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“I got the kid, Cap!” TK reaches for the boy. Loud cracking is all he hears before his senses are suddenly flooded with freezing water and the ground beneath him falls.
Carlos looks down at TK, whose face is currently squished against Carlos’ side. His mouth is slightly agape and he’s letting out soft snores. Carlos smiles and runs his hand through TK’s hair. He admires the man next to him for a bit, relishing in how calm he looks.
“I love you, TK." He starts in a low whisper. "So much." It’s not the first time he’s thought it nor felt it. But it’s the first time he’s said it aloud and it was to a silent room with his boyfriend sawing logs next to him. Or, at least, he was. Once he’s no longer speaking, Carlos is aware of just how silent the room is. He stares at TK, willing his snores to start back up again, and his heart races every second they don't. The brunette’s eyes move beneath the lids moments before they flutter open and soon he’s sitting up looking at Carlos with wide eyes.
“Did you mean it?” TK asks softly. Carlos’ eyes flick between TK’s for a few seconds before he closes them, tilts his head down a little, and nods. Before he knows it, Carlos’ head is being tipped up and there’s a soft pair of lips pressed against his own. He kisses back eagerly, letting himself get lost in it. When TK pulls away, they’re both breathless. “I love you too, ‘Los.” Carlos’ eyes open and he takes in the wide smile splitting TK’s face. "So much." He leans back in for another soft kiss before he asks TK to come to bed with him. They spend the next few minutes whispering ‘I love you’s’ into the darkness of Carlos’ bedroom before drifting off with smiles on their lips.
“Cap!” Tommy rushes over to Nancy. “I found him!” Tommy looks over TK while Nancy checks his vitals. He’s dusted with snow and turning blue.
“How’s he looking, Nance?” Nancy pulls the stethoscope out of her ears and looks at her captain.
“Not great.” They silently go through the motions of lifting TK onto the backboard and maneuvering their way back through the snow to the ambulance.
“Hey TK.” TK looks up and smiles when Carlos walks in.
“Hey.” He stands up and meets Carlos at the entryway with a soft kiss and a small hug. “How was your day?” Carlos shrugs, toeing off his shoes and dropping his bag by the door.
“It was fine. Missed you.” TK smiles.
“I missed you too.” They make their way to the couch and Carlos holds his arm out for TK to curl himself up under.
“How are you doing?” Carlos chuckles when TK rolls his eyes dramatically and slumps into his side.
“I’m doing fine, dad.”
“Forgive me for being worried about you.” TK huffs a laugh. “Why are you here so early? Thought you were coming over tonight?” Carlos starts rubbing TK’s arm when the man pushes himself further into Carlos’ side.
“My parents.” Carlos nods knowingly with a small frown on his face.
“Are they fighting again?” TK merely nods.
"Among other things." Carlos winces in sympathy for his boyfriend.
“I’m sorry Ty.” They sit in silence for a few minutes, simply basking in each other’s presence. “Why don’t you move in?” Carlos asks hesitantly. TK sits up slowly and tucks his leg under the other to face his boyfriend. “You don’t have to.” He’s quick to clarify. “If it’s too fast or you don’t want to take that step with me, that’s fine. I just hate seeing you this upset because of them and-”
“Carlos.” There’s a small smile on TK’s face. “Take a breath.” Carlos laughs softly but takes a breath anyway. “If you’re sure you want me to move in…” He trails off, letting Carlos nod to answer the question. “I’d love to.” Carlos beams, making TK smile back.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” TK says through a breathless laugh. They seal the deal with a sweet kiss that lands them on the floor.
“Cap! He’s not getting any warmer, we gotta get there soon!” Nancy shouts through the rig.
“I’m going as fast as I can. These roads are too slick. Do what you can for him. He’s just got to hold on a little longer.” Nancy nods, more to herself, and searches the truck for more blankets.
“So.” Carlos turns around and leans against the counter to face TK.
“So…?” TK looks back to see an inquisitive eyebrow raised on Carlos’ face. TK turns and leans against the opposite counter, separating them by mere feet.
“Do you regret asking me to move in?” Carlos’ shocked, almost appalled, face doesn’t stop TK from continuing. “I mean, I feel like this," TK motions to Owen’s kitchen, "was a pretty big sign that maybe I shouldn’t have moved in yet. Do you think it was too fast?”.
“Ty,” Carlos starts carefully, “do you regret it? Do you think it was too fast?”
“No, of course not. I loved living with you. I just didn’t know if maybe you…didn’t want me around anymore. After…everything.” Carlos steps forward, closing the distance between them and putting his hands on TK’s biceps.
“If anything, all this did was make me more confident in my decision.” Carlos chooses to ignore how TK’s relieved smile sends a pang through his heart. "If I'd been home alone or you had been there alone and-" Carlos stops when his voice gets a little choked. He clears his throat. "I'm glad we were there together." TK smiles sadly at him. “I’d move in with you tomorrow if I could.” TK smiles, wider this time.
“I would too.” Carlos slides his hands down TK’s arms and grabs his hands, squeezing gently.
“TK Strand, would you do me the honor of moving in with me when we find a new house? One we find together .” Tears spring to TK’s eyes and he nods with a watery smile.
“Of course, Carlos. I’d love to.”
“Alright! Be careful!” Nancy watches as the doctors and nurses wheel TK through the bay doors and further into the hospital. They share a glance.
“Nancy!” She turns around and soon finds herself facing a very worried-looking Carlos. “What happened? Is it true? Did…did you find him?” Nancy grabs Carlos’ arms and tries her best to keep him calm.
“Yes, we found him.”
“How is he?” She chews her lip for a moment.
“Honestly? It’s not good.”
“Are you taking me to an abandoned warehouse to kill me?” Carlos laughs, warm breath puffing on the back of TK’s neck.
“Now, if I was going to kill you, why would I tell you?” TK shrugs. Carlos can feel his eyelashes flutter against the palm of his hand.
“Hey, close your eyes. No peeking, mister.” TK laughs softly and closes his eyes.
“Not like I could see anything anyway.” He mumbles. Carlos’ hand on his forearm stops him in his tracks.
“Okay.” TK can hear the large smile in Carlos’ voice. It makes his own smile appear. “Don’t open them yet,” He feels Carlos pull his hand away from his eyes, “alright, 3, 2, 1…open.” TK blinks a few times, letting his eyes adjust to the sudden light. When they focus, his breath is knocked from his chest at the room. He remembers the exact house when he and Carlos were perusing one night in bed. They had instantly loved it. They planned a visit to walk through it only for TK to pull it up one day and see it was off the market. He remembered how upset he’d been and how Carlos assured him it’d be okay. TK turns to look at him with wide eyes. The duffel that was slung over Carlos’ shoulder is now on the ground by their feet. He wastes no time throwing himself into his boyfriend’s arms. Carlos hugs him back tightly as TK curls his fists in the back of Carlos’ shirt.
“Thank you.” He mutters against Carlos’ neck. “Thank you so much.” TK feels his arms tighten around his waist as Carlos plants a kiss on TK’s head.
“You’re welcome.” He whispers back. They pull apart and TK looks around some more, awestruck.
“I thought it was off the market.” When Carlos doesn’t answer, TK turns back to see him looking sheepishly at the floor with his hand on the back of his neck.
“I uh, I might’ve gotten it a few days after we saw it.” With a skeptical look, TK approaches Carlos. “I walked through it while you were at work and I just…knew.” TK knows he has a lovesick look on his face but he can’t help it.
“I love it, Carlos. Thank you.” TK leans up for a soft kiss. “Although, I think I’d love living in a cardboard box if it meant I got to live with you.” Carlos shares the lovesick look and meets TK for another kiss.
“It’s fully furnished already. All our stuff’s already here.” Carlos tells him, their lips still pressed together.
“So there’s a bed here?” Carlos nods against TK. TK pulls away with a devilish smirk. “Let’s go christen our new house.” He lets himself be pulled through the house as Carlos leads the way.
“‘Los?” Carlos’ head snaps up and he immediately stands up. He grabs TK’s hand with both of his own.
“Ty.” He breathes out. “How are you-how do you feel?” A shiver runs through TK’s body.
“Cold.” Carlos huffs a laugh.
“I bet.” He kisses TK’s hand and sets it gently back on the bed. “I’ll be right back. I need to get a nurse.” TK nods and watches Carlos leave.
“Oh my- I will never get tired of that.” TK says, still panting. Carlos drops to the spot next to him with a soft grunt. He laughs softly.
“Me neither.” With a groan, TK pushes himself up so he’s sitting. “Where are you going?” He smiles at the small whine in Carlos’ voice.
“Trust me, you’ll thank me later.” TK gets off the bed and heads to the adjoining bathroom where he wets a washcloth and carries it back to their room. He finishes wiping off his chest when he reaches Carlos. He dabs the cloth at Carlos’ chest and wipes at the bottom of his chin. Carlos pulls him down by the back of his neck. TK goes willingly, letting the washcloth drop to the floor. They kiss for a few minutes before Carlos pulls back.
“Tyler.” He starts.
“Carlos.”
“I love you.” TK squints his eyes, getting a fluttery feeling in his stomach. He thinks he knows where this is going.
“I love you too.”
“I’m so glad we finally have a place that’s just ours.”
“I mean, we’ve had this house for like, two months, sooo…” Carlos smacks TK lightly on his chest.
“When I moved out of my parent’s house, I got a condo. It was my own and I finally had my space.” TK smiles. He’s heard this many times but the way Carlos is saying it makes it seem like the first. “I was lucky enough to get to share that space with you, no matter how limited the time was.” TK runs his hand up and down Carlos’ arm that’s holding him above TK. “But now, now that I’ve lived with you, now that I have a house with you, I know that it doesn’t matter where I live. It doesn’t matter where we live because you’re my home, Ty. You are the person I look forward to seeing every day. You’re the reason I fight to get better when I’m hurt. You’re the reason I wake up each and every morning. It’s because of you that I have a place I belong.” TK wipes at the tears that are rolling down his cheeks. “And I love you for it.” TK smiles wetly.
“I love you too, ‘Los. You’re my home too.” He shakes his head frantically, trying to blink the tears away. “All of that, ditto.” They both huff small laughs. Carlos sits back on his feet and holds his arms out to help TK up. They’re both sitting on their bed facing each other. Carlos leans over and pulls open the drawer in his bedside table. TK’s heart starts racing and he feels more tears fill his eyes. Carlos turns back with a small box in his hand. TK slaps a hand over his mouth to muffle the sob that rips through his mouth. Carlos opens the box revealing a slim silver ring with a white line around the middle. TK sniffs and looks back to Carlos’ eyes realizing they’re filled with tears and there are tracks on his cheeks.
“Tyler Kennedy Strand,” Carlos’ voice is wobbly, “will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?” TK’s lip quivers as he pulls his hand away from his mouth and nods. He grabs Carlos’ cheeks and pulls him into a love-filled kiss.
“Yes.” He gasps against the skin. “Yes of course I’ll marry you. I love you.” After three more kisses, Carlos pulls away and slips the band on TK’s ring finger. “I love you, Carlos.”
“I love you too, TK.”
TK turns his head and notices the silver band resting on the bedside table next to his hospital bed. Carlos comes in a few seconds later with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Hey, ‘Los?” Carlos looks up from where he’s sitting back in his chair.
“Yeah?” TK hasn’t taken his eyes off the ring.
“Will you put that back on me?” Carlos follows his gaze and nods with a soft smile. He sets his cup on the table and takes the ring. He cups his hands around it, pressing the metal into his palm for a few seconds. He then slips it on TK’s hand, just like he had when the man had become his fiancé. TK smiles when he feels the warm metal against his finger. “Thank you.” Carlos leans down and gives TK a long, sweet kiss.
“You’re welcome.” Carlos sits down in the chair he’d pulled up to TK’s bed and takes the man’s hand. He brings the hand to his lips and presses a kiss just under the ring. “I love you.” He mumbles against the skin.
“I love you too.”