#911 ls 4x04

[reasonandfaithinharmony]

Carlos and TK, Season 4: parallel statements of love and devotion

911 Lone Star: Abandoned (4x04) | The New Hot Mess (4x02) | Swipe Left (4x12) | A House Divided (4x16) | In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

[rafaelsilvasource]

RAFAEL SILVA on the set of 911: LONE STAR 4X04 "Abandoned"

[fangirl-paba]

Ummm…Hello New BTS?? 😍😍

Wish I could hear what they are talking.

I’m assuming They be talking about how to make a scene better than it already is.

This is why Ronen and Rafa are the best.

Tarlos and how to make a scene look so good is their priority always. ❤️

[lonestardust]

can we just take a moment to appreciate this micro expression from ronen here, where you can see how TK's mind is reeling and his thoughts are spiraling in his head.. he wasn't fully present for a hot second.. and you can tell just from the rapid blinking and the eyebrow raise, the deep breath, the rapid change in expression.. ronen is so good when it comes down to those micro expressions, he does it with such nuance that conveys intricate details about certain emotions with just a single understated glance. i love watching him BEING tk, because he doesn't perform, he rather transforms and it's sublime!!

[firewasabeast]

Since you watch lone star too, you saw the whole kidnapping thing in ls 4x04. If 911 did something like that, how would it play out? Who would even get kidnapped? I mean, it's different that being held hostage like in ls 2x08 (in the empty restaurant) or 911 5x06 (in the ambulance itself).

4x04 is one of my favorite episodes and my most rewatched one! I just think Rafael is an incredible actor, and should lone star get cancelled I would fully support him moving to LA and Carlos teaming up with Athena to fight crime (TK can come too).

But getting to your actual question, my buck loving heart would love to see him be the one in peril. He suspects something after a call in a mostly abandoned neighborhood and goes back after work just to have a look around. Bobby’s gone back to a scene before, and that’s why buck feels like he could do it too.

Cue the drama. Cue the kidnapping.

He was supposed to meet tommy after work and he told him he’d be a little late but didn’t say he wasn’t coming at all so now tommy is worried. They’re not at the phase of having each other on find my friend or anything like that, and buck’s not answering so he calls maddie. She hasn’t heard from him but he doesn’t want to worry her so he ends up saying “oh, just got a text! traffic, of course!”

He picks up eddie, then he calls bobby, who tells athena, and the four of them go on the search of a lifetime looking for buck. They call Josh at dispatch and have him ping buck’s phone (and tell him to NOT tell maddie!!!). he does what he can, gets a last known location, but not an exact.

Maddie’s suspicious of course. she talks to chim who talks to hen who calls bobby and when bobby fills her in she tells him about the call at that creepy subdivision that buck wouldn’t stop talking about afterward.

All this while buck is going through it with the kidnappers.

Tommy is on edge. He’s snappy and scared and cuts through every piece of red tape that stands in Athena’s way. Doesn’t care if he can’t legally enter a house, Athena will have to arrest him to stop him. Goes into full interrogation mode with people who may have seen something. Bobby has to hold tommy back once, but eddie just takes over for him.

Athena, Bobby, Eddie, and Tommy find Buck just in time. At the hospital, bobby tells buck the way tommy reacted- that could only be love. The deepest, craziest, most heartfelt love. Bobby knows buck loves tommy too. He should tell him that. Life’s too short not to. The episode ends with tommy coming into the room. Bobby walks out but looks back at them through the observation window as tommy runs his fingers through bucks hair and gives him a kiss on the temple. We don’t hear the I love you’s, but we see buck say something that can only be “I love you” by the way tommy looks at him, then tommy smiles and we see him say it back. They kiss gently as tommy holds onto buck like he’s made of the most precious gold.

The end.

(Sorry wtf did this turn into my bad yall am I gonna have to write this now??)

[wandering-night19]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

I am sooooo late to this party, but I still wanted to answer. Thanks for thinking of me!

Words and Sounds (we're falling together) Teen Wolf

This is an older fic, but I really enjoyed writing it and I can still see the library that I described. There's some things I'd do differently now, but I still enjoy this one.

2. Every Little Thing 911 LS

This is the first fic I wrote in the LS fandom. It was just a fun little thing inspired by a tumblr post. Feelings snuck in at the end, but it was fun to write and hopefully fun to read. It was a good practice at learning the characters before I tackled something bigger.

3. Green Eyes, Blue Skies 911 LS

My latest fic and pure indulgence. I started writing this long before the end of season 4 and then we got those pictures of Rafa with his shaved head and it was everything I never knew I needed. It fit so perfectly in this. I learned a lot writing this and trying to create tension with switching POVs and flashbacks. I wanted it to read like an actual episode and hopefully I captured that.

4. Silence and Gloom 911 LS

I started this before 4x04 aired and wanted to explore Carlos suffering PTSD because I knew the show would never touch it. The scene of Carlos and TK on the couch is one that stuck with me and sparked the idea.

5. Reaching for the Sun 911 LS

I debated putting this on here, but I'm pretty proud of myself for even posting it. This was truly the first thing I ever wrote in the fandom (on my notes app when it wouldn't leave me alone), but super hesitant to finish it and post it. It was my first time ever writing anything explicit, but I wanted to explore TK's feelings of worth and his love of Carlos.

[existential-queeer]

I felt so wrong when I literally jumped around and started giggling when I saw the preview for the next episode.

Is Carlos being held hostage? Yes.

Is Carlos being hurt? Also yes.

Is this something to be rejoicing about? No.

BUT LISTEN HEAR ME OUT OKAY?!

It's always TK getting hurt. All the Tarlos whump comes from TK. We FINALLY get to see it reversed. It'll be TK losing his shit and worrying about CARLOS for once.

Do I want Carlos to be hurt? No.

But do I want the absolute GOLDEN Tarlos angst and whump that'll come from it? Absofuckinlutely

[aesthetictarlos]

4x04 - Abandoned

The parallels in this episode are everything.

TK sensing that something's wrong because Carlos didn't answer his texts/calls just like Carlos worried when his texts went unanswered.

TK going to Gabriel and Andrea's to make sure Carlos wasn't there and then asking for help just like Carlos went to Owen's.

TK and Gabriel investigating to find Carlos just like Carlos and Owen investigated to find TK.

TK finding Carlos and going straight to him while Gabriel points the gun at the criminal just like Carlos found TK and ran straight to him while Owen held up the gun.

TK saving Carlos' life with Narcan just like Owen saved TK'S in the pilot (and they injected the Narcan in the same leg like Ronen said!!)

TK holding his breath while waiting for the Narcan to take effect just like Carlos did when TK woke up from this coma until TK told him to breathe.

The ambulance scene. Gabriel asking TK if he's going with Carlos just like he asked Carlos the same thing when TK was hurt.

I'm sure I'm missing something else but I'm still processing the episode so here we go.

[cowboytarlos]

Let’s not think about how TK must have felt when the first thing Carlos did when resuscitated was to shout in a panic “get off me” because Carlos thought he was still in danger.

Let’s not.

[crownspeaksblog]

"Sometimes i feel all the love she had for him. She's sending it through me. Otherwise i don't know where all this love comes from."

[bluenet13]

Whisking Away Your Pain (a 9-1-1 Lone Star post 4x04 fic)

Carlos is struggling to come to terms with his trauma from captivity, avoiding the kitchen and losing his love for cooking and baking, but TK is there to help him heal, one home-cooked meal at a time.

AO3

It had been a few months since Carlos had been kidnapped by the serial killer who had taken Iris. TK and Gabriel had managed to rescue him, and his physical injuries had healed, but the experience had left its mark on him. In the immediate aftermath, Carlos was assaulted by nightmares, more often than not waking up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, his fight or flight response activated as he trashed against the sheets until his brain processed TK's arms around him and he was able to relax. During the day things weren't much better, as any sudden movement made him jump and he found it hard not to fear the worst after every case. All in all, given the experience, Carlos had seemed relatively normal, if a little shaken up.

But as the weeks went by, TK started to notice that some things were different now.

They had finished their shifts and were on their way home after Carlos picked TK up from the station. As they drove through the city, TK couldn't help but notice that Carlos seemed distant, lost in thought.

"Hey, you okay?" TK asked, breaking the silence.

Carlos shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm just tired."

TK didn't believe him, but he didn't want to push. They arrived home, and TK started to prepare some dinner. "Do you want to help me cook?" he wondered, but Carlos shook his head.

"I'm not really hungry," he said, settling himself on the couch with the book he always kept on the coffee table. "Maybe I'll order something later."

TK felt a pang of worry. Carlos had always loved cooking and seeing him avoid the kitchen was a sign that something was wrong. But maybe Carlos really was tired so he would give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

A few nights later, TK woke up in the middle of the night, and he realized that Carlos was gone. Turning around, he touched the sheets beside him, and they were still warm. His first thought was that Carlos had gone to the kitchen to bake something, as he often did when a case left him anxious, or life was too stressful. He began getting out of bed, reaching for his discarded hoodie from last night so he could go accompany him, but then he heard the front door open and close, quietly but not enough, and knew that Carlos had gone out for another run instead. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, and turned to the clock on the bedside table. He got a sinking feeling when it read '4:04'. This was the third time this week he woke up to Carlos leaving the apartment or coming in sweaty and disheveled after a run.

TK didn't sleep much for the next hour that Carlos was gone. He tossed and turned in the bed, wishing there was something he could do to help, only managing to fall back asleep at around 5:30 after Carlos had returned and gotten a shower, before grabbing his keys and going out again. Even then he only slept for an additional half hour, finally getting out of bed with a tired grunt, showering and heading into work himself.

That night, TK decided to talk to Carlos about what was going on. He was all for giving him space and letting him work through problems on his own, but the day he had asked Carlos to marry him he had known they would become one after that, which included the fun times, but also the individual struggles and whatever else life threw at them.

"Carlos, can we talk?" He asked softly, coming to stand behind him. He lifted on his toes and set his chin on his shoulder, sighing when he saw Carlos perusing a takeout menu.

"Hmm," Carlos hummed in acknowledgement and tipped his head to his side, looking at TK out of the corner of his eye.

"You haven't been cooking as much as you used to," he said, rushing to add when he felt Carlos tense in his arms. "I'm all for takeout every once in a while, but I miss your cooking, baby."

Carlos still looked at him apprehensively, but he nodded with a smile that managed to look mostly real even if it didn't reach his eyes. "Sorry, things have been busy at work. I've been too tired to cook afterwards."

TK wished he could believe him, but he knew Carlos better than that. He usually loved cooking and baking as ways to relieve stress. It also kept them happy and fed, a welcomed plus in the 'Reyes family manual'. But lately he'd been avoiding the kitchen and it was all kinds of wrong.

"You've also been going for runs in the middle of the night. Are you okay?" TK pressed tentatively and rubbed his arm in an attempt to get him to open up.

Carlos hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm fine." He paused, and TK waited expectantly hoping he would decide to be honest instead, but Carlos put up his best cheerful facade and asked enthusiastically, "So, do you want pizza or burgers?"

"A burger is fine," TK said dejectedly. Carlos might think his words were convincing, but TK knew him better than he knew himself and he was sure he was lying. Still, he didn't want to push too hard and have him close off completely, so he let it go for now and decided to watch Carlos more closely from now on, hoping he could figure out what was really going on.

A few weeks later, TK came home from the gym to find Carlos sitting in their living room, staring blankly at the wall. He had baked some cookies earlier, and the sweet smell still filled the room.

"Hey, I made cookies," TK said, a soft and proud smile gracing his lips. "Did you try one?" He held out the plate with one hand and took a bite of a cookie with the other.

Carlos recoiled, his eyes wide with what could only be described as fear. "No," he said, his voice shaking. "No, I didn't."

TK frowned and put down the plate. He sat on the couch next to Carlos and turned to face him, grabbing his hands. "What's going on, babe?" he asked. "It's just a cookie?" He knew it was about more than that, but he needed Carlos to want to contradict him.

Carlos sighed and looked up at TK with tears in his eyes. "It's not that I don't want to. I can't." His voice cracked at the end and TK's heart broke alongside it.

"Okay, that's okay," he soothed, his thumb brushing back and forth over Carlos' hand. "Why?"

Carlos rested his head on TK's chest, whispering against his shirt as he explained, "It's the kitchen. I was held in the kitchen all day. And she baked cookies. She made me try one."

TK's heart sank as he understood what Carlos was saying. He had known Carlos was held in the house, but he had found him in the living room, and he had never mentioned the kitchen until now. He had wanted to read the full report of what happened, but Gabriel had kept it from him, promising it was for the best. Now he wished he had pushed harder.

"Why didn't you say something before?" he asked, moving his arms to Carlos' back pushing their bodies incredibly closer.

"Because I feel stupid," Carlos mumbled, laughing self-deprecatingly. "I'm a cop, I've seen worse. I shouldn't be traumatized by an old lady baking cookies."

"Carlos, look at me," TK pleaded. He pulled away and cupped Carlos's face. "You didn't see this happen, you lived through it. This is something that happened to you, not a case you worked. And you've every right to react to it any way your brain decides to. It's not stupid and it doesn't make you weak."

Carlos nodded, but TK could still see fear and shame mixed in his eyes. "I can't even smell cookies without feeling sick," Carlos admitted. "I can't cook, I can barely set foot in the kitchen for longer than a few minutes. Every time it's like I'm trapped there again."

TK put his arm around Carlos, holding him close. "It's okay. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for. We can keep ordering takeout and I can take the cookies to the station tomorrow when I go on shift. I'm sorry I baked them, I didn't know."

"No, no, TK. This isn't your fault. None of this is your fault," Carlos said, needing him to understand that.

TK opened his mouth to protest, but Carlos pushed up and silenced him with a kiss. "I'm alive because of you. You realized I was missing. You got my dad and APD involved. You made the connection to the pharmacy. Hell, you brought me back, TK."

"But I didn't realize any of that soon enough," TK whispered against his lips.

"I didn't make it easy on you. But you still got there in time and saved me." Carlos wasn't sure of many things right now, but he was sure he had brought it all on himself when he decided to lie to his fiancé and go investigate on his own. But luckily, he had chosen to give his heart to a man that always noticed the things he tried to keep hidden from the world. And it had been that connection and that loyalty that saved him. He had told TK those exact same words many times since he was released from the hospital, and he knew he would continue to repeat them every time self-doubt crept up on him.

TK nodded, pulling Carlos into a tender kiss before guiding him to sit between his legs and rest his head on his shoulder.

Carlos leaned into TK's embrace, his body silently shaking with sobs. He wanted to speak, say something to thank him, but the love and gratitude he felt for his fiancé and his gentle understanding overwhelmed him. All he could do was hold onto TK, and let his strength carry them both through the pain.

"It's okay. Let it out. We'll get through this," TK promised, a hint of sadness in his voice.

TK continued to hold Carlos until his tears ran out and his breath evened out. And that night there were no nightmares or midnight runs as Carlos found peace in the simple knowledge that he was loved deeply by the man next to him and that TK was loved as fiercely in return.

-x-x-x

A few days had passed since Carlos had opened up to him. TK had been keeping an eye on him, but otherwise, hadn't brought up the subject again. He knew from experience sometimes all you needed was time, and to know that you had someone willing to catch you when you fell.

One Friday night, TK was sitting on the couch, checking his phone, when Carlos came in from the grocery store with bags full of ingredients. TK looked up hopefully, curious and thrilled by the sight.

"What's all this for?" He asked, grabbing some of the bags and helping Carlos set everything on the counter.

Carlos looked up, a faint smile on his face. "I thought we could make my mom's chilaquiles," he proposed. "It's been a while since I cooked, and I think it would be nice to try."

TK could see the hesitation in Carlos' eyes, but there was also so much determination behind his brown gaze. He had always known Carlos was one of the strongest people he knew but seeing him work through his trauma like this caused a surge of pride deep in his chest.

"Sure, I'd love to help," he said, nodding enthusiastically, but also trying not to make a big deal of it. He was surprised but didn't want to question what felt like a gift. "What do you need me to do?"

Carlos' smile deepened, more at ease now, and he began walking TK through the instructions he remembered by heart. They chopped veggies, grated cheese, and boiled chicken, working side by side in the small kitchen, their shoulders brushing every once in a while, and their hands tangling momentarily, as they felt more normal than any other time in the last few months.

TK could see the tension in Carlos' shoulder start to ease as they worked. As TK's warmth and presence anchored him, his movements became more confident, his hands working deftly as he cut vegetables, shredded the kitchen and prepared the homemade sauce.

They finished preparing the chilaquiles in comfortable silence, the air thick with the aroma of spices and roasting peppers, but no longer heavy with unspoken words and hidden traumas.

When the dish was ready, they served it up and sat down to eat. TK's first bite felt like a revelation, not because he was surprised at the explosion of flavors, but because this dish was the physical representation of Carlos' fight against the demons of his abduction and the proof that he was healing and coming out the other side victorious.

Carlos savored the chilaquiles, and his eyes misted, a faint, grateful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. It was a small but genuine expression, and TK felt the pieces of their life begin to slide back into place. "Thanks for doing this with me," Carlos whispered between bites, rubbing TK's thigh with his socked foot under the table.

"Of course," TK replied simply. He knew that this statement applied to this moment and every other moment in their lives. He would gladly do anything for Carlos, even if it meant walking into the depths of hell to find him sooner and reduce his trauma even a little bit. "I'm proud of you for trying to cook again. And I'm glad we could do this together," he added, feeling his affection for the man sitting in front of him grow with each moment they spent together.

As they finished their meal, Carlos and TK basked in the peaceful stillness that had settled over the kitchen. Their minds and bodies connected by the intertwined fingers resting on the table and the unspoken acknowledgement of what this dinner meant to them and their recovery.

"Maybe next Friday we can try my mom's Hamantaschen Cookies?" TK tentatively suggested, as they carried the dishes to the sink.

"I'd like that," Carlos said softly. He wished he could express how much the offer meant to him, but that part of his captivity was still too raw to share. For now, he settled on TK knowing how much he's loved. "Want to watch a movie?" He tugged at TK's hand, leading him to the couch for a cozy evening together.

"Not washing dishes? Andrea would be appalled." TK teased, but Carlos kissed the grin right off his face.

"Cleaning can wait till tomorrow," Carlos said, his eyes soft and vulnerable. "Let's enjoy the moment. Tonight, I just want to be close to you."

TK's heart swelled with affection for Carlos, and he wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. They watched the movie in companionable silence, enjoying the simple pleasure of feeling safe and being close to the one they loved.

[rafaelsilvasource]

RAFAEL SILVA on the set of 911: LONE STAR Season 4

[kelseyafterdark]

It’s always “I love you” and never “Babe you saved your own life. I was just holding onto it for a little while”😭😭😭

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

missing

sooo hi! I haven’t posted any of my writing on tumblr in a long time lol, but I thought about it and I figured, eh, I might as well for this one :). And since I haven’t done this in so long, mas, I’m kind of stealing your format a bit. Sorry about that :p. Anyway, this is actually my first lone star fic! That I’ve posted, that is. I have another one I’ve been working on for a while (it’s not extremely long but motivation and inspiration are fickle things), which I will hopefully post soon :). But when there wasn’t a fic about this the day after the episode (I lasted a night of resisting the idea lol), this possessed me xd. This takes place the morning after 4x03. I hope you enjoy :D!!

trigger warnings: talk of kidnapping

~

TK woke with a start and a flash of anxiety, both of which were caused by his phone ringing. Ever since his mom, he always felt like he was going to get bad news. It was getting better, and then everything with Iris’s disappearance had spiked it again. But this was fine. Iris was back, so that was over. The anxiety started to recede, still humming in the background, but TK ignored it as he fumbled to grab his phone. He squinted automatically at its light, and he tried to see who was calling, but his eyes hadn’t adjusted after a few seconds so he just answered it.

“Hello?” he answered groggily.

“TK Strand?”

He sat up slightly.

“Uh- Yeah,” he responded. “Who is this?”

“Police Sergeant Sykes-” TK’s heart jumped into his throat, and he forcibly swallowed it back down. “I’m Officer Reyes’s boss. And you’re his fiancé, correct?”

“Oh, yeah, we- Yeah, we met once,” TK recalled vaguely. It had been a brief interaction when he was picking Carlos up from a shift. “Sorry, what do you need?”

“It’s fine,” Sergeant Sykes responded. “I apologize for calling you so early.”

TK glanced at the alarm clock next to him - 5:57.

“I had to be up soon anyway,” he said wearily.

“Oh, that’s convenient,” the Sergeant responded. He wasted no more before continuing. “Well, I was calling you because Officer Reyes didn’t show up for his shift at 5.”

Breathe. Just- Sykes was talking.

“Sorry, what was that?” TK interrupted.

“I was asking if Officer Reyes is at home,” Sykes repeated.

“No,” TK said. “He-” and then finally he woke up enough to remember. Relief and comprehension flooded through him. “He’s staying at the hospital with Iris Blake tonight.”

“Ah, I see,” Sykes said. “He must have overslept or got involved with something there. I’ll call them. Thank you, Mr. Strand.”

“Yeah, of course,” he responded, and the other man hung up. TK rubbed his face and glanced at his phone. No important notifications. No calls or texts from Carlos. And it was 5:59, so with a sigh he got up and started getting ready for work. His shift started at 7:00, so he didn’t have a lot of time to lounge around.

TK went into the bathroom and splashed some water on his face, trying to wake himself up a bit more. It didn’t really help. He dried his face and then quickly brushed his teeth, trying not to think about how it felt different with Carlos not coming home than when he left before TK. He thought about work instead, wondering what kind of day it would be.

Honestly, he wouldn’t mind a busy day, he thought as he went back into the bedroom and started looking for clothes.

His phone rang.

It’s fine, it’s nothing, just answer.

TK hurriedly picked up his phone from where he dropped it on the bed and answered it. He shoved the shirt he’d been holding under his other arm as he said: “Hello?”

“Sorry to call again so soon, Mr. Strand.”

It’s fine, just breathe. Maybe Carlos’s phone died and needs his charger.

“Sergeant,” he said, surprised. “What do you need?”

“You said Officer Reyes went to stay with Iris Blake overnight, yes?”

TK swallowed, staring at the wall but seeing nothing. “Yeah. Were you able to contact him?” Maybe the sergeant needed him to call Carlos himself, or remind him which room Iris was in.

There was silence for a few seconds.

Just breathe, don’t overreact. Everything is-

“Carlos Reyes is not at the hospital. We have no idea where he is.”

TK’s blood ran cold. His heart was beating in his ears - it’s fine he’s fine everything’s fine - and there was some squeaking sound in the back of his mind. Carlos must’ve left already. He must’ve- what was that noise?

TK glanced down and realized the noise was coming from his phone, which was currently sitting on the floor. He scrambled to pick it up.

“-you there?”

“Yeah, sorry,” TK forced out. “I- what were you saying?”

“Is there anywhere else he could be?” repeated the Sergeant.

TK closed his eyes, trying to focus. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

“Uh- yeah. There’s places he could be, but they’re not- I don’t know why he’d be there,” he answered.

“Such as?” Sykes asked.

“His parents’, the 126 firehouse, or just driving, like, to nowhere.” He racked his mind for Carlos’s hiding places, but he was still trying to figure out why he would be at any of them.

“I was about to call his father and ask if he knew where Officer Reyes is,” Sykes said.

“Okay,” TK said tightly. “But I can’t think of any reason he would be there. He- he said he was going to the hospital.”

“Is there any reason he wouldn’t want to come home?” questioned Sykes.

The lump in TK’s throat was growing fast.

“Mr. Strand?”

“Yeah,” he answered past the lump. “I- I went to talk to Iris, before her. . . disappearance. And, he thought- that it could’ve been my fault.”

“So he was angry with you?”

TK swallowed thickly. “Yeah.”

“Then it makes sense that he didn’t tell you where he was going,” Sykes said.

“No,” TK countered immediately. “He would’ve told me.”

Sykes didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then: “Tell me exactly what he said to you.”

“He- He called me, last night. Around 8:30, I think? Maybe 9:00. PM,” he added, just to be sure. TK took a deep breath. “I said I was getting worried, and I asked how Iris was. He- he said not great, and that I shouldn’t wait up, because he was going to stay there. So, I said that- it made sense, you know, that she shouldn’t be alone, and- and I said I loved him and he said it back.”

“He didn’t seem particularly angry with you last night?”

“No, just- quiet.”

“He’s most likely just spending time alone, and lost track of time,” Sykes said calmingly. TK would be annoyed at being treated carefully if he had any mental space for anything else.

“He’s been through a lot in the past few days,” the Sergeant continued.

“Carlos doesn’t lose track of time,” TK said, trying to keep the bite out of his voice. “And he wouldn’t skip his shift.”

The other end of the line was quiet for a few seconds.

“Sergeant-” TK started.

“I’m having someone call Gabriel Reyes now,” Sykes interrupted.

“Tell me what he says.”

“I will,” Sykes promised.

There was silence for a few moments - it felt like hours, but TK was sure it couldn’t have been longer than 30 seconds. He felt like pacing, but was rooted to the spot, barely breathing. TK could almost make out voices in the background of the other call, but he had no idea what they were saying. Then, nothing.

He waited a few seconds.

“Sergeant?”

“Gabriel Reyes has received no communication at all from his son.”

Breathe. That means he must be driving somewhere, blowing off steam.

“Okay,” he said, trying to ignore the tension in Sykes’s voice. “So- he’s driving, out somewhere.”

“Thank you,” Sergeant Sykes said, voice slightly fainter. What was he- right, talking to someone else.

“What?” TK asked, trying to keep his voice level. “Does someone know where he is?”

A sigh. “Cell tower report. Officer Reyes’s cell phone last pinged last night at 8:49 PM. His call to you,” the sergeant added.

It’s fine. It’s fine. He’s fine.

“So his phone died? That’s why we haven’t heard from him?” TK asked hopefully. Finally, there was an explanation beyond Carlos just forgetting.

“Carlos Reyes is missing.”

TK’s heart stopped. Everything slowed. It felt like plunging into the lake: muffled, freezing, and terrifying. The information wasn’t processing. It couldn’t, because this couldn’t be happening. Because Carlos had called him barely a day ago to tell him the exact same thing, but they had found her and she was fine-

“I’m sorry, TK.”

His senses came rushing back to him. It was like Sykes snapped him out of a trance. TK took a deep, shuddering breath.

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry,” TK said hollowly. “Find him.”

He was already moving, rushing to grab the rest of his clothes.

“Mr. Strand, we’re going to do everything we can-”

“I know that,” TK interrupted forcefully. “And you want me to come in and answer some questions, right?”

“. . . Yes, but-”

“Tell Gabriel I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Mr. Strand- TK, Gabriel Reyes isn’t here,” Sykes said, the sympathy - more like pity - in his voice mixed with confusion.

“He will be,” TK said firmly. “And like I said, I will be too. So tell him.”

Sykes sighed. “I will,” he replied, sounding a bit defeated.

TK was about to hang up, but he hesitated. Stared at nothing. Heard his heart pounding now that the silence wasn’t filled with his voice.

“Thank you,” he said shakily. “For telling me.”

“Of course, TK,” the Sergeant said after a few seconds. “We’re going to find him.”

“I know,” TK said. He didn’t.

He hung up.

TK took another breath, and then dropped his phone onto the bed. He felt the anger rising back up. He needed to move, and he did. He jumped right back into his search for clothes. TK searched near frantically for his shoes (or any shoes really) as he switched his pajama shirt out for an actual shirt. By the time he changed all of his clothes, he finally found them.

TK rushed into the living room. He grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter and-

His phone. He ran back into the bedroom, snatched it off the bed, and was out of the door within seconds.

After an agonizing 40 seconds (time really was fond of making seconds feel like hours that morning), TK finally made it to the car. He unlocked it, threw open the door, and slid in. He knew the way to the police station by heart. Take a left on-

The door shut. The silence was back. TK hated this silence. Silence that should be just the lack of noise but was so, so much more. Silence that was anger and sadness and death-

TK let out a strangled sob. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath until it all rushed out. He could feel the tears in his eyes, feel one start to track its way down his face. The silence took away the anger for just a moment, and all he wanted to do was scream, or cry. But he didn’t have time for either.

TK closed his eyes, taking a shuddering breath. And then a few more, slightly steadier ones. Carlos needed him. TK couldn’t just sit in the car, because Carlos was going to be fine but they needed to find him first. His fiancé was missing, and he needed to help.

TK opened his eyes and put the key in the ignition.

[wikiangela]

there's like, not a lot of 911 emergencies this season so far 😂 like, is it even a procedural show about first responders anymore, or just a drama about people that happen to be first responders 😂 like, I'm still enjoying it, but come on 😂 at least with emergencies we're getting more of the 126 than just one scene an episode 🙄🙄🙄 (and I get that this episode was all about Carlos being kidnapped, but since the beginning of the season we had barely any cases fr - the most in eps 1 with like 2 emergencies, I think? lol, idk, the next two episodes weren't that memorable bc I don't remember much about them haha)