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“Carlos Reyes, I swear if you don’t sit your ass on that couch I’m calling your mother.”
“I’m not an invalid TK,” Carlos huffed. “I can get my own water.”
“I know you’re not honey,” TK soothed, setting the glass down on the coffee table and running a hand through Carlos’ dirty hair. He hadn’t had a chance to shower since the accident, having to settle for the quick sponge baths and dry shampoo given in the hospital. “But,” he continued. “You have a broken leg and two fractured ribs. You’re looking at a twelve-week recovery minimum. And that’s just for the leg. I know you hate it, but you’ve got to take it easy.”
“I am taking it easy,” he grumbled. “I’ve barely moved off the damn couch for two days.”
He’d been released a little over two days ago, and TK had been hovering, ensuring that
his ass stayed firmly parked in the ever-deepening crease in the sofa cushions.
“That’s exactly what you’re supposed to be doing baby. Resting.”
Carlos sighed and resigned himself to letting TK take care of him. He wasn’t used to it. He was the caretaker of the relationship, the role he’d naturally assumed when they got together. TK was a danger magnet and Carlos was perfectly happy to coddle him, cook for him, and threaten to wrap him in bubble wrap and never let him leave the house again when he inevitably got hurt. Being on the other side of that was uncharted territory for Carlos. He prided himself on being extremely careful on the job, but this had been a freak accident.
It had been an easy shift. Barely any calls, only a few minor disturbances, and a couple of speeding tickets were distributed over his eight hours on patrol. He and Mitchell were less than a mile from the station when a drunk driver ran a red light and slammed into the driver’s side of the patrol car. Of course, the 126 had been the team to respond and TK’s heart lept into his throat when he saw the number of the license plate on the mostly crushed Austin PD car. Carlos was passed out over the steering wheel. Luckily, a mostly unscathed Mitchell was putting pressure on the worst cuts on his face to help with the bleeding. TK was relegated to helping her, not allowed to work on his family, so he pressed butterfly bandages to the larger cuts on her eyebrow and cheek and cleaned the smaller ones, checking for residual shards of glass, keeping one eye on his fiance as Nancy and Tommy worked on him.
The way his voice cracked when he woke and called out for TK broke his heart. At Mitchell’s push and insistence that she was fine, he moved to kneel by Carlos’s side and held his hand, careful to stay out of the way while they set his leg and got him loaded onto a stretcher. He’d held his hand in the ambulance, tears rolling down his face, squeezing hard every time Carlos cried out in pain.
The surgery to fix his leg had taken over two hours and TK was a wreck the whole time. He got a sense of six satisfaction when Mitchel texted, telling him the other driver had been arrested and blown almost twice the legal limit. He was looking at time for that alone, not to mention the injuries caused to two police officers. When the nurse had finally let TK see him, he’d almost cried at how small his fiance looked in the bed. His normally tan, glowing skin was pale and dull, like all life had been sucked out of him. At that moment, TK resolved to never let himself get hurt again if this was how Carlos felt seeing him in the same position all those times.
Their hospital stay lasted almost a week, his injuries constituted serious physical therapy, and all of the doctors wanted to get him set up before he left. The department had given TK a few weeks of extended leave to take care of him until he could function a little better on his own. Carlos had talked him into only taking the four weeks paid leave they’d offered, but he was almost sure TK would end up taking out the rest of his jail sentence healing time in unpaid leave.
“Will you let me check your bandages in a bit?” TK asked. “They probably need to be changed soon.”
“You changed them this morning TK. I’m sure they’re fine.”
“Right. Yeah. Are you hungry? I could make you a snack. Do you need another blanket or something? You look cold, I’m gonna get you another blanket.”
“TK,” Carlos contorted his body to snag TK’s wrist before he could run off in search of every blanket in the loft. “I’m okay babe. I know you’re worried, but I’m good. I’m sore and tired and really, really need a shower, but I’m okay. I’m alive and you’re here taking care of me. You’re doing a great job.”
“I’m just not used to being on this side of it,” TK admitted, perching on the couch next to Carlos’s uninjured leg, careful not to jostle him and cause him more unnecessary pain.
“Me neither. You’re the accident-prone one in the relationship,” Carlos teased.
“After seeing you in that hospital bed, I never wanna get hurt again. I can’t imagine how you’ve felt every time you saw me in that position.”
“TK, seeing you like that, broke my heart a million ways, every time. I never wanna see you like that again. But I know it’s unrealistic to think you’ll never get hurt, it’s a hazard of our jobs. I just want you to come home safe, every day.”
“When we pulled up and I saw your car, I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” TK whispered a quiet confession. “Then when I saw you, baby I thought you were dead. You were passed out and bleeding, and you were so pale. I was terrified. And when you woke up, it killed me all over again because you sounded so broken. I never want either of us to have to go through that pain ever again. So please, just take it easy. I don’t want you to hurt yourself even more. Don’t be stubborn, let me take care of you. If you don’t I’ll sic Andrea on you and she’ll be twenty times worse than me.”
“Using my mother against me twice in one day, I’m hurt,” Carlo said, hand to his chest feigning offense.
“You know I’d do it. Anything to keep you here and resting so you can heal.”
“I know you would,” Carlos pulled him down to press a kiss to his jaw. “Now what’s this I heard about a snack?”
TK jumped at the chance to be helpful, padding into the kitchen to rummage through their snack options.
“Sandwich sound okay?”
“Anything that doesn’t taste like cardboard sounds like heaven. Hospital food sucks.”
“Don’t I know it, baby,” TK chuckled, pulling out what he needed to make Carlos’s food. “After you eat I could help you shower. We can wrap your cast up in some plastic so it doesn’t get gross. I’ll even wash your hair and give you a scalp massage. I’ve never been more glad for our shower having that built-in bench,” he paused for a moment. “Okay never mind there are other times. But the sentiment still stands.”
“Even when I’m injured you’re insatiable,” Carlos laughed. “What are you gonna do for the next twelve weeks, you can barely make it twelve hours.”
“Don’t slut shame me,” TK pointed the butter knife he was using at his fiance, waving it around in a pseudo-threat. “It’s not my fault you’re stupid hot. Besides, sex is pretty much the last thing on my mind. But your dick isn’t broken, blow jobs are still on the table.”
“What happened to the last thing on your mind?”
“Shut up,” TK blushed. “So thoughts on the shower?”
“Sounds good babe,” he stifled a yawn into his hand. “Jesus, I haven’t done anything for two days, why am I tired?”
“Your bones are being made over from scratch, it’s bound to wear you out. After your shower, you should nap. You heal faster while you sleep.”
“Only if you nap with me,” Carlos put on his cow eyes, a surefire way to get TK to agree to almost anything.
“Put the eyes away,” TK said, handing Carlos the plate he was holding and using his free hand to cover his eyes. “You act like I was gonna say no.”
“Fair enough.”
TK managed not to hover while Carlos ate his snack, pretending to tidy the kitchen, even though it was immaculate. Apparently, he’d taken on Carlos’s habit of stress cleaning, and had cleaned every corner of the loft while Carlos was staying in the hospital and he couldn’t be there. Once he got to the point of scrubbing the baseboards, he’d had to call Judd to talk him out of his frenzy. Carlos practically inhaled his sandwich, not realizing how hungry he was. His appetite had been almost nonexistent during his hospital stay, but over the past few days had started to return to normal. Once the empty plate was loaded into the dishwasher, TK came over with a handful of garbage bags to prepare Carlos's leg for his shower.
The whole process of showering took the better part of an hour, wrapping his leg and making sure that it wouldn’t get wet was an ordeal, and while TK was strong, Carlos was slightly taller and heavier, so moving him alone wasn’t an easy feat. He had helped where he could but only having one leg and an impaired sense of balance made for slow going from the couch to their bathroom. He also couldn’t stand unassisted for more than a few seconds at a time, so TK had to take it slowly when helping him wash. By the time he was clean, dry, and dressed, he was ready for the nap TK had suggested.
He did his best to make himself comfortable in bed while TK cleaned up the mess they’d made of the bathroom and waited on his fiance to come to give him cuddles. They’d both been a bit more clingy since coming home, a side effect of another disaster affecting their lives. But Carlos would take any excuse to have TK holding him, or vice versa. TK emerged from the bathroom and crawled into bed, being mindful of his bed leg, and carefully draped himself across Carlos’s chest.
“You comfortable,” TK asked, rubbing his hand over Carlos’s chest and belly in a soothing gesture.
“As much as I can be.”
“I’m sorry babe. I know this sucks.”
“You make it a little better.”
“Good,” TK kissed his cheek softly. “Get some rest, you can have more pain medicine when you wake up if you need it.”
Carlos nodded and turned his head to tuck himself in the crook of TK’s neck. He breathed deeply, inhaling the familiar scent of his body wash and lotion.
“I love you. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“I love you more baby. Now rest.”
*****
As it turned out, healing a broken leg required a lot of rest. For the first six weeks of his recovery, he’d taken an hour nap, minimum, every day. It was a rule primarily enforced by TK, who swore that sleep would help him heal faster, even though Carlos hated it. He could have punched the smug look off his fiance’s face when the doctor informed him at his six-week check-up that he was healing faster than anticipated and could possibly cut down his recovery time to ten weeks. He had even scheduled an appointment to have the cast off the next week, followed by a rigorous physical therapy regimen for the next three after that.
Carlos didn’t think he’d ever been as happy as he was when the stupid cast was taken off. He could finally move and shower with minimal help from TK. His leg was still weak from the disuse, so TK was still required to be there in case something happened, but it was a step in the right direction. Getting it off had made him a little more confident, which annoyed the hell out of TK. He had technically been cleared to walk, only a small amount, as long as he still used his crutches and kept the brace on, but he would admit he was pushing it. He refused to let TK help him with anything, doing his best to manuever the loft as he had on two perfectly good legs. He knew he was being stubborn and that he was pushing his fiance’s buttons, but he was sick of being treated like he was helpless. Eventually, TK had grown tired of it and sent him to bed with an order to rest. He felt like a petulant child being sent to their room, but that didn’t stop him from promptly falling asleep, worn out from the exercise he wasn’t used to anymore.
When Carlos woke, their bedroom was bathed in rays of orange from the setting sun. Through the open door, he could see TK puttering around in the living room, humming along softly to whatever song he had playing in his headphones. Carlos relaxed into the bed, content to stay there and watch him. He looked so peaceful, dancing around the loft, oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. For the first time since Carlos got hurt, his brow wasn’t furrowed in concern. He was just the carefree, happy TK he’d grown so used to seeing.
When TK spotted him staring he smiled and pulled out one headphone, “Good morning sleeping beauty.”
“Morning,” Carlos responded, turning to sit up in bed and dangle his feet over the edge, but not getting up yet. He tried not to look too much at how much smaller his left leg was than his right, but he failed.
TK clocked it immediately and came into the room, perching beside him on the bed.
“You know you’re gonna get your strength back right babe? PT is already helping.”
“I know that,” Carlos grumbled. “But I’m sick of being useless. You’ve been so stressed out lately and I feel like it’s my fault. And me being stubborn isn’t making it better but I can’t stand to be helpless like this.”
“Carlos,” TK wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. “Baby I have been stressed but it’s not your fault. I’m just worried about you because I can tell you’re struggling. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but we made a promise, remember? I love you no matter what and that’s not going to change. You’re my fiance, and it’s going to take way more than you being a little stubborn to give up on this. I don’t know if there’s anything that could make me walk away from you again,” TK admitted. “And you are not helpless. You’ve bounced back faster than anyone I know. You are so damn strong Carlos. It amazes me.”
“I can barely walk and it’s been weeks.”
“Babe, you got hit straight on, your leg was pinned under the steering wheel. We knew this wasn't going to be easy. There’s no quick fix to an injury like that. It won’t happen overnight, but you’ll get your strength back. But pushing yourself too much will only make it worse and set you back. I don’t want to see you do that to yourself.”
“I know.”
TK hooked his chin over Carlos’s shoulder, snuggling close for comfort, “It’s gonna get better. I promise.”
“I believe you. Thank you for being here with me. I don’t think I could have done it without you TK.”
“You won’t ever have to,” TK took his hand, rubbing his thumb over the gold band on his ring finger.
*****
While recovery was slow and painful at times, having TK by his side made it better. Even when he had to go back to work, he took his lunch break during all of Carlos’s PT appointments so he could be there with him. He took the weird shifts that no one wanted to accommodate taking Carlos to appointments, even though Andrea had offered numerous times to help out.
On the day of his final check-up, where he would have his last round of x-rays and hopefully be cleared to get back to everyday life, TK took the entire day off to be with him.
“Babe, you didn’t have to take off,” Carlos said, even when he knew it was falling on deaf ears. “Mom offered to take me and you’ve missed enough work these past few months.”
“I appreciate you worrying about me but I promise it’s okay. Perks of my dad being Captain, he signed off on all my leave without batting an eye. He and Tommy know that taking care of you is what’s important to me right now.”
Carlos shook his head but ceased arguing, knowing it would do no good. He was secretly glad TK was with him. He loved his mom, but having TK by his side eased all of his anxiety. He had checked Carlos over earlier in the day and claimed that he was sure Carlos would be cleared today. He had teased him about being a paramedic, not a doctor, but TK’s confidence boosted his own.
Luckily for him, the x-rays were quick, most people were not willing to schedule them at nine am on a Wednesday, and the doctor was in and out quickly enough.
“What did I tell you?” TK boasted as they returned to the car, Carlos’s clean bill of health in hand.
“You were right babe.”
“Hey, I’m savoring this moment. It doesn’t happen often.”
“Get in the car,” Carlos snorted, pushing TK toward the passenger seat.
“Oh, you’re driving.”
“I’m cleared now. And I have to make sure you didn’t mess her up.”
“I took good care of your precious Camaro,” TK rolled his eyes.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
Truth be told, Carlos had missed driving. TK had gotten better in the years he’d lived in Austin, necessity was a quick teacher, but his lack of adherence to speed limits made Carlos jumpy.
“Everyone wants to celebrate your new leg. Game night at our place tomorrow?” TK looked up from typing on his phone to suggest.
“Sounds good.”
Carlos felt especially light, TK could have gotten him to agree to almost anything.
“Why not tonight?”
“Mateo suggested it, but I said no.”
Carlos raised an eyebrow at him, suspicious of TK’s willingness to turn down a night with his friends.
“I have my own plans for you,” TK answered.
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“Dirty plans?”
“Dirty plans,” he confirmed. “It’s been over two months. I’m lonely, my left hand does not do you justice.”
“Well, we wouldn't want that would we?”
“No. So don’t go getting hurt again. I have needs babe.”
“I’m sorry for being so inconsiderate,” Carlos rolled his eyes fondly. “I guess I’ll just leave being a danger magnet to you.”
“Good. Know your place, Carlos.”
“You’re a hot mess.”
“But I’m your hot mess,” TK leaned over to waggle his ring finger in front of Carlos’s nose. “And you’re stuck with me.”
“I wonder if your dad would take you back with a receipt.”
“Rude.”
Carlos snatched TK’s hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of it.
“You know I’m joking. There’s nowhere I’d want you other than by my side.”
“Good, because I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m counting on it.”