#an era slowly passing away 😔

[detective-giggles]

All the Things We Tried to Forget

A double fill for @badthingshappenbingo “please don’t leave me” and @911bingo “You have to let me go. I need you to do that for me.” It’s been done for a while and I procrastinated a little on posting but I have to get it up since the 911 bingo master list is due tomorrow! This is the only break-up era reference I think I will ever make. Otherwise, it just didn’t happen. 🙃

Warnings: Tarlos is involved in a car accident, RIP Camaro 😔. Also- probably none of the rescue/medical is accurate- I got my medical degree from watching ER! 😅

@noxsoulmate, thank you for the beta!

💜💜💜💜

“Thank you, Carlos. Tonight was perfect.” TK tips his head back, resting it on the headrest, and turns towards Carlos, a sleepy smile on his face.

TK had been out of the hospital for three weeks and things have been good. He hadn’t been cleared for work yet, and Carlos knew he was going stir-crazy, even with the members of the 126 constantly dropping by to keep him company. He had finally been cleared for some activity, so they had just had their first official date night out, dinner and just a little dancing. He knows TK still tires easily and suggested they head home and continue their date night with the newest release on Netflix.

Carlos stops at a red light and reaches his hand out, grabbing TK’s and intertwining their fingers. He brings TK’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of it gently as the light turns green and he accelerates into the intersection.

Carlos barely has time to register the headlights coming at him before he hears the unmistakable crunch of metal as the Camaro crumples and pain explodes in his temple and then… nothing.

***

Carlos lets out a pained groan as he slowly opens his eyes.

“Carlos? Baby, don’t move. I’ve already called 911. The guys are just a few minutes away; they’ll get us out.”

“Huh? The guys?” Carlos repeats dumbly. He shifts, gasping at the pain in his head and radiating through his neck and shoulder. It hurts to breathe and he tries not to panic. Immediately, he feels TK’s hands firmly but gently cradling his head, trying to keep him still.

“Don’t. Move,” TK repeats. “Can you tell me what hurts?”

“Head…” Carlos murmurs as his eyes slip shut. He vaguely wonders when and how TK managed to crawl over the console and into the backseat but knows it’s not important right now.

“I can hear the sirens, babe. Just a bit longer. Stay with me.”

“Are you-”

“I’m fine,” TK assures him. “Just relax. Stay calm for me.”

Carlos isn’t quite sure if he believes TK but he’s too tired and in too much pain to argue. He’s certain TK has blood on his hands and he’s not sure whose it is but he’s afraid to ask so he keeps his mouth shut. He thinks he can hear the sirens too, or maybe that’s just the ringing in his ears from his head hitting the window.

“What about the other driver?”

“Don’t worry about that right now, okay?”

Carlos tries to nod, but TK is still holding his head steady.

“What, um, what happens now?”

TK sighs. “I’m pretty sure the Camaro’s totaled. And they’re going to have to cut the top off so they can get you out and onto a backboard.”

Carlos groans again. The lights of the fire engine illuminate the street as it draws closer but the flashing makes Carlos’ headache worse and disorients him. TK is rubbing his temples and murmuring reassurances, but he hurts and he just wants to sleep.

The fire truck screeches to a stop, and Carlos squeezes his eyes closed; he wishes they would shut the damn lights off. He can hear yelling, his name and TK’s, and he can vaguely hear Owen barking orders.

TK slides to the passenger side window. He’s animated but talking low, no doubt so Carlos can’t hear him.

“TK?”

“Hang on, baby; I’m still here.”

Owen passes some items through the window, and TK takes them and makes his way back to Carlos. “Okay, I know this is going to be a little uncomfortable…” The C-collar comes into view, and Carlos groans, but he allows TK to secure the collar around his neck.

TK leans in close and presses a kiss to Carlos’ curls. He flips something cloth and heavy – a turnout coat, Carlos thinks – over their heads to shield their faces. “Close your eyes,” he says. Carlos is slow at following the command, but he does, finally. He flinches as the machinery starts up; it’s loud, but TK is there, talking to him. He can’t actually make out what he’s saying, but his voice is soothing so he lets him talk.

It’s over faster than he expects and it’s only a few minutes until the turnout coat gets yanked away and he blinks at the sudden brightness of the streetlights. There’s a slight commotion, and Carlos is confused, so he does the one thing that will bring him comfort: he reaches for TK. TK takes Carlos’ hand in his and gives it a firm squeeze.

“TK, let’s go, man. We need you to move,” someone says. Paul, Carlos thinks.

TK tries to pull away and Carlos holds on with all the strength he can. “Please don’t leave me,” he begs.

“It’s just for a couple of minutes. I’m in the way, and they need to get you out.”

“No! Stay, please. I can’t do this again.”

They’re staring at him, concerned, and Carlos knows that’s not quite right but he’s not exactly sure how to fix it so he keeps talking. “I’m sorry… about the loft. We can talk about it. Just- please stay…”

“Carlos, you have to let me go. I need you to do that for me.” His voice is calm but TK looks like he’s about to cry as someone pulls him away, and his hand slips from Carlos’.

“TK!” he calls.

Judd’s face comes into view. “Hey, Carlos? TK’s gonna wait for you in the ambulance, alright? Now, Paul and I are gonna pull you out. We’ll get you into the same ambulance and then you can be with your boy, okay?”

“‘Kay,” Carlos agrees.

Strong hands are on him, pulling him from the wreckage and strapping him to the backboard. They lift the backboard onto the gurney, and Carlos is momentarily surprised at the gentleness. The firefighters step back and seamlessly Nancy and Tommy appear, taking their place.

They’re both talking to him, and he’s struggling to keep his eyes open. He’s certain this is the worst headache he’s ever had in his life; he can feel every heartbeat throbbing in his temple. Nancy’s yelling at him, but he just needs to close his eyes for a second…

***

“Carlos?” TK.

Carlos groans softly. The grip on his hand gets tighter and he opens his eyes slowly, wincing under the fluorescent lights.

“Hey, baby,” TK whispers.

“Hi.”

“You��re in pain?” TK asks. Carlos nods in the affirmative, and TK reaches for the nurse call button.

“No, I’m okay. I-” Carlos looks around and tries to push himself up. “You’re here?” he asks as TK puts a gentle hand on his shoulder to keep him lying down.

“I am,” TK confirms with a small laugh. “I am here. And okay. And so are you. Your parents are on their way.”

“I’m okay?” Carlos repeats.

TK nods. “You’re bruised up, but nothing’s broken. Some small lacerations from your head hitting the window. And you have a pretty bad concussion, but all things considered, you’re lucky. We’re lucky.”

“My- my parents don’t need to come all the way in for this?”

TK laughs again. “Try telling your mother that. I can’t keep her away. Although she did sound a little surprised that it was you in here and not me.”

The nurse comes in and TK steps out of the way while she examines Carlos, asking him questions and shining a light in his eyes. She seems pleased, assures them a doctor will be in shortly, and checks his IV before she leaves.

“Can’t we just go home?”

“Not tonight. But they’ll probably release you tomorrow.” TK is silent for a moment. “Are we going to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” Carlos pauses. “Oh. Did I make a scene?”

“Kind of,” TK says.

“I’m sorry.” Carlos looks away and TK sighs.

“I don’t want you to apologize, Carlos. I just- I want to make sure we’re good. I’m not going to leave again. You know that, right? I’m done running. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good, there’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with,” Carlos says, reaching for TK’s hand once again.

Taglist: @plaidbooks (If anyone wants to be added for Tarlos fics, let me know!)