911/911 Lone Star One Shots

Ruined Weekend

The sharp pain in his throat didn't mean anything. Neither did the growing pressure in his head. Or the nauseating feeling he had at the very thought of food. He was absolutely 100% totally and completely fine. This was going to be a good weekend, TK was so excited. Carlos couldn't ruin it for him.

"Alright, this is the right one, right? You guys are flying on American Airlines?" Owen double-checked as he pulled to the curb outside the airport terminal.

"Actually, we're flying on JetBlue but it's the same terminal." TK explained, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car. Carlos followed him to the trunk, albeit a bit less excitedly. It's fine, it's early. He can blame that on being tired.

Owen got out and helped take their luggage out of the trunk. "Alright, I'll pick you up Sunday night. Be safe, no ER trips in New York for either one of you." He teased, pulling TK into a hug.

"No promises." He laughed, returning his dad's hug before pulling away.

Owen pulled Carlos into a hug next. "Be safe. Enjoy the city, you'll love it."

"Thanks. And thanks for dropping us off, I know it's early." Carlos used his manners just like his parents taught him.

As they pulled away, Owen held him by the shoulder and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You look tired. Get some rest on the plane."

"Yeah." Carlos felt a panic rise. Did he look sick? Sure, it can be mistaken for exhaustion at 4 am, but what about later? His husband was a paramedic. He better pop some Tylenol and get it together.

"Come on, we've got a plane to catch." TK urged him excitedly, handing him his bag. "Bye Dad."

"Bye Owen." Carlos forced a smile as he took his bag from TK and followed his lead towards the doors.

"Bye boys."

Inside, the line for security was graciously short and neither of them got stopped, which was a blessing in and of itself. They got to their gate 25 minutes before boarding was supposed to start.

"I'm going to go get a water. You want anything?" TK asked, setting his bag beside Carlos' as his husband sat down.

"Can you get me one too?" He requested, looking up at him pleadingly. It wasn't that he thought TK wouldn't get him a water, it was the fact that his throat felt like it was on fire and he needed something cold to help.

"You don't need to pull the Carlos cow eyes, of course I'll get you water." TK chuckled before walking away to the nearby stand.

As soon as he was alone, Carlos quickly pulled a small bottle of Tylenol from his bag. He worked fast to dump a couple into his hand and dry swallow them, grateful he'd thought to toss the medicine into his bag before leaving the apartment.

Just as he was zipping his bag back up, TK returned with the waters and a banana.

"Here, you haven't eaten yet and you might feel nauseous at takeoff if you don't." TK explained as he handed him the food and drink.

"Thanks, I'm okay. Too early to eat." He stuck with his exhaustion facade and hoped that once the Tylenol kicked in, he could drop it.

TK raised an eyebrow at him. "I've seen you eat tamales at 2:30 in the morning but okay."

Carlos breathed a laugh, leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes. Just when he thought he might feel okay as long as he never moved again, announcements for boarding began. He bit back a groan as he opened his eyes, TK nudging him to get up as their zone was called.

Boarding the plane felt excruciatingly slow and the pressure only grew in Carlos' head. Once they finally got to their seats and put their bags in the overhead compartment, he got to sit down again.