Work Text:
“Tell him to take good care of the girls -” TK heard Tommy say from the other side of the classroom. He knew the risks of his job, he knew that every time he left the loft there was a chance he wasn’t going to come home that day. But he was getting tired of constantly ending up in life-or-death situations. Especially now that he was married.
He reached into his pocket with slightly shaky hands as grabbed his phone, finding the contact “my husband” before pressing the dial.
Carlos was just getting off of work that evening when he saw his phone ringing. He picked it up and answered it immediately. Carlos smiled to hear TK's voice on the other end. "Hey, Babe," he said, sounding happy.
"Babe… don’t freak out, okay? Something happened but. it’s okay.” He said, his voice shaking slightly. Carlos's smile faded as he could hear the fear in TK's voice.
TK swallowed, "We were sent on a call for the train crash. And.. inside the train was chlorine gas. We're currently trapped." He said quietly.
Carlos's face paled when TK mentioned the toxic gas. "Trap–Babe, what do you mean you're trapped?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly. The panic in the pit of his stomach grew more intense.
"Tommy, Nancy and I.. we got stuck in some classroom to avoid the gas but it's trying to get under the door.. and it's not safe to evacuate." He said, running a hand through his hair.
Carlos felt his heart drop when he heard TK’s words, "Babe, you need to stay calm," he said firmly, trying to keep his panic in check. "You need to stay calm and think clearly. Do not open the door, no matter what. I'm leaving work right now, ok? Just stay calm. I'm coming."
"Baby no.. you can't come down here," TK said quickly. "The gas is everywhere and they're trying to figure out ways to control it but I don't need you getting involved in the mess."
"Cariño, you're trapped in a building full of toxic gas," Carlos said, his voice firm yet the worry was evident, as he ran a hand through his curls. "There's no way in hell I'm not coming. I can't let you go through this by yourself. I'm coming, TK, and that's final. No buts."
He ran a hand through his hair again in frustration. "I didn't call you to ask you to come down here. Tommy. I don't know she called her boyfriend and. I know you're probably tired of voicemails or phone calls whenever I get into this situation but.. just in case we don't make it out of there.." He trailed off.
Carlos's heart shattered even more as he heard TK's words. He swallowed back a wave of fear and pain. "Don't say that, TK," he said, his voice cracking. "You're coming out of there, you hear me? You're coming home to me. I won't accept any other outcome."
"Toxic gas.. all it takes is a little and I don't know how long rescue attempts will take." He said quietly, "There's a chance I might not."
Carlos felt like his heart was being squeezed at TK’s words, he gripped his phone tightly almost desperate to hold his feelings together.
Carlos's legs felt like lead as tears welled up in his eyes. He gripped the phone tightly, desperate to hold it together. "No," he said firmly, his voice shaking. "No, you're not talking like that. You're going to make it out of there, I'm going to come down there and make sure you get out, and we're gonna go home together. You're not allowed to talk like that, Mi Vida. You got that?"
"I'm sorry." TK said with a quiet sniffle, "I.. I should have made you stay earlier when you dropped the doughnuts off for a few more minutes.. or forced you to come home from work on Tuesday.. anything for a few more minutes together."
“Don’t, babe,” Carlos said quietly, he didn’t want to hear it. He could hear the ache in TK’s voice and it caused his own heart to ache, "There's nothing you should have done differently. No matter what happens, don't you dare blame yourself, ok? You listen to me. Just keep talking, ok? Keep talking to me. I want to hear your voice. Please."
TK swallowed the lump in his throat, "I don't know what to do." He said quietly. Perhaps he should have been embarrassed to have such a conversation in front of his team but he couldn't find it in to care.
"Yes you do," Carlos said firmly, trying to keep his voice steady. "You stay put and listen for the all-clear. That's what you do. You stay calm and think rationally, ok? I know that you can do this, ok? You're strong, Babe. You are so strong."
"And if the all-clear isn't coming! What if.. they can't find a way to contain the gas." TK said, his voice a bit more panicked than it had been. “I mean it’s chlorine gas, that’s.. that’s not good obviously.”n
Carlos swallowed back the fear and panic that was rising in his throat. "They will contain it. They have to. You're not going anywhere, TK. You're coming home to me, you hear me? You're coming home *alive*. You just have to hold on, ok? Just hold on."
TK swallowed, "Just.. listen to me, okay? If.. if I don't, there's a few things I need to tell you." He said quietly.
Carlos's heart tightened in his chest as he heard TK's words, he felt a sense of panic racing through him, “No.. no don’t do that.” He said quickly, “Don’t make it sound like you’re saying goodbye because you’re not. We're going home *together* after this. There's no 'if's'.”
TK let out a noise of frustration, he adored his husband but he'd also never met such a stubborn human. "Just.. I love you, alright? And I'm sorry I didn't make it home for our anniversary. And.. that you had to hear this over the phone." He said, knowing Carlos wouldn't let him finish his sentence otherwise.
Carlos's heart ached with every word TK said. He closed his eyes, willing himself not to break down. "No, cariño, stop," he said, his voice strained. "Don't apologize. I don't care about any of that. I just care about *you*."
TK leaned his head against the concrete blocks of the classroom. "I wish I was at home with you. Not stuck here." He said, closing his eyes for a moment.
Carlos's heart broke as he heard the tiredness in TK's voice. "I wish you were home too," he said quietly, his voice cracking. "You should be home. You should be in our bed snuggled up with me, not stuck in some classroom with toxic gas slowly trying to kill you."
TK tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He didn’t know what else to say, what words would be enough to emphasize all of his feelings in a single phone call when he didn’t even know how to always say it to Carlos’s face.
"That gas is going to get through the door," Tommy said from the ground next to him and Nancy, wincing when he realized Carlos could likely hear her.
Carlos clenched his jaw tightly, his heart filling with dread. He heard what Tommy said, and it sent waves of fear through him. He tried to sound calm as he spoke. "Cariño, what's happening over there?" he asked, even though he dreaded the answer.
"Uh.. nothing baby. Just Tommy talking to a firefighter on the outside." He lied, not wanting to worry Carlos. Even if the evidence was clear in his voice.
He didn’t believe it for a second, he knew his husband. “Don’t lie to me, mi amor,” Carlos said anything to try and calm down his husband.
TK sighed, "The gas.. the towels aren't working anymore. It'll slowly get under the door." He explained, "We're in the furthest corner though to buy us time."
Carlos felt his heart sink further. The thought of the gas slowly making its way into the classroom where TK was trapped was terrifying. "Cariño, listen to me. You have to keep talking to me. Don't stop talking, ok? I need to hear your voice. I need to know you're still there."
The two of them talked back and forth, "Tired.." TK mumbled as he eventually went quiet, Nancy and Tommy joining him quickly after. The gas had slowly been filling the classroom, even if it hadn't reached them, the gas was in the air.
Carlos's heart fell at TK’s quiet response. "TK? Babe?" he said urgently into the phone, his voice filled with worry. He heard no response and his heart began to pound in his chest. "TK, answer me. Babe, please, answer me!"
The call went quiet before it eventually disconnected, a few faint “beeps” echoing in Carlos’s ear as the call dropped, leaving Carlos disconnected from his husband.
Carlos felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest as the call disconnected. He immediately tried to call back, but the call rang without an answer. "Please, please, pick up," he muttered, his voice shaking. "Please, cariño, pick up.”
The professionals on the scene burst into the classroom, “They’re unconscious!” The EMT called to his team as they started working on the three other EMTs, getting them oxygen masks and loaded for transport. “Breathing is shallow but steady.” The EMT said as he did vitals, checking out the three of them.
They managed to get all three unconscious EMTs loaded into the ambulances, their vitals ready but relatively steady despite the gas.
It was a while later when Carlos received a call. He’d been pacing the living room of their loft almost uncontrollably, willing to do anything listening that his husband would be okay. He grabbed his phone right away, pressing the answer.
"Is this Carlos Reyes-Strand?" A voice asked from the other side of the line.
Carlos's heart skipped a beat as he heard the voice on the other end of the line. He swallowed a mixture of fear and hope in his chest. "Yes," he answered, his voice shaking. "This is Carlos."
The man cleared his throat, "I'm a doctor here at Austin Memorial. We have your husband, we were sent here after an accident on a call and you're his emergency contact."
"He's okay." The doctor reassured me. 'We did some tests to make sure and we gave him some oxygen from the gas but he's fine. We just don't recommend him driving home because of it."
Carlos let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him at the doctor's words. "Thank God," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Can I...can I talk to him?" he asked, his heart aching to hear TK's voice.
"Of course." The doctor said, as TK the phone. TK cleared his voice, putting the phone up to his ear.
"Hi babe." He said quietly, almost sheepishly from the other end, his voice a little hearse from the oxygen and exam.
Carlos's heart clenched when he heard TK's voice. "Babe," he said softly, his voice shaking. "Thank god you're ok. You scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry about that." TK said quietly, "I mean I can't deny I scared the hell out of myself as well but.. I'm okay. I promise." He apologized, he always felt bad when he scared his husband even if it wasn’t an accident.
Carlos let out a shaky breath, his heart still racing. "I swear to God, TK, don't do that to me again," he said, a mixture of relief and anger in his voice. "Promise me, right now. Promise me you won't ever scare me like that again."
"I mean I can promise but you married a danger magnet babe, there's honestly little chance I won't end up in some freak accident again." TK pointed out.
Carlos sighed, unable to deny TK's words. "I know, I know. But that doesn't mean I don't worry every damn time something like this happens," he said, his voice tinged with worry. "Just promise me you'll be careful, ok? Can you at least promise me that?"
TK nodded even if Carlos couldn't see, "I promise. But uh.. can you come pick me up? I kinda just want to go home with you, not be stuck here at the hospital." He asked hopefully.
The tone of TK's voice immediately melted Carlos's heart. "Of course, Cariño," he said, his tone filled with affection. "I'm on my way right now. I'll be there in a few minutes, ok?"
“Babe, please don’t speed,” TK said before Carlos could hang up. “I know you’re in a hurry to get here and I know you would speed but we don’t need you getting into an accident as well.” He said, “I’m okay, you speeding to the hospital won’t change anything.
Carlos sighed but relented, “Okay cariño, I’ll be careful. I love you.” He said as he grabbed his keys and wallet to head out.
“Love you, too,” TK said as they hung up the call. Despite being a danger magnet and an EMT meaning he spent a decent amount of time at the hospital, he still hated being there.
TK was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed when Carlos arrived. "Hey, baby." He said casually like he hadn't been involved with toxic gas, "Ready to go?"
Carlos's heart tugged at the sight of TK sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. He closed the small distance between them and pulled TK into a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of his neck. "Hey, babe," he mumbled, his voice filled with relief and worry. "And don’t 'hey baby' me. You scared the crap out of me."
He sagged in his husband's arms a bit, "I'm alright." TK said quietly, hugging him tightly, "The gas didn't get me today." He said, trying to make light of the situation.
Carlos held TK tightly, his arms wrapping around him protectively. He knew TK was trying to downplay the situation, but he couldn't help but fret. "I know you're alright, but that doesn't stop me from worrying," he said, his voice soft. "You scared the hell out of me, TK."
TK sighed, 'I know and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, I love you." He said, letting his nose go to the crook of Carlos's neck, just breathing in the comforting feeling.
Carlos's heart ached as he held TK in his arms. He ran a hand gently through TK's hair, his fingers carding through the soft strands. "I love you too," he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. "I just...I need you to be more careful, ok? I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
TK nodded, ignoring the lump in his throat. He'd been terrified with Nancy and Tommy, "I'll be more careful." He said quietly, hugging Carlos tightly.
Carlos held TK tightly, his heart aching with love and worry. He lifted his head slightly, tilting it to press a gentle kiss to TK's temple. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I'll hold you to that, you know that right?"
A quiet laugh escaped his lips as he nodded, "I know you will. You're determined to keep me out of danger." TK said his face still in the crook of his neck.
Carlos couldn't help but smile slightly at TK's words. He knew it was true, he would do anything to keep TK safe. "Damn right I am," he said with a hint of humour in his voice. "You're my husband. It's my job to keep you out of trouble."
"Well, luckily we're going home. What's the most danger I could get into in our loft." TK said as he laced his fingers with his husband.
Carlos huffed a small laugh at TK's words. "You, my love, are a magnet for danger. I wouldn't put it past you to find some way to get yourself into danger even when we're lounging on the couch."
TK pouted a bit at Carlos's words as they left the hospital. 'Hey now, that's just cruel. Most of the accidents weren't my fault."
Carlos chuckled at TK's pout, finding it adorable despite the situation. "Cariño, most of the accidents you've been in were because you put yourself in harm's way to save other people," he said, his voice tinged with affection and frustration. "It's one of the reasons I love you, but it also gives me a heart attack."
He stopped as they made their way towards the parking lot and Carlos's car, tugging Carlos's arm closer to him. "I am sorry for the record, I didn't mean to worry you." He said, pulling him in for a kiss.
Carlos's heart melted as TK pulled him closer and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around TK, holding him close as he returned the kiss. "I know you didn't mean to worry me," he said, his voice soft. "But that doesn't stop me from worrying about you. You're my everything, mi vida. I can't help it."
"We're all shift tomorrow because of the incident today, so I have the next two days to spend with you." TK said, "You'll just have to let me make up for scaring you." He said.
Carlos smiled at the thought of two days at home with TK. "You don't have to make anything up, babe," he said gently. "But I'm not going to say no to having you all to myself for two days."
TK hopped into the passenger side of the car as he left Carlos to drive them home. He knew his husband would be watching him like a hawk for the next two days, but he couldn't find it in his mind. He knew that was how Carlos showed his care for someone, by helping them. And he'd never say no to having all of his husband's attention.
Carlos kept stealing glances at TK on the drive home, his heart still a mixture of worry and relief. He reached over and laced his fingers with TK's, needing the physical connection to reassure himself.
When they arrived at their loft, he ushered TK inside, gently placing a hand on the small of his back. "You hungry?" he asked as they walked through their home.
TK shook his head, "Tired." He said, the events of the day catching up with him, "And want you to hold me." He grumbled.
Carlos's heart tugged at TK's words. He knew TK must be exhausted, both physically and emotionally, after what he had been through. "Of course, cariño," he said, his voice soft. "Let's get you to bed. You can take a nap, and then I'll hold you all night long."
It didn't take long for TK to be curled up in their bed, his head on Carlos's chest as he let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lull him off to sleep, feeling safe and content despite the earlier dangers. "Goodnight." He mumbled with his eyes closed.
Carlos wrapped his arms around TK, holding him close to his chest. He let his fingers run gently through TK's hair, his heartbeat calming as well. "Goodnight, my love," he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to TK's forehead. "Rest. I'll be right here when you wake up."
TK slept through the night, feeling safe and content in his husband's arms. A feeling not even the stress of the prior day could take away.