Carlos Reyes

"*And I already told you, TK, when I married Iris, I was the project. I was trying to fix myself. But I was trying to fix something... that wasn't actually broken.*"
—Carlos Reyes[src]
**Carlos Reyes** is a character on FOX's *9-1-1: Lone Star* who works as a police officer in the Austin Police Department. He debuts in the first episode of the first season and is portrayed by starring cast member Rafael Silva.

## History

### Early Life

Carlos came out to his parents when he was seventeen. They were shocked but they hugged him and told him they loved him. Still, they never mentioned his coming out the next morning or ever since. This made Carlos feel like he was a disappointment to his parents, so he married his best friend, Iris Blake, and tried to make his relationship with her work. Eventually they ended up leading separate lives, but never divorced.

### Helping Michelle

Carlos is first seen on the show, arresting his sister-in-law, Michelle, for violating the restraining order Dustin (her sister's ex boyfriend) has against her. Carlos had always been helping her to find her sister (and his estranged wife) Iris, who went missing three years ago. After finding some evidence, he accompanies her showing them to the detective in charge of the case. He's present to support her when they found the track Iris was in when it crashed before she disappeared.

After Iris is found alive and suffering from schizophrenia, Carlos chooses not to pursue a divorce so that his insurance can pay for her medical care.

### Getting Suspended

In "Bad Call", Carlos stops a man who has just robbed a bank but when the suspect told him about the men that grabbed him, put a bomb on him and forced him to rob the bank. Carlos trusts his instincts and let the man go, under the disapprobation of his partner. Once he gets back to the police station, his chief took his badge and gun and asked him to stay in the interrogation room to wait for the investigator; who turned out to be his father, Gabriel. Gabriel started to ask him questions on what exactly happened and Carlos realized Gabriel does not believe him either. At the end of the interrogation, Gabriel tells Carlos that he should not be leaving town and when Carlos comes closer to his father telling that "he trusted his instincts like [Gabriel] always taught him", his father replied with how he should have the right instincts. Then, looking for comfort Carlos goes to the firehouse for TK but since he's out on a call, Owen tells him to wait in the firehouse for him and offers him a smoothie. Carlos tells Owen about his suspension and how from now on, he will only go by the books because he's not sure he can trust his instincts anymore. Owen tells him that maybe the books aren't always right and one should rely on their instinct more. Owen asks him if his dad can't do anything to help him and Carlos answers that the case is his. Owen mentions how uncomfortable the situation between them must be, Carlos tells him that the situation have been uncomfortable between them for a while, since he came out and joined APD. That his father thought Carlos was too soft for the job. Owen tells him that "there should be a heart behind that shield, you've got a good one."

Later that day, Carlos is called to the station once again, where the suspect he freed yesterday corroborated with Carlos' assumptions. Carlos is waiting for his father to tells him that he was right and that his instincts were good but Gabriel answers that he can't comment on "an ongoing investigation", Carlos is annoyed by that answer and leaves the office after telling Gabriel to let him know when his chief tells him what to think of him. When Carlos is waiting for TK to shows up for dinner, he realized something is wrong and goes to the Strands house to see if he's there. Owen tells him that he's not there and that they thought he was at Carlos'. They start thinking about the possibility that TK relapsed after hearing the news of Gwyn moving back but Owen decides to call Tommy, which goes straight to voicemail, showing that they're still on a call and then decides to call the captain on duty who tells him that TK, Tommy and Nancy haven't given any signs of life for hours. Owen lies to Gwyn about TK's disappearance and tells her that he and Carlos will go pick TK up at the firehouse. Owen decides to call Grace so she can tells them where they are but Grace tells them that they just have disappeared off the map. Carlos and Owen go to the parking garage where they were last seen and find TK's sobriety chip and the brown panel van that was used by the robbers earlier. Carlos quickly understand that Tommy must have led them to Charles' restaurant because it's a safe space with a quick access to it. Carlos and Owen arrive just in time and Owen shoots the man who was going to hurt Tommy while Carlos runs to TK and takes him in his arms. While Carlos is waiting by TK's side before he gets in the ambulance we hear Owen telling Gabriel that his son is "an impressive guy". Gabriel walks up to him and says to Carlos that he trusted his instincts and then, that he's proud of him. Few seconds later, Gabriel reveals to Carlos that he knew TK was his boyfriend since the day they met at the farmer market and that he expects a proper introduction next time, Carlos tells him that his dad is going to really like TK and Gabriel answers that he already does because his son got great instincts in people. Finally, Carlos joins TK in the ambulance ride to the hospital and is present in the hospital room with Gwyn and Owen.

### Arson Case

In "The Big Heat", Carlos comes by the firehouse to tell TK that Owen was arrested for arson, and TK tells him that Carlos needs to call his dad to clear everything up. Carlos tells him that the Texas Rangers were the ones who arrested Owen and that Gabriel was the arresting officer. TK tells him that Gabriel is out of his mind if he thinks that Owen is an arsonist and Carlos says that they don't have all the facts yet and that his father wouldn't make an arrest without good reasons while TK retorts that his father isn't a criminal. Carlos tells him that he never said he was while TK replies that his father does and it sounds like Carlos is defending him. TK asks how can Gabriel thinks Owen is the arsonist when they spent three hours together the other night making Carlos answers that it was actually an hour, because Owen was late and that he checked and that Carlos check on Owen's story to find that he was lying. TK shoves Carlos away three times by pushing his chest while asking him if he thinks that his dad is a criminal. Carlos catches him from behind and tells him to calm down while TK repeatedly tells Carlos that he needs to leave him alone. Judd intervenes and says that Carlos needs to go. Carlos leaves and we see TK with tears in his eyes.

TK comes back home to Carlos preparing dinner for both of them after the firehouse blew up. TK starts talking about the other "blow up" at the firehouse - meaning their fight - but Carlos stops him and tells him that they agreed that no apologies were needed. At night, TK is struggling with the alarm that doesn't seem to be working and Carlos tells him that it's been acting up all day and that the company will come tomorrow but that they should go to bed. Once they're in the bedroom, they start making out but stop when TK starts smelling smoke from the fire downstairs. They both discover the fire and soon, the fire starts in the bedroom to and the only way out is by jumping out of the window. Carlos breaks the window with a chair and TK tells him to go first and that he'll be right behind him. Before leaving, Carlos turns to TK and starts stuttering and TK cuts him off saying that he loves him too. Right before they jump, Owen kicks down the door and gives them shirts to put on their noses and mouths before making them leave the house safely with the help of Billy and Judd. Once they're out of the house, TK asks Carlos how he's doing and Carlos says that he's good. He adds that he didn't think they were going to make it out of the house, Carlos starts apologising about not having a fire extinguisher in the room before starting to cry. TK hugs him and tells him in repeat that it's okay and that they're okay while kissing his faces multiple times.

### Ice Storm

In "The Big Chill", Carlos arrives at the firehouse where Marjan handcuffed herself and arrests her. In the way to the precinct, Carlos tells her that she has to stop, Marjan replies that she won't. Carlos tells her that everyone's devasted by the demolition of the 126 but they all have accepted it, brutal as it is. Marjan asks him if he's talking about the firehouse or about himself and a certain paramedic. Carlos tells her that it's important to know when a thing's over and when it's time to move on. Marjan says that it's more like giving up and that they used to be a family, Carlos says that they're now a slightly estranged family.

Later he's sent on a call at a furniture store about a possible break-in. Carlos goes in and finds a Major who's in a wheelchair and a Sergeant in the store, trying to hide from the ice storm. He asks them to leave but they won't budge and tells him that he'll have to arrest them. Carlos brings both men to a shelter and let a volunteer find them a spot before turning away to leave, he's stopped when a tree is thrown against a window and break it. Carlos puts the tree away with the help of the leader of the shelter. At the shelter, the Major Carlos brought starts getting distressed because he doesn't like wall, the Sergeant tells Carlos that the Major was a Prisoner of War for two years and that he doesn't like closed spaces. Carlos comes closer to the Major and starts reassuring him by telling him that he can't go outside right now because it's not safe and that he and the Sergeant are safer here with a roof over their heads. Seconds after, the roof starts to collapse because of the snow, Carlos tells everyone to leave the building right now before he picks up the Major in his arms and helps him leave the building before it collapses on them.

The 122 arrives at the shelter that collapsed that is on fire when it hit a gas line when it dropped. Carlos tells Captain Andrews that they managed to get everyone out but they need to get the people to another shelter. Judd intervenes and says that he called the warming centers and they're all filled up and the shelter isn't open for another 4 hours. Carlos tells them that he might know a place that's open now. He brings the people to the furniture store that the boss accepts to spare as a shelter. Carlos is surprised when Tommy, TK and Nancy arrive at the furniture store because he called for cuts and bruises and didn't expect dispatch to send an ambulance for a private company there. TK tells him that the city is spread thin today. Carlos starts stuttering when he tries to offer them a spot where they can stay. The owner of the store cuts him off and tells him that they can set up in the dining room display. Tommy asks Carlos how many people are there, and he tells that there's 25 area residents and 3 church volunteers. Nancy asks him if he's thinking they're all green tag but Carlos is realising that someone's missing. He tells the paramedics as much and leaves under TK's worried gaze. Carlos runs to Judd, Paul and Mateo to tell them that someone is still stuck inside, a teenager volunteer named Lindsey. Paul tells him that they had a list and Carlos replies that she was the one in charge of the list so she didn't count herself. Later, he brings Lindsey's parents to the 122 and 129 where they thank the firefighters to help save their daughter.

In "Thin Ice", Nancy asks Carlos to come down here and when he scoffs about "typical TK" telling him he wants to talk only when he's in the ICU after not having spoke to Carlos in months, she tells him that TK didn't actually ask to radio Carlos today. Carlos tells her that she said he wanted him here and Nancy replies that it was a lie. Carlos starts to ask her why she would lie about that but they're interrupted by the boy's - Abe - mother who asks Nancy if she's one of the paramedics who save her son. Nancy says that she is and the mother tells her that she's a hero. Nancy replies that she isn't, the hero is "her friend TK" who went into the pond to save her son. Nancy asks the mother how is Abe doing and she replies that he'll make a full recovery and that she wants them to know how grateful she is for them and that they're all praying for TK. Once she's gone, Carlos asks Nancy how serious it is and Nancy replies that it's not good and that Tommy is with the doctor right now, getting the latest news. Tommy comes out of TK's room and when Nancy asks her what the doctor say, Tommy replies that they have to find Owen, implying that TK's condition is not good at all.

In "Shock and Thaw", Carlos is sitting at TK's bedside when TK's monitor starts beeping before standing up when a doctor and nurse come in. The doctor tells the nurse to starts pushing Epi and to get a crash cart in the room. Carlos asks her what's going on and the doctor tells him that TK's heart rate is too slow and that he's severely bradycardic. Carlos asks her if TK is going to be okay and the doctor pushes him out of the room so they can do their job. A nurse pushes Carlos out of the way while he's too focused on TK.

Later, Dr Patel - TK's doctor - tells Carlos, Tommy and Nancy that they manage to get TK's heart back into rhythm. Nancy asks if that's good news and the doctor tells them that his body is still not compensating. Carlos asks compensating for what and Tommy explains to him that it means his vital signs haven't returned to normal, at least yet. Dr Patel tells them that he's been through a major trauma and that she's afraid is on the verge of multi-system organ failure. Carlos asks her about how they stop that from happening and she replies that unfortunately there isn't much they can do other than keep him sedated, to give his body a chance to recover without additional stress. Carlos asks if that usually works for someone in his condition, Dr Patel replies that it can and then Carlos asks what they're looking at here, realistically speaking. The doctor replies that they're looking closely at his labs, but if they continue trending down, she stops herself and Carlos realises that they could lose him. She apologises for not having better news and leaves them once a nurse comes to her. Tommy tells Carlos to relax and that they're going to keep praying. Tommy and Nancy both grab Carlos' hands, Nancy telling them that if they know one thing about TK is that he doesn't know how to stay down. Tommy agreeing with her. Carlos suddenly stands up, saying that he needs fresh air, Nancy asks him if he wants someone to come with him but Carlos refuses, telling her he needs to be alone for a minute.

In "Push", Carlos is in TK's hospital room when the nurses start talking about how they shouldn't have saved TK from his cardiac arrest in the snow because now, his coma is just torturing his friends and family. Outside of TK's room, Carlos is sitting with Nancy and asks her if he's the "world biggest schmuck" because he's holding vigil for a man who doesn't even want him in his life before asking again if that doesn't scream schmuck, Nancy replies that it doesn't at all because TK loves him, then she asks her where did he pick up "schmuck", Carlos replied that he picked it from TK. Then, Carlos asks Nancy why did she say that, that TK loves him, Nancy only replying that she said it because it's true. Carlos asks her that since she's been by TK's side the whole time, if he has ever talked about Carlos, saying that he didn't think so when Nancy tells him that TK doesn't talk about him much. Nancy continues by saying that TK does bite her head off when she brings up Carlos' name. Carlos sarcastically replies that it makes him feels so much better. Nancy tells him that it should because TK doesn't wanna hear about him because it's too painful for him, which means he still has it bad for Carlos. Then, Carlos asks her that if TK loves him that much then why did he break his heart.

Later, Carlos is back in TK's room, staring at him before being interrupted by a knock on the door. He turns his head and sees Andrea at the door. They hug and Carlos asks her what she is doing here because he told her to not go out in that storm. Andrea asks him if he really thinks a few snowflakes will stop her from going to see her son who is hurting. Carlos asks her if Gabriel knows she's here and Andrea asks him what could Gabriel possibly say. Carlos says that he appreciates her being here and Andrea kisses his cheek. They both sat at TK's bedside and Andrea asks Carlos what did the doctor said. Carlos replies that they said TK is heading in the wrong direction, Andrea tells him that the doctor doesn't know everything and that TK is a fighter and that he has something to fight for; the love of his life who's sitting right here and waiting for him. Carlos confesses to his mother that he and TK broke up a few months ago. Andrea asks him why he didn't say anything, Carlos said that he wanted to but it was amazing how her and Gabriel were so supportive of them and he didn't want to let them down. Andrea replies that there is nothing Carlos could do that would let them down and that her and Gabriel are so proud of the man he is. Carlos thanks her and Andrea tells him that they love TK too but than when he wakes up, she's going to have a little conversation with him. Carlos asks her a conversation about what and Andrea tells him about how why TK thought he could break Carlos' heart and get away with it, making Carlos laugh when she added "Mama's not happy.".

While they're still at his bedside, it looks like TK is trying to wake up. Andrea pointing out that it looks like TK is trying to tell them something but Carlos tells her that the nurse said it's just muscle spasms, that they don't mean anything but Andrea isn't convinced. She tells Carlos that he has to talk to TK, Carlos refuses and when Andrea asks why Carlos responds that he wouldn't know what to say. Andrea tells him that he should tell him what's on his heart and Carlos replies that if he told him what was on his heart, it wouldn't be very nice, because he's angry. Andrea says that he should tell him anyway, because TK needs to hear it and Carlos needs to say it. Especially if this might be his last chance to say something to TK. She tells him that she'll be outside, kisses Carlos' cheek and leaves the room.

Later, Carlos brings his chair closer to TK's bed before starting talking to him. He tells him that he's been there for a while now and that he doesn't even know if TK wants him there but he's in no position to walk out this time. He continues by saying that Andrea was right and that he needs to tell him that he's still really mad at TK right now and that the worst part about this whole thing is that if this is goodbye, he can't even hold TK's hand, runs his fingers through his hair or kiss his head because he feels like it would be some kind of a violation. Then, Carlos appears in TK's coma dreams as he is talking to an unconscious TK and TK tells Gwyn that Carlos looks really mad. Gwyn confirms that he doesn't look particularly happy before asking TK what he did to "that poor boy". TK asks her why she immediately assumes it's his fault because there was blame on both sides. Gwyn reprimands him using his full name before saying that he didn't actually go with that line before telling him that whatever happened, he just has to own it. TK asks her why does he even have to tell her what happened because she already know, considering she's just a figment of his imagination. Gwyn replies that figment or not she's still his mother. TK agrees and starts telling about how after the fire, they moved in with Owen but we're still looking for a new place to live in and Carlos found a loft downtown with polished concrete floors, great light and in walking distance to amazing nightlife. When Gwyn tells him that it sounds fantastic, TK agrees and says that he was in love with it but they didn't want to lease it and that they were looking for buyers not renters. Gwyn finishes that they couldn't come up with the down payment because TK didn't have a good credit because of bad choices he made in the past so then they had to deal with their crushing disappointment - mostly TK's because Carlos said he didn't care where they lived as long as they were together - so they agreed to keep looking. Carlos, then, told him that he had found something, takes TK back to the exact same place and tells him that he went back, made an offer and bought it. Gwyn replies that it's so romantic and TK tells her that it was a power move, Gwyn continues saying that it also could be an unbelievable sweet gesture which TK agrees, it could be both, like a really sweet power move. TK says that Carlos didn't want him to feel like he was living in his space again so he put his name on the deed, making him half owner, even though he knew TK didn't have the money. Gwyn understands then that TK panicked because things were too good, that everything was perfect so he blew it up. TK tells Gwyn that he hurt Carlos so bad and he asks her what if Carlos doesn't take him back. Gwyn tells him there's only way to find out, he needs to wake up.

Carlos is sitting at TK's bedside when he wakes up. He calls out for the nurses to come quickly. When TK tries to get rid off the ventilator on his mouth, Carlos grabs his hands to try to stop him before he's pushing out of the room by the nurses as they call for Dr. Patel. The doctor waves Carlos inside the room again where TK whispers a "hey baby" to Carlos before telling him to breathe when he saw how tense Carlos is. Then, he hold out his hand for Carlos to hold it, letting it fall when he notices Carlos doesn't move but Carlos reacts and takes TK's hand in his, following TK's movement when he put their linked hands on his chest, above his heart. Carlos starts caressing TK's hair before kissing his cheek, TK grabbing his shirt and then softly collapsing on TK while the other man hugs him back.

### Return of the 126

Weeks later, after they get back together during his hospital stay, Carlos brings TK from the hospital to the place he bought for them months ago when they broke up. Carlos covers TK's eyes asking to not peek. TK asks him if it's really necessary because he already saw the place and Carlos tells him that he hasn't seen finished. TK jokes about Carlos being a control freak before Carlos put his hand away, waiting a second and telling TK to open his eyes. TK smiles looking around their apartment, saying that it's so much nicer than he remembers it, then he notices his exercise bike and his throw blanket, jokingly asking if he break into his house and move him in while he was at the hospital. Carlos laughs and tells him that Mateo let him in. TK tells him that Carlos moved him in, Carlos agreeing to it before welcoming TK in their new home. They kiss and TK teases Carlos about being the world biggest control freak which Carlos replies to by saying that TK loves it, TK agrees and they kiss one more time before falling onto the couch.

Later, Carlos is present at the opening ceremony of the 126, standing beside Grace, Charlie, Evie and Isabella as they watch Owen talk. At the party, Carlos is sitting next to TK talking to Marjan and Cole. Then, while TK is filling their glasses with punch, Owen joins them and asks them if the firehouse is still homey and that he didn't go too far in the remodal. TK replies that the firehouse looks exactly the same before Owen asks him, offended, if he's out of his mind. Carlos asks Owen if the subway tile on the backslpash is new and Owen thanks him for noticing and that he always wanted to get rid of it, almost making this whole thing worth it. When they're about to walk somewhere else, TK stops and freezes when he sees Gwyn coming in the firehouse with Jonah in her arms, asking Owen if she's really here. Owen tells him that she's late but she's here while Gwyn apologises for missing the ceremony. TK asks her why she didn't tell them she was coming and Gwyn replies that it's because Owen and her wanted it to be a surprise. Gwyn kisses Owen's cheek and hugs Carlos before hugging TK, telling to be careful to not squish his brother. Owen jokes about Jonah being a heartbreaker in the future before asking if he doesn't kind of look like him. Gwyn replying that he's crazy. Then, he's seen dancing with Marjan and TK and Jonah, holding his boyfriend with one arm.

### Becoming a detective

In "Child Care", after an house is set on fire and a little girl is missing. Carlos goes canvassing the neighborhood to see if anyone saw anything suspicious the night of the fire. After he asks questions to one of the neighbors, coming up empty, he sees a doorbell camera and realizes that there might be footage taken across the street on it. He brings all that to Detective Washington and shows her a camera footage from Katie's - the missing girl - house just after the fire. Washington tells him that they already know she started the fire since the point of origin was in her bedroom but Carlos tells her that this isn't the most interesting part, he shows her that Katie wasn't running from the house, she was running to someone or something. Washington tells him that Katie couldn't drive herself out of the neighborhood so she asks him if he thinks Katie knew her abductor. Carlos replies that yes he does and that person convinced her to set the fire. Washington says that it's an interesting theory and Carlos replies that he'd be interested in start running checks on family and friends, see if anybody comes up suspicious. Washington replies that she appreciates the initiative but she's going to do it and to leaves his canvassing notes before he leaves.

Later in the week, Carlos goes back to Detective Washington's office with files but finds out that she's not there. While she isn't, Carlos tries to find the files from the missing girl case. Washington comes back quickly and asks him what he's doing when she sees him looking through her files. He awkwardly replies that he was straightening the clutter and Washington tells him that there's no clutter, it's her system. He apologizes and tells her that he was just leaving the traffic camera within two miles of Katie's house, since he's been running plates and got through a third of them. Washington tells Carlos that it must have taken hours and Carlos replies that he's been doing it on his own time and that there's a note in the files explaining everything. When he's about to leave, she stops him and tells him to come take a seat. She tells him she's been doing some digging in that theory he has that Katie knew her abductor, Carlos asks her if she agrees, and she replies that she does and she doesn't. Washington continues by telling him that Katie had a nanny cam in her bedroom, it was destroyed in the fire, but they managed to pull footages of it from the cloud. They watch the footages and see Katie talking to Mr. Whispers, a voice in the nanny cam. Then, Carlos and Detective Washington go to the hospital to see Katie's parents. The mother tells them she thought Mr. Whispers was Katie's imaginary friend and Washington tells them that someone probably hacked into their nanny cam before asking them if they recognize the voice. Both parents say they don't and that they never heard it in their lives. The mother asks them whoever this is took their daughter and Washington tells her that it's likely yes, before asking them if they share their Wi-Fi passwords with anyone: friends, workers or neighbors. The father replies that they did before the mother tells him they have the password written on the router and that they have parties, so anyone could've seen it. Washington asks them to write every name they remember before Carlos jumps into the conversation, asking them when did Katie start talking about her imaginary friend. The mother replies that she doesn't know exactly but probably months.

At night, Carlos is watching the footages of the nanny cam in his and TK's living room, startling when TK softly touches his shoulder after being so focused on the nanny cam. TK apologizes for scaring him and Carlos tells him that he isn't the scary one. TK tells him that it's three in the morning and he should come back to bed. Carlos replies that he doesn't even know if he could sleep if he came back to bed because the nanny cam footages is kind of terrifying. TK tells him to scoot over before he goes on the couch and starts laying between Carlos and the back of the couch, asking him what they're looking for and Carlos tells him that they're looking for anything who could help them identify who's behind the abduction. TK asks him how he knows it's not just Russian hackers and Carlos tells him that they don't usually kidnap children especially without a ransom demand. While watching one video, TK tells him that it's so messed up and Carlos adds that the person is grooming Katie. Later, TK fell asleep on Carlos and Carlos spends the whole night trying to figure out who Mr. Whispers is and managing to when the sun rises.

The next day, Carlos shows what he discovered to Detective Washington, showing her a footage of Katie with her former nanny, Danica Hendry. Washington tells him that the Conrad's said she had moved out of state to be with her family during the pandemic. Carlos said that yes, she did until she rented an apartment in Austin two months ago, the same time a voice appeared on the nanny cam and Danica is the only person who calls Katie "Katie-cat" before adding that the accomplice must have picked it up from her, Washington asks that there's an accomplice now and Carlos said that the voice in the nanny cam is the voice of a man. Washington tells him that it's actually not and that Forensic just sent her proof that the abductor was using an audio filter who can change voices. Carlos says that the voice is Danica's and Washington tells him that she'll see what Forensic says, Carlos tells her that he wouldn't wait for that. Washington tells him that she's going to need more than an audio of a nanny cam for a judge to issue a warrant. Then, Carlos shows her the traffic cam he pulled up of a picture of Danica's car leaving Katie's neighborhood two minutes after the fire started. Then, the Austin PD with Carlos and Washington go to Danica's apartment only to find it empty, before Carlos notices Katie's rabbit plush on an armchair. Washington says they'll put two unmarked cars in front of the house and put an Amber Alert on Danica's jeep.

Later, Owen enters a pursuit with Danica after recognizing her car on the Amber Alert and he manages to stop her, waiting for Austin PD to arrest her. When they get there, Carlos is confused about why Owen is here and when Washington asks him if he knows him, he tells her that he's the captain of the 126 and his father-in-law, more or less. Then, he tells Owen and Catherine that Detective Washington will ask them to come by the station tomorrow so they can give their statements. After that, Carlos brings Katie to the hospital so she can reunite with her parents. When they leave, Washington tells him that Carlos did a good work, but she asks if anyone ever told him he was a pushy bastard and Carlos replies that his boyfriend thinks he's a control freak. Washington tells him that he's not wrong before asking Carlos if he ever thinks about taking the detective exam, Carlos asks her if she really means it and she replies that they could use a few more pushy bastards.

In "Prince Albert in a Can", Carlos is sent on a call with the SWAT and is outside while the 126 and the SWAT are inspecting the inside of the house. There he found a man crawling out of the house and engages pursuit. He stops the man and tries to get him to talk until he realizes that he has a knife in his hand. Carlos asks him to put the knife down and put back his gun before grabbing his taser. When Mark - the man - gets too close to Carlos, he tases him and Mark falls on the ground. Carlos informs dispatch of what happened before trying to make Mark stands up before he realizes that the man stabbed himself in the neck when he fell. Carlos asks Grace to send paramedics and Tommy and TK soon join him on the scene, trying to save Mark but ultimately failing to. When Marjan and Judd join them, Carlos asks them if they found the woman and the baby who initially started the call, but they tell him that no one was in that house and it looks like it was a prank call.

The next day, Carlos is at his and TK's loft working out by using their punching bag. TK asks him to calm down with his "rage punching" and Carlos replies that he isn't doing that. Soon, they're interrupted by the doorbell and Carlos goes to open the door, finding Grace outside the loft. She comes in and Carlos asks her if something happened, Grace tells him that she's angry they got played during the latest call and Carlos replies that he's frustrated too. Grace continues by saying she isn't frustrated; she's pissed off about what happened, and TK tells her that Carlos is pissed off too. Grace asks Carlos if he knows what happened isn't his fault and Carlos replies that it's what he's trying to tell himself. Grace adds that this death isn't on her or on him and when Carlos asks why it feels like it is, she tells him that it's because someone took away their power and that they have to take it back. Grace tells him that they have to investigate on their own but Carlos replies that he's on mandatory leave while the Department investigates, and that Austin PD is already working the case. Grace tells him that they probably already tons of cases and Carlos replies that he's a police officer, not a detective. TK intervenes, reminding Carlos that he's the one who solved the kidnapping case when detectives couldn't. Grace finishes by saying that Carlos got skills and rage which will be two things that will help them solve this case, together.

Later, Carlos and Grace are at the Ryder's house to work on the case. They try to investigate the drug angle but can't find anything and then, with Judd's help, they realize there's a gaming angle to the case. While looking at a lot of streaming videos, they eventually find Mark's biggest rival and when they realize he lives in Los Angeles and not Austin, they call LAPD and Athena is the one making the arrest there. Once the arrest is made, they're on Facetime with Athena and she mistakes Carlos for a detective, he tells her that he's simply a patrol officer and she replies that there's "no such thing as simply a patrol officer".

In "Negative Space", Owen brings Sadie to his and TK's loft so she can stay safe there while they're looking for Griffin. Owen asks him where TK is and Carlos replies that he went to grab dinner for all of them because they weren't ready for hosting anyone. Owen starts to leave to go watch Griffin and Catherine joins him. Later, TK comes back from picking up take out and while they're watching security footages, TK leaves for a moment, getting too hot because of the spice in the pho. Once Carlos is done with his bowl, Sadie offers to get him more tea and Carlos starts to reply that he'd like that before stopping himself and staring at the screen, then at Sadie. Carlos asks Sadie to sit down, and she asks him what he found, he shows her a video of her leaving the mail office of the Capitol before he asks her what she was doing there. Sadie talks to him about destiny and how she can see that he and TK are made for each other and it's the same for her and Owen. Carlos asks her how she broke into Owen's house, and she said that she watched the young girl who take Buttercup on walks pick up the key under the planter on the front porch. Carlos continues saying that she set the fire at the gallery, but she could've died, and Sadie says that no she wouldn't, she knew Owen would find her. Finally, Carlos asks her where TK is, she replies that she doesn't know and Carlos stands up, dizzy and asks her what she did, Sadie replies that she put 70mg of oxy in their soup, but she doesn't think it'll be enough to kill them. Before passing out, Carlos sees TK on the ground in their bedroom. Later, they're found by Gabriel and Owen after they realize Sadie was the stalker.

In "Donors", a year after, Det. Washington asks him why he hasn't passed the detective exam yet and Carlos replies that he prefers helping the community and being there for people before bad things have already happen.

### Reconnecting with Iris

In "The New Hotness", while he's getting lunch with his mother, Carlos gets a call from their wedding dream venue who tell him that a couple broke up, so they have an available slot in 8 weeks. Andrea is excited about it while Carlos isn't because he still hasn't done TK his biggest secret. Andrea tells him that he has to tell TK the truth that very day. Later, after the derecho is gone, Carlos goes to the firehouse to talk to TK and once they're in the bunk room, he tells him that he's already married to a woman. TK repeats it and Carlos replies that they're married in name only and that back then it was the only way they could do it. TK asks him if she needed a green card but Carlos replies that they were in high school together, that they were best friends and that they were both feeling lonely. He adds that after he came out to his parents and that they didn't react, he felt like a disappointment and decided to marry his best friend, the person who knew everything about him, including the fact that he's gay. He says that they tried to convince themselves it would work but it didn't and that they never got a divorce because things happen. Then, he reveals to TK that he's married to Iris Blake, Michelle Blake's little sister who disappeared and only came back to Austin three years ago. They stayed married because Carlos' health insurance helped her with her schizophrenia, TK asks him if she's doing better now and Carlos replies that he doesn't know because he hasn't contacted either of the Blake sisters in a long time. He adds that he's a terrible friend and TK comforts him saying that he isn't, that he's an incredible friend and that everything is going to be okay because the wedding is a year and a half away. Carlos replies that they only have 8 weeks because the dream venue called him and told him they had a spot available. TK, joyful, asks him if it's enough time to get a divorce and Carlos replies that it better be but that the state of Texas require people to be divorced a full month before they get married.

Later that day, he goes to Sanctuary Hearts, where Michelle and Iris both work and asked to see Michelle, the owner tells him that she's in Ecuador for three months, but that Iris is upstairs. He goes to see her and Carlos sees her treating a patient until Iris notices him and goes to hug him, before she steps away and slaps him, telling him that he should've come sooner. Downstairs, Iris tells him that this place and Michelle with an assist from Carlos saved her life. Carlos apologizes for not checking up on her sooner and tells her that she looks happy. Iris agrees and tells him that working here and helping the community, something clicked on her and that on top of that, she has health benefits, which means that she doesn't need Carlos' health insurance anymore. Then, she asks Carlos to tell her about TK and he tells her that he was a firefighter-turned-paramedic who's been through a lot but he's the one for him. Iris tells him that she can't wait to meet him and Carlos replies that she'll come to the wedding but Iris replies that she'll have to meet him before that if she's going to sign the divorce papers with a clear conscience. Carlos chuckles and asks her if she's joking but Iris doesn't and asks him "how tomorrow's night sounds?".

In "The New Hot Mess", Carlos comforts a stressed TK who's feeling like he's meeting Carlos' parents all over again and he tells TK that while Iris' filter might be gone when she's on her meds, she's blunt, not malicious. Once she's at their place, she questions TK a lot, upsetting him a little despite him not showing anything apart from tight smiles and short answers. When she asks why they want to get married, Carlos replies that they do because they love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, that it's not more complicated than that. Iris says it is because Carlos is already married, Carlos agrees and reminds her that it's what she's here for. To sign the divorce papers. Once Iris asks TK the divorce papers, he brings her, but she doesn't sign them immediately because she needs to read them over and put them in her purse along with pastries and she leaves the loft. When TK asks him "what the hell happened?", Carlos only replies that "Iris happened". Later, when he's at home deciding what to pick for dinner with TK, he realizes that something is wrong his fiancé when he tells him that they should call the wedding off and joins him on the couch asking what's going on. TK asks him if he sees him as a project, something that needs fixing and Carlos replies that he doesn't, wondering what brought this on. TK asks if Carlos married Iris because he thought she needed "fixing" and that he wanted to cure her from her illness. Carlos replies that when he married Iris, she hasn't shown signs of schizophrenia yet and that when they got married, *he* was the one who needed fixing, not her, and that then, he realized that he didn't need fixing. TK asks him when he realized that and Carlos replies that it was probably the day they met. Carlos teases TK a little bit more and they share soft kisses before being interrupted by Carlos' phone buzzing. He answers and then leaves the house to go join a detective at a homeless camp where they found Iris' car with the divorce papers signed in it. The detective asks Carlos what his wife was doing there and Carlos replies that she works with the homeless, that she used to be one.

In "Cry Wolf", Carlos and TK are interrogated by detective Grier who believed Iris ran away after Carlos gave her the divorce papers because she was upset or that she had a schizophrenic episode, Carlos tells her that Iris has been doing fine and TK jumps him saying that Iris wasn't upset about the divorce papers because to Carlos' surprise - he went to see her at the shelter to ask her about signing the papers and she told him that she'd think it's a better idea that they'd get an annulment, and that they even hugged. After detective Grier leaves, Carlos takes his jacket and tells TK he's going on his shift that only starts the next morning but that he can't just stay home and do nothing while she's out there. TK accuses Carlos of thinking it's his fault and when Carlos replies that he didn't say that, TK tells him that he knows he's thinking it. Carlos turns to him and tells him that they agree to not push or badger her, TK apologizes and replies that he knows but that Iris was fine. Carlos tells him that she isn't fine before leaving the loft.

Later on, a call, Carlos joins the 126 for their rescue of a woman who seemingly jumped off a cliff. While he ignores TK, he talks to Owen about the victim possibly being Iris Blake and while they're rescuing, he goes to talk to the boyfriend who called 9-1-1 and asks him about his girlfriend; her name and where he found her. He's stopped by detective Grier and goes back to the 126's side where they learn from Marjan and Paul that the victim is actually a sex doll that was tossed off the cliff by the caller. Then, while he's in his car, Carlos gets a call from Grace from dispatch who tells him that she has Iris on the line and that they might know where she is. Grace sends him the location and after Iris hangs up when her kidnapper wakes up, she screams and indicates her position to Carlos and the SWAT team who find and rescue her. The 126's paramedics take care of her while Carlos is comforting Iris before he's called away by detective Grier who tells him that they still haven't seen the person who kidnapped and hurt Iris.

At the hospital, Carlos and the detective ask Iris questions. She tells them about a man with a messed-up hand who came up to her at the camp and threatened her with a knife to get her into the car. Out of her room, Carlos tells the detective he knows she doesn't believe Iris and the detective tells him that she believes the evidence she has which are that they didn't see anyone coming out of the house that day thanks to the drone they had and that there aren't any other exits. Carlos goes back to the hospital room and asks her if there's any chances her mind is playing tricks on her, but Iris tells him that she can still see and smell the man on her and that she has been taking her meds. She adds that sometimes she doesn't know if what she sees is the reality or not and it's tiring and Carlos hugs her, kissing her head.

At night, Carlos goes back to the house for an off the book investigation and calls TK, telling him that he won't be coming home tonight and lying to him about staying with Iris. He hangs up and puts gloves on before going into the house. There, he found a hidden tunnel into the wall, explaining why the cops didn't spot the kidnapper. He goes inside, he crawls around and find that the exit is in another house, there he explores it with his flashlight and gun and gets knocked out by someone from behind, with a shovel.

### Abduction

In "Abandoned", Carlos wakes up tied up in a kitchen after being hit on the head by Trudie, the mother of a serial killer. She asks him about that TK person who kept texting and Carlos told her that it was his fiancé. Trudie assumed it was a woman. Then, she offers him a cookie and Carlos reluctantly accept it. Then, she accidentally opens the door of a pantry that hide the body of the woman Iris was looking for before she was kidnapped. He asks Trudie to let him go but she tells him that she can't do that and that Darryl, her son, will be coming home soon. After Darryl comes home to see this, they both realize that Carlos is a cop and Carlos realizes he was Iris's abductor from the burn on his hand, which she previously described. Darryl doesn't believe Carlos' lies about having called for backup because for one, the blood on his head is dry and also because he isn't on uniform which mean that most likely, no one knows he's here. Darryl asks his mother to "get the kit" and when Trudie does, he realizes some morphine is missing so he injects what left of it to Carlos, making him lose consciousness while he moves Carlos' Camaro from the house.

Later, Trudie gags Carlos' mouth with duct tape once she sees the cop outside and when TK knocks on the door to ask questions. Carlos panics when Trudie picks up a knife and he tries to warn TK about being there, he succeeds on making a shovel fall down except Trudy cuts the conversation with TK short and tells him she has to go see her cat. Once he leaves, Trudie remarks on his relationship with TK and notes on how she wished Darryl had love. After he asks if TK is still outside and when she tells him he isn't, he starts screaming for help and moving against the furniture. Trudie turns the volume of the music up and threatens to cut his throat with a knife, Carlos stopping screaming immediately. Then, Trudie tells him the story of Darryl and she asks him if he loves his mother which Carlos does before she asks if TK loves his mum. Carlos tells her that "no son loved his mother more than TK loved Gwyn" and when Trudie said it's sad that she'll miss the wedding, Carlos replies that she will be because "all the love she had for him, she sent it through him, otherwise he doesn't know where this love comes from". Trudie then frees Carlos right as Darryl comes home. Carlos engages in a fight against him and almost wins until Trudie injects him with a syringe full of morphine. There, TK and Gabriel come into the house. TK goes to Carlos and has to start CPR and mouth-to-mouth because he doesn't have a pulse, he keeps doing that until back-up arrives with the Narcan and once he has it, TK injects it in his thigh, waking up Carlos immediately. He starts fighting until he realizes that TK and Gabriel are the ones touching him. When Carlos is on the stretcher, about to be loaded up in the ambulance, he thanks TK for saving his life and TK replies that he did it on his own, TK only had to hold onto it. Carlos tells him that his life is TK's.

## Personality

Carlos is competent, gentle, kind, and smart. He is very caring towards the people he loves, specially his friends and family. He takes his job as a police officer very seriously, even going so far to do whatever it takes to save people, despite the risk. He has shown signs of anxiety and keep a lot of his bad feelings to himself, potentially due to the moment he came out to his parents and they didn't say anything about it for years. He's described as a "control freak" multiples times too by himself, or by other people. He has shown some signs of jealousy when it comes to TK and especially when TK was spending time with his sponsor, Cooper. Since one of Carlos' main personality traits is to take care of the people he loves but TK's sobriety being destroyed by Sadie wasn't something Carlos could "fix". He realises, after TK had a breakdown while remembering his mother, that he couldn't fix everything and that it was fine. Once he realised that, he called Cooper, because he was the one TK needed at that moment but it didn't erase the love TK had for him and the fact that he still needed him in his life.

Carlos also hates confrontations as it's shown multiples times like when he didn't tell TK that his parents didn't know about him and let it blew up or when he avoided telling his parents about his break up with TK. It can also be seen when he avoided telling TK about being married to Iris until he was forced to reveal it by the wedding venue calling him.

## Relationships

### TK Strand

*Main article: TK-Carlos (relationship)*
TK is Carlos' love interest throughout the series. They first met in season one during a car accident where both the Austin PD and Austin FD are needed. Later, we see Carlos asking TK to dance whilst they are all at the bar at the end of their first shift. Their relationship grows as the series goes on, and they eventually move in together in season two. However, sometime between that season and season three, they break up but soon get back together after TK ends up in a coma after saving a kid from hypothermia. At the end of the third season, TK proposes to Carlos and the two become engaged. In the fourth season, they are planning their wedding and when Carlos was kidnapped, TK scrambled to rescue him. They are each other's soulmates.

### Michelle Blake

Carlos and Michelle are very close friends due to his marriage to her sister Iris. Carlos is helping her trying to find Iris after she disappeared three years prior the beginning of the show. They also spend time together outside of their work places as we can see them in Carlos' apartment and at a food truck. Carlos comes to visit Michelle at the hospital when she's in an accident, bringing clothes, some Harry Potter and peanut butter M&Ms.

Carlos is the one who found most evidences to help with the case and he accompanies Michelle in every steps; showing it first to the detective in charge and then, comforts her when they found the truck Iris was in. He's also there with her when she has to come identifies the objects they found inside the truck.

### Paul Strickland

Paul and Carlos are friends. They spent time together with TK when the three of them went to a club together after a bad date. In "Monster Inside", Paul comforts Carlos who's at TK's side at the hospital by putting his hand on Carlos' shoulder because he's the only one who knows about their relationship. Carlos is seen hanging out with Paul along with Marjan and Mateo (and later Nancy too) at Carlos' house and they're also seen talking during a call in "Back in the Saddle".

### Owen Strand

Carlos and Owen share a professional relationship with respect for each other. Other than that it is clear from the beginning that he sees Carlos as a good match for TK. When TK is hurt on a call and is in a coma at the hospital, Owen asks Carlos if he wants to spend time with him and tells him that TK would probably appreciate that. It is said that Carlos has seen Owen and Gwyn around each other so it's possible that they have share time all together at the Strand house. When TK and Carlos has a fight in "Friends With Benefits", it is Owen who defends Carlos' actions. He also comments that his son and Carlos are "more than (friends with benefits)". Owen and Carlos share a hug in "2100°".

In "Bad Call", Carlos comes by the firehouse to speak to TK but as he is out on a call, Owen tells him to wait for him there and offers Carlos a smoothie. They go in the firehouse's kitchen and Carlos tells Owen about his suspension and after Carlos tells him about how his father thinks he's too soft to be a cop, Owen tells him that "there should be a heart behind that shield" and that Carlos "got a good one." Then, they work together to find TK, Tommy and Nancy after they were kidnapped by robbers and when they do, Owen has a talk with Carlos' father where he tells him that they only succeeded to find them because of Carlos and that "he's an impressive guy.". Carlos has a hard time calling Owen by his name which the latter insists, but by the end of episode "A Little Help From My Friends", we see Carlos managing to call him "Owen". In episode "The Big Heat" Owen officially meets Carlos's parents and compliments them for raising a "fantastic son". Later in the episode Owen agrees with Gabriel when the latter states that he loves that his son is with TK. In "Push", Owen hugs Carlos when TK is in a coma and on the verge of death. In Child Care, Carlos introduces Owen as his "father-in-law, more or less" to detective Washington.

### Andrea Reyes

Andrea and Carlos seem to have a close relationship. She hugged him when he came out and told him she loved him and even though, they didn't mention it after that until they met TK, Andrea is very supportive of Carlos' relationship with TK. In "Push", when Carlos tells her that he and TK broke up, she's surprised and asks him why he hasn't said anything, he tells her that her and Gabriel were so supportive of their relationship, he didn't want to let them down, Andrea reassures him by saying that there's nothing he could do that would let them down and that they're very proud of him.

### Gabriel Reyes

Gabriel and Carlos have a complicated relationship. Gabriel hugged Carlos and told him he loved him when Carlos came out but they never spoke about it after that. When Carlos decided to join Austin PD, Gabriel took it badly and claimed that Carlos was "too soft" for the job. Though, Gabriel praised Carlos for trusting his instincts in "Bad Call" and told him that he was proud of him. Due to their struggling relationship in Carlos' young years, Carlos is scared of becoming a father and have the same behaviour with his kids as Gabriel did with him, especially compared to Owen and TK's close bond.

### Iris Blake

Her and Carlos were best friends in high school, and after he came out as gay without getting any reactions from his parents and feeling like a disappointment, he and Iris decided to get married. They tried to make it work but didn't managed to. They never managed to get a divorce because Iris disappeared and after she came back, Carlos never had the courage to call her. But, after getting engaged to TK and their dream wedding venue being only available in eight weeks, Carlos reconnected with Iris to ask her to sign divorce papers and to get his best friend back in his life.

## Trivia

* Prior to the arson, he lived at 540 Lynnwood Avenue, Austin. ("The Big Heat") He, now, lives with TK in a loft downtown, apartment 3A.
* He hates lizards. ("Down To Clown")
* His phone number is 512-555-0129. ("Abandoned")
* He is Catholic. ("Swipe Left")
* He only left Texas twice and was homesick both times. ("Swipe Left")
* He hates sleeping in and doesn't hike. ("Swipe Left")
* He is very good with horses. ("Swipe Left")
* He and TK own a bearded dragon called Lou 2/Louis the second, after Carlos brought it home for TK in "Swipe Left.

## Appearances

 "**Friends Like These**"

 "Everyone and Their Brother"

 "The ATX-Files"
 "**Prince Albert in a Can**"

 "**This Is Not A Drill**"
 "**Double Trouble**"