The struggles we face

Part 6-PTSD Flashbacks (2)

TK didn't talk on the way home. He just sat in the car looking out the window. Carlos occasionally looked over at him and put his hand on his knee. He felt powerless, he didn't know whether TK could communicate his feelings and he felt it was somewhat his fault. He had advised that he went to therapy but it made him worse.

As the car stopped in the driveway, Carlos got out the Camaro and went around to the passenger side of the car. TK was sat there,motionless, his eyes drawn to seemingly nothing. 'Hey babe...we are home now' Carlos said quietly, not know whether TK even knew where he was. Carlos helped TK out the car and dragged his dead weight into the house. He put him carefully on the sofa before going to get a bottle of mineral water for both him and TK. He put the bottle in TK's hands, hoping he would drink some. Surprisingly he did, but only a few sips. 'Anything else you need babe?' Carlos asked him. TK wrapped his arms around Carlos' waist before pulling them together. Carlos pulled TK so he was sitting in his lap, making him as comfy as possible. It was clear that TK wanted Carlos, nothing more, nothing less. He didn't need that damn therapy to recover from anything. He needed his soulmate.

———

After a few hours of sitting on the sofa, Carlos helped TK to their bed in hopes of making him more comfortable. It wasn't too long before TK drifted of to sleep, obviously from the trauma he had relived. Carlos felt his eyes slowly start to close too and he let himself fall asleep, keeping TK close.

'No....no..no no no no no please don't no don't do it please'
Carlos woke up abruptly to TK whimpering, begging at whoever was it his dream. 'Babe I'm here it's okay' Carlos said reassuringly, kissing his head gently in fear of scaring him even more. TK's breathing grew rapidly quicker and he felt him shaking. He checked his heart rate. '128' he said to himself. 'TK babe you've gotta wake up and breathe okay?'

TK laid, trapped inside his own body with seemingly no way out. Suddenly in his dream he saw a light figure walking towards him with his arm extended. As the figure got closer, he realised it was Carlos. His voice sounded muffled but he could tell he wanted him to follow him. TK tried to move but he couldn't it was like his feet were glued to the floor. Carlos got closer and wrapped his muscular arms around TK. He pulled him towards the light tunnel a few metres ahead. TK tried his best to get his legs to cooperate but the harder he tried, the more exhausted he felt. As he walked through the tunnel, he felt him coming back to himself.

He opened his eyes to find Carlos shaking him and stroking his cheek. He also found himself struggling to breathe, unable to intake much oxygen, leaving him panicking more than he already was. He sit up in hopes to help oxygen return to his lungs but it was no use. Carlos was left rubbing his back and whispering calmly in his ear. It was to no avail however, as he felt his whole body unwillingly convulsing. 'Can you hear me, TK?' Carlos asked him. TK nodded, all the other times he mentally couldn't respond but this time, he physically couldn't. What TK didn't know however is that while he was stuck in his dream, Carlos had called Tommy to take a look at him. He heard a knock at the door at looked at Carlos inquisitively, still struggling to breathe. 'Hey I'll be right back mi amor but just keep breathing alright, slow deep breaths my love.' Carlos told him as he went to open the door for Tommy. He closed his eyes in hopes it would help him stop panicking, unsurprisingly it didn't.

Tommy was in their bedroom within ten seconds, and putting an oxygen mask on his face. The extra oxygen helped him calm down massively, but not fully. Luckily, his soulmate was right there to help with that. Once Tommy checked his vitals for what seemed like the hundredth time, she left, leaving TK with some reassuring words.

———

'Ugh......what time is it....' TK stirred in bed, not even realising he had fallen asleep.
'Just after 12' Carlos replied walking into the bedroom holding a bottle of water
'Wait I have a shift.....crap I'm so late'
'Don't worry about that. Tommy have you the day off they have a paramedic to train anyways'

TK felt a sense of relief but also disappointment. His boss obviously didn't think he could come back to work. Maybe his PTSD was bad. All he knew is that he wasn't going to go back to therapy anytime soon.

What he knew for sure though is that whatever he did to deal with his trauma, he would do it in a safe way and know that he has the love of his life's support.

A/N - Sorry this took so long to come out been a bit stressed