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TK’s absence is not a red flag.
Not at first.
Carlos is used to coming home to an empty loft these days. Just like his husband is used to waking up alone.
Both realities sting, though Carlos tells himself it’s not a permanent arrangement. When he solves his dad’s case – when not if – then life will settle down. Carlos will be home every night with TK, cooking dinner and watching TV. He’ll be there to ask his husband about his shift. They’ll talk and laugh and cuddle on the couch, then make up for lost time in the bedroom. Carlos looks forward to it. He craves it. It’s been so long since he’s drifted to sleep with TK in his arms. It’s been even longer since they’ve –
Carlos sighs when his phone rings. After literally working all day and all night, he’s exhausted. He’s not in the mood for whatever Owen is calling about, but he answers with a forced smile.
Owen’s voice sounds equally strained. “Where are you?”
“The loft. Why?”
“Is TK there?”
The question immediately sets Carlos on edge. “No. He has a shift.”
“He does,” Owen confirms. “But he’s not here, either.”
Carlos listens as his father-in-law blows out a breath, undoubtedly reliving the last time TK didn’t show up for a shift at the firehouse.
“You don’t think….”
“No,” Owen replies. “I know my son is solid in his recovery. I mean, yeah…TK has been struggling over the past few months. But the extra meetings have helped him cope with everything. And of course Cooper is always there for TK.”
Carlos clenches his jaw. He’s not sure if that’s meant as a dig against him, but it sure feels like it. Carlos also wasn’t aware that TK has been struggling…or going to extra meetings…or hanging out with Cooper. It’s all news to him, but what does Carlos expect? He sees his husband for maybe an hour each day during their lunch breaks. And while they’re together, Carlos is usually reviewing a file he brought with him or thinking out loud about a case. That doesn’t leave much room for TK to share what’s going on in his life or confess how he feels. When is the last time Carlos even asked?
“I am worried, though,” Owen continues. “TK should be here by now. What time did he leave this morning?”
“I, um…” Carlos clears his throat. It’s always embarrassing to admit how much he sucks as a husband, especially when he’s talking with TK’s dad. “I don’t know. I wasn’t here.”
“Ah. I see.”
Carlos pictures Owen’s expression as the silence becomes awkward. His father-in-law’s disapproval and disappointment are unmistakable. Owen warned Carlos not to let Gabriel’s case consume him, but Carlos is allowing it to do exactly that.
“Well…” Owen sighs. “All my calls to TK are going straight to voicemail, so I guess I’ll call Cooper. Maybe he’s heard from my son and knows what the hell is going on. I’ll keep you posted.”
Carlos tries to ignore the guilt and jealousy that rises in his chest. He should know where his husband is, not Cooper.
When Owen hangs up, Carlos dials TK, convinced that he’ll see Carlos’s name and answer on the first ring.
He doesn’t.
Carlos’s call goes straight to voicemail just like Owen’s, which has several implications.
Maybe TK is rejecting their calls.
Maybe he turned off his phone.
Maybe the phone is inoperable for some reason.
Carlos tries not to dwell on any of those possibilities as he listens to his husband’s voice. What he would give to hear it in person…
It’s TK. Leave a message. I’ll hit you back.
“Hey, baby. It’s me. Your dad said you didn’t show up for your shift, and now we’re both worried. Call me, okay? Let me know what’s going on. I love you.”
Carlos follows up with a text before wandering around the loft, his concern increasing with each new discovery.
The light TK typically leaves on for Carlos wasn’t switched off this morning.
Their bed wasn’t slept in.
The shower and bathroom sink are bone dry.
So is TK’s towel.
But what’s most alarming is TK’s wallet and keys left on the dresser.
Carlos stares at them, then startles when his phone rings again.
“Cooper hasn’t heard from TK,” Owen reports. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, but I’ll check with dispatch. See if any accidents have been called in…”
Carlos feels sick at the possibility of his husband being alone and injured somewhere. It’s even worse when they don’t know how long TK has been gone. Carlos talked with him last night, but he didn’t receive a text this morning when TK woke up. That’s not unusual when his husband is annoyed with Carlos for working late again…but now that detail seems both important and foreboding.
“TK’s wallet and keys are still here.”
“What?”
“Sometimes he forgets them,” Carlos says, trying to offer reassurance. “But I’ll check with our building’s security guard. We have cameras in the hallways, elevator, and lobby. If we can find TK in the footage, we’ll be able to narrow our timeline.”
Owen swears under his breath. “I don’t have a good feeling about this, Carlos.”
Me, neither… Carlos thinks, wishing he could call his own dad after TK’s dad hangs up.
Gabriel would know what to do.
But Carlos doesn’t have to work this case alone. There’s another Ranger who’s just as committed, just as dependable. His nemesis becoming his partner is not something Carlos saw coming, but he does see himself in Sam Campbell. They share the same drive, the same focus.
If anyone can help Carlos find TK, it’s Sam.
____________
“Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. The first 48 hours are the most critical in a missing person’s case.”
The comment just reiterates Sam’s belief that Carlos is a greenhorn in law enforcement, but that’s not what bothers him. It’s the word choice.
“TK isn’t missing.”
Sam arches an eyebrow. “Do you know where he is?”
“No.”
“Then he’s missing,” Sam concludes, his delivery as blunt as his tone. “Facts are facts, Reyes. Even when they’re uncomfortable.”
Sam looks at the man behind the desk in the cramped security office, wondering what the hell they’re waiting on. The camera footage is clearly cued and ready to go.
“You just gonna sit there all day? Let’s get this show on the road.”
Carlos nods his agreement when the security guard glances at him. He knows Sam is used to taking the lead on cases, but if they’re going to be partners, they need to work together. They’re no longer competitors trying to outperform each other, though right now the balance of power doesn’t matter.
The only thing that matters is finding TK.
____________
“Hey! This is private property. You can’t sleep here.”
The store owner waits for a response, but there’s nothing. The person doesn’t move or yell back. They just keep laying there behind the dumpster, only their feet visible.
“I’m gettin’ too old for this shit…”
When he was younger, the store owner wouldn’t have thought twice about going further into the alley to investigate the situation himself. But he’s learned it’s better to let the police handle it.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“I ain’t quite sure,” the store owner admits. “But there’s somebody either sleepin’ or passed out in the alley behind my place.”
“Are they breathing?”
“I don’t know. And I ain’t goin’ down there to check, so don’t ask.”
“What’s your location?”
“I’m at the store on the corner of Fifth and Main.”
Wyatt nods as he keys in the information. “Police and medical are on their way.”
____________
Owen is relieved dispatch didn’t have any reports of pedestrian or vehicular accidents, but he’s still worried. His son is still missing.
“None of you heard from him last night? Or this morning?”
Everyone shakes their head…except Nancy.
“TK texted me,” she tells Owen. “But it wasn’t a big deal. He was just frustrated that Carlos was working late.”
“Again?”
Nancy nods as Paul and Marjan exchange a look.
“Do you want us to ride the streets, Cap?”
“Yeah. Maybe we can find him.”
The offer is tempting, but it’s rendered moot when the alarm bell rings overhead.
____________
TK appears on the security footage at 12:08. Almost four hours after Carlos talked with him.
“Pause it,” Carlos says, leaning forward as his husband freezes on screen.
“That him?”
Carlos nods. The video quality is grainy, but TK’s body language is easy to read. He looks tense. Plus, TK always fidgets with his wedding band when he’s stressed. Carlos also notices his husband’s outfit and earbuds.
“He went out for a run.”
Sam makes a face. “Who the hell goes for a run after midnight?”
Carlos doesn’t offer an explanation, but he knows what his husband was thinking. This is classic TK. It’s the kind of impulsive decision he makes when he’s restless and upset. All that nervous energy has to go somewhere, and Carlos can only imagine how overwhelming TK’s emotions became as he endured another night of silence and solitude.
“Well…” Sam shrugs. “At least we know where TK was heading.”
“Yeah,” Carlos agrees. “But where did he end up?”
Sam holds his partner’s gaze as the ominous statement hangs between them. “This neighborhood is safe, Reyes. It’s one of the safest in Austin, which is probably why you moved here.”
“You’re right,” Carlos replies. “But that doesn’t mean TK is safe. Trouble has a way of finding him.”
“Great…” Sam grumbles as the security guard sets the recorded footage back in motion.
____________
“What do you think happened?”
“Who the hell knows with that kid…” Nancy is trying not to assume the worst, but they’re all aware of TK’s track record. “I just hope he’s okay.”
“That makes two of us,” Tommy says as the ambulance sails through an intersection.
____________
TK doesn’t return to the loft.
They track him from the hallway to the elevator to the lobby. But once TK exits the building, he disappears.
Going, going…gone.
Meanwhile, Carlos sat oblivious at Ranger headquarters. Too preoccupied with the past to realize his future was also in jeopardy. His husband has apparently been missing for over six hours, but Carlos had no clue until…
“Is that you?” Sam knows it is. He knows that’s Carlos on screen now, returning home a few hours ago after working off the clock on Gabriel’s case. “I swear, Reyes. You’re just as stubborn as your daddy.”
“I’m trying to get justice for him!” Carlos snaps, so fed up with everyone’s constant judgment.
Sam seems unfazed by the outburst. “Some cases can’t be solved. You oughta know that by now. But those same cases can eat you alive. They can destroy you right along with everything else in your life. You oughta know that, too.”
Carlos does know that. But it hasn’t stopped him. He’s allowed himself to become trapped in an obsessive spiral. He’s allowed his dad’s case to become his top priority while neglecting his marriage…and his husband.
“If I was home last night, TK wouldn’t have left.”
“Probably not,” Sam agrees. “But we don’t deal with coulda, shoulda, woulda. We deal with what’s in front of us.”
Carlos nods as he tries to pull himself together. He’s been distant and distracted for almost a year, but TK has his full attention now.
“We need phone records. And we need to canvas the neighborhood. If other cameras recorded TK, we can track his route. I know the corner store has several different angles.”
“I say we divide and conquer,” Sam replies. That strategy worked well for them with the armored truck case. “You head down to the store while I contact the cellphone company. And hey…” He gives his partner an encouraging smile when Carlos pauses at the door. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
“Damn right we will.”
Carlos has already lost his father. He’s not losing his husband, too.
____________
“Oh, shit.”
“Is that…”
“Yeah.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah,” Garcia repeats. He knows what Carlos’s husband looks like. “It’s him. It’s TK.”
“Fuck. What’s he doing out here?”
Gracia shakes his head. He’s just as confused as his partner. They both know TK has a history of substance abuse – which is common in this alley – but the kid has been clean for years. Plus, TK doesn’t appear stoned. He hasn’t passed out from drug use.
It’s much worse than that.
TK has clearly sustained massive injuries.
“Is he alive?”
“Barely.”
“Damn. Hold on, kid. I’m gonna check on that ambulance…”
“I’m calling Reyes,” Garcia announces, pulling out his phone as his partner radios dispatch.
Carlos left APD months ago, but their brotherhood remains. Hearing his husband has been found unconscious in an alley might be easier to bear if a familiar voice delivers the news.
____________
“Why did they send you?”
Carlos tilts his head at the odd greeting.
“I mean…APD is already here,” the store owner clarifies as he gestures out the back door. “So, why would they send a Texas Ranger? Is it a slow day at the office or somethin’?”
Carlos doesn’t have time or patience for small talk, but he does need this man’s cooperation. He smiles politely as he glances around the store’s interior.
“Do your security cameras work?”
“Of course.”
“I need to see them.”
“Is this about what happened last night?”
Carlos’s heart pounds. “Something happened last night?”
“I think so,” the store owner replies. “There’s a guy in the alley. I found him behind the dumpster this morning when I opened. One of the officers said he’s hurt pretty bad.”
That’s all Carlos needs to hear.
He takes off running, ignoring his ringing phone as he sees Lopez and Garcia hovering over a motionless body. The only part that’s visible is the person’s shoes.
But it’s not just a random person.
It’s TK.
Carlos would recognize those obnoxiously bright sneakers anywhere.
____________
“Yes, ma’am. You have a good day, too.”
Sam maintains his smile and cheery tone until he hangs up. It usually takes days, weeks, or even months to access phone records…but his charm and his accent have always been his secret weapons. All it took was a few minutes, and Sam had the data from TK’s phone sent straight to his email.
“Alright, kid…” Sam begins scrolling. “Where did you go?”
The location markers confirm TK left the loft shortly after midnight. From there, he traveled south; the frequency and distance between each ping indicating TK was indeed moving at a fast pace.
But on the corner of Fifth and Main the pings abruptly stop. TK’s phone also stops transmitting data at that exact moment, implying the device was either turned off or too damaged to properly function.
“Huh.”
Sam gives Carlos a lot of shit about trusting his gut, but he also believes in instinct.
And right now, Sam doesn’t like what his is saying.
____________
“Reyes. I was just – ”
Carlos pushes past his former partner to reach TK. As he crouches beside his husband, he doesn’t know where to touch. TK is covered in blood. There’s cuts and scrapes and scratches and…
“Is that road rash?”
Garcia nods. “Yeah. We think it was a hit and run.”
Lopez holds up a busted headlight cover as proof of impact.
The thought of some stranger striking TK with their car, then leaving him to die in the alley is both shocking and infuriating. When law enforcement finds that asshole, Carlos is going to insist on a little one-on-one time in the interrogation room. But for now, he just wants to comfort TK. It’s heartbreaking to know his husband has been out here for hours, alone and injured.
Did TK lose consciousness immediately, or did he lay on the asphalt?
Wishing for Carlos.
Calling for Carlos.
“I’m here, baby.”
Carlos doesn’t dare move TK – the risk of internal injury is too significant – but he does grasp his husband’s hand. Trying to ignore how cold it feels, how small it feels.
“I’m right here.”
____________
Nancy’s stomach drops when she and Tommy enter the alley. They both recognize those shoes, but it’s Carlos’s expression that fills them with dread.
“He’s not…”
“No,” Carlos assures. “But it’s bad.”
____________
Sam arrives as TK is being loaded into the ambulance. The kid’s blood has stained Carlos’s hands, his shirt, everything.
“Find whoever did this.”
Sam nods. That was already his plan, but he’s even more determined now as he stands beside his partner. Carlos looks so lost, so devastated as he stares at TK.
“We’ll keep each other posted,” Sam says as the paramedics motion for Carlos to join them.
____________
Per usual, TK’s injuries are severe, his survival miraculous.
The doctors suspect Carlos’s husband was hit by a truck or SUV since TK did not sustain any broken limbs. His torso took the brunt of impact.
Fractured ribs. Lacerated liver. Punctured lung.
Not to mention the risk of infection from all the open wounds scattered across TK’s body as metal edges and shattered glass left their marks. Some of the deeper cuts had to be flushed multiple times to clear all the dirt and debris before being sutured.
Flecks of lingering blood are still in the creases of TK’s skin, though they’re barely noticeable when compared to the number of bruises. A mix of dark blues and purples hint at the trauma just beneath the surface.
Carlos sighs as he leans forward, stroking TK’s hair. The doctors said his husband will be in ICU for at least a few days – maybe more, maybe less. It depends on how quickly TK regains consciousness.
“I’m sorry,” Carlos whispers, finally allowing himself to cry.
____________
“This never gets easier, does it?”
Owen shakes his head as he accepts the coffee Andrea just poured from her thermos. She also brought snacks for everyone as they camp out in the waiting room.
“Thank you for taking care of me and my crew,” Owen tells her. “And thank you for always taking care of my boy. Life has been tough for him since his mother died, but it’s been especially tough this past year.”
“It has,” Andrea agrees. “For all of us. But I love TK like he’s my own. I will always be there for him.”
“Unlike your son…”
Andrea takes a measured breath, reminding herself to stay calm. She and Owen have discussed this before. It’s not a secret that Carlos’s obsession with Gabriel’s case has strained his marriage with TK, but that doesn’t mean her son doesn’t love his husband.
“You know it’s complicated,” Andrea says. “Carlos was there when TK was found. And he’s here now. That’s all that matters.”
“Is it?” Owen doesn’t look convinced. “Where was he when TK was being hit by a car and left for dead? Carlos didn’t even know TK was missing until I called to ask where my son was this morning.”
“I understand your point,” Andrea replies. “And your anger. Both are valid. But I also understand my son. Carlos needs closure. He needs justice for his father.”
“I get that,” Owen admits. “But what if Carlos loses TK in the process?”
Andrea nods. “I think Carlos is asking himself the same question…”
____________
The video is horrifying to watch.
At 12:19, TK appears in front of the store. Seconds later, he’s struck by a swerving vehicle; his body airborne before landing somewhere off screen.
Sam knows TK laid in the alley for hours – and thank God he survived – but that’s not where this case ends.
Not even close.
Sam pulls footage from traffic cameras in the surrounding area, establishing a pattern of reckless driving prior to the incident with TK. Whoever was behind the wheel of this truck last night was likely under the influence based on their accelerated speed and erratic movements.
More than once, the truck veers off the road.
More than once, it blows through an intersection.
More than once, it steers dangerously close to sidewalks.
When the driver hits TK, there’s a brief glow of brake lights before the truck speeds away from the scene.
Sam tracks the vehicle through Austin’s network of downtown cameras, capturing a screenshot of the license plate as the truck whips around a curve. He enters the number into DMV’s database, smiling when a photo appears along with an address.
____________
Andrea doesn’t say a word as she enters TK’s room. She’s familiar with keeping vigil, but she meant what she told Owen earlier – it never gets easier. Her heart breaks to see her sweet, energetic son-in-law so pale, so still, so injured.
Carlos glances at his mother as she sits beside him. Her presence is as comforting as her touch; one hand gripping her rosary while the other reaches for him.
“Mijo. You need to eat. And rest.”
“I’m not leaving TK.”
“Carlitos…”
“I’m not leaving him, Mom!”
Andrea nods. She understands her son’s emotions are raw, his patience thin. Exhaustion and hunger shouldn’t be ignored, but Carlos is too consumed with guilt to notice his physical needs. He just keeps staring at TK.
“This is not your fault.”
“It is,” Carlos counters. “If I had been at home, this wouldn’t have happened. TK wouldn’t have left. He wouldn’t have been hit by a fucking car!”
Andrea nods again. “I know how you feel,” she admits. “I often have the same kind of thoughts. If I hadn’t ordered that package, your father would still be with us. He wouldn’t have answered the door to accept the delivery…which means he wouldn’t have been shot in the chest.”
Carlos shakes his head. “No, Mamá. You can’t think like that. You couldn’t have known…”
Andrea gives her son a sad smile as he makes her point for her. “Neither could you, mijo.” She pauses, allowing that truth to sink in. “Whoever struck TK will be found and punished. But you should not be punishing yourself, Carlitos. Bad things happen to those we love whether we’re with them or not. It’s one of the scariest parts of life.”
“Yes,” Carlos agrees. How many times has he come close to losing TK? “But this is still my fault. My husband should be in bed at midnight. And I should be there with him.”
Andrea has always believed if she steers her children in the right direction, they will make the right decisions. It’s good to know that strategy continues to work.
“What about your father’s case?”
“It’s still important to me,” Carlos replies. “But TK is more important. He’s the most important.”
“As he should be…” Andrea says, squeezing her son’s hand.
____________
Sam doesn’t miss the irony. Just yesterday, he was giving Carlos crap about working DUIs while he was with APD…but now Sam is the one tracking down a suspected drunk driver.
The warrant practically signed itself when Sam presented it to the judge along with all the evidence he collected.
It wasn’t hard to convince other Rangers to get involved, either. Word always spreads quickly through Austin headquarters. When everyone found out what happened to Carlos’s husband, they put their own cases on hold to help Sam serve the arrest warrant.
It’s those kinds of moments that make Sam appreciate the family bond that runs so deep in this organization. If one Ranger is hurting, the others will be there to help carry the load and finish the job.
But it’s these kinds of moments that make Sam proud to wear the star.
“You can run…” he says when the suspect answers the door. “But you can’t hide. Not from me. And not from us.”
The man glances at the printed photo Sam is holding, clearly displaying his license plate as his truck sped away from the scene last night. He then glances at all the other Rangers standing behind the one who seems to be in charge.
“It was an accident.”
“Maybe,” Sam allows. “But now it’s a felony.”
The man nods, accepting his fate as he’s handcuffed and led away.
____________
Carlos refuses to let go of TK’s hand.
That’s how he knows when his husband is regaining consciousness. Carlos feels the slight movement within his grasp before TK opens his eyes.
“You’re okay,” Carlos soothes, moving from the chair to the bed. “You’ve been hurt, but you’re safe now.”
TK glances around the room, his thoughts weighed down by medication and confusion. He knows he’s in the hospital, but he doesn’t know why. He doesn’t remember what happened.
“Baby…”
TK sighs as his gaze wanders back to his husband. He feels like he’s floating.
“You with me?”
TK hums, relieved that Carlos doesn’t appear injured, just worried. Maybe something happened during a call. Or maybe…
TK gasps at the sudden image of a speeding car, wondering if it’s a memory or a hallucination. There’s also a dumpster; its corners rusty, its paint chipped.
“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
TK shakes his head. He’s not bothered by his injuries; he’s too medicated for that. But his mind is becoming more alert by the second, filling in the gaps as it paints a graphic picture.
“You were working.”
The statement feels like an accusation, but Carlos just nods. He won’t stop TK from processing the trauma. Whatever his husband needs to say, Carlos will listen.
“I tried to settle,” TK continues. “But I couldn’t. I felt like the walls were closing in, like I was suffocating. So, I went for a run. Just to get some air and clear my thoughts. But then…” He bites his lip as the memory becomes sharper. “There was a truck coming down the street. I heard it before I saw it.”
TK’s eyes mist as he recalls the panic, the fear. In that moment, he knew he was about to get hit. TK remembers how blinding the headlights were as the truck rammed into him, but that’s it.
Everything else is blank.
“I’m sorry.”
Carlos frowns. He can’t imagine what his husband is apologizing for.
“I should’ve stayed home.”
“Baby, no…” Carlos isn’t letting TK take the blame for this. “It’s not your fault someone decided to drink and drive.”
“No,” TK agrees. “But I should’ve stayed at the loft. I should’ve waited for you.”
“You shouldn’t have to wait for me,” Carlos counters. “I should’ve already been home, celebrating a successful case with my husband instead of working.”
“It’s hard to celebrate when your dad’s case is still unsolved.”
“It is,” Carlos admits. “But we both know I’ve become obsessed. I’ve let his case replace everything in my life…including you.” Carlos fans his fingers through TK’s hair. “That ends now. Every second I get with you is a gift. And I’m done wasting it.”
TK wants to argue. He wants to point out that Gabriel’s case should be Carlos’s top concern. But if TK is honest, it feels good to be his husband’s priority again.
It’s been too long.
“I love you.”
“I love you,” Carlos returns. “I’m sorry if I made you doubt that.”
“I’ve never doubted that,” TK replies as Carlos leans down to kiss him.