#Tarlos Fanfiction One-shots

Bound by Love

In Every Breath, I'm Yours Part 2

The next time Carlos woke, his surroundings felt clearer, the haze of painkillers and exhaustion fading just enough for him to make sense of the world. He blinked a few times, his gaze focusing on the ceiling before shifting to the side. The first thing he saw was TK, perched in a chair beside his bed, his expression a mix of relief and concern. As soon as TK noticed Carlos was awake, he was at his side in an instant.

"Carlos, baby, how are you feeling?" TK asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Are you comfortable? Is anything hurting? Do you need—"

Carlos reached out, his fingers brushing against TK's hand to stop the flood of questions. His lips quirked into a small, tired smile. "I'm okay," he said softly. "You're adorable when you worry, you know that?"

TK's eyes welled up as he took Carlos's hand in both of his. "Adorable or not, you scared the hell out of me."

Carlos squeezed TK's hand weakly, his smile faltering as he realized something was missing. His eyes flicked to his left hand, then to his neck, and panic flickered in his expression. "My ring... my necklace..."

TK quickly reached into his pocket, pulling out the wedding ring and sliding it back onto Carlos's finger with shaky hands. His voice cracked as he joked, "If I have to put this back on you like this again, we're going to have a serious problem."

Carlos let out a weak laugh, which quickly turned into a wince as the pain in his side reminded him of his injury. "I don't intend to make this a habit," he muttered, his voice strained but playful. "Having you as a danger magnet is enough excitement for one marriage."

TK rolled his eyes, though the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Carlos's lips. "You're lucky I love you."

Their moment was interrupted by a gentle throat-clearing from the doorway. They both turned to see Andrea standing there, her arms full with a lunch box, and Owen behind her, carrying a duffel bag and a bouquet of flowers. Andrea's eyes were red-rimmed, and Owen looked tired but relieved.

"I brought you something to eat," Andrea said, stepping into the room. "And these are from the 126," Owen added, holding up the flowers. "They're all planning to visit after their shift."

Andrea approached TK first, wrapping him in a warm hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "For being here for him."

Owen walked over to Carlos, setting the duffel bag down and carefully patting his shoulder on the side that wasn't injured. "How're you holding up, son?"

Carlos offered a small smile. "Been better. But I'll live."

Andrea turned to her son, her composure finally breaking as she looked at him. "Oh, Carlitos..." Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face as she hurried to his side. Carlos's own tears started to fall as she embraced him, her hands cradling his face like he was a child again. "You did it, mijo. You solved your father's case. You gave him justice. He would be so proud of you, and so am I."

Carlos couldn't speak, his emotions overwhelming him as he clung to his mother. TK and Owen quietly slipped out of the room, giving them a moment of privacy. In the hallway, Owen turned to his son, his expression soft. "How are you holding up, kid?"

TK smiled, though his eyes were still wet. "I'll be okay. Carlos is okay, and that's all that matters."

Owen nodded, but there was something on his mind. "I wanted to talk to you about something. I got an offer... to become the new fire chief in New York."