#73K and tk has just met Carlos' parents at the farmer's market

[iboatedhere]

My take on what 2.3 should have been....

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“I miss you.”

TK leans back on the uncomfortable cot and looks up at the dreary ceiling of the tent as he listens to Carlos tell him that he misses him too.

They’ve been fighting this fire just outside of San Angelo for nearly three weeks now. It’s the longest he and Carlos have been apart in both time and distance since they met and phone calls have been few and far between.

It’s been miserable, honestly. He’s tired and he doesn’t think he’ll ever get the smell of smoke or the layers of dirt and soot off his body and hair no matter how many times he showers.

Still, he knows he’s one of the lucky ones. There are crews here from all over Texas, surrounding states, and even a handful from Mexico who will have a more than a three and a half hour ride back home when this is all over.

“So…” TK says, “what are you wearing?”

Carlos laughs. “You sure you should ask me that?”

“Probably not,” TK says. Privacy is impossible to come by and right now there are at least fifteen other firefighters in the tent with him right now.

“I mean, I’ll tell you,” Carlos continues, “it wouldn’t take me very long to answer.”

“Fuck,” TK says softly and Carlos laughs again. “You’re gonna get me in so much trouble. I’d get up and find somewhere private but I don’t think I have the energy.”

“Is it rough out there,” Carlos asks, “are you staying safe…being careful?”

“As careful as I can be,” TK promises. “Honestly, it’s kind of boring. We do the same thing for hours and hours but it never feels like we make any progress. It’s supposed to rain at the end of the week and they told us not to count on it but I am. I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“You’re doing a good thing by being there. I’m sure everyone in that town appreciates it.”

“I know,” TK says with a sigh. “What have you been doing? Keep it PG, please, for my sake.”

“Working, mostly,” Carlos says. “I went to my Tia Lucy’s on Sunday and last week I got a call from Grace Ryder. She invited me to dinner and I got a lot of stories about Judd so if he’s ever giving you a hard time…”

“I know who to come to,” TK says with a smile.

“Exactly. I also saw your mom.”

“So you’ve got stories on me too, then?”

“So many,” Carlos says. TK can hear the smile in his voice. “We went out to lunch, it was nice. She said she hadn’t been feeling well for a few days and blamed it on the sushi she ate.”

“That makes sense.”

“Texas is not a landlocked state, I don’t know why you’re all afraid to eat fish.”

“We are miles from the ocean, babe,” TK says with a laugh. “She was feeling better though?”

“Apparently. She finished her meal and dessert with no problem. It was impressive.”

“That’s my mom,” TK says quietly. “How was Tim’s service?”

“It was nice,” Carlos tells him.

“How was Nancy?”

Carlos takes a deep breath and the guilt that TK’s been feeling about not being there grows.

“She was as expected,” Carlos answers delicately. “Michelle was there so I think that helped.”

“I feel awful that we weren’t there for her.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m sure she knows that you’d be there if you could. It’s not like you started the wildfire. Things happen.”

“It’s nice that you went.”

“I liked Tim, he was a good guy. Weird, but good.”

TK sighs and drags a hand down his face. “Have I told you that I missed you yet?”

“Once or twice.”

“How about that I love you?”

“I could always hear that again.”

“Oh, Carlos…I love you so much.”

TK lifts his head and sees Judd standing at the foot of his cot making kissing noises and batting his eyes.

“You’re so cute and I miss you so much,” Judd continues, southern drawl flattened out and rolling into something that could be considered an East coast accent. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

“Hey,” TK snaps, “you better be nice to me, Carlos had dinner with Grace.”

Judd’s face falls and TK nods.

“That’s right. That means he knows stuff which means I’m gonna know stuff.”

Judd clears his throat and squares his shoulders. “There ain’t nothing to know,” he says but his eyes dart around the tent nervously. “Anyways, you gotta hang up, Cap wants to see all of us.”

“Give me a minute.”

“Nah,” Judd says as he tugs on TK’s boots, “Cap said--.”

“Okay,” TK huffs as he sits up. “I’ll be right there.”

Judd saunters off and TK lifts the phone back to his ear.

“Babe--.”

“You have to go?”

TK sighs. “I miss you and I love you and I’ll see you soon, okay? Pray for rain.”

“I will and I love you, too.”

The rain comes in on Wednesday.

It comes down in buckets for an hour before it tapers off into a steady drizzle. The tents leak and the blowing wind reveals how drafty they are but TK’s sure he speaks for everyone when he says he’s never been happier to be cold and wet.

They crowd into one of the nicer tents that the higher ups are staying in and get the news they’ve all been waiting for. A few houses will be asked to stay behind, just in case there are any more flare ups but the majority can go home.

“We’ll head out in the morning,” Owen tells them when they break away from the larger group.

“Why not now,” TK asks and his father laughs.

“Because it’s almost midnight, everyone is exhausted and we have a three and a half hour ride back to Austin. Plus there’s still work to do. Maybe the fire is out but all this--.” He gestures to their basecamp. “This all has to get broken down. We can’t just leave in the middle of the night.” He puts his hand on TK’s shoulder. “I know you’re anxious to get home but you’re not the only one who has someone waiting. Be glad that the fire is out and that I didn’t volunteer to stay longer. Now get some sleep. We’ve got work to do in the morning.”

It’s still raining at dawn and TK skips breakfast so he can get a jump on packing up the truck and breaking down the camp.

It’s annoying, that everyone doesn’t seem to be in as big a rush as he is, and by the time they’re ready to leave, he’s managed to piss off most of the crew.

“Hey Cap,” Judd asks through the radio, “any chance we can drop your son directly off at Reyes’? It’s gettin’ a little cramped back here with his big attitude.”

“I would love that,” TK tells him, “but Carlos is working which is something he wouldn’t have been doing if we left last night.”

“You want to go straight to Carlos’,” Owen asks, “I figured my son would like to spend some time with his father now that they’re both out of danger and his mother that he hasn’t seen in weeks.”

“You son wants to get laid,” TK deadpans but at least it gets the rest of the crew laughing.

Buttercup is there to greet them when they pull into the firehouse and TK’s bad mood lifts just slightly as the dog runs straight for him.

“Hey, Buddy,” TK says as he kneels down to sink his fingers into Buttercup’s fur. “Did you miss me?”

“Your mom asked me to drop him off.” TK’s head snaps up at the sound of Carlos’ voice and it takes about half a second for TK to spring to his feet, cross the room, and throw himself into Carlos’ arms.

There’s half-hearted applause from the guys, who are both too tired and still too annoyed to really care.

“You’re here,” TK says before he pulls back and looks down at Carlos’ uniform. “But you’re working.”

“I took a little detour and I’m definitely on borrowed time right now but I wanted to see you.” Carlos pushes TK’s hair off his forehead then slides his hand down so it’s cupping his cheek. “Hi,” he says softly, “I missed you.”

“What time do you get off?”

“Seven.”

TK hums and smoothes his hands down the front of Carlos’ uniform. “I’m going to take an hour-long shower,” he says as he fiddles with Carlos’ nameplate, “then I’m going to take a nap and then I’m going to go to your place and wait for you. I would suggest eating before you get home because you’ll need your energy and we are not stopping for snacks for a long time.”

Carlos presses his lips together as he nods. “What if I wanted to work some overtime?”

TK unbuttons the top button of Carlos’ uniform. The backs of his hands brushing against his throat making his breath hitch. “I can’t tell you what to do but good luck concentrating at work while I’m in your bed and---.” He leans in, ready to whisper absolutely filthy things into Carlos’ ear when his father clears his throat behind them.

“You are still at work, TK,” he says before he nods to a flushed Carlos. “Officer Reyes, it’s good to see you.”

“Captain Strand,” Carlos answers, somehow managing to sound professional even with TK hanging off of him. “I’m glad you all made it back safely.”

“And yet none of us got this kind of greeting,” Paul says, clapping Carlos on the shoulder as he walks by.

“I don’t share,” TK calls after him. He takes a step back as Carlos’ radio chirps to life and Carlos gives him an apologetic look. “Go,” TK says, “thanks for being here.”

“I had to see you,” Carlos says. “I guess I’m gonna be seeing a lot more of you later on.”

TK laughs and leans in for a quick, work appropriate kiss. “You have no idea.”