Work Text:
The call came at 2:28 a.m. on a Tuesday.
TK doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the exact moment this particular journey began.
Although as he’s woken up for the fourth night in a row by cries coming from across the hall he’s not sure he can remember what day of the week it is now.
Rolling over to find Carlos’ side of the bed cold, again. He groans, pulling himself out from underneath the warmth of the blanket and shivering when his bare feet hit hardwood floors. It’s winter in Texas and after living here for going on six years he’s lost any protection from the cold that growing up in NYC had given him. He snags a hoodie off the footboard and slides it on as he shuffles across the hall.
Recognizing the inconsolable cries of his sick 6 month old he hurries more quickly to the crib, picking their daughter up while shushing her gently. “Shhhh baby girl, I know you don’t feel good, shhhhh”
He bounces Mila up and down gently, swaying back and forth, the way he’s seen Grace and Judd do with Charlie and Peter. The way he remembers doing with Jonah when he was still young enough to be held like this. The thought reminds him that he owes his little brother their weekly phone call.
Mila settles in his arms and TK bends slightly to place a soft kiss on her head. The skin feels too warm under his lips and has him reaching for the thermometer they’ve used more times this week than he likes. Waiting for the beep takes several agonizing moments.
The number on the thermometer is higher than he’d like, but not dangerously so. He bounces his way into the kitchen where the children’s Tylenol is stored, getting the correct dose is easy, getting Mila to drink it is harder. Mila has worked herself into a fit by the time TK gets the medicine into her and it takes 30 solid minutes of pacing around the living room before she settles down again.
TK is dead on his feet and looking forward to two days from now when he starts his 48 hours off, but until then he’s determined to power through. When he and Carlos decided to apply for adoption TK vowed to himself that he’d always be there and that he would prove to himself and everyone else that he could do it.
If doing it means getting less than four hours of sleep a night, TK hopes this doesn’t last long because he kinda wants to cry at how tired he is. His body thanks him when he sinks into the armchair in the living room. His mind is screaming at him to put Mila back safely in her crib and to make sure not to fall asleep with her on the chair. As a paramedic he’s been to one too many infant death calls to make that mistake, but his exhaustion pulls him under before he can muster the energy to stand up again.
The front door slamming shut startles him awake from where he was just beginning to doze. Eyes flying open in horror that he would do something so careless. His sudden movements cause Mila to squirm in his arms and TK is quick to bounce her gently, humming softly. He glances at his husband as Carlos rounds the corner from the entryway into the living room, with too loud steps.
“Hey sweetheart.” Carlos whispers as he walks more carefully over to them. TK can see the fatigue in the set of his shoulders and the lines around his eyes. “Mila still not feeling well?”
TK shakes his head and then motions towards the nursery before slowly getting up to place Mila back in her crib, praying she stays asleep this time.
He meets Carlos in their bedroom and sinks into the offered embrace with a sigh. “Her fever is up again, but she doesn’t seem congested anymore. I don’t know why she isn’t sleeping.” TK whines into Carlos’ chest. “I’ve checked everything I can think of, twice .”
“The doctor said it could take up to a week for the cold symptoms to go away and as long as she’s not having any of the warning signs she mentioned she should be okay.”
“Yeah I know, maybe we should call again in the morning though? Just to be safe.” TK implores.
Carlos sighs, “TK we cannot call the doctor every day, they’ll drop us from the practice.”
“Pssshh that’s not a real thing just because you saw it on an episode of Friends.” TK argues back.
This gets a fond eye roll from the other man, even as he answers softly, “fine. In the morning. Come on, let's both try to get some sleep. Don’t you have a shift in 3 hours?”
“Shit, yeah.” TK replies as he rounds the bed to climb back under the covers that have cooled considerably in the hours since he woke up with Mila.
He’s just about drifting off to sleep when sharp cries begin again. Carlos has already fallen asleep, having worked for almost 24-hours and taken care of Mila the night before while TK was on shift. TK hates to wake him, but he knows he’ll be no use to Nancy and Tommy tomorrow if he doesn’t get some sleep.
“Carlos. Babe.” He tries shaking Carlos’ shoulder as the cries increase. “Carlos!” He shouts causing the other man to shoot up in bed.
“Huh, wha…?” Comes the adorable mumbling from a mostly asleep Carlos. He seems to wake up slightly more when the cries register.
TK just points towards the door. “Can you? Shift tomorrow, remember.” TK mumbles and watches through bleary eyes as Carlos nods and gets back up from bed.
Listening intently until the cries quiet before he burrows back into the warmth left behind from Carlos’ body and allows himself to drift off to sleep.
The alarm shatters his peaceful sleep only two and a half hours later and TK wakes to find Carlos’ side of the bed still empty. After a cold shower, that does little to wake him up, TK finds Carlos sitting in the nursery rocking chair with Mila safely tucked into his chest.
“Did you catch any sleep?” TK whispers as he ghosts a kiss on Carlos’ head.
The shake of his head is expected, but TK worries still. He knows Carlos is in the middle of a big case and needs to be able to focus while at work.
Watching Carlos carefully lay Mila back into the crib fills his heart with so much adoration it spills over into every part of him. Carlos smiles softly at him and grabs his hand as they make their way out of the room and to the kitchen.
“Do you have to go into the station right away this morning?” TK asks as he makes a quick to-go coffee and grabs a power bar from the cupboard.
“Yeah.” Carlos sighs, “It’s all hands on deck while the girl is still missing.”
TK hates that for him, that he has to worry on two fronts. He knows Carlos takes every case to heart and as hard as he tries to not bring it home with him, sometimes they hit hard. That’s why he’s even more determined to try and take on the burden at home and he feels the burn of guilt for making Carlos stay up with Mila last night. He can’t help, but worry about his husband working on such little sleep.
“I’ll stay in the office today. I’m sure we have enough camera footage or computer searches to do to keep me occupied.” Carlos assures TK and it will never fail to make his heart swell at how well his husband reads his anxieties.
“You’re liable to fall asleep in front of the computer.” TK jokes back as he hands Carlos a mug filled with steaming coffee before grabbing his own.
Carlos takes a careful sip of the black coffee and grimaces, making TK chuckle a bit, Carlos hates black coffee. “Take a sec to add some milk before you insult my coffee anymore babe.” he jokes, kissing Carlos full on the lips before grabbing his work bag and heading for the front door.
“Love you, be safe.” Carlos calls out.
“I love you too, be safe in front of that computer today. Wouldn’t want you getting more of that chronic eye strain.” TK sees Carlos stick his tongue out at him as he slips out the door.
The bright sunlight hurts his eyes and the drive to the station passes by in a blur. He’s lucky he could practically make this drive with his eyes closed, but he thinks he might need to pass off driving duties to Nancy today.
Paul nods at him as they meet walking into the station before shooting him a look, “You and Carlos up too late watching those home improvement shows again?”
TK huffs, it was one time and really Carlos’ fault, but they’re still making fun of him because he wore his shirt backwards half the day. TK glances down at his shirt and seeing it’s on the right way he sighs, “Mila couldn’t sleep last night and Carlos is still working that big case.”
“Sorry man, that must be rough.”
TK shrugs, “We’re making it work. I just hate seeing them so uncomfortable.”
“Mila or Carlos?”
TK just shoots him a look as they enter the locker room to change. TK’s barely finished buttoning up his shirt when the medical alarm blares and he hears Nancy’s voice from the hallway “That’s us Strand, you decent.”
With a wave to Paul TK races out of the locker room a step behind Nancy. He shakes his head when she tries to hand him the keys to the ambulance. “You good?” Captain Vega asks as she catches up to them seeing the exchange.
“I’m good Cap, just didn’t catch much sleep last night is all.”
She gives him an assessing look, “All right, you’re on radio and life signs today then. Nancy can handle driving and IV’s.”
“Copy Cap.” come simultaneous replies from him and Nancy before they all jump into the ambulance to head out to their call.
Any hope of catching a couple hours of sleep during his shift vanishes by midday when they’re already on their sixth call with more constantly being added. They’ve only been back to the station once and that was just for a quick restock before heading back out. It’s past the normal dinner hour by the time they’re trudging back into the depths of the station hoping to find some leftovers.
TK’s happily surprised to find the fire half of their crew still seated around the table in what looks like the middle of dinner.
“Look who made it back just in time to reap the fruits of our labor.” Marjan jokes.
Paul and Mateo shoot her looks and say almost creepily in sync, “Who’s labor?”
“Okay so mostly your labor, but I helped.” She argues back getting a couple of “mhmmms”
TK doesn’t have the energy to get involved in the banter. Dropping into an open chair next to Judd and grabbing food blindly from the dishes on the table.
“You okay brother?” Judd questions looking down at TK’s fork. TK follows his eyes realizing he’s currently taking Judd’s pasta salad right off of his plate instead of from the dish in the middle of the table.
Blushing and with his verbal filter apparently as shot as his physical awareness he blurts out the first thought that pops into his head. “Did you know that you need at least four interrupted hours of sleep a night or else the effects of sleep deprivation can set in as quickly as 48 hours?”
His random fact of the day gets everyone’s attention and they all turn to TK with various looks of amusement mixed with concern. TK shifts uncomfortably, “At least that’s what I read on one of those online parenting boards when I was up with Mila again last night.”
“I read somewhere that elephants only need 2 hours of sleep a day,” Mateo exclaims excitedly, “Maybe that’s why they never remember anything.”
“I think you’re remembering it wrong Mateo. The saying is ‘elephants never forget.’” Paul quips back smirking.
“Anyways,” Marjan interjects with a heavy side eye at Mateo. “How long has it been since you got at least four hours of uninterrupted sleep, TK?”
TK tries to think, counting back the nights since Mila’s cold first began. “I don’t know four, maybe five,” he hedges and watches as everyone’s eyes widen comically.
Judd’s the only one who doesn’t react, “Sounds about like our first few months with Charlie. Before we had her reflux under control.”
“How the heck did you survive?” TK whispers desperately.
Judd looks up at him over the rim of his glasses with a pointed look. “With help. Tommy and the girls helped watch her some during our days off, and Gracie’s mom came round a couple of nights when things got real bad.”
TK doesn’t respond right away and Judd sets his own fork down leaning forward a bit, “Look kid, I know you and Carlos are trying to do this thing all on your own, but it’s okay to lean on your family a bit for help. It doesn’t make you a failure or weak to accept that you need somethin’ every now and then.”
“Yeah, I get it.” TK agrees tiredly back, focusing on taking a bite of his dinner instead of thinking about how the advice Judd’s trying to give him makes his insides wriggle uncomfortably.
Five minutes later the alarm goes off again and the paramedic trio all groan when they hear the call for medical.
“No rest for the weary.” Nancy quips as she pats TK’s back while getting up from the table. TK just groans again as he slowly pulls himself from his seat and drags his tired body after his crew.
It’s late by the time TK drags himself home after two hours of overtime on his shift. Captain Vega and Nancy had both tried to convince him to leave the shift on time, but he wasn’t about to leave his team one person short just because he was a little tired.
He finds Carlos in the kitchen when he gets home, Mila is smiling sleepily in the swing a few feet away, still within visual range, but outside of the kitchen danger zone that Carlos insists they respect until she’s old enough to be taught proper kitchen safety rules.
“Hey babe.” TK says giving Carlos a kiss on the cheek, before moving over to make funny faces at Mila. “Look who’s a happy baby today, you feeling better? Hmmmm.” TK wants to pick her up and snuggle her close, but he didn’t have the energy to change and shower at the station so he’s still in his work clothes.
“I’m going to go take a shower and change real quick okay babe?” TK confirms as he moves out of the kitchen.
“Okay, dinner will be ready in 30 minutes.” Carlos calls after him.
The hot water feels so good running over TK’s skin and the warmth of the whole room makes his eyes heavier with every blink until he’s practically napping against the side of the shower. It takes all his energy to stumble out and pull on his warmest sweats and hoodie before making his way back into the kitchen.
The sight of Carlos leaning elbows on the counter head hanging loosely between his hands brings him up short. Carlos lifts his head and blinks blearily at him, like he’s trying to remember what he was doing and how he got there.
“Hey.” Carlos says in a soft voice.
“Hey yourself.” TK responds, “Dinner ready?”
Carlos spins around with a speed TK didn’t think he’d be capable of a second before. “Oh shit,” Carlos pulls chicken out of the oven that's maybe just this side of too done. He sighs heavily as if it’s the end of the world even as TK walks up to wrap his arms around him from behind.
“Looks good babe.” he offers, causing Carlos to laugh even as he replies, “I know you’re just saying that.”
TK shakes his head, “no seriously, I’m sure it will still taste great. You know you didn't need to go to all this trouble when I know you're exhausted, but I appreciate it."
"I know. A home cooked meal just sounded better than take-out for the third night in a row, especially after your text saying your dinner at the station got interrupted."
"Hmm, it does sound good. Come on, let's eat and then I really want to fall into bed with you.” TK winks as he picks up Mila and snuggles her tight to his chest. It’s getting late for her to still be awake and she blinks sleepily up at TK from his arms.
“No offense TK, but I don’t have the energy to do anything other than literally fall into bed with you.” Carlos replies, exhaustion clear in every part of him.
“Trust me no offense taken, I feel the same.” TK rocks Mila softly, enjoying the quiet coos she makes as she falls deeper into sleep. “I feel like I could sleep for a week and still wake up tired.”
Carlos agrees and they continue on with dinner. Conversation is light; no one wanting to disturb Mila or having much energy for anything other than bringing food to their mouth.
TK gets up from the table carefully and passes Carlos a sleeping Mila before he goes to the sink to do the dishes from dinner. He figures it’s the least he can do after Carlos cooked for them despite his own exhaustion. When he finishes he finds Carlos standing in front of the crib softly singing a Spanish lullaby as Mila sleeps peacefully for once. TK prays that this means their luck has changed and they’ll all be able to get some sleep tonight.
Carlos meets TK in the hallway, wrapping an arm around his waist and guiding him into their bedroom where they literally fall into the bed together, both falling asleep almost as soon as their heads reach the pillows.
What feels like seconds later TK is awoken from a deep sleep by the shrill ringing of a telephone. The sound cuts off only to start again before TK feels Carlos shift in bed and answer it with a gruff “Hello.”
TK rolls over trying to block it out and catches the numbers on the clock saying it’s 11:48, meaning they’ve only managed to be sleeping for about two hours now. He’s closing his eyes again when he feels the bed shift before the weight is lifted off Carlos’ side and TK rolls over again to watch his husband pulling on his work pants and shirt from where he laid them out the night before. Feeling incredibly irritated at the whole situation TK throws the blanket over his head with a huff, catching Carlos’ attention that he’s awake.
“Hey, sorry that woke you. We caught a break in the case. I have to go in.” Carlos’ voice is soft and sincerely apologetic, but TK is past the point of reason.
“It’s the middle of the freaking night, can’t it wait until morning?” he grumbles angrily.
“I mean normally, but there’s a missing girl and the window for finding her safe is closing so…” Carlos trails off and TK feels like a dick for being angry when Carlos and his co-workers are just trying to find a missing person.
“Nah I get it, go on. I can hold down the fort here.” TK tells him with a kiss as an apology and a shove towards the door.
TK has trouble falling asleep again and his eyes keep drifting open to watch as the time on the clock ticks forward …. 12:12, 12:25, 12:57, 1:03 …. TK’s just drifting off again when Mila’s cries begin from the other room. In a desperate attempt to pretend this is all just some nightmare TK buries his head beneath the pillows and wills it all to stop. When the screaming gets so loud that he can hear it through the pillows the guilt hits hard. His baby is crying for him and he was trying to ignore it.
That thought has him scrambling out of bed, legs still trapped under the blankets causing him to fall gracelessly to the floor face first. He manages to catch himself before completely smashing his face on the floor and gets on his feet to hurry to Mila.
The little girl’s face is red from the screaming and her head is hot to the touch. Too hot, TK thinks, his sleep deprived brain still a step behind where he usually is.
Checking Mila’s temperature again as she screams, TK’s panic only increases at the number, 104, flashing on the screen. The red background that “helpfully” tells him his daughter’s temperature is too high screaming at him. Picking Mila back up and bouncing her gently does nothing to soften her cries and with shaking hands TK pulls out his phone cursing when the line rings through to voicemail. He tries to reach Carlos again as Mila’s cries continue to increase and TK laughs a little hysterically in panic.
TK knows he needs to take Mila to the hospital so he quickly throws some things into the diaper bag by the door and buckles Mila into the infant seat. Her cries only increase when she’s not in TK’s arms. “Shhh baby girl.” TK coos, frantically searching for his keys and cursing the fact that he didn’t drop them into the bowl by the front door.
TK tries bouncing the baby seat a little when it hits him that they’re still in the pocket of the jacket hanging in the front closet. It’s a minor triumph when he’s able to locate them and get Mila’s carseat locked into the base in the back of their SUV.
He tries to reach Carlos again on the drive to the hospital, nearly wanting to throw his phone across the seat in frustration when he doesn’t answer. Then Judd’s words from earlier hit him. He’s not a failure for needing help and he certainly could use some help or at the very least some support right now. The phone rings in his ear and he almost doesn’t expect anyone to pick up being that it’s the middle of the night, but then there’s a soft rustle and a quick, “TK?” being uttered from the other end.
TK can’t help but let out a sob of relief at hearing another person’s voice and he can barely get his voice to work even as Andrea picks up on his cries and begins to ask in half a panic what’s wrong.
“I’m sorry to wake you up, but Carlos is working and Mila wouldn’t sleep and then her temperature spiked and I’m taking her to the ER now. I need help.” comes rushing out of him over the sound of Mila’s continuous cries from the backseat.
“TK, mijo, breathe.” Andrea commands and TK follows the order taking a sharp breath in.
“Good now, which hospital are you headed to?”
“Children’s Memorial.” TK rasps, trying to maintain focus on the road so as to not get them into an accident while still keeping one eye on the mirror where he can see Mila red faced and upset.
There is rustling and whispers on the other end of the line. TK thinks he hears Gabriel's voice and it takes him an absurdly long time to realize that would only make sense. He’s zoned out so hard he almost misses Andrea’s reply.
“We’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”
A sudden rush of guilt accompanies the relief, “You don’t have to do that.” he tells her half-heartedly. The instinct to not take too much from other people still so strong after all these years.
“Nonsense son,” comes the gruff voice of Gabriel Reyes over the phone. “Drive safe. We’ll see you soon.”
TK nods as the line cuts out and he’s quickly pulling into the hospital parking lot. TK curses as he realizes he left the diaper bag on the floor of the living room in his panic to find his keys, but he just unbuckles Mila’s car seat and wraps her in the spare blanket they keep in the car to carry her inside.
TK glances around the waiting room and sighs in relief at the lack of people waiting when a young nurse with a kind smile greets him at the desk. Mila has thankfully stopped screaming in his arms, but TK shivers at the heat radiating from her small body.
“Yes, my daughter, she’s been sick for a while now and tonight she spiked a 104 temperature. She’s been inconsolable for most of the night.” TK explains quickly.
“Okay, if you want to step this way we can triage her right away.” The nurse directs TK into a curtained area behind the desk. There is a small bed and a few shelves of medical equipment that TK recognizes. The nurse quickly takes Mila’s temperature and TK pales at the still too high number.
“When’s the last time she had Tylenol?” She asks gently.
TK tries to remember, but his sleep deprived brain can’t come up with a clear thought, “ummm maybe two hours ago, “he guesses, uncertainty clear in his voice.
“It’s okay, has she had any ibuprofen?”
TK shakes his head no, more certain of this, they had run out of ibuprofen last night and Carlos was supposed to bring some home today.
“Okay, we can alternate the two so we should be able to give her some ibuprofen in two hours. For now can you get her undressed so I can do a quick exam and we can hopefully get her cooled down some?”
Fumbling fingers reach to pull off the pants Mila was wearing and then unbutton the onesie underneath. If the nurse notices TK’s shaking hands she doesn’t mention it, although TK recons she likely sees panicked parents every day working in a children's hospital.
Mila wakes up during the process and makes a disgruntled sound, before her face scrunches up and she lets out a loud scream.
“Oh yeah, you’re not happy are you sweetie.” The nurse coos gently as she completes her exam. She finishes quickly and turns to TK, “we’re going to get you set up in an exam room. The high temperature is a little concerning and her heart rate is a little fast, but her breathing is good. We’ll get you both sorted out real soon.”
Just then TK’s phone rings from inside his pocket and he pulls it out to answer the incoming call from Andrea. “TK we’re here. Where are you?”
“We’re just heading back to a room right now, room 108.” He answers as the nurse guides him through the glass sliding doors into the room. Pulling the phone away from his ear he speaks to the nurse “My inlaws are here.”
“I’ll make sure they make it back here and a doctor should be in shortly.” She assures him with a quick smile. True to her word a minute later Andrea and Gabriel Reyes step into the little room. Andrea immediately makes her way to take Mila from him while wrapping her free arm around his back for a quick hug. Then she’s pulling back to study his face intensely and he feels a bit like a guilty kid caught lying to his mom. She sighs, turning her attention back to the crying baby cooing to her and singing in a low voice. Mila takes to her easily, sleepy eyes blinking before falling closed.
TK feels his own heavy eyes begin to blink and startles to look up when he feels a hand on his arm.
“Sit mijo, before you fall over and give us another reason to be in the hospital.”
TK wants to protest, but he has no energy for it as he’s guided into a chair near the bed that Andrea’s settled her hip on while she holds Mila. Fifteen minutes pass quickly with Andrea and Gabriel doting over Mila while TK strains to keep his eyes open and alert. The doctor entering the room has TK shooting to his feet. “Hi little one,” the doctor greets Mila before turning to the three adults in the room, “What seems to be the matter?” she asks.
TK launches into an explanation of Mila’s cold and trouble sleeping for the last five days. The doctor hums, pulling her stethoscope from around her neck, warming the end up on her shirt before placing it against Mila’s bare back. “Lungs sound good.” She reaches for the otoscope on the wall next. “Looks like we found the problem.” she exclaims looking in one ear and then the other.
“What?” TK asks anxiously from his place holding Mila on the exam table.
“Double ear infection,” she answers, “We’ll get her on some antibiotics and monitor to make sure we can get the fever down with Tylenol and ibuprofen, but all things considered you should be able to take her home in a couple hours.”
“Thank you doctor, that's great.” Andrea answers when TK’s voice is caught in his throat. He’s kicking himself, how did he miss an ear infection? He’s trained for these kinds of things. How did Carlos ever manage to convince him this was a good idea? He’s pulled out of his spiral by Andrea placing her hand on his cheek.
“TK, mijo, she’s going to be alright, Esta bien.”
“How did I miss this?” He gives voice to his anxiety.
It’s Gabriel who answers, “when it’s your child, it’s different, we don’t always see the whole picture. You can’t blame yourself. Children get sick.”
The nurse returns to give Mila a dose of antibiotics and assurance that they’ll be back to check on her in a little while. TK manages to doze in the chair by the bed while Andrea gently rocks Mila and soothes both her and TK into sleep with soft murmurs. By the time the doctor comes by again it’s pushing into true morning. She checks Mila's temperature and declares that it’s gone down an acceptable amount, handing TK a prescription for an antibiotic and wishing them well. Thankfully the hospital has a 24 hour pharmacy and he’s filling Mila’s prescription while the Reyes’ get her settled into the SUV.
His phone buzzes in his pocket and he pulls it out to find that Carlos is finally calling him back. A quick flash of anger passes through him. It’s been hours since he tried calling Carlos and he’s just now getting back to him.
“What!” he answers harshly and he hears the stunned silence for a moment on the other end of the line, before Carlos releases a heavy sigh.
“I’m sorry TK. I’ve been in the interrogation for hours now without my phone. I just now got out. Is everything okay, you called a few times.”
“No Carlos, everything is not okay. I’ve spent the last few hours with our daughter in the emergency department.”
“What?! TK, is Mila okay? What happened? I’m leaving now, right now. Which hospital? Shit TK, I’m coming I swear. I’m so sorry.” The words are pouring out of Carlos mirroring all the fear, pain, and anxiety TK’s been feeling for the last while, it takes the wind out of his sails as his anger extinguishes.
“Mila is fine. She has a double ear infection. The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics and we’re actually leaving now for home.” TK explains and then adds on as an afterthought. Your mom and dad are here with us.so no need to rush home if you still have work to do”
“Screw work. You and Mila are my priority TK. I’m sorry I lost sight of that.” remorse rings over the phone and soothes a part of TK that he didn’t even know what hurting.
“Okay, I’ll see you at home then.” he replies, “Love you.”
“Love you too, TK.” Carlos answers and then the line goes dead.
Andrea drives the SUV after insisting that TK was in no state to drive, leaving TK feeling jittery, on edge, and disconnected. When they get home to find an anxious Carlos pacing in the driveway, TK is quick to reassure him again that Mila is fine. Watching Carlos deflate seeing their daughter sleeping peacefully it hits TK just how tired both he and Carlos are.
Andrea carefully takes Mila out of her car seat and carries her inside. Settling herself on the couch comfortably she refuses any offer from them to take Mila off her hands.
“Let me hold my granddaughter for a few hours while you two catch some sleep.” Andrea scolds gently.
TK realized somewhere tonight that they really have let this whole situation get too far out of control and both him and Carlos need to learn to be better at asking for help when they need it. Which is why it’s easy to convince Carlos that Andrea is right. Mila will be just fine without them for a few hours while they get some real rest.
Even so, he catches Carlos glancing at the screen of his cellphone and TK knows he’s probably got a dozen messages from work. TK himself is supposed to be on shift at noon today. Andrea seems to catch the message because she snatches the phone out of her son’s hand and gives both boys a look that would make them shake in their boots if they weren’t dead on their feet.
“No, you are no good to anyone else, neither of you, until you get at least six solid hours of sleep. TK I’ll call your father and ask him to pass the word along to your captain. Carlos, your father can handle dealing with your boss if you can’t make a simple phone call to say you’ll be out sick.”
TK nods easily while Carlos cringes at the thought of his dad stepping in and takes his phone back mumbling a petulant, “I’ll call and let them know I’m out today.”
Now that TK has agreed to this plan of action he feels himself falling quickly into the need for sleep. He blinks slowly as hands corral him into the bedroom and push him gently onto the bed. He would be embarrassed that his father-in-law is taking his shoes off and tucking him into bed if his brain had any capacity at all for thinking. Instead he just accepts the help and sinks into the peaceful oblivion of sleep.
When he wakes later that day to an empty bed, feeling the most well-rested he’s felt in a long time he takes a moment to be truly grateful to have family there to support him and Carlos. Carlos greets him with rumpled curls, a soft smile, and a hot cup of coffee when he makes his way to the family room. TK smiles seeing that more of their family have joined the Reyes as Owen now sits holding Mila and Andrea is reading softly to Charlie and Peter while Grace & Judd watch from their spot on the couch.
TK allows himself to sink into the warm embrace of his husband's arms as he thinks about how their journey may have begun in a single moment, but it grows every moment like this. Surrounded by family, love, and never-ending support.