Waking Up

Post 1x08/1x09

TK groaned, trying to determine where he was in his half-awake state. He wasn't home and he wasn't at the station. Where was he? It smelled strange… no, not strange. It smelled like the ambulance. Anti-septic and overly clean. But why would he be taking a nap in the ambulance?

He opened his eyes, squinting at the harsh lights overhead. He closed his eyes, groaning again.

"Hang on, hang on son," TK heard a voice to his right say. "There you go, open your eyes."

TK did so, glancing around the hospital room. Oh, he was in the hospital. His eyes landed on his dad who was staring at him, relief clear on his face.

"Dad?" he said, his voice soft, reaching a hand towards his father. Owen took it, his hand coming up to cup TK's cheek.

"You're okay buddy," he said softly.

"Dad," TK repeated, eyes darting around the room. "What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" His eyes grew wide.

"Did- Did I-?"

"No!" Owen replied immediately, "No kiddo, nothing like that. You… You got shot."

TK stared at his dad for a moment, before glancing down at his chest. He had to strain his neck a bit to see properly, and whether it was the movement, or the sudden awareness of something being wrong, paint bloomed across his chest.

"Dad," TK whimpered, squeezing his eyes closed against the sudden burning in his chest.

"Shh, it's okay, you're okay," Owen soothed, pressing the call button, "Doctor will be here in a minute."

"I don't want anything," TK shook his head vehemently, the movement causing more pain in his shoulder. "Dad, tell me they didn't give me anything." He stared at his father with large pleading eyes.

"They gave you some Advil and administered a nerve blocker," his dad told him calmly, "I made sure they knew no narcotics. The nerve blocker has probably worn off by now."

TK closed his eyes again, breathing through the pain as he squeezed his dad's hand.

Owen stepped back a bit when the doctor came in to do an assessment, before instructing the nurse to administer another nerve blocking agent. Once they were gone, TK reached for his dad again.

Owen started running his hand through his son's hair, a gesture that had always soothed him, even as a newborn.

"You're so strong kiddo," Owen murmured, "No one would blame you asking for painkillers right now."

"I can't," TK shook his head, "I can't do it again dad. I don't want to."

"I'm so proud of you son," Owen said, brushing a stray tear from TK's cheek.

TK reached up, holding onto his dad's one hand with both of his. He knew the nerve blocker would kick in soon enough, but until it did he couldn't focus on anything but the pain.

"I talked to your mom earlier," Owen said, trying to distract him. "She's gonna be here in a couple days. Apparently flights out of China are a bit of a mess right now."

"Mom's coming?" TK asked, squirming uncomfortably, as if trying to move away from the pain in his body.

"Course," Owen nodded, "Her kid's in the hospital, she wants to make sure you're okay. Plus she wants to kill me for letting you get hurt in the first place."

"It's not your fault," TK said, frowning deeply when his dad's only response was to chuckle humorlessly.

"Dad," TK said seriously, "It's not. The job has risks-"

"Not like this," Owen interrupted, "Yes, there are risks with the job. But those risks aren't supposed to include you getting shot. If it had been a bit more to the right…"

Owen bowed his head, trying not to imagine a world where his kid was taken from him.

"Dad… I'm okay," TK said, squeezing his dad's hand, "It hurts, but I'm okay."

Owen looked up and smiled at him, cupping his son's face.

"I'm so proud of you kiddo," Owen repeated, "I wish I could take the pain away."

"The nerve blocker's kicking in," TK said cheekily and Owen chuckled gently this time.

"Good, you should get some rest while you're comfortable," Owen told him.

"I just woke up," TK pouted.

"I guess if you don't want to sleep you could tell me about the cop who came to visit," Owen said, quirking an eyebrow.

'Wow, you know what, I'm actually really tired," TK faked a yawn.

Owen laughed and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to TK's forehead.

"I love you son," he murmured, "I'll be right here when you wake up, ready to hear about your new boyfriend."

I love how close Owen and TK are and I know in the show it wasn't always like that, and that this season we're going to see more of that tension. But I love writing and reading fics that explore that close relationship.

Thanks for reading!