Chapter Text
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A week before the accident
TK's point of view
"I'm just saying isn't it kind of odd working with my dad?" I asked as I sat across from Carlos. He just rolled his eyes as he continued eating. "No, I don't find it odd. It's interesting actually, I can get to know him without the awakwardness of him knowing." He said smiling at me as I sighed. "Well, on the bright side he likes you. He told me, which is very odd he has never liked anyone I date. Maybe it's because he doesn't know, yet." I said shrugging as I played with the food left on my plate.
"TK, what's actually bothering you? You are being really quiet, and you have hardly ate anything." Carlos said as he set down his fork, and waited for an answer. "I'm just thinking about my dad. I mean do you want him to know? It's just it's a huge step, and we don't even know what we are. I get it if you're mad about my dad not knowing, but it's just a huge step. I..." I started rambling, and thankfully he interrupted me. "Hey, Ty it's fine. I'm not mad, like I said your pace. We go with what you are comfortable doing, sure I want him to know only when you're ready. I'm not going to push you, I want you to be comfortable with everything we do." He said smiling over at me, as he grabbed my hand.
"Thank you, but are you sure? I don't want you to, I don't know get mad thinking I'm trying to hide you from everyone." I said clearly stressing this more than I should be. "I'm sure, and besides that just means I get you all to myself for now." He said, before bitting his lip. "Now, you're starting something you can't finish till dinner is all cleaned up." I half whined, it came out more whiny than I had wanted it too. "The dishes can wait, you know if you want to?" He said as he finally stood up, and pushed in his chair. "Um, I don't know. Let me think about it, hot cop giving me a mind melting orgasm or doing the dishes." I said, before smiling up at him as he now stood beside me. "Sorry, but these dishes are gonna have to wait their turn for you." I said, before leaning up and pulling him in.
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At the Hospital
Carlos' point of view
“I'm gonna go down to the cafeteria, and get some coffee. Officer Reyes would you like a coffee or something?" I heard the Captain say as I finally looked up at him. I'm not going to lie it's a bit awkward sitting here with his dad, but I can't imagine being anywhere else. "Um, no thank you sir. It's just Carlos, and thank you for letting me see him." I said as I glanced back at TK still completely motionless in the hospital bed. "It's no problem at all, and Owen works just fine. I'm assuming we are going to be around each other a bit for the next few days, so sir isn't necessary." I nodded my head, as he patted my shoulder, before turning and heading out of the quiet hospital room.
I leaned back in the uncomfortable chair as I still held TK's hand, glad that bit of awkwardness was gone between Owen and I. "Ty I know this probably wasn't how you wanted to introduce your father and I, but I guess it was bound to happen. I don't know exactly what I'm being introduced as, since we still don't know exactly what we are. I know what I want, but you I have no clue. I want an actual relationship one where I can spend early mornings dreading untangling myself from your arms. I want one where I can spend more time with you, and we can go out without it having to be a huge secret from your friends. I guess I'm really just saying I want a real relationship with you, where I can show you how much I care about you. I know..." I sighed as I leaned forward, and ran my free hand through his hair. "I know we haven't know each other a long time, but I want to give this a try. I want all the ridiculous baggage you always say you carry, I want to help you with that. First I'm going to need you to open those perfect emerald eyes, and get to a point where you can feel comfortable with that." I said as I lifted his knuckles to gently kiss the back of them. "Well, I'll be here when that does happen." I whispered as I finally relaxed back into the chair.
“Here, kid I brought you one anyways. So, should address the elephant in the room?" Owen said as he handed me a coffee along with a few packets of sugar, and creamer. "Thank you, and the elephant in the room?" I said as he walked over to the chair on the other side of TK's bed, before sitting down. "Yeah, I mean you two. The cat's out of the bag at this point, might as well just get the awkwardness out of the way." He said laughing a bit, as he made large hand gestures. "Is it that obvious?" I asked as I sips on my coffee, that I hadn't noticed I needed till that first sip. "Oh yeah, I mean you look just as torn up as I did when you showed up." He said laughing a bit by my initial reaction. "Yeah, I guess I did. Well, we have been out on a few dates. Had dinner together a few times, nothing major." I said as I gently rubbed the back of TK's hand. "Okay, and that's pretty major for TK." He said glancing down at the sleeping boy.
“How long have you been seeing my son?" He asked looking back at me, and that left me searching for an answer. I hooked up with him at the bar that night, but this sort of relationship we have going has been for almost 3 months now. I can't sit here and not answer, shit come up with something. "It's been about 4 months, we haven't exactly said that we're dating. I understand though, after everything that happened before he moved down here." I said, I'm actually proud of myself for coming up with that one. It's not a lie, I do completely understand. This way it shows I'm a good guy too, so I think I had a good answer as Owen smiled at me while nodding his head. "Smart man, I like you. I'm just glad he found someone else he can talk to, he has trouble sharing things like that. I thought down here I was the only one who knew that, but I'm glad he was able to open up with someone about his struggles." He said, as I finally breathed which I hadn't even noticed I had been holding in. "You seem like a good kid, he has seemed pretty happy since we settled down here. Well, since that night of line dancing you two had." He said glancing up at me, and I know as soon as he said that my eyes went wide. "I'm kidding, I knew that you two had known each other. I just didn't know you two had been going out." He said shrugging as he said that, and I tried to relax again. "Yeah, it's kind of a new thing. It took a while, after the whole line dancing night. We hadn't really talked after that, and then we kept running into each other. Well, eventually I asked him out, and here we are 4 months later." I said shrugging as I'm not exactly lying, since in the beginning we didn't do much talking at all. He didn't seem all that convinced, but he just nodded his head.
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A few days later
TK's point of view
"When you tell me how long you've been seeing the cop." My dad said seeming pretty surprised by that information, and now I'm left to explain that. "Oh god." I sighed as I shook my head, as I hid my face in my hands. "Well? Want to explain that TK?" He said as he sat across from me, and I just shook my head. "How much did you two talk while I've been here?" I asked looking up, and he knows how much I hate when he digs into my personal life. "I learned a few things, now lets hear it." I sighed as I sat back trying to explain this, because to began with it was just a hook up. "Well, I don't know exactly what we are. We have been talking, and hanging out a bit, you know the normal." I said trying to shrug, only to feel the stinging pain in my shoulder.
"I see, well if this means anything to you I like him. He seems like a nice guy, and it seems like he treats you good." My dad said smiling, which makes me kind of shocked. "Wait, what kind of conversations did I miss between you two? This is something you never say about anyone I have dated." I said sitting up, still shocked by him. "You missed a pretty good conversation, I know I wasn't meant to hear. The way he was talking to you, while he didn't know I was listening." He kind of paused for a minute, before he continued. "I know, you hate me digging into your personal life. Well, in this event it couldn't be avoided. You knew if something happened he was going to be right here next to you. I think you picked a good one this time." He shrugged as he stood up, and I just shook my head. "Thanks dad, but I haven't exactly picked him." I said more quiet then I had been talking. "TK I know you are worried, after that jerk but don't block yourself off because of that. He seems like a good kid, and seems like you trust him. A lot, from what he knows. He even knows your name, now that is really surprising." My dad said laughing a bit, as I joined in.
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A week and a half later
“What are you all dressed up for? I mean you're going to be just sitting at home." My dad asked as I walked into the kitchen dressed in something other then sweat pants, which it's been a while since I have wore anything other then that. My hair was all gelled up, I was looking pretty good if I do say so myself. "No reason, I'm just going to get lunch with a friend." I said as I grabbed the fresh cup of coffee he just poured me. "Oh, and what friend would that be?" He asked looking at me with questioning eyes. "Just a friend, nothing to worry about dad. I'll probably be back home long, before you get back from your shift." I said, clearly trying to avoid his question. "Oh okay, well it wouldn't happen to be with a certain office on the Austin police force?" He asked as he leaned against the counter, as he smiled at me.
“I could be with that certain cop, but I'm the only one who is going to know." I said as I turned to walk out of the kitchen, only to hear my dad reply before I was out of earshot. "You're blushing that totally gave it away. Also it's a 12 hour shift, you better be home when I get back." I just shook my head, and kept walking towards the couch. "Yeah, I know that why I said I should be back long before. Also he has a shift an hour, before you get off so I'll be home." I said as I switched on the tv, and started watch some ridiculous western that was on. "T.K. you need anything? A pillow, or blanket maybe?" My dad said as he walked next to the couch, and I just shook my head. "No, I'm fine. Shouldn't you be getting ready for your shift?" I asked as I turned to face him a bit. "I have an hour till I need to leave, so I'll watch this with you for a little bit."
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45 minutes later
"Hey, T.K. you know someone with a blue Camaro?" I heard my dad call from his bedroom as he was still getting ready, and I just shook my head as I shut off the tv. "Yeah, I'll get the door. You don't need to be late for your shift." I said right, before the doorbell rang. I slowly opened the door to see a certain Austin police force waiting at my door. "Morning officer." I said smiling at him. "Morning, how's your shoulder feeling today?" He said gesturing towards my injured shoulder. "It's feeling just fine, and we should probably head out since you parked behind my dad's car and he has to leave soon." I said really not wanting to see these two interact outside of work. "Oh, I see you mean my sexy car?" He smiled as he said it, and I just shook my head.
“Morning Carlos." I heard my dad say from behind me, and Carlos' eyes went wide as he heard my dad. "Morning Owen, we were just going to head out since I blocked you in." He said as I couldn't help, but smile at his react he had from my dad hearing that. "Well, thank you. So how are you doing? Keeping busy at the station?" My dad asked as we all walked outside. "I'm doing good, and yeah the station is always busy. You know always something new." He said smiling, before speaking again. "How are you doing?" He asked as he opened the passenger side door for me. "I'm doing just fine, and yeah I know exactly what you mean.”