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The room was quiet, except for the beeping of the machines and the soft thudding of TK’s foot on the lament floor.
Carlos sat in the flimsy hospital chair in Owen’s room, watching TK, who was pulled up close to Owen’s bed on his own chair. TK was staring at his father, his eyes never leaving the older man for a moment.
“TK,” Owen said from the hospital bed, his head tilting to the side to look at TK.
TK’s eyes grew wide, “What?” he gasped, his hand patting against the sheets, searching for the nurse’s button, “Are you okay?” He stuttered, unable to get the words out quick enough, “Should I get a doctor-” TK went to stand up when Owen’s hand reached out, landing on TK’s knee.
“If you bounce your foot any harder, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” He said, his brows raised. TK’s sunk back into the chair, his arms coming to rest on the sides, “I’m going to be fine,” Owen said, smiling at his son, “It’s just a routine procedure,”
TK leaned forward on his knee’s, “It’s not routine,” He argued, and Carlos could see the harsh frown lines in TK’s forehead, “Do you the statistics for how many of these can-”
“You let him google the statistics?” Owen sighed, turning to look at Carlos, who was watching the conversation unfold.
Carlos gave a slight shrug, “He’s very persistent,” He smiled, “I thought they might help,” Carlos said, wincing at how wrong he was.
Owen gave a slow laugh, “And let me guess, he ignored every good statistic and focused on the negative ones?” He asked. Carlos just nodded. Somehow TK managed to find every medical journal that seemed to detail what could go wrong and miss all the journals that detailed what could go right.
“I’m right here, guys,” TK breathed, throwing his hand up in the air.
“Look, there is always a chance these things could do wrong, but like always, I defy the odds,” He smirked. Carlos knew he was trying to make TK feel better, but he knew no grin or witty quote was going to quell the pain and worry in TK’s heart. TK gave a small smile that barely lasted a second. Carlos reached out, squeezing his boyfriend's shoulder for comfort.
There was a light knocking on the door, and a doctor in a white coat ducked into the room holding a clipboard tight to his chest, “You ready, Mr Strand?” He asked Owen.
Owen smiled at the doctor before turning to TK, “You ready?” he asked.
TK took in a deep breath, leaning back in his chair.
Carlos knew the answer to that question. TK leaned forward, squeezing his dad’s hand, “Yeah,” It was a lie, and Carlos knew it.
He knew TK was trying to be strong for his dad; he managed to keep the smile a fraction of a second longer than last time, “I love you, dad,” TK said, his voice breaking on the word dad, and Carlos felt his chest ache for the man. He knew TK wanted his dad to get the surgery, but that didn’t stop the worry that had been coursing through TK’s body since they’ve awoken this morning.
“You too, son,” Owen said as a pool of nurses and doctors came into the room, and Carlos watched as TK stumbled back from his dad’s bed, his hand slipping out of his dad’s grip.
TK seemed to press himself as hard as possible against the wall as the doctors worked on Owen.
Carlos watched as Owen was wheeled out of the room, leaving the pair alone.
The room was now silent. No machines, even TK’s foot was eerily silent. TK didn’t move from the wall; his head ducked face the ground.
Even though the room was clear, TK didn’t move from the wall, still pressed hard against it, “Hey,” Carlos breathed, coming to stand next to him, their shoulder touching, “he’s in the best hands, he’s going to be alright,” TK gave a slight nod, but Carlos could tell he wasn’t sure, the tension plain to see in his face, “You wanna go home and wait or stay here?” Carlos asked.
TK’s shoulders sagged, “I don’t-I don’t want you to waste your day off sitting in a hospital waiting area with me,” TK sighed, finally turning his head to look at Carlos.
“It’s not wasting my day TK,” Carlos said, reaching out to take TK’s hand, which had fallen by his side, “He’s your dad; of course, I’m going to be here with you,” TK gave a soft smile, his eyes shining with gathered rears, “If you wanna wait here, then I’ll be by your side,” He squeezed TK’s hand, brushing his thumb against his skin.
TK leaned forward, placing a soft kiss against Carlos’s lips, lingering against them for a second before pulling back; thank you, babe,” TK whispered.
The chairs in the waiting room were somehow less comfortable than the ones in Owen’s room. Carlos stared up at the white ceiling, having noticed every scuff and mark on the roof. There’d been there for an hour or two.
The waiting room was quiet, still. Everyone here waiting for news and answers; it was like everyone in the room was collectively holding their breath.
One noise was constant thought, which had sound for the entire hour they had been sitting here.
Carlos looked over at TK, who was also staring at the ceiling. He felt Carlos’s stare, looking over at him, “What?” He asked, glancing down at his foot, “I’m not tapping my foot,” He said.
“I know,” Carlos said, giving a small smile as he nodded his head to the finger that had been tapping the armrest of the chair for the last hour. TK immediately curled his hand into a fist. Carlos reached out, placing his hand on top of TK’s, slowly feeling the man’s hand relax enough under his that he could link their fingers, “It’s okay to be nervous, TK,” Carlos assured.
“I just want him to be okay,” Even though he said want , Carlos knew the man meant needed . TK glanced down at the floor, “I hate feeling powerless, just sat there...waiting,”
Carlos leaned closer, “I know you do, but right now, that’s all we can do,”
TK looked over at him, “How are you so good at this?” He asked. Carlos gave a questioning frown, “Being calm, not getting overwhelmed or or worried,” TK explained.
Carlos gave a small playful scoff, “I’m not always calm,” He smiled.
TK gave a small laugh, “Oh really?” he questioned.
Carlos leaned forward on the chair, his hand still holding TK’s, “When you were in here…” Carlos trailed off for a second, swallowing hard, “When I was waiting for news about whether you would wake up…” He felt TK’s hand squeeze his; he glanced over at his boyfriend, “I think there’s still a mark in the waiting room floor from where I was pacing,” TK smiled, biting his lip. Carlos leaned back in the chair, head titled towards TK “But you woke up, you were okay, and so will your dad, we’ve just got to wait,” Carlos said. It was a harsh and simple truth. There was nothing they could do; Carlos himself had to accept there was only so much he could to comfort TK.
TK rested his head on Carlos’s shoulder, “I’m happy you’re here,” He breathed.
Carlos placed a kiss against TK’s hair, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” He said, his arm coming to wrap around TK’s shoulders, both pressed tight against each other as they waited.
“Mr Strand,” The voice cut through the silence of the waiting room, both Carlos and TK’s head snapping up at the same time.
The doctor from earlier came into the waiting room, “Is it done?” TK said, scrambling from his chair, “He’s okay?” He asked, and Carlos could see the smile creeping its way onto TK’s lips, his shoulders sagging with relief.
“Not yet,” The doctor correct, “Could we talk in your father’s room for a moment,” The smile was gone, TK’s shoulder tensed, his hands closing into tight fists as he just stared at the doctor. He nodded, and they started walking down the hall. Carlos watched TK as they walked; it was like watching a spring coiled; he grew tenser with each step like his mind became engulfed with horrid scenario’s the closer he got to the room.
The doctor pushed open the door, and the pair enter.
“What’s wrong,” TK finally blurted out as the door closed, clearly having held in his questions till they were alone.
“While conducting the operation,” There was a pause, the doctor giving a small sigh, “The surgeon found another tumour,”
Carlos closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. He quickly opened his eyes to find TK, stood frozen next to him, “An-another tumour,” His voice was a whisper, barely audible.
“Yes,” The doctor confirmed, “It appears the first one has metastasised,”
Carlos kept his eyes on TK. He didn’t move; he didn’t show any emotion on his face, “Can, can you remove them?” He asked.
“Yes we can, but-”
“-but?” TK interjected, and this time Carlos could see the emotion on his face, his eyes growing wider as he spoke.
“The new tumour has formed in a sensitive spot near your father’s heart; removing could risk damaging the issues around the organ,”
Carlos swore under his breath, reaching up to rub the back of his neck; this couldn’t be happening; he thought, “So,” TK said, shaking his head slightly, “So what are you going to do?”
“That’s what I’m here to ask you,”
TK frowned, taking a step back from the doctor for a moment, “What?” He breathed.
“Your father put you down as his power of attorney, correct?”
Carlos watched as TK nodded, “Yeah, yeah, he did,” He said, his brows furrowed.
“As I mentioned, removing this new tumour would be a risk, and as your father’s power of attorney, it’s your decision whether to go ahead with the operation,” the power of attorney , Carlos had honestly forgotten about that, neither of them actually thought it would need to be used. “When your father signed the forms for this operation, he and ourselves did not know about the other tumour, so he didn’t sign on to have those removed,” TK was still, and Carlos could barely see the man’s chest rising and falling. He took a step closer to him, reaching out and taking TK’s hand. It was then he felt how they shook, the trembles running through his hands like an earthquake, “He didn’t give us consent to go ahead with the removal and seeing as there are risks involved, only you can give us that consent,”
“What happens if you don’t remove them today,” TK asked.
“They could grow, spread to other areas, or they could stay the same,” in another word, we have no idea. More uncertainly and questions that no one seemed to have the answer to. “I know this is a lot of information, but as your father’s power of attorney, it’s your choice,”
That was the crux of it; TK had to make a choice.
“Could you give us a moment,” Carlos found himself asking, feeling TK’s handshake harder, his skin somehow feeling colder.
The doctor nodded, “I’ll be outside when you’re ready,” He said. He gave TK a sympathetic smile, but TK showed no sign that he saw it.
After a moment, the doctor was gone. “TK-”
“There’s-there’s another tumour,” TK said, shaking his head as the emotion he had been suppressing in front of the doctor began to rise to the surface.
Carlos took TK’s other hand in his, “I know, but-”
“It’s by his heart,” TK’s eyes were fixed on nothing, and Carlos wasn’t entirely sure TK could even hear what he was saying, “He was meant to be in remission, how-how could there be another tumour,” TK pulled his hands away from Carlos, reaching up to run them through his hair, “What-what am I meant to do,” TK gasped, starting to pace on the spot. He turned to face Carlos and the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes tumbled over as he shook his head. TK started to wrap his arms around himself, growing smaller, “What if I get it wrong,” He choked out, “He was meant to be okay,” This, this was why they were told to never promise people everything would work out, why they could never promise that someone would be okay, because life had a way of hearing what you want the most and destroying it before you.
TK seemed to stagger over to a chair, slumping down in it, his head cradled in his hands, “This can’t be happening,” He gasped, his hands buried deep in his hair, “What-how,” The words barely made sense thought the harshness of TK’s breathing.
“I can’t do this,” He gasped. Carlos slowly walked over to where TK was stood, kneeling down in front of him. He could see TK’s eyes were closed tightly; the corners of his eyes wrinkled as more tears rolled down his face.
TK’s breathing became more labour, coming out in quick burst’s; Carlos recognised immediately what was occurring; TK was having a panic attack.
Carlos automatically moved back slightly, giving TK room, “Hey TK, I’m right here,” He asked. This had not been the first panic attack Carlos had witnessed. After nearly losing Paul on a call, TK had all but broke down the minute he’d walked through the door. Sometimes when sobriety became too intense, a panic attack would take hold of TK.
Every instinct he had wanted to reach out and touch TK, to hold his hand and keep him close. But that’s not what TK needed. He needed space, room to breathe.
He had learned over the months how best to help TK during a panic attack. He needed room, need space to breathe and not to be touched. TK had described it as sensory overload, every sound was earsplitting, and every touch was overwhelming and scraping.
Carlos was about an arm's length from TK, still knelt on the floor before him. TK seemed to curl in on himself more, the breaths quicker, barely any gaps between them “Can you try and sit up straight for me?” TK’s hunched over position made breathing harder, usually sitting up straight helped the man beath a little easier.
TK’s didn’t move, no indication he even knew Carlos was there. Carlos shifted on his heels; typically, TK gave some indication he heard Carlos’s words, a shake of no or nod of yes, “TK,” Carlos said, ducking his head to try and make eye contact with him. TK’s eyes were still squeezed shut, “TK look at me, okay, look at my breathing,” Carlos said, already over-exaggerating his breathing for TK.
He didn’t copy Carlos’s breathing. He didn’t say anything. His hands slipped from his hair, running down his face and landing on his chest, which rose and fell erratically.
Carlos felt his hands twitch next to him; something wasn’t right. H e’d seen TK have panic attacks, and he always managed to get through to him, managed to get some response.
This seemed different, seemed more overwhelming and all-consuming.
TK’s breathing stopped sounding erratic; in fact, it seemingly stopped all together.
Choking noise came from the man, gasp’s for ait there were not appearing. TK’s hand flew to his throat, tugging at it as he coughed and choked on nothing. “TK, TK, I need you to breath okay,” Carlos called, his voice no longer calm as he watched the fear erupt in TK’s eyes.
He couldn’t breathe.
TK’s hands stayed wrapped around his throat, his finger raking down his skin before returning to the top to do the same; red marks began to be etched into TK’s skin as his fingers continued to claw at his throat.
“Hey, no, no, no,” Carlos said, still trying to keep his voice soft and not let the panic seep through his voice. TK didn’t listen and continued to claw at the skin, which was growing redder.
Carlos shuffled closer to TK, reaching out to wrap his hands around TK’s hands, prying TK’s fingers away from his skin. He tried to pull back, but Carlos kept his hands wrapped around TK’s bring them against his own chest, “TK, you’re hurting yourself,” He cried.
He tried to keep his hands steady as they held TK’s, but he could feel his hands shaking against his chest, “TK, please look at me,” He said, waiting for what felt like a lifetime before TK’s eyes peeled open. Carlos took TK’s hands that were still pressed against his chest, laying them flat against his chest, “Feel my heart,” He said, “Focus on my breathing and try and copy it okay,” Carlos had to focus to keep his own breathing steady, the adrenaline and fear running through him causing it to shake.
For the first time since the panic attack started, TK seemed to respond. He took in a small shaky breath, his lips trembling the whole time. “And out,” Carlos said, letting out a deep breath and watching TK do the same. Carlos’s knees began to ache as he stayed knelt on the floor before TK, but he didn’t care, didn’t dare move as TK’s calmness still seemed to be balancing on an edge.
TK’s leg bounced as he copied Carlos breathing, his breath hitching every now and then. Carlos held his hands against TK’s, they were both still shaking. TK’s breathing was seemingly levelling out. He carefully pulled TK’s hands from his chest, holding them to his lips and pressing a kiss against them, “Just keep breathing,” Carlos soothed, peppering light kisses to TK’s fingers.
Usually, TK didn’t like being held or even touched during panic attacks. He’d curl up in himself, and Carlos would just stay close by, letting him know he was there.
Today was different. Right now, it seemed like TK needed a lifeline to remind him he was still here.
Carlos kept one hand wrapped around TK’s, using his other hand to reach out and gently run his knuckles down TK’s neck. He hadn’t broken any skin. There no no blood, just minor red scratches that shone against TK’s pale skin, “You scratch yourself,” Carlos whispered, his hand making its way up to TK’s jaw, his thumb caressing the skin, “Are you okay?” Carlos asked, his eyes narrowed.
TK gave a slight nod, the first indication that he even knew Carlos was there. His eyes were still closed as he continued copying Carlos breathing. Carlos shuffled closer, gently pulling TK’s neck down till TK’s head was resting on Carlos’s shoulder. TK leant into his embrace, his hands still against Carlos’s chest. After a moment, Carlos felt TK pry his hands from Carlos’s, wrapping them around Carlos’s shoulder. Carlos did the same, his hand resting on the back of TK’s neck. A small sob escaped TK’s lips, and Carlos pulled back, his hand still gently resting on the back of TK’s neck.
“I don’t know what to do, Carlos,” TK wept, fresh tears tracking down his face, “What if-what if I make the wrong decision and something happens, and it will be my fault and-” TK’s choked on the words, his breathing starting to quicken again.
“Hey, stop, stop,” Carlos soothed, his hands cupping TK’s face, “Your dad trusted you with this,” He assured, “He trusted you to make choices for him, okay? And he knows, and I know, you are going to make the choice you think is best,” Carlos said, reaching up to whip the tears from TK’s cheek, “I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer here babe, and I can’t tell you what to do,” TK just nodded, starting to sit up straighter in his chair, his hands coming to rest in his lap.
“You do what you think is best, and I will be here the entire time,” Carlos smiled, watching as the faintest of smiles danced across TK’s lips.
Tk leant back in his chair, running his hand through his hair and tugging the ends slightly, “He wanted the tumours removed,” TK said quietly, “He’d wanted these removed too...even with the risks,” TK said, his voice quiet this time.
“Okay,” Carlos nodded, “Want me to get the doctor?” he asked.
TK took in a deep breath, his chest no longer shaking as he breathed. He nodded, his hands now rubbing against his thighs. Carlos stood, pausing and placing a soft kiss against TK’s hairline. Carlos headed towards the door, opening it and beckoning the door inside the room.
“You made your decision Mr Strand?” The doctor asked, looking between the pair.
TK bit his lip, his hands tugging at the fabric of his trousers, “Yeah, I have,” He sighed, looking up at the doctors, “Remove the tumours,” his voice was the strongest it had been since they had come into the hospital room.
“Alright,” The doctor nodded, “We’ll come get you when your fathers done,” He said, leaving the room.
Carlos walked back over to where TK was still sat, perching on the edge of the hospital bed, “You sure you’re okay?” Carlos asked, reaching out to gently lift TK’s chin up higher so he could see the faint marks on TK’s neck.
TK lifted his own hand up, this time gently running them over his skin, “It’s fine,” he said, “It just-it felt like I couldn’t breathe, more so than usual,” TK said, his hand coming up to wrap around Carlos’s, “It was like my throat was closing up,” Carlos could see the darkness pass over TK’s eyes as he was clearly pulled back into the moment. Carlos gave TK’s hand a reassuring squeezing, the man taking in a deep breath and looking up at Carlos, “I didn’t even realise I was doing it,” He said.
Carlos nodded, “I’m sorry if grabbing your hands wasn’t the right thing to do-”
TK shook his head, leaning forward on the chair, “No, no thank you for doing that,” TK said, holding Calros’s hands close to his lips,” I needed that, needed to remind myself you were here, that I was here” Carlos reached out and wrapped his other free hand around TK’s, both of there hands now wrapped up in each other. “I’m sorry for freaking out on you-”
“TK, stop,” Carlos said, no force in his voice, “You don’t have to apologise to me okay, I’m just glad you’re okay,” That’s was the beginning and end of it for Carlos; TK’s being okay was the most important thing.
TK smiled, the corner of his lips staying up as his eyes met Carlos, “I love you, you know that,” Carlos said, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on TK’s cheek, pulling back to rest his forehead against TK’s.
“I do,” TK breathed against Carlos’s lips, “I love you too,” He smiled, his hands coming up to rest on either side of Carlos’s face.
If TK was nervous the first time they were sat in the waiting room, this was another level. A level above bouncing his food on the floor, above tapping his finger on the side. TK didn’t stay in his seat for more than a few minutes before standing and pacing on the spot.
The string of TK’s hoodie never left his lips until now, when Owen’s doctor came round the corner. Before TK could say anything, the doctor spoke, “Your fathers out of surgery and doing fine,”
TK let out a relieved laugh, Carlos reaching out to rug his back, “He’s-he’s okay?” TK asked, the disbelief evident on his face.
“Yes, we managed to remove all of the first tumour and the second one too,” The doctor smiled, “Your father should be cancer-free,”
TK blinked through wet lashes, “There was no damage to his heart?” he asked.
“No, it was successful,” TK sighed, struggling back into his chair, a broad smile on his face. “He’s been in the recovery room waking up, and we’ve just transferred him back to his room; you can go see him if you want,” With that, the doctor left.
“Ready to you see your dad?” Carlos smiled back at TK.
TK stayed a few steps ahead of Carlos the entire way to his dad’s room, his hands nervously clenching by his side.
They finally reached the room, and TK pushed the door open, Carlos close behind.
Owen laid in the bed he had earlier, this time hooked up to more wires and machines, “Dad,” TK gasped.
“Hey son,” Owen smiled, and even though Carlos could tell the man was tired, he kept his smile the entire time. TK came to sit down in the chair, pulling it as close to the bed as he could. Carlos hovered behind him, giving the father and son a moment, “Hey, I’m fine,” Owen said, hand reaching out to land on TK’s knee,” Told you I would be,” Carlos could hear the small sniffles from TK, watching as the man reached up with the back of his hand to rub his eyes, “Hope you two didn’t worry too much while I was down,”
There was a silence, and the soft and comforting look Owen gave TK told Carlos that somehow Owen knew these last few hours had been hard for his son, “Did they tell you about the second tumour,” TK asked.
“Yeah, they did, said you gave the go-ahead to get it removed,”
“They said there was a risk of damaging your heart,” Tk started, hands fidgeting in his lap, “but I know you wanted it removed, so I decided to go ahead and-”
“Son, son, you made the right choice,” Owen said, “Whatever choice you made, It would have been right because it would have been what you thought was best,” Carlos smiled as he heard Owen words, knowing that TK needed to hear them more than anything.
TK’s head fell forward before he pulled up back up and spoke, “I’m so glad your okay, dad,” he said, his voice edging on a cry.
“We Strands are fighters, always have been,” Owen gave a slight wink to his son, who gave a soft laugh, “Carlos,” Owen said, “I appreciate you being here,” He smiled.
Carlos stepped forward, his arms coming to wrap around TK’s shoulders, “Of course Captain Strand,”
Owen rolled his eyes, sighing, “You know we gotta get a jar for every time you say Captain Strand instead of Owen, we could have a college fund for your kids by the end of the year,” The room filled with laughter and Carlos leaned down, meeting TK’s lips who had tilted his head up towards Carlos.
“Listen, I’m just going to be spending the night sleeping; you two should go home, get some rest.”
TK leaned forward, “Dad-”
Owen held his hand up, “You’ve been here all day; you need to rest,” TK looked like he was going to argue, but Owen tilted his head to the side, “I’m okay TK,” His hand reached out and squeezed TK’s, “We’re okay,”
TK nodded, standing from the chair, “Alright, okay,” he pointed at his father, “We’ll be back first thing tomorrow, okay?” Owen gave a small laugh, holding his hands up in defeat. TK slipped out from the chair, giving his father a final look before heading towards the door.
“I’m glad to see you’re okay,” Carlos said to Owen once TK had left the room.
Owen nodded his head towards the door, “He okay?” Owen asked in a hushed voice.
Carlos let out a long breath, his hands slipping into his pockets, “Now you’re awake, yeah he’s okay,” Owen seemed to grasp what Carlos meant, “Finding out about the second tumour was hard, but he got through it,” Carlos assured, looking through the glass of the door to see TK speaking with the doctor on the other side.
“Do me a favour, turn his alarm off tomorrow morning, let him have a lie-in.” Owen asked. Carlos chuckled, shaking Owen’s hand before leaving the room to join TK.
Carlos’ bedroom door slowly closed. TK trudged into the room, his feet slow as they finally reached the bed. Carlos smiled as he watched TK flopped down on his back, lying on the bed. Carlos shrugged his jacket off, slipping his shirt and jeans off as well. He moved around the room, tugging on a pair of joggers and a sweater. He could hear TK changing behind him, the sounds of jumper and jeans hitting the floor. Carlos ran his hand through his hair, yawning as he turned around to face the bed.
TK was curled up by the head of the bed. A loose Austin PD t-shirt hanging from his body, matching joggers probably hiding below the bed covers.
Carlos’s feet patted against the floor as he slipped into the bed next to TK, their faces inches from the other. TK’s hand snaked under the cover, coming to rest on Carlos’s cheek, "Thank you for being there for me today,” TK smiled, “I know you’re going to say ‘of course, but I just want you to know...I really appreciate it,” Carlos gently turned to the side, placing a kiss on TK’s palm. “And; I glad you were there, I wouldn’t have been able to get through today without you,”
Carlos draped his arm over TK’s waist, his thumb smoothing the skin beneath TK’s shirt, “I’ll always be there for you, TK,” TK smiled, moving closer to Carlos.
He smiled, instantly moving his body so TK could rest his head against Carlos’s chest, his fingers tracing faint shapes against his shirt. Carlos glanced down at TK, feeling the shapes against his skin stop as TK’s hand fell still against Carlos’s chest.
Carlos placed his hand around TK’s, closing his own eyes, “Carlos?” TK murmured, half asleep.
“Hm,” Carlos humed, his eyes still close.
“I’ll always be there for you too,” Carlos felt his smile grow. Carlos never doubted that fact, never doubted that TK would be there for him no matter what.
He squeezed TK tighter against his chest, “I know,” He whispered to the top of TK’s hair.
TK fell silent again, and Carlos could hear his steady breathing filling the room; no choking, no gasping, just calmness. Carlos flicked his eyes over to the bedside, carefully using his free hand to reach out to grab his phone.
He pulled up the alarm TK had set; 6:00am. Carlos looked down at the sleeping man on his chest; he scrolled till the time reached 7:00am. He placed the phone back on the bedside, wrapping it back around TK.
TK would never admit how much of a toll today took on him, how exhausted he was and how he barely stayed awake the drive home. Whether it was going to the hospital with him, standing by his side and helping him breathe, or something as simple as giving him an extra hour in bed, Carlos would always be there for TK when he needed him, just like he knew TK could always be there for him.
Carlos let out a deep, content sigh as the sound of their steady breathing filled the room.