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“Lucy?” Tim peeks his head into the dining room and sees Lucy still at the dining room table with her books spread out in front of her. She’s reading one of the many books, and she looks like she could tip over at any point. “Lucy!”
She doesn’t look up, she doesn’t even give any signal she heard him. He sighs and makes his way over to the table and taps her on the shoulder.
“What?” She asks not looking up from the book. “I’m studying.”
“You have been studying for the past five hours Luce. It’s time for a break.” He says. She shakes her head, and flips the page.
“No.” She replies. “I’m fine.” Tim sighs and reaches over to close the book in front of her. He had been through this once before with her. The first time she studied for the detective’s exam. She made herself (and him) a little crazy.
“Tim!” She snaps and finally looks up at him. “I need to study.” She opens the book again and he runs his hand down his face in and changes tactics. It’s a tried and true method.
“I’m going to take a shower.” He tells her. She doesn’t look up from the book.
“Okay.”
“You know we bought this house because of the extra large shower.” He says. It was true, one of the many reasons they chose this house was because of the shower. The shower that had been used multiple times.
And maybe the large backyard was nice for Kojo, but the shower. He loves the shower and he loves when he showers with Lucy.
And they just moved in three weeks ago.
“We also bought it so I would have places to study.” She says. He shakes his head at her, and moves away from the table.
“Alright I’m going to take a shower.” He says moving towards the stairs.
“Good for you. You smell.” She replies. Tim rolls his eyes and makes his way up the stairs. He has no doubt Lucy would be here in a few minutes.
He gets to their bedroom and starts undressing. He is just taking his pants off when he hears her behind him.
“You are a jerk you know that. Do you want me to pass this test or not?” He turns to face her a grin on his face.
“Of course I do.” He says and he steps closer to her, grabbing her by the shirt and then pulling it off. “I just don’t want to you to run yourself dry.”
“Mmm.” She says and she leans up to kiss him. “It’s sweet you care so much.”
“I do.” He replies. “But I really like using that extra large shower.” Lucy hits him on the chest, and he captures her hand bringing it to his mouth.
“Oh shut up!”
***
The next day, Tim once again finds Lucy studying. This time in the little nook (that was also one of the reasons they bought this house). She’s curled up on the little bench with a cup of tea next to her. Her books spread out in front of her. She has on his shirt, and his socks for some reason. Her hair is in a bun, and she’s chewing on her pen.
“Hey.” He says. “How long have you been studying?” She doesn’t look up, she doesn’t even blink.
“A few hours.” She says. “And shower sex won’t work this time. I really need to study.”
“I’m sure you do.” He says. “But you need to take a break. You are going to pace Luce.”
“You are just saying that.” She says and she finally looks up at him. “I can’t get anything less than the top 12 Tim.”
“I know baby.”
“If I get 17th again, I’m done. I’m finished. I will be the laughingstock of the station. I can’t even pass a detective’s exam. I will be on patrol forever, never moving up and—”
“Luce. You are spiraling.” He says calmly. He takes her hand and pulls her up from the bench. She protests but it’s weak as he pulls her into him. He presses a kiss to the top of her head, and away them a little.
“You are going to pass and you are going to make detective.” He says. “But you aren’t going to if you pass out during the exam.”
Lucy sighs and presses her nose into his chest. “Fine.” She says. “What distraction do you have planned this time?”
“I’m going to take you on a date.” He says. “And then we are going to have a nice relaxed evening at home.”
“Have I told you I loved you lately?” She asks. He smiles at her, and presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“I’m pretty sure you called me a jerk yesterday.” He teases her. Lucy tuts at him, and moves away.
“So a date right?” She asks. He nods and she backs away slowly, a mischievous look in her eyes and he’s pretty sure their cal king bed was going to be broken in tonight. A little more than it already was.
Lucy comes back out in a dress he has never seen before, and her hair curly and cascading down her back. The dress hugged all her curves perfectly and his mouth felt dry as he stares at her.
“Fuck Luce.” He mutters and he has plans. He has reservations, but he’s almost thinking of cancelling them.
“That’s the point.” She says walking away from him. She stops just ahead at him, and holds out her hand. He takes it and she pulls him towards the door.
“Oh by the way, I’m not wearing any underwear.”
“Oh my god.”
***
A few nights later, Tim catches Lucy studying again this time on the sofa. She’s once again in his shirt and leggings. She taps the pen against the book and then writes something down. She has her earbuds in so she doesn’t hear him until he taps her on the shoulder.
She looks up and gives him a small smile, and then goes back to studying. “Lucy.” He says. She doesn’t look up. “Lucy!” He taps her on the shoulder and she sighs pulling one earbud out of her ear.
“What?”
“You have been studying since you got home. I thought you had a rough day.” He says. He remembers seeing her looking a little frustrated with something when he saw her in passing. She just said there was a lot going on and he wasn’t sure if it was her rookie or what.
“I did.” She replies. “That’s why I’m studying, if I pass I won’t have to be on patrol anymore.”
“Oh Luce.” He says softly. She turns away from him and he sits down on the sofa pulling her legs into his lap.
“I just feel stuck.” She says. “I didn’t get detective the first time around and I became a TO and it was great but—”
“It’s not what you wanted.” He finishes for her. His heart breaking a little, that was a rough time for both of them. Tim was awash in his own issues, while Lucy was dealing with the heartbreak and loneliness that Tim had bestowed upon her.
They had both made it past it, they fought and argued but in some ways Tim knows their love grew anymore.
Because here they were in their own house they bought together. With an extra large shower, a spacious tub and that cal king bed they got in every night. Together.
“I loved working next to you.” She says and he massages her legs a little. “I did. It was hard but it was something different. I just—”
“Your heart is sent on detective and undercover work.” He says. Lucy ducks her head down, and when she looks back up at him her eyes are full of tears.
“Detective yes. Undercover work no.” She says. He frowns at her a little surprised.
“Lucy—”
“My heart isn’t there anymore.” She says. “I used to love it but I came to realize somethings matter more. You matter more.”
“How long have you thought about this?” He asks sounding an little bewildered. He knows how passionate she is—was about UC work. Even with his issues with it he thought she still wanted to do it.
“Awhile.” She says. “Remember that small op I went on after we got back together.”
“Yes.” He says. It hadn’t been a big one, but it still took Lucy away from him. And she almost got hurt because her rookie exposed her identity. She had gotten away and her rookie got out but still—
“I don’t know what it was about that one but—” She shrugs. “I can do other stuff as a detective.” Tim studies her, and taps her leg.
“Please don’t give it up because of me Lucy. I can work through my issues.” He says. “I can.” And he would for her, he would support her no matter what.
“It’s not just because of you Tim. It’s a lot of things that I can’t quite explain right now. I miss you and that’s part of it. But I’m giving it up because I want to. Okay?”
Tim nods and studies her, and then moves her legs off his lap and stands up. He takes her hand and pulls her up into him.
“You need to relax.” He says. “And we have a big spacious tub that hasn’t been broken in yet.”
Lucy smiles at him, and puts a hand on his cheek. “Is that so? Who says I want to share a bath with you?” She asks teasingly. He leans in and kisses her, dipping her down a little and then pulls her back up.
“I will even let you put in a bath bomb and those silly bath salts.” He says.
“Oh you must really love me.” She says. He leads her to the stairs and open to their bathroom.
“I do.” He says. “I really love you.” And when she strips down after he puts the bath bomb and silly bath salts in the tub, he shows her how much he really loves her.
***
Tim catches her studying and falling asleep a few days later. Shes back at the dining room table with her books spread out in front of her but she looks half asleep and like she could fall out of the chair at any minute.
“Lucy.” He pokes at her and she looks up, blinking up at him.
“What?”
“Let’s get you to bed.” He says gently. But she shakes her head at him.
“I’m not tired.” She says yawning a little.
Tim huffs out a laugh. “I know baby.” He says even though he’s about to carry her to their bedroom.
“I could run a marathon.” She yawns. Tim shakes his head in amusement and helps her up. She latches onto him like a koala. And he lifts her easily into his arms. He has no doubt she will be asleep the minute her head hits the pillow.
“I’m sure you can baby.” He muses taking one step at a time on the stairs. He finally gets to their bedroom and puts Lucy on her side of the bed. Her eyes are already closed, but she still reaches out for him.
“You are the best Tim Bradford.”
“I try.” He says.
“You take care of me and love me.” She says her voice getting softer.
“You are easy to love Luce.”
“And you believe in me.” She says her eyes still closed, her breathing getting softer. “What would I do without you?”
“Probably fall asleep in your books.” He says.
“Funny.”
“Go to sleep baby.” He says. “You can study more in the morning.”
“Will you help me?” She asks. He bends down and kisses her on the top of the head.
“Of course.” He replies
“Okay.”
“Goodnight Lucy.” He mutters backing away slowly.
“Goodnight Tim.” She mumbles. “I love you.”
“I love you too Lucy.” He says back and he goes in and settles on his side. Lucy is already fast asleep and he’s glad she’s getting some rest.
He knows tomorrow will bring more studying, a little bit more stubbornness and anxiety about the exam but—
He loves her and he would do whatever it takes to help her. Whether it was helping her study, or making her take study breaks..he would be there.
He would be what she needs, and he’s more than happy to do it. And with that thought he drifts off to sleep.