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Week 1
"TK, hey, TK?" TK was awakened by Carlos' whispered words close to his ear, a warm hand tugging on his sleeve soon after his call went unanswered.
"Carlos? What's going on?" TK said, words slurred, and voice laced with sleep. "Are you okay?"
"Are you?" Carlos questioned back, "you have been restless all night." Intent on providing some nonverbal comfort for whatever was bothering him, Carlos hugged his middle, pulling him closer. "And you feel a little warm," he added, knowing it was an understatement. TK's shirt was damp and sticking to his skin all over his chest and arms.
"Yeah, go back to sleep," TK mumbled, breath hitching at the end.
"Come on, Ty. Talk to me, what's going on?" Carlos unwrapped his arms from around TK's body and blindly reached to the nightstand so he could turn on the lights. Then he moved back into the middle of the bed and began softly stroking TK's arm and back. "Babe, can you look at me, please?"
It took a bit more coercion, but TK eventually untangled himself from the sheets and blankets and turned around to look at Carlos, eyes blinking sluggishly, cheeks reddened, and sweat-soaked hair completely plastered to his forehead.
Not wanting to waste time asking and trying to get TK to tell him the truth, Carlos just reached forward, first cupping TK's cheek before moving his hand slowly upward and setting it on his forehead. "I think you have a fever. I'll go get the thermometer."
TK opened his mouth to protest but Carlos was quicker and before he had a chance to say a single word he was already out of bed and walking into the adjacent bathroom. TK again tried to object when Carlos came back, but one look from his boyfriend had him obediently parting his lips and raising his tongue. "Stay here, and don't fidget with the thermometer," Carlos directed, before getting out of bed and this time walking out of the room.
TK felt Carlos' absence as soon as he left, as if the lights had dimmed and all warm had been soaked out of the room, but he fought the need to sigh and burrow deeper under the covers. He hadn't wanted to tell Carlos so he wouldn't worry, but honestly, he felt terrible. Had for the last couple of days but he had made it through his shift the day before so that had to count for something, and this was probably just a simple cold.
"Ty?" The bed dipped beside him and, even with the annoying thermometer sticking out of his mouth, TK's lips curved upward into a smile, like they always did when Carlos came back in his orbit. "Let me see."
TK lifted his head and opened his mouth, letting Carlos take full charge of the situation, before dropping his head back into his pillow, too exhausted to move another inch. "How bad?" He whispered, eyes locked on the wall across the room and too scared to look at Carlos and see the worry that he put there, again.
"101," Carlos said simply. "Here, I brought you some Tylenol and water."
TK nodded but said nothing. Just turned around and grabbed the pills and bottle, his other hand fidgeting with the sheets, and his eyes looking anywhere but at Carlos.
"TK, hey, look at me," Carlos whispered, one finger under TK's chin, tipping it up to look into his eyes. "What's going on inside that head of yours?"
"Are you mad?" TK questioned, as sad, green eyes met worried, brown ones. His breath hitching as he was hit by the depth of emotions flickering on Carlos' gaze. While TK expected the concern, and maybe some frustration to go with it, all he got was so much love and devotion and it was enough to steal his breath away.
"No, why would I be? Where is this coming from?"
"You haven't said much since we woke up, other than telling me what to do," TK said softly, "and you look upset."
"I'm just worried," Carlos answered honestly. He then began to run his fingers through TK's hair in what he hoped was a comforting gesture, at least it was for him every time his mama did it when he was sick as a child.
"I'm sorry," TK said, sounding dejected and small.
"You don't have to be sorry for worrying me, or for getting sick," Carlos began, "you can't help that. But you can be a little sorry for not telling me." He finished close to TK's ear as he pressed a kiss to the tender skin there.
"I wasn't feeling this bad before," TK tried to explain, but Carlos' narrowed eyes had him reconsidering, "okay I was, but it was just a couple of days and I got through my shift alright, so I figured I just needed a good night's sleep. No need to get you worried about a simple cold."
"Baby, I will always worry about you, it comes with the territory and being a couple. But we're a team, you said so yourself, so you gotta trust me with these things and let me help. Okay? I want to take care of you, always." All through his speech, Carlos continued to run his fingers through TK's hair, down to his neck, and finally his back. Every once in a while, also massaging the muscles on his back and around his shoulder blades, trying to alleviate the tension cursing through his body.
"Okay." TK groaned as he lifted himself from the bed, expecting like usual for Carlos to meet him in the middle, but this time his boyfriend only shook his head and pushed him back onto the bed.
"No kissing while you're not feeling well. If you get me sick, then who will take care of you?" Carlos chastised, instead leaning forward to press a kiss on TK's forehead when he pouted.
"But-"
"No buts, you're a paramedic, you should know better," Carlos murmured against his forehead, his breath tickling his skin, and just as teasing as his words. "Stay here, I'll be right back." He took a moment to cover TK fully with the blanket before he rolled out of bed.
"Where are you going now?" TK practically whined, wanting nothing more than to have Carlos' strong arms wrapped around his body again.
"I'm going to make you some tea. It should help you feel better and make sleep easier," Carlos explained matter-of-factly, as if his intentions were obvious and TK should have just known.
"Carlos, come here. It's -" TK turned around to look at the clock sitting on his nightstand before reaching forward to grab Carlos' hand, tugging a few times, "four in the morning, and you just came off shift not three hours ago, so too soon for you to be awake, and way too early to be making stuff in the kitchen anyways. Besides, all I need to feel better is you."
"Alright," Carlos agreed easily, forgetting about the tea and climbing into bed next to TK. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around him and pulled his body closer, TK's head instantly coming to rest under his chin, their bodies as usual fitting together like a perfect puzzle. "But tomorrow I'm making you mami's soup."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, thank you." TK's voice was again slurred with his sleep, as his eyes began fluttering close.
"Anytime. Now go to sleep, you will feel better tomorrow."
And he had, some more Tylenol and the Reyes' family soup being enough for TK's fever to go away in just a few hours; his body well rested and already back to normal by the start of his next shift.
-x-x-x-
Week 2
"TK!" His name being called finally filtered through the haze clouding his mind and TK blinked sluggishly a few times before his eyes settled on his partner. "Dude, where did you go? I've been asking for a roll of gauze for the last five minutes." Nancy. Right. They were at a call, their patient, the one with a bloody head wound after falling from a ladder, still sitting on the ground looking expectantly at the paramedic trio.
"Sorry," TK mumbled, reaching behind his body and into their med bag.
"TK, gauze!" Nancy practically shouted, tone toying a fine line between concerned and exasperated.
Looking down at his hand, TK felt a blush creep up his cheeks as he stared at a package of Band-Aids, ones that wouldn't do much good to stop the stream of blood coming from the gash on their patient's forehead. "Sorry." Turning around to reach into the bag again, TK did his best to stifle a groan as every muscle and joint in his back and arm seemed to protest the movement, but his efforts weren't good enough if Nancy's frown was any indication. Still TK gave her his best apologetic look and charming smile and went right back to work, passing her the requested gauze then applying an antibiotic ointment on the now clean wound before Nancy properly bandaged it.
Seeing that Nancy and Tommy had it under control, TK stood up and began cleaning out their surroundings and packing their things. His whole body ached from his efforts, but the general discomfort was better than staying in place and having to deal with Nancy's frustrated sighs and inquisitive gaze. Besides he had worked through worse, just last week having dealt with what felt like a low fever. This was probably nothing more than a stubborn virus, and he could still do his job.
Setting the last of the med bags back inside their rig, TK took a moment to rest his head on the cold surface of the ambulance as he slowly rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen his tense muscles. He knew he should probably return to the house's yard and help walk the patient to the rig so he could be driven to the hospital for scans and tests, but TK just needed a minute, his team would surely understand.
"What's going on with you, Strand?" Nancy's voice next to his ear made TK jump, and he belatedly realized he had taken longer than a minute. He had to get his shit together before his partner noticed something was very wrong. Well, apparently it was too late for that too, because next thing he knew Nancy's hand was on his shoulder and even with his back to her TK could still see her sharp intake of air and wide eyes as she made contact with his too warm skin.
"I'm okay, just tired. Carlos was off too, so just a late and busy night, if you catch my drift," TK quipped, turning around to face Nancy and hoping she couldn't see the misery hidden behind his grin. TK and Carlos were usually against PDAs and discussing their private times at their workplaces, a quick kiss or occasional intertwined hands were fair game, but they rarely talked about what went on behind closed doors. This one time though, breaking that rule and any ribbing that might ensue as consequence, was better than the alternative.
"Are you sure? Are you feeling alright? You feel a little hot." Nancy's hand reached forward in the direction of his forehead and TK quickly swatted it away, jumping out of the way with a groan that he tried to pass as an annoyed huff.
"I'm fine, Gillian." He wasn't fine. He was hot and cold all over. His body felt like a furnace, but a bitter chill spread through his skin every time a breeze blew nearby. But he couldn't tell any of that to his partner, so TK just did what he always did best, pushing his discomfort deep down where no one could see it and plastered an easy smile on his face. "And I'm always hot," he added with a wink, knowing he had made the right choice as soon as Nancy predictably rolled her eyes and accused him of being ridiculous.
"Anyway, Cap is waiting. Patient was a little wobbly on his feet when we tried to walk him here so she wanted to be extra careful and send me to get the stretcher, which you could have done if you had bothered to return."
Nancy's tone was teasing but TK could feel the concern behind her words, and he debated telling her the truth, but between the shooting, kidnapping, and fire he had spent enough time on sick leave, and he wasn't about to add more days to his ever-growing list. "Let's go then," he said instead, walking away before she had time to reply or question him further.
Nancy kept sending worried glances his way, obviously making an effort to give him space and let him reach out on his own, but not being able to hide her worry. TK felt equally grateful and guilty, knowing that after their initial friction they were now real partners and Nancy just wanted to help. But he was tired of proving that he really was the danger magnet of the crew, so he settled for what he hoped was a reassuring smile and quick nod.
The rest of the call went on without a hitch, with the three paramedics making quick work of setting their patient on the stretcher, loading him into the rig, dropping him at the hospital and restocking their supplies. Through it all TK continued to feel stuck on a cycle that went from frigid cold to scorching heat, and by the time the ambulance entered the apparatus bay he also had a headache adding to his discomfort.
Once they were parked, TK quickly jumped out of the rig and went up the stairs, doing his best to avoid Nancy's worried glances. Reaching his locker room, TK downed two extra strength Tylenol and hoped they would alleviate his symptoms enough so he could finish the day.
The meds apparently did the trick because TK started to feel better soon after, his body and head not hurting so much even if he still felt hot and flushed all over. The relief was enough for him to finish his shift without raising any more red flags, but it was short lived and by the time he made it back home all his aches and pains had returned with a vengeance.
Stepping into a dark and empty living room, TK sighed as he remembered that Carlos was on shift, his schedules not overlapping today. Usually, he would hate it but this time he was actually grateful. He felt like shit, but not bad enough to worry his boyfriend, so he would just sleep it off while Carlos was none the wiser. Just like he had done the previous week before Carlos caught up to it in the middle of the night, having to spend his day off fussing over him and making him soup.
If his mind had been more in it TK would have recognized the dangerous pattern, but his fever was making his thoughts foggy, so he just dropped his duffel bag beside the door, staggered up the stairs and practically collapsed on the bed. He ended up sleeping all through the evening and night, by morning his fever had broken, and by the time Carlos returned home he was already back to normal, and no damage had been done.
-x-x-x-
Week 3
For the third day in a row TK came home to an empty house. Carlos was away at a Law Enforcement training in Dallas and wouldn't be home until the following day. The first day had been solitary but okay, the second a little worse as TK began to come down with another cold. But today was a new kind of low as TK stumbled inside, covered in sweat that had nothing to do with the Texas heat, a headache that seemed to want to split his skull in two and an ache in every muscle and joint in his body that made him feel like he had been run over by a truck.
Having used up all of his energy just to finish his shift, TK bypassed the kitchen, stopping only briefly to grab a bottle of water and an apple, and headed straight to their bedroom. He wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and sleep for the next 24 hours but having enough presence of mind to realize that feeling like shit for the third week in a row was no longer a coincidence but a trend, he took a moment to walk into the bathroom and grabbed a thermometer.
TK almost fell asleep on his feet as he waited for his phone timer but every time his body began to slide towards the wall, he was woken up by shooting pain up his arms and legs. When his phone beeped, TK grabbed the thermometer and instantly groaned. 101. Again. Not ideal but still not high enough to enter panic mode.
After downing three Ibuprofen and a half bottle of water TK gingerly walked back to the bedroom, wincing as he lowered himself onto the bed. Not feeling particularly hungry but knowing he should eat something he began taking small bites off his apple, but he didn't make it past a quarter of his fruit before he got up and ran to the bathroom again, this time doubling over the toilet as his body rejected the water and food.
When he was done TK stayed leaning over the toilet for the next five minutes but having only eaten a piece of toast at breakfast then having skipped lunch altogether, nothing more came out. Instead, he just continued to dry heave while his stomach cramped and stabbed his insides. When he was confident nothing else was making a reappearance TK flushed the toilet and stumbled to the sink, washing his mouth and splashing cold water over his face.
Tired, sore, and weaker than he had felt since his last bouts with addiction and withdrawal, TK staggered back towards the bed. Too nauseous to try eating again and too disoriented to realize that he should probably call someone, he just sat on the mattress and let his body fall backwards. Within seconds his eyes had closed, and they didn't open again until the jangling of keys and footsteps in the living room woke him up with a start.
"Baby, I'm home!" Carlos called, "do you feel like going out for lunch or do you want me to cook something?"
Just the mention of food had TK almost running to the bathroom again but with no food or liquids in his system he knew he wouldn't be able to do more than retch, so he put a hand over his mouth and willed his stomach to calm down. He knew he should give Carlos an answer because his wallet and keys on the kitchen counter were a giveaway that he was home, but he barely had enough energy to open his eyes, let alone force words out of his mouth. He just needed a minute to get his bearings and he would be able to respond.
But he had taken longer than a minute and before he knew Carlos was poking his head inside the room and calling to him again. "Ty, are you here?"
TK nodded before he realized that Carlos probably couldn't see as he was buried under at least two blankets and a comforter, so he tried to answer verbally but only a groan and whimper came out.
"TK, what's wrong?" Carlos asked, his voice sounding closer and the empty side of the bed dipping telling TK that his boyfriend was home, as if his previous calls had only been the makings and wishes of an out of sorts of mind. "Are you sick again?"
TK's first instinct was to say that he wasn't sick, but his face would probably say otherwise. Same as the extra messy and damp sheets, the apple that now laid discarded on the ground after it rolled out of bed and the state in which he vaguely remembered leaving their bathroom. So instead, he settled for a half truth. "It's just a cold. I'll be better in a few hours."
"This is the second time you supposedly have a cold in the last few weeks. That doesn't seem normal to me. I'll get the thermometer." Closing his eyes, TK tried to prepare for Carlos' uproar, but it wasn't enough and sooner than he wanted his boyfriend was back, arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. "What happened in the bathroom?"
"I ate something that didn't sit well with me," TK whispered as the increase in noise in the room was making his headache worse.
"I stopped in the kitchen before coming upstairs," Carlos said matter-of-factly, only abandoning his stance to lean over TK and set the thermometer under his tongue, "the meals I left for you are still there, same as the eggs, bread and milk I bought before leaving, so please stop lying to me." The words made TK wince, but he couldn't blame him. They were harsh, but he deserved it.
Not being able to respond just yet, TK just shrugged. His need for his boyfriend was greater than his desire to make things right just yet, so TK grabbed Carlos' hand and pulled him towards the bed, his arms instantly closing around his middle as he buried his face on his side.
It took less than thirty seconds for Carlos' fingers to find their way to TK's disheveled hair, his other hand starting to massage TK's temple, trying to alleviate the headache he knew was there. The small gesture was enough for TK to stop squinting as his features relaxed slightly.
"Let me see," Carlos asked when the timer on his phone signaled that enough time had passed, "103, babe. Time to tell me what's going on?"
"I don't know," TK whispered, his voice breaking partly at Carlos' incredulous look but also because every moment he was awake he felt worse, and he really had no idea what was happening. "I really don't know. I keep getting a cold then feeling better until I get another cold."
"Why didn't you call when you started feeling bad again?" Carlos wondered, trying to keep his voice low, even if a part of him wanted to shout and scream to TK to please stop being an idiot. But he was his idiot, so he still kept his voice down and continued running his fingers over his hair.
"You were at a work conference, Carlos. I can't just call and expect you to drop everything to come and help me," TK countered.
"You know I'd do it in a heartbeat," Carlos said quickly, making TK smile even in his discomfort, because Carlos was really the sweetest human being and every day TK wondered how he ever got so lucky. "But I'll give you that, still you could have called your dad, or Tommy or Nancy, even my parents. You had like ten people who would have come in an instant. And more than half of them are first responders of some kind."
"I'm sorry," TK conceded, now feeling a wound in his heart to go with the physical pain. He hated worrying Carlos and his team, but even worse was the knowledge that he had disappointed him again. "I just didn't want you to worry, especially when you were at a work thing."
"I thought we were clear about this, TK. I will always worry about you. It comes with the territory. And not only of working as first responders, but you know, just having someone in your life that you care about," Carlos explained, beginning to untangle himself from TK and reaching for his phone. "But we can talk about that later, time to call for help now."
Feeling the loss of heat instantly, TK reached for Carlos to keep him at his side, looking up at him from under his lashes and giving him his best puppy dog eyes. "Come on, babe. We don't have to go that far; I just need meds and some of that soup you gave me last time and I'll be good as new."
"As proud as I am that you're finally asking for help and understanding the powers of mami's soup, I think we're past that point," Carlos said, stroking TK's back as if to soften the blow of his words. "I'll even let you choose, do you want me to drive you to the hospital, dial 9-1-1, or call Nancy and Tommy?"
Each choice was worse than the other so TK only groaned and buried his face under his pillow, hoping Carlos would take pity on him. When nothing happened and Carlos just patiently waited by his side, he decided to try one last time. "I can take care of myself. I'm a paramedic, remember? No need to waste anyone's time. Besides, you weren't even supposed to be here until tomorrow. Speaking of, why are you here?"
"Conference finished early and I decided to come straight home and surprise you, but I guess I was the surprised one." Even worried as he was Carlos chuckled, because TK Strand always kept him on his toes. But he wouldn't have it any other way. "And thank God I came, see the state you're already in, I wonder what I would have found tomorrow." The words made him shudder, so Carlos decided to take that as a sign to take matters into his own hands. TK couldn't be trusted with his health in the best of days, much less when he was already ill and had decided to hide it. "I'll drive you, come on." He got up in one swift motion so his boyfriend wouldn't be able to pull him back to the bed and offered TK his hand.
Knowing he was beat, TK slowly sat up and set a foot on the ground, but promptly collapsed as soon as he tried to raise fully, his legs giving out and his arms too weak to fully support his own weight. It was only thanks to Carlos' quick reflexes and strong arms that he didn't fall face first on the floor, as his boyfriend caught him easily and lowered him back onto the mattress. "Okay, I'm calling 9-1-1. I will even ask them to call the 126, maybe they can give us a discount for driving in your own ambulance."
"Ha-ha," TK mumbled, but even he knew there was nothing funny about the situation. In just the half hour Carlos had been home he could feel himself deteriorating, his fever already higher, and the headache getting to the point that it felt more like a concussion, the pounding in his head increasing at any small movement or raised voice.
"Ambulance is on its way, should be here in six minutes," Carlos said, while TK just blinked sluggishly back at him, wondering when he even made the call. "Just hang in there for a little longer, help will be here soon, I promise." Even in his confused state, Carlos' tone was enough to confirm TK's suspicions and increase his own worry, they both knew he was getting worse, and fast.
The only upside to calling 9-1-1 was that Tommy and Nancy were also off shift, so TK only had to deal with the other paramedic team. Even then he was only just in it as they poked, prodded and asked questions, mostly just nodding his assent or shaking his head when necessary. It hardly even registered when he was loaded onto the stretcher and wheeled out of his home and into the ambulance, his feverish and confused mind failing to hold onto the present as his consciousness toyed between barely there and not there at all.
Somewhere in the 15 minutes that it took to get from their house to the hospital, TK lost consciousness all together, the last thing that registered on his mind a steady beep cutting in between the white noise and Carlos' desperate screams and pleads as his eyes finally closed.
The specifics of what followed next were unknown to TK, never being back for long enough to understand what was happening. Sometimes he found himself burrowing under the covers, trying to get warm and feeling like he was back in the chilling NY winter. Other moments, sweating like he was in the middle of Texas working call after call under the relentless summer heat. The only constant in his life during those confusing days was Carlos; his boyfriend's fingers intertwined in his, his lips on his forehead every morning, night and every time during the day he had a nightmare, and all his reassurances and promises every time he briefly woke up.
Next time TK returned to consciousness fully, he was sure at least some days had passed. Carlos was still sitting in the chair next to his hospital bed, but his hair was more out of control than usual, no longer glued in perfect order but curling every which way, and there were dark circles around his eyes. Another indication of the passage of time was that TK actually felt better. His muscles still ache some, but he was sure the fever had finally broken, and his head no longer beat with a drum solo.
His mind was still foggy and his memory of Carlos' return from his conference ended abruptly, so at the moment he was full of questions with no answer. But there was no one in the room to ask, only Carlos. With that thought his eyes again landed and settled on his boyfriend. He looked so tired even in his sleep and TK couldn't help the guilt at being the reason for such exhaustion. He really needed to start taking better care of himself, if not for his own wellbeing, at least for Carlos.
Not wanting to wake Carlos up but needing to feel him, TK gingerly lifted himself from the bed and reached a shaking hand forward, carefully moving a stray curl off Carlos' forehead before placing a soft kiss there. It was a testament to how tired he really was that Carlos didn't even stir, so TK just settled back down and continued to stare at him until his eyes began fluttering close and he eventually fell back asleep.
When he next woke up his room was full of voices and movement, so he kept his eyes closed for an extra moment. But he had unknowingly already given himself away.
"TK? Babe, are you awake?" Came Carlos' hopeful voice, just before a tentative hand landed on his cheek.
"How did you know I was awake?" TK asked, eyes still closed, a shy smile on his lips.
"I have spent many nights waking up next to you every day, I know how your nose twitches, your eyelids stop fluttering and your breath evens out just before you wake up," Carlos said simply, as if his words hadn't just stolen his breath away.
"Gross. Every time you almost die you guys turn even more nauseating." A new voice said, making TK's eyes fly open as he now realized the other voice in the room was Nancy's. "But glad to see you awake, Strand. You gave us quite the scare."
"Sorry," TK said sheepishly, turning his hand over in the bed, chuckling softly as Carlos' automatically understood and grabbed it, intertwining their fingers together.
"You don't have to be sorry, I'm just glad you're okay," Carlos said sweetly, squeezing TK's hand and feeling reassured that he was truly okay as he instantly squeezed back.
"No, you definitely should feel sorry. I was freaking out, dude. Not cool lying to your partner," Nancy scolded.
"What do you mean?" Carlos wondered, sending a questioning look to Nancy and the beginnings of a murderous one to TK. "What are you guys not telling me?"
Nancy shot Carlos an apologetic look, then turned to TK with a grin on her face, he just winced and tried to make himself smaller on the bed.
"Maybe try not to look like you're actually enjoying this," TK grumbled.
Nancy again said nothing, just shrugged as if to say, 'your fault'. Which TK knew it was, but that didn't mean he wanted to be reminded.
"I was sick again last week. Only Nancy noticed, as the worst of it was during shift, but I played it off. And you were gone when I got home, so… I didn't say anything. Then I felt fine again. I'm really sorry, Carlos. I just didn't want to worry you," TK finally admitted.
"I see we still have ways to go before you believe me when I say it's my job to worry, just like I know you do too," Carlos acknowledged, "or that taking care of you is never an inconvenience. I just feel lucky that you're mine to fuss over and share this life with. I just hope you start taking better care of it, cause we only got one and I have so many more plans for us."
"I do, too. I promise I didn't know it would get so bad," TK apologized, before he realized he still didn't know what had caused him to get so ill. "Which reminds me, what happened? I don't remember much after we left the house."
"TBRF, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever," Nancy began, as Carlos turned to her, differing to her expertise, "symptoms can masquerade as other things so it took the doctors some time to figure out what it was and to give you the right antibiotics. But you should be alright now. Need to stay here for a few more days then you can probably continue treatment at home."
"How?" Isn't that transmitted through rodents?" TK asked, as his expression went from one of sullen, to shock, then horror, "Carlos, are there rats in our new loft?"
"No, bab-"
"Carlos, if there are rats, we have to clean. When I was in NY, I had a friend in NJ that had rats in his apartment, and he had to clean everything. The kitchen, closets. They get in and take over!"
"Dude, calm down. Your love nest is fine. Remember that call with the kid trapped in the cave?" At TK's nod, Nancy continued, "I assume you also remember your annoying self blabbering about the lack of nature in NYC and trying to feed a chipmunk, even when Judd told you not to mess with it cause they could carry bubonic plague. Well, turns out Judd was right, it just wasn't the plague but TBRF."
"I'm never going into the Texans woods again," TK whispered, eyes wide in a perpetual expression of horror. "Back in NY we had squirrels that you could feed and play with, not plague infested chipmunks!"
"I told you, it's not the plague. But yeah, maybe next time just listen to our resident cowboy. If you had, all this could have been avoided," Nancy chided. "And speaking of avoiding life threatening situations, maybe also don't hide it next time you're ill. You have a cop, two paramedics, five firefighters, a 9-1-1 dispatcher, a Texas Ranger, and one kick-ass mother at your service, two if we count NY too, so no excuse to be dying on us now."
"I'm really sorry, Nance. I will try not to worry you again," TK said honestly, knowing that as much as Nancy teased, she also cared a lot and genuinely liked him. And she didn't deserve to lose another partner.
"Let's hope it sinks in this time, been saying variations of those words ever since we met," Carlos added, joining the conversation again. "I love you, babe. And I'm so happy the murderous chipmunk didn't take you away from me."
"I love you, too," TK said, ignoring the twinkle in Carlos' eye at his last words and pulling their still intertwined hands to his lips and placing a kiss there. "Now get your cute, little ass over here and give me a hug, I missed you."
"And that's my cue to leave, don't want to witness any wake up-I'm so glad you're still alive-make out session," Nancy said, reaching to squeeze TK's shoulder once before she walked towards the door, turning back around one last time. "But do make sure to keep your clothes on. I'm calling the crew to let them know you're finally awake, and they will surely stop by for a visit. Your doctor should also be here soon to check up on you."
"Thanks, partner," TK mumbled, as Carlos' lips joined his, cutting any more apologies or promises short. But there would be time for that later. TK was alive and well, and he would make it up to Nancy, Carlos and the rest of his family soon enough.
What started as a little kiss of mutual reassurance, soon turned heated and hungry as TK had his way and pulled Carlos onto the bed next to him, their hands beginning to roam over exposed skin as they let their bodies speak for the relief and love they both felt for the other.
It was eventually the single out of rhythm beep of the heart monitor attached to TK what put a stop to their ministrations, as Carlos jumped back, looking mortified. "Okay, time to stop. We don't want to raise your heart rate and have every doctor on this floor rushing into the room thinking you're dying."
"But, babe, what better way to pass on than in your arms," TK said adoringly, trying again to pull Carlos to him.
"Too soon," Carlos mumbled, but he gave in easily, encircling his arms around his boyfriend's middle and happily giving him a chaste kiss. Another, single out of rhythm beep on the heart monitor showing that every contact of their lips always made his heart skip a beat.