull away, keeping each other as close as possible. “I know you were scared. I’ve felt that way about you more than once, I feel that way every single time you walk out of our front door. But we have to realise that we love each other and that love is more important than any argument we have.”

TK nods. “I really do love you so much.”

Carlos pulls him back into his embrace and kisses his hair. “I love you too, Ty. God, I was so worried about you. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know where you were and then the storm got worse.”

“I’m sorry, babe.”

Carlos shakes his head. “I’m just so glad that you’re okay. Where were you going anyway?”

TK feels his cheeks burn and he looks down. “I was going to that bakery that you love so much, I wanted to get you the double chocolate muffins you like from there. You know, to make up for overreacting.”

“You were?” Carlos whispers. “But the storm.”

“In my defense, the storm came out of nowhere.” TK says, chuckling. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get them.”

Carlos shakes his head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It was so sweet that you thought of it. That’s always what counts. But you’re alright, and that’s all that matters right now.”

TK nods. “Maybe I can buy you a piece of blueberry pie instead? I know that’s like your third favourite.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

***

“How do you feel about having blueberry pie as our wedding cake?”

TK raises an eyebrow as he looks at Carlos who is joyfully eating another forkful of the pie in front of him. TK would make fun of him for the suggestion, but he has to admit, it’s pretty good.

“We can have whatever you want.” TK settles on. “I just want you to be happy. Whatever you need.”

“I just need you.” Carlos whispers before he smirks. “But also the blueberry pie.”

TK laughs, shaking his head. “Then you will get it. Anything you want, that I can promise you.”

Carlos smiles and it’s such a wonderful and warm thing that TK gets to witness. A smile made all for him, full of Carlos’ love and admiration. He’s so happy he gets to be the person that gets to have that smile all to himself.

“You deserve to be happy too, you know that, right?” Carlos asks, nudging at TK’s arm with his elbow.

“I do and knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with you? Makes me the happiest person on this entire planet.”

Carlos doesn’t say anything, just simply leans forwards and gently kisses TK’s lips. When they pull away, Carlos looks behind TK and out the window. “Well, it looks like the storm cleared up. You want to get going?”

“Can we just stay here for a little while longer?” TK asks.

“Of course.”

TK lays his head down onto Carlos’ shoulder as he eats another piece of pie. Soon, the world outside the diner will awaken to find the storm gone and eventually the two of them will follow suit, and will travel back home to enjoy a day off with one another. But for now, they sit with one another in complete and utter peacefulness. In a world that’s just theirs.

#911 lone star #tarlos #userkimmy #userjillian #userthai #reyesstrand #userbones #userjilly #tuserjamie #ronenrubinstein #useralie #paige writes

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morganaspendragonss · 3 years

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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.

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neworleansspecial · 2 years

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Summary: In need of money, Carlos applies for a job to be the bodyguard of TK Strand. He quickly realizes that he’s in way over his head.

Chapter: 8/10 | WC: 2k | AO3

<<< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>>

TK seems to have decided that by virtue of what happened, he and Carlos are close and in love now. Carlos, for his part, isn’t sure; the magnetic draw to TK hasn’t changed, but there’s a piece of him inside that shattered irreparably with what he did. The worst part is that he barely put up a fight. All it took was a simple touch, a handful of words, and he succumbed to the cruelty that he hates so much about the Strand family and their way of living. If he could do this, then he’s not even close to a good person. Maybe he never was. If he was corrupted, it should have been slower. This was not so much the slow shifting of the sky’s hue at sunset as it was the clouds parting to reveal a blisteringly hot day. Carlos did something awful, but the capacity was there the whole time, hidden within him. He cannot blame TK for something that already existed.

At the very least, TK doesn’t push him much. He’s clearly under the assumption that this uncontainable thing between them has crystalized into reality, but is still fragile enough that the wrong word could send Carlos spiraling away from him. Such a sentiment isn’t that far from the truth. Carlos himself isn’t sure what comes next. He wants TK with a bone deep desire, but at the same time, he hates that craving and wants nothing to do with TK or anything here in this pristine house. As much as it sucked, he’d rather still be working retail and wondering if he can afford groceries, let alone help his parents keep the house.

“We need to get you more suits,” TK tells him.

The night is still young, the sun just beginning to kiss the winter horizon and casting a golden glow that TK seems to bathe in as he lounges in the garden. His expression is far away and thoughtful.

“Why?”

“You only have like a dozen. You need more than that.”

“I can wash my clothes.”

TK shakes his head. “Well, obviously we get them dry-cleaned, but you need more variety. What about when I have an event to attend? You’ll have to complement my look, of course, since you’ll be my date.”

“Your… date?”

Hearing TK say something like that and mean it is by far the most confusing thing Carlos has experienced in the last couple weeks. It’s easy to imagine those words in a condescending mockery of interest designed to humiliate him. This, however, was genuine. Carlos doesn’t know what to do with it. While he’s mulling over how to feel, TK slips into his lap and kisses his cheek before tucking his head beneath Carlos’ jaw. He curls up in such a way that reminds Carlos how young TK actually is. They’re the same age, but it feels at times like TK has been around forever. But no, he’s still a young man, and emotionally stunted to the point of acting like a preteen at times. He looks as childish as he sometimes acts when he hugs his knees to his chest like so.

“My date,” TK echoes. “I- I know you feel this, Carlos. I know you love me.”

“I don’t-”

He can’t bring himself to tell this particular lie, which only earns him a smug grin from TK. Carlos scoffs and looks away, though he still settles a hand on TK’s hip. They both watch the sunset for a while, listening to the beats of each other’s hearts and the rasp of their lungs drawing in cool evening air. It’s not so difficult to imagine a real future. It’s likely that he will always be TK’s bodyguard, first and foremost, but he could be more than that. He can almost feel the weight of a heavy 24K gold chain around his neck. He’d prefer a wedding ring, but can’t see TK giving one. An item as possessive as one that encircles his fragile throat would be far more in character for the man currently using him as a glorified chair.

“I wish it was simpler,” Carlos admits. “This- you- it’s all so messy and complicated. I don’t know how I feel, or what it means. You have to understand, TK, that you’re able to leave me. You can fire me, kill me, dump me, whatever word you want to use or action you want to take. I don’t have that luxury. The only way I’ll ever be free of you is when you or your father put a bullet between my eyes.”

It’s something Carlos thinks about on an almost daily basis, but it appears to be the first time TK has considered such a thing. The idea plays across his face. Horror, desire, fear, possessiveness, and other beautiful and twisted things Carlos could never even begin to understand. Finally, TK decides how to respond.

“Please kiss me.”

He cups Carlos’ cheeks in his cold hands and pulls him in for a kiss Carlos is helpless to deny. Kissing TK always simultaneously feels like drowning and coming home. Yes, it’s bad, yes, it’ll kill him, yes, he’s in pain; but at the same time, yes, it makes him feel safe, yes, it makes his heart ache, yes it lights a fire behind his ribs. He hates the contradiction as much as he hates TK, which is to say not very much once one actually starts probing the question.

They spend a luxurious few minutes simply kissing one another, different from the usual way TK kisses; there is no ulterior motive. This kiss is not to manipulate, nor is it with the intention of pulling Carlos to his bed. It’s easy. It’s soft. It reminds him of a different time in a way that has his heart absolutely aching. This memory, laden with grief and guilt, is what prompts Carlos to pull away, even as he keeps his hands on TK’s waist.

“I can’t.”

TK opens his mouth to counter the refusal, but before he can, one of the other general house guards places his hand on Carlos’ shoulder. Instantly, TK’s brows furrow and he tightens his hold on Carlos’ face, ready to start a fight over something as small as someone touching Carlos with no warning. He must’ve felt Carlos tense beneath him.

“Mr. Strand would like to speak with you,” the guard says, voice so devoid of emotion it could have been robotic, “immediately, and without his son present.”

All Carlos can think about is that he’s going to be killed. TK was able to save him before, but not if he’s down here. Still, Carlos eases TK off his lap and onto the next seat of the couch before standing up and straightening his suit. He’ll be dignified. No one has to know if he puts his hands in his pockets because they’re shaking. The other guard doesn’t touch him again as they walk, which could be a good sign, but his face remains so impassive that Carlos can’t interpret what kind of situation he’s walking into.

Strand’s office, like Carlos’ first visit to the study, has social guests indulging themselves in substances on his couch or, in the case of one young woman, Strand’s lap. This, Carlos recognizes, is just as much a power play as it is for personal enjoyment. Every one of these girls is a reminder that Owen Strand has literally everyone within reach under his thumb, and Carlos won’t last if he doesn’t stay in line.

“Mr. Reyes, glad to see you. I was sure TK would get bored at some point, but I guess you’re a lucky man.”

Carlos doesn’t know what to say to that, so he says nothing at all.

“Listen, I know that he’s taken a liking to you, but that’s not necessarily a good thing for him, and certainly not for you. When he does get bored - not if, when - the more personal you let it get, the worse your ending will be.”

As if he’s not already aware of that. “I’m trying not to let it get personal, sir.”

“Were you not just kissing him in my garden?”

“I- Yes, sir, I was.”

Strand whispers something to the girl in his lap and she joins her friends on the couch, the whole lot of them very pointedly ignoring this conversation. It takes a lot of power and control to know that one could say or do anything, and not a single bystander would lift a finger to stop it. If Carlos had this kind of power, he wouldn’t know what to do with it. He might go crazy. He might become like TK.

“You have to understand I have everyone’s best interests at heart. Yours and my son’s. I don’t want to make it messy, Mr Reyes.” He looks up at Carlos properly for the first time. “Don’t force my hand.”

“What is it you want me to do?”

“Be smart about this.”

Carlos swallows and reminds himself to stand up straight. “I’d like to think that I-”

“I don’t care what you’d ‘like to think.’ I’m telling you right now to be smart and keep your hands to yourself before it becomes a problem. You can ask Ryder.” He gestures to a tall, imposing man that Carlos has never spoken to. “He didn’t learn his lesson until I made him.”

“I think that TK can-”

“Let me remind you, Mr. Reyes.”

Strand stands up and comes out from behind his desk, approaching Carlos and straightening his tie for him- though Carlos is fairly certain it didn’t need to be done. The heady scent of his strong and undoubtedly expensive cologne makes Carlos’ head spin. Carlos can make out the shades of blue in Owen Strand’s eyes just as well as the coldness within them. This man in front of him does not feel. He would kill Carlos in a heartbeat for no other reason than he feels like it.

“It’s my name on your contract. My name on the checks you cash. My name on the card TK uses to buy your suits. My name on the cars you drive. My name on every breath you get to take. You answer to me, not my son.”

Then he fixes Carlos’ collar, more just to have an excuse to stand so close than because anything on his clothes needed adjusting.

“If you can’t understand that, well. Since you enjoy the garden so much, I’ll make sure you get a permanent view. Am I understood, Mr. Reyes? Or do you need a demonstration? You don’t have any kids, like Ryder did, but I’m sure there’s people you care about too. Maybe one of your sisters, or your mother?”

Carlos looks at Ryder over Strand’s shoulder and sees no discernable expression, but enough pain in his eyes that he knows this isn’t a bluff. Ryder shakes his head at Carlos. Don’t risk it. He nods and looks back at Strand’s face.

“No, sir, I don’t need a demonstration. I’ll- I’ll be smart.”

“Good. I knew you’d see things my way.”

Strand pats him on the cheek, just hard enough that it might be intended as a half-hearted slap, and returns to his desk. He waves his hand in dismissal. Carlos takes the cue to leave, though as soon as the office door shuts behind him, he leans against the wall and takes a deep breath. He’s alright. He’s alive. But he doesn’t imagine TK will be taking this forced step back without a fight, and Carlos is simply caught in the middle of this spat.

He can’t disobey his boss, he’ll be killed. He can’t just take back the slowly crafted intimacy with TK- that’ll be his demise as well. There’s no reasoning with Owen Strand, but maybe he could try and get through to TK about the two of them keeping things professional for the time being at the very least. It wouldn’t be forever, he reasons, because if he sticks around as long as he intends to, Strand will have to let it go or TK will be the one in charge.

Carlos loosens his tie and allows himself one more deep breath before returning to his charge.

#tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #owen strand #911 lone star #911ls #911lsfic #emwrite #wtpo

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sarcasticslothy · 2 years

Text

“I’m still getting used to constantly worrying about you”

OneShot/Drabble 5 of ‘To start and end my day with you’ Apparently I’m in a writing groove this past weekend. 1 day to go until 3x03! Ao3

It’s well past midnight when they eventually return to the station that TK finally has a chance to pull out his phone and can see the missed calls and the text thread that has extended out to 10 unread messages. He swears under his breath and looks up at Nancy apologetically. “I’ll be right back to help you restock, it’s Carlos…” he gestures to his phone in his hand and Nancy nods understandingly “It’s fine, go. He’s probably worried sick” she smiles and opens the back doors of the ambulance to begin the restock herself. TK hits his boyfriends name and waits for the phone to connect, walking in the direction of the bunk room. The phone barely rings once before he hears his boyfriend’s frantic voice on the other end.

“TK. Are you okay? I saw…” “I’m okay. I’m okay. Relax, babe. It wasn’t us.” TK cuts him off quickly and hears the faint voice in the background before Carlos takes a deep breath that rattles down the line “I know that means it was someone else and I’m so sorry for that but I’m so glad it wasn’t you.” TK feels the guilt burn in his chest at the thought of Carlos worrying about him. “I think they’re going to be fine, both were stable when I last heard, so no need for the apology” “Okay” he whispers “I should have called someone else who would have known, but I just wasn’t sure If I wanted to know if it was you” Carlos voice cracks on the last word and TK yearns to be able to physically comfort him, show him that he is perfectly fine and put to rest the images that have probably been invading his boyfriends mind all evening. “I’m sorry. I knew you were done; I didn’t even think you would have heard about it.” “I put the TV on just for something to be on and then there was news about an ambulance crashing down a hill and-’ “- you assumed your disaster-magnet of a boyfriend was involved?” TK finishes for him. “Came across my mind” Carlos deadpans before sighing and going silent and TK sits down on his bed in the bunk room as he gives his boyfriend a moment to put himself together again. “I’m really okay” TK promises a few moments later and when Carlos speaks again the stress has gone from his voice, but he still sounds much more subdued than he usually does. “Okay, I’m glad” “Are you okay?” TK asks “I’m still getting used to constantly worrying about you” Carlos admits, and TK goes to apologise again but swallows it back down knowing this won’t be the last time this happens. “If it makes you feel any better, I worry about you too” TK offers and Carlos huffs out a laugh “It does, thanks.” Carlos replies softly. The silence settles between them, and TK happens to glance at the wall, cringing when he sees it is nearing 1am. “I’m sorry I took so long to get back to you, you should be asleep” “Yeah, I probably should” Carlos says and TK sighs to himself at how shaken up he still sounds and the fact he can’t seem to fix it. “Stay safe, yeah?” “I will do my very best to not live up to my apparent image” TK jokes and can imagine Carlos rolling his eyes. “We still on for dinner tomorrow?” Carlos doesn’t reply and there’s silence on the other end of the phone for long enough that TK pulls the phone off his ear to see if it’s still connected. “Carlos?” TK questions “You still there?” “Can you do something for me?” Carlos asks clearly unsure of himself “Anything”

“Can you stay on the phone while I try to sleep?” the question makes TK pause and he can’t stand the thought that Carlos is so worried about him that he can’t sleep. “I’m going to call you back” TK tells him and doesn’t give Carlos a chance to respond before he is ending the call and switching to a video call. There’s a few second wait where he wonders if he has made a mistake before the call connects, Carlos appearing on his phone and it takes one look at his boyfriend’s eyes to realise he isn’t okay. “You didn’t have to do this” Carlos says apologetically and TK doesn’t ever want Carlos to think that there’s ever a reason he couldn’t say what he needs. “I did. This is me proving I’m alive and fine. See?” TK says moving the phone further back so Carlos can see his whole torso. “It wasn’t that I didn’t believe that you were okay” Carlos replies “I had just made it to the point where I was expecting a call to say it was you and then you called me. I think my brain has whiplash” “I’m sorry” TK says “It was a bad night all around” “Won’t make the top ways to spend an evening, no” Carlos admits before taking a deep breath and the lopsided smile that appears after doesn’t look completely fake. “Want me to bore you to sleep?” TK asks finally, knowing it’s the right choice when Carlos visibly relaxes and then he is moving from the lounge and up the stairs, the screen going dark as he switches lights off. “You probably have work” Carlos says, yellow light suddenly glowing onto his face and TK watches as he lowers himself to the bed, shutting his eyes for a moment when his head hits the pillow “I have time” TK promises and proceeds to fill the silence with the more amusing calls of his day until he sees him go still and he can hear the familiar sounds of Carlos asleep.

#911 lone star fic #tarlos fic #my writing #carlos x tk #911 lone star #tarlos #911lsfic #sarcasticslothy

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evanbuckley-heartofgold · 3 years

Note

Would you consider writing a fic about someone telling Michelle about Tim?

It’s Carlos that ends up calling Michelle. He’d have thought that it would have been Nancy, but she was too distraught to do much in the days that followed Tim’s death. Carlos sits out on the patio, phone to his ear.

“Hi, Carlos, how are you doing?” Michelle answers on the fourth ring.

“Hi, Michelle,” Carlos says. He ignores her question. “Listen, there’s a reason I’m calling you.”

“More updates on the boyfriend,” Michelle teases.

“No.” Carlos sighs, his voice serious, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He hears the sound of movement, perhaps Michelle sitting down, “Is everything okay?”

Carlos fights to keep his voice even, “No.” He takes a long breath. “Michelle, Tim’s...gone.”

There’s silence for a long moment. Then, “What do you mean, Carlos?”

“He died on a call yesterday. Apparently, he was tending to a patient and he wouldn’t leave them alone, even after they were all called to fall back.” Carlos pauses. “I’m sorry.”

He hears Michelle take a shaky breath in. “Oh my god.” He waits while she begins to process the news. “Did someone tell his family?”

“Yeah, it’s all taken care of.”

After another moment, Michelle asks, “How is everyone at the station?”

Carlos shakes his head, “Awful. I can’t imagine what they’re all feeling right now. Nancy is heartbroken, she’s taking a while off.” Carlos looks at the ground. “I’m sure she’d love to see you if you could make it home for the funeral.”

“Of course,” Michelle says immediately. “Text me when you have the information?”

“Yeah.”

He hears some noise on her end of the line, “Shit, I’m sorry, Carlos. I have to go. Will you give my condolences to everyone?”

“Yeah,” Carlos says again. “And, uh, I’m sorry for your loss, Michelle.”

“Thank you, Carlos.”

As Michelle hangs up, Carlos hears the back door slide open. He turns around just in time to see TK coming out to sit by him. Carlos immediately lifts an arm for TK to sit against his side.

“Did you call her?” TK asks.

Carlos nods, “She’s going to come back for the funeral. It’ll be nice to see her again.” He looks at his boyfriend. “How’s everyone holding up?”

TK sighs, “As well as can be expected. Dad’s taking it pretty hard. We all are.” TK pauses for a moment then continues. “We’ve all lost people on calls before, but when it’s someone close to you...”

“It’s different,” Carlos finishes.

“I didn’t even know him that well,” TK shakes his head. “I had all this time to get to know him and I fucking didn’t.” As TK begins to cry not for the first time in the past 24 hours, Carlos holds him close.

#my fic #911 lonestar #Carlos Reyes #michelle blake #tk strand #tarlos #i guess kina #911 on fox #911 fic #911 lonestar fic

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tarlos-spain · 3 years

Text

Sicktember Day 4 - Headache

Drums in the head

Fandom: 9-1-1: Lone Star (TV 2020)

Relationship: Carlos Reyes/TK Strand

Characters: Carlos Reyes (9-1-1 Lone Star) TK Strand Owen Strand Judd Ryder (9-1-1 Lone Star)

Summary: TK has a terrible headache, it's been years since the last one, and an intruder chooses the worst day to enter his house.

Thunder and lightning, the end of the world, an alien invasion that destroys everything, but not before there is an earthquake that has devastated everything. That's how TK felt under the blanket that left everything black. One noise, the flight of a fly and he would feel the same as a fork scratching the surface of a plate up and down.

That was how TK felt when his head decided to become his worst enemy and he spent a couple of days with the worst migraine imaginable.

They said the one thing he probably could have been thankful for in his time on drugs was that, being mostly painkillers, he hadn't suffered from too many headaches in a long time.

When the pains had returned, they had come back stronger than ever.

Owen had left him with everything he needed on the bedside table so he didn't have to leave the burrow they formed under the covers, with the blind pulled tightly down. TK said he wanted to be alone and his father did, because TK was in a terrible mood.

Suddenly the doorbell rang or what was the same Zeus threw one of his thunderbolts over TK's head and made him groan, more from the thought of having to get up than from the terrible pain that was killing him.

He waited, the buzzer didn't ring again, maybe they had made a mistake and left him alone. So he curled his body back into a ball, hugged his knees and then rolled onto his stomach. There was no logic to it and it certainly wasn't scientific, but getting into that position seemed to mitigate the pain.

He was about to fall asleep when he heard noises in the house. They were coming from downstairs, from the kitchen, bags, someone moving and starting up the stairs.

"Shit, someone's broken in." Worst day to break in and for TK to have to defend himself.

He came out of his den, the daylight hurting his eyes and making his headache worse. He leaned against the wall, he felt dizzy. No, he was not in the best position to defend himself against a burglar.

He reached over to the bedside table and picked up the phone.

"I know you're on shift, babe, but I think someone broke in." She texted Carlos.

He received no reply, as someone's footsteps continued to sound in the house and especially on the stairs.

"Dad, they've broken in, Carlos is at work and I'm about to throw up from a migraine, can you come over?" "Don't worry, we called the police. We're on our way." "Babe, I don't want to alarm you, but they broke into the house. She could barely keep her eyes open. Dad's on his way."

Carlos didn't even see the message. TK hoped he didn't see it too late, even though whoever was coming up the stairs was already in the hallway.

TK closed his eyes and breathed hard; it wasn't easy to do with a hammer pounding the inside of his head. Judd had taught him a few things about self-defense, though he hadn't wanted to go too in-depth.

"Something tells me that teaching you this will only get you in trouble and your father will kill if anything happens to you because you run into the wrong guy."

But he knew how to defend himself for at least the first minute, maybe long enough for his team or maybe Carlos or any other cop to get there in time.

He saw the shadow of the intruder under the bedroom door and braced himself. If he didn't know he was awake, that he wasn't up, that could maybe give him a bit of an advantage, he could strike the first blow and if his head allowed it, make a run for it.

The door began to open slowly, the shadow took on a human figure, a man, who was about to enter and TK wasn't going to let him. He let out a fist against the stranger's face; no one was going to come into his bedroom and try to...whatever it was he wanted to try to do to him.

He smiled as he heard him protest, though he hurt his hand and could almost feel the ricochet of the blow he'd landed, inside his head. He staggered, dizzy and terribly nauseous.

Hands wrapped around his waist and stopped him from falling to the ground.

"Let go of me!" protested TK. "What do you want from me, let go of me." "Tiger, you were just short of breaking my nose." Carlos' voice echoed loudly next to his ear. He wasn't clear if it made him feel happy or if on the contrary it hurt too much inside his head. "Carlos?" "Sure, who did you want me to be?"

TK struggled again and Claros let him go so he could turn around. He stood there, hands outstretched in case TK fell to the ground.

He was smiling even though he was trying to hide the pain in the nose that was probably broken.

"I didn't know you had that much strength." "Why didn't you read my messages? I thought you were a burglar, what are you doing home at this hour, aren't you working?" "Okay, okay one question at a time."

Carlos led him back to bed and TK couldn't deny that he needed to lie down and more than anything, stop thinking, so that there would stop being a family of orcs kicking and punching inside his skull.

He pulled off her sweatshirt and at any other time, TK would have thought they were about to make love; but that wasn't the case and she simply let Carlos undress her.

"I didn't read the messages because I was busier filling up early home to be with you. I'm certainly not a thief, although at or maybe your father has something different to say about that, because I got you out of his house." TK punched him in the arm. "See how corny you can get, Agent Reyes." "That also answers what I'm doing here at this hour. I took a leave of absence at the station. I told them you were feeling terrible. How's the headache?" "Terrible. I'd forgotten how much it hurts and knowing there's nothing I can take." She closed her eyes and snuggled against Carlos' body and he began stroking her hair and cheek. "My mother says there is a remedy in the family that might help. It's a tea made from various herbs. I went shopping for them before I came here, can I go to the kitchen for a moment to prepare it?" "I don't want you to move from here. I feel better already."

Carlos smiled and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"Who's the cheesy one now, baby?" TK released him and tucked his head under the cushion and asked him to come back soon. "I'll be back in five minutes with some hot tea that will hopefully make you feel better."

Before she finished speaking, TK had fallen asleep. No tea or medicine had been needed. Carlos, his presence and caresses were enough to relax TK and allow him to sleep.

Carlos went to prepare the tea, he would leave it made for when TK woke up. If all went well, TK would sleep for hours and when he woke up he would feel better and be hungry. So he went to the kitchen and decided to prepare something to eat as well. She looked at TK in bed a moment before and smiled. She was going to marry this man, she adored TK, taking care of him and loving him were all she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Series this work belongs to:

#Sicktember 2021 #headache #911 lone star #tarlos

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marjansmarwani · 3 years

Text

It feels like an out of body experience

2k || ao3

“He was talking to both of us,” he repeated, aware that he sounded like a broken record. “Both me and Gabriel. He was going to take what was most important, from both of us.” --- Just a missing 2x12 scene of the moment after Owen realized TK and Carlos were in danger and what follows. Featuring an in-depth look at his guilt because why else do I ever write Owen Strand anymore?

This has been sitting mostly done on my google drive since May and I finally decided to finish it today, for some reason so I hope you’re all in the mood for some angsty Owen content.

Beta’d by my loves @silvarafael and @justaswampdemon

------------

“You thought he was talking to you?” Billy asked with a snort. “I thought he was talking to Reyes.”

Judd let out a laugh beside him and Owen rolled his eyes, picking up his glass to take another sip of the whiskey. He rolled Billy’s words around in his head as he twirled the glass, watching as the whiskey sloshed around the sides. The thought came suddenly and hit him with all the force of a steam engine.

“He was talking to both of us,” he said quietly, pulling Judd’s attention to him. He could see the other man frowning but he ignored him. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it sooner; he couldn’t believe it hadn’t been his first thought.

“He was talking to both of us,” he repeated louder, now pulling the eyes of all the others to him as well. Tommy sat up straighter as she clocked the fear in his eyes.

“What are you saying?” she asked evenly, using her steady, tempered captain’s voice that he had heard so often on patients in the field.

“He was talking to both of us,” he repeated, aware that he sounded like a broken record. “Both me and Gabriel. He was going to take what was most important, from both of us.”

His words hung in the air for a moment as they all processed and began to connect the dots. Owen set down his glass as they did, his hands were shaking too much to hold it. He was already reaching into his pocket for his phone when Judd’s expression cleared and he let out a curse as he figured out what Owen was implying, but he didn’t have the focus to see anything but the phone in his hands.

Billy still hadn’t figured it out though so Owen spelled it out for him as the phone now clutched to his ear rang: “Our sons. He meant our sons, who live together. He meant TK and Carlos. He rigged their house to burn too.”

There were horrified looks all around now but Owen couldn’t focus on them. The fear coursing through his veins was too all-consuming; there wasn’t room for anything else.

The ringing stopped and for a split second, Owen thought that maybe, just maybe he was in luck, that TK had finally answered. But his voicemail answered instead at the tail end of the moment and Owen could feel some of the hope he had managed to cling to slip away.

The others were watching him intently and he knew that the fear was written all over his face. Grace was the first to speak, breaking the tense silence.

“You all need to go.”

They all turned to her and Judd opened his mouth but she shook her head, “Those boys need you. With the 126 closed, there isn’t a house close enough to get to them in time. But you’re close here. I’ll call it in to dispatch, and pray a whole lot.”

Owen nodded, already standing with Judd on his heels. The younger man paused for all of a moment, turning back to his wife who only shook her head.

“TK and Carlos need you right now Judd, I’ll be fine. Just be careful, and call me when you’re done.”

Judd nodded and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss, “I love you, Gracie.”

“I love you too, now go!”

Owen didn’t need to be told twice. He was already halfway out the door before Grace even finished speaking. He jumped into his truck and was momentarily surprised when the passenger door swung open beside him. He turned, hand frozen over the ignition to see Billy climbing in beside him. The other man took a look at him and scoffed.

“Well, what are you waiting for, New York? We’ve gotta go.”

So Owen started the truck and sped away from the curb because Billy was right. TK was in danger and nothing else mattered.

He pressed the speed limit the entire way from the Ryder’s house to the condo. It wasn’t far and Owen was making excellent time as it was, but that fact did nothing to quell the racing of his heart. He can’t believe he hadn’t thought of it before. What kind of father was he that when he was told that someone was going to take what was most important to him and he didn’t immediately think of his son?

If they were too late and the worst did happen, how did he live with himself?

Billy had the scanner app running beside him, and the sound of his son’s address being relayed by dispatch sent an entirely different chill through him. It made it real, hearing the words outside of his own head. All the while his phone rang between them until TK’s voicemail picked up again and Owen swore. He took a breath and tried to let logic in. Maybe Raymond was just trying to scare them; rigging two places to burn might have taken more time than he had. Maybe they weren’t home, maybe they had decided to go out after everything that had happened today. Maybe they had been able to get out at the first signs — TK had been a firefighter, after all. He would have noticed, he would have known how to safely get them both out. He...

His conjecture broke off sharply as they finally reached their destination and Owen suddenly found that he couldn’t breathe.

There were flames already eating through the first story, their ominous glow cutting through the night. Owen knew in his gut he had been right but seeing it stoked an entirely new fear within him. TK was in there. Carlos was in there. He needed to get them out.

He moved towards the structure but suddenly there were hands on him, pulling him back. He rounded on the hands holding him, ready to fight back only to be met with Judd’s unimpressed gaze.

“Running in there half-cocked and getting yourself hurt isn’t going to help them,” he told him, pressing an AFD t-shirt into his hands. “Cover up your face and let me grab the extinguishers, then we’ll go in.”

Owen followed his instructions without much thought, his shaking hands moving on autopilot to fasten the shirt around his face. His gaze never left the flaming structure before him, his chest aching with the knowledge that his son was trapped in there. It wasn’t long before a fire extinguisher was pressed into his hand by Judd, but it felt like an eternity as he watched the flames grow ever higher. He felt as if he were in those flames himself, the fear and guilt eating away inside of him with every passing breath that he got to take that his son might not.

And then they were moving, bursting through the front door and attacking the flames with their extinguishers. Owen barely took a moment to survey the downstairs — to see the familiar living space charred and destroyed — before he led the way up the stairs to the bedroom, Billy on his heels. The sound of breaking glass had him running faster and he burst through the door to feel his heart jump into his throat at the sight of Carlos preparing himself to jump out of a second-floor window, TK a step behind him.

He shouted at them to follow him as Billy did his best to quell the flames that threatened to stop them. But Owen knew they wouldn’t because he wouldn’t be deterred. Now that he had the boys in his sight, he wasn’t about to leave here without them; no matter what.

They both turned and looked at him in shock and he can only imagine how little sense this all must make. But then TK was pulling Carlos towards them and then they were out of the room and down the stairs

He noted the hand that TK kept on Carlos as he stepped in front of them and wondered how much of it was his training and how much of it was the need to know that he was still with him. It was an instinct he understood, as he led the way and did his best to clear their path with the one fire extinguisher he had. He could hear them behind him but he was almost afraid to turn around, as if somehow if he looked back they would be gone; a modern-day Orpheus giving into his doubt and losing it all. So he focused instead on the flames, on finding the next step. On the way forward.

His mind had almost started to wander again — pondering the terrors and what-ifs even now — but a piece of the ceiling falling to the ground before him interrupted that spiral, wrenching him back to reality. Being surrounded by fire on all sides without a stitch of gear was unlike anything else and he bit back a cry as some of the smoldering debris landed on his arm. But he pushed on because TK and Carlos were behind him and that was all that mattered. He could weather any amount of pain as long as the boys were safe.

Finally, they burst through what remained of the front door, and before he even paused to take a breath he turned on his heel to make sure that they were behind him, that he hadn’t failed even more than he already had.

But there they were, hunched over on their front lawn; taking heaving breaths of fresh air and coughing out the remnants of smoke still trapped in their lungs.

Distantly Owen heard the sound of footsteps behind him and Tommy ran to join them and of shouts as Judd and Billy spilled out of the front door. Tommy gave him a quick look before making a beeline for the boys, reaching out for TK who shook his head and nodded towards Carlos. Her expression softened ever so slightly as she reached out a hand for Carlos, guiding him (and therefore TK too) further away from the flames still eating through the darkness of the night sky.

Owen watched them go as Judd appeared at his side, following his gaze before glancing down at Owen’s sleeve.

“Those could be some nasty burns, Cap,” he observed. “You should get those checked out.”

Even as he said the words the 129 was piling out of their truck and the captain was calling out orders. Owen watched them go but knew with a sinking heart that the damage had already been done in so many ways. He shook his head at Judd a moment later, “They’ll keep.”

Judd opened his mouth to argue but trailed off when he followed Owen’s gaze back to where TK and Carlos were now getting checked out by the paramedics, Tommy hovering at the edge. His expression turned sad at the sight of Carlos hunched over and TK wrapped around him, running a soothing hand up and down his arm even as his mouth moved in what were likely soft reassurances.

“Do you think he’ll ever forgive me Judd?” he heard himself ask, and he wasn’t surprised when the other man looked at him sharply.

“Who?” he asked, “TK?” He started to speak but then stopped as he glanced back over his shoulder at the home that was crumbling to soggy ashes behind them. His eyes turned back to the couple currently seeking solace in each other in the back of an ambulance before he sighed: “Yeah, he will. He’s good like that. It’s just gonna take some time.”

Owen nodded his agreement but kept his mouth shut so what he was really thinking didn’t slip through. Maybe, he thought, forgiveness isn’t even what he is looking for. Forgiving could be easy and TK had perfected the art over the course of his life. He knew his son loved him, but love didn’t always mean the same as trust. Trust was something else entirely and Owen couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before his son ever put his trust in him again.

#911 lone star #911 lone star fic #my writing #oh look another 2x12 coda #userkimmy #userjilly #userac #userbones #usermaximus #tuserpaige #reyesstrand #reyeslonestartag

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