Work Text:
“Oh my God…”
“What? What? What?”
“I think I know who did this!”
*
“Are you serious Carlos?”
“Oh my God…look, listen to this! It’s the same nickname their former nanny used to use for her!”
It took a minute for T.K. and Carlos to scroll back through the footage but…
“Holy shit Carlos…you’re brilliant!”
“Babe…I gotta go! I’ve got to show this to Detective Washington NOW!”
“Carlos, Carlos…slow down. You’ve been up all night, don’t you want to get a little shut eye before running off? Come on, lay down with me for a little bit, it’s still early.”
“T.K., I’d love nothing more than to spend time with you, but there are even more questions than answers right now. She obviously has an associate, like the male voice, but who is it? How’d they get in the house without being detected? What if-“
“Carlos, CARLOS!”
“What?!”
“BREATHE. I’m sure you can get all the answers but couldn’t you get some rest first? You’ll be dog tired if you try to work a shift after no sleep!”
“Well, Tyler, did you forget that our jobs are literally built around the possibility of zero sleep? Mr. 24-Hour-Shifts?”
“Touché…”
“Exactly, you know I couldn’t sleep knowing I’ve got this information anyway. Not when a little girl is missing…or without a few nightmares of Mr. Whispers.”
“Fine, fine…but could you AT LEAST take a shower and eat something before you run off?”
“You got it babe!” Carlos yelled, taking off up the stairs.
*
Carlos couldn’t help the nagging feeling he had all day.
The conversation with Detective Washington had gone surprisingly well, finding out the voice wasn’t male after all but most likely that of the nanny herself. The APB was a start but without a motive or any evidence as to their current whereabouts, they could do nothing but pray and wait.
Carlos hadn’t even been able to bring himself to call his father for guidance, still a little too jaded from their last brush with overlapping cases.
His partner was out with a nasty case of the flu so he was left to his own devices.
All that was left to do was try to finish out the rest of his patrol with only a few hours left on shift. He started to think of T.K. and looking forward to, maybe, getting some shut eye tonight curled up in bed together.
They had been so lucky, working out their differences in the hospital with T.K. finally coming clean as to what happened with the break-up. He survived, they survived, and he relished in the memory of T.K. being by his side throughout the night knowing how freaked out the whole investigation was making him.
He got so lost in his thoughts he almost didn’t hear his phone ringing, his favorite person popping up on the screen-
“Hey babe! What’s up?”
“Hey ‘Los, just checking in. I miss you, it’s lonely here on this couch without you.”
“I guess it is after being an octopus all night.”
“Well, SOMEONE wouldn’t come to bed.”
“You know I-“
“I know, I know, I’m just messing with you. But really, how are you babe? Hanging in? Has the detective gotten back with you on any leads?”
“No,” Carlos sighed, “but we’re hardly holding our breaths for a miracle to fall in our lap. I’ve been riding the streets for hours and just praying I’ll see something. Honestly, I’m about to go crazy. Even had to distract myself with thoughts of a certain someone to stop.”
“Hmmm, well how about this? Do you have time for a break?”
“Yeah, I mean, I only have a few hours left but I haven’t technically taken a break yet. I could take a ‘lunch’ in about 30 minutes, I guess. What’d you have in mind?”
“How about I get an Uber and meet you at your favorite ice cream spot?”
“Ice cream? Really? After having survived a nearly fatal incident of hypothermia? THAT’S what you settle on?”
“Yes, Carlos, because I know you’re having a tough day and it’s your favorite eat-my-feelings food. See you soon? I’ve already ordered the Uber while you were yammering so you really can’t say no.”
“Okay Ty,” Carlos laughed, “see you soon!”
*
Carlos had just a short time to get lost in his thoughts again before T.K.’s Uber arrived. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him arrive safely before getting up from the table to embrace him.
“Hey Ty.”
“Hey ‘Los, where’s my kiss?,” T.K. looked up at Carlos with those perfect green eyes before leaning forward to softly touch their lips.
“And here I was thinking that I’M the pushy bastard,” Carlos laughed.
“Shut up,” T.K. said, rolling his eyes in amusement.
“So, what’ll it be? Mint Chocolate Chip? Cookie Dough? Oreo Swirl?” Carlos asked, beginning to walk to the window to order.
“Oh no, just because we agreed to meet here doesn’t mean under any circumstance am I ready to eat anything cold yet”.
“Ty, you said-“
“Yeah, yeah, I know what I said. Just shhh, enjoy it, we’re doing this for you babe! You deserve to be taken care of just as much as you take care of me. I’ll get a hot chocolate, how about that? But this is my treat, for all your hard work.”
“Okay, I love you” Carlos said, wrapping an arm around T.K.’s shoulders and kissing the side of his head as they waited in line,
Ordering took no time and they decided to enjoy their respective treats in the relative warmth of the humid night air.
Just as they sat down their phones began to blare. Carlos had a feeling he knew what waited on the screen, confirming with a quick glance the APB finally being broadcast to the entire area.
Carlos looked down sullenly at his ice cream and sighed, wishing beyond anything the APB hadn’t been necessary and that they would have found the girl safe and sound at the nanny’s home. He was worried it would make their job much more difficult with the nanny knowing they were on to her. He felt a hand land on his and squeeze comfortingly, prompting him to look up at his boyfriend.
“Carlos, I know how much you want to find her, we all do. But there wouldn’t even be a lead this soon if you hadn’t put your all into it last night. You’ve done what you can for the moment, I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks babe…I just can’t help thinking-“
“SHUT UP! JUST, SHUT. UP!” interrupted whatever Carlos was going to say followed by the screeching of tires as a vehicle began to rip out of the drive-thru behind him.
He turned around at the sound of yelling to catch sight of the red jeep and the very woman in question not 10 feet away.
He was on his feet without even realizing it, a crazed feeling taking over him. He looked quickly to T.K., an apology and a plea already forming on his lips but T.K. was already yelling at him to “GO!” before he was off and running to the cruiser.
Adrenaline set in as he flipped on the lights and siren and peeled out of the parking lot after the jeep. He radioed in to dispatch before calling Detective Washington on his personal phone.
“Reyes, this better be good.”
“Detective! I’ve got the jeep, following it northbound on Houston.”
“How in the HELL did you find her so fast? Are you sure it’s her? We can’t afford any mistakes here.”
“YES, Detective, I’m sure! I was on a break when the APB came through, followed by the sound a woman shouting and speeding out the restaurant drive-thru. I managed to catch a quick glimpse of the woman as she passed, it was the nanny. I’m SURE of it!”
“Copy Reyes, stay in pursuit. I’m about to be in the car and I’ll try to catch up. Do what you have to but be careful, we can’t risk that little girl getting hurt in the process.”
“Understood Detective. She’s driving erratically, I don’t see this ending well.”
“Why do I feel like you’re about to try something stupid?”
“I can’t let her get away with the little girl again Detective…I’m going to try to cut her off.”
“Reyes, PLEASE wait for-“
“Detective, at what point in this investigation have I ever been one to wait?”
“Fine. But it’s your ass on the line if this goes sideways.”
Carlos hit the end call button before he could think of something smart ass to say.
Carlos hit the accelerator, planning out how to cut the nanny off without causing them to wreck in the process. He prayed to everything this would end peacefully.
Making his move, he gunned the car forward and put enough distance in front to be able to turn the cruiser sideways and slam on the brakes, bringing his car to a stop. Thankfully the nanny slammed on her own brakes, halting the vehicle, making the wise decision to not crash the both of them.
Carlos jumped out before she could make another move and placed his hand on his weapon, praying it wouldn’t be needed and mindful of the fact that he couldn’t risk shooting without risk of hitting the girl.
The nanny stepped out before yelling, “What the hell are you doing?! I have my daughter in the car!”
Carlos looked at the woman, speaking as calmly as possible and stating, “You and I both know that’s not your daughter. Step away from the vehicle, hands in the air.”
The nanny’s face fills with rage before she brandishes a knife and takes a quick step in Carlos’ direction. The sound of sirens fills the air as Carlos counters her move, quickly overpowering her and pulling her arms behind her back, cuffing her. He leans her front against the hood of the jeep, one hand keeping a strong hold on her arm before peeking inside the vehicle.
Another officer descends upon him and drags the woman away before he’s making a break for the little girl in the back seat.
“Hey, honey. Are you okay?”
“I just want my mom and dad…” the little girl cries.
“Okay, we’re going to get you to them in no time, okay Katie? You’re safe now, I just need you to come with me.”
“Are my parents okay?” Katie asked, sliding forward into Carlos’ grasp, “Mr. Whispers made me set the house on fire…I was so scared when I realized what was happening.”
Detective Washington joined them at this point, giving the girl a quick glance over .
“Yes, Katie, they’re okay. My father-in-law’s team actually rescued them safely. They’re anxiously waiting for you to come home to them.”
“They’re not mad at me?”
“No, honey, they just want you home safe and sound. Are you ready to go see them? These nice paramedics would like to just make sure you’re okay before we head over to see them, is that okay?”
“Will you be with me the whole time?”
“Ummm…”
“Yes, Katie, he will. Go on Reyes, I’ll finish up here and be right behind” Detective Washington chimed in.
“Thank you, Detective. Okay Katie, let’s go.”
*
“Anyone ever tell you you are a PUSHY bastard, Reyes?”
“Ha, well my boyfriend thinks I’m a control freak.”
“He’s not wrong…you ever think of taking the Detective Exam?”
“…really?”
“Yeah, why not? We could use a few more pushy bastards.”