Random 9-1-1 Lone Star short stories that come into my head

Dad? Can we talk?

Continuation to the last chapter:

When TK came in that morning the whole team could tell he was off, acting weird, not himself. Like something was eating away at him. He told them he was fine and that he didn't want to talk about it. Though the rest of the night snuggled up with Carlos was peaceful, those five nightmares haunted him all day, everyday. First one, his father just dropped dead. The paramedics tried their hardest to bring him back but they couldn't, second one, the tumor was too powerful and he died, third one, he got the flu and that somehow made him die. Do we need to keep going? I think we have the message across that TK's is terrified of the outcome of his Dad's cancer.

The minute the team weren't on a call TK went up to his father's office. He took a deep breath then knocked on the door. "Come in." Tyler stared at the floor as he walked in. "TK? Are you all right?" TK looked up at him, his eyes filled with tears. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" Owen asked quickly getting out of his chair and wrapping his arms around TK, pulling him into a hug. As much as TK wanted to sob on his shoulder, he knew he couldn't. The team could be watching from the fire truck, just as they did when the Chief was talking to his father. "Sit down and tell me what's wrong." Owen said softly. TK just nodded his head as tried to gather himself. When they sat down, Owen reached his hands across the table and took TK's hands. "D-Dad....I....I'm scared." "About what?" He asked softly. "About the cancer." "TK, it's ok, I'm doing fine. The doctor said that it's shrinking." "Yeah, but, I've had five nightmares about you dying. Everyday this week! I know you tell me you're invincible, but the chemo is making you weak." TK said tears streaming down his cheeks. "You get dizzy a LOT. You vomit, you can't sleep at night, you get headaches. It's only a miracle that you haven't gotten dizzy on a call yet! Because if we're in a burning building, and you get dizzy, you won't be able to get out! I can't lose you, Dad. I won't be able to take it, I love you." "I love you too. And you're right, it is a miracle that I haven't gotten dizzy on a call yet. But as a firefighter, as a captain, I have to keep going until that happens." "Even if it means leaving your son?! To the point where I can't take life anymore and I try to kill myself?!" That made Owen's heart sting. The thought that his son wouldn't be able to live without him and he'd kill himself just to be with him again. "I...I'm sorry." TK whispered wiping tears from his eyes. "No, no. It's ok, TK. It's ok." Owen said soothingly while running his thumbs on the back of his son's hands in a comforting manner. "I...I just don't want you to get hurt, Dad. To die. I.....I need you." TK said as his voice cracked in the last sentence. Owen cupped TK's left cheek with his hand. TK leaned into the touch as Owen gently stroked the same cheek with his thumb. "I promise you this. I'll continue to fight this cancer. Ok? I'll do everything I can. I can't promise that I'll survive it, but as you said, we are going to kick the crap out of this cancer, ok? Together, we'll do it together. Ok?" TK nodded biting his lip as tears came to his eyes again. "Hey, look at me." TK looked at him, his eyes glassy with tears. "The numbers are on my side. I have a fairly good chance. So don't be worrying about me. Alright?" "You're my Dad, how can I not worry about you?" "I could say the exact same thing to you. Look, don't worry alright? I'm fine." "Promise me that when we're on a call and you feel kinda off, you won't go in? And if you feel dizzy you tell me and I'll help you to get out?" Owen sighed. "I promise." "Even if the building is burning? Or if it's about to collapse?" "I promise. Now go. You can't leave the team to do all the work. They'll think it's special treatment." "No, they won't, Dad. They know something was off about me. They've been bugging me all day, but it's just that they care." "Yeah. Now, go." TK squeezed his hand once more before he got up and left the office. 

"Hey brother, you alright?" Judd asked. "Better than while ago." "What's been bothering you?" Mateo asked. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Paul asked. "Lads, I'm fine, ok? I promise." "If you were fine, you wouldn't have spent fifteen minutes in your Daddy's office. Come on, spill." Judd said. TK sighed. "Fine, I'm worried about Dad. I've been getting nightmares all week about him dying. But I'm ok now. I know the numbers are on his side, and he told me not to worry but......" TK sighed. "You still worry." Paul finished and TK nodded. "My Dad has always been there. Not so much when I was a kid but from twelve onwards he was there. When I was twelve and spending the weekend with him, he knew something was off. I made him promise to not be mad and that's when I came out. I expected him to lash out and tell me to go to my room and stay there, but instead he pulled me up off my chair and pulled me into a hug. Telling me that he's proud of me for telling him, telling me it's ok to be who I am, and that he loves me and that he'll always be there. And I didn't tell my Mom for three years, we all know what happened when I did. But I can't lose him." "He's strong, TK." Marjon said. "Yeah at work he is! But at home, he gets dizzy a lot, vomits, can't sleep at night. Chemo's making him weak." "The chemo's only doing it's job, TK." Judd answered. "I know. I'm just terrified." "Don't blame ya. But we're here, ok?" Marjon said squeezing his shoulder. "As a family." Paul continued. "Thanks, guys. I really really appreciate it." "No bother, brother." Judd said putting a hand on his shoulder.