Apparently I like to go all-or-nothing cause I had never written a post-ep for 911 Lone Star before and now I'm writing two for the same episode. But it was just that good! My other story was darker and more angsty and I wanted to explore another side of what I hope is the aftermath to the fire for our favorite boys.

Thanks writeallnight for helping me with the title and summary! Without you I'd probably still be stuck trying to figure out those, lol.

Enjoy!

Rousing slowly from a deep sleep, Carlos sighed in content as he instantly felt TK's arms wrapped protectively around his body. Burrowing further into the embrace, he ran his fingers over his boyfriend's arm as he enjoyed the moment of silence. If the alarm wasn't currently going off, then it must mean they had a day off, and Carlos smiled to himself already thinking of the best ways to spend their free time. Maybe they could go to the farmer's market, or take a walk at Zilker Park, or they could just stay at home and spend the whole day tangled together on the couch. All good possibilities, and even better when they all included TK close to him.

But then various sounds caught Carlos' attention, rhythmic beeping, voices he didn't recognize, doors slamming shut; all noises that didn't fit into their bedroom. And with his sense of hearing also came smell. Taking it all in, Carlos' frowned when he didn't easily recognize TK's distinct body wash that always clung to their sheets, but the smell of smoke mixed with antiseptic, neither of which belonged in their home. Opening his eyes, Carlos' frown deepened as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. And suddenly a trapped door seemed to have opened below him and Carlos was falling. The memories of the days before overtaking him with such force that his breathing caught in his throat. Gasping for breath, Carlos' eyes went wide as he was assaulted by a coughing fit. All the memories and pain from the last two days returning to the forefront of his mind, and an empty feeling setting deep in his stomach as realization hit him all at once; he had fought with TK, then their home had gone up in flames.

"Carlos?" TK's asked, voice slurred and still laced with sleep and tiredness. "Are you okay?"

At any other moment Carlos would have felt guilty for waking up his boyfriend but right now he was panicking too much to really care. He tried to answer but only air escaped his parted lips, so instead he shook his head, desperate to let the other man know that he wasn't okay.

"Carlos?" TK asked again, carefully disentangling his body from Carlos' and turning around, his own eyes now going wide as he took in his boyfriend's look. "Carlos, babe, breathe. Everything is okay, we're okay." Paramedic mode instantly took over as TK grabbed Carlos' hand and placed it over his heart, hoping the beat would ground him. "Try to match my breathing. Please." Taking in deliberate slow breaths, TK locked eyes with Carlos, his other hand moving to his wrist to take in his pulse, even when there was a perfectly capable machine located to their right who could have told him that information. But TK needed the physical reassurance more than anything.

"That's good, Carlos. Just breath, slow and easy," TK continued to instruct as Carlos' breaths finally began to even out. And at that moment he could only be grateful that neither of them was currently hooked up to a heart monitor or the entirety of the hospital would have been descending on their room right about now. "Here, just breath." Grabbing the oxygen mask that he had been wearing the night before, TK set it over Carlos' mouth before moving his hand further up to Carlos' messy curls, and running his fingers through them, the motion usually able to put his boyfriend at ease.

"Sorry," Carlos mumbled as soon as he was able to take in a normal breath again, his cheeks looking slightly pink and his eyes cast downward.

Nodding, TK leaned forward and kissed Carlos' forehead, giving him a few extra seconds to compose himself.

"What happened?" TK asked eventually.

"I sort of had a panic attack?" Carlos offered not-so-helpfully.

Fighting the instinct to roll his eyes, TK just nodded again. "I figured as much, but why? For how long had it been going on before I woke up?"

"I, uhm, I…" Carlos struggled to find words, his lips parting a few times but only little, nervous exhales coming out.

"Take your time, I'm right here." TK continued to run his fingers through Carlos' hair, his other hand still holding Carlos' over his chest.

"I just woke up, and thought it was a day off. You know, the alarm wasn't on, so it only made sense. But then I remembered everything, the fight, the fire. And -"

"And it all became too much," TK finished for him, "it's alright, babe. But you're okay, we're okay."

"Are we?" Carlos asked softly.

"We are. We're still together and that's all that matters right now, we can worry about the rest later," TK said, not an ounce of doubt in his tone or mind. "Let me call for a nurse so someone can check you out."

"I don't need a nurse, I'm okay," Carlos interjected, his eyes still looking a bit disoriented but his breathing finally back to normal.

"Okay," TK easily agreed, "but we still need a nurse if we want to get out of here." Both TK and Carlos knew they didn't really need to spend the night at the hospital, the oxygen mask sure helped, but there was a reason they weren't hooked to many machines. Their injuries had been mild and they could have gone home after the doctor gave them a clean bill of health. But they had no home to go to, and everyone at the hospital knew that, and knew them, so someone must have decided to take pity on the pair and insisted they spend the night. But there were real patients that needed the room, and TK and Carlos didn't want to inconvenience anyone more than absolutely necessary.

"Yeah," Carlos said softly, briefly remembering his previous thought of spending the night at home tangled in the couch with TK, and he chuckled sadly. They didn't have a couch or home to go to.

TK noticed, but decided to let him be for now, and instead turned around to press the call bottom for a nurse. And soon enough someone was checking them over one final time before bringing in discharge papers and letting them leave, but not before what seemed like every single medical professional in that floor, stopped by their room to wish them their best and apologize for what had happened to them. Not that it was anyone's fault, but most people here knew the officer and firefighter turned paramedic, and were fond of the pair and not-so-secretly rooted for their relationship. It didn't surprise them -it was the sort of thing that came with the territory, both their jobs sending them to the hospital often, to drop or interrogate a patient, or with injuries of their own- but it did warm their hearts.

Walking into the waiting room, Carlos and TK were greeted by Owen, Gabriel and Andrea standing by the nurse's station, no doubt waiting for them.

"My boys." Andrea was the first to speak, only taking one look at the battered pair before she closed the distance and engulfed them both in a hug. "I'm so happy to see you both okay."

"Gracias, mami," Carlos whispered, closing his eyes and letting his mother's comforting presence and touch wash over him.

"How are you two doing?" Andrea asked when they broke the embrace, her eyes soft and pained as she took in their tired faces and slumped shoulders.

"We're alright," Carlos said, his voice timid and doubtful, even as he tried to make himself sound stronger.

"No, you're not, Carlitos. But you will be. And we're all here to help you both." Andrea spoke with the certainty, care and understanding that only a mother could provide, and both Carlos and TK found themselves standing a little straighter upon hearing her words. A little hope blossoming in their chests.

"Thanks, Andrea," TK answered this time, smiling to the woman he hoped was his future mother-in-law.

"Anytime, TK, anytime," Andrea said softly, moving her hand to cup TK's cheek and holding it there for a moment.

During the brief conversation, Owen and Gabriel had continued to stand next to the nurse's station, both looking uncharacteristically quiet and evidently trying to make themselves small. They had accompanied TK and Carlos to the hospital the previous night, Andrea staying in the ranch since Gabriel had driven there straight from work, but the silence between the four had been too charged so they had left early, promising to be back the following morning.

"TK," Owen eventually said, taking a couple of tentative steps forward, his eyes on TK but still looking at Andrea out of the corner of his eye.

"Dad."

"How are you feeling, son?" Owen asked, releasing a nervous breath.

"I'm okay," TK mumbled, still not sure how he felt about his father at the moment. Owen and Billy might have rescued them, but they wouldn't have been in that position if it hadn't been for Owen, Billy, and Gabriel keeping them in the dark, and taking too long to understand Raymond's threat. Painful detail which they had learned the night before when they asked Judd how they had gotten to the condo so quickly.

"Ready to go home?" Owen wondered.

"I -" TK hesitated, turning sideways to look at Carlos, and finding a blank look on his face. And TK wasn't sure if it was due to his earlier panic attack or because he was also having conflicting emotions seeing Owen and Gabriel again.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Owen added quickly, deflating a little but his tone was even and calm.

"You should come with us to the ranch," Andrea offered, "I can prepare some soup for you, or anything else that your heart desires."

"Or to any of your friends' houses. You know they all offered," Gabriel pointed out, speaking for the first time, then wincing as soon as Andrea glared at him. "I'm just reminding them, vieja. No need to shoot daggers out of those beautiful eyes."

"Don't try to flirt with me right now, Gabriel Reyes," Andrea hissed. "You know that's never a good thing when you have made me this angry."

"What's going on?" Carlos asked, joining the conversation again after noticing how both fathers flinched at her words.

"Oh, your father knows, Carlitos. Nothing for you or TK to worry about. I already had a nice, long talk with Gabriel and Owen about what happened in this case, and they both know this isn't over." Andrea's tone was sweet, but her eyes were a storm of emotion, and all the thunder and lighting in it would be directed to the Ranger and Fire Captain in due time. "But, it's your choice boys. You can stay wherever you prefer," she added, well knowing Carlos and TK would be staying together in whatever place they picked, no way they were going their separate ways to each of their parent's houses.

At a sort of standstill, Carlos and TK turned to each other, easily communicating with their eyes as they both nodded silently. "We will stay at your place, dad," TK said softly, hating to be in this situation in the first place, having only moved into his new home less than three weeks ago.

"For now we just want to be closer to the city. We want to start looking for a new place soon, and I assume they're also going to want our statements," Carlos explained quickly, not liking the sad look that overtook his mother's eyes.

"There's time for that, mijo. Just focus on getting better now," Gabriel said, still hanging back and clearly avoiding his wife's gaze. Then he shook his head, and swallowed a few times, seemingly bracing himself. "I'm sorry for what happened Carlos. You too, TK. We're not proud of what we did, we just hope you can forgive us. Next time, if there's a next time, we will include you guys and not let you in the dark."

"Thank you, sir," Carlos said, his tone clipped, not really believing his father's words, and thinking that there would definitely be a next time because Owen and Gabriel seemed to have become a team of their own. "As for the statements, we'd rather just be done with it and put what happened between us as much as we can, so it's better to stay close. But we will head to the ranch this weekend," he added, looking directly at his mom as he finished.

Andrea perked up at that, her eyes regaining their spark. "That's great to hear, Carlitos. Anything special you want me to prepare for you?"

Carlos took a few minutes to mentally run over all of his mother's recipes, a small smile gracing his lips when he finally settled on one. "Chilaquiles? TK tried them at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and really liked them, but I keep telling him that yours are the best."

For a moment Andrea looked horrified that Carlos took TK to eat one of her signature dishes at a restaurant instead of asking her to make them, but remembering what they just went through, she decided to cut her son some slack. "Chilaquiles, it is," she said with a smile that was so much like Carlos' that it almost made TK's heart burst.

"Pero bajo en picante, por favor," Carlos whispered, trying to casually point at TK who just glared at him.

Andrea chuckled, but nodded. "Don't worry, boys. I know our white boy isn't yet used to the Reyes' level of heat."

"Thank you," TK said shily, trying not to look as embarrassed as he felt, especially because he was more than used to that level, just not necessarily in the kitchen.

"No need, my sweet boy," Andrea said, patting TK's cheek again, before turning to her son, who had a big smile on his face because this level of love and interaction between his parents and his boyfriend was a dream come true. "Now, go. You had a long night and need to rest. Nos vemos el Viernes, mi corazón."

"Te amo, mami, gracias," Carlos moved forward and hugged his mother one last time, taking a moment to share a look with his dad who was still standing behind the group. He loved his father, and he knew he would forgive him eventually, soon actually, but his deception still hurt. Especially when it had caused a fight with his boyfriend and then almost cost them their lives. So he deserved some time to process his feelings.

When mother and son parted, Carlos moved to TK and held his hand, fingers instantly being intertwined, before they followed Owen towards the parking lot.

"Owen, you will take care of the boys, right?" Andrea asked with a pointed look, as she got into her husband's truck.

"I will, promise." Owen swallowed roughly, shifting uncomfortably under Andrea's unforgiving stare. Then turned to look at his friend, already sitting in the driver's seat, and shot him a sympathetic look. Gabriel would have it much worse than him as he was going home with the enraged mother. But he knew they would both be in the doghouse for the foreseeable future. And if he was honest with himself, Owen knew they deserved nothing less for being stupid enough to put a case over their sons.

-x-x-x-

Reaching Owen's house, Carlos and TK got out of the car and sadly walked to the front door. Both of them finding it hard to believe that the clothes they wore, and whatever they had left on their lockers at work, were their only material possessions at the moment.

"I already prepared TK's old room," Owen started as he moved to open the door, "but if there's anything missing or anything you want, please let me know."

"That's Mateo's room now, dad," TK said quickly, not wanting to take his friend's room for the second time in three nights.

"Nonsense, TK. That will always be your room," Owen pointed out, "besides, you know how many guest rooms we have. And Mateo was happy to move to one of those and finally have a place to make his own."

"He could have made the other one his own, dad, this is only tempo-" TK's words cut short as soon as the front door opened and his eyes landed on the many bags and boxes occupying his dad's living room. "What's all this?"

"This is all for you, boys," Owen said with a big smile on his face, his arms wide open as he pointed to the room.

"This is too much, Captain Strand, you didn't have to. We can't accept this," Carlos rambled, eyes wide as he took in the sight in front of him.

"I didn't, Officer Reyes. Everyone did," Owen explained proudly, his heart bursting with love because the team that he had put took together not even two years ago had really become a family, always ready to help each other. And whether that was after a shooting, concussion, falling off a bridge, or a house fire, didn't matter; they were just always there for each other. "And call me Owen."

"What do you mean everyone, dad?" TK asked, his expression a lot like Carlos', eyes full of surprise and joy even when some treacherous tears pricked at the corners.

"I mean everyone, TK. That box over there is from Judd and Grace," Owen began, pointing to a different box or bag as his explanation continued. "Paul brought those two bags with Marjan. Those three are from your parents, Carlos. And that big one is from your precinct, Mitchell and your sergeant dropped it off. Nancy and Tommy brought that box on the table, and Mateo bought some groceries he's sure you both like. Those are already on the fridge or kitchen counter."

Carlos and TK looked at each other, both at a complete loss for words. Tears not flowed freely down their faces as they leaned towards each other for a chaste kiss.

"And I got you this," Owen added, grabbing a plain cardboard box with a bow and giving it to TK, "for now. I ordered other things, but they're on the way and should be delivered sometime later this week."

Grabbing the box, TK had a heartbreaking sense of déjà vu as he remembered moving into Carlos' condo a few weeks ago and his dad handing him a similar box. Déjà vu quickly became reality when he opened the box to find another box inside, one for a new blender still in its original packaging.

"It's not Marlon," Owen began, taking a step closer to his son and putting his hand on his shoulder, "but you can name this one together. And I just wanted this to be the first kitchen appliance for your new home." Owen's voice broke at the end, and he had to blink his eyes a few times.

Setting the box on the ground, TK turned to his dad and threw himself into his arms, much like he had done that day back in NY when he OD. His shoulders then started shaking as all the emotions from the last days came pouring out of him. "When we got to the condo I thought we had lost you both, there was just so much fire and smoke already," Owen began softly, his eyes darkening as he remembered the brief moment when it felt like his heart had stopped beating as he came face to face with the inferno that had become his son's home. "I never wanted any of my decisions to trickle down to you, but it happened, TK, and I hate that I can't do anything about it now. My actions cost you and Carlos your home, and I'm just so very sorry." Opening one of his arms, Owen turned to the officer who was standing rooted in place looking at them, his own eyes clouded with tears. "Come here, Carlos."

Not needing to be asked twice, Carlos moved forward and hugged Owen too, his other arm going over TK's back. Not at home, but finally at a place where he felt safe and comforted, so he allowed his tears to fall once again.

When the three men finally broke the embrace, Owen turned to look at the man he hoped was his future son-in-law. "I also need to apologize to you, Carlos. That was your home before you ever opened it to my TK, and I'm sorry my actions took that away from you."

"It's okay, Owen," Carlos said, letting out a little chuckle as Owen smiled widely, and extending his arm to TK and pulling him towards his body, before kissing his temple. "The most important part that made that condo a home is still here with me, so I'm sure we can make another place our home. It will be hard, but we have help," he continued, pointing to all the things their friends had gotten for them. "And, I think my mom already laid into you and my dad because of what happened, so we should cut you guys some slack." Breathing slowly in and out, Carlos made a point to remember those words on Friday night so he could forgive his father too.

"She sure did, Andrea Reyes is a very scary woman, especially when her baby boy is involved," Owen said, laughing as Carlos' cheeks gained some color, "But you're very lucky to have such a strong and loving mother in your corner. You both are. At one point I wondered who was TK's parent because of how fiercely she spoke about you." TK let out a little, nervous chuckle after hearing those words, and his face turned a nice shade of red, but he said nothing.

Silence quickly overtook the room after Owen suggested the boys take a look at the items left for them, TK quickly squealing excitedly as he opened a box to find at least 7 hoodies, all in different colors, and all in his exact size, and various printed button downs with different patterns ranging from Hawaiian to colorful stripes, and dots, which must have been picked out by Marjan or Nancy. And Carlos quickly joined in TK's delight as soon as he looked into a bag from Paul to find a variety of polos and t-shirts, all in various shades of blue, dark green, grey and a couple black ones, along with some sleeveless gym shirts and some shorts. Finally, moving together to a box marked 'From Judd' in black Sharpie, they both frowned taking in its weight. Opening it, TK dropped his hands to his sides, and Carlos' eyes went a shade darker, as they took in the two fire extinguishers stashed inside.

"That one came with a note," Owen called from behind, handing them a small piece of paper.

'One for the kitchen, and one for the bedroom. We're glad you're both okay. PS: Offer still stands to come stay with us if your parents start driving you crazy. Just give me a call or shoot a text. Or even just show up at the door.'

"He must have heard us," TK whispered, choosing to focus on that inconsequential fact than over the enormity of that and this moment.

"Yeah," Carlos said, voice equally low. "I'm still sorry that -"

"Stop," TK interrupted before Carlos could get another word in. "No more apologies, we both already did, and now it's time to move forward." They had talked about it the previous night and both apologized, even when TK knew he was the only one that really needed to be forgiven.

Carlos nodded, grasping TK's hand and pulling him towards the boxes from his parents and coworkers. "Wow." Was his only response as soon as they began opening them, finding a new video game console along with games and an additional controller, various books, some of which were Carlos' favorites, along with new towels, and a couple of sheets for the bed.

"Everyone left receipts too," Owen pointed out, handing them a stash of paper. "Just in case there's something you'd rather exchange."

Taking in the receipts, TK shared a thought that had just occurred to him. "Dad, it's not even noon, and the fire happened last night. When did everyone have time to drop all this?"

"Oh, I'm not exactly sure, but I think the first knock on the door was at 7:30."

"Wow," TK exclaimed now, echoing his boyfriend's comment from a moment ago. "They didn't have to," TK added more to himself than anyone else.

"They didn't" Owen agreed, "but of course they would, you two are family to everyone that came to drop something. And you would have done the same for any and all of them."

"We would," TK and Carlos said in unison, sharing a smile, and then a more passionate kiss as they turned to look at each other.

"And that's my cue to leave." Owen chuckled to himself, already halfway to the kitchen. "I will be here making lunch, you boys just take it easy and relax. But don't be surprised if there's a knock or two on the door, I know a lot of people want to make sure you're both really okay."

Carlos and TK spent the next few hours opening all the boxes and bags, finding more clothes and other personal items, among other things, but true to Owen's words, they were interrupted every half hour or so by someone knocking on the door wanting to see how they were doing. At the end of the day, Carlos and TK not only had a lot of new items under their possession, but a fridge and kitchen counter full of dishes their friends had brought so they didn't have to waste time cooking and instead focused on their hunt for a new home.

"This one seems nice, the complex has a pool and gym," Carlos said later that night, when they had retreated to their room after eating dinner with Owen and Mateo. "What are you doing?" He turned around to show his phone's screen to TK with his newest Zillow discovery and snickered when he saw TK standing in front of the mirror

"Just trying on some of the new outfits," TK replied with the first sincere smile Carlos had seen in the last days, "need to pick something nice to wear to dinner with your parents on Friday." TK and Carlos had spent most of the afternoon thanking people in person or over the phone for their kindness, but now more than ever TK felt infinitely grateful for the gesture and the distraction and hope it had provided. It seemed that when the world was determined to show them how dark it could get, their friends were there to shine their light upon them.

"I like this one," Carlos said, holding a blue and white button down to TK, before turning back to his phone and continuing to browse the app after bookmarking his latest find.

TK nodded and grabbed the shirt, picking an outfit for Carlos to try and throwing it to him with no words but a little smirk on his face.

Not being able to deny his boyfriend anything, Carlos set his phone on the bedside table, and joined TK in front of the mirror. Taking off his shirt so he could try the one TK had selected for him.

TK's eyes darkened as he took in his boyfriend's body and he had to bite his bottom lip to stop it from quivering. "On second thought, I like you better that way," he whispered, taking back the shirt and throwing it onto a chair. Moving his hands to Carlos' hips, he began to run his fingers over every inch of exposed skin. Their lips colliding a second later.

"I can go to the ranch naked, I don't think my mother would approve," Carlos breathed against TK's lips when they parted for breath.

"We can continue playing dress-up tomorrow, but you can be naked for me tonight," TK croaked, his hand on Carlos' wrist as he pulled him towards the bed. "We need to finish what got interrupted yesterday."

"Your dad and Mateo are here," Carlos hissed, but still followed.

"They can just wear headphones," TK said with a smug grin, "besides, they insisted we stay here. What did they think would happen after surviving that fire yesterday? I doubt they thought we would go for a run or the gym to release all this pent-up energy and emotions."

Carlos and TK had survived the fire the night before and today their parents and friends' actions had warmed their hearts, but now it was time to create some heat of their own.

Thanks for reading!

*In this story Charles is alive and well, and the last scene of the show never happened. Now let's just hope he's still alive and well after tomorrow. Fingers crossed cause I really like him and Tommy!