A/N: A million thanks to bluenet13, without whom I would not have a Bingo card and for sure would not have finished this fic!
"Hey babe!" T.K. called as he walked in the front door.
His shift had been long but fine, a few fender benders, a pregnant woman, and a couple kids who would need stitches, nothing major. Nevertheless he was tired and looking forward to the next twenty-four hours off.
"Hey," Carlos called back from where he was lying on the couch, his back toward the door. His voice sounded oddly muffled and T.K. frowned as he dropped his backpack and slipped off his shoes. "You okay?"
"Don't freak out."
The words had the opposite effect and immediately caused the blood to start pounding in T.K's ears as he rounded the couch to find his boyfriend with an icepack pressed to his face. "Holy shit," T.K. sat down next to him, eyes full of worry.
Carlos removed the icepack to reveal his nose, twice its normal size, and the beginnings of two black eyes. "It looks worse than it is."
"Well it looks pretty fucking bad Carlos," T.K. said in alarm, paramedic taking over as he reached out to gently probe at the bruising. "What the hell happened?"
Carlos winced and moved away from his touch. "Domestic dispute. Everyone is fine, but the guy came out swinging and I just happened to be in his way."
"Why didn't you call me?" T.K. asked, running a hand comfortingly up and down his thigh.
"It's not that big of a deal," Carlos told him. "I didn't want you worried and unfocused on your shift."
"Did you get it looked at?"
Even with an injured face Carlos managed an eye roll. "Yes Mom. It's swollen right now but the alignment is fine. Should be good to go in a couple weeks."
"Did you take anything?"
"Um," Carlos squinted at the clock. "Like five hours ago?"
"Okay you should take something again," T.K. said, standing and moving to the kitchen cupboard where they kept the ibuprofen. "Are you hungry?"
Carlos put the icepack back in place. "Not really."
T.K. returned with the pills and a glass of water. "You should eat something."
"Oh, are you going to cook for me?" Carlos said, leaning back into the couch with a smirk.
T.K. held up his phone. "No. But I will order the best takeout you've ever had in your life."
He placed an order for soup and sandwiches from a local deli and then returned to the couch. "Here sit up," he said, sliding in behind Carlos so the latter could rest his head against T.K.'s chest. "My poor policeman," he said, pressing a kiss to Carlos' curls and rubbing a hand up and down his arm.
"Yeah well you should see the other guy," Carlos murmured, sinking into the affection and warmth of T.K.'s body.
T.K. chuckled. "I know for a fact that guy walked away arrested but physically unharmed, didn't he?"
Carlos hesitated. "True. But if I had been off the job—"
"Then he still would have walked away unscathed," T.K. teased. "Face it Reyes, you're an excellent cop, but you're a lover, not a fighter."
"I'm tough when I want to be," Carlos defended himself.
"Mmhmm sure you are," T.K. said, pressing another kiss to his hair.
"Fine. But I am an excellent lover," Carlos said, and T.K. could tell he was smiling even though he couldn't see his face.
T.K. nodded in consent. "Now that I can agree with. Is that what we should say when everybody asks about this at Judd's birthday party on Saturday?"
T.K. felt Carlos' shoulders drop. "Oh god I forgot all about that," he groaned. "I can't go looking like this."
"It's not that bad. No one will care." T.K. resumed rubbing up and down Carlos' arm.
"I look like a raccoon. People will be taking pictures."
"I won't let them. I'll jump in front of every camera I see."
"Maybe your dad has something that could help with the swelling?"
T.K. made a face. "Yeah I don't think there are enough essential oils in the world to help with this babe."
"You just said it wasn't that bad!"
"Shhh," T.K. soothed. "I'll still love you even if you do look like Pinocchio after he's lied his ass off."
"Your bedside manner needs work," Carlos grumbled, readjusting his position in T.K.'s arms.
T.K. smiled. "Ah, that's the great thing about being a paramedic. Minimal bedsides."
Dinner was a bit of a struggle; it clearly hurt Carlos to move any part of his face even though he kept insisting he was fine. And when T.K. suggested they turn in a little early he didn't argue, clearly exhausted and ready to put this miserable day behind him.
T.K. grabbed an extra pillow while Carlos was in the bathroom, adding it to the one already on his side of the bed and fluffing them both. "Having your head elevated should help keep the swelling down," he said when Carlos returned.
"Thanks," Carlos said, wincing as he started to get into the bed.
He must have moved too fast because he let out a pained grunt and his whole body stiffened. "Hey," T.K. sat up and reached for him. "Easy."
By the time Carlos was fully in bed, his eyes were closed tightly, his breathing coming out strained, hands clenched into fists. "Just breathe," T.K. said softly, stroking his arm, his own heart squeezing at the sight of his boyfriend in so much pain. "Try and relax your body."
Carlos let out a shaky breath and uncurled his fingers. "God," he said, voice tight. "Just breathing hurts like hell."
"I'm so sorry," T.K. said. "We can get you some stronger pain medication tomorrow if you need it."
Carlos let out another slow exhale and briefly closed his eyes. "No, I'll be all right." He turned his head slightly to look at T.K. "Thank you. For being here."
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," T.K. said, putting a hand on Carlos' hip and rubbing his thumb up and down soothingly.
Carlos hesitated for a moment, something clearly on his mind. "I'm really sorry I didn't call you today. I could tell that it bothered you."
T.K. shifted up onto his elbow so Carlos didn't have to strain to look at him. "You were trying to protect me and I appreciate that. But I'd rather decide for myself what constitutes an emergency and whether or not I should leave work and come be with you."
"I'm just kind of used to taking care of myself."
"I know. But I'm here now and you don't have to do that anymore." T.K. smiled. "Besides I like taking care of you."
Carlos looked at him intently. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you too." T.K. laced their fingers together and pressed a kiss to the back of Carlos' hand. "Now come on. You need all the beauty sleep you can get to try and fix that nose up."
Carlos glared at him. "Again with the bedside manner…"
A/N: I see Carlos as someone who prefers to end conflict as peacefully as possible. Of course he's tough and does the tackling and disarming when he needs to, but he's definitely a sweet little softie! Leave your love in the reviews!