Work Text:
The buzzing of the alarm on his phone is what shakes TK from his blissful sleep. He quickly turned the alarm off in hopes that it wouldn’t rouse Carlos, but that was almost an impossible task. TK heard Carlos groan and roll over, wrapping his arms around TK’s waist, pulling him back down as TK tried to stand up.
“Baby, I have to get ready for work, my shift starts before yours.” TK says as he pretends to try and wiggle his way out of Carlos’ embrace.
“I know, I know. Just give me a kiss before you get up, please?” Carlos asks, voice thick with sleep.
“Mmmm, you know I will never say no to kisses.” TK responds, leaning down to peck Carlos on the lips.
After lazily making out for a couple of minutes, Carlos reluctantly pulls away from TK, telling him he needs to get ready or else TK is going to be late. TK slowly gets up, wishing he could spend all day in bed with Carlos, but knowing he was needed at work.
As TK went into the bathroom to get ready, Carlos made his way out of bed and into the kitchen, deciding to make TK a quick, but nice, breakfast. Finishing up with preparing breakfast, Carlos hears TK exit the bathroom, heading into the bedroom briefly to get dressed.
Coming out of the bedroom, Carlos fills TK’s mug with coffee and sets the plate of eggs and toast down, giving TK a kiss on the head as he sits down to eat. Carlos moves and sits down opposite TK, with his own respective plate and cup of coffee, staring lovingly at his soon-to-be husband.
TK eventually looks up, a questioning look passing briefly over his face before settling into a smile. “Why are you staring at me, babe?”
“What, am I not allowed to stare at my fiancé?” Carlos responds, a smirk evident on his face.
“Oh, of course you are, I just want to know what’s got you so flirty this morning. Not that I’m complaining or anything, but usually that’s my job.” TK fires back, loving the banter they’ve started.
“It’s nothing in particular, I just love you, and I’m glad to see you happy.” TK’s eyes start to water from the love he feels emanating from the love of his life. “Baby, I didn’t expect you to make me cry this morning, Nancy is going to be all over me about this.” TK jokes before checking his watch, realizing he needed to get going or else he’d be late.
As TK got up, Carlos quickly got up too, grabbing TK’s dishes for him, telling him not to worry about them. TK, with yet another smile on his face, pulled Carlos in for a kiss before grabbing his bag and leaving for work.
Watching TK leave, Carlos grabbed the dirty breakfast dishes, washing them and putting them on the rack to dry before getting ready for work himself. Carlos didn’t want to tell TK this, but with the FBI in town working on the extremist group case, he was worried something bad was going to happen, and wanted TK as far away from it as possible.
Picking up his own bag, Carlos headed towards the door, turning off all the lights, turning on the alarm, and headed out for work, mentally preparing himself for another day of working the extremist group case.
—
The day had been filled with many small, routine calls and TK was aching for something bigger. He doesn’t mind easier days, but today was not a day he wanted to be easy and routine. He wanted to be challenged and use his skill set, and monitoring vitals, starting IVs and driving the ambulance was not enough for him.
Sitting down to eat, the 126 was immersed in conversation, everyone enjoying Paul’s famous chili. TK wished Carlos was here to eat with them, but he was working a big case, which if he worked well, could catapult his career as a detective, and so he didn’t want to bother him with coming over to the station. If TK snuck an extra bowl into the fridge to bring it home for Carlos, well, no one had to know.
Just as TK was about to help clean up the dishes, the alarm rang loudly around the station, intercom calling for paramedics. Quickly making sure he had everything, TK hopped into the driver’s seat, flicking on the lightbar and sirens, heading towards a call he knew would have adrenaline pumping through his veins.
—
Arriving on scene, TK hopped out of the driver’s seat, grabbing his backpack, and walking in line with Tommy and Nancy, waiting for further direction.
“Alright, let’s head inside and see what we’re dealing with. Dispatch said they couldn’t get a lot out of the caller, only that there was a lot of blood.” Tommy announced, heading towards the front door.
With the limited information, TK was somewhat hoping that the police unit they were sending would be Carlos, but realistically he knew that Carlos was most likely at his desk, surrounded by paperwork.
Heading towards the door, TK started to feel uneasy. The house was unusually quiet for an emergency, usually hearing some sort of noise inside, and someone by the door rushing them, but no one was there.
Knocking on the door, Tommy announced their presence. When no one came to the door, Nancy tried the handle, finding the door unlocked. Tommy led the way into the house, Nancy and TK trailing close behind. “Austin EMS, this is Captain Vega, can you tell me where you are?” Hearing a shout from down the hall, Tommy and Nancy start heading in that direction, TK pausing where he is after hearing another faint noise from another room.
“Hey, cap? I’m hearing a noise from another room and it sounds like they’re in pain. I can go check it out and radio you if I need you.”
Tommy contemplated this for a minute before nodding. “Okay, go. I’ll let dispatch know, the officer they’re sending should be here any minute and have them send the officer to you for back up.”
“On it, cap.” TK replies, giving Nancy the large backpack, then heading towards the back room.
Before TK fully entered the room, a man came out of nowhere, wrapping his arm around TK’s neck, and squeezing tightly, not giving TK a chance to scream. Doing his best to fight off his attacker, TK kicked back, making contact with the man’s knee, but wasn’t able to get the man to loosen his grip.
TK could feel himself losing consciousness, but tried his best to hold out, hoping the officer was here, or that Tommy or Nancy could hear what was going on.
The last thing TK felt before succumbing to the lack of oxygen was a hot breath in his ear, whispering “it's nothing personal,” and a faint shout from Nancy “TK! The patient is over here!”
—
After allowing TK to go towards the noise he heard, Tommy and Nancy headed towards the end of the hallway. Turning into the last room, they saw a boy, no older than 17, laying on the ground in a pool of blood, unresponsive.
Tommy and Nancy quickly got to work, trying to find the source of the bleeding. They found a bullet wound to the abdomen, sharing a quick glance before Tommy asked Nancy to yell for TK to assist.
Nancy, tilting her head back, yelled for TK. “TK! The patient is over here!”
Not waiting for a response, Nancy focused back on the patient. Setting up the LifePak and prepping the IV, a long shrill comes from the monitor. “Cap, asystole.” Nancy says, looking at Tommy.
“Okay, let’s start compressions and pack this wound.” Tommy states, briefly looking around for TK before going back to the patient.
As Nancy was giving compressions, she looked over to Tommy. “Cap, where the hell is TK?” Nancy asked, a bit breathless. “I don’t know, but we need to focus on this patient right now.”
Nancy nodded, unease settling in her gut as she continued to pump the young boy’s chest. After a few minutes, Nancy and Tommy switched positions, with Tommy taking over compressions. As Tommy paused to do a pulse check, she noticed the way Nancy stiffened and looked up in fear.
Turning around, Tommy came face to face with a large, burly man holding a gun, mask covering his face.
“Stand up and walk out of here right now or I shoot,” the man ordered. Tommy took a deep breath before responding. “We need to help this patient, get his heart started and to a hospital so-” Tommy was cut off by the man shouting “He’s dead! Now get out of here before I kill you!”
Tommy and Nancy stand after watching the man wave around the gun and seeing two other men come from around the corner, guns in hand. Grabbing their equipment, Nancy whispers to Tommy, “Cap, what about TK? You don’t think…” letting the sentence hang in the air, not wanting to finish it.
“Nancy, listen to me. You get outside, radio dispatch, tell them what’s going on. I’ll do what I can to figure out where TK is.” Nancy nodded before walking towards the door. She was thinking not only about TK, but also why the men were letting them go; it didn’t make any sense.
Making her way outside, Nancy tripped by the front door, looking down to find the officer that was supposed to provide back up, unconscious, blood from an obvious head wound staining the floor.
Before she could say anything, one of the men shoved her in the back with his gun, telling her to keep moving. Before she could open the door, the man grabbed her by the shoulder, whipping her around, grabbing her radio and smashing it on the ground. “You don’t need that right now.” The man sneered before pushing her back towards the door.
Back inside, Tommy moved slowly, keeping a close eye on Nancy, but also trying to see if she could spot TK anywhere. As if reading her thoughts, the first man spoke up. “If you’re looking for your other medic, he’s staying with us. We need him for something, and we need you to tell your little police and FBI friends that we’ll be waiting for them.”
“How about we make a deal? You take me and you let my other paramedic go. I’m the captain, I’ll be the bigger bargaining chip.” Tommy tries to argue, desperate to get TK out safely.
“Unfortunately sweetheart, I need TK specifically.” Almost not hearing the rest after realizing the man called TK by his name, Tommy refocused on what the man was saying. “His fiancé has been a real pain in our asses ever since he started helping the FBI. So, we need TK in order for Reyes to show up.”
Tommy did her best to keep her breathing steady as she asked her next question. “He is alive, right? Is he hurt?”
“He’s fine, now give me your radio and get out of here, now!” The man rages.
Tommy quickly unhooked her radio, giving it to the man and heading outside, not wanting to push her luck or putting TK at risk.
Meeting up with Nancy outside, Tommy quickly explained to Nancy what was going on with TK, while Nancy explained what happened with the police officer.
Nancy took out the keys from the backpack, going to the driver’s side before Tommy told her to give her the keys and get in the passenger side. Grabbing the radio after shutting the door, Tommy immediately notified dispatch about what was going on.
Not wanting to risk the men coming outside and coming after them, Tommy drove the ambulance around the corner, keeping the ambulance out of view of the house.
—
Carlos was nose deep in evidence when his stomach growled. Checking the time, he realized it was already his lunch break and he had ended up working through his usual 15-minute break when he’d get up and grab a muffin from the break room to tie himself over.
Realizing he had forgotten to pack his lunch, Carlos decided a quick trip to the 126 wouldn’t be a bad idea. More than likely, they had already eaten lunch, but if he knew his fiancé, which he did, then there would be leftovers in the fridge.
Letting his sergeant know he was going for his lunch, Carlos made his way to his vehicle, excited to possibly see TK. Contemplating letting TK know, Carlos decided that surprising him would be nice, so he put his phone back in his pocket and put his car in drive.
Once Carlos arrived at the station, he noticed the ambulance was out of the building, and a spark of disappointment traveled through him. Walking inside, Carlos was greeted by Paul, who saw him first. “Hey, Carlos! TK’s out on a call right now, but I know he left you some chili in the fridge if you want some.”
“Thank you, I am hungry, actually.” Carlos responded, before patting Paul on the shoulder and heading to the kitchen.
After heating up and eating the chili, Carlos walked towards the bay doors, planning on chatting with the crew for a few minutes before having to head back to the police station.
Striking up a conversation with Marjan, Carlos is interrupted by his radio going off telling him to head to a random location immediately. Carlos quickly said goodbye to everyone and got in his car, driving towards the location he was given.
—
Arriving on scene, Carlos sees Tommy and Nancy talking with sergeant O’Brien, but TK was nowhere to be found. Jogging over, Carlos felt his heart drop when he saw the looks on their faces.
“Officer Reyes,” O’Brien addresses before Tommy or Nancy could say anything, “Those men inside we believe are the extremists we’ve been looking for.”
“Wait what?” Carlos asks, incredulously. “Where is TK then?” Carlos looks around hesitantly, already knowing the answer, but hoping he’s wrong.
“He’s inside. Carlos, they knew who TK was because they knew who you were.” Tommy replies softly.
Carlos feels his world stop at the revelation. Him and TK have already had extensive conversations over Carlos’ safety during this case, TK being afraid Carlos would end up hurt, and Carlos reassuring him that he would be okay. What they never discussed was the possibility of TK becoming a potential target if things became personal.
Looking towards the house, Carlos prayed that TK was relatively okay, and wasn’t being hurt. Slipping on his mask of professionalism, Carlos turned to sergeant O’Brien, waiting for orders on their next move.
—
TK woke up to the sound of heavy footsteps and hushed voices in the adjacent room. Lifting his head up was a challenge, the pain in his neck consuming his thoughts. Blinking his eyes, trying to get them to focus, TK realizes he’s tied to a chair in a dark room. Memories of what happened earlier come flooding back, and TK has to work to swallow down his panic. Memories of the last time he was kidnapped make their way into his thoughts, fighting alongside the panic he’s trying to keep at bay.
TK realized he must have made a noise, when the men all quieted down and one set of footsteps became louder, signalling that they were coming closer. TK put on a brave face, not wanting whomever was coming through the door to see his panic and fear.
“Oh, look who’s awake. I was beginning to think I squeezed you a little too hard earlier.”
TK looked up, a defiant look in his eye, staring down the man who decided crushing his windpipe was the best idea. “Where’s the rest of my team?” TK decided to ask, voice rough and scratchy.
“Don’t worry about them, we let them go. Needed them to deliver the news and bring the FBI and your boy here.”
TK’s breath hitched at the fact the man spoke about Carlos specifically. They had talked about the potential danger Carlos could be in by taking such an active role in the case, and now here TK was, being the bait for Carlos.
TK regained his composure, asking the question he was sure he didn’t want the answer to. “What do you want with my boyfriend?”
“See, your boyfriend made our job a lot harder. The FBI and APD, they’re a bunch of idiots, but your boy managed to make a connection no one else did, so we needed to adapt.” Walking closer to TK, the man got right up in his face for the next part. “We found out everything we could about him. What he lived for, who he loved, what meant the most to him. Then we found you. The next part for us was the fun part. Figure out which area was your service zone and keep an eye out for when you were working. Taking you off the street would have been too easy, and we could have had you for hours before anyone knew you were missing, and we are kind of on a tight schedule here.”
TK kept hard eye contact with the man, but fear was making its way into his eyes, and the man immediately picked up on it.
“You want to know what we’re planning, don’t you?” The man chuckles. “Well, since you won’t be alive long enough to tell anyone, I guess I can give you an idea. I’ve gotta say, I love the fear in your eyes, and I can only imagine the looks in your boy’s eyes when he finds your body.”
TK watched as the man backed away and started pacing the room. “I’m sure your boyfriend has told you about us, calling us an extremist group and all that, but he just doesn’t understand that we are passionate about our beliefs and want people to listen. If that means we need to set off a bomb or two, then so be it.”
TK took a shuddering breath after hearing about the bomb. Was it in this house or was it somewhere else? Was he just a distraction to get the police and FBI here?
TK wanted to ask more, but he heard the tell-tale signs of sirens approaching the neighbourhood. “Well, look who finally showed up. You just sit here nice and quiet and watch the party unfold.”
Desperately wishing that Carlos was far away, but knowing deep in his gut that he was right outside, TK looked around the room, trying to see if there was anything that could resemble a bomb, or any materials that could be used to make a bomb.
TK spotted a box of wires and what looked like a canister of some chemical, which confirmed to TK that they were serious about a bomb. Though TK couldn’t spot an actual bomb anywhere, something in him told him there was a bomb somewhere in the house.
TK tried to work his hands free, but all he was doing was giving himself rope burns. Huffing in frustration, TK looked around, seeing if he could find anything that could help with the rope and checking if the chair was bolted into the ground or not. Seeing that it was, he knew there wasn’t anything he could do to get out.
Hearing voices from the other room, TK tried to hear what they were saying, but all he could make out was “hide,” “bomb,” and “shoot,” which made the hairs on his arm stand up in fear. If what he thought was going to happen, did, then no one would be making it out alive.
—
Carlos, along with APD, SWAT, and the FBI, were gathered together to figure out the best plan of action. At first, everyone was hesitant to let Carlos in on the case, knowing his fiancé was inside, but Carlos wasn’t taking no for an answer. No one was getting TK out except himself. Realizing everyone was fighting a losing battle and knowing if the situation involved them, they would be right at the forefront, they kept Carlos on the strike team.
They decided to have Carlos and the APD and SWAT take the front door, and have the FBI take the back.
Heading towards the front door, vest on, assault rifle at the ready, Carlos leads the team and signals to open the door. Once inside, Carlos and everyone else does a perimeter check, but don’t find any of the men Tommy and Nancy had said were inside.
Hearing a faint shuffle from downstairs, Carlos found the stairs and signalled for someone to follow. Barely glancing back to check if anyone followed, Carlos made his way down the stairs, hopeful TK would be down there, alive.
When he got to the bottom, he heard the shuffle again, to his right. Turning, Carlos walked toward the noise. He heard two officers behind him, so again, Carlos took the lead, being the first one to enter the room.
When he rushed into the room, he locked eyes with TK, seeing the fear evident in them. Quickly making his way over to TK, he notices the rope digging into TK’s wrists, and grabs a knife from his belt.
“Carlos, baby! You need to get out of here! They’re coming after you!” TK cries, tears streaming down his face, not only in relief that Carlos was here, but also in fear that Carlos was here, in danger.
“TK, cariño, calm down. It’s okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you.” Carlos says, trying to calm TK down.
“No, Carlos, you don’t understand! They want you and they have a bomb!”
At the revelation, Carlos doubled down on his efforts to get TK out of his binds and out of the house. If what he was saying was true, the bomb could go off at any moment, killing them all.
Carlos got the rope cut and quickly helped TK stand, giving him a once over to make sure he was okay. When he didn’t see any blood, only some chaffing on his wrists and faint bruising on his neck, Carlos ushered TK out of the room and up the stairs.
When they got to the top of the stairs, Carlos noticed a glint of a gun, and without hesitation, pushed TK down, covering his body with his own. Bullets started raining down. How no one found the men beforehand was beyond Carlos, but looking around, he noticed almost every FBI agent was unconscious or dead, laying in pools of blood.
Carlos, with adrenaline pumping through his body, rolled off TK, checking to make sure he wasn’t hit, and whispered in TK’s ear, “TK, you need to get out of here, now! I’ll hold them off, you get outside, please!”
TK went to argue, but when he saw the look in Carlos’ eye, he knew not to say a word. TK waited until Carlos started firing before running to the door, praying Carlos would be okay.
When TK made it outside, he ran towards where Tommy and Nancy were standing, beside the APD. Tommy and Nancy rushed to meet him, hugging him and checking him over for injuries. TK tried to brush past them, needing to tell the police about the bomb, and to get the bomb squad out asap.
After calming down and talking to someone from the APD whom TK didn’t bother to learn the name of, TK turned back towards the house, hoping Carlos was still okay in there. The shots had died down, but due to the fact that there was a potential bomb in the house, no one was allowed back in until the bomb squad arrived.
Less than 10 minutes later, the bullets had stopped completely, but no one had come out of the house. The bomb squad had rolled up, and were preparing for entry. TK was with them, gearing up to go in.
After becoming a paramedic, and the experience in the minefield, TK decided he wanted to also get certified as a bomb squad medic. Since he was one of few in the city, and he potentially knew where the bomb was located, he needed to go back in, despite the fact he was just rescued.
Clipping his helmet, TK followed behind the bomb squad, making his way back to the building.
Walking back up the steps, TK is hit with a rush of adrenaline and anxiety. The house was too quiet. Getting the go-ahead, the door is opened and the bomb squad and TK, along with more APD officers, rush in, stepping over the bodies on the floor. One of the bodies TK spots is one of the masked men, meaning there are at least two more still somewhere. The next thing TK realizes is that Carlos is nowhere to be found.
Heart pounding in his chest, TK looks around, and finds a trail of blood heading down to the basement. Not wasting a moment, nor waiting for someone to tell him no, TK ran down the stairs, barely regarding the shouts of protest.
As TK made his way down the last step, a shot rang out. One second TK was on his feet, the next, his back was hitting the stairs. His ears were ringing and his whole vision was white. As he laid there trying to figure out what happened, more shots rang out, and he could feel arms start to drag him up the steps. Regaining his bearings at the thought of being pulled away from where Carlos may be, TK fought against the arms, sending him toppling back down the stairs, landing on the dead body of the man who had presumably made the first shot.
Standing up, TK was hit with a wave of dizziness, but he fought it off and ran down the hall, following the trail of blood. An officer ran up beside TK, pushing him back, telling him something TK couldn’t quite understand since his ears were still stubbornly ringing.
Figuring out that the officer was just getting in front to enter the room first, TK followed behind. As soon as they made their way through, the officer shot and killed the man hovering over a slumped figure before he even had a chance to shoot his own gun.
TK, without missing a beat, ran over to the figure in the chair, breath hitching at seeing it was Carlos. Quickly checking for a pulse, TK found one, though it was weak and thready. Doing a quick head to toe, TK found a large gash on Carlos' forehead, staining his face with blood, and a bullet wound in his lower abdomen, just below the bottom of his vest, bleeding sluggishly.
Before TK could turn and ask for a knife, another medic was right beside him, cutting the binds. TK made quick work of lifting Carlos up and into a fireman’s carry, not wanting anyone else to touch his fiancé.
Making his way towards the stairs, TK is hit with another wave of dizziness, almost sending him to his knees, but he ignores it in favour of getting Carlos out of the house and into the ambulance.
Making his way up the stairs, he feels hands on him, keeping him steady. Once reaching the top, TK turns and jogs out of the house, Tommy and Nancy already at the steps, stretcher waiting. Helping Carlos onto the stretcher, Nancy works on getting Carlos hooked up to the LifePak. Once hooked up, the monitors start going crazy. “His blood pressure’s dropping!” Nancy calls out, putting more pressure on the bullet wound. As they start to move, the monitor lets out a long shrill. “No pulse!” Nancy exclaims, and TK is on Carlos in an instant.
Ignoring Nancy and Tommy telling TK to stop and let them work, TK keeps pumping on Carlos’ chest, tears cascading down his face, whispering for Carlos to hold on, to come back because he needs him.
Eventually, TK feels a strong set of arms grab him, pulling him off Carlos. Fighting back, TK tries to get the man to let go, fear coursing through his veins at the reminder he was in this type of position earlier.
Growing tired, TK starts to struggle less, and the pounding in his head he’d been ignorant to started making itself known. That’s when he hears Judd’s voice in his ear. “It’s okay, TK. Tommy and Nancy got him back. Just relax, kid. Let us check you out and get you to a hospital.”
How and why Judd was here was beyond TK. He didn’t remember the crew being on scene, but then again, he wouldn’t put it past Tommy or Nancy to call and let them know what was going on.
Reluctantly allowing Judd to guide him over to another ambulance, TK sits numbly on the awaiting stretcher. He can hear voices trying to talk to him, but words aren’t making sense. The pounding in his head is getting worse, and the dizziness is only adding to it.
TK doesn’t realize he’s being laid down until his head lands softly on a pillow, vision swimming in and out of focus. He feels the helmet he’d been wearing get pulled off his head, but he’s too weak to protest the hands on him. He also feels the hands undoing the vest he was wearing, manipulating his body against his will. Again, he tried to protest, but his body wasn’t cooperating anymore.
Glancing over slowly, he sees Judd, Marjan, Paul, and Mateo hovering over him, each giving him a reassuring, but worried smile. Before TK slips into unconsciousness, he faintly hears Judd say “that boy’s got nine lives.”
—
TK was in and out of consciousness the entire ride to the hospital. When he was conscious, he was mumbling about Carlos, wanting to know if he was okay, and wanting to see him. Holly, the paramedic from the 129 kept telling TK Carlos was okay, not wanting to stress her patient out further.
Holly had gotten a brief update from Tommy, saying they were able to get Carlos’ heart started again and were rushing him to St. David’s. Holly told her partner to also take TK to St. David’s, knowing he would want to be with Carlos.
By the time they had unloaded TK from the ambulance and got him inside the hospital, he was taken back immediately for scans. One of the doctors checked the helmet TK was wearing, noting a dent from the bullet, but that the helmet was still intact.
Once TK was back from getting a CT scan, he was settled in a room to rest. A nurse came in and started an IV, making sure TK was hydrated, and giving him anti-nausea and anti-anxiety meds. The doctor held off on the pain meds, first wanting to speak with Owen, since TK was not coherent enough to make a decision and Carlos wasn’t able to make a decision either.
—
When TK blinked his eyes open, he didn’t realize where he was until the sterile smell hit his nostrils. Scrunching his nose in distaste, he turned his head slightly, and saw Andrea looking down. Not wanting to interrupt what she was doing, TK watched her silently for a minute before she looked up, surprise evident on her face.
“Oh, TK, mijo. I’m so glad you’re awake. How are you feeling? Do you need me to get a doctor?”
“No, I’m okay,” TK responds slowly, before remembering the events of the day. Shooting up in bed, TK gasps out. “Carlos! Is he okay? Mama, please tell me he’s okay!”
Hit with a bout of dizziness, Andrea gently guides TK back down, reaching for a basin in case he might need it. “TK, relax. Carlitos is in surgery. Gabriel is in the waiting room upstairs getting updates from the doctors.”
TK moves to get up again, but is firmly kept down by Andrea. “I want to be there. I need to be there.” TK whispers, already exhausted from moving around in the bed. “I know, but right now you need to rest. You have a concussion, and the doctors want to keep you overnight for observation. They’re just getting a bed ready for you upstairs and then they’ll take you up.” Andrea replies softly.
“I don’t want to stay, I just want to be with Carlos.” TK cries lightly. Andrea sits forward in the chair she was given, carding her fingers through TK’s hair, trying to soothe him. It seems to do the trick as TK’s eyes start to flutter shut, sleep overtaking him.
—
Gabriel, along with the 126 and members of the APD, were gathered in the OR waiting room area. Varying levels or worry were marked on everyone’s faces, Gabriel’s clearly being the worst.
When Carlos had told him briefly about the case, Gabriel had warned him about how personal these cases could get, and to be careful. He was confident in his son’s capabilities as a police officer, but at the end of the day, he was still Carlos’ dad, and it was his job to worry.
Looking around the room, Gabriel watches as one of the firefighters, Marjan, if he remembers correctly, is bringing back cups of coffee for everyone. Marjan had come over to Gabriel when he first arrived, introducing herself, and asking if there was anything she could do, or if he wanted anything to eat or drink. He had refused, but appreciated the kind gesture.
The last update he had received was from one of the nurses telling him that Carlos was stable, so far, but the bullet was lodged close to Carlos’ spine, making the surgery more difficult than anticipated.
Gabriel pulled out his phone, bringing up his wife’s number, asking how TK was doing. When Gabriel had gotten the call that Carlos had been shot, he had been at the market with Andrea, picking up some last-minute groceries for the dinner they were supposed to have with Carlos and TK the following day.
No one had told them that TK had been held hostage and injured as well, so when they arrived at the hospital, both Gabriel and Andrea were confused as to where TK was. Owen had approached them first, explaining everything that had happened, including that TK was resting in the ER until his room was ready.
Frustrated at Owen for not being with his son, Andrea told Gabriel to keep her updated, and went to sit with TK, knowing he shouldn’t be waking up alone.
—
Hours later, with no new update, everyone was beginning to get antsy. The typical “no news is good news” was getting old, and it wasn’t doing anything to ease anyone’s anxiety.
The only real news they had gotten was that TK had been moved to a room for observation, but was arguing with the doctors, wanting to be in the waiting room for when the surgeon came out once the surgery was over.
To keep him occupied, the 126 took turns sitting with him, talking to him about anything and everything. TK had dozed off a couple of times, the anti-nausea meds making him lethargic, and the anti-anxiety meds keeping him relaxed.
Though he had dozed off a couple of times, he didn’t sleep for long, being woken up with memories of the day, and worrying about Carlos taking over his mind.
Nancy was sitting with TK when the text came through that the surgeon had come out and spoken with Andrea and Gabriel.
The surgeon said that the surgery went as well as expected, but there was a possibility of paralysis due to the location of the bullet. TK looked as if he was ready to bolt, but Nancy kept him laying down, reminding him that Carlos was in recovery, and TK wouldn’t be able to see him until he was settled in a room.
Knowing logically Nancy was right, though never outright saying it, he stopped fighting her, leaning back in bed, and fiddling with the tape on his hand.
“Dude, stop messing with the tape, you know how annoying it is when patients do that.” Nancy joked, trying to get TK to crack a smile.
TK looked at Nancy silently, letting go of the tape. He knew Nancy was trying to lighten the mood, but he couldn’t handle it. The weight of the day was pressing down on his shoulders, and it was taking all of his strength not to cry.
Watching the smile drop from Nancy’s face was all it took for TK to let go. Heavy sobs wracked his frame as Nancy pulled him into her chest, rubbing soothing circles on his back, gently telling him to let it all out.
Other members of the 126 stood just outside the doorway, allowing the paramedic partners a moment of privacy before letting them know they were heading home.
Once TK had calmed down, he laid his head back on the pillow. “I’m sorry Nance I-”
“Ah, nope. You don’t apologize for crying. You have had one hell of a day and deserve to break down a little.”
In lieu of a response, TK smiled softly, knowing Nancy would appreciate it. Marjan, Paul, and Mateo made their way into the room, saying goodbye to TK, telling him they were all glad both him and Carlos were alive, and that they’d stop by tomorrow to say hello.
—
TK didn’t realize he had fallen asleep until he heard hushed voices, deep in conversation. Looking to his right, TK saw Owen and Gabriel discussing something TK couldn’t quite hear.
Gabriel must have noticed TK stir because he stopped talking, looking over Owen’s shoulder, locking eyes with TK. “TK, son, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, how’s Carlos? Is he awake yet?” TK asked.
“He’s still sleeping off the sedation. The doctors say he most likely won’t be awake until the morning.”
“Can I see him, though? I don’t care if he’s sleeping, I just need to know he’s okay.” TK responded, already trying to move the blankets.
“TK, you need to stay in bed and rest. I can bring you over in the morning.” Owen cut in.
“Dad, just five minutes, please? You can even bring me over in a wheelchair” TK bargained, hoping it’d be enough to convince his dad to let him see his fiancé. Before Owen could respond, a nurse came into the room, apologizing for interrupting, but needing to perform a set of vitals, a cognitive check, and check his IV.
Once she was finished and was satisfied with everything, TK turned on his best puppy dog eyes. “Could I ask you a question?” TK asked sweetly.
“Of course, what can I do for you, hun?”
“Could I get a wheelchair and see my fiancé? He had surgery earlier and I just really need to see him for myself and let him know that I’m okay too.”
The nurse stared at TK for a moment, trying to see if she could hold out against those eyes, but it was a losing battle. Taking a small breath, the nurse agreed, telling him she’d be back in a moment, and sharing a look with Owen and Gabriel.
True to her word, the nurse came back a minute later with a wheelchair, and helped TK into it, mindful of the IV still in his hand, giving him fluids. “Alrighty TK, I expect to see you back here in 30 minutes or else I’m sending someone after you.”
Before TK could come up with a response, Owen cut in. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s back.”
TK rolled his eyes, but regretted the movement as it made his head spin and the nausea come back with a vengeance. Trying not to let his discomfort show, TK put a smile on his face and let his dad start pushing him, Gabriel beside him.
—
Making their way into the ICU, TK looked around, a couple of nurses giving him a soft smile, no doubt aware of who he was and who he was here to see.
TK must have zoned out because he didn’t realize he had stopped moving until Gabriel put a hand on his shoulder asking “are you ready to go in, mijo?”
Nodding, Gabriel wheeled TK into the room and set him on the side opposite Andrea. TK leaned forward, taking Carlos’ hand, mindful of the IV and pulse clip on his finger. With his other hand, TK reached up, running his fingers through Carlos’ hair.
Trailing his hand down Carlos’ face, TK gently adjusted the nasal cannula, needing to do something for his fiancé. He watched the steady rise and fall of Carlos’ chest, listened to the methodical beeping of the monitors telling him Carlos’ heart was beating just fine.
Andrea glanced over at TK, watching the man carefully hold her son, love and concern evident in his eyes. Seeing where TK was just a couple of years ago to where he is now, she can’t help but feel immense pride and love for the man.
Sitting silently, Andrea watched as TK’s eyes started to droop, showing how tired the man truly was. It had been a long day for everyone, but especially for TK.
Getting up slowly, Andrea circled the bed, coming over beside TK. “Mijo, let’s get you back to your own bed so both you and Carlos can rest.”
Expecting some push back, Andrea was surprised when TK gave Carlos a kiss on his forehead and let go of him, settling back in his wheelchair. Stepping behind the chair, Andrea pushed TK slowly back to his room, humming soothingly.
By the time the pair had made their way back to TK’s room, TK was fast asleep. Andrea, along with TK’s nurse, gently woke him and helped him back into bed. Giving TK a kiss to his head, Andrea left TK’s room quietly, meeting Gabriel by the door, walking with him hand in hand, out of the hospital.
—
The sun was shining through the curtains when TK opened his eyes. He had been woken up a few times throughout the night, nurses coming in to check on him, and the doctor coming in to do morning rounds.
They were confident TK would be released at some point today, which was fine in TK’s book. All he really wanted was to see Carlos.
Knowing he was going to be released anyways, TK swung his legs out of bed, taking a deep breath, keeping the dizziness and nausea at bay. Standing up slowly, TK leaned against the IV pole for support while he gained his balance.
“Concussions suck” TK thought as he made his way towards the door. Checking to make sure the nurses were occupied and not paying attention to him. Figuring he’d be able to sneak away and up to the ICU to sit with Carlos, TK left his room.
TK made decent distance before a disapproving voice spoke from behind. “And just where do you think you’re going?”
Stopping in his tracks, TK turned, a sheepish look on his face. His nurse is standing behind him, arms crossed, smirk plastered on her face.
“I- uh, am just going for a short walk.” was all TK could come up with under the intense gaze.
“Now, does this short walk end in the ICU beside your fiancé’s bed?” The nurse asks, eyes softening when she notices TK’s start to water.
Walking up to TK, Erika, the nurse (don’t blame him for not remembering names when he’s concussed) wrapped her arms gently around TK, giving him a hug.
“I just want to be there when he wakes up.” TK sniffles.
Erika normally prides herself on being strict with her patients, wanting them to heal properly while in her care, but one look at TK told her that he needed this. If she were to get him back in bed, he’d be right back up on his feet trying to go back as soon as she turned around.
Realizing this, Erika fetched a wheelchair and eased TK into it. Letting her charge nurse know where she’d be taking TK and that she’d be right back, fully knowing it wasn’t protocol, but doing so anyway because TK had been through enough over the last 24 hours.
Bringing TK to the ICU, Erika greeted the nurses at the station, letting them know Carlos had a visitor.
After getting TK situated beside Carlos, Erika left, telling TK someone would be back in a bit to bring him back to his room to get some more rest before being discharged.
TK made himself comfortable, taking Carlos’ hand, rubbing soothing circles, and speaking to him gently. Mindless one sided conversation filled the air of Carlos’ hospital room until Andrea, along with one of Carlos’ sisters, Gabriela, came in.
TK smiled at them both, asking how they were both doing. The three of them chatted for a bit before TK felt a slight tug on the hand grasping Carlos’.
“Baby? Hey, baby, can you hear me?” TK asked, leaning forward. He watched impatiently as Carlos’ eyes fluttered open, glancing briefly over at TK, before sliding shut again.
Andrea and Gabriela looked worried, but TK assured them this was normal. Waking up wasn’t like the movies, it was slower, more gradual. Most likely, Carlos wouldn’t be fully aware until later on in the day.
One of the ICU nurses, noticing the small bit of commotion, popped her head in, asking if everything was okay. After TK told her that Carlos’ was slowly coming out of the anesthesia, the nurse double checked his vitals, noting them on his chart, and said she would make the doctor aware.
Comfortable silence took over the room after the nurse left. As the little bit of adrenaline left TK’s body, he was starting to feel tired again. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was ready to sleep for a couple of hours.
As if reading his mind, a CNA entered the room, making a beeline for TK, letting him know she was here to bring TK back to his room. TK said his goodbyes and allowed himself to be taken back to his room.
Getting comfortable back in bed, TK asked the CNA if she could dim the lights so that he could rest. Once the CNA left the room, TK closed his eyes, sleep quickly overcoming him.
—
Waking up was never a challenge for Carlos, at least until now. He could hear voices filtering the room, but it sounded like it was underwater. He felt a hand grasping his own, recognizing it to be TK’s.
Trying to convince his muscles to cooperate felt almost impossible. Eventually, he was able to squeeze TK’s hand, feeling him shift, a free hand landing softly on his cheek. He faintly hears TK saying “Baby, Hey, baby, can you hear me?”
Carlos blinks his eyes open, following the sound of his fiancé’s voice, catching the smile on his face before shutting his eyes again.
Voices became quieter as Carlos relaxed, falling back into a deep sleep.
—
Carlos was in and out of consciousness the rest of the day; a result of the combination of blood loss and anesthesia. TK had been released just before dinner, the doctor wanting to make sure TK was able to eat lunch and keep it down before allowing him to go home.
Owen had come by to bring TK clothes, and had offered to drive him home, but TK refused, wanting to sit with Carlos as long as possible before inevitably getting kicked out for the night.
The nurse assigned to Carlos was kind enough to get TK a more comfortable chair, one that could recline a bit in case TK wanted to rest. All of the nurses in the ICU were aware of what had happened and who they were, so they were turning a blind eye to small rules TK was breaking.
The reclining chair they had given TK was usually only reserved for patients or family members of patients on palliative care, but no one was going to argue TK getting one.
TK hadn’t taken his eyes off of Carlos unless necessary, irrationally fearing that if he did, Carlos would slip away from him. Logically he knew that Carlos was stable and the doctors were optimistic, but he still couldn’t swallow the fear that if anything else had gone differently, Carlos might not be alive right now.
When Carlos shifted his head, TK thought he had imagined it, but when Carlos did it again, TK knew it was real. “Baby, baby. C’mon, open your eyes. That’s it, baby.” TK encouraged.
Carlos blinked open his eyes, turning his head towards TK. A smile erupted on TK’s face at seeing Carlos awake.
“Hi, mi amor,” Carlos whispers roughly. TK chuckles wetly, whispering back, “Hi, baby. How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” Carlos responds weakly. He reaches out to grab for TK, much like TK did when he woke up from his coma after the ice situation.
TK leaned down, hugging him gently, not mentioning the position was not great for his headache. Once Carlos loosened the embrace, TK sat back down, and placed his hand on Carlos’ thigh, rubbing it gently.
Carlos’ breath hitched. “What’s wrong baby?” TK asked, panic starting to rise.
“TK, I didn’t feel you rubbing my leg.”
At that moment, TK’s world stopped. Of course he was aware that this was a possibility, but he had been hoping and praying that it wouldn’t happen. Taking a couple of calming breaths, TK reassured Carlos that everything would be okay and silently pressed the call button.
A nurse quickly came into the room, smiling when she saw Carlos awake, noting the panic in both sets of eyes looking at her. “Carlos, it’s good to see you awake, how are you feeling?”
“I- I can’t feel my legs” Carlos states, trying to keep the tears at bay. The discomfort he was feeling in his stomach was nothing compared to the fear of never being able to walk again.
“Okay, let’s take a deep breath, and I’ll get a hold of the doctor.” Not wanting to make any potentially false claims or give any false hope, the nurse left and paged for the doctor.
The doctor came in about 20 minutes later and performed a battery of tests to see the level of paralysis Carlos was experiencing. Once he was finished with his exam, he let both men know he wanted to send Carlos for an MRI of his back to get a good look at what was going on with his spinal cord.
—
Once Carlos was back from the scan, it was past visiting hours, but TK is right where he was when Carlos was wheeled out. “TK? I thought visiting hours were over?”
“As it turns out, if your fiancé is a part of a team that saved the city from an extremist group, you get some privileges.” TK jokes, keeping the mood light.
Carlos appreciated the gesture, but he wasn’t in much of a joking mood. He was hoping to see if he could pick up on the emotions of the technician that he had briefly spoken with after the scan was finished, but between the neutral face, and the fact that Carlos was a bit unfocused from the pain medication, he couldn’t tell.
Once the staff had left the room, Carlos tilted his head, giving TK a weak smile, earning a stronger one back in return. “If you’re tired baby, you should rest. I’ll be here all night.” TK said softly.
“I know.” Carlos paused for a moment before continuing. “I haven’t asked you yet. How are you doing? How’s your wrists?”
“They’re fine, baby. Nothing a little bit of cream can’t fix.” TK realized Carlos must not have remembered waking up this morning and seeing TK in a hospital gown, which was fine with him. The less Carlos worried about TK, the more he could focus on himself.
Carlos drifted off to sleep after that, satisfied with his fiancé’s response. TK watched Carlos for a bit, before briefly checking his phone, giving everyone a quick update that Carlos was back in his room. Putting his phone back down, TK shut his eyes, letting the quietness of the room lull him to sleep.
—
TK woke up to the sound of multiple footsteps approaching the room. Rubbing his eyes, he sees a bunch of doctors by the door.
TK untangled the blanket that was wrapped around him, which must have been one of the nurse’s doing since he didn’t have the blanket at his shoulders when he fell asleep.
“Good morning, Carlos and TK. I have resident doctors here to present your case this morning if that’s okay.” Carlos’ doctor greeted.
“That’s fine,” came Carlos’ response, a mix of annoyance at being woken up and memories of last night’s events.
Once Carlos’ case was presented, Carlos’ doctor asked if either of them had any questions. “Do you know if I’ll be able to walk again? TK and I are supposed to get married in a couple of months.”
Before the doctor could respond, TK cut in. “Baby, let’s not worry about that right now. You know no matter what happens I will always want to marry you and be with you. I think I made that pretty clear when I proposed. And that includes marrying you even if you’re in a wheelchair.”
Tears fell down Carlos’ cheeks as he looked at TK, seeing the conviction in his eyes. “I know that TK, but I want to be able to walk down the aisle, not be wheeled.”
“How about we take this one day at a time. Carlos, I reviewed your scans from last night, and your spinal cord is intact, which is a good thing. What I’m concerned about is the level of swelling. The reason why you are experiencing paralysis and a loss of feeling is due to the swelling and the inability of nerve signals to travel to your legs. With time, and a lot of PT, this swelling can be reduced, and you could start walking again. The only thing you need to be aware of is that this could take many, many months, and walking again is not a full guarantee.” The doctor explained.
“Okay, well we’re going to have to make it three months because that’s when we’re getting married and I will be walking down the aisle.” Carlos confirmed, leaving no room for arguments.
Watching the doctors leave, Carlos turned towards TK. “I’m serious, Tyler, I will be walking down the aisle when we get married.”
“I know you will, Carlos. Just promise me you won’t push yourself and do more damage. If you’re that serious about walking down the aisle, we can always postpone the wedding.” TK responded.
“No, we’re keeping the wedding date as is. I will be careful, but I need to get back on my feet. And if I’m not mistaken, it was you who said ‘and every moment we’re not married is a wasted moment,’” Carlos bantered back, a real smile on his face.
In lieu of a response, TK leaned in, giving Carlos a deep kiss. Reluctantly, TK eventually pulled back and helped Carlos get comfortable. “Go back to sleep, baby, it’s way too early to be this awake.”
Carlos wasn’t going to argue, instead shutting his eyes, falling back asleep almost instantly.
—
Carlos was awoken by voices in his room, seemingly arguing back and forth.
“TK, mijo, you need to go home, shower, and get some rest. These bright lights are no good for your head and I can see how much pain you’re in. Gabriel will drive you home and bring you back tonight if you want.” he heard his mom say.
“Mama, I’m okay, right now Carlos needs me. My head is the least of my worries.” Before TK could continue, Carlos spoke up.
“What do you mean your head is fine? Did something happen?”
“Baby, don’t worry about it. I’m sorry we woke you.” came the response Carlos expected.
“TK, I’m serious, don’t lie to me. What happened?” Carlos shot back.
TK hesitated a moment, trying to figure out the right words to explain the situation. “After I ran out of the house, I explained the situation to the police outside and that there was a bomb. Since I’m a certified bomb squad medic, and I knew where the bomb may have been, they needed to send me back inside. So, I went back in with them, but at that point, you had already been shot and moved to the basement where you had found me. When I went down the stairs, one of the men took a shot at me and hit my helmet. That’s why your mom is worried about my head. I’ve got a concussion, but that’s it. I promise I’m okay and you don’t need to worry.”
“Don’t need to worry? TK, if that bullet went any lower, you’d be dead. I know those helmets are bulletproof, but they still leave you with a nasty head injury if you’re hit with a bullet. Please listen to my mami and get some actual rest. I’ll be okay here.”
TK moved to argue, but looking at Carlos and his adorable cow eyes, he knew he couldn’t win. Groaning in agreement, TK stood up slowly, bracing himself on the arms of the chair when his legs threatened to give out. Gabriel came over, giving TK a hand, winking at Carlos when he looked like he was about to start panicking.
“Alright, son. Let’s get you home and let Carlitos rest.” Gabriel whispered to TK, mindful of his sensitivity to noises.
Guiding TK out of the hospital, Gabriel already had his truck pulled out front, helping TK in. By the time they had made it back to the loft, TK was snoring softly in the passenger seat. Gabriel lightly roused TK, giving the younger man a moment to gain his bearings before helping him out of the truck and into the loft.
Once inside, TK grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom for a shower. While TK was doing so, Gabriel made himself busy in the kitchen, putting on the kettle and sitting down to read the newspaper.
15 minutes later, TK made his way out of the bathroom looking even more tired than before. “You’re more than welcome to stay if you’d like, I’m just going to sleep for a bit.” TK addressed Gabriel.
“I’ll just have a cup of coffee and then be out of your hair. Whenever you’re ready to head back to the hospital, let me know and I’ll give you a ride.”
“Thank you, sir.” TK responded, stifling a yawn. Turning around, TK walked into his bedroom, got into bed, falling asleep before his head hit the pillow.
—
Days were beginning to blend together for Carlos. It had been just over a week since he had woken up, but he hadn’t seen any improvement in his legs. He still couldn’t feel when the physiotherapist came in and manipulated his legs during exercises, and still couldn’t wiggle his toes. The only plus side was that he was finally moved out of the ICU and into a general wing, after all of his labs and scans came back showing improvement.
TK was there every day, encouraging him, making small talk, and really, just being Carlos’ rock throughout it all. Despite the constant headache TK was sporting, and naps he snuck in when Carlos had a scan or was napping himself, he was entirely focused on Carlos, making sure his mental health was okay.
Carlos was finally able to convince TK to go home at night, though TK constantly complained he didn’t like sleeping in the bed alone. That’s why he was always here from the time visiting hours started, until the nurses had to come in and remind TK to go home at the end of the night.
The doctor had told Carlos this morning that they were thinking of releasing him within the next few days, but recommended going to a rehabilitation centre since it would be more beneficial for him.
Carlos, as much as he wanted to go home, and as much as he knew TK wanted him home, he had a goal to walk down the aisle in less than three months, and going to the rehab centre was his best chance at achieving that goal.
Agreeing with the doctor’s recommendation, Carlos worked hard during his PT sessions while he was still in the hospital, and was keeping up a positive attitude, especially when TK was there.
If he was being honest with himself, he was starting to feel down. Carlos had always been an on-the-go type person, wanting to get up and do things, so being confined to a bed and needing help from everyone was not a great feeling.
TK was doing his best to help Carlos as much as possible, not only to make Carlos more comfortable, but to also take some of the stress off the nurses. Of course, there was only so much TK could do considering he was still recovering himself.
TK had been dealing with post concussion syndrome, dealing with pulsing headaches, bouts of dizziness and nausea, and sensitivity to light and noises. Carlos had also caught TK repeating questions from time to time, which he had mentioned to the doctor while TK was out of the room, but the doctor told him not to worry, but to be aware if it were to get any worse.
—
As the days went by, TK was slowly starting to feel better, and Carlos was ready to be released and transferred to the rehab centre.
When the time came, TK drove to the rehab centre, a few minutes behind the transfer vehicle, which Carlos was being transferred in. TK helped Carlos get settled, and eventually left for the evening, wanting to get some rest as he wanted to speak to Captain Vega in the morning about returning to light duties.
After TK had left, Carlos was able to speak with his care team about his goals, and how his recovery would be handled. Once everyone was satisfied with the plan of action, the care team left Carlos’ room, giving him plenty of time to rest before his first day of rehab began.
—
It had been a month since Carlos had been in the rehab centre, and he was getting impatient. He could wiggle his toes, which everyone was proud of, but he just wanted to be able to walk again.
Logically he knew this would take time, but the wedding was in two months, and he wouldn’t accept being in a wheelchair for the wedding. His care team was aware of this, and were doing everything they could to help Carlos meet his desired deadline, but they also had to be realistic with him.
Though he was improving, the rate at which he was wouldn’t guarantee he would be able to walk, and if he kept pushing him even harder, they could be doing more harm than good.
TK was back on light duties, mainly working the desk, but was also helping restock the ambulance, meaning he wasn’t able to visit Carlos as much. Though, if Carlos was being honest, he didn’t mind it because he loved seeing the look on TK’s face whenever he came to visit after not seeing him for a couple of days.
Carlos didn’t mean to be rude, but he didn’t want TK to see how his progress was coming along. He wanted TK only to see the big milestones in his recovery, and if he was being quite honest, he was hoping to surprise TK the day he’d be able to walk again.
Since TK was giving Carlos all the power to decide what he wanted to share about his progress, it was helping with Carlos’ plan.
—
By the beginning of the second month, Carlos’ progress skyrocketed. The swelling around his spinal cord had decreased, which allowed for nerve signals to start going through to his muscles, letting him start to bear his own weight.
Of course, he was lying a bit to TK, telling him progress was slow going, but he was optimistic. TK was there whenever he could be, whether it was for an hour after his shift, or a bit in the morning to have breakfast with Carlos before his day was filled with exercises and such.
With the wedding just around the corner, Carlos was getting both nervous and excited. He was nervous because he was worried about making sure everything was right, constantly checking in with his parents and TK. Even more so, he was excited because he was about to marry the love of his life.
Carlos was doubling down on his efforts to be able to walk down the aisle for the wedding, but his physiotherapist was more concerned with ensuring he could even stand for the duration of the ceremony.
As of right now, Carlos was able to stand for around 10 minutes with support, but was only able to take a couple of steps before his legs would give out.
—
By the time the wedding came around, everyone was getting antsy. Carlos and TK had gone for their last suit fitting, separately of course, because they wanted to surprise one another, but also because Carlos didn’t want to show TK what he was (and wasn’t) capable of.
The morning of the wedding, which was being held at the Reyes family ranch, Carlos was getting ready in his childhood room, which he had slept in the previous night, TK back at the loft.
His mom knocked on his door before softly opening it. “Oh, mijo, you look incredible! I can’t believe you are getting married. You have no idea just how proud your father and I are.”
“Thank you, mami,” Carlos choked out, filling up with emotion. He was smoothing out his suit when his mother took over, making sure the back was wrinkle free against the backrest of the wheelchair.
“Carlitos, I know you wanted to be able to walk down the aisle today, and I’m so sorry you can’t, but I know you and TK are still going to have a fantastic time. Trust me, that boy is head over heels for you. I think you could go out there in a sack of potatoes and he’d still cry over you.”
“I know he would, mami. It just doesn’t change the fact that I can’t walk.” Carlos huffed.
“I know, mijo, and I wish I could make it all better.”
“You already have.” Carlos responded, smiling brightly back at her.
“Okay, you finish getting ready because I think they’re just about ready for you. If I’m not mistaken TK is already at the altar.” As Andrea finished speaking, someone came around, letting them know it was time to go.
As Carlos wheeled himself out of the house, Gabriel started to walk beside him. As they got to the aisle, Carlos locked eyes with TK, tears already forming. “Hold on a second.” Carlos whispers quietly.
Gabriel turns towards his son, confusion on his face.
Before he could ask why, he watches as Carlos grips the arms of his wheelchair. Confusion turns into realization as he understands what his son is about to do.
—
TK was over the moon about the wedding. He had barely slept the night before, too excited about marrying the love of his life.
The 126 filters through TK’s dressing room, each saying hello and congratulations in advance. Once everyone had come and gone, TK took a deep breath, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He kept reminding himself that today would be great. He was marrying Carlos and that’s all that mattered.
Granted, he wished his mom was here, but Enzo had flown in last night with Jonah, which helped ease his grief. The hardest part about today was seeing the empty seat where his mom should have been, but he knew she’d be watching down on him.
Deeming himself ready, TK left the room and walked to the altar, seeing everyone in their positions. After a few minutes, the music began, and everyone started standing.
TK’s breath hitched the moment he saw Carlos. Tears started welling up in his eyes the moment they made eye contact. TK had never been so happy in his life.
He watched as Carlos stopped his wheelchair, whispering something in his father’s ear. Time slowed down as he watched Carlos grip the arms of his wheelchair and push himself up into a standing position.
Tears started pouring down TK’s face as he watched Carlos walk down the aisle beside his father, something he didn’t think would happen. When Carlos finally made it to the altar, TK couldn’t handle it. He reached for Carlos, pulling him in with a crushing hug, sobbing into his shoulder.
Lifting his head up and cupping Carlos’ cheeks, he cries. “Baby, you’re walking! You didn’t tell me you could walk again! I- I thought the doctors said you wouldn’t be able to walk for the wedding?”
“Do you really think I was going to let those doctors tell me what I couldn’t do on my wedding day? Absolutely not.” Carlos replied, tears also streaming down his face.
—
The ceremony was beautiful. They were able to combine both Catholic and Jewish traditions together, making everything that much more personal.
When it was time for the vows, both TK and Carlos were a mess. Neither of them were able to make it through speaking without hiccuping sobs interrupting their words, but neither cared. They meant every word they said and that’s what was important.
When they were finally announced as husbands, TK couldn’t wait until the officiant was finished speaking before kissing his husband passionately. To TK, there was no one there except for the two of them. They were the only two in the world and nothing was going to take that away from them.
When they finally separated, everyone was cheering them on, many with tears in their eyes. TK and Carlos joined hands, walking back down the aisle.
TK couldn’t describe the moment even if he tried. Seeing Carlos walking and standing for the duration of the ceremony was like a dream. Throughout Carlos’ recovery, TK didn’t see much of Carlos’ progress. He was clear right off the bat that Carlos only needed to share what he was comfortable with, TK understanding considering his own recovery from addiction.
TK understood how important it was to be there for someone in the way they needed, not in the way they thought they should be there. Though, he never expected to see this much progress from Carlos. TK was well aware of how long spinal injuries can take to heal, and from what he understood from the doctors, it was looking like it would be close to a year before Carlos would be able to do much of anything. Thank God he was wrong. This was everything TK could have wished for and more.
The reception was incredible. From the speeches from everyone about watching their relationship develop and grow to the funny stories they had, it was an array of emotions that TK and Carlos appreciated more than words could describe.
—
That night, once everyone had slowly left the ranch, TK and Carlos were finally getting ready to go back to the loft together for the first time since the shooting. Carlos had been released from the rehab centre the day before the wedding and went straight to the ranch to get ready, so he was excited to finally be home.
TK was adamant with driving home, stating Carlos wasn’t ready to drive again yet, and he was convinced Carlos was too tired to drive home anyways. That was fine with Carlos; he was tired and though he wouldn’t mention it to TK, he was feeling slightly sore, but not sore enough to not be able to execute his plan for TK.
Carlos dozed off in the car, not realizing they were home until he felt the car turn off. Slowly blinking his eyes open, he turned to look at his husband. Yeah, he was never going to get sick of saying that.
TK looked back at Carlos, smiling brightly. “C’mon husband, let’s go upstairs.”
Quickly getting out and rushing over to the other side, TK opened Carlos’ passenger side door. “Why thank you, husband,” Carlos chuckled, taking TK’s hand.
Getting off the elevator, TK got out the house key, unlocking the door. Before he could step through, Carlos stopped TK. “TK, do you trust me?”
“Of course, baby, why would you ask- oh God!” TK screeched as Carlos picked TK up bridal style and walked them over the threshold of their loft.
“Carlos!” TK half yelled, half giggled, lost in the moment.
“Yes, mi amor?” Carlos smirked, but secretly glad he was able to actually pull it off.
Carlos had also told his care team he wanted to be able to lift TK over the threshold, so in addition to making sure he could walk, they also needed to make sure Carlos could lift TK’s body weight.
“Baby, I am so glad that you can do that, but please put me down before you hurt yourself.” TK asked, expecting Carlos to agree and put him down right then and there, but instead, Carlos kept walking into their bedroom, setting TK down gently on the bed.
TK pulled Carlos down on top of him, kissing him softly. Carlos tried to deepen the kiss, but TK stopped him with a breathless “wait a minute.”
“What’s the matter TK?” Carlos asked, confused.
“I don’t want to hurt you and push you even more than you’ve already pushed yourself.” TK frowned.
“TK, I was cleared to do this, trust me. I’ll let you know if we need to slow down. Just, please, let me make love to my husband tonight.”
Not putting up any more of a fight after hearing Carlos call him husband, TK pulled Carlos back in, kissing him deeply and with a passion he’d craved for months. They hadn’t had sex at all since Carlos had been in the hospital and rehab, for obvious reasons, and they couldn’t wait to be reacquainted with one another, but they were both aware they needed to be careful.
This reminded them of when Carlos brought TK home after the whole hypothermia-almost-dying debacle, and the first thing TK wanted to do was have sex, reuniting the two of them properly.
Carlos broke off the kiss first, needing to take a breath, but quickly attaching his lips onto TK’s neck, in the spot that never failed to drive TK mad. TK made quick work of undoing Carlos’ tie and working off the button down shirt he was wearing.
Noticing TK do this, Carlos started working on TK’s tie and shirt as well before having to sit TK up in order to fling his shirt somewhere in the room. Once their shirts were off, both went straight for each other's pants, wanting to get rid of the offending garments as quickly as possible.
Once they got rid of all the clothes they were wearing, TK flipped their positions, getting on top of Carlos, making sure he was comfortable before kissing a path on his way down Carlos’ chest.
TK kissed his thighs, sucking light marks on the insides, not quite making his way to where Carlos wanted him the most. “TK, baby, please. I need you” Carlos gasped out.
Knowing Carlos wasn’t going to last long, TK took Carlos into his mouth, taking him down as deeply as he could, using his hand to make up for the rest. Slowly, TK took Carlos’ cock deeper, past his gag reflex, not stopping until his nose made contact with Carlos’ stomach.
Carlos groaned at the heat of TK’s mouth. TK never failed to amaze Carlos when it came to his mouth, the man had a gift.
After minutes or hours, Carlos couldn’t tell, TK took Carlos’ dick out of his mouth with an audible pop. Looking down at TK, he couldn’t see the green in TK’s eyes, they were completely blown out by pupil, and if Carlos had to guess, so were his.
TK crawled back up Carlos’ body, hovering over him briefly before kissing him again, deeply. TK situated himself so that his knees were on either side of Carlos. Reaching over blindly, TK grabbed the lube from the top drawer of his bedside table, popping off the cap and getting ready to spread some on his fingers, but he felt a pair of hands grab the bottle from him.
“Let me, please?” Carlos asked into TK’s mouth.
“Yeah, yeah, okay” TK responded, dick twitching at the thought.
Carlos drizzled some lube onto his fingers, rubbing them together to warm it up before bringing a finger down to TK’s rim, circling it slowly before slowly pressing in.
TK’s breath hitched and his body stiffened at the intrusion before relaxing, Carlos whispering softly in his ear, giving the space behind his ear a gentle kiss.
Carlos worked his finger in and out of TK’s hole, brushing TK’s prostate on every other pass, listening for his reaction. The little huffs of breath TK made whenever Carlos brushed past was like music to his ears.
Carlos slowly worked another finger inside TK, scissoring them to help loosen his hole. TK was starting to get impatient, grinding down onto Carlos’ fingers before being stopped by Carlos’ other hand on his hip.
“Ah, be patient TK, I don’t want to hurt you.” Carlos said, placing another kiss behind TK’s ear.
“Okay, okay.” TK replied, breath ghosting against Carlos’ neck.
Slipping a third finger into TK, Carlos paused for a moment, pressing against the spot that made TK see stars.
“Baby, baby, please, I’m ready.” TK panted, too turned on to say much else.
Carlos worked his fingers in and out a few more times before taking them out completely and wiping his fingers on the bed. Carlos grabbed the lube, pouring a generous amount to spread on his dick.
Stroking himself a couple of times, Carlos went to line himself up with TK, but felt his hand get slapped away, TK grabbing him and lining himself up, slowly sinking onto Carlos’ cock. TK took a steadying breath as he sank further on Carlos’ cock, overwhelmed at the way it filled him.
Once he was flush with Carlos, TK took a moment to just look at Carlos, his husband, laid out underneath him, face and chest red, showing TK that Carlos was enjoying this just as much as TK was.
Placing his hands on Carlos’ chest, TK started to lift off Carlos’ cock before slamming himself back down, groans leaving their mouths simultaneously. TK started building up a rhythm, Carlos moaning at how good it felt and how beautiful TK looked. Carlos watched as TK’s dick slapped against his stomach at the force of his movements before taking TK’s dick in hand, stroking him in time with TK’s movements.
TK took Carlos’ hand, batting it away with a quiet “I don’t need it.”
Carlos put his hands back on TK’s hips, guiding him softly, and then rubbing up and down TK’s thighs, feeling the strong muscles contract.
Noticing TK was starting to slow down, Carlos took his one opportunity and flipped them over. TK gasped at the quick change of position, but moaned when he realized Carlos never slipped out of him.
Before he could protest, Carlos rolled his hips the way that never failed to shut TK up. Instead of continuing his protest, TK brought his legs around Carlos’ waist, locking his ankles together.
Carlos kept the pace slow, but deep, showing TK just how much he loved him. The most TK could do was huff out short, shallow breaths as Carlos kept hitting his little bundle of nerves, sending sparks up his spine.
Carlos leaned down, bracketing his forearms around head, kissing TK long and slow. They kept this up for a long time, neither of them rushing to finish. This was about them loving each other and becoming one.
Their orgasms were building slowly, the subtle change in their breathing being their notice to one another.
Slowly, Carlos started building up his pace, not going too much faster, but making sure he was thrusting as deeply as possible.
TK felt the shift in Carlos, picking up a bit of speed and deepening his thrusts, knowing he was teetering the edge, so TK started moving his hips in time with Carlos, meeting his thrusts with equal enthusiasm.
TK scratched down Carlos’ back, leaving light marks behind, but not focusing on that, only the feeling of sparks shooting up his spine, feeling pleasure throughout his body, into his throat and his teeth.
Their love for one another was consuming, feeling it every time their skin made contact, the slap echoing in the room.
Carlos moved to take TK in hand, but again, TK slapped Carlos’ hand again, telling him he didn’t need it, nor did he want it.
Carlos had this amazing ability to make TK come untouched. From the way his body moved when they were connected, to the way Carlos touched him, TK would get turned on beyond belief.
The first time Carlos made TK come untouched, TK was shaking for a good five minutes after, so blissed out he hadn’t realized he had even come. Now, TK liked it only when they were making love, not when they were having regular sex. It was reserved for when TK wanted to remind Carlos how much he loved him and how Carlos made TK feel.
Carlos felt the moment he knew he was going to come. Kissing TK as deeply as possible, Carlos buried himself as deep as he could into TK, coming, and thrusting, trying to get his come as deep as he could. At his last thrust, he felt TK come between them, making a mess of both of their stomachs.
Catching their breaths, neither of them moved for a few minutes, basking in the post-orgasmic bliss of their first time making love as husbands. TK was drawing lazy circles on Carlos’ back, feeling the muscles underneath his fingers. They felt firm and strong, something TK was concerned about while Carlos was recovering, but here he was, strong above him, showing him just how well he was doing.
TK was the first one to move, surprisingly, gently asking Carlos to slip out of him so he can get a washcloth. “I can get that, you don’t have to.” Carlos said, but not moving as TK pecked him on the lips, standing up on shaky legs.
“It’s okay, you’ve done enough, let me do this, please,” came TK’s reply.
Less than a minute later, TK was back, washcloth in hand, wiping down Carlos’ stomach and softened cock, mindful of overstimulation. As TK went to clean himself off, Carlos took the cloth from him, pulled TK down and onto his back.
Carlos gently wiped down TK’s stomach before flipping him over onto his stomach, wiping the come that had dripped out of TK’s hole before gently sticking two fingers in, scooping out the remainder. Doing his best to avoid TK’s prostate, Carlos removed his fingers and wiped TK’s hole again with the washcloth.
Once he was satisfied TK was clean, Carlos got up to throw the cloth into the laundry. Looking around the room, he saw their suits in disarray all over the floor, but one look from TK told him they could worry about it in the morning.
Getting into bed, Carlos made himself comfortable, TK wrapping his arm around Carlos, bringing Carlos’ back closer to his chest. They talked mindlessly for a while, drinking in the beauty and serenity of the moment before drifting off to sleep.
In the morning, they’d get up, organize the mess of clothes on the floor and then make sure their suitcases were ready to go. When the shooting happened and TK started looking into the hospital bills that would come through, along with not knowing Carlos’ health status, the plan was to delay the honeymoon until everything was taken care of. That was until APD said they’d be covering all of Carlos’ medical bills since he was injured on the job, and with Carlos able to move around quite well, they decided to go on the honeymoon to Hawaii as scheduled.