Work Text:
TK turned the page in the section of the handbook Marjan had given him and continued to read the information out loud as clearly as he could for the recording.
TK looked up a few minutes later when he heard the door open and smiled when he saw Carlos and quickly finished the sentence he was on before pausing the recording.
"Hey, you on your lunch break?"
"Yeah and seeing as we haven't been able to meet up at the food trucks yet this week I thought I'd bring lunch to us today." Carlos smiled and sat down with TK.
"What are you reading?" Carlos asked curiously as he unpacked their lunch.
"It's part of the fd training manual, Mateo has his exam coming up so Marj gave each of us a section to record to make it easier for him to take it all in." TK explained, happily accepting the food Carlos handed him.
"That's really nice of y'all to do, I know mateo will really appreciate it."
"We're a family, we have each other's backs."
TK checked the time halfway through their lunch and swore, it was later than he thought.
"Finish off your food Ty, I'll record the next few pages." Carlos said, reaching for the book and TK's phone. "Where did you get to?"
"You don't have to do that, enjoy the rest of your break before you go back on patrol."
"I don't have to but I want to, I've already finished my food so it's no bother." Carlos assured. "I don't want you getting lightheaded in the middle of a fire because you didn't eat enough."
TK rolled his eyes fondly and let Carlos take the book and pointed to the last line he read. "You worry too much sometimes."
"You run into burning buildings for a living Ty, I think I'm entitled to worry a little." Carlos said with a small sigh, he knew his own job was dangerous too but he always worried about TK, not because he didn't believe TK wasn't great at his job, he was one of the best but because he knew just how many things could go wrong in the blink of an eye.
"Well you don't have to worry with me, I'll always try my hardest to make it back to you." TK said softly, reaching across and holding onto Carlos' hand.
"I'll always be here waiting with open arms." Carlos brought TK's hand up to kiss before placing it back on the table, not letting go even as TK resumed eating and he started recording.
----
TK let himself into Carlos' house and slipped off his shoes before letting out a sigh. "You know my Dad must have a death wish, he should be resting at home after chemo and work but no why would he do that, he's training to do a course that might actually kill him!" TK ranted as he walked through the house and into the kitchen.
"I believe in my Dad and I know that on any normal day he could probably do this but he doesn't have normal days recently because he's on chemo! Why doesn't he understand that no one is going to think any less of him if he takes a little time off?"
Carlos placed the knife down on the chopping board and wrapped his arms around TK and rubbed his back. "Breathe Ty, in and out just like last time."
TK stilled and started to relax into the hug, breathing in and out slowly for a few moments until he felt at ease. "Thank you."
Carlos swayed them slightly before kissing TK's head and moving back slightly. "Now what's this about your Dad taking on extra work?"
"The deputy chief found out that Dad has cancer and he's angling to get Dad to take some medical leave because he doesn't think Dad is fit to run a firehouse right now which that alone wouldn't be a massive problem but then there's Billy Tyson meddling and trying to get the deputy chief to give him the 126 to run and if that happens then all of us will probably be sent to other stations apart from Judd!" TK started to explain, keeping his arms around Carlos.
"So your Dad is doing a fitness test to prove he can stay?" Carlos asked gently, he'd never liked Billy Tyson when Michelle dated him and he definitely doesn't seem to have changed since then.
"One of the hardest firefighter fitness tests there is and we were doing some training earlier and he nearly passed out because he's pushing his body too far! He should be focused on recovering from chemo, not putting extra pressure on his body with more training."
"Have you spoken to your Dad about this? Maybe if he knows that you are worried then he'll offer another solution to prove he can still run the 126?"
"Not really, not in detail anyway but if this is the only way then he's going to do it no matter what, the job is his life." TK sighed and wiped at his eyes quickly.
"Is it alright if I stay here tonight?"
"If there is one thing I remember about Owen it's that family is the most important thing in his life, you are the most important part of his life, sometimes he just gets a little too distracted by work." Carlos kissed TK's head again and let go of him now.
"Of course you can stay, we just need to finish dinner first." Carlos smiled and pointed to the chopping board where he was preparing a salad. "You want salad duty?"
"You always give me salad duty because you don't trust me with any other parts of the meal." TK rolled his eyes fondly.
"That's true but I'm also normally making a family recipe so until you are a Reyes, you can't make it." Carlos teased with a wink.
"Give me a few years and I'll be one." TK kissed Carlos' cheek before moving to the chopping board, smiling at the blush that appeared on Carlos' face.