Chapter Text
As Lucy sipped her beer she looked around the bar, waiting for her friend Jenna to return to the table. Cop eyes were hard to turn off. No scratch that...Tim Bradford’s influence was hard to turn off.
She hadn’t seen the man in question for just over three months.
‘Why?’
A little over three months ago, 96 days to be exact, if you want to get technical. Lucy had realized her feelings for Tim after one particularly hairy call, he had almost drowned when a two-time felon had attacked him at the pier and Tim had been knocked overboard. Luckily Nolan was on hand to help fish him out of the water.
Afterwards when he was recouping in the hospital, Lucy couldn’t keep her secret to herself any longer. She confessed her feelings for Tim and his reaction was very similar to that of her prank. Which made her feel nauseous and angry all at the same time. His rejection was paralyzing.
‘Lucy your such a great girl, Er woman’ he stuttered. ‘I’m with Ashley, she’s who I want.’
He shut her down.
Tim Bradford broke her heart.
Then the very next day she met with Sgt Grey, asking for a transfer to a nearby precinct. He asked why she wanted the transfer and explained that he thought she was happy at Mid Wilshire.
Lucy gave him a mixed answer. ‘I am happy here but I can’t stay here-too many memories, not all of them are good.’
She still kept in contact with the old crew minus Tim, of course, Lucy hadn’t meant to cut him out of her life but she was protecting her heart.
‘Where was Jenna?’ She asked herself. Lucy looked over at the bar and saw the woman in question, talking to a guy. Tall-6ft dark hair, about thirty years old, not bad Jenna.
As Lucy was bopping her head enjoying the music, she vaguely hears her name being called. She turns to the direction, where the voice came from and sees Aaron Thorsen walking towards her.
“Hey Luce, long time no see” he says with an amused look on his handsome face, leaning over to give the brunette a hug.
“Very funny Aaron, I just saw you last week” Lucy replies with a playful smack on his arm.
“So what are you doing here?” He inquires, really hoping that he wasn’t intruding. He had missed his friend around the precinct, after she transferred to Malibu due to an alleged conflict with Sgt. Tim Bradford.
“I’m here with a friend. She’s over at the bar getting a drink” she says, pointing to where Jenna was standing.
“Wow. She is fine!” Aaron says drawing out the word. Looking the woman over appreciatively.
Lucy gives him an amused look. “Oh...Aaron like-y” she teases. “Why don’t you join us” she offers. Knowing he would appreciate an introduction.
“I would Luce... but I’m not here alone. I brought a friend” he tells her, very cagey. She frowns at his evasiveness.
“No, problem. Your friend can join us too, it’s not a big deal” she murmured over to him.
Aaron sighs. “You might not feel that way, when you see who my friend is” he explains to her softly.
Lucy narrows her chocolate brown eyes at him “who are you here with Aaron?” she questions, as she hears a deep but familiar voice come from behind her.
‘Tim Bradford.’
“There you are Thorsen, here’s you beer” he says, giving the other man his drink. “Who are you talking to?” Then his eyes look down meeting Lucy’s for the first time.
“Lucy?” He says stunned. He was in shock, he hadn’t seen her beautiful face in months.
“Hi Tim” Lucy says, pressing her lips together in a thin line. Then Jenna returns to the table and sees the newcomers. ‘Man! Lucy has some attractive friends she thinks.’
“Hey! Who are your friends, Lucy?” Jenna asked her curiously.
“Jen this is Aaron Thorsen and Tim Bradford, guys this is Jenna Williams” Lucy introduces them.
Everyone exchanges pleasantries, to break the ice.
“Are you guys cops too?” Jenna asked them.
The guys both nod at the other female. “They work out of my old division-Mid Wilshire, Aaron just graduated to a P2 and Tim’s a Sergeant” Lucy tells her friend.
“Cool. Jenna turns to Aaron, I recently graduated myself. Hows it going for you?” Jenna asked Aaron, her curiosity was piqued.
“Not too bad. It’s good to be out there without my T.O.... She’s great and all, but scary at times” he explains to Jenna.
“You had a tough T.O?” she assumes.
“Yeah, don’t get me wrong she great but...argh, sorry my T.O is very unique” he mutters causing everyone to laugh.
“Yeah Harper, is definitely a character. But she’s a solid T.O” Lucy interjects. Then rolls her eyes in exasperation.
“Yes but she wasn’t your T.O!” Aaron complains hoping to get some sympathy out of Lucy.
“Wimp” Lucy teases. “Harper wasn’t half as bad as Tim. Everyday I wanted to quit, when I was his rookie” she confesses, not caring that her former T.O was right there.
“I wasn’t that bad” Tim protests, with an indignant look washing over his features.
“Wait! You was Lucy’s T.O?” Asked Jenna but she was ignored, as they continued their little verbal, back and forth.
“You made me walk alongside the shop!” Lucy says irritated.
“Because you didn’t know where we were!” Tim claps back. Earning himself a glare from Lucy.
Jenna whispers to Aaron. “How would you like to dance?” Sensing the tension between Lucy and Tim.
Aaron nods to her. “I would love to dance with you, beautiful lady” he tells her. Standing up and holding out his hand for her, which she takes and he leads her to the small dance floor.
Tim and Lucy remain at the table avoiding each other’s gaze, like strangers that had just met and didn’t know what to say. It was both excruciating and awkward. Which was strange as not long ago they could talk about anything.
“How’s Tamara?” Tim blurts out.
“How’s kojo?” Lucy asks at the same time.
The safe topics.
Both smile awkwardly at the other.
“Ladies first” Tim says, he was always a gentleman.
“How’s kojo? Have you taken him on any new hiking trails?” she inquires of her beloved furry friend.
“He’s good. I actually just found a new trail that I’m waiting to try. He’s made a new friend at the park by me, a Dalmatian called Spot” he chuckles. “I know it’s a little on the nose.”
“I know right! Who names their Dalmatian, Spot?” Lucy giggles.
“Spot’s, Mommies obviously” Tim smirks. Changing the subject “Anyway, what’s happening with Tamara?”
“She’s great, doing really well at school. But now she’s decided to be a teacher instead of a social worker, all due to your sister’s influence” Lucy explains to him. She was beyond proud of the teenager.
“Oh wow. That’s great news. I didn’t realize that Genny knew Tamara?” He says with confusion in his eyes.
“Ever since the ride along, I’ve kept in contact with Genny” she explains him.
“Oh. And how are you doing?” He asks her, always concerned about her wellbeing.
“I’m well. Today, I took...the detective’s test” she confides in him.
“Great. How do you think it went?” He questions.
“I’m not sure. I know the material...I’m just anxious, waiting for the results” Lucy admits, releasing a breath she didn’t even know that she had been holding .
“I’m sure you did great. You’re a natural born test taker” he assures her, with praise shining in his eyes.
Lucy has to look away, because he was causing butterflies to flutter around in her belly. And that was making her feel many different emotions all at once.
Then she hears Aaron and Jenna walking up, laughing and joking, it seemed like they had really hit it off and by the sounds of it they were going on a date.
“I’ll pick you up at 7” Aaron tells her, smirking.
“Looking forward to it” Jenna says in a flirty voice. “Speaking of dates...Lucy, you really should put David out of his misery and go on a date with him.” Jenna smiles at Lucy, giving her a ‘you should go for it look.’
Lucy glares at her friend.
All eyes turn to lucy and her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Who’s David?” Aaron asks intrigued, while Tim bristles with jealousy.
“No one” Lucy dismisses.
But Jenna brushes her off. “Don’t listen to her, shaking her head at Lucy. He most definitely is someone, he’s a pediatrician. And he has it bad for Lucy, however she won’t give him the time of day. I don’t know who he was Lucy, but you need to forget about him and move forward” Jenna advises.
“I don’t want to talk about this”- “Who are you talking about?” Lucy and Aaron asked at the same time.
Jenna turns to Aaron. “Lucy fell for someone at Mid Wilshire and he didn’t feel the same way” she tells him.
Lucy face reddens further and Tim looks away, looking at anything, other than them.
“Ok. Things are now starting to add up” Aaron comments, looking between Tim and Lucy. He knew that they had parted on bad terms but he was lead to believe that it was work related.
Lucy glares at friend. “I’m sorry Lucy, but it needed to be said. You need-“ she trails off, distracted by something.
Lucy turns to the source of the distraction and sees a familiar face and then turns back to Jenna annoyed. Her face contorts into anger. “Did you arrange this?” She asked her friend in disbelief.
“I did, he begged me. Don’t be mad. He’s perfect for you Lucy. Please give him a chance.” Jenna pesters.
Tim grinds his teeth together, suffering in silence. All this talk of Lucy dating the doctor was pissing him off.
“Excuse me, for a second” Lucy tells them, then she walks across the bar to talk with David. And Tim watches her walk away, his stomach in knots.
<<<<
“Hi” she greets David nervously. Why was she nervous? David was a nice guy-harmless.
“Hey. You look amazing Lucy” he compliments her, giving her a dazzling smile but it had no effect on her. Not unlike someone else.
“Thank you. You look nice too” she comments politely.
“I’m sorry for just showing up here like this but I had to try one last time. Lucy I like you...I like you a lot. Would you like to go to dinner with me? If at the end of the date, you still feel the same way towards me, then I’ll understand. I will bow out gracefully” he tells her honestly.
Lucy is torn but she takes a gamble. “Ok. One dinner and if I still feel the same way, well....I accept your terms” Lucy agrees but her heart wasn’t really in it.
David’s smile lights up the room. “Thank you for giving me a chance” he says. “I know that your here with your friends, so I’m not going to interrupt. I hope you have a good night and I’ll text you tomorrow with the details” he says happily. Which unnerves her.
“Ok. Goodnight David” she mumbles politely.
A moment later, Lucy arrives back at the table. “So?” Jenna asks intrigued.
Lucy ignores her question. “I’m gonna head out” Lucy says, she’s had enough for one evening.
“What! No Lucy! Don’t leave” Jenna exclaims. “I’m sorry for pushing you.” Suddenly feeling guilty.
“Your sorry! I didn’t want to hurt a sweet guy, because I’m not invested in something, that he obviously is” she says hurt. And really not liking her friend, thrusting her into a situation that she desperately tried to avoid.
“I’m sorry, Lucy. I was trying to help” Jenna tries to apologize.
“Save it. Please. Guys it was good to see you, we’ll catch up another time” Lucy says giving them a sad smile before leaving.
<<<<
“I’m sorry about that” Jenna tells them.
“You shouldn’t have pushed her” Tim says both upset and annoyed.
Jenna was about to respond when Aaron beats her to it.
“All this time, I thought she had left because you didn’t want her to do UC and it’s actually because she confessed her feelings for you and you rejected her” Aaron smirks at his Sergeant.
“I didn’t reject her. Maybe I did, it’s complicated” The sergeant mumbles.
“Damn Sarge” Aaron teases. Tim rolls his eyes at Aaron.
Jenna looks between the two confused. “Wait! Your the one that she loves?”
Tim nods. “But at the time, when Lucy told me I was suffering with a concussion. And I had a girlfriend too” he admits.
“Yes but you kicked her sorry ass to the curb” Aaron interjects.
Tim glares at his friend and interim aide. “True but Lucy hates me...so it’s a moot point right now.”
“Bullshit” Aaron blurts out.
Tim’s eyes immediately snap to Aaron’s. “Aaron you don’t know the whole story” Tim’s says growing frustrated.
“I know enough” Aaron replies. “You need to do something before this David guy swoops in and sweeps Lucy off her feet.”
Tim scoffs. “Please she doesn’t even like him” he says defensively.
“That could change in an instant. He’s a doctor, who works with kids. Haven’t you seen any romantic comedies” Jenna shrugs in annoyance. “He’s your rival and she might settle for him because she thinks that you don’t want her.”
“She’s right” Aaron adds.
“I don’t think-“ Tim tries to respond but he is interrupted.
“Why are you still sitting here dude? You should go after her” Jenna advises.
“Yes, that would be so romantic” Aaron croons.
“Go after her? Romantic?” Tim replies trying to process the emotions welling up inside of him.
“Yes go!” They both order simultaneously.
“Ok. Ok. I’m going” Tim murmured to them as he stands up and walks towards the exit.
<<<<
Tim walks out of the bar and the cool air hits him. He looks around and sees Lucy still waiting for her Uber.
“Hey Lucy” he calls. “Why don’t you let me drive you home?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea” she tells him.
“Please. Why don’t you to come my house? Kojo would love to see you” Tim suggests. Hoping and praying that should throw him a bone here.
She bites her lower lip, debating his offer. “I’m tired Tim. And I’ve had more than enough drama for one evening” she tells him honestly.
“No drama. I promise, just you, me and the dog” Tim says hopefully with pleading eyes.
“Ok” Lucy mumbles, giving in to his demand.
“Great...I mean good, he quickly corrects himself, not wanting to sound too eager. The truck is this way” he says, directing her to his Silverado.