Work Text:
Carlos POV
He and TK have been like ships passing in the night the last few days. Last night was the first time in a week that they slept in the same bed, and that was only between the time TK slipped into bed after his shift at midnight and before Carlos got up and left for his shift at 5:00 am.
Carlos is hopeful that means that TK won’t catch the stomach flu that he’s been battling for the last 24 hours. There was something going around the station with as many officers out sick as on shift. Despite feeling like he hadn’t gotten any sleep when he did in fact fall asleep on the couch by seven o’clock the night before Carlos did not want to contribute to the growing shortage of personnel. That’s why he’s here now, curled over his desk, willing the ache deep in his stomach and the rolling nausea in his gut to cease enough for him to finish the traffic report sitting in front of him.
The sharp rap of a folder landing on the desk startles him from his hunched position and he has to bite down hard on his lip to hold in the groan that wants to get out.
“You ready to get back out there yet, Reyes.” Mitchell’s voice pierces his skull and he has to remind himself that he likes his partner and he would preferably not piss her off when wants nothing more than to open his mouth and snap out a sharp reply.
Instead he opens his mouth to let her know he’s going to be another 15 minutes on this report, but as soon as he does he is snapping it shut again and rushing for the locker room. No one gives him a second look as he stumbles into the bathroom and rids his stomach of everything he’s eaten in the last 24 hours. He feels slightly better once it’s out and as he stands he thinks he might be able to concentrate enough to finish that report now.
His relief doesn’t last long because as soon as he’s standing up fully the pain in his side flares and his nausea rises. He’s back on his knees heaving, before he can even think. It’s there that Mitchell finds him some time later.
“Ugh, not you too Reyes,” she groans as she takes in the sight of him.
Carlos just nods miserably, standing up again, much more carefully this time. He manages, but now his head has joined the chorus of aches in his body and he thinks he might have a slight fever, based upon the chills and the shaking.
“I’ll let the Sergeant know you’re going home and will be out tomorrow too.” Mitchell sighs.
Carlos steps towards her shaking his head, ‘No, I’m fine now.” He stops to swallow back the feeling of being sick again, “we’re already down too many. I can’t go home early too.”
Mitchell’s eye roll is both fond and exasperated. “Carlos, I don’t know if you noticed, but you’ve been in here for half an hour already. There’s only an hour left of your shift and you’d trip over your own feet running after a suspect like this.”
“I’ll at least stay to finish the report.” Carlos insists, not willing to leave anything unfinished.
“Already done,” Mitchell proclaims proudly, waving a stack of papers Carlos presumes are his report. “Now get. Change, and go home to that boyfriend of yours to get yourself taken care of.”
Carlos wishes he could go home to TK and get taken care of, but he knows TK is on shift until tomorrow morning. Thinking about that makes the idea of going home less appealing, but he figures he’ll probably just go home and pass out in bed until TK gets home anyway.
He doesn’t make it as far as the bed when he gets home. His side is aching and every step he takes sends another flare of pain through him. He sits down heavily on the couch, knowing he should get up and at least get some water, but he doesn’t have the energy. His phone vibrates from somewhere across the loft and Carlos realizes he left it in his jacket pocket. The jacket hangs on the hook next to the door. He hears the buzz again and he wants to get up, he really does, but he groans as he flexes his ab muscles in an attempt to stand.
Instead he collapses sideways, curling his legs up to his chest, pressing a hand tight to the pulsating throb in his stomach. He must drift off at some point because he wakes to darkness. The ache in his stomach is still there, but not as harsh. Carlos looks around wondering what woke him until he hears it again, the continuous buzzing of his phone. He shifts on the couch, planting a hand in an attempt to push himself upright. It works, but he has to pause and close his eyes against the flash of pain the move causes. Breathing deeply through his nose he’s able to hold back the nausea he feels creeping back in. Another push and he’s upright, mostly, his back still hunched, one hand pressing tightly on the right side of his abdomen.
The buzzing starts again and has Carlos taking a tentative step towards the front door, then another. He makes it five steps before his foot catches on the rug just behind the couch and he stumbles. The move pulling on his muscles, causing him to stretch and igniting a flame inside him. He thinks he cries out, but his only coherent thought is pain, so much pain. He realizes suddenly that something is really wrong and then the next second he's on the floor again. His vision begins fading in and out and his last thought before he sinks into the black is of TK. How he can’t leave TK, not now, not like this.
TK POV
“Pick up the phone Carlos.” TK mutters across the line that still hasn’t connected. He catches Nancy shooting him a look from across the back of the ambulance and he knows she’s worried too. It’s been a few hours since Carlos’ partner texted TK letting him know that Carlos had left his shift early, presumably with whatever stomach bug was going around the first responder community. TK wasn’t overly worried at first, just the normal level of boyfriend worry, but that was before he didn’t receive any return text messages from said boyfriend.
It’s been a wildly busy shift; firehouses all across Austin are shorthanded on the fire and medical side which means they’ve been out on calls steady. This is the first break they’ve had and it’s really only because they needed a restock and Cap said they needed to eat something before one of them became a much unneeded patient themselves.
TK groans as he tries calling and again it rings out before going to voicemail.
“He’s probably just asleep and forgot to turn his ringer on.” Nancy tries to reassure him, but it doesn’t stop TK from pulling the sleeves of his hoodie farther over his hands while bringing one of the strings up to his mouth to nibble on. He nods in answer though, because it’s as logical a reason as any.
The tone of alarm blaring and the call for medical response has him shifting back into work mode soon enough, but the little voice of worry doesn’t leave him. Two calls and still no word later and he can practically feel the anxiety rolling off of him in waves as they get their latest patient loaded into the ambulance for a trip to the hospital. TK glances down at his phone again and then out over the lackluster crowd of first responders.
He spots Mitchell walking in his direction. She flashes him a small smile as she approaches, “Hey TK, I didn’t realize you were still on shift, I thought Carlos said you had the night off.”
“Yeah, was supposed to, but we’re pulling a double with all the crews out sick.”
Mitchell nods, glancing quickly over the scene, “Yeah Carlos seems to have caught whatever it was, poor thing was puking his guts out in the station bathroom before I sent him home. I thought I was sending him home to you though he did not look good when he left.”
TK feels his anxiety kick up a notch at her words. “What do you mean?” He asks slowly.
She shrugs, assessing TK with what he recognizes as ‘cop eyes’ from the number of times he’s seen the look on Carlos’ face. “He just seemed really out of it, but also like he was in a lot of pain and it came on pretty quickly.”
Her words have thoughts rumbling around in TK’s head. It’s not all that unusual for symptoms of the flu to come on quickly, but her comment about pain doesn’t really make sense. “What kind of pain?” TK asks, but any reply Mitchell goes to give is cut off by Cap’s shout letting him know they’re ready to roll.
“Duty calls.” Mitchell answers for him, turning back to get in her own squad car, “I’m sure he’s fine TK.” She calls out before she steps in, but the words do little to reassure TK as he climbs in the driver’s seat of the ambulance.
The trip to the hospital is short and the patient hand-off is quick. TK’s mind won’t shut up that something must be wrong as he tries yet again to call Carlos’ phone with no response as he waits for Nancy to return from grabbing some coffee from the cafe across from the hospital.
“Everything okay?” Captain Vega questions as she looks up at him from over the report she’s finishing filling out sitting in the back of the ambulance.
TK pulls the phone away from his ear. Sick of hearing the familiar ringing sound, “I’m not sure.” He answers honestly. “I haven’t been able to get a hold of Carlos. He went home from his shift sick and now he’s not answering his phone.” TK pauses to twist the phone around in his hands. “I know he’s likely just sleeping, but I can’t help and feel like something is wrong.”
Captain Vega nods her head, an understanding look in her eyes. “Your house isn’t too far from here is it?” She asks.
He looks up at her in surprise, before shaking his head.
“All right, then after Nancy gets back we’ll swing by yours before heading back to the station. Shifts almost over anyways.”
He wants to protest, to argue that they shouldn’t run his personal anxiety checks while on duty, but instead he nods and feels incredibly grateful for having an understanding Captain. “Thanks Cap.” he manages in a soft voice, just as Nancy returns triumphantly distributing the coffees she’s managed to find.
“Gillian, we’re going to run by Strand’s and check on Carlos real quick as long as you don’t have any objections.” Captain Vega asks semi-formally.
Nancy just shoots a confused look towards TK before nodding her head, “Sounds good Cap.”
TK thrums his fingers along the steering wheel as he drives the five blocks to his apartment building. “Be right back Cap.” TK calls out, as he jumps out. He tries calling Carlos again, but it rings through and as he takes the steps two at a time up to their floor, he’s just glad that in a minute he’ll get the physical reassurance he needs that everything is okay.
Pushing the door open to a silent apartment isn’t surprising, but the dark lump greeting him just a few steps through the door has him flicking on the lights with a shout of surprise.
“Carlos!”
He’s landing on his knees sliding the last foot to reach Carlos’ body lying curled up in the floor. TK’s hands hover an inch above Carlos, not sure where to touch, not sure what’s wrong, not sure how to start. Gently he places a hand on Carlos’ shoulder rolling him over to lay on his back. Carlos groans at the movement, hands coming up to guard his stomach, eyes snapping open before shutting again.
“Carlos, baby.” TK murmurs as he runs his hand through Carlos’ sweat dampened curls. “Open your eyes for me babe.”
A small smile graces TK’s face as Carlos’ eyes open a fraction, just far enough for TK to see a sliver of warm brown beneath the long eyelashes. “There you are.” he whispers, “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
Carlos just groans again and tries to curl towards TK, still guarding his stomach. “Ssshhhh.” TK murmurs softly, gently pulling Carlos’ hands away from his stomach as he begins to palpate the area. When he hits a particular spot and lets go Carlos curls up even further, a strangled scream escaping clenched teeth.
TK knows immediately what this problem is and it’s not a stomach bug. “Cap, I’m … we’re going to need the gurney up here. ASAP.” TK is surprised how steady his voice comes out. He knows he’s slipped into professional mode, blocking out his emotional side. He knows once he lets that go he won’t get it back inside and Carlos needs his professional self now more than his boyfriend.
“TK? What’s the problem?” Cap’s voice comes over the radio, clear, but worried.
“Suspected appendicitis, rebound tenderness in the lower right quadrant, low grade fever, earlier reported vomiting, loss of consciousness.” His voice is flat, he’s reporting patient status just like any other call.
“We’re on our way up.” Captain Vega’s voice comes over the radio again, steady and comforting.
It takes too long for Nancy and Captain Vega to reach the loft. TK murmurs comforting words to Carlos, stroking one hand through his curls, the other pressed gently against his cheek. He watches as Carlos’ eyes roll aimlessly around. He can tell he’s lost someone in the haze of pain.
“TK?”
The broken way his name rolls off Carlos’ lips makes him want to cry, an involuntary shudder rippling through him.
“Sshhh babe, everything’s going to be fine. We’ll get you to the hospital and you’ll be just fine.”
Carlos’ eyes lock on his for a second, the deep brown, normally so clear and rich are hazy with pain. “Hospital?” the word rolls clumsily off his tongue. Catching on syllables.
Just then the loud sound of the gurney wheels on polished concrete floors catches both of their attention as Nancy and Captain Vega enter through the open loft door.
TK shifts immediately back into professional mode, but Captain Vega places a warm hand on his shoulder, “We’ll take over from here TK.”
He wants to argue, but he knows he shouldn’t. Carlos is his family, and there is no one he’d trust more at this moment than Nancy and Tommy.
They work efficiently to move Carlos onto a backboard and it takes all three of them to lift him onto the gurney. They’re back in the elevator and loading him into the back of the ambulance almost before TK can blink.
Once there Nancy goes to the front to assume the driving duties while TK climbs in the back with Tommy, but not as a fellow paramedic, as a family member.
He sits as close to Carlos as he can manage, gripping onto his hand tightly. Tommy sits at Carlos’ head, keeping an eye on the monitors, nothing much to do, but wait. Thankfully the drive is short and before TK can really even process what is happening the ambulance doors are being opened and Carlos is being wheeled off behind the swinging doors that TK can’t follow.
He stands for a long moment in the middle of the hallway. Staring. Not really seeing. A hand on his shoulder startles him and he glances back to see Nancy looking at him. Her eyes shine with sympathy, “He’ll be alright. Appendectomy is a routine surgery.” She reminds him. Even knowing this. Even technically being a part of the medical community the words routine and surgery don’t sound right next to each other.
“He’s going to be in surgery for at least an hour.” Tommy’s voice floats across the space. “Let’s turn the rig back into station and we can get changed before heading back.”
TK is shaking his head before she even finishes, “I can’t leave him.”
“TK, he’s going to be here all night, you’ll feel better in your own clothes.” Nancy tries to reason.
“I’m not leaving!” TK snaps. He’s losing the control he’s been holding on to and losing it rapidly.
Tommy and Nancy share a look, “Okay, we’ll bring you your bag from the locker.” Tommy says placatingly, but it is a welcome reprieve.
TK nods and following them back towards the ambulance bay, stopping just to the side of the door, and pulling out his phone to make a necessary call to Carlos’ parents. An appendectomy may be a routine surgery, but they still deserve to know, and to have the chance to be here.
The phone rings several times before it goes to voicemail and TK wants to curse at the number of times he’s heard a voicemail tone tonight. When he pulls the phone away from his ear and glances at the screen he cringes at the time - 3:26 am - It’s been one hell of a day. His phone starts vibrating in his hand. The smiling face of Andrea Reyes flashing on the screen.
“Hello?” he answers in question as if he’s not the one who just tried calling her first.
“TK, mijo, is everything okay?” Andrea’s voice heavy with sleep, but clear, comes from the other end of the line.
“No.” he hears the sharp intake of breath and hurries to amend, “No, I mean mostly. Everything is okay. Carlos is at the hospital. We just brought him in, appendicitis, he’s gone back for surgery. I just. Well I thought you should know. I didn’t realize the time. I’m sorry. He’s going to be fine. It looked like we got to him in time. I. I’ll keep you updated. Of course. I just thought you should know.” He trails off at the end aware that he’s rambling. Words forming incomplete sentences, all spilling out of him without any real thought.
There is rustling in the background that floats across the phone line and then Andrea’s voice is back. “TK it’ll be okay. Take a breath,” her voice shakes slightly with worry, but commanding.
TK sucks in a breath that gets caught in his throat. The exhale flows out of him as a sob and has him placing a fist over his mouth. “Breathe, mijo.” The command is gentle, but firm still.
TK forces another breath in through shaking lips, blowing it out even as tears pool in his eyes.
“Good. Another.”
The pattern continues for several long moments. TK breathing on each command. His breaths are shaky and sometimes a sob gets stuck in his throat, but he’s breathing. Andrea’s voice in his ear, a calming comfort.
“TK Strand?” the voice floats out from the ER waiting room through the doors startling him. Still holding the phone to his ear he steps inside and see a nurse holding a clipboard surveying the room expectantly.
“I’m TK.” he announces.
“Hi TK, I’m Julia, I just need to get your signature on some of the paperwork for your partner, Carlos Reyes.”
TK nods his head, “Of course,” he answers the nurse, then goes to address Andrea over the phone line, “I have to go, I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
“Si, mijo, we’ll be there in half an hour. Te queremos.”
“Te quiero.” he whispers back.
He’s back in the waiting room sitting with Nancy and Tommy when the Reyes’ arrive. They’re just waiting for Carlos to be set up in a recovery room after having spoken with his surgeon.
Andrea Reyes immediately pulls him into a tight squeeze. “Have you heard anything from his doctors?” Gabriel Reyes asks him as he places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
TK instantly feels tears filling his eyes and he watches as Carlos’ parents' faces shine with misplaced worry. It’s stupid Carlos is fine, and yet now TK can’t stop crying.
“Sorry.” He clears his throat and wipes his sweatshirt sleeve across his face.
“Carlos is fine. Surgery went great and they are setting him up in a recovery room.” Tommy answers for him. “I’m Tommy Vega. I’m TK’s Captain.” she introduces herself, shaking Andrea and Gabriel’s hands in turn.
“We’ve heard a lot about you, Captain. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Andrea answers warmly.
“Tommy, please. Heard about me hmmm.” She turns to give TK a look. He just shrugs back.
“He’s proud of the work you all do together. Proud of what he’s learning working under you.” Andrea comes to his rescue, as it seems is the trend tonight.
“Well we’re very proud to work with TK also.” Tommy answers back, and TK feels his ears heating with embarrassment.
“Family of Carlos Reyes.” A nurse calls out to the room and their small group turns as one, raising their hands almost comically in sync.
The nurse smiles warmly at them all. “We have Carlos set up in a recovery room. I can let you all visit briefly, but since it’s outside of visiting hours only emergency contacts and immediate family will be allowed to stay.”
“You all go on back, give him our love for us. We’ll come back tomorrow to visit.” Tommy assures them with a smile. She pulls TK into a side hug, before releasing him into Nancy’s grasp. “Tell him this doesn’t get him a free pass in Catan at game night next week.” Nancy jokes lightly and TK’s happy when it makes him smile a genuine smile.
“I’ll pass the message along.”
He moves out of Nancy’s embrace and into the waiting arm of Andrea. They link their arms together as they follow the nurse deeper into the hospital, into the elevator and up to a familiar floor. The last time TK was on this floor was nearly three years ago after his gunshot wound surgery. He has to keep reminding himself that this time is nothing like that. Carlos is going to be fine.
The nurse directs them into the last room on the left and TK takes in the sight of Carlos sleeping on the small hospital bed. He’s not surprised that his boyfriend seems to take up the whole space. He’s not a small man. He is surprised that he looks mostly like he is just peacefully sleeping.
“The doctor said they were able to remove the appendix laparoscopically. That means he’ll have a shorter recovery time. Less chance of complications also.” TK tells Andrea and Gabriel in reassurance as he notices the way they both waver in the doorway. So uncertain in the face of seeing their only son laying in a hospital bed.
“That is good news.” Gabriel comments as he moves to place a hand on Carlos’ leg. He holds it there for a moment before moving away to take a seat on one of the chairs next to the bed. Andrea pulls a chair up next to him and sinks into it, she leans forward to take Carlos’ hand in hers. TK watches frozen as she takes in every detail of his face.
When he doesn’t move for several moments Andrea turns to him. “TK, you look exhausted. Sit down mijo.” Those words don’t really catch on in his brain, but the next words he hears have him stumbling towards the bed.
“You should listen to her baby, you look like crap.” Carlos’ words are quiet and raspy, but TK loves them all the same.
He laughs wetly, “you’re one to talk. You should see yourself.”
“Kicking a guy while he’s in a hospital bed?” Carlos complains, eyebrows rising as far as he can get them to despite his eyes only being half open. TK squeezes Carlos hand while running his fingers through his hair.
“Never looked better babe.” TK whispers as he kisses Carlos gently on the temple.
“Mijo, it is so good to see you awake. How are you feeling?” Andrea asks and TK could kick himself for not asking that right out the gate.
Carlos turns his head to look at the other side of the bed, smiling softly at his parents. “I’m okay, Mami. Mostly tired.” He turns back to TK then and his brows crunch together, forming the line in between his eyes that TK loves to run his fingers over and smooth out. “What happened?”
“You had appendicitis. Not the stomach flu.” TK retorts back.
“Huh?”
“Huh. Really, that’s all you’re going to say is huh?” TK says back sharply before pulling his lower lips in between his teeth and gnawing on it roughly.
Carlos lifts a shaky hand to TK’s face, placing it clumsily on his cheek while his thumb catches on TK’s lip and pulls it from between his teeth. “You’ll have to forgive the lack of eloquence. I think I just got out of surgery.” Carlos reminds him gently.
TK just huffs, “lack of eloquence my ass, pulling words like eloquence out while arguing that you aren’t eloquent after surgery.”
The whole room bursts into chuckles at TK’s rant and he can’t help but laugh at himself. It’s a brittle laugh still full of the fear he felt at first seeing Carlos sprawled on their floor, but it is also genuine. Carlos is going to be okay. Carlos is safe. Carlos is right here with him still and hopefully forever.