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TK hopped out of the fire engine and was about to head to the showers to get all of the corn off him until Judd stopped him.
"Everything alright?" TK asked with a look to the hand and back to Judd's face.
"You disobeyed a direct order out there." Judd sighed.
"You aren't my Captain." TK shrugged.
"I was on that call from the second Captain Strand put me in charge of the rescue."
"I was just following my instincts Judd, I'm not doing this right now with you." TK said, trying to walk away from the conversation.
"Well it must be nice that you get to move right to the front of the line while everyone else who deserves a shot has to wait."
"You don't know the first thing about me Judd."
"You must've been killing it in New York city that you got to follow Daddy down here at the drop of a hat." Judd said, crossing his arms.
"Seriously Judd, back off."
"Or what pretty boy? You going to go tell your Dad or your pretty cop boyfriend? You going to say Judd is hurting my feelings?"
"Back off Judd, don't bring Carlos into this." TK pushed past Judd, wanting out of this conversation.
"I see I found your weak spot, how would he feel if he knew that you acted like that on a call? Disobeying orders and putting yourself and others at risk?" Judd asked. "What about your Dad?"
"I said back off!" TK said as he pushed at Judd, Judd pushing back until Paul came to pull them apart.
"You good?" Paul asked them both, looking at them with raised eyebrows.
"I'm going to shower." TK said, not wanting to stay behind and hear Judd criticising him to Paul.
----
TK held the ice pack to his eye with a groan, looking up when his wallet and keys were placed on the desk inside a clear bag.
"Seriously? Isn't you processing me like a conflict of interest or something?" TK asked as he saw Carlos, he didn't want him to see him like this.
"Austin's a small town TK." Carlos shrugged.
"The good news is that neither of your new friends wants to talk about your little scuffle tonight and since you blew a 0.0 we're not even giving you drunk and disorderly, you're free to go." Carlos slid the bag across the desk and sighed.
"And what's the bad news?" TK asked as he opened the bag.
"The bad news is that you did this with a clear head." Carlos frowned.
TK looked down and bit his lip as he tried to avoid Carlos' gaze.
"I'm not trying to be your boyfriend but you should talk to someone about why you felt compelled to do something so suicidal."
"You've got a little crud there by the way." Carlos added after a few seconds of eye contact.
TK sighed and grabbed a tissue to dab at his lip.
"Other side."
TK sighed again and continued to dab at his lip until Carlos stopped him.
"Let me." Carlos said before softly wiping at the correct spot, both of them refusing to break eye contact for a few seconds.
"Thanks." TK replied quietly and leaned forward in his seat.
"You know how I mentioned the really bad breakup? That wasn't the whole story."
"Oh?" Carlos asked, placing his pen down and placing all of his attention on TK again.
"I relapsed, with substances." TK said quietly, looking down again.
"Ever since I've gotten here it's just grey, I just feel numb all the time. I guess I just wanted to feel something." TK got up from the chair and went to leave, grabbing his belongings from the table.
"Judging by that lip I'd say mission accomplished." Carlos said with a hesitant but teasing smile.
"You are really busting my balls right now?"
"Yeah, of course I am." Carlos grinned.
TK smiled and shook his head amusedly, relieved that he hadn't ruined the most important friendship he had.
"We can talk about this more tonight if you want? Darts at the honky tonk?" Carlos suggested.
"Yeah, I'd like that." TK smiled and let out a small breath, the stress of the day falling from his shoulders slightly.
----
TK groaned as he saw Judd walk into the bar with Grace. "Seriously? I spend all day with the guy at work and now he's here?"
"Judd? Did you two have an argument at work?" Carlos asked, looking between the two.
"It was stupid, he thinks that the only reason I'm on the team is because my Dad is the Captain and not because I earned the place myself!" TK threw the darts and let out a sigh.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it Ty, he's one of the nicest guys I know." Carlos assured and placed a hand on TK's shoulder, rubbing gently.
"You and I both know how hard working you are so don't let that comment get to you."
"I once saved someone from the Chrysler building." TK said as he passed Carlos the darts.
"Which is very impressive." Carlos smiled. "Was there something you did that made Judd mad?"
"Maybe I disobeyed him on a call and it put me in danger but everything worked out in the end!"
"What do you mean in danger? Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" Carlos worried, moving closer so he could fuss over TK.
"I'm okay, I promise Carlos." TK assured softly, holding onto Carlos' hands to stop him fussing. "I just will never look at corn the same again."
"Maybe I'm on Judd's side now if he's trying to protect you from evil corn." Carlos teased after a few moments, letting go of TK so they could continue their game of darts.
"You know I'm holding a dart?" TK said with a teasing smile.
"And I'm packing a piece."
"That's hot." TK bit his lip and looked at Carlos.
"Shame we're just friends." Carlos winked and crowded into TK's space.
"You are evil Reyes." TK groaned and placed his head on Carlos' shoulder.