#userink

7.8k || ao3

Carlos Reyes was loved.

Yes, by TK, but not only by him.

— — —

Or, a 4x04 coda in which we get to hear from everyone else and fill in some missing scenes.

This was not supposed to be this long, but it’s done! All the love to @moviegeek03 and @justaswampdemon as always for helping from start to finish (and making sure it actually got finished). 

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Gabriel Reyes thought he knew fear. 

He had been a Texas Ranger for most of his life. He had been in law enforcement even longer than that. He had seen the worst of the worst; had stared down hardened criminals that would end his life just as soon as blink. 

He thought the peak of fear had been finding out that his son’s home had burned down while he was inside. The knowledge of exactly how close he had come to losing his only child had nearly been enough to topple him, and the fact that he had been at least partially responsible didn’t help. There was the day-to-day fear of his son’s job (because of course he had followed him into the same line of work), the occasional instances of bad things happening, and feeling that rush of fear. But this? Looking down at his son’s still body as his fiancé worked to keep his heart beating? Seeing his son lying there and knowing that the only thing keeping the blood flowing through his veins was the force of a distraught TK desperately pumping it through his heart? This was the deepest and most primal fear he had ever felt. 

Somewhere deep inside he had known that this was a possibility. From the moment TK had showed up at their door with that fear in his eyes the thought had been whispering in the back of his mind. But being here and seeing it, knowing that they had been not even fifty feet from Carlos that morning; that his son had been hurt and in trouble and he had been so close but had done nothing, made it all so much more real. 

He didn’t even need to ask TK for his professional opinion of the situation, he knew how bad it was. He also knew that if they had been just a few minutes sooner Carlos could have been fine.  Just as much as he knew if they had been just a few seconds later any hope they did have (tenuous as it may be) would have expired, right along with his son. It was a cruel trick on the part of the universe; to bring them here so close to saving him but just maybe a little bit too far. 

“What is going on in there? Thierry, go bring them all back. Patrice, Samir, and that stupid chef… He’s just a chef.”

11.3k || ao3

There is nothing in the world Gwyn Morgan loves more than her children. Loving them has never been hard, but having to stand aside as life took its toll? That was something else entirely—especially when it came to her oldest.

Or, 5 times Gwyn feared for her oldest son, and the one time she knew he would be okay

It’s the Gwyn fic I have been working on for years! All the shoutouts to @moviegeek03​ and @justaswampdemon​ for continuing to put up with me and this fic as I assaulted them with snippets at the most unexpected of times. Couldn’t have (finally!) finished it without them <3

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1. 

September 2001

The day the towers fell, life as Gwyneth Morgan knew it came crashing down with them. 

The sounds of fear and pain echoed from every corner and were reflected on every face Gwyn saw as she rushed across town to pick up her son from school. She hadn’t even bothered trying to call her husband before she left her office, she knew there was no point. Every first responder in the city was heading towards what they were starting to call Ground Zero; there was no way her husband wouldn’t be one of them. Owen lived to help people, no matter the risk. She tried not to dwell on the fact that his station was one of the closest, that his crew would be one of the first on scene. She shoved aside the very real possibility that her husband might not be coming home as she fell into step with the crowd on the street. If she acknowledged that she might crumble, and she had a child to think of. 

She nodded tightly at the clerk at the school who offered her prayers for Owen’s safety. Of course she knew; they all knew. TK never seemed to be able to stop talking about how he was going to be just like his dad when he grew up; a firefighter who saved people. Owen was his hero and Gwyn didn’t even want to think what it might mean for their son if her husband didn’t come home. 

She held onto the hope that he would come home just as hard as she did her son the moment he was released into her care. She squeezed him tight enough that he protested before pulling away, forcing a smile onto her face. “C’mon TK,” she told him, “let’s go home.” 

The six blocks between TK’s school and their apartment seemed to stretch forever. She held tight to his hand as they moved with the crowd, trying to focus on their destination rather than the panic and fear around them. It took them longer than usual to make the journey but eventually they were home and Gwyn felt like she could breathe again.  

The ash was heavy in the air outside their Tribeca apartment, but Gwyn would be damned if she didn’t do everything in her power to make the inside of their home into a bubble where this didn’t exist, at least for a little while. Soon enough they’d have to face this one way or the other, but right now they were stuck in a liminal space of not knowing which ways their lives would upend and Gwyn intended to make the most of it. 

Depending on if her husband walked through their door tonight or not this may be the last time she got to see her son smile for a long time, after all. 

Chapter 2 || ao3

(Chapter 1)

Stranded and facing a holiday stuck in an airport, TK and Carlos find an alternate mode of transportation.

Another belated happy holidays to @bonheur-cafe as I continue to post your tarlos secret santa fic. Hope you’re still enjoying! Many thanks to @moviegeek03 for helping me with plot points and to @justaswampdemon letting me ramble about it while drinking. You’re both incredible. 

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If holiday travel was hell, interrupted holiday travel was an even deeper circle that Dante had neglected to mention.

“It’s not even that much snow!” TK objected to the harried agent at the desk after an eternity of waiting in line. “Are you really telling me I’m going to be stuck in this airport over Christmas for a dusting?” 

“I’m sorry sir, I really don’t have a say in that.” 

TK closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath. “No, of course you don’t, I’m sorry.” 

The man at the counter gave him a small smile, “I understand that this is frustrating, sir.” 

“That still doesn’t excuse me taking it out on you,” TK replied. “Is there any chance I can at least get a place to stay tonight until I can figure this out?” 

“Of course.” The man — Gerry, according to his name tag — looked down at his computer and began typing as TK swallowed down another sigh and settled for lightly tapping his fingers against the counter. He watched the other man and when he saw him grimace, he groaned. 

“Let me guess, that’s a no.” 

“It appears,” Gerry began evenly, “that the last room reserved for the airline was just booked. You can call and see if they have any more available...” 

“But they probably don’t.” 

“Unfortunately, yes.” 

TK sighed and dropped his head forward into his hands. He took a measured breath before he looked up again at Gerry. “What about a second flight? Anything I can schedule since I will apparently be sleeping here anyways?” 

Gerry grimaced again and TK let out a sigh of frustration before the man could even speak, “I’m assuming that’s a no too.”

A series of texts between Carlos and Nancy over the course of Lou's time at the loft

read on ao3

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Carlos: You let him bring that THING home???

Nancy: that's not very nice, Carlos. Lou has feelings too.

Carlos: I am not calling it that. 

Nancy: why so hostile, dude? Not a fan of reptiles?

Carlos: No, not particularly. 

             Especially when they come out of some guy’s LEG

Nancy: yeah, it was super gross. 

Carlos: What the fuck, Nancy? I thought you had my back. 

Nancy: oh I do, this was just too good to pass up. 

Carlos: I hate you.

Nancy: no you don’t. 

             you could have said no, you know. 

Carlos: When he was looking like that? 

             I’m only so strong, Nance.

Nancy: sap.