chapter 9: it's over

The first thing Carlos felt was pain. He remembered the bats on his legs, breaking them like sugar, the belt on his belly, cutting him open, the rain of punches, the handcuffs that cut into his skin. The pressure on his wrists was always present, and new ones surrounded his legs and his stomach. He began to tremble, he was still in Dylan's hands, his ordeal was not over. Yet, he had the memory of TK telling him it was over. Could he have been mistaken? Was it possible that it was over because Dylan had won, that he had taken his lover with him to do whatever he wanted to him in his den? At the thought, his tremors increased and he felt tears escape from his eyelids. He didn't want to wake up without TK by his side...

"Babe, wake up. Come on, open your eyes. It's okay now."

It was the voice of his lover. Carlos suddenly opened his eyes, the lights blinding him. A hand gently rested on his forehead, offering him the shade he needed to discover what was around him. Relief invaded him, he was no longer at home, but in a hospital room and above all, TK was at his side looking at him with love in his eyes.

"Is it over?" he asked again, unsure.

"Yes, he's in jail and will stay there this time," whispered the paramedic.

Carlos burst into tears.

"Sorry TK, sorry, I should have protected you, I should have…"

"Shh, it's okay, everything is fine now. You did everything you could and more. You have nothing to be ashamed of, okay?"

Carlos nodded, tears still streaming down his cheeks. TK's hand caressed his hair, but he needed more to reassure himself. With a slow, heavy gesture, he spread his arms slightly in a silent invitation. His lover didn't hesitate and settled against him, delicately placing his lips against his.

"I love you Babe, I love you so much."

"I love you too."

The two men spent three days in the hospital, surrounded by their loved ones whenever they had a little free time. They were told by the 126 and Carlos's parents that they would take care of fixing up the house and installing a bed on the first floor, as the policeman would not be able to access the upstairs for at least a month and a half. While his right shin was only cracked, he was not so lucky with his left. The effort he had put into moving his leg, as well as the second swing of the bat, had fractured the bone. He would have to endure a cast for two weeks on his right and at least four on his left. The rest of his injuries were less restrictive. He had a bandage on his stomach and wrists that he had to avoid getting wet until it healed. A nurse would come to their house and change the bandages while T.K.'s shoulder healed. His scapula had been cracked and would have to remain immobile for at least ten days. Then he would take care of his man. He was on medical care leaves for at least two months anyway and five for Carlos. The fractures of the cheekbone and the brow bone of the policeman were clean and would not have consequences if they did not receive further shocks.

So they left the hospital, Carlos in a wheelchair, pushed by Judd, with TK walking beside them. The firefighter had made a point of helping them. He had been angry with himself for not keeping his promise to Carlos to protect TK, even though the couple had thanked him at least fifty times for saving their lives. They had to go to the police station first to give their statements. Paul was waiting for them there. It was an ordeal for Carlos and TK, who were questioned separately. Going through the traumatic memories of that morning without being able to make sure that it was over, that the other was okay, without being able to hold his hand to reassure himself was difficult for both men who just wanted to move on and rebuild their lives. The morale at half-mast, the tears at the edges of the eyes they let themselves be accompanied back home in a heavy silence.

Owen was waiting for them at home with the rest of the 126. An appetizer dinner was ready, as well as a double bed to welcome them at night. The good humor of the group finally dispelled the couple's gloomy thoughts and they had a great evening, filled with laughter and jokes. As the evening wore on, the house became emptier and eventually only Judd and Owen were left. Both tidied up and rearranged the living room, with the awkward help of the two convalescents. Owen showed his son the small rolling table on which he had placed a basin so that Carlos could make a brief toilet, the bathroom being upstairs. Judd helped the officer onto the bed and the couple thanked them warmly.

Once alone, TK sat down beside his man and kissed him passionately. Quickly the passion went up between them, they knew that they could not make what they wanted, but were not ready to separate. They needed to touch each other, to feel each other's skin against theirs, to reconnect physically. They had been afraid of losing each other in a very violent way, they needed to prove to each other that they were still alive and together in an intimate way. They stripped each other, helping each other through the casts, bandages and splints. They were finally naked, sitting next to each other, Carlos had his back against the wall, his arms around his boyfriend's waist. TK was sitting next to him, his valid hand on the jaw of the Latino. The passion fell down a few moments to give place to the sweetness. They kissed lovingly a few minutes, just enjoying being together. The fever went up all the same quickly when the hand of TK went down along the chest of his man until seizing his sex.

Carlos who waited for his boyfriend to make the first step, groaned while inhaling strongly. It was not that he did not want to touch TK, it was simply that Dylan had done it without his agreement and had threatened to rape him. The policeman was still shaking with rage and disgust at the thought, he couldn't conceive of having sex without consent, the idea was already pissing him off before their assault, but he felt it would be worse from now on.

The mouth of TK left the brown man's one to go down to the base of his neck that he bit. Carlos groaned, he was particularly sensitive there. He made slip his hands around the waist of his man in order to seize his lovers' member.

Both moaned as they gave each other pleasure. TK's mouth slowly moved down the tanned chest until he could taste his lover's sex. Carlos's breath caught when he felt the lips on his member. He let go with a long moan as they slid around him. His hand tightened around TK who moaned even more. The two men were only pleasure. The orgasm approached quickly, too much with the taste of Carlos.

"Not like that," he succeeded in blowing whereas he was really very close to the precipice.

The first-responder got up, worried that something was wrong, but the back and forth that his man's hand was doing on him was sending him a different message.

"What is it, Babe?"

"I want to look you in the eye when I cum," gasped the dark-haired man as he placed TK's hand back on his sex.

The New Yorker smiled at him, catching their eyes as they began to masturbate each other again.

"I love you Tiger," Carlos gasped just before cumming with a moan.

Seeing the one he loved come while looking into his eyes had a huge effect on TK who released himself only seconds later. They leaned their foreheads together the time to take again their breaths.

TK stood up and glanced at his man, who was stained with semen.

"I'll go get what you need to wash you," the ER whispered as he stood up.

He retrieved the necessary items quickly and tended to his man with delicacy. They finally went to bed, happy to be together.