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TK thanked the Uber driver, giving him a tired smile as he closed the door. He watched as the car pulled out of the drive away and drove down the road until TK was standing alone.
TK's shoulders dropped, his head falling forward, so his chin connected with his chest. He pulled his head up as he walked towards the door. He was exhausted; he'd been on a 48-hour shift, which seemed never-ending. Every case seemed more complicated and more intense than the other. He'd lost count of the number of stitches he'd given and bandages he'd fixed. TK rolled his shoulders and neck, wanting nothing more than to curl up on the sofa in his hoodie and joggers with his boyfriend. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket; he reached down, slipping it out.
I'll be home in an hour; I'll pick up thai for dinner 💛
He smiled down at the message. TK was amazed how a simple message from Carlos could relieve so much stress. TK started typing out his response, reaching out to slot his key into the lock.
He heard the lock click, taking his hands off the key to open the door.
He pushed the door, frowning as he found it wouldn't budge. TK tried again, but the door was solid, unmoving. He twisted the key again, hearing the lock once again click. He reached out and nudged the door, and this time it opened.
TK stood there for a moment, staring at the ajar door. TK looked down at the key in his hands, turning it over. H e could have sworn he heard the lock click, swore he heard it unlock the first time.
He shook his head; he was drained and probably delusional at this point. TK didn't give it much more thought, continuing to type his message to Carlos as he stepped into the house. TK kept his eyes down at the phone as the door shut with a thud behind him.
It was dark in the house, and TK reached out with his hand to switch the lights. Something connected with his arm. He turned to look when suddenly he was on the floor, the dark word staring up at him.
There was a loud ringing in his ear, and a searing pain travelled through his skull like something was clawing to get out. TK tried to look up from the ground, but his head felt heavy and his mind thick. It felt like something was pulling his body down to the earth.
TK managed to raise his hand to the back of his head, feel the warm sticky liquid run down his fingers. Once again, TK tried to look up, but the darkness crept into his vision and tugged at him. TK managed to gather some energy and his hands bracing against the floor and starting to push himself up. His knee moved beneath him as he tried to keep his balance as he reached out to try and pull himself up. TK was about to push himself up on his knee when a force collided with his back, sending him to the ground and into the darkness.
TK blinked, the light piercing his eyes. He slammed them shut, the quick action causing his head to pound even further. After TK realised the pain wasn't going to leave his skull, he gently peeled his eyes open.
It was dark, too dark for TK to see.
He blinked more, each blink clearing his vision slightly. He could see shapes, broken fragments of objects in the distances.
He moved forward, a loud clanging sound ringing into his mind and a biting pain cutting into his wrist. TK looked to his side; his hands were cuffed to something. He pulled on them harshly, the loud clanging making TK wince as it drilled into his mind. TK slumped back against the wall. His head loled back, the intense pounding in his mind becoming too much. He swallowed, a sickness had settled in his stomach, making TK wince and retch. He tried to run through his paramedic checks, but his mind was too hazy to concentrate, concussion maybe. His ribs hurt as well, in fact, his whole body; he couldn't pinpoint the source of the pain.
TK breathed has as the sleep tugged at his conciseness and pulled him back into the darkness.
Carlos stared down at his phone, his brows knitted together. He had sent a text to TK over an hour ago but had heard nothing back. Even if it was a simple emoji or one word, TK would always answer. He slipped the phone back into his pocket, his bottom lip between his teeth. Nancy had told Carlos that today had been a tough shift. TK's lack of response made Carlos's chest tightened. The lack of response made him pack up his things and drive home a little quicker than usual. While he knew it made sense that the man simply forgot to reply, coming home and crashing on the sofa, there was a scratching feeling that niggled at Carlos, a feeling that told him something was wrong. TK always answered, even on bad days. Always let him know he was home safe.
Carlos slipped his key into the lock, the creaking echoing in the night. He froze, his eyes scanning from the key to the gap between the door and the door frame. Carlos felt his heartbeat harder against his chest.
He nudged the door slightly with his hands, the creaking intensifying as it opened wider to reveal the darkness within the house.
Carlos stepped forward, pushing the door open with his shoe as he stepped inside.
"TK," He called.
No answer.
The room was dark, with no sign of life to be seen. He flicked the light on, still standing in the doorway. He looked around; nothing looked disturbed; everything was in place, except no TK.
Carlos walked further into the room, a loud crunching from beneath his foot, causing him to stop. He glanced down.
TK's keys stared up at him. Next to them was...Carlos staggered back slightly as TK's phone stared up at him, the screen broken.
Carlos reached down and picked up the phone, running his finger across the screen. The phone lit up, and Carlos typed in the passcode.
The phone unlocked, a half typed out message to Carlos stared back at him.
That sounds great I'll s
The message cut off, and Carlos would barely hear anything above the ringing in his mind. He dropped the phone, quickly standing up and moving through the house quickly.
"TK!" He called, checking every room in the house till he was sure TK wasn't there; he was gone. Carlos stood in the living room, his hands reaching up to run through his hair.
Carlos shook his head; something was wrong, something very wrong.
He walked back over to the doorway, his eyes fixated on the keys and phone.
That's when he saw it.
Carlos stepped forward, hoping he was wrong, hoping with everything he had, he didn't see what he thought he was. Hoping he didn't see what he'd seen at a thousand crime scenes.
He stopped, crouching down to the small pool of red liquid on the ground by TK's phone.
It was blood.
Carlos closed his eyes, falling forward on his knee's for a moment as his brain tried to process everything.
TK was gone.
His phone and keys were here.
There was blood on the floor.
Each piece of information by itself would be enough to make Carlos overwhelmed by fear.
But all three of them...Carlos felt his breath hitch in his throat, a hand wrapped around his lungs, squeezing tighter with every breath.
He stood, his legs trembling as he did. Carlos shakily pulled his phone out of his pocket, dialling the number. It rang for what felt like a lifetime until it clicked to life.
"Carlos," Owen said, his voice relaxed and cheerful.
"Captain Strand," Carlos breathed.
He heard movement from the other side of the phone, "What's wrong," Owen asked, his voice no longer relaxed but strained and tense.
"It's TK," Carlos swallowed, his eyes still fixated on the blood.
"What happened?" Owen asked.
"I-" Carlos looked at the contents on the floor, the open door and the empty apartments, "I don't know." He confessed.
He had no idea where TK was, what happened to him or if he was even alive.
TK sucked in a breath, his chest aching as he did. He blinked; the dim room before him become more clear. Something appeared in his vision, a cold hand tapping his cheek roughly, "Keep those eyes open," A gruff voice said.
TK groaned, pulling his head away from the hand, "Ugh, where am I," He slurred. His head still ached, and TK tried not to think about the fact that this paramedic wouldn't be able to give him any pain killers to help.
The person before him moved back, "That's confidential, I'm afraid," the voice said.
TK frowned, he moved forward, but the cuffs were still around his wrist. TK's eyes adjusted to the room, silver handcuffs were tight around his wrist, he was chained to a rusty radiator next to him.
TK turned to look at the guy in front of him.
He wasn't a paramedic and did not look like he was here to help.
The man wore a black hoodie and sweats, and TK did not recognise his face. He had pale skin and blue eyes that just looking made TK feel cold.
"Wh-who are you," He asked.
The man shook his head, "That's not important," He walked over to a table, "What's important is who you are, TK Strand, right?"
TK swallowed, part due to the constant sickness in his stomach and the fact that this guy seemed to know who TK was, "What do you want?"
"Oh, you're already doing it," The man chuckled, "See, I needed to get someone's attention, and you being here does just that," TK's head spun, and he blinked as he tried to stay away, "I'm guessing Carlos is walking through his front door right now, realising that you aren't there,"
His eyes shot open. The tiredness that had been hovering above his body was ripped away and was replaced by fear, pure fear that began to rain down on him.
He was trying to get Carlos's attention. TK shook his head, "No, no-"
"And in about, oh two minutes, I'm going to give him a call and tell him that I've got his little boyfriend, and if he wants to see you again, then he's going to come here and met me," The man smirked, and the sickness in TK's stomach intensified.
TK's managed to move his legs, so he was in a kneeling position, his hands still cuffed at the side, "Why, why are you doing this," he asked.
The guy slammed something down on the table, "Because of that boyfriend of yours, I went away for 5 years," This was bad, TK shook his head even more, it was a trap for Carlos, "Now I can't get those years back, but I can make him pay," TK surged forward, almost colliding to the floor as the cuffs held in place.
His heart thudded in his chest, and TK's jaw clenched hard. "He won't come, he'll know it's a trap," The man just laughed, shaking his head as he pointed at TK.
"But he'll come anyway because I've got you," TK was frozen, watching as the man picked something up off the table.
A gun.
He slipped it into the back of his pants, pulling his shift over it.
"Wait, don't-don't do this," TK started to beg, pulling forward on his cuffs, "You can just let me go, and I'll say nothing, okay?" The man just stared at TK, no indication he was listening to his pleads, "You're out now, if-if you do this, they'll just send you back," A dark cloud washed over the man's eyes.
He stepped forward, kneeling in front of TK.
"Oh, I won't be going back, not when I've got you", He snarled, reaching out to pat TK on the cheek again. "Don't worry, I'm sure Carlos will be here soon," He said, giving a wink as he rose and strode to the other side of the room.
That was precisely what TK was worried about. He wasn't worried about being left here or not being found. He wasn't worried about whatever this guy would do to him.
The only worry that coursed through his body and engulfed his mind was what would happen if Carlos came for him.
TK pulled hard against the cuffs, ignoring how they dug and nipped at his wrist. The loud clattering of the cuffs echoed through the room until they stopped.
TK collapsed back against the wall, his energy drained and his head heavy.
He closed his eyes, begging and pleading that Carlos's wouldn't answer the phone, that he wouldn't come to find him. Yet no one was listening, and TK could do little as he watched the guy dialled Carlos's number, holding it to his ear as he stared at TK with a wicked grin.
Mitchelle sighed, reaching out to place her hand on Carlos's bicep, "Carlos, it's not even been two hours-"
"Something is wrong I-I can feel it," He called, turning away from her to pace on the spot in the bullpen of the police station. "He left work an hour ago, his dad hasn't seen him, neither has anyone else," He rattled off, "My door was open, his-his keys and phone were broken on the floor, and there was blood..." Carlos stopped speaking and moving, a wave of sickness overcoming him.
Mitchelle had seen the scene, so had the other officers he'd called. He barely managed to keep Captain Strand out of there, but Carlos wasn't about to let Owen see the pool of what was most likely his son's blood on the floor.
"I'll put an APB out, make some calls," She said, giving him a comforting smile as she left the area. Detectives had come to Carlos's house to process it, everyone kept telling him TK was probably okay, and this was just a misunderstanding, but it wasn't.
Carlos would feel it.
His phone rang in his pocket, and he quickly fished it out. Maybe it was TK calling from another phone or one of the detectives. He frowned; an unknown and withheld number was staring back at him.
"Hello," He asked, slumping down in his chair, hands running through his hair as he spoke.
"If you want to see your boyfriend again, you'll listen very carefully,"
The chair also topped over as Carlos stood, his hand gripping the phone tight, "Who is this," he asked.
There was a sinister laugh, "I'm offended you don't remember me," Carlos listen carefully to the voice, he knew it, he'd heard it before, but he couldn't place where, "But I'm guessing you ruin so many lives it's hard to keep track,"
It hit Carlos like a bullet, "Marcus," He breathed out, hearing a laugh of confirmation on the other end.
Marcus was an armed robber Carlos had arrested years ago. He was irrational, spontaneous, and a hothead. All traits made him incredibly dangerous and, in the end, what got him caught. Carlos tensed his fist next to him, speaking through gritted teeth, "If you've hurt him, I swear-"
"Oh, your boy is fine...." He said, but the words did little to dwell Carlos's fears, "...for now,"
Carlos looked around the bullpen but found it to be empty, Captain Stran in the other room waiting for him to get back,
"I wanna speak to him," Carlos asked his hand clenching and unclenching next to him. There was silence on the other end, and Carlos went to speak when he heard shuffling or movement.
"Speak," He heard Marcus say in the distances. He heard another noise echo through the phone, a click or a rattling and then a grunt of pain.
"Carlos," A voice gasped.
He reached out and gripped the table, his knuckles going white. It was TK.
His voice was hoarse and weak, and Carlos felt his lip start to tremble as his vision blurred, "TK-TK are you okay-"
Mure sound appeared on the other end of the phone, "And that's enough, Reyes," Marcus said.
"What do you want," he asked.
"Well, for one, you're going to keep this call between us, and two you're going to meet me at 4704 E Cesar Chavez Street," Carlos grabbed a pen off the table and scribbled down the address on a napkin he had left on the side, "You bring anyone else, and your boy isn't walking out here," The pen dropped from Carlos's hand, clattering to the table, "Unless it's in a body bag you understand,"
Carlos understood; he understood all too well; he remembered Marcus record and did not doubt for a second that he would turn to violence if he didn't get what he wanted.
Carlos looked down at the napkin, "I understand," he breathed.
"See you soon, Carlos," Marcus sneered, the phone cutting off.
He stood in the station, people starting to flood back into the bullpen.
"You okay Reyes?" his partner asked.
Carlos looked at his partner then back at the napkin on the table. He should tell her, tell her it's Marcus and give her the address so they can get SWAT.
"You bring anyone else, and your boy isn't walking out here unless it's in a body bag, you understand,"
Anyone else Carlos might question, doubt their threats but with Marcus... "I-I gotta go," Carlos stuttered, grabbing the napkin and shoving it into his pocket, "I'll be back later," he faintly smiled, giving her a slight nod as he ducked out of the station determined to do whatever to bring TK home.
TK rattled the cuffs, yanking forward till his wrist felt raw, leaning back against the wall panting for breath.
"Don't do this, just leave," TK begged, Marcus, leaning against a table on the other side of the room. They'd called Carlos a little while ago and were now both waiting.
TK prayed that Carlos didn't listen, that he would tell his boss and SWAT would be the only people to walk through those doors.
"And why would I do that? Our boy is on his way," Marcus mocked.
A clang.
Both men looked to the side, the noise echoed, and TK could hear footsteps growing closer. He shook his head, reaching forward till his wrists protested, but he didn't listen.
Marcus slid off the table, pulling the gun he had tucked in his waistband out. He quickly walked over to TK, ripping a bandana out from his jeans and crouching down in front of TK.
He reached forward, slipping the fabric between TK's mouth and tying it behind his neck. He tried to shrug the man off, struggling against the man's hands, but it was no use. He stood up, walking to his spot in the centre of the room, and raising his gun up.
After a moment, Carlos stepped into the space.
TK closed his eyes, shaking his head.
No, no no. This couldn't be happening, he shouldn't be here. He opened his eyes to see Carlos staring at him. His eyes were wide, his hands hovering at his side. He started to walk towards TK, "TK-" Carlos breathed, but Marcus stood between the pair, the gun still raised.
"Don't even think about it," He said. "Now put that gun down on the floor," He said.
Carlos just started at Carlos for a moment. Usually, when TK saw his boyfriend, he felt nothing but comfort and happiness but not at this moment. TK wanted nothing more than for Carlos to be as far away from this warehouse as he could get. Carlos flicked his eyes between TK and Marcus before finally taking a gun out of his jacket and placing it on the floor, "Kick it over," Marcus yelled, Carlos, waiting a few seconds before doing so. "You've got me, now let him go," Carlos said as Marcus reached down and picked the gun up, shoving it into his jacket pocket.
TK tried to beg Carlos to leave; he screamed against his gag, no words coming out.
"Glad you could join us," Marcus said, "You weren't stupid enough to bring anyone else, right?" He asked.
"It's just me like you asked, so you can let him go," Carlos stepped closer to Marcus, his hands held out in front of him in a begging motion.
"I've waited 5 long years to see you again, Carlos," The man chuckled, "Now at first, I thought I would just put a bullet in you" TK launched forward, the chain a loud thud in the silent room, "Just like you did her," TK frowned who was her? He looked over at Carlos and saw the man was not shocked, his head was lowered, and TK could have sworn he looked guilty, "But then I realised that ain't punishment enough, and then I discovered him," He nodded the gun towards TK.
He watched as Carlos faulted on the spot, unsure whether to step forward or stay back, "This has nothing to do with him just, just let him go," He pleaded, his voice uneasy, the fear plain to hear.
"Oh, but it has everything to do with him," Marcus laughed, but it wasn't jeering laugh like before, this time, there was sadness in it, "See you took Frankie away from me, made me watch her bleed out and die," TK had no idea what the man was talking about, but from the look on Carlos's face he did understand the man's words and they seemed to pain him.
"She didn't give me a choice Marcus, she shot someone and was going to shoot others-"
"We just wanted to get away; we just wanted to be free!" The man screamed, he was on an edge and TK and Carlos apparently had a front-row seat to watch him teeter on it. "I loved her, and you made me watch the life drain from her, made me watch the fear and terror in her eyes as she died alone on that bank floor," Marcus hung his head for a moment, staring down at the ground as his guns started to lower.
Then his head snapped up, his guns raised back up. "Now you get to do the same," Marcus said.
Carlos ran forward, stopping as Marcus shoved a gun in his direction, "Wait, wait, don't do this," Carlos gasped, "You want freedom okay just, just walk outta here," Carlos pointed to the door behind him, "I won't stop you or search for you, just walk outta here," Carlos insisted, stepping to the side, closer to TK, so Marcus could see the door. Carlos shook his head, his hand reaching out to point motion towards TK, "just don't hurt him,"
Marcus looked at the pair, a malicious smile on his face, "You really love him, huh, Reyes?" He laughed, his head cocked to one side, "Well, now you get to watch him die," The safety of the gun clicked off as Marcus looked at TK, that wicked grin still on his lips.
Carlos launched forward, his body crashing into Marcus's. The gun fired, and TK curled into himself as ash and debris fell onto his head, the ringing echoing in his mind.
Carlos and the man wrested on the ground, and TK surged forward, screaming against his gag. His shoulder screamed as he tugged against his restraints holding him back.
Marcus and Carlos fought over the invisible weapon, TK unable to see who had it.
Marcus landed a blow to Carlos's cheek, sending the man back onto the cold ground. Marcus pushed himself off the floor, slipping the gun out of his pocket and pointing it at Carlos's chest, who was still lying on the ground. TK staggered to his feet, his arms awkwardly cuffed at the side as he pulled against his restraints with everything he had. He needed to break free, break the cuffs, the radiator, his arm he didn't care, he just needed to help. He cried against the gag in his mouth, but his words were just muffled sounds.
A loud and sharp blast reverberated around the metal warehouse. TK shrieked, tears running down the side of his cheek as he staggered on his uneasy legs.
Marcus swayed for a moment before toppling to the floor to reveal Carlos holding a smoking gun.
TK sighed, his chest heaving as he collapsed back onto the floor. Carlos threw the gun to the ground, pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialling a number. Carlos said something into the phone as he reached into Marcus pocket and pulled out a key.
He scurried over TK, kneeling in front of him. "TK, hey hey I'm here," Carlos soothed, reaching out to untie the gag from around his neck. As soon as it fell from TK's lips, he gasped the air, able to return to his lungs, "You okay?" Carlos asked as he started to undo TK's cuffs. The cuffs fell from TK's wrist with a clatter. He launched forward, wrapping his arms around Carlos, burying his head into the crook of the man's neck. Carlos's arms embraced him, one hand coming to rest on the back of TK's neck. TK stared at the man lying on the floor across the room. He pulled back from Carlos, crawling across the floor towards Marcus, "Wha-what are you doing?" He heard Carlos asked from behind.
TK managed to reach the man, reaching out to press down on the wound. He blinked as his vision started to blur, his body still depleted of energy. Blood pooled around his fingers as he kept pressure on the wound, "He's dying," He coughed, his voice sore from the shouting. TK saw Carlos speaking into his phone, but he couldn't hear his words. His body felt weak, but he kept working; the man was losing blood and quick. He could feel Carlos's hands on his and see his lips moving but again, no sound. The next time TK opened his eyes, he was on the floor, staring up at Carlos, unsure how he got there. The darkness began to descend on him again as he tried to focus on Carlos.
Carlos was okay.
He was safe.
With that, TK stopped fighting the darkness and finally let his eyes shut.
Carlos hovered by TK's door, watching as the nurse finished checking his vitals. She turned and left the room, giving Carlos a small smile.
As soon as she was clear, Carlos ducked inside the room.
TK gave a weak smile to Carlos, "Hey," he whispered.
Carlos stood next to the bed. TK was pale, with dark circles under his eyes and bruises covering his face. Carlos swallowed back nausea that grew in his stomach. He sunk down on the chair next to TK, pulling it as close to the bed as he could. Owen had been here for most of the day while TK slept, Carlos had managed to send him home a little a while ago to eat and sleep.
"Hey, how you feeling?" He asked, his hand reaching out to rest on top of TK's arm.
"Fine," TK muttered, his voice still hoarse.
Carlos cocked his head to the side, "No, you're not," He knew TK well enough to see the man was in pain. The way he winced when he spoke and how his breath hitched every now and then.
TK rolled his eyes, "It's nothing," he said.
"You've got a concussion," The bandage wrapped around TK's head, a stark reminder.
"I've had one before,"
"And that's meant to make me feel better?" Carlos said, his brows raised.
TK gave a sluggish smile, it fading after a moment, "What happened?" He asked.
Carlos reached up with his free hand, running it down his face, "You collapsed," TK had worked on Marcus for as long as he could, but in the end, the concussion had won, "Paramedics came and took you to the hospital,"
TK nodded, "What about Marcus?" He asked.
"He's alive; he's handcuffed to a bed down the hall," He said, nodding his head down the hall, "Why'd you try and save him?" Carlos found himself asking, "I mean, he kidnapped you and hurt you, was going to..." Carlos trailed off, not even wanting to say what Marcus was going to do.
TK gave a small shrug, "It's my job," was all he said.
Carlos found himself smiling, shaking his head, that was quintessential TK, saving someone despite everything.
TK reached out, squeezing Carlos's hands. Carlos smile grew as he looked down at their hands.
His smile fell from his lips.
Stark white bandages covered TK's rest, covering the raw, angry cuts from the cuffs.
Carlos looked away, reaching out to run his hand down his face again, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"TK," Carlos trembled, shaking his head, "I'm-I'm so sorry you got wrapped up in this, I-" His voice got caught in his throat, trapped and unable to move.
TK's hand squeezed Carlos's, "This isn't your fault Carlos," He reassured.
Carlos slumped back in the chair, looking off into the distances, "I've thought about that night so many times and wondered if I did the right thing,"
TK pushed himself up in the bed a little more, "What happened?" He asked.
Carlos sighed, running his hand through his hair, "Marcus and Frankie were husband and wife armed robbers, they hit a bank once. We surrounded them, and when we busted through the door," Carlos gave an intense sigh, his hand clenching on the bed, "Frankie shot at one of the officers and kept shooting-"
TK took Carlos's hand, clutching it, "You didn't have a choice Carlos,"
"I know," Carlos sighed, shaking his head, "I just, he could have killed you, he was going to kill,"
"But he didn't," TK interrupted.
Carlos knew that, but it did little to ease the pain in Carlos's chest, the contact images of that gun pointed at TK. "You shouldn't have come alone, Carlos," Carlos looked up at TK, who was staring down at him, his brows knitted together, "What were you thinking?" He asked.
"He said if I brought anyone, he'd kill you," Carlos assured, leaning forward.
TK inclined forward on the bed, his hand his clutching Carlos's, "He could have killed you," TK's voice stronger as he spoke.
Carlos threw his hands out to the side, "I wasn't thinking about that," he said.
" Wasnt thinking about that? " TK repeated, closing his eyes, "Carlos, he could have shot you," If Carlos was honest, that thought hadn't crossed his mind. Well, maybe fleetingly, but it was all second to bringing TK home; that was the only thing be had cared about.
"I wasn't worried about that-"
"You should," TK snapped, and Carlos could see the way it pained the man, his eyes shining with tears. "You should be worried about yourself, what you did was reckless and dangerous." Carlos knew that and knew his bosses would probably be having words with him when he was back in the office.
"I had to save you,"
TK squeezed his eyes together, "At what cost-"
"Whatever cost," It was as simple as that to Carlos, "Okay, I just-he was going to kill you and I couldn't-" Carlos's breath hitched, and a small sob escaped his lips as the weight of the day began to truly wash over him. "I came home and found the door open and your key and phone on the floor and blood," This time it was Carlos who closed his eyes, "I just wanted you back," He confessed, opening his eyes as a tear spilt down his cheek.
TK shuffled closer on the bed, reaching out to wipe away Carlos's tear, "Hey, hey I'm okay," he reassured, a sweet smile on his face, the most beautiful thing Carlos had seen all day, "I would have done the same thing," TK confessed.
Carlos let out a shaky breath, more tears making their way down his cheek, "I'm so sorry TK,"
TK leant his forehead against Carlos's, his hand still on his cheek, "This wasn't your fault Carlos, you couldn't have known this was going to happen," his thumb brushed against Carlos's cheek.
Carlos leant forward more, placing a gentle kiss against TK's cheek, reaching up to place another one on his forehead, "I'm so glad you're okay," He breathed against TK's skin.
"Thanks to you," TK said as he pulled back, collapsing back into the bed.
Carlos reached out, brushing the hair from TK's forehead, "Get some rest," He whispered.
"I'm not tired," TK said, his eyes already closed.
Carlos smirked, "Sure,"
TK turned on his side, facing Carlos, "Can we go home?" He asked, reaching out to rest his hand on Carlos's knee.
"They want to keep you overnight to make sure you're okay," He explained, lifting TK's hand to his lips, "But we can go home tomorrow," he said, placing a kiss against TK's fingers.
"Okay," TK breathed, his voice slurring as he started to drift asleep, "I love you, Carlos," He softly spoke, shuffling as close to Carlos as he could.
Carlos placed TK's hand back on the bed, reaching out to stroke his hand against TK's cheek, "I love you too, babe,"
Carlos kept his hand on TK's cheek, watching as the man's chest rose and fell, listening as his steady breathing filled the room, "Thank you for saving me," TK said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Always," Carlos promised.
TK said nothing else, falling into a peaceful sleep with Carlos by his beside.
He reached out, taking TK's hand on his, still needing to hold onto the man as if he might disappear in a moment. Saving TK wasn't a question, or a possibility or even a choice; it was a simple truth of the world.
Carlos would do whatever to save him, just as he knew TK would do the same.
Carlos leant back against the chair, getting as comfortable as he could while still holding TK's hand.
In their line of work, there was little they could be sure of, but as Carlos sat next to TK, he was sure of something. He would be here tomorrow, and the day after, because there was nowhere, he would rather be than at TK's side.