Chapter Text
TK pushed the door open so hard he was afraid the glass would shatter as he ran into the hospital, the rest of his team hot on heels. He spotted Tommy and Nancy immediately and took off towards them.
“What the hell happened?” He asked in a panic as he approached. He felt his father put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze. That usually did wonders for TK’s nerves, but not at that moment.
Not after Tommy had called them saying Carlos was hurt on the job and was being rushed to the hospital.
Not when the life of the man he loved with all his heart and then some was at risk.
Tommy sighed deeply. “From what I was able to piece together so far, it sounds like Officer Reyes was shot while chasing down a suspect with his partner,” she replied. “The guy was running and firing at them blindly. He shot at a little girl but Carlos jumped in front of her. He was hit in the abdomen.”
TK felt tears sting at his eyes as he ran his hands over his face and into his hair. “How bad?” he asked.
“He lost a lot of blood,” Nancy replied. “But he was holding on TK. He was.”
“He was awake for a while on the way here,” Tommy continued. “He told us to tell you that he loves you and that he’ll see you real soon.”
She looked at the team then, “And he told us to tell you all not to let this one freak out,” she added.
The tears started to fall as a sob escaped from TK’s lips. Even while laying there on a gurney, bleeding in an ambulance Carlos was focussed on trying to make him feel better. It was just so Carlos.
TK felt several pats on the back and another shoulder squeeze as he tried to get his emotions under control. The unwavering support of his team meant the world to him. He knew how close they had all become to Carlos in the months that they’d been dating, and he knew they were scared too. And yet they were still supporting him.
“Let’s sit down TK,” Owen said, pushing him down into a chair. “I called the chief and had us all stood down for the rest of shift so we could be here for you and for Carlos.”
TK wiped the tears from his cheeks. “You didn’t have to do that dad,” he replied.
“Of course he did,” Paul said.
“You’re not the only one who cares about him, you know,” Marjan added.
“We’re family, man. We stay,” Judd said while Mateo nodded in agreement.
“You guys are the best,” TK said.
“Don’t we know it,” Judd replied, sitting down and putting a hand on TK’s knee, squeezing firmly.
“Did anyone call his parents yet?” TK asked.
“That would be me,” a familiar voice rang out as someone joined their group.
“Michelle!” TK cried, jumping up from his seat and reaching out to her.
Michelle pulled him close and hugged him tight.
“Hey Strand,” she said. “Hi guys, it’s good to see you, although obviously I wish it wasn’t here. How’s my boy?”
“No news yet,” Tommy replied, pulling Michelle into a hug of her own.
Michelle sighed. “I called his parents,” she said. “They’re in Houston visiting friends, but they’re on the way back now. Hopefully they’ll be here in a few hours.”
TK nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay with him once his parents get here,” he said sadly. “I promised him that I would wait until he was ready to tell his parents that I’m his boyfriend. They still think we’re just friends.”
Judd was shaking his head angrily. “That ain’t right man,” he said. “You love him and he loves you. Anybody with eyes can see that. You shouldn’t have to hide it just because of his parents.”
“He’s right,” Marjan agreed. “That’s not fair to either of you. You deserve to be there for him TK.”
“Believe me, I agree with both of you,” Paul chimed in. “But these are Carlos’ parents, and it needs to be his decision. I know firsthand what it feels like to have someone you love turn on you for just being you. As unfair as it is, TK can’t make that choice for him.”
TK sniffled and wrapped his arms around himself tightly, clearly struggling to keep it together. “Paul is right. Carlos loves his parents. He’s close to his family. I’m not going to risk ruining his relationship with them. It has to be up to him to tell them.”
Michelle took both of TK’s hands in her own. “Please look at me TK,” she said.
It took him a few seconds, but eventually he turned his eyes to Michelle’s and saw the same fear he was feeling reflected back at him.
“Please, please don’t doubt his love for you,” Michelle said, her own eyes shining with tears. “He loves you so much. He tells me constantly that he doesn’t know what he did to ever deserve you and he doesn’t know what he’d been doing with his life until you came into it. You make him happier than I’ve ever seen him TK.”
TK smiled. “He does the same for me.”
“This fear he has of losing his parents...,” Michelle went on, “It’s something he’s been feeling for the last ten years since he came out to them when he was 17. That fear has nothing to do with you. He loves you more than anything, and he would love nothing more than to shout it from the rooftops. Never doubt it.”
TK pulled her forward and hugged her fiercely. “Thank you so much Michelle,” he said.
She wiped at the tears now pouring down her cheeks. “Anytime kid,” she replied.
TK turned back to his team and let out the first genuine laugh since he had found out about Carlos when he saw the tears in all of their eyes from his conversation with Michelle.
“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” Mateo said.
“You are so crying, probie,” Marjan accused.
“Alright we’re all crying no need to dwell on it!” Judd said.
Owen wrapped his arms around his son. “I really wish I knew earlier that Carlos was here waiting for you TK. I would have dragged us to Texas years ago,” he said.
“It’s alright dad,” TK replied with a smile. “We’re both young and we have the rest of our lives ahead of us. Because I know that he’s going to get through this and he’s going to come back to me.”
“You’re damn right he is,” a new voice rang out.
Everyone turned as Carlos’ partner, Rebecca, walked over to them.
“I’m so sorry TK,” she said immediately. “We weren’t able to put our vests on because the suspect ran in front of our car and we went straight after him. By the time backup had arrived and we caught him, Carlos was down and I…”
“It’s not your fault Rebecca,” TK cut her off, pulling her into a hug as he took in the fear and guilt in her eyes. “I know you would do anything to protect him. There’s no one I trust more to have his back out there. You know that. Just tell me that this son of a bitch is going down.”
“Oh he’s going down,” she replied angrily. “The only reason I wasn’t here earlier is because I made sure to escort him myself. He will never see outside of a cell again.”
TK nodded. “Thank you.”
“Like you said,” Rebecca replied, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Carlos. Has there been any word on his condition?”
“Not yet,” Tommy said. “It’s only been about an hour since they took him to surgery.”
“For right now, no news is good news,” Michelle added. “All we can do is wait and be there for him when he needs us.”
If there was one thing in the world TK knew how to do, it was how to be there for his boyfriend. It had taken him a while to learn sure, but he learned. He would be there for Carlos every step of the way. Even if he had to somehow work around his parents.
TK sat back down in the chair. His father sat on one side of him and Judd sat on the other. He leaned against his dad’s shoulder, taking in all the support he could.
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Hours later, TK was sitting by Carlos’ hospital bed clutching his hand tightly between his own.
He had been sitting there for a while already, but his boyfriend showed no signs of waking.
He couldn’t believe that Carlos had slept through the entire team’s visit. The 126 were not a quiet bunch in the slightest. Add to that Grace, Michelle, and Rebecca it was even louder. And still, Carlos hadn’t even stirred.
TK was anxious that Carlos had yet to wake up, but after three hours in surgery the doctor had assured him that he would be just fine. The bullet didn't hit anything vital (although if you asked him, every part of his boyfriend was vital thank you very much), and after a blood transfusion Carlos was all fixed up. Now if only he would wake up.
Most of the team had gone home, promising to visit again when Carlos was up for it. His father was waiting for him, not wanting TK to have to find a way home on his own.
“Just waiting on you love,” TK said, squeezing Carlos’ hand. “I’d really like to see those eyes, baby.”
TK suddenly heard raised voices from outside of Carlos’ room and he immediately dropped his boyfriend’s hand and jumped out of his seat. Just in time, as Carlos’ parents burst into the room and made a beeline for their son.
“Carlitos,” his mom said, running her hands through his hair and kissing him on the cheek. His father took his hand.
TK stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, not sure if he should make a run for it. He was just about to head for the door when Carlos’ mother looked up at him and smiled. Her smile was so similar to Carlos’ it hurt.
“TJ, right?” she asked. “We met you at the market a few weeks ago. You’re a friend of Carlos’?”
“TK,” he corrected her. “Yes, I’m his friend from work. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to intrude, I just heard what happened and wanted to see if he was okay.”
“Don’t be sorry!” Carlos’ father answered. “That’s nice of you. You’re a good friend.”
TK smiled at them, hoping it didn’t look as pained as he was feeling. Even knowing that he was doing this for Carlos, calling the man he loved with all his heart a friend felt wrong. He hated it.
“Has he woken up at all?” Andrea asked. “We got here as fast as we could after we heard what happened.”
“Not yet,” TK replied. “He came out of surgery a little over an hour ago and the doctor let me see him. His friends from the precinct have already visited him. I’m sure more will be showing up soon, he’s a popular guy.”
“He always was,” Gabriel said with a smile. “Thank you for sitting with him, TK.”
“No problem at all,” he replied. “I’ll leave you alone with him.”
“Nice to see you again TK!” Andrea called after him.
TK smiled and turned to leave, his heart breaking a little more each step he took away from Carlos.
By the time he reached his father in the waiting room, tears were pooling in his eyes, begging to be let out.
“Oh son,” Owen said, pulling him close and wrapping his arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”
TK collapsed into his father’s arms and let the tears fall.