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If TK were being honest, he would say it was entirely his fault, that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’d been at a callout, the 126 Engine arriving on site first, the ambulance rig arriving second. When TK had climbed out of the rig, he could see Judd working almost violently on knocking down a wall with a sledgehammer, swinging hard like an Olympic champion, watching as the structure started to cave under his administrations. He edged closer, ready to help, when he noticed one of the support beams slip dangerously.
“Judd, look out!” called TK. Judd didn’t hear him, too engrossed in his task, and TK glanced up to watch the acrow prop slip again, almost free of the roof it was holding up. “Judd!” He still didn’t hear him, and TK glanced at the others, everyone else already tasked and busy, none of them watching out for the man who treated him like a brother. He charged forward as Judd swung the sledgehammer back, catching TK square in the ribs as he knocked him out of the way. The support prop gave way seconds later, the roof collapsing downward to where Judd had been standing seconds earlier.
“God, TK, thanks. You okay?” asked Judd breathlessly. He staggered upright before pulling TK to his feet, clapping him on the back. TK saw stars for a moment, struggling to take a breath as his ribs grated under his palm. He knew he’d been hit hard, but he couldn’t tell Judd, the man would be crushed if he thought he’d hurt TK in any way.
“Yeah, just a bit winded. You get in there, Cap’s gonna need help,” replied TK, still trying to catch his breath.
“Oh, yeah!” Judd headed back into the building, and TK staggered over to the edge of the ambulance, gingerly taking a seat.
“You okay there, Strand?” asked Nancy.
“Yeah, Judd’s a big boy, he just knocked the wind out of me, that’s all,” he replied.
“As long as you’re okay, dude. He can hit pretty hard,” commented Nancy, watching the scene. Tommy strode forward, joining Owen for a brief moment, before shaking her head and returning to her two paramedics.
“DOA. We’re not required, they’re going to bring in the coroner and forensics. Shift will be ending on time today,” replied Tommy. She climbed into the back of the ambulance, Nancy sliding the gurney in until it locked into place. Nancy slammed the doors, and turned to TK.
“Fight you for the front seat,” she smirked, raising an eyebrow at him.
“No need. You can drive, be in charge of the music, whatever,” responded TK.
“You sure you’re okay?” asked Nancy, frowning.
“Yeah, just a bit sore. It was a hard hit, you’re not wrong there,” answered TK. Nancy tutted at him before snatching the keys from his grasp, waltzing around to the driver’s side. TK pulled open the passenger side door, carefully easing himself inside and letting his head fall back for a moment as a particularly deep inhale sent sparks of pain flaring through his side, and dark spots blurring his vision. After a few seconds the moment passed, and he pulled the door closed before buckling his seatbelt up. Nancy kept up a steady stream of chatter while they headed back to the station, TK still clutching his ribs and trying not to look suspicious, each breath a little harder than the last. When reversed the rig in, spotting Carlos outside, he could have cried in relief.
“Looks like your boy is here to collect you,” remarked Tommy, climbing out of the back of the rig as soon as it was parked.
“Yeah, we’ve got dinner reservations tonight, I definitely can’t miss that.” TK unclipped the seatbelt, swinging open his door, and carefully sliding down until his feet touched the concrete floor.
“TK? Baby, are you okay?” asked Carlos.
“Yeah, I think so. Took a hit from Judd today, he’s built like a line-backer. Just a bit bruised,” admitted TK.
“You were at the Parker incident, right? The one with the caved in roof and the junkies,” murmured Carlos. He glanced up as the 126 Engine pulled into the bay, the team climbing out and setting up their turnouts for the next call.
“Yeah. Judd was trying to get into building through the wall with a sledgehammer, and –” TK sucked in a breath, seeing stars behind his eyes for a moment, a hand snapping out to grasp Carlos’ shoulder.
“TK?” TK shook his head, trying to suck in more air, the pressure on his chest increasing dramatically, and he felt his knees fold underneath him. “Judd? Tommy? I need help!” called Carlos, sounding panicked and frightened. TK wished he could erase that look of terror from his boyfriends face, but right now he was struggling just to get enough air into his chest to keep living. Tommy and Judd joined Carlos seconds later, Tommy snapping her fingers for Nancy to bring over a medi-kit as Judd fumbled with TK’s shirt, unbuttoning it and ripping it open.
“Shit, TK why didn’t you tell me?” asked Judd brokenly, the square red mark on TK’s chest angry looking and darkening by the minute. TK grabbed his hand, giving it a desperate squeeze.
“Wasn’t your fault,” he exhaled, before coughing, blood staining his lips as Nancy put an oxygen mask over TK’s face.
“What happened?” Carlos asked Judd. Judd traced the outline on TK’s chest, a very light touch, before looking up at Carlos.
“I didn’t think I’d hit him. I was gonna swing again, and when I swung the sledgehammer back, he was behind me and tackled me to the ground. This… this is my fault Carlos,” explained Judd desperately. Paul joined them a few seconds later, and Nancy grabbed the gurney from the rig while Tommy gently felt down TK’s ribs.
“I think you’ve broken a couple of ribs, Strand, and I wouldn’t mind betting you’ve punctured a lung too. Just hang on, and we’ll get you to the hospital, okay?”
Carlos sat in the waiting area, Judd beside him, sniffling slightly.
“I’m so sorry, Carlos. I shoulda known,” mumbled Judd.
“You didn’t know, none of this is your fault. TK wouldn’t have told you because he didn’t want to upset you,” explained Carlos, leaning over his knees, hands clasped.
“I’m just… I’m supposed to have his back. He’s my little brother, even if he’s not on the engine anymore. I didn’t look out for him today, and look where it got us,” answered Judd, leaning his head back against the wall. Carlos was quiet, exhaling carefully while he pondered Judd’s words.
“It got us exactly where we thought it would. We both know TK’s accident prone, and if we thought anything was wrong, we would have forced him to sit down and let Tommy check him over, but he brushed aside everyone. This isn’t anyone’s fault Judd, it was an accident.”
“Family of Mr. Strand?” called a nurse. Judd and Carlos stood up, following the nurse down the corridor to the room where TK had been admitted.
“He’s feeling a little worse for the wear. He’s definitely punctured a lung, so they’ve treated that, and he’ll be here for a couple of days while we monitor him. He’s not on any narcotics or opiates as requested, so he’ll be feeling very sorry for himself once the anaesthetic has worn off, explained the nurse cheerily. They stepped into the room, and Carlos inhaled sharply at the sight of TK on a hospital bed again, unconscious. “I’ll leave you boys with him. Just buzz if you have any questions.” Carlos nodded to her, before taking a seat next to TK’s bed, Judd taking one on the other side, clasping his hands together and throwing up a silent prayer to the heavens.
“He’ll be okay, he usually is,” reassured Carlos quietly.
“He will be. He bounced back pretty good from that gunshot, and that knock on the head a few months back. He has to be okay,” added Judd. TK groaned between them, before coughing and wincing, eyes snapping open and hands coming to his chest to hold his ribs. Carlos gently lifted TK’s hands, wedging a pillow underneath them before helping TK sit up slightly.
“Judd? What are you doing here?” croaked TK.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay, and to tell you how angry I am that you didn’t tell anyone you were hurtin’! This could have been so much worse, TK, and I can’t believe you didn’t tell anyone that I’d hurt you!” exclaimed Judd angrily. TK leaned against the pillows, sighing a little.
“I didn’t want to worry you Judd, and I know you didn’t mean it. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” whispered TK, eyes drifting closed again. Carlos smoothed a hand through TK’s hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Get some sleep, baby, we’ll be here when you wake up.”